morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-08-13
From: Liberty Springs Shelter

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

I got a good jump on the day. I woke to clear skies and wanted to get in some good miles early. I was already at 3800ft when I left and from there continued up Haystack then Lincoln and finally Lafayette. It was one of those continuous false summit kind if day. It appears as just 1 mountain but the ridge line continues to go on and on. Once up the day consisted of being above treeline with great views all day. A whisper of light clouds faded in and out and a shroud of fog sat on the very top of Mt Washington as I moved ever closer. I took my 1st break on the backside of 5249ft Lafayette away from the slight breeze that was kicking up. From there I had a good view of where I was going and where I had come since Moosalaukee which stood tall to the south. Then down to 3800 and back up to 4500. Coming down Galehead I came to a junction and took the path less traveled. The trail was a good one with a gradual decline and much less rocky surface than what I've been used to. Finally a nice trail. There was supposed to be tenting spot at the 1/2 mile point but I missed it. The total ommision of white blazes had me a little ticked. Not unusual for the AMC system as they are so unlike the rest of the 13 states. Finally after a 3 mile jaunt downhill I saw a blue blaze indicating to me that I had gone the wrong way. A father and daughter was hiking down the trail and confirmed my unfortunate and basically stupid error. So back up I went and did arrive at the Galehead Hut where they agreed that I could do a work for stay. It was Growler Bear, Eddy and myself. We waited outside until everyone had eaten dinner (8:00pm)then was ALLOWED to come inside and eat the cold food and clean out the freezer and fridge. Then sleeping on the floor after all had gone to sleep. I appreciated being able to stay as there was no other option but I would prefer to not have to be at the whim and mercy of the huts. Lights out at 10:00. Got my pad set up and positioned myself in front of the large window that looked out into the star studded night sky. A few meteors streaked across the sky as a sliver of a moon dropped down behind Lafayette.
Date: 2010-08-14
From: Galehead Hut

To: Webster Ledge
Miles today: 18.0

All the waiting last night was not my idea of moving along the trail. The food was cold but I ate a ton and enjoyed it just the same. We set the tables in the AM and left before getting breakfast. We would have had to wait for the paying guest to finish eating before we would be allowed. That saved me about an hour. South Twin Mnt at 4900ft right off the bat was a real killer as was coming down from there to Crawford Notch at 1277ft. Much of it very steep. These miles come slow because of the intense concentration necessary to get through these sections safely. One fall and the hike could be over. I stopped at Zealand Hut for a couple bowls of chili and bread. My intention was to get down to Crawford Notch and find a place to set my tent. When I hit the Notch I couldn't find a suitable spot to camp so I decided to end my day the hard way. UP. There was a level spot 2.5 miles up Webster with a accent up to 3910. Another very difficult climb but it would be good to get it out of the way. I met an AMC worker who told me that the spots on Webster were already taken but I could probably find something. Soon after I met Chopsticks coming down. He is a NOBO but was heading back down to Crawford Notch. He had already had his tent spot but pulled up and was now heading back down. He said I was almost on top but it was tough going. Finally I reached the spot I was looking for and a great tent spot. I grabbed it and set up immediately. While setting camp Pacer came and said I thought I heard somebody coming around the corner but nobody came out to the ledge. Don't you want to see the view. I said first things first. The view will be there in 10 minutes this tent spot might not be. It was an awesome location with mountains and valleys as far as the eye could see. It was another great day and cool clear night.
Date: 2010-08-17
From: M&M's house

To: M&M's House
Miles today: 0.0

I decided to stay here another night. There were only three of us. M&M let us use her car after all the shuttling was done for the other hikers. Went into town and did some resupply and picked up some food for dinner. Swordfish on the grill was my selection and it was great. I caught up on all my updating and phone calls. The rest of the trail is going to make it tough to do regular journal entries because of the remoteness of where I am headed. I'm having fun and feeling strong. I could be on top of Katahdin in about 3 weeks. I am enjoying slightly cooler temps which has been good for hiking. I hope that continues. I'll be back in the woods first thing in the AM. I don't mind the climbs but I do hope the steep rocky terrain gives me a break. Until next time.
Date: 2010-08-18
From: M&M's House

To: Imp Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: fog

Left M&M's house after being well taken care of. It was Listner, Seeker and myself beginning the day at the base of Wildcat Mnt. Getting up the first of the 3 Wildcat Mnts was a real hard vertical challenge. I had moved in ahead but could not help but wonder how 72yr old Listner would be able to handle such riggorous hiking. The next two Wildcat peaks and the 3 Carter Peaks would make this 13 mile day a tough day indeed. Seeker caught up to me much to my surprise as I thought her to be way back. It turned out to be an 11 hour day that only moved us the 13 miles north. We stayed at the tenting platforms and was able to get in and set up as the sun was going down. Not an open view from the tenting area but the sunset lit the sky red. It was a nice cool night and a good hard earned day on the trail. Sue from Monson. I tried to email you back but the server won't accept your address. Please contact me again. Strider
Date: 2010-08-19
From: Imp Shelter

