morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Campsite

To: Kinkora Hostel
Miles today: 14.6

50 degrees and rain - great hiking weather! Left at 8:30 and went 8 miles without a break. It was too far. I made it in a little less than 4 hours, but I needed a break. Since it was raining and cold, hiking was the most comfortable thing to do. After lunch went on to Kinkora Holstel, and got there at 3:15, soaked and cold. Went to town, showered and did laundry. Later all the gang showed up - Bag Lady, Farenheit, Erin and Bing with Zowie, the dog. Grandpa Bob and Tucker were already there. We all went out for Mexican food and beer for supper and then a good nights sleep.Snake had stayed at Mooreland Gap Shelter for the night, so he was not with us. I plan to shuttle to Highway 421 tomorrow which is 14.1 miles from Damascus and then hike into town. Bag lady just decided that she is going to accept an opening at med school. She had been accepted, but decided to try to postpone her start date until next year. She had told ber mom to write the school declining this years position and has now changed her mind. Since school starts July 25, she and Farenheit, who is 1st year med student, will need to get off the trail in mid july. They decided to go to Damascus tomorrow and take a zero day and then head north. That means that I won't see Grandpa Bob or Tucker again, as they will be about 4 days behind me after I jump ahead. And i won't see Farenheit or Bag Lady again after tomorrow or Fri., because they will jump ahead of me and I will be hiking slowere that they will. I will miss my new friends, but will be meeting up with Bill and John on Sat. and of course, will be meeting new friends as we hike. This trail community is so great! Talked to Dorothy tonight. It was great to hear her voice.
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Kinkora Hostel

To: Damscus
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

Damascus, VA. We have been trying to get for 4 years and we finally made it! Bob Peoples shuttled me to highway 421 and let me out in rain, 45 degrees temps and about a 25 mile an hour wind. I'm pretty sure I'm crazy for not going on to Damascus with Bag Lady and Farenheit. The walk was gentle and I made good time, but no matter how gentle the terrain, your feet get pounded. We had biscuits and gravy with fruit salad for breakfast at the hostel, so I started out with a good meal under my belt. Got to Damascus at about 4:15, wet and cold. My feet hurt, but other wise felt pretty good, and I'M IN DAMASCUS!!
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Damscus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Ate and slept all day. Met Texas Dreamer, Chopstick, Gator, and others. Drank some beer and ate a LOT at Baja's, the local mexican food place. Really good food. Had lunch at 12:00 after a huge breakfast. Then a "snack" at 3 with some beer, then supper and finally a pizza before bedtime. Went to bed at 8:00 and slept great. Picked up some things at the ourfitters. A new packcover. My old one didn't hold out the water. Also some gaiters, a new spork, and a new sylnylon stuffsack for my raincoat. I was afraid my thermarest was leaking, but it held air over night, so I will continue with it and not buy a new one. The local pay phones charge a $1.29 fee for using my phone card. I don't know if it is the card or the phone, but it makes me mad that I didn't know it before now.
Date: 2005-06-04
From: Damascus

To: Saunders Shleter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: light rain

Got up and had breakfast with Texas Dreamer and Dillinger - Dillinger had showed up at 10:00 last night. Got packed up a nd met Bill John And Jack at 9:30. I had put new insoles in my boots because my feet were hurting after only about 10 miles of hiking. Everything else felt great. My left foot felt wonderful after the inserts, bu my right foot is going to lose another toenail. Got to the shelter about 3:30. Set up the hammock and had supper. A beautiful day! Sunny, about 75 degrees. The Rhododendrens were flowering and beautiful. Enjoyed hiking with Bill and visiting all day. The hammock is still working great and I am really glad I got it. All in all, another great day on the AT.
Date: 2005-06-05
From: Saunderw Shleter

