morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-25
From: Rt. 12

To: Happy Hill shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Had such a great time with Gadget and Chris...thank you, thank you, thank you. You totally made our day! Gadget dropped us off in West Hartford, VT this morning and we just hung out there for a couple of hours. Dried out our clothes and used the internet at the library...Now we are at one of the oldest shelter sites on the AT...it used to be the oldest shelter but it was torn down and rebuilt in 1997(?). It's a great shelter, privy and water site though. We only have 6 miles into Hanover, NH tomorrow where we will meet up with Paul(Slickrocks boyfriend- who is going to hike about 90 miles with us next week). So another easy day! And I will get my New Balance boots!!! My feet are hoping that these will work out!!! song: "The Ants are marching"
Date: 2003-07-26
From: Happy Hill shelter

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: clear sky

Sitting in the basement of a Frat House. Never done this before...Slickrock and I got to Hanover by 10:45 and Paul and his grandfather were already waiting for us. We ate Sloppy Does(yummm), and sorted our food for the next 5 days. Paul's grandfather left us to travel around New England and we went out in search of Panarchy Frat, where we heard we could stay for free. Well, we found it and it is scary...rumors are they are going to have a party too. Yikes.We went and ate Pizza's and watched the first movie since we started hiking. "Finding Nemo"...very good but a little scary...I am now carrying my cell phone so I spent a couple of hours talking to people that I haven't been able to call in a while. I enjoyed that!Hmmmm...going to go to bed on an old stinky mattress and hope that the Frat party doesnt get too crazy...
Date: 2003-07-27
From: Hanover, NH

To: 3.4 miles past Moose Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 14.2

Well, the party got too crazy. Big Sigh. I was able to sleep from 10 to 3 am or so, but some hikers brought girls down and they were all drunk and loud and then there was also a pretty big fight around 4 am. So Slickrock, Paul and I packed up and left Panarchy at 4:30 am...we sat downtown for 45 minutes hoping one of the restaurants opened around 6:30 or 7 am but since its Sunday they dont till 8 am. So we got some food at a gas station and were hiking by 6:15 am. Its been a humid day with some rain...I really, really dont want anymore rain...sigh...we got to Moose Mtn Shelter around 11 am and ate and took about 3 hour naps...oh yeah, then we hiked a couple more miles to a stream. I spent a lot of time thinking about life and how we all have such expectations of what we are supposed to get out of life...I mean, I want it all. Happiness forever. Ha. I am doing something right now that most people(okay, maybe only those of you reading this) would love to be doing...but the irony of it is that I am already dreaming about my next big adventure. I seem to have forgotten that I am still in the middle of one...why? Because it is hard. It is hard to only walk, eat, sleep and not rest a lot...it's amazing too because I am not distracted so I am listening to myself and to God a lot but I also don't have anything to distract me from my worries and fears.I have decided that life is a lot like hiking the trail. We try so hard to find the job/lifestyle/relationship that we are passionate about but even if it is the perfect job/lifestyle/relationship there are still bad days. There is no way to avoid them And you know what? Thats okay. We would become too complacent if we didnt have something to balance our good against.   Anyways...I am just thankful to be living and I want to live everyday fully and be where God wants me...even if it is raining again.
Date: 2003-07-28
From: 3.4 miles past Moose Mtn. Shelter

To: 1.3 miles before Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

GORGEOUS DAY! Man, How I need days like this. Had our first great view of New Hampshire with SUNSHINE after only 2 miles of hiking this morning. Then the day was pretty normal till we did about a 2000 foot climb in 4 miles...but it was like 1500 feet up in 1 mile, then we dropped 700 feet in the next mile, then we stayed down there for the 3rd mile and then back up 1300 feet to the top of Smarts Mtn...3240 feet...it was pretty steep. There was a firetower - which I climbed all the way to the top. I havnt done that out here yet! Yeah!!OH YEAH!!! My sister, Slickrock, is engaged...you will have to check out her journal to see how Paul asked her today. Congratulations you two!song: "Mr. Cellophane" from Chicago
Date: 2003-07-29
From: 1.3 miles before Hexacuba Shelter

