morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-13
From: Bald Mtn. Brook Campsite

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 14.7

Friday the 13th. Great!   Yeah we woke up after a night of pouring rain.   I had a nice size mud puddle instead my tent.   Everything was pretty much soaked.   And hey look it's still raining outside.   That nice stream we made camp next to last night is now a roaring brook.   Our first ford of the day.   I love days that start out like this.So right off the bat I just got my feet wet. This makes it easier throughout the day. This way you don't waste any extra time trying to avoid the puddles.   I just walked right through them no matter how deep they were.   It pretty much stopped raining but there were no views on top of Pleasant Mtn.   I was just happy to be going into town.   Brew pub and hot tub waitted for me at the end of this day.   We got into town and heading right for the post office.   We both picked up our packages.   We ended up with a ton of food.   We got brownies, twislers, cookies, muffins and a bunch of other stuff.   I think we both went on a sugar over load sitting there in front of the post office.   We called up to Northern Outdoors and got a tent cabin.   It was the last one they had left.   Good thing coughdrop called.   Got up to Northern Outdoors. We hitched a ride from 3 section hikers who also got out of the woods due to the rain.   They gave us a ride back to the tent cabin too.   We showered and go our laundry ready.   We headed up to the brew pub and main log after hanging all our gear out to dry.   It was like walking through a maze moving around that cabin. After munching out we headed out to the hot tub.   It was great hanging out relaxing in the hot tub. We didn't even care that it was pouring on us. Oh and that we were wearing our underwear.   See I told you I could pass off my underwear as a swim suit.   No one even knew.   Which is a beautiful thing be able to walk around in public in your underwear.   It's almost as good as hanging out in bed eatting and watching cartoons on a rainy saturday morning. It might not have started as the best day but it ended rather well.
Date: 2004-08-14
From: Caratunk

To: Pierce Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I didn't have any desire to leave town early today.   I did have to make it to the post office before 11:30.   Good thing we didn't leave early Stumpknocker showed up at the Post Office when we were outside.   Always great to run into Stumpknocker.   He gave us a ride down to the store for some resupplies (Mtn. Dew and Beer) and then over to the roadside food stand.   It was hamburger and soda before going back out on the trail. We had plenty of time since we missed the morning ferry across the Kennebec River.   Stumpknocker dropped us off at the trail with an hour and a half before the ferry starts crossing again.   We sat at the shore staring at the hikers on the other side waiting for a ride.   Almost wish it was an easier ford I would love to have gone swimming.   It was an easy day again today. I was looking forward to pierce pond lean-to I remembered it being nice.   I also was looking to maybe do some swimming once I got there.   I changed my mind about the swimming.   It was just not warm enough.   Besides I just had a shower I wanted to smell like soap as long as possible. So I just hung out and cooked dinner. I was about to go to sleep before the sunset. I thought it looked as if it wasn't going to be much.   I thought wrong.   Coughdrop woke me up to a sky that glowed.   We ran down at the edge of the water and started taking pictures.   It was great.   Thanks again for waking me up.   It was a nice ending to a lazy day.
Date: 2004-08-15
From: Pierce Pond Lean-To

To: Little Bigelow Lean-to
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I ran into Fitz first thing out of camp this morning.   It was really great to see him again.   Slips was somewhere behind him with an injured ankle.   It was so great to hang out and talk with fitz but the mosquitos had a feast of me while doing so. Now I can't wait to see everyone again.   This is going to be so awesome.It was easy day. Very little climbing.   Very easy trail.   We even had time at the end of the day to go swimming at flagstaff lake.   The water was cold but it was a great place to hang out. We even cooked dinner while down at the beach.   Some families that were hanging out there gave us some trail magic.   Cookies, tomatoes and an orange.   Fresh fruit is a beautiful thing.   We made it up to Little Bigelow lean-to early.   We both cooked our extra food.   And I noticed the mosquitos weren't bad at all.   Maybe this is the point we finally get rid of those blood suckers.   They have been horrible since the first day in Maine.We decided tomorrow to head into town and get a room for the night.   I didn't want another night of rain on the trail and that's what it was looking like.   Yeah beer and pizza!!!!!!!!
Date: 2004-08-16
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Stratton, Maine
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

