morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-06-05
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Camp near South Highland Rd
Miles today: 26.0

It rained most of the night and was raining when I walked out this morning at 6:30 am. The rain has really started to get me down. I can handle several days of rain if I get as much sun, but this rain pattern is 3-4 days of rain and 1-2 days of sun repeating. I've been living in my rain gear on these days. The problem with rain out here is that nothing ever dries out until you get sun, so wet raingear, tents, packs, pack covers, clothes, shoes, etc., stay wet or damp all the time. Fortunately, after raining most of the day, it cleared up a little at around 2 pm. The clouds are still there now but there were some sunny breaks in the afternoon. I saw another deer while coming down Bear Mountain. This doe was bedded, chewing her cud. I stopped within 10 yards of her, took off my pack, got out my camera, and took some pictures. She didn't spook. I then walked by her at about 5 yards. She didn't spook. Interesting. I saw two bears today. They were in a pen at the Bear Mountain Zoo which the AT passes through. That is as close as I want to get to a live bear. I'm perfectly happy with my one bear-sighting in PA where the bear was running away fast. 26.0 miles to camp near South Highland Road.
Date: 2003-06-06
From: Camp near South Highland Rd

To: Telephone Pioneer's Shelter
Miles today: 30.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, I've fallen behind on my journal by 3 days. All days have been full, so I wasn't able to write the last two. I will record what went on on this day to the best of my memory. I awoke to a sunny day which was pleasantly cool. It was difficult pushing myself to hike as, after so many days of bad weather, I really wanted to just sit down and enjoy the nice weather. I did this in the morning for about 20-30 minutes but then had to force myself to hike. I plan on meeting my sister in southern CT on Sunday and need to make a certain number of miles a day to get there. I hiked all day and in the process saw 7 more deer. I arrived at the Telephone Pioneer's Shelter at around 7 pm. "Freeman" and "Rise&Shine" arrived a few minutes later. There wasn't much time for more than eating and going to sleep. 30.0 miles to Telephone Pioneer's Shelter.
Date: 2003-06-07
From: Telephone Pioneer's Shelter

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 28.7

It didn't rain overnight and the sun looked like it was going to come up but as I hiked, fog rolled in and by 8 am it was raining... It rained all day. So I was allowed 1 day of sun in NY just as in NJ. I guess I'm kind of getting used to it... As I was hiking I started thinking about the rain and how miserable it is - kind of a "woe is me" syndrome. Then I came to the realization that I really have only about a month of hiking left and that includes many significant milestones. So I basically decided that no matter what happens, I will make it to Katahdin. I don't care anymore what the weather does because it can only make things miserable for a finite amount of days. I am going to hike as many miles as daylight, the terrain, and my body allow on good and bad days. I expect to do better on good days as it's much easier hiking in good weather than bad. I saw 3 more deer before I left NY today. I won't miss NY's steep climbs up and down every rock pile that the trail passes near. I got to the road in Kent, CT, at about 2:45. I was able to walk into town, buy some snacks and a sub, eat, call home to confirm tomorrow's meeting with my sister, and get out by about 4:05 pm. I made the 7 mile hike to Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-To by 7 pm. I thought I had a spot in the shelter but didn't get out my gear as I usually do (lay out sleeping bag to claim space) and kind of got pushed out. They said there was enough space but I didn't want to wait for everyone to decide to go to sleep, so I put up my tent and slept there. So much for the extra miles getting to the shelter... 28.7 miles to Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-To.
Date: 2003-06-08
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-To

