morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-09-01
From: Lancaster NH

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: scattered clouds

9/1/16 9.6 miles 4220'/ 2408'O-Town is feeling much better so we returned to the trail today. We followed the same side trail we used to bail and returned to the AT just north of Mount Success. Although we hated to say goodbye to our Yellow Deli hosts Elizabeth and Jeremiah, it was good to back into the rhythm of the trail. We finally made Maine and the trail continues to hit us with steep, rocky, slippery climbs and descents. Hiking it has become very tedious and it's difficult to make any time, but the scenery is stunningly beautiful. It's easy to tell that fall has arrived to this part of the country. The air is crisp and dry. The angle of the sun is getting lower. The nighttime low temperatures are dropping into the lower 40's. And the maple trees are starting to show some color. O-Town stepped off a bog bridge into what looked like a footprint and promptly sank knee deep into black oozing mud. He had a hard time extricating himself and almost lost a shoe in the process.
Date: 2016-09-02
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: stealth site near Grafton Notch
Miles today: 10.0

9/2/16Full Goose Campsite- Grafton Notch 10 miles, 3184'/ 4670'Today's hike included Mahoosic Notch, Mahoosic Arm, and Old Speck Mountain. It was easily the hardest day of hiking I've ever experienced. The Notch is touted to be the hardest mile on the entire Appalachian Trail and I'm a believer. It was really just a mile of bouldering. We climbed up, over, under and around car to house sized rocks the entire way. It took 2:20 to cover the 1 mile distance. As soon as the trail left the Notch it started up Mahoosic Arm, gaining 1500' in just over a mile. And it wasn't an easy 1500', there were many sloping slabs and steep rocky pitches to climb along the way. Then we descended to Speck Pond before starting another steep, exposed ascent up Old Speck Mountain. After cresting Old Speck we descended 2600' to a stealth campsite just off the road in Grafton Notch. Headlamps illuminated our way for the last mile or so. I hope I'll be able to move in the morning. We have another 10 miles between us and our next resupply point in Andover Maine.
Date: 2016-09-03
From: stealth site near Grafton Notch

To: East B Road near Andover ME
Miles today: 10.4

10.4 miles, 3948'/3945'Amazingly, I was actually able to drag myself out of the tent this morning for another day on the trail. After the grueling day we had yesterday I was not so sure I would be able to move today. Next on the play list... Baldpate Mountain, 3800' of beautiful granite slab just waiting for us to tickle her flanks. Fortunately she was much more intimidating to look at than to climb and we made it up and over without too much trouble. The views during the ascent and across her open summit were spectacular. I can understand why it's one of the most popular day hikes in Maine. After spending almost an hour on top eating lunch and enjoying the views we called The Cabins Hostel to confirm our reservations and get the low-down on the shuttle. We hit the trail again and 6 miles and three mountains later found ourselves at the trailhead, but not before hiking by the top of one of Main's highest waterfalls. PS. To my friends the McCools whom I met way back in Virginia... I got your message asking when I'd be in western Maine but I can't respond without your email address. I'd love to see you again if you're up here. Please sign my guest book again and leave me your email address. Thanks!
Date: 2016-09-04
From: East B Road near Andover ME

To: South Arm Road trailhead
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

We slack packed today to give our legs a break. They really needed it after the past few super-tough sections of trail. We are staying tonight in a pop-up camper on the grounds of The Cabins Hostel. There's no heat or electricity in the camper but there's a hot shower and great home-cooked food in the main house, plus we can wash our clothes inside to boot.
Date: 2016-09-05
From: Maine Route 17

To: South Arm Road
Miles today: 13.6

13.6 miles, 3901'/ 4531'We opted for another slack pack day and knocked out 13 miles over Bemis and Old Blue Mountains. My legs are starting to feel normal again. Staying in our pop-up again tonight. It's on to Rangely tomorrow for a resupply.
Date: 2016-09-06
From: Maine Rt 14

