morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-09-28
From: Liberty Springs Tentsite

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

Woke to a wet world. Caretaker said the peeks were forecasted to have 40 - 60 mph winds. Upon reaching my first summit I believe the forecast was correct. Going over Mt. Lincoln summit I was blown down about 3 times (no injuries) and blown off the boulder trail many times. The wind was coming from my left (northwest). At least it wasn't a headwind. Took me 2 hours to traverse this above treeline section - all of it in a wet cloud and getting battered by the wind the whole time. When I got back into the trees I fired up my stove to warm my hands.Reached Garfield Shelter around 3:30 pm all wet and bedraggled. The wet cloud was blowing right into the Shelter. So I decided to hike another 2.5 miles, some down a small steep waterfall, to Galehead Hut. I love the hut. The White Mountains have this Hut System where they serve meals and you get a bunkbed. Very pricey at $96/night, but worth getting out of the wet for me. Delicious dinner prepared by hut crew. Dined with two jovial couples. They are doing a 5 night hut-to-hut trip. Sounds wonderful. No showers at the hut though. Lentil soup, salad, lasagne, pumpkin pie with coffee. Mmmm. And I sleep on a mattress tonight.
Date: 2010-09-29
From: Galehead Hut

To: Ethan Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: fog

Yummy breakfast at the hut, then out by 8am. The sky is clear today. I can actually see the views now and they are quite lovely. Some tricky hiking in the morning. Above treeline briefly going over South Twin Mt. Skirted Zealand Hut around noon. Then very easy trail down to Ethan Pond Shelter. Dried out my tent with remaining daylight. Thought I'd be alone here but 2 guys showed up in the dark (around 7pm). This shelter has some serious bear warnings such as "Bears visit this campsite!" and "Bear Alert!". I feel safer having 2 other guys here as long as they hang their food properly.
Date: 2010-09-30
From: Ethan Pond Shelter

To: AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch
Miles today: 2.9
Weather: fog

A mouse had eaten holes into my foodbag during the night, despite it being hung properly in a tree. First time this ever happened to me. Hiked mostly easy 3 miles down to road in light rain. Then another 1.5 miles on road while trying to hitch a ride. An older woman drove me the last 2.5 miles to the AMC Highland Center. As soon as I got inside a heavy downpour began.I'm staying in a bunkhouse here for $96 a night, including dinner and breakfast. Great shower, but no laundry. Had great dinner and conversation with three other "singles" in the lodge restaurant. Very yummy local beer called "Long Trail Ale". Nice sleep in mostly empty bunkhouse with the wind howling outside.
Date: 2010-10-01
From: AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch

To: AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Decided to book another night here to waitout the foul weather. They found a bunk for me in the lodge despite it being friday. They are booked solid this time of year on the weekends. Heavy rain on and off all day. Just read and relaxed inside.
Date: 2010-10-02
From: AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch

To: Lakes of the Clouds emergency shelter
Miles today: 11.1

Another great breakfast at AMC. And look! No rain! A nice guy staying in my bunkroom drove me to the trailhead by 7:40am. Steep but easy trail up to Webster Cliffs. Pretty windy on the cliff trail. Got to Mitzpah Hut by noon and enjoyed a $2 bowl of soup. Hiked on to Lakes of the Clouds Hut (closed) mostly above treeline and very windy. Very cold and cloudy at Hut. Stayed in emergency shelter (aka The Dungeon). Another northbounder named Chauncey arrived an hour later. Some teenage boys tented outside the Hut out of the wind. Heated my water and slept with my water bottle in my sleeping bag so it wouldn't freeze. Chauncey did the same.
Date: 2010-10-03
From: Lakes of the Clouds emergency shelter

To: Osgood Tentsite
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Clear skies! I could actually see Mt Washington summit. It is only 1.4 miles from Lakes but visibility last night was about 20 yards. Hiked up to the Mt Washington visitor's center. Got a snack and coffee. Mt Washington claims to be home of the world's worst weather. It held the landspeed wind record until recently - 231 mph. But we had lovely weather. Very rough and rocky miles on to Osgood Tentsite. Probably saw at least 70 other hikers today. Very popular spot. Chauncey and I tented at Osgood. Two others showed up in the dark. Chauncey is from Montana. He's going north on the AT like me. I try to keep up with him, but he's younger and faster. He's been hiking since July from West Virginia.
Date: 2010-10-04
From: Osgood Tentsite