To: Camp near Falls Village, CT
Miles today: 18.2

I started hiking this morning at about 6:30 am. I was meeting my sister and her fiance at a road 9 miles away. The rain seemed to have passed and I even saw some sun and blue sky for awhile, then it clouded over for the rest of the day. The meeting was supposed to be at noon but I wanted to get there early especially since the weather was cooperating. I stopped to shave and rinse off along the way and then, just before the road where we were to meet, proceeded to fall off the log bridge into Carse Brook. I guess I just stopped concentrating. I did end up with a nice little bath from the fall, though. Maybe I smelled a little better... My sister and her fiance arrived just after I did. They said they had missed the Trail the first time past. My sister had brought all sorts of stuff - cold sodas, lemonade, sandwiches, homemade brownies, fuel, food supplies, snacks, etc. I picked through it all and got most everything I needed. We then went to McDonalds, the drug store, grocery store, and laundromat to dry some stuff which got soaking wet during my swim. We then went back to the Trail where I packed up and we all hiked to the first shelter which was about 1 mile up the trail. It was nice of them to hike with me for a ways and they really weren't that slow. [How kind of you! -T] I then hiked on and easily made it to the road to Falls Village, CT, by 7 pm. I backtracked and am camped in the woods here. There is no camping in CT except at designated sites, so I am not following the rules. I don't know where else I could go and still get into Falls Village for my mail drop tomorrow, though. Too bad, I guess - they won't be able to tell I camped here anyway. 18.2 miles to camp near Falls Village, CT.
Date: 2003-06-09
From: Camp near Falls Village, CT

To: Camp 1/2 Mile Before Jug End Road
Miles today: 24.6

I was up this morning at 5 am and started hiking at 6:30 am but I only hiked to the Falls Village Post Office where I sat under a porch to wait. At about 7 am, one of the workers arrived and she got my package for me. I kind of hoped she would take the return package, too, but she did not. It didn't really matter because it took me almost 1.5 hours to pack all the stuff up, exchange hip belts on my pack - the Mountain Smith belt I had forwarded from Delaware Water Gap arrived too, and write out some postcards. (The new hip belt works much better than the old one - I wonder if they are only rated for 500 miles?) I got back on the Trail at 8:45 am. The day started as overcast and foggy with a little drizzle but cleared up by noon. I had another epiphany today. If I hike all day on the good days and push out some big miles, I can get to Maine with less rain. So I did that today - almost 25 miles after starting at 8:45 am. The Trail in CT was pretty easy and the MA trail (I entered MA today) is more rocky - big rocks which would be a real pain to walk on in the rain. I made it to where I'm camped by 7:10 pm. I have eaten and am ready for bed. I saw 3 deer in CT today. They ran - unlike the NY deer. 24.6 miles to camp 1/2 mile before Jug End Road.
Date: 2003-06-10
From: Camp 1/2 Mile Before Jug End Road

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 32.7
Weather: few clouds

I started hiking this morning at a little after 6 am. The morning wasn't too bad except the mosquitos in some of the swampy sections were vicious. I didn't put on bug repellant but the hiking would have been less miserable for a couple of miles if I had. For the first time today I had to cross a swamp where some of the bog bridges were underwater by 4-6 inches. There was no way around, so I just waded through. This made my nice dry shoes and socks soaking wet. I stopped at the next road crossing to wring out my socks and 2 times thereafter. (If I wring out my wet socks several times, the shoes and socks dry much more quickly.) While I was wringing out my socks for the third time, Overshot caught up to me. I guess he had been doing 30-36 mile days since he left his sister in NJ to catch me. He was planning on going to Upper Goose Pond Cabin for the night which was a target I had considered but was unsure whether it would be open. Overshot was pretty sure it would be open, so we planned on getting there for the night. We hiked on and arrived at the cabin at about 7:30 pm. Overshot had stayed at the cabin in 2002 and had had a very cool cabin caretaker. Amazingly, the same caretaker was there. There were 8 other thru-hikers there. We stayed up rather late (past 9 pm) as one of them brought out a guitar and a harmonica and played some music - they were very good. 32.7 miles to Upper Goose Pond Cabin.
Date: 2003-06-11
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: mist

I started hiking this morning at about 6:30 am. The caretaker, Slowfoot, had gotten up at 4:30 am to cook pancakes, corned beef hash, and English muffins. All the hikers there had a large breakfast to start the day. Overshot's aunt lives near the Trail in MA so we were going to meet her in Dalton, MA, which is 20 miles from the cabin. We hiked on. Eventually, Overshot went on ahead as he is a little faster on hills than I am. I saw one deer while hiking alone. I could definitely feel the 32+ mile day from before. I hopefully won't be doing any more of those any time soon. Overshot's aunt was waiting for us where the AT exited the woods in Dalton. We went to her house, showered, did laundry, and had lunch. In the afternoon, Overshot's mother, sister, and grandmother arrived. We had a big dinner of mashed potatoes, turkey loaf, carrots, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. I got to bed late at about 11 pm. 20.6 miles to Dalton - staying in a house.
Date: 2003-06-12
From: Dalton

