morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-08-05
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: moderate rain

Day 145 Avg Mls/Day 13.1Weather: Ditto yesterday. Rain showers overnight. Cloudy, foggy, misty, humid. Rain in the afternoon. Steady rain in the evening.   High in the 70'sToday's Nature: Toads and snakesFalls Today 0 Total 9Georgia to   M*A*I*N*EI'm in Maine! I can say I hiked from Geargia to Maine. Now all I have to do is make it 278 additional miles to Katahdin.Slept okay last night in a full shelter. There ended up being 4 on the upper deck and 5 of us on the ground floor. Shreck was out back tenting.Got up around 6 and started hiking just after 7. P Willy was out first followed by B Rock, Mousebait, Mauro and myself. We hiked together briefly then I pulled ahead and hiked alone the rest of the day.I started to put on my rain pants then changed my mind and went with the shorts. Glad I did because it was a tough hike and a lot of sweating. The pants would have been too warm. My notes from those who did this section last year said they were "tough miles." That, they were. It took me 7 hours to do 9.6 miles. I would say it was tougher than any of the Whites.The climbs were not long as much as they were steep, rugged, rocky, rooty and slick. We started climbing immediately out of Gentian (2,165') to Mt Success (3,565'). It didn't seem to be a steady climb either. The Trail had many sharp ups and downs. On the descents there were many long, angled, flat, slick rocks with no footing. Although I didn't fall today I came close.Around 11:30 I came to the NH ME border. I tried to take a picture of myself under the "Welcome to Maine" sign. So now I'm on my 14th state and March 14th does seem like a long time ago.Next, I went over Mt Carlo (3,565') W peak of Goose Eye Mtn (3,864'), E peak of Goose Eye Mtn (3,795') and finally the N peak of Goose Eye Mtn (3,675') Arrived at Full Goose just before 3.P Willy was here and debating whether to go on to Mahoosuc Notch. The Notch is a little over 3 miles in length and contains "the most difficult mile" on the AT. It has a reputation of taking hours and hikers are warned to "take it in stride." Most NOBO's position themselves at Full Goose so they can tackle it in the morning after a night's rest. P Willy took off at 3...he hopes to get through it by 7 p.m. I would have liked to have done more, but I didn't want to press my luck with the rain. It did rain for 10 minutes or so after I got here. Then about 5 it started up and hasn't quit.Mousebait, B Rock and Mauro walked in about 4:30. They seemed relieved to get here. I guess they took a few more breaks than I did. A sectioner, Matt from Long Island NY, is here also. A youth group of some sort is tenting out back.I had German potatoe salad for supper. It was one of those specialty items. Wasn't bad, but had to boil for 15 minutes.There are 10 girls, 3 boys and 2 men tenting out back on the tent platforms. Several of them have come to the shelter to chat with us. The girls have been out for 6 weeks without a town visit.Thought for the Day: Maine!
Date: 2003-08-06
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Baldpate Lean-To
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Day 146 Avg Mls/Day 13.1Weather: Dank, rainy miserable. Rained all night. Foggy, cloudy morning. Early rainshowers, then partly cloudy, then heavy evening rain showers. Humid, high around 80.Today's Nature: Lots of spiders and cob webs. Resident chipmunk at shelter. The register said a moose hangs out at this shelter but we never saw it.Falls: Today 0 Total 9The morning hike was probably the least enjoyable of the entire hike. I took off about 7 and hiked alone all day. About an hour into the hike I reached the famous Mahoosuc Notch. A notch is like a valley (this one full of rocks) between mountains. Many call the scramble under, around, over and through the boulders the most dificult mile on the Trail...and I agree. Highlites of my 1 mile 2 hour journey through Mahoosuc:* Had to remove pack 3 times to pass through and under narrow rock crevices.* Bent the end of my Leki polewhile bracing to avoid a fall.* Nearly lost a Leki pole that I dropped in a deep crevice.* Both feet/boots soaked as ground sank in and I slipped in deep water.* Got lost momentarily as Trail disappeared in flooded area.* Walked most of it in rain showers. As soon as the Trail left Mahoosuc it climbed 1,600' to Mahoosuc Arm (3,765') then on to Speck Pond Campsite. The climb was long and hard...up some slate rock and rooty surfaces. It was noon when I reached Speck Pond. I stopped and had some snacks for lunch. This is where Mousebait and the others were planning on stopping for the day as they would most likely arive after 2. It was too early for me and I felt I could do the 7 miles to the next shelter.I hiked on and met several section hikers and SOBO thru-hikers. The 1st SOBO, Moses, stopped and chatted for 10 minutes or so. We talked most about hostels and places to stay. Later, met a SOBO couple, Sage & Meander. We also chatted awhile. And finally, another young man who had been with Moses, Speechless. He was at least an hour behind Moses and seemed discouraged with the climb.Arrived at the shelter shortly after 5, ready to call it a day. Already here were 2 SOBO's and a sectioner. Before long a NOBO, Dirty Harry, and 2 more sectioners arrive to fill up the shelter with 7. 2 guys are also tenting in the woods nearby.Tomorrow, I'm hoping to do 8 miles and hitch in to Andover to stay at a hostel and get cleaned up. They say there's not a lot of traffic on this road, but what there is picks up hikers.Thought for the Day: Mahoosuc sucs.
Date: 2003-08-09
From: South Arm Rd (The Cabin Hostel Andover ME)

