morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-06-16
From: Gentians Pond shelter

To: Speck pond shelter
Miles today: 14.7

Long day of hiking. Took almost 13 hours to do the 14.7. One of the slowest days.  Not sure why, yes tough hiking but can¢t remember anything overly difficult. Guess just each mile was difficult and slow. Mahoosuc notch was not as difficult as advertised but was loads of fun. Of course the ice and snow in the notch made it a bit more challenging. Climb up out of the notch to camp site advertised as one of the steepest on the AT. I believe it. Just glad I was going up verses down.
Date: 2019-06-17
From: Speck pond shelter

To: Dunn notch and falls
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Good day of hiking. Temps perfect, bugs not so, especially when we got to camp. Fantastic views from baldpate.  Excellent stealth camp sites here at Dunn Notch and Falls. Of course notch means an immediate climb, 1700 feet, when we depart camp in the morning. At least it will be over 5 miles so hopefully not too bad. Amazing.   We left the White Mountains at Grafton notch and the trail immediately mellowed. Well actually it started to mellow about a mile south of Grafton, still pretty dramatic change. Hopefully we can start doing a few more miles a day and still get into camp by 5.10 miles to Andover for a 1.5 day resupply.
Date: 2019-06-19
To: Maine route 4
Miles today: 22.0

Kinda a difficult first 7 miles but then Trail magic 1 - cooler on side of trail with soda and snacks. We stopped for a few but the bugs were bad. Up a steep decent then Trail magic 2 - some folks gave us a few oranges to eat. We had them on a bench overlooking the Rangley lakes.  Then Trail magic 3 - Fresh grounds Of leap frog cafe was set up in the scenic look pullover. We had lunch of fresh made fries, grilled cheese and pork chops. He told us we could do another 13 in 6 hours so off we went.   Finished a 22 mile day and ended up a the Hiker hut. Really 4 or 5 little huts. Very clean but primitive. We heard Fresh grounds will be at the trail head to feed us breakfast in the morning.
Date: 2019-06-20
From: Maine route 4

To: Spaulding Mt lean to
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day started promising. Blueberry pancakes, bacon and coffee from our friend fresh grounds. Got started hiking about 7:30. Very misty/foggy.  First big up, of course steps from breakfast, was Saddleback. Wasn¢t bad, unfortunately in a cloud so no views.  Made 11 miles by 1, had lunch at a shelter. Shelter was small and packed due to deteriorating weather. We decided to push on and and do another 8.  Rain picked up and was steady all afternoon. Totally soaked by the time I got to Spaulding shelter.  It was packed so pitched my tent. Fortunately rain abated a bit so was able to setup without getting much wetter. 13.5 to Stratton where we have a room booked at Hostel of Maine and where I have new shoes and a food resupply waiting.
Date: 2019-06-21
From: Spaulding Mt lean to

To: Maine route 27 hostel of Maine 
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: few clouds

Rain stopped last night but was a misty murky day. No views from the couple of 4000 footers we summited. Made the 13.5 by 12:30 where surprised. Fresh grinds was there to feed us once again.  Got picked up by the hostel, dried out stuff and enjoyed a few beers. Got new shoes!  Always a treat and a mail drop of food (with a few surprises in the box!)
Date: 2019-06-22
From: Maine route 27 hostel of Maine 

To: Little bigelow lean to
Miles today: 15.2

The bigelow range provided very impressive viewsPassing thunderstorms most of the day, only got rained on for about 10 seconds despite all the thunder and dark cloud.  Provided extra drama to the views. So two days ago I broke one of my poles. Fresh grinds was kind enough to loan me his.  we¢ll see him monson and he plans to summit Katahdin with us.  One of his poles was broken and fixed with a stick inside it which was ok with me. Well about 10 miles in that poke broke. I¢m not having any luck with poles!  Left my rain jacket back at the hostel. Bad move!  One of the more critical pieces of gear.  Helps prevent hyperthermia!  Well I just happened to realize it when talking with some of the weekend hikers who stayed at the hostel with us last night. One of the woman said ¢Do you want mine, I¢m going back to the hostel and don¢t need it. Besides next week is my birthday and I want to get a new one¢.  So now I¢m the proud owner of a woman¢s bright purple rain jacket!
Date: 2019-06-23
From: Little bigelow lean to

