morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-28
From: Congdon Shelter

To: goddard shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained all night last night and into the morning for a bit. I hung around the shelter just delaying getting wet. Once I started the rain stopped and it didn't return until the end of the day. The trail had a lot of up and downs today and the hiking was slow with all the mud. On my last climb of the day it really started to rain and thankfully the shelter appeared about 20 yards later. This was not my planned stop for the day but the rain was coming down and I didn't feel like battling it for 4 more miles of trail. I got here around 4 and relaxed with 2 other section hikers. There are several people here now and we are all happy to be out of the rain. It is still raining and it is not showing many signs of letting up. When the clouds do break we have a great view of the mountains to the west. It has been nice to have a relaxing afternoon and much needed rest for my legs. Goodnight
Date: 2013-06-29
From: goddard shelter

To:  Winhall River
Miles today: 21.3

There is really no such thing as an accurate weather forecast. Today was supposed to be thunderstorms but it was clear and beautiful. The trail is always wet but the skies were blue. I got an early start this morning and enjoyed how quiet the trail was. The trail bumped along for the first ten miles with a lot of streams and rock hopping. After lunch I climbed up Stratton mountain. When Benton Mackaye came up with the idea of the AT he was standing on top if this mountain. It was a nice climb and when I got to the top there was a fire tower and a bachelorette party...ha. I laughed and told them that I have only seen 3 girls in the last 3 months. I got to climb the fire tower on top of the mountain and I had amazing views in all directions. I could see two different ski resorts, several lakes, and a lot of big mountains in all directions. Soon after that I descended the mountain and passed by Stratton Pond...which was really pretty. Then the trail was relatively flat all the way to my campsite on the Winhall River. I am camped just up from the water and it was nice to be able to wash off. The Vermont mud was tough on my feet today and I'm looking forward to getting into Manchester tomorrow to replace my socks, new tips for my hiking poles, and a new water bladder. Can't wait to get new shoes too! I setup camp around 5 and I was in my tent asleep by 6:30. It is midnight now...hopefully I can fall back to sleep. Manchester before 10 tomorrow for a resupply and a few other errands. Hasta la vista
Date: 2013-06-30
From:  Winhall River

To: mad tom notch
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night after I typed my journal I had a mouse visit my tent. I usually keep my food sealed up in my pack but I had it in my tent last night. Luckily he didn't chew through my tent to get to the food. He was crawling around on my bug liner when I scared him off. I woke up around 6:30 and started my hike into town by 7. I only had 9 miles to town so it went by in a hurry. When I was about 2 miles from the hwy the trail went to the prospect rocks lookout. It was an incredible view of the surrounding mountains. Vermont is beautiful. I finished off the last of the descent to the hwy shortly after. When I am going into town I like to clean up a bit so I don't gross people out to much...so I brushed my teeth. As I was brushing a guy pulled up and asked me if I needed a ride into town! Once in town my first stop was mountain goat outfitters. I had to pick up a package that the lane family sent me (thank y'all so much)! Then I bought several other things that I needed: new socks, waterproof phone case, and new tips for my hiking poles were the highlights. They had a really cool shop and I enjoyed hanging around talking with the people that worked there. After that it was lunch and charge my phone. Then around 3 it was back to the trail. As I was packing up to leave a guy walked up and asked me if I needed a ride back to the trail! It is so nice to get in and out of trail towns so easy. Once again Manchester center was an extremely nice New England town. Once back to the trail it was up bromley mtn. I could hear thunder in the distance but it was south of me and seemed to be moving away. So I passed bromley shelter am continued up to the summit. The summit is also the top of bromley ski resort. Once I was up there clouds started moving in and the weather got worse so I went into the ski patrol building. It was nice and empty. The weather got worse so i figure is just stay there but about an hour later the weather cleared and I decided to hike another 3 miles. My legs felt great and I wanted to make some more progress so it was nice to be able to be flexible. I am camped by a gravel road between bromley and Peru mtns. There is a water pump that is by the road and I am certain that it was pulling water from the center of the earth. I had to get a full workout in to get water to come out. Looking forward to tomorrow. I am passing two nice lakes...I am going to take a swim in one if not both of them. Loving Vermont, I bet it is unreal beautiful in the fall. Oh I also saw bear #10 today
Date: 2013-07-01
From: mad tom notch

