morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-05-08
From: Lynn Camp Creek

To: Mile 571.7, VA 623
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: clear sky

Today started out with lots of climbing, and by the end, totaled about 4000ft, on a very hot day. I was hiking off and on with Hoops, Cozy, and Bison, and as the day progressed became more and more fatigued. After the climb to Chestnut Knob, Awol's guide seemed to show a fairly flat area of a few miles, but it for me was extremely difficult, with loose and big rocks, and many, many ups and downs. By the time I descended to VA 623, I felt I could go no further and set up camp at 5PM. The aforementioned hikers joined me over the next 2 hours and we all camped there together. Water in this area is a real problem, and I did not have enough to prepare an evening meal, but ate cold food instead. I hoped tomorrow would bring back my energy. Earlier in the day, Pelzer, a hiker from Germany had passed me, and during a break at a stream, described how tired he was feeling and how much weight he had lost. I had read and heard about the Virginia Blues that thru-hikers get, but only now understood what that meant. My legs are strong, and endurance remarkable from 2 months of climbing and nearly 600 miles backpacking, but on this day it was difficult to put one foot in front of the other as the ascending footage grew. Where did my energy go?!?
Date: 2014-05-09
From: Mile 571.7, VA 623

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 15.9

Today was one of the worst so far for me on the AT. My energy did not return as hoped, and every step uphill was difficult. My left knee hurt all day even with large doses of Vitamin I. I had a big painful blister on my left heel as well, so I was walking with a pronounced limp, causing other leg problems on both sides. Several times when climbing and winded, I could not catch my breath by slowing down(always worked before), and had to lie down on the trail for several minutes to be able to continue. For the first time, I felt mildly dizzy during these episodes. I continued to do neuro checks on myself, just in case it was related to my fall. By the end of a 15.9 mile day, I was questioning whether or not I could continue my trek, and if I felt like this for the long term would certainly abandon. I suppose I overdid it! I probably should have taken the advice of many of my friends and taken a few days off after the accident. Okay, now I get the message. I'm going to take a few days to recover and maybe even see a Sports Medicine Doc for my knee problems. I need new shoes as I have worn out my boots in 500+ miles. Here's to better days!
Date: 2014-06-01
From: Blacksburg, VA

To: Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Our goal: To hike the entire Appalachian Trail southbound from Maine to Georgia over 5-6 months, accompanied by our pup, Sasha.In the months leading up to our trek, we took on a heavy amount of preparation and research in hopes that we might set ourselves up for success. We do not want to merely survive the 2180 miles, rather to thrive while living nomadic in the Appalachian mountains.We will not bore you with too many gear details because we are not that into gear-talk. In a nutshell, we generally opted for a combination of high-end equipment where we thought necessary, and thrifted/DIY items where we could. We were excited to find that our packs fell in the "ultra-light" category, each weighing approximately 18 lbs (base weight, not including water or food).Food. We have been cooking, dehydrating, and bagging most of our food with the intention of resupplying from mail drops to towns along the way. This will allow us a cost effective way to eat healthy, hearty, tasty, vegetarian meals instead of subsisting on gas station snacks for much needed calories over the 5-to-6 months on the trail. Most of these packages include food for Sasha, as dog food is not consistently available. Since many friends and family members expressed a desire to support the trip in some way, we decided to crowd-source our mail drops, and the response was awesome! We distributed boxes with prepared meals, snacks, supplies, and dry dog food to volunteers, who are holding them until we contact them with an address ahead of us they can mail it to and labeling instructions for the package to be held until we arrive. We cannot thank our mail drop supporters enough!!!Sasha is our 7 month old Australian Cattle Dog. Throughout the winter and spring prior to our departure, she joined us on our frequent (4-6/week) hikes in the Jefferson National Forest and on a couple local sections of the AT. Blue Heelers, as they are also called, are robust, high-energy working dogs, making Sasha well suited as a companion on the trail. She sports a small pack, (which at times she is not so fond of) but while she is growing she only holds a fraction of her weekly food supply, and at this point only on dry days. She is very, very, cute.As we leave the community we love in Blacksburg, our families and friends in the DC area and around the country, we are reminded daily of all the support we have received. Heading out would not have been possible without the encouragement and love from all of you!Cheers and happy trails!
Date: 2014-06-03
To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 0.0

