morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-08-16
From: East B Hill Rd

To: South Arm Rd
Miles today: 10.1

I slept from 8:30 or so until 6:35. I was exhausted. I never even heard the thunderstorm or River get up and go downstairs to move our shoes back from the edge of the porch. I made oatmeal and ate on the porch with coffee before we were shuttled out at 8am to South Arm Rd. The 10+ mile section we hiked today over Moody mountain and Sawyer notch we did sobo because it was a less difficult hike in that direction. I'd like to say it was easier but there's nothing easy about this area. We saw Moses and Dimples again and a few other hikers but there didn't seem to be many people out today. By Sawyer brook we met a young man hiking with his dog. The man is deaf but we were able to have a conversation because he can read lips. I filtered water for him because he was frustrated with his Sawyer mini and 16 oz bag. He had another Sawyer before but it broke and this was all Walmart had. Supply options are almost non existent in this area. His dog was adorable but young and afraid of people, so there was no exchange with the little cutie. The Hall Mt shelter was right on trail so we stopped there for lunch and I finished my summer sausage and potato sticks and enjoyed the company of a day hiker and 2 thru hikers. From the shelter it was up to the summit of Wyman Mt and down to surplus pond. The deaf man and his dog were there and he was smoking a cigarette. I had to pee so I hiked up the hill a few tenths of a mile and ducked behind a huge boulder and River hiked ahead. I saw him coming and I shouted "STOP" with my hand in the universal stop position. But of course he didn't hear me so when he saw my hand up he waived and continued walking towards me. But as he got to me he realized that I was peeing and put his hand up to the side of his eye like a blinder. Wearing a skirt, I was not exposed. But I really prefer not getting caught with my boxers down! River said she knew I'd been caught when he hiked up behind her. The last 4 miles were less difficult. We finished our hike and were shuttled back to the hostel by 4:15. The shuttle driver had cold lemonade for us and it was very refreshing! We showered and made our way to the Red Hen for AYCE Mexican food. I had a full plate and a beer and then went next door for a strawberry sundae. It was delicious! Then I walked back to the hostel and up to my room to journal and sleep. River watched TV and about 9pm I rolled over and closed my eyes. I hope I sleep as well as last night. I'm very tired from the hike today.
Date: 2018-08-18
From: Route 17 Oquossoc

To: Route 4 Rangeley
Miles today: 13.2

I was up early after not the greatest night of sleep, it was a wakeful one. I packed up and had my oatmeal on the porch. After saying goodbye to Naomi David drove us to Route 17 and dropped us off at the trail head with an apple. I grabbed my rain gear from my pack. It was foggy and drizzly and David was going to drop our packs in Rangeley so we are slack packing again. The drizzle stopped a couple of miles into the hike so I took off my rain jacket and tied it around my waist and left my rain kilt on. I didn't feel like stopping to take my pack off. Mud was the name of the game today. 13 miles of it. While the terrain was just a rocky bumpy day with no big ups and downs the mud was a constant concern and it was mentally draining navigating around it all day. At one point I thought some light colored sand was a rock and I stepped in to my ankles. It was water and mud. I didn't stop for lunch I just snacked thru it. There were very few hikers on the trail today. There were 4 ponds and some beautiful old forest but the ponds weren't all visible because of the fog. I was hoping to see a moose today. When I stopped for a snack another hiker told me he had come around a corner and spooked a calf and cow moose but they ran off. There were no views today and I felt like I was just getting the miles in.  I got to the parking lot and trail head at 3 and waited for River. While waiting I received trail magic beer and chips from a couple in the parking lot giving out trail magic to some other hikers. My first PBR and honestly, it tasted great! Stacey from fieldstone cottages picked us up at the trailhead at 4 and drove us to Rangeley. We checked into our cabin and took showers but the hot water would last 20 seconds and then it would be ice cold. We discovered we had to turn it off and then on again and keep doing that thru the shower. It sucked. These are brand new cabins. We let the owner know and then walked to the laundromat and got our clothes clean. We saw a couple of other hikers there also. When we finished that we took our laundry bag to dinner at Parker and Main. I had a burger with fries and a beer and of course we had ice cream on the way back to the cottage. The ceiling light is on the same switch as the ceiling fan. It would have been nice to have the fan on. But I crawled into bed and River made coffee and her sofa bed. We looked at slack packing but decided to hike with full packs because slacking required extra side trail miles. We arranged a 7 am shuttle. I'll skip the hot and cold shower game in the morning!
Date: 2018-08-22
To: Stratton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

