morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-08-28
From: Trident Col Tentsite

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

The ground around Trident Col Tentsite was saturated with water from the resent rains. Red and I packed our wet gear and left the tentsite early.I had lunch at the Gentian Pond Shelter with a great mountain valley view. The rock formations weathered by millions of years of wind, water and cold, still held a rugged beauty. Somewhere below the shelter the pond's outlet could be heard cascading down the notch.The climbs are beginning to get more physical and demanding. The degree of angle has been increasing both on the ups as well as the downs. The trail welcomes you into Maine with the introduction of roots, mud, rock face and boulders or a combination of the four. The one I like the least is the combo of roots and mud. My timing is off because of the constant re-adjustment for each step. Foot placement is not always constant. A decision must be quickly made before a foot falls to either step on a root or a space in between the roots full of mud. Or, the trail is a deep mud bog with tree roots scattered about so I am navigating over the bog on wooden planks, new, old and broken.There are times when it is just as easy to walk on top of the bog several inches deep in mud. I could see heavy rains making these mud bogs a challenge to get through. In the early afternoon I crossed over into my last state, Maine at 1897.7 miles from Springer Mt, Georgia. Southern Maine greeted me with climbs up Mt. Carlo (3565 ft) and the Goose Eye Mountain east peak (3790 ft).The climb up Goose Eye was stimulating. I was hiking over various terrain with a bright sun and a strong breeze at my back. The higher I went the more rock I had to climb and the fir trees got smaller. I was excited about the climb and had a feeling something special was about to happen. Suddenly, as I reached the summit I became exposed to the vastness of the mountain scenery before me. I had to stop, catch my breath, and take a step back to prevent me from getting vertigo. I touched the ground to make sure I was grounded and not having another one of my dreams about flying. The next mountain before me was tremendous and the space between me and that mountain measured in miles. And yet it looked like I could reach out and touch the green rolling ridges. The wind whipped around my body charging it with energy. The late afternoon sun is still putting out powerful rays as it sets in the west. It was at that moment that I punched my fist into the air and yelled into the wind, "That's why I go backpacking!"The last rays of sunlight faded as Red and I reached Full Goose Shelter. Sitting there was Captain Slick and MacGuyver a hiking companion of Red's.It was good to know that there will now be four of us going through Mahoosuc Notch and the mountain Mahoosuc Arm tomorrow.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-08-31
From: East B Hill Rd. Andover, ME

To: South Arm Road Andover, ME
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: few clouds

Captain Slick came into the hostel when Red, MacGuyver and I were digging into our banana boats. Slick likes to call us (Red, MacGuyver, myself and the Captain) as Team Alpha. The team decided to use the shuttle service to hike from East B Hill Road to South Arm Rd. then come back to the hostel.The only bright spot of the otherwise boring hike was in the beginning of today's hike when we came to Surplus Pond. This was another beautiful pond surrounded by mountain scenery.The other thing I'm noticing in the forest is the leaf color changing from bright green to now a yellowish color, the beginning stages of fall foliage. Fall is only a few weeks away and the mountains will be painted in Reds,oranges yellows and browns.The rest of the hike was rather uneventful hiking over roots and mud bogs. David from the Pine Ellis Hostel met us with a pitcher of cold lemonade at the trailhead.All hikers are glued to news of the pending weather caused by Hurricane Earl. We are entering a stretch of mountain ranges that can be very dangerous in inclement weather.Hopefully, we can beat the weather system and hike over the Saddlebacks before the storm arrives in the area.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-09-01
From: South Arm Road Andover, ME

To: Bemis Stream
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Left Pine Ellis hostel at 9:30 and was on the trail by 10:15am. Captain Slick did a slack with us so he could pick up his new shoes this afternoon back at the hostel. The three of us Red, MacGuyver and I were going to continue up the trail and met Captain Slick in a couple of days. As soon as we entered the woods from South Arm Rd. the trail went up Old Blue Mountain.What made the hike up Old Blue so tiring was the heat. I find myself, of all the places, Maine, involved in yet another heat wave. Temperatures were going into the low 90's. Schools have started in Maine and some of the classes were dismissed because the room temperatures were going into mid to high 80's. Schools do not have A/C simply because they don't need that appliance for one week a year. Another observation of the heat wave is in the air. Clouds of pollution particles create a haze that diminish mountain views.Old Blue had one of those hazy views from the summit. After climbing Old Blue the day was spent walking over around and in between the Spruce tree roots. The exposed roots caused by erosion were slippery if stepped on and broke up any rhythm I was trying to create during my hike. When roots were not messing with my hike, mud and boulders would slow down my gait.Spent most of the afternoon in a Spruce-alpine environment. The trail followed along several rock tablelands that make up the Bemis Mountain chain. The stunted tree growth and the high mountain plateau reminded me of some of the hiking I did out west.The hike down Bemis Mountain was slow going. Foot placement was crucial to avoid slipping on the slick algae rock face and yes the roots. Stopped for the night with MacGyver and Red along the Bemis stream.The steep descent made my knees scream for mercy, as it did for the girls (MacGuyver and Red. The screaming came to a low roar as I started making camp by the stream. It had been awhile since I cooked over a fire so I collected driftwood from the stream and at nightfall had a small fire glow encircling our camp.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-09-02
From: Bemis Stream

