morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-09-04
From: E. Branch Lean-to

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 21.9

Long Knife talks in his sleep! Still raining, but we got up early to make the boat at White House Landing. I fell on a split log crossing and again on my face. It's slippery! More trail magic. Bill Murray left a jug of vanilla frosting on a rock at the road crossing. We knew it was for us! Then we found Reeces and a chocolate frosting tied to a thin branch over the trail and few yards later, cold drinks in the creek! Wow, Thanks Bill, Great timing too! Makes a rainy day a lot better! Mouse and I hid down the trail to watch the others find the magic! We made the air horn by 4:00 and got a boat ride to the White house Landing. got a photo of Baro's huge puffy eye! He looks like he's been mugged and left to die! Anyways, The White House Landing is a great oasis in the middle of the so called "Wilderness". Hot shower and washed my clothes out by hand and wrung them out in an old fashioned wringer! Ate HUGE cheeseburgers and "Joe" gave us his left over pizza too! It's our last bunkhouse and we're all getting sentimental! I decided the name of my book, should I ever get it written, will be "Jellybean Jean's Pink Blazer's guide to hiking the Appalachian Trail" I drew up the cover in the hostel. Then Mouse had the idea of canoeing in the moonlight. It was almost a full moon too! He took Shasta and Jangles, while H-bomb and I took out another canoe. It was great. Very fitting end to a relaxing evening in Maine.
Date: 2006-09-05
From: White House Landing

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

We saw a moose! A big moose! A bull moose! and it was close, in the water, it was incredible. Unbelievable. I've been looking for a moose since the first sign of them in Vermont! The lighting was perfect, and he was in the pond. H-bomb found him first. She motioned me to be silent and then waved me in. He was beautiful! Oh, and so unafraid of us! I took photos, we all took photos of each other with the moose in the background. My favorite is photo of H-bomb, Jangles and Baro looking at the moose. Jangles jaw is about to pop out of it's socket. I got closer, Baro and Mouse and I practically stalked the thing as it was getting out of the water. I thought Mouse was going to get mauled at one point, but it just grunted and stood there eating leaves. Then we heard another grunting noise farther up in the woods. The two moose grunted at each other a while then our moose disappeared out of sight and we could briefly hear antlers clacking and more grunts, then they were gone! Just around the corner of the pond, Shasta was eating a snack on the boat ramp. We sat there for a while contemplating the previous event and marveling at our luck! It was all the moose encounter we could ever hope for and all of us were there to see it. We didn't have to feel bad at all that one of our group had missed out. Most of the time, I had felt like an adjunct to the Fabulous 5, but it was clear now that it was all one trail family now and would remain so till Katahdin. It's been an incredible journey ever since Amicalola Falls. This is just the icing on the cake. Earlier in the day, we had seen Katahdin from Pemadumcook Lake, We had swam in Nanmakanta lake and dried out on sand beach, and then after our Great Moose Episode, we set up camp at our last remote campsite to have one more dinner in the Wilderness. It's all gonna be over soon now. Mouse lit a fire and we all talked late into the night.
Date: 2006-09-06
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm up early as usual, but I waited for the group. It seemed like ages before they were finally finished brushing their hair and packing up. I'm anxious to go. I know Bisbee, my dog, is waiting for me at Abol bridge and I can't wait. It's going to be a nice day. I got photos of everyone's unique way of crossing the ford out of camp this morning with "Rubber Chicken" squawking to each one's safe arrival on the other side. It had rained last night making the trail very slippery. We ate blueberries and sat on a ridge with a view of Katahdin. Took photos at Rainbow Mt. Sign, but didn't climb it. Baro and Jangles got stung by hornets again. At the last shelter, I wrote a "Sleep well, Jeremiah" and bolted for the road. I wasn't waiting around anymore. I had places to go and a doggie to see. And then, just in the wink of an eye, I was out of the wilderness. I stood on Abol Bridge and gazed at the amazing view of what lie ahead. Mt. Katahdin in all her glory! It was beautiful! I took photos and was wondering where my doggie might be. I had kind of expected to see him as soon as I emerged from the woods, but as I reached the campground, I could see him. He was pulling on his leash. Strangling himself. I threw down my poles and he mauled me. His leash tangling in and around my legs in his excitement. He was licking my face and biting my ears. He kept putting his paws up on me. I had no idea, well, yes I did, I knew he would be happy to see me. He and I had been best buds for 600 miles of trail last year and he would forever be MY DOG! (Sorry Lexi) You should come visit him more! Shorty was in tears too! He had driven all the way from Phoenix in record time and he had trail magic set up at the picnic table and had everyone sign a journal for me. I saw where Tex and signed it. He and I left Springer Mountain together on April 11th. Way back in another time! Yet it seemed like just yesterday. Mouse's parents were set up in space #23 so we camped next door and all hung out together eating hot dogs and chilli and made some'mores. My dog slept on top of my legs.
Date: 2006-09-07
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: The Birches, Baxter, ME
Miles today: 9.9

