morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-15
From: Stratton, ME

To: Little Bigelow Lean-to
Miles today: 15.3

Many of us were on the trail by 0630 this morning. Most of the day I hike with Right Here, Tomahawk, Taz, Obi Wan, and Crocs. Been a long time since I hiked with a group. It's a pleasure. Usually I'm solo out on the trail. It's close to a 3000 feet climb from the road to the tallest of the Bigelows, Bigelow Mountain West Peak. The trail isn't bad. Nice really. The boreal forest takes over and we pop out on South Horn with the splendor of Maine at our feet. Endless forest. Huge lakes. And the rest of the Bigelows standing tall before us. I'm so glad for yesterday's zero. Today the clouds are broken and high, and the views are among the best on the AT. As we summit Bigelow Mountain West Peak, and then Avery Peak, the trail breaks above the tree line. 360 degrees of Maine. Unforgettable. It is truly majestic. I feel privileged to be here, once again. As we drop down to Little Bigelow Mountain the forest returns. Views become scarce, and we see clouds move in onto Avery Peak. We're all aware of how special this day has been. These are the last of the 4000 foot peaks until Katahdin. And we experienced them on a great day. There's still some mountains ahead, but also a lot of flat profiles. Our daily dose of ups and overs has come to an end. By Little Bigelow Lean-to our group has split. Some stay at the lean-to. Some hike on further, to get set up for the canoe ferry over the Kennebec River, some 22 miles away. I'm completely satisfied with 15.3 miles. In my physical condition, this has been a big mileage day. It's been one of the great days on the AT. We all know our thru hikes are coming to an end, even though 172.9 miles remain. Somewhere during the climb up the Bigelows we passed the 2000 mile mark. I didn't even realize. Only the towns of Caratunk and Monson remain. Once past Monson the trail enters the 100 mile wilderness. After that, Katahdin. Most hikers are counting the days. Many have their transportation home booked. It's the end game. As for me, I'm still taking it one day at a time. Still staying in the moment as much as possible. The schedule was thrown out the window months ago. I'm not inviting it back just yet.
Date: 2014-08-16
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Harrison's Pierce Pond Camps
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: clear sky

No climbs today! None. Any ups are gentle inclines. Lots of flats and gentle downs. How strange, and unusual. What there is is mud. And roots. And rock hopping. This trail must be really something after a couple days of rain. So I feel lucky, as I hop from root to root, and rock to rock, for miles. It hasn't rained for a couple days. And then come sections of clear, pine needle covered, trail. Am I on the AT? It's amazing. I can stretch to an even stride. And cover a lot of ground. I mean it's exciting to just evenly walk along through the forest for a change. Of course the mud comes back, but overall today was an easy hiking day. I could have broke 20 miles easily, even with gimpy knees. The hikers who set off for the Kennebec River, to catch the crossing by 4:00, surely made it. My goal was Pierce Pond Lean-to. 17.7 miles from the lean-to I tented at last night. As I prepared to set my tent it began to rain. Harrison's was only .3 mile away. It's a no brainer. I'm at Harrison's. I have a cabin to myself, right beside the river. Wood stove. Kerosine lantern. Hot shower in the bath house. And a big breakfast in the morning. Right Here is in the cabin just up the hill. Tomahawk, Oconee, and Swashbuckler stayed in the lean-to. They're missing out. But Tomahawk and Oconee did go swimming today. So in that regard I missed out. Call me a sissy. It seemed too cold to me, but I know it was refreshing. We passed a number of ponds. So beautiful. If that elusive hot sunny day ever comes...these ponds beg to be swum in. Meanwhile, the stove is warming my cabin. The river is singing. I'm clean. Breakfast is at 7:00 in the morning. I'll be sleeping in a bed. Life is pretty darn good.
Date: 2014-08-18
From: Caratunk