To: ME 4 Rangeley, Me
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

The miles today were going to be rather easy once we got over ME 17. Red, MacGuyver and I were up and out of camp at 7:30 am. Our first break was located on Long Pond on a sandy beach. Being a Florida boy I had to take boots and socks off and let the sand settle in-between my toes. Then of course I had to get my feet wet. Cold but not numbing cold. It felt rather good on the feet.The rest of the day I walked mostly on level ground with an occasional up or down. At the spring at Little Swift River Pond Campsite a hiker told us about trail magic on ME 4. Sure enough there was magic with soda and beer. We also at 3:30 in the afternoon got a ride into Rangeley. The plan was to go into town get MacGuyver new shoes, re-supply, check the weather, eat town food and be back on the trail at 6:30 for a 2 mile hike to the next shelter. This would give us a head start going over Saddleback Mountains.Everything in the plan work with percision, everything but the weather. The clouds opened up in a heavy rain as we re-supplied. The rain continued when we came out and the lady who pick us asked if we were still going to the trailhead or the hostel. Everyone voted hostel, wanting to stay dry. Off we go to Gull Pond Hostel run by Bob. Great place to stay and enjoy Bob's wisdom and jokes of the area. He will spend 15 minutes on each bed, corners folded in, sheet under blanket. He will not let anyone help. He tells us we deserve the rest for coming so far. I had one of the most comfortable sleeps on the trail.The weather seems promising. The afternoon rain was a shower and had nothing to do with the expected front. Rain will hit Sat or Sun giving us a good window for tomorrow's climb up the Saddlebacks.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-09-03
From: ME 4 Rangeley, Me