To: Camp Near Rt 2, N. Adams, MA
Miles today: 23.4

Overshot's aunt and family cooked up a huge breakfast this morning and we ate and talked for a while. By the time we started hiking again it was 10 am. We hiked to Cheshire, MA, where we stopped at a new store, T's Treats, where I got a soda and peanut butter square (homemade). The peanut butter square was very good and the soda tasted really good on this hot and muggy day. We then did the climb up Mt. Greylock which took several hours. We reached the top at around 5 pm, stopped for a quick break, and moved on. We reached North Adams, MA, at a little before 8 pm. Because of the failing daylight we camped not much more than 0.1-0.2 miles into the woods. Saw one deer today. 23.4 miles to camp near Rt 2, N. Adams, MA.
Date: 2003-06-13
From: Camp Near Rt 2, N. Adams, MA

To: Caughnawasa Shelter
Miles today: 32.7

I got up at 4:30 am and Overshot and I started hiking at 5:50 am. It was hot and muggy but cloudy and foggy. The weather changed throughout the day to cold and foggy, to cold, windy, and rainy. It is now pouring rain. We hiked all day, taking one break for lunch at Cogden Camp. We also stopped for a quick break at the Goddard Shelter before plowing on in the rain, fog, wind, and cold to the Caughnawasa Shelter. The Kid Gore Shelter had 3 weekenders in it who were spread out all over the huge shelter. They said they didn't expect people to arrive so late (we arrived at 7:30 pm), so we went to this small shelter which has a leaky roof. Oh well. 32.7 miles to Caughnawasa Shelter.
Date: 2003-06-14
From: Caughnawasa Shelter

To: Camp at Bromley Tenting Area
Miles today: 26.4

Overshot and I started hiking today at 6:05 am. It rained all night and was raining when we hiked out. We hiked all day to reach Rt 30/11 to Manchester Center, VT. We hitched a ride down toward town. The guys who picked us up were drinking beer and throwing the cans out the window the whole way down Rt 7 where they let us off. It was quite a scary ride, but we made it through alive. We then had to walk another mile plus to the store and pizza place. We had subs at the pizza place (the proprietors did not seem too excited to see two hikers in their "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant.) We resupplied at the store and got a ride out of town by asking people leaving the store (actually Overshot did the asking). We're now camped just up the trail and will head over Bromley Mountain tomorrow. 26.4 miles to camp at Bromley tenting area.
Date: 2003-06-15
From: Camp at Bromley Tenting Area

To: Minerva Hinchy Shelter
Miles today: 28.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up this morning, packed up a wet tent, and hiked all day, stopping for lunch at the Peru Peak Shelter. The day cleared out and by the end the sun was out and clouds were gone. This, of course, meant that the mosquitoes and black flies came out, too. They weren't too bad - hopefully we will miss the full brunt of them... I am now trying to plan the rest of the trip as there are only 21 or so days of hiking left. Hopefully this cool, clear, sunny weather will hold for most or all of that time. We have just over 500 miles to go... 28.7 miles to the Minerva Hinchy Shelter.
Date: 2003-06-16
From: Minerva Hinchy Shelter

To: Camp South of Story Brook Shelter
Miles today: 28.0

I got up this morning at 4:30 am. After I finished working on the blisters on my feet, Overshot got up. As I finished eating and most of my packing, Overshot said he was going back to bed for a while and would try to catch me later in the day. I started hiking at a little before 6 am. Just after Claraton Gorge, a herd of steers was blocking the trail. Unfortunately I couldn't go around because it was too steep and brushy, so I yelled at the cows and waved my walking stick. They moved, right up the trail. Eventually it got too steep for them and they moved to the side and I was able to get past. The cows then ran back down the trail. The climb over Killington Mountain wasn't too bad today. I stopped at Cooper Lodge for lunch but didn't stay long as the black flies were lunching on me. I got to go on my second relocation in VT today. This, like the one yesterday, had been there a while. Today's relo was from 1998-1999. Unfortunately, the profile maps have not yet been updated. I saw a bear just after crossing Rt 4. I signed the register and as I closed the box and walked up the trail a bear ran away off to the left. It was a pretty big one. Also today I got to go up a starter/prep climb (for the White Mountains). It had 1250 ft of elevation gain in less than a mile. I'm camped somewhere on top of that mountain. Overshot showed up a few minutes ago but he had no water and there is none here so he hiked on. (I packed my water up from the state campground.) Today was a sunny day which started quite chilly and warmed up fast. This might explain the black flies, mosquitoes, and no-see-ums that are trying to get in my tent. Fortunately, I have good bug netting. 28 miles to camp South of Story Brook Shelter.
Date: 2003-06-17
From: Camp South of Story Brook Shelter

