morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-08-04
From: Stratton Road campsite

To: Manchester Center, VT. 
Miles today: 17.5

AT Mile.  1650.7All my stuff damp this morning but not wet except tent fly.  No rain. Foggy mostly.  Hit trail up long Stratton Mtn climb.  Not that bad at all and as I got higher the fog was clearing.  At the top it was mostly sunny. I climbed the fire tower and took a couple pictures. Was looking down at the fog sometimes other times it was clouds blowing through.Back at the bottom I decided to dry my tent. Set up tent and draped the fly over part of the fire tower structure. As I was waiting for that, who should walk up but Roo. Really happy to see her. Met her hiking companion U Turn from Kansas City. We shared plans. I decided hike to Manchester Center with them today rather than wait till tomorrow. Called the hostel and changed my reservation.  Hiked the roughly 15 miles to the highway by about 4 PM.  Hitched a ride into Manchester Center.  Nice having two girls to stick thumbs out and get rides.  Got delivered to a bar and Grill. Had a good meal. Walked to the grocery store and got resupply for three nights four days.  Then got picked up by the hostel and taken to their house outside town. This is a very good hostel.  Sharing a room with Barbecue and Pick of the Litter. Barbecue is a southbounder and I've been seeing Pick of the Litter around lately.  Six others here.  Full capacity.  Feels homey.  Not packed in like many hostels.
Date: 2017-08-05
From: Manchester Center, VT. 

To:  Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

AT Mile.  1665.5Had breakfast at hostel.  They provide food. Guests cook and clean up.  I made French toast. Stripped my bed and packed up for 9:00 shuttle back to trail.  Green Mtn hostel is best I have stayed at so far.  Did 3 miles up to top of Bromley Mtn. Quick and easy.  Last half mile was on a ski slope.  Chair lift at top and a warming hut that hikers can stay in.  Nice place with 4 walls and a door.  Hikers who stayed there liked it.  Trail angel who had hiked to top gave us a donut and bar.  Nice lady named 46 and 2 who hiked last year.  Back down and then up to Styles peak which was more challenging but not as high.  On to Peru Peak shelter for lunch which was 10 miles in.  Decided 5 more miles to this shelter.  Baker Peak was fun rock scramble up and good views.  Into camp by 5.  Had dinner with a Long Trail, girl from Asheville.  Other hikers drifted in.  Frozen and a couple met earlier from TN with their dog.  Just a little sprinkle couple times today and a beautiful evening.  A fall feeling.  Hope sleep good.  U Turn is a fast hiker. Not hiking together thru the day but pace setting none the less.  Weighed myself and pack.  I'm 167. Pack 35.  Not happy with either not too bad.  Pack full of food. I'm feeling fine.
Date: 2017-08-06
From:  Lost Pond Shelter

To: Clarendon Shelter.
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: clear sky

AT Mile.  1684.1Got going early.  Met a guy coming south who was hiking a yoyo AT hike.  That is a thru hike nobo and then turn around a do it again sobo in same year. Wow.  Had early lunch at White Rocks overlook about 9 miles in.  Built rock cairns there too.  Mine was kind of hanging on a crack that is a boulder.  Hundreds of them there.   Later in day, U-Turn lived up to her name and made a wrong turn.  She was in front of me and when I was stopped for a break, here she comes. Had a trail magic candy bar from a hiker family.  Nice.  Final mile of the day included about 500 feet pretty much straight up. Hand climbed some of it.  Nice shelter spot.
Date: 2017-08-07
From: Clarendon Shelter.

To: Churchill Scott shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

AT Mile.  1698.9Going early again.  Tough hike up out of camp.  Hiked along a nice stream below.  Then started up the long climb of Killington Mtn.  Highest since VA at almost 4K.  Took almost 3 hrs to get to top.  The promised concession stand at the summit was not open!  Bummer.  Went back to the shelter nearby and ate the same old lunch from food bag- tuna salad on a pita and some green beans.Other hikers around.  Mostly day hikers. Some went on to top to see views, etc.  Made some plans, got water, and packed up for hike down. About 5 minutes into it I heard a girl calling after me.  Someone had stolen her pack she left in shelter while climbing to top.  Felt so bad.  She was in tears.  The girl ran on ahead and then returned.  She did still have phone but that was about it.  Later I got a text from her that police had caught the thief.  This is practically unheard of on the trail.  Even in town.  Sure glad ended this way.  She was a sobo thru hiker.  Shelter where I am is just two miles from highway.  I plan to go to a motel tomorrow and resupply. 77 will most likely catch up soon too.  Set my tent up in shelter tonight.  Just two other section hikers here.  Have wanted to do that but needed right opportunity.   Also had visitors at the shelter earlier. They, father and his two sons were hiking up to spread the ashes of wife mother. I talk to them about her and Other things.  she had just passed away in the last couple weeks.
Date: 2017-08-08
From: Churchill Scott shelter

