morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-08-07
From: Rangely, ME

To: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I stayed up way too late basking in a power outlet and good cell service. I even updated all the apps on my phone. Going to bed well after Midnight isn't a good idea right now. I woke up a little before 7:00 AM to somebody frying chicken thighs. Can't say I've ever smelled that first thing in the morning.The Farmhouse Inn was great though. The bed was super comfortable and the family running it was so good to all of us. It's rare that you hug the neck of a person running the hotel you stayed at. Like I said, I like the folks around here.We took the later shuttle and hit the trail around 9:45. For the first couple of miles the sun was even out. The sun is such a game changer at this point. When it went away during the initial climb up Saddleback my mood went South and I began to notice the steep, wet terrain.Saddleback itself is three peaks, Saddleback, The Horn, and Saddleback Junior. By the time I came down the last peak I was exhausted and had fallen hard three times on wet boulders. When I got to the next shelter I was in a foul mood.Trudge, Just Pete, and their group were taking a break when I got there. When I mentioned my falls and the scrape on my knee one of them came out of the shelter with an arm and a leg covered in bloody bandages. Okay, mine could have been worse. I've also decided to accept that my tailbone will have a bruise for the duration of the hike.It was 3:30 and they all said they were heading for the next shelter, eight miles away. After talking with a SOBO about the lack of campsites in between I decided I'd head there too. Jeopardy and I had planned to camp in between somewhere but never settled on where. I found a pretty European girl, relayed my plans to her to give to him, and headed out. If he stops and talks to anyone it will be a pretty European girl so I'm hoping he got the message.I had a bite to eat and flew down the trail. There was actually a well graded two mile uphill and I was able to move fast for once. After climbing up Lone Mountain I made it down to the shelter right at 7:00. Eight miles in three hours has been unheard of for me since crossing into Maine.I've since done all my camp chores and hung out with some camp kids while I ate. This shelter is above 3000 feet and it's freezing up here. I'm happy to be in my tent instead of the actual shelter. I still haven't seen Jeopardy. I hope he makes it but I haven't seen him since Ethel Pond, 2.5 miles in. So tomorrow needs to be figured out. I thought I'd be in Stratton on Sunday and now I'm only 13.5 miles away. I do have to climb Spaulding Mountain first thing and North and South Crocker Mountains before hitting town. Everyone has been saying the terrain eases up after Stratton. Well, after the Bigelow's. They end about 15 miles after town.
Date: 2015-08-08
From: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 13.5

It was really cold last night so I slept like a dream. I heard Trudge and the rest of the group up early. My sleeping bag was too warm to join them. I got up as they were leaving and left at the usual 7:30. The trail headed immediately up Spaulding Mountain but my legs were feeling good that early in the morning. I got to the top, posted a journal and called the Wife. She didn't answer and it didn't register that today was Saturday. Oops. I rarely have any idea what day it is.I headed toward the gorge and found more steep trail. On the way I found Trudge and the guys cursing as they hopped down boulders. I walked down with them, had lunch at the bottom, and headed up South Crocker Mountain.   Before I hit the steep section I passed a trail maintainer who informed me that the climb was indeed very steep. I told him every climb in Maine was steep and headed up the hill.I finished the 2000 foot climb then headed down the ridge and back up to North Crocker Mountain. As I got to the top I was disappointed to see someone already there as I wanted to get a call out. As I got closer I noticed a kilt so I creeped around to see who it was. After 1400 miles it was crazy to see Moosehead again. We last saw each other right before he left Bland for Trail Days. The AT is a crazy place.We finished the walk down to the road, grabbed a picture together at the 2000 mile marker and grabbed the greatest hitch into town. Tia was coming from the house she's building at Sugarloaf and wanted to take us to see it. She turned the car around and we got a tour of the ski resort and golf course. Then she drove us all the way back to Stratton. It was a great afternoon.Moosehead and I checked into the hostel at the Stratton Motel and I've resupplied and had a double cheeseburger, fries, and chicken wings. Jeopardy showed up around 7:00 and got a spot in the hostel as well.Tomorrow I'll head out at 7:00 AM and tackle the Bigelows. From the road they look huge. It's the last big range we have to hike. I'm actually pretty excited to get up there. I'm definitely in full on get to Katahdin mode. 70+ miles into Monson then into the 100 mile wilderness. It's crazy to be 2000 miles in.
Date: 2015-08-09
From: Stratton, ME

