morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-09-06
From: The Birches Campsite near Katahdin Stream

To: Baxter Peak, Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: few clouds

I'm done! (except for some trail I missed when I bypassed the river)It was a beautiful day, Class 1 and the views from the summit were splendid. All seven of us were up there by 10:30 and took pictures and drank a little champagne.I still haven't quite realized that it's over. I'm looking forward to seeing my family and resting in Deer Isle for a few days. Allen is coming up and together we will drive back up and do the trail I missed. For now I'm tired and happy to be done.
Date: 2005-09-19
To: Post-hike
Miles today: 0.0

What can I say? I have postponed this entry in the hopes that with some time and processing I would have a better sense of what the experience of being on the trail has meant to me, but I find instead that I am experiencing a distressing disconnect between my life on the trail and everyday life.I went to my parents house on the coast of Maine after I finished and spent a few days sleeping and eating and trying to get myself back together in time to go back to work. On the Friday after I climbed Katahdin Allen I and went back to the trail and finished the two sections I missed. The rivers were meek and mild, easy to ford. In one case, Vaughn Stream, I rock hopped it in two steps and never got my feet wet. We had to walk in a ways to get to the trail near Vaughn Stream, because the road was so poor, and large sections were flooded, but we carried in some trail magic to put in the stream to keep cool. I enjoyed both hikes, despite very sore stiff feet and knees, and it was good to get some exercise.Then it was time to come home and go back to work. It feels very wierd, like I never left, never walked the trail. If I didn't hurt all over everytime I try to do anything strenuous, like walk up and down stairs, I would think I was never on the trail. I am slowly recovering physically although some things like the bone bruises on my palms and my numb toes will probably take months. I am delghted to be somewhere where there is indoor plumbing and when it rains I don"t get wet, but I miss the trail already and have trouble being in rooms with no open windows or doors. I feel both so exhausted still that I don't want to do anything and restless and deprived because I have not done any walking.I don't think I will ever want to do another long distance trail, but I know I will always want to spend weekends and even weeks in the woods. I already miss being in the wild places that the trail took me to in Maine and New Hampshire and I know I'll be back. I'm already making lists of new gear to buy!
Date: 2005-07-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I'm getting closer to Katahdin, but I'm taking my time and enjoying the company of some friends on the way up there. On the 1st of July, Dewdrop and I went to a couple of trailheads in NJ and did some trail magic. We found a nobo by the name of Florida first and talked to him a while. He said he didn't think there were many other hikers around this area. After he had some refreshments, we headed over by the mile long boardwalk and found Radio and Krazy Katie. We walked with them back to where we left the cooler and sat there and talked for about half an hour. Dewdrop and I went back to where he's staying and I called Mrs Moosie and told her I was running just a little late, but I'd still be there. She lives in Ct. It took me almost 2 hours to get there. It was great seeing her again...it's always great seeing her. On the 2nd of July, Mrs Moosie and I went to the trailhead at Ct Rt 55 and waited for a couple hours with sodas and strawberry shortcake and whipped cream for any thru hikers. No one showed up so I guess I'll take that stuff up to her husband, Moosie and his hiking partner, Tea Break, near Stratton Mountain in Vermont tomorrow. We ended up watching a good movie that evening. On July 3rd, I left Mrs Moosie's home after we made some hamburgers and got a bunch of other things ready for some trail magic. I left Mrs Moosie's at 8:30am on my way to find her husband and his hiking friends just south of Stratton Mountain in Vermont. Mrs Moosie, thanks for making me feel so welcome. I got up to the trail head way out in the middle of nowhere and found Moosie, Search, Rescue and about 4 or 5 other hikers. They were all glad to get the sodas and food, especially the strawberry shortcake. I left there at 1:30pm and headed for Lew and Frogcallers in Greenville, Me. It seemed like it took me for ever to get to their home just about 15 miles on the other side of Monson, Me. I finally got there at 10pm. They had just arrived home after watching the fireworks down by Moosehead Lake. I got to talk a short while with Lew, Frogcaller, Zulu, Sweet Tart and Mud Slinger, their son and his girlfriend and her son before I went to bed. Just as I was getting in bed, I heard a loon in the lake out the back door and I smiled to myself...I'M IN MAINE!!!!
Date: 2005-07-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It was nice and cool here in Greenville, Me. last night. I was so tired after all the driving I did yesterday that I wasn't ready for morning to be here already. I ended up going in for breakfast about 7:30am. Frogcaller and Lew always take such good care of me when I visit. We sat at their dining room table which has a beautiful view of Little Wilson Pond with the mountains on the other side. The "ponds" up here in Maine would be considered a huge lake in Florida. Lew took me into town to get a new pair of hiking shorts at the outfitter. I spent some time this afternoon going through my pack trying to make sure I had everything and talking to Zulu. Lew gave me some duct tape and it seems like I'm ready to go. Frogcaller made some delicious crabcakes and all the fixins' to go with them for an early dinner. I was going to climb Katahdin on the 6th to start my thru hike, but Quincygirl called and said she could make it a day earlier, so it looks like I'm climbing Katahdin tomorrow!! She is doing the 100 mile wilderness with me then she'll head home and I'll keep going. I left about 9pm and drove into Monson to meet her and show her the way back to Lew and Frogcallers. While I was waiting on her, I talked to 2 thru hikers that were in Monson. Gonzo who is a sobo and Superfeet who's a nobo. Quincygirl showed up about 10pm and we headed back to Greenville. I almost hit a moose on the way to Monson earlier and then on the way back with Quincygirl in the truck, I almost got hit by a moose. I saw a moose on the side of the road and slowed down to about 25 mph, but a calf came running across the road from the other side and I had to turn away to avoid having him run into me. We got back to Lew and Frogcaller's and talked for about 10 minutes before we all headed off for some sleep. Frogcaller is making us her special oatmeal pancakes for breakfast, then Lew is taking us to Katahdin Stream and dropping us off. WOO HOO!!!  I get to go for a walk.  :-)))
Date: 2005-07-09
From: Near Crawford Pond, ME

