morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-09-10
From: Speck Pond Campsite

To: Baldpate LeanTo
Miles today: 6.9

It poured down rain most of the night and was cold this morning. Another 9:00 start. First order for the day was to get up and over Old Speck Mountain. Another tough tough climb, beginning right out of camp. I had another meltdown, sobbing on the trail, then got over it and battled on. This is not fun for me. At home I hike with some friends who really enjoy going off trail and rock scrambling. We call it adventure hiking. (Lillian, southern Maine is the place for you!) I really try to enjoy it, but I just don't. Again, if I had a way out, I would have quit and gone home. One thing that keeps me from quitting is the regret I know I would feel the instant I left the trail. I don't want that regret so I keep fighting through, but really it bothers me that I can't seem to find some kind of enjoyment in my hike right now. I was talking with another hiker about this, so discouraged, and just then we met up with Hitchcock and Bulldog. Bulldog is blind and Hitchcock guides him verbally! Bulldog makes his own way! Over this very same terrain that is giving me fits! That was very inspirational for me, to meet them. After that I got a little mad at the mountain and made my way on up the slope. It is sheer rock and was raining and very very windy and cold. At one point I told the hiker behind me to beware, because I was hanging on by two fingers and two toes, and I really felt like I was in danger of falling as I inched up the peak. I couldn't stand in the wind. It all sounds so dramatic and I guess it really was, it felt very dramatic to me. The hiker below told me later he was ready to get out of the way the instant I started to tumble, haha! After reaching the peak of Old Speck and some cross mountain top hiking the downhill began, and imagine my surprise to find a completely different trail, totally manageable, totally like what you might expect to be called a "hiking trail," a trail I could enjoy. It was a long downhill all the way in to Grafton Notch, but my spirits were some better by the time I reached the park at the bottom. Time for lunch. While I sat at a picnic table eating, a Maine State Parks employee truck pulled up and out jumped SodaMike, a man who brings rootbeer and cheese & crackers to thru hikers. He also lobbied his boss to put a garbage can at the trailhead, always a happy find, a chance to unload. He talked with me a long time, telling me that I've done the toughest stuff already, yes, the mountain coming up is tough, but not like what I just finished, and that the trail club that maintains the trail changes at this point. He was so kind and encouraging, apparently a lot of thru hikers come to this place, discouraged and ready to give up their hike. He told me he sees it all the time. Kind of nice to know I'm not some strange aberration anyway. He really lifted my spirits. After Grafton Notch I made my way the 2.3 mile climb up to Baldpate LeanTo. I will deal with the peaks tomorrow. We shall see. It feels like maybe a little light is shining in through the gloom. We shall see.
Date: 2010-09-11
From: Baldpate LeanTo

To: East B Hill Road, Andover
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: few clouds

Began the day earlier, more like 8:00, which I prefer. The trail went up immediately, steeply, up a rocky trail that eventually gave way to "smooth" rock, but with plenty of dirt and spruce and moss along the side of the trail to give something to dig in to. I think this part of the AT may not get as much use as parts south of here.   The rock on the high mountain tops is not slick smooth, it has grooves and striations and some composite type gravelly material, so even when there's not something to "hold on to" you can still make your way along the surface. Usually. Anyway, it was a steep rocky uphill climb, but totally manageable. The sun was shining and at various outcrops the views were amazing. This was on the east peak. From the east peak I could see the west peak and it is higher, above treeline, so the top is totally exposed rock. Well, a little dip and then I was headed up that peak as well. I crab walked a lot. I managed to walk upright some of it, a nice change from recent climbs. The views were 360 degrees and spectacular. Magnificent. Exquisite. Spellbinding. I was so glad to be there. From the peak I headed down towards Frye Notch Shelter for lunch. Again, it seemed something like normal hiking trail, what a wonderful relief. Yes, it had tough parts. I fell, as I do every day. But overall, it was a hiking trail, and a beautiful one at that. The light and the forest were gorgeous. Even came upon a gorge at Dunn Notch with a wonderful waterfall. The weather was perfect. For the first time I came into town with an empty food bag. I have one half cup serving of oatmeal, a carnation instant breakfast, and 3 jolly rancher candies left. This is because it took me a day longer than expected to get to Andover from Gorham. Good thing I had that extra supply. I am tired and because of that extra day I missed the chance to get my mail so I am stuck here until Monday. Just call me Zee Row. Maybe tomorrow I will wash my sleeping pad. Sit in the sun. Nap. Anything could happen. Tonight I ate a pizza and a lobster roll for dinner. Maybe I'll do that again tomorrow. Today was a good good day.When I got to Pine Ellis Hostel in Andover who was here but Hitchcock and Bulldog! Bulldog is the blind hiker I mentioned a few days ago. Hitchcock told me that after I passed them that morning when they got to the Old Speck Summit he could see me way above, making my way up the rock! He said it inspired him to help Bulldog get up there too, seeing me up there!!!! Wow!   Ain't it just funny how the world does turn. Wow.
Date: 2010-09-12
From: East B Hill Road, Andover