To: East Flagstaff Lake
Miles today: 17.9

The beds at the hostel had pee covers on them. Every time someone moved I woke up, including when I moved. That's one loud crinkle. The bathroom was downstairs and I used it in the middle of the night. In hindsight I should have just wet the bed.I was up and moving by 6:15 and on the shuttle by 7:00. I wanted an early start for the Bigelows after sleeping in before the Saddlebacks. I left Jeopardy in the trailhead parking lot to sort his gear and flew into the woods. Before I knew it I was 2000 feet higher and 5 miles in. I stopped at the first shelter, called the Wife, tested privy durability, and talked to the caretaker and a weekender.In the Bigelows we cross four peaks (South Horn, Bigelow Mountain, Avery, and Little Bigelow). Two of which are above 4000 feet and Avery was the last 4000 footer until Katahdin. The only thing I was bummed about was the fog. I crossed the first three peaks with no views and two of them were above treeline. I've had such good luck with summits lately that I can't be too upset.As I came down Avery the sun did come out. Oh well. The trail dropped 2000 feet then climbed 800' to Little Bigelow. By then the clouds were gone and I could see everything. I walked down to the shelter with Pogo and met up with Wanderer. We all grabbed water then split at the road at the bottom. I've since gotten to my favorite campsite of the trip on East Flagstaff Lake. The campsite has a rock outcropping overlooking the lake and a beach that I made dinner on while I watched the sun set over the mountains. Pretty solid end of the day.Tomorrow I'm thinking about getting up early to make the 18.7 miles to the Kennebec River before 4:00 PM. It's the only place on the trail that a canoe is the official route and it stops running at 4:00 for the day. Making it tomorrow would keep me from having to wait until 9:00 AM the next day for it to start again.Have I mentioned how awesome this campsite is?
Date: 2015-08-10
From: East Flagstaff Lake

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I counted on the sun rising and waking me up around 5:15 this morning. It rose but a fog covered the lake and the campsite I was in. I didn't get up until 5:40 but was out of camp by 6:15, on a mission to get the 18.7 miles to the ferry before it stopped running at 4:00.Out of camp there was a small climb but nothing too crazy and I made it the mile and a half to Long Falls Dam Rd before 7:00. If you've ever seen a picture of the original 2000 mile marker spray painted on a road, that's where it is. For 2015 the road sits at 2020.5 miles. I took a quick picture and kept hiking.By 8:15 I had made it to the first shelter and stopped to grab a snack and offload some base weight. I stopped again at a really great beach three miles later to have another snack. When I left there it was about 9:50 and I was almost 9 miles in.By 12:15 I hit Pierce Pond Lean-to and found Trudge and company. They skipped Stratton but I thought I had made up some ground. Trudge, Otter and I finished the 3.6 mile walk to the Kennebec by 1:45 and waited the 15 minutes for the ferry to start back up at 2:00. I hadn't pulled off that many miles before 2:00 PM in a while. The trail isn't that easy from here on but I was glad to take advantage while it was.I met Hillbilly Dave, who has operated the crossing for years, and hopped in the canoe with Otter and him. It was over before I knew it. The canoe is the official trail and fording the river is extremely dangerous due to upstream releases on constant schedules. Dave couldn't believe how low the water was while we were going across but by the time Trudge and Silverback came over it had already risen significantly. On the other side of the river Dave's Wife strategically sold drinks and snacks. I was happy to gulp down three Mountain Dews before heading up the trail. Since the other guys skipped Stratton they instead headed to Caratunk from the road.I had originally thought I'd go a couple miles and find a place to camp by Holly Brook. It was so muddy down there that I didn't bother. I have to say this shelter isn't much better and the camping leaves a lot to be desired. I was the only one here when I arrived so I grabbed the only remotely decent campsite. Tomorrow I have a thousand foot climb up Pleasant Pond Mountain first thing and a 1700 foot climb up Moxie Bald during the middle of the day. After that it shouldn't be too bad of a walk to Monson. I'll be there on Wednesday as it sits 31 miles away.
Date: 2015-08-11
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: Stealth Campsite
Miles today: 19.0

