morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-14
From: Bald Mt. Lean-to

To: Caratunk ME
Miles today: 0.0

I hiked 13.7 miles from Bald Mt. Brook Lean-to to Caratunk ME. Once I got to rt. U.S. 201 in Caratunk I walked another 1+ miles south on the road. I was thinking about throwing my thumb out for a ride in to town, but never got around to doing it. I stopped at the small reservation office for Moxie Whitewater Rafting. The gentleman inside told me that I could find a bed and good food up the street about 2 miles. He said he was leaving to head that way in 10 minutes and he would give me a ride in his truck if I needed one. I accepted and waited outside while he finished up for the day. When we pulled in to Northern Outdoors Whitewater Rafting and Lodging I was struck with surprise and got really excited. I stayed with Northern Outdoors for my brothers bachelor party in 2007.I rented one of their small tent houses for $13. The tent was constructed from a wooden frame and covered in thick canvas. The tents were guaranteed to keep rain and bugs out which were my only 2 concerns.In the recreation center there was a live band, lots of drunk people and flat LCD tv's all around with different events on. I was a bit overwhelmed when I stepped in to book my stay. I ate a Mushroom Swiss Burger, sweet potato steak fries, 4 dinner rolls and a ceasar salad at the diner and drank 3 pitchers of water. I also did my laundry, took a shower and sat in the hot tub for about 45 minutes. A few off the staff were really interested in my trip and we had long conversations about it. Best $13 I ever spent. While at Northern Outdoors I ran in to Alex and Gretta, a couple that I had met earlier while in Monson. We agreed to hike together the next day. One of the staff at Northern Outdoors offered to bring us in to town for a food and gear resupply at 7am. Another staff member offered to shuttle us back to the trail head at 9 in the morning.Phoenix3"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-15
From: Caratunk ME

To: Carry Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Gretta and myself met one of the staff of Northern Outdoors in their rec. center at 7:15. I feel bad forgetting his name but I think it was Al. He was the EMT for the rafting trips and his Ford Explorer was jam packed with medical supply. He offered to take 2 of us about 3 miles in to town for a resupply before we left. He dropped us back off at the rec. center at 8:00. We offered him money but he refused.At 9:00 another kid who we had not met yet came to drive us to the trail head. All 3 of us crammed our packs in to the back of his small hatchback and he drove us to the trail head. He didn't give any signals that he would be looking for a tip so I told him how much we appreciated his help and thanked him. He was more than excited to help and wished us all luck.We hiked about .75 miles in to the woods and came to the Kennebec River. Signs had been posted over the last few miles cautioning hikers not to attempt fording the river. There were several hydraulic turbines up river that would release water every 20 minutes. The signs explained that there was no way to make it across the 75 yd. river without getting a flood of an unpredictable amount of water.At the river crossing ther was an orange fabric flag hanging toward the base of a tree. Removing the flag from the tree would signal the ferryman to come get you in his boat. The ferryman was already on our side. He had just brought a north bounder over 1 hr earlier.It was pouring rain out... it had been all morning. It really picked up while crossing the river. He had a 14' canoe and could only take 2 at a time. Alex and Gretta went first. Alex sat in the front and paddled as the bow man. Gretta sat in the middle with the gear.The ferryman returned 15 minutes later and I rowed over with him. Alex and Gretta waited for me and we took off.   We are now at West Carry Pond Lean-to. I set the pace during the hike. It was strange to be in front and continue doing everthing that it is I do when I'm alone. I began singing the Doors and completely forgot that Alex and Gretta were right on my tail. Everyone kept a good pace all day. We hiked 14.0 miles. Phoenix3"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-17
From: Little Bigelow 

