morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-02
From: Bennington,, Vt.

To: Manchester Center
Miles today: 40.0

Last evening I was hiking uphill trying to make it to a shelter as a storm was brewing. As I was going up the mountain, a young couple with a baby were coming down. When I looked up at the woman and baby I couldn't believe my eyes. It was Jennifer Pharr Davis, whose trail name is Odyssa. She has hiked the AT three times. She first hiked it as a regular hiker and wrote an excellent book about the adventure titled Becoming Odyssa. She has since broken the women's speed record for the fastest hike and then in 2011 broke both the men's and women's record by hiking it in 46 days. She averaged 47 miles a day! That led to her second book, 46 Days. Her husband Brew assisted her on the last two hikes and her most recent book, Called Again, is about his role as a loving and serving husband. He is quite the athlete as well having recently completed a 100 mile race! I wonder what the baby Charley will accomplish! Vermont has had a very rainy summer. It has rained every day since I entered the state. That means hiking in mud that is often a foot deep and sloshing through water over a foot deep. The mosquitoes love it! For some reason my pack is rubbing my left shoulder and it is very painful. I now have moleskin on my shoulder! It may be that I just weighed in at 127 pounds and my shoulder blades stick out. Fighting weight!!Tomorrow Rash and I are going to slack pack around 20 miles back to Manchester Center from Danby. The next morning I will be transported north that 20 miles to resume hiking north with a full pack. This should give my shoulder a bit of relief. Rash and I are staying at Green Mountain House in Manchester Center, I highly recommend it. The place is amazing and Jeff is a great host!
Date: 2013-07-03
From: Manchester Center

To: Danby
Miles today: 18.0

When I arrived in Manchester Center excitement was in the air. Hikers I had not seen in months had hiked hard to get into town by the Fourth of July. Many of them are taking tomorrow off to rest and celebrate the holiday. It was like a family reunion. There were smiles, high fives and hugs all around when seeing familiar faces and realizing we were still "on trail." There was sadness in hearing of fellow hikers who were no longer able to hike for various reasons. One hiker ,on this his third attempt, made it into Massachusetts and then could not continue due to persistent foot problems. I felt sad upon hearing of it. It must have been similar for Paul, Timothy, Titus, Silas, Barnabas and others who at times met and rejoiced that they were "still on trail." I am also sure there was sadness upon hearing of those who no longer were following Jesus. . For several years Demas was a companion of the Apostle Paul's. Paul referred to him as a faithful servant and fellow soldier. However, years later he wrote to Timothy and asks him to come quickly to give him aid because Demas had forsaken him, having "fallen in love with this present world." In the early stages of the hike there were those who left the trail because they missed the comforts of the world. That is not true of the majority those who have made it this far and then quit. It is usually due to injuries or sickness. It is sobering to realize that each of us is only one wrong step away from going home. It is a humbling walk!
Date: 2013-07-06
From: Danby

To: Rt. 4. killington
Miles today: 49.0
Weather: light rain

In 2007 I hiked Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Interestingly, I arrived at White Rocks on July 4th in 2007 and now in 2013. This is a very special place for me. Throughout history and in many cultures people have set up stones to commemorate the fact that their god or gods either met them or brought them safely to that point in their journey. All over Israel there are such locations where large stones have been set up.In Genesis 29, Jacob sets up and anoints a stone he used as a pillow and names it Bethel, which means 'House of God.' He does so because God met him there, spoke to him, and made promises to him. Many years later Jacob returned to the same spot and names it El Bethel, which means 'House of the Mighty One.' God had kept his promises to Jacob and he now knew God as the Mighty God who keeps his promises, does more for us than we ever dreamed, and watches over us.That has certainly been true in my life. In 2007, upon arriving at White Rocks I remember thanking God that he had brought me safely to that point on the journey but also the journey of life. This time I thanked him for bringing me not just around 100 miles but around 1,700. However, he has also brought me safely to this new chapter of life as a retired minister and given me health and abundant blessings. I believe I know Him even better this time as El Bethel, the Mighty One.
Date: 2013-07-07
From: Rt. 4. killington

