morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-05-20
From: Gifford Woods State Park

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 27.2
Weather: clear sky

I woke up to an incredibly hot morning. This heat made me feel unmotivated, demoralized, and exhausted. Honestly, the morning and early afternoon were some of the least enjoyable few hours out here. I just lacked energy, and my pace was unusually and painstakingly slow. By one, I figured I'd do 15 or so to the shelter not too far away. I really didn't think I'd make it 27.2 to the further shelter. I wanted to make it so I'd have more time in Hanover tomorrow, but it just seemed unreasonable. For the first time, I felt like I really couldn't make it somewhere, even if I tried.Then around two or so, I ran into another thru hiker named Red. He told me he was going to the further shelter. I thought about it for a while, and decided to try and join him. Worst case scenario seemed to be tenting at a water source a little further. So I hiked with him for a while.Amazingly, having some company helped me out far more than I expected. We eventually made it to the shelter, but fairly late, with a stop at On The Edge farm for some food. It was just off the trail, so we got a snack before doing the last 8 miles that were pretty strenuous. We expected to meet Red's friend Tolstoy. Once we made it, we learned he must of moved on slightly further. So, we cooked dinner and hung out for a while. It had been a long day, and we needed to de-stress. Now I'm ready for a long, restful sleep.
Date: 2012-05-21
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

After yesterday's long day, I felt no need to wake up too early. So I slept until I was well rested and ready to move. Time really wasn't a factor, as a leisurely day made the most sense to me.Red and I left the shelter and hiked to West Hartford, VT. Getting there did not take very long, and once we arrived we spent some time there eating lunch. Neither one of us cared about time. I only planned on doing 7 or so more from there (not including some serious road walking). So we took our time and ate too much, and then wandered off slowly with full stomachs.After some easy hiking and being eaten alive by mosquitoes, we made it to Norwich, VT. From there, the trail goes on the road to Hanover, NH. I walked across the Connecticut River and into New Hampshire, which just felt great. I'm so close to my favorite part of the trail.In Hanover, I resupplied and got my chores done. After I had completed these tasks, Short n Sweet picked me up and brought me to her house right on the trail in Norwich. She and her husband Greybeard gave me a place to stay, as well as a shower, laundry, an excellent dinner, and a place to watch the Celtics beat the Sixers. I honestly couldn't have asked for more, and their hospitality, as well as company, was amazing. Now I'm content as can be, and looking forward to NH.
Date: 2012-05-22
From: Hanover, NH

To: Smarts Mountain Fire Warden's Cabin 
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: light rain

I left Hanover after a big breakfast, at a fairly early hour and with a fast pace. I felt great and the rainy weather held off all morning. I cranked out some miles very quickly. I was even fast enough to escape most of the swarms of mosquitoes, but I needed copious amounts of bug spray to be safe. In the early afternoon, I bumped into Red and Tolstoy. All three of us then descended from the mountain in the rain. We continued on for a while, battling rain and mosquitoes, until we reached a sign that read "free ice cream." Obviously, we stopped by the Ice Cream Man's. He gave us some ice cream and we celebrated the fact that we were the first thru hikers that he'd seen this year.From there, I hiked up Smarts Mountain at a strong pace. The top was in a cloud, but it has cleared out a little since then. Red and Tolstoy caught up to me on top, and we joined a few other people who had arrived early. The cabin is pretty nice. Four sides and a door helps with wet weather, and I think we're high enough to avoid mosquitoes.
Date: 2012-05-23
From: Smarts Mountain Fire Warden's Cabin 

