morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-26
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to, Me

To: Monson, Me
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: broken clouds

19.4 miles todayPie Ladies HostelMonson, MeToday was suppose to be a short 9 mile day, but I got to the lean-tp at 12:30pm...way too early to stop for the day, so I hiked on to Leeman Brook Lean-to. There was a girl's group there that had all the tentsites, so I hiked on to Monson and got a ride with the second vehicle that came by.I walked over to the edge of Little Wilson Falls, but couldn't see the 100 foot drop from there.I had to ford 3 rivers today.I ran into Mountain Man from Cross Track Restaurant in Damascus, Va. That was a surprise. He was walking north and said that he just needed to get away from Damascus for a while.I got a room with the pie lady when I got into town and then went and ate at the BBQ place.I walked down to the general store and bought some ice cream and popcorn, then went back to my room to eat that.
Date: 2003-07-27
From: Monson, Me

To: Monson, Me
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero miles todayPie Ladies HostelMonson, MeI got up and ate a good breakfast that Pie Lady made for me.I layed in my room most of the morning reading a book by Grishom called "The Partners". I kept drifting in and out of sleep all morning while I was reading.Reading has a way of doing that to me.I got up for lunch and went to the BBQ place and had a good pork sandwich.I was talking to Pie Lady at about 4pm and said that Dr Dolittle had been planning on coming in today.Since she hadn't shown up yet, Pie Lady and me took a ride up to the trailhead.Kieth Shaw was up there and followed us back to her house.I went into the back yard and was mowing the grass for Pie Lady when Kieth drove around back and tried talking me into coming over to his place.I like Kieth, but I said I was staying with pie lady this time.I'm trying to stay at all the different places I can when I'm hiking.I finished mowing the lawn, then went up to the BBQ place and ate dinner.Kieth had picked up Dr Dolittle and taken her over to his place, so later she came over to my room and we talked a while.
Date: 2003-07-30
From: Monson, Me

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to, Me
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: few clouds

17.9 miles todayTentingMoxie Bald Lean-to, Me.I took a couple zero's since my truck was over at Frogcaller and Lew's home in Greenville.I got my truck on the 28th and Dr Dolittle and I ate at Flatlander's in Greenville. I think they have the best chicken along the whole trail there.I stayed at Pie Ladies that night, then Dr Dolittle and I made a loop of driving up around Jackman, Me and down thru Caratunk.We then headed to a vet over in Dover and had Maggie looked at. She's the youngest of Dr Dolittle's dogs and she was almost sent home early because her legs would start to quiver at the end of each day of walking.Just before the end of the 100 mile wilderness, she got her trail legs and turned into a great trail dog.We saw a young bull moose over on Rt 201.Frogcaller fixed me breakfast this morning and Lew dropped me off at the trailhead on Rt 15, then took Frogcaller to a trailhead about 6 miles south on the trail and dropped her off.I caught up to her at the next shelter and we walked together to the next trailhead where Lew was waiting on us.He had sandwiches and drinks and we ate before I started hiking south again. He took Frogcaller home.I was eating some chicken when Dr Dolittle showed up.I met Madman later.I'm tented right next to a beautiful lake and I'm listening to the loons.
Date: 2003-07-31
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to, Me

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to, Me
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

Note; I'm updating the entries for this thru hike as I get time. :-)))13.1 miles todayTentingPleasant Pond Lean-to, MeI'm tired...today kicked my butt!!I started walking at 8am and climbed over Moxie Bald. I took a break at the summit.I then hiked on down to Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to and got some water. I was eating a snack when Spot came walking in. I walked near him some last year and he was walking north again this year. It was good talking to him again.I got up half way to Pleasant Pond Mountain and I took a break. I layed out on a rock and read for a while.Dr Dolittle hiked by while I was reading.I caught up to her later in the day when we were going down a steep mountain.I saw a lady take and roll her backpack down the mountain trail.Her name was Pegasus and she was tired of carrying her pack, so she would roll it down the steeper portions of the trail and when she would get to where it stopped rolling, she would give it another shove and it would roll some more.It was pretty warm out today. I saw 2 snakes along the trail today.
Date: 2003-08-01
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to, Me

