morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-09-01
From: East B Hill Road (Upton Road)

To: South Arm Road
Miles today: 10.1

Last night was wonderful ¢ great dinner, a bath, clean clothes and great company with her bubble of trail friends (a bubble is a group that more or less has ended up hiking about the same miles and end up together at the same shelter).Bear was up early and cooked a fabulous breakfast with items too numerous to recount. Bama fixed an egg and bacon biscuit and took a banana for her lunch on the trail. Aqua took everyone back to East B Hill road to start their day¢s hike. The goal was South Arm Road, 10.1 miles up trail. Today¢s hike was a real joy. The weather was beautiful and Bama said it remaindered her of Fall in the South ¢ cool, dry and just a touch of leaf color change.The first 6 miles of the trail were easy ¢ a real walk in the park. The last 4 miles were more up hill and then down, but not difficult. Aqua picked everybody up at different intervals at South Arm Road and then took them back to The Cabin. Then there was a shopping trip to the near-by Wal-Mart for re-supply and a shop to get ice cream.When Bama called, she and the crew had been helping by doing chores and preparing dinner. At 6:00 pm, Bama enjoyed another incredible meal - spaghetti and meatballs, salad and all the fixin's. Amazing how one¢s perspective changes. Some folks rave on and on about this four-star restaurant or that one. But when you¢re on the trail and having dealt with daily hardships and eaten rice and chicken chunks until you¢re sick of it, meals like the tasty and hearty ones Honey and Bear fix are truly one of life¢s great culinary pleasures.Tomorrow another shuttled hike and then back to The Cabin. Tropical depression Ernesto is driving north and heavy rain is expected all day Sunday and Monday. Bama may just stay here for a few days. At least she¢s able to get in some daily mileage.Note: The Cabin's website notes only an 8-person bunk room and a private room. Last night at dinner, Honey and Bear served 25! I wondered where everybody was sleeping. Bama said some are tenting, some in the tipi, some in campers - apparently Bear has room for everybody. BTW, Bama said there was food left for 10 more!Bill
Date: 2006-09-02
From: South Arm Road

To: ME Hwy 17
Miles today: 13.3

Bama is getting used to the pleasures of The Cabin. Honey and Bear are the perfect hosts and Bunny and Aqua great caretakers. Bear was up early as usual (earlier than you can imagine) and fixed biscuits, bacon, gravy, fresh blueberry pancakes, eggs, omelets, fresh fruit ¢ good Lord, it just goes on and on.A few more thru-hikers folks to mention: Adirondack 46er & Storyteller, Rising Sun, G-Man and BP (Bama mentioned him before. He¢s working with Backpackers Magazine, testing equipment. I wonder if the thru-hikers have shared their equipment opinions with him?). Identity Crisis, Treehouse and a few others stayed last night, but moved on to the Lean-tos up trail.Today was a shuttle for Moe & Ponch, Professor & Jesse James and Bama to South Arm Road. Almost immediately, they climbed from 1420 ft to 3600 ft to the of top of Old Blue Vista (a 2,180 ft vertical gain). Pant, pant, huff & puff. Then West peak of Bemis Mountain, East Peak of Bemis Mountain, Third Peak of Bemis Range, Second Peak of Bemis Range and First Peak of Bemis Range. They sure have funny mountain names up here. In the South, these would have been named something like Hogpen Mountain, Devil¢s Knob, Cooter Ridge or Gambler¢s Bald ¢ you know, respectable mountain names ¢ (Grin).The descent to Bemis Stream at 1,490 ft was a reverse of the trip up to the previous ridge ¢ very dodgy with wet trails ¢ lotsa slippin¢ and slidin¢. I read that Bemis Stream was the first ford of many to come in Maine. These Mainers don¢t believe in bridges. There were images of holding your pack and boots over your head and wading thru knee-deep cold water over slippery rocks in Crocs. Yikes! Any deeper than that and you¢re a fool to try to ford a swiftly flowing stream. But luck was with Bama (as it has been this entire journey) and she was able to walk dry-shod over rocks. The predicted rains from Ernesto have not yet arrived to raise the water levels. I read about the flooding in the mid-Atlantic states from the storm and thought about the poor SOBOs who were going to have to face some of the same issues Bama came thru months ago. I wonder if Port Clinton¢s under water again.Back to the shuttle and The Cabin. Tonight Bear whipped up cheeseburgers, salad, baked beans, fresh corn on the cob (Bama says the hikers can¢t get enough of it) and dessert. Bama says she thinks she has actually gained some weight during her stay. Bear says to count on it.Bill
Date: 2006-09-03
From: ME Hwy 17 

