morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-07-24
From: Liberty Springs Campsite 

To: Guyot Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

My temp platform tent-mates all woke up early and started hiking at 6:30 so so I decided to hike up Mount liberty which is about half a mile from the campsite. Very beautiful 360 degree views and you could see the rain was coming in and winds were picking up. While on top of Mt. Liberty you can look toward the Franconia Ridge and get a great view of Little Haystack, Mt. Lincoln and Mt. Lafayette. All three are above treeline and you could just make out the trail going up and over each one. The hike was not too difficult but the winds started to get super windy.  Almost to the point where you couldn't stand up without bracing yourself for each step. The hike between the three mountains was breath taking as you could see all of the surrounding mountains and the incoming weather.  The wind and temperatures were such along the ridge trail that my hands were numb and very cold.  Once I was back under the tree line, I could start to feel my hands again. Hiked over here more mountains in the early afternoon; Mt. Garfield, South Twin and Guyot Spur.  The clouds had settled in lower than the lookout points so there was no stopping to take in some grand view. Stopped at the Galehead Hut to get out of the rain and get a nice bowl of turkey soup and big chocolate browny.  There were a few other hikers in the Hut doing the same and no one wanted to go out side.  The Guyot shelter I stayed at tonight had about 10 hikers by about 7:00 pm. The rain and cold temps had driven everyone into the shelter as most of them said they prefer to tent camp as I do.  Most of the shelter dwellers were only out for a few days. I believe I was the only thru- hiker but there was another former thru-hiker in the shelter who was with his girlfriend and they were finishing the 48th 4,000 New Hampshire challenge. They had one more to go. Also met a lady from Finland who was in holiday and hiking portions of the Whites. She wasn't expecting how cold, rainy and windy it was going to be. Today was one of the highlights of the trail for me even though the weather was downright miserable.
Date: 2017-07-25
From: Guyot Shelter

To: Crawford Notch campground
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Woke up a little later than normal but the shelter folks were coming alive so I thought it would be good to get packed up. Getting back into wet rain gear is never any fun but I knew it would be wet walking through the wet, narrow forest today. Zealand Mountain had no view but walked to it anyway. The mornings hike was nice and not many challenges which was a change from the last few days. The rocks have also changed to become much more "grippy" so you have a better feeling about not slipping off wet rocks. Having said that, you can never trust a wet root, trust me! Stopped in at the Zealand Falls Hut for a rest and to redeem my baked goods from my campsite card I received from the first AMC campsite I stayed at. Last nights stay only cost me $5 since I had camped at another site first. The card you receive from the AMC provides for bowl of soup and two baked goods.  Stopped at Crawford Notch Camping & General Store for the night. Got a shower and was able to do some laundry as well. Ate a pre-dinner meal from the camp store while my clothes were in the dryer and then ate again before nightfall. Now just need to find a power outlet to charge up my devices. There are a lot of campers here at the camp ground including tents, campers and the like. There are also a lot if kids running around but I think I am the only hiker. Tomorrow I meet my relative, Steve, at the Nauman tent site which will be a 6.5 mile climb in the morning. We will be 6 miles from the famed summit of Mt. Washington.
Date: 2017-07-26
From: Crawford Notch campground

To: Nauman tentsite
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: overcast clouds

