morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2023-07-05
From: US 2

To: Carlo Col Campsite
Miles today: 17.0

No one from White Birches wanted or was available to drop us off at the trailhead early, so Grit left to walk the 1.8 miles back to the US 2 trailhead around 5:30, and I left 20 minutes later. I started at the trailhead just after 6:30.After some road walking past a dam, there was a steep, but not especially difficult climb up to the Mahoosuc Trail junction around 8, which is also roughly where I hiked 1900 miles of the AT. I saw nothing special formed in the ground to mark the mileage though, which usually occurs at mileage that are multiples of 100.There was a nice view on the way up Cascade Mountain. Because it was a warm day, I stopped a little further up, at a flat spot in the shade, around 9:30. I passed by a couple ponds on my way to the Gentian Pond Shelter junction, which I in turn passed around 1.I got some water from a stream, but lost my watch somehow. I wanted to check the time, then realized it was gone. I use my phone to acknowledge times now.After a lunch break around 2 at another flat spot on the way up a climb between two streams, I had a strenuous but scenic climb up Mt Success, which I summited around 3:30. In another hour and change, I passed the NH/ME border, then took a break at a view on the way to camp.I got to camp around 5:30 or 6. Grit rolled in shortly thereafter, and so did Irish, who I first met at Beaver Brook Shelter on the way down from Mt Moosilauke about a week ago. It was great to have plenty of evening to hang out, and not many people crowding camp. I finished chores and turned in around 10.
Date: 2023-07-06
From: Carlo Col Campsite

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 9.5

I started a little past 6:15 today, after a time consuming 0.3 mile walk uphill out of camp.It was an interesting, scenic climb up and down the Goose Eye mountains. Because of all the interesting scrambles and views, it was also time consuming as I took photos. I saw Grit and Irish on the east peak around 8, and we took a group "selfie". I got to Full Goose Shelter around 9 and took a break, first with Irish, then when he left, with Grit when he arrived. I also got water, which was a 0.2 mile spur not mentioned in the guide, plus a pit stop. I finally headed out around 10.After climbing Fulling Mill Mountain, I descended to the south starting point of Mahoosuc Notch around 11:30. Between that and its northern endpoint, it is referred to as the most difficult mile on the trail. And it was interesting. For some reason, there was still snow under some small rock caves, so it was very cool at some points. It required scramble after scramble between boulders and through a few caves. Navigation was sometimes a little tricky, though there were enough markings to figure out where to go after a guess here and there. I think it took me two hours, because I took a bunch of photos, but I think most people get through it in 1 hour.After leaving Mahoosuc Notch, I really should have taken a break at the nice campsite in between the notch and the climb up Mahoosuc Arm. I had just figured that since I only hiked/climbed 2.7 miles, maybe I should go further. But it had been 3 hours, and I was getting low on energy. The climb took a while: 1200 feet in a mile, with plenty of rock slabs to climb through on the way up. I finally found a flat spot off trail on the climb up, and had a break there around 2:15, about 0.2 miles from the top.It was a longer break - I think I finished off the climb by 3:30. Then I descended to Speck Pond Shelter, where I arrived around 4:30. I was pretty exhausted. Unfortunately, there were two large youth groups -- one with 8 and another with 7, and on a Thursday -- there who took up most of the campsites. Since this was an AMC campsite, I was advised by a hiker to talk to the caretaker, who told me to sleep in the shelter.At 6, making dinner was crowded in the designated cooking area. Despite my short mileage day, I was famished. I ate dinner, then a candy bar, then a granola bar, then another candy bar, then some trail mix, then finally a few a hard candies to suck on.I tried to catch up on journal entries and read in the shelter, but it was a warm night, I was hot in my sleeping bag, and the light from my phone was bugging the other hikers there. I decided to turn in around 10.
Date: 2023-07-08
From: East B Hill Rd