We spent the night at Sam Berry's family farm after dropping Sasha off with Connie McManus' dog boarding service, since dogs are not permitted in Baxter State Park. The farm was beautiful. We slept behind the barn under a black sky littered with stars. In the morning, Sam's mother, Beth Church, brought us a hearty breakfast of juice, coffee, egg & cheese breakfast sandwiches, and morning glory muffins from a baker apparently featured on "Oprah's Favorite Things". She gave us a tour of the farm buildings (circa 1850's!) then we hit the road. Beth had spontaneously decided to take the day off from work to meet us, and then ended up deciding to drive us all the way to our campsite at Katahdin Stream, 2.5 hours north. Once we arrived and said ado to our gracious hostess, we met four fellow SOBOs, gave brief introductions, then broke off to explore the area. We walked down Blueberry Ledges trail to stretch our legs and get a feel for the Maine woods. We were instantly enthralled by the moss covered boulders and majestic birch trees. Later, we set up camp, made a fire, and retired early to get a sunrise start for our hike up Baxter Peak, the official start of the Appalachian Trail.
Date: 2014-06-04
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: scattered clouds

On an overcast morning in Baxter State Park, we broke down our campsite and hit the trail by 7:45 am. We opted for slack-packs the rangers keep on hand for hikers with heavy packs who want to summit with a lighter load. Then we headed up "The Hunt," a difficult trail that ascends the mountain by way of Katahdin Stream Falls. After a tough scramble up boulders above tree line we headed across "Tableland," an alpine hike in the clouds along the wide and relatively flat ridge of Katahdin. After 5.2 miles up, we reached the summit, Baxter Peak! The clouds to the (north?) side dispersed, revealing striking mountains, wide lakes, and green woods. Truly stunning!Despite the steady winds that blew across the peak during our climb, the clouds eased up and we decided to venture out on the adjoining trail, "Knife's Edge." This narrow one mile ridge-line climb was an exhilarating up-and-down over a route between cascading peaks. As we reached the midpoint, we could see over the crest of Baxter Peak to the ominous dark clouds forming in the distance, rapidly heading our way. We instantly decided we were satisfied with Knife's Edge and (carefully) high-tailed it back to Baxter Peak, to begin our 5.2 mile descent; our official start of the AT.As we reached the peak, a steady rain began to fall. We picked up our pace back over Tableland, and met fellow SoBo hiker Derek "Strix" as we slowly worked our way down The Hunt to the campsite. We passed him after a few minutes, but he accepted our offer of a spot at the tent site we reserved and bought some dry firewood from the ranger station when he arrived. We dried out as best we could by the fire and called it a night.
Date: 2014-06-05
From: Katahdin

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 13.4

Left Katahdin Stream Campground early the next morning with Derek. Soon we separated and figured we would meet up at Hurd Brook. Hiking through the mist, there were 2 minor stream crossings along the 10 miles to Abol Bridge. Connie met us there with an excited Sasha around 12:30. Sasha apparently had trouble eating while not with us but other than that, Connie was very pleased to host our pup. We stopped at Abol Bridge Store and shared our last cup of coffee before the 100 miles ahead. We met Pan, likely the third Northbounder to finish the AT in 2014. He was booking it at an impressive average of 25 miles a day! Good vibes from him but likely faster than we will go. We departed from Abol and arrived at Hurd Brook before dark, fairly exhausted.
Date: 2014-06-06
From: Hurd Brook Lean-to

