morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-19
From: Bethel, Maine

To: Bethel, Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Am I going to love today or what?! A real zero with friends and family in a small New England town where they're having a weekend festival called Mollyockett Days. There's a parade at ten, traditional Mi'kmaq basket making, frog jumping contest, fiddlers, traditional singers, craft and food vendors, lobster bake, chainsaw carving demonstration, and fireworks! I mean could this get any better?!! I hope they have beer. Update: we had a great day! A fantastic breakfast here at the B and B then down the street to look at all the craft stalls. Almost bought a birch wood rolling pin. Ryn really got into the panning for gems station and we really got into hearing the guy say quartz. Or qwahtz. Very Maine. Tons of arts and crafts all based on pine needles and balsam it seemed. Finally settled down to watch the animal show but my knees just couldn't take it so I went and got a beer and a massage! Then we got more food and headed to the frog jumping contest. You could rent a frog if you didn't have one. Odd this little princess girl was so excited for it and got herself a frog. She held it so tight I think it was dying to get out of there and wouldn't you know she won! With a three hop total of 9'5". So cute. We then listened to some drumming and had yet more food then decided we'd all take naps. Met again later for drinks at Betsy and David's hotel then walked down to an Italian restaurant for another great meal. Much needed day away from the trail.
Date: 2014-07-20
From: Bethel, Maine

To: Bethel, Maine
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Yay! Got some takers on a little day hike. There was a 10 miler we could do pretty easily from where I got picked up and everyone was in for trying! Even Ryn! Got all suited up in my stinky clothes and we headed out to the notch. There's always false hope at the beginning as the trail is usually pretty flat. As soon as we started with some elevation Ryn was out, so she and Marit headed back for a day of fun at a local park. Betsy, David, Rose and I marched forward. The route doesn't look too bad and I hope they get to see some of the different stuff I have to deal with everyday. They did! They got rocks and roots and mud then had to climb up waves of rock into the alpine zone and up into the exposed mountain tops. Even stopped at a shelter for a snack. The mountain top was beautiful. You could see for miles and I hope they loved it. I'm not so sure they loved the rest of the trail. The downhills are always so deceptively tough and the mountain top was only four miles in so we still had six to go. I tried to talk everyone through it or distract them with stories but I could tell, this was not nearly as fun as the uphill. About the last two miles (as is usual even for me!) lasted forever! You always think you're close but it just goes on and on. Amazing waterfalls though. And again Marit and Ryn hiked up the trail a little and we all hiked out together happy to be done! Made our way through Andover, which is a dot of a town, then back to Bethel to all get cleaned up and have some dinner. This place called Suds which I loved. I wanted pizza but we all got pretty unique stuff including fish and chips, osso bucco, a bison burger and for Betsy a lobster. When in Maine. This place even had one of those classic sit down Galaga/Ms Pacman machines we all took turns playing. And then we crashed hard. Interesting walking up the street at 9:00 to our beds and the town was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Date: 2014-07-24
From: Little Swift River Pond

To: Poplar Ridge Lean To
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: moderate rain

