morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-14
From: Monson ME (Shaws Hostel)

To: Monson ME (Shaws Hostel) +3.7
Miles today: 3.7

I got a good nights sleep and woke up early, I decided to do 3.7 miles today and come back to the hostel so I could around these the hikers I'm now with. I was 3 miles behind them because I took a shortcut into town and they all continued to the road and got shuttled into town. The hostel makes a good breakfast so I was here for that. It was raining during the night and the early part of the morning. Iraqnia had a facebook friend that she had met a few times that lived in the area and whos father lived across the street. She asked Iraqnia to be her maid of honor so she could get married at Shaws Hostel today. She came with a few people and her father married them and 20 some hikers attended. It was actually a nice ceremony. The second wedding I've attended in a month...lol. After that I went and hiked my 3.7 miles and caught up with Lucky Dog. He hikes a little slower than I but I was in no big hurry and stayed with him and chatted. We seen the first sign of fall as nice size area of brown leaves were on the ground. Right as we were getting to the road he was walking down a rocky area and slipped and went down hard. He made it up and was okay. We got a shuttle back to the hostel. I cleaned up and went to lunch and was joined by another section hiker and later Rabbit and Beth joined us. It was a barbeque joint sold out barbeque sandwiches so I settled for a cheese burger. Later I went and got somemore information on climbing Katahdin and reserved a parking space for Sun and Mon. I made some final arraignments with my sister who is joining me at the end. I relaxed a little and then went down and enjoyed a trio playing 70s music at the Lakeside Hostel where Spirit, Rabbit, Subman and Suds were staying. I met a guy they had been hiking with Blues Brother. We were having dinner there and I saw Hoosier walk past the window. A couple of us ran out to get him and Forrest who was not far behind him. They joined us for dinner. What a great group of people to finish this thing with. Tomorrow the rain is supposed to be gone and we start the 100 mile wilderness. There is one place you have an opportunity for a resupply but other than that it is pretty much isolated. One more week and 115 miles will bring this journey to an end. I'm just trying to soak it all in at this point. I had an enjoyable hike and looking forward to a few more
Date: 2016-08-18
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: Nahmakanta Lake sandy beach
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: overcast clouds

 I got a good nights sleep and the critters stayed out of my food bag. They hit me the last two nights getting into my trash and potato chips. I was on the trail around 6:30 and Subman, Suds and Rabbit already had a thirty minute head start on me. A pretty gentle slope today and hit some rock and roots areas but nothing too bad. I decided I missed the uphill climbs. I played leap frog with a couple of girls that had stayed at the same lean-to s the last couple nights. I asked their names but no longer remember. I saw guy named Flipper heading south. I asked what was up and he said he wasn't feeling well and had someone coming to shuttle him to town. He has came from Georgia so he must have been feeling real bad not to push on with under 50 miles to go. I hiked alone all day and didn't see any familiar faces. I met a girl named Purples, I have heard hikers talk of her but this is the first I met her and she started the beginning of March. I stopped at several lakes and rivers to take a breather and recharge on some food. One area I even had internet so I updated my journal and put a couple of pics on Facebook. I got to one area I could see Katahdin, there was a cloud hanging over it but I was able to seen the base of it. The mosquitoes were bad and I put on some Off for the third time on this trip. They were biting me while I was hiking , they have never done that before. I'm not sure when it has happened but I have quite few bites on me. An afternoon shower popped up when I was sittiting by the river on one of my breaks. A pretty good down pour but it didn't last long. I got to a sandy beach about .5 miles from the lean-to and decided to rinse off and just go ahead and camp close by. I got 21 miles in for today and that will leave 20 miles to get to where I want to get tomorrow. Secret Agent and Stitch were hanging out on the beach too so I chatted with them a while. Less than 40 miles and I will be done. Tomorrow I get to hike
Date: 2016-08-19
From: Nahmakanta Lake sandy beach

