morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-07-12
From: Speck Pond Shelter

To: Gentain Pond & Campsite
Miles today: 15.6

2012 ¢ Day 12Sunny; pleasantly warm for most of the day but a little hot in mid-afternoon; a breeze on the peaks and ridges.I slept OK last night once the group of girls quieted down.I was up at 4:25 AM and on the trail at 5:45 AM.The first order of business was a 300 ft climb up Mahoosuc Arm. There were great views with the early morning light on Old Speck. Next it was a 1,500 ft drop down to Mahoosuc Notch. It was the usual steeply slanted ledges with some tricky vertical drops thrown in for good measure.Then the convoluted journey through Mahoosuc Notch began. I was climbing over boulders ¢ some as big as a truck. In a few places I had to crawl under boulders. At one spot I misjudged my footing and my leg dropped further than intended into a hole between the rocks. I had to use my arm strength to wrestle me and my pack back out. At another spot I had to take my pack off and crawl through a hole while pulling my pack in after me. Overall it was great fun. It took me about 1:20 to get through.Next it was a 900 ft climb up Fulling Mill Mt. I had lunch at Full Goose Lean-to at 11 AM and topped off my water. I was back on the trail at 11:45 AM. Now it was on to the three peaks of Goose Eye Mountain ¢ North Peak, East Peak, and West Peak (the main summit). This was such a clear day ¢ stupendous 360 degree views from all peaks. Along the way I misjudged a step while walking across a bog bridge. One end of a board was missing or had sunk down into the bog. My plan (as you will see, a poorly considered one) was to push off from the end of one board, leading with my right leg and using my right pole pushing from the surface of the bog to give me enough reach to get to the beginning of the next board. Well ¢¦ the bog provided the same support to the bottom of my right pole as water, so I didn¢t get the extra push and my right foot did not make it to the next board. Instead, my right leg went into the bog up to the bottom of my shorts. My left leg was still on a solid board, so I was able to extract myself. However, my right leg was now fully covered with disgusting decaying peat crud. The story continues ¢¦ now I¢m on the West Peak of Goose Eye along with ten girls from a summer camp in New Hampshire. I¢m just sitting there enjoying the stunning mountain views and one of the girls says, ¢Something really smells.¢ Argh! It was me.Now it was on to Mount Carlo and more stupendous views. After dropping down into Carlo Col there were more truck size boulders to navigate ¢ kind of a mini-Mahoosuc Notch. One half-mile later I was at the Maine ¢ New Hampshire boarder. I¢ve now completed all of the A.T. in Maine!One final mountain for the day ¢ Mount Success. This one in New Hampshire. I arrived at Gentain Pond at 8 PM. This was a long but satisfying day. The trails were challenging almost the whole day, but Mahoosuc Notch was a blast and there were great views from the peaks.I¢m here with Chris, Becky, and Smokie. I filtered my water from the lake ¢ a bad idea. This clogged up my filter. Good thing this is the last night out.
Date: 2013-06-30
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

On Tuesday I continue my southbound section hike on the AT. This year it will be about 189 miles from Gorham, NH to Maine Junction near Killington in Vermont. For the first seven nights I'll be on easy street as I'll be staying in AMC huts. The early weather looks a little rainy, but we'll see.
Date: 2013-07-01
From: Home

To: Route 2 (Gorham)
Miles today: 0.0

Today was getting to the trailhead.   I left Maine at 3:45 am in a rental car and headed to Massachusetts to take care of some family business. By 9 am I was on the road to New Hampshire. I took my time.   Dropped a resupply box off at Pinkham Notch and was at the car rental dropoff in Glen in time for a 4 pm pickup by Trailangel Hiker Shuttle.   Now I'm at White Mountain Lodge and Hostel in Shelburn, NH.   Tomorrow I start south on the AT where it crosses Rt 2.
Date: 2013-07-02
From: Route 2 (Gorham)

