morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Hurd Brook lean to

To: Rainbow Stream lean to
Miles today: 11.5

Day 5 oh my gosh!!! Beautiful scenery today...and we had to step over every bit of it. The early climb of the day was not bad but once at the top the scene of Katahdin was just fog so we pressed on. We met another nobo whose name was D-Do It. He said that once he's finished he will be D-Done It. He asked for some sugar to help kill his craving for alcohol so I gave him one of our honey sticks. All day we have been leapfrogging with Dan and his granddaughter Alexis. She's very young, almost 19, and was feeling homesick. Her pap, as she calls him said to at least give the wilderness an honest attempt and that if she wanted to go home still then he would put her on a bus and continue on by himself. They're both really nice people to hike along with.The main challenges today were three things: 1) Shadow walking on Holly's heels. She nearly tripped her a thousand times. 2) the constant pits of deep wet mud...Arghhhh!! 3) the beautiful cypress forest, ROOTS!!! Those last two things really slowed down our 11.5 mile day. Longest day yet in an attempt to make our resupply on time. We can already tell a difference in our bodies but at the same time we still get frikin tired, sore and worn out. It's usually our feet and ankles, mixed in with a little hip for good measure.Finally making it to the Rainbow Stream lean to, we saw an amazing view of it on the stream. There's a bunch of tent sites up on the hill behind but they're not very level. A hammock would be much more ideal here. I really like our tarp tent but my sleeping mat sucks. It's the Thermarest neo air, 3/4 length. The air mattress itself is not a problem but it's virtually a slip-n-slide on the tent's silnylon floor. A full night of rest continues to elude me, but I am a hunter and will soon figure out where it's hiding. On the plus side we saw a cow moose at the beginning of Rainbow Stream.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Rainbow Stream lean to

To: Wadleigh Stream lean to
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 6- 8 miles today up and down Nesuntabunt mountain. This has been by far the most continually steep up and down hill grades so far. The four of us were spread out hiking at our own paces today and Holly and I shared the lead. She is strong going down hill and me up. But the last three miles I had to use my poles because my right hip was having severe pain and weakness. We were last to leave camp at 9am and were passed by one other hiker on a twenty mile day.Lynn, Cave Girl, was usually far behind and out of sight. But you could always hear her, "Shadow! Stay! Shadow, wait!!" And of course Shadow doesn't listen and she takes on down the trail after Holly and I. I eventually got fed up with the dog and so I told her firmly to SIT and STAY. And guess what? She did.But Shadow is becoming a problem by pulling to hard on the leash and dragging Cave Girl too fast too soon. I think Cave Girl is not enjoying the trail as much as she was hoping she would with Shadow. We're camping near Dan and Alexis. We talked for hours about lots of stuff. We really enjoy their company. Our friend Nehemiah has got a lot of the hiking bubble here at Wadleigh Stream lean to in high hopes for burgers and pizza tomorrow at some Landing. We shall see!!
Date: 2016-06-08
From: Wadleigh Stream lean to

To: Potaywadjo Spring lean to
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: broken clouds

Day 7- The trail knew what we all needed today, which was a fairly flat terrain. But don't think for a moment that the trail was free from roots and rocks, no no. The whole bubble of 15 sobos were high tailing it to get to the Blue blaze for Whitehouse Landing but when we got there we found a note from Jolly Rancher that the owners were out of town and that there would be no burgers, no pizza. Turns out that they were three hours away and said that they would come if we could wait and agree to stay the night. We didn't wait. Whitehouse Landing lost out on about $1500 today, according to my calculations. My guess is that they aren't in season except for the nobos.This morning we got up early and actually hit the trail at 7:15am. That made all the difference. We weren't last arriving in camp and we had time to do our camp chores at our leisure. We showed up around 2:30pm. Not too bad for 10.1 miles, and yes, I count every tenth mile. Cave Girl and Shadow got in last about half an hour after us. She had a good day until she fell in the mud up to her knee and got stuck. Somehow she got out. Her attitude is surprisingly positive for what she's experiencing out here. Shadow is ready to die at the end of each day. I'm not sure what they'll do after the wilderness. Holly and I both really look forward to arriving in Monson. We plan on staying at the Lake shore House. We hope to get cell reception on the top of one of these forsaken mountains to make reservations. Some other hikers shared their food with us trying to lighten their load. Holly and I are both fed, warm, and ready for bed just after 8pm. The wilderness can be extremely daunting. You have to make the mileage depending upon your food supply, no matter how treacherous the trail is. We have a zero day coming up in four or five days. Looking at our food that we have, we'll just be squeezing out of the wilderness just in time. We also look forward to tomorrow because we pick up our stashed resupply bucket with the next six days of food. And right before White Cap Mountain.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: Potaywadjo Spring lean to

