morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-21
From: Mizpah Springs Hut

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: fog

Yes, very low mileage day today. We weren't sure what to expect between each hut so we were cautious in our planning. The weather started out decent but the clouds blew in quickly to obscure the views. We crossed Mt. Pierce and Mt. Franklin today. The hut is at 5,000 feet elevation and Mt. Washington (at 6,288 feet) is only 1.4 miles away. Hopefully we will have a clear day tomorrow. Some people dropped their packs at the hut and walked up this afternoon, but were met with rain showers before returning. We stayed inside playing Trivial Pursuit and trying to keep warm. This is the largest hut in the chain with capacity of 96. We are still a spot short tomorrow but are hopeful about a cancellation.
Date: 2006-07-22
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Madison Spring Hut
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: fog

No cancellations yet but after travelling with the same group we think there may be come by the end of the day. Una Mas was looking forward to pizza at the snack bar on Mt. Washington. The 1.5 miles up wasn't so bad and we had great weather! It was 51 degrees, 10-15 mile per hour wind with 50 mile visibility. The forcast is for rain later but we had a great view from the top. The highest temperature ever recorded is only 72 degrees. The highest wind speed recorded is 241 mph, and the average is around 50 mph. So it was very mild while we were there. There is a cog railroad that transports tourists from the base, spewing ugly black smoke into the air. We arrived before the first train but witnessed several trips during the day. The pizza wasn't ready so early in the morning, even after we filled out postcards for the family to send from the Post Office at the top. We crossed Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Adams today, and did get caught in the cold driving rain. But no thunder nor lightning up on the ridge, since we were above tree line all day. And there was a cancellation, so we both have bunks. But there are going to be a room full of emergency shelter hikers who have been caught unprepared in this weather.
Date: 2006-07-23
From: Madison Spring Hut

To: Joe Dodge Lodge
Miles today: 7.8

Is it considered raining when you are in the rain cloud? That's what it was like most of the day. We had to go up and over Mt. Madison (at 5,300 feet) and down and down and down to eventually 1200 feet. The descent above tree line was very slow and dangerous. Suds had a big fall where she landed on her back (pack) but hit her head on a side rock. She also has a small cut on her wrist. There's no knot on her head but it is very tender. It took us 4 hours to complete the first 3 miles. The terrain levelled our after that but we still had to deal with rocks, roots, and creek crossings. We are at the lodge a the AMC visitor's center, which is run similiarly to the huts with family style dinner. Over the past three days we met two women from Boston up here on vacation. Tonight they took us out for some beer and pizza (yes, we ate again after dinner!), but we didn't stay out too late. We still have to hike in the morning.
Date: 2006-07-24
From: Joe Dodge Lodge

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: fog

Short day again but tough miles. Once again we thought we were further along until a sign proved otherwise. It took us almost 6 hours for those 6 miles. But we had fantastic weather. At lunch we watched Mt. Washington do in and out of the clouds. This hut is different from the others because it is self serve - no food provided but you can use the kitchen facilities. Also the two bunk houses are in separate buildings from the common area, which is full of boy scouts.   We are sharing a room with Summer who will be completing the AT this year after doing sections each summer (thus her trail name). This hut is located near two beautiful ponds, one filled with yellow lilies.
Date: 2006-07-25
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Imp Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: broken clouds

Long uphill to start the day but lots of great views along the ridges. The hardest part was the down hill to the shelter along steep, slippery rock faces. It killed both our knees. Tonight there are two sisters here on their first backpack trip to celebrate a 60th birthday. There are also several southbounders so we've swapped stories and advice about what to expect on the trail and in towns to come.
Date: 2006-07-26
From: Imp Shelter

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: fog

Most of the hiking today was physically easy, but the bugs were absolutely ruthless. They wouldn't stay out of our ears, nose, and eyes! It was enough to drive us batty! About two miles from the road the thunder started followed by heavy rain. We had to stand in the thunderstorm for nearly 30 minutes before a former thru hiker stopped to give us a ride into town.
Date: 2006-07-27
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