To: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: heavy intensity rain

After breakfast we were shuttled back to the AT. Hiking by 7:30. The rains have stopped and the forecast is good for the next few days. The trail is wet of course. I'm thinking that's kind of the norm for Maine. The roots and rocks are slippery today, but the trail is not so bad. We all make good time up Pleasant Pond Mountain. It's a gradual, almost 2000 foot, climb from Caratunk. From a ledge on the north side of the mountain there's a view of Moxie Pond. We have our first real ford down there. And we're not getting accurate reports from southbounders. Or maybe the rain really has raised the level to mid thigh. There's a four mile hike down to the ford, to provide time to think about it. When Right Here and I arrive at the ford Obi Wan and Tomahawk had moved on. If the ford was bad they would have stayed until we crossed. Dirty Harry and Bugbear are across there somewhere too. It wasn't a bad ford. Mid calve if you stayed on the slippery rocks. We had no trouble. I admit it was a relief. Now I feel better about the deeper fords ahead. One of the sad aspects of thru hiking the trail is saying goodbye to trail companions. This is the fellowship that causes some hikers to yellow blaze ahead and skip sections. To stay with friends. Today I lost everyone I left Caratunk with. Obi Wan lingered a while but moved on. Tomahawk as well. I said goodbye to Dirty Harry and Bugbear right after the ford. Harry gave me his "good luck" beads. And finally, I had to say bye to Right Here. All of them are intent on making it to Monson in two days. And have set a date for Katahdin. As for me, 14.7 miles is enough. I must respect my knees. To push on could compromise my hike. And you never know. There's always the chance I meet up with them on summit day. We exchanged contact information. Just in case. The trail is magical like that. So I'm at the lean-to by 3:00. So early. Moxie Bald is just ahead. I'd have no issue with the climb. It's the downhill on the other side that could finish my knees, after today's miles. I'll play it safe. There's really no sensible option. I'll be in Monson in another day and a half. There's only 136.5 miles to go to Katahdin's summit. I'll meet more hikers coming up from behind. Meanwhile I'll just relax at the lean-to. Read. Visit with whomever shows up. There's a river in front of the shelter. Sunlight is filtering down through the trees. It's a great place to be at. It's also cool. Which is keeping the bugs down. An occasional maple is just beginning to turn color. I remember hiking for weeks with the forest still awaiting Spring. Late snows. The seasons have gone through Spring and Summer during my hike. Amazing!
Date: 2014-08-19
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to

To: Mile 2065.6 tent site
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: light rain

This morning was perfect for climbing Moxie Bald Mt. It was exciting to climb, knowing the views were going to be unusually clear. Moxie has broad slabs of exposed rock. It's bald because vegetation is confined by bedrock. Another thing about Moxie is that the rock is different from that on yesterday's slippery Pleasant Pond Mountain. Moxie's is grippy and easy to walk on, without fear of slips. As I climbed around on the summit I could clearly see the back trail as far as the Bigelows. And make guesses as to where the trail goes next. Beautiful, clear 360 degree views. Nice, before dropping down into the long valley ahead. Today came with three fords. Two of the fords featured a rope to hold on to over the river. It was fun and refreshing on a warm sunny day. None went higher than mid thigh. The experience would be much different with a lot of rain. After Moxie Bald, the trail is making a long and gradual descent towards Monson. It's about what one would expect in Maine. Some very nice sections and some very muddy sections. Maine is a wet state!I saw very few hikers today. All were southbound. Mostly section hikers. No NOBOs. The trail feels almost vacant. I'm tenting near the trail and no one has gone by in either direction. The last shelter was only 13 miles into the day. By hiking a few extra miles I just have a simple 6 mile nero into Monson tomorrow. Monson will be my last full resupply. I'll get in early and have plenty of time for town chores. And maybe also get an idea of who else is going north the next day. I will be eager to hit the trail tomorrow morning. It is so exciting to think that Monson is the last trail town for a NOBO on the AT. My hike is coming to an end. Only 119.7 miles to go. Katahdin is quickly coming out from behind a long list of short range goals. But there's still some mountain features in the 100 mile wilderness to consider. The difference is, Katahdin is visible from some of those features. These are very exciting times.
Date: 2014-08-20
From: Mile 2065.6 tent site

