morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-09-02
From: Stealth camp 0.4 mi past W Branch of Piscatiquis R

To: ME15-Monson
Miles today: 11.6

Day #153. Up at 6, start at 7. Ascent 2060, descent 2090. 114.4 miles to go. Duration: 7:30. Up at 6:00, it was 45F in the tent this morning, hiking at 7:00 in 45F temp, slight breeze, and very hazy sky. It was another beautiful day for hiking.  I went up and down the ridge next to the west branch of the Piscataquis River for several hours. The trail then departed the river and an hour later I had to ford the East branch of the Piscataquis River.  My light weight river shoes with the jury rigged laces worked like a charm again and I ended up with dry shoes and socks.  On the other side of the ford there was Trail Magic waiting provided by Strider (2003 thru hiker). I wonder if he was the same Strider I had lunch with on the Pemi when I hiked the trail in 2003.  I then hiked on to ME 15 where I got a shuttle into Shaws in Monson where I am staying.  Today I did 11.6 miles in 7:30 hiking time. NOBOs were Sonic, Tree hugger, B1, Lobster; SOBOs were Cincinati Kid, Just Alex . Flippers were Mellow Beard, Lies a Lot. Section hikers were Steel Man. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-03
From: ME15-Monson

To: ME15-Monson
Miles today: 0.0

Day #154. Up at 6:30. 114.4 miles left. Duration: 0. Today was a zero day of R&R just waiting to pick up my mail drop at the P.O. tomorrow. Up at 6:30, breakfast at 7:00, a trip to Greenville for supplies for a second food drop in the 100 mi wilderness. I decided on the second food drop instead of stopping at White House Landing for resupply. This will save me a half day in time and make it a little easier to reach the end of the 100 mile wilderness by the end of next Tue.  At the grocery store I bought a 2 lb rotisserie chicken and a half lb of macaroni salad which I had for lunch. The Big Foot that I had hiked with in GA, NC, and TN was also in town and we spent some time together in the afternoon. I am now waiting for a 12 in pizza.  Then dinner and off to bed. NOBOs were Sonic, Tree hugger, B1, Lobster, Big Foot. Section hikers were Short Stop. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-04
From: ME15-Monson

To: Long Pong Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day #155. Up at 6:30, start at 8:50. Ascent 3270, descent 3500. 99.4 miles left. Duration: 11:45 including 30 min lunch. Today I passed the 100 miles to Katahdin mark. Now I have only 99.4 miles left to go. Up at 6:30, breakfast at 7:00, at post office at 7:30 when they opened. They had my mail drop with food. It did not have my other drop with Aqua Mara so after they looked around I gave up and got some Aqua Mara from Shaws and entered the 100 mile wilderness and began hiking at 8:50 with Grin.  The trail today featured many roots which  made the going very slow and tedious.  In addition there many small ups and downs. We forded Big Wilson stream in mid afternoon and rock hopped across Wilber Stream at dark. At that point we made the decision to hike the next 0.8 mi on to the shelter instead of camping there. We hiked with head lamps and reached the shelter at 8:45 found it still had two spaces and we took them. Hiking on was a good decision since it started raining after 9 and rained hard all night long. NOBOs we're Noah, Light House, Bahama. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-05
From: Long Pong Stream Lean-to

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: light rain

Day #156. Up at 6:30, start at 8:05. Ascent 3740, descent 2790. 88.5 miles left. Duration: 11:00 including 30 min lunch. It rained hard last night. I was up at 6:30 and it still was raining hard.   Grin and I were hiking at 8:10 in rain, 60F temp, light wind. The trail was as tough as I have seen it. The trail was infested with wet roots, wet rocks, water running down the trail in places, and small medium, and large puddles of water in the trail.  It was very tedious and  very, very slow. The rain stopped in the middle of the morning and did not rain the rest of the day but the trail did not dry out very much. I arrived at the Chairback Gap Lean-to at 7:10, found the shelter full, and pitched my tent where I am now. I did 10.9 mi in 10:30 hiking time which indicates how slow the trail is in this section. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-06
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Carl A Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day #157. Up at 6, start at 7:05. Ascent 2120, descent 2130. 78.6 miles to go. Duration: 8:42 including 45 min lunch and ford. Today I passed the 2100 mile mark on the AT. Up at 6:00, hiking at 7:05 in overcast skies, 60F temp, and no wind. It was a tough downhill off Chair Back Mtn but Grin and I reached our food drop spot at 10:20 well ahead of the drop off time of 11:00. Dawn of Shaws was also early with our food drop and we were off hiking at 11:00. We reached the west branch of the Pleasant River at 11:30, put on our river shoes, forded the river and had lunch as I dried off. I was off again at 12:15 hiking on Maine roots and rocks some which were still were wet and slippery.  What else is new?  I reached the Lean-to at 3:45 where I am now. I rinsed off in the stream, washed my shorts and T-shirt and hung them to dry. I will wear them tomorrow even of they are not dry. It is called wear them dry.  It was nice to have some free time in camp for a change. Today I did 9.9 mi in about 8 hrs hiking time. The shelter has 5 over 60 yr olds in it. It is 7:40 and everyone is in their sleeping bag except me. It's time for me too. NOBOs were Cat Napper. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-07
From: Carl A Newhall Lean-to

