morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-09-17
From: Shaw's -- Monson, ME

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Sigh. How frustrating. I¢m still sick. I cannot keep any food inside me. Even a banana went straight through me. My body is tired and weak. Too Much (a nurse) and Enough (an ER doctor) are here now and have been checking on me regularly. HE said that for three days I should just let my body try to eliminate whatever is bothering it. After three days he said I should see a doctor. This morning Lichen and Carbomb packed up their gear and headed out. Dejectedly we said our goodbyes and then lay quietly on the bed being sad. We have enjoyed hiking with them so much and really wanted to summit Katahdin together. It was sad to have to part ways but we understood that they have to ¢hike their own hike.¢ Over an hour after they left someone knocked on our door and we mumbled ¢come in¢ but I didn¢t even turn to look because I assumed it would be someone wanting to clean the room. Souleman said ¢oh my God¢ and I turned to see what was so surprising. Lichen and Carbomb were standing in the doorway. They told us that they got to the trailhead and sat there without talking for half and hour and then finally they talked and they both wanted to wait another day to see if I would recover so we could hike together. What great friends!! We were so excited to see them again. We watched TV and hung around all day. Souleman pepped up and I felt better knowing that he had someone to hang out with. The guys watched football and Lichen and I rested, watched movies and even ventured into Monson to look in the shops. So, we had an unexpected zero, but at least we had friends to spend it with. I better be better tomorrow or I will feel awful that they came back. Plus I can¢t bear to keep disappointing Souleman and putting off the end of this journey.
Date: 2006-09-18
From: Shaw's Monson, ME

To: Shaw's -- Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I wanted to post a quick entry to let everyone know we are still alive. We have made it to Monson, ME -- the last trail town! We have only 8 days of hiking until we summit Katahdin. It is unbelievable how close we are. We have been stuck in this town for awhile. Unfortunately I have been sick for 3 1/2 days so this is our THIRD day in Monson. We are practically locals now. We have been to the two stores and two restaurants more times than we can count and even know some residents by name now. We have also basically moved in to the hostel. Luckily I was in town when I got sick instead of in the woods. My stomach is rather upste and in a lot of pain. I can't keep any food in me so there is no way I can hike. But we are taking the appropriate measures. I'm staying hydrated and resting and eating a bland diet. Today we went to the doctor (with the help of an amazing trail angel, Ilene) and hopefully I'll be on the mend ASAP. When we leave this town we enter the Hundred Mile Wilderness where there are no roads. Therefore we have to make absolutely certain I am better before we head out. Hopefully tomorrow will finally be departure day. I just wanted all of our faithful followers to know we are OK. We will update the journal as soon as we summit and get home. There are not a lot of computers in Maine ... go figure! We were just now able to access a computer to check our email for the first time in a long time. John, we just got your post with the phone numbers and we have been here three days. Thank you so much for the offer. We already paid for tonight at Shaw's hostel in Monson though. We wrote down the numbers though and we will call when we finish the trail (we already have a ride home though).Everyone else, take care and know that we appreciate the love and support from family and friends (and complete strangers too!). We will update our journal as soon as possible so you can all hear the final adventures in our AT saga. Until next time ...
Date: 2006-09-18
From: Shaw's -- Monson, ME

