morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-09-19
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-To

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 22.0

Everyday on the trail is another day of surprises. There are the constants such as walking, resting, walking some more, but within that, since we are in nature, things happen. It¢s not as unnerving as it sounds.I left the shelter this morning and two very slow moving south bounders (they¢ll need to find some motivation soon or I¢m afraid their vision of a thru-hike will remain in fantasyland). The day held one sizable climb right at the start. At a pause to wipe my drenched brow, a female moose bolted out of the trees, across the trail and out of sight. My pause I believe made her think I was looking at her. If she hadn¢t moved I doubt I would have felt her presence.Some sketchy, amateur forecasters on the trail spoke of rain today. The blue overhead said otherwise.Since the rest of the terrain into Monson was relatively mild, my sights were to push all the way in ¢ 22 miles. In case rain would appear, I moved with purpose. My speed triggered a big noise just to my front. There before me, stepping out of the woods and onto the trail was the one moose I¢d always wanted to see. A Bull! His antlers fully formed as rutting season grows near. What a giant!We stared at each other a moment, and then he trotted away quickly ¢ Yea, I¢m pretty scary. A Double Moose Day!!Over the next couple hours my hike brought me to two rivers to be ford. They, like yesterdays, were completely tame ¢ a non-issue. The second I did without even taking the socks off ¢ another good surprise.By 3:15 I stepped out of the woods to ME 15 hwy. If I could get a hitch soon, I¢d even make The Post Office for my mail drop ¢ score!The rain did arrive tonight but Monson television doesn¢t seem to care much about weather forecasts. I knew this was a small town, but ¢ I think I¢ll have better luck just looking out the window to decide if I¢m hiking or lounging myself into a zero to let the guys catch-up. I suppose the weather tomorrow will be another surprise¢¦
Date: 2006-09-21
From: Monson, Maine

To: Cloud Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Rebekah, the owner of Lakeshore House wanted to run me up to the trailhead, however Chuckbuster was running late. So she drove me over to Shaw¢s via the walking route so as to not miss him if he was on his way. I found him saying farewell a bit longer than was required. ¢I¢ve got our ride to the trail, let¢s saddle-up.¢Moments later we were saying goodbyes to Bek, tightening straps and walking into the void of the 100-Mile Wilderness. On my mind was not the mileage but the numerous river fords we¢d face. Alleghany and I two years earlier had way too much drama thanks to Hurricane Francis. Today however was another story. Each of the six was low, calm and other than two that required hopping into the water, the rest were amazingly rock hopped! I forced myself to maintain a mild optimism through the day, but I was so happy to see their sleepy currents.Junco didn¢t come out today with us due to timing demands with his folks. He¢s zeroing in Monson and I think is a bit sad to have to fall behind. We three all get along well.Somewhere between river ford #3 and #4, Chuckbuster and I decided to go farther than the shelter at 15 miles since no time was lost crossing streams. Here at Cloud Pond Lean-To we¢re high up on a ridge and frankly, its cccold up here. The breeze isn¢t helping either, so a lot of my clothes are on me instead of in my clothes bag/pillow. GGGood golly its cccold, jeeze I¢m zipping up the mmmummy. GGGoodnight all.
Date: 2006-09-22
From: Cloud Pond Lean-To

To: Carl Newhall Lean-To
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

Burr. The cold weather gear sure came in handy last night. The mountain we woke up on is part of the Chairback Range ¢ a series of five peaks rising out of a single ridge. All are breezy and tree covered. On Fourth Mountain, I saw Katahdin again on the horizon. It was a smidge bigger, a tad clearer and a skosh more close. I¢m closing in on it.        The theme today was clothing and the strategic choices. You start out with lots on to stay warm. As your motor warms up the top layer got replaced with a lighter weight one. Then the gloves came off. Then the hoody was dropped leaving only the fleece cap. By mid-morning the rain pants came off of the long hiking pants. Later the rain jacket came off and replaced with a wind shirt. Needless to say it was cool, cold, chilly, and at times barely warm. Oh, and it¢s cold here again tonight. Have I said burr lately?
Date: 2006-09-23
From: Carl Newhall Lean-To

