morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-17
From: Bemis Stream

To: ME4
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 3 of Suzanne!After the fast-paced downhill scramble from the night before (where Elle only left me behind once for about 5 minutes) we were left with 0.9 miles to get to ME-17 (or if you asked me, only 2 more miles). It started with Elle's first river ford! She crossed like a champ! After it was all uphill and I was tiiiired. But we made it to the GORGEOUS Height of Land where, again, my car was gloriously waiting.And this is where I leave Elle to continue her final miles to Katahdin!! After this short adventure with Elle I have come to two conclusions. 1.) I have no desire to thru-hike the AT. 2.) Elle is freaking amazing. Hiking the AT is like this: Get up. Strap 30+ lbs on your back. Do a triathlon in the morning. Lunch. Do a 2nd triathlon in the afternoon. Some days, heck do a 3rd for FUN! Set up camp. Sleep on the ground, in whatever weather. Repeat. Six.months.straight. Elle is amazingly strong, courageous and determined.As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen.(elle's note: I finished the last 13 miles to Rangeley after Suzanne left. I was very sad to be hiking alone without my favorite Piglet for company, but luckily it was a pretty easy stretch! I'm thankful that she could join me for these few days and I hope she'll hike with me again in the future! Tonight: Rangeley Inn and maybe a zero tomorrow.)
Date: 2016-08-19
From: ME4

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-To
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I expected today to be much more difficult than it truly was. Saddleback Mountain was an easy climb and the views are incredible! I think today was the most beautiful day I've had on the trail, if you add together the excellent weather, easy but interesting trail, and perfect views! If there was one day hike that I would recommend from this trip so far, it's up and across the Saddleback peaks. Just make sure you choose a day with beautiful weather!However, the day wasn't allowed to be totally perfect, since this is the AT after all. The shelter area that we chose for the night was Poplar Ridge, and there are tentsites listed in AWOL. Unfortunately. the tent sites are sparse and fairly crappy (I squeezed into a single site alongside Cold Snap and Diesel's Big Agnes 'Seedhouse 3') and there is a very loud group of kids here. Regardless, today was still amazing and I'm so happy that the views from Saddleback were excellent.
Date: 2016-08-20
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-To

To: Carrabassett River
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

The 'miles remaining' number in my written journal starts with a one. WITH A ONE, YOU GUYS. What a day.Wonderful, relatively easy, and pleasant day until the last two miles. What is with the descent NOBO into Carrabassett Valley!??? Is the trail trying to kill us!? What the hell!!???So pleasantNice plaque!AND THEN THINGS GOT CRAZYDiesel went down (he's OK)And the trail turned into a cliff dropWe finally made it to the Carrabassett River, which didn't require fording, and camped right after it. My body is sort of breaking down. My muscles are always tired and my joints ache like crazy and I start feeling exhausted after only a few miles of hiking. I guess that happens after almost 2000 miles? I'm also getting so excited/anxious about the end that I think I'm actually losing sleep. Katahdin can't come soon enough. Stratton tomorrow!!!!!
Date: 2016-08-21
From: Carrabassett River

To: ME27
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: few clouds

Five miles into our 8 mile day a rumor spread up the trail that there were burgers and beer at the trailhead on ME27. I ran downhill toward that magic, y'all....And still got there too late. But it doesn't matter, because guess what happened today!!!!TWO. THOUSAND. DAMN. MILES.That is the face of a happy hiker. 2000 seems like such a gigantic milestone and I feel so close to the end after seeing that marker. Sometimes it doesn't quite feel real that I've walked here from Georgia (over EVERY possible mountain between here and there!) and that I still feel relatively good.And honestly, who care if we missed burger and beer trail magic? We still got a ride into town from the police chief and managed to make magic of our own. Hiker town favoritesI head up the Bigelows tomorrow. They are rumored to be the last truly difficult peaks until Katahdin. I guess we'll see!
Date: 2016-08-22
From: ME27

