morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-19
From: Sabbath Day Lean-To

To: Rangeley, ME
Miles today: 9.0

It's always a good day to have short mileage to town! It was only 9 miles to get to the nearest crossroad for Rangeley. Deadline, LittleDebbie, and I were highly motivated to get going as early as possible. Unfortunately, the rainy weather and mosquitoes conspired against us to keep us at camp.We broke camp and headed out at 6:30am. The rain had stopped, leaving buckets of rainwater futilely clinging to the leaves. With every bump and shake, a healthy amount of water came showering down.The mosquitoes remained a real pest today. That created a highly motivating environment to hike in. The trail reminded muddy and technical to traverse. Intermittent, rotted logs spanned some of the deepest and gnarliest of the bogs.The trail did improve a bit today. Larger portions of usable tread appeared to our liking. Our hiking pace increased and the thoughts of town food swirled in our heads. As we daydreamed, there was a procession of sobo's hiking past. It was fascinating (and concerning) to see so many. They were all quite nice as expected. A few stopped and chatted, but most chugged on through the rain.Rangeley!! We would soon be in town for a resupply. That meant food. After a few more climbs and descents, we hit the crossroad to get into town.We quickly got to hitching and got promptly into town! A friendly woman and her brother stopped and saved us from the rain. It was such a nice thing to do!! Time for pizza!!
Date: 2015-06-20
From: Rangeley, ME

To: Spaulding Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

We left our hostel named The Farmhouse. It was time to head back to the trail with packs full of food. It was a great place to overnight at. We played horseshoes and dried out our gear. The hostel even had a friendly pig. (Apparently, pigs like grapes. I didn't know that either... LittleDebbie had his bag of grapes raided and eaten when he wasn't looking.)I got going today with Deadline, LittleDebbie, YoYo, and Tweets. YoYo and Tweets are two super cool hikers from Kansas City who I met while in the Shenandoah's. Those guys are too funny!The high quality trail started by going past Piazzio Rocks and up Saddleback Mountain, one of the two 4,000 ft peaks today. I didn't stop long or investigate much at the Rocks. Saddleback Mountain, however, I enjoyed very much.There was a good approach, some wet and boggy areas, and finally some steep rock slabs to climb for the summit.There were wonderful day hikers near summit. One was an Armed Forces Airport greeter. He and his friend immediately started congratulating me on the thru hike. I also met a really cool Ridge Runner named Grace. We chatted about the trail before I moved on.The trail descended and then reascended up some more massive granite slabs. At the top were great views for miles and miles. We stopped and took a snack break there. The descent off of the summit was extremely steep (once again). It was critical to get your foot placement perfect. Water running down the trail made things a lot more slippery. Pine needles and leaves also increased the chances for slipping.We all got down fine...(except for several slips!) The next segment went through dense forests. Along here, I met lots of Sobo's. It seemed to be the Sobo bubble. Deadline, LittleDebbie, YoYo, Tweets, and I went to the next shelter. This would e our home for the night. There was already about six sobo hikers there. I picked a nice, nearby spot and set up my tarp. Luckily, I set up my tarp early. Maybe a dozen of Sobo's ended up coming into the shelter later that night.We all hung out, told stories, and had a good time. LittleDebbie even packed out three Schlitz beers. Can't say that I have ever had a warm Shlitz beer!! Not great, to be honest! Ha!
Date: 2015-06-21
From: Spaulding Mountain Shelter