To: Greenland Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

The trail was great today. It rained on and off all day but nothing to serious. The day started off with several ups and downs with the highlight being baker peak. It was overcast but through the clouds you could spot other mountains. It was really cool. Then I descended for the rest of the day past several lakes and creeks. Around lunch time I stopped at big branch creek and jumped in for a swim. It was really cold but really refreshing. I had lunch then it was back to hiking. Little rock pond was next and it was really cool. Some of my favorite scenery in VT has been the ponds surrounded by mountains. Around the 17 mile mark it started raining really hard so I hiked 2 more miles and stopped off in Greenland shelter. Through PA, NJ, NY, and other states it felt like you were surrounded by towns. I would turn my phone on and always have full service. It is nice to be back in the quiet woods and turning my phone on and seeing no service. I like it that way. I also managed to throw away my map for the next 20 miles of trail so I'm not sure what is ahead. I would like to make it to the inn at long trail tomorrow but we will see. Could be to far. Two journals today go back
Date: 2013-07-02
From: Greenland Shelter

To: Cooper lodge shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: light rain

Last night the rain started around 6 and it didn't stop until sometime this morning. I shared the shelter with a couple that is out for a few days. Around 9 the mosquitoes were so bad in the shelter they setup their tent in the shelter and went to sleep. The mosquitoes were pestering the heck out of me so I went the tent route too. Since my tent isn't free standing I had to cut up my bear line to use to tie my tent to the roof so it would stand up. Once in my tent I was finally able to get some rest. This morning I waited for the rain to clear before starting. I was on the trail by 9 and that meant I was going to have to hike late to get to killington. Today was going to be a challenge and my first day in a while with a lot of big climbs back to back. The morning was great and I had several great views. For lunch I hiked down a hwy half a mile to a deli and to resupply one day to get into Hanover. It has rained everyday since I have been in VT...it has been raining since 5 today and will continue through the night. The creeks are high and the are running over the stones that you can usually use to step across. I had 4 stream crossings today that required creativity. The first I had to ford and it was about knee deep. The last 3 I was able to find places with a log or stones close enough to stretch across and stay dry.... The last few miles of the day went up Killington 2500 feet. It was a great climb and I was happy with how I held up. On the climb up I passed the governor clement shelter. It was built in 1929 and was really cool. They had a picture of it when it was first built. The mountain was completely clear of trees but now 80+ years later it is surrounded by trees. I am in the cooper lodge shelter tonight and it is leaking...thankfully not on me.I have been thinking about the national lampoons vacation movie when John candy says "sorry folks park's closed." That better not happen when I get to Baxter state park haha. I would lose my mind!
Date: 2013-07-03
From: Cooper lodge shelter

To: Mink Brook
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: light rain

Woke up to rain again this morning an waited it out until 8. With all the rain the descent off of Killington was pretty tough. I was covered in mud by the time I reached the bottom. After that I reached the Maine junction, it is where the AT and long trail split and separate ways. I was able to stop for lunch at Gifford woods state park and make use of the bathrooms. I got to wash off a bit and try to charge my phone but my charger got wet yesterday and no longer works. I plan to get a new one in Hanover. The rest of the day was muddy, slow, and tough. But overall the trail was a lot of fun with some challenges. I am camped by mink brook and I was able to wash off before getting in my tent. Thankful for blue skies all afternoon and so far a dry evening....i might hear thunder in the distance. I'm really really tired so im going to cut this journal short.
Date: 2013-07-04
From: Mink Brook

To: Thistle Hill Shelter 
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

Ok the reason my journals have been delayed is because my phone charger got wet about a week ago and no longer worked. So my phone battery died. I finally got another charger. So this is a catch up journal for yesterday. It was a hot day with several steep climbs. Around lunch time I descended to a hwy and spotted an ice cream cone hanging off the side of a building... I figured I had to go check it out to see if they had ice cream... They did!!! I enjoyed a pint for lunch and relaxed for a bit before taking on several tough up and downs back to back. I seemed to cover miles a lot faster than normal. So I was into the thistle hill shelter around 5. I didn't expect to see anyone at the shelter but there were 5 other hikers. One of which was thru hiking ME to GA. He was the first one that I have met. Today I also set my finish date for the weekend of August 10. I have to average 12 miles a day to get there my then...so that means I'm going to have time really relax and enjoy Nh and ME. I have been talking to several people that are familiar with the Maine section of trail and learning all of the great campsites and side trails. There is a trail in Maine that is 5.2 miles long and goes thru caves and past waterfalls. I plan to hike it. It connects to the AT so it will be easy to get to. We relaxed the rest of the evening and I got into my tent around 7. Soon after a big thunder storm moved in and it rained a lot. I slept through most of it and it finally stopped around 9:30. Then the fireworks began! Hanover, NH tomorrow!
Date: 2013-07-05
From: Thistle Hill Shelter 

