morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-02
From: Dalton, MA

To: Mark Noepel Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I packed up in Dalton, realizing that I had left my rain jacket on top of my tent in a heavy rain all night. Ooops...I hitched to a WalMart a few miles down the road, getting a ride from a guy who thru hiked the trail in the late 90s just after graduating high school. I resupplied at WalMart and popped into the Home Depot next door to get a new washer for my Sawyer squeeze. The stock washer has deformed (maybe from chronic over tightening, an internet search suggested) and dirty water was starting to leak out from around it.Getting back to the trail, I met an awesome family with two small children that had just completed a 7 week summer-vacation hike from Maine down to Dalton. I was so excited for them and to share in their experience. Their first priority was of course getting into town for a burger.I made a dinner that I loved tonight, picking an immature (but mature enough) ear of corn from a field and frying the kernels with spam in coconut oil and then adding it to a broccoli and cheddar pasta side. Good Eats!
Date: 2016-08-03
From: Mark Noepel Shelter

To: MA 2 / Williamstown, MA
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

Needing to do laundry, rest, and dry out I made a hotel reservation for a place in Williamstown, MA that the AWOL guide described as having an "elaborate" breakfast buffet. This morning I got up early so that I could get to town before too late and spend as much time in the room as possible.Climbing Mt. Greylock I still took plenty of breaks for pictures and enjoyed the clear skies and cool breezes that smelled like a Christmas tree lot. There was a beautiful lodge up top and I could see the mountains of southern Vermont stretching far out ahead.In town I got a burrito, a new fuel canister and stayed up late talking to my parents and watching TV in the hotel room.
Date: 2016-08-04
From: MA 2 / Williamstown, MA

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: clear sky

My plan for today was just to get across the border into Vermont and keep it short. I had the elaborate breakfast and then headed down the road to the grocery store plaza to resupply. A large group of hikers had assembled in the grass near the store and a Papa John's there that gave pizza to hikers for 50 percent off... Everyone was lying around eating entire pizzas and I joined quickly in.Finally got out of there and did 6.9 miles up across the border and to the first shelter. I can't believe I'm officially in Vermont.
Date: 2016-08-05
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

I had intended to do a long day today but a few tough ascents and descents really took it out of me. I also got a later start because as usual I was lying awake for half of the night. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it in this trail journal yet but almost every night sleeping outside I wake up around 2 or 3 AM. I'm really not sure why but maybe it has to do with body temp dropping? It's pretty annoying but makes sleeping in hostel and motels that much nicer.At one point I spent about 15 minutes walking down a trail that sure looked like the AT before getting a sudden feeling that it was the wrong trail. I began looking for white blazes and, seeing none after another few minutes, I turned around. I retraced my steps back to the definite AT and started going what I though was north. I walked about .2 before running into a Long Trail thru hiker I had passed earlier. Turned around and was on my way. Later, at a shelter with Quasibird, Little Sister, and Pancake, I felt a lot better to learn that they had all made the same mistake.
Date: 2016-08-08
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Bromley Mountain Ski Area
Miles today: 41.6

Current positive thoughts: Excellent water sources, beautiful "Christmas tree" forests, and awesome views from some cool fire towers and overlooks.It was a long way up Mt. Stratton and the weather felt like mid-Fall at the top. The amount of extended climbs have increased in northern MA and Vermont and hiker hunger is really kicking back in. I've been plenty hungry the last few states but it is approaching those Tennessee and Virginia eat-a-whole-cake-in-the-store-parking-lot levels again. I was so excited for my resupply stop in Manchester City and once at the store I spent a long time out front doing some extracurricular snacking. I bought and ate/drank a whole streusel cake, a big bottle of Kefir, and a beer. Then on my way out of town the awesome woman who gave me a ride stopped and bought me a maple cremee. I was really in heaven.While in town I also stopped at an EMS outfitter and bought a new hat, a new pair of Darn Tough socks to replace a Smart Wool pair that I had started with and have now worn out, and a light long sleeve shirt to sleep in until I get my sleeping bag back in New Hampshire. It's been getting pretty cold at night lately.I'm spending the night tonight in a cool ski patrol hut at the top of the Bromley Mountain Ski Area that is left open for hikers during the summer.
Date: 2016-08-09
From: Bromley Mountain Ski Area

