morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Abol Stream

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

We woke up to the sound of rain after sleeping well. We're dry but it is a pain packing up (a routine we are sure to get used to). We try our raingear but it is too hot to wear it so we just use our umbrellas (another blessing). Before heading out we stop at the camp store and pick up some sandwiches. As we enter the "100 Mile Wilderness" a sign basically states that we may may not make it out alive. We take our chances everyday on the roads so...welcome to the jungle! We thought that after Katahdin the trail would be relatively easy and flat all the way to Monson. WRONG! I don't think there has been even a 10 foot section of smooth/flat trail. In fact, it is either steep up or down and often requires you to lift you knee to your chest to get over the roots or rocks. Also, we figure Maine miles are significantly longer than statute miles! The trek along Rainbow Lake proved to be most difficult with miles of wet/muddy bogs and requiring rock and root hopping. The forest is as beautiful as ever with countless shades of green. Large plate size/shape fungus growing from the side of some trees and the rock and boulders seem to harbor their own mini-ecosystems. They are fascinating to look at closely. Near the end of the day we are treated to another viewing of a bull moose. He quickly ran from us up the hillside. Still no picture! Woodpeckers tap out tunes on hollowed out trees and each seems to offer a different tune. We met our first fellow south bounders just before Rainbow Ledge. Jason and his father Terry. It's good to know that we are not the only crazy people doing this! We rolled into the shelter at 7:30PM. A group of 3 were already there (Dan, Mary and Turtle) and we share the shelter with them. Friendly people but we don't have much time to chat. We're not using the tent tonight but we did get a chance to dry it upon Rainbow Ledges (see picture in our photo section) while we observed great views of Katahdin in the warm mid-day sun.
Date: 2004-06-26
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-To

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 15.8

Dan snored all night (like a tractor) and we got NO sleep...even with our earplugs! I mean the lean-to was even shaking! We couldn't take it any more and finally packed up at 3:30AM. Although tired, we made it to Nesuntabunt Mountain by early AM and to Wadleigh Lean-To before 11AM. We stopped there just to sign the register and meet 2 SOBO girls, Casey and Celeste, just heading out for the day (late start!). We stopped for lunch on a sandy beach and headed to White House Landing Camp. We came across a grouse with chicks and saw several ducks with ducklings. One duck was so cute... the babies were ahead of her skirting the shoreline but when the mother got a view of us she let out a call and headed to deeper wather. All the babies piled up on her back for a fast escape. We took a small detour off the AT to get to WLC (about 1.2 miles). We walked along a shoreline to a dock. There, we had to blow an airhorn and the owner motors over to get you in his boat. A beautiful place - huge 1 pound hamburgers, hot showers and a real bed all in the middle of the wilderness. Do we feel guilty for going there? Not the slightest! We made friends with some of the nicest people (Bill and Linda - owners) and Casey, Celeste and David (all SOBO). WE even did some hand laundry and got to use an old-fashioned wringer to squeeze the water out! Bill and Linda have hosted hikers to their hostel for 13 years!
Date: 2004-06-27
From: White House Landing

To: Cooper Brooks Falls Lean-To
Miles today: 13.8

We ate breakfast at 8AM after a good night's sleep. We had eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, english muffins, OJ, and AYCE blueberry pancakes. [Why do hikers mention every morsel they eat in their journals?!] We could barely move when we finished. We weighed our packs before we left... Flounder's pack = 25 pounds and my pack = 29 pounds. That includes 90 oz of water each and food for 5 days. The others weighed in at 38-42 pounds! Bill motored us back to the trail after breakfast and we were hiking again around 10:30. The trail was fairly flat today and the forest much drier. We noticed a change from deciduous to pines and firs [aren't those called conifers!]. We saw another grouse with chicks and she played the lameduck game on us to protect her young ones. We did not see any hikers today until we arrived at the lean-to around 5:30. Cooper Brook is beautiful - has a nice falls and a swimming hole. Casey, Celeste and David showed up around 6:30 and at 8PM Dan, Mary and Turtle show up to a full lean-to and have to tent. 2 other NOBO girls stop and tent nearby. One skinny dips in the swimming hole (I didn't peak....really). After she puts her clothes back on we ask her what the trail is like ahead. She says we will have an easy day tomorrow. We are all releived. We decide to get up early. We tease the others to do the same since they seldom get on the trail before 10:30 AM.
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Cooper Brooks Falls Lean-To

