morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-05
From: Carlo Co Campsite

To: Mahoosuc Notch
Miles today: 8.0

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Sam S. day. I "walked" the mile through the Mahoosuc Notch in his honor. Sam, you asked for a hard mile, and the Mahoosuc Notch is reputed to be the toughest on the Trail. Thanks, Sam, for your pledge.I did not sleep well last night. Yesterday was a long day for me (about 10 miles), just getting back on the Trail and I might have been overtired. I got up about 6:30 and got on the Trail about 8:00 AM. It is cool this morning and fairly cold last night - I am glad that I have my 15 degree sleeping bag.It started raining lightly right after I got on the Trail. I have lost my Trail Guide pages out of my pocket, and do not know which mountains I'm going over today. It was very strenuous going up and down several mountains, seemingly straight up and straight down.I stopped at Full Goose Shelter for lunch. The 'unfriendly hiker' that I had met a couple of days ago was there in the shelter, asleep. I ate lunch quickly and moved on.In the afternoon about 3:00 PM, I got to the notorious Mahoosuc Notch. The Notch requires climbing over, around and under huge boulders. There is no clear way to go, just some better than others. I was tired when I got there so it was an extra effort to do, using arms and legs to climb over or down some huge boulders. It was not that difficult, but it was time-consuming. It took me about an hour and 45 minutes to cover the 'Mile'. I fell down once when my grip on a rock slipped and bruise my ribs on my right side. I also scraped up my shins and knees, climbing over a rock. I think it would have been fine if I had not been so tired.After finishing the Notch, I started climbing the equally notorious Mahoosuc Arm, a strenuous climb. About 1/2 mile after the Notch, I spied a flat camping area just off the Trail. It wasn't an 'official' camp site, but it was a flat, scenic area up the hill from a babbling creek. I debated with myself about stopping, or continuing on to the Shelter. It wasn't difficult. I was exhausted and could not face another 2 1/2 miles, especially up and over the steep Mahoosuc Notch.I pitched my tent in the camping spot. I was the only one there. I got everything set up, got water and relaxed. I did not feel like having supper but did eat few crackers.At about 6:00 PM, I climbed in my sleeping bag. As I went to sleep my heart was beating fast and somewhat (it seemed to me) pounding (I didn't have any chest pain, though) It worried me a bit, as I was there by myself, and I could do nothing about it. I later realized that I was just exhausted and it may have seemed to be pounding, but wasn't.I slept well, but my rib, that I had bruised in the Mahoosuc Notch, hurt me when I turned on my side.Today, the Trail beat me up and threw me down twice, once in mud and once over a root, skinned and bruised my shins and bruised my rib. I got hurt more today that I did the entire time I was on the Trail last year. Still, it's bruises and abrasions, and I'm still ticking (and ready to hike on)!As of the end of this day, I have approximately 278.0 miles to go to finish.
Date: 2009-08-06
From: Mahoosuc Notch

To: Baldpate Lean To
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: light rain

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Ra and Jane B.day. I walked the first two miles starting off in their honor. Thanks, Ra and Jane for your pledge.I awoke about 7:20 AM, very tired and groggy from yesterday. I was slow starting and got on the Trail about 8:50 AM.I immediately started climbing up the Mahoosuc Arm. It was not a high altitude mountain, but it went straight up. At one point, as I climbed up rocks, I had to stop every 150 feet or so to catch my breath.I came down to Spec Pond which was very lovely. I started climbing up the next moutain, Spec Mountain. About 1/2 mile up, I met Bo, the Caretaker at Spec Pond Lean To. Bo, whose trailname is Footloose, throughhiked the AT in 2008.   Also met Restless, a very friendly SOBO throughhiker from Key West. Spec Mountain was a long up, and then had a long, long downhill. My quadriceps were burning as I climbed down. In late afternoon, a NOBO throughhiker named Rachiopod (she) passed me on the Trail. She is the first NOBO throuhghiker to pass me.Got to the Lean To about 6:10 PM, pretty tired and sore. If pain is weakness leaving the body, as the body builders say, I must have had (and still have) a lot of weakness!   Several NOBO throughhikers are here tonight. They are not unfriendly but not friendly either. I don't exactly feel like I'm part of the Trail Community this year, as I did last year. Of course, you only get to know other hikers after you've hiked/camped in the same sections for a few days.It was somewhat late that I got in, so I set up my tent, cooked supper and relaxed a bit, and went to bed at 8:00 PMToday, I passed the 1900 mile mark hiking on the Appalachian Trail!
Date: 2009-08-07
From: Baldpate Lean To

