morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-09-05
From: Rainbow Spring Campsite

To: Wadleigh Stream Leanto
Miles today: 11.9

I slept 5 uninterrupted hours. Yeah! That is the best I have slept since the middle of New Jersey. (Maybe my second night at Sara's I slept pretty well.) I actually hiked with some energy today instead of just plugging along. Plugging along gets me places but it is much more fun to hike with energy and joy. The trail in the morning was flat amd pretty smooth for a while. Some of the morning I wove an intricate dance over rocks and roots trying to stay out of the mud. I walked off trail a bit for the view from the south end of the lake and ran into 2 groups of fishermen out for the weekend. I caught up with Bookworm eating his brunch at Rainbow Stream Leanto. It was a cute shelter just above Rainbow Stream. It reminded me of one I saw in VA so I took its picture. I hiked along beside Rainbow Stream, which reminded me of the stream outside of Kincora that has Laurel Falls. It was quite lovely. I almost stopped for lunch a little early to be beside the pretty stream but decided to go onward to a place with a view into Polywog Stream Gorge. When I got there I wished I had stopped at the stream. The view was so not worth it. Just looking down on tops of trees. I hiked a bit farther and sat dowm in disgust next to a rock with no stream and no view. Eating lunch did improve my disposition though. And Book Worm caught up then and we chatted while eating. I was hiking well enough that I decided not to have a dry camp on Mount Nesuntabunt and make it another couple miles to Wadleigh Stream Leanto. There was a nice view on the way up Nesuntabunt looking over Nahmakanta Lake. After we started hiking again after lunch, Ranger, Forrest, Will and Way, and another couple hikers passed NOBO. 5 trail runners passed me after Book Worm went on ahead. Trail runners!? There are obviously roads (I passed what looked like a very wellgraded gravel road before heading up the hill for the supposedly great view.) I don't mind that there are trail runners. It just seems strange to make such a big deal about being in the 100 mile wilderness and then see gravel roads and trail runners. Shorty and Bookworm, and someone tenting were at the Leanto when I got there. Pennywhistle came in while I was finishing dinner and clean-up. BW interviewed them both. Shorty had just done a 20 mile day and Pennywhistle had done a 30. Amazing! Pennywhistle seems to like to set really big goals for herself and she is athlete enough to accomplish them. She is doing the 100 mile wilderness in 4 days. Another Scott Williamson in the making? It was ladies night at the shelter with Shorty and Pennywhistle and me. The guys stayed in the tents. It was my first night in a shelter this trip. Nice. But then I started having coughing fits and that probably bothered the other two. But I was happy to have made a couple extra miles, to have hiked better and to be in the shelter and life is good.
Date: 2009-09-07
From: White House Landing

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 0.0

I actually slept for 8 hours last night. I had to be in bed for 11 hours to accomplish that but I did get 8 hours sleep.Bookworm got ferried back to the trail and I spent the day seriously restiing. I sat on a bench with a beautiful view and caught up on my journaling.I talked with linda at least a couple times. She, Bill and their son, Ben (6thy grade) live here from about Memorial day to October 16. In the winters they live in Florida. Ben does schoolwork assigned by internet at the beginning and end of the school year.They bought this place in the early 90s, inspired by Bill's Dad, who hiked the AT. This has been a very slow year for them, not as many hikers have stopped and not even as many fishermen.I am certainhly glad they are here and it is a very lovely place to have a zero. Linda fed me their ripe cherry tomatoes and fresh blackberries. She hopes they make me fight off this bug.She also told me I had missed their resident moose who comes every year for a few weeks and eats berries and their lawn and naps on the grounds. Too bad. I would have liked to have seen Baxter (named by son Ben when he was 7). He swam across the end of the lake about 2 weeks ago.I managed to wash the rest of my clothes before lunch too. That is all the effort I have put forth today.At lunch time I had anotheer half pound burger and also polished off a pint of Ben and Jerrys. Yum.Then after some puttering around a bit I slept for an hour and spent another hour just horizontal. I had planned to go canoeing here on my zero day but serious resting seems to be what my body requires.I had another shower before dinner and then met the hikers staying here tonight: Ameoba, Mamere, Gray Feather, Ouch, Sky King and Pipe Smoke. They are all staying in the big cabin that has a kitchen which means the bunk house is my private room. Funny.Two of the ladies are 73 and 71. They are headed to Katahdin to finish the AT. Actually the 73 year old finished last year but Gray Feather had a broken ankle and couldn't go so Mamere is going with her this year to give her moral support.I ordered pizza tonight which was delicious but way more than I can eat at once so it will be lunch, maybe dinner too, tomorrow.I am a little concerned about my late start tomorrow as I have to make Jo-Mary Road in daylight to find my food drop. Or I will eat pizza and stop and have to make up the mileage on other days. One way or another it will work out.And now it is getting close to hiker midnight and I am going to bed early to try to get a good night's sleep. I have coughed much less today. And I have Alkaseltzer Plus to take with me for most nights until Monson. And life is good.
Date: 2009-09-09
From: Cooper Brook Falls Leanto

