morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-08-06
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Gear repair day today and a trip to town.So got up around 6:30 and had breakfast. Said the good byes to Fiber and Veto as they are moving on today. I then made a trip to the outfitter but they didn't open till 9 so I sat around at a building charging my phone till they opened. Once they opened they didn't have stuff sacks or tent stakes so then had to wait for the other outfitter to open at 10, so I charged my phone some more. They opened and didn't have them either!?!? So I left there empty handed and went to the Coop for gatorade I had forgotten to get, and also got some fruit. Made the trek back up to the shelter and read for a while. Then I put on the seamstress hat and sewed up my pack, had four spots that needed repairing. The hole that was chewed, holes in the top where the frame is wearing thru, a rip down the seam on the side, and my mesh water bottle pocket that caught a tree and ripped and barely holding the water bottle by two threads. The mesh I laced with cord, the rest I sewed with dental floss. Hopefully it will get me the rest of the way without more repairs. It threatened to rain so I setup in the shelter but a bunch of people arrived and it looked ok out so set my tent back up. Had dinner and went to bed to read. Felt pretty good today so hopefully I am all better now. Tomorrow I am back to walking with a 15 mile day to Trapper John shelter, had to stay at that one just because of the name. To finish by the date I chose I need to do 11.1 miles a day, if I do more I can take a zero after each time I build up the extra 11 miles. From here on out if there is a nice place I can just stay if I want.
Date: 2011-08-07
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Lots of rain, a late start and trail magic. Was a different day that is for sure. So that threat of rain came ack in the middle of the night and didn't stop till 9, which is when I started on the trail today. Woke up at normal time to the rain so slept till about 7 and packed up everything in the tent and had breakfast. I then just read until the rain let up at nine before getting going. So late start for sure but only had fifteen miles to do. So I hiked for maybe two hours before the rain came back. I was getting hungry but didn't want to stop in the rain, so setup my tent near a water source and crawled inside for lunch to avoid the rain. At the road crossing just before the water i came upon a cooler that had chocolate milks in it so grabbed one to have with lunch. I then read for another hour before the rain finally let up again and I could move on. Passed the first shelter where I wanted to get water but it had a terrible water source. The next few where dry despite it raining all day. The weather was also super humid so no matter what you just get soaked all day. Finally made it to the shelter and it had stopped raining. Its just me and Clean Shave here for the evening. Had some chili for dinner and then headed to the tent to journal and read.Tomorrow I have a 2400 ft climb right away and only a twelve mile day. That is part of my new shorter days with the big climbs and the Whites plan.
Date: 2011-08-08
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Shortish day with rain and lots of long breaks. So it rained most of the night and finally stopped just before morning. Was up and hiking around 7:30 to do a 12 mile day. The climbs just get bigger each day and todays was 2400 ft. Wasn't terrible climbing but still slower than I like, and half way there was a nice ridge line with a view for a nice break. At the top I climbed the fire tower but the very top was locked off so just had to get pictures from the stairs. I then took a long break at the old fire cabin and read my book while it began raining. After it stopped I finally moved on for the final five miles. Another guy was their with me at six and I thought we would be the only ones and then it turned into a zoo. Another 10 southbounders came in and 3 northbounders. Pidgeon and Swan are two of the ones that showed up. Been a while since I saw Pidgeon and Swan I had just meet when she started the trail near Pine Grove Furnace. So tonight I stayed in the shelter for the first time in a while which is actually a hexagon and sort of shaped like a teepee in the middle. Tomorrow is a longer day but not to bad in the climbing department.
Date: 2011-08-09
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Jeffers Brook Sheter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was just a few short climb and a quick hostel visit with food. Well the shelter was pretty full last night and Pidgeon snored pretty good last night but it didnt keep me awake. Woke and had to do the silent packing thing for the first time in a while. Hit the trail around 7:30 and had a fairly normal day. Had some great views on top of Mt. Cube of the mountains and low lying clouds. About a mile before the shelter we passed Glenclif where there is a hostel. Stopped in for a soda and ice cream sandwich. Pidgeon and Clean Shave were cooking steaks and another guy was making hamburgers, they also had free hotdogs. The one guy gave me a burger and Clean Shave gave me a chunk of steak and Snake Hips cooked me up two hotdogs. Was an awesome stop but eventually had to head out to not get sucked in and needed to beat the rain for the last mile to the shelter. Just a few here tonight so staying in the shelter to avoid the rain. Before the hostel we also passed the marker for less than four hundred miles left, that puts a three on the front of the number which is huge in my mind. Now just have to get through the Whites.Tomorrow we climb Moosilauke which is a huge 3500 ft climb. With that climb I am only doing about an 8 mile day to keep it short and resupplying and doing laundry hopefully. Think I might make it a late morning.
Date: 2011-08-10
From: Jeffers Brook Sheter

