morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-08
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-To

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

After speaking with some fellow thru-hikers today, I realized that Poplar Ridge Lean-To was the last known location of a thru-hiker who disappeared last year. To my knowledge, no sign of her has been discovered. It serves as a stern reminder of how dangerous the trail can be in spite of the beauty and freedom it provides. More importantly, it reminds me to value every moment, for as unlikely as it may seem at the time, we never know when our time may truly be up.Despite this melancholy realization, (and much as this missing thru-hiker would have wanted it for us), today was a gorgeous, fun day on the trail. Though a little warm, the weather was sunny and slightly breezy, keeping us comfortable as we traversed very bumpy terrain. Our tallest climb today was to the northwest shoulder of Spaulding Mountain (4,000 ft.), but even that was a walk in the park.The true joy was spending the day hiking with Spider-Man and Socks, who we reunited with early this morning. These two have similar laid-back attitudes to Birdman and me, so we get along swimmingly. Spider-Man is also a photojournalist (appropriately), as he captured several awesome pictures of us hiking and at camp. Currently we share the same Katahdin summit date, so we will likely be seeing a lot of them in the near future.Traveling with lower mileage goals is definitely taking some getting used to. After completing our prescribed mileage before 3:00 PM, Birdman and I devised a scheme to blast out an additional 7+ miles and push into Stratton today. It took me several minutes to realize that doing so would ultimately screw up our mileage plan for Katahdin. So we finally talked ourselves into our original plan, which was definitely the right decision: we spent the afternoon sunning ourselves, talking with fellow thru-hikers, and playing cards until dusk. It was an awesome, much needed break from the constant pounding of the trail. Stratton, it seems, can wait until tomorrow.
Date: 2014-07-09
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: Horns Pond Lean-Tos
Miles today: 12.4

In the middle of the night, some rain sneaked in and soaked everything. That was okay, though, as the weather was surprisingly cool and the path was mostly slip-free. In fact, I wouldn't have fallen at all today if, after 2,000 miles of abuse, my right trekking pole suddenly bent at a 90-degree angle! I was sent flying into a mud puddle and smashed my face on a fallen log. Fortunately there was no permanent damage, and Leki is sending replacement parts immediately. I was also able to semi-fix my pole by cobbling together pieces from a hiker box I located in Stratton. It looks silly (so it should fit right in), and it works more-or-less the way a trekking pole should. My main regret: I forgot to take a picture of my pole before I broke off the bent section¢that would have been one for the scrapbook.After a quick climb over South & North Crocker Mountains (4,040 ft. and 4,228 ft. respectively), Birdman and I descended to ME 27. There we rejoined with Spider-Man and Socks (who had left early this morning) and quickly got a hitch into Stratton for resupply. The people who picked us up gave us a warning as we started to pile into their SUV: ¢Be careful, there's a live raccoon in the back.¢ I thought they were joking, but lo and behold there actually was! They had caught the raccoon in a trap behind their house and were relocating it several miles away. It was very calm, but none of us were dumb enough to try and pet it. And that was the first time I've ever hitchhiked into town with a raccoon.The rest of the day flew by with a quick lunch at the Stratton Diner (awesome Reubens there) and a speedy resupply at a local grocery. Spider-Man and Socks got another hitch to a nearby doctor's office, as Socks had a nasty infection from a bug bite on his right foot. Birdman and I bid them farewell and returned to the trail, where we soon passed the official 2,000 mile mark. I wasn't quite sure how to feel about it, honestly. I think it is finally sinking in how close to the end we really are.We reached Horns Pond Lean-Tos in the early evening, and it has quickly become one of my favorite camp spots. The area is maintained by a Maine Appalachian Trail Club caretaker, meaning that there is no trash and that the tent pads are excellently maintained. Horn Pond itself is a beautiful getaway hidden in between two steep mountains, and though it is obvious from the wear on the trail that a large number of people visit this area, it still feels very secluded and wild. Birdman and I dangled our feet in the pond while watching the sunset, a perfect way to close out over 2,000 miles on the AT.Tomorrow we tackle the Bigelow Mountains, which seem to be the largest climbs we will have until Katahdin itself. We are having a chill, contemplative evening, as we are definitely starting to reminisce about the trials and triumphs of the past several months.
Date: 2014-07-10
From: Horns Pond Lean-Tos

