morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-16
From: Spaulding Mountain Lean To

To: Route 4 - Stratton
Miles today: 13.7

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Mark M. day. I walked the five miles up and over the two Crocker Mountains (South and North) in his honor. Mark asked for a a particularly tough section and this one certainly qualifies I walked those five miles in his honor. Thanks, Mark, for your pledge.Today was to be a long tough day, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.I arose at 5:45 AM, because I planned to walk 13.7 miles today, further than I usually go, and over 4 mountains.I got on the Trail at 7:00 AM. It was a beautiful, sunny morning.I hiked first up Spaulding Mountain. At 4000 feet elevation, it was fairly strenous, but not straight up. I then went down a bit and then up Sugarloaf Mountain, somewhat lower at 3650 feet. It was a rapid, steep descent down Sugarloaf. Two mountains done!Now, I crossed the Carabasset River, which was an interesting and challenging experience. The Carabassett River is supposedly a fordable river. However, it was a powerful river and there was no easy way to cross it. Someone had put a couple of boards across it, between two rocks, about 5 feet above the raging river. The board was shaky and bent as I inched, yes, inched, across it. If I had fallen I would have 1) hit the rocks below and 2) been swept away by the fast, strong current. However, I made it safely and soundly. I later found out that John, the hiker I met later, had sat down on the boards and scooted across to safety).After crossing the Carabasset I headed up South Crocker Mountain. It was about two mile climb, very steep, up and over many rocks. This was a remarkably tough climb; it was hot, sweat was pouring off me and I had to stop every 100-150 feet to catch my breath. A large portion of it was, literally, climbing, and I do mean climbing, up steep, jagged rocks. It peaked at 4040 feet. I met a couple of day-hikers and Penny Whistle, a NOBO, and she remarked that this was one of the last big-big climbs and the last for the day. So, I went down about 500 feet and then climbed with as much vigor as I could muster, up North Crocker Moutain, at 4228 feet, fairly high.From there, it was a long, gradual descent to Highway 4, with lots of rocks and roots. I had run out of water on the way down, so it made the descent seem even longer. I got to the road abou 5:15.There was little traffic, but after about 10 minutes a guy in pickup truck passed me, then turned around and came back to pick me up. I threw my gear in back and sat in the air-conditioned cab and he even gave me a cold beer! A pleasant ride into Stratton.He dropped me off at the Stratton Motel, which has a hostel. I got a bed, a shower, supper and washed my clothes. I was extremely tired from the long hike today, but felt good that I've made it this far. A lot of hikers here tonight including Crumbsnatcher, Femur, Maggie, Penny Whistle, Stone Brown and a couple of others whose names I did not catch.A good ending to a tough day.Also, with the distance I traveled, I have less than 200 miles to go on the AT!
Date: 2009-08-17
From: Route 4 - Stratton

To: Stratton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today, I'm taking a Zero day, here in Stratton. That is, a day with no miles hiked on the AT. I spent the time getting more food for the Trail, more fuel for my fuel bottle, mailng a couple of things home, and catching up on e-mail and my Journal. Mostly, I spent today just resting, especially my knees. My knees are sore from so much up and down yesterday. It is very hot here in Stratton, about 90 degrees. Almost no one in this area, including the Hostel I'm staying in, has air-conditioning. I'm hoping that it will be cooler in the mountains tomorrow as I head North. I'm planning to hike for six or seven days from here, to get to Monson, Maine. I'm planning to bypass Caratunk, ME, which some hikers stop at, but there is reportedly not much there. However, that means that I'll be carrying 6 1/2 days food starting out tomorrow.I've reportedly come through the toughest part of Maine. The remaining 188 miles or so are mostly flatter (after the upcoming Bigelow Mountain Range) and I should be able to make better time.In the afternoon, a woman hiker came in. I introduced myself and she said that she had gotten a ride in from a guy who was looking for Walky Talky. It was my friend, Frand Bednar (Scout); he had driven down today, thinking that I would be getting to Stratton today (for once, I was 'early' on the Trail). I called him and got him on his cell phone. He came back down to the Stratton Motel and we hung out for a while, and then went to supper at the White Wolf Inn. I met Frank, who lives near Augusta, Maine, back in Georgia last year, on the first day of my 'throughhike'. He as also throughhikng, but back issues later forced him off the Trail. He and I have stayed in touch including having lunch once when he came down to Augusta, GA to visit someone. Anyway, it was great to see Frank and catch up with him. I was touched that he came down to look for me. I had talked to him once from the Trail, but I wasn't sure that we could make connection. I'm glad that we could.I shared the room at the Motel/Hostel with a guy named John (no trailname), from Pennsylvania. Interestingly, John and I were doing the same thing - completing a hike of the entire AT from Gorham, NH. He had hike the AT to Gorham in 2007 and got off, I did the same thing, but in 2008. Coincidentally, John and I are the same age.
Date: 2009-08-18
From: Route 4 - Stratton

