morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-07-30
From: Winturri Shelter

To: VT 14
Miles today: 16.4

Day 128, 16.4 miles, 7:30 am - 6 pm   Torrential rain all night, so I'm glad we were at the shelter, and today I had the best day in Vermont so far. After falling up to my hips in mud and almost losing my sneakers, we got to eat local, fresh made organic ice cream from Cloudland Farms. There were fields of beautiful flowers: black eyed susans, bee balm, Queen Anne's lace, goldenrod. And the overpowering scent of raspberry everywhere. Pine stands, dark woods, old stone walls. Lots of views, layers of mountains and inverstions. Tonight we are camped in a stranger's barn. Goodnight. * * *That really was a good day. We had ice cream and soda at Cloudland farm, and we talked with the owner for awhile, who was a nice guy. There were old farm fields to walk through and lots of evidence of prior settlements on that section. Views AND flowers! And at the end of the day, I was getting pretty tired, and we walked through West Hartford and I ran into Will and Way who told us they were camped out in some guy's garage loft. I asked if we could go there, too, and we found the guy and he said fine. Matt went to get our stuff out to make dinner, but I made an executive decision and decided to get a veggie sub sandwich, potato salad, and lemonade from the general store for dinner. That was good. Then I just filled up on water from a hose, and chores were done. When we splayed out in the loft, I was so wonderfully relaxed and sleepy and full, and glad that for once it was so easy. It is hard to replicate or even remember what it is like to be so exhausted at the end of the day, but sometimes it feels good when everything falls into place. I had a full belly, a dry place to sleep, and even a TV to squak at me instead of staying up to read. I was practically comatose. It was great.
Date: 2009-08-01
From: Hanover, NH

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Day 130, 11 miles, 11 am - 5:15 pm   Horrible horrible day I/we almost flat out quit the entire hike today. I fell down like 5 times, I started crying uncontrollably 10 times, my feet hurt like hell from being wet and muddy and blistered so many days in a row, we're back in the tent but the only place I could find was basically a puddle. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, too. A new month and a new state today but things are bad. No entry.
Date: 2009-08-02
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 121, 17.7 miles, 6:30 am - 5:30 pm   Mud, rain, fog, mist, and darkness all day. I am so done with all this crap but we have to see it through we can't go home now. I wish I was done but I can't quit. We can't quit. I hate the trail. The march continues.
Date: 2009-08-03
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Jeffers Brook Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 132, 15.7 miles, 7 am -5:45 pm   Catchphrase for today--"That wasn't a rock!" Mud that has the smooth contours of stone can be deceiving. Lots of little frogs swimming on the trail today because deep boggy water is good habitat for them. Standing, running, seeping, the trail was all water and mud today. Waterfalls, streams, seeps, springs, everything was gushing.    Mt Cube was nice, a good view and cool breezes from the top.    12 hours of soaked feet gets really uncomfortable. Mostly negative thoughts today about how much of a tedious trudge NH has been so far, and how good a beer at the Phoenix will taste when we're done.    Scary river ford today, the bank crumbled away from me when I was on it, then I gingerly and with much blind faith scooted down deadfall before landing in thigh deep, rushing water.    Nicer woods at the end of the day, big birches and white pines. We're camping at a shelter located in a beautiful pine needle forest. It's empty for now except for us. Matt made a fire that smells good. Some of the rain has cleared out of the forecast. I dare not think that things will be okay for awhile. I doubt it. Long day for tomorrow, we are finally starting "THE WHITES." * * *Matt was in a much better mood than I was that day. I mean, look at the difference in our journal entries--   Great day! One of the days that make me love doing this. Beautiful weather, good climbs, and finally the birch, maple, and spruce forests. The view from Mt. Cube was pretty in the morning light. It never got too hot or too buggy, and even though we pushed onto 16 miles I was still feeling great. The shelter tonight was empty when we got here and is in a pine grove in near a picturesque brook. I think everyone goes to the hostel. What can I say? Today was almost perfect. Whites tomorrow. We'll see how it goes. Today we went below 400 miles to the end. I can't believe we're finally here. I've looked at the pages for a long time and we've talked about it forever. Now it's coming down to it. I've really started bringing all this into perspective.
Date: 2009-08-04
From: Jeffers Brook Shelter

