morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-09-04
From: East B Hill Road, Andover

To: South Arm Road
Miles today: 10.1

I had a pretty good night sleep at the Pine Ellis Lodge last night and was up early. I walked to the Andover General Store and Diner for breakfast where I joined a few other thru hikers. Andover is one of those very small rural towns in which there may be a total of 4-5 businesses and a post office, all on the main st. of town. The Andover General Store and Diner is a very friendly place with great food and service for a tremendous value.Since my legs have been taking a beating lately, I decided to slack pack today. I plan to be dropped off at a trail head 10 miles north of where I got off the trail yesterday and hike south back to that location. I thought slack packing with just a light day pack would reduce the load on my legs and still allow me to hike some miles rather then take a zero day.At 10am I hopped in the van at Pine Ellis with 3 other thru hikers and drove the short distance to the trail head on South Arm Rd. Everyone except me was leaving Pine Ellis and hiking north. I started hiking south. It was another cool brisk day and with the very light load of water and food in my daypack, I felt great. There was nothing really outstanding along this 10 mile section. I did climb Mount Moody (2380 ft.) and the North Peak of Wyman Mtn. (2945 ft.) and saw a few good views on this clear and sunny day. I stopped for a quick lunch at Hall Mtn. Lean-to and met a thru hiker I had not seen in a while. This thru hiker, as well as other thru hikers out here, tend to work their way up the trail by skipping portions of the trail and catching a ride further north, a practice called yellow blazing. I know these hikers have a reason for doing this, but I could never do that. I've dreamed about doing this thru hike for years, and if I started feeling like I needed to yellow bla! ze, I'd be on the first bus back home. I must hike every mile of this trail, but I make no judgement out here about what other people do. There is a saying I adhere to on the trail which is "Hike your own hike".I finished up my hike today at 3pm at East B Hill Rd. and David, who works at the Lodge, was waiting there with the van. When we returned to the lodge, I had a long converstion with David. He is the son in law of the owner, Ilene Traynor. He is a Mayan Indian and quite an interesting guy. We both talked about life on the trail, our slant on life in general, and a number of other topics. He has been helping Ilene run the place after the recent death of her husband.Moose, came to the lodge this afternoon so it is just he and I here tonight. He plans to get back on the trail early tomorrow. I'll be leaving around 10am.
Date: 2007-09-05
From: South Arm Road

To: Beamis Stream campsite
Miles today: 12.5

It wasn't a real long day today mileage wise, but not too bad since I started hiking today around 10:30am. The pack was heavy as usual after leaving town and it didn't help facing a steady 3 mile climb to the peak of Old Blue (3600 ft.). It's another beautiful day, sunny and cool. I have been very fortunate with all the good weather lately.After tackling Old Blue, it was on to the West Peak of Beamis Mtn. (3592 ft.), the East Peak (3532 ft.), and Third Peak, Beamis Mtn. (3115 ft.). At the end of the day I hit the second Peak (2604 ft.) and First Peak (2604 ft.) of the Beamis Mtn. Range. Reaching the summits of these related mountain peaks is enjoyable, since most have been above tree line which allows for some wonderful views.I was originally hoping to push on further, but with all the climbing today my legs were shot. They keep telling me they want to go home but I just keep urging them to go a little further until this hike is done. When I reached the nice flowing Beamis Stream and a level tentsite nearby, I gladly called it a day. I have had dinner and it is getting cold now so I will dig into my warm sleeping bag.
Date: 2007-09-06
From: Beamis Stream campsite

To: Piazza Rock Lean-to
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: few clouds

I was packed up and on the trail hiking today by 7:30am, intent on making some good miles today. This morning I passed a total of 3 ponds, all quite beautiful and secluded. The first was Moxie Pond, followed by Long Pond, and then Sabbath Day Pond, all within a 2 mile span. Later in the morning I passed Little Swift River Pond and South Pond. Even though all of these bodies of water are called ponds here in Maine, some are sizable and would qualify as being called a lake, anywhere else.As the day progressed I felt the temperaure begin to rise and hiking was not as comfortable as it has been lately in the cool temps. My energy level was draining by the time I got to ME Rt. 4 which goes to Rangeley, ME. I won't be taking a detour to Rangeley since I will be stopping in Stratton, ME soon. After crossing the road I did catch up to a section hiker named Gordo, who I had last seen at the Pine Ellis Lodge. I moved ahead of him, but we both ended our day about 2 miles further at Piazza Rock Lean-to. Gordo and I are the only ones at the shelter tonight. As we both made dinner, we got to know each other better and I had one of those "small world" moments again. Through the course of our conversation we found out that we both are Cortland College graduates, we both graduated with the same degree, and we both met our wives at college, who both went on to become teachers. Coincidental, it's almost scary.
Date: 2007-09-07
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to

