morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-09-10
From: East Hill Road B (Andover, ME)

To: Bemis Mt Lean-to
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up early, packed my backpack and went over to the cafe for breakfast. The hotel owner gave us a ride to the trail and I was hiking again at 7:30am, along with Mutt, Baloo and O'Day. They soon left me behind. The trail was either a mud bog or a stream after two nights and a day of continuous rain. A sloppy day of hiking. But the rain has stopped.I hiked up and over Wyman Mt and down into Sawyer Notch where I had to ford the stream. There aren't many bridges over the streams in Maine since the snowmelt would wash them away. If the water is over the rocks you have to wade the stream. I decided not to give up my damp shoes, took them off, put on my Tevas, waded across and put everything back on. The wind was really gusting through the notch. I watched it take out the top of a tree and drop it near the trail. I hustled on up the steep slope.Then it was up Moody Mt, down to South Arm Road, and up Old Blue and the three Bemis peaks - a day of ups and downs. And another ford of Black Brook, carefully stepping on the underwater boulders, feeling my hiking poles thrum in the current. The light faded before I reached the lean-to and I finished the day's hike by headlamp, ate a quick bite for dinner and then to bed.
Date: 2004-09-11
From: Bemis Mt Lean-to

To: ME Hwy 4
Miles today: 17.7

I slept late this morning, not getting back on the trail until 8:00am. Another day of hiking over roots, rock and bogs. The trail was in terrible shape, and keeping my feet dry was a challenge. At least until I reached Bemis Stream, which I forded with my shoes on. Then I didn't have to worry about it any more.As I came up to ME Hwy 17, I heard a vehicle stop. When I reached the road there was OneLeg and his family. And with him was...Baltimore Jack! The fourth time I've seen him on the trail this summer. OneLeg flipped up to Katahdin after Harper's Ferry and is hiking south. Baltimore Jack is hiking with him for a week. Another baby is on the way - I reminded him of my prediction when he spent the night in the honeymoon suite at Pearisburg. OneLeg doesn't think he will be able to finish the trail this year. He'll hike the Whites and call it enough.I said goodbye and moved on, picking up an apple from a box someone left by the trail. Homegrown and delicious. On through the bogs and alongside a couple of pretty ponds. I arrived at ME Hwy 4 after 6:30pm with 2 miles left before the next shelter. I decided to try my luck on a hitch into Rangely so I could dry my shoes, but gave up after 20 minutes with darkness approaching. Hiked up to the ridgeline and set up a stealth camp under the spruce, ate by headlamp and off to sleep in the great north woods.
Date: 2004-09-12
From: ME Hwy 4

To: Spaulding Mt Lean-to
Miles today: 18.7

I was out of my stealth camp by 6:30am for the hike over the Saddleback range today on a cool and clear morning. As I was climbing Saddleback Mt I was caught by Baloo, and soon afterward by Mutt and O'Day. They had gone into Rangely for supplies last night. Wipeout and Erin passed me as well. I'm definitely the slow one of this group.The views from above the treeline on Saddleback were great, looking out over the woods, mountains and lakes of Maine. A beautiful state. After Saddleback was The Horn and Saddleback Jr. Then down to the Oberton Stream where I was able to cross by rockhopping - dry feet! In the late afternoon I made the long climb up and over Lone Mt, forcing myself to make the last two miles to the shelter. These big moutains of western Maine are wearing me out.The shelter was almost full when I arrived near dark, so I set up my tarp, washed up in the water from an icy stream, ate and went to bed. Another cool night with a gusty wind blowing in the trees. Winter is knocking on the door.
Date: 2004-09-13
From: Spaulding Mt Lean-to

To: ME Hwy 27 (Stratton, ME)
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I was the first out of camp at 6:30am for the climb over Spaulding Mt. Always good to start your day by climbing another mountain. Then a long and relatively level walk until the steep down over boulders to the south branch of the Carabassett River. My luck is holding - another crossing on a board and the boulders without getting my feet wet. I stopped across the river for an early lunch and was passed by the gang. Probably won't see them again, since I'm going into town tonight for supplies and they are moving on.After lunch was the steep climb up and over the two peaks of Crocker Mt. The day was sunny, but temperatures were only in the 50s. I kept putting on my windbreaker and taking it off all afternoon. Just before I reached the highway I met a young lady on the trail walking her dog. She thruhiked the AT two years ago, trailname Giggles. She is from Canada where she guides sea kayaking trips. She was pssing through on her way back home from a visit to her parents in Montreal, and stopped for a break. She offered me a ride to town, which I gladly accepted.In town I ran into The Fugitive and Dr Space Monkey 5000 (how's that for a trailname?). I last saw The Fugitive somewhere in VA. I checked into the White Wolf Inn, showered, got a huge hamburger with sweet potato fries, and went about the normal town chores of resupply and laundry, finally getting to sleep after 10:00pm, dead tired from the ups and downs of the past several days. The Bigelow Mts are waiting for me tomorrow.
Date: 2004-09-14
From: ME Hwy 27 (Stratton, ME)

