morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-09-15
From: Carl A. Newhall Lean To

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean To
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: moderate rain

Red Wing:   The storm that was scheduled to come at midnight last night made its appearance at 5:30 this morning, just in time for us to eat and hike out in the rain. Luckily, it never rained too hard or for too long. Also, the temps were comfortable enough, so we never felt too cold.    We had four summits in our first seven miles. The last one was Whitecap Mountain. Whitecap was our last 3,000 footer before Katahdin (still over 60 miles away), and on a clearer day Katahdin is easily visible from the summit. Today was far too cloudy. What we thought would be a tough long day was actually made much easier by the fact that the next 10 miles only had one short climb.    We rolled into the shelter and found Buttah, Paul, Many Names and Forever North already here. The shelter might have the best location of any I've seen. There is the constant rumble of a large waterfall approximately 100 feet away. The river runs in front of the shelter. If we could just get rid of the foot/sock/mildewy shirt odor, this place would be amazing. Forever North loves his fires, and despite the rain he got a good one going for all of us to enjoy. He cooked some fish he caught earlier and Buttah read us a short story from the collection that he's carrying. We're hopeful that Woody, Forever North's dog, might ward off some mice tonight. The scene at the shelter is the way today was supposed to end.
Date: 2005-09-16
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean To

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 13.8

Red Wing:   Maine continues to astound us. Today, we hiked almost 14 miles with nearly no hills. Much of the way, we followed a river, which sounded as amazing as it looked. Along the last stretch, we came to a sand beach (there are many of these as we pass ponds in the wilderness) on a small cove of a much larger lake. Looking north over the lake was Mt. Katahdin. In an area with only a few small hills, this massive mountain looked surreal. It's hard to believe that it's so close. The end is literally insight and appears much closer than the 45 trail miles suggest. Just a few minutes later, we took a blue blaze trail for about a mile and came to a different arm of the lake where we blew an air horn and a motorboat came across the lake to pick us up.   White House landing is the northernmost hostel on the Trail. Bill and Linda have an amazing and remote property, surrounded by timber company lands, making them one of the only developments on this huge lake. They have a lodge and several buildings including the bunkhouse and private rooms. In the winter they serve snowmobilers, in the summer it is mostly fisherman and hikers. We showered, did laundry with lakewater in an old fashioned tub, ate the 1 lb. burger and pizza, canoed around the cove, and hung out with Paul, Many Names, One Way and Shutter Bug. After getting in around 1 PM, and the sun coming out for the afternoon, today has been a vacation like experience. This hundred mile wilderness has been a time of easier hiking in a more scenic area, making us all more reflective. I've loved the moments of shared wisdom between hikers as we debrief at the end of these past few days.    The wilderness has served the role of a cheering crowd at the end of a marathon It is the pat on the back as we're coming toward the finish line. The reward of the past 2,000 miles will not be people's praise for what we've accomplished, it is the experience of this week, and the memories of this journey. What an amazing way to wrap things up.   On a less fun note, we heard the forecast for the next week. Every day is supposed to be rain. Tomorrow, in fact, has a 100% chance of rain. That is the first time I've heard a prediction be 100%. Anyway, it looks like we're going to end things with a bang!
Date: 2005-09-17
From: White House Landing

To: Rainbow Stream Lean To
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

Red Wing:   It's only 8:02 PM and it feels really late. That has been an interesting part of the trip. Starting in march, the days were short, they got to be long, and here we are again now (almost six months later), limited by light. Today we hiked mostly by ourselves, only One Way is here at the shelter with us tonight since the others guys pulled ahead to meet a summit deadline of September 18th. It was a fairly gray, damp day.   I just read the shelter register cover to cover. For many northbounders, this the last shelter they will stay in. For southbounders, it's th end of the their 2nd or 3rd day. Both groups are an interesting blend of eagerness, nostalgia, reflectiveness and optimism. The register demonstrates the contrast of hikers after 2 days on the trail and after six months. It was well worth an hour of my life to read it. Many hikers are asking, "What next?", while others are dreading the transition back to the real world. I find myself struggling with both. The lessons that stand out from this journey are love, generosity, simplicity, the "art of conversation", creativity and ingenuity, how to be a better husband, community, flexibility, listening, valuing others, being less judgemental, etc. Oddly, none of these things have anything to do with carrying a backpack. However, they have everything to do with who I am and my journey with God. And somehow I believe I'll be able to know "what's next" and how to handle the "real world" a lot better, from learning these lessons. While I don't want to see this chapter of life come to an end, I know that it has refreshed me and that it's time to go back home and apply what the Trail has taught me.      "It were as well to be educated in the shadow of a mountain as in a more classic shade. Some will remember, no doubt, not only that they went to college, but that they went to the mountain." --Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2005-09-22
To: Home Again
Miles today: 0.0