To: ME 17 Oquossoc (Gull Pond Lodge Rangeley ME) 
Miles today: 13.3

Day 149 Avg Mls/Day 13.0Weather: Cloudy, humid, light rain followed by strong isolated downpours. High 80's. I'm getting sick of this damn rain everyday!Today's Nature: Nod to the snakes.Falls: Today 2 Total 11Got up to another wonderful breakfast at the Cabin. I have to tell you, Marge & Earle really go out of their way to make this a first class operation...the meals were outstanding. I'm so glad I got to stay here 2 nights. Their hospitality is unsurpassed. They're putting Maine right up there with the South as far as hospitality.Earle drove me to the Trail about 7:45. Spike was there getting ready to walk up Old Blue Mtn (3,600'). His partner/wife Hopper took the truck campper and would meet him at the next crossroad, about 13 miles up the Trail.Spike passed me on the way up but we met on top an hour and a half later. It wasn't a bad climb...just long. We hiked together the rest of the day. The Trial was messy and the downhill rocks were slick. The falls were backwards on the downhill.Spike is completing his end to end hike when he summits Katahdin in several weeks. He is a retired police chief from Palms Springs CA. I enjoyed a nice chat with him and it helped the hike move along nicely. Hopper hiked up from the south and met us 2 miles or so from route 17.Met some SOBO thru-hikers today. First a great guy, named Lentl Breeze. We chatted and he was the one who told me about this hostel and being able to get here from Oquossoc.We also met SOBO female, Dr. Doolittle hiking with her 2 Spinger Spaniels...had a nice chat and gave the dogs a rest as they were climbing the first peak of Beamis. I told her to look out for 2x4 to find some good places to stay with dogs.At route 17 Spike & Hopper had left a trail majic cooler. There were 4 cans of juice left...tasted great and thanks again. They are staying in their camper tonight at the State park down the road. They were gracious enough to run me into Oquossuc where I called the hostel to pick me up.Bob O'Brien who has this house on Gull Pond has turned it into a hostel. He picked me up, gave me a tour of Rangeley and brought me here for the night.BTW, while I was waiting to be picked up a guy came into the store and said a downpour just hit where I got off the Trail (even though it was dry here)...so it was a good decision to get off at 17.Took a shower and got a pizza in town. Came back and found that Sticks and Dirty Harry were staying here too. They are 12 miles further down the Trail. Some other SOBO's and sectioners are here too...that I haven't met.Bob has 2 wonderful dogs that make you feel welcomed. It is a little warm but we have a fan in our room upstairs.Thought for the Day. Hostels are more fun than shelters.
Date: 2003-08-10
From: ME 17 Oquossoc (Gull Pond Lodge Rangeley ME) 

