morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-09-13
From: Moxie Bald Lean-To

To: Shirley Blancard Road
Miles today: 11.6

Sept 13 - Four Forder Per plan left at 6:30 and arrived at Shirley-Blanchard Road at 2:20. Tomorrow we will start at this same crossing and have only 6.3 miles to Maine Highway 15 which goes to Monson.We ended up having to ford four streams today. This brings the Maine total to 9. We are getting highly skilled at changing from boots to sandals and back again. My feet are the cleanest part of my body after being washed so many times.Cooked Ramen Noodles and Summer Sausage with a little rice for lunch today. Very tasty and provided quite a bit of energy. I was first to cross at all four stream crossings today. A couple of the streams are not normally fords but they were so swollen from recent rains that we could not get across on rocks. Bald Mountain Stream and Marble Brook. The other two were expected, West and East branches of the Piscataquis River.If a bunch of Indians could watch us going down the trail I bet they would name us, "Dances with Rocks & Roots". Its actually getting to be fun, choosing how to get down the trail. I am somewhat anxious and hopeful that I can find a camera in Monson. Contacted Cannon and they said send the camera in to be examined and repaired. That will have to wait till I'm done hiking now. Noticed that the on/off switch seems to work normally when the camera is tapped on its left side. After testing this some I decided to keep the camera with me for the rest of the trip. Maybe I can make it work. Still plan to purchase a disposable camera in Monson if possible.As of tonight we have hiked 2053.3 miles and have only 120.8 to go.Well, Ms Peggy sure did a fine job with dinner. Hiker friends, Papa Bear, Up, and Down joined Palm Tree, Boonie and me for dinner in Hawk's RV. Great dinner and conversation.
Date: 2004-09-14
From: Shirley Blancard Road

To: Monson, Maine ) The Shaw's
Miles today: 6.3

Sept 14 - Shaw's in MonsonOur blessings continued when Peggy fixed us a great breakfast in the RV and then took us back to the trail. We had scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheese grits. Only a lady from the south (Georgia in this case) would fix grits. We all loved it.Got to Monson in time for lunch. Staying at Shaw's. Found a disposable camera in the store here. Picked up all mail drops and spent the PM packing and getting equipment ready for the last push.Big home-style dinner with the Shaws here last night. Lots of veggies. It was very good. We provided a Birthday cake with candles for our hiking buddy, Boonie. He was 32 yesterday. How would you like to climb mountains and hike a long long trail, trying to keep up with a 32 year old healthy outdoorsman?   Tomorrow morning we will eat breakfast at the Shaw's at 6:30 then mail packages home when the PO opens at 7:30. Due to recent leak in the bottom seam, I had to replace my 2 L hydration bag with a 1 L one and a 1 L canteen. Pack is very heavy, loaded now for the 9 day trip to Abol Bridge. Will resupply there. Probably weighs 45 pounds--heaviest ever.I am sending my cell phone home because the area from here on is too remote to use it. Neither Palm Tree or I have been able to even get a connection in this region. Signals will get even weaker.I plan to call Mary Ann tomorrow when we walk to the PO. (no phone here at Shaw's).   Communication will be blank until we summit. Plan now calls to summit Katahdin on Sept 25th. Our journey tomorrow seems like a whole new trip. Its our last time to leave town! The Lord God has given us good weather again today.
Date: 2004-09-15
From: Monson, Maine ) The Shaw's

