morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-07-21
From: Townsville

To: Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well the day has come and I'm on my way...I left Townsville this morning and am now at my first of many airports, bus stations, train stations. My trip will take me from Townsville to Brisbane then Sydney, change airlines and fly to SanFrancisco the New Jersey. Then I will find some sort of ground transportation from New Jeresey to Bangor. I think my dad is going to pick me up and bring me to the trail, I'm not sure if I will meet up with him on Wednesday or Thursday and start the trail the following day...he's on holidays and I haven't been able to contact him. Fingers crossed I start my hike on Wednesday. I'm a bit excited, nervous, scared, this has been kind of a spur of the moment thing and I am leaving my life in Australia to go and walk in the woods for about 4 months...nothing to worry about, happens all the time. My next entry should be from the US, unless I'm really bored and the pub is not open in Sydney. My MP3 player stuffed up this morning, still not working, It wont play or turn off. I hope once the battery dies it will reset itself. It's going to be a long day.
Date: 2009-07-21
From: Maine

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I made it to the USA, I'm in San Francisco. Planes delayed so it looks like my hike will start on Thursday. I hope that everything I ordered has made it to Canadaand my dad gets it in time to pick me up...actually I haven'theard from my dad in about a week. I still hope he's planning on meeting me in Maine. I watched Confessions of a shopoholic last nighton the plane, this will lead to a story which will have to come later. The internetis waytoo expensive at airports. I'm feeling a bit excited now but am still a bit nervous.Cheers,JavaPeteaka Peter
Date: 2009-07-22
From: Abol Campsite

To: Bangor
Miles today: 9.0

Well I'm in Bangor, it only took about 52 hours of traveling...Townsville to Brisbane to Sydney by plane then from Sydney to San Francisco to New Jersey by plane the off to NY by train and finally to Bangor Maine by bus. Met up with my dad and Linda for dinner and went shopping for supplies. I filled my pack and think I'm carrying too much, going to cut back on some of the food. Tomorrow I will hike up a side trail (the Abol Trail) to the top of Katahdin then come down the mountain on the AT and hopefully stay at either Katahdin Stream or the Birches Campground. The weather's not looking good for the week, overcast tomorrow anr showers and thunder showers for the rest of the week, looks like a wet start. Hope alls is well all around the world,my immediate future looks a bit overcast.Cheers,Peter
Date: 2009-07-23
From: Bangor

To: Katahdin Stream Campsite
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: overcast clouds

That it folks, I'm off to the trail. It's overcast today so I think it's going to be a cold wet day on top of Katahdin...talk to ya'll again in about 10 days cause after today it's off to the 100mile wilderness.
Date: 2009-07-23
From: Abol Bridge Campsite

To: Katahdin Stream Campsite
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well we all slept in and ended in a bit of a rush / a bit late. We got to Baxter State Park around noon, the cut off time for the trailwas noon. We rushed to Katahdin Stream campsite where I will spend the night, droped off my pack, then flew over to the Abol Trail which I used as an approach trail to the AT. I didn't get to say a proper goodbye to my dad and Linda cause it was 12:45, again your not supposed to start after noon. I had to get going fast before the ranger came by to tell me that I can't start. The Abol trail is about 6km or 3.8 miles to the top. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE DIFFICULTY OF CLIMBING KATAHDIN!!! About 3/4 of the Abol Trail is straight up, climbing up rock after rock, boulder after boulder. When I finally got to the top the clouds rolled in but they did break for a few minutes. I left the top around 4:30, last to leave, and headed down the Hunt Trail officialy now on the Appalachian Trail. The top section was a bit scary, imagine heading down a cliff / rocks about 10ft/3m wide and about 70 or 80 degree pitch, if you fall to the left or right you die...went down that for about a half hour. Do not underestimate Katahdin. Made it down to the campsite around 6:30pm. Slept at the Birches lean to/ shelter / hut (depending on where you are in the US). The down side of the day was getting back to the ranger station and finding out that someone had stolen my credit card and $150 from my wallet.
Date: 2009-07-24
From: Katahdin Stream Campsite

