morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-08-19
From: Somewhere else in the woods

To: Gilliam and Cathy's house
Miles today: 20.5

Started hiking at 6, and got to the bakery at 7:30 sharp. I had arranged to meet Jeff a little later, but he called me and invited me to breakfast at his place. He can't just sing, the boy can cook too! He made a great southern breakfast for me and one of his singing collegues.Then another 15 miles to Gilliam and Cathy's place, which is 1 mile off the trail. On the way I see Rico, who I last saw about 1000 miles ago. He flip-flopped, and is now southbound. He's going off the trail early September (to go to Belgium) and will finish up when he gets back. Today I got my old energy back, I've been sluggish and slow for several days and thought that was just the way it was going to be from now on. But I felt energetic and strong today. I hope it stays that way!Just finished another wonderful dinner at G and C's. They had even gotten me Leffe (a Belgian beer) and a couple of pots of yoghurt, which I always crave. How nice it is to have friends nearby. I got spoiled today, breakfast and dinner. Better not get used to it!
Date: 2010-08-20
From: Gilliam and Cathy's house

To: Somewhere in the woods
Miles today: 16.1

Left G and C's house around 7, after eating a pot of yoghurt and with a homegrown tomato in hand. A mile back to the trail, and up the first steep hill on a beautiful day. New Hampshire, home to the infamous White Mountains is already showing its teeth today. On the trail I meet a southbound day-hiker with a pack full of home-made food bars to give two to every hiker he meets. I take a break later on and happily eat them. After three very steep up and downhills its getting late. I stop short of the shelter I was headed to when I find a perfect camping spot next to a large creek. For once I get to cook supper before dark. By 8 PM I'm in my tent reading, and soon after I fall asleep to the sound of the rushing water.I forgot to mention two days ago that on my last full day in Vermont I saw two moose, a bull and a cow. I heard a different rustling sound in the woods, looked back and on the other side of a muddy flat, just in the woods there was a moose cow, staring at me. She never moved an inch the whole time I watched. Next to her was a bull, who ignored me and just kept on eating. Boys will be boys, food comes first. It was a lucky sighting. Even though the woods are full of moose, and you often see their scat on the trail, they are relatively rare to encounter, especially the bulls.
Date: 2010-08-21
From: Somewhere in the woods

To: Somewhere in the woods
Miles today: 21.4

They're predicting rain for tomorrow, so I want to get Mount Moosilauke out of the way. It's a steep and slick descent, and also a beautiful view I don't want to miss. So I won't get to mess around too much, I've got a lot of miles to hike, and a few steep climbs. I cook my regular oatmeal/raisin/nut breakfast at one of the shelters. I see Funghi and Veggie Scraps and Luna, their dog, and they give me some Matte, a tasty herbal tea, to try. I feel strong and have a great day. Moosilauke starts at a 1000 feet, and summits 4.5 miles further at 4800, just above the treeline. It's a cloudy, grey day, but the clouds are high and the views clear. A perfect day for climbing the rocky trail. The trees get smaller as I get higher, until they look like little christmas trees, and then there's the grassy, rocky bald on top. I think it's the first 360 degree view since Tennessee, and of course it's spectacular.I make it down the steep, precarious downhill slope before dark, and look for a flat spot to camp. It takes a while and it's dark and starting to rain a little before I finally find one on the steep rocky uphill past Kinsman Notch. I cook supper under the rainfly of my tent and have a good night under a rainy sky.
Date: 2010-08-22
From: Somewhere in the woods

