morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-16
From: Firewarden's Cabin

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 27.9
Weather: light rain

Another big day in the books and I am officially in the White Mountains.I crossed into NH yesterday. The Whites are supposed to be the toughest part of the trail and they make me nervous. People have told me I won't be able to do more than ten miles a day. I guess we will see tomorrow. The day started early when the other people at the shelter got up at 5AM. I was on trail by 6:20AM and made an easy twenty miles by 2PM. I was going to hitch into town for some lunch and a Gatorade but I looked in the book and the town had nothing but a hostel so I resisted the temptation of a short day and moved on. I started the first climb in the Whites just as the sky turned dark and it started thundering. The climb up Mt. Moosilauke was 3700 ft over 5 miles and was a pretty tiring way to finish a big day. I have another big day day planned for tomorrow and hopefully I can hack it. I am tired after so many big days in a row already and the Whites may be a challenge. I am getting back into solo hiking mode and am less lonely today but my legs are real tired.
Date: 2008-06-17
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 15.0

As it turns out, what people said about the Whites may be true. Today was the most difficult day of hiking I have done in years and I didn't even come close to covering the miles I wanted. I got up early and got right to business. The day started with an 1800 ft decent over .6 miles. The super steep downhill was made even tougher by huge boulders that were slippery from last nights rain. I was tired and sore and moving slow. The decent was immediately followed by an extremely tough climb over the Kinsmen and I went from my usual 3 mph to less than 2. The scenery was phenomenal with huge views of endless mountains and the trail was some of the coolest I've ever hiked with lots of waterfalls and boulder scrambles, but I was absolutely miserable. I was in pain, exhausted, and I couldn't cover nearly the ground I wanted to and planned on so I was going to run out of food. I should have been loving it, but it was the pits. Around 3 pm I pulled into the hut at lonesome lake to get some water and bought a piece of cake. In the Whites there is a series of cabins for tourists where a "croo" maintains and serves meals and they can stay inside. Normally it's 100 bucks a night, but they let thru hikers work for stay and I decided to stick around for the night. I washed a few dishes and hung around with the croo. I got a huge meal which helps alleviate my food shortage. Things have greatly improved since this morning. I am getting rested and have decided to relax until the trail gets a bit easier and it may take me a few more days, but it's better than killing myself and not enjoying it.
Date: 2008-06-18
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

A much better day than yesterday, even though I didn't get many miles in. I slept in a bit a bit and ate breakfast with the croo and rolled out. The day started with an easy 3 mile downhill and I had some hopes that today would be easier than yesterday. That hope was quickly dashed when I passed through Franconia Notch and started the 3,300 foot climb up Franconia Ridge. The ridge was amazing. Miles above treeline with huge views and fairly easy hiking. I got over 5,000 ft for the first time in 1000 miles. It was prettiest section of trail I have hiked so far. The rest of the day involved steep climbs and steeper decent. I wasn't exhausted but I decided to call it a day when I reached a hut at 4:30PM because the camping was limited over the next few miles. I did another work for stay that involved wiping down some counters in the kitchen and now I am sleeping in the dining room for the night. It is cold and raining but the view here is amazing.
Date: 2008-06-19
From: Galehead Hut

To: Mizpah Springs Hut
Miles today: 21.1

Finally a good day in the Whites. Got out after breakfast and cruised along across some of the easiest terrain in days. Had a few big rocky climbs, but my legs felt good. Awesome views even though it rained on and off. After 5 or 6 days in a row I am beginning to think it always rains here. Got to the hut and talked my way into a work for stay. Got a huge dinner and sat around talking to a former thru-hiker. My work involved me doing a presentation after dinner and talking to the guests about my hike. It was kind of fun for my ego. People were amazed by my trip. Another thru-hiker, crazy legs, came in and hung out until we went to bed in the library. It's an amazing hut with a great view.
Date: 2008-06-20
From: Mizpah Springs Hut