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: clear sky

I am consolidating the hike over the ost week into this one entry. I have gone 108 miles and am now over 1900 miles. I crossed the NH /ME borderand have been hiking in some very rugged and beautiful country. Each day I have been working hard for my miles. Lots of time on the trail but not big milage numbers. It's nice to have shelters and campsites back and the availability of water has gotten much better. The hiker towns are dwindling. I stopped in Gorum and Rangely and am heading into Stratton Maine tomorrow. I have a maildrop in Caratunk and after that the last town is Monson. There is the 100 mile wilderness from there and then the summit. I now have less than 200 miles left until I reach Katahdin. I have had a couple days of rain which has made some rocky climbs and steep downhills very dangerous. Slow going. Some of the hikers I've been seeing on and of are moonshine & sideways, Hollywood, six course, sugar Ray, Tabasco, (dances with)Woofie, seeker, cheeseburger, fig, supermax, timber & Paul. We were all doing shelter time to get out of the rain. The trails were muddy but they seem to dry up rather quick. We are now into a good stretch of nice weather. I'm still hiking up around 4000 ft. I can see forever on top of some of theses mountains. Another 2 days and the elevation drops below 2000 for some distance. My legs will love that. Health wise I am doing well. My feet and knees are holding up. I bought a new stove because I was sick of eating cold food all the time. I went 1 full month eating cold. I'm so glad to have it back. Nights are getting cold and the days are getting shorter. I'm still plugging along and can actually see the end in sight. Still striding Strider
Date: 2010-08-26
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: GULL pond Lodge
Miles today: 77.0

i am finding it hard to input information as so much time has passed. The air temp has been a little warm which has made the hiking a little more difficult than its should be. Coming out of the Whites the terrain was not expected to get much better. The terrain was exactly as reported. TOUGH. The climbs have been steep and often requiring mountaineering sort of skills. Put the poles away and do hand over hand. For most of many days of scaling rock faces it has been wise to have three points of contact at all times. The weather has not been helping out either as the rain has made these hiking days very dangerous. I was crossing a few rocky bald summits under intense winds that made me both smile at the horendous conditions and fear that I might slip and fall with less than good results. The continuation of the rough and rugged mountains of this region has required a great deal of effort and long hours to get any miles. The biggest torture so far has been the Mahoosuc area. The notch is known as either the toughest or funnest mile on the entire trail. I would claim that the passage thru that area requires a great deal of concentration and sure footing which for me made it the slowest mile on the trail for sure. Immediatly following the notch was the Mahoosuc Arm which is nothing more than a verticle hand over hand couple mile climb that was indeed a physical day indeed. Arrived in Rangely and got my supplies before getting picked up by Gull Pond Lodge located a couple miles out of town. Some of the hikers still around are Timber,Paul,Fig,SuperMax,Bird,SugarRay,Hollywood,Cheeseburger,Wolfie,Stix and Moss,Tabasco.
Date: 2010-09-04
From: Shaws Monson Maine

To: Buck & Sue's
Miles today: 0.0

My sister Mary told me of a friend that had property near Monson. Through the difficulty of phone service and recharge I wasn't able to touch base until I was entering Monson. Sue & Bonnie met me while I was out having some local BBQ in Monson. We went out for a drink and Then down the street and listened to the Friday night jam session at the corner grocery store. Good time down home back street kind of fun here. Loved it. The next day after a morning of hard rain I was picked up and shown the entire town of Monson. Then we turned off that street and headed out of town to a quaint little area where Buck and Sue live. I believe it is called Willimantic. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. I happened upon a weekend where they were celebrating a friends birthday. The afternoon was about sausage and hotdogs and the evening was a classic New England clambake. Awesome. Beer and Butter my two favorite food groups. The food was great as was the company. They made me feel so at home and treated me like a celebraty. Thank you for a wonderful and unexpected trail break.
Date: 2010-09-05
From: Buck & Sue's

To: Wilson Valley lean to
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Breakfast was coffee, juice and blueberry waffles. They had me at the trailhead around 9:00. After such an awesome display of trail magic you would think I'd be ready and rearing to go. Not quite. Sometimes I get treated too good and my body has trouble handling such good fortune. It was once again hot and I did consume maybe too many SamAdams ice cold beverages and perhaps the shelters were too close together but I only accomplished a 10 mile day. I kind of felt bad until I began sharing my awesome stay in Willimantic and became the envy of all who cared to listen. That helped me feel much better. It was a great feeling entering the last stage of my journey to Katahdin. I wasn't sure what to expect from the next 100 miles but I was going to graciously accept whatever came my way. It's not the destination it's the journey getting there. One more stretch.
Date: 2010-09-06
From: Wilson Valley lean to