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 15.2

US Route 2 near Gorham, NH to Carter Notch Hut - 15.2 miles. Rain during the night through about mid-morning; overcast; every once in a while the sun tried to break through but only momentary sunshine. Slept well last night at the White Mountain Lodge and Hostel. I got up at 5 am. One of the owners, Jerry, got up at about the same time and started breakfast. She served oatmeal, burritos, hash browns, and a warm blueberry muffin - yum.   I was on the trail at 6:15 am. I remarked to Jerry that I was leaving a perfectly dry house to go out in the rain - not too bright. At the Rattle River Shelter before 7 am. There was one couple still sleeping inside. Soon after was the first crossing of the Rattle River.   The water was very high more like a raging torrent. I put on my Crocks and waded across.   When I hiked this section of trail some 37 years ago in August, this was an easy hop across. 200 yards after the first crossing was a second one, this time a tributary.   Again, changed into Crocks and waded across. If I'd only known I wouldn't have put my shoes back on.   I loose 15 to 20 minutes with each change. I made steady progress all day but no views because of clouds. Went over the summits of Moriah, North Carter, Middle Carter (just a bump in the trail), South Carter, Height, and Carter Dome. Saw three NOBOS, husband and wife on an overnight, one guy with day pack, summer camp group out for 5 days, and two guys out for several days.   The latter had taken three days to do what I was doing in a day. They were amazed at how fast I was covering the trail. One had thruhiked 26 years ago.The trail was very wet. Some of the bog bridges were more like plontoon bridges, floating on the water's surface. The only problem was, once I added my weight, they sank to the bottom. I had somewhat dry shoes for the first three hours. After that, each was carrying a couple of pounds of water.   When I think back to when I backpacked this stretch with my friends Mike and Jack some 37 years ago, now there were at least more bog bridges. I had lunch on North Carter at about 1 pm. I was on Carter Dome at about 4 pm. The last part of the descent down into the notch was very steep made all the harder by being at the end of a long day.   I arrived at hut at 5:20. Just over 11 hours for 15 miles - 1.4 mph including breaks.   Not bad for an old guy in difficult terrain. I'm the only paying guest at the hut tonight. Also here are thru hikers Stretch and Brave Heart, both from Lancaster, PA. They are doing work for stay. The former just graduated with degree in technology education. For his student teaching he had students build rubber band powered cars. The latter just graduated with degree in bible studies.   The couple who was at Rattle River Shelter came in after dinner. The Croo are Ben and Justin.   Liz from Lonesome Lake Hut is visiting.   Dinner was tortilla soup and lasagna. Tomorrow is just 5.9 miles down into Pinkham Notch. The last drop-off from Wildcat is supposed to be very steep - we'll see.
Date: 2013-07-03
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 5.9

Carter Notch Hut to Pinkham Notch - 5.9 milesMostly cloudy; sun poked out at times; downpour at about noonI slept well at the hut given that I had a room to myself. In the evening the two sobo section hikers that I passed late yesterday pulled in and were paying guests.   I was up at 6 am and was all packed up in time for breakfast at 7 am.   I was on the trail at 8 am. I was on the top of Wildcat A at 9 am. It was a steep climb but no problem. Then it was lots of ups and downs on a rocky trail - plenty of rock scrambling. Good views from viewing platform on top of Wildcat D. The tops of the Presidentials were in the clouds. Stretch and Brave Heart caught up to me there. The drop down from Wildcat E was hard work. Seemingly endless tricky rock drop-offs and boulders. I took my time - about 2 hours. I carefully picked every step. Several spots where I had to slide down on my butt - I'm not proud.   The downpour hit about 3/4 of way down - that made things extra tricky. Once at the bottom there was a mile walk to the Joe Dodge Lodge. I arrived at the lodge at 2:15 pm.   Thus, about 1 mph which is an indication how hard the trail was.Today one nobo thru-hiker passed me as well as four sobos who were doing this section hiking north so they could climb rather than descend the trail up from Pinkham notch. One of the latter passed me at noon and the others at 12:30 pm. They were going all the way to Route 2, some 20 miles away. It seemed like they didn't have a care in the world. I had visions of them fording the swollen Rattle River in the pitch dark. A retired schoolteacher also passed me going north. He is section hiking the AT and after reaching Route 2 he only has from Monson to Katahdin left. He was in perfectly clean clothes without mud. I am amazed by people who can hike down a mud infested trail and stay clean - I can't. My room wasn't ready so had lunch at visitors center and checked in at 3:30. The only problem was that I was dripping wet from the downpour. I left a trail of water wherever I went and a puddle anyplace I sat.
Date: 2013-07-04
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Madison Springs Hut
Miles today: 7.8