To: Camp North of Tigertown Road
Miles today: 29.2

I hiked out this morning at 6 am and met Overshot at the Stony Brook Shelter which was about 2 miles from where I stayed. We hiked the 16 or so miles to VT12 by noon where we stopped for lunch. It was a nice spot on a bridge over a brook. There were no bugs and it was cool on this hot day. We hiked on and got to the Cloudland Shelter turn at around 4 pm. This was really slow. There were lots of 200-500 ft climbs which were very steep in between. We weren't making very good time. Overshot took off. I followed more slowly but made the mistake of going down to the Thistle Hill Shelter for water of which I got none as it was a brook. I hiked on and met up with Overshot at the Country Store on VT14. I got ice cream, 2L of soda, a can of lasagna for dinner, and some hamburger buns to have with my butter. We hiked on and are camped just up the hill from where the road turns to trail. It's getting dark. I've eaten and it's time for bed. 29.2 miles to camp North of Tigertown Road.
Date: 2003-06-18
From: Camp North of Tigertown Road

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I started hiking this morning at 6 am and got to Hanover, NH, at 9:15 am. Only two states to go!!! In Hanover, I stopped at the pharmacy and bank and then called home to check in and arrange my Monson, ME, maildrop. I stopped at the post office and mailed home some stuff I don't need - old maps, companion pages, long underwear bottoms, and an Ace bandage. I then met up with Overshot who had started earlier than I did and we split a sub at Subway. We then went to the store and bought groceries. It looked like it was going to rain all day and even sprinkled a little but it hasn't rained yet. I'm tented at the Trapper John Shelter because the mosquitoes are viscious tonight. I'll probably have a wet, heavy tent in the morning - oh well. I was able to shave tonight and get rid of 10 days of stubble. I feel much better now. I'm ready for the big push to Katahdin. 25.7 miles to Trapper John Shelter.
Date: 2003-06-19
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Mt. Moosilake
Miles today: 29.8

I got started hiking on the AT this morning at 6:15 am. The climb up Smart Mountain was a wake-up call. It took a lot out of me. I was all ready for a nice break at the Cabin at the top, but I got swarmed by black flies so I only took 5 minutes. The rest of the day was a climb up Mt. Cube and some rolling flats. Overshot had left early in the morning and I was unable to catch him until the agreed upon meeting place, Jeffers Brook Shelter. We got water and headed up Mt. Moosilake for about 1 hour. We did between 2 and 3 miles and are camped partway up the mountain. Tomorrow we go over Moosilake and get into the AMC hut territory. The AMC hut fees are one of the reasons the White Mountains are less enjoyable. They have a monopoly on the places to stay in the Whites and they charge exhorbitant amounts for a one night stay. I will hopefully avoid these on my way through. 29.8 miles to camp on Mt. Moosilake.
Date: 2003-06-20
From: Mt. Moosilake

To: Liberty Springs Tentsite
Miles today: 25.3

I started hiking this morning at 5:50 am and hiked the additional couple of miles to the top of Moosilake. Clouds rolled in but it was still nice at the top. Overshot and I took some pictures and hiked on. The day turned out to be sunny and a little hot. The black flies were out but were only a problem when we stopped. The climb up Kingsman was a bit of a chore, but I made it up dripping sweat. My opinion of the AMC is starting to change a little. At Lonesome Lake Hut, the crew guy cooking said to help ourselves to the baked goods, etc, which were listed as $1. At the Liberty Springs Tentsite, the caretaker (Tin Man, a thru-hiker from 2002) let Overshot and me work to stay. It seems that the AMC - or at least the people responsible for the shelter program - is trying to change the thru-hiker perception of the AMC. 25.3 miles to Liberty Springs Tentsite.
Date: 2003-06-21
From: Liberty Springs Tentsite