To: Stealth camp by Mtn View Pond
Miles today: 12.7

Day #158. Up at 6, start at 7. Ascent 3270, descent 3620. 65.9 miles to go. Duration: 10:36 including 35 min lunch. Up at 6:00, hiking at 7:00 in partly sunny skies, 60F temp, and no wind.  Today I did 4 mountains - Gulf Hagas, West Peak, Hay, and White Cap Mtn. They were more mellow than the earlier mtns but still mtns. White Cap featured stone steps both up and down which also made things easier. Grin and I stopped on top of White Cap in the sun for lunch and to dry out some clothes. It was then a 2400 ft descent to the east branch of the Pleasant River which we rock hopped across keeping the shoes and socks dry again. We ended up stealth camping by Mountain View Pond where I now am. Today I did 12.7 mi in about 10 hrs hiking time. NOBOs were Lighthouse. Section hikers were Lee. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-08
From: Stealth camp by Mtn View Pond

To: Antlers tent site
Miles today: 14.1

Day #159. Up at 6, start at 7:10. Ascent 1100, descent 2000. 51.8 miles to go. Duration: 9:48 including 55 min lunch and food drop time. Up at 6:00, hiking at 7:10 in heavy overcast skies, 60F temp, and no wind.  Today I went up and over Little Boardman Mtn. Other than that the terrain was pretty flat and the treadway was relatively mellow. I reached Jo-Mary logging road at 1:35 well before the appointed time of 2:00. Sue of Shaws was also early at 1:45 and we got our food for the next 3 days and she was on her way by 2:00. Grin and I ate our lunch and were hiking again at 2:30 arriving at the Antlers tent site at 5:00.  When I got in my tent to do my journal after dinner I got stung by a bee above the right eye. Hopefully vitamin I will make the pain go away so I can sleep tonight. It sprinkled off and on today but it did not rain.  We could get some thunderstorms tonight. It is 8:40 well past hiker midnight. Today I did 14.1 mi in a little under 9 hrs hiking time. NOBOs were Naranja (big orange). SOBOs were Brian. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-09
From: Antlers tent site

To: Wadleigh Lean-to
Miles today: 13.6

Day #160. Up at 6, start at 7:30. Ascent 1100, descent 2000. 38.2 miles to go. Duration: 9:30 including 30 min lunch. Up at 6:00, hiking at 7:30 in heavy overcast skies, 60F temp, and moderate wind.  It rained last night heavy and the bottom end of my sleeping bag got wet. I put it out to dry when I reached the shelter at 5 this afternoon but it did not dry much. I will wrap the end of the bag in my rain jacket to keep my legs and feet warm tonight.  The hike today was uneventful but just some rocks and roots in places and a number of small ups and downs. However the tread way was fairly mellow today.  Grin, Kindle Ninja, Rider, and xxx are in the shelter with me tonight.  It is 7:45 and time for the head lamps to go off. Today I did 13.6 mi in 9 hrs hiking time. Section hikers were Rider, Raven. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-10
From: Wadleight Lean-to