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 13.0

It rains, as promised. I wake up around 5:30, turn around and sleep a little longer when I hear the rain. Pack everything inside the tent, put the raincover over my pack and lay it under the vestibule (outside of tent but under the rainfly. Then pack up my wet tent, roll it in my rubber pad and put it on the pack. Ready to go. I've got my rainjacket on and feel pretty good. It rains all day, I'm wearing my Keen sandals. My feet can't get wet because they're already wet. My socks can't get wet because I'm not wearing them. Everything feels good. The terrain is very rocky, probably the most technically challenging terrain I've seen yet, but since I can't move very fast, it's not very tiring. Scrambling over the rocks, negotiating the downhills, getting wet, but not cold, it's a 10 hour obstacle course. This is turning into a great day of slow progress. There are no views, but the rain gives the forest a different kind of beauty. I find myself humming happily and out of tune. I'm having a blast.The white mountains have several 'huts', a central kitchen and dining building with several bunkhouses. Guests get a bunk-bed, dinner and breakfast. They're usually booked, so as a thru-hiker you don't have much chance of securing a spot ($82/night). They'll allow a few hikers to stay for free, do a few chores, eat leftover dinner, and sleep on the floor in the kitchen area. I decide to give it a shot, and get accepted as the sixth and last 'work for stay hiker' that day. Lucky break! The crew of 5 is very nice and respectful to us old, worn out hikers. There's so much great food left over that we don't even come close to eating it all, and believe me, we try!. We get to do a little work, and sleep in the warm, dry dining room. A perfect ending to a great day.
Date: 2010-08-23
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: light rain

This morning the clouds have lifted enough to where we get to see the beautiful view of lake and mountains. But it's still going to be a rainy day. I decide to postpone the climb of Mt. Lincoln and Mt. Lafayette until tomorrow, when the weather will be better. These mountains are too beautiful to climb on a bad day.I walk the 3 miles to the visitor center at Franconia Notch and pick up my maildrop (food that we mailed ahead). Then I'll get a shuttle into the town of Lincoln and stay at a hostel.
Date: 2010-08-24
From: Franconia Notch

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

Had a good night's sleep at Chet's hostel, together with about 25 other hikers, waiting out the bad weather before hitting the White Mountains. We were spread all over the garage floor because the dorm beds are full. I call the shuttle pretty early and head to the trail.It's a beautiful day, the views climbing up to Mt. Lafayette are stunning, and everyone on the trail is happy and enjoying the day after the past two days of rain. By the end of the day it is cooling off quickly, and it's good to get to Galehead hut. I can do a work for stay again, so it'll be eating left-overs and washing dishes again. But we all get to stay in a warm hut. I can't really camp outside here on these mountain-tops in my 45 degree bag.There's a huge rock right next to the hut. If you climb it you can look over the tree tops and see the western horizon. I saw one of the best sunsets I think I ever saw on that rock. The mountain ridges all had a different shade of orange as the sun went down. I hope I never forget that image.At the previous hut something extraordinary happened. I have never cared for peanut butter, and if anything can make me sick, it's just the thought of peanut butter and jelly. It's been a life long affliction.So at the Lonesome lake hut, while us six thru hikers were waiting in the cold until the guests finished dinner, a young woman took pity on us. She went to her room and made us each a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I just couldn't refuse it, mustered all my courage and took a bite. And to my great surprise it was edible! I contentedly ate the rest of the sandwich, and wondered if all that hiking somehow messed up my taste buds.
Date: 2010-08-25
From: Galehead Hut

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: fog

The unpredictable White Mountains lived up to their name again today. It was a cold, rainy, miserable day. It can snowed here any month of the year, so you never know what you'll get. Weather predictions change every day.The day had a nice ending though. HD-Mama, who's hiking the trail while her husband follows along with their RV, offered us a ride to a nearby campground. We got a two room cabin, campground showers and laundry and a little store. people kept on coming in, so we ended up with six hikers (Daytripper,Thunder,Cricket,On the Loose,Scatters and me). We got some beer and snacks at the store, took hot showers, did laundry and happily enjoyed the evening.
Date: 2010-08-26
From: Crawford Notch