To: Campsite at Whitetop Mtn.
Miles today: 11.2

The morning hike was great, but a little warm, It was about 80 degrees. We all had lunch at Lost Mtn Shelter. After lunch Bill started to feel bad and was moving very slow. It took us all afternoon to go 5 miles. Bill would stop for 15-30 minutes every hour. I stayed with him and John and Jack continued on down the trail. We couldn't figure out what was wrong. Turned out he was dehydtrated. Finally found a nice campsite and stayed. It looks like I'm running about a day behind Bag Lady and Farenheit and no one from Damascus has passed us. Were pretty well have the trail to ourselves. I'm starting to get blisters on both heels. Never had that problem before. I wonder if it is the new inserts. I am treating them and they are not a problem, just annoying. My standard food fare is a packet of oatmeal in the morning, GORP and a candy bar while hiking and a package of ramen I mix in the morning and carry until noon. By then it is ready to eat. Although cold, it makes a good lunch. Then for supper I have a hot meal of beans and rice or come other carb rich food. I am eating almost completely out of the hiker box in Damascus. I found all kinds of good stuff there. Only had to buy some candy bars before I left.
Date: 2005-06-06
From: Campsite at Whitetop Mtn.

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: few clouds

Bill was felling much better today. On the trail by 7:30. Another wonderful day. We hiked up Mt, Rogers. It looks alpine with fir and pine trees - really different from what we have been seeing. There are also a lot of great views, which is kind of a novel change. We had luch at Thomas Knob Shelter. and stayed about an hour before leaving. The first 3 miles were brutal. It was just a jumble fo rocks and boulders. It really hurt my feet and now I have new blisters on both heels. Jack and John both saw wild ponies coming from Thomas Knob. They were only about 15 minutes ahead of me, but I never saw the ponies. They said the poinies came right up to them and they could pet them. I did see a couple at a distance. Oh well, maybe later in the Grayson Highlands. Got to Wise shelter about 4:00 and it started thundering and raining at 4:30. Good timing. I'm starting to think about hitching into Marion in 2 days. They are supposed to have bus service and I could get back to Erwin pretty easily. We'll see.
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Wise Shelter

To: Troutdale
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I never saw any ponies except at a distance. It was a little disappointing as everyone said the Grayson Highlands was famous for the wild ponies and that they would come right up to you looking for a handout. In fact, one girl was supposed to have been bitten and another hiker had some ponies trying to get into his pack when he wouldn't feed them.    Hiked through open pasture for the first part of the day and it was really pretty. There are some ferns that look just like river ferns, but they are growing in rocky soil and full sun. Got to Old Orchard Shelter by 10:15 and am feeling better than I have in several days. I'm thinking now of re-supplying in Troutdale and then putting in some long days to try to catch Bag Lady and Farenheit. The climb up Iron Mtn. was uneventful and then I stopped at a new shelter - Hurricane Shelter - for lunch. Still feeling strong and freah with only about 5 more miles to go. It started raining HARD about 3:00 with about 2 miles to go to get to VA 16 into Troutdale. Within 30 minutes I was soaked to the bone and, worse, my boots were full of water. When I got to the highway, I turned the wrong way to go to Troutdale. (Where were you, Dorothy!) After about a ahlf mile I saw a road sign and turned around. NOBODY would stop to give me a a aride and I thought I was going to have to walk the 3 miles into Troutdale in the driveing rain. Finally, the wife of the minister that runs the hostel stopped and picked me up at about 5:00 and took me to the hostel in Troutdale. She and the Hostel are lifesavers! When I got there, a hiker named Glenn was there. He is a school teacher from Oklahoma who I met a couple of days ago. This is a great hostel and I hope more people start to use it. And leave a generous donation! I have decided to go to Marion tomorrow and catch a bus for Erwin to start the trip home. Turns out that Glenn is going to do the same thing and catch a bus to Georgia. Should be home by Fri.
Date: 2005-07-17
To: Time is getting close.
Miles today: 0.0

