morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-07-23
From: Sherburn Pass Trail

To: The Lookout
Miles today: 15.6

Inn @ The Long Trail to The LookoutI'm on top of The Lookout right now, but I feel like I'm on top of the world. The Lookout is a private cabin accessed from a side trail off the AT. The owners allow hikers to use the observation deck on top of the cabin and allow camping here. The observation deck has hands down the best views on the AT yet. The evening is clear, cool and breezy with the low sun reflecting pink gold off the green tree tops. Looking forward we can see the northern summits and ridges of Vermont including Mansfield and Camel's Hump. To the northeast we can Mt. Moosilauke and Washington hiding in the far off haze. Killington and Pico tower behind us.The sun is a slowly sinking fiery orange globe, illuminating the wisps of clouds as it greets the western horizon. The mountains are blue, purple, grey-green silhouettes against the soft pastel sky. The treetops are swaying and dancing around us, a contrast to the timeless sturdiness of the grounded mountains. The sky is illuminating orange as the sun continues on his journey west.We are perched, snuggled in our sleeping bags with the breeze blowing over us, open and vulnerable to the sky. All of the clouds seem to have gathered round the sun to send it, and us, safely off to sleep. The clouds swirl in a slow motion frenzy with wisps of gold here, jags of orange there and sweeps of purple all around. The brilliance and glow of the sky, the dancing trees and the sturdy mountains are all ours tonight. In the vibrant display I am overcome with peace.Danger
Date: 2005-07-25
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, New Hampshire
Miles today: 14.6

Thistle Hill shelter to Hanover, New Hampshire " The Vermonster got my pole! " From the moment we first crossed the state line and crossed from Massachusetts into Vermont, it seemed as though Vermont wanted something from us. As we traversed the state we encountered great expanses of swamp and mud. Our feet would sink down into it and we'd have to tug them free with a "sluucck" sound and a tug at the shoe. The gear offering of choice really seem to be the poles though. Time after time one of us would plant a pole to balance over a precarious step and down up to the second shaft the pole would sink. Retrieving a hiking pole require a solid tug to which the Vermont Earth would only relent with great resistance first. The frequency of this occurrence was so great, that we came to the conclusion that Vermont was trying to take a hiking pole. So struggle and fight with that pole hungry Vermont Earth we did for all of its 150 some miles. And today, today we said goodbye to the Green State as we crossed the Great Connecticut River. Smugly we congratulated one another on having won the quiet but constant battle of the pole. There on the bridge over the middle of the river, we excitedly discovered the granite plaque marking the Vermont/New Hampshire state line. We tossed off our packs, set our 2 sets of poles against the railing and took our 12th state pictures. After the excitement lulled we stowed the camera, saddled our packs and reached for our poles. You can imagine our shock and incredulous, dumbfounded expressions when we reached for four poles and only found three. There were no corners, no nooks or crannies in which a hiking pole could hide. Just nice gaps in the rail on the bridge open to the river below. The poll appeared to have shaken off the railing with the vibration from a passing truck and fallen over to an untimely demise in the Connecticut River. There at the very last moment the Vermont Earth having lost the battle, the river won the war and got what it demanded for 150 mi.. It got its darned gear offering. Vermont got the pole. Happy, though off balance with only three poles between us, we decided not to begrudge the trail God's their gear sacrifice. We were able to get Internet and other communications related chores done care of the DOC (Dartmouth Outing Club) building and facilities. Then, thanks to a tip from a student, we found a "quiet" fraternity that took in hikers. We've had showers and done laundry and are now cozy in the basement of the PhiTau fraternity house, keeping the pool table and ping pong table company. Very happy to be in New Hampshire?
Date: 2005-07-26
From: Hanover, New Hampshire

