morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-09-20
From: Stealth camp past Flagstaff Lake

To: Harrison Camp
Miles today: 14.7

154.8 miles to go. Smooth Trail today. I was up at my usual 6 am this morning to a temperature of 42 °F. I packed and was hiking at 7:10 am. The Trail was relatively smooth most of the time with ascents and descents between elevations of 1100 and 1500 feet, a range of 400 feet. I stopped for water at West Cory Pond Lean-to at 10 am where I also treated a left foot problem. As I hiked on my foot continued to bother me so I stopped again to treat it. Denatured alcohol is good for more than just cooking. After this treatment, my foot improved and I could hike without pain. I still had a blister issue on my left foot but hiked on, not wanting to spend 30 min for lunch since I was targeting Harrison Camp for my dinner destination. I did stop for 10 min to make 3 ¢quarter pounders¢ (PB on English muffins) and stowed 2 of them in the English muffin bag; the third one I ate as I hiked. It took about 10 min to get it down. As I hiked, I ate the remaining two. This was a big calorie lunch, with each ¢QP¢ having 700 calories. I arrived at the Harrison Camp at 4:30 pm and checked in. I have my own cabin with a wood stove for heat. At 6 pm I took a hot shower and was cleaned up for 6:30 pm dinner service (served by Tim) of chicken noodle soup, a garden salad with blue cheese dressing, freshly baked bread, rib eye steak, potatoes, onion, corn and lemonade. For dessert he served a giant raisin oatmeal cookie topped with ice cream. It is 8:40 pm and I just had to restart my wood stove. It is time for bed. Breakfast is served at 7:30 am and then I go to catch the Kennebec ferry and get to the Caratunk Post Office before it closes for lunch. Just Trogging Along GA ---> ME
Date: 2010-09-21
From: Harrison Camp

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

145.5 miles to go. Today I crossed the Kennebec River with Hillbilly Dave at the canoe helm. I was up at 6:30 am, packed, and enjoyed a Harrison Camp breakfast of eggs, pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. By 8:30 am, I was hiking. The temperature was 55 °F under overcast skies with relatively smooth trails. I reached the Kennebec River at 10 am where Hillbilly Dave was at this canoe, getting ready to ferry the Canadian Geese across. I was next. After crossing the river, I went to the Caratunk Post Office to pick up my mail drop with 3 days of food enclosed ¢ enough to get me through to Monson. There are no services in Caratunk other than the P.O. I sent out the latest journal pages and was hiking North again at noon. At 1 pm I stopped for lunch ¢ tuna salad on crackers ¢ and continued on to the Pleasant Pond Lean-to, arriving at 3:45 pm. At the shelter, Mrs. Goose helped to fashion a dressing for a callous between my toes that made walking very painful. Thank you Mrs. Goose, a.k.a. Florence Nightingale. Tonight I am in the shelter with the Canadian Geese, Tennesee Jim, Alan and Evan in a 6-person shelter. It is 7 pm, 63 °F with a moderate breeze and everyone in their sleeping bags. Time for lights out. ¢ Just Trogging Along GA ---> ME
Date: 2010-09-22
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

132.4 miles to go. Evan and Alan were up at 5 am and eventually got the whole shelter up earlier than we would have liked. By 5:40 am I was awake and hiking by 6:40 am. I was the first one out of the shelter but it wasn¢t long before Canadian Geese passed me followed shortly thereafter by Alan and Evan. Today started with a long, slow 1200 ft uphill of routine hiking. The temperature was 60 °F with a light breeze, all in all comfortable hiking weather. In the afternoon I crossed Moxie Bald after rock hopping the Moxie Bald stream ¢ good thing the water was low. From the summit of Moxie Bald Mt Katahdin was visible on the horizon although it was in the haze. A long slow downhill led to Moxie Bald Lean-to where I am in the shelter with Canadian Geese, Alan, Evan and Snail. Walking Man is tented near the pond. It is nearly 7:30 pm and time for bed. ¢ Just Trogging Along GA ---> ME
Date: 2010-09-23
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to