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: few clouds

Day 133, 15.9 miles, 6:30 am - 7:30 pm   Perfect day for hiking Moosilauke but 13 hours of hard hiking has pushed me over the edge, mentally and physically. On the mountain we had awesome views, cool breezes, and the summit to ourselves. Then the slow slow descent down the Beaver Brook Trail (ie Waterfall.) It was pretty but it took me 2 hours to get down. Rough tiring boggy slog over Mt Wolf had me hating the trail again. My feelings are intense. I wish I could simply enjoy, or grin and bear, but 13 hours like that is way too much for me. Matt   Moosilauke had a beautiful hike up. Long and rocky but when we finally got above treeline it was worth all the work to spend 1/2 an hour alone in the wind admiring the view. The climb down Beaver Brook was as steep and gasp inspiring as promised. Pretty but very slow going. After that it all went to hell. The trail up and over Wolf was boggy and scrubby. The mud was knee deep-or deeper-and we literally had to crawl over wet logs and rocks and push through the spruce choked forest. All that work to climb up a pointless viewless mountain. We did not reach camp until 7:30 and the place was packed! We tucked the tent right next to Ironman's. We did our chores quickly and then collapsed.
Date: 2009-08-05
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: US 3/Lincoln, NH
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

Day 134, 9 miles, 7:45 am - 3 pm   I slept hard last night and did not bother to get going until I was good and ready. I was pretty sore at first. And in a bad, anxious mood. Wet slippery steep rock over the Kinsmans but nothing I wasn't anticipating anyway. Me, Matt, Ironman, Stephen and his son Christian all hiked through more or less together, with Matt, Ironman, and Christian ahead and out of sight, and me bringing up the rear with Stephen behind me. The company actually helped the climb be a little less treacherous and tedious seeming and more fun. Stephen and I talked the whole way. I offered to let him pass me, but he said that he'd rather hike slow for now. Everyone hikes faster than me but he didn't mind walking with me.    The brook walks we did today made me again question thruhiking. We passed a lot of beautiful places. I'd rather stay and absorb and explore a place instead of having to walk on by all the time. As usual--Lincoln calls.    The sun came out by the time we reached the Flume, and from there we had excellent hitchhiking luck getting to a motel, then the grocery and laundry, and back again, since nothing is located at all in proximity to one another. Now I'm full of grapes and strawberry ice cream and mostly feeling really tired.    We are getting good at getting cleaned up and resupplying, even if it involves running around at breakneck speed. We didn't get down to the highway until later in the afternoon, and though we had to hitch like 4 times, we were resupplied, laundered, and showered by 6 pm, with the rest of the night to relax. Not bad.
Date: 2009-08-06
From: US 3/Lincoln, NH

To: Garfield Pond
Miles today: 10.1

Day 135, 10.1 miles, 10 am - 6 pm   I went outside at 7 o'clock this morning and it was bright and cool outside, almost fall-like. I was really tired but seeing some sun helped negate some of that. We made like 4 pots of coffee in our room and otherwise slowly got ready. Lucky for us, Pam, who is Will and Way's daughter, graciously offered us a ride back to the trailhead this morning, so that was easily sorted out.    Then it was up up to Mount Liberty. We bumped into Ironman and he hiked with us for awhile before pulling ahead. After Liberty, we went above treeline, and then to Mt. Lafayette. Finally we have a great day on the trail and in a great spot for one! We had views in every direction! I couldn't believe it. It was so gorgeous. This morning I was tired and not too jazzed about hiking but good weather made me more resolved about hiking, and it turned out to be such a good day! We hiked slowly and took a lot of breaks and a lot of pictures.    At the end of the day we found a tentsite only 1/2 covered in a puddle near Garfield Pond. There is another hiker here, who is spending a week in the White Mountains, not necessarily on the AT. It is soothingly silent here, and for once the massive rainfall was in my favor. I found a spring to get water from, I'm sure it only runs during flooded conditions. So that was easy. I'm tired but early tent time on this chilly evening makes me happy. Tomorrow the sun will set before 8 pm. Goodnight.
Date: 2009-08-07
From: Garfield Pond

