morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-25
From: 100 mile wilderness, ME

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I am a little over 5 miles from Monson. Still have not arrived. The last river crossing was a tough one. I tried but only made it halfway before being knocked over. I had to take my pack apart and bring it over in peices. A man and his son, day hikers, offered to take the bag full of trash I had picked up along the last 50 miles. Thanks to them, my pack felt at least 15 lbs lighter. I took a nap shortly after on top of a rock off the trail. I yaned loudly only to hear a yawn echo back. I got up to investigate and found Izzy, a flipflopper, tending to a blister. I hiked behind him for a bit. He was going to Greenville that night for a beer and the internet. We crossed two hikers who said they had been hiking from the road since 8am (it was 5pm then) and it was over 6 miles to the shelter and 12 to the road. This had to be a lie since it was only 3 miles to the shelter from the falls I had passed an hour before my nap and 3.8 more to the road after that, but either way, I saw a good place to camp, read, feed the mosquitoes.The place where I camped and am now drinking my coffee looks like the place where I first tried boiled slugs. My coffee suddenly started tasting like slug coffee again. Yellow slugs are everywhere!
Date: 2008-07-30
From: Monson, Maine

To: Farther South
Miles today: 114.0

Well, I have more journal entries to put up, but have limited time here at the Monson public library. I took 17 days to hike the first 114 miles of the trail. I stopped in Monson to paint for a few days, but I feel it is time to move on. I still have over 30 packs of fish left and some other food from my trip. So no real need to resupply, but I was in shock for at least two hours when I arrived at Maine 15. Some rafters from Canada gave me a ride to town to get stuck. Ha. Worked for stay the first night in Monson picking Rasberries for Rebecca. Paid to tent $8 the next time from my earnings of painting that day. Tented in Lindy's yard last night for free up in a tree house. I think I will hitch over to Greenville today and see if I can buy a backup set of batteries for my steripen and then head back over to Monson to see if I can get paid for my last day of painting because I slept in (5:55am) this morning and missed Fat Joe, the painter. He wants me to scrape a house for him for the next couple of days or weeks, but I need to ramble on. Loving the trail and taking my time.
Date: 2008-07-31
From: Monson, Maine

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Stayed in Monson for the past Ever!! Will I ever get to leave? I feel like crying. I pout. I do not want to be a drifter. I want to be a hiker. In order to do that, I have to hike do I not?My credit card number was stolen. Someone purchased over $500 worth of sports gear from overseas on the 29th of July, 2008. I got it worked out with the bank, so the money has been refunded and all, but my new ATM card will not arrive in Monson until Tuesday due to some technical stuff with the bank. I have no money until then. I am so bored here. I sat under a kid's tree fort for five hours today to wait for the library to open so I would have something to do for 30 minutes. Yay something to do! I was only supposed to be taking three or so zeros here in Monson to paint and make a few bucks and let an infected bug bite heal. Now I am winding up taking at least 9 zero days here. I sigh. I feel alone here in the middle of town with cars driving by all day and of course all night. When I was camped off the trail with no one in sight in the 100 mile, I felt alive. I need to Move! Maybe that is why I carry so much food with me. So I will not have to stop in so many towns along the way. I Hate being stuck.
Date: 2008-08-08
From: Monson, Maine

