morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-22
From: Antlers Campsite

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: clear sky

We woke up to the pouring rain (though thankfully not in a lake this time!) We quickly packed up our tent and saw that Jingle, Sweets, and Peach were all still tucked away in their tents. Mountain Goat was happily sipping some coffee in his raincoat. Verge and I got going, and though it was wet, our spirits were high. We hiked down the trail singing "We all live in a yellow submarine" at the top of our lungs.After a little while being wet, however, I got into cuddley mode. All I really felt like doing was watch Lord of the Rings and cuddle up in a blanket with some cocoa. Alas, I choose hiking! Everyone took turns hiking with us throughout the day--Mountain Goat, Peach, Jingle, and Sweets, and at lunch Jingle, Sweets, Verge, and I aired out our soaking wet tents.The last 6 miles of the day, I decided to go really fast--I was pretty done with the day...also, Peach said, "6:10? More like 6:45! It's slippery and downhill!" I obviously had to prove him wrong...and no song gets me moving faster than "Danza Kuduro," so I got there at 6:05. Glad I didn't slip and hurt myself...I got to the Rainbow Stream Lean-to and was greeted by Mountain Goat, Goat, Big Foot the Good, Fire, Toasty, Panda, and Whiplash. Peach and Verge arrived very shortly after, followed by Jingle and Sweets. We all huddled by the fire, as it was a chillier night, and had a lovely dinner together. Crazy to think we'll be out of the hundred mile wilderness tomorrow. CRAZY.
Date: 2016-08-23
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Stealth Campsite Pre-Abol Bridge
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It turns out a floor made of baseball bats is not fun to sleep on...After sleeping in and having a delicious breakfast with buddies, we meandered out of camp. It was a spectacularly beautiful day, my favorite kind--breezy, sunny, cool. We had lunch by a bright blue lake, glittering in the sunshine, accompanied by loon's calls. We got to Abol Bridge by 3ish and met up with our friends at the Northern Outdoors restaurant. We were later joined by Training Wheels! It turns out she was never too far behind in the 100 mile wilderness, so she showed up just a couple hours later. So glad she's here to join us for the last couple days so that we can all be together.Verge and I had fun resupplying for our last two days on trail because we had no box, so we could pick as many fun random things as we wanted! We got some cookies, pop tarts, crackers, tuna, and a couple other random snacks that made us happy (though it was quite expensive...)Everyone (Mountain Goat, Princess Peach, Jingle, Sweets, Wheels, Goat, Panda, Whiplash, Mumbles, Jelly Dog, NH Bob) then hung out at a picnic table by Abol bridge, drinking and reminiscing, as the sun set behind the trees. Fantastic...but Bittersweet. We went back to our little tentsite in the woods and all helped make a fire. With so many people there, it took less than 5 minutes to collect a huge pile of wood! It was pretty comical to watch, as some were quite intoxicated. Verge and I then went on a nice night walk with Mountain Goat and Princess Peach to go check out the sign up sheet, which was really fun. They're awesome; I love them. I'm going to miss everyone so much.
Date: 2016-08-24
From: Stealth Campsite Pre-Abol Bridge

