morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-09-04
From: US2/Gorham

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

Saw more moose tracks today, but no moose yet. Ashtray spotted several, including a cow and two calves, at around 4 p.m.The terrain has been such a relief today from the consistently rocky Whites -- great vistas from Mount Hayes, Cascade Mountain, and across several of the many beaver ponds. The trail actually crossed one of the beaver dams.On Blueberry's recommendation, I bought two neoprene sleeves for my knees yesterday and they seemed to provide a lot of support today -- whew.Several of us in the shelter tonight: Ashtray, Hot Sauce and some dayhikers out for the long weekend. The vista from this shelter is spectacular -- I got here just in time for sunset -- purple, pink and orange clouds lit up over the mountains, and a dramatic rock cliff to the right, with a steep drop-off to a pond just in front of the shelter. Even prettier than the view from Beaver Brook Shelter off of Moosilauke.Maine tomorrow!
Date: 2004-09-05
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

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

0.8 off-trail milesGoodbye, New Hampshire -- Hello, Maine! Stopped in at the Carlo Col Shelter for lunch -- a bit of a schlep from the trail, but I'm really enjoying this section so far and would like to return at some point, some I'm just doing a little research. Had a little taste this morning of what I imagine Mahoosuc Notch will be like tomorrow. Time to pack up the hiking poles -- it's climbing time!------------------------Later: Felt as though I had won the lottery today, climbing over Goose Eye Mountain peaks; the cloud line was just above most of the peaks, which made it feel as if I were looking into an endless horizontal crevice along the horizon. Felt like laughing, crying, jumping up and down for joy. So wonderful! I ended up staying too long at Carlo Col Shelter and arrived near dark at Full Goose. I heard French being spoken ahead and greeted French-Canadian hikers: "Bon soir." "Ca va?" "Je suis un peu fatiguee." "C'est normal." (The expensive education was worth it, mum and dad! I can have a two-minute exchange with our Canadian friends. Next stop: world peace!) Turns out that six of the eight hikers in the shelter overnight were French Canadians, all from Montreal. The seventh was a southbounding thru-hiker from Kentucky, Neon.The neoprene knee sleeves make me feel as if I've got two new knees. (Now I see why the senior set have kept support hose such a closely guarded secret -- so this is how they manage to get all the best seats on the bus!) The terrain may have something to do with it, but the difference is slight. Tomorrow will be the real test.
Date: 2004-09-06
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Speck Pond Campsite
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Awesome day -- what a blast Mahoosuc Notch was! Another lottery-winning day. Had a bit grin on my face all the way through. Break out the oysters and champagne! (Or in my case, instant chicken soup, minute rice and textured vegetable protein -- yummy!) Moving over, under, and around the boulders in the notch was like slow motion balletic acrobatics, shifting weight gradually from the point of one rock to the foothold on the next. (I think the Cirque du Soleil should film its next IMAX movie here.) Had to take my pack off four or five times to shimmy through narrow openings or tunnel under rocks. Exhillarating. Not difficult, but very slow going. Switchback's friend Scot is the caretaker at Speck Pond Campsite so we had a good gossip about Andy B. (Shaggadelic, Baby!) and he showed me a digital photo he'd taken of Switchback and Zippy with their fully developed mohawk haircuts. Hmmm.This morning, I met Michigoose and Lefty, a sweet couple from DC. Tonight at the shelter it's just me, Goose Eye Pete (section hiker from Alaska), and Simon, an entering 12th grader doing his senior project on the Appalachian Trail. Michigoose and Lefty are tenting in the company of 27 Harvard freshmen and counsellors out here doing the freshman orientation thing. (Funny that no one who goes to Harvard ever wants to say the name out loud. Can't blame them, really.)Learned "Bonne randonnee!" (Have a good hike!) from the Canadians at the last shelter.
Date: 2004-09-07
From: Speck Pond Campsite

