morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-09-22
From: Wilson Valley Lean-to

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

It rained overnight, then much harder just after my alarm went off. I went back to sleep until 6:30, when it had let up some. I ate breakfast and packed up as much as I could. It sounded like the drops were just from leaves, but even so, when I emerged from the tent, I was surprised to see blue sky and a rising sun, along with 57 degrees. Hooray! Still had to pack a wet tent, footprint and fly. Water had puddled under the tent and just a little got in. Journeymen was slow to get going. He said he woke on the wrong side of the tent. We finally set off at 9:30. The trail was wet, with very slippery rocks and roots. Made for slow going. Got to Long Pond Stream about 12:30 and decided to try crossing on rocks, even though the guide said it was a ford, and there was a rope. I thought I had a good route but slipped and went In over my knees. Lucky that I landed on a large rock, and my pack did not get wet. I did bang up both shins. I waded carefully the rest of the way through a strong current. So, I now have two pair of wet shoes. We found a stone bench at a stealth site not far from the crossing, and I changed from my rain pants (glad they were what I had on) and did the best I could to wring out my socks. The wind was picking up and the temp dropping. We went .8 to the Long Pond Stream Lean-to and had lunch. I wrung out the socks again.Most of the four miles to the Cloud Pond Lean-to turn-off was up hill to Barren Ledge and then Barren Mountain, but we made fairly good time. The wind was really blowing, and it was getting colder. I had put on my gloves after lunch and was glad for them. We had talked about finding a stealth site, but it would have been on the very windy ridge, so we headed down the .4 to Cloud Pond, which we thought would be out of the wind. It wasn't. There were some lovely tenting areas by the pond, but the wind was much too strong, so we went up to the shelter. Three German men we had passed arrived shortly after we did, so that nixed the idea of setting up our tents in the shelter. There is one flat spot next to it, and Journeymen said I should take it, and he would sleep in the shelter. It was cold setting up the wet tent, but the wind dried it quickly. I tossed the pack inside and unpacked. Usually I leave it out until I have put everything in the tent, but not tonight! Got out of the wet shoes, socks and muddy pants, blew up the air mattress and got in the sleeping bag long enough for my feet to warm up. Then made a privy run and heated dinner water in the lean-to. Ate in the tent -- one of the last of the Mountain House dinners. Hoping this wind blows itself out overnight. Last I looked, it was 41. The weather report we had before leaving Monson called for days in the 60s and nights in the low 50s or high 40s, with fairly light winds. Ha!
Date: 2014-09-23
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to

To: Stealth site off Henderson Brook Trail
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

It was still cold and windy this morning. I had just enough water for breakfast. Journeymen and I packed up and got water from the pond on the way back to the AT. Got there at 8:30. The day was full of difficult ups and downs over Fourth Mountain, Third Mountain, Columbus Mountain, where we had lunch and managed to get cell signals, and Chairback Mountain. We made it to the Chairback Gap Lean-to (just 6.7 miles from the Cloud Pond side trail) at 3:15, then a half mile to the summit and a slow, steep, rocky descent.After coming off Chairback, we made good time. We hoped for a stealth site near East Chairback Pond, but someone had written "muddy" on the sign, so we did not go down the side trail. We went on to what AWOL had identified as a spring, but it was dry, and no sites. We both needed water, so we hurried down toward Pleasant River. We got to Henderson Brook and a trail, which we followed along the brook, and found two nearby spots. We set up, got water, and cooked dinners by my tent. Good conversation. We are truly compatible hiking partners. The temperature is finally warmer. We hope for an early start to get over White Cap Mountain.
Date: 2014-09-24
From: Stealth site off Henderson Brook Trail

