morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-09-21
From: East B Hill Road

To: South Arm Road
Miles today: 0.0

South Arm,    We got a late start today. On the way to the trail we saw a moose on the side of the road, it was a baby bull moose.   Hopper met us at the Surplus Pond. I took her to the camp on the pond. I explained to her that the land is owned by paper companies and is leased. The lease is running out and it is getting turned over to the MATC. I explained that the MATC is going to take it down. I tried to talk the MATC into maintaining it and possibly using it for letting the maintainers us it in recognition for the trail maintenance they do. The MATC has nothing for there members or maintainers to us like some of the other Appalachian Trail clubs do.   Right after we headed up the trail from Surplus Pond Rocket told me she had another apifimy and she was not hiking any more after today.   When I got to the section of the trail that I maintain, I was totally embarrassed. No one has done anything to my section of the trail since I did maintenance to it last year. There a lot of trees down across the trail and trails going around the blow downs. My trail overseer told me that he would see to it that my section would get looked at and taken care of. I guess he forgot about it.   I ran into a southbounder that goes by the name Suicide. He started in earlier in the year but had to get off because he broke his foot and had to get off the trail until it healed.   When I got to Moody Mountain there was a trail reroute that has been worked on for a few years now. The old trail completely collapsed a few years ago and they have been continually working on the reroute. At the reroute sign at the southbound end Warren Doyle wrote a note on it saying that the MATC should put a better sign up for the relocation at north end. I don't know what Warrens problem is because there is a sign with an arrow pointing to the relocation. I don't know how much more specific a sign can be. Warren seems to have a habit of posting negative things a lot every time he writes in registers or whenever he writes something.    I got to my pickup point at 2:45 today. I made it almost an hour earlier than I expected. I was glad Hopper was there waiting rather than me having to wait for her.   The three of us went to Wal-Mart in the town of Mexico before dinner tonight to get resupplies.   The plan for tomorrow is to hike to route 17.
Date: 2010-09-22
From: South Arm Road

To: Route 17
Miles today: 0.0

ME 17,    The day started out nice and cool. It was warmer last night then it has been. It stayed cool all day today. It sprinkled for about five minutes shortly before none and that was all the rain I got today. It looked like it was threatening to rain the rest of the day but it stayed overcast.   Bismarch called me today letting me know he was at Full Goose Shelter. It was 1 pm and he wanted an opinion on whether he should continue on and go through Mahoosuc Notch or stay where he was at. I told his best bet was to go down to the begining of the Notch and take the side trail to the left and stealth camp on that side trail because there are some spots less than 50 yards down the trail. This way he could get a start on the Notch first thing in the morning and make it to Grafton Notch. They said there going to try to get in to Andover tomorrow. I told them if they do to call us so we can hook up for a little bit. I also asked if they had heard anything of Chili and Pepper and they have not heard anything for over a week. Chili and Pepper should be two or three days in front of them and we have not heard anything from the other thru hikers we have seen lately.   Two of a Kind called me and they were in Lewiston. They got a ride from Pine Ellis to the bus station. They are going to Millinocket and summiting Katahdin tomorrow and heading southbound. They were concerned about the weather and also did not want to have to hurry to finish. They said they knew they could finish before Katahdin closed but wanted to take there time.   I ran into Country Gold at the store in Andover. He is now southbound, he flipped in Delaware Water Gap. I was so happy to see him. I have been wondering about him for quite a while. He started out with very little money and has had family and friends sending him food for the whole trip. I was so happy to know he is still on the trail. I asked him if he had seen Chili and Pepper since he was southbound and came off at South Arm Road today and he has not seen them either. This leaves me wondering and a little concerned.   I hiked alone today and I will again tomorrow when Hopper drops me off at ME 17 until she picks me up at Route 4 in Rangeley.
Date: 2010-09-23
From: Route 17

