morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-22
From: Mountain Harbor B&B

To: Mountaineer Falls Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: clear sky

Left 19E this morning about 9:30...hot and humid day...here we go again...you know the drill...anytime you leave a road, gap, or a downhill you always have to climb up!!! so up we went and went and went...a gain of about 2500 ft today...wanted to do more miles but with full pack, heat, and humidity I just couldn't go any further. Tree and I stayed at the "new" shelter built last year by an AT hiker crew supervised by Bob Peoples of Kincora.   Nice, double decker shelter with benches and porch overhang. Water source was about 75 feet away and was wonderful!!! Water becomes a major issue out here in case I have not mentioned this before. You do not really think about how much water you use daily until you have to find it, pump it, carry it, heat it, or don't have any to drink!!!! A precious commodity.   We were blessed today!!! Flowing, cold, clear water!!! Yeehaa!!! Drink up!!! Hydrate!!!!!On the way to the shelter we ran into 4 other people who are section hiking and what would the chances be of running into someone we went to high school with!!! No way!!! Yes...we really did...we ran into a guy named Andy Huggins, his is the youngest of four children in a family that lived in our hometown. One of his brothers had been drummajor while we were in the band and his sister had been a majorette!! Seems he does trail magic further north in Va. and he gave us his card so...now we have another connection up the trail...who would have thought????Another side trip offered us this wonderful view of Jones waterfall...we sat there for probably an hour trying to cool off and have lunch. Soaked our feet, got fresh water, had lunch and visited with M&M.Another gorgeous day on the AT.
Date: 2007-04-23
From: Mountaineer Falls Shelter

To: Kincora Lodge
Miles today: 16.0

Yea...our first 16 mile day!!!! We had good weather and great terrain so off we went...today we made an effort to get up early and try to beat the heat...it paid off...I can definately perform better under cooler conditions. Maybe when I lose a little more weight and improve my physical fitness a little more these days will be easier but I still need to keep plugging along. We passed the 400 mile mark today as well!!!! We are starting to put the miles behind us and really are beginning to actually "enjoy" most of our hike. This is tough...everything you do takes longer....just getting a drink of water can take 30 minutes if you have to wait for your purifying drops...getting more efficient each day though!Once we got to Kincora Hostel we met a few new to us hikers.....everyone very nice. We were fortunate and got to spend two nights in the "Tree House!" Yep, you read it right....this hostel has built a tree house complete with glass windows...it is just large enough for a double bed but you can lay in that bed and watch the sun come up...perfect placement ....amazing...who would have thought at our age we would be sleeping in a treehouse and watching the sun come up!!!! Sooooo many fun things to do and most are surprises we come across!!! Fun!!!Thanks to Bob and Pat Peoples...great people...we (the hiking community) appreciate all you do in trail maintenance and support of the hikers.What adventures will there be tomorrow??Love to our family and friends!!
Date: 2007-04-24
From: Kincora Lodge

To: Watuaga Lake
Miles today: 8.7

Today was just tough!!!! There are huge stone steps leading down in the Laurel valley to the falls (which are beautiful) that will definately let your knees know how hard you are working....trick of the day is to stay upright...quite an angle to them....the hike along the falls and river was beautiful and cooler temps...nice to have the water for the breeze to cool off. The next 6 miles of this section is just laborious, continual steep climb, no views, rough walking...just tough..finished now tho!!! Thank goodness...finally begining to see the lake...it looks very inviting, wish I could dive in and cool off.   M&M and Easy Duzit are moving on today...they need to get to Damascus before we do so they are planning long days..hopefully we can take things a little easier than they are.Tomorrow we hike around the lake and begin our hike up and out of this valley!
Date: 2007-04-25
From: Watuaga Lake

To: Campsite
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

Today was a rather short mileage day...the midday heat and uphill got to me once again...I just do not have much energy under those circumstances...really need to get up early and beat the heat. Finally found a great campsite on the ridgeline just past Vandeventer shelter. We had filled out water containers prior to our last uphill climb which made the climb tougher but we had been warned about the scarcity of water through this area. We could look out the left side of the tent and see the city lights in the valley below and look out the right side of the tent and watch the sun go down...nice! So as the sun went down and the lights came on we set up our tent and cooked some tortelloni....really tasted good. Once we were ready for bed we began to notice the wind was picking up and the clouds were rolling in. Must be rain in our future!
Date: 2007-04-26
From: Campsite

