morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-09-07
From: White Mountain Hostel

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.7

Day One Hundred and Eighty Three - (11.7) White Mountains Hostel to Gentian Pond ShelterI woke up to the sounds of people talking downstairs but decided that it wasn't time to get up yet. A half hour later it was time After picking up my nice clean clothes I decided another shower is in order. I don't see another town day in the near future so I might as well enjoy the luxury of hot running water while I can! When I finally went downstairs breakfast was just being served. I felt like I was wasting food when I was given a full plate but I am still too sick to eat too much. Melkie scored my sausages and hash browns though. After breakfast we all packed up and were ready to leave when Marni came out with a camera and took our picture. Then we hit the trail, actually we started out with a road walk but were soon on something that resembled real trail. I think just being on a real footpath again made us realize just how hard the Whites had been. When we stopped for our first break we clued into how close we were to the Maine border and that became our new goal. Canadian Bacon and I drugged ourselves up with Advil and we hiked almost as good as we did before we hit the Whites. The trail was awesome, there were amazing views and it felt like we would make it to Maine today! I was excited! At lunch we popped more pills and hiked some more. It was the perfect day. It was cold but sunny and we hiked through mossy pine forests that looked down on several ponds (lakes) along the way. The trail did have some muddy sections though and the roots that normally I try to avoid became my stepping stones through the mud pits. We weren't as quick as we should have been and the Advil started to wear off. At 4pm we reached a shelter and had to make the decision whether to stay or hike another five miles to get to the next shelter. I really wanted to keep going to get to Maine today but it would have meant another big climb and I knew I wasn't up for it. The guys wanted to stay anyway so we set up and relaxed. Protip came over and started telling us all his trail stories, he is hilarious! It is getting dark out earlier now but that is fine with me, I am happy to get in my hammock even earlier! Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-09-09
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day One Hundred Eighty Five - Full Goose ShelterI woke up to rain and managed to fall back asleep for a few more hours. When I absolutely had to get up I made a dash for the privy and then grabbed my pack and headed for the shelter. It was miserable out and the next five miles contained the Mahoosic Notch famous for being the hardest mile of the Appalachian Trail and the Mahoosic Arm a vertical climb. There was no way we would attempt it in this weather and that means just hanging out in the almost freezing shelter. Most of the younger ones left to do it anyway but one false move could mean the end of our hike, not worth the risk in my opinion! After lunch it did clear up and we talked about leaving but decided that giving the rocks a chance to dry would be safer. I finished the books I had on my phone by 2pm and tried unsuccessfully to nap. A few days ago when I was so sick taking a day like this would have been great but I'm so close to the end now I just want to keep hiking. I grilled every southbounder and flip flipper who arrived on the terrain they had just come through and quizzed them on how many fords I would have to do at water crossings, how many miles could I expect to do a day and would I ever be able to do a twenty mile day in Maine. Everyone said Maine was tough, I could expect to ford two or three times but the water levels were below knee level and to not expect big mile days until I reached the hundred mile wilderness. Of course then I had to get my guide out and guesstimate if I can finish on time. It made me feel good to meet a flip flipper who summited Katahdin three weeks ago because that's exactly how long I have to finish.Trouble
Date: 2013-09-10
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Stealth Campsite ME 26
Miles today: 9.7

Day One Hundred Eighty Six - (9.7) Full Goose Shelter to Stealth Campsite at ME26It was freezing cold but there were blue skies when I woke up this morning. I packed up and Canadian Bacon and I left early because it was too cold to stand still. We started out in coats, hats and mitts but after the first hill stopped to peel off the layers. We were headed to the Mahoosic Notch the hardest mile of the Appalachian Trail. Fozzie Bear joined us just as we arrived at the notch and then the fun began. We had to climb up, down, over and under giant boulders. The notch is a narrow ravine with steep cliffs on either side. Over the years the giant boulders fell from the cliffs collecting on what is now the trail. We had to try to maneuver through it. At times we had to take our packs off and push them ahead of us as we crawled through rock caves, other times we had to climb to the top of the pile and rock hop over giant crevices between the boulders. It was slow going but a lot of fun! I wouldn't call it the hardest mile it was just different from hiking. Zenmaster ended up carrying Melkie's pack because we had to take it off so often for him to make the big jumps. We were all tired out when we came to the end but next up was a steep climb up out of the ravine. The climb wasn't that bad but again parts of it were more like climbing and less like hiking. We stopped for water at Speck Pond Shelter and it was gorgeous, it's too bad I have a deadline or we would have stayed there. Our goal was the next shelter but we realized that it would mean another giant climb at the end of the day and possibly night hiking into camp. Instead we decided find a stealth spot near the ME26 trailhead and continue on in the morning. I keep hinting that we should hitch into town for pizza or a pub but it isn't working so I guess I will just go to bed. Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-09-11
From: Stealth Campsite ME 26

