morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-20
From: Rattle River Shelter

To: Gorham, NH - Rte2
Miles today: 1.9
Weather: fog

An easy walk and hitch into town allowed this to be a true Nero Day. Gorham is spread out, so you end up walking more then planned to get all the town stuff accomplished - breakfast, PO, laundry, grocery store, meals, etc. FB was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and immediately started antibiotic treatment. He also found out that his 93 year old mother died which meant he was going back to Michigan in the morning. He plans to return in 6 days. Boom - just like that - all your plans change and you're off the trail.A nasty weather system with lots of rain was forecasted for tomorrow. Even though Ace and DF arrived in Gorham later in the evening, I had already set my mind to push off in the morning. I didn't want to hang around town any longer.
Date: 2009-08-21
From: Gorham, NH - Rte2

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

The forecast was correct, it started raining in the afternoon while still 3 miles from the shelter. The fir and spruce tree branches droop over the footpath making it difficult to stay on the trail, much less see where to place your feet. In the meantime, they act like brushes in a car wash, giving you a wet fragrant scrub as you hike along.At the shelter, I met Snickers, a section hiker from NYC planning to do the upcoming Mahoosuc Notch mountain range. True to his trail name, he dispensed mini-snickers to thru-hikers that took the time to meet him.
Date: 2009-08-23
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Baldpate Lean-To
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

What a day !I loved crossing the Mahoosuc Notch - giant boulders left from the receding glaciers. It took Snickers and I just over 2 hours to cover the 1 mile in this enchanted obstacle course. It was great having a companion to share the fun. Then up the steep Mahoosuc Arm; a quick refreshing dip in Speck Pond, then down into Grafton Notch before climbing up to Baldpate Shelter. It though it was a drippy misty day it was awesome, thoroughly enjoyed it.At the shelter was a middle aged female SoBo hiker who was visibly distraught having crossed Baldpate Mtn in the clouds. Apparently, she got lost in the fog and couldn't find the rock cairns that mark the trail. A hiker can be just 10 yards off the trail and not see it in the fog. She had cried out for help and fortunately some heard her and helped her get back onto the trail. These are not forgiving mountains.
Date: 2009-08-24
From: Baldpate Lean-To

To: Andover, Me
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

I'm celebrating 5 months on the trail today;I started March 24th from Springer Mtn GA and I'm now in Andover, ME - whopee!! A pint of Ben & Jerry ice cream.Today's hike was another rugged section. Baldpate is a solid granite slab on top with very steep ascents & descents in the rain. Unfortunately, no views from the top. I keep running into my old hiking buddies... tonight was Ahab, Brown Cow, Brown Chicken. Yesterday was Yak and Red.(In summary, I've completed the White Mtns of NH - awesome with really good weather. I'm now in the rugged Mahoosuc Mtn range and will be in difficult sections for the next week or so.)
Date: 2009-08-25
From: Andover, Me

To: South Arm Black Brook
Miles today: 10.1

Finally a clear /cool day with good hiking across Sawyer Notch & Moody Mtn with some decent views at the tops. I found a nice tent site along with Snickers and built a campfire to keep us company. Along the way today, we crossed another College Freshmen Orientation group going south. This type of bonding is quite the trend with ivy league schools. Perhaps they will learn about the "bonding" that takes place on the A.T. over the course of 2,100 miles.
Date: 2009-08-26
From: South Arm Black Brook

To: Bemis Stream
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Climbed "Old Blue" this morning; not as "kick-butt" as Dave (Myan Indian from Andover) said it would be.. be it did get my heart pounding with its 2,200 ft of elevation gain. Today was cloudy with a cold front coming in, so not good views from the top. But enjoyed the company of Snickers and built another campfire at the stream where we were joined by Cloudbuster and Colonel Mustard's late arrival.
Date: 2009-08-27
From: Bemis Stream

To: Piazza Rock
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was relatively easy hiking past pretty ponds, some with canoes available for the hikers (courtesy of MATC). Especially nice was Little Swift Pond Campsite. I took advantage of the road crossing to Rangely to hitch into the IGA grocery store for resupplies - $59 wow!! - and back on the trail to the first shelter thereby avoiding a full town day. Piazza Rock was my first attempt at setting up my tent on a platform. It is not a freestanding tent and requires staking the corners. Nail, planks and rocks served the same purpose on the platform and best of all... it was perfectly level. There was another college group down at the shelter making lots of noise, so I was happy to be camped uphill away from the noise. Leon (from Tallahassee, FL) and his great dog, Halifax got stuck in the shelter; hope they had earplugs.
Date: 2009-08-28
From: Piazza Rock