To: Spaulding Mtn. Lean-to
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: few clouds

Gordo and I had both planned an early start today to get a jump on some challenging and tough climbs we would be facing in the morning. I passed 3 Maine ponds again, Ethel Pond, Mud Pond, and Eddy Pond within the first 2 miles of today's hike.The first big climb was up Saddleback Mtn. (4120 ft.), followed by The Horn (4041 ft.), and finally Saddleback Jr. (3655 ft.). All three of these summits are completely above tree line and on a clear day offer some excellent views. Supposedly Mount Katahdin can be seen from Saddleback Mtn. Unfortunately today the views were hazy, so I'll have to wait another day to see Katahdin.There was enough visibility however, to clearly view each of these peaks from the vantage point of each summit, so it was satisfying to look back from Horn and Saddleback Jr. to see where I had just hiked from as well as the distance covered. When I reached the summit of Saddleback it was so windy I needed to quickly toss on my rain jacket and a wool hat, to stay warm. I took a few pictures of the summit sign, ate a candy bar that Gordo gave me this morning, and moved on to The Horn and Saddleback Jr. Fortunately, reaching Horn and Jr. only required a minor descent to the col, or space between the two mountains, and a short climb to the summit. I kept looking back to see if I could spot Gordo on the previous summit, but I never did see him.After going over Saddleback Jr. it was a long "knee busting" descent to Poplar Ridge Lean-to, where I had lunch. I felt good to get that climbing done. Aside from a few more minor climbs ahead, Most of the serious climbing, with the excepton of Katahdin, is now behind me.The rest of the afternoon hiking, aside from some work hiking up Lone Mt. (3280 ft.), was enjoyable. The temperature was warmer than I'd like, but the trail followed some beautiful watershed. A rock sluice carrying fast moving water, waterfalls, and deep pools of water, were within view and earshot, adjacent to the trail for quite a while. Towards the end of the day the trail was even and level, with few rocks and roots, and I was for the first time in a while, able to really get a good stride and stretch out all my leg muscles. I am alone here at the shelter tonight. Looking to turn in early and hopefully have a good night's sleep.
Date: 2007-09-08
From: Spaulding Mtn. Lean-to

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a fairly short mileage day since the terrain was not too bad (at least in the morning). I needed to hike 13.5 miles to reach ME Rt. 27 where I'd hitch into Stratton, ME to spend the night and re-supply. The hiking in the morning was fairly rock and root free and I made some decent time. It was cloudy and I was worried that it might rain before I could get to Stratton.In the afternoon, it looked like the sun was out to stay, so fortunately the threat of rain was gone. However I was faced with a few stiff climbs up South Crocker Mtn. (4010 ft.) and North Crocker Mtn. (4228 ft.). Climbing mountains here in Maine is not such a problem for me. You simply take your time, choose your route up the mountain carefully, and take ample breaks on the way up. Eventually you will arrive at the top. The problem for me is the descent off the mountain. In Maine (as in New Hampshire too) the descent can be quite steep, with sizeable steps from one rock to another, and an assortment of roots that can easily trip you up. The forward momentum with a fully loaded pack is also something to contend with. You need to strike a balance where you move along at a reasonable pace stepping carefully but not move too quickly to compromise safety. If you move too slowly you end up putting too much pressure on your knee joint, and the muscles and ligaments supporting it. After doing this for sometimes hours on end, such as this afternoon, a heavy toll can be taken physically and emotionally. When this happens an ugly mood can overcome you, where you can't stand seeing another rock, root, tree, etc. and hate the trail with a passion. You simply want to get to your destination and get some relief.This was the kind of afternoon I had. It has a lot to do with the ruggedness of the trail in New Hampshire and Maine and a lack of recovery time for my legs. By the time I got down to the road, I was exhausted, but I knew I'd be in town soon where I could have a hot shower, a good meal, and a real bed to rest in. So the ugly mood soon faded and all was well again. I booked a room in a small motel and restaurant called the White Wolf Inn. The room is small and outdated with no A/C (on a hot afternoon). There is a fan, but for only 30.00 per night, I'm not complaining. There are 2 small markets nearby so after a shower, I bought some supplies to supplement a food drop Kathy sent to the Inn. I bought some deli food so I'm relaxing on the bed, eating turkey sandwiches, and watching college football. I'm beginning to like the trail again.
Date: 2007-09-09
From: Stratton, ME