To: Chairback Gap
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

I am well aware that the length of day is getting shorter but I was very surprised to find it very dark at 7:30 last night. This morning also came a little later and slow to lighten things up. I was up early. I've been waking before 5:00 lately but don't go into action closer to 6:00. At that time it's light enough to see. The air was cooler last night and is again today. Yahoo. Yesterday I worked off the beer today I'll work on ridding some of the butter drenched lobster. It don't take long to work off the periodic endulgences. Yesterday was a series of slight ups and downs between 500 and 1300ft. Today was much more intense with very steep climbs and many of them. Not difficult but slow. The trail so far has traveled along ponds, streams, creeks, lakes, Brooks and rivers. Every corner or on the other side of a rise is some form of water source. The sights, sounds and smells of the Maine forest have been a wonderful hiking experience for me. It's got it's difficult trail conditions with rocks, roots and mud but it also has plenty of the soft pine needle sections. Today had me up Barren Mnt, 3rd & 4th Mnt and Columbus Mnt. I was up and over many mountains today. There was also alot of ledge hiking on the summits. The views on clear days are never ending. The vista is more mountains as far as the eye can see. Lakes back from where I came and ahead to where I am going. There has been nothing easy about this section of Maine but it's been sweet. The skies were clear most of the day today and a little cooler. Clouds began to blow in during the late afternoon and I believe rain is expected tomorrow.
Date: 2010-09-07
From: Chairback Gap

To: Logan Brook lean to
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: light rain

Got some rain overnight and began the day with scattered showers. It was a nice downhill to the Pleasant river where I switched into my crocks to walk across the river. There have been many such crossings up to this point but this was the widest stretch yet. I made it across without any trouble. Only knee deep at the most. The next 8 miles were up hill. Another tough day with multiple peaks and much ledge work and steep rock face ups and downs. The wetness didn't help as extra caution was necessary. There was Vhairback Mnt, Gulf Hagas Mnt, Hay Mnt and at over 3600ft White Cap Mnt. If the trail travels down low I am following along a pond or lake. If it's going up or coming down it's a creek brook or stream. It really is a joy to have this Maine wilderness to finish this hike. The powers that be that put this trail together and guided it through these prestine areas knew what they were doing. A rainy day. Some muddy trail. Hard and many climbs. Another great day.
Date: 2010-09-08
From: Logan Brook lean to

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

The night ended early for all in the shelter last night. The rain came hard and fast and lasted into the night. It was me, Nesta, Squash and a couple finishing the AT when they completing Maine. By morning it was scattered showers again. After getting over White Cap Mnt the trail was heading slightly downhill or level the for much of the remaining distance to Katahdin. After the past very many days of rigorous hiking this day brought very favorable conditions. Possibly the best day of hiking since Virginia. Every day the trail is hiking around the ponds and streams. The sounds of nature are ever present here. Especially with the flowing creeks and cascading streams. The wind has also played a roll by either gusting across the summits or rustling the tree top leaves. Noise is everywhere. A calming noise. Meditative really. These days I have been hiking from early morning to almost dark at night. The act of hiking along all day has become routine for me. As I move through the wilderness I am aware of the time passing by. The hike. As in each days hike. Has a limited time duration to accomplish what I feel needs to be done. Like the hike itself. Now I find not enough time in the day and at the same time not that many days left. Soon there will be no more days. Sometimes I want it to be done so that I can go home. Now that it is getting close I think about how I will miss where this great adventure has taken me and how it will no longer be a part of my life. The destination for today was a camping area on a pond that is located in a large spruce stand with nice soft needles for ground cover. It was almost a 20 mile day but the trail was smooth and the grade was almost level. Turns out that the trail was perfect and doing a 20 mile day was rather easy compared with what I have been up against lately. It turns out that many hikers had the same idea. Staying at the tent site which was huge was Nesta, Squash, Moss, Wizard and a couple of section hikers. The stars were out when I hit the sleeping bag.
Date: 2010-09-09
From: Antlers Campsite

