morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-09-02
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Glencliff Hostel
Miles today: 7.0

Did an easy day to the hostel. When I got to the road I had a very easy hitch, first car, to the store to do a quick resupply. As I left the store, I got a ride back to the hostel from Dutch Tape and Cabana Boy. They are thru-hiking this year and took a couple of days off to stay at their nearby cabin. They also did trailside cookout of the hikers, just a short walk from the hostel.  Free Food, the best kind. They have a journal on Trail Journals, so stop by and say hello to them. A group of kids from Dartmouth came by and they really didnt know what to make out of the road/trail side cookout. This was very foriegn to them. We finally did get them to take a couple of cokes and some snacks from us. On the other hand, thru-hikers had not problem in accepting food from follow hikers. Or anybody else.Tommorrow I unofficially start the White Mountains. From all I have heard about the Whites, it is not going to be fun. I am sure it will be ok.
Date: 2010-09-03
From: Glencliff Hoster

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Slow day, Dutch Tape and Cabana Boy were doing trail magic again so I went and hung out with them for a bit. Unofficailly started the White Mountains today. Mt. Moosilauke elevation 4,802. It was a 3,700 ft climb. It was the first time I hike above treeline. Very cool. At the top of the mountain, was the ruins of an old building. Made out of rocks of course. Rocks is one thing that is very abundant on this section of the trail. Power Nap, Cerveza, myself and a group of 10 from Dartmouth College out on their freshman orientation trip were at the shelter. The shelter was only built to hold 10, but we managed to squeeze in 12 as Power Nap sleep in his hammock. So we were a little crowded. I haven't slept this many in shelter since the Smokies. We did get some very heavy rain during the night from Hurricane Earl, but not much wind. The group from Dartmouth was fun to mess with. They will believe just about anything. Doesn't say much about the intelligence of the Ivy League.
Date: 2010-09-04
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Eliza Brook
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

Guess what another Saturday and another mad dash to town to pick up my resupply box from the Post Office. I left camp early and made good time down a steep downhill section of the trail to the road. The trail followed a creek/waterfall to the road. With the rain from Hurricane Earle the little creek was really flowing. At times the trail had wooden steps built into the rocks. They also used rebar for handrails and steps. Other than the steepness of the trail, I really enjoyed this section. Once at the road I had to get a hitch to town as it was 5 miles away and there was no way I could walk to town before the Post Office closed. The plan was to do a quick in and out of town. And I did it. In the past, this has not happened. I got an easy hitch, it only took a couple of cars passing before I got a ride. They dropped me off right at the Post Office and gave me directions to the grocery store and other places in town. After stopping by the Post Office, I made a beeline straight across the parking lot to the small local grocery store. For some reason lately, I have really been craving Orange Juice. I pick up a quart and then sat in front of the building and ate my breakfast. After lunch I tried to hitch back to the trail. It didn't go as easy as I had hoped, so I started walking the road. After about a mile of walking, I got a ride. I can't believe that I did a quick in and out of town. I hiked to the first shelter and found that Power Nap and Cerveza were there. I thought they would have been way ahead of me since I went to town. I guess they just had a slow day. There was another Dartmouth group at the shelter. They camped behind the shelter at the group campsite. So we really didnt see them much.
Date: 2010-09-06
From: Stealth Camp

To: Garfield Ridge
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

We had a 3,800 ft climb to reach Franconia Ridge (Mt. Lincoln 5,089 ft and Mt. Lafayette 5,249 ft). From the top of Mt. Lafayette, we could see the AMC's Grenleaf Hut. This hut is located 1.1 miles from the trail. Most trail hikers do not go to this hut because of the distance from the trail and it is a very serious downhill hike that they will have to climb the next day to get back to the trail. We spent most of the day above treeline. We had awesome views all day. It was sunny, but chilly and windy. Mt. Washington, the second highest peak on the AT, was out of the clouds today. I have been told that Mt. Washington is only out of the clouds about 45% of the time. So a rare day. I hope it is out of the clouds when I hike over it.  Because the weather is bad, I had to stay at a pay shelter. This shelter is a dump. (And that is being polite). This shelter seriously needs some Tender Loving Care. I am really curious what the caregiver did all season. They sure didn't do any maintenance around the shelter. Now for the cool side of sleeping here, we had an owl fly into the shelter right after dusk.
Date: 2010-09-07
From: Garfield Ridge

