morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-06
From: Davenport Gap

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: light rain

See Again's 2014 Appalachian Trail Journal Friday April 10, 2015 through Saturday, June 20, 2015http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=487791Again and I started our trek at Davenport Gap, the northern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). Last October, we started here and went south. Today we were hiking north. It was a lovely day. My husband dropped us off. Two women asked him if he would drop them off a few miles down the road. Off my husband went with two women we had never met. About an hour later, we came to the I40 underpass. We had been warned this was a potentially dangerous spot. There were the two women my husband shuttled! We met some hikers along the trail. The flame azaleas were in bloom. See the photos. At Snowbird Mountain, we saw a big "X" with a note "Please do not disturb - This panel will be removed after aerial photography is acquired; probably mid to late April." See photos.The bald at Snowbird Mountain has beautiful views. A tent was set up on top. Later we met two guys who belonged to the tent. We camped at Groundhog Creek Shelter. We got there late. Thundercat had built a fire. She found some maple wood to burn. She very much liked burning maple. She smoked a vape and needed to go in town to get more. She did not like that GSMNP charged a $20 permit to hike the park. In protest, she had not hiked the Great Smokies Mountains National Park. She mentioned a woman she was not fond of. She also mentioned there were only women at the shelter tonight. There was a mother/daughter pair already asleep in the shelter. This was a first for me to be with only women. Often I was the only woman in the shelter. Thundercat was quiet as she tended the fire until after midnight.
Date: 2015-06-07
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: light rain

We got a late start this morning. The mother/daughter pair left before us. We met them later waiting for a shuttle. They had received some bad news and needed to get off the trail. We saw a box turtle. See photo.    It was raining as we approached Max Patch. I needed water. So Tracy rested while I got water. We thought the rain had stopped, so we started the uphill climb. Near the top we could see many cars parked in the nearby parking lot. We were the only ones at the summit. Then the rains let loose. So that was why we had the place to ourselves. We hiked quickly. There was a thunderclap so loud I thought it might hit me. Nope. I was fine. Oh no! Did it get Again? Nope. She was hiking quickly toward me. I was relieved. The views were spectacular but we did not dare to stop until we were under cover. Some day I will come back with better weather. Later we were told of a young man who brought his girl friend to Max Patch to propose. The girl friend was struck by lightening and died. Soooo glad that was not us.   We met Sandy from PA, Pink and Stink and Cracker Jack at the shelter.See Again's 2014 Appalachian Trail Journal Friday April 10, 2015 through Saturday, June 20, 2015http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=487791
Date: 2015-08-11
From: Hurd Brook Lean To

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean To
Miles today: 19.6

I left the Lean To at dawn. I may not hike fast but I can hike long. I was planning to hike over 19 miles today so I needed an early start. Ole Man had warned us that although it was flat there were spaghetti roots.Rainbow Ledges were beautiful in the morning light and I had the place to myself. The views were nice. See the pictures. I ate a few blueberries but they were tart.The ponds were very peaceful and beautiful. They were carved out by the glaciers.Ole Man was not kidding. For the rest of the day, I do not think I stepped on dirt . I was hiking on roots or rocks or bog bridges.I did not take very many pictures today because it started to rain and did not quit. So now I was hiking even slower trying not to slip on the now wet roots and rocks.In the late afternoon, I caught up with Newt. He thought it was further to Wadleigh Stream Lean To. I said I would get there, when I get there.The rain continued. The sun set. At Nesuntabunt Mountain, I was hiking up 18" rock steps and down 18" rock steps. It occurred to me that this might not be the best idea, hiking by myself, in the dark, in the rain, down these steep steps. All it would take is one slip and I would not be found until morning.After hiking in the dark for hours, I heard rushing water and decided to stop to get water. I stopped at the next flat place to camp. I was beat. I set up my tarp; spread out my poncho/ground cloth; blew up my Thermarest and spread out my sleeping bag. I laid down only to realize my head was near a large pile of moose droppings. Oh well. I was not moving.
Date: 2015-08-12
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean To