With the rain expected, AGAIN, we decided to head into town and get a room.   And Coughdrop wanted to watch the Olympics so into Stratton we head.   It wasn't raining when we left. Just a little cloudy.   Maybe the weather will hold off until we get into town. That would be nice staying Dry! This was the beginning of the more difficult section of the trail.   Most of the northbounders are lucky they end there section with the Bigelows. We are just starting here.   We got a view of sugarloaf Mtn. and the climbs out of town tomorrow. Boy do they look big.   Also got to look back at flagstaff lake to the north. It didn't take long before the big black cloud to over take us up on top of the East Peak.   Then somewhere near the summit of the East Peak we ran into Slips.   It was great to see. He wasn't wearing my skirt but he did have a kilt on.   His skirt was in the backpack saved for his summit on Katahdin. He lost a lot of weight and looked in shape.   I think Maine is the best diet I know. Beats the hell out of that low carb shit you people do to yourselves.   Don't worry about counting carbs or calories just hike Maine.   It will work faster, be healthier and make you feel a hell of a lot better then any of those diets. Oh yeah and you can eat WHATEVER you want.   That includes cheesecake for breakfast. And the beer well that's just a way to get those extra calories you can't eat! Isn't Maine Great?After a short break with slips we were off for the West Peak of Bigelow Mtn.   Funny sky overhead. One minute is was clear the next a huge cloud moved in.   I did get a great picture of the pond and lean-tos down below us.   We ended up racing down to those lean-to's to try and beat the weather coming in.   And we also beat the weather. We were down at the lean-to's getting water when the rain started. I grabbed both packs and ran for the shelter while she finished pumping her water.   It poured for about 1/2 hour and stopped.   Time race to town before getting wet again. It was a long climb downhill but we made it.   We got to the road and stuck out our thumbs.   A northbounder showed up and then the sky opened up.   We needed traffic to come down the road so we could get a ride.   I hate standing on the side of the road in the rain.   I feel like a wet stray dog. We finally got a ride right to the post office. Just in time well kind of. I had to knock on their door so they would get our packages before going home. Lucky for us small towns let you do this.   And lucky for me I got my new ULA backpack from Mtn. Rogers Outfitters in Damascus, VA.   What a day!   Rain, Slips, The Bigelows, a new backpack, food, Beer, showers, Olympics and a nice soft bed with pillow to sleep in.   I love stratton!
Date: 2004-08-17
From: Stratton, Maine

To: Sugarloaf Mtn. Warming Hut
Miles today: 10.6

This picture isn't from today. I just love the picture!   We passed this spot along the trail just before heading up to Little Bigelow Mtn.   It's my I have 2000 miles to walk down to Georgia picture.   But wait I do not have 2000 miles to walk to finish my hike. I still won't mind hiking right back down to Georgia.   I love this stuff.Back to 17th Agusust....We left town later in the day.   We only had 10 miles to walk so what the hell.   Yeah I forgot how much 10 miles in this section hurts.   It was fun to try and hike it in the 6 hours of daylite we had left.   It was tough climbing but we finally made it to the side trail up to Sugarloaf Mtn. ski area.   We were planning to sleep in the warming hut ontop of the ski area.   We were told that it has a microwave and toaster up there. I brought microwave popcorn.   I could not wait.I was hoping for a nice sunset but it didn't happen. It was an ok sunset. At least I got to watch it while making dinner. UMMMMMMMM Mac and Cheese!   I've only eatten mac and cheese for dinner this entire month.   Except for when I'm in town.   I guess I really like mac and cheese this year. It is cheap and easy to make.   I guess I'll stick with it.One thing I do like about sleeping on top of the mountains in Maine is the night sky.   There are so many stars and they look close enough to touch. I went out to pee in the middle of the night. I always look up as I'm running back to my sleeping bag. Tonight I just stood out there freezing staring at the sky.   I even got to see a shooting star fly over head.   Why is it I want to leave Maine?
Date: 2004-08-18
From: Sugarloaf Mtn. Warming Hut