To: Bemis Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 18.8

Last night, Grit and I were told that the earliest that a shuttle driver could take us back off at East B Hill Rd was 8. I needed the extra sleep anyway. I still woke up at 5, but went back to sleep for 90 minuee after a restroom run. Then, I wrote another journal entry, got my stuff ready to go, and headed into the main house for breakfast. I was disappointed to learn that all the homemade muffins were already eaten - apparently the first time it's happened, according to the lady. It was now 7:30. I headed over to the market, got a breakfast sandwich and blueberry muffin, and ate that plus an apple I'd saved from last night.The shuttle van came in at 8 and dropped me, Grit, and Irish off at East B Hill Rd just before 8:30. We hoped to shoot for Bemis Mountain Lean-to today. The first few miles weren't bad. On my way up Wyman Mountain, about 4 miles in, I ran into Plunger and Skippy at a small overlook, drying their gear after camping in the downpour last night. It was about 10:15. I took a brief break there and chatted with them. They were headed to dispersed camping a few miles of the Bemis Mountain Lean-to.I pressed on, passing the Hall Mountain Lean-to, and descending to Sawyer Notch around 12:30. Then there was a long, steep climb up Moody Mountain, which took about an hour. Then, a steep but reasonable descent to South Arm Rd, which required a ford across Black Brook right before the road. I took a lunch break there around 1:30 for 40 minutes, and also chatted with a SOBO for a bit.Around 2:15, I started up Old Blue Mountain, a 2200 foot climb over 2.8 miles, which took me until 3:45 to summit. I took an electrolytes break there. Then, after descending and some ups and downs, I got to Bemis Mountain at 6:15. I took another break there, and Irish passed by.I continued down the next 1.7 miles to Bemis Mountain Lean-to around 7:45, set up my tent, and finished up camp chores. I was happy to have my own camp and cooking area for the first time in a week or so. I retired around 10.
Date: 2023-07-09
From: Bemis Mountain Lean-to

To: Redington Campsite
Miles today: 25.7

I left around 8:30. It was drizzling. There was a sharp descent to Bemis Stream, which I had to ford.  Then there was an equally sharp ascent to ME 17. It was rough, and I was angry that I had to climb so much to get up to a highway, which I reached around 10:30.After another couple hours, I passed by the Sabbath Day Pond, then took a break and got water after two more hours near the Little Swift River Pond Campsite.The trail descending to ME 4 wasn't bad, so I got there around 4:30. I saw Irish with a hiking buddy at the parking lot. He said he was staying in Rangeley for the night. There was a forecast of two inches of rain tomorrow, so I assume he wanted to take a zero. I was getting sick of delays on the trail, and wanted to press on - either to the next lean-to, or over Saddleback Mountain. I would hate to have to hike over that in the rain.In the meantime, it was a warm, humid day. I walked down the road to The Hiker Hut. Gretl, a SOBO from Belgium, was manning the hostel while the owner was in town. We chatted while I had a cold Gatorade and a bunch of other snacks. She mentioned that she heard the major rain wouldn't start until tomorrow at noon. While I didn't want to bet only on that, it was good to know. I tanked up on water, and headed back to the trail around 5:30.It was a long climb up, but I passed a few ponds while ascending. Unfortunately, it was foggy above treeline. The trail was still easy to follow, but no views, really. I could see a little bit of the landscape in front of me - enough to know that Saddleback had plenty of false summits.I finally got to the summit around 8. By then, it there was a moderate drizzle/misting. I couldn't, and wouldn't want to camp above treeline, so I decided to keep going until I found a flat spot below treeline. I did not find one between Saddleback Mountain and The Horn, but instead went down and up lots of rocky scrambles.It was 9 and dark outside when I reached The Horn, and still misting. By now, it just made sense to head to the next designated campsite, Redington. It took another half hour to descend the 0.7 miles to the campsite junction. I found a spot, set up my tent, and cooked dinner in the vestibule. It was still misting. After a stop at the privy, I turned in around 11.
Date: 2023-07-10
From: Redington Campsite