To: Carl Newhall Lean-To
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

On the trail by 5AM (leaving our friend sleeping). We stop to eat breadfast at a pond overlooking a beaver dam. We haven't seen a beaver yet but see all the trees they felled (some as large as 10" in diameter). The "chips" they leave are not small like sawdust but huge like that from a hatchet or small axe! Like the girl said the trail was nice and flat until we hit KoKadjo Road. But from that point on... " the little *itch lied!" The forest is more open now with evidence of being logged and mainly pine. Huge lichen/moss covered boulders cover much of the ground. The grueling part of our day begins with Little Boardman Mountain and then on to the White Cap Range (4 mountains). There is nothing easy about today's hiking and we felt like dropping our packs and chasing that little *itch down (if only we were able!). [This is a side of Little Bump that isn't often seen!] We ate lunch at Logan Brook Lean-To and spoke with the Solemates (NOBO's who will finish on July 4th). Although the hike through the White Caps was pure hell (steep up/down rooty and rocky), the views were GRAND! [Can't have your cake and eat it too!] At Carl Newhall Lean-To we shared a shelter with Shooting Star who is completing her last section hike of the AT after 19 years! [I want to cry now. That is bittersweet and goes to show that with the right amount of determination the AT can be hiked!]
Date: 2004-06-29
From: Carl Newhall Lean-To

To: Chairback Gap Lean-To
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

We slept in after our big day yesterday but are still able to hit the trail by 8AM. I (Little Bump) seemed to pick up a cold and struggled today for 9.9 miles. We decided to make a short day of it and give myself some time to rest. [Oh, what a sacrifice for Flounder!] The hiking was nice down to the west branch of the Pleasant River (ankle deep ford), then the trail climbed most of the way to Chairback. The rock on this side of the river changed to slate rather than the granite to the north. Chairback was fun with beautiful ridge walks on the slate with great views and an awesome steep boulder climb to the summit. Whoo hoo! It is a short and fairly easy day but we'll make up for it tomorrow. We couldn't get water at the lake before arriving at the lean-to because a dead moose was floating there [I think I read this in another journal.] The spring at the lean-to was dried up so for the first time we couldn't clean up before going to bed. You were right, Grace. We didn't even have enough water to brush our teeth! [OK, now this is sounding like a Survivor episode!] Hopefully, the weather will remain beautiful.
Date: 2004-06-30
From: Chairback Gap Lean-To

To: Wilson Valley Lean-To
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

It rained last night and a group of 4 hikers came in late. We were sleeping so we didn't talk much. They were light on the snoring and we were able to get some sleep. We got on the trail at 4:30 and started to climb immediately. The Barren Chairback Range is difficult but doesn't seem as steep as the White Caps! Maine uses switchbacks very sparingly and I have come up with 3 possible reasons for this: 1)attempting to limit erosion? 2) the people are just tougher up here? or 3) it is the shortest distance between 2 points? [In Maine they have real-life models of the Pythagorean Theorem!!! Wait till I tell my geometry class!] The great thing about the steeps is that you can use both arms and legs. We met the Dutch Boy Posse today who seem to be trying to catch the Solemates after trailing them for 5 months. During our hike today we missed some early morning views because of clouds but we get to enjoy a spectacular view from the summit of Barren (where we eat lunch). Let me just say that although I/we were warned by Tasha Marie and her mother, Robin Sue, that wet slate is the equivalent of ICE, I cracked my boongie [should we assume boongie means butt?!] at one spot I call the "slide". You see, white colored lichen cover some of the slate making it appear dry but one wrong step and you are down on your arse! [should we assume arse means butt?!] From the lean-to, we could tell we were getting close to Monson because we could hear trains. Although we have seen evidence of moose several times daily (very regular animals), we have seen only one since leaving Baxter State Park. We have seen tons of chipmonks, squirrels, snakes, toads, frogs and birds. The area of trail from Long Pond Stream to Wilson Valley lean-to is in need of maintenance. There are lots of blow downs, overgrown trail, poorly marked trail or missing blazes. In some places it was quite difficult to follow. We must say that MATC has done a wonderful job with the bogs/swampy muddy sections. Thanks. At Wilson Valley Lean-To 2 groups of 12 arrive. One all French speaking girls, and the other a coed group of 14-15 year olds. All well behaved and all tent camping. We have the lean-to to ourselves. Both groups are NOBO from Monson to Katahdin. The 100 mile wilderness has proven to be both more beautiful and difficult than we expected. We are looking forward to more challenges. [That's the spirit!] We have only 10 miles or so to go tomorrow to reach Monson.
Date: 2004-07-01
From: Wilson Valley Lean-To

