morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-08-05
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Liberty Spring Campsite
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

This was another hard day! The down is almost as rough as the up. The view from South Kinsman was awesome.  The weather was clearing giving a preview of why the Whites are so popular but without question the trail in the Whites, and apparently Maine, is very rough and unprepared with large rocks and slippery roots.  Miles mean little with mostly ups and downs often requiring hands.  As an introduction, the climb of South Kinsman was extremely difficult.  Overall now a mile an hour is a huge new adjustment and the pack weight is critical.  Not unusual for me to climb at half that!  On the climb up to Liberty I met a couple about my age, Tagalong and (I forget the husband's name) that decided after 1820 miles on the trail to quit!, that Haystack was just too much and technical.  Actually, the next day Haystack was some of the easiest climb in weeks so I think they were just done! The climbs and descents in the Whites are very long but the views and Alpine region may well be the best part of the whole trail. I climbed the last part to the campsite with Summer Breeze and Sunshine along with their dog Nillie.  It's amazing how well the dogs handle the climbs.  This couple really are enjoying the trip taking their time going slow like me!  The campsite has and AMC caretaker and was full.  There were no tent platforms left, Ryan and Lofty got one of the last, so the caretaker, Wizard, put me on little rooty sloped spot.  Still had to pay the $10 AMC fee but they give thru hikers a pass so afterwards you pay half for AMC campsites and items they sell at the AMC huts.  The park blocks the area 1/4 mile before and after each site so you are not allowed to stealth camp in any non-designated spots.  Summer Breeze and Sunshine just continued to the summit where they found a lovely stealth site with view.  I should have joined them, but was just to beat from the climb.
Date: 2018-08-06
From: Liberty Springs Campground

To: South Twin Mountain
Miles today: 11.1

This was one of the best days of the entire hike for views, just absolutely beautiful! I left Liberty Springs campsite at 7:30 and quickly climbed Little Haystack.  Ryan and Lofty passed me anxious to get to Crawford Notch and beat the forecast weather.  On this Franconia Ridge Mount Lincoln blocks the view of Lafayette and it's easy to think you are looking at Lafayette when it's actually Lincoln!  There are lots of trails besides the AT to these summits, and many easier to hike so there were lots of people.  On Lafayette you could see Washington and the coal fired cog train.  Looking West you can see all the way to Vermont and the mountains we climbed there.  I continued all day climbing Mt Garfield and ran into Earthheart.  We were both trying to stealth camp and avoid the AMC huts with their high fees.  If the weather turned I was going to stay at the Galehead Hut.  I was really getting stinky from the long climbs and took a quick dip in the icy stream by Galehead and pressed on.  They require non-refundable reservations and for thru hikers it is almost impossible to know your arrival date.  For a few if you arrive by four pm they offer WFS (work for stay) and you work cooking et cetera for the right to sleep in the dining area on the floor.  I really want to make sure I could meet Robin the next day before dark so I pushed on and climbed South Twin Mountain. It was a rough way to end the day: two hours to hike up .8 miles! and there is only one stealth campsite at the top that may be taken.  I was worried I would be stuck after dark.  I reached the summit at 7:30p in a strong wind and couldn't see any campsites!  The stealth site was behind a large boulder .1 miles down the north side of the mountain and thank goodness no one was there.  It was nicely sheltered with no wind.  I quickly put up the tent which used every square in of the spot as the sun set.  Just as it was getting dark a father and son were also trying to find the same site!  and had to continue down the mountain.  There was no phone signal and the next problem would be coordinating pickup with Robin.
Date: 2018-08-07
From: South Twin Mountain

