morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-08-26
From: Full Goose shelter

To: Speck Pond shelter
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: scattered clouds

We had a full shelter last night; all northbounders staging for the famous Mahoosuc Notch. After breakfast, I was the second one out of the shelter, and the second to reach the notch. The weather was overcast but not raining, however, the rocks and roots were still wet from yesterdays rain. The Mahoosuc Notch is one mile of, essentially huge boulders you have to climb over, under, and around. It is considered the longest mile on the trail because of the amount of time it takes to go through. I collapsed my hiking poles and strapped them to my pack so I could use my hands to help negotiate through the notch. There were several times I had to stop and consider how I was going to get up, over, under or around some of the sections. I took a pretty good fall on one occasion; a fall, not a slip. Fortunately, I suffered no more than a cut elbow; the same one I cut in New Jersey. It really could have been much worse. There was one section where you had to crawl about 10 feet under a rock to emerge on the other side. I actually enjoyed the whole challenge! I would have enjoyed it much more had the rocks and roots been dry and not so slippery. After completing the notch, I had a steep climb up the Mahoosuc Arm, which seemed no different that climbing up any other mountain. I'm not sure of the.difference between a mountain and an arm. Anyway, once I reached Speck Pond and the Shelter, I decided to call it a day. I would have had to go another 6.9 miles to the next shelter, and I really didn't think I had it in me. I set out some of my clothes to dry and have been joined in the shelter by a section hiker, a southbounder, and northbounders Rabid and Safari. The forecast for the next 5 days is full sun, so hopefully I can do more respectful mileage in the coming days.
Date: 2010-08-27
From: Speck Pond shelter

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 14.9

It got cold in the shelter last night but I slept great. There were 5 of us in the shelter, including one who snores on a regular basis. Before turning in for the night, I put my earplugs in and wrapped my neck garter over my head and ears. I heard some snoring during the night but it was so muffled that I was able to go right back to sleep. I'll have to try that again in my next group sleeping situation. When I awoke, it was still foggy and misty. The weather was supposed to be perfect today so I was a little concerned. I packed up and headed out, straight up! It wasn't too long, though, before I submitted Old Speck Mountain. There was a .3 mile side trail to an old fire tower but I passed it up. For one thing, I've climbed more than a dozen fire towers since this hike started and for another thing, I needed to put some miles in. There were a lot of day hikers out today, I thought it must bea weekend day. Nope, it¢s Friday. By the time I descended to Grafton Notch, the sun had burned off the fog and mist and it was beautiful outside. The Notch had a paved parking lot for hikers and a swatch of grass out by the road. I sat down in the grass and had a snack while some of my gear dried out.Then it was a long climb up and over the East and West peaks of Baldpate Mountain. The peaks were above timeline and were just exposed rock. En route I had stopped in at the Baldpate Shelter, or Lean-to, as they're called in Maine. A few miles past the summit, I came to Frye Notch Lean-to, which was where I had to decide whether to stay for the night or to continue on to East B Hill Road, another 4.5 miles. It was already 4pm, and normally the decision to continue would be a no-brained. The trail in Maine, however, is more rugged and difficult, but I went ahead and decided to continue on. I thought that if I got to the road before dark, I could hitchhike the 8 miles into Andover and a shower and bed. I also need to resupply on food, since I ate my last sandwich for lunch today. I headed out and got to the road just before 7pm. I decided to try to hitchhike until 7:30pm, and find a stealth tent site if I was unsuccessful. One car went by in the whole half hour, so I found a spot near the creek and set up my tent and cooked dinner. There are three other tents nearby, and I suspect they may belong to Rabid, Safari, and Butterfly Man, all of whom were in the shelter with me last night. I walked down to say hello, but they were already in for the night, so I didn't disturb them. I'll see who they are tomorrow morning, I guess.
Date: 2010-08-28
From: East B Hill Road

