morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-07
From: Gorham

To: Imp Campsite
Miles today: 8.1

8/7/14 - day 27306.3 Imp Campsite8.1 milesDoesn't seem like many miles, but I worked for them. And I have a plan to get through the Whites, and this was the first stage.Got a late start after the excellent breakfast at the hostel. At least no shuttle was needed - the trail is at the end of the driveway.The trail was encouraging. In fact, going up Mt Moriah southbound was a walkup - the track was a very familiar type. It might have been any of the side trails in the Smokies, following a stream uphill, crossing every now and then, the stream dwindling away to just a seep before the trail topped out at the ridgeline.That's when the rain started, and I was walking in the clouds over the top of Moriah. I looked for a traveling band of dwarves, elves, men, and hobbits, led by a wizard, but didn't see them. Neither did I see a secret stone door into the mines of Moriah.Then the hail started, fairly small pellets of ice, but exciting. The passing clouds would sometimes reveal a peak in the distance - that's todays picture.Now I'm snug as a bug in my hammock. It will be a cold night though! Tomorrow I plan to go over Carter Dome and the Wildcats down to stealth camp near Pinkham Notch.
Date: 2014-08-08
From: Imp Campsite

To: Pinkham Notch stealth camp
Miles today: 13.1

8/8/14 - day 28319.4 - Pinkham Notch stealth camp13.1 milesWhat a day. I left Imp Campsite about 6, with the goal of getting all the way to Pinkham Notch, which would set me up for beginning the Presidentials the next day.I had to climb up and over the Carters, which was a bit frustrating because of the lack of summit signs - I guess AMC doesn't believe in them. It's very difficult to keep track of which of the Carters you are on, since there are so many false summits.But I got good views of the Presidentials, including the clouds sitting on top of Mt Washington. I'll be there in two days, hopefully with better weather! That's your picture for the day.Stopped at Carter Notch Hut at about 12:30, my first AMC hut. It costs $125 to stay in these, out of my league. But I got a bowl of turkey minestrone soup for $2.Then it was back up and over the Wildcats, which had many peaks with no signs too. One of them had a ski lift, which was running, so there were tourists at the top gawking at me when I came out of the woods - culture shock! I have to get used to it though, because the whites are full of day hikers, and people walking hut to hut with minimal gear. They are all clean and fashionably dressed.Then came a dreadful downhill to Pinkham Notch, as bad as Old Blue in Maine. I didn't think it would ever end. Of course I was exhausted by then. The trail around Lost Pond at the bottom was unclear, which added to my frustration. As much money as AMC has, you would think they could afford a little white paint for blazes.Finally I found a stealth spot that I hoped was legal. There was another tent a little farther up the hill. I found out later that tent was not hikers, but a bunch of kids (high schoolers?) who had walked in from the road to smoke and drink. I was too exhausted to care, and far enough away that I couldn't smell anything.And I think I lost Wrinkles - I doubt he could have done that last downhill.
Date: 2014-08-09
From: Pinkham Notch stealth camp

To: Valley Way tentsite
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

8/9/14 - day 29327.2 - Valley Way Trail tentsite.7.8 milesA lot of effort for not very many miles. It still took 8 hours of hiking. I started the day by hiking up to the road and into the AMC Pinkham Notch visitor center. Your picture for today is Washington from the pond across the road from the visitor center. Nice restrooms, and I paid the exorbitant price of $14 for an AYCE breakfast. Even with a hiker appetite, there is no way I can eat $14 worth of breakfast. Now you see why hikers call it the Appalachian Money Club.Then I spent most of the day climbing Mt Madison, the first of the Presidentials. First the trail skirted around to the side to a spur, then straight up the spur, going above treeline about halfway up.I was having a rough day mentally, wishing Laurie were there to share it with me. My right leg has been very painful since Mahoosic Notch, and that was getting me down, since I couldn't think of any remedy except to go home and rest, and that would mean the end of the hike, I'm sure.But I called Laurie from near the top of Madison, and that made me feel better. Uncertainty about where to stay made me call the AMC, but Madison Hut was full. This actually made me feel better, since the decision had been made for me. So when I got to the hut I got another $2 bowl of soup, and then left the AT and went downhill 6/10 to this tentsite. It's right off the Valley Way trail, so I have had to endure about 100 day hikers walking by and staring at me. This is not an exaggeration!But this sets me up just where I planned to be to get over Mt Washington tomorrow. I am hoping to do 12 to Mizpah, but will bail at Lake of the Clouds and ask to stay in the "dungeon" if I have to.Still no sign of Wrinkles! I fear I left him behind somewhere.
Date: 2014-08-10
From: Valley Way tentsite