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: broken clouds

I was worried about making it to meet Robin and worried about the weather.  Hard rain in the forecast and it was a lot of miles should the terrain be tough.  I left early after breakfast at 5a and struck the tent hitting the trail at 6a.  I was finally able to get a call through and thought I would have signal again but... nothing all the way to Crawford Notch... not even at the huts on the way!  I climbed the ridge to Guyot mountain thinking there would be signal... nope.  Great views and downhill all the way.  The Zealand Falls hut was about 8 miles from the notch and gorgeous but no signal..I made great time getting there.  It is right on the pond and popular because unknown to me, the AMC really made it accessible with a beautiful 7 mile path so... I made it to the notch way ahead of schedule! at 3 p. and again there is no phone signal!  I hitched a ride to try and get phone signal and was picked up by another hiker, Jennifer, a school teacher who is hiking all the 4k peaks in the northeast.  We drove toward North Conway until I got phone signal and was able to reach Robin.  She dropped me off in Bartlett where I met Robin.  We headed straight for the Green Granite Inn before the rain!  Took the next day to resupply and take a trip to Mount Washington.  My shoes are almost at their end and Robin brought new ones which we found out on Mount Washington have very slippery bottoms and cannot be used.  Apparently, Brooks changed the soles and they are very slick on the rocks here! We ran into Orange and Knots at the summit!  Great break and will pick up the trail on Thursday.
Date: 2018-08-10
From: Nauman Campsite 

To: Perch Shelter 
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained last night as a cold front blew in. This campsite was just recovering from a micro burst that ripped the trees right off the rocks.  The wind speed at the hut was 57 mph so the gusts at Mt Washington were well over 60.  The wind blew the weather right out giving awesome views! It¢s was a cold night and with the wind chill very cold! I climbed Mt Pierce/Clinton, Eisenhour, Franklin and Monroe then took a break at Lakes of the Clouds hut before climbing Mt Washington.  The wind kept blowing so hard on my pack it was hard to keep my balance on the rocky climb to Washington. Views were incredible, best I¢ve ever seen anywhere!
Date: 2018-08-11
To: Pinkham Notch 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Had an OK night but must have really over done yesterday as everything is sore, particularly my left knee. My bad planning put me .7 miles off the trail down  almost 2k feet of rocks I have to climb up and cost me more than an hour! Weather is still holding out.  I left Summer Breeze and Sunshine on Mt Washington and wonder where they spent the night: we are supposed to meet at Pinkham Notch. I had a decent but very rocky hike up Mt Madison and to Madison Hut passing Rocky who at 70 looked in bad shape.  He couldn¢t make it to any place before dark and slept on the rocky trail! He was frozen and out of water and his legs were cut up badly. I gave him water and moved on. After Madison the miles picked up but I still had no place for the night!  Robin had been trying all week to get me a room at Joe Dodge Lodge but they were full.  She continued to try every few hours while driving back to Raleigh but no joy. There are no decent campsites there. I hit the Notch and went straight to the lodge; still full but I sat there waiting for a cancellation  and Greg put me in an AMC volunteer room, Amen! While wait I met Hawkeye 72, who wanted to hike with me.  I told him I needed to be in Katahdin by Sept 15th and he said he would be there by the 12th! Said OK we leave at 8 in the morning and climb Wildcat. I went to the visitor center and picked up my bounce box we had dropped off. I was exhausted. I showered, ate, and hit the sack! The lodge provides a great dinner and breakfast. Internet and phone was almost nonexistent but I was able to message Robin.
Date: 2018-08-12
From: Joe Dodge Lodge Pinkham Notch 

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Had and awesome rest at the lodge and a great breakfast. Supposed to meet and hike with Hawkeye who made reservations all the way to Katahdin and says he will summit on Sept 12th. As I write this we are waiting for him and I left him 7 hours ago! It was cold on Wildcat and with almost no good stealth sites to camp for quite a ways further on. I ran into Picasso and although the huts are all full this one has work for stay first come first served so we decided to try and the only other person was Moonbeam.  After a three hour wait they accepted all three of us!! Yeah! We get to eat dinner after the guests at 7:30, work for an hour from 8 to 9. Not bad.  Hawkeye still hasn¢t shown up and it¢s almost 7p so I think we are going to backtrack and look for him.  He fell last year at Crawford Notch and was hurt badly.  He is picking up the trail at a pretty tough spot! On a spiritual note, at 9:15a I was climbing a slick granite wall in the rain when my foot slipped off a 2 in lip and I was sliding toward a forty to fifty foot drop when at the last minute I found a finger hold to stop a fall. My phone had a message for me from my son in law, Geoff Goss, Papa Greg, I¢ve been praying for your safety! Finally heard from Summer Breeze and Sunshine. They stealth camped at Pinkham Notch.  Nillie¢s paws were sore from all the rocks. They were taking a rest and going into town to resupply. Hopefully they will catch up!
Date: 2018-08-14
From: The Barn

