morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-07-29
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to

To: ME15 - Shaw's Hostel - Monson 
Miles today: 9.0

2017 Miles = 374.5Total AT Miles Completed = 2075.3Percentage of AT Completed = 94.8%Another perfect weather day.  Only nine miles into Monson so I get started at 5:30 am and arrive by 10:30 at the highway.  The staff at Shaw's Hostel are glad to pick me up at the highway.  Shaw's is a big old house with large rooms. The upstairs has two full baths and four bedrooms.  My room has space enough for seven beds, and is where I bunk. There are two other buildings as well.  In all Shaw's can host up to forty people.  To my surprise, Moving Target, Trail Snail, Medicine Man, Soul Flower, and Firesocks are here.  I thought they would be ahead of me, but decided to zero here.  Tomorrow I start the hundred mile wilderness, and four of us have arranged for Shaw's to deliver the last four day's of food to us at mile 2133, Jo-Mary Road. The charge to deliver is $80, but the four of us will split the cost.  Medicine Man and I go to the Lakeshore House for lunch and we order fish dinners. Then we go next door to Petes Place for blueberry pie and ice cream.  Later at 5:00, five of us go to the Bar-B-Q place and I eat a full rack of baby back ribs.  That's it for this evening
Date: 2017-07-30
From: ME15 - Shaw's Hostel - Monson 

To: Woods Road at 2088.7
Miles today: 13.4

2017 Miles = 384.9Total AT Miles Completed = 2085.7Percentage of AT Completed = 95.3%Hundred Mile Wilderness-Day1The staff at Shaw's put on a fantastic breakfast.  Eggs to order, scrambled or over easy, bacon,  fried potatoes, and pancakes.  There are about twenty for breakfast.  Poet, the owner, takes Medicine Man and I to the trail head at 8:15, a rather late start for us, but we didn't want to miss breakfast.  The weather is perfect, sunny but cool. Our goal is to hike 15 miles, as this first day is not too difficult.  The trail is very root filled and some rocks, but dry.  It rolls up and down and gives us a good workout.  Our goal, Lone Pond Lean-to, has few tent sites and no water. We decided to camp on a woods road 1.7 miles short of the lean-to.
Date: 2017-07-31
From: Woods Road at 2088.7

To: West Branch Pleasant River - Mile 2105.6
Miles today: 16.9

2017 Miles = 393.6Total AT Miles Completed = 2094.4Percentage of AT Completed = 95.7%Hundred Mile Wilderness - Day 2Medicine Man and I agreed to be ready about 6:15 this morning, but we both were ready at 5:45.  In order to meet our food delivery on day 5 at Jo-Mary Road, we need to make some miles today.  After we got started we caught up with Soul Flower about 10:00.  She wants to hike the same 17 miles we're planning today, but she tends to hike slower.  I hope she can make it.  This was a tough day, hiking over six mountains.  There was Barren Mt., Fourth Mt., Three and a Half Mt., Third Mt., Columbus Mt., and Chairback Mt. The tops of all the mountains are covered with wild blueberries.  They are small but loaded with flavor.  On our way down to the Pleasant River, a thunderstorm popped and got things a little wet, just enough to make everything damp.  We changed to our crocs, forded the river, and tented near the river for the night.
Date: 2017-08-01
From: West Branch Pleasant River - Mile 2105.6

To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 12.8

2017 Miles = 417.6Total AT Miles Completed = 2118.4Percentage of AT Completed = 96.8%Hundred Mile Wilderness- Day 3After last evenings rain we woke to sunny skies, but had to pack up a lot of damp equipment. Medicine Man and I got started early again at 6:15. Always great to get an early start.  This should be the last tough day on the trail.  Today we climbed four mountains, the last being White Cap. We rounded the bend at the top and there it is!  Katahdin.  It looks so close, yet it's still 72 miles away.  It is a massive presence that's beautiful and frightening.  We hiked down to Logan Brook Lean-to, only to find the place taken over by a group of young people.  We collected our water for the evening and continued down the trail about 200 yards and found some tent sites just off the trail.  I have good cell reception here so I can update my journal.
Date: 2017-08-02
From: Logan Brook Lean-to

To: Cooper Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: broken clouds

2017 Miles = 429.3Total AT Miles Completed = 2130.1Percentage of AT Completed = 97.3%Hundred Mile Wilderness- Day 4I'm feeling tired and worn, by all the steep climbs of the last two days.  Thankfully the big climbs are over (not counting Katahdin). The trail today was kinder and gentler, although Little Boardman Mountain presented a challenging little climb. It was all downhill though to Cooper Brook Lean-to.  We happened upon a fellow standing on the side of the trail with a large pack on the ground.  He was waiting for his son to arrive southbound, to give him a food resupply.  As we proceeded on northbound, we didn't see anyone looking for a resupply.  That gentleman is going to have a long wait.  Cooper Brook has a fascinating cascade in front that runs down to a quiet pool that's great for swimming.  I couldn't resist, it was so enjoyable. We only walked 11.7 miles today and arrived at noon, but we can't go any farther since our food delivery is just 3.5 miles north on Jo-Mary Road.  So we spend the afternoon relaxing.
Date: 2017-08-03
From: Cooper Brook Lean-to