To: Logan Brook Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: clear sky

9.4 miles todayLogan Brook Lean-to, Maine It rained most of the night, but had let up for morning. I stuck my stove outside the tent to start some coffee and started getting bit by some no-see-ums. Quin woke up about the same time I did. We had our coffee and ate a little breakfast. Our tents were so close together that it worked out better for one of us to pack up while the other waited. I waited because I was having more coffee.  ;-))) Quin started hiking at 7:10am and I got started at 7:30. It started raining again just as I got started walking, but it was more of a steady drizzle at first. My first climb was up Little Boardman Mountain. It didn't seem so little this morning. I just couldn't get my body going, so I just took it slowly. I came to Mountain View Pond at the bottom of the mountain and saw a bull moose. He was just heading for the pond, but got startled when he saw me. He headed off away from me and kept stopping to see if he was safe yet. Ha, if he only knew he was bigger than me. :-)) He got on the A.T. and kept going. He finally got out of sight after about a minute. I kept on walking. It took me over two hours before I saw Quin. We stopped at the East Branch Lean-to and ate a snack and tried to get warm. The rain had been fairly heavy a few times and the temperature was in the 50s. We couldn't decide whether to leave in the rain or take a nap...we took a nap. We finally put our wet clothes back on and started hiking about an hour later. We were heading up to White Cap Mountain, but thought we would stop at the lean-to just about a mile from the summit. I found a nice spring and went to get water and there was about a dozen cokes someone had left!! Thanks, I love trail magic!!  It really makes you feel good about the day. I headed on up the mountain and it started raining very hard and then some thunder came. I got to the shelter drenched and a few minutes later, Quin came in. It didn't take any talk to know it was nap time again. I made some coffee after getting into some dry clothes and then Quin drifted off to sleep and I decided to catch up on my journaling for the day. It's 2:30pm and still raining hard out. I'm not going over the exposed summit of White Cap Mountain with thunder in the area.6:30pm  Well, we are stil here at the shelter and have decided to stay the night. Maybe we'll get some nice views of White Cap Mountain in the morning. A girl by the name of Marge is here. She is hiking all of Maine. BassMaster is also here. He's a nobo who started on March 6th. We didn't plan on such a short day, but it's been nice staying warm and dry in this shelter this afternoon. I must be getting soft.  ;-))) It's still raining, we've eaten dinner and I guess we're going to sleep early.
Date: 2005-07-12
From: Leeman Brook Lean-to, ME

