morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-29
From: West Branch of the Peabody River

To: Route 302
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

I got up before dawn and was hiking at first light. The trail wasn't always well marked. Sparse white blazes and different trail names on the signs. The guidebook warned of that in NH - the AT merges and diverges with the local trail system. Most signs had a subtle "AT" carved somewhere, while others didn't (though usually someone had scrawled it in on there unofficially). I started with the climb up Madison, which turned out to be easier than I had anticipated (everyone exaggerates the difficulty). It wasn't too easy, but when I broke out of the tree line, it was so beautiful, I got a second wind to climb up the bolder portion.It was bright and sunny on the ascent, but you could see some clouds approaching. When I neared the summit, the visibility dropped and the wind picked up to around 40 mph with varying gusts. You could almost lean into it while walking, but then the wind would drop off for a second or two, and you would nearly fall over. There was a bit of up and down over the ridgeline to Washington. I elected to skip the side trails to the peaks to save time. Water was only available from the huts, but since the trail goes right by them, it was convenient. I got to Washington at noon and had hot pizza and picked up a few snacks. I asked about phone calls, and the ranger said we were generally too high to connect to a cell tower, but there was one spot that sometimes worked. I took his advice and went outside and managed to get a message through to get picked up at Route 302 instead of Pinkham Notch.I didn't make as fast progress as expected in the afternoon and was estimating a 7pm arrival instead of 4:30 as originally planned. I decided to use a side trail to Route 302 to rather than to be that late and also got cell reception to coordinate the change. I still covered the whole range in a day, which was the goal, but I would have to climb back up and return to the Appalachian Trail at the same point that I left it.I found my parents car at Route 302 as planned, but they were nowhere to be seen. I checked the visitor center, and the parking lot again, but didn't find them. I was just writing a note to put on the windshield (45 min later) when they returned to the car. Somehow we missed each other going to/from the trailhead.We stopped for dinner on the way to Moose Mountain before the traditional Labor Day weekend camp out. It was a little odd to take a break from backpacking to go camping, but it was definitely enjoyable.
Date: 2014-08-30
From: Route 302

To: Route 302 (Zero)
Miles today: 0.0

Detoured yesterday to Moose Mountain with the family for campout. Did my laundry by hand using water from the stream and hung it all out to dry.Though still out in the woods, I enjoyed good food which was a nice break from the trail. One of the biggest differences between backpacking and camping is how much stuff you can bring, like a cooler.I also had time to sit and relax and tweak some gear, like sewing a few things on my backpack. I made the top quick-release by adding clips and adjusted my water bottle holder strap. The campfire was nice and someone brought fireworks so we had plenty of evening entertainment.
Date: 2014-08-31
From: Route 302 (Zero)

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 0.9
Weather: broken clouds

I spent the morning repacking and having a nice breakfast. On the way back to Route 302, my parents and I stopped for resupply and lunch. I didn't start hiking until about 2:45pm but didn't have far to go. It was drizzling and I hiked 3.9 miles total - 3 on the side trail to get back to the AT, and 0.9 along the AT to the next hut. There was a tent site at this hut, but I figured since it was raining, I'd ask about work-for-stay. It is an option for thru-hikers to avoid the $100+ charge to stay at the hut since there are relatively limited other options for camping through the White Mountains. They normally only accept a few hikers, but since it was raining, they let everyone stay that night, probably 6-7 of us total.Included in work-for-stay is leftovers from dinner, but it comes at a cost for time. You have to do some chores after dinner and after breakfast which means less hiking. Dinner was good though - stuffed shells, peas, soup, and salad. After helping clean up, the hikers get to sleep on the floor - nice and hard, but much drier than being outside.
Date: 2014-09-01
From: Mizpah Hut

