morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-01-27
To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hello World,   I(Ben/longben) will be starting the AT on June first or second of this year as a Southbound Hiker. I will be beginning and hopefully finishing the trail with a longtime hiking buddy, named Jon, from my hometown of Warren, PA. We are in the midst of preparations. Right now we are making a tentative schedule, working on the gear list, and just figuring out the details. I am getting super psyched to hit the trail.    The idea for a through hike has been in my mind for a long long time, but not in any specific sense. I have been a backpacker for about 10 years now, and in the last year I finished a through hike of both the Long Trail in Vermont and the John Muir Trail in California, so I have those under my belt. I will however be going much lighter on the AT and have a whole new system to work with, but I have been slowly evolving to a lighter setup for 3 years or so. In the past I had the Boy Scout mentality of bring everything possible, and while I was always comfortable camping the hiking was sometimes less than enjoyable. Looking forward to a base weight of 10-15 pounds.    Jon is finishing college in early may then we have two weeks free and clear to get all the details nailed down, but hopefully everything will be set well before that so we can relax and enjoy electricity for a few days before we start hiking from Katahdin. Looking forward to hiking south with the fall, the solitude that SOBO offers, and briefly meeting the whole gammut of NOBO hikers. Good luck all, and see you on the trail, with a bit of luck!LongBen
Date: 2006-01-30
To: Gear Selection#1
Miles today: 0.0

So here are the gear items that I am still in the market for. BOOTS, light winter hat, light gloves, tarp shelter, and a new ultralight pack. Raingear is still up in the air.       In terms of boots I would like to get two identical pairs of cheap, mid-height, light, and gore-tex boots. I am not very worried about this for some reason, probably after 3 pairs of boots I have never had a pair that I didn't think was excellent. I don't think I am very picky as far as this category goes.    The hat and gloves I may have, but depending on my base weight I may cut an ounce or more in this category, just cause I can.    The tarp shelter I am super psyched about. I was very smitten with the tarptent called the Squall 2. I still think this shelter is bomber, but right now am leaning towards the GoLite Cave 2. Here is my reasoning. The latter is much larger in terms of floor space, it is also a bit lighter. I really like that combo!! It is also cheaper and pitches in a similar manner (very close to the ground to help with bugs). I am sorry to make the switch however since the Squall is made by a smaller company, it has excellent reviews, and the guy who makes them has an excellent and personable customer service attitude. If it weren't for the floor space I would gladly spend the extra dough.    I really like the Gossamer Gear Mariposa. Before I make a decision I need to get the rest of my gear squared away however, and then I will find the smallest and lightest pack that I can comfortably utilize. Of course I will throw in a bit of buffer volume just to be on the safe side.    I will keep you posted on my decisions, and I invite active feedback from here on out if anyone is that interested in my success and happiness. My email is probably somewhere else on my page, but here it is again just to be redundant. (bnjmnmorelli@yahoo.com) If you put AT(appalachian trail) in the title I am sure to open it up pronto. Thanks,LongBen
Date: 2006-03-17
To: Scheduling
Miles today: 0.0

