morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-09-13
From: Beamis Stream stealth camp

To: ME4, Rangeley, Gull Pond Lodge
Miles today: 13.9

It wasn't as cold this morning, but it was still hard to get up and get moving at 6am. We started out the hike in the fog, and after fording Beamis Creek, immediately started a 700' climb up to ME17. Partway up we emerged from the fog, and I stopped to take off my rain jacket and hat. The road had almost no traffic, but the view of the fog laying in the valleys was worth a photo. One fog bank looked like a glacier. The hike continued up another 500' to a viewpoint at Bates Ledge. We skirted Long Pond on our way to the leanto at Sabbath Day Pond about 10:30am. Good thing we didn't try for here yesterday.We continued our hike over ups and downs, and found a place in the sun for lunch around noon. We speculated we'd reached another summit but hadn't. There I tried for a cell signal, and having one, arranged for a pickup with Bob from Gull Pond Lodge at 5pm. Throughout the day we played hopscotch with Blacksnake and Lonestar, who had completed their slacking. We caught up with them at South Pond. There we had a snack, and I took photos of fly fisherman in a canoe. While I watched they each pulled in a fish. Since we heard from some dayhikers that we were about 2 miles from the road, I called Bob again to revise our ETA to 4:30pm. I also took advantage of the signal to call Carol. Then we headed on down to the trailhead at ME 4.Bob arrived at exactly 4:30 and drove us to the hostel, where we are in the bunkroom with Sketch, a sobo section hiker. He has some beautiful pencil sketches of trail scenes. Gull Pond Lodge is very comfortable, and the proprietor, Bob O'Brien, is a delightful host. He's a retired statewide recreation director for Easter Seal, and has been running the hostel here for 10 years. Since rain is due tonight and tomorrow, I'm glad to be in a warm dry place to zero tomorrow. Besides, I am completely out of food, and my clothes need washed.On! On!
Date: 2006-09-14
From: ME4, Rangeley, Gull Pond Lodge

To: Gull Pond Lodge, Rangely, ME
Miles today: 0.0

We decided to zero because 1) today was expected to be cloudy and wet (and was) and 2) we'd be arriving in Stratton, ME after the post office closes for the weekend. For the same reason, we'll be taking 2 days and a nero into Stratton. We all did the normal zero day activities: laundry, shop, library to check email, dry tents, eat mass quantities of town food, etc.Thanks to all who have emailed or signed my guest book. I'm sorry I can't respond individually.Tomorrow promises better weather for 4 days.On to Katahdin!
Date: 2006-09-15
From: Gull Pond Lodge, Rangely, ME

To: Tent at Poplar Ridge Leanto
Miles today: 10.7

Quite a few hikers are here tenting and in the 6-person shelter: FDOM, Weatherman, Jambalaya & Pepperoni, Pancake, and SoFar.The promised clearing for today only started to occur about 4pm, after we'd already passed the three summits: Saddleback, The Horn, and Little Saddleback. We got a late start for us, 9am, but made good time on the 2500' climb up to Saddleback. We slowed down a bit on the descents between the peaks. All three peaks were above treeline, and, on Saddleback, we were in a cloud. There were some views under the clouds from the high country. The woods is starting its fall color show. The sugar maples are a brilliant red down in the valleys and the mountain ash's bright orange berries stand out in contrast to the deep green of the firs at the higher elevations.The trail up from ME4 was in great condition with stone staircases and good trailwork. The downs beyond Saddleback were much more rugged and really slowed our average speed. We arrived at the shelter about 5pm, having taken about 1 hour of breaks, making our average speed just 1-1/2 mph. This seems consistent with the other hikers here, so that must be just what this section takes. It's now getting dark by 7pm, both because it's later in the year, and because we are at the far eastern reaches of the eastern time zone. We are camped pretty high tonight at nearly 3000', but it's relatively warm at 8:30pm -- about 50*.Everyone is now beginning to anticipate the completion of the hike with the climbing of Katahdin around Oct 1 or 2, even though we've got a little over 200 miles to go. There seems to be a lot of bunching up of hikers.On! On!
Date: 2006-09-16
From:  Poplar Ridge Leanto

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite (tent)
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: scattered clouds