To: Chets Hostel
Miles today: 8.3

Well today was actually my first day officially in the Whites. We climbed Mt. Moosilauke to rain and ended the day resuppling in Lincoln and staying at Chets.So woke up around 6 to rain and didn't want to move until it stopped. It finally let up around 7:30 and I got up and hit the trail around 8:15. For these climbs I am going very slow and not needing many breaks. Seems to make it easier but takes just as long. Somewhere during the climb the rain came back though and was pretty wet before the mountain leveled out for a while before going above tree line. Took a break there and Rambling Man showed up. Been a little while since I had seen him so we caught up for a while and Swan and another section hiker from last night showed up as well. We all continued to the top in the clouds and didn't have a view but was still very cool being above tree line and got some good pictures anyways. Then we headed to the next shelter for lunch before making the tough climb down. 1.5 miles or so took about 2 hours in the very slippery and very treacherous terrain. Swan took a slip and slid down a rock face 10 feet, nothing injured though. Safe at the road the others moved on and Swan and I walked a half mile to a tourist site and she talked a couple on vacation into taking us into town. So they dropped us off at the outfitter and I called Chets and we walked there. Took my shower and did laundry before heading back to McDonalds for food and then to the grocery store for resupply. As I was leaving the grocery store to go back the clouds started coming and it was obvious it was going to rain. I was even yelled at by some guys loitering near the store that I was going to get rained on. Well it definitely rained and walked about a half mile back in pouring and very cold rain. I was still wearing the loaner clothes and crocs so wasn't worried about it and just changed clothes when I got back. Eventually I read for most of the night and nothing else. Tomorrow is a big day apparently from others here that have already done it and came into town 17 miles farther up the trail. The trail is supposed to be much harder than Moosilauke was with tough boulder scrambling. Welcome to the Whites.
Date: 2011-08-11
From: Chets Hostel

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Well it was a very late morning with tough trail and sore knee.Got up around 7 and a group of us went for breakfast at a pancake place. Took forever to get our food and didn't get started trying to get back to the trail until almost ten. Eventually someone stopped and picked Swan and I up and she regularly picks up hikers since her friend is an inspiring thru hiker. So we made it back to the trail and that turned out to be the easy part. Had a big climb to start but that was the easy part. The mud is so bad it takes forever to navigate the trail without sinking knee deep in mud. Wet rocks doesn't make it any easier. The combination of everything made the mileage today about 1.5 miles an hour. Had a couple of limited views but nothing major yet. The weather was great which is a huge plus, I am actually using my down jacket and pants in camp. My knee is sore but not like normal, just tender when moving certain ways and the huge steps don't make it any better. Because of all that I stopped at the first shelter and didn't try to find a stealth site closer to the hut tonight. This I believe is the last free shelter or campsite for a long time and will have to find random campsites to stay at unless I get the work for stay at the huts. Did take one good fall today when my foot slid in the dirt and sent me into the trees. Managed to keep my feet dry though, at least mostly. Well tomorrow I want to make it six miles to the hut for lunch where they have all you can eat soup bowl for two dollars. Only carrying three days of food for about a eight day section because the huts will give you leftovers for breakfast and dinner and you can buy the soup for lunch. Unfortunately today I didn't make it up Kinsman which is what they say is the hard climb in the section. Again welcome to the Whites.
Date: 2011-08-12
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: 1809.7 campsite
Miles today: 10.2