To: The Cabin, East Andover
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

This morning was another of Bear¢s fabulous breakfasts. Almost everyone at The Cabin was going to hike out today, even though it was going to be raining today and into tomorrow. Some folks got rides into Rangeley, ME, the next town.Bama, Professor, G-Man, Rising Sun and Adirondack 46er & Storyteller got a ride from Honey to Calvary Bible Church. There was an 85-year-old evangelist visiting today. Bama said the church reminded her somewhat of the little churches she had known as a child, just the accents were different. She said the service was nice and her AT group took up a whole pew.G-Man and Rising Sun took off on the trail after church. Bama and Professor & Jesse James are going to wait out the worst of the rain and try to leave tomorrow. One Zero day is all Bama wants to deal with. She still has 233 miles to go.Bama spent the afternoon resting, talking with the others, picking up trail tips and sorting her gear for the head-out tomorrow. She'll miss The Cabin. Tonight, the following were added to the list of The Cabin recipients of good hospitality: 42, Pi±ata, Slick B, Bruiser, Mule, She-Bear, Feng Shui, Burner and Indiana.Bill
Date: 2006-09-04
From: ME 17

To: Piazza Rock Lean-to
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Back on the trail again! Bunny took Bama, Professor & Jesse James to the drop off at ME Hwy 17 just past Bemis Stream. After 1,330 ft of vertical climb, Bama called me from the power lines (2,820 ft) at mile marker 1946.9. It was her only cell contact today. The goal is the Piazza Rock Shelter at mile marker 1956.4, a hike of 14.9 miles. Now that she¢s out of New Hampshire, maybe she can put in her usual miles per day. Go Bama !!The power line crossing was the high altitude point for today and she should descend to the shelter at 2,080 ft. Check out the photos link for some pics from the Internet of Piazza Rock Shelter.Bill
Date: 2006-09-05
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: overcast clouds

*Happy Birthday Robin!* Update: Bama made her 14.9 miles yesterday as planned. The weather cleared up as hoped, but the trails were in terrible condition due to the rain. The elevation gains were not so bad, but it was one wet and muddy mile after another and the gooey mud was interspersed with roots aplenty. The AT in this area is just being loved to death and Bama thinks the ATC might want to consider re-routing some of it.Big north woods wildlife report: No moose sightings yet, but Bama heard her first loon at Long Pond past Spruce Mountain yesterday.Last night at Piazza Rock Lean-to, the three were really ready for a quiet, restful night. How wrong they were. They were the only thru-hikers at the shelter area with a number of section hikers tenting and four others in the shelter with them. At 11:00 pm last night Bama woke up to a bright lantern in the Lean-to and had to ask the men to turn it off. Oh well . . . Today was a climb up Saddleback Mountain, a vertical gain of 2,040 ft. One is supposed to be able to see Mt. Katahdin from the summit. The Saddleback summit had a great, open 360* view. She didn¢t say if she saw Katahdin. After Saddleback, there was a short down and up The Horn ¢ another beautiful 360* view. Bama, Professor & Jesse James had lunch there. She said there¢s a definite fall feel and smell to the air. Then another down and up Saddleback Junior before they reached Poplar Ridge Lean-to.Except for the muck and mud and poor trail conditions - with water actually flowing down parts of the trail from springs and seepage run off from the weekend ¢ today would have been a perfect hiking day. But everyone had wet socks and boots and it made for ugly going. A story where you had to be there to appreciate it: Bama went down to the stream to get some water to filter wearing her Nothinz camp shoes and in the mud went a shoe and the mud sucked it right off her foot and it disappeared, as with quicksand ¢ Bloop! After a little muck diving, she was able to retrieve it. Oh, the joys of backwoods adventures!So far, thru-hikers Pi, Uphill, Professor & Jesse James and she were the only ones there. No other hikers yet. Bill
Date: 2006-09-06
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: Sugarloaf Mt. Summit
Miles today: 10.9