Hopeful:   We got back to Michigan last night. It's a LONG ride from northern Maine through Quebec, Ontario, and then crossing the boder at Sarnia/Port Huron. Our parents are angels for driving two days there and back, just to support us.   Red Wing looks like a different person. This morning he let mehelp his shave his gotee and mustache and then he visited Roger, his barber, for a haircut.    When Dad Wheaton dropped us off at our house last night, we were greeted by a yard sign saying "Welcome Home Red Wing and Hopeful, AT 2005". Our neighbor, friend and mentor, Mike Pippin, had arranged for that. We were also greeted by Jean, a friend who has rented and cared for the house while we were away, and it smelled and looked even cleaner than we had left it. Instead of an empty refridgerator and cupboards, we were greeted by a stock of foods, provided by several friends from our church. What a relief not to have to rush to the grocery store! The voices of friends and family greeted us on the answering machine, vying to be the first to welcome us home.   Trail Magic followed us home. That was the thought filling both of our minds before we even talked about it. We would continue to be a part of a loving community. It IS possible in the "real world".    As we re-enter this world, our thoughts often wander to Maine, where many friends are still walking, even as I write. We have a lot of respect and love for the community of hikers that gives & perseveres & thinks & reads & discusses & loves & seeks. We have a sense that the trail community will continue to be a part of our lives in the future and plan to stay connected in letters, calls, visits and prayers. We're moving slowly back into the world of long To-Do lists and running from here to there. We're intentionally moving slowly so that we won't forget that it doesn't always have to be quite so crazy, and that significance in relationships, with Jesus and with others, is what matters most.   We'll continue to share our thoughts in this journal off and on, now that we're home. The hiking segment has ended, but the journey is not over!
Date: 2005-10-07
To:  Some Real World Advice
Miles today: 0.0

Guest Writers: Jim & Juleen Whall (Juleen is Hopeful's friend and co-worker who has been an awesome encouragement all along the way!)TOP TEN PIECES OF ADVICE FOR THE TEACHER RETURNING FROM HIKING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL1) One shower a week is NOT sufficient2) If holding class outdoors, you must come in should it start to rain or snow.3) Circling the commons at lunchtime and asking students, "Are you going to eat that?" is NOT all right.4) It is not okay to wear the same outfit three days in a row.5) There will be new food in the cafeteria tomorrow; you do not need to "eat up" and pack a bag to go.6) It is not necessary to hang you lunch box 15 ft above ground.7) You should not walk to school in March.8) Walking poles not neeed for traversing the parking lot.9) You do not need to ask every few days; you are still in Michigan.10) Food found on the floor of the hall is not, repeat NOT, "Trail Magic".Hopeful:   Yes, I'm a teacher again! And yes, there is a bit of culture shock I suppose, but overall the first week has been amazingly smooth. I started on Monday, October 3rd back in my Spanish classroom at West Senior High. Thanks to Carol who took my place while I was gone last spring and this fall! I'm also very thankful for the welcome I've felt from staff and students here. It helps with the adjustment from trail to home, but I still can't help feeling "trail sick". I'm aching to be in touch with friends we grew close to along the way, but we still don't have a computer up and running. We'd love to attend the ALDHA Gathering and spend time with other hikers in Hanover, NH this weekend, but our schedules make it difficult to accommodate the two day drive. I'd love to go for a long walk in the woods on these beautiful fall days, but most of the daylight hours have been spent at work, on errands, phone calls or housekeeping. I had forgotton how many more chores a house requires compared to a campsite. While on the trail, I imagined that I missed having a full kitchen, but I'm afraid that now, I'm missing the 10 minute one pot meals, until I remember how they actually tasted. The "real world" definately demands more maintenance, even when we try to keep things simple. As more and more days pass since climbing up Mt. Katahdin, the reality of the fact that the hike is over begins to sink in.    Yet, I'm not complaining. I know that the world I'm missing doesn't even exist right now. All the hikers we knew have finished, and they are also someplace other than the trail, experiencing similar adjustments. I can be mopey and nostalgic, or excited about what's next, and the way that the trail experience helps me to see people and life in a slightly different light. Every time we have a good talk with family or friends we seem to process a little further some of the things we've learned. One thing I'm realizing is that many of the lessons aren't necessarily trail dependent, the trail was simply the time and place that God used to teach us those things. It might have something to do with the uninterrupted time that we had out there to think and discuss and reflect.
Date: 2006-02-28
To: Traverse City, MI.
Miles today: 0.0