To: South Arm Road
Miles today: 10.1

I didn't sleep well last night. The bubbling brook I was tented next to kept bubbling all night. I should have used my ear plugs.I got up early this morning because I wanted to get into Andover to resupply on food. I called the Pine Ellis Lodge from Wyman Mountain and made arrangements to be picked up at the next road crossing at 4pm. I actually made good time climbing Wyman and Moody Mountains, although Moody Mountain was much tougher. I stopped in at Hall Mountain Lean-to, where I had lunch. Since I had run out of bread, lunch consisted of peanut butter on my spoon. Yummy!Once I got to the top of Moody Mountain, I called the Lodge back and moved my pickup time to 2:30pm. When I got to South Arm Road, Kumquat, Rock 'n Roll, and Cowgirl were hanging out munching on snacks. There was also trail magic of sodas, candy, and beer. The sodas were already gone, and I was finished for the day, so I had a Bud!David from the Lodge picked me up right on time and it was a 9 mile drive into Andover. First, I took a long shower. The dirt of 5 trail days washed down the drain. The amount is amazing. Next, I washed my clothes and, instead of drying them, hung them on the line in the sun. After those were on the line, I headed for an early supper. I was famished so I had two entrees: a lobster roll with onion rings and cole slaw, followed by a steak quesadilla. Feeling much better now, I shopped at the country store for my next 2 1/2 day resupply. There was very little to choose from, so I guess its Ramen noodles at least one night, maybe two, depending on how many miles I make in the next few days.Weather forecast for the next several days is just like today: sunny and mild. Perfect hiking weather!
Date: 2010-08-29
From: South Arm Road

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

I took advantage of another beautiful day for hiking and knocked out some miles. Plus, I slept really well last night. Nort hbound thru hikers Rabid and Safari, northbound section hiker Butterfly Man, and flip-flopper Quarter Pounder, and I took the 7am shuttle from the hostel back to the trail. Thanks for the ride, David! A flip-flopped is a thru hiker that starts the AT in one direction, and then finishes in the opposite direction. Quarter Pounded started hiking the trail at Springer Mountain, GA, in the spring. Then in Pennsylvania, he had to get off the trail for 3 weeks due to a medical condition. Thinking he would not have enough time to hike from Pennsylvania to Mt Katadhin before the trail up the mountain is closed in mid-October, he flipped up to Maine, summited Katadin, and is now walking south to Pennsylvania. We were immediately met with a long, steep climb to the peak of Old Blue Mountain. We descended off that and then started right up the west peak of Bemis Mountain. From that point on, it was mostly downhill for the rest of the day, with several small climbs in between. It was a long day in this terrain and I finally walked into the shelter at 6:45pm. I made supper and cleaned up by the light of my headlamp, set up my sleeping bag, and called it a night. Whew!
Date: 2010-08-30
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to

To: Piazza Rock Lean-to
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

I was the next to last one out of the campsite this morning. Just one section hiker left after I did. My original plan was to do about 10 miles and go into Rangeley for a food resupply and motel room. Since it was such a beautiful day, I decided to "run with the sun". I got to the road crossing with Butterfly Man and it took us about 30 minutes to hitch a ride into Rangeley. Butterfly Man went directly to get a room at the Rangeley Inn, and I went to the grocery store. While I was in the grocery, I ran into Kutsa, whom I first met in Hot Springs and haven't seen for months. She introduced me to her husband, Montreal, who is hiking with her now. It was good to see her again, and nice to meet Montreal. I expect I will see more of her as we shoot for the finish line. As I was repackaging my groceries outside the store, a WW II veteran pulled up in his car and started asking about the trail. Eventually, he offered me a ride back to the trailhead, which I gladly accepted. Hitched a ride without even sticking out my thumb. Once back on the trail, it was a quick 1.8 mile hike to the shelter, or lean-to as they call them in Maine. Same structure, different name. I treated 3 liters of water, set up my tent, worked on my journal, glued my shoes back together again, and fixed supper. Tomorrow looks to be a day of tough climbs, so it'll be interesting to see how many miles I'm able to do.
Date: 2010-08-31
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to

