morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-10-01
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to

To: Poierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Shorter day yet, in to camp at 1:30! Now this is what I call hiking!!! Whycouldn't I have been doing this for the last 7 months? 'Cause I would still bebelow the Mason-Dixon Line! Had to stop because the ferry across the KennebecRiver only runs in the morning...starting to day...a day late. Oh well, now Iget to eat breakfast the morning at the Harrison Camps B&B which is right nearhere...mmm! Then get the ferry at 10 am, in to Caratuck for 3 day resupply andout again on towards Monson, the last town on the trail.I was alone yesterday, but Big Foot (from Rochester, too...Randy Reynolds) cameinto the last shelter after dark. We sorta hiked together to this shelter, thenhe was going to go on and hope that the ferryman would be there even though heknew the schedule had changed. When he stopped in at the Harrison camps on hisway by to put in my reservation for breakfast, they told him his plan was a nogo, so he came back to the shelter. I spent the afternoon reading andnapping...what a delight...and what a view! This shelter is right at the pond'sedge...I wish it were warmer so swimming would feel good. I'll have to comeback and hike Maine again in warmer weather, southbound next time...anyone wantto join me?As this journey nears its end, I ask myself if I think this was a goodidea...can't say it was, doing it all in one year. Too much pressure to justkeep hiking and no time to enjoy all the sights and sounds all around me. Icertainly wanted to know what living 6 months on the trail was like and it'sjust 6 times one month...the same old, same old over and over and over again. If I were to do it again (don't worry, Dennis, I won't!), I would break it intoquarters and I would only hike the better parts. There's only bragging rightsto have done it all in one year...and they aren't worth nothing.   Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-02
From: Poierce Pond Lean-to

To: Cowboy Campsite on a mountain top under the stars!
Miles today: 13.0

I night hiked tonight! For about an hour until I found this great spot to sleep out under the stars. I was trying to get to a stream so I would have more water, but I decided not to cook a dinner and just eat cheese and crackers, so I didn't need more water than I have with me...about 16 oz...that will get me through the night and I'll get to the stream in about an hour's walk in the morning. My feet could not walk another step...the pain is unbelievable and goes on for hours while I hike on...really does take the fun out of it. About 140 miles to go! I can limp along...boy is Brett (my muscle fixer man) going to have some work to do to get these feet repaired! Right now I'm lying down and they are resting, but in a few minutes (when I'm sure I'm done eating) I have to get up and hobble painfully over to the tree where I have a "varmit line" (wouldn't stop a bear, but will keep the mice out) to hang my food bag. Then during the night I have to hobble on them every time ! nature calls...but they will eventually loosen up in the morning after I start hiking and be ok until tomorrow afternoon, when the pain will start again. This morning we had the best breakfast over at Harrison's Maine Hunting Camp. What a wonderful rustic place he has, much like the places in the Adirondacks, but more remote. There are 8 cabins and a main lodge...he provides 3 meals a day to his guests...good food too! We had pancakes with blueberries, raspberries, and apples in them, eggs, sausage, juice, and coffee...mmm good! I'd love to come back there sometime! Big Foot and Turkey Jerky were there with me...in fact Turkey Jerky bought my breakfast for me, he said to pay me back for giving him a Lipton dinner last night. He got into the shelter eating only granola bars. I had an extra dinner and gave it to him...he was very grateful. Nice young guy from California! Well my hands are freezing and the stars are spectacular, so I'm going to sign off, go hang that dang food bag, and watch the heavenly show! Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-03
From: Cowboy Campsite on a mountain top under the stars!

