morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-08-15
From: Grafton Notch

To: Andover/Millinocket, ME
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

After a nice relaxing morning, Pete and I decided to drive to Andover instead of walk, so really the miles today were all yellow-blazed...oh well. Pete has come up with his plan, skip to Katahdin and then go home. The logistics make this a difficult plan, so I was going to stay at the hostel and decide what I wanted to do. Once there, Pete discovered he could rent a car and drive himself to the end...which seemed like a great way to do it, that was a lot easier. So if I go with Pete, I'll get to drive around Maine and finished this long trip with my buddy. Plus I'll get to see a lot of Maine I otherwise wouldn't get to. In my mind I had already decided to skip the 100 wilderness because all the southbounders are describing it as boggy, muddy, and miserable, with dangerous river fords. So, for now, I'm going to go with Pete, do Katahdin and then get a ride back to Andover and hopefully meet back up with Pacer, Creek Diver, Monkey, Snake, and Dust to do the trail up to Monson.So, we get a car and start driving all over Maine. Pete's flight is the 22nd, so we have a few days to check out Maine from a car. Driving is really weird and we even drove to gas station for drinks and forgot to get gas!! So, we headed for Bangor for dinner and decide what next. After a good steak dinner, we headed for East Millinocket, which is about 17 miles outside of Baxter State Park. The weather for the next few days is supposed to be mixed with no rain called for Saturday and Tuesday. After considering logistics, we decide tomorrow is the day...we'll summit Katahdin tomorrow. We get a tent site at a campground outside of E. Millinocket and I'm excited, nervous, and just don't know what to expect...
Date: 2008-05-28
To: prep1
Miles today: 0.0

hey all, Heres my story so far. I was laying in bed about three weeks ago staring at the ceiling for, oh...say about an hour...and I suddenly said to myself "Im going to try to walk the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia". I wish I could write something a bit more flashy but thats about what happened. The truth is I want a change in my life as it is today. Since I realized I should leave Mt. Katahdin in Maine soon to make it south in time for bad weather in December...I sat down and actually planned the entire month and a half until I begin hiking...in about an hour. Well, that worked out pretty horrible since I didnt really do much research so I scratched the entire thing. Then I decided to actually do a bit (and I mean tons) or research into such a trek. I read forums, emailed past thru-hikers, checked out/read about/studied gear and reviews from other hikers on gear, studied the A.T. data book, hikers companion, online maps of each state the A.T. goes through, terrain, towns, food, and...well, you get the hint. I then decided...I should make another plan..and I did. But this one actually makes sense. So..I quit my job (I was a truck driver going into New York every night), sold one of my cars for gear, started working on trip funds, worked on storage and ended my residence at my studio apartment while relocating my huge orange tabby cat. To date, I have compiled 90 percent of my gear (which I shall post as soon as I get the other 10 percent) and am currently working on getting into a bit better shape and the best way I know to do that is to Backpack! Im very fortunate to live 20 minutes from the Appalachian Trail in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (yeah...I used to skip from tip to tip on those rock..still love em)..so what better place to hike than my own backyard!
Date: 2008-05-29
To: prep2
Miles today: 0.0

The Appalachian Trail first put its spell on me over 15 years ago when I first walked upon it. I was on a camping trip at Blue Rocks Campground and their were two trails that led up to the Appalachian trail. I remember hiking about 1.5 miles to the trail on a blue blaze trail. Upon reaching the A.T. - I saw my first white blaze and ran over to actually touch it (yea..I can be a dork sometimes). Coming from California where I was born the Appalachian was always in the imagination, in books, not real. I felt such excitment to actually be on this famed trail. As years went by I would hike and have never lost that feeling I had for the trial. I would imagine hiking it southward from Maine...but never really turned that thought into anything real. The last few years hiking Ive notice a big change in my thinking..now when I go up on the trail and hike or stay for a few weeks I never want to leave it. Its as if its cast a spell on me. a good one. I am so looking forward to attempt this thru-hike to Georgia. I am going into this without preconcieved notions on what to expect. I am ready to be addaptive, plan altering, focused, happy, sad, strong, weak, lonely, friendly, hungry, full, wet, warm, in pain, enchanted, and anything else that comes along during this journey.
Date: 2008-06-02
To: prep 3
Miles today: 0.0