To: Caratrunk
Miles today: 0.0

Two days ago I broke/lost gear. This is about all I accomplished. I came down hard from slipping and broke one of my poles. I think I bruised a rib for it hurts badly to inhale or exhale deeply.Hopefully, I can get it replaced. Then, I went to fill up my water bottle only to drop it having the river rush it away. Plus it was raining heavily. I set up camp quick on some large tree roots after hiking a long strenuous length of 1.5 miles. Ha. I laid there for 20 hours only concentrating on breathing shallow, not getting sleep because of the roots in my back but did not have the motivation to move. I did eat some delicious cake pop tarts!Yesterday, I considered my footwear. My boots on wet rocks compared to my Keens = slip n slide. My Keens in the rain = young and healthy skin due to face plany into fresh mud mask. I also found out that my 2lb jar of peanut butter was actually 4lb just to illustrate the quanity of food I have. I think I will never run out. My pack must weigh a ton for it took me 7 hours to go 8 miles.A rabbit came running down the trail full speed right at me. My mind flashed to the Holy Grail. Arrgh! Killer bunny! but the rabbit kept comming only to brush my boot and scramper off into the trees at full speek only to make a small circle right back to me. I yelled "Bunny!" The rabiit stopped 3 ft away and looked at me. After 5 seconds, I yelled Bunny even louder. My new friend was scared. I apologized but alas it was to late. The bunny raced off through the trees. Met Squam last night at the shelter. He started May 5h Nobo and is planning to do in 5 days what I accomplished in 17. Ha. He started with 42lbs and is now down to under 15 lbs. I laugh at myself. The trail yesterday was about a mile and a half of a minimum of 2 ft deep water. Made for nice clean boots. Ha. Yeah right. It was the first time I used a privy. I could not hold it before leaving the shelter. I did not like it. I hiked a whole 4 miles today up to Moxie Bald. My plan is to stay at the shelter and then hike back up to Moxie tomorrow with an empty back to gather up all the old logging trash I picked up. There is no way I could bring it down in one trip along with my gear. Must be over 40 lbs. And my pliers broke trying to cut off all the old phone wire I found. Oh well. Have to leave the rest out there then. Nothing more I could do.
Date: 2008-08-09
From: Moxie Shelter

To: Moxie Bald
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I left this morning to go back up to Moxie and load up the logging trash I picked up yesterday. I felt that the trash weighed more than my pack when I started out with (80+lbs). It was hard bringing it down, but I had no choice. I had already picked it up and to leave it up there would be littering. Plus the signs say. Pack out all trash. At least I got an early start. It took me 45 minutes to get up the mountain and another hour and 45 minutes to go back down the mountain with the trash. Glad I had on my boots and knee braces or I would have been really hurt as I fell many times. --I am back at the shelter now, and I still have to work out before leaving. It is already 11am. Do I go on? Of course. Razor left his gators hear. I guess I will pack them until I catch up with him or 20 miles, which ever comes first. Me catch up with someone? Ha!
Date: 2008-08-17
From: Horns Pond

To: Straton, ME
Miles today: 83.0
Weather: light rain

Drew my 5 mile hike yesterday into an all day even. Arriving at camp maybe an hour before midnight. Spent a lot of time napping and admiring. Broke my rule of not using my phone on the trail since I heard I could not use it in Straton. Figured I should make a call home since I had been away a month now. Will have to make sure to not make a habbit of this. Met a day hiker who seemed in awe shock of thruhikers, not knowing what to say. "Did you see that guy headed for Katahdin?" "Yes." 5-10 second pause. "Oh."I am eating tuna and rice this morning in the neatest shelter I have stayed so far on this trip. Under a huge rock. (more to enter in between later, but I am getting tired of being in the library right now)Found a dog on top of the horns who looked lost. I have him some food, and he followed me to camp only to dash off again right as I arrived. I talked to the caretaker who took a lot of the items I had picked up along the way taking pounds off my back. Thank you. We looked for the dog and found him a bit later. Some weekenders gave him some food, and tomorrow I will take him to Straton. ( I took him to Straton/carried him. He is not a trail dog. Found the owners!)
Date: 2008-08-30
To: Andover ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

