morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-08-07
To: Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 0.0

I confess, I haven't written a single word since Hanover. Right now we're at Northern Outdoors in Caratunk, ME, with Buttercup. Since the last entry:My birthday at Hanover was awesome. It started out rainy and I lost my visor and water bottle, but when we got to a road it started clearing up and a guy ran out of his house chasing us with bananas, which we gladly accepted. As I was filling up on water Casey told him it was my birthday, so he brought out some cider and a plate of cookies, and melted a birthday candle to his grill and lit it. I got to make a wish and blow out the candle after he and Casey sang me happy birthday. Then the sun came out! That night (after ice cream and some good Indian food) we stayed at the house of the Mad Bowler, who hiked a couple years ago, and saw her daughter in a dress rehearsal for Singing in the Rain. It's too funny on the trail, you never know where you'll end up at night.Then the Whites came, which we had been warned were mind-blowing, and they were. They were by far the awesomest part of the trail. We had perfect cloudless breezy weather for Franconia Ridge--I could have stayed up on that 2 miles all day easily. Then we did 2 5-mile days waiting for good weather for the Presidentials, which paid off--cloudy on Washington, and still a mite grey for Clay, but then back to perfect weather for Jefferson, Adams, and Madison. Those 2 ridges are among the most spectacularly dramatically beautiful things I've ever seen! And I'm in awe of the alpine zone. The diapensia community is my new favorite. It's so well adapted!And now we're in Maine, the last state on the trail. Neither of us are ready for it to be over. Maine is great--Casey's favorite was Baldpate, where he withstood a moment of revelation. We're both really tired, but enjoying this state more than it seems lots of other Nobos are. Now it's pretty much the Wilderness and Katahdin--whose name I now speak without the fear of jinxing our hike--we're going to finish! Woohoo!
Date: 2006-08-20
From: The Birches

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We did it! Casey and I summitted Katahdin at 8:32am, the 19th of August 2006, thereby completing our AT thru-hike. We started up from The Birches at around 4:30am to watch the dawn of our last day. In the dark of the morning the falls and streams below us looked like they were glowing, and we watched everything turn lighter and lighter shades of blue. On the way up we tried to recall highlights in order from Georgia to Maine. The climb was pretty fun, and not at all as hard as I had expected it to be. Above treeline there was some serious scrambling to be done, aided in a couple of artfully placed sections of rebar--they seemed to always go for the trickiest spots! We both enjoyed our last scramble. The Tablelands reminded me of Moosilauke, and we were excited to see Mad Dog and Pilgrim coming down from the summit, freshly crowned thru-hikers! We made our way up as slowly as we could, trying to savor the Maine mountain air...Casey started losing it when the sign came into view. An emotional 20 minutes and a few pictures later, we turned our backs on the sign that marks the end of it all, the KATAHDIN sign...and we spent the rest of the time down the mountain reminiscing about everything we missed on the way up.It's wierd to be done, strange to be back to living in the world of boxes and angles, and much much too easy to envision another thruhike...the PCT is next on the list! Casey's going back to school in September, I'm not sure what I'll be doing. I'm trying to gradually adjust to interactions with people that aren't Casey. Going to the mall to get new sneakers (as mine are irreversibly defeated) was a bit of a culture shock...but it's nice to hear music again, and toilets are great. So...that's it for my AT trailjournal...have a good one! DoodleGA-->ME '06!!!
Date: 2006-09-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello again users of the 'net. I visited Casey in Ohio last week and got a big ol' CD full of pictures that I'm about to add. They're not in any particular order and it would take too long to order them and figure out what the dates were, so I'll just try to give them accurate titles.I'm still living back at home in NY, and just got hired at an EMS...still trying to nab one of those rad SCA positions doing something like surveying endangered geese in Hawai'i...I'll definately write that here if it works out! What else--I'm seeing where I can volunteer at the NY Botanical Garden, or take some classes--while studying for that dirty standardized exam the GRE (general and possibly (yakking) bio). Hooray! Actually...that's sort of mock sarcasm...I'll admit that it's actually kind of fun. Hm.And I've been reading a ton. Man. It feels so good to read. But of course I still miss the Trail and think about it pretty much every day. It was fun to see Case (trail alias Dragonfly) and Ajax (real-world alias Jesse) at Oberlin. Lookin' forward to the PCT!
Date: 2007-03-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 894.0

