morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-08-16
From: Gentian Pond campsite

To: Full Goose shelter 
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I¢m in Maine - and glad to be here. Rain last night including some thunder and lightning (I was so bushed I hardly noticed). More rain early this morning so I got a little later start than anticipated with a wet tent. Trail not the greatest this morning - lots of really overgrown sections. Plus the AMC in New Hampshire just doesn¢t like to paint white blazes on the trees. Winds picked up early on so I knew the weather was a changing. By the time I summited Mt Success the skies were blue with lots of sunshine. Stayed that way the rest of the day although remained quite windy in the high elevations. Reached the Maine border for lunch. Wow what a difference in trails this afternoon - specifically trail engineering. Saw more white blazes in the first couple miles of Maine as in all the Whites practically. Plus great boardwalks, rebar and wooden ladders, etc. and interestingly I¢m still in AMC territory but the Maine chapter is doing great. Not to bash the AMC in New Hampshire but you just get the feeling they have too many trails in the Whites to maintain and many of those trails were built long ago and frankly with poor design. AMC tries its best to maintain them but seem overwhelmed. Anyhoot while this Maine section is very tough I really enjoyed the trail design and improvements. It was actually fun climbing Goose Eye Mountain - great views from all three peaks. Got to this shelter around 5:30pm and there was no way I could finish Mahoosic Notch today. So the Notch and Arm will have to wait until tomorrow. Feels like it might be a little cooler tonight. I¢m bundled in the bag and ready to shut down for the night.
Date: 2018-08-17
From: Full Goose shelter 

To: Speck Pond
Miles today: 5.1

A short day mileage-wise but not necessarily an easy one. Last night was a little cooler (low 40¢s), slept well. Weather this morning was great which was lucky for me as this morning I went through the ¢most fun mile¢ on the trail, a jumble of boulders you climb around, over and under in Mahoosic Notch. Just as I was starting the Notch I ran into a nice quartet of dayhikers from PA (two which were finishing their 15 yr long hike of the AT by hiking the Notch/Arm and then Mt Katahdin).  In 2015 it took me 2 1/2 hoursto hike the mile through the Notch. This year it took me 2 1/2 hours to go through the Notch. Yes I went slow and careful. Think I had to take my pack off several more times this year than 2015 which means I went under instead of over several more jumbles. Finished up the Notch a little after 11am and had an early lunch with the Pennsylvanians at the Bull Branch campsite. Then it was up Mahoosic Arm, a 1,300 ft climb some folks find as hard as the Notch. I just put it into extra low. It¢s actually a climb you¢d much rather go up than down - lots of steep rock slabs. Weather held as I climbed the Arm. Got to Speck Pond and it started to sprinkle. That plus the prediction of potentially severe thunderstorms tonight plus the fact that the next shelter was 6.9 miles away convinced me to call it quits for the day although it was only 2:30pm. In between sprinkles I went down to the pond and cleaned up slightly. I¢ve eaten, talked to the caretaker here and ready to call it a night - although it¢s only 7:30pm. So far five other folks at shelter. With predicted weather I¢m guessing a few more arrive in next hour or so. Tomorrow I inch a little further into Maine.
Date: 2018-08-18
From: Speck Pond

To: Dunn Notch
Miles today: 14.2

The shelter arose early today. I lay around for awhile before getting up. Rained a little last night but not as much as I had hoped (was hoping all the rain would get out of the atmosphere last night). Alas it was a drizzling morning. Finally left the shelter around 8am. Trail climbed Old Speck first thing (4065 ft). Lots of wet granite slabs on top. Luckily they were pretty grippy. Last time I had great views from Old Speck, this time clouds. Trail down to Grafton Notch is s long, steep one - over 2,500 ft and 4.6 miles. I was dragging when I reached the Notch and then . . . MAGIC!!!! Magic in the form of Big Al, a thruhiker last year who was set up with subs, chips, desserts, great clementines and drinks. I had some of all!! Wow just what my body needed! Thanks Big Al!!! And just at the right time as the trail climbed Baldpate Mountain (3810 ft) next. Another long tough climb but with all the food magic my body did much better. Baldpate was one of my favorite mountains in 2015. Raining and socked in the clouds this year. Still great steps right near tree line of West Peak. Above tree line Baldpate¢s rocks got less grippy. In fact some got slippery!! Going up (using all four limbs) I slipped a number of times with no damage. Coming across the top I slipped twice and fell. Tore my rain pants the first fall, bruised my right side the second time. What concerned me were several southbounders telling me on top how slippery it was to come down. I¢d already fallen twice and now I had to go down a steep, slippery mountain. Well, I went really carefully (slow). Slipped a couple times but didn¢t fall anymore. Got to the shelter about 4:45pm and decided to push to this site further down the mountain. Got in a little before 7pm. I¢m the only one here. Ate, put up the bear bag (first time in forever as all the sites since before the Whites have had bear boxes) and I¢m tucked into the tent. Good day but a long one. I¢m hoping for a good nights sleep!!!
Date: 2018-08-19
From: Dunn Notch