To: Safford Notch Campground
Miles today: 10.4

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Paul J. day. I walked the first two miles starting off in his honor. Thanks, Paul for your pledge.I got up at 6:30 AM. I did not sleep well last night. I did not get any exercise yesterday (with my Zero day) and it was too hot in the room, as well. We (John and I) had a fan in the room, but it didn't help much. So, I got dressed and went to an early breakfast, with John, at the diner across the street.   Excellent breakfast with an omelette.Sue, the owner of the Motel, shuttled four of us, me, John, Bon Bon (a NOBO) and Coast-to-Coast (a SOBO) to the Trailhead. Sue is a most interesting person. She owns the Motel/Hostel, but has it up for sale. When she sells it, she plans to ride her tricycle (a Greenspeed), or possibly her bicycle, on a tour of the perimter of the United States. She is going to do it as a charity fundraiser, I believe, which is called 'three wheels for three cures' (I'm not sure about the actual name).I got started on the Trail about 8:20 AM. It was a long, long, uphill, as I'm now crossing the Bigelow Mountains, the last 'high' mountains going north in Maine. I stopped at Horn Pond for a break, and met Night Lion, the Caretaker there; he throughhiked the AT in 2006 (I think, but not sure of year). He was named Night Lion because he did a lot of hiking at night.I climbed over the West Peak of Bigelow Mountain, at 4145 feet, a fairly high peak. It was all rock at the top, and very windy. I was thinking that if it were much windier, a hiker could get blown off the peak. I went down West Peak and then up Avery Peak, the second of the peaks on Bigelow Mountain. It was about as high, at 4090 feet, as West Peak, but not nearly as windy. Avery Peak is named for Myron Avery, one of the early visionaries (and hard workers) for establishing the AT as a Trail).I hiked on and went down, then up and down Little Bigelow mountain. Going down Little Bigelow seemed to take forever. Since I had not slept well last night, I was quite tired. I got the Safford Notch Camping Area about 5:30 PM. John, whom I had shared a room with last night, was there, and I camped at a space near his. There were two section hikers in the campground as well.I had a cold supper and went to bed at 7:00 PM. I was exhausted. As I started to sleep, it started raining gently, which was nice to hear since I was in my tent. I must have gone to sleep right away, as John told me the next day that I was snoring lightly about 30 seconds after I zipped up my tent.
Date: 2009-08-19
From: Safford Notch Campground

To: West Carry Pond Lean To
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Tim P.day. I walked the first two miles starting off in his honor. Thanks, Tim, for your pledge.I got up about 6:15 (a half hour later than usual) and took my time getting ready. I got on the Trail about 7:55 AM. It was not quite as important to get on the Trail early, as I only planned to hike 12 miles today to the Lean To.I was a little tired, but the hike went well. The Trail consisted of small ups and downs, with only one higher up, Roundtop Mountain, at 1760 feet. I met several southbound section hikers including Graybeard Squirrel and several hikers, including Irish, whom I believe that I met last year.I got to the Lean To about 3:45 PM. Pretty early, but I decided to stay there and rest. John was there, as was Phoenix, a SOBO flip-flopper, who had been doing a throughhike north, when he got bit by a presumably rabid raccoon, in Virginia, and had been in the hospital and at home, and off the Trail for about a month. I had heard his story from some NOBOs in southern Maine. He had flip-flopped and started south from Mt. Katahdin, in order to complete his throughhike this year. Also, he had another part of his hike - he was hiking the AT in Crocs, the lightweight shoes that many hikers put on after a day's hiking. He had hiked in Crocs for some 1200 miles or so, and apparently, the Croc's company was providing him with shoes.Also there were a guy from Northern Ireland (Deperado) and a girl from England (Mozzy - for Mosquito), who were attempting a southbound throughhike. They were having some difficulties and were late in starting and going somewhat slowly, from shelter to shelter.I set up my tent at a tent site and rested (that is, napped) for a while. I went to the Lean To and cooked supper. I was feeling refreshed again. I went to bed at 8:00 PM, which was a bit later than my previous day.
Date: 2009-08-20
From: West Carry Pond Lean To

