morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-08-14
From: Thunderbolt Shelter

To: AT Campsite
Miles today: 11.0

Some pretty hefty thunderstormin¢ the night before last. Woke me up, which usually doesn¢t happen. Rained pretty hard, moistening my gear pretty well. I walked in to Cheshire and opened up and dried all my gear on the Post Office lawn in the sun. Mowing my Ma¢s lovin¢ brownies as I move on, begins the 7 mile ascent of Greylock. Predicted and Expected. Got up there at about 5:30 and so did my cousin Nathan but I expected him later so I showered and cooked dinner before I found him. We endt up sleeping in some day use shelter called Thunderbolt Shelter, which was really nice on top of the mountain. So I should be resting up between yesterday¢s 12 & today¢s 11 miles. It would never feel that way, though. We descended today to North Adams expecting Pizza Hut food, only to find it closed for good! Bummer. Oh well, a Chinese food buffet and a pint of B&J¢s filled that need well enough. Went back to the AT and came across a stream with a pool that I decided to jump in, only slightly chilly! Another few miles to Vermont and I¢ve yet another state complete. We are tenting off the trail about 12 mile into Vermont. It¢s been overcast for only about the last hour, showers predicted tonight- no shock there!   -applejack-
Date: 2003-08-19
From: Manchester Center

To: Baker Peak
Miles today: 12.5

Had a swift stroll 6 miles yesterday to the highway, and got there just in time to jump in with a few other hikers hitching into Manchester Center. Phoned my friend Matt, to make sure he still planned to visit and then went to the eating thing. Pretty much loitered around the shopping plaza till Matt arrived at 6. We originally were to camp for free but endt up hanging with a bunch of other thrus at Sutton Place and paid to sleep there. It was a good place for hikers, owner isn¢t bothering and it¢s comfortable- not tooo clean. Though it cost $20 a person, which is 20 bucks more than I wanted to spend, but worth it. Caught up some calories with some beer, slept well on the comfortable bed, and walked to Friendly¢s this morning for a steak n egg breakfast. Oh yeah. Matt was kind and drove me to the next town so I could get my mail drop now, and not try to get to it later, and he also dropped off a couple other thrus at the trailheads. I got a later start than I wanted, but that¢s OK. I wanted to go 16 and hang with Widget /Chef/A-Train, but stopped at 12.5 on this here Baker Peak vista-type place to sleep under the stars. The sky is about as clear as can be, 20 minutes before sunset as I notice the mountains¢ shadows creeping up the valleys. This should be quite nice. I¢m dining on extra food I toted in from town, a bag of Fritos, fantastic brownies from my neighbor-at-home Gerry, and three leftover Rolling Rocks from last night. Doesn¢t get much better than this!      -applejack-
Date: 2003-08-22
From: The Inn at Long Trail

To: The Lookout
Miles today: 17.0

Wow, I could be getting lazy with this journal. First time missing two nights¢ entries. On Wednesday I rose early and walked 4 miles to the shelter Widget/ A-Train/ Le Chef were at to cook breakfast. I endt up walking 20.6 miles, a little extra because of the day before¢s short. The end of the day brought dinner at the Whistlestop Reseraunt, which tasted great but was served in about the most disorderly way I¢ve ever had. A-Train walked the extra distance to a convenience store and got beer, a bunch of which I¢d carried one mile to the shelter (Clarendon Shelter). That was a nice shelter with wood at the ready for fire. On the way to the shelter a half mile before was a vista where paused for a look at a real nice sunset. We had some of the lesser-liked beer still in the morning, and of course drank them before walking. Yesterdays walk included Killington Peak, which offered nice views, but there are antennas and other junk up there. Walked out to the highway, then a mile on road to the Inn at Long Trail and the connected McGrath¢s Irish Pub. Most everyone else I was kind of hanging around with took the Sherburne Pass blue-blas© trail, which went right there. I shared a nice suite with Doc, Llama, & Coy and went to the pub for shepherd¢s pie, Guinness Stew & miscellaneous beers. Went back to room with a bunch of thrus to watch tv and chat. Woke up this morning to go to a really nice breakfast, as it was a bed n breakfast, and ordered extra food. Carolina Cruiser was there and got his camera out to film us chowin and also a friendly former thru from the next table endt up paying our tab. That was quite nice. Today¢s walk was a little bit mean; after Maine Junction, where the AT leaves the Long Trail to make its easting toward the NH and ME mountains. Perhaps the people who blazed it thought Vermont had something to prove. There were no views to get to, yet trail at any given time was either climbing or descending. But my final destination after 17 miles here at the privately owned cabin at ¢the Lookout¢ is great. There¢s a deck on the roof above the trees, and I think it¢ll be an opportunity for my first nice sunrise of the trip if it¢s clear. Now ¢s time to go back to my radio for a check on the Patriot¢s game.   ¢applejack-
Date: 2003-09-03
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Mt Lafayette
Miles today: 0.0