To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: few clouds

Managed a 7:10 start, with a half mile to the river and a very cold ford of the West Branch of Pleasant River. The water was fairly shallow (not up to my knees), but it was about 150 feet across, the rocks were slippery, and my feet soon were numb. Fortunately the trail after that allowed for fast walking, but it took a good 45 minutes to get he feeling back in my fingers and feet. The day was cool and crystal clear, with little wind until mid-afternoon.From the river, it was 6.6 miles to the Carl A. Newhall Lean-to. We stopped for lunch just short of that at 11:30, then got water from the brook and were back on the trail at 12:30.Trail well maintained all the way up and over Gulf Hagas Mountain, West Peak, Hay Mountain, and White Cap Mountain. Thanks, AMC, which has the area as conservation land. This was a day with significant ups and downs -- the river at 718 feet, Gulf Hagas Mtn. at 2713, West Peak at 3178, Hay Mtn. at 3244, and White Cap at 3650.Spent about 15 minutes chatting with Adam from NY, who is doing the 100 Mile Wilderness SOBO. He took a nice photo of us, which he said he would email. His mom, who is 64 and lives in California, had recently discovered a love for hiking. She is just finishing chemo for lymphoma and is determined to get back in hiking shape. I said to wish her well.Journeymen was not feeling well -- has been fighting something for several days -- and he did not sleep well last night on an uneven tent site. Also, his feet were hurting. He thinks he has some blisters under calluses. But he forged on, and we were both rewarded with a first view of Mt. Katahdin as we rounded the summit of White Cap. We knew it was coming, but it was still stunning. I think we were both choked up to see it across some 60 miles standing magnificently alone. How blessed we were to have such a clear day.We descended to the Logan Brook Lean-to, where we both found tent sites, set up, and cooked dinner by his tent. My site is cramped, but I will sleep to the sound of the brook. We again plan an early start. We have finished the big climbs, and maybe we can do enough miles to get my food cache. I have been concerned that RW may not have left the tape with his name on the bucket, and my food may be taken as trash. If it still has the name, it will be left, I can claim my food, remove the name and leave my trash. I am short on lunch and breakfast food if I have to wait until Friday to pick it up. We'll see how we do.
Date: 2014-09-25
From: Logan Brook Lean-to

To: Stealth site by Jo-Mary Road
Miles today: 15.4

We left at 7:15, and enjoyed a fairly easy downhill trail to the East Branch of Pleasant River (3.9 miles). We got there by 9:15, and were able to cross on the rocks with no problem. We had just two climbs to do in the morning, and the rest of the day was fairly flat. We stopped to admire the view of fall colors at Mountain View Pond and took a short break.We took the short side trail to the lovely little sand beach at Crawford Pond to have lunch on a perfectly placed log. We had done 8.7 miles by noon, so making it to the food cache at Jo-Mary Road became quite doable, with just 6.7 miles to go. Met two men who, like Adam yesterday, are SOBO section hiking the Wilderness. One is keeping a list of all the thru hikers he meets. He had seen Bismarck, Hopper, and RW this morning, and said they had told him to look out for us and say they had left candy bars in the food drop. I was relieved, because it meant RW had surely left his name on the bucket and my food would be there. We did get to the road by 4:30, and the food buckets were just where the directions had indicated. My food was intact, but no candy bars.We had identified stealth sites just before the road so went back and set up. I got water and washed my shirt, which had really gotten stinky. Journeymen had a fire ring by his site, and he built a fire. I joined him to organize my food and cook dinner. A nice evening. We have 41 miles to go to Abol Bridge, and we plan to do it in three days. I hope the weather holds, but most important will be a good day next week for summiting Katahdin.
Date: 2014-09-26
From: Stealth site by Jo-Mary Road

To: Nahmakanta Lake State Campsite
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

