morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-16
From: Franconia Notch

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

WOW......really going to be har for me to describe what happened to everyone today. We encountered the best day on trail as far as views! Unbelievable that such beauty exist. Franconia Notch and the beggining of the Presies were spectacular. We had great sunny weather, low wind speeds, and cool temps. Although there was a pretty nasty storm that rolled up on us ontop Lafayette. It hailed and rained for about an hour, but totally worth sticking around the mountain to watch it roll in from the distance and cover the top where we were. It got a little scary at one time because the lightning was popping all around us, we then decided to book it down to treeline, another couple of miles away with only 20 feet worth of visibility. Greatexperience but hope that was my last experience with rough weather above treeline! We did reach our first hut tonight and have talked to the hutmaster who has graciously quit being a dick long enough for us to get a spot to stay for the night. we had to pay, IDIOT, but the other hut mates hooked us up with food and drinks while he was away! Thanks guys. I hope the rest of our hut experiences are better. They are really nice but there to make money, good luck to anyone trying to do work for stay in the pack of the season! Anyays everything is wet and cold so hopefully i can get my clothes to dry off enough to be comfortable tom.
Date: 2008-06-17
From: Galehead Hut

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: moderate rain

Today was really rough on everyone. A long day like this was a bad decision. The terrain is in my opinion too rough for bigger miles comfortably. We did howver have goergeous views, a common day in the White's, Zeacliffs were really great but the climb out of Crawford Notch was extremely tough. Around 2 miles and 2000 feet elevation gain. We basically were going straight up the entire way to Mt. Jackson. Here we caught our first view of Washington, which was clear! Really hoping it looks like that for us tom. Thre Croo at Mizpah Hut are AWESOME! Having a blast working with them in the kitchen. Yohanas may be one of the funniest people i've ever met. Having fun with the Croo, stride, strides, and Hurricane. Looking forward to Washington tom
Date: 2008-07-11
From: Abol Bridge

To: Baxter Peak(Katahdin)
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well what do I say? How do i express the many feelings that rushed over me? I decided to really wait to enter this journal until I'd been back in the groove for awhile. Well here I am 2 weeks into school and missing the trail more than ever!!! The fact that I can recall every detail about my hike on command is impressive. I have talked to several of the people I hiked with over my 145 days and they all seem to have grown because of the trail. Personally I am so proud of myself for setting this monstrous goal and completing it. What an adventure it was, I loved the trail. The problem with this journal is that it in a way signifies that my journey is over! I know it will never truly be over because I will always carry the memories. I will always be growing and learning new things from my experiences. The climb up the mountain itself tested me in every way, spiritually, mentally, and especially physically. The day that "Just Hiking" and I shared on the summit was gorgeous. Our weather was partly clouded but the clouds were above the peak so we still caught every view possible. It took us around 2 hours to climb up the 5.2 miles, every step I found myself becoming more and more anxious. Asking myself what next, how am I going to feel at the top, where am I going to sleep tonight....the woods have been my home since Feb.! Upon reaching the top without a break I broke down immediately and fell on the sign taking up every inch. This was partly because there were so many day hikers there that I felt possessive toward the sign, like they didn't deserve to be there. Then I just started recalling past experiences from the hike, good days, bad days, people who'd help us so much, hostels, and the glorious zero days! Wow just overcome, almost stunned, took me several minutes to gather myself enough to remember I needed a photo for proof! "Just" and I stayed up top for a long time, at least an hour before making our descent back to reality! Class, showers, work, and gas prices! CRAP! Being called a thru-hiker is more than a title, and no one will understand until they complete their own! I can't wait for fall break, Kevin and I are heading to a section near the NOC, first trip on trail since the hike! Hope you all enjoyed keeping up with me, thanks for your support. Happy hikingSpecial thanks to Bill and Leslie, Mike and Blake, Keith and Lisa, Mr. and Mrs. Haynie, Mr. and Mrs. DeFore, My family, and Kevin(Hurricane-NOBO GA-ME 08), also all our hiking dudes, tent shaker, trailfoot, liquid, transfat, allgood, master alex, strides, stride, waterbear, stormin norm, just hiking-you my boy, and CHUCK-the man!-If anyone needs to get in touch with me, shoot an e-mail to spencerp@uga.edu
Date: 2008-06-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