To: Stealth
Miles today: 10.0

Had to climb over the 4,902 ft South Twin Mountain, North Twin Spur. I have no problem in hiking a tough trail. But the AMC seems to do everyting in their power to make it harder then it needs to be. The AMC claims to have over 90,000 members but they can't properly blaze a trail. For some reason, the trail is very poorly marked, even around trail intersections. Because of this lack of blazes I hike 2.5 miles on the wrong trail. I was very pissed off. When I ran into the local caretaker, he was clueless and didnt seem to care about the problem I guess he was thinking that I was going to pay to stay at his campsite. I was not the only one to make this mistake. I was hiking with a couple of section hikers that had hike this section in the past and they made the same mistake. Luckily for them, they caught their error and only had to hike a little over a mile out of their way. The trail around the AMC's precious huts are well marked and maintained. I guess money talks. I wish they would maintain all of the AT like they maintain the trail around their huts. Because of the error, I was not able to make the next shelter. I ended up camping, very illegally, just below Zealand Hut. Instead of being 200 ft from the trail, I was about 5 ft from the trail. Oh well. I did wait to camp until I was out of the the forest protection zone around the hut. Right below the hut there was a trail interection coming up from a parking lot. The intersection was nice and flat and very sandy. It would have made a beautiful campsite. Even through I was extremely pissed off at the AMC, I decided not to camp in the middle of the trail.
Date: 2010-09-08
From: Stealth

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: fog

It was an easy hike to Crawford Notch road crossing. The trail was an old railroad bed. I stopped by the Ethan Pond Shelter. Ethan Pond was beautiful. However, the shelter was another dump. It even had a hole in the floor. A picture of the hole in floor is attached under photos. When I made it to the road the plan was to hitch down to a local little store and campground. The campground used to have bunks for thru-hikers, but they didnt have enough busy to maintain it so they turned it into a cabin. The first car coming down the road pulled over to pick me up. As the truck got closer I saw it was a NH Dept of Parks truck, I thought I was in trouble. Instead he gave me a ride. The first of the day. Since the campground didnt have a bunkhouse, I needed to find a place to stay, preferred it to be inside since it was starting to rain. As I was having a snack on the porch of the grocery store, I was able to talk myself into a ride from the store parking lot to Willey House, a state park. While at Willey House, I was talking to the employees about thru-hiking. Since I was there I ordered some food. You ever get the feeling that I get food anytime it is possible. When I went to pay for the food, the manager said it was on him, the employee running the cash register said he was only going to charge me for the bottle soda. Great trail magic. After I finished eating, the manager ran me down to an AMC bunkhouse. I really didn't want to stay at an AMC facility, but with the weather being bad, it was the only indoor place to stay. I stayed in the bunkhouse and it was very nice. It also included an all you can eat breakfast. And I did pig out. A good day.
Date: 2010-09-09
From: Crawford Notch

To: Nauman Campsite
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: light rain

My stay at AMC Higland Center was very pleasant. I differant got my money's worth for the all you can eat breakfast. About my 4th plate of food, I started getting a few strange looks from the some of the dayhikers in the dining room. It started at as a cold rainy day and only got worse as the day went on. I really wished I could have stayed anothe day, but really didn't have the money or time. So I hiked. As I was walking through the parking lot to the road to hitch a ride up to the trailhead, I was able to catch a from a day hiker staying at the center. I only planned on hiking to the Nauman Campsite so I messed around the center for a while hoping the weather would improve. It was a tough hike today. Most of the day the hike was uphill. We had a 2,700 ft climb up Mt Webster and Mt Jackson. As they day went on, the weather got worse. As I was hiking up the mountain, I had some awesome views of the valley. Wish it was a sunny day for the views. But seeing the clouds rolling in was beauty in a different form.By the time I made it to Nauman Campsite it was nearly dark and the weather really took a turned for the worse. The campsite was close to the AMC's Mitzpah Spring Hut. I stop at the hut to see if I could spend the night and was turned away. So much for the hut crew allowing all hikers to stay when the weather was bad. They did allow me to fill up my water bottles. I was very surprised that they didnt charge me for the water. As greedy as the AMC seems to be, I am sure in the near future the AMC will be charging hikers for the water. I went down to the campsite hung my poncho up as as tarp and went to work setting up my tent. That was quite the ordeal. My tent is not free standing and has to be staked. The problem was I couldnt stake my tent into a wooden platform. I finally solved that problme and found the next one. My tent was longer then the platform. I managed to finally get my tent set up, cook dinner and make it to bed. This campsite has a large group platform already build, why cant the AMC build a shelter on the existing platform, especially if they are not going to allow thru-hikers to sleep in the hut during bad weather.
Date: 2010-09-10
From: Nauman Campsite