To: Wachipauka Pond
Miles today: 14.5

Never thought we would get here today. Both Slickrock and Paul werent feeling good this morning so we got going a little later than normal...we hiked around 3 miles to MT. Cube and I sat on the summit for over an hour. Then we hiked 2 more miles for lunch...it was close to 2 pm before we got going to do the rest of the miles...but we made it! Good job both Slickrock and especially Paul!Tomorrow we will hike around 10 miles because we will be doing over a 3000 foot climb...which will put us over treeline for the first time. I can't wait to see what that is like...another pretty day today ...man I hope we get one tomorrow too.The rest of 5 Alive should be in Hanover tomorrow!!! All of us will be in New Hampshire! I don't know if they will catch up with us but I do know that I am still sharing this experience with them...through shelter registers, email, journals and voice mail. Not exactly the same as hiking together but I do still get excited for them when they do something new!song: "Tomorrow Night" from Yentl
Date: 2003-07-30
From: Wachipauka Pond

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Loved today! Cept my watch quit working last night. :( So I have no idea what time I woke up, started hiking or anything...it's probably good for me. :) I need to just let go. I got to climb up above treeline for the first time ever!!! Only 4802 feet climb(really amazing) but because longitude, weather and height...we have treeline at a lower area. I don't know how to explain how incredible it was to see the trees that are so short but also as old as the tall ones...the short ones have survived so much! Now we are sitting in the shelter with the most incredible view of Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Lincoln and the HUGE Mt. Washington! Will be there in a few days!song: "Pinwheel" Oh yeah, the theme song from that show on Nickelodeon...hahaha
Date: 2003-07-31
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I think that the climb down from Beaver brook shelter might have been the steepest one over rocks yet...glad it wasnt raining.It threatened to rain alllllll day but hasnt yet. We are in a campsite that has showers-yeah...and just went to dinner to get some real food.I also got a free ticket(normally $100) for SoulFest a Christian Music weekend on Loon Mtn...but don't know if I am going to get to go. David Crowder is playing though!!!   Yikes!!! song: "Unwell" Matchbox Twenty
Date: 2003-08-01
From: Franconia Notch

To: North Woodstock
Miles today: 0.0

zero day!Did a lot of running around and now am sitting and watching tv. It's the first day of august and I have such mixed feelings bout this last month of hiking. ONE more month! I am ready to be finished but also sad to see it end AND I have a little trepidation(big word of the day) about what I am doing next. I am planning on moving to Nashville, TN at the end of September and have no idea what I am going to do there...I know it will work out but wish I already knew everything. Hahahaha...song: "Always and Forever" Shania TwainThey played this song a lot today...so its stuck in my head.
Date: 2003-08-02
From: Franconia Notch

To: Garfield Pond Campsite
Miles today: 10.3

I did what I hoped I would never do on this hike...I left Franconia Notch and started hiking south. Thats right hiking back to GA...I hiked 3 miles to Lonesome Pond Hut before I realized that I wasnt at the Liberty Spring campsite. Big Sigh. Oh well, thats life. I asked the crew at the hut if there were other trails that I ccould hike to get to Garfield Pond Campsite quicker because I was supposed to meet my sister there. I hiked 1.5 miles down to I-93 and got a ride with the best couple ever!!! Thanks Greg and Caroline for the ride to Garfield Trail. Garfield Trail is 5 miles to the AT up Mt. Garfield...I enjoyed hiking it...and made it to meet Slickrock...she had stayed back to spend more time with Paul...Anyways...less than a month left! We started out with rain today which had both Slickrock and I a little unmotivated but it has cleared up. AND I passed so many people who cheered me on for hiking so far at this point...just wish one of them had realized I was going the wrong way. I had two men say " Hats off to you for hiking this far" and one of them bowed and took his hat off!!! Wow. So I received a lot of encouragement...which was nice.song: "You dont know me" some song from the "My best friends wedding" soundtrack
Date: 2003-08-03
From: Garfield Pond Campsite

