morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-07-03
From: Abol Bridge

To: Rainbow Spring Campground
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: broken clouds

Today we entered the 100 Mile Wilderness. About 15 minutes into it - my foot is hurting so bad. Yesterday they started getting sore. Today my right foot is in so much pain I break down and cry knowing we have a long way to go - 100 miles to Monson. There is a warning sign at the beginning saying to pack at least 10 days of food. No resupply along the way. Its the longest stretch without a resupply option.Turns out my tendons in my foot are just very sore. I walk on and within 30 minutes they had stretched out and were good again. Micah was a great comfort when I was upset. And we moved on. But it still took us until 5:30 to go the 11.2 miles. We wanted to make it to the next shelter, but fell short a few miles and stayed at the Rainbow Stream Campground with Blissful and Steve. Good Choice. We got to go swimming in the lake and bathe and wash our clothes!!! Fortunately no leeches. Heard loons calling all along the lake. Beautiful.Maine smells like Christmas - spruce and firs and pines and hemlocks everywhere. We saw some beautiful views of Katahdin along the way.Micah got to see a Moose this morning at Abol Bridge - lucky - i was sitting at the store drinking coffee so I missed it. 2 more NOBO's passed us today too.Blissful is a Christian Novelist - has about 12 published novels. Her name is Lauralee Bliss. I want to find some of her books to read. Hayseed and Boone (two SOBOs who started the same day as we did) - we passed them this morning when we entered the 100 mile. Bliss says that Hayseed has a busted knee and isn't using a sleeping bag. hrm...something to think about there. The Arizona boys (mike and scott) are ahead of us at the Rainbow Stream Lean-to. Its where we were wanting to go today. didn't quite make it. But you have to listen to your body. At Abol Bridge Mike went fishing and caught the smallest fish ever, and actually grilled and ate it. They were also trying to lose as much weight as possible. So they were burning extra books, throwing away extra clothes and canteens. We are getting used to going down and getting up with the sun. 9 p.m. is now hiker midnight.
Date: 2010-07-04
From: Rainbow Spring Campground

To: Wadleigh Lean to
Miles today: 11.9

Happy Birthday America! Spent the 4th of July walking 11.9 miles to the Wadleigh Lean to. A first for me - woke up at 6a.m. wide awake and ready to begin our hike for the day. But I guess when you are in bed before 9 that becomes natural. Micah slept in so I spent some time out on Rainbow Lake watching loons wade around and just enjoying the beautiful morning. We only had to go over one mountain today - Nesuntabunt. At the top of the mountain we got a little turned around and almost went down the wrong way. Used the iPod on the way up the mountain because I was feeling tired and needed some inspiration. Shane and Shane guided me up the mountain. Saw a couple more NOBOs and we also saw a Boy Scout Troup carrying an American Flag through the 100 Mile Wilderness. It was a long and tiring day but we did make it to the lean-to. At the shelter we met Hairy Carey and Little Engine from N. Carolina. Good ol' southern boys.
Date: 2010-07-05
From: Wadleigh Lean to

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 9.9

Last night the boys (Mike, Little engine, and Micah)used mike's pellet gun to shoot mice in the shelter. They were everywhere (the mice). Micah and I were going to sleep in the shelter but it is one thing to have knowledge of mice in a shelter and another to actually see so many. So at 9 Micah and I set up the tent and slept mice and mosquito free. Today we only did 9 miles to go to White House Landing. 7.8 on the AT and 1.2 to the dock where we sounded an air horn to get a boat ride across the lake to White House. White House used to be a logging camp. There used to be 11 logging camps through out the 100 mile wilderness. Hikers could go through the 100 miles and never use their tent, staying at the camps. For just a few dollars they would receive dinner, a place to sleep, breakfast, and a packed lunch to go. This is the only one that is still operational and open for hikers. No longer a logging camp, but is now a sort of vacation resort for fishermen, hikers, and people who just want to get away for a while. We got to wash our clothes for the first time - the old fashion way - got water from the lake and put it in two buckets - hand washed all of our clothes and hung them up on the line to dry in the sunshine and breeze. Dinner was at 5 - we were ready at 4:55 - couldn't wait for Linda's famous 1lb hamburger. And yes we all ordered one and ate every bit of it. Also ordered a pizza - to have for lunch the next day When Scott found out about the burger - I had never seen him hike so fast. Usually he would just hang out in the back and catch up when he could - today he was the leader and just took off without us. The first one to the dock with Micah. We had 8 of us there together - Micah and I, Steve & Blissful, Little Engine and Hairy Carey, and Mike and Scott. It was like we were a little family. We are going to try and stick it out together until Monson - hope to make it by Sunday.The owners, Bill and Linda, run this place during the summer and spends winters on Anna Maria Island where Bill also is a fishing captain. They found out that Micah and I are newlyweds so they gave us our own little cabin. So Sweet. It had rocking chairs on the front porch looking out over the water - where we spent most of the afternoon. Micah tried to give Steve a trail name today - Lost Supper - he spilled his supper the last two nights.
Date: 2010-07-06
From: White House Landing