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: scattered clouds

My earliest start for weeks! 7:45 a.m. This does not reflect my night's sleep, however, since I was up twice to pee as usual. I was also thinking about the mileage I need to do to summit Katahdin before the cold weather really hits. I'd like to avoid having to swap sleeping bags again.9 p.m. Made it all the way to Andover! My biggest mileage since before the Whites. Staying at the Andover Guest House. Papabear and Badger have been slackpacking from here for four days.Feels good to have a cheeseburger, lay down on clean sheets, take a long hot shower and generally get scrubbed and sanitized.It was dark when I finally reach East Hill B Road, an eight-mile hitch into Andover. I had been scoping tent spots for two miles, but decided to push on, as I'd already eaten my next day's breakfast, and dinner would have consisted of boiled plain pasta and textured vegetable protein. (I saw Michigoose and Lefty eating their uncooked Ramen noodles at the last shelter and after they passed me on the trail I wished that I had asked them for their Ramen spice packet -- a request that surely only a hiker would ever make! One hiker's trash is another's dinner...)Got lucky when the only car on the road pulled over and took me into town. The driver, a jovial local, smelled of alcohol and continued sipping from a bottle, speeding and swerving along the road as we headed into town. A white knuckle ride, to say the least. But he took me straight to the guesthouse, and waited outside until I gave him the thumbs-up that there was a room available.It took me a solid 12 hours to hike 14 miles today. Ouch. But I'm still ambulatory!
Date: 2004-09-09
From: Andover Guest House

To: Andover Guest House
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Rain started last night and is predicted to continue all day. Good excuse for another zero, especially in such good company: Michigoose and Lefty, Ballou, Mutt, O'Day, JoJo Hiker, and two day hikers. Sandra built a fire in the stove this morning, and this is a comfy spot to wait out the downpour.Spent a few hours at the library online. Thanks everyone for your e-mail and letters.
Date: 2004-09-10
From: East B Hill Road/Andover

To: South Arm Road tentsite
Miles today: 10.1

Blustery, gusty day. But the rain has stopped, thank goodness. Kept waiting to hear a tree fall, and sure enough, within an hour of getting on the trail, I heard behind me a creak...crack!...swish...thunk. Turned around just in time to see the tree hit the ground, 20 yards back.The trails today consisted of successive pools of water, held in place by roots, and linked by rivulets. Spent a lot of time trying to straddle them when stepping stones were not apparent or were submerged. Forded two streams -- the second one Black Brook, beside which I'm tenting tonight, hoping there isn't another downpour like yesterday's.Moody Mountain was a long, steep climb, with some steel handlebars drilled into several rock faces. (How do they do that?) Coming down it was a mudslide; I slipped and fell at one point, the pack providing extra momentum once I'd lost my balance. Was able to wash off at the river -- only a couple of bruises.Could have gone further today -- the spirit and flesh were willing, bu tthe knees complained bitterly.Sad to leave the friendly faces of Andover -- the cook/waitress at the diner gave me a hug this morning and wished me well -- said she could never hike the A.T. because "I'm afraid of the dark." But she makes a mean stack of blueberry pancakes! (More than I could finish, in face. Good to see that my hiker appetite does have an upper limit.)Just heard racket on the other side of the river -- like something getting into the garbage can or the cooler left on the other side. Bears? Raccoons? Other campers? Maybe I will hange my food bag tonight after all.
Date: 2004-09-11
From: South Arm Road tentsite