To: Pierce Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 27.9

The day began with some of the best views on the entire trail so far. From our camp we climbed up above treeline to Bigelow Mountain and its two peaks, the West Peak (4,145 ft.) and Avery Peak (4,090 ft.). The latter was named after Myron Avery, who by most accounts was the man who took the idea of the AT and, through merciless commitment and countless negotiations, made it a reality. From the tops of these peaks we had 360-degree views of the beautiful Maine countryside. Everywhere there were jagged peaks, huge ponds and lakes, and pristine forests all the way to the horizon. Despite one ski resort on Sugarloaf Mountain miles and miles away, it seemed like we were completely isolated in the wild. Well, aside from the three Boy Scout troops we passed on the way down.After a brief climb over Little Bigelow Mountain (2,303 ft.), I experienced something I haven't seen in quite some time: a completely flat trail. It was so flat, in fact, that Birdman and I decided to extend our hiking day by ten full miles. While that seems crazy in light of our proximity to Katahdin, we did this for three reasons. First, it would place us at the beautiful Pierce Pond Lean-To for the end of our day, which is situated directly on the banks of its namesake pond. Second, we will be situated 0.3 miles away from a hunting camp that serves a 12-pancake breakfast at 7 AM sharp (if you haven't noticed, most of our day-extending decisions are motivated by food). And third, it will allow us to adjust our mileage to where we will have a nero day into Monson on Sunday. It's a win-win-win situation, if you ask me.The extra ten miles were exceptionally easy, except for when I tripped and nearly twist my leg off at the hip. When I started hiking again, it hurt so bad that I thought I might have to call it quits for the day¢it couldn't be that easy of a day, could it? Either way, we made it to Pierce Pond Lean-To with plenty of time for a quick dip in the pond and to watch the sunset as I devoured my dinner. There is a memorial by the water's edge for a thru-hiker who drowned here a few years ago; again I am reminded not only to keep my wits about me, but also to enjoy every second of this adventure.
Date: 2014-07-12
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-To

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To
Miles today: 22.0

Maine is definitely one of the most beautiful places I¢ve seen in my entire life, with constant views of lakes, mountains, and forests¢it makes me realize how far I had to walk between truly awe-inspiring views in the earlier sections of the trail. There is one thing, however, that has definitely detracted some of my enjoyment of the state, which is the massive amount of pesky bugs. Several Maine residents have told me that the mosquito is their state bird, and I am highly inclined to believe them. I am always sure to apply a healthy dose of DEET whenever I stop for a break, but even then it seems like I¢m fighting a losing battle. Within an hour I have sweated the DEET away (¢sweat resistant,¢ my ass), and before long I am hosting the neighborhood bloodsucker buffet. Currently, my record for the most mosquito kills in one swat is five¢Spider-Man holds the crown at thirteen. I will likely be tenting for the rest of the trip, as the bug net will allow me at least some refuge from the feeding frenzy.After yesterday¢s low-mileage nap-a-thon, Birdman and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and flat terrain in order to make up the miles we slept through yesterday. We did have one decent climb up to Moxie Bald Mountain (2,156 ft.), where we thought we saw Katahdin way off in the distance (but probably not). We didn¢t allow ourselves to get excited since we weren¢t sure, but we should definitely start getting views of the last mountain before long.After Moxie Bald, the trail was extremely flat and uneventful aside from two rivers we had to ford. Unlike other parts of the trail, the AT foregoes bridges in favor of giving us the ¢traditional experience¢ of crossing rivers. We crossed with our boots hanging around our necks, desperately trying to keep our balance on the algae-coated rocks. Fortunately, both rivers were only about knee-deep today; the current was so swift in one of them that we would have been swept down river if it had been any higher. The crossing did have its intended effect of making me feel extra manly, and Birdman and I chewed up the rest of the trail today feeling unstoppable¢though I did stub my toe so hard at one point that I rattled my teeth. So much for being unstoppable.Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To is situated on the lip of its namesake terrain, just before a precipitous drop-off into a raging river below. The white noise from the rapids will definitely have me asleep within minutes after lying down for bed. I have just over a week left of sleeping in the woods; after four months of sleeping on my Therm-A-Rest mattress, I have definitely broken it in and found the most comfortable way to sink into its crinkly embrace. It doesn¢t keep me from thinking about how awesome it will be to sleep in my bed back home, though. At the very least, I won¢t have to blow that one up when it¢s time to go to sleep.
Date: 2014-07-13
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To