I had been watching this day weather-wise since late last week. Usually the forecast gives a chance of rain. This one just said rain. I still couldn't coax myself onto the trail until 7:15.Pleasant Pond Mountain was only a thousand feet up and over before I knew it. When I got to the top I was surprised to find my first cell phone signal in a couple of days. I sat up there posting journals and talking to the Wife for 45 minutes. The only reason I left is because the approaching storm had made the summit windy and cold.Seven miles later I stopped to have lunch before climbing the second mountain. As I was leaving I debated putting on the rain cover and stowing the electronics as the sun had finally gone away. Ten minutes later it started raining and hasn't stopped.The climb up Moxie Bald wasn't too bad until I hit the summit. I must have looked drunk as I wobbled across in the driving wind and rain. It still didn't stop me from picking a few blueberries.I came down the hill, stopped at the shelter and saw some section hikers in for the day. It was only 2:15 and stopping would have left me 18 miles tomorrow to get to Monson. Like a good thru hiker I set off in the rain and mud to get further. Early on when we hiked in the rain we used the mantra, "No rain, no Maine". Now that I'm in Maine I'm probably just a moron bound to catch a cold.To say the trail was muddy would be an understatement. After a while you give up finding crazy ways through bogs and just muscle through it. There were also two rivers to ford and another one that is knee deep that I'll have to ford first thing tomorrow. My feet, shoes, and socks are not in good shape. No reason to take them off to cross rivers when they're already soaked though.The original plan was to go to the next shelter which would have been 22 miles for the day and 9 miles from Monson. When I got around the 17 mile mark I could feel my feet going South from being wet so long. I found a campsite right next to the river and threw my tent up in the rain. It's been a tough day. I'm actually writing this in hopes that the rain will slow up and I can cook dinner. No luck yet.So, tomorrow I get to Monson. It's my last town stop and resupply. On Thursday I'll walk straight into the 100 mile wilderness. When I emerge on the other side it will be 15.4 miles to the summit of Katahdin. I have to say, I'm ready to be done. This has been such an amazing experience but I am so tired and beat up right now. It seems as if most of the NOBOs are feeling the same way. Summit day is looking to be the 19th or 20th.
Date: 2015-08-13
From: Monson, ME

To: Long Pond Stream
Miles today: 14.6

Trudge and I stayed up talking about the trail until way too late last night. The catch is, Trudge is so old he gets up at 5:45. And yes, I've made sure he knew how old I thought he was. He's alright though, I guess.I rolled around until it was 7:00 AM and time for breakfast. Poet was slinging eggs made-to-order, home fries, bacon, and all the blueberry pancakes you could handle. Seriously, go to Shaw's if you're on the trail. I had a great time there.I resupplied this morning and Poet drove me to the trail after some solid reasons as to why I should zero. The trail calls now, more than ever, and I need to be on it. Leaving Monson was tougher than I expected though. I had only planned a touch over 15 miles so I didn't get back to the trail until a little before 10:00.The trailhead lead straight into the 100 Mile Wilderness and I was immediately greeted with the ominous sign. For much of the trail my resupplies were well over 100 mile stretches so it didn't bother me much. What I was worried about was a trail covered in wet slate. It didn't take long before I was on my butt again. Oh well.I had sort of dreaded the trail today for a while. No big ups or downs but instead the elevation profile looked like a heart monitor. Those quick ups and downs wear my legs out faster than any huge climb. Throw in three rivers I had to ford and the miles slow considerably.Still though, by 5:00 PM I was about 14 miles in and came to an old dirt road. The sign on the other side said "Trail Magic". I was a little shocked when I saw it but when a random sign in the forest tells you to walk an eighth of a mile down an unmarked road what option do you have? A few minutes later I came to a rustic shack of sorts and talked to a guy named Scout through his side window as he washed dishes. Scout pointed me to the porch and a cooler of beer. He came outside and we chatted for a bit and then came the question every hiker wants to hear, "Want me to grill you a couple cheeseburgers?". Yes.I grabbed a second beer and some SOBOs started showing up. A few minutes later Scout's friend, Birdman, showed up as I finished my second burger. He handed me a hot dog and an ear of corn after he took over the grill. Who needs a food bag? On trail there are no strangers. It's another thing I'll miss.I talked to Birdman about the shelter I was headed to and he noted a lack of decent camping. He told me about a few good spots before the shelter so I grabbed one next to a really loud stream. Time to sleep like a baby with nature's white noise. I'm only a half mile short of where I had originally planned so no big deal.Tomorrow I head straight up Barren Mountain and over to Chairback Mountain. Tomorrow and Saturday will be my two toughest days here. I should be able to cruise to the end after coming down White Cap on Saturday.
Date: 2015-08-14
From: Long Pond Stream

