morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-02
From: Happy Hiker Hostel

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

It was refreshing to wake up early this morning and get going. Restless was already gone by the time I woke up, he's a determined man. So 2 Shoes, Mango, and I waited the rain out. So we still got an early start, about 7:30am.Mango led the charge up Mt. Moosilauke. It was a much slower pace than I was used to, but at this point I didn't mind, I just enjoyed finally hiking with some people. So we climbed and climbed, and finally made it to the summit. It was beautiful - seeing all the green trees and then all the white, from the clouds...enough sarcasm, there was no view, we were socked in. But man the win was pumpin' through there. I couldn't believe it, I actually had fun up there. We all were being tossed around like paper bags. That wind must have been over 50mph.So we moved on to the back side of the mountain which was the sleepest trail we've seen yet. It would have been nice to of had extra time to burn there because there was this water fall/ water slide that went all the way down with the trail. It would have been fun to just sit and enjoy the view, but we had miles to do. So we kept going at a steady pace and what not.The next section was full of ups and downs and that wore me out. My body wore out quickly. So it seemed that we had been hiking a long time and then we came up on a sign that said we had to do 4.2 more miles. We all thought it would have been a lot less. Talk about a moral hit. It was like 5pm at this time and we only took one break all day. So I decided that I'd leave the guys and race to the shelter, I needed to get there before I couldn't move.So I did just that. And man I'm so sore, and beat up. My new girlfriend, the White Mountains, abused me today. I got a sliced knee that bled pretty good and then a rock rolled on to my ankel which made that bleed as well. Needless to say we have a few things we need to work out in our relationship.Tomorrow, we head in to town, only about 9 miles of hiking. I'm looking forward to being able to relax.leftover pizza, pepsi x3---cheese, summer sausage, crackers, fruit roll---cajun ramen noodles x2 with cheese
Date: 2006-07-03
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Carage motel
Miles today: 8.8

Today was town day, so you better belive I was up at the crack of dawn anxious to get into town to relax. 2 Shoes and I were hiking by 5:50am. We only went 8 miles but it took forever it seemed. The terrain is very hard and steep. We did however get a wonderful view on top of one of the mountains. It was so clear, it was truly wonderful. Although, if I were doing it, the climb that is, for the view than I would have been somewhat disappointed. All that work for that view wouldn't be worth it alone. It would have been like working hard only to receive minimum wage.So we kept going and finally met up with Restless down at the parking lot below. Mango we didn't see or hear from for the rest of the day.So we went into North Woodstock, went to the Post office, and then got a room. We went to Peg's for lunch and then went our own ways for the afternoon. I went down to a local cafe and jammed on the guitar for a while. Doing that always seems to lift the spirits. Afterwards, I went back to the room and tried to nap but that didn't work out too well. I think I"m at the point where I'm just too tired to nap and instead I need to just crash all days.So later on we went to dinner and then I went back to the care to rock the guitar again. I love the guitar. It really helped me forget about my bad relationship with my new girlfriend, the White Mountains. She gave me a new bleeder today, and even tried to stab me with a root. We have a lot to work on.Later, 2 Shoes and I went to the Woodstock Inn for a couple of beers and to listen to some music. It was a fun time with some really good beer.So today's thought was why do we like, or care for that matter, if someone enjoys something we do. Like I heard through the grapevine that someone liked my trailjournals and that made me feel good, but why? I don't even know the person that commented. Why does such a simple comment boost my ego and make me feel good? I need to watch how I react to comments because I don't want them to drive me, or tear me down. It was an interesting thought. Like, who can say they hate being praised? Who can say they love being criticized? We were definitely wired with the ability to affect someone with our words. We also have the responsibility to not let those words go to our heads. Just my thoughts, however trite they may seem.Tomorrow we get to climb a lot...wonderful. We'll also get to stay in a hut tomorrow I believe. I went into my first one today just for a break and was able to eat their leftover chocolate chip pancakes they were looking to get rid of.chocolate chip pancakes---(don't remember)---nacho's
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Galehead Hut

