morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-15
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Day 144, 12 miles, 7 am - 6:30 pm   Last night was a good one for sleeping out. What we could see of the stars was so pretty. I had weird dreams all night, though, and I kept waking up Matt.    An hour into our day we arrived at the infamous Mahoosic Notch. I really, really didn't like it. I fell into an exhausted low blood sugar tantrum, it scraped up both of us and Matt nearly broke his leg, and all in all we were in there for over 2 hours.    Other than that the day was kind of strenuous and long. Maine has the best views, and the weather had been great, but by the time we went 10 miles to Grafton Notch it was 4:45 p and I was so unbelievably tired, other worldly tired, and painful deep in my bones. The last 2 miles weren't too bad, luckily. We're sheltering out of exhaustion with Ironman and a few others.    It's finally hit me that we are in the home stretch, that every step is one toward Katahdin. So when I get tired and/or down I think about that. Matt and I have been talking alot about hiking in general, and what we want to bring from the trail back home, although Matt says that there is no line of differentiation, that they are one in the same. Matt   Today the trail almost suceeded in killing me. This morning we did the Mahoosic Notch and Arm--very rightly known as the most difficult mile on the AT. About 3/4 of the way through I slipped off a rock while stepping. I crashed right into a crevasse. Luckily my legs slipped into safe directions and my pack made me wide enough that I got stuck between the rocks instead of slipping through to certain death, certain finishitude at least. Thank God Tilly was there to help me get unwedged.    Later I was resting and feeling the pain from my now very scraped, cut, and stung legs and a leaf gently landed in my hand. It was as if the trail was patting my hand, saying, "I'm sorry that happened." The trail provides so often for me, sometimes I feel it punishes me as well. I know it's not true. I think the trail means only to help. I believe in a benevolent trail God I guess. Today was just about the most difficult of the whole, just like yesterday.    8 miles to Andover tomorrow. I had hoped to flyby but we need a little town time after the beatings over the past couple days. * * *Just a note for anyone who hasn't done the notch--some people really love it and have a great time through there. It just wasn't my cup of tea is all. Oddly enough most didn't like the Arm afterward, and I felt that it was no worse than anything we'd already climbed.
Date: 2009-08-16
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: East B Hill Road/Andover, ME
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 145, 8 miles, 7:15 a - 1:15 p   Hot as hell today. Who would have thought the hottest days would be in Maine? Steep up Baldplate Mt. but great views. The trail gave us a break after Frye Notch Shelter--I got cell reception for a ride to Pine Ellis, and the terrain eased up. Pretty waterfalls and streams before the road. Got into town with Ironman, we had dinner with him, too. A shower and lying in a bed after having veggie pizza hit the spot. We have the fan going in the window and it is cooling off. I really needed a break, and a bed. Back on the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2009-08-17
From: East B Hill Road/Andover, ME

To: Black Brook
Miles today: 10.1

Day 146, 10.1 miles, 9:15 am - 5 pm   Good sleep last night, I actually felt kind of restored in the morning. I also found a book to read for a few hours so that was relaxing, too.    Matt and I scarfed down 4, FOUR!, breakfasts each this morning, in the form of many orders of pancakes, eggs, homefries, toast, and coffee. It was fun.    Then it was back on the trail. The temperatures are in the mid 90's, oh man! Except for a couple of steep parts and a section of Moody Mountain that cleaved off last year, the day wasn't too horrible. A good fire, clear skies tonight, and a long conversation with Ironman tonight. We'll see how far we go tomorrow. * * *So I always thought this was funny--that people would say how much they 'slowed down' in NH and ME. I heard this sentiment so many times that finally I said to someone--'I didn't slow down at ALL! I am certainly hiking slower than ever, but I am spending just as much time hiking, if not more, than I ever have!' It's funny that a good day in that part of Maine is traveling 10 miles over 8 hours. Crazy. There will always be those who can fly over the tougher terrain but I am not one of them. Black Brook was an interestng area because it was a real brook. It was clean, for sure, but it had dark, slow moving, warm murky water. And lots of grasses growing underneath.
Date: 2009-08-18
From: Black Brook

To: Bemis Stream
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: few clouds