To: Madison Springs Hut
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: thunderstorm

Woke up early again and had breakfast with the croo. The food has made the Whites one of the nicest places on the trail. Crazy Legs and I left the hut and headed into the highest peaks in the Whites and some of the highest points on the trail. The Presidentials are big but relatively easy once you get up to elevation. We hit Lakes of the Clouds hut before we started climbing and ate all you can eat cake. We headed up Mount Washington, the highest peak in New Hampshire, into a fog. Washington has some of the most severe weather in the world and we were excited for the climb. When we got to the top there was a running race finishing and there was triumphant music coming through the fog. It felt like someone was playing it for us. The people running were really impressive, it's a big climb. On my way down I left crazy legs and headed across the presidentials. It was foggy and started to rain hard. I got soaked and freezing cold and stopped at the next hut I passed. I waited for crazy legs and he arrived he was dry and said he didn't even see rain. We decided to stay and take a rest day after a big day yesterday. We worked for stay and talked to some of the first southbounders we have met. It's weird thinking that they have so much ahead and we are nearing the end.
Date: 2008-06-21
From: Madison Springs Hut

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: fog

Got dried out and hit the trail early trying to get a big day in. The dry didn't last long and we rolled into Pinkham notch as the thunder started. I had a mail drop from Hannah at the visitor center and was really excited to get a package. It was great to get a note and some food. I ate a burger and Crazy Legs and I rolled out to make one of the hardest climbs in the Whites, Wildcat Ridge. It was pouring rain and the trail was slick and rocky. It was a really tough climb and dangerous in places due to the rain. The view was great and the hike after the climb was easy. When we got to the next hut we decided to stop again for the day even though we didn't make our miles. It was cold and rainy and we just didn't feel like going on. We are going into town tomorrow for some food and a shower. It will be nice to relax.
Date: 2008-06-22
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Gorham NH
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The nicest day in a while. The views weren't great but the miles were easy and that was a nice break. We just cruised into town and got down to the relaxing. We ate pizza and putine and headed to the hostel. I haven't been in town in a long time, since Mike's house and a shower and some real food is amazing. It is nice talking to people back home and even though the pace has slowed down it is worth getting my mental state in order for the push into Maine. We enter the last state tomorrow. I can't be more excited. 13 down...1 to go.
Date: 2008-06-23
From: Gorham NH

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

*Note* - I just want to apologize for taking so long getting down to finishing this journal. I ran out of paper in Gorham and didn't actually write any of the journals for the rest of the trip. All the following entries will be done from memory but I remember a lot of it so they should be fine. Thanks for following along.Got a late start out of town because of breakfast and errands. I bought a new pair of North Face shoes to replace my Vasques which were about to fall off my feet and beginning to cause a lot of foot pain. My feet are killing and it is getting difficult to put pressure on them in the mornings. Crazy legs and I hitched back to the trail. We got passed by two cute college girls in a VW bus. I thought it was a sure deal, who drives a VW bus and doesn't pick up two college aged hitch hikers. But we did get a ride and headed out. We were both excited because we knew we were going to be sleeping in Maine tonight. All the miles were going be finally getting us some where. The hike was fairly easy after making it through the Whites. We cruised along and made good time. Maine is beautiful. When we got to the blue sign nailed on a tree that said "Welcome to Maine" I was shaking with excitement. I remembered crossing the Georgia state line about 3 months ago and thinking about how far Maine was. Now I am here. When I signed reigisters before I always wrote GA>ME, but now I am in Maine and will have to sign GA>the end. The shelter is nice, nothing special, but the fact that I made it to Maine is making this a memorable day. Still a long way to go, can't get cocky yet, but I am making it.
Date: 2008-06-24
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Frye Notch Lean to
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Went through the legendary Mahousic Notch today. It was tough but didn't live up to it's reputation. We started at a good hour of the morning and were psyching ourselves up for "the hardest mile of the AT". We rested at Full Goose Shelter right before entering the Notch. The Notch is a narrow valley filled with giant boulders that looks like a game of Tetris gone wrong. You climb over, around and even under these huge obstructions following the white blazes. At some point a moose fell into the notch and it was too difficult to get out and it died in the bottom leaving it's bones in the middle of the trail. Some Tibetan prayer flags hang over the remains. It was fun climbing through the boulders and crawling through the shoulder width holes pushing my pack in front of me. It was tough, but it didn't compare to the climbs in the Whites. The climb out of the Notch on the other hand was insane. One of the toughest climbs yet, but Crazy Legs and I handled it well. The rest of the day was a series of ups and downs but nothing too hard. We got into the shelter to find a group from Outward Bound camped out there. The shelter only had one other person but there were about 30 preteens running around. They kept pretty quiet and were real respectful of us so it was no big deal. Dinner on the other hand was a big deal. I tipped my dinner off my stove not once, but twice. Only two times it happened the entire trip. I felt like an idiot. Luckily I had some extra food and the Outward Bound guides gave me some left over red beans and rice. Not a bad day and it feels good to be going through some of the most legendary parts of the trail.
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Frye Notch Lean to

