morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-07-29
From: Long Pond Stream

To: West Branch Pleasant River
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

It is 6:15pm and we are in our tent. Most likely within the hour we will be asleep. If that sounds pretty lame, just realize that we hit the trail exactly 12 hours ago and did not reach camp until around 4:00pm. That is 10 straight hours of marching through the mountains.Tomorrow we will go again around 6:00am for another 10 hour workout session. Still think it's lame? We had to work very hard to get over the Barren Chairback Range because it was so rugged. Consequently it took longer than we anticipated. One cool thing is we think we saw Katahdin today from the top of Barren Mountain. Tomorrow we should have an even better view from the top of White Cap Mountain.This morning we awoke trying to identify this loud rumbling sound rolling over the mountain. It sounded like General Patton's army was on the move, tanks and all. But after a while we figured out that a freight train was passing by on the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railroad. We had crossed over the tracks yesterday. I thought I was in a wilderness. Now I am not so sure.By the way, I forgot to mention that Monson was established a long time ago because of the abundance of slate. The area has a number of slate quarries, most of which are now closed down. Their "Claim to Fame" is that their slate was used on John F. Kennedy's grave. The rocks seen on the trail south of Monson were primarily granite, now a lot of slate is mixed in. Last time I saw slate on the trail was in Pennsylvania.During our hikes this past week, we have been munching on blueberries. The ridges of these mountains are covered with sweet wild blueberry bushes. They are only a foot tall and produce small berries.Nevertheless, they are so good. Every time we stop for a break we pick a handful for a snack. Firefly took up a collection today to put on her breakfast cereal tomorrow morning.
Date: 2011-07-30
From: West Branch Pleasant River

To: East Branch Pleasant River
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Fast Forward was on a mission today. She found her second wind this morning and charged over the last four major peaks before Katahdin.Much of what happens out here is a function of attitude and not physical ability. Early this morning she was experiencing a feeling I have had many times since I started this hike. She was tired of hiking, and was a bit depressed that she had to walk another 15 miles today. And, we were faced with having to hike over four major peaks, again. Then she started to think of her friend Bunky, who is battling cancer, and others who are going through rough spots in their lives and realized that she had no reason to complain or feel sorry for herself. So she decided to buck up and change her attitude. All of a sudden she was charging up and over the mountains like a steam engine. I had a hard time keeping up and at one point on the down slope I just let her go and caught up with her later at camp. Several of the hikers I passed by laughed when I asked about her and said I was not going to catch her. They were right. Pretty impressive stuff.I am so impressed with the beauty of Maine but I am reluctant to attempt a description. So I include below a quote from Myron H.Avery, one of founders of the A.T. It is from his book called, In the Maine Woods, published in 1934."To those who would see the Maine wilderness, tramp day by day through a succession of ever delightful forest, past lake and stream, and over mountains, we would say: Follow the Appalachian Trail across Maine.It cannot be followed on horse or awheel. Remote for detachment, narrow for chosen company, winding for leisure, lonely for contemplation, it beckons not merely north and south but upward to the body, mind and soul of man."
Date: 2011-07-31
From: East Branch Pleasant River

To: Pemadumcook Lake
Miles today: 21.8

Attention! Attention! Please step away from the edge of the platform.The express train to Mt. Katahdin is leaving the station. We hit a stretch of trail today that was by far the easiest we have seen to date. And we took full advantage and broke the 20 mile mark for the first time. We had almost 12 miles in the bag by lunch, and just poured it on in the afternoon. We are camped next to this huge lake which has nothing on it. No houses, docks, etc. Really peaceful place to spend the evening, and it is only 46 miles from the summit of Katahdin.Today's highlights, other than chugging along at a 3 mile per hour clip, were the swim at Lower Jo-Mary Lake, the moose we spotted in the woods just off the trail late this afternoon, the garter snake which had a big lump in the middle of its body from a recent meal, the school of fish that swam around my legs while I was washing up in the lake, a ford of the East Branch of the Pleasant River, several more ponds, and the beautiful Maine woods. I could go on and on.Tomorrow we will see again if we can go long and put ourselves into a position where we can exit this 100 Mile Wilderness with a short day on Tuesday to Abol Bridge. Choo choo! Keep on chuggin'!
Date: 2011-08-01
From: Pemadumcook Lake

