morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-05-20
From: Mark Noepel Shelter

To: N.Adams Ma
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

Got off to a pretty good start although it was a bit late...I planned to stop in at the top of Mt. Greylock...highest point in Ma. There is a lodge there that opened this morning so I had breakfast there...first customer of the season...eggs n fruit...perfect amount to get me going 2.5 miles into the day... I've held up because of a foot bruise that I wasn't going to mention but once I got here I couldn't go another 5 mi to the next shelter... I think I'll have to shorten my days for a bit so it can heal...we will see. Back on the trail in the morning. The pics are a glimpse of N Adams from on high and the other is the monument on top of Mt Greylock. Time to sleep it's past hiker midnight!
Date: 2017-05-21
From: N.Adams Ma

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Back on the trail at 8am... I caught a ride to the trail which was 3 mi that I didn't have to hike. The guy had a pair to hiking poles in his trunk and he pulled the end off one to replace my bent one. He just asked me to send it back when I finish.....deal! You really do see the best of people when you least expect it. People are amazing... like my friends back home! I crossed over to VT. this morning... 3 states to go! The second pic is my abode tonight... It's supposed to rain tonight and it looks like I'll have to hike in the rain to my resupply point in the morning... It'll be a nero day for me, probably only 5 mi if it's raining. I'll try to wait it out. Oh the last pic... yes it's the trail !
Date: 2017-05-23
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Beautiful day to hike today! Spring is moving north over me and everything is blooming. Today I entered into an area that has no road crossings or anything else for at least 50 mi. It's between Bennington and Rutland. Its the longest stretch without a water source so far, 10 miles and when it's mostly uphill... you need water!! I actually hiked with a very nice lady for 4 miles today and I never shut up!! LOL. Trail name Flicker, Photographer. The pics today is of me in the shelter getting ready to free the Cracken (taking of the boots)!! The other is from inside the shelter. The sunrise is supposed to be awesome from this shelter!!
Date: 2017-05-24
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: William Douglas Shelter
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: broken clouds

I had no intention of doing 20 mi. today and my feet aren't happy!! The shelter I planned to stop at had no water so, on to the next which is empty so extra bear prevention in effect. The pic is of the sunrise l mentioned...nothing exciting for this morning. The hike was just stress so no pics....sorry. I'm tired. P.S. I'm taking a Nero tomorrow and a zero the next day.....I have some healing to do...it's supposed to rain all day anyway....
Date: 2017-05-25
From: William Douglas Shelter

To: Manchester, VA
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: overcast clouds

My overnight was uneventful... I'm sure it was because of the expert anti-bear tactics... It's truly amazing how dark it can be at night without any light sources like a city or the moon or stars.... It was so dark you couldn't see your hand! I'm on the edge of town tonight watching it pour rain.... A good call if I say so myself! So today was my Nero day which means low miles (near zero). Tomorrow will be my first Zero day... I'm overdue. I'm glad it happened on a rain day... Hiking in the rain is no fun and brings an added dimension of danger with it; the rocks, roots, and leaves all become ice slippery. I tried to get a pic of the mountain tops but you can't see them thru the rain and fog or the screen!! Tomorrow I will resupply and stop in at the local outfitter for a water bag since mine sprung a leak, get a new rain jacket since mine sprung a leak, and I think a chocolate shake!! Yum
Date: 2017-05-26
To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I spent today trying to get around town to resupply, get to the outfitters and do my nasty laundry. While it's raining! If you think it's easy getting help when you look homeless...I can tell you it isn't...I had one lady actually run from me, lol. It's a sad commentary but it's true... I consider myself a charitable person and a good steward but this feeling really opened my eyes.Anyway, after 4 hrs I had my errands finished and I'm back to packing it all. Have to get back on the trail in the morning, rain or not.Only pic today says yum better than I can.
Date: 2017-05-27
To: Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Good weather today, lots of bogs to hike thru though... mud mud mud, and it wasn't easy to avoid it. That basically meant wet feet all day. Still hiking alone but in one 5 min period I saw at least 15 hikers... then they were all gone! I took a few pics today... The over the shoulder view shot, a personal favorite. The next a bog walkway...step off and sink in 6 inches. The last is in the shelter with a family I had seen a week earlier. The brother tore up his knee and is off the trail. The trail is beautiful but takes no prisoners. I took another fall today, a hard one. I laid there for 5 min to check my bones, all was ok. I'll know more in a day or two if my toe turns black.
Date: 2017-05-28
To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Pretty nice day to hike....I kept moving all day today to avoid getting caught in the afternoon rain, just a few drops and I'm nice and dry. Tomorrow will be a different story. Rain all day and I have to go 14 miles and most of it is uphill! I don't have a choice on this one. Pics today... Carin practice field. Getting ready for the whites above tree line. The other is me at little rock lake, a young man was taking pictures and took one of me.
Date: 2017-05-29
To: Pico Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