To: Greenville, ME
Miles today: 3.0

3 miles todayLew and Frogcaller's cabinGreenville, Maine I woke up this morning after another great nights sleep. I made coffee and was drinking it and thinking about PK when Quin woke up. We packed up and headed to where her car was parked at the the trailhead near Monson. We had a good restaurant breakfast on our minds although I had had never eaten breakfast in Greenville. I was sure there would be someplace serving up some eggs and coffee. We talked for the short 3 mile walk out of the Wilderness about all the fun we had this last week. I couldn't believe it when we got to the car so fast. Quin put on a dress and perfume for breakfast...great, all I have are these dirty ol' hiking clothes and Mosquito bites all over me. We found a great little restaurant right on Moosehead Lake and got a window seat. I ordered a small breakfast and Quin ordered a huge breakfast. That girl can eat!! After breakfast and a few cups of coffee, she drove me up to Lew and Frogcaller's cabin on Lower Wilson Pond and dropped me off. She headed home to see her soft bed, her refrigerator, her tv, her hot tub, her children and get a massage while I started to get my bounce box ready so I could get back in the woods tomorrow. I got a much needed shower and shave, then Lew and I headed to Skowhegan to a seafood restaurant I know about by the name of Ken's. They have the largest seafood platter I've ever seen and I was ready for it because I just walked 120 miles through the rugged Maine Wilderness and Lew was ready for that huge feast because he dropped Quin and I off at Katahdin Stream last week to start walking. ;-))) I was a hurtin' pup when I finished my Monster Seafood Platter. I sat there and watched Lew working on his. That man can eat!!! He may have been turning green when he finished, but he finished!! We drove a back way and went through Caratunk. The Caratunk House was boarded up and had a for sale sign in front of it. We stopped by to say hi to Steve Longley, but there was a sign on the store's door that said to call him on the phone if you needed anything. We headed back to Greenville and I called my mommy who has been very worried because a certain brother forgot to tell her that I was going for another walk. I also called Mrs Moosie who is transcribing for me this year (Thanks Mrs Moosie!!!) and had sent me an email wondering what was taking so long to walk 120 miles. It looks like I'll be seeing Moosie and Goldilocks in about 1 1/2 weeks somewhere in southern Maine. I sure hope they remember all the nice things I've done for them and bring me some fried chicken and a coke. ;-)) I spent the last of the day finishing up my bounce box that's going to Gorham, NH and talking to Lew, the eating machine. Hey Quincygirl, thanks for a great hike!!!
Date: 2005-07-18
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite, ME

To: 1 mile south of Poplar Ridge Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 15.2