Hello, Well the first 2006 thruhikers are getting settled into trail life, and although I am comfortable with my own plan it feels like I am getting left behind. I still have two and a half months until the hiking starts for me. I am getting very excited. It will be great to read some NOBO journals and perhaps get a chance to meet and talk with them along the trail.       Prepartations for the hike are really going superbly. I have recently finished our schedule for the trail. It has us starting on June 1st and finishing on November 14th. That is roughly 5 1/2 months on the trail, and the schedule is if anything a little bit conservative for two strapping young men. Into the schedule I have built in regular rest days, and ample time to hitch into town and pick up food. After a careful combing of the databook and companion myself and my partner have decided that it will be best for our hiking enjoyment to buy food as we go. This will give us a degree of flexibility unattainable if we were to choose maildrops. Although it is hard for me to give up maildrops since it has worked for me well in the past, and I believe it would be a bit cheaper.    Gear acquisition is also coming along. My parents are going to be getting us the Tarptent Squall as a gift, and I think it will make a great shelter. We decided to go with the tarptent with a sewn in floor over the GoLite Cave due to it's 100% bug proof design. I have been hearing blackfly horror stories from SOBO's of the past. I have also experienced horrible bug problems on the PCT this past summer, and know that if you aren't prepared it can ruin the trip. They won't be a problem once it dries out, but the first few months could be bad. Although DEET will help.    Other than that and a backpack I am feeling prepared. Perhaps I will spend all the dead time till then reading other journals, and getting psyched for the trail.BEN
Date: 2006-04-13
To: Pre-hike anxiety
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings all,   I am still in California getting in some last minute climbing, and preparing for a grueling solo cross country drive. The trail is now one and a half months away for me and jon. In 2 weeks I will be home in PA using all my new lightweight equipment for the first time. Although it doesn't seem like it to me for some reason it appears from my gear list that much of the stuff I will be using on the hike is relatively new, but it isn't radically different from what I have used in the past. Hopefully, I feel the same way on the trail. The pack will be radically lighter however and I should easily weigh in at under 12 pounds base weight. My gear is almost all squared away and I truly feel ready to hit the trail any day now. The waiting really begins.    At home I will be hiking and seeing friends and family that I have been missing for 6 months so the time will probably go fairly quickly. Jon is still in school, and is ready to be done. I look forward to meeting all you NOBO hikers and wish you luck. Once back in PA I can write a few more pertinent journal entries, and get the online gear list squared away. Ben
Date: 2006-05-14
To: Almost There!!!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Well, we now have 18 days until hitting the trail up in Katahdin and things are really coming together. I feel like I am ready too leave now, but there is plenty of non-trail related stuff to work on for the next 3 weeks. My gear is all together except the group first aid kit. My pack weighed in at 22 pounds including food, water, and fuel for a four day excursion. It really felt superb, and I am looking forward to carrying such a small burden. In the next couple days we will be taking a 3 or 4 day shakedown hike. My hiking partner is in a similar state of preparedness. He has finished school and is ready for a few months of simplified living. Me Too. Hopefully he will also write a couple of entries that way this journal can get a couple of perspectives. We will see if he is interested in that.My gear really looks great, and I will try and discuss the ups and downs of all my pieces of gear as time goes on and more pros and cons are brought to light. The penny alcohol stove so far seems to be a marvel of human ingenuity. It is incredibly efficient with the fuel that it burns. I can easily boil too cups of water in 6 minutes or less. The stove will burn for between 8 and 9 minutes with 5/6 of an ounce of fuel. Or it will simmer for 35+ minutes with the same amount of fuel. It will boil water 2 cups of water in roughly 13 minutes with the simmer ring on, and then you have 22 or more minutes to fully cook anything you desire. When combined with a pot cozy you can cook ample food for 1 person with less than 1 fluid ounce of fuel, and that includes non-instant pasta and rice dishes. Incredible if you ask me. After the shakedown hike I can give a good idea of how the Tarptent and backpack will work for me.Ben
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Katahdin, Baxter State Park