To: Whitehouse Landing - Mile 2144.1
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

2017 Miles = 443.7Total AT Miles Completed = 2144.1Percentage of AT Completed = 97.8%Hundred Mile Wilderness - Day 5The day started off a beautiful morning.  Four of us are planning to pickup our 9:00 am food delivery from Shaw's Hostel, at Jo-Mary Road. The trail is so easy to walk on we arrive at 7:40.  Shaw's arrive at 8:30, a half hour ahead of time.  We arrive at Antlier¢s Campsite for a noon break, and It is no doubt the most beautiful campsite on the trail, situated next to a lake. Our goal today is to stay at Whitehouse Landing. The MATC doesn't allow businesses to post signs on the trail, but is marked by another name, the Mahar trail.  Medicine Man and I walked past the sign and went 1.7 miles out of our way before we realized our mistake. That was also the moment it started raining heavily with rice sized hail.   We turned around and walked back the 1.7 miles through ankle deep water.  Whitehouse Landing is situated on the opposite shore of a beautiful lake.  The owner has a two way radio at the dock. A call on the radio prompts the owner, with his 16¢ Boston Whaler and outboard motor to come pick us up.  In the driving rain I call for a pickup.  He says he'll come when the storm passes.  So Medicine Man and myself stand shivering under some pines trying to stay out of the hail waiting for the rain to stop.  After a half hour, we hear a small boat headed our way. Carl picks us up and ferrys us to the camp.  Everything is soaked.  We take hot showers and hang wet clothes.  At 5:00 on, there dining room opens.  I order a half pound cheeseburger and agree to split a 14¢ cheese pizza with another hiker.  Sleep will come easy tonight.
Date: 2017-08-04
From: Whitehouse Landing - Mile 2144.1

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: few clouds

2017 Miles = 458.9Total AT Miles Completed = 2159.7Percentage of AT Completed = 98.4%Hundred Mile Wilderness- Day 6It is so comfortable in the bunkhouse this morning, and my wet clothes from yesterday's hail storm are hanging above the wood stove. The owner wouldn't give us permission to light the stove to dry our clotheshe heat would drive everyone out.   It is misty and foggy outside, so we go ahead and change into our wet hiking clothes.  Breakfast is serve promptly at 7:30 at the Whitehouse Landing. Seven of us are gathered at the table, and owner Willard Ware is the cook.  He serves orange juice, coffee, scrambled eggs, bacon, a muffin, and all-you-can-eat pancakes. After breakfast Willard takes us, three at a time, by boat back across the lake where we continue hiking.  Except for Mount Nesuntabunt, there are no great elevation changes all the way to Rainbow Stream Lean-to. We are getting so close; only 15 more miles tomorrow and we'll be at Abol Bridge on the edge of Baxter State Park.  I can't believe the end is so near.  I don't know how many times I thought to myself, ¢I¢m not sure I can handle this. That's too steep. I'm too old for this.  I just can't handle this¢.  I recall standing at the Pinkham Notch Visitors Center looking at the Wildcats Range across the road. I mentioned to one Hiker I'd been with some time, and he said, ¢Come on, let's do it together¢.  That turned out to be a good day.  One elderly Hiker down in Georgia told me three years ago, ¢Just go slow and steady, and steady is fast¢.  Over the thousands is miles, I've found that to be true.  Medicine Man and I just agreed to get a 5:30 am start tomorrow so we can arrive at Abol Bridge early.
Date: 2017-08-05
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge Campground 
Miles today: 15.0

