morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-09-24
From: Just North of Stratton

To: Little Bigelow
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Today we will try to cross all of the Bigelow Range. The first is above tree line as is the second and the day is another stunning blue day and besides that; it is actually warm. We started off in shorts and short sleeves for the first time in weeks. THe climb up steady; but not too terrible steep and every overlook was better than the lasst. The wave of red is gradually flowing higher and higher up the sides of the mountains and today we can see the Kennebec river all along the North side fo the ridge line. We sat on top and had lunch overlooking the river and then climbed 3 more peaks through the day. As we clibed atop Little Bigelow, we could look back at Avery and Bigelow and see the sun setting behind them and a cloud hanging like a ring over Avery. We tented on Little Bigelow and after dinner we sat out on the granite dome and wtched the stars and the milky way until it was too cold to stay outside any longer...I crawled into my tent to write in my bag and soon the sounds of the wind were everywhere; blowing the pine needles off the trees and down onto the tent like rain. Once again, we had a coyote serenade to send us off.
Date: 2008-09-25
From: Little Bigelow

To: Pierce Pond Shelter area
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke before dawn and looked out over the lichen covered granite. In the early morning light, it has a soft green glow and the rock looks cold. Suddenly I looked to the East and there was a small pointed mountain in the distance with clouds gathered around its base so that the peak seemed to be coming out of a lake of white angel hair and the sun was igniting the clouds to either side. I yelled for LG to grab her camera and come outside and we sat shivering and taking pictures on the cold rock until we had them all. This is sooo what this hike is all about.   As we dexcended the remainder of Little Bigelow, we dropped into a birch and maple forest with smooth rockless trail running beside a brook. Red and yellow leaves were floating in the pools of the stream and more were beginning to cover the path. Where they fell into the low fir saplings; they looked like Christmas ornaments. As if it couldn't get any better; we broke out onto the side of Flagstaff Lake and the reflections of the Autumn trees on the surrounding mountains were perfect. The photos won't do itjustice because we also heard the loons calling 100 yds away.    We made not chocolate and within 10 min; the wind picked up and the flassy reflections were gone. Everyone says there is a storm heading this way. Well; it has been good while it has lasted. Maybe we can dry out in Caratunk tomorrow.   From there we walked along a couple of very large ponds and the terrain was almosst flat so we made 15 miles today and more importantly; we have positioned ourselves well for a 7:30 lumberjack's breakfast at Harrison Camp and then the 9 am ferry across the Kennebec River to Caratunk.   It is raining now and I suppose that will continue on through the night and tomorrow. We'll plan t stay in Caratunk tomorrow and get our journals up. Then Sun we'll head out to Monson and after that; we'll begin the crossing of the 100 mile wilderness that precedes Mt. Katahdin.   I got ready to cook one of my gourmet meals and I was going t try to do it from the vestibule of my tent; but LG reminded me that the salmon aroma would entice bears; because it would linger in my tent. It was my contention that the local bears had never had salmon and wouldn't recognize it. SIGH She won so I ate my salmon in the rain while she had mac&cheese in her tent.   It rained all night long and I could hear it rise to a crescendo and then taper to the dripping water from the trees. By morning I had 2 frogs serenading me from just outside the tent. I looked out to be certain that my site had not been converted to a lake but all was well.
Date: 2008-09-26
From: Pierce Pond Shelter area