To: Naumann Campsite
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

8/10/14 - day 30339.0 - Naumann Campsite11.8 milesToday was the day to get over Mt Washington, home of the worst weather in the US. But not today, because it dawned clear and cool. My little thermometer read 55.By 6:30 I was back up at the AT at Madison Hut and deciphering the AMC signs (the AT seems to be an afterthought with the AMC).Surprisingly, the trail contoured around all the mountains in the way, first on one side, then the other. This was easy to see, since all 12 miles today were above treeline. The views were outstanding in every direction.So I did the 6 miles to Washington in just 4.5 hours. Culture Shock! There's a road to the top and a cog railway. It was a beautiful Sunday, so people were everywhere! I didn't get a summit photo at the sign because there was a line of tourists waiting.From there it was a long rolling downhill to Mizpah Hut and this camping area. $8 for the privilege of hanging my hammock over a corner of a tent pad. The same caretaker that made me stay in the shelter at Speck Pond is here, so I have to leave room for a tent if one comes.Crack! Boom! Thunderstorm and then hail arrive just as I finish supper. Now I am snug in the hammock hoping the rain fly does its job.So today was day 4 of the planned 7 to get to Franconia Notch. I hope the trail continues to be as forgiving tomorrow.The right leg still hurts, especially on the downhills, but I took no Advil today.
Date: 2014-08-11
From: Naumann Campsite

To: stealth camp north of Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

8/11/14 - day 31353.0 - north of Zealand Falls Hut14.0 milesStarted out the day with a climb over Mt Jackson. The hail from the night before was still covering the ground like snow! That's your picture of the day. Then it was a slight down and back up to Mt Webster. The trail came out at the top of some cliffs that look down into Crawford Notch - very rugged and picturesque with a highway and railroad at the bottom and even a railroad trestle.The climb down through the Webster Cliffs was difficult, but nothing to get excited about at this stage in my hike. I took it all in stride. Crossed right over the road in Crawford Notch and kept going. It wasn't in my plans to stop. The climb out was a walkup (no scrambling, rock dancing, or bouldering), and at the top things evened out onto an old railroad grade. I've seen the exact same thing in the Smokies - an old logging railroad from probably 1900-1930.So I surprised myself by continuing on to here, a stealth spot just shy of the no camping area around the Zealand Falls hut. I can hear them at the hut, yelling and cheering and clapping, and have been trying to imagine what they are doing (I won't go by there until in the morning). My guess? A natural water slide in the falls? Guess I will find out tomorrow, although at 6AM I won't be getting wet.I'm ahead of my schedule by 4 or 5 miles, which means I might be able to get to Franconia Notch by late Wed afternoon, ahead of schedule. Laurie sent my next maildrop there, to a State Park visitor Center less than a mile from the trail. I won't get my hopes up until I see the trail.
Date: 2014-08-12
From: stealth camp north of Zealand Falls Hut

To: Garfield Ridge Campsite
Miles today: 9.8

8/12/14 - day 32362.8 - Garfield Ridge Campsite9.8 milesAs I went past Zealand Hut this morning I asked what all the commotion had been last night. They have rubber duckie races in the falls, and the kids get very excited! That's your picture for today, Zealand Falls.I worked very hard for those few miles. It was uphill all morning, and in the clouds and very windy. I got a bowl of watery chili at Galehead Hut, then had good intentions of going over Garfield and stealth camping on the other side. But the climb to this campsite was Maine standard. I'm feeling the pain of 6 days straight. Tomorrow will be 7 and I've got a maildrop waiting at Franconia Notch. There are no hostels, so I will have to go to a motel I guess.And today marks the one month anniversary on the trail. The usual rule of thumb is that it tales a month to get out of Maine, and I am 60+ miles beyond that and within a week of Hanover, where things are supposed to finally get easier.I really, really miss Laurie though. If I can't get a daily phone call through it ruins my day! I almost didn't get one today, but managed to at the last climb.
Date: 2014-08-13
From: Garfield Ridge Campsite

