morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-09-08
From: saco river

To: lake of the clouds hut
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: fog

I actually woke up early today. I got up shortly after sunrise and started packing. The weather didn't look promising so I packed up quick and headed out. The climb up Webster cliffs was brutal. Lot of rocks, hand over hand climbing and slick. I topped the ridge and could see this huge dark cloud slowly coming towards me. The day became a race with the clouds. I'd get ahead and it would catch me. Back an forth. I got to mizba hut in good timeNo views so no reason to stop. I caught up with butch and stonedance. Hiked with them for a bit. The hut was super friendly and had great soup. They said the weather was supposed to hold for a few more hours and then get really bad. It was four miles and I set out shortly before one. It was brutal. The hike an trail was fine. But the constant 40 mile hour wind and 60 to 80 mile gusts took everything. I carabineered my pack cover to my pack. Good thing cause it blew off and flew like a flag. I had to take my hat off and stow it away. It was so ridiculous I just had to laugh. It was insane but fun at the same time. Yesterday 70s and no wind. Today 50s and gale force winds. I got to lake of the clouds where im staying now. It was only 3 but since the weather sucked so much she let me, lead, amd Sanchez stay early. So far im going to do morning work. Don't know what though. Leaf and Sanchez did dishes. Birdman an nomad did a presentation about the trail. It was pretty funny. I had heard they didn't feed the hikers till everyone is finished but they brought us food. We had corn soup, bread, mashed potatoes, and a massive amount of turkey. We put down some turkey. Six hikers can eat some serious food. The croo put on a little show that was funny. We had heard the huts were mean but we have had none of that. These people are awesome, great food and cool people. And im not in the rain and tornado wind. Its kinda strange seeing a hundred people at once. But the food makes up for it. I decided to do a short day and stay at Madison hut. Knock out some huts on the way out. I might as well since that's the reason I flipped.Funny joke bird man told3 hikers walk into a bar. A day hiker, a section hiker, and a thru hiker. A fly lands in each of their food. The day hiker asks for another plate. The section hiker picks out the fly and keeps eating. The thru hiker grabs the fly and says cough it up, that's my food.
Date: 2012-09-09
From: lake of the clouds hut

To: madison hut
Miles today: 7.1

I didn't sleep the best last night. We slept up on the tables in the dinning room which would of been fine except for the hundred guests kept walking through with boots on to the bathroom. At one point there was an older fella just walking up and down the rows of us. I finally got to sleep and was awaken before six by people moving about. I got my stuff and went and found a corner to sleep in. We waited till breakfast was over amd we destroyed the left overs. Pancakes, oatmeal and a kinda omelet thing. I cleaned tables and swept bunkrooms. We got started 10ish. Man was it cold. Below 40 before the windchill. They told the weather and yesterday had a peak gust of 81 miles an hour. We started out in 38 degree weather. I put on my rain suit and was soon hot hiking. We made Washington summit before it was crowded and had the best view. Amazing in every direction. We were only going to Madison hut and didn't want to get there to early for work for stay. So we hung out in the observatory. While we were waiting a cloud rolled in amd you couldn't see 20 feet. I left the way I came in, full rainsuit amd that lasted about 15 seconds. In the two hours we were there it warned up 20 degrees. Back to shorts and a short sleeve. The trail was beautiful. Above tree line the entire time and passing clouds. Being so high I've minute the sun was out amd the next 40 foot visibility. Me and birdman did all the summit trails. It wasn't much farther and totally worth it. I hiked down to the hut with a thru from 2001 and we swapped stories. I was the first at the hut and the guy was nice. I went to the corner amd read my book. Jungle cat, happy trout, and birdman came in. Short term and Eva caught up as well as a guy named pillow talk who I hadn't met. They turned away butch and stonedance and two others. It sucked to know we are staying and they have to go. Its cold on this mountain tonight. Maybe low 40s. We all stayed in the corner and snacked while the people ate. We got stuffed shells, soups, bread, amd oatmeal loaf. There was nothing left. One croo actually made us some mac an cheese. After dinner we cleaned the fridge and freezer did dishes and tables. The croo was there helping to and were really friendly. Everyone went to bed early at this hut. Much better than the last hut. Hopefully I'll get some sleep tonight. Then back to ruffing it in my hammock. Hard life.
Date: 2012-09-10
From: madison hut