To: Secret Cabin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

At White Rocks there was a bridge-like structure built by those passing by and placing their rock. For many years I have been striving to live and share my faith in such a way so that I would play at least a small part in a bridge of experiences that would cause people to cross over to a relationship with God. I Timothy 2:5 states: "There is one God and one mediator(bridge) between God and man, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all people." This speaks of how to bridge the gap between ourselves and God and also between various people. I have shared that on the trail there is a great diversity of people yet the common path and destination of the trail bring them together in a unique way. The same is true with those who have a relationship with God through his Son Jesus. There is a common path to follow and destination.
Date: 2013-07-08
From: Lookout Cabin

To: Thistle Shelter. mile 1730
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Yesterday I met Righteous, my first SoBo. SoBos are southbounders. I am a Nobo, northbounder. There are only around 200 SoBos who begin the AT in Maine. They begin in early June with the intent of arriving at Springer mountain finishing in September or October. SoBos encounter the most difficult terrain at the beginning of their hike. It is was great to stop a few moments and share information and stories of what lies ahead for each of us. Information such as where to find a good deli , ice cream, which hostels to stay in and which to avoid. Trail conditions are also a common topic, with the answer usually being "lots of mud". We know we will not see each other again, yet there is a unique connection since we are on the same path, going through the same difficulties and experiencing the same joys. They admire us since we have over 1,700 miles behind us, and we admire them since they have gone through the toughest 500 miles the trail has to offer. I have met seven Sobos in the last two days and assume I will meet many more in the days ahead.Vermont means Green Mountains. it is muddy, rainy, and mosquito infested but green, mountainous and beautiful!
Date: 2013-07-10
From: Thistle Shelter. mile 1730

To: Hanover, New Hampshire
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

Today I crossed the Connecticut River and entered New Hampshire. In the middle of the bridge is a post noting the state border. It was a meaningful moment, both physically and spiritually. It meant that I had now completed 12 of the 14 states the AT winds through. It also meant that I the two toughest states of the trail were still ahead of me. I stopped and thanked God for bringing me this far on the journey and asked Him to give me strength and safety to accomplish the remainder of the hike. I had the similar thoughts spiritually. I thanked Him for bringing me this far in my spiritual journey and asked Him to help me be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ for the remainder of my life journey.
Date: 2013-07-15
From: Hanover, New Hampshire

To: North Woodstock, NH
Miles today: 70.0

For the last few days I have been hiking with Samson. We do well together. We both like to get up around 5 a.m. and hike until around 5 p.m. We like to swim in rivers and lakes, take breaks often, and stealth camp near streams. Instead of pushing for big miles, we just hike until late afternoon and begin looking for a stream where we can stealth camp. The stream provides a bath, a water source, and thankfully, drowns out Samson's snoring. Twice people have thought a bear was in the camp but it was Samson snoring! Stealth camping gives privacy. We love it! Tonight however, we are in the town of North Woodstock, eating a lot, resupplying, getting laundry done, buying some new gear,(I am in my 5th pair of shoes due to the record-setting rains and mud, which makes them rot)and will be returning to the trail in the morning. However, Samson and I will be hiking separately. I am jumping ahead 40 miles to Mount Washington. I will be hiking those 40 miles in early August with friends from home. So, I will be headed north alone and should get the rest of New Hampshire and around 100 miles of Maine accomplished before coming back to meet them. After hiking with them, I will be returning home with them for three weeks for a family vacation and a four-day speaking engagement on Spiritual Lessons Learned on the Appalachian Trail. After the conference I will be returning to where I get off in Maine in order to complete the trail. I am sure I will. Be meeting other fine hikers but there will never be another Samson. He is unique. I think we would both say that we were a gift from God to each other and that we are friends for life.
Date: 2013-07-18
From: North Woodstock, NH

