morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-07-29
From: Lake of the Clouds hut

To: Madison Spring hut
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: fog

Day #133. Up at 6, start at 8:30. Ascent 2400, descent 2650. Duration: 7:30 including 45 min on  the summit of Mt Washington. Up at 6:00 and hiking at 8:30 after breakfast and work in the clouds and 54F temp and light wind. The hike up 1.4 mi to the summit of Mt Washington was routine except it was in the heavy fog and I could barely see the next cairn on the trail (they are 50 ft apart). I stopped at the snack bar and plugged in my cell phone charger and had three hot dogs. Then I was off in the fog to the Madison hut.  It was a difficult rock hopping hike on wet jagged rocks. It rained off and on and was in heavy fog much of the time. I reached the hut at 4:00 and was thankful that I was able to get work for stay. Today I did 7.0 mi in 6:45 hr hiking time.  It was a very difficult hiking rock hopping over jagged wet rocks. Tomorrow I'll just be Trog-in along AFAICG
Date: 2012-07-30
From: Madison Spring hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

Day #134. Up at 6, start at 8:30. Ascent 1370, descent 4040, laps 2. Duration: 6:20 including 10 min snack. Up at 6:00 and hiking at 8:30 after breakfast and work.  It started with the 600 ft climb to the summit of Mt Madison and then the long 3400 ft descent into Pinkham Notch over steep and damp rocks. It took me 3:20 to cover the initial 3.0 mi of this treacherous downhill. I hiked down with Instigator, Expediter, Chicken Feathers, Duffer, Painted Lady, and Midwest Mama. We all slipped and fell more than once. I reached Pinkham Notch at about 3:00 and hitched into Gorham (thank you Jack and Medina) for some supplies, a shower, to do laundry, and charge my cell phone. I am there now and return to the trail tomorrow to hike the Wildcat/Carter range. Now to get some rest. Tomorrow I'll just be Trog-in along AFAICG *Note from Transcriber: new entries for 7/26 - 7/20.
Date: 2012-07-31
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Imp campsite 
Miles today: 13.1

Day #135 Tue 7/31. Up At 6, start at 7:15. Ascent 5920, Descent 4570, Laps 5. Duration 13:06 including 30 min lunch. Today was the most demanding day yet. I was up at 6:00, had a western omelet at welshes restaurant, hitched a ride with Jack and Patty who had just done an 18.1 mile overnight presidential traverse. Thank you for delaying sleeping to give me a ride into Pinkham Notch. I was hiking at 7:15 up the 2400 ft to the summit of the wildcat mountains. I again noted the typical blazing in White Mountains of NH. It was 30 minutes before I saw my first white blaze on the long pond trail. So today I went over wildcat A, B, C, D, and E. Then I went over Carter Dome, South Carter, Middle Carter, and North Carter. It was a wicked descent down from the summit of North Carter. A lot of scrambling down steep and wet rock slabs with not much to grab onto. I arrived at the Imp campsite spur at 8:15pm and after hiking the 0.5 mi down the spur reached the tent site, having to put on my head lamp before I reached there at 8:30. Today was long and difficult. I did 13.1 miles in 12.5 hrs with nearly 6000 ft of ascent and 4500 ft of descent. I met sobos - six stripes, halfway, slow sbeau, the principal. Nobos - keeper (of his dog duke)Tomorrow I'll just be Trog-in along AFAICG
Date: 2012-08-01
From: Imp campsite 

To: US 2, Gorham, NH
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 136 Wed 8/1. Up At: 7:30 start at: 8:30. Ascent 1320, descent 3660, laps 2. Duration 7:15 including 1:20 for meet up and lunch. Today I completed the NH White Mountain part of the AT and also passed the 300 miles left to go mark. As planned from the beginning of my 2012 AT hike, I am also leaving the trail for a few weeks so I can schedule soccer games for a youth soccer league back home in Massachusetts. It was colder last night and got down to 55F in the tent. I slept in to 7:30 because of the late night and because I was meeting two friends, Tom and Bob, at 11:00 by the Mt Moriah spur which is only 2.1 mi from the Imp campsite.  The three of us are members of the Wednesday Wanderers, a group in MA that does a hike every Wednesday.  I was hiking at 8:30 in 63F temp, clear skies, and no wind. The trail was relatively dry and I made it to the Mt Moriah spur at 10:25. I worked on my journal and had a snack which finished off the last of the food in my pack. Tom and Bob arrived at 11:00 as planned and they then climbed Mt Moriah which is one of the NH 4000 footers.  When they returned the three of us had lunch. They provided me with sandwiches and fruit. The three of us then hiked north on the AT to US 2 in Gorham, NH where I am getting off the Trail for a few weeks to schedule fall soccer games for a youth league back home in Massachusetts. I shall return to the AT when the schedule is done.  Tom and Bob then gave me a ride back to my home in MA. Thank you Tom and Bob. I met sobo Knight Rider, Touchey, Agent Orange, and Green Thumb today. When I return to the AT I'll just be Trog-in along AFAICG again.
Date: 2012-08-17
From: US 2, Gorham, NH