Terrible Terrible day to hike... soaked to the bone all day, had to keep moving to have any warmth. But I need to be in Killington, VT tomorrow so put one foot in front of the other... for 11 hrs. I had to pass on the last 2 shelters and keep moving since rain clouds were moving thru them at elevation. Pico Shelter has 4 walls and a door, I got lucky! Thanks Stu for trying to meet me at the suspension bridge, you only missed me by 8 hrs. Thank you for delivering my food drop... sorry we missed! The pic today... Rutland Airport. A suspension bridge and the water flow under it... I'm out of my wet clothes and into my dry, but I'm still freezing... It's sleeping bag time!!
Date: 2017-05-30
To: Mountain Meadow Lodge
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

I thought 8 mi to my food drop would be a pretty easy day, tough terrain and constant rain made it much worse! I rolled in a little after 1:00 pm and enjoyed a hot shower, did my laundry and ordered an early dinner. I'm the only person in the lodge tonight. Their business is weddings on weekends and hikers during the week. I didn't get any pics today, I  was worried about ruining my phone in the rain. This is an awesome place tho, they even have a dryer for my totally soaked boots, I'll take a pic of that... I forgot to mention that I've had to ford a couple of streams in the last few days and I'm told another tomorrow. A lot of rain this spring makes the normal rock hopping impossible. So, off come the boots and on go the crocks. The water is like ICE!! Off come the crocks and on go the socks and boots... takes a lot of time.
Date: 2017-06-01
To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: few clouds

Up at 5am and hiking by 6am... The owner of the lodge left me some breakfast so he wouldn't have to get up so early... good way to start the day..yum. I planned a good day of hiking without rain!! Not so fast hiker dude... The skies opened up on me once again 2 hrs before I made it to the shelter, oh well I'm here. The rest of the week calls for rain....onward!!! The pics today. Thundering Falls, killington ski run (still with snow and open), and the last pic is of the trail with the modern convenience of a ladder, no other way up or down... I'm sharing the shelter tonight with flash... he will disappear tomorrow... I call them all flash because they move 3 to 4 mph.... I'm a steady 2.
Date: 2017-06-02
To: Happy Hills Shelter
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Awesome day today....except for putting on the rain gear... then taking it off... then putting it on... then taking it off... etc... etc. I planned a 17 mile day today but the stealth hostel I planned on staying at was so stealthy I couldn't find it, so I pressed on to the next shelter. I can't make these mistakes in the whites! I'm in a shelter with 8 flashes... it holds 4. The pics today are... A bunch of cheeseburgers in a field, a flower, and a tree across a stream which is the bridge... I made it. Tomorrow I'm in NH, 2 states left. The easy stuff is over!
Date: 2017-06-03
To: Etna, NH 
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Doesn't sound like much but after my 21.7 day but it was all I had in the tank. In 3 days I begin the BIG climbs and descents, they are about 35 miles ahead of me. I didn't see a sign for NH but I'm here. I forgot to mention that the big toe didn't turn black but it still hurts when I roll up on it in an awkward way. I have a hairline on my toe but not on my head, how is that fair! I just tape the two toes together and keep going... We will see how they handle the next couple weeks. If I can get over the whites, I'll feel better about going all the way. Today's pics... Roots are becoming a problem now, navigating them is giving my feet fits. The next is a pic of the bogs and the trail goes right thru them, they go on and on and on, a very wet spring!Next, a very BIG and very good thing happened....TRAIL MAGIC!!! Ice cold watermelon and banana nut bread. It doesn't sound like much but it was very welcome!! Last but not least, is my abode for the night... Don't laugh it's inside and dry, plus they did my laundry and took me to the the grocery store for resupply... A very good day!!
Date: 2017-06-04
To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: few clouds