To: Shaw's Lodging (Monson, ME)
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was an extremely short hiking day due to the flat terrain and short distance to the final trail town, Monson. We had one gentle river to ford and several bogs to navigate, but even so we were standing by the road to town by 10:30 AM. We called our hostel for the evening, Shaw¢s Lodging, and within 15 minutes we were checked in and headed for a much-needed shower.We had two major reasons for hiking as quickly as we did today, the first being that we wanted to rest as long as possible before our final section of trail. The second reason was because we were being treated to one of our finest examples of trail magic. Tom and Andy Matthews, to Maine residents and former coworkers of my mother-in-law, arranged to pick us up and take us wherever we needed to go before plunging into the 100-Mile Wilderness. So after we washed off our grime and stench, Tom and Andy took us over to an outfitter in nearby Greenville so that I could have my trekking poles repaired¢the one that was broken near the Crocker Mountains was worn down to a nub. After that we were treated to lunch at a nearby pub and then to ice cream for dessert. Birdman and I were over the moon from the hospitality, and Tom and Andy seemed genuinely engrossed by our tales from the trail. As icing on the cake, I finally saw my first moose while on our way back to Shaw¢s: munching on swamp plants roughly 50 yards from the road, this antler-less beast didn¢t seem to be particularly worried by the cars that pulled off of the road to watch him tromp through the tall grass. While I would still like to see a moose while on the trail itself, I can at least say that I saw a moose while on my thru-hike.Tom and Andy dropped us back at the hostel with a cooler full of cookies, beer, and other goodies for our semi-day off. I spent the rest of the afternoon watching the World Cup final (go Germany!) and napping in my room. I finally emerged around 6:30 PM to grab dinner at one of the two open restaurants in town. While the food selection may be limited, I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting these tiny towns in western Maine. There is a sense of closeness here that I have encountered in very few other places, creating a sense of community that is almost Mayberry-esque. While maybe a bit to small for my current life goals, I could definitely see myself escaping to a place like Monson should I ever need to escape from the fast-paced chaos of modern society.I will sleep deeply tonight, comforted by clean clothes, clean skin, and a comfy mattress. It¢s all the more comforting when I know that my final stretch of camping lies before me¢soon enough, sleeping on a genuine mattress will again be the norm, not the exception. Right now, that doesn¢t make it feel any less special.
Date: 2014-07-15
From: Leeman Brook Lean-To