To: Little Bigelow Lean-to
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

I got a late start today. Was too tired last night to finish everything, so I got up this morning and finished my journal entries and other email, and sent it off. Finished packing and went over to the diner for breakfast, where I had a nice conversation with Hutch. He's finishing his AT hike with the section up to Monson. He was up to Gorham, NH on a thruhike attempt in 2001 when the terrorist attack happened. He got off the trail there to go help his daughter who lived near the Towers in NYC. Then came back and hiked from Katahdin to Monson. Other things have prevented him from finishing before now.I got a hitch back to the trail from Don, who works as a hunting guide in the area. He has one of those giant pickups that require you to press your pack overhead to get it into the bed. Thanks for the hitch, Don!Don complimented me on my near completion. I'll have to admit that I'm starting to feel it. Less than 200 miles to go; 4 or 5 days to Monson and then the 100 Mile Wilderness. If only Hurricane Ivan will get pushed out to sea before it reaches Maine!As I was making the inevitable climb up this morning I met Evian, southbound and from Israel. I passed along the hello that Giggles had asked me to. Evian came to the US and was looking for a way to get to Florida. Giggles and a friend told him about the AT, gave him some gear and trail info, and he's walking south. What friends, heh? George W. could learn something about foreign relations from her - give your ally a near-impossible task and make them appreciate it at the same time.I stopped at the Horns Pond Lean-to for lunch and feasted on crackers and a wedge of brie that I bought in town. A pleasant change from english muffins and cheddar. It's another beautiful cool fall day. The squirrels nattered at me all morning during the climb up. After lunch was the climb up to the South Horn, then down and up the West Bigelow Peak. Fantastic views. I could see Mt Katahdin in the far distance. Down again and back up Avery Peak. Then a long and tortuous 2 miles down into Safford Notch.By the time I reached the notch it was 4:45pm with 5 miles to the shelter on the other side of Little Bigelow Mt. I turned on the juice and made it over Little Bigelow and down to the shelter just as the light faded at 7:00pm. Erin, Dr Space Monkey and the Fugitive were there. A quick meal, journal update and off to bed, tired again. Bigelow Mt is the last peak over 4000ft until I reach Katahdin. Hopefully the trail will be easier between here and there.
Date: 2004-09-15
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Harrison Camp
Miles today: 17.7

I took my time in camp this morning, talking to the Fugitive and Dr Space Monkey. Only 15 miles to go today over relatively flat ground - no mountains to climb for a change! I can't make the canoe ferry over the Kennebec River by the closing time of 4:00pm, so I'll go two shelters north and catch the 9:00am ferry tomorrow morning. As I started out of camp at 9:00am I noticed that the second shelter is 17 miles away. Have to hustle a little after all, I guess.Another beautiful day today - this makes five or six in a row. Easy hiking along lakes and ponds. I stopped for lunch at the West Carry Pond lean-to and finished the rest of my brie and crackers. Back to cheddar tomorrow. But I have a garlic summer sausage to go with it. While eating lunch I listened to a loon calling from the pond. The resident chipmunk ran around looking for handouts then munched on the cracker I threw his way.As I walked alongside East Carry Pond I spotted two moose in the water. The big yearling also spotted me and waded out and into the woods. The cow missed the yearling, called it back, then they both disappeared. But not before I got her picture. Later I was hiking along the narrow trail in a thicket of little spruce when I heard a twig snap up ahead. I slowed, wondering what I would do if I met a moose in this place. A man wearing overalls and a wide brimmed hat appeared. "How's it going?" I said. "Jeeezus is our Lord and Savior!" he replied. I said "All right!", and hustled past him. I think I'd rather face a moose than a fervent evangelist in these woods. The moose would be more predictable. Although I'm a long way from Georgia, thoughts of the movie "Deliverance" popped into my head.I got to the Pierce Pond lean-to at 6:00pm, listened to the loons for a minute, and was halfway unpacked when I read a notice for a special rate for thruhikers at the nearby Harrison Camp, with breakfast included. I repacked, hiked the half mile to the camp and got a cabin for the night. And a hot shower. Off to sleep in a real bed tonight, after updating my journal in the rustic cabin by the light of a Coleman lantern.
Date: 2004-09-16
From: Harrison Camp