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 5.0

It did rain all night; but this am is just a light mist and we're trying to get going i order to get her packages before the post office closes. We had to pass on the lumberjack breakfast but as we walked along we began to parallel a tumbling brook with lovely waterfalls that dropped tier by tier along our path. AS we veered awa from the river, the boulders, trees, and earth became a vibrant green with thick carpets of moss covering everything and only the dark brown of the trail winding throughit. Above; the mist softened and heightened the colors of the scene at the same time. May photos later we continued down the hillside with the roar of the stream beside us and with a sudden plethora of slick rots to navigate, we began to hustle.   A bridge was build over one of the stream consisting of a 6-8" log with a 8" diameter guardrail on either side; but they were only 2 ft above the footlog so that at best, they would trap your leg as you fell to the water ensuring a broken leg and a cracked head. Who designed this??   We looked for bone piles downstream; but apparently most people make the 20' adventure so we crossed ever so carefully and successfully. As the time slipped away, we broke int a trot. now you have to be ferried across the Kennebec to caratunk so as we topped the last hill; we were looking for it. There it was...a man in green woolens with a floppy brimmed straw hat and a canoe!   His trail name was Hillbilly and he paddled us the 150 yds across the river and they were right about the current beomg strong and we had to paddle pretty hard tohit our spot on the shore. We made it to the post office with 1/2 hr t spare and saw Rocky leaving to catch Root-C. We'll stay the night and dry thngs out. Tomorrow is supposed to be rough with 2" of rain and 40 mph winds as a tropical storm moves in; but Katahdin is calling.
Date: 2008-09-27
From: Caratunk

To: Pleasant Pond
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Our day in Caratunk was OK; but we were ready to get back out on the trail and away from all the people and the noise of the lodge. The only part I'll miss will be the blueberry beer. It had a handfull of Me blueberries floating in it and it was made on site.   We know the hurricane is coming; but it looks like it may be tonight or early tomorrow so we caught the 9:00 shuttle after breakfast and beganwalking through a light rain past swollen streams carrying the muddy water down the hill with a roar. Some of the small occasional streams actually became the trail. At first, we picked our way carefully around the water; but it soon became obvious that this was going to be a very wet boot day and so we began to just wade through and walk sloshing out the other side. That would have made our progress a little faster; but the diffusion of the light on a rainy day seems to make every red and yellow leaf a photo opportunity. The lichens, the mushrooms, the spanish moss all seemed more vibrant than on a sunny day. We took shot after shot of leaves on rocks, leaves in water. I took a movie of one of the swift moving streams that involved an over the boot top crossing and then filmed LG as she forded it. She made it easily; but it really wasn't easy at all. I thought it looked like a good chance to dump the entire pack in.    I know that Frank and Evelyn are probably both watching football since this is a Sunday and if they have a fire going, then I'm doubly envious. I am looking forward to those days when this has ended; but it is so beutiful today that I'm not ready to trade what I'm doing for what they're doing.   We hiked up and over Pleasant Pond Mtn and then called Frank & Evelyn. He was watching football as predicted and Evelyn was walking the dogs. We, on the other hand; have had a steady drizzle all day and I'm starting to shiver as I talk to Evelyn. We began our descent and we're slow because the rocks on this mountain are of a different substance than previously and they are unusually slick. We can't seem to get any wetter; so we aren't bothering to rock hop the streams. Thankfully we found a campsite soon so that we could see it well. Tropical Storm Kyle is coming tonight or tomorrow so we didn't want to be in a ravine or near any dead fall trees in case the wind and rain are severe.   Tomorrow we'll go over Moxie's Bald and that will take us most of the way to Monson. We should arrive there sometime Tues and then we'll be ready for the 100 mile Wilderness. I hear a Great Horned Owl calling tonight. Good night all.
Date: 2008-09-28
From: Pleasant Pond