We left our sites by Jo Mary Road at 7:25 and got to the Antlers Campsite (4.2 miles) at 9:25, where we took a break. It is a nice spot. Probably crowded in the summer, but no one was there today. After that, the trail got more rocky and rooty, but we still made decent time to the Potaywadjo Lean-to (7.7 miles at 11:15), where we had lunch and got water from the spring, a one hour plus break.We wanted to do 15 miles, which would put us at a state campsite identified on the topo map but not by AWOL. The trail crossed Tumbledown Dick Stream, which AWOL said was a ford. It looked to be an easy rock/log hop, but I managed to slip on a very slippery rock and wind up in an awkward position. My pack was not in the water, and only one foot got a bit wet, but I was on my butt on a log with the pack pretty crooked. Journeymen came out, took off his pack, and lifted mine off so I could get up. I moved to a stable place, where he handed me the pack and went back for his. I hope this is the end of the fords!We headed for a stream at 14 miles, thinking we could get water, which we did, and then look for a stealth site if we could not find the state one. I figured it was near a gravel road. When we got there, we walked up the road to look for it. I went off on an old woods road, and Journeymen turned down a gravel side road. He found someone who told him that there was a site on the lake further down. We found it and discovered that if we had continued on the AT at the gravel road, we'd have walked right through it. Oh well. We have a nice spot with a picnic table just back from the beach of Nahmakanta Lake. We set up and enjoyed a pretty sunset as we cooked dinner.
Date: 2014-09-27
From: Nahmakanta Lake State Campsite

To: Rainbow Spring Campsite
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Left at 7:05 and hiked along Nahmakanta Lake. We could see a float plane moored across the lake, with a tent set up on shore. Planes are the only way the shores of many of these larger ponds and lakes can be reached. I love the lack of buildings and buzzing motor boats. People have carried in and left canoes and small rowboats at some of the smaller ponds.Our big climb of the day was Nesuntabunt Mtn., which has a view of Katahdin. On the way up, I had a cell signal I thought was strong enough to call Lee, and we talked about details for her trip Monday and some additional things to bring. Our good friend, Debbie is planning to come, and we agreed that Wednesday looks like the best day to summit. It may rain Monday, and I could really use a zero before the big climb. I have Taken only one zero day since Labor Day and need to spend some time eating ;-) At the viewpoint on top, we took pictures and had lunch. Pilgrim, a young man from Ohio, came up, and I offered to take his picture. He seemed a bit wistful about the hike ending, but he said he is tired and ready.Today seemed like a long day, with a lot of difficult trail in terms of rocks, roots, and mud, though one section ran up the side of a loud and beautiful cascade. We still had 4.5 miles to do at 4:15 in order to reach the campsite and not have a longer day tomorrow. Fortunately, the last mile was a pretty even trail, we arrived at 6:20, and quickly located tent sites.Rainbow Lake is large and beautiful. The fall colors are coming on fast, and the hillside across the lake is lovely. Just down from the campsite is a piped spring right by the lake. Pilgrim was eating his dinner there when I went down to get and filter water, and we chatted. I wanted enough water for tonight, tomorrow's breakfast, and my bottle of Emergen-C.I went back up to the tent site and got set up as it grew dark. Journeyman and I sat on a stone bench near a fire ring and cooked our dinners, then retired to our own spots. I still needed to organize the inside of the tent and prepare my breakfast. It was a warm night, so I left the rain fly open in the hope of getting a little breeze.
Date: 2014-09-30
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Lee brought fruit and cinnamon buns for breakfast, and for the first time in weeks, I made hot coffee. A treat. We talked with hikers headed for the summit, including Astro Guy (the space shuttle pilot), whose wife and daughters were joining him. He remembered me from the mouse infested shelter in VT, where we had both chosen to tent rather than be pestered by mice. I had not had a chance to talk with him the night before at Abol Bridge, where he had come in late and left early. Then, when we were all organized, we drove to Millinocket and had a second breakfast at the Appalachian Trail Cafe. Bam was there, and we offered him a ride to the campground later in the afternoon. After breakfast, we went to the small outfitters, which is in the same building as the Appalachian Trail Lodge. Tie gave us a tour of the lodge -- one of the nicer hostels on the trail. Our next stop was Tractor Supply for Journeymen to get some jeans to wear home. Debbie texted that she had arrived in town, and we met her at Hannaford, where we got food for tomorrow. I was so glad to see her and very touched that she had come to do Katahdin with us. She took Journeymen and me to the laundromat while Lee did a conference call from the Hannaford parking lot -- one of the few places with a decent cell signal -- and we went back to the AT Cafe for a burger. I rode back with Debbie, Lee took the guys, and we spent the remaining daylight and into the evening organizing for tomorrow's hike.
Date: 2014-10-02
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Killington, VT
Miles today: 0.0

