morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-09-10
From: Beemis Stream 

To: Rangley, Maine 
Miles today: 13.9

Today was another fabulous day on the trail. As consistent readers of this journal have figured out by now, not ALL of my days out here have been fabulous - especially in New Hampshire, but Maine seems to be rather an improvement.The trail today involved only one up, first thing this morning, and then a lot of mostly level trail, and the treadway itself was also mostly decent. As a result, I was able to do the 14 miles into Rangley in just 7 hours.I got a ride almost immediately, and my first stop was a restaurant for pizza. I then hit the outfitters for a new pair of pants, as the extra large size I've been wearing had gotten a bit baggy looking. I'm not sure why, but I suspect it has something to do with the fact that I have lost 50 pounds since I started this little walk in the woods.I then got laundry done, hit the IGA for supplies, and was at the hostel by 5:30. After a shower and getting my supplies organized and repacked, I got a shuttle back into town for dinner. I was able to get a cell phone signal, so I called my brother to wish him a happy birthday, which is tomorrow. Unfortunately, he now shares his birthday with the remembrance of the tragedy of 9/11.He was happy, though, since his home team - the number 4 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes - were playing number 2 ranked Texas, and by half time, OSU was leading. I have no idea who won, as it was already past my bedtime.Finally, I have decided it is time to begin the official countdown to the summit of Mt. Katahdin, which is now just 220 miles further north. My tentative hike plan calls for 3 days from Rangley to Stratton (32 miles), 5 more from Stratton to Monson (70 miles), 7 days to do the 100 mile wilderness (100 miles), leaving only 18 miles to the summit, and since the climb up the big K is, itself, 5 miles, it should only take two days for those last 18 miles. Sooooo, if all goes well, I will reach the summit on September 27. If I can do the 100 mile wilderness in 6 days, it might be day earlier, but it's looking like it will only be another 17 days or so!Of course, I still have that little five state, 500 mile section to complete, but at least I will sort of get to "graduate" on time, even if I have a few credits to make up before I get my diploma. So....only 17 more days, and 220 more miles to the big K. Let the countdown begin!Stay tuned, LonghaulSent via PocketMail Email Anywhere www.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-11
From: Rangley, Maine 

To: Orbeton stream
Miles today: 13.4

Another fabulous day on the trail! Day 17 of the countdown to Katahdin.The weather today was incredible - clear blue skies, a nice breeze, temperature in the 50's, perfect for hiking.There were also fabulous vistas from the mountain tops, especially Saddleback. There were several day hikers out enjoying the trail, as well as our hoard of northbound through hikers.I was also pleased that the trails were decent, not too hard on my knees, and none that threatened life or limb. In some of the steep up sections, there were even rebar steps put into the rock - what I've come to refer to as tourist trails.As a result, I made reasonably good time, with a 1.3 mph average.Unfortunately, when I arrived at the Orbeton River, where I planned to spend the night, there were no good, established campsites. I did, however, manage to find a spot that would accomodate my tent, and possibly one other if you kicked the moose poop out of the way, and decided it was just going to have to do.Hareball turned up 40 minutes later, so at least I'm not camping in the Maine woods by myself. She just kicked the moose poop out of the way and set up her tent.Only 16 more days, and 207 more miles ....Stay tuned, LonghaulSent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-12
From: Orbeton Stream

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Another fabulous day on the trail - day number 16 of the countdown to Katahdin.It was very windy overnight at my camp site, and the temperature was unseasonably warm this morning, so it kind of felt like rain. The wind stayed with us until this afternoon, but the skies cleared and it actually got pretty hot, especially coming down from Spaulding Mountain. That was also quite a steep down in place, but not really hazardous - unless you didn't pay attention to where your next step is supposed to go, in which case, you could take a serious fall.Late in the day, just before my last uphill, I ran into a family of five - mom, dad, and 3 kids who are hiking the AT together. They started last year at Springer, but the mom got really sick, so they had to drop off. They are back this year to finish up. The will be camping here at Cirque, so I may get a chance to find out more about them, which I would like. I've got a lot of questions for them. I know the kids are being home-schooled on the trail, but I wonder about carrying all those text books. I mean, my daughter's book bag alone weighs more that my pack, and the older girl in this family is in the same grade!Tomorrow, I'll be going into Stratton to resupply. It will be a relatively short hike day, about 7 miles, but consistent with my hike plan - which means only 15 more days, and 195 miles to Katahdin!!Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-13
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: Stratton, Maine
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: broken clouds