To: Kent pond. Inn At The Long Trail. 
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: broken clouds

AT Mile  1704.7Talk to shelter mates Phil and son Sam a little bit this morning.  Then got going and went the 2 miles to the highway in about an hour. Hitched to the Inn at the Long Trail by about 9 o'clock. Really interesting old Inn and very authentic with rustic decor.  I let them know I wanted a hiker room and then went to breakfast in the dining room.  By the time I was done eating there was a room ready. Went up to my room and then did laundry and a shower.  Rested for a while and then hitch hiked into town of Killington.  Went to an outfitters.  They could not fix my hiking poles. I did end up buying a new mid layer shirt/jacket and a dry sack for clothes.  Walked up to a deli and grocery. Picked up what I needed for three days and two nights and a sandwich from the deli.Then I took a side trail back to the AT and hiked south back to the highway where I had ended earlier.  Challenging navigation with several side rails and the fact that I was going south. Also the Long trail turned away from the AT and headed north. So there will be no more Long trail hikers.  Tomorrow I will hitch back to the town and start from that point. The southbound part took quite a while because I met a lot of people coming north. I knew all of them so talked quite a bit. There was Ranger, Bam Bam and her 14-year-old son Little Bad Ass (he loves that name), Trailname and Checklist, 77,  Pappy12 and Best Wife.  Organized my stuff when I got back and then went down to supper. Ate with Pappy12 and Best Wife.  It is an Irish pub so had a Guinness and a shepherd's pie. Very good. Made more phone calls and time for bed.
Date: 2017-08-09
From: Kent Pond. Inn at the Long Trail

To: The Lookout Cabin
Miles today: 13.5

AT Mile. 1718.2Had an awesome breakfast included with room.  Omelet potatoes sausage patties coffee juice.  Slowed my departure but worth it.  Took longer to hitch this morning, but eventually got a ride back to Killington.  Hiked a couple miles to Thundering Falls, then up Quimby mountain.  Stopped for a break at a shelter, but was not that hungry yet.  Forgot my seat pad there.  A couple miles later I realized mistake.  Stopped for lunch and hoped that one of the hikers at the shelter would bring it forward.  Sure enough Trailmix was first one to come by and he had it.  Thank You!   Weather changed suddenly in middle of afternoon.  Clouds rolled in and it rained hard for half an hour.  Then light rain for an hour.  Clothes wet, but not bad and I dried out some when cleared up.   I got to the cabin about 5:30.  Neat place evidently privately owned but open to hikers.  About 10 of us here spread out on floor and in loft.  One guy with a hammock.  Hope I don't bump him if have to go out in middle of night.  Nice sunset from the lookout tower.
Date: 2017-08-10
From: The Lookout Cabin

To: Stealth camp near Bunker Hill Rd 
Miles today: 16.5

AT Mile 1734.7Up early to see the sunrise from the lookout tower.  Pretty.  More hikers came into the cabin after dark last night and it got even tougher to make it to the door during the night.  Just bumped a couple folks.  I still don't go for the late night arrivals. Hiking by 6:30.  77 caught up with me about 9:00.  He had stayed at the shelter north of my spot but got a late start and was behind me.  Had some trail magic sodas at one crossing. In a cooler.  In afternoon we went to a farm store close to trail and had a pint of ice cream.  Back to trail and hiked to a stealth spot.  Decent place but lots of mosquitoes.  Got in tent as soon as could after supper.  Going into Norwich VT tomorrow.  Staying with a trail angel who offers to thru hikers.  Will pick up package from Amy at Hanover NH just across the river.  Starting to count down the miles.  A little over 450 left.  White Mountains  are the next challenge.  Then Maine after that.
Date: 2017-08-11
From: Stealth camp near Bunker Hill Rd 

