morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-09-04
From: Andover,ME

To: Bemis Mtn LT
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

We were shuttled from the hostel back to South Arm Rd to start our hike. The trail went up Old Blue Mtn (1200 ft/ 2.8 m) in two climbs separated by a long flat section. On the flat section, the evergreen forest surrounding the trail reminded me of east Vermont. The forest was lush and green. Teh trail then descended 600ft and went up Mt Bemis to its west peak, which has the same elevation as Old Blue (3600 ft). The trail then descended 800ft in 2.7 m to the lean-to. The weather was cool and dry. The trail surface was mostly soft with some rock-slide areas. It went around Elephant Mtn. The campsite was in a beautiful forest of evergreens and was illuminated that night by a fuoll moon.
Date: 2009-09-05
From: Bemis Mtn LT

To: Sabbath Day Pond LT
Miles today: 8.3

Out of Bemis LT the trail descended sharply down to Bemis Stream (1300 ft/ 3.8 m). This section was very rocky and slow. At Hwy 17 there was a beautiful view of Lake Rangeley, a very large, very blue lake fromed by a dam.We sat on a bench provided at the trail head and ate our lunch while viewing the lake. Afte the hwy and a climb up to a ridge, the trail was soft and level. The trail went by three large ponds (Moxie, Long, and Sabbathe Day). These are all peaceful lakes hidden away by a beautiful evergreen forest. The lean-to was shortly after Sabbath Day Pond, where we set up camp. That night the loons sang their eiree song to lull us to sleep.
Date: 2009-09-06
From: Sabbath Day Pond LT

To: View Entry
Miles today: 11.2

The trailt today was largely soft - a bed of brown evergreen needles and roots. There were several boardwalks to take us over the muds bogs. Ther were no significant climbs or descents for a change - just the undulations of the trail impressed on a steady decline from 2700 ft to 1700 ft at the road to Rangeley. The trail past Little Swift River Pond and South Pond on the way. At Hwy 4 I hitched a ride into Rangeley for resupply and hitched out after only staying long enough to eat a deli sandwich. I did the final two miles to the shelter, but before I got there, i took a wrong turn and climbed to Piazza Rock, a flat, overhanging rock that looks like an elevated speakers podium. The trail to the rock was a maze of large boulders that reminded me of Mahoosuc Notch. I finally figured out that the shelter was down hill and found the right trail. the weather today was cool and sunny - perfect hiking weather.
Date: 2009-09-07
From: Sabbath Day Pond LT

To: Redington Camp Site
Miles today: 6.0

The climb up Saddleback Mtn from Piazza Rock started off mildly, with soft trails and moderate grades. It passed Ethel Pond and Eddy Pond. Then it rose 1000 ft in 0.75 m and became very rocky. At 3780 ft the trees disappeared and a 360 deg view was availabe. I could see the previous mtns and the trail ahead ove the second of the two humps comprising Saddleback. The trail turned into granite slab with a pitch that would barely support the climb without slipping backward. A sttep descent over the flat rock surface of 500 ft in 0.25 m led back below treeline and then up The Horn at the same elevation as Saddleback in 1 m. Then there was a very steep 750 ft drop in 1 m with many sharp steps. We reached the cutoff to the camp ground and set up camp. The mileage was short, but the day was long.
Date: 2009-09-08
From: Redington Camp Site

To: Oberton Sream
Miles today: 5.6

Todays hike started with a minor descent to the gap between The Horn and Saddleback Jr., another twin-humped mtn, but not as tall as Senior (but also above treeline). then there was a climb (500 ft/ 0.4 m) up Jr. This was a steep and rocky trail. the descent down the other side of the second jhump was shallower, but quite steep in places. The views were again great, although Jr. is just 3600 ft. The trail then became a level and quite soft path (except for roots) and led to Poplar Ridge for a final view-point before a pluge down 1000 ft in just 0.6 m. This was followed by a level hike and then a 500 ft descent in 0.5 m to the river, where we found a spot to set up camp. Again a short mileage day, but very tiring. The weather was warm and partly cloudy.
Date: 2009-09-09
From: Oberton Sream

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

The day strted with a climb up to a ridge (800 ft/ 1 m), a ridge walk, and then a climb to one Mtn (1000 ft/ 1 m) over soft trail. After another ridge walk and descent (400 ft/ 0,5 m), the trai went up Spaulding Mtn. This was a rocky climb and descent (1000 ft / 1 m ; 500 ft/ 0.4 m). Another ridge walk took us to the final descent off the ridge - an extermely steep and rocky trail (1000 ft / 0.2 m) down to a river. The camp site was then a 1 m / 500 ft climb.
Date: 2009-09-10
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: Stratton, ME (Hwyl 27)
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: few clouds