To: ME15/Monson
Miles today: 17.9

114.5 miles to go. Last night was cloudless with a bright moon shining through the tree cover. The 2 section hikers were up at 5 am. I ignored their noise until 5:40 am when I finally got up. Everyone else in the shelter had already given in and was up, too. I was hiking at 6:35 am under overcast skies with a 60 °F temperature and very little wind. The trails were tame for the most part over the entire day except for the two water crossings. The first was a small stream that had been taken over by beavers and made into a beaver pond that the AT now passed directly through. After taking off my socks, the inner soles of my shoes and my gaiters, I waded through water that came up to the bottom of my shorts. On the other side I dried everything off and was back hiking until I came to the wet branch of the Piscatiques River ¢ 6 years ago I had been able to rock-hop across. However on the second rock of the hop this time around, I slipped and ended up wading across in depths up to 6 inches. Unfortunately this time my socks, inner soles and gaiters all got soaked. I dried things as best I could and hiked onward to the east branch of the river where there was a beaver dam over which I was able to walk without getting wet. By that time I was ready for lunch and a Trail Angel Coke before heading on to Monson. The Trail was smooth and fast with little elevation change and I reached ME15 at 5:15 pm, covering a total of 17.9 miles in 10 hours. Over nearly 18 miles the ascent was only 2260 ft and the descent 2310 ft. I am staying at Shaws Hostel in Monson tonight. The hosts are very nice people ¢ Just Trogging Along GA ---> ME
Date: 2010-09-24
From: ME15/Monson

To: ME15/Monson
Miles today: 0.0

114.5 miles to go. Today is a zero day. I am resting my back that is acting up, needing Vitamin I yesterday to continue hiking. I picked up a mail drop with supplies for the first 4.5 days of my hike into the 100-Mile Wilderness that starts tomorrow, back willing. Thank you Mrs. Trog once again for your help. I am in the library where I just sent out an email status and need to get to the post office to mail these journals before it closes. ¢ Just Trogging Along GA ---> ME
Date: 2010-09-25
From: ME15/Monson

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

99.4 miles to go. I now have less than 100 miles left to go (99.4 to be exact). I was up at 6:30 am and was served a great breakfast by Shaws ¢ French toast, hash browns, eggs over easy, coffee and OJ. They shuttled me back to the Trail with Canadian Geese and Joe and I was hiking at 8 am. The Trail was wet and slippery and I had to cross two more streams (Big Wilson Stream and Long Pond Stream). I completed crossing the second stream at 6:30 pm as it was already getting dark. Since there was only 0.8 miles left to go, I decided to hike to the lean-to. By 6:45 pm I needed to use my headlamp. Fortunately this section of trail was well-blazed because it is easy to fall off the trail in the dark. However the trail did become more difficult with roots, rocks, and ups & downs. I finally made it to the Long Pond Stream Lean-to at 7:30 pm, cooked dinner, and went to bed. My back behaved while hiking and the only time I had pain was what I slipped on a wet rock or root. I¢m writing this journal entry two days later. ¢ Just Trogging Along GA ---> ME
Date: 2010-09-26
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-to

To: Chair Back Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 10.9

88.5 miles to go. Last night was not comfortable. Every time I shifted position my back hurt. I was out hiking by 7:30 am on dry trail, but by 10 am it was raining again, making things slippery. There were lots up steps up and down but none of long duration. It was pretty slow going and the temperature in the rain never went above 45 °F. I arrived at the Chairback Shelter at 5:30 pm ¢ 9.5 hours of hiking to cover 10.9 miles. The Canadian Geese, Alan, Evan and I were at the shelter, and Joe and Overlord were tenting. We all cooked dinner and went to bed. The tent temperature tonight was also 45 °F. ¢ Just Trogging Along GA ---> ME
Date: 2010-09-27
From: Chair Back Gap Lean-to

To: Woods Road then Shaw's in Monson
Miles today: 3.9

84.6 miles to go. Today I was up at 6 am and hiking at 7:30. Last night was very painful ¢ pain every time I moved while trying to sleep. I took my Vitamin I at 6:30 am and the hike was painful only when I slipped. Yesterday I made the decision to ¢flip¢ ¢ go do Katahdin and then hike southbound because I am not certain whether I can make it all the way to Katahdin before it closes on October 15th with my back in its current state. Today I am getting off just before the west branch of the Pleasant River and returning to Shawas in Monson for a few days rest. When ready, I will head to Katahdin to climb the mountain with plans to hike south to finish my thru-hike. A shuttle was supposed to pick me up here on this woods road at 11 am but by 11:30 am it had still not arrived. It did come at noon and on the way back we stopped at the outfitter in Greenville so they could repair my Leki pole (I bent it yesterday on a slippery descent). At 1 pm I checked into Shaws hostel then enjoyed a hot dog basket from the Mobile Mart, checked my email at the library, and made arrangements for a shuttle to travel to Katahdin tomorrow morning. Dinner was Mobile Mart pizza and beer. After a shower, I was in bed by 8:15 pm. ¢ Just Trogging Along GA ---> ME
Date: 2010-09-28
From: Shaw's in Monson

