morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-09-24
From: RANGELEY

To: POPLAR RIDGE LEAN TO 
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I LEFT RAMBLE ON, LEMONHEAD AND WALKING HOME BACK IN RANGELEY. SPEEDSTICK AND I HAD THE OLD MAN THAT OWNS THE HOSTEL GIVE US A RIDE BACK TO THE TRAILHEAD. HE STOPPED AT A STORE ON THE WAY OUT AND I GOT A FEW FIVE HOUR POWERS IN CASE I LACKED ENERGY. CHEF HAD GIVEN ME HALF OF ONE BACK IN THE MAHOOUSIC NOTCH A WAYS BACK AND IT SEEMED TO WORK. I FELT LIKE IT MIGHT HELP ON A DOWN DAY. I HAD SEEN CHEF AND SPIRITFINGERS BACK IN TOWN ON THE WAY BACK TO THE TRAIL AS WE DROVE BY. I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF SOME GOOD WEATHER TO GET OVER SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN, THE HORN, AND SADDLEBACK JUNIOR. IT WAS WINDY AND COLD BUT WHAT A VIEW. I HAD PASSED TWO GUYS AND A GIRL WHO WERE HIKING A SECTION AND THEY SAID YOUR CRUISING. THEY HEARD MY RADIO AND SAID THATS THE WAY TO TRAVEL. THEY COULDNT KEEP UP WITH ME BECAUSE I WAS ON A ROLE AND WAS MOVING RIGHT ALONG. I HAD GOT A LATE START. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE POPULAR RIDGE LEAN TO AND WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE SHELTER. NO BODY WANTED TO SLEEP ON THE BASEBALL BAT STYLE FLOORS. I HAVENT HAD A PAD THE WHOLE TRIP AND IT DIDNT BOTHER ME ONE BIT. A GUY WAS THERE TENTING AND WASHING HIS SOCKS IN THE WATER SOURCE. THE TWO GUYS AND GAL WERE TOLD THERE WAS A CAMPSITE JUST PAST THE SHELTER SO THEY HIKED ON PAST IT. THE FOREIGN GUY WHO WAS TENTED CAME OVER AFTER I STARTED A FIRE. HE CAME OVER AND PUT SOME ROTTEN LOGS ON IT AND IT KEPT GOING OUT. I TOLD HIM THE ROTTEN WOOD WOULD NOT BURN AND HE INSISTED IT WOULD. OF COURSE IT DIDNT. I WANDERED OFF IN THE DARK WITH MY HEADLAMP TO GET SOME MORE WOOD. I USUALLY TURN MY RADIO ON AT THE SHELTER SO I COULD FIND MY WAY BACK BUT SINCE THERE WAS SOMEONE THERE I DIDNT WANT TO BOTHER HIM SO I FIGURED THE FIRE WOULD WORK. WELL THE GUY KILLED MY FIRE AND I WAS LOST IN THE WOODS. I FINALLY SPOTTED HIS HEADLAMP WHILE HE WAS GATHERING WOOD AND HE DIRECTED ME BACK TO THE SHELTER. THAT WAS KINDA FREAKY. I COULDNT FIND MY WAY BACK ON MY OWN. I COULDNT SEE THE TRAIL OR THE SHELTER. I MANAGED TO KEEP THE FIRE GOING AND ATE A LOT OF FOOD. IT WOULD GET VERY COLD THAT NIGHT.
Date: 2009-09-25
From: POPLAR RIDGE LEAN TO 

To: CROCKER CIRQUE CAMPSITE
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: broken clouds

THE WEATHER IS COOPERATING AND I MANAGED TO GET OVER LONE MOUNTAIN AND SPAULDING MOUNTAIN. THEN IT WAS BACK DOWN AS I HIKED A STEEP TREACHEROUS DROP DOWN TO THE SOUTH BRANCH OF THE CARRABASSSETT RIVER. I MET GORGONZOLA AND DANALI AT THE CROQUE CIRQUE CAMPSITE ENTRANCE WHERE THEY WOULD TENT NEXT TO THE WATER SOURCE. I HIKED TO THE TENT PLATFORMS OFF INTO THE WOODS AND WAS BY MYSELF. I HAD A NICE FIRE THAT NIGHT. IT WAS A COLD ONE. I WAS WARM SITTING NEXT TO THE FIRE. I'M SETTING MYSELF UP FOR THE NORTH AND SOUTH CROCKER MOUNTAINS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND A MAD DASH TO STRATTON. I HAD SOME GREAT WEATHER BUT THE NIGHTS ARE GETTING COLDER AND COLDER.
Date: 2009-09-26
From: CROCKER CIRQUE CAMPSITE