To: ME 4 Rangeley ME (Gull Pond Lodge)
Miles today: 13.1

Day 150 Avg Mls/Day 13.0Weather: Same cloudy, humid, foggy, dank, damp, dreary, rainy, miserable weather. Rain overnight and in the morning. Showers mid day. Mostly cloudy late afternoon. High 80's.Today's Nature: Not much new, the Trail is sloppy. Small creatures.Falls: Today 1 Total 12This may not be one of the longer entries. Slept well upstairs and got up just before 6. Had one of the best contintental breakfasts so far. Tropicana Pure Premium, pop tarts, donuts, bagels, fresh fruit, cereal, coffee...just about everything that you don't use a frying pan for.Bob ran Sticks and Dirty Harry to the Trail then came back for me. Dropped me off at the store in Oquossuc. They let me fill my Platypus there since I forgot to do so before I left the hostel.Hitched a ride 11 miles down the road to the AT right away with Al. Al is here for a week vacationing and came into town for coffee. Nice guy who took me 7 miles out of his way. Thanks Al!Not much to say about the terrain except that it was the easiest section in Maine so far. That's with respect to the ascents and descents. The trail itself was muddy with lots of slick roots. There were many deep pools of water in the middle of the Trail that were difficult to get around. Plenty of slippery logs and boards too. I did slip on a root downhill and landed on my rear end. I finished 13 miles around 3 and it should have been before 2. I got soaked from a 20 minute shower and ended up with wet boots. That's when I decided to go back to Gull Pond hostel and not hike the extra mile to the next shelter.Spike was hiking a half hour or so ahead of me doing the same 13 miles. He and Hopper were there in their camper at the parking lot where I got off today. And, there was their trail majic too...cold lemonade...Yeah! That's 3 days in a row. Thanks Spike & Hopper! I did stop and chat with them for awhile. Spike is planning on going 10 miles tomorrow...I'd like to do 17 if I can. It will all depend on the weather and my attitude. I'd rather not fall behind another day if at all possible.A great local guy, Rick, picked me up and took me right to the door of Gull Pond. Thanks Rick!Bob welcomed me back. Three hikers that were here this morning were still here...watching a video. One guy, Family Man, is on his 2nd zero here. Ah, those double zeros.We all went downtown to a sports bar for supper. They ahd a Sunday special...large 2 topping pizza, plate of fries and pitcher of coke for $12. Two of us split it and we had 2 pieces of pizza left over.Doesn't seem as humid tonight...maybe it won't rain all night and some of the water will drain off the Trail.Thought for the Day: No rain no pain.
Date: 2003-08-11
From: ME 4 Rangeley ME (Gull Pond Lodge)

To: Spauding Mtn Lean To
Miles today: 18.7

Day 151 Avg Mls/Day 13.1Weather: No Rain!...at least it didn't rain on me today. Cloudy, humid and warm with a few sprinkles. High in mid 80's. Some sun mid day.Today's Nature: Met a moose face to face on the Trail about 3 p.m. We looked at each other for a minute; then he moved off the Trail about 10 yards, stood there and watched me go by.Falls: Today 0 Total 12Well, I finally had a decent hike as far as miles in Maine...almost 19. The hike did include 2 pretty good climbs but the terrain was much improved.I got up before 6 and had another nice continental breakfast...bagels, yogurt, OJ, Wheaties, etc. The other guys got up just as I was finishing eating.We went to leave for the Trail and found the battery in Bob's Ford was dead.   So we had to jump it and got to the Trail in good time. Said so long to Bob. BTW, he includes transportation to the Trail in the $20 price.Got hiking right around 7:30. Like I said, it went well except there were no views due to fog/clouds the first 3 hours. The first climb was a couple of thousand feet up Saddleback Mtn (4,120') It was gradual enough and went well. It's too bad the peaks were fogged in because this was one of the most spectacular above-treeline stretches in Maine. For many years this was the controversial "missing link" in Maine during federal attempts to buy lands along the Trail to protect it from encroaching development.Passed a SOBO thru-hiking couple around 11...Cakewalk & Hooter. We chatted for a few minutes...mostly about the terrain and time on the Trail. Only saw one other hiker all morning.I stopped at Poplar Ridge Lean-to for a lunch snack about 1. No one else was around. Used the Aquamira bottle to drink out of the stream.The rest of the day went well. The climb up Lone Mtn (3'280') was on pretty decent Trail. In fact, that's what made today's hike different (besides no rain). There was a nice stretch of "crushed pine needles" and the rocky sections didn't seem that bad.I arrived at the shelter right at 5 o'clock. Already there were 6 people (3 older couples) on a "vacation" hike. They had their stuff strewn all over the shelter...so much that they had to move it for me to get in. They did make room for me to sleep on the end. The Shelter is supposed to sleep 8, but not tonight. Another young couple showed up later who are tenting out back.I had one of my favorites for supper...Ramon with Sweet Sue chicken added. Had a brownie for desert.Tomorrow I need to hike 13 miles to route 27 and hitch into Stratton. That is where I bounced the extra food from Gorham. After Stratton, I have only 2 towns left...Caratunk and Monson. Thinking about taking a zero in Stratton, but that is not for sure.Thought for the Day: Miles & Moose make it a good day.
Date: 2003-08-13
From: ME 27 Stratton ME (Spillover Motel)