To: Iron Mountain shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Only hiked to Iron Mtn. shelter today....we talked to some section hikers who warned us of strong and possibly severe thunderstorms with hail were predicted early afternoon and into the night. When we got to the shelter Frito and DangDang also decided to stay there for the night...we just did not think we could out hike the storm and get to the next shelter before the rain would start. Sure enough ..about 1pm the heavens opened up and it began to rain. Before long it was a full house in the shelter as well as many tenting close to the shelter...one section hiker and his dog stayed under the picnic table which we had pulled under the shelter front overhang as much as possible to try to have a place to cook and eat that was dry. We hung up tarps and tents to try to keep the rain from blowing into the shelter...of course we were all damp but not soaked!!!   All survived but it continued to rain all night long and into the next morning.Next concern...it seems Tree is having pain in his right foot...may need to pay attention to that tomorrow if we can arrange a shuttle into town...will keep you posted!Damascus is only 27 miles away!
Date: 2007-04-27
From: Iron Mountain shelter

To: Tenn 91
Miles today: 9.8

OK....awoke this morning to the rain and wind. Everyone around the shelter has pulled up under the overhang to try to have breakfast and decide what to do for the day...wait for the rain to subside...go on....stay in the shelter for a little more nap time????? Some brave souls went on out early...others of us decided to wait until about 9 and see if the clouds and fog would begin to burn off just a little...and slowly very slowly they did. The woods are actually really interesting when everything is wet and there is a heavy mist in the air...kind of a different environment to be in and of course the brooks and streams we cross are always flowing more....you have to look for the positive!!!We did not get away from the shelter before Tree made the assertion that he thinks he is getting gout in his foot! Oh gee...hope we have cellphone coverage and luckily we did. We were able to arrange a pickup within 5 miles of the shelter. He was able to slowly make his way to the road. Fortunately for him this is the easiest terrain we have been on...rather flat....and not much uphill at all!We are in town now....will try to get to the doctor and get him back on his feet...literally...he feels pretty down right now but I am sure we can get him taken care of and out there again soon!!! Will let you know when we have a diagnosis!!!!
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Tenn 91

To: Kentucky
Miles today: 50.0

Just a quick note to let everyone know we made it to just about the 500 mile mark before deciding we need to go home for a break. We have absolutely had a great hike so far....I can not believe we have hiked so many miles in such diverse conditions. There have been records set throughout our journey for cold, hot, wind, and rain!!! We have definately seen it all. We are just getting into Virginia and wish we could press forward but Tree's foot and my Rosacea have really been causing us problems. We are not sure if we will be able to get back to the trail to complete a thruhike or if we will complete our hike in sections....what we do know is this is absolutely a wonderful journey!!! We have had the best time, worked really hard, enjoyed many a special moment, met some great people, had some good belly laughs, heard some good music, eaten some great food, eaten some food with a lot of dirt/dust sprinkled in there, seen some beautiful animals...too many aspects of this trail/walk to mention....everyone should go on a pilgrimage of some sort....great for the Soul!!! We will miss all of you we have been hiking with if we are unable to return to the trail...maybe we can come be a trail angel for you further up the way. Take care to each and everyone of you and thanks for the many kindnesses we were the recipient of!!! I will try to post the last few days of our hike in a couple of days...will keep you posted when we go back to the trail. Thanks to everyone!!!!
Date: 2007-03-05
To: Preparation
Miles today: 0.0

I am officially announcing my return to the trail in July and September of 2007... after the brutal assault, on my person, by my trekking pole and the un-maintained terrain of Maine, in the September of 2006. My arm is BACK, in FULL SWING and I am running for the position of 'thru hike-complete' I look forward to my term on the trail, I look forward to Trail Days in May, I look forward to being cold and wet and utterly content. I work at The Hershey Company again and they have given me leave to complete my 2006 adventure...I hope the same opportunity is awarded to all those in 2006 that came so close they could smell KATAHDIN, only to be hauled off the mountains kicking and screaming with broken bits and bobs in their bodies. I quote the witch from the Wizard of OZ "Oh what a world, what a world" See you in the woods How tweet they are!Bluebird...with a vengeance!
Date: 2007-03-07
To: Dates Set for 2007
Miles today: 0.0