To: Wilson Valley Lean-To
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

Sept 15 - 1st Day in the 100 Mile WildernessAte at Shaw's - great breakfast. Post Office opened at 7:30 and I was there to mail excess supplies home. Got backup disposable camera from the General Store Got all excited about offer from Big Tree to carry food supplies and deliver them to us at some prearranged mid point. This would lighten our load considerably.Upon further discussions with him, we decided to just pack all our food. All this prevented me from calling home one last time before the 100 Mile Wilderness. I also could have posted another day in the journal. There was just too much happening at the last minute. By the time you get this message, I will be done with the trail unless there is a phone at Abol Bridge.Hiked 10.4 miles leaving 104.1 to go. Forded two rivers bringing total in Maine to 11 rivers. Terrain is wild. Went thru a long area where the primary rocks were shale. Funny thing is the layers were standing with the seams straight up instead of flat. Checked the direction of glacial scaring and it always is oriented the same, exactly North-South by my compass.We are planning to do more miles than the original schedule tomorrow. Expect to catch up at least one day in the 100 Mile Wilderness. We are seeing lots of lakes but no moose or bear yet. Keep tuned.Our friend, Just-do-It, left before us this morning and was at the shelter when we got there. To our shock and surprise he started building a fire. We mentioned the smoke problem but he told us he wanted to do a little cooking. Wow! He had brought Polish sausage and buns and fixed us all a hot dog. What a treat. Surprises never cease out here.Tomorrow we will cross over the 100 mile mark. Its hard to realize but we are closing in on the end!
Date: 2004-09-16
From: Wilson Valley Lean-To

To: Cloud Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: few clouds

Sept 16 - Day 2 in the 100 Mile Wilderness, Out of Gas Something happened to me today. I lost about 25% of my normal energy after taking a short break following a stream fording. (Maine ford #12 - Long Pond Stream) This ford was across very rapid water but it did not require any more effort than the hiking we had done from 6:40 A.M. till 10:00 I probably did not have enough for breakfast and only had Ramen Noodles for dinner last night.We had wanted to extend the day to shorten the 100 Mile Wilderness trip one day. Instead we stayed with the original plan and did only 8.7 miles to Cloud Pond Lean-to. Did a lot of climbing. After lunch my strength seemed normal. We decided to keep the day at 8.7 because the additional would involve even more climbing plus my loss of strength. Also Boonie is coming down with a cold and he did not want to continue. Just-do-It is sharing the shelter with us tonight. This one is a very rugged place. Twenty feet from the Lean-to there is a big round boulder the size of a car. Jagged rocks covered with moss are on the other side and you can see the pond with mountains in the background.Hope we can hold it together just a few more days. Our packs are still very heavy because we plan to be out in the 100 Mile Wilderness a total of 9 days. My intent is to eat more now in the hard terrain and eat less later when it gets better. Stay posted to see how we make out.God is good to us. The weather is still nice. If it will just hold out a little longer. Dry trail is most appreciated.
Date: 2004-09-17
From: Cloud Pond Lean-To

To: West Branch of Pleasant River
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Sept 17 - Day 3 in 100 Mile WildernessThe day started with rain. Lasted only about 1 hour and the trail was wet at first but dried during the day. Had good weather the rest of the day; almost all of it.Camera is still working, but very erratic. Today coming down Chairback Mountain it stuck in the on position and I had to pull the battery and pack it away because I could never get it to turn off. Tonight I got it to go back to the normal position.I cooked breakfast and experienced no sinking feeling like yesterday. Will cook from now on in lieu of just soaking cereal. We did good today, hiking to and fording the West Branch of the Pleasant River (630') at the end of the day. Very tough terrain with steep climbs and descents. We did 10.3 miles today and went over Fourth Mtn (2383'), Third Mtn (2065'), Columbus Mtn (2326'), and Chairback Mtn (2219'). Pictures from mountain vistas show fall colors beginning to develop. The trail is now sprinkled with yellow popular leaves. Lots of maples have turned red and orange and the leaves are scattered everywhere. Sometimes the colored leaves get caught in the rocks of a brook giving a curious colored spot in the water. It looks very special. Will try to get a picture of one of these sites tomorrow.I am planning to eat more freely tomorrow as it will be a day filled with climbing. We plan to summit White Cap Mtn (3654'). Current elevation is about 20' above the river so this means climb 3000'. We are now about 5 days from Abol Bridge where we can resupply the last time. Hope my food holds out. I check my inventory every other day just to make sure.Tonight we are camping in a state park where year 2000 thru-hikers, have set up to provide current year thru-hikers treats and a campsite. It is not permitted to camp within two miles of the river in the AT corridor.   Sure am glad I got this tarp-tent as the mosquito problem here is enormous. Getting water this evening, I must have been bitten at least 200 times. Horrible. Tent is the only place one can escape them. I'll hate to get out in the AM. I wear shoes with gaiters to protect legs. I also wear zip-on legs to protect the knee area. My wind shirt prevents bites on upper body but the hands and head are exposed. I'll be glad to camp at higher elevation tomorrow night. Now using the next to last map of the whole AT! Tonight we have only 84.1 miles to go. By the time you read this I will be on the way home.
Date: 2004-09-18
From: West Branch of Pleasant River