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

It's the morning after sleeping cowboy on the mountaintop...what I didn't figure on was dew! I woke up at 11 pm and my sleeping bag (which is down) was all wet, my boots were all wet, my pack was all wet, and anything else that was exposed to the air. I put my down jacket and socks down in my sleeping bag hoping my body warmth would dry them, tucked everything else under my Tyvek ground cloth, and went back to sleep. This morning is cloudy and windy up here, but my sleeping bag is actually drier...although everything else is pretty wet. I have no idea how I will pack this mess up, and I'm sure hoping to find a sunny spot later today to dry it all out. It's evening now and I really did it today. I lost my headlight! It's getting wuite dark here, but I am managing to read the keyboard on my Pocketmail...other than that, I have no light source tonight...darn. Turkey Jerky and I have been hiking most of the day together, but he decided to hike on tonight since he's trying to summit on the 10th. Before he left, he tried to make me a candle out of some wax in a can he found in the shelter...how sweet. It worked for a while, but then when all the wax melted, the twigs drowned. This is quite an eye strain with such low light. I just got the twigs and wax burning again...if I'm not careful, I'll burn down the shelter...I hope not. It's amazing how comforting a fire is. I thought about building one in the fire ring, but I didn't want to stay up to tend to it. My camera is not working right either. I hope it's just the display on the back that's shot. I'm still taking pictures with it, but I can't tell if it's actually working. I'm going to try and check it in Monson tomorrow. And it's hunting season here in the woods: moose, bear,and bird. So I added neon orange streamers to my pack. Everyone laughed at me till we were sitting by a road and a hunter came by. They aren't laughing any more. Long day today! I have 9 more miles in to Monson. I hope either someone behind me finds my headlamp or i can buy a new one in Monson...elsewise I'll have to just get by with a flashlight. Sure need something. Should be fun finding my way when nature calls tonight!   Usually though there's enough light at night to see okay.Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-04
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to

To: Monson, ME (Shaw's)
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: few clouds

I'm sitting by Lake Hebron...it's 9:20 am and I'm hiking by myself into Monson, the last trail town, the last resupply. It's another absolutely beautiful morning up here...warm and sunny and unseasonal...way to go, Mom! (She's been in charge of the weather this whole trip and done a fabulous job of it...all the hikers have thanked her many times!) This is a rare moment on this trip...a moment of stopping and just enjoying the view, quietly, by myself. Feeling no rush. Monson will wait. I hustled the past two days to have a half day in Monson, but I don't mind sharing some of that time right here in the sun overlooking the water, reflecting on this hike and what it's meant to me. But ever time I do, I well up with tears that I don't really understand. This journey has been too much rushing, too many people, more about the destination than the journey. I would rather have spent thetime wandering who know where, meeting people that are surprised to meet you rather than expecting you and looking for you, taking maybe whole days to reflect by a lake rather than an hour or less. There has been little "down time" on this trip, time to yourself to fill, to explore, to wander, to swim. Oh, good news! I found my headlamp this morning in my pack between my pack liner and my pack...how did it get there? I rather enjoyed my evening by candlelight, though. The mice were the most annoying of any shelter, waking me up with their racket and running across my face! It was creepy being all alone in that shelter with no light except for my lighter. Then about 9 pm Big Foot showed up. I was glad for the company, but not the noise. He was talkative and futzing stuff when he got ther, snored most of the night, then got up around 5:30 am and packed up...ugh! That's what I hate most about shelters..no more...in my tent. It's quite hot sitting here. Maybe I'll get adventuresome and go skinny-dipping. The water would be refreshing. I don't think there are any other hikers around. Well, I took my shoes off and waded in! Oh! my! That's cold!!! No confusion now...I won't be swimming...just a hot shower at the hostel for me! Got a pretty quick hitch into Monson. The ex-postmistress picked me up! The gang is here at Shaw's: GQ, Moon Pie, Bigby, Big Foot, Turkey Jerky. I got a private room. This place is so cute, but simple...bright colors! A woman's touch!!! Rest here this afternoon and head into the 100 mile wilderness with 8 days of food and no cell phone contact for the next week plus. Dana and Dennis are making plans to get to Katahdin and hike up with me next Sunday! This is getting exciting, but I still have 114.5 miles to hike. Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-06
From: Wilson Valley Lean-to

