morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-08-01
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I ate a whole rotisserree chix for dinner last night. The 6 miles to Carter Notch Hut took 7 hours. Sometimes the monotony of the trail can be overwhelming. You see a stream with cascading water falls, but it's basically the same as a hundred others. You come to an overlook but it is the same as hundreds of others. I have to constantly make myself stop and just listen to the sounds of the forest. Today, again, I marveled at Mt. Washington and all the other incredible mountains we have climbed. It still amazes me that I have done this. I look back south at where I've been, over hundreds of mountains and wonder how I did it. Wingaard said something that made me think today. He said "I keep wondering how long my luck is going to hold out." My thoughts exactly. It reminded of A few days ago I got the scare of my life. I was in a precarious position hanging vertically, when I grabbed a rock to pull myself up. Fortunately I made a test pull, because the rock came loose. If I had made a full pull I would have fallen 20-30 feet and probably taken Wingaard with me.
Date: 2010-08-02
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Imp Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

slept on a table at Carter Notch Hut last night, the last Hut in the Whites. Still 32 miles in NH. One of my jobs for work for stay was to read the _Lorax to some young kids staying in one of the bunk houses. We also did an inventory of their stock last night, and swept the bunk house. We did not mind the extra stay this morning because we knew we would only make 8 miles today. It was a very hard day to be sure. Lots of climbing with just hand and toe holds. The Whites go on forever. forever. forever!!!!
Date: 2010-08-03
From: Imp shelter

To: Hwy 2
Miles today: 0.0

Did not sleep well in the shelter last night. It rained all night and i've slept too many night on a thin mat. Boundless and Smokehouse came in last night too. I watched Boundless cook 2 boxes of mac and cheese and put a can of spam in that. It was funny to watch him try to eat his concoction. He gave some to Smokehouse and saved the rest for breakfast. I shouldn't talk. I tried to cook a lipton dinner in a used Mt House tin and it turned out really bad. I have to carry the remains out with me. It was still raining when we left this AM It was 8 miles to HWY 2 but the Barn was full today so I,m staying at a hotel
Date: 2010-08-05
From: Hwy 2

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

Today we finished NH. Yeah!!! Wingaard and I both fell several times cuz it was very wet, and the rain at noon made the trail a virtual stream. Today was 13 hours / over 17 miles plus 2,5 to the trail on Carlo Col Trail. Very tuff day. I stayed at the Barn again.
Date: 2010-08-06
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Speck Pond 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

 Today was not a wise choice to slack pack. to start with, I was exhausted from 13 hours of very strenuous hiking yestersday, and we had maybe the roughest, toughest 14 miles of the trail to do in 11 hours. All of which was a recipe for disaster. I knew we were in trouble at noon and we still had 11.5 miles to go. We got to Mahoosic Notch, maybe the hardest one mile of the whole AT around 2:45 and SURPRISE!!! It started to rain!!!! which really added to the adventure. At one point I fell into a ravine but only by the grace of God was able to grab a tree branch on the way down and I Mary Poppins my way safely to the ground (8-10 foot drop). After 3 hours of climbing up, over, under, and around boulders we made it thru the notch but still had Mahoosic Arm to climb, and 8 miles to get off the trail. Our only option was to get to Speck Pond Shelter and hope the caretaker had some extra blankets. Mahoosic Arm is the double whammy of this section. It goes up up up up up up up. Finally made it to the top at 7PM but SURPRISE!!!! the temperature dropped 30 degrees. It was in the 40's by the time we got to the shelter and the caretaker had only one little quilt. I had my silk liner, an emergency blanket, my rain gear, a huge plastic garbage bag, and wet socks, shirts, etc. Not the recipe for an enjoyable evening in a shelter with 50 mph winds and 38 degree temp. I will give the caretaker credit for helping as much as he could. He put up some tarps in front of the shelter to block the wind and it probably helped as much as anything. It was a long miserable, cold, sleepless night. I was able to keep my body warm but my toes were never close to being warm and it kept me from any sleep. All night long we sounded like Pop Tarts being openned as we moved around trying to stay warm, and survive. At 5:45 AM I thanked a hiker that had loaned me his rain coat to sleep in and we were off on the AT again.
Date: 2010-08-07
From: Speck Pond 

To: Grafton Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I could not get my toes warm last night. My body was fairly warm but my toes would not let me sleep. I kept sitting up rubbing my toes all night. I was very weak feeling and cold this morning. The climb up Old Speck made me feel nauseaus except I had no breakfast. The lack of sleep, water, and sheer rock ledge was almost too much. I got 1/2 way up a rock face when I thought, " Is this really the trail? How could any one ever climb down this??" I am serious I do not believe I could have climbed down what I was climbing up. Of course, my hands were frozen and I was exhausted. We finally made it to the road and a very anxious and relieved Doris was mercifully waiting for us. She had not gotten much sleep worrying about us either.
Date: 2010-08-08
From: Grafton Notch

To: Andover ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I was sound asleep last night at 7:30 and did not wake or move until 12:30. Wingaard and Doris said they heard me snoring in my hammock. I was dead to this world and so warm and cozy. I figure anytime I have a bad time sleeping I'll just remember the awful night freezing my arse off at Speck Pond Shelter and I'll be fine. Today's hike was just what the doctor ordered, 10 miles to East B Hill road.   WE had great views from Baldpate MT. The trip thru Mahoosic Notch, Up the arm, and freezing in the Speck Pond Refrigerator/ Shelter is still weighting heavy. For the first time since leaving last April '09 I've had thoughts of quitting. I fell about 8-10 feet down a boulder in the notch and just grabbed a branch on the way down. Anyway, I keep wondering how much longer my luck will hold out. Also, my boots are falling apart.
Date: 2010-08-09
From: Andover ME

To: Black Brook, South Arm Rd
Miles today: 0.0

It started raining at about 3:30 this morning and was still going at 5:15 when I got up. Today's hike was a walk in the woods. THe climb from Sawyer Notch up Mooddy Mt was a reroute of the trail up an area t, and seemed like a good rain would wash it all down the mountain. It looked like a disaster area. Probably the most unstable section ever on the AT.   Looked like a tornado had gone thru. Trees were uprooted, the soil was very soft.   I told Wingaard I was changing his trail name to Vanilla Pop Tart in honor of his night in an emergency blanket (aluminum foil type) at Speck Pond Refrigerator/Shelter.
Date: 2010-08-10
From: Black Brook, South Arm Rd

To: ME 17 Spruce Mt.
Miles today: 0.0

Last night was interesting. When I got in my hammock it sunk to the ground. I had tied it to a dead tree. Then at 9:15 the flood gates openned and i noticed water on my sleep bag.   I had to take it to the laundryroom at the campground to dry it. The hike today started straight up but wasn't tooo bad along the ridge line. The descent down Old Blue MT was tuff and so was the climb up to Hwy 17. Thunder was rolling and booming but Doris showed up before the heavy rain. I offered to take them to dinner because they had made dinner for me so many times. I had to set my hammock up in the dark and it rained again last night.
Date: 2010-08-12
From: Stratton, ME

To: Poplar Ridge Lean to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I'm sitting on my bivy sack watching the sun set over Poplar Ridge. I got to the shelter and there were some obnoxious hikers there already. Wingaard set up his tent near the shelter but I moved .2 miles up the trail and climbed into my bivy. It's very quiet here (except I can still hear those hikers even this far away) My perception of these young men is that they are afraid of bears etc. and make alot of noise as they walk and at camp. (Either that or they are just obnoxious) WE saw beautiful mountains and lakes from Saddleback Mt. , the Horn, and Saddleback JR
Date: 2010-08-13
From: Poplar Ridge Lean to

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: broken clouds

I slept reasonably well in my bivy last night. I didn't see any of the meteor shower that was suppose to occur last night. I had a limited view of the night sky.   My legs are toast. Had to drop down SugarLoaf Mt. and it was brutal. Set up my bivy on a tent platform. Somehow I chipped my lower front tooth. Probably during one of my many tumbles on the trail. Have no idea when I'll get it fixed, october maybe. 195 miles to Katahdin. 609 miles to go total.
Date: 2010-08-14
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept like a rotisserree chicken, never stopped turning in my bivy sack at Crocker tentsite. Saw 3 shooting stars though. Tonight I'm Staying at an awesome hostel 3 miles outside Stratton, ME. Sue, the owner, is a 2004 thru hiker. The hostel has a kitchen with refigerator, etc. Had a 1/2 pound Wolf burger at the White Wolf Inn.
Date: 2010-08-15
From: Stratton, ME