To: Rainbow Lake tent site
Miles today: 11.9

Day 161. Up At: 6:00, Start at: 7:10. Miles left: 26.3. Ascent: 2020, Descent: 1610. Duration: 8:50 including 30 min lunch. Up at 6:00, hiking at 7:10 in overcast skies, 52F temp, and no wind.  It was cold last night but my sleeping bag dried out a good bit during the night so with long top and long bottom I stayed warm.  There was no cell service there but I was able to send my journal from the top of Nesuntabunt Mtn this morning. That was the only climb of the day.  It was short but steep. The rest of the trail today featured small ups and downs and a good bit of tedious root walking. I arrived at the rainbow lake tent site at 4:00 where I am now. The wind is blowing moderately now but when there is a lull I can hear the loons on the lake. It is the sound of a peaceful calm, even with the wind.  It feels like rain is coming again. Today I did 11.9 mi in 8:10 hrs hiking time. NOBOs were All Balls, Mary Poppins. Flippers were Hiker Ike, Sleepy. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-11
From: Rainbow Lake tent site

To: Abol Bridge campground
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: few clouds

Day 162. Up At: 6:00. Start at: 7:10. Miles left: 15.1. Ascent: 1570, Descent: 2160. Duration: 8:00 including 30 min lunch. Today I completed the last of the 100 mile wilderness. Only 15.1 mi left to go. Up at 6:00, hiking at 7:10 in clear skies, 48F temp, and moderate wind.  It was colder last night and I used my sleeping bag liner and rain jacket to stay warm.  The was no cell service there but I was able to send my journal from the top of Rainbow Ledges this morning. That was the only climb of the day.  It was short and gradual.  The rest of the trail today featured small ups and downs and only some  tedious root walking. I arrived at the Abol Bridge campground at 3:10 where I am now.  It was sunny, cool, and a very pleasant hiking day. At the camp ground with me are Grin, Big Foot, Big Orange, Short Stop, Kindle Ninja, Steel  Man. Today I did 11.2 mi in 7:30 hrs hiking time. NOBOs were Profit. Section hikers were Steelman, Short Stop. I'm just Trog-in along
Date: 2012-09-12
From: Abol Bridge campground

To: Katahdin Stream campground/Millinocket
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 163. Up At: 6:15. Start at: 7:30. Miles left: 5.1. Ascent: 940. Descent: 430. Today I hiked into Baxter State park the 10.0 miles to the foot of Katahdin where I met Highlander and his two friends. They drove Grin and me to Millinocket where we are staying tonight. We will be back to the entrance of the park when they open at 6:00 and then begin the 5.1 mi 4000 ft climb up Katahdin. It was cold last night under clear skies and almost no wind. After a makeshift breakfast from the camp store we were hiking at 7:30. The trail today was mostly mellow with a few sections with Maine roots. Today I did 10.0 mi in a little under 6 hrs hiking time. Last night I met No Key and Sprinkles who had just summited K.  Steel Man, Short Stop, Big Foot, and Big Orange passed me on the trail. I saw Sonic again at the AT Cafe tonight. Section hikers were Steelman, Short Stop. I'm just Trog-in along AFAICG.
Date: 2012-09-13
From: Katahdin Stream campground/Millinocket

To: Katahdin summit/home
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: broken clouds

Day #164. Up At: 4:30. Start at: 6:40. Miles left: 0.0, Ascent 4190, Descent 4190, Laps 1. Duration: 11:31 including 60 min celebration at the summit.Today I summited Mt Katahdin and successfully completed my third attempt to thru-hike the AT. The weather was perfect for hiking. I spent last night in a Millinocket motel along with Grin, Highlander (my son and hiking mentor), Johse, and Frank. We were up at 4:30 and on the road back to Baxter State Park at 5:15, arriving at the gate at 5:50, 10 min before it opened. We were 4th in line. The gate opened at 6:00, we were processed, and driving the 10 miles on gravel roads to the trail head which took 30 min. We signed in and were hiking at 6:40. Katahdin means ¢Greatest Mountain¢ and it lived up to its name as it was the single biggest and most demanding climb on the entire AT. I am glad they saved it for last. It started out easy for about a mile and then become steadily more and more difficult. There was much two hand rock scrambling and climbing and many places where my hiking sticks were of no use and, in fact, just got in the way. My progress was intentionally slow because I didn¢t want to aggravate my right ankle, my back, my right knee, or my hips which had been talking to me off and on during the hike this year. I just wanted to reach the summit. Highlander II was very patient with my slow pace and had very helpful advice in some of the tough spots that required long extensions of the arms and/or legs to reach iron pins in the rocks that aid the climb in otherwise impossible places. We climbed the 5.1 miles and the 4100 ft ascent arriving at the summit at noon and I let out my final yea of my AT hike with a great sense of relief that I had actually made it in one summer. And it was a special treat to be able to finish my AT Thru hike with my mentor and strongest supporter, Highlander II. Highlander II then presented me with the much coveted 2000 mile rocker, a celebratory 12 oz coke and a cake he made with ¢Congratulations Trog¢ on it. We spent the next hour there for photos, lunch, and enjoying the celebritory cake provided by Highlander. It was a very special occasion. At 1:00 we headed back down. It seemed even more difficult than the ascent but we made it back to the trail head at 6:12. Then to Millinocket to sign the AT Thru Hiker class of 2012 ceiling panel at the AT Cafe and have a celebritory dinner. We dropped off Grin at the hostel and headed back to Massachusetts. I was glad my 5 1/2 month journey was over. I'm just Trog-in along home tonight and my AT thru hike is over. I expect to reach home around 3 am tomorrow morning. It will be good to be home but I will remember my many adventures forever.
Date: 2012-09-23
To: Epilog
Miles today: 0.0