To: Stealth spot 2037.1 pierce pond
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

Clearly we walked off the AT. Finished 18 miles by 2:30!  Can¢t remember when that happened last. Certainly before the Whites.  Nice day to hike.  Low 70s? A bit breezy at times kept the bugs to a minimum although there were times when they were aggressive. Had lunch on a small sandy beach on  a lake. That was most outstanding. Really nice moose sighting.  Was just ambling around the trail - checking us out as much as we were checking it out. See it right in the center of the pic just to the left of the white AT blaze. Stopped by Harrison¢s pierce pond camp to put our breakfast order in. 12 Blueberry pancakes, eggs and bacon await us tomorrow morning!  Harrison¢s a real throw back to old style Maine camp.  Guy has been running it for 35 years, place looks like it was built 75 years ago. So much  character and probable few places like it left anymore.
Date: 2019-06-24
From: Stealth spot 2037.1 pierce pond

To: Bald mountain brook lean to
Miles today: 18.4

Day started well at Harrison¢s pierce pond camp. Most giant stack of 12 pancakes - red/raspberry, white/apple, and blue/blueberry was easily consumed with the ¢side¢ of sausage and eggs.  Sufficiently full and caffeinated, we knock off the 3 to the Kennebec river crossing where we were canoed across to Caratunk. Got a mail drop of food at the hostel. Oh and a pulled pork sandwich and two milkshakes. All this food by 11!   Needless to say I did not need lunch on the trail today. So much fun to consume so many calories and not gain an ounce.  Made last 15 miles by  5:15. Mosquitoes absolutely swarmed. By far the worst they have been by a factor of 2 or 3. I think will be a long day tomorrow as we will try to do 22 into Monson. Got to keep a careful eye on the miles and July 3 Katahdin summit date.
Date: 2019-06-25
From: Bald mountain brook lean to

To: Monson / ShawÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs hostel
Miles today: 22.0

Today was a heads down get¢er done day. We decided last night to do the 22 miles into Monson.  Made it in 8.5 hours which was excellent time. I was exhausted though. I could barely make the huge 300 foot climb near the end. I think I stopped 2 or 3 times on the way up.  3 river fording today. Was fun, just plunged right in. Water never did get above my knees.  Nothing dangerous.
Date: 2019-06-26
To: long pond stream lean to
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

First day in the 100. We were planning on leaving noonish and only doing 10, but got started about 10:40While few ups and downs, going was a bit slow due to all the roots. So many roots! That and they were wet from the rain last night. Made the shelter about 4:30 and decided to do another 5 to long pond shelter.Snapping turtles our laying eggs this time of year.No see ums made their appearance today. Yea!!!!
Date: 2019-06-27
From: long pond stream lean to

To: stealth site 2108.1 / near west branch pleasant river
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

Not a top 10 (or 20) day on the trail. Oh well ya have them now and then. Was very slow progress as took 10 hours to do the 15.5. Trail was just rooty, rocky, wet and slippery. Multiple small ups and rooty, rocky, wet and slippery downs. Due to cloud and fog, we missed the views today. So it was bone jarring mentally exhausting day.
Date: 2019-06-28
From: stealth site 2108.1 / near west branch pleasant river

To: East branch lean to
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: few clouds

Easy hiking today. 11 miles to do the 3000 foot climb to the top of white cap mountain. First views of Katahdin from White cap where we had lunch and dried tents. Tremendous thunderstorm last night. Quite the lightning show. Tried to wash up a bit in the stream at the lean to but the mosquitoes and deerflys convinced me otherwise. I mentioned mosquito attacks before, but this one was on another level. Getting a food drop tomorrow - last one! Only 4 more days of hiking left then the 5 miles to the top of Katahdin
Date: 2019-06-29
From: stealth site 2108.1 / near west branch pleasant river