To: STRATTON
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

MY WATER WAS FROZEN IN MY WATER BOTTLE IN THE MORNING AND I HAD TO HIKE DOWN SOME ICE. THE CROCKER MOUNTAINS HAD FROST UP ON TOP. I WASNT PLANNING ON STOPPING IN STRATTON BUT I DECIDED TO. I MANAGED TO HITCH A RIDE AT MAINE 27 AND A COUPLE PICKED ME UP AND DROVE ME RIGHT TO THE MOTEL. NEEDED TO GET LAUNDRY DONE BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS WET. IM COLD WHEN I WEAR WET CLOTHES. IT WAS WORTH IT. MADE SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS FOR DINNER. THE CHINESE TOURIST DID A 2 DAY HIKE INTO STRATTON AND I FED HIM WHEN HE GOT IN. IM HAPPY HE CAUGHT UP. I LIKE STRATTON. THEY HAVE A GREAT RESUPPLY AT THE GROCERY STORE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE STRATTON MOTEL. THERES A BAR ACROSS THE STREET AS WELL WITH PINBALL AND POOL, WHAT A TREAT. THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I SHOT A FEW GAMES. THE THREE HIKERS I HAD MET THE LAST FEW DAYS WERE DOING A SECTION OF THE TRAIL. I TOLD THEM THAT THE MOTEL WAS THERE AND IT WAS ONLY TWENTY BUCKS AND THEY ENDED UP SHOWING UP. THE GIRL WASNT FEELING WELL. GORGONZOLA AND DENALI WHO I CAUGHT UP TO THE DAY BEFORE SHOWED UP AS WELL. I HAD MET SOMEONE WHO MET THEM BOTH EARLIER IN THEIR HIKE AT THE RESTERAUNT ACROSS THE STREET. I TOLD THEM THEY WOULD BE HITCHING INTO TOWN. SO THEY WENT DOWN THERE SURPRISED THEM AND GAVE THEM A RIDE INTO STRATTON.
Date: 2009-09-27
From: STRATTON

To: LITTLE BIGELOW LEAN TO
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

WE PLANNED ON DOING OVER 20 TODAY, BUT THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I ENDED UP HIKING IN WHAT TURNED OUT FROM A DRIZZLE TO A PRETTY GOOD DAY UNTIL, THATS UNTIL THE WIND AND RAIN CAME. THE BIGELOWS WERE REAL WINDY AND STOPPING ON TOP WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA SO WE HAD TO KEEP MOVING. THE WIND WAS STRONG AND VERY COLD. THE RAIN MADE THINGS WORSE. WE DECIDED AFTER HIKING INTO THE NIGHT IN THE RAIN FOR A HOUR AND A HALF WE CALLED IT AT THE LITTLE BIGELOW SHELTER. LITTLE BIGELOW KICKED OUR BUTTS. UP AND DOWN, UP AND DOWN. THE CHINESE TOURIST KEPT SLIPPING ON WET ROOTS AND TRIPPING ON WET ROCKS AND I WAS BEHIND HIM CRACKING UP THE WHOLE TIME. DANG ROOT, DANG ROCK, DANG TRAIL HE MUMBLED AND I COULDNT HELP BUT CRACK UP. I FILLED UP ON WATER AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SHELTER AND THEN WE WOKE THE E.O. THE EXTREME OPTIMIST UP AS WE HIKED INTO THE SHELTER IN THE DARK. HE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE SOMEONE COME IN AT THAT HOUR. THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO GET OUT OF THE WET CLOTHES AND PUT SOME DRY WARM ONES ON, COOKED DINNER AND WERE OFF TO BED. ITS NICE TO BE DRY AND WARM AND OUT OF THE RAIN.
Date: 2009-09-28
From: LITTLE BIGELOW LEAN TO

