morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-07-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

July 14It has been a full and restful and wonderful week spent here in North Conway, NH with Tammy. We have had some needed time with each other and also seen some unforgettable and beautiful sights. Today we will be traveling back to Caratunk, Maine where I left off the AT and stay one night at the Sterling Inn. Then tomorrow morning, probably in the rain, I will resume my hike and Tammy will drive back to Portland, Maine from where she will fly back home.  I will have 2 days of hiking to get to Monson, ME and I will stay in a hostel there to get supplies for the section of the trail called The Hundred Mile Wilderness. It is right at 100 miles of woods with very limited access and no places to get off for resupply. So you have to carry food and fuel enough to get you through it. There are signs that will warn you to carry 10 days of food. I have made plans for a 6 day trek through it. I have no idea if there will be a Verizon signal in there but hopefully I will be able to keep in touch. After the 100 mile wilderness I will be almost to Baxter State Park where Mount Katahdin is. Climbing Katahdin is the epic climax of the journey for those hikers who started their journey in Georgia. For me it will be the epic halfway point! Once that is done I will start the complicated travel to get back down to Harpers Ferry and the southward bound walk back to my home state. So, don't give up on me. Please continue to follow along with me and I will try not to bore you. Let's go for a walk!!Foghat
Date: 2017-07-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 34.4

July 15Today is my Dad's birthday!! Happy Birthday, Dad! 14.7 miles today and 1023.3 total. I am at the Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to. Today was not an easy day at all. It was very hard to say goodbye to Tammy. We have had such a wonderful week together in New Hampshire. I had a total of 9 days off the trail and eating great meals 3 times per day. We walked some but nothing like what I was doing on the trail. So, that added together made me somewhat less than motivated today. Still I got in some good miles over a pretty easy trail. It was tedious in places with slippery rocks and roots. It rained today too. But. I am back in the saddle and I expect my mood to improve. The day after tomorrow I will be in Monson to get ready for the hundred mile wilderness and soon after that preparing for Katahdin. I'll get excited soon. July 16I am at the Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to and did 13 miles today and have 1036.3 total.  I am getting my legs back in shape and felt better on today's hike than I did yesterday. But after fording a couple of streams and the frequent mud bogs my feet are complaining with some raw areas. I now have them bandaged up and hopefully ready for tomorrow. Much of today's hike was next to a beautiful and wild river. Occasionally it ran next to large rocky bluffs over the river. I also climbed to the summit of Moxie Bald Mountain this morning. I met a few trail maintainers hard at work and thanked them for their hard work and service. Tammy made it back to Atlanta last evening and stayed at our niece's house and got to visit with her sister, Sharon and husband Adam. She will go back home today. Tomorrow I head into Monson. July 17I am in Monson, ME at Shaw's after 6.1 miles today and 1042.4 total. I feel good mostly and I will have to deal with my feet. But I am in a good place for a resupply and a good night's rest before getting into the wilderness tomorrow. I have visited with the AT center in town and know mostly how to deal with Baxter State Park and Katahdin in a week or so. So, things are looking good. Still haven't made concrete plans for travel to Harpers Ferry but much of that will depend on when I actually get to complete Katahdin. Signal is difficult up here so I do not know if I will be able to post or not after tomorrow. I will try though. I definitely want to share pictures of Katahdin as I approach it and also with me on it! Foghat
Date: 2017-07-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 43.1
Weather: light rain

July 22I am at Rainbow Stream Lean-to. Mileage today was 18.2 and total is 1130.4. I finally found enough of a signal to call Tammy and post to my journal. I was at the summit of Nesuntabunt Mt. which also gave me a closer view of Katahdin than a couple of days ago. Cool. Should be an even closer view tomorrow. I met a group of young men, scouts, who are out hiking trying to do 200 miles in 22 days. They were very nice and respectful of all other hikers especially older ones like me. I appreciated that. I also met Graybeard who is 82 years old and trying to get the record for oldest thru-hiker. Impressive man!! Poncho and Iggy are here tonight too. But their schedule will take them elsewhere tomorrow.The shelter has a gorgeous stream right in front of it. I washed my feet and legs and shirt. Tomorrow I will cut my miles to 11.5 and stay at the last shelter in the 100 mile wilderness before going into Baxter State Park for my date with Katahdin. Hoping to climb on the 25th! July 23I am at the Hurd Brook Lean-to. I stuck to my plan and only did 11.5 miles today and 1141.9 total. I arrived here by 12:45. I got my tent set up, bed ready, clothes changed, water collected, and then relaxed under a tree to ready some of my Harry Potter on my Kindle. The walk today was not difficult but very rooty. There was one place where I had a fantastic view of Katahdin. I also saw a loon on a lake and he was very aggressively splashing his feet and wings probably to try to warn me off a nesting place. I am planning to get an early start tomorrow and go the 3 miles to get to Baxter State Park and eat breakfast at the restaurant and get some food to eat while climbing the next day. Then it will be 10 miles to get to The Birches which is the lean-to and camping area where only thru hikers can stay before their next day's climb. Excited!!July 24The Birches Lean-to inside Baxter State Park after 13.4 miles today and 1155.3 total. I am right beside Katahdin!! I stopped at the store right after crossing Abol Bridge which crosses the Penobscot River and had a continental breakfast with Poncho and Iggy. They have changed their plans to summit tomorrow with me because of rain predictions for the 27th when they originally planned to. Their son in North Carolina canceled his flight and will be driving here with a friend hopefully getting here by 7 in the morning to hike up the mountain also. I have not found Baxter State Park to be a very informative or customer friendly place so far. But Katahdin is here and that is why I am here. Tomorrow is the day!!!Foghat
Date: 2017-07-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