Day 147, 12.5 miles, 6:30 a - 4:30 p   I would like to be more mindful on this hike, especially now that we are getting toward the end, but it is proving hard. Today I walked mostly with my head down, watching my step, and it's hard to keep mindful of that. Maine terrain is mostly root, rock, mud, and water, so I need to pay attention so I don't fall. Summits are bare rock, alpine bushes, mosses, and spruce. And then you can see all the ranges in the distance. Also lately it has been really hot, over 90 degrees every day, so I'm often dizzy and headachey, so it doesn't really help you connect with your surroundings. But, I'm so happy that it's not raining--I'll take it.    So, another hard day in Maine, this time through the Bemis Range. Hazy views and buggy in the woods today. Hiking wasn't bad at all, I'm just slow. Now I'm tired. I wish we could have gone farther today but I'm beat.    Maine has been good but my mind is starting to look toward the stresses and troubles of life: jobs, bills, people, renting places and setting up utilities. I would prefer to concentrate on this state but my own end-state exhaustion, fears about 'afterward,' and my own contradictory/conflictive desire to see this hike done all lead to severe mental distraction.    Camp tonight has been great. We took a long break in the middle of the stream on some rocks, then I went upstream behind some deadfall and took a splash out of sight. Now I'm in the tent, early, I'll be reading and then asleep soon. Ironman has a fire going but I am simply to tired to even sit near a fire and chat.    I hope we make good time to Rangeley tomorrow but I doubt it. * * *We really town hopped across Maine. When once we were out for over a week at a time, in Maine we were staying in town every few days. It was fun. I like the towns as much as the trail. It was a bit ridiculous, though, I think two of our townstops were like 48 hours apart. I think that was from Rangeley to Stratton.
Date: 2009-08-19
From: Bemis Stream

To: ME 4/Rangeley, ME
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 148, 13.9, 6:30 am - 3 pm   Another warm, sunny day. The trail gave us a break today and we made good time. We took a break near Sabbath Pond and it was beautiful and breezy. It reminded me of the arrowhead in Minnesota with its low lying hills in the background. Then, later, at Swift River Pond, there was a cold spring that I could have drank from all day, and a canoe to take out on the water. Damn thruhiking it always calls.    ME 4 was completely torn out and under construction and we wondered how exactily we were going to hitch. Lucky for us, there was an older gentleman in the parking lot, sitting on the bumper of his wagon, seemingly waiting just for us. He offered us a ride into town, on the condition that we would have a snickers bar, soda, and an apple with him first. It turns out that his name is Ed, he is heavily involved in the MATC. He gave us a ride and tour of Rangeley, and he proudly said of MATC--"We don't charge for our campsites." You just meet the greatest people in town.    We ended up getting a room in town for a few reasons. One, because we have a lot of chores and errands to do, and I wanted to be centrally located. Two, we are hiking around some obnoxious people that I really don't like, and I don't want to be hosteling with them. Three, and most important, this place has a pool to swim in. All the reasons in the world to get my own room! I did laundry down the hill while Matt got cleaned up, and then when I came back I went swimming and took a shower while Matt was out for provisions. Life has everything today.
Date: 2009-08-20
From: ME 4/Rangeley, ME

To: Reddington Campsite
Miles today: 8.1

Day 149, 8.1 miles, 2 - 7 pm   We changed things up a bit today because we did our resupply this morning instead of last night. We also sent some things up to Monson.    What a gorgeous day! I was very excited to be getting back out today. After a long lunch at the Red Onion--veggie pizza, french fries, apple crisp, and iced tea--we got another easy hitch back to the trail from a guy with a work van and a long haired daschund. The daschund wasn't so sure of me at first, but I ignored him and sure enough he came over for attention.    Saddleback was pretty cool, not too bad a climb up, and great views. Rangeley Lake looked to be made of liquid silver in the cloudy evening light. We saw no one else on the trail today, and the evening felt peaceful. Good hike.    Until we got to the north side of the Horn. Oh man that slowed me down tremendously and at times I felt like I was back in the Mahoosic Notch. Nothing comes easy!    Reddington Campsite is new in every way. In fact it is so new that the sites are far from being finished. We found a lumpy, rocky, tilty, narrow tentsite and pitched as best we could. Hopefully rain and wind stay away because the tent will definetely collapse if anything comes through. Sleeping sideways tonight.    Darkness is starting to fall early. Hot temps are still here but equinox will be here soon.
Date: 2009-08-21
From: Reddington Campsite

