morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-16
From: Fire Warden's Cabin

To: Ore Hill Campsite
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: broken clouds

The mountain top remained in the cloud most of the night, but by 6:30, the sun was shining. My tent's rain fly was wet both inside and out, and I had to pack it up that way. Since I had chanced not hanging my food, because everything fit in the odor proof bag, I was able to prepare my breakfast with my legs still in the warmth of my sleeping bag. I didn't heat water, just let the oatmeal concoction sit and hydrate while I packed and ate it cold. I am even getting used to cold coffee, though yesterday's hot brew was nice.I left at 8:25, a bit later than I had hoped, but still time enough for the day's planned hike. I managed a pretty good pace for the descent of Smart's Mountain, steep in parts, and rocky, rocky and muddy in others. Medic passed, on his way to Glencliff. I sat a bit and enjoyed the view to the southwest at Eastman Ledges, then went on to North Jacob's Brook (4.9 miles), where I filtered some water and had my first lunch. Wing It and Jeff came by but planned their lunch at the Mt. Cube summit, two miles further on. It turned out to be a long two miles -- steep in places, lots of wet sloping bedrock, and some false summits. I told Wing It that if I didn't already have a trail name, it should be Queen of False Summits. I kept thinking I should be at the top, and some of the white blazes were hard to find. But I eventually caught up with Wing It and Jeff as they were talking with a guy who said we were very close. We ate lunch at the summit, along with quite a few day hikers who came up a different route. Wing It and Jeff planned to stay at one of two places off the trail, so I left at 3:15. It took 2:10 to do the 3.4 miles to VT25, a 2,000 foot descent, and another 2 to get up to the campsite on Ore Hill (2.5 miles and 1,000 feet up). Slow, but the trail was the usual collection of rocks and roots, with quite a lot of mud to navigate.Z and Gia passed me in the last half mile, as did Just Paul and Torta-Leany. We were the only ones at the campsite, and we all managed to find sites we hoped would be okay in rain. I picked a small grassy place close to the fire ring. Wound up finishing cooking and eating in the dark.
Date: 2014-08-21
From: Franconia Notch

To: Liberty Spring Campsite
Miles today: 2.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I planned a short hike after doing errands, so had plenty of time to have breakfast with Catfish. after I got back to my room, I had a call that I had left my wallet in the restaurant. Phil, who was having breakfast with his friend June, found it, and I went to the restaurant to thank him. They are both in 70s and high school classmates from Waterbury, VT. He loved being called a trail angel, and both wished me well.I paid bills, organized my pack, and checked out a little before 11. I went to LaHouts, where Lee and I had found things before, and bought new rain gear and socks. I had thought about waterproof gaiters, but these rain pants cover the tops of my shoes better, so I skipped the gaiters. Next stop was the Post Office, where I picked up a mail drop, sent the old rain gear and some food home, and sent a small box of food to the Highland Lodge, where I had made a reservation for Sunday night. I had a nice chat with the clerk, who wished me well. I arranged for a shuttle to take me back to the trail and said I would meet her at the ice cream place. Of course, I had ice cream while I was waiting. She had another person to shuttle, so it was an hour or so wait. I got to the parking lot at 3:30 and, with help from Pam (or Pat), the spouse of thru-hiker Mad Jack, found the trailhead and started hiking at 3:40. I had some sprinkles but not hard rain, and the trail was much easier than in the Kinsmans, even though it had an altitude gain of about 2500 feet.Indy/Jimmy, the Liberty Spring Caretaker, signed me up for a tent platform. I got set up and went to the cooking area to make dinner. An AMC group of young people was there finishing their meal. Seems like they were enjoying the adventure. It was cool and breezy with off and on rain.
Date: 2014-08-22
From: Liberty Spring Campsite