To: Frye Notch Lean To
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: light rain

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Amy W.day. I walked the first mile mile starting off in her honor. Thanks, Amy for your pledge.Yes, the mileage is correct - 3.5 miles.I did not sleep well last night and was very tired. I got up about 7:00 AM and on the Trail about 8:15. I could hardly eat breakfast, as I felt a little nauseous. Still, I forced some oatmeal down, as I knew that I needed some food energy.My first 'climb' of the day was up and over Baldpate Mountain and Little Baldpate Mountain, two mountains of solid rock, going steeply up and steeply down. I felt a little nauseous most of the morning. It was a long, strenuous downhill and I pulled a muscle on the upper muscle of my left leg, when I skidded.I got to Fry Notch Lean To about 11:30. I was extremely tired and decided to put up my tent and sleep. So, at Noon, I was in my tent, as it started to rain. It seemed to rain all afternoon, but I was dry and comfortable in my tent and sleeping bag. I slept all afternoon and got up to have supper with other hikers at the Lean, including Bojangles, Honking Hiker, and Road Runner and Coyote (two brothers, section hiking southbound). Had a very pleasant, rambling conversation.Then went back to bed at 7:30 PM and slept well.
Date: 2009-08-08
From: Frye Notch Lean To

To: East B Hill Road - Andover
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Gloria C.day. I walked the first mile starting off in her honor. Thanks, Gloria for your pledge.I got up at 6:45, feeling much better after much rest yesterday and last night. It is a beautiful, clear cool morning. I got on the Trail about 8:15 AM. It was an easy hike over pleasant wooded trail, with minor ups and downs. I met several southbound section hikers and a charming SOBO named Dressed in Dirt (she); it was clear that she had great sense of humor.I got to the road crossing at East B. Hill Road about 11:30 AM. Hitchhiked into Andover to stay at the Pine Ellis Hostel. In fact, the first vehicle that came by gave me a ride.The Pine Ellis Hostel, a long-time favorite of AT Hikers, is managed by David, who is from Guatemala, and owned by his ex-Mother-in-Law, Ilene (I did not learn the story on that). Apparently, Ilene's husband, with whom she operated the Hostel, died last year and David came to help out. Then, he stayed and does a lot.Interestingly, David makes jewelry and key chains out of Moose poop. Yes, that's correct, Moose poop. Moose poop consists of small, brown, irregularly shaped balls, about the size of a marble. David sprays them with shellac and makes earrings, pendants and keychains. He sells them to hikers and tourists.I got a private room at the Hostel, rather than just being in the bunkroom. I paid extra for it. Unfortunately, there is only on bathroom/shower in the Hostel for hiker use, and with a full house, it was difficult to find an opening.I had pictured Andover as a quaint little village with shops and stores, but it is actually a very small town. There are two diners, a Convenience Store and a couple of gift/antique shops. I had lunch at one of the diners; it was crowded with truck drivers and 4-wheelers. I had an excellent cheeseburger with fries and a Pepsi.Afterwards, I went back to the Hostel, washed clothes, and rested. I regretted that I had done such a short distance (4.5 miles) again today. It was a pleasant day for hiking, but taking a NERO (Near Zero)Day here seems like a fine idea.I had a fine dinner with hikers Bojangles, Chris, Lulu and Triple C, all pleasant young NOBO throughhikers. I had a lobster roll and a salad. Afterwards, I went back to the Hostel and went to bed about 7:30 PM. I was still tired.   It felt good to sleep in a bed.
Date: 2009-08-09
From: East B Hill Road - Andover