To: Monson
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

On the trail by 5:30 and according to the little *itch [this couldn't possibly be her real trail name, could it?!] from the other day, an easy hike into town. Well, it was easier than the White Caps but not a cake walk! We ate the last of our food for breakfast (having only a little olive oil left). We forded Bog Wilson stream and hiked up and down slate ridge lines the entire morning. We spotted a moose on the island in the middle of North Pond and saw many snakes today. The trail through the 100 mile wilderness is quite amazing in that you seldom put you foot down on a flat surface. Rocks/roots/inclines/declines or any combination try to contort your feet to very unnatural angles. You may ask why not just step over the rocks or roots? Well, most of the time you can't. There could be mud or water or maybe our bozo feet just won't fit. Many times we just don't have the "crotch clearance" [I would rather not know the details on what that means exactly!] or we are not able to do the splits! We see Little Tree heading for her NOBO thru. The lure of food moves us closer to Monson. When we hit our first paved road we realize we have to hichhike for the first time. It's a little scary and we tried only half-heartedly while we walked toward Monson. We finally get a ride with a nice "gentleman", actually more like a former hippy from the 70's in an old beat up truck. Our parents would KILL us! He did get us to town safely though and we thanked him. We check in at Shaw's, then head directly for the bbq place. Yum. The Shaws are very nice and treated us just like family. We later ate dinner with them (Keith Sr. and Pat) and some other hikers. Trog, who is finishing after an injury last year and some more SOBO hikers. Justin, Mary, Nuffy, Death by Cotton (1st 6yr old to thru hike the AT in 1980) and Sean (from Englewood, FL about 30 miles from our house). The food and company was great and we cap it off with some Ben and Jerry's! We called a couple of people and checked e-mail. Our camp shoes hurt us so we each got a pair of flip flops at the general store. Tim, the owner, is very friendly and helpful. Flounder got a nice pair of purple ones and I got what was left...a pair of bright rainbow colored ones! All I need now is some red/pink toenail polish and I'm sure to get a new trail name!
Date: 2004-07-02
From: Monson

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

We took a zero day today. Gotta love that. We are letting those old dogs rest! The AYCE breakfast is great and we are putting some weight back on. Everyone weighs their back packs and the elimination of gear begins! Some hikers are carrying over 45 pounds! We could hardly lift them! We also pick through our stuff and send more home. Just cutting off the labels off all of our clothes and gear saved us 5 ounces. Hey, it all adds up. [This is a little extreme if you ask me! I think there must be a ten step program for this!] We buy some supplies [light weight I'm sure] and panicing we try to figure out where our next maildrop will be. Basically, we do not know where the *ell we are! We barely know what state we will go into next! Remember, we had little time to plan and all that shows on each maps is a narrow cooridor of the trail just 40 miles long. On top of that, we have never been in the New England states before. [OK, calm down now...remember the Fifty nifty United States song and the geography lessons that went with it!] My sister, Moccasin, says she will help us [and I am] which makes us feel much better. While waiting in line to use the only pay phone in Monson we see Casey, Celeste and David. They got to Monson about 4:30 and are staying at the Pie Lady's. Casey and Celeste are pretty beat up and plan to go home for a break and continue on further south [let me suggest the Bahamas]. We'll truly miss these two. David plans to continue and may hook up with us in Caratunk. We also see Dan the snorer who made it in today. Back at Shaw's we chat with Hog Walker (NOBO thru) and Walking Home (class of 2000 up doing trail maintenance). Hog Walker is super nice and helps us out a lot. Dinner at Shaw's tonight is all you can eat steak!
Date: 2004-07-03
From: Monson