To: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 21.3

I woke up around 5:30 this morning after an amazing night of sleep. It was so cold next to the stream that it took a while to convince myself to get up. At 6:00 I had breakfast and was out of my tent by 6:30. First thing I saw? Trudge. Apparently they (Trudge, Silverback, Just Pete, and Wildman Bill) forded the stream after dark and camped right there. He said they needed to get 21 miles today to set themselves up to retrieve a food drop on Saturday. Reluctantly, I agreed to go along. Trudge and I left my campsite by 6:50.We climbed Barren Mountain first thing, then Fourth Mountain, then Mt Three and a Half, then Chairback. And yes, the number names for mountains seem weird to me too. After all the ups and downs I was pretty toast and still had ten miles to go.Five miles later we were at, what I believe to be, our last river ford. It was a little before 5:00 PM and I needed some food. While I was eating a snack beside the river a young guy came over really excited to talk about hiking. I was more in the mood to lay in the river and contemplate my life but the pack of peanut butter crackers he handed me helped fix my attitude. I finished the remaining 5.6 miles to the shelter a little after 7:00. I'm completely beat and would never have done those miles over that terrain if it weren't so close to the end. Still though, 9 more tough miles up and over Gulf Hagas and White Cap tomorrow then it should be time to cruise to Baxter. Unfortunately it's a pretty bland day since we hiked for so long. We haven't seen the other three guys. Trudge is worried because he doesn't know exactly where the food drop will be. I'm not worried because I carried all of my food from Monson. It's fun teasing him about it.
Date: 2015-08-15
From: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 26.8

The other three guys showed up at 10:00 PM last night. I couldn't believe it. They were up and moving around 5:15 AM so I rolled around reluctantly till 5:45. I left the shelter with Trudge at 6:30.The first 6 miles of the day included summiting four peaks in a row ending with White Cap Mountain, our last time above 3000 feet until Katahdin. For some reason I was feeling good with very little sleep and was on top of White Cap by 9:15. I took a couple of pictures and headed down the other side of the mountain. Almost a mile down and I came to a viewpoint with Katahdin in the distance. Yikes.I stopped a couple shelters later and Trudge caught up when I was eating. It was only 12:45 when I left and we were less than five miles from his food drop point. Unfortunately the time to meet was 5:30 so he had to play the waiting game.I, on the other hand, started scheming a way to take advantage of the upcoming terrain. I had a 700 foot climb in the way but for some reason 16 more miles sounded manageable. I left the shelter with Trudge but ditched him as I was looking to get some speed. The only thing that slowed me down was seeing Boda on the other side of the climb.I hadn't seen Boda since my fourth day on the trail. Apparently she got to Northern Pennsylvania and had to flip up to Katahdin and go South to beat the cold weather. It was crazy catching up and I was excited she was still on trail.After that the trail flattened out and it was time to cruise. I have a general rule that I don't do more than eight miles after four. At 3:50 I got to the shelter and was 7.9 away from the campsite. As tired as my legs were from the morning I decided to eat a granola bar and keep going.As I walked I thought the miles were going slow. I just didn't seem to be hitting any of the landmarks right. Around 7:00 PM I gave up and started looking for campsites. I hadn't seen two things in my guide saying I was within two miles so it was time to give up. I kept going for about 15 minutes and found the best site imaginable. I looked up and saw a sign saying I had, in fact, made it to my goal. Apparently AWOLs guide is wrong. So, if you're behind me and reading this just know that the entries at 2135.7 and 2136.1 are wrong. I think the entry at 2134.6 is also actually further than it says.So, that's it. Huge day. A new record for my hike and it leaves me 51.8 miles till the end. I'm kicking around trying to summit on Tuesday. I'll know for sure after tomorrow. I'll have to average 23.3 the next two days to do it. We'll see. I'll be there by Wednesday for sure.
Date: 2015-08-16
From: Antlers Campsite