To: Logan Branch Lean To
Miles today: 12.7

Sept 18 - Day 4 in the 100 Mile WildernessIt started raining about 4 AM and continued until about 8:00A.M.I broke camp ate a Cliff Bar and started hiking at 6:10. It was miserable but felt better when actually under way. Stopped on trail and cooked breakfast about 9:00. This was a real energy boost and I felt good. Boonie and Palm Tree passed me while I was eating and we agreed to make all the planned climbs and over White Cap Mtn.I checked temperature on top of White Cap Mtn and it was 46 degree F. Got to Logan Brook Lean-to about 5:00. It was cold. Shelter was full but Palm Tree had me a place. Too many people for me. Some one started burning trash and the smoke did not help. I hate camp fires. Useless.Cooked rice and chicken with olive oil and garlic. Pretty good. And I have rice left to cook yet again!Feeling well and not exhausted after a very good day. Boonie declared we had polished off the penultimate mountain above 3000', the only remaining one - Katahdin.
Date: 2004-09-19
From: Logan Branch Lean To

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: broken clouds

Sept 19 - Day 5 in the 100 Mile WildernessWell, climbing is not completely done but very little remains. We had mostly very good terrain today and made 11.7 miles in 7.5 hours with about 30 minutes for lunch. Climbed only about 500 feet to Mountain View Pond and another 500 feet to Little Boardman Mtn (2017'). After the descent, we have been following Cooper Brook on a smooth path for the last three miles. Tonight I am tenting out with Boonie about 50 yards from the Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to.Too bad my camera is dead. I am missing a lot of very nice pictures. I did manage to get a couple shots this AM but suddenly it quit on me again and there is no way I can get it to come on again.This afternoon Palm Tree, Boonie and I planned our completion of the 100 Mile Wilderness, now thinking we can finish in three more days. Tomorrow our only climb will be 400' over Potaywadjo Ridge. With similar terrain the next two days, it looks like smooth hiking to Abol Bridge. Tonight, we have 59.7 miles to summit Katahdin and 42.6 miles to next supply at Abol Bridge. We are dreaming about eating lobster after Katahdin and then getting home as fast as possible.Anxious to see how the terrain looks tomorrow. Had a very good dinner tonight. Beef Stew. Yummy. Been eating good and feeling strong. I am over my cold with virtually no stuffiness or other problems. A good hot cereal breakfast tomorrow and I'll be ready to run those miles to the Nahmakanta Stream Campsite.Wish you could hear the Cooper falls at this campsite. Extremely good sleeping!
Date: 2004-09-20
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To

To: Nahmekanta Lake, South End
Miles today: 18.9

Sept 20 - Day 6 in the 100 Mile WildernessThis trail seems to have a life of its own. Tonight we experienced a treat that is nothing short of magic.Based on our evaluation of the terrain, we decided to push on for more miles today. Left Cooper Falls at 7:00 and arrived at South end of Nahmakanta Lake at 4:15 - 18.9 miles. Coming up to the lake access road we found a box of drinks. In addition about 30 yards up a side trail we found a canopy, a picnic table, a gas grill and our old friend, Strider, who was set up to give FOOD. He cooked hot dogs, hamburgers, and roasted Corn on the cob! What a treat. Only hikers, Scarecrow, I-Need-A-Hug, Cat-Dog and Quest were there as they were just ahead of us. (Palm Tree first, me next, and Boonie following) The first four left before time to eat dinner. We set up tents at campsites in the woods nearby and went back and visited with Strider. And we ate and ate. In total I had 4 hamburgers, one hot dog and 3 roasting ears of corn. Not only that, Strider will fix us breakfast in the morning! After being out for 6 days and rationing food for two more can you imagine what hamburgers, corn, and hot dogs in the woods looked like for us? And we were welcome to eat and eat since no other hikers are coming thru tonight.   You see there is a crowd of hikers who decided to leave the trail and go to White House Landing to buy food and spend the night. As it turned out this treat is for any hikers who happened to pass up the White House Landing stay.Strider wants to get rid of the food he brought and be gone by 10:00 AM tomorrow. Did the Lord God smile on our pathway today? You bet!Palm Tree and I have Boonie also to thank for this treat. Boonie is kind of a purist and wants to make the 100 Mile Wilderness trip without taking any mid-point resupply or trail magic. He did not even accept any of Striders food. But Palm and I were going along with Boonie's complete 100 mile hike just to stay together to the end. If not for him we would have gone to the White House Landing too. We would have spent money and not been half as well fed. Crazy but sometimes it pays to accommodate to the other guy's plans. Schedule and plan mileage, yes, but Palm Tree and I gladly accepted Strider's treats and to us this does not violate our trip. Its just an unexpected gift. (One that allows us to eat much better for the rest of the journey)Its much warmer tonight, 66 degrees F.
Date: 2004-09-21
From: Nahmekanta Lake, South End

