morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-10-01
From: Gulf Hagas Cutoff

To: Gulf Hagas Cutoff
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Gulf HagasI was up at 630 with the first light of the day. Stoneage let out a rooster crow to wake the crew up. I packed and was ready to do the Gulf Hagas trail by 7. Turned out I was the only one up for the rooster crow so I chilled and ate breakfast while everyone was getting ready. We left our gear at camp and walked the mile back to the gulf hagas entry. I felt kind of awkward walking without my super heavy pack, but it was a welcome change. We all stopped at screw auger falls and spent a while staring at the waterfall. It was one of those spots that you just didn't want to leave. We were throwing huge rocks into the water to watch the splashes. It's amazing how easily amused we are out here.We continued on through the gulf, stopping at all the viewpoints. One of the views up the canyon was breathtaking, we sat there for a good half hour. The fall colors stood out along the cascading river and white pines and cedars towered along its banks. We hiked on to "the jaws", a narrow slot canyon with huge slate cliffs. We all took turns posing on this one rock outcropping that was suspended a few hundred feet over the water. Next was buttermilk falls, then billings falls, then stair falls, and finally the head of the gulf. We stopped at each one and marvelled at the amazing rocks shaped over time by the river. There were little cliffs and caves along the way that we explored. It took us about 5 hours to hike the 3 miles along the river. That's how amazing this place was. The two miles back to the AT went quickly since there were no views and we got back to our campsite around 2. This side trail was SO worth the extra miles.We all dove into our food bags and ate a ton of food then took naps. When we woke up we all felt equally unmotivated and decided to take a zero. (zero AT miles at least) Deuce and yeller gathered a massive pile of firewood and the rest of us laid in our sleeping bags waiting for nightfall. Grizzle showed up and decided to stay with us, the ninth member of "the crew". Once it got dark we cooked dinner and lit the fire. We talked the night away and went to sleep when we ran out of wood (and our nights ration of booze). This amazing trip just doesn't want to end!Today's StatsStarting Point:Gulf Hagas CutoffEnding Point:Gulf Hagas CutoffMileage:0.0Elevation Gain:0ftElevation Loss:0ftHiking Time:0:00Weather:overcast coolPain Factor:3
Date: 2007-10-03
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: Cooper Pond
Miles today: 13.1

Lakefood SurpriseI heard moose calling to each other all night in the marsh along the river. I was up at sunrise and boiled water on the fire to make some mate. As usual, I ate pop tarts for breakfast and got moving around 9:45. The trail crossed the east branch of the pleasant river and climbed 500ft up to mountain view pond. Moss was camped there and knew some of the crew. We all hung out for a bit then went around the pond to see if the canoes there were unlocked. I found one that looked locked up but wasn't, so grizzle and I put it in the water and went for a cruise. We paddled around the pond admiring the fall colors on the mountain bordering the pond. We scared up a duck and found some moose tracks in the water. We paddled back and let misplaced and moss use the canoe. I hung my hammock and ate lunch. Moss played some music on misplaced's backpacker guitar and next thing we knew we had spent almost 3 hours at the pond.When I got hiking again the trail climbed 400ft up little boardman mtn then gradually went down hill for the next 7 miles. I stopped at crawford pond and sat on the sandy beach watching a pair of loons. They came unusually close which made for some good photos. I hiked on to cooper falls lean-to and went for a swim in the stream in front of the shelter. There was an excellent swimming hole at the bottom of a cascading waterfall that I dove into a few times. The water was pretty cold, but felt super refreshing. I never thought I'd be swiming in October in Maine!Stoneage, deuce, game on. yeller, grizzle, and I decided to hike another 5 miles to cooper pond. I hiked about 3 miles an hour over the smooth terain. It felt great to stretch out my stride. We got to the pond at sunset and could smell the musky moose smell near the unofficial campsite. One had probably been through recently. They kind of smell like a wet dog that has never had a bath. I hung my hammock and went down to the pond to grab water and noticed empty mussel shells along the rocky shore. I shined my light into the water and sure enough, the live version were all over the place. Score! I picked 8 huge ones and brought them back to camp. I placed them on a rock next to the fire until they poped open. I had a lipton pasta primavara and put the mussels in that with fresh garlic and peperoni. It was probably the best cooked meal I've had on the trail! After dinner I laid in my hammock for a while listening to the wind blow through the pines, hemlocks, and cedars around our campsite. It's sad to think I only have 3, maybe 4, more nights in the beautiful Maine woods. I don't want to go home...Today's StatsStarting Point:East Branch Lean-toEnding Point:Cooper PondMileage:13.1Elevation Gain:930ftElevation Loss:1550ftHiking Time:8:34Weather:Warm CloudyPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-10-04
From: Cooper Pond