Here's the bad news people may have been dreading. Una Mas has decided she does not want to continue on this hike. This has been a very difficult decision to make, especially considering how much time and effort was put into planning this trip, and because of all the support and love we have received from friends and family. However, the best advice we received before leaving was to remember that the adventure was about the journey, not the destination. In this case, the journey became a chore instead of something enjoyable. There are many factors leading to this, each by itself may not seem insurmountable: the many rainy days, the bugs, the knees that scream for hours going downhill, the foot that has been numb for months. Each day became a mission to get to the next shelter or town, with no enjoyment on the hiking we were doing.Suds, althought extremely disappointed, understands Una Mas' position and has agreed to end the hike as well. Her thoughts follow in the next posting.
Date: 2006-07-28
From: Gorham, NH

To: Portland, ME
Miles today: 0.0

This is a difficult entry because my eyes are filled with tears. I am sad for not being able to complete the AT but the decision has been made and we will not have any regrets. I respect Una Mas for giving it another week and for being honest about not wanting to continue. My fall on Mt. Madison scared me enough not to hike alone. Besides I probably couldn't carry all the equipment on my own. I am beginning to realize our attempt was not a failure but an incredible adventure. What an accomplishment to walk 585 miles on the AT. Congratulations and best wishes to the 2006 thru hikers. You truly are a different breed. I will not miss the incessent bugs or the slippery rock faces. Maybe my hand and knee will finally recover. How thrilled I was to climb above tree line, see animals in their natural habitat, as well as hike through six beautiful states. I have also met many freindly and supportive people along the way. I know in my heart if I wanted to complete the entire trail I could.One of the things I was looking forward to was climbing Mt. Katahdin (meaning sacred or greatest mountain). It is located in Maine and is the northern terminal of the AT. We will drive to Baxter State Park within the next couple of days and hike Katahdin. Maybe I will see a moose in the park. Then we will continue to hike and bike through Acadia National Park in Maine without the rigorous schedule.Thank you for following our journey and for all you support and kind words. A special thank you to our parents. If interested, we will post our hike of Katahdin with a few pictures of the summit. Thanks again, Suds
Date: 2006-07-29
From: Portland, ME

To: Katahdin Mountain
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

As we drove into Baxter State Park it was incredible to see Katahdin Mountain from the distance. We had a tough climb to the top because of the rocky trail, but we really enjoyed visiting Baxter Peak at over 5000 feet. It was very windy up there, more so than when we were on Mt. Washington. It took us about nine hours to complete this hike, and this was with day packs on! We had a beautiful weather day for the climb. Hopefully the pictures will be developed in a few days and we can find more Internet access to upload them.
Date: 2005-11-01
To: The Decision
Miles today: 0.0

Remembering the fun of a 1986 family hiking trip in Michigan's Porcupine Mountains, we decided to take a hike in the Smoky Mountains in 2000. The next year we went again, but this time, on an instructional hike with the Tremont Institute in Tennessee. While hiking, we encountered a Thru Hiker struggling up the mountain with a heavy pack. This prompted many questions about the Thru Hiker. Craig's first thought was "you gotta be crazy to walk 2000 miles with that on your back". Additional hiking vacations in PA, MD, VA & W. VA, & hearing more about the AT intriqued Cathy. As a marathoner, she had an idea of the mental & physical challenge-and the thrill of finishing- that a Thru Hike could involve. Craig wasn't quite so excited but was still willing to explore the idea. We began researching the AT as well as reading Trail Journals on this site. With continued prompting from Cathy, as well as hearing other people's experiences, Craig finally became excited about the idea. By 2004 he was convinced that a Thru Hike would be a great transition to retirement. Living aboard a sailboat taught us once that life can be simplified & the material things we think we "need" can be reduced. We expect a Thru Hike of the AT will bring us back to this lesson. To learn more about Craig and Cathy, check the "ABOUT" to the left.
Date: 2005-11-02
To: The Gear
Miles today: 0.0