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: fog

I've been enjoying this terrain. Rocky, steep climbs and descents, often pretty technical, almost like rock climbing. You can't go very fast, so I've been going from hut to hut. They are spaced so that you hit one around lunch time, have some coffee or hot chocolate, some bread, soup, sit and get warm for a while, and then back into the windy and cold outside. Then around dinner time you can get to the next hut and do the work for stay. Today I'm going to the hut 1.5 miles before the top of mount Washington. It's pretty cloudy so there are no views today, but the nearby tops are visible. The alpine vegetation above treeline gives this rocky, almost barren area a type of beauty different from what we've seen on the trail. There's a sometimes eery, otherworldly feel to the cloudy, misty mountain tops.This evening, at the hut, there are about 15 thru-hikers. The weather and the cold keeps everyone from camping, or trying to go over the top of Washington.
Date: 2010-08-27
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: broken clouds

It's supposed to be a nice day today, but in the morning we see mist and rain blowing everywhere. The wind blows so hard that the raindrops coming down from the roof are blown right back up. Around 7:15 HD Mama and I decide to head up to the top of Washington, about 1.5 miles. We'll get there just in time for the cafetaria to open. (There's a road leading to the top, so tourists can have an easy way up). The rain has stopped, but it's misty and very windy. We can't see anything but the rocks in front of us. But it's not too bad, kind of enjoyable in a perverse way. We get to the top in about 45 minutes. The building is open, but we have to wait until nine for the cafetaria to open. At one point there's a break in the clouds and we get a snapshot of a spectacular view. On the way down there are these occasional glimpses of great, long range views. I kind of like hiking in the clouds and getting these occasional surprises. Then gradually the clouds clear out and it turns into a beautiful day. We're in the Presidential range, a series of mountain tops named after previous presidents, a lot of the trail on the ridge above tree line. Washington, the highest and windiest is followed Jefferson, Adams and Madison. We get a breather at the Madison hut before climbing this last high altitude mountain, and starting the long and steep descent toward Pinkham Notch, and the end of the Presidentials. Gradually we get back into the trees, first small, then larger, then more and more hardwoods. I hear a rustling in the woods on the way down, stop and stare to find the cause, see some trees moving as something large is walking around. Two moose are walking around, munching on tree leaves. It's after 7 before I get to the visitor center. I get my food maildrop and find a hostel in the area.
Date: 2010-08-28
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: fog

An embarrassingly low mileage today, but I've got good excuses. By the time I got a ride back from the hostel, and had breakfast at the Visitor Center, it was 11. The climb out of Pinkham Notch was long and very steep, more like rock-climbing. Then a one mile very steep descent into Carter Notch. The six miles took about 4.5 hours of hard hiking. I had planned to hike further and camp in the woods, but this was a very pretty spot, beautiful weather, and the staff at the hut was very nice, and said there would be a lot of leftovers from dinner. So I just had to stay.
Date: 2010-08-29
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: few clouds

Today is the last day of the White Mountains. There's about 5 tops to climb, and then a long descent towards Gorham. Beautiful weather, spectacular views and good hiking. More wet and slippery rocks than previous days, so more careful hiking, especially the steep descents.I figured out why lately I was getting a little slower compared to other hikers. I was just getting lazy and had settled into a more relaxed pace. Today I increased my pace a little, got the old rhythm and speed back and it felt great. I did sweat a lot more.
Date: 2010-08-30
From: Gorham, NH

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

A ride from the hostel to the Pinkham Notch. Breakfast at the visitor center, and a late start to go up a steep and long cliff out of the Notch. (A notch in New England is the same as a Gap in the south: a low point between mountains)Halfway up the slope, who comes down the other side but Restless Legs, our old friend who got off the trail in Virginia for some family stuff, and now has flip flopped to head back south to finish is thru hike in Virginia. We share some trail info and plan on meeting up some day in the future to talk VW Vanagons, our shared interest. Several of us have started today at the Notch with one goal in mind: today we're reaching Maine! The border is about 17 miles away. With my late start it is of course dark, once again, when I get to the long anticipated border sign. Then another half mile to the shelter where everyone has just arrived or is still straggling in. Maine has immedialy shown its teeth, and is living up to the promise of being the most rugged terrain on the trail. Right after the border crossing, in the dark, I was coming down some huge boulders, wondering how people with shorter legs do it, and at the same time wondering if I was still on the trail. I hear later some hikers had to take their packs off to make it down the rocks.
Date: 2010-08-31
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: clear sky