To: Sabboth Day Pond Lean to
Miles today: 31.6

Finally back to big mileage mode. Feels great to get in a big run. The plan was to go big tomorrow and make an easy day into Rangely tomorrow where both Crazy Legs and I have packages waiting. I can't wait to get another camera, I hate having missed photos from some of the most beautiful parts of the trail. It was a pretty easy day with the exception of Moody Mountain which climbs over 1400 vertical feet in less than a mile. It was just rebar pounded into rock in several places because the trail went vertical. It was pretty cool to climb, tough though. Met a few through hikers today, a whole group in fact. They started a long time before me, one of them in January, and they are the first North Bound thru hikers I have met since Crazy Legs. They were slack packing out of Andover so I will probably see them tomorrow as well. One of the guys, Stormin Norm grew up in Big Bay. It's a small world and nice to run into someone from the UP. Easy day tomorrow.
Date: 2008-06-26
From: Sabboth Day Pond Lean to

To: Rangely, ME
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: broken clouds

Easy day today, just a cruise. No real climbs. Found a flier on tree about some former thru hikers who lived in Rangely and were letting people stay at their house for free so we jumped on it. We were going in anyway, might as well save some cash. Hitched into town and got a hold of the free lodging. They were all working at the bar in town so we stashed our gear there and went up to the store to resupply. Bought a box of cereal and some milk for dinner. What a treat, I haven't eaten cereal in months. Showered and ate and sat around relaxing with some southbounders. It is the first time I have stayed with them and it's interesting to see their attitudes about the hike. They seem so fresh and inexperienced. They talk about carrying 10 days worth of food and how hard the trail is. They are a bunch of young guys and really naive about the trail ahead. They also party like fiends. We probed for information about the upcoming trail but soon realized that what they said wasn't going to help us much since their perspective is so different. It would be interesting to talk to them in 2000 miles. When it came time to sleep we retreated off to another room becaues the Southbounders were staying up a bit late for our weary bones. Gonna mail some of my gear home to lighten my load and get back out tomorrow.
Date: 2008-06-27
From: Rangely, ME

To: Spaulding Mountain Lean To
Miles today: 18.7

A long night. The people we stayed with and the southbounders were up until well past 2AM, 7 hours after I went to sleep, partying and being loud. Nothing wrong with it, just made it tough to sleep and I wish I would have just paid for the hostel. Mailed my stuff off to Hannah and caught a ride back to the trail. Went over saddleback mountain in some fog and rain. It was cold and windy but made the mountaintop very cool to be on. On clear days you can catch your first view of Katahdin from the top but no luck today. Better off that way, don't want to get to excited this far out. The hike was pretty easy and we just cruised along. We've been coming to a lot rivers without bridges lately but have gotten by pretty easily so far and not had to get to wet. Crazy Legs and I decided that we would head into Stratton tomorrow and since we had been living pretty frugally for the entire trail so we could live it in Maine and spend another night in a hostel. So we don't have much food and my pack is extra light. Made for an easy day.
Date: 2008-06-28
From: Spaulding Mountain Lean To

