morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-06-24
From: South Arm Road

To: Stealth Camp Site
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Got dropped off at South Arm Road at 9:30 and started climbing Old Blue Mtn.  It was a 2200 ft. climb that took us all morning.  We ate lunch at the top and Rosie Red"s neck got sunburned.  The descent was tough and the scenery was ugly because the trees were short and scrubby.   We had to stealth camp because it was getting late and we had difficulty finding a spot.  We picked one that had a slight slope...big mistake!  The next morning the tent had moved during the night and was 18 inches from where it started the night before. We had a few sprinkles before bedtime but that was all.  The next day a hiker told us the next shelter got a heavy downpour overnight.  We were lucky!
Date: 2017-06-25
From: Stealth Camp Site

To: Campsite by Bemis Stream
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: light rain

Climbed Bemis Mtn. today.  It was a hard climb -- lots of rocks.  Then in the afternoon we went over 2 more peaks that are part of Bemis.  Most of this was above treeline but not hard climbing.  The worst part was going down the mountain.  More rocks.  We got to the campsite and pitched our tent with a couple of other hikers.  Had a really good night's sleep after not getting a good rest the night before.
Date: 2017-06-26
From: Campsite

To: Sabbath Day Pond Shelter
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: broken clouds

Started around 8:30.  It was a late start.  Hike today was fairly easy and we got to the shelter at 2:30.  Today a grouse chased Rosie Red down the trail.  I heard all this commotion behind me and thought Rosie Red was falling but she was really trying to get away from a grouse she had startled.  She turned around to see what was behind her thinking it might be a skunk but found this grouse making all kinds of racket.  Scared her to death.  We also saw a snake thatcwas hurrying to get out of our way.It is supposed to rain tonight but the sun was shining when we arrived at the shelter so we've pitched out tent.  Several others have too so I hope we all stay dry.  We sat by the pond for about an hour late afternoon.  It was so nice, sunny and warm and beautiful.  Lots of SOBOs at the shelter so we all traded info about the section of the trail we've already done.
Date: 2017-06-27
From: Sabbath Day Pond Shelter

To: Stealth Camp
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Rained this morning about 6am but just sprinkled for 1/2 hour.  The tent was dry by the time we took it down.  Started hiking at 8:30.   The trail was relatively easy today.  We ate lunch at Little Swift River Pond Campsite.  We had planned to camp there but it was too early, so we hiked on.  It rained most of the afternoon but we kept going.  Found a stealth site less than a mile from the road into Rangeley where we want to go first thing in the morning.  We stopped at 4:30.Set up camp and ate dinner then it started to rain again.  Guess this will be an early night.
Date: 2017-06-28
From: Stealth Camp

To: Farmhouse Hostel in Rangeley
Miles today: 0.9
Weather: broken clouds

Rained a lot last night but we stayed mostly dry in our tent.  Got up and hiked less than a mile to the road to Rangeley.  As soon as we popped out of the woods a car drove in and asked us if we needed a ride, so Laurie got us to the Farmhouse Hostel by 9:30.  Thanks so much Laurie for giving us a ride!! Checked in and got showers quickly so we could catch the 11:00 shuttle to town.Went to the post office and then had lunch at Sarge's.  We split a huge plate of nachos.  Yum!  Then we visited all the outfitters in town looking for a replacement air pad for Rosie Red.  No luck so she repaired it again.  Then we went to the library and the grocery store.  had chicken Ceasar salad and turkey pot pies.  Whew what a busy day.
Date: 2017-06-29
From: Farmhouse Hostel in Rangeley

To: Farmhouse Hostel in Rangeley
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Slept like logs last night.  Our room has 2 queen beds and extremely comfortable mattresses.  It's a very nice room with a view of the lake and the mountains from our windows.  By 8:00 we had decided we needed a zero day to relax, so that's what we did.We laid out our tent and gear and sat in rocking chairs to watch it dry.  By 11:00 everything was dry so we walked 0.5 mile to the IGA store and bought food for lunch and dinner.  Took pictures of flowers on our way back.  The purple lupines are blooming now and they were all along the side of the road.  Ate lunch and relaxed all afternoon.  Had a restful day.
Date: 2017-06-30
From: Farmhouse Hostel in Rangeley