15.2 miles today1 mile S of Poplar Ridge Lean-to,Maine It rained last night. I got started walking this morning after coffee and breakfast at 6:50am. It is very, very humid out today. So much so that it even feels hard to breathe. I hiked down to the South Branch of the Carrabassett River and crossed it before climbing a very steep climb up Sugarloaf Mountain. I ran into a nobo by the name of Traction about half way up. We talked a while then hiked on. When I got to the summit of Spaulding Mountain I saw a girl coming towards me. She said; "Stumpknocker!" I asked her what her name was and where we met. She said her name was Day Tripper and we met at Kincora Hostel in Tn. We talked a while. She said she was tired and all she wanted to do was to get into Stratton and eat and shower. I stopped at Spaulding Mountain Lean-to and ate lunch. A guy by the name of Jaybird came in. I asked him if he saw Day Tripper and he said no, but that she was a friend he hadn't seen since Georgia. Her name back then was Bailey...I remember that name from Kincora. I hiked on and walked down the mountain next to a cold stream. It's so humid out that there is fog coming up from the stream as it flows down the hill. This has been one of the most humid days I ever remember on the trail. I have been soaking wet all day. It's supposed to be less humid in 2 days...can't wait!! I kept going down a long way and finally got to Orbeton Stream. From there I started climbing again up Poplar Ridge Mountain. I saw 2 hikers coming at me so I asked there names. The guy was Senor Nobs and the girl was Darcy. They had heard alot about me from Hippie earlier this year. We talked about 10 minutes before moving on. It started raining about 15 minutes before I got to Poplar Ridge Lean-to, but it felt great. Finally something to cool me down a little. I got to the lean-to and there was a guy already in his sleeping bag sound asleep. I made dinner and signed the register and I don't think he ever knew I was there. It was too muddy and wet around there to tent, so I hiked on after dinner. I went about a mile before I found a good place to set up my tent.  It rained somemore before I got there and there was thunder in the distance. I'm glad I had low mileage days planned because for the first time ever, I chafed under my arms where my backpack straps go. I guess that was from being soaked all day. I got in my tent early, about 5:30pm. Let it rain and thunder all it wants to now...I'm home for the night.
Date: 2005-07-21
From: Summit of Old Blue Mountain, ME

To: The Cabin, Andover, ME
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: few clouds

2.8 miles today  ;-)))The Cabin, Andover, Maine I had a fantastic night. I woke up about 10:30 last night to a bright full moon shining down on me. I was sleeping out on a big rock that fit my body pretty well. I was on the summit of Old Blue Mountain. The night sky was so beautiful that I dug out my camera and played around with it until I figured out how to use the night scene on the camera. I layed the camera down on a rock and took a few shots of the night sky and they came out really well. I fell asleep again and woke up just at first light at 4am. I layed there a while watching the clouds blow by. All of a sudden the sky just lit up to a beautiful pink color, so I got out of my sleeping bag and took some nice sunrise pictures. It just doesn't get any better than that. I was going to make coffee, but decided to hike down the mountain to South Arm Road where either Honey or Bear was going to pick me up. I got started down the mountain at 5:30. It was a very steep down. I got there about 6:45 and made my coffee and ate a little breakfast. The wind was blowing cool, so I moved to the other side of the road to get in the sun and out of the wind. I sat there and answered alot of emails and about 9am Bear showed up with a big smile on his face. He made a comment about how different I look without that monster hiker beard I usually have. We stopped by the store on the way back to The Cabin. I took a shower, washed my clothes and dried out my sleeping bag. I layed around all morning with my feet up...ahhh, such a tough life!! I had 3 maps that I didn't need anymore, so I mailed them home. The Maine maps are nice, but they're heavy and I didn't want to carry them to Gorham, NH. Honey invited me upstairs for BLT and then a homemade rhubarb pie and ice cream. Between fading away on the couch, I would occasionally talk to Pheonix who is helping out here. Jackie and Eric are maintainers who are staying here for a couple days. I checked my email online and checked Trail Journals to see where some friends were. I layed around on the couch somemore. I thought about getting up once, but changed my mind. I did get up pretty fast when I was told dinner was ready.  ;-))) Dinner was all you could eat hamburgers, chicken, salad, fresh beets and beet greens just picked today, rhubarb pie and ice cream. :-)) A meal like that makes for a happy hiker!! There were 8 of us at dinner, then 2 sobos by the names of Bucko and Greg that I met in Stratton came in. They ate for over an hour. Conversation around the dinner table was good. Bear does a good job of getting people to talk. I'm only doing 10 miles tomorrow and I'm meeting Bear in that stretch of trail. We're going to clear out some blowdowns while I'm hiking through there.
Date: 2005-07-22
From: The Cabin, Andover, ME