To: Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 6.7

Cabin #3 at Steve Longley's placeCaratunk, MEI got up at 6:30am and ate breakfast and drank my coffee while talking to Pegasus and Dr Dolittle.It was a pretty easy walk into Caratunk.Dr Dolittle and I walked another mile to Steve Longley's place after talking to Jensen at Caratunk House and decided we didn't want to stay there.I finished reading "The Partners", so I don't have to carry that big book with me anymore.G-Man gave us a ride up to Northern Outdoors where we ate dinner and had their 6 pack smapler of their microbrews.I resupplied with enough food to get me to Stratton, ME.Steve is a great host. I would highly recommend his place to stay the night. He really goes out of his way to help.A new month!!
Date: 2003-08-02
From: Caratunk, ME

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Dr Dolittle and I walked up to Northern Outdoors for a breakfast buffet to get our day started.A guy from Moxie River Rafters stopped us and offered us a free raft trip, but we talked to Steve and found out it wasn't legit.Steve ferried us across the Kennebec River at about 10:30am.I hiked on to Pierce Pond Lean-to and ate some of the hard boiled eggs that I packed out.We hiked on to Pierce Pond Lean-to. It was a very easy walk today with overcast skies.There's a group of young girls here from Quebec and a section hiker who's just finishing the last of the AT. His name is Crocket.I set up my tent and slept great.
Date: 2003-08-03
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to, ME

To: Avery Memorial Campsite, ME
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Had my breakfast and coffee, then walked to Little Bigalow Lean-to and decided to go for a swim in the brook. It was like ice water!!This mornings walk was pretty easy for about 7 miles and then I hit the Bigalow Range...and it flat kicked my butt!!I was in a cloud all afternoon.I'm tenting at Bigalow Col at 3,900' in elevation. Dr Dolittle is here and an overnight hiker named Madeline.I almost stepped on a snake today and I fell for the first time on this year's hike. I stepped slightly off center on a rock and went down hard. Glad I didn't break my hiking poles.
Date: 2003-08-04
From: Avery Memorial Campsite, ME

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

I had my breakfast and coffee just a little earlier than usual this morning, then started hiking slowly at first.There were some very steep ups and downs in this area.I saw my first spruce grouse of this year's hike.When I got to Horn's Pond Lean-to, I stopped and talked to Dr Dolittle and the caretaker for a short while, then I walked on.I got out to the highway that leads into Stratton at noon. Dr Dolittle showed up shortly after I got there, so we started hitching together.We had no rides for the first half hour, then I saw a red pickup coming and told Dr Dolittle that this was our ride. The guy pulled over and Dr Dolittle looked at me like; How in the world did you know this guy was going to stop.I checked into White Wolf Inn and had a really good hamburger for lunch, then had a pizza for dinner.
Date: 2003-08-05
From: Stratton, ME

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I took a zero day here at the White Wolf Inn in Stratton, MEI walked across the street and had breakfast with Dr Dolittle at the Stratton Diner.I worked on lowering my pack weight when I got back to my room. I'll bet I sent at least 5 pounds of un-needed stuff ahead to Gorham, NH.I stopped at the grocery across the street and bought stuff for lunch and ate in my motel room. I had eaten plenty since I got to town, so I just had an apple and yogurt.Dr Dolittle and I walk back over to the diner for dinner.I talked to a Chief Ten Bears, a friend of mine, on the phone. He and his wife just bought a house in NC.
Date: 2003-08-06
From: Stratton, ME

To: Sugarloaf Mtn, ME
Miles today: 11.2

I ate breakfast at Mainly Yours with Mukluk, Family Man and Weaver, then started hitching a ride back to the trailhead. I got picked up in a van with 8 Mexicans and dropped off at the Trail.There were some very steep climbs and descents today...including a little rock scrambling on a rainy, wet Trail.I'm at the ski warming hut on Sugarloaf Mtn. It's the second highest Mtn in ME at over 4,200'.It was so foggy out that I was 50' from the huge warming hut and still couldn't see that building. It's cold out and the wind is blowing hard and it's raining. There are times when the clouds are blowing so thick and heavy that I can't see the rocks just 10' away from the warming hut.I saw Orion who I had met last year.I'm not sure why, but I ran out of water when I was climbing the last mountain. I must have been thirstier than I thought.
Date: 2003-08-07
From: Sugarloaf Mtn, ME