To: Appalachian Trail Lodge in Millinocket
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

84.6 miles to go. Back troubles. Last night was a little less difficult ¢ a little less. I added Vitamin I for pain relief but it is not clear how much additional good it did. I was up at 6:30 am and downstairs by 7 am for coffee and breakfast. After checking the weather report, I decided to go for Katahdin tomorrow. I spoke with Dawn, Shaws owner, about getting a shuttle to the mountain. She said it could leave at 6 am but not sooner because of the danger of running into moose. A 6 am departure would get me to the base of Katahdin at 8:30 am. Dawn had a group of retired Maine teachers for a luncheon. One of them was from Millinocket and she offered to take me there this afternoon ¢ I said yes. Dawn made arrangements for me to stay at the Appalachian Trail Lodge, a hostel in Millinocket, and have the owner Paul shuttle me to Katahdin in the morning. Marie drove me to Millinocket and once there to the health clinic in Millinocket and waited while they saw me. The doctor prescribed some muscle relaxants to help me sleep. Marie also took me to the pharmacy and waited while they filled the prescription. Dawn and Marie are my beautiful Trail Angels for today ¢ thank you Angels. ¢ Just Trogging Along GA ---> ME
Date: 2010-09-29
From: Appalachian Trail Lodge/Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Mt Katahdin then Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: broken clouds

79.4 miles to go. Today I summited Mt. Katahdin, a mountain worthy of the Northern terminus of the AT. I was up at 5 am, finished packing and walked the 5 min to the AT Caf© for breakfast. I caught a shuttle to Baxter State Park (BSP) at 6:30 am. After checking in at the BSP ranger station, I started up Katahdin from Katahdin Stream Campground at 8 am. It was overcast, in the mid-60s, and not raining but the trail was wet. The rocks had dried out when I got above the treeline, for which I was thankful. The trail was steep and difficult. There were places where iron rods were embedded in the rocks to aid climbers and I found them absolutely necessary for me. The 4000 ft, 5.2-mile climb was very demanding but I reached the summit at 1:10 pm. When I was in the Table Land, a wide plateau about 500 ft below the summit, the clouds blew partially away so I got momentary glimpses of the summit. The view did not last. The wind was gusty on the Table Land and on the summit but the summit was nearly a whiteout. The temperature was 51 °F but I hiked all the way up in shorts and a t-shirt. Another thru-hiker, Big Camera, took my summit photos and I quickly turned around and headed back down. I stopped at a big rock out of the wind and put on my rain jacket to keep warm. I stopped again at the edge of Table Land, sat down behind a rock out of the wind and enjoyed a celebratory lunch of green pepper and cheese pizza that I had saved from a previous dinner in Monson. After eating, I headed back down the 4200 ft 5.2-mile descent. It was more difficult going down than it was climbing up. At 6:15 pm I turned on my headlamp and hiked the final 30 min in the dark. Betsey, the ranger, met me and had a lean-to reserved. I cooked dinner and had lights out by 8 pm. ¢ Just Trogging Along GA ---> ME
Date: 2010-09-30
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

69.5 miles to go. I finished Baxter State Park today - less than 70 miles to go. Note from Transcriber: complete updates for 9/25 - 9/30. From Trog: Today I completed the Baxter State Park section ¢ only 70 miles to go. I was up at 6:30 am to overcast skies and dry, 60 °F temperatures. After packing up, I started hiking out of the campsite when I heard the name Trog being called from another campsite. It was a several of my thru-hiker friends who were planning to summit Katahdin today but the mountain was closed due to the danger of high (70 mph) winds. We took a group photo and I congratulated each of them: Red Oak, Butter, Scat Tracker, Uni Croc, Lobster, Sarintina & Eureka. I hiked onward at 8:10 am over hiker-friendly trail and made good time. I had to take a bypass trail to avoid the high dangerous water of Nesowadnehunk Stream which would have had to be crossed twice. The bypass trail did have a newly formed beaver pond where a stream crossed the Trail which I had to ford. Just one more set of wet feet but at least it was not a dangerous crossing. The skies threatened but it did not rain. I reached Abol Bridge at 1:40 pm, covering the 9.9 miles in 5.5 hours. Notices were posted there that Katahdin was clossed for both today and tomorrow so I am glad that I summited yesterday. On the hike to Abol bridge I made the final decision to get off the Trail and rehab the back so when I reached Abol bridge I quickly got a hitch to Millinocket then a shuttle to Bangor Airport where I rented a car. I drove home, arriving there at 9:10 pm.
Date: 2010-12-27
From: Home