To: Stratton ME Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Day 153 Avg Mls/Day 13.0Weather: Partly cloudy High around 80Wouldn't you know it, I take a zero and it doesn't rain. I'm not complaining as it missed me the last 2 days on the Trail. Had a nice zero day...glad I took it off. I figure I only have 2 weeks left...should be summiting Katahdin around the 29th.Got up to a decent continental breakfast here at the Spillover.   Spike and Hopper dropped in to say so long. Spike had 9 miles or so to do today before taking a break to go back home for his HS reunion.Sent emails to a couple of guys I worked with. Heard from Mike who has been following my hike from the start. He and his wife have sent some cool trailmajic. Had a nice chat.Later in the afternoon heard from Richard Weed. We also had a nice chat and one of my old co-workers, Julie, came on the phone. It was fun talking to such "happy campers!"Walked a half mile into town to walk around. Went by the local grocery to pick up some snacks. Dropped off a couple of food items that I did not want to carry in the hiker box at the White Wolf Inn.Went to the library and looked up the Amtrak schedule to see if I could take the train home. There are some trains from Boston. The trip home goes something like this. Hitch from Baxter State Park to Millinocket. Take a cab or hitch from Millinocket to Medway. Take a bus from Medway to Bangor. Take another bus from Bangor to Boston. Take the Amtrak from Boston to Elyria. I might also check the flights out of Bangor to see if they have any connections to Cleveland.As I was dropping off the extra stuff for the hiker box at the White Wolf, the construction guy staying there said some new hikers arrived and were in the rooms on the backside. Walked up and there was Mousebait, B Rock, Mauro and a NOBO flip flop, Kismet. Kismet and I had met this spring in a shelter somewhere down south.We chatted for awhile and found that 2 guys, Weeds and Gator were in the area doing trailmajic. They showed up a few minutes later and we had a nice chat catching up on who was where on the Trail. I had dinner with Weeds and Gator back in Franklin NC and they had taken my picture on the Trail at the NC TN border. They reached Katahdin a week or so ago and are hanging out a family cabin near here. Nice guys.Weeds and Gator took off and the rest of us went to dinner at Mainely Yours. Had a great prime rib dinner and equally great converstaion. All of us are hiking out tomorrow. B Rock has to wait for the post office to open before he hits the Trail.I plan to eat a good breakfast at Mainely Yours and hike 16 miles to the 2nd shelter.Thought for the Day. Zero day is a plus.
Date: 2003-08-14
From: Stratton ME Zero Day