To: PIERCE POND LEAN TO
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

AFTER THAT MISERABLE LATE NIGHT HIKING INTO THE DARK, A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP AND A WARM SLEEPING BAG WAS CERTAINLY REFRESHING. THE E.O. WAS OFF EARLY WHILE THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I SLEPT IN. ITS TOO COLD TO GET OUT OF MY SLEEPING BAG AND THE CHINESE TOURIST LIKES TO SLEEP IN. WELL ITS OFF TO THE PIERCE POND LEAN TO. I SHOWED THE CHINESE TOURIST MY LOAD STRAP AS I HAD TIED IT TO MY CHEST STRAP DUE TO IT FRAYING. I TOLD HIM THIS NEEDS TO LAST JUST ANOTHER 100 AND SO MILES. I MUST OF MO-JOED MYSELF BECAUSE WE WERE CRUISING AT A PRETTY GOOD PACE WHEN ABOUT A QUARTER MILE FROM THE WEST CARRY POND LEAN TO IT SNAPPED. IT WOULD SWING OUT TO ONE SIDE AND WAS GONNA BE A PROBLEM. I TRIED TO TIE IT WHILE WALKING BUT COULDNT. THE CHINESE TOURIST SAID WE WERE CLOSE TO THE SHELTER SO I DIDNT STOP. I KEPT ONE HAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO KEEP IT FROM SWINGING OUT. I MANAGED TO LIMP IT TO THE SHELTER WHERE WE WWERE PLANNING LUNCH. I HAD A FEW ITEMS I HAD GRABBED OUT OF A HIKERS BOX IN CASE OF JUST THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. WITHIN TEN MINUTES I HAD A LOAD STRAP, A WORKING LOAD STRAP. BEFORE IT WAS JUST TIED KEEPING IT TOGETHER. THAT CAUSED SOME SORES TO DEVELOP ON MY CHEST FROM RUBBING IN THAT SPOT FUNNY. NOW I HAVE A WORKING LOAD STRAP WHICH I COBBLED TOGETHER. STUCK A SAFETY PIN THROUGH THE KNOT TO KEEP IT FROM COMING UNTIED. APPEARS TO BE WORKING AND AFTER LUNCH WE WERE OFF ON THE TRAIL. WE CAUGHT THE E.O. A SHORT TIME LATER AND PASSED A GUY NAMED YO-YO. WE TREKED ON WITH E.O. WHO WANTED TO GET IN FRONT, SO WE LET HIM BY. HE SAID HE DOESNT HAVE A HEADLAMP AND NEEDS TO GET TO THE SHELTER BEFORE DARK. WHEN WE GOT TO THE SHELTER THERE WAS A LADY AND TWO KIDS WHO WERE SECTION HIKING AND E.O. SET UP IN THE SHELTER. THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I TOOK THE LAST TWO SPOTS. IT WAS COZY. THE LADY ASKED IF WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS AT HARRISONS FOR PANCAKES IN THE MORNING WHICH IS JUST DOWN THE TRAIL. I COULDNT BUT EVERY ONE ELSE DID. YO-YO SHOWED UP AND HAD TO TENT. EVERYONE TURNED IN FOR THE NIGHT AND YO YO AND I WERE CHATTING BY THE FIRE, BAR ROOM STYLE AND CRACKING UP. IT STARTED TO GET LATE SO I JUMPED IN MY SLEEPING BAG FOR THE NIGHT. IT RAINED LATER THAT EVENING. GLAD TO BE IN THE SHELTER.
Date: 2009-09-29
From: PIERCE POND LEAN TO

