morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-07-14
From: Junction w/ White Brook Trail

To: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: moderate rain

Awoke to a damp morning this morning, very early. Up and ate quickly, packed the tent, ready to get to the Big K. The summit of White Cap was deserted, and wet, with out the view of Katahdin that I had been hoping for. There was a steady breeze, so I didn't linger long on this, the last mountain on the trail before Katahdin. Shortly on the way down I encountered the first of two huffin-and-puffin southbounders headed up the massive number of stone steps which had been laid by the MATC. Very impresssive amount of labor.Stopped in at the Logan Brook shelter to grab water and check the register, to find Tim and Erica there (formerly Olive and Erica). I had first met them at the hostel in Pearisburg, VA, and Dad and I had seen them on our ill-fated search for the War Spur trail in the rain. It was good to share some time with them reflecting on people and the trail. They are wonderful souls, and I don't think I've even got a peek in the register. A great way to start a "relaxed 25".After Little Boardman Mtn, where there was another large group of SOBOS stopped, the trail flattened out completely, and I cruised into Cooper Brook Falls in the drizzle for lunch. The swimming hole there looks so sketchy with the amount of foam floating around, and it was cold, so I wasn't temped. The trail continued flat, and I rocked out the miles, enjoying ever pounding step in pure exhilaration, despite the pervasive mosquitos.Stopping at the Antlers campsite there were several SOBOs there, and a really nice dog. A beautiful spot on Lower Jo-Mary Lake, a big rainbow streatched out to the east as I drank some water, ate a snack and chatted with the fresh hikers. Moved on the last three miles to Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to where there were three SOBOs all set up in the shelter. Now the rant begins, of course. They'd taken the whole shelter to themselves. One had set up his tent, on the left side. One had set up his hammock on the right side. And the third guy had set up his hammock ACROSS THE FRONT of the sleeping platform. None of them made any space when I came, so I had to cook with all my crap on the ground as the rain came POURING down in quantities that I hadn't seen for a long time.The upshot of all of this, of course, is that Potaywadjo Spring is an awesome spring - huge, and great flow. Highly reccomended. A FABULOUS day on the trail, having set myself up for an early morning re-supply at White House Landing.
Date: 2005-07-16
From: East end of Rainbow Lake

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: broken clouds

A clear morning dawned at the East end of Rainbow lake, and I arose and steadily progressed up and over Rainbow Ledges, which must be spectacular in the fall, and stopped to jot a note in the register at the last lean-to in the wilderness. Katahdin was in clear view crossing the bridge to the camp store before entering Baxter state park. I consumed a couple of ice cream bars and entered Baxter, skirting along the edge of the Penobscot River. Crossing several washes, and wandering around a couple of houses, the trail eventually hits a major stream coming down from the direction of the The Mountain. Where the stream and river meet there is a great natural water slide, and some large rocks in the sun. I stopped for lunch, and a nice swim, and chatted with a southbounder who was on her first day of hiking. It was a leasurely lunch, and I probably spent an hour and a half at that spot before continuing on up, past the falls, past Daicey Pond, down the road, and to Katahdin Stream Campground, where my parents were already talking with Easy, Chino, Early Bird, PJ and Icebound. It was a nice crew to see having just completed their summit of the Big-K, they were packing up and planning to go. PJ was sticking around for a little while, but the rest were headed out of the park today. My mother and father were there along with two friends from Barlow's Boatyard, Phil and Leonard, and Leonard's wife Jean. We had dinner together, shared a few beers with PJ, and went to bed close pretty soon after the darkness fell.
Date: 2005-07-19
To: It's Over!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Hello Friends,I know that I've been terrible at updating this thing since getting to New Hampshire. Truely it was an amazing hike, and the internet became increasingly rare. But - I've hiked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mtn. Georgia to Katahdin in Maine. I'm home now, looking forward to the next adventure.Next week I hope to fill in everything from Hannover to Baxter on this webpage so that anyone who cares can find out what went on. It was good.Also - there is a set of pictures for the White Mountains posted on the other site. http://www.earlham.edu/~oharjoThere are more pictures which are on conventional film probably going to be posted in a couple of weeks after development, digitization and postin'. Hope you all are well. More thoughts to come.Peace,
Date: 2005-07-25
To: Hills
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It has now been one week since I reached the top of Katahdin, and the adjustment process is going slowly. I spent the last four days at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in upstate NY. This was the fourth year that I've gone to the festival, and it was again fabulous. The thing that I noticed even the first time this year was how rediculously consumerist everyone at the festival is. Just a shock to the system - even more then going into "normal" socity, because you don't expect it here. The best was a hand-painted sign outside of one of the clothing vendors which read "clothes for the soul". yeah right. And people with sooo much stuff, just for four days of camping next to their cars! Absolutely amazing.But enough of that. I want to share the words to a song which I had incompletely in my head at the beginning of my hike, and I've come back to now that it's over. It's entitled "Hills" and the poem was writen my Arthur Guiterman, Vermont Poet Laureate in the 1940's. Set to music and played by the great trio Nightingale, it can be found on their album "Three".HillsNever loved your plains your gentle valleysYour drowzy county lanes or pleached alleysI want my hills, the trail that scornes the hollowUp, up the ragged trail where few will followUp over wooded crest and mossy boulderStrong thigh and heaving chest and swinging shoulderSo let me hold my way, by nothing dauntedUntil at close of day, I stand exaltedHigh on my hills of dreams, dear hills that know meAnd then how fair will seem, the land below meHow pure at vesper time, the far bells chimingGod give me strength to climb and hills for climbingPeace,
Date: 2005-08-05
To: About Food
Miles today: 0.0