To: carter notch Hut. mile 1872
Miles today: 19.0

The Whites are awesome, majestic, beautiful, difficult and dangerous .The weather can change in a moment; drenching you in cold rain that penetrates your bones and blow you about in high winds that can almost send you flying over a cliff. Climbing up and over Mount Madison proved to be one of my toughest days. The trail there is a field of huge jagged boulders. Hiking poles are useless as they only get stuck in deep crevices between boulders. Therefore, I was only able to average around 1 mph. I was thanking God that I wasn't dealing with mud, bugs, roots, ticks, high winds or cold rain . I consoled myself by remembering that each step ,however slow and tedious was a step closer to Katahdin. However, I began questioning weather I had "what it takes"to be a thru-hiker. After all, I still had over 300 tough miles ahead of me! Then right when I needed it most I received some very encouraging words.A day-hiker passed me and asked where I was going. I said Maine. He said "I know that, you have the look. I mean where are you going today?" I said Osgood Tent-site and went on. However, his words encouraged and stayed with me , even if "the look" meant skinny ,smelly,dirty,disheveled hairy and hungry.When I finally arrived at Osgood Tent-site I was greeted by a thru-hiker I had not seen since Tennessee. When she saw me she said, "Hey Hoosier, I knew you would still be "on trail." What an encouragement! She believed I had "what it takes" to be a thru-hiker and said that to me on one of my most difficult days of the hike. The word encourage appears over 100 times in the New Testament. it means to come along side of and speak to the need of the moment so as to strengthen, inspire,embolden,console,comfort and give confidence. The two people who encouraged me that day probably had no idea how much I needed their words. Proverbs 18:21 states" Words kill, words give life; they either poison or bear fruit".Their words words were life giving words and bore the fruit of continuing on toward Katahdin.
Date: 2013-07-19
From: carter notch Hut. mile 1872

To: Imp campground
Miles today: 10.0

I am posting this entry from the top of Wildcat Mountain. The climb (definitely not a hike) is four miles straight up, and tough. A storm was approaching; I had water, so I stealth camped at the peak in a mossy pine forest. It rained most of the night. I loved it!I shared in an earlier post that each morning I read the Psalm that corresponds to the number of days it has been since I started the hike. Today's Psalm is 139. In verse five the writer states that God hemmed him in, behind, and before and that God's hand was upon him. I have certainly experienced that protection on the trail and in a unique, memorable way a few days ago. When coming down an extremely steep section of a mountain, Samson fell forward and landed on me. My feet flew out from underneath me and I slid several feet down the mountain on my pack. I had stopped Samson's fall; however, I distinctly remember a hand grabbing my pack so that I did not fall face-first to disaster. After getting back up I thanked Samson for grabbing me. He said that he was totally out of control and did not grab me. We both concluded that a guardian angel or God Himself had done so. I know verse five is true by experience. I also know I don't want Samson or anyone else hiking that close behind me in the future. Samson is now several miles behind me!
Date: 2013-07-20
From: Imp campground

To: Gorham, N H
Miles today: 10.0

Today was a beautiful day with many difficult rock scrambles and descents. Tedious work! Ninety-nine percent of the time is spent looking at the ground. If you look around while hiking, you will fall within a few steps. Periodically you come to a vista and can stop to take in the view. At one vista today I stopped and spent around 15 minutes talking with three young South-bounders. They shared stories of the trail in Maine and I shared what was ahead for them. When I was ready to leave they said I was the first North-bounder who had stopped and spoken with them for more than a few seconds. They said North-bounders seem to be tired of the trail and just want to get it over with, that they are putting in big miles to get to Katahdin. Some hikers are under pressure to complete the trail because of obligations this fall. I am not under that kind of pressure. Instead, I want to really enjoy the remainder of the hike. I know I will look back at it in the future with enjoyment but I want to enjoy the trail now!
Date: 2013-07-26
From: Gorham, N H

