morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-27
From: Little Swift River Pond Campsite

To: Piazza Rock Lean-to
Miles today: 6.6

A short but successful day. After sponging off the tent and packing up, I hiked the short distance to the highway along the easiest trail I've come across in a while. I met two fellow hikers at the road and in no time we had a ride to the IGA.It is so much nicer to resupply at a real grocery store. The highlight (which I did not purchase) was live lobster for five ninety-nine a pound.The town is full to the gills, with a logging competition and a Greg Alman concert. I don't even look for a place in town, I want to be as close to Saddleback Ridge tomorrow as I can with afternoon storms predicted.Two rides get me back to the trailhead and less than two miles gets me to the shelter. Plenty of time to patch the holes in my pack and get an afternoon nap.Low 56 High 80
Date: 2013-07-28
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to

To: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 16.9

Long day, lots of mountains. The clouds and I arrived at the summit of Saddleback Mountain at the same time. This is about the last time I'll see Mt. Washington and would have been the first peek at Katahdin if it were clear.Awkward spacing again, the first shelter at just under nine miles, the second a real stretch at seventeen.The trail was crowded from the second shelter on - a hiker vanished between these two shelters a few days ago and there are dozens of people (and at least half a dozen dogs) involved in the search.Pushing to the shelter was a good call, the rain came at nine pm.Low 62 High 76
Date: 2013-07-29
From: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to

To: Stratton Motel and Hostel
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: few clouds

A reluctant start in a drizzly mist just hard enough to keep everything you will step on or brush against dripping wet.The climbs today were shorter than yesterday, but tougher with a lot more hand over hand climbing. Very limited views again through the cloud, though things did clear out a bit mid-day.Remarkably, the thunder started after I left the last summit of the day and the storm did not hit until I was just off the ridgeline. Good storm though, probably close to an inch of rain in the hour it took to get to the road, by which time I was pretty much a drowned rat. Remarkably, someone stopped to offer a ride before I finished trying to call the hostel.I expected to zero based on a lousy forecast this morning, but by evening it had been revised to "very hikeable." We'll see what the morning brings.Low 62 High 77
Date: 2013-07-30
From: Stratton Motel and Hostel

To: Stratton
Miles today: 0.0

I hate to take another day off, but my feet are badly beaten from descending two miles in two days. It rained through the night, so it can't hurt to let the inch or more of rain drain off the trails before doing the Bigelow Ridge. These are the last high mountains until Katahdin.NOAA is a lot less optimistic this morning. One good day tomorrow would get me through the Bigelows, in the meantime, I'll take advantage of the first good wireless since Gorham.
Date: 2013-07-31
From: Stratton

To: Little Bigelow Lean-to
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

Not huge miles, but only the first two were easy. What is huge is the western mountains are behind me. I don't take much about the trail for granted and am not counting on twenty mile days again, but at least there won't be any more with sixty five hundred feet of climbing (and descending).The views were superb, a flashy climb to the West Bigelow Peak, and lots of ridge running. The slowest bit was descending from a viewpoint below Avery peak, with hundreds of feet of shear drop on three sides. The trail winds its way down like a spiral staircase. When it reached the bottom of the cliff, it weaves back and forth across the talus, if rocks the size of two story houses can be called talus.A hard but fun day.Low 65 High 75
Date: 2013-08-01
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Pierce Pond, Harrison's Camps
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: light rain

A delightfully normal day. Which is to say, the trails were average, not horrible, I hit five miles at nine, not two, and at one o'clock was about eleven miles down the pike.The ponds are getting much bigger, though the beaches still run small. Sadly, a thru hiker drowned at Pierce Pond last year. I don't know just what happened, but he apparently dove in, and Maine ponds run forty degrees or less down deep (but are usually delightfully warm on the surface).I am at Harrison's Camp, known for its twelve pancake breakfast. I could have easily made twenty miles today, but there would be little point. The Kennebec River is only three miles away, and the ferry (a canoe and guide) doesn't run until mid-morning. No reason not to indulge in a shower, real bed, and huge breakfast (that I didn't have to carry in myself).
Date: 2013-08-02
From: Pierce Pond, Harrison's Camps

