morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-22
From: IMP Shelter

To: US 2 east of Gorham
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sleep in this morning until 5:30am. Walking at 6:30am. Cloudy morning with afternoon rain in the forecast. Climb 600 ft onto Mt Moriah. Long traverse over summit frequently on glacially smoothed bedrock. Many views back to summits visited yesterday and across Pinkham Notch to Mt Washington and the northern Presidential Range. Soon on descent thru woods. Call friends Holly and Peter to confirm pickup at US 2 east of Gorham. Pass along boulder strewn Rattle River. Arrive US 2 at 11:30am where Peter picks me up. Drive back to their house to meet Holly and settle in. Have lunch, shower, do laundry, read e-mail, call Cindy, have dinner. They are taking very good care of me! After arriving at house do have some afternoon rain. Walked 8.0 miles today. Total descent from Mt Moriah summit to US 2 is 3200 ft.Day 46. Total AT Miles: 1887.60
Date: 2013-06-25
From: US 2 east of Gorham

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.8

Up at 5am. Leave house 6am. Holly and peter drive me back to trail. Hugs, handshakes, and best wishes amd i am on my way at 7am. Short roadwalk crosses androrcoggin river and hydroelectric plant. Very hot, humid, and sunny day. Climb 1800 ft above river to mt hayes. Am passed by nobo thru hikers AJ and mountain goat and sobo thru hiker brent. Drop and climb to cascade mtn. Drop and climb past page pond. Then pass wocket ledge, dream lake and moss pond. Drop to gentian pond and shelter of same name at 2pm where i will spend the night. Sobo hiker daryl is there. Soon nobo section hikers tom n bob arrive for nite. Finish drinking 2nd liter of water on day. Filter 2 liters water. Make rice dinner. Filter one more liter water. Wash n change. Rumbly thunder at 5pm. Rain at 6pm. Six thru hikers comming in.Day 49. Total AT Miles: 1899.40
Date: 2013-06-26
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 5am. Warm, very humid, milky overcast day. Humidity is pretty stifling. Away from shelter 6am. Steep climbs up and down all day. Many pitches require 4th class scrambling and down climbing. Climb 1400 ft to bald summit of mt succes. Drop 800 ft to NH-ME state line at 10am. Meet chino n 3 other thru hikers there. They take pics of me here at border. Just after state line light drizzle starts. Drizzles off and on thru afternoon. At noon after 1000 ft climb passing over goose eye mtn and it's east and north peaks. Much of goose eye traverse is open on bedrock winding thru krumholtz and tundra. Would be scenic on a clear day. Today only swirling clouds. Drop 400 ft to full goose shelter where i will spend the nite at 2pm. Chino n 5 other thru hikers there taking break. Soon they are away. Sobo hiker xenon comes in for nite. After 4pm bob n a bruised tom arrive for nite. At 5pm it rains hard. Sun comes out briefly then it clouds up again. Walked 9.6 mi today. Total elevation gain 3100 ft.Day 50. Total AT Miles: 1909.00
Date: 2013-06-27
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Baldpate Lean-to
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Trail notes thursday 6/27. Up at 5am. Walking 6:30am. On summit fulling mill mtn 7am. Start mahoosic notch 8am. Very cool in notch due to remaining snow and ice from last winter. Notch is filled with house sized boulders. Need to remove pack 3 times to pass under boulders. Finish one mile traverse of notch in one hour and 50 min. Climbing steep and rugged mahoosic arm at 10am. On top at noon. Climb down to speck pond and up to high pt of day 4033 ft on old speck mtn at 1:30pm. Descend 2500 ft on nice walkable trail to grafton notch at 4pm. Then climb 1100 ft also on nice trail to baldpate lean-to at 5:30pm. Soon 4 other hikers arrive: fiddler, stretch, brave heart and jolly. Walk 12.0 miles today.Day 51. Total AT Miles: 1921.00
Date: 2013-06-28
From: Baldpate Lean-to