I'm so glad I didn't hike today! It wasn't raining when I woke up to hiker commotion at 6: 30. I showered and walked up to the Citgo station to get River and I each a cup of coffee. We watched the sky as it turned black and the rain came down shortly after. We ran out into the pack room to move our packs into the center of the floor away from the screens where they would be wet. When Sara arrived we drove to the Looney Moose Cafe and had a great breakfast. Then we headed back to our room to grab our laundry and left Sara to nap while we headed to the laundromat to get that chore completed. About an hour later we returned and the three of us went to Rangeley to the IGA for resupply and to see what we could come up with for my pack straps to give me and my collarbone a little cushion. Sara is a blessing. In Rangeley the IGA was able to fulfill my needs and with a couple of other stops I was able to remedy my shoulder strap collarbone issue with some $1 microfiber sponges that Trout helped me stuff into the webbing on the straps. I put all my things in my pack and walked around a few minutes to make sure it provided the relief I'm seeking. It feels good. Tomorrow will be the real test, I'll be back on trail. After a relaxed afternoon journaling and munching on fresh cherry tomatoes I declined dinner with River and Sara for some time alone. Trout made pulled pork for everyone here but I decided on a dish of coleslaw with the groupand ordered some plain wings from the Plaza across the street. I'll get a good night's rest, drink lots of water and be ready to conquer the Biggelows tomorrow. We're hoping for 10 miles and I'm feeling confident. Let's hope I don't have anymore dreams about the trail sabotaging my hike! We're hoping to stay on track for a Sept 6th summit of Katahdin.
Date: 2018-08-24
From: Safford notch campsite

To: East Carry Pond stealth site
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I slept well on my platform and woke up at 5:30 with the tents around me all still and quiet. I packed up making as little noise as possible then sat on the edge of the platform and had cold cereal for breakfast. I'd purchased granola and powdered milk at the IGA. It was a nice change from my usual oatmeal and a time saver since I didn't have to boil water. At 6:45 I had filtered water and was on trail. I love early morning on the trail. The way the sunlight filters thru the trees, the quiet, everything about it. I saw no one until River caught up with me on the climb of Biggelow Jr. I couldn't stop eating the blueberries at the top. I'd eat a few handful and tell myself I needed to keep moving and then I'd stop and eat more. They were to date the sweetest and plumpest I've had on trail. While enduring the seemingly endless rock slab descent and telling myself this should be the last one I met a sobo hiker. An older man who must have started the day early as well. We didn't talk long, he didn't seem to speak English very well but I told him not to pass up the blueberries. I stopped at little Biggelow lean to for a 30 minute lunch break. The site was extremely nice and I would have enjoyed staying there. The privy was a 2 seater! I'm confident there's no one on trail that I'd consider sharing with so I was sure to lock the door while in use! When I got back to the trail Twister and Chad the Dad were just passing by. We're all headed to the same stealth camping spot near East Carry Pond which will put us 10 miles from the ferry tomorrow. I was hoping there'd be room at the site when we got there and there was. Twister and Chad were all set up and I opted for a small spot wedged in between some trees. After setting up we went to the beach for a quick swim. I could see the leaches so it was a very quick swim! But I also knew I wanted to get clean and a good quick swim is the best way I know out here. So in I went and I couldn't get out fast enough. I stood in the shallow water and scrubbed the mud off my legs and rinsed my bandana then headed back to camp. I went out in the back beyond my tent with my clothes bag, dried off with my shirt and put on my pajamas. Toasty warm and dry I sat down with everyone else and made dinner. The sound of the loons was lovely and they continued for a long time. I was afraid that when we get to Caratunk we wouldn't get a bed at the hostel as there are only 9. I had enough service to get a text to Brian but I don't always receive them. But Brian was able to get a private room with two twin beds reserved and text River to let her know. After that I was able to doze off to the sound of the loons until 2 hikers came in by headlamps and I heard Twister tell them to wander past my tent and the fallen trees to a space out back. They did and they were quiet setting up and I drifted away again.
Date: 2018-08-28
From: Piscataqouis River mile 2067

