morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-09-01
From: Chet's Place

To: Garfield Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.3

So again the big dilemma was how to get back to the trail from Lincoln but before we solved that problem we needed some breakfasts and what better place to go than McDonalds. Atlas and I met up with Delaware there and James and his brother popped in to get some food and charge their phones. They were nice enough to give us a ride to Franconia Notch as James's brother was tough to be out hiking with him for a bit.    It was a beautiful day and it worked out that we took a zero. Franconia Notch is a beautiful ridge line walk that goes over Mt. Lafayette and Mt. Lincoln but before getting to those we had to climb up Little Haystack Mountain which anything but little. We got to the parking lot around eleven and in honor of it being September 1st we all had a Octoberfest beer to ring in the first unofficial day of fall. The hike up Little Haystack was long and relatively steep, we just kept it steady and made our way to the top. When you get above tree line you see slyness magnificent towering mountains ahead of you and it's breathtaking. This is what we worked for,all these miles to get to this place and hike it in idyllic weather, it seemed like something straight from a movie. The cool thing about ridge line waking is you see the trail before you stretch into the distance and disappear into the horizon. I walked that trail with a smile on my face with occasional laughter pinching myself the whole way, I should be waking up from this dream soon. The only bad thing was the insects which surprised me being this far up but they were they weird flies that would just hover in the wind and would hit into you but do nothing but fall to the ground, they weren't the smartest insects out there.    We took a lunch in the saddle between Lafayette and Lincoln and then headed on as the sun was starting to get dimmer. We had a steep downhill and then a climb over Garfield Mountain. Most thru hikers were stealth camping along the way but we decided to pay to stay at the shelter as we didn't feel like searching for a spot so late in the day. At this point The group is all scattered somewhat near each other and Atlas and I are out in front,hopefully we all meet up soon.The side trail to shelter was steep and we got there just before sunset and we decided to stay at the shelter as Atlas's tent can't be set up on the wooden platforms they have there. So we ate a late dinner and went to bed. The Whites are already tough but the beauty of them is worth it and so glad to be here.
Date: 2014-09-02
From: Garfield Ridge Shelter

To: Stealth Campsite near Thoreau Falls
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We were the last to leave the shelter this morning and were greeted with a steep downhill down Garfield Mountain. It was all big rocks and they were wet so I took my sweet time getting down. I'm pretty quick on the uphills but downhills I look like an awkward penguin sliding down rocks.       We got to Galehead Hut which was out first but to visit while in the Whites. It was a beautiful hut perched near the edge of the cliff with the mountains all around it was amazing. We went in and they have drinks and snacks for sale and I took advantage of that by eating four Blondie's and a glass of lemonade. We hung out here for a bit just checking out the place and then headed out. We has a steep uphill over South Twin Mountain and the a gradual down before we arrived to the second hut of the day,Zealand Falls Hut. The hut was near Whitewall Brook which led in Zealand Falls so the sound of the falls gave the but a very relaxing ambiance to it. We got some water there and relaxed for a bit, we were pretty tired from the hiking. Ravioli was there as well resting and he left with us for the remaining miles of the day.    For the first time in a while the trail was flat and it felt so good to walk on. It was also really beautiful as it was along the side of the mountain and it had views of the valley and mountains. We did those miles pretty quickly and were now looking for a stealth campsite which we did near a stream. We got there pretty early so hiked to Thoreau Falls which was beautiful and had flat rock surface to hang out on and provide a place to watch the the sunset. We went back and got our dinner to cook at the falls and watch the sunset but when we got back the clouds were building up and blocked the sun. Nonetheless it was a relaxing way to end another great day in the Whites.
Date: 2014-09-03
From: Stealth Campsite near Thoreau Falls

