morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-07-29
From: Peak near Cloudland Road

To: Near Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: broken clouds

The trail was hot and muggy with gnats and mosquitoes at lower elevations. The farm store on Cloudland Road was closed, so I enjoyed eating my own food at their picnic table in the shade. The climb up Thistle Hill was steep in places and was the bumpy descent to VT 14 and the White River. I enjoyed a roast beef sandwitch at the West Hartford store and rested. The climb up Griggs Mtn was exhausting in places. The rain started about half way up. The rain slacked up and I set up my tent near the peak.
Date: 2009-07-30
From: Near Happy Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The rain continued most of the night, coming down hard at times. I didn't select the best tent sight, so the rain collected around the tent and eventually soaked through (another lesson learned about tenting). I put on my wet clothes and began to hike down to Norwich and then to Hanover. The mosquitoes were aout in force after the rain, so I hurried as fast as I could. Once into town, I stopped by the library to make my TJ entries. Next I'll have lunch and then take the bus to the motel I stayed at last year. One state down and two to go. 441.9 miles to Katahdin.
Date: 2009-07-31
From: Hanover, NH

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Last night I witnessed an incredibly beautiful sunset mirrored in the CT river, which flows in back of the Sunset Motor Inn (now I know where it got its name). This morning my mission was to go to West Lebanon to pick up a few things I was missing (spare insect repellant, a carabiner, a water-proof bag for my rain gear, and sealer for my rain fly). As I stood waiting on the bus, which had apparently come just before I got to the stop, the rain came down steadily. I noticed that my high-tech rain jacket had lost its ability to shed water. So I added a rain jacket to my list. After waiting for about half an hour, the innkeeper's wife drove up and offered my a ride, which I gratefully accepted. She took me to the EMS outfitter store, where I was able to get all the items on my list. Because of the jacket, the bill came to quite a bit more than I had anticipated. But keeping dry is a priority with me these days. after my shopping, I again waited on a bus to take me to Hanover, where I was going to mail my leaky jacket back home. On the bus ride back, I got a nice tour of West Lebanon, Lebanon, and the Dartmouth campus. The houses are typical New England. the campus was filled with very old-looking stone and brick buildings, giving the air of permanance and grandeur. The rain continues, and my new jacket is doing its job. I'll have dinner here at Molly's before I catch the bus back to the motel. Hanover is a neat town.This part entered the morning of 8/1: Said goodby to fellow travers Candy Man, who is finishing his section for this year and returning home to FL, and White Wolf, a French Canadian who is section hiking south. I didn't realize that the buses into town don't run on the weekend, but the propriator of the Sunset Inn kindly gave me a ride into town to get on the trail. I stopped by the library to make another entry, since it will be a while before I get another chance. I have to say that it's really nice hiking without time or distance constraints -- I'm now convinced it's the only way to go. I'm looking forward to a slow hike thorough the White Mtns. I've heard so much about NH and now I'm here. Vermont was beautifully green, but muddy. I don't know if trail conditions will get better from here, but I'll soon find out. Hope to make it up Moose Mtn today.
Date: 2009-08-01
From: Hanover, NH

To: Moose Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Left Hanover after lunch and grocery shopping at Coop. the climb through velvet Rocks was tough after just having lunch. The trail then became incredibly muddy - much like last year in southern Vermont/ ntorth Mass. I thought conditions would improve on climbing up Moose Mtn, but they didn't. The final pitch was about 500 ft/< 0.5 m. I was happy to summit. didn't find a place to tent until I reached the shelter - there were several tent sites, but the ground was soaked.
Date: 2009-08-02
From: Moose Mtn Shelter

To: Lambert's ridge
Miles today: 11.3

The trail was muddy again with rain. Climbed off Moose Mtn down to Goose Pond and then up to Holt's Ledge (1200 ft/1 m). Final climb to the ridge was 1400 ft/1.5 m)This climb was over many Huge grantite boulders in the rain. Had to go slow because the rocks were slippery. Rain stopped, but dark cloud come in about 5:30, so I stopped and tented before the summit of Smart's Mtn. The tops of the mtns now are balds. The trees are now dissiduous instead of evergreen. Mostly Birch and Poplar (I think)>
Date: 2009-08-03
From: Lambert's ridge

