morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-31
From: ME17

To: Little Swift River Pond Campsite
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't leave the cabin until 1:00. After stopping atthe post office and general store, Greenleaf drove meto the trail and I got going by 2:30 pm. The original plan was 13 miles but I only got to acampsite because the morning rain left the path in shambles. I could never get a pace going becausethere was a mud puddle around every corner. But I was in no rush. I had figured out the rest of myjourney and Katahdin could easily be reached in twoweeks. The weather was also phenomenal. A strong gusty breezepushed small cumulus clouds overhead. The sky was aperfect blue. I passed many large bodies of watertoday. The wind was strong and the current flappedwaves against the banks. I wished I had a sailboat. I figured the designated campsite would be empty.Instead, I met Abominably Slow Man and Hotrock here.It is good to have company. The pond here has twocanoes laying on the bank. Hotrock took one out. Bynow the waters are quiet and peaceful. Interesting that I have been in Maine almost a weekand still have not seen a moose. There is moose scat,though, a few feet from my tent tonight. A southbounder, named Ounce, with a three legged dog,brought fresh food from Rangeley, ME, a few milesaway. He offered us corn on the cob cooked over anopen fire. Very tasty. He also offered us cucumbers.He said he never liked cucumbers before hiking thetrail. Now he craves them. I think you end up changing cravings along the way. Iused to crave sodas and cheese burgers. Now I justwant orange juice, chocolate milk (not at the same time), and thick buttermilk pancakeswith very expensive syrup slathered over the top. But after a bite of the corn, I realized I missed thattoo. Tomorrow we get to hike the Saddleback Range. I havelonged to visit this area after hearing about it fromfellow hikers a few years back. Apparently you walkapproximately two miles above treeline zone andyou can see both Katahdin and Mt. Washington on aclear day. I'm getting nervous here. Something is stomping itsfeet (hooves?) outside about twenty feet away. I hopethese moose have good night vision.
Date: 2004-09-02
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

It was very cold this morning at 3,000 feet. The moonhas been shining right into the shelter during thenight and waking me up. Otherwise, a great sleep in mycozy 20 degree bag. I didn't see too many regulars on the trail today. Ithink they are all still in Rangeley. It wasn't atough hike today. If I chose, I could have bagged Abraham, Sugar Loaf and Spaulding (4K's of Maine). Butwhen I got to the blue-blaze side trails to thesepeaks, I kept going, bypassing possible views. The forest is enchanted with rich greens, vibrantwhite birches, and dark balsams. The sky is a perfectblue above me. Leaves were already changing giving agolden hue to the lighting. There wasn't a stir in thewind and the temp went to 60 in the sun. Perfect day. It wasn't until the afternoon that I encountered aview from the trail looking southwest toward theWhites in NH. I met two guys who are section hiking toMonson. We all decided to stop at this campsite. A fewnights ago, downpours flooded a few tents here, so Iheard. But I'm going to take my chances and sleepunder the stars. The sky is so clear, I'm sure thetemps will be even colder tomorrow. But there is nochance of rain. A guy, named Utah Mike, who started in Georgia butflip-flopped to Maine is here with his dog, Maybe. Webuilt a roaring fire together and talked about whathostels to visit in Caratunk and Monson. Herecommended the Caratunk B&B. Keeping the fire goingwas easy. Everything was crisp and dry and ignitedimmediately. Another southbounder has arrived as well--a chainsmoker. That always amazes me. This campsite isgetting crowded.
Date: 2004-09-03
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: ME27, Stratton, ME
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