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It was NOT another glorious, joyful day on the Appalachian Trail. It was however a drizzly, damp, clammy, windy, foggy, rainy, mucky day. Oh, and cccold. And no views and no easy rest breaks either. Ok, let me say it, it was miserable. An all around crummy day. (Now I feel better. Moving on.)        Normally on White Cap Mountain a hiker is rewarded at the summit with an unobstructed vista of Katahdin. Today it was socked in dense clouds whipping over the top at 30 mph with near horizontal rain. Oh yes, it was indeed lovely. Once up there you do get several miles of downhill graded trail. The issue with wearing rain gear (pants and jacket) is they just don¢t breathe, so although they keep the wind and rain out, you still soak yourself from the inside with sweat. You don¢t stop to cool off and dry a bit since the moment you do you get cold. Real cold. This forces you to keep walking for much longer periods than normal. Two new hikers I met at Lakeshore House, Willow and Chow Chow, left a day earlier out of there. I caught up to them to laugh a bit on this stretch about one hiker who¢s out here that may be the most negative thinker I¢ve ever encountered. Apparently the individual is driving them batty. Not only does this person believe the glass is half-empty, but someone¢s already drunk out of it! Anyway, it was good to giggle on such a day of dampness.        By the time I made the 19 miles it was an early 3 p.m. The shelter was loaded with hikers and nearly every nail had a shirt or pant or pack or whatever hanging in hopeless belief that they might dry. Fat chance in these conditions. Rainy days usually turn hikers into squatters or at best half-dayer¢s. Hikers were zipped up in mummy¢s side-by-side trying to get dry and warm up. ¢Man, did anyone hike today besides me?¢ I berated. ¢Who wants to know¢ came an irritated voice from deep in side one of those bags. ¢I¢m Postcard, is that you Model T?¢ ¢Postcard!!!¢ Sure enough, Model T and Ranger Dawg were hunkered down ¢ hadn¢t seen them since North Carolina/Virginia Stateline.        Any who, now my stuff hangs on the last few empty nails (the squatters made room for Good¢ol Postcard) and I¢m zipped in on the last remaining spot here. Chuckbuster, Willow and Chow Chow are tenting near by.        I knew my best chance for dry, warm clothes tomorrow was to tolerate the wetness now by keeping at least the bottom half on. Only my body heat and sleeping bag could allow me to start tomorrow warm. I did change my tops immediately to fight off the chill then wrapped my mummy over my legs as I cooked. The hot food turned up my heat beautifully, but ultimately I did crawl in the mummy all damp. By midnight I was nearly dry and by morning, despite the continued rain, I packed up, bid the lingering hikers tah-tah and was the first one out by 6:30 a.m.   Next stop, White House Landing and their one-pound cheeseburger.
Date: 2006-09-24
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: moderate rain

I stopped by Chuckbuster¢s tent and woke him up at 6:30 a.m. ¢Can you get yourself to White House by lunch?¢ I asked. ¢Yea, I¢ll pack up, see you there.¢ ¢Great, I¢m off¢ I replied. White House Landing is an oasis in the Hundred Mile Wilderness ¢ A lodge for hikers and snowmobiler¢s whose one-pound burgers are a powerful pull. All that¢s required is a near mile detour to a lake dock where a single blast on an air-horn will trigger a boat and occasionally sour mood driver to motor across and pick you up. Sometimes prompt, sometimes slow, one never knows from the dock if they actually hear you or not. A second blast almost guarantees the owner to arrive a sourpuss. Hikers who plan on staying and spending lots of money have waited 45 minutes trying to be patient, I was too cold to wait that long so the air-horn got sounded again after ten minutes. Once you¢re on your way across the lake, culinary bliss awaits. Since lunch is limited to the hours of eleven-to-one, the 14 miles from camp required a fast foot. We both made it within the window and ate happily. The journey was once again through rain, drizzle and general all around clamminess. But somehow icky days don¢t beat you down quite as bad when you know there¢s a big honkin¢ burger as a reward. Miraculously while there, a bit of bright glare began to appear in the sky. Then actual sunlight and blue sky won out over the grey rain clouds. My mood immediately soared. We crossed the lake back to the dock with a slightly less sour driver thanks to our spending and continued on¢ the only hikers to do so. Bright blue sky¢s and sunshine blessed our remaining 7.7 miles to tonight¢s shelter. I got a fire going and both of us had our socks, shirts and anything still damp hovering on sticks around the hot coals. Campfires make me happy; tonight¢s makes me ecstatic. I¢m finally dry after two days of being wet and cold. Hallelujah.
Date: 2006-09-25
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-To

