morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-11
To: Galveston, TX 
Miles today: 0.0

Aloha. This will be kind of short today; hope you don't mind. It's been a long day and I'm rather tired. Thanks for understanding. Food seems to be what we Pfeil folks do well. We started our day off with a breakfast at Denny¢s. We and the million other tourists Galveston Beach draws in during the summer months. It was a tasty breakfast though. I can highly recommend their stuffed waffles. Yum!   With breakfast behind us, my brothers took off to do whatever it is that brothers do and my sister-in-law, niece and I headed to the stores. I needed clothes for a funeral. Our first stop pretty much netted what I needed but not before trying on most everything black in the store. As always, the first dress tried ended up being the one purchased. The good news to this dress trying on business is that I've dropped a dress size since having started the trail. This is good! What I don't understand is that I'm also wearing a petite. That doesn't make sense - I didn't walk inches off my legs! Strange... but good!   After the dress it was to every store possible for shoes. What kind of shoes does a gal wear that's worn nothing but hiking boots for the past two months? Better question, what type shoes does a gal that's been wearing nothing but hiking boots for two months wear to funeral in the afternoon heat of Texas? I ended up with three pair with the final decision to be made later. Heels? Pumps? Sandals? I'm betting on the pumps myself.   Dress - check. Shoes - triple check. Make-up, hair products, deodorant, hose - check, check, check, and check. Jewelry - borrow from the sister-in-law. Ready? - check   My older brother, Thom, and his wife Diane had a function to attend tonight so my younger brother, Rob, and I are staying with our niece Gemma. We spent the evening feeding our faces at our favorite cafeteria, Luby's. A wonderful place for decent food. Our intentions were to eat and catch a movie but it didn't happen. Nor did the putt-putt golf idea. The time just seemed to slip away from us and we headed home for the TV. Such an exciting life we lead in Texas.   Upon arriving home I found Diane heading out the door to catch a late night movie - A League of Gentlemen. It took me only a moment to decide to join her. A strange but decent movie. I love literature and it merges several different books into one sort of sci-fi movie. I'll see it again when it comes out on DVD. Check it out. You may like it. And will if you like Sean Connery. Diane's reason for going to begin with.   Okay, it is late and we have to be up and on the road early tomorrow. It's about a four-hour drive for the funeral. It's going to be a long day so I'll close for now. You stay well and we'll chat again soon. Good night.
Date: 2003-07-16
To: Northbound
Miles today: 0.0

After escaping (by hours) Hurricane Claudette on the Texas coast, Aloha is back on the trail and heading North.I want to personally thank everyone who called, sent email and/or signed the guest book during her time off the trail. The encouragement and thoughtfulness during this sad time emphasized the fact that she has made some true friends throughout her journey.Mahalo to all -Char
Date: 2003-07-17
From: Cooper Lodge (3900') 

To: Sherburne Pass Trail (2400') 
Miles today: 8.1

Aloha! Sorry but that aloha was not said with all that much enthusiasm. Illness will do that to you - suck the life out of you. This has not been one of my better days.   Beginning at about 3:30a my stomach took a turn... and then turned again... and again... and... well, you get the picture. It wasn't long afterwards that I awoke to... uh, {whisper} diarrhea. Whoa! This is not fun on the trail I assure you! Needless to say the rest of my day was a ... uh, fast one.   With the weather fogged in and my stomach tossing and turning I chose to skip climbing to the top of Killington and head on to here, The Inn at Long Trail. The map showed me as only having 8 miles of mostly downhill hiking so that made me a bit happier. Still, 8 miles is 8 miles and when your stomach doesn¢t like anything that 8 miles can be miserable. UP or down.   With a few, uh... interruptions, I made it to the Inn in good time. It took only a minute to find out if they had a room available and take it. This place is wonderful. The atmosphere, furnishings, people, everything are unique, warm and comforting. I can understand why Pizazz recommended that I stay here. It's a great place to stay when ill or well.   The rest of my day has been spent sleeping. I've pretty much decided that I'm exhausted. The going from the Vermont Mountains to the Galveston shores and back to the Vermont Mountains in five days has played havoc with my system. You wouldn't think that short of time would but it seems to have. Throw in the change in foods and possibly even some personal stress and the whole system seems to go to hell in a hand basket. I'm feeling better now but still exhausted. Sleep looks like it may be all that is needed for my road to recovery. As a matter of fact, I've pretty much decided that here is a wonderful place to take a zero day tomorrow and get it all back together. I didn't do my grocery shopping as originally intended so that still needs to be completed. If I'm still not in top form in the morning then I'll probably need the whole day to complete it anyway. Right now that works fine for me. Just fine.   Speaking of, I think I'll go down (no phones or TV in the rooms) and see about extending my stay and then crawl back into bed. I can barely keep my eyes open. Exhaustion or jet lag... pick one, they both suck.    You rest long and well. We'll be back on the trail again soon. Promise. I just need to sleep that's all. Night-night.BSandTs: didn't noticeAandPs: messy crampy stomach. Ugh.MandGs: messy cramp stomach and... uh, diarrhea...waah!Critter count: couple of Red Efts and toads. Couldn't keep the count straight. Ugh.
Date: 2003-07-18
To: The Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 0.0

