morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2021-08-13
From: Flagstaff Road

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: broken clouds

We were all up early, sorting laundry and repacking our packs for the day. Janet and I filled a medium flat rate box with extras to send to ourselves at Shaw¢s. We enjoyed another breakfast at the hostel and then loaded the shuttle van.We shuttled back to Flagstaff Road. Yesterday we started sobo from there with daypacks; today we headed nobo with backpacks full of gear and food for six days. The young guy who finished our hike yesterday so quickly was planning to head nobo 21 miles. One young woman from the hostel was heading sobo for the 16.7 mile stretch we did yesterday. The four Raleigh guys were being dropped off farther north to hike sobo to the same shelter where were hiking nobo for the night.We had planned only 6.3 miles for the day, to recuperate from yesterday.  We got started about 9:30, but stopped at Flagstaff Pond for a quick refreshing dip after only 1.2 miles. Within a mile we were hiking uphill and hot and sweaty again. We stopped to read a sheet of paper in the trail held down by a rock. ¢Bee hive ahead. Be careful!¢  There was a tree leaning across the trail with a huge active beehive hanging from it. Since we had a warning, we gave it a wide berth. We had relatively gentle terrain with no big climbs and not much muck to navigate. We stopped by a nice dry stream bed about 1:15 for lunch and we arrived at West Carry Pond Lean-to about 2:30. We had a leisurely afternoon, setting up our spots in the shelter, getting my rope thrown for my food hang, checking out the privy, and then going for a swim in West Carry Pond. We joked about having ¢ a spa day¢.  We swam, we trimmed our nails, we sunned on the warm rocks trying to dry our clothes, and I used the rough granite like a pumice stone on the callouses on the sides of my feet.  Back at the shelter, we had plenty of time to gather kindling and firewood for later.  About 5:00 two young men arrived, set up their tents nearby, and went down to the pond to swim. We ate dinner and got a fire going. When I went to hang my food bag, I realized the two guys had taken my rope down and strung it by their tents for a clothesline. I took their stuff down and left it in a pile by their tents and rehung my rope for my food bag.About 6:30 the Raleigh guys strolled in. We each told the others what their trail would be like the next day. They plan to get up early to meet the shuttle by 9:00 to go back to Hostel of Maine, clean up, get their stuff, and head to the airport to return home.
Date: 2021-08-14
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

The Raleigh guys were up by 5:00 and had left by 6. We were on the trail by 7:30. It began to rain soon after we started hiking. It rained until 9:00, so we were drenched. The trail was fairly easy all by day and we made good time. We especially enjoyed a half-mile walk around East Carry Pond with a beautiful sandy beach where we would¢ve loved to stop to swim and picnic in nicer weather.We took a snack break just before 10:00; we had come 5.52 miles. That was good time for us. We passed a group doing trail maintenance just before the next shelter; we thanked them for their work. We arrived at Pierce Pond Lean-to arrived at the shelter about 12:15. Ten miles in under five hours.We quickly unpacked and set up our sleeping area in the shelter. A young nobo from Key West (Ice Bear) joined us soon; he had come 18 miles in one day. Others came and went through the afternoon. We enjoyed a swim in the pond in our clothes to launder them. After wringing them out and hanging them to dry I changed into sleep clothes about 3:00. About 4:00 the shelter and campsite started filling up. We re-met Silly Beans who had bunked with us at The Notch Hostel weeks ago.  Everyone gathered around the shelter for supper. There was lively discussion on thruhiking, slackpacking, speed records, and what each individual considered cheating in a hike.  By 7:15, everyone was drifting off to their tents. There are five of us in the shelter and at least a dozen plus the trail crew tenting.  Janet and I watched a sunset over the pond and listened to the loons on the lake before crawling into our own sleeping bags at 7:30.
Date: 2021-08-15
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: broken clouds