To: The Cabin, Andover, ME
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

10.1 miles todayThe Cabin, Andover, Maine I heard Bear upstairs moving around about 4am. I layed in bed until almost 5 when I got up and went upstairs for some coffee. I sat there talking to Bear for a while, then came back down to my room and got my stuff ready for the 10 mile hike I had planned for the day. Breakfast was served at 6am. All but two people showed up for breakfast. It is always as much as you can eat here and Bucko and Greg ate like they were nobos. It was more fun watching them eat than actually eating my own breakfast. :-))) Honey took me out to the trailhead at South Arm Rd and dropped me off. The plan was for me to hike in and find Bear, Eric and Jackie to help clear some blowdowns that were blocking the trail. I had a hard time getting up the first hill called Moody Mountain. Last night's dinner and this morning's breakfast made me feel sluggish on that climb, but it was worth it!! Once I got to the summit, I had a very steep down to Sawyer Notch and then right back up to Hall Mtn Lean-to. There was a nobo there by the name of Johnny Blaze. He said Moosie (www.trailjournals.com/moosie) had warned him about me. ;-))) The spring there wasn't in very good condition, so I didn't get any water. I climbed up to the North Peak of Wyman Mtn and ran into a flip-flopper by the name of The New Guy aka The Pinball Wizard. He came right up to me and shook my hand. He told me his name and he said; "You're Stumpknocker, right?" I said I was and he said that he was sick last year and he spent his time reading Hippie's and my journals. Those kind of stories make it worth while to keep a journal. I got to Surplus Pond and found a spring and got some much needed water. I only had two miles left to the road and I met Bodhi and then a familiar face came towards me...Kodak. I had met her when she was hiking with some friends of mine earlier this year. I got to the road crossing and Bear was there waiting for me. I didn't get to help with any of the clearing because by the time I got to where the trees were laying across the trail, Bear, Eric and Jackie already had the work done. We stopped by the store on the way back to the hostel and I got some chocolate milk. I think my taste is changing because now I'm starting to crave chocolate milk more than coke. I got my shower, shaved for the next section of trail into Gorham...I want to look good when I run into my friends Moosie and Goldilocks. ;-))) We had a very nice spagetti dinner tonight. There were 10 of us at the dinner table; Honey, Bear, Eric, Jackie, Greg, Bucko, Bohdi, Kodak, Phoenix and myself. The conversation was great and Greg and Bucko took turns playing the piano. We all went downstairs and Jackie played the guitar and sang...a very nice evening. I stayed up until 10:30pm talking to a few of the hikers and listening to some of their stories.
Date: 2005-07-26
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero Day!!Northern Peaks MotelGorham, NH Not a whole lot to talk about today...it was a true zero day. I woke up about 7 and decided to make my own coffee and made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and just layed in bed and enjoyed it. At 10am, I walked over to the office and paid for another day here. I walked up and mailed my bounce box to Mrs Gorp, my photo memory card to Mrs Moosie and sent some maps home. I stopped by a hamburger joint on the way back and had a burger and some chili, then got back to the room took a nap. I woke up for a while and then took another nap. :-))) It was dinner time, so I walked next door to a steak house called J's Corner and had a very good steak dinner. I came back to my room and called Chief. He wanted to know more about backpacking. ;-))) I've helped him out for the last few years, but the old boy's memory isn't what it used to be, so I have to remind him about stuff. I called Goosebump and Rainbow Slick...always good to talk to good friends. I found a movie on the Disney Channel called "Snowdogs." It turned out to be a pretty good movie. I checked my watch and it was 10pm...where did the day go??  Ahhh, a true zero day. :-))) Into the Whites tomorrow morning.