I have my tenative dates set for my completion of the trail. Grafton Notch to 100 Mile Wilderness - July 14th - July 29th100 Mile Wilderness to Katahdin Summit - August 26th - September 9th I've been in touch with my hiking buddy Johny K (he lives in New Hampshire) and he will be lending a hand if I need dropped off and/or picked up. I'm sure he'll find time to put back a few with me also!I am putting together my list of what to carry, with far more experience and understanding than I did when I first set foot on Springer in March 2006. I still wonder what it would have been like to complete my half year trek with my AT friends in October 2006. That is one experience that will never go down in my records book. I may technically not be considered a thru hiker by my fellow, thru hiker, die hards, but no one's going to convince me of that...or the people that followed my journal on trailjournals.com! A thru hiker hikes from GA to ME.... and I did, in fact, do that. So, nuff said. I have the added pleasure of going back and meeting the AT 2007 candidates and to join a few of them as they complete their adventure. Who's the lucky one?Bluebird
Date: 2007-03-07
To: Some Thoughts 
Miles today: 0.0

As I read this years journal entries I look forward to returning to the place, which carved such a deep impression upon my psyche and spirit in 2006. I love connecting with those who have or who are preparing, as I did, to begin their journey. I think about them...where they are...how it will go for them. I find myself wanting to encourage and help them on there way. I might not feel this way if I had completed my journey in October. I believe it is because of my loss that I find myself more embroiled in their individual quests.
Date: 2007-03-30
To: Trail of Dreams
Miles today: 0.0

A couple nights ago I opened the sliding door at the base of my bed. I turned myself around placing my pillow where my feet would normally rest, laid on my back and closed my eyes. The cool evening air came over me and off in the distance I could here the peepers song. I pretended for a moment to be laying in a shelter taking in the night sounds,the smell of earth and new spring things. Ohhhhhhhhhhh how I wanted to be out there again. I have forgotten so much of what I loved about my hike in 2006. It only takes a sound or a smell now, to jog my memory back to good friends, barred owl song in the early evening dusk, night talk by fires and headlamps shining as we prepared to rest. My prayers are with all those who are making there way. Good luck all in GA to ME 2007.Bluebird
Date: 2007-04-16
To: Home after a full days work!
Miles today: 0.0

Monday I give my 1st official talk at the Dillsburg Kiwanis,(spelling??) Monday Morning, Breakfast Meeting.... about my 2006 AT Trail Adventure. I'm a little nervous, but on the other hand I'm kind of excited about the opportunity to share at a 'ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE' level. They just DO NOT know what they are getting into....by inviting me into their inner circle!!!I'll be taking my photos, journal, an AT map, maybe my fully packed bag pack (so they can lift it or try in on)and myself. I figure I can do a one minute introductory speech with fourteen minutes of questions and answers!! "Hi my names Bluebird, Whadah ya wanna know?" Hey...I was an equity actress in my 20's and performances came with a script. So where's my script, FRED? I WILL NOT BE HAVING BAKED OATMEAL FOR BREAKFAST! Go figure.Bluebird Bellowing
Date: 2007-05-04
To: NOWHERE
Miles today: 0.0

I am once again in physical therapy. You say,OH NO! I say, OH YES! This time for my flippin left foots/legs Achillis tendon. I have tendonitis and will be wearing a night splint to flex my foot back as I sleep. I will have three PT visits a week, for about 8 weeks, to get it mended. It will be just in time for my first jaunt to ME to finish my 2006 thru hike. This is to heal a latent, closet injury from my former trek and keep me from rupturing the tendon while trying to finalize my hike. I will arrive at Damascus 'Trail Days' in 13 days. I need to go shopping for the biggest Bazooka water gun I can find. I will come prepared this year, because the towns people of Damascus are ruthless. On the day designated....If you walk toward the Hiker's Parade's starting point at the one end of town, and walk one street back from the main street, you will see what I mean. Before the hiker parade it's like an army preparing for battle. Whole laundry baskets filled with gazillions of water balloons. They load the baskets in wagons because they can't lift and carry them without disconnecting their shoulders. Then there's the families that hook their garden hoses together and stretch them for blocks to main street to do the greatest water damage to the passers by. These are parents as well as their delinquent children!!!!THis year is PAYBACKS!!!
Date: 2007-06-25
To: MANIC MONDAY 
Miles today: 0.0