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 13.6

I slept with ear plugs, as I usually do. In the middle of the night, through the ear plugs, I heard sniffing noises near my head. I instinctively swatted at the animal. Was it an oppossum? Fortunately I did not connect and the animal did not bite me.   When I woke up, the rain had stopped. As I was packing up, I thought I heard voices and smelled coffee but decided I was imagining things. Then a couple came strolling down the trail. I asked how close was the lean-to? They said only a few hundred yards.   Newt was at the Wadleigh Stream Lean-To. When he arrived, it was full. So he set up his tent. I met Bear Belle the Elder. I had breakfast with Newt. I hiked in wet shoes and socks. Mind you, I had dry socks. My thought was that my socks would dry faster on my feet. I later learned this was a recipe for blisters.   When I came to my first ford at Nahmakanta Stream, my shoes and socks were almost dry. I was hot from hiking and plunged into the stream, with my shoes and socks. This ensured I got blisters.My original plan was to hike 21 miles to Cooper Brook Falls Lean To but I got a late start.So I camped at Antlers Campsite. It was beautiful watching the sunset over Jo-Mary Lake. It was such a peaceful place.
Date: 2015-08-13
From: Antlers Campsite

To: East Branch Lean To
Miles today: 16.0

I woke at Antlers Campsite. It was beautiful watching the sunrise over Jo-Mary Lake from my tarp and sleeping bag. It was such a peaceful place. I did not want to leave. I mentioned this to a fellow hiker and he said he felt the same. He was going to stay another night.   I took my time leaving. Today was the day to pick up my food drop.   As I approached Jo-Mary Road, I met a fresh and clean couple. They had just been dropped off. The previous year they had thru hiked the entire trail except this small section of the 100 Mile Wilderness. There had been a miscommunication with their daughter. She moved a week earlier than planned, so they left the trail to send her and her children off to Colorado. Then they returned to do Katahdin. Now they were doing this part.   I crossed the road and had a major pity party. I was hungry. I was tired. My feet with blisters were killing me. I called my husband. He asked if I wanted to come off the trail.NOooooo I said with defeat. It wasn't what I wanted to hear. But it was what I needed to hear. I ate my breakfast and I felt a little better. A man with a group asked if I was alright. I said yes, just my feet hurt. He nodded and continued hiking. I took some Ibuprofen to deaden the pain. I took off my shoes and socks and evaluated my feet. It felt good for them to dry out a bit. I put on moleskin and dry socks. Well, if I was not getting off the trail, that meant I needed to put my shoes on and start hiking.   Almost as soon as I stood up, I met Bear Bell the Junior. She was just what I needed, company! Apparently, I was just what she needed too. She had had a bad experience on the trail in Pennsylvannia. Her mother was going to hike with her in Maine. After three days of trying to hike together, it was apparent it was not going to work. As it turns out, we were probably at the Appalachian Trail Lodge at the same time. I thanked her often that I was so glad we had met and were hiking together.   We were still hiking together when I picked up my food drop. We both put our trash in the empty bucket. We had a small feast at the drop spot. Less I would have to carry.   Bear Bell kept saying she would need to separate as her parents were expecting her a certain day in Monson. As it turned out, we spent the night at East Branch Lean-To with Spirit and Newt. A father and his two children and golden retriever camped near the shelter.
Date: 2015-08-14
From: East Branch Lean To

To: Carl A Newhall Lean-To
Miles today: 10.8

Bear Bell the Junior and I hiked most of the day together. We shared Gatorade chews on the steep climb up White Cap Mountain. Within five minutes we bothh had a spurt of energy. At the summit, we saw a snake in the bush. See the picture. Beautiful views. As we were walking down the mountain, we turned a corner. A moose was in the middle of the trail! I took a few pictures. Bear Bell waited for her cell phone to turn on and took some pictures. We waited a few minutes. The moose was still in the trail. I took a few steps closer. The moose took a few steps away. I took a few steps. The moose took a few steps. I took a few steps and the moose wandered down the trail, only for a larger moose to come out of the woods onto the trail. The back side of the moose was covered in flying insects. There was a large sore on the back left leg. Eventually, this moose moved down the trail. A small calf came out of the woods on the left. The two moose wandered into the woods. Bear Bell and I continued our hike.    The privy at Carl A. Newhall Lean-To was huge. Four people could sleep in there if needed.
Date: 2015-08-15
From: Carl A Newhall Lean-To