To: Gorham
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: broken clouds

I slept like a rock last night. I wouldn't have gotten up if jungle cat didn't shake my foot when it was time for us to get off the tables. I got coffee and found my corner. Everyone has been getting a cold, and i didn't feel well this morning. Luckily it passed. We ate breakfast after everyone was done. Oatmeal, eggs and coffee cake. This morning was freaking cold. And wi9ndy. And just not good weather. We all piddled around. I went out ready to go in my rain jacket and shorts. I came back two minutes later and put on my rain pants. The climb up Madison was scary. 20 foot viability, major winds, rain and it started snowing and sleeting. I was following Eva and short-term closely not wanting to be alone in that mess. We got up and over fine but on the way downs the carrion went this way and we followed. Turns out we missed a turn and took a totally different route down the mountain. By the time we figured it out, we were below tree line and none of us wanted to go back in that storm. we figured the trail would eventually hit a road and we had at least two days food in case. It was a long way and i'm not sure how far. we got to a dirt road and flagged down a car. found out where 7 miles to Gorham. We walked out the dirt road and hitched into town. I got food and found a hostel. Took a shower and did laundry. Hombre came in and we went to dinner. I t5hink me and him are going to get a late start. Do five mile to carter notch and then a big day back to Gotham. I like idea of one more hut. I just got to figure out how much food i have left and what I'll need. Then i start Maine and finish that up and maybe start heading south again in two weeks. I've met some cool SOBOs like Patric and rocket who i'd like to catch up to. Still no sign of the group i was with. I'm expecting that at any point now i'lll see them. I can't wait to see their faces.
Date: 2012-09-11
From: Gorham

To: Carter's Notch hut
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up this morning so well rested. I felt good. Me and hombre went to some amazing local coffee shop and got great coffee. We got some food at a gas station and headed out. The guy who picked us up made maps for the trails and apparently won a bunch of awards. He was going to the center anyway and took us. He gave me a couple maps and i'll admit they are very good. Extremely detailed. The hike out of pink-am notch was a calf burner. It was steep. But had a great view of the presidential s. I didn't go to fast and made it to the hut by five. There is a school group here who are very loud, but fun to watch. Their leaders are really cool. I did dishes and wiped tables. They gave us a ton of lasagna and some great chicken soup. After all the kids went to bed (in a separate building thank god). The Croo just sat around talking and telling stories of the strange things they've had Thrus do. One girl had them make chocolate chip cookie dough and the pick the chips out. Just random funny stuff. They told us about the tin can challenge. Eat an entire can of food in an hour. 6 pounds of it. I may try it in the morning. Today was beautiful and the night was really clear. we went down to the lake and looked at the starts. There were so many. Today has just been amazing.
Date: 2012-09-12
From: Carter's Notch hut

To: Gorham
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

I slept ok. I feel like i don't sleep as well after small mile days. Also i'm kinda glad this is the last hut. They have been fun and an experience, but i haven't actually camped in almost a week. Also the hut food does not sit well with me. The hike out of carters was steep but it had a 360 view at the top. It was a clear warm day and very nice hiking. After that it was relativity mild ups and downs but nothing terrible. I met two SOBOs who started thh day before me. Hopefully i'll be able to catch them. I also ran into snowman today. It was great to see him and we talked a while. Madmax rocksteady and bebop are all a day or two behind, so i'll see them soon. The last four miles was down, flat and easy. I was practically running. I didn't see many people so i got in a major groove. I almost ran into a couple. They scared me cause i didn't realize they were there till i was almost on top of them. I got to the road and it took about 20 seconds to get a ride. She took me to walmart and i got food till andover. Getting back to the town took a little longer, but i got a ride and a hotel with 70% firefox and pillow talk. We chilled in a hot tube for two hours. watched a little tv and ate more food.
Date: 2012-09-13
From: Gorham