To: Horns Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I am sitting here in one of the two Horns Pond Lean-tos watching the rain come pouring down. It is a cold, steady downpour which makes a light rythmic beat on the metal roof of the shelter. The lately dry landscape is soaking it up but it is not a good day for hiking.I left Stratton today at around 11:30am and was able to catch a ride from a woman from Virginia whose husband is also thru hiking. She follows him along the trail in a camper van and they meet every three days or so. Not a bad idea. I got off to a good start hiking but with the grey clouds accumulating overhead I could tell the rain would inevitably arive at some point. Fortunately the timing was good as it started to come down just before I reached this shelter. So it's only 2pm and it looks like I will be settled in here for the rest of the day and tonight. Two other thru hikers I know are also here and a third decided to push on. I'm sure he will be quite wet before he stops. The nearest shelter is 10 miles away and putting up a tent in the rain can be a messy affair.We all just hunkered down in our sleeping bags to stay warm and eventually the sound of the rain falling on the roof, helped us fade into a satisfying afternoon slumber. It would have been preferable to hike some more miles this afternoon, but I'll be thankful for the unplanned rest and free time, and most of all being dry. Maybe it was a good thing to stop here, after looking at some of the steep climbs ahead. Facing that stuff in the morning is always a better option. After that long nap this afternoon, I just hope I can fall asleep tonight. Signing off from the great state of Maine.
Date: 2007-09-11
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: light rain

The last 6 good trail miles to the shelter yesterday, seemed to continue during this mornings hike. As I hiked along this level and smooth trail I was making good time (about 3 mph), something I haven't been able to do in a long time. I also was able to look at the sites around me instead of constantly focusing my eyes on the trail. I thought maybe this would be the day I'd see a moose (live that is). Since Vermont, I have seen plenty of moose scat and moose tacks on the tail, but no moose. It's hard to believe I haven't yet sighted an animal that large, yet maybe because of that, they have developed an elusive nature.I hiked the first 10 miles quickly to Pierce Pond Lean-to and had lunch. Another beautiful pond in a gorgeous setting. I found out last night why some of these larger bodies of water here in Maine are called ponds instead of lakes. Ponds have a shallow water level compared to lakes, and this, rather then the overall size, designates either a pond or lake label.The day started cloudy and after lunch a misty drizzle was falling. The trail remained level the next 3.5 miles to the Kennebec River. This is a substantially wide but seemingly shallow river, which appears to be easily fordable. However there is an unpredictable dam release of water upsteam that can raise the water level and make fording this stream, very dangerous. Due to the drowning death of a hiker in the past, a canoe ferry service ferries hikers across the river at certain times of the day.Brisk and I were ferried across and I helped the ferryman paddle which was fun for me. We needed to paddle upstream and then paddle with the current to the opposite bank of the river. It felt like the dam released some water while we were crossing since the current suddenly became a lot stronger.After crossing the river, Brisk, Sideshow, Chach, and Moon Goat all decided to go to a resort called Northern Woods in nearby Caratunk, ME to spend the night. I considered it but decided to push on another 6 miles to Pleasant Pond Lean-to so I could get closer to Monson, ME. Monson is the last trail town before the final 100 mile stretch to get to Katahdin, and lately I feel a need to get there soon. So I pushed on just as the rain began to fall. I slogged through a steady downpour and quite a bit of mud and was soaked by the time I arrived at the shelter. Fortunately my sleeping bag was dry and I had dry clothes to change into. I am here tonight with 3 young thru hikers who started late in May at Harpers Ferry, WV, and after reaching Katahdin, will flip flop down to Harpers Ferry and hike south to Georgia.
Date: 2007-09-12
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I tried to quietly get breakfast and pack up early this morning since the 3 guys here with me all are sleeping and it doesn't look like they will be getting up soon. I heard the trail was mostly flat and great walking all the way to Monson, ME. I was considering hiking a long day today so it would be a short jump to Monson tomorrow. The day looked partially overcast but I could also see patches of blue sky and large white cumulus clouds, so anything was possible. It was cold and breezy, a good way to start a long hike.The trail basically provided good walking this morning until I hit the beginning of the climb up Moxey Bald Mtn. (2629 ft.) which was not a very high mountain, but the climb was fairly steep at the end and the summit was open with exposed rock. This is nothing new, but today the wind was stronger than I've ever seen it before up on a summit, and it literally almost lifted me off my feet. It was scary and I did not waste any time as I hustled down the other side.The day was now quite clear and the views magnificent. As I came down the mountain, I believe I actually saw Mount Katahdin, and my heart skipped a beat. You are suppose to be able to see it from here but I wasn't sure that was it. Nonetheless, I believe that was the big "K", and it made my day.As I hiked on I needed to decide if I would pull a short day at Moxie Bald lean-to, 2 miles away or hike another 11 to the next lean-to. I thought I would decide when I reached Moxie Bald Lean-to. When I arrived there and saw the lean-to right next to Moxie Pond, I knew I'd be staying for the night. It was only 3pm, but I just couldn't pass this up. I laid my wet gear in the sun to dry. I then went down to the pond, sat on a large flat rock at the edge of the water and had a late lunch as I watched a loon in the distant dive for fish. This is what I wanted to experience in Maine and I'm glad I made the decision to stay. I had the place to myself for a while but eventually 5 others showed up for the night. It feels like a cold night coming, so sleeping should be comfortable. I'll worry about the mileage to Monson, tomorrow.
Date: 2007-09-13
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: few clouds

