morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-26
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Lanford Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Foggy is what the weather is like today. Too bad I am about to go up MacAfee's Knob, reportedly one of the most stellar views on the AT! Such are the trials and tribulations of a thru-hiker.Can barely even waddle after a HUGE meal at the family-style Home Place restaurant in Catawba, VA last night. Tinker (finishing a flip-flop in Waynesboro) and I are in a nice little quiet pocket by ourselves; everyone and their mother is about 1-2 days ahead of us. I sort of like it this way, but hope Chaos and Red catch up soon (both early-20's girls on the trail).New favorite trail meal: Trader Joe's white cheddar mac and cheese with summer sausage.New favorite trail drink: Crystal Light tangerine flavor with calcium. No calories, unfortunately, but that is what makes it light in weight, too.New favorite overpriced trail snack: fancy chocolate-covered fruit from TJ's. Hiking has been fun lately, though the rocky ridges are definitely challenging. My new Merrell trail sneaks are SO comfortable I don't mind that water gets in through the tongue even after waterproofing. The G-Pack is disappointing; the stay keeps slipping out and the straps don't stay taught; the latter is partially due to the fact that I am 5lbs. overweight (my pack, that is). Hopefully Mt. Rogers Outfitters will help me straighten that out.Tinker and I had a great night at Four Pines Hostel (just down from Dragon's Tooth); it is a converted garage and we (ie Tinker) made a fire in the wood stove and slept next to it. Tres cozy. Latest disturbing development: when dirty, my socks smell like wet dog. Tres gross.Waiting to hear from Pippa, who will hopefully hike in the Shenandoah with me? Plan to hit Harper's ferry by the 11th and may or may not go back for Trail Days. Right now, it sounds a little hectic for my general sense of calm.Last night, I went out to the Dragon's Tooth and sang a Friday evening prayer service by myself (Kabbalat Shabbat). It was very soothing; I am taking this morning slow and will do 15 at a nice leisurely pace. Hopefully I will see Java and Dimples soon; I have mail for Dimples!I also have just decided to go to UMich next year for Modern Middle Eastern and North African Studies; the money situation just worked out! That is the latest non-trail excitement. Love to all... (Thanks so much to Joe of Four Pines for all the hospitality, the use of his truck and internet, and general goodwill.)
Date: 2003-05-03
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Whew! After 6 days of pulling 20+ days, I am caught up to basically everyone and their mother. Literally, lots of parents are in town right now! Much thanks to the Neuzils and the Barretts for their generosity (Java and Red's parents).Virginia hiking is interesting: you go up 3,000 ft, stay there for ten miles, and then go straight back down to where you came from only to start the entire process over again the next day. I have been blessed with beautiful weather for great views on MacKaffee (sp) Knob and Tinker Cliffs (which I hiked with Tinker), but also got caught in a bad thunderstorm coming up to Cow Camp Gap Shelter and ended up hammocking in the driving rain on what I realized the next morning was Bald Knob (it wasn't quite bald.) I also did my first 30-mile day, if you count 29.7 as 30. AND WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN.I am excited to head into the Shenandoah (reportedly easy hiking) and hike for a couple of days with Guest Star Pippa Brashear! Also, to hook up with some family as I head to Maryland.Red's parents are waiting to drive us to Charlottesville to meet up with Java and Dimples: the gang will be reunited once again. So I must flee; I will write a fuller and more poetic update anon!Oh yes, and I don't really know how to get the automatic mileage counter to work, but for those of you who really want to know (i.e. Stin and Mere) it is now 847 down...
Date: 2003-05-14
To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Here I am, cozy and comfortable in my grandparent's house on Seminole Street, MD (I took the train from Harpers Ferry) about to get back on the trail! Thank you, Minna and Steven and Winnie and Grandma and Grandpa, for making this the most relaxing stop of the trip so far.We've been blessed with non-rainy, non-humid, non-buggy weather for the most part lately. My latest adventures include hiking with the entire Sunday Times for two days, meeting the caretakers at the Blackburn AT center, seeing a bear...oh no, just another deer. And meeting a full-blooded Native American (Hawk) who is hiking part of the trail as part of a spirit walk and also to raise money for the medications of the elders of his community.I have come to realize that while the second half of the trail will be hot, it will also be so much fun because as I near New England I have so many people to visit! Right now, I am hoping that it is an okay decision not to go back for Traildays in Damascus, VA. I think it would be a blast, on the one hand, but I also might want to "spend" those days in New York and Boston and Philly with friends and family instead. I could do both, and if you see me at a road crossing later this week, I probably can be easily convinced to come :)Off to grocery shop at a real live co-op, and then, to the trail!
Date: 2003-05-19
From: Shenedoah

