morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hard to believe there is only two weeks left before heading to Katahdin! Did a training hike last weekend in the 90* weather. Started in Gorham to get the stretch from mt moriah to rt 2. Stayed at a stealth site over nite and then hiked down to rt 2 the next morning. Glad I have gotten that part out of the way...going over the Carter's and wildcat are done and I can skip that section when I get to New Hampshire.This weekend heading up to Vermont for my 35th high school reunion. Want to get a hike in over my beloved mountain, Mansfield and then up to the lake on Sunday for some r&r. Two more weeks of school and in a frenzy of activity. One more weekend after this one I leave...wows..all those months of waiting and is almost here! Lots of lists to make between now and then to make sure that the house and pool are taken care of. Hired an overnite provider for my son to stay at the house. Yeah!Counting the days....
Date: 2013-06-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Can't believe I am leaving tomorrow for Baxter. The planning is done, goodbyes have been said, now it's just time to walk! We should arrive in Millinocket around 1pm where I will arrange for a food drop in the 100 mile wilderness. My friend Lam and his friend Jerry will be walking with me through the 100 miles. Mark and I will summit Katahdin on Saturday ! Lets hope for a nice clear day. I keep hearing how beautiful this place is, so I hope the sun shines and we have great views! Stay tuned..
Date: 2013-06-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We got to Millinocket around 2 o'clock Set up camp and went for a swim in the pool. Got a glimpse of Katahdin Peak on the way up looks like fun. Then went into town to the famous AT Cafe. A group of young trail maintenance folks were eating the famous Final summit Sunday. It consists of 14 scoops of ice cream bananas cookies snickers bars. Yuck! One of the young boys actually threw up his entire Sunday back into his bowl. Double yuck! All completed through hikers write their name on the ceiling tiles in the restaurant. It is supposed to be a hot day tomorrow so are leaving at 5 am to try to beat the heat! Stay tuned...
Date: 2013-06-22
From: katahdin Stream campgriund

To: katahdin summit
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today started at 4 am after a restless nights sleep in anticipation of the big day ahead. Our plan was to summit Baxter peak and then head over to Hamlin to bag the 4000 footer. The best laid plans were not to be had. We got to the park Gate at 5:45 and waited until the gate opened at 6. We started our hike around a bit before 7. The hike started with an easy mile of flat and then started straight up. It was rugged. Boulders and more boulders. When we got above tree line that's when the fun really began!! Climbing up steep, hanging cliffs, and the really tough steep and scary stuff had me bawling like a schoolgirl and hyper ventilating! And then the sky darkened the wind began to blow and rain came blowing in dark clouds, fog and no visibility. The hikers ahead of us came off the mountain in droves like ants marching saying the wind and rain was worse the higher you climbed and they were turning back. It didn't look like it was going to pass so we decided to do the same and headed back down. Of course by the time we got back to tree line the rain had stopped and it was brightening. So now I am going to attempt to do it again tomorrow with Lam and Jerry. Marks knees are bothering him so he will stay low and spend a leisurely day in the park. The park ranger said tomorrow's forecast is a carbon copy of today. So here's hoping to get to the top of Baxter peak!
Date: 2013-06-23
From: katahdin summit

To: katahdin stream campground
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

So tired after yesterday's climb. It took 10 hours to do 10.4 miles. It was hands down the most rugged and scariest hiking I have ever done. Of course it rained and the visibility was nil. I am so glad it's done. My knee is swollen and sore so hopefully that will work itself out the next couple of days. Lots of vitamin I or ibuprofen. Met some young boys and their father who are also starting today. Mark met some other guys who are also starting today. So we will all meet up at Hurd Brook shelter tonight. Posted my picture on Facebook of me on top Still don't know how to post pictures to this site using my IPhone. Will figure out I am sure. Stay tuned for more adventures...
Date: 2013-06-24
From: katahdin stream campground