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 117.6
Weather: mist

Hello everyone,   This is the first journal entry from the trail. It is being posted after 18 days due to a lack of access to the internet. We started our trip in Baxter State Park(BSP) of Northern Maine. My father drove jon(aka:General Tso) and myself up there on the 30th and 31st of May. On the evening of the 30th we stayed at my Aunt Kathy's home in Glens Falls, New York. It was great to see everyone and have a last farewell to civilization. On the 31th we continued our drive through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. On the way we crossed the Appalachian Trail(AT) several times. Weird to know that we would be walking that entire way.    Just outside BSP we saw our first two moose. One of these moose was fairly close to the road and we were able to get out and have an extended view. In the park we stayed at the Katahdin Stream Campsite. It is rather expensive and despite being advised otherwise by a condescending ranger we decided to hike 20 miles our first day to avoid those inflated fees a second night. My father left on the morning of June 1st and we started up Mt. Katahdin and into the clouds. The hike up is rugged and similar to what I imagine the moon would be like. We were in a huge vapor cloud the majority of the time, and we only got very limited views. It was neat despite the poor weather and we made good time with a round trip time of 6 hours for the whole mountain. Arriving back in the campground at 2pm we donned our packs for the first time and headed off on relatively flat and boggy terrrain southbound(SOBO) and into the wilderness.   The "100 mile wilderness" as the northernmost stretch of trail is called is known for its swampy terrain and biting insects. Due to a very extended period of rain we found that it did live up to its reputation. The terrain was relatively flat however for the first 4-5 days and despite challenging weather and bugs we remained in high spirits. The limited views we got let us know just how vast and uninhabited that part of Maine is. Pine trees dominate and the forest floor is very green and covered in moss. We had packed 8 days worth of food and due to easier than expected terrain we managed to make it the 117+ miles to Monson in 7 days. There were few other hikers, but we met a couple of very nice people. One of those hikers is a fellow SOBO thru-hiker from Georgia. His name is Ryan and we have been loosely hiking with him ever since.    It may be difficult to upload pictures for some time, but in the future hopefully there will be a good sized album to accompany my entries.
Date: 2006-06-18
From: Stratton, ME

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 68.7
Weather: scattered clouds

After leaving stratton we began with a gruelling 3000 foot climb up North Crocker Mountain. The day was constant ups and downs which left us tired and ready for a good nights rest. The weather wasn't inspiring, but the cloud cover kept us cool on the long and steep climbs. The mountains of Maine and New Hampshire are the most gruelling section of the trail, supposedly. These tough days in the beginning should set us up nicely for an easy stroll through the rest of the trail.    The next day out of stratton(June 15th) we got the pleasure of climbing Saddleback Mountain. An exposed peak that offered 360 degree views of Maine and the White Mountains off to our west. As we crossed the saddle an intense storm of brief duration rolled in, and we were met with cold rains for 45 minutes. The weather soon cleared, and we were again dry in no time. The trail is still moist however, and it can be a challege to keep the boots dry even in clear skies.    Since then the weather has gotten really hot, and it is a sweaty mess battling our way up these mountains. Just yesterday on the 17th of June we went through Sawyer Notch which is a steep valley. We climbed 1600 feet out of the notch this morning in 1.4 miles. It is an intense way to start the day. On the North side of the notch we startled a moose. However, we only caught a fleeting glimpse, but it is still the third moose of our journey. 18 days between the second and third sightings. We have seen copious amounts of tracks and scat, but the animals are silent and elusive it seems.    On this journey I have also seen a pine martin(similar to a fox), porcupine, spruce grouse(at close range), and millions of biting insects. The insects are still bothersome, but it is amazing how you get used to these things after a period of time. They will constantly be a nuisance, but it has certainly gotten less pronounced as the hike progresses.    This evening we are staying at "The Cabin in Maine" a outdoor hostel in the town of East Andover. It has everything a hiker could want: Beds, hot food, shower, phone, internet, laundry, TV, hammock, and much more. It is really a superb deal when you consider what all these things may cost individually. For 1 night it is only 17$ per person. Not so bad. The proprietors are Honey & Bear. They are a very nice and accomodating older couple that has done alot of hiking in their day.    I hope all my friends and family are doing well, and I should hopefully have more regular access to the internet in the near future. Maine is the most sparsely populated region of the trail, and towns get bigger from here on out.
Date: 2006-06-22
From: Andover