To: Poplar Ridge lean-to
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Only 10 miles today.   We stopped short of the saddlebacks.   Feeling a little tired these days. Both coughdrop and myself are feeling all the climbs.   We called it a day at 3:00.   Decided to just make camp and tomorrow we head into Rangley for resupply. Tonight we're just hanging out and eatting.I ate just about everything in my food bag.   I was hungry!   I'm starting to feel like I'm loosing weight more quickly.   I guess the Maine diet is finally kicking in. Just in time only 12 more days until my cousin's wedding.   I just hope I can stop eatting like this when I get home. I don't want to be dressed like a real live girl and eat like a 16 year old football player.   Although right now I won't mind doing that. I hope tomorrow we can start making up the miles we didn't hike today.   I need to at least make it to Gorham by friday the 27th.
Date: 2004-08-19
From: Poplar Ridge lean-to

To: Little Swift Pond Campsite
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

The rain and clouds return!   It always seems to be this way when crossing over a mountain above treeline.   Well it was a nice view of the inside of a cloud.   At least we were heading into town today.   I was looking forward to something other then mac and cheese.   The weather got better as we got closer to town.   Good thing it was starting to get cold up there.   Our hitch in to town took all of 5 minutes.   Got a ride right to the post office.   Then it was over to the Red Onion for lunch.   It was a Sam Adams and pizza with garlic.   That should keep most people away.   I was debating whether to stay in town or head back out.   I decided I wanted to get some more miles done.   Too bad I already had that beer. That should slow me down. I got my rides out of town quickly.   One to the grocery store then the next to the trailhead.   I headed in with either 4 miles to the campsite or 8 miles to the lean-to.   The sky was already looking dark not sure I'll be able to make the lean-to before the rain starts. It ended up being an easy 4 miles.   I didn't do that well with my pace there were too many northbounders to stop and talk with.   I made it into camp just in time to set my tent up.   Just as I was unzipping the tent the sky opened up and poured on me.   I threw everything into the tent and followed.   It only rained for about 15 minutes. Long enough to step up my tent.   Dinners was going to be left over pizza so I need not worry about cooking tonight.   I found 2 canoes on the shore with paddles. They both were ducktaped but I figured they still floated. Well at least for a little while. I grabbed the smaller metal canoe and headed out on the pond with my can of rootbeer.   I just didn't feel like taking any beer out of town with me.   Maybe because I couldn't have Yuengling. Who knows but me and my can of rootbeer headed for the other side of the pond.   Great evening to just hang out and enjoy the woods.   Well somewhere on the other side of the pond it began to rain. Lucky for me I brought my rain jacket.   I was just having a good ol time playing on the pond in the rain. That was until I heard the thunder. Yeah metal canoe open area on water tallest thing, I was out of there quick. With all the rain I just headed to bed early.   With any luck it didn't rain all night again. I just wanted to stay dry.
Date: 2004-08-20
From: Little Swift Pond Campsite

To: Bemis Mtn. Lean-to
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The rain had stopped during the night.   The inside of my tent was still a puddle but it will dry.   Not sure how far I will go today.   I'm thinking about slacking after the first 8 miles. There are a number of hostels in Andover that slack hikers.   Not sure if I'll hitch in from 17 or hike to south arm road and find a ride in that way.The trail was rather wet and muddy the first 8 miles. One point a bog bridge sunk when I stepped on it. The water went right up to my knees and it smelt bad.   Ill!   I guess it's just part of the hiking getting wet and muddy. When I got to 17 I flipped a coin and decided to stay on the trail until the next road crossing.   I took a break at a stream crossing to wash my socks and myself.   It felt good to get the mud off of me, my socks and sneakers.   I can't wait to get home and power wash my sneakers clean.   I took my time going over the 1st and 2nd peaks of Bemis Mtn.   I was busy picking blue berries.   Lots of little wild blue berries.   I just munched out on blue berries the entire way to the lean-to.   That was awesome. I just love food I don't have to carry. What a great way to end the day.
Date: 2004-08-21
From: Bemis Mtn. Lean-to