To: Orbeton Stream Falls
Miles today: 11.8

A beautiful clear & cool day for hiking after dipping down to 37F last night. I climbed Saddleback Mtn and this time was treated to great views; too back Snickers had to go back to work. He would have enjoyed this section for the views. I took my time at the multiple summits, eating, resting and just taking in the scenery. Plus my pack was very heavy from the resupply stop at Rangely which meant very slow decents trying to protect my old knees. On the plus side, I enjoyed fresh apple, cheese and summer sausage snacks along with Fritoes and Peppridge Farm cookies for lunch on the summits.At the end of the day, I ended up tenting with Leon and his dog Halifax at a sweet stealth site next to a pristine waterfall. He told me about the annual Florida Folk Festival on Memorial Day weekend. Lots of people tenting with bluegrass and folk music filling the night air along with campfire smoke and good food smells. This sounds like a **must do**.
Date: 2009-08-29
From: Orbeton Stream Falls

To: Crocker Cirque
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

It started raining at 2AM and the temperature must have dropped 10 degrees. Neither Leon or I wanted to pack up in the rain so we both stayed in our tents til 8AM when the rain let up somewhat... time to get moving. The winds blew a cold drizzle all day. Apparently "tropical depression" Danny had travelled up the east coast and was pumping this rain in from the Atlantic along with some cold Canadian air. Leon and Halifax holed up at Spaudling Mtn lean-to but I just couldn't sit in a cold drafty lean-to all afternoon, so I pushed on. Anyway, I hoped that it might be less windy and perhaps a little warmer further down the mountain. I still had a heavy pack so took it very slow on the steep & wet decent. As it turns out, the chill factor was better at Crocker Cirque, which I had to myself as no-one else was stupid enough to hike thru this weather to a wilderness tent site. The tent kept me warm and damp but not wet. I slept soundly.
Date: 2009-08-30
From: Crocker Cirque

To: Stratton ME
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: broken clouds

Knowing there is a town stop has a way of getting you going in the morning, even in the rain. It started clearing about the time that I started hiking.. finally; but it was a cold 37F. I was able to catch a quick hitch into the little town of Stratton where I spread out all my wet gear in the breezy sunshine breaking up the thick cloud cover. The Stratton Motel & Hostel was real nice as was the little town. Everything I needed was either next door or across the street. I decided to use the hostel kitchen instead of eating out for dinner. For desert, the menu included a fresh baked strawberry rhubbarb pie from the local store, a'la mode. My gear had dried out in the sun, I had done my laundry, eaten lots of high calory food - life was good as I settled in with other hikers to watch a DVD movie. I called Linda for her 60th B-Day.
Date: 2009-08-31
From: Stratton ME

To: Bigelow Mtn Campsite
Miles today: 8.0

Enjoyed a late start from the hostel after cooking eggs, bacon, toast, OJ, etc. which I shared with other greatful hikers. I was feeling good; plus you can't take it with you.The Bigelow Mtn Range is beautiful; the forests are thick with spruce, fir and pine; the footpath soft and spongy - not too knarly w/ rocks & roots. It was a cool breezy day as I found my campsite in the shallow hollow between West Peak and Avery Peak at 3,850 ft elevation - brrrr! I expected low 30's tonight with lots of breezy windchill so I was wearing all my clothes. This would be the last 4k ft mtn until Katahdin. It was just 2 miles before I would cross the 2,000 mile post.I was running out of propane, so fabricated an alcohol stove which was used to cook Sheila's jumbalaya dinner - mmmm. Just the tummy warmer for a cold night.
Date: 2009-09-01
From: Bigelow Mtn Campsite