Wet wet wet. Everything is wet. Or damp. It thankfully stopped raining over night but the tent base is wet and my clothes from yesterday are still drenched. Even after wringing them out. I'm guessing a front came through because it's also a little chilly. Decided to put on my old dry shirt and dry shorts and then cover with my rain jacket and pants. Two items I vowed never to wear again but I don't want to get a second pair of clothes wet. Suited up and set out. As is usual I overheated quick so decided I could brave putting on my cold wet shorts but not the shirt. A deep breathe and I slid them on. Freezing! I also took this opportunity to use the bathroom and on the way back... I got lost! It was scary for a minute. How could I get lost only a hundred feet away but I spotted my bag and found my way back. Whew! I feel back in the game right now. I had several days of roughness. The trail is just very wild and uneven up here and New Hampshire wore everyone down but this morning was pretty gentle and I feel great! Finally covering some ground in decent time. Also, ran into a ridge runner named Grace. She gave me great news. No rain today or tomorrow but probably again tomorrow afternoon so I'll make sure I'm settled in by four and stay dry! It's warming up and my shorts are drying great. When I stop I can see steam coming off off them. Got to ME4 way before I thought and got my hands on a free trail magic ginger ale. Thanks! Now it's time for the slow climb to the next shelter then the big climb back up into the mountains. In my silence I heard a hiker behind me and it was Deep Blue again. He reminded me that the privy at the next shelter is a two seater with a cribbage board in between. I didn't know how to play but he did so we sat in the can and played two games. I lost. He wanted to go see these caves and I wanted to summit the mountains so we went our ways but would meet again later. Maybe I've made too much of them because I've been tired of them lately but the mountains were more fun than anything. Three big climbs and downhills and all great views. Haven't had service in a long time so checked in up there and four bars. A couple of quick emails and texts and a response from my friend Paul. Always crazy when I'm standing on top of a huge isolated mountain chatting with a friend. Felt like I sprinted down the mountain I got to the shelter so fast. It's a kind of dark and gloomy site but several people here including some southbounders warning us of another norovirus in Stratton. Where I'm heading of course. So I'm going to be super cautious and clean to hopefully avoid it. What a slap to the face to come all this way only to get sick at the last minute.
Date: 2014-07-28
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: few clouds

Good solid sleep last night. And good thing, as it was hard to sleep on my hurt side. I'm beginning to think I may have cracked a rib. It's very tender and hard to take a deep breath, but it doesn't really bother me otherwise and doesn't affect my hiking. Today will not be the greatest of days. It's dreary and overcast and later today will rain hard with no escape. But, and this is a big but, I heard something I've been wanting to hear as soon as I got to the north...LOONS. Real life loons. Was walking in the misty, humid morning near Flagstaff Lake and there they were. Calling back and forth to each other and to some distant ones. Such an odd, mournful call and perfect for this still, silent lake. Love it. Now all I need is a moose, and I'll have seen it all.I passed no less than eight southbounders today and one raved about the three moose he saw in the Hundred Mile Wilderness. Great! I hope it happens to me too.The trail was finally flat today. Two tiny hills but nothing tough. Of course, flat also means boggy, so lots of mud puddles and boards to walk on. Made it through about twelve miles before I felt the first drops. I'm not happy, but the forest has a way of keeping you relatively dry even when it's raining pretty good - especially under the spruce trees. I waited out a few minutes under the spruces, but decided there's no hope, I'm getting wet, might as well move ahead. I guess that was a good but man did it rain. In fact, I'm in my tent writing this and it's STILL raining. At one point, it poured. And the trial was wrecked! It doesn't help that my shoes are worn through on top, so my socks get pretty wet regardless, but I just had to walk right through the puddles and mud. There was just too much!My hope is tomorrow will dry us all out but for now, everything is wet. I did manage though to get to camp before all but one person - a guy who was asleep in the shelter. And since I'm paranoid about sick people right now, I walked right on by and set my tent up right next to the pond. I plan on staying in here until morning.About six pm a bunch of friends showed up. Everyone is sick of the rain. It's stopped for now, but at about nine, another storm rolled in and it was a doozy! Heavy rain and tons of thunder. I had to bring my stuff in from the vestibule as it was getting all wet. Must have lasted two hours. And kept checking to make sure the pond wasn't rising!
Date: 2014-07-29
From: Pierce Pone Lean-to