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: moderate rain

Got up around 8:30, tried to catch up with the ranger to talk about my credit card and cash going missing but she was nowhere to be found. I hit the trail around 9:45. My legs are feeling like jello today, riding a bicycle doesn't use the same muscles. It's OK though cause at the end of this I will be a lean, mean, nice, loving machine (not a mean and fighting one), gonna turn my mini keg into a solid 6 pack.Well the trail is nice...nice and muddy, full of rocks and roots. It rained pretty hard all day. The jet lag / time difference has been kicking in, I lose all energy around 2pm. Had to ford/walk through 2 rivers today, fell pretty bad on the second one and banged up my ankle and foot pretty bad. I was tired and it was pouring rain so I decided to cut the day short. I stopped around 4pm, had a nanny nap, woke up around 8pm and had dinner & the last few beers that I carried with me from Katahdin. Went back to bed around 9pm, spent the night alone again in the shelter.
Date: 2009-07-25
From: Abol Bridge

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

I had to put my wet socks and boots back on this morning, still no sun to dry them out. It rained on and off all day, today the trail really was like walking in a swamp.I had my second major fall today and bent my hiking pole a bit and broke my cell phone. I found a wild blueberry patch on the top of one of the mountains so I stopped and took a break to eat. My legs don't really feel like jello anymore, now they just hurt along with my shoulders and back. I'm going to have to eat more to lighten my pack. My feet are starting to feel the effects of being wet for 2 days. 1 blood blister, 1 big blister, lots of scraps and a bruised swollen ankle from my fall in the creek the other day.Feeling a bit lonely, all the other hikers that are headed in my direction are about 4 to 7 days ahead of me. I guess my first 280 miles or so might be a solo hike. When I get my trail legs and lighten my pack I will try to catch up to them.
Date: 2009-07-26
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-To

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: light rain

Not much to say today, It's raining again...depressing. My feet are still wet and I don't know when they will be dry again. Not Good. Having soggy feet has been ripping the skin off or creating blisters on my feet. I got about 6 now that I'm treating.
Date: 2009-07-27
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-To

To: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-To
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

As per usual I spent last night in the shelter alone and woke up to the sound of rain, well that may not be completly true cause I do share the shelters with mice. Jessica Jasper and Rudd Mudd were in my dreams last night (Percy, DB, Bob). I had finally won the retirement fund!The rain finally stoped around 2pm so I made my way to the nearest shelter to see if I could finally dry out my boots and socks. This hike is draining all of the energy that I have, I feel like I'm getting sick...a fever maybe?I ate around 5pm, got in my sleeping bag around 6, major thunder storms started around 7pm. I slept on & off all night until I woke up to a mouse beside me eating my towel.
Date: 2009-07-28
From: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-To

To: Cooper Brook Falls
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: scattered clouds

The sun finally came out when I got up so I decided to spend some time at the beach, 3 hours baking in the sun at a random beach on some random lake on the trail. I set up a clothes line and dried out my boots, went for a swim and tanned. The rest of the day was a pretty easy walk. Got to the shelter around 6, had it all to myself again, it was a beautifull spot right on the river beside a waterfall.
Date: 2009-07-29
From: Cooper Brook Falls

To: Logan Brook 
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained on and off again all day today. I've been meeting more and more North bound hikers (I'm going South...the opposite direction) on the trail but have yet to meet anyone going in my direction. I think that most of the South bound hikers are a week ahead of me, it's getting a bit boring being by myself all of the time. My one source of entertainment was my MP3 player but it died and I lost my charger on my travels from Australia and it died the other day. I was going to count the number of times I fall but have realized it would be way too much to count. Up to now it's been the one major fall crossing a creek where I banged up my ankle and foot real bad. And another good / bad fall down a hill when I slipped on some roots and rocks. This one left me with a few more scares and broke my cell phone and sunglasses.Anyhow today's hike was mostly uphill, starting to get into some big mountains again.
Date: 2009-07-30
From: Logan Brook 