Beautiful day for a hike!! I bid farewell to my trail angels and the camper, they call it... The Tank, lol. Two flashes with me tonight, 1 will finish this month and the other in early July. I will stick to my plan of 10 to 15 July! Pics today are scenery. One with a really nice looking guy in it, and the other is of our warm fire burning before the coming rain drowns it. If I am lucky the rain will pass tonight, although it is in the forecast for the next 2 days... ARGGGGG! The good news is that it looks like good weather as I head into and over the Whites!!! 10 days of pain and sheer breathtaking beauty!!!
Date: 2017-06-05
To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Another drowning at the hands of mother nature. I'm in a terrible shelter (Hexacuba), very drafty. It's raining and everything is wet, even my sleeping bag is absorbing the moisture. I wish I could have pressed on today but I couldn't have made it before dark and it would have been a 27 mile day. No way in this mess. I put my tent up in the shelter to get better protection from the weather. No one else is here as usual. I hung my food bag in the only branch usable... I hope its still there in the morning or I'll be wet and hungry! It was a tough tough 12 today. The bogs didn't end and the mud is like grease! I just gotta get to the hiker hostel tomorrow to dry out and get cleaned up, then I hit the whites Wednesday morning. I can't see the weather forecast since my phone doesn't work, no reception. I'm still praying for good weather over the next week while I'm in the whites. No pics today since I was in the rain all day and I try to keep my phone dry.
Date: 2017-06-06
To: Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I headed out at day break to hike the worst 15 mi ever!!! Since it poured all night long the trails were just rivers of mud and water, throw in a million or so roots and rocks, and add a pinch of granite cliffs and edges. The rock edges were very slippery, very dangerous. I moved along at a snail's pace and still managed 3 falls, it took me 9 hrs to hike 15 miles. I was almost freezing at altitude and soaked on both sides of my rain gear. I didn't stop for water or food because I couldn't get into my pack in the downpour and moving did generate a little heat!! So I just kept moving. As I walked into the hiker hostel. I saw about 10 hikers who had been here 2 or more days waiting out the rain. I was the only one who hiked over the mountain today!! I couldn't spend another night in that shelter... I had to get inside. Anyway.. no pics again, too much rain to bring out my phone and I just couldn't stop anyway. Ok here is a pic of me in my rack at the hostel doing my journal... I'm taking a zero tomorrow to get cleaned up and dried out again. I'll summit the first climb on Wednesday! The good weather forecast is a bust as usual. Thursday/Friday call for more rain/storms. I don't know what that means in the Whites.... But I'll find out.
Date: 2017-06-07
To: Hiker Hostel Part II
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well... the Whites have already thrown me a curve. So I'm on to plan B. I'll summit the moose on Thursday. I'm trying to line up with the huts because they feed you dinner and breakfast. But the first one is full when I need it, why wouldn't it be. Fri/Sat calls for rain/storms again so that means hiking wet above the tree line which can't be good! So I'll have to just go for it but keep the days short... hoping for the next hut to be available. I'll carry 4 days food just in case. My boots have been in the sun all day and feel pretty dry... until Friday haha. They smell like rotten sewer water!! There was 27 people here last night, so far I'm the only one left! Could I smell that bad?? Well, out the door in the morning. Hikes in the Whites are about half your normal distance because of the difficulty. I have a couple of pics of the Hiker Hostel today. This really could be an awesome place for hikers with just a few improvements. But I'm thankful it was here!!
Date: 2017-06-08
To: Hiker Hostel... Part 3
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Finally!!! One good day.... but more rain tomorrow!!! I can't decide if I'll head north again in the morning or not. The thought of being soaked again is revolting! But I can't get there if I'm not moving north. Today I climbed Mt. Moossilauke, up and over in 5 hrs. I did it from north to south since I'd rather climb than descend, and I end up back in the Hostel. The climb was next to a waterfall for 2 miles then 1 more mile just climbing. After I finished I felt that I could have done it south to north just as well. But, I'm in a hostel and not getting rained on tonight, that made it worth it. I'd like to make it to Kinsman Pond Shelter which is 11.5 mi... but again it's the weather. LOL. We will see but I want so much to get back out there!! Pics today are self explanatory.
Date: 2017-06-17
To: Joe Dodge Lodge
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: moderate rain