To: Campsite
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: light rain

Biggest BurgerWe woke up at sunrise to a perfectly clear day. Last night was so warm I didn't even need my sleeping bag in my hammock. Grizzle hooked me up with a cup of coffee and we got walking around 8:30. I hiked alone at a brisk pace to lower jo mary lake where everyone took a break. Hop a long caught up and told us we had to finish her bacardi 151 since her platypus container was leaking. None of us had a problem with that. We all got our buzz on and hiked to potaywadjo spring. This spring was 15 feet in diameter and flowing up through the ground. I drank a liter of the crystal clear water. Poland spring had nothing on this water source.I hiked on to pemadumcook lake and saw a sign that said "View of Katahdin" 100 ft. I walked the short side trail down to the lake and was awestruck by the sight. Mama K looked even bigger than it had on white cap. There was no haze so I had a perfectly clear view of the mountain rising over the lake. It looked so close I could throw a rock at it. I could see where the tree line stopped and could make out the "knife edge" on the right side of the ridge. I can't wait to get up there! I hiked on to Mahar tote road and walked the mile down a blue blaze to the White House Landing Camp. Yeller, deuce, grizzle and I got to the dock first and blew the air horn to summon the boat to come and pick us up. A motor boat came over and we all piled in. We got there after lunch so we decided to stick around for dinner. I set up my hammock and took a nap. The view from the camp of pemadumcook lake was amazing and the warm sun was shining. The rest of our crew showed up a bit later and we all! threw the frisbee around. Dinner was served at 430. We each ate one of their legendary 1lb cheeseburgers and had a beer. Surprisingly I could have ate more! After dinner I bought 2 more days of food and ate a pint of ben and jerry's. We got the boat ride back around 530 and walked back to the trail. The 9 of us hiked until dark and made our own campsite on the side of the trail along nahmakanta stream. We had a fire and grizzle taught me how to play a few cords on the guitar. I crawled into my hammock around 9.Today's StatsStarting Point:Cooper PondEnding Point:CampsiteMileage:9.7Elevation Gain:780ftElevation Loss:870ftHiking Time:4:08Weather:Clear sunny warmPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-10-05
From: Campsite

To: Nahmakanta Lake Sand Beach
Miles today: 6.4

Air DropI woke up at sunrise again and got ready for the day. Grizzle made me some coffee and I ate more pop tarts. I'm starting to get sick of them! I got hiking around 9 and walked at a relaxed pace along Nahmakanta Stream. The trail followed the stream for about 4 miles. I stopped at the south end of Nahmakanta Lake for a short break. After eating a few candy bars I walked another 2 miles along the lake to the sand beach.The beach was in the warm sun and protected from the wind. Hop a long, singe, and misplaced were already in the water so I changed into my bathing suit and dove in. I swam around a bit and floated on my back for a while. When I got out I walked along the shore exploring. I found lots of small snails and tons of mussels in the water. I also found a campsite for canoers in the next little cove complete with picnic tables, a fire pit, and a bbq grate. The rest of our crew showed up and we all decided to call it a day and chill on the beach. Game on hiked past and didn't realize we were there.I went for a few more swims and gathered a huge pile of mussels. There was no way we could eat all that we found so we left them in the water within reaching distance to cook later. Any we didn't eat could dig their way back into the deeper water. I started a fire on the beach and we all watched a float plane land and stop for a while on the opposite shore. He took off a while later and when the plane came back, it flew right toward us. It landed in the water a few hundred feet away and coasted toward our beach. When it got close, he cut the engine, stuck his head and a 12 pack of bud out the window, and asked if we were thirsty. We all hooted and hollered and could not believe a float plane was bringing us beer! The guy was super cool and talked to us for a while as we each chugged a beer. Singe actually yogied a ride and hopped in the back seat of his plane. I gave her my camera to take aerial pictures of Katahdin. They took off and flew around a bit then came back about 15! min later. Singe was glowing she was so happy for that ride. The guy talked with us for a bit before coasting back to his side of the lake.We all got a bit of a buzz on so we busted out some of our booze stash to keep it going. We grilled some mussels on the fire and cooked dinner. The sunset shined all sorts of different colors on the still water. A pair of loons floated by talking to each other, a beaver swam by checking us out, and bats were flying overhead chowing down on bugs. All in the evening twilight as we sat next to our huge beach fire watching the stars start to shine. I played some Dead from my mp3 speakers and we all laid on the beach watching shooting stars streak across the sky. I cowboyed on the sand right next to the water. Life in Maine can't get much better.Today's StatsStarting Point:CampsiteEnding Point:Nahmakanta Lake Sand BeachMileage:6.4Elevation Gain:790ftElevation Loss:590ftHiking Time:3:28Weather:Warm clear sunnyPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-10-06
From: Nahmakanta Lake Sand Beach