To: Near the Saco River 
Miles today: 25.2

Today we hiked from Liberty Springs Tentsite to just beyond Crawford Notch. The hike over the treeless section of the Franconia Ridge was spectacular. The weather (at least in the morning) was cool and sunny with a slight breeze blowing. As the day progressed, it turned into a scorcher. I was drinking water just about as fast as I came across it and dripping sweat on all the climbs. The first part of the day was full of steep, rocky climbs. The end was much more moderate so the pace was faster. At the Gatehead Hut they had AYCE cornbread and pancakes (cold) as well as chili for $1. I ate well there. My appetite has again increased and I've been supplementing my food with Snickers bars I bought at the huts for $1 each. All the hot weather has brought back problems with my feet because of the sweat. I need to add more blister stuff to my left foot because of this. 25.2 miles to camp by the Saco River.
Date: 2003-06-22
From: Near the Saco River 

To: Base of Wildcat Mountain
Miles today: 26.9

I'm very tired, so this will be short. Overshot and I hiked from Crawford Notch + 0.1 miles to Pinkham Notch today over the Presidential Range. It was a good day with cloudy (mostly) skies and a few sprinkles. (The sun even popped out enough to give me a sunburn where I forgot to put sunscreen.) The hike was spectacular but long. It took me almost 14 hours to hike the approximately 26 miles. At the end of the day, Overshot went into Gorham and I went on for about a mile where I'm camped. It is sprinkling lightly now. I have a long day tomorrow - 20 miles over the Wildcats and Carters which I have to get done soon enough to get to the Gorham Post Office. Up at 4 am tomorrow - to bed now. 26.9 miles to camp and the base of Wildcat Mountain.
Date: 2003-06-23
From: Base of Wildcat Mountain

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: few clouds

Got up at 4 am and started hiking at 5:15 am. The hike up the Wildcats was tough and it took me more than 3 hours to go 5 miles into Carter Notch. I needed to get to the post office in Gorham, NH, before it closed (5 pm) so I picked up the pace and cruised over the Carters. I made it to the road to Gorham (Rt 2) at just before 3 pm. There was a group of tourists eating at a picnic lunch in the parking lot and they invited me to join. I had some sausage, fruit, and a fruit juice. I then hitched into Gorham - this only took about 5 minutes which was good because the black flies were horrendous. In Gorham, I got my maildrop, sent the return package of dirty clothes, shoes, etc. (sorry, Mom), and got a hotel room. I then took one of the bikes the hotel had and rode around town to get a headlamp, groceries, and pizza. I called home and even got a return call from Trog (my Dad) who was in Palmerton, PA. I packed up, watched a little T.V., and went to bed. 20.1 miles to a hotel in Gorham, NH.
Date: 2003-06-24
From: Gorham, NH

To: After the Mahoosic Notch
Miles today: 24.0

I got up at 5 am, packed up, and headed out to hitch at 6:30 am or so. I got a ride quickly, and was hiking by 6:45 am. The day was hot and humid. This made the going slow and the fact that there were many steep up and down climbs made the going slower. On one mountain, the heat and humidity were so bad that I had to sit down and rest quite a few times on the way up a mountain. I made it to Full Goose Shelter at 7:45 pm and decided to push on throught he Mahoosic Notch. I've been through the Notch before so I understand that it takes over an hour to go the 1 mile of the Notch. I got to the Notch at 8:45 and pressed on. There was quite a bit of snow in the Notch and the temperature was nice and cool (compared to the 80-90 degree heat outside the Notch). The Notch contained several places where you have to climb through rock caves and squeeze between two rocks. (The people blazing the Trail must have had a good time because it was tough...) It got dark by the time I got almost to the end of the Notch so I used my new headlamp to finish the Notch, hike on, find a campsite, and cook and eat dinner. I got to bed around 10 pm. 24.0 miles to camp after the Mahoosic Notch.
Date: 2003-06-25
From: After the Mahoosic Notch

To: Hall Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 23.4

Started hiking at 6:15 am. The day was hot, humid, and miserable. Every climb of the day went either straight up or straight down. At about 2 pm, I plodded into a shelter about 12 miles from where I started and Overshot was sitting there. He said the heat was killing him and thus he had stopped for 2 hours to drink water. He said he had drunk 4 liters. By 3 pm, we headed out and made it to the Hall Mountain Lean-to at 8 pm. 23.4 miles to camp at Hall Mountain Lean-to.