To: Bald Mt Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: broken clouds

Breakfast was at 7:30 this morning and Tim Harrison made me the best breakfast of the hike so far. He called them his All-American Pancakes - a dozen of them, four each of apple, raspbery and blueberry. Served with sausage links and scrambled eggs. We exchanged stories as I ate. He and Fran bought the camp about 20 years ago - he calls it a sporting camp. People come from all over to stay and enjoy the beautiful 1600 acre Pierce Pond. They were getting ready for a wedding party this weekend. Then his young son explained some of his collection of Lord of the Rings action figures. And his young daughter told me how to spell her name. I left about 8:30 for the hike down to the Kennebec River.At the river I waved the flag for a pickup and Steve Longley, the ferryman, poled the canoe over to my side. The ferry service is offered for free by the ATC because a hydro plant upstream operates automatically on demand and the river can rise two to four feet, faster than it can be forded. I signed a release, put on a flotation vest, and we paddled across - with dry feet! Steve and I talked a few minutes and I hiked on.I took a short detour into Caratunk to use the phone to check on things at home. Hurricane Ivan is headed for there after landfall. Also sent a couple of journal updates. I left town about 11:30am.Just before the Pleasant Pond lean-to I found a bottle of alcohol (for use in a stove) on the trail. I picked it up and stuffed it in my pack. No one at the lean-to had lost it, so I kept going. Yet another warm and pleasant day in the woods. The colors are starting to change now, and sometimes the trail is lined with bight red or yellow bushes. Or an early-changing maple has littered the trail with red leaves. Very pretty.I climbed up and over Pleasant Pond Mt and hiked almost without a break to beat the sunset to the Bald Mt Brook lean-to. There I found the owner of the alcohol, who was very glad to see it again. Ate dinner, cleaned up, wrote today's journal entry and off to bed. I may try for Monson tomorrow if I can get an early start.
Date: 2004-09-17
From: Bald Mt Brook Lean-to

To: ME Hwy 15 (Monson, ME)
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: haze

I decided to push hard today to make it to Monson and take a zero day tomorrow. I left camp at 7:00am and climbed up Moxie Bald right away. That was the single mountain on the agenda today. A stop for water at the Moxie Bald lean-to, then on to Marble Brook, the first of three fords. I decided not to give up my dry shoes, so took them off, put on my Tevas and waded across. Then put my shoes back on and continued. Time consuming, but it's much more plesant to hike in dry shoes.The next ford was the west branch of the Piscataquis River, then on to the Horshoe Canyon lean-to for a late lunch. Most of the hiking today was along brooks or the river. The day was more humid and warmer, and some of my little cloud of bugs returned. Fall colors were all around. And the trail was in pretty good shape, although there were the inevitable rocks, roots and bogs.The last ford was over the east branch of Piscatiquis River. After that I climbed Buck Hill and was out to ME Hwy 15 at 6:00pm. I got a quick hitch from a lady in a pickup, who dropped me at Shaw's boarding house. Dinner was just finishing, but they set a place for me and I feasted on ham, corn on cob, succotash, potatoes, tomatoes, cukes, bread, apple turnover, and milk, talking to Mr. Shaw while eating. Then a shower and down to the general store where a group of musicians were playing. I bought a pint of Cherry Garcia ice cream to eat while listening, and met Bluebell, the General and Sunset. Back to Shaw's and to bed at 9:30pm.I'm taking the day off tomorrow, then on to Baxter State Park and up Katahdin to finish my hike in about a week. I'll be entering the 100 Mile Wilderness and won't have any more posts until after I finish, since there are no phones, and Dan, my transcriber, is flying out to climb Katahdin with me.Baxter or Bust!
Date: 2004-09-18
From: ME Hwy 15 (Monson, ME)