To: Zealand Falls
Miles today: 11.0

Day 136, 11 miles, 7:30 am - 5:45 pm   I didn't sleep so great last night. I woke up in a groggy fog and I mentally stayed there for most of the morning.    So we started out with the climb up Garfield Mt. Then the descent. What a descent that was! At one point we saw a rocky waterfall and I realized that it was the trail! Tricky, wet footing, but obviously we made it down intact. The rest of the day wasn't bad. Except for the thunderstorms and the hail. Man it was freezing! Eventually, during our break at Galehead hut, I put on some fleece layers and all my raingear and hiked like that for the rest of the day without breaking a sweat. I haven't done that since April at least.    Okay, other than that, it turned out to be a beautiful day. We caught momentary views from South Twin Mountain, and Mt. Guyot. The top of Zealand Mt was the best. The light and clouds were perfect, there were fir trees everywhere, mountains in the distance, and the sky was a perfect backdrop. The aire was cold and fresh. I was so happy to be on top of that mountain at that second.    At the end of the day we got shot down for work for stay at the hut. We also were told that we "don't even look like thruhikers." Well fuck you, too. (**Later I heard that they let people who came in after us do work for stay, so I guess looking a certain way and conforming to a certain image does have its benefits. The huts worked out fine for some but I really hated having to guess and hope at the end of the day for somewhere to camp. It was all so random.) Although at this point Matt's pack is held together with safety pins and yellow duct tape. I really don't know what else we can do.    It worked out okay, though, because we did find a flat spot down the trail a bit. Truthfully I'd rather tent than be in a hut with 60 or more people, but in this terrain it isn't always easy or possible to find a flat place to pitch. I was having anxiety about having to night hike or something to find home tonight but it worked out okay.    Today's cold temperatures and slanty sunlight reminded me of fall. I'm in a hat, scarf, fleece, and my rain jacket, and so is Matt. Down into the 40's tonight. I like the northern woods. I am not always obsessed with being in the 'wilderness' but today's hike, the views, and the fresh air in the White Mts were just that. I kind of felt happy, and at home.
Date: 2009-08-08
From: Zealand Falls

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 137, 14 miles, 6:45 am - 5 pm   Holy moly it's cold! But no rain last night or today so it works. Beautiful, clear as a bell day. Ethan Pond was perfect in every way. We took a long break there and it made me all moony for Alaska. Excellent views this morning coming up the ridge. Also, Thoreau Falls were gorgeous. Slow going today for me but everything is so pretty. It was so clear out today that we even saw the top of Mt. Washington, which is good since supposedly the clouds are rolling back in tomorrow. Now we are sitting outside and waiting for our work for stay. Almost got shot down again, but Ironman put in the good word for us and they gave us some chores to do. People coming in after us easily got chores. I just don't get it. I can't wait to be out of AMC territory. It is so random, it's like a lottery. Plus, there are so many people around all the time, I will be happy for less crowded trail.
Date: 2009-08-09
From: Mizpah Hut