Today starts hard and it's only getting harder, these are the Mahoosuc Mountains, and as Daytripper says 'Everything with the word Mahoosuc in it sucks'. We're headed towards the infamous Mahoosuc Notch. This is a mile long field of enormous boulders, that you make your way through scrambling, rock hopping, squeezing through small openings and gaps. It is beautiful, but you're working so hard, and in many cases cursing so hard, you barely notice the nature around you.I absolutely loved it. I think I had the leg advantage here, and used every inch of leg I have to jump from boulder to boulder, arms and legs streched to combine rock-climbing,leveraging, scrambling and jumping into a not so elegant attempt at playing mountain-goat.We all collected on the other side and took a breather before tackling an even more daunting exercise. Climbing the Mahoosuc Arm, about 1.5 mile straight up a mountain. Steep, rocky and hard. Then after less than 10 miles we called it a day when we saw the next shelter, at a beautiful mountain lake. I wearily sat down, ate, and went for a really rejuvenating swim in the cold water of Speck Pond.Later that afternoon another hiker, Q-tip, who we'd seen earlier came in limping. He'd gotten through the notch, up the arm, and then, less than a mile from the shelter, severely sprained his ankle. Injury's always just a second of inattention away.. He should recover in plenty of time to finish the hike. He'd been headed for a resupply stop in town, so a group of really nice Bates College students supplied him with enough food so he could stay and recover for a few days.
Date: 2010-09-01
From: Speck Pond Shelter

To: Andover
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: few clouds

I have a food maildop waiting for me in Andover, at the Pine Ellis hostel. I've got to call on top of the last mountain, estimate my arrival time at the notch, and when I get there, Irene - the hostel owner - is waiting for me. A very comfortable and friendly place to stay. I see some old trail friends, Red Hat, Fog and when I get to the General Store/Restaurant a block away, there's Big Ooh, his wife Cupa and Yahtzee having dinner. I last saw them in Virginia. In the meantime they've flip-flopped and made it down to here. My first taste of the famous Maine Lobster rolls is so good I order another one, with fries this time, and a plate of haddock and fries in between. These hard Maine trails make me hungry, and thirsty: I got a six-pack of Blue Moon to go with and after dinner!
Date: 2010-09-02
From: Andover

To: In the woods
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: clear sky

My friends Tom and Sarah want to meet up with me this weekend. The only problem is, there are few road intersections, and the trail is still really hard. My only shot at meeting them at place that's reachabel for both them and me is to hike 61 miles in 3 days. With my usual crazy determination I decide I can do it. It's just a bunch of rocks I have to get over, and a handful of mountains. I figure I'll do 2 long days, and one shorter one to meet them late afternoon on Saturday.I get up around five, go get a double breakfast at the general store, get David, who helps run the inn to drop me off, and about 7 I get started. It's a long hard day. I reach the last mountaintop in time to see the end of the sunset, and to feel the first raindrops. There isn't much rain, but enough to make the rocks wet. So it's a long, slow descent to the stream where I intend to camp. I get there around 10 pm. After a 15 hour hike, I'm pretty tired. Get water from the creek, set up the tent, and cook a double dinner inside the vestibule of the tent. I have no trouble sleeping that night.
Date: 2010-09-03
From: In the woods

To: In the woods
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: scattered clouds

There's a hurricane coming, everyone is talking about it. I haven't been too worried since they never know for sure ahead of time where those things will land. The forecast is still good, so I keep on going.Today's as hard as yesterday. The trail and mountains are beautiful, but the rocks and many steep climbs and descents make it slow going.Again I round my last mountain top in the dark, but this time most of the trail is dry. There's a long mile of steep descent to a hard to find campsite. The water is 1100 feet into the woods, I can't find any tent pads, so just find a flat spot and put up my tent. It's a two dinner night again.
Date: 2010-09-04
From: In the woods