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: fog

Only got a little bit of water in my tent last. No critical gear got wet which was a good thing. The weather today is much worse then yesterday. It was very cold, raining and foggy. I had no choice but to hike. It was a very tough 5 mile hike to the next hut. It was a 1,200 ft climb over Mt. Pierce (Mt. Clinton) and Mt. Franklin. Most of the hike was above treeline. Being above treeline meant there was little protection from the very strong wind except for the rare occasion we could find shelter behind a rock. At times we could only see a few feet due to the fog. When I made it to the hut, I knew I was close, but had to be within about 25 ft of the hut before I could see it. The weather gauges at the hut said the temperature was 38 degress with about a 40 mph wind. I was wet and really cold when I arrived at the hut. On the way to Lakes of the Clouds Hut, I decided for saftey reason to hike with three weekend hikers going hut to hut. They were moving slowly due to a one of the hikers having a heart condition. He moved at a constant pace, but it was slow. Because I was getting wet and cold, I decided that I needed to move at a faster pace and make it hut as soon as possible. On my way to the hut, I ran across another weekend hiker who had hunkered down behind a rock trying to get out of the wind while she figured out what would be the best additional clothing to wear in these weather conditions. I gave her my opinion. After she put on her additional clothes, we start hiking towards the shelter again. I will have to admit that the staff at the AMC's Lakes of the Clouds Hut were great. The staff made sure that everybody that arrived was ok and had dry clothes to change into. I do commend the staff on how they handle the cold wet hikers coming in the door, unlike the crew from the night before. The huts are not heated except from the heat generated from the propane cooking stove. When I got there they immediately offer me work for stay even through it was only 12:30. Normally they only take 4 thru-hikers for work for stay and dont offer it until about 4 pm. Because of the weather, the staff allowed all thru-hikers to stay. We ended up with 10 thru-hikers staying at the hut. One of the benefits of work for stay is getting to eat the leftovers. There were no leftovers so the staff make the thru-hikes a big batch of pasta for dinner. The hut was scheduel to close on Sunday so I am sure they staff wanted the thru-hikers us to eat all the extra food so they didnt have to carry it the 1.5 mile to the top of Mount Washington. The problem with eating the leftovers is the wait. Before the thru-hikers can eat, the guests get to eat, then the dishes are washed and then the kitchen is clean. Sometimes it can be quite a wait. We didn't get to eat breakfast until after 9 am making for a late start to the days hiking.
Date: 2010-09-11
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Stealth Camp
Miles today: 10.0

Woke up to a beautiful sunny day, unlike yesterday. I had to hike over Mt Washington today. The second highest peak on the AT at 6,288 ft. Today is 9/11. One of the groups at the hut last night was a school group. They were headed to Mt Washington to raise the flag in honor of 9/11. A group does it at all the peaks in NH that is over 4,000 ft. For the hike up to Mt Washington, I could see the beginning point and ending point of the entire 1.5 mile hike. Petty cool.There is a cog railway going up to the top of Mt Washington. One of the tradition is for the thru-hikers to moon the railway as it makes it way up the mountain. Of course, another part of the tradition is for the train personnel to throw coal at that mooning thru-hikers. I was above treeline all day going over the Presidental Mountain Range. I got to Madison Mt Hut and it was closed a couple of days ago to be remodeled. So staying their was not an option. And it is illegal to camp above treeline. I decided to go down to campsite on a side trail. Of course it was not well marked and by the time I decide I had missed it, it was to dark to turn around and look for it. I ended up camping beside the parking lot near the beginning of the side trail.
Date: 2010-09-12
From: Stealth Camp