To: Harrison's Camps
Miles today: 0.0

The rain settled in during the night for a serious stay. It drizzled and poured alternately through breakfast (which was outstanding) and it was not hard to decide to linger.Harrison's is an old school Maine "sporting camp," dating back many years. The original lodge is now the owner's quarters, a dining room and day room have been added. Among other things, there is a pool table, bearskin rug, a very complete fly-tying nook, and every book on fly fishing ever published.As near as I can tell, their peak time is black fly season, when the fish are also biting. The twelve pancake breakfast dates back a couple of owners, and is now one of many AT institutions. Tim Harrison does a mean breakfast, and arguably the best pancakes on the trail.The rain broke at noon, but thunderstorms were back before three. Not the worst day for hiking, but an OK day to be doing nothing also.
Date: 2013-08-03
From: Harrison's Camps

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 9.3

Things looked pretty good at sunrise, but by breakfast at seven, it was raining again. Not quite so hard as yesterday, and pretty much done by nine.Today was the Kennebec River canoe ferry. I expected to take pictures on the way across, but was asked to pick a side and paddle, so no mid-river snaps. Half a mile past the ferry is Carratunk, the next to last trail town.I topped off on trail munchies, ate a pint of Ben and Jerry's finest, and was back on the trail by noon. The thunderstorms, unfortunately, were back on the trail by one-thirty.With the next shelter nine miles, a mountain, and a deep ford ahead, I called it a day at three. Pleasant Pond is a fair sized lake, ringed with cabins, docks, and powerboats. The road runs a couple of hundred yards from the shelter, this may be the most populated place in Maine I've passed through.Low 57 High 74
Date: 2013-08-04
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Not a super long day, but two of the remaining mountains are behind me. Pleasant Pond Mountain was quite the little climb, everything was wet from the (daily) morning shower. There is a grey-green lichen on the rock that is like grease unless it is completely dry.Heading up Moxie Bald when there have been afternoon thunderstorms every day seemed dubious, but so did stopping at nine miles and one-thirty. The thunder had the good grace to wait forty-five minutes before starting, with rain shortly after and soft hail soon to follow. Here's hoping the weather finds a new habit in the few days before the next mountains.Low 55 High 74
Date: 2013-08-05
From: Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-to

To: Monson, Shaw's Lodging
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: broken clouds

Only a morning sprinkle, for the flattest day on the entire trail, at least according to the profile. In real life, the trail darts continuously up and down the bluff facing the riverbank. Tedious, but the day went pretty quickly. There were also three rivers to ford, ranging from ankle to thigh deep. Apparently the new normal.The afternoon thunderstorms also gave today a pass, and by evening it was beautiful out. Ssshhhhhhhh! Forecast is for two days of good weather.This is the very last trail town. It is pretty quiet, they roll up the sidewalks on Mondays. I got a pizza and salad at the remarkably versatile gas station, along with enough (hopefully) Little Debbies to get me to White House Landing seventy miles along.Low 56 High 73
Date: 2013-08-06
From: Monson, Shaw's Lodging

To: Wilson Valley Lean-to
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

I made an early run to Robinson's for breakfast sandwiches, which make great first day trail food. Shaw's does a killer breakfast but it begins at seven. Afterward, it was nearly eight thirty when I got to the trail. The day kind of dragged, the trail is "flat" which is to say it goes over a dozen slate ridges, a bit like New York.It was hotter than it has been, just touching ninety. Low 65 high 90
Date: 2013-08-07
From: Wilson Valley Lean-to

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Yesterday exhausted the flat trail on this side of the Wilderness, today was four named peaks (with bogs in between).I am getting old - fifteen miles was about all of this I had in me. Beautiful day though, clear, cool and dry. In between damp and rooty bits, the woods were very nice too. The best view was from Fourth Mountain, including a glimpse of Katahdin thirty eight miles away (but ninety by trail). There are four or five folks tenting, but I am alone in the shelter.Met Warren Doyle along the way, he was leapfrogging with another guy and two cars, on his seventeenth transit of the trail, more than thirty-five thousand miles on the AT.Low 55 High 77
Date: 2013-08-08
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Carl Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 9.9

