morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-07-16
From: Katahdin Ironworks Road

To: Carl Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: broken clouds

I took a shuttle back to KI Road and headed north. It looked like rain and I opted to take shelter at the lean-to, for a short day. A lawyer and his former partner, a judge, stopped by. The lawyer is an enthusiastic guitarist and remarked on the quality of the house guitar at Shaw's. He was talking about my 25 year old Yamaha, which I leave at hostels so others can make and enjoy a little music. George (who sold me the guitar) told me that music is like sex, more fun to do it yourself than to watch (or listen). The judge has written a song about each war this country has been in, and the lawyer performs them. They played a song about a WWII bombing mission, well done. It borrowed a little bit from The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which they acknowledged. The chords and progression were suitable for the theme. I mentioned to the judge that I don't like the ideological packing of the court, how the Republicans stonewalled and stole Obama's appointment. After correcting (as he thought) my pronunciation, he informed me that he has no ideology, just faithful adherence to the law and the exact meaning of the constitution. I took that to mean that a group of landed slave-owning aristocrats had created a document that could be narrowly interpreted to apply to the USA in the 21st century, with inalienable rights, liberty and justice for all. Same as it ever was. We let the conversation lapse and they moved on. Eight young women appeared and scouted around for tent-sites. I explained that the tent-site was on the other side of the stream and they left. I learned from a later hiker passing through that they all took a swim in bikinis. Oh well, I missed it, I could have joined them frolicking in the water. I turned in early and slept soundly.
Date: 2017-07-17
From: Carl Newhall Lean-to

To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

The day's hike involved climbing Gulf Hagas Mountain, West Peak, Hay Mountain, and finally White Cap. Gulf Hagas was remarkable to the amount of moose poop at the summit. Coming one after another the aggregate climb was impressive, and tiring. On top of White Cap I could hear thunder in the distance, and saw one flash of lightening. There is a side trail to a viewpoint where you can see Katahdin on a clear day. I took it, but couldn't see my ultimate goal. Being the tallest thing around, I didn't linger, but hustled on down the trail to where the trees were taller than me.At the lean-to there were two SoBos. We talked a while and turned in early. At 8:30 WilldaBeast came in under his headlamp and loudly announced that somebody had to move over to make room for him. True enough, but the way he did it aggravated me and I complained. He launched some profanity which I reciprocated generously. I went back sleep as I was very tired from White Cap.
Date: 2017-07-18
From: Logan Brook Lean-to

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
Miles today: 11.7

I was still angry when I woke up, so I threw my stuff into my pack and set off without breakfast. Before I went far I realized that I was hungry, angry, lonely and tired. By way of reducing that I stopped at East Branch Lean-to, cooked breakfast, rested a bit, and dropped the resentment. Soon enough Willdabeast turned up and we had a civil conversation. He was having digestive issues and I talked a little bit about how that was a problem for me back in 2013 when I attempted a through hike. Vitamin D, B12 and so forth and so on. He has been eating a lot of ramen. So I went on to where I had to rock hop across a stream. I misplaced a pole, which sank three feet into a space between the rocks on the stream bed. My left foot instinctively went to restore my balance, sank into a space between the rocks and got stuck. I couldn't get it out, and sat there on a rock in the middle of the stream, waiting to be rescued. Soon enough Willdabeast came along and after working on it for about 15 minutes got my foot loose. He took my pack and poles, then tried tugging at the leg, prying the rock, or removing my boot. Finally we went back to the idea that it had to come out the way it went in. It went in forward, so he got down in the stream and pushed my shin backward, while I pulled it back as hard as I could. The foot budged a few times, then I was free. He put my pack on the other shore, stayed and watched me get across, then went on up the trail, but not before I could thank him for rescuing me. There's a Bible verse, maybe in Proverbs, about being kind to your enemies, it's like pouring hot coals on their head. Of course I had dropped my resentment so I wound up just being grateful. From there the trail became very pleasant, sloping gently downhill on pine needles, not too many rocks or muddy patches to deal with. I made good time to Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to. It's a pleasant place, right next to the falls, and I had it to myself.
Date: 2017-07-19
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: Jo Mary Road
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: clear sky

It was a short walk to Jo Mary Road in the morning. Gary from Shaw's was doing a food drop for Kevin, so he and I hung around talking and waiting. I called Shaw's and asked if I could get a ride from Gary. When Gary showed up, he had a longish itinerary and so I decided to wait until I heard from Poet. As it turned out, AJ was in the area and came and took me back to Shaw's. I stayed the night, ate the famous breakfast yet once more, than drove up to Millinocket to stay at the Appalachian Trail Lodge.
Date: 2017-07-21
From: Jo Mary Road