We passed the 200 miles to go point this afternoon.We got an early start, knowing we had big miles for us over major ups and downs. Today was sunny and warm, though most of the day we were in the shade. I noticed the birch trees at the shelter where we had lunch had lost all their leaves. A good many maple leaves are on the ground too. Where we could see into the valleys, there are blotches of bright red from the maples among the greens of the pines and firs.We skirted Sugarloaf Mtn, home to the ski area. Along the way down from there, we met a day hiker whose husband did the trail 15 years ago, and hiked down with her to the Carabassett River where her car was parked. She was adding some more 4000' peaks to her collection, and offered to take our trash bags. Her husband maintains a section of trail beyond Stratton, ME where we'll nero. To him and all the Maine Appalachian Trail Club volunteers, a hearty thank you. The trail here is really quite good, considering the remoteness and ruggedness of the terrain.On to Katahdin
Date: 2006-09-17
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite (tent)

To: Stratton Motel Hostel
Miles today: 7.3

Woke up at 5:30am but I couldn't see any colors, so I rolled over for another 15 minutes of shuteye. Although we had a nero scheduled into Stratton, we had no idea how long it would take. Plus we were anxious to have a town lunch and time to do laundry and town chores.Starting at 7:15am, our initial climb was straight up 1000' at a 60+ degree grade. South Crocker Mtn certainly was a challenge. I was glad to get it out of the way first thing. There was an intervening down into a saddle then up again to the summit of North Crocker. Then it was a long, long down of 2800' over five miles to ME27. The weather was clear and crisp, signaling the imminent, official arrival of fall in just a few days. Another signal was the leaves falling onto the trail. The red-orange-yellow leaves of the sugar maple were brilliant in the sun.We made the trailhead at 12:15pm, covering the 7.3 miles in 5 hours, including a break. That's pretty fast considering the steep climb at the beginning. BigFoot says his bruise is feeling better, and that seems to be the case since he and Goose stayed up with us.Had a great cheeseburger for lunch, B&J for dessert while the clothes were washing, a quart of milk this afternoon, and will soon be going to dinner at the diner. Tomorrow will be a short day, as we have to wait until 9:30am to pickup our boxes at the post office.On! On!
Date: 2006-09-18
From: Stratton, ME

To: Avery Memorial Campsite tent
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

Since we had to pick up packages at the post office, which opened at 9am, we got a late start out of town, leaving the trailhead at 11am. The weather today was warm and clear with temps in the low 70s -- perfect hiking weather. The trail started out with a 2400' climb to North Horn in the Bigelow Range, the last major range of high mountains before Katahdin. On the way we came to Horns Pond, set in a cirque below the two peaks, North and South Horn. We ate lunch in the sun on a high, rocky outcrop overlooking the pond. It had a view of South Horn which we would summit after lunch. While we were eating, a moose walked/swam across the pond. It was hard to leave that spot.After lunch there was a climb up the peak of South Horn, again with great views, then on up to the west peak of Bigelow Mountain at 4140'. There are fantastic views across the saddle to Avery Peak, standing like a sentinel above my tentsite. It was beautiful in the last sunlight. There was a colorful sunset, and tonight the stars are truly magnificent.On to Katahdin!
Date: 2006-09-19
From: Avery Memorial Campsite 