To: Stealth Tent site
Miles today: 13.6

I slept well last night in my tent. I had set it up on a tent platform; a wood platform, like a deck. It was a double platform for 2 tents, but I had it to myself so I cooked my meals right on the platform too. It took me about 1 1/2 hours to cook breakfast and pack up this morning. I really wasn't sure how far I would get today. Even though my trail guide shows the elevation profiles, I have no idea of the condition of the trail treadway. It could be smooth (rarely), or jumbled with rocks, roots, or mud, or any combination of those. And, they all slow me down. Right off the bat this morning were steep climbs and descents of Saddleback Mountain, The Horn, and Saddleback Junior Mountain. After that last one, I stopped at the Poplar Ridge Lean-to for lunch. Pacer, whom I had not met previously, was there treating water. I treated water, too, and had lunch of 2 peanut butter sandwiches, some licorice, a grapefruit (very tasty), and a couple cookies. It was another 8 miles to the next lean-to, which I didn't think I had in me, and I wasn't sure whether there would be enough daylight for me to reach it. I finally crossed a logging road next to a creek, so I walked about 50 yards east and found a suitable tent site. I treated 3 liters of water and fixed dinner of a Mountain House packet of beef stew. When you've walked all day, up and down mountains, everything tastes good!After dinner, I walked back down to the creek and washed off as best I could. I hope to get close to Stratton, ME, tomorrow so I can walk into town early Thursday morning. I want to keep an eye on this hurricane working its way up the Atlantic. I'm sure we'll get some rain out of it, and I'd rather sit it out in a motel room.
Date: 2010-09-02
From: ME 27, Stratton

To: Safford Notch Camp site
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I slept poorly last night, so I went ahead and got up early and did laundry. Whenever I do laundry, I walk around in my rain jacket and pants. Very becoming!Because I was at this "overflow" site, I had to wait around until 9:30am for my ride back into town. Wasted hours. Once I got back in town, I did some quick grocery shopping before getting shuttled back to the trailhead. En route we stopped at the bank so I could get more cash. I had no set destination today. I was going to let the trail dictate things today (like it does every day). More big climbs again today. I won't go over each one of them but at least I got some great views. Oh, and my nice clean hiking shirt? All smelly again. That didn't take long! I'm camped tonight at a lower elevation. There is one other couple here tonight, but they are set up about 100 yards away. There are bear warnings posted, so I went ahead and hung my food bag, cook kit, and trash bag from a tree limb. I can already hear something creeping around my tent. I still haven't spotted a moose yet! I better see one before this hike is over. Just about all the other north bounders have seen at least one so far. Also, today I passed the 2000 trail miles walked point. I've officially walked 2001.7 trail miles. I have 177.4 more to go! Can't wait!
Date: 2010-09-03
From: Safford Notch Camp site