Today's hke included tow of the final >4000 ft peaks left on the trail for us to climb. Strating at 2700 ft, the trail went of the south peak of Croker Mtn at 4040 ft. This was an arduous climb, but the trail was not so rocky. The trail then descended for 300 ft and then climbed 500 ft to the north peak of Crocker. The hike down to the hwy was a steady drop totaling 2500 ft over 5 m. The trail down was mostly soft, with stretches of avalnche rocks. We were picked up by a shuttlllllle fro wour ride into Stratton for resuppy.
Date: 2009-09-11
From: Stratton, ME (Hwyl 27)

To: Horns Pond LT
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: overcast clouds

After hitching back to the trail head at 11:00, we set out climbing Bigelow Mtn. The trail went down from the road to Stratton Brook at 1250 ft and began to climb slowly. The trail was sosft and almost rootless. After Beaver Pond at 2300 ft, the trail became rocky and steep. The fanal pitch up to the ridge was 880 ft in 0.6 miles, including many boulders. The ridge went for 0.5 m and then descended to Horns Pond. The Horns are a pair of peaks about 0.5 miles up the trail. Tent sites were around the pond in a beautiful setting. I set out on the lake shore and watched the sun go down and looked for Moose. So far, no moose sightings.
Date: 2009-09-12
From: Horns Pond LT

To: Safford Notch CG
Miles today: 4.3

The challange today was Bigelow Mtn, with three peaks. The first was South Horn, one of the pair of peaks resembling horns(660 ft/ 0.5 m). After a 100 ft descent and a ridge walk came West Peak, one of a pair of Bigelow peaks. It rose another 600 ft in 0.8 miles. Then a (300 ft/ 0.25 m) descent and back up the same grade to Avery Peak. This whole stretch was very rocky and slow climbing. The descent into Saffford Notch was every steep at first (800 ft/ 0.5 m) and then moderately steep ( 1300 ft/ 0.5 m). Near the campsite was strewn with school bus-sized boulders.
Date: 2009-09-13
From: Sarrord Notch CG

To: West Carry Pond LT
Miles today: 12.2

The task for tody was to get over Little Bigelow Mtn, the last large mtn for a while. The climb was 1750 ft in 2 miles. The trail was rocky most of the way. Once on the top, there was a ridge walk fro 1.5 miles and then a long descent (1850 ft / 3 m). This trail was steep and rocky at first and then mellowed to a nice soft trailtoward the bottom. At the road at the bottom we esperienced major trail magic! A group of five guys had brought in by truck a lot of delicious food for passing hikers. We got there just as they were packing up after four days of magic. They were very kind and offered us ham and cheese sandwches, pasta salad and a variety of deserts. We ate our full, thanked them profusely, and then moved on up the trail. Another 500 ft hump was followed by Roundtop Mtn (700 ft / 1.5 m). At the bottom was West Carry Pond and the LT. The Weather threatened rain, but none came.
Date: 2009-09-14
From: West Carry Pond LT

To: Pierce Pond LT
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The trail today was comparatively easy. It undulated +/- 100 ft with no sharp climbs or descents. There were rocky stretches, but not long. Otherwise it was a path of evergreen needles. The three ponds, West Carry, East Carry, and Pierce, were altogether beautiful and peaceful. The weather was sunny and cool. The loons seranaded early in the morning. We passed the 2000 mile marker on the raod today.
Date: 2009-09-15
From: Pierce Pond LT

To: Pleasant Pond LT
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: scattered clouds

What I supposed was to be a pleasant 3 mile walk down to the Kennebec River turned out to be a rocky, arduous path along the Peirce Pond Stream. We were the second to be ferried across the river today. We then waslked to the Caratunck P.O. and waited on a shulttle from a reseraunt/inn a few miles up the hwy. We had beakfast and got sanddwiches to go and were shuttled back to the trail head. The hike up to the LT was over mostly soft trail with stretches of rocks and roots. The weather was partly cloudy and cool. The loons sang to us again at night.
Date: 2009-09-16
From: Pleasant Pond LT