Happy Fourth of July!   Pinkham Notch to Madison Spring Hut - 7.8 milesPartly cloudy; hot at times; a breeze on some of the ridges; rain shower at 5 pm and again at 7:30 pmI was up at 5 am and was all cleaned up and packed up in time for breakfast at 6:30. At breakfast I sat with an AMC volunteer. She works the information desk for three day stretches. On the trail at 7:30. I put my pack on a spring scale. It checked in at 30 pounds. This is with 2.5 l of water and six days of lunches and snacks. The lower part of the trail was easy. I did the first two miles in an hour.   I stopped at Lowe's Bald for a look around. Could see the shoulder of Washington and the northern Presidentials. Impressive suspension bridge over the West Branch of the Peabody River. The bridge surface was on top of the cables not suspended from the cables like a normal suspension bridge. The real work was the climb up to Mount Madison. It was 3000 ft in about 2 miles. It took me about three hours. The trail was rocky, but mostly every step was a full stride. From the top I could see the whole length of the Carter-Moriah Range. Looking at it from across the valley, it sure looks like a lot of distance that I covered in my first day. The summit of Mount Washington was visible at times, but mostly there were clouds blowing over the top. There were lots of blackflies so I didn't stay long. It was a short descent to Madison Springs Hut.   I arrived a little before 3 pm, so it was 7.5 hours on the trail. I only took two sit-down breaks, once at Peabody River and once at treeline.It was too early to just sit around the hut, so I took the two mile loop from the hut to Mount Adams.   I went up the Star Lake Trail. I didn't have a pack, so even though it was steep, it was easy going. The top was just about at cloud level and there were a few big drops of rain. There were thousands of blackflies on top and I did not bring DEET. When this was combined with the threat of rain, I took just a couple of pictures and moved on.   I came down on the trail that intersects with the AT. Today I saw maybe 10 nobo thru-hikers. Good dinner of pasta and beef.   As I look out the window, there is another rain shower.   Glad I'm in a hut. Tomorrow will be nearly 12 miles to Mizpah Spring Hut. I'll need to keep up a good pace all day.
Date: 2013-07-05
From: Madison Springs Hut

To: Mizpah Spring Hut
Miles today: 11.8

Madison Springs Hut to Mizpah Spring Hut - 11.8 milesThrough early afternoon it was very windy; estimate peak gusts of 50 mph; in the clouds most of the time; mid to late afternoon it was mostly sunny with lower wind; some showers in the distance, but none for meUp at 6 am; packed and ready for breakfast at 7 am; pancakes for breakfast - yum! On the trail at 7:35. It was windy and in the clouds all morning. The trail was very rocky although modest elevation changes. Steady going but had to to take my time. Other hikers appeared as red and blue clad apparitions coming out of the mist. The official AT passes to the side of both Jefferson and Clay, so I passed these by. I was on the summit of Washington at 12:30. The summit was a madhouse with hundreds of tourists jostling for position so they could get their picture at the summit sign. I got a quick picture of just the sign.   The summit was socked in, so no views. I had my lunch and left the summit a little after 1 pm. I was surprised to see that the cog railway had switched to diesel-electric engines. Last I remember they were coal fired steam engines. On Crawford Path to Lake of the Clouds Hut I was thinking about hiking this stretch with my dad, Uncle John, and cousin Bette when I was maybe 12. It was a wonderfully clear day. This was the third mountain I had climbed. I'm sure glad that my dad got me hooked on hiking. Some 45 years later I'm still hiking.One of the people I passed while hiking to the top with a prosthetic leg. Quite a determined young lady. After traveling south of the summit the weather changed to mostly sunny. Great views but Washington still in the clouds. After Lakes the trail was easy and dry - could this still be New Hampshire? The AT follows Crawford Path. It does not go over Monroe or Eisenhower, so I didn't either. I arrived at Mizpah at 5:20, so 9 hours and 45 minutes for nearly 12 miles (1.2 mph).I traded position with a father and son out for several days. They live in southern Maine. Dad is from Czech Republic. Saw a handful of nobo thru hikers. Overall, a great day!
Date: 2013-07-06
From: Mizpah Spring Hut