People started stirring early in anticipation of crossing the Kennebec River at mile 2040.4. The canoe ferry only operated 9:00-2:00.  We let all the younger hikers leave before us, knowing they¢d out-hike us to the river. We leisurely ate and packed up and still left the shelter by about 7:15.We stopped along the 3.6 mile trail to the river many times to enjoy the many falls and cascades.  We were joined by PBS who we¢ve seen a few times in passing on the trail. She is an ICU nurse from Roswell GA.We finally saw our first sobo couple of the day about 9:25. They had been the first sobos to cross the river. We arrived at the Kennebec about 9:30. There was still a line of 14 nobos waiting to be ferried across, two at a time.  There were huge shady oaks and a nice breeze while we waited our turn. We were the last in line for an hour wait but were joined by Maple Leaf from Nashville and her golden doodle Yankee (trail name Marshmallow).  Because it was becoming very windy, the ferryman explained that she was going to have to sit in the middle of the canoe and hold the dog and he would need one of us to ride with her again to help paddle. I volunteered Janet:)The next six miles were only slightly uphill and went by quickly, and we arrived at Pleasant Pond Lean-to about 2:30.  Shortly thereafter Tentpole and Beans showed up.  We all walked .2 to the pond which is on private property but allows hikers to swim.  When we returned to the shelter, Silly Bands and three of her tramily from last night¢s shelter were there. They had all gone into Caratunk for showers and food. Ice Bear also strolled in. They all chatted and then left except Ice Bear. He, Janet, and Tentpole all chose tent sites. I claimed a spot in the shelter. A 73 year old father (Festus) and his son (Skidmark) joined me in the shelter. They¢ve been section hiking together for 23 years; today began their last section of the trail. Skidmark is an LA Times journalist (Ben Poston). They plan to finish around the same time we do. Two young women (Auggie and Fun Facts) came in a little later; Auggie joined us in the shelter and Fun Facts hammocked. One other single nobo guy came in later and set up his tent but did not join us.We all ate dinner together and then worked to get a fire going for our evening entertainment. Festus had a neat lightweight curved blade saw that came in very handy.  The two women shared some hilarious stories about Duncannon and the Doyle. We fell asleep as the fire burned down.9.7 miles
Date: 2021-08-16
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Ice Bear and the other single nobo guy left early and we never saw them again.  Janet and I left about 7:30 and immediately began a steep climb up Pleasant Pond Mountain.  We had cell service there for the first time in three days so I caught up on our family chat thread and texted John about some things I wanted him to send to Shaw¢s for me. Maple Leaf and Marshmallow were Slackpacking sobo and crossed paths with us. We stopped in the middle of Baker Stream on some nice warm flat rocks and soaked our feet while we ate lunch.We had a two mile climb up Moxie Bald Mountain later in the afternoon.  The AT walks beneath a large overhanging slab of rock on the uphill, forming a fascinating cave system. Janet especially  enjoyed all the nooks and crannies there.  Our reward at the top of the mountain was cell service and loads of blueberries.  I confirmed with John what he needed to mail while grazing on fresh berries.Two miles of downhill trail brought us to Moxie Bald Lean-to.  Tentpole and Beans were the only ones there. Others began showing up shortly after us and we all claimed tent spots and started setting up.  Someone alerted us to a moose grazing on vegetation in the shallows of the pond and we all grabbed phones to watch and take pictures for the next fifteen minutes or so.13.1 miles today / 132.4 miles to go
Date: 2021-08-17
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to

To: Tent site on a snowmobile trail at 2074.2
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

We were hiking by 7:15 and had relatively easy terrain. We got to our intended stopping point for the day, Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to, just before 12:00.  We kept hiking, hoping to find water and an unofficial tent site later and ended up doing 14.6 miles before we finally found water and settled for tenting on a snowmobile trail.We¢ll get up in the morning and hike 3.3 miles into Monson, where we¢ll meet SusanB at Shaw¢s Hiker Hostel for the last part of our trek.14.6 miles today / 117.8 miles to go!
Date: 2021-08-18
From: Tent site on a snowmobile trail at 2074.2

To: ME 15 (ShawÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs)
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: light rain