To: Garfield Ridge Campsite
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I left a little late (9), but had another nice chat with Indy/Jimmy, who asked me to carry a message to his buddy who is caretaker at Garfield Ridge. On the way up to the ridge, I met Peaches & Cream, a SOBO couple from GA. The ridge was in a wet, windy cloud, so the great Lafayette views had to be from memory. Shortly before the summit, I met Ishmael, 71, who flipped up to Katahdin to be able to do it with his son and is now headed south to complete his thru-hike. He is only the second thru-hiker I have met who is older than I. Drag'nfly, a 74 year-old, is attempting to be the oldest woman to thru-hike. I hope I get to meet her. Someone said she had also flipped to Maine. Today's hike was another hard one, and I did not get to the campsite until 5:10. When I went back to get water at the AT junction with the campsite trail, Journeymen came down the trail and recognized me from MA. I had met him in Great Barrington next to the welcome center by the Days Inn. I was trying to catch a ride back to the trail, and he was waiting for the hostel owner to pick him up. He had come down with Lyme and wound up being off trail for 11 days. He is the one Catfish was waiting for in Lincoln -- got a larger room -- but never heard from. Turns out Journeyman had dropped his phone in the water. I'll text Catfish.I now have less than 1000 miles to go (996.1), 633.3 to do in the south, and 362.8 to Katahdin. Can I manage the latter in a month? We'll see. NH has been slow, and I don't see things speeding up. Sunday will be a nero, and I just had one Thursday.Crowded campsite. I am on the middle platform of three large ones. There is a Tufts group on one side, and a family with two tents on other (Sally, Lisa, Super Daddy, and 6 year old Lucas). Another hiker named Matt set up on their platform. Two people arrived after I was in my tent and set up on mine. Noisy night likely.
Date: 2014-08-24
From: Ethan Pond Trail stealth site

To: Crawford Notch (Highland Lodge)
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I fell back to sleep after the alarm went off an did not get up until 7, but I managed to be on the trail by 9. The SOBOs who promised five miles of easy hiking were right, and I made very good time to the Ethan Pond Shelter. Went down to sign the log book and have lunch. It is a lovely spot and the first place I ever camped out in the Whites. Peter Brown and I started our traverse of the Garfield Ridge to Lafayette there I think in 1971.When I got up to the trail junction after lunch, Journeymen was there and told me about his experience of real generosity from the hut croo at the Zealand Falls Hut. He went down to the shelter, and I headed down the trail. At the next trail junction, a mile away, I realized that I had left my distance glasses where I had eaten lunch. I double checked to be sure they were not in the pack and then headed back. Just then, Journeymen arrived, and I told him what I had done. He insisted that I stay and watch the packs while he hiked back. A real trail angel.While I waited, I chatted with a group of four young men who were very interested in the thru-hike experience. Nice guys. Also met a SOBO couple. Journeymen got back with my glasses, and we headed for the parking lot at 302. We both needed a few things at the camp store which was south down Crawford Notch. I saw a couple in an SUV and asked for a ride. They were happy to help and loved hearing about our hike.The store was low on supplies, but I did find some peanut butter, and Journeymen found a few things. Out front, we talked with Paul, who was just back from a trip in the 100 mile wilderness in Maine and offered us his left over food. I took a couple of dinners, and Journeymen, who was nearly out of money until his regular bank deposit in a few days, was delighted to accept some of the goodies. Paul even offered us a ride, so he drove me to the Highland Lodge, north up Crawford Notch, and took Journeymen back to the store where his phone was charging and then to the trailhead.I checked in at the lodge, got a shower, and met one of my roommates (I am in a 4-bunk room), Margaret, who is here for an astronomy hike to a couple of the huts. Dinner was a wonderful buffet, and I was even able to get a beer. I ate with a couple who are regular hikers and visitors to the Lodge. Also met Lee from Montpelier, who is a marathon runner, and David Fink from the Berkshires, who is doing the 48 4000+ footers.I had expected the package I sent myself from Lincoln, but it had not arrived. Evidently, they have to go to the headquarters in Pinkham Notch to get mail. The person at the desk said someone should be picking it up in the morning. Means a late start.
Date: 2014-08-28
From: Osgood Trail stealth site