Last year, when I prepared for my through hike, I had an entire room devoted to my preparations. I was collecting and dehydrating food for months in advance, I was calculating my miles and planning my baseline itinerary. I was buying my gear, stacking my gear, packing and repacking my gear. I was a mean, not so lean, prep machine. This year, well, I have less than three weeks till I head to Maine and I haven't even got the backpack out to dust it off. At the very least I could try it on and adjust the waist band to fit the last nine month weight gain around my middle. this is the difference between having NEVER been there and having BEEN THERE. The Hype!Bluebird getting ready to fly again!
Date: 2007-07-05
To: Grafton Notch as soon as POSSIBLE
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

On July 4th I sat down with my sister and showed her the maps of Maine. I talked to her about gear and weather and at some point in the conversation my eyes weld up with tears...I told her I could not put a reason to my show of emotion, but it was honestly felt to the very core of my being. It is an understatement to say that I am excited about or that I am ready to complete my thru hike. I'm a little concerned, because my head is with a woman (Me, Bluebird!) that was in terrific shape after being on the trail for almost six months. I am out of shape now. The injury to my arm, my tendon trouble and my eight hour a day desk job, have lead to my bodily dimise. I can not get into the hiking skirt I wore in September of 2006, without cutting the blood circulation off to my legs! grrrr.... Hey, it is what it is and I am what I am and that is at least a size or two bigger than I was. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....Well, It doesn't mean I have to like it. I'm just thinking about dragging that extra 15 pounds up Saddleback Mountain.Looking forward to seeing my old hiking bud, Johny K. If he's available, he said he'd help with depositing and extracting us from the trail. What a guy....and he'd be the first to agree, ah Johny? Lunch over and back to work. Nine Days and Counting. one, two, three.....
Date: 2007-07-12
To: Maine or BUST
Miles today: 0.0

MAINE HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO......This here wagon train's movin out. AM I LUCKY OR WHAT?Sister Dot (now to be known as LIPSTICK) and I hit will the road late tonight for a ten plus hour ride to Andover, the town that waved goodbye and sent me home from my 2006 thru hike. Now Andover's saying, "Hey Bluebird, welcome back, where ya bin?" "Katahdin's that-a-way! Git-r-dun girl!"Bluebird FLYIN HIGH!
Date: 2007-07-12
From: Dillsburg PA 

To: Bridgeport CT
Miles today: 0.0

Started: Dills burgEnded: Bridgeport, CTSleeping: Ramada InnDistance Hiked: 0Well Lipstick and I got out of Dillsburg by 6:30 pm heading towards Maine and more road construction than Carter has liver pills. Six hours to go three hundred miles. I hope we average better mph hiking!I am totally ready for sleep¢¦tired after working a full day and then six hours on the road. What a rat race. I can hardly wait for the mountains of Maine.I¢m having a great time with my sister, Dot. It¢s good to have her along.
Date: 2007-07-13
From: Bridgeport CT

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Started: Bridgeport, CT Ended: Andover, MESleeping: Pine Lodge HostelDistance Hiked: 0I¢m sitting in the kitchen at the Pine Lodge Hostel, so I don¢t disturb my sister Dot, who has already drugged herself and hit the sack. I gotsta journal here! Driving from PA to ME is to be compared to living in a car. It will be good to place my feet on the AT tomorrow and determine my level of ability, since leaving last September. I will have to baby my left Achilles tendon, sing it lullabies and put it down for a nap a couple times a day, to be sure.Now to bed to rest up for my first day back!Tweet!
Date: 2007-07-14
From: Andover, ME - Grafton Notch