So we leave Thursday. It is tough trying to outfit Danny in such short time on such a short budget. I have all my mail drops finished today which is a weight off my back. I can stop dreaming of dried foods and small rolls of toilet paper. It has been a headache coming up with different recipes and testing them. It has kept both me my compost pile full as well. Danny and I went to the store yesterday to get food for the 100 mile wilderness (8 days). Danny got some pop tarts, granola, zatarain's meals for dinner and picked up a bucket of peanut butter with a smile announcing, "I really like peanut butter." It must have been a gallon or more...so I sure hope so. Today we took a trip to REI to get Danny some clothes and smart wool socks. Things are coming together nicely...kinda Danny says to me this morning..."I almost ate the poptarts today for breakfast because I was too lazy to walk upstairs to the kitchen."I think my bear bag is going to double in keeping my food away from Danny as well.
Date: 2008-06-27
To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

Tom was nice enough to drive us up to ME. I don't think he realized it was 6+ hours...poor guy..got pulled over for speeding on the way up...thank goodness Tom was in the Marines and is a prison guard, the cop let it slide. We grabbed some gas station sandwiches and Tom dropped us off at some store and had to rush back to work. So we started walking the 11 miles to abol bridge...finally got a hitch from a local who insisted on showing us graphic pictures of "how much guts moose have." They have a lot of guts by the way... We hiked into rainbow pond and pitched tent. Had troubles with the bear bag since I had my lightweight roped bear bag and 30+lbs of food, doh danny didn't bring a pot either! Great sunset and I'll add a picture of Danny covered with blackflies later...
Date: 2008-06-28
From: Rainbow pond

To: Wadleaigh Shelter
Miles today: 15.3

Mountains! 2,000 foot peaks..heavy fog all day and lots of mud and mosquitoes. Met first NOBO (northbounder) we popped out onto a road looking for the trail and he popped out the other side of a bridge, lucky for us and him we showed each other the way. Met a few more, amitious types, what just whooped our butts a 65+ old man was headed over as we were heading down late in the evening with miles before a place to camp. Danny is falling behind, him and elevation don't agree. We asked 2 hikes "how long till the shelter" their response was "Up and over," but once we got up and over we realized they meant up and over the mountain range...not just one mountain. At the bottom of the first mountain we asked a 60+ man again "how far till the shelter." and his response was "about an hour." An hour and 20 minutes later Danny shouted, "what the hell, old man river said the shelter was and hour away!" I responded with "ya its been longer than that." "I know," said Danny, "I'm pissed cause I thought he meant old man time and speed." ha "well you just have to except that old man river is faster than you."We got to the shelter sat down and it began to pour. Danny went straight to bed without dinner, searching the rafters for spiders must have made him tired.
Date: 2008-06-29
From: Wadleigh lean-to

To: Sandy beach
Miles today: 11.9

Pretty flat day, literally ran 2 miles through a swamp because mosquitoes were so bad. Lots of log bridges that are very slippery and hard to stay on especially when slapping yourself in the temple to kill mosquitoe number 957. I knew Danny would be eating shit all day and come in covered in mud. Usually I wait for him and he comes along within 20-30 minutes...today I couldn't stop cause of bugs so at 5 I set up camp on a sandy beach thinking danny would be happy not to be in a shelter and left my nalgene on the trail so he would not pass me by. Just when I was about to go back to look for him at 7:30 he showed. Said he his ankle hurt something mean and he spent all day in the mud falling off bridges. He also got lost in the swamp because the bugs were so numorous that he could not even think clearly. "I beleive mosquitoes should learn the time out rule." said danny at the campfire. Tomorrow we will zero to let his ankel heal and find him some walking sticks.
Date: 2008-06-30
To: zero day
Miles today: 0.0