To: Fourth Mountain
Miles today: 14.7

Bear Bell the Junior explained that she needed to hike faster to get to Monson when her parents were expecting her. It was sad to part from her but I understood.    I sat down on the side of the trail to have breakfast, a little before the West Branch of Pleasant River. At least 15 people must have passed me, looking clean and cheerful. It occurred to me it was Saturday. So much for being in the middle of the 100 Mile Wilderness.    I forded the West Branch of Pleasant River. I met Moxie the trail runner. She said I was headed for the most difficult 15 miles of the 100 Mile Wilderness. Not exactly what I wanted to hear. I had already hiked some tough sections. I even had a pity party a few days earlier. I hiked on.   At three I came to steep long boulder field. The 30 lb pack made it more difficult. I met a few guys coming down. They were very glad they had day packs.   I reached Chairback Gap Lean-To at four in the afternoon. It was early to stop and I was feeling good. I hiked on.    Moxie was right. There were multiple 2-3 foot high steps. More than once I was following the blazes and then they seemed to end. I looked around for the next blaze, only to find it ten feet above my head. It was exhausting. I thought I would stop at Cloud Pond Lean-To. The endless climbs continued. I realized Cloud Pond Lean-To was 0.4 miles off of the trail. Moxie had mentioned this detail but I had forgotten. I needed water before I stopped. The sun was setting. I heard some voices. Two guys had found water and were setting up camp off the trail. They said it was not the best spot but they were spent. I found some water and camped at the next possible spot. Not a good spot, but I too was spent.
Date: 2015-08-16
From: Fourth Mountain

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 6.1

I woke in the not so great campsite. The trail was covered in roots and bogs. I hiked past the side trail to Cloud Pond Lean-To. By the time I got to Barren Mountain, on different days, I had fallen into bogs three times. The last time I fell in, I just gave up and thought I would just lie there. Then I started sinking deeper! I got up. I was soooo tired of bogs by the time I saw the sign "Fourth Mtn. Bog - Help preserve the rare and endangered plants in the bog."   As I walked, I wondered why it was such a big deal to be covered in mud. After a few hours, the mud dried and flaked off. When I went caving, I always was covered in mud. Maybe it was because I would not get a shower for days. Maybe it was just the loss of pride with falling.   At Barren Mountain, the hike got a little easier. I met a few guys coming up the mountain who looked like they had recently taken a shower. "Good afternoon. How are you doing?" "Okay," I answered. "Just a little dirty." "I thought that was the point." he answered. He did not understand how dirty I really was. The views from Barren Mountain were beautiful. See the pictures.It was a warm day. I was very thirsty. I arrived at Long Pond Stream Lean-To at about 4 pm. I decided to stop for the night to drink copious amounts of water. Fortunately the water was close to the shelter. I drank 5 quarts of water. A chipmunk was very curious about my quinoa. The next day I found where he had nibbled on my bag.Three men joined me in the shelter later. AH talked about how he was on a boundary maintenance project for the AT. One of the other men was a preacher. Additional men came and pitched tents between the shelter and the privy. I spent the night walking back and forth to the privy after those 5 quarts of water.
Date: 2015-08-17
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-To

To: Leeman Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 12.1

I crossed three fords today. In Shenandoah I met a man who thru hiked the year of the rain. He and his partner almost drowned fording a stream in Maine. Before I started this stretch, I was concerned. I had a short rope with a caribiner on each end. My plan was to attach one end to my belt and the other end to the cable across the stream. The rope was too short. The cables were 2-3 feet above my head and the rope was only about two feet long. The first stream I forded, I did not see the cable until after I was across. I picked a good time/year to be fording streams in Maine. It had not rained much, so the streams were only knee high. In August, the water was delightful. I usually get cold easily. Today and the day before the water was refreshing after hiking in warm temperatures.   To ford the streams, I brought neoprene diving booties. They were pretty light in weight. They had great traction. I found my balance was so much better with the great traction. The booties did not dry out well. It did slow me down to take off my shoes and socks; put on the booties; ford the stream; take off the booties; and put my socks and shoes back on.   I arrived at the Leeman Brook Lean-To as the sun was setting. I left my pack in the shelter and went down the rock wall trail to the water. By the time I was finished getting water, it was very dark. I watched a headlamp come down the trail but turnaround at the rock wall.    At the shelter was Hot Chocolate. He was slack packing and took a wrong turn. He was going to spend the night in the shelter since it was dark. He did not have food for dinner or sleeping gear. I let him use my phone to call Poet at Shaw's Lodging. I insisted he take some of my food. He slept under a space blanket, that crinkled every time he moved.
Date: 2015-08-18
From: Leeman Brook Lean-To

