morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-08-03
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: Cranberry stream campsite
Miles today: 9.1

Today started with a steep climb up South and North Crocker Mtns, both are over 4000¢.  Then it was a gentle downhill to Stratton.  We got there at 11am (7.3 miles) and there was trail magic!  AT Gracie and her friend had lots of food and drink for us.  I had Gatorade, soda, brownie, orange, banana and a fluffernutter sandwich.  After all that, she gave us a ride into town.We resupplied at Fotter¢s market then headed to the Plaza Lounge for lunch.  We charged our devices, drank beer and ate great food ( I had veggie pizza). We walked across the street to the dispensary and bought vape pens.We hiked in a couple of miles to the campsite.  Boot carried beer in so we had a bit of a celebration at dinner.  Papa John previewed his latest video - it¢s awesome!
Date: 2019-08-04
From: Cranberry stream campsite

To: Little Bigelow Lean to
Miles today: 13.5

We hiked the entire Bigelow range today!  That included South Horn, Bigelow West Peak (4145¢), Avery Peak (4090¢), and Little Bigelow Mtn (3010¢).  My phone says we climbed 428 flights of stairs!  Wow!We could see all the way from Mt Washington to Katahdin.  We had views of Sugarloaf Mtn and Flagstaff Lake all day.  The lake is a massive reservoir.The terrain was a mix of rocks, roots and slabs today. My feet are tired!
Date: 2019-08-06
From: Pierce Pond Lean to 

To: Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 4.0

Last night the loons tremoloed all night. It was magical!  This morning I woke at 5am.  At about 5:15 I convinced myself to get up to look for moose.  I brought my comb and TP (for a privy run) down to the water¢s edge.  After combing out my hair and just sitting for awhile I heard ¢ker-splash ker-splash ker-splash¢. It sure sounded like something big walking in the water. Across the pond, a moose appeared out of the woods!  I watched it for awhile then went to tell the others to look.We left camp at 7am.  We were not in a hurry because the canoe ferry over the Kennebec River did not start until 9am.  The scenery of the walk today was beautiful.  We passed by several waterfalls. The forest floor was covered in moss and lichens.  That was covered in newly fallen white pine needles. It all looked like soft pillows.We arrived at at the ferry at 9am.  We watched the first ferry with SOBOs come across.  Then Papa John and I took the first ferry NOBO.  The canoe has a white blaze on the bottom to make it officially part of the trail.Once we all were across, we walked down to the Caratunk House hostel where we had rooms waiting for us.We showered, had laundry done, and had a fantastic milkshake.  Then we got shuttled to the local brewery/restaurant for a huge lunch.I came back and took the opportunity of WiFi to deal with my health insurance application ... a chore that¢s been a nightmare dealing with it in the trail.I did weigh myself here.  I¢m down to 131# from 146!
Date: 2019-08-07
From: Caratunk, ME

To: Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 0.0

It was really nice to take a day off.  I went to the post office and mailed Bunch of stuff home that I was sick of carrying (journal notebook that was full, AWOL guide pages I was done with, a hat, and my 10x lens that I was never using).  I finished purchasing health insurance ( to start 9/1... I¢ll really feel retired when that kicks in!)DaveNitUp showed up and hung with us for the day. We went for a walk down to a neighboring hostel to see what resupply stuff they had.  I smacked on some nutter butter cookies and a Mountain Dew.  Some of the hikers staying there told us about norovirus going around. I have to be super mindful about washing my hands!Back at the Caratunk house I resupplied for the next 2 days.We went out for 2 for 1 pizza. I bought 2 pizzas and ate a total of 1. I brought the other back for Sea Bass, a hiker that sprained his ankle really bad. He¢s 8 days from finishing and out of money.  I feel bad for him.Tomorrow it¢s going to rain.  I¢m not looking forward to hiking in it.
Date: 2019-08-08
From: Caratunk, ME

To: Bald Mtn Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 14.7

Rain. Rain. Rain.We started the day with another fabulous breakfast that Paul served up ( eggs, potatoes, blueberry muffins, French toast with blueberry sauce, bananas, orange juice and coffee. We weighed packs before leaving. With 2 days food (no water) my pack is at 22.1#. I¢m feeling really good about that!We should have had views on Pleasant Pond Mtn but did not due to the weather.  We stopped at the Lean-to and watched it rain for awhile.  Luckily when we got to camp the rain subsided so I could set my tent up.  It poured again while we ate dinner in the Lean-to.  My stuff all stayed dry.On the trail today I found lobster mushroom and pipsissewa.
Date: 2019-08-09
From: Bald Mtn Brook Lean-to