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Bob had coffee, orange juice and cereal ready for all the hikers in the morning. Captain Slick did not arrive at the hostel and is now AWOL. The girls and I along with a sobo got a shuttle from Bob to take us to the trailhead on ME 4. We said our goodbyes to Bob and thanked him for everything.Entering the woods from the trailhead a sign is posted stating how dangerous Saddleback can be in inclement weather. The rockface is slippery in wet weather with limited footing. Also on any day the weather can change from hot to cold dry to wet. The sign also warned to have the proper gear. We had the morning and early afternoon window to do Saddleback.The climb up Saddleback Mountain (4120 feet) was a slow and steady ascent. At Eddy Pond the trail went up and up and up. At one point I thought I was going vertically up a rock wall. 3700 feet we are in the alpine zone and above tree line still climbing. The climb once again gets easy as I walk on another rock plateau. On the top of Saddleback Mountain I could see the Horn (4040 feet) and Saddleback Junior (3655 feet) the next mountains to feel my vibration as I hiked towards Katahdin. The vastness of space between the mountains hit me like at Goose Eye east peak. I will never tire of seeing purple mountains come towards me in frozen waves ready to crash on the beach.Saddleback Junior definitely had an attitude on the backside. Steep rock face, slippery at times, that went on for a period of time that I wanted over with. The last couple of days the steep downs and ups are wearing down my body. After hiking 1969 miles my body wants to rest. I silently ask it to give me just 200 miles more. I was the first one at the shelter and happy to be there. Red and MacGuyver came in and said "What's up with Junior's attitude. Was it really that tough or was I tired?" I think it was both. But, most of all we made it before the rain.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-09-04
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Starting location:Final destination:Miles hiked today: 0Total miles:Shelter: shelterCaptain Slick is still AWOL. Speculation is it has something to do with his new shoes.Right after dark thirty it started to drizzle. Around 12 midnight the skies opened up and heavy drops danced on the shelter's tin roof. The rain did not stop until just before dawn. Large puddles could be seen on the trail in the morning light. I knew water would still be running down the trail like streams. The rocks would be slick with all the moisture renewing the algae. Knowing the front was coming and whatever Hurricane Earl was going to bring Red, MacGuyver and I decided to hike out extra food to do a zero in a shelter. None of us had taken a zero in a shelter and thought it was a great idea. We picked the Poplar Ridge Lean-to because it had a good flowing stream in the front of the shelter, and was in a saddle surrounded by trees for cover. The rain finally stopped around 9:00 am. The stream in front of the shelter was overflowing and running at a good speed. I spent the day writing in my journal, walking in the woods around the shelter and reading a great book called "Mutant Message Down Under".A group of students from a college were camping up the mountain under tarps. Some of the students came to the stream for water and told us how soaking wet everyone got and how they wanted to vote off the leaders from the mountain. Too much reality TV.
Date: 2010-09-05
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Left the shelter under cool air and sunny skies. Climbed a few small mountains and reached Spaulding Mountain Lean-to just as it started to rain. The weather turned colder with the cold front moving in. Red, MacGuyver and I decided to make a long break at the shelter to see what the rain would do. Everyone got their sleeping bags out to stay warm. I fell asleep and was awaken by a hiker informing us we would have to make room for 4 more hikers coming in. Turns out they were section hikers and not even staying in the shelter. The rain came down off and on. At 2:00 pm I finally told the girls I was moving out to the campsite. I think they wanted to stay in their warm sleeping bags, but packed up and left with me. It rained on us for awhile then the sun came out.Came down a rocky descent from Sugarloaf Mountain that entered into a cirque (a steep three sided mountain almost shaped like a bowl) and ended up at South Branch Carrabassett River. It seems the deeper we get into the Maine mountains there are less bridges going across streams, river and brooks. I can see the white blaze on the other shore which mean only one thing, fording the river.Arrived at the campsite with plenty of daylight left to do chores, cook dinner and setup camp. The temperature is dropping so I am sure the morning will be cold.The stop sign for me is now getting very close. There is less than 196 miles left until the summit of Katahdin. Another journey will be ending and a new journey back into the real world will begin. New survival strategies will be formulated to live back in the concrete jungle.P.S. Team Alpha has offically reported Captain Slick AWOL to the AT Ministry of the Defenseless.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-09-06
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: ME 27 Stratton, ME
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The only real climb for today was going up and over Crocker Mountain. Red, MacGuyver and I were up and on the trail in sunshine. There was a climb but they seem to be getting easier. I guess my legs are getting use to the climbs. Downhill is different. I do not use trekking poles so some of the steep downhills make my knees scream for mercy. Then I talk to other hikers who have trekking poles and their knees scream. All in all I still like hiking without poles.By 1:00pm we were at the road ME 27. I told the girls before I re-supply I am going to eat. Caught a ride with an elder gentleman who went to yard sales and bought whatever he felt like buying and then sold them in a different town. He dropped us off at White Wolf Inn and Restaurant. I ordered the Wolf Burger and happy I did. It is probably one of the best burgers on the trail. It is very close to the Whitehouse Landing burger in the 100 Mile Wilderness.Re-suppied at the village's little food store. Folks there were talking about a weather system with rain coming in. I was hoping to beat the system and make it at least to the next shelter up Bigalow Mountain. By the time I got out of the store it was 4:30 and the clouds were rolling in. We decided to stay at the inn and make up the lost miles tomorrow.After cleaning up and getting our packs ready for the next day's hike I went over to the Pizza Station and met Jeff the owner. We talked about the area and I asked him about an idea I have for my next book. He loved it, gave me his card and said he would help. I am now convinced the idea will work. The girls showed up and we celerbrated our anniversaries of being on the Trail. I love neros and in particularly one in Stratton. A great place to wind down after a long or short day of hiking. By dark thirty the rains came and it felt good to be dry under roof.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-09-08
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Red, MacGuyver and I were the last ones out of the shelter. The night hike down Mt. Avery was grueling and we didn't get in until 9:00 pm. Finding the shelter was hard with different paths going in different directions. It was also hard to find the blue blazes on the trees.Things happen for a reason. Leaving late caused us to find a great spot of trail magic put on by Mad Mike, Hydro and Old Fart. Hydro was there setting up camp. He offered us cold drinks and cooked each of us two hamburgers. Then it started to pour. Thank God we were at the trail magic or we would have been soaking wet.Early afternoon we said goodbye to Hydro who kept tempting us to spend the day and night with the menu for supper and breakfast. Sadly we declined, thanked him so, so much and pushed on.All the big mountains of Southern Maine are now behind us. We have crossed the 2000 miles milestone and are now walking on somewhat leveled ground. Don,t let the level ground fool you. We are now entering a land of beautiful mountain ponds and lakes. However, with this scenery comes a price. The terrain is fairly level but there are roots, more roots, rocks and with the recent rains slippery rocks and roots. These features are constantly breaking your stride and in effect slows me down.A new relo section took us around a section of Flagstaff Lake. I passed West Carry Pond and East Carry Pond. East Carry Pond had a sandy beach that overlooked mountains and clear waters of the pond. Again more rain just to make it more slippery on the boardwalks over bogs, roots and rocks. At one point, for fall number 23 I was crossing a deep bog on broken boardwalks slick with algae near East Carry Pond. My left foot slid off the board and went to my left. My right foot slid into the air off to my right. Both feet landed in the bog with me straddling the small board. I hit the board with a thud on my now very sore ass. Can't stay here I told myself so I picked myself up and walked the rest of the through the bog.Due to the late start and spending several hours at the trail magic I met up with the girls for another round of slip and slide night hiking. Late dark thirty we find the shelter full of hikers and tents scattered on the grounds. We had to pick our way past the lean-to, tents, rocks and roots until we found suitable level terrain to setup our tents. Late supper and finally tucked into my sleeping bag for a well deserved sleep. Now at least we are in position to cross the Kennebec River tomorrow on the canoe that's called a ferry and into Caratunk, Me.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-09-09
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

