morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-29
From: Galehead Hut

To: Gorham,NH
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

Back to walking forward today after hibernating thru the past two days of rain. At 6:50am I began re-walking the 2.7 miles that I walked back into town yesterday when I retreated back to Lincoln, NH. It was a good decision to give ground. I started today rested and with dry gear. When it was all said and done, I walked the 2.7 miles from Interstate 93 to the Liberty Springs Campsite two times uphill and once downhill. Maybe they will name that section of the AT after me. Today I walked the Franconia Ridge and as the clouds began to clear the views were spectacular. Definitely worth waiting on good weather. It was cool and windy on the ridge. I had to put on a long sleeve shirt and my rain jacket just to stay warm. The wind was blowing so hard that it would push me sideways at times. Next I went over Mount Lafayette and Mount Garfield. Once again the views were indescribable. Every mile is hard work here in New Hampshire. It is either a hard uphill or a dangerous downhill. I walked down a waterfall coming off of Mt Garfield. The reward for the work are the great views. At around 4:30pm I arrived at the Appalachian Mountain Club Galehead Hut. I rushed inside and asked if they had a work for stay opportunity. I got accepted for the work for stay. Myself, Pogono, Kickapoo, Stark, and J5 waited outside while the hut guests ate Supper. The Hut is pretty full with guests. There must be over 40 paying guests staying here tonight. After the guests ate, a Hut Crew member told us we could eat. We were allowed to eat as much leftover food as we wanted. I had lasagna, peas, soup , homemade bread, cake, and pumpkin muffins. After eating I washed dishes for awhile in the kitchen. Myself and at least nine other thru hikers are sleeping on the floor in the dining area for the night. It was good to be inside. It is pretty cool at nights here. I wanted to try this work for stay at least once. Part of my AT experience in the Whites. I expect the Hut Crew will wake us up at 5:30am and shuffle us out of the dining area before the guests have breakfast. I expect to enjoy breakfast here tomorrow morning and then do a little work. In any event I will push on tomorrow as far as I can.
Date: 2014-07-30
From: Crawford Notch

To: Gorham,NH
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

(day 137 posted. I had no cell phone service for two days. To view day 137 click previous tab above)I walked 14.7 White Mountain miles today. I was up at 5:30am at the Galehead Hut were I worked for a free stay last night. To be honest I didn't sleep that great on the floor of the dining hall. After I got up I helped set the glasses and coffee cups on the tables for the guests breakfast. After helping set the tables I waited on the front porch of the hut with the other work for stay thru hikers. After the guests ate, we work for stay thru hikers ate a breakfast of pancakes and oatmeal. After breakfast I washed dishes. Because of doing work for stay I got a late start to walking. At around 9am I left the Galehead hut. I walked thru more beautiful scenery today. I am tenting with another thru hiker named Oconee next to the Saco River in the Crawford notch. I love sleeping next to a River. I'm going to put one in my backyard when I get home. Tomorrow I start heading toward Mount Washington. I am making progress and staying healthy. All is well.
Date: 2014-07-31
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Gorham,NH
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Not much to report. Lots of walking up. Lots of slow dangerous walking downhill. Stopped walking today at Lakes of the Clouds Hut which is located at the base of Mount Washington. I will summit Mount Washington early tomorrow morning. Mount Washington is the second highest mountain on the AT. A wind speed of 231mph was once recorded on Mount Washington. It is claimed that the worst weather in the world is on Mount Washington. I hope to walk to Pinkham Notch by tomorrow afternoon and then go into Gorham,NH for the night.
Date: 2014-08-01
From: Gorham,NH