To: West Branch of the Piscataquis River
Miles today: 13.0

We are going up over Moxie Bald ths am and then it should be a pretty decent run into MOnson over the next day and a half. The morning was spent as usual taking one picture after another until...we arrived at Baker's Stream. This is our first real fording and from the looks of it a swim could easily follow. The stream is only 50-60' across; but after 2 days of Tropical Storm Kyle, there is a difinite roar at the crossing. Brown water surges over the tops of all the rocks so there'll be no rock hopping solution to this problem. I waded in first while LG eagerly video'ed my progress knowing that a spill here would be great film. I'm sure that after she stopped laughing that she would be most sympathetic. I MADE IT!!! Now it's her turn to wade and my turn to film. She actually made it look easy. Oh well, things would get even more interesting soon enough. We crossed the granite dome of Moxie Bald and down onto the shoulder where tiny red, yellow and orange leaves on low bushes lined the rock corridor. Once the rock was gone we hit.........MUD.Ankle deep and no where to go. It was like walking through chocolate pudding with great slurping steps. I LOVE MAINE. Why not take just of couple of these nice big trees; split'em down the middle and call it a bridge. What a concept.   Finally we're off the mtn and lunching on the shore of Bald Mtn Pond. A granite boulder sits just off shore and the gray water laps at its sides. Beyond it , the other side of the pond is alive with scarlet and green. This lunch spot is another 10 in a trek that seems to be filled with one 10 after another.   OK we left the pond and headed onward towards Monson and for miles we paralleled the Piscataquis River. Unfortunately, several of those mmiles were in a creek of our own. Slosh, Slosh, Slosh, Slip and Slide. Over the boots on and on. My feet are going to be so waterlogged; but at least it isn't a terribly cold day. I wouldn't want to do this on a 30 degree day and have things freezing to boot. Frankly my fun meter was pretty low as we slogged through the stream. Eventually we emerged and climbed above the river and the streams and now we have a nice campsite and we've actually stopped soon enough to cook in the day light...barely. I'm looking forward to another one of Allyn's fabulous salmon dinners. I'm starving and I have been all day. I've only got an inch or two on either side of my hip belt buckle so I know that I've lost a lot of my reserves. I'll try to stock up in Monson before I tackle the 100 mile wilderness.
Date: 2008-09-29
From: West Branch of the Piscataquis River

To: Monson
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

NEW PHOTOS PUT UP THIS AM.We knew we dadn't yet done our big ford for the day and at the confluence of two rivers so we headed out knowing that wet boots were again in our future. How about 1/4 mile in our future. At 6:15 it was fairly chilly and way too chilly for a dip which seemed possible since the current was again quite strong in the rain swollen river. I had to orient myself upstream and sidle across for balance; but all went well if you consider boots full of water to be OK. We walked beside the river for the next 5 miles until we crossed it once again; but this time we had better sunlight and against the scarlet backdrop; the river was just perfect. In fact, we spent qite some time this morning trying to capture the river and the trees; but the sun was less than co-operative. I hope we'll have more opportunities. Around 10:30 I suddenly had a low as I became light headed and very hungry. I made a PB&J ssandwich and LG fixed me a double hot chocolate. I wonder if this means my reserves are gone like they were in '04. I can see Lake Hebron now from my writing spot so once we walk around it we should be in Monson. Hopefully that will take place in the next hour since I'm already hungry again.   We got to Monson and checked into the hostel then headed to the general store for lunch and then to the library to upload photos and journals. The pub where we are staying is the only restaurant in town and also houses the laundromat so we'll get everything done easily.   Tomorrow we'll pick up LG's food packages from the P.O. and be on our way into the 100 mile wilderness. I won't be able to communicate by phone or otherwise for the next 7 days so this will be my last journal entry until I arrive in Baxter State Park. I'll have a weeks worth for you when I next arrive at a computer and that batch should have a summit picture from Mt. Katahdin. It is hard to believe that it is really coming to fruition. I know Evelyn is tired of being at home alone in the evenings; but this is a very meaningful journey for me and she has been so wonderful to let me pursue it. Thanks for all of your support as well. See you after Katahdin.....
Date: 2008-09-30
From: Monson

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We had to take a zero today because LG's package didn"t arrive. We did our laundry, posted the journals, and piut up lots of pix. Then ww shopped for snacks. The owner of the general store was practicing his guitar for the Friday night get together at his store. Anyone can join in and everyone else from the surrounding area comes in to sing and listen. He even tried to teach LG to play. Rebecca; owner of the Lake Shore Hotel absolutely made the day a 10. She fixed breakfast, then shuttled alf a dozen hikers to Greenville for supplies and then came back and cooked dinner....all while singing and carrying on with the hikers. She even tended bar that night and told everyone that we were going to love her drinks because "I get a little crazy as the night goes on". What a hoot!
Date: 2008-10-01
From: Monson

