morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-16
From: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to

To: Stratton Motel
Miles today: 13.5

Town day, although we have to go about 13 miles before we can hit town. We all went at our own pace. It was hot out but that's nothing new really. I listened to sermons for most of the day, trying to pass the time. The hiking was pretty rough but I took it slow on the uphill and just kept moving. Eventually I made it to the road and started trying to hitch a ride.About the third car that came along actually went past me, but then about 50 yards down the road came to a quick stop and then backed all the way up to me. Once I was in the car the lady asked me, "You aren't phycho are you?" I laughed and asked her if I looked crazy and she said no.So she dropped me off at the Stratton Motel. Instead of getting a spot in the bunkhouse, Restless and 2 Shoes got a room with double beds for the 3 of us to share. Apparently for 3 people in that room was the same price individually than as the bunkhouse.So I checked my email and then we all went to the diner across the street for lunch. Afterwards, I took a shower and then sat in bed for a couple of hours in my towel while the other guys did the laundry. I mostly watch the news and how everyone wants to blow up Israel. I don't understand why people even try, Israel could kick the crap out of anyone over there.So when the laundry got back I threw on some clothes and then started doing some trailjournals. I was so far behind. Around 7pm I took a dinner break and got a pizza and called Keri. She is super anxious for me to finish. She already has butterflies in her stomach. She wants me to pray that she calms down but shoot, what's wrong with being excited. I knond of want her to lose sleep due to being anxious to see me becuase that means she'll have to go to bed at a descent house when she does get to see me instead of keeping me up all night. I joke.So I called Dad and left a message and then I called Mom and then tried to go do some more trailjournals but when I finally was able to get on the computer someone got in line behind me waiting for me to finish up. So I wasn't able to do anymore and instead hit the sack after calling Keri one last time.I had a rather patriotic moment with the American flag while I was talking to Keri. I stood in front of this flag, about 3x2 feet, that was stapled to a telephone pole on the street. It was dark out with only a few lights lighting up the area. And I just stood there, watching the flag waver endlessly in the wind. It never tires from doing its job, and that's what this country lives by. I don't know, it was a peaceful moment, kind of like the feeling we all had as we saw our first flag flying after September 11th as we were driving down a rode in our county. Just cool.So I headed to bed in a freaking hot room. Does Maine not believe in A/C? Tomorrow the Bigelow Mountains.pop-tars x4---tuna, creamy peanutbutter, cheese---hamburger, onion rings---large pepperoni pizza
Date: 2006-07-17
From: Stratton Motel

To: Little Bigelow Lean-to
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

I would have been able to sleep in today but the hundreds of trucks riding through the small town of Stratton around 5am had me up and kept me up. So we all got packed up and nuked our breakfast in the microwave. At 6:30am the shuttle driver showed up so we all piled in. During the 10 minute ride back to the trail the guy in the back of the truck bed with me kept talking while we were riding and it was a bit annoying because how can you have a descent conversation while in the back of a pickup truck going 60mph. I couldn't hear a word he said.So we got to the trail and soon were hiking. Climbing up to the South Horn and then on to Bigelow Mountain's West peak was hard but I can tell that the severity of the climbing is starting to calm down. We then hiked across the ridge line to Avery's Peak. It was so hot out today. I was sweating bullets by 7:30am and it didn't stop all day. So we kept moving and went up and over Little Bigelow. There were some cool rock features along the way to it's summit. Huge, massive size boulders lined the path. Many of the dwarfed me. I looked like a little ant next to them.So as we all came down off of Little Bigelow we all became 2000 milers. Holy crap. I have walked way too long and way too far. We celebrated a little bit by nibbling on some blueberries we would come across. They were so good, but made me thirsty which sucked because I was out of water.So we finally made it to the shelter around 2pm. I went to use the privy and found that it was accomodated with 2 windows, curtains, and 2 seats. Peculiar.Afterwards, we all went for a dip in "The Tubs", which were deep pools in the creek that were about 8 feet deep. Restless and I took a dip but 2 Shoes chickened out because it was too cold for him. I actually took a second dip and just soaked in there for a while.So later, we all got out and went back to the shelter where we had fun catching deer flies and throwing them into the local spider's web, that is of course after we ripped their wings off. It was cool to watch the spider come down and cocoon the fly each time we threw one in. We must have done it about 7 times.So then I napped and then cooked and then did some journaling. We have about 10 hiking days left, that rocks. Though it won't be easy. Tomorrow we are doing a 27 mile day. Should be interesting.pepperoni and cheese hot pockeet x2, bean burrito---tuna, creamy peanutbutter---chicken veggie ramen noodles x3
Date: 2006-07-18
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: light rain