We've been shopping for gear for the last 18 months. It has involved more research than actual purchases! By the time we were finally buying items, Cathy was carrying a scale in her purse so Craig could check the weight of everything. As a result of ongoing research & as Cathy would say, "Craig's obsessive behavior," we've changed some gear several times. We had already bought the Whisperlite Stove when we were introduced to the Pepsi Can Stove. Having used the Pepsi can stove already on one of our weekend hikes, we were convinced that this lighter & simpler stove, with a higher wind screen, would do the job. However in talking with the guys, at the Go Gear Store, we changed our minds again. In looking at the weight of alcohol fuel, we're now going with the Jet Boil and the 1.9 liter pot. We had also decided on the Big Agnes sleeping pad until Craig decided that he didn't think he'd enjoy blowing up the pad after hiking all day. We tried various pads, lying on them in the stores. Cathy finally decided she had laid on the store floor enough, & we bought the Prolite 3. The sleeping bags, tent & backpacks were even more difficult to choose. Cathy is short & is easily chilled, so getting a lightweight bag that would fit her & keep her warm was difficult. We chose the Western Mountaineering, which could be customized as well for Craig's large chest/shoulders. After comparing tent sq footage (37 sq ft 8.5 sq ft vestibule), weight (4.8 lbs) & design, we decided on the Sierra Designs Hyperlight. Given its unusual layout & Cathy's 5 ft size, we can fit the backpacks inside as well, if needed. Like everyone shopping for a backpack, we tried on several, walking thru the stores with the packs filled with sand bags to equal the weight we'd be carrying. When we narrowed our choice to two, we actually bagged our intended gear with a week's worth of food & tried them out again in the store. =Our choice= the Osprey Aether 75 for Craig & the Osprey Ariel 60 for Cathy. Cathy didn't particularly enjoy this process, but Craig notes that she loves her pack. The hardest choice of all, however, has been the boots. We finally decided on the Asolo 520 GTX, a choice with which we've been very happy. Many reviews suggest the lighter boot, (a lb on your feet equals 5 lbs on your back) but given our age, desire for good foot support, as well as the weather in March, we'll stay with these--at least at the start. Even after so many months of preparation, we recently decided on taking gaiters & sleeping bag liners. We chose the Otto Lightweight Gaiters. We're not sure how much we'll end up using them, but at only 2.5 oz a pair, we're glad to have the choice. We found Silk Mummy Liners in short & long lengths. They're light & hopefully will keep our bags from getting as dirty as we do. We're still working on our Medical Supplies including how much Vitamin I to carry. Hopefully this will be the gear we leave with, but then, as Craig's states, one never knows. (For gear list, click on "GEAR" to the left.
Date: 2005-11-03
To: The Physical Preparation
Miles today: 0.0

We have heard of hikers beginning the AT without preparing themselves physically. But our commitment to reaching Katahdin, while enjoying the experience (with less pain!), prompted us to begin a training program early in 2005. This has included biking to work, weight lifting during lunch hours, & both training for a marathon. We both completed our marathons in Oct, Craig in Chicago & Cathy in Detroit. We've begun our nightly walks again, now that we're not running, and will begin to hit the trails when time permits. There's also a school football field across the street so we may climb the school bleachers up and down once in a while. We're hoping our legs & backs will be strong, and we'll have the aerobic capacity we need for all of the ups and downs of the AT. We'll also continue to read those Trail Journals of people who have completed as well as those who chose to leave the trail this year. We want to know both the physical & mental challenges ahead of us, in hopes that we will also be at the top of Katahdin come September.
Date: 2005-11-04
To: Which Gear vs How Much To Carry
Miles today: 0.0

Trying to decide on which gear to take and how much we'll want to carry has been an ongoing discussion. When listening to & reading the various opinions of people who have completed the trail, we feel like we've been listening to the Republicans & Democrats debate "spending"! Everyone has a different opinion, and after all the talk, we have decided that there is no "right answer". Both groups, the "go lite" vs. "be comfortable" make it to Katahdin. We realize it just has to work for us, but we won't know what really works until we get out there. We've done section hiking, but that's not like walking for 2000 miles. For now, we like a backpack that gives support and puts the weight on our hips not our shoulders. We like a tent with screenig rather than a tarp. We like a full leather boot for support & comfort, and we like a second pair of clothing for when it's been raining all day. We have chosen gear with a desire to be comfortable & yet light. We're sure that every Thru Hiker had the same plan as well when they began their hike. Craig is 6' & weighs 200 lbs while Cathy is 5' & weighs 100 lbs. We plan to carry no more than 1/4 of our weight, including pack, gear & food. Presently Craig's pack weighs 34 lbs & Cathy's is 16 lbs. This includes 4 lbs of water but no food, allowing us to carry up to 6 days of food at 4 lbs a day and still be at our desired weight. In some areas we'll only need 3 days of food, given the closness of stores. We'll look forward to those days for sure!
Date: 2005-12-09
To: Three Months to go!
Miles today: 0.0