To: Bald Mtn LT
Miles today: 9.0

The hike up Pleasant Pond Mtn was rocky and strenuous (1300 ft / 1.25 m), but the descent was even more tiring because of the continual ups and downs resullting from the large rocks along the way. Once reaching the pond, however, the trail became soft and friendly for the final 3 miles to the LT. The weather was overcast and cool all day. We camped by a stream near the LT. The temperature in the morning was 30 deg (40 inside my tent). I was warm except for my feet. It is really hard to get out of my bag when it gets this cold.
Date: 2009-09-17
From: Bald Mtn LT

To: Hoseshoe Canyon LT
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

The hike today started with a climb up Moxie Bald Mtn (1400 ft / 1.8 m) The final pitch was a steep oulder climb. The peak was rock slab with no trees. The views were a 360 deg panarama. Clouds covered the valleys below with only the mountain peaks showing above the tops of the clouds. The hike off the mtn was steep but a dirt trail. After that, the trail slowly descended to the LT, following the Piscataquis River. Sections were rocky, but mostly dirt. The river view alont the way made for a pleasant hike, although parts were irritating because of the pointless ups and downs. The weather was very cool (30s). I stayed in the shelter because there were no good tent sites and rain was a distinct possiblilty.
Date: 2009-09-18
From: Hoseshoe Canyon LT

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: few clouds

The hike into Monson was down hill except for two significant bumps in the trail. We had to ford a stream where the water came up to my shins: cold but invigorating! The weather threatened rain and the temperature was dropping. We made it to town before the rain, but then the sky suddenly cleared and the sun came out. The temperatures reamined chilly.
Date: 2009-09-19
From: Monson, ME

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Resupplied at the local general store at great expense. I purchased 8 days of food to get through the 100 mile wilderness. This means a very heavy pack leaving town tomorrow. My son's hiking partner Paddy-O showed up at the reateraunt last night and we had an excellent discussion about details of Justus' hike in 05.
Date: 2009-09-20
From: Monson, ME

To: Long Pond Stream
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: broken clouds

Paddy-O slacked us by dropping us off at the trail head and meeting us at an access road about 9 miles up the trail. Paddy-O carries major trail magic supplies in his truck. He has a propane stove and coolers filled with hamburger, brats, bacon, eggs, chips, pizza, candy, soft drinks, beer, and even rum. He is a true trail angel known to almost all hikers for his generosity and wonderful attitude. He feeds hikers well to improve their physical condition and sends them on their way with an improved mental condition. The trail had no major climbs today, but was filled with ups and downs. We set up camp near Long Pond.
Date: 2009-09-21
From: Long Pond Stream

To: West Chairback Pond Trail
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Paddy-O met us again early in the day and provided us with a great breakfast. With full tummies, we set out to climb Barren Mtn. The first pitch was steep (1300 ft / 1.8 m). The trail was generally rocky. After reaching the peak, there was a 1.5 m ridge walk followed by a 600ft descent. The climb up Fourth Mtn was steep and rocky, but mild compared to the descent (600 ft / 0.7 m). The hike up Third Mtn involved climbing three major peaks. The trail down to the campsite was rather benign.
Date: 2009-09-22
From: West Chairback Pond Trail

To: Newhall LT
Miles today: 11.6

We began the morning climbing Columbus Mtn (450 ft / 1 m). The descent was steep and rocky (300 ft / 0.3 m). Next came Chairback (250 ft / 0.5 m) with a sharrp descent also (250 ft / 0.1 m). There was a rough ridge walk of about a mile and then a smooth but steep descent to Pleasant River (1000 ft / 1.5 m). We waded across the river and then hiked along Gulf Hagas Brook up 1300 ft in 5.5 m to the LT. The weather was warm and overcast. The trai near the LT was rocky and very rough.
Date: 2009-09-23
From: Newhall LT

To: Logan Brook LT
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The day started with another climb - up Gulf Hagas Mtn (900 ft / 1 m). The humid weather made this climb extraordinarily tough. Once up to the ridge, a light rain started, which continued on and off all day. A mile long ridge walk and a sharp 200 ft descent brought the trail to the base of West Peak (750 ft / 0.5 m). There was a 400 ft descent in 0.25 m and then a climb up Hay Mtn (500 ft / 1 m). A moderate descent of 200 ft set us up to climb White Cap Mtn, the first 300 ft being very steep and rocky. At 3900 ft, the peak was the highest in quite a while. The descent looked bad on the profile, but steps had been built into the mountainside, so the trip down went much quicker than anticipated. The shelter is about half way down to the river at 1200 ft. Temperatures remained warm. The views from the peaks were obscurred by fog.
Date: 2009-09-24
From: Logan Brook LT