Since we were doing about 27 miles today and hand to cross a river via a ferry that operated from 1-4pm, we all had it in our minds to get an early start on the day. Restless was hiking by 5am, I was hiking by 5:30am. What has happened to my life.So the hiking today was so easy. I mean here we go from huge 1,000 foot climbs everyday to 27 miles that was pretty much flat. We passed the unofficial 2,000 mile mark today. It was "2000 MI" painted on a road.So there isn't much to say about the first half of the day. It was refreshingly flat. It did rain on me however, but it felt good so I didn't mind, which might be the first and last time I say that.I made it to the place where you take the ferry across the river and found Restless and 2 Shoes sitting down, waiting on the ferry guy to show up. We had been given the wrong times for the ferry operations. Instead of 1-4pm, it was 2-4pm.At 2pm the ferry guy showed up and soon carted off Restless and 2 Shoes. He then came back and loaded me in and off we went trying to ferry across the river in his canoe. Ok, so I took white water canoeing in college and I know how to ferry a canoe, this guy didn't. He was in the back steering and Iwas in the front supplying the power and it took a lot to hold back from asking, "What are you doing?" But we eventually made it across and all was well. I looked in the canoe as I was disembarking and I noticed that there was a white blaze painting on the bottom of it. It was the official canoe for crossing the river. No water blazing here, this ferry was legit.So the other guys were able to get ahold of "Steve" to come and meet us at the road and shuttle us back to his hostel place so we could buy some goodies and just relax. Afterward, he took us back to the trail and off we went.The last six miles were on a slight uphill but wasn't bad at all. I was flying, I think it was the caffeen. So I was first of our group to get to the shelter only to find 3 others in the shelter before we got there. After a bit of shuffling, we going everyone in. Later, 3 others showed up, one being an annoying girl that made sure everyone knew she was Canadian. I soon became really annoyed with her. She just kept talking and talking, loudly at that.Anyways, tomorrow hopefully is an easy day as well.cranberry almond crunch---cheese---chicken noodle soup
Date: 2006-07-19
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: Shaw's Hostel
Miles today: 31.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I haven't slept this bad in a long time. The no-see'ems were insane. All night long they kept biting me. Somehow they would get into my sleeping bag giving me hours of discomfort. I even at one point got up and put DEET on, that's how bad they were.So, we all got up early and I was hiking by 6am. It was surprisingly cool out today, and very low humidity. I had 2 peaks to climb this morning and actually had great views from the top.So I had been thinking all day of instead of doing 22 miles to the shelter, just do the extra 9 into Monson today so I could do a zero day tomorrow. Well, if I wanted to go to Monson I would have to make pretty good time. But, it seems, I found my Siren Song - wild blueberries. They're everywhere now. All morning long I would see patches of them and had to stop to eat. I even stopped for about 10 minutes, got a baggy, and started gathering them. Somehow I was able to pull myself away eventually and got hiking again.So I got to the original destination by 3pm and decided to do the next 9 miles to Monson. I yelled down to the guys, who were swimming in the river, my plans, so I'll meet up with them tomorrow.This morning in the shelter a SOBO said these last 9 miles were great terrain and the few SOBO's I passed said the same thing, "flat and gorgeous". So I pushed on.I met a guy named Mike King who stayed at Shaw's hostel last night but left his cell phone there so I told him I'd mail it to Stratton for him, he was a South bounder.So the next 7 miles were suppose to be flat and easy right? Wrong. Friggin' SOBO's. It was full of rocks and mud and most of it was rolling hills. Far call from flat. Geez. I did however get startled by a loon sounding it's call. That was pretty neat. Eventually I made it to Maine 15 and started hitching. That will be my last 30 mile day and I give it to the Lord.So I got a ride to Monson, git the General Store, then went to Shaw's. I got the only room left, all to myself. I ran into Jolly Green Giant who was there as well at the hostel. I haven't seen him since NC, where I beat him in poker. So we talked and caught up. Then I went down to the pub for some dinner. Talked with Molassus and Navigator for a bit, a couple of SOBO's. So I ate and talked to Keri for a bit, then went to bed. A zero day is going to feel so good tomorrow.cranberry almond crunch---creamy peanutbutter, lemon pepper tuna steak---steak and cheese sandwhich, potatoe salad
Date: 2006-07-20
From: Shaw's Hostel