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 16.0

All night, I could hear the cycling of intensity of the rain storm beating my tarp. It was the tropical depression that we had all heard about. It finally hit us.It was tough to get started. The main motivator was the fact that town was not too far away. We needed to stop in and get LittleDebbie's new boots and Deadline's new gaitors.It was wet, wet, wet, and muddy. Water was everywhere. The temperature hovered around 50 degrees. It was a pretty crappy day. The trail suffered considerably from the water. Creeks ran down the trail as if that is what it was intended for. The rocks, tree roots, and mud were extremely slippery. It was a challenge they required full attention so as to not have a accident. I would find out later that this was the section that the older lady went missing from in 2013. They never did find any clues as to her disappearance. There was even a flier on a nearby tree asking for help.The rain was cold and the winds were blowing. I am still impressed with just how much water some leaves can hold.. Even more impressive is how the leaves can seem to spill 100% of the water on you.We climbed and descended, forded rivers and skirted mud holes. Our speed suffered as a result. We all also fell multiple times trying to negotiate through this tangled mess.One of the climbs took me to the top of sugarloaf mountain. This famous ski slope was a vast operation, based on all of the ski runs cut out of the forest.Along the final stretch of the trail today, I met several thru hikers. They were soaked (as was I) and slogging along the best that they could. We traded cordials, but it was really too wet and cold to say much more.Eventually, I could hear a road down the mountainside. It was the road to Stratton. Deadline, LittleDebbie, and I struck the pose and put out our thumbs. Not too long later, I saw a Ferrari pass by.   I commented on it, "That's one of the White Rhino's of hitching. (Another one is a motorcycle sidecar). A pick up truck finally stopped and picked us up. We made it to Stratton for the mail drops.After considering our options, we decided to stay in town overnight and dry out our gear. Probably a good choice in my humble opinion!!
Date: 2015-06-22
From: Stratton, ME

To: Little Bigelow Shelter
Miles today: 16.0

Some days start slower than others; this was one of those days. It was a good thing, though, because it gave the trail a chance to drain off some of the rainwater.Clouds filled the sky and gave it a questionable look, in regards to the near-future weather. We paid the motel owner for a shuttle ride back up to the trail. We thanked her and walked quickly back into the woods.Deadline, LittleDebbie, and I worked hard for our miles today. Our packs were loaded with food. We needed some flexibility with our food schedules because of variables, like the canoe river crossing. (One of the nastiest river crossings actually has a man in a canoe that shuttles hikers across for a few hours each day.)The route today would take us over the Bigelow's today. They are the last major mountain peaks to climb before things begin to mellow out. It was quite exciting to finally climb them. The trail was still full of water, but not nearly like it was yesterday. The standard hiking technique was again in effect. Hopping boulder to boulder, tree branch to tree root, this was the style. Another good procedure is grabbing a tree on a super steep drop off, swinging on it, and dropping yourself down the ledge.Along the way, I met another Ridge Runner. She was working in cutting back some of the foliage. She called it a "car wash" when a hiker walks through wet, dense vegetation along the trail and it soaks them. I thanked her for her time and help and moved on.The early part of the day was overwhelmingly humid. Yesterday, I was soaked from the rain. Today, the soaking came from the humidity. Fortunately, amazing views were seen along much of the hike today.After a good bit of climbing, it was time for lunch. We stopped at Horns Pond, where there was a shelter. The particular shelter that we ate in was a 1936 structure that still looked to be in pretty good condition. The trail maintainers cut out the floor to keep hikers from sleeping in it anymore. Signs were posted to remind everyone that it was a day-use only shelter.The lunch didn't last too long and it was time for the next climb. I think it was only 900-1000 ft up, so it wasn't too bad. Again, the wet rocks and high steps slowed us down some. They were great bald mountain peaks at the top that just had incredible views!!We descended and debated our options for the canoe ferry trip. Since it only runs for two hours a day, it was important to plan our miles wisely. Before too long, we had arrived at the Little Bigelow Shelter. I wished it was earlier in the day. Adjacent to the shelter, a spot called the Tubs was in the creek. There were "tubs" or pools to dunk in and cool off with. I would have liked to enjoy that.At the shelter, I met a southbounder named 1Step. He was a really nice guy. Skeeter came up a bit later and we all ate dinner and talked it up!! Skeeter is a flip-flopper who is hiking at about our speed.I set up my tarp and got ready to call it a night.
Date: 2015-06-23
From: Little Bigelow Shelter