To: Andover
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Zero day in Andover, Maine. Ate pancakes, french toast, hashbrowns, eggs, bacon, sausage, english muffin, orange juice and coffee for breakfast. Got my eye on country fried steak and gravy for supper. Mail and out in the morning.   Watched football and read book in the meantime.
Date: 2010-09-13
From: East B Hill Road, Andover

To: South Arm Rd
Miles today: 10.1

Began the day with a late shuttle back to the trail after mailing my bounce box up the trail to Rangeley. A bounce box is a way to ship extra stuff forward so you don't have to carry so much stuff, like extra food, etc. I started a bounce box in Slatington PA and it has helped me manage my pack weight better. The catch is it can get you hung up in town on a weekend if you rely on the post office only, it can be better to bounce to a hostel if you know in advance where you're going. Anyway, had to deal with the PO, so departure was delayed until mail was finished. Made the initial climb up from the road - it's always a climb, LOL! Rain drizzled on and off along the way, temps cool, enough to be generally miserable but still tolerable. On the edge of cold. Arrived at Hall Mtn Leanto where several other, younger, hikers were huddled out of the rain. Not a lot of room for me, but I stayed there for lunch. The other hikers moved on and so did I, in on again off again rain. The descent down to Sawyer Brook was steep but manageable, then I began to climb Moody Mtn. There was a trail reroute for some reason or other, with unfinished trail grading meaning some of the footing was not hard packed trail and places where there were rebar ladder rungs affixed to rock face. These always make me nervous, but these ones were ok. Mostly the reroute was aggravating. Of course with the rainy weather any views were obscured. Sometimes an aggravating climb can be spectacular on a clear day. The rain let up for the downhill which I always appreciate, and at the bottom was a lovely brook with a hard packed sandy area perfect for camping. So I did. In spite of a late start and drizzly weather all day I made better mileage than I have lately and I felt really good about the day. As it started to pour down rain and I drifted off to sleep in my tent, I think I heard loons.
Date: 2010-09-14
From: South Arm Rd

To: Bemis Mtn Leanto
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: light rain

Began the day by fording Black Brook. It was a "duh" moment because I had not thought about the chance of the stream rising due to overnight rain. It rained, and it was an entertaining rock hop, but I made it. Just as I began to ford the shuttle from the hostel of two nights earlier pulled up and three other hikers piled out just in time to watch me. I hate that! But I made it fine. The three other hikers, I call them "The Ladies". They are all in their 60's and yes, thru hiking. They are Croft, Kahota, and Wild Poodle. I've been hiking around them for a while now. So I set off to climb Old Blue Mtn, knowing they would be behind me most of the day. It was one dang cold wet rainy hike! I started out with fleece and rain gear on but the climb was quite steep and I had to shed the fleece. The going was slow, there is A LOT of boot sucking mud in Maine apparently and there was a lot of water everywhere. The younger hikers would appear suddenly out of the fog and blow right by me while I picked my way through the water, the mud and the rocks. I couldn't get a decent steady pace going and I got too cold. I was frustrated by the faster pace of the younger hikers. I kept thinking if I could just get going I would get warm, so when another hiker suggested I should stop and put on warmer gear I was obstinate about it. Thinking about it now I think maybe I was on the edge of hypothermic because I was making poor choices based on irrational thoughts. After all, who cares how fast the younger folks go? What does that have to do with my hike? Nada! But I was making my choices based on how they were hiking and I got quite cold. Finally I agreed to stop and don fleece, hat and gloves and eat something. By then I couldn't operate a ziploc bag, but others helped me and I got to doing better. I hiked on to Bemis Mtn Leanto and decided enough for today. I considered going a few more miles but didn't want to push my luck further. About the time I got my tent set up "The Ladies" arrived. They had had a tough day too. They set up in the shelter and I joined them to cook my supper, black bean stew made of veggies generously provided from various gardens around Cookeville TN last summer (you know who you are!).Later, as I sat by the campfire trying to dry my gloves, Kahota walked by and stumbled on a rock. She fell and it seems she broke her wrist. Fingers could move but that wrist was bent in a way it shouldn't have been. It was just about dark so hiking out was not a good idea and none of us had cell phone reception. We splinted her wrist to stabilize it as best we could, but she just had to tough it out till morning. My heart breaks for her as I know it must hurt like crazy and will probably end her hike, although nobody is talking about that right now. This is her third try at the AT, furthest she's ever gotten. Reminds me how lucky I am to be here. Dang, I hate it for her.
Date: 2010-09-15
From: Bemis Mtn Leanto