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

The trail was more or less level with good tread for 5 or 6 miles. I met Graybeard while taking a break near a lake. He's 82, retired from the Navy, and attempting a through hike. He has a happy outlook on life and struck me as very fit, an example to the rest of us senior hikers of what is possible, alternatives to sitting around and vegetating. At the Mahar Tote Road I turned off to go to White House Landing. There is service there so I texted and soon Bill came along in his boat and took me back to the hostel. The accommodations were good, I got a room in a cabin, along with Predator, Gung Ho, and Ready. There were several other hikers staying in other cabins, to include Cold Blood whom I met two years ago at Stanimal's in Wolfeboro, VA. I didn't recognize her at first, even after introductions, since she has lost quite a bit of weight. Hiking will do that. Supper was good sized hamburgers, always suitable hiker fare. The conversation was animated, as several of us hit on personal issues we had in common and discussed them at some length. I felt as if Cold Blood would have been happier with a more generalized conversation, something about packs, or boots, the usual trail talk. I apologized to her in the morning and she said it was OK. I got up in the middle of the night to pee and was startled by the brightness of the stars and Milky Way. The grounds are cleared and there was no obstruction from trees, also, they turn the generator off at night and there was no artificial light from any source, being so far from civilization. I was amazed and just stood there for a few minutes gazing upward. In spite of being outdoors as much as we are, hikers don't often see the stars unobstructed.
Date: 2017-07-22
From: White House Landing

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: clear sky

Breakfast was good, bacon, eggs and potato, although not competitive with Shaw's which is extraordinary. One of the other hikers was a farmer who had worked four years to build up rich organic soil. Then somebody shipped him some compost contaminated with Roundup. Broad leave vegetable won't grow in the presence of that chemical and he was basically out of business. He elected to sell his farm, and got full price as the buyer just wanted to grow grass. So he and his wife decided to do a through hike SoBo. She got injured on Katahdin and went home. He was in the process of making a decision to give up his hike and go home to be with her. Bill ferried us back to the trail, a pleasant boat ride to start the day, then I headed north again. The trail sort of meandered around in a swampy area for a while, then it got to be about going along the shore of Lake Nahmakanta, several nice beaches, sand or gravel. It was somewhat tiring, as the trail kept going uphill away from the lake on a stone staircase, then back down another staircase. I didn't keep count. There was one aluminum staircase, as shown, better than scrambling up a steep and muddy slope.
Date: 2017-07-23
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

The first order of business was Nesuntabunt Mountain, a short climb that seemed steep to me, rewarded by a view of Katahdin, about 16 miles as the crow flies. The trail has sections where you are either looking back at where you've been, or forward at where you're going. After doing Mount Washington there were numerous places where you can look back at it, I was there, I climbed that, etc. So for NoBos we can look at Katahdin, in wonder, I'm going to climb that? At Crescent Pond there were some canoes just sitting there. In this section of Maine people sometimes bring a boat in and leave it, it's just too much trouble to get it in and out of the woods. But they don't leave paddles or oars, so I guess they don't want hikers to enjoy a little boat ride. Oh well. The Rainbow Stream Cascades were impressive and it was a lot of fun hiking along beside the stream. I asked some passing hikers to take my picture, as shown the bugnet makes me look goofy. But mosquitoes can be a source of torment: I hiked in long pants and sleeves, with the bugnet about half the time, and my hands slathered with Deet. But I still got a lot of bites. Most hikers wear a tee shirt and shorts, to stay cool. I don't know how they do it. Many of them have legs that are liberally spotted with bites.  The lean-to has a baseball bat floor and everybody tented. There are numerous tent sites among the pines (or spruce, fir, hemlock, whatever) , a nice open space and soft needles. The lean-to didn't act as a social center, we cooked by our tents and drifted around socializing. I met Soul Asylum who is from Watkins Glen in the Finger Lakes area of NY. My parents had a summer place on Keuka and we made a trip to hike up Watkins Glen almost every year. Happy memories.
Date: 2017-07-24
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

The bridge across Rainbow Stream is a log affair, somewhat rickety, and I crossed with caution. There was nothing remarkable about the terrain and I made good time. There was another spot with a view of Katahdin, getting closer all the time.Taking a break by a lake, I noticed a loon just sitting there. I wonder if it was nesting. It didn't pay any attention to me, and I noticed that it had a long sharp bill and decided not to approach it, on the grounds that if it was nesting it might attack me. I was attacked by an eagle once, for getting too close to its nest, and it was somewhat scary.  At the shelter the good tent sites had already been taken by a group of young campers. The baseball bat floor of the lean-to was uninviting, so I found a site that was almost level and had a nice rock to sit on. I cooked at the lean-to, and attracted a crowd of the young campers. They passed me a few days before, and one of them offered to shake hands. I had him do the fist bump and soon had a greeting line going as the bunch of them trooped by. So we had a replay, and they insisted on making me part of a group photo. I guess they liked my trail name. One of them brought the jawbone of a deer to the lean-to, and hung it on a mouse hanger. They were having a good time, and looking forward to Katahdin. It was fun, superannuated bean counter metamorphoses into rock star hiker, briefly. Numerous hikers came in after dark and found places to put their tents.
Date: 2017-07-25
From: Hurd Brook Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: overcast clouds