To: Carl A Newhall Lean-To
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

It started pouring rain again last night around 7:30pm, went on all night. A group of kids were camping here for the night, some sort of environmental awareness/education camp for kids. I had the shelter to myself again. The rain kept pouring down till about 11pm, so I packed up and headed out then. I climbed to the top of Whitecap mountain and waited for an hour or so for the clouds to lift so I could get a view of Katahdin, they lifted a bit but not enough. My legs are feeling better & better everyday but I am still dealing with a swollen/bruised/beaten up right foot and a few nagging blisters that wont go away or heal.I spent the night alone again but did have some company for a while, some North bound hikers with their dog set up their hammocks & tent nearby and came to the shelter to cook and hang out for a bit. Yay!
Date: 2009-08-02
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-to

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a long day today but it ended really well...I made it to a hotel/hostel with a pub. I ate 18 Chicken wings, a huge hamburger with fries and salad, had a few beers, took a shower and slept on a real bed. Fun Times.
Date: 2009-08-03
From: Monson, Maine

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I got into town late last night so I decided to take a zero day today. It was lots of fun, I hung out with a few other hikers, we spent the day on some sort of floating trampoline out on a lake behind the hostel enjoying the sunshine and of course a few beers.
Date: 2009-08-06
From: Bald Mtn Brook Lean-to

To: Caratunk, Maine
Miles today: 14.7

We had a long hike today but finally made it to Caratunk. Got to the highway and started hitch-hiking in the wrong direction, a nice man that was driving in the opposite direction, the direction we should have been going, stopped by and gave us a lift to the Northern Outdoors Center. We were pretty lucky cause the place was full of 1st and 2nd year Medical school students, a much better view than stinking dirty hikers. I was extra lucky because there was no room left in the hostel/hotel but they only had camping spots left but I am not carrying a tent. Some north bound hikers let me stay in the extra bed that they had in their room. Oh did I mention that the place had it's own micro-brewery...fun times
Date: 2009-08-07
From: Caratunk, Maine

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: moderate rain

It was raining this morning so we decided to wait it out. I hung out in the hot tub for a good part of the day and had a great time when the med students all hoped in after their rafting trip. We left around 3pm and got a boat ride across the Kennebeck river to continue our hike. The sun came back out and we made it to a pretty sweet lean-to for the night. It was good to talk to my sister for a while, tomorrow is her birthday...Happy Birthday Catharine!
Date: 2009-08-08
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Some random thoughts and information...1. Right now I hike about 15 miles/24 kilometers a day, about 9 hours per day. In a couple of weeks, once I'm past New Hampshire, it will increase to about 20 miles/32 kilometers per day. 2. I take my drinking water from lakes, rivers and springs. So I don't get sick from it I treat it with Chlorine (bleach). 1 drop per liter.3. I mainly eat Mr Noodles/Ramen/1 minute noodles or some sort of instant pasta that you just add water for dinner4.Your never actually on the top of a mountain until you see the summit sign... don't fool yourself and think otherwise cause you'll be very disappointed.5. If a tree falls in the forest it does make a sound. If a tree falls in the forest and their is no wind or rain and you hear trampling and breaking branches do you go see what it is? I didn't and will just guess it's a bear or moose.6. If your going to hike the Appalachian trail you have to be OK with sharing the shelters with mice and squirrels. I have woken up a few nights because something has walked over my head and is scavaging around the shelter.7. M ud A and I nsects N early E verywhere
Date: 2009-08-09
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Stratton. Maine
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