What a great day for the Misty Mountain hop! Climbed up Kinsman first thing this morning, with great views (even through cloudy skies) all around. Had lunch at Lonesome Lake Hut, nice, and only a few bucks. Went on, walking with Spin down to highway 93 and up the other side of Franconia Notch. He tented at Liberty Spring, but I decided to go more, and on up to Franconia Ridge. It was beautiful, the views above treeline down through the Notch and Pemi Valley as well as the mountains ahead. Got up to Mt Lafayette, the tallest near here at 5249 ft, just 30 minutes too late for a panoramic view. Some views to the north intermittently, but otherwise enshrouded in fog and cloud. It¢s raining lightly now, as was predicted for tonight. I decided to camp here tonight, so I¢ve got my plastic sheet all guyed down around me with large rocks. Pretty windy and chilly, but it¢ll be fine. Hoping to continue some great views along this open ridgeline in the morning so clear up skies!   -applejack-
Date: 2003-09-21
From: Surplus Pond

To: Piazza Rock Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Well, once again I take a couple of zeroes and let go the journal entries. Thursday¢s 20 miles worked out fine, even with a few big climbs thrown in. It was quite a nice day weatherwize. I got to the expected gravel road and left the AT for a 55 minute walk to my friend Jeff¢s cabin on Mooselookmeguntic Lake. I wasn¢t sure what to expect of it, I was just hoping for some potable water. Getting there I was a little thirsty, and seeing it was a beautiful building, one of those Lincoln-log looking cabins. After more than 20 miles, I actually welcomed the taste of a Budweiser out of the fridge. I really liked the place, the d©cor, radio but no TV, the large porch, how well kept it is. I was much more impressed when Jeff got there the next evening and told me how he and his friend Rich built it themselves. He said it wasn¢t particularly complicated, but what with him having so much into it and being so proud of it I was honored to have been invited. Things like that make me humbled, how he left me with a key and had the trust in me to let me go to his castle myself and extend such a welcome. So I zeroed Friday and Saturday, mostly just chillin and napping and eating, staying up till two jabbering with Jeff over drinks listening to tunes. Today I set back to the trail, of course not until after a nice breakfast of 3 mushroom-cheeseburgers, drigging with Worcestershire sauce. MMM! Today¢s 16 miles were pretty easy, no tough climbs, just relaxed walking. I¢ve begun saying some good-byes, as the people I¢m near today won¢t be doing enough miles per day to see me for the rest of the trip. I¢m at Piazza Rock Shelter, Baltimore Jack, Crow Dog & Prairie Chicken are here tenting and I¢ve got the shelter to myself. 7:30 now, it¢s pretty dark out and I¢m going to sleep soon for an expectedly tough 20 miles tomorrow.   ¢applejack-
Date: 2003-09-24
From: Piazza Rock Shelter