To: Mizpah Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Those clouds we saw rolling in while eating dinner last night made an appearance later on in the night and brought some wind with it as well. Thankfully it didn't last too long but it did leave us with wet tents to pack up the next morning. The big climb today was over Mount Webster which was about a 3500 foot climb so knowing this didn't make to to excited to start the day.      It can get depressing when you going downhill to a gap knowing that I'm going to be climbing up a mountain almost instantaneously afterwards. Mount Webster was a long uphill which was tough but nothing we haven't done before. We took a lunch break at Webster Cliff a which was about halfway up and the wind and sun restored our energy. It's been unseasonably warm out lately, it seems that most of our hike has been in unseasonable weather which has worked out to our advantage. The climb to the top of Webster got pretty steep and we were climbing up some rocks at the end but the views that were provided were worth it. Sometimes it feels like a dream when standing on top of mountains with the strong winds filtering through you and the warm sun blanketing you with warmth. The last five months have been for moments like these.   We went down amount Webster for a bit and ended up at the Mizpah Hut where we hung out for a bit. Atlas wanted to do a work for stay at a hut and get the whole but experience so she asked if they had any spots open and thankfully they did. So me,Atlas,Puzzle,Nora V and Onward were doing work for stay and we all hung out in the library room while the guests ate dinner. Usually for work for stay, the guests eat first and then the hikers eat with the hut crew afterwards and then do some chores. The hut only had about fifteen guests and after they were done we came down and but out with the hut crew and ate some dinner. Tonight's dinner was pulled pork sandwiches,broccoli, soup, salad, it was delicious and a lot better than eating ramen for the night. So we stuffed our faces,had some laughs with the crew and then did some chores. Atlas and I washed the windows, Nora V and Onward did dishes and Puzzles deiced the freezer. It was a laid back and chill vibe while we did the chores and the hut crew prepped their food for the next day.   With lights being out at nine thirty we retreated to the library and hung out there before going to bed. They had all the hut journals that people wrote messages in from the past fifty years so it was real interesting to read entries from the past. I was wary of doing work for stay at the huts because I didn't know what it entailed but after today, I'm looking forward to the next one.
Date: 2014-09-05
From: Madison Hut

To: Gorham,NH
Miles today: 7.8

Since we slept in the dining room last night, we had to be up early to get our stuff together so they could set up for breakfast. We hung around for a bit having some coffee and talking with the guests about our thru hike. We didn't stay around for breakfast and headed out to the trail around 7:30,the earliest we've started in a long time.    Right from the get to we had a steep climb over the peak of Mount Madison. We found a nice spot at the top of the mountain and ate breakfast up there. There's nothing like eating a honeybun on top of a mountain at 5,300 feet. You create a lot of memories over a a thru hike but ones like this stand out over the rest. After climbing over Madison, we had a long rocky descent into Pinkham Notch. It took us a while to hike the downhill, I have an irrational fear of getting my ankle stuck between two rocks and breaking it so I take my sweet time getting down. We weren't having our best day as Atlas took a few spills and I was just going slow. We got down to Pinkham Notch and went the Highland Center that the AMC runs and spilt an overpriced sandwich. When the chef brought out the food he asked if we were thru hikers and when we said yes he gave us some free fruit which was really nice.   Our next mission was to get a ride into Gorham which was ten miles away so we hit the road to hitch. We hiked a few miles in the hot sun before someone pulled over and gave us a ride. This person was one of the higher ups in the AMC organization so it was interesting to talk to him about the trail and the organization. He gave us a ride to the post office because Atlas had two packages there, well she was supposed to have two packages there but they were never sent. We sat outside the post office for awhile deciding what to do when Tumbles came by and offered his hotel room to us to take a shower and do some laundry. We happily took him up on the offer and after being there we decided to stay in town for the night. We saw Naturally Hob and his wife who were part of the group that stealth camped last night and they said it was a rough night with the wind knocking down their tent so they just slept outside. He said Delaware was in town so we met up with her at a pizza place which had the most delicious pizza-a maple bacon pizza,so good.   There's some bad weather coming our way and tomorrow we would be on a ridge line so we have to figure out what to do. I'm still aiming to be done at the end of this month, it'll be a little tough to do but I don't want to cross over into October. This has been an amazing adventure so far but don't want to stretch it out too long and have it turn into something I start to resent. Little over three weeks left,where has the time gone?
Date: 2014-09-06
From: Gorham,NH

To: Gorham,NH
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up this morning feeling pretty crappy. I was nauseous and had no energy so I decided to take the day off. I need to be in somewhat good health to finish this trip. Some other people recently have had similar symptoms so I hope I didn't catch anything. Going to rest up today and hopefully feel better tomorrow, I can't really sacrifice anymore days at this point. I posted some pictures up in the gallery if anyone is interested.
Date: 2014-09-07
From: Gorham,NH