To: 100 miles 
Miles today: 13.0

LG's package was at the P.O. At 7:30 and by 8:30 we were saying our thanks to Rebecca and on the trail with our massive packs. We're carrying 6 days of food and planning to resupply at White House Landing. The hike today began in a fairly steady rain so the trail was just a wet muddy mess from start to finish. We had 4 river crossings so there never was any hope of dry boots. I think the only remarkable sightings today were a couple of nice vistas across the low hills where the foliage was at it's peak and LG saw a coyote as we crossed a set of RR tracks.    Our tent sites tonight are truly the worst ever; what LG calls "non ideal"; but we started looking at 5;30 and by 6:30, this was the best that we could find. Still we made between 12-13 miles and so we are very close to being less than 100 miles from the end of our journey. It is really hard to believe that we are in the home stretch now. If I csn just avoid a bad spill for another week, I'll make it. Tonight, I wondered a I made mistep after mistep. It is a combination of the heavy pack, end of the day fatigue and my poor night vision. I am so impressed with what LG sees in the dark and what I see.    Tomorrow we'll cover Chairback Mtn.
Date: 2008-10-02
From: 100 miles 

To: 3rd Mountain
Miles today: 11.0

It was a cold night and this time it was a whole group of coyotes howling at the sunrise that woke me up.   We broke camp knowing that we had 3 river crossings this am before we climb Chairback Mtn. All three were very fast flowing and on the 1st one, i put my foot down towards a submerged rock; but the current was so strong that it swept my water filled boot down and away, turning me around and down into a waist deep pool. BBRRRR! At 40 degrees this is not really refreshing. I crawled out, poured out my boots and wrung out my socks and headed for the next two. they weren't as deep and the 3rd one had a rope to hold on to. After many sock squeezings, my feet are beginning to dry and I'm ready to climb and generate some heat. We were atop Barren mtn by 12:30; but it was cloud enshrouded so we lunched among the low pines to protect ourselves form the wind. I doubt we'll get over all 4 peaks before dark; but we'll try.   The clouds darkened and it began to rain as we left Barren summit and headed for 3rd Mtn. I got colder and colder; but I know that there's no such thing as bad weather...just bad clothing so I put on more layers; but then the sound of the rain changed. I held out my glove and sure enough...it was sleet. What next?   I must admit that today has been a discouraging one. It rained all day until 5 pm and our mileage was pitiful. We only stopped to eat and to warm up after the river crossings; but the mud and roots were just relentless. We ended up on 3rd Mtn after only a miserable 10-11 miles. We're both tired of walking through puddles all day. It's so cold tonight that I'm already sacked in at 7:30. A south bounder told us not to be discouraged by the first couple of days; because it does get better. I hope so.... I'm tired of this difficult life and ready for some better weather and better trail.
Date: 2008-10-03
From: 3rd Mountain

To: Gulf Hagas Stream
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

The wind has been howling all night. The temp is in the 30's and i'm going to have to wear everything just to get out of the tent. I just hope we can get some miles today.   At the top of 3rd Mtn we could see the sunrise playing across the fall foliage down in the valley in long bands of bright color dividing the darker sections. We've reached Columbus Mtn and now we're off to Chairback and then down to Gulf Hagas..the Grand Canyon of the East.    It was not very far to Chairback; but it was to cloudy to see Katahdin. We dropped quickly to Gulf Hagas Stream..the easiest crossing yet. We took 1/2 the detour and saw Screw Auger Falls which was beautiful; but Buttermil was not so much. I don't think there would ever be any confusion with the Grand Canyon. We headed up Gulf Hagas Mtn and it was the nicest trail we've hiked in quite a while. A very gradual ascent through the firs as we paralleled the Gulf Hagas Stream We made good time and collected 13 miles plus the 2-3 we did on the Gulf Hagas detour loop. Tomorrow we'll go up over White Cap where surely we'll finally be able to see Katahdin. This loks to be another 30 degree night and tomorrows highs will be in the 40's again like today. But after that there is supp9osed to be a couple of nice warm sunny days. I hope he's right this time.   Just as I turned onmy light to cook, I heard a loud slap in the nearby pond. My first beaver slap!!
Date: 2008-10-04
From: Gulf Hagas Stream