To: Tent at West Carry Pond
Miles today: 14.6

I have now hiked over 2000 miles on the AT. We passed the 2000 mile point late this morning on the ridge of Little Bigelow Mountain.We awoke to a beautiful but dewy morning. The tent fly was soaked on the outside with dew, and on the inside with condensate. This in spite of the strong wind that blew all night. I hung the fly to dry, but wound up putting it away wet.We started hiking at 7:15am with the ascent of Avery Peak, where there was a fire lookout and views into the fog-shrouded valleys and forward towards Little Bigelow Mtn, our next landmark. We began the 1800' descent into Safford Notch, and soon were surrounded by the fog. It dogged us during the climb along the ridge of Little Bigelow, until the summit at the end of the ridge, just beyond the 2000 miles from GA point. There the sun came out and the fog lifted, allowing views over Flagstaff Lake. As it was 11:30 and the summit provided rocks to sit on, I suggested we break for lunch. I used the opportunity to dry out my tent in the sun, as it appeared we'd be pulling into the shelter late.The last 8 miles of the hike included a long descent and then ups and downs through the woods over excellent trails. We made good time, but about 3:30pm the overcast thickened and the sky darkened. I wished aloud that it would hold off the forecast rain until 5:30pm, allowing us time to reach the shelter and get settled. My wish was partly granted. While it started a very light drizzle about 4:30pm, requiring us to put on pack covers, it held off on the heavier rain until about 5:45pm. Good thing too, as the shelter was full; and Veto and I are tenting. MapleLeaf, Weatherman, Rael, Bigfoot, and GreyGoose are in the shelter. I got my tent up, unpacked, and filtered water before the drizzle turned to showers. Veto and I decided on a cold supper to avoid cooking in the rain. Hopefully, the rain will pass overnight and we'll have nice hiking weather tomorrow.On! On!
Date: 2006-09-21
From: Pierce Pond Leanto

To: Pleasant Pond Leanto
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: clear sky

A great pancake breakfast at Harrison Camps and the canoe ferry of the Kennebec River were the highlights of today's hike.We woke early and packed up quickly, reaching Harrison Camps by the 7am, the time we'd designated for breakfast. For $8, Tim Harrison cooked up 12 raspberry-blueberry-apple pancakes, 2 scrambled eggs, three links of sausage, orange juice, and a large glass of milk. When we arrived, the tables in the dining room were set, and there was a fire in the stove to ward off the chill. Tim was in the kitchen flipping the 9th pancake onto each plate. The view from the dining room of the camp included the falls, just below the outlet of the pond. We headed out from breakfast, well-fortified for the three-mile hike down along the stream toward the Kennebec River. Veto and I hiked fast, at first to stay warm, and then just because the pace was comfortable for us. Goose was right behind us most of the way. Veto remarked about how good his feet were feeling. When we arrived at 9:15am, Steve Longley, the ferryman, was already on his way across to the landing. He took two at a time across, and by the time he returned from our trip, BigFoot had joined Goose on the landing. There were two more trips for Beernuts, Hitch, and Barnacle, then we waited until 11am when the morning ferry times ended. Steve then shuttled us down to his nearby store, Rivers and Trails, where we resupplied and had lunch. Then he took us back to the trailhead, where we began hiking again at 12:15pm. We reached the shelter after an easy six-mile hike at 4pm.Tonight looks to be a cold one with frost predicted. The FDOM are in the shelter, having eaten, and are ready for bed at 6:30pm. Arriving after us and tenting nearby are Rael and Jambalaya & Pepperoni.The Maine woods have been beautiful with fall colors, and the trail has been good and fairly easy these last few days. I'm truly enjoying Maine, as a number of well-wishers have advised.On! On!
Date: 2006-09-22
From: Pleasant Pond Leanto

To: Moxie Bald Leanto
Miles today: 13.1

From the top of Moxie Bald Mtn, I could see a glimpse of Katahdin, more than 100 trail miles to the northeast.That was actually the second mountaintop from which we had views. The 1200' ascent of Pleasant Pond Mtn began almost as we left the shelter at 7:15am. It was a good thing, as we needed the exertion to warm up. It was clear and cold overnight, and the early morning temperature made us want to stay in our sleeping bags. Even with the climb, we all had gloves on as we started the climb. As usual, part of the way up it was time to strip off some layers. Off with the gortex jacket and gloves. The fleece hat stayed on, coming off now and then when I started to overheat. From the top at 9:00am, we could see back across the Bigelow range, and forward in the direction we were headed under a clear, blue sky. The temperature had warmed to 60* and it stayed around there until evening.The 1200' descent to Joes Hole arm of the pond took us past a power line swath. We ate an early lunch at 11:30am on some sunny rocks, six miles into the thirteen scheduled for today.That set us up for the 1400' climb up Moxie Bald Mountain, which we reached at 2pm. The 360* views from the summit were grand. Since it was a clear day, we could see part of Katahdin in the distance behind two ridges of mountains.It's hard to believe I'll be there in a week and a half. All the hikers are in a very festive mood, as they feel the end of their hike drawing near.In 2.1 miles, we came down from the mountain 1200' to Bald Mountain Pond, where we are in the leanto. I wanted to tent, but all the tent spots were taken by a group of young men from a local Church of the Brethren. They had come across the pond in canoes, and were well-stocked with food and sodas. As I was looking around for a place to tent, I struck up a conversation. Soon I had shamelessly yogied an ice cold Pepsi for me, and three more for the others of the FDOM. They also agreed to take our trash.I set about organizing in the shelter, fetching water, and cooking and eating dinner. Afterwards I took the empty cans over to the canoe-campers, along with my trash. They offered another Pepsi and I answered their questions about my hike. Eventually they offered me a burger, but I was full from my mac n' cheese and couldn't accept. Goose and Bigfoot were still hungry, however, and accepted the offer when it was extended to them.Tomorrow we hope to make Monson, our last trail town, ahead of the "chance of showers" predicted.On! On!
Date: 2006-09-23
From: Moxie Bald Leanto

