morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-14
From: Stratton, Maine

To: Monson,Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It was a great day of rest in the little town of Stratton, Maine. I had breakfast at the diner across the road from the Stratton Motel with a host of my favorite thru hiker companions: Dirty Harry, Bug Bear, Pippin, Crocs, Oconee, Obi Wan, Reset, Scuffy, and Taz. We sat around the diner most of the morning talking. The middle part of the day was spent resupplying at the grocery store across the road from the motel and taking naps. I had Supper at the White Wolf Restaurant with Taz , Crocs, Coward, Reset, and Tomahawk. Does this have to end? Tomorrow we begin a dash for Monson, Maine, the 100 mile wilderness, and Mount Katahdin. There is work to be done and miles to walk. Stratton has been a great trail town. Everything is so convenient here. Really only two more towns left for me: Monson and Millinocket. It's up early tomorrow and into the Bigelow Mountains. I look forward to the next few days. It's great to be right here in Stratton,Maine.
Date: 2014-08-15
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Monson,Maine
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Short post due to fatigue. Went over 2,000 miles walked today. I'm a 2,000 miler. Yeah. The views of Maine from the Bigelows were 360 degrees spectacular. Tenting on a platform at the Little Bigelow Lean-to   with Oconee, Reset, Dirty Harry, Bug Bear, Pippin, ObiWan, and others nearby. I've got to keep pushing. The weather tonight is pretty chilly for my Southern blood. Glad to be right here and headed north.
Date: 2014-08-16
From: Harrison's Pierce Pond Camps

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: clear sky

(Due to no cell phone service I was unable to post yesterday's journal entry. To view Day 154 journal entry click on the Previous Tab above). I really slept well last night with the sound of the water from the stream next to Little Bigelow Lean-to as relaxing background music. Today was a great day of walking in Maine. I walked 18.1 miles today which is my biggest mileage day in a long time. I got on the trail around 6:45am. During today's walk I passed a lot of beautiful ponds and lakes: Flagstaff Lake, West Carry Pond, East Carry Pond, and Pierce Pond. Maine has lots of ponds and lakes. While I was resting at the West Carry Pond Lean-to a gentleman who lives in a cabin across the pond pulled up to the shore in a pontoon boat with homemade cookies and brownies his wife had baked (Photo left: Oconee enjoying trail magic cookie at West Carry Pond Lean-to. Reset relaxing in the background). Two or three days each week he brings snacks for hikers, puts them in plastic containers, and leaves the containers at the lean-to. I have gotten trail magic all along the way during my walk but this was the first time the trail magic was delivered by boat. I am staying alone in a cabin at Harrison's Pierce Pond Camps. I was able to get a shower at the camp. Tomorrow morning I get a pancake, eggs, and sausage breakfast. My little cabin has a wood stove in it and I have had a fire going in the stove since I arrived. I am drying my boots and clothes beside the stove. It sure is relaxing to just sit beside the stove and feel warm. Tomorrow morning I will cross the Kennebec River in a canoe ferry service. As I sit here I now have 154.8 miles to go. Tomorrow I push on toward Monson,Maine which is my last trail town before the end. It sure is great to be right here sitting beside a wood stove.
Date: 2014-08-17
From: Caratuck, Maine

To: Monson,Maine
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: broken clouds

It rained all night but I was comfortable in my little cabin with a kerosene lamp and wood stove at Harrison's Pierce Pond Camp. At 7am I ate a breakfast of 10 pancakes, two eggs, and sausage in the camp dining room with Reset and Oconee. I know I won't be able to eat this much probably ever again after this walk ends. I left the camp in the rain headed for the Kennebec River. After a three mile walk I reached the river where Hillbilly Dave waited (see photo left) with his canoe to take me across the river. The canoe ride across the Kennebec is the official AT route. If there is any doubt that the canoe is not the official route see the white blaze in the bottom of the canoe (once again see photo left). After crossing the river it was still raining so I called it a day and walked into the sleepy little town of Caratuck, Maine. I've had enough walking in the rain. I may not be able to avoid it but if I can help it I would prefer to not walk in the rain again while on this walk. I spent the remainder of the day at the Sterling Inn in Caratuck. The weather began clearing in the afternoon and the weather report looks favorable for the next ten days, which is about what it will take me to complete this walk. My mind and body are now ready to finish this walk. I guess summer is about passed and the sun is setting on this dream that I have had the pleasure of experiencing the past 156 days. It's been a great ride. Actually my mind is not ready to let this go but I now accept that it is close to over. I am absolutely glad to be right here in Caratuck, Maine and looking forward to the next 10 days.
Date: 2014-08-18
From: Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-tp