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 20.1

I woke up with the mountain in the same state it had been when I went to sleep, in the clouds. This bummed me out quite a bit, as I wanted to see the Whites from the fire tower atop Smarts Mountain. So I waited for a while, hoping, but after an hour or so, I started hiking. I had made the right decision, as it was in the clouds all morning.After a while, I reached a nice view looking at where I had just been. I sat there for a while, just relaxing and enjoying a very laid back day. After well over an hour, I kept on moving towards Glencliff. The remainder of the day was uneventful. The hiking provided no challenges, and I cruised along without stopping until I came across a view of Moosilauke. Once again, I sat for a while, admiring the view. Seeing how big it looked compared to all the other mountains I've climbed over the last few weeks got me incredibly excited. I'm finally back to my home turf, and couldn't be happier.From there I made it into Glencliff quickly and to the Hikers Welcome Hostel. After a shower and some pizza, I watched a movie and went to bed, excited for the next few days.
Date: 2012-05-24
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: light rain

This morning, I awoke excited for my first day in the Whites. The next stretch of the trail is easily my favorite, and the part I am most familiar with. I grew up in these mountains, and since I was down south, I've been looking forward to getting back into them.Moosilauke excited me even more. As I drew closer and closer to tree line, I felt more and more at home. I pushed myself to hike faster as I got closer to the summit, and eventually made it to the top for a great view of the inside of a cloud. Sadly, the clouds never cleared today. But hey, that's fairly normal. Hopefully I'll luck out on the ridge tomorrow.Once I descended from Moosilauke, I got a ride into Lincoln to resupply. This took far longer than I expected. Getting back on the trail later in the afternoon kept me from getting as far as I wanted, but I'm completely fine with that. I'll just wake up early tomorrow and make up for it. Honestly, I'm in paradise and couldn't be happier right now. Just think of clear skies for me, and hopefully tomorrow will be as beautiful as I can imagine.
Date: 2012-05-25
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

When my alarm went off early this morning, it was raining heavily. So I set it an hour later, and when it went off, the rain hadn't let up. This surprised me, as a 30% chance of scattered showers was forecasted, but then again, I really don't trust the forecasts around here. I decided to go back to sleep and hope for the best. When I awoke, it was no better.Leaving the shelter, the rain seemed to have slowed. This made me optimistic, but it was to no avail. The rain picked up as I gained elevation, and as soon as I was on Kinsman Ridge, it reached its pinnacle. The wind didn't help either, but luck was on my side. The temperatures were surprisingly high, making life less miserable.Once I reached Lonesome Lake Hut, I had decided not to go up to Franconia Ridge today. The views are too good to be missed, and it just would have been a terrible day had I continued. So I warmed up inside the hut, then went down to the notch. At the road, I got a ride into Lincoln to stay at a hostel. In the end, I wound up getting a shower and a hot meal in town. My gear is drying and I'm enjoying this opportunity to read without interruption. I know I've made the right decision, and I'm sure it will be confirmed when I hit the ridge with blue skies tomorrow morning.
Date: 2012-05-26
From: Franconia Notch

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: few clouds

This morning began with a big breakfast. At this point, I'm not sure how much I really enjoy steak and eggs, but I know it's necessary. So I filled myself with protein and coffee. Protein and coffee are good. They lead to high speed hiking, which allowed me to reach Franconia Ridge far more quickly than I anticipated. The weather was insane. The skies were blue as can be, and the summits were between 65 and 70 degrees. Obviously enough, choosing today as the day to hike the ridge was correct. I was up there with hundreds of people, but it was so perfect I didn't mind.After leaving the ridge, I moved onward to Galehead Hut. On the way, my pole snapped, but hopefully EMS will help with that tomorrow. They're usually good with customer service so I expect it.Once I got to the hut, I got a work for stay that required me to count and stack the blankets that will be used for the summer season. It didn't take too long, and afterwards I got a massive dinner from a group that was doing "gourmet hut hiking." They cooked excellent quality Indian food. This was my best meal on trail yet. Also, there were a few former thru hikers in their group, and each of them provided interesting conversation for me. Needless to say, today was my best day on the trail. Nothing beats good views, good weather, good food, and good conversation. I just hope that I'll have weather this good in the Northern Prez. That's the only way this won't be my favorite day on trail in the end.
Date: 2012-05-27
From: Galehead Hut