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 26.7
Weather: clear sky

A goal of mine through this journey has been to hike a marathon. I've heard of a decent amount of other hikers that have routinely done 30 plus mile days but I just haven't been able to make it happen until today.I wanted to make up for my short day yesterday and looking at the guidebook last night, I saw that there weren't any real significant mountains coming up and that there was a water source I could probably camp near 26.2 miles north. I woke up early with the rising sun, purposefully set my mind to hiking 26.2 and got going. I took a few lunch breaks but made sure not to rest too long. At 16 miles, I found a cooler that someone had left for hikers at a road crossing. I'm not sure if I would have been able to go ten more miles had it not been for it. I drank a Coke and a Sunny D, ate some Oreos, and took one more Coke as an emergency energy kick for later. I would drink it several hours later about half way up yet another "Bear Mountain".I hit the summit of that one feeling worn out and like the only person on the trail but was re-energized when Riddler, Mudpuppy, and a third guy they were hiking with passed me soon after. Having also camped on Bromley the night before, they were going for a marathon today too. There was no water or camping at the 26.2 mark so we went another .5 miles to the Minerva Hinchey shelter where we set up and talked by a campfire for a bit.Mission accomplished!
Date: 2016-08-11
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: US 4 / Rutland, VT
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I was feeling pretty frustrated and low on energy yesterday after my marathon but I did hit the 500 mile to Katahdin mark, lifting the ol spirits a bit. Charge and False Top, the couple from my home town that passed me near the New Jersey border, had signed the register there four days prior. I had wanted to try to make it up Killington but was just too tired and stopped a few miles short with Ranger, Hot Rod, Slowpoke, and a few other hikers.Today started with the long hike up Killington. A sign on the way up warned that abundant porcupines in the area have been causing problems for dog owners but I was disappointed to still not see one.At the top of Killington I took an exceptionally difficult .2 mi side trail up to the ski lodge and its cafeteria. I sat down and watched the Summer Olympics on TV while eating an ice cream sandwich and making some peanut butter and jelly tortillas for lunch. I was blown away when a couple that started a conversation with me outside the cafeteria came up and dropped off a pile of brownies, cookies, fruit, and bars that they had just bought for me. I split some of the haul with a group of hikers at another table and then got going.
Date: 2016-08-12
From: US 4 / Rutland, VT

To: Rutland, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I made it to Rutland, VT on Thursday afternoon and checked into the donation-based hostel in town that is run by the Twelve Tribes. The hostel is perfectly located, just a block from the downtown Walmart and multiple bars and restaurants. It has a sandwich shop downstairs that hostel guests get a discount for, and I immediately took full advantage of this. I took a much needed warm shower and put on some guest clothes before walking over to Walmart to resupply.If you aren't familiar with the Twelve Tribes, they have a pretty strong presence on the trail as they try to recruit "drifting" or "lost" souls. Most hikers consider the group pretty out there and they seem to have the makings of a cult. Their views and rules are extremely conservative and new members give up their birth names and must give all of their assets to the group. Whatever their motives, they are always very welcoming and generous to hikers.I decide to take a zero on Friday and walk around town with Dangles, Mississippi, Rumblejunk, and Daddy Long Legs. After dark I walk to a bar across the street from the hostel that has a killer live band playing. While there I meet a few awesome locals my age and they generously invite me to stay at their house that night. Eager to have a little more freedom than the hostel I accept and after hostel curfew I sneak back in to roll up my sleeping bag and grab my pack. At their house we stay up late talking and watching a movie. In the morning they cook me breakfast despite my protests and give me a ride to the outskirts of town, where I hitch another ride back to the trail from some hikers that were passing through on their way to Hanover.
Date: 2016-08-13
From: Rutland, VT