Last night at Poplar Ridge Lean-to was quieter and remained dark ¢ that was nice. With Bama was Professor & Jesse James, Sumo, Lush, Laura ¢ a section hiker, and a group of Harvard students plotting way to pull pranks on Yale, an annual tradition. The lean-tos in Maine have a curious feature. Unlike the three-walled shelters encountered thus far with a flat floor open in front, the lean-tos have a 2-3 foot fourth ¢wall¢ in the front one has to step over to enter the lean-to. Maybe it¢s supposed to keep critters out? Who knows . . .This morning after a brief little hop, skip and jump up Poplar Ridge, Bama descended 1, 620 ft to Orbeton Stream where there was a ford. Luckily, no rain to swell the volume and she was able to rock hop across with dry feet. The trail quickly smoothed out and from Sluice Brook to the Spalding Mountain Lean-to, about 8 miles, she made great time ¢ a really nice hike. Bama says that any day she isn¢t on all fours is a good hiking day! It was beautiful today ¢ only a slight chance of rain.Without the exertion of previous days, Bama, Professor & Jesse James decided to press on to the ¢Sugar Shack¢ on top of Sugarloaf Mountain at 3,650 ft, a great alternative to the lean-to. Sugarloaf Mountain is the second highest mountain in Maine with views of Mt. Washington to the SW and Mt. Katahdin to the NE. The mountain was home to a ski resort operation and the warming hut on top was once a refuge from the cold before skiers started their trails down mountain. Now it is used by ski and mountain patrols in the winter and hikers in the summer as an enclosed hut and features a two-story interior with lots of room. There¢s no water at the summit, but there¢s a spring on the way up (left of the trail) to top off your supply for the night. The ATC makes the hut available as a courtesy as long as some knuckleheads don¢t mess up the offer by leaving it trashed.Plus the three, Sumo, Lush and a number of other thru-hikers and section hikers Bama hasn¢t met rounded out the visitors. Tomorrow, Bama, Professor and Jesse James hike into Stratton, ME and will stay at the Stratton Motel (http://www.thestrattonmotel.com). The owner, Don, seems the perfect host on the phone and promises R&R and comfortable services, including free long distance telephone, Internet service, and free shuttles to and from the trail for guests. Both bunks ($20) and a private room ($40) are available.Bill
Date: 2006-09-07
From: Sugarloaf Mt. Summit

To: Stratton, Maine 
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

The ¢Sugar Shack¢ was a great building ¢ better than a Lean-to. Bama, Professor & Jesse James left the hut at 6:40 am and headed 1,500 vertical ft. down to the South Branch of the Carabassett River, which had to be forded. As Bama descended the mountain, she heard the roaring of the river from far away and thought, ¢Oh my, that sounds like it¢s going to be a doozy.¢ But luck was with her again, the water level wasn¢t high (it just sounded like it) and there was a board placed on one section and enough rocks above water that crossing it in dry boots was no big deal.Then it was time to climb 2,128 vertical ft. up to the summits of South Crocker Mt. And North Crocker Mt. From there she was able to call Don (at the Stratton Motel) on her cell phone for a shuttle pick-up for her, Professor & Jesse James. Then a descent 2,828 vertical ft. down to ME Hwy 27. They arrived at 2:30 pm and within minutes, Don was there to pick them up. 8 hours to go 10.6 miles ¢ them¢s rough miles up yonder.The hiker bunk area at the Stratton Motel is a separate 2-bedroom unit with a kitchen, living room, and sitting area. Bama thought it was very nice, as was Don. Bama spent her first few moments there drinking anything she could get her hands on. They were not able to get a lot of water to take to the top of Sugarloaf Mt. and didn¢t have as much as they needed on the trip down. This afternoon meant a bath, then laundry and of course, food. Tonight is dinner at the Stratton Diner.Bill
Date: 2006-09-09
From: East Flagstaff Road

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Despite a strong chance of rain today, Bama decided that it was time to get back on the trail and leave the hospitality of the Stratton Motel. Don¢s friend, Linda, shuttled Professor, Jesse James and Bama up to East Flagstaff Road where they finished yesterday.The trail started out at lake side (1200 ft) and followed the huge and beautiful Flagstaff Lake shore for a while then gradually ascending Roundtop Mt. (1900 ft) about 4 miles later. This was the high elevation for today. Soon Bama was crossing a series of streams, swamps and bogs (complete with punchions or log walkways). She passed West Carry Pond Lean-to and continued this low-lying stretch until reaching Pierce Pond Lean-to at 3:30 pm.Bama said today was a true walk-in-the-park: flat, no problems with mud or water and the views were awesome. She understands why Mainers are so proud of their state ¢ beautiful! Pierce Pond in front of the lean-to was wonderful to look at. There is also a swimming area there, but Bama didn't go in.At 6:00 pm or so there was a little rain scare, but nothing materialized ¢ Bama said they got 800 drops. Besides the Professor & Jesse, also at the lean-to was Pi (K'Ache's Pi), a SOBO named Little Engine and a former two-time thru-hiker, named Pilot, who was doing a month-long section hike. Bama really enjoyed hearing about her trail tales.The next three days are forecast for high pressure dominated clear days with highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s/40s and some chance for frost. Fall is bearing down on the north woods. The Oct. 15 deadline to summit Mt. Katahdin before it is closed to thru-hikers looms on the horizon. Bama has no clear idea of when she will get to Katahdin ¢ not yet ¢ but it will be long before the deadline ¢ probably the last week of September.Bill
Date: 2006-09-11
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