To: Farmhouse Hostel in Rangeley
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Decided to stay another couple of days due to prediction of rain and thunderstorms.  We didn't want to get caught on Saddleback Mtn. in the storms.  So we did work-for-stay today and tomorrow.  We worked 6 hours today deep cleaning an apartment.We had to go to the store again to buy food for these two days.  It started to rain as we were walking back from the store.
Date: 2017-07-01
From: Farmhouse Hostel in Rangeley

To: Farmhouse Hostel in Rangeley
Miles today: 0.0

Sat 7/1Zero DayToday our work for stay was deep cleaning the room we were staying in and the kitchen area the hikers use.  Took us about 3 hours.  Had lots of rain tonight and we were so glad we weren't on the mountain but dry in a hostel.
Date: 2017-07-02
From: Farmhouse Hostel in Rangeley

To: Piazza Rock Lean-To
Miles today: 1.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy Birthday to Rosie Red's husband, Kevin!Got a late start on purpose.  We knew it was going to be a short day because we wanted to start Saddleback Mtn. first thing tomorrow morning.  The hike today was easy but muddy after all the rain last night.  We got here around noon and had lunch and set up camp.We walked the .1 mile to Piazza Rock.  It looks like the head of a snake.  Mississippi a worker from the Farmhouse hostel showed up at the shelter.  He thru hiked last year and was just out hiking for a few days on his time off.  We also met the Ridge Runner for this section of trail.
Date: 2017-07-03
From: Piazza Rock Lean-To

To: Redington Campsite
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: overcast clouds

 Left the shelter at 8:00. Climbed up Saddleback Mtn. and The Horn. Both are over 4,000 ft. It was a hard day.  We stopped at Redington Campsites for the night at 5:30. Can't believe it took us 8 hours to do 6.2 miles.
Date: 2017-07-04
From: Redington Campsite

To: Stealth Site near Oberton Stream
Miles today: 5.2

 Started kinda late at 8:30. Neither of us could get moving. It rained last night for a little while but everything was dry by the time we got up. Climbed up Saddleback Junior. Then had a long descent. Descents really slow us down. They are just steep sections of rock scrambles.Rained for about 15 minutes late afternoon. We didn't put on rain jackets or pack covers since it was light rain and we were mostly under trees. Found a stealth camp site at 4:15 and called it a day.
Date: 2017-07-05
From: Stealth Site near Oberton Stream

To: Spaulding Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 5.5

 Forded Oberton Stream first thing this morning. We both waded across and managed to stay upright. The hike today (climbing Lone Mtn.) was real trail...no rock climbing. The ascent was 1700 ft. We could have hiked more miles but it was a long way to the next shelter and we had to climb another mountain as soon as we left this shelter so we stayed put and set up camp early.
Date: 2017-07-06
From: Spaulding Mtn. Shelter

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: overcast clouds

 Didn't leave until 8:30 today. We climbed Spaulding Mtn. then Sugarloaf. The trail was great until late morning when we hit rocks again. We had done over 3 miles and were on track to make it an early day when we hit rocks going down Sugarloaf that brought our progress to a screeching halt. We hadn't eaten lunch yet and there was nowhere to stop so we both were running on empty. Took us awhile to reach the Carrabasset River which we were able to walk across on the rocks instead of fording it.We got to the campsite about 4:00pm. No one else is here and we have a nice site next to the creek. The water is very cold. We were going to soak our feet but the water was too cold to even leave our feet in for one minute. So we made dinner and relaxed in the tent.
Date: 2017-07-07
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: Stratton
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: broken clouds

The hike up So. Crocker Mtn. was about 1300 ft. But no rock climbs.  Rosie Red doesn't have her trail legs yet and it was hot and humid so she really felt it.  Then we descended 300 ft and right back up to No. Crocker.  That wasn't too bad.  Then we had 2700 ft descent to Stratton.  It was over 5 miles so it was hard but it didn't kill us.  We had planned to stealth camp before we got to the road but couldn't find a place so just kept walking.When we popped out of the woods at the road there were 2 hikers doing trail magic.  They were passing out cold drinks.  It was great!!!  The Stratton Motel only had bunk space so we decided to stay at the White Wolf Inn, but the Stratton was picking up two other hikers at the trailhead and he agreed to drop us at the post office.  Thank you!!  We checked in and showered then went to the restaurant downstairs for their fish fry.  It tasted so good and we had seconds on the fish.  It was a vry good day.  It rained before dark, so we were glad to be in town.  Our room doesn't have air conditioning,  just a fan,  so it was warm in the room until the middle of the night.
Date: 2017-07-08
From: Stratton