To: Route 15 Monson
Miles today: 8.3

I had trouble falling asleep but once I got there I slept until 6:45. Late! I packed up and had a cold breakfast. River left before me. Once I finished breakfast I went to put my pack on when a certain urge hit me. So I grabbed my trowel and headed for a little privacy hoping I wouldn't find the same spot River did last night and this morning. Yes! She finally christened her trowel! It only took over 1,000 miles. I headed out at 8:15 and it was already hot and humid. Almost immediately I was annoyed with the ridiculous riverside ups and downs again. The trail guide looked pretty flat today but instead it was a steady 8+ mile incline to route 15 up and over Buck's Hill, which I renamed briefly. I came across the old AT shortly after that, 2 miles right into town instead of 3 miles to Route 15. I was so tempted. The trail was rerouted to eliminate a road walk in a town where every hiker stops. Monson is the southern end of the 100 mile wilderness and it is a hiker town with hostels, restaurants, resupply, visitor center for Baxter State Park and post office all within walking distance. I made it to the road at 12:15 with my shirt completely soaked in sweat and empty water bottles. I had eaten a handful of trail mix while hiking in an effort to quiet the growling beast in my stomach. What I thought were milk chocolate covered nuts turned out to be caramel. I had shoved quite the large handful of the assorted nuts, balls and M&Ms in my mouth while hiking and breathing hard only to quickly realize what I had was a mouth full of gooey caramel and I couldn't breathe. I thought for a second and immediately stopped so I could slow my breathing and not die by caramel asphyxiation on the trail. It took a few minutes to clear the mess using water and slowly chewing and swallowing. Now that I know what those cute little balls are I think I'll enjoy them individually and separate from the rest of the mix! So when I got to the road I was more than ready to see Poet pull up in an air conditioned SUV for a short ride back to the famous Shaw's hostel. Before getting a tour we pulled some chairs into the shade and were handed ice cold PBR. Now I'm feeling better and within 5 minutes I was buzzing. Beer goes right to work after my hike and I'm guessing it has to do with the fast metabolism. Once I felt steady we got a tour and checked in. Loaner clothes and a shower and I was a new person. We went to the post office, the general store and had lunch at Lake View where the owner Rebekah took excellent care of us providing us our own personal fan and cold water we didn't have to filter. This town certainly knows hikers! After that we stopped at saw Ridge runner Edbeard at the visitor center. I later returned to the general store and got a wonderful deli sandwich for dinner which I enjoyed in our private room with 2 fans. It was 85° and humid and I couldn't stand to be anywhere else. I turned in at 9 hoping it would cool down so I can fall asleep but I was still awake at midnight. At least I have tomorrow off.
Date: 2018-08-29
From: Shaw's hostel Monson

