morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-07-25
From: Garfield Ridge Shelter 

To: AMC Highland Center
Miles today: 17.1

2 days to update. Sunday was a little easier than Saturday but still pretty tough. The weather was good, high in the 70s. We hiked about 10 miles to Zealand Falls Hut. It was a great experience. They charge $120 for a bunk bed and includes supper and breakfast; well we did not do that- too much money. You can stay there and work for your bunk bed. We got the left overs from supper and our work was washing the dishes; took about 30 minutes! There were plenty of left overs and washing dishes was easy. Nice experience. We had an easy hike on Monday but only went about 7 miles to the AMC Highland Center. A very nice lodge with bunk beds. Very nice place to stay. We are getting ready for the big hike up the Presidential Mountain- Mt Washington. It is 6288 feet high; pretty high. We will need a lot of energy to make it and we should be ready to go first thing Tuesday. Thanks for all of the support and kind words; it really helps get me thru this adventure. 345 miles left!
Date: 2016-07-26
From: AMC Highland Center

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

Tuesday we were up and going early. Breakfast at 6:30. Hooshr was able to get is a ride back to the trail so that saved us about 4 miles. A lot of the places are not right on the trail. Many days we walk more than just the trial miles. But it all is good. Today, The 26th was tough. I would rate it a 7.2. Very rocky and up, up, up, up.......this is called the Presidential mountains within the White Mountains. We walked Webster, Jackson, Pierce, Eisenhower, Franklin and Monroe today. Wednesday we will hike the big one, Washington! As we started out this morning it was a nice day, warm and sunny. As we climbed higher and higher it turned cold, windy, rain came in and then foggy. All in all we had a good day. We are staying at the Lakes of Clouds Hut tonight. We are working again for our bunk bed. We got here around 4pm. We will do inventory and not sure what else! 334 miles left to go!
Date: 2016-07-28
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 15.0

Thursday was another tough day. A 7.1. Rocks, rocks, rocks and more rocks. Straight up for a mile right off at the start of the hike. Then the hike down was straight down, down, down..... Very tough on your feet and knees. Not a smooth terrain, very rocky. We made it a little over 10 miles on Thursday to the Osgood Tent site and camped for the night. We were up early Friday morning and off again. We hiked a little over 4 miles into Pinkham Notch. We were able to stock up, wash clothes and get some rest today. We are staying at the White Mountains Lodge and Hostel. My ankle is a bit swollen again so the rest will help it. The plan is to hike 10 to 11 miles on Saturday and 10 on Sunday. That will get us thru the White Miuntains which is one of the toughest sections of the trail. 319 miles to go!
Date: 2016-07-30
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Gorham, NH White Mountain Hostel
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: broken clouds

Friday was another tough hike in the Whites. The first 5 miles were straight up and again rocky. I would rate Friday a 7.3. I believe we have rocky terrain all the way to the end. I fell Friday but went down on my butt and with the backpack behind me it wasn't too bad. We camped on the trail Friday night. Made it about 12 miles. I was very tired. Saturday morning Hooshr had to wake me up; I was zonked out sleeping. I left about 6:40 Saturday morning. It was an easier hike today; 5.2. Started up an incline and then a long, long hike down but on the rocks. I had a pretty ugly fall today. Fell forward hit my knee; thank goodness I did not face plant but came close. Hit my chest and tumbled over and caught myself with my hand. I seem to be ok. My ankle continues to be swollen but not as bad; all in all I am holding up pretty well. We made it about 10 miles today. One thing I will say about the Whites, the views are incredible; beautiful scenery and views. We are staying in a hotel tonight in Gorham. Hooshr has a friend that lives close by and is coming over to drive us to supper and Walmart! Time to stock up again. We will be off again at 6:30 Sunday morning. We will be in Maine midday Monday; the last state! 298 miles left to hike! Body please down fail me now!
Date: 2016-08-02
From: Gorham, NH White Mountain Hostel