Okay, no more amateur forecasting. We all looked atthe skies last night--we could see stars and the moon,there was no breeze--and we said it is going to be acold night and an even colder morning. I decided to sleep outside of my tent on a platform.It was a luxurious sleep. The only disturbance was howbright the moon shone on my nest. Then a light windpicked up. But the morning was not cold. It was 50 degrees and a lot easier to wake up to then the daybefore when it was 37 degrees at 3,000 feet. But my headache was still pounding. As I hiked up thecrumbly rock path to the Crocker peaks, I figured astop in Stratton would be good. The plan started outas a brief excursion into town for lunch and resupply.Then, when I met Utah Mike's friends heading south onthe trail, they convinced me that I should stay a night in Stratton. "After all you've done!" theyremarked. Along the way, I also saw Epiphanius. He hadflip-flopped from Vermont and was now heading south.He didn't recognize me at first in my pigtails--aconvenient hiking hairstyle by the way. We talkedbriefly and then I had a few more miles before hittingthe road. Once again, I submit myself to the humiliatingexperience of hitching a ride. I feel like I'm givinga speech in class and I lost my notes. I'll never getused to it and I keep hearing voices in my headsaying, "Isn't this dangerous?." I walked toward townbut managed to land a hitch after fifteen minutes froma kid in his pickup truck. He hoped to hike the trailsometime soon too. Stratton is a hunting town but has everything a hikerneeds including two good grocery stores within walkingdistance of the White Wolf Inn. The Inn, recentlyrenovated, I guess, isn't that bad. It allows hikers to bump into each other on the walkway. We have screendoors to our rooms so the breeze outside blows ourhiker smells down river. The rates are incrediblycheap for a comfortable sleep. I couldn't pass thisup. The diner, across the street, serves a good mealtoo. While doing laundry, I bumped into Millepede. He wasgoing south as well. He only had a pair of underwearleft clean and asked me if I mind if he just milledaround in them while he did his laundry. I didn'tcare. He thought doing his laundry in his underwearwas pretty amusing and asked if I take a picture as heposed in front of the washer dropping soap into thewash--very amusing. "This is a first," he said. For usboth, I realized. Giggles and 30-30 are also here. I also heard thatmany hikers behind me have finally left Rangeley andreached Stratton tonight. But I hid in my room andwatched TV. At last, a moment in solitude!
Date: 2004-09-04
From: ME27, Stratton, ME

To: Avery Memorial Campsite
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So someone recommended this campsite for the views andthe sunset, but they didn't warn us that it gets verycrowded on Labor Day weekend. The only reason I didn'tguess it would be crowded is because it has been cold. Right now, in my tent, it is 45 and dropping. The platforms with views are few and occupied. I founda small piece of earth for my tarptent. I'm sharing itwith four other people in their two huge dome tents.These are friends of Wizard, the hiker who shared aride with me to Trail Days. We met at the top of WestPeak of Bigelow Mountain--the mountain that looks like an Indian woman sleeping on her back as viewedfrom Sugarloaf. We were all told by the caretaker at Horn Lean-to thatthere would be plenty of room up here. Oh well. It israther cozy for a cold night at 3800'. The views today werestunning...outstanding...breathtaking. I'll run out of words to describe it all. As I climbed BigelowMountain to its pointy apex, I felt like I was in aTolkien novel. The path, framed by small rocks, ledthe way to a very narrow summit. Dramatic cliff dropswere on the right. In the distance, I could seeSugarloaf Resort with its clear-cut grassy ski trails.On my left was Flagstaff, the longest lake in Maine. My ceiling was a bunch of puffy clouds waiting to pulltogether and storm. Distant mountains were layered indifferent hues of blue. There wasn't a bit of breezewhen I reached the summit, so I hung out. That's whena group of weekenders showed up and I found out they knew Wizard. I also learned that Wizard expectsto complete the trail by the 6th. Way to go, Wizard! I was told that the Bigelows are difficult. I foundthat they are no worse than anything I have seenbefore in the past month. The trail is very wellmaintained and reminded me of Virginia at times. I have to say that Maine is incredibly beautiful. Ifeel fortunate that I live close to this state and canreturn here easily. Leaving Stratton this morning was hard. Althoughforecasts said otherwise, it looked like rain anysecond. I went to the Stratton Diner forbreakfast--excellent. I wonder if they have one cookbecause it took a while to get the food. As I sat there typing on my pocketmail, the guy nextto me asks if the device I'm using is a game orcomputer. I give a brief description of what it is andtry to concentrate on finishing my letter. He asks ifI'm thru-hiking. I appease him with answers. He tellsme about a kid he found tenting behind the store andhow he gave him money so he could go home. I wonder ifit is a thru-hiker scamming. The guy finally gets upto leave. His place is cleared and a new set of peoplesit down. I'm back to typing. Then the new guy sitting next to me asks if the deviceI'm typing on is a computer. Yes, I try to give him aquick answer. Same conversation ensues. My pocketmailautomatically shuts off if I don't type on it. I'm toopolite to ignore people. But, as usual, I get nothingdone sitting in the diner. When I get back to MA, I'm gonna go to the bars andtype on my pocketmail whether it works or not. I'venever gotten this much attention before.
Date: 2004-09-06
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to