To: The Birches
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

I did not sleep very well. Partly because of excitement, partly because of a slanted ground, and partly because Panda, Whiplash, Jelly Dog, and Mumbles woke up at 2:30am, listening to "Final Countdown" and "Eye of the Tiger" to pump them up for hiking all the way to Katahdin and down in one stretch! Their music pumped me up too! I was just about ready to hop up out of my tent and join them! I can't believe by the end of the day, they'll be done...We all woke up and raced for the sign up sheet. Unfortunately, only 12 people are allowed at the The Birches Campsite at a time, which means you could get screwed out of summiting the day you want to (unless you hitch to and from Millinocket, get really lucky and yogi a private lean-to, or hike all the way there in one stretch like Panda, Whip, Jelly Dog, and Mumbles). It's an annoying way of doing things, in my opinion, but I do understand they're trying to lessen the impact of hikers in Baxter State Park. Thankfully, we all got there and got on the list. After having breakfast at a picnic table, we all hiked in one big eight person line towards our goal for the day--The Birches. It's only a ten mile day, so the whole time we got to hang out and relax and have a wonderful, ceremonial, last hike with the people I've come to adore--Mountain Goat, Peach, Jingle, Sweets, Wheels, Verge, and Goat (a recent addition to our motley crew). We decided to call ourselves: The Super8. We got to swim in a river, ford a stream, have lunch at "Big Niagra Falls," and chat and sing in our silly hiker train. We were also blessed with gorgeous weather and beautiful terrain. The last mile of the trail was the most easy walking of the whole AT. Then again, it could have been because I felt like I was on Cloud Nine. Am I actually here?Even with all our meandering, we got to the park by 1pm. So much time to do nothing! We hung out, made a fire, played some cards, and went to bed. Mountain Goat, Peach, and Goat had ambitious plans to wake up at 2am, hike up in the dark, and summit for sunrise. Jingle, Sweets, Wheels, Verge, and I decided we'd wake up at 4:30ish, have breakfast, then leave, so we stayed up a little later. A couple nice people nearby even came over with some fresh strawberries and reese's trail magic! It was so unexpected and amazing.Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Katahdin, tomorrow. You're only a day away...
Date: 2016-08-25
From: The Birches

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: overcast clouds

After having breakfast in the dark, we were on our way. On our way to finish our journey. To finally reach the goal we've all been aiming for in the past five months. The word "surreal" has lost all meaning at this point.We began our ascent at 6:01am and saw on the register that Peach, Mountain Goat, and Goat had began their's at 2:30am. They did it! I was so scared of Katahdin. Everyone has constantly said how hard it is, how it's a vertical Mahoosac Notch, how it's nothing like we've hiked on the trail. These things are basically true, but I still enjoyed the hell out of it. It wasn't quite as crazy-difficult as I thought (because I'd blown it up so much in my head). It was SO FUN! I was also basically shaking with excitement, and I couldn't stop smiling. It was a perfectly clear, beautiful day, and the view on the way up was gorgeous. After rock climbing over the humungous boulders, walking through "The Gateway" across to the top, the top was in sight. It felt like a graduation or something. I couldn't get "Pomp and Circumstance" out of my head until Sweets started singing "We will still be friends forever" (don't know if that's actually the name, but it's that sad, sappy, graduation song you always hear...and it definitely made me feel sad and sappy...) When the sign came into view, Verge and Sweets started running towards it. My legs were tired, but I managed an increase in speed. Time of arrival: 9:00am.I'm here. I'm at the top. I did it. I did it? I did it! Mountain Goat, Peach, and Goat had summited by 5am, hiked the Knife's Edge, and returned to wait for us to summit. They welcomed us to the finish with a round of applause and lots of hooting and hollering. We all took our pictures, snacked a bit, and enjoyed the amazing view from the top. We couldn't have summited on a more perfect day. We hiked down, and it felt like we were just hiking down any other mountain. It felt like we were just going to party the night away and keep hiking tomorrow...even though I knew we weren't going to.We got a ride into Millinocket from a nice couple touring the area, got a room at the AT Lodge, had dinner, Jingle's friends Brett and Chad joined us, Peach made toaster-oven lava cake-brownies, we drank, celebrated, played pool at the bar, and had an all-around amazing time on our last night together. It feels weird to even type "last night together." We've talked trail magic reunions though...so not really our "last" night together. I can't even think about it.
Date: 2016-08-26
From: Katahdin