To: gentian pond shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

After soaking in a hot tub and having a real bed i slept like a rock. Morning came and i didn't move. I just laid there. i eventually got moving but it was close to 11 by the time i was out the door. I went to subway thinking, i'll eat half a sub now and half later. The later half did not happen. Me and pillow talk started trying to hitch around 12. We weren't having any luck so we started dancing and being silly and that got a lot of smiles and finally a lady stopped. She dropped us off and we went to the hostel. Birdman was there. He went to the doctor and found out his cold turned into bronchitis. the doctor gave him some pills, but told him to rest a few days. I finally got on the trail at one a clock. The walk was much less rocky and i made really good time. I ran into bebop and rocksteady. We stopped and talked a while. It was great to see them again. The rest of the day was up and down. Going by lakes and ponds. Not a bad day at all. I'm at my first shelter in what seems like forever. It has a great view of a vally and is right by a waterfall. I built my first fire out here. I was tired but there was so much dry wood i just had to. So far i'm by myself and it's already dark. Pillow talk may roll in but there was some nice spots earlier on and he may stop at one of them. I broke 300 miles and i'm ready for some southern Maine.
Date: 2012-09-14
From: gentian pond shelter

To: Full goose shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: clear sky

I woke up to a beautiful view. The valley in front of the shelter was full of fog and the sunny was coming up made for a golden color. I just sate there for a while. I woke up early and didn't have to go fart today so i walked to the lake. It was like a mirror. The whole mountain side was reflected perfectly in it. it was like glass. I picked up a rock and threw it in the middle. The ripples made for a cool affect before it settled. The hike out was ok. Not much of a view but i did meat a nice couple who did what they refereed to as drive-thru hiking. They were essentially day hiking the entire trail. They would park one car at the road, drive to the road before it and hike to their car. I took a nap on a rock and ate some of the massive amount of food i have. The next bit was very nice. Walking through big fields of moss, gentle ups and down. It got to one mountain and had a great view. There was an older couple there. The woman was very friendly and interested, the fella, i have nothing nice to say about him. After that was some gentle walks. I made up a games. It's called is it solid. There are a lot of bogs and muddy spots, most of which have bog bridges or logs or rocks to hop across. The past two days have had these but they are beneath the mud a few inches. So the game goes, if it is solid you pass to the next one. If its not solid, you have two options. Relize its not solid and go around, jump or find some way across. The other option is to not realize and go up to your knee in the mud. If that happens you must curse and walk covered in mud till you find a creek. At one bog it looked sketchy so i poked it with my pole and hit a board. I then stepped right beside where i poked and went straight down. All the way to my knee. I carefully pulled my foot out and muttered and kept going. I made it to the shelter to early and to late at the same time. 4 a clock. but the hardest mile is right after this and its 3 miles past to the next water. I might of could made it, but odds are it'd be dark by the time i got into camp. So i stopped early and have just been reading my book. It's never taken me 30 days to read a book before. So far i'm alone, but i'm expecting at least two more. Actually i was expecting them two hours ago. there is no water from here to where i left them. I hope they aren't hurt. The leaves have been changing quickly and a lot have started to fall.
Date: 2012-09-15
From: Full goose shelter

To: Speck pond Shelter
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: broken clouds

We had gotten a forecast for rain in the morning and it was to clear up in the early afternoon. We all slept in and it clouded over and threatened but nothing. we left about 930 and had awesome weather for the notch. Not hot, but not cold. Good fall weather. The notch itself was a lot of fun. Walking through a boulder filled valley. I didnt have to take my pack of and i didn't die. Two accomplishments. IT was very hard and tiring still. We did the arm which was just straight up a rock slab for the entire length of the mountain. I ate lunch on a cool rock outcrop. It started to sprinkle a little and me an pillow talk headed for the shelter a mile away. The temp dropped over 30 degrees and it started to speckle snow. It's cold! we stopped early and made a fire. But i'm feeling an early night for sure. There are quite a few people at the shelter tonight. Everyone is trying to get out of the cold i think. I'm bundled up in everything i have, got to get mom to send me my cold weather gear soon. But i hear this is just a front and tomorrows is supposed to be warmer. I hope so.
Date: 2012-09-16
From: Speck pond Shelter