To: Moxie Bald Lean-To
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: scattered clouds

We ate breakfast today with Keith Jr/Sr, Nuffy, Cotton and HogWalker and then say our goodbyes. Hogwalker gives us both a hug and wishes us luck. Keith shuttles us to the trailhead and we are so happy again. Skina-ma-rink-a-dink-a-dink...[I can't believe I just typed that and am now singing it in my head!] Nice easy trail to start out. Walking Home had just finished working on the first 3 miles. It started raining about 11AM so we get out our umbrellas and hike to Horseshoe Mountain Lean-To where we eat lunch. It begins to pour so we decide to take our time. After getting back on the trail in light rain we meet Slow Motion. He is like 80 years old and section hiking from somewhere in New Hampshire. Amazing! We also meet Pickle and Peanut. Super nice NOBO thru hikers with great attitudes! We would have loved to spend some time with them. We ford the Piscataquis River in our flip flops which proves quite tricky. Maybe we'll have to get some of those dorky looking camp shoes everyone else has....Crocs or something like that. We arrived at the Moxie Bald Lean-To and saw several familiar faces... Sean (Bulldog), Justin Walker (Soco- Southern Comfort), Kate and Sean, and 2 NOBO section hikers, The Admiral and Graybeard. The Admiral was the first mole in some tv show and is also an orthopedic surgeon. Of course, everyone quized him on their ailments. His remedy was the same for all, "take two advil them get an ice cold beer and roll it over the sore spot then drink the beer and repeat the process til the pain subsides!" We set up our tent then chat with everyone until dark.
Date: 2004-07-04
From: Moxie Bald Lean-To

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Loons and frogs kept us awake nearly the entire night. We stumble out of our bags around 6:30. No big hurry to get going nor is it necessary to do a lot of miles since the PO is closed for the 4th of July holiday on Monday as well. Our tent is soaked with dew and condensation.Nice hiking today with some good climbs and super views. The Summit of Moxie Bald reveals a 360 degree view. Seeing the Bigalows in the distance though is scary! We took a break up on Moxie and dried our tent again. We can already see that we will be using it less than expected. Beautiful day. The climb up Pleasant Pond Mountain is long but broken up by meeting Ground Hog,a real "character". He "entertained" us with some odd stories as we tried to keep moving away from him and he gave us a 10 min. lecture on not smoking (something niether of us ever have nor would we even consider doing). He also told us why he caries the gear he does and why we should hike with two different length hiking sticks (we don't use any). He seemed harmless enough though. We also met Boo's Goose (a super friendly NOBO). At Pleasant Pond Lean-To we learn that SOCO has gone on to Caratunk, hoping to see some fireworks for the 4th. We swim/bathe in the Pleasant Pond (lake)...quite cool! When Bulldog, Katie and Sean arrive we all walk back to camp stopping along the way to eat wild strawberries (at least that is what we hope they were). Tomorrow it is on to Caratunk to spend the night and pick up our maildrop..... and then ferry across the Kennebec!
Date: 2004-07-05
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-To

To: Caratunk (Kennebec River )
Miles today: 5.7

We are hiking by 6:30AM on fairly easy trail. We hit several light sprinkles but never had to use our umbrellas. On the highway by 10AM, we hike 1 mile west to Steve "The Ferryman" Longley's place. He ferries hikers across the Kennebec River so we wat till 11:30 until he returns. He is really friendly and kind. He drives us down the road to eat, shower and do laundry. Bulldog, Soco, Kate, Sean and Matt are there. We eat with them and then do our laundry and shower. Steve picks us back up and we get a few things from his store. He also lets us use his computer to check e-mail and lets us use his phone. Steve has an article hanging in his store where some guy hiked the entire trail in 49 days! The bunkhouse is nice and we are the only 2 here tonight. It's definately rustic but it does have a clean porta-potty! We will go to the post office tomorrow morning since it is closed today due to the 4th of July holiday and then head across the Kennnebec River. Yipee! We have been drinking tons of water (1.5-2 gallons a day including meals). Some days I don't know how we hike so far because one or the other is always stopping to pee (mostly the "other")! Flounder chugs her water as soon as we pump it because she doesn't want to carry the weight. Of course this leads to a vicious cycle. Drink more, pee more, filter more, ... Flounder says she is just marking her territory. So far I think the state of Maine is pretty much ours! We both have a few foot problems. Not too much with blisters but with pressure points (mostly from the steep descents). I think if I had my small toe removed on each foot I would be just fine. Still no bugs to speak of and we're having the time of our lives! Happy Trails and God Bless.
Date: 2004-07-06
From: Caratunk (Kennebec River )