July 25The trail to the summit of Katahdin was 5.2 miles making my final mileage in the northern section 1160.5. Of course I had to walk back down (and that is more difficult than going up) but that doesn't count toward the final mileage. The weather was beautiful. The trail was tough but one I have been prepared for by prior states and mountains. It was an emotional moment at the peak with the sign. I ate a snack up there and the headed back down. It was another emotional moment when I finally had signal enough to send a text to my family that I had been successful. And then again when I had to say goodbye to Poncho and Iggy. July 26Appalachian Trail Lodge in Millinocket. I treated myself to steak and Maine lobster last night. It was great! I am all cleaned up and washing clothes. The loaners I am wearing look silly on me. I have been making plans and reservations for travel back to Harpers Ferry. Shuttle to Medway, bus to Bangor, bus to Boston, hotel in Boston, Amtrak to Washington, Amtrak to HF, motel in HF. I will be using Saturday to getting my gear ready and resupplied. Then I plan to start south on Sunday the 29th. Foghat
Date: 2017-07-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

July 29Econo Lodge in Harpers Ferry. Well, I am well rested and fed. The trip down here by shuttle, bus, and train really went well. And though long, it was pretty comfortable and on schedule. The manager of the Econo Lodge took it upon himself to call me while was on the train between Washington and HF and offered to pick me up at the station. Which I really appreciated as it was raining. Today I went to Walmart for a food resupply and then to a an outdoor outfitter for a couple of things. A high school class mate who lives here in the area offered to pick me up and take me to dinner. I asked her if we could go to a place that serves southern fried chicken and sweet tea. While on the train I went over most of the next 300 miles or so of the trail in Virginia. It looks interesting and, to be truthful, easier than what I have been used to. We will see!July 30I am tenting at a campsite next to a spring at the beginning of what is known as The Roller Coaster. It was 16.6 miles today. The next 13 - 14 miles go up and down much like the teeth of a saw blade. Not huge elevation changes but just repetitive. I got started today after the free breakfast at the motel. The trail was relatively flat most of the time but also very rocky. These are the rocks that are ankle biters. Sharp and hurt the feet to walk on. Like what I started with in Maryland. The weather was beautiful today with clear blue skies and highs in the low 80's. I really enjoyed eating with Mary Jackson and Brady last evening. We tried to catch each other up on the last 40 years and had some good southern cooking at Cracker Barrel. She was to leave today I think for a trip to Tanzania. Remarkable!! I remembered today being back in the south during summer will need to be more careful to look for snakes of the poisonous variety! Foghat
Date: 2017-08-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 32.2
Weather: overcast clouds

July 31I am at the Rod Hollow Shelter tenting tonight since the shelter is occupied by three folks who know each other and they are spread out. I went 13.8 miles today and completed The Roller Coaster. 11 climbs and 12 descents! The climbs were not outrageous but still, that is a lot of elevation changes for one day. The trail was rocky. It was also hot today. There was a good stream at about 8 or 9 miles to refill a water bottle and also to soak my shirt and hat in the cool water. I saw one long black snake. He is a good guy!! I passed several north bound folks. Only one seemed unhappy. It was a good day!August 1I am at the Jim & Molly Denton Shelter after 18.4 miles. This really a nice shelter! It has a front porch, a wooden couch, benches, covered picnic table for fixing and eating food and a solar shower which I took advantage of. Long miles today but I could not have asked for a better trail to do them on. It was mostly flat and very easy walking except for the last 3 miles. I saw 3 deer early in the day. One stayed long enough for a photo. If you look at the AT on a map, you can of course see that it goes north and south. But it also goes very significantly east and west. So when you are in the New England states your sunrise is much earlier than in the south. The sky starts to lighten up there around 4 AM. Now that I am in the south again it is still dark at 5! I have to adjust my starting times. Also it seems weird that the rising sun is now over my left shoulder instead of ahead and to the right. It has caused me to pause and think about whether or not I am going the right direction. Adjusting. Foghat
Date: 2017-08-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