To: West Carry Pond Hut
Miles today: 14.7

The "Bigs" are great! So far, this ranks as one of my top five favorite sections. On the south side side of the mountains you look back on Sugarloaf Ski Resort and on the north stretches Flagstaff Lake. This afternoon, after descending little Bigelow, the trail wound along the shore of West Carry Pond. My mind drifted back to my youth when I would spend summers on Pushaw Pond near Old Town, ME.; the waves lapping the rocky shore and the sound of water slapping against a canoe hull; the smell of balsalm firs; the cool crisp breeze and the low reflecting light from the sun through crystal clear deep blue skies.At the shelter, I finally met "Braid" who I had heard about and read about for some time from our trail community. Yes, he really did sport a single long hair braid down his back - 59 year old retired arts teacher from Raleigh, NC. After dinner, we sat around a campfire while Braid played the harmonica and tried to get us (Adam, Half-Way, Man of Lamancha, Pansa and others) to sing along with the song he wrote, "I am a hiker on the Appalachin Trail, that's how I got my name". A wickedly good day!
Date: 2009-09-02
From: West Carry Pond Hut

To: Pierce Pond
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

It was another gorgeous section, passing sandy beaches at East Carry Pond along the easy trailbed to Pierce Pond where I arrived at 2PM; early enough for a refreshing swim across the pond outlet searching for the fish camp. Harrison's fish camp is actually located about half a mile down the outlet stream. Pierce Pond is actually a very large lake extending 8 miles up to the north of the end where the shelter is located. There are two fish camps on the lake and that's it; otherwise no other structures on this pristine lake. According to Harrison, the best fishing is in June when the mayfly eggs cause the trout to go into a feeding frenzy.Amazing... there were 18 thru-hikers staying at Pierce Pond tonight including such notables as Braid, Half-Way, Bunyon, Kinoti, Ahab, Brown Chicken, Brown Cow, Cloud, Cloudbuster, Col. Mustard, Hammock and 6 more. Hammock was packing his mandolin which along with Braid's harp meant good music for the evening.(Check out the extra pictures of this magical evening at Pierce Pond)
Date: 2009-09-03
From: Pierce Pond

To: Near Moxie Pond
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

In the morning, we packed quickly and hiked downstream to Tim Harrison's fish camp for the 'famous' $10 breakfast - 12 pancakes (combination of blueberries, apples or rasberries), eggs, juice, tea - WoW! While waiting for breakfast, we relaxed on the porch overlooking the trout stream while hummingbirds buzzed the half dozen feeds hanging from the porch beams. In the ecclectic game room, I won my best out of three ping pong match - go Cruiser.Shortly after leaving Pierce Pond and Harrison's we came to the Kennebec River where the A.T. officially uses a canoe to ferry everyone across; it even has a white blaze painted on it. Check out the extra pictures.Sticking with Braid & Bunyon for the day, we ended up stealth camping near Moxie Pond; not our best stealth site but it worked out.
Date: 2009-09-04
From: Near Moxie Pond

To: Horseshoe Canyon
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Up and over Moxie Bald Mtn, then lunch at the lean-to which had a picnic table located right in front of Bald Mtn Pond. Gorgeous spot for another refreshing swim after lunch followed by a nice little nap in the sunshine. In the afternoon, we hiked along the Piscataquis River before fording it and heading uphill to Horseshoe Canyon Shelter where just the 3 of us spent the night (Braid, Bunyon and Cruiser) - sweet. Along the way, I saw another cow moose and a covey of ruffled grouse.
Date: 2009-09-05
From: Horseshoe Canyon

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: few clouds

Enjoyed the easy 9 mile hike along brooks, stream, ponds to ME15 where I was able to catch an easy hitch into Monson. Braid stayed at the Lake Shore House but I had made reservations at Shaws. Both lodgings were great. Rebecca runs the Lake Shore House which also has a super pub/restaurant right on the lake. She was helpful to everyone, whether you stayed at her place or night. Shaws is classic hostel and has been thee place to stay for many years.The section from Stratton to Monson is now my most favorite section on the A.T. especially from Stratton to Kennebec River (there's just nothing in Caratunk, the next town).
Date: 2009-09-06
From: Monson, ME

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero'd along with Braid & Bunyon. We enjoyed the family style dinner last night (stuffed pork, mashed taters, peas, carrots, zuchini casserole, baked apples a-la-mode) and AYCE breakfast at Shaws - mmmm! Spent most of the day in Greenville, ME at the base of Moosehead Lake - the largest lake contained in a single state east of the Mississippi - 37 miles long - a beautiful location for tourists / fishermen / snowmobilers / canoeing / etc. I bought a new pair of Solomon hiking shoes for the rest of my journey including the rocks of PA. I also provisioned for the "100 mile wilderness", our next section before Katahdin, 6 nights. And of course a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. A fun day in town.
Date: 2009-09-07
From: Monson, ME