It's official!...I will be back on the trail on March 20th for the second leg of my journey: GA>>NJ 2007 !!! Follow along at: http://www.andrewracz.net/AT2main.htmOr read about NJ>>ME 2006 at: http://www.andrewracz.net/ATmain.htmShout out to the Class of 2006!
Date: 2007-03-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It's official!...I will be back on the trail on March 20th for the second leg of my journey: GA>>NJ 2007 !!! Follow along at: http://www.andrewracz.net/AT2main.htmOr read about NJ>>ME 2006 at: http://www.andrewracz.net/ATmain.htmShout out to the Class of 2006!
Date: 2007-03-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It's official!...I will be back on the trail on March 20th for the second leg of my journey: GA>>NJ 2007 !!! Follow along at: http://www.andrewracz.net/AT2main.htmOr read about NJ>>ME 2006 at: http://www.andrewracz.net/ATmain.htmShout out to the Class of 2006!
Date: 2006-10-05
From: US 522, Remount Road

To:  Va. 55, Virginia 725 and I-66, Manassas Gap
Miles today: 8.4

US 522, Remount Road to  Va. 55, Virginia 725 and I-66, Manassas Gap N 8.4 MilesToday is Thursday, October 5th. Today we are older, heavier and in worse condition than the spring hike. We are here to find out if we can keep hiking. Yesterday we left Belleville, Il at 7:47 am Central daylight Time. We went on I-64 until we got to Charleston, West Virginia. Went up on I-79 and then cut over on Hwy 33, all the way over to I-81. Got into Front Royal a little after 10 p.m. And stayed at the Blue Ridge Motel, which was interesting. There was a guy laying in the doorway of one of the rooms, we were skeptical, but it turned out okay anyway. We had a nice evening. We met up with my brother-in-law Dave Sanders this morning in town, dropped off his Sprinter van at Virginia 725 and I-66. Came back and now were parked at US 522, Remount Road. We are ready to take off at 9:45 am. We passed a number of people on the trail. first there was Lumps and Two Steps, better known as Joel and Jessica. They were through hiking south bounders; don¢t know where they were from. They started in June and hope to be done December 6. It was nice talking to them. Then we talked to a guy and his 60-year-old father, they are from Knoxville but the son now lives in Nashville. Talk to them for a while. The trail has been really nice. Not too much up and down and all on old roads. At 12:30 pm we came to the Jim and Molly Denton shelter. It¢s just a beautiful shelter. We are on our lunch break and are really enjoying the day. Its overcast and in the mid-60s. We are relaxing. It¢s humid but cool. We are hoping the sunshine will show itself today. We left the shelter at about a quarter after one and went on down the trail. We finally came out at Virginia 638. We cross the road, went over a stile and went up into some pasture land. We looked back at the mountains to the south and it was beautiful. David has compared the open areas of the trail to the Coast to Coast trail in England, where he hiked. We went out through the woods and over the mountain, and then we came down with lots of switchbacks and rocks. We kept hearing the interstate but it didn¢t seem to be getting any closer. Finally we got down low enough and came out to Davids Sprinter at about a 2:45 pm on Virginia 725. So it took us about five hours to hike 8.2 miles. Then we drove back into Front Royal and David followed us, after picking up our minivan. Last night we were at the Blue Ridge Motel which was a little scary, the body laying half in and half out of the room, I guess he just fell asleep there, who knows. Tonight we are staying across the street at the Front Royal Motel. It¢s good enough for us; we are getting our shower, and then going out to the Mexican restaurant in town, with David.
Date: 2006-10-09
From: Va. 605