To: South Arm Rd
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Well after a long but good day yesterday I figured the body wouldn¢t be able to repeat today. I was right. Trail probably was a little tamer but tougher for me. Trail climbed Wyman Mountain this morning. Wyman isn¢t a big mountain (just under 3,000 ft) but not a great trail climbing it - lots of roots, rocks, areas where trail is eroding and slanted, lots of quick turns - it all makes it very hard to maintain any pace at all. Slow and tough going. After Wyman it was a steep down into Sawyer Notch and then a steep up to Moody Mountain. The thing I¢ve noticed about Southern Maine (like the Whites) is everything seems to be straight up and straight down these mountains. The saving grace today was great weather. Trail still really muddy but rocks were dry. That makes a world of difference. On top of Moody I called the Pine Ellis hostel to arrange a pickup. Got to the road and got picked up along with six slackpackers (coming from the north). I stayed at the Pine Ellis in 2015. It¢s definitely in a lower class the the great hostels I¢ve been in recently but the folks are nice and I remember a very soft bed last time. This time and place is packed with folks slackpacking. I¢m sleeping in the bunkhouse (ie shed) instead of the main house and the mattress is not very good. By the time I checked in the slackpackers were in shower mode (only one bathroom in hostel) and I was told I would be showering seventh. Well, I didn¢t need a shower that much anyhoot so I did laundry, went to the General store to resupply and eat dinner (I was hoping for veggies and grilled meat but everything was fried on the menu - ended up with the fried chicken) and came back and took shower about 8pm. I¢m bushed now. The bed although hard is calling
Date: 2018-08-20
From: South Arm Rd

To: Dirt Road campsite 
Miles today: 12.2

Well that bed was hard last night. Didn¢t sleep well and then at 5am everyone else in the shed (bunkhouse) had their alarms go off. They had a 6am shuttle back to the trail. Needless to say lots of noise and activity. I finally got up about 5:30am, stretched and went to breakfast back at the General Store. Got shuttle back to trailhead by 8:30am. Another tough day of roots, rocks, mud and steep mountains. Thought my big breakfast would make things easier this morning. Think it actually made things harder. Trail climbed 2,200ft to Old Blue Mountain. Some nice steps and rebar ladders made it slightly easier but mostly it was a tough slog. View marginal at best on top. Today the trail went through quite a few boggy, muddy areas on boardwalk - unfortunately most of the boardwalk was quite old and broken or rotten. Your boots were going to get wet and muddy today. Heard story to one hiker who fell off boardwalk into waist deep mud. I believe it! Several times my trekking poles have gone several feet down without hitting bottom. Second climb of day was up Bemis Mountain. Trail really slow and rooty between two mountains but okay up Bemis. Trail spends a lot of time on top Bemis (3 miles). Lots of winding around on rock outcrops. Trail well marked but in bad weather things might be harder to follow. Luckily, like yesterday, weather was great. After lunch my body felt a lot better hiking. Great blueberries on the rock outcrops of Bemis. Eventually you have to put the blinders on and just hike. Got to this campsite about 6:15pm. Folks finishing up trail magic on road just south of here. I got a couple apples and filled my water bottles. That saved some time with dinner preparation. Thanks so much! I¢ve eaten and all the chores are done. Think it¢s going to be in the 40¢s tonight. Time to zip up the bag and call it a day.
Date: 2018-08-21
From: Dirt Road campsite 