To: Hanover
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

After a great night of sleep I was up early but didn't getting moving until 8. The plan for the morning was 5 miles into west Hartford for breakfast and then 7 to Hanover and the black center to do laundry and get a shower. This morning was great and really easy. I have been noticing hoses running all through the trees along the trail and my best guess was for maple syrup. I guessed correctly when a local man confirmed. As I was walking through west Hartford an older man was sitting on his front porch and I stopped to talk with him for a bit. He had a really nice old house that was on the banks of the White River. He mentioned that he payed $15,000 for it 50 years ago. After that it was up 1000 and down to Norwich with a 2.5 mile road walk into Hanover, NH. I was extremely dirty so priority #1 was getting clean. The black center was great and really takes care of hikers! While I was waiting on laundry I got to meet 5 other Sobo's. After that I went back to the main part of Hanover to grab some lunch and hang out until short n sweet came to pick me for a stay at her house for the night. She picked me up around four and took me to a grocery store then to her house. They are a super nice family and they were extremely generous. They cooked salmon and even dessert for me. It was a relaxing evening. The sobo's that I met at the black center are now here at the house with me. We are hanging out and just relaxing. I am planning in hanging around Hanover in the morning and leaving around noon. I was pretty worn out after all the mud in Vermont. It has been a very needed break from the trail! Three days from the whites!
Date: 2013-07-06
From: Hanover

To: Holt's Ledge
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

We all went upstairs for breakfast around 7:30 this morning and she had bagels from the local bakery for us. They were delicious and it was a very relaxing morning! Debbie gave me a ride back into Hanover at 8:30 and I spent the rest of the morning relaxing and enjoying town. I spent a few minutes walking around Dartmouth's campus before heading to a coffee shop to read and use their wifi. I was in no rush to leave town but it was back to the trail around noon. The trail was great and it is always refreshing to be in a new state. I was able to hike in dry shoes for the entire day for the first time in a long long time. My plan was to only go 10 miles to Moose Mountain, but I got there a lot sooner than I expected so I went down and climbed up and over the next mountain stopping at Holt's Ledge. I decided to stealth camp here since it is has an incredible view. The ledge is very impressive with views of Smarts Mtn to the north and as far east as I can see. I spent the rest if the evening sitting on top of the ledges watching the clouds and the reflection of the sunset on them. Now I am in my tent figuring up a plan or the Whites. I am hoping for good weather through them...I have been looking forward to these mountains my entire trip! Keeping my fingers crossed. We had beautiful weather today...so I hope it will be a pattern. I am anxious to get to Warren, NH to get my new shoes so I might do big miles tomorrow to pick them up early Monday morning. I am having so much fun and I am incredibly thankful for the generosity of the Maislen family. They were so nice! I am looking forward to watching the sunrise in the morning from the ledges and then the views from Smarts Mtn tomorrow afternoon!
Date: 2013-07-07
From: Holt's Ledge

To: Ore campsite
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: light rain

I had a really relaxing morning. I woke up early and read and relaxed in my tent. I went out to the cliffs and I was able to spot two perrigren falcons. They were cool to watch. Then it was time to pack up and hike on. I finished the decent and came to Bill Ackerly's house. He is a trail angel that opens his home to hikers for free water, free ice cream, and he even has Croquet setup in the back yard! Unfortunately I was not able o meet him but he left instructions of how to get the ice cream. I hung out on his porch for about an hour just relaxing and enjoying a comfy chair! Then it was up smarts mtn a pretty big climb. The climb was great and provided a lot of views in all directions. Once I got to the top I climbed a fire tower and I could spot several mountains that I had been over to the south and ones I will soon go over to the north. I decided to press on 13 more miles after that to the ore campsite. Which required me to go up and over cube mtn. It was a fun climb with great views. The peak had a lot of exposed marble and the clear skies were so nice. It was a great day on the AT and I am hopeful for more of this weather. My feet have been dry for two straight days of hiking...I am super thankful for that! I will be heading into warren in the morning to catch the PO, to get new shoes! If the weather is nice I will go into the White mountains tomorrow with a 3800 foot climb up mount Moosilauke. I am looking forward to the whites no matter what the weather may do. Camped with 3 other Nobo's and we had a fun evening around a fire. One of them goes to Tulane. Oh and for those of you following my spot I think it might be broken...
Date: 2013-07-08
From: Ore campsite

To: Beaver Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.8

Another great day on the trail! It rained all night last night and into the morning. I got an early start and made it to the hwy to warren in time to make it to the post office. When I gr to the hwy a car didn't pass for 10 minutes and then finally 2 came over the hill and the second guy picked me up. While in warren all I ha to do was grab my new shoes and thermals, resupply and charge my phone. After that it was a quick hitch back to the trail and northward. I had a 5 mile stretch of trail that went over mist mtn and then down to the base of mt Moosilauke. Moosilauke is the biggest mountain I have seen in a while an from the base it looked really big. I began the 3800 foot climb up around 2 and soon after it started to rain and thunder in the distance. I climbed for the next two hours finally reaching the ridge and the approach to the summit. When I reached the ridge the thunder stopped but it was still raining....no views. About 300 feet below the summit I climbed above tree line for the first time on my entire hike. It was a great change! I hung out at the summit for a few minutes and then descended. I descended for about 15 minutes when I noticed the sun coming out and patches of blue ski. I was disappointed by not having views on top so when I saw the sky I dropped my pack, grabbed my camera and climbed back up. I am so glad that I did! I had great views in all directions. The clouds were still in the area but a least I got to enjoy the scenery! I hung out up there for about and hour before hiking back down to my pack and continuing to the shelter. The descent was rocky wet and slippery. There are several people here tonight. Looking forward to tomorrow!
Date: 2013-07-09
From: Beaver Creek Shelter