In the morning, I had a decision to make. I was out of food, other than two packets of oatmeal. So I could resupply at Abol Bridge and hike on through to Katahdin Stream Campground, or else shuttle back to Millinocket and plan to do the last 10 miles before Katahdin as a slack pack the next day. The view of Katahdin from the bridge was outstanding. The water wasn't as blue as it shows in the photo, but everything else is accurate, that's the way I will remember the mountain. The diner wasn't doing much, since they had just had a fire in the generator building and there was no electricity. There was a buffet, sausage, eggs and some form of starch, which was adequate. They will let you use the phone, for a fee, but had no service, due to the fire. I talked to a ranger and he was kind enough to use his radio to get "AT Paul" to come out and get me. I figured I had finished the 100 Mile Wilderness and a nice easy slack pack would be a good warmup for Katahdin. Back in Millinocket I did laundry, hung around playing the guitar, and ventured out to the River Driver Restaurant for a tasty (and expensive) meal. Southern Planter and Sliderule had summited Katahdin and I joined them for a group photo before they left. Southern Planter is 72 and had been section hiking for 23 years. He is very courteous and considerate, and an influence on others. Sharing a shelter with him and four others, I noticed we all managed to stay out of each others way and cook our meals, pack up, etc. very efficiently. Different from other times where I would just sit somewhere until others cleared out and freed up some space. Millinocket is dying, slowly. The paper mill closed (for the first time) in 1972 and all the jobs went away. The downtown area is pretty much the same as it was in the 50's, other than half the storefronts are vacant. I signed up for a shuttle back to the trail in the morning.
Date: 2017-07-26
From: Abol Bridge

To: Kathadin Stream Campground
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: broken clouds

I took the shuttle with those who would be summiting, then after they got off Ole Man drove me a few more miles to Abol Bridge to resume my hike. I'm glad I decided to slack pack as it was one of the most beautiful sections of trail I've hiked and it was good not to be encumbered with a heavy pack, plenty of time and energy to take the side trails to various views and waterfalls. I really liked Daicey Pond. Looking across from the trail there were three log buildings, any one of which would make a splendid camp. Then I came across a spot where numerous frogs were gathered on the bank, not very timid and I was able to get a nice photo. As a child I used to fish with live frogs, they were easy to catch and make good bait. One day Bobby Murphy and I caught about 20 frogs and then took a row boat around the point to a place that was relatively shallow and full of pickerel. We baited our hooks with frogs, then threw another bunch of them into the water to attract attention. A feeding frenzy erupted, and we caught a number of large fish. We took them back to camp and cleaned them, noting with satisfaction that the innards were larded with frog fragments. Miss Bess cooked them up, I forget whether it was for supper or breakfast, and the whole excursion ended well. Daicey Pond is limited to fly fishing, no fun. Arriving at Katahdin Stream, I chatted with a few people at the picnic tables or tent sites while making my way to the exit from the day use parking. It's very easy to hitchhike from there since everyone is going into or past Millinocket anyway and the pack and poles confer legitimacy. Not to mention white hair, in my case. I got a ride with a teacher who does blueberry farming in the summer. He raises "wild" blueberries, which means they are the same as found on top of the mountains, not the high bush hybrid types that yield so prolifically. When properly cut or burned off the wild type yield generous quantities of small, sweet berries. He had some of them with him, and I ate quite a few. It will turn your poop green, so don't look. A very pleasant hike, one of the nicest parts of the trail.
Date: 2017-02-23
To: Springer Mtn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Dropped off at the parking lot on FS 42 about 6:00 and made it to the shelter area at sunset. Found a tent site before dark but had to put on my headlight to set up. Saw two campfires in the tent area. Did not go down to the shelter so I don't know how many people were there.
Date: 2017-02-24
From: Springer Mtn

To: Gooch Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Went up to the top of the mtn for a starting picture. Unfortunately it was very foggy and I was having to use the timer so the picture isn't great. Sunny day. Saw maybe a half dozen other hikers. Got to the shelter without any problems, four tents and four people in the shelter. Dark and quiet by 6:45. Some time later I woke to noise and flashlights. I was camped down the hill from the shelter and a bunch of people came down close by and started setting up. Sounded like kids, maybe four. Talking constantly as they set up. Seemed to go on for at least an hour. I never look at my watch at night, don't want to know how much time I have left to sleep. They opened the metal bear box, used for food storage, which had loud hinges, at least three times. Later during the night there was a thunder storm which required them to get up again, talk, shine flashlights, and open the bear box two more times.
Date: 2017-02-25
From: Gooch Mtn Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