To: Pinkham Notch (Joe Dodge Lodge)
Miles today: 6.2

I slept quite well. The weather seemed windier than yesterday, and it was cloudy. Glad I didn't stay at Madison Hut. I made cold coffee, ate two breakfast bars, packed up, and left at 7:40. The trail down was still steep and rocky, and I didn't get to the turn off for the Osgood tent site until about 9:30 (1.4 miles). The descent from Madison to the tent site was about 2600' over 2.6 miles. A knee banger most of the way. At Parapet Brook, just past the Osgood cutoff and the junction with the Madison Gulf Trail, I stopped and made hot oatmeal. I thought about the time Lee and I went up the Madison Gulf Trail in a drizzle, only to find out when we had lunch at the hut that the AMC does not recommend using the upper portion of that trail in the rain. We went down over Madison and the Osgood Trail. I then continued on the lower part of the Madison Gulf Trail toward Pinkham Notch. I met a guy I had spoken with briefly yesterday, who is hiking for a week, and we talked about 20 minutes.I also met two young men, one of whom said his dad would like to do the trail, but he is 65. I told my story and said his dad still has time. At the auto road, I stopped and ate a sandwich. The trail from there is much easier, and I got to Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch about 2. Bismarck and Hopper came in a bit later, and I sat with them in the dining room as we ate sandwiches -- a cheeseburger for me. They said the wind had been blowing really hard as they came over Madison in a cloud. I had evening snacks at the lodge with Rock Turtle, her group of four, and Jane and her husband. All have done significant parts of the AT. After a big dinner with Bismarck, Hopper, and others, I talked with Lee about meeting at Labor Day, and we agreed that I would order a Big Agnes Copper Spur three person tent for our meeting in Maine and other trips. The two person is not much bigger than my solo tent, and we like to have all our gear inside. Since the weight difference is not really significant, we decided to go with the three. It is nearly 3 pounds lighter than our current two person Marmot tent.
Date: 2014-08-31
From: Imp Campsite

To: Route 2, Gorham
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Packed up early and went to the shelter to sign the log and then get water. RW said Movin' On was there but still asleep, but it did not look like her -- and I know she prefers to tent. I left at 7:45 and made good time up Moriah. Though the climb was fairly steep, it had a lot of large sloping rock faces. I like going up them when they are dry -- much easier than big steps up uneven rocks. I did not take the side trail to the summit -- will leave that 4000 footer for another day. The rest of the trail included quite a bit of bog bridging, a long steep section that took lots of time, and three miles of pretty easy walking. I had lunch about noon, made a quick stop at the Rattle River Shelter (right on the trail) and got to Route 2 at 2:00. Probably walked a couple of tenths of a mile before a kind man picked me up and drove me to Gorham. He lives in the area and says he always picks up hikers. I asked him to drop me by the ice cream place.I got a milk shake and chatted with four NOBOs. The young man at the ice cream place suggested Mr. Pizza when I asked about a place to get a hamburger and a beer. I didn't expect Lee much before 4:30, so I walked down the road. Mr. Pizza turned out to be a full restaurant with lots more than pizza. I set my pack inside the door and asked the hostess if it was an okay spot to leave it. She said it was fine. A man, whose name I later learned is Mike, was paying his bill, and he asked if I were a thru-hiker. When I said I am, he asked if I would mind talking with his wife and daughter. He went out and got them to come back in. Turns out the family has recently discovered hiking and has fallen in love with the Whites. They live in Nashua, NH, but they would love to move even closer to the mountains. The daughter said she wants to hike the AT when she finishes high school. They were all delightful. As they were leaving, Mike handed me a $25 gift card for the restaurant, which he had bought while I was talking with the others. Amazing trail magic. I am constantly taken by surprise by the generosity of people, and my resolve to pay it forward is now even stronger.I took full advantage of the gift and had a steak, a beer, and a chocolate sundae. Delicious. Lee came just after I finished, and we headed off for Jim and Aleta's townhouse in Bretton Woods. It was raining, as predicted, and I was glad to be in a dry car and looking forward to being with family and enjoying a zero day tomorrow. Lee's niece, Jen graduated from business school yesterday, and it was fun hearing her tell about her internship and upcoming new job.
Date: 2014-09-01
From: Bretton Woods, NH

To: Bretton Woods, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Jim went off for his morning run, this time up Mt. Willey. He is amazing. I am happy to just be able to hike these mountains, but he at nearly 60 does them running. Lee and I went off to do errands and of course stopped at an ice cream place in Bethlehem, on the way to Littleton. I was able to get new insoles for my shoes and get some food supplies. We also got lunch. The afternoon was quiet family time, looking at the mountains, and packing up for tomorrow. Thanks Lee, Jim, Aleta, and Jen for a great rest. I suspect this will be my last time at the house, since they have it on the market.
Date: 2014-09-02
From: Route 2, Gorham, NH