To: Frye Notch Lean-to
Miles today: 36.9

Sorry for no updates but no cell service and very little service right now. This is a 3 day post. Sunday we left early to hike from Gorham, NH. It was about a 6.8 hike; tough again. This just never gets easier. We walked thru the 'pine sol' forest; smells like pine sol! We were told this was a good area to see Moose but no luck. We made it 17 miles on Sunday; a long hike but good miles to reach the end. We stayed at the Carlo Col Shelter- Hooshr stayed in the shelter but I stayed in my tent. The big news of Sunday was we made it to Maine! Pictures to come later. We were up early Monday to continue the hike. This was a very tough day; 7.5. We made it to the Mahoosuc Notch - the most difficult or the most fun mile on the entire trail. I would agree with both titles. It was extremely difficult. I had to take my backpack off at times just to squeeze thru some of the boulders. Jump down, climb across for a full mile. It was very cool temperature as you got into the boulders; at some points you could see ice and snow down in the crevices. It was extremely cool, scary (and it takes a lot to scare me), dangerous but a lot of fun! The good news is we made it thru the mile and hiked 10 miles total for the day. We camped again last night. Up early again today, Tuesday 8-2-16, and off on the trail again. A long down hill and then up hill today. We made it 10 more miles so good miles the last 3 days. This part of the trail is beautiful; the granite is incredible and a lot of wild blueberries! They are great! We are staying at the Frye Notch Lean-to. A Lean-to is like a hostel. I am holding up pretty well. 261 miles to go.
Date: 2016-08-03
From: Frye Notch Lean-to

To: Andover, Maine
Miles today: 4.5

Today, August 3rd, was a short day. And it was an easy hike, 4.4. There was a fairly tough uphill to begin this morning but the rest of the hike was not bad. We hiked into Andover to restock and rest up. We also are washing clothes. 256 miles left to go!
Date: 2016-08-05
From: Andover, Maine

To: Rangeley, Maine
Miles today: 36.5
Weather: broken clouds

Once again not much AT&T service here in Maine. So this is a 3 day update. We left out of Andover Thursday morning and wow, it was a tough hike. I would say a 7.3. We made good miles but it was tough. These last 2 days, Thursday and Friday, have been one of the toughest sections we have hiked on the trail. I am not sure if it is that tough or if I am just getting that tired; maybe some of both. But, I am feeling good and feel confident to make it to the end. Thursday there were a lot of ups and downs that were hard, not easy coming down. Friday was about a 5.4. A little easier. Hiking across a lot of rocks and the roots are back with a vengeance. I have named the roots the witches bones; they get your toes and walking on top of them wears on your feet badly. They are everywhere we hike in this section. We had trail magic on Friday! Hotdogs and homemade blueberry muffins with lots of fresh blueberries out of their backyard! Awesome! Today, Saturday August 6th, we are hiking into Rangeley,Maine. We only have a 9 mile hike today and as I have started a little this morning so far it is not too bad. Hope it stays that way... The weather was very cool when I started, but I am already wet from sweat. Humid, which seems odd to me being so far north in the mountains. However, it has been hotter here this summer than it normally is in this part of the country. But, that seems to be the way it is all over the country from what little bit of news I have seen in the last few weeks. I have been in my tent the last few nights but we will stay in a hostel with a bunk bed with sheets and a pillow tonight in Rangeley. The next section of about 32 miles is supposed to be extremely tough. We have the option to slack pack from Rangeley and most likely we will do that. 220 miles left on this adventure!
Date: 2016-08-07
From: Rangeley, Maine

To: Perham Stream
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Stayed at the Farmhouse Inn last night and took off this morning at 6am to slack pack going south. They drove us 15 miles north and we had to walk a mile from the drop point to the trail. The trail itself was 15.3 miles so 16.3 miles today. It was about a 6.0 hike today. Most of the trail was in better shape than the last few days were but a few sections were rough with more roots to stump your toe and walk across. Doesn't seem that bad but walking on the roots for miles at a time is tough on the feet. See some of the pictures to see the roots. We climbed up 4 mountains today but managed this section pretty well. We were told it would be tough and it was, but not as bad as I expected. The Farmhouse Inn picked us up and we are staying again tonight. Not sure if we will slack pack tomorrow or just head out and stay north. Washing clothes and getting ready for the next day. 205 miles left to hike!
Date: 2016-08-08
From: Perham Stream