It began sprinkling about 3:00am.  We packed up in a light rain and it tapered off as we hiked. We were at ME to be picked up by Shaw¢s in Monson before 9:00.  A lady had just dropped off five hikers and she offered us fresh fruit while we waited for our shuttle.  When the shuttle arrived, 13 hikers and backpacks were unloaded to begin hiking north into the Hundred Mile Wilderness.  It was like watching the little car full of clowns at the circus. At the hostel, we showered, started laundry, and hung our wet tents to dry. By 10:00 we were heading down the road in town to shop and eat at the General Store. I bought chocolate milk and OJ to have for my breakfasts at tge hostel.  We ordered huge deli sandwiches, broccoli salad, dill pickles, and chips for lunch. We ate on the patio under an umbrella with several other hikers.  We took half of our sandwiches, some juice and macaroni and cheese back to the hostel to have for supper.I picked up a package at the post office from John with my summer sleeping bag in it. A birthday card from my mom arrived with a couple weeks of Jumbles.  In the afternoon hikers began arriving.   All 30 bunks inside were filled and the yard was filled with tents. One of the young guys in our room was hiking to raise money for a youth camp in Brevard.  He grew up in Anderson SC and his parents still live there, a few minutes away from me.  We visited the ATC office in town and got information about entering Baxter State Park and summiting Katahdin. There are a multitude of rules and procedures and no guarantees that we will be granted entrance when we arrive.  After talking to Poet and Hippie Chick back at Shaw¢s, I called her parents, Ole Man and Navigator, who operate The AT Lodge in Millinocket. They happened to have a park entry permit for 8/20 and bunk spaces for four.  Uncharacteristically for me, I made a quick decision to shuttle up to Millinocket 8/19, summit 8/20, and hike sobo back to Monson.  Janet and SusanB agreed and Tentpole Sarah decided to come with us.  SusanB arrived at Shaw¢s about 7:00. We went to bed with our plan to drive to Millinocket in the morning, but lots of chores needing to be done before we could leave.3.3 miles NERO
Date: 2021-08-19
From: ShawÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs in Monson

To: AT Lodge in Millinocket
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Shaw¢s served a huge breakfast to 48 hungry hikers at 7:00.  We each had 3 eggs, 3 bacon strips, hash browns, blueberry pancakes, OJ, and coffee or tea. With breakfast done, we went through our resupply boxes and sorted food to take with us to Millinocket and food to leave in a resupply bucket for Shaw¢s to deliver to us at Johnson Pond Road in the Hundred Mile Wilderness.  We had to go grocery shopping for a few things; the nearest real grocery store was about 20 minutes away. It was almost noon before our resupply  buckets were correctly filled and we could leave Shaw¢s. We drove almost two hours to Millinocket, took Tentpole¢s dog Beans to be boarded (pets aren¢t allowed in Baxter State Park), and finally checked in at the AT Lodge.  We were scheduled to leave at 6:00am with Papa John and a young male sobo to shuttle to Baxter State Park and hike Katahdin.It was close to 3:00 when we went out for lunch. I had been dreaming on the trail of a steak dinner and the others offered to buy my birthday lunch. For some reason, the restaurant was out of beef; I settled for teriyaki chicken, SusanB had a lobster roll, and Janet and Tentpole had scallops.We walked to a nearby store to get breakfast foods for the morning, took showers, set our alarms for 5:30am, and went to bed.
Date: 2021-08-20
From: Chimney Pond and Saddle Trails to Katahdin