To: Stratton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Took a zero...did laundry, went to the library and the grocery.  Relaxed and made a healthy dinner in the microwave in our room.  It was so quiet that we thought everyone had left town.We found out that we had the only room in the motel without air conditioning.  It was very warm last night so the housekeeper gave us an extra fan.  The temp today was  cooler than yesterday so we were comfortable.
Date: 2017-07-09
From: Stratton

To: Horn's Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 5.1

Bought some food that we'd forgotten yesterday and a fuel cannister.  Hitched to the trail.  A man from town stopped and said he needed to drop off his lawn mower at his house and he'd come back to give us a ride if we hadn't gotten one by then.  He took us to the trailhead.Had a 2000 ft climb up to the Lean-To.  We were fully loaded with food and water.  We hiked from 11:30 to 5:30.  There was a mother and her daughter who was 4 or 5.  She was having a blast learning how to cook on a camp stove.  After dinner we walked to a couple of viewpoints.  Views were great.
Date: 2017-07-10
From: Horn's Pond Lean-To

To: Safford Campsite
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: clear sky

Rained this morning before we got out if the tent but thankfully it stopped before we had to pack up.  Made us a little late leaving at 8:15.  We hiked up 3 mountains today -- South Horn, Bigelow West Peak and Avery, 2 of which are 4000 footers and the other one almost 4000 ft.  Took us 11.5 hours to do that 5.3 miles.  It was tough!We almost got blown off West Peak because there was no protection and the wind was just howling.  Views were great from all 3.The descent down Avery took us forever.  It was only 2 miles but took us 3.5 hours.  The tally for falls today was Rosie Red 3,  me 1.  Just had to throw that in.  The campsites are .3 off the trail.  We had to walk iunder a house sized boulder to get here.  I was not happy about that.  We are both exhausted.
Date: 2017-07-11
From: Safford Campsite

To: Flagstaff Lake Campsite
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: broken clouds

Last night a hiker came into camp late and built a fire from wood from an old tent platform that was beside the firepit.  Normally that wouldn't have been too much of a problem...just noisy.  However, the wood must have been treated and it made lots and lots of popping noises until after 11pm.Today we climbed up the last of the Bigelow Mtns. (Little Bigelow).  It was a fairly easy climb but we were still feeling the effects of climbing 3 mtns. yesterday.  We lost the trail at one point and wasted about 20 minutes getting back on track.  We had lunch on the plateau just before the descent.  Saw lots of hikers on our way down.  There were a couple of youth groups heading up.  Boy those kids looked tired.  We stopped at Little Bigelow Lean-To for lunch and water.  The river that runs by it has these big pools which are called the AT Tubs.  It looked so inviting but we just filtered some water and headed out.This afternoon we hiked around part of Flagstaff Lake.  We missed the campsites and walked 1/2 mile too far and had to comeback.  An extra mile at the end of the day is a pain.  Our campsite is just off the lake and we walked down to its shore to cook dinner.  As we were getting things started we heard footsteps on the path down to the lake.  We turned around and there stood a moose about 25 ft. from us.  It was there for the water and we were too close for her comfort.  We stared at her and she stared back for a couple of minutes then she turned and walked back the way she came.  So cool but neither of us got a picture.
Date: 2017-07-12
From: Flagstaff Lake Campsite

To: West Carry Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: clear sky

Decided this would be a short day because of the shelter locations (either 5 or 15 miles).  So had a leisurely breakfast and then got packed iup and left at 9:00.  The trail had 2 small mountains but nothing like we've been doing and no rock scrambles.  The bugs were bad and one flew in my eye and Rosie Red had to get it out for me.  We then put on our bug nets.  On the way to the shelter it sprinkled rain but then stopped.We got to the shelter around 1:00 and ate lunch.  We were the only ones here for a while except for Joe from NJ who was waiting to see if it was going to rain before deciding whether to set up his tent.  We found a quiet spot behind and away from the shelter.  We went to filter water at the pond and came back.  Minutes later we were surrounded by a group of teenage boys and their leaders.  So much for a quiet, private spot.  We relaxed and read for a couple hours then made dinner.  Now there are bunches of tents all around the shelter.  This will be an early night for us because we have to hike 10 mikes tomorrow to get to the next shelter where we need to be in order to get to the ferry into Caratunk the next day.
Date: 2017-07-13
From: West Carry Pond Lean-To