To: The Hiker Hut, Rangely ME
Miles today: 13.0

9/6/1613 miles, 2279'/2893'Last night was the last one in the pop-up camper for O-Town and me. After a final lumberjack breakfast at The Cabins Hostel we hit the trail again, heading north from Maine Rt 17. We've been told this next section of trail is "easy", but we have to keep in mind that is by Maine standards. The trailhead was at the scenic Height of Land overlook, a parking turn-out with spectacular views of Rangely Lake and the mountains surrounding it. Almost all of the lakes and ponds up here are natural rather than man-made. They sit in basins carved out by glaciers during the last ice age. And what happened to all of the rock that was scoured off to create these lakes? Why, it was deposited in Pennsylvania of course. And that's why the trail in PA is so ridiculously rocky. But back to today's hike. As it turned out, this was indeed an easy section of trail. All of the climbs and descents were short, most gaining or losing only a couple hundred feet. And the trail was actually a footpath rather than a vertical rock scramble. Of course there were still some steep rocky pitches to remind us that we're still in Maine. It skirted several lakes and ponds along the way, and the loons called to us as we passed. One of the more remote ponds even had a canoe. I couldn't resist taking her for a spin around the shoreline in hopes of jumping a bedding moose. All-in-all it was a nice reprieve from the extremes of the previous few days. We will spend the day in the town of Rangely Maine tomorrow, resupplying and giving our legs a rest.
Date: 2016-09-08
From: Rangely Maine

To: Redington Stream Campsite
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: few clouds

Maureen McCool please re-sign my guestbook. The email address you left was not valid according to trail journals. I'm in western Maine and would love to see you guys again. It's been a long time since Shenandoah! Rangely- Redington Stream Campsite 8.2, 3319'/ 1793'I continue to be amazed by the way the Trail leads you places and introduces you to people you simply would never experience otherwise. We were eating breakfast at a small diner in Rangely this morning when an older gentleman came in. He was obviously a hiker and we asked him to join us. Turns out he is a retired psychiatrist from Hillsborough NC, just 50 miles or so from my home. We had a fascinating conversation about mental health treatment, and no, he didn't suggest that I see him upon my return from the Trail. He's section hiking now and so had a car. After breakfast he drove us by out motel to get our gear, took us by the IGA, then all the way out to the trailhead. It was another example of trail magic. Our hike today took us up and over Saddleback Mountain, another 4000 footer. Being that high meant traveling above tree line again for about 3 miles. Usually that equates to amazing views but we were in the clouds today and could see no more than 100'. It was unfortunate. I'm told the mountains we could have seen to our north are in Canada. We got such a late start today that we decided to camp after only a little over 8 miles. The fact that there were over 60 thru-hikers headed to the next shelter beyond where we stopped also had a lot to do with our decision not to continue. Yes, we have been fully engulfed by the Thru-Hiker "bubble". It's quiet where we are tonight though. I'm falling asleep to the sounds of gentle rain on my tent fly and wind in the spruce trees. Hoping for sunny skies and dry trail for our hike tomorrow though. We need to make up the distance we lost by stopping short today
Date: 2016-09-09
From: Redington Stream Campsite

To: Spaulding Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

Sept 9 Redington- Spaulding 10.5 miles, 3249'/ 3269'Today's route took us along Poplar Ridge, over Lone Mountain and by Mount Abraham. We rock-hopped Orbeton Stream, one that at normal water levels requires wading. The trail went vertical after Orbeton, climbing several hundred feet in only an eighth of a mile to the top of a waterfall. It then continued up steadily as it took us to the 3250' summit of Lone Mountain. We could have climbed a side trail for another 500' or so to the summit of Mount Abraham, but at this stage of the game it's hard to get motivated to hike extra mileage that doesn't get us closer to our goal.
Date: 2016-09-10
From: Spaulding Shelter

To: ME RT 27/ Stratton ME
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Sept 9Spaulding Shelter- ME Rt 2713.6 miles, 3971'/ 5693'Rangely, Caratunk, Monson, The Kennebec, The Bigalows, Saddleback, Sugarloaf. All of them names that conjure up dreams of adventure in the great north woods of Maine. I can hardly believe I'm here. We climbed 3 of Maine's 15 4000'ers today, South and North Crocker Mountains and Sugarloaf, Maine's second highest peak. The descent off of Sugarloaf was no joke, with many steep, rocky pitches over a grueling 2000' descent. Then it was right back up again as we climbed the Crockers, gaining the 2000' back in about three miles of hiking. As soon as we topped out the roller coaster ride continued, with the trail dropping us 2600' to the trailhead at ME RT 27. We passed the 2000 mile and Appalachian Trail Completion Markers along the way. Northbound thru-hikers who started in Georgia now have 2000 miles behind them. With only 189 to go they are becoming more focused on finishing. The AT completion marker was on Spaulding Mountain, and similar to Promontory Point Utah, marks the spot at which the trail's construction was officially completed in 1937.
Date: 2016-09-11
From: Stafford Notch Approach Trail

