morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-07-17
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

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

Made it to the Harrisons Pierce Pond Camps for the pancake breakfast - he puts blueberries, apple, and raspberryies in them and calls them his patriotic pancakes. After we ate we were so stuffed and tired and wanting to nap. SO...we voted to take a zero. So many times hikers only take zero in towns - which can get expensive. So we took a zero at one of the nicest lean-to's in maine. We were looking out over the most beautiful pond (the size of a lake) with a great breeze, hardly any bugs. Micah and I ended up taking a 2 hour nap. We woke up to Papa Bliss yelling as he came upon us at the shelter. They stayed last night in Caratunk and didn't think they'd catch up with us this soon. I think he was excited to see all of his kiddos! The boys enjoyed some swimming and Nick for some strange reason went on an 8 mile trail run. I don't think that he understands the concept of a Zero. We basically just relaxed today, napped, ate, played cards, sat around, swam, read. It was lovely. Wrong way ended up joining us, a fellow SOBO. He hiked the 3.7 in to the lean-to and decided to stay with us. He liked he idea of a low mileage day. Tim Harrison at breakfast told us about the windmills that a Canadian company are trying to erect in the mountains near the Bigelows. He wanted us to sign a petition to keep them from being put up. Apparently they are causing a big stink in the community and even the ATC is getting involved. We have heard that they are extremely inefficient and the ones they already have in place break down in the harsh conditions of Maine in the winter. There are lots of pros and cons to the wholel situation and everyone up here has thier own opinions. Mostly against the windmills. Some say the energy wont even go to Maine and others say that there are crooked politicians involved. Nick got a trail name today - Moxie Balls. He likes to drink the Maine Drink called Moxie and he kinda hurt his manhood jumping off the waterfall yesterday. Hence Moxie Balls. Had plenty of time to read the register today. Things we found in the register:- Someone called a Moose a Swamp Donkey (still haven't seen one yet - do they really exist?!)- I once shot an Elephant in my pajamas - how he got in my pajamas I'll never know - quoting Groucho.- A story about the rival between Minnisoteans and Beavers - written in a Minnisota accent.
Date: 2010-07-18
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

Woke up and on the trail by 8:15 - not too bad for the day after such a relaxing zero. An easy 10 miles on some of the flattest terrain yet. We made it to the shelter by 1:20. Not too shabby.Stopped along the trail to talk to a guy who goes to UGA. Small world. His name is Pine Monkey. At the shelter early enough to take a nap, swim and wash in the pond. Mady a yum dinner of Lentil Soup. Had Green tea with Honey for dessert. After dinner a group of 14 boy scouts showed up, followed by another group of 24. Later we were joined by two NOBOs - 12% and Hotlips - the guys were drooling over hotlips of course. It was amusing. Still haven't seen a moose.
Date: 2010-07-20
From: Safford Notch Campsite

To: Stratton
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

WE were up at 6 am and on the trail by 715, Way to go Team Thompson! MacGuyver rolled out of the tent this morning and asked us, "so much for making it on the trail by 7 huh?"Turns out Wingin' It had told him that it was 830 to get him out of the bed. We informed him that we still had 20 minutes to make our goal as it was only 6:40. He then proceeded to cuss out Winging It which was our morning entertainment. I think Wingin' It was getting him back for having to carry all the food for the day before which they usually share the weight. The 1st 2 miles of the day out of Safford Notch is 2 miles, 2000 feet straight up to Avery Peak of Bigelow Mtn. It was named after Myron Avery who helped form the vision of the AT and bring it to life along with Benton McKaye. The climb took 2 hours.On the way to A. Peak we passes the NOBO's 2000 mile makr. For us SOBO's this means we still have 2000 miles to go. Though it also means we have completed nearly 180 miles. Right after A. Peak you descend for 400 ft to the Avery CAmpsite where a caretaker resides to take care of the entire Bigelow range. Its a very hard used mtn range by day hikers and campers. The Bigelow area sees 35000 visitors each year. Next was West Peak straight back up. From A. Peak you can see W. Peak and it is such a sight to behold. The views from atop W. Peak were breathtaking and you can see where we have come from and where we are going. To the left is Sugarloaf mtn which is a ski mtn and we will cross in a few days. Both A. & W. Peak are over 4000 ft. tall. The highest we've been since KAtahdin. Breathtaking views of mtns, lakes, ponds...wonderful.by noon we reached Horn's Pond Lean To - we were averaging 1 mile per hour. SLOW. Slow because of the difficulty of the range. NOBOs average at least 2 through here. WE still had 5.3 to hwy 27 to make it to Stratton. We ended up meeting some dayhikers who took us to Stratton...nice. We were headed to get ice cream when we passes the gas station and who did we see?! Wingin it, MacGuyver and the triplets. How the heck did they beat us. They never passed us. Turns out the took the Fire Wardens trail back at the Avery Campsite and skipped most of Bigelow MTn. They were in town by 1. We didn't make it till 4:30. But we did get ice cream. It was yum! Ben and Jerry Heath bar vanilla. worth every mile. Ended up at the local pizza restaurant where I ate a burrito and Micah a steak sandwich, went grocery shopping for bfast and got a ride from Mrs. Sue to her Roadhouse Hostel for hikers - which is an old farm house and barn renovated into the most awesome hiker hostel we have experienced yet.
Date: 2010-07-21
From: Stratton