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

(Hello All, for those of you who are wondering where I am and how I'm doing, thought I'd let you know. I'm in Stratten, ME at about 187 miles from Katahdin. I skipped 413 miles from PA. I am curently hiking with Wingaard, the Alabamian and his wife, Doris, that I hiked with last year. I will try to fill in my journal as I can, but I have not gotten into many library or hotels to loggin to trailjournals, so I have a lot to write.)   "Two things fill my mind with ever renewed wonder and awe the more often and deeper I dwell on them; the starry skies above me and the moral law within me." Immanual Kant   Last night I woke up and went outside the hostel to the road that it's on and stood in the middle of the road and admired the starry sky over head. I had seen 3 shooting stars the night before through the small tree lined window open to the sky as I lay in my bivy and sleep sack. But this night the sky was wide open and it was a super clear night. Life is good, but I wish my wife were here with me. This morning Pooh Bear and Tortoise offered me breakfast which I gladly accepted. Sue came in and gave me a ride to town where I met Wingaard and Doris. WE went to breakfast at the Looney Moose. Bill and I went back to Rangely where I bought new hiking shoes. Keenes
Date: 2010-08-16
From: Stratton, ME

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up at 5 AM and got my gear ready. Wingaard came in and said we were not going to hike today. It was raining and predictions called for thunderstorms all day. Oh, well, I can use the rest. I hitched into town when the rain paused and bought Bisquick,eggs, milk, bread to make pancakes. I also bought more pork chops for dinner later.
Date: 2010-08-17
From: Stratton, ME

To: Little Bigelow
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Stitting on top of avery Peak of Bigelow Mt., the last 4000' climb until Katahdin. There is a beautiful lake below and, of course, mountains beyond that. A great place for a lunch break. One of the best views yet. Got back to the Maine Roadhouse and made pancakes and ate, and ate and ate.
Date: 2010-08-18
From: Stratton, ME

To: East Carry Pond
Miles today: 0.0

A womann named Josephine was at the hostel last night and she made me coffee this morning. I had 3 eggs and a Little Debbie Oatmeal creme cookie for breakfast. I have been eating quite a bit lately, hiker hunger has kicked in. Josephine gave me a mantra to say as I hike. "Hum" as you breath in and "saw" as you breath out. Interesting lady.   Lunch at West Carry Pond today. Later met 3 hikers having lunch. One said, "Be careful in zee next mile. We saw 2 bear puppies. Didn't see zee mama, but we saw zee puppies so be careful." Of course, we didn't see zee puppies or zee mama. Tomorrow we get to the Kennebec Rivr. We have seen numerous signs not to try to ford this river. It is dangerous cuz it's wide and the dam releases water automatically on an unpredictable scheldule. A hiker drown in 1985 so they provide a ferry now.
Date: 2010-08-19
From: Little Bigelow

To: The woods near old logging road
Miles today: 0.0

Got to the Kennebec River by noon. Had to wait 2 hours for the canoe ferry to come and take us to the other side. A German hiker named Marcus said the reason there are so many Germans on the trail this year is because of a documentary that was on the tube last year in Germany. WE hiked until we found a river to get water and stealth camped in the woods. Wingaard tried my bivy and I set up my hammock.
Date: 2010-08-20
From: ME.

To: Old Logging Rd
Miles today: 17.3

It rained last night so I'll need to stop and dry my hammock today. ate lunch just before Moxie Bald. More the half of Maine is done now. 100 MILE Wilderness starts Monday or Tuesday. We came out on an old logging road with a running stream so we stealth camped near it. 129 miles to Katahdin.
Date: 2010-08-21
From: The woods near old logging road

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I froze my arse off last night. I forgot my sleep pad and my hammock couldn't keep me warm in the 42 degree ME nights. I woke up once and my hammock was upside down. I had to climb out of it from the top. We walked into Monson, ME the last town on the AT until Katahdin. Tomorrow we start the 100 mile Wilderness.
Date: 2010-09-01
From: Monson, ME