To: Mt Lafayette
Miles today: 3.9
Weather: clear sky

8/13/14 - day 33366.7 - Mt Lafayette3.9 milesBook of Southboundicus, chapter 2:12 And on the seventh day south of Gorham, the Lord saw that the southbounder was full of vainglorious pride and over-preening vanity.13 And the Lord breathed, and caused the cold wind and rain to flow across the face of the mountain called Lafayette, where the trees could not grow.14 The southbounder struggled mightily for a league, but when he strived to climb the boulders atop the mountain called Lafayette, the wind smote him down, and he tumbled among the rocks, and cowered beneath a boulder.15 But his pride and vanity forced him up, and he strived again to climb the boulders atop the mountain called Lafayette, but the wind smote him down for the second time, and he tumbled among the rocks, and cowered beneath a boulder.16 And the southbounder thought hard about attempting a third time to pass the mountain called Lafayette, and he struggled with his pride and vanity.17 But he listened to the voice of the wind as it passed over the mountain called Lafayette, and abandoned his foolish pride. He turned his back to the wind, and descended down into the trees.Sorry for the takeoff on the KJV! But If I can't poke fun at what happened today then I'm taking it all too seriously. There's a 2 mile section above timberline from before Mt Lafayette to after Mt Lincoln. I made it less than halfway by leaning into the wind and using both poles on one side. I couldn't see further than the next cairn. When I got to the Greenleaf Trail junction I had to hang onto the sign and get about six inches away to read it. The AT climbs over the pile of boulders at the top of Lafayette, and I tried twice to get over it, but the wind blew me down both times, painfully, into the rocks. So I did cower beneath a boulder both times, the second time with the map out planning an escape.So I went back to that trail junction, and went down (NOT the AT), to the Greenleaf Hut and then Franconia Notch.That's why there is only 3.9 miles today, even though I covered about 10, because I had to bail out. I ended up somewhere in Franconia Notch State Park, at a hiker info booth, where a very helpful interpretive ranger tried to help me call for a shuttle. When that didn't work out, she offered to take me to town when she got off work. I gave her $23, which was well worth it.So I have my maildrop and have a motel room with all my wet gear spread over it. And I have a moral dilemma: what to do about that missed section, about 6.4 miles. Unfortunately, I can't just start from Lafayette, I have to climb up there somehow. I will zero tomorrow, do my chores, and think about it.No picture today, the phone was safely stowed in its plastic bag!
Date: 2014-08-14
From: Mt Lafayette

To: Mt Lafayette
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

8/14/14 - day 34366.7 - Mt Lafayette0 milesNo miles today - that count! It's a 1.5 mile walk to the grocery store. So I did at least 3 on my rest day.So now for the moral dilemma. By bailing out because of the high winds, I missed about 6.4 miles from Mt Lafayette down to Franconia Notch. Instead I took two side trails (NOT the AT) to get down to the notch, which totaled about 4 1/2 miles.I could skip those miles and continue on south from the notch tomorrow, which was my original plan if I hadn't had to bail out. But I will remember forever that I did that, so its not a very attractive option.I could keep this motel room another night, get a ride to the notch, and hike with an almost empty pack up to the AT at Lafayette and on to the notch, then back to the room and go on tomorrow.Or I could carry a full pack with an extra days food, and hike up to the AT at Lafayette and continue SOBO as if the bad weather had never happened. Hopefully I could get far enough past the notch to stealth camp somewhere (its too far to the first shelter south of the notch). So the climb up to Lafayette looks like 4 miles with an elevation gain of 3800 feet. Ouch! Then 6.4 miles down to the notch, by the AT this time. Then past the notch some unknown distance to hang my hammock.So the full pack option is the one I will shoot for, since this is a southbound thru hike of the AT.The picture for today is the motel where I rested. Its for sale! If it were converted to a full service hiker hostel it could do a good business in the summer months. Any takers?
Date: 2014-08-15
From: Mt Lafayette