To: Maine
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

Today was my toughest day. The White Mountain National Forest put me to the test. I feel that I am destined to finish this hike after surviving the fall I took today coming down Mount Madison. There are a series of mountains in the middle of the White Mountain National Forest named after former Presidents of the United States. Today I walked, stumbled,rock climbed, rock hopped, and fell my way thru what is known as the Presidentials. Early in the morning I got up off the floor where I slept the night at the Lakes of the Woods Hut which is located at the base of Mount Washington. By 7:15am I was at the top of Mount Washington. I started up Mount Washington in the sunshine. At the top it was unfortunately cloudy,windy, and felt cold to me. I wore some winter clothes while on the top of Mount Washington that I have not worn since I started back in March. Next was Mount Clay, Mount Jefferson, and then Mount Madison. This whole stretch is above tree line and the walking, if you want to call it walking, is on rocks and boulders. I lost count after my sixth or seventh fall. For some reason I had trouble keeping my balance on the rocks. I don't know if it is leg weariness/foot weariness from walking over 1,800 miles, or the slipperiness of the rocks, or a combination of a lot of stuff but I fell and fell all day. But the fact that I survived the fall that I took coming down Mount Madison today tells me that I may actually finish this thing. As I was coming down Mount Washington today I somehow lost my balance. I don't know if I slipped, tripped over my hiking poles, or got my feet tangled. Most of the time when I fall I either fall backward or to one side. Today when I fell the weight of my pack pushed me forward downhill and I began rolling like a ball in a tumble position. When I finally stopped rolling, except for a few scratches, everything checked out fine. After I retrieved my hat, poles, and some stuff that had come out of my pack, I sat for a minute or two, drank some water, and got back to my feet. The 14.8 miles I did today was a slow go. I don't think I averaged much more than a mile per hour today. At around 7 pm I finally reached the White Mountain National Forest Visitors Center at Pinkham Notch. I ate Supper at the Visitors Center and the shuttle driver from The White Mountain Hostel in Gorham,NH came,picked me up, and took me to the hostel where I am spending the night. I am going to take tomorrow off to try and get some life back into my legs. Sunday I will get moving forward again. Tis Well.
Date: 2014-08-02
From: Gorham, NH

To: Imp Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

A day of rest in Gorham,NH at The White Mountains Hostel. Full house at the hostel. Lots of hikers here who I've been seeing over the past few days and months: JoHawk, Murphy, 50/50, Kickapoo, Pogono, Stark, Mombo, Coley, Chamomile, and Taz. There is a hiker here named Mio who took my photo the day we both started on March 15 at Springer Mountain, Ga. I hadn't seen Mio since Hiawassee, Ga. Mio has had a rough go. He contracted Lyme Disease but he is still headed north. There was a documentary film maker staying here last night. He has filmed multiple hiking Documentaries. He did an interview this morning at the hostel for his third AT documentary (see photo left). His movies can be found at squatchfilms.com. Taz informed me that a couple of days ago Scuffy, a hiker who I walked with for a few days the last couple of weeks, fell about six feet off of a rock ledge cutting his head and hurting his shoulder. Scuffy has returned home to Maine to have his shoulder examined by a Doctor. I bet he will be back to finish. There is a whole lot of luck in finishing out these last miles. I will take out walking again tomorrow from Pinkham Notch. I will be walking thru a rough stretch called the Wildcats. One step at a time.
Date: 2014-08-03
From: Imp Shelter Campsite

To: Gorham,,NH
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

At 7:30am I left the White Mountain Hostel, Gorham, NH with seven other thru hikers and we were all shuttled to the Visitors Center at Pinkham Notch. The other seven hikers planned to slack pack (they left their gear at the hostel and only carried something to eat and drink in their packs) 21 miles to HWY2 in Gorham where they would return to the hostel. I carried all my gear planning to camp overnight before reaching HWY2. Today was again another slow going day for me. Almost every mile is a hard uphill followed by a steep downhill. I have to go very slow on the downhills picking and choosing each step in order not to fall. Often I throw my hiking poles down hill a ways and use trees or roots to hold as I lower myself to the next step down. Sometimes I sit down and carefully slide down to the next step. This type of "hiking" is where I am right now. I can't really say I enjoy the walking right now but I continue to move forward safely. I stopped at Carter Notch Hut for lunch which had a beautiful pond with flowering yellow lilies (see photo left). I travelled 13.1 miles today and am camping the night on a tent platform at the Imp Campsite. Tomorrow morning I will reach HWY2 in Gorham and spend the night again at The White Mountain Hostel. Tuesday I will try to reach the NH/Maine border where I will go over 1,900 miles and have about 281 miles to go. I believe reaching Maine will provide a psychological lift. I need a mental lift at this point. Tomorrow I will leave the White Mountains behind.
Date: 2014-08-04
From: Gorham,,NH