To: Melvin Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Wingaard and I climbed Mt Katahdin in ME on Monday.   It was a very excitng day. It was the end of his adventure. 2179 miles plus 375 on Pinhoti trail leading up to Springer in GA. I was so proud to be there when he finished. He has been a great hiking partner and is a true Southern Gentleman if there ever was one.   Now my adventure continues. I have 414 miles to do back to PA. I will miss Doris at every road I come to and will remember her kindness forever.   It is suppose to be 92 degrees today, but hurricane Earl is going to bring losts of rain.   I have been worried about finding water. hopefully that will solve the problem. Bill and Doris treated me to a tremendous breakfast at the Blue Denn Diner, one of those old railroad car diners like at Henry Ford Museum. Said my goodbyes to Doris and Bill drove me out to USFS road 71 to begin a new chapter in my adventure. It was very hot today. I did 17-18 miles to Melvin Nauheim Shelter. Got to camp at 7 PM which was too late. I set my hammock but by the time I got my bear line up it was dark.
Date: 2010-09-02
From: Melvin Nauheim Shelter

To: Sherman Brook Campsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Yesterday my left heel hurt as bad as It has ever hurt. I am not sure it will hold up for 400 more miles. Today it wasn't as bad but still there. The spider webs were the worst ever this morn. It was an eventful day: at 4:45 I passed into Mass. 9 of 14 states are done. I am the only one at the campsite. Very quiet except for some traffic nose from MA2 1.8 miles away.
Date: 2010-09-03
From: Sherman Brook Campsite

To: MT. Greylock
Miles today: 0.0

climbing Greylock was the single hardest thing I've done on the AT. I walked 1.8 miles into North Adams and then uphill from there. It has been very hot and humid and I was so tired last night I didn't eat or drink like I should have. I think I was close to heat exhaustion. My clothes were dripping wet and I had to stop every 4-5 minutes for a break. Rachel and Ted, a nice couple from nearby, stayed close. I think they could tell I was struggling. They suggested a shortcut, but I refused. At one point I considered going back to a shelter but it wan't much closer. Today is the only day I recall ever fearing for my health out here. I kept taking my pulse and it was too high. Fortunaltely the trail leveled out and the last 2.4 miles were not too bad. I know I took off my pack 20 times at least. When I got to Bascom Lodge at the top, I went into the bathroom and wiped off as much as I could, put on my cleanest shirt and pants, and went into eat. I ordered everything. Salad, soup, burger, cookies, cokes. I had decided to stAY at least 3 hours relaxing, but one of the workers asked if I wanted to see the bunkroom. She said they had a work to stay program for hikers. So I worked and stayed. Thework was turning hard as brick sod over in front of the lodge. I also got a gourmet dinner and breakfast and a very comfortable bunk to sleep in.
Date: 2010-09-04
From: MT. Greylock

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

The weather has turned cooler thanks to hurricane Earl. It seems to be clearing but still windy. The hike down Greylock was very pleasant. I got to Cheshire by 1 PM and stopped at the Shell Station for lunch. I met a NOBO as I headed out of town and he reminded me that Rob Bird had a hostel in Dalton. On a whim I called Rob and asked if he had room at the Birdcage. He said "Sure" but he was in Cheshire and asked if I wanted to slack in to Dalton. It took me a little over 3 hours to cover the 9 miles. The birdcage ws a great stop. Had a killer choco shake and dinner at the Misty Moonlight Diner. Later Rob and a hiker named Hind sight played guitar and sang. Great evening.
Date: 2010-09-05
From: Dalton, MA

To: Upper Goose Pond Shelter
Miles today: 20.0

Hiked 20 miles to Upper Goose. It was quite cool weather wise. There seems to be some concern about finding water south. Stoppped at the cookie lady's house and got water and cookies. I was so tired when I got to the shelter I didn't fix dinner but , Keith, the caretaker had made some nachos so i had a few of those. At 6:45 I put my sleep sack out and cluldn't resist crawling into it. I was out till morning.
Date: 2010-09-06
From: Upper Goose Pond Shelter

To: Wilcox Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

I slept well last night but all the snoring was funny. Keith made coffee and blueberry pancakes. How cool is that? I didn't leave until 9:45.   I have met several groups of college students from Princeton and Williams . I met 3 older hikers and they told me to get water before the shelter i was headed to. I asked about the terrain and a woman said it was very pleasant. Yeah, pleasant for her because it was downhill. It was all uphill for me. I laughed about that all the way to Wilcox. The Lorax had said he was staying at wilcox N but I went and extra 1.8 to Wilcox S.   There was no one there and I set my hammock behind the shelter
Date: 2010-09-08
From: south of Greater Barrington