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: overcast clouds

The mice, chipmonks, and/or squirrels were quite active last night, scurrying around and around outside my tent...then this morning I found out why...I left trail mix in my pack hip pocket when I hung it up in the tree and they found it and at it all, except the dried cranberries. Big Foot said they were so busy in the shelter that he only got about 4 hours sleep. I hope it's better in this shelter...Bigby has traps set, but he's not catching any.Skip, Moon Pie, and Bigby are sharing the shelter with me tonight. Moon Pie had a fire going when I got in in the dark around 6:30. Sure getting dark early now making for short hiking days. I have to be going by 7 am or I can't get the miles done. Tomorrow's a bit shorter day, only 12 planned. Then I'll do White Cap on Monday, the last big mountain to climb. After that it should be smooth sailing to Katahdin. I can't wait.Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-07
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: clear sky

I'm sitting on a boulder right next to a stream waiting for my water to boil for lunch. I brought Cup O' Noodles for lunches because they're lightweight.Last night was quite cold, but I was warm in my bag. We did have rain though and Skip woke up to find leaks in the shelter roof above him! He was wet! He managed to rearrange himself and get back to sleep...a tough, seasoned camper, that's for sure!Got in early to the shelter today. Had originally planned on going to a campsite 2 miles beyond, but the guys I've been hiking with lately (Skip, Moon Pie, and Bigby) don't hjave tents, so they are going to shelters. I decided I preferred the company and the campfire and the 2 miles wouldn't make much difference...so I stayed here when I got here at 2:30. Tomorrow will also only be 10 miles, but then I'll be over all the mountains and will be able to do longer miles and make the base of Katahdin Friday night. It's been nice to be able to go a bit slower here at the end and enjoy a bit of the journey and the company of fellow hikers who are enjoying the trail and not anxious for the trip to end. Three of the 5 of us here tonight are from Rochester! Go figure!!! 6 more days on the trail. Part of me can't believe this is almost over...what a mix of emotions...hurry up and end...no don't be over yet, I haven't had enough. Well, I've had enough of hiking long days, day afte! r day, but I haven't had enough of living outdoors...I love that part!Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-08
From: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to

To: East Branch Lean-to
Miles today: 10.8

Got my first view of Katahdin today...spectacular, even in the clouds! Passed the 2100 mile mark today and I have only 67.8 miles to go!Today was another short day into a shelter, but I came over 3 mountains, so I figured I earned a short one. It's been fun going easy and having time in camp and fires. Tomorrow, though, I have to do 16 to a campsite or 18.5 to a shelter. So it looks like it will be an early start...up at 5 and hiking by 6.I think about how it will feel to be done...did this hike change me in any way...what do I want to do now. Don't have any answers, though. I do plan on taking a couple of zeros, though! Take 3 baths a day, eat my Caesar salad, watch a movie, and rest my feet!So off to sleep.Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-09
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: :Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: broken clouds