To: Rainbow Spring Campsite
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: few clouds

Our last long day of hiking turned out to be a lot tougher than expected. The smooth trail we enjoyed yesterday turned into a tangled mess of roots with some rock mixed in. So it took a lot more effort and concentration to hike and not slip and fall. Fortunately the weather was clear until the last hour. We could hear thunder and saw some lightening in the distance and we still had two miles to go. So we hustled and got to camp just as it started to sprinkle. We quickly got the tent up before the heavy stuffed arrived.Our one climb was up Nesuntabunt Mountain where we had this incredible view of Katahdin. Most of the rest of the day we hiked by and around these huge lakes. Last night we were camped by a lake and the stars came out and filled the sky. You could see the reflection of the stars glittering on the surface of the lake. I don't remember having ever seen that before. It was one of those "Wow" moments on the trail.Tomorrow we have a short 11 mile hike to Abol Bridge, which will mean we have managed to make our way through the 100 Mile Wilderness. Then it is another 10 miles to the base of Katahdin before the 5 mile hike to the summit. Hopefully the weather cooperates and allows us to summit either on Wednesday or Thursday.
Date: 2011-08-02
From: Rainbow Spring Campsite

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: moderate rain

The walk to Abol Bridge was easy and under grey threatening skies. We came out of the woods around 11:00 am, crossed over the West Branch of the Penobscot River and found the Abol Campsite Store for some lunch.About an hour later, Firefly's husband (Thirty Plus) drove up and took us away to Millinocket. It had started to rain while we were eating our lunch and we made the snap decision to not camp out in our wet tents tonight. Instead, we found a hotel room in Millinocket and will complete the hike with two slack packs. It turned out to be a good decision since it has been raining hard all afternoon.Tomorrow we will either hike to the summit of Katahdin, or, hike the section between Abol Bridge and the base of Katahdin. Whichever we don't do tomorrow, we will complete on Thursday. The weather report for the next two days is not good. So we will climb Katahdin on the day when the weather looks to be the best. This will be a game time decision tomorrow morning after we drive up to the base Katahdin.
Date: 2011-08-04
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

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

Our decision to climb Katahdin yesterday was a good one given that it was even rainier this morning. I wouldn't want to be on that ridge during bad weather. Nevertheless, it was a good day to walk in the valley below back to Abol Bridge. The day got clearer and clearer and was quite sunny by the time we finished. The trail was quite easy too. It passed by several lakes before following the Nesowadnehunk Creek to the West Branch of the Penobscot River. When we reached Abol Bridge, we used one of their picnic tables to eat lunch before leaving the park and hitting the road to Bangor. Firefly and Thirty Plus have been a pleasure to hike with and have been so helpful to us. They dropped us off at the front door of a hotel in Bangor on their way to Bar Harbor. They plan on taking a few weeks off relaxing before returning to the trail in Harpers Ferry. We wish them the very best.Tomorrow we will take a bus to Boston and join our friends for a weekend gathering at Amy and Dan's home in Massachusetts. We are really looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up. The gathering was a real motivator for us to finish the hike ahead of schedule. This should be a fun weekend.
Date: 2008-03-20
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