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

It was nice sleeping by the lake. I was getting ready to head out and a girl walks by and asks if this is the trail. She had followed the wrong trail down to my campsite. I got her back on track, I asked her name and it was Beech Towel and she was from South Africa. I was on the trail around 7:00 and made it to the next lean-to a half mile away where I seen Purples. She was with her dad and carrying the hubcap that has been carried by numerous hikers all the way up the trail. Last I seen it, it was in Damascus. Well I seen it there and one other time more north. It has already been on the Pacific Crest Trail. Not long after that Slug showed up. We hiked together most of the day and stopped at the last lean-to in the 100 mile wilderness. There were some awesome views of Katahdin today. We went to one cliff that went straight down, it was a skinney corridor with a stream far below. Another over look was above a lake. I seen something in the middle of the lake floating and jokingly asked if that was a moose. We laughed because we want to see a moose so bad. We decided it was a moose and he was doing the backstroke. We joked about that all day. We got to a place we needed to rock hop across a stream...we got to the other side to find we didn't need to cross it. So we headed back to the side we started on Slug made it with no problem. I jumped to the next rock and tried to keep my momentum from overshooting the rock and drug my back foot into the water. I was happy that was all that got wet. The journey is soo close to being over. What an adventure it has been. Tomorrow I hike 13 miles to meet my sister and Sunday I plan to summit Katahdin. I shooting for Monday when there would be a smaller crowd but the weather is suppose to be nice Sunday and rainy on Monday. So I am excited to be climbing Katahdin, my sister and brother in law plan to join me. My days of hiking are coming to an end and I am going to miss this. All the great people are amazing. Tomorrow I hike
Date: 2016-08-22
From: Katahdin Summit

To: Heading home
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up about 6:00 took a shower and headed down for breakfast. I was greeted by Subman and Suds and told them about the summit. Janet and David joined me for breakfast. Stitch came in and told me how the trip up Katahdin went for her. After that it was off to the hot tub to join Subman and Suds, David came and joined us. Rabbit stopped by and talked and was heading out to bring Spirit of 76 over to our hotel. Beth came over to visit. I went and packed up so we could leave at the 11:00 checkout. Before it was over we had a crowd of thru hikers and friends sitting around the pool telling stories. The line up was Rabbit, Beth, Janet, Slug, Natalie, Forrest, Forrests friend, Mustard Seed, Subman, Suds, Spirit of 76 and me. Slug and I were the only two that had summited, the rest were waiting for Tuesday when the weather was going to be clear. We had a great time and I am going to miss this group. I broke up the party at 11:00 and we got a picture and hugs and hit the highway. We stopped and picked up some t-shirts and headed out. We went down to the Portland area and stopped to see a former coworker of mine. We stopped at Old Orchard Beach to visit and have dinner. My friend, Kirby, took us to the beach and then we went out for seafood. It turned out to be great side trip on the way home. It is good to see old friends. We drove a couple of more hours and stopped for the night.
Date: 2016-05-19
To: no where
Miles today: 0.0

Pretty excited! Trail time! Should probably get organized! Mark Twain wrote "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow." I think Samuel Clemens was a smart man so that is exactly what I have been doing- watching the pile of gear in the middle of the room grow and grow while pointedly ignoring it. You will be able to spot me on the trail. I will be the hiker with an unzipped pack carrying my sleeping bag under my arm, with 2 left feet and one bent trekking pole. Happy times a-comin' people!
Date: 2016-05-22
To: TV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

How can I leave? Time has just exploded, I joined the world. I signed up for Netflix. My good and true friends gasp, "FINALLY!" I have to watch the included 235 documentaries before I go on my hike. I only have 9 days left at home. Is this possible? I am going to try. The gear pile is gathering dust and a few spiders I think.
Date: 2016-05-24
To: my room at the hotel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Took in the sights around Millinocket this morning in the rainy mist. Nice. Beautiful lakes. Took in the sights in the afternoon sun, Wow! REALLY nice! Had my first peek of Katahdin. Another Wow, I can't wait to hike. hmmm, I say that now, ask me in a few days. Eeks, that's a big mountain!
Date: 2016-05-30
To: nowhere
Miles today: 0.0