06/17/2017What a day.... Expected another awful day but it was beautiful... I woke up at 5am to blue sky's above and an undercast in the mountain valleys... I have experienced all that the Whites/Presidentials had to offer. I forgot to mention that I even got to hike across the Jefferson snowfield, still there in June. It was slick and scary as it could be! I'm actually glad I got to experience the terrible weather conditions I hiked in yesterday. I never want to do it again... but I did it! Today we started hiking up right out of the hut on a bolder field, very tricky to navigate. It was so beautiful to look down into the valleys and see clouds, hiking down into them was surreal... The descent today was tough, as most are, but for this one we had to drop 3000 ft in 2.5 miles. Steep/Slow and as always... dangerous. My knees were quite sore by the time we got to the lodge. I'm hoping to bounce back overnight since I plan to hit the trail right after breakfast. I'm solo again but so thankful as I have said before to have had a personal guide thru the mountains of NH. I got a shower today and did my laundry. I lightened my pack again to get ready for my run thru Maine. Won't need all that winter gear now so it's heading home! I dropped 5 lbs off my pack weight. That doesn't sound like much but it's weight off the knees and helps with the climbs. Pics today....a beautiful view of Mt. Madison and some trail magic from the laundry place.
Date: 2017-06-18
To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: scattered clouds

06/18/2017Carter Notch Hut... 7 miLast hut in the hut system... thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon today and probably tomorrow too... So I decided I'd rather be soaked for 1 day rather than 2. Tomorrow I'll push for Gorham which will be a tough 15 mi. day on the rain all the way. I hope no thunderstorms. Today I had a wet climb out of Pinkham notch, hand over hand for a lot of the boulder climbing. I was pretty wet from the clouds rolling thru. The descent was 1000 ft in only 6/10 of a mile... that is fast and steep! And that always means a nasty climb out in the morning. I thought the hard part was supposed to be over!! The pic today...a look back at Pinkham Notch before it all closed in. When I checked in they told me I was the only guest tonight and wanted to cook dinner to my liking....cool. Strange at the same time. I'll make the best of it....06/19/2017Gorham NH... 15 mi.I left the hut at 5:45 this morning for a tough hike but I needed to make Gorham because the weather moved in. I almost made it... got caught by a thunderstorm about 4 hrs out. It's just water. I've decided to take a zero here. I haven't had one since before the whites and I need one. My feet and knees have taken a beating and need a rest. On Wednesday I'll make my push into Maine, finally and see what challenges await. Hopefully the weather will have moved off and I'll get a good start. Couple pics today. Trail descent.. Steep as usual. Another beautiful view before the weather. I'm glad the Wildcats and the Carter's are behind me now. Hello Maine !!
Date: 2017-06-21
To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

06/21/2017The hike on the trail today was 12 mi... getting to the trail was another 4 mi. I couldn't get a ride hitching so I had to walk the extra 4. I've had great luck hitching but not this morning, maybe it was to early. The trail today had more exposed roots than rocks which made the hike very technical for foot placement. I didn't get the result I was hoping for from my zero. I felt very lethargic on the trail, no strength. We will see what tomorrow brings. I did pull a tick off a few weeks ago. I don't believe it was on long enough to cause an issue, it didn't have time to fill up. Anyway, passed a few southbound hikers heading to Ga. Glad I'm not them! They all looked so fresh and clean charging south, while my feet and knees remind me with every step that I still have 246 miles to go.... I'm not hiking the last 40 miles since I've already hiked those, but I will hike Katahdin again since I'll be there. Last time was in the rain and this time I'll feel like I deserve to be there!!! And I'd like to do it in good weather. Today's pics are of Page Pond about half way thru today's hike. The other is the view looking out from the shelter! Tomorrow looks like another long day, it has Mahoosuc notch in it. It's the longest 1 mile on the trail. I've heard up to 4 hrs to get thru it.
Date: 2017-07-07
To: Into the 100 Mile WIlderness
Miles today: 31.0
Weather: light rain