It has been quite an ¢off season¢ for us¢¦ and quite a long time since we¢ve written. I think our last entry was on the car ride home from Katahdin. It seems like that was so long ago. It¢s easy for the Trail to seem like another world. Once we step back into real life and old routines, the AT experience becomes one of snapshot memories and less of remembering all the details along the way. At first, most stories we shared ended with the words, ¢You had to be there.¢ Somehow, I feel like 2006 hikers will be stepping off the Trail saying, ¢You had to be there¢ and I¢ll be left only grinning, agreeing that I don¢t quite get what they mean. That has been the worst of it, though. In large part, the Trail continues to effect us through who we¢ve become and how we go about daily life. There is a confidence that one gains from achieving such an accomplishment that pours into every area of life. There is a new interest in people and appreciation for who they are as individuals that I attribute to the AT experience. Time and conversation with others seems to be more important. Time spent with family and friends has seemed even more meaningful.        We were only home a few weeks when we received an email from Red Blaze stating that he was hitch-hiking from Vermont to Colorado. While our home town of Traverse City (in northern Michigan) is not at all on the way, we invited him to our home. That evening Red Blaze called us and he was only a few hours away. The next 3 days turned out to be a great time of debriefing our Trail experiences with one another and getting to know each other even more so than on the Trail. In January, we drove out to Virginia and were able to see Free Rad, Pappa Razzi, Stats, Mud Pumpkin, Hazy Sonic, and Fire Fly all in a 3 day span. In February, Thunder flew into northern Michigan and he along with Hopeful, Gypsy LuLu, and I went up to meet Circuit Rider and Sherlock at Circuit Rider¢s cabin on Boise Blanc Island in the straights of Mackinac, near the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Again, it was an awesome time to catch up on each others lives and to be with like minded people who have also been changed in similar ways along the AT. I guess, ¢You had to be there.¢         The balance between living as the AT has taught us and living in the real world where having to live responsibly is a reality, has been a challenge. As we look ahead, we are thrilled with the way we see this balance coming taking shape. Just as we can look back and see God throughout our past and present experiences, we have hope that He has a plan in our future plans as well.
Date: 2006-03-20
To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

As mentioned earlier, we¢ve had quite an ¢off season¢ getting re-acquainted with life in the real world, catching up with loved ones, moving back into our house which seemed quite luxurious, despite its relative simplicity. The big news now is that the ¢off season¢ will not extend through the summer. In early January, Hopeful and I applied for the Caretaker position at Blackburn Trail Center in northern Virginia. For those who are unaware of Blackburn Center, it is a cabin on the AT, along a ridge within sight of DC. As part of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, it is a hub for trail maintenance, a perfect facility for groups looking for a retreat center (it sleeps up to 40), and our favorite feature is that it is a popular stop for hikers passing through. We got the job and as of mid-January all our thoughts have been revolving around plans for the coming years we¢ll be spending here. We offer a free bunk for hikers as well as a free dinner. Any of you who know or understand our heart to be part of the trail community and to support others as they chase their dreams understand our enthusiasm.Even before we hiked last summer, Hopeful and I have been praying about the possibility of living along the Trail and providing hospitality for hikers. After our hike, this remained a significant goal in our life together, but we feared that it would take 10 years of savings for a down payment and a 30 year mortgage to be able to pull it all together. True to God¢s way of being God, He pulled the right strings for us. Never did we imagine that we would be right back on the trail, doing exactly what we dream of, without ever missing a hiking season. A verse I memorized recently is from John 15, ¢If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.¢ Praise God!!!
Date: 2006-03-26
To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