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

A heavy rain at about 10:30pm woke me up in my tent last night. I zipped up the vestibule to keep everything dry inside. The shower lasted about 30 minutes and I didn't get a drop inside the tent. I got up at 6am again and got on the trail at about 7:30am. Right off the bat I had a fairly easy climb up Little Bigelow Mountain with some beautiful views from the top. Then it was down, down, down to East Flagstaff Road, where Now 'er Never (GA-ME 2004) left a cooler full of trail magic. I had a bottle of lemonade, an apple pastry, and a Snickers bar. Once there, however, it took me awhile to find the trail on the other side of the road. There really weren't enough blazes. I finally got on track again, only to get lost again. This one I really couldn't figure out. The trail seemed to just stop in its tracks. I finally bushwhacked to where I thought the trail would go and, sure enough, found the white blazes again. The next climb was up Roundtop Mountain, although it was not really much of a climb. The trail didn't even go over the summit. Now, that's a nice change. It looks like I may be done with all but the occasional mountain! Great news. So I got to this shelter, or lean-to, at 3:30pm. Certainly enough time to move on. However, the next shelter is a 10 mile hike and its threatening to rain. So, I'm staying put. I took a swim in what they call a pond, but anywhere else would be called a lake. Then, I took a nap. Hey, this stopping early stuff isn't so bad! There is a group of incoming freshmen from Colby College here tonight. As part of their freshman orientation, they spend three or four days in the woods. There are about eight freshmen and two upperclassmen who guide the group. This is about the sixth such group I've encountered in Maine and a nice group of kids. Eatmore showed up and set up next to me in the shelter. Then, Playboy and Rocky showed up at dusk and set up in the shelter. The thru hikers don't want to get wet from the rain tonight, although they all went for a swim in the pond, too, before preparing supper. Playboy's family owns a vacation house or camp as they call it in Maine, not too far from Caratunk, our next town. Her mom is going to pick her up at the Kennebec river crossing tomorrow, and she's invited the three of us to stay there tomorrow night. That means 14 miles before 4pm. The Kennebec River is shallow but wide, and the crossing is downstream from a dam. Fording the river is dangerous, and there's no bridge, so the Appalachian Trail Conference and the Maine Appalachian Trail Club have hired a ferryman to ferry hikers across the river in a canoe. Crossings end daily at 4pm. This'll be different!
Date: 2010-09-04
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to

To: US 201
Miles today: 14.0

It poured rain all night long and I felt sorry for the Colby students sleeping under their tarps. They must have gotten wet. It was still raining at 6am when I awoke, so I heated up some water and made a cup of coffee while I contemplated my options: walk in the rain all day and stay in a house tonight, or just take a zero day at the shelter. If I hiked, I had about 14 miles to the Kennebec River. By 8am, the rain stopped completely, and I decided to go for it. I quickly packed up and headed out. There was running and standing water everywhere. The trail was a river in spots, and it didn't take long for my socks and shoes to get completely soaked. Some of the bog logs, stacked logs to let you avoid mud pits, were actually floating and my feet submerged in the water when I stepped on them. Then I came to a couple overflowing streams that I had to ford. I took my socks and shoes off for the first one and managed to cross barefoot. The water came up to my knees. On the second one, I hopped from rock to rock without removing my socks and shoes, and managed to only submerge my left foot.I was hustling to do the 14 miles to the Kennebec River by 4pm when the canoe ferry shuts down. Eatmore caught up to me and we arrived at the river together. Dave, the ferryman, had us sign waivers, and strap on life vests before our packs went in the canoe. Then we got in, and I paddled in the bow while Dave paddled in the stern. Eatmore got to ride along on the center seat. When we got to the other side of the river, Playboy's mom, Rae, was sitting on the bank with Playboy's con hound, waiting for Playboy and Rocky. I said to her, "You must be Rae." She knew then that Playboy was on her way. Last night, Playboy had invited Eatmore and me to spend the night at their camp, or cottage, so I said to Rae, "And we're going home with you!"Shortly thereafter, Playboy and Rocky arrived among much excitement between Rae and the dog. It was nice to see. We all piled into Rae's car and headed to their camp. I was the first to shower and I walked into the kitchen where Rae offered me a cold beer. We all sat around the kitchen table talking while the others took their turn taking showers. Then Rae made dinner for all of us: a great tossed salad, bread, pasta and chicken. Yum! I really did a number on the salad. I had mentioned to Rae that I hadn't seen any moose yet, so after dinner, several of us piled into the car with Rae at the wheel to go spot moose. We saw about 5 that evening, including a calf, and three foxes. Rae could spot the moose from a distance, but I couldn't see them until she put the headlights right on them. Maybe that's why I haven't seen any in the woods! Tomorrow Eatmore and I will be back on the trail. Playboy and Rocky are going to take some time off.
Date: 2010-09-07
From: Monson