To: ME4 Rangeley ME
Miles today: 14.2

Well I made the mistake of reading about this section of trail in my 2015 journal. I called it an overall ¢tame¢ section and, in 2015, was finished by 2:30pm. Hmmmm. I¢m impressed with my 2015 self but depressed with my 2018 self! I struggled again. Not to get redundant but lots roots, rocks and mud. Again saving grace was dry weather and today the lack of large steep climbs (after the first 0.8 m that went straight up to ME17). Stopped at the sandy beach before the Sabbath Pond leanto late this morning and was in need of an attitude adjustment. Went for a quick dip. That helped somewhat. The downhill and somewhat less rooty and muddy nature of the trail the last 5 miles from Little Swift River pond helped even more. Got to the road at 5:30pm. Nice treat at the road was running into the honeymooning hikers, Galaxy and Songbird. Hadn¢t seen them since Massachusetts. They are doing well and were preparing to head a little further north. Me? I was heading 0.3m down the road to the Hiker Hut hostel. Fun but primitive hostel totally off the grid. Had comfortable hot outside shower thanks to propane heated water on demand system. Steve, the owner, is a nice interesting guy who fed me bonfire cooked popcorn when I arrived and later had some veggies he had cooked which I mixed with my Mac and cheese. I¢m content and ready for bed.
Date: 2018-08-22
From: ME4 Rangeley ME

To: Route 4 - Rangeley ME
Miles today: 0.0

I¢m zeroing today and it¢s a great day for it. My body is in desperate need for a rest and the weather forecast calling for rain is spot on. Steve made us egg sandwiches for breakfast. I really like this place but glad today to have the chance to go into town and charge electronics, etc. Rangely has a nice library where I spent a good part of the day. Made some tentative arrangements to get home (should be finishing Saturday), had lunch with Jerry, nice section hiker from near Nashville, had milk shake, went to IGA for resupply and came back to the Hiker Hut for a delicious lentil vegetable stew and cornbread. Marcus, German southbound hiker (whose already hiked AT, CDT, PCT, and Arizona Trail) came in after 20+ miles over the Saddlebacks in the rain. Quite friendly and cheerful spirit. Hung out around the fire pit for a bit but it¢s hiker midnight (about 8pm now). Time for bed.
Date: 2018-08-23
From: Route 4 - Rangeley ME

To: Woods road 0.1m N of Orbeton Stream
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Up around 5:30pm. Jerry is slackpacking today and is getting a 6am shuttle. After a nice egg sandwich, tea, Dr Pepper and brownie I was off for the trail around 7:15am. Really liked Hiker Hut. Nice folks, nice vibe. I think the Dr Pepper and the zero day yesterday helped me. Today I felt much stronger hiking. First 6 miles today were up Saddleback Mountain (4120 ft). Besides Katahdin, Saddleback may have the most above tree line alpine area in Maine. Today that alpine area was wild. We had a cold front move in last night and the winds on top today must have been close to 60 mph (someone said 70 mph but that was probably stretching it). Nonetheless it was wild. Wind pushed you every step. I was staggering, struggling to keep on the trail. (Galaxy, half of the honeymooning thruhikers, said at one point he was blown 5 ft off trail). Once off the top, things became calmer. I tucked into a protected area between Saddleback and the Horn and had a food break. Wind, while strong, was somewhat diminished by the time I reached the summit of the Horn (3985 ft). By the time I got over to Saddleback Junior (3655 ft) it was just a nice 20 mph breeze on top. Bunch of Harvard freshmen on top as well (preorientation program). Very polite. Dropped off the mountain, had some more food on the Poplar Ridge summit, had to put my crocs on to ford Orbeton stream and am camping on same roadbed above stream that I did in 2015. Bunch more Harvard freshmen camped nearby (I believe Harvard should spread their kids out more, 25+ folks within a couple of miles of each other really puts a burden on the resource particularly during the peak time for AT thruhikers. Doesn¢t anyone at Harvard take a Leave No Trace course???). Anyhoot, I¢m further down the roadbed, they¢re having a singalong by a bonfire, and I¢m hitting the hay. Less than 20 miles to Stratton from here.
Date: 2018-08-24
From: Woods road 0.1m N of Orbeton Stream

To: Crocker Cirque campsite 
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: broken clouds