To: Crawford Notch Campground
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: fog

I slept like a rock. Woke up around 5:30am and was hiking by 6:40am. There was a steep climb up to start with but it didn't seem as bad as the others. Not much happened on the first half of today's hike, kind of all work and no play. Although, I did have some nice food at Zealand falls hut. I paid a buck and got to eat all the dessert I could cram down. There was also a beat up guitar on the wall that I got to play. It had 5 strings and was held together by duct tape, but it held a note pretty well. So I grabbed it and sat on the front porch and played "0% interest" by Jason Mraz and it was just one of my favorite moments so far of the trip. I don't know, somethin' about proppin' my feet up, leanin' back, and singin' a chilled out song about some people shootin' the breeze on their front porch. I can't wait to be able to play my guitar again.When I was done I finished out the days hike, ending at Crawford Notch. I had some wonderful trail through that last section though, literally all flat with a short downhill to the road at the notch.I pondered a lot of things today. I have been reading this book that Jenny gave me and yesterday I read a little about how the 10 plagues that Egypt encountered were judgements from God. The author then went on to say it was like a battle between Jehovan and the gods of the Egyptians. I never thought of the plagues in that way. I always thought of them as just punishments, but really it was God kicking the crap out of every sacred god the Egyptians held - ending with the smiting of sky, thus destroying Ra, and then the final blow of killing the first born during the passover, which killed Pharoahs first born son. Pharoah himself was seen as Ra in human form but killing the son of Ra meant there was no longer a next in line Ra. It was refreshing reading new insights on an old story.I also thought about what in the world am I gonna do when I'm done hiking. I mean, I'm suppose to start a career. Every job I've ever had I've gotten sick of and burned out, and I fear the same of whatever it is I do next. There just isn't anything I love doing that I could support myself or a family on, and also not get sick of. I prayed that God would make me an incredible athlete that could compete at a high level, and people would hear my story and know there is a God - that would rock. But that feels like a dream, though I very much hope for it. Nonetheless, I anxiously await to hear from God what that next step is.Anyways, from the notch I hitched a ride to Crawford Notch Campground and got myself a bed in the bunkhouse. Great place. The owners are from Tallahassee FL. At night, I went in and just talked with Glenn, the mother of 5, for a long time. Also talked with a couple of her sons, daughter, and brother-in-law.Tomorrow, more difficult hiking.pop-tars x4---cake x7---hamburger, cheeseburger, ramen noodles x2, cranberry juice, sobe energy drink
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Crawford Notch Campground

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I got to sleep in today because our shuttle was picking us up at 7am. So we packed up and moved out. Glenn's daughter, whatever her name is, picked us up and drove us to the trailhead. So we were off and running.The climb out of Crawford Notch was steep but Restless, 2 Shoes and I took a slow pace and eventually it became a bit barable. the sky was so clear today, very beautiful out. You could litterally see for over 110 miles. I'm so happy to have good weather the the Whites.So we made it to a hut for lunch and finished off some food they needed eating. I got a chance to call Keri too, though the phone call was cut short due to some guy that worked there telling me to take the call outside where I froze my butt off and had to hang up to go back inside. That really annoyed me, especially since there was hardly anyone else there, the other girl that worked there didn't say anything before jerkstore showed up, and then there were other people in the lobby using a cell phone yet I was the only one that had to go outside. What a jerk.So I took my time and enjoyed the warmth inside and ate my lunch. Afterwards, I started hiking again. Tom showed up as I was heading out, very cool to see him again.So the rest of the day was gorgeous. I know that my new girlfriend, the White Mountains, have been through some rought times but today I was enamored by her beauty. Once you got about treeline and into the alpine zone there were no trees and you could see so much. I was taking pictures every 10 minutes it seemed. Eventually, I made it to Lakes in the Clouds Hut.I talked to the guy in chage and we agreed on a work-for-stay, and he put me right to work - cleaning dishes. Thousands of dishes. I hate cleaning dishes. So I clean, and cleaned for over an hour. My hands were prunes. So I finished that mountain of dishes and went to relax. It was so cold, even in the hut. So I through on all my clothes and sucked down some hot chocolate. Later on, Pop-tart and Ridge Fungi showed up so I hung out with them, Mango, and Tom for a while. Tom heard through reading Peacemakers trailjournals that I had a "hott girlfriend", which I do, so I ended up busted Keri's picture out and showing everyone.So, my new girlfriend, the White Mountains, have been through a lot. Everyday since we've been together we've fought and I've ended up with a bleeder. But, things have smoothed out recently which has been nice. Although, tomorrow I meet her daddy, Mr. Mt. Washington.pop-tart x4---coconut cake x4, summer sausage, tomatoe soup, oatmeal with peaches---beef and pinapple over rice, honey wheat bread
Date: 2006-07-10
From: The Barn Hostel

