morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-25
From: Liberty Springs Campsite

To: Galehead hut
Miles today: 10.3

RW MEANS Actual miles are 1825.2. It was a very nice and warm night but the campsite was quite noisy and I did not sleep well. I got up early and Hobbit and I had breakfast together. He shared coffee with me. Today was beautiful. The climb up from the campsite was very steep but not very long today. Yesterday I had made most of the elevation climb. When I got to the top it became the ridge known as Franconia Ridge. It was above tree line for miles. Up there I climbed mountains known as the Haystack, Lincoln, and Lafayette. It was beautiful and I stayed up there for over 2 hours just admiring the view. I got my first view of Mt. Washington. It was cold but very sunny and the trail went along in a ridge line with steep cliffs on both sides. Movin'on eventually caught up to me and joined me on the summit. We started down about 11 o'clock and it was a steep and treacherous downhill. It took us hours. Eventually we climbed over Mt. Garfield and went down even further. The trail was brutal and very hard. We got to the campsite and decided to hike an extra 3 miles and gamble that the hut would let us work for our stay. We went to the Galehead hut. It is a beautiful hut on top of a mountain.   We arrived about 5 o'clock in the afternoon and Hobbit was already there. The gamble paid off and they agreed to let us work and stay in the hut for free.      We waited for dinner until 8 o'clock and feasted on chicken and potato soup. After dinner we washed dishes and did other jobs for about an hour and a half.This was a very very hard hiking day and I could hardly stay awake to eat and do the work. While at the hut I ran into Saybak and Hog Driver.      Saybak I hiked with in Vermont and Hog Driver in Pennsylvania.   They both paid for their room.  The night was clear and the Milky Way was gorgeous.  We only hiked 10.3 miles but it was very hard miles.
Date: 2014-08-26
From: Galehead hut

To: Ethan Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

RW MEANS                           Actual miles are 1837.0.   Tonight I am at the Ethan Pond Shelter and hiked 11.8 miles.   The 3 of us left early and did not have breakfast at the hut because we did not want to hang around till 9 o'clock to eat for work. We had a big day ahead of us.The day was cool and we hiked hard. We hiked above tree line a good part of the day.   As we hiked we could see the trail in the mountains off in the distance that we hiked the day before. The views were spectacular all day.   At lunch time we passed the Zeeland Hut.   There I purchased soup and a lot of power bars for lunch. From breakfast to lunch the trail was hard and easy. After the hut the trail became very easy because it was on an old railroad bed. We got to the Ethan Pond shelter before 4 and soaked in the pond.      While there the caretaker who charges 8 dollars to stay here invited us to eat dinner with her. She gave us dinner and we had a long pleasant conversation and shared stories. She wanted to get rid of food because she is leaving this weekend and did not want to carry it. She also gave me a lot of oatmeal for my breakfast to help supplement my food bag.   The last several times I tented I have left the fly off on my tent to enjoy the starry night from my sleeping bag.   The Whites Mountains have been very difficult and more beautiful than I could have imagined. I really like the White Mountains. But because they are so difficult it is hard to hike more than 1 mile per hour. Hobbit will be leaving us tomorrow because he has already climbed Mt. Washington. So he is going to jump ahead to the section that he has not hike yet. Hobbit is 67 years old and from Sheboygan, Wisconsin and this is his fourth section hike of the trail and hopefully his last. He is a great guy and a former special education gym teacher.
Date: 2014-08-27
From: Ethan Pond Shelter

To: Lake in the Clouds
Miles today: 14.1

RW MEANS Actual miles are 1851.1.   Movin'on, Hobbit, and I left at 7. Last night was warm and the stars bright. At 8 we said goodbye to Hobbit who was skipping Mt Washington because he climbed it already.   Movin'On and I first climbed Webster cliffs.   A brutal climb that took hours. At the top of the nearly 1500 foot cliff the wind was gusting to 30 miles per hour and the views were unbelievable.   We climbed Mt Webster, and Mt Jackson.   Many mountains are named after presidents and other famous people. Shortly after leaving we went above tree line. The day was gorgeous and we could see Mt Washington most of the time as we hiked to it.   It was cloud free most of the day.   During the afternoon we climbed Mt Pierce, and Mt Franklin and climbed part of Mt. Eisenhower and Mt Monroe. When we arrived at Lake-in-the-clouds hut they let us work for dinner and stay.   Again we slept on the floor after work.   Later Cat joined us.We hiked 14.3 miles and the hut is at 5106 feet.The weather was incredibly humid and hot and soon I was drenched in sweat. It is nearly impossible to hike more than 1 mile per hour but we hit a nice flat stretch today and made it to Mizpah Springs Hut and bought two bowls of mushroom soup and some candy then resumed hiking after an hour.
Date: 2014-08-28
From: lake in the clouds