To: ME Rt 27
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

Stafford Notch approach trail- ME Rt 27. 12.4 miles, 5311'/ 4229'September 11th dawned gloomy and grey with thunderstorms rolling through western Maine. It's almost as if these mountains are saddened and angered by what transpired on this date some 15 years ago. It would have been a great morning to have been able to roll over and go back to sleep, but duty calls. In spite of high wind warnings in the forecast and a trail made slick and treacherous by the rain, we set off to tackle the mighty Bigelows, the highest, most exposed mountains between Saddleback and Katahdin. Seeming to have pitty on our plight, and perhaps impressed by our determination to press on in spite of the conditions, the mountains smiled on us and the weather began to clear. By the time we reached Mt Bigelow's West Peak at 4145', puffy cumulus clouds were being driven across the summit by 60 to 70mph winds. It was difficult to stay upright while traversing the rocky, treeless summit. We stumbled upon the foundation walls of some long ago dismantled fire tower and hunkered down to regroup before venturing out to complete the next pitch. Leapfrogging along from one large boulder to the next we used the leeward side of each one as a mini refuge from the relentless hurricane force winds that scoured the summit. Eventually we made it to the relative safety of tree line and made our way across the rest of the summit ridge. We climbed up and over Avery Peak for a second helping of being blown about by the winds before finally descending below tree line for good. Picking our way along the boulder-strewn trail we eventually made it to Horn Pond, a glacial cirque, before finally beginning our 1500' descent to the road. We donned headlamps for the last mile and a half of the hike and hit ME Rt 27 a little after 7:30. Although we were bunked at the Stratton Hostel in town, dinner was freeze-dried beef stew.
Date: 2016-09-12
From: Stafford Notch

To: Long Falls Dam Road
Miles today: 11.5

Stafford Notch- Long Falls Dam Rd. 3015'/ 3081'Climbed the 2-mile-long approach trail back up to Stafford Notch then headed south over Little Bigelow. The weather was incredibly beautiful with azure blue skies, bright sun and cool breezes. We climbed through northern hardwood forest as we ascended a thousand feet to Stafford Notch. Once we hit the ridge we were back in the Christmas tree zone. The trail was kind to us today. Although we ascended and descended over 3000' almost none of it was steep or technical. After enjoying tremendous views of Avery Peak, South Bigelow, Sugarloaf, Spaulding and other peaks we've traversed over the past few days we headed down from the last of the tall mountains until we get to Katahdin. The run down from the summit of Little Bigelow was on a relatively gentle grade. We then we followed the shoreline of Flagstaff Lake for a mile or so before climbing up, over and down a 500' high speed bump over the last mile of our hike. The lake was gorgeous with crystal clear water and a boulder strewn shoreline. Its large- several miles long and as much as a half mile across. The wind kicked up some pretty good sized waves that rolled ashore sounding for all the world like the ocean. The night sky from there must be incredible. I'm gonna make it a point to camp along its shoreline if I ever come back. They say the trail gets much easier from here to the "Big K", with hardly any more big mountains to climb. We still have 169 miles of trail, including the 100 mile wilderness to deal with tho, so we'll see.
Date: 2016-09-13
From: Long Falls Dam Road

To: Pierce Pond 
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: broken clouds

Long Falls Dam Road- Pierce Pond Campsite. 13.6 miles, 1727'/ 1831'After starting with an 800' climb over the first two miles the trail remained relatively flat for the rest of today's hike. It wound through hardwoods and spruces, and took us along the shoreline of several lakes and ponds. The basins for these lakes were carved out by glaciers during the last ice age. The water is unbelievably clear. Smooth, rounded rocks of all sizes line the shore and bottom. It's very difficult to find a sandy stretch conducive to wading but we somehow managed. The cool clear water was refreshing and did wonders for our tired feet. Early in my trip I was serenaded by wood thrushes, veerys and winter wrens at dusk. Tonight I'm camped on a rocky bluff overlooking a lake. Instead of thrushes and wrens the calls of the resident loons are lulling me to sleep.
Date: 2016-09-14
From: Pierce Pond 