To: Shaw's Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I had thoughts before I went to bed last night waking up today by Restless shaking me, telling me to get my laundry. Thank goodness that nightmare didn't come true. Although, I was awoken this morning by someone yelling "BREAKFAST!" Scared the crap out of me.So since I was zeroing and didn't feeling like getting out of bed at 6am, I went back to sleep. At 7am I went downstairs and joined the other 20 hikers for breakfast.The way breakfast works is the lady in charge comes up to you and ask you, "How many?" I said "3" which means I wanted 3 of the following: eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and a pile of homefries. I sat with Jolly Green Giant, Pebbles, and Fat Camp and just enjoyed conversation. Jolly was wearing this hidious Dragon shirt that he hikes in, pretty funny stuff.So after breakfast I headed over to the Post office and found I got a package from Jenny, she rocks! But Keri's package wasn't there so I said I'd come check later to see if it came in this mornings mail. I then headed over to the library to do my trailjournals and was there till 3:50pm, with only a slight break in the middle for lunch at the General Store. I didn't get them all done but did get a big chunk finished.I then went back tot he Post office before it closed at 4pm and sent some things from my pack to Keri. I also got her package. She's so sweet. She even baked me cookies, which were in crumb form when I got them.Next, I went back tot he library one last time to check my email and then went back to Shaw's. I talked with 2 Shoes about what time we were gonna do dinner and we decided on 6pm, so I went to my room to relax. I watched TV, in bed, alone. It was glorious.Around 5:45pm I told the guys I would meet them at the restaurant at 6pm and that I was going to the General Store first to resupply. Dinner was some excellent Bar-B-Q. Soooo good.Afterwards, we went back to the hostel and I did my laundry, and found some sweet loner clothes to hold me over. I had dragons on some pants that were about 4 inches too short, and a shirt with a picture of a saddle on the front. Yep, I'm a Rockstar.So I went to the pay phone to make my final calls. But the only people I was able to get ahold of were Tracy and Keri. After that, I went to the gas station and got some snacks and batteries, and then went back to Shaw's where I finished packing up my things.I layed in bed and watched TV for the final time of my trip. Next time I ccan do that again I will no doubt have a pretty little girl with Auburn locks snuggling at my side.Tomorrow, the 100 mile wilderness begins. The last stage before the end.eggs x3, pancakes x3, bacon x3, sausage x3, homefries, OJ - Shaw's---hamburger x2, fries, arizona green tea, vitamin water - General Store---pork Bar-B-Q sandwhich, baked beans, cranberry juice
Date: 2006-07-21
From: Shaw's Hostel

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

The sun woke me up this morning at 6am. Way too early. And there were no blinds on the windows so the sun wins this round. But I went back to sleep till 6:30am when I heard "BREAKFAST".So I went downstairs and got a "3" again. After breakfast I gathered my gear and loaded up the car. We were hiking by 7:45am. The first 15 miles were a breeze. We did them in no time. We had to ford 2 streams today. I was determined to cross both by rock hopping because last time, 2 days ago, I took my boots off and crossed barefoot. I was in so much pain due to the tenderness of my feet. The kind of pain that makes you shake and drool. It was incredible, the pain I was in, the kind you only see in movies. Where spit is oozing out of a clenched mouth. Not fun.The first stream I had to go way up stream to find some good rocks, but even there it was a miracle I didn't fall in. The second one was a lot easier.So the last 4 miles sucked. True, I have way too much food on me and that had a lot to do with how tired I got from the last climb. But, when I got rained on it pissed me off enought to gather some strength and keep on going. I go to the shelter at 5pm.You know, I really don't feel like I'm in Maine. I really feel like I'min the mountains for NC. Like, when I look at the shelter ledgers and see french written in it, part of me is like "what the heck". It's like I've forgotten that I'm real close to Canada. So odd.So day 1 of 7 down. And only 2 more days of hard climbing, 3 days of flat hiking, and 1 day of Katahdin and then I'm done. Holy crap.eggs x3, bacon x3, sausage x3, french toast x3, homefries, OJ---cheese, pepperoni, crunchy peanutbutter, beef jerky---chicken ramen noodle x3, tuna
Date: 2006-07-22
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to