To: Pine Ellis Lodge
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Trail notes friday 6/28. Rains all night. Up at 4:30. Hiking at 6:30. Wear jacket and rain pants and use umbrella all day. Big climb of day is baldpate mtn east peak, elev 3662 ft, and west peak, 3810 ft. Both summits are open. The east peak is easy traverse but have to store umbrella in strong wind. West peak has steep section exposed to wind. Work slowly up ledges in wind and pelting rain. Descent on north side also has many very steep pitches with water running down requiring slow and careful down climbing. Drop and then ascend to wooded summit of surplus mtn where i call to arrange roadside pickup. From high point of day on baldpate descend 2500 ft to dunn notch and spectacular rain swollen falls over 100 ft high. Ford upstream of falls by dashing across shallow spot in 4 or 5 strides. Get some water in boots, reduced by gaiters and wind pants. Just before road at 12:45pm another rain swollen stream is crossed by some careful rock hopping and one plunge step in several inches of water. David from pine ellis lodging is waiting to pick me up. Get nice, quiet, private room. Check in with owner ilene. Make motel reservation for next off-trail stop. Shower. Do laundry. Make and eat rice dinner in kitchen. Rain continues until about 6pm. Walked 8.0 miles today.Day 52. Total AT Miles: 1929.00
Date: 2013-06-29
From: Pine Ellis Lodge

To: Hall Mountain Lean To
Miles today: 6.0

Trail notes saturday 6/29. Up at 5am. Text pics to cindy for journal. Eat 2 bananas. Light drizzly rain in morning. David from pine ellis drives me back to trail at east b hill road at 7am. Drizzly rain on drive and while leaving van. Once in woods drizzly rain stops but underbrush is very wet. I am in rain jacket and rain pants and using umbrella to deflect soaker bushes. No brezze so trees not dripping much. Moderate climb of 700 ft. Then drop slightly to surplus pond. Surface of pond still as glass and reflects milky whiteness of sky. Climb 800 ft onto wyman mtn. At 10:30am meet sobo hiker kramers who is slack packing today. Continue over wooded high point on wymans mtn n drop 300 ft to hall mtn leanto at noon. No one else is there. Settle in for night. Make n eat rice dinner. Filter water. Wash n change into nite clothes. Rumbly thunder begins 3pm. Dizzly rain begins 3:30pm. Sun comes out at 4:30pm n becomes nice evening. Sobo hiker spaceman arrives for nite at 6:30pm. Walk 6.0 miles today.Day 53. Total AT Miles: 1935.00
Date: 2013-06-30
From: Hall Mountain Lean To

To: Bemins Mountain Lean To
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Trail notes sunday 6/30. Up at 4am. Walking at 5:30am. Humid morning but coolish so bearable. Once sun is up is nice sunny day with friendly clouds drifting by. Some good breeze across higher elevations. Drop steeply 1500 ft on good trail with some stone steps to sawyer brook which i ford on sandals. Climb very steeply on good trail with some built stone steps 1300 ft to moody mtn with view over adjacent forest. Drop 1000 ft on good trail to black brook which i ford on sandals. Climb 1600 ft to summit old blue mtn with good views to south. Drop 1600 ft to wet and boggy saddle with much muck to circumvent. Climb 400 ft onto elephant mtn. Drop 200 ft and climb 500 ft onto bemis mtn. Traverse along top has many ups and downs. Drop 700 ft to bemis mtn lean-to for night. Arrive there 3pm. Father n son paul n matt there. 3 other sobo arrive. Make n eat rice dinner. Filter water. Wash n change into nite clothes. Black flies very bad. Setup tent bug net to escape. Walk 12.8 miles today.Day 54. Total AT Miles: 1947.80
Date: 2013-07-01
From: Bemins Mountain Lean To