To: Pierce Pond Shelter
Miles today: 18.0

Wet. Muddy. Slippery. These described today's conditions well. Today was a walk through miles of soupy mud crisscrossed with slick, polished tree roots. Rain continued for the whole day, adding to the already over-abundance of water.Today was a shorter mileage day due to a unique obstacle coming up. The canoe ferry, which is the official AT route, is tomorrow. The canoe only runs for two hours a day, 9am-11am. We had to stop short today so that we can get the ferry tomorrow morning.The route today was nearly all bogs and swamps. It was a tricky obstacle course, especially with the rain. One thing was guaranteed--very wet shoes....and everything else. One of the portions today was a portage route for Benedict Arnold during the revolutionary war. He took his men through here to attack Quebec. It was some really difficult areas to portage through. Another testament to how hearty folks used to be. Then again, they did lose a bunch of their troops doing it.The rains varied from fairly light (although the rain that falls off of the tree leaves is a different story!) to surges of heavy downpours.At lunch, we stopped at a shelter to hide from the rain. Skeeter was already there taking a break, as well as two other southbound girls. We intently watched the rain patterns, in hopes that it would subside. It did not and we all eventually hiked on.We arrived at the shelter early today. This was the shelter where the NOBO thru hiker went for a swim in the evening after hiking a few years ago. He was a proficient hiker that was well ahead of the pack. He ended up cramping up and drowning. Pierce Pond, where the shelter was located, had loons cruising its surface. Many haunting calls were echoed across the lake and through the fog. Beautiful, beautiful birds.The rain kicked up once more in the evening. Thunder clapped and boomed around the shelter. Hopefully, this weather won't hang around too much longer.Deadline, LittleDebbie, and I walked over to the other side of the lake. There was a small fish camp that was hiker friendly. We stopped in and chatted with the proprietor. We also browsed through his books and other reading material.The lodge was cool. Very rustic and original. The floors sloped so much that the pool table had to be leveled with a 4" spacer!! We did one other thing while we were there. We put in our reservation for breakfast. They make pancakes for their guests and hikers, but only if they put in a reservation.If tomorrow goes well, I will eat pancakes, paddle the canoe ferry, and get my shoes at the post office. Fingers crossed!
Date: 2015-06-25
From: Near Moxie Pond

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 25.0

We started out from along the power lines. After a couple more wild strawberries, we headed out with the goal of getting to town.We took a leisurely morning start, taking gratuitous amounts of time to get packed up. It felt good to have such a good weather morning. The route worked its way down to a pond and then over to a creek. It was time for our first water crossing of the day. Initially, the trail seemed to disappear. On second look, it was a wide brook crossing that disappeared into the bushes.It would be only the first of several crossings for the day. It turned out that the crossings were a good thing to wash the heavy amounts of mud off.The day was short in mileage, but high in effort and scenery. The trail followed a river which displayed incredible rapids and scenic features.The temperature was ideal and a nice breeze kept some of the bugs at bay. When the wind did stop, they preformed an all-out assault on me.Bogs lessened and the mud decreased. Don't get me wrong, the bogs, bugs, and mud were still prevalent, but not nearly as bad. The trail followed a powerful and rushing creek. It was beautiful and extremely rugged.After a long day, the trail brought us to the road that leads into Monson. We quickly got a hitch (from a fellow hiker) and proceeded to the bar for beers.This will be our last trail town until well after Katahdin. It is bittersweet to be finishing this leg. On the one hand, it will be a huge accomplishment for me... On the other hand, all of my friends will be leaving at Katahdin... Then, my new adventure will begin.
Date: 2015-06-26
From: Monson, ME