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

Nice easy nero day into Monson. And a beautiful day at that. Sunny. Warm. A great day to be alive. I got up, packed, and was gone from my tent site without a trace. It's all routine now. I have so few possessions. Everything has its place. The only variance is the heft of my food bag. And whether my rain jacket is inside my pack, or ready for use, in the outside mesh. I saw Right Here at the trailhead on ME15, heading for the Wilderness. It was nice to see him again. And have his shuttle from Monson so conveniently there, to take me in to town. And at Shaws Lodging there was Solo. And then Obi Wan. And Pippin. Wonderful to see good trail friends one last time. They all headed out later. I think I'm the only thru hiker at Shaws this evening. All the others are section hikers. Great people. It's just not quite the same. I had the town trinity of shower, laundry, and resupply done by early afternoon. With a twist. There's a service that gives you a bucket, which they stash half way through the Wilderness. I'll leave town with 3.5 days of food. There's another three days worth in the bucket, plus some treats I usually don't carry. Like Fritos. I don't have to carry six days of food into the Barren/Chairback Range tomorrow. Nice! The bucket is my food cache for the last half of the Wilderness. Monson is great. Small. On a pond. Restaurants are very limited. I had to get to another town for a grocery store. But I love this town. Sitting on the dock with a meal and beer was wonderful. Friendly people. Lots of hikers. Great weather helps. The sun has gone down in a cloudless sky. The forecast is excellent. So awesome!I can't wait to get on the trail tomorrow. The 100-Mile Wilderness. Remote Maine. I've dreamt of this phase. And now it's here. Don't pinch me. If it's a dream, I don't want to wake up.
Date: 2014-08-21
From: Monson, ME

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.1

Into the Wilderness. After Shaws great breakfast in Monson. The shuttle dropped us off at the trailhead just before 8:30. Pockets, a Swiss thru hiker. Pockets' friend, here from Switzerland for the last stage. And me. Don't know of any other NOBO thru hikers in the area. Just section hikers. Maine is rugged. But today the trailwas good. No recent rain. The mud holes are drying out. Much of this section is on slate. It gets slippery when wet. But today I could just walk up inclined slabs of slate, on a dry surface. It's so fine, to hit the Wilderness in good weather. Today featured three fords, two with a rope from shore to shore. There's something very cool about wading across a stream. None were above mid thigh. Refreshing. Though wet shoes can be a problem. Most hikers carry Crocs, or something similar. Take shoes and socks off. Put on Crocs. Ford the river. Put shoes and socks back on. Stay dry. I don't have Crocs. But the weather is nice. I take my socks off and wade the river in my shoes. Then walk a while to drip dry the shoes, before putting my socks back on. It half way works. I used to wear my wet socks to bed. By morning they're mostly dry. Body heat. But really, the feet are damp a long time. They soften. Blisters happen. Now I switch between socks, and let my bare feet dry out over night. I've lost two more toe nails lately. All together I think the count is 7 gone, 3 remain. The latest casualties have been a long time coming. The damage started way back in Georgia. I'll lose the one off my left big toe soon. And end my hike with two original toenails. It's really kind of funny. What are toenails for anyway? I certainly don't miss them. Perhaps Homo Sapiens Hiker will evolve to be toenail less. It's a relief to no longer have a toenail snagging my sock material during a prolonged descent. In Monson, Shaws had loaner clothes for doing laundry. My T-shirt said " Kazakhstan is for lovers." I wore it with authority, since I was pretty sure no one in a hundred mile radius had ever been to KZ. Or probably even knew where it was. Me, with a KZ flag on my pack. But the thing is, my loaner shorts were size 34. And there was lots of room. Bring on the size 32. I haven't worn 34s since...damned if I know. 1987??? 38 is my size. This Appalachian Diet really works.
Date: 2014-08-22
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-to

To: West Branch Pleasant River
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

100-Mile Wilderness? In name only. When I got to the summit of Third Mt in the Barren/Chairback Range I came across day hikers. They knew basically nothing about the AT. Turns out the AMC has a hut nearby. Not a big deal to me. I'm always glad to see families out hiking. It was just a surprise. Then later, as I put up my tent after fording the Pleasant River, a family came wading across. They asked me what tent site number I had. What? Turns out there was a fee tenting area nearby. And a parking lot .2 mile from the ford. More day hikers trooped by later. Again, a surprise. The ridge runner told me I'd want to be gone early in the morning, or I'd have scores of day hikers coming through in the morning. They come to see Gulf Hagas, the "Grand Canyon of Maine." It's all good, but not my idea of a remote wilderness. There were seven peaks in the Chairbacks, if one includes the Barren Ledges. Slow going. I had been warned that the profile map was deceptive. Some nice views. A number of tricky transitions. I'm glad to have it done, really. The elevation is too low to break above the tree line. Whitecap Mt is tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it. You're supposed to be able to see Katahdin from the north side. Exciting. And Whitecap will be the last serious climb until Katahdin. Unbelievable. Only 84.2 miles to go. I cannot articulate what I feel. I could be summiting Katahdin six days from now. Wow!
Date: 2014-08-23
From: West Branch Pleasant River