I just discovered some things which people have added presumable from the "suggest an entry" function. One asked about food and the other about what gear I dropped. I'm going to do the gear entry later, but I can do the food one right now.(By the way, I am filling in more and more of the story in New Hampshire, so you can go back and check out some more stuff now)Anyway - here's the daily diet. It seldomly changed between Northern Virginia and Katahdin.Breakfast:Big pot of Quaker 100% Natural Granola with watersometimes with Vanilla Instant Breakfast mixed inand sometimes augmented by Pop TartsAM:3 or so Cliff/Powerbars/SnickersLunch:1/3 a brick of extra sharp chedder cheese1 or 2 bagles smothered with peanut butter or nutellamany Goldfish or other salty snack1/3 a bag of prunesup to 1 whole sleve of fig newtonsPM:3 more Cliff/Powerbars/SnickersDinner:either Zatarains rice and beans or Velveta Shells and Cheesesometimes a protien barsometimes more fig newtonsThat really was the whole diet, augmented sometimes with E-mer-Gen-C drink mix. Oh yeah, and several gallons of water. It was pretty simple and consistant. I never carried more than 3 days of food from Virginia on - there was no need. 2 1/2 was the optimal: 2 breakfasts and dinners and 3 lunches. The quanties of food in the packages pretty much made 2 1/2 days perfect. Longer than that I would augment it was other stuff, or buy larger quantities (of PB etc). The best was being able to have town food to augment it and only have to cary 1 1/2 days worth of food around. That was the best.Got other questions you want answered? Drop me a line.Peace,
Date: 2005-09-18
To: On Trail Names...
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a wonderful day for me today. I spent this afternoon baking bread, and cleaning the kitchen and dinning room. And I got a phone call. I got a phone call from someone named Melissa. Her and her friend Eric were in town and wanted to visit me.But who are Melissa and Eric?It turns out I know these people. You may know them too. Their names are ACTUALLY Free Spirit and Pacer. I've known Free Spirit since the William Penn shelter in Pennsylvania. And I've known Pacer since my first day southbounding it through Maryland.Now, I chose not to take a trail name. And I am now more glad than ever that I didn't take one. Thanks to Dejavu for the note about this in my guestbook. I don't feel that I've missed any part of the Trail Experince because I haven't taken another name.Because really when you assume a new name you are assuming a new identity. It is either a lack of want to a) identify with who you are in the 'real world' when your on the trail or b) identify with who you are on the trail when you're in the 'real world'. Somewhere in there the openness and honesty required of living a life as a whole and with integrity breaks down. Maybe not consciously. I'm not saying that most people are eager to shed their real name to decieve anyone. But perhaps there's an element of the escapeism that I wrote about earlier present.I am Jay. I'm Jay on the trail, I'm Jay off the trail. I'm Jay to my parents, and I'm Jay to my teachers. I am, I must admit, Jonathan to my Grandparents and a certain politcal economy teacher when she is cross with me.It was a little wierd dealing with names today. It was hard to bring myself to use 'Melissa' and 'Eric'. I mean, that's not who you told me you were when I met you. Are you something else now? Have you changed so much that you're called something else now? Was there a part of you that you were hiding from me when we were on the trail? Were you decieving me when you introduced yourself to me? Where did I go wrong and missunderstand?I think you probably get the point by now, but I don't understand trail names. Guess I never will. Call me a simpleton, that's fine.
Date: 2005-02-14
To: Appalachion Trail, GA-ME
Miles today: 0.0