To: Monson,Maine
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: broken clouds

The sun finally broke thru today. Overall it was a good day of walking. At 7:20am, Stephen, owner of The Sterling Inn, Caratuck,Maine,where I stayed last night, dropped, myself,Reset, Tomahawk, and ObiWan off at the trailhead at HWY201. I walked 18.8 miles today. I crossed two mountains: Pleasant Pond Mountain and Moxie Mountain. The views from these two mountain tops with the sun finally shining on the Maine countryside made all the hard walking thru mud bogs, over roots, and over rocks worth the effort. I am tenting on the shore next to a pond called Bald Mountain Pond. No photograph or word description can describe how beautiful the sun set was this evening over the pond. I am finding these Lean-tos located overlooking beautiful ponds to be my favorite thing about Maine. The wind is whipping thru the trees tonight making for great background sleeping music. I expect that the distinct sound of Loons singing across the pond will wake me in the morning. I plan to walk into Monson, Maine tomorrow afternoon. When I get to Monson I will have 114 miles between me and the summit of Mount Katahdin. Monson is my last trail town before I enter what is referred to as "the 100 mile wilderness". The 100 mile wilderness is an area of Maine thru which the AT crosses where there are no towns and only a few gravel/dirt road crossings. I expect to enter the 100 mile wilderness on Wednesday and to exit "the wilderness" hopefully next Monday, 25 August. I also expect not to have cell phone service while walking in "the wilderness" and will have to update my journal after exiting "the wilderness". But, I first must get on to Monson tomorrow. The weather is suppose to be beautiful for at least a couple of more days which makes this walk thru Maine all the better. I said goodby to Reset this afternoon with whom I have been hiking the past week or so. He is planning on going at a little slower pace than I am over the next few days. I have enjoyed his company and will miss his sense of humor. Reset is 66 years old and is the only person older than me that I have met this far north along the AT. His hike and mine have been very similar in that we both have carried our backpacks the whole way and headed in a northward direction since we left Springer Mountain Georgia. I am tired. It is great to be right here sleeping next to Bald Mountain Pond.
Date: 2014-08-19
From: Shaw's, Monson,Maine

To: The Birches Campsites
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: light rain

It was tough getting out of my cozy sleeping bag this cool Maine morning. At this point my body just wants to rest. But, I willed myself up, packed, and was on the trail at 6:20am. A couple of miles into today's walk came my second stream fording (Bald Mountain Stream). I removed my boots and socks and put on my plastic camp shoes. I chose the wrong route. On my second step my foot slipped on a moss covered rock and into the water I went backpack and all. I will say the cold water woke me up. I got back on my feet and waded soaking wet to the opposite stream bank. My next two stream fords today went much better. I am three out of four in stream fords. A photo of a stream I forded today is to the left. The stream in the photo to the left happened to have a rope to hang onto while crossing. I danced 17.9 miles around mud bogs today and at around 4pm I made it to Route 15 outside of Monson, Maine. Sue from Shaw's hostel picked me up at the trailhead and took me to Shaw's hostel in Monson. I resupplied my food bag, showered, did laundry and went to The Lakeshore House Lodging and Pub for Supper. I had Supper with Dirty Harry, Bug Bear, Pippin, Oconee, Solo, Scuffy, and ObiWan. It may be the last time I see them as tomorrow we all begin our head long rush the finish. They all walk faster than me. I will miss them. Tomorrow I will enter the 100 mile "wilderness" and hope to come out the other end on Monday, 25 August. While I am in "the wilderness" I most likely will not have cell phone service. If I do not have cell phone service for the next few days I will update my journal after I get thru the 100 mile "wilderness". 114 miles to go. The projected weather report is for there to be no rain for the next week. Luck is still with me. The time to finish has arrived. Great to be right here in the heart of Maine.
Date: 2014-08-20
From: Wilson Valley Lean-to