To: Imp Shelter
Miles today: 13.1

Are you ready for some football! The weather here is perfect fall weather for the first week of football. The ritual of eating and drinking all day Sunday will have to wait for until the end of the month,football will be around for along time, my chance to complete my thru hike won't.    I was feeling a lot better, not a hundred percent but good enough to put down some miles. We left the motel late and went to McDonalds to fill the belly with some greasy food. We started walking down the road to hitch a ride and there were about four other hikers doing the same thing so we walked passed them to get some distance. Little did they know that I had a secret weapon in my arsenal-a female and it worked yet again. Atlas has a perfect record in getting us hitches,people will stop for a good looking female,not so much for a scruffy,lanky male. So a young kid who worked at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center picked us up and we had him drop us off at a ski resort instead of the trailhead. They had gondola rides to the top of the mountain which coincidentally the AT ran right by so we thought it would be awesome to take a gondola ride to the top, take a three mile shortcut and start hiking. It was a great ride up with the White Mountains as the backdrop and all was well except for the the few times the gondola stop midway up and left us swaying in the wind.   We got to the top and started climbing up the Wildcats which were a steep set up mountains before heading down Carter Notch. The Carter Notch Hut was the last of the huts we would pass and had a beautiful lake in front it to welcome you. I was hesitant about the huts before coming to the Whites,everyone has a different opinion of them,it seems to be a love/hate relationship. After doing work for stay and hanging out with the crews,I'm leaving the Whites with great memories and experiences. We didn't stay there to long because we had a steep climb ahead of us and it was getting late. The climb was a tough one but we chugged along and got to the top and put the jets on. Water was pretty scarce and we didn't have too much with us so our options were limited and we pushed for the shelter five miles away.    We got there as the sun was setting and the wind was picking up and lucky for us the caretaker wasn't there so we didn't have to pay. We put on our winter gear and bundled up while we cooked dinner. We had a great view of the sunset and there even was a wooden bench to sit on to watch it from. We pretty much are finished up with the Whites and what an amazing time I had. It was tough on the body but it was worth every but of it and the hut experiences alleviated some of that pain with the delicious food. Our time is winding down in New Hampshire and I'm going to enjoy every moment of these last miles.
Date: 2014-09-09
From: Mount Hayes

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 14.4

We were up early to go get some water and luckily got some about two miles into the day. This trip makes you realize how lucky we are in the real world, turn of a knob you have water,out here you have for walk miles for it. It was a beautiful fall day with a cloudless day,sun shining bright and a crispness to the air, I couldn't have asked for a better day.    The terrain was like the good old days, dirt instead of rocks and the uphills weren't too crazy and because if this we were making great time today. We took a break at Gentian Pond Shelter and sat in the opening of the shelter looking out at distant mountains with the sun shining on us. It was my first 'I'm going to miss this' moments as the Maine border is coming up and this trip will be over before I know it. We peeled ourselves up from the shelter because we were getting lazy and starting up the climb up and over Mount Success which is the last mountain we would climb in New Hampshire. We got to the top and it was covered in shrubbery so you got great views all around. We stood there for a bit just taking it all in and realizing the accomplishments that we have had and now we turned looking to the ones ahead in Maine.    The terrain became more hilly and we were getting antsy to get to the sign for the Maine border. We turned a corner and there it was with six thru hikers sitting there taking break, one of those hikers was Delaware who we haven't seen in a few days. It still hasn't hit me that we're in Maine...Maine! The final state,wildest of them all, the final leg of this long journey and now I stand here looking at the sign. It probably won't hit me for a few days that I'm here and this is all coming to and end,still have some miles to do.We took our pictures,took a swig of Jim Beam to celebrate,hung out for a bit and then headed out to finish the half mile to the shelter. That half mile was pretty tough with some crazy climbs down boulders that made me feel a little unsafe. The .3 down to the shelter was steep and composed of wet,slippery rocks which made the end of the day that much more fun. We've been in this state for half mile and it's already got me worried and with that the final leg of the journey begins.
Date: 2014-09-10
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 9.5