To: Rainbow Spring Campsite
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Summit StrategeryThe sky was cloudy when the sun came up but we still got to see some cool red and pink colors. Grizzle made the last of his coffee for us and I ate more pop tarts and some zucchini bread that I packed out from Whitehouse Landing. I got walking at 8 and ran into Bill The Pony at the shelter only .5 away. I hadn't seen him since day 3 on the trail! I hiked on and climbed Nesuntabunt Mountain which had an excellent view of the Katandin range. Our buddy in the float plane took off and we all waved goodbye from the mountain top. He dipped his wing to wave back. After the view I cruised on past crescent pond and took a break at a view of pollywog gorge. The colors in the gorge were striking! I hiked on down to the stream and grabbed some water.After taking a short snack break I hiked on along rainbow stream to the next lean-to for lunch. A hyperactive red squirrel was running all around and trying to sneak up behind me to steal my food. After lunch I passed the rainbow stream deadwaters and then started the walk around rainbow lake. When I got to rainbow spring campground game on was there waiting. The crew caught up and we all had a pow wow about where to spend the rest of our nights on the trail. Since rain was called for Sunday and Monday we decided to do 2 shorter days and summit on Tuesday. We will stay at rainbow spring tonight, abol pines campground tomorrow, the birches on Monday, and summit tuesday morning. I think there is a pay phone at abol bridge so I might be able to send out the 100 mile wilderness entries.I grabbed water from the pipe spring and went to set up camp. I got the vibe that it was going to rain overnight so I set up my tarp. As usual we made a huge fire and sat around it cooking dinner. After dinner I made some tea and we sat up telling jokes and stories and talking about life after the trail. The rain came at 9 and sent us all into our shelters. The loons started wailing right when the rain began to start, as if to warn us. This is our last night in the wilderness. It will be strange to see a paved road again!Today's StatsStarting Point:Nahmakanta Lake Sand BeachEnding Point:Rainbow Spring CampsiteMileage:12.3Elevation Gain:2340ftElevation Loss:1810ftHiking Time:7:41Weather:Cloudy Warm, night rainPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-10-07
From: Rainbow Spring Campsite

To: Abol Pines Campground
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: few clouds