Beach day! Danny crawled out of his tent this morning looking like he had just exited a pool. My quarterdome w/ vestibule kept me and my pack dry. Suns out and its 85! Danny must think its Sunday because it appears he is having a yard sale. He is snoring away on his sleeping pad with everything he owns sprawled about the beach to dry. I have planned a zero day food wise but am a little nervous because it is so early to be doing a zero. I wanted to zero when I was comfortable that I would make it out of here. Tomorrow we will try a 16m day once danny has taped his ankel.
Date: 2008-07-01
From: zero day

To: logan brooke lean-to
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I came charging out of the woods onto Jo-Mary road again because the mosquitoes were so awful. I was jogging and would turn around to see a cloud behind me. Saw a man 100 feet down the road and he approached me so I stopped. His name was Allen Sockabsin, he is a native american man who is an author. He was giving a talk to some other authors on a retreat nearby. He gave me a coke, can of pinapple a peach and the first four leaf clover I've ever seen. Said he met a hiker not too long ago walking down the street with a boot that sole had come off. He gave the hiker his boots right off his feet! Also said his son wanted a snake, but they're too expensive so he caught one a few hours ago and put it in his truck but now he can't find it. "Hope it doesn't come out when my girlfriend borrows the truck." he said. Awesome person, and first trail magic!I got to Cooper Brook and decided to wait for Danny since he had a bad ankel. This shelter had a bunch of gear someone had thrown out and I was siked to gear danny up with a new pot, sun screen and an ace bandage. He showed up saying he tried to force a power bar down and immediatly puked. He is going to try to head out Jo-Mary road and hitch out. He took a few protein bars and a couple pop tarts but left the rest of his food at Cooper brooke. Including his 4 lb tub of peanut butter..which we'll talk about later.Met another 60+ NOBO who emerged out of the woods in a cloud of mosquitoes and I said "wow theres a cloud of bugs around you" his response was "thats cause I'm sweet!" He then told me how he made it to Virginia last year but had to have open heart surgery...now his hearts good but he has a balancing problem. WOW amazing old guys.Today was tough, long miles 21.3, knee started hurting and I started wishing I left with Danny. Saw a camera shy moose who would run a couple yards look at me then run a couple more yards, this continued till he turned into the woods. May zero tomorrow cause my knee feels dead.
Date: 2008-07-02
From: logan brooke

To: carl newhall
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: broken clouds

Some NOBO told me the next shelter is way better and I should zero there..asshole it was practically the same. Hurt every step of the way today over a 4000 foot peak called whitehouse, with great views but the blackflies were killing me so I didn't stay too long. Huge downhills 3 more peaks after whitehouse...both knees killing me, and every step I thought about alternative summer plans and how I can't wait to quit. Made it to Carl A Newhall memorial lean-to..going to zero and eat lots of food to lighten my pack. Still a bad trail day is better than a good work day."The middle class non-identity which finds its perfect expression in rows of well-to-do houses with lawns and television sets in each living room with everybody looking at the same thing and thinking the same thing at the same time" - Jack Kerovac
Date: 2008-07-03
To: carl newhall
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It is hard doing nothing when your so used to moving. I wish I didn't read that national geographic someone left in the shelter the first day! I plan to sit at the shelter today and make sure it doesn't go anywhere, let my knees heal as much as possible. Dave and Dan showed up in the evening going SOBO, nice guys. Knees are still pretty bad may zero again, I have the food.
Date: 2008-07-04
To: carl newhall again
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Getting cabin fevor...a large camp group is camping nearby and some girls from france. Later a large group of SOBO's showed up. Nick and his wife 25 and 26. 2 girls from FL 22 and 23. Jake from NC 26 and Walker who is 18. I call walker Emergency because all he brough with him was a emergency bivy sack for sleeping in...first of all a bivy sack goes outside your sleeping bag...second its called emergency because its not for everyday use. He said he thought he'd just bundel up at night but had one pair of shorts and a really light jacket...I gave him my emergency blanket and he picked a tarp up along the way. So his name could be HOBO blanket or crinkles cause everytime he moved we would all wake up cause of that damn tarp. Good laughs around the campfire and moral is improving.It seems Danny has become infamous for leaving behind the 4lbs of peanut butter...all the NOBO's were apparently spreading the word and all the SOBOs who caught up with me were having a laugh about it. There has been a lot of gear left at shelters, I could have had a yard sale once I got into Monson.
Date: 2008-07-05
From: Carl A newhall