Well Maine is living up to its reputation as being both beautiful and extremely difficult. Today's big adventure would take us to Mahoosuc Notch-a mile long boulder field that's labeled as the most difficult or fun mile of the the trail. But before that we would have to tackle five miles of mountains that would grind away at us and not make it an easy day. So I had a breakfast of granola in powdered milk with bit cocoa to fuel me in the morning and we were off.   The morning was full of steep rocky uphills and rock climbing with some normal hiking sprinkled in. We had big expectations for the day and were aiming for a fourteen mile day. We had another beautiful day with blue skies and lots of sun, I actually have a pretty legitimate suntan going on from all this sun we've had lately. It took us longer than expected to do the five miles but there's nothing more you can do to speed up the process. We took a long break at Full Goose Shelter and fueled up on food. My snacks these days consist of granola bars,beef jerkey,spam (I've grown to love it out here), Chex mix,cookies, sour patch kids and fruit pur©e that's sold for babies but they come in squeezable packets and are a good energy boost.   It was now time for the Mahoosuc Notch. The notch is in a valley between two steep mountain and boulders are scattered everywhere. You climb,crawl,squeeze,jump of any other acrobatic move you can think of to maneuver through this labyrinth. It was fun to do for the first half mile but after that I was getting exhausted and my knees were pulsating with pain. Atlas has done rock climbing before so she's doing all these fancy moves and making it look easy while I look like a giraffe walking on a waxed floor,it was awkward looking. At one point I did a hail mary lunge from one boulder to another and made it but smashed my knee on the landing. Thankfully the boulder had a ledge and she couldn't see my there cowering in pain in the fetal position cursing like a sailor. It took us an hour and a half to do the mile and we were beat. But wait there's more. After the notch comes the Mohoosuc Arm, an eleven hundred foot climb over a mile,this trail is evil. So we slowly made our way up the mountain which was more climbing up rock walls than hiking and it seemed like for we but we made it to the top.   Luckily the shelter was less than a mile away and we made it there tired and in pain. We set up camp away from the shelter and made some dinner and went to bed. The combination of less shorter days and the weather getting colder doesn't make it too appetizing to stay outside too late. We should be out of the southern part of Maine in a day or two and the terrain should be as hellish. I hope so and this isn't another AT rumor like most of Virginia is flat because I'm not sure how much more of this my knees can take. Keeping the spirits up and counting down the miles,hopefully we can start doing some miles soon.
Date: 2014-09-12
From: Dunn Notch & Falls

To: Andover,ME
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: few clouds

As beautiful as it is to camp next to a river, the one downfall is it gets damn cold at night. I didn't think it would be getting this cold this early but it has and now all I can do is roll with the punches. Today we were going to head into Andover to do a small resupply to carry us over until we got into Rangeley which had a lot more choices to shop at. It was chilly all day and I opted for the long sleeve shirt and my ski cap instead if the bandana as the wind was constant and the chill got right to the bones. I'm a cold weather person but even out here it gets to me sometimes, I'm not ready to give up on warm days so I still wear shorts instead of the pants.      The terrain wasn't too and and we had a pretty good pace, every big step downhill sent a pain to my knees and grimace on the face. There are points where it's hard to distinguish if I'm a upset thirty year old or a cranky eighth year old, these aches and pains are a bitch sometimes. We talked to two guys who were slackpacking and they said the temperature is suppose to drop to the low thirties and if we wanted to stay at the hostel we should call soon because they were filling up.    So once we got to the top of Moody Mountain and had reception we gave a call and got the two last bunks and they would pick us up. We weren't crossing any big roads just small country roads so hitching would have been pretty tough. So they picked us up around four and on the way to the hostel, the driver told us there's a cold front from Canada causing this unusually cold weather and it should be gone by next week, I hope so.   Andover is a very small town where's there's one restaurant and two two general stores,welcome to small town USA. We arrived at the Pine Ellis Hostel and were given the tour and shown our bunks, overall it was pretty nice. Out of the blue Delaware showed up and stayed as well. There are two places to get picked up for Andover and she got picked up at the first one while we got picked up at the second one ten miles further down trail. I'm not too sure where James is these days,I haven't him since Franconia Notch in NH,hope to see him before Kathadin. We went to the Little Red Hen and I had shepards pie and blackberry pie,it was some good eatings. Afterwards we resupplied at the general store and on the way back we were on the lookout for the northern lights which we heard we might be able to see tonight because of some solar storm that occurred. We hung out on the porch for awhile before calling it a night and unfortunately no northern lights to be seen. My bunk was on top and had a window next to it that was open and I tried my best to close but didn't really work out too well,it's going to be a long night.
Date: 2014-09-13
From: Andover,ME

To: Bemis Stream
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a long cold night with my feet becoming to Popsicles that took awhile to thaw out. I had a few dreams during the night that involved that window and how to close it and when I woke up at five I gave it one last shot and it worked. So for a few hours I had warm feet until I woke up at seven and went to get breakfast with Atlas at the general store. I got the cheese omelette and bacon and it was delicious and cheap, a beautiful combination.    We hurried back to the hostel as we were getting shuttled back to the trail at nine and still had to pack. It was another cold,overcast day and it stayed that way as we hiked. It felt like a lazy fall Sunday and we never really got going the whole day. We only saw a few hikers today and thankfully the terrain wasn't too terrible. The rain started later in the day and which made us quicken up a bit. We crossed over Bemis stream which is one of seven rivers we have to ford and thankfully it wasn't running strong and we didn't get soaked. It stared pouring when we up camp so we ate quickly and retreated to the tents. Up early and into Rangeley tomorrow.