morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-08-19
From: Imp Shelter

To: White Mountain Hostel
Miles today: 8.0

Back at the hostel to rest after finishing the Whites. Guess who was here.Well the morning started out very early when I had to get up and find a privy at 4:30 in the morning, never found it. When I went back to the shelter Mountain Dew was leaving. He had to meet friends in town early. Went back to bed for a bit before getting up and eating more candy bars for breakfast. Due to odd circumstances I have been pretty much eating hut food and snickers bars for the last three days. We got walking around 8 and made our first climb right away and then it was more or less downhill from there, but a good two miles was steep and very rocky and actually wet desite not raining. Finally made it to the hostel and as I was dropping off my pack I looked at the others to see if I recognized any and sure enough there was Fiber and Vetos. Checked in side and they were staying here but currently out resupplying. We then were dropped off in town and we had lunch then I picked up a fuel canister before we hitched to WalMart to resupply. Hitched back to the hostel just as it started raining. At the hostel I took an actual bath in the suite here and had laundry done. The first time we were here my laundry was really itchy and the hostel owner used a different detergent this time so hopefully I don't have the itching problem as before. Fiber and Veto were here and had been doing so really short days with weather and meeting friends, but will still be a day ahead with the nero for me tomorrow. We had dinner and then sat around watching Dodgeball and the Big Lebowski before heading to bed. Tomorrow will be a rest day before heading out a few miles. Only 17 more miles before we reach Maine and the last state. Today we also passed under the 300 miles mark. That is what I call getting close.
Date: 2011-08-20
From: White Mountain Hostel

To: Campsite mile 1883.8
Miles today: 0.7

Nero day watching movies before heading out to the first spot.So last night was horrible sleep, you think I would learn from previous hostel experience. Went to bed hot and by 12:00 was drenched in sweat. Got up and went down stairs and slept on the couch till I heard someone come in around 4. Then went back up stairs to sleep. Got up and had breakfast and then sat around most of the day watching a few movies. Around 5 we headed out and stayed right at the trailhead for the evening. Was a nice easy day to rest up from the Whites. Not much else to say about the day.
Date: 2011-08-21
From: Campsite mile 1883.8

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: clear sky

Well a shorter day then I was going to do once I got started. Swan had some troubles and had to go back to the hostel. Rain and thunderstorms this early evening.So woke up after a great sleep for a change. Packed up everything and started to head out. Very quickly Swan knew she wasn't going to be able to hike. About a week ago she took a fall on her back and the last two days it had gotten worse. Walked back to the hostel to see what her options were and she will be taking four or five days off. Around 10 we parted ways and I got back on the trail. Started off quick to try and get to Maine 17 miles away. Miles went by quick and was making good time with warm weather. Around three with another five miles to go I was sitting at an intersection to a shelter and it started thundering. That shortened my day to 11 miles and I stayed where I was. The shelter here has a great view out over a valley and was recommended by southbounders. Also got to sit here and watch the storm come in while eating dinner. Tomorrow I will have to get going very early as it will be long with the Mahoosuc Notch somewhere in the middle. Will also hit my final state when I enter Maine in five miles. 286 miles to go.
Date: 2011-08-22
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Maine, last state of the trail. Mahoosuc notch wasn't so bad.It rained all night but stayed warm and dry in the shelter all night. Two people showed up around ten after everyone had gone to bed. Got up and hit the trail around 7:30 to partly cloudy skies. After about five miles I hit the Maine border. Very exciting but also sad to be so close to the end. There is always next year! Got some pictures and had a snack before moving on. Five miles later I took a break at a shelter and the rain started. Sat out the rain in the shelter and had lunch. The rain didn't last long and moved on the 1.5 miles to the start of Mahoosuc notch. It is a valley filled with huge boulders you have to crawl over and under. For some it can take several hours to complete others maybe forty-five minutes. Took me about an hour to get through with wet rocks so felt good about it. I then had to climb the arm up to Specks pond where I am staying tonight. Its actually pretty cold tonight and my fingers are freezing writing this. The wind was also very strong today on some of the peaks but didn't blow me over today. The mud is also crazy, I could sink my poles over halfway into the mud in some spots. Shortly after arriving at the shelter it started raining again so for the last two days I have avoided the rain amazingly but my feet are still soaked. The trail is a river, the bog walks are partially submerged, and the mud is everywhere. Didn't realize until now but also passed 1900 miles today.
Date: 2011-08-23
From: Speck Pond Shelter