To: Gorham
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

I made it the final 8 miles into Gorham, NH. I was going to wait until the second road crossing to Gorham, but because of the screw up yesterday this made since. My plan for the day was to get a hotel room, get a pizza and watch football games. For once, I actually manage to complete my plan. I also got to really sit and rest my knees, which are really becoming sore.
Date: 2010-09-13
From: Gorham

To: Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Took a zero day. Did my town chores and rested my very sore knees a bit. Even through it was a zero day it still seemed like a walk alot. There is no such thing as a zero day. Had to go to the post office and picked up my mail drop, went to the library and checked email and updated my journal and moved down to the local hostel. There are several hikers in town today, but I have the hostel all to myself.
Date: 2010-09-14
From: Gorham

To: Trident Col Tentsite
Miles today: 7.0

The day started off rough. I couldn't hitch a ride from town to the trailhead, so I walked the 3.5 miles to the trailhead. Making my daily total 11.5 miles. As soon as I got to the trailhead it started raining. Just what I needed. The trailbook profile map wasnt even close to the actual hike. It seems like I hiked 4 or 5 mountains that wasn't listed in the book. To boot, it was kind of an ugly day with the weather. It rained on and off for a bit, but the hiking goes on. Camped at Trident Col Tentside, the platforms were to small for my tent and made it very hard to set up my tent. At least it isn't a pay site.
Date: 2010-09-15
From: Trident Col Tentsite

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

It was a long 5 miles. Went by a couple of pretty ponds today. The trail around one of the ponds was really poorly marked and I ended up going the wrong direction for a bit, maybe 1/2 mile. I was not the first one to do this as I was following footsteps in the mud since there were no blazes. My knees were really bothering me today, all day. I ended stopping and the shelter for lunch and stayed there. Didn't think I had the drive to hike the 5 additional miles to the next shelter. Really considered going home.
Date: 2010-09-16
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Portland, ME
Miles today: 5.0

I decided yesterday to make it to the NH/ME border and go home. Wasn't sure how I was going to make it happen. Enter a day hiker. Before I left camp, a dayhiker came up a side trail to the shelter. She was headed to a side trail past Carlo Col Shelter, which is just past the NH/ME border. I decided that if she would give me a ride out to the nearest town, I would take it. I started talking to her when I caught up with her on the trail. She offered to give me a ride to town when her friend picked her up at the trail head. An offer I couldnt refuse. As it turned out, her friend thru-hiked the trail in 1998 when she was 65. Her friend actually hiked up from the trailhead and met her us on the trail. Even at 77, she was hard to kept up with, she has a fast pace. As it turned out they only lived 12 miles from Portland, ME and they gave me a ride all way the way to the Amtrack Station in Portland. My last trail magic for this trip.A couple of days ago, a section hiker asked me if I was going to sell my gear and give up hiking. I quickly answered no, I will be back on the AT. And I will someday attempt another thru-hike. I have updated some of my photos and have more to post. I will also post a couple of additional entry reflecting on my trip.
Date: 2010-09-17
From: Portland, ME

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey, getting my life back to normal, whatever that is. I have uploaded a ton of photos that I am in the process of labeling.   I have also in the process of expanding my entries as time was short when I made the original entry. Now I have the time to correct/expand the details. Check back in a couple of days and this project should be completed.
Date: 2010-02-24
From: Springer Mtn

To: Sassafras Mtn
Miles today: 11.2

Hiked 1 mile to start & then 11.2 to Sassafras Mtn. Great day for hiking, but pretty cold at night, probably low teens temp. I can't send pictures from my phone (will try facebook), otherwise will have to wait unti I get to town.
Date: 2010-02-26
From: Lance Creek