To: Old Blue Mountain - tentsite north
Miles today: 4.3

Slept in this morning. Body feels better today than yesterday -- fewer aches and pains. Beautiful sunny day.Was determined to have a campfire last night when I saw the stone circle at that nice little tentsite beside the river, but everything was too wet from Thursday's rain. The river I forded last night has gone down nearly a foot! The underwater stones I stepped on are now above water. Lefty and Michigoose decided against crossing last night and tented on the other side of the river. Amazing what 24 hours of rain can do. More sun promised for the next several days, though.Lefty was looking green around the gills yesterday when we stopped at Hall Mountain lean-to for lunch and water. This morning he says he had chills last night. Yesterday was definitely a day for hypothermia -- windy, cold, damp. I felt cold through after sitting at the lean-to for just 15 minutes; it felt good to get moving again. Glad to have camped at the road last night instead of climbing higher as I'd planned. More protected here.I finished the Auster book last night and am ready for my next book in my Rangeley mail drop. Don't feel like moving today, but after two zero-days in Andover, and eating a third of this leg's granola bars for breakfast this morning, I think I may just have to get my lazy bum out of this tent and heave it forward.I do need to replenish my iron and calcium supplement supply in Rangeley. I think my body's been missing them. Am taking the time this morning to do some back exercises, too, as it was feeling poorly yesterday.My mocha milk tastes like laundry soap, still, but I'm getting used to it.Evening: It appears I've hiked little more than four miles today. It was a long climb up Old Blue Mountain (2180' from the road), but mostly I stopped because I saw a beautiful tent spot and wanted to take advantage of it. Lefty and Michigoose tented at the peak of Old Blue 1.5 miles back because Lefty is feeling feverish again. I left them with a variety of pills from my first aid kit and offered to leave my cell phone, but am hoping they can make it to the road tomorrow from where they can get a ride into the nearest town to wait out whatever he's got.Meanwhile, I finally got a fire going tonight; another stone circle tempted me. It took about an hour of steady tending (and all the scrap paper in my pack) to get it going, but it finally blazed enough for me to cook dinner and dry out my socks. If there are coals in the morning I can have hot coffee.The trails were less boggy today, though still active streambeds in places.Above the crackle of the fire I can hear movement on the other side of the stream. Maybe I'll finally get a glimpse of a moose!
Date: 2004-09-12
From: Old Blue Mountain - tentsite north

To: Bemis Stream - tentsite
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: few clouds

0.2 off-A.T. milesYesterday as I hiked I found myself mentally writing lesson plans for the first week of school: My internal clock tells me it's time to go back to work!At my last e-mail check, I got a message from a reader who has made a $200 donation challenge for the Met/Zonnebloem Scholarship Fund for which I'm raising money. Thank you! Anyone interested in finding out more, please e-mail me at LauraMaxwell64@earthlink.net to receive an automatic reply with information on this fundraising effort. Thanks to all those who have donated so far. In addition to the recent college graduates I've met on the trail, I've also met a number of bright young (and not so young) folks whose only reason for not attending college has been the cost. That should not be! Your donations are tax deductible and will be put to excellent use in educating the leaders of tomorrow.Just when I thought I'd seen my last SOBO thru-hiker, I met Tony today, who spoke highly of Bob O'Brian, proprietor of the Gull Pond Lodge in Rangeley.Roadster, Skittles, Overload (all flipflopping) were at Bemis Mountain Shelter when I got there for lunch; and Top Knot was racing to catch up to The Fugitive. Good luck to all! I noticed that Pokey had been at the shelter on 8/23, so I figured she'd be done by now, but I ran into Pipe Smoke, southbounding his last four-day section to Gorham, who said he'd seen her south of Monson last wee, so she may still be in the 100-mile wilderness. Go Pokey! and belated congratulations to Switchback and Zippy, my beloved cabana boys, who summited 8/31.Another lovely tentsite tonight, just north of Bemis Mountain's first peak along Bemis Stream (another ford). It was a slippery downhill to this point -- mud, moss, rocks, roots -- and I was ready to stop by 5:30.
Date: 2004-09-14
From: Little Swift River Pond Campsite

To: ME4/Gull Pond Lodge at Rangeley, ME
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: clear sky

9 a.m. It's a regular Tower of Babel here this morning between the birds and the squirrels. Hard to tell if teh squirrels are working together or in competition with one another for the pine cones. They race from branch to branch, knocking or gnawing the cones free until they drop, thunk, to the ground -- about one every 3-5 seconds! They release their machine-gun chitter, then squeak excitedly (?) or angrily (?) at each other.Had a few coals left to warm up my jello-rice breakfast, and some instant black coffee with Nutrasweet. Mixed up the rest of my iced tea in my Gatorade bottle and -- that's all folks! -- the bag's empty. It's either move out or go hungry (or catch a squirrel...!).It's finally starting to warm up after a sub-40-degrees night.9 p.m. Gull Pond Hiker Hostel. Big crowd here tonight. Ace -- who just finished his thru-hike! -- and a crew of young 'uns: Pegasus, Salt Lick, Tripod, Big Stick, Sunshine and BooBoo, the last two whom I met way back in North Carolina I think -- just after the Smokies.
Date: 2004-09-15
From: ME4/Gull Pond Lodge at Rangeley, ME