To: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: light rain

Waking up this morning was extremely difficult. I felt as if I had a bag of bricks laying on my chest, preventing me from getting up. All I wanted to do was go back to sleep. I think lugging around all that food weight really took a tole on my body. Regardless, I got packed and was hiking by 6:30am.I was the last to leave so I hiked by myself. It was an overcast day and was supposed to rain at some point. I was determined to beat it out though.Fourth, Third, and Chairback Mts. weren't all that difficult. Although, the hiking was very slow through there due to the terrain. I didn't take many breaks today in hopes that I would eventually catch 2 Shoes and Restless, which didn't happen.So I made it to Pleasant River and had to ford it. So I put on my crocs and off I went. On the other side, I talked with a Ridgerunner for a bit while I changed back into my boots. He said the next 5 miles to the shelter was great terrain with no elevation gain. Well, he was wrong. It was 5.5 miles and all uphill to the shelter. Ugh.So today I must have fallen about 7 times. Everything was so wet and didn't dry out due to the humidity. A couple of times I went down head first and almost busted my face in. It was a miracle, both times, that such a fate did not occur.So I mide it to the shelter and had lunch, around 2:30pm. I was pooped. Only about 17 miles but man it took forever. So I ate then took a nap, then ate dinner and then read.Tomorrow and tonight it is suppose to rain. Great.So I've been thinking recently of my desire to do the Lord's will, but I have this fear that doing so means some sort of hardship in the near future. I have this fear that if I fully submit to God then He's going to tell me to do something hard - like He told me to do when I broke up with Amanada. I would die if i had to break Keri's heart in the same way. Or that I would have to endure embarrassment or lose an arm in order to get close to Him. Mostlikely all fear from satan, but, all the same, fear nonetheless. God, calm my heart, your will be done in my life.frosted mini-wheats---cheese, pepperoni, crunchy peanutbutter---beef ramen noodles x3
Date: 2006-07-23
From: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept wonderfully last night. It was so cold out and I was so very cozy in my warm bag. So I got up eventually and started eating. I ate breakfast for over 30 minutes. I was eating before 2 Shoes woke up and was still eating as 2 Shoes began hiking. But I had good reason. I needed to finish off that heavy bag of frosted mini-wheats. They were freakin' heavy.So I eventually got hiking around 6:30am. And this is when I began to freeze to death. Till about noon there was this heavy mist that was aided by a chilly wind. It's the coldest I've been in a very long time, colder than any time in the White Mountains. Everything was wet and dripping with cold water; the trees, plants, and of course me and my gear.So I made it to a shelter that was right after White Cap Mt. and took a break. It was there I realized again how unlucky I was. You see, almost always when one goes across White Cap Mt. one gets his first glimpse of Mt. Katahdin. Except for me, of course. I was socked in and couldn't see past 50 ft. So I read the ledger and everyone in there said how great the view was from White Cap Mt. andhow great it was to see Katahdin for the first time. I then lit that ledger on fire...not really.So I hiked with 2 Shoes to the next shelter where we had lunch and then went the final 8 miles to our final destination. The shelter was right on a creek that had a real nice swimming hole. Restless was the only one to go swimming.So we all relaxed, I read and even finished my book by C.S. Lewis, "The Great Divorce".So I was thinking today of how my Spiritual walk is much like this hike. Right now, while hiking, I am heading towards my goal of Mt. Katahdin. I have no clue what it looks like what the terrain is like going up it, or even what the sign on the top looks like or says. I do know that once I'm at the top all will be over and I will be happy, but I don't know how happy or how I will react. But in short, I am killing myself to reach a boal that is very much unseen and beyond me. So is my spiritual walk.This time on earth is the hike. It will suck while hiking, but there will be days of joy. And as I grow towards that goal then and I will grow in much anticipation of getting to the end, which in this case is no sign on top of a mountain, but rather some freekin' huge white, pearly gates.So the rest of the night was just chit-chat. I told Restless that when we get close to the end that I don't want him saying the sign is right around the corner; "I want my hiking virginity taken naturally."Tomorrow, our last 20 mile day.frosted mini-wheats---cheese, crunchy peanutbutter---chicken ramen noodles x3 with cheese, pepperoni
Date: 2006-07-24
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up with the other guys, ate, and was hiking by 6:30am. Today was the last time I'd have to hike anything over 20 miles, what a joyous occasion.So I remembered that someone mentioned that there was a bear bag of trailmagic just off Mary Joe Road so my aim this morning was to see if there was anything left, for the ledger entry that I got this information from was 3 weeks old.So I got to the road and after much searchin I found the hung bear bag, which was actually a plastic bucket, and opened it up. There must have been over 20 cliff bars in there along with some other dried goods. I much have been the first to find the box. So I took the 1 pound bag of raisens as well as a bunch of cliff bars, I planned on surprising the guys and sharing the spoils.The hiking was pretty tiring today even though the terrain was flat. It was just full of rocks and roots and slipper and wet. I fell 3 times today, one in which I don't know how I didn't break my ankle. My foot got jammed between 2 rocks and then I fell, foot still jammed, and my body twisted to where I was facing the opposite direction of my foot. That hurt. I got pretty cut up from that one too.On a happier note, I got my first look of Katahdin today. I was strolling along, listening to music when I noticed a wooden sign that said "view of Katahdin," pointing to the lake to my right. I stopped, paused the music, then dropped my jaw. I slowly turned towards the narrow tunnel of tree limbs leading out to the lake and then started walking.I couldn't find the mountain at first but when I looked hard left, there she was, so huge, rising from nowhere with her peek covered by the clouds. Goose bumps. It looked so close I felt like I could run to it.So I kept on hiking and made it to the shelter for the night. We all were in a talkative mood tonight which was enjoyable.Two more real days of hiking and then Katahdin. Man, we're so close, I hope I don't get too anxious or these next couple of days are going to creep by. The MP3 player can only distract so much while hiking.apple jacks---crunchy peanutbutter---beef ramen noodles x3 with cheese