While packing up my campsite, I was asked by my neighbors to join them in a cup of coffee. I gladly accepted and they wanted to talk all about the AT and my adventures so far. Michael & Jen had a great morning campfire and along with two cups of strong coffee, I was offered a slice of wonderful banana nut bread (my personal favorite). That was great trail magic. Thank you very much Michael & Jen for having me over!  I then finished up packing and moved to the general store where I purchased a few days of food and then moved to the roadside to grab a hitch back up a steep climb to the Notch. I waited for about 30 minutes but a nice gentlemen who was also hiking today turned around to pick me up. Thank you for the lift! I had a steep climb up to the first peak but the views and weather was spectacular. Hiked over Mt. Webster and then Mt. Jackson. On top of Jackson, you had a clear view of the summit of Mt. Washington and the Mispah Hut. Just a perfect day to be on the summit with a 360 degree view. I arrived at the Nauman tent site in the early afternoon and set up my tent on a large platform. My brither-n-law from Chicago, Steve, called me earlier and was on his way up from the AMC Highland Hut. Looking forward to his arrival. The weather forecast for tonight and early tomorrow is rain, strong winds and a potential for hail. Welcome to the unpredictable weather of the Whites!  Steve should up earlier than expected so we hit him set up on the platform and then got caught up in our kids life's as well as our own. Great having Steve out here with me and looking forward to some great hiking days in the Whites
Date: 2017-07-27
From: Nauman tentsite

To: Valley Way tentsite 
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

Today's hike was going through the presidential range which included Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Clay, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams and the most famous Mt. Washington. We will hike over Mt. Madison tomorrow to round out the "presi's". We also hiked by some well known AMC hut's named Lake of the Clouds Hut and Madison Spring Hut. To say this day was difficult would be a huge understatement. The wind and rain hit us as we were going up Mt. Washington and the terrain was steep and very rocky. By the time we got to the summit of Washington, the winds were around 40 knots and you had a very hard time trying to keep your balance. The rain and cloud layer also made the visibility about 50'.  The stone cairns that were placed along the AT to help guide you through the terrain were in valuable as I would loose site of my brother-n-law offer but I could hear him and his trekking poles hitting the rocks. We hiked for 12 hours today and were wiped out when we funnily arrived at the only campsite available Valley Way Campsite.
Date: 2017-07-28
From: Valley Way tentsite 

To: Pinkham Notch /Libby B&B
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: moderate rain

Tough walk back to the Madison Spring Hut but we had a nice breakfast of left-overs. Beautiful view of Mt. Adams and of Mt. Madison which is our next climb after we leave the Hut. Well this was the day we were waiting for beautiful weather.  Once hiked to Mt. Madison and started the descent to Pinkham Center we had many fantastic views of the the entire northern Presidential range, which included Mt. Washington, Mt. Clay, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams and Mt. Monroe. The descent from Mt. Madison was very steep and very rocky. I was so glad that the weather was so nice because this part of the exposed ridge would have been very difficult. We made it to the Pinkham Notch visitor center in the middle of the afternoon and called one of the local hostels, Libby House B&B/The Barn to see if they had a vacancy and a lift into town. We were in luck and were picked up in about 25 minutes. We learned from the owner of the B&B/Hostel that the Libby's owned thousands of acres in this area and at one time owned the road that went up to the summit of Mt. Washington. The hostel was pretty full tonight but seem like a good group of folks. My brother in law is going to be picked up tomorrow by his cousin so will say good bye to him in the morning. Was great having him with me and made this part of the AT an even better adventure. Heading into the Wildcat Mntns tomorrow and may not have any service for a few days.
Date: 2017-07-29
From: Pinkham Notch /Libby B&B