To: Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 14.0

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Cynthia and Olen W. day. I walked the first five miles starting off in their honor. Thanks, Cynthia and Olen for your pledge.I arose at 5:45 AM and got on Trail by 7:00 AM. This seems to be my 'standard' timing now.It was a beautiful day, clear and sunny. The Trail was lots of little ups and downs, but no big ones. There were a a lot of rocks and roots, though, as the Trail paralleled a large stream for most of the way. Usually, when the Trail is near a creek, river or lake, there are lots of roots to negotiate on the Trail. I met one southbound section hiker.I got to Pierce Pond Lean To about 11:45 AM and had lunch. John was there finishing lunch.I got back on the Trail and got to the Kennebec River just before 2:00 PM. The Kennebec River is a wide, dammed river. It is the only place on the entire AT that does not have a bridge or you cannot ford safely. The water level can rise very fast (and dangerously) The ATC has arranged a free transport service for hikers via canoe. This time of year, it is available from 9-11:00 AM and 2-4 PM. A guy named Dave, does the transport in the canoe. John was waiting when I got to the river, and we waited for Dave. Shortly after 2:00 PM, Dave paddled over, we signed the release and got in the canoe. The canoe actually has a white blaze in it, indicative of it part of the AT.The river is some 210 feet wide and going across in the canoe was an interesting experience. The current is fast (about 7 miles per hour) and we had to paddle upstream to eventually get to a landing spot directly across from the south side. Dave, the operator, is a Maine guide and he very much looks like one. He had on a fur (or felt) hat that looked much like you would expect a guide to have. He was very informative about the river, the transport service and the local area.I walked with John up the Trail and into the 'town' of Caratunk. There is not much there except some houses and a post office. There is no store or other retail establishments there. John had a package at the Post Office. After picking up the package, we called Northern Outdoors, a rafting service/lodge about 5 miles West of Caratunk. We got a tent-shelter (essentially a very large tent over a wooden structure, with two single beds in it), in the campground. There was a fine shower (which felt wonderful) and a restaurant. We (John and I) had supper there. They also had a microbrewery onsite, and had some excellent beer). Later, I went to bed about 7:30 PM and John went back for a second supper (He's a slender guy, but apparently his appetite kicked in).The tent-shelter was down near the Kennebec River and the mosquitos were bad, but the bed was comfortable.
Date: 2009-08-21
From: Caratunk, ME

To: Bald Mountain Brook Lean To
Miles today: 14.7

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Marlyne I. day. I walked the first two miles starting off in her honor. Thanks, Marlyne for your pledge.I got up about 5:45 AM. John and I (who shared the tent shelter) got packed up and went and had breakfast at the Northern Outdoors restaurant. Since they cater to rafters/tourists, they did not offer much breakfast, except a buffet featuring cereal, English Muffins, limited fruit, etc. I opted for a an egg-sausage bagel which turned out to be very good. They did have excellent, locally-roasted, coffee.We started hitchhiking about 7:00 in the morning. John was concerned that we would not be able to get a ride, because of little traffic, but I was optimistic. The second vehicle that came by picked us up; it was a local woman named Kim who also worked at Northern Outdoors. She dropped us at the Trailhead about 7:20.I felt very sluggish this morning. I think that I actually sleep better on my air mattress and in my sleeping bag, than in a bed, as I did last night.John and I hiked together most of the day. We met several Southbounders, through-hikers and section hikers. In the afternoon, we hiked over Pleasant Pond Mountain in the afternoon, which wasn't very difficult.We got to the Lean To about 4:00 PM or so, and it seemed like a good time to stop. About 15 minutes after we got there, it started to thunderstorm. I rapidly decided to stay in the shelter, for the first time on this trip, rather than put up my tent. There were two northbound throughhikers there, Evergreen (a young woman) and Scout (a young guy); they were not together. As it started to rain, a guy named Ray Jardine, came up to the shelter looking for a camping place. He stayed just a moment then went further down the Trail to look for a spot. I didn't know him, but John and the others did. He is a noted author and somewhat a Trail legend on the subject of light trail hiking. John had read at least one of his books and was familiar with his website. Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to talk to him on this encounter.We all cooked supper and then I went to sleep about 7:30. It continued to rain and it was pleasant to go to sleep with the rain pattering on the tin roof.
Date: 2009-08-22
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean To