To: ME Hwy 15 (Monson, ME)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

I woke today to a cold rain falling and was glad to be in town. I had the ¢2 by 2¢ breakfast at Shaw¢s ¢ two eggs, two pancakes, two bacon strips, two sausages, two slices of ham, and home fries. There are rumors that someone once had a ¢6 by¢, but I don¢t know how they ate it all.The day was filled with the normal town chores. First laundry, then a ride to a nearby town with Mr. Shaw for supplies and cash. We stopped by a McDonalds for lunch on the way back. I prepared for dinner with a long nap in the afternoon. Dinner at Shaw¢s was meat loaf, potatoes, vegetables and other good stuff. I packed my stuff, made phone calls to sort out end-of-hike logistics, watched some TV and went to bed early, having taken full advantage of the opportunity to pack in calories.
Date: 2004-09-19
From: ME Hwy 15 (Monson, ME)

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: broken clouds

Mouse and I got an early ride to the trail from Mr. Shaw and I was hiking again by 7:00am. The rain had stopped and the day was cloudy, cool and blustery. The trail was muddy after yesterday¢s rain and there were the normal roots and rocks to navigate. I left the trailhead before Mouse and didn¢t see her again. I was soon passed by Baloo, Mutt and O¢Day.I decided not to give up my dry shoes and took them off to ford Big Wilson Stream. Then it was up and over Barren Mountain and eventually down to the turnoff for the Cloud Pond lean-to, 0.3miles off the trail. I got to the shelter just before dark. Sweaty Pig, Baloo, Mutt and O¢Day were already there, and several others were tenting nearby. I unrolled my sleeping bag in the remaining shelter space, ate by headlamp and was lulled to sleep by the sound of Sweaty Pig¢s snoring. Shelter life is wonderful.
Date: 2004-09-20
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to

To: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

I woke to a cold morning beside the pond and was hiking by 7:30am layered in my fleece, windbreaker and long pants. The weather improved as I went and I was soon hiking in shorts and a long sleeved shirt. I spent the morning climbing over the Chairback Range on the very poor trail of roots and rocks. At the west branch of the Pleasant River I met a southbounder who gave me the good news that this was the last river that I would have to ford. Papa Bear and Badger came across just after me and we sat together putting on our shoes while fighting off the horde of mosquitoes that were waiting for us. I guess the word was out in mosquito world that there were easy pickings at the ford.The trail was in much better shape after the river. It led through the Hermitage area with a growth of impressive white pines, then past the side trail to Gulf Hagas, the grand canyon of Maine. I didn¢t have enough daylight to take the side excursion of the Gulf. However, I did see some new wildlife. As I hiked along I surprised a black creature that let out something between a snarl and a spit and hightailed it away. At first I thought it was a bear cub, but it had a long bushy tail. All I saw was its backside so I couldn¢t tell what it was. Maybe an otter or a fisher? I¢ve decided to call it the Great North Woods Bearcat.I reached the shelter just before dark and washed and ate by headlamp again. Baloo, Mutt and O¢Day were also there. Off to sleep in warmer temperatures than last night.
Date: 2004-09-21
From: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

Up and out at 7:00am this morning for an early climb of White Cap Mountain, the last big peak of the trail before Mt Katahdin. The day was clear and there was a great view of Kathadin across the valley from the summit of White Cap. I stopped for lunch at the Logan Brook lean-to. As I approached one of the few roads in the Wilderness I heard a vehicle stop. Loon and Lizard were being dropped off by Andy to continue their hike south to Monson after flipping up to Katahdin from there. Loon had a little trail magic for me in the form of a Snicker bar and Necco wafers. Andy offered to call one of my sons to let them know that I was ahead of schedule by a day.The trail was great after Crawford Pond. Fall colors are showing everywhere in the woods now. I enjoyed the hike over to the Cooper Falls Brook lean-to where my pals Baloo, Mutt and O¢Day were in for the night. They can outhike me but they can¢t lose me as long as I have enough daylight. And this time I was there before dark.
Date: 2004-09-22
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: overcast clouds

The hiking this morning was along an easy trail on a cloudy, windy and warm day. I made it to the Potaywadjo Spring lean-to by noon with over half the day¢s miles behind me. O¢Day and Mutt were already there and we ate lunch together. The afternoon hike led mostly along Nahmakanta stream and lake, with lots of ups and downs along the lake. Slower going than in the morning.I reached the lean-to about 6:00pm to find it already filled with a group of section hikers on their way from Stratton to Katahdin. Fortunately the night promised to be dry so I pitched my tarp across the trail from the lean-to near the tents of O¢Day and Mutt. Dinner by headlamp again after another long day, then off to sleep.
Date: 2004-09-23
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 23.1
Weather: clear sky