To: Madison SpringsHut
Miles today: 7.0

Actual miles are 1858.1.   Stayed at the Lake in the Clouds Hut and worked for my keep last night. Hope to work for my stay again tonight at the Madison Hut. I will hike only 7 miles due to extreme weather today. Currently resting at the Mt. Washington Visitor Center and hoping the weather will let up some.RW MEANS Raw weatherLast night at Lake-in-the-Clouds hut I slept well and the stars were incredible.   I looked out the window at the valley and enjoyed the lights from all the towns. This morning Cat, Movin'on, and I worked for our breakfast.   Movin'on and I left about 9:30 for the summit of Mt Washington.   Visibility was 100 feet and wind was blowing 40 miles per hour at about 40 degrees.   It took almost 1.5 hours to climb the last 1.6 miles.   At the top the wind was gusting to 60 mph and the clouds were thick as soup. I sat in the visitor center for 1.5 hours and charged my phone.   I ate some pizza which proved to be a wise decision. We left 12:30 and started down Mt Washington in even worse weather.The trail was tough.  It was solid rocks and we worked hard to make one mile per hour.   Mt Washington is 6288 feet and the most dangerous location in the continental US.On the way down we partly climbed a couple huge rock piles called Mt Clay and Mt Jefferson. I call them rock piles because that's what they look like.   In fact most of the Whites seem to be the most beautiful and spectacular rock piles I have ever seen.   But today's trail wins my vote for the worst trail I have hiked yet on the Appalachian trail. When we got to the Madison Hut they refused to let us work for food but allowed us to sleep on the floor for 2 hours work.   I accepted but later that night the caretaker took pity on me and gave me some food which was left over from the guests.   All day the wind blew 40 to 50 miles per hour and many times I was nearly knocked down.   The wind made me stagger.On top of the wind, the clouds frequently obscured the trail.   I followed cairn to cairn for hours and couldn't see more than 100 yards at times.   Still it was spectacular and a once in a lifetime experience that I am in no hurry to repeat.      We hiked above tree line all day and was still above tree line at the Madison Springs Hut.    I don't know what happened to Cat. He was coming here but didn't show up. At Madison Springs Hut mile 1858.1 and hiked 7 miles.
Date: 2014-08-29
From: Madison Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 7.8

RW MEANS Rock Walls It was a very cold night up at the Madison hut. I left at 8 o'clock in thick clouds and gusty winds with a temperature of about 40 degrees as I started to climb Mt. Madison. Mt. Madison is a deep basalt rock formation with a horrible rock line. The climb was tough in the weather but by 10 it started to clear up.   We hiked along a steep and treacherous rocky and boulder trail.   Eventually I got below tree line and the weather warmed quickly as I descended. The trail was very steep. I arrived at the trailhead around noon and said goodbye to Movin'on who was staying with her parents.   A nice Canadian gave me a ride to Gorham and I checked into a motel.   Then the 2 Canadians and 2 of their friends and I went for pizza.   Trail angels paid for my lunch.   Thanks! The 2 younger boys, Jukebox and Sour Cream, were very interesting and hope to hike the trail.   I wish you both the best in your AT hike.
Date: 2014-08-30
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Imp Campsite
Miles today: 13.1

RW MEANS Running Wildcats Actual miles are 1879.0 I slept poorly at the Hikers Paradise Hostel last night.   At 6:30 the owner drove me to the trail for $15. After a quick breakfast, started hiking at 7:30 up the Wildcats.  I hiked alone all day. Movin'On stayed with her parents last night.  It is a series of four mountains A, C, D and E. I have no idea what happen to B. Very hard and very steep hiking. It was a difficult and rapid up and down through ever increasing gullies and ravines. I have no idea how much vertical ups and downs in total but hours later I was 2408 higher than I started at 4422 feet. Then nearly straight down 1200 to Carter Notch Hut. There I washed dishes for lunch. Lunch was cold leftover eggs from breakfast and a small bowl of soup.   Needless to say I supplemented with purchased candy bars. Then I climbed the Carter Mountains, Dome, south, middle and north. The Dome was a 1600 foot climb in 1.4 miles. Brutal.  Each mountain was difficult.   At the end of the day I climbed down a cliff to the shelter.   I was lucky to get a spot.   It is the holiday weekend and weekenders took all the tent platform and most of the shelter.   Of the 30 or so campers, only four were thru-hikers: Nubs-a 69 year old woman, and a young couple- Lost Boy and Messy. It was noisy and despite how tired I was I found it difficult to sleep.
Date: 2014-08-31
From: Imp Campsite