To: Trident Col Campsite
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: clear sky

Day #137. Up at 7, start at 12:35. Ascent 2680, descent 1520. 291.4 miles left to go. Today I resumed my 2012 AT hike. I was up at 7:00 at home in MA. Mrs Trog drove me to Gorham returning me to the AT where I left it a little over two weeks ago. Mrs Trog hiked a small piece of the AT with me.  I was hiking alone again at 12:35 in hazy skies, 81F temp, and little wind. The hike started with a road walk of not quite a mile.  Then a 1600 ft climb to the summit of Mt Hayes. It didn't take long for me to be drenched in sweat on this climb.  This was followed  by a steep descent and a 600 ft climb over Cascade Mt.  On the descent to Trident Col tent site my hope to get to the tent site before the rain came was dashed. It started to rain at 5:10 and I reached the tent site at 5:35 and put up my tent on a wet site in sprinkles. It did stop raining and the inside of my tent is dry. I cooked a cheese and broccoli rice side augmented with smoked oysters and also had two grilled chicken sandwiches I brought from home.  I am well nourished tonight. Today I did 6.9 mi in 5 hrs. The going was slow mostly due to the terrain and the wet rocks and roots.  I expect  this to be the norm for the rest of NH and most of Maine. Today I met SOBOs Butter, Goat, D-Rebel, Chickadee, Mosey, and NOBO Nine Lives, and section hikers Asparagus, Kinder. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG again.
Date: 2012-08-18
From: Trident Col Campsite

To: Carlos Col shelter and campsite
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

Day #138. Up at 6, start at 7:15. Ascent 3970, descent 2950. 281.2 miles to go. Duration: 8:47 including 30 min lunch. Today I completed New Hampshire and entered Maine.  I also passed the 1900 mi mark.  I am not sorry to leave NH.  I have now completed 13 states and have only Maine left to do. It is the second longest (282.2 miles) and noted for its rugged beauty. I expect the going to be slow as it was today. I was up at 6:00 and hiking at 7:15. It did not rain any more last night but the trails showed the results of rain every day last week according to some sobos I spoke with. There were lots of ups and downs.  Many of the ascents and descents were on either rock slabs or rock jumbles and required a lot of rock scrambling.  In many cases they were very steep. There were two real nasty ones that required extremely long reaches to get down.  In addition today there were many mud puddles in the trail that required rock or root hopping or walking at the edge of the puddle or stepping in the mud. In places the mud was 4-8 inches deep. Fortunately there were bog bridges in some of the worst spots. Today was very slow going. I did 10.1 mi in 8:15. Today I met Spools, a SOBO. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-19
From: Carlos Col shelter and campsite

To: Spec Pond Shelter and campsite
Miles today: 9.5

Day #139. Up at 6, start at 7:10. Ascent 4160, descent 3660. 271.8 miles to go. Duration: 11:32 including 40 min lunch. Today I did Mahoosic Notch. It is described as the most difficult mile on the AT. It is a jumbled pit of very large boulders. I did 3 tunnels, 2 squeezes, and 1 chimney. It took me 2 1/2 hrs to traverse the 1.1 miles of the Notch. Talk about slow going. Today was also the day of the disappearing bog bridges. In the 1.3 mi between the east peak and the north peak of Goose Eye Mtn there were many bog bridges to aid in traversing mud pits crust had formed in this col over many years. In places the planks had either rotted away or had just sunk into the mud. So you had to be continually checking with the hiking  stick.  If there were no planks then you had to walk around the edge on the peat.  At one point I was walking the edge and momentarily lost my  balance and my hiking pole went into the mud up to the handle (about 42 in). I'm glad it wasn¢t me.  Today was super slow with the Notch. I did 9.5 mi in 10:50 hiking time. Taking the Notch I did 8.6 mi in 8:20, just a little more than 1 mile per hour. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-20
From: Spec Pond Shelter and campsite