To: East Branch Lean-to
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I saw Mt Katahdin today. From Whitecap Mountain. It looks surprisingly close. Big. With a broad expanse of flat land before it. The 72 trail miles left must wander a lot down in there. The mountain looks so close. Meanwhile, I could still make out the Bigelows, way down the back trail. What a great day to be on Whitecap. These mountains are not solitary. To get to Whitecap the trail went over Gulf Hagas Mt, West Peak, and Hay Mt first. Steep at times. But a well maintained trail. Lots of steps. An easy trail to hike. I had a much easier time than in the Chairbacks. Quicker too. It felt good. Now I'm down in the flats next to the Pleasant River. Got a ford first thing in the morning. The trail has continued to be user friendly. So far there's no one else at this shelter. The only NOBO I know of is Lost Boy, and he moved on further. Pockets, the Swiss hiker, is somewhere behind. That's all I know of a day's hike either side. Mostly I run into SOBO flip floppers and section hikers. The weather has been cooperative. High clouds today. A brief shower. Sun breaks. The AT is drying out a little. I think it's going to get clearer over the next couple of days. It's so lucky to have no rain for days. This evening the sun is going down bright and rosy. Lost Boy and I sat in a shelter down the north side of Whitecap. It was time for a food break. That was also when the shower hit. Talk is often about after Katahdin now. The emotions around the ending, and transitioning back to "normal" seem as epic as the hike itself. So far I haven't found anyone coherent. I know I'm not. Seeing K today certainly didn't clarify anything. It just stokes some kind of thru hiker inner glow.
Date: 2014-08-24
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 19.5

The mileage attests to how good the trail has become. Even gimping along on bad knees the miles went by fast. And I took about two hours worth of breaks. I can't remember the last time I hiked along such a friendly trail section. Before NH certainly. I wasn't expecting this. SOBOs talked about roots and mud and bogs. Maybe that's on tomorrow's agenda. If one wants to listen to SOBOs. Haha. At this point, going south, they were babes in the woods. At Jo Mary Road I picked up my food cache. That was an hour break, as I enjoyed treats I'd included just for this moment. Now my food bag is heavy again. I'm working on making it lighter. My appetite is a monster. Earlier in the day I came upon a blue blazed trail to a sandy beach. Yes. The day was warm. The sun was shining. I tossed my sweaty clothes on a bush and went into the pond. Glorious. Refreshing. Wonderful. I left the beach with a spring in my step. This is really living. The weather is always a huge influence from day to day. I feel blessed. The weather has been outstanding lately. Once again, the sun has gone down in rosy red glory. Meanwhile, the rocks seem to have changed. The slippery slate of the Chairbacks and Whitecaps is gone. Today I began hitting granite. Even wet, granite grips. Nice for rock hopping. Secure. Less complicated snap decisions. I'm the only thru hiker here tonight. There's a group of 8 people here to hike with a section hiker that's fixing to complete the AT after 20 years of of sections. He's so excited, and rightly so. It's a heck of an accomplishment. I don't think I'd have enough focus to keep at it year after year, while working a job and providing for a family. Or be up to rebuilding trail legs annually. Kudos. I have my own excitement. Only another thru hiker understands. We need no words. And I've done it clean. No slack packing. No changing direction to make a section easier. Definitely no yellow blazing. HYOH, my friends. This was my vision. And 48.3 miles remain. It's not time to celebrate yet, but it's building. These knees have to hold out only a little bit more. I'm honestly not capable of rationally assessing how badly they hurt. Katahdin is too close to be rational. I'm closing in on a 52 year old dream. Gives me goose bumps. And so much more.
Date: 2014-08-25
From: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, today's hike I needed help from a friend of mine. You might know him. Percy Verence. My right knee hurt, badly, in the morning. And it never got better. I could whine. And I do. But Percy and I shook hands early in the day and he carried me. Besides, I have Dirty Harry's and Bugbear's lucky beads hanging on my pack. Ten miles in I felt like I couldn't go on any more. If I'd been a couple hundred miles back I'd have exited for the nearest ER. And laid the fate of my thru hike into their hands. But Nesuntabunt Mt was 2.3 miles ahead, with a view of Katahdin. Let me hobble that far at least. I can pitch my tent, if it comes to that. Meanwhile, young and strong thru hikers, doing 25 plus miles a day through the Wilderness, are passing me. I vaguely remember bounding down descents from rock to rock. Now I scope each step out for minimal impact. It sucks. But it's progress. But the experience is the object of this hike. I hike slow. So slow. And I summit little Nesuntabunt Mt. And sit on the rocky ledge. Looking out at Mt Katahdin, 16 line of sight miles away. It's profound. And still oddly remote. It was six miles and change to the next lean-to after Nesuntabunt, Rainbow Stream. I remember every feature along the way. I took breaks every two miles, trying to drain the pain from my knee. I hiked like an old man. Yet, I timed my last two miles. One hour. I'm still hiking at two miles an hour. I came out of Georgia at 1.5 miles an hour. The last two miles followed Rainbow Stream. Which means extra roots and rocks. And sharp ups and downs as the stream cuts through the terrain's profile. No lie, the lean-to looked like heaven when I spotted the metal roof through the trees. Was I miserable? No, I was elated. Percy and I had slayed a dragon. I'm still on the AT, and it's exquisitely beautiful. Three more thru hikers came by. Into the twenty mile, plus, mode. They went on, another four miles in the gathering twilight. Envy? Maybe. But mostly peace. I am well weathered by life. I was young and bullet proof once. No regrets. And I'm still standing. Gazzelle and Snapper stayed at the lean-to. Both had come a long way. Snapper had done 30 plus miles. It was a pleasant evening. Did we talk about miles? No. We talked about Maine. And Katahdin. We're thru hikers. Brothers in arms. Conversation was easy, free, and enjoyed. That is the AT. A German, an Iowan, and me. I fell asleep with a big smile on my face. Instant friends and a river soundtrack just paces away. Katahdin getting closer and closer.
Date: 2014-08-26
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