To: Crocker Mtn.
Miles today: 4.2

Spent all morning at the Library trying to update these journals and then did the obligatory Post Office stuff since we didn't get into town early enough last night. Enjoyed homemade chicken salad sandwiches from the grocery store, packed, and hit the trail. Didn't start until 2:30...Goal - hike over both peaks of Crocker Mtn and camp at Cirque CAmpsite. Then the thunder started getting closer. So we made it to a stream about 4.2 miles up the mtn and decided to hunker down. At this point though we realized how many things we had forgotten to do in town - like get alcohol to cook in case it rained, and to get some type of water treatment - because ours leaked out. Oops. We ended up finding a great stream straight from the mountain, which usually means safer - especially if you are in higher elevations...so we chanced it, got some not treated water. (FYI...we didn't get sick, and we are still going strong - praise the Lord).We searched around and found a campsite to hunker down in - we didn't think it would be wise to crest two peaks in a thunder storm. It took us a while to situate our tarp tent so we wouldn't get soaked...worked out really well and we stayed pretty dry through the night. We were in the tent by 6 - so we spent our time reading, chatting, and snoozing before bed. We slept well with the rain outside. We tried something new with our food this go around - Micah bought pears, plums, pineapple, and some black bean salsa so we would have at least for one day some fresh food to eat. It was wonderful. Though this also meant micah's pack weight before food was 8lbs, after was 26lbs. But we ate most of the weight that evening. I started reading ATlas Shrugged. Its good so far. STill no moose sighting.
Date: 2010-07-22
From: Crocker Mtn.

To: Spalding MTn. Lean-to
Miles today: 9.0

Got a later start today - and today was long and hard. Made it over the 1st peak of Crocker Mtn and at the dip between the two peaks we ran into MacGuyver, Wingin' It, Faye and Moxie. Apparently they didn't make it to the rendezvous point either. The storm caught them between the peaks. We definitely took our time today 8:30-4:30 for only 9 miles. But we did go over 2 more 4000+ peaks and then ridge walked over Sugarloaf to Spalding Mtn. When we reached Spalding MTn it meant that we had completed 200 miles!!! Hoorah!To celebrate we actually took the side trail to the top of Spalding MTn to see the views - though there wasn't much to see.We almost pushed another 3 miles to another campsite but we were worn out from the 3 very large peaks we summitted today and decided to stay at Poplar Ridge Shelter, where we met Appy & Pappy. A 70 something grandad with his 14 yr old grandson. They have been section hiking for the last 7 years. Imagine beign able to say you've hiked the entire AT by the age of 14. What a cool kid. He knew more about the trail than anyone we've met yet. He told us all the places where we could get some free food just for being a thru-hiker. Still no moose sighting.
Date: 2010-07-23
From: Poplar Ridge Shelter