Look at those miles! Lucky for me they were fairly flat and fairly rock and root free...what a treat! I got started at 6:30 this morning and got into camp at 5:15...moon Pie and Bigby didn't catch me until after 4:00...not bad, huh?And they brought a treat: hot dogs, rolls, baked beans, and s'more fixings! The girlfriend of one of The Hobbits (who sheltered with us last night) was at a road crossing this morning and she went in to town and bought the stuff, then met the guys at another road crossing to give it to them. A hot dog never tasted so good!!!The 3 of us are the only ones here tonight. Skip, Big Foot, and The Hobbits stayed back at a campsite nearer the road so that the girlfriend, Marie, could stay with them...and Skip didn't have a tent so he was going to have to share with Marie who supposedly has a big one.Tomorrow it's 17 miles, then 15 on Thursday, then 10 on Friday to the base of Katahdin, then 5 to summit on Saturday or Sunday! Whoopee!!!Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-10
From: :Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Another long mileage day! This one was not as much fun as yesterday...the trail was rocky and rooty and twisty...ohhhh, my aching feet! I think my feet will be the part of me that's most happy when this trail is finished. They suffer so every day. My heels are structurally shot! All the tendons and ligaments and whatever else is in there is so beat up, I don't think they will ever be the same. But you should have seen my feet move the last 2 hours today...pain or no pain, they are learning how to fly over this terrain, finally. And it was the worst possible: wet leaves, wet roots, wet rocks! I just dion't think I could keep that pace up every day. I call it "my going to town legs".Had an equipment failure today. I was walking along and felt drips on the back of my legs. I checked my platypus bladder and sure enough, water on my pack liner and all down inside my pack settling at the botttom. My trick of putting everything EXCEPT my bladder and food bags inside the pack liner has saved me several times this trip and kept my gear dry when my bladder has leaked. Good thing because I do not put my down sleeping bag in anything, I just stuff it around my other bags freely in the bottom of my pack, filling all the free crevices.I love finding big, old trees and when I do I stop and put my hand on them feeling their life force and their wisdom and thanking them for their years of standing there. I often have quick conversations with the trees, touching as I pass. Sometimes they giggle, the young ones, as if they've been tickled.   Some that I didn't touch call out "me too!". Just another crazy thing I've been doing to past the time.I think a lot about this journey being almost over and I'm so mixed over it. I can't believe it's almost over. I can't believe how far I've hiked. I have flashes of memories of people I've met, places I've been, things I've laughed over, views I've seen, etc. What an incredible 7 months!Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-11
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge Campsite
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I saw moose today! Finally! I was walking around Rainbow Lake when I heard thrashing in the water, looked up, and there were two moose trotting towards shore obviously startled by me. What beautiful woodland creatures they are! Once they reached the shore, they made absolutely no noise and I only barely saw them as they trotted off into the woods. Made my trip complete...I can go home now a happy woman....seeing moose, AND seeing Katahdin, the whole mountain, out from under the clouds! She is a monster...what a climb that's going to be on Sunday...5 miles up and5 miles down.I hiked today with a section hiker named Pickwick, a medical technician from NJ, and a woman...it was fun to have someone to hike with and talk with...I really enjoyed her company.It's so hard to believe I'm almost at the end of this incredible journey. What started as an impulse statement a year ago ("I'm going to retire and hike the Appalachian Trail!") has become a full-fledged reality...I've done it! (Well,almost, except for the last 15 miles.) This last week has just been a blast! Enjoying everly last inch of Maine and the trail. Tonight there is Bigby, Moon Pie, Pickwick and me in the shelter; Tom, a guy who just finished the PCT and is thinking he still wants to hike; and the Hobbits and Marie in a tent; Moosehead and Cul-de-Sac (brother and sister) were here, but have gone in to town with their folks. We had a great campfire, pizza, and s'mores.Tomorrow is threatening rain and lots of it! Oh, well, I then will go in to town for the night, and a shower, and warm bed, and Dana and Dennis will join me...yippee!And after I climb the big K, I can come home...Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-13
From: Katahdin Summit