To: Hanover, NH. Norwich, VT. 
Miles today: 13.0

AT Mile. 1747.7Out of camp about 7:00.  Hiked an hour to West Hartford to the Blue Barn.  Had scrambled eggs and sausage by angel there.  Then hiked on with 77.  Caught up to Ranger in a little while.  He is a good guy from Kansas City.  My age.  Have been getting to know him last week.  Ranger is leaving trail for a couple weeks so may not see him again.  Hiked into and through Norwich on across Connecticut river and to downtown Hanover.  Happening place w Dartmouth college.  We had burgers at a place and then I got my package from Amy at post office.  I used the bus to get back to Norwich and to my trail angel house.  Deb Williams is my hostess.  She showed me around.  I took a shower and sorted some things out.  Did laundry and talked to her some.  Other hiker Deadeye came in.  I think have seen him on trail but don't know him.  Deb made great meal. Grilled chicken meatloaf zucchini tomatoes potatoes and desert.  Wow!  Helped clean up, talked more, and to bed.  I'll get ride back to Hanover tomorrow to pickup where left off.  Not going to get too early a start.  Like this place too much.
Date: 2017-08-12
From: Hanover, NH. Norwich, VT. 

To: Moose Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: light rain

Tried to sleep in this morning but got up about 6:00.  Met Deb's husband Andy who came home late last night from the camp he runs in Maine not far from AT.  He gave me directions to the camp.  May be able to stop there in 100 mile wilderness. Deb made a great breakfast of granola cereal melon eggs sausage potatoes and French toast.  After that got packed up. Andy and Deb took Deadeye and  I back to Hanover.  I mailed things home. Really went through and cut a little including pillow. Hopefully offset the added weight of winter sleeping bag I now have.  Resupply at CVS and a co-op grocery.  Got some insoles for my new shoes.  Shoes were fine today.  They are the low top version of what I had before.  On trail about noon. Pretty normal hiking and camping tonight.
Date: 2017-08-13
From: Moose Mtn Shelter

To: Eastman ledges stealth camp. 
Miles today: 16.9

AT Mile 1775.5 Tough hiking today.  Two big climbs.  Smarts Mtn was biggest at 2200 elevation change.  Steep and rocky. Several places during the day with nice views.  Holts ledge and Lambert ridge which was on the way up Smarts.  Stopped at two pretty places for water.  First one I even took the time to back flush my filter.  At end of day was headed for a neaby shelter but saw this spot with smooth flat rock so decided to set up here.  Using rocks to hold down tent in place of stakes.  Really neat place.  My favorite so far.  Alone.  Have been 4 hikers go by north heading to shelter and a couple late day hikers came by after sunset going south to a nearby road.  Hope they make it ok.  Getting dark.  At sunset I went to a different spot to the north to get better view.  Nice.  So many mountains out there.  My only hurt right now is a bump on 2nd toe that rubs on big toe.  Have taped toes together and put mole skin on big to where it rubs bump.  Not a blister. Gets sore as the day goes by.  Have been dealing with this a couple weeks.  Not sure what else to do.
Date: 2017-08-14
From: Eastman ledges stealth camp. 

To: Hikers Welcome Hostel. Glencliff, NH. 
Miles today: 15.6

AT Mile. 1791.1Got going normal time.  It was nice to be on clean rock camping.  No dirt levels or other duff to stick to my things.  Hiked past the shelter I was supposed to be at and on up Cube Mtn.  Decent view there.  Downhill from there for a while.  Moving fast.  Just after the next road crossing was the much anticipated Omelette Guy.  He had quite a setup to do trail magic of omelettes, muffins, bananas, coffee, juice.  We had all been anticipating this and it lived up to rumors.  When I got there BamBam and Little Bad Ass were getting omelettes along with a German couple Ice Cream and Memories.  I put in my order next and had a four egg with cheese ham and onion green pepper.  Wonderful trail magic that he does most every during seasonHiked on more miles.  Talked with Swiss Miss and Hook at top of Mist Mtn. They are part of Warrior Expedition.  Next road and up road to hostel.  A good place.  Got a bunk, shower and joined up with Cody for laundry.  More later.  Falling asleep.  At 5:00 got a ride to a convenience store for supper.  They had a grill of sorts.  Grouchy lady running it.  Got our sandwiches and drinks and came back.  Had those with lots more folks.  Pretty good hostel as hostels go.  Tomorrow I'm going to zero.  Roo hiking into Glencliff and her husband picking us up.  The next day will slack pack over first big Mtn of the Whites.  Moosilauke. After that into the heart of the Whites.  Will be challenging.
Date: 2017-08-15
To: Glencliff / Lincoln NH. 0 miles. House
Miles today: 0.0