To: Campsite Mile 1924.5
Miles today: 14.9

Cold night, windy day but avoided rain and food and drpeppers coming to me in the morning.So last night at the shelter it was pretty cold and really hard to get moving this morning. Finally got up and walking around 8:00. Plan was to make it to the road to Andover about fifteen miles and did. Was a lot of downhill today and my knees are screaming. My body is beginning to retaliate for all the walking but I keep demanding more, wait till they get to northern Maine and see how they like me. At the first road crossing of the day I heard that Cleanshave and Pidgeon where an hour ahead of me but never caught them. In the shelter log I found that Mountain Dew, Zen, and Sparkplug were behind me. Left a message for them and they passed me at the road. They are going to town and Sparkplug is going to a friends. She is bringing my some DrPeppers and the friend is going to bring me food in the morning, can't wait.Tomorrow in ten miles we cross another road to Andover and if I still have enough food I might skip town and go to Rangley to resupply where I also have some shoes coming. 256 miles left and no moose yet.
Date: 2011-08-24
From: Campsite Mile 1924.5

To: Jere and Carol's House
Miles today: 10.0

Breakfast in the morning and a stay at Jere and Carols house for the evening after a ten mile day. So the DrPeppers arrived this morning from Sparkplug along with an egg sandwich from Carol. I had woken up and moved over to the parking lot to wait. While there a couple of college orientation groups also showed up waiting for their bus. They proceeded to do chants competing with each other before finally leaving. Then another bus showed with two more groups and did the same. They left and Sparkplug, Mountain Dew, and Zen showed with the DrPeppers, sandwich, brownies, coffee cake and energy bars. Carol offered for all of us to stay at their house that night after doing ten miles to the next road crossing. So off we go for a bit of climbing on the day and taking it easy. We made it to the road around 4 and were picked up immediately. Picked up food on the way back to their house. At the house we did laundry and they cooked some pizzas and had beers for us. Their place is a log cabin with a separate garage/inlaw house. Mountain Dew and Zen actually stayed in a tree house they had built for their grandkids, I got the floor in the apartment. Was an awesome night provided by great people. They are actually parents of Sparkplugs co-worker who have been following her trail journal.Tomorrow we get breakfast before heading out.
Date: 2011-08-25
From: Jere and Carol's House

