morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-27
From: Lost River Rd, NH112, Kinsman Notch

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

When I got up this morning, I felt like it was a race day, from my previous life. I've run 9 marathons, so should be used to that nervous, jittery, stomach flip-flopping feeling that comes with knowing there are big miles ahead and it's going to be tough. I guess I'm out of practice a bit, because it was hard to get past that stuff today, all through pancake breakfast that Karaoke made and the shuttle ride to Kinsman Notch. We had heard the miles today would be rugged...and one hiker last night had to stay up on the mountain in a hut because it was getting dark. Well, it was maybe slower going than a usual, flat trail, but hey! This is the White Mountains were talking about. Wilson and I found the trail to be in good shape, steep in places, and strenuous, but very doable, especially with slackpacks. Halfway through the day we stopped for a lunch break at Eliza Brook shelter. A trail adopter named Camel was there, too, so we chatted with him a bit. He found that we were thru hikers and dug into his pack, pulling out a full-sized snickers bar for each of us. He said he carries them for trail magic, but doesn't eat them himself: he likes cheap off-brand granola bars. He also gave us his business card in case we need any help once we arrive in Gorham. Nice! The sky had cleared somewhat, partway through the day, so we had some views, but very hazy. Fortunately, no rain. We did stop at the hut in this section, to see what they are like, and had some lemonade and water. But the timing was wrong for soup, and we wanted to get back to town, and our hostel, to clean up. We finished by 5pm, not bad. We thought of hitch - hiking but the highway was virtually empty, so we wandered through the Flume parking lot and asked people (my method), instead. A nice couple, Pierre and Ingrid from Boston, gave us a ride. So nice!!! Our plan was to go into Lincoln for a nice supper, so Wilson checked online and found a place with pasta for him and steak for me. The problem was, the shuttle company wanted $11 each way to drive us 3 miles. Not wanting to do that, we opted to "rent" the hostel's bikes at $5 each, to ride to and from at our own convenience. Because of course, after a 16 mile day in the Whites, we may not have gotten enough exercise, so just for good measure, we rode another 6 on bikes for dinner...(random conversation on the trail today may have included imagining what it will be like some day to get into a car and drive wherever we want to go, and whenever we need to. It seems too far-fetched to be real at this point). Well, dinner was delicious, and we made it "home" for the night safely, in spite of after dark road biking in unfamiliar territory. And we were moving at speeds high enough that I could feel the bugs squashing against me as I rode, so hey, that's something! Ok, I admit it, it was sorta fun, too, and kinda off the wall. That's the AT! Next up: 2 hikers, full packs, 4000 foot climb, about 4 days to Pinkham Notch.
Date: 2015-07-28
From: Franconia Notch

To: Garfield Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: light rain

Something flashed in the night and woke me up. It took me a few moments to realize it was lightning, and there was a storm outside. Thunder rumbled, and it rained very hard. Another night to be glad for the hostel and being indoors, so I turned over and fell back asleep. I needed all I could get, since today would be a big day of climbing, loaded with full resupply of probably 30 pounds. As expected, the Trail rose steadily and then steeply, for what seemed like hours. In fact, it Was hours. But once we gained the first shelf of the ridge, we started reaping rewards. The storm had blown the gray, misty, cloudy weather away...along with the heavy humidity. The skies were clear and blue, and mountain views were everywhere. At first, we saw peaks we had climbed yesterday. As we continued, today's summits rose before us. There are no words to describe the beauty, majesty, and grandeur across the Franconia Ridge today. It's all I ever dreamed and hoped for on this hike were all rolled together into a single day of astounding perfection. We had lunch on Little Haystack, crossed Lincoln, and spent time resting and picture-taking on LaFayette, drinking it all in. JOY. It was with reluctance that we headed down into the woods again, and then across to Garfield. This was the more difficult and exhausting part of the day, descending and reascending over slow, technical trail. Late afternoon, we came to the sign indicating our shelter spot for tonight. We gathered water at the brook at the trailhead, then settled in. Wilson vowed to be asleep by hiker midnight, and ready to motor forward towards Mt. Washington tomorrow. Since today's miles felt more like a 20 - mile hike, I think it may be later in the week that we tackle the BIG one, we'll see. In any event, the panoramic scenes of today will stay with me for a very, very long time.
Date: 2015-07-29
From: Garfield Ridge Shelter