To: GUEST ENTRY by Pippa Brashear
Miles today: 0.0

It was great to get a chance to hike the trail, even for just a short stretch. The mountains were sooooooooo beautiful. I get to see them from my work every day, but hiking through them all day is another thing all together (much better). Anyone who hasn't been to the Shenendoah in springtime is missing out! I suggest that whoever you are, you hop on whatever form of transportation you can and go see it before you have to wait another year!I'm glad I got to meet the through-hikers I did. I have to say; I have much admiration for all of you. It is a long trip, but being on the trail for a few days, I can see why your doing it. Maybe I'll get there some day; I'm not convinced I'm that tough. Still, meeting people on the trail was one of the best parts! I hope everyone I met: Popotart, Red, Lucky, Sparrow, Connoli ... make the whole trip and are doing great (and are recovering from any injuries incurred in the process).I am afraid I left you to a week of just nasty stormy weather. I hope you've survived it in style, and are now drying out and enjoying the sun!Pippa
Date: 2003-05-20
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Bum-bum-ba-bum...This broadcast is brought to you LIVE from Pennsylvania, where Mimi has just completed over 1/2 of the mileage of the entire Appalachian Trail! No, I did not join the crowd and eat a half-gallon of ice cream at the halfway point, as is customary, but my two scoops were very delicious anyways. And unlike others (Ahem) I suffered no ill effects of the lactose...In case you are confused, Pippa wrote the last entry after hiking with me for three days. She is also an all-star for sending me the first 1/3 of Dune and Thin Mints! For anyone who wants to send a letter or something, the next maildrop is listed under "Maildrops" as Delaware Water Gap. Though since I am going straight from there to NEW YORK to visit my AMAZING ROOMMATES, you might want to hold off until Bear Mt., NY or Kent, CT.It has been so rainy of late, tho today is lovely. My socks have been wet for so long they smell like dead animals, and my shoes are starting to come apart as well...can't wait to hit EMS in NYC for a replacement pair. My new Gregory pack is great but kilts (is that a word?) to one side. I've been hiking at the same pace as Johnny Walker, Moxie, Shovel and Cannoli, though they will soon speed ahead of me. It has been fun to have all those guys around, especially Moxie's pack guitar and funk skills. It makes fording raging creeks bareable. As does incredible hospitality, like when the caretakers of Deer Lick Shelter (Beth and Chris Firme) picked our sorry wet selves up from PA16 and let us stay in their home and dry off. Beth knows hikers so well she prepared almost too much food for us! As Shovel says, there is a difference between "trail magic" and "trail miracles"- this was the latter.So, I am off to clock off another 4.7 miles to a shelter tonight, then hammocking tomorrow and making my way through the notorious PA rocks to NJ, friends and family. Love to all.
Date: 2003-05-23
From: 501 Shelter