To: near Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

We woke to party cloudy and 40 deg accoring to Chauncey's thermometer. My stove didn't work so I had to use Chauncey's for my oatmeal and coffee. Mostly easy 5 miles down to Pinkham Notch visitor's center for a muffin and better coffee. Remainder of day was very steep rocky ups over Wildcat Mountains (still part of White Mountains). We tented 0.3 miles before Carter Notch Hut. Forecast calls for light rain tomorrow morning. Setting watch alarm for 5am for a big day tomorrow.
Date: 2010-10-05
From: near Carter Notch Hut

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: fog

It had rained briefly during the night. Packed up, ate, then on trail by 6:15am with headlamps. Very steep up to Carter Dome. I could tell right away my legs hadn't recovered from previous day's difficult traverse of the Wildcats. Clear skies by midday. Hiked in shorts and t-shirt for second half of day. Knees are really bothering me now, especially the right. We saw only 2 other people on the trail today (day hikers). Got to road a little after 4pm and called the hostel for a ride. Hostel owner picked us up from the trailhead and I got my maildrop from the post office before it closed. Chauncey and I treated ourselves to an expensive but very good pizza dinner. Enjoyed a Long Trail Ale. Did laundry (finally!). The hostel is very dirty and run-down. But it meets my needs. Shower was warm and I slept better in the bunk than I do on the trail. My knees are throbbing. Maybe buy a knee brace tomorrow. Forecast calls for rain for next 2 days.
Date: 2010-10-06
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Took a 0 mile day and remained in Gorham. Rain is supposed to continue tomorrow. But we plan to hike in it anyway. I ate a pint of Ben & Jerry's tonight while watching Top Gun. Extreme!Tomorrow it's back to trail food for another 4 or 5 days.
Date: 2010-10-07
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

A really nice guy named Bill gave us a ride to the trailhead. Started hiking around 8:30am. First half mile was easy road walking. Then mostly easy trail up Mount Hayes. Rained off and on all day. Very wet trail in most places. Saw a young thru-hiker going south. Some tricky rocky hiking today, but mostly easy. Got to shelter by 2:40pm wet and chilly. Just hanging out here now trying to warmup in our bags. Great view from the shelter. It will get below freezing here tonight. We are alone at the shelter.
Date: 2010-10-08
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: few clouds

A bad day. Trail was a stream most of the time, even in the morning when the sun would occassionally show itself. Crossed into Maine today. Rainy and very windy all afternoon. We arrived soaked and downtrodden at Full Goose shelter around 3:30pm. Fell hard once today on a wet log. Cold rain stung our faces on the summits and the wind kept blowing us off the trail. A full-face balaclava with ski goggles would've been helpful.
Date: 2010-10-09
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Baldplate Lean-To
Miles today: 12.0

Cold morning with partly cloudy skies. We both dreaded putting on our wet boots. Steep climb up Fulling Mill Mt. Then down to Mahoosuc Notch. Yesterday we met a southbounder who had hiked the entire AT twice and the PCT once. He strongly urged us to bypass Mahoosuc Notch because of all the recent rain. It is considered the most difficult 1 mile of the AT. He was afraid the rocks in the notch would be wet making it very dangerous to traverse. There is a 4 or 5 mile detour around the notch. We decided to risk the notch and glad we did. The notch was dry. A family of 4 dayhikers caught up with us midway through the notch then turned back to where they left their day packs. It took us 90 minutes to get through this 1 mile of "trail". It mostly involves climbing up or down large boulders. Lots of little caves among them.After the notch we ascended the steep and difficult Mahoosuc Arm. I fell on a wood plank that had a glaze of ice on it. Strong winds up top. Then descended a little to Speck Pond Shelter where we ate lunch in the cold. We heated water to warm ourselves up. A southbounder came in. He warned us about the ice and strong winds we would encounter around the summit of Old Speck Mt. Well we did encounter both and I fell once more on an icy plank. Saw a lot of icicles hanging on rocks, one looked to be about 17".Very long down to the road. Passed several groups of dayhikers (it's Saturday). Started to warm up as we descended. Chauncey hiked on as I shed my jacket. Didn't see him again until I reached the shelter. Steep climb up easy trail to Baldplate Lean-To. We are here alone. It is cold.
Date: 2010-10-10
From: Baldplate Lean-To