To: Ethan Pond Campsite
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

Yet again, the it was a good call to stay in the shelter overnight, as there was a heavy rainstorm that passed through. We packed up and got started around 7:30, and immediately found ourselves descending an "impossible", steep section of rocks. The Trail stayed rough for quite a while and was pretty exhausting. We stopped in for a break at Galehead Hut and snagged a few cold blueberry pancakes left from breakfast, also refilling water bottles out of the tap, which is nice. Twin Mt. was next on the agenda...a steep straight uphill, but with better footing. The day cleared up as we went along, and where we were in exposed areas, we were soon quite hot, not to mention the dripping sweat from the work of lugging packs uphill. So when we came to Zealand Falls, and Wilson spotted a pool of water at the bottom of it, we couldn't resist the chance to drop our packs and take a dip...or two or three. In between dips it was nice to lay on a rock in the sun.In fact, our time at the falls today was easily the highlight of both the day and our trek through the Whites. Afterwards, we stopped in at Zealand Hut for water and a bowl of potato dill soup, before moving on. Tonight we are staying at another shelter, up the hill from a pond, where I'm hearing the bullfrogs sing. Fourteen miles is far more work in this rugged territory. Hiker midnight can't come soon enough.
Date: 2015-07-30
From: Ethan Pond Campsite

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

It was a typical Trail day today, up by 6:30, hiking by 7:30. The first 3 miles to the road were fairly easy and smooth. After that, the complete opposite: we were climbing Webster Cliffs. I will just say that it was steep, and tough, and I did plenty of sweating. At the bottom of the hill, I had told Wilson I wanted to listen to my ipod going up, he said ok, and started up ahead of me. We agreed to meet up once on top. The thing is, once on top I didn't see Wilson. I kept going, reached Webster summit, and he wasn't there, either. I found myself hiking alone, which normally would be ok. But in this case, I really wanted a buddy to get through the tough section. I kept wondering what had happened. I also kept wondering if I was still on the AT, since occasionally there were additional trails leading off in different directions. Finally, I met some southbound hikers, and asked if they had seen a solo hiker going the other direction, and Wilson's description. They assured me he was just ahead. Eventually I made it to Mizpah Hut. Wilson wasn't there. I went in and got some water. I bought a piece of cake and ate it. I cleaned up in the restroom. I started eating my lunch, feeling sick in my stomach...not knowing what to do. Just then Wilson walked in. He had missed a switchback earlier, which sent him briefly down a wrong trail. After that he'd been behind me all day, trying to catch up. He had been similarly confused and frustrated about the morning. Our buddy system needed a plan B, or else walkie-talkies. It was very distressing to have been separated with no means of communicating. We will have to work on that. Anyhow, we hiked on together for the afternoon. At first we had beautiful, though hazy/cloudy views towards Mt. Washington. Once on Eisenhower, though, it began to sprinkle, then rain. It was a soggy, foggy trek to Lake of the Clouds Hut from there. We will stay here tonight, sleeping on the diningroom floor, and doing Work For Stay (WFS), to earn our keep. Just now we're waiting for supper and dessert to end for the paying guests, so that we can have their leftovers, do our chores, and go to bed.
Date: 2015-07-31
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Sleep was a bit hard to come by in the hut last night. Since our designated sleeping area was the diningroom floor, and guests occupied it until 9:30, hiker midnight had already come and gone. The restrooms were on the opposite end of the building from the guest bunkrooms...therefore, they had to pass through the diningroom to use them, all night long. The composting system had an air shaft which ran inside the wall I was next to: I both felt and heard the wind blowing through it all night. The Croo were up early, preparing breakfast for the guests, so we had to be up and out of the dining area by 6. We were glad to have shelter, in exchange for a little work (Wilson and I had been assigned to clean/wipe out the two refrigerators last night after dinner), but it wasn't like camping out, either. Wilson and I decided not to wait for breakfast leftovers at the hut, opting instead for our own hiker fare, and a 7 o'clock start up Mt. Washington. The sky was clear where we started, but as we climbed, it became dense, misty cloud. A little less than a hour later, we stood atop the summit, taking photos. There was no line to wait in, though a few hikers were already there. Winds were at 50mph and the temperature around 47degrees. I had to hold onto the sign for fear of being blown away. After that, we waited for the visitor center to open, and took shelter inside, to wait for the cafe to open. Awhile later, Wilson's sister Cindi arrived, and we enjoyed coffee, soda, and snacks from the cafe while they visited, then found a few keepsakes in the gift shop. Cindi was our trail angel today, feeding us and then taking most of our heavy gear from our packs down the mountain in her rental car. Now with lighter loads, we were able to make good time down past the cog railway, which we heard all day, but never saw, since Mt. Washington's summit was topped by a cloud. Up and down over more Presidentials, the weather alternated between gray and cloudy, with strong winds, to sunny and breezy. The gusts were bigger than I was, blowing me sideways across the rocky trail, and giving me a bit of a fright going up exposed rocky ridges. We stopped briefly at Madison Hut, then made our way up, over and down the long exposed, very rocky ridge back into the trees. The steep descent continued for a couple more miles, until we came to more "regular" woods, crossed a suspension bridge, and finished our hike at Pinkham Notch by 6pm. Cindi was there waiting for us at the visitors center, and shuttled us back to Gorham, where we feasted on pizza and salads. We're staying at White Mountain Hostel tonight, and taking a well-earned zero tomorrow, on what is supposed to be a very rainy day. I'm glad when timing works out well like that! A big thanks to Cindi for all her wonderful Trail Magic today!!!
Date: 2015-08-01
From: Pinkham Notch