To: Safford Notch Campsite
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

Do not climb the Bigelows in poor weather.Do not climb the Bigelows after a big rainstorm.Do not climb the Bigelows when there are hurricane force winds at the top.No, seriously, please only climb the Bigelows when it's perfectly still and calm and sunny and beautiful. I hear it's spectacular when the weather is good.I had crap.This was the easy and pleasant part of the dayThe wind and dense cloud-cover-turned-rain on top of West and Avery peaks was so strong that it knocked Diesel to the ground (he was leading) and pushed Cold Snap and I around so much that we had to scream encouraging comments at each other just to keep moving forward... while crouched half over and leaning hard against the gale with our trekking poles bracing us against the rocks. At one point we all looked at each other and started laughing hysterically because our adrenaline was running so high. You might think I'm exaggerating about the conditions but I promise it was absolutely insane. It felt like being in a hurricane!! It was definitely the most severe wind I've ever experienced in my life. My pack cover even blew off! I caught it as it started to fly away (hooray for remnant softball skills) and I was so glad to finally get back below treeline for good.WTF, Bigelows? You better actually be the last difficult thing left before the end. (by the way, Safford Notch campsite is not great and if possible I'd recommend that you don't stop here. Tent sites are sloped and crappy and the tent platforms are falling apart! And it's 0.3 off trail...)
Date: 2016-08-23
From: Safford Notch Campsite

To: East Carry Pond
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

Every day, I write in my journal that I'd really appreciate a stretch of easy miles. Well, today I got a stretch of medium miles! The flat pond walking indicated by AWOL is actually full of rocks and roots and mud and isn't flat at all. At least it's pretty!Two of my friends came to hike a bit with me today!!! We had so much fun and the weather was so nice (and thankfully not windy...) We even got trail magic at the road crossing - beer!!!!Then it was time to boogie around West and East Carry ponds. And finally to stop after sixteen miles. We got to camp early enough to soak in the pond and enjoy the sunset before heading to bed. It will be an early morning tomorrow since we're rushing to catch the Kennebec River ferry canoe!!!So relaxingBest friend for the evening
Date: 2016-08-24
From: East Carry Pond

To: US 201
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

I'm in Caratunk! Drinking beers at Northern Outdoors (does that make me a bit Cara-drunk?) and enjoying a half day of hiking. I wasn't sure we'd stop here since we're pushing for Monson but after a crazy morning run for the Kennebec River ferry, worried that I wouldn't make it by the last scheduled ferry run, it seemed like a nice idea to stop and eat and drink and sleep in a bed. I beat the ferry deadline by 2 hours, by the way. I thought by now I'd be more relaxed about hiking and letting the trail guide me, but I still overplan and get everywhere far too early. Oh well. The trail from Pierce Pond shelter to the Kennebec crossing totally (excuse my French) sucks monkey butt. It's rocky and full of roots and goes up and down for no reason. Being so close to the end somehow makes annoying trail even more annoying. Also thought by now that I'd be so happy to be almost finished that nothing would bother me, but yeah, not so much. Pointless hills are still really frustrating.I rocked the canoe ferry, though!But first, let me take a selfieCutest ferry ever.Then it was time for some yummy house-brewed beers at Northern Outdoors. A very sweet couple who were spending the day enjoying the river and trails nearby offered to drive us to the restaurant/resort and I loved spending time talking with them. Meeting people is the best part of this adventure, I've said it a million times and I'll say it again. Three shades of beers for three hikers!
Date: 2016-08-25
From: US 201

To: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

We did great for a 9:30am start to hiking! Tent pitched by 6:30 and a good thing too, since it's raining a bit. I'm really exhausted. I'm tired all the time and my legs are so sore. I'm just so dang tired! I'm too tired to even properly journal! Today was very normal - just hike hike hike and then get to camp and then pitch my tent and sleepy time. The end is closing in so fast, only 135 miles left!Had to leave this cute retro sled behind at the resort!
Date: 2016-08-26
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-To

To: Horseshoe Lean-To
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

It was a rainy and icky start to today but it cleared up and got hot and humid. At least the trail from Moxie Bald to Horseshoe Canyon was incredibly nice. This shelter was my motivation for the day but then we arrived and realized that the tent sites are awful (slopes, rocks, roots, ugh) and that makes me sad because I like to sleep in my tent. I ended up in the shelter with El Tejano and another guy who are both very very nice, but I think I've scared them half to death with threats of retribution if they wake me up in the middle of the night. I promise I'm not a crazy mean hiker, I just dearly love my sleep.Pretty views todayCollect water, sterilize water, drink water. Hiker life9 miles to Monson tomorrow morning. Then the Hundred Mile Wilderness. Then Katahdin!!!!!!!!
Date: 2016-08-27
From: Horseshoe Lean-To