To: Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: few clouds

Woke up to sun! Actual sun. Not a lot - about half the sky, but it's also cold again so thinking the front moved through and it'll not rain today? Pretty please? The loons are also singing so maybe a good sing. I only have five miles until the ferry across the Kennebec River and I'll ask the operator about the weather. If rain again, I'm staying in Caratunk. If not, I'm moving on.The walk to the ferry was super easy. One of those "events" every one looks forward too also. The river is wide for sure but not swift. A woman died many years ago trying to ford so the official route is the ferry now. There's even a blaze at the foot of the boat to prove it! All run by Hillbilly David. Probably named so because of his crazy teeth. Very nice guy. Deep Blue and I rode over. He's been carrying this emergency paddle for weeks, so finally got to use it! After the ride, I felt one more step closer.The forecast from Hillbilly David was that the rain was over for today and tomorrow so should be nice. I should move on. But peer (beer?) pressure got the best of me and I joined most of the hikers for an overnight in Caratunk. Well worth it. Small little town with two places to go - the North Woods which is an awesome restaurant, pub, and rafting lodge. You can stay in tent cabins if you like but the real draw for us was the food, BEER, showers, and hot tub. They were very nice and accommodating. Had some food then hit the tub. They also had a pool table and arcade with Galaga so basically my day is made. My notes get fuzzy here as we're here all day with lots to drink. We're staying though at the Sterling Inn about three miles away. They'll shuttle at no charge. What a great, needed day with about fifteen other hikers. But one problem, capital DRUNK! One too many porters but so worth it. Back at the Sterling, I shared a pizza with Deep Blue and watched the first hour of Lord of the Rings then passed out.
Date: 2014-07-30
From: Caratunk, ME

To: Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

For someone who drank too much last night, I sure am not hungover. Awesome. Maybe it's a new fitness thing. Took a good shower, headed down for breakfast, and after settling up, was already packing into the van to go. I said my first real goodbye - Deep Blue is off to a family thing for a few days so not likely to see him again. Sad it's all really ending. The reality is setting in.Rode out with Lady Moose, DaVinci, and Dino so we all hiked together for a little. At the first shelter, I moved on to start tackling the two mountains for the day and never saw them again. We'll meet up in Monson I'm sure though.The first mountain was a piece of cake. Nice open top. I even picked fresh blueberries at lunch. Not much really to say. It just wasn't that interesting. What WAS interesting though was back at the base, at the pond, you had to ford a river. This has happened several times but it never amounts to much more than rock hopping. Not this time. Water was high! So high the trail leading up to it was under about a foot of water. I just went for it - hopped right in. For the most part, you were in up to your thighs. Water racing by and feeling around for your next step over boulders. Now, after I'm done, my shoes weigh about ten pounds each but the seal is broken, so might as well just walk through mud and water puddles at this point. All I really wanted to do today is make the second shelter right before the second mountain, but I wanted to get some more miles in to shorten tomorrow up, and I felt great so I just kept going. Up and over Moxie Bald and down the other side. Another four miles. The top was an enormous mud hole! Horrible! Up to my ankles and constantly thought I'd lose my shoes, but it was made up for at the next shelter where I have a cushy tent site under pine trees right next to a big beautiful pond. Hope I hear loons! An update on my rib: no real change. It's day four and still hurts. In fact, when I twist or put pressure on it the wrong way I want to jump out of my shirt. Pretty sure it's cracked or at least deeply bruised. This is a job for ibuprofen.
Date: 2014-08-01
From: Monson, ME

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today's the day. Debbie! This has been a long time coming. Not only excited to see my friend, but this sort of signifies the end. The last segment. The 100 miles. Next stop is Katahdin.Glad today's a zero. Slept just fine but this rib is going to be a problem. Can't quite figure it out. It's not tender to touch but holy cow to laugh or cough is on the verge of excruciating. Sometimes, just reaching across me to grab a cup or something is enough to trigger it. Rolling out of bed instead of sitting up is the way to go. Went down to Pete's to have breakfast - eggs, sausage, French toast, cream of wheat and coffee. Also read the Bangor paper. Love when the cover story is the man with a houseboat on the river. Picked up some resupply and headed back.Now time to get my chores done before the imminent arrival of Debbie. Laundry, for the LAST time, clean my stove and spoon for the LAST time. Granted, I'll do laundry and cleaning again but on my own time, not cramming and preparing all the time.Took some time to check in and type up some of these journal posts. Then Survivorman showed up! Haven't seen him in a few days. He was taking some time off and glad he caught up. Looks like we'll have a full crowd tomorrow - Mowgli, Noodle, Napoleon, Goliath, Lady Moose, Dino, DaVinci, Surivorman and even Gandalf check in. Bean Dip, F1, and Driveway are leaving today so may see them out there. That would be quite a day on Katahdin, but really, even after all this, I think I'd prefer to be there alone - but ten minutes later I'd want to see them all.Going to hang out today and just smile.
Date: 2014-08-02
From: Monson, ME