The trail affords you lots of time to think, sometimes maybe a bit too much but for the most part it seems with a clear mind. Life does get a bit lonely on the trail but I know that I am not alone.Lately I've been doing lots of thinking about my life. On the trail people always ask you who you are, where your from, and a bit about what your up to. These 3 simple questions have made me think quite a bit lately.The simple answer to the questions are...I'm Java (aka Peter William Barry MacDonald), I'm from Dieppe New Brunswick Canada, and I'm taking a year off from law school and hiking the Appalachian Trail from Mt. Katahdin Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia.I've been doing a lot of thinking about the more complicated, interesting, and eye opening answers to these questions. Over time in the nest few months you will get to know me inside and out, this will be my forum, my way of expression, my way of sharing the thoughts that come through my mind as I wander down this magnificent trail, like my way up and down these mountains as I have been up and down them in life, on my way to a better and brighter day another mountain with a beautiful horizon ahead.I hope that the sappy, emotional, caring man in his 30's doesn't seem to odd or turn you off but for me this is a journey about transition and a return to who and where I should be so some posts may not be for all to read but they are what they are, thought I decided to enter into words...take them or leave them.
Date: 2009-08-14
From: Rangeley, Maine

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: few clouds

Well we got off to a late start as usual...Post office, library for the internet, grocery store for supplies and finally off to the trail. One problem, Hunter didn't properly close the back door on the SUV that drove us to the trail and his pack fell out along the way. He showed up about an hour and a half later with a smile and his pack, we were finally on our way around 3:30 pm.
Date: 2009-08-15
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to

To: Beamis Mtn Lean-to
Miles today: 8.3

Today was a sad day, one of the guys (Bandaid) that I was hiking with had to get off the trail. He may have contracted a virus from the water called Giardia, not very pleasant, I though I had it a few years back your body basically dehydrates itself by giving you the shits and vomiting everything you consume. Get well Bandaid I hope to see you down the trail.On the up side we had a pretty slack day ahead of us so we spent the morning at a beach on a lake. Later we made it to a road crossing and sent Hunter out to hitch-hike 9 miles to get some beer and snacks. We did eventually hike some and made it to a shelter.
Date: 2009-08-15
From: Beamis Mtn Lean-to

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

So who am I...a bit about my family will help tell you, or explain to you, who I am other than a name.I am the grandson of Mary MacDonald and Elmo MacDonald. My grandmother (Nanny) was the janitor at the local elementary school in the neighborhood in which I grew up. She had nine children and lived in a little house almost across the street from the school where she worked. My grandfather (Grampy) was an aircraft mechanic who for the most part worked about 3 hours away and would commute home for the weekends, I actually forgot that he was away for the most part while I was very young but did have an Eastern Pacific Airways shirt of his that I wore and cherished for years.Nanny was one of the nicest, caring and giving people you could ever meet. Even though she was not wealthy and had a hard time getting by she would not let one kid that went to East Dieppe Elementary go by one day hungry. If someone looked hungry she would go home and cook them something for lunch, if they didn't have any snacks she would bring over some of the cookies that she would bake just for that occasion. Kids would stop by my grandmothers house after school and ask her for cookies. She was dedicated to the church and to her community. She would volunteer most of her spare time and often ran the kitchen at our local Boys and Girls club. One of the saddest days of my life was not being around when my Nanny passed away, but I carry her with me and know that she is always looking down on me as well as looking out for me.My Nanny has taught me that no matter what the situation you or someone else may be in you must always have compassion and understanding. She has showed me that you must look after, love, and take care of all of your family members but also not forget about those around you and try to look after your neighbor and community as well. For a little lady she had an enormous heart, I can only wish that mine is like that one day. I Love you Nanny and miss you very much.To be continued...
Date: 2009-08-18
From: Baldpate Lean-to

To: Full Goose shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Another great day, the sun was shinning and the trail was long. We had a really long climb today up old Speck Mt and then had an equally hard descent down into the Mahoosic Notch. The hike thru the notch was lots of fun climbing up, down and around a huge boulder field for about a couple of hours only to get maybe a mile down the trail. FUN FUN but a long day.
Date: 2009-08-19
From: Full Goose shelter

To: Gorham, New Hampshire
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: clear sky

Another long day, back to back big miles. It was nice and we were up early so we decided to get into Gorham and resupply. Stayed at a hotel for the night. 2 friends of Hunter's and their dog came to join us for a few days on the trail. We were 5 plus a dog in the hotel for the night. It was nice to get into town after such a long day, the hitch into town took a while but these things happen. Not many people want to pick up a bearded, smelly hiker.
Date: 2009-08-21
From: Gorham, New Hampshire