To: Monson, ME, Shaw's Hostel
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

The highlight of today's hike was the ford of the West Branch of the Piscataquis River, and under-water rock hop of the East Branch. These are the first of several fords in this part of Maine. I'm pleased to report that the boot waterproofing I used in Stratton held up for the ford and the rain, that started about 11am and continued all the way in to Monson, where we arrived about 4pm. Otherwise, the hike was remarkable only for the rocks, roots, mud, and lack of major ups and downs.Shaw's is a legendary stop on the trail, and has a full house today. Here tonight are: FDOM, Weatherman, BeerNuts, Hitch, Barnacle, AT, Forest, Bumblebee, IronWolf, Real, and Skeemer. Skeemer is leapfrogging his truck ahead on the trail and then hitching back to places where he zeros. FDOM will be taking a much-needed zero here tomorrow before the last push to Katahdin.On! On!
Date: 2006-09-24
From: Monson, ME, Shaw's Hostel

To: Monson, ME, Shaw
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

Today is a relaxing zero day with a "three" (of everything breakfast, a trip to nearby Greenville for re-supply, lunch and dinner from the local pizza place, and dessert of B&J's Chunky Monkey (1200 calories/pint). Soon I'll be checking calories per serving/package to avoid them, but for 9 more days I'll need as many calories as I can get.About 3pm the fog finally lifted and the sun came out. We put our packs and boots in the sun to help them dry. By morning, everything should be quite dry -- not only our gear, but also the woods as the cold front is coming in with a stiff breeze. The forecast is for clear and cooler weather until Friday.I heard from JohnnyK today. He's a couple of days back on the first peaks of the Bigelows. We are all surprised no hikers came in this afternoon.Skeemer made record time hitching back to Shaw's from MillinocketWe spent some time before resupplying checking our hike plan. We will have 4 days food leaving here and will be coming to White House Landing on the 5th day. There we carry 2 days to Abol Bridge, just outside Baxter Park. Then 2 days for the final bit.In a respite from: On to Katahdin!
Date: 2006-09-25
From: Monson, ME, Shaw