To: Gentian Pond Shelter 
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

Almost to Maine! Trail was changing from rocks to roots.  I wasn¢t able to do any resupply in Gorham and was disappointed. Was shuttled to the trailhead. Picasso didn¢t make it and Moonbeam was ahead.  The Rattleade Hostel looked really nice. I¢m really going to need to resupply at Andover and will make reservations this time. It appears I¢m in the bubble. The trail to Genitian Pond was very tough rocky steep and rooty! The shelter is gorgeous with views of the whole valley!
Date: 2018-08-15
From: MM1903.3 Gentian Pond

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6

Slept late.  I need to slow down! One bad step and this hike is over! The trail now is all up and down with rocks mud and roots. Each summit is steep and generally requires climbing hand over hand: the descents are the same. The border of Maine is just 4.7 miles! I took half a day getting there after climbing Mt Success and great views looking back on New Hampshire. Had lunch in Maine at 2p and continued the ups and downs to Full Goose Shelter. Room for one more as I arrived! Tomorrow is the infamous Mahoosic Notch! Supposed to be the hardest mile on the trail so I¢m really taking my time and starting fresh in the morning!
Date: 2018-08-16
From: Full Goose Shelter 

To: Speck Pond Shelter 
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: clear sky

This was to be one of the hardest days so I made adjustments. I sheltered near the Notch and waited for the rain to abate. I met Bear Snack. Everyone left in the morning before me while I had a nice oatmeal and coffee. EFT for the Mahoosuc Notch at 9a. It is supposed to be the hardest mile on the AT. I hit the western end at 10:30a and managed to work thru the mile in 2 hours. Some I talked with took five. Bear Snack at 70 did it in 3. Psychologically, we were done and not prepared for the long tough climb up Mahoosuc Arm! Don¢t measure distance in Maine by miles! It was soooo good to summit and see the beautiful Speck Pond and Shelter! While we were having dinner Recall walked in! Hadn¢t seen him since he and Haze hiked with me in Vermont!  Apparently his knee became unbearable and he found an Orthopedist in Gorham to give him injections while Haze, the ER physician, moves on and apparently hurt his knee and had to get off the trail.
Date: 2018-08-18
From: Frye Notch Lean-to

To: Human Nature Hostel 
Miles today: 4.4

Rained all night.  Human Nature Hostel is a much better deal and they shuttle to Walmart. My left knee was starting to be a problem and I have been going through the Ibuprofen, Nailgun calls it candy!, and the brace is insufficient. Glucosamine helped before and isn¢t hard on the stomach. The hostel has free shuttle three times daily 9a,3:30, & 5:30. To make the morning shuttle I would have to leave in the dark. The weather kept all of us up most of the night. We all got up and I left at six and pushed hard to make the nine o¢clock shuttle. Pirate went for his car and Recall just decided to continue hiking: still didn¢t know what happened to Bear Snack.  In the dark I didn¢t see a sharp stump in the trail an impaled my leg but was able to stop the bleeding with the elastic in the gaitors.  I made the shuttle and was out of everything.  Awesome hostel awesome price. $30 for bunk, showers, and breakfast $5 shuttle to and from Walmart and they have this super fast internet!  With free shuttle to two trailheads I decided to slackpack from the next trailhead and get back early and catch up on this journal.
Date: 2018-08-19
From: Human Nature Hostel