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

Left Monson and started the 100mile wilderness this morning. It was a tough knarly hike with lots of rocks/roots and up/downs. Having a full pack didn't help; I was very tired at the end of the day. Braid & Bunyon made it to the shelter as well, but late in the day. I saw several younger hikers, staying at Shaws, who were 'slack-packing' this section. How can you slack-pack the wilderness? It ain't right. Oh well... hike your own hike.
Date: 2009-09-08
From: Long Pond Stream

To: West Branch of Pleasant River
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Gawd this was a tough and tiring section VVVVV (supposed to represent ups/downs). It was 9 miles between water, along with a heavy full pack and choppy roller coaster terrain. Braid didn't make it to the campsite - hope he can catch up in the next few days. OK... no more whining.
Date: 2009-09-09
From: West Branch of Pleasant River

To: Logan Brook
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

After a barefoot ford of the Pleasant River, I decided to 'blue blaze' the scenic side trail loop through Gulf Hagas. This area was formed by water eroding the slate walls of a narrow canyon with several spectacular water falls. The trail followed the rim of the canyon so it was more knarly then I had planned. The additional 3.4 miles took me until 11:30AM before I rejoining the A.T. only 1 mile from where I left it.Since Braid didn't do the Gulf Hagas loop, he was able to catch up and we summitted White Cap Mtn together where we got our first views of magnificent Mt Katahdin some 50 miles to the north. The end was in sight... finally!!We didn't arrive at Logan Brook until late. Set up our tents, ate and went to bed quickly. Still tired from these first three days in the wilderness. When will it flatten out?Braid doesn't plan on summit Katahdin until Tuesday and I'm targetting Monday. So next morning we bid goodbye for the day's hiking and hoped to touch base one more time before leaving Maine. If not, we'll surely connect in the future; perhaps for a canoe trip as he did with his son many years ago, down the Pee Dee.
Date: 2009-09-10
From: Logan Brook

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

Another gorgeous hiking day - very cool in the morning - mostly down hill. I went swimming before lunch at a beautiful sandy beach on Crawford Lake. Then finished a long hiking day at spacious camping sites nestled along Jo-Mary Lake. I discovered it offered decent cell phone reception and was able to call Linda, MoFo, Nancy and Mema to update them on my plans to summit Katahdin Monday,9/14 and then head directly to finish my hike in PA without going home in between.
Date: 2009-09-11
From: Antlers Campsite

To: Pollywog Stream
Miles today: 19.3

Loons put me to sleep last night and this morning's sunrise to surreal mist rising from Mary-Jo Lake. Today's hike took me next to another sandy beach but I passed on the swim in order to get in today's miles. Instead it was a PUD up Nesuntabunt Mtn where I met up with the mini-Diva's playing MP3 music on their backpack. It was fun to have friendly faces again, Ms Muster, Rocket & Storm. My energy ran out before reaching Rainbow Stream Lean-To so I just stealth tented above this stream. Too bad, because next day I saw that Rainbow Lean-To was a pretty location and the hikers saw a Bull Moose that in the morning.
Date: 2009-09-12
From: Pollywog Stream

To: Abol Bridge Camp
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

The weather has turned cloudy with little rain showers. It was an easy hike around Rainbow Lake, crossing the very wide Penobscot River into Abol Bridge. There isn't much here along the dusty dirt road but a little camp store and camping spots where only fishermen and hikers come. Bunyon and I shared a site and then just hung out eating junk food from the campstore. Camping next to us was a woman, Wander (Nobo'85) from Minnesota, her son and a friend heading south for a month long section hike.This evening we joined the Diva's around a campfire talking about our favorite and least favorite sections - all of us focused and psyched for the final push through Baxter State park and Katahdin.
Date: 2009-09-13
From: Abol Bridge Camp