To: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: clear sky

Made good miles to jo-mary road crossing where we picked up 3 days resupply. Mosquitoes helped made sure we moved quickly. Deeted up a few times today and wore bug net more frequently than in the past. Hiking was pretty easy. Light showers on and off. Not enough to warrant any rain gear. In fact most of the time rain barely made it through the tree canopyMade an executive decision that we would do 21 miles the next 2 days to get us to the base of Katahdin. I see no need to stretch it out any longer. Let¢s see how that new plan goes.
Date: 2019-06-30
From: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to

To:  Rainbow Spring campsite
Miles today: 21.9

Up and out early. Rain held off till about 9, then rained heavily till about noon. Sun made an appearance and the day cleared after 1. While we made camp at 4, miles came hard as the trail is very very rooty. Got to keep your head down and pay attention all the time. Several stream crossings
Date: 2019-07-01
From: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 21.2
Weather: clear sky

Easy hiking today. Made it Abol bridge about noon. And who was there to feed us? Fresh grounds! Met Samariton¢s wife Gale who had been traveling on and off with fresh grounds last few days. After eating, and and ice cream!, did the last 8 miles into Katahdin Stream campground. What a Beautiful day
Date: 2019-07-02
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Katahdin Summit
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: few clouds

The end of an epic journey. Took me two years and two LASHes (Long Ass Section Hikes). The first in 2017 of 1500 miles, the second of 700 miles (oh and the extra 340 in April and May!) but finally completed every inch of the 2192 Appalachian Trail.  Yesterday we heard "100% chance of rain and thunder storms" so knew it would be best to get up and off the summit early. Started up the trail at 5:50 and made the summit by 9. About 2 miles of very steep rock scrambles, followed by an easy 1+ mile of ridge walking to the Summit. Samaritan and I were the first of the day to summit and the only ones there the 15 minutes we spent there. Was a bit too cool, damp and breeze to linger.4.5 miles back down and one last death defying decent via the ABOL trail back to the base. We did miss the storms, just a short shower as we finished the most treacherous parts of the decent, then really let loose the last mile. But who cared if we got wet! Goodbyes were short due to the rain.
Date: 2019-01-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My lifelong hiking partner has given me her blessing to go to the woods this spring on my own. We hiked together through MD, PA and most of NJ in 2015. I'll be starting in the south and heading north. I have no fixed itinerary and no expectations. Joani, my beloved pardner, is going to support me along the way. I heard a rumor back in 2015 that some segment of the American public actually bets on AT hikers posting on social media like this one....who will succeed, who will fail. Could this be true? It sounds absurd, so indeed it must be true. Or absurd; take your pick. I only know that once I step out onto the gravel and roots, my true friends and my ever-faithful family will be with me wherever this little adventure leads.
Date: 2019-01-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

There are lots of articles, books, opinions and advice about how I should be preparing for a long-distance hike on the AT this spring. Fortunately, I live in a paradise of mountains and hiking trails and scenic beauty. It makes for some pretty awesome training days. One of the great allures of the AT, for me anyway, is that every day is a new place, an unexplored trail. On the AT I don't have to turn around, or circle back to the car. I can keep looking around every bend, expecting surprise.
Date: 2019-03-06
To: Amicalola Falls Lodge
Miles today: 0.0

joani has delivered me safely to Amicalola Lodge and we are enjoying a quiet evening here before I launch tomorrow morning for Springer and the southern terminus of the AT. We have been there together many years ago. I still wonder why they don't just start the AT at the base of the falls in the park. But it matters not, the trail designation is just a matter of convention. It occurs to me that the AT is a long, long walk, no matter where the starting line is drawn in the path under our feet. I hope to enjoy tomorrow and days to come. I'll miss my beautiful wife, all my friends and family. But the beauty of the woods and streams and mountain paths will keep me company until I return home.
Date: 2019-03-07
From: Amicalola Falls Lodge