It's another beautiful day. I'm beggin, pleading, please let it be like this tomorrow too! I went into Millinocket and washed my clothes at the laundromat. Ate breakfast, bought a few groceries and stopped at the hardware store. At White House Landing, Mouse and I were looking through the summit photos and noticed something. All the 2003 photos of the sign had bright white letters proclaiming KATAHDIN, NORTHERN TERMINUS OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL. But the 2004 photos were not quite as bright and the 2005 photos, you could hardly read the sign. So, I bought a small can of white paint and a brush to carry up the mountain. Back at Abol bridge, The tribe had just hiked out and the Jersey boys, Cash and Lifesaver were hanging out near the store. We gave them some donuts and I hiked out to catch the tribe. I had hoped to meet my Uncle Chuck, Lost Yankee, at the Birches and hike the last 5.2 miles with him to the summit. He was going to bring my buckskin pants, jacket and hat! But, his car had broke down in New York and it didn't sound good. I was pretty bummed. I had got the idea way back in the first part of the hike and had imagined my tribute to Lewis and Clark wearing the clothing in their honor for the bicentennial of their return to St. Louis on September 23, 2006. I was ahead of schedule, and it seems I won't be able to do it anyways. So, I hike out, met Pop-tart on the trail and saw a red headed woodpecker. I ate my oatmeal whoopie pie on the ledges of a waterfall and at last caught up to the tribe swimming in a lake. Donkey (Love) and Hot Springs has joined them. Checked in at the ranger station. I'm the 215 th thru-hiker this year. I shared a shelter with Snuffy and Mike and Zan are tent camping. The tribe had taken over the other shelter when Mouse's parents arrived with dinner for all. There's a man here working for ATC asking about revisions to the guidebook and Strider is here to climb the mountain on his anniversary hike of '01. Awesome spaghetti feed and campfire. Last night bK, before Katahdin.
Date: 2006-09-09
To: The first day after Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Where do I go now? My wingfoot is out of pages. I want to resupply, but I don't know for how many days. I'm lost. I'm not a thru-hiker anymore. I've lost my identity! Not really, but there surely is a sense of misplacement. So, I ate donuts, hung around the remaining ex thru hikers as they packed for their taxi rides home. I met Ole Man and Navigator. Ole Man, who I knew only as Paul when he first gave me a shuttle to Amicalola Falls way back in April! How fitting that he was wearing a shirt with a white blaze on it back then. My first white blaze. And to be here at the finish. And once again, I was looking for fuel! So, I played on the internet. Went to Rite Aid and made photos. Tried to take a nap. I'm still at the Econo Lodge. The lightning took out the internet so we went looking for moose. I went back out to Abol Bridge with donuts hoping to see some thru hiker friends and I was so surprised! I had no idea who was behind me and WOW, I found Low Gear at the campground store, he told me to come down to the secret shelter! Guess who was there! Yes, Wood Chicken, Cabin Man, Sticks, and Mountain Goat. Just met him! I had completely lost track of all these guys and they were right behind me all the time! I was so excited to see everyone. It's the worst part about the trail. You can't keep hiking with all your friends, they get ahead or behind. I was always wanting to hang back and wait or hurry up and catch up with someone. Yet, at the same time, I just wanted to hike my own hike. Get up and go when I wanted. Stop and eat blueberries, take photos, just whatever whenever. Stop when it rains and a shelter comes along (Or better yet, a sweet hostel!) So, there I was in my cotton sweatshirt, jeans, and brand spanking new shoes missing these smelly tattered friends and freezing by the way! We just kept hugging and telling stories till way after dark! Strider (I think) made hamburgers for all! You guys rock! I wish for you the best Class I day on the 11th. Wishing I was going to be there. Maybe I will. I might just go climb that rock again just for the hell of it!
Date: 2006-09-10
To: The second day after Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Life is now referenced in bK and aK. Before Katahdin and after Katahdin. It's a wonderful feeling to wake up in the morning and it no longer matters if it's raining outside! I went back to Abol Bridge with my uncle Chuck on a moose hunt. We didn't see any moose, but we found another thru-hiker "Crake". I know I must be feeling on top of the world right now, because he said "Meeting you on Abol bridge, you looked absolutely radiant...!" Uncle Chuck, Shasta and I went back to the Birches and hung out one last time with my friends. There were at least 8 thru-hikers going to brave the 28 degree night before an early summit attempt in the morning. Kenny and Julia, Spitball, Low Gear, Crake, Johnny Appleseed, Sticks, Wild Bill, and Mountain Goat. There were some anniversary hikers as well. I got the group together for a photo and was going to add M&M, shasta and I to the group, when M&M turtled while backing up to take a photo himself. It was hillarious. But that was it for the photo shoot! We headed to the camp for hotdogs, corn on the cob, and potatoes roasted over the fire. With whoopie pies and fresh fruit, I think they'll be sufficiently stocked up for a fine summit in the morning. It was pretty entertaining watching Wild Bill rescue the potatoes from Kenny's roaring Fire!
Date: 2006-09-12
To: The Maine Coast
Miles today: 0.0