To: Hurd Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: few clouds

After missing out on two places to see Katahdin over the last two days due to rain, the high winds of last night pushed everything away. The fire was roaring with happiness, we got to sleep in dry clothes. The cloudless night saw a very chilly start, but the moment your foot hits the trail it starts a climb. At the top of Nesunabunt Mountain, a small brown sign points to a viewpoint of Katahdin. It was only 38 miles away and on this exceptionally clear, crisp morning, it was breathtakingly massive. Baxter Peak, the northern terminus of this colossal trail could be seen. The clouds were everywhere below. I sat for a bit of time just mesmerized, thinking, trying to comprehend it. With another near twenty-mile day in store, I moved on promising myself to ponder the significance of another thru-hike. Rainbow Stream kept me company for most of the morning since I was the first one out again. But it was reaching Rainbow Ledges where I got a view of Katahdin from only 20 miles at the days end. Katahdin is a giant, above treeline hunk of granite. I still get struck to silence looking at large mountains that I know I can climb. The 20-mile days Chuckbuster and I have knocked out have us in a small void of hikers ¢ we¢re the only one¢s here tonight. This is our last shelter in the 100-Mile Wilderness, our last shelter in the woods. Tomorrow we exit to Abol Bridge and its camp store. My food bags are filled with air, my mind is bouncing back and forth about nearing end of this adventure. I¢m ready to summit. Ready to sit and not wear wet clothing. Ready for easy calories I don¢t have carry. It¢s amazing that normal people with just a smidge of tenacity and whole lot of passion for adventure can come hike this miracle trail called the AT. Tonight by the campfire, Katahdin ¢ The Greatest Mountain, is a mere 18.3 miles away. The end of my thru-hike is 18.3 miles from being over. I¢m ready to stop walking, to leave the woods and countless mountains. Roots and rocks are still out there to slow me, trip me up, but I¢m ready to take what they have left. They¢ll try their darndest to slow me, but I¢m ready to step over or around them and touch that sign atop Katahdin. I¢m ready to lay my tiny stone I picked up back 2,156 miles ago and stack it on the heroic cairn ¢ the end of the journey. I¢m ready to go. I¢m ready for it to be over.
Date: 2006-05-30
To: chilling at home
Miles today: 0.0

I bought a bus ticket from Canton, Ohio to Bangor, Maine for next Wednesday, the 7th of June. The 23 hr bus ride is going to suck pretty hard, but this is by far the cheapest way to travel.Also received my tarptent today in the mail, and my Pepsi can stove is prepped to go. I'm getting excited! I'll introduce myself properly and explain my background/reasons for wanting to hike the AT in a future entry, but for now I'm off. Happy trails!
Date: 2006-05-31
From: chilling at home

To: still chilling
Miles today: 0.0

I slept in my tarptent in my front yard last night! I pretty much looked like a tool, but I was all excited about having received it in the mail yesterday and couldn't resist. All worked well, and I can honestly say that sleeping on the ground in my sleeping bag, on top of my sleeping pad, was considerably more comfortable that sleeping on an air mattress on the floor (which was what i was reluctantly stuck doing all Spring Semester 2005 when I was taking classes at USC and living in LA. But more about that later). I also bought some Leki trekking poles today at the local hiking store, where the staff is very friendly, but the gear selection is somewhat lacking. But everything's sweet. I'm headed back tomorrow to check out a pack they're bringing over for me from another store. AND, best of all, Tinkerbell's mom emailed me today! It was in response to a message I left on Tinkerbell's guestbook a little while ago, and she couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. So I'm psyched about getting the chance to talk to Tinkerbell herself! She's like a celebrity to me, since I (and so many others) have followed her journal so avidly.All for now. Outty-5.
Date: 2006-06-03
To: yeah...still at home
Miles today: 0.0