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

I slept on my Z-Rest on a wood floor last night and I slept okay.The weather cleared a bit this morning and I got some views from up here on top of Sugarloaf Mtn.I stopped at Spaulding Mtn Lean-to for a snack. Two sobos by the names of Eric and Tod were STILL in their tent when I arrived. We talked a little when they woke up.I hiked on down to Orbeton Stream and sat down in the middle of the stream and ate my lunch while I got a free bath.There was a very steep downhill just before Orbeton Stream and a steep up afterwards.I'm tenting near the lean-to which is about 3,000 feet in elevation. It's raining now at 6:30pm.Eric, Todd, Dr Dolittle, Family Man, Mukluk and Weaver are all here.
Date: 2003-08-08
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to, ME

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

Boy did it ever rain last night!! I actually had a river running under my tent.I ate breakfast and drank my coffee, then packed up a wet tent.I hiked over the Saddleback Range this morning. It was rainy, foggy and a lot of the Trail had little rivers running down the middle of them, but it was absolutely beautiful on the mountains!!I stopped for a short time on all three mountains, then hiked on down to Piazza Rock Lean-to and ate lunch.I got to Route 4 and hitched into Rangely, ME and had a BIG hamburger and fries. Dr Dolittle had a tuna melt.We hitched a ride back out to the trailhead and walked another 5 miles to this beautiful campsite next to a pond.I talked to two guys who were catching brook trout and after Dr Dolittle showed up, I ate dinner, then took a solo ride in a canoe that had been left on the shore of the pond.I set up a wet tent, but I'm feeling good.
Date: 2003-08-09
From: Little Swift River Pond Campsite, ME

To: Beamis Mtn Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 12.9

My tent was still wet when I packed it up this morning.I had breakfast and coffee, but was feeling sluggish when I started walking. I just couldn't get moving very well.Dr Dolittle and I stopped at Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to and I ate lunch.The sun actually came out, so I laid my tent out to dry for a while.I started feeling better and my hiking picked up to normal.We stopped at Route 17 and sat on a rock that was next to the road. We were hoping someone passing by in their car would feel sorry for us and offer an ice cold Coke. We were dreaming.It was very hot out. I got up to walk on and told Dr Dolittle that I'll bet there's a cooler on the other side of the road.I walked across the road and started down the hill when I spotted a cooler!! It was full of ice cold Cokes...and we had sat on the other side of the road for about 30 minutes.I grabbed one and ran back up the hill and held it up so Dr Dolittle could see it. She was over here drinking one in no time.I hiked through a cold rain and thunderstorm later in the day over some very slippery, wet rocks.It was beautiful on top of the mountain in the rain!!I hadn't thought much about it until I talked to another hiker about the rain. Out of the last 22 days, there has only been 3 days with no rain.I'm tenting near the lean-to.
Date: 2003-08-10
From: Beamis Mtn Lean-to, ME

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: light rain

I was tenting last night and the sky must have just opened up with tons of rain. There was more water in the montains than I've ever seen or walked through.I had breakfast and coffee and started walking at 7:20am.I realized right away that there was no way I was going to keep from walking through water in the trail, so I just walked in the middle of the trail. It was flowing like a river!! Parts of the trail had water flowing in it that came half way up to my knee.Everything was very slippery and I had to walk by some dropoffs and down one of the steepest mountains yet on this hike.I had met a trail maintainer on top of Old Blue Mtn who was checking on a crew that had been up there working for a week or so. When I got down to the road and started hitching into Andover with Dr Dolittle and her two dogs, I didn't think there was anyway anyone would pick up two wet, dirty hikers with two wet, dirty dogs, bet that maintainer pulled up in a small white car and figured a way to get all of us inside.His name was Milt and he took us to a couple local spots and showed us some nice waterfalls and a place called Devil's Den....a very fast running stream through a gorge. He then drove us to Pine Ellis Hostel in Andover and dropped us off.Paul and Irene are great hosts and even remembered Dr Dolittle from a hike in 1992. They remembered Tristen too...one of the two dogs that Dr Dolittle is walking with this year.I ate restaurant food twice this afternoon!!
Date: 2003-08-11
From: Andover, ME