07/05/2017 - Moxie Bald Shelter - 13.1Ok....I'm just 18 mi from Monson so I'll be there tomorrow afternoon...I'll probably do a zero to just enjoy the moment. I'm ready to finish the hike but at the same time wishing for more... melancholy moments. The shelters are full of southbound hikers night now... I wish them well. I'm on track to summit earlier than I planned... only by a day maybe two depending on weather of course. Rain In the forecast for tomorrow but I'm going regardless... why not? I expect to have a few fords tomorrow, some tough with all the rain, and a bunch more in the 100. The pics today are of: Yuk, who has entertained many hikers, he is traveling on a tight budget so after he entertained me and another hiker I kicked into the budget for his hike, nice guy. The other is me enjoying the view on top of Moxie Bald....really beautiful!!!07/06/2017 - Monson .. Lakeshore Inn - 18.0What was supposed to be another wet day turned out to be beautiful, can't say the same for the trail...lol. My boots are rotting off my feet now. If I stand on a wet rock, my socks soak up the water!! They are coming apart everywhere, mostly from rot! I'm sure I'll get another week out of them... I have duct tape. I'm so glad to be in a warm dry place where I can have real food brought to me. This is the last stop before Katahdin. If the weather cooperates I'll be out of here Saturday morning. I've done my resupply and cleaned myself up to a near normal state¢¦ didn't have any Borax !! My run thru the wilderness will take about 6 days if all goes well. Then I'll rest a day before I summit Katahdin.Seems surreal to be near the end of a journey! A dream my wonderful wife supported. She took on sooooo much just to let me go for a walk in the woods.The pic was just a shelter I had lunch at today during my 18 mile hike to get here. As most of you know, I hiked alone most of this hike. I actually came to enjoy the time alone and looked forward to the social aspects of the shelter or campsites during the evenings. A simple picture but it moves me deeply.The final moments of this hike will do the same when I reach that sign. I did the work and the end of this journey will be bittersweet!07/07/2017 - Ready Set Go !!!I've enjoyed my zero in Monson but, it's time to move. The weather forecast is rain next four outta five days....of course it is!! Monson has been really nice and they appreciate the hikers. My hitch-in took 1 car and he was going in the opposite direction... really! The Lake Shore House is a converted home to a nice hostel with a restaurant and a pub. The town folks have been so nice. I've seen a few hikers I've met along the way come and go. I'm ready to go. As nice as it is, it isn't home! I have heard there is trail magic 14 miles into the 100, sounds like a great place for a stop!! It's a full blown hiker feast for 3 days, a local has a cabin there and does this each year....finally some real trail magic....lol. The pic is out my window at the hostel....temp has been in the 70s.....can't wait to melt in Texas!!
Date: 2017-07-09
To: Long Pond Shelter
Miles today: 30.1
Weather: few clouds

7/8/2017 - Long Pond Shelter - 15.1 miI got off to a good start today, had breakfast at 6am and was on the trail at 7am with sunshine!! By 9 am I was in the rain and for the last 3 mi to the shelter, heavy rain w/ thunder. In spite of being soaked again, the trail magic was good as expected!! Cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and sodas. Anyway, I'm in the 100 and will be on Katahdin by the 13/14 ish. I don't know why I thought this section would be any easier. I did and it isn't! So, one foot In front of the other until I'm done, rain or shine!! The pics are a nice warning sign for the 100 and a lake view I liked before the rains came.7/9/2017 - Pleasant River (ford) 15 mi.Pretty good day today....only got rained on for 30 min. I forgot to mention a couple days ago that an AT hiker got rescued from the trail after he fell on a steep decline and broke his leg. He was a day ahead of us at the time. Even this close disaster is still just 1 step away. Tonight I am camped on the bank of my next ford. I'll cross the river in the morning and then I'll work on a seven mile climb over Whitecap Mt, the last big effort before I summit. I'm down to 4 hiking days then a summit climb. Hard to believe after all it's taken to get here. Pics today of you know who....with calves that will deflect bullets. And the other is my hubble for the night.