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean To
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Kelley P. day. I walked the first five miles starting off in her honor. Thanks, Kelley for your pledge.Slept a little late today - got up at 5:50 rather than 5:45. Somewhat slow moving this morning - I got on the Trail about 7:20.Went up and over Moxie Bald (2629 feet)early. Not too strenuous but I was glad to get it done early. John and hiked together and most of the day, after Moxie Bald,was a long, slow downhill.   We had to ford a stream at a place called 'The Old Dam'. We knew exactly where to ford, as someone had strung a clothesline type line across it; it was about 25 feet across. Fording is, at least for me (and John as well) as somewhat time consuming event. I take off my hiking shoes, zip the legs off my hiking pants (so I'm now in hiking shorts) and put on my Crocs, which are very lightweight, but also very slippery on wet rock. I ford the stream and then reverse the steps on the other side. Some hikers, especially the young ones, just walk through the stream in their hiking shoes or boots and walk in wet socks. Most of them seem to do fine, but I don't want to hike with wet,wet feet.Later, we forded the Pisquatiquis River. It was wider and it took us a few minutes.After the River, the Trail had little ups and little downs as it paralled a creek.We got to the Shelter about 3:30. A little early to stop, but a good stopping pont. Plus, it looked like rain. We got settled in (I stayed in Shelter); no one else was there but us. About 7:00 PM it started to rain. So, once again, I was serenaded by the rain on the tin roof as I went to sleep.Tomorrow, we get to Monson, Maine!
Date: 2009-08-24
From: Maine Route 15 - Monson

To: Just Before Long Pond Stream
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: broken clouds

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Carl F. day. I walked the first 10 miles starting off in the 100 Mile Wilderness in his honor. Thanks, Carl for your pledge.I got up about 6:15 AM and went down the main house and had coffee. Thank goodness for the Hostels that make coffee early for the hikers! And, it was good coffee.I had breakfast with John, Retread and Ray Jardine. Shaw's is famous for their breakfasts. You basically tell them a number, like three, and they give you three of everything, including eggs, sausage, bacon, french toast or pancakes and home fries. Three was my number, but people got whatever they asked for. It was a wonderful breakfast.About 8:00 AM, Dawn took us to the Trailhead, where we left off the Trail yesterday. Retread stayed behind at the Hostel for a Zero Day to get a bit stronger. Dawn gave us each a hug and we all got on the Trail about 8:20.Immmediately, we came to the sign, signaling the South End of the 100 Mile Wilderness. The 100 Mile Wilderness lives up to its name. It is the longest wilderness area on the AT. No towns, no houses, no businesses. There are a few logging roads, and a couple of side trails, but otherwise it is forest, mountains, lakes, ponds and streams. There is a sign at the beginning of the Wilderness that has words like this: 'You are entering the 100 Mile Wilderness, the longest wilderness area on the AT. Do not enter unless you have 10 days food and supplies and are prepared to be on the Trail that long. Do not underestimate the seriousness of entering the Wilderness'. I may have paraphrased a bit, but that's the essence. John and I estimated that we could do the Wilderness in about 7 days, which means that we would have to average about 14.5 miles each day.So, after reading and contemplating the sign, we hiked into the 100 Mile Wilderness.The Trail was not strenous, but it was covered by lots of roots and rocks, so it was not fast walking. The humidity had broken, and it was warm, but not humid, so it was pleasant. We got to a Lean To at about the 10 mile mark, but decided it was too early to stop. So, me hiked on. About 6:00 PM, we came to a grassy area, just before Long Pond Stream. So, we stopped there and put up our tents. It was a nice area and the mosquitos were there, but not bad.I made supper and went to bed about 8:30. We had not come 14.5 miles, but had gotten near that goal for the day.
Date: 2009-08-25
From: Just Before Long Pond Stream