To: East Branch Leanto
Miles today: 8.1

I had one lengthy coughing fit in the middle of the night but I can't really blame that very much for not sleeping well. I just kept waking up. One interesting thing - I woke up once to observe that the moon was very bright and the light against and coming through the leafy branches made it look like the forest canopy was a geodesic dome. It was interesting and quite lovely. I felt the grime of yesterday's sweat and the lack of sleep. Both combined and I did not feel as good hiking today. I did OK and it was a short day but I was kind of draggy. Nancy was planing to go about 3 miles more than I was so I did not see her once she started. In late morning I met John and Sunday hiking north. Before lunch there were some open views of White Cap, which I will climb tomorrow. It looked far away and big. Tomorrow will be a challenging day even though only 9 miles. After lunch, Bonesey, Pickle and Trusty passed me headed north. Bonesey commented on how he is trying to enjoy each bit as he comes near the end. That got me in a thankful mood too. Even when I am not entirely up to par I am so incredibly blessed to be here hiking and seeing these sights and meeting these people. I have seen very little wildlife other than birds, chipmunks, a squirrel and the ubituitous toads. There are almost as many toads here as there are lizards in Southern CA on the PCT. Amphibians rule. The forrest sometimes is made of evergreens, firs of various kinds, ocassionally pines and spruce. But I am a little surprised how much deciduous forrest there is, like much of the Southern AT. Just more of it than I was expecting. A small amount of fall color is showing here and there, harbingers of autumn. I got to the shelter very early, before 3. So I had a lovely time bathing and doing my laundry (just socks and undies and sports bra.) I am clean and relaxed and I won't start the day tomorrow all grimy athough I am sure I will get that way soon. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza (30 year old married couple) and Bunion have arrived. Good thing I took my bath earlier. After I was ready for bed (rather early at 7) Limbo, Bird and Mama Bear (a couple and their dog, a really pretty huskie) came in. It is nice to be clean and nice to relax at the end of the day. And life is good.
Date: 2009-09-13
From: Cloud Pond Leanto