To: BALD MOUNTIAN BROOK LEAN TO
Miles today: 18.7

WELL I WAS THE LAST TO LEAVE THE SHELTER WHILE YO-YO SLEPT. EVERYONE ELSE WAS OFF TO HARRISONS. I WENT TO HARRISONS TO SEE IF I COULD SCORE A CUP OF COFFEE. EVERYONE WAS EATING THERE STUFFED PANCAKES AS I TALKED MYSELF INTO A CUP OF COFFEE. THE LADY GAVE ME SOME LEFT OVER PANCAKES SHE COULDNT EAT ON HER PLATE SO I FELT LIKE I HAD BREAKFAST. I WAS THE FIRST TO HEAD OUT CAUSE I NEEDED TO CATCH THE FERRY OVER THE KENNEBEC RIVER BEFORE TEN AND I NEED TO SCRAMBLE TO THE POST OFFICE FOR A MAIL DROP IN CARATUNK. WHEN I GOT TO THE KENNEBEC I COULDNT FIND WHERE THE TRAIL WENT. WHERES THE FAIRY? THEN I SAW A GUY GET INTO A CANOO AND START ACROSS. MAYBE I CAN HOLLER AT THIS FISHERMAN FOR DIRECTIONS. TURNS OUT HE WAS HEADING MY WAY. HE HOLLERED BE THERE IN A MINUTE. I HOLLERED ARE YOU THE FERRY. THAT SOUNDED KINDA FUNNY. BUT YES HE REPLIED HES THE FERRY. WHILE I WAS LOADING UP AND SIGNING A WAIVER IN CASE OF A ACCIDENT THE E.O. SHOWED UP AND WE WERE BOTH ON OUR WAY ACROSS THE KENNEBEC RIVER. I LET THE E.O. PADDLE WITH THE FERRY OPERATOR WHILE I SAT IN THE MIDDLE AND I FELT LIKE WE ALMOST WENT OVERBOARD THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY ACROSS. WE MADE IT. I THEN RACED OFF TO CARATUNK AND THE POST OFFICE. CARATUNK WAS CERTAINLY A SMALL VILLAGE AND I LIKED THE OLD HOUSES ALONG MAIN STREET. GOT TO THE POST OFFICE AND PICKED UP MY PACKAGE. THE CHINESE TOURIST MET UP WITH ME THERE. IT WAS BACK ONTO THE TRAIL ONCE AGAIN. IT WASNT LONG BEFORE WE CAUGHT UP TO E.O. AGAIN AS THE THREE OF US TRAVELED TO THE NEXT SHELTER. THE PLEASANT POND LEAN TO. THATS WHERE THE E.O. SAID IM FEELING FRESH IM GONNA HIKE ON. THEN HE PROCEEDED TO WALK DOWN TO SOME TRAIL. WHERE YOU GOING WE SAID. HE SAID I'M HEADING TO THE TRAIL. WRONG WAY WE REPLIED. WE KNEW WE WALKED DOWN TO THE SHELTER SO HE TURNED AROUND AND HEADED UP. SHORTLY AFTER HE CAME BACK AND I GUESS SNAPPED AT US. THATS NOT FUNNY HE SAID. THERES JUST A POND THERE AND HE STILL WANTED TO GO DOWN THAT TRAIL. WE TOLD HIM WE WALKED DOWN TO THE SHELTER AND THEN HE FOUND THE ACTUAL TRAIL WHICH WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE SHELTER HEADING UP. AFTER HE WAS GONE WE LAUGHED AS WE DIDNT KNOW HE WAS HEADING THE WRONG WAY THE SECOND TIME. HE WENT THE WRONG WAY THE SECOND TIME AND WE DIDNT EVEN KNOW IT TILL HE GOT BACK. HE THOUGHT WE PURPOSELY SENT HIM THE WRONG WAY. OH WELL. WE WERE OFF ONCE AGAIN AS THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I KNEW WE WERE CATCHING UP TO MORE THRU HIKERS. WE'RE RUNNING THEM DOWN. I WASNT GONNA CARRY ANY WATER THIS NEXT STRETCH FIGURING THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF WATER ALONG THE WAY. BOY WAS I WRONG. WE WANTED TO GO TO THE MOXIE BALD LEAN TO BUT AFTER PLEASANT MOUNTAIN POND MOUNTAIN KICKED OUR BUTTS WE WERE ABOUT DONE. NOTHING LIKE HAVING NO WATER BETWEEN THE TWO OF US. ONCE WE GOT TO THE LEAN TO WE ENDED UP RUNNING INTO WILLOW WHO I MET ONCE AT THE DELAWARE WATER GAP, MATT AND LUKE WHO I MET IN ANDOVER, THE E.O. WAS THERE. GEORGE AND HER DOG WERE THERE. JUST A GROUP OF THRU HIKERS. LATER THAT NIGHT AFTER MATT AND LUKE STARTED A FIRE I WENT TO GET SOME MORE WOOD AND I HEARD THUNDER. THEN IT RAINED. TIME FOR BED.
Date: 2009-10-01
From: MONSON

To: WILSON VALLEY LEAN TO
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I GOT MY MAILDROP WHICH WAS A WATERPROOF JACKET AND MORE SUPPLIES. I CARRIED SO MUCH FOOD WITH MY MAILDROP I HAD ENOUGH TO RESUPPLY THE CHINESE TOURIST AND MYSELF AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO UNLOAD SOME INTO THE HIKERS BOX. I ONLY HAVE 114 MORE MILES TO GO. THE DAY STARTED OUT WITH AYCE BREAKFAST AT SHAWS. THEN THE POST OFFICE. BY THE TIME THE TOURIST WAS READY WE DIDNT LEAVE TILL NOON OR LATER. MANAGED TO HITCH A RIDE TO THE TRAIL AND WE WERE OFF ONCE AGAIN. A LATE START MEANT WE MAY GET TO WHERE WE'RE GOING YET WE MAY NOT. WE STOPPED AT THE FIRST LEAN TO OUT OF MONSON FOR A PRIVY INSPECTION AND A SNACK. THEN WE WERE OFF TO THE WILSON VALLEY LEAN TO. THE LITTLE WILSON FALLS WERE SPECTACULAR AND WE DIDNT HAVE TO FORD THE LITTLE WILSON STREAM. HOWEVER THE BIG WILSON STREAM WAS A DIFFERENT STORY. NOTHING LIKE HANGIN ON TO A ROPE WHILE CROSSING. THE CHINESE TOURIST GOT OVER AND RECORDED ME AS I STRUGGLED ACROSS. WHEN I GOT ALMOST TO THE OTHER SIDE I ROPE SHOT FROM MY HANDS AND TOOK MY HIKING POLE WITH AS IT CATAPULTED IT ABOUT 15 FEET INTO THE AIR. I MANAGED TO GET TO IT AND NOT FALL DOWN. SUCCESS. NOW THAT WAS COLD AND NOW ITS GETTING DARK. WE GOT TO MOVE. THE LAST UPHILL FOR THE DAY IS THE NEXT TASK AS I STRUGGLED TO GET UP IT. SHOULD WE BREAK OUT OUR HEADLAMPS I ASKED. NO LETS JUST HURRY THE TOURIST SAYS. OK AS WE TRIPPED OUR WAY TO THE SHELTER IN THE DARK. THERE WE SURPRISED SPIDER SLEEPING IN THE WILSON VALLEY LEAN TO.
Date: 2009-10-02
From: WILSON VALLEY LEAN TO