To: Zeacliff Pond
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Woke up nice and dry inside Mizpah Hut. After the paying guests left, the work-for-stay hikers got leftovers for breakfast (there are always plenty of leftovers) and had to sweep and fold blankets before being released for the day. I started hiking at 9:15am and though the forecast called for some clouds and rain, it turned out to be a nice day.Since it rained the night before, the steep downhill portions were a bit slick, but there was one nice long flat section, about 5 miles where I made great time. I stopped at Zealand Hut for water, but there wasn't much water after that point. I talked to the caretaker and asked for suggestions on campsites for the night. I considered staying at Guyot Shelter, but it was 1.0 mile off the trail, which means 2 miles round-trip. There was a nice topo map at the hut and the caretaker confirmed that there should be good spots near Zeacliff Pond. That area was about 1.4 miles short of the turnoff to the shelter, but it avoided unnecessary extra distance. It was good advice and I found several existing campsites opposite the side trail to the pond and tucked away in the back. I went down to get water to find the pond rather mucky - lots of algae and things growing on the surface. I crawled out on my hands and knees on a thin dead tree very carefully, and for all the risk and work to stay balanced, I got 'thick' water - rather icky. I dumped that out and walked around the pond, which took a few minutes because the terrain was a little rough. The water from the other side was marginal, but with treatment, it was quite drinkable.I found a nice soft spot between two trees and set up my tarp and was quite comfortable.
Date: 2014-09-02
From: Zeacliff Pond

To: Liberty Springs Campsite
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: broken clouds

When I left camp in the morning, I was just finishing the last of the good, clear water I had picked up at Zealand Hut. I had used the pond water I collected the night before for washing and had plenty left to drink, but was in no hurry to use it. I ended up getting to the next hut, Galehead, without having to drink the pond water. I only came across one hiker before reaching the hut, and it was the caretaker hiking out for his weekend. It is certainly a unique way to commute to work. I startled a bird on the trail and it flew up into a nearby tree. I had seen a lot of these birds lately - black and white with a red gobbler shaped like a miniature turkey. I finally figured out what they were because there was a picture and description on the wall of one of the huts: spruce grouse. This one held nice and still while I got out my camera and even let me get close to take good pictures. At Galehead Hut I got water, soup, and a fresh baked brownie for lunch. Next was Lafayette and the weather was perfect. There were some puffy clouds, but the way they moved across the ridge and caught the sunlight made it a more impressive view than a completely clear day. It was a little windy on top, but it wasn't hard to tuck behind some rocks to have a snack out of the breeze.Instead of hiking 1.1 miles each way to Greenleaf hut for water, I found a trickle of a stream crossing the trail. Since it was barely moving, I double treated it just to be safe. When I arrived at the campsite, I asked for the most private campsite as there were several rather close together. The caretaker recommended the one on the end because it was a bit further out and away from the rest and also warned that a bear had visited the night before, just after dark. He had just swapped out with the last caretaker, so he only had second-hand information, but apparently this bear wasn't afraid of people and didn't scare easily. I elected to do my cooking in the designated area near the bear box (far from my site). I normally just cook near my shelter for convenience and am careful not to spill. All the sites were tent platforms, which I had not used before. I was able to use two trees on either side and set up an A-frame as usual. I didn't tack the sides down to the platform, but left 6 inches between the tarp and the floor. That turned out to be a mistake because it poured that night. I got splashed on all sides and felt the spray on my face almost all night. It wasn't bad enough to get up though and re-configure the tarp. I thought I'd get wetter that way and just sat tight. I still slept okay, but I knew my sleeping bag would be wet in the morning.
Date: 2014-09-03
From: Liberty Springs Campsite