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

I didn't sleep very well last night. I'm staying in a small travel trailer in the backyard of the Pine Ellis Hostel and there were no-seeums biting me most of the night.I got up early and walked up to the Citgo for coffee, then came back to the hostel and got my pack ready for a short 10 mile walk today.Paul made Colin, Moosie and Dr Dolittle some breakfast, which was very good!!Dr Dolittle left her dogs at the hostel and Paul took us all out to the trailhead and dropped us off.I hiked up a very steep Moody Mtn and on to the lean-to. We were all there and ate lunch.I walked on and ran into a hiker by the name of Tang. I had met earlier in the year when I was hiking in Georgia. It was great to see her again!!We talked a while. She was from the same area of Ohio I was born in. She told me about the best fried chicken place she had ever eaten at, and it wasn't too far from where my Mom and Dad still own a house. I'm staying at Pine Ellis one more night.
Date: 2003-08-12
From: Andover, ME

To: Bald Pate Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 8.4

I had breakfast at Pine Ellis again, then went and bought a couple sandwiches to pack out.Dr Dolittle, Moosie, Goldilocks and I got shuttled out to East B Hill Rd, then hiked down to Dunn Notch Falls and took a short break.I hiked on to Frye Notch Lean-to and ate lunch, then hiked over Baldpate Mtn and then on down towards Baldpate Lean-to.I ran into a guy that said he had seen a big bull moose up ahead. I walked on and was looking, but didn't see anything. The woods were very thick through there.I heard a branch crack off to my left. I dropped my pack and worked my way through the thick woods and came to an area where I could see a little ways. I looked up the mountain and saw a huge bull moose looking back at me...he was only about 10 yards away!!I heard Goldilocks coming down the mountain and called out to him. He came over and looked, then Moosie showed up and finally Dr Dolittle got to see him.We all walked on another 1/4 mile to the turnoff trail to Baldpate Lean-to and spent the night there.
Date: 2003-08-13
From: Bald Pate Lean-to, ME

To: Full Goose Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 12.0

Today started early...got up and had coffee, then Dr Dolittle and I were hiking by 6:30am.We hiked down through Grafton Notch and then way up to Speck Pond Campsite where we ate lunch.Next was down Mahoosic Arm and through Mahoosic Notch. I had promised Dr Dolittle that I would help her get her older dog through the Notch.That almost completely wore me out!! Her old dog was 14 years old and couldn't do the Notch at all. I had to pick him up and put him on top of any boulders, then climb over and get him down. That went on all the way through the Notch. I really felt sorry for the old dog because he was so worn out that he just wanted to lay down and go to sleep.It took 4 hours to get through the Notch!! I climbed up a steep mountain on the other side and set up my tent when I got to the lean-to, crawled in and went to sleep for the night.
Date: 2003-08-14
From: Full Goose Lean-to, ME

To: Trident Col Tentsite, NH
Miles today: 14.5

I'm in NH!! Finally made it out of Maine.I got up early to say goodbye to Goldilocks and Moosie when I heard them up, then I went back to sleep until almost 8am!!I didn't start walking till after 9am.I got a great night's sleep which I really needed.The weather was amazing!! The sun came out near the NH border!! It's done nothing but rain all the way through Maine, so it was a pleasant surprise to actually see sun and start to dry out.There was only about 3 days all the way through Maine with no rain.I climbed Goose Eye Mtn this morning. There were some small rock scrambles and many beautiful views.I stopped for lunch on the border and said hello to Pamela. Two trees knocked together right when I pulled her picture out, so I knew she was there.I climbed Mt Success and then stopped at Gentian Pond Lean-to for a break.I hiked on to Trident Col Tentsite and I'm the only one here tonight.I saw a short 2 foot long snake today, but he was fat!!
Date: 2003-08-15
From: Trident Col Tentsite, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up fairly early because I knew today was going to be a town day...with food!!I heard a couple critters fighting last night and heard a moose walk nearby this morning.I ate breakfast and drank my coffee, then was on my way.It was a fairly easy hike. I almost stepped on a snake.I got to the trailhead and the lady at the B&B across the strett said that I was welcome to use her phone to call for a ride.I called The Barn Hostel and a guy was right up and gave me a ride to town.Moosie and Goldilocks were already here. I got cleaned up and we went up to the Chinese buffet...I needed food!!We borrowed the three bicycles from The Barn and rode all around town. They talked me into walking the 21 miles with them tomorrow over the Carters, from Gorham to Pinkham Notch. That section was the toughest on the Trail for me last year.Scavenger was running the hostel...he is a good guy.
Date: 2003-08-16
From: Gorham, NH