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Another beautiful day in the Whites. The weather was excellent, so the views were too. I zoned out, hiking in paradise all morning, until I bumped into Danny Mac. He's a friend of mine who was hiking the Francs and going sobo on the AT, so we talked for a while.After talking to Danny, I moved onward towards Zealand Hut. The porch of the hut provided some shade and an excellent spot for lunch. When I went inside to fill my water bottle, the caretaker was nice enough to offer me a bowl of soup. So I left Zealand full and content, on a beautiful day.I guess the soup gave me some energy because I ran a few miles once I reached the part of the AT that follows the Ethan Pond Trail. I don't think I've ever hiked along the Ethan Pond trail. It is unbelievably flat. So I cruised down to Crawford Notch, walked down 302 a short ways, and got picked up by my friend Andy Mac. We stopped to get ice cream and jumped in Conway Lake on the way to his house, where I showered. I got my laundry and chores done shortly after, and then we went to Moat and got the nachos I've been thinking of since Georgia. Afterwards, we went back to his house to hang out. I'm very thankful for the hospitality of the entire Macdonald family. That's just one more reason why home field advantage on the AT is simply amazing. I almost with I could just hike around the Whites for another 350 miles, rather than leave NH.
Date: 2012-05-28
From: Crawford Notch

To: Nauman Tent Site
Miles today: 6.4

I slept in for the first time in a while this morning. It was lovely. From there, Andy Mac and I went to the Eaton Village Store for breakfast. EVS has amazing food, and the best biscuits and gravy I've ever had (better than any I tried in the south). Honestly, I've been dreaming of this meal for months. And the best part is that it exceeded my expectations.After breakfast, I had a few more small things to do before getting out. I wasn't on the trail until just after 1, but I had planned on doing fewer miles today. So I hiked to Nauman Campsite (next to Mizpah Hut), where my father met me. We set up on a platform and made a fire, and then we were joined by our friends Andrew and Kevin Mahoney. Together, they all brought incredible amounts of food, including 4 lbs of steak. Needless to say, I was well fed. We hung out for a while, and felt fortunate that the predicted thunderstorms held off. But at some point in the early morning, a heavy rain with tremendous thunder began. The sky lit up like day, and at least a couple inches of water was dumped on us. This was probably the most severe storm I've experienced out here, and it was just beginning.
Date: 2012-05-29
From: Nauman Tent Site

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: fog

When we awoke this morning, the storm was still going strong. Obviously enough, I couldn't hike until the weather improved. The ridge hiking I had ahead of me can't be done in a thunderstorm, so I sat in Mizpah until about noon awaiting a window.My dad and Andrew stuck around for a while, too. We had a big breakfast and took it easy, as the weather didn't allow us any other options. Finally, at noon, the skies cleared and I got my window.I took off at the highest speed I could go, without any breaks. I made it up to Mt. Washington quickly, where I was above the clouds. That's always a cool view, and I enjoyed it while eating a big lunch. Initially, when I got to the summit, I asked a woman working there how the next three hours would look in terms of weather. She said evening storms were likely, but I'd have at least three hours. I figured that would be plenty of time to get somewhere near Madison Spring Hut. But then, a man told me a severe thunderstorm was less than an hour away. He showed me the radar, and then told me that under no circumstances could I stay on Washington and wait it out once they closed, even if there was thunder on the ridge. I doubt that he was telling the truth, but I figured the only reasonable choice was to go back down to Lakes of the Clouds.Once I started going down, I heard some distant thunder. If you aren't familiar with the hike from Washington to Lakes, it's about a mile and a half of totally exposed hiking, with no shelter from lightning anywhere close. So once I heard the storm, I ran all the way to Lakes. My knees didn't like that, but it's much better than electrocution. The hut isn't open yet, but the croo had just arrived today and had plenty of work to do. I did my share for a while, and they gave me dinner, and more importantly shelter. Now this severe storm continues on, and shows no signs of ceasing anytime soon. Hopefully, tomorrow's weather will at least allow me to do some real miles.
Date: 2012-05-30
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: broken clouds