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 11.5

It was my birthday, so I slept in and had hot mocha with breakfast (hot cocoa plus instant coffee). I packed up my wet gear and had a leisurely day - started hiking at 9:15. I got to the last hut in the White Mtns, Lonesome Lake Hut, around lunchtime, so I stopped in for hot soup and bread. The caretaker had leftover soup from the day before and was giving it away for free to thru-hikers as well as some bread that was slightly overbaked (but still good!). I bought a few snacks and couldn't resist taking a swim in the lake. This was the first time I had gone swimming on the trail. I wore my shorts and T-shirt because I didn't have a swimsuit and they could use a rinse just as much as I could. The water seemed a little brisk when I started walking in, but once I went under, it was nice and refreshing. I took my hair down spent a good 20 minutes swimming around. I went out to the middle and back and just enjoyed it. It was a nice sunny day and I dried my arms/legs/feet off with my little squeeze towel. I let my clothes be soggy and just started hiking - my shorts and shirt dried just fine while walking.When I reached the summit of the Kinsmans, I used the large flat rocks on top to dry out all my gear. I emptied my entire backpack and laid out all my clothes and strung up my poncho with some string. It was warm, sunny, and there was a stiff breeze so everything dried quite fast. It took exactly one hour from start to finish, all packed up again. I had run into some thru hikers on the way up the Kinsmans whom I had met back in Gorham at the hostel. They recommended the next shelter and confirmed there were good spots to tent outside, so that became my plan for the day. I arrived at 5:30 and had only covered 11.5 miles. Due to all the stops, my day was about 4 hours shorter than usual, but they were all worth it: I would have three hot meals today, went swimming, and dried all my gear. The time away from hiking was definitely worthwhile.After dinner, I tried a little experiment. I had been carrying cake mix and aluminum foil and was going to try baking. I shaped my aluminum foil into a cup and hung it inside my steel cup, suspended from the rim. I partially filled the outer steel cup with water so it would work like a double-boiler. I knew from previous experiments back home that the cake mix would scorch if I heated it directly. I mixed up my batter and boiled the water in the cup. It didn't cook terribly well, but it did form a crust on top, so it was more like a pudding cake. I mixed powdered milk and a little water in a spare plastic baggie and snipped the corner so I could pipe it out as icing. I decorated my birthday cake with my age (29 of course! *wink), and stuck a match in it as a candle. I lit the match with my lighter, took a picture, made my wish, and blew it out. Overall a great day of hiking and a memorable birthday.
Date: 2014-09-05
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Mt Mist
Miles today: 2.6
Weather: few clouds

I spent all day on the computer at the hostel getting caught up with school applications. I finally hiked out at around 5pm and only went a couple of miles. An opposite direction hiker said he'd seen camping spots on Mt Mist, so I made that my destination.I cooked dinner while setting up my tarp and tucked in just as it got dark. During the night, I head the sound of metal rattling: my critter deterrent. I poked a hole in my stove's windscreen and suspend it above my food bag to prevent squirrels and mice from climbing down the string. It was making quite a racket and I couldn't help but to wonder what type of critter was messing with my food....a little one...or a big one?I held my breath as I listened, and was hoping not to hear any big, heavy footsteps or crashing in the woods. All I could hear was the aluminum scren, so it must have been a little critter. I was half tempted to get up and check on it, just in case the deterrent had failed. But I figured I shouldn't get up for every noise during the night or I'd never sleep, so I tried to forget about it and just get some rest.
Date: 2014-09-06
From: Mt Mist

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: thunderstorm

The trail had flattened out a bit for the first time since the first 50 miles in Maine. I made great time (3.6 mph) in the morning. I slowed down a bit over the mountains, but there were small by comparison than what I had been hiking over recently.It was windy at the top of Mt Cube and I tucked away in the rocks for a snack. You could see the weather moving in and raid was forecast. Everyone I asked said it was supposed to start at noon. Sometimes you get different forecasts from each person you talk to, but all the hikers today had the same answer: rain at noon.Well, noon came and went, and it hadn't started to rain. I got to the top of Smarts Mountain which had an enclosed cabin for a shelter at 2:30pm and was walking up the stairs as the first rain fell. It was just a drizzle and though the cabin was nice and dry, it smelled like a lot of mice probably lived there. I walked quite a ways downhill in the drizzle to get water and was considering my options while sitting on the front porch. I wanted to make it to the shelter just outside of Hanover on Sunday night. It was Saturday and I had hiked 15 miles today and would need to make 24 tomorrow, or I could continue and cover 24 today/15 tomorrow. I had daylight and energy and decided to hike on at 3:30pm since it was only raining lightly.At 4:30, the downpours began. I put on my poncho and gaiters, and though I stayed dry, my feet got soaked. This was the second time the gaiters seemed useless despite being properly worn over waterproof shoes. I skipped Bill Ackerly's place due to the rain - he was a Trail Angel that had a sign in his front yard inviting hikers in for water and ice cream. I had heard he was very nice and would have liked to meet him, but it was chilly and wet and I needed every remaining minute of daylight to get to the next shelter.I arrived to find one other fellow there who was tenting outside and I chose to stay in the shelter so I could hang up my wet poncho to dry.
Date: 2014-09-08
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Norwich, VT
Miles today: 3.1
Weather: clear sky