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

A lazy day: breakfast at the AT Cafe, grocery shopping, driving to Abol Bridge for views of Katahdin, doing trail magic at Katahdin Stream Campground for Moon Pie, Bigby, and Critter's Dad when they came off the mountain after completing their hike...so glad I could share in their celebration! Moosehead and Cul-de-Sac and their dad went up, mom stayed back and worried. After we finished dinner we went to see if their car was still there and it wasn't, so they made it down. Also Skip and Big Foot skipped ahead and summited today. They still have to do the section from Abol Bridge to here. We didn't see them whenever they came down even though the AT passes right by our campsite. Sorry we missed them, we had trail magic for them too...oh well.Tomorrow is our day and we're praying to the hiker god's tonight for a warm, clear, quiet day. Whatever it is, it will be fun doing it with Dana and Dennis!We had a fun dinner of hot dogs, greens and beans, leftover Dinosaur BBQ...mmmmgood! We're going to climb the big K tomorrow and stay at the campground here again tomorrow night because we all love camping! Dana's sleeping in my tarptent and Dennis and I are sharing our usual tent, and we're talking between the tents. Dana's been quite worried that she'll be too cold so she's rigged up a bunch of blankets.Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-14
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, Mother Nature is not cooperating. Yesterday was beautiful, although windy and cold...but overnight we had more rain and it snowed up on Katahdin...so they closed the mountain! No summiting today, darn. Tomorrow is questionable. The ranger says Tuesday is more likely. If that happens, Dana will have to change her flight and we'll be a few days late getting home. Oh, well...just means I have longer "on the trail". Moon Pie, Bigby, Skip, Big Foot, Moosehead, & Cul-de-San summited yesterday. We should have, but delayed because Dennis and Dana didn't get in til late Friday night. Hindight is 20/20. We are going to sleep out at the campground again tonight after daudling in town for the day. Keep your fingers crossed.
Date: 2007-10-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Mountain still closed...too snowy and icy! So, in town we sit. Candlestick bowling has become our new pastime. What a gang is here. Let me list all that I can think of: Fishstick, Wyoming, Sir Privy Winks, Luna, Chocolate Bandito, Bird Star, Goldilocks, Sudoku, White Crow, Nutella. Moon Pie, Critter's Dad, and Are We There Yet are getting ready to leave town...they summited on Saturday.
Date: 2007-10-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Mountain still closed. This is getting old. The story is that tomorrow, although it would be a good day to summit, the rangers will close the mountain again because they will not be available for a rescue as they are having a big pow wow and won't be around. Many hikers are saying they'll summit anyways, we haven't had rangers around to rescue us on most of this trail and it's been treacherous! That makes Thursday the day, but tomorrow the forecast is better than Thursday. Dana has moved her flight to Friday, so we're set to stay. I think we're going to go hike the Gulf Hagas trail today, about a 4 mile trail on the rim of a beautiful gorge. We have to ford a river to get to the trailhead...should be fun.Sit tight,
Date: 2007-10-17
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Katahdin Summit
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I did it!!!!! Summited today!!!! And I cried when I touched that sign, couldn't believe the emotional release at being there. What a crowd we had at the summit...22 people in the summit photo!And Moon Pie ordered THE MOST PERFECT DAY: sunny, warmish, light breeze...good job, Moon Pie!!! Now on to touring the Maine coast, dropping Dana at the Portland airport on Friday, and then, home!Step Lightly
Date: 2007-10-18
To: First Day After
Miles today: 0.0

First day after. Don't want it to end. Don't want to leave Millinocket. Go to cafe for breakfast. See other hikers there. Debby, the waitress, says they have found a house for all us hikers to live in but they haven't figured out the job/money thing...we haven't either! Nutella joins us.   The plan is to take her to her hometown of Camden/Rockport and she'll give us a tour of the Maine coast. Her aunt will let us sleep on her living room floor...trail magic continues! Doesn't feel over though, just a long layover in town.Step lightly
Date: 2007-10-19
To: The road home
Miles today: 0.0

This is the day we head home. This morning we went to the Corner Store in Rockport for breakfast. Nutella has been quite the tour guide! She's got to be related to everyone in town and knew a lot of the history, etc. We had a great time meeting her two aunts, an uncle, and many cousins, and eating at the uncle's restaurant. Great way to experience Maine through the locals.Just dropped Dana at the Portland airport and hope her flight leaves through all the fog. Now we're driving home.Observations:1) It's going to be really hard to stop eating the volume of food that I was...and the type (junk)...my appetite is still there, but the exercise has ceased.2) There's too much "stuff" in civilization, and too much shiny stuff, and too much of a push for perfection. Good enough isn't good enough.3) I'm going to really miss all the exercise and endorphins. I hope to start up my power walking 5 miles/day when I get home...that sounds like such a short distance now.4) Civilization is noisy!Step lightly