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

When I woke up this morning around 7am, the crew had already left, except for Seour Hawk, 007, Chunky, and Furious. They were all still sleeping. So I ate some breakfast and watched some TV. I can't wait till I can wake up in the morning, or late afternoon more like, and turn the TV on and sit and enjoy TV in my boxers.So around 8am I said bye to the boys and hit the road and caught a hitch to the trail. The day was very humid and thunderstorms were threatening all around. I got sprinkled on for a couple of seconds so I consider myself fortunate and blessed.I really didn't take care of my body while I was in town these past couple of days and I felt it. I was so dehydrated and that was with drinking over a gallon of water throughout the day. It was up and dopwn the whole day.So I've been thinking a lot about my recent distance from God. I've found myself purposely stepping back from Him and I know why. I have this feeling that I've been over loaded with hard lessons learned, specifically perserverance. Going through weeks of rain every day took a lot out of me emotionally and spiritually. Especially when I would hear that people just North of me would experience no rain at times. So, I might have learned a bit of perserverance through it all but now it seems I'm stepping back for a bit because it seems, in a reactionatory sense, that I just don't want to learn another hard lesson right now. I can't take it. And for some reason I feel that if I presson on hard with God then all He'll do is serve me something new that was just as difficult as the last lesson learned. I know that logic is off. God is not out to make life miserable. Therefore, I need to dodge those darts from the evil one and run with God again.So today I crossed in to Maine. What a glorious feeling. I was hiking and looked up and saw the sign that said, "Welcome to Maine". I got instant chills. Once I reached the border all I could do is scream, "YES!" over and over again and then rest against the sign in exhaustion. I am offically a GAMEr.So I made it to the shelter and everyone was already there. It was an odd night, everyone was funny. Tom told us to try Vitalis, a cross between Viagra and Cialis, that he dreamed up. Then tere was thug life 2 Shoes, and then me farting trying to get reactions out of the two girls in the shelter with us, then blaming it on Restless. It's been an interesting night.frosted cheerios, cranberry almond crunch---1/2 colby jack cheese, peanutbutter---beef stroganov with noodles - mountain houselime shrimp ramen noodles x2
Date: 2006-07-11
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Baldpate Lean-to
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up around 5:30am and was hiking by 6am with 2 Shoes. Restless said he would wait for us at Speck Pond campsite so we all could enter in to Mahoosuc Notch together.2 Shoes and I were so tired in the morning. I couldn't keep a good pace at all, and my legs felt like they were going to fall off. So we made it to speck pond and hooked up with Restless and then headed off for Mahoosuc Notch. I had always thought of this notch as this huge valley smuthered in giant rocks. But when I got there it was quite different.It was a narrow valley that you had to walk a mile through, the only problem was that it was filled with massive boulders that were stacked on top of each other and you had to go over, around, and sometimes under them. It was fun but really tiring. It took me an hour to go that mile. And right when we were through it it started raining. I didn't mind so much because I had company with me. But it did however scare us a couple of times.A couple of times the flash and bang were less than 3 seconds apart. But we kept climbing in hopes that the storm would pass before we got to the top, and it did. We didn't have any view though.So we came down the back side of the arm and down to the road, which took about 1.5 hours. There, we took a break and I ate an apple someone left behind. Next, we pushed on headed for Baldpate shelter. And we got there just in time before it started pouring down rain. I sat in the shelter thinking how happy I was that I wasn't hiking at that moment.So I found a digital camera in the shelter that someone has left behind. I'll send it home and leave my contact information in the ledger in hopes that the rightful owner claims it.Tonight we are sharing the shelter with 5 other SOBO's. I'm soooo exhausted right now. We only did 16 miles today but it took 10 hours to do. I hope tomorrow is a bit easier.So tonight I opened my 4th envelope from Keri. The postcard was great and so was the picture. She is so pretty. I can't wait to hold her and not worry about when she'll be leaving again. The 27th is just around the corner and I can't wait to summit Katahdin. Now, I hope my feet can make it. They both feel like they are developing planterfacitus. God help me.cranberry almond crunch---1/2 cheese, crunchy peanutbutter---teriyaki chicken with rice - mountain housecreamy chicken ramen x2
Date: 2006-07-12
From: Baldpate Lean-to