To: Summer Pack Weight
Miles today: 0.0

Some folks have asked for a breakdown of my pack weight. The attached photo displays all the gear and its weight in both ounces and pounds that I carried in my pack during the summer without food, water, and fuel. The total weight is just under 10 lbs for the summer. For colder weathere I carry a 15 degree bag, long top and bottom, liner gloves, gortex shells, and light weight barlacava. For food I carry 2 lb/day, up to 2 liters of water, and up to 8 oz of alcohol fuel.
Date: 2011-08-22
From: Woods Trail to Gulf Hagas

To: Carl Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: few clouds

Since I got off the Trail on Sept 30th, 2010, I have gone through back rehab, hernia surgery, and cataract surgery. Today I resumed my quest to hike the AT from end to end for the second time. I was up at 6::00 and drove from my home in Massachusetts to the Appalachian Trail Lodge in Millinocket, Maine where I got a shuttle to Gulf Hagas in the 100 mile wilderness and resumed my 2010 AT hike at 3:15 in the Monday afternoon. It was cool and comfortable hiking on a smooth trail slightly down hill. In half a mile I reached the west branch of the Pleasant River which I had to ford. There had been heavy rain the previous two nights and the river was knee to mid thigh deep and flowing rapidly. I was glad I had two hiking sticks for balance as I crossed the 100 ft wide stream. The whole fording operation took 15 minutes counting the pre and post dry out operation. After the river the trail became rocky, rooty, and muddy in places. The stream before the shelter was also raging. I slipped and fell trying to rock hop and decided it was also a ford. Fortunately the stream was only 15ft wide. I reached the Carl Newhall Lean-to (don¢t know why they don¢t call them shelters like earlier on the Trail) at 6:50 as it was starting to get dark. Patience, a SOBO section hiker, was also there. For dinner I cooked freeze dried primavera. It was quite good. Today I hiked 6.0 miles in 3 hrs 35 min with 1370 ft of ascent and 370 of descent. It is 8:30 and pitch black and well past hiker midnight. The temperature is setting at 60F, and it is time to turn in.
Date: 2011-08-23
From: Carl Newhall Lean-to

To: Stealth Camp near Mountain View Pond
Miles today: 12.7

It felt cold last night; the shelter temp was 49F this morning when I got up at 6:00. I packed, ate my Pop Tart, and was hiking at 6:50. There was a lot of ascent and descent today. The Trail went over Gulf Hagas Mtn, West Peak, Hay Mtn, and White Cap Mtn. I had a 60 min lunch at Logan Brook Lean-to where I met Nimble Foot who attempted to thru-hike the Trail in 2003. He got ill from food poisoning in the 100 mile wilderness but made it to Abel Bridge. At that point he was so sick that he had to get off the Trail with only 15 miles to go for a thru-hike. He has just come back now, hiked Katahdin for the first time and is now hiking south. He said he was so sick that he now knows that he could not have made it up Katahdin in 2003 even if he had tried. I wished him good luck on his southbound hike and then hiked on. The highest temperature today was 62F but it was comfortable in shorts and a T-shirt. I reached the west Branch of the Pleasant River at 3:45 and it too was high with the water covering several of the rocks you would normally rock hop on. What was left was a long hop to a higher rock which I deemed too risky and forded my third stream in two days. I dried off and hiked on, reaching Mountain View Pond at 5:20 where I am now stealth camping. Now it is 60F and I just heated water for freeze dried lasagna with meat sauce and am waiting for it to hydrate. It is very peaceful here with a slight breeze and a few birds chirping -- perhaps a junco and some kind of warbler. I have finished my dinner and cleaned up. It is maybe 61F in the tent. Today was the day of the forest fruit -- bright red-orange bunch berries, a bright red trillium berry (it¢s looks like an almond M&M), bright blue berries on the blue bead lily, bunches of bright red berries on the hobble bush, and of course blueberries on the blueberry bushes by the pond. It was very colorful out here today. I only ate the blueberries because I didn¢t know whether any of the others were edible, but they were sure pretty. Today I hiked 12.7 miles, 3300 ft of ascent, 3730 ft of descent, and 4 laps in 10 hrs 30 min including a 60 min lunch. It is 7:45 and silent. Time to turn in.
Date: 2011-08-24
From: Stealth Camp near Mountain View Pond