About a year ago I decided to attempt a thru-hike of the AT. This decision is remarkable in it¢s audacity, given my lack of any experience in hiking or camping. The inspiration for this attempt is my son, Justus (THA Skinny), who did two extended hikes in 03 and 04. In 03, he and a friend started from Springer and hiked to Damascus, where he stepped in a hole and broke his ankle. The next year, he became depressed with his life and his job, and asked for my help in getting back on the trail to get his head right. So, in July, he flew into Harrisburg, PA, and got on the trail in Duncannon, where he had determined the crowd was at that time. He fell into a group and made it to Katahdin in late September. This second hike was a life-changing experience for him. I think his faith in human nature was restored, and he discovered many diverse cultures, which broadened his outlook on life. He developed a fast friendship with several hikers and expecially with the trail angel Paddyo. He came back a changed person, and we became close again , as we had been when he was an adolescent, before he dropped out of high school and fell in with a very bad crowd. After he got back, he struggled to separate himself from his old ways of life. Sometimes he was successful, sometimes not. In April of 2005, I lent him my truck to go dove hunting with friends in Tennessee. He left on Saturday morning really looking forward to get to do something he truly loved. About midnight that night, I was wakened by a knock on my door. Two police officers informed me Justus had been killed by overturning the truck on a curve in a country road. Not a day has gone by since that I haven't thought about him and felt sad to the core that I'll never be with him again. Since that time, I have lived with the regret that I didn¢t take time off from work to join Justus on the trail, at least for a section. Those were the best days of his short life (he was 28 when he died), and I could have been with him for some of those days. The idea of my own hike has steadily grown over the past couple of years. In spite of my total lack of experience and skills in hiking and camping, I decided that I needed to attempt this hike. Over the past year, I have collected gear based on what I have read in some books and in trail journals. I have tried out most of what I collected in my back yard (a pretty poor imitation of the trail, I know). I think it could be fairly stated that I am ¢all gear and no blisters.¢ I intend to learn as I go. This may be a recipe for some amount of misery in the earlier miles, but that¢s my plan. Another thing going against me is my age ¢ 65. I¢m in fairly fit aerobically. I¢m a former marathon runner, whose joints finally stove me up and forced me to retreat to the gym. Now I work out on the elliptical trainer and lift weights. My brief experience hiking with a loaded pack has encouraged me that my joint problems are specific to the running motion and not so much for hiking. I guess time will tell.
Date: 2008-03-21
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