The howl of the wind woke me this morning. It seemed a little daunting at first, but I soon learned it was only blowing the last remaining storm clouds away. So what little hope remained in me of hiking the northern Prez in good weather began to grow. I left Lakes ready to push, in case a storm came through, but the further I progressed, the more I doubted this would happen.That howling wind did prove an obstacle of sorts, but the excitement to hike through my favorite mountains overcame it. I did get pushed around a little by the gusts, but as I moved onward, it lessened its force. The clouds began to part, and I had my perfect morning. There were some remaining patches of snow to make it even more beautiful. And the lack of another person made this vast stretch of rugged mountains perfect. When I arrived at Madison Spring Hut, I realized how sad I was to be at the end. Not the end of the AT, but the ends of the northern Prez, and also the Whites.My favorite mountain did remain, though. After lunch, I went up to the top of Madison, and enjoyed my last glimpse of the ridge. Slightly depressed, I headed down below tree line. From there, my day went by uneventfully, until I reached Carter Notch Hut. I arrived to a crew offering excellent hospitality. They helped me enjoy my last night in the Whites. Even scrubbing the floors was enjoyable.Now, looking out at the moon and the clouds drifting by it, I realize once again how much I'd like to stay here. I've yet to feel this on my thru hike, but I knew I would here. For once, I don't feel the need to move north. I'm content, but Katahdin is a goal that calls to me. I will go onward tomorrow, and soon enough I'll be back to the mountains I call home.
Date: 2012-05-31
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: scattered clouds

I had no choice but to hike today. It's what I do everyday, but today it felt more difficult than ever. Every step I took brought me closer to leaving the Whites. As the views of the Northern Prez became obscured by trees and I lost my elevation, I knew I'd left my favorite part of the trail.The weather couldn't have been better today. I lucked out and got great views from the Carters. This was the first time I'd had a clear day atop them. The last few glimpses of the Presidential Range were incredible, and made it harder to push on. But I did, and the day was fairly uneventful. Once I reached the road, I went into Gorham. I enjoyed a meal in town and some time to relax. This time in town gave my mind a break from thinking of the rest of the trail. For one reason or another, I'm feeling overwhelmed. I guess when I try to rationalize everything, there's just too much to think of. On the one hand, I'm somewhat depressed because I'm leaving the Whites. But I only have two weeks left. These things are both a big deal, but either way, I'll be hiking tomorrow.
Date: 2012-06-01
From: Gorham, NH

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: clear sky

I left town today without much motivation. I guess I just felt burnt out, which is bound to happen on such a long venture. Because of it, the day seemed interminably long.It didn't help that much of the trail was really swampy. I dislike hiking through mud and puddles, and when I'm having a bad day, that always makes it worse. But I pushed on, although I wasn't moving too fast.The day dragged on forever, until I reached the border and got into Maine. From there, things were much improved. I began to think about how close I am to finishing, and that gave me a little motivation. Also, the views from Goose Eye were enjoyable and raised my spirits a little. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
Date: 2012-06-02
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

Well, it rained today. Not a little rain, but an insane amount. Apparently tomorrow is supposed to be worse, but I don't want to think about that now. Today was rainy enough for me.I awoke to a cool breeze, far later than I had hoped. Sleeping in late was probably a good idea, as I felt great when I started hiking. For the beginning of the day, the cold, rain, and high winds weren't that bad. I hiked down into Mahoosuc Notch, which was a little sketchy due to the wetness, but I still enjoyed it.The notch was certainly fun, but really slippery. I enjoyed it more when I did it on a nice day a few years back. Due to the wetness, I approached it with an attitude to get it done safely, not to play around. That being said, I still did some spelunking. After making it through the notch, the arm provided the next challenge.Once again, life was made more difficult by the rain. Steep faces of granite are not very easy to climb up when wet. The wet rocks weren't much compared to what came next, though. As soon as I made it to an exposed ridge, wind gusts that must have been over 60 mph were blowing me around. This was even more sketchy.The rest of the day wasn't too rough, except for the next couple mountains that were exposed. I climbed up a ridge of granite, with gusts that were probably as fast as I've ever seen. The wind blew me around like a rag doll. It really is true that the weather makes parts of the trail hard or easy, and today was hard. I'm not sure of tomorrow's plans, as after a day like this I'm not certain what I'll do.
Date: 2012-06-03
From: Andover, ME