To: West Carry Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well today didn't turn out as planned.  It started raining in the middle of the night and didn't let up until 3:00pm today.  So we decided not to hike.  It was a good thing because Rosie Red had some stomach issues which would not have been fun while hiking.We stayed in the tent most of the day reading and relaxing.  We were mostly dry and cozy.  The boys group who tented around us left this morning in the pouring rain.  We didn't even hear them taking down their tents or leaving.  How could a group of teenage boys be so quiet??Didn't cook dinner because Rosie Red didn't feel like eating anything but peanut butter crackers and I wasn't that hungry either.  So tomorrow we'll try to do the 10 miles to the next lean-to and do the ferry on Saturday.
Date: 2017-07-14
From: West Carry Pond Lean-To

To: West Carry Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy Birthday Sally!  No signal so I couldn't call.  Hope you're having a good day!!Rosie Red was worse this morning and there was no way she could hike.  So we stayed another day at West Carry Pond Lean-To in our tent.  Hopefully she will feel good enough to hike tomorrow.  It's so miserable to be sick on the trail.It's 7pm right now and it has started raining again.  Stop It!  Just heard some thunder.  I hate this weather!
Date: 2017-07-15
From: West Carry Pond Lean-To

To: Pierce Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

It rained most of last night and almost until we had to take the tent down.  It quit when we got up and then started again a little while after we started hiking.  The trail today was mostly flat but very, very wet and muddy.  My boots and socks were soaked after a few minutes of hiking.  Rosie Red is feeling better and was ready to hike.  We both took pretty hard falls today due to slick rocks and roots.  We needgot to the lean-to at 3:45 which meant we did 10 mikes in about 7 hours so you know we didn't have any rock scrambles or mountains today. We put up the tent so the fly could dry and then went to get water.  It started raining while we were gone and got some of our stuff that was in the top of our backpacks wet because we"d left them open.  Stupid thing to do.  Anyway now the fly is as wet again as when we pitched the tent.  The rain only lasted an hour so hopefully we won't get any more rain tonight or in the morning.We've been in Maine since June 16th and it has rained every day (at least a shower) since then.  Everyone is sick of it...not just us.
Date: 2017-07-16
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today we are set to cross the Kennebec River on the ferry which is a canoe.  We left at 8:15 after taking down the tent with the fly still wet from rain last night.  We ran into a problem when we were to cross the dam at Pierce Pond.  Everything was wet from the rain and the dam was wood that wasn't very secure and had water running over it.  We thought it was too dangerous to cross so we took the .3 mile bypass.  Good move on our part.The trail wouldn't have been too bad today except again for the mud, roots and rocks.  We got to the ferry at 11:15 and the guy paddling the canoe came across the river and took us back across.  The reason we don't have to ford this river is because there is a dam upstream and water is released without warning making it too dangerous.  We both enjoyed the ride (Rosie Red helped paddle).We stopped at the Caratunk B&B for a milkshake.  We'd been hearing about these shakes for miles from the Sobo's.  They were great!  We had already decided to stay at the Sterling Inn.  Since there is no cell service in Caratunk we walked to the town hall where there is a free phone and called the inn for a ride.  We had a private room with 2 beds.  They have a good variety of food, etc. for resupply.  Good thing because there is nothing in Caratunk but the post office and town hall.  We did laundry and took showers.  We'd been out for 8 days so we reeked.  Felt so good to get clean.Erik, the owner of the Inn shuttled a group of us to a restaurant at a rafting place for dinner.  Rosie Red and I split a reuben and a chicken bacon wrap.  The french fries were great.  It poured rain when we were at the restaurant but stopped when we were ready to leave.It was a long day but we didn't get to bed until 11pm...way late for hikers.
Date: 2017-07-17
From: Caratunk