It has been a little over a week since I finished my 2012 AT Thru Hike and I am now ensconced back in the real world. It has been a great adventure over the past five and a half months. I have met and hiked with many wonderful people ¢ the hikers, the trail angels, the hostel providers, people in the towns I passed through, the folks that gave a hitch to/from the Trail, and the Trail maintainers. It was so great to live in an environment where everyone has the same basic goals and the same basic obstacles to overcome ¢ and where people are willing to help each other, their only reward knowing that those who they helped will help some other thru hiker in need. The AT thru hiker world is a very nice world. To my family, soccer colleagues, friends, and the many friends I made on the Trail, thanks for the encouragement, support, hiking guidance, and understanding while on my adventure. I particularly want to thank my Faithful Transcriber (my daughter), my editor in chief and Mail Drop sender (my wife), and my hiking mentor, Highlander (my son). Their efforts have been tremendous, they made the hike and hike reporting go very smoothly, and they are very much appreciated. It has been a great experience being out on the Trail for the third time but now I am back in the real world and look forward to renewing all my friendships there.
Date: 2012-03-25
From: springer mountain

To: usfs 251
Miles today: 8.0

Today I woke up at 4:30, said goodbye to Elisa and got on the road to springer. I met Jim Reynolds, his gf Hanna and his sister Kari at the AT approach trailhead. We bypassed the approach trail (not part of the AT) and hiked backwards to the official start at springer mountain .9 miles from our starting point. We then hiked in about 6.4 miles to a great camp site with a waterfall and good firewood. This is one of the best camping spots I've ever stayed at and a good place to call it a day after an easy hike. Jim is doing really well, he kinda partied a bit last night but isn't complaining and his "jimisms" are keeping the trail talk lively so the day just flew by. I know that every day I do less than 18 miles I extend my best case end date but I'm gonna take this first 3 weeks easy and ramp up after I get fit for longer days.
Date: 2012-03-28
From: jarrod gap

To: wolf laurel top
Miles today: 8.9

Today we woke in jarrod gap and hiked quickly to Neels gap. Neels gap is awesome, we ate and I got about 9 lbs of crap off my back. My pack is now way way lighter and I'm feeling like hiking will be much easier. Jim Reynolds has been a great companion and I'm sorry to be seeing him leave tomorrow. I'm looking forward to seeing Elisa on Friday. The weather on this trip so far has been super, no problems of any sort, however I know the rain is gonna come here sooner than later and I'm not looking fw to it.
Date: 2012-03-29
From: wolf laurel top