Abol BridgeThe rain didn't last long last night and my tarp was dry when I woke up. Temps dropped into the 30's in the early am which made it hard to get out of the hammock. We stoked up the fire and spent the morning warming up around it. I didn't leave camp until around 1030 and walked lazily along rainbow lake. Game on, grizzle, stoneage, triple deuce, and I cruised on to rainbow ledges which gave us a front row seat for a view of Katahdin. We could almost make out people on top of it. There was not a cloud in the sky. The 4 of us sat staring at mama K eating lunch. The mountain looks more beautiful the closer we get to it! These 2 new hampshire girls heading southbound hooked us up with some super kind trail magic.After lunch we cruised the 6 miles to Golden Road into Abol Bridge. This was the first paved road we have seen since monson! Game on and I stopped on the bridge over the penobscot river and soaked in the "postcard" view of Katahdin. I was hit with a rush of mixed emotions. Katahdin was RIGHT THERE! I could clearly see the end! I felt excited, scared (thats one serious climb), and sad all at once. I almost shed a tear when I started thinking of Ken standing next to me looking up at the greatest mountain.I crossed the bridge and hit the campstore for beer, dinner, and snacks for the next 2 days. I bought a pack of hot dogs, a can of beans, and a 6 pack of long trail. We went and camped at Abol Pines campground right on the bank of the river. The sun set and the stars came out as we all cooked dinner around the fire and partied our asses off. The rest of this trip is going to be one big party!Today's StatsStarting Point:Rainbow Spring CampgroundEnding Point:Abol Pines CampgroundMileage:11.2Elevation Gain:1900ftElevation Loss:2350ftHiking Time:6:48Weather:Cold Clear Sunny windyPain Factor:3
Date: 2007-10-08
From: Abol Pines Campground

To: The Birches
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: broken clouds

They call me "Drinks with Moose"It rained overnight so I had to hang my tarp in a hurry. When I woke up the sky had cleared into another beautiful day. I walked up to the campstore and got a can of corned beef hash to cook for breakfast, a 12 pack of bud to pack into the birches, and sandwiches for lunch. Back at camp I ate breakfast and hung around the campfire until 11. I was the first one to leave camp and I walked as slow as possible. Today was my last day with my loaded backpack. I would compare the feeling I had walking to the feeling of walking down the graduation aisle. As I crossed into Baxter State Park I got another excellent view of Katahdin.The trail followed the Penobscot River for about 4 miles. I took a break at a waterfall and drank a beer and ate a sandwich. After lunch I followed the stream uphill and had a few gnarly rock hops over two side streams. When I got to big Niagara falls I stopped and drank another beer. Then I hiked to little Niagara falls and drank while I was walking. After the waterfalls I hiked past Daicy pond then cracked another beer at elbow pond.When I got to the elbow pond outlet stream I walked out onto the footbridge and stopped to take in the view. When I turned around I almost fell into the pond when I saw a big cow moose standing only 30 feet away from me. She picked her head up out of the water, looked at me, then went back to eating. I slowly took off my pack, beer in hand, and sat on the bridge watching. She walked closer through the water only 15 feet away and kept eating. I just sat there drinking my beer with the moose for a good ten minutes! When she had enough food she slowly ambled off into the woods. that was possibly my favorite animal encounter on the trail.I sat on the bridge in awe of what just happened and singe, misplaced, and grizzle caught up. The 4 of us hiked to Katahdin Stream campground and got checked in at the ranger station. Thru hikers stay at the long distance hikers site called "the birches" I was thru hiker number 389 to sign in at the ranger station. I walked down to the campsite and ran into old yeller and hop a long who had taken a different trail there. We were gathering firewood when a truck showed up. Strider and Goldfinger hopped out and told us they had local organic burgers and home grown potatoes to cook for us. SCORE! I thought I was going to have to eat another Lipton. They started cooking and game on, stoneage, and deuce showed up after dark. They drank all their beer along the way and were fellin good. We all stuffed our faces and then got told there was home made apple pie for us. After demolishing them we helped the trail angels pack up and said thanks. When they left we busted out the bottle of jagermeister that stoneage carried from monson. We partied the night away and passed out for our last night on the trail.Today's StatsStarting Point:Abol Pines CampsiteEnding Point:The BirchesMileage:9.9Elevation Gain:1190ftElevation Loss:570ftHiking Time:6:18Weather:Warm SunnyPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-10-30
To: New Pics
Miles today: 0.0

So I've been lazy and haven't found time to sit down and write a meaningful post hike entry. I have however uploaded pics for 5/20 thru 5/31 and 8/23 thru 10/9. Check em out! That is pretty much a pic for every day that deserves to have a pic. I still need to upload pics for 3/30 thru 4/6, but I am still having problems with my memory cards. Hopefully I will be able to get that straightened out. Just some quick updates. I have gone back to work and rocked the huge beard for a week there. I trimmed it down on Oct 21st and boy was that hard. The sound of scissors to hair sent chills down my spine, like nails on a chalk board. I posted a before and after pic. Don't laugh too much....stop Laughing!!!! Next weekend I am heading back out into the woods for 5 days to hike south with TDS. I've taken his canoe out and paddled 13 miles on the Passaic River behind my house also. So I am staying active. OK, I promise a more meaningful entry within a week...OK maybe 2.
Date: 2006-07-28
To: Why 
Miles today: 0.0