So far I have decided to not make any pre-food Maildrops. I swayed back and forth in that decision of course, but have made up my mind that I would like to be as flexable as I (reasonably) can and not have to make it to any town in a specified time due to a maildrop. At least for now. I believe I am going to attempt to keep myself as open and free to check out the sites and side paths and towns along the way (pre-planned mostly) but not alter my ending schedule so much that I run to far into winter down south.
Date: 2008-06-12
To: prep5
Miles today: 0.0

I went out for a 9 mile pre-hike again yesterday with the intentions of getting some more hiking miles in and field test gear. I loaded up the backpack with full gear including two 32oz gator-aid bottles of water and a 100oz water bladder. My pack weight was 25lbs. Here are some of the conclusions I arrived at. I hate pa. rocks. Gotta luv them because im from pa. but as a backpacker they suck. The trail in parts of pa should be called "the rock path" instead of A.T. - second- I hiked about 9 miles stopping half way to set up my Hammock. The setup took about four minutes and the takedown was faster. I crawled into this Hennessey Hammock and it is soooo comfortable. Im glad Ive added this to my equiptment. The trail back hiking poles I purchased were an issue i was wondering about. I really hadnt taken them out and wasnt sure if they were durable enough. Along the trail I twisted my ankle on one of those rocks (yeah..thats why I am giving them such a hard time)..and the hiking poles all of a sudden became my best friend. They handled great. The tips are strong enough (they got caught between the rocks a few times)- The locks didnt allow the poles to release under weight. very good. I was the only thing that fell apart..haha. ok..it really wasnt that bad. The pack straps and belt rode great. I walked off the sprained ankle and today its doing fine. I heard thats what you do for a sprained ankle..walk it off..I must check the forums to verify. Anyways..time is fleeting until I begin. I have decided with the high gas prices to not drive to Maine but take a bus.
Date: 2008-06-21
To: prep6
Miles today: 0.0

The last few days I have been pretty much very busy getting all things in order. So now I am off for Mt Katahdin via greyhound from Pa. and hope to arrive in Medway Maine later this evenin! The bus ride has been pretty smooth so far but I surely believe that all should get a survival certificate if they are on a bus for more than 24 hours. The first leg of this journey began at night so I actually slept from New York to Boston! Boston Ma. looked as if it would be a pretty cool place to do some exploring in but due to my limited time there I can tell you three things-Boston looks cool from the bus station, the coffee is really good, and some dude in front of the station is trapped there forever unless he comes up with 22 dollars!!! wow-like...Forever!!! Today I am feeling great and am really enjoying being in the "now"! The sun has risen slowly up over the horizon blasting in this day with some wicked warm rays. Feels wonderful this early (6:50am). I should be at my hotel in Medway Maine by tonight about 9:30pm. oh....and there is a 6 hour layover in Bangor Me.- whiich is too awsome!
Date: 2008-06-22
To: prep7
Miles today: 0.0

The rest off my bus ride as great! When i got to Bangor, maine i had a six hour layover. We had passed a grocery store right before we arrived at the bus station. I then in my wisdom left the bus station and went the wrong direction to get to it. I crossed this big bridge over the Petobscot (I will correct that spelling later) river and then backtraced to the store a half mile back. It was a great view off the river and when i did.arrive at the store i purchased all the food i am carrying until Monson maine. i arrived at the bus stop in Medway, maine about 7pm and walked to my my motel- The Katahdin shadows motel. it was a very nice clean place for the price. i shookdown my pack once more and re-packed my bag once more. i then wallked a few miles to east millinocket and then started hitching. I eventually was picked up by this way cool guy named Josh who lives in the town. We had a nice talk about the area and about chef stuff (he is a chef) and he also showed me the road to baxter dropped off at the appalachian trail cafe on main street! Great blt,s! After I ate I walked a bit through town to a sign that read Baxter state park 16 miles. I walked about 100 yards and a guy, his wife, and grandson pulled over and asked If I needed a ride to Baxter. Awsome. They dropped me off 3 miles from Baxter. This store is the last chance for phone service as Baxter does not have any.I walked for about half a mile and looked down at my legs and they were covered with mesquitos! yiks. I walked back the store and picked up three more cans of deet bug repellent. After several failed attempts at hitching I was picked up by two guys southbounding like me and their two friends who were driving them. We were dropped of at the ranger station. We signed in at there. We then went to another ranger station and for the first time signed the A.T. register! Yahooo. Sobo baby! It feels good to be in Maine.
Date: 2008-06-23
From: Katahdin Campground