To: Snickers Gap, Va 7
Miles today: 6.8

Va. 605 to Snickers Gap, Va 7 N 6.8 MilesToday is Monday October ninth. We spent last night at Travelodge in Winchester Virginia. Got a good deal fifty dollars. We get on the road today and we went up to Snicker's gap on Va 7, and met everybody at nine o'clock. David's two friends Tim and Dick were there. We left two cars and we went around in Dick's Highlander back down to Va 605. Got on the trail at 9:40am. And we did a lot of up and down; we did a lot of what I call the Rollercoaster. Hard work but kept going, right at 12:00 we came to the Sam Moore shelter for a nice thirty five minute lunch break. And then we continued on to more up and down. You get a few partial view. Everyone is feeling the heat, it is only in the mid to upper seventy's. And Dicks not used to hiking that far and up that steep trail. And down is also hard. Finally, at 3:00pm we get to the Bears Den Hostel Side trail, and we had already sent David ahead, but he wasn¢t at the side trail. So we thought, maybe he¢s still up at the hostel. So we all went up there enjoyed looking around. Inside we all bought fifty cent sodas. But no David, so we came back down and we saw all the fantastic views there at the Bears Den rocks at 3:45. And then we came on down and out at Va 7. Then on across the parking lot and David was there.  It was like 4:20 when we came out; we did six point eight miles. And then they went back to the campground to clean up, and we went around the other side to check out a possible way to split the 13.5 mile hike tomorrow into 2 hikes. David followed us and then we went on into Charles Town. We finally found a motel the Budget Inn, in Ranson, West Virginia. We make contact with Dick and Tim again, and we met them at the Ruby Tuesday in Charlestowm, have a nice supper. Now everyone is going back to their places for the night and were looking forward to tomorrow.
Date: 2006-10-16
From: Wolfsville Rd., Md. 17

To: I-70
Miles today: 8.6

I-70 to Wolfsville Rd., Maryland 17   S 8.6 MilesToday is Monday October sixteenth 2006. We spent last night in Hagerstown at Super eight. We decided we wanted a motel, because it's going to get too cold and there's football on. I was ready to motel after spending three nights in the car. Anyhow we got up this morning at seven o'clock and had what little food they had at the motel. And we had already left our rental car up at US 40 and I-70. We headed out to Wolfville road, Maryland 17. And we were on the side trail at 8:15. Got to the A T trail about eight twenty and we headed up and it was a pretty long steep up, but the weather was fantastic. It was cool, it was sunny. And then no sooner they get us up they take it over some boulders, and start down the other side. I said, what in the world. It did show on the profile that way. Then they get on an old woods road and things are a lot better. Things go along pretty good for a while and then they took us back up in the boulders, that wasn't the greatest, but that didn¢t last long. Then back down to an old road. We were just the moving along, real nice and happy. But at 10:45 we made it to Pogo Memorial campsite. Sat there for ten minutes to rest and have a snack, till 10:55, and on the trail again. Which was a nice old road. It was a beautiful day, at 11:20 we got to the Black Rock Cliff which gave you a fantastic view looking west, of the valley below.Which was Pleasant Valley. You could see Hagerstown down there. Interstate seventy going along through there. We had lunch at the cliff. Terry called his mom and dad. At 11:45 we left there. There was a guy had come up to talk, he was section hiking. We left at eleven forty five, back on the old road. The trail to Annapolis Rocks was at 12:10. And it was too far out there, and we had already seen the view anyhow, so we went on. And it¢s a beautiful sunny day. Let's see, after that was Pine Knob shelter. There are two different entrances or side trails. But got there at 12:55. We knew we were close, and we could hear Interstate seventy a long way off. At 1:10 pm we went under US forty and then came to the I-70 foot bridge. And at 1:15, we are back of our car. So we felt like we didn't even need a shower, we talked about how we could go to Greenbrier State Park for a shower, but we didn't do that. Jumped in the car again, went over and got the other car, went into town, dropped the rental car off at the rental place. And we were on the interstate at two twenty five heading home. We took Interstate sixty eight. It took us just two hours to get to I-79 and it¢s taken us less than three hours to get up to I-70. Getting cloudy here but no bad weather. We completed 202.0 miles on the A T in 2006. We have completed 1164.9 total miles on the A-T. So we passed the 1000 mile mark on the trail, and the half way point of the trail. We believe we will complete the Appalachian Trail.
Date: 2006-02-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

About two weeks before we leave Pennsylvania and begin a long cross country drive which will eventually get us to Atlanta. After 5 days there and some final preparations we will start the AT with Lauren and Brian on March 15th.Bob has agreed to drive us to the approach trail to Springer Mountain. Things are pretty crazy now and moving along fast. More to come.... and none to soon.Insanity is just around the corner if we don't get out of here.
Date: 2006-02-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