August 2I walked 5.6 miles to a highway and hitched a ride to the Quality Inn in Front Royal, VA. I have been able to eat a couple of good meals, get a new SD card for my camera, go to the post office to mail some cool weather stuff home, buy groceries, do laundry and make a few phone calls. Productive day. People are asking about my feet. They are good! My issues were mostly due to the constant wetness and rugged terrain in Maine and all that has healed. Occasionally I still have some arthritis pains in the bones but not much. Tomorrow I will enter the Shenandoah National Park. All the north bound hikers I have talked to loved it. Beautiful and not too strenuous. The trail crosses the Skyline Drive several times allowing for opportunities to buy meals and practicing the art of Yogi-ing. Where you sit near a family on a picnic and look hungry so they feed you. Hmmmm. We'll see! August 3I am at the Gravel Springs Hut tonight after 13.4 miles. Kind of a short hike but interesting. I am reminded of that song from long ago, "I don't like spiders and snakes, and that ain't what it takes to love me!" Well, I personally don't have anything against spiders and snakes but if you get on a trail early and no one is hiking ahead of you, you are going to run into lots of spider and caterpillar web. Nice face plant sometimes. I picture myself as looking something like the Mummy with all the silk wrapped across me. I entered into the Shenandoah National Park and there was a self serve kiosk in the woods where I had to fill out a form to serve as my back country permit. The trail is great and the woods are beautiful. I came across a timber rattlesnake crawling across the trail about 20 feet ahead of me. I got close enough for a picture or two but he wouldn't smile and also never rattled at me. I also saw two wild turkeys. The feathered kind. Then after noon it started raining followed by a very intense thunderstorm that included sleet and hail. The lightning was followed immediately by head-splitting thunder with no delay. It was right on top of me. I was thankful I was between two peaks and not at a high point. Still, I got thoroughly saturated but made it to the shelter a little quicker than I had planned. I have hung my clothes to dry. I am sharing the shelter tonight with two boys who just graduated from high school, and a group of 5 women who hike together once or twice a year. Then to top it off a bear wondered into camp briefly and stood still long enough for a picture. Foghat
Date: 2017-08-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 31.9
Weather: overcast clouds

August 4I am at Byrd's Nest #3 tenting tonight after 17.5 miles. I don't know why it is called that but I did pass a sign that said Byrd's Nest #4 earlier. All the clothes I was wearing yesterday during the storm was soaked. I hung them to dry inside the shelter but still I had to put on cold and wet socks and shoes. And you know what is worse than that? Cold and wet underwear! I stopped at Elkwallow wayside store and restaurant about 10 o'clock and had a breakfast sandwich and cinnamon roll and Mt. Dew. It sure was good!! I had to climb some mountains today, Hogback, Pass, and Mary's Rock. I saw two more bears today too. A Momma and cub. The cub climbed a tree and Momma ran. Neither were still long enough for a picture. The water for this shelter is .4 miles away and way the heck down hill. I hate that!!August 5I am at a very full Big Meadows campground and did 14.4 miles today. It was an exciting day! I saw some deer. I saw a bear. Both allowed pictures!! I stopped at Skyland Resort and had their breakfast buffet!! It was so good!A cold front has been blowing through and the weather has been cold and windy. So hiking is good! Big Meadows was completely full. This is a big place and it is full. I went to the registration place and was referred to the campground hosts who allow hikers to set up on their site. They said yes!! I did laundry, took a shower, and went to the Lodge for a meal!! Life is good!! Tammy is trying to keep me from getting too exposed to the wildlife. I promise!! It just happens!! Need to do long day tomorrow. Foghat
Date: 2017-08-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 55.2
Weather: light rain