kind of sporadic but...I am here at Andover at the Guest House? I have had fun the last few days with some fellow SOBO's. I was thinking I was the last one. Of course two of them already passed me. Ha! But I am still caught up with the others, Chicken Little and Sleeze. Sleddog and Redcloud, maybe I will see them again. Would be nice. I have a lot of journal entries to add, but I can never get everything done in town that I want. So this entry has to cover for a few days. Normally, I have a plan laid out, but then something takes over. My stomach. I did not stop eating yesterday. Had two 1/2 lb loaded burgers, 2x eggs, 2x sausage paddies, 2x texas toast, 1 pint of ice cream, 1/3 16" pizza topped with bacon, 12oz popcorn chicken with french fries plus any other food I ate while still on the trail yesterday. I actually was full before I went to bed last night. A strange feeling to me.Was good to finally meet Thinker and Lotus. Thought I missed them. Strange and happy to be following them online them meeting them out in the middle of Maine and seeing that they actually exist.Killed a pheasant the other day with my hiking pole. Feathered it, skinned it, and put it on a nice spit that Sleeze made. Roasted pheasant at a lean-to is delicious! Went my biggest day two days ago of a whopping 16 miles. Felt good but myself trying to hike at night down re-bar equals me falling a lot. So sleeping in crazy creek on side of trail with ground tarp pulled over one's self in the rain is a good solution.Stayed at Riff Raff in Rangely. Had a little too much fun there. Thanks guys(Squirrel, Superman, Big'uns, Carnie, Dartman). I will see you at trail days 2009. (if I am even that far south by then... ha)I am not eating dog food any more.Yesterdays hitch was awesome. The first guy with his son gave me $10 for some reason I do not know but am thankful and an apple. The second hitch, the owner of the hostel where I am at saved my life. Apparently, according to him, the two women who pulled up asking me if I wanted a ride back to the trail were about to victimize me and make me their sex slave. well, I did my laundry for the first time and got a shower! feels good. The pine sap is still on my pants leg like it has been for the past month.umm.. I have to go. Will upload more pictures eventually.
Date: 2008-09-24
From: NH

To: Hanover
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

So tired. I have not had the desire to hike the past week or more. Ever since camp dodge I should say. Summiting Mt. Washington did not help. Hail and 95/100mph winds. Stuff flew off my backpack and a million miles away into the air after I was pushed over and over again by the wind. When I got to the observatory on top, they told me that the emergency shelter at Lake of the Clouds was closed up. AMC sucks. The huts have good food, but they scar the mountains. I decided to skip the rest of the whites and hitched to Lincoln to stay at Chet's. He is awesome. But I then went back and hiked north. I could not let myself yellow blaze that far. I got to Mt. Mooselake and went down the wrong trail 3 or 4 days ago. I wondered around for a while going back country for part of it. Had a relaxing time. Made it to Glencliff where the man at the hostel, when I asked him if I could work4stay, said yes but then I should just go home. He said I had no hope of finishing the trail. He seems like a nice guy, but that is not cool him telling me that. He let me borrow a bike to come here. Then I have to go back and do some yard work for him or something. I feel weird about him. Plus I ate a half gallon of ice cream not to long ago, so my stomach hurts. I do not want to ride the bike back 5 miles yet, but I should I guess. Hope all is well in the rest of the world.Have a good one,Z
Date: 2008-10-10
From: Katahdin, ME

To: Pack It OUT!
Miles today: 0.0

Pack it OUT, Please.   [Will update as able]List of Trash Picked up just to show how much is out there, and PACKed Out by me besides kilo's of beer cans/bottles, candy wrappers, blah blah, etc... (so far traveled 400+ miles)Underwear         - 8Hiking Poles      - 4pots/dishes      - 5boots/shoes      - 6misc clothing      - 1bladders         - 2shirts            - 5socks            - 27gloves            - 6pants            - 4soap w/ dish      - 1necklace         - 1scissors         - 1stove            - 1hair brush         - 1thermarest prolite - 1benzoin tincture   - 2bandanas         - 3ace/cloth bandages - 3gators            - 2towels            - 5h2o bottles      - 2mag/flint         - 2eye/sun glasses   - 5silverware         - 3LED torch         - 1roll o ducttape   - 1hydrocortisone cr - 1card deck         - 3iodine            - 1kneebrace         - 5(Whole) Literature [who wants to read the 11th chapter of some book?]Returning to Earth by Jim HarrisonWomen Activists by Anne GarlandThe Tie that Binds by Kent HarafNational Geographic (x2)The Looking Glass War by John Le CarreThe God DelusionThrough the Ivory Gate by Rita DuveRants about Trash:I have a OCD or something about seeing human made trash in the wilderness. I cannot let it stay out there if I am able to pick it up. This makes my already heavy pack weigh so much trying to get to the next hiker box. Please people, pack out what you pack in. -Z
Date: 2008-10-16
From: Hanover