To: Gifford Woods State Park
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I made it about four miles from Rutland before getting to Gifford Woods State Park where I stopped in at the ranger station to buy a few cheap ice cream bars. I'm feeling pretty tired from the night before and I knew that some bad storms were coming in so I decided to stop for the night to camp at the park. My decision was also swayed by the park's discounted hiker camping area with bathrooms, electrical outlets, and a covered area to cook under. I'm feeling bad about my weak mileage lately, with the zero and this short day but I'll try to get some better days in soon.
Date: 2016-08-15
From: Gifford Woods State Park

To: Campsite by Podunk Brook
Miles today: 35.4
Weather: broken clouds

My next day out of the state park was humid and sweaty and seemed all uphill but I did about 20.3 miles.Today was also tough but I ran into the ever-awesome duo of Hot Rod and Slowpoke in the morning and then hiked around the always entertaining Quasibird the rest of the day. I was worried that I might lose some of these familiar faces with my zero and subsequent short day.The trail is lined with more blackberries than I've ever seen in my life and we came across a cooler left out for hikers with brownies, rice krispie treats, and these awesome smore kits that are complete with full size Hershey bars. I found a great campsite near dusk by a stream and got a campfire going. I am camped by myself and enjoying the solitude but there are a few people that I wish I could share the spot with.
Date: 2016-08-16
From: Campsite by Podunk Brook

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: clear sky

I was a little upset this morning to realize that I camped quite a bit further south than I had thought last night. This just set me up for a longer walk into Hanover, NH and less time in town. The only landmarks in my guidebook were small woods roads so it was hard to tell exactly were I was when I made the decision to stop. I ended up having plenty of time in town anyway and really loved Hanover.A light rain started to fall as I got to Elm Street and Norwich, VT and began the long road walk that would take me across the border to Hanover and into New Hampshire. I ran into Purple Mist, Optomist, and Sunflower taking pictures at the border marker and got them to take mine too.Word has been going around about the deals for hikers in Hanover. I took advantage and got a free pizza slice, and then a hiker sandwich special at a deli. As I was leaving, the woman behind the counter called me in and gave me another sandwich for free, saying she ran out of turkey halfway through making it. I picked up a package from my parents from the outfitter in town with my cold-weather gear and some other goodies. Despite the extra weight from my sleeping bag and heavier clothes, I am excited to be warmer at night.I then spent a couple of hours at the Hanover community center talking with a couple of other hikers, taking a shower, and doing laundry. Hot Rod and Slowpoke showed up drinking Jameison out of styrofoam cups as I was leaving. We talked a little Florida State football, and then I was on my way. I swung by the post office to mail home my blanket, liner bag, long sleeve shirt, and old journals and then grabbed a beer to wait out some heavier rain that was passing through.
Date: 2016-08-17
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Concrete Milepost Campsite
Miles today: 17.8

It feels great having my sleeping bag despite the weather being a little too warm for a 20 degree bag still. I really haven't been super comfortable on this hike with the warm weather sleep set up I ended up with (a Sea-To-Summit liner bag and a too-small scrap of fleece left over from the fleece bag I sewed back in Virginia). Given unlimited resources I would probably have bought a Big Agnes summer bag or the Enlightened Equipment down quilt that fellow thru hiker Ranger has and often raves about.I had a strong day but ended up getting off the trail somehow and walking down a ski slope. There was a footpath worn into the slope and I thought that maybe the ski slope people didn't want white blazes painted on their trees or something. At the bottom I hit a road which I walked down and up several times looking for the trail and halfheartedly tried to flag down a passing truck. Finally going further back down the road I found an AT sign and got back on the trail for a few more miles before dusk.
Date: 2016-08-18
From: Concrete Milepost Campsite