To: Stealth camp at mile 1923.5
Miles today: 11.1

Day #140. Up at 6, start at 7:20. Ascent 4160, descent 3660. 260.7 miles to go. Duration: 10:35 including 35 min lunch. Today I did the Bald Pates.  The east peak is a 3800 ft mtn.  It  is just a huge piece of rock shaped like a hemisphere with no trees on top.  The climb is a continuous ascent on slab rock. Fortunately the rock was dry today and so the climb was not nearly as trecherous as the last two times I did that climb.  The weather was gorgeous for hiking today. I reached the fry notch shelter at 5 where I had planned to stay tonight.  But I found a note there that the past night 3 hikers vomited in the shelter probably from a trail virus. So I decided to hike on and stealth camp. I was fortunate to find a site in this difficult terrain after 45 more min of hiking.  It is 8:20 and past hiker midnight. Nobo today: Marathon, sobo today: Fugitive. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-21
From: Stealth camp at mile 1923.5

To: East B Hill Road - Andover
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Day #141. Up at 6, start at 7:15. Ascent 480, descent 1760. 256.9 miles to go. Duration: 2:09. Today is a Nero day. It rained during the night but had stopped by the morning when I got up at 6:00. By the time I packed my tent it was barely damp.  By 7:15 I was on my way, hiking the 3.8 miles to East B Hill road arriving there at 9:20. It is another beautiful day for hiking.  I am now waiting for the shuttle to take me into Andover where I will resupply and get some town food. The shuttle was due 15 min ago. I hope they didn't forget me.  The shuttle did arrive and dropped off Sanhigan and Snorting Ox whom I had met on the trail in PA.  Also staying at the Pine Ellis lodge are Bluebird and Dayglow whom I had met in 2010 in VA which is kind of cool. They are doing their last section of the trail from Gorham to Katahdin. I also met a Nobo Comanche and Man Down who did the PCT and is now doing a piece of the AT. This afternoon I repaired the water bottle net on my  back pack that was torn going through M. Notch. Duct tape and dental tape were used for the repair. I hope it holds up.   Time will tell. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-22
From: East B Hill Road - Andover

To: Stealth camp at mile 1941.2
Miles today: 13.9

Day #142. Up at 6, start 8:15. Ascent 5670, descent 4190. 243.0 miles left. Duration: 11:00 including 30 min lunch. Got a shuttle at 8:00 from Pine Ellis house to the trail and started hiking at 8:15 under clear blue skies, no wind, and 57F temp.  I did the 1300 ascent up Wyman Mtn, then the very steep 1400 ft ascent up Moody Mtn, then at the end of the day the long 2200 ft ascent up Old Blue Mtn. I went over Old Blue into the saddle beyond hoping to find a good tent spot. It was mostly thick conifer trees but I finally picked a spot at 7:15 that was barely marginal. But here I am nestled in the dense trees on a bumpy sloped surface making it work.  There was a lot of ascent today. I did 13.9 mi in 10:30 hiking time. The Nero was worthwhile. I met a Nobo that had flipped Melodee and a Nobo Sunshine still going north. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-23
From: Stealth camp at mile 1941.2

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Day #143. Up at 6, start at 7:10. Ascent 3430, descent 4040. 229.8 miles left. Duration: 10:35 including 30 min lunch. Up at 6:00, packed up, ate breakfast which consisted of a bigger big cinnamon roll for 700 calories, a Mounds bar for 230 calories, and a Peppermint Patty for 140 calories for a total of 1070 calories. Then I was off hiking at 7:10 in clear blue skies, no wind, and 54F temp. I had my rain jacket on. It was kind of chilly. It turned out to be a nice hiking day and the trail was a little more mellow at times. I did 13.2 miles in about 10 hrs hiking time. I did take a dip in Sabbath Pond at a sandy beach on the way to the lean to. I did not swim a stroke.  It was very refreshing. I cooked dinner and when I was just about finished the sky opened up and I had to scramble to get things under cover. So things got only a little bit wet. So much for the 4% probability of rain. It is 8:40 and I can hear the sounds of the loons out on the pond. It is a great sound. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-24
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to

To: ME4/Rangeley, ME
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: clear sky

Day #144. Up at 6, start at 7:10 am. Ascent 1510, descent 2270. 220.4 miles left. Duration: 6:21 including 30 min lunch. Up at 6:00, it had stopped raining but the tent was wet, packed up, ate breakfast which consisted of a bigger cinnamon roll for 700 calories, 2 Mounds bars for 230 calories each, and a Peppermint Patty for 140 calories for a total of 1300 calories. The trail was undulating with lots of ups and downs and plenty of places with wet and slippery roots. I stopped for lunch at 11:30 and had 1/4 lb baked ham, a 1/4 lb provolone cheese with mustard on a toasted bagel. It was good. I sat on the edge of the trail and on the other side was a tiny stream. There I was in the Maine woods with clear blue sky, no wind and all I could hear was the gurgling of the tiny stream. Very peaceful. Today I did 9.4 mi in a little under 6 hrs hiking time. It took about 20 min to get a hitch into rangley where I am now. SOBOs were Piper, BLT Better Late Than, Just Jesse, NOBOs that flipped were Fool, Olympus, Sweet and Sour,NOBOs were Snorting Ox, Section hikers were Troubadour, Turnip, Dr J, I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG
Date: 2012-08-25
From: ME4/Rangeley, ME