Hey everyone, I am a hiker and my name is Timothy. Miss Janet has given me the trail name of ¢that guy¢. I love to hike and be in the out of doors. Most of my hiking experience has been countless day hikes. I spent 7 summers on Mount Dessert Island where Acadia National Park takes up most of the real estate. There are many hiking trails that rise steep but then level out on barren granite with 360 degree vistas. And many connecter trails. Carriage Roads also snake through the park. I hiked at least part of every day. Each year I would hike all the trails except one. And walk the length of all the Carriage Roads. It was a quest just like making sure to see each state¢s license plate every year. Once started ¢ hard to stop. Over night hiking has been mainly in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Tennessee. I¢m not sure if walking down the sidewalk in Damascus constitutes overnight hiking in Virginia. I did stay at the wonderful Montgomery Homestead located on Laurel Avenue. Susie Montgomery, the owner, puts out a great breakfast feed.It is time to begin my SOBO hike. Wanting to thru-hike has been in my mind since 1991. I look forward with excitement to this hike. And I look forward to how tough this journey can be. I have no set schedule and no end date for Springer. I¢d love to be in Hanover by October 7 to join in on The Gathering though. But if I¢m not there, well¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦ Jennifer, my friend and daughter, is the transcriber. I will be using Pocket Mail and a voice recorder to gather my impressions and experiences of the day. I have a Kyocera 5.0 for pictures of the trip.Thanks for looking in.
Date: 2005-07-25
To: Closer
Miles today: 0.0

I now know that I am on a freight train going down a steep grade. Everything is still fine though, but boy are we going fast. The last minute lists are still growing. Jennifer gave me an early birthday present yesterday of a 2 liter Titanium pot with lid and grabber. MSR is the manufacturer. My plan is to cook one pot meals so this gift fits the bill. She also loaded me up with some packaged freeze dried meals. They should be handy while traversing the 100 Mile Wilderness. Once I get past Monson, I¢m planning to forage in grocery stores and not rely on too many mail drops. Almond butter and Judy¢s granola and organic coffee are the three items I¢ll probably get mail dropped sometimes. My cat Jasper (an 11 year old rescued cat) will be spending 6 months with my very dear friend Kia. When Kia agreed to take Jasper in, it was at that moment I realized I could go on this adventure guilt free. And Kia just came out of the blue and asked about Jasper. Well, now I can look into his eyes and know he will be OK.I¢m still headed for an early August start. My goodness! That would be next week!
Date: 2005-07-28
To: Overcast on the Key
Miles today: 0.0

When I decide to go on the Internet, a search is required for my glasses. And usually when I do find them, I know for sure they weren¢t there a moment ago. Some one or some thing is playing tricks on me. There are many other glasses that are strategically placed throughout the house too that I could have used. But they are all one armed glasses. They caught the fate of the descending bottom with nowhere to go but flat out on the computer chair. The utility of a two armed pair necessitates the continued search until found. Sometimes I¢ll come back and sit on them but most times I find them.Getting ready is still constant. There has been so much to do. The list has grown small now. The few chores left I hope to have all done by Saturday afternoon. My sixtieth birthday party follows into the evening. (I¢m hoping for Mel¢s Diner.) And off we go to Maine.I¢ll be posting from the trail next time.
Date: 2005-08-04
From: Mount Katahdin