My first hut experience, and another big mountain with a missed view. Weather cleared up this morning and it appeared it was going to be a good day for views on Kinsman mountain. We started with a 2000 ft climb but by the time we got to the top clouds had covered everything in so for the first few days in the actual Whites we haven't had a view. It was also pretty chilly and I had to use my rain jacket off and on during the day. Around mid day we reached Lonesome Lake Hut. We stopped in for soup which was delicious, had a bowl of beef stew and curry potato. For the ten day or so trip through the Whites I am carrying three days of food. The huts all have the possibility of getting leftovers for free and working for stay and then have endless soup bowls for lunch with leftover bread as well. So had some soup and tons of bread before moving on. To avoid the fee sites I stealth camped by a stream just before the climb up Liberty mountain. The trail wasn't quite as tough as yesterday but still slippery and rough.Tomorrow should be a good day according to the weather report at the hut and we have the perfect section. A two mile ridge walk from Little Haystack mountain to Mt. Lincoln and to Mt. Lafayette. Hopefully it will be a good day. Also planning at staying at Galehead hut for my first work for stay.
Date: 2011-08-13
From: 1809.7 campsite

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Wow what an incredible day! First views in the Whites were well worth it when crossing Franconian Ridge. Also did my first work for stay. So in order to get the miles in today I woke up early compared to the last few days and hit the trail around 6:45. After a few miles up Little Haystack we made it to the riddge line. Franconian ridge is a two mile walk from there to Mt. Lafayette, all above tree line with perfectly clear skies. You could see forever, including Mt. Washington which was in the clouds. While up there a glider was towed up above the ridge and released. Got tons of pictures and spent a lot of time up there. Finally had to move on and made it to the hut around 4:30 and signed up for work for stay. The Galehead hut has a very nice view itself and in a great location. Sat around forever waiting for food for a thru hikers opinion. We ate at 7:30 after everyone else was done. Baked chicken breast, mashed potatoes, bread, green beans, salad, cranberry sauce, and brownies. After that we had to work which consisted of doing inventory of the food supply, about an hour of work total. Then we got to setup our beds in the dinning hall for the night. Two days of bad weather was definitely a good trade for good weather today. The ridge and views are what I have waited for over the last 1800 miles. Tomorrow we have to leave the dining hall by 6:15 and then sweep for breakfast at 8:30. After that is done we start a fifteen mile day with another hut stop around lunch. Weather is supposed to change to rain sometime over the next two days which means Mt. Washington will probably be a rough weather day. After today it seems like the trip is going to end all too soon.
Date: 2011-08-14
From: Galehead Hut