To: Hexacuba shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Short day due to necessity to dry everything from torrentail downpour last night. All during the night I could hear trees falling, some nearby - not a good feeling when you're in a tnet. Ground water seepedd into tent through the floor, I think. Need to waterproof. climbed from Lanbert's ridge to firetower on the peak of Smart's Mtn. Lots of boulders (800 ft/1 m). climbed tower and spread wet stuff out to dry in the wind not blocked by trees. I waited until the fog dissipated and the sun came out. I left about 1:00 and descended the ultra muddy trail to Jacob's Brook. I climbed to Eastman's Ledge (510 ft/ 0.5 m) and then to the shelter. the afternoon was sunny and cool>
Date: 2009-08-04
From: Hexacuba shelter

To: Near Peak of Mist Mtn
Miles today: 11.2

climbed to peak of Mt Cube in the morning (100ft/1.5 m). Lots of great views on top. The peak was a large pile of giant boulders piled on top of each other. climbed down and then up to Ore Hill. the final pitch was hard (500 ft/0.5 m). climbed up Mist Mtn until I found a tent spot. Trai was very muddy and slow today, but views were great!
Date: 2009-08-05
From: Near Peak of Mist Mtn

To: Near Peak of Mt Moosilauke
Miles today: 0.0

Came down off Mist Mtn to hwy 25 and started toward Warren. I walked about a mile before I was picked up by a young carpenter in an old beatup pickup truck - I rode in the bed. I went to the grocery store, but the slection was not good and what was there was very expensive. After shopping and eating a deli sandwich, a customer offered me a ride back to the trail head. The guy had been in AL in the AF in the 60s. On the way to the trail he showed me an amazing sight - a Redstone rocket on display - just like the one at Redstone Arsenal. I climbed Mt Moosilauke (3800 ft/ 5.5 m. I didn't stop until I reached the summit (just to prove to myself I could do it). The view from the summit was awsome - nothing like I've seen so far on the trail. I found a place to tent ust in the trees off the summit. It's really hard to find a tent spot in these mtns because of the steep terrain and thick stand of small trees.
Date: 2009-08-06
From: Near Peak of Mt Moosilauke

To: Near Peak of Wolf Mtn
Miles today: 7.1

Another short mileage day due to the difficulty of the terrain elevation profile. The descent off Mt Moosiauke was long and treacherous - very steep and rocky. Then came the short but intense climb out of Kinsman Notch (600 ft/<1/8 m). After that the terrain rolled +/- 250 ft until the final climb up Wolf. The trail followed beaver Brook, which displayed many beautiful waterfalls. The mud was not so bad on the north side of the mtn. Temperature was cool last night(low 40s). Tented at Kinsman Pond camp site (a AMC site, which costs $8).
Date: 2009-08-07
From: Near Peak of Wolf Mtn

To: Kinsman Pond
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Another short mileag day due to the difficulty of the trail elevation profile. The climb up to Kinsman Ridge was a boulder climb (1700 ft/2 m). I used my arms as much as my legs to get me over the large rocks. Descending was again difficult and slow. The mud has diminished noticably. The skys were mostly blue and the views are fantastic! Weather is windy and cool - like fall. Night lows are in the low 40s.
Date: 2009-08-08
From: Kinsman Pond

To: Lincoln, NH
Miles today: 2.6
Weather: broken clouds

I hiked down to the hwy and tried to hitch into town. I finally gave up after an hour of watching cars speed by me. I called a shuttle to come pick me up. There was a crraft fair going on in Lincoln - lots of tourists. I had to try several times to get a room, but finally succeeded. Lincoln and North Woodstock are very close together and are pictuesque little New England towns.
Date: 2009-08-09
From: Lincoln, NH

To: Lincoln, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I zeroed in Lincoln to get to outfitters and get better food than last resupply. I had to get a pack cover, which I left in Rutland and some warm socks to sleep in. I also needed to give my knees a rest - they have been complaining about all the steep climbs lately.
Date: 2009-08-10
From: Lincoln, NH

To: Liberty Spring Camp
Miles today: 2.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I waited around the hotel until the library opened to make a final journal entry. Saw Gentle Ben, whom I'd met on a section hike near Damascus earlier this year. I had lunch and struck up a conversation with a mother and son at the restaurant. The son is hut manager at Greenleaf Hut. He was on his way back to the hut after having several days off and offered me a ride to the trail head. The climb out seemed easier today than before. It was steep with large boulrders to negotiate (2400 ft/2.6 m). The weather threatened earlier, but then the sun came out and warmed things up.
Date: 2009-08-11
From: Liberty Spring Camp