To: Uncle Tom's Cabin ~ Parkman, ME
Miles today: 0.0

Still sick ¢¦Another long day at Shaw¢s ¢ but alone this time because Lichen and Carbomb had to finally leave today. We made it to the hospital this morning by way of a wonderful trail angel named Ilene. They tested me for a bladder infection (negative) but gave me antibiodics for one anyway. Now I have had that honor of sampling THREE trail ERs. We went to the pharmacy for my prescription, the grocery for food (I¢m on a BRAT diet which basically means breads) and back to Shaw¢s.We checked in, got a new room and relaxed. Souleman destroyed me at Checkers. Then I started feeling really really awful all of a sudden. My fever spiked and I couldn¢t stop shaking. I felt really queasy and I ended up throwing up (luckily I made it to the bathroom). I got really upset and started crying because I felt so awful and was so tired of being sick. Souleman was really supportive and encouraging. He suggested going for a walk to clear my head and get some fresh air. We checked our email at the town library and found out that John (his best friend) lives 10 minutes from Monson right now. He offered us a place to stay. We couldn¢t believe he had been that close this whole time.   So Souleman called John who offered to come get us immediately and said we could stay as long as we needed. We talked to the hostel who agreed to give us our money back and we left with John.It was really kind of John to offer to take us in. His Uncle Tom was incredibly generous to let us stay in his house. His house is a converted barn that he remade himself. It is very rustic but at least less crowded. I know Souleman is extremely glad to see John so that probably takes the edge off of his disappointment at my continuing sickness. John and Lauren (his girlfriend) cooked for us and entertained us. We are happy to have friends who are so kind.
Date: 2006-09-19
From: Uncle Tom's Cabin ~ Parkman, ME

To: Uncle Tom's Cabin ~ Parkman, ME
Miles today: 0.0

Still not well ¢¦ We spent a lazy day watching two movies ¢ ¢What About Bob¢ and ¢Double Jeopardy¢ and resting. By afternoon my fever was gone and the only remaining ailment was my sore throat. John built a fire outside and cooked burgers, chicken and corn. I ate heartily and waited nervously to see how my body would react. I kept all the food down and even ate sherbert for dessert.Souleman went with me to check out the cows and pigs on the farm today. The pigs squealed a lot and were fun to watch. I got some great pictures. We played Yahtzee and hung out with Laura and John. If I feel well again tomorrow then we will head out the next day. I want to get one more days worth of food in me so that I will be strong enough for the Hundred Mile Wilderness. Katahdin here we come!
Date: 2006-09-20
From: Shaw's -- Monson, ME

To: ME backwoods town
Miles today: 0.0

Just a quick update to let everyone know that I am feeling much better. After FIVE zero days I am finally able to keep food in me. All of my symptoms have finally gone away. I am spending today eating to re-energize so that I will be strong enough when we return to the trail. We have spent the last two days and nights with John (Souleman's best friend and our best man from our wedding) and his girlfriend Laura who are living in ME for the summer. They are staying in his Uncle's cabin in a very small town near Monson. We just found out they have been 10 min from us the entire time we were stuck in town while I was sick. While we are grateful to the kind people at Shaw's for taking us in while I was feeling poorly, it was great to be able to go to a house with less people to finish recovering.Tomorrow we will head back out into the woods to tackle the end of this journey. It is sad that the ending had to start like this. We sure were looking forward to summitting with our friends (especially Lichen and Carbomb), but we are trying to look at the positive side and realize that everything happens for a reason. Reaching Katahdin and touching that sign will be such an emotional experience for us. It will be even more sweet for all of the hard times we have had to endure on the path from Springer to Katahdin. We will update the trailjournal once we are near a computer after our summit.
Date: 2006-09-20
From: Uncle Tom's Cabin ~ Parkman, ME

To: Uncle Tom's Cabin ~ Parkman, ME
Miles today: 0.0

One final recovery day. Mostly to get more food in my system. Souleman and I went into Dover-Foxcroft today while John and Laura were working. We ate lunch and then used the internet at the library. I tried to update our trail journal a little bit but the libraries are infamous for being stingy with their time limits. We relaxed otherwise ¢ played Yahtzee, watched ¢Thelma and Louise,¢ played catch.John had to work late. When he got home the four of us went out to dinner. Then we played Yahtzee and poker. His Uncle Tom and cousin Molly played too. It was a fun last night in civilization. We are extremely thankful for the help of John, Laura and Tom. Their generosity contributed to our being able to finish this trip.Now I am feeling 100% and am ready to finish this trail. We have waited a long time for this. We will be 2,000 milers before we know it.
Date: 2006-09-21
From: Katahdin

To: Long Pond Stream Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: scattered clouds

