morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-09-03
From: Moxie Pond Road

To: US201 2049.9
Miles today: 12.0

Thursday, September 3rd   Breakfast for the Iceman and 3D was at 7am today at the "Inn on the River", the motel all are staying in until tomorrow.   Eric, from the Sterling Inn, a lodge 6 miles away, came with his shuttle to pick up the hikers and bring them to the Moxie Pond Road trailhead. Today they would hike south, a flip flop, for 12 miles to the US201. It was 8 am when they started and the first 6 miles included a rugged and rocky climb up and over Pleasant Pond Mountain. The next 6 miles comprised a gentle descent down to US 201. Although the hike was somewhat strenuous, it was still nothing like what the Iceman has experienced in the last month. During the day the Iceman and 3D passed many NOBO's, among them were U-Haul and South Paw. One thing the Iceman has noticed in the last few days, as he passed a number of very large, beautiful and pristine lakes, is that no one is ever in them or on them. Not a single boat or person. No one uses these lakes and some are well over a mile in area. Where are the people? He came to the conclusion that there is no one in Maine! The Sherpa hung around the Inn today after a nice hot breakfast. Yesterdays journal was done outside on the porch, with the laptop, at a high-top table, sitting next to a hummingbird feeder. For over an hour the Sherpa watched the little birds flitting around the feeder with their wings beating furiously, as she uploaded new photo's taken by both the Iceman and 3D. Thinking that Bingham, which is 30 minutes away, might have something of interest to see, she got in the car and drove south on the 201. Bingham, just like Caratunk and The Forks, is little more than a side street or two, with a gas station and in the case of Bingham, one restaurant. The Sherpa decided to get some ice cream at the gas station/market. While waiting for the gentleman to serve her she asked, "Do you have wifi?" He looked at her with a questioning expression and said, "What is that"? It's obvious that this part of Maine is in a time warp and maybe that's OK
Date: 2015-09-04
From: Moxie Pond Rd

To: Bald Mt. Rd. 2060.7 miles
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: few clouds

Friday, September 4th Eric, from the Sterling Inn, picked up the Iceman and 3D and dropped them off, at 8am, at Moxie Pond Rd. They started the hike to Bald Mountain Road by first fording Baker Stream and then began the long climb to the summit of Moxie Bald Mt. As you can expect, the view at the top of Moxie Bald, elevation 2,629 feet, was unbelievably beautiful. On a clear sunny day, one can see for 50 miles, all around; lakes, crystal clear, and mountain range after mountain range. The descent was about 400 feet after which the Iceman and 3D had an easy hike for the remainder of the day. At 3:30, Buddy Ward, of Seven Pines Shuttle Service, pickup them up and brought them to the Greenville Inn at Moosehead Lake where the Sherpa and the Iceman are staying. A little shopping for 3D at the local grocery store and then off to the motel. The Iceman and Sherpa's daughter, and her family, all met at the Stress Free Moose Pub & Caf© for dinner, along with 3D. The food was very good and just before all left for the night a band started to play on the porch. The Iceman's daughter and her family rented a cabin on Little Lyford Lake, which is about 50 minutes away from Moosehead Lake, by gravel/dirt roads. The Sherpa spent the early part of the day driving to Greenville from The Forks and then investigating the picturesque village of Greenville. Moosehead Lake is 40 miles long and 20 miles wide. There are seaplanes flying around, all types of boats on the lake and many fine stores and restaurants. This is a place the Iceman and Sherpa will come back to. One can spend a weekend to the entire summer here and not get bored.
Date: 2015-09-05
From: Bald Mt. Rd. 2060.7 miles