To: Campsite Near NH25C
Miles today: 19.6

I did Smart's Mountain and Mt. Cube today. Mt. Cube especially was a long climb but there was a gorgeous view and cool frosted looking quartz rocks at the top. I decided to push it to New Hampshire Route 25C so that I could get a good breakfast in Warren, NH and then have a shorter day over Mt. Moosilauke. I found a camping spot by the road with "Barnum" and his huge, loving dog, "Bailey". The next morning he would help me fix my cracked tent pole with a small hacksaw blade that he was carrying. We cut the shock cord, taping the ends to the poles, and then evenly cut off the cracked area of the pole joint before sewing the shock cord back together. It seems like a solid fix until I can get in touch with MSR for a replacement pole set.
Date: 2016-08-19
From: Campsite Near NH25C

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

I easily hitched in and out of Warren, NH and grabbed pre-Moosilauke breakfast at a gas station market. It consisted of 1 "Bad Boy" sandwich, 1 pack of honeydew melon slices, 1 quart milk, 1 slice of cake, and 1 Narraganset shandy. I had burned a lot of that off by the time I even got to the foot of Moosilauke but a thru-hiker's family at a parking area there gave me cold water, some leftover steak, and a bunch of crispy chocolate cake things. The first half of the climb up went well but after a break by a cold spring, I lost momentum and the second half was pretty brutal. Franconia ridge and the White Mountains looked pretty beautiful and menacing from up top and I took a long break looking out over what lay ahead.Coming down from the summit there was a group of about 20 inexperienced-looking backpackers clogging a trail junction. I had flashbacks to missing my trail in the Smoky Mountains due to a similar group and awkwardly took my time standing in the middle of them triple checking the confusing signpost against my guidebook.The tent spots at the shelter on the north side of the mountain were almost completely taken when I got there shortly after but just after dark what I think was the same group showed up. I have no idea what they were trying to do, as there was definitely no room at the shelter for a large group, and no more campsites until the bottom of the mountain. They sat around for about half an hour talking loudly until I popped in earplugs, wished them luck in their future endeavors in my head, and quickly fell asleep.
Date: 2016-08-20
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Stealth Site on Fishin' Jimmy Trail
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

Everything I Ate Today0830 (Breakfast): 1 pack Belvita breakfast biscuits1 pouch Milano cookies1 pouch maple oatmeal2 cups coffe1000 (Trail Magic):4 fun size Hershey bars2 cans Mountain Dew1 Dunkin Donuts jelly filled donut1 ham and cheese sandwich1 orange1 chocolate chip cookie1 serving watermelon salad1 small bag Fritos1415 (Afternoon Snack):1/2 bag dates1 fun size pack Skittles1600 (Late Lunch):3 tortillas with cheese chunks and pepperoni1 pack Belvita breakfast biscuits2030 (Dinner):1/4 bar of cheese1/4 pack of pepperoni1 Alfredo rice side w/ additional 1/4 pack of pepperoni
Date: 2016-08-22
From: Stealth Site on Fishin' Jimmy Trail

To: Garfield Pond Stealth Site
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: few clouds

Stopped into North Woodstock, NH on the 21st for groceries and my last load of laundry before the bulk of the White Mountains. I split a room in town with Rumblejunk, who demonstrated a true mastery of the grill in fixing us up some steaks on the motel grill out back.We got dropped off back at Franconia Notch the next morning by a young traveling couple that had also stayed at the motel last night. The day pretty much consisted of Franconia Ridge for a total of eight miles hiked. I was pretty frazzled and exhausted after and really stopped at the first place I could find below tree line, a stealthy clearing off the trail near Garfield Pond.The weather up on the Ridge was unlike anything I've ever experienced. Actually the whole thing was maybe the craziest experiences I've ever had. As a Floridian, the closest I can think to compare it to was being in a hurricane. I was getting blown of the trail, into rocks and flat on my ass. The wind was a constant scream, and the thick clouds blowing around me deposited ice crystals onto my rain jacket and beard. Conditions were deteriorating and I was lucky to get down off of the ridge when I did. I would find out a few days later that Rumblejunk, Peanut, Wolverine, and Flash, the four of which were maybe half an hour behind me, hunkered down uncomfortably in a tent up on the ridge for the night, unsure if they could go any further in the wind and cold.
Date: 2016-08-24
From: Garfield Pond Stealth Site