Happy Valentine's Day Hikers,(and to all my trail angels!)I'm looking forward to a great summer! I have read about the AT since I was in High School (eons ago!) and I am going to do it! I had the opportunity to hike the Washington section of the PCT in 2002 and it was more than I could have ever dreamed! After years of hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, search and rescue, and once in a while working, I am going to do it! I will say it again, I am going to do it! Over the last two years, I have been trying to get ahead and worked myself litterally to the bone. I had five bulging discs in by back by May! Now, I have a house, and all it does is cost me more money! I have recovered to the point where I don't need pain meds and I'm going to get back out there! To heck with riches and gold. Like my sister says "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- "WOW--What a Ride"!" Well, if I'm going to slide in sideways, it had better be doing the things I love!
Date: 2005-02-16
To: A Woman's Perogative
Miles today: 0.0

Someone once told me it's a woman's perogative to change her mind. Well, I do that a lot! I've changed from southbound to northbound for two reasons. One, my research says there will be fewer bugs! and Second, I can start earlier! Now, if I can just get everything else ready, I'm planning a March 20th start date. I guess I'm too much of a traditionalist. That's the first day of Spring and by my calculations will put me in Maryland in early July to hike with my mom and uncles for a section.Speaking of my uncles, My mom was born the 8th child of 15 brothers and sisters and one of two sets of twins. (Whom I hadn't ever met). Until November of 2003, I had only met Chuck, Jake and Diane. But I have recently met all 13 living siblings except Shirley and Lois. When I met John, the oldest, we found we had long distance hiking in common. He is the one who started this whole thing rolling. He invited me to hike Maryland with him this summer. Then my mom got excited about it, Then Chuck, and Maybe Jake too! I'm still trying to get a commitment out of my uncle Chuck to do the thru-hike. He's dragging his feet. If we can hike together, that would be awesome. He takes as many photos as I do, so there will be lots to choose from. He thinks I will hike too fast. I think I'll have more fun if I hike less miles per day. He thinks about the cost. I think about the cost of never fulfilling my dreams. He thinks about the what if's. I think the only way to find out is to get out there. I am going to do it. Hope he does too!The next biggest question: Should I take my dog? I have a sheltie mix "Bisbee" and he loves to hike with me. I like the idea of keeping rats away, but I'm concerned about whether he will keep me awake all night. I've taken him on an overnight trip and I don't know if he slept at all! Maybe after a long hard day, he will be as pooped as I will be. Guess I better do some more shakedowns with him. So has there been any thru-hike dogs? I don't know of any. I do know he will have to take an alternate trail thru some parks. Got to get that list together yet! Well, I got to get some sleep so, till next time,
Date: 2005-02-17
To: Fitness Plan
Miles today: 0.0