To: Rainbow Springs Campsite
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: broken clouds

Sept 21 - Day 7 in the 100 Mile WildernessAt this point the mileage to complete is almost irrelevant. Total to completion is 26.3 miles.Tonight we are tenting out at the Rainbow Spring Campsite. Its 6:40 and we are finished with dinner. Hearing drops of rain starting to fall on my tent. Just stopped to check around the edges of my tarp-tent to be sure all is set and ready for rain. It is better to be ready because it's definitely raining.We did 14.5 miles today, including a 700' climb over Nesuntabunt Mtn (1520'). Last mountain of any size before Katahdin. The path ran parallel to brooks and streams for much of this and there was a lot of up and downs of 50-100'.Anyhow the distance to Abol Bridge (Entrance to Baxter State Park) is more important to us because, just beyond this location, there is a reservation sheet that we need to sign. This reservation will allow camping where we can summit Katahdin the next day. The rangers limit this camp location to 12 thru-hikers each day. So you see it is most important that we all three get to be among the allowed 12 if we intend to summit together. From here it is 12.0 miles to the reservation sheet.Our plan is to get up at 4:00 AM tomorrow and be ready to go as soon as daylight permits. I have my breakfast ready to cook. We will break camp, rain or shine, in order to stay ahead of a large group of hikers that is reported to be behind us at Rainbow Stream Lean-to; 3.8 miles.As you may notice, this is our last night in the 100 Mile Wilderness. Abol Bridge is considered the end.What's remaining now is to get a camp site for each of us at "The Birches" Campsite, check supplies, stay at the Abol Bridge Campsite on Wednesday, sign in with rangers, camp at "Birches" on Thursday, then summit on Friday. If this can happen I will have completed the trail 6 months and 2 days.Since my digital camera will not turn on, Boonie has been taking pictures. He has lots of good shots so there is little loss. I took one picture with my disposable camera and now have 26 shots remaining. Rain has quit! Maybe it will be only a scattered shower and not a real rain. Rain makes it harder to break camp and get going. Boonie asked me today if I have been thinking of any special meal that I want to eat when I get home. Guess we all are thinking about food quite a bit. As it turns out, I have been longing for one of Mary Ann's good dinner meals. For the last several days I have been longing for rice and Lima beans, flavored with bacon the way she and her mom, Mrs. Evans, used to do before we started trying to eat so healthy. And I would like fried chicken, mustard greens, and corn bread. Most of all I just want to eat anything Mary Ann fixes, but just eat it at home.As I sign off I am hearing loons calling on Rainbow Lake.Must get to sleep as 4:00 will come early. Its now 7:15 Tuesday evening, 9/21/04 and it's hard to realize I'll be home in less than a week!
Date: 2004-09-22
From: Rainbow Springs Campsite