To: Horseshoe canyon lean-to
Miles today: 13.0

After the rain yesterday, today was beautiful!  The climb up Moxie Bald provided views and lots of blueberries at peak ripeness.  We took an extended lunch break at the lean-to.  There were hundreds of green frogs in the pond.  Some of them still had a bit of a tail.  There was also a giant bullfrog that refused to move even after we tormented it a bit.We had to Ford the West Branch of the Piscataquis River.  It was mid-shin deep.  We all decided to keep our shoes on because they were still wet from yesterday.  I have to say I¢m not so sure that was the best idea.  The longer your shoes and socks stay wet, the stinkier they get.  Mine are super ripe now!
Date: 2019-08-10
From: Horseshoe canyon lean-to

To: Monson (ME 15)
Miles today: 9.0

It was an easy, if busy, day today.  We left camp at 7 and were in the parking lot at the trailhead by 11.  Before we got there we had yet another river to ford: East Branch of the Piscataquis.  Nothing like putting o wet, stinky shoes I. The morning and then getting them wetter and stinkier!  Luckily I had new shoes waiting for me I town.We called Shaw¢s for. The trailhead and they shuttled is in to the hostel.  We got a room for 5!  Perfect for us and it only cost $17 each.We went to the BBQ place for lunch.  The place was mobbed so it took forever to get food ( it was great once we got it!). I had grilled cheese, garden pasta salad and a giant piece of bourbon bread pudding...and a beer of course.>span class="s1">Next stop was the Lakeshore House (another hostel) where 3 of us had packages waiting.  Actually, mi e was not there.  After much running around by the staff and many texts between Jim and me, we finally ascertained that my package had been sent to Shaws. I was thankful I found it because my new shoes were I there ( along with a new zseat, new gaiters and some surprises from Jim!)I still had to shower, do laundry and eat dinner.  By 7 pm I was zonked!
Date: 2019-08-11
From: Monson (ME 15)

To: Long Pond Stream
Miles today: 14.3

Breakfast at the hostel was awesome (eggs, potatoes, blueberry pancakes).  After that I exchanged a pie of darned tough socks I had worn through.  They had the exact same pair at the hostel¢s resupply and gear shop.  We all arranged for our food drop (resupply in the 100 mile wilderness) and paid our bill.  We finally got hiking by 9:30.  It¢s always a late start leaving town.span class="Apple-converted-space"> Some of these had views, somewhere just in the forest.  Away from the trail the ridges were covered I miss and lichen.  On the trail the rock was exposed. We were walking in the edge of the slate as opposed to a slick surface.  It was hard on the feet!We passed by many beautiful ponds.  I looked for moose I. Each of them!  One was a very active beaver pond.  I watched 4 beavers!  One had a bunch of leaves in its mouth, approached the lodge and dove under water.  I¢m guessing it brought the leaves inside the lodge.  Another beaver was just swimming around and 2 more were collecting leaves at the far end of the pond.We had lunch at Little Wilson Falls.  This was a dramatic falls with the water shooting over a slate cliff.We forded 2 streams (Big Wilson and Long Pond).  I took my shoes off and put my camp sandals o. For both of them.  I did not want to get my new shoes wet!We camped on the north shore of Long Pond Stream, listening to the roar of the water.  It¢s a perfect place to camp!
Date: 2019-08-12
From: Long Pond Stream

To: East Chairback Pond
Miles today: 13.5

Today was a slow slog up and o we the chairbacks (Barren Mtn, Fourth Mtn, Mt three and a half, third Mtn, Columbus Mtn and chairback Mtn).  Each was steep up and down.  None was especially high.  They were just never-ending. We did have some beautiful views of Maine ponds from above as opposed to beside (like yesterday).span class="Apple-converted-space"> We were tired and it started to rain a little.  At one point we all got ahead of Wil.  She was upset.  Then Papa John and I missed the turn off for our campsite.  It was 0.3 miles back for us and when we got there we didn¢t know if Wil had reached that point yet.  We did all make it to camp.  We had a gorgeous spot on the pond.I found chanterelles on the path down to the pond so I cooked them up and added them to my ramen bomb (ramen with added instant mashed potatoes).Tomorrow is a super long day. Boot insisted that we modify our plan to be 18+ miles rather than 15.  We have some mountains in the stretch.  Ive decided to leave camp early.  I¢m not looking forward to getting up before 5.
Date: 2019-08-13
From: East Chairback Pond