To: south of Saddleback Mountain
Miles today: 3.5

Not absolutely sure about where I am mileage-wise tonight, but I've managed to unroll my sleeping bag near a spider's nest. I may wake up tomorrow like Gulliver, webbed to the ground by spider silk instead of Lilliputian ropes. Clear night, so I'm not bothering with the tent. I can hear the voices of Coyote, Sunshine, Boo Boo, and Big Stick on guitar from across the pond ahead of me.Big day tomorrow. Lots of climbing.
Date: 2004-09-16
From: south of Saddleback Mountain/Eddy Pond

To: Old Woods Road
Miles today: 10.0

Got my ten miles in, but could have made it further if I'd got an earlier start than 11 a.m.!! Need to get to Stratton by 11:30 a.m. Saturday to make my mail drop.Saw a spruce grouse hen today, just sitting on the trail today. Looked as if she were nesting there among the roots of a tree. Barely acknowledged me as I walked by.The profile map for tomorrow looks like a series of stalagmites!
Date: 2004-09-17
From: Old Woods Road

To: South Crocker Mountain
Miles today: 12.5

Good start today -- relatively easy climb up Lone Mountain to Spaulding Mountain Shelter. Yellowed birch and beech leaves on the ground -- hard to believe I've been hiking since the tail end of winter into autumn.After dark: Made it to the top of Crocker Mountain South just as the last light was fading, and a brilliant red streak formed the western horizon. I had been scouting tentsites all the way up, after camelling up at the stream at the Cirque Tentsite turnoff, and after putting a reasonable distance between myself and a southbound (but rather aimless looking) hiker who was talking to himself before he saw me, and on seeing me proclaimed, "Jesus is Lord!" Rather Jesus-like himself in appearance, with long hair, a headband and sandals, he then promptly eyed my footwear and asked why I didn't wear sandals. "I like my boots," I smiled, and moved on as quickly as I could without appearing to hurry. "More power to you," he said as he continued downhill, then saying something else (to himself? to his invisible friend?) that I couldn't hear.Doubt that I'll make the P.O. in time tomorrow, but I can always resupply at the grocery store there and forward the box to the next town.I underpacked my food bag again for this leg. The threat of hunger pangs is a good motivator for getting the miles done every day! It's been so beautiful here that I could easily turn any three-day leg into six.
Date: 2004-09-18
From: South Crocker Mountain

To: ME27/Stratton
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: light rain

Morning: The rain that was forecast for yesterday arrived late last night and hasn't abated. A few small leaks in the tent, but otherwise dry inside. Will be difficult to get out in the rain to do the six miles to the road, but if I want to eat, I've got to move -- the cupboard's bare!Clouds pose like athletesSuspended animationMotion in stillnessEvening: As I walked off the trail, a hiker across the road groaned, "Oh, great, another hiker. Now it will be doubly hard to get a ride into town." I corrected him: "It will be EASIER for you [a man] to get a ride into town because people are more likelier to stop for women than men!" Four cars passed him. Only one passed me; the second one, a pick-up, stopped and took us both in. So there. Found out his hiker name is Pacific Bound because he's not hiking the AT, but heading west across the country. He's sponsored by GoLite, and with his 8-pound (!!) base-weight pack, he certainly fits the bill. (Actually, in his tiny runner's shorts and with the tiny backpack, he looked a bit like a Japanese schoolboy.) Taking a look at my relatively monster-sized pack, he said, "What the heck are you carrying!?" "I'm going heavy," I said, and left it at that.White Wolf Inn was full, so I'm at the Stratton Motel. The owner, a recent divorce, invited me in to listen to him sing and play the guitar and have some of his homemade fish chowder, but I had the usual hiker town-business to take care of and couldn't take him up on his kind offer.Came out of the laundromat after dark and fell into a drainage ditch that was invisible next to the unlit driveway -- whopper of a bruise on my right knee, which hit concrete. But I held on to my clean laundry as if it were the Holy Grail, and fortunately I don't have to rewash anything. (The body can go to hell in a handbasket, but heaven forbid I have to do another load of laundry!)Got a call in my room at 9:30 -- Chris and Elly, the UPers I hiked with way back in the south!   They'd arrived in town to find everything booked up or closed up, so they slept on my floor. Great to see them and catch up on trail and family stories.
Date: 2004-09-19
From: ME27/Stratton