To: Wilson Valley Leanto
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up and was on the trail by 6:30, well, technically the trail back to the AT. I was moving pretty well and the knee was only complaining until it warmed up. It is a beautiful day. Glad I stopped when I did last night.Gaining the top of Barren Mountain was easy with no big ups and the views from there were very nice, a little different as the lakes and low valleys were filled with fog.After that it was a long descent. Shortly before Barren Ledges I met Ace, a NOBO who was just over his second bout with giardia. I sympathized. I remember what that was like when I got it in Turkey in the Peace Corps in the mid 60s.He was soon followed by Roots, an older gentleman and Trekker and Pony Boy, a couple doing the 100 mile wilderness. Fire Bug, an older gent with his adult son, Jim, was at Barren Slide.Mark and Joe, Maine hikers out to do the 100 mile wilderness passed me next, Joe's first experience backpacking. He didn't look too happy but was hanging in there. 6 day hikers came by.At the next shelter, NOBO Tord was eating as I had a snack and used the faciities. I met Zen not far past the shelter.I thought I would eat at Long Pond Stream crossing as I had been following its splashing water beside the trail for awhile. It was replete with little falls and merry bouncing water over the rocks. I liked it. But as I stopped to pump water I needed for lunch the threatening skies decided to actually sprinkle hard enough that I went on into the forest and stopped a bit later under cover for the rain that never actually materialized beyond a sprinkle. Later on I met Rock Lobster and Walkabout, then Erin and Travis, Maine boys doing the 100.At Wilbur Stream I met Pit Stop. And a bit later on met Zack Attack and WT (Dad). It was fun to talk to this son and father duo. The father liked my "Medicare" handle and thought maybe he should adopt Medicare Express for a trail name.Hobbit, Knickers, Rugged shark, Blue Ray, Frankenfoot and Boofer all went by before I got to the shelter. Alabama Gritz was pumping water at the shelter but then went on.I was glad to reach the shelter and "move in." As I went down for water, Grommet and Katchup, two young women, were also getting water. They were slackpacking and went up the trail to a nearby road for pickup back to Monson. I was jealous.This is my last shelter night before hitting Monson. I am tired and dirty. My sketchy clean ups in the evening are better than nothing but a real shower sounds like heaven about now.Stats and Nina came in and settled in, Stats in the shelter and Nina in a tent. I sang Holden Evening Prayer for me and them in honor of it being Sunday: My voice was not the best as I am still fighting this bug. But Nina appreciated the "church" that came to her on the trail.One more day to Monson. Time for sleep and life is good.
Date: 2009-09-15
From: Monson

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today was a zero day and a very welcome one. I am staying at The Shaw's Hostel and it is a very nice hostel. They come and get you from the trail head and take you into town.The Bunk Room is a nice big room with 7 single beds, all colorfully decorated with pink and blue quilts. I love my sleeping bag but it is nice to sleep in sheets, also cheerfully colored.The people who work here are exceedingly helpful. One lady sewed up my pants again. (Sorry Dorothy, the thread I gave you to sew with in Washinton just didn't last.)And the breakfast they give you here is legendary. You can come from the other hostel in town and get the breakfast for $7. You start by saying you want a 1 or 2 or anything up to five. That means they bring you that number of everything. Eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, and pancakes or french toast. Then if you want more of anything you can get that too. I had a 2 and then had 2 more pancakes. Yum! My tummy was very happy.There are several hikers here and it is nice to have a day to actualy talk with a few hikers instead of a brief greeting on the trail.I caught up on my journalling which took all morning but now people will know how I have been doing.Then I took my reorganized bounce box to the post office, had lunch of BLT, fries and a milk shake, visited the local general store and the gas station store, went to the library to use the internet and went back to the hostel with a pint if cocolate milk and a chocoate rolled cake which I consumed. Then I laid down and rested for a couple hours.This evening I had a huge chicken ceasar salad along with a pint each of milk and orange juice. I have had another shower and am ready for bed. And life is good.
Date: 2009-09-19
From: Pleasant Pond Leanto