To: Andover. Maine mile 1929
Miles today: 41.0

Well, I made it through the notorious Mahoosuc Notch and Arm. The Notch is known as the most difficult mile of the trail. it is a jumbled mess of rocks and boulders in a notch between two mountains and takes a couple hours to make it through. That stretch is difficult enough, but it was raining and cold the morning I worked my way through it. There is still ice and snow in the notch, so I took a beating and came out cold and soaked at 11 a.m. I made it through---and I was through. I set up my tent, crawled into my damp sleeping bag and didn't wake up until the next morning only to find it was cold and rainy again. After the notch comes the Arm, a one-mile steep granite slab which is particularly dangerous when wet. I made it up the Arm and hiked another mile and a half to Speck Pond and Shelter. Speck Pond is the highest body of water in Maine. A caretaker at the shelter greeted me and saw my condition. He told me to set up my tent, get in my sleeping bag, and that he would bring me hot coffee and something hot to eat. Later he told me I appeared to be on the edge of hypothermia. I spent the day and night in my tent. Although it was mid-summer it was in the high 30's at night. The sun came out the next day so I was able to dry things out. I had only hiked five miles in two days! I had not planned on it taking so long to get to the next town for supplies so besides being fatigued I was also out of food and fuel. I resorted to begging for necessities! I asked for food from two Franciscan priests who were out for a few days and for fuel from a Boy Scout troop that was out for a few days. They were all accommodating, which was kind. It was a humbling experience. I am supposed to know what I am doing by now. After all, I have over 1,900 miles behind me. In the past, I could never figure out how someone could come this far on the trail and then quit. Now I understand. New Hampshire and Maine are tough. Thru-hikers are tired and often say they are ready to "finish this thang!"I have never thought of quitting , but I must admit I'm tired. Tonight however, I am at a wonderful hostel called 'The Cabin.' When I arrived, Earl and Margie, who run it, said "We are going to fatten you up!" I am taking the rest of today off, although it was just a five-mile day. I am taking tomorrow off as well and will return to the trail Sunday morning. I needed a break from the trail.Even Jesus told his disciples to cross over the Sea of Galilee to,get away from the crowds and to get some needed rest. I wonder if they had food? No problem with Jesus around though, he multiplied fish and bread and turned water to wine. I hit up priests and Boy Scouts!
Date: 2013-07-28
From: Andover. Maine mile 1929

To: Old Blue Mtn. mile 1942
Miles today: 13.0

The Cabin in Andover was a wonderful place to take a break from the trail. I probably gained five pounds in 36 hours and enjoyed a much-needed rest. Today I hiked 13 miles, which is like putting in 20-25 in Virginia. It is amazing what some rest and food has done for my attitude toward the trail. A couple of days ago I never wanted to see a white blaze again!Rash showed up at the Cabin last night. He is severely dehydrated and suffering kidney problems. I pray he gets well soon and is able to get back on the trail. I really like Rash. I also received emails today from Dovetail and Caribou whom I hiked with down south. They both had to get off the trail due to injuries. They plan to return in 2015 to do a thru-hike. I will never forget the people I have had the honor of hiking with. People like Sparks who hiked the first two months with me, Mott, Pumpkin Pie, Joe the Hiker, Rash, Dovetail, Caribou, Samson, and many others. They have all made this journey worth all the falls, cuts, bruises, cold, heat, mud, and bug bites. I believe the Apostle Paul felt the same way. In Romans 16 he gives an extensive list of names he knew. Some of the names even sound like trail names!
Date: 2013-07-31
From: Rangley. mile 1965

To: Redington Stream Campsite- mile 1973
Miles today: 8.0

Today marks the 150th day since I started this journey, which means today I finish the book of Psalms. I read the Psalm that corresponds with the number of the day on the trail. I especially liked psalm 148 . In it the Psalmist calls all creation to praise God. I have thought about God and His creation quite a bit out here. . Like the art of an artist, God's creation says much about Him. He is the creator, He is powerful, He loves variety and beauty. In today's Psalm a call is made for all creation and various instruments to praise Him. He wants all creation; all that has life and breath to give Him praise. Why, is He needy or insecure? No, He deserves it. At the end of the Psalm there is a command that we humans should praise Him as well. It seems only we humans have a choice in the matter. When we catch a glimpse of who He is, praise will come naturally. It is more than words of praise though---it is to be the complete expression of our lives. I know most of the time I am like an off-key instrument, making an irritable sound, but every once in a while I get a note right as His instrument. It is then I sense most His pleasure and fulfillment in being what I was meant to be. Well it is time off to get back on the trail, see his creation and try get my note right in His orchestra.
Date: 2013-08-01
From: Redington Stream Campsite- mile 1973