To: Horns Pond
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Yesterday... I couldn't muster up the energy to dig out my journal. The three of us hiked 11 miles over some rough mountains. We hiked over 3 peaks in a row, all sharp inclines and sharp declines. We investigated a tent camp site between the peaks but the site was at 4000ft.. It was in the low 40's, the wind was bone chilling and there were thick, wet clouds rolling through. The forest was dark, everything was soaked and you couldn't see 25ft through the fog. We moved on to a lean-to that was over all of the peaks at 3650ft. It was still freezing and raining at this point. The camp area had a care taker. A care taker is someone who camps in a designated area and helps build and maintain the camping area. Jess (I think her name was) showed us the path to the privy (toilet), the path to the spring and the path to the lean-to. She came around later to register that we stayed at the site.As soon as we got to the lean-to it started to down pour. The thunder and lightning rolled through. The lightning was ultra bright at 3600 ft. The thunder was impressive. I kept thinking of how impressed I was with fancy stereo equipment in my other life... this thunder was Awesome! I enjoyed the storm because of the shelter. I did think of how crappy it would have been if I pitched my tent. All of my clothes were soaking wet. Even every last article was wet in my pack. I was freezing so I jumped in my sleeping bag to heat up. I got the bag wet. After dinner and some organizing I passed out. The rain had exhausted me. Phoenix3"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-18
From: Horns Pond

To: Stratton ME
Miles today: 73.3
Weather: light rain

Got going kind of late today. We didn't get on the trail until 10ish...that's pretty late by anyones standard. I woke up at 6am. The rain was still coming down hard. The fog was still thick and you could see your breath. The thermometer at the caretakers tent read 47 degrees.The hike today was only 7.6 miles. I hiked up front a litle bit further ahead. Mid day we all started to tempt each other with describing the most ideal situation when we reached town. I spoke of warm, dry clothes straight out of the dryer and a soft bed. Alex and Gretta talked about cheeseburgers with French fries and pizza.We reached Stratton ME at 4ish. The Hostel Owners name is Sue. She like everyone so far has been super nice. I am here in a house with Alex, Gretta, Will (thru hiker that we camped with 2 nights earlier) and an older gentleman who is heading North.Gretta went to the convenience/grocery store next door and managed to scramble up ingredients for an amazing chili. It cost a fraction of what dinner would have and filled everyone in the house. I had 3 large bowls, 1/2 bag of Tostitos, 1 pint of Coffee Heath Bar Crunch ice cream, 2 plums and 24oz. of orange juice. I love being a long distance hiker... I'm good for up to 6000 calories a day!I resupplied at the store. I bought more convenient foods than I have been eating. I got lot's of tuna and salmon in the tin zip bags. I also got Pop Tarts, lots of beef jerky, peanut butter, whole grain Power Bars, Kudos, trail mix and some dehydrated fruit mixes. I bought enough for 7 days. The next town that I will resupply is 7 days away in Andover ME.Everyone in the house is getting a ride to the trail head at 6:30am. Phoenix3"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-20
From: Spaulding Mt.

To: Popular Ridge
Miles today: 0.0

It was a decent morning. The sun showed itself for about 45 minutes while I waspacking up. I made rows of sticks to hang my wet clothes on in the little spotsof sun that shined through the trees. Then the sun went away... never to return.I felt good this morning. I did some upper body exercises and stretched thehell out of my legs. Shortly after making it on to the trail the thunder began to rumble. Thethunder has been teasing us and lashing out at us for almost 5 straight days.Today the sky opened up once again and dumped several hours of constant rain.The paths turned in to full flowing streams (again). The rocks, roots andwooden planks became slippery and visibility was minimal (again). It was in thehigh 50's all day.   The crew stayed together once again. We hike well together and have become verygood friends. Even in the rain day after day we manage to be smiling at the endof each day.The 4 of us are making a sort of emergency pit stop in the town of Rangeley MEon Sunday morning. We are not supposed to be in town until Andover ME in 4-5days. The reason we are stopping is because Alex's pack is broken and it isgreatly effecting his back. The metal support inserts that curve along the spinehave ripped through the bottom of the pack and are digging in to his lower back.I want to pick up a pair of gators at the gear shop in Rangeley. Rock Layer alsoneeds to pick up a mail drop package at the Rangeley post office. It is 8.5miles off of the trail and we plan to hitch a ride(s).I'm in Popular Ridge lean-to at 2650ft. It is pouring outside and there arehanging clothes on every nail in this structure. My boots and socks areabsolutely soaking wet. We had to ford another river this afternoon (OrbetronStream). I had no choice to go in with the boots and socks. Camp was 4 milesafter the crossing and I was wet from head to toe anyhow.I attempted to light a fire for the 3rd night straight and failed for the 3rdnight straight. I collected tons of Birch bark and Birch branches. I dideverything right and got a hot, blazing fire going. Then it began to down pour.The fire had no chance and I was getting soaked.It is raining right now and I am cold and tired. Going to sleep. 10 mile dayahead of me tomorrow. ~Santana~ (formerly known as Phoenix3)"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-21
From: Popular Ridge