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Due to bad knee pain and worse weather, I decided to zero today. As much as I'd like to push the pace and get to Katahdin soon, staying healthy is the biggest priority. Yesterday just took too much of a toll on my body. I really wasn't feeling ready to face another day of cold, rainy adversity. So, I made the prudent decision to take a day off and relax. Now that it is the end of the day, and I'm watching the Celtics beat up on the Heat, I know I made the right choice. Hopefully, the poor weather won't last too long (I still expect some more of it), and my knees won't feel too banged up. I'm in the home stretch, so finishing will happen, but I just hope I can enjoy with the least pain and best weather possible. Oh, and if the Celtics play as well as they have thus far tonight (it's halftime), I'm sure I'll be happy. Also, I've been having some technical difficulties with my phone, so updating may be a challenge. I'll do everything I can to work out the problems, but bear with me. Updates will be added as often as possible.
Date: 2012-06-04
From: Andover, ME

To: Home
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

After all the recent rain, the trail was in horrible shape. Rivers and streams were nearly impassable at times, and rising. Much of the trail was flooded, and what didn't have standing water was all mud.This made the hiking incredibly difficult, and at one point I slipped and jammed my knee. I was in a lot of pain, and couldn't put much weight on it. So I limped down to the road slowly, using my poles to take the weight off my knee. It was painstaking, but I made it down.Now I'm at home, trying to heal as quickly as possible. I don't believe it's anything too serious, and hope to be back on the trail soon. All I can do is take it day by day.
Date: 2012-06-10
From: Home

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm incredibly happy to be writing a journal entry again. After close to a week at home, I felt my knee had healed enough for me to return to the trail and finish my thru hike. Today was the perfect day to return, and I couldn't be happier.My dad drove me back up, and along the way, we realized how amazing the weather would be. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and it didn't get too hot out. And most importantly, my knee felt great.I had some nice views, and I even saw a porcupine this morning. I have yet to see that creature thus far. One other thing I noticed is that for the first time, my guidebook had the mileage completely off. It wasn't even close to the reality, which isn't a big deal. I just found it interesting that until this point in Maine, it hadn't had any large discrepancies. During the afternoon, I got excellent views of some lakes and mountains in the distance. I cruised along to the shelter, which is on a beautiful pond. I would hang out by the water tonight, but it is far too buggy. There are vernal pools everywhere, and combined with the pond, the mosquitoes have plenty of space to breed. They're nasty right now, and so the day that I need to set up my tent in the shelter has finally come.Other than the bugs, it has been a really enjoyable day. There is even a loon singing on the pond, which is one of my favorite things to hear. I don't have much time left out here, but I'm fortunate to have a chance to finish my thru hike. I just want to enjoy it as much as I can.
Date: 2012-06-11
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-To

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-To
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I awoke later than usual today. It was already hot, although there were more clouds than yesterday. Still, it was beautiful, and a breeze helped me out until I got to higher elevations. The bugs weren't as bad this morning (although they weren't fun either). I hiked along with ease for a while. During this time, I had my first encounter with a moose on my thru hike. It was less than 20 yards away, and I enjoyed its company for a moment. Once it left, I did the same and went onward.I passed many beautiful ponds in the earlier portion of my day, but I didn't dare to stop and admire the view. Too many biting insects live nearby, so I pushed on. Eventually, I reached tree line on Saddleback. The trail spent a decent amount of time above the trees, and I enjoyed excellent views. From the tops of the mountains, I made my way to the shelter.The elevation is high enough, and the temperature is low enough, to keep the mosquitoes and black flies at bay. I feel fortunate to have such a luxury. Now it's time for bed. I look forward to a day amongst more mountains with good views. My knee feels great, and I am excited for more good weather.