To: Baxter State Park - The Birches
Miles today: 10.0

A bald eagle flew down Abol Creek this morning, right in front of our campsite. A good sign. On the other hand, the golden weather that I've been enjoying in Maine, has deteriorated into piles of dark gray clouds and rain showers. Even the mosquitoes massed one last attack from the backwater of Abol Creek. I guess this comes as a reminder of previous unpleasant conditions.At Katahdin Stream ranger station, I registered for tomorrow's climb and was recorded as the 293rd thru-hiker for 2009 season (NoBo & SoBo). The Birches is nothing special, just two shelters stuck in the woods. Met four young men, all from Clemson or Greenville, SC in the shelter - how strange is that.   Katahdin Stream, however, does have some very nice sites that are accessible by car (future event?). I'm hoping for better weather tomorrow for my summit hike.
Date: 2009-09-14
To: Katahdin Summit
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I summitted Mount Katahdin this morning at 11AM after starting from Katahdin Stream campsite at 7AM. Without my full backpack and only a daypack with water and snacks, I was pumped as I climbed the 4,000 vertical feet in 5 miles; most of it in the middle 3 mile section. I never used my trek poles to keep my hands free to hands climbing the boulder scrambles. It was cold with 30 - 40 mph wind gusts above treeline (35F in the morning). I had forgot my gloves, so my hands became numb which perhaps was a good thing against the rough granite rocks. It was like flying thru the clouds as they soared over the mountain peaks with more clear blue sky breaks the higher I climbed. I felt if I climbed high enough, I would get above the clouds but at 5,267 ft the peak wasn't quite high enough to break though the ceiling.At the top, I just wanted to take a few pictures and get back down. Just as I was leaving, Simple Man and Ice Fingers came into view from the fog and together we celebrated - first with an emotional cry and then lots of Whooeees! Ice Fingers had brought a bottle of champagne (video of uncorking) which the three of us shared before I started back down. Katahdin is a worthy finale to the A.T. and I was proud to have made the journey!I saw Braid at the ranger station while waiting for the shuttle into Millinocket; he plans to summit tomorrow and I will see him at the hostel since I will spend an extra 'zero' in town before travelling south.I'll update more of the journal as I find computer time. In the meantime check out some of the extra pictures.
Date: 2009-09-15
From: Katahdin Summit

To: Millinocket, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Relaxing at the A.T. Lodge... taking a ZERO after summit day which will give me a chance to congratulate Braid and Desert Fox, who are a day behind. Braid's friends from Raleigh are also waiting. Liz is a former science student and her husband, Dan, is a pilot who will fly Braid back home, tracking along the A.T. - how cool is that. ME - VA via sky blazing. Ice and Simple Man are in town with her father. All of us eating and celabrating at the A.T. Cafe in Millinocket before separating for final journey's back home.
Date: 2009-09-16
From: Millinocket, ME

To: NYC
Miles today: 0.0

Travel day, starting with a big farewell breakfast at the A.T. Cafe; then catch the Cyr bus to Bangor at Medford's Irving gas station; switching to Concord for the trip to Boston's South Station and finally, Fung Wah buslines to ChinaTown in New York City; dropping me at the base of Brooklyn Bridge on the east side of lower Manhattan. Talk about a culture shock... from the Maine woods to lower Manhattan. Thankfully, Baxley and Linda Lou arrived within 15 minutes to rescue me from total Freakout. We hiked, I mean walked, to a local Chinese restaurant for some tasty dumplings, vege noodles and chicken. After dinner we walked/hiked (I still am carrying my backpack) around China Town, found a desert place and then caught the subway back to Brooklyn where they are renting a choice 1 bdrm apt in nice Cobble Hill district. They played video games.. I fell asleep in their bed. They were gracious enough to let me sleep in their bedroom while they slept on the couch and floor - thankyou.
Date: 2009-09-17
From: NYC

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I awoke before Bax & Linda, so naturally I wanted to walk around. So strange... this urban lifestyle... with dads in business suits pushing baby strollers with their dogs attached on a leash, phone in hand, briefcase on shoulders, taking the kids to school before they catch the subway for the office. A local deli served up a bacon egg & cheese bagel - sooo much better then McDonald's or trail food. I enjoyed my walk, the sounds of such a huge city humming into the day, the focus and hustle of everyone with a purpose... not so unlike hikers starting out their day on the trail, just a lot more volume and amplitude.At noon, I met "Snickers" at Times Square - he works for Vogue at #4 Times Square. A brief lunch where we shared pictures and vaguely discussed future hiking adventures. I hope he comes south, visits us in Greenville and we hike the Smokies or Nantahalas in the South.After lunch, I walked/hiked a few blocks to the Port Authority bus terminal where I caught my last bus to the Delaware Water Gap. I few hours later, I hiked into the church hostel where I'm staying with 6 other SoBo's. I enjoyed local home town food at the Apple Bakery --mmmm. zzzzz.