To: Katahdin to Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Our shuttle left the hostel at 6:00. It took about an hour to get to Baxter State Park and drive on its dirt roads to our intended trailhead. We hiked up Chimney Pond Trail to the Saddle Trail. Papa John from the hostel took off up the trail ahead of us. We would not see him again for hours. There were beautiful viewpoints and stops at two gorgeous ponds along the way. The trail was literally all uphill, and it got rockier and steeper as we went. Eventually we had to put our poles in our packs and were rock scrambling. Janet and Tentpole pulled ahead, I was a good bit behind them, and SusanB brought up the rear.I cried as I reached the summit and finally saw that famous sign. It was a surreal moment. There were probably 25-30 hikers at the summit. We all took turns getting our pictures and lunching. It was somewhat a subdued celebration. There were mixed feelings of being thrilled to be finished but sorry it was over. Ole Man had told us we should allow  about four hours to go up Chimney Pond and the Saddle and allow five hours to get down the Hunt Trail. He would meet us at 4:00 and wouldn¢t wait long if we were not there.  It took us five hours to summit so we were a bit worried about meeting him on time. The Hunt Trail started off ambling gently downhill but soon began to drop sharply. I asked the others, ¢Are you sure this isn¢t the Knife Edge?¢ Some of it was reminiscent of my least favorite spots in The Whites; some of it was terrifying.  There were huge boulders to maneuver around and over. There were two sketchy places to descend using rebar holds that took us some time to get down. I kept reminding myself that a five year old had done it and an 82 year old had done it. We caught with Papa John and passed him as we descended.When we were finally back on a real walking trail, I relaxed and asked, ¢Now that I¢m pretty sure we¢re not going to die, what do we want to eat for supper  tonight?¢  We decided to get pizza at the same Millinocket restaurant where we had eaten the previous night.We started going more quickly as the trail got less strenuous.  Janet and I pulled ahead of the others. We met Ole Man at Katahdin Stream Campground at 4:15, got our park permits from the ranger station there, and waited for Papa John.  Ole Man decided to leave without him at 4:36.  We went straight from the hostel to the restaurant without even showering.  Before our orders arrived, Papa John showed up freshly showered.  He had arrived at the trailhead three minutes after we had left.  When Ole Man had driven into the park, he had given three hikers a lift to Katahdin Stream Campground where their car was. They were still there when Papa John arrived, and they gave him a lift back to the hostel.It was a Friday night and the restaurant was packed and loud.  It seemed like everyone was celebrating with us. Ole Man came and hung out with us there. After eating, we went back to the hostel, showered, and collapsed in our bunks for the night.5.2 ATmiles+Chimney Pond and Saddle Trails
Date: 2021-08-21
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: broken clouds

Our shuttle left at 6:00 again.  We were dropped off at Katahdin Stream Campground in Baxter State Park to hike sobo. While we were taking turns using the privy at the campground, Tentpole ran into her friend Biscuit. We enjoying chatting with Biscuit but had to start hiking. We had about 10 miles to hike still inside Baxter State Park.We stopped to admire and take pictures at Little Niagara Falls and Big Niagara Falls. We hiked along the river with much easier terrain than we had yesterday.  There were two river crossings that normally would¢ve been knee-deep fords that were easy dry rock hops for us. The terrain was so easy that I was able to leave off my knee braces for first time in weeks!Along the way, we crossed paths with a Baxter State Park Ranger. He checked our permits and we had an interesting chat with him.  We finally left the park and came to Abol Bridge campground store. We had to wait there for Ole Man from the AT Lodge to bring us our gear and Tentpole¢s dog.  While we waited, I had a moose tracks waffle cone, some Vermont cheese, a bottle of apple juice, and a bag of peanut M&Ms from the store - a true hiker snack. Tentpole had arrived before us and had booked a campsite, already taken a shower, and bought a carton of her favorite Twisted Tea.  While at the store, a family recognized us from yesterday on the Chimney Pond trail.  Their teens had been hiking ahead of the parents and we were between the two groups. We had stopped at a view and the parents had asked us if their kids had been polite when they had passed us.  They were happy when we told them they had been very polite.  We reached the Hurd Brook Lean-to early enough to set up tents leisurely.  There was another couple our age at the site from Louisiana: Sugar Gal and Swamp Irish. They had alot of questions for us about Baxter.
Date: 2021-08-22
From: Hurd Brook Lean-to

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We didn¢t leave the shelter area until 8:00. There was only about 800 feet of elevation change in the first 2.7 miles to get to the top of Rainbow Ledges.  We snacked on by blueberries and huckleberries while we walked across the summit.  We had cell service there and sent a few texts before moving on.  We had light sprinkles all morning and high humidity.  We crossed paths with 27 nobos, many of whom we had hiked with earlier. They were all on a mission to get to Baxter, get one of the 12 shelter spots at The Birches, and summit Katahdin the next day. I was so thankful we were not in that frenzy!We met Buttercup on the trail. Her eye has healed and she seemed perky.  She was planning to hike 11 miles to meet her husband at Abol Bridge Campground; they had reservations for several days at Daicy Cabins in the park. She planned to go both up and down the more moderate Chimney Pond and Saddle Trails and avoid the more strenuous Hunt Trail. I thought that was a smart plan.She told us she had stayed at Rainbow Spring Campsite the night before and that it had a privy, a cold piped spring, and a picnic table (one of the few in Maine). We stopped there to have lunch about 12:30 and made use of all those amenities.Our trail was filled with rocks and roots but not any serious elevation so we made good time. We hiked along Rainbow Lake for quite a while. It was beautiful but there was a lot of vegetation in it around the shore and never a good access spot for swimming.  We covered 11.5 miles to Rainbow Stream Lean-to by about 3:30, set up our tents, cleaned up in the stream running in front of the shelter, and were fixing our dinners by 4:30.Between 5:00 - 6:00 we were joined by Goose and Oatmeal (who we met the day we saw Scott Jurek), then Silly Bands (who we first met at The Notch Hostel), then three others of their tramily (who we first met at Pearce Pond.) It was a rowdy bunch around the shelter and fire pit; they were so close to finishing their thruhikes and were ready to summit and celebrate.
Date: 2021-08-23
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Nahmakanta Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: clear sky

