morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-11
From: Stafford notch campsite

To: Stratton Maine
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 18Sleeping in stratton Maine after a harsh day. Yesterday I may have pushed 22 miles but the 11 ish miles today were grueling.Literally, literally, literally, this morning when I looked up at the first hill we had to climb I almost fell over, and that was only one of the three peaks we did but it took all my energy to get up those hills today. Some book said that those peaks were the second best in Maine compared to katadin but when I summited katahdin it was foggy so these peaks were amazing, at one point I literally thought I was looking at a painting. UHMAZINGTheY were a difficult 11 miles though. The thing I have the hardest time believing is when you look up before a mountain and know that you are going to summit it and the peak just seems like some unattainable goal, but next thing you know (after you are covered in sweat, your legs are crying why god, and your stomach insists that the bar of granola and peanut butter isn't enough) you're at the top and it's an amazing sense of accomplishment which I still have trouble putting into words. I enjoyed the struggle but if every peak is that nice I'll make it up regardless. And let me just say now mount Washington is gonna be crazy #calleditBut about StrattonFirst I hitched into town, having never done that my thumb was timid but fortunately some disc golfer named Kirby picked me up prolly the 20th car that passed and now I am sleeping in a parking lot behind some general store which he insisted is just a front for a weed operation. Honestly I could see that, the store was pretty empty and the only thing in it was random nick nacks, but since I was tenting in the back for free I bought a soda to make my conscious feel better and possibly aide the profitability of the front.Also Maine apparently if you ever stay in Stratton the two businesses around the general store hate the hikers who camp here because all the revenue they lose from hikers camping for free, but it is worth it if you ask me, just be prepared for dirty looks from the owner of the hostel and white wolf inn.Zero tomorrow because my legs need a break and after Stratton southern Maine and New Hampshire aka dropped the soap time startStafford notch campsite to stratton Maine177.8-188.2
Date: 2014-07-12
From: Stratton Maine

To: Stratton Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

And then there were 4In case you don't remember the track record originally the group had 8 members, crankenstine, danger Darryl, captain redbeard, mike/sardine, the kid, the cousins west Nile and rhino and me.Crankenstine more or less fell behind and out of favorDanger Darryl lived a life too crazy for his kidneys to keep up withAnd now the cousins dropped hot because of sickness/injuries/money problemsLeaving me, the kid,sardine, and redbeard to finish Maine, then new hampshire, then the trail.Losing a member of the crew sucks because despite the time we have only been together 2 and a half weeks it seems like so much longer. Today after the cousins left we couldn't believe it was only a week ago that we lost danger Darryl. The woods places a weird time spell on all of us and I just can't wait to see how it affects us the deeper we get into the woods and into the trail.Goals are another thing we discussed after today, the second zero of the trail and a week after our first one. We decided that the next town we will spend any real time in is Gorham New Hampshire and any town before that we just will drop in drop out. Second the next zero day we take we will spend in the woods ideally to save money and prolong the trip for the group members who are lacking in funds.I ate the wolf burger in Stratton 8oz sausage patty bacon and cheese, it wasn't that big. And that's not just hiker stomach talking, I'm not impressed white wolf in.Lastly, I don't know if this will help anyone but rhino, doc hazard and some lady that they met going NOBO all reported getting sick after staying in west carry pond lean to. I know correlation does not mean relation but it's something to keep in mind if you have a friend hiking past that at mile 165 sobo or 2020 NOBO, fortunately I passed by during the 22 mile dayOn to a hard 13 mile day tomorrow with some unforgiving mountains and a lot of up
Date: 2014-07-13
From: Stratton Maine