To: Garfield Ridge camp
Miles today: 7.7

Today was one of the most scenic on the trail so far. I hiked the reamining 300 ft up to Franconia Ridge and hiked through the trees for about 2 m. When the elevation got above 4500 ft the trees were small enough to see over and provided 360 deg views of the vally. There were continuous views for almost 3 m. I hit Haystack, Lincoln, and Lafayette mtns. (The latter two are above 5000 ft) I desended off the ridge down to 3500 ft. On my way down it started to rain. The last climb was up Garfield.
Date: 2009-08-12
From: Garfield Ridge camp

To: Mt Guyot camp
Miles today: 6.3

The trail off Garfield down to Galehead Hut was boulder strewn and slow. Rain started just as I reached the hut, where I stopped for a lunch of soup cooked up by the hut croo. The rain got increasingly heavier, so I stayed at the hut until almost 3:00. The rain then let up, and I began the arduous climb up South Twin mtn (1300 ft/ 0.8 m). The trail was level for about 2 m until it pitched up Gutot Mtn. The camp site is about a mile off the trail down the mtn side - not an easy hike. This was a hard day with no views because of the fog.
Date: 2009-08-13
From: Mt Guyot camp

To: Ethan Pond camp
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: fog

I climbed the mile back up Goyut summit and then descended to Zealand ridge. The total descent to Zealand Hut was 2000 ft in about 3 m. After lunch at the hut, the trail flattened for about 5 m into the camp site. There was a beautiful view of an ancient rock avalanche down the side of Zealand Mtn. Ethan Pond is very picturesque and peaceful. Rain started just as I got into camp, but I got my tent set up before the downpour began. At the camp, I met Roots, a hike I met last year. Like me, Roots abandoned a planned thru-hike last year and returned to complete it this year.
Date: 2009-08-14
From: Ethan Pond camp

To: Near Peak of Mt. Webster 
Miles today: 7.6

The hike down to Crawford Notch was nice until the fianl 0.5 m, when the grade was steep enough to work on my knees. Teh trail was mostly soft. I hitched to the general store up the hwy for a few supplies and lunch. The car that piked me up contained a mother, daughter, and granddaughter. The mother had hiked the trail earlier in her life and warned me of the upcomming hard stretch just into Maine. I hitched back to the trail head about 2:00. The driver was touring the area, making day hikes up the various mtns. The climb up to Webster Cliff (3400 ft elevation) was steep (2000ft/ 1.3 m)and rocky. It took as much arm action as legs to get over the large boulders. The trail then went over Mt. Webster (4000 ft) Teh views of the surrounding mtns and notch below was great! I decided to camp near the peak of Webster to watch an amazing sunset. On the way I encountered Ducky and her gdog Madison, who was having a tough time negotiating the near verical rock climbs. I helped push Madison up several rocks.
Date: 2009-08-15
From: Near Peak of Mt. Webster 

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: few clouds

Today was the most scenic and enjoyable hike I've had on the trail. The views were spectacular and the hiking was not as difficlult as some of the earlier climbs. The hike into Mizpah Hut was not difficult. However, the hike out was a steep boulder climb. Once up to the peak of Mt. Clinton, the views were absolutely awesome. The entire trail was exposed - I could see for a long stretch where I'd been and where I was going. And I was going up one mtn after another. The skirts around Mt Eisenhower, but there is a trailover the peak. I wish I had taken the peak trail - the AT went around on a very rocky path with limited views. Past Mt. Franklin loomed Mt Wahington in all its huge magnificence. I got to the LOC hut and checked in. I paid $10 to sleep on the floor. The weather today was perfect, cool and breezy. The views were unobstructed by coulds or haze. I could not ask for better hiking.
Date: 2009-08-16
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Madison Spring Hut
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: broken clouds

The morning dawned with hazze obscuring the far mtns, but I could make out the antennas and buildings on top of Mt Wahington with no problem. The hike up was not a great effort dispite the grade. The rocks were big enough so that they were not so difficlult to negotiate. The climb was about 1200 ft in 1.2 m. Maybe the hike up seemed not so difficult because of the inspiring views ahead of me. I spent time wondering around the park area at the peak and had an early lunch at the visitor center. I saw the cog rail train pull up and down the steep grad to the valley below. The descent of the north side of the mtn was uncharacteristically difficult. The trail down is over smaller and loose rocks that keeped me off balance and dug into my trai runner shoes. I hiked near the peak of Jefferson and around Adams. The rocks wore blisters on the balls and arch of my feet and bruised them badly. For the last several hours of the hike, my feet were screaming. The weather turned hot to add to the difficulty. I was very glad to get to the hut and check in. Again I paid the $10 to sleep on the floor (no work).
Date: 2009-08-17
From: Madison Spring Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: fog

