morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-16
From: Stratton, Maine

To: Camp near "View to East"
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I thought I'd lost my maps at the restaurant last night, but they were out on the picnic table, where I'd left them while talking with Susan last night. Restaurant didn't open early as we thought, but the gas station had breakfast sandwiches. It's right across from the post office, so I got my package mailed & went back to wait for others to be ready for Sue, the proprietor, to give us a ride to the Trail. Rock Man, Night Terror, & I started off at 9:15, but I was soon far behind them. My knee had been troublesome last night & this morning, but it got better once I started hiking. Long uphill trail today (twice) & down once. My shoe, which I sewed & taped, is holding together -- wouldn't be if it were as wet as this area was 2 years ago. Within 2 hours, I was passed by Jazz Hands & Kevin, who had been at the hostel. A little later, I met Checkerboard Red, a flip-flopper, who gave me some surgical tape for my shoe, since the duct tape wasn't doing the job. That really worked well. Not-Yet & Bear-Snake-Moose overtook me, & I met NOBOs Sparkle, Rolling Thunder, Proudfoot, Ten-Speed, Zipper & Longhorn (father & son), Brightside, & Seeker.One of them, when he heard my name, sent greetings from NOBOs Axon & Shrugs, now in the White Mtns, who are hoping to meet me soon. I saw Bear-Snake-Moose (all animals he's hoping to see) again later, camped along the Carrabassett River (the one with the plank for crossing) & asked if he'd seen a moose on North Crocker. He hadn't, but there was so much mouse poop up there, someone should see one. There was a fair amount of rock-climbing today, up & down, & not as much nice trail as I remembered. My legs were bothering me in various ways. My right knee was twingeing much of the time, but other body parts had their complaints too. I think the fact that my shoes were coming apart caused some stresses. & strains, especially where lateral support was required. Yes, the left shoe is starting to come apart in the same way as the right. Sun was starting to go down by the time I got up top , but I still took some time to look around the area where I think the old blazes are confusing & could still lead a hiker astray (like over the cliff). Not much place to camp in the dense, scrubby forest atop the Mtn. Someone else got the first usable space, but I found another just before dark. So I'm snug in my bed by 9:00. Less than 11 miles today & maybe 15 minutes of trail work.
Date: 2015-07-17
From: Camp near view to East

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: scattered clouds

17 July. Happy birthday to me!My knee was really sore this morning, but it loosened up after a while. By now, both shoes are losing their soles, & therefore lateral stability can be problem. So I started out in my 5-toes. Tricky, mostly because of little rocks or roots hitting the bottoms of my feet. Trail not as easy as hoped, so I went very slowly: 2.5 hours to go to the Spaulding Mtn Lean-to (it IS OVER Spaulding Mtn). I met Sweet Blood (from England) plus a section-hiker from Van Wert, Ohio, trying to complete the trail by sections and also Smasher and several other northbound hikers and sectioners.I'm finding myself doing some other things that I don't like for other hikers to do, namely taking dirt paths around the rocks; but with my foot situation it seems necessary sometimes.Watching the trail very carefully meant that I really banged my head into a branch that was across the trail at head height, crashing my front teeth together, which must be much stronger than my dentist thinks they are. I also suffered an interesting injury ¢ a scratch on my leg in the shape of a cross. I was crossing mud on a pair of logs that had deteriorated. My foot slipped between them, where a stump of a branch scratched me vertically, but since I was still moving forward (as well as trying to extricate myself) I got scratched horizontally as well. Not deeply, anyway. I met hikers named Miles, Link & Folklore (brothers from Arkansas). Bear-Snake-Moose [who had passed me in the morning] has been telling each to wish me a happy birthday. Nice. I had hoped to make it to Reddington to have better start on Saddleback Mtn tomorrow, but I'm just too slow. Don't remember so much climb to get to Poplar Ridge Lean-to, where I'm staying with NOBOs Kituar, Transplant, & Jungle Cat. I spent much of the evening trying to tie my shoes together with laces.
Date: 2015-07-19
From: Rangeley, Maine