To: Rattle River shelter 
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Was 47° this morning when I woke up in the barn of the Libby Hostel. There was about 12 hikers in the loft of the barn. Pretty cool place but getting sleep was a bit of a challenge. The Libby was the cheapest Hostel yet at $22 a night and that was with a bed. Several of us were dropped off at the Pinkham Notch this morning but I was the only one with a full pack. The others were slack packing the 21 miles to Route 2 and then getting picked up by the hostel owner to take them back to the hostel for the night. One of the hikers dropped off was a guy named English Detective and he was 73 years old and actually had an agency back in the UK doing detective work.  Was dropped off and picked up for the Libby hostile old white Cadillac pretty cool.  Hiked with three other slack packers and was going to attempt to keep up with them today. Up and over the Wildcat gondola, Wildcat D Mntn, Wildcat A mountain.  Hiked past Carter Notch Hut, which is the last Hut going north on the AT, and the adjacent lake which was absolutely stunning with a backdrop of Wildcat mountain in the background. The AMC Hut system is throughout the the Whites and is mainly for folks who pay to stay night(s) but they have to hike in with their personal items (clothing, etc). There are AMC staff who provide all of the cooking, maintenance and bring all food items by backpack. All of the staff are young and great hikers! For us thru-hikers, you are welcome to stop in for water and any left-over food from the mornings breakfast or dinner. There are also baked goods and hot soup available for sale. I stopped at most huts and enjoyed something to eat. Hiked up and over Carters Dome which will be the highest peak for me today at 4,842 feet. The summit of Mt. Hight was amazing with a 360 degree view of the area including all of the Presidential range. Hiked over South, Middle, North Carter and final over the summit of Mt. Moriah. Mt. Moriah is the last major peak in the White Mountains for NOBO's. That was 8 peaks in one long day. I am only 2 mikes from Route 2 so I feel good about the big miles through the Wildcats and back on schedule. Stopped at Rattle River shelter and stealth camped down the trail since all of the tent spots were taken. Hearing the river next to me was nice and put me to sleep.
Date: 2017-07-30
From: Rattle River shelter 

To: Full Goose shelter
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: clear sky

When I leave my campsite this morning near Rattle River shelter I will have 300 miles to go!  On the Guthook app I am using for the AT, you can switch the direction of travel and either find out how miles you have been or how many left to go. Also if I make my target shelter, I will have passed out of New Hampshire and into my last state of Maine.  Ran into Johnny Walker, where the last time I saw him was left him was at North Woodstock eating dinner at a Mexican restaurant. He told me that he had moved his truck up to Millinocket and then shuttle back down to Gorham and was going to hike toward his truck and finish the trail. Met another hiker this morning who is from Cleveland Georgia who has been section hiking for 40 years and he said that he has about 50 miles ago to finish. Met a NOBO named Michael from Bend Oregon and he started in early May so he's really moving and would talk to him later tonight at the shelter. Met gray Wolf from Seattle he is also a northbound and targeted to finish Katahdin about the same time I amTough climb up Mt. Success but great 360 degree views including the Mt. Washington and the presidential range and the mountains of Maine. Hiked over Goose Eye West,East and North Peak after going up and down some very steep rock cliffs. These last three peaks were tough at the end of a long mileage and climbing day. Stopped at the Full Goose shelter which was pretty full of hikers both in the shelter and the tent platforms. I found a spot in the overflow area. Seems like most of the hikers here are SOBO's except for maybe 4 of us.
Date: 2017-07-31
From: Full Goose shelter

To: Pine Ellis Lodging 
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

Entered the famous Mahoosuc Notch early this morning. It is known as the hardest/funnest Mile on the AT. I followed two younger hikers through and we made it in about an hour but I did have one fall where I landed on my back. Thankfully I have a cushioned backpack full of soft items. In several places in the famous Notch, there were big slabs of ice under massive boulders and you could also here a stream under those rocks but could not see it. All up it was one of the craziest hikes I have done. Big climb up Mahoosac Arm and then Old Spec Mountain. From there it's a long steep descent down to Grafton Notch. Hiked with Lookout and Mercury who started the trail in early April. Another long steep climb up Baldpate West and East summits. I was running low on food so I decided to go into Andover and stay at the Pine Ellis Lodging. Once I arrived, I started my laundry and took a shower. Next I walked to the local market and sat down at their deli for homemade meatloaf, mash potatoes, carrots and a side order of fries. After I ate that I polished off a pint of banana pudding ice cream. Can life much better? Bought some resupply food and a cold beer and went back to the hostel where I crashed. I did get a menu fir breakfast at the deli and intend to go back early tomorrow morning before the shuttle drops me back off at the trail head.
Date: 2017-08-01
From: Pine Ellis Lodging 