To: Hall Mt. Lean-To
Miles today: 14.0

Neither of us wanted to get out of our sleeping bags on this cold morning. Especially dreaded donning frozen boots. Chauncey's thermometer read 32 F at 8am. At least there was some blue sky to be glimpsed among the clouds. The wind never letup all night. Still blowing strong in the morning.Hiked over Baldplate Mt was the most treacherous I've done so far on this trip. Sheets of ice completely covering the trail in many spots. We had to go from tree to tree on the edge of the trail. Both of us fell once at different times in this icy 2 mile section around the summit. Our pace was about 1 mph. It was a great relief to be back below the "ice line" and hiking in the stream again. Encountered no more ice for rest of day.Last 8 miles were easy trail. We are alone at the shelter, except for this bird trying to steel my food. The wind is calm here.Tomorrow we only have 4.1 miles to the road that leads to Andover, our next resupply. Pizza is in my future!
Date: 2010-10-11
From: Hall Mt. Lean-To

To: South Arm Road (Andover, ME)
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: broken clouds

Annoying mouse bothered us most of the night in the shelter. Heard something bigger thumping near the shelter in the dark. Turned out to be a hare. Warmer night than we've had in a while.Some steep hiking over Moody Mt. A little ice on steep rock parts with rebar. We arrived at South Arm Rd around 11am. Called the Pine Ellis Hostel for a ride into Andover. Friendly caretaker David promptly came to pick us up from the trailhead. This hostel is my favorite so far of this trip. But internet is slooow.Had lunch and dinner and did some small grocery shopping all at the Andover General Store. Interesting to listen to the locals accents. Lots of hunters came and went buying beer while we ate our lunch at the store. It's Columbus Day holiday. They are hunting moose mostly and some bear. While eating dinner we saw a pickup truck drive by with a moose in the back.Back to the hostel to drink local beer and watch Monday night football. Tomorrow morning I suspect we'll breakfast at where else? the Andover General Store.
Date: 2010-10-12
From: South Arm Road (Andover, ME)

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Very satisfying breakfast at the Andover General Store. Then David, the hostel caretaker, drove us to the trailhead, shook our hands, and gave us each an apple as he wished us good luck.Steep hike up Old Blue Mt. Just a little ice on trail that was easily avoided. Reasonable trail the rest of the day. Good weather too.Chauncey got a call from a couple he met months ago in Harper's Ferry where he started his trip. They are about 5 days behind us in Gorham, NH. They are planning to rent a vehicle in Gorham and drive up to hike Katahdin and the rest of Baxter State Park before it closes for the season. And they invited us to join. So that's the new plan.There's this interesting guy with us at the shelter called "Rider". He's on his 3rd northbound thru-hike of the AT. He's quite a talker, so not sure how much sleep we'll get tonight.
Date: 2010-10-13
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-To

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Chauncey and I hiked out of the shelter before Rider, but he soon passed us. He asked if we'd seen the 3 moose just 100 yards from the shelter near the pond. We hadn't. He said it was a family - a bull, cow, and calf. Will I ever see a moose in Maine? I hike too loudly with my poles and mostly I'm concentrating on where to step next so I miss a lot of wildlife sightings.The hike was an easy 9.4 miles and we arrived at Maine 4 road by 11am. Encountered a good deal of mud on the trail but that seems to be the norm in Maine. Pretty lakes and ponds are also a norm in Maine. We heard a loon this morning while in the shelter.Chauncey's friends Mark and Molly showed up at Route 4 parking lot a little after noon in the rented minivan. We drove to Farmington and had a yummy lunch then on to Baxter State Park. Arrived at Katahdin Stream Campground at 7:30pm in the dark (sunset up here is now 5:45pm).
Date: 2010-10-14
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Katahdin (Baxter Peak)
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