To: South Arm Road - Andover
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Vinton W. day. I walked the first five miles in his honor. Thanks, Vinton for your pledge.I slept fitfully last night. I awoke when it got light, about 5:30 AM. I got up about 6:15 AM and and went downstairs, had coffee and then went to the Diner for breakfast. I was the only hiker at the Diner. Had a fine breakfast and enjoyed listening to the local folks with their wonderful Maine accents.As I walked back to the Hostel, my back and legs hurt a bit. Is that from sleeping in a soft bed maybe? When it does hurt in the mornings, it seems to go away after I get warmed up.I slack-packed today. That is, I caught the 8:00 AM shuttle (David from Pine Ellis) gave me a ride, that is) up to East B Road, where I left off yesterday. I was the only hiker going at 8:00 AM; others were going to slackpack at 9:00 AM. I had a small loaner pack, with lunch, water, first aid kit and raincoat.Very nice hike, a nice trail for most of the day. I met a group of teenage French Canadian girls from a camp, doing a southbound section of the Trail. Four guys, also slackpacking, Rolling Stone, David, Freeze and Motor, passed me about 11:00. I stopped at a Lean To and had lunch. As I was leaving, three female NOBO throughhikers, who were staying also at Pine Ellis Hostel and were slackpacking came in. They were Moon Walker, Skittles and another, whose name I didn't catch. Other than these folks, I didn't see any other hikers today.In the afternoon, hiked up and over Moody Mountain. It wasn't too bad, except that there was a ribbon-marked detour for about 300 yards, that was difficult to hike/climb,as it was not a trail, and involved scrambling up rocks, roots and dirt sections.I got down to the South Arm road crossing about 2:45; I had made pretty good time (for me) in doing the 10.50 mile section. There were a couple at the road crossing that were doing Trail Magic - beer. The couple had throughhiked the AT in 2000 and were in the area and decided to do Trail Magic. The four guy NOBOs were there, as was a SOBO hiker named Red (he). Shortly after I got there, the three SOBO women arrived. David, from the Hostel, came and picked all of us and drove us back to the Hostel.I zoned out for an hour or two and then showered. Getting in the shower was a tricky timing issue, since there were about 15 of us at the Hostel and only ONE shower.   I went to dinner at the Diner with Red and had a pleasant conversation.Went back to the Hostel and went to bed about 8:00 PM. Had trouble going to sleep, maybe because today was not as tough as it had been previously.Today is the seventh day of finishing my hike. So far, the Trail in Maine has been very tough, both from me getting back in hiking shape, and the tough terrain. There is much mud and bogs to walk through, due to all the rain earlier this year. I've had more injuries in the first week in Maine than I did all of last year on the AT. The NERO Day yesterday and the slackpack today, helped me recover a good bit. I'm surviving and am pressing on.
Date: 2009-08-10
From: South Arm Road - Andover

To: Bemis Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Robbie and Steve S. day. I walked the first mile starting off in their honor. Thanks, Robbie and Steve for your pledge.I got up about 6:15 AM and walked to the Little Red Hen Diner for breakfast. Again, I was the only hiker there. I walked back to the Hostel and got the 7:30 AM shuttle to the Trailhead with Skittles, Moon Walker and the other woman.I started hiking about 7:50 AM. I was tired. I had thought of staying another day and night at the Hostel, but wanted to move on. I climbed up Blue Mountain, which took a few hours. On the way down, I met several SOBO throughikers, including Yak (who my friend, Carla, in MA, had told me about), and Annie.I climbed down Blue Mountain and started up Bemis Mountain. I fell 4 or 5 times, including pulling my left quadricep again, but nothing disastrous. I got up each time and kept going.About 3:30, Freeze and David passed me and we had a brief conversation. They asked how I was and I said, 'not so good'. I told them about falling several times and that I kept pulling the muscle in my left leg. David, in a very nice way, told me that everyone has difficulties on the Trail, and that I should just deal with it! He said it in a very polite, nice way, but I got the message - stopped whining and get on with the hike! Message received.After they were about 200 feet past me, they stopped and pointed to something off the Trail. Suddenly, a large bull moose came running across the Trail between me and them. It was very exciting - my first moose sighting!I got to the Lean To about 3:45 and set up my tent. I hung out a while then went down to the Lean To and had supper with Rolling Stone, David, Freeze, Motor, Sir Richard and Maggie.I went to bed at 7:30 PM; it started raining lightly as I went to sleep.As of the end of this day, I have 237.7 miles to go to finish.
Date: 2009-08-11
From: Bemis Mountain Shelter