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0

The last zero day of the trail. We all decided to have a leisurely day and hang out in Monson. This would be our last chance to hang out together.I did the standard zero day stuff. Update and clean gear, eat, and try to rest that body. We were staying at Shaw's Hostel. It is an institution on the AT. The owners, HippieChick and Poet were wonderful hosts.This was also a chance of us Nobo's to meet and hang out with some Sobo's. Mostly though, Deadline, LittleDebbie, YoYo, and Tweet hung out and shared stories. At one point, YoYo sat down at the piano and began singing songs.Toward the end of the evening, we all walked by the bakery and heard music. We went in and found local townsfolk playing music. One fellow in particular, was such a great stereotype. He had on a classic fishing hat and he was playing a harmonica straight harp style. It was great.We sat and enjoyed the musicians and the atmosphere. It was a great image of small-town USA. Tomorrow, we will begin the 100 Mile Wilderness. It is exciting to be at my last town stop for the AT!!
Date: 2015-06-27
From: Monson, ME

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 16.0

The day began with a wonderful breakfast at the legendary Shaw's Hostel, a true AT tradition. It was really fun to hang out with the other hikers and the proprietors, Poet and HippieChick. After some last minute gear adjustments and snack inventories, we (Deadline, LittleDebbie, and I) rode back up to the trail with Jack. It was a beautiful day and we were ready to start the storied One Hundred Mile Wilderness. The trailhead had a surprising number of vehicles at it, maybe upwards of 7. The trail immediately dove into the forest on a bed of tangled roots. We were starting the last leg! I was now working on something big. I was no longer just trying to finish the AT. I was now walking these last miles to earn my triple crown. If you had asked me a while back if I ever thought I'd be able to accomplish this goal, I would have said, "no way." Now, I am only 100 miles from finishing. It is exciting and nerve wracking. I still need to be very careful and walk mile-to-mile.The path was nice today with its undulating route and nice, pine forest. Several ponds nearby accented the landscape with unique patterns.At one junction, LittleDebbie saw a double white blaze denoting a turn, or special attention. He looked around and saw another white blaze on the other side of this wide and swampy pond. He went in and tried to cross. The water went up above his waist. It was mucky and nasty and slippery. When he finally made it to the other side, there was another set of blazes the took the trail AROUND the pond. He had crossed it for no reason.After a few more ponds and ridges, we passed a beautiful and dramatic waterfall. It was amazing! We continue me to walk until their afternoon. That was when we came upon a nicely painted sign that proclaimed "Trail Magic in honor of YogiBear". We followed the sign and met up with three nice guys named Dan, Mountain, and Terry. They were at their family cabin and had been trying to do trail magic. They gave us beers and whiskey, burgers and chicken. It was great fun hanging out with them.We hung out until sunset when we finally had to move on. We hiked until dark as got to the shelter. It ended up being a short mileage day, but full of fun and interesting people.
Date: 2015-06-28
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-To

To: Carl Newhaul Shelter
Miles today: 20.0

"And the weather changed."Waking up this morning at the shelter was ideal. Cool, breezy, and nice. That changed within two hours of the start to my day. My first task was to climb up and over Mt Barron. It was a straightforward climb, but the rains made the roots and rocks exceedingly slick. This slowed my pace and made for a difficult time.The normally outstanding views would not be revealed today. Clouds and rain droplets filled sky making it all shades of white and gray. The rocks became more and more slippery as the day progressed. Minor slips and slides were a commonplace and I luckily seemed to avoid any major injury.Deadline, LittleDebbie, and I all left camp separately in an effort to maximize any remaining dry daytime left. The rains came soon and the day turned into a slog for miles. There were a surprising amount of people hiking in this dismal weather.Today was nearly the end of the more difficult climbs in the 100 Mile Wilderness. Mud, tangled roots, and rocks comprised much of the day. Smaller sections of large slab rocks were also significant portions of the climbs today.The day got colder and we were all soaked. We all met up a predetermined shelter for a lunch snack. It was so wet! A family from New Brunswick came up and chatted with us.Toward the end of the day, we needed to decide on how many miles to hike. We knew there were many hikers out and that shelter space would be prime in this rain. We stopped after 20 miles and checked the map. The trail would proceed for the next 6 miles on an exposed ridge. Not an ideal place in the rain. Despite the relatively early time and an ability to do more miles, we decided to call it a day. It was time to get dry. We got to know everyone in the shelter like NewFound and Quiet. NewFound has been a hiker just behind me ever since the Shenandoahs. Soon after unpacking and getting comfortable, a bunch of other hikers came in looking for space at the shelter. There was none. The hiker arrivals continued for hours. I still can't believe how many hikers are here....Dinner was absolutely wonderful. A hot meal really did the trick. It was finally time for relaxation. Tomorrow will require some big miles. I think we are ready for it.....or at least I hope so!!
Date: 2015-06-29
From: Carl Newhaul Shelter

