morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-11
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a great day. Sunshine and a much nicer trail. We arrived at this sheter early and planned to move on. We wanted to take a good rest and have a snack before pushing up the trail, but suddenly it got dark and started pouring. We NEED to get dry still. My shoes have been wet for three days. We hung our clothes out to dry yesterday, but they didn't...Anyway...Today we rose and fixed breakfast, then hit the trail. The first few miles had plenty of steep slopes and difficult rocks. We stopped on a ridge and took pictures because the sky was clear at last. The sun shone most of the day, but we didn't get inthe the sunshine much because of the tall trees that are a constant, except on some of the ridges. On one ridge there was a blanket of laurel. It was thick and fragrant. Soon after, I entered a thicket where there were ferns mixed in with the laurel. The ferns were taller than me! I imagined I was a "brownie."We forded the Pleasant River. It was an easy ford with th4e water hitting just above the knees. Josh had arrived and made the ford well before me and he was talking with a woman that monitors hikers to insure no one camps in this area. There are a lot of day hikers as well here-with a parking lot a short distance from the trail.Later, I was struggling, as always, to catch up with Josh and I heard him call out to me. He was taking a birdbath in the stream. The water here is yellow because of a high iron content. Some springs and brooks are more yellow than others. I can't help but think of a specimen when I drink it. It tastes like...water.I foundd a small raspberry bush with a bright red berry. I ate it knowing it was not quite ripe yet. Tart and sweet. Yum!!! We are still a full day behind schedule.
Date: 2004-07-12
From: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to

To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Today there is a special guest writer for the Daily Whetstone Trail Journal. My name is Josh Whetstone and Dave is my pop. I have the pleasure of accompanying him through the 100 mile wilderness in Maine. Man, got to love a name like the 100 mile wilderness. It just sounds cool. My first thoughts after stepping onto the trail were how narrow the trail was. Here is a trail that hosts thousands of people every year and it is just a small dirt path. I was amazed at how respectful the hikers are to the trail and the wilderness.Today was a short day because the Oldl Man's feet are blistering up. I think we've pretty much given up pn trying to finish the 100 miles and just try to make it to White House Landing to get shuttled out. I take full reaponsibility of not reaching our goal; if only I had the foresite to quit my job we would be set.We crossed some amazing mountains today. We started off with a band and climbed steadily until we summitted Gulf Hagas, which was followed by three more mountain peaks all of which were sequentially higher than the last. When we reached the top of White Cap Mountain it made all the sweat, blood, and tears (which were plentiful) worth it. The top of the mountain was just loose rocks and very few trees, which when accompanied with beautiful, sunny weather we were towering over everything and we could see for miles. For me, this has been the pinnacle of this trip (this and that I have an excuse not to shave or bathe). It was something that you have to see for yourself to really take in this beauty. With the view and a cool breeze we decided to stop for lunch. Hopefully the weather will be sunny and we will make some good distance for the next couple of days. Also, I hope you enjoyed a break from the ramblings of an old man!!!
Date: 2004-07-13
From: Logan Brook Lean-to