To: Cascade Brook Stealth Camp
Miles today: 7.9

8/15/14 - day 35374.6 - Cascade Brook Stealth Camp7.9 milesWell, I shouldered my pack with 6 days of food in it (heavy!) and went back up to Mount Lafayette to pick up where I got blown off 2 days ago. The picture is of Lafayette as I climbed, still with the remnants of cloud clinging to the top. By the time I got up there it was clear but cold. What a difference the weather makes!I got a much better look at it now that I could see further than a few feet. The traverse to Lincoln was narrow and precipitous on both sides, so if I hadn't gotten blown down where I did I would have been in serious difficulties.A bunch of the young SOBOs caught me today. Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, Marathon Man, Freight Train, and another one I didn't know. There were 5 of us together at the interstate crossing (my first interstate highway), the most since the 100MW.And they had news of Wrinkles! He's probably 1 or 2 days back (even after my difficulties). They say that he spent the bad weather day lying in his hammock - I should have done that!So not many miles that count today, although the real total is 11.9.
Date: 2014-08-16
From: Cascade Brook Stealth Camp

To: somewhere on Mt Wolf
Miles today: 10.9

8/16/14 - day 36385.5 - somewhere on Mt Wolf10.9 miles11 hours to go 11 miles! Everybody says this difficult terrain will ease up after Mt Moosilaukee. I sure hope so.Today I climbed over North and South Kinsman, with long stretches of difficult climbs and descents. The photo is from Lonesome Lake. Does it look lonesome?Managed to call Laurie from S Kinsman. It was 55 degrees up there, which added to my fatigue. While I was talking to her, I got a text from Wrinkles. He lives! I got it a day late, and he was at mile 370. So I thought I might see him today, but nope. He must still be behind me somewhere.The objective today was to get close enough to get over Moosilaukee tomorrow. I might be able to do it with a 13 mile day. I think it is the climb going SOBO that is famously bad. I'll see tomorrow.
Date: 2014-08-17
From: somewhere on Mt Wolf

To: spring on Mooslaukee
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

8/17/14 - day 37395.5 - spring on Mt Moosilauke10 milesMy orienteering friends will laugh at what happened to me today. What could be easier than following a trail, even if it is for 2185 miles?I'll start at the beginning. I'll finished the 3 miles or so down to where the climb started by 9:30. The picture for today is the warning sign at the base of the climb. I can see why this bit of trail puts the fear of God in the NOBOs hearts (they are coming down it). They are wondering if the last 400 miles will all be like this. Yes. Next question.But for a SOBO this is the last of the bouldering, cliff scrambling, rock dancing climbs for a very long time. I would rate it about a 7. Come on, it had steps and rebar!At the top of the steep part there was a shelter, so I stopped for an early lunch. There was a NOBO holed up there for the day already (did I mention it was raining?). We got to talking, and I gave him the map of the Whites that had been given to me way back in Gorham. I was almost at the top of the last big mountain, right? What did I need the map for?Well, the top of Moosilaukee is above treeline (exposed). It was raining with moderate winds (not enough to knock me down, but my hands were cold and not working well). I got to the top, which had a summit sign (I am now out of AMC territory and into DOC - Dartmouth Outdoor Club). There were 3 trails down from the top, but I could just barely see the cairns for 2. I checked the guidebook, which I read wrong, and proceeded down the wrong trail.I went down that trail for 1 1/2 hours before I could admit to myself that I had made an error. NOT the AT! My orienteering friends will recognize this behavior. I had given away my map, but I still had the guidebook, and was trying to make the descriptions fit. They didn't, but that didn't stop me from making them fit.Finally I had to swallow my pride, turn around, and climb back up for 1 1/2 hours and start over. This time I circled the mountaintop twice before I found that third trail.By then I was exhausted. I went down to the first reasonable hammock spot and collapsed. But the last bad climb was behind me. Would the trail really improve?
Date: 2014-08-18
From: spring on Mooslaukee

To: Brackett Brook
Miles today: 14.7

8/18/14 - day 38410.2 - Brackett Brook14.7 milesTodays photo, while not breathtaking scenery, tells the story. The first field on the AT. The first gentle terrain. The return of my old pace!I actually did an extra mile off trail to the Hikers Welcome Hostel, where in only one hour I did laundry (just my socks), took a shower (in a questionable outdoor shower), bought stove fuel, and hit the trail. I'm very proud that I was in and out in just an hour.Then there were actual oak trees, and maples. There was dirt on the trail. It was actually flat in places. I still was walking for 11 hours, but I actually covered some distance.Its 32 miles to Hanover. 2 days?On the downside, no cell phone for 2 days now. I'm getting depressed. One reason for stopping at the hostel was the wifi - so I sent Laurie an email. That will have to do.
Date: 2014-08-19
From: Brackett Brook