To: Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 14.0

Another cold morning but I'm used to it. The redsquirrels are out of control dropping things on mytent and tittering. Don¢t they realize that I'm groundedand they are in the trees? I can't reach them, but ifI could... We all thought the hike today was very boring. Hotrockeven mentioned that his radio didn't help. It requiredsome careful footing on roots and rocks. I saw a mooserunning away at one point. I guess the big highlightis passing a small sandy beach where I ate a Luna barand pondered the outdoors. The hiking, otherwise, wasfast. I got to Pierce Pond Shelter located near a calm lakeand chilled. I was four miles from the Kennebec Riverand too early for the ferry boat hours. I decided tocook my lunch. Polar, Pilot and Hotrock showed upshortly and also ate lunch. We tried to trade food butI had very little left to offer except dehydratedspinach since Monson, my next maildrop, was 2-3 daysaway. Pilot combed the registry for reviews on placesto stay in Caratunk. Many underscored the B&B in town. Later, while Polar and Hotrock finished up theirmeals, Pilot started teaching us how to imitate alolloping buffalo. This got us laughing. It was toocold for a swim, or should I say, it was too cold toswim and then drip dry. The water felt tepid. Toaggravate us more, we passed many inviting waterholesin the last few miles. I must return to this placeagain when it is hot. At the beach along the Kennebec, we met SteveLongeley, the ferry man. He's got a tough job. Thecurrent looked strong as it headed east. Hotrock and Ishared the canoe with him to the other side after wesigned a release and donned life preservers. Hotrock paddled from the bow but I think Steve did most of thework. After waiting for Pilot and Polar to finish crossing,we all headed into Caratunk and stopped at theCaratunk House B&B where Paul, the owner, gave us anunimposing welcoming and showed us around. It didn'ttake us long to decide to stay. There are comfy beds in the loft of the barn. So farthe north doesn't expect you to provide your ownpillow and sleeping bag. They give you linens and atowel for the shower. Paul made me a strawberry shakeand three of us juicy cheeseburgers which we devouredon the covered porch. Later, Zipoff, Giggles, 30-30, Pilot, and I went tothe brew pub down the road for some samplers and morefood. I inhaled a salad and some dessert I called,"Varment cheesecake." The waiter had a very strongPolish accent. It looked interesting and I hadn't hadmy daily roadkill, so I tried it. So did two others atour table. We all thought it was very tasty. Back at the loft, we watched more movies. A VCR makeshikers very happy and sometimes all you need to relax. Maine has been very cheap and wonderful on the remainsof my budget.
Date: 2004-09-07
From: Caratunk, ME

To: Bald Mtn Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

It took forever to leave again. Incredibly nice day,too. I had a great breakfast made by Paul and friends whileI sat with Polar, Pilot, Zipoff, and Hotrock. Idiscovered that Paul is selling this house and hopesto hike the PCT, a second attempt. What a temptingventure to explore--running a hostel. Housing is dirtcheap here but the homes are very old. However,Caratunk House B&B is about 2/10ths from the trail. Polar and Pilot stayed for zero while Hotrock and Ileft at different times. I wanted to enjoy the nicedays before the remnants of another hurricane hitMaine on Thursday. Pleasant Pond Mountain is a formidable climb. LikePaul said, it is tiring and straight up for 30minutes. The views continue to deliver. Someone wrotein their trail journals that you could see Katahdin. Idon't believe this is true. The prominent mountainrange is in the West and too close to be 100 milesaway. Moxie Bald looks like a neat scramble though,but not today. I shared the shelter with Hotrock. I had arrived justbefore sunset and had to cook and eat in the dark. Wetalked and joked for a couple of hours before callingit a night. Everyone, lately, has been in highspirits. We admit that we will be sad when we returnto the "real world" but are very happy to be finishingthe trail soon.
Date: 2004-09-08
From: Bald Mtn Brook Lean-to

To: ME 15, Monson, ME
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: light rain