To: Little Swift River POND campsite
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

The day began with concerns about Kahota and her wrist. She had a tough night and it was really swollen. She was preparing to attempt to hike out, about 3 miles to the next road crossing. Some other hikers and I took some of her stuff to lighten her load as much as possible and agreed to leave it at the road crossing. Off I went.Bemis Mtn has several peaks as you make your way progressively downward. The views for once were fantastic. It had rained again in the night but the morning was clear although cloudy. Not exactly a warm sunny day, but at least I could see the views. It lifts your spirits for sure.Finally got to the main descent and it was sure steep, rocky and tricky. All I could think about was how would Kahota handle this, and I knew if it was me who was one-handed the answer would be not well. I decided at the bottom to call 911 and get help. I had no idea if she wanted help, but it seemed too tough to me, so she got help and lots of it. 3 EMT's hiked in while 6 or so various emergency people hung around at the road, numerous emergency vehicles and 2 ambulances waiting. Lifeflight was standing by, as well as another team who would hike in if she needed to come out on a stretcher. Crazy! All the emergency folks were great. I ate my lunch while hanging around, but then it was time for me to hike on. So I did.It was a pretty decent climb out of there, after another stream crossing, but most of the way to the top I crossed ME hwy 17 with a fabulous view back at the mountains I've climbed in the last week. Amazing! This is rugged country for sure, and magnificent. I hiked past Moxie Pond, which is quite lovely. The wind was up and it was getting cold, spitting rain at me every so often. I came to Long Pond which has a beach for swimming (brrrrr), then hiked on to Sabbath Day Pond Leanto. Here I decided to push on another 4+ miles to a campsite. Met a sobo named Suicide from Minnesota and he nearly talked my head off (in a nice way of course) and he warned me of the mud. Oh my. Bemis Mtn had loads of mud, seriously, you could sink in up to your knees I think, and so did this mountain.   I never saw so much water and mud in my life. Vermont gets a raw deal I think, Maine has lots more mud. It's unavoidable too, my boots and socks were completely soaked and late in the afternoon my feet started getting really cold. Ugh! Boy, do my feet stink too! And everything is caked in mud. Mostly I hike in shorts and my legs, covered in mud, kind of thick in places. Did I say ugh? Ugh!Eventually I got to the campsite and while setting up it poured down rain. Does it ever quit raining in Maine I wonder? Everything drenched again, my perfect tentsite was on rock, so I had some trouble in the rain setting up. Sigh. The ponds today were lovely. I enjoyed some really nice views. I hope Kahota is in good spirits and I hope I did the right thing by calling for help.
Date: 2010-09-16
From: Little Swift River POND campsite

