morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-04
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Rainbow Spring Campground
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

Day 3 (Sunday)Up at 4:30, out of bed at 5:30. Took advantage of dry wind to hang up clothes. Bearbag fell off 'biner during the night, luckily no food lost. Breakfast is Bob's 10 grain cereal. Good, but will need to switch to faster cook food when doing longer days. Bought some dry socks to replace the pair I burned drying out by the fire and some post cards at the camp store - tried to call Kellee but probably too early. On trail at 8:30, with Tom close behind. Carlos hitched to town - may meet up @ Jo Mary Rd. Reached Hurd Brook Lean to at 10:40, just as rain started and stopped for early lunch (summer sausage, bars, pop tarts). Met thru hiker Tina who reached shelter in 6 hours from Katahdin stream! Also met thru hiking young couple with dog (forgot names). Reached Rainbow Spring Campsite around 5:30. Spring is good; signs of moose. Saw sea-plane overhead 2 times today, otherwise looks like Tom and I are the only ones on this 5 mile long lake! Built a fire for bugs and wore pants and head net for the 1st time. Weather is high 60's, low 70's, it rained intermittently. Dinner was ramen w/ chicken, cheese, and garlic pasta cream sauce. Good, but 2.5 cups of water still too much. Too drained physically to bother making coleslaw - will save. Drank double serving of hot chocolate instead. In bed at 8:30. Heard loons on lake overnight. Rainbow ledges very cool, by the way. No cell service, though. Views: open rock.
Date: 2006-06-05
From: Rainbow Spring Campground

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 4 (Monday)Up at 4:30, snooze 'til 6:30. Drizzled overnight, now 55 degrees. Somehow jumped to 70 on watch when I got out of the tent. Breakfast Bob's 10 Grain. Ate down at spring to avoid mosquitos and saw a pair of loons 20 feet away. Woke up Tom at 7:30 per request and then again at 8:30. On trail at 8:45; Tom was just getting up. Rainbow Stream Lean To about 11AM. Crossed logs accross hight water and then ran into thru hiker, Dave, who stayed at Hurd Brook night prior. Tina and another Dave (nurse from Ohio) showed up, 2 bald guys (Brom & Jon), Tom and Kurt (dreads). Kurt fell in crossing, apparently not an unusual situation for him. Left Stratton around 12:15 after lunch and hiked alone all afternoon, passing Tina and Dave the nurse back and forth. Summit of Nesuntabunt (nice butt) Mountain, great views of lake and Katahdin. Sun came out. Arrived Wadleigh Stream Lean to around 5:45 and found Carlos who flew in by sea plane for $50! Dinner - potatoes and beef (added all the freeze dried cheddar) ok, but not my favorite. In shelter tonight Dave (the nurse), Tina, Kurt, Jon, myself and Carlos, in bed 9PM. P.S. Carlos' pack is down to 50 lbs from 70 lbs.
Date: 2006-06-06
To: The Antlers
Miles today: 13.3