To: Maine
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I "walked" 8 miles this morning from where I camped last night at Imp Campsite to HWY2. I am staying the night again at The White Mountain Hostel which is located right on the trail. Dirty Harry, Bug Bear, Pippin, Winginit, Oconee, High Five, and some others are here. The photo to the left is the backpack hanging area in the garage at the hostel. The sign above the packs is "Funky Town". Everyone is feeling and talking about the end of this walk and about reaching Mount Kahtahdin. For so long I didn't allow myself to think about the end. The end was just something that didn't enter my mind. It has always been one day at a time for me but I can't help myself. I'm getting pretty anxious and pretty excited. I look at my trail guide and peek ahead to the end. I can almost count the days I have left. As I sit here,I am 17 miles from Maine. I will try to reach the Maine border tomorrow if the terrain and the weather cooperate. I believe if I can make the next 100 miles in Maine without getting injured that I have a pretty good chance to finish this thing. I have to temper my anxiousness and continue to take it one step at a time. I am going to skip breakfast here at the hostel tomorrow morning and get an early start. Coming up for me is the Mahoosuc Notch. The Mahoosuc Notch is a one mile stretch which is called the toughest mile on the Appalachian Trail. It takes people anywhere from two to five hours to get thru the one mile. After that it's the Mahoosuc Arm which is another tough climb. Some tough days ahead but they are getting to be fewer and fewer.
Date: 2014-08-05
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Andover, Maine
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: few clouds

Maine. At 5:45pm today I crossed from New Hampshire into Maine. Georgia to Maine. This is my last state. I also went over 1,900 miles walked today. I have 281 miles to go. When I started I didn't know if I would make it out of Georgia. It's gone by in a blur. Now here I sit in Maine. I felt both happy and sad when I reached Maine. Happy to have made it this far and happy to be reaching the end. I felt sad to think about this ending. There is plenty of work to do to reach the end but it's starting to come into focus. Some days it has been hard to make a journal entry because at the end of some days I have been so tired that all I wanted to do is go to sleep. Today is one of those days. It was a hard 17 miles today. Tomorrow looks equally hard but I am in Maine and can start to think about going home. Today I picked and ate wild blueberries on top of a mountain I climbed. It's great to be right here in Maine.
Date: 2014-08-06
From: Bull Branch Campsite

To: Andover, Maine
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: light rain

(I finally got cell phone reception and posted yesterday's journal entry. To read Day 144 click the previous tab above). Today I made it thru the Mahoosuc Notch. The Mahoosuc Notch stood in my mind like a door or a wall I had to get thru or over before I could get on my way to Mount Kahtahdin. The Appalachian Trail goes thru the Mahoosuc Notch which has a one mile stretch filled with automobile size boulders that at some point in history have tumbled down off the two mountains on either side of the narrow valley. This one mile stretch is often described as the hardest mile on the AT. I suppose it is described as the hardest one mile because of the length of time it takes to go up, over, under,and around the boulders. I went thru the notch with Dirty Harry, Bug Bear, and Oconee. Dirty Harry and Bug Bear are from England and it was enjoyable getting their perspective on the whole Mahoosuc Notch experience. It really helped to have someone to go thru the notch with. It was a team effort. We had a great time figuring our way thru the notch, passing each other's backpacks thru the tight spots, telling each other where to get the best foot placement, and laughing our way along. We managed to safely get thru the mile in 2 hours and 9 minutes. We are all tenting together near the north end of the notch pretty much worn out from the effort it took to get thru the notch. Tomorrow I will begin my day with a mile and a half climb up the Mahoosuc Arm. It will be work. Tomorrow I hope to get into Andover,Maine. I badly need to do a food resupply.
Date: 2014-08-07
From: Andover, Maine The Cabin