To: piazza rock
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Generally I am not allergic to things. Generally I don't have reactions from things. For the past three days I have been in agony with a skin reaction from the soap I used in Stratton. I knew I shouldn't have used it. It was convinient and free. It looked like old hotel soap from the 60's.Every time my body gets worked up to a heavy sweat it feels like somone us rolling me around in fiberglass insulation ancd razor blades. My pack just rubs in to it and it burns.Other than all of that, today was one of my favoriter yet. I summited Saddleback Jr. Mt., The Horn and Saddleback Mt. today. Most of the hike was above 3000 ft. and walking a ridge line on clear, open mountain side. I felt like I was in Lord Of The Rings. The views were spectacular. I could not have asked for a better day weather wise. It was in the high 60's, clear and bright blue skies.I am at Piazza Rock Lean-to at the bottom of Saddleback. My friend Brad kept telling me before I left to think of him when hiking the back side of Saddleback and approaching Eddy Pond. He did some volunteer work out there on either the stone work on the stairs or erosion banks. I thought of him the whole way down and it got me excited to think that Brad might be joining me on the trail at some point, I'd love to have his company.There is an older gentleman who goes by the tyrail name Tex in the Lean-to. Tex is an north bounder. He has been section hiking the AT for 13 years. This is his final year when he summits Katahdin in a couple of weeks.We also met 2 more north bounders this morning... Donky Legs and Trans Fat. They ate a snack while we were packing up our lean-to. Nice guys, they told us not to feel bad that we were getting a late start on the day.~Santana~ (formerly known as Phoenix3)"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-22
From: piazza rock

To: Rangeley
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

When the crew hit Rangely this morning, the stop needed to be made with military precision. We needed to hit the laundry place, run to the grocery store and across to the post office... then hitch a ride back to the trail before 1pm.Our hitch in to town did not go so well. We walked for over 1hr. trying to flag every car and truck that sped by... no luck. We split in to 2 groups and walked .5 miles apart to expand our options smaller cars. Finally a woman and her son picked all 4 of us up in a Suburu Outback. Rock Layer and I sat with our packs on our laps and in our faces. ATG sat on Mangos lap and we crammed their gear in the back.The day was off to a late start. Laundry took twice as long as we expectred and we couldn't leave our packs in order to multi task.To make a long story shorter, we stayed in Rangeley after all. The 1st lean-to is 9 miles off the trail and we wouldn't have made it there by dark. additionally, the post office was not open on Sundays.The day became more difficult as the hostel was over 2 miles away from the center of town. There was no phone to use in the house and no one was getting reception. There was also no internet.I got to resupply my food at the local grocer (biggest town hit all trip so far). Bob, the hostel owner acted as our personal shuttle all afternoon. I did my laundry, I got to take a shower and I got to send a bunch of extra weight items home for Monday. The hostel cost $20. Even though $20 is a bargin for a comfortable bed and regular household ammenities, I need to keep an eye opn my finances.Groceries10 Ramen Noodles12 Caraboo Bars (granola, chocolate, coffee)8 Pop Tarts5 Tuna Packets6 Chocolate Meal Replacement bars6 Everything Bagles6 Travel JIFF peanut butters2 bags beef jerkey3 massive bags trail mix (hand made) Peanuts Cashews Almonds Raisins Apricots Strawberrys Apples Bannanas Cranberries Chocolate covered raisins Yogurt covered raisins Reeces peices M&M's 1 full box of organic granola   cereal   ~Santana~ (formerly known as Phoenix3)"by myself but not alone"------------------------------Allow us to help those in need, sell back your spare PocketMail a
Date: 2008-06-23
From: Rangeley