To: Little Swiftwater Pond Campsite
Miles today: 12.9

Trail notes monday 7/1. Up at 4:15am. Walking 5:30am. Rollercoaster descent over bemis mtn 2nd peak and 1st peak. Over these high points trail is on bedrock with views back over bemis mtn group. On summits can see clouds in valleys below. Clouds also rolling over peaks as they lift with morning sun. After a brief appearance the sun is obscured by a clouds. Definitely looks like rain. It is uncomfortably humid but not miserable. Trail passes over many rocks and roots with frequent mud holes that maine is famous for. From the bemis leanto drop 1300 ft to bemis stream that i ford on flip-flops. Climb 700 ft to state route 17. At road have view back to bemis mtn and of nearby mooselookmeguntic lake. Rolling traverse with ups n downs pass moxie pond and long pond. Then arrive at sabbath day pond with leanto having same name at 11:30am. Planned to stop here for the day, but since it's early n the mosquitoes are vicious i keep going. Go addl 4.6 mi to little swift river pond campsite. Arrive there 1:45pm. Setup tent. Eat rice dinner. Filter water. Rain begins at 4:30pm. Retreat to tent and wash and change inside. Still raining as i finish these notes at 8pm. Walked 12.9 miles today.Day 55. Total AT Miles: 1960.70
Date: 2013-07-02
From: Little Swiftwater Pond Campsite

To: Redington Stream campsite
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

Trail notes tuesday 7/2. Rained all nite. Up at 4am. Pack wet tent. Walking 6am. Trail is running like a river. Woods resounds with the sound of roaring water all day long. Over course of day have to cross about 12 flooded raging streams cutting across trail but only have to ford once. By midday feet are wet. Rain tapers off by midday but trees still dripping. In morning drop 800 ft to road crossing in valley. Then climb 2500 ft to summit of saddleback mtn in the clouds. Good visibility at 50 ft. At 200 ft all is in the murk. Drop 500 ft then climb 400 ft to summit of the horn. Drop 900 ft to redington stream campsite at 4pm. Setup tent on tent platform. Filter water. Make rice dinner. Wash and change. Sky is still cloudy with low mist hanging in tree tops. Can still hear roaring water in the distance. Walked 12.8 miles today.Day 56. Total AT Miles: 1973.50
Date: 2013-07-03
From: Redington Stream campsite

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: light rain

Trail notes wednesday 7/3. Up 4am. Overcast, warm n humid morning. Mist hanging in fir trees, dripping on soaked tent. Mop tent exterior with washcloth to reduce water weight. Walking 6:30am in rain jacket n pants. Climb 500 ft to summit saddleback jr mtn in clouds. Drop 2100 ft to orbeton stream. On way down use privy n remove jacket at poplar ridge leanto. Remove rain pant to ford orbeton on flipflops at 11am and sun comes out. On good walkable trail climb steeply 800 ft. Trail levels for about one mile. Climb steeply 1000 ft to wooded summit lone mtn. Trail levels for two miles to spaulding mtn leanto at 1:30pm, my original goal for the day. Decide to push on additional 6.2 miles to make a short day tomorrow. Climb 800 ft to wooded summit spaulding mtn. Drop 500 ft and traverse across saddle adjacent sugarloaf mtn. I can see cell phone towers on top of sugarloaf! Drop very steeply, some on open cliffside, 1500 ft to south branch of carrabassett river. On way down dark clouds move in and drop a brief rain shower. But then sun returns. Big event of day is ford of South Branch of the Carrabassett River. Hikers said was impassable yesterday. River still high today, running fast and deep. It is about 5pm and I have already had a long day. Pick a spot to cross. Put on flipflops and tie boots to back of pack. Use two branches found along trail as poles. Get wet up to my dingus. Was a close thing, current nearly lifting me off the bottom in midstream several times. But I made it across still on my feet. Had 4 SOBO hikers as spectators who are waiting until morning to try it. Climb 600 ft to Crocker Cirque Campsite at 6:30pm for the night. Setup tent on platform next to stream. Mosquitoes very bad. Wash in tent. Skip rice dinner due to late hour and eat 2 bars. My boots are soaked, the tent is wet, but the rest of my stuff is dry. So I will be cozy tonight. Walked 16.9 miles today.Day 57. Total AT Miles: 1990.40
Date: 2013-07-06
From: Stratton Motel