I was awakened this morning by a barrage of cones being cut from the tree above by a squirrel. The cones must grow in clusters, and the squirrels can cut them off at the rate of about one per second. They¢re busy at first light getting ready for winter. I was on the trail at 7:00am, up and over Nesuntabunt Mt and quickly over to the Rainbow Steam lean-to for lunch with Mutt and O¢Day. This is the shelter on the cover of the ALDA Companion databook. As we were finishing, section hiker Snafu came in. He will finish the trail with this section.The afternoon hike was along Rainbow Lake and up to the Rainbow Ledges where there was another good view of Mt Katahdin ¢ almost close enough to touch. I was surprised to see the blueberry bushes on the Ledges covered in ripe berries, so I took a half hour to pick a cup for breakfast tomorrow. Then on to the Hurd Brook lean-to at 4:30pm. The lean-to has a ¢baseball bat¢ floor of small peeled poles and the mosquitoes were out in force. The end of the Hundred Mile Wilderness at Abol Bridge and a camp store with hot showers were only 3.5 miles away, so I decided to keep hiking. I made it there by 6:00pm, bought ice cream, sandwiches and other goodies, and pitched my tarp at the campsite with Mutt and O¢Day. After eating I splurged on a 50-cent hot shower and poured $3.00 into a pay cell phone only to talk to answering machines. It felt good to be back to civilization after pushing through the Wilderness in 5 days. On to Baxter State Park tomorrow.
Date: 2004-09-24
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Katahdin Stream Campground (Millinocket, ME)
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: few clouds

With only 10 miles to hike today, I took my time in packing, then walked up to the camp store for a jelly doughnut and coffee breakfast. As we ate, O¢Day¢s dad drove up. He¢s up to meet O¢Day and is doing some fly fishing in the park. He agreed to meet us at Katahdin Stream Campground in the afternoon for a ride to town.We had a funny encounter with ridgerunner Dave as we entered the park. The park management reserves 12 spaces at the Birches campground for thruhikers, available on a first come first served basis. Mutt and O¢Day had hiked the mile over to the registration kiosk last night, found the signup sheet for today already posted, and reserved spaces for themselves and Baloo. When Dave discovered this he launched into a 5 minute lecture on how reservations were supposed to be made on the day of entry and how inconsiderate we were to our fellow hikers by not following the rules. He wound it up with the statement, ¢I guess if hikers keeping breaking this rule we¢ll have to write it down!¢ I choked back a laugh and commanded JoJo Rambo to keep quiet. After Dave had established who was in charge he had a lot of useful info about the park and the mountain.I took my time today for a change, enjoying the hike along the Penobscott River and stopping for lunch with Snafu at a beautiful waterfall. After lunch I hiked on to Daicey Pond and hiked the short road up to the pond so I could get a picture of Katahdin reflected in the water. Then over to Katahdin Stream Campground just as our ride appeared. After the ride to Millinocket I checked into the Katahdin Inn to wait for my sons¢ arrival tomorrow. I walked over to the pizza place about 5:30pm for a pizza, and went back about 9:30pm for a salad and spaghetti. I¢ll take my last zero day tomorrow.
Date: 2004-09-25
From: Katahdin Stream Campground (Millinocket, ME)

To: Katahdin Stream Campground (Millinocket, ME)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I walked downstairs this morning to discover Spiceman in the lobby. I last saw him at Harper¢s Ferry before my break. We walked over to McDonalds for breakfast and caught up on the news. He summitted Katahdin yesterday with Joker, Lorax and Party Girl. They went up at 2:00am by headlamp and watched the sunrise from the top. Back at the hotel I said hello to the others in the group, then took time to do laundry for the last time.Snafu picked me up around noon and we rode downtown to the Appalachian Trail Caf© for lunch, then went over to the Hard Drive Caf© to catch up on email. I moved my stuff over to a larger room and Jon and Dan arrived at mid-afternoon. I haven¢t seen them since I started the hike. We visited the rest of the afternoon, had calzones for dinner and turned in early for the big day tomorrow.