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: scattered clouds

What a way to begin a 13.7 day - an all you can eat breakfast at WHL. Eggs, bacon, english muffins, and blueberry pancakes. Today Scott officially took on his trail name - Winging It. Blissful tried to name Micah Pathfinder but he didn't like it since it was because he took the wrong path - or just a longer path - than we needed to. Relatively flat land today. Nice Hike. Met three new SOBO's - Redbeard, Little John, and Steve B. 2 GA boys and 1 from NY. Redbead and Little John are walking with injuries - its a good reminder to slow down and let your body heal. I mentioned this to them and reminded them that GA would still be there when they got there. We looked at a map of the whole AT At WHL - we haven't made it too far yet. I'm not going to look at a whole map again for a while.When we arrived at the shelter - we arrived to find about 45 campers already there, some through hikers (both NOBO and SOBO), a few sections hikers, and a large group of Quebec Girl Scouts. There was no where to set up. So we hike a little ways up the trail and set up in the edge of the woods with Blissful, Steve, Mike and Scott. Cooper Brooks Falls was beautiful though - all the boys and I jumped in clothes and all - a bath and clothes washing all in one! The Canadian girls offered us some of their dinner - chicken and rice - and we dove into some free food. Trail magic!
Date: 2010-07-07
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: few clouds

Long but good day. Nicer at this shelter than the last - not nearly as crowded. We are now 1/2 way up White Cap Mountain. We have a climb ahead of us tomorrow. We met at NOBO named G.R.U.M.P. He has been section hiking since 05 and will finish up in a few days. His name stands for grateful retired united Methodist preacher. he is very laid back and pretty funny. We met a random NOBO at a stream crossing who asked us if we knew what the difference was between a frog and a toad. After a few of us gave some of our knowledge with him - he said very promptly - NOPE there is no difference. And basically called us idiots. Very random. Glad he is a NOBO.At the shelter tonight - Micah and I, Blissful and Steve, Wingin it and mike, Redbeard, Little John, Steve B., Pickin and Grinnin, Just Jack, Faye and Nick. All SOBO. Statistically one a few of us will make it all the way. I hope we prove the stats wrong. BLissful and STeve are from Virginia, Winging It and Mike are from Arizona, Redbeard and Little John are from Savannah, GA, Steve B is from NY, Pckin and Grinnin - i don't know where they are from - Just Jack is from Virginia, and Faye and Nick are from Portland, Maine. Great group of folks. Got to tent right by a flowing brook - lovely. The water was freezing cold - soaked my sore feet very briefly. They aren't hurting quite as much these days. But the knees are taking a beating from downhills. We all have blisters except for Micah - lucky. Duct tape helps heal blisters we found Passed the 1/2 way point of the 100 Mile Wild - feels good.The deer/moose flies are out a ferocious - I have at least 10 bites on each shoulder - deet does not deter them. They bite right through the clothes. They suck.things we like about maine:1. It smells like Christmas at times2. Bog Bridges3. Lots of beautiful water4. been told there are no poisonous snakes5. only say 2 bees since I've been hereThings we don't like about maine:1. Bugs - deer flies ick!2. Roots3. Rocks4. Bogs and Mud
Date: 2010-07-08
From: Logan Brook Lean-to