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 11.5

It was a tough hike to Rainbow Stream Lean-to in the rain as we clambered over wet roots and rocks. At one point we carried Sasha across a narrow bridge over a stream. We passed a day hiker and met a 68 yr old SoBo whom we shared the lean-to with in the evening. At the lean-to, we found a 'goody bag' someone had left behind with four extra power bars, trail- mix, and a 3 Musketeers candy bar we shared after dinner. Sasha did very well overall but is skeptical of strangers in the wilderness. (probably not a bad thing). We opted to sleep in the shelter instead of pitch tents because the ground was fairly wet. The shelters have three walls and one open side and are a great option to have when it is raining.
Date: 2014-06-07
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Potaywadjo Lean-to
Miles today: 18.2

Woke up at 4 am and was out hiking by 5:30. Sunny weather made for a great hiking day. Our bodies felt pretty good with only minor soreness as we adjusted to hiking 7 hours and up daily. Stopped for a break around 8:30 am, went for a swim around noon, and passed through the Wadleigh lean-to to sign the log and read other hiker entries. In each lean-to there is a journal which is used as a sign in for hikers. Typically, people will write a short entry and sign their trail name. Reading the entries is one of our favorite parts of the day as we "chase" the other hikers in front of us and eventually meet many of them. We tented at Potaywadjo with 3 other SoBos. The mosquitoes were rampant.
Date: 2014-06-08
From: Potaywadjo Lean-to

To: Little Boardman Mtn
Miles today: 16.0

Hiking by 6:45 am. Warm weather on our side. Roland's left Achilles' tendon was giving him some trouble. It was a hard, slow day of hiking. We stopped at Cooper Brook late afternoon to try and catch fish with our hands. Mostly unsuccessful. Our triumph was a tiny minnow, which we returned to its home. Afterwards, we hiked 2 more miles to Little Boardman Mtn where we tented that evening. We made a fire on top of the mountain and Sasha fell asleep while we enjoyed the moon rise over dinner. Slept hard.
Date: 2014-06-09
From: Little Boardman Mtn

To: Carl A. Newhall lean-to
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

Out hiking by 6:25 am. Thankful for another day of sunshine! We passed through East Branch lean-to and Logan Brook lean-to. It was a hard day of hiking with many mountain summits, very satisfying. Summitted White Cap Mtn (Elevation 3650) which had an incredible view of Katahdin and the surrounding summits. Being able to see the miles back to our starting point, then from the same spot turn to the south and see generally what lies ahead is quite a perspective. Amblispective if you will. It was the only place with cell-service in the 100 mile wilderness. We stopped to rest at Sidney Tappan campsite. We were exhausted but pushed on another 1.8 miles to the Carl A. Newhall lean-to. Stayed in the shelter with pup.
Date: 2014-06-10
From: Carl A. Newhall lean-to

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Started our hike by 7:45 am, a considerably "late" start. Quick miles in the morning, slowed down after the rain began. Saw a moose carcass by our first major stream crossing. We have heard we will see many a dead moose due to pine beetle epidemic in North America. These beetles burrow into the moose's fur causing them extreme skin irritation, leading them to rub their fur off against tree trunks. As the temperatures drop in the winter, many freeze to death in the harsh conditions without their coats. At the same time, forests ravished by the beetles are commonly sold for salvage logging, leading to a growing loss of habit for moose and other native animals.The next miles were fairly miserable as we had underestimated Chairback Mountain's difficulty in adverse conditions, constantly struggling with footing on the wet, rocky terrain. Passed "Mr. Tree" a NoBo section hiker who has hiked the AT over the last eight years. Roland carried Sasha up the steepest rocky section leading up to the summit as it was too slippery for her to gain any traction and the boulders were too large for her to scamper up. Sopping wet, we awkwardly scrambled down to the lean-to. We immediately got out of our wet gear, pulled out our sleeping bags and camp clothes and called it a day at 2:45pm. Redeeming quality of the day: the sun came out around 4:30 giving us just enough time to hang our clothes on the roof of the lean-to. Met Phil, a minister from South Carolina, who shared the lean-to for the night. We privately gave him the trail name "Snorlax" on account of never having heard anyone snore quite as loud as him.
Date: 2014-06-11
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Wilson Valley Lean-to
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light rain