To: Stratton Inn
Miles today: 13.5

Another pretty easy. Maine has great scenery. Just another cruise into town. It has been weird doing the "one night out, one night inn" thing. Some people do this the whole way North. I can see some appeal in it, it's pretty comfortable but I have one more town after Stratton and then it's on to end. But I don't want to think about that yet. The hostel here is nice and there are some southbounders in who seem to have a good grip on what they are doing, unlike the guys in Rangely. Just relaxing, talking to folks back home and resupplying. Last of "the big Mountains" tomorrow. Over the Biggelows and then into the flatland that leads up to Katahdin.
Date: 2008-06-29
From: Stratton Inn

To: West Carry Pond Lean To
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Got out early and had a good day on trail. The weather was great and the views on top of the Bigelows were great. Avery Peak was amazing, you could see all of the flatland into the distance, but no Katahdin. The climbs were tough but nothing to difficult, nothing like New Hampshire. It was a nice day, pretty. Feels good to be getting closer. Crossed the 2000 mile mark today. That is a serious milestone.
Date: 2008-06-30
From: West Carry Pond Lean To

To: Moxie Bald Lean to
Miles today: 32.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Huge day. Slept well last night after getting to swim before bed. I didn't sleep well this morning. The no-see-ums came out around 4AM and that was the end of my sleep. Crazy Legs was having the same problem and without conferring we both got up and moved on by 5AM. The mosquitoes were bad when I got out. This was the first time the bugs had even bothered me. We had to cross the Kenebec River after about 14 miles. This is the largest unbridged crossing on the trail. The ATC runs a ferry across because the current is swinft and the dam upstream makes it a little dangerous. I wanted to ford it (some hikers do) but when I got there I realized it wasn't going to happen. All the rain in the past 2 weeks left the river raging and I sat and waited for the canoe to come get me. We caught the first ferry of the day and at 8am. We already had a lot of miles in and got excited about the possibility of maybe making Monson tonight. We kept moving and made good ground but by the time we hit 30 miles for the day and had 20 to go to town we knew it wasn't going to happen. My new shoes destroyed my feet. They are in pain all the time now and if I stop walking it is a real struggle to start. That and all the fords making them wet and softening the skin has left me in serious pain. So we stopped about 3PM and had some tea with a southbounder. We joked about doing 30 miles before tea time and I think it scared the southbounder, who was just a young kid. We moved on and did a few miles to the next shelter and called it a day and relaxed. With only a few miles to Monson I am really excited. Monson is the gateway to Katahdin.
Date: 2008-07-01
From: Moxie Bald Lean to

To: Shaw's Hostel
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Made it Monson on a beautiful day. Had an easy cruise and were celebrating and joyous the whole time. Walked into Monson off the blue blaze trail and had a good ol' time. Monson has been a goal since the beginning. Once you get here you have pretty much made it. Shaw's is one of the most fabled hostels on the trail and it is great. Well kept, friendly, perfect. Did our laundry, bought some pizza and relaxed. Tried calling home because I know there won't be cell service in the last 100 miles and I have to start planning my trip home. That's a weird thought, going home. But the service here is questionable so it's been tough. Looks like I will have a flight out of Bangor on the 8th. Can't dwell on that though, still have a long way to walk. Met up with don Juan, a hiker I ran into in Shenandoah and met again with Mike and Hampton in PA. He had been a few days ahead after I went to Mike's house. He and Crazy Legs had gone to college together and started the trail together only to split up somewhere along the way. Monson is entrance to the 100 mile wilderness, the last leg of the trail for northbounders. I am excited and my feet are killing me.
Date: 2008-07-02
From: Shaw's Hostel