To: CHAIRBACK GAP LEAN TO
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: overcast clouds

WE LEFT THE WILSON VALLEY LEAN TO AFTER SPIDER WHO LEFT EARLY. THE TOURIST SAID HE WOULD CATCH UP. I PASSED UP SPIDER JUST BEFORE THE LONG POND STREAM LEAN TO. I STOPPED IN AND FOUND A CAN OF FUEL AND SOME GRITS. THE TOURIST FINALLY SHOWED UP. SOME VOLUNTEERS SHOWED UP TO CLEAN THE LEAN TO OF ITS TRASH. THE TOURIST SAID HE WOULD CATCH UP AND I HEADED OUT. SPIDER CAME ALONG AS I HEADED OUT. THERE WASNT ANY WATER AT THAT SHELTER. I HIKED ON AND PASSED THE CLOUD POND LEAN TO WHICH WAS .4 OFF THE TRAIL AND I WASNT ABOUT TO GO THERE. PASSED SEVERAL PEOPLE HIKING SOUTH. THE MOUNTAINS WERE VERY NEAT HOW THE MOSS JUST COVERS THE ENTIRE GROUND. FIRST IT WAS BARREN MOUNTAIN AND WHAT USED TO BE A TOWER, THEN FOURTH MOUNTAIN, AND THEN THIRD MOUNTAIN AND MONUMENT CLIFF. COLUMBUS MOUNTAIN WAS THE LAST ONE AS I WASNT SURE IF I WAS EVER GONNA GET THERE. MANAGED TO GET TO THE CHAIRBACK GAP LEAN TO WHICH WAS A LITTLE HIGHER UP IN ELEVATION. 2000 FT. IT GETS COLD UP HERE. MANAGED TO GET A FIRE GOING AS THE CHINESE TOURIST SHOWED UP. SPIDER ARRIVED UNDER HEADLAMP AND HOLLERED AT US AS WE GUIDED HIM TO THE SHELTER WITH OUR VOICES. HE WASNT SURE HE WAS ON THE TRAIL RIGHT THERE. MARKED A LITTLE FUNNY RIGHT THERE.
Date: 2009-10-03
From: CHAIRBACK GAP SHELTER