To: Carl Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Only 7.2 miles today. But it was hard - had to summit White Cap and 3 other peaks. It took from 8:45 until 4. White Cap was BEAUTIFUL - we made it up before the fog set in so we got some beautiful photos. We sat up there for 45 minutes and enjoyed the sunshine - had to break out the FishGillz sunglasses. On a clear day you can see all the way back to Katahdin and all the mountains we are about to do. We couldn't quite see that far - too hazy today. Blisters are healing - nice.The shelter was nice tonight too - Micah and I actually slept in it - no mice bothered us and only 1 mosquito bite. We played Yahtzee and Rummy before bed with everyone. Mike caught 7 small trout in the stream and grilled them up over the open fire. We found out some great and awesome news - we get to slackpack for the next couple of days - 6 miles tomorrow then we get picked up by Blissful's friend Mai-lar. YES!
Date: 2010-07-09
From: Carl Newhall Lean-to

To: Katahdin Iron Works tote Rd
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: broken clouds

What a nice day - 6 easy miles out to the road to be picked up by Mai-lar then on to groceries, an outfitters, and fried chicken for dinner. Went through Gulf Hagas and stopped at Screw Auger falls - where Micah and Mike gave us all heart attacks by jumping off the top of the water falls into the pool below. They were like little kids. Had a great time. Got it on film too - can't wait to get some video files up. Mai-lar is awesome. He attempted a through hike several years ago only to make it to Tennesee before suffering from a stomach anurism. He was rescued and the doctor said if he had spent one more night on the trail he would have died. He recovered and ended up completing his thru-hike and now will help friends slack pack through areas near him. Blissful met him on his thru hike when she was doing some practice hikes before her thru hike in Virginia. Its amazing how you make life long friends out here. When he picked us up on a logging road, he was waiting with cold cokes and snacks - twix, reeses pb cups, snickers, you know the good stuff. Greenville is such a beautiful town. Moosehead lake is gorgeous. We restocked on some groceries and ate at Flatlanders - enjoyed fried chicken - all the guys were in heaven.
Date: 2010-07-10
From: Katahdin Iron Works tote Rd

To: Long Pond Stream
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: heavy intensity rain

What a very long, tiring day. 15.6 miles slackpacking we thought would be a piece of cake. I mean hey! we weren't carrying our packs right!? Man what a tiring day. We did the whole Chair back range which usually you split into two days. We were all beat by the end of it. But the views were wonderful. We started with another 5 a.m. wake up call and home made blueberry pancakes. We even had left over fried chicken for lunch. While we were eating lunch Redbeard, Little John, and Steve B came by and were wondering where the fried chicken came from. We manages to go over Chair back mtn, Columbus Mtn, Third Mtn, Fourth Mtn, and Barren Mtn. - too many peaks for one day. though I think someone got lazy when naming the mountains.It took us almost 12 hours to do it all. Steve and Mai-lar arrived to pick us up at 3 - we got to the stream crossing at the road around 6:30. We arrived back at Mai-lars to a ton of food - a great steak dinner. Steak sandwiches for lunch tomorrow! wonder if the boys will pass us again and be jealous again
Date: 2010-07-11
From: Long Pond Stream

To: Monson
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: scattered clouds

The last day of the 100 Mile Wilderness. WONDERFUL. Another wake up call at 5 am but we did get homemade french toast made with handmade bread the day before! We started out around 7:30 - was waiting on a ride to Monson around 6:30. It was a long day but we made the best of it. Stopped for lunch at the Little Wilson Falls - the second largest on the trail at around 60 ft. It was beautiful. When we made it to the last lean-to the rain just pounded us all the way to Hwy 15 to Monson. To make light of it, Mike (now known as MacGuyver) talked with Scottish Accent for the last three miles making fun and joking the whole way. We finally made it to the 100 mile wilderness sign and it was the best feeling knowing we made it! Called Shaw's and got picked up and rode into Monson. We had 1 hour to make it to 35 cent wings at the Lakeshore Pub. Everyone took the fastest showers in history and made it to the pub for the best wings in town. It was delightful! The pub has a great back yard that looks over a lake/pond with a floating trampoline and lounge chairs and corn hole games. The owner Rebekah LOVES hikers and spent a good bit of time hanging out with us. Redbeard, Little John, and Steve B. were already at Lakeshore when we arrived - they cheated and skipped the last 15 or so miles of the 100 mild wilderness. Turns out they also didn't hike Katahdin. I think they are missing out.
Date: 2010-07-12
From: Monson