To: Crescent Pond
Miles today: 17.9

The tenting area at the Antlers campsite sits at the west edge of the JoMary Lake. The campsite is notorious for it's nice sunrises. Didn't get a great sunrise as some early morning rain clouds raced in and spoiled the show. Today was going to be a long day for me on the trail. I've been doing big days so that I will be in position to summit Katahdin on Sunday the 11th. I only carried into the wilderness 4 days of food. This morning I had to take a side trail to get picked up by a boat so I could get a burger and resupply my food for the rest of the 100 miles. I was hoping this detour wouldn't take up to much time of my day. I was at the boat landing before 11:00. Another hiker showed up also and after blowing the air horn a boat came across the lake to get us. Much to my surprise and delight he had us back on the trail before 1:00. Now I had enough food to get me the rest of the way and my furnace was fired up and ready to go after putting down the 1lb burger. The other hiker was SOBO and he (Sketch) went one way at the trail head and I went the other. The rest of the day was a series of Brooks, streams and lakes. The terrain was slightly downhill and the trail was smooth pine needles with a few roots and rocks thrown in here and there. The past few days have had distinct sections of stands of trees. Mostly it's been pine trees. Lately there have been very large pines. It's probably what this forest would have looked like years ago before they did logging thru thus area. Other areas are mostly hardwoods, birches and cedars. With the noise of the flowing creeks and streams and the wind blowing in off the lakes or thru the tops of trees there is never any silince. Sometimes the wind and cascsding falling water can be deafening. I could have used all this water during the heat and humidity of the summer. Jomary lake , Nahmakanta stream & lake, Twitchell Brook, Wadleigh Stream and Crescent Pond all today. I hiked into the early side of dusk and after much looking I finally found a level enough area to pitch my tent. A quick set up and then dinner in the dark. I was very satisfied with the distance I covered today and was now in good shape to make it to Abol Bridge tomorrow.
Date: 2010-09-10
From: Crescent Pond

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke early. The wind blew all night and two trees leaning against each other moaned as they swayed in the wind. Some areas of the wilderness seem more likely to have the large animal type around. I took this camp spot out of desperation as day was turning night. Sometimes I get a uneasy feeling and take extra steps just in case. I often find after hanging my food bag a candy wrapper in my pocket or some trash in a pocket on my pack. I took extra care last night and I also ate a good distance away from my tent. I've come to far to be eaten or mauled by a bear. Last night the moaning trees sounded spooky. It's always nice to wake up and find that you have survived another night. Before first light I was in full swing of getting breakfast and packing up. My first piece of business was hiking over Nahmakanta Mnt at 1600ft. From there it was clear sailing on great trails that once again followed the water. The rain began early but had trouble penetrating the cover above. It was cool and a nice temp for hiking. I stopped in a huge pine forest near the Rainbow River and sat under an overhanging rock and boiled some water for ramen. It was nice to put some warm food in me. Later in the day I came upon an old area that was logged many years ago. The stumps of these massive trees sit like gravestones in an overgrown and unkept graveyard. There were a few massive trees still standing in the area which must have been pretty impressive in it's day. I was reminded of the Sequoia's in California. Not as massive but very large trees. Spent some of the hike traveling through a large cedar bog. The dense vegitation, large trees, cedar bogs and rocks have much moss growing on them. Everything is a shade of green and the smells and sounds of the forest has really made hiking very enjoyable. So far there have been numerous opportunities to see Mt Katahdin but each time it's been socked in by fog or clouds. Just as I was getting out of the 100 mile wilderness the clouds began to lift. The trail left the woods and followed a road across the bridge to the Abol Bridge Campground. I paid $10 for the site, grabbed a six pack and headed to the rivers edge to set up my tent. The lady warned me that there has been a lot of bear activity in the campground so be sure to hang the food. Camping at the park was Nesta, Squash and Moss. We all shared a few beers and trail talked until dark. Tomorrow was gonna be a short hike into Baxter State Park for one last night before summiting Katahdin.
Date: 2010-09-11
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Birches Campground
Miles today: 9.9

The lady at the counter was right. In the middle of the night trash cans could be heard being knocked over and rummaged through. I was up at 4:30 and felt very awake. I walked up to the mens room to take a shower and get the day going. I was about to put my quarters in for the shower when I saw a sign that said showers are turned off from 11:00 to 6:00. My first thought was Bummer. My next thought was try it anyway. Much to my delight I had hot water and a nice 18 minute shower. After getting packed up it got light enough out to see. The sky was a picture perfect morning and from my campsite Mt Katahdin stood crystal clear against a dark blue sky. Awesome. The reflection off the water in front of me was a mirror image and a great photo opt. There is a sign-up sheet as you enter Baxter Park for thru hikers to sign if you want to stay at the Birches Campsite. A spot for thru hikers only and only enough room for 12. I was anxious to get on that board so I would be close to the hike up Mt Katahdin. From there it was only a 5+ mile hike. Like every day in Maine the days hiking was around water. I hiked up to Big Niagra Falls and sat along side the falls and had lunch and sat in the sun. It was a short 9.9 mile day and it was nice not feeling like I had to be on the move. A great lazily hiking day. As it should be. Got to Katahdin Stream and checked in at the rangers station. Found the Birches campsite and prepared myself for the final day. Staying at the Birches was Nesta, Squash, Fig, Pony, Out There and myself. The night came quick. Big day tomorrow.