To: Pine Ellis Cabin
Miles today: 10.3

Day One Hundred Eighty Seven - (10.3) Stealth site at ME 26 to Pine Ellis CabinTown day! We packed up excited to hike to town but first we had some climbing to do. The trail wasn't bad, several sections were flat smooth rock but it wasn't wet and we made good time. We came to Baldplate Mountain and that's just what it was, huge slabs of rock that we just walked on up to the top. It was overcast and windy and it looked like it might start raining at any moment and that was a little scary because there was no cover and the rock would be slippery if wet. The views were amazing though! There were mountains in every direction with lakes in the valleys and a row of giant windmills off in the distance. Because of the threat of rain we didn't stay on top but moved as quick as we could back to the cover of pines. The way down was steep and treacherous but there were lots of trees to swing from as we moved down the trail. We stopped at the next shelter for a break and then climbed our last mountain of the day. From the top I called Pine Ellis and secured our ride to town, we weren't sure where we were staying yet as they don't allow dogs but Zenmaster and Canadian Bacon had a package there as did Fozzie Bear who was hiking with us for the day. I wasn't sure how long it would take us to get down to the road but had made arrangements to be picked up in two hours so we pretty much raced through the last few miles. The trail was pretty but narrow with a steep long drop to one side. I think this might be the area that a hiker went missing a few months ago because there are fresh blazes everywhere as if no one wants us to get lost. It's sad to think about someone just disappearing out here I hope they find her safe somewhere. We rock hopped over the top of a water fall and then had to hike up a hill to get to the road but we were right on time and our ride had just arrived to take us to town. He told us about a cabin that Pine Ellis owns and for $60 we could all stay there with the dog but first to town! Andover is tiny, so tiny that there isn't a grocery store but a General Store/Restaurant. I ordered a bacon double cheeseburger fully intending on taking the extra patty out for Melkie but when it arrived I devoured it. The restaurant food was great and cheap too but the snack items I needed to resupply were pricey. I bought the bare minimum and then headed back to Pine Ellis where they had resupply items as well. I finished my shopping, very quickly uploaded my journals and then we were driven to the cabin. It was three miles out of town along a river with a covered bridge (I forgot to take a picture of it). The cabin was cute and had lots of potential but wasn't completely finished inside. It was perfect for us though. It had a screened in porch and enough beds inside, there were more beds up in the loft and it would be a great spot for a larger group of hikers. After our showers we ate again and now we are already in bed. Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-09-12
From: Pine Ellis Cabin

To: Campsite near South Arm Rd
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: broken clouds

Day One Hundred Eighty Eight- (10.1) Pine Ellis Cabin to Campsite near South Arm RdWe slept in a little bit knowing that our ride wouldn't be arriving until almost 9am. I should have got up earlier though because I wanted to walk out to the road and take a picture of the covered bridge, but I forgot I suppose sleep was more important. We were packed and ready when the van pulled up, we made one pit stop back at Pine Ellis and then it was back to the trail. We started with a long gradual up and stopped for a snack break when we came to a pond/lake. We could see an abandoned house across the lake and found out when we stopped later for lunch that there was an interesting sign posted on it warning of strange happenings near the house and warning people away. I wish I had have checked it out. Our lunch break was at a shelter and then we started down a steep ravine only to have to climb back up the other side. It was a hard climb and I stopped a couple times for water breaks. I hope that this is the last steep climb on the trail. At the top I sat with Canadian Bacon taking a much needed break while Zenmaster continued down the other side to find us a campsite. We hadn't stopped for too long when we heard thunder and decided to high tail it down and set up camp before the rain starts. We just made it and got everything set up on time! Melkie was bad and had rolled in shit so I had to coerce him into the water to try to get him clean. I feel bad but he is not sleeping with me tonight and right now is leashed under a pine tree trying to take cover from the rain. Trouble
Date: 2013-09-14
From: Stealth site near a dirt road