I got to talk to Tinkerbell's mom this evening, and she was so amazingly helpful and nice. She called me! It was such a sweet surprise. And the conversation made me even more excited about the trail. It's hard to believe that next week I'll finally be undertaking this adventure that I've been thinking about for so long.And now, for a little background on me: I'm Rachel, 22, a recent Duke grad from a little town in Northeast Ohio. I'm the oldest of 4. My parents are pretty Midwestern, and at first weren't too keen on the idea of me hiking the AT, particularly solo (that is, my mom wasn't really too cool with the idea. My dad knew some people that had done it, and was pretty down). My hiking experience is, sadly, rather limited. The summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college, I bought a one-way ticket out to Vail, CO on a whim, and once there I found a job and a place to stay. That summer I climbed Mt. Massive and worked at Spruce Saddle, this restaurant on a mountain in the Beaver Creek Ski Resort. Needless to say, it was an awesome experience. But this has been the extent of my hiking to date.I had a friend in school named Matt who hiked the AT sobo in I believe 2001 (though it might've been 2002 - his trail name was Slow Ride, in case anybody remembers him), and hearing about his experience kind of got me turned on to the idea in a gradual sort of way. In the last several months, though, I've felt this strong compulsion to do the AT, and do it now. It seems like the perfect transitional step to take at this juncture in my life, and I know that if I don't hike it now, I never will.Plus, getting a "real" job right now would suck.
Date: 2006-06-05
From: packing up

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Tinkerbell called this morning!! I got off the phone with her just a little bit ago, and she was so cool. It's like merely making the decision to hike the AT has brought me into contact with wonderful people already, so I can hardly wait to meet even more great people on the trail. Thanks to Tinkerbell and Robin Sue for being so nice!Today's a day for packing everything up, seam sealing my tent, and getting food/any other little odds and ends I may need. Toothpaste and Bag Balm are on the list. The bus to Bangor leaves Wednesday.
Date: 2006-06-06
From: still chilling

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Got some more odds and ends today and started packing up my Vapor Trail. It seems like there are still a million things to do, and that I'm not going to get everything done before I leave tomorrow. But it's cool - everything that really needs to be taken care of WILL be taken care of, you know?I've still got some thank you notes for graduation gifts to write, perhaps some more food to purchase, and some more stuffing of the pack to do. I hope I'm not forgetting anything vital. Also need to call the AT Lodge in Millinocket tomorrow, and send my mail drop to Monson.I'm excited, but dreading what is sure to be a horrific 23 hour bus ride starting tomorrow night. Hope I sleep a lot.
Date: 2006-06-15
From: Canton

To: Millinocket
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I arrived in Millinocket today after a 24 hour bus ride, & contrary to what I feared, it wasn't that bad. I slept off & on thru Akron, NYC, Boston, Bangor, Medway, & then here. I met a few hikers- Clyde (Right Turn) Dodge & Wayne (Wane No) Funk. Both have experience. Wane No's flip-flopping & has already done about 1000 miles. I shared a cab w/these men. Both have grandchildren and children older that I.   We're staying at the AT Lodge & the owner, Don is a lovely man. 75, & clearly he loves what he does. He sat & talked with us this evening, telling us that a 2000 or 2004 (there was some debate) thru-hiker named Frank (aka "Ashtray") is interested in purchasing & running the Lodge. Don told him "if you do this you won't be rich, but you will lead a rich life." What a beautiful sentiment.   Katahdin tomorrow. I feel nervous, but the company tonight has been nourishing.   Don told me twice about my room's "escape trap door" in case there was a problem. Haha. It was very sweet. Also, there's a girl here named Lydia who retreated from the trail b/c of bugs. But she's headed back soon.   Also: the Cyr bus driver was a trip. He talked about moose being hard of hearing & how he wanted to write a book on his experience w/Big Foot. Whaat?
Date: 2006-06-16
From: Millinocket