To: the Birches Campsites
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

How about that. I have cell phone service in the wilderness. At 10am I got back to the trail on Route 15 outside Monson, Maine. To be honest it was a hard day. I am battling stomach issues which effects my energy level. To make matters worse I took a hard fall on my right shoulder this afternoon. Hopefully it is just bruised and will improve in a couple of days. To top off the day I got my boots soaking wet at my final river fording of the day. All in all a tough day. After 10.4 miles I called it a day, pitched my tent and am going to get some rest. The weather is fantastic and tomorrow morning is a new day. Still right here, still upright, and still walking.
Date: 2014-08-21
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

GrindingTotal Miles Walked: 2096.8Miles Walked Today: 15.6Miles Remaining: 88.5Climbed a bunch of mountains today. Although not big mountains on paper they were a lot of work. Still favoring a sore shoulder from a fall yesterday and a weak stomach. Zero Moose sightings to date. All is well because I am still walking.
Date: 2014-08-22
From: White Brook Trail

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Cloudy overcast day. One river fording and four mountains crossed today. Pretty slow going due to a number of factors but hoping for better progress tomorrow. In the morning, from the top of White Cap Mountain, I hope to get my first view of Mount Katahdin. Today I think I went over 2,100 miles walked, although it could have been yesterday. At this point my feet, body, and mind have lost track of the miles. I just get up in the morning and walk. I am tenting alone at the bottom of White Cap mountain.
Date: 2014-08-23
From: Antlers Campsite

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: overcast clouds

(Late with last two days of journal entries. To view them click on Previous Tab above)I did get a view of Mount Katahdin very early this morning from the top of White Cap Mountain. Maine was kind to me today. After beating on me for the past couple hundred miles, Maine gave me somewhat flat and pleasurable trail to walk today. Throw in great weather and I was able to walk 21.9 miles today. I guess there is still a little gas left in the tank. I walked from day light to dark. Hard to believe I've only got a few more journal entries to make. I've tried to make a few notes and observations about each day. It's been one of my last items of business each and every day. My entries are getting briefer and briefer here toward the end as I am now focused on getting to the end which is what I will do again tomorrow. I am tenting at the Antlers Campsite situated on the shore of Joe-Mary Lake which is another lake of indescribable beauty in Maine. Great to have made it this far right here.
Date: 2014-08-24
From: Pollywog Stream

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: broken clouds

Running out of days. Tomorrow afternoon I will walk into Abol Bridge Campground to spend the night. When I get to Abol Bridge I will have 15.4 miles remaining. Unbelievable. Tuesday I plan to walk 10.2 miles to Katahdin Stream Campground in Baxter State Park which will leave me with 5.2 miles to the summit of Mount Katahdin and the end of my walk. Tuesday afternoon, after I walk to Katahdin Stream Campground, I hope to get a ride into Millinocket, Maine where I will await the arrival of my Wife and two Sons. On Friday, August 29, I plan to summit Mount Katahdin with my two sons. Today, on two occasions, I had clear views of Mount Katahdin. It looks big standing alone in the Maine countryside. Months ago Mount Katahdin was just a dream for me. I am tenting alone tonight next to Pollywog Steam. I love the name of this stream. Actually, to me, Pollywog Stream looks large enough to be called a river (see photo left). The water is raging down Pollywog. To get across Pollywog I walked across a logging bridge. Since I haven't had a bath in five days I waded out into the stream right before dark and cleaned myself up some. Maine is full of beautiful streams, ponds, and lakes. It is hard to believe this much remote natural beauty still exists in an overcrowded world. It's great to be right here sleeping beside the music Pollywog Stream is making.
Date: 2014-08-25
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: few clouds