To: Stealth
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: light rain

Let's do this! The moment has come - last leg! Finally here after all I've been through. "Slept in" until about six, then Debbie and I headed to Pete's for breakfast. Several other hikers showed up all ready for the big day. We resupplied after breakfast and got back to the hostel to get all packed up. As this is an eight day hike it's too much food to carry so were having Shaw's bring our second half of food out to a dirt road about fifty miles in. Shuttled to the trailhead at 9:30 in the fog and off we went! Shaw's folks were very nice. I'm interested to see what Debbie thinks of the trail. I keep telling her it's a lot harder than the stuff we did out west but not sure anyone believes me. It really is. Right away we ran into the typical roots, rocks, and mud; but really the trail was pretty gentle. I got to show her her first blaze and cairn and probably tried to tell her way to much beta but we'll get used to it all. I told her that one of us was going to fall today and when it happens it happens. No biggie. Ten minutes later it happened. She slipped on a big slick rock so I guess that was lesson one on which rocks to step on. Made it all the way to our first ford - Little Wilson stream. It's really a rushing river with steep rocky sides. I made it half way across when I heard Boomer yell from the other side "OMG are you alright?!" Looked back to see Debbie dangling from the edge by an arm and a backpack then slide down the rest of the way. No bruises it seemed except ego so she got up and stepped in the water. Unfortunately the third or so step in she went. It's very awkward having a big pack on and falling. You don't know what to do. Kind of like a gangly teenager with all arms and legs. Something's just out of whack. I dropped my pack and went in to help. I think she hurt her shoulder but should be okay. The rest of the day was just fun hiking. We had another ford where there was a dead young moose on the opposite bank. Smelly. I guess I've seen one now. Hiked until I made her stop. The light was getting lean and just didn't think we'd make the 15 miles so we found some decent, with a little work, stealth sites and settled in right before sunset.
Date: 2014-08-03
From: Stealth

To: West Chairback Pond
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: few clouds

I'll say it. It was a tough day for Debbie. It was a hard day for anyone but getting thrown into the fire, even with all the experience she has and having to hike what she did was rough. Not sure what time we got up but it was a clear sky and you could hear the stream cascading in the background. Our sites were less than ideal - sticks and roots and clumps of grass. I still slept well though. Seems I can do it anywhere now. After we left, within an hour we were already having to ford a river. I love these and just walk right across, shoes and all. There was a rope so we carabiner-ed Debbie's pack on and pulled it across. No biggie. Now comes the challenge. She hadn't experienced the big climbs or ascents over rocky boulder slopes yet. These are probably the toughest things we do. The area is called the Barren Ledges and the drop off was so steep I couldn't even peer over. I don't think she liked the climb and we have to do it all over again in about an hour. At the summit we ran into a day hiker who offered us bananas. Hadn't had one in months - novel!On the downhill we found a dribbling water source but decided we needed to fill up now so spent some time filtering. Loading it all up, Debbie found her camelback had a leak. Argh! What next?! Figured out a way to tie it to the outside of her pack. Well see if it holds. Shortly after we get to see something very cool - the Fourth Mountain bog. Full of carnivorous pitcher plants and sundews. A welcome break from all the harsh stuff.At this point I'm realizing were having trouble time wise and there's no way to get where we had intended. I can also tell Debbie's tiring and for good reason. This is probably the toughest day in the 100 mile so I decided I'd take her tent, run ahead, find a site, set everything up, then come back to help her if she needed it. It's about three miles away, but got to Chairback East pond and found the best sites! A nice pond with lots of canoes and two sweet spots facing the water. Took me about a half hour to set up. I even hung a bear rope. Then grabbed my headlamp and hiked south to meet Debbie. She did great! I didn't have to go far at all and there she was. Got her back in time to wash up in the pond, have dinner, and put our feet up. Hope to hear some loons and pond sounds tonite. I can already hear coyotes on the opposite bank. Funny how it's soothing now instead of terrifying.
Date: 2014-08-05
From: Shaws