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Short day, although had to climb & descend Blood Mtn, which was a little snowy And icy. Very strong winds on the approach, which resulted in a very cold wind chill factor. Otherwise, it was a nice day. Stopped at the outfitter/hostel at Neels Gap, swapped out some equipment and spending the night inside. No computer available, so I am using my phone. Should stop at Hiawassee, GA in 2 or 3 days or maybe continue on to Franklin NC, in 5 or 6 days. I am planning to take a zero day there (zero miles).
Date: 2010-02-27
From: Neels Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Got off to a late start, due to Outfitter not opening until 9 am and having to mail a parsel. Nice day. Stopped at Low Gap Shelter for dinner. Continued on to Blue Mountain, which started out easy, but had a couple very icy sections, arrived just as it was getting very dark.
Date: 2010-03-03
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiked through about 10" of snow, Albert Mtn was kind of tough, but after that it was fast. I hiked with Cakon (from Wisconsin), Aaron (a section hiker, from Georgia), and for part of the day with Frost. In the untracked snow, we took 30 minute turns breaking the trail (blazing it),but for the last 4 or 5 miles a day hiker had already blazed it, which made it easier. I am staying in Franklin NC for tonight and tomorrow (taking a zero day). I have to replace my brand new hiking boots, due to a blowout. I will update facebook and send some emails & phonecalls tomorrow.
Date: 2010-03-04
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Zero day in Franklin NC. It was nice to eat real food at the steakhouse. I have been busy restocking for getting back on the trail tomorrow. Planning to take 2 & 1/2 days to get to the Nanhatla Outdoor Center, where, if needed, I can stay at the hostel or motel, then on to Fontana Dam, to resupply, and if needed stay at the lodge, but probably I will stay at the shelter. then it's on to the Great Smoky Mtns, hopefully the snow will melt, at least some, before I get there.I am hoping to replace my montrail boots at the NOC, they are starting to blowout. The company rep has been real good about trying to send me a new pair.OK, I decided to take a second zero day, in Franklin. That way, with the warmer temps, some of the snow can melt, and maybe my replacement boots will have time to arrive at the outfitter, at Nanhatla Outdoor Center, before I arrive.
Date: 2010-03-05
From: Franklin, NC

To: Franklin< NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I decided to take a second zero day, in Franklin, NC, at Haven's Budget Inn. I was still pretty sore, yesterday. My calfs felt like I had run a marathon,(but nowhere near as bad as after MCM - remember Bill & Biscuit!), fortunately my quads didn't hurt. I was close to changing my mind this morning, because I wasn't nearly as sore, and considered hitting the trail this afternoon, since it's such a nice day. But I am going to wait and try to get an early start tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be dry and warm, until approx Tues, when some rain showers are expected. I should arrive at the NOC (it's south of Fontana Dam), on Monday, unless I push it, which I am trying to resist, so I don't get injured. Then it's on to Fontana Dam, where I sent a resupply package (the only one), since they have limited supply options. Then I will enter the Great Smoky Mtns, which will probably take 6 days (not sure), with a break half way through in Gatlinburg. My replacement boots will be waiting for me at the Gatlinburg NOC, so I will probably spend one or two nights there while resupplying. I'm not sure what happens after the Smokies, since I haven't looked that far ahead yet.There are a lot of other thru hikers staying at the same motel: Subby, Shlep, Dawg & Braid & Tucker(4 legged dog),Sonya, Cakon, Ben (Snowplow), Cowboy, and Axeman. Aaron, the section hiker, went home yesterday.
Date: 2010-03-15
To: Franklin NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm back in Franklin NC, ready to start back on the AT. My father's surgery was successful, but he will have a long recovery. It was a long drive, but it wasn't worth trying to fly, because I would have only saved a couple of hours, when you add in having to get to the airport early, etc., thus it wasn't worth the hassle of flying. Thanks to Captain Caveman for the ride to Asheville, to pick up the rental car, and to Dennis for the ride, twice to Dulles, first for the flight to ATL, and second, for the ride to pick up the second rental car. Also, thanks to Dennis, Matt, and Joe for keeping a watch on my house. I hope to be at the NOC sometime Thursday and Fontana Dam by the weekend.