To: Little Bigelow Leanto
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

Trail notes saturday 7/6. Up at 4:30am. Sue drives me back to trail at 6am. Walking at 6:15am. Overcast morning. Very warm and humid. Mosquitoes bad in bottomlands. From highway drop 200ft and cross stratton brook on a fine bridge! In next mile several streams have log bridges! Do not need to ford any streams today! Climb well as trail rises out of bottomlands and bugs thin out as well. Climb 2100 ft and have nice view over horns pond. Higher peaks in clouds. Drop 200 ft and pass near horns pond in woods. Climb 700 ft to south horn in the clouds. Drop 600 ft and climb 900 ft to Bigelow Mtn West Peak, elev 4145 ft. Drop 300 ft and climb 200 ft to Avery Peak, elev 4090 ft, at noon. Local hiker takes my pic on summit with 2000 mile sign. At this point i have walked 2000 miles from the start in georgia. These are the last two peaks over 4000 ft before katahdin at trails end. Drop 1800 ft to safford notch. House sized boulders south of notch with cold air emanating from ground below them. About 1pm clouds lift and sun comes out for rest of day. Climb 800 ft over two miles onto south end of ridge over little bigelow mtn. Traverse 1.5 miles along ridge to summit at 3pm with views back to high bigelow peaks. Did have limited views from both high peaks with clouds lifting off when i was on top. Descend 1200 ft to little bigelow leanto for nite at 4:15pm. There are a dozen french canadian girls camping here tonight. Make rice dinner. Filter water. Wash and change. Walked 15.3 miles today.Day 60. Total AT Miles: 2013.00
Date: 2013-07-07
From: Little Bigelow Leanto

To: Pierce Pond Leanto
Miles today: 17.7

Trail notes sunday 7/7. Up at 4:30am. Walking at 6am. Sunny day, hot and humid, often buggy, but with nice breeze at various intervals. Realize i can drape handkerchief over head to protect back of neck from bugs while visor shields face. Even though is hotter with head covered, bugs stay away pretty well. Drop 600 ft to east flagstaff road. Pass along arm of gigantic flagstaff lake. Round over unnamed hill up and then down 400 ft. Cross bog brook and jerome brook, both with substantial bridges! Do not have to ford any stream today. Climb 800 ft n drop 700 ft over roundtop mtn. Pass along shore pretty west carry pond. Pass over arnold hill, a wet n boggy stretch of trail. Cross arnold swamp on very good bog bridges. Pass along shore pretty east carry pond. Cross east carry pond swamp on excellent raised wooden causway. Climb n drop 300 ft over bates ridge on wet n boggy trail. Arrive at pierce pond leanto at shore of pierce pond for the night at 2pm. Make rice dinner. Filter water. Wash n change. Chat with mountain man and erin. Walk 17.7 mi today.Day 61. Total AT Miles: 2030.70
Date: 2013-07-09
From: Bald Mountain Leanto

To: Horseshoe Canyon Leanto
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