I was in my tent before 8:00 last night but already had to get up to pee shortly after 10:00. The full moon was so bright that I didn¢t even need my glasses or my headlamp! I vaguely remembering rain starting in the night but it didn¢t last long.We started our morning with a 2.7 gradual climb up Nesuntabunt Mountain. We had cell service and patchy views from the top.  There was a road crossing a mile before the peak and we met two families with six kids just out for a day hike to the topWith rain in the forecast, SusanB and I joined Auggie and Fun Facts in the shelter, with Dora the Explorer, a sobo. Tentpole always tents with her dog Veans.  Janet tented also. It was all girls at the site which is very unusual. They are all planning to get up by 5:30 to do 20+ miles tomorrow.  We have to do 15.9 ourselves to get to the shelter where we want to be.As we set up and ate, the rain began. It lessened enough for us to get our food bags hung and fill our water bottles and then got heavier again. After dinner, I realized I had drunk a whole bottle of untreated water from a steam during the day ; I hope I don¢t pay for that mistake later!  We were in our sleeping bags by 7:30, trying to ignore the other girls¢ chatter.
Date: 2021-08-24
From: Nahmakanta Stream Lean-to

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: few clouds

It rained hard most of the night, but had stopped by dawn. The girls were up by 5:15 so SusanB and I started packing up then too. We ate breakfast and were hiking by 7:00.  We stopped by Potaywadjo Shelter to get water from the ice cold artesian spring. It was wonderful. Hikers were calling it ¢the fountain of youth¢.Our next stop was Antlers campsite.  It was huge and could accommodate a large number of tents. We ate our lunch there next to Jo-Mary Lake.  We heard there was trail magic at Jo-Mary Road m, just four miles away, and hoped to arrive there in time.  Since the terrain was still fairly level or just slightly uphill, we made good time.  Along the way we stopped to chat with Skidmark and Festus as they headed north to finish their 23 year long AT section hike. We arrived at the road to find a cooler full of ice, sodas, beer, and hotdogs. There was a note from Biscuit, Tentpole¢s friend, with the trail magic goodies.  Big Heart, who we first met at Pine Ellis Hostel, and another hiker were there waiting for their food drop from Shaw¢s.  We ate the last two dill pickles in a jar, a banana, and a whole can of Dole pineapple slices. Janet and I stuck hotdogs on sticks and grilled them over a fuel canister flame. Janet took a beer to carry to the campsite for dinner.It was just a little more than four miles to Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to.  We passed the time singing hits from the 70¢s that we remembered from our high school years, loudly. As soon as we arrived at the shelter, I dropped my pack and poles and started  looking at tent sites. Another older hiker walked by and picked up my poles. When I said I thought he picked up my pokes, he argued with me. When he walked over to his tent and realized his poles were already there, he brought mine back and said we had the same exact poles. He did not apologize at all.  Some people refuse to admit when they make a mistake.,We chose tent sites away from the grumpy guy, washed off in the brook,  fixed our dinners, and ate.  Janet tried wedging her beer between rocks in the brook to chill it and punctured the can and got sprayed; she quickly popped the top to salvage what she could. I spilled my Mountain House dehydrated meal on the large rocks where we were sitting and had to scoop the powder and pieces of meat, carrots and potatoes back into the bag to rehydrate. I ended up with some extra spruce debris mixed in the meal. It was the last day of food we had so there was no choice but to salvage as much as I could.It was too late to use the swimming hole and have our clothes dry, so we didn¢t get in the water. We tented close enough to enjoy the sound of Cooper Brook Falls, a series of cascades just upstream from the shelter.