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We rose late and prepared breakfast. We were on the trail 7:34. We         shared the shelter with two southbound hikers (SOBOS): Chainsaw, a trail maintainer near Pearisburg and another young guy who was new to hiking.We passed a small stream that hd a bag of cokes in it. It was still early and we felt full of breakfast, so we left them all for others. A group of boys passed us a few minutes later so I'm sure they did not go to waste. I'm amazed at the kindness people extend to hikers.I was about 50 feet behind Josh when he stepped out on a logging road overgrown with ferns and grass. He whispered "MOOSE!" I fumbled for my camera, but they, two cows were gone before I got onto the road.Flowers were plentiful. Daisies, buttercups, and a flower I assume is a variety of cone flower. To describe it, imagine a single ear of corn grwoing vertically from the stem. It is a small ear, about one inch long and three eighths in diameter. Instead of kernels of corn there are about 4 to 6 tiers of lavender florets with six florets per tier circling the cob. The florets look like tiny snap dragon blossoms.The Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to is situated alongside a waterfall and a swimming hole. Josh took a brief swim. As expected, the lean-to is a popular, crowded one so se decided to tent a few hundred feet away. The rushing sound of thefalls will be nice to sleep to.Here is a little poem I wrote that is appropriate for a day like today:I feel like death warmed over,My feet are sore as hell,With bruises, gout and blisters,And goodness! How they smell!
Date: 2004-07-14
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Today's trail was near perfect--gentle slopes with the footpath covered with soft pine needles. My feet held out well for the frust 8 miles, then...the last stretch was pure torture. We are planning a two mile day tomorrow and a zero day on the 16th. We will visit, with great anticipation, the White House Landing Lodge. Then Josh will return home and I will hike on alone again. I will miss my hiking partner.There is a green trash bag here stuffed into a gap in the lean-to. I wondered if it had anything in it, because people (especially SOBOS just starting out) tend to dump unwanted food and gear in the wilderness. I moved the bag just enough to determine that it was light and empty; I pushed it back into the gap. A few moments later I caught movement in the corner of my eye and saw a spider on my arm. I ws amazed that I couldn't feel it walking over the hairs on my arm toward the hairless side of my undearm. It was a pretty spider, if that can be said of a spider...It had the famous violin shape marking. I don't know exactly what a brown recluse looks like. Anyway, in a second it would be able to reach my flesh with ease, so I quickly flicked it off, but I didn't see where it landed. I'm guessing I offended it when I moved the trash bag.There are miracles like turning water into wine and parting the Red Sea and there are coincidences that seem miraculous. An amazing coincidence happened to me...I always carry plenty of TP (toilet paper). A small stash in my pocket and a larger supply deep inside my backpack. On the morning of the twelfth, I depleted my pocket supply, but I didn't dig into my pack immediately to replenish it.We hiked along meeting lots of people and stopped to talk with some. We met tro women (one of them had some connection to the AT in Maine). We enjoyed talking with them for a few minutes. Later, after we arrived at the Logan Brook Lean-to, I dug into my pack in search of my TP. When I found it, the ziplock bag was open and my entire supply of TP was soaked and useless mush. Only moments later, two young men came hiking down the trail with a roll of toilet paper for the privy. The woman we met earlier had asked these young men to bring the TP for the privy. During the 600 miles that I have hiked the trail, this was the FIRST time I have been at a privy with toilet paper supplied. It was a great coincidence. I took enough TP to get me to Millinocket where I can restock.
Date: 2004-07-15
From: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 2.3

We hiked a quick few miles to get to the White House Landing. It seems the data was incorrect because after leaving the trail we hiked several miles vs the .9 listed. Anyway, we arrived at the far side of the lake and sounded the air horn. We sat in the rain a short few minutes until the boat came from across the lake to ferry us to the lodge. We immediately dropped our packs and headed for the grill to order a GIANT one pound hamburger. WOW!!! It was delicious.The showers were next and it was such a pleasure. In the evening we went back to the grill and ordered a 14 inch pepperoni, green pepper, black olive pizza. Life at it's level best.During the night I had to get up and to to the privy. It was a moonless night and warmer than I expected--about 60 degrees. I had a small light to help me see, but when I got outside the door of our cabin, I stood by the lake with my light out. There is no electricity here, no lights were visible. I listened to the sounds of the wilderness--the waves lapping the shore, the breeze, frogs, and a few insects. I noticed sounds that were not there. No motors, no mosquitos, no trains, planes or boats. It is a bit of paradise.Then I saw a light moving on the horizon. A flashing bright, white light. My thoughts went through several options, eliminating them one at a time. A satellite, a plane, a person running---then I saw another. Fireflies! A first for this western desert boy.
Date: 2004-07-16
From: White House Landing