I stand corrected. THIS will be my last 20+ miler. Nomore! Although I hear that you can fly through theWilderness. I slept badly during the night. I ate some Oreocookies (about six of them) before going to bed.Hotrock asked me whether eating chocolate disrupts mysleep. I never noticed but, of course, ended uptossing and turning and staring out at the night. So Ileft very early this morning. While I was brushing my teeth, I saw the silhouette ofa large moving object behind the trees. There was amoose with his large rounded nose and a piece ofantler peaking out behind thick trees. He was standingon one of the tent platforms up the path. Do I leavehim alone? Of course not. As I approached, he headedtoward the path and used it as an escape. I got aperfect sighting of his bony ass trotting away downthe trail. Moxie Bald Mountain was very easy (except for when Igot lost in the fog and haze). I arrived at the lean-to beyond it in four hours. I then decided Iwould hike all the way to Monson. I forded two branches of the Piscataquis River today.This requires me to stop, change my boots to Tevasandals, and wade through the current. The firstcrossing was up to my thighs and got my shorts wet.The current seemed strong. Although shocking at first,the cold water refreshed my feet. The second ford was nothing. There was no current andthe water went up to my knees. Although the hike was long and flat most of the day,it wasn't too boring. I managed to zone out most ofthe time and there was some entertainment in fordingthe rivers and visiting the many shelters along theway. I was also heading toward town. This adds springto my step. Last two miles were tough though as my knees andankles grew achy and the intermittent rain grew moreconstant. At ME 15, I immediately got a ride in the backof a pickup. When I put my head up into the wind, rainspray pricked my face. I got a twin bed in the barn at Shaws hostel afterchecking out the Pie Lady's place. She had apersonality like cardboard and looked very tired. Thebook said she had internet but she explained that shedid not. No one else was there so I moved over toShaws where familiar faces sat around the table havingdinner. I came in too late for a meal but Keith Shawoffered me coffee while I chatted with his Mom aboutwhere to sleep. I cooked one of my own dinners and watched some awfulreality television with the boys (Critter andCatepiller and a bunch of southbounders). Somewhere inthe house are Giggles and 30-30 but I'm not surewhere. I feel like I'm the only woman and thatchivalry has completely died. They had beers but didnot offer me a simple Bud Light. Later, a southbounderI had never met before asked how I was doing. I saidfine but a little thirsty since I missed the generalstore before it closed. This gentleman offered me twobeers. Ah! My hero.
Date: 2004-09-13
From: Gulf Hagas Cut-off Trail, stealth camp

To: Crawford Pond, stealth camp near sand beach
Miles today: 20.1

Shhhh! I¢m not suppose to be here. According to Wingfoot, camping and open fires are prohibited, yet when I arrived at this spot there were no signs. So here I am among the trees trying to stay out of a torrent wind that blows the leaves pale-side up and causes the waves of this small lake to crash persistently against a tiny beach.This is an excellent stopping place. There is a water source 200 ft away and the ground is dry and flat. I never thought I¢d stealth camp two nights in a row, but Maine gives you many options. No one else is here. I wouldn¢t be surprised if we are all stealth camping again wherever we dropped our packs tonight. Apparently everyone stealth camped last night as well. I like it but it does get lonely since you don¢t see too many people on the Trail as you hike during the day.In fact, the only hiker I saw today was 81. He started early but was taking a rest after reaching Gulf Hagas mountain where you could get a misty view of Katahdin.This morning when I woke up, the temperatures were comfortable. But when I got moving, a mysterious and sudden wind blew from the northeast and dropped the temperature twenty degrees in a matter of minutes. Although persistent and cold, the gusts cleared the skies. By the time I got to White Cap peak, I had a perfect view of Katahdin Range in the distance. This was my first clear view of my destination since I started the trip. What an incredible sight. I sat there saying to myself in disbelief, ¢I¢m gonna climb that?¢I couldn¢t stay too long because the wind and cold made my eyes water. The trail down is on open rock and you head directly toward the ¢Big K¢. There is no doubt in my mind that I¢m heading north and toward the end of my journey.I hiked over six humps today¢the fourth being White Cap and the last being Little Boardman Mountain, which was a pain to climb because I was very tired. I also forded my last river for the journey. It was more of a rock hop though. The waters had finally died down. I am assured from many hikers that after this, the Wilderness is a cakewalk till you reach the base of Katahdin. However, we all hear about another storm in the south making its way here and everyone has an incentive to be finished by Friday.The sun over the pond near my campsite here is very nice. The waves have a steady rhythm against the shore and lull me to sleep. There is an abandoned canoe nearby, all torn up and weather-worn . On the side is painted ¢ME 55¢. Gives me an eery feeling like I¢m in some ¢Jaws¢ movie. Otherwise, I think things are quieting down. Even the red squirrels in the trees have ceased tossing sticks around.
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Gainesville, GA