To: Bemis Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I am hanging with the Nero the North Crew, will have to explain that one later. Great breakfast and bad weather forecast made for a short day and sitting around in a shelter being goofy all day. So to start there a few rules that have been made for the Nero the North members. Days have to be under ten miles, if they are over you have to zero the next day. At least every other day you have to have pizza and beer. Third rule you can't hike in the rain. Makes for tricky maneuvering when you get big days between towns. We did 9 today and have 17 to a town tomorrow so we have to get there tomorrow per rule two but that envokes rule one meaning a zero the next day. Its also supposed to rain so rule three could kick in and make for a long day avoiding the rain. So back to today I woke up early and switched our laundry to the dryer and took a shower before everyone woke up. I then sat with Jere and Carol talking while they had breakfast. Woke everyone else up for our turn at breakfast around 7:30 which was earlier than planned, that was due to a weather forecast. Today was expected rain starting at three with hail and thunderstorms continuing through the night. To top that off hurricane Irene is said to arrive around Sunday bringing more rain. So an earlier start was needed. We then were provided blueberry pancakes with warn Vermont maple syrup along with coffee cake, orange juice, coffee and milk. They then drove us back to the trail with brownies and more energy bars. We then had to hike, which is becoming harder to do with energy and motivation dwindling as we near the end of the trail. We had planned to do 17 today to the second shelter but the forecast made us stop at the first to try and avoid any potential hail and bad weather. We arrived around two just as it started raining. Right before the shelter though I took a few minutes to collect some blueberries for my cereal in the morning. Two is a very early time to stop and makes for stir crazy hikers, luckily someone had left a cup and ball game here and we all took turns teying to break each others records for continuous catches. It was also the point when we wrote the rules for the club. Was a fun day but also one that makes you feel like a lazy bum for not hiking very far. Tomorrow we hike to Rangley where I have a maildrop for my new old shoes and some food. Seventeen miles I need to do before the post office closes and then another two to a shelter outside town, will be a long day.
Date: 2011-08-26
From: Bemis Mountain Lean-to

To: Town and Lake Motel
Miles today: 17.6

Big day feeling great into Rangely, Maine to decide what we are going to do about the approaching hurricane Irene.The day started out in the clouds but was supposed to be clear. Got a climb out of the way to start and walked through very wet bushes that just soaked everything. Made good time to the first shelter to have an early lunch and was told by a hiker that the terrain to Rangely from there was good. It turned out to be great other than some roots but that didn't hold me back. Needed to get to the post office before they closed at 4 and the last 9 miles I did in about three and a half hours with an actual walking pace of three an hour. That is rare these days so felt great. At the road it took me thirty minutes to get a hitch to town and was dropped off at the PO at three. My box had not arrived so now I was going to need to stay. The approaching hurricane also causes problems with the fact the next town is three days away. Would be stuck out in a shelter in the woods for the storm in high winds. Everyone has decided to play it safe and just stay here till the storm passes. 220 miles left and still no moose.
Date: 2011-08-27
From: Town and Lake Motel

To: Town and Lake Motel
Miles today: 0.0

Well zero here in Rangely and a boring day.So woke upand had breakfast of donuts from the gas station and chocolate milk. Went to the post office at 9:30 and my box has still not arrived so it won't be till Monday morning now. At least the weather is supposed to be good then and I am getting anxious to get some good miles in and be close to done. Read and finished my book for most of the day and just hung out in the room all day. The others went out drinking and bowling for the evening to waste time. Watched a few movies and went to bed.I have a flight back home on October 2nd and hoping to finish by Sep. 15th just before the Trails End festival.
Date: 2011-08-28
From: Town and Lake Motel

To: Town and Lake Motel
Miles today: 0.0

Second zero and rode out my first hurricane turned tropical storm.So the rain started about 3 this morning and never letup. Winds started this morning some time and were way lower than forecasted but still very strong. Had we hiked in it, we would have been stuck in a shelter with sideways wind. Would of most likely been wet and cold. We watched TV all day until the TV went out. We then borrowed movies from the hotel owners. Was interesting to see the winds in one direction, then stop for a bit and start back up in the other direction. Was a good day to just be stuck in a hotel.
Date: 2011-08-29
From: Town and Lake Motel

To: Poplar Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.8

Well today we hiked, or better yet we swam up the trail.Amazing what one day made for weather. Perfect weather all day with it expected to continue. Had some good climbs up Saddleback and the Horn, with the trail being a stream all day, the 6" of rain yesterday was all draining off the mountain today right ionto the trail. This morning I picked upo my mail drop that had some of my old shoes to get me to the end. Wore those today and they slide more than my current worn out shoes. I carried the old ones in case I had problems and will probably switch back for a day. The new ones also started giving me blisters so not so sure they are going to work out. Didnt mention in yesterdays entry and will probably make a seperate entry about my phone, for some reason it will not charge. I had just charged everything so have one and a half batteries to last the entire trip. That means I am back to paper and pen for the rest of the trip and updating when I get computer access. So the entries will be much slower in coming for a while. Because of the storm everyone stayed in towns so there are bubbles of people again, with a full house here tonight.Tomorrow under 200 miles left, and just a few days before we get to some flatter terrain and can put in some bigger days easily.209 miles left and no moose.
Date: 2011-08-30
From: Poplar Ridge Shelter