Slept in a little today. Up and on the trail around 8:30am. Had two things going for me today. Another nice weather day and, for much of the day, a decent trail. (Shoutout to the trail yesterday too. While there were bad sections - my entire boot went under mud more than once - overall trail more cared for and in better condition than previous days). Glad to have that going for me as my body, once again, couldn¢t put two good days back to back. I struggled in sections today. Climbed several mountains today - Lone, Spaulding and Sugerloaf. No great views and the ones I got were hazy. Really steep downhill off Sugarloaf to the Carrabassett River. By that time I was bushed so sat on a rock and watched the water go by. Finally climbed up to this campsite. It¢s a nice one with the stream babbling nearby. Last night in Maine. Tomorrow I¢ll hike to ME27 near Stratton where Brighty and I got off trail last year. Then it¢s back to see my favorite hiking partner and soulmate so we can finish this AT journey together by hiking from Gathland into Harpers Ferry. First it¢s time for some rest in my home away from home- our good ole Double Rainbow Tarptent.
Date: 2018-08-25
From: Crocker Cirque campsite 

To: Stratton ME
Miles today: 7.4

Up at 5:30am. Another hazy but nice weather day. Trail steep from the start climbing up South Crocker. Steep but little need for four limbs which was nice. Best views of the day during that first mile up. Climbed down and up North Crocker and then a long 5+ miles downhill to the road. Trail was good. Side hill construction, waterbars, etc. Still rooty but not nearly the erosion I¢ve been seeing particularly south of Saddleback. Got to the road around noon and Maine is done! Hitched a ride into town with about the tenth car that passed. Super nice local guy. He dropped me off in Stratton. Trout at the hostel let me take a shower there. Thanks Trout!!! Got some lunch at the grocery, Seth shuttled me into Augusta and I¢m at the Comfort Inn near the bus station ready to head home tomorrow. Seems like I¢ve been hiking for a long time. I¢m ready to head home and see the family!!!  As mentioned before, Brighty and I still need to finish Maryland for our hike to be complete. Hopefully we can get that done in next week. Stay tuned!
Date: 2018-09-06
From: Crampton Gap

To: Ed Garvey shelter
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: clear sky

The slow train to Maine is back . . . but now in Maryland heading to Harpers Ferry where we started from way back on October 16, 2016. After over 230 days of hiking we¢ve got a little over 10 miles left in our AT adventure. We met up at Gathland State Park about 3pm - Brighty coming from home, Wreck (who last fall skackpacked Brighty through the rest of Maryland and didn¢t hike it all) coming south from Pen Mar where he started yesterday. It¢s still summer here - temperatures near 90 and humid. Trail in Maryland has its rocky sections but compared to New Hampshire and Maine seems quite tame. Couple southbound thruhikers on trail, rest of folks we met out for shorter sections. We got into the Ed Garvey shelter around 5pm. This is the shelter Brighty always wanted to be her last on the adventure - and it¢s a really nice one! Just south of the shelter is the parcel that Wreck¢s grandfather and later, Uncle Bill owned before selling to the state of Maryland when they were establishing a permanent trail corridor. In fact, we¢re pretty sure that the trail leading down to the spring goes thru a part of ¢Uncle Bill¢s land¢. It¢s a long, nearly 1/2 mile walk down to get water and Wreck was nearly there when he heard the first rumbles of thunder. Walking back up after collecting and filtering bunches of water the thunder became much more frequent. As luck would have it just a couple minutes after getting back to the shelter the rains started. Ate dinner at the covered picnic table along with three section hikers, and Eagle fans, from Pennsylvania. By the end of dinner the storm had moved on and the temperature had cooled down nicely. We¢re in our beloved Tarptent for the 138th time. Nights are definitely coming earlier this days. It¢s dark by 8 pm and we¢re shutting down for the night.
Date: 2018-09-07
From: Ed Garvey shelter