To: Madison Spring Hut
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

Day 138, 11.8 miles, 6:30 am - 3:30 pm   I didn't get to lay down for sleep until after 10 o'clock, after my chores of cleaning out and reorganizing the refrigerators, but I slept like crap and needed to get up at 5:30 am in order to be out of the way for breakfast. We had a cup of coffee this morning but did not wait for breakfast leftovers. The day broke blue and clear, and we wanted to get out and enjoy as much of it as possible, especially since today's walk is all above treeline. Well it was smart, as the hike up and over Mt Washington was beautiful and had great views. The summit was cold and windy, but open and clear as a bell! Perfect! We took a quick break up there and had hot chocolate, but we moved on. I am not fast, and I wanted to take advantage of the weather for as long as I could. The rest of the Presidentals were great, too. Rocky footing but nothing too bad. Matt and I both feel lucky for such good weather through here.    Fog and then rain rolled in-get this-on the last 0.3 miles of our walk. We ended up at this hut because severe t-storms are forecasted for tonight. It's already raining anyway, and I don't know how long it would take to get up and over exposed Mt Madison to the next campsite.    So far I've liked hiking here but I hate the restrictions and headaches of trying to find somewhere to camp/shelter at the end of the day. We're just paying to sleep on the floor for tonight. I spent a cold, boring evening listening to the roar of 40+ people eating dinner. I'd sell my soul to find somewhere to sleep but what can you do? It's where we ended up today. I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open.    Lights out at 9:30 but 4 people destined for this hut didn't make it, and now people are out looking for them. (***They came in at 10:30 pm. They were older and not expecting the terrain.) Gorham, part I, already tomorrow.
Date: 2009-08-10
From: Madison Spring Hut

To: NH 16 Pinkham Notch/Gorham, NH
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: fog

Day 139, 7.8 miles, 7 am - 1:30 pm   I almost got blown off of Mount Madison this morning. But then we had the best hitching luck ever. Too tired to write tonight. x x x   I woke up to a mass of hikers getting their stuff together, the whoosh-whoosh of soft material getting stuffed and folded into packs and stuff sacks. Usually I am the first one up, so it was disconcerting. We got ready, ate our breakfast, and took off. I think that Madison was the toughest mountain we've done yet. The wind was so crazy I had to crawl on all fours at times. Rocky and crazy steep. It took me an hour to go 0.7 miles.    Anyway we slowly climbed down toward the Notch and crossed many crystal clear streams on the Madison Gulf Trail. This year, obviously, had an abundance of clean water. Many seasonal springs are running from the mountainsides, and basically I can fill up my blue bottle whenever I want to.    Finally down to Pinkham Notch, and I was worried about getting a hitch because most travelers I figured would be tourists who wouldn't give us a ride. Luckily, though, after less than a minute with my thumb out, a local guy named Al, who is an ex-trucker from Berlin, picked us up, drove us 15 miles to the hostel, and even offered to wait for us to drop our stuff and then take us to the Walmart to resupply (since the Shaw's grocery closed we had to go there.)So that worked out unbelievably well, what a nice guy.    The hostel is nice and has nice owners, and we tracked down 'Bruce' who we've been hearing about from sobo's. He agreed to shuttle us back down to the Notch tomorrow morning so we can do our first-and probably last-slack. 21 miles through the Whites here we come!
Date: 2009-08-11
From: NH 16 Pinkham Notch/Gorham, NH

To: US 2/Gorham, NH
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: moderate rain