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I had trouble sleeping because of the heat and humidity despite having 2 fans in the room. At about 4am I finally felt cool and pulled the covers over me and dozed off. I'd signed up for breakfast so at 6:45 I was in line for the bathroom and downstairs just after 7. I ordered my eggs "on a plate" when asked, having no preference. They came out fresh and hot, over medium with home fries and 4 strips of bacon. I cleaned my plate and washed it all down with coffee and orange juice. It was all delicious and then I felt like taking a nap. But I didn't. Instead I thinned out my pack to only the absolute necessary items for the next 8 hiking days. I put the extras in a box to be shipped home. I then bagged up 7 days of food and purchased the snacks I was short from Poet's Gear Emporium. I put my extra meals in the box being shipped home and added a t-shirt and jar of Maine blueberry jelly for Brian. When the post office opened after lunch I shipped the package out, had lunch at the Lake Shore and got my AT passport stamped at the visitor center. Wendy was working today and I expressed my anxiety over the 100 mile wilderness. She tried to help me by going over the topography and how this section breaks down. Having an expectation is helpful to me and I did feel more comfortable. The rest of the day was just lazy, spent mostly in our room journaling and studying the guide. I bought a sandwich from the general store for dinner and put it in the fridge along with a protein shake and Body Armor hydration drink. I went outside for a little while but it was too hot so I went back to my room. A few minutes later I heard the thunder and the splatter of rain and saw Poet, Hippy Chick and their children run inside. Around 7pm I ate my sandwich and chips and it was absolutely delicious. Then I brushed my teeth and settled into bed before 8:30. I fell asleep but woke up at 11pm and River still wasn't in the room. I drifted off again and she came in sometime after midnight. Our door sticks so it woke me up. I noticed I'd been clenching my teeth. I must still be anxious about tomorrow.
Date: 2018-08-30
From: Route 15 Monson

To: Vaughn stream stealth site
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke around 5 and stretched before getting up and grabbing an open bathroom for a shower. It will be 7 days or so before I get another one. I shampooed twice for good measure but it isn't likely to help me in the coming days. I felt better though. I dressed and went downstairs for the protein shake that I'd stashed in the fridge. It was delicious. In the common area were a father and daughter who'd flown in and arrived at 3am, sleep deprived. They're hiking the 100 mile wilderness together and it's her 1st backpacking experience. I grabbed a coffee and went back upstairs. I really like quiet and peaceful spaces and I soak this one in for a few while River showers. Then I break down the shipping boxes and take them out to recycle and bring out trash down too. Just before 7 breakfast was in full swing and I enjoyed an egg with home fries and bacon. Poet also made me 3 GF blueberry pancakes but I could only eat 2. Delicious! River and I had staged our packs for the 8:15 shuttle so we squared away our bills in the gear shop and waited by the SUV. In the way to the trail head Poet gave everyone some good tips including a reminder about the treacherous slate in the 1st 15 miles, even more so because it's wet from the rain last night. At 8:45 we were hiking. We passed everyone in the group after we took pictures of the warning sign at the start of the 100 mile wilderness which is now complete with a skull and crossbones sticker. No wonder I have anxiety! Today's goal is 15 miles and the terrain is moderate. Besides the group that we left back at the trail head I only saw 4 other hikers today. I stopped for and River came by while I was eating. At 6:30 we took a stealth campsite just on the other side of Vaughn stream which is very wide and the guide says you have to ford, it's not a dry crossing. River went first determined to rock hop and not ford. Near the other shore one of the wet rocks got her and she landed left foot and butt in the water. She recovered and sat on the rock taking off her boots right there in the stream when suddenly as if in slow motion I watched her slide into the water pack and all and end up in a pool with her arms and feet all sticking up. I laughed so hard! She joined in the laughter eventually. But she was initially very unhappy with her situation. It's the first night out here and it's chilly and now she's wet. But we made the best of it and set up camp right away and she put up a line to dry things out. We ate our dinner and brushed and hung our bags on the same line. It was after 8 when we turned in. It windy out and the stream is loud. Tomorrow will be a more difficult hiking day. I'll need sleep for recovery.
Date: 2018-08-31
From: Vaughn stream stealth site