To: ME15 2074.7 miles
Miles today: 14.0

Saturday, September 5th   Today the Sherpa dropped off the Iceman and 3D, at the ME15, after a breakfast at Auntie M's on the main thoroughfare in Greenville, ME across from Moosehead Lake. This would be a south bound hike as Buddy, the shuttle driver, was busy in the morning and couldn't take them to Bald Mountain Rd where they had ended the hike yesterday. Bald Mt. Rd. is not a paved road, in fact, it's a very rough road and not good for the Sherpa's car. The 14 mile hike started with temperatures in the low 50's and sunny. There were very many ups and downs but they were not overly difficult. The Iceman forded two parts of the Piscataquis River today, the East Branch and the West Branch. Normally, the West Branch is knee deep but because it's been dry for the last few weeks, the river was shallow. The Iceman, not wanting to get his hiking boots wet, took them off and put on his water shoes. He packed his socks and tied his boots to his backpack. After crossing the river he changed into his socks and hiking boots. At the West Branch he did the same thing but this time mustn't have done such a great job tying his hiking boots to his backpack. When he was half way across the river, 3D yelled out to him that one of his hiking boots was floating down the river. He ran as fast as he could through the river, getting totally soaked as he went, and retrieved his boot that had sunk to the bottom. So much for keeping his boots dry. The reason for wanting to keep boots dry, is so that the feet don't get wet and become susceptible to blisters. The Iceman and 3D met at least 18 NOBO thru hikers today and knew most of them. At 3:30, when they arrived at Bald Mt. Rd., Buddy was waiting for them to take them back to their respective lodgings. The Sherpa took a 3 hour cruise on Moosehead Lake aboard a boat named Katahdin. It was sunny, in the 80's, and there were more than 100 people on board. The Captain spoke for an hour and a half describing the scenery and history of the lake and boat. It was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. The Iceman's daughter, Sandra and her family, once again, joined the Iceman and Sherpa for dinner and this time it was at the Rod & Reel, also a place with good food. Haddock is always on the menu and it's prepared 8 different ways. This the Sherpa believes is the New England's favorite fish.
Date: 2015-09-06
From: ME15 2074.7 miles

To: Otter Pond Road 2090.0 miles
Miles today: 14.0

Sunday, September 6th This was a rough day for the Iceman. At 8:15am the Sherpa dropped the Iceman and 3D off at the trailhead on the ME15 just north of Monson so they could begin the "100 Mile Wilderness", as it's been dubbed by hikers. They had two climbs of about 750 feet each and about 15 climbs of about 250 feet each. The total vertical for the day was about 4,500 feet. The trail was very rocky and all of the ups and downs were very steep. In addition to the climbing, they had two streams to ford, both knee deep, Little Wilson and Big Wilson and several other streams where boulder hopping got them across. All in all, it was an exhausting day for the Iceman. His knees were screaming, in pain, at the end of the day. At 3:30pm, Buddy picked them up at Otter Pond road and they were so happy to see him since, at this point the Iceman could hardy move. Dinner was mostly in the dark on the porch at Kelly's Landing. As it began to get dark it was more and more difficult to see what was being eaten, the waitress felt sorry for everyone and suggested going inside to finish dinner. Why weren't there any lights on the porch?, was the question. According to the waitress, the electrician, a local guy, just hadn't gotten around to doing the job he was asked to do at the beginning of the summer. And what about the spot light? Oh well.....no one has gotten around to replacing it. That's rural Maine!!!
Date: 2015-09-07
From: Otter Pond Road 2090.0 miles

To: K I Road 2104.5 miles
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Monday, September 7th Labor Day   After breakfast, at Auntie M's, the Sherpa dropped off the Iceman and 3D at a hostel named "Shaw's" in Monson. Today Buddy wasn't available to shuttle the hikers, so Dawn, from Shaw's did the shuttling. She dropped them off at the Otter Pond Road at 8am and the Iceman and 3D began the 17 mile hike.   This was very ambitious of them, taking on this hike with so many mountains to conquer. The trail took them over Barren Mt., elevation 2,670, Forth Mt., Third Mt., (must have run out people to name the mountains after) Columbus Mt., and Chairback Mt.,   They weren't sure they could make it to the Katahdin Ironworks Road, 17 miles from the start, so they decided that if they weren't at Third Mt., within 5 hours they'd bail out and take a side trail to a pick up point. They made it to Third Mt. in exactly 5 hours so decided to continue and hike over Columbus Mt. and then Chairback Mt.   The Iceman was beginning to wonder whether or not he had made a bad decision to go on as Columbus and Chairback were far more challenging to climb than the first 3 mountains earlier in the day. At 5:30pm the Iceman and 3D reached the K I Road very beaten and hurting. This was THE most difficult day hiking since beginning the AT, at least for the Iceman. He can't remember when he had ever been so worn out. The good news is this part of the trail is over and there isn't supposed to be anything like it from now until Katahdin Mt. Dinner was at the Stress Free Moose and it was pretty good. The Iceman will take a day of rest tomorrow. It may also rain so better to stay off the trail.
Date: 2015-09-08
From: K I Road 2104.5 miles