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: broken clouds

Neither of us slept very well but slept in until 7:30.  The Inn has breakfast so we did that and packed up.  Got back on the trail by 10:30.  Again the trail wasn't too hard but we're still dealing with mud and slick rocks and roots.  I fell on flat ground by a stream...stepped on a wet rock and fell.The event of the day, however, was when my little sister kissed the ground I walked on.  We'd stopped for a snack and had just started hiking again.  It was a very muddy section of trail and I was in front.  I heard a rustle behind me and turned around and Rosie Red was lying facedown on the trail.  Her foot had slipped on a wet root and gotten stuck under a board that was supposed to help us cross the mud.  I turned back and she was assessing her limbs to see if anything was injured.  Her pack was on top of her and finally she was able to get up with my pulling up on her pack.  Then we realized her hiking pole was bent.  I tried to straighten it and it broke.  Now she's hiking with one pole and a big stick.  She has a scrape and a bruise but otherwise is fine.We got to the lean-to at 3:15 and set up camp and ate dinner.  It rained and thundered for a few minutes this evening.  Hope that's all we get tonight.
Date: 2017-07-18
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: Bald Mtn. Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Rained during the night but the tent was almost dry when we woke up.  Got things ready to pack and it started raining.  We just waited it out in the tent and it stopped in about 45 minutes.  It was funny because as soon as it stopped everyone came out of their tents, hammocks and the shelter and started packing up.  So we didn't get going until 8:45.We had to climb up Pleasant Pond Mtn. first thing this morning.  It was a steep ascent but a short one... just over a mile.  It was cloudy on the way up but when we summited the sun came out and we could see the views.  As usual the rocks and roots were wet and slick from the rain earlier in the morning.  The descent was a long 5 miles and Rosie Red fell once and I fell twice. It's a good thing we both have soft things on our packs to break our falls.  Not a good day for our backsides.There were several hikers on the trail today.  We met Vince from FL who is a SOBO and a couple who were flip-flopping and several others.  Took us a long time to get down from the mountain.  The trail went up and down at the top of the mountain before it really started to descend.  We finally made it to the lean-to at 6:00.  It was a long day but at least it hasn't rained since this morning.
Date: 2017-07-19
From: Bald Mtn. Brook Lean-to

To: Stealth camping mm 2060
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: few clouds

We climbed up Moxie Bald Mtn. first thing this morning.  It was beautiful at the top -- mountains as far as you could see for 360 degrees.  The sun was out and it was very hot at the top.  On the way down we picked our first blueberries of the season.  Yum!  There were only a few ripe today but there are lots of bushes loaded with berries about to start ripening.We stopped at Moxie Bald Mtn. Lean-to at the bottom of the mountain for a late lunch and to get water because we wanted to stealth camp tonight and we weren't sure where and how close we would be to a water source.  We forded Bald Mtn. Stream before we started looking for a place to camp.  It was an easy ford with the water only up to mid-shin.After we found a place to camp and got the tent set up we heard rustling in the woods about .1 mile further up the trail.  I walked that direction hoping to see a moose.  As I got closer to the noise I saw another hiker thru the trees building a fire.  That was the noise I heard, not a moose.  Maybe next time!
Date: 2017-07-20
From: Stealth camping mm 2060

To: Stealth camping mm 2071
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Got on the trail at 8:15 and did our first river ford of the day 3 miles later.  Again it was shin deep like the one yesterday, however the current was stronger, but we made it safely across.  We had a late lunch at Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to where we talked to a hiker from NYC who was doing the trail from Delaware Water Gap, PA to Katahdin.  He was only 19!We hiked on and ran into 4 mature ladies hiking who were psyched to see 2 other mature ladkies hiking.  We also saw several SoBo's today.We made another river crossing and again it was shin deep but the current wasn't strong.  However, the rocks on the bottom were slippery.  After crossing we met a girl from London who was thru hiking south.We wanted to get closer to Monson so we could arrive there mid morning tomorrow, so we kept hiking.  We found a spot to pitch the tent then realized it was an ATV trail so we hiked on.  It started thundering and we finally found a stealth site beside Hebron Lake.  Set up camp and started dinner when it started thundering and lightning.  Thankfully it hasn't rained yet.  Maybe we'll get lucky and miss the rain.Oh, just so you know...no falls yesterday or today.