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: light rain

After an awesome breakfast I shuttled to South Arm MM 1943.0 and slack packed back to East B Hill road. At Hall Mountain Lean-to I ran into Bear Snack. I¢ll catch up to him tomorrow. Hiking these two mountains: Moody and Wyman without my big pack was really fun! I climbed these bad boys doing better than 2 mph overall! My regular flatland pace doing the ten miles in five hours.  I spent the afternoon fixing my gear and doing uploads. The front of my new shoes after two weeks have split away! The hostel prepared an awesome dinner using greens and vegetables grown here with super tasty burgers! It is back to the trail tomorrow with a super heavy pack: no more Walmart for the rest of the trip!
Date: 2018-08-20
From: Human Nature Hostel 

To: Bemis Mountain Campsite 
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Left the hostel a bit late and then on the phone a bit so I didn¢t start really hiking until after 10a.  Weather is beautiful but storms are on the way.  Passed Bear Snack slackpacking south and now he¢s ahead of me! Met Mary Queen of Socks also heading north with some very sore feet. She and her husband secured a cabin to meet friends at Katahdin on Sept 10th. The end is starting to seem real.  I was going to go for the road but the day was running out and the campsite at Bemis looked so inviting that I stopped for the night. From the summit the views show a tremendous number of absolutely beautiful isolated lakes! Just after dark Picasso came in and had finally caught up. She is faster than me so that will change. Mary came in just as we were going to go back and look for her. Her feet were really a problem!
Date: 2018-08-21
From: Bemis Mountain Campsite 

To: Little Swift Creek Pond
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I was going to try and make some miles today and shoot straight thru to Rangeley, a bit over 17.  The weather forecast was very clear a hard rain was coming by morning so that would make sense. However, this Norman Rockwell campsite complete with canoes and privy was jus too inviting and, I was beat after 13 miles with this overloaded pack! Our tramily artist, Picasso, could have easily made the road but insisted on smelling the roses. We  pitched the tents and enjoyed the ambiance then did a community dinner. Just as we were finishing dinner and hanging our bear bags a huge group of over a dozen Harvard students stomps in to camp! The ¢future leaders of our nation¢ obviously hadn¢t checked the weather nor planned whatsoever on where they would tent nor, had they been schooled in the most basic rules of campground etiquette: they stomped all over between campsites waking all of us hikers and flashing their white and not red headlamps into everyone¢s tents.  We couldn¢t vacate the premises quickly enough the next morning before the rain came. Hikers are incredibly polite and considerate. You almost never hear a voice after 8p, only use red light if they have to get up at night and in the morning disappear silently like a vapor ... no talking.  I expect the totally unprepared students had a nice morning washout!
Date: 2018-08-22
From: Little Swift River Pond Campsite 

To: Rangeley 
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up early after a fitful night with the ibnoxious students. It appeared the forecast was right on and I secured my food bag while it was still dry. Similarly, I decided to go ahead and strike the tent as a few drops had started to fall and I hate to pack a wet tent. I cooked oatmeal and coffee, hit the privy and trail. The students obviously had a sleepless night and were milling about. I noticed the girl waiting behind me had picked a nice handful of leaves! What no TP? These Harvard kids are no Boy Scouts! No sooner had I started the five mile hike to Rangeley the rain became really coming down so I put in the rain gear. It was a cold rain with air temp around 50. When I hit the highway I went straight to the hiker hut. It was full but the owner, Stephen, had one seat left in his car and we shuttles into town and he secured a spot for me at the Fieldstone, which unlike the Hiker Hut has electricity, internet, and is right downtown with the market and restaurants. Moreover, Bearsnack was staying with him and was at the library! We connected and arranged with Stacy at The Fieldstone for a slackpack shuttle and they just happen to also own the Stratton motel and we booked a room for the night after next. So, should be able to knock out some fun miles in the next couple days with a bed at the end!
Date: 2018-08-23
From: MM 1969.4