To: Cooper Brook Falls lean to
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: few clouds

Day 8- Hit the trail at 7:15am on the dot for the second day in a row! Rolled into the Cooper Brook Falls lean to eight hours later. The terrain was perfect today. Holly slipped once and her weight went back on one leg affecting her hind muscles. Today was very windy and cold. I hiked in my down shell all day and am still wearing it. This morning was 39 degrees Fahrenheit, but wasn't too bad while moving around doing camp chores. I think tonight will be colder. Dan and Alexis passed us and grabbed a great tent pad. We got the best ones because they were slightly past the shelter. It's really nice that they were looking out for us.Nehemiah, now dubbed Karma, shared some of his food with us and others. Marbles also shared with us, and I wasn't even asking. They both get their resupply tomorrow and needed help lightening their packs. Holly and I were almost to camp when we found out that Karma found Cave Girl, my sister, less than three quarters of a mile into the hike. Apparently Shadow refused to walk any further. Cave Girl was getting really stressed out about it and with Karma's help, they walked back to camp and then three tenths of mile more to a road where they called out for a ride. Then Karma hiked back, got his stuff, and finally made it here later. Nehemiah has a rare selflessness that is very much appreciated.Meanwhile, we're looking at the guide book and realize that we won't get to Monson for another seven days and Lynn is in a comfortable bed with a hot shower in Medway!! We have one zero day coming up and were going to be short on food but with the extra our fellow hikers shared with us we will be just fine.Last bit of the evening: three dudes just changed into swimming trunks and jumped in the swimming hole. It's frikin freezing!!
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Cooper Brook Falls lean to

To: Logan Brook lean to
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

Day 9- We left after eight o clock this morning bound for the Logan Brook lean to. Today was the first day that we finally started to feel a difference physically. We felt better and stronger and because of that we used our energy and still got way tired miles before the end point for the day. We had miles of hemlock forest, the kind you see in a wall calendar and wish you were there...no you don't. That forest never ended! It was the hemlock forest of doom and despair. Once we got out, three million miles later, we still had to climb two thirds the way up White Cap Mountain. That was like forty degrees for hours. And the temperature dropped continually. Well our hiking buddies, Dan and Alexis who arrived first, told us that the only good tent sites were a tenth mile before the lean to. So we squeezed all three tent's into a small area of flat gravel. Afterwards, I realized that there was a dead birch tree leaning over our tent's, yikes!! Don't worry, we didn't die.Anyways, Dan and Alexis got their trail names. Dan is always saying stuff like ,"isn't it great to be here? There's no better place to be right now." So his name is Brightside. Alexis however, fell off one of the bog boards and onto her back. She couldn't move as she was stuck on her backpack in the mud. Brightside thought this was quite funny and she is now known as Bog Turtle. But she's had enough of this wilderness and will be going home after Monson.Tonight was cold.
Date: 2016-06-11
From: Logan Brook lean to

To: Carl A. Newhall lean to
Miles today: 7.2

Day 10- Even though we were two thirds up White Cap Mountain, we were still two hours from its summit. Oh my gosh!!! This mountain was straight up! The top afforded great views and we quickly found the others and sat down with them for a break. This was one of four mountains today. At the top everyone said that they have been referring to us amongst themselves as The Beekeeper and Honey Bear, and thus we were dubbed our trail names. The next mountain in the range we were hiking was Hay mountain, then West Peak, and the last was Gulf Hagas Mountain which I called Grand Nagus Mountain. Each mountain was less tall than the last BUT each up and down was more steep than the last. Holly's toes kept being pushed, battered and bruised on the down hills. Pretty much the day sucked a fatty. But we're finally here at the Carl A. Newhall lean to with a sketchy couple and their dog, but at least they had a nice warm fire going. The only annoying thing really was their dog was chasing squirrels, off leash, and ripped through one of our guylines, ripping one of our seams. I was so annoyed! I tried to fix it with melted beeswax and some repair tape from Brightside.On the plus side, our lower elevation and south facing side of the mountain made for a fairly warm evening comparatively. And again, this lean to has horrible tent sites so Brightside and Bog Turtle squeezed room for us again. Thanks guys.
Date: 2016-06-12
From: Carl A. Newhall lean to