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I woke up this morning at Shaw's Lodging to the smell of coffee. I walked downstairs to get a cup, and they we just starting to prepare breakfast. For breakfast at Shaw's, they ask you for a number, one through four. Your number will be how many eggs, sausage, and French toast you want with your hash browns. After everyone is served, you can place another order. I had two of everything. My former co-worker, Jim, dropped by Shaw's right after breakfast while running some town errands and we made arrangements for him to pick me up after his errands were finished and drive me out to his "camp" just outside Monson, where I will spend the night. Once there, I got settled in and had lunch. Then we took a drive to Greenville, a nice looking town nearby. We took a brief tour of town and stopped at the grocery store so I could pick up some last minute items for my hike through the 100 mile wilderness. Later this afternoon, Jim took me out on his pontoon boat for a tour of Lake Hebron. We finished the day with a dinner of fresh Maine lobster, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit salad, finished off with homemade brownies. Yum! Tomorrow, the 100 mile wilderness. Very few roads, and even fewer services, so I've got as much food in my pack as I've ever had.
Date: 2010-09-08
From: Monson

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.1

I woke up at Jim and Sue's camp, packed up, and had more delicious fruit salad for breakfast. The best! Then, they dropped me off at the trailhead outside town and I headed into the 100 mile wilderness. Thanks, Jim and Sue, for the hot shower, cold beer, good food, and warm bed! It was an oasis on the trail. Today's hike was neither hard nor easy. What made things difficult was the rain from last night and this morning. The trail was scattered with wet, slick slate and I slipped several times but managed to stay upright. I had 3 stream crossings that were listed in my guide as fords but I managed to cross them all without getting my shoes wet or falling in. I was pretty proud of myself. I was the first to arrive at this shelter this afternoon but Kumquat, Tour Guide, Rabid, and Safari walked in along with two section hikers, so the shelter is full. Milestone of the Day: I have less than 100 miles to go to complete this hike now. Only 99.4 miles left!
Date: 2010-09-09
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-to

To: West Branch Pleasant River
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I climbed several small mountains today, but what really gave me trouble were the wet rocks and slate slabs. I slipped all day, and actually fell twice. Because of the wet, rocky, rooty trail, my speed was way down. It was depressing. I was surprised I was able to do 15 miles. I haven't even looked at my trail guide yet to figure out how far to go tomorrow. I guess I'll do that in the morning. I hope to get an earlier start tomorrow since I was the last one out of the shelter this morning at 8am.A tough day in the wet woods today. What more can I say?
Date: 2010-09-11
From: Logan Brook Lean-to

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: few clouds

Today was the big day. Kumquat's parents were expected to have trail magic today about 6.5 miles into our hike! We all got up early, but Stix and I were the last ones out of the shelter and on the trail. Not only were the steep climbs and descents behind us, but the treadway smoothed out, so we made great time! Once we got to the road crossing with the trail magic, there was quite a crowd there, including Kumquat, Tour Guide, Rabid, Safari, Eatmore, Sleepy, Conan, and Backwards. There was easily enough food for a group three times that size. I had a lot of food - we'll just let it go at that. Some of them also began setting out their wet gear in the sun to dry. It was sunny, and everyone's spirits were high. Stix, Eatmore, Sleepy, and I left together. We knocked out a quick seven miles when Stix realized he left his rain jacket drying on Kumquat's parent¢s truck. Even Stix wasn't going to backtrack seven miles. We hoped Kumquat would find it, realize it belonged to one of us and carry it in. We made great time and made it to the campsite where everyone else had stopped for the night. We all tented out on a point in a lake, surrounded on three sides by water. It was one of the best campsites of the entire hike. The sun set on one side, and would rise tomorrow on the other side of our little peninsula. So finally, a day with good weather, great trail magic, easy trail, and a beautiful campsite. I can't help but think that people who fantasize about thru hiking the AT imagine days like today.