Today's fitness hike was just so incredible, I have to share it! My uncle Chuck is a Geocacher big time. So almost everyday he picks a cache to go find that will give us a great hike and this day was tops. It was a two-fer that gave us a 3 mile trek with full packs down into a canyon, thru the creek several times, ending at a beautiful unexpected waterfall. We found an added treasure in the Cairn cache, a coiled up rattlesnake, snug in a little niche in the rock. My nephew, Austin, just about put his hand on him trying his luck at rock climbing. We tried to keep our feet dry, but eventually gave in to the temptation and slopped through the creek like little kids. I climbed up the waterfall. Why? Because it was there, of course. The best part of the hike was that I could let the dog off leash. We usually go to parks where they have leash laws. I get more exercize dodging the leash! But anyway, what an awesome day!Since January 1st, I've been packing my pack up and down the local mountains. They are only short hikes, scheduled in between picking up nephew from kindergarten and meeting neice after school. So I have a 6 year old in training as well. Sometimes my mom goes as well. The more the merrier. We did fit in a 7 miler. (Barely got out before the park closed) and one overnight shakedown (The dog kept me awake all night). He always sleeps inside by my bed. I don't think he was too comfortable laying out under the stars on a tarp. I know from the PCT experience that the better shape I am in, the easier it will be to get in the swing on the trail. I really slaved to get 10 miles in for the first week or two in 2002. Boy, was I in shape by the end though! I am going to do it! Well, I got to get working on my mail drops, so I'm out of here. Happy trails to you.
Date: 2005-02-21
To: Bisbee's First Water Crossing
Miles today: 0.0

You know the Toy's R Us themesong? It goes something Like "I don't wanna grow up, I'm a toy's R Us kid." Well, that's the tune I wake up with stuck in my head. Only, the words are "I don't wanna get up!" Especially when it's so nice and warm and I spent all night loading photos. Yesterday, Uncle Chuck, mom, and my sister's family all went for a day hike in the Superstition Mountains. It was a late start and so we were going to have to keep moving to get 7.1 miles in before dark. the First Water trailhead was 2 and a half miles up a dirt road with several wet washes. Mom lost a wheel cover on the first one! Bill spun cookies in every mudhole he could find. Well, We shuttled mom's car up to the Canyon Lake trailhead. That took an hour! Bill wanted to know if it really was only 7.1 miles. He was getting a little concerned. At the trailhead, Kristie was pumping the ranger for information. He told her the Boulder Canyon trail was blocked by an 8 foot deep river crossing. So, they recommeded an alternate 7 mile loop. As it turned out, we wanted to see this "River". So, we took the trail "less traveled". It was absolutely fabulous scenery. It was supposed to rain all day, but we didn't get a drop. After 9 years of drought in Arizona, we have the greenest hills ever this year. There was water running down the trails even! Bisbee got used to the water after a while. He crossed the little streams with a little coaxing, but when we got to two and three feet deep, I had to carry him across. We never did find a creek we couldn't cross, though we did have to pass Austin from person to person or he would have floated away. It was incredible. What a great day. We made it out just as darkness fell and finished with a fine meal at "Chevy's". The day before, I had spent 5 hours working up a possible itinerary for the hike. I am going to do it! I came up short! By starting on March 20th and averaging 10.6 miles per day, I'll be at Harper's Ferry on June 16th. That's with a four day layover waiting for the Hiker Fest in Waynesboro on June 4th. So, today, Chuck and I are going to try it again. We'll start later and hopefully cut out some of the longer days and see were we end up. I'm not so worried about taking the dog as he did so well yesterday. I think he will be fine. Gypsy gave me some real encouraging advice and forewarnings. I'll have to board him through the smokies, but there are services available at both ends! That's good to know. Anyways, that's what I'm up to. Back to the itinerary and mail drop schedule! Happy trails,
Date: 2005-02-22
To: Working out the Logistics!
Miles today: 0.0

I am going to do it! Even better, Uncle Chuck's going to do it too! I'm just elated! I'm taking Bisbee. The cats are going to stay with one of Lexi's friends (I'm still hoping), and What am I Thinking? There are some long stretches between maildrops. I'm not sure if I'm having more fun planning this thing or hiking it. I tried out my new Hennessy Hammock in the back yard last night. It's been pouring the last few days and rained hard last night. Not a drop got through. I think I'm really going to love it. It's soooo much more comfortable than the ground. I did have to go get my thermarest to keep the chill off my back. Guess I'll have to keep it in the gear list. It will be a good backup for the times when there are no trees. Are there ever any such times? I don't know, but it's not that heavy anyway. I made a small closed cell foam pad for the dog, but he bailed on me and went and slept on the couch on the front porch. Hmmm! He's not no dummy. Hiked up Shadow Mountain today with Chuck and Austin. It was steep, really steep. It was good to stretch out the calves after our Superstitions hike. So, back to the Itinerary, Chuck and I penciled in each nights shelter all the way to Harper's Ferry so we knew we would get there by June 28th. We're not going to set any speed records! We know where our resupplies are going to be and how many meals to pack into each maildrop. It took us hours and hours yesterday. I had done a rough one two days before and come in way too early. That's why we changed our start date to April 1st. We'll I got to check on some other sites, so, Happy trails,
Date: 2005-02-23
To: Food, Food, and More Food
Miles today: 0.0