PLANS FOR LEAVING NEXT WEEK ARE PRETTY MUCH ON TRACK. LOTS OF TRAVELING NECESSARY BEFORE WE CAN START THE TRAIL.DRIVING FROM PA TO DENVER CO BY WAY OF INDIANA TO SEE BOYHOOD FRIEND OF HUGH'S, RANDY COLEMAN.THE PACK WEIGHT IS HOOVERING AROUND 30 LBS WITHOUT MOST OF THE FOOD YET.WE ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO START THE JOURNEY AND WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED.
Date: 2006-02-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today is the day that both of our jobs are officially over.Pat(too much) worked her last shift on Sunday. Her coworkers gave her a great sendoff with a party, gifts and happy wishes for her to carry up the trail.Hugh(enuff) will leave the hospital this evening after working his last ER shift.On Saturday, the surprise party at the local Eagles Club was lots of fun including dancing on the tables, tons of food and drinks. Most of the ER crew and even some of the other departments were there to make it so nice and the fond farewells were both sweet and sad!!The packing continues with our hope to leave for Colorado on Friday the 3rd. The trail can't be far behind...we pray!!
Date: 2006-03-07
To: Travel to our final destination--continues
Miles today: 0.0

Here in Colorado for the next two days till we leave to fly to Atlanta. Almost 2000 miles we have driven since leaving house and home back in Pennsylvania. Spending time with family and friends along the way has been fun. Lots of time spent explaining just what we have planned, and why we are determined to become successful "thru hikers" has been interesting and at times,thought provoking!! We'll keep you up on the news as it happens. So long...
Date: 2006-03-15
From: Happy Birthday Kathy Barr!

To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

So the journey begins...As you can imagine computers are few and far between in the backwoods so I (Brian) have volounteered to make a few entries for Enuff and Too Much, while they press forward into the Appalachian Frontier. We woke up today and Uncle Bob Banks drove us several miles north of Dahlonega, where the AT begins. We stopped at IHOP for a BIG breakfast and stuffed our faces in preparation for the approaching deprivation of all fancy food.We forwent most of the approach trail but the car couldn't make it all the way to the beginning of the trail (rocky roads) so we strapped on our packs and tacked on an extra mile or two before hitting the actual beginning of the trail.As we approached the begginning of the trail we met Ms. Rita Black. Wow! She was a very pleasant and interesting woman, to say the least. As it turns out, Rita had car problems near the top of the mountain and was in need of assistance. While driving her car, she was apparently undeterred by the large, protruding and jagged rocks rising out of the gravel road. The rocks damaged the undercarriage of her 1989 Chevy 3 miles up this road. Umm... No further comments. But we did stop and help her before forging ahead.The first night we stayed at Springer Mountain. There was a shelter there but we stayed in tents near the shelter. Pat and I stayed in one. Brian and Lauren (there trail names are Ike, the Rockslinger & Tina )stayed in another.It was brisk in the evening and in the morning but the weather was great for the first day. Interesting evening. Met some of the people that we would be hiking with for the next few weeks.
Date: 2006-03-17
From: Hawk Mountain

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: broken clouds

Last night we went to the shelter bonfire. We met Lonewolf, Posey Picker and Conductor and RastaLegs. We have been keeping pace with some of the people that we met the first day, so we are seeing them on the trail more often.Tonight we will be staying at a tent site. Lauren got picked up by her boyfriend this evening.
Date: 2006-03-18
From: Gooch Gap

To: Slaughter Creek Tent Sites
Miles today: 11.0

We hiked extra mileadge today so that we could cruise in to Neel's Gap tomorrow. We are staying at the tent site on the side of Blood Mountain this evening. It was a very quiet night."I remember dosing off while reading, in the afternoon. It was brisk outside and the temperature was dropping as the dusk approached. I have a small one-man tent and I was sitting with the door/flap open, as I read. I woke up as the sun was setting and the tem and the sky was pinkish/red. I looked out over the horizon and had a feeling in my heart that this is the most beautifal country I have ever seen." -Ike the Rockslinger
Date: 2006-03-19
From: Slaughter Creek Tent Sites