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Day 11- Zero day reflections: today was freaking cold and windy. We woke up to rain. Everyone in camp made today a zero day. We stood around the fire for most of the day just socializing, which was actually nice. Before starting this trip I was really hoping that we would have the trail virtually to ourselves. Turns out there are a lot more sobos than expected. Ironically, it's the socializing that gets a person through this experience mentally. Today's particular ingredients of weather make Holly and I want to quit but we feel quite sure that we cannot judge the entire AT experience on the wilderness and Maine, the most difficult part of the trail.Suffice it to say, we both look forward to Thursday afternoon when we emerge from this wilderness, and get to the Lake shore House in Monson. There will be hot showers, warm beds, blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup and eggs, and burgers. It's really strange but I find myself thinking, "what if Monson runs out of food before we get there? I hope they have enough." We can make it, we can do it!! I'm pretty sure it's in the thirties tonight.
Date: 2016-06-13
From: Carl A. Newhall lean to

To: Long Pond Stream lean to
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Days 12 & 13- The stats: From the Carl A. Newhall lean to we went over Chairback Mountain, ending at Chairback Gap lean to in 9.9 miles. Then the next day from that lean to over four mountains ending at Long Pond Stream lean to in 11.4 miles. It's almost impossible to describe the pain and torture that these mountains left impressed on our minds and feet. Our feet truly were kept from being dashed upon a stone, as we're our skulls. Instead of trying to recount the most arduous and crippling last two days to you, instead I invite you to join me in reading the following letter addressed to the state of Maine: Dear Maine, I believe we have had a misunderstanding. You see, this ever so popular Appalachian footpath is called a trail for a reason. I encourage you to get a dictionary, any dictionary, and look up the meaning of the word "trail." While you're doing that I would like to explain to you what a trail is not- a trail is not a moose path meandering through the craggy forest boulders; a trail is not a stream bed full of water and mud; and lastly, a trail is not a mountain stream whose eroding reveals every toe stubbing and hiker tripping rock and root. If you only had two or three weeks to make a trail, as the rumor goes, why oh why would you create the most impossible route over every high elevation that Maine has too offer!?!? Wouldn't you have sought out a nice meandering footpath along the forest floor? Until you have complied with the actual guidelines of a true trail, I hereby dismember you from the Appalachian trail, which as of now ends/begins at the Maine/New Hampshire state line. I say good day.
Date: 2016-06-15
From: Long Pond Stream lean to

To: Lakeshore House
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: light rain

Day 14- Wow!! Two weeks on the trail and twelve of those in the hundred mile wilderness. Well, we are currently in a comfortable bed at the Lakeshore House. We weren't due to be here till tomorrow! So what happened? We woke up in the Long Pond Stream lean to this morning after a four mountain day ending with a 1200 foot decrease in altitude in the last murderous mile of the day. We started this morning with the goal of 12 miles ending at the Leeman Brook lean to, but we only made it 5.1 miles of the trail. The problem was the wear and tear on our feet over the previous two days. Holly's calf muscle and my Achilles heel slowed us down so much we were hiking with extreme pain from over used muscles. Every 80 degree uphill and downhill sent Holly into a crying rage. We were afraid of the overuse turning into a bad injury. We were trying to remain positive because the sun, for the first time since we started hiking, made an appearance accompanied by a blue sky. But it got so bad for us both that we didn't think we would make camp by sundown. So somewhere around mile three of the day I made the decision to call the hostel. I asked if they could get us out of the wilderness early. They said yes and told me where to meet them at an agreed upon time and place. So we still had to hike a mile and a half to the railroad tracks, at which point we hiked another two miles southeast on the tracks, feeling crippled and broken the whole way. We officially left the trail today at mile 104.5; mile 89.5 of the hundred mile wilderness. We are both showered, well fed, have our resupply, clean laundry, and a comfortable bed. We will decide tomorrow what our plan of action will be next. Until then we need to heal before making any decisions that are too easy to make right now, (quitting!) They all say that Maine is the hardest part, and we don't want to judge the entire trail based upon Maine's pathetic attempt at a trail.Btw, it's great to see all the encouraging comments in our guestbook. Thank you so much!
Date: 2016-06-16
From: Lakeshore House

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 15- What to do? Well we're taking a zero day to heal up and figure out what we're going to do. I believe that our attitudes have healed during our stay in Monson, because we have decided to forge on. But, our bodies are not yet convinced. Holly and I both have a swollen ankle/heel. We can't zero forever, but we also should not hike ourselves into more permanent injuries. The thought of figuring out travel arrangements out of here and off of the trail is not appealing. We do have everything that we need to keep hiking and at a leisurely pace too, but again, if it hurts to walk to the bathroom then what's the trail going to be like with a 30 lb pack? Anyways, for those of you who are wondering, hikers can stay at Shaw's or here at the Lakeshore House in Monson. If you like the hiker hostel environment and want room to set up your tent in the yard with a fairly nice gear/food resupply then Shaw's is for you. If you're looking for comfort and a very social environment, say like a downstairs pub and restaurant then try the Lakeshore House where we are. Then there's Brightside and Bog Turtle; they rolled in today and are staying a mile and a half away at something called 100 mile wilderness hostel or something. That place is for those of you who would like silence and privacy. They'll even shuttle you into town here for food. Our stay here has been really great. It's open Mic night downstairs, which is a pretty nice background to the evening from our room.For now we are packed and ready, but for what I do not yet know. Tomorrow will hopefully bring the answer...right after an all you can eat blueberry pancake breakfast with eggs at Shaw's! Think healing thoughts.
Date: 2016-06-17
From: Lakeshore House, Monson