Ridiculous. This Journal is a recount of my AT SOBO Adventure 2016. I did not keep up with an online journal during my hike. I wish I had, so this journal is based on my written journal, photos, and memories. I¢m not going to tell you how I fared, if I made it all the way to Georgia, that¢s like reading the last page of a book. I plan to write an entry a day. Already, I can tell that my memories are sharp but a bit altered because I am writing from my comfy home, my comfy chair, looking out at Lake Champlain. I am no longer suffering pains, hunger, bug bites, poison ivy, thirst, heat, freezing cold, dirt, sweat, rain, sunburn, where the hell am I?, stinky hiker companions, GOD, I MISS THE TRAIL!!!!!!! I miss it so much that I am going to have another go at it starting June 2018. So, read along if your interested in my journal written from home, I hope to keep it as realistic as I can (I look at most situations with hilarity disguised as plain humor). I decided to do this because as I said, I MISS THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL! I MISS THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL! I MISS THE TRAIL SO MUCH ITS RIDICULOUS. plain ridiculous. Always keep and eye out for a white blazeInsect 2016 SOBO
Date: 2016-05-30
From: nowhere

To: nowhere
Miles today: 0.0

Ridiculous. This Journal is a recount of my AT SOBO Adventure 2016. I did not keep up with an online journal during my hike. I wish I had, so this journal is based on my written journal, photos, and memories. I¢m not going to tell you how I fared, if I made it all the way to Georgia, that¢s like reading the last page of a book. I plan to write an entry a day. Already, I can tell that my memories are sharp but a bit altered because I am writing from my comfy home, my comfy chair, looking out at Lake Champlain. I am no longer suffering pains, hunger, bug bites, poison ivy, thirst, heat, freezing cold, dirt, sweat, rain, sunburn, where the hell am I?, stinky hiker companions, GOD, I MISS THE TRAIL!!!!!!! I miss it so much that I am going to have another go at it starting June 2018. So, read along if your interested in my journal written from home, I hope to keep it as realistic as I can (I look at most situations with hilarity disguised as plain humor). I decided to do this because as I said, I MISS THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL! I MISS THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL! I MISS THE TRAIL SO MUCH ITS RIDICULOUS. plain ridiculous. Always keep and eye out for a white blazeInsect 2016 SOBO
Date: 2016-05-31
To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 0.0

May 31, 2016Yesterday, my wife drove me up to Millinocket and we stayed at the Katahdin Inn and Suites, nice and comfy. So today she drove me to Baxter State Park and I saw Katahdin for the first time in person. Gulp! Holy Blisters! That¢s a big mountain. It¢s the beginning of my adventure, I¢m so excited but do I really have to start way up there? I¢m covered with nervous sweat and she is chuckling, she didn¢t sign up for this. So she is kind of giggling and trying not to at the same time so as to curb my feeling of ¢I¢m going to throw up right NOW¢. She is supportive that way. She drops me off at my lean to and spends a bit of time giving me a pep talk until the black flies press past her point of annoyance. Poof! She is in our car driving away with a wave. Hmmm, what to do, what to do now.Set my bear bagNapFind the Ranger StationFind the beginning of the Hunt TrailNapWatch people at the campground. I wonder if anyone else is beginning their SOBO AT trek?DinnerFilter a bunch of waterSleepSo far, this adventure is pretty darn good. May 31, 2017A beautifully cool day with a breeze and surprise thunder storm in the afternoon. Drove my mother in law for her PERM. Perms are a big deal and take over 2 hours. So I napped in my car for an hour (of course), went grocery shopping, picked up my beautiful coiffed MIL and went home. I loaded my mom¢s car and my car with her quilts etc for the Farmer¢s Market that she sells at on Fridays. Walked the dog, admired Mount Mansfield across Lake Champlain from my deck. Remembered my day from a year ago with great pleasure!May 31, 2018Never can tell, but I plan to be sleeping in a lean to in Baxter State Park again. Did you find the white blaze yet?Insect SOBO AT 2016
Date: 2016-06-01
From: Katahdin