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hanging out in Monson today. What a great sleepy little town. Had an AYCE breakfast and then got our maildrops. Thanks for all the packages - we have enough supplies to get to Andover now! 115ish miles down! WOW! This afternoon everyone hung out at Lakeshore Pub again - just in the back yard - they are actually closed on Monday but rebekah said we could hang out on the water and dock today. We used a gift card to get pizza for lunch. It was wonderful. Monson is a great place to sit around and relax. Back to the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2010-07-13
From: Monson

To: Horse Shoe Canyon Lean To
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

We stayed at Shaws for the last couple of nights after we made it out of the 100 Mile Wilderness. Monson is such a quite and sleepy town. We took our time this morning getting ready to head out and after an AYCE Breakfast with french toast, eggs, OJ, Coffee, Water. YUM!!!!! Went to the P.O. and shipped food ahead to Caratunk, STratton, Rangely and Andover. Mom and Dad sent us enough food to get us through Maine! We stopped at the Monson General Store. Sitting at the small card table was the owner and local Fire Warden Tim. Raised in small town south GA was dropped off in Monson when in the Air Force and has been here ever since. Apparently there is an aweful rumor that hikers cannot resupply at the General Store - this is untrue. We finally left shaws and made it back to the trail @ HWY 15 around 11. 9 miles to the Horse Shoe Canyon Lean To. It was mostly flat and we enjoyed some lunch by the shore of Lake Hebron and followed some logging roads, forded a river, and made it to the lean to around 4:30. Everyone was supposed to meet up there but Blissful, Papa Bliss, MacGuyver, Winging It, Nick and Faye moved on to a camp site by the next river. AT this lean to was Redbeard, Little John, Steve (From here on out all called the triplets) and Frosty. We were going to join the others when we heard thunder in the distance - decided to wait and see what happens when the hardest rain dropped from the heavens. So we stayed at the Lean-to. We settled in and made some delicious bean soup dad sent us while the triplets played cards and frosty wrote in his journal. We spent some time swapping stories. Our favorite question to ask is what is your fav meal to make out here. Frosty's is English Muffins with Peanut Butter, Honey, and Parkay squeeze butter.
Date: 2010-07-14
From: Horse Shoe Canyon Lean To

To: Moxie Pond Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

Today is a 13 mile day - 9 flat then 4 over Moxie Bald Mountain. We made the first nine from 8-1:15 - not too bad. Mostly flat with some river fords. The water was very refreshing. We stopped for a little while at Moxie Pond Shelter and met 2 NOBO section hikers who looked so young. There were going from Caratunk to Katahdin. We gave them some good pointers of where to get some good food. We took a nap before summiting Moxie Bald Mountain. SO BEAUTIFUL up there. So far my favorite mountiain. We had to call Mom today from the top of the mountain to get her to send Micah his back up pair of hiking poles. His fancy Gossamer Gear ones broke on the way out of Monson - guess they just couldn't handle the roots, etc of the 100 mile wilderness. At tonights shelter we have a mixture SOBO and NOBO and section hikers. These NOBOs are cool The ones we met at the Lakehouse were calling SOBO's cocky because we were celebrating completing the 100 mile wilderness! We had 115 miles down. Maine is a way harder place to start this journey than GA. Oh well. The NOBOs at this shelter are Cool Tool, Freedumb, and Redtail. Very nice and encouraging. We were thnking about Uvall today. He is an Israeli who lives in the US and is using the AT trip as a pilgrimage. I once heard that hiking tha tAT is the American's pilgrimage. Someone has tried to dub me the trail name Snuggles. - I think i will just try it out for a day and see what I think of it...MacGuyver says it should be Supreme Court. I think that may be a bit much.
Date: 2010-07-15
From: Moxie Pond Shelter