To: Spaulding Mountain Lean To
Miles today: 10.6

Day 150, 10.6 miles, 6:30 am - 2:30 pm   Overcast and foggy all day. Rain is coming again, this time in form of a tropical storm, but we were lucky today. Saddleback Jr. wasn't bad at all, and Orebeton Stream was very pretty. It was set in a rocky gorge, and the trail followed a waterfall with many pools for a mile or so. That was the best part.    The top of Lone Mountain was spooky, filled with lichen covered dead trees ensconsed in fog. We got to this shelter early and called it a day. I didn't get any sleep on last night's tent site, and I napped for awhile this afternoon. A couple thrus stopped in here and we chatted with each of them. Now it's thundering, lightening, and raining, and so far it's just us in the shelter. A section hiker is here but he wants to tent as he is only out for a few days.    Maine has been a real mixed bag. It has great views, silence, and wilderness, but it's tough, exhausting, and more than 1/2 the time you are picking your way over 12"-36" deep mud that has a green film over it. It looks like diarrhea. Sometimes I swirl my poles around in it for emphasis. "Ew, DIARRHEA," I say to Matt, and it makes this gross sucking-squooshing noise.
Date: 2009-08-22
From: Spaulding Mountain Lean To

To: ME 27/Stratton, ME
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: light rain

Day 151, 9.5 miles via Caribou Valley Road, 7 am - 1 pm   Today is a good day. We had the shelter to ourselves, for one, which is always nice. The rain tapered off overnight, for another. We were just left with the drippy, foggy aftermath in the lichen draped/moss covered forest.    I really loved today's hike for some reason. Except for the descent to the Carrabasset River, it was not difficult--by Maine standards. And, except for a few squalls the rain mostly stayed away. Fall is coming, despite warm temps and high humidity. The birches are starting to turn, and so are the edges of the maple trees. Good views from the open sides of the ridge today. I don't know. Some days have a good feeling and this is one of them. I felt the way I did when I was 8 years old and it was Saturday morning, and I could watch cartoons (WHO WHO got rid of Saturday morning cartoons!?! Maybe it's because of cable? I digress) until noon and then play outside with my friend Beth all afternoon. Happy and free to do what I want.    After we forded the river, we looked up at the Crockers, and saw that they were topped with a dark fog. So we decided to take the gravel road out to ME 27. It was so much fun. The road was lined with goldenrod, Queen Anne's lace, clover, and Indian paintbrush. It was nice to walk and look around, instead of sweating up a mountain in the fog. We talked to a few out for the day, ATVing/biking/hiking etc. I was very happy.    Another easy hitch into town. It's almost become second nature now, I don't even think about it. It's hard to remember that in most places most people wouldn't give you a ride if your car was on fire behind you and you were carrying a baby. Anyway, now we're here in Stratton, most likely taking our last zero tomorrow. We're doing laundry now and after we'll go for dinner.    Today any anxiety I had about Katahdin and the rest of Maine slipped away. I feel so at home and happy to be out right now. I hope we have more good days coming up.
Date: 2009-08-23
From: ME 27/Stratton, ME