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 41.4
Weather: fog

Hey everyone,   It is now july 1st and this is the second round of entries. It seems that every two weeks is about all that I can muster. Sorry. We are getting further south, and the towns are generally closer together so things might change. We left andover on probably the eighteenth of june and it took us 4 days to reach Gorham.    The terrain in southern Maine is very rugged and rocky. There aren't a whole lot of nice ridge walks such as we found in the White Mountains. Generally it seems that they take you up the biggest peak in sight and then straight down the other side. Good for aerobic conditioning???    Getting into andover we had a little over eight miles into town. This is supposedly the most difficult hitch on the AT. We have already found worse(more on that latter). The day was blazing hot, above 90. After 20 minutes of walking down the road and no cars passing in our direction a van going the opposite way pulled up next to us. It ended up being the owner of a local hiker's hostel and she offered us a ride into town. Her trail name was "Honey". She is a very kind older woman who owns one of the best hostels on the Appalachian Trail. It is called "The Cabin in Maine", and we enjoyed it thoroughly. So far that has been our only shower. One shower in 31 days, pretty great!!! That is where I put the last round of journal entries up on the internet.   The next day we headed into the famous Mahoosuc section of the trail. Famed for its rugged Mahoosuc Notch. The first day we felt great, powered by a superb breakfast prepared by Honey and her crew. That evening we comfortably weathered a powerful thunderstorm in Grafton Notch State Park. It is illegal to camp there, so keep that quiet. The next day we got an early start on a huge uphill climb over old speck. Coming down we had a bit of a snack before descending the ridiculously steep and slick Mahoosuc Arm. This was accomplished without mishap, and we reached the deep and cool notch in good spirits. There is still ice down there so we stopped to eat once again and bask in its cool grandeur. Very neat bit of hiking. Later that afternoon we hit a bit of thunderstorms, but nothing too serious. The terrain was still rugged, but not difficult. We ended up doing 18 miles that day and landed in the Gentian Pond Shelter well after dark. Exhausted!    Next morning we awoke to good weather and a stiff wind for the 12 miles into Gorham. We really blew through that section, but definetly enjoyed it. The terrain was pretty friendly that day, and we moved along quickly with the promise of a chinese buffet that evening.
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Hanover, NH

To: Rutland, VT
Miles today: 46.1

Hello All,      Jon and I are currently sitting comfortably in Burlington, VT enjoying a bit of comfort. Upon our arrival in Rutland we stopped to have a beer at the LongTrail Inn. It was the fourth of july and we began the long hitch hike with nice heavy traffic. After 3 rides we had made it from the trail, to Rutland, and then about 20 miles north. The progress was slow so I made a sign in a local convenience store and 2 or 3 cars later we had one ride all the way there. It worked out great. It has been nice to see my friends and feel clean for longer than 20 minutes. We will probably head back down to the trail this evening or tomorrow morning.    Anyways we left Hanover the same evening that we entered it(july 1st). Before we left though the two of us went down to bath in the Connecticut River. Then we came back to town and I got a new pair of sandals and pizza before heading over the river and into vermont.    For the next three days I hiked in these new sandals instead of boots and my feet are now feeling alot better. They had been developing sores due to my constant wearing of wet boots. The sandals allow great ventilation, and they stay dry much of the time.    There was a little roadwalking after Hanover, and as soon as we re-entered the woods we found a cooler full of soda that someone had left to brighten the day of passing thru hikers. So each of us took a soda and moved on into the forest to a bug infested campsite. The mosquitos had been slowly getting worse again. Luckily the pockets of bugs seem to go in and out quickly. They are localized around pools of stagnant water.    The terrain between the New Hampshire Border and Rutland has consisted mostly of rolling hills. Lots of forest walking interspersed with pleasant farm fields. The mud situation has generally been good. As we got closer to the Long Trail in Vermont the hills have started to get larger and once we re-enter the trail we will be going over some decently large hills. I have already hiked the next 100 miles of trail in 2004. However I did it in the winter so this will probably be a much more enjoyable experience.    We have been meeting a decent number of NOBO hikers and soon the crowds should be here. I guess the bulk of hikers should be crossing our pass in the next month.    At this point we are 1/3 of the way through our third state with approximately 490 miles in the bag. Weather is improving and we will be entering really easy terrain after we end Vermont. That is what we are told anyways.    I am looking forward to the rest of our states since I have never explored any of them extensively. Even eastern PA is a mystery to me. I hope everyone had a great fourth of july.Yours Truly,Sauce Dog
Date: 2006-07-13
From: Rutland, VT