Day 5 (Tuesday)Last night after I went to bed, Tina asked Dave the nurse aka David Pond to turn off his alarm set for 3:30 AM to which he replied "all right you fucksticks" (joking around). Tom from TN apparently had never heard of the expression "fuckstick" before. Carlos was up building a fire at 4AM and was gone when I got up at 7. Breakfast, Bob's Oat Bran washed down with cider (excellent!). On trail at 9:20. 5 minutes to beach where I waded and hung out until 10:00. (I was last out of camp). Crossed few dirt roads and passed Tom slightly before noon. Tom said that Kurt had bailed out of the trail at one of the dirt roads. Black flies dogged me all day long and I hiked fast until 3pm when I hit the lean to Potaywadjo Spring at 9.8 miles. Saw Tina, Carlos, Dave Pond the nurse, and his hiking partner Downtown Julie Brown (from Madison, Indiana) who had rejoined the trail after leaving day 2. Tom showed up after they left (headed for the antlers tentsite 3.5 miles south). Also the other Dave I met 2 days prior at the lean to at lunch turns out his partner, Rebecca, quit at that lean to and was bailing out north. 2 bald guys were supposed to be arriving at the lean to that night. I debated for a while and decided to push the extra 3.5 miles with light pack to make a shorter day after taking on resupply tommorrow. Did some bushwaking after losing trail on highwater detour, broke out bug net and had to backtrack 2 min after losing it from top of head (definitely worth it). Also, lost headlamp sometime yesterday. Passed detour to white house landing (didn't stop - no one in our group did). Left lean to at 5pm (Tom was asleep and bald guys hadn't showed up yet). Arrived at The Antlers at 6:15 (3.5mi!). Weather: Sunny, high 85. Great view of the water (Lower Jo Mary Lake), but promised mosquito abating wind did not materialize. Carlos did have the fire foing as promised. Dinner - Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki - Good and Easy!!!). Need to buy more if 40% discount is still available. Also had some of Carlos' mashed potatoes and pepperoni. In bed at 8:30 (pitched tent without fly). Mosquitoes are swarming outside but it's nice to be protected. Discovered a blister on my right middle toe. May wear toe socks tomorrow. Also having some pain in right knee and ankle. Taking vitamin I 2x/day. Also note Dave asked for spare NH maps sent to Julie Brown in Stratton.
Date: 2006-06-07
From: The Antlers

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean To
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 6 (Wed)Up at 5:30 - gray skies, overnight low 55. Mosquitoes surrounding tent - stayed in bed until 7:30; watched Tina, Julie, and both Daves (now known as Nurse Dave and Runner Dave) depart from my tent. Leisurely breakfast - cold cereal (very good); hot chocolate with Carlos. Hung around until 10:15 (partly laziness and partly waiting on Thomas). Left at 10:15 w/ Carlos but had to split up pretty quick to outrun mosquitoes. Hiked all AM in long sleeves and rainpants (bugs!) and arrived at Jo-Mary road around noon. Found resupply in 2 5 gallon buckets (as promised), filled up, dumped trash and left email to relayed to Mom, Dad, and Kellee. Left Jo Mary road @ 1Pm, along with note to Tom. BTW, melted a shoe this morning after Carlos stoked the fire - still serviceable - popped my blister this moring with safety pin from 1st aid kit (sterilized in jet boil). Put on blister dressing and injini toe socks (under hiking socks - made shoes a little snug, but ok). Carlos had a bug bite on his eyelid that nearly swelled his eye shut; nurse Dave left him some Benadryl on the trail with a note (eye is better this evening). Afternoon weather, sunny, in low 80's; hiked in rain pants, t shirt and bug net. 4 miles to Cooper Brook Falls lean to. Hiking slow due to newly heavy (est 42lb) pack, pain in rt knee and ankle, and right foot toe blister). Arrived at shelter @ 3PM; Carlos beat me by approx 25 minutes and was working on fire when I arrived. Brom and John from VA (formerly known as the 2 bald guys) and Thomas arrived a bit later. Enjoyed a brief swim in the brook and great feeling of cleanliness. Dinner was pasta roni w/ tuna and pine nut topping (perfect!). I passed out face forward after eating a bit too hot and drinking some water (blame low blood sugar due to exertion from heavy pack and failure to eat most of lunch due to bugs). Ate the rest of my lunch this evening along with pudding and cookies (grasshopper pie?) excellent! Need to drink more gatorade going forwards. Paul (Bearbag Hanger) Guyon arrived (formally known as the mystery hiker- Tom saw him on the bus to Katahdin). He thru hiked NOBO 2 years ago and is out here thru hiking again. He is a quiet guy wo keeps mostly to himself and is sleeping in a hammock tent. (Trailname Bearbag Hanger is a reference to his resemblance to a bearbag when sleeping). Shared a nightcap of Jack Daniels courtesy of Brom and John (Bald guys - recent college grads from VA) and won a 5 way game of hearts with them, Tom, and Carlos. In bed 9pm. P.S. Paul stayed @ whitehouse landing last night (mystery solved). He had to slog thru knee deep water to get to the dock.
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean To