Same story, new day. It rained off and on through the night, a drizzly departure at six. The summit of Chairback was completely socked in, of course, and wet rock and roots made the descent "interesting."The rain soon began for real. Attempting to ford a river while keeping your boots and socks dry in a driving rain is also "interesting," though mostly successful.The trail from the river to the shelter was as nice as any since Vermont. There were two folks in the shelter waiting out the rain. They left at two, but by nightfall we had a full house.Low 60 High 73
Date: 2013-08-09
From: Carl Newhall Lean-to

To: Carl Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0

I woke at dawn, to another too colorful sunrise. I wandered around a bit and ate (a backpacker meal omelet, courtesy of section hikers - it was only fair) then stretched out again for a bit. The four section people packed and headed out, returning about two minutes later when the lightning got serious. I've run out of ways to say "it rained exceptionally hard." There are two inches of water in front of the shelter.It is seven miles and four mountains to the next shelter, so if this breaks up by noon there is hope.Very brief, shrouded peeks of sun at tennish, by eleven (time to pack for a noon departure) the rain started again. Officially a washout. Somewhere else I'd grin and bear it, but it is a stiff hike, and the view from Whitecap should not be missed if it can be avoided.
Date: 2013-08-10
From: Carl Newhall Lean-to

To: East Branch Lean-to
Miles today: 10.8

Amazing. The rain slowed to a dizzle yesterday evening, and twelve hours later, the trail is largely drained.It was a beautiful morning to walk in the woods, and I spent half an hour on Whitecap enjoying the view (and trying with very mixed success to get my phone to communicate).The climbing was very moderate, and the descent from Whitecap was via a chain of stone steps that took the Maine AT Club twenty years to set.I reached the shelter at three thirty. Like so many days this trip, if there were anywhere to stay four miles up the trail, I'd be there. Generally, the rest of the trip will have awkwardly spaced stops. It would be smoother if I skipped White House Landing, but that is a trail icon not to be missed lightly.My feet are always happy for a short day.Low 55 High 70
Date: 2013-08-11
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: light rain

Well, I had another twenty mile day in me after all. Another perfect morning, in a fairy tale wood. Oh, there were still the usual roots an rocks, bogs and boards, but good trail from time to time also. Things went so smoothly, I had a dilemma. Stop at a reasonable distance and have a ridiculously short day tomorrow, skip White House Landing, or go long. Fortunately things went well, White House doesn't pick up after seven and doesn't serve dinner after six.I made it under the wire and opted for pizza, it has to be healthier than,a one pound hamburger. Remarkably, for the third time in Maine I have an entire hostel to myself. There is a large group from last night tenting up the trail (they want to summit in three days) but I am the only guest here.A great sunset, and just back a bit, a view of Katahdin over the last lake. Looming from gound level, it feels a lot more real than seen distantly from a mountain top. Sleep beckons.Low 55 High 78
Date: 2013-08-12
From: White House Landing

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Yet another perfect hiking day, three in a row. More lakes, more views, more Maine woods.It got a lot slower at Crescent Lake, with broken terrain and the usual suspects (mud, roots, rock). Got to the shelter about the same time as I finished yesterday. I'm still not sure how I pulled yesterday (twenty three miles in eleven and a half hours, counting the Landing access trail) off, but I'm glad I did.Abol Bridge tomorrow.Low 62 High 78
Date: 2013-08-13
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Pines
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: moderate rain

So here I am. This is the end of the trail, in a way - from here it is Baxter State Park. Tomorrow I go ten miles to The Birches, a camp for northbound thru hikers. The next day (weather cooperating) I summit Katahdin and search for a ride to Millinocket, the first leg home.The timing was pretty good, the rain and I both got here at about one. Technically, I could make it to The Birches today, but two days of rain are forecast, and there were a grunch of folks headed there already (hoping to summit tomorrow).Tried to get a phone call out, the store's cell has no signal in the rain.Low 54 High 74
Date: 2013-08-14
From: Abol Pines