Day 140, 21.1 miles, 7 a - 8 pm   Wow. What a day. We got dropped off at the Notch and set off as fast as we could. We passed beautiful ponds before heading up Wildcat Ridge. It was strenuous and tricky but luckily not the scary death defying scramble I'd heard about previously. We bounced up and down the ridge and then the trail went straight down into Carter Notch. There was a surreal-pretty lake there, with blooming yellow lilypad flowers on the surface, and it was surrounded by walls of rock and fog. I wished that I had been carrying my camera.      After a quick break, I was very proud of us for pounding out the steep 1.2 mile hike back out of the notch in 1/2 hour, nonstop. By that time I was hiking uphill faster than my cardiovascular system could handle, since I was sanspack. I got dizzy and lightheaded and I had to slow down a little bit.    We hiked and hiked and got caught in a cold thunderstorm on the open summit of Carter Mountain. On the one hand, I was scared to death of being struck by lightening, being the tallest thing around and carrying metal poles, but on the other, since I was unencumbered by a pack I could hike fast, and in the back of my mind I knew I would be sleeping and eating indoors tonight, so it didn't matter too much how cold and soaked I got. As long as I didn't die. It wasn't fun. Actually going down that mountain was the most precarious part of the day. I just slid down the wet rock and tried not to tumble away.    The top of Mount Moriah was the best part of the day. The views, being up really high, the post-stormy sky, the setting sun on the tops of the spruce trees. It was such a reward, one of the few moments where this whole trip is brought to a pinnacle and made very much worth everything.    Well from there I was just getting tired, we hiked up and down and around until the trail finally started to descend. We then crossed the Rattle River a few times, and finally we got to the last 2 miles of the day, when the trail went flat and easy. We fairly started running, along the river, as darkness fell. Near US 2 someone had left some trail magic, and I was crunching down chocolate chip cookies and already getting an easy ride back to the hostel. The road was silent and it was almost dark outside by the time we finished.    13 hours straight of great hiking today. Topped off with a hot shower, clean sleeping clothes. Oh, and someone left shampoo and conditioner in the shower so I was able to wash my hair. The trail provides. It's 10 o'clock now and I'm done. Goodnight.
Date: 2009-08-12
From: US 2/Gorham, NH

To: US 2/Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Day 141, Zero Day Gorham   I woke up this morning with lead in my veins, barely able to move, and I knew I had to zero. We organized our stuff, got a ride into town, and did the last of our chores, library and post office stuff. I sent home I think over 2# of stuff--a fleece, tights, the NH maps, a book, a few other small things. Then we had breakfast at Welch's, which was really good. I had a veggie omlette.    The hostel was really great, but I really needed some peace and quiet away from other hikers, a big soft bed with cotton sheets, and oh, maybe a pool to swim in. So we went to a hotel in town and it hit the spot. I'm just getting old I guess. This place also has a hot tub, so I soaked in it for a half hour, then took a cold swim. I felt so sleepy and relaxed and wonderful after that. I think this is going to be one of our last zeros. The Whites are done and onto Maine it is. I don't know what to expect or how to feel but we'll be there soon. * * *Hey--is anyone actually read this thing? I have been typing this thing out now for 4 months. Pretty soon it's going to take longer to transcribe than to actually hike the AT.
Date: 2009-08-13
From: US 2/Gorham, NH

To: Trident Col Tentsites
Miles today: 6.9

Day 142, 6.9 miles, 12:45 pm - 5 pm   Of course our zero day did not seem to last long enough but what can you do? On the other hand I think we've spent more time and nights in Gorham than any other town on the trail. Eventually we were back on the trail in the afternoon after eating breakfast, packing up, going to the library, and other generalized wandering around.    We got a hitch, for once, from a tourist visiting from Texas. He actually doubled around to give us a ride, so that was really nice. Then the hike out. Uneventful, dry woods path which is all right with me! The mountaintops are covered in bare rock, moss, and fir. Then the thunder started, and I could see dark navy clouds on the next range over. I felt doomed. But for once the sky cleared up and the storms stayed away!    We didn't see hardly anyone on the trail today. We are tented in a site in this camping area, a nice place actually as the sites are all individual. There is only one other here, a section hiker I haven't met before. It's a relief actually to be out of the crowds of the Whites and normal camping again.    Shorter days of late summer are here. The sun went behind the mountain at 7 o'clock, and now it's 8 and almost too dark to write without a headlamp. I am so happy to be out tenting in the peace and quiet again.    There are tons of ravens here flying around and calling to each other. They are flying so low that we can hear the flap of their wings as they fly over us.