To: Mm1984.2
Miles today: 14.8

Stacy Borous sent Seth her son to pick us up at the hostel at 5:45a and shuttle us to Barnjam Rd, a private road a mile off the trail at MM 1984.2.  It was a cold windy but clear day and we had three tough mountains to climb and without packs much nicer.  The rocks roots and mud were taking a toll and I really needed a break. Bearsnaxk was in the same boat with reservations so we shared the cost of a shuttle and will get back on schedule. The extreme wind was actually blowing hikers over on the summit. It was scary!
Date: 2018-08-23
From: MM 1969.4

To: Mm1984.2
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: clear sky

Stacy Borous sent Seth her son to pick us up at the hostel at 5:45a and shuttle us to Barnjam Rd, a private road a mile off the trail at MM 1984.2.  It was a cold windy but clear day and we had three tough mountains to climb and without packs much nicer.  The rocks roots and mud were taking a toll and I really needed a break. Bearsnaxk was in the same boat with reservations so we shared the cost of a shuttle and will get back on schedule. The extreme wind was actually blowing hikers over on the summit. It was scary!
Date: 2018-08-24
From: Barnjam Rd

To: Caribou Valley Rd
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Clearly yesterday was probably one of the hardest and with a slackpack! A lot of hikers were genuinely scared yesterday and the wind was exceptional. So, we decided to regroup and do a short slow hike giving our feet and bones a rest. We got up early and Stacey Borous picked us up at 5:45a and drive us in her Rubicon to Barnjam Rd and we continued North to the Carrabassett River, expecting to have to ford but someone put a makeshift bridge, a board, to the middle rocks. Wind had died down and the cool temps perfect for hiking. Our tramily,Peppermint, Lin, Picasso have been soldiering forward with full packs! The trail was lovely by disappears from the north side of Sugarloaf leaving only a steep rock scramble down taking an hour to do the last mile.  After crossing the Carrabassett we hiked to Caribou Valley Road and met our shuttle driver Trout, who thru hiked the trail in 2017. He gave us a tour of Stratton. Towns are becoming more outposts than towns as we move North. Handy when hiking to have laundry, General Stiore, library, and post office within a block of our hotel! Really looking forward to seeing Robin next week and preparing for the last leg!
Date: 2018-08-25
From: Caribou Valley

To: Stratton 
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Great nights sleep and great breakfast and shuttle with Cosmos, Bearsnack, Galaxy and Songbird, our newlyweds, to Caribou Valley Rd. Nice easy slackpack over South and North Crocker to Hwy 27.  As we approached the Hwy someone had left a nice care package for the newlyweds after they left! Trout our shuttle driver drove ahead to get it to them! Tomorrow is a long slackpack through the Bigelows for 18 miles that will put us on schedule for Caratunk. Turns out the Kennebec  ferry stops at 2p so we will have to do 15 on Monday! Lots of hikers today. Tha AT folks seem to be the same people as we keep passing each other. Weekend traffic includes lots of Canadians and a surprising number of section hikers, many who are returning to finish after injuries.
Date: 2018-08-26
From: Stratton Motel

To: MM 2018.3 East Flagstaff Road
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

Up at 4:45 for an early start to hike the Bigelows. Bearsnack went to the pack room to get bug spray and his pack had been stolen! Crap! There is no lock on the door and anyone could walk in. ¢Just Mike¢ who booked a room next to ours and cooked us a nice fish dinner slid out at three am.  Both packs were gone and he was clearly suspect. Our shuttle driver and hostel manager checked all the town dumpsters after dropping us off and found Mike¢s pack with lots of Bearsnack¢s stuff so we had our man. I sent photos of Just Mike to the hostels and with luck they will catch him. Since we have non refundable rooms Tuesday in Caratunk and the canoe ferry stops at 2, we really have to cover the miles and did the Bigelows in one day. Whew! Three big ones with lots of steep climbs. Tomorrow will also be a 16 miler but should only have one smaller mountain.  I should now be done with the 4,000 footers.  Ms. Robin drove up to New York from Raleigh and is in position to join me Tuesday and I can¢t wait! Hiking in Maine is simply BRUTAL!