Only three months to go until we're on the trail. We think most of our preparation is complete and yet it still feels like we have tons of things to do. We have finally decided on our mail drops and have a general idea as to when we¢ll get to each drop. Craig didn¢t enjoy this part of our planning in that so much is speculation, and he doesn¢t like having to be somewhere at a particular time. Feels almost like work¢¦ We want to remain flexible and open to what the trail brings, but we also need to plan to get the miles in so we finish by the end of September. We¢ve read trail journals of Thru Hikers who did¢t have some type of schedule for the trail and as a result stay in towns, etc too long and then don¢t have enough time to finish the trail. We¢ve heard how those trail towns can suck you in so you never want to leave! We have begun to put together our food boxes to be mailed to each of our ten mail drops. Craig doesn¢t enjoy this activity but he doesn¢t like shopping either. What is a man to do?
Date: 2006-01-09
To: Two Months to Go!
Miles today: 0.0

It's official! We've completed all of the paperwork, and we're actually really going to retire on February 24. It's hard to believe--you think about retirement half of your work life, then "all of a sudden" it's here. Craig says that he's thought about retirement ever since the first day he's worked. We'll have one week between our last day of work and our departure for Springer Mountain. That will be one busy week!
Date: 2006-02-06
To: One Month to Go!
Miles today: 0.0

Thanks to everyone for the notes of encouragement and advice in our Journal. It's great to hear from everyone, and we'll enjoy checking back with you as we head north. We packed everything we need to leave Sringer Mountain for four days and headed to GO GEAR (www.GoGearOutdoors.com) for final adjustments. We had hopes the packs would feel feather-light when they were finished, but Craig still wants a pack mule! GO GEAR staff were great and the adjustments really did make a big difference in how the packs carried. Craig's pack weights 42 lbs. and Cathy's weights 22lbs. with four days supplies (including water). It's surprising how difficult it has become to realize our work life is ending, and we are leaving friendships we have had for many years. We both work with individuals who have been our co-workers for our entire tenure. We're looking forward to new friendships but also re-uniting with our friends here in October! We finalized our travel via Greyhound Bus from Chicago to Gainseville Georgia. Some friends wonder why in the world we would ever want to ride a bus rather than take the Train, Fly or rent a car. The Train takes 2 days and Craig doesn't want to fly due to the possible lose of our backpacks. As for renting a car we'd have to drive for 11 hrs to Atlanta, return the car, get to the Bus Station & then still ride the bus to Gainesville. The bus takes 17 hrs and we can people watch and just relax. If one couldn't handle this bus ride then they likely wouldn't handle Thru Hiking the AT. We have a shuttle arranged with Hiker Hostel to pick us up at the Bus Station and to take us close to the beginning of the trail at Springer Mountain. We decided against hiking the approach trail. Cathy claims it is not a white blaze so she can still be a purist and skip it!
Date: 2006-03-04
To: Two days to the Trail
Miles today: 0.0

We spent today with our children, son Jeremy & wife Stephanie and our grandson Jonathan, and our daughter Jodi and her husband Chad and our grandson Levi. Leaving them will be hardest of all!Tomorrow we'll be leaving by bus from Chicago to Gainesville, Georgia. That should be interesting... We'll let you know later if the bus was a good idea or not.
Date: 2006-03-06
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Shelter
Miles today: 7.6

After surviving the bus ride, we arrived at Springer Mountain at noon. We signed the register and began our hike at 12:15. It was a beautiful, sunny day (60 degrees); nonetheless, we were VERY happy to arrive at Hawk Mountain Shelter at 4:30 pm. We had been up and down mountains with a net elevation gain of 1058 feet. This doesn't include all the times we were walling down which sometimes was harder than going up. By the time we had the tent up and water filtered, the wind was picking up and the temperature was dropping! We ate our pasta lukewarm but we were cozy in our sleeping bags by 7:30 pm.
Date: 2006-03-07
From: Hawk Shelter