To: ME 27/Stratton, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 152, Zero Day Stratton, ME   What a great townstop this is turning out to be. We had a great dinnner last night, fish & chips with a Newcastle, and a good room, which we're staying in again tonight.    Although I must admit that resupply is turning into a drag. I am so sick of everything that we eat. I am grateful for Lipton Veggie Sides but at this point I can barely get them down. Granola bars are also increasingly hard to even look at. Ugh. The store here is town is fine for supply, though, and close by, so everything went quick.    We needed one last day to rest and relax before starting the last leg of our trip. It doesn't hurt either that it's raining and we are sitting this storm out! Now it is past 4 pm, I'm done with my book, and soon we'll go get dinner again. Quotes from this year--"Hey, are you all Mennonites?" "No." Long pause. "We work at a theme restaurant." Levi, a section hiker, who professes to be attracted to women who wear clothing in the German Baptist/Amish/Mennonite fashion. This conversation took place in Gatlinburg. "You don't want to miss the view on a side trail coming up. It's only 0.1 mile off the trail." "Hey, man, I'm just trying to get out of here." Josey, hiking through a typical shitty day at 5'000 feet in the Smokies, accosted by well meaning section hikers. That's how I felt alot, too. "Freehold, NJ--Where even the bears hang their food, to keep other bears from stealing it." Signed in a register from Tinman and Stretch, who, in every register, had some nonsensical "fact" about their hometown of Freehold, NJ. "So what college are you guys from?" "A small one in Massachusetts." "Which one?" "Harvard." This from a group of lost backpackers, who somehow became so before they set foot on the trail.
Date: 2009-08-24
From: ME 27/Stratton, ME

To: Horn's Pond Lean To 
Miles today: 5.2

Day 153, 5.2 miles, 11:30 am - 3 pm   What a good 'vacation' from the trail this has turned out to be. I happily hung out in our room all afternoon, and then we had a delicious dinner of lemon trout, squash, red potatoes with herbs, and a Carrabassett Pale Ale. And strawberry shortcake for dessert. It was the best meal I've had in months. It is so good to eat real food, piping hot real food.    I slept great, and when I awoke it was still raining, but it soon blew out. We went for breakfast at the diner, where we found Ironman, and we sat and ate with him.    We decided to do only the 5 miles out to this shelter, so we weren't back on the road hitching until after 11 am. It's not that I didn't want to leave, exactily, it's just that I didn't really feel like hiking today.    Easily enough though we were back on the trail, on a nice day, if still hot and humid. Flat footpath through Cranberry Stream. I looked around into the low elevation woods, and at blue and grey skies, and I felt a resonance in the trail, and the first twinge of sadness that this trip is winding down and will soon be over.    I had a great hike today. I walked slow as hell, looking at beaver bogs and big mossy boulders, and later, views of Horn's Pond and the Bigelows. I love hiking slow, I enjoy myself tons more.    Before laying down for the night in the shelter, Matt and I went down to the pond. It has clear water, lily pads, and a glittery, wind-skimmed surface. The whole thing is surrounded by rockface. The more I'm in Maine the more I like it.
Date: 2009-08-25
From: Horn's Pond Lean To 

To: Little Bigelow Lean To 
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: broken clouds

Day 154, 10.2 miles, 7 am - 4:30 pm   We went down to the pond again this morning and it was so silent and still that all you could hear was the papery sound of dragonfiles flapping their wings. Then we had the best day ever on the trail. A warm summer day with fantastic views and good trail and good company. Maine is best taken slowly. We took a lot of breaks and slowly made our way through the Bigelow Range. We got to the shelter early and I took a splash in the cold stream here. Ironman and Carpenter have started a fire. We are sleeping out again and it should be great. There are lots of ravens here. I am starting to look forward to hiking the OHMW again. Today we hiked 2,000 miles and over 90% of the trail.
Date: 2009-08-26
From: Little Bigelow Lean To 

To: Pierce Pond Lean To 
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 155, 17.3 miles, 7:30 am - 4:45 pm   Another great day on the trail, this time down in the woods near the ponds. Temperatures are dropping, fall is coming, putting me in a good mood. Today I could actually walk and look around. If everyday was like this I'd never get off. The pond tonight is breezy and dark blue, the sun is setting over it, and there are evergreens and low lying hills in the background. I'm pretty content.    Unfortunately I am in much pain because I haven't been able to take advil for a few days. I had a rally bad stomachache for a few days in a row, so bad I was doubling over with pain. Matt was convinced that I had giardia because I drank out of a more or less stagnant spring last week w/out treating the water first. I stopped the advil yesterday, and at least my stomach feels better. Hopefully Monson has tylenol, I feel pretty bad. But otherwise good.
Date: 2009-08-27
From: Pierce Pond Lean To 