To: ME 4, Rangeley
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was all about getting to Rangeley for resupply and a night at Gull Pond Lodge Hostel. Got going in the morning and by lunch was in town. Two 2001 thru hikers gave me a ride in, Tumbleweed and I don't remember her name. Sorry, wish I did, they were so kind! Had Thai food for lunch, did laundry and met the hostel owner at the laundrymat. He later gave me a ride to the grocer, then out to his place. While doing laundry Croft (of "The Ladies") rode by in a shuttle and stopped to tell me that calling 911 was indeed the right thing to do. Kahota's wrist is broken and her hike is over for this year. Wild Poodle is staying with her a few days and will meet Croft later on the trail. I'm sad for Kahota. I want to thank everyone for all the extra encouragement I've received lately. It's been a tough couple of weeks and I've had my struggles for sure. I'm amazed at how many people from all different parts of my life have either posted in my guestbook or on a private email. I'm so pleased to hear from you and your words are now a part of my hike. Some time back I met up with Stickwalker and Belle again. We've been hiking together for the most part and he has been very supportive as I've faced the challenges of the trail. He and many other hikers along the way have helped me along, it's not like I'm alone in the wilderness by any stretch. Thank you for all the encouragement. I'm reminded yet again just how lucky I am to have so many people in my life pulling for me.
Date: 2010-09-17
From: ME 4, Rangeley

To: Poplar Ridge Leanto
Miles today: 10.7

Began the day with a nice breakfast at Gull Pond Lodge. Bob is such a nice man! Got the bounce box together and set out for town. The weather was supposed to clear but it poured down a steady rain all night and was quite drizzly. I wasn't in any hurry to get out in the rain, so it was almost 10:00 by the time I got to the trail.The first couple of miles were in lovely forest. Everything here earthwise seems so old, big boulders moss covered, deep loam on the forest floor, huge trees and tough little spruces. It really is so lovely. Today there were rock cliff walls with all sorts of little gardens growing among the cracks. And what's up with these ferns anyway? I wonder how many ferns I've seen along the trail. A billion? More? The ferns here now are beginning to fade for the winter, autumn has definitely arrived. I have seen large and small ferns and big massive fields of them and scraggly little specimens too. Deep shade and bright sun and dappled light, deep loam and hard forest floor, dry places and soggy ones. These guys are quite the adapters. I have really enjoyed the ferns.Stopped for a lunch break just after Ethel Pond. That was my Granny's name, I think she would have loved my AT adventure. As I ate maybe the last sobo came through, StillTom. Nice guy, going hard to get through the White Mtns before snow comes. He advised it was crazy weather up on Saddleback Mtn, the place I was headed. The rain I've been hiking in FOREVER is being swept away by a front and wow! When I got up on the top, above tree line, the views were awesome and I could see clearly in all directions. As I made my way across Saddleback the wind got crazy, clouds went to whirling and swirling around and it got cold. My world turned to grey, in motion! It was down, then up on The Horn, same thing, but as I came off The Horn it began to clear and I could see the world again. Stayed cold though.Was planning to camp at Reddington Campsite but accidentally passed it by. What to do? Saddleback Junior lay ahead. If I went over it I would be walking in to camp after dark. Well, I went for it, what the heck! Caught the sunset, totally clear by now, up on Jr, then made my way down in twilight and on into camp in solid dark. It was a good gamble. Sunset was spectacular!
Date: 2010-09-18
From: Poplar Ridge Leanto

To: Stealth Site S Branch Carrabassett River
Miles today: 13.1

Whoa! Late start from the shelter, probably from the late arrival last night. First was down down down to cross Orbeton Stream. Nice waterfall, uneventful ford, as I like it! Today Croft is hiking around me, so some chit chat along the way, which is nice. Met up with Eastwind and Loon of the Geezer Hike. Loon made a loon call for me. Lots of fun to see those guys. The weather today was grand! A beautiful fall day, crisp air, dazzling blue sky, so much color in the forest. The big show is on the way! Met several hikers going south, but none of them sobo thru's. Then, I met up with DejaVu! Yes, he summited Katahdin yesterday in good weather and El Flaco went up on Wed in poor weather. Last I saw these two was Mt Greylock, Bascom Lodge. Fun to see DV, wish I had gotten to see Flaco too. DV apparently still needed to do today's stretch, so his official finish date is today. Yay for both of these guys! Back in Mass they challenged me to hike stronger, which I did, and they're fun to be around.Hiked a couple more miles, then had lunch near a stream and tackled Lone Mtn. Not too tough, then a quick stop at Spaulding Mtn Leanto to tape up my toes. Funny, this far along I am still battling foot issues, but nothing like it was a while back. Can't wait for the victory pedicure!The climb up Spalding Mtn and down again was done in a jiffy, then I skirted around the side of Sugarloaf for a bit. Finally came the big downhill, big boulders, one section looked like a rock slide to me, and the views as I descended were amazing. At the bottom I had to cross the Carrabassett River. At one point there is a plank between two boulders, the rest is rock hop. There's a nearly full moon and skies remain clear. I had chicken and Ramen for supper. Croft showed up to stealth here also. A very good day.
Date: 2010-09-19
From: Stealth Site S Branch Carrabassett River