To: ME 15
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

We cruised in with El Tejano and encountered excellent trail magic when "Poet" from Shaw's Hostel offered to bring us into town! It was so perfect and I was so thankful for his kindness. We grabbed some food (and beer, of course) at a local BBQ place.This year, a pre-registration for thru-hiking in Baxter State Park is... a thing... I have no idea if it's required or suggested or anything, but the signs hung in the shelters are quite demanding about the need to talk to the Monson ranger and register, so I'm doing it. I happily listened to the little spiel about rules and regulations in BSP and tried to keep my annoying questions to a minimum. It's frustrating to know that nothing is certain about my last few days on the trail until I actually get to BSP. A lot of hikers feel that way, but I know it's not really the ranger's fault. I'll try to not get too annoyed.Cold Snap, Diesel, and I all decided to take a zero day to wait out Labor Day weekend. I mean, it's not the weekend yet, but we're waiting a day in order to have our summit day fall on Tuesday the 6th. Let me repeat that: SUMMIT DAY. TUESDAY THE SIXTH. I have a summit day.I HAVE A SUMMIT DAY!elle and two excellent people, summitting on the sixth!Heading now to a camp on Moosehead Lake for a zero day and to prepare for the Hundred Mile Wilderness. I'm nervous. And scared. And thrilled. SO MANY THINGS! SO MANY FEELINGS! It's almost over.
Date: 2016-08-30
From: Long Pond Stream

To: Pleasant River
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: broken clouds

My feet hurt so much. Sixteen miles of rough terrain is too much! Sixteen miles with a pack full of a week of food and a body worn down by 2000 miles of hiking. Too much.I'm hiking so slowly. It's insane. I feel like I could fall asleep at every snack break! I'm really looking forward to getting my energy back. I might just sleep for three full days straight. I mean, I'm laying here on my sleeping pad, in my cute little tent, and my hips and legs are throbbing. I mean THROBBING. The two ibuprofen aren't helping. But DAY TWO of the 100 Mile Wilderness is over! We're at Pleasant River! We did arrive at nearly 7pm so I ate my cold instant mashed potatoes by headlamp. I hate setting up my camp at twilight because it feels so rushed and awkward. It's very pleasant to camp near Pleasant River, though. We're across KI Road (Katahdin Ironworks Rd) and near a babbling brook that I'm sure will make for nice white noise and a solid sleep. After falling in a river during a ford a few days ago, I'm sure that I'll be properly fording Pleasant River in the morning (shoes off! No rock hop attempts!). It might feel nice to get cool water on my aching feet and ankles. Four more days in the wilderness!
Date: 2016-08-31
From: Pleasant River

To: Logan Brook
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: broken clouds

It poured rain last night and due to our twilight arrival at the chosen campsite and a rushed set-up and dinner, my hiking partners' tent fly wasn't pitched all the way, my tent was in a depression next to the stream, and none of us were prepared for a drenching. Unfortunately, their stuff got halfway soaked and I woke up with a puddle underneath my tent, but thanks to my Big Agnes and the awesome waterproofing on the bathtub floor, I stayed snug and dry! It put a damper on my plan for the day (pun intended) and after waking up to the rain and making sure my electronics and papers were safe and dry, I promptly went back to sleep for an hour to let the weather calm down.It did, eventually. And I packed up and got out of my tent, eventually.Fording Pleasant River was refreshing! Climbing approximately one billion "tiny" mountains was not refreshing. It was exhausting! Okay, it was only four mountains, and one of them was barely a bump, but it was a hard day. My pack is still pretty heavy since I'm not doing a resupply in the 100 mile wilderness and I'm carrying so much food! At least the end of today also indicated the end of the climbing days until Katahdin, which I saw today from the top of Whitecap Mountain! I can't believe I'm that close.Also found this near my tent site tonight!Please excuse the purple-tinted picture, my phone has an issue...I hope it doesn't rain again tonight!
Date: 2016-09-01
From: Logan Brook