To: Moose Mountain shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Hanover, New Hampshire to Moose Mountain shelter Well, the quiet fraternity wasn't exactly quiet, but at least it wasn't partying until all hours. It was some game involving very loud clunking that reverberated down through the basement. It was a good, dry (free) place to rest for the night in a town with very limited lodging options, so I can't rightly complain. I was awake bright and early, ready to go though! The rest of our chores took all morning to do and we wern't on the trail until past noon. A very hot one today too! The weather said a high of 93. Fortunately another cold front is expected to move through and the storm that is bringing it seems to be brewing as I write. It was tough feeling motivated to leave town with the heat and food heavy packs. Thankfully I felt a lot better once we got to walking and were back in the woods. The miles actually went pretty fast and we reached a shelter around 5:00 p.m. Quite a busy shelter tonight. There are four South bounders, another North bounder and a couple other guys that we didn't get a chance to talk to. The tent sites are away from the shelter, so we socialized during dinner, but the bugs chased me away shortly thereafter. We're getting very excited for the Whites in a few days. Gravity's parents are going to come up again and meet us in Glencliff on Friday, so we're looking forward to seeing them again. Pretty soon things are going to get rather remote again and probably the next time will see family is after we're done. It seems to be coming so fast. Like a speeding train. I want to stand atop Katahdin and feel that glorious sense of completion, yet I don't want to venture to end...Danger
Date: 2005-07-27
From: Moose Mountain shelter

To: fire wardens cabin
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: few clouds

Moose Mountain shelter to fire wardens cabin Short miles but still a full day today. We did sleep in some so we weren't hiking until quarter to nine. Very humid right away so the low 80 highs felt very hot. The first part of the day's trail wasn't particularly notable. The bugs were especially bad and the "eye" bugs drove me bonkers. They hover right around my face and every so often one will get the gumption up and go for the eyeball. Naturally they choose to go for the eyeball during an opportune moment like when I'm taking a large step over a big mud puddle balancing on slick rocks. Our first break, though in a very dirty spot, had spectacular views. Despite the overcast I could still feel the heat of the sun through the clouds, which didn't do much for my mood. Fortunately Gravity suggested we pull out the MP3 players and give some music a try. As much as I didn't want it to, the music really did lift my spirits. The second part of the day was much more difficult terrain wise, but the lifted mood and increasing beauty were a boost. The climb up Smart's Mountain was long but the rocky ridges and coniferous forests were spectacular. We had one last break on an open rocky spot from which we could see the last leg of the ascent up Smart's as well as the big thunderstorms rolling in. The radio had warned of thunderstorms bringing in the cold front, and there they were. So we had our snacks, enjoyed the views we had then got moving. We made it to the fire wardens cabin as the wind was blowing and the sky darkening. By the time we returned from getting water it was cold, windy and rainy. I was grateful for the four sided shelter here today. Much warmer in here that out there! Tonight we're cozy and warm, watching the trees blowing and bending outside in the rain. We're here with three other NOBOs, first time with so many in a very long time. They're all moving faster than us, so unlikely that we'll see them again. But, you never know. Nice to have some people to talk to. Really excited for the cool weather for hiking tomorrow! Danger
Date: 2005-07-29
From: Ore Hill shelter

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 7.4

Ore Hill Shelter to Glencliff, NH I was very happy for the short day today. It felt wonderful to sleep in late (9:00 a.m.!) and take our time to get going. Its strange, this whole trip I just haven't been able to wake up before 7. I were sure that with the early sunrises I'd naturally wake-up with the light. At least near the light. Seems I have no natural biological response to the morning light whatsoever, and in fact have a distinct ability to tune it out altogether. This morning that was especially true for both of us. On the other hand, how nice is it to sleep as late as you please on Friday morning? Pretty darn nice, I say. We did finally get going around 10, and made it into the Hikers Welcome Hostel in Glencliff by 1:30. Gravity's parents came out again to see as for the weekend, so we hung around the hostel until they arrived and picked us up. Had a wonderfully relaxing day chatting with people and lounging in the hammock reading. Ma and Dad actually arrived earlier than we were expecting, a nice surprise. We enjoyed a fabulous Italian dinner and are snug and happy in the Profile Hotel as I write. It is a great place for them to have come out because we're just about to enter the Whites and we'll get to slack pack the first couple of days. Tomorrow will be a shortish day over Moosilauke then a longer day over the Kinsman's on Sunday. Also, Lincoln/North Woodstock is a tough area for hikers since everything is spread out over a large distance and down different roads. So the luxury of a vehicle here is very nice. Perfect weather today and it's supposed to be just as good for going over Moosilauke tomorrow. Very excited! Danger
Date: 2005-07-30
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Kinsman's Notch
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: few clouds