To: Gorham
Miles today: 8.0

RW MEANS Releaved from Whites Actual miles are 1887.0. Today is the last 8 miles of the White Mountains. But ahead is still extremely difficult for the next 5 hiking days. Last night was very warm and it was crowded in the IMP shelter. I slept late and did not hit the trail until nearly 8. I was very tired after hiking the Wildcats yesterday. My day of hiking went fast. The trail was better than any I have seen yet in the White Mountains. I only had to climb Mount Moriah. After that the trail became quite normal by Appalachian Trail standards. I was at the trailhead by 12.Evidence that fall is beginning is apparent at the higher elevations. Some trees are already turning colors and leaves are beginning to fall on the trail in small amounts.I didn't take any pictures today because the scenery was so much like all the other scenery I have seen. But I did hike in the woods all day.When I got off the trail I hitchhiked into Gorham. A Franciscan monk named Father Terry picked me up and drove me into town. It would appear God was watching over me yesterday. I have felt the presence of an invisible protector throughout the trail. So many times the protector has kept me from falling and injuring myself seriously when I lost my balance. So often it has felt like a hand has held me in place.I am staying at a hostel called The Barn. It is very primitive but different and convenient being in downtown Gorham. The owner known as Doc is a very kind gentleman. I swept up the place and in return he drove me 4 miles to the Walmart so I could buy 5 days of the food. At the hostel are several other thru-hikers, some southbound, most northbound. None I had met before. The southbounder gave me good information about the trail north.I am beat. Hiking the Whites and the Wildcats has taken a lot out of me. I plan to take a zero day tomorrow before I start my next leg into Maine. I busied myself yesterday with repairing tears in my pants and replacing my Sawyer water bag & water filter. I have been using the Sawyer mini water filter but had to buy the larger version because Walmart only sold the filtration kits that had the larger water filter and bag.
Date: 2014-09-01
From: Gorham

To: Gorham Zero Labor Day
Miles today: 0.0

RW MEAN Recalculating Walk I met Affirm today. He has a nice trail journal. I don't know why the miles are wrong. Maybe when I get home I can study the input and find the error. To correct for the error I have input negative miles.Today I woke up and my body hurt. I am glad I have decided to take a zero day and rest. My hips, knees, ankles, feet, Achilles tendons in both feet are all tired.   I am also worn out. The White mountains were really very hard. They are spectacular and beautiful but the trails are steep and treacherous and badly eroded. Many trails appear to have been built before there was a good understanding of the effects of human impact. Also the cost of maintaining is expensive and fixing them would be very high. Finally, it seems the Appalachian Mountain Club is more interested in building revenue-generating huts that are more like expensive motels than maintaining the trails. They won't even put picnic tables at shelters but will spend two million dollar to renovate a hut and use helicopters for the project. Overall the trails in the Whites are the most poorly blazed and marked so far that I experienced on the trail.   I found a trail angel who will drive me to the trail tomorrow, so I will spend one zero day here in the Barn. I just learned that Bear Bag and Isn't Black summited Katahdin 8-29.
Date: 2014-09-02
From: Gorham Zero Labor Day