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

I hiked Katahdin today! & it kicked my ass. On the way up I was thanking God for this glorious experience, & on the way down I was tired as hell & trying to run away from Clyde, who kept appearing. I had had to hitch a ride to Baxter State Park w/him because our taxi didn't show, & we started Katahdin together, so I was kind of stuck with him at the beginning of the day. Oh! Incidentally, the people in Millinocket were insanely nice. While we were walking through town trying to catch a ride one guy stopped, but as it turned out he was going the opposite direction. But a little bit later, after already driving away, he came back and chased us down b/c he didn't want to let us walk; he was immediately followed by a SECOND guy who offered us a ride. We had walked past this second guy as he had been sitting on his porch. It was awesome. Of course, the guy who gave us the ride (55-yr-old unmarried trucker, "Phil") had to perv things up and ask for my #. But I suppose he leads a lonely life.      On the mountain, I saw a black bear! There was a doe, then abt 3 minutes later the bear came into sight as I turned a corner. It was running in the opposite direction, but it still freaked me out & I clacked my sticks together for a while & sang " Hi Ho, Hi Ho" in hopes of scaring it off (not that it was still there). Then, Clyde appeared (for something like the 3rd time!) with some guy & I proceeded to hike much faster. This all sounds rather funny now.   Wane No is here and Clyde's in his lean-to, so I have Clyde's campground all to myself! Awesome. I managed to not spend any money today, through poor planning & luck. Also awesome is the totally unexpected # of young girl hikers that are here! It was unreal, & a very nice surprise. I shall not be of an isolated age & gender.      Also some nice recent hs grads (one from MA going to College of Wooster. Who new? & who knew that Wooster was a good school? Not me.)      I like Wane No. So far he's my favorite.      Yay everything (except being in trouble/sore)!P.S. my appetite has been sensationally surpressed. I'm pretty sure today I ate 4 pop tarts and a pack of crackers. 630 cals!? Holla!
Date: 2006-06-17
From: Katahdin

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Saturday   So sore & exhausted! Today obiterated me, & I only did 9.9 miles ( yesterday was 10.4 up and down Katahdin, but only the 2nd half counted for Sobo AT). Thus, I am a mere 15.1 miles in, after hiking 21 hrs. Apparently the AT isn't designed for those of the slob persuasion. Peed in the woods today for the first time (straddled a gap b/w two rocks in a river. Also had to ford a rushing river, & although I didn't see a soul on the trail for probably an 8 hr stretch otherwise, at the exact moment I was getting in the river w/ my pack to start fording 2 fishermen arrived & helped me out. I must have a guardian angel, as my method of fording the river sans pack and then coming back for it with this toboggan laying on the other side, had already proven unsound.   Also had 1st trail magic today! A guy at Abol Bride Campground, where I'm staying tonight before entering the 100 mile wilderness tomorrow, came to my campsite to talk and offer me a ride to MIllinocket. Though I declined, it was nonetheless a beautiful gesture. He seemed like a nice/good guy- just left grad school in Conn. (studying African drumming), & I enjoyed talking to him.   Dawn, one of the other young girl sobo hikers is also here w/ her partner Mary- who I'm beginning to suspect is not merely a hiking partner. Cool.   Oh, also dropped my pack in the river briefly today, & was pleasantly surprised to see it dried really quickly & nothing was messed up, not even my cell. AND now for the real legit 1st trail magic I got,   b/c I accepted it - a nice lady at the next campsite offered me some lemonade, which really was delicious. Clyde bought me some coffee & food before but that didn't count b/c he's a fellow hiker.   My feet hurt, but dipping them for a while in the cold Maine water is really soothing. I found this out after fording the river barefoot, They didn't hurt at all for maybe 30 min afterward, which was awesome. It's nice to be sleeping by water for the 2nd consecutive night, enjoying the solitude in my tent as well as the sounds of friendly families getting ready for bed all around me. I am one of the lucky ones.
Date: 2006-06-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.0

Camped by myself last night next to the Rainbow Lake, & I must admit was a little freaked out about it at the time. I didn't sleep well; I couldn't get comfortable, & I kept thinking I was hearing large animals. I wish I knew what time it is now, but I bet it's around 11 a.m. Hopefully today my chest/left boob won't hurt. That was my main ailment yesterday- that and my shoulders. My legs & feet were fine. Onward!
Date: 2006-06-19
To: Rainbow Stream 
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Monday   I'm staying at the Rainbow Stream lean-to tonight w/ 5 other guys I met today. I was very happy today as I hiked, & ending up at this shelter was a wonderful reward. The stream is immediately in front of the lean-to & was glorious. I'm also enjoying my company- Kenith, Lawrence, Ben, & Lucky. Bugs are bad & my hand smells like, ass (& it's raining!) but it's a good night. Did about 7 miles today, & 7.6 yesterday.