To: Rangeley, Maine
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Packed and on the trail at 6am. Immediately I began the 1,600 foot climb up the Mahoosuc Arm. It really wasn't that bad. Since entering New Hampshire and Maine I've grown accustomed to the straight up climbs, the rock scrambles, and the scary downhills over the rocks. At around 8:30am I reached Speck Pond Campsite. The pond was covered with a thick fog. I couldn't see more than five feet from the pond bank. The weather report posted by the Caretaker at Speck Pond projected temperatures in the upper 30 's in the mountains tonight. Is this early August? At 12:30 pm I stopped walking at HWY 26 because I needed to go into Andover,Maine to refill my food bag. Don, from The Cabin Hostel in Andover, was waiting for me at a creek near HWY 26 with his dog Molly. Don drove me to the Pine Ellis Hostel in Andover where I picked up my new pair of boots which my Wife had ordered online and had mailed to me to the Pine Ellis. This will be my third and hopefully my last pair of boots since beginning this walk. Next Don took me to the Andover Market where I bought some groceries. Myself and about 12 other hikers had supper at The Cabin with Marge and Earl who own The Cabin. We ate grilled hamburgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, carrot cake, and rocky roads ice cream. Tonight I am sleeping in a camper in the yard beside the hostel. The weather forecast for the next three days finally looks good. It is back to the trail tomorrow morning as I try to walk the miles between me, Mount Katahdin, and going Home.
Date: 2014-08-08
From: Surplus Pond Campsite

To: Rangeley,Maine
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: moderate rain

It was a good day. The weather was great and the trail was good. I had a hearty breakfast at The Cabin Hostel, Andover, Maine where I spent the night in a camper in the yard beside the hostel. At 9 am, Earl, who with his wife Marge, owns The Cabin Hostel, dropped me off at Grafton Notch on HWY 26 where I stopped walking yesterday. Highlight of the day was my walk up Baldplate Mountain. The top of Baldpate is solid granite (see photo left ). There are no big trees on top of Baldpate and the views today from the top were beautiful. I am chipping away at the miles I have remaining. I am tenting alone next to Surplus Pond. Anxiously awaiting my first Moose sighting. Fatigue and the wind blowing thru the trees is putting me to sleep. I will sleep like a log tonight.
Date: 2014-08-09
From: Bemis Mountain Lean-to

To: Rangeley,Maine
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: moderate rain

Walked 16.9 Maine miles. Climbed four mountains: Wyman, Moody,Old Blue, and Bemis. I've climbed a lot of mountains since Georgia but Old Blue is my favorite name for a mountain out of all the mountains I have climbed. Maine was looking good today. The weather was great. The weather here today felt like it feels in the Fall in North Georgia. A native told me that Maine gets it's first frost in September. I wear my wind pants and fleece in the mornings. Today I had great trail magic at South Arm Road outside of Andover, Maine thanks to 2008 thru hiker Old Buzzard. I had two hamburgers, a hot dog, four sodas, and two snack cakes. Thanks Old Buzzard. I hope to make it to Rangeley, Maine tomorrow. I am tenting with lots of people near Bemis Mountain Lean-to. I am flat out exhausted. Goodnight.
Date: 2014-08-10
From: Farm House Inn, Rangeley,Maine