To: Bald Mountain Brook
Miles today: 18.5

Day 156, 18.5 miles, 8 am - 6:45 pm   Another day that dawns cool and clear. We got ready quickly and headed over to Harrisons' cabbins for breakfast, which we signed up for last night. It was pretty good, we had a stack of pancakes, eggs, and coffee. Then we got to business.    1st order--3 miles of riverwalking through gorgeous woods to the Kennebec River where we caught the ferry across. The river guide was a very nice Mainer who was wearing a neat hat. I am really starting to like being on the water! So that was fun.    2nd order--easy hiking to Pleasant Pond shelter for lunch. Except by 1 pm I was starving and hadn't seen Matt for over an hour. Long story short, we inadvertantly passed each other, got mixed up, lost an hour, and didn't really get to take a break today. But onto...   3rd order--Climb Pleasant Mountain. A fun climb with a rocky summit and lake views. Then the bumpy descent. This section of Maine I think is my favorite. Pretty woods, good path, rivers and ponds, and one mountain a day to climb instead of an entire range.    Anyway, we got to camp and we hustled through chores in 45 minutes. At last laying down and listening to the stream we're tented next to. PS--Our delay actually worked out okay because after 6 pm we were walking next to a bog, where we saw a moose and her calf. Soon after we heard and saw eagles flying overhead. I doubt we would have encountered that if it hadn't been dusk.
Date: 2009-08-28
From: Bald Mountain Brook

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: few clouds

Day 157, 20.9 miles, 6:45 am - 6 pm   The mountain for today was Moxie Bald Mt. Another fun climb. The mountain was alternately mossy, or lichen filled, or rocky and sprucy. The top had the usual fantastic ME views and fresh air. We took a long break up there.    Then down for the river fords. Luckily it hasn't been too rainy, so they were mostly easy, albeit slippery. We watched at least 1/2 a group of college freshman fall in the water when they were trying to cross. So, another pretty day in healthy woods next to a glittering river. I love this part of Maine.    We arrived in Monson with news of an approaching tropical storm. We sat one out in Stratton and I'm going to go ahead and duck this one, too. We are staying at the Lakeshore House because they take credit cards. We had their AYCE fish fry, took showers, did laundry, etc. This is our last hostel and our last town stop on the trail. It'll all work out. * * *That was another good day on the trail. We really broke from the groups and we hardly saw anyone on the trail all day long. I heard others say that they were bored with that part of Maine but I really liked it. I especially like the mountains in that part. It's a different mindset when you have one mountain to climb, instead of multiple K ascents every day headed at you. So that was nice. Then we got into Monson and it was quiet, the sun was setting and the day winding down. It was peaceful, a good feeling. I ran into the general store for last minute provisions, looked at their register, and though I wanted to write an entry I couldn't think of anything to say. I FELT like I should have SOMETHING to say but nothing came to mind so I didn't push it. I was just happy, content, at peace with the world. Some who hike the trail have some sort of transforming experience where they look at their lives and the world in a new way. I really didn't. I'm basically the same person. I am not so young that I am finding what I want, and I've never gotten caught up on the wrong track. I guess being transformed by something or having a life changing experience would be nice, though. Although I think that maybe that is just an American cultural idea that others peoples don't share. The idea that you can become new, and cleansed, and leave the past behind. But at the end of the day you're still you, and it was all there to begin with, right?
Date: 2009-08-29
From: Monson, ME

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

Day 158, Zero Day Monson, ME   I slept like crap last night. Never, ever eat a huge greasy dinner with beer at 8 o'clock when you're used to having a cup of rice at 6.    Anyway, I was up at 5:30 a looking at jobs online. I found jobs in Augusta (ME) and Duluth (MN) both at Humane Societies, so at least there are interesting things out there.    Rain today as forecasted, at least an inch of it. We walked over to Shaw's for breakfast this morning in our rain gear and gorged ourselved on pancakes, eggs, potatoes, and coffee. Oddly enough it wasn't too strange being back there, probably because I didn't eat breakfast there last time.    Today is also the day I ordered our train tickets home. That was weird. I can't believe that we're on the last section, and that we will be back in Indiana in 2 weeks.    It is only noon but I feel like I've been up forever. I've been awake for so long already. I hope it will be quiet enough in here to take a nap.