So, I finally had to leave the nest. It was hard. I know there are some great people close behind me that I didn't get to say goodbye to. Isn't my grammer great after five months on the trail? Oh, and you should see my driving! Or maybe be glad you're not on the road in Maine! Anyways, I went to see Acadia National Park yesterday and my knees were very stiff. Probably from the mountain, but just in case, I had a blood test done today to make sure I didn't have lyme disease. I think maybe, I'm just sore and tired because I have been all along, but now I can acknowedge it and my body seems to know that. So, here I am in Camden at the public library. I couldn't resist, it was right on the way. Going to go check out the sailboats in the marina. Maybe I can trade my hiking poles in on a tiller.
Date: 2006-09-16
To: Home Sweet Home
Miles today: 0.0

I rolled into the driveway at 7:30 this morning to find a crazy stack of mail. I may never get to the bottom of it. My cruise luggage is just as I sent it home. Leaves everywhere. Grass knee high. But boy is it good to be home! I don't know really where to start, (Wingfoot didn't have a page for this!) But, I'll figure it out I'm sure. I had a whirlwind tour of the Maine coastline, stopped in Massachussetts to see the Mayflower II and Pilgrim rock. The Hoxie House was very interesting! Got to see Barber's Pond in Rhode Island and my anscestor's tombstones. I said goodbye to "The Lost Yankee" and then drove down I-81 and I-40. Anyways, I'm home!
Date: 2006-09-19
To: AT 2006 Highlights
Miles today: 0.0