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Tuesday, September 8th   The Iceman's knees were really hurting from yesterday's 17 mile hike and he needed to rest them. For the first time, since the Iceman and Sherpa checked into the Greenville Inn, the Iceman was able to sleep until 8am and enjoy the wonderful buffet breakfast that the Inn provides to it's guests. The rest of the day was spent at the Inn, and- slowly- walking around the tiny town. There was lunch in the local seafood spot and then ice cream at the old fashioned luncheonette in Harris' Drug Store. Cocktails in one of the many rooms at the Inn and then an early dinner also at the Inn. Tonight is the first time we ate at the Inn since arriving last Friday. The chef is excellent and the dinner included, white bean and kale ragu with Portuguese sausage, a fresh kale and apple salad with blue cheese and maple bacon vinaigrette; the main course, Striped Bass with Lobster Udon, ginger black garlic smoked shellfish daschi pickled leeks and crab slaw AND cheesecake with toasted marshmallows for desert. We will miss this wonderful lake and the Greenville Inn. BUT- we will return someday. The photo is of a typical logging truck. These trucks are everywhere in rural Maine. Maine has tourism and logging and that's about it.
Date: 2015-09-09
From: Logan Brook Road

To: K I Road 2119.4 miles
Miles today: 14.9

Wednesday, September 9th   I thought it important to post this journal as the Iceman wrote it since he's coming to the end of a long and difficult journey and his exact words should be what we all remember. Today 3D and I climbed over White Cap Mountain and completed 45 miles of the Maine "100 Mile Wilderness". In so doing, we climbed the last major mountain before Katahdin. We started the day by climbing White Cap Mt., a 2,000 foot vertical assent. Then in succession we climbed, Hay Mountain, West Peak and Gulf Hagas Mt. Some of the climbs and drops were very steep; but they were made much easier because of the hundreds and hundreds of stone stairs that the Maine AT people have installed. The people that did this work are due a round of applause for their hard work. We were told by one hiker that it took 14 years to build all the stone stairs. Todays hike was a flip flop because the weather report had no rain in the AM but showers in the PM and by going south we would go over the highest and rockiest peak, White Cap Mt. and then be to the lower peaks in the afternoon when it was expected to rain. As it turned out, we were in rain clouds, with a constant drizzle of rain in the AM and sun in the PM. This made the climb up White Cap a real pain. The rest of the day got progressively better. We ended the day by fording a river about 100 feet wide and about 2 feet deep. This cooled off our weary feet. By flip flopping, we again met about a dozen of the NOBO thru hikers in our bubble including U-Haul, South Paw and Ukilady. The Sherpa's day was quiet and since there's no one to drive anywhere, there's time to read and enjoy the surroundings. One of the trekking poles broke yesterday and the local outfitter was able to replace the broken section. The "Dairy Bar", which sells ice cream, was closed again today. It hasn't been open since the Sherpa and Iceman arrived on Friday; at least not when they wanted ice cream. This very small shop is owned by a local teacher and run by the high school students during the summer. Now that summer is over, the hours are 3PM to 7PM but only when there are students available. Crazy way to run a business but this is typical rural Maine and all the stores are operated in this fashion. Harris' Drug Store was crowded, at the luncheonette counter, but the Sherpa was lucky enough to get the last stool and enjoy a Maine Maple Milk Shake. After a conversation with some 8th and 9th graders, at the counter, she walked back to the Inn. The Iceman got back to the Inn at 5:30 and dinner was at the local seafood spot. Tomorrow we must leave this wonderful Inn and set up camp in Millinocket, ME . Life here is so different than what we are used to in New Jersey. People don't rush around; they seem to enjoy every minute of the day. They enjoy the outdoors in summer and winter. Their lives are far from hectic. There is something to be said about this type of existence.
Date: 2015-09-11
From: Jo-Mary Rd. 2133.2 miles