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: broken clouds

200 Mile mark today but nothing else of note.Woke up this morning and decided my new old shoes were not going to cut it. Blisters, sore heels, and slippery are not a good combination. Put on my old shoes and walked away from the others, Shortly after starting this morning we came to our first ford with water in it. Was maybe twenty feet across and only knee deep. Wasnt a problem and was actually fun. Around midday right before the shelter we saw the aftermath of the hurricane in full effect and right where we would have been. For about two tenths of a mile before the shelter we probably had to navigate around or over 100 trees. There were also a few blowdowns very near the shelter. Had lunch and moved onto our second ford of the day. Southbounders passed us saying they had waited a day for the water level to drop before being able to cross because of the rain from the hurricane. By the time we crossed it was only knee deep. Shortly after that we rolled into camp for the evening.
Date: 2011-08-31
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: Stratton Motel
Miles today: 7.2

Town visit with pizza and ice cream, laundry and shower.So last night it rained in the middle of the night, I noticed right away and reached out of the tent and grabbed my shoes. Thirty minutes later I remembered my clothes were hanging on the top of the tent. So when I woke up I had to put on wet clothes, made for a slow start. Finally got going and we made it to the road to Stratton. Rambling Man offered to let me stay in his room for the evening instead of hiking on. We heard that the road had a bridge that was washed out and the traffic reflected that. Very few cars drove by, all going up to the bridge and then driving back by. Waited an hour before the motel owner showed up and gave us a ride. Took a shower and did laundry in town. Had a pizza for lunch and a pint of ice cream for dinner.Was a good day today, but I am very tired. Tomorrow we pass 2000 miles
Date: 2011-09-01
From: Stratton Motel

To: Little Bugelow Lean-to
Miles today: 15.4

2000 Miles today and we did our last major climbs till Katahdin. Didnt feel so great today though with a sore throat and drainage.So woke up early after passing out early. Packed up and then went across the street to the diner for coffee. The hotel owner showed up around 8:00 and drove Rambling Man and I back to the trail. Started around 9:00 and the trail was very nice with deep forest and moss growth and large boulders scattered around. After 10 miles I got a little annoyed that I had only done 10 miles around 3:00. Was getting pretty tired and sick at this point and just wanted to be done. During that last 5 miles we passed a huge blueberry patch and I collected a bunch of berries for breakfast in the morning for my cereal. After finally getting to the shelter I immediately setup my tent and cooked. When the others arrived at the shelter, Sparkplug told us she had fallen and probably has a broken rib. She was in a lot of pain and pretty distraught. Writing now and will be in bed sleeping by 9:00.2000 miles, just hard to imagine walking that far and makes everyone smile just saying it.
Date: 2011-09-02
From: Little Bugelow Lean-to