To: Hurd Brook
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Day 2To Hurd Brook Lean-to. 13.1 mToday started with rain. Mark made me a great send off breakfast of bacon, eggs and chocolate milk. We left in the rain but it soon stopped and we began our trek in the woods. We were following a raging river and soon the trail crossed the river Jerry forged ahead stepping on a board and promptly fell in. That was it for me. No way am I crossing this. So Lam and I blu blazed around the crossing. Jerry followed closely behind. Turns out all the other people who started today did the same. We stopped for lunch at the Abol foot bridge where I put my aching feet in the cool water. Next we came to the Abol campground store and ran into the boys who were drying stuff in the sun. Wait. Did I say sun? Yes the sun came out this afternoon. We a got a cold drink and walked the last 3 miles to the shelter. Listening to the thunder from inside my tent hoping that we don't get any rain tonite. Big mileage day tomorrow. Shooting for 20 miles !
Date: 2013-06-25
From: Hurd Brook

To: stealth site at mile 33
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 3Woke up to blue sky after thunderstorms came in last night. Left the shelter at 6: 30 and immediately began a 800 foot ascent. Did I mention that there is a lot of roots and mud in Maine? Yup there is. We stopped for lunch at Rainbow lake and went for a swim. The water was refreshing and cold. The trail followed the lake shore and we were treated to mud and roots. We finally arrived at Rainbow stream shelter after crossing the river on two logs. Of course I thought it was tricky with the raging river inches below my feet. We dipped our bodies in the river and contemplated moving on. A NOBO was at the shelter and he told us about a stealth site about 3 miles up the trail. We decided to push on and are camped by the river with Jerry, Lam, Mapmaker and Doc. Tomorrow I hope we make it to Whitehouse Landing for some burgers!
Date: 2013-06-26
From: stealth site at mile 33

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

Day 4To White House Landing Today I started out by myself a little ahead of the crew. I enjoyed the silence and the beautiful morning mist rising off the pond. The bullfrogs were singing and there was a small breeze blowing. Delightful! I walked ups and over Mt Nesatabunt. Try saying that one 5 times really fast! LOL! Nice views of the lake. We spent an hour at the Wadleigh Stream shelter eating resting and using the privy. Believe it or not but privys out here are much appreciated. We walked the next 3 or so miles to the lake and had lunch on the beach. Again so pretty. We are walking by some beautiful woods and rivers. We crossed two streams - no problem yeah! And now we are relaxing with the five of us and the three boys at the White House Landing. Its a rustic hostel on the lake that caters to hikers. You have to honk the horn and the owner drives across the lake on his boat to pick us up. I ate a 1 pound burger as did Lam. Jerry , Doc, and Mapmaker ate a whole pizza with leftovers for lunch tomorrow. We got hot showers. Such simple pleasures! Tomorrow another 15 mile day and I pick up my food drop which means my pack will be heavy again. Did I mention the bugs? Yeah lots of mosquitos and some lingering black flies. Oh and the never ending mud, roots, and rocks!
Date: 2013-06-27
From: White House Landing

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Day 4June 27Yesterday we began our day with a big breakfast at White House Landing and then it began to rain. The boat ride back was in the rain but it stopped shortly after we started hiking. We spent most of the day walking around the lake. We picked up our food drop mid morning and our packs immediately got heavy again with 4 more days of food added. The food drop and directions were pretty easy and easy to find. I experienced my first trail angel after lamenting that I hadn't packed any coffee in my food drop to an ol' Mainer who pulled up on the side of the logging road in his truck camper, he went inside his camper and came out with a baggie full of coffee for me. We had lunch at the Antlers tent site, home of the two seater privy. After taking pictures we got on our way. It seems that our trailmate, Jerry, has gone ahead to the next shelter walking faster than the 20 year old boys. We stayed at the Cooper Brook shelter after walking the last 3 miles in the rain. Owl, a flip flopper is here with us. She started Georgia in March, got off trail for a few weeks and decided to head south. It is raining and is supposed to rain 3 inches tomorrow. Oh well, such is the life of a backpacker!
Date: 2013-06-28
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: East Branch Lean-to
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 5Rained all nite. We woke up at 5:30 and were on the trail by 6:45. Pouring rain. I mean buckets ! We climbed a small mountain and kept on walking in more rain We had to cross a river but our boots were so wet that some of us just walked through in our boots. We got to East Branch shelter around noon stripped off our wet clothes put on dry clothes and crawled into our sleeping bags to get warm. We walked over 8 miles of slippery rocks and decided that we have had enough. The three boys pushed to the next shelter. So tonite I am here with Lam, Mapmaker, Doc, Owl and a newcomer Hootiedoo. Hootiedoo just told us that it is supposed to rain again tomorrow. Yuck. That means I ll be putting on wet clothes tomorrow. Sunday maybe some sun.
Date: 2013-06-29
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: stealth camp at Pleasant River ford
Miles today: 16.7