To: Stratton
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Headed for town, so no delay out of camp this morning. Immediately began the climb up South Crocker Mtn which was not too tough but endless! It seemed to take forever but my legs felt like lead this morning. It was chilly and cloudy, which meant fog/clouds on the mountaintop. It was a hiking only kind of morning. Soon after reaching the south peak it was descent, then climb north peak. Still chilly and cloudy, but hey, I was not rained on today. Whoohoo!Got off the peak and sat trailside to eat my lunch, played leapfrog with Croft, then the race, such as it was, was on, for town. 5 miles as quick as I could go, which is still not all that fast. Four German thruhikers, young men all, came breezing by at one point while I was going all out. Youth! It's ok, I'm quite used to this by now, LOL! Got into town and got resupply and cleanup and feed done, then a new one - Stealth laundry! Heheheh! Postal issues will hold me till midmorning tomorrow.
Date: 2010-09-20
From: Stratton

To: Little Bigelow Col Avery Memorial Campsite
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: few clouds

Took care of my maildrop and set off for Looney Moose Cafe, looking for a lobster roll, but closed as I arrived because it was Monday. Tried to hitch with not much luck till a truck pulled up on the other side of the road. Who jumped out? Tom Thumb! And, he'd already talked the guy into taking me to the trail. Yay!Hiked a couple miles into Cranberry Stream campsite where I stopped for lunch, then began the big climb up Bigelow Mountain. Stopped at Horn's Pond Leanto for a quick rest break, then pushed on for the peak. The view from South Horn was amazing! From there a slight downhill, then the massive push up west peak. At one point I glimpsed the rocky peak and of course it scared the heck out of me. Indeed, elevation at the top is 4145 feet, above treeline, wind was howling, and it was COLD! I had to fight the usual hysteria, then managed to climb over the peak. I even took some time to enjoy the views, fabulous! Scared ain't stopped me yet! LOL!I got off the top of the peak and headed into the col where the Avery Memorial Campsite is. En route I met Otis, caretaker/ridgerunner and 2002 thruhiker. He told me of the best water source which was very helpful. Camp was cold and windy. The sunset was such vivid colors. Splendid.
Date: 2010-09-21
From: Little Bigelow Col Avery Memorial Campsite

To: West Carry Pond Leanto
Miles today: 14.6

Boy was it cold last night! Camp is at 3800 feet and the wind was fierce! Led to a later than planned start. I have such a hard time getting out of the bag when it's cold.First up, the climb up Avery Peak, a short but very rocky uphill that came out above treeline. Good views and a memorial to Myron Avery, but it was so cold and windy I got down ASAP. Myron Avery is the guy who got the AT built. (Aside, a few days ago I passed a marker where the original last section of the AT was pieced together by the CCC guys. It really touched me). From the peak it was down down down into Safford Notch. All of Bigelow Mountain, both yesterday and today, was like walking in a fairyland forest. Mystical! Had fun, yes I said fun, climbs over moss covered boulders. The climbs were tough but cool with lots of great vistas. All in all I like Bigelow Mountain, even if yesterday's peak did scare me. LOL!Next up was Little Bigelow Mountain that stretched the length of the valley with something like a flat top. Ha! Those flat tops are really small ups and downs that go on and on. Still, the views were great. Had lunch up there, then finally down. The trail did a long stretch along Flagstaff Lake which was quite lovely, then finally around nightfall I got into camp where I found Croft and Wild Poodle. Strange, it was very warm, quite a change from how the day began. West Carry Pond was beautiful.