To: Chairback Gap Lean To
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: few clouds

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Debbie A. day. I walked the first five miles starting off in her honor. Thanks, Debbie for your pledge.It was cool last night, for the firs time in about 2 weeks.I got up about 5:45 AM and was on the Trail at 10 to 7:00. John and I hiked together.It was a fairly tough, and slow, day. We went over 4 mountains (Barren, 4th, 3rd, and Columbus - all but one about 2500 feet high) and forded two streams.We met 2 Section Hikers and three SOBOs, Moss, Gigi, and Big Bear (not together)We got to the Chairback Gap Lean To about 5:45 PM. I was quite tired.   I thought about staying in the Lean To, but it was one of the old ones, with boards over a baseball-bat floor (looks like baseball bats laying next to each other) and slanted multiple ways. There were two section hikers, Trudger and Jeremy, and on NOBO Hiker, Luna Moth. I met Luna Moth earlier, but he seems very introverted and I did not know his name until later.I was quite tired and went to sleep about 7:30 PM.
Date: 2009-08-26
From: Chairback Gap Lean To

To: AT Intersection with White Brook Trail
Miles today: 14.6

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Chloe B. day. I walked the first two miles starting off in her honor. Thanks, Chloe, for your pledge.Got up at 5:45 and on the Trail about 10 to 7. This is a bit shorter time than when I first started back on the Hike, so I'm either more efficient or more anxious to get on the Trail.Climbed up over White Cap Mountain.   A bit rocky, but not too high at 2180 feet. On top, the sun was just on the horizon and it was very scenic. It was a pretty steep descent, and that took a while.In the afternoon, John and I hiked up and over Gulf Haggis Mountain, about 2680 feet high. About 4:00, we came to the Sidney Tappan Campsite. Trudger and Jeremy were already there, as were two women section hikers. We thought about stopping but decided it was too early to stop. So, we got water and moved on.John was concerned that we would be able to find a 'Stealth' Camping site (a place to put our tents, that was not an official site), but I was confident that we would.   We hiked up and over West Peak and Hay Mountain, both a little over 3000 feet. Neithe one was too bad.About 6:00 PM, we came to the intersection of a side trail, the White Brook Trail, with the AT. Up until then, there had been no place to put up our tents. But, at the intersection of the Trails, there was a nice little cleared area, big enough for two tents! So, we set up our tents and settled in for the evening.We were still up at some height, at 2102 feet. The wind was howling and it got quite cool. I got in my tent (and sleeping bag) about 7:30, as I was getting cold and was tired.I was glad that we had hiked on a few miles past the official camping area.
Date: 2009-08-27
From: AT Intersection with White Brook Trail

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean To
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: clear sky

Today, on my Hiking and Haiti initiative, is Anne B. day. I walked the first the first six miles starting off in her honor. Today is her birthday, so I this a 'Happy Birthday' and hike in your honor. Thanks, Anne for your pledge.Got up at 6:55 and on the Trail about 7:00 AM. I did not sleep well last night, as I tossed and turned a lot. We may have hiked to late (or too strenuous) for me to relax before I went to bed. I have found that if I hike too long, and that's usually past 6:00 PM, I do not have enough time to unwind and do not sleep well. Yesterday, we stopped by 6:00, but going over two 3000 foot mountains late in the day may have sapped more energy.It was also very cold last night, and this morning.We (John and I) hiked up and over Whitecap Mountain, at 3650 feet, the last 'big' mountain, on the AT, before Mt. Katahdin. We saw several SOBOs, including a young guy who didn't exchange names, and Charging Bear (a guy). It is a beautiful, cool, sunny day today. It seemed like a long day of hiking, but we got to the Lean To about 4:05 PM. We thought about going on, but both decided we needed to rest, so stopped for the day. I put up my tent. It is still very cool.I went to bed about 7:00 PM.