2017 Miles = 473.9Total AT Miles Completed = 2174.7Percentage of AT Completed = 99.3%Hundred Mile Wilderness- Day 7Medicine Man and I actually get started walking at 5:30. It is our last day in the 100 mile wilderness and we are excited to be done with it. The constant roots, rocks, and mud are taking its toll on my legs.  Mid morning, we come upon a young fellow standing in the trail. He is wearing waders and us holding a fly fishing rod and a canoe paddle.  He asked us if we know where Donut Pond is.  We told him we saw the sign a half mile back, which said the Pond was 1.4 miles.  We thought it humorous to find someone dressed like that on the trail.  Apparently there are fishing camps located nearby.  We exited the Hundred Mile Wilderness onto Golden Road about 12:30. Our first concern was ice cream. When we get to the Abol Bridge store, I order a Maine Black Bear, which is vanilla ice cream with black raspberry swirls and chocolate bits. I go inside and inquire about a camp site. We get the last one remaining. The lady behind the counter tries to take my information but I am focused on my ice cream. She smiles and says, ¢here, I'll write and you just tell me¢.Medicine Man and I have questions about the entrance process to Baxter Park. The signup board opens at 6:00 am, and only the first 12 hikers are allowed in for the day.  We are worried that if we stay for the free breakfast at 7:30, we may not make the 12 that day.  We are sitting in the Abol Restaurant when a park ranger comes in and talks with a group of hikers, clarifying the process. He leaves but later comes back in the restaurant, comes over to Medicine Man and me and offers a lean-to at the Katahdin Stream Campground.  Usually booked up for months in advance, someone just canceled, and he offered it to us.  We were flabbergasted. This is truly Trail magic at its finest.  Now we can stay at Abol for breakfast and leave at our leisure.
Date: 2017-08-06
From: Abol Bridge Campground 

To: Katahdin Stream Campground 
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

2017 Miles = 483.8Total AT Miles Completed = 2184.6Percentage of AT Completed = 99.8%After a great all-you-can-eat breakfast, Medicine Man and I enter Baxter State Park with excitement and anticipation of summiting Big K. We hike the nine miles taking our time, and arrive at Katahdin Stream Campground at 1:30.  We stop at the ranger¢s station, write down our names on the registration list, but there is no one there. After setting up our tents, we go back to the ranger¢s cabin; still no one. We try one last time at 5:30 pm, still no ranger. We believe we've done all we can do.  We still need to pay for our site and our climbing permits, which we have yet to attain.  I haven't had contact with Yvonne for two days now.  There's been no cell service. Tomorrow I will summit Katahdin, which I've anticipated for four years.
Date: 2017-08-07
From: Katahdin Stream Campground 

To: Katahdin Summit 
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: moderate rain

2017 Miles = 489.0Total AT Miles Completed = 2189.8Percentage of AT Completed = 100%It's done. It's over. Accomplished. Medicine Man and I emptied our packs and put all our belongings in our pack liners, and took them to the ranger¢s station for safe keeping.  We carried only our snacks water, and rain wear.  We started up the Hunt trail at 6:00 am. The sky looks clear and sunny, but extremely windy. When we get to tree line, the wind became ferocious and cold.  I put on my gloves, rain pants and jacket for warmth. The climb is the most difficult we've experienced on the entire trail. We pull ourselves up shear rock face by grabbing rebar set into stone.  We finally reach The Tablelands but still two miles from the summit. The sense of excitement builds as we spot the sign and a few people already around it.  I am overwhelmed as I grab the wood Katahdin sign, and the entirety of the last four years passes through my mind.  There is tremendous ambivalent feelings, even tears to think that it's all over, yet overjoyed that I've stuck with this task that I almost quit many times.  This was the most difficult thing I've done in my entire life.  I shall rejoice in it always.
Date: 2017-02-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

There are some stark realities to consider when planning a thru hike. First, the official length of the AT this year is 2189.8 miles from Springer Mountain in north Georgia to Mount Katahdin in northern Maine. If you average hiking 15 miles per day it will take about 146 hiking days ¢ roughly 21 weeks. If you take one day off per week to rest and resupply you are at about 168 days. Give or take a few days for whatever comes up and you are at 180 days, or six months. Early on I may limit myself to under 10 miles per day, and I hope to hike more than 15 miles per day once I get my ¢trail legs¢. You can analyze this to death, but it¢s easy to see that there are a lot of ¢if¢s¢. Now for some numbers. Depending on whose statistics you use we can expect somewhere between 3000 and 4000 hikers to start from Georgia this year, with the first few brave souls starting in early January and the majority of hikers having started by around mid April. During about mid February to mid April there are crowds of hikers all up and down the southern trail and choking the shelters, campsites and towns along the way. Some of these folks will drop off before they have left the shadow of Springer Mountain. Some will abandon their trip by Neel Gap about 30 miles north of Springer. By the time you get to Damascus, Virginia (a small town just over the Virginia border from Tennessee and about 470 miles from the start), the numbers will have thinned out significantly. Again depending on whose numbers you use, somewhere between about 10% and up to 25% of those who start a northbound (NOBO) thru hike will actually finish at Katahdin. There are about as many reasons to drop out as there are hikers, but these can include disillusionment, loss of will to do it, injury, running out of money or time, sickness, family matters, etc. My plan is to start near the beginning of March and look at the 6 months ending late August. They sort of close the mountain in Maine in October so you are not guaranteed the opportunity to summit Katahdin beyond that point, even if you are a thru hiker coming from Georgia. It may be cold in the south at the start with this early start date, but I want the cushion at the end so if I make it that far I have the time to finish.
Date: 2017-02-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Before I go any farther I want to say a bit about my biggest cheerleader in this adventure, and the love of my life. During my longer section hikes over a decade ago my wife Marlene was so supportive and encouraged me to go out and hike each year. She understands my love of being out there on the trail. Each year she encouraged me to plan the time and go do it. Due to changes in our lives at that time, hiking long trips seemed to take a back seat to the other responsibilities of life. In the time until now I have been on dozens of short hikes in this area. She keeps encouraging me to enjoy it. When talk of retirement became real in December she was the first to encourage me to go for it this year. It will not be easy for her while I am gone. We rarely find the need to be apart for more than a couple of days so we will miss each other very much. Many things could happen in a 6 month period and it would be much easier for her if I were here to handle things. She understands all of this and is willing to let me go. Proverbs 18:22 says ¢He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord¢. This has been true for me. Thank you, Sweetheart. I love you. dp
Date: 2017-02-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