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 10.3

Started: Andover, ME ¢ Grafton NotchEnded: East B Hill RoadSleeping: Pine Lodge HostelDistance Hiked: We MADE IT! I was feeling pretty good about the ten miles we banged out till Lipstick says, ¢Yah, but how far would we be if we were hiking with full packs?¢ Like Shuuuuuuut -up Dot¢¦you¢re ruining my moment here.I was proud of us. She hasn¢t hiked in over a year and it¢s been ten months since I ventured out. I say work up to the full pack experience¢¦SLACK as long as you can.With Baldpate East and West behind us and an ice pack on my Achilles tendon and an allergic, blistering, peel the skin from your ankle outbreak from the glue on the sport tape. (I wrapped my ankle to support the tendon per my PT) I bid you a first day adieu!Bluebird doing Maine!
Date: 2007-07-15
From: East B Hill Road

To: South Arm Road
Miles today: 10.1

Started: East B Hill RoadEnded: South Arm RoadSleeping: Pine Lodge HostelDistance Hiked: 10.1Absolutely a total AT day.First, Dot buggered up her left knee yesterday and had to take a zero day to give it a rest. I went solo. The day starts with sun and turns into a downpour, clearing up later in the afternoon. The trail was a skating ring at a 60% angle. We had slippery roots, rocks, stones, logs, bog walks¢¦ all was slippery ALL WAS SLIPPERY! I managed to fall, once; into a tub of black mud¢¦well at least I had had a relatively soft landing, as landings go for a fifty-five year old gal. I count myself lucky¢¦I didn¢t break a hip.I have made it over the infamous Moody Mtn. and live to tell the taleAt the end of the day, Lipstick and David (Pine Lodge caretaker) were waiting on side of the trail near the road. It was great to see them AND the half gallon of ice tea they brought. I drank it all¢¦I was thirsty.Dot grilled sausages and made a salad for dinner while I cleaned up. Lipstick RULES!!!Okay, time to ice the Achilles tendon. This is Bluebird on Ice!
Date: 2007-07-16
From: South Arm Road

To: Rt. 17
Miles today: 13.3

Started: South Arm Road Ended: Rt. 17Sleeping: Pine Lodge HostelDistance Hiked: 13.3Oh my, Lipstick tried to hike again. Six miles into the hike, her knee went wacky and I mean did she suffer. There was, however, one moment of levity, when I took a fall, head long into the Alpine tundra, while trying to negotiate a slippery slope of rock. This was followed by a female, senior moment¢¦We both wet ourselves laughing. One of those great over fifty phenomenons¢ that is only better when shared with your sister. It took close to twelve hours to complete the 13.3 mile day. I have to give Lipstick the HIGH FIVE¢¦she finished the day. She¢s a trooper. The day was excruciatingly beautiful. That helped to ease the pain, I¢m sure!Bluebird, back on her own tomorrow.
Date: 2007-07-17
From: Rt. 17

To: Rt 4 Rangley
Miles today: 13.1

Started: Rt. 17Ended: Rt. 4 RangleySleeping: Pine Lodge HostelDistance Hiked: 13.1Today¢s hike was FABULOUS! I banged out thirteen miles and saw lakes and critter galore. I stood with my feet in a Maine lake. The water is crystal clear, cool and soothing to the tooties. It blows me away that these lakes in Maine have natural sand shorelines¢¦makes the wading easy and hamper free. With sand between my toes I stood there and just took it all in¢¦I hated to leave that spot, but onward.You know, Maine has more Moose poop & Moose tracks along its¢ trails than any state with any other species attached to it. With scat and sign like this the Moose should be dropping from the trees. That said, ¢Where are the Moose!¢I actually got a picture of two Moose along the road and considered trying to pass the shot off as wilderness experience, but knowing my luck someone got a shot of me taking the picture and would expose my indiscretion on national TV. New reality series: MOOSE LIES!!! I have been pushing it today and as a result am off the ¢beat rector scale¢ I still don¢t know if Dot will be heading back to PA or staying on to support my hike. Hoping she hangs in there, it¢s nice having here around.Bluebird so very out!