To: Carlo Col shelter
Miles today: 17.0

RW Means: Riding With Waldoe. Today I had an early breakfast and trail angel Golden Waldoe picked me up and drove me to the trail for free. We had an interesting talk about the trail on the way and he is a former thru-hiker.Another day of milestones. I passed the 1900 mile mark and entered Maine; 13 states done and one left.I hit the trail by 7 and it was already hot and humid. The mountains were covered in fog. The hike started with a quick and steep 1500 foot climb up Mt. Hayes. I was soaked with sweat and stayed that way all day as it just got hotter and hotter as the day progressed. It was supposed to thunderstorm in the early afternoon, but that didn't happen, but the sky was threatening in the afternoon and evening. The day was full of steep ups and downs but I felt good after a day off and pushed on. There were some signs of fall arriving and I saw a nice Maple tree in full color. The forest is mostly Maple, Oak, Spruce, and Birch here. See pic. I hiked a great 1.75 miles per hour until 2, which is the best I have done in weeks. Just before starting a difficult climb up Mt. Success I passed the 1900 mile mark. After Mt. Success I entered Maine. The last few miles to the shelter were awful and just took everything I had to climb. I expected to be at the shelter by 4:30 and didn't arrive until 6:00. I didn't make 1 mile an hour the last few miles. It was like New Hampshire was holding me back and Maine didn't want me to enter. The last half mile to the shelter in Maine was a boulder scramble and I had to take my pack off just to climb and squeeze through some places on the trail.The shelter is large, but 0.3 off the trail on a steep and rocky downhill. The only other person was a thru-hiker named "Naked Paul". He was known as Paul until he hiked naked on June 21st, from then on his trail name was changed to Naked Paul. He is 46, a Chef, from Colorado. We talked about food, and he said at the beginning he cooked nice meals, but now he just eats the same Ramen noodles and food as everyone else. Nice meals are too much work and weight.
Date: 2014-09-04
From: Speck Pond Shelter and Campsite

To: Grafton Notch
Miles today: 4.6

RW Means: Rascally WabbitLast night I slept hard. This morning I talked with other hikers who were getting off the trail today to do some slack packing. I was beat so I joined them.In the morning the trail was straight up again for an hour. My legs felt like lead and I struggled to climb. The views of the Presidentials were great, but I was tired. The downhill was nice, but I still struggled. At 11:00 the shuttle picked us up and took us to the Cabin in East Andover. There we ate lunch, and made plans. We all decided to go to Walmart and buy food for the last 100 miles of the trail and mail it to Monson. I also bought food for the next few days. We will slack pack for the next few days. The mountains here are known as the Graftons and are reported to be the toughest on the trail. So far I can't disagree. I also saw Hobbit who is still recovering from a sprained ankle. He may hike tomorrow.
Date: 2014-09-05
From: Grafton Notch

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 10.3

RW Means: Rheumatoid Wrapped knees. Thanks Little Timmy Tuckeredout for the recommendation to stay at the Cabin. Last night at the Cabin we ate a great Lasagna meal with icecream and all kinds of other great food. After dinner many of us watched the preseason Packers game.In the morning the food was also great; eggs, pancakes, bread, potato, sausage, and other foods. We hit the trail about 8:40 on a warm and clear day. I slackpacked today and it was nice to hike such rugged mountains with a light pack. I started out feeling sluggish because this morning I woke-up a bit congested. As the day progressed it seemed to have cleared up. I will see how I feel tomorrow. Bismark, Hopper, Journeyman, and I hiked together all day and had many enjoyable conversations. The hike was hard as we climbed Baldpate, a 2,400 foot climb to 3,810 feet. The views were spectacular all day. Then down a steep trail to Frye Notch for lunch, a descent of 1500 feet in 1.7 miles. I wore knee braces on both knees today and that greatly reduced the knee pain.After lunch the trail smoothed out and we hiked steady at 2 miles per hour. The afternoon trail was fantastic. We passed several wonderful waterfalls and completed the day by 4:00.Now I am back at the Cabin deciding if I want to take a zero tomorrow. I am tired and these Maine mountains are tough. It depends on the weather which is calling for rain in the afternoon tomorrow.
Date: 2014-09-06
From: East B Hill Road

To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0

RW MEANS RELAXING at WindowRested and ate. I found a little time to mail 8 days of food to Monson.   I didn't hike because heavy thunderstorms were predicted today.   It didn't thunderstorm until 5 but still glad for the zero.   But I need to get back to hiking.   2 zeros and a nero in 7 days.   Many hikers that were behind me are here tonight.   Later in the afternoon I went to church then all you can eat pizza.
Date: 2014-09-07
From: east B