To: Andover
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: few clouds

It was so cold last night! everyone was as bundled up as could be. I was warm in my bag with my liner, but mad max who had a 20 degree bag said he got cold. I kept my stove, coffee and water by my head so i could make coffee still in my sleeping bag. Everyone got out and started putting stuff up. Not me. I ate breakfast from my bag and said once i was out it's not even going to be ten minutes before i'm on the trail. I packed up and set off at a jog. There was frost an ice on the top of the mountain. The day did warm up and i ate a ton of food. it was a hard 15 miles. Lots of ups and downs. Coming over bald plate mountain which was a giant granite slab , the wind was intense. form there the trail was nice. I did nearly five miles in an hour forty five minutes. i was going as fast as i could. i met a couple earlier in the day and they were parked a few miles away, but they came looking for me at the road. I asked them to wait 10 minutes for pillow talk to catch up and he made it. Super nice couple. In town i met up with happy trout and jungle cat again. Also bullmoose is at the hostel. 70% broke his ankle and is debating what to do about that. Mostly everyone is just hanging out and having a good time enjoying being out of the cold.
Date: 2012-09-17
From: Andover

To: Andover
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

I've made it a month. That was one of my major goals and mile stones. It has been amazing so far. I woke up early and went to the gas station and made a big breakfast from the stuff i got there. 6 eggs, half a pound of bacon, a loaf of homemade bread and a half gallon of orange juice. moving was hard after. me and pillow talk just did the section between the andover roads. David the guy at the hostel dropped us off. there was much of a view until later so we made excellent time. We were tearing up some mile. there was some fun climbing up and out of of moody mountain, but the trail was very easy after that. I stopped at a shelter and talked with a trail maintainer for a while . he was talkative and full of info about the area. We got back to the road and hitched to town. I got ice cream and me and pillow talk are making spaghetti tonight. pound of noodles, pound of meat and a large can of sauce. Solid dinner. I also got a drink to celebrate my one month. We watched the falcons beat up on the broncos. It started pitiful but the 4th quarter was worth watching. David is some form of a native Indian and got to talking about different things. It was wonderful to listen to him. he read mine and pillow's hand. Pillow's turned out good, me...we it was interesting reading to say the least. He was full of knowledge and willing to tell us. It was very interesting. The weather tomorrow is supposed to be bad so we'll see how far i make it.
Date: 2012-09-18
From: Andover

To: Bemis mt lean to
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up this morning and went to the diner with firefox and pillow talk. I got french toast with a the best blueberry paste ever. it was thick and sweet and loaded with blue berries. we packed up and headed out at 10. the weather was real foggy with chances of rain later. the odd thing was the wind advisory, didn't know what that meant, but i do now. the trees are swaying more than 10 feet. the to of the mountain the trees were moving the ground. we decided for a short day and seems like everyone else was a similar thought. the shelter is full cause no one wants to camp in this mess. there are more than 10 people and its still early. more people than i've seen in a shelter this whole trip. i didn't stop once today. just head down and go. but i hiked with an older woman named bright flower. i talked with her a while and that was nice. It's shaping up to be pretty cold tonight. I'm glad i'm not in my hammock, as much as the trees are moving i'd be shaken to death. early dinner and bed tonight.
Date: 2012-09-19
From: Bemis mt lean to