It was not even a mile from the shelter to the grocery store in Hanover, NH. It was a great place to resupply because they had bulk bins where you could scoop just the amount you wanted into a little baggie and the selection was impressive. I got things like plain oatmeal, rice and couscous in small amounts - one or two meals apiece so I could try adding different flavorings/sauces. They also had spices in the bulk section, so I got a variety of things to add to my meals. It was nice to be able to experiment, rather than choose between the same pre-seasoned items other grocery store carry.I definitely bought more than I needed for the next leg and I could barely stuff everything into my food bag. I made a few other stops, such as the post office, hardware store for stove fuel, and had lunch at an Irish Pub. I had tried to find a hotel while at the hostel in Glencliff, but every one was booked solid since it was back-to-school time and parents were staying over while helping their kids move into college. The hostel had a list of "Trail Angels" that offered accommodations for hikers in their homes. It was a little awkward to call up a perfect stranger and ask it they had room, but another hiker said they had stayed at a particular guy's house and said it was a nice family, so I made a reservation. I didn't want to show up empty-handed, so I stopped at the florist on my way out of Hanover and made the short 3ish mile walk carrying a bouquet of flowers.The family I stayed with lived in the nearby town of Norwich, VT and their house was on the Appalachian Trail (the trail follows the roads through Hanover/Norwich). They had made space available in their walk-in basement and had mattresses/linens/towels for hikers. Two other section hikers were staying there that night so I stayed up a little while to chat. The family was very nice and the place was very comfortable.
Date: 2014-09-09
From: Norwich, VT

To: Woods
Miles today: 1.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I planned to spend the day in Hanover visiting Dartmouth college so I took the bus to town (no need to walk that section twice) and had breakfast at Dunkin Donuts. There aren't many Dunkin Donuts on the trail, so I try to never miss one. I did cheat a little yesterday afternoon and went to a different bakery because they gave thru-hikers a free donut and I bought a cup of their coffee.After spending the day at the college, I mailed away some things at the Post Office and hiked out of town. I didn't get very far into the woods before I set up camp. I found a nice soft spot in the pine trees just out of view of the trail.
Date: 2014-09-10
From: Woods

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 22.4

I was looking forward to stopping at the General Store in West Hartford, VT, but the place went out of business. As I turned the corner to go over the bridge and leave town, another hiker was coming the opposite direction. She pointed out the folks at a nearby house were trying to get our attention.I had heard there was a family in that town that cooks breakfast for hikers and they were inviting us in. We stopped and they made us eggs, bacon and toast. It was very good and they had kept a tally of the hikers that they had served. They were now up to 1,082. They didn't charge for the meal, but it is customary to leave a donation. I didn't have any suitable cash on me, so I asked for their address, they gave me their business card, and I mailed a donation from the next post office.The other hiker was actually heading in the same direction as me and we leap-frogged each other all day long. We both stopped at Cloudland Market - a farm stand just 0.2 mi off trail - and split a pint of ice cream. I also got a rhubarb-raspberry soda just to try something different - it was good.I skipped South Pomfret which would have been a short detour because I heard their general store had closed as well. There was also another farm stand, but they had just begun their fall hours and weren't open today. I didn't need to stop at any of these places because I had plenty of food, but its always nice to pick up a snack that doesn't pack well (like soda or ice cream).At the top of a hill, I saw an apple in the middle of the trail. I looked over, and there was a big apple tree with a ton of apples. The fruit on the branches was a little underripe, but some of the drops were good. As I was searching around, I startled a porcupine who was doing the same thing. He scampered off, but he was a pretty big animal, about 2.5-3 feet across.The other hiker told me about a lookout tower where you could sleep up in the enclosed cabin on top of the tower. It sounded like a good idea, but it would be near impossible to reach before dark. I hurried a bit, but elected to stop at the shelter just before at 6:30 so I could make dinner and hang my bear bag before dark. I experimented a little for dinner and made couscous and added powdered basil pesto sauce and it came out great.
Date: 2014-09-11
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Churchill Scott Shelter
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: light rain