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 6:30, packed up, had Pop Tart breakfast, and was hiking at 7:25 in shorts and T-shirt in 57F temperature. Went over little Boardman Mtn. At 9:30 stopped at Crawford Pond sand beach and did a full immersion wash off -- no soap of course. There was a nice 2 ft by 3 ft piece of fiberglass flotsam which I used to sit on at the water¢s edge to dry off the feet and put on socks and shoes. It was very refreshing. As I hiked on I could hear the mournful calls of the Loon. It was pure Maine and was my delight of the morning. It was a beautiful sound to say the least. I hiked on, stopping at the Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to for a lunch of almond butter on crunchy cardboard (Wasa crackers). I was again hiking by noontime and reached the designated food cache point at 1:45. (I had made arrangements in Millinocket for my last 3 days of food to be dropped off midway through my hike.) The food was not there. I tried to call the food drop person on my cell phone, but the cell coverage was very weak -- between zero and one bar. I walked around and found the ¢best¢ spot, kept trying and was finally able to leave a message. I got a call back at 4:00 which said the food was coming. Yea. The food came and I was hiking again at 4:45. From there the Trail was quite mellow and I arrived at Antlers Campsite at 7:40. I treated water from the lake, set up the tent, and cooked freeze dried spaghetti with meat sauce which was good. I am now in the tent, and it feels and looks like rain is coming. Temperature is 72F and the wind is blowing. Today I hiked 14.1 miles, 1790 ft of ascent, 2830 ft of descent, and 2 laps in 11 hrs 16 min including a 3 hr wait at the food cache. It is almost 9:00 and time for lights out.
Date: 2011-08-25
From: Antlers Campsite

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 6:00 in 64F temperature and was hiking at 6:40 in shorts and T-shirt. It did not rain last night. This morning it was overcast with no wind. I could hear loons as I hiked away from Antlers Pond. Today the Trail was muddy and wet in places. There were rocks and roots in other areas, and there were lots of bog bridges which was a good thing. It sprinkled for awhile around noon and I put on the pack cover. This afternoon there was about a 2.2 mile hike along the Shore of Namakanta Lake in a very rocky and rooty trail. When I was almost to the end of the lake, a float plane landed and taxied to the shore. My first thought was to take a picture but then I thought they may be drug traffickers and then thought better of it. When I got closer and looked out through the woods and saw the backpacks, I felt safe. The plane was dropping off two hikers. I hiked to Wadleigh Stream Lean-to with Matt and his son Jack who were hiking the northern part of the 100 mile wilderness. Matt¢s wife went to Purdue and Jack will be entering Northwestern this fall as a freshman. On the hike it started to rain. We reached the Lean-to at 4:00 which was nearly full and I took the last spot. In the Lean-to there were NOBOs Sara, Becky, two nurses from Tenants Harbor, ME, Scooby Do, Bounce from Australia, and Dutch. Also there were the Honeymooners, Ralph and Alice who were married on July 30th. Today I hiked 13.6 miles, 1300 ft of ascent, 1070 ft of descent, and 2 laps in 9 hrs 20 min. It is 8:00 and things seem to be quieting down in the Lean-to. Time to try to get some sleep in these very tight quarters
Date: 2011-08-26
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to

To: Steallth Camp at north end of Rainbow Lake
Miles today: 15.3

Up at 6:00 and hiking at 6:45 in shorts and T-shirt. It rained last night, hard at times. I was glad to be in a Lean-to. By the morning it had stopped raining. I started out climbing Mt. Nesuntabunt which had broken rocks which were a pain and stone steps which were nice. After that there was an easy down hill and then mostly ¢flat¢. The Trail was sprinkled with patches of water and mud which I tried to rock hop around. But even now and then I would hear the squish sound when I couldn¢t avoid the mud. At one point I slipped off a bog bridge and went up to my right ankle in black Maine mud but was able to recover quickly enough so that no mud got into my hiking shoe, thanks to my gaiter. When I recovered it took two hands to pull my hiking pole from the mud. I can just imagine what the trails and the stream crossings will be like after hurricane Irene passes through this weekend. I had my lunch of cheese on crisp, tasteless cardboard at the Rainbow Stream Lean-to. As I was leaving Sara and Becky arrived and I wished them good hiking since I would not see them again. I hiked on along the 5 mile long Rainbow Lake and am stealth camping at the north end of the lake. I took another ¢bath¢ in the lake and my T-shirt and shorts are hung up to ¢dry¢ but I don¢t expect much success tonight. In any event I plan to hike out in them tomorrow. Today I hiked 15.3 miles, 2170 ft of ascent, 1920 ft of descent, and 1 lap in 10 hrs. It is 8:15, 64F in my tent, and quiet, no wind -- like the lull before the storm. Anyway I hope to be finished and out of here before Irene hits. Time to get some rest.