To: The Birches
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

On the trail early again, I was at Katahdin Stream before eleven. I made dinner for lunch and set another dinner to steep, then wandered back to the campground. According to the ranger, not a huge number of northbounders have been through yet. I picked a daypack, wandered up the trail, and chatted with folks on their way down. Despite poor weather (light showers through the morning and afternoon thundershowers that, in fact, showed up by five) there was a good crowd at the summit.The forecast for tomorrow is good, here's hoping.Low 63 High 71
Date: 2013-08-15
From: The Birches

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: broken clouds

There were three of us in each (four person) shelter and two tented at The Birches. There were several rescues on the mountain, so it took a while for the rangers to get around to us.The trail opens at two in the morning and one enterprising soul started then. I started at a more reasonable five o'clock - first light. The road in doesn't open until six, that gives at least an hour and a half head start on the thundering hoard (thru hikers are only a few percent of those on the mountain).It is a righteous climb. There are tricky spots, but the trail is never badly exposed (to a fall - most is very exposed to wind and weather) and the hardest moves usually have an easy alternative if you look carefully.The climbing climaxes about half way up as you pop over a knob onto a broad alpine plain. The rest of the way becomes steep, but is just a walk to the summit.I reached the top at quarter of, and had time to take pictures and look around before the clouds began to gather at nine. I didn't take my thermometer up but it was probably forty-five or fifty degrees, with twenty to thirty mile per hour winds the whole way up and down.It seemed to take longer to get down, there was a grunch of folks on their way up to dodge, and many of them needed reassurance or advice. Last night the ranger asked us to look after folks and tell those who needed to be told (there were a few) that there was no shame in turning back down if the trail over-reached their ability.At the bottom I swapped the park's high fashion daypack (the lightest one with a waist strap I could find, so quite cheesy) for mine and (eventually) caught a ride to Millinocket and the hostel at trail's end.So that is that. Counting the approach trail and return trip down the mountain, twenty-one weeks and one tenth short of twenty-two hundred "official" miles. As near as I can tell, I was the 142nd registered northbound hiker to finish (probably a dozen or more have finished but dodged the rangers and the ten dollar fee).Low 55 at the campground, colder on the mountain
Date: 2013-05-13
To: Hampton, NB
Miles today: 0.0

Packed and repacked.7 days to start at Katadhin, that's if it's open. If not we just sit and wait until it does.Been hiking up and down our mountain twice a day for 3 months getting psyched for my thru hike. I'm excited and nervous. Just going to get into the rhythm and do it.I'll get there when I get there.
Date: 2013-05-27
To: Hampton, NB
Miles today: 0.0

Just got word from Paul Renaud up at the AT Lodge in Millinocket. The 100 mile wilderness is currently impassable. Rivers and brooks are over flowing.So my itinerary has changed. I'll start in Gorham, NH and head north. By the time I get to the wilderness in 3 wks things should have calmed down.Leaving Hampton, NB in the morning, hotel in Gorham, then early start on the AT on Wednesday. In my 25 hiking years I've never made a food drop but I'll be dropping off food at Grafton Notch on my way down. I'll pick it up 3 days later. Lighter load...First town stop will be Rangley in 6 days or so.Hopefully I'll be able to find a computer to update. See you in Rangley.
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0

Drove down to the USA on our 1st sunny day in days. The border guard said "You'll be in the US for FIVE MONTHS"? Yep... No hassles whatsoever. He didn't even find the 2 oranges I was smuggling in my pack.Just got an email from Dawn at Shaw's in Monson. The trail is a brook and they just plucked 2 girls out of the Little Wilson River. They're fine but somewhat hypothermic.Happy to be starting in Gorham, NH, going north to Katahdin then flip flopping back to Gorham.Tomorrow I'll be heading into the toughest part of the AT. Mahoosuc Notch, Old Speck, and Baldpate. Oh, Mt. Washington has snow on it. What? hopefully it will be gone by the end of June. Sign the Guest book and contact me at marketman1993@gmail.comIt would be great to here from you guys back home.I'll be checking my emails a couple of times in the next 2 to 3 weeks.I'll get there when I get there.
Date: 2013-05-30
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0