Completing a journey of this magnitude is an incredible experience! I hardly know where to start to try and sum up the highlights in half a page on the 2000 miler application. I'm going to just rattle off a few things as best I can:Making it to Neels Gap in time for the pizza run!Getting a Banana Cream Pie Blizzard in Hiawassee after Roni saved me from the boars!Hanging in the hammock at NOC!Eating lunch on Max Patch!Burner and I make the newspaper in Damascus, VA! The water fights during the hiker's parade at Trail Days!Carrying lumber for the new Mountaineer Falls Shelter!Building new trail with Pixie!Painting my own white blaze!Close encounters with Bears near Elkwallow Wayside!Close encounters with a beautiful bull moose at Crescent Pond with the Fab 5!Close encounters with multiple rattlesnakes! But especially the one just out of Pearisburg with Spitball, Johnny K, and Chuck Norris!Learning French on a rainy afternoon at Cherry Gap Shelter!Awe inspiring views from McAfee Knob and so many other veiwpoints!Celebrating "Virginia Day" with 3 meals at Skyland Lodge and still hiking 16 miles that day!Riding in the back of a chip truck with Kenny, Julia, Compass Rose, Dirt Diva, FDR, and Johnny Appleseed!Seeing Mulligan again the evening after he passed out at lunch!All the fabulous trail magic! And the reunions they usually invoked!Cousin Ron and Uncle John's visit at Harper's Ferry!Playing life size chess at the hostel in Pine Grove State Park!Going to Gettysburg with The Lost Yankee!Hanging out at the Doyle watching the flood waters rise!Following the journal entries and finding "Rabbit Rabbit" on July 1st!Finally getting to eat at Galehead hut after freezing on the porch with Trail Grazer, North wind, Bonefish, and Lemon-Lime!Climbing through Mahoosuc Notch on a beautiful day with Sandman, Irish, Lifesaver, Cash, and Lunch Box!Dressing up in a purple wig and shower clothes at "The Cabin"My suprise birthday party at "The Cabin in Maine" from Honey & Bear, Truck and Overload, Rambunny & Aqua, Irish, Sandman, Just Tom, and Photo Op! (Who may have given it away?)The birthday cake decorated with HAPPY BIRTHDAY spelled out with jellybeans!Talking with Tim Harrison as we filled the hummingbird feeders!Crossing the Kennebec!Canoeing at night at White House Landing with Mouse, Shasta, Jangles and H-Bomb!Spaghetti dinner at the Birches with Mouse's parents!Baro, Mouse and Shasta carrying my clothing to the summit for me!I could go on forever! It seems, But I will stop for today. My eyes aren't used to all this glare!
Date: 2006-09-23
To: Tribute to Lewis and Clark
Miles today: 0.0

200 years ago today, Lewis and Clark returned to St. Louis after their incredible journey! They were my inspiration this summer as I slogged through the heat and mosquitos and swamped trails. I can't imagine how miserable they must have been without deet and new-fangled nylon clothing and all the wonderful hostels and ice-cream stands. But, I do have an idea what it must have felt like to have reached their long sought for goal! When they could first see what they thought was the Pacific Ocean! "Ocean in veiw, O' the joy!". I thought the same when I could see Mt. Katahdin! My hats off to them!
Date: 2006-10-10
To: Journal Complete!
Miles today: 0.0

It has been 6 months to the day when I set foot on the trail at Amicalola Falls! I have been home for almost a month now and have finally managed to go back and fill in all the missing days in the journal from my paper journals. It's been like therapy reliving the trail and trying to put it all down on paper, sorting photos, and sending out emails. I knew I would lose weight, I was counting on it. But, the trail has changed me in other ways too. I hope I made some life long friends. I've met people who have inspired me. I've met the most generous of trail angels, and I hope I become a better person because of it myself. No, I don't know what I'm going to do with the rest of my life nor do I have any grand plan, but I do know I'm not going back to my old life. I'm going to stay in shape. I'm going to eat right. I'm going to be back on the trail. Maybe the PCT in 2008 or 2009. Maybe the AT again, I don't know, but I'll be back. I loved it. I absolutely loved the endorphins, the physical challenges, the daily interactions with other hikers. It's so addictive. I hope you got a thing or two from my journal. It's very personal and I wrote it for me, but hey, if you got any suggestions, email me. I'd like it to be accurate, I don't want to offend anyone and I certainly hope you all know I love you and miss you! As always,
Date: 2006-12-16
To: On the Road Again!
Miles today: 0.0