To: Rangeley, Maine
Miles today: 0.0

Today, Monday August 8 was a zero day. It wasn't planned but Hooshr could not bend his knee when we ended yesterday. He had to go to the doctor here in Rangeley but they couldn't help him. He had to get a ride into another town to see an orthopedic doctor. The bad news is his knee cap is misplaced. The good news is They gave him a cortisone shot and he got a new knee brace. He is ready to go on Tuesday. We will go 9 miles Tuesday and 9 miles Wednesday but after that we will have to make up some miles. I went into town for lunch; lobster roll and blueberry milk shake! Got a few supplies and got some extra rest today. We will stay at a hotel in the next town Stratton. The folks that own the Farmhouse where we are now own a place there too. I was able to talk to them a good bit today. We will be able to slack pack Thursday and make up some miles. All is good.
Date: 2016-08-09
From: Rangeley, Maine

To: Crocker Cirque
Miles today: 9.6

Woke to some very cool weather this morning. Got a ride back to the trail; had to walk a mile from the road to reach the AT. Today was about a 4.6; not too bad. We hiked 9.6 miles and we are camping by a stream tonight; very nice and soothing sound. This was an interesting day on the trail. We passed by the location where Inchworm, an older lady, went off the trail several years ago and became disoriented. She never found her way back to the trail and she actually died in the wilderness. The really sad part is it took over 2 years for them to find her. Prayers to her family. The other interesting part of the trail today is going close to the Naval Survival School. It is where they teach pilots, air crews and SEALS how to avoid capture and how to deal with capture. If you happen to cross over onto their grounds they know it immediately and will come and have you move away. There were a lot of droppings along the paths today indicating Moose but did not see any; maybe tomorrow. We will hike into Stratton tomorrow and stay the night. We will slack pack for the following 2 days which will allow us to pick up some good miles. 195 miles left to go!!!! Under 200. Tomorrow we will hit the 2000 mile mark.
Date: 2016-08-10
From: Crocker Cirque

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Well I made it 2000 miles! It feels great! The hike today was 7+ miles into Stratton, ME. It was about a 5.7. It started right off going straight up Crocker Mt which was a little tough. The last part of the hike coming down was not bad at all. Part of the reason it was tough was it was very rocky. Again a lot of Moose droppings but no Moose sightings. We will stay in a hostel tonight and head out at 6am to slack pack tomorrow. So back here again tomorrow night. Happy Birthday to Hooshr! 188 miles left to hike!
Date: 2016-08-11
From: Stratton, ME

To: East Flagstaff Road
Miles today: 16.7

Today was a big day; the Bigelows. This is the last high elevation climbs until we reach the end at Katahdin. It was a tough day; a lot of ups and downs. I would rate the hike today a 6.4. The views were incredible. One of the most amazing things is being on top of one mountain looking back at where I have hiked and looking forward to what is ahead of me. It is an amazing feeling. We will be up early again Friday morning and plan to hike another 17 miles tomorrow. We will shall see if the trail gets a bit easier as we have been told. 171 miles left to hike!
Date: 2016-08-13
From: East Flagstaff Road

To: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 35.0
Weather: few clouds

Wow! No AT&T cell service in these parts of Maine; mainly because we are in the middle of no where! On top of Moxie Bald Mountain this Sunday morning with little service so a quick update. Friday August 12 was about a 4.4 hiking day. We have been hiking in the rain for 3 days. I put my rain coat on and it is hot and I begin to sweat. I take it off and get wet from the rain and it is cold; crazy but getting the miles done. Friday was like walking thru the enchanted forest. Looks like where Hansel & Gretel would have been in the forest. Saturday was about a 4.6 hiking day. More rain. The rocks on Saturday were very slick so being careful not to fall is a big part of the hike. We were able to make it 18.7 miles Saturday which was awesome. Today, Sunday the 14th, we are trying to make it into the next town of Monson. This would be another 18.7 miles today. That is the plan so we shall see how it goes today. Hopefully there will be cell service when we reach Monson and I can enter another update tonight. When we reach Monson there will be 118 miles left to hike!
Date: 2016-08-14
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-To