To: CARL A NEWHALL LEAN TO
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

THE FORECAST CALLED FOR RAIN AND FOUR INCHES LATER THAT NIGHT. SPIDER OFF EARLY ONCE AGAIN. I COULDNT FIND THE TRAIL AND THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING IT TOGETHER AS WELL. CHAIRBACK MOUNTAIN WAS CERTAINLY TOUGH GOING DOWN. IT STARTED TO DRIZZLE EARLY ON. WE HAD TO FORD ANOTHER RIVER. THE WEST BRANCH PLEASANT RIVER. WE SAW SPIDER ON THE OTHER SIDE AS HE WAVED AND HIKED ON. WE FORDED THAT RIVER WHICH WAS VERY COLD. WE WERE OFF THINKING THAT WE WOULD MOTOR OVER THE LAST 3000 FT MOUNTAINS BEFORE KATAHDIN. THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I HIKED ON AND WE WERE CRUISING. WE WENT RIGHT BY SPIDER WHO SAID YOU GUYS ARE MOVING. OFF WE WENT. WE GOT TO THE CARL A NEWHALL LEAN TO IN THE RAIN ABOUT TWELVE OCLOCK BUT COULDNT FIND IT AND IT STARTED TO RAIN HARDER. I KNEW THIS WASNT GOOD. THE SIGN WASNT POINTING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT WE FOUND IT AFTER TRUDGING AROUND. IT WAS COLD AND I DIDNT WANT TO GO OVER THE 3000 FOOT PEAKS IN THE POURING RAIN WITH 4 INCHES EXPECTED LATER THAT NIGHT. THE WIND STARTED TO PICK UP. A SOUTHBOUND SECTION HIKER JUST CAME DOWN AND STOPPED IN THE SHELTER AND SAID IT WAS BAD UP THERE BUT SAID WE COULD PROBABLY DO IT. I DIDNT WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE EVEN THO THE TOURIST REALLY WANTED TO GO FOR IT. WITH THE HEAVY RAIN SUPPOSEDLY CONTINUING INTO TOMMORROW WAS A FACTOR TO CONSIDER. I TOLD THE CHINESE TOURIST THAT IT MAY BLOW OVER IN THE MORNING. SO I TALKED HIM INTO A EARLY EASY DAY AS WE CRAWLED INTO OUR SLEEPING BAGS EARLY. WE NEVER SAW SPIDER WHO WE FELT WENT UP AND OVER. I TOOK A NAP AND WOKE UP AT DARK AND THE CHINESE TOURIST ASKED IF I HAD A GOOD NAP. SURE DID AS I BEGAN TO COOK UP SOME FOOD. SOMEONE HOLLERED IN THE DARK. YOU GUYS AT THE LEAN TO? YES WE SAID. WE PLAYED MARCO POLO AS WE TRIED TO GUIDE HIM TO THE SHELTER. HE COULDNT FIND IT IN THE DARK AND WAS SETTING UP HIS TENT WHEN HE HEARD US. LUCKY FOR HIM I HAD WOKEN FROM MY NAP. HE MANAGED TO FIND THE LEAN TO AND WAS SHELTERED FROM THE RAIN. AND BOY DID IT RAIN. IT CAME DOWN LIKE CATS AND DOGS AND I WAS SO GLAD TO BE IN THE SHELTER ONCE AGAIN.
Date: 2009-10-04
From: CARL A NEWHALL LEAN TO

To: COOPER BROOK FALLS LEAN TO
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

WE GOT UP AND WERE OFF OVER THE LAST OF THE 3000 FT MOUNTAINS BEFORE KATAHDYN. THE RAIN HAS STOPPED FOR NOW. I LEFT FIRST AND HEADED UP GULF HAGAS MOUNTAIN. THATS WHERE MY HIKING POLE BROKE. DANG IT. NOW IM LOOKING FOR A STICK. THE TRAIL IS LIKE A RIVER. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDNEY TAPPAN CAMPSITE AND THATS WHERE THE CHINESE TOURIST CAUGHT ME. HE SAID YOU WERE RIGHT AS WE HIKED UP TO HAY MOUNTAIN, THEN WHITE CAP MOUNTAIN THO VISIBILITY WAS NOTHING. IT WAS COLD UP THERE AND THE WEATHER A BIT CHILLY. A DRIZZLY DAY. WE PLANNED ON A BIG DAY BUT AFTER I DID 19 MILES MY ACHILLES WERE A BIT SORE. I TOLD THE CHINESE TOURIST TO LEAVE ME BEHIND AT THE COOPER BROOK FALLS LEAN TO AND TO CATCH HIS GIRLFRIEND. I TOLD HIM I WOULD SLOW HIM DOWN AND I FELT HE NEEDED TO LEAVE ME BEHIND. I WISHED HIM THE BEST AND TOLD HIM I'LL CATCH UP AND THE PLAN WAS TO SUMMIT ON THURSDAY. THATS THE BEST CHANCE FOR WEATHER. I'LL GET THERE ON WEDNESDAY WHILE HE WAS GONNA BE THERE ON TUESDAY. THATS THE PLAN. OR SO THATS WHAT WE'RE THINKING. THIS WAS A NICE LOCATION FOR A LEAN TO AND ONE OF THE BEST PRIVYS ON THE TRAIL.
Date: 2009-10-05
From: COOPER BROOK FALLS LEAN TO