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Almost 20 miles today and I sure can feel it. My legs are less than pleased with me, but I am so proud!Antlers Campsite is totally awesome. I highly recommend it as a stop! Next to a beautiful lake with nice, flat, spaced-out spots for tents.So pretty!One thing that I wish I hadn't ditched for weight conservation is my DEET spray. I thought I wouldn't need it but the mosquitoes and flies are in swarms out here and I'm covered in bug bites. Nothing is quite as maddening as a mosquito buzzing in my ear while I'm trying to navigate tricky rock sections.Oh, have I mentioned enough times that my legs hurt? Because they so. My feet and toes as well.Something other than ibuprofen helps with that!Yum! This is like a vacation, now
Date: 2016-09-02
From: Antlers Campsite

To: Wadleigh Stream
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: scattered clouds

The AWOL profile looks so much easier in the guide than today felt! The "flat" section was all full of rocks and roots and I was hiking so slow that I may as well have been hiking southbound (ha ha!). I'm probably just tired from yesterday's almost-20 day. Only 3 days to Abol Bridge! And a shower! And nearly the end!And you know, even slow turtles get to climb Katahdin
Date: 2016-09-03
From: Wadleigh Stream

To: Stealth site
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Had some people think I was a section hiker today. I just laughed. Me - with my six days without a shower and my giant pack - but I just smiled and said no, I've been in the woods for a while. I think I should take it as a compliment.Today was pleasant. There was a beautiful view of Katahdin from the top of Nesuntabunt Mountain this morning! It looks HUGE. Then it was just rocks and roots and careful walking all the way down. Combining the late-ish start this morning with a slow hiking speed and long breaks means that we only made it 15 miles. I'm happy with it, though, because we're stealthing next to ANOTHER lake! Last night out in the "wild" on the AT and it's a perfect one. This is wonderfulMy next two nights will be Abol Bridge and KSC/The Birches. 23 miles left!I couldn't believe this sign
Date: 2016-09-04
From: Stealth site

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: clear sky

It's really happening. We're here. I'm only fifteen miles from the top of Katahdin and I only have one day left before the final climb. I cried a bit (just a bit!) while crossing Abol Bridge. How could you not? Look at it. It's right there.It's everything! It's my whole journey, coming to an end, captured in one photo. 15 more miles. Fifteen.
Date: 2016-09-05
From: Abol Bridge

To: The Birches
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Time feels like it's flying. Wasn't it just last week that I was summitting Springer Mountain in Georgia, two thousand miles away, and wondering if I'd even make it out of state #1? Wasn't it yesterday that I broke down before Lehigh Gap in PA and almost quit to go home with my family? Wasn't it this morning that I was crossing Mt. Washington, so happy and proud that I made it that far? Where did these 6 months go?I think I felt more sentimental on Abol Bridge than I do right now. I guess I'm in "business mode" because the final challenge is here and I'm the type of person that gets hyperfocused rather than mushy and gooey. There are so many things that are occupying my thoughts that I don't have the time or energy to be emotional. I guess that will come when I see that sign.By the way, Simple Man is here!!! I'm SO HAPPY that he decided to summit on the same day as me - I've missed him terribly since we last parted in Connecticut and I was hoping to get a real goodbye. Water Buffalo (a.k.a. 'elle's dad') also drove in this morning to say hello and do some last-minute trail magic. He's staying in Millinocket and climbing Katahdin with me tomorrow! I don't even know what to write. I want to be deep and profound and thoughtful and say something super-duper meaningful but honestly I'm just excited and a bit numb. It's surreal that this moment is finally here and it feels like I'm watching a movie about myself approaching the end of the amazing adventure. I'm in awe of the mountain and this journey and I can't quite comprehend that I'm truly this close to finishing.Cheers to my last night as an aspiring thru-hiker. Tomorrow, I'll be one.
Date: 2016-09-06
From: The Birches