To: Pleasant River
Miles today: 17.2

That's it! Last ride out and last section of the trail. As luck would have it they already had a shuttle scheduled for tomorrow morning for someone else so I'm paying half. And glad that it's at 6:45, the earlier the better. My plan is 17 miles today followed by three twenties. Yikes! If it works out I'll catch up with the crew I was hiking with and summit together. Part of me wants to be alone but I think I'll also feel a little empty if I don't share it with friends. Rode out with Dawn of Shaw's. She's great. Popped in some Elton John and had a great conversation all the way to the trailhead. Shaw's are good people. Very helpful and they're there for the hikers and not out to squeeze every last cent from you. She dropped me off probably around 7:30 and in I went. Poor Debbie, I think she'll be annoyed to know how super easy this section became. Very flat, very wide, all pine needles and cushy. Oh well. There was one stream to ford and I walked right across, shoes and all like normal to find a group of about twenty kids all drying their feet before putting their shoes back on. Hope I looked like a badass. Hiked really fast for some time until the mountain started. True to form it was a steep uphill but no boulder fields up Gulf Hagas mountain. There was a Ridgerunner up top and I commented on the impeccably maintained trails. Thanks MATC! Three peaks to go and I'm on White Cap - the last real mountain until big K. There are two bumps called mountains but at less than 500 feet doesn't seem like it should be much mentioned. I will although mention that I got a lot of congratulations from south bounders when they ask if I'm thru-ing. I wish they'd wait though. Not over yet!Forecast is for rain today. All I ask is that I get to White Cap, get my view of Katahdin and get to a shelter. Too much? I got to White Cap - beautiful. I got a view of Katahdin - much less Mt Doom than I expected. Just kind of another set of peaks in the distance. I did not make the shelter before the rain. Again! Fortunately it was very light and I made shelter ten minutes in. Hung out for a few and it stopped. So much for that. It was also 2:45 so lots more hiking time! My feet are sore so Advil popping time. The rest was all downhill but it got horribly buggy. The mosquitos were insane. I passed my checkpoint - East Branch Lean to - and headed on to Pleasant River. Thought I'd ford this and then go a few more miles. Once I crossed and got water I decided the bugs were insane and I'd just take the first excellent stealth site I came upon - thinking two or so miles - but found one within steps. I don't like to go back on my word so I took it! Settled in probably about 4:30/5 and rested for the 13 miles tomorrow through the bogs. Come on moose!
Date: 2014-08-06
From: Pleasant River

To: Nahmakanta Stream Campsite
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It's getting so close! My head is pretty much swimming all the time. So much so that I lose track of how much I've hiked. Which is great!I think I woke up pretty early today but it was overcast so who knows? There were big scary loud storms last night but hardly a drop at my tent. Lots of thunder. As I recall, the prediction today is for 80% chance of rain. Bring it on. I'll only have to be wet for a few more days. Sprinkled a little while decamping but still chipper. Plan on going about 24 today in an effort to catch up with the crowd. Happy to have the really big mountains behind me but there's still an uphill this morning. As usual to pretty much nothing. I think it was one of those " just becauses" we all love so much. Apart from that, the trail is extraordinarily easy. Flat, lots of pine needles. There's the occasional rocky or boggy area but for the most part it's a breeze. Honestly don't have much to say as I was focused on hiking but I'll say three things:1. It rained lightly several times but otherwise was a great day for hiking. 2. I saw bear number 12! An even dozen. Right at JoMary lake. He ran quick so it was just his booty. 3. A southbound section hiker named The Coach, stopped and talked with me for a minute. Nice guy and interested in the hiker stories. He mentioned how all the NOBOs are so eager to get done yet so reflective of the journey. An emotion he said he couldn't experience as he was doing it in sections. I got teary again. Can't believe I've almost done it. What a day it'll be. Made it just fine to this A OK campsite. Seems I'm all alone tonite which is just the way I like it.