To: VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

I was taken aback by the owner of the hostel in Glencliff, NH. He said, "Just go home. Get yourself a bus ticket in Hanover and just go home." He was refering to me asking to work-for-stay and my low bank account. So, I made it to Hanover and got a bus ticket to Boston (round trip though with Chicken Little and Sleeze. To see them off the trail so to speak. They really did not have enough money. I went back to Hanover and started searching for jobs which landed me in Canaan, NH. There I started work for Mullen's landscaping for a week. I know nothing about how to keep those lines straight on the lawns, but Glen, the owner, liked me. Now I am working with Ted and Tim roofing until I can get my paycheck from Glen. Been two weeks almost three since I was on the trail. I should get back on I guess. But the Duffy's in Grafton have been letting me stay at there place and have been incredibly nice, letting me eat, laundry, and showers all the time. What more could I ask for? How am I so blessed? The Duffy's are wonderful people. I am thankful.Right now I have a day off of work due to the rain. Will I actually have the motivation to stay on the computer and put up some pictures and maybe a few more entries from the past?
Date: 2008-10-27
To:  Woodstock
Miles today: 0.0

Been going so slow only 35+ miles in 5 days. HA. Loving VT. Pack heavy again. Tired of the library. Heading out of Woodstock and back to the trail this evening to put in another half mile? oh that is to much.. ***few hours pass***did not even make it that far. Made it as far as a B&B (Ardmore Inn) asking if they had a Hiker Box that I could drop off all the extra gear I had picked up along the trail. They did not, but they said it sounded like a good idea for future hikers. So they let me leave it with them, take a shower, stay the night (on a cot or the floor [sweet! - heat!]), give me a ride to Rutland in the morning...(do I want to come back or yellow blaze?) the option is mine since they said I could stay another night to wait out the rain and snow plus I would get to do my laundry. I am only going to Rutland tomorrow instead of a few days because Wal-Mart calls my name. May be evil, but if so, evil is cheap! and I am all about that. So, right now I am using the internet at the B&B on a little MacBook with wireless, sitting on a comfy couch with an orange cat purring around my feet. Trail life is so hard. Let me tell you.I am blessed.
Date: 2008-11-21
From: Kent, CT

To: NY
Miles today: 0.0

Almost to NY. It is getting cold outside, but at least it is not snowing all that much that I am losing the trail. Been hiking with some of the Riff Raff crew, Superman and Squirrel,the past days. Going to NC for the holidays in a couple of weeks, and then back on the trail in Jan. where ever I wind up getting off. Meeting Fairweather tomorrow. Have not seen him since the 100 mile in Maine. Funny running into people from the beginning of my trip. I yawn.
Date: 2008-12-01
From: NY

To: Goshem, NY
Miles today: 0.0

I was hiking with Stickman for a couple of days. He slept in Tuxedo as I tried to push on. I found a 30 pack of Rolling Rock with 6 of em still unopened. Some rangers drove by as I was picking up that and other trash. They said that they could take it off my hands, but I had earned those unopened beers if I wanted them. I did. And smiled heading off along the trail. The rocks were a little tricky past East Mombasha rd. I was getting tired and not feeling well. I saw a semi nice place to stop and have a beer. I drank half of one. My body knew that it could not have any more. I could not get up. I figured it might have been something I ate and set up camp at 3pm.The next morning, Stickman comes walking by. I offer him the beer. He declines. I say I am not feeling well, him thinking I must have a hangover.****getting bored once again of being in front of a computer. will continue entry sometime****
Date: 2008-04-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It's finally starting to dawn on me that this will be real. I'm finishing up on the last odds & ends at work and home. In 2 days I'll be winging to Atlanta & the next day starting up the Approach Trail and the AT. I've got all my gear. This will be an exciting journey. I am not exactly sure why I decided to attempt this but it will be an adventure. It will be interesting to have some time to think, spend time in the great outdoors, and see a bit more of God's creation.I wish I been able to do some training to get in better shape, but that will come n the trail. I hope the beginning isn't too painful while I get into shape. I'll just have to keep repeating "that which does not kill you, makes you stronger."
Date: 2008-04-25
To: Atlanta
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I've gone & done it now. I've finished at work. My bags are packed; the preparations done. Later today, I'll be winging it to Atlanta on Delta. I just pray that they don't loose my pack. (It's in a large duffel - a direct flight - let's hope that Murphy doesn't have a way.) Tomorrow, Libby will be giving me a ride to the approach trail & hiking a few miles with me. I am glad she's going to be there. It will be a special moment. Maybe we'll be able to get some pictures posted from the start.Last night at church, Dr. Timothy Johnson (ABC News) spoke about the health care crisis. With facts & figures he quickly framed the problem and the major components of the solution. While America has some of the most cutting edge medical technology, the data shows we don't have the best health care. I guess thinking about how to get a problem like this solved in our current political system will be good for more than a couple of miles of hiking.Next update should be from the trail!
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Amicalola, Springer Approach Trail