To: Abol Bridge Campsite
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Except for one mouse-sized hole on the left side, this tarp-tent is bug proof. In spite of the no-see-um netting I seem to be doing a lot of bug killing tonight. Anyhow, today we got the job done!About that mouse-sized hole, I will tell you later about the time I cheated in Vermont and got caught.Last night it quit raining but the wind continued to blow and dry everything out. Great. According to plan we got up at 4:00 and fixed breakfast, broke camp and was hiking in the dark by headlamps at 5:30.The terrain was not too bad - usual assortment of roots, rocks, and mud puddles. We felt pumped at the idea of getting to register and camp together and summit together. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, our plan was to get on the reservation page for "The Birches Campsite" (base camp for summiting) and to do it before any one else took up the available spaces. (Only 12 places are allowed each day). We had 11.9 miles to finish the 100 Mile Wilderness and 0.8 mile further to sign in and reserve the camping spots. At daylight Boonie raced ahead to get all our names on the list and we were hurrying to sign in for ourselves if required to do so.Palm Tree and I crossed the Abol Bridge about 11:20 and met Boonie on the road. He was able to sign us all in and we are first on the list for camping Thursday night. Tonight we are staying at the private Abol Bridge Campsite near the Abol Bridge General Store.It,s rest and relaxation, showers, napping, resupply, cookng, eating, and congratulations about being done with the 100 Mile Wilderness. We have now done essentially all of the trail. It's only 15.1 miles to the top of Katahdin. Tomorrow night the climb will be all that's left, about 5.2 miles. We all were able to call home and report our position. Its all over except the "end game". We have to move up to the base camp tomorrow, then climb Katahdin the next day (Friday).We all ate a lot this afternoon. Guess tomorrow night will be our last time to camp out on the trail. That's a good thing.
Date: 2004-09-23
From: Abol Bridge Campsite

To: The Birches Campsite
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: clear sky

Its now 7:39 PM and we are all tented out at "The Birches Campsite". Today was the last day on the trail - kind of hard to realize that it's true. Some express sadness at finishing, some joy. My reaction is satisfaction and eagerness to go home. There is so much to do. And I feel charged with energy and resolve to do whatever comes. Yes for me it's satisfaction.'We had quite a bit of activity here this afternoon and evening. Only 8 people are here. Four are planning to night hike, starting at 2:30 AM in order to see the sunrise from the peak of Katahdin. They are Spice Man, Lorax, Party Girl, and Joker. Crash Bang's parents brought him food and stayed for a visit. Hawk and wife Peggy dropped by and brought cookies, candy, and drinks for everyone. Jabawalky and Yippy came by after summiting today. Both of their parents were here also. Several pictures were taken and the atmosphere was one of celebration and congratulations to all - those who finished today and those who will finish tomorrow.Just before dinner, I got out the penny whistle and played a few tunes. Everyone seemed to enjoy my little concert. (Tomorrow I expect to play the National Anthem, The Aggie War Hymn, an a couple other tunes on top of Katahdin.)We will be up at 5:00 and on the trail to the top by 6:30. It is kind of chilly this evening, but not too bad (54 degrees F); sleeping will be good.From this campsite we have 5.2 miles to the top of Katahdin (5267'). Then it's back to the Ranger Station to sign out and pick up gear that we will not take to the top. Then it's party time at the Ranger Station, (Hawk and wife, Peggy, will bring treats again!). Then we make the trip to Millinocket, call home, eat lobster, find way to the airport in Bangor, and fly home. Hard to realize that we have actually completed the whole thing. Maybe it will become a little easier to grasp after climbing that tall mountain.
Date: 2003-08-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Getting gear replaced a piece at a time and hiking til our legs hurt. We bought a vacuum sealer and have been sealing our little hearts out. The house looks like a dehydrated food warehouse. Frank AKA TongueTied found Trail Journals and we have done nothing but read journals old and new. The best site we found online, being new to the hiking community we felt almost as if we knew the people we were reading about. Can't wait to get out there and meet some new people who like to hike and enjoy the outdoor life.More later
Date: 2003-12-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The time is drawing near and we are getting excited. All the gear has been replaced with some stuff added and we have been gathering food like squirrels. Now the warehouse has boxes everywhere. It really seems weird to be getting food for 2004 in 2003.With all the holiday preparations plus getting ready for the hike we have been busy little beavers.We wish everyone a Happy Holiday and a wonderful New Year!More later
Date: 2002-12-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Happy New Year Everyone!After thinking and talking about walking the AT for a long time we have finally decided that now is the time for it.So, we've picked March of 2004 for start time and will be shooting for getting on the bus around the first of March.Wish us luck because we have to replace all our gear (older than the hills)plus get the food together.More later