To: Chairback Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hit Chairback around noon with Emergency and Jake. I wanted to push onto the next shelter but emergency wanted nothing to do with it. We decided to go 1.6 to a pond to go for a swim...Emergency kept walking for some reason to the shelter he was against going to, while jake and I headed up to the pond. Tons of boats around and we found 2 canoes and 2 paddels and began exploring the pond. I imediatly headed for the island and found a nice old fishing camp there so called for Jake and we headed to shore, loaded up our gear into one canoe and headed back to the island. ARRR pirates life for me. Jake found a can of viena sausage that looked like it had been canned before I was born he popped it and stuck it in front of me, "what do you think?" I said "i'm not eating them but I don't think they can taste anyworse, anyhow, anyway." with that he through them in a pot and cooked them on the fire.
Date: 2008-07-06
From: pirate island

To: Wilson Valley lean-to
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Had a smile on my face all day due to the evening of paddeling and night on the island. Lots of great views! Jake was out of food and hitched to Monson. I headed to another shelter and reached it at 4. A few hours later the crew I had ran into at Carl A Newhall showed up. Nick calls me Carl because I zero'd two days there and when they showed up I told them I was Carl and they needed to pay me rent. Knees are better but still in pain...I figured I can't complain though since I've seen so many old guys out here who barely have knees left. "Indian mystics will tell you that by self-inflicted tortures the soul reaches through flesh-numbing ecstasy toward those higher states of being that lie between it and the absolute." - Melville Charter
Date: 2008-07-07
From: Wilson Valley lean-to

To: Monson
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

I charged 6 miles from the lean-to to a hostel which some NOBO's told me had 2 dollar beers. Left the group in the dust and told them to meet me there..to my dissapointment the guy was out getting supplies so I hiked back to the trail and left a message on the trail crossing to not bother going for the 2dollar beers and continue to MONSON. 4 miles left and my sprinting to the 2 dollar beer hurt me. My left calf started cramping and my knee was hurting bad as well...I kept on and finally heard cars, i limped out onto the road and started heading to Monson. 2 miles! I was about a half mile on my way in the sun when a guy going ATV'ing pulled over to my outstretched thumb. I'm getting the hang of hitch hiking now...i beleive the flag on my bag helps it says "Prepair to be boarded" w/ skull and crossbones. Got a room at the Lakeshore house, took the most amazing shower then laundry, beer and now the library to update this. I'm sure the others have caught up and are here so I'm going to go see if I can't find them.Final thoughts on the 100 mile wilderness...it hurts, its no joke and it was a reality check. Danny can not be made fun of for dropping out as many other did the same. Its tough with 50 lbs on your back getting to the top of a mountain just to realize you have to go back down then up and down 3 more only to go 7 miles. Its no joke and I'm suprised I made it as I wanted to give up 2 or 3 days. Luckily I had enough food for 3 zero days but spent 10 days in those woods...Toughest thing I've ever done and I can feel the chest hair growing as I type...off to cheers with the others!
Date: 2008-07-08
From: Monson