Out hiking by 5:30 am. Had to stop to resupply water at spring. The spring was slow moving and took nearly twenty minutes to fill our water up. We summitted four substantial peaks (Third Mtn, Fourth Mtn, Barren Mtn, and our final climb to the lean-to). Had an incredible view of the sunrise over the valley from Third Mountain. Spotted countless frogs, the most stunning was a shade of sky blue and vibrant green. We conversed for much of the hike, letting the miles slip by smoothly in our rambles.Experienced our first bit of trail magic from "Thunderfoot" who completed the trail in 2012. He had run out of food in the 100 mile wilderness and as a way of paying it forward, dropped off a waterproof bag with 80 meals for any hikers who may not have packed enough food for this remote portion of the trail. We each took one meal of beans and rice to help us finish our last day, as we had just run out of food. Oh so thankful to him and his business, Yeti Outfitters, for the magic! As we read in the trail log, lots of other folks were real stoked to find some extra food in the wilderness as well.
Date: 2014-06-12
From: Wilson Valley Lean-to

To: Leeman Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: moderate rain

Slept in. Many dreams. Woke up to the rain. The rain continued all afternoon. Did not begin our hike until nearly 9 o'clock. Long, slow day of hiking with one major stream crossing. We spotted another pile of moose fur. Came across a striking waterfall over sharply geometric slate. For Amy, it kindled thoughts of a waterfall you might come across in the ruins of an ancient Peruvian civilization due to its neat, acute angles cut cleanly into the slate as portions fell away over the years to the gorge below. Along the way, we spotted many blueberry bushes in the low brush of higher ridges. However, the season begins much later this far north, so they are a month or so off from bearing ripe fruit. We are still trying to figure out an approach to future rainy days to keep morale up. They are often the most trying on the spirits and roughest on our bodies. We decided carrying coffee or hot chocolate may be a nice remedy. At the end of the day, there was no greater pleasure than having a roof over head and a dry place to curl up.
Date: 2014-06-13
From: Leeman Brook Lean-to

To: Monson
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: moderate rain

Sasha kept Roland awake last night in the lean-to because she had been trying to sneak into his sleeping bag. Weasel! We took a slow morning to pack up our stuff, as it was still raining. Out hiking by 7:15 am. Met "Puddles" briefly before we reached the trail head where we registered our completion of the 100 Mile Wilderness! We celebrated our first big landmark once we caught sight of the ME 15 highway. Hitched a ride into Monson from a man named Ron who had section hiked the AT over the last seven years. At first he was hesitant to give us a ride because we had a dog, but talking for a couple minutes he was more than happy to help. He dropped us off in Monson and recommended Pete's Place for breakfast.Pete's Place just opened up in May and is run by a woman named Colette and her husband. Carla, her sister, was filling in as a cook while the husband was away. We each ordered coffee (and a refill), two eggs, two pieces of french toast, home-fries, and a homemade donut. Delicious! Amy only managed to eat about half of her portion of the breakfast feast, so Roland, being the growing boy that he is, was more than happy to help finish. It was such a pleasure to have a warm breakfast after the past few damp mornings.After breakfast, we successfully picked up our package (THANK YOU THANK YOU ESTELLE!!) from the post office and headed to the library. Once at the library, it began to pour. The elderly woman at the desk invited Sasha to come on in sit on our laps while we typed up posts and did a little research. Afterwards, we walked on over to the gas station and hitched a ride back to the trail for the evening and made camp in the rain.
Date: 2014-06-14
From: Monson