To: Harpers Ferry WV
Miles today: 6.0

Up at first light, around 6:30 am. The predicted rains today appear to be much delayed so we actually have some hazy but decent views of the Potomac from Weverton Cliffs. From there it¢s down to the C &O Canal towpath. And last 3+ miles into Harpers Ferry are along the towpath. We stop along the banks of the Potomac and enjoy the river flowing along.  As a bonus we get to see a bald eagle take flight from a sycamore along the river banks. Nice way to end the adventure! We cross the bridge into Harpers Ferry and the journey is complete. Hard to describe our adventure in a few words. We¢ve got a ton of shared memories. We¢ll posted a follow up in a few days but for now it¢s time to get some food, get back to our real bed - and go mow the grass back home!!
Date: 2015-12-15
To: 2015 Hike Might Be In My Future
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Originally I was planning on another thru-hike attempt in 2017, but things at work are leading towards moving that up a year. I'm still awaiting for a final decision/outcome from my bosses boss, to see if it is a go and if so, when, but I'm making plans based on it happening.2016 isn't the ideal year, 2017 would've been better. My youngest son is a senior in high school, so I'll have some of the same "mental" issues to deal with this time as I did in 2013. Added to that my daughter is getting married in June. But is there every a perfect time.On the plus side, I have a much better appreciation of what is ahead of me having done 1000+ miles and 2+ months 2013.   This time I'm use my zero days better, I'll be taking zero days around high school graduation and the wedding. In addition, I want plan other zero days around either visits to or from my family.
Date: 2015-12-16
To: Experience
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

As I said earlier I'm much better prepared this time than last. Much of my gear is the same, but I have upgraded a few items with newer lighter versions. Also, 1000+ miles and 2+ months taught me what I really need, so I'll start out with fewer items and a much lighter pack. I'm also smarter about food and a resupply, so I won't be taking "too" much this time. I'll also be using little or no resupply boxes. I was simply shipping myself too much food. I remember giving away food at Fontana Dam because I didn't need it.I'm also lighter and healthier. I've kept about 10+ pounds from my first attempt. On the downside I am older . Also, I'm planning on leaving in early March which will add a few colder weather items that I didn't need before.But when it all said and done, I will definitely be carry less on my back and around my waist.
Date: 2015-12-17
To: What I Gained
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

I need a third entry to get published, so I thought I'd write about what I gained from my first attempted thru-hike, and.As I've already said, after a 1000+ miles and 2+ months, I succumbed to the "mental" issues. I missed my wife, family, friends, ... I was worried about what I was missing out of their lives. And that taught me their value to me. Since coming back my relationship with my wife is much stronger, we take more time for each other. It recharged and reinvigorated are relationship (I used that as an excuse why another thru-hike would be a great idea, "if the last one did that, just image want another one will do").Another something I've gained, is the value of experiences over "stuff". The experience of that hike is still with me today and is as strong then as now. It's value to me is priceless, you can't buy that, you need to have done it, so you can claim is as your own. As for "Stuff", when your needs are broken down into 3 simply things: food, water and shelter and your goal is simply to get from point A to point B, you realize you don't need a lot of stuff to be happy and fulfilled.Related to the above, I've learned that life doesn't need to be extravagant, expensive, complicate, etc.. to be fulfilling, I happier keeping it simple.One last comment. I've written a how life on the AT is simple, to paraphrase a saying I just read in a book "simple and easy aren't the same thing". AT life can be simple, but is never easy.
Date: 2016-02-18
To: Committed!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well after a few months of on and off again discussions, the word final came down on the Leave Of Absence. "No". The reason, get this, they (senior management) didn't what to set a precedent. Honestly, how many people take 6 months off. I can see it now, that big stampede to the door, ¢Hey, everyone Timeout is taking 6 months off, let¢s all go¢¦¢. Yeah, not going to happen. Oh, and let¢s not forget I already was approved and took a 6 months¢ LOA in 2013 (though I only ended up using 3 months). So I guess the precedent was already set, huh! I bet if I checked, I¢m probably the only one who¢s taken a personal LOA longer that 6 weeks it the last decade. With no LOA, that leaves staying on or resigning. Well, dropped off the resignation letter this morning. (Honestly, I knew the LOA was an outside chance at best). So, with the resignation thing done, I¢m all in now. Got to say it is a little bit liberating and troublesome all at the same time. Liberating in the sense I can put all the second guessing, sleepless nights, etc¢¦ behind me now and focus on getting ready. Troublesome, in it that this is the first time since 1984, 32 years, I haven¢t had a job (I guess that¢s liberating too).16 days from now ¢I¢ll be back¢. Can¢t wait! Lot more anxious this time around, maybe I¢ll say more about that later.Well, I still have two weeks of work ahead of me, and I¢ll need to take care of all the HR stuff, so it is not all care free yet, so back reading journals, Oops, I mean work.