To: Caratunk House Hikers Hostel
Miles today: 27.0

Man, I just have some sort of chronic thing, where I¢m getting into skipping journal entries. Monday came and I got to high-steppin. Did my first 20 mile day since Connecticut. Had a good day, pleasant scenery, comfy weather. Found Greenman¢s tent poles at a shelter and picked them up. Fortunately didn¢t have to carry them long, Greenman, Sunkist & Chigger all were heading to the warming hut on top of Sugarloaf/USA ski area like me. We were the only ones there, and had a grand time. There was a boombox and it stayed on the station that broadcasts right there, 105 tos. In the morning, they weren¢t sure what to do when the mountain was socked in with fog and light raindrops. They endt up hiking down ski trails and hitchhiking . But I knew exactly what I¢d do (just what I planned). I did 26 miles yesterday most of the time dry, but mid-afternoon the rain came and I found that to be a pain, as it came before I was done with the higher mountains. But of course I drove on, dressed as always only in shoes and shorts I¢ll probably even walk up Katahdin like that. I do, of course, have more clothing for if the need arises, but I know that if I start to shiver, I¢ll just wait and eventually that¢ll stop (joke, for those of you who didn¢t follow). So I got to that there little Bigelow Shelter just before dark, and all the friendly faces inside schooched over to make room for one more, and I had a nice, warm spot for the night. In the morning I got up really early for the possibility of 27 miles was in today¢s thoughts. I burned up the first 17 by lunch, sauntered the next 3 12 to the Kennebec River, and chilled. There is a ferryperson who canoes thru-hikers across, and she was quite unhappy today. We tried, again, but that won¢t last long. Walking to the post office I heard some people and thought,¢ Man, this Maine accent is funky in these parts¢, but then heard a ¢Mairnt!¢ and looked over to see Greenman, Sunkist, and Chigger (Greenman¢s got accent from Alabama). Endt up going to a pub/restaurant/everything with them and they have a pool and hot tub free to patrons, which kicked arse! Spent time there, hit Steve Longley¢s store and Mala¢s camp, then made it to the Caratunk House Hiker¢s Hostel. This place is set up super. It has everything a hiker passing thru needs. I just hope I have the will to leave in time tomorrow for the 19 miles I need to do!   -applejack-
Date: 2003-09-25
From: Caratunk House Hikers Hostel

To: Moxie Bald Shelter
Miles today: 17.0

I had a very pleasant stay at the Caratunk House last night. Really impressed with that hostel. Saw Paul make Soul Train a bacon cheeseburger and milkshake was like, wow, and this morning¢s breakfast was great and Paul kept bringing more! There are very easy ways to please me. Meandering along 19 miles today, most of which was not perfectly level, but not going up or down a mountain. Though there were two climbs- Mt Pleasant and Moxie Bald. Well shave my head and hand me a moxie! It probably still doesn¢t taste worth anything to me. Moxie Bald is considered to be bald as in there is much rock/ledge covering the top- but there¢s still trees. Staying at Moxie Bald Shelter tonight. There¢s another thru named Regan, some section hikers, and two late-arriving SOBO girls. Been thinking today a lot about the trip as a whole and how it came out overall, which I may as well be thinking of it now as there¢s only a week left. I do believe for my personal interests that this trip came out great. I also know that in not less than 10 years I want to do it again, and try it in a different way probably, like starting 2+ months earlier. I¢m going to want to experience things I didn¢t get to this time. But just because one doesn¢t hit every possible opportunity doesn¢t mean they failed to completely do The Trail. Everyone¢s result is a mosaic of the things they happened across, part of what brings the saying¢ hike your own hike¢. On the side, it leaves unexplored parts yet that beckon one to return for more.   ¢applejack-
Date: 2003-09-28
From: Monson