To: HOME
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: clear sky

2189.2 miles just to get this photo.My thru hike of the Appalachian Trail was as empowering as it was humbling. It was incredibly exciting and sometimes awfully boring. It was freezing cold and hot as hell and terrifying and beautiful and insane and the best and hardest thing I've ever done. The people I met along the way who became part of my 'trail family' will always be the greatest part of this journey (...but the mountains were pretty damn awesome too) and I could never have done it without my support team of friends and family. I want to thank each and every one of you who have supported me, read this blog, commented, sent me e-mails, checked up and encouraged me to write more, prayed/hoped/thought about me during my more difficult moments, been inspired, and everything else! Thank you especially to Water Buffalo, the greatest trail dad and hiking partner of all time, and Flamingo, the best trail angel magician in the world and President of the Elle Fan Club. Now at the end of it all, I'm happy to be finished and proud to be an AT Thru Hiker, Class of 2016.Time to go home.(I'll upload more photos and do recaps/gear reviews/etc, I promise)
Date: 2016-11-25
To: Happy Thanksgiving
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy (late) Thanksgiving everyone!! I'm thankful for the ability to relax and not need to shop at all today. Well, to be honest, I'm afraid to even peek at the REI website due to overwhelming fear that something will look too good to pass up. I don't need any more gear!! Except maybe some snow bibs and new gloves...Winter is coming! Only 6 days until snowmobile trails open in Michigan and my favorite season officially starts. I'll be hanging up my Oboz shoes for Klim boots but I'll continue to post gear updates when I'm not out playing in powder.Only a few months left until the 2017 thru hike season starts, too!! Can't wait to read all the journals of the next class and reminisce on my own adventures.
Date: 2016-12-26
To: Christmas ALREADY!?
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Oh my gosh, my golly. It's Christmas already? I've been slacking on my gear reviews!! The snow started flying and that means I've been out sledding. It's hard to type opinions of water purification systems when I'm playing in fields of fresh powder or barreling down lakeside trails. Whoops! I'll be better, I promise.Bonus pictures of my sled from the latest Michigan tripComing soon: SteriPEN review and discussion of my daily hiking clothing!
Date: 2017-01-28
To: Gear Review: Lucy Workout Tee (shirt)
Miles today: 0.0

WARM WEATHER TOP (LUCY WORKOUT TEE) Gear Review!Weight: no idea. My shirt choice wasn't something that I overthought. I didn't search out the most lightweight option, or the best moisture wicking, or the one with the highest durability. I didn't care about color. I barely cared about fit. After spending beaucoup bucks on a tent, and pack, and sleeping setup, and water purification, and stove, and everything else, I honestly just walked into a Dick's Sporting Goods, tried on a few shirts and picked the one that was the cheapest and fit alright. I bought two - one black and one turquoise. I didn't think they'd last even a month each.I was wrong. One damn shirt went nearly the entire wayIn the middle of the Smoky Mountains I switched from the black top to the turquoise one. There wasn't really any reason except that I thought the black one might start to show stains from the salt in my sweat more than a lighter color. I wore the turquoise top from North Carolina to Katahdin! It didn't fall apart, it didn't itch, it didn't smell, it didn't stretch, and though it lost some color, it didn't get gross or turn brown or anything. I had no idea that this brand, "Lucy", actually made quality stuff. I wanted a shirt that was long in the back so it would cover my butt a bit more than a regular t-shirt and I didn't want a tank top because I was afraid that my pack would chafe my shoulders without a layer of protection. That's the entire thought process that went into my choice, ha!Pros:-Durable and Easy. It did exactly what I wanted it to, and it didn't look terrible. It was easy to wash (on warm, on hot, on cold, on whatever - it was fine) and easy to dry and when it got wet from sweat or rain it dried reasonably quickly on my body.Back view. You can see how it's a bit discolored after 5 months of sweat and wear but it's still in excellent shape-Fit. Okay, not that this was a HUGE deal, but it's a pretty cute shirt and I felt pretty cute wearing it, even sweaty and nasty. It's long in the back so it covered my butt and didn't ride up while I was hiking, which was GREAT. LIke I said, not a huge deal for my gear to be "adorable" but it was nice to be confident about taking pictures, at least with my pack off.Cons:-None.Do I recommend this gear? Yup. I still wear the black shirt now (the turquoise is retired as part of my "summit outfit")Any questions!? Think I should add more info somewhere? Feel free to email me at elleoutdoors@gmail.com!Disclaimer: I did a LOT of research before starting my thru-hike but my Gear Review series is about my personal experiences with my choices of gear and everything might not be true for everyone! Decide carefully, my hiker friends, and get things that work for you
Date: 2016-01-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

To Friends & Family:   I still pinch myself to realize that it's not a dream any longer. I still have a lot of prep to do and gear to buy before March, and it's easy to become overwhelmed with all of the various thoughts about the hike. I'm truly thankful for this incredible opportunity and for all of the support you provide!