We all slept a little late. I got up and made coffee, we ate fruit and what was left of the coffee cake, and planned to have a real breakfast at the Appalachian Trail Cafe in Millinocket. We packed up quickly, drove into town, got a table and ordered big breakfasts. I had pancakes, eggs, and bacon, then a special donut and a chocolate milkshake. Journeymen signed the ceiling tile, but I was told I had to wait until I finished the trail. The owner assured me he would add my name if I called after I made it to Springer. We said good bye to Hopper and Bismark and Bam and headed for home. The plan was to put Journeymen on the train from Rutland tomorrow. A long drive but a pretty day. We went straight to the Pasta Pot for dinner before going to the house. I know Journeymen and I were really hungry, and we had a great meal, with Pasta Pete welcoming us and assuring me that I am "nuts."The plan is to spend a few days getting organized, attend a board meeting at General Seminary in New York, and then head to Virginia to start south on the last 633.3 miles of this magnificent adventure. I hope to be back on the trail on October 20, and Traildog, with whom I hiked in early April, will join me for the full stretch from Pearisburg to Georgia. He will then head back to Pearisburg in March to hike to Katahdin and complete a thru hike.
Date: 2014-10-19
From: Reston, VA

To: Dublin, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Leigh and I left Reston about 10:30 and had an easy drive west to I-81 at Front Royal and then south on 81 to Natural Bridge. Leigh had done some research and found the Pink Cadillac Diner as a place for lunch. It was very pink, and it did have an old pink Cadillac in its side yard. The walls inside were covered with posters and photos of 1950s characters like Elvis, John Wayne, Gene Autry, Betty Boop, etc. I had an Elvis Burger, a triple decker much like the old HoJo 3-D, with two burger patties, lettuce and tomato, cheese, and a sauce. A very popular spot.From the diner, we went to Foamhenge, a full size almost replica of Stonehenge made out of Styrofoam with the addition of a statue of Merlin riding on a stone to put it in place. Fun.We got back on 81 and continued south to Dublin, where we checked in to the Hampton Inn. I read email, mostly about GTS. I am sorry that one of our board members resigned, as he was among the minority of us who supported full reinstatement of the faculty. The Bishop of New York issued an excellent statement, in which he made it clear that not all board members were of the same mind and that he would work for full reinstatement.At 5:30, Traildog texted that he and Roz had arrived. We all headed out to dinner at Fatz, not too far away. It was great to meet Roz, whom I would enjoy getting to know better. Liked her a lot. We talked about the trail, their recent trip to Alaska, and other backpacking adventures. Ate a big steak and enjoyed a Bass Ale -- no local brews. Roz left for home, and the rest of us agreed to meet at 7:30 for breakfast.
Date: 2014-10-20
From: Pearisburg, Va

To: Sugar Run Gap (Woods Hole Hostel)
Miles today: 12.4

We had breakfast at the Hampton Inn, and then Leigh drove us to Pearisburg. There had been a trail relocation since my start in April, and we couldn't head south from the same spot. We decided to start at a paved road into a Celanese site where we found blazes. I think it will be the same mileage. We said good by to Leigh, a marvelous trail angel and headed down the trail at 8:45. We crossed the Senator Shumate Bridge over the New River and walked through a bit of town before starting up hill towards Angels' Rest, a climb of about 1900 feet and some 4.5 miles from our start point. We got there at 11:45, took some pictures, and walked another half hour or so to a view point, where we had lunch. Nice day, and we could see quite a distance.We took a break at Doc's Knob Shelter. Someone named Moxie signed the log four days ago, but I am pretty sure it is not the same Moxie that was hiking with Ibex back in April. We saw no other hikers until close to Sugar Run Gap, when we were passed by Unplugged and Knives.Rain began just after we got to Sugar Run Road, and we hurried downhill .5 mile to Woods Hole Hostel. It is a very old log cabin enlarged and modernized, and we are in an upstairs bedroom with Old Blue! Charming. Neville and Michael are the hosts, and we chatted with Neville and helped out with dinner preparations.Old Blue told us more about his brother, Rodney, whose trail name was Rotten. He evidently felt most at home on the trail, and this year, they decided to hike together. Old Blue said Rodney had died in a place he loved, and Old Blue is leaving his ashes in places that were important to him. The last spot will be Hot Springs, which was a favorite trail town for them both. It will also be the end of Old Blue's thru-hike.Dinner was a good time of shared stories and photos.
Date: 2014-10-21
From: Sugar Run Gap (Woods Hole Hostel)