To: Springer Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 0.2
Weather: overcast clouds

As I got off the train today in Gainesville, GA, I saw three Amish fellows with big backpacks. They're names are Amos, Rufus and Leon. They have the heaviest Pennsylvanian accents I've ever heard, though each of them speaks differently. We all split a cab and got breakfast before heading to the Visitor's Center at Amicalola State Park. From Amicolola I began the 8.9 miles approach trail to the summit of Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the AT. When I reached the summit, the caretaker was waiting to greet us and give some advice for the area. He had heard rumors of a pack being destroyed by a bear at the first shelter the night before. I set up camp at this shelter, Springer Mountain Shelter, with the three Pennsylvanians, Gary, who I met on the approach trail and some one just back from Iraq going by Baloo. We ate, put up our bear bags then went up to the summit to see a great sunset and the craziest flock of birds ever. After that they returned to the shelter and I to my hammock for some sleep.
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Springer Mtn Shelter

To: Justus Creek
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: broken clouds

Well, let me begin with last night. I was awakened by the sound of sniffing and snorting by my feet. Then CHOMP! And I heard my pack disappearing quickly into the woods. About one minute later he (the bear) returned to steal my Tyvek sheet. Why would a bear ever want Tyvek? So I was a little concerned at this point. All of my money and ID are kept in that pack, plus I need it to carry all my stuff. Anyway, I ended up quite lucky. I found only two bite holes in the pack, three in my AT data book, and four in my rain pants. He destroyed the stuff sac for my rain gear though.The hike today was good, though tiring and painful by the end. I felt full of energy in the morning (perhaps because a lot of it was downhill). I stopped for lunch at Hawk Mountain Shelter, 7.4 miles in. There, Amos, Rufus, and Leon caught up with me. After having a full stomach, hiking became more taxing (as did the terrain). Also, my feet did not feel like going back into their boots after relaxing in the fresh air. The four of us ended up setting up camp along Justus Creek, a great spot with some small trout swimming around. I set up the hammock right on the bank. I was a little worried about needing to get up every ten minutes with the sound of trickling water so close, but fell asleep right away and slept well the rest of the night.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Justus Creek

To: Blood Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was great! Right now I am lying on a huge rock on the top of Blood Mountain waiting for the sun to set. This morning I woke up refreshed, after finally having my first decent sleep since leaving Charlottesville (no trains and no bears). I broke down camp and left around 8:45 with some horrible tasting stream water (because it was treated with iodine). That stuff makes me gag and turns from orange to blue when I cook with it. Water should not do that! Fortunately I found a nice spring at the next shelter about 1.5 miles away. Today I tried to even out my pace and slow way down on the downhill's. This tactic must have helped because my feet felt much better until the last few miles when I started getting careless. I have decided that, at least for now, I like uphill much more than downhill. In fact, I think I was going about twice as fast uphill than going down. Anyway, I was planning on stopping earlier at the Wood's Hole Shelter but continued on because it was a half-mile off the trail. Blood Mountain Shelter was only 1.7 miles away, and mainly I went on because I was hoping there would be a good view from the top of Blood Mountain. I'm glad I decided to continue because there is a great view, and because it's much earlier than I thought so I probably would have gotten bored at Wood's Hole. I am the only one here right now and think most had planned to stop at Wood's Hole because there is no water here. It's 4,461 ft here, the highest I'll get in Georgia. Tomorrow I stop in Neel's Gap to resupply @ Walasi-Yi. Lance Armstrong is supposed to be there and they are "supposed" to be grilling food for all the hikers. Well, it's almost time to watch the sunset.