We summited Katahdin on a pretty day. At the start it was cold - around freezing. Later I learned at the ranger station that the low was 27 F at around 6:30am.Katahdin was very cool. Took loads of pictures. We had good views until about a half mile from the summit which was in cloud. Up there the wind was strong and it was too cold for me to linger much. Had my picture taken with the summit sign of course. There was a largish group of 20 year olds summitting that day. Plus some day hikers coming up from a shorter side trail from another campground in the park.We switched from a tentsite to a lean-to for tonight because of the forecasted rain. Tomorrow we hike about 10 miles in the rain to finish out the AT in Baxter State Park. It is the last day the park is open for the season so we really cut it close.Of course it feels a bit anti-climatic to finish this end bit and still have 205 miles remaining south of it.
Date: 2010-10-15
From: Abol Bridge

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: heavy intensity rain

The rain started last night right after we got the kindling going for a campfire. So we watched it burnout from the shelter.By 8am Molly was hiking south and the rest of us were in the minivan driving to Abol Bridge to hike north back to the campground. At Abol Bridge, just outside Baxter State Park, there is a campstore with a gas station. Mark wanted to add some air to one of the tires before hiking and Chauncey and I hiked on at our own separate paces.It rained all day but I wasn't cold while hiking. I kept making fists to squeeze out the water from my gloves. Fording the quick flowing Nesowadnehunk Stream was a challenge. The water was up to my crotch at its deepest. I went through with my boots on instead of changing into my less stable crocs. I knew we'd be staying at a hotel tonight so the boots would have a chance to dry by the heater.During the last 1.5 miles the wind really picked up. I hiked into the lean-to very soaked but happy. Chauncey had been there for 30-40 minutes already.When Molly showed up with the minivan we learned that Mark hadn't started hiking until noon. He ended up changing the tire that was low on air because it had a slow leak. All in the rain. Poor guy.Molly also related her adventure driving back from Abol Bridge to the campground. The strong winds had knocked down a lot of trees and branches in the road. She had to get out and move them six times during the drive. There was one big one that she wasn't sure she could move by herself but she managed. All in the rain. Poor gal.Well we all made it out and into Millinocket, the closest town, on the spare tire. Arrived at the garage 9 minutes before closing on a Friday. They repaired the flat and put it back on for $12.Found our hotel then went out for the best meal ever at Pelletier Loggers Restaurant. Showered and did laundry at the hotel. At about 10pm Chauncey was hungry again so he and I went to McDonald's and pigged out some more. The hotel room reeks of our wet smelly boots.Tomorrow we drive back down to get dropped off at Maine 4. We still have another 205 miles to do from there to Abol Bridge.
Date: 2010-10-16
From: Maine Route 4

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-To
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Continental bfast at hotel then we were headed back south in the minivan. Drove through some rain. Mark and Molly were competing for who could spot the most osprey nests. Lunched at same restaurant in Farmington that we did on the way up to Baxter.Mark and Molly left us at the AT trailhead at Route 4 around 1:30pm. Chauncey soon left me in the dust. We had agreed to shoot for Reddington Stream Campsite as our destination for the night.On the hike up Saddleback Mtn I stopped in at the Piazza Rock Lean-To to take a pic of the double privy with cribbage board.Very rough hiking up Saddleback. When I reached above treeline I was blasted by freezing wind. Ice up here. I fell once and banged my right knee into a boulder when I slipped on an icy rock. Again I longed for a balaclava and ski goggles. Got back below treeline and out of the wind. Then up and over The Horn which was rooty and icy cold on the summit. Got back into safety of the trees coming down The Horn. While hiking through a "Appalachian Stream" section I was thinking how much more preferable that is than the perilous summit. Just then I had the worst fall of my trip so far. Caught my boot heel or gator strap on something and went down hard forward into the stream. Completely soaked my gloves.Entered Reddington Campsite after sundown. I walked the length of it and didn't see Chauncey. I assumed he hiked on since it wasn't an appealing campsite. He must've hiked the additional 2.5 mi to the next shelter. Put my headlamp on and hiked on. Went over summit of Saddleback Junior completely in the dark. Thankfully the AT white paint blazes were plentiful and easy to spot.Arrived at Poplar Ridge Lean-To around 8pm. There was a tent setup in the shelter but it wasn't Chauncey's. A young woman and her poorly behaved dog came out of the tent when I said hello. She hadn't seen Chauncey. I left a phone message for him telling him where I was.
Date: 2010-10-17
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-To