It¢s wonderful to be back on the trail! In the five days we have been gone it has become full-fledged fall. The air is crisp, the leaf colors are magnificent and everything is beautiful. Bright, crunchy, fresh-fallen leaves cover the trail and they make loud rustling, crunching noises as we walk.Today we forded multiple streams. Luckily the air was a nice temperature and it was sunny out because the water was really cold. Since I hate being cold and wet I expected to detest fording rivers but it wasn¢t bad. I was mentally prepared for the coldness which I think helped. I think the adrenaline rush made the cold less uncomfortable. One river was wide with a strong current. We made it across dry though except for our feet. While our ford was successful, one of our hiking companions had a less fortunate experience. We got a great laugh out of his blunder. But I¢m going to save the full-blown story for my book ¢ it¢s too great to give away here.I had an unfortunate fall today. Apparently it was amusing to Souleman because I essentially pirouetted and landed on my back facing him. In the process I somehow scraped up my shin. Now I have bloody battle scars.I am so happy to be back out in the woods. We only have a few days left that we will be able to spend outside in nature. I better enjoy both that and the 24/7 togetherness we get to experience out here.
Date: 2006-09-22
From: Long Pond Stream Shelter

To: West Branch of Pleasant River
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: broken clouds

It seems we have fallen into a pattern of long days and late arrivals. We got in tonight just at dusk like yesterday. It seems we are moving slow lately. The terrain has so many rocks and roots that it is hard to get going quickly. But supposedly this was the hardest day in the Hundred Mile Wilderness. We will see. It better get easier or I don¢t know how we will ever do the 20+ mile day we have planned.Today was pretty chilly. We actually both hiked in our long sleeves all day. It was cold enough to get icy hands if you stopped moving. It is nice to be in a tent for the warmth tonight. We only get to sleep out in the fresh air a little longer. I will enjoy regaining the mobility of my arms and legs without a mummy bag at night. I will miss sleeping outside though.The Appalachian Trail has been hard and it has taken a lot out of me. I have been frustrated, angry, defeated and dejected ¢ but more often I have been excited, overjoyed, awed and delighted. As John David (the minister at our wedding) promised in his homily, we have been through the deepest valleys of despair and the tallest mountains of joy on this trail. Together, though, we have done it. In six days we will have completed our journey and achieved a dream. We have been through a lot of adversity on the path to completion which I think will make finishing that much more powerful. Our ability to stick together and achieve a dream says great things for the future of our marriage.
Date: 2006-09-23
From: West Branch of Pleasant River

To: East Branch Lean-to
Miles today: 16.3

This was one of those days that sucks while it is happening but you know will make for great stories later. It started out chilly but not so bad. We had to ford a river first thing. It was the coldest water I have ever had to put a part of my body into. All it lacked was the ice cubes. It was so cold it was actually painful. My feet were numb and hurting at the same time. Luckily the water was only mid-calf at the deepest point.After the ford we did about 3 miles pretty quickly. Then it started drizzling. We snacked at the first shelter and it started really raining hard. It rained steadily as we went up and over all four mountains. On top of White Cap we were practically blown off the mountain. The winds were incredible. You would pick up your foot to take a step and before you could put it down it would be blown to the side of where you planned to put it down. Rain was whipped mercilessly into our faces. White Cap is supposed to have a great view of Katahdin, but of course we saw nothing. We seem to have a curse hanging over us that won¢t allow us to have a single good view off of the more impressive mountains.In the next shelter we decided to just east a quick lunch standing up because I knew if we stopped long enough to get warm and comfortable I wouldn¢t want to continue to our destination. We were soaked and freezing and just wanted to hurry up and hike the next 4 miles. So we are giant Rice Crispy Treats and bit off hunks of cheese. Then we quickly moved on. We did the last stretch in 90 minutes.The high today was 56 degrees. Eeek. No wonder the rain seemed so cold. Especially because it was so windy. The wind is really what makes it miserable. I was actually shivering while hiking today. Luckily the rain helped us to keep moving quickly. When we got to the shelter Puffy Nipples built a fire and we got to dry our wet clothes and warm up. Fires are so comforting.Our hiking days are almost over. I will miss so many parts of this lifestyle. The daily feeling of accomplishment has been so nice. It is strange to be nearing the end of such a big goal. Then what? The 48 4,000 foot mountains in New Hampshire? The 100 Highest in New England? The tallest mountain in each state? All the National Parks? So many more adventures to be had ¢¦
Date: 2006-09-24
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: ??
Miles today: 19.5