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today we woke up to a cold breeze. Great view of the mountains from the top of Blood Mountain. It was a one mile hike up Blood Mountain, then two "tough" miles down through huge boulders. The descent was really tough on the knees. Arrived at Neel's gap (Walasi-Yi Center). This place is like a mini REI. It was a great place. The staff was very friendly. We are staying in one of their cabins with Conductor and LongShank. Got lunch with Lauren, Brian and Bobby.Later on this evening we have been invited to a "Hiker Trash" feast back at the Walasi-Yi Center. After that we will clean up and sleep in a bed tonight. YES! We are expecting snow tonight. We will see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2006-03-20
From: Neel's Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: light rain

Left the comfort of cabin at Neel's Gap which we shared with Conductor, Long Shanks, Beuford&Fleur. The threat of rain and COLD winds made us prepare for the hike to Low Gap with the protection of all our rain gear. The shelter was so overcrowded that we pitched tent for the night and that is just when the skies opened up and the pouring, relentless rain covered us and everything we packed.We learned some great lessons that night but still undetered in our desire to head north on this" great footpath for those seeking communion with nature."
Date: 2006-03-21
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Rocky Nob Tent Sites
Miles today: 6.3

Woke to a very wet day. Rain off ond on till just before we got up. Fog was thick .Cold wind again. Packed a wet tent and hit the trail with cold hands and feet.Along the way we saw our first daffodils. Cheered us up. Also some very strange "Tree Creatures".At Rocky Knob the wind was wipping. Lothor was there first also trying to dry out. After dark, Scott and Tiffany rolled in but we were in the tent and with the wind howling did not hear them setting up.Except for frozen gloves, by the Am we were pretty dry. On to Cheese Factory and the hope of Sunshine.
Date: 2006-03-22
From: Rocky Nob Tent Sites

To: Cheese Factory Tent Sites
Miles today: 6.7

A pleasant hike from a windy start from Rocky Nob left our spirits lifted. We met Anthony and his daughter Graceson.He is a Christian Trail Minister and Trail Angel.He was at Unicoi Gap Parking area with a car load of free treats for any and all hikers. We were impressed with the range of supplies he had with no strings attached.When we got to the Cheese Factory we met Tator Melody Jeff Sleepy Arab Scott ant Tiffany.They had seen a small bear just before the Gap.We had a fire that night(Brian). Good time was had by all.
Date: 2006-03-23
From: Cheese Factory Tent Sites

To: Hiawassee GA.
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

We originally intended to hike only 8 miles today. The weather looked bad ,rain and possible snow, so we decided to go with everyone else to the Holiday Inn in Hiawasee. It was a great choice. It was a long hike to Dicks Creek Gap ,the closest we could get to Hiawassee. Long ups and downs (MUDS).Got to the road at about 3 PM. Got a shuttle pick up with 7 people to the hotel.We had dinner with a large group(Rosta Legs,Feng shui,Andy Dufrain,42,First Class,Chuter and his Wife, Big X). Chuter provided a large bit of trail magic and picked up the tab.The after dinner party coontinued in 224.It was a great time.
Date: 2006-03-25
From: Hiawassee GA.

To: Bly Gap Tentsites
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

We left Dick's Creek Gap after a hair raising ride by George W's campaign manager(AT LEAST HE COULD HAVE BEEN). The trail startted off with many ups and downs and snow flurries. We met an accomplished thru-hiker named "Flat Foot" and he wished us luck in our drive north. He has all ready done the AT thruhike as well as the Pacific Coast Trail. We have successfully completed the Georgia section today and crossed over into North Carolina, YEAH! YEAH!One state down, thirteen to go. Slept at Bly Gap tentsite with Baltimore Jack and many other hikers--a little Hooverville!! Onto Beach Gap tentsite tonight.
Date: 2006-03-26
From: Bly Gap Tentsites

To: Beech Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Very hard climb out of Bly Gap with much snow, ice and mud. Toomuch fell two times but remains undeterred in her efforts to have a successful thru hike. We got to our highest elevation yet--5,500 Ft--at Standing Indian Mt Summit. We again tented at a little Hooverville and had a great crowd of hikers including Baltimore Jack, Single Malt, Conductor, Sleepy the Arab, Feng Shui.We also met a new character named "Wolf" and everyone was in agreement that we were all glad he was going South and we were going North--you had to be there!!