To: East Branch Lean To
Miles today: 8.1

Day 7 (Thurday)Started raining in middle of the night. Woke up with a panicked thought about the rising brook flooding the lean to (it was a draw) - not actually a problem. Breakfast 10 grain (sick of it). Left camp 8:55. Tom, hereafter known as Sleeping Tom - still asleep. Carlos left about an hour ahead of me and Paul (mystery hiker / bearbag hugger) was not seen at all in the AM. Rain kept the bugs at bay, making for a pleasant kinking past a glacial esker, over a small mountain (where Brom and John passed me, informing me that Tom was still in sleeping bag when they left). Arrived at ford of East Branch, Pleasant River at approx 2:30. High water made fording at trail unsafe; scouted downstream when saw hiker fording upstream - yelled greeting but could not be heard over rushing water - so blew whistle which they heard - turns out it was Brom. John offered good Beta about stream crossing and I made it across safely, but got water in over the top of my goretex socks. Arrived East Branch lean to approx 3PM with intention of having lunch, hot cider and changing socks when I found Carlos in his sleeping bag, planning to stay the night (original stretch goal had been Logan Brook lean to, 3.5 miles further). Went back to brook for water and met NOBO " Good Ole Boy" from SC. Saw Tom at crossing and gave him bad beta and he went in waist deep. Enjoyed hot cider back at shelter (excellent), game of chess with Brom (I checked him 2x and got his queen before he resigned - very good game). Dinner - spaghetti with pesto (very good - accidental boilover notwithstanding). Shelter is large, roomy, and comes with skylights, btw, and has 2 resident chipmunks. After dinner game of hearts won by John, in bed 9PM. Still raining, 52 degrees. (We hung tarps in front of shelter to cut breeze). BTW - Carlos saw a moose today and I saw 2 garter snakes two days ago.
Date: 2006-06-09
From: East Branch Lean To

To: Carl A. Newhall Leanto
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

Day 8 (Friday)Hump Day! (Snow Cap Mtn). Woke up to 52 degrees and moist, usual time. Out of bed by 7. Breakfast - oatmeal. On trail @ 8:30. Carlos, Brom and John left ahead of me, Sleeping Tom behind still in sleeping bag when I left. Passed a few fishermen before crossing road and beginning climb up Snow Cap. Reached Logan Brook Leanto around 10:30. Trail in had moose droppings literally every 2 ft (they must enjoy the young evergreens). Ate 1/2 of lunch at Logan Brook Leanto and changed into shorts, dropping my tights (?) in a puddle in the process. Left Leanto around 11:00 and continued climb. Great view around 2900 feet of surrounding area, cascade down side of Snow Cap, showed 3100 foot ceiling (summit in the clouds). Hiked at leisurely pace and Tom caught me near summit of Snow Cap around 12:30. Took a few pictures at summit (clouded in) and I let Tom pass me by. Three up and downs to several smaller peaks, passed a tentsight, descent to 2000 feet to Carl A. Newhall Leanto. Arrived 6:15PM. Temp increased from mid 60's all day to 74 on descent. Found everyone mellowed out at sight, drying socks over fire. Brom took a group photo (promised to email). Dinner, ramen with mashed potatoes, peas, chicken (perfect) and corn salad (very good - split with Carlos). Gave some peanut butter and a powerbar to Carlos to cut my weight since he is running tight on food in exchange for promise of stove time if I run out of gas (I will be tight but there's a good chance I'll make it). Also, lined up reserve of toilet paper (John). I'm using mine about 2x as ofen as planned. Everyone is too beat up to play cards or drink, so we're in bed at 8:15. BTW, Snow Cap had a lot of white quartz on it, no cell phone signal.
Date: 2006-06-10
From: Carl A. Newhall Leanto