Another fabulous day on the trail - day 15 in the countdown to Katahdin.As usual, I was the first one out of camp this morning, and - along with Captain America, who showed up at the road shortly after me and caught the same hitch to town with me - the first one into Stratton.The trail was not bad, but it took me longer than I would have liked due to all the rocks and roots. It's just not possible to go very fast if you can't get into a hiking rhythm. Still, with a 7AM start, I was in town by noon, and my first stop - after checking into the Stratton Hotel hiker hostel - was the restaurant just across the street. I had the fried chicken diner, with cole slaw, green beans, curly fries, and baked beans. Frankly, it was very good, but it was filling and I've eaten worse on the trail!To make up for it, I adjourned to the grocery across the street for a pint of Ben and Jerry's. Life is good.My next challenge of the hike plan will be to get myself from here to Monson, Maine - 70 miles north - in five days. In the way, starting day one, is the Bigelow range. For openers, it's about 3,500 feet up starting right after breakfast tomorrow morning. I may only be able to do 10-11 miles tomorrow, which will require higher mileage days later to get my average up to the 14 miles per day that will be needed to do 70 miles in 5 days.One of the more interesting parts of the journey will be getting across the Kennebeck River. It is too dangerous to ford (hikers have died trying) so there is a canoe ferry service available. But only from 9-11AM and 2-4PM, so you need to try to time your arrival at the ford accordingly. Yeah, right. I'm lucky if I can figure out what DAY I'm going to get there! Oh well, there hasn't been a challenge this trail has thrown at me that I haven't been able to handle. Certainly no need to worry about the ferry schedule. It should be an interesting day. No one, up until now, has carried me and my pack anywhere up the trail before. I can't wait!Only 15 more days, and 188 more miles to Katahdin.Stay tuned, LonghaulSent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-14
From: Stratton, Maine

To: Safford Notch Campsite
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: 0

Day 14 of my countdown to Katahdin - another good day on the trail, though not as long as I had hoped.Despite an early departure from Stratton this morning, I was just not able to do the 15 miles I was hoping I could do. I wasn't too surprised, however, as there were a couple of major climbs today. What really did it, however, was the subsequent 2000 foot descent from Avery Peak. It was steep and rocky, which simultaneously slows my speed to a crawl and kills my knees.So, after just 10.4 miles, I called it a day, and headed into a campsite. To make it to Monson in five days, I'll need to average 14 miles a day, but I should be able to make that up tomorrow. The elevation guide shows that it is almost flat, once we get over the 1000 foot Little Bigelow, so I'm hoping for an 18 mile day. We'll see what happens. Flat is one thing - I also need treadway that isn't all rocks in order to get up much speed.If I'm able to do 18 miles, then I would only have 7 or 8 to the ferry at the Kennebec River - so I might be able to catch the ferry during the morning session. For today, I'm mostly just trying to enjoy my hike - taking time to appreciate the vistas, keeping an eye out for moose, calling home from a mountain top to hear my wife's voice, etc. With luck, I'll summit in less thn two weeks. The clock is tickin' - and I'm going to be ready for at least a short break with my family. Lots to look forward to!Tomorrow will be day 13 of my countdown to Katahdin - with only 177 more miles to go.Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-15
From: Safford Notch Campsite