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 0.0

Breakfast was AYCA (All You Can Eat): eggs, bacon, country style potatoes, OG, English muffins, and blueberry pancakes. It was nice today, very nice! Sunny and a dry breeze so I finally managed to dry out all my stuff. There is no electricity here (well...except some generated for special use by the owners). Hikers don't have access to a washing machine, BUT there is a turn of the century (1900s) type wringer washer and a galvanized ttub available. I washed my clothes and hung then out to dry. Needless to say, Maytag needn't worry. They at least smell better.At about noon, Josh and I paddled a canoe on the lake hoping to see some wildlife. We stopped and took some photos. Josh found some blueberries on a small island, but a storm was brewing and we heard distant thunder, so we returned to the lodge against the wind. The lake was getting very choppy giving us a few splashed and a wild ride. It was fun; but them we had to hurry to get our gear inside just as it started to rain. We played cards, read alot and just relaxed as we enjoyed the ever-changing vistas.After supper (another one pound burger each) the storm was gone and for the first time since our arrival the lake began to get very calm. As we played gin, we notice a bird skimming across the water in the distance. It was more like seeing the contrail of a jet when you cna't see the jet. I couldn't see the bird, but the way the sun was making the smooth lake surface shine like a palte of glass and the water trail the bird was making was sparkling white. Then it made that unforgettable call...a loon. We decided that since the conditions were so much better now that we would take the canoe out again. The sun was low in the sky, so I felt we would see some more wildlife. We say several beavers and a kingfisher (or something like one). We found a rock that was barely under the surface of the water so Josh did the walking on water routine and I snapped a picture. I snapped a lot of pics of the incredible sunset too. It was getting dark so we headed for the lodge again. Earlier, just after we started this canoe trip, we heard the airhorn sound to announce the arrival of another hiker. I didn't remember hearing the motorboat cross the lake behind us and as we were returning and got close to the platform, we saw the hiker (Mello from Alabama)was still waiting. We approached him and he asked for a ride to the lodge. We said sure!! A few minutes later he was in the bunkhouse after hiking 34 miles!We stowed the canoe and started toward our room. When we got near the steps a night hawk swooped down just a few feet behind Josh. He didn't realize it, but when I asked if he saw it, he stopped and a few seconds after it returned and did another fly-by his head. Now as I write, I hear the calls of the loons. It seems so wild here. Very appropriate for the 100 mile wilderness
Date: 2004-07-18
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to

To: Rainbow Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 8.1

7:26 AM entry: I'm sitting in a strange place between two walls of granite boulders towering above either side of the trail. The trail has been following alongside a cold, little stream. I just filled my bottle with water and had a pleasing drink.The huge boulders that line the trail are covered with moss. There are very tall birch trees around, so this is a perfectly cool, quiet place to rest. It is a beautiful stretch of trail with a lot of old growth trees in this area.I left the Wadleigh Stream Lean-to at 6:09 and started toward Nesuntabunt Mountain. The Wadleigh Stream is only a few feet in front of the shelter and it sits in a large grove of sugar maples. Further along, the trail overlooks the Nahmakanta Lake and I could hear loons on the far side as I walked. I came to a place where a glacier had placed a granite boulder on top of two others. There is a small cubby hole underneath where a person could get out of the rain for lunch. (But it is not raining and it is not lunch time...). *grins* Then the trail started to climb Nesuntabunt Mountain and I am still climbing the north slope...so I will move on and write more later. (I have decided to try updating my journal as the day progresses. I hope it won't make it too long or fractured.9:34 AM: Yep, I am sitting again. This time on a granite ledge near the summit of Nesuntabunt. There are lots of blueberry bushes here and I found about 20 nice ripe ones in a five minute search. I am looking forward as the blueberry season progresses.The climb up Nesuntabunt from my last sit down was easy. There were a lot of rock steps skillfully placed by the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. (THANKS!!!) It is hard to imagine the time and effort required to complete a project like that. From this ledge I can see Katahdin. It is only 16 miles away, but 35 trail miles. Movin' out!3:35 PM: I am at Rainbow Stream Lean-to now. It seemed further than 8.1 miles. I met a lot of hikers today. At about 11:00 I met RamBunny and her dog SOBO. It ended a 27 hour period of solitude. Then I met Head Start, Angela and several NOBOS. Here at the lean-to besides me are Mello, John and Brian from Perth, Australia; and Angela from Minnesota.Tomorrow, Hurd Brook.
Date: 2004-07-19
From: Rainbow Spring Lean-to