August 6I am at the Hightop Hut after 20.8 miles. I was on the trail by 6 this morning and it was barely light enough to see. The trail was mostly nice, smooth and flat which made the miles slip by. I saw another bear this morning and asked his permission for a picture. By implied consent he agreed. He posed well! That brings my bear count up to 5 so far. I also saw several deer. No snakes today. I also saw a small place where they are trying to reintroduce the American Chestnut tree. Supposedly with a genetic resistance to the blight that wiped them out long ago. That would be cool!!Expecting rain to start tonight and continue through tomorrow. August 7I am at Loft Mountain Campground after 15.3 miles. It has been raining since 5 AM. I wearing rain gear but still wind up soaked from either rain or sweat. It has also been very foggy, misty, and just in general a frustrating day. But as Tammy just pointed out there have been so many more positive days than bad!! Must stay focused on the good!! I have seen several deer today but so far no bears. I got to the campground and did my best to set up my tent keeping the inside dry. Changed into some dry clothes and then made the trek to the camp store where I can dry my hiking clothes and sit on a bench with a beer and somehow not look like a bum. Tomorrow will be another long day at about 20 miles. But then the next day I will be going into a Hostel in Waynesboro for a bed and meals. I am thinking about taking a slackpack one of the days I am there. You know, God takes care of us! While sitting here feeling frustrated a man came up and we started talking. He expressed so much support of what I was doing and wanted to follow my journal. He is a former NY city undercover cop! God bless him!! He helped me more than he knows! August 8 At the Calf Mountain Shelter after 19.1 miles. The weather was great today. It rained most of the night though so most of my stuff is damp and the tent was soaked. It started out foggy and misty but soon the sun came out and the temperature stayed in the 70's. I have my tent hanging on a line to dry now. The trail had some low volume ups and downs but was very cooperative with my desired mileage. I am still feeling good from meeting the NY cop! My smile has been on all day! Tomorrow I have a short hike and will exit Shenandoah National Park. It has been nice. Today I saw no bears but did see some deer and a small non poisonous snake. I will be staying in Waynesboro tomorrow for some rest, cleanup and food. Foghat
Date: 2017-08-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 26.8
Weather: overcast clouds

August 9I am in Waynesboro, VA at the Stanimal's 328 Hostel after a 7.7 mile morning. Today's hike was not difficult but a little more challenging terrain than in days past. I saw a deer and fawn early on. I also saw a yellow jacket nest before they had a chance to try a sting me, and two humans working on the trail. I have gone to the deli for a burger and to the grocery store for food. I also have washed me and my laundry. Just in case you didn't know what "slackpacking" was, that is where you hike but without all of the usual weight. You just take a little water, food, and some emergency stuff. Leaving behind the tent, bedding, stove, and other stuff you usually have with you. Makes for a nice day. May do that for 19 or so miles tomorrow. August 10It will be another night at the Stanimal Hostel tonight after a 19.1 mile slackpack that although late in getting started turned out to be a very interesting day. "Interesting" is of course up for interpretation. I didn't get started till 10 AM because our host had a prior delivery to do before getting us to the trail. The other two with me were headed on south while I needed to head north back to where I left off yesterday. The trail was outstanding! Beautiful woods and although rocky in places mostly an easy going trek. I saw a deer, a bear, and a naked man! The deer ran away quickly. The bear posed and dug. The man talked and posed too! He said he was a Naturist and that he hiked naked all the time. He didn't mind his picture being taken either! At the end of the hike I came to the place where I was to meet my host to pick me up when I was greeted by three people who wanted to treat me to a "banquet". They were just doing a random act of kindness! They say me down and had a guy dressed formally serve me fruit, water, and twinkies! Is that a good day or what?!Foghat
Date: 2017-08-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 32.3
Weather: broken clouds

August 11I am at The Priest Shelter after 15.5 miles today. Today's hike was tough! The trail was rougher, steeper, and I had my full pack to carry over significant mountains. Three Ridges Mt. and The Priest which is the first mountain I have had over 4000 ft. since I climbed Katahdin. I did visit Maupin Field Shelter too. Some of you are familiar with what happened to my son. But many are not so let me tell you. Jackson (aka Southpaw Sparrow) started his thru hike in early June right after he graduated from GA Tech. He started up in Maine as a south bound hiker. By Labor Day weekend he had made his way to this area of Virginia. It was a holiday weekend so other people were on the trail and in the shelter called Maupin Field. He had finished his meal and set up his bed. It was dusk and pretty dark by that time. He took his water bottle to the little stream behind the shelter and on the way back he was bitten on his right ankle by a copperhead snake. He never saw it till after the bite. The folks in the shelter with him packed up his stuff and went far enough to get a signal to call 911. It took some doing but eventually a gator was used to get him to an ambulance and then over to Charlottesville where he was treated with antivenom. His right leg from the knee down was black and blue and very swollen. Tammy and I got up there and brought him home. He could not walk on the leg for a week or so but gradually healed back to normal. But that ended his hike that year. We got him back to that same spot the next year and he finished the trail. I am proud of his handling of what had to be a scary time for him. And I know he was so disappointed to have his hike interrupted. So, anyway, now you know why I had to visit that shelter and take a few photos. I would like to try to see if the shelter register is still available from back then to see what other people's comments were about it. August 12I am at Cow Camp Shelter after 16.8 miles. It was a smiling kinda day! The predicted rain didn't. Still, it was warm and humid and sweat was flowing freely. The trail kind of maintained most of the altitude that I had gained yesterday while climbing The Priest. Sort of like walking along a ridge but not open. And then I was amongst several old apple trees and also blackberry bushes! Oh, my goodness! It was an all you could eat fruit fest! The apples were not at their peak ripeness but still sweet, crisp, and juicy. I ate several and also a few handfuls of the berries. I have clothes hung out to dry and have collected my water. Now for some coos coos, and salmon! Foghat