Glencliff, New Hampshire to Kinsman's Notch Once again we forced my poor parents to wake up early (6:00 a.m.), ate breakfast at Peg's, and we were at the Kinsmen trail head by 8:00 a.m. to slack south over Moosilauke. My father was originally going to go with us, but he decided to hike with my mother instead, so we were on our own. We knew that Moosilauke was our first time at over tree line in almost 1,800 mi. of hiking, so we were VERY excited. What we weren't prepared for was the beauty around every corner. As we ascended the mountain we quickly came to an amazing cascade. It was absolutely breathtaking and Danger posed while I snapped photo after photo. As we climbed on (and I mean climbed-straight up) we continued on alongside the cascade. Over every rise we had a new eyeful of beauty. For 2 mi. we followed the cascade. The trees started to get shorter and shorter. We came to a vista and for the first time we saw the Whites in all their glory. Mountain ridge after mountain ridge, one after another, with massive Mount Washington in the background with its characteristic pyramid shape and Lafayette and Lincoln in the foreground with their rugged flanks. As we ascended further the trees continue to shrink into krummholz and finally just shrubs and we were above tree line! The sky was the perfect blue with a smattering of clouds for contrast and real mountains all around. For the first time on this trip, I felt it. I really felt the joy and pleasure of having hiked 1,800 mi., 400 left and it was finally in the end-game. We were getting close, we were in the Whites and it was spectacular. It was a feeling of accomplishment of climbing a mountain, but 1000 x more powerful. I felt like the next 400 mi. were going to be moving, beautiful, and fulfilling. This was it, this is what we had come here for. We were ready to savor it. We floated down the trail to Glencliff where we met my very tired parents, who had also hike hard and went to the Woodstock Inn for a fabulous dinner. Gravity
Date: 2005-07-31
From: Kinsman's Notch

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Kinsman Notch to Franconia Notch The day started off knives. We were sad to say goodbye to my parents until Katahdin. They had really help to set up and it was great to see them and I was happy that they to be part of such an epic adventure for us. We ate breakfast and they dropped us off at Kinsman Notch for another slack. As soon as we started, we knew today was not going to be like yesterday. The climb rolled a lot more, and the trail became harder and harder. Our speed continued to drop. Normally on a slack we go 2.5 to 3 mph. Ours was less than 2 mph today. Eventually the trail turned to rock scrambles up large slabs. We got to the top and most of the peaks around us were in clouds, most notably Lafayette and Lincoln. I was exhausted. This was hard trail, and it felt nothing like late yesterday. It just felt hard. It's amazing how wildly the mood can swing. Down we went off Kinsman, with not too much of note other than the lonesome lake hut, our first AMC Hut. It was amazing. They have running water and even some electricity from wind and solar power. The masses can pay $77 per night to sleep in a bunk, breakfast and dinner. Most huts will take two thru hikers as " work-for-stay ". Those lucky thrus get to eat with the "croo" both meals and stay in the hut as well as do some light work. The huts are entirely different from anything else we have seen on the trail, and definitely have a bit of a "yuppie" feel, but despite that, we find ourselves thinking that someday it would be really nice to come back and go hut to hut is we have the opportunity. The Whites are just so pretty (even if today was hard) it would be wonderful to see them on a nice slow, relaxed schedule. After leaving the hut we ran into Croc-walker and Britannica who had someone meeting them at Franconia notch and we were lucky to get a ride back with them. We ate dinner at an Italian place down the street and went to sleep exhausted with knowledge that the Whites were going to be hard but beautiful. Gravity
Date: 2005-08-01
From: Franconia Notch