To: Sabbath Day Pond Shelter
Miles today: 8.3

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Lisa J.day. I walked the first three miles starting off in her honor. Thanks, Lisa for your pledge.I 'slept in' until 6:45 AM. By the time I got up, almost everyone at the Lean To and in tents had already left. Got on Trail about 7:50 AM. Lots of climbing down. It had rained last night and the rocks were wet. I fell several times going down. I met two NOBO throughhikers, Skip and Truckin', who were slackpacking south for the day. I later met SOBOs Half Full (she) and Chomp (he)with their dog.I got quite tired after about 3-4 hours hiking. I got the Highway 17 road crossing and sat on a bench in the sun, for about 45 minutes. The bench overlooked a several lakes in the distance. I took a short nap while sitting there.I got back on the trail and it was easy terrain after lunch. It started thunderstorming and raining; there was lots of mud on the Trail.Got to the Shelter about 2:45. Thought about going on, but there were no viable camping sites until about another 5 miles.TNT, a SOBO hiker(he) showed up about 5:00 PM. We had a nice dinner and conversation. It thunderstormed again and I hung out with TNT in the Lean To.Despite the rain, I pitched my tent near the Lean To. I was running low on fuel, so I didn't cook supper, just ate some cold things.Went to bed about 7:15 PM.
Date: 2009-08-12
From: Sabbath Day Pond Shelter

To: Route 4 - Rangeley
Miles today: 9.4

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Betsy O. day. I walked the first three miles starting off in her honor. Thanks, Betsy for your pledge.I felt good today, like perhaps I finally have my 'hiking legs'. The trail was good, with a lot of little ups and downs. And, muddy. There has been so much rain, that the ground is saturated and there are lots of muddy and boggy areas. I don't think that my shoes have been dry for a week.I got to the Route 4 Road Crossing about 2:30 PM. I stuck out my thumb and immediately got a ride with two French Canadian guys. They did not speak much English, so we rode the 9 miles or so into Rangeley in relative silence. They let me out in downtown Rangeley.I immediately went to the Pine Frosty, a local ice cream 'shack' that I had heard about. I had a cheeseburger and a Maine Deer Tracks milkshake; both were excellent. The people in Rangeley are very friendly and I had several of them as or comment about my hike.I called the Gull Pond Hostel and left a message on the answering machine. I hung around town for an hour or so and then Bob, from Gull Pond, called me. He came downtown and picked me up about 4:15. Gull Pond is about 3 miles out of town, on Gull Pond, a beautiful Rangeley area lake. One other hiker was there, Maggie, a NOBO,from California, whom I had met a couple of days ago in Andover.We (Maggie & I) got a ride from Bob into Rangeley and had the essential food groups at the Pub and Grub, beer, cheeseburgers and french fries, followed by ice cream at the Pine Frosty.Back to the Hostel and talked for a while, then I went to bed about 9:30. I have a private room at the Hostel (as opposed to the Bunk Room) and it is very comfortable.
Date: 2009-08-13
From: Route 4 - Rangeley

To: Rangeley
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today, I took my first Zero Day on this part of the hike, i.e. a day with no miles hiked on the AT. I got up about 7:10 (after a good night's sleep) and had coffee with Bob and Maggie. Bob's coffee is excellent, and I had 4 or 5 cups. Plus, Bob has breakfast foods, like bagels, English Muffins, cereal, fruit and juice.I hung around the Hostel until about 9:00, and then Bob took me into Rangeley. as he went to Farmington, ME to do errands. I shopped at the Drug Store and Grocery Store and got needed supplies, then wandered around town. I felt like I might need new boots, and went looking to replace my Merrell trailrunners. I did not realize how much the tread was worn down on my Merrell's until I looked at new shoes in comparison!. Plus, my hiking shoes had begun hurting the tops of my feet, so I figured I needed a change. I got another pair of Merrell's, a higher end pair, with Gore-Tex. Perhaps that will keep out some of the water in the mud puddles. I just hope they don't hurt my feet in new, unimagined ways!I had lunch at the Rangeley Diner, another cheeseburger with fries. I may, at some point, actually get tired of cheeseburgers, but it's hard to imagine.Later, I met K1's friend, Laurie, at the Pine Frosty. K1 met Laurie last year when he was in Rangeley, and stayed at her guest cabin in Oquossoc, I believe. He recommended that I meet Laurie when in Rangeley; she was in town today doing errands. Anyway, I met Laurie, and her son, Paul, and his daughters at the Pine Frosty for, you guessed it, more ice cream. Since I was already settled in at the Hostel, we agreed that I would stay there tonigh, as opposed to staying in her guest cabin, but agreed to meet the next morning for breakfast.The Public Library in Rangeley is very accomodating and I caught up on my Journal, wearing my new hiking shoes, and enjoying a brief respite from hiking. I spent most of the afternoon at the library. I was getting ready to call Bob,when I saw his vehicle. I flagged him down (he was looking for me)and took me back to the Hostel. Upon getting there, I noticed that my ATM card was missing and he took me immediately back down town to buy a shirt and more socks (since I realized that the shops would close at 6:00 PM) I discovered that my Debit card was missing, but the bank, where I thought that I had left it, in the ATM machine, was closed. Bob took me to the grocery store and I got a chicken sandwich to go, for supper.I ate supper at the Hostel. Three SOBO hikers also came in. I spent part of the evening talking to Bob, then went to bed about 9:30 PM.I've enjoyed my day off today in Rangeley, but am looking forward to being back on the Trail tomorrow.
Date: 2009-08-14
From: Rangeley