To: WHITE HOUSE LANDING
Miles today: 13.7

THIS WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST MISTAKE ON THE TRAIL. I LEFT THE LEAN TO EARLY. I STOPPED AT THE ANTLERS CAMPSITE FOR A BREAK. THE TRAIL WAS EASY. NEXT STOP WAS POTAYWADJO SPRING LEAN TO. THATS WERE I FOUND OUT THAT THE CHINESE TOURIST WAS ONLY ABOUT 2 HOURS AHEAD OF ME. HE MUST OF STAYED AT THE ANTLERS CAMPSITE. I KNEW HE DOESNT START EARLY. I MAY CATCH HIM. I INSPECTED THE PRIVY AND WAS OFF. WHEN I GOT TO THE MAHAR TRAIL I RAN INTO LASER. HE HAD SLOWED DOWN DUE TO SORE FEET. WE WERE LOOKING AT THE FLYER ON THE TREE THAT POINTED TO THE WHITE HOUSE LANDING. OF COURSE I CANT READ TOO WELL. I FIGURED THAT IT MAY BE WORTH THE MONEY TO STOP AND GET SOME CLOTHES DRIED AND CALL MY DAD TO LET HIM KNOW OF MY SUMMIT DATE. LASER FIGURED HE COULD MAKE A CALL. HE FOLLOWED ME AS I TRIED TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE DOCK AND THE BULL HORN TO SOUND OFF FOR THE BOAT RIDE TO THE WHITE HOUSE. OF COURSE I COULDNT READ THE DIRECTIONS VERY WELL AND LASER DECIDED TO JUST HIKE ON. I FOUND MY WAY TO THE DOCK AND SOUNDED THE BULLHORN. SHORTLY AFTER IT STARTED TO SPRINKLE AND THEN THE BOAT CAME TO PICK ME UP. I DECIDED TO STAY. I THOUGHT I MAY CATCH THE CHINESE TOURIST HERE AFTER FOLLOWING HIS FOOTSTEPS. I GUESS HIM AND SPIDER STOPPED IN FOR THE ONE POUND BURGER AND HAD ALREADY LEFT. DANG I JUST MISSED THEM. NOW THAT IM HERE I SETTLED IN. I FOUND SHORTLY AFTER THAT THERE WAS NO PHONE, THE LAUNDRY WAS A BUCKET BY THE LAKE. THE TWO THINGS I NEEDED ENDED UP NOT BEING THE SERVICES OFFERED. I DEBATED ON HIKING ON BUT NOW HAVE WASTED TIME. I COULD OF DID ANOTHER 10 MILES THIS DAY. OH WELL. THEY DID HAVE SOME SNACK FOOD WHICH I WAS SHORT ON. I WASHED MY SOCKS AND HUNG MY TENT AND CLOTHES ON THE CLOTHS LINE IN THE SUN WHICH MAGICALLY APPEARED. I HAD THE BUNK HOUSE TO MYSELF. MANAGED TO GET THE WOODSTOVE FIRED UP AND THEN DRIED EVERYTHING I HAD THAT NIGHT. I WENT THROUGH MY PACK KNOWING I HAD 46 MILES TO GO SO I GOT RID OF MY TRASH AND SOME THINGS I FELT I DIDNT NEED ANYMORE. GOT RID OF MY BROKEN POLE AND MY EMPTY CANISTER AND SEVERAL OTHER MISC ITEMS. THE LAST DASH.
Date: 2009-10-06
From: WHITE HOUSE LANDING

To: RAINBOW STREAM LEAN TO
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING EARLY FOR THE AYCE BREAKFAST THAT CAME WITH THE STAY ONLY TO REALIZE WHAT THE ACTUAL COST OF MY STAY WAS. OUCH. I WAS ABLE TO CHARGE THIS. THANKS TO THE HELP I RECEIVED LATE IN MY TRIP. THIS WASNT WHAT I HAD IN MIND. THE AYCE BREAKFAST ENDED UP BEING MORE AYCE PANCAKES THAN ANYTHING ELSE. I HAD TO BE ON THE BOAT RIGHT AFTER BREAKFAST. OK I REALIZED MY MISTAKE AND KNEW I MAY HAVE BLEW MY THURSDAY SUMMIT AND A CHANCE A GOOD WEATHER. NOTHING I COULD DO BUT TO HIKE ON. I GOT TO THE WADLEIGH STREAM LEAN TO WHICH WAS A PLEASANT HIKE TO GET THERE. PLENTY OF WATER AS I WALKED ALONG A STREAM MOST OF THE WAY. GOT TO NAHMAKANTA LAKE WHICH WAS A PLEASANT SITE AS THE LEAVES HAVE BEEN CHANGING FOR QUITE SOME TIME TO THEIR FALL COLORS. THEN IT WAS UP NESUNTABUNT MOUNTAIN WHICH WAS QUITE THE MOUNTAIN. INTERESTING ROCK FORMATION YOU HIKE UP AND THROUGH. ITS QUITE WINDY TODAY. GOT TO KEEP MOVING TO KEEP FROM GETTING COLD. I GOT TO POLLYWOG CANYON AND THEN HIKED TO THE POLLYWOG STREAM. WAS ABLE TO STOP AT THAT LOCATION FOR A QUICK BREAK AS I HEADED OF TO THE RAINBOW STREAM LEAN TO. I FINALLY MADE IT HERE TO FIND THE SECTION HIKER I HAD MET AT THE CARL A NEWHALL LEAN TO WAY BACK. I PLANNED ON BEATING THE RAIN AND HIKING INTO THE NIGHT BUT DECIDED AGAINST IT TO RELAX AND GET A FIRE GOING. MAYBE I CAN GET A EARLY START AND BEAT MOST OF THE RAIN. I NEED TO DO 25 MILES TOMMORROW EVEN IF I HAVE TO HIKE AT NIGHT FOR A THURSDAY SUMMIT. THIS IS THE SHELTER IN THE MOVIE SOUTHBOUNDERS WITH THE TOTEM POLE. I HAVE JUST ENOUGH FOOD FOR ONE BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING AND TWO DINNERS LEFT. MY PACK IS GETTING LIGHTER.
Date: 2009-10-08
From: KATAHDIN STREAM CAMPGROUND