To: South Branch Carrabassett camping
Miles today: 13.1

Cold night. Lots of mice activity in the shelter. After I made my outmeal, but before I had a single bite, the dog knocked the whole bowl over face down in the mud. Grrrr. Luckily I had extra outmeal so I started making another one. The girl tied her dog on a leash to a tree.Chauncey showed up as I was eating. He spent the night at the Reddington Campsite. Somehow we missed each other yesterday evening. He really blends in to the woods with his clothing and pack.Mostly overcast sky. Fording Oberton Stream in my boots and socks was a mistake. I should've done it in crocs and shorts like Chauncey.Rooty hiking today. Saw a thru-hiking couple heading south. Managed to cross Carrabbasett stream without getting wet. Nice campsite on other side. A girl thru-hiker named Rocket was spending her second night there. She was waiting for the Carrabasett stream to go down before trying to get across.
Date: 2010-10-18
From: South Branch Carrabassett camping

To: Route 27 (Stratton)
Miles today: 8.4

Wokeup in the night feeling sick. Thought it might be a migraine so I got out into the cold and got my foodbag down from the tree. Took some Excedrin Migraine and went back to sleep. Migraine went away.In the morning Rocket forded the Carrabassett successfully and we headed north up Carter Mtn under overcast skies. Ice and snow near summit. Both South and North summits below treeline even though they are above 4,000 feet. Caught back up with Chauncey (he usually hikes ahead of me) around 1:00 pm at Route 27. Didn't see anyone else while hiking today.Chauncey called Stratton Motel and Hostel for a shuttle.Ate a great lunch at White Wolf Cafe in Stratton. Monster sized 1/2 pound burger with sausage patty and bacon. Fries and cokes. Mailed my water filter home at the post office. Since it's been so cold I've been boiling my water instead of filtering.We resupplied and watched TV, mostly weather channel as usual. Tomorrow we go over our last 4,000 footer, Bigelow Mtn. The hotel proprietess, Sue, warned us that there were reports of snow and ice up there.While hiking with the MP3 radio playing today I scanned the FM stations and three of them were in French. We are close to Quebec.
Date: 2010-10-19
From: Route 27 (Stratton)

To: Little Bigelow Lean-To
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I vomited in the night from too much overeating in town. TMI?Sue dropped us off at the Looney Moose Cafe for breakfast. Afterwards she shuttled us back to Route 27 AT trailhead. Cold morning but we could see blue sky and the sun.Steep up Bigelow Mtn. Saw some ice and snow but very little of it presented a challenge. This was our last Mtn above 4,000 feet. Yay! And we actually have views today on the summit and no violent winds. Rough trail down Bigelow. At one point on the descent the trail wound its way through huge boulders, a couple the size of small houses. Crossed paths with a couple going south with 3 dogs as I ascended Little Bigelow Mtn.Lots of nice views today. Little Bigelow Lean-To is a decent shelter. Lots of mice though. In fact I killed my first mouse in that shelter with my hiking pole as it was going for my food. Don't tell PETA.
Date: 2010-10-20
From: Little Bigelow Lean-To

To: Pierce Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Easiest trail so far this trip. And another day of good weather. We didn't get above 2,000 feet all day. Saw 2 separate groups of southbound thru-hikers. Passed a plethora of pretty, peaceful, picturesque ponds. We are alone at the shelter with beautiful view of Pierce Pond. This just might be the shelter with the best view on the entire AT.
Date: 2010-10-21
From: Pierce Pond Lean-To

To: Bald Mtn Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Sky completely overcast this morning. We were hopeful the rain would holdoff until after we are ferried across the Kennebec River. While in Stratton I called the Kennebec River ferryman, David, and arranged a 9:30am ferry in his canoe. But we had heard he doesn't showup if the weather is bad.Hiked a rugged 3 miles then an easy 0.7 down to the Kennebec R. Arrived just as David started canoeing toward us from the other side. David looks like a Davey Crocket. I'll post his picture when I get the chance. He said we are the last northbound hikers he is ferrying for 2010. After us he is scheduled to take 4 southbounders across then he's done for the season. Tomorrow he drives to Kansas for some buffalo hunting thing.Steep climb up Pleasant Mtn. No views as it was overcast. Light rain started on our descent. Rain became heavier as we got lower. Freezing cold ford across Baker Stream in the rain. This time I forded in my crocs instead of my boots.Wet but easy 3 miles to the shelter. We saw no other hikers today and are alone at the shelter. It's a nice large shelter with a brook 20 yards in front.