To: Gooch Shelter
Miles today: 7.3

Craig didn't have a particularly good night. At 2:30 am he was ready to go home! Between his head cold, sleeping on the ground, and sore hips, Craig said this was not his fantasy. The temperature dropped to 28 and there were strong winds all night, but we stayed warm and slept 12 hours. We left the shelter at 9 and had another sunny up-and-down day, gaining 2220 feet in elevation overall. We arrived at Gooches Gap Shelter at 2:30 and were soon joined by our shelter friends from last night-3 young people--Randy, Dave, & Amanda--& another couple Dan & Nancy. Amand's pack is 15 lbs too heavy and yet she's carrying a 12 oz bottle of Parkay Butter. Craig said her trail name should be Miss Parkay. She thinks she might use it. As it got very cold again in the evening, we built a fire and managed to stay up until 8:00. We're hopping for a better nights sleep.
Date: 2006-03-08
From: Gooch Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Craig had another painful night, and Cathy was pretty uncomfortable too. He said he's surprised that no Journals that he read ever wrote about how hard it is to adjust to being away from the comforts we all take for granted. It feels much different than just hiking for a week or two. Now when you're laying on that hard ground, in that small tent, you think "and I'm going to be like this for 6 months?". He knows he'll adjust, he just hopes it's soon. We were up by 7 and on the trail at 9. The hiking has been sunny, and we enjoy that part of the day most. Today it felt like we were always climbing; we went up 3175 feet (up not including how many feet down) Every time we thought we were nearing the crest, the trail turned and kept going up! No blisters so far and NO BEARS. We arrived at the shelter at 4:30--our longest hike so far. Woods Hole Shelter had a privy and bear hoist cables--flagpoles with cables between with hooks for hanging food and anything with a scent each night. Once again we were in bed by 7.
Date: 2006-03-09
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Walasiyi Hostel
Miles today: 3.7

We had a better night's sleep because we folded our sleeping pads in half, so we had 3" between us and the ground. We finished our breakfast of oatmeal with raisins and hot cocoa and were on the trail by 8:30. Today will be a short day--four miles over Blood Mountain--gaining overall 950 feet. Walasiyi Center was a welcome sight!   Showers, laundry, and an all-you-can-eat buffet--and bunks with 5" mattresses. Craig says it doesn't get much better than this. THANK YOU for the notes, it's always good to hear from you and your words of encouragement--we're still in that homesick, "was this a good idea" stage.
Date: 2006-03-10
From: Walasiyi Hostel

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

The night in the hostel was another new experience. 20 people sleeping together in one room. .. But it was warm and dry. The day was beautiful, highs in the 70s and views were breathtaking. The highlight of the day was our first trail magic...cold cokes, snacks, and toiletries provided by the Appalachian Trail Servants. We arrived at Low Gap Shelter at 4. Our elevation for the day was 2760. Our first ramen noodle dinner hit the spot. We tried to stay up because it was our first warm comfortable evening, but we still went to bed by 8.
Date: 2006-03-11
From: Low Gap

To: Blue Mt Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light rain

We had a good night and spent a leisurely morning talking with David and Amanda, making phone calls, and exchanging e-mail addresses. Even though Craig's barometer said it would be a sunny day, it began to rain just before we got the tent down. The barometer kept showing sunshine, but we seemed to walk in the cloudy mist and rain all day. Initially, the trail was fairly level but it became increasingly mountainous with a daily accumulation in elevation of 1600 feet. Once we arrived at Blue Mountain Shelter in mid-afternoon, the sun came out and we were able to dry out the tent and other damp items. We ended the day with a campfire with our shelter-mates: a composer from Louisville who builds pipe organs, a Latin teacher from New Jersey, a biochemistry student from Georgia Tech, and the chaplain from the homeless shelter in Findlay, Ohio. We've already met such an assortment of people (most younger than our kids!), and we're enjoying the interaction with them.