To: Rangeley
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Route 4,    Today was a mild day and not a bad walk at all. I had done this hike before but had divided it up into a two day hike. Back in the day when I did this hike I was not in the hiking shape I am in now and I could probably not have done over 13 miles in the ammount of time I did it in today. I am sure after I finish this thru hike and were to try a hike like this hike today next year, I would find it overwhelming again.   When I sit back and think about what I have accomplished so far I am totally amazed. I have no idea what my reaction will be on the top on my summit day at Katahdin. I know it will be total excitement, relief, a sence of accomplishent, and to top all that off there be a big sadness. I am going to miss eveyone that I have met out here and seeing thru out my hike. I have never met such a great group of people. We all look out for each other out here and we get along like loving brothers and sisters.   While slack packing south today I ran into Ups and Sideways who I have never heard of. They said they have been following me in all the registers because I have always been in front of them.   We also ran into Crafty and Mandog. Towards the end of the I ran into Moment. He told us that Chickadee just got off trail. He also stated that she was going to meet him tomorrow and bring him a dog to hike the rest of the trail with him. The dog is a huskey that was a champion sled dog by the name of Skiddles. He said he does not like the name and may change it. He said the dog is known to run off also and he will have to leash it for a while. If I were him I would not change the dogs name if it has gotten use to that name. I also would not bring a dog on the trail that is known for running off.   Everyone we ran into today was trying to make it to Swift River Pond Campsite. The reason for this was to set them up to head into Rangeley tomorrow.
Date: 2010-09-24
From: Rangeley

To: Stratton/Eustis
Miles today: 0.0

Eustis, 0.0   We had Don from The Cabin shuttle me to Rangeley to the post office this morning. Once there I called Brad (Mainiac1957) and he came to pick us up along with Vic. We did two geocaches on the way back to Eustis so that Hopper could see how it was done. Hopper wanted to know because she was thinking about getting her nephew Conner into it.   When we got to the campground we got all set up and made lunch. After lunch Brad, Vic, Matt, Racheal, Barry, Elaine, Hopper and all went on a geocaching run. We did over 10 geocaches. There was a cache on the Maine Huts and Trail system near one of the hut. I was very impressed with the hut. It was almost identical to the hut system in the Whites. The only difference I noticed other than it being very new was that there are really no bunk rooms. They are all individual private rooms with the smallest room having a double bed with one single bed above it. I was very impressed.    After doing the caches with the group we headed back to Stratton and went to dinner at the Straton Inn. There were a bunch of other geocachers that showed up at the Inn for dinner. We ended up putting five tables together.   By the time we all got done eating and talking it was dark and we went over to Gary's (Team2Hunts) campsite for a fire. We hung out there for about an hour and a half. When I got back to our campsite I went to get ready for bed and noticed that my water bladder had somehow leaked all over my sleeping bag. It had soaked all the way through the bag. It would not have been so bad if it had not have been a down sleeping bag. I was very lucky RobT had an extra sleeping bag and down quilt. I will have to find a laundry mat if the sun does not come out to dry out my bag tomorrow.   Everyone seemed to go to bed at the same time.
Date: 2010-09-26
From: Stratton/Eustis