To: Benise stream 
Miles today: 22.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night at the Pine Ellis lodging I got up late and went outside and could see a clear sky full of stars. I had not had many opportunities to see stars at night due to the tree cover over most of the past campsites. This morning I walked back to Mills deli and ordered a big breakfast, coffee and chocolate milk.  Definitely the way to start one's morning. I plan to hike two more days until I get to Rangeley, ME where I will get off the AT for the final visit home before finishing this great adventure. Hiked past Surplus Pond which was quiet and peaceful this morning. Two of hikers I met yesterday were camping there last night. Net JBird & ToeHeel a couple flip-flopping SOBO's. Both were carrying the exact Zpack backpack's that I have. They were hiking together celebrating their 30 years of marriage. Also met Thomas, SunDog and SheWolf sho were all SOBO's. Tough climb up Old Blue Mountain but beautiful views at the top. A lot of rebar and wooden ladders climbing up to this peak. Met Princess Anne at the top of Old Blue where I stopped and grabbed some lunch. She was from California and had hiked all over the world. We talked about the White mountains which were coming up for her in a few days. Next peak was Bemis Mountain and it seemed like I had entered the land of rocks and roots (plus going up and down like crazy). Also around Bemis was a good deal of hiking on solid exposed rock (granite) with a crazy zig-zag route. When you get to the top of most of these peaks, the pine trees are like dwarfs and there is little soil and several different colored misses are growing. When I arrived at Bemis stream tent-site there were already 5-6 tents pitched. I recognized two of the hikers and they told me that they had just finished eating trail magic at the road we just crossed. Sounded like I missed quite a feast. I think when I get off the trail I will make plans to drive into the N.GA mountains during the hiking season and sponsor some trail magic.
Date: 2017-08-02
From: Benise stream 

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

Today will mark my 100th hiking day on the AT since last October and it's going to be good day since I am getting off at Rangeley, ME with shorter miles (approx. 14) and staying at another hostel. Walk by two spectacular lakes one of them had a family of four with two small kids and they look like the parents had boiled some cocoa beans and made it into cocoa paste and put it on a rice cracker and the young boy (maybe three or four) told me "hey look at my hot chocolate". He had the chocolate all over his face and was cute as a button. The weather over the past several days here in Maine has just been great with little to no rain but was definitely hot today with the High in the upper 80's. I enjoyed being under the "green tunnel" and out of the blazing sun. Hiked up on about a dozen kids out for a six day hiking and camping trip during a summer camp. They're all from Plymouth, Vermont. Today's hike was pretty easy miles and ended by stopping at the Hiker Hut about 0.3 miles north of the AT. This was no ordinary Hostel and very much more of a throw back to a very simple life. I was offered a dip in the creek and then a warm shower next to the creek in a very unique "on-demand" hot shower. After getting cleaned up, Steve and his wife offered me some lunch which was huge portion of potato salad, salad (direct from their garden) and a left over hamburger. What a treat! I shared with Steve that I needed to get down to Farmington to pick up a car either tonight or early tomorrow. His wife said she was going that way anyway, so I decided to accept the ride from her and not stay the night. After picking up my car, I drove to Gorham, to stay the night and also eat at my favorite restaurant, Nonna's where my brother-n-law ate several days ago when we were in town. This was a great leg of my AT adventure but I need to go back home for a few days but will be back soon to finish up.
Date: 2017-08-08
From: Hiker Hut