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

I woke up at 4:30am and signed the hiker register for Mt. Katahdin at about 6:30am then began hiking toward the peak of Mt. Katahdin. Pretty exciting. I hiked past all the places I read about on trailjournals and other sites which was totally awesome. Its pretty hard to put exactly what summiting Katahdin is like but I can say once you get above treeline its like being on another planet. The mountain deserves all the praise it recieves. I walked at treeline for a while passing a clear babbling stream and waterfall (Katahdin Falls) then hiked up a small stream, over large rocks, etc. -  I was above treeline then. Eventually I was up on the mountain approching the famous sign atop Katahdins peak. What a great sight. The end or finish of the Appalachian Trail in my sight. Knowing once I step foot away from the sign I am one step toward Georgia. Yahoooo. I was pretty pumped up. I scrambled up the mountain (and a beast of a mountain it is)..and stood there staring at the sign. Two hikers (beaver and his girl) that I had met hiking up the trail arrived and we took a few pics then I walked over towards knife edge. Knife edge is a part of the mountain that has very steep drops on both sides but the views are pretty cool. Gets windy as heck on knife edge also. I was lucky to have great weather because the clouds roll in and out of the peak and block the views. By the way...Mt. Katahdin is well above cloud level also. Going down I got lost in the cave that I've heard about..haha. I guess I'm a legit thru-hiker now. Onward to Georgia baby!!!!
Date: 2008-06-24
From:  Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: broken clouds

Yesterday after I decended Katahdin I moved my site to a lean to (shelter..three sided...) I set up my hammock and reflected on the day. Light out early (headlamp). I woke up at daybreak, repacked my gear and went over to my two thru hiker friends Swing and Juicebox. We all started South to Abol Bridge campground. A nice hike..got to ford my first stream- we arrived at about four thirty. I think we left Katahdin campgrounds about 9 or so. At Abol Bridge campground there were sobo hikers Warraghiyagey and Vonfrick and I met Findin Peace and Webwalker. We all set up our sites by the lake (called ponds in Maine) with a beautiful view of Mt. Katahdin. Abol Stream is an awesome campground. I believe the conversation that night dwelled on Mt. Katahdin and its awesomeness!
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Abol Bridge

To: rainbow stream campground
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

I woke up at 5:30am and waited for the store to open. This is the last store before the 100 mile wilderness so if one needs to resupply this is the last chance before entering the wilderness. I had left my phone with and camera battery at the store to recharge. Linda from the store and the locals that I met there were so nice. I had great conversations with all of them talking about the local area to logging. Really great bunch of folks. There phone was broke and there is no cell service in the area so its another day of not contacting family and friends. I'm sure I will find a place soon. Most people who know me know I'm very capable of anything I run into in the woods or wherever. I left Abol Bridge alone and headed South (across Abol Bridge) then made my first left and walked about a quarter mile in the wrong direction. I came across Abol Falls. There I found a ranger/park board with a map on it. Shit!!! I wasnt on the trail. I back-tracked to Abol Bridge then made my first left again at the bridge and saw the blazes on the road. I followed it a short distance then made another left into the woods. And there is was!!! The entrance sign to the "hundred mile wilderness". After around three miles of rock and root hiking I reached Hurd Lean-to. I drew a cartoon and hung it in the lean-to then hiked through bogs, up hills, up streams, in streams, through hardwood and soft wood forests. I eventually came to Rainbow Ledge which is a group of large rocks overlooking a magnificant mountain vista. From there you can see a very nice view of Mt. Katahdin through the trees. I ran into Findin Peace, Webwalker, and Cheesewhiz there. After a bit we all hiked to Rainbow lake campground which is an unattended campsite along a lake. I ate, set up the hammock, watched the sun go down over the lake also. I drew a picture of the lake in the A.T. register (registers are notebooks hikers sign up and down the trail..usually at Lean-tos and shelters. Occasionally they are in the outhouses if there is no other available place to keep them out of the rain. Under the picture I wrote "A picture to brighten the scary pooper"...since I found the register in the outhouse. A little A.T. humor cant hurt!
Date: 2008-06-26
From: rainbow stream campground