The Inn at Long Trail   "The Long Trail Lodge itself was conceived by Mortimer R. Proctor as a clubhouse for the Green Mountain Club. He had it designed by Paul Thayer, of Wallingford, and placed along the Long Trail for the convenience of the GMC members, who cleared and maintained the trail. The lodge was build in 1923, on the south side of Rte 4 atop the Sherburne Pass, convenient to guests traveling from either side of Vermont. Mr. Proctor's foresight was witnessed by subsequent fame of the restaurant, until fire completely destroyed it during a blizzard, Nov. 8 1968. The front page of the New York Times carried he story as the loss of a significant part of Vermont's history.   Following the fire, all of the lodging and dining activities shifted to the "Long Trail Chalet" build on the north side of Rte 4 as the winter for the non-insulated Long Trail lodge. The "Annex" building was the first building erected in Vermont, 1938, to serve as a public ski lodge, catering to the early skiers traveling to Pico Peak Ski Resort, just down the road. The name "Long Trail Lodge" shifted as well.    From 1968 until 1977, the original chalet annex was known as "the Long Trail Lodge". On July 15, 1977 ownership was transferred, and the lodge facility became known as "The Inn at Long Trail."   Per Murray and Patty McGrath
Date: 2003-02-12
To: setup entry
Miles today: 0.0

   here's my first entry to get this thing flyin! i hope to use this to be able to share my experience with friends/relatives who would enjoy somewhat travelling along vicariously.   for the benefit of anyone else enjoying this, i'll give a description of myself. i'm a 25 year old land surveyor from northeastern massachusetts. my backwoods playground up until now has been new hampshire's white mountains. i won't be bothering to make the first letter in a sentence capital, you can't make me. for me, the dream to walk the at occurred about 7 years ago. that is when i started backpacking on weekends. however, my adventure was delayed when i got employment at my current job and decided to get some experience and use out of it before i took off. now, i have reached my target of 5 yrs there, and am more than ready to grasp my dreams. during which time i tried to think of a trail name, and it just came to me on a sailing trip may02. i for some reason wasn't trying to think of one at the moment, thinking about how friends call me appalachian man, my name is jake, appalachian jake- applejack!   assuming i don't get drafted, my trek will commence 22may in georgia and last 3 1/2 - 4 mos. i still have much to prepare-purchase of food, some clothing, and misc.- as well as having to fit training into my supertight freetime schedule, but i do believe that i have the resolve, determination, and endurance to accomplish this my first attempt at a long distance walk.must go now, more in futur
Date: 2003-03-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Here it is march 1st. I can remember when I had yet 3-4 years left before my trip on the trail. That seemed like last week. Now it's down to under 12 weeks. Time has cooked by. I'm sure may 22 will be here so fast it'll seem like the day after tomorrow. Just the same the walk will probably be finished three days later. I may as well call my friends and tell 'em party at my place at the end of the this week to celebrate. As it draws near, the reality of the yet to be borne adventure looms like weather approaching on the distant horizon 10-20 miles away. One can see it approaching and has about so much time to ready themself before it overtakes them. I am trying to get to spend less time working, and need to begin walking in the nearby woodlands and perhaps some days acsending and descending mt. monadnock repeatedly. This winter i have been incredibly active physically and am not worried about my strength. I feel i have plenty of whole body strength as well as ankle strength to start the trip now. I believe that i may have a need for stamina for the miles so it is time to start putting in miles a few days a week. A lot of work still remains on my food preparations. I am not planning on dehydrating food, personally, but my menu consists basically of oatmeal/toaster pastry breakfast, tuna/apple/gorp during the day, and pasta with meat dinner. Much of my work left is sitting down and calculating the numbers of each type of food i need to procure. I hope to get to that in the next 3-5 weeks. As for my gear, i pretty much know what i have to go out and get, i just need to find both the time and finish earning the moolah. The money should be tight, but i am particularly proud of the amount of debt i've recently paid off to go on this trip hopefully debt-free. I say hopefully because as it is coming right close i can't predict whether or not i'll need to put a balance on one credit card. My last thought in preparation for today is mental preparation. I don't really think i'm psyched into it really the amount the amount the average thru-hiker is at this distance from beginning. Probably all that's been keeping me so busy other than trip prep has left me little time to think about it and have it really sink in. I'll just have to spend more time thinking about it and maybe more time talking about it to others(i don't know, but perhaps they are already listening in on a hair bit more than they care to) at their expense! Here's hoping my preparation is solidified 6 weeks from now, a deadline i'm setting now, so that i can have only outdoor training and farewell visits to worry of the following five weeks
Date: 2003-04-20
To: preppin smoothly
Miles today: 0.0