To: White Mt. Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm taking a zero day today. It included some resupply, a visit to the outfitter, re-water-proofing some gear, a maple latte at the coffee shop in Gorham, and a trip to North Conway via our trail angel Cindi, to see the new Mission Impossible movie (2 thumbs up). Cindi, you are a true sweetheart!!! Big stuff happening tomorrow, so this is gonna be a short one. Nite!
Date: 2015-08-03
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Following yesterday's big hike, another zero was in order. Sleeping in late was on the agenda. Food resupply needed sorting. Cindi became an impromptu hair salon assistant (Cindi, I can't say it enough, you are here for all of us hikers in a VERY BIG WAY!). We moved back into White Mt. Hostel, gear was repacked, Walmart was revisited, as was the coffee shop for lunch. A box was mailed at the PO. Phone calls made. Next phase of hike discussed. Supper shared with many fellow thru-hikers. Today is my 4-month Trailversary!!! And tomorrow we head into Maine.
Date: 2015-08-04
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

For whatever reason, I haven't been able to sleep lately. I'm very tired, and I fall asleep right away, but during the night I wake up...from a sound, or a snore, or my knees aching...and then I'm restless for hours. That has been the case for a long string of days. And though I just had 2!!! zero days in town, they were both full and hectic. Is it any wonder, then, that as Wilson and I bade sad farewell to Cindi this morning (our trail angel had to fly away home), my feet were dragging a bit. Or wait...was that because of the 29.5 pounds of full backpack strapped to my back? Or was it the heavy, humid, hot air going up the first hill? Or the fact that unlike the beautifully "adopted", manicured, well-maintained trail in the last section, we found ourselves on what I'm now calling "orphan" trail...rutty, rooty, and rather unkempt treadway...? No matter the reasons, both Wilson and I struggled today. We trudged, and we poked. And possibly there was some groaning along the way, and stumbling and slipping, and a couple of falls (mine was a doozy, landing on my backpack, like an upturned turtle, unable to right myself). We passed the 1900 mile mark. Then the thunder rumbled in the distance, and the sky darkened, like a dimmer switch being turned. We donned rain gear as the drops began, but it never really amounted to that much. Just in case, we decided to take the spur trail .2 miles to the nearest shelter. Not long after arriving, and chatting with the occupants, the rain had stopped. We could have moved along a few more hours to our intended place for today...a shelter just across the border into Maine. Instead, with mutual agreement, and weariness, we decided to stay put, and take naps. Lovely, refreshing, dozing rest for two afternoon hours was the "fun" to be had on the Trail today. After supper and some chores, enjoying the scenic mountain view framed by the shelter opening, we have now returned to our cozy bags, another day faded into night.
Date: 2015-08-05
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Full Goose Shelter 
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

It was a beautiful morning view from our lofty shelter this morning, and also great weather to hike: cool and clear and sunny. So we set off with high hopes of good progress. However, we have at last begun to understand what people have been saying all along about the tough, rugged terrain meaning slower hiking and fewer miles. There are just so many more obstacles in the path, with steep, short rock slabs, boulders, ups and downs on slippery ground. It was in one of these sections that I was following Wilson...I faced a wall of rock that had to be climbed. I decided to try the edge, getting a foothold briefly, and grabbing a branch, or root, of a tree to pull myself up and over. Just as I had my full weight suspended, it broke off in my hand, I started falling, my arm wrenched around behind me, I screamed, and slid down the rugged rock face 8 feet. When I landed at the bottom, sitting in the muddy dirt, I found I had "road rash" from my right hip to mid-thigh, and along my right calf. I had also scraped my right arm from elbow to wrist, with a small gash at the elbow. My left fingernails were jagged as a result of clawing at the rock on the way down in an attempt to break my fall. A concerned Wilson shouted down from above, but he couldn't see me. I shouted back that nothing was broken, but it was quite a fall, and I was shaken by it. There was nothing to do but to get up and climb on, and keep going, though. I'm not sure how I did so, but once moving again, we got to a shoulder of Mt. Success, where there was an open area of rock for me to sit down and recover a bit, while Wilson, who just happens to be an EMT, tended to my wounds. I'm so thankful for my Trail Angel today, who is also my buddy-system partner. After that, we arrived at the summit of Mt. Success...I'm not sure if I felt successful because I made it or unsuccessful because I fell...probably more the former than the latter. A while later, we arrived at the NH/Maine border sign...our 14th and final state! It's definitely a challenge through this section. Some of the more difficult ascents and descents have ladders and rebar for assistance, but there is plenty of pulling oneself up and over, and carefully picking one's way down rocks. We were on an open ridgeline this afternoon, when Wilson pointed off to dark, storming rain clouds approaching. We quickened our steps as best we could, in order to arrive at the shelter just as the rain came. Again, it was much earlier than we would normally stop for the day, around 3pm. But it seemed foolish to attempt Mahoosuc Notch so late, on wet rocks, and after the scare of my fall. So for the second day in a row, I had a nice, cozy (though very sore) afternoon nap in a shelter. We are learning to be patient with the Trail at this stage, taking these difficult miles and weather as they come.
Date: 2015-08-06
From: Full Goose Shelter 