To: Zero day 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Friday, September 11th   The forecast was for heavy rain today so the Iceman and 3D took a zero day to rest. It rained all morning into the early afternoon. The weathermen were correct this time. During breakfast, in the motel, the Sherpa and the Iceman met a 40 year old woman who works for CNN, in NY. She's here in Millinocket, ME with a crew to film and do a documentary on a group of hikers, hiking the Appalachian Trail, called the "Warrior Hikers". She is the producer of this documentary and began interviewing them and documenting their hike, in June, when she met them, on the AT, in Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley. Each year CNN chooses 10 "Hero's" and does a documentary on those 10 and this year one of the 10 "Hero's" is the group Warrior Hikers. These hikers are veterans who've come back from places such as Iraq and Afghanistan and need to "walk off the war". Hundreds and thousands of years ago armies would march to battle and this could take many months. After the battle was over, those soldiers marched back to their homes and again this would take months. Now a days, soldiers leave the battlefield and hop on a 757, and within hours, are sitting at a dinner table with their families. They've had no time to "walk off the war". Many need time to unwind, to contemplate what they've just gone through and to find a way to fit back into the life they once had. The young woman producer was anxious about hiking Mt. Katahdin but felt she could do it and had been wearing her new hiking boots for the last few days to break them in. The Warrior Hikers plan to summit Mt. Katahdin tomorrow, Saturday and she will be with them documenting the hike. The forecast is for a clear day in Millinocket and hopefully a clear day on the mountain. In the evening, the Sherpa, Iceman and 3D went to dinner at the River Drivers, again, as this is really the only restaurant in or near Millinocket that is considered good, sad to say. The restaurant is very pretty inside and the food is delicious; homemade bread, a different kind tonight, lobster bisque soup, rib eye steak with zucchini from the garden, blackened salmon with Sriracha sauce and rice pilaf; for desert, raspberry pie with ice cream. 3D has decided to camp out for the next few nights so the Iceman will leave him on the trail at the end of each day and met him at the same place the following morning so they can continue to hike together. At least, that's the plan as of today.
Date: 2015-09-13
From: Nahmakanta Stream Rd. 2148.1 miles

To: Pollywog Stream 2156.6 miles
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

Sunday, September 13th   A shuttle picked me up at the Baxter Park Motel at 5:40AM and brought me to Nahmakanta Stream Rd. We got there just before 7AM and a light rain was falling. 3D was waiting there for me to start our 8 mile hike to Pollywog Stream Rd. We expected this to be a very easy hike, just like our last two in the 100 mile Wilderness, where we averaged over 2 miles per hour. As it turned out there were a lot of rocks, roots and mud; the trail was constant PUDS. We finished the hike in a little under 5 hours. Our hiking rate was only 1.6MPH. Last nights heavy rain was part of the problem because the rocks and roots were all wet and slippery and the mud was deep. All that mixed with the PUDS really slowed us down. As we hiked we met thru hiker "dirty rotten liar". He was completely out of food and had 2 days to go before he would get to Abol campsite where he could resupply. 3D and I were going to be picked up at noon so we didn't need the food we were carrying for lunch. 3D gave him 6 energy bars and I gave him the fruit I was carrying. This would get him through the next day and 1/2. We don't know what we will be doing tomorrow because heavy rain is forecasted for the entire day. The Sherpa was able to sleep until 8AM since the Iceman had a ride to the trailhead. Later, on the way to the motel reception desk, the Sherpa noticed a woman sitting alone in the breakfast room so in she popped. It turned out that the woman, Marty, arrived yesterday from Atlanta, Georgia. She was here in Millinocket to celebrate with her husband who was to summit Mt. Katahdin today. At about noon, she received a photo of him atop the Mt. Katahdin sign, on her cell phone. It was a very happy time for her, now that his long hike was over, as she's missed him these last 5 1/2 months. The two of us decided to go to the a Caf© for lunch, in downtown Millinocket. Just as we sat down, in the caf©, the Iceman called to say he was 10 minutes away and would join us for lunch. 3D was with the Iceman so the 4 of us dined together. 3D had lived in Atlanta for 14 years, and his son and family live there now, so Marty and he shared stories about Atlanta. Bet you can't guess where dinner was tonight. YUP! River Drivers. The 3 of us had another delicious meal and most likely we'll go back before we leave Millinocket.
Date: 2015-09-14
From: Abol Bridge