To: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to 
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice time back home, enjoying some home-cooking and fun dinners out with the family. Made all of my final plans for my last leg on AT with the Hiker Hut, Lakeshore House (Monson) and AT Lodge in Millinocket.  Sent my first and only food drop to Lakeshore House Hostel in Monson, ME so that I can be ready for the hike through the 100 mile wilderness. I started my trip back up to Maine (8/7) sigh a quick stop at Mountain Biscuit which for those who have been there is a great place for breakfast.  I order two biscuit sandwiches, one to eat and to go! The travel today was a wet one with a large scattered storm throughout the southeast and mid-Atlantic area. Stopped in Monticello, NY to refuel before making the final leg to Millinocket, ME where I will get a shuttle back to Rangeley and will stay the night at the Hiker Hut. Great stay and absolutely wonderful people that run the Hiker Hut. For dinner they served spinach,sausage ravioli bake and for dessert a pumpkin spice cake with chocolate bites and fresh whipped cream. Ummhh! I slept in an adorable single Hut big enough for a bed, a side table and my backpack. It had started to rain a little last night but Steve the host, made a fire and drew some of the other hikers out of the bunk room Hut. I also went out and enjoyed the warmth of the fire but soon was back in my Hut sound a sleep. I woke early and had a cup of coffee and Steve made me some eggs and toast for breakfast. After paying my bill I was packed, said my goodbyes and was walking the 0.3 miles back to the Trailhead. The trail was wet, muddy and slippery from last nights rain. The forecast is suggesting more rain later today. Hiked up Saddleback Mountain, Saddleback Junior and the Horn. Unfortunately the clouds were still thick and low so visibility was not good at the peaks but I did get a few pictures as the clouds broke up momentarily. Hiked down into a ravine and then back up a modestly steep trail where it was paralleling a waterfall. The waterfall was unique in one way in that it was very narrow and had gouged out a relatively straight line down the mountain and the water was moving super fast. Stopped at the Spaulding Mountain Lean-to. When I arrived there was a group of about 10-12 boys and some older leaders that had started to make up their tent sites. They told me there was another group coming to camp here too, so I decided I was going to find the one other designated tent site immediately off the trail, away from the lean-to and away from the madness that was going occur when another 10-12 young folks should up to camp.  I also know the hikers that were at the the Hiker Hut last night were heading to this spot too.  Going to be a busy place tonight.
Date: 2017-08-10
From: Horns Pond lean-to

To: East Carry Pond
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: clear sky

Full moon last night with some clouds drifting by. My tent is great but very translucent so as the moon made its way from one horizon to the next it lit up my tent. Slept well but always had a good night light thanks to the moon!Walked down to Horns Pond with my freshly brewed via coffee to enjoy the view. Met QuickStart who was a flip-flopped and home in south jersey. Hiked up North and South Horn mountains, then Bigelow West Peak and lastly Bigelow Avery Peak. Beautiful 360 degree views. Clouds were coming in but you could still see 20 miles.  Discovered some small blueberries on the trail coming down from Bigelow. They were really small but I kept stopping to grab a handful. Found several more areas where the blueberries were rip fir the picking. Got caught in real downpour in the middle of the afternoon. Put on my rain jacket but not my rain pants since it wasn't a cold blowing rain. Mistake!  As the rain came down, it all ran down my legs onto my socks and filled up my shoes. I sloshed around in those wet socks and shoes for he next several hours and probably will tomorrow. Having my rain pants on would have shed the water over my socks and around my gators and would have minimized the water in my shoes. When I was about 2 miles away from what I had read in Guthook as a likely stealth tentsite near East Carry Pond, the sky turned black again and started to rumble with thunder. I hurried my pace but the wet rocks, roots and mud really slowed me down but I did get to the stealth spot just before the bottom dropped out. I wanted to go as far as I could today and be in striking distance of the Kennebec River so I could get a ferry ride across during normal hours. The ferry is free and sponsored by the ATC, MATC and the dam operator and is a single canoe guided by a guy named Greg. I have seen pictures of the canoe and it has a white blaze in the bottom of the hull and takes two hikers across the river. I am told there is a queue of a line on both sides of the river so I need to add that to my timeline tomorrow. Got my tent up and everything stowed away as the rain storms moved on past me. I washed my muddy legs in the pond where I had camped about 20 feet away. Very scenic spot looking across the water. They say this is a pond but where I come from this is a lake. Looking forward to dinner and unwinding tonight. Cooked up two dinners and ate on a boulder at the pond waterfront and watched the sun set. Great way to close out a day on the AT.