This is my last week at home for a while. Next Friday, I will travel to Dahlonega with my friend Henri, who is going over to Atlanta to run the Georgia marathon. I will stay at the Hiker Hostel Friday night and start the trail Saturday morning. I have been busy getting all the arrangements set to be gone four to six months -- getting my mail forwarded to a friend¢s address, arranging to have my grass cut, cutting off my cable service, installing timers on some table lamps, but there are probably a few things I¢ve completely missed. I plan to pay off my monthly credit card bill by means of phone. My car tag renewals will come due when I¢m gone ¢ I¢ll probably just pay the late fee when I get back. There¢s a house insurance bill that I need to make arrangements to prepay. What else? I¢ll find out what I missed when I get back. Probably April in the southern Appalachians is the toughest time to predict, and prepare for, weather (perhaps fall in the Whites is equally uncertain). I¢m taking three light layers, with a wind/water proof outer layer. I¢m starting out with a 15 degree sleeping bag, and bouncing a 40 degree bag ahead. I¢ve selected a canister stove over an alcohol stove because of the ability to vary the cook time and intensity. The base weight for my pack is about 18 lbs. with four days of food, it¢s about 26 lbs. I hope to lighten up when the risk of cold weather diminishes. I just hope I don¢t freeze to death or get eaten by a bear. Because I don¢t have the hiking experience, I¢ll have to start out slow, and gather my strength as I go. I know I¢ll have to average about 12 miles a day, but I can¢t risk an early injury. I have no idea how many miles I can do on a daily basis in my current condition. I¢m depending on Vaseline to prevent blisters as I did running marathons. I¢m starting out with boots, hoping to switch to trail runners after my ankles get used to the stress. I¢m beginning this adventure with a combination of hopeful anticipation and nervous uncertainty -- sort of like I used to feel just before a maximum effort marathon.
Date: 2008-03-22
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I¢ve selected that trail name ¢Rookie¢ in recognition of my abject lack of trail experience. At least that will be my name until I do something really stupid and get one assigned to me by my fellow hikers. Like getting totally lost for several days or burning my tent down. I have to confess I¢m not a social animal and don¢t know how I¢ll relate to my, mostly much younger, fellow hikers. I hope they¢ll cut me some slack. I have a history of getting to know people very slowly. I must also admit that I¢ve associated primarily with engineers and scientists at work, so the diversity of the trail will be new to me. I sincerely hope that I don¢t appear to be unfriendly because I¢m not a great conversationalist. I also hope that the trail experience will improve my people skills. Here¢s a poem I adapted from ¢Into the Twilight¢ by W. B. Yeats and dedicated to my son Justus. It applies to all hikers.Out-worn our hearts, in time out-wornNow clear of the nets of wrong and right;Laugh, my son, again in the grey twilight,Sigh, my son, again in the dew of the morn.Come meet us where hill is heaped upon hill;For there the mystical brotherhoodOf sun and moon and hollow and woodAnd river and stream work out there will:And God stands winding His lonely horn,And time and the world are ever in flight;And love is less kind than the grey twilight,And hope is less dear than the dew of the morn.
Date: 2008-03-26
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The hour of my departure is quickly appoaching. I'm torturing my brain to think of details I've forgotten. I never realized how many issues you face when you take off for six months with no one to mind the store while you're gone. When I finally leave, I'm sure I'll spend the first couple of nights, staring into the darkness, wiating on the "Oh s--t!" moment. I should have left last week, when my pack weighed under 25 lbs. In the meantime, that collection of weightless items that end up weighing a brick, has brought it up to 27lbs. If I don't leave soon, it will be too heavy to carry. I guess I suffer from the rookie syndrome of uncertainty about what I can do without. I suppose I'll have to figure that out as I go. I mailed my bounce box off to Fontanna Dam this morning, so it won't be too terribly long before I can send some stuff ahead or home. I've unpacked and repacked about fifteen times so far to continually reassure myself that I have what I'll need. One of the stress reduction crutches I use is writing poetry. It's not very good, but it makes me feel better. At the risk of boring the pants off you, here is one I wrote last night.The Journey BeginsThe journey begins:The journey that I have taken beforeIn another month, in another yearIn another bodyThat body that was half mine, half anotherAnd now walks too softly to hear.I will see the scenes My other eyes perceived,Feel the heat and cold against new skin,And be inspired as my half-heart wasAnd perhaps know the peace thatMy other knows since then.My friend DeWayne Satterfield, a national-class trail runner, wrote a better one for me.The Long WalkDeWayne SatterfieldEvery step differentEvery step the sameThe rocks and trees remainEvery thought differentEvery thought the sameThe longing tearing at my heartCry out to yourself if no one will listen My demons calmed with each step I take Cry out to mountains if no one will listen My body beaten my soul at the waitI look at life differentI look at life the sameThe past and future collide to nowI look differentI look the sameThe walk, the long walk remains
Date: 2008-03-28
From: Home

To: Hiker Hostel/Dahlonega
Miles today: 0.0

Blast-off will occur at about noon. I had my going away dinner last night with a few freinds. I came in to work to say my goodbyes. I have that feeling that I used to get before a marathon -- I just want to get started so my nerves will get settled. It's been a harrowing past two or three days getting last minute things done. I'm looking forward to the solitude for the first few days. After that, I don't know. Looks like there's a good chance of rain on the trail for the first week. I suppose I have to get used to being wet sometime, so I might as well get that out of the way in the beginning. Hope to see you all on the trail.
Date: 2008-03-29
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