To: Grntian Pond Campsite
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

Lee and I left the Bretton Woods house about 7:30 and drove to the trail where I had left it on Route 2 at North Road east of Gorham. It was hard saying goodbye. Lee has not only the disappointment of the El Salvador bishop election to deal with, but also now moving her mother into assisted living. Fortunately, it is in the same complex as her apartment, and the management will handle most of the move, but the new place is smaller, so some things will have to go elsewhere. She will be going to CT later this week. I wish I could be more supportive.Today's trail, for the most part, was much easier to walk than the trails since Mt. Moosilauke. There were a few tricky spots, and I remain slow on the downhills, but I could feel that I was making progress. It was, however, hot and humid. I got to the top of Mt. Hayes, 3.6 miles, before I saw another person. Eyes Adjust arrived as I was getting lunch stuff out of my pack and just after I had left a message for Dad. I left earlier, and he must have passed me while I was out at Wocket Ledge. I didn't see him until I got here to the Gentian Pond Campsite. I chatted with a SOBO section-hiker and a young woman SOBO thru-hiker. She was hoping to make it from Carlo Col campsite to Route 2. Also talked with Mallet at a stream where we both got water.Princess Northstar passed me about a mile before the shelter turn-off. Said he would save me a spot. What a long, steep downhill mile! I am trying hard to take care of my knees, so I try to avoid hard landings. But downhills take forever. I did get there in time to set up and get water before dark, but dinner was in the dark. It is warm and clear, so I'll leave the rain fly open.
Date: 2014-09-03
From: Gentian Pond Campsite

To: Carlo Col Campsite
Miles today: 5.2

Rain on the tent woke me about 1:30, and I closed the rain fly. I saw a couple of lightning flashes, and the rain came down hard for a while. I fell soundly asleep before it stopped, and I went back to sleep after the 5:30 alarm went off. Finally woke at 6:30 and began getting organized. Because I was on a tent platform, the rain running off the fly splashed up the tent walls. Had to be careful not to get the sleeping bag wet, and I discovered that my shoes were wet. Should have brought them in.I took my time getting going, thinking that I had a shorter day than yesterday, and I was not on the trail until a little after 9. Wrong. The distance was shorter, but the trail was much harder. Add to a trail with lots of steep spots, roots, and sloping bedrock the volume of water from the storm, and much of it became a stream. The sloping rocks were wet, flat places were muddy or actual deep puddles, and a few spots were nearly impossible to navigate. I was going down one of those when a guy named Walkabout came along behind me. He hollered back to the person behind him who was Movin' On. Turns out she was not at Imp as RW had said. But I was glad to see her. She had come from the Trident Col Campsite and was concluding that Full Goose, where I had planned to go, was too far to reach before dark. The drop into the col cemented that conclusion for us both. She had gone on, and I was trying to get a cell signal to text Lee, which I finally did. I got to the edge of what seemed a plunge down, and she called up to me. She and Walkabout had both waited to be sure I got down okay. That is the trail community at its most caring. I apologized for taking so long to get there and then began a tricky descent. At one point, I tossed Movin' On my poles, which were getting in the way. A taste of what is to come at Mahoosuc Notch. We took the .3 mile trail down to the Carlo Col Campsite, and we each have a tent platform. It was nice to arrive with plenty of time before dark to set up, cook, etc. I am going to try to get a very early start. I am apprehensive about the notch, but I don't want to hold Movin' On and Walkabout up. We are talking about getting there (5.9 miles from here, plus the .3 up to the trail) by 2. I'll have to move much faster than today to do that. I hope things dry up some over night -- and that the trail is not as tough.
Date: 2014-09-05
From: Bull Branch Campsite