To: East Branch Lean-to
Miles today: 18.4

My alarm went off at 4:45.  I got up, packed up and then had breakfast overlooking the pond.  It was a beautiful morning.  I watched a loon catch a fish, eat it, then take that long run on the water I order to become airborne.I left camp at 6:05. I passed Marco Polo and Tinker Toy right away.  They had camped near us and they are always out on the trail early.  Right after that I came to the West Branch of the Pleasanr River and had to Ford it.  I changed foot wear to keep my shoes dry.  The water was frigid!  The morning light on river was magical.  Shortly after that I passed Huey.  He had stayed at a private campground last night.  He¢s been leapfrogging us for the last few days.I came to the Gulf Hagas loop trail.  I took it down just 0.2 miles to see Screw Auger Falls ( the tallest falls in Maine).  It was not as dramatic as the last falls we saw.span class="Apple-converted-space"> On the steep ascent of West Mtn there are a series of stone steps.  There was lots of moose scat on the steps.  I was marveling that the moose use the staircase when I heard a branch break to my left.  I looked up and a female moose was trotting away from me!  I got a great look but she was gone before I got my phone out for a pic.Just beyond the peak of White Cap Mtn I came to a place with a great view of Mt Katahdin. It is so majestic from this vantage point!  I took an hour long lunch right there.I hiked very strong today. I travelled 12.8 miles by noon!  On my way down White Cap I stopped at a viewpoint to take off my jacket ( it had been chilly on the summit).  Wil caught up to me right there.  I was shocked to see her!  We hiked the last 4 miles and were in camp at 3:45.  Great time for an 18 mile day.I passed the 1/2 way point of my journey today!
Date: 2019-08-14
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: AntlerÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs campground
Miles today: 16.0

Got started before 7 am this morning.  We had to go 12 miles to JoMary rd to meet our resupply.  It was super cold getting up!  I¢m guessing it was in the 40s. It was really hard taking off my base layer to start hiking!  Wil and I left first because we just had to get moving.I stopped at the East Branch of the Pleasant River to get water.  The water at camp last night tasted like pond scum so I wanted something a bit more palatable for the day.We had a short steep climb up Little Boardman Mtn. Then I stopped at a sand beach on Crawford Pond.  I met Jordan and Patrick (2 guys hiking the 100 mile wilderness) there. Runaway Jim was also there but he was being a bit obnoxious.  Jordan and I played with a leech.  I had it crawling all over my hand!  I would have spent more time there but fuckin¢ Jimmy was too loud for me.MikeD passed me on the next stretch.  I caught up to Wil at Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to.  MikeD was not there.  This is a great spot!  The lean-to is right on the brook at a perfect swimming hole.  Huey, Boot and Papa John all showed up.  I stayed there almost 2 hours!Just before 12:30 I left.  I only had 3.7 miles to go and the resupply was supposed to arrive at 3. Almost as soon as I started out, a SOBO hiker told me Mike D had already met the resupply truck.  I practically ran the rest of the way, arriving at 1:40.  The rest of the crew arrived at 2.Resupply came with a beer!  So I drank mine. Boot was upset because the resupply folks were supposed to take our garbage and now we had to carry it.  I didn¢t care so I just started hiking.  MikeD caught up soon after and we had a pleasant walk into camp.Antler¢s campground is a beautiful site right on JoMary lake.  There are lots of people here.  It sure doesn¢t feel like wilderness!I actually had good service so I called Jim and we made tentative plans for when I got off Katahdin.
Date: 2019-08-15
From: AntlerÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs campground

To: West side Nahmakanta Lake stealth
Miles today: 13.1

I left camp at 6:50 today.  I stopped at the first sand beach.  It was lovely and one of many today. In between it was all roots and rocks; difficult footing.I arrived at the south end of Nahmakanta Lake at 11:30.  Wil was there.  We had lunch and took a nap on the beach.  We were there 2 hours sort of waiting for the guys.  They did not show so we hiked on.At The west side of the lake, we followed a trail out on to the beach.  There we found a picnic table, lawn chairs and tent sites.  It was perfect!  We decided we had to camp here even if it meant a long day tomorrow. They agreed this was a good site. They also talked us into going even farther than the original plan tomorrow. So  preparing mentally for a 23.6 mile day tomorrow.  This will put us just outside the kiosk for signing up for the Birches campground in Baxter State Park.  We are concerned we won¢t get one of the 12 sites because of all the people who are planning on summitting the same day we are.
Date: 2019-08-16
From: West side Nahmakanta Lake stealth