I tried another experiment for breakfast: bacon and eggs. I found powdered egg whites, fully cooked bacon, and powdered cheese sauce at the last grocery store and gave it a try. It tasted good, but because the stove cooks very hot and fast, it was difficult to keep it from scorching. I had nothing to scrape the inside of the cup with, so for cleaning, I used a handful of coarse sand from the stream edge for scouring. It took a while to clean out the pot, so I doubt I will add bacon and eggs to my regular breakfast lineup.As I hiked out in the morning, I hear the low battery alarm from my cell phone. I had been carrying it this leg because I was due to meet up with my parents in Vermont, but I had turned the phone off to save the battery. Apparently, the power button had gotten bumped and it turned itself on, drained the battery, and I turned it off to try and save what little juice was remaining.It rained all day mostly just a drizzle. I stopped at a shelter to have lunch and dry out a bit. I tried powdered hummus for the first time: I mixed it with water and had bought crackers for dipping. It was very good. I spent about an hour and a half waiting for the rain to stop or subside (it had started raining harder). Another hiker showed up and told me that the forecast called for heavier showers from 2-5 pm. I had just stopped from 12-1:30pm, so I figured I better get moving because the weather was only going to get worse. I hiked out at 2pm.My guidebook listed a lodge/hotel and as I passed by, I saw a sign on the trail that said "Hikers Welcome" as the trail crossed the back yard of the lodge. I hiked up to the building only to get to the front desk to find it was closed the whole weekend for a wedding. Normally they have a restaurant open to the public for lunch and dinner. That also explained why I was getting strange looks from the staff and few guests that were arriving. As I hiked back down the same way I came up, you could see the bride-to-be taking a tour of the grounds and the staff pointing out where things would be set up. You could tell by the look on her face that the brochure didn't include the possibility of dirty hikers walking between the beautiful hillside and the lake backdrop along the Appalachian Trail. Perhaps they should have also covered or removed the "Hikers Welcome" sign, otherwise they might get more people trekking up the grounds.I hiked right past the state park that offered coin-operated showers since I was already wet and didn't want to get any wetter. I successfully navigated the intersection of the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail, both conveniently marked with identical white blazes, and stopped for the night at a shelter to dry out.
Date: 2014-09-13
From: Minerva Hinchley Shelter

To: Danby-Landgrove Road
Miles today: 12.1

I got to the rendezvous point early and called my parents. They were on their way and I sat down to wait. It was forecast to rain so I told my parents if it started to rain, I'd be under the bridge. It started to drizzle, but only lightly and I stayed dry by sitting under a big oak tree. I didn't really want to crawl down the embankment and sit on a rock on the edge of the stream under the bridge unless I really had to.We spent the day in Manchester Center, VT; we went to lunch, washed clothes at the laundromat, browsed the outfitter's store, and went out to dinner. The town was nice - definitely a tourist town trying to attract people to come out for weekend getaways to enjoy fall colors, go skiing, and such. This was my first hotel stay on the trail, although some of the hostels had been very nice as well. It was good to get a shower and stay warm inside and the timing was perfect - it got cold and rained that night.