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

After bidding my wife farewell, I have started my hike up the approach trail towards Springer Mtn and the official starting point of the AT. It was a cold morning, and there lots of frozen tracks of hikers in the path. Even the mole tunnels crossing the trail were frozen and I started to wonder if the little diggers worked overnight through the frozen ground, or did their work before the freeze. I can picture the little rodents working away just under the frozen mud, with tiny hammer and chisel. The bigger mystery is why they feel compelled to go from one side of the trail to the other. I made it to Springer with no problem, and the morning was quiet. Started to see a lot more hikers at Springer. When I got to Stover Creek Shelter, there was a good crowd of fellow AT hikers, some tenting and others in the shelter. I snagged a spot in the shelter and enjoyed some good fellowship with a lot of new hikers. Rumors of rain tomorrow, but rain is the norm. It's coming on Spring, and I have to remember that I will be hiking through the Southern Appalachians, a true temperate rainforest.
Date: 2019-03-08
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Gooch Mtn shelter
Miles today: 10.1

Today reflected the normal for the AT in the Southern Apps...overcast, light rain or rain masquerading as fog. I spent the day mostly walking head down into the rain. Because of the weather I was really hoping there would be "room at the inn" at Gooch shelter. When I arrived, there was one last spot, everyone following had to scramble for available tent sites and try to set up in the weather. An ATC trail runner was there, trying his best to direct traffic. It was a crowded, hectic night of drying off gear, cooking and organizing under the porch of the shelter. The crowded conditions made for a fitful night but I was grateful to be dry and squared away in one of the AT's many and convenient lean-to shelters
Date: 2019-03-09
From: Gooch Mtn shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: moderate rain

The rainy weather continued through the night and this day it rained lightly pretty much all day. It's hard to focus on the beauty of the woods with these conditions but occasionally the foggy mist through the trees adds some mystery to the dark woods. I arrived at Woods Hole shelter and we had plenty of room with only 5 humans and a dog. Zaffer is the faithful companion of two of my trailmates from Maine. Zaffer is a good dog. But he snores. And since he was bunked next to me, I kept feeling his extended front paw rhythmically tapping my shoulder through the night. Every now and then I had to grab his paw and move it away. So, a new experience sharing my trail bed with a dog. His owners were apologetic and Zaffer is such a good dog, all is forgiven. He wasn't the only cause of a fitful night...it continued to rain and howl all night. But by morning the clouds were breaking and the shelter site revealed itself as a scenic open ridgetop. Light fog rolled through before the sun broke free in the east.
Date: 2019-03-10
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Mountain Cossings Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 3.8

After two days of gloomy weather the short hike over Blood Mtn and into Neel Gap made for a great day. Beautiful woods, some nice views and my first maildrop resupply awaiting at Mountain Crossings Hiker Hostel. This great old stone structure was built by the CCC back in the '30s and has that unmistakable look of the great stone work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Now a hiker store and small but cozy hostel. My bunk included a towel for a welcome hot shower. After cleaning up and cooking up my evening meal, I went out on the large stone work deck and watched the sun go down behind the mountains. The bonus was meeting up for the second time with trail magic brought to us hikers by the good folks of the Georgia Mountain Resort and Christian Retreat. I know that's not exactly the name, but they were affiliated with a church in Raleigh, NC. They grilled me up a special order of veggie burgers (thanks David!).
Date: 2019-03-11
From: Mountain Cossings Hiker Hostel

To: Blue Mountain Tenting Area
Miles today: 18.0

My original plan was to stop at Low Gap Shelter. But after hiking through some very poor looking woods (lots of blowdowns, broken trees and eroded ground) I arrived at the shelter location to find a muddy, unappealing mess. To stay on track for my next maildrop I decided to push on to the next shelter location at Blue Mountain. I'm glad I did, the woods became healthy again, and the last 7 miles was mostly easy hiking along an old logging road. Daylight was waning, and energy was sapped, so I stopped short of the shelter at the testing site. It was a scramble to get my little shelter set up before dark. All the level tent sites were taken so I had to make do with a bit of a slope. Being so tired, it didn't matter and I slept well. Once again, I awoke to a beautiful sunrise.
Date: 2019-03-12
From: Blue Mountain Tenting Area

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

A hike through the woods can be amazing on a beautiful blue-sky day. This was one of those days. Even two steep, rocky climbs felt easier underfeet with cool temperatures and clear skies. I reached a flat ridgetop on the back side of Tray Mtn and was thrilled to see a nice shelter with only one other hiker to share it with. Solitude on the AT at the start of the northbounder season is hard to come by, so the quiet of the shelter area was welcome. Waking to a beautiful sunrise was so fitting for this peaceful place.
Date: 2019-03-13
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Top of Georgia Hiking Center
Miles today: 11.0