To: Stealth camp on woods road past Orbeton Stream
Miles today: 13.5

Day #145. Up at 6, start at 8:30. Ascent 4000, descent 2800. 209.7 miles left. Duration: 10:10 including 30 min lunch. Up at 6:00, went for breakfast at 6:30 at the BMT diner down the street. Was out in front of the Inn at 8:00 and got a hitch from Kate (aka Quacker) and Matt back to the trail. They were going there for a day hike up Saddleback Mtn on the AT.  They were my Trail Angels today. Thank you Quacker and Matt. Today I hiked 2500 ft up Saddleback Mtn, then the Horn Mtn. The 1000 ft descent down the Horn was very slow. Then over Saddleback Junior after which I stopped for water at the Poplar Ridge shelter.  I then hiked down 1500 ft to Orbeton Stream and up 100 ft to where I am now stealth camped on a woods road. Today I did 13.5 mi in 9:40 hiking time. SOBOs were Funyuns; NOBOs were Miles, I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-26
From: Stealth camp on woods road past Orbeton Stream

To: Crocker Cirque campsite
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: few clouds

Day #146. Up at 6:30, start at 7:30. Ascent 3660, descent 2640. 195.5 miles left. Duration: 9:15 including 60 min lunch. Today I passed the 200 mi to Katahdin mark. Now there are only 195.5 miles to go. Up at 6:25 (my alarm didn't go off) and was hiking at 7:30 up 1700 ft to the summit of Lone Mtn. I stopped for an early lunch at 11:00 at the Spaulding Mountain lean-to with Sunshine and Miles. It was a 60 min lunch. Next I hiked up 1000 ft and over Spaulding Mtn. There was then a 3 mile ridge walk. Shortly after I embarked on this ridge walk the sky opened up with a T Storm with heavy rain. This lasted for over an hour after which the sun came out. But I got drenched.  As I hiked on the trail became dry. There had been no rain there. Then there there was a 1500 ft downhill from Sugarloaf that was very steep, very difficult, very slow, and a real pain. I was glad there had been no rain there. Today I did 11.4 mi in 8:15 hiking time. Met Sharky doing a yo-yo. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-27
From: Crocker Cirque campsite

To: ME27, Stratton
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

Day #147. Up at 6, start at 7:10. Ascent 1950, descent 3380. 188.2 miles left. Duration: 5:05 Today I did two more 4000 footers, South and North Crocker Mtns. Up at 6:00, hiking at 7:10 under clear skies, moderate wind, 65F temp. I got a liter of water before I left camp which would take me in to Stratton. There was a 1500 ft climb over S Crocker to the summit of N Crocker. Then a long 2800 ft descent to ME 27, Stratton. It had rained on some of that section last night which made the rocks and roots very slippery. As luck would have it I did slip and aggravated my right knee that I had hyperextended in the Whites. I hobbled the last 1.5 hrs to ME 27 where I got a shuttle into Stratton where I did laundry, took a shower, and got groceries for the next segment. We will see how the knee feels tomorrow. Last night after dark I noticed something glowing in the dark. It was an 18 inch piece of lace which I took. This afternoon I used it to jury rig sliding ties for a set of water shoes that I had found at the Pine Ellis house. The sliding tie employs the very useful taut line hitch. Today I did 7.3 mi in a little over 5 hrs. NOBOs were Bird Kicker, Bottlecap, Thumper, Z, Goat; Flippers were Ulysses, Mulligan. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-28
From: ME27, Stratton