To: KATAHDIN 
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

WE WOKE UP EARLY TO HIKE UP THE SUMMIT. WE ATE AND HEADED OUT EARLY. I DIDNT NEED TO BRING MY TENT OR MY SLEEPING BAG. I WASNT GONNA NEED HARDLY ANYTHING FOR THE SUMMIT. I LEFT THAT STUFF BEHIND AND JUST CARRIED WHAT I NEEDED FOR THE LAST 5.2 UP AND 5.2 DOWN. WE ARRIVED AT BAXTER STATE PARK AND WERE TOLD THREE TRAILS WERE CLOSED. GASP... WE THOUGHT WE WERE OUT OF LUCK. LUCKY FOR US THE TRAIL IS OPEN. CLASS THREE. NOT RECCOMENDED HIKING ABOVE TIMBERLINE. WELL WE GOING FOR IT. THE TOURIST BROUGHT HIS GIRLFRIEND AND BEST FRIEND AND WE SLOWLY HIKED UP. IT GOT COLD AS WE GOT ABOVE TIMBERLINE. THE WIND WAS BRUTAL. ICE WAS STARTING TO FORM AND VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED. A MILE FROM THE TOP AND IT WAS LOOKING BLEAK. I COULDNT SEE ANYMORE BLAZES. THE SNOW COVERED THEM. I FOLLOWED FOOTPRINTS OF OTHERS WHO HAD HIKED UP PREVIOUSLY THAT DAY. THATS THE ONLY WAY TO FIND WHERE I WAS GOING. I MET UP WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WHO WERE ALREADY THERE. PEOPLE WHO JUST HIKED THAT DAY UP TO THE SIGN. THEN RAMBLE ON SHOWED UP AND THE CHINESE TOURIST AND HER GIRLFRIEND AND FINALLY HIS BEST FRIEND. THERE WAS CERTAINLY DOUBTS WHETHER WE ALL COULD GET THERE IN THIS WEATHER BUT MANAGED TO PULL IT OFF. THOSE WHO BROUGHT CHAMPAGNE HAD POPPED THE CORKS AND WE TOOK PHOTOS. WHAT A RELIEF. SUCCESS. 2178.3 MILES. NOW THAT THE TIME HAD COME AND GONE WE HAD TO GET BACK DOWN. THERE WAS A QUESTION WHETHER WE COULD GET DOWN BEFORE DARK. WE DIDNT BRING OUR HEADLAMPS. WE GOT DOWN WITH 30-45 MINUTES TO SPARE. RAMBLE ON'S FRIEND HAD SOME SODAS AND A SANDWICH, SOME DONUTS AND FRUIT AT THE BOTTOM. A QUICK CHECK IN AT THE RANGER STATION AND BACK TO MILLIOCKET TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE CHINESE TOURIST. WHAT AN ADVENTURE I HAVE ENJOYED. THANKS TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ALL THE TRAIL ANGELS I HAVE MET ALONG THE WAY. I COULDNT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT THE HELP AND THE SUPPORT OF ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND COUNTLESS KIND ACTS FROM MY FELLOW TRAIL BUDDIES TO THE TRAIL ANGELS ALONG THE WAY. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES FOR THEY WILL BE EVERLASTING.P.S. I WILL TRY TO POST SOME MORE PICTURES.
Date: 2009-01-19
To: Home (1700')
Miles today: 0.0

My last journal entry was in September. Although, Bryson and I have backpacked twice in late October and we went family camping in October as well.This year, I PLAN (that is -plan) to section from the South Fork of the Holston River to Pearisburg. That is going to be around 110 miles. My original plan was to hike in late March ahead of the thru-hiker crowd. Some things have come up at work and I may hike in Mid-February or April. Both times of the year have their advantages and disadvantages. I am still sorting out the details and I will make my mind up in a few days.Either way, I am so excited and so thankful to have the opportunity to walk on the Appalachian Trail.