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 16- This morning was gorgeous! The weather is simply beautiful today and the swelling in my heel is down by half. I grounded/earthed today sitting on the dock with my feet in the Lake. I've also been applying sore muscle rub by Badger Balm and it's helped a lot. So we've decided that tomorrow morning we will take the shuttle to the trail head and keep going. Our next resupply is in Caratunk but now that we're out of the wilderness we are going to take our time and shorten our daily mileage. Hopefully this will allow our bodies to build up at a more appropriate pace.Holly and I headed back to the dock and I stuck my feet in the water again this afternoon after a nice restful nap. Two planes landed on the water and docked, so that was cool to see. My pains are making bigger strides in feeling better today. We skipped lunch because we're still full from breakfast and we're trying to save some money. It's not so much the hostel fee that breaks the bank, it's the food. Brightside and Bog Turtle invited us to supper tonight at a bbq joint. I hear they have collards!!So I just found out that the bbq place is closed. Rumor is that they ran out of food, whatever that means. Someone forgot to restock...oooh. So we shared supper here at the hostel instead, which was great. It is now time for a special announcement: Pete's Place. It's literally right next door. It's a mom and pop store if I've ever seen one. They have amazing food! Breakfast that you cannot finish and Gifford's ice cream. They have a small resupply for food with good choices but not much gear. We did get another fuel canister for our jet boil stove though. The owners are very friendly and they bake their own breads and pastries on site. Their pancakes are HUGE! You can get real maple syrup too. One of their breakfasts is called the 100 miler. If you finish in an hour you get your picture on the wall. I did not even try it. They serve breakfast and lunch. If you're in this area you must go to Pete's Place.Holly and I are in for the night and I have mapped out our next 6 days. They are all between 5-7 miles each day with one zero stuffed in there for good measure. Next stop, Caratunk.Thanks to those signing the guestbook, Plank, for your experienced wisdom and encouragement, Frail Angel and my mom for their words of encouragement always, Dory, for wishing us luck with our debit cards, and my best friend Travis who is much wiser than I. He knew better than to do what I am doing and I hope he's at home sitting on the couch playing video games.
Date: 2016-06-18
From: Trail head, Monson

To: Horseshoe Canyon lean to
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 17- Rebekah, the owner of the Lakeshore House, dropped us off at the blue blaze to the trail head at 7:30am. It was really great getting to know her a little bit. She never pressured us into our nightly fees or registration when we arrived. She simply got us some ice cold tea, showed us to our room, and told us where the shower was so that we could settle in and relax. I highly recommend staying at the Lakeshore House, especially because it's right next door to Pete's Place.We ate leftover pancakes, banana, and an oatmeal cookie for breakfast. I'm still slow and stiff today but hope to take it easy since our mileage is low today. It was 5.6 miles to the Horseshoe Canyon lean to on some of the best terrain we've seen so far but it took us nine and a half hours to do it, which is less than one mile per hour. We took several breaks at a much more reasonable pace and I soaked my feet at least three times along the way. At the Ford today we took an hour break because our bubble caught up with us. Our bubble consists of Karma, Whiskey, Bubbles/Pancakes, Jolly Rancher, and Acorn. They are all pushing on tomorrow while we take our scheduled zero day at the lean to. The day wasn't too bad except for one flaw in the slaw, as Roscoe P. Coltrane likes to say. We came upon a really picturesque forest of trees on our left. I got the camera out and snapped a picture. We then continued down the wide path, which was oddly yellow blazed. A quarter mile later we came to MA 85, a dirt road not on any map. There were three guys on atv's taking a break that tried to help us figure out where we were. None of us knew so we headed back up the way we came. Holly went on ahead of me and when she got to the same spot where we took that picture she noticed that we had had our backs to a cairn, a Appalachian trail sign, and a double white blaze that we missed because of the picture taking. Ughhh!! So it could have been worse than a half mile out of the way. So that sucked. And just to add to that, and to break up the monotony of a perfectly level trail, the MATC decided to place the lean to way off the trail on a nice steep climb away from any convenient water source. I know, the MATC today did not route the trail here, but you gotta give credit to somebody.