To: Campsite on Dismal Falls Trail
Miles today: 13.1

We had a wonderful breakfast of Finnish pancakes, eggs, goat sausage (from a Woods Hole goat), and local maple syrup. Hard to leave such a hospitable place, but we all took photos of each other and finally headed for the trail. Traildog and I got to the trailhead at 9:05. The weather was better than we had expected -- cloudy with some sunny patches. When we got to the dirt road at Big Horse Gap, a pick up with two guys in camo stopped. They are bow hunting. Very friendly and somewhat amazed by those who thru-hike. They gave us some apples from their own trees and wished us well.We stopped at a view point about 4.5 miles in for a break. Good cell signal, so I sent off a pic and called Lee. It started to sprinkle, so we put on our pack covers and donned rain gear. We would be headed down hill, so I figured that even if it did not rain much, I wouldn't get overheated. In fact, I even put on rain mittens to keep my hands warm in the chilly breeze. On the way down, we chatted with three women headed north. They had heard about us from Old Blue. They are doing a section -- one said she is on the twenty year plan -- since they only have a week to ten days at a time for hiking.The Wapiti Shelter at 7.2 -- lots of tent sites -- was our lunch stop, and we both took off the rain gear. The remainder of the day would be fairly level, with minor ups and downs. Lots of streams and footbridges, and we often walked through tunnels of rhododendrons. I had originally planned for us to go to Trent's Grocery to camp, which would have been 14.9 miles, plus an extra off trail .5 down the road. Michael at Woods Hole suggested Dismal Falls and said we could cross the stream on a big log and go to Trent's from there down a gravel road. We got to the campsite too late to do that, so we'll take the side trip in the morning.Rain began just after I had gotten water and was finishing setting up my tent. It was not a long shower, and when it stopped, I went out to cook dinner. Naturally, we had another brief shower, but it stopped just in time for Traildog to decide he would cook after all. Am now warming up the sleeping bag and getting ready for my first night outside on this leg of the hike. Feels good.
Date: 2014-10-22
From: Campsite on Dismal Falls Trail

To: Campsite near VA 611
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

We were on the trail at 8:20, and I soon realized that the tendinitis had returned to my right illial tibial band. After all these miles with no problem! Of course I had left my knee brace and the ointment I got in Spain at home. So I popped Vitamin I and hoped for the best, but it did slow me down. We hiked out to VA 606, stashed our packs across the road, and walked the half mile to Trent's Grocery. Traildog got supplies, and I had coffee/hot chocolate and a honey bun. We were back on the trail at 10:25 and went mostly uphill for the next 4 miles along a ridge. The wind was strong and cold, so I had a hood up and mittens on most of the way. I stopped about 12:30 for more Ibuprophen and decided to tie my bandana just below my knee. It helped a lot, and the pain was not so bad for the rest of the day. We stopped at the Jenny Knob Shelter to get water and have a late lunch. A NOBO section hiker -- nice guy from Virginia Beach -- confirmed my fear that once we crossed VA 611, we would be on a windy ridge with no place to camp. My original plan had us camping in that area, but we decided to start looking for a spot as we approached 611. We met a young woman NOBO section hiker from Ohio on Brushy Mountain who also said we should try for a spot before the road. The key was to find something out of the wind, which we did -- a small flat area between two dry stream beds. We could tell it had been used before by a small fire ring. With all the leaves on the ground, it is a bit harder to spot previously used sites. The fire ring was mostly covered with leaves. We stopped about 5, so we had plenty of light to set up and cook dinner.I am hoping the knee will behave and that we can make up some lost ground in the next couple of days. The man at Jenny Knob said it is supposed to warm up and be in the 70s next week. It is about 45 now.