To: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 10.7

Today, I was hoping to hike to a campsite past the Carabassett River. Bases on what Gretl told me yesterday, and the updated forecast I got on top of Saddleback yesterday, it still looked like the worst of the rain would start around noon.I started hiking at 6:45. There was a steep scramble up to and down from Saddleback Junior. I passed by Poplar Ridge Lean-to around 9 and had a brief break on Poplar Ridge. By now, it was showering.I passed across Orbeton Stream around 10:30 and saw the tall waterfall. Even in the showers, it looked pretty cool.After a brief water break, I began the long climb up to Lone Mountain. There were some cool cascading brooks along the way. After passing a couple roads, the climb became more difficult. I arrived at the summit around 1. There wasn't much of a view at the top of Lone Mountain through the fog and rain. By now, it was raining steady. Around 1:30, I found a flat spot on the way down the mountain to have a lunch break under my umbrella.I arrived at Spaulding Mountain Lean-to around 3. There were 3 people there. It was still raining steadily. I decided to take another break there, hoping the rain would either stop at some point, or would attenuate, which a town weather report suggested would happen around 4 or 5. The rain held up. Another person joined. I was getting cold, and the next campsite is 5 miles from here. I decided to stay in the shelter for the night, and started camp chores.After getting into dry clothes and starting to cook dinner around 6 or 7, Plunger and Skippy showed up. They were soaked, and asked if there was any more space left for them to stay there. We all squeezed together to make room for them - it would be a cozy night! After writing a journal entry and reading, I fell asleep around 10.
Date: 2023-07-12
From: ME 27

To: Little Bigelow Lean-to
Miles today: 15.3

As far as viewpoints are concerned, today was one of the best days on the trail. It was also sunny and clear today.I must have enjoyed my stay at Hostel of Maine a little too much, or just needed sleep, but I ended up not getting out of bed until about 8. I loved their continental breakfast - it was, for me, basically an AYCE buffet: bread and bagels with several spreads, cereal, oatmeal, coffee and tea, juice, homemade banana bread, hard boiled eggs with Sriracha sauce. I had a little of everything, plus the other half of my baby spinach leaves.I was finally ready around 9:45, and they dropped me off at the trailhead around 10. Late start, but I'd end at a suitable place, though I hoped to finish up the Bigelows today.After a couple miles of relatively flat stream crossings and yet more sloshing through mud slop, I climbed 2000 feet over 2.5 miles. There, I took a half hour break at a view of Bigelow Mountain around 12:30. In a matter of minutes, I descended along a gentle grade to a much better viewpoint of Bigelow Mountain with Horns Pond.Then, 700 feet of gain to South Horn in a half mile, followed by a descent, then ascent to Bigelow Mountain. I ran into the Maine section hiker from the lean-to and yesterday's crazy water crossing as I passed a campsite with a cabin. I grabbed some water at an otherwise unreliable spring, well supplied by the voluminous rainfall, right off the trail.I summited Avery Peak around 4, and took in the amazing views while taking another half hour break. Then, an 1800 foot descent to Safford Notch over two miles. On my way up Little Bigelow Mountain, I took a brief break at a view of Bigelow Mountain around 6:30, then continued up to the summit, then descended to Little Bigelow Lean-to, where I arrived around 8:30. I was glad to have a tent platform to myself close -- but not too close -- to the privy. Then after camp chores, I turned in around 10.
Date: 2023-07-13
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 17.7

Note: I completed the AT on July 23, and am just now, in October 2023, getting around to adding in my trail entries for the last 11 days of my journey.Not really an eventful day, but nice weather with some pleasant views at ponds.Today, I left around 8:30. I walked three pretty easy miles, a brief mile climb and descent, then a longer three mile climb and descent. On the way down, I took a break around 11:00. I thought I needed the break at that point, but then, I passed West Carry Pond after another 15-20 minutes of hiking.After another couple hours, I got to East Carry Pond, and followed the trail along the pond's perimeter. I took an hour long break just past a bunch of wooden planks. Then, I followed an easier section of the trail to Pierce Pond Lean-to, where I arrived around 7:00.Some SOBOs were using a skeeter log in the campfire. The sunset on the pond was beautiful. There was conversation about the trail sections, such as 100-mile Wilderness, the Kennebec River ferry, Monson, and Abol Bridge. It was pleasant, and I went to sleep around 9:30.
Date: 2023-07-14
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