To: Webster Cliffs
Miles today: 17.3

Day started off bad but turned out good in the end. Hut breakfast, hut lunch and great view in the evening.Last night was the worst sleep so far. Couldn't get to sleep to start until about 1:30. I slept in a horrible spot with my head near the end of the hall towards the restroom. People walked by all night long. Then the hut crew(croo as they write it) woke us up around 6 to clear out of the dinning area. I moved outside and packed everything up while breakfast was served to the guest. Around that time it started raining. We then had breakfast of broccoli eggs, oatmeal and muffins. For the chore we swept out the bunk rooms. After that Buckeye, Swan, Rambling Man and I headed out around 9. At the trailhead we meet up with Sparkplug. We all then hiked to Zealand Falls Hut for a warm lunch, a bowl of soup and left over egg frittas. The hike there was pretty wet but not to bad. We then headed out to the road another seven miles or so. The trail was the best we have seen in forever, smooth with very little rocks and roots, low inclines and we made almost three miles an hour. Compared to the recent 1-1.5 lately we were flying. Everyone but Swan and I headed to different hostels or campsites in town. We decided to go farther than planned and hike another two miles to Webster Cliffs up 2000 feet of the 3800 we planned for tomorrow. Half way up was supposed to be water but it was dry so we got to camp with about 1.5 liters between us. Some day hikers past and we borrowed .5 liters from them. It also started raining as we got there and had to setup tents in the rain. Tried collecting rain in my pack cover but it was useless. Eventually stopped raining and I walked out to Webster Cliffs for an amazing view. The cliffs overlook Crawford notch which is basically a huge gash right through two mountains. The clouds were skirting the tops and scattered down in the valley. For the Whites it was a huge day but needed to make up some miles to keep up my 11.1 miles a day pace. Tomorrow the plan is to get to Lake of the Clouds hut which is a few miles from Mt. Washington. The problem is its supposed to rain and we are going to be doing the presidential range.
Date: 2011-08-15
From: Webster Cliffs

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: fog

An incredibly scary and tough day. We made it to Lake of the Clouds but for only 8.4 miles it was border line crazy.So to start last night was a great night of sleep after getting only a few hours the night before. All night it rained up until about 7:00 when i finally got up and packed. The rain had also pooled on rocks and I scooped up two liters this morning which I needed. Everything was pretty wet and right after hitting the trail it just started raining again and didn't stop till late this evening. The first four miles to Mizpah hut for lunch wasn't bad but with constant rain and some good exposed ridge walking it wasn't the most fun I have had. Had a bunch of soup, coffee and leftover pancakes for lunch and seriously contemplated making it a very short day. Sparkplug and Buckeye showed up though and it changed into braving the weather and getting to the Lake of the Clouds 4.8 more miles. So I actually put on my thermals, broke out the gloves and donned the rain gear. Was supposed to be a group effort but before we even started Buckeye and Sparkplug left. The first few miles were not to bad but was still wet and cold. Then as we hit the tree line things got really interesting. As a little informational pretext, Mt. Washington held the world record wind speed up until a few years ago and supposedly got it back over the last year but can't confirm that, record was well over 200 miles an hour. This is the mountain the ridge line we walked leads up to. Each little presidential peak we reached got a little more terrible with its worst on Franklin. I estimated it at 50 mph winds in 45 degrees. At points Swan couldn't even walk and just had to stand there. One gust actually knocked both of us completely to the ground, another sent me about five feet from the trail before I got my footing back. On the peak I could lean quite a way into the wind without falling. By the end I was soaked and getting chilly but felt good. Was afraid if it took to much longer it could of been very bad. Will be an experience I will never forget that is for sure and the hut appearing in the fog was a relief. Inside I took off my pack and went to change clothes and something wasn't right, it was to easy to get in it. It finally donned on me that my pack cover was gone, somewhere during the hike it ripped off and flew away and I never knew it. Sitting around the hut a guy came in with a wind gauge and had clocked the gust at 50 miles an hour so I had guessed pretty closely, the average was 30. We had dinner later and some chores for the evening which wasn't all that exciting. Warm and dry now away from traffic ready to sleep.Tomorrow it is supposed to rain again and it looks like after today we might all be zeroing until the weather clears the day after. Its only going to get worse when making the final ascent to Mt. Washington.
Date: 2011-08-16
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Yes we all stayed put today except Buckeye who had to meet friends. Was a good weather zero and it looks like it will be worth it.So slept great last night right next to a window and the wall. Was up around 6 and moved my gear out of the main area. Had breakfast leftovers and sat around for a bit in my wet clothes trying to dry them out today. We all had to do some chores and Sparkplug and I walked up at the wrong time. We got to sort the composting outside. With wet clothes on in the wind and fog it wasn't the greatest chore. We had to grate the compost through a metal wire floor and then retrieve the mulch and bag it up. We also had to bag up all the loose bags laying around in the composting area. Somewhere in the middle of sorting we moved a bag to discover tons of maggots. Sparkplug almost lost her breakfast. So while she sorted I started dealing with bagging up the crud. Let's just say it wasn't the prettiest job. It had also started raining near the end. We started first and when we got back in the others had finished sweeping, took about a hour and a half. Did buy me three meals though and had lunch shortly later. Everyone sat around all day playing games and napping. Over the day another fifteen or so thru hikers showed up so it is a pretty crowded house tonight. While the guest were eating dinner the clouds cleared a little and Rambling Man, Sparkplug, Zen, Swan and I climbed the short distance to Mt. Monroe in our crocs for a very short day hike distraction. By the time we got to the top it had already clouded back over so couldn't see anything. Back at the hut we sat in the dungeon while the guest ate and then had our dinner. Sat around till lights out and then setup our beds for the evening.Was an interesting day but tomorrow I am anxious to climb Mt. Washington which we saw when the clouds broke. Then its a long hike to the next road and town for laundry time.
Date: 2011-08-17
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: White Mountain Hostel
Miles today: 15.3