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Kicking it in Monson, shipping stuff home, water filter, extra clothes, some extra food and the Eskrima stick is going home too. So new trail name to come...i'll let it find me, no rush. Everyone is real nice in this town, Tim the owner of Monson general store got out his 12 string after hours and jammed with a hiker on the banjo. The lakeshore had a bbq, nice night. Tomorrow its shaws all you can eat breakfast $7 and then trail again. I hope I meet up with Jake, dan and dave. Other SOBOs catch up. I plan to be in Caratunk in 4 days. then Stratton ME in 4-5 more. -Ozzie
Date: 2008-07-09
From: Monson

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

Started great with an AYCE breakfast for 7 bucks, trail at 10am. 3 river crossings to start but I was averaging 3 mph because it was flat otherwise. Got slowed down once I hit mud/rock trail. Heard rumbling from above so I put my pack cover on and started running for the shelter. Heavy rain followed by lightening but I made it within 20 minutes. Dave and Dan who left Monson the day before me were in the shelter to my surprise. They killed the 100 mile wilderness and since they got a head start I thought I would never see them again. Both were now slowed due to injuries. I made some ramen while waiting for the storm to pass and soon enough blue skies were above. We all agreed I could make the shelter by 7pm hiking slow so I said my farewells and headed out. One mile up I came to a bald rock bluff and continued on. A little while later I could see the true summit ahead with black clouds rolling in fast over top of it. BOOM Lightening and the skies opened, running as low as I could I headed for a thicket of trees. I had picked up an excellent hiking stick that a beaver had cut down for me. I thought it was great to have a spear shaped top until this moment where the stick caught in a crevasse and I ran straight into it. I remember this happening in my driveway playing hockey. The driveway had many cracks and the end of the stick would catch and you'd just slam into your stick knocking the wind out of me. The beaver stick however struck me at my lower rib cage and I didn't notice any pain with all the adrenalin flowing through my system. I was aiming for a lot spot in a thicket of small trees, found a decent spot and pitched tent in the pouring rain. I had to towel out quite a bit of water still. I was sitting up impressed at my speed of setting up the tent when I noticed the pain in my ribs. I tore up my shirt and my eyes bugged a bit as I saw a 1/2 inch bump poking my skin outwards. Breathing was hard and I had to lie flat and take deep breathes to get some air. I figured I jacked a rib so I put some pressure on it and it went back in, no point in fretting about it now I'm alone waiting out this storm. Around 7 all seemed calm but I waited another 30 minutes just incase..then packed up everything and headed back the way I came to look for a blue trail I had passed. I knew the blue trail bypassed the summit incase more lightening rolled in. I couldn't find it in the fog and decided to head on anyways...I then found a different blue bypass trail took it and once I was on the other side of the mountain saw a sign "1.6 to lean-to" It was 8 and it gets dark at 8:30 so I charged down the trail, which was more of a river at this point. I made it in 30 mins and there were 5 others in the shelter..they told me that the first blue trail I couldn't find was for the west peak. Thank goodness I did not find it!
Date: 2008-07-10
From: Caratunk

To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.7

Wet day! Trail was a muddy river. 1 river crossing which was the toughest yet due to the past days rains. I heard that the resupply I was planning in Caratunk was closed so I've been doing high miles since I have 4 days of food and planned an 8 day trip. Some NOBO's insisted the hostel was still open and after a lady drove me around all town she ended up dropping me off back at the trail head. I just stealth camped near the fairy crossing. Still early so bed early.
Date: 2008-07-11
From: Caratunk

To: West Carry 
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

First one to cross the Kennebec, a canoe manned by a guy who looked like he had joke teeth in. He said his trail name was hill billy...anyways pretty flat day and caught up to some people that left katadin on june 20th. Girls camp here, gave us tortillas, humas and hot chocolate. Jake who is now called Supertramp is at the next lean-to. I debated to push but once I sat down it was over. 2 old guys are here one is 71 the other 75. One has been section hiking for 18 years the other as he put it "well before you were born in 66." More like before I was thought of being conceived. I'm watching him now and hes struggling to open a lipton noodles package...how does he hike? Amazing and I keep meeting 65+ year olds. knees are holding strong, pushin on.