I woke up with very sore feet and knees from the previous day's hike over loose rocks. I moleskinned my feet and put on my heavy night socks to furnish some protection against what I knew was to be more of the same trail conditions today. The hike started off with a near vertical rock climb (600 ft/ 0.5 m) up large boulders to the peak of Madison. Then the 3000 ft/2 m descent to Osgood Campsite. The loose rocks persisted all the way down. The there was one more arduous climb in the hot weather before the trail became more hiker-friendly. My feet were tired and painful by the time I reached the AMC building about 2:00 and got a shuttle into Gorham to let my feet heal. I had dinner with Hawk, a former thru-hiker and current section hiker with whom I've been hiking for the past several days and who pulled me along today and the painful descent to the notch. Hawk is going home from Gorham to hike another section next year.
Date: 2009-08-21
From: Gorham, NH

To: Wildcat Ridge
Miles today: 3.0

I was shuttled to the trail head at Pinkham Notch this morning and began hiking about 9:30. The climb up Wildcat Ridge was slow and exhausting. I ahd to get used to my pack again after 3 days of blister recovery. The ascent was a boulder climb of 2000 ft in 2 m. Fog set in and it began to rain just as I got to the top. I set up my tent under a wooden platform near the peak. I didn't want to attempt the 1000 ft descent to the notch in the rain.
Date: 2009-08-22
From: Wildcat Ridge

To: Carter Dome
Miles today: 4.1

Another short mileage day due to impending rain and tough climbs. I made it over all 5 Wildcat Mtn peaks with ups and downs oscillating between 4000 and 4500 ft. Then a 1200 ft plunge to Carter Notch in 0.5 m. I stopped at a hut for soup for lunch. Then climbed 1500 ft in 1.0 m to Carter Dome. Rain threatened again, so I set up my tent at the peak. The rain started shortly after.
Date: 2009-08-23
From: Carter Dome

To: Imp Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: fog

The rain was heavy during the night. In the morning fog enveloped everything. The trail was the usual boulder climb going over Mt. Height and the three peaks of Carter Mtn. The trail off Carter to Imp is about a mile and an eighth, descending 1300 ft. The first part descended 500 ft in an eighth mile. Theis was the most dangerous desent for me yet on the trail. There were many large, flat rock faces to climb down and many large boulders to climb over. I used my poles little, throwing them doown ahead of me and picking them up as I passed.
Date: 2009-08-24
From: Imp Shelter

To: Rattle River Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: fog

After leaving Imp Shelter, the rain started and quickly became a deluge. The large, smooth boulders continued so the climbs/descents were slow for me. I went over the final >4000 ft peak in NH at Mt Moriah. Then another steep descent (2500 ft/ 4 m). This was not as bad as yesterday, although very wet and slippery. Just before reaching the shelter, the sun came out.The weather report is that the rina is over for several days. Eighteen more miles in NH, but going is slow. I may have to reevaluate ETA to Katahdin.
Date: 2009-08-26
From: Gorham, NH (US 2)

To: Trident Col Tentsite
Miles today: 6.9

I had a late start to the trail head via shuttle. The trail was surprisingly soft compared to previous week. There were a few boulder climbs up to Mt. Hayes (1800 ft/ 3 m). After about a mile walking a ridge, the trail desended 600ft in 0.8 m and started back up Cascade Mtn. Near the peak the rain strted. I stopped to talk to a SOBO to wait out the rain. After the rain stopped, I hiked about one mile along a ridge and then down a 500 ft drop in 0.25 m - a very rocky descent. The skies cleared as I set up my tent.
Date: 2009-08-27
From: Trident Col Tentsite

To: Near Success Trail crossing
Miles today: 8.1

The highlights of the trail today were the three ponds I hiked along and the climb up Mt. Success at the end. The trail went around Page Pond, Dream Pond, and Gentian Pond. These were beautiful pons nestled in evergreen forests (no moose sightings). The trail was soft (muddy) and rolling with abrupt ups and downs covered with rocks until the steady climb up Mt. Success. The climb was 1800 ft in 1.5 m with lots of boulder climbs. I stopped short of Carlo Col Shelter - tomorrow will be a short day due to need to stop short of the infamous Mahoosuc Notch, so there's no need to hike the estra miles today, but even out between today and tomorrow.
Date: 2009-08-28
From: Near Success Trail crossing