To: south
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

My pack is too heavy. I stopped at a shelter for ater but the brook was mostly dry.   I'm glad I kept my filter. Today has been alot of climbing but some great views. Yesterday I walked thru pastures and the miles seemed to fly. Not so today. It was 1200' MT. Bushnell, then Mt Everett, but the killer was Bear Mt.
Date: 2010-09-12
From: south

To: graymoor friary
Miles today: 0.0

I have been hiking from spigot to spigot. Stopped at a deli for breakfast and a deli for dinner yesterday in NY. Made it to Graymoor Friary and an Ecuadorean Festival was going on. I could hear the music for miles. There were hundreds of people on the grounds and I thought i'd have to move on to find another place to stay. I sat and watched a great soccer game for a while. A man stopped by and said it was too bad I had walked so far to find no place to stay. He said the Friars had another pavilion I could stay at on the hill so he gave me a ride there. He asked what I was having for dinner. I told him peanut butter and bread. He said he'd be back in a minute. He can back with chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, and an ice cold Coors 24 0z. Life is good. A man named Just Bruce came in his van while I was setting up my hammock and stayed at the pavilion too.
Date: 2010-09-18
From: Deckertown Turnpike

To: NJ
Miles today: 0.0

I am not sure where I am camping tonight. NJ does a poor job with signs or landmarks. I set my camp on a ridge near the AT. A group of Boy Scouts came by, they were leaving because of a bear sighting. They told me I was near Blue Mt. Lake Rd. and a YMCA camp was nearby.
Date: 2010-09-19
From: NJ

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Fell flat on my face, nose first today Somehow I managed to luckily fall on the only piece of grass on the whole AT in NJ. I stopped at camp Mohican and had a deli sandwich. I definitely have what is called "Hiker Hunger" going on now. I can't get enough to eat. 18 miles later I walked in to Delaware Water Gap, PA. Yesterday I met a hiker named Petunia and asked her, "Where the heck are we?" She very patiently explained where we were, took out a map and showed me too. I told her I was heading to Port Clinton, PA. to complete my hike of the AT. I explained I was a retired teacher, she said she and her husband were teachers and invited me to Sunday dinner, if I made it to the gap. So I found her number and took her up on her offer. Petunia (Chris) and Tim have 2 wonderful boys, Dylan and Chase, and Tim made a hiker's dream dinner of pot roast, mashed potatoes, salad. I ate and ate and ate. It was embarrassing, but they kept encouraging me to eat and I did. Finally at 9:15 or so I went to sleep in an extra bedroom they had. What an exceptional family to take a total stranger in to their home and make him feel so comfortable. Their kindness will be forever appreciated
Date: 2010-09-20
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Wind Gap (south)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I slept really well on a bed. Oh, life is good. Finally at 6:15 I went upstairs and had coffee and 2 piping hot cinnamon rolls with Petunia. Life is really good!   Petunia dropped me in DWG at 7:15 and I left my stuff at a church and walked to the bakery. I had a hot dog and a piece of apple pie for breakfast (I know, I know). Petunia had also packed a piece of pie in my pack which I ate before leaving town. Fortunately, she had packed a large piece of Summer sausage for me too. The reason I say that is I ate all that sausage today. I had thought it might last several days, but hiker hunger has taken control of my every waking moment. I had been warned several times over the last few days to watch for snakes. I should have listened better. Somehow I stepped over a huge rattle snake and did not get bit today. I heard the rattle as my right foot cleared the snake's head. I took 2 or 3 quick steps and looked back at a snake that I would have a hard time putting my hand around. It was coiled several times and would be at least 6 feet long. As evening approached, I walked into Wind Gap and inquired at the motel about hiker prices. It was too much so I climbed into the woods and found a nice spot to hang my hammock on the ridge above town. I found out why it was named Wind Gap. It was a windy cool night, but I could see the lights of town below. Yes, life is really, really good
Date: 2010-09-23
To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I walked into Port Clinton today and finished my AT hike. It was a happy moment when I walked up to Cabela's after a dangerous hike down highway 61. I took off my hiking boots and tossed them into a garbage can. I went into the restroom took off my shirt and threw it away too. Obviously I had another to put on.   I have hiked 414 miles in 23 days. I'm very happy to be going home soon.