To: Frye Notch Lean-to
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: light rain

We awoke this morning to foggy, cloudy skies, and decided to wait an extra half hour before getting up, in case things cleared a bit. They didnt, but it was nice to linger under cover a bit longer. I was very sore this morning, especially my hip and shoulder. Once on the Trail, I found a different sort of "wound" too...fear. The first rock face I came to caused me to want to curl up in a ball and melt into the ground. I felt like I could barely breathe...or move. It was so difficult to process my fall yesterday, the pain I have, and continuing through hundreds more miles full of places I could fall again. As I walked, I gradually let go of the fear, putting one foot carefully in front of the next, as we approached and then maneuvered our way through Mahoosuc Notch. It's a section of large, jumbled boulders you have to climb over, under, and around. It takes much longer than regular trail miles do. Some find it great fun...others dont. I can only say it was different, and I'm glad I experienced it once, and made it through in one piece. After stopping for lunch, we went up Mahoosuc Arm in good time...then hiked more miles until Speck Pond, where we again stopped for water and a snack. Then it was up and over another mountain, and down to a road, where we found no trail magic, sadly. But we did empty our trash into a can at the parking lot. It's the little things...Wilson wanted to make some good time up the next 2 miles, and let me go in front. I got into high gear once I saw smoother, easier trail (first time in many days), and we made it in just 47 minutes. Sweaty, and winded, we stopped at a shelter for more water and some food at 530, since we wanted to go another 3 1/2 miles today to the next shelter. Little did we know how dramatically the trail would change, as we climbed a steep 1000 feet, then found ourselves on Bald pate, going across its ridge, and facing an open rocky summit to walk up late in the day, with strong winds blowing. The peak reminded me of going up the back side of Mt. Marcy in the Adirondacks. Once on top, we went over and started a very steep descent on the other side. This continued down below tree line as well, and was rather slow going. We finally reached the small shelter just at dusk. It's made for 6, and had 4 occupants already, who moved aside to make way for 2 more. I'm so thankful not to have to set up a tent tonight!!! What a long and difficult day it has been, and so tiring that I'm going to bed hungry, not willing to cook at this point. It was a day of hiking bravery and victory for me today, deserving of a medal of valor, considering how I started the morning. And now, lights out.
Date: 2015-08-07
From: Frye Notch Lean-to

To: South Arm Road
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

There were a few drops at first, then pouring rain on the metal roof of the shelter in the night. It hadn't been in the forecast, but in the mountains, rain comes suddenly, and at will. Once again, though, we were inside and dry, and had completed a film - worthy summit on dry rock the evening before, instead of treacherous, wet rock this morning. Instead, we began the day with a steep up and over an unnamed knob which seemed to be an exercise in futility...except that at its high point Wilson was able to check his phone messages (Verizon). I was able to receive texts, bur nothing more, on my phone (AT&T). This is part for the course, dear reader: I am at the mercy of my "provider" our here, so cannot update my Journal as I wish. More importantly, I cannot update my family as I wish! It was very encouraging, then, that one of Wilson's messages was from my cousin, Rob, who just happens to live in Maine. He was going to meet us at the bottom of the mountain, as we'd hoped. So down we went, and not long after, some very nice Trail Magic appeared in the form of a rumbling blue truck and a familiar face that I don't get to see very often, since I live in Ohio. Rob knows this neck of the woods, and has offered to slack pack us through as much of this section as possible while he has some days off work for the next week. I couldn't be happier about that. So, after unloading our unneeded gear into this truck and hiking another 10 miles across mostly unremarkable trail, we were greeted on the other end by Rob, his dog, and icy cold bottles of coke and Dr. Pepper. Sweet! While Rob was waiting at the road for us he met a few other hikers coming south, and offered a ride to one of them...we dropped him at a hostel in Andover, then stopped in at a store for snacks to tide us over until supper. We were received at his house by Cheryl, his wife, who had already prepared a pasta salad and asparagus for supper, and once we were cleaned up (ahhh showers to rinse away 4 days of grime!!!) Rob added grilled burgers to that, plus 4 boiled lobsters. Welcome to Maine!!! Welcome, indeed. We are living mighty fine.