To: Plazza Rock Lean-to
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

Day One Hundred Ninety - (16) Stealth site near dirt road to Plazza Rock Lean-toIt stormed all night long again last night and was still raining when I packed up. I started out before Canadian Bacon and Zenmaster but when I saw the wild rushing water that I was supposed to ford I turned around and waited for them. I figured if I had got carried away by the current they never would have known, they would just assume I was ahead. When I left camp for the second time Zenmaster took the lead and made it almost all the way across before he lost his balance on the slimy rocks and fell in. Canadian Bacon went second and I followed right behind her at the worst the water was just over my knees but the current was strong. I felt like my poles were about to float away and struggled to keep my balance every time I lifted a foot but we made it across! Next up a big climb and then a road crossing where we saw Two Socks and Fozzie Bear. They raced on ahead without the weight of their packs while we struggled with our extra heavy packs filled with wet gear. If the trail was dry I think it would have been a good day but as it was we were soaking wet and wading through mud most of the day. When we weren't in the mud we were trying to avoid it and the streams of water on the trail. Falling is common in Maine, when we stop for breaks we talk about our near falls from all the times we slid off of tree roots or rocks. By afternoon I just wanted to get to somewhere warm and dry and there was a road crossing coming up that would lead to a town. But by the time I reached the road there was only 1.8 miles left to a shelter and we could actually stick to a plan for once if we just kept hiking. So I slowly crossed the road hoping some local would pull up and save me but no such luck. I was soon back on the trail on the other side of the road hiking up my last climb of the day. I finally made it to the shelter and for once I am staying in it tonight (I think my hammock is wet). It's still raining out and everyone is nestled in their sleeping bags on the platform. Melkie climbed right under the shelter and is sleeping under me tonight. Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-09-16
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: South Branch Carrabasset River Campsite
Miles today: 13.2

Day One Hundred Ninety Two - (13.2) Poplar Ridge Shelter to South Branch Carrabasset River campsiteIt was freezing cold but the sun was shining when I woke up this morning. Unfortunately I still had to put cold wet clothes on. With wet clothes on I was quick to pack up and leave, it was far too cold to stand still. We had to ford another stream this morning, the water was just over my knees but the current wasn't as strong as last time and it was easy to cross. The water was cold though and it took a long time for my legs to warm up after that! The trail actually resembled a footpath this morning and we made good time up and over the first big climb and stopped for lunch at the next shelter. I set up my hammock to dry and Zenmaster set their tent up as well. Soon Nimbles joined us and was setting his tent up to dry as well. When Two Socks and Fozzie Bear arrived we were just packing everything back up to hike. The views from the trail were amazing when we could see beyond the trees. I keep forgetting to mention that the leaves have been changing colour the past few days and now when I look down a valley or across to another mountain I see a variety of colours instead of just green. We arrived at a bronze plaque mounted on a rock along the path where the last section of the Georgia to Maine trail was completed. We cheered because it is located roughly at the two hundred miles left milestone. After taking pictures we continued up the trail quite happy with ourselves because of how far we had made it and because it was the first day in a long time that we felt like we were getting there. That soon all changed when we hit a steep downhill. It was torture! It was so steep that we had to turn around and had to climb slowly down the rocks. By the time we got to the bottom, we were exhausted and felt defeated. But we still had to ford a river and it looked scary! The water was rushing by and when Zenmaster crossed he fell hard against a rock. Canadian Bacon and I both went in at the same time and I thought for sure I would be swimming for my life. I tried to rock hop and when that wasn't possible I started fishing with my poles for places to step and the water was deeper than my poles! I found rocks that were just below the water and stepped on them but I came to a rock that was going to be a huge jump. I made it, even with my pack on! Canadian Bacon followed and the rest of the way across didn't seem as dangerous after that giant jump. On the other side of the river we found Nimbles nursing a fire and several tent sites. We decided to call it a day and set up next to Nimbles it was nice to be able to sit and eat ( I had Canadian Bacons awesome chicken salad for dinner) by a fire. Two Socks and Fozzie Bear arrived and set up camp as well. I was so tired that as soon as I was finished I retired to my hammock. Soon I will be sleeping! Good night World!Trouble
Date: 2013-09-17
From: South Branch Carrabasset River Campsite