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: clear sky

Trail magic, flat terrain - good; Broken rib, extra mileage - bad.So after going to bed early I woke up very early and was ready to go by 6:30. I waited around for everyone else to wake up though to see if we needed to split up Sparkplugs gear to carry. She decided to carry it and we left around 9:00. Had a couple small climbs in the beginning but they went quick. Afterwards we ran into some trail magic, the first of this type in a very long time. A cooler was at the road crossing with cokes, beer, ice cream, pie and watermelon. The ice cream was melted and the watermelon wasnt so appetizing looking but everything else was great. We sat around forever before walking 50 yards to the road and taking pictures in the road by a "Congradulations 2000 miles" that had been painted into the road. On the other side of the road was more trail magic of Oreos and Chips Ahoys. Didnt leave the area until around noon. At the next shelter with 10 miles left we had lunch. Left there around 2:00 and within a mile Sparkplug was really hurting. I then rushed the rest of the miles to the next shelter at a 3mph pace and then went back to take her pack for her. Only took about a mile to a mile and a half for her, but Rambling Man had also carried it for a mile or two shortly after I had taken off. When we got to the shelter we took her over to Pierce Pond Camp where the guy who runs the cabin there is going to take her to the hospital tonight. We will also be having a 12 pancake breakfast there tomorrow morning before crossing the Kennebec river by ferry and heading into Caratunk.Still feeling a little bad today with a clogged nose and caughing but pushing through it. A good nero tomorrow and hopefully some medicine will cure that.Maine has a lot of ponds we pass by and some of them are bigger than a lot of lakes I have seen. They are all very cool and are perfect spots to camp by.Well time for bed. 155 miles left and no moose.
Date: 2011-09-03
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

To: Northern Outdoors Resort
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Patriotic Pancakes, a canoe ferry ride, chili hamburger. A great short day but very hectic with trying to resupply and find a spot to stay for the evening.So we start out with waking up early and heading to Harrison camp for the patriotic pancakes at 7:00. Breakfast was going to be late due to the guy taking Sparkplug to the hospital last night and hour and a half away and waiting for her and driving back around 1:00. So the pancakes have blueberries, raspberries and apples in them to be red, white and blue. We also had milk, juice, 2 over easy eggs, and sausage links. Was a great breakfast and afterwards we sat on the porch and watched about 10 hummingbirds fighting around the feeders. We then headed out for the few miles to town and I had to beat the post office closing for my package. Made it to the ferry for the Kennebec river and got to cross in a canoe with a white blaze in the bottom of it. Made it to the post office to find my package was at the Northern Outdoors Resort that was supposed to be full for the evening due to the holiday. While at the post office the postmaster who lived across the street took Sparkplug in and gave her a place to stay for a while. At the hosptial she found she had a fractured rib. We called the NOR and they had a place to let us tent. They also sent us a shuttle and picked us up and took us to their place. We then hitch hiked to the store and resupplied then hitched back to camp. Sat around there reading when Steamer showed up with some Captain Morgans and we sat around talking and had a few drinks. Sorted my gear and food before bed around 9:00Two days to Monson, then 5 or 6 to Katahdin. Not much time left that is for sure.151 miles left and 1 moose. Yep I saw my first moose though it was from a good ways away and he was swimming across a lake. But hey it was a moose, at least I saw one.
Date: 2011-09-04
From: Northern Outdoors Resort

To: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 14.9

Thunderstorm!So got up this morning and we all headed to the NOR for AYCE breakfast. Probably my first on the trail with a wide assortment of stuff and not just pacncakes. Tons of bacon was consumed. Mountain Dew and Zen decided to stay after going out drinking all night and coming back to camp around 1:00. Rambling Man and I caught the 9:00 shuttle back to the trail and headed out. At the top of a large mountain for the day we ran into blueberries and sat there eating them for 30-45 minutes. I collected one huge handful and stuffed my mouth full. Was awesome! Some where over the next few miles the weather began to change with thunder in the distance. With three miles left to the shelter we had to ford a river. Took off our shoes and crossed and while putting back on dry shoes it suddenly started getting very dark. With three miles to do we knew we were getting wet. Sure enough the rain started and was pouring. Nothing to do but hike on. Stopped at the next shelter but was wanting to do 4 more to the next one. This one was empty and dry and we decided to stay. Shortly after arriving Zen shows up, he decided he didnt want to stay. Cooked dinner for the evening and another storm rolled in that was worse than the first. Huge lightening and tons of rain, was nice in the shelter. Forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms for the next three days.136 miles left and nothing left to see but Katahdin.