Pain. Today was painful. Not because of the terrain, nor even because of the 19.5 miles. Simply because my body does not like to be wet. My socks and shoes are soaked from yesterday so my feet now have raw red spots all the way around them. I tried to tape them but still redness and pain. Yesterday a large piece of my skin actually peeled off when I took my sock off to examine my foot at the end of the day. I have a raw spot now on my hip too from my pack rubbing on wet skin. The skin on my inner thaws actually has scabs now because the wet material from my pants caused such chaffage due to the rain today. My body is revolting!On a more positive note, the terrain was extremely nice today. And this morning we had a real treat! We saw three MOOSE! A mom and a baby were playing in the water while the dad watched over them from the shore. I tried to get a photo after we watched awhile, but she must have heard me because she started making a warning noise and walked away. We quietly moved up the trail and the mom and baby walked right toward us. If we could have gotten the camera out quickly enough we could have had an awesome photo. We tried to follow them, but I swear they just disappear. How do animals so large move so quietly?We both fell walking on bog bridges today. I HATE bog bridges. I swear the things are dangerous. They are slabs of wood (usually trees cut in half) that are balanced on smaller pieces of wood. Hikers are supposed to walk from one slab to the next in order to avoid either wet ground or fragile plants. But inevitably the bog bridges are wet and slippery. No matter how carefully or slowly you step it is easy to fall.Model T was in the shelter tonight. I asked him about the books he wrote and the process of publishing. He gave me a lot of helpful information. I am glad to have met him and learned from him.
Date: 2006-09-25
From: ??

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: few clouds

We saw Katahdin! Not a wimpy ¢that-might-be-it-over-there-behind-that-mountain-covered-with-a-cloud kind of view.¢ First a view from a pond. Model-T confirmed that it was definitely Katahdin. He was able to point out different peaks for us. Then later today we summited a mountain and had another perfect view. It is INCREDIBLE! Model-T said that because it is barren and so high and has such weather patterns it is equivalent to climbing a 14,000 foot mountain out west.Just yesterday (heck this morning) we thought we were in a void with not a lot of other hikers. Then this afternoon Chou-Chou and another girl passed us. Souleman asked if anyone else was nearby and they listed about 10 people who were behind them on the way to the same shelter as us. At least that many passed us over the next four miles. I guess a huge crowd stayed at White House Landing. Now we certainly don¢t have to worry about summiting alone. Instead we have to worry about getting spots at the Birches campsite. That is the place that thru-hikers sleep the night before they summit Katahdin. Only 12 people can sleep their each night. I guess it will be a race for the sign up sheet.The walk today was pretty. Lots of streams and lakes with beautiful views. Maine is a goegeous pristine area. The terrain was pretty flat though full of rocks and roots which seems to by typical of the Hundred Mile Wilderness. The weather was perfect ¢ sunny but cool. We barely broke a sweat all day even though we worked hard.It is s strange to be near the end of such a big goal. Then what? Writing the book about our adventure could be my next goal. I thought a lot about that today while hiking. I¢m really motivated right now, but will I loose steam when I¢m off the trail? I came up with a lot of ideas for promoting a book (Model-T told me promotion is key).
Date: 2006-09-26
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