To: Rangeley, Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

A day off to continue my birthday celebration. Many hikers (NOBO) were leaving early to get over the Mtn while it was sunny. I could sleep in & still get up in time for breakfast. Another hiker seemed interested in going to church, so I told him I had a ride set up for around 9:00. When the time came, he backed out. As I suspected, the ride was with the priest, who had delegated the job to himself. Practically all of the congregation looked older than I, but they were good singers. With no regular church musician, they had a high-powered organist from Bangor for the Summer, who hopes to teach them enough new service music that they can sing it a Capella the rest of the year. It might work! Although he seems young & energetic, the rector is retiring at the end of the year. Too bad!I refused offers of rides so I could walk back thru the town, look at some of the shops, buy a sandwich for later & lunch for now, & get a more high-powered brace for my knee. The knee started feeling better without even putting the brace on. I don't know if it was just loosening up in the course of a day of more gentle walking or if it was helped by the holy oil at church. I bought a few things at the IGA & headed back to the hostel to loaf away the afternoon. There were a lot of new hikers, so the place was full again. I had a long conversation with Susan (I have to remember to contact her more often when I have a possibility of cell service) & awaited a call from Katy that never came. Late afternoon, the thunderstorms finally came thru -- they say they seldom have lightning around here, but they sure did today. I finally got around to the dreaded task of sorting my stuff: what to pack & what to mail on. At least, I'm getting more efficient at that.
Date: 2015-07-20
From: Rangeley, Maine

To: Sabbath Day Pond 
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Delayed start in the morning. I had forgotten a couple of things at the IGA, had stuff to mail at the post office which didn't open till 9:30, & managed to return the knee brace that didn't fit. I was looking for the place just out of Rangeley that I stealth-camped 7 years ago, but didn't spot it. My memory wasn't good on remembering which comes first: Little Swift River or Sabbath Day Pond.There was lots of rain & thunder during the night; so I was starting off on some easy trail but a bit muddy from the rain. Also getting used to my new shoes: different in size, behavior, & grip on rocks & roots. I wasn't feeling so much pressure to be at a certain place at a certain time. The day was hot, sunny, & sticky, even in the shade. Only a little breeze on the higher parts. Some hikers I met were Gigs (or is it Jigs?), Happy Camper. Sideshow, Maverick, Boyd, Nicky Dynamite, Lone Star, Pace Maker, & Disciple. I was overtaken by Jerry. At the shelter were Slingshot, TJ, K-1, Nima. & Cory, plus one other SOBO.
Date: 2015-07-21
From: Sabbath Day Pond

To: Bemis Mtn.
Miles today: 9.5

I awoke before 5:00, but went back to bed for a while so as not to disturb others ¢ that's one of the problems with staying in shelters. I was out on the Trail at 7:00. There were blowdowns with lots of branches almost immediately. Then many more ¢ lots of tops of evergreens had fallen on the Trail ¢ including a couple I couldn't do, tho I worked at least 114 hour.I didn't stop at the sandy beach. I also went by another Moxie Pond. Some of the hikers I met today & at the lean-to were Opie, Red, Piston (slack from Nova Scotia), Spice (carries lots of them), Bourbon Bill, Gladiator & Carpenter. I also met a family of hikers at Hwy 17, asking questions about back-packing. That's the crossing with splendid views of Lake Mooselookmeguntic. Talked with Susan on the phone. I also used the good phone reception there to call New balance about replacing my shoes. Apparently, the best I can do is return them to the store when I get home & get a refund. They just aren't as attuned to helping hikers with gear problems as other companies.The first two peaks of Bemis Mtn (out of 4) are fun to go up because the ascent is mostly on ledge rock that I can just walk right up. There were a few sprinkles & then a lot of thunder, but no serious rain & wonderful clear skies for the sunset; so I could have great views from near the top of Bemis Mtn. When I thought I heard thunder earlier, it wasn't. It was a Trail crew hauling rocks out of the woods to build stone steps. They use lots of rigging to "zip-line" them to the place they are needed.  After stopping to talk with people at the shelter, I went on up the mtn. for more than an hour, looking for some place to camp. These are steep slopes with dense trees & lots of moss. Finally, near what I thought was the top, I found a little flat place in the moss that I could just barely fit my tent into.
Date: 2015-07-22
From: Bemis Mtn.