To: Cloud Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was our first full day in the 100-Mile Wilderness, and I definitely understood why so few consider this section to be a true wilderness experience. Today we passed over railroad tracks, walked by a parked SUV, heard several jets fly over on their way into/out of Bangor International Airport, and passed by dozens of other hikers¢many of whom were wearing day packs after driving into the woods on an old logging road. This section has ironically been one of the most populated sections on the entire trail, which is in no small part due to the large number of southbounders getting a (late) start toward Springer Mountain.Still, despite the somewhat disappointing lack of solitude, the wilderness itself is nothing short of magnificent. The forest is thick with giant evergreens and old-growth hardwoods, dimming the sunlight significantly even at high noon. At every turn there are ponds and lakes filled with transparent water, and jagged rock islands jut from their surfaces. There are always streams and rivers within earshot of the trail, allowing me to travel lightly with only a small amount of water on hand; there will always be an opportunity to refill my supply just a bit further down the trail. The Wilderness is simply forcing me to relax, removing some of my usual stresses while surrounding me with natural beauty.Birdman and I only had one true climb today¢Barren Mountain at 2,660 ft.¢and instead replaced this challenge with that of fording rivers and streams. We had three sources to cross today, but we were able to find enough rocks to hop over two of them; we¢re more willing than most to search far upstream or downstream just for the sake of dry feet. We only had to get wet when we reached Big Wilson Stream, which was roughly 75-100 feet wide and just over knee deep. Reportedly, we were lucky: several local hikers said the stream was over chest high and had a current that would wash you downstream within seconds. Seeing as the knee-deep current nearly knocked me over several times, I¢m willing to believe their stories. We were given further proof of how high the stream can truly rise when we reached the other side of the stream: the carcass of a young moose, half-eaten by coyotes and other scavengers, waited for us on the far banks. Judging from its position, it was probably washed to this point when it slipped into the raging waters and drowned. We felt sorry for the poor creature, though we didn¢t stay around for long due to the still-powerful stench hanging over the decaying meat.The rest of the day was relatively uneventful though extremely relaxing, and we¢re now resting at Cloud Pond Lean-To. Due to threatening weather, the lean-to filled up rather quickly. We got there early enough to secure a spot and then wash off in the pond. Of course, as soon as we settled back into the lean-to and the rain began to fall, our friends Spider-Man and Socks finally arrived. We all felt sorry for them as they began setting up their tent in the rain¢though not quite sorry enough to surrender our spots in the lean-to.
Date: 2014-07-16
From: Cloud Pond Lean-To

To: Carl A. Newhall Lean-To
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I¢ll go ahead and say it: today was one of my absolute worst days on the trail. The 100-Mile Wilderness is beautiful and the trail itself was not particularly difficult, but the conditions today left me physically and psychologically beaten.A torrent of rain descended on the Maine countryside shortly after we all tucked into the shelter last night, and even though I slept in the lean-to with a roof over my head, the accompanying mist had dampened pretty much everything I owned by morning. The downpour had stopped, but the combined effect of sporadic drizzles and underbrush coated with water meant that Birdman and I went from damp to soaking wet within twenty minutes of hiking. Worse than that, however, was the oppressive humidity¢it was some of the worst I¢ve ever experienced, and I live in Georgia! On top of that, the temperatures reached well into the 80¢s, something we really haven¢t dealt with since our last day in New Hampshire. We were pouring sweat as we climbed a series of five mountains, each of them covered in slippery slate rock that forced us to put in extra effort or risk sliding off the mountain. This combination of moisture, sweat, humidity, heat, and constant movement led to what we referred to as the Hiker¢s Bane: chafing. I had been able to avoid this curse for the entire trip, but I made up for all of it today. With every step came the feeling of course sandpaper rubbing on my skin, making it very difficult to enjoy the fantastic scenery around me. By the end of the day, I just wanted it all to end, my mind constantly zooming ahead to the finish line just a few days away.Still, the day wasn¢t a total wash. One can never really overstate the magnificence of the scenery, and everywhere today there were epic battles between dozens of red squirrels, which provided Birdman and I with hours of entertainment. Apparently we are walking through the middle of their mating season, and the sounds of their battle cries and rampages in the tree limbs echoed for miles. Nothing today was more satisfying, however, than digging into my piping-hot dinner after changing into dry clothes and setting up my tent for the night¢the day was finally done. The lean-to is situated on a hill overlooking a beautiful stream cascading into a nearby pond, but all can focus on is my poor-man¢s Pad Thai.My hunger has become insatiable. I daydream about the Chinese buffet in Waynesboro, VA, and the breakfast at Woods Hole Hostel. Yet since we¢re in the middle of the Wilderness with no resupply options for another 65 miles, I¢m forced to ration my food even more than usual. Nothing can be more disheartening at the end of a long day of hiking than going to bed while still hungry, all while staring at your still-full food bag swaying in the branches nearby.Sorry for the downer post. I¢m going to bed before I get any grumpier.
Date: 2014-07-19
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-To