Day 6What an incredibly long rainy sucky day! We left East Branch shelter at 6:30 anticipating that we would be climbing 5 hills today. Of course it started to rain shortly after we left. We hiked the 4 miles to Logan brook shelter and the rain came down in a huge downpour. I said to the guys I am done. Get me outta here. I am not leaving this shelter until the rain stops. They were going to keep going. So I crawled into my sleeping bag to stay warm and put on dry clothes while they chatted and ate a second breakfast. As soon as they left it started raining really hard. We are all so sick of the rain. I just want to be dry and clean everything is soaked and won't dry. So I sat there for a couple of hours watching the rain and playing cards. Finally it stopped and I made a plan to try to catch them before fording the next river. I checked my food supply and left some behind and a few other items that were not of use to me. I packed my bag and headed out. A mile or so straight up White Cap mountain. What a stair master of a climb. I kept on hiking and ran into three NOBOs who started the beginning of March. They are flying! Finally I caught up to the guys at the next shelter. The had only been there 10 minutes but had had a two hour start ahead of me. So we decided to press on the next 5 miles so we could ford the Pleasant River. That was a bit scary. The river was about 150 feet wide and moving fast. It was only knee deep and we all made across safely. We ended up stealth camping at the parking lot near the road. It rained during the nite of course. Tomorrow we climb 4 big mountains!
Date: 2013-06-30
From: stealth camp at Pleasant River ford

To: Cloud Pond Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 7The sun came out today finally. We got a late start with trying to dry stuff. I forged ahead of the guys and on a rock ridge emptied my pack of everything wet up there on the mountain to dry out. It looked liked my laundry room! We got to the top of Chairback mountain after a tough rock scramble and straight up and then had to do 4 more times! It was a really tough day with only 11 miles. We didn't make the 15 we were planning so trying to decide if I should go for the remaining 19 or stay out one more night. My feet are shredded and covered with blisters. We shall see. We got to the shelter just as the skies opened up and started to pour. No bath tonight so I feel even more grubby. Can't wait for a hot shower clean clothes and a soft bed.
Date: 2013-07-02
From: Monson

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today was my zero day in Monson. I woke up to the smell of breakfast cooking. The way you order the ACYE breakfast is by number. If you order a 1, you get one egg, one sausage patty, one piece of bacon, and one pancake and so on. So I ordered up a one and then proceeded to eat half of Owl's breakfast as well. I spent most of the morning updating my trailjournals and then in the afternoon 5 of us rode into Greenville to do some re-supplying. Greenville is right on Moosehead Lake..what an adorable tourist spot. We had lunch at the Black Frog right on the water where you can order Moose Balls for $1495.00! I had the French Canadian dish poutin for lunch. This is French fries topped with melted cheese and brown gravy. A heart attack on a plate..is what I call it...but it was yummy! I went to the outfitter and bought a new full length pad and will send my 3/4 pad back to REI...just not enough real estate to sleep on during the night. So this adds another 8 oz to my pack weight. Then we went to the grocer store to load up on snack food. I have decided to skip the first 35 miles heading south out of Monson to avoid the stream crossings ahead. The stories from the NOBO were just as scary as what I just did. So Lam and I are being shuttled to Caratunk this morning and I will trek the last 36 miles to Stratton from there. I get to experience the ferry ride over the Kennebek river. The don't allow hikers to ford because the dam upstream will release water, so Dan the ferry guide canoes hikers across the river from 9 to 11 am every day. I plan to meet Mark and Sarah on Saturday and sunday for another zero day. My feet have still not recovered from the blisters, so more down time will be good. Keep on commenting, I appreciate the comments from home. Happy Trails!
Date: 2013-07-03
From: Caratunk