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

Bama had a nice night at Pleasant Pond Lean-to ¢ complete with loons. She and Jesse James had been looking for moose, but only finding their ¢signs.¢It¢s been very good ¢ and level for the most part ¢ hiking and as Bama keeps saying, ¢Every day it seems was more scenic and beautiful than the last. What beautiful country!¢ There was a moderate climb up to the Bald Mt. Brook Lean-to and then to Moxie Bald Mt. at 2,629 ft and views of Katahdin.She arrived at Moxie Bald Lean-to mid-afternoon. Besides her, there were Professor & Jesse James, Baldylocks, Chad, Cornbread, Cool Hand, Tecumseh and others ¢ some in tents, others in the lean-to. She sat and relaxed looking at the beautiful pond (lake), mesmerized by its beauty. Having the ponds right at the shelters is not something she has seen in most other states ¢ especially the south. Too bad it¢s not warmer because the swimming would be ideal. She and Jesse James continued to look for moose to no avail.Tomorrow would be 17.9 miles to Monson and Shaw¢s Lodging ¢ time for a bath, laundry, mail pick-up, hot meals and a soft bed before she hits the 100-Mile Wilderness. Dawn and Sue are the new owners at Shaw¢s (207-997-3597 - www.shawslodging.com). This will be the last "trail town" before the Big K.Bill
Date: 2006-09-12
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to

To: Shaw's in Monson, ME
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Bama is a tired girl. Big trail day. No cell service in Monson, but I called Shaw¢s this evening and caught her finishing a wonderful dinner and getting ready for dessert. She left Moxie Bald Lean-to this morning and forded the West Branch of the Piscataquis River. She had to take off her boots and socks and put on her Nothinz camp shoes to cross the shin-deep water. No big deal, really.After passing the Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to, she reached the East Branch of the Piscataquis River and was able to rock hop without any fording ¢ a cause for a mild celebration. As luck would have it, there was Trail Magic on the other side ¢ ice cold Cokes in a cooler left by Trail Angel, Strider. Thanks Strider! Magic aplenty!Bama hiked almost 9 miles along side the Piscataquis River and said this would have been a marvelous day hike ¢ just plain, knock-out beautiful! She feels she has been rewarded these last few days for all the previous suffering on hands and knees in New Hampshire, the Notch and the early days in Maine. As one guest logger said, ¢The first few days in Maine are evil, then it gets really nice.¢ How right he was. Before folks in New Hampshire get rattled, the views there were awesome and staggering in scope and the AMC hut hospitality wonderful ¢ no complaints ¢ it was just HARD! All part of the journey. . . A brief little climb over Buck Hill and then to ME Hwy 15 where she called Shaw¢s for a shuttle that took Professor, Jesse James and her to the hostel. Some laundry, shopping, a post office visit and a bath and Bama was good for dinner. Bama met KarunaMiel, and shared the hostel room with her. Also, Bama met Amoeba & Purple Rose, and chatted about trail adventures. Tonight was for repacking and resorting and crashing into bed to hit the trail again tomorrow. A special thanks to Trail Angel Virginia in Florida who sent Bama a wonderful Trail Magic package of treats and goodies! They were much appreciated!Thanks also to all the wonderful people and trail companions who have signed Bama¢s guest log and offered her words of support. She truly treasures each one of them and will not soon forget their thoughtfulness and encouragement. Neither will she forget the friendships forged on the trail!Since Bama will be entering the 100-Mile Wilderness tomorrow, I do not expect she¢ll be able to send many cell phone calls, so news may be sketchy. So, don¢t touch that dial and stay tuned for updates.Bill
Date: 2006-09-13
From: Shaw's in Monson, ME