To: Abol Pines campground
Miles today: 23.6

I left camp at 5:30 because I knew it would be a very long day.  By 7 it was raining.  It rained for a good portion of the day.  Regardless, I was able to make good time even though the trail was loaded with roots and rocks.  By noon I had hiked 15.8 miles!  The Hurd Brook Lean-to was the 20 mile mark.  I was there at 1:30!I talked to Adam and Seth there. They are section hikers.  They had lots of questions about thru hiking and how to get their pack weight down.  They also told me Boot and Mike D had left about 10 minutes before I got there.  Regardless, I took an hour long break there eating and chatting.It stopped raining about 2pm and warmed up a bit.  That was great because I got really cold this morning.  The good news is that my new rain kilt worked great so I was fairly dry.It was only 3.5 more miles to Abol bridge.  We camped at Abol Pines campground.  Our site was also occupied by a group of 4 young men.  3 of them are engineers for electric boat in Groton, CT.  They had climbed Katahdin today.We got food and beer at the restaurant.  Resupplied in the store.
Date: 2019-08-17
From: Abol Pines campground

To: The Birches 
Miles today: 9.8

It rained some last night. I slept great, only waking to pull some gear in and close a tent flap.We got started at 6am and were at the ranger kiosk at 6:15.  T and dangerboy were already there.  We were happy we would be one of the 12 allowed to stay at the Birches.  We had to wait until 7:30 for the ranger though!We did have to ford 2 streams.  The first one was a successful rock hop.  The second one I slipped in.  It was a blessing because it was much easier walking in the water!Along the way we took a side trail to ¢big niagara falls¢.  It was a spectacular falls!  Lots of water flowing.We got to the ranger station at Katahdin Stream campground at 11am.  We all got registered and paid out $10We all stayed in the shelters at the Birches.  T, dangerboy, mayor and trail chef stayed In tents/hammocks. About 7pm a couple showed up with trail magic: 9 pizzas, beer, soda, chips, cookies, and all the makings for s¢mores! They even brought firewood!  We had a great party in preparation for our climb tomorrow!
Date: 2019-08-18
From: The Birches 

To: Katahdin summit. (And back down)
Miles today: 5.2

Super day on the trail! We left camp and headed back to the ranger station.  There we transferred some clothes, food and basic gear to day packs; leaving our big packs labeled on the porch.  The ranger said it was going to rain all day.  At the time the sky looked good so we hurried up to take advantage of what good weather we had. After Katahdin Stream Falls, it started to get steep and rocky.  Papa John describes it as Mahoosic Notch meets the Whites.  We all agreed that was pretty accurate.  We had to put our poles away and start climbing with hands and feet.As soon as we got to tree line, we got some beautiful views. We were above the clouds, just like being in an airplane. At the summit there were lots of thru hikers:  runaway Jim, moonie, Spacemaker, Marco Polo, tinkertoy, DaveNitup, cushy life, and more!  We all took individual photos and a group photo.  It started to rain very lightly though it was not cold or windy at all.  The rain actually stopped and we had some breaks if blue sky.As we hiked down, the skies cleared and we had more terrific views.MikeD¢s friends met him on the trail.  I hiked with them to the bottom. I was down to the ranger station by 3.Boot and his wife MaryJo gave me a ride to Abol campground. I soon figured out that this was NOT where I was meeting Jim. They had no record of a reservation.  I saw a couple getting in their pickup and asked for a ride to the visitors center.  They were happy to do so.I realized it was closed and it was unlikely I¢d meet him there.  Of course I had no service to call.  I did however go back and look at our text conversation and learned that I really wanted to be at Abol Bridge ... about 6 miles away!A guy pulled in with his pick up and a kayak in it.  I approached him and asked what he was planning on doing.  He was going to Katahdin Stream campground.  I told him I was going to be looking for a ride to Abol Bridge.  He offered to take me even though it was in the opposite direction!   Adam was so kind.  I couldn¢t believe my luck.At Abol Bridge campground I was told Jim had not arrived but they had campsite 16 reserved.  I purchased an ice cream cone and walked down to the campsite. Then I decided I better call Jim.  I went back to the store to use the satellite phone ( no service of course).  They charge $1/min to call.  I left a message on Jim¢s machine.  The man at the store did not charge me for the 6 second call!Back at the campsite I started spreading out my wet gear.  I looked up at the parking lot and there was an RV that looked suspiciously like John¢s.  I ran back up to the store and sure enough, the guys had arrived!  ...and we all were in the same place!We had a nice evening eating veggie burgers, drinking beer and watching about 20 common nighthawks wheeling around in the sky.
Date: 2019-08-19
From: Katahdin summit. (And back down)