To: Safford Notch Campsite
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

Day #148. Up at 6:30, start at 8:10. Ascent 4370, descent 3590. Duration: 10:06 including 30 min lunch. Today I passed the 2000 mi mark and now have 2006.4 miles done. I also  climbed two more 4000 footers. Up at 6:30, breakfast at 7:00, shuttle to trail at 8:00, hiking at 8:10 in 67F temp, heavy overcast skies threatening rain, trees are dripping wet, not raining but I expect it will be. I started out hiking with Grin, a section hiker who I hiked with in 2010 and this year he is planning to finish the whole trail. It started raining at 9:30 and I put on my pack cover and my poor hikers pauncho which is my rain jacket just thrown over my back tied under my neck with the sleeves. It keeps the rain from going down the back of my pack and keeps my shirt dry but at the same time lets lots of air flow by the rest of my upper body. It works well. The rain lasted for a little over an hour and that was the end of rain for the day. I did 3 mountains in the Bigelow range. Two were 4000 footers and both the West peak and Avery peak were above the tree line. The winds were very high with the cold front moving through and I had to creep over the summits on my hands in order to not be blown over which says the gusts were above 45 kts. Anyway I was glad to be over them. Then it was a 2800 ft descent into Safford Notch where I am now camped. My right knee survived the day by using my left leg to do most of the lifting and lowering. Hopefully the rt knee will recover with time. Today I did 10.4 mi in 9.5 hrs.  NOBOs were Einstein, Foster; Flippers were Birdman. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-29
From: Safford Notch Campsite

To: West Carry Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

Day #149. Up at 6, start at 7:20. Ascent 2700, descent 3520. 165.2 miles to go. Duration: 9:27 including 40 min lunch. Today I passed the 2000+/- mi mark painted in the road. The 2000 mi sign that used to be on the trail was not there this year. Today I also completed the Bigelow Mtn range. Now the trail should mellow out some. Today was a beautiful day for hiking. Today I did 12.6 mi in 8:47 hiking time. NOBOs were Slim Pilgrim; SOBOs were Snowman. Flippers were Mad Max, Rock Steady, Unicoi Zoom, Bebop, Napster. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-30
From: West Carry Pond Lean-To

To: Trail to Harrison's Pierce Pond camps
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Day #150. Up at 6, start at 7:10. Ascent 920, descent 1280. 154.8 miles to go. Duration: 7:00 including 30 min lunch. I was up at 6:00 after a good night sleep, hiking at 7:10 under hazy skies, light wind, and 60F temp. There were rocks and roots in some parts of the trail but for the most part the trail was pretty mellow with not much elevation change.  I ate lunch at 11:10 and finished off every bit of food in my pack. I arrived at the Harrison Camps trail at 2 pm and hiked there where I am staying the night in a cabin with its own wood stove. I am looking forward to a good dinner and breakfast here. Today I did 10.4 miles in 6.5 hrs. NOBOs were Cheetah; SOBOs were Caboose (one of the last - started aug 17th). Flippers were Bahalla Na (which means whatever may come in native New Guinea). I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-08-31
From: Trail to Harrison's Pierce Pond camps

To: Stealth camp 3.3 mi past Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: broken clouds

Day #151. Up at 6:30, start at 8:10. Ascent 2900, descent 2190. 142.3 miles to go. Duration: 10:00 including 30 min lunch and 60 min to pick up a mail drop in Caratunk. I was up at 6:30, breakfast of juice, coffee, oatmeal with peaches, and eggs Benedict Arnold (a part of the AT south of Pierce Pond is part of the trail that Benedict Arnold walked). I was hiking at 8:10 and reached the Kennebec River around 10 with Grin. Hillbilly Dave then ferried us across in his canoe. He has been doing this since 2007.  I then hiked on into Caratunk to pick up a mail drop from the post office.  We then hiked on to the Pleasant Pond shelter where Grin stayed for the night. I hiked on over Pleasant Mtn another 3.3 mi where I am now stealth camped. Today I did 12.6 miles in 8.5 hrs hiking time. SOBOs were Reese, Lucky; Flippers were Zumbago. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-01
From: Stealth camp 3.3 mi past Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: Stealth camp 0.4 mi past W Branch of Piscatiquis R
Miles today: 16.1

Day #152. Up at 6, start at 7. Ascent 3590, descent 3210. 126.1 miles to go. Duration: 11:06 including 44 min lunch. Up at 6:00, hiking at 7:00 in 55F temp, slight breeze, and crystal clear sky. It was a beautiful day for hiking. I completed the descent from Pleasant Mtn, then  climbed Moxie Bald Mtn, then descended to and forded the west branch of the Piscataquis River. My light weight river shoes with the jury rigged laces worked like a charm and I ended up with dry shoes and socks.  I then hiked on 0.4 mi and found a camp site where I now am stealth camping. Today I did 16.1 miles in 10:22 hiking time. NOBOs were Rusty; Flippers were #5, Zen, Just Joe, Wooly (mammoth), Turtle Tracks, Ridiculous, Bull Moose. Section hikers were Tiller Man (he thru hiked in 2010), Bigfoot. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG. No service here so this won't go out until tomorrow.