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: clear sky

June 1, 2016Despite the pins and needles, I slept very well in my lean to. My written journal says ¢OMG Epic Hike, first part is a lie-nice and easy sucks you into feeling like a super hero, 2nd part is still a lie up to Katahdin Stream Falls, 3rd part is like the Adirondacks meaning its full of mud, roots, rocks and elevation, 4th part up to the Tablelands ¢I just can't talk about it!¢ and at last a jubilant ¢Success¢ finally putting my hands on the summit sign. Finally! I remember a great day, nice and cool, no clouds, not too many people, just a great day. I remembered to eat breakfast, start early (6:30), pace myself, take enough water, use one of the day packs provided by the park rangers and follow the blazes. After about a quarter of a mile I realized that my loaner daypack really smelled bad. Oh sooo bad. Definitely a sign of smells to come. That steep part up to the Tablelands was actually amazingly fun, just a little scary, just a few places that I thought ¢The hell? is THAT the trail?¢ Quite a day. I think of it often, meaning - every day. I got back to my lean to home at 3:30, happy with my jello legs. Napped, studied my map, ate dinner and off to sleep. Awesome day on the AT. June 1, 2017Drove my MIL to her Senior center and picked her up in the afternoon. Met my friend for a walk in the woods with our dogs. Our dogs are friends and are enthusiastic woods runners. Cooked dinner and watched the big waves on Lake Champlain. Close my eyes and see the Summit Sign like it was now.June 1, 2018You never know, but I hope to be hiking up the crazy Hunt trail again.Give your loaner pack a sniff test before choosing it. However it smells, so will your shirt until you can wash it, and that¢s a long way from Katahdin. Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-06-02
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Hurd Brook Lean To
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: overcast clouds

June 2, 2016I must have been tired at the end of the day. My journal entry says ¢Walked 13.3 miles. Am tenting at Hurd Brook Lean To. Quiet day. Met some people. But for now prefer my solitude. I am settled in tent after a beautiful day. Tired but happy. Saw bluejays and robins. Lots of very long stretches of flat trail peppered with short stretches of BIG rocks and roots, Maine style.¢ When I read a bunch of incomplete sentences devoid of detail, I know I was really tired. I do remember meeting a slew of south bounders. Sleeping Beauty stands out because I saw him first laying on a really big rock at the Abol Bridge store with his green hoodie over his face- yes sleeping! I met Chris, White Walker, Mojo, Pringles White Gurl, Alex, Henry, Lauren, Heather and Ryan. There were others, but I am not recalling their names. June 2, 2017Big day at the Farmer¢s Market selling my mom¢s quilts. It was freezing. I was so happy that I procrastinated dropping a bag of clothes in the Blue Donation box. I raided my bag to layer up.Our booth is next to the Baker guy- absolutely perfect, I love bread.June 2. 2018Hopefully a repeat on the AT. Hopefully I will see a moose, White Walker did!Seeing white blazes is a comforting thingInsect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Hurd Brook Lean To

To: Rainbow Stream Lean to
Miles today: 11.8

June 3, 2016I love it! I got up early, so excited for another day of hiking. People were still sleeping so I was very quiet, painfully (for me) quiet. I did enjoy a hot breakfast with tea and got all packed up without waking anyone. So happy to be walking in the woods while it is waking up. Today the trail wound around Rainbow Lake with a constant cool breeze and the sounds of loons. The trail turned rocky, rooty and very muddy half way through the day. Shoe sucking kind of mud! Just like home! I had lunch by myself in view of the lake and kept thinking MY GOD, I AM HIKING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL! It is taking a while to sink in that this is my life for the next 5 or 6 months. I love it already so I am hoping to stretch it out for the full 6 months. I hung out at the lean to a bit but decided to camp further up the trail. I assumed lots of people would be staying in the lean to and I wanted to be able to get up early again and not wake anyone. I found a really nice spot, had my dinner and listened to people arrive at the shelter. I recognized Chris, White Gurl, Mojo, White Walker, Alex and Ryan. Nice bunch of kids. June 3, 2017Drizzly day. Waiting for the sun later and hopefully take my kayak, ¢the melon¢ out for a paddle. June 3, 2018You KNOW what I am thinking!hmmm, I am the oldest person I¢ve seen for the last 3 days. hmmmInsect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Rainbow Stream Lean to