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0

Traveling days!  We left Abol Bridge after a leisurely breakfast and went in to Millinocket.  Right when we got there, Papa John texted me looking for a ride to Boston Logan airport.  So we picked him up and got in the road.After dropping him off, the weather deteriorated. There were massive thunderstorms forming all around us and in Narragansett Bay.  We decided to not try to get to Prudence Island until morning.  We found a nice campground (Forge Pond) near Taunton and called that home for the night.Tuesday morning we got to the dock about 10:30am to meet Matt and get out r boat ride to Prudence.  Once there, mom gave John a comprehensive tour of the island.  Later, mom and I went swimming.  I takes Jim and John into getting their feet wet to see the miniature crabs that were in the plankton.  There were also lots of small comb jellies floating around.  The bay was 75 degrees!On Wednesday we left the island in the afternoon and travelled to Fahnestock State Park in New York.  We ended up getting the campsite for free because there was no one on the camp office that night or the next morning.We were practically stopped for an hour!  After a very long day we got to Mandy¢s (in Virginia) about 8pm.Friday was a ¢zero day¢.  Mandy brought me to the grocery store and to REI to resupply.  I also had new trekking poles delivered to her house.  As it turns out, I lost mine somewhere in Abol Bridge.  I must have left them by the store either right when I got there or when I got ice cream.  Luckily I sort of remembered not putting them in the RV so I looked around and noticed them missing. I had plenty of time to order them from Amazon and have them delivered.
Date: 2019-08-24
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: David Lesser Memorial sheltet
Miles today: 0.3
Weather: clear sky

Mandy, Jim, John and I all travelled to Harpers Ferry. We had our ¢traditional¢ breakfast at the Country Cafe (the same place we stopped back in May when I started the trail. Then we went to the ATC center.At the center the folks there took my picture again and put it in the album.  We found my pic from back in May.  It was interesting who was in the same neighborhood of the album:  DaveNitup, Boot, Johnny Walker, Muffet, Thighgap, Aloha.  I was asked to speak to some visitors about thru hiking. It was fun being an ¢insider¢ and answering all their questions. Last time I felt so out of place!I left to start hiking at 11:30. The trail took me over the Potomac River and then on a fairly gentle trail (though there were plenty of rocks!). My feet and ankles complained loudly all the way.  I hope this is a temporary thing!I got to the shelter at 4 pm.  There were no other thru hikers today on the trail.  I did talk to a couple (Arch and Jaywalk) who ate doing the 14 state challenge.  There are a few other people here tonight.I¢m staying in the shelter tonight.  It¢s big and beautiful with a massive deck and an Adirondack style ¢couch¢ bench...which is where I¢m sitting as I write this!
Date: 2019-08-25
From: David Lesser Memorial sheltet

To: Rod Hollow shelter
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: broken clouds

Today was challenging!  I woke just before 6am (the sun is coming up later and later!) it was still dark/just starting to lighten up.  I was out of the shelter by 7.I¢ve never seen so much poke!  I also saw 8 deer, The first 3 at Buzzard Rocks and 5 more shortly after that.I managed to hike 12 miles by noon.  After that it got much slower as I traversed the roller coaster.  It wasn¢t hard just a lot of up and down and it was rocky.  Slow going for sure.I got to the shelter at 5.  My feet felt better today but they were super tired after 21 miles.Cherokee was at the shelter. He¢s a thru hiker that started in GA.  He says he has to stop often and work so he has money to hike.  He claims to have been robbed in Front Royal.  His plan is to go to Harpers Ferry and then hitch to ME and walk south.Overall, he was a bit sketchy so I decided to stay in my tent.