To: Chairback Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: moderate rain

Day 9 (Saturday)Up at 6AM to write yesterday's journal entry. Steady rain all night should make fording fun. Slept a bit close to Tom last night and couldn't roll over without hitting him. Currently 6:41, 56 degrees, heavy rain. Carlos helped me sew my pack's hipbelt back together with dental floss and a needle borrowed from John (rigger training paying off - he did a much better job than I would have). I have a compression strap ripping also, but no more dental floss until Monson (Carlos used most esterday sewing up on the collar on the boot he burned). Breakfast Bob's 10 Grain (still sick of it). On trail 1st at 9:20 - Tom still asleep per SOP. Reached West Branch Pleasant River around 12:30, had lunch and Carlos caught me. "Normally knee deep" ford was waist deep; Carlos plodded in in boots and long pants and crossed without incident. I told hm to go back in so I could get a picture (joking), but he did, so I took one. I crossed in shorts and trail runners without socks, no incident. On far side, Carlos took off and I started to follow him when I noticed the blazes were blue. Turns out the AT was off to the right and Carlos ws on a trail to a parking lot .2 mi away. I whistled and yelled to no avail. John and Brom showed up, asked what was wrong and then forded. Tom followed shortly afterwards. John and Brom took off and Tom and I were on the north bank when Carlos showed up without his pack to tell us not to go that way - he came back without pack to save time of us going wrong way - nice guy! Luckily, there ws a road he could take to cut back to the trail without backtracking. Tom and I met Carlos at the road crossing when John and Brom were having lunch. I changed back into my socks and was last to leave. Met Carlos 1/2 way up Chairback Mountian, weather went from overcast to sunny to rain within an hour. Had several false summits and a major scramble to the summit of Chairback Mtn (clouded in). Reached Chairback Gap Shelter around 6PM. Dinner - Hamburger Helper stroganoff - good, despite another jetboilover on sauce. In bed at 8:2- and had discussion of Mel's pee bottle from Long Trail '93.
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Chairback Gap Shelter

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Day 10 (Sunday)Up at 7 and out of bed at 7:45. Breakfast - oat bran. Clothes cold and wet and reluctance to change into equals late start. On trail 10AM, Brom and John ahead, Sleeping tom just stirring. Hiked with Carlos up Columbus Mountain and Tom ran into us between Columbus and Third. We all summitted 3rd Mountain together. Sunny and stiff breeze, so I set up a clothes line to dry some stuff out while eating lunch. On summit around 12:30 - 1:30 (took some pics). Tom departed 1st and that's the last we saw of him all day. Hiked with Carlos most of the rest of the day, on a pace to reach Long Pond Stream leanto around 8PM. On a small knoll with a view in between 3rd and 4th mountians, Carlos asked to borrow my water bottle and proceeded to shotgun a very strong mix of gatorade. We swapped packs for about 100 yards just so I could get an idea of the weight he is carrying (about 50 lbs vs. about 25 currently for me). Summitted 4th Mountain around 4pm and saw some rain blowing in so we decided we would spend the night at Cloud Pond leanto instead of Long Pond leanto. At juction to Cloud Pond was a note (trail mail per Carlos) from Brom and John saying their knees were shot and that they were spending the night at Cloud Pond. I arrived at Cloud Pond at 6pm and found Brom and John. Apparantly Tom continued on to Long Pond Stream, ironically placing him in the lead (we may catch him sleeping there tomorrow AM). Carlos arrived at 6:15. Dinner Great Value noodles and sauce with chicken and broccoli (excellent) and pistachio pudding (also excellent and jealousy inducing). A brief discussion of food rationing indicated I am the only one meeting my caloric needs out here. Carlos is very short on food and Brom and John apparently wish their portions were larger. I have been supplementing Carlos' food with my extra. Sewed up a broken compression strap on my pack with some dental floss someone left here only to discover my hip belt also torn out. In bed 8:50; just started raining; temp 55 degrees. I will be exerimenting with drying out socks inside my sleeping bag; we'll see how it goes.
Date: 2006-06-12
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to