Great view and excellent weather to summit Mt. Washington. Big day as well to town.So we all had to get up this morning as usual and clear out of the dining room, all 18 or something of us. While waiting for breakfast I went out side in the heavy winds and dried my tent. We eventually had left over pancakes before starting the day around 9. After a short time we made it to the top of Mt. Washington. First thing we all did was get a bunch of summit pictures and such before heading to where else but the cafeteria. We hung out there for a while eating lunch before making the climb down and over four more presidential peaks. The weather was perfect all day and everyone took a ton of pictures. Took a break at Madison hut but they had potato soup again and was a little tired of it so didn't get any. We made it to the road and were all picked up and brought back to the White Mountain Hostel where we had pizza, showers and laundry. Was a great day with lots of company around all day. The bad thing today was I rolled my ankle on the rocks four times with the last time hurting pretty good but not bad enough to swell or anything. The entire ridge line was very rocky all day and really wears on you.So far the views have all been on very good days and the weather has been cooperative so far.Tomorrow we have to do the Wildcat and Carter ranges, then one more day back to the hostel for a nero the day after and resupplying.
Date: 2011-08-18
From: White Mountain Hostel

To: Imp Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Didn't want to get an early start this morning but had a big day planned. Had breakfast at the hostel before they drove Zen, Swan, Sparkplug and I to the gas station for snacks and then to the trail head. When we got to the visitor center we ran into Outbreak who we had been hiking with for a while and he had taken a fall and is pretty sure he had broken a finger. This was his last day of hiking for his four week section. We had just said good byes the day before thinking we wouldnt see him but there he was all banged up. Get better and email me if you ever happen to find my journal. First thing we had to do on the trail was the Wildcat range of peaks. This is considered by some to be the hardest section of the Whites. Had it been wet it could easily have been but we had good weather and didn't it with only a little difficulty. The down was actually the easiest in a while and Zen and I pretty much ran down it, I had a pressing issue so was in a hurry. We then stopped at Carter Notch hut for lunch but they didn't have any soup. They did give us some great bread, chips, wheat thins and jolly ranchers. Zen decided to stay at the hut and do a work for stay and would catch us tomorrow. We headed on and eventually made it to the Imp shelter for the evening. Mountain Dew and some others were there as well. Got in pretty late and just cooked dinner and went to bed.With yesterday and then todays mileage and terrain we are all sore and very tired. Everyone falls out here and it just can't be avoided, you just hope its not bad. Slipped off a rock ledge and fell four or five feet to another standing like nothing was wrong. You get cuts and never know how it happened. The Whites are definitely tough but very much an experience. Tomorrow we have an 8 mile day back to the hostel to resupply and then nero out the next day to the first camp spot out of town.