Today I am hiking to Monson, ME. Monson is the last trail town. After Monson, there is a section of trail called the "100 Mile Wilderness", which is basically the last 100 miles of trail before reaching Katahdin and there are no main roads crossing the trail to any more trail towns.Hiking to Monson this morning really made me pause and think about all of the trail towns I have visited on this journey, which in turn had me thinking about all of the places, people, and experiences I have been fortunate enough to have been exposed to while steadily hiking north to where I am today. For the past few weeks I had been thinking about how it will be nice to wind this trip down and get back home. I still feel this way, but a new and contrasting feeling is also creeping into my psyche. I am starting to feel a little sad that this odyssey will very soon come to an end. I expected I might experience these conflicting emotions, and have heard that others are feeling the same way. I suspect that some, especially the younger hikers, may be feeling them more acutely. Unlike myself, many of them will be returning to a life that was in transition for them before they left, and if they have not found some of the answers yet to the questions they came out here with, then I would imagine it will be unsettling to end their hike soon. Somehow I feel though, that if they were able to successfully walk from Georgia to Maine, they will be OK navigating along their life journey as well.Enough of the philisophical rant. A good portion of todays hike followed the west branch of the Piscataquis River, and was a very nice walk. The landcape of the river changed numerous times to a broad river plain with wavy green grass on either bank, to a deep gorge with high stone walls, to a cascade of waterfalls and deep dark pools of water. This lasted for several miles with the sound of the rush and gurgle of fast and slow flowing water constantly in the background. A peaceful walk indeed.Eventually in the late afternoon I reached a blue blazed trail that took me to Pleasant Rd. I then walked a little under 2 miles to Monson, and to the front door of Shaws Boarding house. Shaw's is an icon on the trail, and a very popular stop for thru hikers arriving in Monson. The original owner recently passed away, and the new owners appear to have retained most of the tradition of the original place. I have a room in an extension of the house out back. There are many thru hikers here tonight and you can feel the excitement in the air as the conversation dwells on the details surrounding the final push toward Katahdin.
Date: 2007-09-14
From: Monson, ME

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

I decided to take a zero day today in Monson. I needed to contact a friend who will be climbing Katahdin with me, as well as my younger son Dave, who will also hike up Katahdin. Since I probably won't be able to contact anyone through the 100 Mile Wilderness, I wanted to square away all the details now, for when I arrive at Baxter State Park next week.I spent the rest of the day attending to the usual tasks to get ready for another stint on the trail (my last one), and just tried to relax. Unfortunately it was a perfect hiking day and tomorrow, when I will be leaving, there is a prediction for some rain. Rain or not, I will be back on the trail tomorrow. In the evening I walked over to the Monson General Store where every Friday night, local residents get together with their music instruments and play some Bluegrass music. I could tell they have been playing together for a while, since the music was unrehearsed but quite good. The place was packed with locals and hikers alike, and it was a very entertaining evening.Looking forward to being on the trail tomorrow and moving north once again.P.S. I probably won't be posting anymore journal entries until I arrive back home. At that time I will also post all of the photos I have taken in the White Mtns. and Maine. So stay tuned.
Date: 2007-09-16
From: Wilson Valley Lean-to

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: few clouds

When I woke up this morning it was cold. I reluctantly hopped out of my warm sleeping bag and zipped on my rain jacket for some warmth. I had a quick breakfast and was out hiking on the trail at a fast pace, to try and warm up. It took about half an hour to get warm, but at that time, even though it was still chilly, I was able to remove the rain jacket. I eventually passed "Leader of the Pack", who had started about 15 minutes before me. The trail gradually decended from about 1200+ feet to 500+ feet and by the end of the morning got back up around 2600+ feet. During the course of the day I would pass and be passed by a couple of thru hikers named "Byte Code" and "Church Mouse" who I had first met about 3 days back. I made a stop at Barren Ledges, and enjoyed some real nice views on a clear and cool sunny day. I thought I'd stop for lunch after 8 miles at Cloud Pond lean-to, but when I realized it was .3 of a mile off the trail, I continued on and ate lunch on top of Fourth Mtn. (2080 ft.).The trail was fairly smooth today, which has been a welcome change since right before Monson. I eventually decided to end the day at Chairback Gap Lean-to, since I had already hiked over 15 miles and the next shelter was close to 10 miles further down the trail. Stopping now would also allow me to climb Chairback Mtn. first thing in the morning. It looks like I will be the only one at the shelter tonight. The temperature is dropping quickly again, as it did last night and I am in my bag trying to warm up.