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: moderate rain

Early this morning I woke after a restless sleep. The sleeping surface of the Rainbow Strea Lean-to is called a baseball bat surface because it is made of a bunch of small diamter poles. It is not comfortable, so I did not sleep well at all. It was a moonless night and very dark.I got up early and sat outside of the shelter until it got light enough to start packing and cooking breakfast. I was on the trail at 5:47. If someone had told me I would pick the wide variety of berries that I have found these last three days, I wouldn't have believed it. Today I found a few strawberries and raspberries and LOADS of blueberries. I ate a lot and left a lot on the bushes because I don't want too much fiber, ya know.It rained all day. I was soaked--still am. My feet held up well. On to Birches Campground tomorrow in Baxter State Park where I can get more information and be ready to climb Katahdin if conditions allow.
Date: 2004-07-20
From: Hurd Brook Lean-to

To: Birches Campground
Miles today: 13.4

I was the last to leave the shelter and as I was packing up I caught movement in the corner of my eye. I thought it was a bird, but then I saw it again as I turned a little. It was a coyote standing there about 15 feet away looking at me. After a few seconds he turned aroung and walked off.I am now at the Abol Bridge Campground store. I bought a few supplies and some snacks. I still have plenty of food-which means I was carrying way too much in the first place. I am the only one in the Birches Lean-to here in Baxter State Park. When I arrived at Katahdin Stream Ranger Station there was a sign saying all Katahdin trails will be closed tomorrow until further notice. What a let-down!I came to Birches anyway because I had no other option for the night. A few minutes ago the ranger came by and told me there is rescue going on again today, (an amputee got in over his head). I asked the ranger if he would allow me to stay an extra night and he said; SURE! I saw tons of red squirrels today. Apparently they are used to being fed. They would stop on the trail in front of me and wait till the last second to scamper away.I tried to send all my journal pages on the lousy phone at the Abol Bridge Campground store. It doesn't recognize toll free numbers and treats them like any long-distance call. You deposit 50 cents and dial, then it says to deposit 50 more cents for the first three minutes. Then it disconnected part way through so I tried again. It disconnected almost immediately. Then I tried to make a voice call home and before I could dial the number, it said that it didn't recognize the number and disconnected me for the third time--each time it kept the entire dollar.I forgot to buy a camera...I wanted to shoot a pic of that sign that is the official Northern Terminus of the trail. But really, few people start or finish here. The real start of the trail for southbounders is Katahdin Stream Campground. You start up to the top then reverse and retrace your steps back down to continue SOBO or to end your NOBO hike here. PUDAs I type I can hear a loon. That's five days in a row that I have heard that awesom sound. I lost my bandana. *pout* It was a special homemade deluxe bandana. Unique
Date: 2004-07-21
From: Birches Campground

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: scattered clouds

By 7 AM I was finished with breakfast and packing. I wnet to the ranger station and he said I could hike. There were a lot of people on the trail. It was much more challenging than I expected. The trail goes through boulder fields and some were very big and hard to get over. It took me just under 5 hours to climb and 5 more to come down-on the same path.I am staying at the Birches again tonight-alone again. Wow! I might get spoiled.
Date: 2004-07-23
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: broken clouds