To: Bemis Mtn. Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Zero Day # 92. Yeah this is all I did all day. Listen to the tunes and watch the rain falling outside. I am soooooo happy I am not hiking in that stuff.   I just didn't feel like hiking much today.   Blue Bird has also decided to take a zero in the shelter. She is not a stupid woman.   She knows to stay in bed when it rains that hard.   So it was hang out, eat and B.S. all day.   I wonder how many people we will see that have left town.There isn't much to talk about on a zero day like today. A lot of people decided to camp there. The shelter was completely packed with people.   It was sleeping mat to sleeping mat that night.   The cables under the roof were used as our clothes lines reminded me of movies from NY City with all the clothes lines between buildings. I have a picture of it online for you all to see. Check it out.I can't believe I am up to 92 zero days.   Oh how difficult this summer has been with all these zero days.   I wonder how many more I will have before the end of this hike.
Date: 2004-08-22
From: Bemis Mtn. Lean-to

To: South Arm Road
Miles today: 8.7

The sun was shining and I was looking forward to walking around today.   I have decided to haul ass to the road and try to get into Andover for tonight. I wanted to slack pack Moody Mtn And Baldplate Mtn.   Why carry the pack when you don't have to.   So off I went. Nice day not much that actually happened.   When I got to the road the group I had heard that was slacking over Moody Mtn. was still not back. I had my ride into town. Actually Trail Boss from Virginia was the first to the road. I hit him up for a ride into town. After that I just washed out my sneakers and socks in the stream and sun bathed on the side of the road.   It figures LWOP would walk out on me hanging out trying to loose the tanlines from my backpack. My dress for the wedding had little straps it would not look good with my hiker tan. The guys brought me to the Cabin in East Andover where they were staying.   I got to run into Ram Bunny and Hammock Hagger there. I haven't seen Hammock since the summer of 02 when we hiked together for a couple of days with Roni Hell.   Roni is hiking the CDT this year. He also has an online journal. According to Hammock he has become a hardcore hiker. Good going Roni!   Ram Bunny I only met once on my 2001 thru hiker. We met my first day in Maine. It's always good to run into old friends.   I just loved seeing Hammock hagger again.
Date: 2004-08-23
From: South Arm Road

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 10.1

Slack packed Moody and Hall Mtn. today. Short day hike.   It was nice not to carry that big backpack.   I just went with a bottle of Mtn. Dew, some snacks and my radio.   I just got water when I crossed a stream or spring.   At the start of my day I just drank right from my hand out of the stream. Well they were clean!It was a nice day to be high up in the mountains.   It was foggy when I left town.   It made for a nice picture from Moody Mtn.   Not much happened other then that.   Quiet day out on the trail.   I like days like this.   And I even got a ride right back into town from some day hikers.   Another night at the Cabin. This was nice.
Date: 2004-08-24
From: East B Hill Road

To: Grafton Knotch
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

Another day of slack packing. I woke up at 5:00am to drive Ameaba to Rangeley to drop her off for her slack pack.   We were standing there waitting for her to get her stuff together for hiking. All of a sudden I looked up to see a huge moose running right at us. All I could get out was "holy Shit!" Ameoba looked at me then looked behind her to see the moose coming towards us.   As she got to the back of the car she banged a right and headed into the woods. Her calf was soon to follow.   That was just amazing. 2 more moose I have seen now. That is a total of 4 moose since I got to Maine. Very Nice. But next time many they won't be running right at me.I got back into town picked up the other truck I was deliverying to the trail head and headed out.   It was a great day for hiking. Today, however, I was crossing a mountain that I last climbed on September 11, 2001.   Last time I went up and over it I was scared to death about the yuppie chic. I'm real glad to have her editing my journal for me these days. And doing my mail drop which she is doing a killer job on. (No I actually wrote that-it isn't her added into my journal).   Appently she has a fun time going back and adding things into my journal once in a while. She is so good she can make it seem like it was me writting it. She is too funny! I told she could have fun with it and she does!I got nice weather again today for my hike.   I got a great view of Mtn. Washington and Speck Mtn. from Baldplate.   It was just an amazing day. Blue skies as far as the eye could see.   Life was good today. Only 3 more days until I leave for the wedding.   I was going to really enjoy my last 3 days in Maine.
Date: 2004-08-25
From: Grafton Knotch