To: ME15 Monson ME
Miles today: 3.0

Hot Chocolate and I hiked the three miles to ME15 to Monson. Poet from Shaw's was going to pick up Hot Chocolate at 8 am. There would be breakfast waiting for us when we got to Shaw's. I had originally thought I would hike three more miles to the Historic AT to Monson but breakfast sounded wonderful. Plus I was dead tired after hiking with no nearo day for 9 days since Katahdin. From the picture, I can tell I had already lost too much weight.   Poet arrived at 8 just as he said. He was dropping off a few hikers. He was a cheery welcoming soul. He welcomed me to Shaw's and showed me around including summitting Shaw's. The building was probably built before there were building codes. The stairs to the upstairs bunk room were steep. Poet had recently remodeled one of the bathrooms.   I took a shower for the first time since 8/8 at The Appalachian Trail Lodge in Millinocket. I came downstairs and had a scrumptious breakfast of fried potatoes and sausage and orange juice. Eggs and pancakes were also on the menu. The people were discussing Scott Jarek who had recently broken Jennifer Farr Davis record. Scott violated Baxter State Park rules by having too many people in his group and spraying champagne (posted to social media) all over the summit of Katahdin. I asked if anyone else had clumps of hair fall out when they took a shower. I was asked if I combed my hair while I was on the trail. No, I had not. Apparently the average 70-100 hairs a day that normally fall out, all fell out today.   Hot Chocolate graciously did my laundry with his as thanks for his dinner the previous day. I restocked from Shaw's abundant supply room. There I met Spirit. I was surprised to see him. I thought he was long ahead of me. Spirit and Bear Bell the Junior both came to Monson the day before and were heading out the next day. Newt's grandmother was on her deathbed. Newt got off the trail to be with her.   I had steak and potatoes at the Lakeshore House for lunch and dinner. There were a few hikers that were working for food. I simply did not have the energy to work for food. The locals were complaining about how warm it was.   I rested in the bunk room of Shaw's. I met IceFire. He was a volunteer fireman, hence part of his name. His paying profession was working for a company that analyzes ice core samples from all over the world. He is the only person I have met that their trail name reflects their occupation. I chatted with him but simply could not sit up while I chatted. I was too tired.   After purchasing my resupply, I made arrangements with Poet to have a food drop at the Sterling Inn in Caratunk and at the Stratton Motel in Stratton. I took the remainder to my bunk upstairs and repacked. Mike was very curious about what I had in my pack. He needed to get his pack weight down. As it turns out, my pack weight was the same as his. IceFire was more than happy to espouse on his beliefs on lowering pack weight. I needed all my energy to repack my pack.
Date: 2015-08-19
From: ME15 Monson ME

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

At breakfast I watched Poet, his wife and worker fix breakfast for us and the other duties of being our hosts. I wanted to help, but I simply did not have the energy. Poet dropped IceFire at a spot further down the trail. Poet drove us to the spot he picked me up the morning before. An inner voice was pleading not to send me back to the trail. But there I was. My legs seemed to know what to do and hiked me into the woods. Mike from the bunk room and I hiked together. I thanked him for the encouragement I needed at just that time. We were similar age with children of similar ages. He had been section hiking the trail a few years longer than me. He lived in Conyers or Connors Georgia. His career was in the grocery industry. He said he had hired 1000's of people. He always hired the Eagle Scouts.   We met IceFire coming in the opposite direction, all in a fluster. Mike told him he was going the wrong direction. He said he was going back to Shaw's. He didn't have the stamina to hike today.   We hiked to Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To. Mike preferred not to stay at a shelter but we stayed anyways. Spirit and Bear Bell were there. Spirit in his hammock and Bear Bell in the shelter with me. In the middle of the night it started to rain. The 8-person shelter became a 10 person shelter.
Date: 2015-08-20
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To