To: Saco River - stealth camping
Miles today: 17.5

MY FEET HURT!!! We pounded our feet today...one thing that New Hampshire has is lots of steep ups and downs...and so you just slam your feet over and over. Both Slickrock and I were sure that we were going to have to revise our schedule this morning...we only hiked 3.7 miles in 3 hours...straight down and straight back up. But it smoothed out some after that and we were able to get some miles in...but we are both tired. We have the presidentials tomorrow...lots climbing and will be above tree line most of the day. The forcast for this week was rain and thunderstorms every day till Wednesday BUT we didnt get rained on yesterday or today(just last night) so maybe we will get through the treeline ridge hiking without having to run for cover. It pretty foggy and humid so we dont see much but maybe that will break up too. Slickrock is still not sure if she wants to be out here so it would be great if the weather was amazing to encourage her!!! I would miss her a lot but will finish no matter what. I have had to think about that knowing that she could leave. Kind of crazy but I understand her struggle.song:"Old Friends" Simon and Garfunkel
Date: 2003-08-04
From: Crawford Notch

To: Mzpah Hut
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: light rain

Presidential Range!!! In the rain...big sigh. We woke up to clouds and the sun trying to peek through but after about an hour of hiking it started to rain and it hasnt stopped. Which made our hike very interesting. We started climbing the first mountain in the Presidential Range- Mt. Webster and it was nice. Easy trail, smooth ground for about a half a mile and THEN the rocks started...BIG ROCKS. And we got to Webster cliffs and thats what we got to climb straight up - cliffs. Which in the rain is pretty scary...I actually fell today too. Started falling down a rock face and couldn't catch myself...but I did finally get a foot hold on a ledge and then just stood there wet, dirty, scraped and cried for a few minutes. I was so scared that I was going to fall into Slickrock who was right below me waiting to climb too...I am fine...but it was scary. I told her that is her reason for staying out here with me so that I don't fall and hurt myself all alone. We decided to work at the Mizpah Hut for 2 meals and a night...you help with meals and sweeping to stay for free and everyone else pays the crazy amount of $68!! The New Hampshire area is the only place that they have these huts and most thruhikers avoid them because of the cost. But if you do get to one early enough...up to four thru-hikers can work for stay. So our bellies are full and we will help tomorrow morning too and then start our climb up to Mt. Washington!!! Yeah!!! Clear up weather, please!song: "There are worse things i could do" from Grease AND "Unwell" Matchbox Twenty because I was convinced I am crazy to still be out there hiking...
Date: 2003-08-05
From: Mzpah Hut

To: 1.5 mile before Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: fog

It is POURING!!! No lie, I was sitting in a puddle about a half an hour ago...then I used my bandanna to mop the tent out...we are soaked.But our day was not too bad. We actually got to see a blue sky for but 2 minutes and also...when we skipped the northern presidentials we hiked down the Tuckerman Ravine which was GORGEOUS!!! Reminded me of Ireland even though I have never been there. :) We were so close to Pinkham Notch and then the sky dumped on us so we scrambled to put our tent up. Now we are going to try to sleep a in our damp tent and sleeping bag...song: I can't remember
Date: 2003-08-06
From: 1.5 mile before Pinkham Notch

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: moderate rain

We woke up with thunderstorms but they cleared by the time we were ready to break down our tent and leave...we got to Pinkham notch by 9 am but not in time for their all you can eat breakfast. Pinkham seems to be the Whitemtns headquarters. We took showers and sat around a couple of hours with 2 other hikers...talking about hiking, rain, expectations and laughter.Slickrock and I got a ride into Gorham tostay at The Barn Hostel to dry out...the plan is to leave early tomorrow to slackpack 21 miles into Gorham officially. We will see...song: "Never@was cool" Indigo Girls
Date: 2003-08-07
From: Pinkhan Notch

To: Rt. 2
Miles today: 21.0

I am typing this with one finger because at 7:30 am this morning, I attempted to dive 5 feet off of a very slippery rock in the Wildcat Mtns and landed face first on my right arm...popped my shoulder out of joint and sprained my thumb...so I am in a bit of pain...but am still heading out tomorrow. I am very thankful that I didnt get hurt worse...we have been talking about how bad it would be to get hurt this close to finishing. It was a hard morning but I am determined to keep positive and head to Maine. By the way, Scavenger, the caretaker of the Barn, is awesome! He fixed somthing on my backpack and sewed up a hole in my pants and only asks for donations! If you are headed this way definitely stay here!song: "Always look on the bright side of life" Monty Python The Life of Brian.We watched that last night. :)
Date: 2003-08-08
From: Rt. 2