To: wadleigh stream lean-to
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I was out of the hammock at 6:30am, ate, cleaned up and headed out with Cheesewhiz, Webwalker, and Findin Peace. It started raining immediately. The light shining through the forest is the nicest in the mornings. Its a favorite part of the day for me. I love the way the shadows are so soft in the mornings and they seem to just radiate energy in the forest. Today we hiked over a few mountains. One was about 1500ft and had a lookout at the top. I reached it and for the first time in a few days actually picked up cell service on my phone. I phoned back home and let them know everything was cool. I was atop Nesuntabunt Mt.- I then went a ways and came across Cressent pond about noon. Its was pretty vacant so I stripped and jumped in for a swim. The water was heaven after hiking some of those mountains this morning. I have blisters on both feet now and have been using moleskin. No pain-no Georgia as they say. My knees were hurting the first three days but have since become better. Foot placement is important in order to keep injuries down. I ended the day hiking alone and stayed at Wadleigh stream lean-to. Its rained like crazy tonight so I put my backpack into my hammock with me. Pretty awesome hiking day.
Date: 2008-06-27
From: wadleigh stream lean-to

To: Maher trail, Maher tote rd. mile 46 appx.
Miles today: 7.8

Just for the record I update this journal mostly with my cell phone. I will be spelling things incorrectly here and there but because I have a very limited battery life I do not go back and correct any spelling errors. Just for the record. I can always to that later.Oh...if anyone wants to write me directly ever my email address is bearwalker2008@hotmail.com. I will answer when I can. If you want to just leave me a quick note use trailjournal guestbook. And thank you everyone for all your comments. Very motivating! Woke up and moved on about 7:30am. The trail was very nice with long pine needles which are soft and nice under the feet. They also smell great. There was a few mountain assents but nothing major. The mesquitos and black flies kept me company along the way. There was a very nice trail along a river with pine needles everywhere. As I traveled, I stepped on a bog board and it moved sending my boot into the mud over the top. Lovely. The boot was caked with mud. I found a river and washed it off with my bandana (and yes..I then washed that and put it back on my head)..It was definately a walk in the woods from there to Maher trail (tote rd.) - Pretty flat with an average 580ft elevation. Tote rd. is at mile 46. Upon arriving there I saw a business card nailed to a tree for whitehouse landing and an arrow pointing to the left..(the left for southbounders that is..) The boat dock to whitehouse landing is 1.2 miles off the trail (.2 down tote rd then follow the blue blazes to the right). At the dock there is an airhorn. Blow it once. Its loud and echos across the lake. Pretty cool. I then sat on the dock and after about 5 minutes laid back on my sleeping pad. That was it..I woke up with Bill and his son ben in the speedboad next to the dock!Man...what a comfy dock bobbing up and down!! Great nap. Bill, his wife linda, and son ben own whitehouse landing. It is a very cool place to stop. There is a house for dining (I had the famouse one pound burger and scarfed this thing up like nothing)..it was absolutely awsome. They have short term A.T. supplies also. We stayed in the bunkhouse. The bunkprice includes a hot shower (yeaaahhh) and a AYCE breakfast. The shower felt great. I feel clean again.
Date: 2008-06-28
From: Maher trail, Maher tote rd. mile 46 appx.