To: Peirce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Pierce Pond Lean-to,    We got packed up and got everything all sorted out after two zero days with my friends in the geocaching community.   We did not get as early of start as I wanted to. We ended up standing around the fire that someone got going this morning and just talking. On the way out of town we stopped at the Looney Moose resturaunt for breakfast.   We have been keeping an eye out for one hiker that started his hike two weeks before us. His name is Bull Dog. We have not met him or seen him. We have had other hikers that we know meet him or see him. Every time they have seen him it has been at road crossing or very close to road crossing with clean clothes on. The one other thing about him is that he is totally blind. I find it very strange and confusing as to how he can continuely stay in front of us. I am not passing judgement here on him. I am just thinking out loud.   We made it to Pierce Pond Lean-to tonight and the shelter was full and so were all the tent sites. We decided to get the hiker special at Harrisons Camps. This included a cabin with two beds and breakfast for $33 each. This was a deal we could not pass up. His place is by reservation only and he was almost full of fisherman but he had one cabin open.   Once we got settled in we walked to the shelter and I signed the register and talked to everyone down there. The thru hikers at the shelter were Babalu, Food Network, Frieght Train, Rock Steady, Mini Muffin, Sparrow, Tarazan, Mike, Laura.   I was surprised to run into Babalu at the shelter. I had assumed he was at least a week in front of me. He said he got a cold. I am not sure if he got off the trail for it or if it just slowed him down.   We came back to the cabin after visiting the shelter and made our dinners out of our packs. I made chicken alfredo and had a peanut butter whoopie pie for desert.   Tomorrow the plan is to make it to Pleasant Pond Lean-to and then hitch a ride to the Northern Outdoors for a warm room and a shower. Most of the hikers in to Lean-to tonight are doing a five mile day to Northern Outdoors tomorrow. Mike and Laura are getting off the trail tomorrow to head home to attend Mike's sisters wedding. They will get right back on the trail as soon as they can.   We also talked to the hikers at the shelter tonight about there summit date because we have heard a lot of hikers are shooting for the same summit date we are (10/10/10), all but Babalu were shooting for that date. It looks like there will be a large crowd of thru hikers summitting on that date. It could prove to be an interesting summit on that day.
Date: 2010-10-01
From: Monson/Pleasant St

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Monson, 0.0The forecast today calls for rain most of the day. The say 1 to 3 inches. We are going to look at the maps and see where we can slack pack through the 100 mile wilderness.It is hard to believe I will be done with this hike in 10 days. Yesterday I was ready for it to be over right then. It was very easy hiking yesterday other then it being slippery from the rain. I am just tired and the ups are getting to my knees. The downs are not to good either. Also every time I stop my knees stiffen up and it takes a few minutes of walking before they loosen up again.I went to the Monson General Store to visit Tim who is the owner and friend of mine. I saw his wife Julie when I stopped into the town office yesterday.The Barbarians came in yesterday. They are a father and son team. The son is eight years old. My phone started acting out yesterday during my hike in the rain. It stopped acting out later on so I had assumed it was fine. Today at noon it started acting out again. I played with it trying to get it working for a couple hours until I gave up. I called my phone providor to see if they could work with me and get me a loaner phone until I finished my hike. They said they could but the closest place for me to go was Bangor. I perswaded Hopper to take me to Bangor. It was a little over an hour drive from Monson. Once there it took an hour with filing the insurance claim and transfering all the data from the old phone to the loaner phone. To show my appreciation for Hopper taking me I took her to dinner on the way home. We went to the Texas Roadhouse. It was a very nice and afordable place. I will go there again sometime.We did not get back to Monson until about 8 pm. Hopper went right to bed. I had to get all my stuff together and packed up. I was heading out in the morning. This is the final leg of my journey. No more trail towns, this is the last one.Today I ran into the following people, Wondering Jew, Puck, Lasher, Tarzan, Rock Steady, Mini Muffin, H.R. Puff, Llano, Swift, Tiger Lilly, The Barbarians, Red Fox, Ron from Iserial, I.C., DosXX, Birch, Lobo, T Bone, August Rush, Thin Mint, Ziggy Stardust.
Date: 2010-10-04
From: Whitecap