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Zero day today! Yesterday when we were taking a break at Lonesome Lake Hut, I turned to Gravity and asked him what he thought we should do if we woke up to rain this morning. He said that it didn't matter because it was supposed to be just a bit cloudy. So we wake up this morning and it was pouring outside. When we were planning this trip we agreed that if possible we wouldn't go into the Whites on a bad weather day. Today was definitely a bad weather day. We consider doing just 2.6 mi. to Liberty's Springs tent sites, but since the Weather Channel predicted thunderstorms all day, we decided against it. Several violent storm swept through today, and it looks like it's going to storm all night. Definitely a good choice to zero today, but I sure hope things look better tomorrow... Danger
Date: 2005-08-02
From: Franconia Notch

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: few clouds

Franconia Notch to Galehead Hut The weather looked better this morning, but still cloudy and foggy, however looked like it would burn off. After breakfast we were lucky to get a hitch from a couple going in the other direction. How many times in our lives do we offer a ride to someone on the side of the road going in the other direction? I know I will do it a lot more often after this experience. We get the A.T. and up up up. 3,800 ft. of to Lafayette, but totally worth it! We broke tree line at around 4,000 ft. and we could see the whole Franconia ridge and the trail we were about to follow laid out before us. Truly a treat for the eyes. It was a sight that I have few to compare it to. Truly a world class vista and one of the most beautiful and scenic sections we have done. The clouds were clustered around Lafayette but the rest of the ridge had clear views. As we climbed up Lafayette the clouds mostly lifted and we enjoyed a nice lunch on Lafayette. The one surprise was the speed we were moving. For the first time on the entire trip our speed plunged below 2 m.p.h. to just over 1 m.p.h.. The Whites were going to take just a while! After lunch we move along to Garfield Mountain. We had heard this was a hard stretch, and it sure was! We picked our way along the trail, enjoyed a nice view from Garfield and continued to Galehead after the shortest of breaks. One of the real problems with aiming at a hut and hoping for work-for-stay is that you feel a lot of pressure to get to the hut as early as possible. Unfortunately, despite our push, we didn't get there until after 5:30 p.m., 13 mi. in 9 hours. Slow! There were already a number of thrus there and the work for stay spots were taken. A hard push for nothing. We set up our tent at a stealth site just a short way off. But we were thrashed by thunderstorms all evening, the first of which ripped our tent stakes out and soaked some of our gear and the bottom of our tent. It's tough, tough night. Gravity
Date: 2005-08-03
From: Galehead Hut

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: fog

Galehead Hut to Crawford Notch Thank God for family! We're meeting my brother today, who is heading up from Crawford Notch until he ran into us. That put an extra spring in our step which was quickly removed by the climb up South Twin Mountain. However, the trail started ease up after that, and we were surprised to find ourselves on top of Guyot mountain where we took a nice break and tried to eat down some of our pack weight, and a enjoyed a very nice vista. The descent off Guyot was moderate to fairly good and we are arrived at Zealand Falls hut for lunch and we bought soup for each of us. We had off-again on some very nice trail where after about a mile we ran into my brother. We were excited to see him and we chatted as we move along with the short side trip to Thorean Falls. We got to the bottom where Ken had cold drinks for us and we meet Early Bird who had already finished and was spreading some trail magic. We drove over to the campground and were very happy to discover that there were showers and laundry. Perfect. Off to dinner, then back for showers and laundry. We talked some while the laundry finished and we quickly fell to sleep to some beautiful weather. Hopefully tomorrow will hold the same for us.Gravity
Date: 2005-08-06
From: Osgood Tent Site