To: Chairback gap lean to
Miles today: 12.3

I left camp this morning just after 7. I knew there were a lot of peaks to get over today and it would be a much harder day. Shortly after I set out a familiar face passed me. Then his wife a few minutes later asked if Galaxy had passed me. I couldn't place her but knew she was familiar. I later caught up to them on one of the summits and thru conversation realized I'd met them at Joe Dodge lodge the evening we'd received the trail magic wine from the other diners. It was good to see them and have some conversation in between climbing. They left their jobs and sold all but the car and the couch and they're on their honeymoon! Not a very romantic one they agree. Before they came out to hike they started a non profit. While having lunch together on another summit I connected them with Alligator. She works for a non profit that helps non profits. While enjoying cell service on the summit as well, I received confirmation that Brian had reserved a site at Katahdin Stream campground for the 5th. He's planning to come up for the night and summit with us before he takes me home and then to Harper's Ferry. The site holds 6 so I've asked him if I can extend the invitation to share the site with Galaxy and Songbird. We also met Mid West Mama today. This section will complete the trail for her, which she's been working on for 12 years! Now that's dedication! We enjoyed her company and she's headed to the same shelter we are. The summits today were numerous ups and downs and included Barren Mt, Fourth Mt, Mt Third and a half, Third Mt, Columbus Mt and many other hills, rock scrambles and ledges. I would have liked a bigger mile day but I just couldn't. At least the weather is cooler and I'm sweating less. We got to the shelter around 5:30 and there weren't really any good tent sites. Galaxy and Songbird hammock so they were all set and River and I stayed in the shelter. There were about 6 students from College of the Atlantic doing their orientation. I thought it was pretty neat. They're out for 6 days, tomorrow being their last. We set up, had dinner and they entertained us with some hiker TV. A nice little fire before sleep. It was a bit cool but I was warm under my quilt. 2 of the students stayed in the shelter also. Just before bed they attempted to hang their 2 large mesh food and trash bags inside the shelter. River and I were both stunned and River spoke right up. They "don't believe" in bears we were told. Well we've had personal experience that proves they can be a real concern. They moved their bags. I don't know where they had them overnight but it wasn't above my head, so I closed my eyes and let the night take me.
Date: 2018-09-01
From: Chairback gap lean to

To: Stealth site at White Brook Trail JCT mile 2116.1
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

Today was another difficult day but more enjoyable. I got up at 5:30, a bit later than I wanted but it's chilly out and it was toasty in my quilt. At 7.05 I left camp and River behind. The trail immediately was a steep down and then a climb. When I got to the rock slide Galaxy and Songbird had already gone through. I was picking away at it when the group of students arrived. I let them pass and we all found our way thru. I didn't see them again until fording at the river. There was a large group, probably 20 people with kids headed out to Screw Auger Falls. They had trouble fording in bare feet. River and Peppermint came across as I was redressing my feet on the north side where there was actually a bench to sit on. One of the day hikers left behind the towel they dried off with. I filtered water and set out. Some if the trail was easier today. Or less difficult I should say. A sobo passed me and he looked familiar but I couldn't place him. Later River told me it was Napper. He'd been off trail for 4 weeks for a stress fracture in his foot so he went up to Katahdin and will hike to Mt Moosikauke and then go to Harper's Ferry. So he'll be behind us a Dozer is ahead of us already hiking south from Harper's Ferry. I made the climb up Gulf Hagus Mt okay and then West Peak gave me an ass whooping! .2 from the top I was soaked and chilled with the stiff breeze and I just wanted it to end! I talked myself thru it and over Hay Mt which was much kinder. I landed at a stealth site just ahead of River. We got dry clothes on and set up camp then ate. We were both in a hurry to get warm so we drank a liter of warm electrolytes and it was delicious. Handing my bear bag was tough and I got frustrated. Just not many good trees for hang. So I walked .10 north on the trail and got a line up. Tomorrow we'll go over White Cap Mt and get a view of Katahdin. We'll also pass our halfway mileage mark. The trail smoothes out after that and we'll try for 22 miles so we can stay at Antlers campsite. The wind is still pretty steady. I hope tomorrow is a little warmer.