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 29.2
Weather: fog

I finally have been able to get some decent miles in these last two days. The views from the ridges and summits are absolutely stunning after the cloudy clamber over Franconia Ridge. Taking in the view from Garfield Mountain was my favorite part of the Whites so far.I am doing work for stay at Lake of the Clouds AMC Hut tonight. The stress over the uncertainty of getting one of the four WFS spots in the hut put a little bit of a cloud on my mind today but I tried to still take my time, enjoy the views, and take a lot of pictures. Fortunately, they ended up signing up about ten hikers for WFS. Instead of the "feast on leftovers" promised in the AWOL guide, WFS-ers were given plain pasta with some barbecue sauce at about 8PM. Apparently they had ribs to be made as a hut crew / work for stay dinner but forgot to thaw them. That really hurt. I ate two Clif bars purchased at the hut to get full after the pasta ran out.The work consisted of washing dishes, wiping down all of the tables and sweeping the hut floors. After lights-out sent the several dozen paying guests to bed, WFS thru hikers set up their sleeping pads and bags on the floor among the dining room tables. Up and over Mt. Washington tomorrow.
Date: 2016-08-25
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Osgood Tent Site
Miles today: 10.3

I was woken up at about 5:30 AM by early morning activity in the hut. Early risers filtered into the dining room and the hut crew began making breakfast. We received no specific instructions from the hut crew. Only me and one other guy stayed for breakfast and to sweep out the hut bunkrooms. We were treated really well this time with leftover eggs, oatmeal, and some great coffee cake.After two clear days in the Whites, Mt. Washington was unfortunately shrouded in clouds today. I made the fairly mild climb up to the top, got my picture at the summit sign after waiting in line, and bought some ice cream at the snack bar. It was decent weather with some good views through the north Presidentials but some rain started to whip around as I descended down from Mt. Madison towards the Osgood tent site.
Date: 2016-08-27
From: Osgood Tent Site

To: US 2 / Gorham
Miles today: 25.8
Weather: light rain

Through the White Mountains, free camping is limited by the many forest protection areas, alpine areas, and no camping zones around huts and paid camping areas. For my passage through this area I have been using a web document given to me that outlines stealth camping sites which can be found throughout the Whites if you know what side trail to take and where to look. A NoBo sent me the link early on in the Whites and I in turn passed it on to several other NoBos.The Wildcat and Carter ranges are the last of the Whites and they were pretty damn killer. Fortunately, after these the trail takes a gentle slope several miles down to US2 / Gorham, NH. Strolling down that section felt like a victory lap. Easily one of my favorite stretches of the whole trail despite a wrong turn at the Rattle River shelter. I hitchhiked into town with Calorie and Sleeping Bear and snagged a bed at The Barn Hostel for the night.
Date: 2016-08-28
From: US 2 / Gorham

To: Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Zero day in Gorham today. A lot of hikers here that I know came into Gorham from Pinkham Notch yesterday and got up at around 6 or 7 AM to get a hostel shuttle back to the notch. Their plan was to slackpack the 21 miles from there to US2 where I came in to town and then stay a second night at this great hostel. I think that they were mostly underestimating how difficult that section over the Wildcat Range and Carter Mountains is but everyone made it in by 9PM despite a bad storm blowing in around dusk.I spent the day drinking beer, packing in some calories, and going to Wal Mart. I had the pleasure of chatting for a while with Jupiter, a fellow Floridian who is hiking the Eastern Continental Trail this year. That's a distance of approximately 4,800 miles! His stories of difficulties with the language barrier up in Quebec were very entertaining.To save a few bucks I am tenting outside at the hostel tonight.