To: US 201, Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 4.0

Everybody slept in after another hard night of night hiking over slippery roots and rocks.I fell twice on the slippery boardwalks, both really hard against the wood. Red wasn't feeling well so we delayed our departure until late morning. The ferry across the Kennebec River ran between 9-11 am and 2-4 pm so we chose the 2-4 slot.The trail from the shelter follows a stream that descends into a rocked wall like canyon. There were numerous waterfalls and cascades that really brought out the wilderness wild of Maine.I want to take a minute to talk about the crossing of the Kennebec River. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has supplied a canoe and a canoeist to ferry hikers across the river. They did this for several reasons. The river is wide and the current varies because of the water that is released from a dam upstream. Several hikers have been swept downstream because of the 4 ft wall of initial water being released. One hiker has died because of this issue. Second, hyperthermia is a real danger because of the distance between the banks in the cold water and this condition can be compounded in cool, windy weather. So, for safety reasons a canoe with a qualified paddler is supplied. However, an educated man, well respected by many AT hikers, advocates hikers to ford the river and skip the canoe. Warren Doyle even writes in the shelter registers to encourage hikers to ford rather than canoe. In fact, he leads groups of people on thru hikes (AT hikers call these hikers Doylies) and tells them they will ford the river. I do not care what his reasons are, safety is more important than anything else. SHAME on you, Warren. Your words, many who listen intently too, may become someone's fatality because of your ego.Red, MacGuyver and I crossed the Kennebec and went to the post office in Caratunk. Red was still not feeling well and the decision was to go to Northern Outdoor Center have lunch and see how she feels. By the way, the food is great at NOC Maine and has a hamburger that in my opinion is in the top 5 on the AT.The weather turned from a sunny morning to rain in the afternoon. That has seemed to be the pattern for the last several days. After lunch with the rain coming down Alpha Team decided to get a tent cabin and spend the night at Northern Outdoors and let Red recuperate.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-09-10
From: US 201, Caratunk, ME

To: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 22.0

Starting location: US 201, Caratunk, MeFinal destination: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-toMiles hiked today: 22Total miles: 2042.6Shelter: shelter Woke up early so I could be ready for the buffet breakfast at the lodge.Today's hike was mostly through the Maine woods. The trail is leveling out now that the big mountains are behind us. We are hoping to be in Monson in two days, re-supply and enter the 100 Mile Wilderness.The weather turned cold and drizzly keeping everything on the trail slick. The day was moving rather quickly until I came to Pleasant Mountain. This mountain is not very tall and had a steady climb. The summit was a small plateau that was chilly going across. The views were not great because of the low clouds. The downside of the mountain contained a lot of rock face. Fall number 25 was caused by me unknowingly stepping on a slick root and falling forward. I tried to grab a tree with my right arm and renched my shoulder during the fall. Red saw me go down and came running to see if I was ok. Besides my pride everything was ok. I sat there to take a body count on pain and felt ready to continue. Less than a 1/2 mile from Number 25 Number 26 occurred. My left foot slipped out from underneath me. I tried to regain my balance with my left foot. That too gave way and I fell, hyperextending my right knee. Instant pain shot through my leg as I landed. Red again saw me go down and knew this one was worse. I straighten my legs and again checked body parts. The pain did not go away in the knee but was diminishing. I laid there on the ground, took my backpack off and tried to stand up. The knee buckled at first, but as feeling came back into the leg I could now walk on it. I made it into the shelter and decided not to continue to the next one. The knee is swollen but I think I can walk on it tomorrow. I am now so gun shy of the trail and its slipperyness. And, it is not just me. Everyone in the shelter is talking about their falls they have had over the last two days. I decided to change the mountain's name from Pleasant Mountain to Un-pleasant Mountain.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe