morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-08-17
From: Trident Col Campsite

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: few clouds

Weather is unbelievable! I am loving it in Maine. Tomorrow, The Mahoosuc Notch! Yippee! I'm hiking with a trail family again! This is so much more fun. The ponds are beautiful. Lots of interesting catapillars and dragonflies at Gentian Pond. Lots of moose tracks, but still no moose. Hiked with Lunchbox, Cash, and Lifesaver. Cash does some incredible slides on the rocks in his skirt no less. He went ahead aways while we stopped to take photos and when we caught up to him, he was muddy from his knees down. He sat on the summit of one of the mountains and watched as we walked across the bog on boards barely getting our shoes muddy. We took photos at the Welcome to Maine sign. I hiked from Georgia to Maine! Can you believe it! Can I go home now? OK, I really have a few more miles to Katahdin, but it was really neat to see the sign "Welcome to Maine, the way life should be" I got a cool photo of me hugging the signpost tree! More really cool veiws today. At the shelter, I met Sandman and Irish. My pump is getting super hard to pump. And, the water has an orange tint to it!
Date: 2006-08-18
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Grafton Notch/ The Cabin
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: clear sky

The Mahoosuc Notch was so much fun!!! Big boulders to crawl over and under! Fun stuff. I waited, not so patiently, for someone to get hiking, anyone, I didn't want to hike this section without getting some photos. Turns out I had a great group! Hiked through it with Sandman, Irish, Cash, Lunch Box, and Lifesaver. It was great to have people to photograph and they took some of me too! What an awesome day! Weather is incredible. Makes me glad I hurried up to get here in good weather. Shuttled in to the Cabin In Maine. Showered and dressed up for dinner in wild clothes complete with purple wig. You'll love the photos when I get them!
Date: 2006-08-19
From: Grafton Notch/ The Cabin

To: East B Hill/ The Cabin
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm getting spoiled! Breakfast served family style was great, I managed to fry a couple eggs without making too big a mess and was shuttled back to the trail. Irish, Sandman, and I ran into Just Tom on his way back to the trailhead. For some reason, he was not feeling well. It threaten to rain, but it was really a beautiful hiking day and I really enjoyed the sweet mountain blueberries and the tart cranberries. Bear was there to pick us up right on the dot and I'm sure tonight I'll be eating Honey's great cooking once more. They really do a great job making Andover one of my favorite town stops yet! Mr. Blister is at the hostel on a flip flop. I ate half of Sandman's sub with my potatoe chips and orange soad. A short day, but I'm not complaining. There's good company and great food! Honey made a killer zuchini cassarole, beef stroganoff, corn on the cob, green salad, and to top it all off, there's 5 gallon tubs of Moosetracks ice cream! I'm going to gain weight here! I gained 5 pounds since yesterday! Photo Op is here as well as Just Tom and the PCT hikers, Pop Pop, Tea Tree, and Chance. Supposed to rain really hard all day tomorrow!
Date: 2006-08-20
From: East B Hill/ The Cabin

To: East B Hill/ The Cabin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It's a great day to be inside. Think I'll stick around and post some photos on the site. Great food, Great company. Maine, the way life should be! Photo Op did go out and braved the rain and came back soaked! We watched "O brother, Where Art Thou", Made pizza for lunch and took the truck into town for resupply and sodas. For dinner we ate hamburgers, potatoe salad, squash, and more of that delicious Moosetracks ice cream. I've gained 7 lbs now! Talk about a vortex, I think this will be a record. I was in Duncannon for three nights, now I'm planning to be here for the 5th night in a row! There's a group of kids from the Student Conservation Association here tonight. I took their photo and make prints on the computer. Called my dad to wish him a happy birthday.
Date: 2006-08-21
From: East B Hill/ The Cabin

To: South Arm Road/ The Cabin
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

It's was still raining this morning, but Sandman, Irish, and I made another 10 miles or so towards that big mountain! It's clearing up. Oh, and I crossed two fords today! Not that it really mattered. My shoes were soaked from walking in the rain anyway. Met Hobbit at the road crossing. Bear gave him a ride into town. And, I met Head-n-out and Tag-n-along. Freinds of Sandman. I guess they started together. Just Tom and Photo Op are back too! Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes! I really don't feel too old these days. Life is pretty good! Though I thought the answer to the universe was 42. But, I don't know the answers to much of anything. What will I do when I get done with the trail? I don't know. Guess I'll just have to yo-yo and head back southbound till I find out? Huh? I don't think so. Guess what? Honey and Bear, Rambunny and Aqua and the whole gang at The Cabin threw me a surprise birthday party! It was so cool! They set the table with jellybeans for everyone, party favors and even party hats! Everyone signed a cool birthday card and they gave me a big bag of trail goodies and a freeze dried meal! I loved it! The kicker was the birthday cake. Rambunny spelled out happy birthday with jellybeans. Oh, and Truck and overload have been here all along and I've been enjoying their company and missing my dog. There's is so cute! I think they may have been involved in all this party planning too! The funny thing was, Photo Op came up to me on the computer and was wondering if I knew where this birthday card was that we were supposed to sign for Bear! So, I'm thinking it's Bear's birthday too!
Date: 2006-08-22
From: South Arm Road/ The Cabin

To: ME 17/ The Cabin
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: clear sky

Well, I guess it's time to cut the apron strings. Summer camps over, it's time to get back to camping in the woods. I've gained 7 lbs in 5 days! Honey and Bear along with Rambunny and Aqua sure do know how to welcome a thru-hiker to Maine! "The Cabin" is a top of the line hostel. I got bungeed back in from 4 different road crossings! Anyways it was a great place to celebrate my birthday yesterday. Today I hiked another leg with Irish and Sandman. The South Africans were at the road crossing headed south. Bear gave them fuel. Met up with Lifesaver and his friends at the river. It was very slippery today, I fell three times. That's more than all the rest of the trail put together. Fortunately there were no injuries, although Sandmand had a lot of blood to show for the day! He's been carrying his whole pack this whole time. The air was cool and the predicted showers held off. Another great day in Maine. Aqua was there to pick us up right on schedule for one last night at the cabin. Stopped at the store in town and had to go see Sourdough's AT '06 tattoe. There were a lot of hikers there. Got a big group photo with Sourdough, Sidewinder, the 3 Jersey Boys, Irish, Sandman, Waterwings, Park bench, and I. Back to the cabin for Shephard's pie, Yum! Saw Hobbit trying to hitch out. Blackfoot came in late, hadn't seen him since, oh, like Standing Bear Farm?
Date: 2006-08-23
From: ME 17/ The Cabin

To: ME 4/ Rangely
Miles today: 13.1

Well, I broke free from one hostel, and hiked right into another. A beautiful day. I hiked out with Irish and Sandman. Ran into Lifesaver and his friends at Sabbath Day Pond and a whole bunch of Gray Jays. At Little Rock Pond, I took the canoe out for a paddle in the wind. It is a great feeling to just be out paddling a canoe all by myself in the middle of a little pond out in the wilderness. I hitched into Rangely with "The Boston Baked Beans" AT 1987. Made it to the post office with it's weird hours, but Bob from Gull Pond Hostel had already picked up my mail. Thanks Bob! He also put a birthday balloon by my bed! Thanks everyone for all the cards. That was really cool! I ran into Shasta, H-bomb, Mouse, Jangles and Baro at the Post office on the way to resupply and dinner at the Red Onion. They are on a mission to finish by Sept 8, so I may be traveling with them for the rest of the way! If the don't vote me off the island.
Date: 2006-08-24
From: ME 4/ Rangely

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke early this morning, so I took out Bob's canoe on Gull Pond. It was really foggy, so I didn't go real far from the bank, but it was so still and quite except for the loons. A real treat, but my hands were freezing. I went back to the hostel and everyone was still asleep. I crawled back in bed to warm up. Bob set up a great continental breakfast and then shuttled Irish, Sandman and I to the trailhead. Stopped at the Piazza Privy. It's "Your Move" and it's a two seater with a cribbage board in the middle! Apparently Irish passed me at that point but didn't know it. I kept running into sobos that already knew who I was! Saw the mountain from Saddleback! Mt. Katahdin in veiw! O' the Joy! I know the mileages are dropping, but there's so many reasons to poke around these days! From the top of Saddleback Mountain, I could see all the way from Mt. Washington to Mt. Katahdin. I'm so psyched now! And, there's only a couple pages left to go in my wingfoot. It's cold up here though and windy on the alpine summits. The shelter floor was the old baseball bat design and not the most comfortable. I slept in all my warm clothes and stayed warm enough. There was a father and 2 sons from Quebec City, so I listened to french all evening. It reallys sounds neat. They were extremely nice people. Shasta, Baro, Jangles, H-bomb, and Mouse are camped around the shelter. Blackfoot caught up. I actually cooked two meals tonight. Mostly for the warmth I think.
Date: 2006-08-25
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: Crocker Cirque Camp
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I saw another bear today! He was so cute too! Probably this year's cub, he was about 150 lbs. But, I heard some noise, and thought I would see a moose, and was quite surprised when this bear poked his head up over the burm and froze when he saw me. As I scrambled for my camera he ducked back down behind the burm then climbed up a tree to check me out better. I tried to take another photo. He immediately jumped back down and ran off. I walked over to the burm thinking he probably wouldn't go far when I saw him get on the trail ahead of me and run off again. I took a third photo. Three photo, none of them have a bear in them! Irish came up behind me then and a group of college students came towards me southbound, so I'm sure the bear was long gone by then. Anyways, another beautiful day, but it was a workout. I took the half mile side trail up to sugarloaf mt. but couldn't see Mt. Katahdin due to the clouds in the distance. At the campsite trail, I found Shasta's tribe in a deep debate. Should they go or should they stay. I got a kick out of Baro, who just set down his pack and put his jacket on. He said these things usually take a while. I listned to all their arguments. The usual pluses and minuses. Then made an excuse to leave and headed for the privy. Hung up my hammock at camp, ate, then joined Shasta and H-bomb, Mouse, Baro, and Jangles for wine. We celebrated the less than 200 miles to go milestone. It's cold, I wore hat and gloves to bed and still couldn't sleep. The hammock is ready for the insulation system! A large group of college students were camped on one of the tent platforms with a sketchy tarp strung up over them. Good thing it didn't rain. It wouldn't have helped much!
Date: 2006-08-26
From: Crocker Cirque Camp

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up after maybe 2 hours of sleep and was still cold! Packed up and pumped water so I could take a couple excederin. It's probably dehydration, or maybe the wine. I should know better by now! Anyways, I know how to get warm. I got up and started hiking! Up the Crockers and down into town, past the hornet's nest in the trail that nailed Baro 3 times! One tried to sting me a couple times through my long johns. At the road, Jangles, Baro and I crammed into the back seat of Don's jeep with our packs hanging out the back window, but nothing fell out! Stratton is great! I ate at the Diner with Shasta, H-bomb, Jangles, Baro, and Mouse. It wasn't cheap, but oh so delicious. I had 2 milkshakes and pie ala mode, with my sandwich and onion rings. Laundry, resupply, all that. Irish and Sandman are here, Wild bill's here too and a sobo who is just Gray till he get's a name he likes. Looks like we're grilling for dinner! Went in with Jangles on stuff for shish kabobs and Mouse grilled them for us! They were beautiful. Trail angels brought in a pasta dish too! Blackfoot arrived late and helped clean up any leftovers. This is the life, I hope it never ends!
Date: 2006-08-27
From: Stratton, ME

To: Little Bigelow Shelter
Miles today: 15.3

The southbounder moans in his sleep! Well, It didn't bother me much, but if he's still looking for a trail name... Hiked out with Blackfoot, but he was gone in no time. Shasta and Jangles are a little under the weather. I never saw any of them today. They never made it to the shelter. I went down a side trail looking for the Avery Shelter, but it doesn't exist. Talked to the caretaker. He said it's just a campsite now. It was a long day over the Bigelows. It started to cloud up and rain. Very windy, the views went away in the clouds. Met a sobo "Robert Bibb" and saw another double seater privy. This one had two windows, one with curtains. Somewhere around Little Bigelow Mt. I passed the 2000th mile of my journey. I should be jumping up and down with joy, but really, I'm just glad to be in a dry shelter! I was very glad to get a space in the shelter tonight. Although Blackfoot thought it needed smoke to warm it up. Well, it was almost dry, my foodbag and the foot of my sleeping bag are wet!
Date: 2006-08-28
From: Little Bigelow Shelter

To: Harrison Camps
Miles today: 17.7

It rained all night! But, it didn't actually rain today, however my feet are soaked. The water source is housed in a little log cabin! The trail is much flatter now, but rocky, muddy, and the boardwalks are slippery. Saw so many moose track, and I could smell them. I know they are there just out of sight! Blackfoot went on into Caratunk. I was very happy to find Tim Harrison at the camp working on the generator. Hot showers do wonders for a wet hiker. Still no moose. The cabin was terrific. It has a little woodstove, two kerosene lamps, 2 double beds, and a flush toilet. Just wonderful. Helped Tim fill the hummingbird feeders. Not many left, most have headed south. The view of the waterfall from my cabin is spectacular. I could live here! Cooked ramen on my little porch. Irish and Sandman got a cabin too! I hope the "Fabulous 5" make it to breakfast tomorrow!
Date: 2006-08-29
From: Harrison Camps

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

Tim made the best plate of pancakes with apples, blueberries, and cranberries, sausage, eggs, and milk. Really good. And Shasta's tribe made it too! You know, Shasta, H-bomb, Mouse, Jangles and Baro. We watched from the lodge as they crossed the rickety old bridge. We really did enjoy breakfast. Thanks Tim, I wish you the best! The waterfalls along the trail today remind me of Oregon. It was absolutely beautiful. I saw a big wading bird, like a heron. Met Steve Longley and he ferried Irish and Sandman safely across the Kennebec River. I went across with Radly of the Jersey Boys who were right behind us. Walked to the Caratunk post office with Sandman to get my mail. Then caught a ride to Northern Outdoor Center. An 2005 alumni, ___ Duke! It was another turn around ride. They were just dropping off Cash and Lifesaver, then headed for Canada on vacation. We ate lunch, Chicken strips and fries, then got a turkey wrap to go for dinner. Oh, and they had internet. Steve picked us up and took us back to Rivers and Trails, where he gave me a personalized post card. I got enough food to get to Monson and was eating ice cream when I broke another tooth! It's all this candy and ice cream I've been eating all summer, or else I'm just falling apart now that I'm 42! Anyways, I should be in Monson on the 31st. Shooting for a summit date of September 8th! Hiked to Pleasant Pond. Sat on the dock. Some went swimming, but it was too cold for me! Beautiful afternoon though! It's a full shelter tonight. Irish and Sandman, the Fabulous 5, who are now on the "Jellybean Schedule", The Jersey Boys, Wild bill, and few other section hikers. Shasta's Tribe doesn't even know what the itinery is, but they know that if they stay on my pace, they'll make it to the plane on time! Now that's just blind faith. Of course, Baro has his own plan, if all else fails, he'll just walk 45 miles the last day!
Date: 2006-08-30
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

Wow! you know a lot depends on the weather. Boy, has it been lovely. I love Maine! It's absolutely beautiful. Took my time this morning. I had to laugh as Sandman dilly dallied, avoiding putting on his wet clothes till the last possible moment. Apparently they didn't dry overnight from swimming yesterday. H-bomb has a habit of sharing the songs stuck in her head with everyone else. Well today, she opened with Happy Birthday and we all joined in to sing for Shasta's birthday. Happy birthday Shasta! Hiked over Moxie Mountain then hiked along the river. There were a couple fords, and we made good time on fairly level ground for a change. But the leaves are turning and it's just beautiful. Have I mentioned it's beautiful weather! Stopped on a mountain top with prayer flags and we could see Katahdin. Oh, and we went swimming at Moxie Pond! and a bus load of kids stopped to ask US directions! The filling came out of my broken tooth, but it doesn't hurt at least. The Jersey Boys are in the shelter, but got to camp late, lots of college kids, so I set up my hammock. The extra foam pieces I picked up in Stratton make all the difference! I slept a lot warmer. Pumped water from a very murky stream in the dark, and cooked in the circle with the Fabulous 5. Oh, and I guess when I got out of my hammock in the middle of the night, I somehow rained pinecones on Jangles and Mouse from the tree I was tied up to. Eventually all was quiet as the college kids put out their joints and giggled their way to their tents.
Date: 2006-08-31
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to

To: ME 15/ Monson, ME
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

Another beautiful day, and nice trail too! I'm starting to feel sad now that's its almost over. I don't know what I will do. Someone suggested that we write to Wingfoot and ask him for the next set of notes, since we're almost out of the ones in the handbook! Anyways, I am in good company, trail magic today was an orange and a rootbeer from Strider '01. Thanks Strider! It was just after crossing a ford while we waited for our feet to dry. Hitched in to Monson. Probably the last hitch to the last trail town. I had a great burger at the Spring Creek BBQ. Showered and did laundry at Shaw's. Then went to Greenbow for our last re-supply. Well, actually, I'll get a few things at Whitehouse Landing and probably Abol Bridge as well. But this was my last mail drop. Oh, I'm getting sad again! Spent 30 minutes at the library on the internet here! Then another dinner at the Spring Creek BBQ with Sandman, Irish, Cash, and Lifesaver. Then followed Lifesaver over to the pub for a birthday drink. A really cool place with beautiful woodwork. Happy Birthday Lifesaver! Back to Shaw's at 9:00 for David's birthday cake from his mom, my birthday ice-cream from Bare Bear, and Shasta's brownies and raspberries from her tribe! We got her a card, a moose and a patch too! She was on the phone for a long time, but eventually we got to sing to the birthday kids! I hear it was Mark's birthday today too! One of the Jersey Boys! Happy Birthday Mark! So much for partying though, what did we do? We watched tennis on TV. Yeah, tennis! Some stayed up till 3 am watching tennis! Me, I went to bed.
Date: 2006-09-01
From: ME 15/ Monson, ME

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: broken clouds

Rabbit Rabbit! Great breakfast at Shaws. Though I was unaware of the breakfast tradition. Luckily I said "Two" and not 4 or something. I got two eggs, two bacon, two sausage, two pancakes and some spicy homefries. I wanted to take a zero and savor this last hostel, yet I had enjoyed the company of Shasta's tribe too! Irish was waiting on friends to join him through a leisurely hike, and well, anyways, after much wavering, I bid farewell to Sandman, Irish, Cash, Lifesaver, the Jersey Boys and Wild Bill. As it turned out, I got phone service and found out Shorty was already on his way to Abol bridge with my dog and my summit clothes. They would be there ahead of me. So now, I am on a schedule again. Wild Bill gave me his old filter and it works great! Thanks Bill. Hiked out with Shasta, H-Bomb, Mouse, Baro, and Jangles. Into the 100 mile wilderness! Beautiful waterfalls and a couple fords. Climbed the tower on Barren Mountain. Can't see Katahdin, although it was a beautiful sunset. The best part of the day was laying out on a hot rock in the sun after Big Wilson Ford. I got my photo taked with "Rubber Chicken". Stayed in the shelter with H-bomb and two backpackers and a dog! Whilst the others camped by the pond.
Date: 2006-09-02
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to

To: W. Branch of Pleasant River
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The sobos are up super early, like 4am making coffee. I can be packed and on the trail in under 10 minutes, but these guys were no where close hours later when I got up. Then I waited as the Fabulous 5 packed up. Apparently there was some commotion this morning as they heard a moose in the pond early about 4ish. They thought it might be Baro, but once confirmed he was snug in his hammock, they all went back to sleep. Baro's eye is all puffed up. It's looks like he did go in the lake and wrestle the moose afterall! Anyways, nice weather, beautiful veiws and Wow! Trail magic, twice in one day! The "Pine" family BBQ was incredible and we made it to the road crossing right at 2:58 pm. 4th Mountain Bog was beautiful. And Chairback mountain was pretty cool too! Met Tall pine and her family for hot dogs, potatoe salad, brocoli salad, whoopie Pies, soup, grapes, yeah! It was awesome. Met "Snuffy" and "Single Malt" and we named a trail angel "Bill Murray" cause he looks just like him. They took us back to the trail after 6:00 and we were going to hike another 6 miles, but then we met a group of '99 AT hikers, Red neck, Pop, Arrowhead, and Angus. Well, I really didn't meet Angus on account he was passed out in his tent! Long Story! They do trail magic every year near Buena Vista at hogback camp. But anyways, we set up camp, then I went over for a great hiker meal of shells in pesto sauce and a beer and what all. Supposedly, Hurricane Ernesto is supposed to dump some heavy rain on us tomorrow.
Date: 2006-09-03
From: W. Branch of Pleasant River

To: E. Branch Lean-to
Miles today: 16.3

Dry night, packed up early and forded a very cold river first thing. Then we sprinted around the 5.2 mile Gulf Hagas Loop Trail. It was pretty, but really, it's no Grand Canyon of the East! You really ought to go out west for that! I hiked up and almost over White Cap in my mismatched socks before it started to rain. They really weren't too mismatched. I had another pair just like them yesterday! Then the rain started. Ran across "Doc Narley" on a flip flop. Signed his baseball. Never did catch up with Baro, who slept in and missed the Gulf Hagas Tour. But ends up, he got Bill Murray's Hamburger trail magic! At the Shelter, it was nice to be out of the rain. Saw a Beaver in the pond while pumping water! Met Long Knife and a German from Nova Scotia. Long Knife is a sobo traveling with an ice axe? Took photos of all our clothing that has rips, tears, and holes!