To: Pleasant Pond Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Only 9 miles today. Not ONLY. 4.7 up to pleasant pond mountain. It was long and tiring. But right before we started uphill at some power lines, there was a huge blueberry field. And of course we had to stop and eat blueberries for a while. After eating a few handfuls we headed off again. Later we found out that the other guys picked enough to fill a zip lock. At one point we had to ford a stream and while hanging out on the dirt road after it to dry our feet, we met up with Thomas and Jennifer. There were being dropped off by Shaws. Turned out that when they went across the stream yesterday Jenny lost a boot. Once they got tot the road, Shaws was there to pick up some other bikers who had gotten sick on the trail. Jennifer is an organic farmer and Thomas is in the air force. I'm glad we ended up hiking with them. We accidentally left our maps at the previous shelter so we didn't know that the stream was our last water source for 5.7 miles. At the top of the mountain Micah and I stopped for lunch just to reali ze we were out of water. And it was a hot, hot day. Jenny and Thomas gave a liter of water but it just went enough. When we were walking down the mtn we finally came to a small trickle of a stream. Our water filter hasn't been working the best so we purchased some Aquamira drops to purify water. But that requires an actual stream. We couldn't get water into our bottles. For some arson I had kept the filter so we were able to pump some clean water. Though very slowly. After rehydrating turns out we were only a few minutes from the shelter. .2 miles from the shelter is Pleasant pond. There is a great dock and beach area so we all jumped in clothes and all to cool off and wash our clothes and take a bath all at the same time. We got to hangout with Jenny and Thomas and it turns out they got married the day before we did. Even though inMaine they call this a pond, it is the size of a lie. It has cabins, docks and boats. It's even big enough for us to see a water plane take off. This morning we had to cross a literal beaver dam. We are half way den with Maine. 4 maps down three to go.
Date: 2010-07-16
From: Pleasant Pond Shelter

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

We all got an early start today. Up at 6a.m. 5.7 to Caratunk. That means real food and a chance at a real bower and washing clothes in a real washing machine and dryer. Yes! Talk about motivation. We made it to the post office in Caratunk by 10 and licked up our drop boxes then used the courtesy phone to call Northern Outdoor Resort who picked us up and shuttled us to their place. We were able to do launch and take free showers. Ate lunch at the kennebec river brew pub enjoed a delicious hamburger, wings, cheese fries, and we threw in a salad for some greens. All we had clean was rain gear while washing clothes so I hid out in the laundry room in rain pants and rain jacket while the clothes were washed. Turns out that is pretty common among hikers. Micah enjoyed the hot tub after lunch while I just sat around on the couch. After our relaxing afternoon we shuttled back to the post off e and walked to the Kennebec River. This is a major river crossing. Several people over the years have died trying to ford it. The ATC now provides a person to paddle you across in a canoe. Our canoe man was Hillbilly Dave. He was hilarious. We got a good video of him giving us advice on the trail. He said that we are going to hate the next 200 yards - straight up out of the lowest part of the trail in Maine. He wasn't kidding. A few miles down the trail we find a side path to a beautiful water fall. And of course what do the boys what to do?! JUMP! At least they checked the depth of the pool at the base this time before just jumping in. Crazy kids. We have some great video of that too...one of these days I will get some video uploaded. At the shelter tonight is a NOBO who gave us some more great pointers and had funny stories. He kept telling us that we were going backwards. We also caught up with a SOBO named Breaktime. This shelter is on Pierce Pond - great swimming and fishing. MacGuyver caught a couple of brook trout, grilled 'em up and added them to a rice dish for dinner. A couple of kids camping out with their parents canoed out to fish and caught a Salmon! Just .3 miles from this shelter is the Pierce Ponds Camps - a 1930's Sporting Camp that is run now by Time Harrison. He caters to hikers and offers a 12 pankcake lumberjack breakfast. You have to go in the night before and sign up for breakfast - and tell him if you want a side of bacon/sausage or eggs. Breakfast starts at $9, add $1 for each additional side. YUM! He also gives hikers clean water we dont have to filter. nice. we ended up chatting with Time for a while and sitting out on the back porch watching over a dozen hummingbirds feed. It was so pristine looking out over Pierce Pond Stream and waterfalls. You can check it out at www.piercepondcamps.com. He is dog-sitting a dog named Bravo who comes to the whistle of Dixie. That was fun. Beautiful sunset tonight. best yet.