To: Rangly 
Miles today: 17.7

Last night was crazy! the wind never let up and it rained on and on. The shelter was warm and dry, everyone woke up and finally set out. The entire day was walking through a river, swamp or mud puddle. Bot pairs of my shoes are soaked and everything is covered in mud. the trail wasn't bad in terms of climbs or slickness but the puddle dodging was draining. At one point we were walking through a foot and a half of water in the trail. We got to the first road and a bunch of people decided to yellow blaze to rangly. Me and pillow talk thought about it, but it's out of the question to me. I still hate that i took the wrong trail down Madison. One stream crossing wasn't safe and we made our way up stream to get across. the second half of the day was grueling and long. About a mile from the road we met a SOBO named trail freckles. She said the hostel was closed. She also said ther was some sketchy guy by the road and didn't want to camp by herself. We told her we had a friend in rangly with a motel room already and she was welcome to come with us. We all ate dinner and a nice couple bought us a bunch of appetizers. Thank you bob and tish. We all chilled out in the floor but its better than the supposedly below freezing weather outside. 3 maybe 4 days and i can head south again. Maybe i'll get away from this cold for a bit longer. 3 days ago it was 80 degrees.
Date: 2012-09-20
From: Rangly 

To: Pizza rock shelter
Miles today: 1.8

I slept great last night. Woke up and went to the laundry mat, my stuff was caked in mud and most was still soaked. I was feeling pretty wore out and so we was pillow. We decided to hang out in town for most of the day and get a really late start. we went to the outfitters and i finally got a pair of gloves, i looked around but there isn't much i think i need that wont be sent to me in lincoln. i had a huge chicken parmigiana sandwich at the dinner. And sweet potato fries. heck ya. we went to the grocery and i got way to much food. I'm still in the mindset of planning for ten mile days , but i'm getting so much stronger than i can do more and carry less food. I did plan for this short day so that will be a little weight gone. I stopped at the library and did something i shouldn't have. i found a good book. i carry a book and i just finished the one i was reading. it was a book i liked but could easily put down and pick up later. this new book is to good. It's going to come down to me taking a day off and finishing it. And for that i'll have to find a library. But now i am bookless and thinking about food. i did a massive day of 1.8 today but there are some cool rocks to climb and caves to explore. So not to bad
Date: 2012-09-21
From: Pizza rock shelter

To: Spaulding mt lean to
Miles today: 16.9

Today was long. I woke up fairly early but got a late start around 9. Pillow talk left out really early but i caught him around one. The trip up saddle back was a cool trail, but is a mountain of false summits. You think you have topped out five times before i finally go to the sign. there was the most random pond at the top of a 4000 foot mountain. the view was great. you could see all of rangly spread out and mountains in all directions. Its only one more day till i get going south. I was talking with pillow, and i've really enjoyed hiking north for a bit. it's totally different than hiking south. there is drama going north it seems. but i'm ready to go south again, even if only to get away from the cold for a little bit more. I talked with snow man, turns out i'll be about perfect to hook up with him when i get back down. that'll be cool. i have no idea how i'm going to get down, i need a computer, maybe i'll just hitch the whole way. maybe i'll find some cool person in town who is just magically going that way. It'll work out i'm sure. it's looking to be a cold night again. But i'll sleep well after the amount of up and down i've done today.
Date: 2012-09-22
From: Spaulding mt lean to

To: Stratton 
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Well aparrently it decided to rain last night. And get hot. No warnning just woke up and it was pouring. But i was in the shelter and didnt care much. i slept in and waited for it to quit. i left about 9ish and pretty much walked through a cloud all morning. I wasn't wet, but i wasn't dry either. Just damp. i wanted to the sugerloaf side trail, but there was so much cloud cover that it would of been pointless. it did clear up comieng down to the ford though. ther was sgreat reainbow coiming down into the valley thought the mist. i got to the ford and a flip had said there was a sketchy board that i might try. it was very sketchy. half under water, at an angle and kinda wedged between two rocks. i made a tentative step and it seemed goood. i slowly inched acreoos and i was thinking, justo ne more step and i'll make hte go for hte rock. i startee the step and the board gave way. Just enough to have water come right over the edge of my boots. 8 more miles of wet feet. luckily the sun came out and i did get a view from north crocker. the last five miles were very gentle and i half ran to make good time. i got to the road and sat on a rock waiting for pillow talk to catch up. i was beat. the past two days have been very Challenging. but i'm now done with maine, 400 miles total and ready to figure out how to get back to lincoln.