To: Hall Mtn. Lean-to
Miles today: 11.5

Starting my 4th week on the Trail. Misty morning. No views (I know they are there!)I found out that where I camped was not quite at the summit ¢ at my slow pace, it took a half hour. The Trail was relatively level going around Elephant Mtn to get to Old Blue. Along the way, I met Blood Blister, August, & another thru-hiker. At the top of Old Blue, I met Sparrow, Hot pants, & Kiwi. I dried some gear out on top of the mtn -- amazing how fast things dry with a little sun & wind [considering how nothing dries in the woods]. A lot of hikers there (Cory & Nina caught up too). Some complained about the view ¢ I thought it was pretty good: my only problem is with seeing all those Mtns. & not knowing which is which [& whether they are ones I have to cross]. Then it was wet, steep trail on the way down. It's a kind of trail I like going up but not down. It was actually a long ways across the Mtn after the peak before really heading down to road. Also, it took longer because I did 34 hour of trail work. On the way down, I met Forest, Bob, & 3 day-hikers. There were lots of stone steps in the last part of way down, and even some metal bars again also. Going up Moody Mtn was a little easier terrain, but with tired legs. On the way I met Unhinged & Eveready, 2 NOBO women from Ontario. The part of the Trail affected by a landslide 8-10 years ago has been pretty well repaired, but I didn't find it easy coming down that side anyway. Smoke signal, Wild Thing, & Nap Time were down by the creek at a picnic table. Gladiator passed on the way to the shelter. The couple from Kent, Ohio, was at the ford getting water; they decided to camp there. I continued on up the mtn. Moody & Hall are the first 2 mtns not dominated by conifers, except on the very top. That may make for easier trail because the beech & maple roots don't stick up into the trail bed as much & the leaves likely produce more soil cover than the needles do. It still seemed like a long way up to the lean-to. There I found "Nobody" & another NOBO, with Gladiator tenting nearby. Much of today, I certainly wasn't feeling very positive about my ability to do this Trail. I was tired & both knees were bothering some, even tho I had taken an ibuprofen. I hadn't really covered many miles today yet would really like to do more tomorrow. So why can't I go faster if I'm fresher than in 2013, not worn down by 5 months of hiking? Do I have to accept that being 2 years older makes a difference? Then I did some calculations. 21.5 days from South Arm Road to Katahdin each time(2013 & 2015). Two zero days & 2 neros this time, versus no zeros & 3 neros last time. Plus 10 hours of trail work this time. So maybe I am going faster after all! God also helped me to a different perspective this evening: it was a long climb but no pain after a big drink of water & the change of trail-bed.
Date: 2015-07-24
From: The Cabin, East Andover

To: The Cabin, East Andover
Miles today: 0.0

A day off to rest my knee & to attend to the deplorable state of my Trail Journals. To help my memory, I keep notes on the Notepad on my phone, but somehow yesterday's notes were largely wiped out by unknown causes.After a big breakfast, I opened boxes, one of which I should just have forwarded on. Whether I needed that stuff depended on plans I made after I'd mailed it, so I can't out-guess myself without keeping a detailed list of what's in each box (& then losing the list, most likely).Restful day, working on Trail Journals, sewing my clothes, repairing my shoes, & sorting stuff for re-mailing. Always lots to eat at The Cabin ¢ Honey & Bear are wonderful hosts! Walking to the post office (very small & un-mechanized) twice gave me a chance to loosen up my knee on a flat surface, but it still twinges on stairs. Plenty of room to be, since the Cabin isn't crowded.
Date: 2015-07-25
From: The Cabin, East Andover