To: Poplar Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 8.0

We decided to take it easy today. Slept in tilla fter 8 which we haven't done at all it seems in quite a while. Didn't really head out until almost 11. We knew we only had 8 miles to go today. We knew we either had to really speed up to make the PO in Rangely or slow down so we wouldn't have to spend two nights there. So we slowed down and enjoyed the trail. Weather was beautiful today with a lovely breeze. We climbed poplar ridge today. I think the climbs are getting easier - maybe our trail legs are kicking in for the climbing up part - definitely not here yet for the going down the mountains part. For dinner Mo and I made biscuits & gravy with Huevos Rancheros - turned out pretty amazing. Thank you Backcountry Dinners. We met a famous hiker today. Lint. He has the honor of holding the title of being a triple crowner. That means he has hiked the AT, the CDT (continental divide trail), and the PCT (pacific crest Trail). He has also hiked many of the other famous trail in the US and other countries. This his either is 2nd or 3rd time on the AT. Micah learned about him during our research for the trail. We met him as he was headed North and we ended up taking a nice long pack off rest with him and he told us about his adventures and people he's met along the way.
Date: 2010-07-25
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to

To: Rangely
Miles today: 1.8

Its funny how we operate at times. if we are going 8-10 miles along the trail we have been sleeping in and getting started around 9. Today we only had 1.8 to town...up at 7. Ready and eager to get there. We met some weekend hikers who have volunteered to help us get into town. When we got to the parking lot - Bob, the owner of the Gull Pond lodge, the hiker hostel in town, was there dropping off some hikers. Lucked out - three of us hoppped in with him and the other 3 with the weekend hikers. Bob is nearly 80 and retired - so now he opens his home to hikers and will drive them any where they need to go. Sweetest man on the trail. His home is right on Gull Pond - beautiful views. Though the house does smell like a wet dog. The poor dog is sick and on meds, which makes it look like it has the mange. But we got to do laundry and shower and be nice a clean after our treck from Stratton. Bob has a DVD collection of Dean Martin so Mo put one in and that was our entertainment for a bit. We shuttled into town w/ 3 NOBOS - Athos, Redtail, and Little Dipper. the last 2 are from England. Ate a SArge's pub - it was ok. Rangely has a couple of outfitters and I am in need of new shorts - mine are falling off a bit. But I had no luck in finding anything in my size...sad.tonight we cooked a big dinner at the hostel and everyone chipped in. Shephards Pie, SAlad, Mushroom Orzo, and CAKE AND ICE CREAM for dessert. Alfalfa made me a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for my bday and everyone sang. Mo and I went on a date this afternoon to the one-screen movie theater - Eclipse was playing. Can't beat a $4 matinee! It was so nice to veg and get away for a while. I have an offical trail name - can't remember if I have put it on here yet or not - its Raggamuffin. Still no mooooose.
Date: 2010-07-26
From: Rangely hwy 17

To: Rangely hwy 4
Miles today: 13.0

Today we slackpacked for 13 miles from hwy 17 to hwy 4 so we could stay in rangely to see the beach boys in concert tonight. I fell pretty hard today in a mud bog. Fortunately right after it there was a small stream for me to wash my bog covered right foot, hands, and trekking poles. I have shin splints right now in my left leg. The long miles today didn't help much. At hwy 4 we didn't have any cell service to call bob to pick us back up. So we attempted our first hitch. It took 45 minutes before someone stopped and picked us up. Nice guy from south Carolina. Went to the beach boys concert. We had a great time. Tonight we are sharing a bunkhouse room with a guy named turtleback. He made us feel comfortable by telling us that he has been diagnosed as a schizo and doesn't think he needs to take his medication whle hiking in the woods because he feels all right.
Date: 2010-07-27
From: Rangely hwy 17

To: Bemis Mountain lean to
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept in at the hostel tha morning until almost 10. It was amazing. Rode into town around noon for lung and to visit the library and post office. Got our mail drops with food sat down on the lawn in front of the PO and dumped out all of or packages contents to organize and see what all we could take now and what we could send forward. Some people looked at us rather strangely. Other asked if we were headed north or south. One great sweet lady asked us if we needed a ride to the trail. So she gave us her number and we said we'd call here when we needed a ride Turns out she loves to pick up hikers and let them stay at her barn where she has bunks for free for hikers. Wish we had met her earlier. So macguyver, wingin it alfalfa and moxie all started out yesterday south bound. We didn't thnk we'd see them for a day or two. But since we got started so late on the trail combined with our slackpacked yesterday, we ended up seeing each other immediately at the trail head as they were crossing the road. Only 45 miles left in maine. Finall saw a Moose!! As we were riding to the trail head, there he was, drinking from a puddle on the side of the road. Young one, just born this year.
Date: 2010-07-28
From: Bemis Mountain lean to