To: Stratton,Maine
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

Today was all about making it to Rangeley, Maine. I walked 17.7 miles which is the longest mileage day I have walked in awhile. I walked thru an afternoon thunderstorm. At 5:20 pm I arrived at Maine HWY 4 where the owner of The Farm House Hostel, Rangeley picked me up. The hostel is full of hikers. There must be at least 20 people staying here. It was good to see Scuffy again. Scuffy is staying here and he is back on the trail after going home for a few days as result of his fall off a rock ledge in the White Mountains. After getting to the hostel I showered, went to the IGA Grocery store .4 of a mile down the road, walked back from the IGA to the hostel, and did my laundry. Someone cooked some spaghetti in the hostel kitchen and offered me some for Supper. I am sharing a bunkhouse with Crocs, Oconee, and Pippin. I don't know if I will see any of these folks again after today because it is becoming a mad dash now to get to Katahdin. Really not a lot else to report for the day. Tomorrow I will climb Saddleback Mountain. My plan is to stay in Stratton Wednesday night. I am thankful to have the strength and health to continue onward. 220 miles to go. I am going to finish this thing out pretty soon.
Date: 2014-08-11
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: Stratton, Maine
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a good day on the trail. Each day I have left on the trail is becoming more and more precious to me because I can feel the days dwindling away rapidly. I just want to slow each day down now and not let it go. I am beginning to deal mentally with the fact that the end is rapidly approaching. In the early days I couldn't imagine an end because there just seemed to be so many miles left to walk. I'm running out of miles on the map. I spent a good leisurely morning at The Farm House Inn Hostel in Rangely, Maine were I stayed the night. It was good to be around other hikers. At 9am I got back to the trail. Around mid-morning I walked by a beautiful Maine pond called Eddy Pond. I sat for awhile alone at the pond and marveled at how quiet it was. Next I walked up Sattleback mountain. I walked thru a brief rain storm as I was coming down from Sattleback. After Sattleback, it was a sharp climb up and down the Horn. Next, another climb up Sattleback Junior. After 10.7 miles I stopped at Poplar Ridge Lean-to for the day. I found a good tent site on a knoll above the Lean-to. I joined Winginit, Crocs, and Reset at the Lean-to for Supper. Winginit built a camp fire and we sat around reminiscing about days on the trail, other thru hikers, trail magic, trail towns, and things that have happened to us on our journey. Crocs and Winginit are hammocking nearby on the knoll for the night. Tomorrow I move forward northward toward the end. It was a good day on the trail.
Date: 2014-08-12
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: Stratton,Maine
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 151 Recap: I packed my gear where I tented near the Poplar Ridge Lean-to and was on the trail at 6:45am. I said goodbye to Crocs and Winginit this morning as they took off (see photo of me and Winginit to the left. I am on the right in the photo). Chances are I won't see them again as they plan to move at a faster pace than me to Katahdin. I couldn't help thinking about the lady, Inchworm, who went missing last year, somewhere and somehow in the area I was walking thru this morning. It is a mystery that may never be solved. After leaving Poplar Ridge Lean-to I climbed Spaulding Mountain. I had lunch at the Spaulding Mountain Lean-to with Reset. When I went to get water at the spring at the Spaulding Mountain Lean-to I met a young lady southbound thru hiker who is from my hometown where I grew up, Cleveland,TN. After lunch it was a steep climb up Lone Mountain which is a great name for a mountain. Lone Mountain would be a good trail name for someone. On the way up Lone Mountain I saw a CCC plaque commemorating the completion of the final link of the Appalachian Trail on August 14,1937 by the Maine CCC. Most people today don't even know about the CCC program and all that they accomplished. In 1987, when the plaque was placed on Lone Mountain, the plaque said that the AT was 2,035 miles long. This year the official length of the AT is 2,185.3 miles long. After leaving Lone Mountain it was a steep,slow, and dangerous decent off of Sugarloaf Mountain down to the Carrabassett River. You can tell I am getting close to Canada when a river is named the Carrabassett. After crossing the river and resting a spell beside the river I walked to the Crocker Cirque Campsite where I am tenting with Reset. We are the only two people here at this nice large campsite. Tomorrow it is suppose to rain. My plan for tomorrow is to leave as early as possible and walk 7 miles to Stratton, Maine. I must walk across South Crocker Mountain and North Crocker Mountain before getting to Stratton. It may or may not be a 7 mile walk in the rain but I am headed to town and a dry motel. I am running out of miles and towns. At the end of this day I have only 195.5 miles left.
Date: 2014-08-13
From: Stratton,Maine

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I got on the trail very early this morning in an effort to make it to Stratton, Maine before it began raining. At around 10am I made it to HWY 27 just as it began to rain. A local resident in Stratton left a note on the trail offering to give hikers free shuttles into Stratton. Reset called the number on the card and within 10 minutes the gentleman showed up to give us a ride to the Stratton Motel. While we were waiting for the ride, two section hikers from Philadelphia, who were getting off the trail, gave us a bucket full of food that they were planning to use if they had continued with their hike. The kindness of strangers along this trail never ceases to amaze me. The rain has picked up as the day has gone along. If it continues to rain tomorrow I may hole-up in Stratton until the rain passes. If the rain stops I may move on, or I may not. Stratton strikes me as being a small Maine mountain blue collar logging type town. There's a couple of General Stores, a couple of Bars, and a couple of restaurants in town near my motel. All these businesses appear to be locally owned and operated. No franchise businesses here that I have seen. I had Supper at the White Wolf Restaurant in Stratton with Taz, Crocs, Reset, Tomahawk, and Obi Wan. The White Wolf Restaurant has on it's menu a hamburger called The Wolf Burger. If you can eat the entire hamburger you can purchase a restaurant t-shirt for $6 which is $8 off the regular price of $14. I didn't try The Wolf Burger. I had a lobster roll. I figured when in Maine eat lobster. I am trying to rekindle/recapture the simple joy and appreciation of just walking these last few days I have remaining. Glad to be right here in out of the rain.