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Starting out...Southbound!Today my two adult sons, Ben and Jon assisted me up and down Mount Katahdin. I knew climbing Katahdin would be one of the most difficult undertakings I have ever done. Having my sons with me was the only way to go about the task. We started from Dixmont, Maine at 4AM and were ascending the Hunt Tail at 6:15AM. We returned at 5:30PM having taken almost 12 hours to cover the 5.2 miles up and 5.2 miles down. (I think whoever calculated the mileage is incorrect - it felt more like 12 up and 12 back).The Hunt Trail is no walk in the park. It is a rock strewn, watch every foot placement, adrenalin rush all the way. We couldn¢t have asked for a more perfect day though with blue skies and low 70's. However, as the size of the rocks increased and the steepness became almost vertical, I began to realize I was going to be in trouble most of the day. There was a point on the huge boulder scramble just before the Table Lands where I stopped and declared I could go no further. I was absolutely petrified. We had reached a point where I was required to hug my way around a huge bus sized boulder with a sheer drop of thousands of feet.Somehow Ben and Jon got me past this stopper and soon we reached the Table Lands. As we walked along the Table Lands, I stressed a bit on how the heck I was going to get off Katahdin. But with prayer, EFT and more concerned help from Ben and Jon, I was able to get back to Katahdin Stream Campground. It was the most difficult activity I have done in a long time.The boys drove me to Abol Campground and then I was alone with Mount Katahdin in my back pocket. I pressed some coffee, heated a freeze dried meal, and went to bed.
Date: 2005-08-05
To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I awoke to another clear and still day and started toward Abol Bridge at 9AM. My body was sore from the assent of Mount Katahdin so it was slow going. I also realized I was carrying way too much weight. It took me 7 hours to cover the 9.8 miles. It is mostly woods walk with not much up and down.There was a river beside this walk all the way. Three different waterways. Little and Big Niagara Falls were points of interest. I also went down and joined some white water rafters swimming in a calm area. Soon after this point, I began giving heavy food away to NOBO hikers. It was also at this time I figured out 10 pounds of stuff I could mail home before hitting the 100 Mile Wilderness.James, The Ridge Runner came along and made sure I found Abol Bridge Campground. I was beat upon arrival and after purchasing some food at the camp store, I put up my tent and crashed.
Date: 2005-08-06
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Rainbow Spring Campsite
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Today began with a decision to hitch hike into Millinocket and mail home 10 pounds of stuff. I had in the back of my mind that I would have to take a zero day because Millinocket is 20 miles away. Right off I got a ride from a woman and her blind in one eye dog - just like me. She had saved the dog from a shelter and she said he was very protective and may not let me in the car. However, he took one sniff of me, gave me a lick, and curled up in the back seat. She said he had never done that to a stranger before. We then proceeded to the Post Office. On the way back I was able to ride the Moxie Rafters bus. Thank you guys. Total time in and out was one and a half hours.I then had time to do a short hike but I just kept going the 11.3 miles to Rainbow Spring. I arrived at 6:30PM totally beat. Just then another couple arrived and the three of us went for a wonderful swim. We then began setting up camp when five NOBO thru-hikers arrived. We started a fire and each made dinner. I was tired and couldn't sit by the fire because of all the aches and pains, so I went to bed.The hike today was through some beautiful woods with water everywhere and great views from time to time. The weather remains in the 80's with not a breeze in sight. It is so still, even on the mountain tops. Being able to go for a swim at the end of the day saved me. The spring here is awesome.
Date: 2005-08-07
From: Rainbow Spring Campsite

To: Sand Beach
Miles today: 12.3

Another beautiful beginning of the day with a slight chill in the air. The five NOBO hikers were off by 6AM headed for the base of Katahdin some 22 miles away. My new friends Megan and Lawrence started south at 7AM and I lingered a while. I am slowly developing methods to speed up getting things packed up in the morning. It got hot fast today with still no breezes to be found. This was a hard continuous slog through wet areas with lots of roots and rocks. The capper was going over Nesuntabunt Mountain when I was already tired. But I made it - the decent being the most difficult. I think I grunted on most of the steep steps down.About an hour later, I arrived at Wadleigh Stream Lean-to to find Megan and Lawrence setting up camp. I talked with them for a while and then continued on a half mile to sand beach. The only campsite was taken so I walked around the point to the north part of the beach and found the camping area told to me by the people at the Trail Magic site back around noontime. This camping area has two picnic benches, a fire ring, a privy, and several tenting sites. It also has lots of ants so I set up my tent on the beach. I then went for a cooling swim, made dinner, and crashed.Today was my first Trail Magic and it came at the right time. My stomach had been growling and it was nice to sit down in a real chair for 30 minutes. I had a turkey and cheese sandwich and Pepsi. Five NOBO thru-hikers arrived while I was there. As I left, I began to realize that I have to come up with a way to remember people's names. I don't think I was down the trail five minutes before I had forgotten all I had met.
Date: 2005-08-08
From: Sand Beach