To: Sugarloaf Mtn. mile 1984
Miles today: 22.0

Today I was interviewed by the TV program Animal Planet about hiking in Maine. They were at a shelter doing a story due to a hikers disappearance for the last 10 days. She was last seen at that shelter. Maine is very remote and wild. You don't want to get lost up here. Wild Blue and I are together again after not seeing each other since entering PA. We are having a blast! There is cell and Internet service so we are in contact with the world although on a remote mountain top all alone. Wild Blue and I are headed into Stratton tomorrow. I may not make it all the way there as Crocker Mtn. is treaturous when wet and it may be tomorrow. So , I may move slowly and carefully and not make it in until Saturday. Sunday morning I head back to the Whites of NH. to hike the 40 miles I skipped . I will be meeting two friends there to hike that section. I will be returning home with then to have a family vacation and to speak at Maranatha Bible Conference over Labor Day. I will then return to the trail in early September to finish the last 180 miles.
Date: 2013-08-02
From: Sugarloaf Mtn. mile 1984

To: Stratton
Miles today: 22.0

Last night Wild Blue and I had a great time. We talked late into the night about theology and girls. He is a follower of Jesus, 23 years old and single. We were on Surgarloaf which is the second highest mountain in Maine. During the night the winds howled and the rains came. We had 10 miles to go to get to Stratton. However, the day's journey called for going over Crocker Mountain which is known to be extremely slippery when wet since this area is slate. I left before Wild Blue in a cold rain. Three miles down I came to the Carrabasset River and forded it. A south-bounder told me how slippery it was going over Crocker. Then I met a ranger and George, the husband of the missing woman; they were out looking for her. George introduced himself. I told him that I was praying for him and his situation. With tears and a shaking voice he said that meant more to him than I would ever know. It is believed that his wife may have slipped off a cliff of wet slate. He then shared that his 38-year-old son and 35-year-old daughter had to return home to their families as the search was now in its 11th day. He told me that he would love to have a miracle and find her alive, but that at this point he just wanted to find her. It was a very emotional encounter. I then started the hike up Crocker Mountain. It was pouring and very cold. I stopped. I thought, "My two children are the same age as his." My map showed a logging road that skirted the mountain. I took it! Five miles later I emerged onto a road and immediately got a hitch into the small town of Stratton. I checked into a motel and am waiting for Wild Blue to show up. If weather permits, I will hike that section tomorrow. If not, I will be returning to Stratton in early September and do it then.The decision to take the side road was not an easy one for me. Those who know me well would not have expected me to make that decision. I would like to think I made the decision I did because I am getting wiser not fearful. Talking to the grieving husband and hearing that he has two children the same age as my own two gave me pause. I think it was the right decision. I will climb Crocker Mountain another day, a dry day.
Date: 2013-08-08
From: Stratton. mile 1997.5

To: Mt. Washington
Miles today: 40.0

I am currently hiking the 40 miles of the Whites that I had previously skipped in order to hike them with two friends. For the most part we have had excellent weather and phenomenal views. We are currently at Lake of the Clouds Hut and have only 1.4 miles to Mount Washington, which we will hike in the morning. If the weather report holds true, that climb will be during a thunderstorm. It has really been fun hiking with friends and watching them enjoy the hike. It has far exceeded their expectations in both difficulty and enjoyment. The views have been very difficult to attain, but well worth the climb. Brian and Rick both commented that life is a lot like that as well; we seems appreciate most what we have to work for. If we could have taken a helicopter to the top of the mountains the views would not have been nearly as rewarding. Tomorrow I will be returning home with them for a family vacation and to speak at a conference. I plan on returning to the trail around September 7 to complete the remaining 180 miles, which should take a couple weeks.