To: Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 49.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey everyone,   So "The General" and I took 3 days off in Burlington and got back on the trail on the afternoon of July 7th. The hitch from Burlington to Rutland went smoothly, and in 2 rides we were there. After taking care of some business in Rutland we got backon the trail by 3 PM. It was 6 uphill miles to the top of Killington and we got up and over to the Governor Clement Shelter by evening.    Taking those days off allowed a couple of people to pass by that we were hoping to catch up with so that we could chat with them. Notably fellow SOBO hikers: Larry from Tennessee, Al Symes(Sanibel), and Ryan. As it ends up we didn't get to see any of the folks that we had hoped too. Larry got off the trail recently, Al is MIA, and it ended up being a different Ryan than we were expecting. However Ryan is another SOBO hiker and once his girlfriend goes home he will probably be hiking at about our pace. Perhaps we will hike with him for a few days.    After going over killington we took our time on the following day. It was warm and we took an opportunity to lounge and swim in the Clarendon River Gorge. The terrain seemed friendly and we didn't have a problem doing the miles that we expected. As we got close to the Lula Tye shelter the terrain began to get boggy and wet. It turns out that the shelter is full and a pay site so we moved on. This wet terrain isn't great for camping, but just after dark we managed to locate a decent spot to pitch the tent.    On our third day out of killington we got to cross spruce, styles, and bromley peaks. The weather was again beautiful and we got to enjoy the view and breeze from the top of Bromleys observation platform.    The bromley shelter was beautiful. It was built in 2003. We didn't stay there, but we set up the tarp nearby on a tent platform. That evening it rained a bit, but still the bad weather held off for a little bit longer.    The trail has really started to get busy these days with thru hikers and weekenders alike. The good weather has probably helped that.    Early the next morning we set off into Manchester center to get groceries and forward the bounce box before setting off on our last section of trail before Massachussets.
Date: 2005-09-05
To: Prehike gear test
Miles today: 0.0

I have just completed the second of two long hikes on the North Country Trail in the Manistee National Forest in Northern Michigan. The first was a 5-day hike that had to be aborted on the second day because of water problems. The second time was a 3-day hike that was very successful toward my getting comfortable with my gear. I was able in the five days of hiking to travel 90 miles. Even though it was moderate terrain I was pleased that I could get good miles on a 30-pound pack. I also was very comfortable with most of the gear, but decided that my Kelty Big Bend pack was too heavy at 5#. I am in the market for a new and lighter pack and will begin that research.
Date: 2005-12-05
To: Gear
Miles today: 0.0

Most of my gifts for this Christmas were related to my hiking addiction,for which I blame my daughter and son-in-law. They introduced my wife and I to backpacking. Up until then the only backpacking that I had done was part of big game hunting in Alaska. I had never thought of going anywhere with a pack but no gun. They suggested that we take a week vacation on the Appalachian trail so we went to New Hampshire. My wife's and I first experience at backpacking was Mt. Moosilauke. I was hooked. Now I am gathering gear and getting ready, and hoping that nothing will interfere.
Date: 2005-12-28
To: Welcome
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Welcome to my journal. I am attempting a thru-hike of the AT with great excitement. I hope you find the journal to be of help if you are planning a hike yourself, and entertainment if you are just a hiking junkie. I have tried to put in my daily journal items that will help you understand about the trail and answer some of the questions that often come up by those who want more info on the trail or thru-hiking. To the left you will find some very helpful buttons to move around my journal. The "list" button will take you directly to any date or progression along the trail. The "gear" button will take you an inventory of some of the gear that I took along with me. The stats button will give you some interesting facts about the hike. The "guest" button is a place you can sign in if you wish to leave a remark, ask a question, or just say high. If you found my journal helpful please sign in and say high. \