To: West Carry Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We got up around 6AM. Pretty good sleep but the log trucks were loud. We had some breakfast bars to eat then Steve drops us off at the post office along with Soco (who got a ride to Steves this morning from the campground down the road). Kate (Sista), Sean (Crouch) Soco, Mat (Monkey See Monkey Do) shows up there and start going through boxes. We then made our way down to the ferry. We learn that Bulldog has gone across already. Surprisingly we find David (Hungry Gazelle) and we are glad to see him again. He yellow blazed from Monson to catch up with us. Once everyone is across we hit the trail. Tons of beautiful waterfalls. Everyone was familar/friends at camp. We had a birthday party for Sista with a coffee cake and some candles from our emergency fire start kit. Bulldog had toted a bottle of Jim Beam up for the occasion. Sista was having a bad day so it boosted her spirits. [I'll bet it did!] We opted out of the whisky as did Soco, Mat and David. We are planning a big day with 17.5 miles of Bigelows and want to get an early start. We still have not seen any trail magic yet. Back at Pleasant Pond L.T. there was a cooler (unfortunately full of empty cans). In reading the register at the shelter we discovered that Tasha Marie got the last beer! Forgive us, Tasha, for calling you a bad name! We have been shedding weight from our packs at each town. You really do feel each ounce. Some people can't do without a few comforts from home. Soco, for example, carries and aluminum folding stool... but he's young, strong and just out of high school. Come to think of it, it seems like we are pretty much the oldest people going SOBO (south bound). We would be willing to carry up to 5 pounds of chocolate chip cookies though! Hint, hint!
Date: 2004-07-07
From: West Carry Pond Lean-To

To: Horn's Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 17.5

We were up early and on the trail by 4:45AM along with David and Soco. The others remained asleep. They finished the bottle of Jim Beam at Sista's birthday party so we figured it may take them a little longer to get going today! We started climbing right away - straight up Little Bigelow. Just out of camp we spotted a cow moose. Neat! The sky is crystal clear and the views very rewarding. Life is good. We stick together with Soco, our "rabbit" and David to the summit of Little Bigelow then separate a bit till lunch (at the base of Avery Peak). The hiking today is indescribable, the BEST day, the BEST views and the funnest hiking. (Grace, you were right, again!) The Bigelows will be hard to top. For us...even better than Katahdin. We chat with some NOBO's atop Avery. One is a bald-headed (shaved) very muscular woman who reminds me a lot of GI Jane. (see picture). Then we enjoy the sunshine as we head for Big Bigalow and Horns Pond Lean-To. Soco plans to camp atop of Avery but we have a bit of respect for the mountains and prefer a lower elevation. We try to absorb all the spectacular views. [I can relate to this. Sitting in front of the Tetons and looking up at the grandeur of the mountains, I knew I had to take memory pictures and store as much in my brain and senses as possible.] We love hiking when climbs and decents are involved. Not only do you get great views but the miles seem to melt away and we have less aches and pains. We have determined that in flatter terrain, we have the ability to will nearly any muscle, joint or tendon to ache or to hurt. This condition is usually temporary and moves from body part to body part...climbing, we just worry about our next step and breath! The bug clothes are still working (at least we think so). We still have used no deet and plan to send it back for now. We also are doing away with our bounce box (too much trouble). There is a double lean to at Horn's Pond and a caretaker, Alice. We enjoyed joking with her. David and Mat showed up later. The pond (tarn) is gorgeous! Don't miss it! Flounder rates the composing privy a 10 (da bomb!). TO KATHY, OUR FRIEND AND DERMATOLOGIST, We beleive Flounder's urtacaria is more a circulation problem that anything else. She has only shown slight signs on the flatter sections of trail. If she is aerobic or anaerobic several times times during the day she seems to be OK. Oh, almost forgot a highlight. We crossed the 2000 miles to go mark. Whoo hoo!