To: Horse-shoe Canyon Lean-to
Miles today: 9.0

It was a rough morning waking up, but we managed to stay dry despite the soggy evening. Started our hike around 7:30 am with our sights set on Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to. Began in low spirits, but as the day rolled by our moods lifted. Completed one river ford about waist deep (carried Sasha due to the current) and met "Fish Flake." Made it to the lean-to fairly early on and hung our clothes up to dry. About two hours later, "Pony and the Fluffer" arrived at the site. We enjoyed their dynamic as we exchanged small talk over the fire they had made. As Pony repeated, "Hell or high water, I'm making a fire." Couple of good 'ol boys from Maine and proud of it.That evening we reflected on our day and plans for the week. While moving at a rapid pace through the 100 Miles we decided we wanted to slow down after we got our resupply, and thus planned a lower mileage week. However, we realized that without any substantial climbs that day we made it to the shelter much too early and decided spending the whole afternoon there was not nearly as satisfying or productive as being out hiking, even in the rain. So we are adjusting our planning method. We intend to carry enough food to take days or part days off when we discover cool spots to explore, swim, relax, etc. but while hiking we do not want to set mileage standards so much as try to push ourselves everyday for solid hikes.
Date: 2014-06-15
From: Horse-shoe Canyon Lean-to

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 13.5

Up early, gathered our things, and prepared for the river ford three miles down the trail. We were nervous for the upcoming crossing of the West Branch of the Piscataquis River because others had warned us the waters may be chest deep due to the last few rainy days. When we arrived at the crossing, we saw a Momma duck with her four ducklings speeding down the current. We shared a smile then took a deep breath to discuss the best strategies for successfully crossing without getting our packs wet. Normally when we arrive at river crossings, we take off our shoes and socks, change into our camp shoes, take off our pant legs, put our rain pack covers on, and determine if Sasha can cross safely with her pack. If the crossing is too dangerous for Sasha to handle, we carry her across. The current through the middle section of the Piscataquis was much too swift for Sasha today so we opted for carrying her. Amy crossed first, grabbing the line above her head and hoisting her pack across her right shoulder. Once across, she dropped her pack and came back for Sasha. Though the current was substantial, we crossed with ease and were thankful the water only ended up being a little over waist deep.The weather cleared up later that afternoon but the post-rain trail was in shambles, looking more like a river than a path. There was no way of keeping our feet dry. We climbed Moxie Bald Mtn and rested at the top for awhile, eating a snack and drying our socks in the strong wind. The descent down Moxie Bald was pleasant and we took our time, especially enjoying the serene, dense sections of pines as they heated up in the sun. When we arrived at the lean-to, it was full and the tent sites were overcrowded. We walked a bit further down the trail and came across the perfect place to pitch our tents still catching the last bit of evening sun. Sasha snoozed in the sunshine as we set up camp. We have taken to delegating evening tasks, making transitions run smoothly when we are both tired at the end of a long day. Insert cheesy one liner here [i.e. Teamwork makes the dreamwork, or your personal favorite.]
Date: 2014-06-16
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 14.7

Long steady day of hiking in the warm rays. Ran out of peanut butter yesterday that we had gotten from Monson a few days back. It only took two and a half days to realize that peanut butter would be our greatest ally on the trek. Because we finished the jar in a fraction of the time it was supposed to last us, we decided to hitch a ride into Caratunk in hopes of resupplying on this liquid gold. Berry's General store was eleven miles from the trail head. We hitched the first ride from a guy in a pickup truck who took us three miles then caught a ride with a gentleman who had been to all but two states in the U.S. When we asked what his favorite state was, he recalled living in Colorado fighting forest fires. Moment's later we arrived at Berry's General Store only to find they were clean out of peanut butter. Devastating to the hungry hiker. Instead, we opted for a bag of pretzels and box of Cookies n' Cream Ice cream to dip them in. Roland ate nearly 2/3 of the ice cream carton. Not bad eh? We hitched a ride back to the trail head from two nice guys our age working in Caratunk as white water rafting guides for the summer. They told us that the population of Caratunk year round is approximately only forty people and their economy thrives mainly off of outdoors adventure excursions. Cell phone service is non-existent.