To: Cloud Pond Shelter
Miles today: 20.1

Into the 100 mile wilderness. There is a sign that says how dangerous it is and how remote and that you need a minimum of 10 days of food. When I saw the sign I laughed. I have 4 days worth. All of the SOBO's at the the hostel were ranting about how tough it is saying there was mud, unfordable rivers and impossible climbs. I laughed about that too. The miles went fast and easy with a good trail and great views. It is beautiful. The shelter is one of the prettiest yet. It sits on a small pond high in the mountains and is well situated. Don Juan is here and I am so stoked to be in the 100 mile. This place is the legend of the AT. Still a long way to go though. My feet hurt more and more but I get more resolute everyday and closer.
Date: 2008-07-03
From: Cloud Pond Shelter

To: East Branch Lean to
Miles today: 27.6

Getting moving now and it becomes more real with every step. I could never describe the excitement, the sense of accomplishment, the fear of coming to the end of the endless trail, and the desire to be finished. It is a strange feeling. The miles seem so easy,even though my feet make every step tough. Crossed several deep fords but nothing too bad, one chest deep and fast but it made the hike fun. I saw my mountain for the first time today. Crazy Legs and I came over the crest of Hay Mountain and there she was, rising up like Mount Olympus. I nearly burst I was so excited. 2000+ miles and three months of walking were all pointed to that mountain and now I could see it. Only people who have been there could understand the immense amount of feeling that descended upon me. By the time I got to the shelter I had calmed down some but I feel the excitement. Some SOBO's brought bottle rockets with them and we celebrated the Fourth of July after dinner. It was a great day.
Date: 2008-07-04
From: East Branch Lean to

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean to
Miles today: 29.6
Weather: broken clouds

Long day today on tired legs and sore feet. It is impossible to take it easy when I am so close I can feel it. I caught several more great views of Katahdin today. It is almost too much to bear. Hike with Crazy Legs most of the day. He was feeling pretty off and felt we had been pushing it to much recently. There is a hostel on one of the lakes that is the only resupply in the 100 mile wilderness. You walk about a mile off the trail to a dock and blow an air horn to signal the owner to come get you in his boat. We were a few hours ahead of schedule due to a quick pace and easy terrain so we decided to stop and have dinner. We got there and relaxed for an hour before they were ready to serve dinner. I had an enormous cheeseburger, one of the best of my life. After dinner I bought a little food and prepared to take the boat back to the trail. Crazy Legs decided to stay at the hostel rather than hike the last 7 miles to the shelter. I didn't have much of a choice as I have a plane waiting for me on the 8th. So I left Crazy Legs with promises to meet up after I finished the trail and he caught up. I hiked the last 7 miles and pulled in just after dark to meet don Juan at the shelter.
Date: 2008-07-05
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean to

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 33.0
Weather: clear sky

Holy Shit! the last full day of hiking. I've almost made it. Five miles left. Long painful day. Struggled with every step. But I made it! don Juan and I got up early and hit the trail hard. We pushed through the miles. My feet have never felt worse. I am always struggling but I am moving forward and I can see some respite in the future. I have never felt better than when we walked out of the 100 mile wilderness onto the Golden Road and crossed Abol Bridge. Katahdin was there to the North. Huge. Rising up out of nowhere with huge amounts of mountain above treeline. I have never seen anything more beautiful or exciting. We marveled in the mountains size and beauty for a few minutes then moved on as we had a lot of miles still to cover. We stopped in the store and bought some snacks for the climb tomorrow and bought some beverages for celebrating at the top. I struggled the last 10 miles but it was a long day and very satisfying. I saw a moose in the last mile before getting to the campground. She was feeding in one of the lakes. That fills up my AT wildlife bingo card. At the campground it was strange to see so many people. We registered and paid for the site. I am 22nd thru hiker to register at the campground, making me certainly one of the first 25 to finish. We signed the register and headed to our lean to eat and rest up. I am shaking with excitement.