Today I noticed the first big stand of rosebay rhododendrons along the trail. The woods are starting to look more like the ones I know from NC. I arrived at my second hostel stop at Top of Georgia. Checking in felt a little like my first day of summer camp, but the staff is enthusiastic and very helpful. I get the rules and procedures. They deal with a constant stream of tired, dirty hikers and all their gear and troubles. I plan to spend an extra day to rest up, and catch up with the outside world.
Date: 2019-03-14
From: Top of Georgia Hiking Center

To: Top of Georgia Hiking Center
Miles today: 0.0

spent an extra day at the hostel for what AT World calls a Zero Day. Rested, clean, full of good food, comfortable bunk and a ride back to the trail tomorrow morning. That's not a zero to me. Hanging around a hostel an extra day gives one a sense of the human parade marching north on the trail.
Date: 2019-03-15
From: Top of Georgia Hiking Center

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: moderate rain

A long day of backpacking with 30 pounds on your back is made easier by breaking it up into little segments. "We'll take a break at the next water hole." "In a couple of miles there's a sign at the GA/NC border." "That shelter has to be right around the next bend." On this day, a morning of light drizzle left over from the previous night's rainstorms kept promising to end, only to start up again. Still, the woods held an eerie fog and only the noise of raindrops on my pack umbrella was heard. By mid-day, conditions gradually improved and traces of sunlight made it to the ground. After getting to the NC line on the trail, a blue-headed vireo welcomed my entry. Seems like the forest birds hunker down in bad weather just like we do. As the sun continued to warm the air, I heard nuthatches, titmice, chickadees and a pileated woodpecker sing songs of relief. Arriving at Muskrat Creek Shelter was a welcome end to a black/white day. Made more enjoyable by the two new hiking mates who shared the shelter with me. Do the NC woods feel any different than those I left behind in Georgia? Well, yes they do.
Date: 2019-03-16
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

The sun continued to hold sway over the clouds and rain, barely. Rumors along the trail indicated cold nights coming. Last night and again tonight those rumors proved true. Carrying extra gear and clothing for the cold adds about 3 pounds to my pack weight. But it's better for me to carry the load than suffer through the night shivering in my sleeping bag. So, it was cold but I was able to sleep pretty comfortably through the night. But even in the shelters, if the cold air is pushed along by 15-20 mph winds, there is no protection. So for about 3 nights it got a little "chilly" by about 4am. What to do? Put on every piece of clothing you carried, zip the sleeping bag up to your nose, and hope like hell your bladder holds out.
Date: 2019-03-17
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Long Branch Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

My friend Peter Barr said to try to visit all the fire towers on or near the AT in North Carolina and Tennessee. He wrote a great little book about the towers in the southern Appalachians. Today I had a chance to check out the first along my path, Albert Mountain. It is a real pleasure to know that a dedicated bunch of people are concerned about preserving and restoring the remaining fire towers in our mountain region. Their work is evident as towers like Albert have been fixed up, made safe for visiting, and showcased for the public. There's a lot of history associated with each tower, from the challenges of their construction to the rugged mountain folks who stood watch in them. No longer needed for forest fire management, they still remind us of how vast and remote the southern Appalachian forest remains to this day.
Date: 2019-03-18
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 7.2

After spending another very cold night at Long Branch Shelter, the easy, breezy walk down to Winding Stair Gap and a meet-up with Joani made for a delightful day. Clear blue skies, gently graded trails, and the promise of companionship, a warm hotel, and good food all made for a buoyant afternoon walk. Meeting so many new people along the trail and in the shelters or hostels, it's easy to forget that solitude is a big reason to be out here. Making a northbound trek on the AT in March is not an exercise in solitude. It's a social experiment. Only the forest and the streams themselves force solitude onto the scene. Walking along the path each day is your only real moment of zen. Having said that, nothing felt finer than seeing my wonderful wife pull up in the car to whisk me back to civilization for the night.