To: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 13.5

A good day to a bad day then an alright dayGood day:13 miles after a zero with some mountains but not terrible all in all I was ready and as mentally prepared as possible.First eight miles no problem, big hills? Got it. talked to some dude made a girl and her mom laugh, nice start to the day. It was 12 decided to make a fire and wait for the other three wanderers to catch up because of my massive lead. Finished the first half of fear and loathing in Las Vegas. Even put on my water shoes to make the river fording easier and ensure I don't get wet boots. Lastly right before we ford the river the aforementioned mother daughter combo asked my name and if I was single to the kid when they passed him, the thought "I still got it" passes through my head as I prepare to rock hop the riverBad day:With that though fresh in my head I slip on the first rock, and fall forward into the water, only part that gets wet is my leg and my hands. Problem, my hands have my boots and socks which now are completly soaked. There now are five miles between me and the shelter, 1 extremely steep hill and now my boots squish, not fun. Sugarloaf the summit is .5 miles away and if you have walked 10 and plan on doin 13 adding another one is not appetizing, me and the kid skip the shelter. It starts to get windy and all the signs of an oncoming rain storm are prevalentAlright day:We are a mile away from the lean to, I look up, one word MOOSE. It is a bad sighting, he runs and after a short chase the kid and chickenfat no longer see him, but that makes one more moose sighting than the majority of the hikers I met. Chickenfat eats a double dinner and sleeps in his tent with the sound of rain outside hoping his socks and boots will be dry for tomorrow and the easy 8 that lay aheadGood day, bad day, alright day
Date: 2014-07-14
From: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to

To: poplar ridge lean to
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 21Tree weeks (it's a pun) (you probably don't get it) (it's ok I'm super clever)Three weeks on the trail has made me several things1:physically fit. I wish I knew how much weigh I have lost but prolly 10 pounds is a safe bet, also gaining leg muscle has occurred.2. More comfortable in nature. I remember the second day, the first day by myself at one point I just stopped and yelled because I realized I was completely by myself. Now it's not something to celebrate but just appreciate. It is an awesome feeling to be taken in by nature and know that the only thing can ruin it is a dirty northbounder3. northbounders are the worst people ever4. The third point of my notes are pointless lies I put there to amuse myself from time to time (ok this the first time, but maybe I'll start)5. Tents>shelter. I get to sleep by myself with no one to bother me. Even on wet nights I would rather hear the rain try to penetrate my own personal bubble then to hit that tin roof.6. I don't like when there is a girls summer camp group in the campsite cus then I need to walk further away to pee, because I'm a gentleman. And gentlemen pee further away into the woods when ladies are presentLastly7. Maine was fun but in a week when I am in New Hampshire I will hardly miss it, methinks201.7-209.7Spaulding mountain lean to-poplar ridge lean to
Date: 2014-07-15
From: poplar ridge lean to

To: Rangley Maine
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: moderate rain

Day 22Hello from rangley "maine's four season playground"Today is the first time we stopped in a town just for the night, the way it should be and it has been great. It was a tedious day with junior saddleback, then the horn, then saddleback but we made it and now I write from a bed post shower(10 days without)The horn was one of my best experiences of the trip so far. I had a nice 20 min long photo shesh on top, watched as the summit of saddleback clogged up with clouds like a public toilet to ruin and possible motivation there would be to make it to the top and even was joined by my second moose in three days. Seeing a moose is so foreign, I feel like they might as well be aliens because after Maine I give up all hope of ever seeing them again The climb to saddleback was better. Than I thought it would be however, it was our first completely exposed climb, so the whole time I could see the hikers in front of me and the ones behind me. It was awesome to see me gaining time on Captian redbeard as I made my way up the mount. in town I had a pizza and good is good. I am staying at the gray house hostel, 20 bucks for bed, laundry, wifi, breakfast and they drove us to iga supermarket. A great deal all and all and I would recommend it to anyone on a budget, they are right next to the ecoglape place in rangley and not on the AWOL guide, but they should be.Also I now weigh 162.5, 10 pounds lost, whattttt damn me and my damn nourishing meals. I might as well have Martha Stewart cooking for me.      Goodnight from rangley rain walking tomorrow and if it sucks expect profanity 209.7-220.4poplar ridge lean to to Rangley Maine
Date: 2014-07-16
From: Rangley Maine

To: sabbath day pond lean to
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: broken clouds