To: Little Bigelow Lean-To
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Day 154 Avg Mls/Day 13.0Weather: Near perfect. Clear blue sky, breezey, 60's & 70's in the mountains, low humidity.Today's Nature: The views down off the Bigelow range were fantastic. I could see the pond filled valleys below and mountain ranges as far as the eye could see. Even more fantastic than the Whites.Falls: Today 0 Total 132 0 0 0 MILES...Just went over 2000miles! That' 2 X 1000 = 2000Got up about 5, showered and went down the road to Mainely Yours for breakfast. Ate well then came back to the motel and had some of their continental breakfast.It took me longer than usual, about 40 minutes, to hitch a ride back to the Trail. A nice youn man, Jeff, had just finished working a 12 hour shift at a nearby mill. He is also a musician and does a karaoke party at the Stratton Hotel bar every Friday. Nice guy...Thanks Jeff!I think it was 7:45 by the time I was hiking. Supposedly, today was my last big climb until I summit Katahdin. The day started off with about 2 miles of fairly easy Trail...then the climb up to the Bigelow Range. It really wasn't that bad...gradual enough that I don't remember any difficult hand over hand stuff. I did stop a couple of times to catch my breath.Met a young SOBO couple, Gabe & Esther on the way. (no Julia not your Aunt and Uncle) They told me I should take a swim in Horns Pond about a mile up the Trail.I did stop at Horns Pond on the way up. Two young men were in for a swim. They happened to be college students at Oberlin (which is just down the road from Amherst OH where I live when I'm not hiking). I thought it was a little cool for a swim so I hiked on.Met another SOBO couple Po Bear and Mr. Milk. Po Bear has done 700 miles of the AT and is flip flopping I believe. She said she is also on Trailjournals.I reached the West peak of Bigelow Mtn (4,145') about noon and had lunch there. There were a few day hikers around as there are some side trails leading up here. Begelow Mtn is known as Maine's "Second Mountain." There were once plans to make the range "the Aspen of the East" but opponents forced a state referendum on the issue. By only a 3,000 vote margin they decided to have the State purchase the land for a 33,000 acre wilderness preserve.A half mile past the peak was an excellent boxed spring. It had the best cold clear water I've seen on the Trail in awhile. Refreshing.After Bigelow the rest of the range was up and down. Reached Little Bigelow (3,025') on the East end around 4 p.m. After that it took about an hour to reach Little Bigelow Lean-To (1,760').Ran into one SOBO thru-hiker, Echo. Said he was carrying 13 pounds of camera equipment in addition to his pack. Also said he fell in crossing a flooded stream and lost some of his gear. No wonder he hurt his ankle and spent a week recuperating in Monson!I decided to tent tonight which was a good thing since it was still damp from the the last time I used it. Even had a couple of moldy spots. No one else is here. I guess Mousebait and B Rock stopped back at the Avery Campsite. They might catch me tomorrow.Thought for the Day: 2000!
Date: 2003-08-15
From: Little Bigelow Lean-To

To: US 201 Caratunk ME ( Caratunk House Hostel)
Miles today: 21.3

Day 155 Avg Mls/Day 13.0Weather: Warm, sunny summer day. High in mid 80's, a little humid.Today's Nature: All the small creatures...lots and lots of toads.Falls: Today 0 Total 13Slept well in the tent last night. No one else tenting or in the shelter. Woke up around 5:15 and hit the Trail at 6:30. Decided I would try to pick up a day by hikng to Caratunk instead of stopping at Pierce Pond.The Trail was easy and uneventful. Only passed one hiker all morning and several in the afternoon. Didn't stop to chat since the first lady was wearing earphones and I wanted to make good time. Only climb was a gradual 800' up Roundtop Mtn (1,900'). The Trail crosses the Kennebec River 4 miles before Caratunk. There, they ferry you across the river in a canoe because a hiker drowned in 1985 trying to ford the river. The water level is unpredictable and can rise quickly due to releases from the dams upstream. The ferry service only operates from 9 to 11 in the morning and 3 to 5 in the afternoon. So, that is why I needed to hike along to get there while the service was still operating. If you get there late your're stuck until tomorrow.I did pass Rocky "slackpacking" SOBO about 2 p.m. His girlfriend has been shuttling him to the Trail and picking him up. Rocky, you may recall, I met back at the Cabin a week or so back.The gentleman doing the ferry service was quite nice. He told me about the big power outage back east. Sounds like it may have hit home.Got to the Caratunk B&B Hostel shortly after 4. Showered and went to dinner with 3 other guests, Sundance, Alaskan Nomad, and Duce Bigelo Trail Gigelo. There's a long story about how Duce got his name. Nice guys that are flip flopping except Duce who is SOBO thru-hiking. All of them stayed at Shaw's which is my last stop 2 days from now.Well, it was finally a 20 mile day. Can't remember the last one of those. The next 2 days should be about 19 miles each and the terrain is supposed to be decent.Thought for the Day: Some days were made for hiking.