Trail notes tuesday 7/9. Up 4:20am. Walking 6:30am. Immediately on 1300 ft climb moxie bald mtn, elevation 2629 ft. Trail passes impressive stone cliffs below summit. At top of mountain walk on long ascending ramp of glacially smoothed bedrock to summit. It appears that thin cover of soil, plants and trees were washed off the mountain top in a past landslide event. Summit is broad, open and on bedrock. Good views in all directions. High thin clouds with sun coming out on descent. Massive bloom of deep pink dwarf mountain laurel covering mountain top. Get pics of this and other tundra plants in summit area. Descend from top on long bedrock ramp. Trade texts with cindy at 8am near summit. Call and reserve room at shaws lodgings in monson. Descend 1400 ft to forest below n begin rolling 9 mile woods walk for balance of day. Ford swift but 15 ft wide bald mtn stream just above log weir on flipflops at 10:15. Much good walkable trail today with some long muddy stretches n some rocky stretches. Roots cross trail everywhere. Bugs attacking all day long. Ford 100 ft wide west branch piscataquis river on flipflops at 12:15pm. Rope strung across river to provide support. Tie boots to pack and use rope and wood pole for support. At deep point bottom inch of shorts legs get wet. For next 3 miles to stop for nite trail parallels west branch pircataquis as it noisily descends in rapids and cascades. Trail climbs continuously up and down along river as it twists and turns in it's gorge. Arrive horseshoe canyon leanto at 2:15pm for the nite. Can hear water loudly crashing thru horseshoe canyon on river below leanto. I am really tired. Setup tent bug net inside leanto as i have on the 3 previous nites of this week to escape the noseeums, black flies and mosquitoes. Meet and chat with sobo hiker pastor john. Filter water. Make rice dinner. Wash up. Change into nite clothes. Take early evening nap. Wake to make journal entry. Soon lie back down for nite. Walked 13.0 miles today.Day 63. Total AT Miles: 2062.40
Date: 2013-07-10
From: Horseshoe Canyon Leanto

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

Up at 4:40am. Say good-bye to Pastor John and see-you-later to Wooodchuck. Walking at 6:15am. Overcast day with mist at tree tops. Descend 150 ft for 2 miles along rushing waters West Branch Piscataquis River. At 7:15am arrive at East Branch Piscataquis River and ford slow flowing waters on flip-flops. Use no pole and just hold boots by tied laces in hand. At deepest point water up to knees. From river crossing climb 300 feet up from river and then slightly up and down traverse of 3 miles. In last 4 miles of day, pass along shore of Lake Hebron where I get photo of white blooming water lily. Climb 700 ft over Buck Hill and descend 300 ft to pass near Doughty Ponds. Climb 200 ft and descend slightly on glacially smoothed bedrock to Maine Highway 15 west of Monson at 11am. Call Shaw's Lodgings for pickup and Sue comes to get me. Ride back to Shaw's and meet Dawn. Settle into private room. Clean boots and rain pants. Shower. Call Cindy. Shuttle to grocery store at 2pm. While waiting for shuttle back to Shaw's talk with SOBO hiker Peter about the documentary movie business that he works in. Some light rain on drive back from grocery. Back at Shaw's have TV dinners, chips with dip, cookies, yogurt, diced fresh fruit, soda. Do Laundry. Greet Woodchuck as he arrives for the night. Update journal.Day 64. Total AT Miles: 2071.40
Date: 2013-07-11
From: Monson, ME

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today I'm taking my 9th zero day of the trip here in Monson, Maine. Just finished big family style breakfast of blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fried potatoes and OJ here at Shaw's. Sat with two SOBO hikers from Texas and one SOBO hiker from Virginia. Since my last off-trail stop in Stratton, I have been out 5 days and 4 nights and walked 73.7 miles for the week. For this year in 56 days of walking I have covered 818.5 miles and averaged 14.6 miles per day. For the Appalachian Trail as a whole I have done 2071.4 miles from Georgia to this point in Maine. I have 114.5 miles TO GO. Had some light drizzly rain overnight and is overcast this morning. Weather forecast is looking better for the week ahead. Am planning my final week on the trail across the 100 Mile Wilderness. So named because the trail crosses no paved road in that stretch from here in Monson to Abol Bridge just south of Baxter State Park. It's not as remote as it once was, but I'm wondering what kind of cell phone reception I'll get passing through there. So, I have the 100 Mile Wilderness and then 10 miles to Baxter State Park and The Birches Lean-to for my last night and then 4.5 miles and 5000 feet of elevation gain to the top of Mt Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Setting out again tomorrow morning and should be there in about a week! It's hard to believe. Have been out for just over two months now and that seems like a long time. But the days pass quickly, each packed with it's own set of adventures.Day 65. Total AT Miles: 2071.40
Date: 2013-07-12
From: Monson, ME