To: Hall Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 14.0

Restless was off and hiking early this morning but 2 Shoes and I decided to sleep in till 7am. We all are so freakin' exhausted. On top of that we are always hungry. I haven't been like this since NC. It seems I can't eat enough.So 2 Shoes and I were up and hiking by 8am. We were gone before all the SOBO's even got out of their sleeping bags. I remember those days, doing low miles and sleeping in late.So the first half of the day was rough. We climbed really high on a steep rock wall. It took foever. And then the downhill was as steep and as slow. So we made it to the road that you take and found some water trailmagic left by some people who run the "Cabin" hostel in Andover. We decided to stop and eat lunch there on the road. There was absolutely no traffic on this road so I have no clue how anyone could get a hitch from here.Next, we started hiking again. Most of it was uphill to the shelter but it wasn't steep at all, which my legs and feet appreciated. I feel like a time bomb is about to go off. Like it is only a matter of days till my body fails me completely. I can already tell that it is starting to shutdown.So I haven't mentioned much about my girlfriend, the White Mountains of N.H., but there is good reason for that - we broke up. She was too abusive and high maitenance for me. Now I long for bigger and better things. I hear Mt. Katahdin is cute so I'll go and check her out in a couple of weeks.So we made it to the shelter, my leg still bleeding from a stabbing from a branch I stepped on. Always good to make it to the shelter, and by 3pm. Later on a whole mess of French-Canadian girls, 13 in all, showed up and pitched camp behind the shelter, and they haven't stopped talking since they showed up. Should be an interesting night.Got to talk to Keri, Mom, and Momma tonight. Everything seems good back home.Tomorrow we do 21 miles including 2 river fords. Should be fun. Did I mention I can't wait to be done hiking?cranberry almond crunch---1/2 colby jack cheese, crunch peanutbutter---spanish rice with beef, creamy chicken ramen noodles x2
Date: 2006-07-13
From: Hall Mountain Lean-to