To: Wilson Valley Leanto
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

According to Murphy's Law of the Random Perversity of Nature, anything bad that can happen, will happen at the worst possible time. That proved true this morning around 10am, when I glanced up from the trail to look down at the road we were approaching. Sure enough I slipped on the slatelike rock set at a 30* angle and found myself on my backside. I wasn't hurt, but when I got up it was obvious I'd fallen into a pile of fresh dog do-do, as there was a large splotch on the lower part of my hiking kilt and on the bottom of my pack. I shed the kilt and used wet moss to wipe of the worst of it. After using several handfuls of moss, both the kilt and the pack were pretty clean. Goose also slipped off a bog board, and wound up in wet grass, breaking his hiking pole in the process. I'm sure Bigfoot would say we got off easy. He slipped as he was 10 feet short of completing a ford, getting very wet in very cold water, just .7 miles short of this shelter.Today was very clear and cool, as a cold front passed through overnight. The weather should be good now for five days, After breakfast at Shaw's (I had a "three", three each of eggs, sausage, bacon, and french toast with a large serving of home fries, tea and OJ), we stopped at the post office at 7:30am. By 8:20am, Lynn, owner with Sue as partner, of Shaw's, had shuttled us to the blue blaze trailhead, where we'd left the trail in the rain Saturday. Shaw's was great, and Lynn and Sue, both lifelong Monson residents, have really spruced the place up. Especially great were the new mattresses, pillows and linens. We really enjoyed our last trail town.The hike today took us into the 100-mile wilderness. This morning we hiked over the normal rocks and roots and over lots of slick, slate-like rock that caused each of us to fall. Perhaps the weight of the packs made us a little unstable. We are carrying one more day's food than usual.We passed several ponds and a beaver dam. We also hiked a while over some open ridgetop giving views across wooded valleys nearing their peak fall color. Under the clear blue sky it was stunning. We passed the waterfall of Little Wilson Creek, and hiked along the gorge into which it fell, before descending and fording it on a rock hop. The ford of Big Wilson Creek at 4:30pm required us to shed our boots and don "Crocs". There were deep spots where the water came over my knees, wetting the hem of my kilt. In spots the current was pretty swift. Just as he approached the bank BigFoot took a tumble letting forth a few expletives as he pulled himself out of the cold water.Veto and I are tenting beneath tall white pines. Goose and Bigfoot are in the leanto, along with newly-weds Jambalaya and Pepperoni. Pepperoni also slipped during the ford and got wet.We arrived rather late, around 5:30pm. I wound up cooking and eating by headlamp. The night promises to be cold, probably into the 30s.On! On!
Date: 2006-09-26
From: Wilson Valley Leanto

To: West Chairback Pond Outlet Stream stealth camp
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Today we passed under the 100 miles-to-go mark at the second of two fords.It was a difficult day with hardly a section of trail where one could stride out. Grey Goose and Bigfoot walked out of the shelter at 7am; Veto and I left at 7:30, and we never did catch up until here. Jambalaya & Pepperoni, who were at the shelter last night, are also tenting here.It rained lightly last night as another cold front moved through. All day today it was cloudy and windy as the colder air was moving in. Only at the very end of the day did it clear off. In addition to rocks and roots and boggy trail, there were two stream fords, one a boots-off ford, and climbs of three mountain peaks. Veto and I knew we were running out of daylight, when we walked in here to find the others already in their tents at 6:15pm. We are just 1.7 miles short of our goal, but we can easily catch up, as tomorrow's miles are under 10. We are camped on a small shelf just beyond the outlet stream, the only tent site still open.Again we cooked and ate by headlamp. The temp at 7pm was already 40*, and the stars are very clear. Should be a cold night. I'm glad I'm in my tent, as it's much warmer than the shelters.On! On!
Date: 2006-09-27
From: West Chairback Pond Outlet Stream stealth camp

To: Sidney Tappan Campsite
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a beautiful day for hiking, with a deep blue, cloudless sky and temperature about 60*. It was, however, very hard to get up at 5:45am at first light, with the temperature just above freezing. I dressed in my hiking clothes, which had warmed at the bottom of my sleeping bag, and set about breaking camp. Breakfast was cold, poptarts and oatmeal-to-go, except for the cocoa made with hot water Veto heated.Again we left at 7:30am, and quickly warmed as we climbed up Columbus Mountain to yesterday's destination, Chairback Gap Leanto. The leanto overlooked a steep climb down through a talus field of huge rocks. Then it was a climb to the top of Chairback Mountain, followed by a gradual descent to a ford of Pleasant River at noon. At the far side of the ford, we all (FDOM and Jambalaya & Pepperoni) had lunch on the warm, sunny bank. We had made good time during the morning over much better trail than yesterday.The afternoon consisted of a long gradual climb along Gulf Hagas Stream, eventually reaching the summit of Gulf Hagas Mountain, a total climb of 2000'. Then came a short ridgewalk with a view of Katahdin, and a short descent to our campsite on a col, before the mountain we climb tomorrow. We arrived here at 4:30pm, allowing plenty of time to set up camp, and to cook and eat dinner during the daylight.As I was finishing dinner at sunset around 6:30pm, the temp had dropped 5 degrees. We fled to our sleeping bags to stay warm. Hiker midnight tonight is at 7:30pm.On to Katahdin!