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: clear sky

I finally left town today.   Bear over at the Cabin loaded me up with brownies, fruit and toilet paper for the caretaker up at Speck Pond Shelter.   Ok so it added a few extra pounds to my pack it was for a good cause.   Always nice to help out the caretakers when I can. Bringing them goodies was my good deed of the day. As I was getting ready to leave the parking area at Grafton Knotch I could hear the boys in the trees. It was Slim & Biscuit. I was so happy to finally run into them again. It was great.   They are such good kids. I haven't met anyone that doesn't like them. Everyone loves these 2 guys from Mass.   I hung out with them catching up on everything for about 45 minutes. Then like everyone else I passed they were gone in a blind of an eye. But I have their phone number for when I get into Mass I will call them. I already can't wait to see them again. I also passed 30-30 and giggles while climbing up Speck Mtn.   I stopped and talk with both of them for about 40 minutes each.   I don't think I know many more people behind them. Almost depressing to know I won't run into anyone I know again.   I'm sure that will change.So these last few miles in Maine are tough!   I was getting my butt kicked by all those rocks you have to climb.   Mahoosus Arm and Knotch took about 2 hours to get through those 2.7 miles.   I tried to take my time in the knotch. I didn't want to get scrapes and bruises before the wedding. As it was I had broken almost all my nails in the knotch. Damn I was looking forward to having nice nails for once. Oh well.   I think the climb out of the knotch was the hardest part of my day. I was tired and it just seemed to go on forever.   I couldn't wait to get into camp and eat.When I arrived into camp there was only one tent platform open. It was going to be a full house tonight.   Then I saw Dragon Slayer and Yoga Monkey.   I met Dragon Slayer down in Virginia right before I left to go to California.   It was great to know someone in camp tonight. And Yoga well she was great to meet. What a happy person she is. I think she ever stopped smiling the entire night.   Well it was hang with the girls and talk about the men.   Yeah we had a lot to say about that subject. Nothing I can actually repeat online. Sorry.   It was a great way to end my day.   Thanks Ladies
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: broken clouds

I'm feeling a little tired today.   The trail is starting to kick my butt. It figures since this is the more difficult section of the trail.   I just feel like I'm just going up hill to come right back down to go right back up.   Yeah this is tons of fun. Oh just one more day and I'm back at home sitting on my butt for a week.It was great weather again today. I'm still not making good time.   I'm starting to think about blue blazing out of Gentain Pond into Gorham.   I just don't feel like I can hike 15 miles today and then 7 again tomorrow. I have to get out of here early tomorrow so i can't even push my mileage to tomorrow. I'm not sure what I will do. I think that blue blaze leads out to a back road with no real traffic on it. Oh well if it's meant to be it will work itself out.After getting my butt kicked through the last section of Maine I am done. I sat up on Success Mtn. to dry out my sleeping bag and try to loose those tan lines again.   I think the sun sucked all the energy from my body. I was done. maybe lunch at Gentain Pond Shelter will help me fell better.When I arrived at the shelter there was a caretaker there. I knew him from a previous hike in the white mtns 2 years ago.   He told me he was taking the blue blaze down to his car and heading into Gorham. I guess that is my ride so I agree to hike out with him. that is great. I can come back and finish this section after the wedding. That made me feel a hell of a lot better.After a quick couple miles out to his car I got a ride right into Gorham and Mr. Pizza for lunch.   My ride was on the way but won't make it until 1:00am at the least. So I got a room at the hiker's paradise hostel.   I got my laundry done and just hung out and watched tv with 2 southbounders who i was sharing the top floor of the hostel with.   It's not like sleeping on top of a mountain watching the sunset but it works for me!   Tomorrow I head back home!