To: near jo-mary rd. (stealth camp)
Miles today: 10.0

We all met for breakfast by eight a.m. Bill and Linda cooked up a great breakfast (eggs, bacon, blueberry pancakes, english muffins, coffee, o.j.) - It was fantastic and A.Y.C.E. also. I got in the speedboat with two guys section hiking the 100 mile wilderness (northbound). The morning hike started fine since I re-applied moleskin on both my feet to take care of the blisters. No problems at all until my shin splints started acting up a few hours later. That sucks. I pretty much finished out the day with a slow limp. Dinner and then into my hammock sure felt great. It rained today again. oh...I also saw a moose walking by mud pond. I was hiking down the trail and it ran from right to left and up a small embankment. I tried to get a good picture of it but since the moose was in the trees I kinda got a Bigfoot pic...you know...kinda grainy. I went up a few yard and stood on a rock in the pond and noticed the moose went around and into the water. He was standing there up to his neck so i got some ok shots of that. This was my first moose sighting so it was pretty exciting. I was pretty happy to finally see on of these maine moose. Stealth camped a bit past jo-mary rd.
Date: 2008-06-29
From: near jo-mary rd. (stealth camp)

To: east branch lean- to
Miles today: 11.8

It rained very hard last night. My hammock did not get wet though but a few of my fellow hikers had some water in their tents. I hiked alone most of the day. Kept a slow pace to let my left foot get a break. The top of it was aching with every step. I stopped at cooper falls lean-to and took a break. Webwalker (now calamity jane) and Finding Peace showed up while I was resting and also two SOBO's from north carolina. A very cool married couple. I hiked up Little boardman mountain (750 feet only but a ball buster)...Very nice view from the peak. I hiked past two gorgeous lakes (maines lakes are called ponds here)..then came to a spot where I was in a pine tree forest and the path was layered with soft pine needles. Great place. I rested there for a few minutes then continued on until East Branch lean-to. The married couple arrived and so did finding peace and calamity jane. I lost a pair of socks somewhere today. Probably put them on a branch to dry or something. I only have one pair left..haha. That sucks. The evening ended with a very heavy rain and lightning storm. Gotta love it.
Date: 2008-06-30
From: east branch lean- to

To: carl a. newhall lean-to
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: scattered clouds

woke up feeling refreshed. The sun was poking thru the trees casting those cool long shadows. Thats always nice early in the morning. I had breakfast (poptarts and coffee) and packed my gear. Of course, nothing dried last night because of the rain. I did have a good time hainging out with calamity jane and finding peace. This was the first time I slept in a lean-to. Finding peace and calamity jane were going back to a stream to look for one pole calamity jane dropped so I took off. The morning hike was magical. It started off going through a pine fojrest which looked as if it had been there since the beginning of time. Every step, boulder, log had bright green mose on it. It reminded me of landscape paintings the Hudson River School painters had executed years ago. I started the three mile climb up to the peak of Whitecap mountain. THe Assent followed stream beds, muddy paths (bogs), lots of boulders. This climb took some time. I saw a animal that looked like a bobcat when I reached the summit but it ran before I could take a photo of it. Whitecap mt. has a spectacular view. The climb was worth every step. Ended at carl a newhall lean-to.
Date: 2008-07-01
From: carl a. newhall lean-to

To: chairback gap lean-to
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: few clouds

Had a cold breakfast today. Started out at 0645 My shin splints killed me today but I am still making sure I do at least 10 miles per day. About an hour of hiking and the pain got excruchiating. I stopped and dried my gear by a nice stream for about an hour. Felt better and continued on. I ate lunch and noticed my food bag is running low. I should have enough to last until monson. I hope. I summited the Barren mountain range (mountains one after the other)I summited chairback mt. today also (1950ft). Chairback mt had another awsome view. There is a hand over hand boulder climb going up also. Pretty darn steep also but I think they are much easier than they look. It was fun. Just dont fall backwards or your toast. I then forded Pleasant river and the ice cold water felt so good running over my feet. I ended the day in my hammock at Chairback lean-to.