To: Bald Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 18.7

Note: I completed the AT on July 23, and am just now, in October 2023, getting around to adding in my trail entries for the last 11 days of my journey.It was a pleasant, sunny day.I started the day around 8. Not two minutes in, I had to ford the stream flowing out of Pierce Pond. Even though there had not been rain for about three days, the Ford was still waist deep. Shortly thereafter, I took a look at the Pierce Pond stream falls.After a series of abrupt ups and downs along streams, and admiring some of the water flow on those streams, I arrived to Kenbebec River around 10. I couldn't believe it took me two hours to hike less than four miles, but then I guess I was taking my sweet time with photo ops along the many stream crossings.Part of the AT route requires being ferried across in a row boat; someone is paid by the ATC to do this for five hours each day during peak thru hiking months. And he was there then, rowing across the stream to ferry us hikers, two people at a time and one assisting with the paddling. Brute showed up while I was waiting and he was ferrying two others, so we ended up getting ferried together, getting across by 10:30.There was mostly gradual climbing over five miles, but with plenty of mud slop too. Around 1:30, I got to the Pleasant Pond Lean-to and had a lunch break for 45 minutes. Then, an 1100 ft climb over 1.3 miles up to Pleasant Pond Mountain, which took another 45 minutes or so. I took a short break there to reserve a bunk at Shaw's in a couple days.Then, mostly downhill to the Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to. Near a scenic powerline opening that overlooked Moxie Pond, around 6:30, I met Ziggy Twopacks, a section hiker from Pennsylvania. Then, an untroubling, but still annoying knee deep ford. I arrived to the lean-to around 8:30, retiring around 10:30.
Date: 2023-07-15
From: Bald Mountain Lean-to

To: Campsite at Lake Hebron
Miles today: 18.7

Note: I completed the AT on July 23, and am just now, in October 2023, getting around to adding in my trail entries for the last 11 days of my journey.I started around 8:30. After a 1300 ft climb over two miles, I got to the summit around 9:30. Unfortunately, it was foggy and showering. I still took a short break there. Then, a two mile, 1400 ft descent to the Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-to, which I passed around 10:30.The elevation profile for the rest of the day wasn't bad at an initial look, but there were three fords, and lots of mud. I was getting sick of the slick rock on the descents, and long stretches of muddy and rocky terrain. Some of the mud slop was knee deep, and all of it was enough to keep my feet wet whenever I was hiking.The first ford for the day, just past the lean-to, was knee deep, which I crossed around 11:15. About two hours and four miles later, I forded the west branch of the Piscataquis River, where I was waist deep, but with a much milder current than a few days ago. There were some unclear trail markings there, and I ended up fording more than I needed to.Around 3, I took a break by a view of some falls just prior to Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to. It was pretty, and had become a pleasant day, but I was looking forward to arriving in Monson tomorrow. I pressed on past the shelter, then around 5, I forded the east branch of the Piscataquis River, which was knee deep.A little before 7, I found a nice dispersed campsite off of Lake Hebron. Nice, except for the bugs, anyway. They swarmed me, though they weren't effective at their primary objective with my headnet, jacket, and socks and sandals. They still annoyed me during dinner though. I tried to kill them, but they kept returning, more and more quickly, like Tetris pieces in stage 9.I finished up camp chores and fell asleep around 9.
Date: 2023-07-16
From: Campsite at Lake Hebron