Today is the day. It's sunny and warm. Starting my Thru hike in Gorham, NH heading north.So many feelings and thoughts. It's different from my 20 years of section hiking the AT. It was only 2 weeks at a time. This will be living on the trail for 5 months. WOW!It's funny, I'm a south bounder going north for 3 weeks. As I said earlier, the reason being, the 100 mile wilderness is flooded and by the time I get there the rivers should be fordable. When I'm done Maine I'll flip down here and continue. Next journal should be in Rangley in 6 days.I'll get there when I get there.
Date: 2013-06-05
From: Little Swift Pond Campsite

To: Rangeley, Me
Miles today: 12.0

Just got into Rangley after 6 and a half days on the trail. I read in the AT guide that the section I just did was the toughest on the entire AT and I can attest to that. The weather was extremely hot for the first 3 days. Went down into the Mahousuc Notch and there was still piles of snow and ice It was +30C. Fire and Ice. I hear some bad weather is coming in on Friday so I want to get over Saddleback Mt and the horn (4,000 footers) before the rain comes. So just in town over night and I'm hitting the trail by 8am. A few issues.... coming down off Old Speck my foot started to pain. Simular to another hiking and running injury I had. I'm wearing trail sneakers so I thought I was lacking support. I thought, when I hit Rangley I'm buying another pair of boots. For the next 2 days, every brook I came to I soaked it. It helped and I haven't felt anything in 3 days. Yahoo!!!! Also I started with a slight hip injury and it has held off nicely.Til Stratton or Monson
Date: 2013-06-05
From: Little Swift Pond Campsite

To: Rangeley, Me
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

I'm only hiking 5 miles today because I'm not going to take a day off. I want to get over saddleback before the rain that is supposed to come on Friday. I was fortunate to get my tent set up and crawl in before the big thunder and lightning storm hit. Didn't get much sleep that nite. Where is everybody? It is lonely out here, the first person that I met I talked his ear off. That's not like me Sleeping at a motel tonite, I wish I could stay longer but have to beat the wet stuff. Talked to Paula today and she told me that the 2 girls from Monson are heading toward me and we should pass in a couple of days. Looking forward to meeting up. I have to use other people computers to write so bear with me I don't want take too much time. Will write again in a couple of days. Marketman
Date: 2013-06-07
From: Stratton

To: Stratton,Me
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: moderate rain

Left Rangley in a hurry to beat some big rains moving in so I didn't get my much needed full day off. Did a 20 miler yesterday and 13 today and arrived at the Stratton Motel at 2:30. Going to take tomorrow off. Walking around town I heard someone yell out "Marketman". It was the 2 girls that were washed down the river in the 100 Mile Wilderness, Tropper and #2. I had heard about their encounter from Shaw's and they had signed my guest book.More to come tomorrow with a few photos.
Date: 2013-06-08
From: Stratton

To: Stratton,Me
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Finally a Zero day in Stratton.There were 6 South bounders and 5 North bounders in today. The nobos started in Georgia in January. Snow in the Smokies until just a few weeks ago. Wow.Trooper and #2 are shuttling to the trail with me tomorrow, they're going south and I'm still going north.I'm so frustrated with trying to download my photos on everyones computer. When Paula comes down next week I'll post a slew on my computer....I need a smart phone. Take the pic and post right from one device. 99% of the hikers are using them. I may have to give in soon.Weather isn't looking much better until Monson. I guess I'll get rained on for the next 5 days.Til next week....Hey, I just noticed all my hard work tapping on the keys paid off. A photo of Trooper and #2 at The Stratton Motel. Nice....Thank-you computer Gods....