To: North end of Mahoosuc Notch
Miles today: 7.0

In the 3 weeks since I banged my shin on a rock, it hasn't healed up totally, tho I think it's doing all right. Several people at the Cabin were concerned about its being infected. They finally convinced me to see a doctor. Honey offered to take me to the clinic in Bethel & drop me off at the Trail if I was good to go. I was surprised that they weren't very busy on a Saturday morning ¢ I got to see the doctor pretty quickly. She saw only a little bit that might be infected but prescribed an antibiotic anyway. So I got my prescription across the street & got delivered to Grafton Notch. Thanks, Honey & Bear (people in their 80s who still do serious hiking)!I started up Mt. Speck at 10:30, with my legs feeling good. They must appreciate feeling cared for! Still, the 3.5 miles up the hill took 3.5 hours. There was no view at top because of cloud, altho it was drier lower down. On the Trail, I met Phantom, Obsolete, Oyster, Hey-Jude, JW. Caboose, Mr Leonard, plus several at the Lean-to. The high point of my day was meeting Axon & Shrugs from Quebec. I'd met them 2 years ago in PA, when they were section-hiking, & we had corresponded about meeting up at some point on the Trail. Earlier in the morning, I'd been hoping I hadn't missed them on my zero day, tho I hadn't checked on exactly how close they were. When I got to Speck Pond Lean-to, I was talking with a few hikers, who were griping at having to pay for the camp-site*, when Shrugs came up to me to verify who I was. Then we went back to their campsite [which I had just walked right past], & I got to talk with them a little before I felt I needed to go on.I had slipped a lot coming down rocks on Old Speck. My previous shoes just wouldn't do that. There was more slipping going over Mahoosuc Arm, so I switched to my old, tied-together shoes. I only slipped once after that, more on a wet twig than on rock. There was still daylight when I got to the bottom, but no way was I going to do the Mahoosuc Notch this time of day; so I camped at North end of notch with NOBOs Salty Dog & Tunnel Vision. It feels like rain ¢ I hope it's not too wet in the morning. *Sometimes, I have tried to discuss this issue with other hikers. When I suggest that they have benefited from hundreds of miles of Trail & related facilities provided by others, without joining a trail club or doing any trail maintenance, they should be willing to look at this not as a tax or a huge imposition, but as a way they can pay back a little bit. It's gratifying that most have been receptive to that argument.
Date: 2015-07-28
From: White Mtn Hostel, Gorham

To: Camping on Mt Moriah
Miles today: 6.1

I got a ride in to the post office & didn't pick up any thing but Susan's card. I was able to talk to her later. Staying in town can get to be a habit. I didn't get on the trail till 3:00.At first, it was easy trail ¢ no knee-bending ¢ 2 mph seems max tho. And then it got more difficult. People I met included Papa D, Hohner [harmonica player], Rush [He was], Mighty Mouse, plus a family of 5 section hikers. There were no trail markers at the ford, or at the road last night, both places where it would be helpful. I did 34 hour trail work yesterday, 14 the day before, 14 today. Someone had come thru with a big, sharp axe, cutting logs up to 18 inch diameter! I was impressed, but there was still some little stuff to be cut with my saw.After going so fast, so I thought, I found I still couldn't get to Imp Campsite & so had to camp on the Mtn. I really move slowly even when going as fast as I can up rocks & stone steps. At least, the only place I found to tent was not crowded! I ate up on a rock face, away from my tent.There was a nice sunset & a nearly full moon.
Date: 2015-07-29
From: Camping on Mt Moriah

To: Camping on Wildcat A
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This was the driest night I've had. Before I was out of my tent, I heard hikers passing at 5:45 & 6:15 am. There were some downs & ups in the morning (all over rocks, of course) but not comparable to yesterday.A bit after Imp Campsite, I met the caretaker from there, going to do some sawing on a side trail. He asked where I had camped & then chided me for disturbing the pristine environment, especially the flowers. There weren't any flowers where I camped, just moss & grass, & I tried to trample them as little as possible; but I suppose he has a point. There just aren't any "established sites" (where it IS acceptable to camp) on that mtn, & scarcely any other flat spots big enough for my little tent [trees too dense & slopes to steep].Along the way, I met 46er, Wally, Thistle, Mighty Mouse, Castaway, & Bandit; also a couple from The hostel & lots of day-hikers & trail runners. There was a father-daughter duo from Brunswick, Maine, a doctor with whom I could discuss the hospital my son was born at.After the long climb down from Carter Dome, I stopped in at Carter Notch Hut. There was no work-for-stay available, which was just as well, because I didn't want to stop that early. Eating their soup gave me a place to be during a short rain. Then up the hill to Wildcat, which has 5 peaks. My knees were working well all day, except a little bit going up Wildcat A, which was not as hard as going up Mt Moriah yesterday. Actually, today's Mtns weren't too bad; but it has been hot (80s) with little wind. Much of the Trail on Carter Dome ran directly into the sun, with no shade. Camped (right at top of Wildcat A) & in tent by 7:30, record early for me. There might be sites between here & Wildcat D, but it would have been dark before I got there.
Date: 2015-07-30
From: Camping on Wildcat A