To: Thompson Brook
Miles today: 10.0

Day 11 (Monday)Up at 7 to witness appropriately named Cloud Pond. Carlos got an early start at 7AM to try to make Leeman Brook Lean-to (guess he's worried about food). Weather: 52 degrees and cloudy. Spent 45 minutes sewing up the hip belt of my pack with dental floss found in leanto. Breakfast 10 grain, on trail 9AM; back to the AT at 9:15. Climbed fire tower at Barren Mountain (took a few pics) in cloud - cleared for a split second for a great view. Descended about 600 feet to Barren Ledges and met Brom and John - took a few more pics. Brom and John passed on side trail to Rock Slide (awesome - pic won't do it justice). Hiked alone to Long Pond Stream leanto and picked up trailmail from Tom and Carlos (2 hours ahead). Lunch at leanto 12:30 and reached Long Pond Stream Ford about 1:15 where I ran into Brom and John rigging a line to shuttle packs across the ford. Helped Brom with the rig and then sent our packs accross and forded with the rope a safety line (very necessary). Brom went first and then me. I bent a pole on the ford and the current pulled my shorts down to my ankles, but I made it safely accross - my only injury a scrape on my upper right arm from a slip while rigging the line for the packs. Hit a dirt road with a note (trailmail) saying attn: southbounders, many dangerous fords ahead; please consider taking this road to Monson. We decided to stick with the trail, and I left first, taking Brom and John's bearbag rope to start to rig the next ford. 10 minutes down the trail, Jon caught up to me and siad there was a second note under the 1st from Dave and Tina saying they tried the next fords and agreed it was not possible and were taking the road to Monson. Brom and John decided to take the road after reading that; I continued on trail, hoping the day without rain would lower the streams enough to cross safely. Next 2 streams were small, easy fords. Past NOBO hikers Todd and Katie, coming from Monson, who had passed Tom and Carlos after (I assume) detouring around the Little and Big Wilson Stream fords (.3 mile detour (est)). They said they might be OK after dropping all day. Reached Wilson Valley Leanto at 6PM after crossing RR tracks. Planned to stay the night but decided to press on since shelter wasn't that great (note from Tom and Carlos indicating they had left at 4PM and planned to make Leeman Brook Leanto 7 miles ahead). Reached Big Wilson Stream at 7PM and forded waist deep water without incident, with pack rigged on rappel to Brom and Jon's rope, doubled up for recovery (reached just past 1/2 way - very helpful). Camped at fire ring just south of Thompson brook. Dinner - Mountain House Chilimac - hit the spot - small fire to keep bugs away. Clouds at dusk made me nervous enough to put tarp on tent, but left clothes on line. In bed 8:30.
Date: 2006-06-13
From: Thompson Brook

To: Monson
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 12 (Tuesday)Up at 4:30, finishing yesterday's journal entry, out of bed 4:45; 60 degrees; partly cloudy, breakfas Muesli with milk (good but needs more milk or less water). On trail 5:45. Reached ford at Little Wilson stream at 7:30 (found out later that Tom and Carlos camped there last night). Someone left a taught rope across so I hung my pack on it from a 'biner and crossed with a tugline to pull my pack across. Water was only knee deep and ford was relatively easy, but attempt to pull pack across resulted in complete soaking of pack and all its contents (except those in pack liner). Digital camera, phone, and this journal were all wet and pack weight was more than double. Wrung out wet clothes and continued hiking. Met NOBO section hiker "Lucky" (older gentleman) who started in GA in '99; PA this year and discussed state of fords. While talking, 2 more NOBO's passed by, one of them said "what is this, a hiker conference?" (didn't offer any other greeting or make introductions). Passed Leeman Brook Lean-to at 11:40 - no entries from Carlos or Tom. Reached Rt 15 at 1:30 and tried to hitch without success until 1:45 and started walking towards Monson; got a ride in shortly thereafter. Had 4 slices of pizza for lunch at convenience store, picked up mail drops and went to Shaws, where I met Tom and Carlos and Jon and Brom. A thru hiker with possible stress fracture in ankle showed me to the bunkhouse. (I checked in later when an employee showed up). Bunkhouse has actual beds in it. Met shuttle driver Buddy who is a navy vet. Dinner at Shaws (ham steaks, mac and cheese, carrots and broccoli and carrot cake with ice cream. Talked to Kellee, Mom, and Dad. In bed 9:15.
Date: 2006-06-14
From: Monson