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: broken clouds

Well we made it, 18.7 miles today, Sunday August 14. It was about a 4.8 for me today. When we left this morning it was raining and windy. Later the sun came out. There were a few ups and downs and some roots to walk across We followed and crossed the Piscataquis River several times today. We were already wet from rain but had to walk across the river so wet, wet, wet. My feet are a bit pink and red tonight..... We are staying at Shaws Hostel tonight. Had a good supper, washing clothes and to bed a bit later than normal. We will take it a little easy in the morning. We will stock up before we head out to the 100 mile wilderness. We can have food dropped for us along the way and there is a hostel where you can restock too so hopefully not as crazy as we first thought; but we will be prepared no matter what. We have been told the first 30/40 miles are tough then it gets fairly easy to hike the last 60/70 miles. Pretty sure there will not be any cell service during the 100 mile wilderness. So keep checking but if nothing for a few days you will know why. 117 miles left on this adventure.
Date: 2016-08-15
From: Monson, Maine

To: 10 Miles In to the Wilderness
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

So we slept in a bit this morning, Monday August 15th. Then up and ready with a great breakfast. Headed out to restock. We also were able to set up a food drop along the 100 mile wilderness so we don't have to carry quite so much food for the entire 100 miles. This will help. We will make one stop at noon here in Monson then we will be on our way. We plan to hike 10 miles today. A shout out to Shaws Hostel; a great place here in Monson with great folks running it. If all goes as planned, this journey will be completed in about one week! Body please don't let me down now......I am so close to completing this amazing adventure!
Date: 2016-08-16
From: 10 Miles In to the Wilderness

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 19.3

On top of Barren Mountain with cell service so an update for Monday & Tuesday. Monday was about a 5.0 hike. We left Monson after lunch and went 10 miles. We camped last night by a river; it was beautiful and peaceful. Woke up this morning and it was like a fall day in Georgia; awesome! Made me think of SEC football- GO DAWGS! We left about 6:15 this morning. There are many beautiful natural lakes in this area of Maine. This morning we saw a beaver in one of the lakes. Around lunch time we came across some trail magic that was totally unexpected- very nice. The plan is to go 19+ miles today to Chairback Gap Lean-to. At this point- 1:30pm- , we have about 8 miles left to hike for the day. A good many ups and downs but I think we will make it. The excitement of being this close to Katahdin at this point is providing a little extra Adrenaline Rush at times. When we finish today, we will have 88.5 miles left to the end.
Date: 2016-08-17
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: White Brook Trail
Miles today: 15.0

Rain, rain and more rain last night and this morning. It was also very windy last night but the tent survived the storm. We camped by another beautiful lake. The hike today was more roots and rocks and ups and downs but we did well. We had to ford thru a river that was about knee deep; that was an adventure. We will camp again tonight. 73 miles to go!
Date: 2016-08-18
From: White Brook Trail

To: Jo-Mary Road
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Today, Thursday August 18 was a fairly easy day; 4.4. We are stopping at Jo- Mary road, the only road into the 100 mile wilderness. We have a food drop here In the afternoon. We will camp somewhere close by this location. Tomorrow, Friday, we will hike 10 miles and stay at the last hostel for us- White House Landing. You have to take a Canoe across the lake to reach the hostel. It will be another adventure on these last few days of the hike. From here to Katahdin Stream trailhead, the point where you hike up Katahdin, the trail is supposed to be easy. I expect to be to the last point before hiking up Katahdin on Sunday evening. We will stay in Millinocket the closest town to the trailhead Sunday to Thursday. The plan is to hike to the top of Katahdin on Tuesday at this point. The weather has to be good before they allow you to hike to the top and Monday is looking like heavy rain but that can change so we shall see! Getting there on Sunday gives us several days to make the last climb! What an incredible adventure this has been. I can't believe I am so close to making it to the end. My body is holding up so hopefully it will make it 4 more days of hiking! 56 miles left to hike!
Date: 2016-08-19
From: Jo-Mary Road