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 15.3

8/19/14 - day 39425.5 - Trapper John Shelter15.3 milesToo many NOBOs! I must be right in the midst of a huge wave of them struggling to finish their hikes. There are 9 tents plus a full shelter plus my hammock here. The tent right next to me is a heavy snorer. He was already snoring while I was cooking supper.The photo is me and my brother's dogtags on top of Mt Cube, taken by a passing NOBO, of course. I love the DOC signs, much better than the AMC signs. At least they have summit signs.The other highlight of the day? I called Laurie twice to make up for the lack of phone service the last couple of days.Late in the day I stopped at Bill Ackerly's place, which is a private home on the trail where you can get water and an ice cream sandwich. He's an old guy, and we talked for a while, but I didn't see any ice cream and was too shy to ask.This shelter sets me up for getting to Hanover tomorrow, provided I can do ~17 before the Post Office closes at 5.
Date: 2014-08-20
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 16.6

8/20/14 - day 40442.1 - Hanover, NH16.6 milesWhat a day! The goal was to get to the PO before it closed. I started with a climb up to Holt's Ledge. That's your picture, dawn on the clouds in the valley.Then down and over Moose Mt. From there it was a long, mostly downhill trail to town. I am loving the easy trail. Most of it looked very familiar, as if I were in the oak-hickory-beech forests of N GA. But the trees were conifers and birch, oak and maple. For the first time I saw a maple sugar setup, with plastic tubing connecting the trees.For days I had been hearing about the free camping at the edge of town from the NOBOs. Not my style. When I get to town I want a motel room or a hostel with showers, a bed, a bathroom, hot and cold running water - you get the idea.And I don't really feel right taking the free stuff that the businesses offer. A free cruller at the bakery for thru-hikers, a free slice of pizza at the pizzeria. OK for the 20 somethings, but at my age I hate to take advantage.So I got to the PO at 3:30, then took the orange bus south to the Sunset Motor Inn, an old style family motel, now owned by an Indian-American family. Its cheap (for Hanover) and has everything I need. They even let me use their washer/dryer.Tomorrow, I'll supplement my resupply and regroup for crossing into VT on Friday.
Date: 2014-08-21
From: Hanover, NH

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0

8/21/14 - day 41442.1 - Hanover, NH0 milesTook the bus into town and wandered around the Dartmouth campus until I found the music department. Not as big as I thought for an Ivy League college, its in the basement of the theatre/auditorium. I wandered some more until I found some practice rooms. Unlocked! The students had obviously not arrived yet for fall. Working on the principle that its better to beg forgiveness than ask permission, I sat down and played for an hour. That's your picture for today, the Yamaha upright that I found.I would lose enthusiasm quickly if I had to play in that tiny room everyday with those flickering fluorescent lights for hours. I only have one bit of music with me, four sheets of Grieg's "Gade", one of the Lyric Pieces. Four sheets of paper are light and pack small. I'm pretty rusty, and I don't have my piano glasses, but it was fun.Then I did my shopping, went to the PO, took the bus back to the motel, and crashed. Back on the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2014-08-22
From: Hanover, NH

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

8/22/14 - day 42456.8 - Thistle Hill Shelter14.7 milesLeft the motel in the rain to catch the 6:25 bus. That either shows determination or stupidity, not sure which. There was a long road walk from Hanover, across the Connecticut River into Vermont (my third state!), under an interstate, and skirting Norwich to get back to the trail. All in the rain. It tapered off midday, when I had another road walk and crossed another interstate, into West Hartford. The store was out of business! So I ate my spam and cheese tortilla on the porch. Then I crossed another big river on a highway bridge, then back in the woods.Road walks are OK, as long as they are not miles long, like this morning, and if there are interesting houses and countryside to look at. But the AT can't go from ME to GA without crossing rivers and interstates and going through towns.Then the rain picked up again, and continued the rest of the day. Todays picture is a little salamander, enjoying the damp.