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 5.7

I was on trail by 7:11 and moved well. Town was calling me. I had another good night's sleep. Yeah! That is gettng to be a pattern I can live with. The trail was lowland trail, a few ups and downs but mostly level. There were roots and rocks and mud bogs but not too many and I ticked off 3 miles in 2 hours, very good for this old lady. I don't know that the word nimble should describe me but I am negotiating things better. After an hour on the trail I met Stickcakes, a cute young couple, and shortly after, Mass Gardener. It was cool this morning, in the 40s, but I kept warm on the trail by moving.I put on my jacket when I stopped for snack. My hands were cold though. I miss my glove. The wind was blowing in the upper story of the forest but only little breezes down on the trail in the understory. The wind was enough to set the trees moaning like whales talking to each other. I came to the one steep hill before Caratunk and the wind reached me. I put on hat and raincoat and my one glove. I met Roy and Avodel, Rubble, Goose, Chewy, Flash Gordon and a young woman who did not want to give me her name. That was a little odd. I had never met a hiker not happy to give me their name. Oh well, to each, his own. Ox, Castenada and dog, Vaca (dog) were at the road to Caratunk. I walked down the road to the post office. Caratunk has a post office and a few houses and that is all. No store at all, not even a gas station. No cell service either but there was a phone outside the post office to make local calls. Now the story got interesting. The number for the Sterling Inn, where I was supposed to be staying, would not go through. There were 2 other hikers there, Many Names and Natty Bumpo (NB was on the phone when I got there, for about half an hour. But that was forgiven when MN gave me a brownie bar made by NB's mom. I inhaled it.) Thank you, NB's mom and Many Names. Other hikers were staying at Northern Outdoor Center who would pick up and then shuttle them back to the trail. The guy said he would drive me to the Sterling Inn. Nice. We drove up and it looked like no one was there. I walked up to the door and it had a realtor lock on the door and a sign saying they had failed a water test. Fortunately the guy from Northern Outdoors had not gone and he took me to the Outdoor Center. This is a ritzy outdoor place catering to river rafters and fishermen but it has a good reputation with thru hikers too. I could stay there, a bit pricier but fine. Problem number 2 and potentially more serious was that the Sterling Inn had my food drop box. Finally a woman came into the Outdoor Center who made a few phone calls or something. She gave me a cabin for the price of a large room and by the time I had moved in and come back to the lodge to get some lunch, she had found my box. I don't know how she did that but I am grateful. So, now I have a place to stay, I have had a humongous burger with mushrooms, bacon, lettuce and tomato, and frys, and I am clean and my clothes are washing. I even got a cheap pair of glove inserts so my hand will be happier. Life is good again.
Date: 2009-09-21
From: Pierce Pond Leanto

To: West Carry Pond Leanto
Miles today: 10.0

Today was another lovely day. I started out from a beautiful lake, ended at a beautiful lake and had lunch at a beautiful lake along the way. It was a bit cool to start and I wore my new glove liners. They worked well. It warmed up though. Lunchtime was 75 degrees, just lovely. The trail too was good. Oh there were places there were a lot of rocks and some roots too but this is the AT in Maine. There were no big climbs though and the day went smoothly. I met Pen-j, Rocky and Eastwood and a bit later Lady Ja and Me Am. Lunch was at East Carry Pond on another little personal size pocket sand beach. It was just lovely to rest in the sun after wading in the lake to pump my lunch water. I watched a giant dragonfly and a black butterfly and the gentle waves lapping the shore. Nice lunch!! After lunch I met Free Bird and and a little later, Spur Rojo. It was nice to chat with Free Bird. Some hikers at this point in their journey north are only interested in ticking off those last few miles. Free Bird was interested in chatting with me, in the sights he was seeing and what was ahead for him to see. What a different attitude. I appreciated his attitude. I got to West Carry Pond Leanto just before 4, time enough to get another bath before anyone else showed up. Nice. No Sweat and Skylark came right after I bathed and got my water, a mature couple of section hikers, though Skylark is at least 20 years younger than me. Skylark is almost through with the whole AT but will finish next year as they are only going to Monson this year. It was enjoyable to chat with them. Drunken Sailor and Coon Dog, young male thru hikers, came in too and are tenting near the shelter. The only fly in the ointment today was my right heel. I never had trouble with my heel before this year. Off and on the last two hikes I had a painful heel but it cleared up in a couple days. This time it is not going away. It takes more out of me when each step hurts. I need one good leg to stand on. I got to thinking of Valdene, a high school friend who contacted me this year about a big reunion (which I did not go to as Sara was visiting then.) Valdene asked, with some surprise in her voice as I told her about hiking, "so you are still active then?" Well yes, I am still active. I still hoist pack to back and do long trails. Each year something new hurts. But I am still active. And I am very thankful I am able to still be active, still able to walk to beautiful lakes, climb beautiful mountains and enjoy the sun on a beautiful day. And life is good.
Date: 2009-09-24
From: Stratton