Warm and sunny. It's Saturday, good weather, on what is probably the most heavily used section of the trail, Woody Gap to Neels Gap. I saw at least 100 hikers, almost all day hikers, and at least 50 dogs. Got down to the Gap about 4:00. Luckily I had made a reservation and Blood Mtn Cabins because there was only one bed left at the hostel, not that I stay in hostels if there is any way to avoid it.
Date: 2017-02-26
From: Neels Gap

To: Blue Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: clear sky

Sunny but cold and windy. I didn't look at my thermometer but there was ice in places along the trail. A couple dozen day hikers, kids and adults south bound from Low Gap shelter with giant packs. Eight people at the shelter for the night, I think all but one thru hikers. One a young woman from Germany.
Date: 2017-02-27
From: Blue Mtn Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

Easier walk this year than in 2010 when there was snow on the ground. Did not put on my gloves going up Tray Mtn when it started getting cold, they were buried deep in my pack, so my fingers froze up and I had a hard time getting things done when I ate lunch at Tray Mtn shelter. Took 15 minutes longer to eat than usual. Light rain for about 20 minutes in the afternoon. When I was almost to the Gap I saw a tent set up in the woods. It's not unusual for hikers to set up close to a road and catch a ride to town to buy supplies. That way they don't have to spend money for a place to stay in town. When I got to the Gap there was a guy sitting there. I asked if he had seen my wife's car and he said that she had just pulled out. I was about 20 minutes later than my estimated time so I thought she had gone to Top of Georgia hostel to see if I was there. No phone service but I could text and told her where I was. The more the guy talked, the more I thought he was not really a serious hiker. I guess I've spent a little over a year total hiking and you meet a lot of odd characters in that amount of time. There are homeless people in the woods just like in towns. Usually located in places where they can con or beg for food and handouts. A lot of hikers go to Hiawassee for rest and resupply so they might give any food they have left over to another hiker who appears down on his luck. I left a shelter once when I was by myself and walked on down the trail another mile or so to camp because one of these guys was there. My wife asked me about him as we were driving away and in spite of what I told her, felt sorry for him and wanted to go back to the hostel and pay for him to stay for a night. So we turned around and went back to the hostel. Turns out they were very familiar with him, had let him stay in the past and had to kick him out for causing trouble and he had been in legal trouble in Hiawassee. Heavy set with a beard if he is still there when you go by. Tent is set up to left of the trail a couple of hundred yards from the road. Going home to Rabun county for a day off. Be back on the trail Wednesday.
Date: 2017-03-01
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I saw the first evidence of last fall's fires at Plumorchard Gap Burned spots off and on until about 2 miles south of Standing Indian Shelter and then continuous. The forecast showers arrived after lunch. Off and on until about 4:30 when there was thunder and a hard wind. Got to the shelter after 5:00. It was crowded, wind was blowing rain in under the porch roof. I had to set my pack as a wind block to heat water for supper. Wind and rain slacked off after an hour or so. Set my tent up in the dark and went to bed.
Date: 2017-03-02
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: broken clouds

On of the guys last night said that he had heard that 70 people started yesterday, the traditional starting day. This morning it was below freezing and combined with the rain yesterday, a good number may have already quit. It's hard to adjust pack straps that get wet from rain then freeze stiff. My shoes have fabric over the forefoot so at least I could walk in them without waiting for the leather to thaw. The drinking tube on my Camelback was frozen. It's been so long since i had done any cold weather hiking that I forgot about blowing the water back into the bladder after drinking. Nice day once the sun came up. Standing Indian Mtn burned on all sides.
Date: 2017-03-04
From: Cold Spring Shelter 

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

Not too cold this morning. The fire finally stopped at the NOC, or rather at the river. Met a guy from the Nantahala AT Club at the NOC. He said they didn't lose a single shelter in the fires. He said the crews used leaf blowers to blow burnable materials away from the shelters and backfires. At least 20 people at the shelter. It is Saturday night so i don't know how many were weekenders.
Date: 2017-03-05
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Shelter
Miles today: 21.9

First 20 mile day, but it took until after 6:00 to do it. There is a steep climb north of Hwy 143 that is called Jacob's Ladder. It used to not have a name. There are a lot of steep climbs. Is somebody going to name them all? Wife picked me up at the shelter, have some business at home tomorrow. Be back Wednesday. After a week and a half I have observed that there really are a lot more people on the trail a lot earlier than usual. And it seems that there are a lot more of older hikers than usual. It will be interesting to see how many stick it out. It's too early to think about who I'll be seeing on a regular basis. Lots of people will quit within the first couple of hundred miles and others are still establishing their walking pace.