To: Haiwassee, GA
Miles today: 67.5

Well, This is the ghost writing filling in for now, to update you with some news from the trail.We have heard from Larry 3 times so far when he was able to get cell coverage. He seems to be doing well. The weather has been raining but that has brought out a new saying. "No Rain, No Pain, No Maine". He is currently in Hiawassee, GA.He has had a few of the basic trail encounters already as well. He has had a mouse eat some of his food. He forgot one night and had a Snickers bar in his stuff and the mouse ate part of it. What did he do? Cut out the mouse bits and ate the rest!!He has found someone to "hike" with as much as you do on the trail. John is from Britian - so see people come from everywhere to do this. And maybe it's the cause of all the weather down then now. Something to do "Mad dogs and Englishman"???He has also run into the dreaded Boy Scout Troop. (There seems to be a number of horror stories about Boy Scouts on the trial by Thru Hikers) But he says that they were very well behaved and the scout masters had them all bedded down by about 8 PM and back up first thing in the morning and even had them cleaning up the campsite before they left.He's even had a touch of Trail Magic! He had hiked up a mountain and feeling a little beat. Feeling hunger but tired. At these points you want both rest and food at the same time. Before he could get into lunch, so hikers from an area Country club exercise group come up on their monthly outing. They were carrying their lunches made by the executive chef and shared with Larry some of the sandwiches. He said it was a "great sandwich". It's amazing how good food tastes when you don't have to carry it!!Well the last words from him last night were, "I'm off to the all you can eat buffet. Not that I want to pig-out but I'd just like a big salad!" Oh, the little things in Life!The Thru-hiker Widow.
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Dicks Creek Gap, Haiawasee, GA

To: Winding Stairs Gap, (Franklin NC)
Miles today: 40.1

Yesterday, was a great day did 12 miles and arrived the shelter. It was only 4:30, so we decided to press on it seems 4 miles & 1000 ft of elevation change weren't to intimidating. That got us to Winding Stairs Gap. We got lucky and quickly hitched a ride into Franklin, NC. That put us over 100 miles into the journey - in 11 daysA warm shower, steak dinner, and a good night's sleep and I feel like a normal person.First my left knee was bothering me, then my right. In Haiawasee, I picked up a elastic bandage for the left knee. Here in Franklin I picked up one for the right knee. It's not too bad, just a little weakness - but the pounding on the down hills & rocky sections take their toll. I must look quite the site, but between the supports & the ibuprophen it keeps me moving.Today they are predicting thunder showers in the late afternoon, so we are going to try to get in a quick 4 miles to the Siler Bald Shelter. Tomorrow the expect rain in the AM. Other than that the weather has been warm & sunny this week. Next stop Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)!
Date: 2008-05-28
From: Fontana Dam Vistors Center, NC

To: Fontana Dam Vistors Center, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I had planned leave the trail for a couple days for some family obligations. Unfortunately the delay was slightly longer than originally planned since Amy's dad passed away. While it is sad, at least he died peacefully, in his sleep at home. His Alzheimer's was getting worse and starting to enter the next phase, so amidst the sadness was some relief that the family won't have to see him suffer.I am thankful that I wasn't on the trail at the time and was able to be there to support Amy. In fact it was like Amy's dad knew. He died on Thursday morning. Most of Amy's siblings were just starting to make their way to Michigan for her Mom's 80th birthday celebration. So rather than surprising her for her birthday, they got to surprise her about how quickly they would be there to support her.The funeral service was Sunday, but the burial isn't until today because of the holiday. Tomorrow, Amy will drive me back to the trail. I'm not looking forward to it. It's amazing how quickly you can get out of shape. I've got the Smokies, 4500 ft of elevation gain, and the tallest point on the trail in my first couple days.