Yeah, I went back to work! Finally. Just too many things in life require money! Anyways, I'm having fun. I went back to work for Swift. I just returned today to Phoenix after a 16 day run. The best part, though, I got to see some trail friends. I managed to sheng hai Baro from Jasper, Alabama and followed him to Burmingham to have lunch with Mouse and his friend Dave. Baro is still carrying his pack around in the trunk of his car!!! Mouse, too, is still having withdrawals. It's a hard life to walk away from. Get it? Ha Ha, I'm funny! That's what happens when you've been couped up in the cab of a truck for too long I guess. But it is kinda fun. I love it when I pull up to the drive in window of McDonald's. Not to buy lunch, just to turn around, when I get lost. No, I don't get lost, just a might bit confused from time to time. I don't know what I was thinking. I go hiking despite an afinity for getting lost, then I choose a career that is not exactly made for the directionally challenged! Anyways, It's a lot like living on the trail. You know, sleeping in a sleeping bag, Showering in a different shower every day, or other day! Trying to find internet, groceries, stamps, and what not. It's almost harder in a big truck than it was on foot! The creative Wal-mart Parking Mazes make it interesting at times. So anyways, that's the latest. You can actually track me if you're that bored at http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?call=kd7ftu-9 So, look out for a swift truck coming soon to your state. If I have your number, expect a call, we'll have lunch on me! If I don't get lost, of course. Oh, and Burner, you have to keep track of your phone. Those La-Z Boys will be running up your minutes.
Date: 2006-01-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi and welcome to all who visit this site.   It looks like I am going to get to fulfill a dream and an answer to prayer by having an opportunity to hike the A.T. . I have been on the Appalachian Trail in the Smoky Mountains, Springer Mountain and at Neel¢s Gap. Just enough to give me the fever, White Blaze Fever, Bill Schuette (Mountain Slayer) would call it. Between reading his book not once, but twice and hiking since 1989, mostly in the Smokies, I got the fever and there is only one cure I know of!!! That is to give it a try and set out to hike the 2,174.9 miles with God¢s help I am planning to start the hike March 25th.
Date: 2006-01-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hey friends, The biggest challenge so far has been finding Barbers to cover my business while I am hiking. Praise the Lord! , I have most of it covered as of this week I have most days covered except every other Saturday. If I don¢t get that one day covered I can live with that. I am thankful for the experienced barbers I have to cover for me. They are truly an answer to a year of praying, Thank You Lord!! I am excited about celebrating my 58th birthday and my 40th year in the barber business while I am on the trail. I will miss a couple of my grandchildren¢s birthdays , but I am sure they will forgive me.        Bye for now, Steve ¢Jericho¢ (Trail name)
Date: 2006-01-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hey readers and friends,I want to give you a little background info on my Trail Name.We have a puppet ministry at our church and I have a puppet named, Jericho. He is a old goat with a sense of humor and has a gift of really messing up peoples names. One of the Hebrew meanings of the name Jericho found in Strong's concordance is "Fragrant", which is very appropriate for and an old Goat named Jericho and for a smelly Old Thru-Hiker!!!!YBIC, Steve,
Date: 2006-01-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It seems there is something to do every day in preparing for the hike. My wife and I made reservations at Amicalola Falls Lodge for Friday March 24th. The Friday is good timing for us. We were at Amicalola Falls State Park last summer an did a couple days of tent camping and hiking and while there we caught a great Seafood Buffet at the Lodge on Friday night.       Still picking up some new gear. Got a new camera yesterday, a Nikon Coolpix 5600, it is about half the size of my current digital camera. My wife, Sharon, is picking up some of the small things I need. I couldn't do this hike without her support.      Went out to put in 8 miles this afternoon with about 35lbs in my packand it felt pretty good. I hope to double those miles over the next 8 weeks.         Jericho
Date: 2006-01-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Friends,I got some Appalachian Trail posters the other day. It looks more like a map than a poster. It measures 48 inches x 9 12 inches and covers a good portion of a mirror in my barber shop. When I look at the map and the distance it covers over 14 states it looks very intimidating. I much rather think about the hike taking it a day and a week at a time or even a section at a time. The simple truth is no matter how you divide it up, it is still 2,174.9 miles. Help me Lord! I am thankful I can lean on His Word!!! And ¢I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me¢!!! Philippians 4:13Jericho
Date: 2006-01-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Friends,        The days and weeks are counting down. We are real busy and I am sure you are busy also. I put in about 20 miles over the weekend with 35lbs in my pack. The weight felt pretty good and the weather was great for Ohio this time of year. I got permission to walk 3 floors and stairs at our Middle school when the weather got bad this winter. So far to date, I have not had to walk inside all winter. I have put in a lot of hours on my Elliptical Trainer , which is not boring because I can read and spend time in prayer while working out.        I am trying to figure out the miles per day and mail drops for supplies and when I think I got it figured out, I am sure it will change. I am sure the hike will be a continuation of that, meaning adapt and change as necessary. Help me Jesus!!        We are expecting a new grandson at any time. Looking forward to that, but also knowing I will miss all my grandchildren and family while hiking.         I got a call from Allen Wagoner yesterday, he is one of the barbers that is going to cover my business while I am gone. He said he got a notice to serve jury duty during the month of April. You prayer warriors out there please pray God will work this situation out so I can have my business covered while I am gone. WE praise the Lord in advance on working this situation out!!!!!        Thanks, I got to run or(hike) or something??.                 Jericho