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: clear sky

The highlight today wa crossing into ME. There were many boulder climbs up and down. I Climbed Mt. Carlo (500 ft/ 1.0 m), East Goose Eye Mtn (500 ft/ 1.25 m), and North Goose Eye Mtn (300 ft / 1.0 m). The descents were more difficult than the climbs - they were short but very steep. The weather was beautiful (40s/60s). The hike between the Goose Eye peaks was through meadows with unobstructed views - awesome! Expect rain tomorrow for Mahoosuc Notch and Arm.
Date: 2009-08-29
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I woke up to heavy rain, howling wind, and temperatures in the 30s. I decided that descretion was the absolute best part of valor and decided to stay put until the weather improved. It rained hard all day long and into the night. The wind was relentless.
Date: 2009-08-30
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: clear sky

When I awoke, the rain had stopped. Todays hike included the dreaded Mahoosuc Notch and Mahoosuc Arm. The notch is a narrow crack between two shear cliffs. In some ancient, catastrophic event the walls of the cliffs sheared off and sent giant boulders crashing down to fill the notch. To get through the notch, a hiker must traverse a mile long boulder field, going over, under, and through the huge rocks. Today it didn't help that the the boulders were slick with the previous day's rain. The morning began with a half mile hike up Fulling Mill Mtn (350 ft)and a mile down to the notch (1000 ft). The hike through the notch was not as bad as I had imagined. I was hiking with a section hiker form NC named Dioko (Greek for "Go with Gusto"). We took it very slow and managed to escaped with only minor injuries. The traverse took us about 2.5 hrs. It was like solving a jigsaw puzzle to figure out the best way through the rock field. There were several squeezes through the spaces between boulders. The notch was a warmup for Mahoosuc Arm, which was a climb of 1600 ft in 1.6 miles. The Arm is a version of the notch with a sharp incline and smaller boulders. I was very tired when I reached the shelter. I decided to stay in the shelter and dry my soaking wet tent and fly.
Date: 2009-08-31
From: Speck Pond Shelter

To: Bald Pate Lean-to
Miles today: 6.9

The trail led off immediately with a climb up Old Speck Mtn (500 ft/ 1.1 m). lthough there were large boulder steps up and down on the way, the trail was nothing like yesterday. From 4000 ft altitude, the trail descended to Grafton Notch at 1500 ft over 3.5 miles. This section was fairly friendly, with some steep and slippery parts. The climb out of the notch to the shelter was up a realtively smooth trail, climbing 1600 ft in 2.3 miles
Date: 2009-09-01
From: Bald Pate Lean-to

To: Andover, ME (East B Hill Road)
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

The 1000 ft climb up Bald Pate West in 0.8 miles was tough. The trail was mostly flat granite rock that required careful attention to keep from slipping. The view at the top was unobstructed and the air was realtively clear. I saw what I think was Mt Washington in the distance. The hike to the second peak (BAld Pate East) was the same, only not so long. The descent was again flat granite slab, and the going was slow. The trail then became mostly dirt and much easier. Dunn Falls was beautiful with several cascades along the trail. Dioko and I reached the highway about an hour ahead of our scheduled pickup by a shuttle to Pine Ellis Hostle in Andover. While waiting, we struck up a conversation with a pickup driver from another hostle named Hunter. Turns out Hunter knows Paddy-O, my son's closest friend and supporter on the trail. Hunter had a text message for me from Paddy-O that said he would try to cross paths with me before Katahdin. These kinds of coincidences never cease to amaze me.
Date: 2009-09-02
From: Andover, ME (East B Hill Road)

To: Andover, ME (South Arm Road)
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

Today I experienced my first slack-pack. Dioko and I were shuttled to South Arm Raod and hiked back to East B Hill Raod, where we were met and shuttled back to the hostel. We only had to carry water and lunch, so I felt like I was floating down the trail. WE first climbed Moody Mtn (1000 ft/1.8 m) on mostly soft surfaces. The trail thne plunged 1400 ft in 0.9 miles to Sawyer Notch. This was very slow going, even without a heavy pack. Along the way a rock slide had froced a relocation of the trail, which was pretty precarious to navigate. The trail then climbed 1550 ft in 1.4 miles and then up to the peak of Wyman Mtn (300 ft/0.5 m). It thne descended over many muddy bogs past Surplus Pond and down to East B Hill Raod (1500 ft/ 5.5M). The weather was gorgeous - sunny and cool.