We left Rangley, planned 14 miles, went tenAt the lean to we met jim and Corrine, two southbounders who started 6 days ish before us and have been moseying their way down with 9 and ten mile days. They reflect my biggest thought of the day and recent days, I want to finish at a good speed, but finding a good speed is hard.In talking to them they said they had no regret and have enjoyed slowly walking down the trail however I know that if I did move at their pace I would enjoy the shorter days but the fact I wasn't making any miles would eat at me. Choosing how far to walk each day is a definite low point when I know we are going to need to walk a big distance but inside me settling for less miles just seems like I am wasting my time here.Tomorrow we plan 21 to make up for going 4 less today but I doubt redbeard and mike will want that and may want to settle at 17. I know what I would rather do but I am at a point right now where the needs of the individual don't match the group. I am not a person who works well with himself and the annoyance I would feel of having myself as company is greater than the annoyance of going for less and settlingAlso my entry in the trail register (I thought it was good) : my pack weighs 36 pounds, but yo mama weighs a ton
Date: 2014-07-17
From: Long Pond

To: Black Brook south arm road campsite
Miles today: 16.7

We think we hit the bubble or at least the start of it and all signs point to more people. Originally we talked to all nobos we passed but if we did that today we would have a hard time keeping up the pace. I would say we passed at least 20 today compared to a high of 5 so far.We walked a 16 mile day with pleanty of hills today and my feet are starting to feel it. I wish I had foot inserts to cushion the strike of my foot on the ground because after a day of pushing like that they need to rest. I believe that of all the body parts the feet will probably be the first one to give up and that i should do what I can to prolong them. I am glad though my boots have stayed dry and my socks and sock liners have done their job and prevented them from getting torn up yet.I love my food, today I had a rice side with summer sausage cut up and some extra sharp cheddar cheese in it. YumLastly we started walking at 830 today and ended at 730. We took breaks but ending at 730 is so demoralizing because then I loose that socializing time. I only had time to cook and set up my tent before it got dark, sure I can talk during that but it's not as fun. Tomorrow I want to start by 730 at latest and on big mile days 700 so that we can ensue we can take breaks but still arrive with a break in the end. In the trail so far it hasn't been about the speed we have walked, it's been about the amount of time and we need to start maximizing the time to make out walking and days more efficient.
Date: 2014-07-18
From: Black Brook south arm road campsite

To: frye notch lean to
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

Day 25And then there was none.......The group broke up, 2 days ago mike got sick and now redbeard is complaining of tonsillitis so they are as much as 15 miles behind meThe kid went into Andover and may or may not catch up with me tonight.I was not alone however all day. For the first 10 miles today I walked with papapuchi a 50 year old and pistol Pete his Begal mix dog. They kept me entertained and reminded me that there are other people on this trail moving sobo besides the same few people I have been interacting with on a daily basis. At the lean to I met live and learn, and for a dirty gross NOBO he was not so bad.As far as Sobos I have met there isZest: 56 year old guy on a crack going fastPaul: 30ish and so spacey but soo fastK2: she is in the book but I have not seen herThe crew: mike, the kid, capt redbeardPapapuchi and pistol Pete: father and dog walkingGavin and preal: Ohio airsofters gone rich woodsmenJim and Corrine: couple that is taking their timeArbor: dude who I have ran into twice as I left town both times Walking today reminded me how hard Maine can be, there was one point where the hill was 1.3 miles but those were the most vertical 1.3 I have ever experinced. I know the rest of the state can't be like that but it was the most ridiculous thing I have ever experinced. Lastly I'm glad live and learn isn't a bad snorer because I'm in a shelter for the first time in a long time and I don't want to deal with that246.8-261.4south arm road campsite-frye notch lean to
Date: 2014-07-19
From: frye notch lean to