here it is april 20, about one month before my walk. i have but a few small errand items on my checklist to complete before i have everything i need (that i'm aware of). only three more weeks to work, with 1-2 weeks off in between, all of which will pass like beach sand through the glass, i'm sure. in my training walks i have comfortably reached my expected 12 miles/every other day in the woods goal, though the local terrain may or may not be changing enough in elevation, so i plan to integrate 4-5 day trips to mt. monadnock, which i understand is the most hiked mountain in the world? so hopefully my last days here before summer are alternated between days training and days spending time with those that will miss wasting time with me. what with that which i am doing this summer is so far from what we were raised and programmed to do, as well as expected from everyone we do and don't know, those being go to college, get a career one works at for 40+- years, get a mortgage, wife, kids, 401k, this seems particularly special to me to live my life independent from expectations but not of my dreams. certain musical lyrics have also become more meaningful to me such as tom petty's "won't back down" and maybe the boss's "glory day's", etc. here's to living the life we dream
Date: 2003-05-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

top 10 reactions from non-backpackers about trip:10. "what?"9. spinning finger pointing at head8. "gonna bring a cell phone, right?"7. "are you independently wealthy?6. "say what?"5. "i'd be the first one voted off"4. "i hope you don't get stuck and cut your arm off!"3. "you've got, like, an 8 inch knife, right? cause      like, the wolves gonna getcha"2. "you're gonna do what?1. "i hope you're at least gonna bring a rifle." leaving town in a couple of days, looks like all gear/supplies in order. it's almost unreal that this is actually going to happen. by the reactions of people i mention the idea to it seems i should just stay home and watch tv!
Date: 2003-05-20
To: i'm, like, ready to go!
Miles today: 0.0

so, here it is. i sit in front of a computer, on my last day amongst the people that go about their lives in the traditional, civilized way. tomorrow i head for the wilderness, to metamorph into another lifestyle, one that is opposite everyone and everything i've always known. i'll bear the weight of a pack that is about 8-10 pounds heavier than what i expected (partly or mostly because i'm a big eater and have a substantial supply of food) and i'll begin my summer's trek in the amicalola park woods, to be camping tomorrow night in said state park, and on thursday morning place my first of many footprints on the appalachian trail. seeing as i've been dreaming of this for seven years, here's hoping it's twice as wondrous an adventure as i've imagined!
Date: 2003-05-22
From: Black Gap Shelter

To: Big Cedar Mtn
Miles today: 0.0

Gee, these shelter mice seem to think they got their game down! I don't know how many there were, but they know teamwork. They woke me up numerous times- they were throwing junk down from the rafters and making a mess- perhaps as a distraction so that others could snoop around my stuff. Mouse turds all over in the morning. At least no bear came. I did, however, lose 2 lbs. trail mix- either the plastic bag just ripped, or a rodent was able to get at it on the bear line. Whilst boiling water those brat mice dropped some junk right in the water! Walked up to top of Springer Mtn in rain, took 2 pictures and that was the end of that roll. But, Oh No! Camera decides it's on vacation and won't work any more! Argh! It needs medical attention. Walking down Springer was really cool. It was like, a rhododendron corridor and in the rain was kinda magical. Also saw other scattered rhododendron corridors through the day. It stopped raining about 11 and through the course of the day I met a bunch of people. There was a small group of heavily laden Canadiens I passed. I ended up going on to do 22+ miles. Later in the afternoon I saw some views as the sky cleared. I got to the Woody Gap road crossing- on one side twenty-somethings drinking beer, on the other side were a couple of hikers, Rabbit & Bearkiller. I politely bid them goodbye and walked into the woods. I am writing this now on the side of Big Cedar Mtn. Since I've been writing the wonderful view has given way to fog, mist, clouds such that I can't see much at all, but I'm hoping to see a nice sunrise come morning. -applejac
Date: 2003-05-29
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Village
Miles today: 6.0