To: 100 mile wilderness
Miles today: 15.0

Well, I¢ve found some more time on my hands to catch up the journal, as again I¢ve spent 2 nights in town and neglected it. On Friday I was the go-getter-up at an early enough time to walk by 7. Did the 18 miles to highway 15 before 2pm. It was pleasant and easy walking as far as elevation gain/loss. I had to ford a stream, of course after trying to make it hopping rocks-slipped, fell in. What is it with people who keep the trails in Maine? Any other state has a bridge for this sort of thing. I¢m going to have to carry my aqua socks for the last week, yet another couple pounds in the pack. I hitched a ride with a local driving a Firebird and went to the post office. For some reason my drift box wasn¢t there. I was bummed. I knew I¢d sent it to Monson. Went to Shaw¢s to stay and after a great dinner Pat Shaw mentioned I¢d a box waiting¢¦ Oh yeah, I sent it right to Shaw¢s. I¢m cooked. It¢s a relief to be coming to the end of the trip soon, yet of course I¢m also sad, as I¢ve enjoyed this lifestyle. Yesterday was a day off and I went to the State of Maine Barbeque Championship and had a great time. So many people I told and many appeared to be very interested in going, but no one else went with. That¢s OK; if I relied on the company of others for what I do I wouldn¢t have even done this trip. There was bluegrass music which I listened to about 8 straight hours and there was BBQ teams competing. After the teams picked their entries to send to judges, some teams would sell it to you. I tried to get some from a Beverly team as I thought it was neat that they are so close to my hometown, but I just got brushed off. They had no BBQ loving for Jake. Oh well, I got a whole lot from the others and also had a plate of fried clams. I also bought a CD of one of my preferred bands that played, and a sweatshirt, both of which I¢m now stuck carrying in my backpack. This morning I was ready early and after a nice large breakfast a nice fellow drove me to the trailhead for an early start by 7. I wanted to do 26 miles today, but I¢m now done by 2pm at 15 miles. It¢s been raining from light to heavy, and I¢m not in the mood to go over the next few mountains in this like last Tuesday. So I¢ll just sleep away the rest of the day and do a few extra miles a day this week.   ¢applejack-
Date: 2003-10-01
From: Podumchook Shelter

To: Rainbow Stream Shelter
Miles today: 18.0

Haven¢t written the past 2 nights, didn¢t think I had much to write of. Monday was a miles-making day, 21, and the high point was fording the West Branch Pleasant River, which was up to my kneecaps. Made dinner & breakfast, then yesterday morning got up for an early start to a high-steppin¢ 30.3 mile day. So that, too, was a walk fast miles-making day. Today was quite a pleasant one, though. 18 miles at my preferred pace and the first day this week with dry feet. I saw Katahdin for the first time this morning, and a moose walking around a river. I¢ve been shelter camping this week, what with all the rain lately. Carl Newhall on Monday, Podumchook or something yesterday, and Rainbow Stream tonight. I¢d wanted to stay here originally because I¢ve seen so many pictures of this place in books, but it doesn¢t really look the same to me as in the pictures. Two more days of walking, then my summer-long trip is over. Going back to work Tuesday. Abrupt. Weird.   ¢applejack-
Date: 2003-10-12
From: Katahdin Denied!

To: At Last!!!
Miles today: 0.0

It¢s probably all well that the trip is over as far as this journal goes-this being the first entry in over a week. If the trip went on I could end up with one month journal recap entries. I fixed my pickup¢s brakes Saturday, only to find a brake line begin spewing, so I still couldn¢t use it. Sunday I called Baxter Park to find out that I could have finished the day before if I¢d stayed and waited. Oh well. Sunday night¢s REM concert was a good show; went with my good pal Rob. Monday comes, off to work. Car mechanic tells me that, of course, my vehicle¢s brakes need a whole lot of work. Good grief, what am I supposed to do?! Had them do it and after work Tuesday drove back to Baxter Park hoping to finish Wednesday. Surprise! They closed the trails again! Great! I stuck around hoping hoping that with the fantastic current and predicted weather they¢d let us up on Thursday. Which is what happened.] Keeping busy Wednesday I, Chigger, Jay, and Shenandoah drive into Millinocket, a trip made 2 hours longer by people squeezing a little cabin on a truck down the woods road in the park. Coming back, a big bull moose ran out of the woods in front of us and led us down the road at 15 mph for a half mile plus. To finish the afternoon Chigger and I went paddling in Daicey pond, which was quite nice. On Thursday morning I got an early start walking at dawn and, passing a few, was the first one to the top despite my relaxed pace. It was a wonderfully beautiful day; I don¢t think anyone could ask for much better. I toasted scotch and water at the top and had some good beef jerky that my friends Gloria and Rob had sent me. Found some snow and had snowballs to pitch at approaching thru¢s. Many thru¢s climbed that day, some I hadn¢t seen for a couple weeks and even Sage whom I haven¢t seen for months. As nice as it would have been to stay and party, I descended to begin my nine hour drive as I¢d offered to go out of my way to bring Shenandoah to Wellesley, MA. So Friday was another less-than-8-hours-sleep workday, which made for all 3 this week. After which I was driving home and saw an old friend Shawn and we hung out that night. Yesterday and today have been relaxing days. Last night was Rob¢s bachelor party, which went well and tonight I¢ll go out with some more friends. Tomorrow begins my first full week of working that will go uninterrupted for a many months. Awwww. I seem to, not surprisingly to myself, make adaptations easily and am doing fine in the transition back to the working world. Which is not to say that I don¢t mentally observe comparisons between my two lifestyles and compare. I do miss quite much this summer¢s adventure lifestyle and will think about it after, yet it is good to be once again amongst the family and friends I missed while I¢ve been away.   ¢applejack-
Date: 2003-01-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well the BIG YEAR is here 2003 !!   As I look forward, the task before me suddenly seems almost overwhelming. To walk over 2000 miles. My friends think I crazy, maybe I am, but not anymore crazy than all the others that have made the trek. If they could do it, I can too. I do know is the AT is in my blood, part of my soul, it calls to me and I will remain internally restless until I have passed every blaze. Am I ready ??? Not yet, there is so much to do. I have most of my gear, still need to buy a few clothes and get out in thecold to see what works and what still needs tweaked. I become hypothermic easily and am trying to find just the right balance between warmth and weight. I will probably opt for carrying an little extra wt. to start than chance getting too cold. Hypothermia kills, it will be one of my fears both to start in March, then again in the Whites. My maildrops are planned, need to start packing them. Cleaned up the last of the Christmas stuff today, time to break out the boxes. How does one plan meals for six months?? Will probablysend suppers and home dehydrated stuff. Then pick up the remainder on the trail, that seems like a good balance, it is so hard to know for sure. Well ready or not March will be here before I know it. Wish me luck :-D
Date: 2003-01-18
To: Getting ready
Miles today: 0.0