To: Stratton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a much needed zero. I can't even say I slept very well last night as both lower legs ached for hours in spite of Vitamin T, not moving and sleeping on a good bed. Today they feel fine although my brace is trying to rub another section of skin off the side of my leg. I will tape it up after my shower tonight. I washed my clothes this morning and had a big breakfast of 2 eggs, toast, coffee, juice and 3 fairly large pancakes. After lunch I ate a pint of ice cream too. So my tummy is getting full and happy. I also mailed off a box to Sara and visited the library to use the computer. I have not said so before but thank you to those who send me messages via my guest book, especially Ursa Minor and Winkle. Your notes are encouraging to me. I have some really tough mountains coming up and I need all the encouragement I can get. Billy Goat told me, when I was planning this trip, not to overestimate my abilities in the southern section of Maine. He told me a tale of a young woman who bailed out crying hysterically that she just could not stand the roots and rocks any more. I am not planning on doing that but I can understand what she was saying. This is very difficult trail. Looking at the profile for my next few days I see one section I will do in 2 days that goes up 1,000 ft in half a mile. Now that is steep!!!. I am sure I will be using hands as well as feet to climb, very interesting with full pack and a bad leg. I have also mended my pants yet again as the seam looked ready to give way. The patches are holding, though. One good note, my lost sock has reappeared. I don't understand where it was hiding but I am glad it is back. Now I won't have to wash clothes in the woods before Rangely. I am hoping for a good night's sleep tonight and an early start tomorrow. And I am thankful for zero days and the comforts of staying behind walls in places with electricity and indoor plumbing. And life is good.
Date: 2009-09-25
From: Stratton

To: Carrabasset River
Miles today: 8.4

I got up early but the Diner opened up late so I was a little late but Circuit Rider got me to the trail and I started out just after 7. Shortly up the trail I met George (female) and Gracie (dog). We chatted a bit and she suggested that I go on to the Carrabasset River if I had it in me when I reached Crocker Cirque and that, ultimately, was what I did. Shortly after leaving George I met EO (Extreme Optimist) and after a while a 70 year old day hiker passed me headed southbound up the hill. John and Luke passed me NOBO. (Almost every one is going NOBO so unless I say SOBO just assume they are all NOBO and all thru hikers. Actually that is how I have written this journal for many days now. You probably already figured that out.) I had a hard time getting going for no good reason but I kept wanting to find excuses to sit down. I climbed more than 3,000 ft today but the trail wasn't all that bad for Maine. The 70 year old day hiker came down the mountain with his wife. I never understood how she was up there, if they had been backpacking and he took packs down and went back for her or what. Strange. Shortly before the top of the first peak on Crocker Mountain I met Rattler and Wishy Washy. I seemed to get energy from going up Crocker and went down 600 ft and then up to the second peak before stopping for lunch. Then I set the pack down on my water bladder mouthpiece and drained out most of my water inadvertently before noticing what was happening. Oops. Good thing it was a cold day and not a hot one. Actually it is cold (in 40s) and supposed to be very cold tonight. (28) The only difficult part of the day besides getting going at first was a steep descent down an old rockfall above the Cirque. That took me a long time. It did have some pretty views though. I pumped a liter of water at the stream by the Cirque trail and continued on down the mountain. Before long I met Denali and Gorgonzola, nice couple. Then later I met Fletch. I arrived at the river about 5:15. Bernard, Slips, Dum Dum, and Moss Patch were already camped there but I found room for my tent too. Bernnard is from France and has hiked the AT before and PCT too. The other three were nice young people from Maine Who have been sectioning New Hampshire and Maine up to Flagstaff Lake. They were all nice company. We are all tucked in here by a river made extra beautiful by the fall color around it. The fire is still going and the young people talking but I am ready for sleep and life is good.