Have yet to see Blue Tarp Man. Perhaps in the Smokies. Staying in FontanaVillage tonight. I don't see why not, every meal they have a menu and a buffet and I only have to walk 100-200 ft to the dining room from my room. It was an inexpensive stay and I get to myself a whole motel room.Though I may not get much sleep. A movie called "Groundhog Day" just finished and they just began another Bill Murray movie "Ghostbusters".Now how can I shut that off? There is one problem with this place though,same problem as at NOC. Seems I'm in a dry county. How's a hiker who's been deprived of many different things that excite the salivary glandssuppose to satisfy all the deprivations in a county where I can't get a Rolling Rock?Going on what sleep I do get tonight I'll head into the Great Smokey Mountains for the first time. I'll haave to make the best of it-right after the breakfast buffet. -applejack-
Date: 2003-06-09
From: no business knob shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

DECLARATION OF (MISCHIEVOUS) INTENT this declaration made on this the 9th day of june in the year 2003 signifies the intentional appropriation of a newly born form of freestyle mooning which in turn is designed to begin a revolution. this revolution will be unlike any other before it, and with the help of involved individuals it will spread like a rash of poison ivy. be it known with this stroke of the quill that we, applejack and cheeseburger, now introduce the association of the New Moon, an association of hikers initially as members, but will eventually grow to include persons hikers and non-hikers alike, pitching in towards one common ideal. that ideal being a genuine interest in photography of persons in the act of mooning in a particularly scenic, famous, or otherwise notable setting. having laid out the foundation on which this association will be built, following are the specifics of the New Moon.1. members of the association will be seen in the photographs as those sporting AT logo in magic marker upon their backside. non-members may participate at will but will not sport such markings.2. the founding members of the New Moon will be cheeseburger and applejack. there will be two ways to become initiated into the association. one way will be to hike at the same miles per day as applejack or cheeseburger, camp at the same locations as they, and of course actively participate in acts of photographing random mooning for a duration of not less than 6 days/nights. the other way is to provide proof of involvement in any other mooning association/organization for which will guarantee grandfathering into the New Moon without the first mentioned procedure being required.3. throughout the duration of applejack's and cheeseburger's thru-hike of the appalachian trail, such involvement in related mooning photography should occur at intervals of no less than every other day, yet may occur as often as neccessary.4. all members will be issued upon the arrival of a date one month after the completion of said trek copies of all photos involving themselves by either e-mail or u.s. mail, either may be chosen but not both. non-members may contact applejack by email requesting photos they were involved in emailed to them. in closing, may we all seek joy in the pursuit of holding up the ideal of the association for the good of mankinds' sense of humor.
Date: 2003-06-09
From: no business knob shelter

To: summit unaka mtn
Miles today: 20.0

well, no bees stung me last night. either way, doesn't matter. a 20 mile day, i thought to myself more than once of how nice a day it would've been to jump. sparse, cotton-candy clouds, 96% blue sky, less than 10 mph winds, just a real pleasant day. walking towards nolichucky gorge campground from the shelter this morning, looking out from temple ridge over the mountains and nolichucky river below and the town of erwin to the north, i thought to myself "this is what my summer should be". later in the day just before dinner i walked up to "beaty spot" which offers a wonderful view to the south and west. mountains to the south, to the west some mountains, and visibility quite distant allowing views through the flatlands beyond. cheeseburger and i are camping on top of unaka mountain, the bright moon visible but coniferous tree cover keeping it dark. very quiet, nearly zero wind. i don't expect rain, yet i'm using my home-sewn tarp for the first time here. we just got done writing up and agreeing on our new association which declaration should precede this journal entry. our thoughts before, after, and interrupting which that were on the invading topic of food. here's to another fantastic day on the appalachian trail tomorrow!
Date: 2003-06-10
From: summit unaka mtn

To: roan mtn shelter
Miles today: 18.0

a big variety of things today. first, fantastic weather! went 3 miles before eating breakfast to the next shelter and met skipper, mutant, and some other fellow. mutant is the only one that went as far as the shelter cheeseburger and i are at tonight on top of roan mtn. supposedly it's the highest elevation shelter on the a.t. one other fellow from michigan named superfoot made it here tonight. he's got the ray jardine thing going on and is doing 30 mile days, but his feet don't look too super (lots of blisters). i think over the next few weeks we'll see more of these 30 mile day people as they probably will be mostly starting end may and first few weeks of june. i saw a variety of wildlife today. a deer bounded off after i came to 30 feet, saw a couple wild turkeys, and i came to a stop on the trail and a bird flew out right next to me and to 10 feet ahead of me. i think it tried to distract me from its nest which i found under a grassy overhang on the trail about knee-height. i snapped a picture of the nest and its two eggs. i ascended roan mtn the same way i always hike- same linear pace to the top and no breaks, which i really should change. the bluff area on roan set up for a nice panorama for the association's first official photo, after which we stayed on the bluff and chatted while cheeseburger and superfoot had dinner, then brought the socializing back to the shelter inside of which my stove held a little campfire. you know, this is what living is meant to be.