This was my father's favorite verse. From time to time, usually on a cold winter night, he would get down his favorite book, "A Treasury of the Familiar", and read us this piece by Robert Service. The poem is something that has always stayed with me and reminds me of the wander lust that ran through his veins as it does in mine and my brother¢s.
Date: 2007-01-05
To: So many things to do
Miles today: 0.0

When you start to list the things that you do on a daily basis as part of a family you realize how much work other people have to take on in your absence. I have read several posts by hikers who are single that need to put their life in storage and rely on friends or sometimes strangers to care for their ¢life in the real world.¢ I get to walk up the trail with some assurance that my ¢real-world¢ life will carry on without me but not without appreciating the sacrifice that my family is making so I can go off to fulfill this lifelong dream of mine.It is not just the home life but our family business that has to be put on hold while I am in the woods. The expenses will not stop but my income will. I can not begin to calculate the cost per mile of my hike or I would never consider going.The cost of a pack? - $225The cost of boots? - $115Thru-hiking the AT? - Priceless
Date: 2007-01-05
To: Maildrops? - So hard to decide
Miles today: 0.0

I started out planning to use mail drops but over the last 6 months I have read so many journals and posts that it seems mail drops are too much of a hassle at both ends. That convinced me to buy as I go. Now, and maybe too late, I am considering a limited number of mail drops.Scheduling is my biggest hang up. I do not want to lock myself into dates. I tend to cover a lot of miles but I am really out of shape right now. Moving, travel, and business have really taken its toll on me. Instead of tuning up my body is running down.I know I need to start very slowly because the repetitive days will take their toll on me. I also know that I cannot sit around camp all day resting. I just need to keep moving SLOWLY.I think I will plan on mail drops to hostels I know I will hit and just have them mailed on the fly once I know my pace.
Date: 2007-01-13
To: So why am I doing this?
Miles today: 0.0

So why am I doing this?I was born and grew up in a little trail town (until a relocation for the corridor) called Cornwall, CT. With 5 kids in the family vacations were always camping.My father had grown up in NYC when his family came to this country. On summer weekends he, his bothers, and friends would take the Hudson Day Liner up to Bear Mountain and spend the time hiking and camping. He passed his love for the outdoors down to his children.Growing up with the Appalachian Trail running along the mountain across from our house it was often the destination of family hikes. As I got older I often took off with my friends to go camp in the shelters that dotted the trail in the state parks abundant in that area of Connecticut. It was here I met my first thru hikers. A ruddy looking bunch (of only men as I recall) that would fascinate us with their tales of hiking all the way from Georgia.I decided back then I would some day ¢thru-hike¢ the trail I grew up on. I have never lost my love for camping and hiking and have hopefully passed that love onto my children.My brother and I sectioned hiked the AT every summer for years always saying that someday we would thru hike. Life sometimes has a way of getting in the way of dreams. My brother moved to Montana several years ago but by then we had hiked from Katahdin to the Hudson week by week.Why now? Our kids are now at college and our lives are in a state of flux. We have moved from Massachusetts to Florida. I need to move or restart my business. I need to take time off after running a business for 19 years. I am burned out and I am starting to lose my sense of humor. My kids tell me I am in a mid life crisis. My wife says; ¢now is the time¢. My accountant says; ¢this would be a good year to go.¢ Who am I to argue?So I have been planning and spending. Good gear costs money even on sale. There are so many more choices than even 10 years ago. It is very hard to get the ¢right¢ piece of gear.Without websites like this one, or Whiteblaze, or even Trailplace this hike would be a lot harder. I need to thank those that have gone before me for sharing all their information and experience. Although I am an experienced outdoors person I am not sure anything can totally prepare anyone for living out of a pack in the woods for 5 months. The insight these veteran thru-hikers share is invaluable.