To: ME27/Stratton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

With projected temperatures of 20s in the mountains tonight, it didn't take much arm-twisting for the three of us (Chris, Elly and I) to take an unplanned zero day together -- though we did move over to the White Wolf Inn, which is cheaper and cleaner. We sat i nthe restaurant downstairs drinking coffee and writing postcards until our rooms were ready. In the meantime, Little Tree arrived!Long afternoon nap. Two Dogs was at the bar when I went down for dinner and he and Chris and Elly joined me for dessert while I had my requisite town hamburger.
Date: 2004-09-20
From: ME27/Stratton

To: Bigelow Col Campsite
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

Even though I left town a full hour before them, Chris and Elly caught up with me before we were three miles from the road. To my delight, though, they slowed their pace and we walked together for the rest of the day, chatting about public and community radio vs. clear radio and satellite radio media monopolies. The time passed quickly. Beautiful view of the Horns (imagine a behemoth Loony Toons 'Tasmanian Devil' from the eyes up). Frigid, knock-you-down winds atop Bigelow Mountain's west peak, with views of enormous lakes spotted with forested islands, a silver snaking river bed, rays of sunlight slanting toward the ground and lighting patches of land, Sugarloaf in the distance and Katahdin somewhere through the haze on the northern horizon.Chilly night -- with a 20-minute fall of freezing rain. Warmed up before daylight. Was glad to know that my current bedding (encased at the bottom in a garbage bag) will see me through freezing temps.Am getting qiute accomplished at cooking dinner prone in my sleeping bag.
Date: 2004-09-21
From: Bigelow Col Campsite

To: Jerome Brook
Miles today: 11.2

Stopped at the self-proclaimed "Excellent View" at "Old Man's Head" this morning with Chris, Elly, T/Bott, and Regular Brian. Enjoyed this excellent company through their 2000-mile mark as they allowed me to set the pace.Climbed over Avery Peak of Bigelow Mountain, then Little Bigelow, a long rock ridge-walk. Maine mountains seem to comprise solid rock covered with two inches of soil in which trees, remarkably, manage to grow to 20 feet.Wanted to reach West Carry Pond Lean-to this evening, but my energy bottomed out after a high-speed, high-impact fall when I tripped over a root on an otherwise easy section beside a brook. A genuine dirt-in-the-mouth, nose-flattening, chin-to-the ground, spread-eagled face plant. A couple of SOBOs who witnessed it helped me wobble up and sat with me while the stars circling my head gradually disappeared and my nonsensical babbling turned into lucid speech. They rated the fall a "9.9" out of 10. Wow. I think I bruised my nose, but at least it's not broken.Tenting in the woods beside the trail, just beyond the brook.
Date: 2004-09-22
From: Jerome Brook

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 3.4
Weather: few clouds

Did not have the gumption to get moving until late afternoon today. Yesterday's fall left my motivation bruised and limping, though I have no bodily complaints other than a sore nose. (Where were my hands in this fall?)When I finally did pack up, my pack felt 20 pounds heavier than usual. My legs felt clumsy. But the miles, such as they were, went more quickly than I expected. I looked forward to human contact after 24 hours of 'solitary.' Seeing fresh moose tracks also gave a little lift to my step.When the sunlight faded behind me, I saw a gray stretch of light ahead -- a road? a clearing? Turned out to be the pond, vast and bright ahead, reflecting the sky.At the shelter, Tripod and Two Dogs were cooking dinner, and Augie and Jester arrived within the hour. So good to see friendly, familiar faces. My trail blues lifted and I'm ready now for the 10 miles to Pierce Pond shelter tomorrow.It's been a beautiful day and it's a warm, gusty night. I waded up to my waist into the pond. Jester and Augie went all the way in.
Date: 2004-09-23
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

0.6 off-trail milesA quick hike today -- five hours, not including the half hour dipi I took in East Carry Pond -- nice sandy bottom in places. The terrain was rooty, but gently rolling. Delighted to have more of the same until Katahdin, which will be the greatest climb of the A.T., with a 4000+ foot elevation change in 5.2 miles.Arrived at the shelter early enough to make the jaunt over to Harrison Camps to reserve places at breakfast tomorrow for me, Tripod and Two Dogs.