To: White House Landing 
Miles today: 7.1

I left Sand Beach at 7AM and headed for White House Landing for some rest and one of their famous one pound burgers or homemade pizzas. It took until noon to cover the 7.1 miles with Megan lapping me at about half way. However, we all got to the dock about the same time and signaled for the boat to come across and get us. The one pound burgers are fabulous and maybe too much for this beginning thru-hiker - it went down though. This is a wonderful spot and I decided to stay because of the heat and wear and tear on my body. Megan and Lawrence continued on after lunch, so we said our good byes because there is no way I'll catch up with them. I was able to do laundry, swim many times, and generally just kick about. The hospitality afforded by Dianne and Bill and their young son Ben is wonderful. Also staying are 4 SOBO folks and 2 women in their 70's, Rachel and Helen finishing a 15 year section hike of the trail. I could only eat half the pizza for dinner - the rest is for noon tomorrow.I did a small food re-supply and decided on a plan to take another 7 days to get to Monson - about 70 miles over many ups and downs now.
Date: 2005-08-09
From: White House Landing 

To: Cooper Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 14.2

I was the only one staying in the bunk house last night. At one point I woke up totally soaked from the heat and my perspiring body. I climbed out of the wet silk liner I had been sleeping in and then had trouble getting back to sleep because I was imagining all the spirits around me from centuries past. This place has quite a history of activity.We were treated to a huge breakfast and then motor boated back to the AT. It was all ready 80 degrees at 9:30AM and the humidity and high levels of ozone made the hike difficult. The footpath, however, was the best yet and I was able to cover the 14.2 miles in six and a half hours. My goal was to get to the shelter and sit in the water for the rest of the afternoon. And I decided I wasn't going to push myself this hard again. The Cooper Brook Lean-to is situated beside a long cascading waterfall with a huge rocky pool at the bottom. I was able to swim and relax and talk with the folks who were staying here too.The four south bounders I had met at the Whitehouse Landing arrived also. I discovered they were doing a flip, having gone from Harpers Ferry to Springer and now were headed back to Harpers Ferry from Katahdin. Allen, Margaret, Vanessa, and Brian are their names.
Date: 2005-08-12
From: Pleasant River 

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: few clouds

Nice cool start today but warming up later. The 11.3 miles covered today have got to be the hardest yet. It was straight up and straight down over Chair back Mountain, Columbus Mountain, Third Mountain, Fourth Mountain, and then onto Barren Mountain and my destination of Cloud Pond Lean-to. The lean-to is .4 of a mile down hill from the trail! There were places where I actually had to climb hand and foot straight up or down where any mistake would have meant my death. Earl Sharfer said on his last thru-hike that the trail had been made so difficult from his first time through and I now know what he meant.By the time I got on Fourth Mountain, I was exhausted and my feet were sore for the first time. I also had miscounted and thought I was on Barren Mountain and soon to be resting at Cloud Pond Lean-to. However, I was wrong and soon headed straight down over another boulder scramble yet again. Then, in the middle of nowhere, a beautiful preserved quaking bog appeared. There is a boardwalk way through this enchanted land and as I marveled in its beauty, my hiking spirits renewed and I was able to crawl my way to Cloud pond.The views and vistas were a wonder as well today. My four friends from New Zealand also dragged themselves into camp after dark. After dinner it began to pour and we were all safe in the Lean-to.
Date: 2005-08-13
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to

To: Wilson Valley Lean-to
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: broken clouds

Today was to be an easy day with down being the main direction. But easy is not part of the Wilderness and there were many steep downs followed with hundreds of blow downs to climb over or under. This part of the trail has not been maintained for years. A sad testament to the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. There were several fords too. But at the end of the day to be safe in camp with no major injuries is always good.Margaret and Allen arrived at the lean-to soon after me. The younger ones, Michael and Vanessa continued on for about a mile to get past a ford and tent out by the stream. I ate the last of my food with my two friends who shared some of theirs with me. I am looking forward to Monson for a day of rest, food, and re-supply. There is a train track near this shelter and we were shook a few times by very noisy freight trains. Civilization is near.