To: Copper Brook Shelter
Miles today: 19.0

It was another 30 degree night with a light rain. Today should be the last mtns and hopefully we'll get some flat trail after White Cap Mtn; but first we'll have to do 4 mtns in 10 miles   Well we did really well across all 4 and the view of Katahdin in the distance was magnificent! It looks enormous against the foreground of low hills dappled with red and green. I'm getting goose bumps now that I can actually see the big mountain. I didn't think that I would be so excited to see it; but I really am.   All those times when I didn't think I'd ever finish seemed to have built this vision into much more than I imagined. LG is feeling it too and we both really want to get there. I can tell that LG is ready for this to be over. She goes through more mood swings in a day than I do in a month. I don't know how she has held it together all this time.   We've got a new plan. We're going to eat dinner at 5:30 on Little Boardman Mtn and then do a 3 hr night hike since the trail seems so user friendly.   All went pretty well though LG's headlamp was dimming some. Most of the trail was clear of mud and rocks and there were half sawn logs over the worst part. I was surprised at how well we walked the narrow beams even in the dark.Many are little wider than a boot. Perhaps it's better when you cannot see the mud or water to the sides. By 9:00, we were both exhausted. Thankfully we reached a shelter just at that time and so we could bed down without the fuss of setting up our tents. Dinner was already taken care of so we set the alarm for 5 to get one more hour of hiking before daylight. The goal is to make our re-supply stop at White House Landing before dark; because in order to get there, you have to blow an air horn and the owner picks you up in a boat and takes you back across the lake to the camp; but only before dark.
Date: 2008-10-05
From: Copper Brook Shelter

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 13.0

We rolled out of the shelter at 5 am so we had an hour of hiking before dawn. The trail again is pretty accomodating; but I'm trying not to get used to this because I doubt it can last.   We stopped for a break and I left first. She was going to put on her iPod so I knew she'd catch me; but i stopped to take a picture by one of the ponds and i forgot to leave my poles in the trail so now I'm back out on the trail and I don't know whether she is ahead of me or behind me. i found a couple of Merrill boot prints in the mud and so I thought she was ahead of me; but she never walks more than 1 1/2 hours without a break so I'm just waiting now....THere she is. She was behind me after all.   We arrived at the pier for the White House landing, blew the air horn and now we're in the bunk house. It's heated by a log stove and it's cold. apparently the guy charges extra for everything and has garnered an unfavorable impression so we'll see. I did see a bald eagle fly up the lake. We saw Katahdin from across the lake and it had snow on it. It has apparently been closed for 2-3 days so now we wonder whether or not we'll be able to summit at all.   Dinner was prepared by Linda and she couldn't have been more kind and generous. She made 2 great pizzas so we could take one for our lunches the next two days. After dinner she gave us free apple pie and ice cream in honor of Wu-Li who did the 100 mile wilderness every year and stayed here the same day each year; because she always had an apple pie ready for him. Another bit of trail magic being passed along. He died this year while backpacking in Yugoslavia searching for his roots. He was in his 70's.
Date: 2008-10-06
From: White House Landing

To: Pollywog Stream
Miles today: 18.0

Bill had the breakfast duties and he made eggs, bacon, muffins and pancakes for us. Once engaged in conversation, he became very personable and animated and it was good to see a different side of him. Yesterday he was all business; but I think maybe some of that was shyness.   It's a gorgeous blue sky morning and the lake is rippling slightly under the breeze as we look across for moose and bald eagle. Neither appears; but still the fall colors reflecting in the lake, broken occasionally by lines of rock is a memorable morning. The ride back across was fun again and it was a beautiful day to hike and we spent the whole am walking beside the Nahmakanta Stream. the wind off the lake made it cold so I bundled back up until we climbed our last little mtn. Katahdin wasn't so impressive that angle because you see it as a long range-ridgeline. En face it looks much more forbidding and I think that will be the side we go up in 2 days. 2 DAYS!!!