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Bama was up early and coffee was ready at 5:30 am in the kitchen of Shaw¢s ¢ a place after her own heart. We both rise early and don¢t do anything until we¢ve sat still and had at least one cup of coffee. The cook at Shaw¢s, Buddy, was there when Keith Shaw Jr. (the original owners son) still ran it and he offered an excellent, custom-cooked, ¢Whaddya want and how much of it?¢ breakfast. Bama really enjoyed it. Who else was there? 02beehiking, Greyfoot, Moe & Ponch, Cornbread, Chad, Cosmic Punchline, KarunaMiel and othersShe and Professor & Jesse James got a later start than usual out of town ¢ about 8:30 am. After a shuttle back to the trail from Dana who works at Shaw¢s, Bama said the trail was pretty level and there no big hills ¢ but lots of streams and some fords. One journal writer said that Maine is a water hike, not a mountain hike. The lakes, beaver ponds, bogs, streams, rivers are too numerous to count. No wonder the semi-aquatic moose love it up there ¢ of course, Bama has not seen a gosh darn one yet.My one call today was a few miles before Big Wilson Stream which tends to be a rather deep ford. The plan was for her and Professor & Jesse James to Hike past Wilson Valley Lean-to and get to the Long Pond Stream before any rain set in.There¢s a 50-60% chance of rain tonight, tomorrow and into Friday. They are in for some wet, soggy hiking and possibly some rough stream crossing until Friday night. There won¢t be a chance to clean-up or dry up for a while. At least the nights have warmed up into the 50s.UPDATE on 9/14: Big Wilson Stream was in fine form yesterday. Bama unzipped the legs off her shorts, changed into her Nothinz camp shoes and worked her way across ¢ the water was cold, swift and reaching mid-thigh (crotch). Afterwards, she dried off as best she could, changed back to her boots, but left the zip legs off her wet shorts. On up the trail, she felt something bite her on the back of her now bare leg, and thought it was a black fly or something. And then felt another and discovered it was a hornet stinging her (Yikes!)After some liberal applications of Benadryl gel, she hiked on. It would take more than hornet stings to stop Bama. She did reach Long Pond Stream Lean-to and took Benadryl capsule just in case. No severe problems. Most of the same crowd that was at Shaw¢s shared the shelter and camping area with her. There was rain as predicted, but most had passed by this morning.Bill
Date: 2006-09-14
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-to

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a mix of streams and mountains; Bama headed back into climbs like the ones before the Notch as she approaches White Cap Mt. (3,654 ft) ¢ the last big one before Katahdin.She left at 7:45 am and didn¢t arrive at the Chairback Gap Lean-to until 3:45 pm. First to the top of Barren Mt, a vertical gain of 1,742 ft, then Fourth Mt, then Third Mt, then Columbus Mt, then to the shelter. The trails were wet, slippery and steep; Bama returned to the all-fours and butt scooting hiking method perfected in the Whites.Bama, Professor & Jesse James decided to do only 10.9 miles today due to the tough climbs and descents. Besides, Katahdin isn¢t going anywhere ¢ it can wait as long as it takes. Might as well enjoy the view, look for moose, relax and take it easy . . . if only they could.With them in the shelter was Cornbread and Chad and some others tenting.Bill
Date: 2006-09-15
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

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

No cell phone call since early Friday morning (true definition of ¢wilderness¢). Educated guess that Bama made it with Professor & Jesse James to Carl A. Newhall Lean-to Friday night. This would have included a hike to the top of Chairback Mt, a bunch of streams and past Gulf Hagas, billed as the ¢Grand Canyon of the East.¢ Most ATers do not detour from the trail to see this natural wonder. Like many interesting venues ¢just off the trail,¢ one skips them to get in the necessary miles for the day to get the journey finished, especially at this wind-up to the six month experience. Judging from Bama¢s statements and the journal entries of others, they just want it over with. Update 9/17/06: Bama got a cell phone signal; she said she was standing on a rock, with one foot in the air to hold it! The climb down the backside of Chairback Mt was pretty rough - lotsa boulders, rocks, and what one thru-hiker (can't remember who) said were like rock sliding boards. She reached the West Branch of the Pleasant River and had to change shoes and ford it. Not too bad, water up to the knees - no hornets this time! She, Professor & Jesse James reached Carl A. Newhall Lean-to about 1:30 pm and she fixed tea, had some cookies and relaxed and read a book. They had the shelter to themselves; no one else showed up. It was nice.Her pace has slowed somewhat and she's glad for it. Professor & Jesse James made a decision to not Zero at Stratton or Monson so Professor could summit Big K on his birthday and also not have to try to put in 15-18 miles days to do it. Bill