To: South arm road
Miles today: 8.7

Good climbs, good weather, good views. But bad shin splint and a mean downhill to end the day. Traversed blue mountain. Got to the road and met alfalfas parents who took us into town for food, resupply and a milkshake Looks like we have only 5.5 days left in Maine!!!! Got a bday present from Becca. A novel by Blissful. So cool. We were going to try and hike a few more miles in but ended up sleeping at the road by the brook. Seeing Alfalfa with her parents made all of us miss all of our families.
Date: 2010-07-29
From: South arm road

To: Dunn Notch and Falls
Miles today: 10.9

Today was nothing but hiking straight up, straight down, the straight up again...over what hikers call a PUD...pointless up and down...over Moody Mtn first. No views...just 2000 ft up and down. and not the easiest either. Followed by the longest uphill since Katahdin...Hall Mtn. 1 mile and hour to do 4 miles. After that though it was a nice rolling trail to Dunn Notch and some water falls where we spent the evening. There were nice pools of water where we were able to wash ourselves and some clothes...well as best as we could as the water took your breath away because it was so frigid. But freezing water is worth being semi-clean. We made a big community pot of pasta with sundried tomatoes, pepperjack cheese and olive oil for dinner. It turned out pretty good for just throwing it all together. At lunch @ the Hall Mtn Lean to we ran into River Dog - a NOBO who we had met this past spring while day hiking out of Dicks Creek Gap in GA. At the time we said maybe we will see ya up north...who knew we actually would!? A few minutes later another guy came up and asked us if we were at a thru-hikers class at REI in Atlanta - turned out we knew him too!
Date: 2010-07-30
From: Dunn Notch and Falls

To: Baldpate Lean-to
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: broken clouds

WHAT a slow morning - my shin splint were horrible and it took my almost an hour to warm up to hike at a decent pace. But we made it to the top of Baldpate Mountain. Some of the toughest climbs as we had to go up rock slabs at a sharp angle. We would go 20 yards stop and breath, 20 more, stop and breath and drink water, and so on all the way to the top. The MATC was kind enough to give us some ladders to use to get up the mtn...but still no real switch backs...Once there the wind was strong and we were beat but the views were a Great reward. GEORGEOUS! You could see 360! Once up there the boys found what they called a hobbit house in some trees to get out of the wind for a few minutes. At one point the wind whipped me so hard I ran into Faye. at the lean-to it WAS SO COLD! the wind today is taking its toll on us. We bundled up and MacGuyver built a rager of a fire. We huddled around it as long as we could but the wind kept changing directions every few seconds so there was no staying out of the smoke. since we made it to the shelter by 4, we ate an early dinner and were all bundled up in the shelter by 7...Life on the trail - Alfalfa and MacGuyver made up a song about trail diarrhea to the tune of Lean on Me. Such is life on the trail...Already finished the book Becca sent me for my bday - it was really cute about 1943 Virginia, a love story b/t a local girl and an army captain.
Date: 2010-07-31
From: Baldpate Lean-to

To: Stealth Camp at Base of Mahoosuc Arm
Miles today: 9.0

Today we set out with good weather and goal to make it down the dreaded Mahoosuc Arm. The NOBOs we had met so far have been telling us stories of how hard it will be for us to descend. We could have stopped before it and stayed at the Speck Pond shelter - but it is a fee site and we were told of a stealth site at the base of the arm. And we were also told - if its good weather, get down the arm, because if it rains it could be dangerous. Beautiful morning - did 2.3 miles in the first hour to Hwy. 26, where we were met in the hiking parking lot by Soda-Mike, a ranger who does trail magic for thru-hikers. He gave us a root beer and some peanut butter crackers. We were so thankful. looking up from the parking lot we could see the top of Old Speck - the mountain we were about to climb and traverse the range down the Arm. Old Speck is the 3rd highest mtn in Maine on the AT. Another 4000+ ft. mtn. We started at 1500 ft at the parking lot. A long ways to go up and up and up. 3 somthing miles later we were at the top ...well so we thought. There is actually a side trail off the AT that takes you to the peak where you can climb an old fire tower and see 360 degrees. So of course we dropped our packs and made the extra .3 mile to the fire tower. It was worth it. that was a long climb up and each time we think we are getting closer to having trail legs. Even Wingin' It said something about maybe we are getting our trail legs. So we made it over the mountain and to the top of the Arm...and we began the evil descent down the arm...which turns out is like every other downhill in Maine...nothing that scary...the NOBO's totally over played it...probably because it was their first real ascent in Maine...they will soon find out that this is what it is like throughout the whole state. So we camped out at the stealth site by a brook and slept pretty well...much warmer that the night before. on to tackle the NOTCH tomorrow.
Date: 2010-08-01
From: Stealth Camp at Base of Mahoosuc Arm