To: Trident Col Campsite
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: light rain

miles 6We are taking it very slowly today...I am sure I am amusing to watch...as I try to do everything with one arm. We left the Barn in Gorham - it is a great hostel! Had a great breakfast and then hung out for awhile with Lonestar who is a southbounder. He was actually going to get off the trail in Gorham because he has already found what he came out here for but has decided to keep hiking till he doesnt want to anymore. All three of us talked about and agreed that if we got off the trail now there would be so many people who wouldnt understand BUT that is not a good enough reason to stay on the trail. Soooo...what do we do. Slickrock and I are going to take it one day at a time and do whatever it is that we need to do to get to Katahdin. Tomorrow morning we will be in Maine, thats right MAINE! 14th state! And then we are heading through one of the hardest terrains for the next 80 miles...sooo thats what we will do!Thank you to all of you that have encouraged me and prayed for me because I really need it...song: "The closer we get, the further I fall" Alabama
Date: 2003-08-09
From: Trident Col Campsite

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

We are in our 14th State...MAINE. Give me a M, You got your M...anyways, you get the picture.Much, much better day mentally. Even though it is raining(hahaha) and we climbed over rocks and down cliffs (which is hard with only one working left arm and hand)...because we have both decided to take it easy in this section(as if we really have a choice) we arent pushing ourselves over this stuff to fast. There is no way to explain what the terrain looked like today...one section took us an hour to do .5 of a mile! And I didnt even fall!! I am so muddy though from sliding over all the rocks on my rear end...Tomorrow is supposed to be even worse in Mahoosuc Notch. One mile that could take us up to 6 hours to hike through...supposedly we will be climbing between and over boulders that are the "size of houses". Only doing 10 miles tomorrow too. :)A man from Maine told us today that "the rain in Maine stays mainly on the trail". Isn't that great! I feel a musical coming on...song: "If you'd like to destroy my sweater" Weazeror "Wouldn't it be loverly" from My Fair Lady
Date: 2003-08-10
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 2.3

Heehee...so it started raining yesterday around 2:30 pm and it didnt stop till 10:30 am this morning. So I devised a plan around three this morning so that I wouldnt have to climb through Mahoosuc Notch with one arm in the rain today. The caretaker at this shelter helped us out bunches-thanks Jay! And we are now in Gorham, NH. We have gone backwards. BUT we will hitch to Andover, ME tomorrow and go back and do the Mahoosuc Notch on Tuesday! Yeah!ANNNNDDDD...5 Alive is reunited! Slickrock and I walked into the Barn and Crow told us that the other four were here in town but at a motel somewhere. So Slickrock and I walked down main street and checked out every restaurant, including Pizza Hut, McDonalds and Burger King...and stopped at two motels and they were at the 2nd motel!!! So we have talked and talked and talked...it is soooo good to see them!!! We are also trying to convince them to join us in Maine. And they might do it! So we might be hiking together again! Check in tomorrow to see what happens.song: "Papa, don't preach" Madonna
Date: 2003-08-11
To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Woke up and met up with the rest of 5 Alive. It has been soooo good to see them and to share what has happened in the past 3 weeks. Its crazy to think that we lived so closely for 4 and a half months and then just abruptly separated for 3 weeks. They are still deciding what to do next. I know that some of them would love to join me and Slickrock - whether we skip some miles or hike easy days- but some of them dont want to miss anymore miles. I honor that. I do wish we could hike the last 3 weeks together. 3 more weeks!!!We are in Andover, ME at Pine Ellis B&B and have tried to find a hitch for tomorrow down an old logging road to the Mahoosuc Notch Trail. But NO ONE wants to drive down the old logging road so it seems that we might not be doing that section after all. I am for sure coming back to do that one mile because it is supposed to be sooo fun! I was really hoping to do it but we are just heading north now.I know that the past few weeks of my journal might not have been too positive and I am sorry if its been hard to read. BUT that is where I was. I think it is common when you plan for something for as long as I did and now I am realizing that it is almost over! It wont get here fast enough and man I hope it doesnt end. I am ready to move onto whatever journey God has next for me. I am actually pretty excited, nervous and unsure of the next 6 months of my life. But I am ready.song: "Reunited" song from the 80's. I can't remember the artist.
Date: 2003-08-12
From: ME 17