To: Poplar Ridge Lean To
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: few clouds

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Shiela J. S. day. I walked the first three miles starting off in her honor. Thanks, Shiela for your pledge.Today starts the ascent of Saddleback Mountain and the Bigelow Mountain Range. Starting from Route 4, the Trail climbs some 2500 feet up to the top of Saddleback Mountain.Got up about 6:30 AM. Thankfully, Bob had his excellent coffee ready, so I was able to segue into the day (or as Nancy says 'staring into space over coffee'. Bob drove me to town at 7:30 to the BMG Diner and Laurie (whom K1 had met last year) met me for breakfast. Later, I went with her to the Recycling Center, to drop off her recycling, while I waited for the bank to open. I had used my ATM card the previous afternoon at the bank, and hoped that the machine had taken my card back in, after a few seconds that I did not retrieve it. Anyway, I went to the bank about 5 after 9 and yes, they had it! Ah, relief.Laurie drove me up to the Trailhead and I got on the Trail about 9:40, a bit later than I would have liked, but not bad. It was a beautiful sunny day and pleasant hiking. About two miles into the hike, I met the caretaker from the Piazza Rock Lean-To, that I had passed. To my surprise, the caretaker was a woman that had through-hiked the AT last year - Slayer! I had hiked with her and her friends for a while in the White Mountains last year.The Trail went up and up and over Saddleback Mountain. There were a lot of false summits and the Trail seemed to go on a long way, to an elevation of 4120 feet. The trail up was pure rock.Then, I went down the north side of Saddleback and up the "Horn", presumably named for the horn of a saddle. It was some 4040 feet, but not bad. Then, I went down quite a way and up the Little Saddleback Mountain. This one was not as high, at 3655 feet, but to me was the toughest of the day. It was a very sharp uphill and required climbing a lot of rocks. By the time I finished this, it was about 5:30 and I was pretty tired.I finally got to Poplar Ridge Shelter about 7:00 PM. I don't like getting to Shelters so late, as I have no time to unwind before bed and am usually tired the next day. I did not feel like cooking supper, so I had a sandwich and then put up my tent. There were several other hikers there, Section Hikers Tortoise and another named Evergreen. There were two NOBOs there, Bushwhack and Tumbleweed and a couple of NOBO guys that came in late. I got in my sleeping bag about 8:30 PM and surprisingly had a difficult time getting to sleep. I had crossed three mountains today with a (deservedly) tough reputation.
Date: 2009-08-15
From: Poplar Ridge Lean To

To: Spaulding Mountain Lean To
Miles today: 8.0

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Gayanne W. day. I walked the first two miles starting off in her honor. Thanks, Gayanne for your pledge.I awoke at 5:30 AM but did not get up until 6:30. I figured that I would be tired, after a long, fairly tough day, yesterday, and I was right.I got on the Trail about 7:50 AM, feeling very sluggish. I had thought that I might do 14 miles today to the second Lean To, but knew that I was not up to it. So, I set my sights on the Spaulding Mountain Lean To, so 8 miles away.On my way, I saw Hawaii-5-0 and several other Southbound through-hikers. I continue to be surprised at how many SOBOs I am seeing, this far North in Maine. They will have to push to get to Springer Mountain in Georgia by December.I saw a large black bear in the woods along the way. I heard some noise and looked up and he was running away, about 100 yards off the Trail. This is the first bear that I've seen in Maine.Got to the Lean To about 2:30, put up my tent and took a long nap. It was a sunny, beautiful day, but cool enough in the shade.I got up about 5:30 and prepared supper. There were a couple of SOBOs, Torchand Still Steve, as well as a NOBO, Stone Brown,and a couple of weekend hikers. It was a beautiful, pleasant evening and I felt much better after having rested in the afternoon.