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

today we tackled the infamous Mahoosuc Notch. NOBOs had story after story about it. That is was hard. That it may take up to 3 hours to go the whole mile. That you'll either hate it or love it. Its all about your attitude. Have fun with it and dont look at your watch. So we had fun with it. The notch is an area between to mtns where boulders have fallen over the years and you have to hand over hand climb over, under, and through them. There are caves and spots you have to take off your pack to make it through. There are even parts where it stays so cold ice can be found through July. In one spot there were Moose bones...Its known as the longest and hardest mile of the AT.We made it in about 1.5 hours. Maine had trained us well for the Notch. It wasnt too difficult...definitely not the hardest part in Maine for us. And then right after the notch we got to go straight up hill. And our legs reminded us that we had just gone through the Notch.After the notch we had 5 peaks within 5 miles to get to the shelter. Maine never lets up. But it was beautiful and lots of views. And we could see NH and the White and Mt. Washington! We are camping at the Carlo Col Shelter with an interesting shelter - its got a loft in it and is built to protect you from the cold. Also at the shelter are some boys camps and the counselors for one of them chatted with us. Turns out he is from Gorham and he told all all the great places to eat and hangout in town. The only thing on our minds right now is food, Gorham, New Hampshire, getting our of Maine, and eating real food, and some more food. Particularly McDonalds. Why?? who knows. In the real world we wouldn't ever crave McD's...but out here the strangest things motivate you. And a MCdouble, a large fry, and a chocolate milkshake is that motivation right now. Especially since Mo and I didn't plan well to have enough food to get to Gorham...so we have been rationing for today and tomorrow.
Date: 2010-08-02
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Libby B&B Gorham, NH
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

17+ miles today to Gorham. We planned to go only ~10.1 to get to a tentsite. Then someone mentioned getting closer to Gorham so we could eat at McDonalds for breakfast. So we decided to move on a bit closer for a shorter walk to town tomorrow...Then it turned into - what if Moxie and MacGuyver could run the rest of the trail, hitch into town with $20, and buy as many McDoubles as possible, then hitch back to the rest of us slow hikers...then it started raining...hard. Micah (now officially ME-GA-Mo) and I decided we'd go ahead and get into to town and go to the B&B dad gave me for my bday present. THANKS DAD AND DONNA!!! Conversations today revolved around:This morning: good-bye MAINE! YES, we finished maine...our first state under our belts.This afternoon: McDoubles...what would you do for a McDouble. If you had a million dollars right now, how many would you spend on McDoubles?The hike today seemed to last forever. Mo and I didn't make it to the McDonalds until almost 9. I immediately ordered 2 McDoubles, a large fry, and a chocolate shake that didn't last long. When Mo and I got to the road to try and get a hitch into town...there was Moxie still trying to get to McDonalds as well..he had been trying for an hour. When Mo and I showed up, we were all just hanging out talking when a pick up truck pulled over and offered a ride. Apparently it helps to have a girl in the pack when hitching. After we ate way too much at McDonalds, Doc from the B&B picked up Mo and I and took us to our humble abode for the next couple of days. Very cute - victorian style, 150 years old, used to be owned by the Libby family, who were Lumber Barons. Its so nice to stay in a quite private room with our own bathroom as well. Hiker hostels are awesome...but a quite environment can't be beat after spending over a month on the trail with everyone. And it was also nice to take our first shower in 6 days.
Date: 2010-08-04
From: Libby B&B Gorham, NH

To: Libby B&B Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Relaxed all day. The boys threw the frisbee on the commons. I hung out at the library for a while. Ate at Saladino's again. Hung out with Trailmix some more. Went to wal-mart and resupplied for the next several days. Watched a lot of TV. Great ZERO.