To: Little Swift River Camp
Miles today: 8.3

Don't have too much to say...we got a ride up to ME 17 so we have skipped about 23 miles there BUT all of 5 Alive decided to do it so we are all together till the end. The hike today was nice- not very many boulders!! I like that. It isnt raining and we are hearing rumors of the weather clearing up...but I wont believe it till I see it. It will be great though if we can summit Saddleback Mtn. and Sugarloaf Mtn. without rain. :)We saw a Moose from a distance today...all 6 of us! Yeah! I am very glad to be with the rest of our group...it just feels right.
Date: 2003-08-13
From: Little Swift River Camp

To: Piazza Rock Lean-to
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Mooses!!! Meeses!!! We saw two more this morning. A mom and her baby moose...Yeah!!! It rained all night and morning and then it actually cleared up. Hello! Sun for the first time in 13 days. We got to a shelter and hung all of our stuff out to dry and have just hung out. Did I mention we were going to take it slow... yippee!!!I had a hard morning...I fell-didn't get hurt- but I had slipped and it frusterated me sooo much because I just freeze up when going down hill on rocks. Had a couple of emotional minutes after that. But I am doing better!We are here with so many thru hikers...Tang, Truckin, Do It, Fifty, Toothpick and couple of others...bet they are wondering how we got here with them when they had been in front of us. :)I am sitting around a fire with 5 Alive, listening to Diesel play guitar and I love it. I will miss our times like this.   Life is good, it is hard and I am just walking...song: George Harrison
Date: 2003-08-14
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to

To: Poplar Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 8.9

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous day! Blue Skies, cool breezes and of course the sun. I even have a sun burn! What is that? We climbed Saddlback Mtn., the Horn, and Saddleback Jr-which put us over tree line for around 3 miles. We stayed up there for about 4 hours. We could see everywhere! I am so thankful to have a view after all of our climbs that just put us in foggy rain. Thank you Lord for today because we all needed it.I finally met Team Bob-Mike-Bob up on Saddleback Mtn. They have been hiking near us since we all started and I kept hearing about them, so yeah! Oh yeah, I also have had some problems with my Osprey Ariel Backpack that I bought 4 1/2 months ago in Hot Springs. One of my stays has poked out the bottom, so I am duct taping it every day but it pokes through and jabs me in the leg. So I called Osprey on Monday and left a message...and got back with them today and they are sending me a free backpack!!! Yeah, I will get it in Monson right before the 100 mile wilderness. I have to send them the original pack and an explanation of what is wrong with it but that isnt hard. I am so glad! Osprey Rocks!song: "Be Thou my vision" Hymn
Date: 2003-08-15
From: Poplar Ridge Shelter

To: Sugarloaf Mtn. Summit Hut
Miles today: 11.3

It is the middle of AUGUST! I have had a hard day...I am glad it is almost over. I don't know how to explain what I am going through. I am just so tired...physically...mentally...spiritually. The whole day I thought through every way I could get to Katahdin and ultimately home sooner. What is wrong with me? I don't want to be like this. I KNOW the minute I am home, I will want to be back out here. I know that I am not the only one who goes through this...it would be easier if I had time for a vacation. Anyways, even with my struggles, today has been another pretty day. We didn't have any amazing views till the end of the day. We got off the AT to climb .6 miles up to the summit of Sugarloaf Mtn. where we have a 360 degree view of Maine. On a really clear day you can see Katahdin and Mt. Washington. I just watched the sun go down and it is breathtaking. There are rumors of thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow so I am glad that we are going into Stratton for our maildrop. Wish the good weather could last more than two days though.Song: "I can only Imagine" Mercy Me