To: Caratunk ME
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We nearoed today, mostly due to a combination of the Kennebec River canoe ferry schedule, a number of fairly tough pays preceding this one, and a fairly inexpensive hostel in Caratunk. Most of the route was level to slightly descending in nature, but with a few sharp short ups and downs thrown in to keep it interesting. There were also quite a few rocks and roots to keep us from going too fast. Everyone in camp last night planned to depart super early this morning to get in line for the ferry across the Kennebec River, which didn't start running until 9am. Rather than leave with the crowd to hurry and wait in a que by the river, we opted for a leisurely morning in camp by the beautiful Pierce Pond, purposely waiting until 9:00 to depart. We arrived at the river a little before 11 and were all three of us across the river within 15 minutes with no waiting in line. Another 5 minutes of hiking delivered us to our hostel in Caratunk.
Date: 2016-09-15
From: Caratunk ME

To: Bald Mountain Brook lean-to
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Caratunk ME- Bald Mountain Brook Campsite, 14.6 miles, 3353'/ 2590'Today's hike was long but we had only one major climb, that being a 1200 footer up Pleasant Pond Mountain. From its summit we could see the beginning of the 100 mile wilderness beyond Monson ME, and way off on the horizon, on a bearing of exactly 60 degrees, a huge monolithic mass of a mountain that quite possibly could have been Katahdin.
Date: 2016-09-16
From: Bald Mountain Brook lean-to

To: Horseshoe Canyon lean-to
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Bald Mountain Brook Campsite- Horseshoe Canyon Shelter, 13.1 miles, 2351'/ 2827'Coyotes were restless last night, howling at the nearly full moon for hours. It was a chilly evening too. First time I've completely zipped up my sleeping bag since sometime in May. The hike today took us up and over Moxie Bald. The 1200' climb out of camp kept us nice and toasty on this brisk autumn morning. Once on top we could look back and see the Bigelows, Saddleback and Sugarloaf, all mountains we traversed days ago. Coming off Moxie we hiked through pine, spruce and hemlock for miles, skirting lakes and following rocky streams. We pulled into our shelter site a little after 5, glad to have another 13 miles in the rear view mirror. Tomorrow it's on to Monson ME, the last town before the 100 Mile Wilderness.
Date: 2016-09-17
From: Horseshoe Canyon lean-to

To: Monson ME
Miles today: 9.1

Horseshoe Canyon- Monson, 9.1 miles, 1685'/1282'Horseshoe Canyon, what a great name for a campsite. Conjures up images of the old west doesn't it? After another chilly night we got a fairly early start on our hike today, pulling out at 7:40. Surprising, since it's a lot harder to climb out of that toasty warm sleeping bag when it's cold out. I'm sure the fact that Monson, good food, and a soft bed awaited us at the other end of nine miles had something to do with it. The trail followed the Piscataquis River for the first couple of miles. It's a rocky, clearwater stream that would make a good whitewater run with more water in it. This being the driest summer in 30 years here in Maine it was reduced to perhaps a tenth of its normal flow. In fact, hikers must ford it twice and during normal years this would mean wading waste deep. Trail maintainers have actually strung fording ropes across the river at these points to give hikers something to hold onto to keep from being swept away. The water is so low this year though that we were able to rock hop the crossings without so much as getting our feet wet. After following the river a bit the trail broke away from it and climbed about a thousand feet in two 500' steps. Nothing steep, but enough to get the blood flowing. It then descended to a fog-shrouded Lake Hebron. I knew I was getting close when I could hear loons calling. The lake was so beautiful I decided to take my first break there, after a little over 5 miles of hiking. Amazingly, the fog lifted and the sun came out during the 15 minutes I sat there on the shoreline. The rest of the hike was pretty uneventful, although I did notice that the fall colors are beginning to show even more. I guess they're waiting for a good frosty night to really get going. As it was I was able to get nine miles done by noon and quickly hitched a ride into Monson. We plan to take a zero day tomorrow to rest and resupply in preparation for the 100 Mile Wilderness. We are now 115 miles from Katahdin.
Date: 2016-09-18
From: Monson ME