To: Grafton Notch
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I was the last to leave the campsite and was on the trail at 8:20. Turns out I could have used another hour, since I did not make it as far as planned. The climb up Mahoosuc Arm was tough, with some tricky boulder navigating and lots of slanted bedrock. I was able to get a cell signal to let Lee know I had made it through the Notch, and I sent a pic to her and Leigh. I stopped at the top at 11:30 for food, and was soon joined by Paper Boy, a young man from Minnesota. The trail went down steeply to lovely Speck Pond and around to the shelter, where I chatted briefly with some hikers doing the Mahoosucs. Then very up to Old Speck Mountain. I had seen the exposed rock I feared was the trail from Mahoosuc Arm. Finally got to the top at 2:15 and took a break to change socks and eat an Owl Bar. Met a couple doing a day hike to the observation tower .3 off the AT and headed down the 3.5 mile, 2500 foot descent to Grafton Notch. I hoped to make it down by 5:15 so I'd have enough daylight for the climb to Baldpate campsite, and for most of the way, it seemed doable. But I finally realized I was tired and that the downhill was taking more time. Got to the Notch at 5:45, having decided I'd try to get a ride to Andover, maybe with the day-hiking couple. While I was looking at the map, Onesimus, a trail angel with a camper I had first seen on Bromley and then in Glencliff, walked up and asked if I was hungry. I told him my trail name and said where we had met before. He said Movin' On and her parents had been there for a while and said to look out for me. He offered chicken and said he knew a stealth site, which he showed me. I set up, and when I went back to the parking lot, the couple was sitting on the tailgate of their truck talking with Peter Pan and Bilbo Baggins, a thru-hiking young couple from Crested Butte. I accepted a beer, and the three of us eventually went over to Onesimus's camper. He served us rice and beans, cole slaw, chicken, bread, and ice cream cones! What a treat. He is a retired Army vet who hiked the trail in 2003 and now travels up the trail doing trail magic. Peter Pan and Bilbo Baggins are camped near me on what in the winter is a snowmobile trail. I hope to do ten miles tomorrow but may not make it. It is supposed to rain. I at least want to get where I can get a cell signal to find out how Mom is. Leigh texted yesterday that she is not doing well.
Date: 2014-09-06
From: Grafton Notch

To: East B Hill Rd., Andover, ME
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I packed up and said goodbye to Onesimus. The hike up to Baldpate campsite took only an hour and a half to do the 2.3 miles, so I could have done it yesterday. But I'd have missed the trail magic and talking with Peter Pan and Bilbo Baggins. The trail grew steeper up to Baldpate Mountain with bedrock slabs, but they were easy to walk. It was hot, with rain threatening. Baldpate lived up to its name, at least the bald part. It was quite bare and very windy, but I had fun walking on bog bridges and bedrock. On the summit I tried for cell service in the hope of learning something about Mom, but no luck. I got down a steep section, had some lunch, and got service further down. Mom is doing better -- good news. I also called The Cabin to see if there would be a bunk. I said Bismarck and Hopper had said I should call. The person who answered said he would put the boss on the phone. I repeated my story, and Hopper confessed it was she. Bear, the owner, was teasing me. He got back on and told me to call when I got to Dunn Notch. I did, and also called Lee. I still had a mile to go. Bismarck picked me up and took me to the Little Red Hen for AYCE pizza night. Hopper, Journeymen, RW, Bam, and a couple of others were at the table. Peter Pan and Bilbo Baggins were at another table.When we got back to The Cabin, Hopper showed me around. I had an upper bunk in an 8-bed room. I showered, did laundry, and joined the others who were watching The Last of the Mohicans. Those guys ran like crazy around in the mountains. Of course, they never ate or drank, and they never tripped on roots or rocks.Bismarck, Hopper, RW, Journeyman, and I plan to slack pack a ten mile section tomorrow. Hope I can keep up.
Date: 2014-09-07
From: East B Hill Rd.

To: South Arm Rd.
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

After a wonderful breakfast upstairs in Honey and Bear's dining room, their son, Don drove Bismarck, Hopper, Journeymen, RW, and me to the trail. I was worried on the initial uphill but soon felt confident I would be able to keep up. We hiked at a faster pace than I usually do, but without the full pack, it was much easier. We stopped at Frye Notch Lean-to for lunch, then made the very steep climb up Moody Mountain. Fortunately, the downhill to South Arm Road was easy.Bear (Earl) met us and took us to the Andover Store, where I got an ice cream sandwich and Sebago Brewing Frye's Leap beer. I had a nice chat with Honey (Margery) before an amazing dinner. Bear cooked lobster and steak (we all had one of each), and Honey did corn on the cob, potato salad, and carrot cake. The latter was topped with moose tracks ice cream. Also at dinner were Bliss, Grandma Pepper (section hiking friend of Bliss) and Cornbread, a young SOBO. Good conversation, wonderful food, what a day!