To: mahoosuc notch campsite (east end)
Miles today: 12.9

Day 26In and almost out of hereI am in my final days of Maine officially. Tomorrow first thing I cross the mahoosic notch and then only have 7 miles until the border.   I know the crew won't be able to catch me and I can't decide if I want to spend another night in this state which had been so entertaining for the last 26 days of my life.   Today was the first day I finally felt ok without being in the group. It's like papapuchi said yesterday, a group of people all with a common goal have something to relate to. I didn't meet another sobo all day but talking to nobos and section hikers made me feel better and not really even miss the crew that much. I know the kid is at least 10 miles behind me and redbeard and mike are more than that. I could make it to Gorham on Monday if I wanted to but that would mean for sure that the group was done so instead I will wait to see what the kid says his plans are via textI also received my best trail magic so far, my other trail magics have been 1:old guy gave me an apple in the hundred mile wilderness2: mountian house dinner on a tree in the hundred mile3: apples hanging off a tree in saddleback mount4:old lady hiker gave half an apple and 2 pieces of a toblerone bar5: today I got a footling roast beef sub, starbursts, apple juice box, some apple pie and m&ms from a lady waiting for her NOBO boyfriend. AND WHERE OF ALL PLACES WAS SHE FROM YOU ASK. Cary nc she drove up for one day because she could not be at katadin. Hiking hard tomorrow, finishing fear and loathing in Las Vegas and maybe if I do feel so inclined just finish the loathing of Maine, cus there is no place in this 5'8 frame for fear.261.4-274.3frye notch lean to-mahoosuc notch campsite (east end)
Date: 2014-07-20
From: mahoosuc notch campsite (east end)

To: Carlo col shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 27I had something here but it got deleted so here is here is me writing round 2 thoughts Maine1. The hundred miles were extremely difficult and if you decide to push don't try in the second half, it sucks and is hard2. Don't get poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac or drink poison for that matter3. Boots vs trail runners in Maine. I would choose boots. There is far too much mud to stay dry in trail runners and even though it's slightly harder to climb in boots it was nice when they were dry4. Southern Maine isn't that hard, keep your pack weight down and just expect shit. Then when it's only slightly better than shit it seems amazing.5. Enjoy the exposed climbs, they are not numerous but every second you arnt surrounded by trees is another second you can feel dat awesome mountain air6. The gray beast in rangley was the best hostel we stayed at in Maine, 25 bucks now, was 20 for breakfast laundry shower and bed, plus they drove us to iga7. The best eatery for me was the gas station in monson. For selection, price and just taste it had everything I wanted. And I'm not just saying that because it was at then end of the hundred miles8. Favorite place was the horn before saddleback, and the climb to saddleback #exposedclimbs and that's where the moose was spotted9. Worst memory was the poison ivy the day before monson 10. Best memory was probably just talking in the woods about redbeard and mikes band, that was too funny.274.3-281.3mahoosuc notch campsite (east end) to Carlo col shelter
Date: 2014-07-21
From: Carlo col shelter

To: Gorham NH stealth camp spot
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 28New state New Hampshire As of 900 this morning I have crossed into my second state and and one step closer to being doneThe kid and I in our rejoined forces set out for a 16 mile day today so tomorrow could be a Nero where you do basically zero but with a little hiking. Currently I am about .5 away from Gorham and tomorrow will be checking into the white mountian hostel for 33 bucks plus 9%NH tax. We got lost today, I have only gotten lost about 4 times previously and that was because the person I was following got lost. That is what happened today and the kid and I were suddenly on a yellow blaze trail after success mountian with no clue where it ended up. Being the eagle Scout with the keen intuition I guessed it would link up, I was wrong. We walked 10 mins on a yellow blaze trail, going downhill (which meant if we decided to turn back we would not only be losing time but would also be working harder) we saw wreckage from a plane wreck. It was interesting but I couldn't help feel that it was a morbid place to be and we pushed on..... Downhill through more yellow blazes. About 10 mins later I spoke out and said the only way we could know for sure we would hit the trail would be to walk straight through the woods in the direction my Eagle senses told me the trail was. So we walked, through dense New Hampshire forest, switching between firs which would rub against us and dead trees with limbs that would break as we forced our way through it. We did that for 15 mins until we saw a pink ribbon, albeit one which had been there for awhile but we knew that the trail had to be close because no one would walk into the woods to place a ribbon there, and 10 mins later we stumbled onto the trail and our detour which the kid started finished. This draws a question. When I was sitting at home I decided that I was going to do a "pure" through hike. This meant seeing every white blaze. That ended 2 weeks in when I went into horseshoe shelter and followed the blue blazed path in one side of it and out the other side of it. Some would argue just on the basis of that my hike is no longer a through hike, and in some sense pre trail Chris thought that. But with today and taking a yellow blaze to somewhere and then jumping through the woods to find the trail I actually skipped about a .5 chunk of trial. Now I did walk further than that in the woods and it was not an intentional skip but it throws the concept of the through hike in a different direction. As far as how I feel about it is I don't care that I missed .5 of white blazes. I walked further through harder terrain (where I probably shouldn't have been) and so to me my through hike is still on. However if you disagree, I don't really care.But that's just one day in New Hampshire and already some stupid action, looking forward to more and the buffet in town for lunch tomorrow281.3- 297.3Carlo col shelter to Gorham NH stealth camp spot
Date: 2014-07-22
From: Gorham NH stealth camp spot