On previous trips I have hiked the trail from Springer Mountain to Daleville, Virginia (near Roanoke) ¢ about 725 miles. Some have asked why I don¢t start there and continue north. Well, I could. However, my ideal hike would be a thru hike defined as starting at Springer Mountain and finishing at Katahdin in one trip in one calendar year. That way I get to hike north with spring, and in the company of this year¢s ¢class¢ of aspiring thru hikers. That¢s a big part of the experience. If I am unable to finish I will not regret this approach. First, I like the part of the trail I have already done and would love to see it again. Second, if I am not able to finish the thru hike this year I can always go from the ending spot north on other trips if I am able. But mostly I think that if I start at Daleville and go north and things go well I will always regret not having done the thru hike the way I prefer. I am pretty organized and tend to do things in a logical manner. Going end to end is what I want to do, and I will live with however that turns out.
Date: 2017-02-10
To: Getting Ready
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It turns out that most of my gear is in good shape and I am able to use it. I replaced a few items and repaired a few and they seem to be functioning fine on the practice hikes I have taken. I put seam sealer on my tent and no leaks in the overnighter in the rain as I listened to the Super Bowl on my short wave radio from my tent in a local state park. I still have several pepsi can stoves that burn alcohol, but also have bought a JetBoil to use at least during the coldest part of the hike. Unsure if I will switch to the alcohol stove later or not, but I like my homemade pepsi can stove so I may use it just for the fun of it. The rest of the gear changes mostly have to do with more cold weather gear and stocking up on shoes and clothes that have some wear or will wear out as I go. The other part of getting ready is getting me ready. I¢m 12 years older and a little out of practice. I was afraid that when I shouldered a trail-weight pack for the first time I¢d feel like that ant with a refrigerator strapped to his back that I saw as a kid watching cartoons. It wasn¢t that bad but I did have a reality check and expect to be very careful at first. I cannot get caught up in making miles and not giving my body a chance to build up to that level of workout. The rest of the effort is centered around getting ready to leave. There are ¢to do¢ lists to take care of. Yard work, paying bills, home maintenance, vehicle maintenance, etc. I think its coming together but for the longest time I added two items to the list for every one I checked off. Wish me luck.
Date: 2017-03-01
To: Leaving For The Trail In the Morning
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tomorrow morning Marlene and I will load up and leave Birmingham for Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia. On Friday morning we will head up forest service road 42 for the trailhead. Not sure how the details will work out and some of it may depend on the weather or the condition of the road, but she may hike to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail on Springer Mountain with me (and back) or just drop me off and head back down to the paved road. It almost seems unreal for this trip to be actually starting. I had a head start in some ways since I had most of the gear and the experience from previous hikes. But there have been dozens of details to work out and you finally have to just load up and go. I am so excited to be out there and see how the trip goes. There are people to meet and the challenge of getting on the trail and getting my body up to speed for that much physical activity. There is a kind of intensity to the experience of being out in the woods and suddenly away from everything familiar. There is also the adjustment to having a nearly 2200 mile hike instead of 200 miles and 2 weeks. So much to get your mind around. With all this activity neither Marlene nor I have a good feel for how we will adjust to this separation. We have been married for over 40 years and have spent at most a few days apart. There does not seem to be a way to know what that will be like. If I am able to hike the whole trail it will take up to 6 months. In todays world we will be able to keep in touch much more than was possible even a few years ago. But there is still just the physical distance to live through. We want to adjust to this temporary time, go on with what we each have to do, and also remain close in our relationship while apart. Please pray that we can do that. The next time I update will probably be from a trail town library. I plan to write a journal daily and update as I can. Marlene will update with a few details from our check ins by phone. We will see how that goes and how much we are able to do. Thanks for your interest in my hike. I am ready to go.