To: Potaywadjo Shelter
Miles today: 30.0

Today was going to be a big day. Deadline, LittleDebbie, and I needed to make up some miles due to our early stopping time yesterday. Our plan was to hike over Hay Mountain and White Cap Mountain, while doing 30 miles.We started out individually with the plan to meet up at designated shelters for breaks along the way. There were several hikers on the trail today. It felt good to chat up most of the SOBO's (southbounders) just getting started on their hikes.After a bunch of climbs and descents, the trail leveled off nicely. White Pines mixed with spruce and other coniferous species. Intermittent boggy areas were at times precarious to cross.Beautiful ponds appeared and the area became even more beautiful. The nasty mosquitos were even more plentiful today. Luckily, I feel prepared and still haven't used any DEET.Ultimately, we hiked until we got to Potaywadjo Spring and called it a day. I stayed in my tarp near the shelter, so hoping it wouldn't rain overnight.
Date: 2015-07-01
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 10.0

"The Victory Lap"A mere 10 miles separated LittleDebbie, Deadline, and me from Katahdin Stream and the base of Mt Katahdin. The plan for today was simple enough. Begin this morning with a slow start, walk at an easy pace (with several beers in tow), and get to camp early.The route today would e considered essential a "cake walk". Easy, mostly flat terrain along some rivers with a few river crossings. It was only 10 miles. Beautiful groves of forest surrounded the trail on all sides.We lounged around this morning dreaming about fantasy breakfasts. There was none to be had at the campground. I did a final check on my food to prepare for the second part of my adventure.We all walked close together chatting and gabbing about trail memories and exciting plans for the future. Along the way, several sobo thru hikers were just getting started. We talked to most, encouraging them a much as possible.In no time, we arrived at the campground. This is where everyone queues up for their summit bids. Denzi was already there waiting for Deadline. She even brought two hotdogs for LittleDebbie and me!We registered and got everything set for tomorrow. I also decided on my final route to join and start the IAT. It is scary, daunting, and exciting. I am really curious as to the weather as terrain I will find.Tomorrow, (pending any bad luck) I will complete a major dream of mine--to finish the AT and become a triple crowner. I never thought this would (or could) be possible. Thanks to my folks, it has!! Triple crown.... That has a really nice sound to it, eh?!
Date: 2015-02-17
From: Virginia 

To: Gainesville, GA
Miles today: 0.0

This is a log to document on behalf (or in lieu of) my daughter's journey ...and the Dude too.. he's a good guy. But like me... He's still a guy....we don't count for much About the Journal...She's doing the real work (and making "the guy" carry the bear vault, by the way)... I just embellish with humour and candor along the way. anyway So the daughter comes by the house with a smile on her face.... with the boyfriend ... hereafter, "Dude" ... and announces that they're engaged... just prior to the AT-15 trip. Congratulations!Anyway... then they're off to catch the Amtrack during a snowstorm to Gainesville GA Train from up north was delayed by 8 hrs due to downfall and grandma's car stuck on the tracks, I suppose... arrival was mid-day straight to Super 8 and   El Taco Veloz on 2/17/2015.Blasphemy... they were only warmed by the spices of El Tacoria to see record low temps and road closures in the area and to the trailhead.They spent too (two) too many days in Gainesville then headed for Atlanta for another (more interesting) way to brave the cold spell until the 24th... (internut bedroom exchange program from what I hear) Bordello.com... if you're interested.anyway..Finally... they hit the forest road on 2/24/2015 to march up/down to touch the starting Plaque at Springer.I have no idea how they got there, didn't ask... won't tell.