To: Stratton Inn
Miles today: 8.3

Day One Hundred Ninety Three - (8.3) South Branch Carrabasset River to StrattonAlthough I fell asleep right away last night I woke up at midnight to more rain and couldn't fall back asleep for hours. So this morning when I was still asleep in my hammock (I usually wake up early) when Zenmaster and Canadian Bacon were almost ready to leave they had to wake me up. I was ready within minutes and soon we were headed up a three mile hill, piece of cake I told myself, I have done this and more hundreds of times over the last half of a year. I wonder how many ups I have left. The first mile went surprisingly quick but then It got steeper. I came to an open rocky section that was harder but when I turned around the views were awesome! It made me want to get to the top to see what else I would be able to see. Soon we were at the top but there were no views so we just kept going. We stopped in a little valley between two peaks for a break and then headed up the other peak (again no view). It was downhill (or almost downhill) from there to Stratton! Hawkeye caught up to us and made things interesting by keeping up the conversation the whole way down. It was great because the down seemed to go on forever and I like downs! There were some steep sections but it was pretty much gradual the whole way. When we arrived at the road that led to town we met a section hiker (Jeanine) who was staying at the same hotel as we were and had just called for a ride. The owner of Stratton Inn and Maine Roadhouse Hostel was a 2004 AT thru hiker who had thru hiked with her poodle "Knucklehead". She arrived and we all squished into the car with Melkie climbing on top of us, I wish someone had have thought to take a picture. First thing in town - FOOD! We all ordered half pound burgers and fries and then made our way back to the room for showers and the rest of our chores. After laundry, groceries for the next few days and hanging my tarp to dry I was ready for more food. We ordered a bottle of wine with our meal to celebrate the two thousand milestone that we will be hitting when we get two miles up the trail tomorrow morning. Two thousand miles! Pretty unbelievable! Right now we are in bed in a hotel room and I've just finished reading Canadian Bacon's post for her journal and it's really good. You can find it at http://keithanddina.blogspot.com/2013/09/maine.html?m=1Good night World!Trouble
Date: 2013-09-18
From: Stratton Inn

To: Safford Notch campsite
Miles today: 10.4

Day One Hundred Ninety Four - (10.4) Stratton to Safford Notch CampsiteToday was awesome! We woke up early and packed everything up before heading to the diner for breakfast but it was closed. If we had known earlier we could have walked up to the other restaurant but we didn't have enough time before our shuttle would take us back to the trail so we had to settle with muffins and microwaveable breakfasts from the grocery store. Soon we were back on the trail excited because we would hit the two thousand milestone within two miles! We cheered when we got there and took silly pictures and then continued up the giant climb. After hiking two thousand miles with an excellent sense of direction I got lost today. The blazes were scarce and I must have ended up on an animal path and seeing some bright pink blazes on trees on a hill near me I ventured further away thinking I would be able to find the trail up there. When I got to the top and couldn't find the real trail I had to retrace my steps back to the animal path and then follow it back to the trail. I finally found the trail, it went straight up a rock in a different direction without being double blazed (a double blaze marks a direction change). I hurried to catch up and just as I was getting close Zenmaster started calling for me. They had stopped and when I hadn't shown up after a half hour they knew something wasn't right. Anyway I hope that is my only misadventure of this trip!   We were taking on the Bigalow range today. It was a huge climb up with several steep peaks at the top but the views were absolutely incredible! I think todays hike might be one of my favourite days on the trail. From the top there were 360 degree views of surrounding mountains and giant lakes that were totally uninhabited by people. The last peak was Avery peak and again it was spectacular! Coming down was rough though, it was rocky and rooty and my knees were killing me! There were huge (house sized) boulders that we hiked around and that was pretty cool. We had planned to hike another five miles but it took so long to get down that we knew it would be dark by the time we arrived at the next shelter so we shortened our day once again and stayed at a campsite that had a good water source. It is supposed to go below freezing tonight so I am all bundled up and plan on sleeping with my hat and mitts on. Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-09-19
From: Safford Notch campsite

To: Stealth site near Scott Rd
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Day One Hundred Ninety Five - (18.8) Safford Notch Campsite to Stealth site near Scott RdIt was so cold when I woke up this morning but it was sunny! We took our time packing up but zoomed up the trail when we left. The views on top of the first mountain were amazing but we were on a mission to put in miles today so we didn't stay up there too long. We hiked around ponds (lakes) most of the day and it was a nice change. Maine is so beautiful! Not the kind of beauty that shows up when I take a picture, it's the kind of raw beauty that just takes your breath away when you take in your surroundings! We stopped at a beach for a snack and decided to get water so that we could just stealth somewhere when we found a spot. We ended up along the side of the trail and I hung my hammock from a tree with a white blaze. As I write this I am listening to Caboose and Hawkeye talk about just wanting to finish this journey. I'm not sure I feel the same way. There is a famous Bill Bryson quote from A Walk in the Woods that I am sure every hiker knows, he says "I had come to realize that I didn't have any feelings toward the AT that weren't confused and contradictory. I was weary of the trail but still strangely in its thrall; found the endless slog tedious but irresistible; grew tired of the boundless woods but admire their boundlessness; enjoyed the escape from civilization and ached for its comforts. I wanted to quit and to do this forever, sleep in a bed and in a tent, see what was over the next hill and never see a hill again. All of this all at once, every moment, on the trail or off." I can so relate to this! I don't want it to end but I can't wait to be home! I like the freedom I feel out here but want to be able to turn a hot water tap on or eat food whenever I want! I love the woods but I bet when I get home I won't even want to walk the dog! I wish there was a way to make these two very different worlds coexist.Trouble