To: Pinkham Notch, NH
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: fog

Moosie, Goldilocks and I got up at 5am and went to Welch's for breakfast.Paul, the owner of The Barn, shuttled us up to the trailhead at 6am and we started walking at 6:30am.We walked by Rattle River Shelter and then the three or four summits of Carter Mtn, which were up to 4,800 feet high.We did lots of climbing and even some small rock scrambles. It was a tough day, but we were having lots of fun leaving Moosie behind.I stopped by Carter Notch Hut and looked up in the register when I was here last year...8/25/02.I hiked up to Wildcat Mtn and then almost 2 miles of very steep downhill and finally got to Pinkham Notch.There was a note waiting for me on a post by the Trail when I got to Pinkham Notch. Moosie had some foot problems and bailed on a side trail earlier.I found them and we hitched a ride back to The Barn in Gorham,
Date: 2003-08-17
From: Pinkham Notch, NH

To: Pinkham Notch, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I woke up this morning at The Barn after a good night's sleep. I went to Welch's Restaurant and had breakfast and coffee, then on my way back to the hostel, I ran into Dr Dolittle and Goldilocks and went back to Welch's with them. I had more coffee while they ate. Walkabout joined us and we ended up staying there over two hours!!I met Garcia today. He drove all of us down to the Chinese buffet for lunch.I walked across the street and checked into Northern Motel, then took a 2 or 3 hour nap. That felt great!!Moosie, Goldilocks and I went to Mr Pizza for dinner. I saw Trail Frog and TwoFiddy there. I had met Trail Frog down in Georgia on the first day of her nobo thru hike, so it was great seeing her again.I made some phone calls tonight and packed my backpack up for the next section of Trail through the Whites.
Date: 2003-08-18
From: Pinkham Notch, NH

To: Osgood Tentsite, NH
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: light rain

I woke up, then got Moosie and Goldilocks up. They were staying in the room next to mine.We started walking up towards the restaurant for breakfast, but I decided to take care of my mail first at the PO.I mailed a box home for Flash. He left before the PO opened.I mailed my stuff ahead to Glencliff, so I wouldn't have to carry some un-needed items through the Whites. Then I went and ate breakfast.Dr Dolittle sent word that she was still at The Barn. I went to see her and she was all upset because her FrogTogs hadn't showed up at the PO yet.Garcia dropped Dr Dolittle off at the trailhead up from Gorham, then took me out to Pinkham Notch and dropped me off. I ran into Flash again. He's sure not moving along very fast for running the Trail.I did the short walk to Osgood Tentsite and got rained on about half the time. It wasn't supposed to rain today.I'm in my tent early at 6:30pm.
Date: 2003-08-19
From: Osgood Tentsite, NH

To: Lake Of The Clouds Hut, NH
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

There was two guys that came in after I was in my tent and set up on the large tent platform. I met them this morning...Big Red and Strapper.I had breakfast and coffee and made the big climb up Madison. I stopped at Madison Hut and had 4 pieces of raisin bread that was left over there from breakfast, then walked on.I had run into Chief and Liteshoe who were both heading north. I had met both of them near the beginning of my hike last year down in Georgia.We sat down and talked until we got too cold to stay anymore. The winds had been blowing hard all day and the temperature was in the low 50's.I climbed up to Mt Wsahington and hung out for a while and ate some food.I hiked on the Lake of the Clouds Hut and paid $10.00 to sleep on the dining room table.I met Lucky Linda here who had hiked through in '95. I talked to her a while. It's 8:30pm...I wish these people would go to bed so I can get some sleep.
Date: 2003-08-20
From: Lake Of The Clouds Hut, NH

To: North of Zealand Falls, NH
Miles today: 20.6

Last night was terrible with noise all night long at Lake Of The Clouds Hut. First, the croo was talking loud in the kitchen until 11:30pm, then some guy with sleep apnea was gasping for air all night long.I left at 6:30am and hiked to Mizpah Hut and had bread and coffee, then hiked on to Webster Cliffs and ran into Hippie Longstockings again. I ran into her on my first practice hike in 2001, then a couple times in 2002 and her she is again.After spending time catching up with her, I walked down Webster Cliffs to Crawford Notch and headed east on the highway to Wiley House. I had a large lunch there, then hiked on to Ethan Pond Campsite and signed the register there.I hiked on and started looking for a tentsite along the way. There was NO WAY I was going to stay in another hut. I found a good site north of Zealand Falls and set up my tent for the night...and went right to sleep.