To: North Woodstock, NH
Miles today: 1.5

Welp I don't know how much information is to much information but here goes nothing...enjoy.Last night I went to sleep around 9 and slept well until 10:30. At 1030 when I woke up I instantly had to jump out of my tent because my stomach was super upset. Anyway it was a combination of puking and diarrhea. It went away until the worst hit me at 1 a.m..... I made it to the privy and I was there so long I was falling asleep while in there. Sorry for completely grossing you out but the night sucked! I hiked 1.5 down to the road and got a ride into town. I am in a hotel now and I am feeling a lot better. I am just drinking a lot of fluids and relaxing. I am glad that I am taking the day off. Oh and great news the weather is supposed to be really clear in two days. I am super thankful for that. So sorry for the details! I will write about mountains tomorrow!The descents are getting really tough.Two journals today
Date: 2013-07-10
From: North Woodstock, NH

To: Eliza Brook
Miles today: 7.5

I had a better morning and didn't leave the hotel until check out time. I made it back to the trail a bit before 1. My plan for the day was 8 miles at an easy pace, up and over wolf mtn. The task proved a bit more difficult than I thought it would be. I am not good at hiking at a slow pace. I get lazy and time seems to drag on since I am barely moving. It rained all day so the trail was very wet and thunder storms hit about an hour before camp. It was a wet day with steep rocky trail. When it is raining and I am leaving town to go out into it, it takes me a while to get to the point of wanting to be out there mentally...and not feeling 100% didn't help. But I finally snapped out of my poor mood and enjoyed the day! I know it is going to be incredible to feel the sun...whenever that may be. I am walking through one of the prettier parts of the trail and knowing that it is there but I can't see it is tough. It started my mind on all kinds of metaphors for life. I cannot wait for the clouds to be lifted off of the mountains and for my eyes to see where I am.Good days and tough days I enjoy them all and there is something to be learned. My only tough ones have been when I am sick. The tough ones make me think of how sweet it will be to hug the sign on top off mount Katahdin...when it's time comes. I am looking forward to the last 380 miles!
Date: 2013-07-11
From: Eliza Brook

To: ridge below haystack
Miles today: 13.5

I woke up a bit before 7 and it was lightly raining and I could hear thunder in the distance...so I decided to stay in my tent for a while to see what was going to happen with the weather. About 15 minutes later it started pouring so hard that I was not going to even think about hiking until it eased up. I didn't leave camp until 10. The weather was still in the area but it was just light rain. The very first part of the trail was a brook fording. It was the toughest one I have done out here. The water was flowing rapidly and it was above my knees. The trail ascended Mt Kinsmen and it was a wet climb. Streams were flowing down the trail and quite slippery. I felt really good and was super excited for the day...I guess I woke up on the right side of the ground. The climbs in the whites are tough. In a lot of sections I don't use my hiking poles, I have to use my hands to climb up. The weather started to slightly clear up once on the summit. I had a decent view, but still really cloudy. I descended to lonsome lake hut to grab lunch. I got a bowl of soup for $2 and left over cinnamon rolls for free! Oh and at this time it was blue skies and from the hit I had a clear view of mt Lincoln, Lafayette and Franconia ridge. It was clear skies!! Once I got to I-93, the base of the climb up Lincoln, I knew I had to press and get up to the ridge while it was clear! I have looked forward to this ridge all my hike so the excitement pushed me up the climb. I got to little haystack mtn the start of the above tree line ridge walk up Lincoln and the weather still looked nice. As I descended haystack to begin the climb up Lincoln a nasty dark cloud came over the top of Lincoln and it was a quick decision that I had to turn around and hike south to get below tree line...the next 3 miles north were on exposed ridges. So I headed back south and ran into another Nobo. He saw me going south and decided to do the same. We are camped on the ridge in trees, illegally but sometimes you have no choice. It turned out that the cloud didn't do anything but I am glad I turned back. From my campsite I walked down a bit to get a view through the trees of the sunset! It was beautiful and still is...I'm typing this as I watch it. I am looking forward to tomorrow! So beautiful out here! Psalms 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above declares his handiwork." That couldn't be more true!