To: South Arm Rd
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

RW Means: Racing Wyman Mountain.Today is a beautiful day to hike. The past few days have been very hot and humid but last night's storms brought cool weather and clear skies. My knees appreciated the rest yesterday, but the Achilles is still sore. I also am finally getting over the congestion in my head and beginning to feel better. Last night the Cabin was packed with thru-hikers, most I knew and greatly enjoyed meeting them again.After breakfast 5 of us slackpacked the same trail today: Bismarck, Hopper, Journeyman, Nubbins, and me. We started the day with a steady but gentle 5 mile uphill of nearly 1500 feet. We passed a beautiful pond call Surplus Pond. After several hours in a forest carpeted with deep moss we reached the summit of Wyman Mountain and then hiked a little further for an early lunch at Hall Mountain Lean-to. From this point the trail became much more difficult but the forest remained heavily covered in moss. We went down a steep 1,600 foot drop in 1.4 miles to Sawyer Notch then immediately up a very very steep climb to the top of Moody Mountain. In only 0.8 miles I climbed 1400 feet to the top of Moody Mountain. Not a high mountain at 2440 feet, but it seems each mountain stands alone and there is no ridge lines connecting them. The trail was so steep in this section that ladders, iron foot-rungs, and once iron handrails were installed to assist climbing some particularly steep sections. We made great time and by 3:00 we were done and heading back to the Cabin.Tonight is a great feast. The Cabin is serving surf and turf (Lobster and Steak), incredible! Too bad this is their last year of operations. The owners are elderly and decided to close down after this season. They will remain open a few more weeks then close. I forgot to mention that my repairs of my ripped pants didn't hold and they tore almost completely apart a few days ago. The Cabin has a sewing machine and Hopper sewed my pants back together. She used brilliant white thread on green pants in my crotch, so now I have my own white blaze that seems to draw other hiker's eyes to my pant zipper. It usually creates some laughs when the other hiker becomes self-conscious at staring at the white lines below my zipper.
Date: 2014-09-08
From: South Arm Rd

To: ME 17
Miles today: 13.2

RW MEAN Rite Wasome. It is from Bliss who is Canadian. I feel better today and believe I have finally shaken the sniffles and cold. Today was another hard day but made some miles.   Grandma Pepper, Bliss, Nubbins, Journeyman, Bismarck, Hopper and I hiked as a group today.   We hiked up Old Blue Mountain first thing and later Bemis Mountains.   Both were hard climbs but not the hardest part of the day.   The weather was perfect for hiking but the trail was rocks and roots most of the day and every step was slow.   It took us 9 hours to hike 13.2 miles and the roots grabbed and snagged at my feet trying to trip me. We all got through without tripping. This is the last slack pack day and I am dreading carrying a full pack again in these rough mountains. The hostel is packed with thru-hikers and it appears I am only a few days in front of a large number of hikers. Today is my anniversary and I wished I was home all day. I was supposed to be done by now. I saw a moose today.
Date: 2014-09-09
From: ME 17

To: Piazza Rock Lean-to
Miles today: 15.0

RW MEANS Rangeley Walkby. I didn't stop at Rangeley today. A nice cool day.   Journeyman, Bismarck, Nubbins, and I hit the trail late at 9:30 because there were so many shuttles that we had to wait for one to return before we could leave the Cabin. The trail today was nice with few ups and downs and few rocks and roots.   We passed several nice ponds.   I made great time and arrived at camp at 5, that is over 2 miles per hour and I took nearly an hour for lunch.   I haven't made this good time since Vermont.   However, starting immediately tomorrow I enter the most difficult part of Maine and am planning only 8.9 miles tomorrow.
Date: 2014-09-10
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to
Miles today: 8.9

RW MEANS Rock Wacker. Today while hiking the mountain began to fall and I caught it with my face. I bled for a little bit and wonder if I will have a black eye in the morning. It was a cold morning and my breath was heavy.   It was also dark.   I am losing daylight quickly. I started the day with a 2500 foot climb up Mt Saddleback.   Half way up I passed treeline and had some fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. Then down and up Mt Horn and down and up Mt Saddleback Jr. All in all a very tough day of steep up and down. I saw a moose but couldn't take a picture because it was too fast. I stopped at Poplar Ridge Lean-to for the night at 2 and debated about hiking on. It is predicted to rain tonight and tomorrow so I decided to do a short day today and tomorrow and not camp in the rain. Three guys from Maryland came in and are builders and shelter maintainers there. We talked a long time about their work and I believe Maryland has the best shelters on the trail.   Their names are John, Jack and Henry.   The shelter was crowded last night and many more camped nearby. Many stopped early due to the threat of rain.