To: Monson ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

O-Town and I joined forces with another hiker named This Year in Andover ME. He's on the last leg of section hiking the entire trail over a number of years. We first met This Year and his adult son while climbing Wildcat Mountain. It was his first day back on the trail and Wildcat treated them about as rudely as it did O-Town and me. We all ended up stealth camping at Zeta Pass. We runited with This Year at the Cabins Hostel in Andover. His son had only accompanied him for the first few days of his hike. All of us seemed to get along pretty well, and by the time we got to Rangely we were hiking as a threesome. The terrain is such that one really doesn't want to hike all by themselves if it can be avoided. We've now hung together for a week and close to 100 miles. We're now in Monson, preparing to take on the 100 Mile Wilderness, the final challenge before Katahdin. Unfortunately, health issues have struck again. This Year has developed a nasty eye infection. He has been to the ER and gotten meds but doesn't seem to be improving that much. So he's seeing an opthamologist first thing in the morning. O-Town and I have decided to stay here in Monson an extra day in hopes that This Year will recover quickly and that we will be on our way up the trail again on Tuesday.
Date: 2016-09-20
From: Monson ME

To: Long Pond Stream
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

9/2017 miles (including 2 mile access trail)3500'/3700'We left Monson after a hearty breakfast at Pete's and started hiking the 100 Mile Wilderness this morning. Monson is a major slate quarrying area and the trail shows it. The stuff is everywhere. Unfortunately for us the morning dawned with mist and light rain. Have you ever walked slate flagstones moistened by the rain? They have the same friction coefficient as bear grease. The only thing that come close to being as slippery? Wet roots. We had both in abundance for the first half of our journey today. The rain finally stopped and the trail began to dry out at mid-day, although we still had to watch our step. We hiked through northern hardwoods, spruce and fir most all day. The trail also led us by a number of lakes and beaver ponds. I kept an eye out for old Bullwinkle but all I saw of him was a nice set of fresh tracks. We did have our first bona fide stream ford today though. Luckily it was only knee deep and the current wasn't too fast. We are now less than 100 miles from Katahdin. They say the terrain gets a lot easier 20-30 miles ahead. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to that!
Date: 2016-09-21
From: Long Pond Stream

To: Chairback Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Long Pond Stream- Chairback Gap Shelter 10.3 AT miles, 4220'/3898'Didn't get started until almost 9:00 then hiked a couple of miles to the starting point to give us 12.5 miles for the day. The 4200' of climbing and rugged, rocky trail really took the steam out of me. We made Chairback Gap shelter around 5 and decided to stay there. This left us about 4 miles short of our intended target, the campsites at Gulf Hagis. We will have to do extra miles between now and Friday to make it to our scheduled food drop. We shared the shelter with a couple of guys in their 70's. One was a couple of days from finishing a southbound traverse of the 100-Mile. The other was northbound. 86 miles now stand between us and Mount Katahdin.
Date: 2016-09-22
From: Chairback Gap Shelter

To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: few clouds

Chairback Gap Shelter- Logan Brook Shelter, 17.4 miles, 4947'/ 4445'Today we crossed more rivers and hiked through The Hermitage, a National Heritage Site with 100'-tall virgin white pine trees. During the day I saw my first boreal chickadees and O-Town spotted a pine martin. The Trail took us along a high ridge with a saddle. The area of the saddle had more moose sign than I've yet seen in any one place. Fresh tracks and droppings were everywhere. And there were even beds in some high grass just off the trail. We climbed almost a vertical mile, including the 4 chair back mountains. Each peak was about a mile from the next and each involved anywhere from 300'-700' of climbing. I challenged myself to make it to the top of each one on the hour. I successfully met the challenge, starting the first climb at 1:30, finishing the last at 4:30. Breaking the distance down into shorter goals really made it easier psychologically. The last peak provided the first close-up view of Katahdin. Although still some 70 trail miles away it was moving to finally set eyes on our ultimate destination. After more than 17 miles of hiking and almost 5000' of climbing I was toast. I'll sleep well tonight. We are now roughly 69 miles from Katahdin.