To: unicoi gap
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

What a day! We camped on this awesome mountain that has a spectacular view... Bears must like it too because the first hiker we ran into said they camped less than a half mile from us and had "three big bears circling them all night that they couldn't scare off".... The bears also got one of their food bags so one hiker (trophy wife was her tail name) was getting her husband to drive some food out for her at the next road crossing.Operation: "Get away from the three fearless bears" was a go.Jim and I took it easy on our way to his car.... I gotta admit more than a little bit of me was thinking about that empty, comfortable, air conditioned, gonna drive thru a Wendy's in 30 minutes passenger seat. Sanity didn't win the day on that opportunity and I kept going. Jim was going to confer my official trail name but I forgot to talk about it before he left. He gave me a temp trail name of broke spoon (BS for short) but that was too long a name and he also mentioned the name Truckin since I look like a trucker. He never really said Brad your trail name is .... So I just adopted the last option he mentioned and I will be known as Truckin to the folks I hike with from here out. This name was apropos as I was now alone and deep in bear country... If you've ever had this happen you you understand what a clarifying and motivational situation I was in. So from noon to 5:30 I hiked/ran 13.1 miles of rough hilly trail to get to unicoi gap. I was pretty dern tuckered out by the time I hit the Ga 75 where I ran onto a really cool thru hiker named Big E. We both hitchhiked into Helen, Ga with a tow truck driver who pulled over for 10 minutes on our 9 mile drive to show us pictures on his flip phone of all the wild hogs and bears he had killed. Big E and I both expressed our amazement at the photos and the tow truck driver gave us a big smile (with a few bits of chewing tobacco) and told us in stern terms not to ever tell anyone about his hunting spots. Small price to pay for not having to walk 9 miles.We got dropped off and walked a painful half mile (I'm super... We'll call it "chafed" at this point but that has hardly does it justice) to the helendorf hotel where I will take two zero days and meet Elisa.
Date: 2012-03-30
From: unicoi gap

To: unicoi gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up today feeling like a million bucks, can't wait to see Elisa. My legs are feeling good and I'm glad I did a big day yesterday to see what my body can handle. I'm going to rest, eat some fresh veggies and do some work.One thing I've noticed is that I look and smell like a homeless man, not a guy who's hiking, not a really dirty guy thats normal... Like a full blown, got any change, I need gas money to get home, homeless dude. This is leading to some interesting interactions with normal people. My nature is to talk to to strangers. So for example in the town I'm in, Helen, there is a fly fishing contest tomorrow so I'm asking folks that look like fishermen if they are in the contest. Most, if not all, of the reponses have been thinly vailed versions of "no I'm not going to give you any change" with puzzled looks as to how this homeless man made it way out to Helen, Ga.The icing on the homeless cake is my costume. I am wearing the same shirt/pants that I was in Sunday. They have salt marks all over them from sweat and are fairly dirty.To save weight I only have one set of pants/shirt and a pair of long johns for the cold nights. Therefore in order to wash the clothes I'm wearing I have to make an outfit out of the two pairs of socks I have not used and the towels in the hotel room. I considered doing this late at night and sneaking into the laundry area of my hotel but it closes at 8 which seems too early and Elisa gets here tonight with extra clothes so I'm just rocking the homeless costume until then....who knows I might get some change out of it.
Date: 2012-04-01
From: unicoi gap

To: Addis Gap
Miles today: 11.3

Elisa dropped me off today about 11 and I made it 11.3 miles to addis gap. It was an easy hiking day, I ran into a guy named Yoodler. He's a Marine sargent vet, cool dude, we talked about his business ideas but I can't talk about them due to wanting to keep them secret. I thought I was moving along pretty well but man Yoodler was def moving at a clip I didn't want to stick with so we separated an hour or so before I made camp. I set up my tent in a gap area and walked about a mile for water. I got back and about 15 or so boy scouts had set up camp. They were pretty cool but mainly kept to themselves. Glad to be back on the trail.
Date: 2012-04-02
From: Addis Gap

To: Bly Gap Campsite
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: few clouds

Whew... long day! I got up and huffed up a big mountain and then tried to turn up the gas and get at least 14 miles. I noticed that my legs were still pretty chaffed from the day before, then I realized I had accidentally worn the cotton boxers on the trail from when Elisa brought me clothes... super rookie mistake. So I duck into a shelter privy a few miles up and sort out the underwear issue and take care of a situation we'll call #2. Thats when I something happened I really really never wanted to happen... I ran out of TP. I later found a guy who was leaving the trail that day that had extra but man I was sweating bullets there for a few minutes. Soon after this momentous event I crossed over from GA to NC... great moments.I ran into a guy who had already thru hiked it and was def ultra lite (13 lbs pack weight). I went way too far without water and was back to feeling pretty dehydrated... water is pretty key on a hike... I camped in a super cool spot with Yoodler, Al, Firefox and Red Bull. Yoodler got out his harmonica and did his flat best to entertain the ladies. They all got to talking about the "pirates", these two guys who are suspected to be stealing... or at least have the capability to steal stuff... doesn't sound good. They are around and I'm keeping all my gear in my tent just in case.