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 14.1

Mizpah Springs Hut to Zealand Falls Hut - 14.1 milesLow clouds in the morning; becoming mostly sunny by late in the day; very windy coming over Jackson and Webster Mountains as well as Webster Cliffs, estimate peak gusts at 40 mph; a few drops of rain at 11 am. Up at 6 am. Packed up and ready to go by breakfast at 7 am. On the trail at 7:30 am. It was relatively easy trail over Jackson and Webster. There were just a few rock scrambles. About 1/2 mile from the hut I was overtaken by three young guys. They were rushing to Highlands Center to catch the AMC shuttle. The only problem was that they missed a turn. I got them pointed the right way.No views from Jackson as the peak was in the clouds. Two ladies out for a day hike were there when I arrived. I chatted for a few minutes and moved on. Things had cleared up considerably by the time I got to Webster Peak and Webster Cliffs. Great views across the valley and down into Crawford Notch. The wind was very strong and gusty blowing up over the edge of the notch. At least it was trying to blow me into the mountain rather than over the edge.   The trail going down was steep with several tricky ledges, but not as bad as coming down into Pinkham Notch. I was at US 302 at noon. I had lunch by the rail crossing and saw the Conway Scenic Train go by with all the tourists.   It was an easy trail back up out of the notch with about 1,500 ft of elevation gain. Once out of the notch it was 6 miles of flat, mostly well maintained trail to Zealand. Several sections of the trail were on a old railroad grade dating back to the late 1800's when the area was clear cut. I could see Zealand Falls Hut from 1.5 miles away perched up on the side of the mountain. The falls are a series of cascades totaling several hundred feet in height. The view from the hut is spectacular. I arrived at 4:45 pm, thus 7 hours and 15 minutes of hiking. Dinner was roast turkey with mashed potatoes and vegitables followed by apple crisp for dessert - yum!   I chatted with a couple of sobo thru hikers who are here for the night. One's trail name is Smitty.
Date: 2013-07-07
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Greenleaf Hut
Miles today: 13.6

Zealand Falls Hut to Greenleaf Hut - 13.6 miles on AT plus 1.1 miles to hut for total of 14.7 milesHot and muggy for most of day; partly to mostly cloudy; not much windUsual hut routine - up at 6, packed and ready for breakfast at 7, and on the trail at 7:30. I felt like I was hiking strong all day. The trail was rocky, with ledges. It went either of two directions, up or down. I went over many peaks: Zealand, Guyot, South Twin, Garfield, and Lafayette. In addition to the miles, there was at least 5,000 ft of elevation gain.   The views were good, but lots of haze. Vast expanses of New Hampshire woods.   The only evidence of civilization was Galehead and Greenleaf Huts. I had a quick lunch at Galehead. Mount Garfield has a striking pointed peak when seen from the north. South of Garfield I passed the pond that my friend Jack and I camped at some 37 years ago. I saw at least a dozen nobo thru hikers, the most I've seen in a day. There were also many backpackers out for a day or so. Some were struggling with the trail. I arrived at Greenleaf Hut at 7:05. Even though I was well after the dinner time of 6 pm, the croo kindly still served me dinner of turkey soup, stuffed shells, corn, and cranberry cake.   Hit the spot after a long day on the trail. I'd say that the hut is about half full. The croo was very impressed that I'd come at the way from Zealand today. They said that many hikers had a hard time coming from Galehead which is only half the distance.
Date: 2013-07-08
From: Greenleaf Hut