To: Carry Pond Leanto
Miles today: 12.2

This was another good day on the trail, day 13 of the countdown to Katahdin. It would have been better if I could have made higher miles, and especially since the trail was actually reasonably level today, but the weather intervened.In fact, the rains came last night. I was camping on a wooden tent platform in my Big Agnes, snug as a bug in a rug, when some late arrivals came in from the trail and began setting up their tents. One intrepid hiker, Navigator, decided to join me on the tent platform but cowboy camp - i.e., just layout his sleep pad and sleeping bag "under the stars", and sleep without his tent. So, when the rains came, I quickly moved my stuff to one side of the tent and invited him to join me - which he gratefully did. Of course, with the rain, I still got a later start than normal. And the first climb of the day took longer than I was hoping for, but after that the trail got better. I did the first five miles in about 3 hours, and then joined the gang at the next shelter for a morning snack.After that, there were 7 more miles to the next shelter, where I planned to have a late lunch and then push on. I was able to do the 7 miles in 3.5 hours, or 2 mph, which was great.By the time I got there, Cuppa Joe, Touk, and Tink were already there, and Gypsy Lulu arrived shortly thereafter. While it had been raining off and on all morning, and we were all pretty much soaked, it suddenly started to just pour!Pushing on would mean that I would get closer to the ferry crossing of the Kennebec River, but would not be able to get as far as the next shelter, so I would have to stealth camp. Somehow, the thought of hiking through a real downpour, and then setting up tents in the rain, did not appeal to any of us. So, while it was only about 3:30, it was pretty much unanimous - we all decided to stay put.Okay, so now, plan "A" for tomorrow is to get the 14 miles done to the ferry by 2PM, the first of the supposed afternoon ferry boat rides, and then try to push on another 6 miles to the next shelter. That would be a 20 mile day (my first since Vermont!) but would give me 42 miles in 3 days, making up for the less than 14 miles of yesterday and today. Plan "B", which will depend on a combination of factors (the weather, the trail, and any hitches with the ferry) would involve bailing out just after the river crossing to the very small town of Caratunk, Maine for a hot shower, a dry room, and a restaurant meal. That will, of course, mean 6 days to Monson instead of 5, but I might be able to make that up by doing six days instead of 7 in the 100 mile wilderness. Or not, in which case I might have to summit on the 28th instead of the 27th. We'll see....For now, I'm going to remain an optimist and say that tomorrow will be day 12 of the countdown to Katahdin - with only 165 miles to go.   Decisions, decisions...Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-16
From: Carry Pond Leanto

To: Pleasant Pond Leanto
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: moderate rain

Another fabulous day on the trail, in every respect - and day 12 of my countdown to Katahdin.I was up extra early this morning, hoping to be able to pull off my first 20 mile day in weeks. The only hitch, and this is the first time this has happened to me, was that - in the dark, and even with my headlamp - I could not for the life of me locate my food bag. I knew generally where I'd hung it, but the precise tree did not seem to be where I had left it. That cost me nearly half an hour delay, as it did not finally "materialize" until almost 6:30, when there was actually enough light penatrating the forest canopy to al;ow me to see it. C'est la vie.The good news is that the trail today was wonderful- mostly flat for the first 10 miles, a bit rocky with ups and downs in the next 4 miles - down to the Kennebec River, but with a treadway that basically let me get up a full stride and keep it - in rhythm - for miles at a time. What a joy! I had forgotten what it was like to do that, and frankly was beginning to wonder whether the knees were still up to doing a 20 miler even under ideal circumstances. It turns out that they are, much to my relief. It augers well for the amount of time it may take me to hike those last 500 miles from Massachusetts to PennMar next month.Not only did I do 20 miles today, I did them in record time. With only 6 hours and 15 minutes for the first 14 miles, I ended up being the first one from the shelter to make it to the Kennebec River and was thus first in line for the ferry. While I waited for the afternoon operation to begin, I ate a leisurely lunch and relaxed for about an hour.Once the ferry (okay, that's using the term loosely- a canoe, actually, that can take 2 hikers and their packs across at a time) deposited me on the northern shore, I immediately set off for the Pleasant Pond Leanto - a 6 mile trip.Once again, the trail was pretty level and not too rocky, though there were more boggy spots than this morning, and I made excellent time - again more than 2 mph. In fact, my total actual hike time for the 20 miles was only about 9 hours, and I was into camp by 5:15.The only bad thing was that everyone else seems to have decided to go into the small town of Caratunk to resupply (or to hit the local bar), so I was not just the first into the shelter tonight, so far I am the only one. Since it now after dark, and it is starting to rain, I rather doubt that anyone else is going to show up. Oh well. They are all generally faster than me, so I suspect they will catch up in the next day or two, and we'll all meet up again in Monson.Meanwhile, I am enjoying some trail magic in the form of homemade peanut butter cookies left by one of this year's through hikers who had to get off the trail due to a stress fracture, but whose husband is still hiking, and she - meanwhile - is busy doing trail magic for people like me. VERY much appreciated! Life is good.Tomorrow is day 11 of the countdown to Katahdin - with only 145 miles to go! Stay tuned, LonghaulSent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-17
From: Pleasant Pond Leanto