To: Monson
Miles today: 3.3

Note: I completed the AT on July 23, and am just now, in October 2023, getting around to adding in my trail entries for the last 11 days of my journey.My alarm went off at 5. I wanted to get to ME 15 between 8 and 8:30, so that I would be able to meet the shuttle driver from Shaw's hostel to take me there in Monson. After leaving at 6:30, I got to the trailhead around 8:15, and the shuttle driver and co-owner of Shaw's got there right at 6:30. By this time, there were showers. There were about ten people he was dropping off to start hiking through the 100 mile wilderness - including Plunger and Skippy! A past thru hiker who knows the 100 mile wilderness well, he gave them all a send-off and took their picture. I briefly chatted with Plunger and Skippy before they disappeared into the rain and I got into the van.I checked in, got a free can of Ginger Ale, and got my dad's package with my new fourth pair of shoes backpacking meals and food I in turn shipped to him at the beginning of my hike. Then some gear odds and ends. The mud and rocks over the past 405 miles or so ripped up my liner socks again. The only option was Injinji liners. I decided to give them a try. Being concerned about the rain forecast, I bought enough for seven days of food in case the threat of excessive rain pressed me to shorten my day, as it has done at least four times in the past three or four weeks.By then, it was pouring, but I wanted to check out the Monson General Store and other establishments. I set my pack and laid out my sleeping bag and tent near my bunk, then headed over there. I had a roast beef sandwich for lunch there, plus a greens salad with cranberries, walnuts, and feta cheese for lunch.I went next door to the art gallery and looked through the art of Alan Bray and poetry of Wesley McNair. Then I stopped in the ATC Visitor Center to get info on high routes for unsafe water crossings in the 100 mile wilderness after all the rain, in addition to information about camping in Baxter State Park and about making a plan after summiting Katahdin.The rain subsided a little. I had heard the Irving gas station in town had good pizza, so I ordered a 12" twisted bbq chicken pizza for dinner for take-out. It was an hour wait for the pizza, since many other hikers from Shaw's ordered pizzas there. The rain picked back up on my way back to the hostel, which was only 0.2 miles away. I dined with Irish and K-dog, along with some friendly section hikers from Florida.Then came time to fit 7 days of food I to my pack. It took me about a half hour, but I managed to make it fit. I weighed my pack. That, along with two 3.5oz fuel canisters, one which was half full, weighed about 43 pounds with no water.. yikes. It would be a haul. After some more chit chat and journal writing, I retired around 10:30.
Date: 2023-07-18
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-to

To: Carl A Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 20.9

Note: I completed the AT on July 23, and am just now, in October 2023, getting around to adding in my trail entries for the last 11 days of my journey.I started around 7:00, maybe a little after that. There was an 1100ish foot climb up to Barren Ledges. On the way up, I passed the trail junction to Barren Slide where there was supposedly a view. That trail was roped off with a sign that said it was closed, likely to damage caused by excessive rain. The view at Barren Ledges more than made up for that, I thought. Another sea of clouds with mountain tops as islands across the horizon. It was a great view after spending an hour hiking 1.3 miles.It took another hour to hike 1.8 miles to the summit of Barren Mountain. It looked like there could be a great view there, but I would have had to climb the beams of a tower which had no place for me to stand at the top, except maybe for perching on a beam. A half hour later, going downhill, I passed the junction to the Cloud Pond Lean-to. Since it was close to a mile round trip to see the pond, I just pressed on. I took a half hour break near some water at a dispersed camping area just beforeFourth Mountain Bog around 9:45 or 10.Then I climbed up Mount Three and Half, and passed along the cliffs of Third Mountain, where I saw Groot taking a lunch break around noon. It was a little early for me to take another break. After a brief descent, I climbed up Columbus Mountain around 1, then passed the Chairback Gap shortly thereafter, and summited Chairback Mountain. It was a pretty good view. Then there was an interesting, steep, rocky descent. I took a brief break but pressed on down the descent, because it had become more gentle.Around 4:00, I reached west branch of the Pleasant River that I had to ford. The Ford wasn't bad. It was waist deep, but the current was much slower. The guidebook mentioned that there is a slick rocky bottom. I've slipped though all the deep, swift current fords, so I just started down it. About halfway, I slipped and fell into the water. I walked more carefully across the river branch from then on. After I got across, I took a 40ish minute break and while eating, watched as a couple young women crossed. They did not slip.Around 5:00, I pressed on more, with the aim to get to the next lean-to. I was expecting a long, somewhat uncomfortable climb based on the guidebook elevation profile, but it wasn't bad. I passed by a junction to the Gulf Hagas, which is apparently a Maine treasure. I had hiked enough that day and seen lots of rapids, and just decided to press on. I followed a stream, which I think was the Gulf Hagas Brook, for the next three miles or so, until I got to a tenting area near the lean-to around 8. The water on the brook was rushing and deep at the crossing to the lean-to and privy, so I decided to save the crossing for tomorrow morning. I fell asleep around 10.