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 13 (Wednesday)Zero day at Shaws. Up at 5:30, breakfast at 6:30 (eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes - ordered as 1 by, 2 by, 3 by etc. (# = how many of everything you get). I had a 3 by. Rode into Bangor with Buddy, Brom and John; bought a replacement headlamp, waterproof bag for camera (stream fording), vitamin I, hand sanitizer, gold bond and replcement camera; opened Bank of America account. Lunch at Quiznos. Tried to pay John for Jetboil canistors this AM - he wouldn't take $, so I tried to slip some in his pack, but put into Carlos' by accident. Back to Monson at 4PM, entered 2 day's entries inot trail journals. Dinner at Shaws - Chicken, coleslaw, carrots and green beans with blueberry crumb cake (excellent). Sewed up my pack in the evening and tried to get gear organized, but am pretty scattered. Met several SOBO's in today (4?) including Oraian, an ex paratrooper from Indiana who was injured on his 2nd jump at airborne school and tried to thru hike in 2004. Long discussion on gear = late night. In bed 11PM.
Date: 2006-06-15
From: Monson

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 14 (Thursday)Up at 4:30, took a shower and wrote photo log - breakfast (did a 4 by - same as yesterday except french toast instead of pancakes). Repacked pack, bounce box, and sent home box - post office wouldn't accept canister fuel, so sold 3 jetboil canisters to Shaw's. On trail 10AM (talked to Marc Chalfon by phone). Easy 8 miles to Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to - one ford on piscata (sp?) (easy) and passed a trail crew working for the Maine Conservation Corp. In camp - 5pm. In shelter met SOBO thru hikers from FLA Ray and Cadence who were zeroing after bailing out of the 100 mile wilderness at Jo Mary Rd from Cooper Brook, waiting on Ernesto (explained trail mail @ trailhead). Dinner - Mac and Cheese w/ salmon and peas - good but tight fit in pot and needed more water. In bed 9:30. P.S. lost trail once today and had to backtrack and took a while to figure out I was hiing trail in wrong direction until I saw my own footprints.
Date: 2006-06-16
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: light rain

Day 15 (Friday)Up at 7:15; Carlos and Ray already out by fire. Breakfast - oat bran - good. Offered tea to Cadence since she didn't have a stove. On trail 9:20 (first). Met Carlos @ W. Branch Piscataquis ford, along with Birdnut, Pepper and Easy (the marines), and O'riain, and Sleeping Tom. Sunny and good gravel beach. Arrived 11AM and stayed until 1:30. Tom woke up at 11AM today! Forded Bald Mountain Stream at 3:30 PM and hung out another hour. Met NOBO Grizzly Dave (3rd year hiking) and recited some Robert Frost "stopping by the woods on a snowy evening". Reached Moxie Bald Lean-to at 6PM. Dinner - turkey with Stove Top - very good, directions perfect, portion size could be increased. Tom caught 6 Sunfish with his head net. Tried O'riain's hennesey hammock - very comfy; I may need to get one. Dessert - chocolate pudding with nuts. In bed 10PM.