To: Long Pond Stream Leanto
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Trail notes friday 7/12. Up at 4:30am. Pack. Susan from Shaw's takes me back to Maine Highway 15 at 6:45am. Walking at 7am. Finally, a nice sunny day! Not too hot, not too humid, not too buggy! First couple miles very rooty. After that have some good trail. Up and down roller coaster descent eventually dropping 500 ft over low black slate hills. Pass Spectacle Pond, Bell Pond, Lily Pond. Use privy at Leeman Brook Lean-to. Pass Little Wilson Falls in narrow stair stepping slot canyon of black slate at 11am. Below falls cross Little Wilson Stream on stones and avoid fording. Climb 400 ft over divide and drop to Big Wilson Stream. Trail parallels Big Wilson upstream a ways and then easy ford on shallow Big Wilson Stream on flipflops. Climb 600 ft over divide and drop to Long Pond Stream which I ford on flipflops. Forget my boots on far shore, so I have to recross to get them! Hike upstream along Long Pond Stream to Long Pond Stream Lean-to at 4:15pm for the night. I am the first one here. Setup tent bug net inside shelter to escape mosquitoes. Filter water. Cook rice dinner. Filter water. Wash. Change. Several other mostly SOBO hikers arrive and setup tents. Two SOBO hikers tenting here named Almost and Whiplash tell me about interesting pitcher plants in bog north of here. NOBO thru hiker Old School arrives and sets up in shelter. For the night it's just the two of us in the shelter. Walked 15.1 miles today.Day 66. Total AT Miles: 2086.50
Date: 2013-07-13
From: Long Pond Stream Leanto

To: East Chairback Pond
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Trail notes Saturday 7/13. Up 5:20am. Walking 7am. Nice sunny day. Low humidity. Bugs not too bad. Climb 1000 ft to Barren Ledges with good views. Climb additional 1600 ft to open summit of Barren Mtn, elev 2660 ft, with good views at 8am. Drop to Fourth Mtn Bog in saddle. Bog has abundant population of carniverous pitcher plants. Climb to open summit Fourth Mtn with good views. Sobo hiker takes pics of me at summit. Drop, traverse and climb up and over wooded summit of Third Mtn. Drop, traverse and climb up and over wooded Columbus Mtn. Drop and then climb up to open summit of Chairback Mtn with good views. Drop and then on 2 mile up and down washboard traverse over bedrock knobs. At 4pm take side trail to East Chairback Pond for the nite. Setup tent in trees near edge of pond. Filter water. Cook rice dinner. Wash. Change. Journal. Walked 13.5 miles today.Day 67. Total AT Miles: 2100.00
Date: 2013-07-15
From: East Branch Leanto

To: Antlers Camp Site
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Trail notes Monday 7/15. Up 4:30am. Walking 6am. Sunny day. Humid in morning. Hot in afternoon. Walking into stiff breeze all day. Cross East Branch Pleasant River on stones and avoid fording! Climb 700 ft to wooded summit Little Boardman Mtn. Drop 700 ft to Crawford Pond. After trail crosses old rock dam at pond outlet am on delightful old woods road for next 8 miles! Woods road roughly parallels Cooper Brook downstream. From Crawford Pond trail gently looses 700 ft to my stop for the night. At 10am stop to chug water and filter water to refill bottles. From this point on stop at most streams crossing trail to use handkerchief as sponge to slop cold water on my head, arms, legs and torso. Drape head with dripping hankie. At 10:30am pass Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to, 8.1 miles into day. Pass Mud Pond where I pick sweet blueberries! Arrive Antlers Campsite on wooded spit jutting into Lower Jo-Mary Lake at 2pm for the night. Setup tent at site near tip of spit. Dunk in lake to rinse trail clothes n cool me down. Make rice dinner. Skinny dip. Walk 16.0 mi today.Day 69. Total AT Miles: 2134.10