The morning began with a huge breakfast followed by a ride to Springer Mountain that reminded me of a Disney World ride. We careened along the logging road, whizzing past turkey hunters, standing at the ready with their fire arms. We also decided it would be best to act and sound as un-turkey like as possible. After unloading, our group slacked in the rain to the bronze plaque, where the thru wannabes signed the register, picked up the obligatory pebble and head north. After picking up our packs at the parking lot, we headed off in the rain with grand enthusiasm. We marched all day through the wind and rain, arriving at Hawk Mountain Shelter about 3:30. The shelter was full, due to a Boy Scout invasion. I set up my tent, unpacked, cooked my dinner, sat around and talked, and then crawled in my bag, establishing the routine of the AT hiker that I would follow ever after.
Date: 2008-03-30
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up early - about 5:30 in anticipation of an early departure. I packed up inside until it got light and then took down my tent. I didn't fix a hot breakfast, but ate a Power Bar. The group I was hiking with was not so anxious to get started, and I stood around waiting, getting colder as I stood. It was damp, cold, and windy. At last we headed out about 8:30 for Gooch Mountain Shelter. On the previous day¢s hike, I had fallen in with Gypsy, a 61 year old from Maine. We hiked about the same pace, so it was a natural combination. Being a self-confessed rookie at this hiking/camping game, Gypsy proceeded to share his expertise, which was considerable and to which I listened with great interest. Gypsy is a thru-hiker accompanied by his son and the son's friend as far as the North Carolina border. Gypsy and I hike faster than the other two, so we only see them in camp. Sassafras Mountain and Justin Mountain are challenging. I arrive at Gooch very tired.
Date: 2008-03-31
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Dan Gap
Miles today: 7.3

Recognizing the start pattern of Gypsy, Red Beard (son), and Over-Under (son's friend), I slept in until dawn broke, cooked a leisurely breakfast, and was ready when the others were. Ramrock Mountain was the challenge of the day. We hiked past Woody Gap Shelter, deciding to stealth camp at Dan Gap (crossing Big Cedar Mountain to get there). As usual, Gypsy and I arrived first and set up camp. A stiff wind was blowing and it began to rain. When the others arrived they informed us that the intended camp site was further down the trail. I opted to stay where I was, but Gypsy decided to break camp and follow the others in hopes of getting out of the wind (Gypsy hammocks, and so is more susceptible to wind chill). After awhile, the wind stopped but the rain continued pretty hard all night.
Date: 2008-04-01
From: Dan Gap

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: light rain

I awoke to a damp tent and contents. When the rain let up, I decided to make a break for the trail, getting packed up inside the tent, waiting for day break, and packing up my tent hastily to avoid the next rain shower. I past the group, who were 500 yards up the trail. There were just getting up, so I told them I was heading off. The challenge of the day was Blood Mountain, which provided a steady climb up and a rapid descent. The descent was more rock climbing than hiking. There were several opportunities for serious injury. The fog, which was intense for most of the day, blocking all views at the observation points, suddenly broke after I had descended and was about half a mile from Neel. I got to the hostel about 12:30, got a room, showered and put out my gear to dry in the sun. The group arrived about 4:30, not having left camp until 9:30. There was not room for all, so they opted to stay at some cabins down the road. I stayed at Neel and went for the all you can eat spaghetti dinner.
Date: 2008-04-02
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

The day started overcast with thick fog (again). After an hour the fog dispensed and the sun broke through. The challenges today were the climbs up Wildcat Mountain and Poor Mountain. This was my longest day so far, and I completed it in 7 hours. I had my tent up by the time the next group showed up. I decided to hike alone instead of waiting for Gypsy and the group to get ready. The hiking was good, including the strenuous parts. Toward the end my back began to ache some, but nothing serious. Hog Pen Gap is famous for being the finish line for the Hop Pen Hill Climb road race starting in Helen, Georgia and proceeding 11+ miles up the steepest grade road the law allows. My friend Randall ran this race annually for many years. I ran it three times until I got an age-group trophy and called it quits. Time and the tides have since turned both me and Randall into cross-trainers (two obsessive runners, all other sport activities is cross-training).
Date: 2008-04-03
From: Low Gap

To: Tray Mountain
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

The challenges for today were hiking through the remnants of an ancient rock avalanche on Blue Mountain. The rocks went on for hours. Then there was the hike up Rocking Mountain, which climbed 1,000 feet in 1.9 miles. We wanted to make it to Tray Gap for a hiker feast put on by the Boy Scouts. We made it with time to spare. The highlight of the day was hiking with Jacob, a six year old who has been hiking with his parents since age three. He definitely hikes as fast as I care to and carries a six pound pack. He's been out for seven days with his parents and has two more to go. They hiked from Springer and will cut off in two more days. He's covered as much of the trail as the rest of us; the kid is amazing.Tomorrow is an 11 mile hike into Hiawassee for a stay at the hostel.