To: Moxie Pond
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Mike suggested we meet for lunch at Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-To. Unfortunately I was starving before I got there and had lunch about an hour sooner. When I arrived at the shelter, Mike asked me what took me so long. I explained I stopped several times, for water, the facilities and lunch.   The hike up Moxie Bald was beautiful to the rocky bald. I followed the white blazes across the rocky bald. I came to a sign that said "Appalachian Trail <- S N -> ". I thought it was a stupid sign. I already knew that. I hiked up the rock following two large rock cairns to the sign that said "Appalachian Trail - Moxie Bald Mtn - Elev 2630 FT - M.A.T.C". I walked on to the next rock cairn. Then the trail seemed to end. I walked in three different directions from the Moxie Bald Mtn sign but the trail ended in all the directions. I tried all three directions again with the same results. I decided I would go back the way I had come and use the summit bypass trail. I could not figure out where the trail went from here.   I hiked down the rock from the Moxie Bald Mtn sign, to the "stupid sign". Aha! Here was the trail! I was able to get off the summit. As I was coming down, I met a grumbling northbounder. Someone had told him it was flat after the White Mountains. I did not have the heart to tell him the Bigelows were NOT flat.   I met up with Mike at Bald Mountain Brook Lean-To. Spirit and Bear Bell were there, too. It was 4 in the afternoon. Spirit and Bear Bell were going to stay for the night. Mike and I were going to push on. Bear Bell asked me for my contact information. I gave her my trailjournals business card. Bear Bell seemed worried for me or was I imagining things?   Mike and I hiked along Moxie Pond and the road. Mike stopped to get water and asked me to find a campsite. I found a campsite about a mile further. There were houses near the road. At the campsite, I could hear a chainsaw. I showed the spot to Mike and a few minutes later the chainsaw started up. I said it would stop at dark. He didn't want any trouble. He was concerned about camping so close to a house. So we hiked another mile or so and camped at a spot Mike chose. It was an old logging road intersection. Mike setup his hammock on one side and setup my tarp on the other side. I tried to call my husband, as I do most days, but I could not get service. It occurred to me that no one knew where I was. I was in the woods alone with a man I met a few days earlier.The campsite was near a bog. When the sun set, the mosquitoes found us. Mike declared it was worst campsite ever. I sprayed myself with DEET and the mosquitoes did not bother me.
Date: 2015-08-21
From: Moxie Pond

To: US 201 Caratunk ME
Miles today: 11.9

I woke in the morning thankful that nothing had happened. Mike broke camp before me. He suggested we meet for lunch at the next shelter, Pleasant Pond Lean-To. Again I was starving before I got to the shelter and stop dped for lunch. When I got to the shelter, Mike asked me what took me so long. I explained I had stopped for water, facilities and lunch. He had taken a swim in Pleasant Pond. Mike took swims in the ponds when he got a chance. All I could think about was getting cold and taking forever to warm back up.   It started to rain as I approached US 201 and hike 1.3 miles east to The Sterling Inn. Mike was on the front porch when I arrived. Just a few minutes earlier, he had asked the host to come get me. The host made a U-turn when he saw me. We stayed in the bunk room. All of the bottom bunks were taken, so we each stayed in an upper bunk. I was thankful I was able to get in and out of this upper bunk. I believe my mother at this age would not have been able to do it. The bed mattress was in a V, not flat. Spirit and Bear Bell the younger were in the bunk room with us.   The host drove me to a nearby restaurant. I had a pitcher of ice water. Three glasses later I was shivering uncontrollably. So I ordered some hot water and drank that. I had steak and potatoes. It was pouring rain when I called the host to pick me up. Why was I so timid about getting wet between the restaurant and the vehicle? I had walked for hours in the rain just a few days prior.