To: Moxie Bald Leanto
Miles today: 13.1

Today was a pretty good day on the trail - day 11 of my countdown. It would have be better, however, if it had not poured rain on me this morning, soaking me to the bone from the first 5 minutes of my hike, and making the rocky outcroppings of the two mountains I had to summit very wet and very slippery.Somehow, hiking all day in boots that go "squish" with every step is just not my idea of a good time. Then there are all the bogs to wade through and the steep downs that require extra care, which - of course - slows me down quite a bit.Still, despite the hazzards, I was able to meet my goal of doing at least 13 miles, setting me up for a shot at getting into Monson tomorrow - as planned, in a total of 5 days.I would like to have gone further, and stealth camped along a stream a few more miles along the trail, but in the rain I just don't feel like it. I really prefer the comforts of a shelter to get my self organized in before setting up my tent, and for cooking dinner out of the rain, and then there's the privy (versus a cold, wet log in the rain....), so I decided that 13 miles was going to have be good enough for today.Tomorrow will be a long day - roughly 18 miles into Monson, but I am less concerned about the distance, and more concerned about two streams I will have to cross, one of them 50 feet wide that "can be tricky during periods of heavy rain" - what, you mean like the remnants of the most recent hurricane that has been dropping rain on me for the past 24 hours??? Oh Yea. Just what I wanted: two tricky river fordings between me and town. What's next, I wonder. Oh, right - the hundred mile wilderness. I love this little walk in the woods. Never a dull moment...Tomorrow is day 10 in my countdown to Katahdin - only 132 miles to go! Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-19
From: Monson, Maine

To: Zero Day In Monson
Miles today: 0.0

No hiking today. I still didn't get to sleep in, as breakfast is served at 6AM, and you miss it if you sleep past 6:30. And you don't want to miss breakfast at the Shaw's. You order by the number of eggs you want, and that's also how many servings of each other item you get. So, being rather hungry this morning, I asked for a "four by - over easy". I got 4 eggs, four sausages, four bacon, four pieces of french toast, and a large serving of hash browns. Burp. I wasn't hungrey again until dinner time!Still, it was a leisurely day, complete with an early afternoon nap. Mostly I just tried to dry out - my shoes, my tent, my clothes, etc., eat a lot, and get resupplied for the 7 days I figure it will take me to hike the 100 mile wilderness. This is the part of the AT where (allegedly), there is no place to bail out or to resupply, so you are not supposed to start without enough food to last for whatever number of days it will take you. (More about the realities later!)In addition to the nap, pizza, a cheese steak sandwich, and Ben and Jerry's ice cream, there was also a football game on TV. Hard to get back to the trail after a town stop like this....Still, only 9 more days, and 115 miles to Katahdin - including the wilderness, which starts at O'dark thirty tomorrow morning. Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-20
From:  Monson, Maine