Out of the 100-Mile Wilderness. And into a bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg. And a couple Maine brews. Snapper was in the parking lot. Hugs. Regrets we didn't have more time together. We both work for Canadians. Him a German. He was a wealth of information about hiking the PCT. He's hiking 10 in to The Birches before dark. I'm staying at the campsite by Abol Bridge. In the diner I sat with Sherpa. He'd hiked in the Himalayas. Working on a doctoral degree in botno anthropology. I think. We'd met earlier in the day at Rainbow Pond. I can see Katahdin from my tent site. I'm watching K reflect the setting sun in a clear sky. With a double image upon the water. I'll hike the ten miles in tomorrow, to a thru hikers only campsite called The Birches. Ten miles. From there 5.2 to the summit on Thursday. OMG. I'm really here.
Date: 2014-08-27
From: Abol Bridge

To: The Birches
Miles today: 9.9

At the foot of Mt Katahdin. 5.2 miles remain to complete my thru hike. Surreal. Katahdin Spring Campsite reserves The Birches site exclusively for long distance hikers. You have to hike in at least 100 miles to stay there. Baxter State Park is a well protected natural treasure. I think they do a fine service for AT thru hikers by providing a campsite that requires no reservations. I think there's about ten of us at The Birches. I do not know any of the other hikers. I wasn't expecting this. I always figured I'd be here with people I had spent time on the trail with. By hiking slower since New Hampshire I've dropped back into the bubble behind me. It's not a big deal. We're all trail family. We all know a lot about one another, just by being here. Everyone is excited. We're here. Tomorrow we summit Katahdin. This is the end of the trail. When I arrived here the mountain was clear, the trail visible up the spur to the Tablelands near the top. The weather forecast isn't the best. But we'll all take what's given. We're only allowed one night's stay. The die is cast. It's all good. I pitch my tent for the last time. Blow up my sleeping pad for the last time. One last meal on my Jetboil. It really is surreal. I've hiked 2180 miles to get here. I lay in my tent with a flash film of memories tumbling through my brain. Each moment precious. Impossible to process it all at the moment. Mt Katahdin rules my sky right now.