Less than two months to go !! I've come down a bad case of Springer fever. March can't get here fast enough. Been busy dehydrating food for my mail drops. So far I've done Italian chicken, BBQ pork, lots of veggies. Tomorrow it is Turkey. I also want to do a beef roast. Plan to pick up some bacon bits to round out the meat department. I've been vacuum sealing 1-2 oz portions to add to my Lipton, ramen or couscous suppers. In the past have just dumped it into a zip-lock but, have had it draw moisture and spoil. Vac packing should keep longer and the sm. packs will make dividing into mail drops easier. I have also been sewing up a storm. Have made rainsuit out of silnylon and a windsuit outof uncoated nylon. They only weight about 5 oz. each. Have been experimenting with different clothes combos to find out what is the lightest and that will still keep me warm. Well back to getting ready.
Date: 2003-01-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Here I sit daydreaming about the trail, reading other¢s journals and checking out trail related web sites. I should be up moving, using my Nordic track and getting in shape. For some reason getting motivated to exercise seem especially difficult right now. I keep getting involved in all the ¢things¢ that have to be done and not leaving enough time to work out and I have that little voice in my head that keeps saying the only thing that will get me into shape for Georgia is Georgia. Now I know from experience that only the trailwill really get me into trail shape. But I also know from experience that the better shape I¢m in to start out the faster that will happen. I remember I first time I hiked the Mt.Rogers section going south from the Partnership shelter. I had almost no experience and an overloaded pack, by the end of the first down hill I had Jello legs, they just wouldn¢t stop shaking. By the time I got back to the place in Damascus I was loving life. The next summer I made a point of trying to get into shape before doing a section of the Long trail. No more Jello legs.   Nordic Track Here I Come !!ATwanabe
Date: 2003-02-23
To: Almost time
Miles today: 0.0

Less than a month to go till my journey starts and I'm a bundle of mixed up emotions. One minute I can hardly wait, then the next I'm thinking what have I got myself into. But mostly I'm just excited and frantically trying to get everything done. My study is piled high with boxes for my maildrops and boxes of food from Sam's club waiting to be divided up. My pack sits in the corner waiting patiently to be packed and unpacked one more time as I adjust what gear is going with me. There are bills to be paid 6 months in advance and projects to be finished at work. So many little details I'm afraid I'm going to miss something. But under the hustle and bustle there is a calmness that everything will work out and soon as I remember to take a deep breath I get all excited again. Only 21 days to go !!! ATwanabe