To: Camping on Mt Madison
Miles today: 10.0

I was on the Trail by 6:30 ¢ over to the edge of Wildcat E by 9:00 ¢ down to the lodge [Pinckham Notch] around 11:30. Hikers I met included one from Germany (3 weeks left on his visa ¢ with his very light pack, he might make it), Twinkletoes, Kaleb, Union Jill, Poptart, a group of couples from Ohio, Fats, Bee-sting. Some things I remember from previous hikes, & some I don't. Most of yesterday seemed about the same as I remembered. Going across Wildcat Ridge also seemed familiar, as did going down the really steep rocks. When that took 35 min, I thought I was doing well. Soon after, a woman going up asked if she was done with Wildcat. I just said there's a lot more. I thought of saying, "You've finished the warm-up laps & just crossed the starting line !" Actually, those warm-up laps took me another 2 hours to complete, with lots of lesser rock climbs, up & down. Even when I got to the Lost Lake, there were still more ups & downs over rocks!I stopped for a while to eat at Pinkham Notch visitors center.After the Lodge, I met Rock Boat, Po-Boy, Jeopardy, Clink, Gangrene, Mass, & Shadow Fax. The last several hikers advised that there were stealth camp sites near the Trail just below the tree line. That sounded good to me since I'd be closer to Madison peak, & my tent doesn't set up well on platforms [like Osgood Tent-site] anyway. Sure enough, just before the tree-line sign there was a selection of "established sites" & no one else around. The Trail going toward Mt. Madison isn't difficult, tho it did involve more stream crossings than I remember, But it includes more name-changes than usual, even in the AMC territory [where the signs usually show an AT logo, but only as a sub-title], & several miles have no blazes whatsoever & are headed NORTH when you're going South on the Trail!Second time, now, ready for bed at 7:30! 3d night in a row in tent; actually 5 if I don't count hostels ¢ haven't slept in a shelter since Hall Mtn, 84 miles back. Second day in a row my legs haven't hurt; 3d that I haven't used ibuprofen. That's even with fairly rough terrain. My plan now is to get over Mt Washington tomorrow, to Crawford Notch Saturday, & to church on Sunday.
Date: 2015-08-01
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: White Mtns Hostel
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

After sweeping out the hallways of the hut [my "work-for-stay"], I had nice weather across the Presidential Ridge. The Trail goes only over Mt Eisenhower, but around or near several others. As I got near Mizpah Hut, I started hearing thunder. While I & another hiker had some soup, the rain started. They gave us the soup plus some left-over chicken in return for sweeping the dining room floor. By then the rain had stopped, & we continued on.I soon met Hawkeye, coming back toward me, who had taken the wrong trail at one of those misleading signs. He had come back, determined to do every bit of the true trail.In the afternoon, I also met VelTti, Goose, Cap, Bad Hiker, Icarus, Quicksilver, & a big family group. Then came 10 young people on an orientation trip for Harvard Medical School. They asked a lot of questions about thru-hiking ¢ I tried to kid them about it being a lot like a medical residency, but they didn't seem to get itThere are lots of bog bridges before & on Mt Jackson. Also, a lot of rocks to climb up & down there & on Mt Webster [down several rock faces] Coming down Webster cliffs seemed to take forever, especially the last switchback. Two long runs ¢ must be a half a mile each ¢ made it seem like I'd never reach the road; but I finally did. I started hitchhiking and got a ride down to Glen from some "Peak-baggers" [people who try to climb all the Mtns over 4,000 feet], who went out of their way to take me that far. Then I got a ride to Pinckham Notch from a woman who gave me 2 apples when I got out of the car. That was nice!I had thought Pinkham Notch would be a good place to hitch a ride to Gorham. Not so! After a half hour while it kept getting darker, I went into the visitor center to see if I could charge up my phone enough to make a call. When I did, I found out that there's no reception there anyway, but they do have payphones in the basement. I tried both phones and could not get either to complete a call to the hostel. Then I had to fight with the phones about getting a refund. I went back up and asked to use the phone at the counter. While I was making a call some people came up and asked about the restaurants in Gorham; so I asked them if they would give me a ride there, and they did, all the way to the hostel. They been going around some of the higher points in the White Mountains with a friend who had no hiking experience and was really hurting.By the end of the day, my knees were stiff again. I'm ready for a day of rest.