To: Kokadjo - B Pond Road
Miles today: 0.0

Kokadjo - B Pond Road,    I woke up this morning acking all over. Especially my left knee and my left foot. My knee has been hurting more as of lately. I think it is from all the falls I took the day before yesterday on the wet roots, rocks and everything in general. My left foot is hurting because my planter fratulightis is coming back. I have not been wearing my inserts in my boots for about a week now. I started wearing new boots after I got into Maine. When I started wearing the boots I started getting a bad blister above my left heal. I tried taking my orthopedic inserts out and using the standard inserts that come with the boots. When I did this my blister went away. That's when I decided to stop wearing them. I may have to stick the orthopedic inserts back in now because the pain is getting pretty bad.   Did not see anyone on the trail today. Was very lonely. It gave me a lot of time to think. When hiking the trail you have nothing but time to think. If your a person that does not like isolation of being alone a lot then thru hiking will not be for you. Chances are if you do not have a hiking partner when doing your thru hike then you will spend a lot of time alone while hiking during the day. There is a very good chance if you do a northbound thru hike and start between mid march and the end of March you will always remain in a group of hikers. You may never see any of them during the day while hiking but if you end your hike at the lean-to there is a very good chance that you will have company every night.    I have enjoyed this hike in so many ways. Would I do it again? At this time I will elect to say NO. Only because I know what it takes and how much of a toll it has taken on my body. I have really enjoyed it immensely. I would not trade it for the world. I think everyone should experience this and the world might be a better place. I don't know if I would want to be away from the family members this long again. For me it has taken a toll on me with rumors, speculations, people writing inappropriate things in my online journal guest book, and other things. However I would still say it was worth it.   I have dedicated this entire hike to my nephew Richie who died by the hands of a drunk driver over a year ago. I also dedicated it to my cousin and her husband who were battling cancer, Marcia and Hurk. I would like to dedicate my summit climb up Katahdin to Jeannette McQueeney. She was my friends wife. I was the best man at there wedding and they both wanted to hike a section of the trail with me sometime after I reached New Hampshire. Jeannette unexpectedly died this fall and she will not be able to hike with me. It is a tragedy. She will be deadly missed by everyone that knew here.   I am going back to Kokadjo - B Pond Road tomorrow morning. It will be a short day for me tomorrow. I am only planning on going to Jo-Mary road which is only a 6.9 mile day.
Date: 2010-10-06
From: Jo-Mary Road

To: Nahmakanta Gravel Road
Miles today: 0.0

Nahmakanta Gravel Road,    I decided to hike south today. I had Hopper drop me off at Nahmakanta Lake at the dirt road. There were a couple of reasons for doing this. One was to get pictures of everyone that I have been around and hiking with as of lately. The other reason was to congratulate everyone and see them one last time just in case I never see them again.   We ran into Skid Mark, Weasel, Gorp, an unknown, Tunes, Tootsie Pop, Lazy, Busy, Superman, The Barbarians.   Hoppers dog Ben was chasing things in the woods that he thought he saw, no comment.We had one stream crossing at the end of the day that I was close to falling in just before I stepped onto dry land. The last thing I had to balance and walk across was a birch tree that was less eight inches around and six feet long, going from a rock to shore. I got about half way across it and the log started to roll/spin. I almost lost my balance at this point. Hopper saw all this and was vidoeing it with her camera. When it is her turn to cross I started to video her but when she got to the part where I almost fell in she looked like she was having trouble. I stopped videoing her and went to help her. I was worried for her safety. I reached out to help her across the last leap and she grabbed my hand and she pulled and so did I. She went to step on land but her foot rolled on the log and she pushed me onto shore but she was losing her balance. I helped her to re compose her balance on the rock behind me. Then she went on to blame me for the mishap. I took the blame as usual but never got a thank you for helping or caring.   We took the blue blaze at Mahar Tote Road and got to the dock on the other side of Nahmakanta Lake. We sounded the air horn as the sign directed us to. Within about 20 minutes or so Bill came over in his skift to pick us up. Once on the other side I was unloading the packs and handing them to Hopper when Ben took off chasing some ducks. He went off into the water and tried to get them.   Once on the other side he handed us our towels and escorted us to the bunk house and gave us the tour along the way. There was a wood stove in the bunk room going. I pulled out some fudge pop tarts and laid them on top of the wood stove to heat up, yum they were good. Next was hopping in the shower to get all clean to get ride of some of the hiker stink.   Lasher, Wondering Jew and 151 came in shortly after I got out of the shower. Lasher and Wondering Jew are staying tonight, 151 got some resupplies and moved on.   We all went to dinner at 5 pm and placed our orders. Us three guys each all ordered the burger and a 14 inch pizza. Hopper only had a 14 inch pizza. The rain came in while we were eating dinner. It is suppose to stop raining by morning, I am not going to hold my breath though.   Wondering Jew told me at dinner that he name was derived from the plant called the Wondering Jew. I had made the assumption that it had something to do with being jewish.   No one else came over here for the night which leaves only Lasher, Wondering Jew, and Hopper here with me tonight.
Date: 2010-10-07
From: Nahmakanta Gravel Road