To: Cooper Brook Falls LT
Miles today: 11.7

After hiking the rest of the way down White Cap Mtn to a logging road, we discovered Paddy-O waiting for us in his truck again with breakfast TM. He offered to slack us the 7 miles over Little Boardman Mtn. We thought for a millisecond and accepted. With our light packs, we began the climb up to the ridge, a steep but short hike (500 ft / 0.3 m). After a 2 mile ridge walk came a climb up to the peak (400 ft / 0.8 m). Then a 650 ft descent to the raod where Paddy-O waited with lunch. The 3 mile hike to the LT was flat and beautiful. The leaves are turning color, with brilliant reds and oranges shining through the forest.The LT is fronted by the falls - a great view!
Date: 2009-09-25
From: Cooper Brook Falls LT

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 13.8

The hike today followed Cooper Brook past Church, Cooper, Mud, and Lower Jo-Mary Ponds. Paddy-O met us again with TM at a road just after leaving the LT. A good portion of the trail was soft and gently down hill. There were stretches of avalanche rocks and very rooty sections. We had one short climb over Potaywadjo Ridge (400 ft / 0.8 m). We took the blue-blazed trail to White House Landing on Pemaduncok Lake. The only access is by ferry boat, which is summoned by an air horn. Failing to get a rresponse to the horn, we called and promptly got the boat over. We had dinner and slept in the bunkhouse. The night was cold and clear with a sky full of stars.
Date: 2009-09-26
From: White House Landing

To: Crescent Pond
Miles today: 11.7

We got a boat ride back to the blue-blaze trail not far from the AT. The trail was a rocky course along the Nahmakanta Stream and around the lake. It climbed Nesuntabunt Mtn (880 ft / 0.4 m) as a rocky path. The view of Katahdin at the top was our first real view of our magnificent objestive. The descent was much more gradual and less rocky. We found a campsite along the lake shore.
Date: 2009-09-27
From: Crescent Pond

To: Rainbow Lake
Miles today: 11.3

The hike today was mostly along Nahmakanta Stream in the morning and around the lake in the afternoon. The trail was very rocky and rooty for most of the way. There were lots of small climbs and descents. Rain started a little with about 2 hours to the campsite. We found a camping spot beside the lake and set up as the rain sprinkled us. The trail runs through a beautiful forest with brilliantly green moss and huge grey boulders scattered about. A fog settled in across the lake as the sun set.
Date: 2009-09-28
From: Rainbow Lake

To: Abol Pines CG
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

After about a mile after leaving the campsite, the trail began a rather gentle climb up Rainbow Ledges. There we got our first good look at Katahdin. It rose majestically from the surrounding landscape, dominating the horizon. The trail descended in a bumpy fashion to Abol Bridge and the General Store. We ate lunch and bought supplies for the next couple of days. We set up in the campground under cloudy skies. During the night, the rain began and was steady.
Date: 2009-09-29
From: Abol Pines CG

To: Birches CS
Miles today: 9.9

After breakfast at the General Store, we entered Baxter State Park in the drizzling rain. Teh hike began with a smooth woods raod trail, but turned rocky and rooty as we progressed. The trailwound through a beautiful setting along the Nesowadnehunk Stream and around several ponds. The rain continued and was heavy at times as we walked. We got several views of Katahdin and many waterfalls and rapids. We did two stream fords through cold rapids up to my thighs. We reached the ranger station and signed up to summit tomorrow.
Date: 2007-10-15
To: Prep #1
Miles today: 0.0

As I write this, it is October 15, 2007 ... the end of the regular season for the AT Class of 2007. Baxter State Park, home to Mt. Katahdin in Maine, is now closed for camping until May.So this is a great day to begin my journal as a prospective member of the class of 2008! (now 2009)I want to begin by paying my respects to all who have gone ahead of me over the years; but particularly to the Class of 2007 whose members have put in the heavy lifting over the past six months, while sharing with me, and many others, the wisdom, experiences, tears, joys, aches, pains, thrills and pratfalls of their journeys. Our road next year will be tough, but yet far easier because so many have taken the time to keep and publish a journal as they moved along, day by day.Each of them hiked their own hike. And we are all inspired and much the wiser for their efforts.Thank you!
Date: 2007-10-15
To: Prep #2
Miles today: 0.0