To: Zeta Pass
Miles today: 13.3

Osgood tent sites to stealth site at Zeta Pass Spectacularly beautiful day today. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. Clear blue, sunny skies, warm and no humidity. The visibility was out of this world, and we had our first sight of Maine. Today proved that a day that starts good and ends well is a good one. The 4.7 mi. from the tent sites came faster than any distance that length has come in days. We put on the heat hoping to get to the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center in time for breakfast. Though we arrived by 9:30 a.m. breakfast was long over, having ended 8:30 a.m.. The snack bar serving lunch type foods opened at 9:30 a.m. though, so all was not lost. We chowed down on turkey sandwiches and hot cocoa, quite content. Despite the beautiful weather, it was hard leaving the visitor center sleepy from the big " breakfast. " The visitor center was a crazy scene on this beautiful Saturday morning. We clustered with the other hikers who were there; Trip, Matt and Raz and watched all the commotion feeling a little overwhelmed. The prospect of facing Wildcat, rumored to be the most difficult climb on the trail aside from Katahdin, was also a little intimidating. We finally rallied around 11:30 a.m. and set out to tame the Cat. Although very steep steep and slow going, the fair weather encouraged us and it wasn't so terribly long before we reached Peak E. As we reached this first summit of Wildcat Mountain, we encountered hordes of tourists who'd taken a chair lift to the top. I must admit that sweaty and muscles fatigued it was a little tough all those clean, soap smelling people wearing cotton there on top not having had to break sweat to get there. The next four summits (D-A) came easier than the first, but the descent to Carter Notch was plunging. The climb out was equally steep, rising 1600 vertical feet in 1.2 mi.. That climb was the most difficult part of the day for me. We met some flip floppers who were heading south from Katahdin having flipped up from Damascus, Virginia. They were very friendly guys and they shared some useful information about the upcoming stretches. Talking to the friendly hikers also lifted by tired spirits and gave me energy to finish the climb to Carter Dome. There were some views from the large flat top of Carter Dome, but they didn't compare to the 360 degree panoramic we had atop Mt. Hight. I wasn't even expecting a vista from this last mountain of the day and it turned out to provide some of the very best views we've had from the Whites. As we stood up there on the rocks in the low evening sun we can see for at least 60 mi.. Standing up there we were both struck by an opening of a heart and soul as all the little things melt away beneath the perspective of all the greatness around us. The feeling is so powerful yet seems impossible to accurately describe. Tonight we're camping high up among the pines at 4,000 ft. near Zeta Pass. It's cold and we've had to put on hats and warm clothes. The sun is setting earlier each night and we are aware of the summer waning, as is the time remaining of this journey. Gravity
Date: 2005-08-07
From: Zeta Pass

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: broken clouds

Campsite at Zeta Pass to Gorham New Hampshire Finished off the Whites today! It is hard to comprehend that something we'd been talking about, looking forward to and having anxiety about is now done and behind us. Just like Clingman's Dome, Mount Rogers, The Priest, Three Ridges, Greylock, Killington, Moosilauke, and all the greatly anticipated and discussed mountains along the way; before we know it we are at the foot, on the summit and then the mountain is behind us. The milestones morph from abstract looming behemoths, to firm earthen reality beneath our feet and before our eyes to the files of a distant memory. I think the Whites made an impression on both my mind and body more, vastly more, than anything else thus. We saw several southbound hikers as we made our way down the trail toward Gorham. It is so strange to have on the one hand this feeling of kinship yet on the other they are just beginning their journeys while we draw ever nearer to the end of ours I was sitting in the back of a pickup truck that drove into to town this afternoon, and I felt sublime happiness mixed with pre-nostalgia. The wind back there was warm, but felt like a smooth caress across my face. It felt so good to sit there, arms resting on the two coolers in the back with me, legs splayed out in front of me on the cool metal. I watch dreamily as the green, green manicured lawns passed away behind me bespeckled by neat white shingled buildings. The mountains drifted back as we sped ahead. I felt so carefree and light as if all of time, peace and the best of life was mine to savor sitting there surrounded by the white noise of the wind, hair flapping in my eyes, muscles tired and sore. I felt as we sped forward down a road in that strangers pickup truck, the world stood still in perfection for those few but seemingly endless moments. Danger