To: pierce pond shelter
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: moderate rain

July 3 WednesdayFeeling a little homesick today knowing that I could be at the lake with my family. At least the sun is shining and I am dry. Started off with another big breakfast at Shaws . A quick ride to the post office to forward my bounce box to Stratton and then an hour ride to Caratunk. Lam walked the .3 mile to the Kennebec river to take a picture of me on the canoe ferry. The man who shuttles hikers across the river is Dave. I helped paddle the boat into the current and across the swift moving water. He told me that next 18 miles is the wettest part of the trail with lots of bogs and mosquitos. He told me about Tim Harris who runs a lodge right near the shelter and will cook the best pancakes on the trail. It was only 3.8 miles to the shelter so I walked at a leisurely pace enjoying the scenery. When I got here at Pierce Pond, Todd was here . He had been dropped off yesterday from Shaws at Moxie Pond. I went for a nice swim in the pond and enjoyed the sun. Tim came along in his boat and we chatted about his life. I made a Rez for breakfast tomorrow and he invited us over to his lodge to fill our water bottles with some of his spring water. Pierce Pond is the place where a 20 year old thru hiker died last June with less than 150 miles to finish. There is a memorial, a picture, and a note from his family here. Looking forward to a patriotic breakfast tomorrow. Missing my hiking buddies and hope I find another group to hike with soon. A bunch of NOBO s are here tonight. Not looking forward to more mud tomorrow. But it brings me closer to Stratton where I will spend some time with Mark for a few days. Happy trails!
Date: 2013-07-04
From: pierce pond shelter

To: west carry pond lean to
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

July 4th ThursdayStarted the day with a patriotic breakfast at Harrison's Lodge. Tim served up 12 pancakes with apples, blueberries and raspberries in them. Yummo! I ate about half of them and the other 3 NOBO boys that I was dining with polished off the rest. Today's walk was only 10 miles and was a mixture of mud and root hopping, flat pine needled trail and bog board hopping. I walked through two bogs and by two lakes. The first lake I had lunch at a small sandy beach. I went for a swim completely naked. It was delightful except when I got out and was drying off in the sun the deer flies and horse flies were delighting in the tastey snack I had provided for them! I moved on quickly and am now at another shelter on a lake. I had another quick swim in the nude before settling down with my newest book. I am here by myself tonight. Just me and the mosquitos! Wishing I was at the lake watching fireworks. I am beginning to think there is something wrong with my feet. Every nite they throb and now the bottoms of my feet are numb! They really hurt before I can get 5 miles on the trail. I am considering getting off the trail in Stratton to give my feet a rest and to get to a foot Doc to figure out what is going on. Tomorrow I walk 13 miles. Hope my feet can take it. It is getting warm so I plan on leaving early to best the heat!
Date: 2013-07-05
From: west carry pond lean to

To: safford notch campsite
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

On the trail by six this am anticipating a long day. Made it to the next shelter by. 11 am. Little big elbow shelter is really nice. Took a long break and had lunch. A family came along and I enjoyed listening to their conversations, laughter and watching the two little boys enjoying their day on the trail. Next up was the long climb up Little Bigelow mountain. Straight up! I ran out of water before getting to the top. It was hot and I had anticipated that I would run into water as I had so before on the trail. A man coming from the north was mind enough to share half a liter with me and said that water was on the trail going down. Step hike down with many PUDs....pointless ups and downs! Or as Mapmaker calls them..... FUDs! I got to the tent site around 4 ,set up my tent and went for a bath in the cold mountain stream. An older man was at the tent site and we had dinner together. He is amazing. He has Parkinson's disease and two stints in his heart. He moves very slow so as not to elevate his blood pressure and has only 600 miles of trail left. He has been working on it for 15 years. So the moral of the story is...stop complaining about all my aches and pains!
Date: 2013-07-06
From: safford notch campsite