Had breakfast at hostel. Good stuff eggs bacon pancakes coffee. Pretty efficient operation. Many of the hIkers are slack packing over Moosilauke. Hostel shuttling for a fee and again tomorrow forward.  I organized my stuff a little, talked to Bambam and little bad ass who were zeroing here and then rested a little in the bunkhouse.  Roo, husband Ralph and UTurn came about 1:00.  We stopped for ice cream and then drove on to Lincoln and had burgers at their favorite place. Next it was to their cabin for the night.  Simple and functional and perfectly placed on a brook as they say in NH and up a hollow as I would say from Jersey County. All is good. We found places to sleep and turned in pretty early as usual.
Date: 2017-08-16
From: Glencliff / Lincoln NH. 0 miles. House

To: Kinsman Notch / Lincoln NH. 
Miles today: 9.3

AT Mile. 1800.4Slack pack today.  Stopped at a bagel place in town then to the trail head, heading south today.  At trailhead met up with the Warrior Expedition hikers. I have been hiking with Hook, Swiss Miss and Jaws lately.  Found out they have a van that a guy was there with.  They are raising money for vets who want to hike and walk to be better.  Hiked up starting at 8:00.  Very steep and parallel to Beaver Brook which was cascading down. Pretty, but I was focused on the first mile of climbing the trail.  Lots of stone steps and some wood wedges attached to the rock faces to step on. Climbed about 4 miles and 3000 feet.  Worked up a sweat going up but as soon as broke the tree line all hell broke loose.  Winds of at least 30 and gusts 40. Cloud banks,cold and wet.  I put on my mid layer jacket and then shortly after, the puffy down coat.  Walked the quarter mile to summit leaning into wind.  Took some pics and then got down behind wind breaks.  Lunch and rested until  11:00 then started down. Level for a mile in alpine shrubs which broke the wind some.  Took side trail to south summit and by that time some lifting of clouds.  Got some nice views in between clouds.  Ran into Xena and Venture coming up.  Should see them again tomorrow.  Made it to trail head about 2:00.  Ralph there to pick us up.  This is really nice having a shuttle car and driver.  Back to cabin for a while.  Out to dinner and did resupply shopping.  Organized food later and called it a good day.  Happy to be over first White Mtn summit and ready to move on.  Two day segment next to Franconia Notch.  16 miles, so hopefully comfortable enough.  After that, longer stretches.  Weather is the main factor.  Tomorrow looks good.  Friday not so.  Figure on going out regardless.
Date: 2017-08-17
From: Kinsman Notch / Lincoln NH. 

To: Kinsman Pond shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

AT mile. 1811.9Thinking today of friend and former coworker Dave Strode who died too young at 58. A good man. Retired with me and many others who have been making the most of our next chapter in life. Also makes me thankful for the AT trip I'm on.  Second day in the Whites.  Steep long climb to Wolf Peak and down 3 miles to Eliza Brook shelter. Had lunch there.  Then the dreaded climb up to Kinsman Mtn. Actually south peak and then north peak after descent and smaller climb. The dreaded climb was up rock shoots which required hand holds and using trees to pull yourself up when available. Great clear views though. Weather was good. Squeezed tents onto a single wooden platform at the shelter. Tight fit but made it work. Very little level ground. And if level, full of rocks. Platform is about 5ft off ground on high side and at ground on other. Bambam and LIttle Bad Ass here too. Saw them a lot today. LBA is a good kid. Good hiker too.  Whites are considered about the hardest on the AT.  Going between Notches. Huge climbs and descents out of and into them. 3 more main notches to go. Looking at about 10 days to Gorham NH. These days will be lower miles. Feel good about the 11.5 today. Will be lots of day hikers in this popular area too.  Will visit the 'huts' starting tomorrow. Will describe them starting then.  Lastly, I stepped in a mud hole today. Both feet over the shoes. Misread it and stepped right in. Usually mud is doughy and only sink a little. Dried up and cleaned up somewhat by end of day. A first for me.
Date: 2017-08-18
From: Kinsman Pond shelter