To: Rainbow Lake Campsite
Miles today: 25.5

My tent was on a peninsula of Jo-Mary Lake last night. I woke up around 5:30 AM to the sunrise. I was pretty pumped about it after so many nights deep in a valley. I sat watching with the rain fly open until 6:00 and decided I better get moving. I was walking by 6:45.The trail followed the lake for a while then headed up over a ridge and down to the shelter. I passed by knowing I could sit by the water half a mile up the trail and stare at Katahdin. It was a good second breakfast out on the rocks.The trail was pretty fast all morning and I was over 13 miles by noon. I made the climb up Nesuntabunt Mountain and sat at the overlook staring at Katahdin and catching up with Mrs. Rock Boat. After my phone lost the tower a second time I made some lunch and headed down the hill.I had dreams of a 30 mile day today but the terrain after the mountain shut that down. Just tons of rocks, roots, and bogs. I got to the shelter about 4 miles before the campsite and asked a grumpy guy how the trail ahead of me was. He said it was roots and bogs then went back to what he was doing. I think someone was having a tough day.I headed out and found all the mud. But, to my surprise the second half of the 4 miles was fast and smooth. I made it here about 6:30 to find a bunch of other NOBOs. I hadn't seen any since I left Trudge yesterday.So, here's the story. I currently sit 10.9 miles from the Golden Rd. That marks the end of the 100 Mile Wilderness. Right after that is Abol Bridge with a store and restaurant. I can't wait for some real food. The Birches (where thru hikers stay in Baxter State Park before summiting Katahdin) is 10.2 miles past the road. That leaves me 21.1 miles tomorrow then 5.2 up to the top on Tuesday. The only question is a spot in The Birches. If I don't get one I'll have to wait another day. I don't think it will be a problem though.So that's it. Because of two huge days in a row I just might finish a day early. 21.1 tomorrow actually sounds pretty nice. Oh, and a seaplane landed on the lake right outside my tent as I was typing. Not a bad day.
Date: 2015-08-17
From: Rainbow Lake Campsite

To: The Birches
Miles today: 21.1

The loons were on a mission last night. I heard them all night long and hardly slept a wink until sometime around 2:00 AM. When I woke up to the sun at 5:30 I knew there was food and Gatorade a mere 11 miles away. I packed up and headed out at 6:00. It was my last night in the tent.The trail was mostly a blur since I had food on the brain. I took a few minutes at Rainbow Ledges to gawk at Katahdin and post an update on Facebook. I hit the Golden Road at 10:30. No more 100 Mile Wilderness. I crossed Abol Bridge and just happened to look to my left (we stare at our feet a lot). It was a picture perfect moment of Katahdin. Still though, that feeling of it being real, I still hadn't had it.I sat out with everyone at the camp store until about 11:30 then decided to finish the ten miles to the campsite. It hasn't been very hot this whole trip but those ten miles were tough because of it. Not to mention my shoes are pretty done and my feet ache about 15 miles in everyday.I got about 4 miles away and hit some more travelled trail, filled with folks taking day hikes to waterfalls. At one point two ladies ask if I'm a thru hiker and we chat for a few. Right after that I go by a man and woman who step aside to let me pass. As I walk by the woman looks me right in the eye and simply says, "Congratulations".Right then everything sank in. I said thank you, rounded the corner and lost it. Everyday here is work. I wake up and walk from dawn to dusk every single day. At some point I lost sight of the big picture. All I wanted is this. I had forgotten the feelings I had as I planned and started. But I'm here. I can't believe it but I'm here. That chubby guy from Amicalola walked to Maine. With all the miles and mountains to walk I never let myself remember how great this whole thing is. I just walked. Tomorrow it all ends. I'm ready. I've thought so many times about what it will be like to finish. Tomorrow I find out. Thank you all again for the inspiration and love. I can't say it enough. 4162 feet and 5.2 miles to go. I'm the 276th Northbounder to summit this year.