I am no longer wandering in the wilderness. Today I walked 17.5 miles and stopped at the Abol Bridge Campground to spend the night. Tomorrow I will walk 9.9 miles to Katahdin Stream Campground at the base of the mighty Mount Katahdin. After I get to Katahdin Stream Campground I will hitchhike into Millinocket, Maine to get cleaned up, rest, and wait for my Wife and two Sons to get to Millinocket. Friday I will walk to the summit of Mount Katahdin. That will be that. Friday my walk from Springer Mountain Georgia to Mount Katahdin will be complete. Honestly I am too tired of body and mind to process what I have done. I don't really know if and how I really walked this far. I am tenting at the Abol Bridge Campground surrounded by big Recreational Vehicles and camping trailers. I am a fish out of water. I guess I am getting back to the real world. First thing I did when I got to the campground was to visit the campground restaurant where I ate a cheeseburger, hotdog, and French Fries. Next I stopped by the campground store where I ate an ice cream cone, bought a liter of ginger ale, and a bag of potato chips. I am definitely getting my hiker appetite back. It's great to be right here tenting in a campground near a store with plenty of food.
Date: 2014-08-26
From: AT Lodge Millinocket,Maine

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: broken clouds

All that remains is to summit Mount Katahdin. Today was a short walk from Abol Bridge Campground to Katahdin Springs Campground. During my walk today, Grey Ghost came up behind me. He had left the trail a couple of months ago due to having broken bones in his foot. Today was Grey Ghost's first day back on the trail since he left the trail. His plan is to summit Mount Katahdin then walk south to where he had to leave the trail. Grey Ghost and I walked the remainder of the way to Katahdin Springs Campground. After a few photos, Grey Ghost's wife drove us to   Millinocket,Maine where she dropped me at the Appalachian Trail Hostel where I am spending tonight. Tonight, I had Supper with a gathering if trail companions: JoHawk, Murphy, Pippin,Dog,Dirty Harry,Bug Bear, 50/50,ObiWan, Gargomyl,Solo,Big Up, Vista, Martial Arts, and Grey Ghost. We spent time going over memories again and again and saying goodbye again and again. I can't really rest until Friday morning when I can get back to the trail. I have some unfinished business before I leave here.
Date: 2014-08-28
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Baxter Peak
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

More of the same today as yesterday. Just waiting until tomorrow morning to climb the great Mount Katahdin. Tonight will be like Christmas Eve when I was a kid. I probably won't sleep much tonight. It looks like I couldn't have ordered up a better summit day. The weather report for tomorrow is zero percent chance of rain, sunny, with high temperatures in the mid-seventies. Tomorrow is my turn.
Date: 2014-08-29
From: Millinocket, Maine

To: Home
Miles today: 5.2

It is done. 2185.3 miles. I summited Mount Katahdin today with my two Sons on a not a cloud in the sky picture perfect day. Mount Katahdin was named Katahdin by the Penobscot Indians and means "The Greatest Mountain". Man oh man was it the greatest mountain today. Mount Katahdin provides a northbound thru hiker with a fitting test and a dramatic climax to the end of the walk from Georgia. I can't believe that I walked up the same mountain today that Henry David Thoreau walked and wrote about. I haven't stopped smiling. I am proud that I can now call myself a thru hiker and I am proud of the hike I hiked. I will sit and smile about this experience until I die. Nothing can take this away from me. It is now time to heal and rest my body. It is now time to head home where maybe I will soon learn more about the ways this experience has effected and changed me. After a little time to digest some of this experience, I will make a few more journal entries at later dates with a few thoughts about my walk and it's meaning to me. At this moment, it is great to be right here right now headed for home.
Date: 2014-09-14
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