To: Long Pond Stream Leanto
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

This was a long day, and one that took a lot out of me - a phenomenon noted by those I was hiking with as well. I think some of it had to do with a certain nervous tension about river crossings, but the trail was also a lot of smaller ups and downs, lots of bogs, lots of rocks, which always makes for slow going and thus a long day. It didn't help that the skies were grey and and overcast, with occasional showers.HareBall and I were going to take the detour around the first two crossings - recommended when the water is too high, but the river was down and the side trail looked pretty miserable, so we decided to go for it.The first one had a rope strung across it - presumably for safety, and I tried to use it but found it not very helpful, causing me to slip and sit hard into the water. But I made it across safely, which is the important thing. Of course, our boots, socks, pants, etc., are then soaked, but that's life here on the trail in Maine!The second crossing was not as bad - wider, but not as deep, so we did fine there. The third one, just before camp, was also okay to cross, but once again, everything gets wet, and things like boots and socks don't dry out very fast out here on the trail. I can think of lots of things more fun than slipping my feet into cold wet socks and then wet boots as a start to my day, but it's all part of the experience, so I'll stop my complaining now... grumble, grumble.Tomorrow, there are no streams to ford (yea!) but it's back to steep ups and downs, beginning with a 2000 foot up to the summit of Barren Mountain. The good news is that I've planned a relatively short (10 mile) day, knowing what those steep ups and downs do to my knee.At this point, I only have 8 more days and 99 miles to Katahdin.Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-21
From: Long Pond Stream Leanto

To: Chairback Gap Leanto
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today is my oldest son's birthday. Fortunately, I was able to get a cell phone signal yesterday so I could give him my personal best wishes sort of in person, but I still wish I could be there today to celebrate with him.Not that our hike was all that bad, but my right knee is not getting any better. I'm reasonably confident it will get me to Katahdin, but the 500 miles from Cheshire, Massachesetts, back to PennMar...well, let's see. I'll worry about that later.They say that the first half of the 100 mile wilderness is the hard part - that it gets easier after the first 50 miles as the terraine then drops down to a almost consistent 1000 foot elevation and stays there until you get to "the big one". I hope so! It's not just the ups and downs, but more thje bogs that Maine is so famous for that are wearing me out. The good thing is the company, espcially Mouth and those hiking as part of his group. They follow a different drummer in terms of speed and distances, and spend more time in towns than me, but I've generally been in the neighborhood with them since New Hampshire. Hope to summit Katahdin with them, but let's see. Mouth and I were together that first nght out of Springer, at Hawk Mt. shelter in Georgia last March 13, so that would be cool. We'll see.... Only 7 days and 86 miles to Katahdin.Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-09-22
From: Chairback Gap Leanto

To: Sidney Tappan Campsite
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

This was a good day on the trail. For the first time in awhile, the sun actually came out for a bit. Most of the day, we followed a pretty (and fast moving) mountain stream as we climbed toward it's source up on Gulf Hagas Mountain. It was a relatively gentle up all the way, and we only had to ford one stream before we began our climb.The good news was that the water level was low enough, and the stream bottom smooth enough, that I could wear my camp shoes across instead of getting my boots and socks soaked again. There are actually starting to dry out after two days, so I didn't want to have to begin that process all over again. We're staying tonight - me, Hare Ball and Thrifty - at a nice campsite that seems to have a fair amount of moose activity nearby, judging from the tracks and the amount of moose poop. We are all still hoping to get a photo of a big bull moose, but no luck yet, and we're running out of time.I did see a number of woodpeckers today, Downy mostly, and heard a Pilliated woodpecker, but mostly it just the Chickadees you hear. They'e the black capped, not the Carolina ones we have near my home in Virginia. The call is essentially the same, but it's slower up here. I think it's because it's colder. Fall has definitely arrived, morning temperatures are close to the 30's.Only 6 more days, and 77 more miles to Katahdin.Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com