To: Deer Path Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

I walked out of Duncannon in style: with a full pack of food (including three oranges and a 1/2 lb. red delicious and portable pudding) and an ice cream cone from 3B's in my hand. Meeting people in town and hearing how shocked they were that I was hiking alone made me stop and think, "yeah, it is pretty gutsy to be doing this." The flipside of that coin is that as I get further north and cross more roads and see more people, I feel a little less safe on the trail. I am definitely more wary of giving out a lot of info about my mileage or plans for shelter, and I try to keep very careful track of who is around on the trail.After a few more fun days with Moxie, Shovel, Johnny Walker and Cannoli, I bid them adieu to come here and rest my aching arches (the PA rocks are just starting here 14 miles south of Port Clinton). I also am on an enforced slow-down as I try to hit Delaware Water Gap on the 29th or 30th for my hiatus in The City. I even had my sister mail some city clothes to the Lewis res. so I don't get kicked out of the trendy bars I am sure my roommates will take me to :)PA is a weird state: it is flat compared to what I am used to, but the rocky jumbles do wear you out. The locals in Duncannon seemed to enjoy telling me how bad the weather was going to be ("Rain every day!") but it has turned out just cool and cloudy, which is perfect hiking weather. I am not looking forward to getting crowded out of shelters by memorial day weekenders in tomorrow's predicted downpour, though!About where I am staying tonight...It is hard to remember I am on the trail in this lush home. The Deer Path Hostel is new this year; Lucy has decided to open her home to hikers for the 2003 season. And when I say "open," I mean it: she has lunch meats and bread for lunch, is letting me bake challah and supplied all the ingredients, asks us to "please eat all the fruit," provides snacks and Vanilla Cokes for a nickle, shuttles to and from the trail and for resupply, lets us use the internet and take showers and play with her incredibly cute Rotweiler...all with the humble request that we "chip in for food costs" for the DINNER and BREAKFAST that she cooks. I am flabbergasted, and say to all who are thinking of coming here, "definitely come and be wonderful guests." Lucy and Tim (who I haven't met yet) and their 17-year old son Dylan all get six stars. Lucy picks up at 11am daily from PA183, 9 mi. north of the 501 shelter and 14 south of Port Clinton.A big hello to Java and Dimples and Red; I hope that when I come back from NYC we can all meet up and chill through to New England!
Date: 2003-06-03
From: Beth and Brad's

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Just a quick note to say that my experiences of Trail Magic continue to astound me. Last night, locals Brad and Beth (Rumplestilskin and Princess Leah) picked us up out of Culver's Gap and brought us to their incredibly beautiful house on Lake Owassa to spend a night chilling out with their son Eric and his musician friends, boating on the lake, eating, and even soaking in their outdoor hot tub! Dimples will be posting pictures soon. Thanks enormously to them; I have finally managed to recover from my New York hangover with some lovely orange juice and banana frappes.Oh yes, and I saw my first two bears! Eat your heart out, A-Train :)Happily, merrily,
Date: 2003-06-04
From: High Point Shelter

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 0.0

Sitting here at the wonderful St. Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel in Vernon; these people are so serious about this hiker ministry that when they built a new church they put in a special basement that thru hikers could use.   Joining me tonight are Ben and Witt (here for a zero), Cheddar, Beef Stick, Rockhound, Java and Dimples.To clarify about the last entry: Beth and Brad have never before hosted hikers, but they are beginning a life of spontanaity and listening to the will of the universe. It was in this spirit that they invited us home with them, and I cannot say enough about the openhearted spirit of this couple and Eric and his friends. Experiences like this are teaching me a lot about following your heart and reaching out to people.My mom has noted that I always sound happy on my journal, and wonders whether the trail is always like that. No, it is not, but when I write I am generally in "town," which is always fun for a hiker so no doubt that affects the tone of my entries. Truthfully, getting rained on (as we have been) is very little fun, it is unseasonably cold which is good for hiking but takes all of your motivation so getting up in the morning is near impossible. There are days I wake up and really don't feel like hiking at all. Thank God the bugs are at bay, though everyone is finding ticks now. Cheddar has found 34 on his person, two imbedded. Ew. Apparently my lack of leg hair and proclivity towards gaiter wearing, both habits I have been criticized for, are an advantage against these little parasites now.I am dead tired and still have to dash off some thank you notes, so I bid you all goodnight. If you would like to send something after I hit Kent, CT, my home address is best:185 Bellevue Rd.Watertown, MA 02472My B-day is coming up on the 17th, and while I will be on the trail an email or phone message or card will somehow get to me :)
Date: 2003-06-12
From: Pine Brook Swamp Shelter