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 9.1

Greenleaf Hut to Lonesome Lake Hut - 9.1 miles on AT plus 1.1 miles from hut back to AT for total of 10.2 milesCloudy with several rain showers: the sun tried to poke through every once in a while; comfortable temperatureUsual hut morning routine except that I got on the trail at 7:40. The first order of business was the climb back up to Mount Lafayette. This took about an hour. The weather for the climb and the first half of the traverse of Franconia Ridge was in the rain. There were a few views down into the valley which were partially shrouded in mist. I traded places several times with a father and son who also stayed at Greenleaf last night.   Today I went over Lafayette, Lincoln, and Little Haystack. The trail down to Franconia Notch was steep and rocky, but no exposed ledges. About halfway down the trees shifted from spruce to mixed hardwood and spruce. I knew I was making progress when I saw the first beech tree. As I made my way down, I had visions of having lunch at a picnic table in a parking lot where the trail crosses I-93, but this was not to be. The AT intersected a bike path, crossed the Pemigewasset River, then crossed under both lanes of I-93, and back into the woods. Thus, I had my PB&J on "shelf stable bread" while sitting on a rock under a big tree. It started to rain again just as I finished lunch and it continued to rain hard for the rest of the hike up to Lonesome Lake Hut. At least the trail had an easy grade. The bridge over Cascade Brook had washed out, but a hop across was just possible. Although I was wearing a rain jacket and rain skirt (fashioned from a drawstring type kitchen trashbag), I was soaked by the time I got to the hut. There are only a few people here. I have a room to myself. There is one couple in the dorm building that I'm in. The other dorm building has a group of very noisy girls from a camp in NH and a couple and their grown daughter. I stayed in this hut some 37 years ago with my friend Jack when we were out on a three day trip. When I left the door to my room open for a few minutes while I went to the restroom, I returned to find a chipmunk in my room. I had to chase him out. I took a swim in the lake. I'm cleaner than I've been in the last five days. About 10 nobo thru-hikers passed me today. The oldest I'd guess was over 70. There were two summer camp groups, one father + two son team out for a couple of days, one section hiker going from Maine Junction near Killington, VT to Kahtahdin, and the father + son noted previously.Overall, this was an easy day.   Tomorrow it is 13.4 miles to NH Rt 112, then into town. It would be nice if I can make it in before the post office closes, however I'd need to average 1.7 mph, faster than I've done so far this trip. I have one problem with my gear, the covering on my right shoe has torn, however this does not appear to be what is holding the shoe together. Nonetheless, I'll need to monitor carefully.
Date: 2013-07-09
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: NH Route 112 (Kingsman Notch)
Miles today: 13.4

Lonesome Lake Hut to NH Route 112 - 13.4 milesTrip miles so far: 91.1 milesCloudy in morning becoming partly sunny in afternoon; comfortable temperatures with a light breeze at times; no rain Usual morning routine at the hut. I was on the trail at 7:25 am. The first task was to climb up North Kingsman. The top was in the clouds so no view. Next it was down and back up again for South Kingsman, again in the clouds so no view. Near the top I chatted with a nobo section hiker from San Antonio. He has made it from Georgia to here two weeks at a time. The descent off of South Kingsman was very steep and rocky. Eliza Brook was wonderful with lots of waterfalls. I was at Eliza Brook Shelter at 11:30 am, a pace of 1.5 mph. This was a good pace for me on a tough trail, but not fast enough to make it to post office before it closed. The rest of the day was ups and downs on a rocky and muddy trail.   The trail reminded me of sections of the Long Trail in VT. I saw about 10 nobo thru-hikers, 3 section hikers, and a few people out for a couple of days. No day hikers. Reached NH Route 112 at 4:40 pm. Thus, I was too late to get into town before the post office closed. I was on the trail for 9 hours and 15 minutes. It took 45 minutes to hitch a ride into town. The woman who picked me up works for the NH Cooperative Extension Service. I'm in North Woodstock, NH for the night. I've decided I need new shoes so it will be a late start tomorrow.