I woke early after a restless night on the baseball bats. All the hikers were finished with breakfast, packing up and departed before the scouts stirred. I planned to go further today, but I had to stop to enjoy the scenery, blueberries and conversation.I met John, the Aussie, that I shared the Vendeventer Shelter with in Tennessee overlooking Watauga Lake. We talked for several minutes before moving on.As I type, I am exacty where I was at 9:34 AM, July 18. There are a lot more blueberries this time, (well there were)! I ws sitting here typing when Harrison, AKA Mousetrap came by. We met in Georgia. He recognized me immediately, but he looks different with facial hair. He saw my pocketmail device and said I see you got a new one because you dropped your old one in a creek.-I'm surprised he remembered me at all. He hiked some of the trail with my friend Quincy Girl, and in fact, she is meeting him at Baxter. Mousetrap has 32 kills since he started the trail.I should move on...but it is so nice here. Soon...I finally left that sweet ledge and started hiking again. I did a little arithmetic and it is obvious I won't finish the trail this year. I could hike faster, but I don't feel I'd enjoy that. I take too many breaks, eat too many berries, spend too much time looking at flowers, trees, and wildlife. I took a bath in the stream-very refreshing and much needed. This is the fourth time I have had a shelter to myself. It is deluxe!
Date: 2004-07-24
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to

To: Monson revisited
Miles today: 8.0

It rained hard all night. The clothes I washed in Wadleigh Stream were getting a real good rinse, but I knew they wouldn't dry any better under the shelter. The best way to dry clothes in this humid area is to wear them a few miles.I hiked south to Mahar Tote Road, then through the woods to White House Landing Wilderness Camp. I was very lucky, because within a few minutes the plane that would take me to Monson arrived at the White House Landing because the Wares were giving their son, Ben, a plane ride for his birthday. Wow! What a happy boy!!So as soon as the birthday ride was over, it was my turn. It landed in Lake Hebron that snugs up against Main Street in Monson. Only a few hundred feet from the Shaws and next door to the post office. The pilot flew above the trail showing me Whitetop Mountain, Jo Mary Mountain, Katahdin Iron Works and other points of interest. We coasted to a stop at the dock; people had gathered to watch. It was very cool.I immediately went to the pay phone to email my journal and to call home. Then I went to Shaws to register for a night stay. I inventoried my food supply and hit the grocery store for enough food to get me to Caratunk. Now I'm in the laundromat. I hope the Spring Creek Barbecue is open because I want to thank them for washing, drying and filling the pockets of my rain jacket with Snickers after I left it there two weeks ago.   IT HAS BEEN A GREAT DAY!!!
Date: 2004-07-25
From: Monson revisited

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So here I am finally a SOBO. I had a modest breakfast at Shaws and headed for the trail. The trail is very muddy. I mean MUDDY! It travels through an area full of springs and seeping ground water. Very unpleasant hiking and so difficult to keep from going in ankle deep. I fell of course...hard on my seat. OWIEE! BUTT I'm OK.I met Redbeard today, a NOBO. I remember that I met him in Georgia, but I don't remember the details. He seems like a nice person.A few minutes later I forded the East Branch of the Piscataquis River. I am currently drying my feet and journaling. The river was not wide, but deep and swift. I kept a good footing though and it was fun and cooling. The weather is sunny, but cool...so a near perfect day for hiking-through the mud.We are in Maine, my friendsin muck and mud and bogmy butt is black and bluebecause I found a slimy logBut thats OK, no need to fretI knew just what to doI found a slippery root near noonand hurt my ankle too!Whetstone
Date: 2004-07-26
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today's hike was through more bog and mud. Apparently the trail is designed this way. No attempt has been made to protect the bog from hikers, or hikers from the bog. It was impossible to keep my feet dry. I forded two rivers today. It is fun and refreshing to ford the rivers.I spent most of the day with my eyes glued to the trail. Footing was tricky; not what I expected from the great Appalachian Trail. I'm getting off the trail sooner than I planned. This is not what I hoped for in this storied trail. I hoped for a walk in the woods, and it is not offered on this trail except in a few short sections.To hike thr trail in Maine,One must be insane.With all this mud and bog,You'll turn into a frog!Whetstone