To: stratton
Miles today: 1.9
Weather: moderate rain

Today I decided that since I had ready hiked the Bigelows last summer that I would just summit. To Avery peak and walk down the Safford Notch trail to East Flagstaff road and hope for a ride to Stratton. The climb to the top was steep and bouldery. It was blowing and cool up top I didn't dally as it was cloudy and misty. Not a spectacular view like I remembered from last summer. I got out of the woods and walked into this campground and stopped the first car I saw heading out. They were kind enough to give me a ride all the way to Stratton where I am staying tonite. First thing I did was go and get myself a large chicken salad sub with a very cold drink. I am here with two section hikers. Next a hot shower, laundry, nap and relaxing for the night! Mark and Sarah arrive tomorrow at the campground. So I will hitch a ride down and sit by the lake until they arrive. Will take a couple of zero days and determine if I will continue or head back home. Feet continue to plague me and now one of my blisters is infected. Such is trail life!
Date: 2013-07-07
From: ME 27 Stratton

To: caribou valley road
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

After two zero days at the Cathedral Pines campground in Stratton, we decided to hike the Crockers. Mark dropped me off at the trailhead on Rt 27 and then drove up Caribeau Valley rd to the other side of the Crockers. I hiked the 6 miles over north and south Crocker and met Mark and Sarah on S Crocker and then hiked the last two miles down with them and back to the campground for our last night in Stratton. We all took showers and naps before having a delicious steak dinner with pan fried potatoes and vegetables. Yummy! My feet and knees are still hurting despite two days of rest. The mind is willing but the body is not. Home tomorrow and then on to Killington to see about getting some foot inserts. Maybe I can start again and go for two weeks before my family reunion. The best thing about today besides the steak dinner was NO RAIN!! It was misty atop the peaks so that's meant no view. Sitting in front of a roaring campfire. Life is good!
Date: 2013-07-08
From: home

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Just to up date...got home last Wednesday and went to doctor's on Thursday. He said I have Metatarsalgia on both feet and said to rest for one to two weeks...I am not a very good patient so I asked him "Does this mean I can't go back on the trail then this coming weekend?" My mother thinks that this question is hysterical and tells everyone this story. Of course, the doctor laughed and emphatically said NO. Not unless you want to cause more damage to your feet. He gave me some anti-inflammatory drugs and sent me on my way. He said my problem was the volume of walking that I did all at once and recommended that I start out at a slower pace when I return. So I went to Vermont this past weekend and relaxed by the lake in St. Albans at the camp. Went to Stowe on saturday to a party with my sister's friends to celebrate their 50th birthdays. Got to see alot of my ol' ski buddies from back in the day. I spent about 4 hours standing around while mingling and was really sore the rest of the day and all day yesterday. Geez, these feet really hurt!! On Sunday, I drove down to Killington to Surefeet where Ray Rice fitted me for some orthotics. I discovered that my sneakers are a size too small. He showed me how to test if my shoes were the right size. When I got home, I immediately checked my hiking boots for size and whew..they are the right size. I am feeling like all the strength gains that I have made hiking are disappearing with all this laying around that I am doing.Hopefully this week the feet will feel better and I can be back on the trail this weekend. Not sure where I will be and would still like to get back to Maine to finish the 130 miles or so. It is so freaking far away and will require some shuttling back and forth. Will try to figure this out today. Until then....Happy Trails!! And by the way...I still don't have a trail name..didn't like the name Book Burner!!
Date: 2013-07-21
From: hanover, NH

To: moose mountain shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: moderate rain

I finally got a trail name! as Peg dropped me off this morning, she said to me 'Step lightly". So as I was walking away I thought to myself that Step Lightly is a perfect name for me! Back on the trail! A beautiful day for a hike. Aunt peg dropped me off in Hanover this morning. What a beautiful section of trail! At least compared to Maine! 80% of it was just like walking along a carriage path! The day was dry with little humidity. Perfect! I waled through pine forests, open fields and a swamp with a bog bridge. Civilization was close by. Just not used to seeing houses, tap lines or the sounds of lawn mowers and cars. I hiked the first 8 miles in 3 1/2 hours and the last 2 miles was a gradual up before reaching the top of Moose Mountain. I go to the shelter around 2:30. There are several section hikers staying and one thru hiker. They are building a ginormous fire right now. Tomorrow I climb Smarts Mountain and hope to stay in the fire wardens cabin at the top. I am loving being back on the trail. My feet are feeling good!