To: Franconia Notch / Lincoln NH. 
Miles today: 4.8

AT Mile 1816.7Weather coming in today.  Headed for Lonesome Lake hut 2 miles down. Very steep and treacherous,especially after rain started. Made it mostly dry with a short walk in the rain.  Huts are run by the Appalachian Mtn Club (AMC) Or Appalachian Money Club. To stay at the hut you hike in and for $100 plus per person you get a bunk, no linens,a bathroom, no shower, and meals, which I hear are very good. We thru hikers get to maybe come in and buy coffee, soup, and baked stuff which we are happy for. We also may get free left overs if timing is right. The ' Croo' runs the place. Thru hikers may get to 'work for stay'. More about that later.  Raining hard while at hut. Decided to hike on down and then call Ralph for pick up. Made it down in a couple hours and walked about a mile to a parking lot. Got picked up, stopped for lunch and back to cabin. Later to Littleton, NH for laundry and shopping. I bought a new hiking tee and belt and some gloves. Later had pizza.  Back at cabin organized for another hike out. Planning 3 days on Franconia Ridge. Thinking to go Sobo and let the weather clear by the time to get to the most scenic part which will be Monday. That would have been tomorrow,if Nobo and not expected to be clear.  Once again sure nice to have the rides with Ralph not to mention the cabin to sleep and dry out.
Date: 2017-08-19
From: Franconia Notch/Lincoln NH

To: Zealand Mtn peak stealth camp
Miles today: 10.5

Ralph dropped us off at Crawford Notch trailhead and headed sobo for this 3 day stretch across Franconia Ridge.  Up to Ethan Pond campsite and then on to Zealand Hut. After Ethan Pond was a nice easy 3 mile stretch (for a change).  Saw a couple of familiar nobo people throughout the day but not as many as expected.   Had lunch at a nice hut with a waterfall.  Did buy some good chocolate cake  Decided to go for a camp site on the top of Zealand Mtn.  Another climb up higher.  Quite a few day hikers in this stretch and some 'hut to hut' folks.  Found the site about 3:00.  Early, but this is best known place to camp.  Not really that great a site.  In the trees so views are minimal.  Set up and then had supper. Several hikers stopped by and talked, then moved on.  They were mainly doing 4000'ers.  That is a goal for many New England hikers to summit the forty some peaks over 4000.  This one is at about 4100.  Went to bed early.  Hope the weather is dry and calm tonight.  Kind of exposed in smaller trees.  Forecast is for chance rain and slight chance storms.
Date: 2017-08-20
From: Zealand Mtn peak stealth camp

To: North side Mt Lafayette stealth site
Miles today: 9.0

Just a sprinkle overnight.  Tent Fly dry in morning.  My tent site was wedged in between trees and hard to get into but made d0.  Cold this morning.  Out of camp about 7:30.  Caught up with others above tree line near Mt Guyot.  Windy and foggy at about 4300 ft.  Met a French guy who was telling  about trail ahead.  He says"I can not think of the word, but it is 4 miles of sadness".  Funny.  It was hard and muddy that's for sure.   Got to Galehead Hut.  Stayed there a couple hours and ate, used bathroom etc.  Seeing lots of  hiker friends today.  Too many to list.  Made plan and left hut about 12:30.  Went down wrong trail for short distance.  Summited Garfield in a couple hours.  4450 ft.  Clear and beautiful views.  Cold and windy of course.  Had more lunch.  Shortly after heading down I took a bad fall. Landed sideways on pack but started rolling down over a rock.  Used right hand to hold on above me and got stopped.  Scraped up right hand and fingers.  Bandaids and back on trail.  Camp site about 5:30.  Cold and windy here.  I'm tucked in a small opening a little more sheltered than others.  Mostly just listening to wind.  Tent not moving much.  Tomorrow over Lafayette which is highest yet at 5263 and a 3 mile ridge walk above tree line.  Weather expected to be good.  Looking forward to the views.  Then down to road again.
Date: 2017-08-21
From: North side Mt Lafayette stealth site

To: Franconia Notch. Lincoln NH
Miles today: 8.3

Up and going about 6:30 to make it over Lafayette Mtn. In the clouds but impressive.  Had some views going up.  Got out of wind and sat for a while.  Only one other guy up there so that was nice.  I talked to Amy while there and we took pics.  Some breaking of clouds. Headed on along the ridge.  Over Lincoln and then Haystack.  Various openings of the clouds.  Beautiful.  Changing so fast.   Lots of day hikers coming up as morning went on. Also saw quite a few thru hikers including Hotsauce and ZipLock who have not seen since VA.  Also Two Chairs who was one of the first I knew on trail back in GA.  Hiked on down to road and picked up by Ralph.  Into town for cheeseburgers and beer.   Weather not good for tomorrow so probably a zero.  High winds and storms at higher elevations.   Next section is Presidentials and very few camp sites.  Not sure how to plan the 3 or 4 days.