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night, Thursday night, was an interesting night of little sleep. For some reason I had a hard time going to sleep; normally I am out quickly. Finally around 9 I fall asleep and about 9:30 I feel something run across my head. I was awake and saw a little mouse on my tent. I knocked him away and went back to sleep. Well.... Around 10:30 I guess he decided to come back and run across my head again so I am awake again. Once again, I get him out of my tent. Well, well... He still isn't done with me.... Around 2:30 he goes across my head again.... He ran into my backpack so I opened the tent and thru the backpack out of the tent. I was very tired and asleep at 6 this morning. Hooshr had to wake me up. Today, Friday, was an easy hike. We made the 10 + miles by 12:30. We went to the White House Landing. They picked us up in a boat and took us across the lake to the cabins. It is a great place and highly recommend thru hikers stay here. This afternoon we washed our clothes with no soap on a washboard then hung them up to dry. We then took a canoe ride out in the lake to see the view of Katahdin; it was awesome. Will post Pictures later (can't get them to upload tonight). We also played horseshoes this afternoon. It was a very relaxing afternoon. Supper was homemade pizza; awesome! We plan to walk 40 miles in the next 2 days to reach the trailhead where we climb the last mountain to Katahdin. The weather right now has us taking off Monday (90% chance of rain) and hiking Katahdin on Tuesday. We shall see how it goes!
Date: 2016-08-20
From: White House Landing

To: Rainbow Lake Campsite
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: broken clouds

Saturday the 20th was a good but tough day. I would rate it a 5.5. There were a lot of roots and rocks and it was very muddy. For those who say that section was easy and you could walk very fast- I would disagree. You can't walk fast across roots and rocks and in the mud! But, we made our goal so all was good. Hooshr, Mustard Seed and I plan to make it to the Birches Lean- to & campsite today which will be 21 miles. That will be the last stop before hiking the final 5.2 miles to Katahdin. We will stay tonight in Millinocket in a hotel with cabins. We will take off Monday because the weather calls for rain. The plan is to hike up Katahdin on Tuesday! The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter! The picture is a moose turd- don't know why I decided to pick it up and take a pic but I did. A couple of days ago we were very close to 2 moose but we're not able to get a pic.
Date: 2016-08-23
From: Mt Katahdin

To: Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 26.1
Weather: overcast clouds

A couple of years ago I began to toy with the idea of hiking the AT. Thinking it was only an adventure without realizing the magnitude of the task. I have had several life events in the past couple of years which opened the door for me to set out on this adventure. In my life time, I had only done a few day hikes with no overnight camping on a trail. I began the trip with small goals in mind; reaching NC and Gatlinburg. My buddy Rick said "wow, you have walked all the way to Gatlinburg". I was excited and felt accomplished until I looked at the map and reality set in of how minuscule the distance was in the overall scope of the total distance to be hiked. I would tent camp typically for 3 or 4 nights before going into town for a hotel room or hostel or bunk house. I very seldom stayed in shelters which is a 3 sided structure with a roof and a floor. I enjoyed the tenting aspect of the trip. I saw plenty of wildlife; bear, deer, snakes, squirrels, chipmunks, chipmunks, chipmunks, wild turkey, bobcat, grouse, salamander, beavers, otters and last but not least Moose! The spring time was the transformation of leafless trees to the budding of all types of beautiful flowers and plants that developed into the formation of the green tunnel. Virginia was my favorite State due to the diversity of the farms, mountains, the different trails - the dragons tooth, tinker bluffs, Mcafee knob; it is not to minimize the trails north of VA; the beauty of the Whites, New Hampshire and Maine. That brings us to Mt Katahdin; I would rate this final hike on the AT a 6.5; it was tough with a lot of rock climbing. It was awesome! A fabulous ending to a great trip. Now I have Christmas toes; numb with no feeling for Halloween, Thanksgiving- it will be Christmas when the feeling returns. I had 22 falls, many bruises and cuts, etc along the hike. I am a survivor and I survived it all. Thanks to the encouragement from many of my family and friends as well as trail journal friends and total strangers along the way. I began hiking with Hooshr in VA and we continued to hike together until the end. His knowledge of history and the trail were phenomenal and an extra bonus as we hiked the trail. Hooshr, thank you for your support and companionship along the way. It was instrumental for me in completing this task. A special thanks to my partner Sherrie who provided the ultimate support to help make this adventure possible. The AT hiker nation is made up of a diverse group of individuals who are very supportive, kind and very giving. If our country had more people with the hiker disposition and helping hand; resolving global issues would be an easier task. Stay tuned; more pictures and updates of life after the hike to follow! Thanks again to all of you for your support.