To: Imp Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: fog

And the fun begins... So Hunter's friends were 2 girls, one he knew and one he had just met, she had the dog (Sadie). We had planned on taking it easy with the girls and were just going to do 8 miles a day for 3 days. Since it was going to be easy Farve and I decided to pack in a 6 pack each.About 1 hour into the hike it started to rain, we got to a shelter for a break and I volunteered to help Kaleigh out, she was carrying a huge tarp that weighed about 5 pounds (a couple of kilos), she couldn't really strap it onto her pack so I attached it to mine. A half an hour later the dog's pack ripped, so Kaleigh and I took the dog food into our packs and I also stuffed the pack into mine. My pack started getting really heavy. Hunter was quite a way behind us and didn't know what was going on and Favre was too far ahead to help. So I helped Kaleigh and Sadie on the trail. As the day went on the hike continued uphill and the rain kept coming. Kaleigh was getting really depressed and was hating hiking, the rain and hill were really getting to her so I attempted to distract her with useless small talk. We got to the ridge just about to the top of the first mountain and she was about to break down so I offered to help and carry her pack for a few minutes, we couldn't really stop for too long cause it was cold and raining and she was really wet. I carried her pack for about a mile then gave it back to her to carry up to the summit. When we got to the top she dropped her pack, puked her guts out, was white as a ghost and started to shiver. YAY it sounds like the signs of hypothermia.I got her into some dry clothes, gave her my rain jacket, some food and water. I carried my overloaded pack, her overloaded pack and the dogs pack and stuff for the next 4.5 miles to the shelter. IT WAS A REALLY LONG WALK IN THE RAIN. We made it just before dark. I stood in the rain for the next 1/2 hour just outside the shelter drinking a few of the beer I carried in and took time to decompress from the stressful afternoon and evening hike. We made it and I realised that maybe I should be a sherpa, I can carry gear for more than one person.
Date: 2009-08-22
From: Imp Shelter

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light intensity shower rain

Kaleigh got off the trail, I thought she may try to tough it out but she had other plans. My hike got a lot easier.The day started off real nice but the rain started late in the afternoon, as always it started when I was exposed on the top of a mountain. Luckily we only had a short day planned so I started moving pretty fast to get out of the rain.Carter Hut is the first hut in the White Mtns. The huts are like super nice cabins in the woods that are staffed,rent out bunks, and feed hikers. It's about $100 per night to stay in them, you get supper, breakfast, and sleep in a bunk bed. They allow a few thru hikers to do work for stay, sweep the floor and or help with the dishes. For this we get to sleep indoors, on the floor, and get to eat the left-overs from dinner and breakfast.It was a great night, we had turkey and potatoes.
Date: 2009-08-23
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Gorham
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: few clouds

The weather was still bad but supposed to change in a couple of days so we took another short day in order to have sunshine in the Presidential range of the White Mtns. Back to the hotel for the night, but this time I stayed in the hostel and Hunter and Farve stayed in the parking lot of Walmart. Walmart allows people to stay in their parking lots all across the country. WEIRD.
Date: 2009-08-24
From: Gorham

To: Madison Spring Hut
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: fog

Woo Hoo! We're in the Whites hiking the presidential's. It's a long uphill climb to the top of Madison then down to the hut. The day started of cloudy and of course the rain came. As I made it above treeline it looked like the clouds were lifting so I pivoted on a rock to see if I could get a view...bad idea, next time turn around and move your feet. I slipped, tried to use my hiking pole to save me, that failed, I smashed my head open on a rock, got knocked out, woke up about 30seconds later (I think), blood all over the rock, my hands and head. Cleaned myself off as best as I could, ate a granola bar, drank some water and made my way to the hut.I was really glad to get out of the rain, off the mountain and in the company of others. My head felt fine but was glad that I was now around people just in case i had a real problem.I did work for stay again and the food was amazing as usual, it's not really that hard to make something better than just add water food...nowadays I'll eat anything.