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Thanks to new trailbuddy Rockhound, he, Cheddar and I are enjoying a relaxing eve in front of the telly at his fiance's grandparents' home in Hillsdale, NY. Much needed, since the trail has SUCKED lately. Today at one point, I killed four mosquitos on my arms in two seconds. Weather is humid as hell and the terrain is tough, too. General concensus is that we all need a break, which is coming up some day this weekend when I fly (or drive, rather) to Boston. In honor of this upcoming interlude, and my birthday (Tuesday, June 17th), here is a remake of John Denver's "Country Road":Almost heaven, western MassNot much for mountainsBut there's lots of grassHiking's rough here, You can't get a hitchThat's fine 'cause in this state Driving is a bitch(Chorus)Route Nine-Oh, take me homeTo the place I belongBack to Boston,Beans and lobster,Take me home, Route Nine-OhAll my mem'ries gather 'roundTwenty three years lived in WatertownSure we've got Massholes and high humidityBut I've hiked here from Georgia,It's where I long to be (repeat chorus).I'm still working on the bridge. Suggestions in the guestbook welcome.
Date: 2003-06-14
From: Salisbury, CT

To: Birthday in Boston
Miles today: 0.0

Hellooooo, all! Poptart comin' atcha from the wonderful city of Boston, MA! I crossed over into Massachusetts on the trail today, and was disappointed that it was much like Connecticut; POURING. When I say, "it poured on Rockhound and me," I don't mean some piddling drizzle. I mean it was like taking a frickin' shower. We were soaked, and scrambling (or falling) up and down rocky Bear Mountain and Mt. Everett ("Everest? It sure feels like it.") I left Shane at the shelter and made a break for Rt. 7, only nearly breaking my elbow in the process (I got away with a nasty bruise and cut).   Hey, the wound impressed the southbound sectioners I met on the way down.Oh yes, did I mention that the trail was FLOODED today? I thought it was bad when Rockhound and I were wading through knee-deep puddles and rivers on the ridge. Oh no. Half a mile from the road, when I think I am homefree, I encounter a series of bog bridges that seem to be curiously exactly the same height as the water table. As soon as I step on one, I realize why: they were FLOATING. Imagine, if you will, what it is like to try to cross a flooded lowland on floating bog bridges. It is like a sick video game. The moment you step on one end of the bridge, the whole thing sinks two feet underwater, completely undermining the existence of said bridge in the first place. Then, when you get to one end, the other rears up and threatens to topple you. The swarming mosquitos provide added amusement. Let me tell ya, the only saving graces of today were the wonderful pancakes served up by Irma Waldo, Rockhound and my indomitable spirits, and the fact that both of us were getting off the trail for a while post-haste! (Me more haste than him). So, after an Italian dinner with St. Mom (she drove out to pick me up) and ice cream from Rancatore's in Belmont, I am ready to call it a day. 22 miles in a literal rainshower ain't too shabby. I'll write some more while in town to fill y'all in on the previous exploits of Poptart, including new trailfriends. Cheddar, I really do hope that things have, ahem, solidified a little bit for you.
Date: 2003-06-27
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Lynn and Jeanne
Miles today: 0.0