On March 26th we moved into Blackburn and Hopeful and I were able to spend a full week arranging our stuff, meeting hikers, grocery shopping, day hiking, and learning our way around. As with any time we¢re forced to learn new things, we were even more thankful to have one another to share the week with. Unfortunately though, Hopeful had to return to Michigan on Sunday. She was here for the duration of her spring break and had to head home to fulfill her commitment to finish teaching the school year. We know that the next 2 months will be challenging, but worthwhile. Once she has completed her teaching commitment, we intend to be here full-time until the Lord leads us elsewhere.
Date: 2006-03-28
To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Already we¢ve had great experiences with hikers and nature lovers while here at Blackburn. Our first night in we had a main named ¢Chief¢ stop in for the night. We were thankful for the opportunity to have a hiker right away and enjoyed dinner and conversation with him. We saw him off in the morning with some coffee and excited for all the interesting people this position will bring through our doors.Two days later, I heard a pair of shoes treading across the porch outside the cabin. I poked my head out the door and introduced myself to the lady who was checking the place out. After an awkward moment of mutual confusion, we realized that we had met before. It was Amoeba who we met at The Cabin in Maine on the day she completed her entire hike of the AT. What an incredible blessing to see a familiar face! Later that afternoon three fun guys from Illinois stopped in for the night as well. It was our first night with a full table and it felt good to be able to host such a group. I get the feeling that over and over again in this journal I may write, ¢We enjoyed dinner and had a great conversation throughout the evening.¢ If this is true, it will for sure always sell the moment short yet it will be quite accurate. It¢s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes a moment great, needless to say, I would have been happy to sit there and talk all night, it just felt right. This is what Hopeful and I want to continue to do and hope will become a staple here at Blackburn. As many great meals have been shared at these tables, we hope to continue in that tradition.
Date: 2006-04-06
To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Since last updating it has been a little chilly and still not yet prime hiking season. There have been countless day hikers, 3 section hikers, a Boy Scout troop of approx. 15, a college group of 23 that rented the cabin, a rental group of 28 high schoolers, and me. Routine is beginning to set in here which helps me gain a more control over my time. I continue to look forward to seeing the hiking community pick up a little. Thanks to all of you at home who have been praying for Hopeful and I while she¢s still back in Michigan.
Date: 2006-04-11
To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It¢s been a beautiful couple days here this week. I have enjoyed the being able to take short day-hikes and be reminded of the ridge we¢ll be living on. To our north is Buzzard Rocks, the David Lesser Shelter, Keys Gap, and in 12 miles, Harpers Ferry, WV. To our south is Devils Racecourse, Snickers Gap, Bears Den Hostel, and the Roller Coaster. All of the shelters in this section are amazing. Trail crews have obviously had fun designing them and have done a great job building them.Last weekend was a lot of fun. The PATC Cabin Overseers were here. This is a group that maintains and cares for the cabins that PATC rents out. The group was here Friday night. I really enjoyed meeting more people from the trail club and getting to know more about the trail in this area. It seems that I am continually learning new ways that the PATC provides for the needs of the rest of us who use the AT.        Saturday night we had three hikers spend the night here, plus Trailboss who spent the night and provided food for all of us. Third Degree is a hiker from Connecticut who is flip-flopping (starting in the middle, hiking south, then returning to the middle, and hiking north to finish). He said he met a thru-hiker in Maine when he was 10 years old and he knew then that he wanted to thru-hike. Now a teacher in his 40¢s, he¢s pursuing that life dream. He has a quiet demeanor about him that invites conversation. I appreciated his openness and sincerety. Care Bear and Sugar Bear are a couple from nearby Purcelleville who are planning to thru-hike in the years to come. They were fun to have at the table, as they were full of questions for the rest of us, regarding what to expect when long distance hiking. Third Degree got his name from the in depth questions he had for last years thru-hikers as he would meet them on the trail. Saturday night was his opportunity to be on the receiving end of that conversation. I was thankful to see them again the next day and be able to provide help for Care Bear who was suffering from a sore back. I hope they found useful information in all the hiking advice that was thrown their way. Sometimes as hikers, we have a way of sharing too much and taking the mystery out of the journey that lies ahead.
Date: 2006-04-12
To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Another one of those small world, small trail moments came yesterday afternoon. As I was heading out for a quick hike up the trail, I went to the lookout above Blackburn. As I got close to the rocks, I saw that someone was laying down in their sleeping bag. Right away I recognized Heather a girl who Hopeful and I met last year (in a snow storm) at Georgia¢s Low Gap Shelter. It really was a neat experience to catch one another up on the last year of our lives. She is now living in Harpers Ferry and is probably someone we will run into again, along this trail. Just coming from the cabin, I had a pouch full of apples and more water than I would need. She was thankful for a snack, I was thankful for a familiar face.Last night I was fortunate to spend time with a friend named Paul from Houston. Paul has been hiking different sections of the trail for several years now and may have been as thankful to see me as I was to see him. He had been hiking some really long days leading up to his time here and I feel may have been a little worn out. Again, I felt really thankful to be here. That is one of the great things about Blackburn, it often places us in the right place at the right time, allowing us to help others as we were helped while we were hiking. Paul was fun to hang out with and he encouraged me throughout the evening. Hopeful is certainly the better cook (those who know us well, are probably laughing at the understatement I just made) and I would feel far more comfortable with her here at meal time. However, Paul was so thankful for our meal that I really do feel more encouraged about the larger groups that will be arriving here soon.
Date: 2006-04-15
To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This section of trail has a lot of rattle snakes near it. While there aren¢t many along the trail itself, there are several snake dens among the surrounding rock formations. Marty, a local man, is a snake guru and was up here on Saturday, showing a group rattlers on the other side of the ridge. I went up with him for a short time and enjoyed the bits and pieces a learned along the way. While the group stayed out for hours, I came back for a late lunch. The said they saw several large snakes. In my short time with them, this small rattler was all I saw. Enough to again remind me to keep my eyes open while hiking.