To: Nahmakanta Tent Site
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

June 4, 2016I love Maine. I love Maine today. Of course, it was a day that everything was perfect in my little world. Sunshine, not too hot, breezy so no bugs, one climb that sucked but not that much, a grand view of Nahmakanta Lake with Katahdin in the background. Katahdin was In the waaay back background! I have walked pretty far! I even got to swim today and wash the salt-sweat exfoliating layer off my delicate skin. Yes, a perfect day. I¢m tenting at the Nahmakanta tent site on the river of the same name. My tent is comfortable and it feels like home. After the last few days on the trail, I am confident that I have plenty of food for the 100 mile wilderness. I¢m carrying too much food I think. My body is tired but not beat. No blisters yet. I am not completely sick of couscous and tuna, that¢s a good thing since there is a lot of that in my bear bag. 2 SOBOS showed up and are camped on the other side of the trail, Peter from Wisconsin and a woman from Florida but I can¢t recall her name. I visited for a little while and admired Peter¢s ultra light set up, he made some of his gear and clothing, all really nice. Off to bed awaiting another day on the trail. Still the oldest hiker and that is ok. Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Nahmakanta Tent Site

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean To
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: light rain

June 5, 2016Cooper Brook Lean To mile 59.7  15.7 milesThe biggest mile day so far, 15.7 miles. Wow. Huh! I am feeling pretty good. Hmmm, I have felt this way before and as I recall, I crash, burn and fumble at the beginning of backpacking trips. I really need to think about taking a nero right here in the 100 mile wilderness, to be smart and take care of my Insect legs and spirit. After all, this isn¢t an ordinary backpacking trip. it¢s the APPALACHIAN TRAIL!!! Sorry, that never gets old for me.The trail was a nice tread way of soft pine needles that followed streams and wove along some ponds and Jo-Mary Lake. What? yes, you can assume I dove in and took a swim in the lake. It was fantastic! I crossed Jo-Mary road which was my mind¢s half way point for the 100 mile wilderness. That felt wonderful. The only elevation came at the end of the day and it was minimal push up to the Lean To spot. It¢s really pretty here. I used my Delorme (affectionately called the ¢Delorian¢) to check the weather and it looks like 100% yes for rain. I¢m sleeping for the first time in the Lean To and it is packing up for sure. I ate the last of my Tuna (YAY) and sat back and listened to my shelter mates laughing and sharing stories. We have, Sarge- wants to hike the trail fast, Mojo- a cool dude from Florida, Chris, White Walker- hiked all the 48 White mountains to prepare for this trek!, Legs and Sister, Hooch, Fraug - formerly Alex, Statesman- someone older than me!, he section hikes a state a year and this is his last state, IMPRESSIVE., Denora, Rising Pheonix, Samantha and 2 others. This made me chuckle, Legs and Sister were examining their poor feet. Sister said ¢Ugh, I have swollen blisters under each big toe nail and I don¢t have the internet to tell me what to do!¢ As soon as it starts to rain, I have to pee. Happens every time.I have too many Clif Bars. They are heavy and people are already sick of them, can¢t give the things away.Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean To

To: East Branch Lean To
Miles today: 8.1

June 6, 2016East Branch Lean To I am tenting by the brook and it is so perfect, great view and the brook isn¢t too loud. I got myself up over Little Boardman Mountain, a climb of about 1200 feet. I felt it, but I expected to and I went really slow. I was able to swim just before the climb in Little Crawford Pond. It is just so refreshing to have all this water around. I am thankful there is water EVERYWHERE, I don¢t worry about carrying extra water. The sky was cloudy for the most part but the sun managed to send some rays out now and then. There is a bench here and I am having my dinner down by the water. I am having mac and cheese made with Ditalini pasta and organic cheddar cheese powder. It¢s ok, maybe its a good thing that I am so hungry. If I were home I would probably say ¢yeah, ok, this recipe is not going in my repeat file, kinda icky.¢ The powdered cheese is making clean up a nightmare. As per Leave No Trace, I put some water in my pot and scrape the leftover food from my pot, swish it around, shut my eyes real tight and go for it- drink the grey water down really fast. yes. It¢s what I do to ensure that I am not the reason a wild critter comes looking for food at a shelter. Ugh, that clean up is nasty! It poured last night and I was glad to be a little sardine in the lean to, a nice and dry sardine. Well, it¢s only 6:00 and I¢m going to turn in. Maybe some others will show up later. Big climbs are coming up, the White Cap Mountains. I wonder how I will do?Insect SOBO 2016