The Lost Yankee, that's chuck's geocaching name, and so he'll be using it for his trail name too. He and I spent the better part of the evening tonight shopping and sorting various food products into 16 drop boxes. We littered my mom's living room with boxes of hot chocolate, nuts, pasta dinners, rice dinners, and lots of oatmeal. How are we supposed to carry all this stuff! Chuck said he was more tired sorting the food than he is hiking the trail! Mom kept bringing out more boxes of chocolates, meat sticks, candy corn, you name it, she has found it on sale somewhere and stocked up! I am thinking we can find most of this stuff at the local stores, but, being the type I am, I want to KNOW there is going to be food there when I get there. I can get by without a lot of things, but I NEED food. Good food, Lots of food. Sounds like we are going to eat oatmeal every morning, sandwiches and trail foods for lunch (all day long) and pasta or rice or soup for dinners. Today's bill: $180.00 and that isn't even a drop in the bucket. When I was on the PCT, Michelle and I ran out of food one day short. Lucky for us, there were a whole bunch of Boy Scouts on top of the Goat Rocks, and they all had too much. I bought a bag of bear creek cheddar potatoe soup for $5.00 from the leader. They were glad not to have to carry it, I was glad to have dinner for the next evening. I might just have to carry a spare bag in the bottom of my pack. So much for now,
Date: 2005-02-28
To: We have fire!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Our stoves work, Our stoves work!!!! Chuck and I spent the better part of the day today fiddling with the pepsi can stove instructions. We finally got it! It seams we didn't have a tight enough seal on the upper end of the inside ring. After a little J-B weld, they worked just fine. Though we're still working on a suitable pot stand. We tried just setting the pot on the stove. Once, it boiled water in 5 minutes, but other times it just put the fire out. I sure like the weight difference. I've still got to try and cook a big meal like tuna helper on it before I'm going to let go of my wisperlite. Everything else is comming along. I got the rest of my gear out of storage in Washington and I'm reworking the maildrop packages so we don't have to carry 9 days of food. Chuck's digging up some winter gear, since he's here in Arizona and his winter gear is in New York. Reading last years journals on April first, looks like some cold cold days ahead! I am going to do it!Happy trails,
Date: 2005-03-03
To: More Food!
Miles today: 0.0

I am having second thoughts about the mail drops. How much is it going to cost to mail all this stuff and did I save any money by buying in bulk? I think it's harder on my back to repackage all this food than it is to carry it! Anyways, Chuck and I boxed up our food for the first half of the trip. Enough to get us to Harper's Ferry anyway. I added a few little extras like vitamins, Aleve, Aluminum Foil, lighters, Garbage bags, Wet wipes, etc. Hoping that they will come in handy! I'm a bit overwelmed by all the things I still need to get done. It's a bit more complicated than a two week adventure in the woods. Hope Bill pay does it's job. Hope the house don't burn down. Hope the cats get fed. Hope the pool doen't turn green. HOPE, HOPE, HOPE. But then again, I didn't even have a house or pool or cats a year a go! So, I am crazy, yeah, I know it. But, I am still going to do it!Happy trails,
Date: 2005-03-04
To: Pot Cozy Creations
Miles today: 0.0

Chuck showed up today after a little garage saleing with a used windshield visor protector. So, we made pot cozies. I'm not a seamstress by anymeans, but amazingly enough my first try was a successful fit! Austin made one for my cup, but he was a little dissappointed because when he got finished, I couldn't use the handle!!! He's so into this. Now he want's his own pop can stove. Chuck let him use his first prototype. So now we go try them out for real!!! Wish us luck.