Well, Rockhound's Vermont connections have hooked us up yet again, and we (Rockhound, Cheddar, Afterburner, Rockhound's fiance and superhiker Emma, and I) are at the home of Emma's mom Lynn and partner Jeanne, two very hip ladies. Full of good food from the Inn at Longtrail, where we ate with Buzz, and a coffee ice cream and rootbeer float, we are about to watch a movie. This is definitely preferable to being the blackflies main dish, as we were on top of Killington today.So let's play catchup. It was hard to leave Boston, even though Skeist was nice enough to drive me out on his way to NYC and buy me a birthday lunch of chocolate chip pancakes in Great Barrington. At least I fell right into a group of familiar faces, namely Dimples and Java, Shifty and ATV. Even Crumbsnatcher showed up to wish me happy birthday. We stayed on Tom's front porch in Dalton, MA and then headed up to Mt. Greylock, where I got to stay in Bascom Lodge after making friends with the assistant manager--thanks again, Tim. Fun to see that Scamp and Greylock, two of the hikers I started out with, had signed in even though they are off the trail.The next day, June 21st, was HIKE NAKED DAY to celebrate the summer solstice. I was all about the naked hiking, once I got off the summit of the most popular dayhiking mountain in Western MA! Don't worry; I wore bandanas strung out and wrapped around my chest strap and hipbelt that I unfurled whenever I heard someone approaching. Total distance hiked in the au-so-naturale: 7 miles.   After parting ways from Java and Dimples at Bennington VT and leaving Shifty and ATV shortly thereafter, I was on my own for a few nights. This was peaceful, once I cleared the hordes of section and Long Trail hikers. Rockhound and Cheddar, Beefstickless, caught up with Afterburner at the beautiful Big Branch Shelter and now we are really living it up. GOtta go, the movie's starting, but love to all and thanks for the birthday wishes. 23 isn't so bad after all.
Date: 2003-06-30
From: Winturi Shelter

To: The Cliffords' in Pomfret VT
Miles today: 0.0

Yet again I am the beneficiary of Trail Magic from Rockhound's extended family, this time with a zero day here at their home in Pomfret! Today is an interesting day because it is the first annual "Cheddar Being Nice to Poptart Day." Thru-hiker Cheddar has a brilliant sarcastic edge that once in a while gets on my nerves, so he has generously declared this national holiday. There are bets for and against his success, so stay tuned...For those of you who are like, "Pomfret? Where's that?" in trail terms I am 13 miles south of Hanover, NH and the beginning of the White Mountains (which I am very, very excited about). The bugs are still bad, but I have managed to avoid them somewhat by using natural lemongrass bug repellent spiked with a healthy dose of 100% DEET. We faced many MUDS and PUDS in the past two days (Mindless Ups and Downs and Pointless Ups and Downs) and it was pretty hot, but swimming in every water source moe than 1' deep helped a lot. The boys right now are on a mission to find Beefstick, who fell behind due to a very infected blister. I am planning on reading the new Harry Potter book today and giving my thighs a rest. It is fun and sad to read about people I know who are far ahead; I am not sure if I'll see A-Train, Grunt, Flick, Journeyman and Cannoli again. But the trail always surprises you, so we shall see.In honor of my dear friend Allegra Ketchum, I made Icebox Cake in Tina Clifford's kitchen last night and it should be ready for lunch. As this is the most fattening dessert I know of (the only ingredients are Famos Amos chocolate wafers, sugar and whipping cream) I figured it would be better to indulge while I am still on the trail! Full of fruit salad and last night's fresh strawberry shortcake, and happy to let my bugbites heal, this is Poptart signing off. One last word: there are more out of order pictures up, AND all my remaining maildrops are listed! Love to all.
Date: 2003-07-07
From: Lonesome Lake

To: Garfield or Greanleaf
Miles today: 0.0

Sorry, this is a non-entry to let my family know that although I can't access my bank account and my cell phone doesn't work, I am okay until I get my maildrop in Pinkham Notch. Here in North Woodstock, heading up to Franconia Ridge today. The hut Croos so far are great and I love being in the Whites despite a mild migraine! Saw Ben and Witt, hiking with Tubbs and ahead of the boys, hope to see them and to catch Donkey and Cannoli before Maine...
Date: 2003-07-11
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Gorham, almost
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Okay, so this has to be brief because Beefstick is waiting to use the one computer at the library. I am in Gorham, I meant to hike 21 miles here today but because I got pretty chilled and drenched on the Wildcats, I decided to blue-blaze down and hike tomorrow. It is pretty crowded here with Nobo's and Sobo's...SO, the Whites were great, the Huts and the croos (workers all my age) were really fun, and I am so almost in Maine. Wow. As the trail draws to an end I find myself missing the old crew, Flick, Journeyman, even Grunt :) I hope I'll get to see everyone again.I am keeping a real journal, so I promise that in August I will order all my pictures and fill in the blanks; for now, I am warmed up and excited for nicer weather. And dinner.Also, thanks for the quarter, Lynn!