To: sabbath day pond
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We left Rangeley at 9:30ish. The post office did not open until then. I woke up at 6:30 and prepared pancakes for everyone. I had been raving about pancakes with candy (Resses Peices & M&M's) added to them for days. Since ATG had made chilli for the group last time, I offered to do the pancakes. The cakes were a big hit. Rock Layer has the biggest sweet tooth I have ever witnessed, he truly loves candy and chocolates and sugar in any form.Rock Layer left us this morning. He said he needed to do more miles. He went from 20 mile days and a 25lb. pack down to 10-12 mile days and a pack full of food and high calorie goodies when he met us... I totally understood when he broke it to us that he would be moving ahead. We all shook his hand and wished him well.ATG, Mango and I hiked just under 10 miles today. We arrived at Sabbath day Pond Lean-to at 6:45pm. I collected fire wood and bark to get the fire going... I crawled in to my misquito net inside the lean-to for some dinner (2 Ramens & tuna), then I awoke hours later to find everyone asleep and it was far to late for fire. I am exausted from the day.This is by far the worst site that I have been at during all of the trail in regard to misquitos. Or the worst misquito situation I have EVER seen for that matter. At any given moment you could swat your hand in front of your face and hit at least 10. They are hovering all over the place and biting any exposed skin. I am in long pants, 2 pairs of socks, long sleeve with zip up turtle neck, gloves with no fingers, a bandanna and my head net. The are still getting me on my wrists and back of my neck.~Santana~"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-24
From: sabbath day pond

To: Bemis
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Not really much going on today. I hiked with ATG and Mango again. We hiked from Sabbath Day to Bemis Mt. Lean-to. My ankle felt a little bit better today. I felt like I could do many more miles. I think a couple of additional light days would be good for it.We made smores over the fire tonight. I have been carrying the grahms and chocolate since Rangeley. You feel every oz. of weight when hiking... we are trying to eat ALL of the smores. Thankfully Don Juan (north bounder) and another young guy who is bird watching contributed to eating them. I am full, I am tired.
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Bemis

To: Hall Mountain
Miles today: 0.0

I'm in Hall Mt. Lean-to at around 2700ft. There are several hares running around the site. These are exceptionaly large bunnies with long back legs and they are quick as hell. I got a couple of decent pictures.Today was brutal. I'm not sure what happened. Mango, ATG and myself hiked 13 miles. The morning started with summiting Bemis Mountains 3rd peak, then Bemis Mt., then Elephant Mt., then Old Blue Mt. These were the tallest and seemingly the most challanging (according to the map) of the day... but no... There was inconspicuous Moody Mt. Only weighing in at 2600ft. we never saw it coming. Getting up Moody was no problem, it was like any other mountain. Coming down Moody was hell. I felt like we were climbing down construction rubble. Everthing was all over the place. The trail was STRAIGHT DOWN! I found myself actualy turning around and crawling down using all fours. The constant weight being shifted from one foot to another with the weight of the pack was doing a number on my feet and knees. I fell several times, God only knows how I didn't seriously injure myself.My joints had hurt to much to stop for a break on Moody. Every time I stopped moving I would seize up like an old motor. I kept moving forward until I hit the bottom. When Mango and ATG showed up I realized that my trip had been a walk in the park compared to theres. ATG was bleeding pretty bad from her wrist and elbow... she was also swearing up a storm which is unlike her, so I know she had been through allot. Mango was also swearing up a storm... but it's expected. He was telling me about the several times that he fell and basically almost died. He also twisted his knee and got his foot cought in some rebar.We patched up ATG, took a break, refilled our water at the bottom of the mountain and proceeded to climb 1200ft. to the summit of Hall Mt. Our lean-to was within .5 miles of the summit... thank God.The others are asleep, I am tired as usual and all of the bugs are accumulating around the light from my head lamp. Going to sleep!14 miles ahead of me tomorrow. Looking to get to Baldpate Lean-to.   ~Santana~ "by myself but not alone"Delete
Date: 2008-06-26
From: Hall Mountain