There are some simple things I carry with me as my walk of the Appalachian Trail quickly fades into the past. What to leave in? What to leave out? What do I really need? How do I lighten my load? One step at a time, one moment at a time, one day at a time, one trail town at a time. Live in the moment. Remember to appreciate being healthy enough to walk another day. Take the time to look at the views. Enjoy the people, the towns, and the kindness of others. Block out the negative. Dwell on the positive. Marvel at the miracle of nature. I hope these and so many many more simple things stay forever in my mind and spirit.   It all began on Saturday in the middle of March at Springer Mountain Georgia. I put on my backpack with the things I needed and I started walking north. I didn't know how far I would walk but each day led to the next. The distance and the miles seemed to stretch forever. Surely this would never end. The days just ran together. Time had no framework. Spring came and turned to Summer. I was living one day at a time without a schedule to keep. I didn't know that a simple dirt trail could become a separate and special world unto itself. I didn't know that so many feelings, thoughts, and emotions could come from a simple dirt trail. I didn't know I would learn so much about myself from a simple dirt trail. The thought of ever getting off the trail never occurred to me. I was having the best time of my life.    Now all I am left with are my memories. All I can do now is sit back with those memories and smile. I smile when I think that I walked 2,185.3 miles. Don't ask me how I walked that far. I couldn't have walked that far could I? Surely it wasn't real. I smile when I think about the people I met and the people I walked with for awhile. We shared a dream together for awhile. I smile when I think about the people who would wait at a road crossing and seemed so happy to offer me something to drink or something to eat. I smile about the people who gave me a ride into town. I smile when I remember something that happened or something someone said. I smile about the weather, the mud, the rocks, and the roots. I smile when I remember all the times I slipped and fell. I smile when I think that I was able to get up after I fell. These things and so many more from my walk will make me smile for years to come.    How do I transition from that world of a simple dirt trail back to a not so simple world? I guess I will just never leave that simple dirt trail. I will just stay on the trail. As long as I am on the trail I know where I am. As long as I stay on the trail I know where I belong. As long as I stay on the trail I won't get lost. It's when I get off the trail that I feel lost. "Do you know where we are?" "We're right here." In the end, I hope I remember that there is no other place I would rather be right now than Right Here on the trail.
Date: 2013-08-09
To: Welcome to My Trail Journal
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well today was my last day at work, and now I'm officially retired. Like so many others on Trail Journals now that I'm retired I can pursue my dream of hiking the AT. I have the time, resources and support from my family that I can actually try this.I did a section hike in 2012 with my brother between NOC and Fontana Dam and somewhere on the trip the idea arose that I could actually do a thru hike. I thought, "Gee, if I just did this a hundred times, by golly I could do the whole trail".So it's probably seven months until I actually start my hike. Plenty of time now that I'm not working to plan, train, and finish out my gear. But for the rest of the day I'm going to set back and start enjoying the retired life.
Date: 2013-08-23
To: Home and training
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It's been a very busy and hectic two weeks since my retirement date. Monday I have jury duty and maybe after that things will slow down a bit. I'm thinking I'm going to just take a day and do nothing.As far as preparation goes, I think I'm in good shape other than physical training. I have most of my gear already, with the exception of my winter clothes.As far as the physical training I have been able to up my daily walks from the three miles I'd normally do, to ten. I'll keep to that for the next month or two, then start with carrying weight. That seemed to work well in 2012 when I did my section hike.Seems like a long time to March 24th, but I'll take it one day at a time.I imagine my next update will be in March, unless something big comes up.
Date: 2014-02-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

It's been a busy six months since my retirement in August. I've got a lot done but I still have a lot to do. I've been training most days and I've been able to update most of my gear but I still have a couple small purchases to make. It still seems pretty surreal that I'm actually going to be doing this in less than a month. I had a slight change in plans but it's for the good because I'll be able to leave a day earlier on my trip. Originally Gail thought she had the Monday off after the 23rd our anniversary but it turns out she has to work that day. So we will celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary with an anniversary breakfast and I'll hit the trail and head north and she'll get in her car and head South.Finally I've had a couple people ask about my gear that I'll be using so I updated my gear list with what I'm expecting to carry. Though there still will be still a couple changes.25 more days I can hardly wait!