To: white mountian hostel Gorham NH
Miles today: 0.7
Weather: broken clouds

Day 294 weeks and now a new townToday was chill as planned a Nero to Gorham and yes we hardly walked and arrived here at about 945 After leaving camp in high spirits at 900.Rest? I don't know if I would say that's what I did. Currently it is 1145 and I am up later than I have been in weeks. All day I was running around packing my bag and getting supplies. It comes to a point where it almost seems as packed as a day on the trail......it isn't of course but in a way it seems busy. Plus the fact I'm a slow packer and have been in the garage for the last three hours doesn't help anything. This all basically sums up to next Nero or zero I need to make a conscious effort to chill and rest because this for sure was too too much moving and work for the rest day I worked so hard for yesterday.Tomorrow we are slack packing 20 miles of wildcat mountains. I don't think it will be too hard I just know it will be a long day. I am glad we are slack packing however because my pack weighs around 41 pounds again and that's no party but I will Leslie Gore it if I want to. (Pause for appreciation of the reference). Blah, why can't hiking be actually restful?297.3-298.0Gorham NH stealth camp spot TO white mountian hostel Gorham NH
Date: 2014-07-23
From: white mountian hostel Gorham NH

To: wildcat mount slackpack to white mount hostel
Miles today: 24.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 30The kid used the word epitome today. He didn't know if he used t correctly but he tried anyways. It was during the end of our slack pack adventure when we were walking in the rain and he said that, rain walking epitomized the trail. I don't agree. But I'm not the agreeable sort so there is that. (He speaks without thinking sometimes)I thought that the last two days however have done a good job epitomizing the trail however. These last two days we had plans yesterday chill relax and today tackle 22 miles and then be back in time for tea. Nowhere, not a single damn place in those two plans did I include1. Eating too much yesterday so I can't move2. Not chilling on the internet in the public library because it cost a dollar per thirty mins of internet. #isthistheninetys3. Going to sleep at 11:30 (the latest I have in 4 weeks)4 getting tired when slack packing, like a child5 reaching the final mountain only to be greeted by an equally friendly thunderstorm6 having my partner run away from me after we reached the top of the mountian, because you know thunderstorms are terrifying, apperently. He's never lifeguardedThese 22 miles wore me down today and they were rough and time consuming (took us 11 hours without full packs) but we did have an hour long chips and guacamole break. I can't believe that tomorrow I am going back out there despite the fact that my planned town break more or less made me feel the same way I feel on the trail, albeit with better good.Despite all my whining I'm glad we got those 22 down today because the entire time I just thought of how much harder it would be with full packs And more importantly we gained ground on Sobos infront of us. Tomorrow mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeast and apparently one of the most commercial too because all this greenery is getting boring, amirite?319.4-298.0 like a dirty dirty nogood frontwards walking, normal talkin, mr spokin NOBO white mountian hostel Gorham NH to white mountian hostel Gorham NH