To: Pollywog Stream logging rd
Miles today: 0.0

Pollywog Stream logging Rd,    We all met at the main lodge this morning for breakfast at 8 am. Scrambled eggs, bacon and a muffin were ready and waiting. It was an all you can eat breakfast but that was really the blueberry pancakes that followed. We all ate our full.   I am a history buff and I asked Linda and Bill many questions about the property and its history and the logging history. They were very happy to answer my questions and very knowledgable about it.   In a conversation about trying to get more people out here Hopper mentioned maybe putting some geocaches in the area. Linda mentioned some friends of her named Don and Valerie that geocache. That caught my attention. They said they were from Abbot. I knew right then that those were the same Don and Valerie that I knew. We talk and then she brought up the names Vic and Patty. We were both very surprised that we were both friends with the same people. We chatted for a little about this.   After breakfast we all hopped into the boat and got a ride back to the other side of the lake. Seeing that we spent the night we got the special privelage of being taken to a drop off point that kept us from doing the 0.9 mile walk back to the AT.   We ran into Rock Steady and Mini Muffin who were heading to White House Landing for lunch. We saw Lobo jumped down the trail too. I found that intertaining because when we were sitting around in the common room at Shaw's he was spooting off saying he was not going to go to White House Landing because he did not want to ruin the wilderness experience, yet he did go.   It was overcast and there were no views today. I was hoping to get a glimps of Katahdin but had no luck with that.   Today I ran into Rock Steady, Mini Muffin, Lobo, Fish (who started in PA), Big R.
Date: 2010-10-09
From: Abol Bridge

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Katahdin Stream Campground,    I started out at Abol Bridge at around 9:30. Fish was right behind me. The whole first half the hike West Branch of the Penobscot River. Fish remained behind me until I got to the lower part of the Nesowadnehunk Stream. I was looking around for a safe place to cross until Fish came along. He rock hopped across. There was one large rock gap that was to wide of a gap that scared me. I decided to take my boots off and ford. When I got ready to ford I could not find any shallow spots. I chickened out on the ford and put my boots back on and took the high water trail. When I got back on the AT it was at the upper part of the Nesowadnehunk Stream. On the other side of the stream stood Fish. He yelled over and asked how I got there. I told him I took the high water trail. He said he was pissed. He now had to cross to my side again. This crossing was worse than the one below. I moved on and ran into Fish later in the day and he told me that he had to go a long ways down stream to ford back accross again.   I took the side trail to Big Niagra Falls today and I did not regret it. The water was running good accross the falls. I was able to get a day walker (another name for day hiker) to take my picture in front of the falls. I moved on and never saw a sign for Little Niagra Falls. I took the side trail for the Toll Dam. On the way down the trail I saw my old high school buddy Rob coming up the trail. We excchanged hugs and we walked back down to what remained of the Toll Dam together. Rob is the that had his wife pass within the last month. We stood and talked for a while and he had to catch back up to his group and I needed to get to Katahdin Stream Campground.   I made it to my destination for the day and some thru hikers were just coming down from summiting. Wondering Foot, Johnny Walker, Birch, DosXX, Ups, Sideways, Gorp.   Venado was there with his mother and sister. He had turned around and headed back down at the Hunt Spur, it was to windy. It is to bad Venado had tob turn around after hiking all that distance and not complete his thru hike.   Ups and Sideways was there with a friend named Detour. This was the second time they tried to summit in the last two days only to be turned around by the wind. They will try again tommorrow for the last time.