Surprisingly I have little to say. We hiked 15 miles into Abol Bridge. We officially made it through the Hundred Mile Wilderness in six days. Wahoo! It seems that very few people make it without stopping to resupply at White House Landing. It rained for part of the morning but the afternoon was nice enough ¢ cold though.We are staying in a little bitty shelter past Abol Bridge. It is on the Penobscot River. The surroundings are beautiful. No one else is here. But at least 12 other hikers are staying elsewhere. That means that two people are not getting a spot at the Birches tomorrow night. The sign up sheet is 0.8 into the trail tomorrow. We are planning to get up really really early to ensure that we get a spot. Luckily we seem to get up earlier than anyone else around us. We saw two moose today. Dead ones. They were brought in by hunters to be recorded. Both were males with large racks. The hunters were both teenagers. Apparently 3,000 moose permits are issued each year in Maine. They tell you if you can shoot a bull or a cow. We learned a lot about hunting today. It was so sad to see dead moose after seeing live ones in the woods in their natural surroundings.Tomorrow we go to the Birches. Only a 10 mile hike that is almost completely flat. It should be gorgeous. Then we will literally be at the base of Katahdin. We confirmed pick-up with my mom today. She will be there at the base of the mountain in Baxter State Park at 3:00. Sadly we have no wine or anything to celebrate with. Two more days left in this adventure of a lifetime.
Date: 2006-09-27
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: the Birches
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: few clouds

We had a lovely night in the shelter on the riverbank. We saw a billion stars. It was nice to spend the night alone reminiscing about our adventure and talking about the future. We have such mixed emotions about this trip coming to an end.We were up early ¢ it was still mostly dark and very cold. I think we were both nervous about getting a spot in the Birches. Souleman packed up as quickly as he could (I helped) and he hurried the 0.8 miles to the sign up board. I followed as soon as I could. We were both there by 6:30 and were the first ones there. There were incredible views of Katahdin on the way to the sign. We stood looking out over a foggy marsh to see an early morning view of Katahdin. It was so amazing to see the mountain appear out of the fog and know that we would be climbing it the next day.The day passed quickly. We stopped a few times to enjoy the scenery because we knew that it was the last day we would be able to just stop and enjoy the day. We must have said a hundred times that we couldn¢t believe we were really in Baxter already.   That morning we saw a baby bear playing on the rocks in the water. He was so tiny and adorable but we were afraid his Mama was nearby so we started singing and whistling to warn her of our presence.   The weather was perfect and it would have been the ideal summit day. Right before the end of our hiking day we had to cross a series of wooden planks laid over a marshy area. In some places we were actually crossing shallow ponds on these boards. Many of the wooden planks were not nailed together and were only haphazardly piled on top of each other. I narrowly escaped diving into the water and Souleman commended my recovery. Seconds later he lost his balance on the exact same log and I heard a splash as he landed in the water. He was knee-deep in the water and trying valiantly to steady himself so that the camera (which was in his hip-belt) would not get wet. After a comical struggle against gravity and his pack-weight he straightened himself with the camera safe as could be. When we reached Katahdin Stream Campground we were the first two hikers to check in with the ranger. He explained the rules and the location of the thru-hiker campsite. Of course it was the farthest, most remote campsite possible. There were 12 of us there that night and it was a jovial evening. Some family members of hikers brought trail magic and we all enjoyed the extra food as we spent one last night around the fire. Many trail stories were told and many a nervous giggle was heard as the night drew closer to an end. We were the first to retire. We knew we would want an early start to the next day¢s climb. Katahdin is a 4200 foot vertical climb, most of which occurs in 3 miles. And tomorrow we tackle it. Tomorrow we become 2,000 milers.
Date: 2006-09-28
From: The Birches

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Today at noon we summitted Katahdin and touched that much-dreamed-about sign. It was a rigorous 5.2 mile climb -- definitely the most challenging ascent of the trail. The weather was overcast when we began at the bottom of the trail. By the time we got to the top we were completely surrounded by fog. A misty cold rain was blowing around and the wind was powerful and cold. We spent precious little time on the summit due to the miserable weather. Unfortunately we weren't able to see a single view from the summit. We did, however, touch the sign which makes the completion of our hike official. We are now 2,000 milers!!