To: House
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Around midnight I get woken up by a drop of water on my face. Torrential rains are coming down on the pine forest. The tent stays pretty dry though, and I sleep solidly until after 5. It's still raining, so I pack up everything inside the tent, put my hiking shoes in the pack, the raincover on the pack, rainjacket on me, sandals on my feet and get out into the rain to pack up the tent. Once I'm hiking the rain feels pretty good, cool and refreshing. A few miles down the trail there's a shelter with about 7 people staying the day to stay out of the storm. I go on and eventually it turns into a beautiful day. I don't see a single hiker all day long, pretty unusual, especially on the weekend.After a really steep and long descent I get to the dirt road and meet up with Tom, who greets me with a sandwich and a beer. What a friend!
Date: 2010-09-05
From: House

To: House
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm taking today off! After the three long days I need it. And I need time to update this journal. I was about 7 days behind, so it'll take about half a day to do this. Then I need to do a little work for a customer. And most importantly I need to hang out with my friends Tom, Sarah and Hildi, Sarah's co-worker.Last night Hildi made soup, Sarah cooked one of her wonderful dinners, Tom did the dishes - as usual, I sat on my butt - as usual, we had wine, talked and relaxed. It sure beat sleeping in a tent in the rain!
Date: 2010-09-06
From: House

To: Stratton, Me
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Pretty tough hike today, I was going to go further, but checked my email at the road crossing, and had a work email. Had to hitch hike into town and check into the local hostel so I could do some programming.This town has just a few buildings, but it's perfect for hikers. A hostel/motel, run by an ex-thru hiker, a restaurant/tavern next door, a general store across the street. Bought my regular two quarts of yoghurt. One for in the morning, one for the evening.
Date: 2010-09-07
From: Stratton, Me

To: Little Bigelow lean-to
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The Bigelows are the last major mountain range we'll see. The terrain has already gotten a little easier, but it's still a long hard day. This morning when I left the hostel, Twiggzy came down the stairs. I hadn't seen him in about 1900 miles! During the day I talked to a southbound hiker, an Alaskan named Fudgepacker. He started 900 miles north of here, in Quebec, on the International Appalachian trail. He's planning to go to Key West, a total of about 4000 miles or so. I hope he makes it.
Date: 2010-09-08
From: Little Bigelow lean-to

To: Pierce Pond lean to
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Now that we're hitting all these Maine ponds, it's gotten too cold to swim. It's been pretty rainy too, a little tricky on all the rock surfaces. Again I ran into some old friends. Ram Sham and Ad Cane, the two deaf people I last saw in Damascus, have flip flopped and are now south bound. It was great seeing them, but I couldn't stop and talk because we were just crossing a swamp on a narrow boardwalk, and Ad Cane needed all his focus (he's virtually blind, too) to get across.The shelter was facing a beautiful pond, but it was a little too cold for me. Twiggzy, who came in after dark was the only one brave enough to jump in.It seems like there are suddenly a lot more mice at the shelters, too. I'm not sure why. But we all make sure we hang up our food bags.Heard the haunting call of loons all night long. Especially at night, the call of this bird, echoing over a lake, is one of my favorite sounds. When you hear it, you don't want to be anywhere else.
Date: 2010-09-09
From: Pierce Pond lean to

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: light rain

This morning we stopped at a hunting/fishing cabin just off the trail and had a really great breakfast (a big stack of blueberry,cranberry,apple pancakes, eggs, sausage). The place is about a quarter of a mile from the shelter, and you need to make reservations the night before. It was just us hikers, and the owner who cooked everything.Then a long day. After a few hours we got to the Kennebec River, where a ferryman in a canoe takes hikers and their backpacks, two at a time, across the river. This is the recommended way of crossing, there's a lot of current, and the river is about 100 yards wide.Walked in intermittent rain showers and got to the shelter around dusk, again at a lake I couldn't swim in.