A bit about me. I grew up in the mid-west, but spent many summers at my grandparent's cottage on a lake in New Hampshire. I now live in the San Francisco Bay area of California, and am 63 as I start this journal.I am retired and have done lots of traveling, but it is only in the past two years that I ever took a good look at the AT. My wife, Hannelore, and I visited the AT several times while roaming around North America in an RV during 2005-06 ... Amicalola, Springer, Fontana, NOC, the Smokies, Blue Ridge Parkway, Franconia Notch, and Mt. WashingtonAfter taking a look and noting what has happened to gear weights since I was a Boy Scout long ago, I realized that a thru hike is something that, barring health issues, is a challenge and adventure that is within my reach, even at my advanced age. It has a good fit with where I am at this point in my life.Hannelore, on the other hand, has decided to delay her hike of the AT until the plumbing and wiring are installed in all the shelters ... ;-)
Date: 2007-10-15
To: Prep #3
Miles today: 0.0

So ... most of the class of 2008 are within six months of setting out. The days are dragging by on the one hand, while the "to do" lists seem to get no shorter.Although I am basically ready to go and have spent 10 nights in my Contrail Tarptent on shakedown trips in the past year, decisions regarding shoes, stove fuel, resupply, bounce box items, cold weather strategies, and a whole range of telecom issues are currently at the top of my lists.
Date: 2008-01-01
To: Prep #4
Miles today: 0.0

After two years of dreaming and planning this adventure, it is wonderful to finally be able to say I will attempt the AT this year, rather than next year or in two years!To celebrate the New Year, Hannelore and I, along with our dear friend and weekend training partner, Ingrid, did 5.75 miles today in the foothills of Mount Diablo, just outside our door here in the San Francisco Bay Area in clear, breezy, 50s weather.I am still working on picking a definitive departure date, but late March is still the "best guess," pending resolution of a couple of issues ... that's something like 90 days from now!Still puzzling over shoes, journaling options, layers of clothing and resupply strategies. Also watching northern Georgia's weather and rainfall from a distance.3/1/08 update: See Prep #5 ... I'm back to talking about next year again. ;-(
Date: 2008-03-01
To: Prep #5
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I have just offered my best wishes and bid my fond farewells to the members of the Class of 2008 and moved my journal to join the emerging Class of 2009 due to a medical issue that came up that will be resolved too late to attempt a thru-hike this year. Bummer ... but this is part of the reward one gets for living over 60 years.Fortunately, my medical woes have little impact on my ability to hike so I will be spending the next year keeping in shape, doing some shorter shakedown hikes, and continuing to learn about the AT
Date: 2008-06-06
To: Prep #6
Miles today: 0.0

Well, my medical recovery is progressing on schedule and I should be firmly back on my feet in a few weeks, getting in shape for next Spring. In August, I hope to do some or all of the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail as a physical warm-up and gear shake-down.Meanwhile, I am glad that family friend, Bon Bon, will be joining me next Spring at Springer for, at least, the Georgia section, probably up to Fontana Dam, and maybe further through the Smokies, time permitting. Bon Bon is originally from Georgia, and actually worked at the NOC for two summers while in college. Sadly, for Georgia, she has been displaced in California for many years.When Bon Bon heard of my plans, she asked if she could join me since she has always wanted to do the Georgia section, but does not want to hike alone.As we wait ...and wait and wait ... it is nice to see the growing list of members of the NOBO Class of 2009 slowly but surely taking shape!
Date: 2008-12-15
To: Prep #7
Miles today: 0.0

Bon Bon and I are now scheduled to leave Springer on April 6, 2009. That's a few days later than we had originally planned, but a class reunion the weekend of April 3-5 set us back a bit. The plus side is that it will be warmer and less crowded when we start out!I am getting more and more focused on training. In early July, at the end of my medical situation, I could not even hike 1/4 of a mile on a flat path without resting twice. Now, five months and 236 miles later, I am up to what I am roughly calling "half-AT" days, 6-7 miles with 800-1,000 feet of elevation gain. Still a ways to go, but I think it is within reach. I am lucky to live at the foot of the tallest mountain in the San Francisco Bay Area with a path going right by my front door. I hope to get out for a 30 mile/3-4 night gear shakedown hike before heading to Springer.I'm pretty much decided on no food drops. As far as I know, no one has starved to death on the AT so I suspect there will be plenty of food to be had as we move up the trail ... but, on the other hand, maybe leaving a bit later than the main pack headed north means we will not encounter any trail angels! I guess than means we will need to go into town from time to time ... ;-)Gear issues are all pretty much decided. My 3.5 ounce trekking poles arrived from Gossamer Gear last week and I love them! I cook breakfast out on our deck with my camping gear 4-5 mornings a week as I fine tune my kitchen. I am still waiting to make final decisions on shoes, and the right phone/email/photo combination.Less than four months to go for us and the excitement is mounting!