To: Hurd Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 19.6

Last night I fell asleep to the sound of loon calls, a mournful lowing that began in a lake miles behind us, only to be echoed by a far off partner from another far-off place. I would occasionally hear a chipmunk hop by my tent on the way to its den. And the trickle of the nearby stream provided the perfect background noise for relaxation. In short, it was a perfect night for relaxation, and I woke up this morning completely rested and ready for my last full day in the 100-Mile Wilderness.And that day went by in a flash, possibly because of the easy trail and continually inspiring forest and lakes surrounding us, or it could be that my mind has begun processing just how little time I have left as a thru-hiker. We had one minor climb today up Nesuntabunt Mountain (1,520 ft.). At the top we had another awe-inspiring view of Katahdin directly in front of us, its immensity reflected in a lake directly below us. Baxter Peak is always on my mind now, and I feel like a marathoner who knows that the finish line is just around the corner.For the rest of the day the trail followed alongside lakes and ponds, the water from them sometimes seeping onto the trail and causing mud pits. Were these the bogs that southbounders had so adamantly warned us about? If so, I was unimpressed; having successfully survived and learned from our time in Vermont, we piloted around them easily. Later in the day, we had one more quick rise up to Rainbow Ledges, where we were given yet another great view of Katahdin. We celebrated by munching on wild blueberries, which were blooming all along the side of the trail. We stayed for half an hour or so filling our bellies with fresh berries¢I was worried I had hiked ahead of blueberry season, so I had to make up for lost time. There were so many that we didn¢t have to worry about leaving enough for other hikers. When the moose find them, however, it may be a different story.I¢m now resting for the last time at a lean-to campsite, having just completed my last dinner on the trail. I¢m here with Birdman, Spider-Man, Socks, LoJack, and Nails, my summit crew for Monday. We all arrived early just to spend some time together, knowing that our opportunities will be gone in just two days. We all gathered at the nearby Hurd Brooke and soaked our feet in the chilly water as tiny fish swam around our feet. Loons could once again be heard in the distance, singing the day to a close. I suppose I¢m a bit melancholic, or at least very contemplative, that such a great a great adventure is finally coming to a close. But I know that I am not really sad¢how could I be as the sunset is filtering through the evergreens to bathe this beautiful forest in gold? Every story must have its end, and this story has been one I will cherish forever.
Date: 2013-06-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

So this is my first journal entry, and I don¢t know exactly what to discuss, so I suppose I will say a few things about my gear for the trek. I will be deciding on a few items to purchase for the trip [ALL CAPS], like a 1-person tent and probably some boots, but for now my mind has been focused on items I will need for the winter temperatures in early March. I feel confident about my zero-degree down-fill sleeping bag. Clothing will be largely what I already own. Two Smartwool shirts ¢ short and long sleeve ¢ and SMARTWOOL LONG AND SHORT UNDERWEAR. Socks will be Smartwool, likely 3 pairs with slightly different padding for adjustments if needed; Smartwool beanie hat. Pants will be the Arc¢teryx Palisade pant, which is my favorite pant for everything; only one pair is needed. I will need to buy some excellent MITTENS, also. For the rain I have the Arc¢teryx Theta hardshell jacket and the Arc¢teryx Alpha pant. Arc¢teryx is my favorite for almost everything regarding being in the elements, and their rain gear is the best. The gore-tex pro-shell tends to elevate body temperature when moving down trail, so my solution is to wear only my base layer under the rain gear. I have tried this and it works well. For bitter cold winds on high ridgelines the rain gear above works well when it comes to blocking the stinging pain caused by the wind, but again, heat buildup can be a problem. If that happens I will wear my usual Smartwool base layer shirt with a fleece mid-layer and the Arc¢teryx Squamish Hoodie jacket on top. This jacket weighs 5 ounces (not kidding) and has never failed to keep wind off my body. I don¢t anticipate having to use anything other than my Palisade pant to keep the wind off of my legs. I believe I have made mention of everything in regards to clothing. My fleece doubles as my pillow at night, and I have been known to stuff it with socks to increase comfort. One last item ¢ my puff jacket is a Mont Bell UL-down for use at camp & during low exertion times. It weighs 7 ounces. John