To: Frye Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

So we didn't make it to Baldpate. We hiked a little over 10 miles to Frye Notch Lean-to. Tomorrow morning we are hitting 3 peaks of Baldpate mountain. We ascend 1500 ft. first thing. Today was a good day. No injuries, no falls and no gear mishaps. We got through our mileage fairly quickly. When we hit Frye Notch we decided to quit while ahead. We figured we would use the afternoon to recover, wash laundry in the stream and light a fire.It is 9:30pm now. We did wash our laundry and we also lit a fire with a clothes line above to dry everything. A father, his daughter and her boyfriend just showed up to the lean-to a couple of hours ago. They fed us some cucumbers, hot dogs and the 3 of us shared a Pepsi. It just started to downpour. Mango ran out to the fire and retrieved all of our clothes before they were drenched by the rain.The destinatiopn is Spec Pond Shelter tomorrow. It's a little over 10 miles.I am overstuffed this evening and ready for bed. The heavy rain sounds nice on the roof of the lean-to.~Santana~ "by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-27
From: Frye Notch

To: Spec pond
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Made it to Spec Pond. Old Spec Mt. was a killer. We began the day by summiting two peaks of Baldpate Mt. It was an eyeopener at 8:15am. Both peaks were covered in fast moving fog with leass than 15 ft. visibility.I felt good this morning and felt like hiking fast. I sped ahead of Mango and ATG. I was pushing myself harder than I had been with the group. I began to play games with my endurance. I would focus on my breathing and try to conserve energy. I only stopped for breaks when my legs began to feel clumsy. A break consisted of 16oz. of water and 20 deep breaths. I ate a meal replacement bar and a chocolate granola bar.Old Spec Mt was a 2000 ft. vertical climb from Grafton Notch. I met with ATG and Mango for lunch at the paved road in the bottom of the notch. I ate an everything bagel with a disposable cup of Jiff peanut butter. I also ate several peices of jerkey, a handful of trail mix and a Twix bar that Mango gave me.I challanged myself to do the 2000ft. climb with minimal breaks. I wanted to see how fast I could conquer Old Spec. I told ATG and Mango that I was moving ahead. Old Spec was relentless. It just seemed to keep going. Staircase after staircase of large stones, Lunge after lunge, root after root. I slipped in to a zone and got lost in my sweating and breathing. I didn't take many breaks and when I did I was consious of the time. It took me about 2.5 hours to do 3.7 miles with 2000ft. elevation gain. Nothing to brag about, but I think this is how I will hike as often as possible... improving my endurance. I feel like I am agressively acomplishing the mountain rather than allowing the mountain to beat me up.I ate 2 Teriaki Ramens for dinner. I vowed to quit eating Ramen Noodles at my next resupply. They are toxic and everything I am against. I am getting comfortable in my new mountain life and want to improve my diet by 100%. When we hit Gorham on Monday I want to focus more on dehydrated fruit rather than candy. I want to get Cliff bars rather than processed sugar granola bars and I want whole grain breakfast oatmeal rather than Quaker. Gorham has a Shaw's Supermarket and I am hoping that they have a more healthy selection of foods than the small towns that I have stopped in so far.Going to bed with light still otside at 8:45. Going as many miles as we can tomorrow. ~Santana~ "by myself but not alone"