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: light rain

I officially hate today. We all woke up early in anticipation of our long 21 mile day. Restless headed out first, of course, followed by 2 Shoes and I about 30 minutes later, we were hiking by 6:15am.I felt pretty good going up and over Moody Mt. but 2 Shoes hated it. It was amusing to hear him complain. It wasn't an easy climb at all, pretty much straight up. There were even parts that had rebar in then rock as a ladder due to the steepness. Also, it was heavily erroded and last nights rain softened everything up and lubed up the rocks.So up and over we went and met up with Restless at the stream below. We ate a quick snack and then went to tackle Old Blue Mt. That uphill took forever.And now is when the rest of the day began to suck. After Old Blue, the trail bobbed up and down from about 5 peeks. Within that span of miles I fell 3 times, smashed my hand, and kneed a boulder. I felt like screaming, I was so pissed. But I was able to maintane some sort of emotional control and kept going. And then the humidity became unbarrable. Sweat was pouring off me body. When you breathed in it was like sucking hot air from an oven. I quickly became dehydrated, even after drinking about a gallon of water throughout the day. And once dehydration set in, my performance went quickly downhill. It was such a struggle to get to the shelter. I was in prayer constantly asking God for strength. I got a bit of an answer too, which was wonderful.For the last 4 miles a huge cloud covered the sun, and even sprinkled on us for a bit and cooled us off. The cloud reminded me of what I've been recenly reading about in my book Jenny gave me. When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt they followed a cloud by day and fire by night. God was definitely in this cloud. We all made it to the shelter by 5pm. 11 hours of hiking for 21 miles. Go ahead and try to tell me I'm not going to be sore tomorrow. But it won't matter. Tomorrow is a town day and supposedly we have an easy 9 miles into town. I can't wait to get in. I'm going to eat everything in sight. And I'll get to finally make fun of 2 Shoes. He claims he's going to drink a "Rockstar" energy drink, one that I drink all the time and he makes fun of me, calling me "The Rockstar". Now it's my turn to enjoy the childish name calling.cranberry almond crunch---1/2 colby jack cheese, crunchy peanutbutter---beef ramen noodles x2 with vegetable protein
Date: 2006-07-14
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to

To: Gull Pond Lodge
Miles today: 9.4

Today was town day so we all were up early. Restless left before 2 Shoes and I. We were hiking by 6:15am. The SOBO's that shared the shelter with us last night told us that the last 4 miles to the road, where we hitch into town, were so easy. They were dead wrong. We only did about 9 miles but those last 4 miles sucked. Regardless, we got to the road and grabbed a quick hitch into town.We met up with Restless at IGA and after a quick food break we were off to lunch in town. Before lunch though I was able to mail ahead to Monson some clothes to lighten my load. We then ate again, this time at the Red Onion.It was there when I ordered 18 red roses for my sweet cakes in NC. Later, when I talked to Momma, I come to find out that her and Pop were scheming on how to get them to the house to surprise Keri. Momma and Keri went to a movie and while they were out, Pop went and picked up the flowers and brought them home so they were there to surprise Keri when she got back. So I had some time to wait to hear about the surprise.So we all went to the Gull Pond Lodge hostel and dropped off our things, took a quick shower, and then 2 Shoes and I went to town to do some internet at the library and do the laundry for everyone.At the laundry mat we were given some loaner clothes to wear so we could wash all our items - in short, we looked ridiculous. 5 words - me in short white shorts.So 2 Shoes finished the laundry and I went to the library to do my trailjournals. Well, my luck, the internet died 30 minutes before I showed up. Great. Wonderful. These types of things always happen to me. So I ended up reading.Later, I met up with 2 Shoes and we got picked up by Bob, the hostel owner, and went back to the hostel. I watched TV for a while till dinner. After dinner in town we came back to the hostel and I sat by the lake, enjoying the sunset, and called Keri. She loved the roses. The card I gave her said, "By the time these are on their way out, something else will be delivered to you. Though, I don't think he will smell as good." Yeah, I'm good.So we talked and talked. It's really great to hear Keri excited again. You won't know another person that can sparkle like Keri can when she's excited. After the phone call, I packed up my things and headed to bed.Tomorrow is going to be a tough day. It will be very hot and humid. I will surely need God to get me through it. I fear it will be a long day.cranberry almond crunch---chicken salad sandwhich, 3 onion rolls with pesto sauce---cheeseburger with fries---chicken alfrado with garlic bread