To: Katahdin Stream
Miles today: 10.0

Monday, September 14th   Yesterday we hiked to Pollywog Rd. and today we had planned to continue on from Pollywog Rd. to Abol Bridge Campground, a distance of 17 miles. However, rain was forecasted for all day today and 3D and I did not want to do that distance in the rain.   We decided to go out of sequence and do the shorter, 10 mile hike, from Abol Bridge to Katahdin Stream. Tomorrow, which is supposed to be a beautiful sunny day, we will go back and do the 17 miles that we skipped. That will complete our hike up to the base of Katahdin Mt. As stated, todays hike was in the rain and luckily, the trail was flat and there were just rocks, roots and a lot of mud and mud puddles to slow us down. There were also two streams that we had to ford. We did this by boulder hopping across the streams. The boulders were all wet from the rain and were very slippery. On one crossing, I slipped on one boulder and slid down into the stream which was about 2 1/2 feet deep at this point. My feet hit a flat spot in the streambed so I was able to remain upright. As I slid into the water I had visions of the hiker who, yesterday, slid off a boulder and went on his back under water. One or two thru-hikers passed us today going north to Katahdin and we met about a half dozen day hikers from Katahdin Stream campground who were wandering along the trail. It feels very strange being so close to Katahdin. We only have one more day of trail hiking and then it's up the mountain to the finish. Because the road to Abol Bridge is a good dirt road the Sherpa was able to drop off the Iceman and 3D this morning. It's been a while since the Sherpa has shuttled the hikers to the trailhead and at 9AM it was decided that the Iceman and 3D would take a chance and hike in the rain. At Abol Bridge the Sherpa noticed that the car had a tire that was low on air so the order of the day, was to get to a gas station and get it filed. The station, that had air, was back in Millinocket, 45 minutes away. When she got there she found that the air machine was jammed with Canadian quarters and didn't work. What to do?? It was suggested that the Sherpa go back downtown and look for a garage that repairs cars just off the main street, where they had an air machine. A very kind gentleman, who was also putting air into one of his tires, assisted the Sherpa and all was wonderful after that. Latter in the afternoon the Sherpa wandered through a gallery called "Moose Prints" and talked to the photographer who's photo's were on display. They were of moose, lakes and mountains - all very beautiful. The Iceman and 3D were picked up at 2:30PM at the Katahdin Stream campground and after a one hour drive were back at the motel. Tonight just the Iceman and the Sherpa went to dinner at the River Drivers and then stopped at the grocery store to pick up breakfast for tomorrow and Wednesday. The Iceman and 3D will be on the road both days before 6AM and breakfast at the motel doesn't start until 7AM. Let's hope the microwave, in the room, works!
Date: 2015-09-15
From: Pollywog Stream Rd.

To: Abol Bridge 2184 miles
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday, September 15th      3D and I went back and hiked the section that we had skipped yesterday, to do the shorter hike to the base of Katahdin because it had rained. Today's hike of 17 miles would have been very difficult under rainy conditions. Although there wasn't much vertical on the trail, today's hike was all roots, rocks and mud. The roots and rocks were very slippery and would have been much worse in the rain. The shuttle picked us up at the motel at 5:40AM and we got to the trailhead at 7AM. We hiked non-stop until we reached Abol Bridge at 3:30PM - see a photo of Mt. Katahdin taken from the Abol Bridge in the Photo section - where the Sherpa picked us up. There isn't much to say about the hike except that it was grueling and we had one nice view of Katahdin from the Rainbow Ledges. We met 3 SOBO thru-hikers who had started their hike to Springer Mt. in Georgia just 3 days ago. How they will ever complete their hike with winter coming soon, I don't know. This hike completes the "100 Mile Wilderness" I am now at the base of Katahdin. Tomorrow I will attempt to summit the mountain.