To: Done
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

I had to say my goodbyes to Jingle last night because he's staying in a different hotel. I know I'll see him again, but it still hurts. Jingle has become a brother to me over these past five months. He's one of the best people I've ever met in my life, and I feel so lucky that I've gotten to experience so much of this journey with him. Love you, Jingle.The next morning, Princess Peach comes running into my room yelling, "BREAKFAST BREAKFAST BREAKFAST!" He picks me up, drops me, picks Verge up, and falls over. "It's time for breakfast guys!" We all went to the AT Cafe for breakfast, and Peach was the next to leave. I gave him a big hug (and giggled when I felt his goofy fanny pack between us), and then he was gone. I'm going to miss him making me laugh all the time. Love you, Peach.The next two to go were Sweets and Training Wheels. Oh, Wheels. I'm going to miss her funny, grumpy remarks and her sweet laugh. I still can't believe she hiked 37 miles after being jilted by a silly boy to come see me and all our buddies on my birthday. Love you, Wheels. I know Sweets was trying to get me to cry, and you know what, she was successful. I immediately teared up mid-hug. You really learn true friendship out here. I'm so happy I met her within the first 100 miles of my trip. I'm going to say it every time--I'm going to miss her so much. I'm going to miss her making funny faces, saying, "Penny Lane" in her funny voice, and saying "So fresh and so clean, clean" every time she brushed her teeth. Love you, Sweets.And then there were three. Verge, Mountain Goat, and I just hung around, waiting to get picked up. To pass the time, Mountain Goat and I played some checkers (he beat me) and some chess (tie game?). Then his parents came and they treated us to lunch at the AT Cafe, which was so unexpected and generous of them, and I really appreciated it. Then Mountain Goat was on his way too. Why does everyone have to leave? Again, Mountain Goat is one of my favorite people of the whole trail. His positivity rivaled mine, he was always up for going for a swim, teaching me about the stars, or playing a game, and I'm really going to miss him. I'm going to miss everyone. I could probably write a book if I wrote a sweet little paragraph about everyone I've met and learned from and loved on the trail. This community of people is truly spectacular, and I feel blessed to have been able to be a part of it. It has really opened my eyes to the kinds of people I want to spend my time with. The trail has opened my eyes to a lot. Maybe I will write a book.Thank you again to all who have been following my journey and filling my adventure with words of encouragement, support, and positivity. Every bit has helped me to reach my goal. Thank you.
Date: 2016-09-25
To: One Month Later
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It's been one month since I summited. Crazy! It's still weird, and I still feel more like I belong on the trail than in "regular" society, but it is what it is.On a more positive note...I actually am posting this to share a video that I made about the trail (in the form of a song! Yes, that's right, a SONG!!) So, if you've followed my journey (or if you just happened upon this post), I hope you enjoy this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FcR95L0bEU Thanks!
Date: 2018-04-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Two years ago today, I was taking a zero day at the "Fontana Hilton" right before going into the Smoky Mountains. My sister and I were sitting in the warm laundry room, reading our books and munching on banana chips--it was bliss. Later, in the shelter, I bonded with a fellow thru-hiker named Sweets. At the time, I didn't know that she would become one of my closest friends on the trail, and I would later summit Katahdin with her and five other members of my "trail family." Today, my boyfriend Gary is en route to Georgia (from Massachusetts) to start his own Appalachian Trail journey, and I couldn't be more excited for him. I find myself reminiscing about those wonderful days on the trail. I miss it. I miss the trail so much. I miss my trail family. I miss the lifestyle. I miss the freedom. I miss the trials.After I finished my thru-hike of the Appalachian trail, I went right back to my senior year of college. It was surreal. I was back at home, going to school, and working at my ordinary job. To be honest, it was hard. Really hard. Thankfully, I met Gary only a couple short months after getting back from the trail. He has been there for me through my post-trail/post-college struggles, and I have been there for him through his family's ups and downs. Before I had even graduated college, I had started my new job as a sales representative for Down the Road Beer Co., a wonderful independent brewing company based out of Everett, MA. That summer as a sales representative could not have been more opposite to what I had been doing the summer before. I was in a car all day, every day. It damn-near ruined me. I barely ate, I drank a lot of beer (and don't get me wrong, it was delicious beer!), I never exercised, and I barely saw the sun. I have never been more depressed in my life. I went from major transition to major transition--from the AT, back to senior year of college, to starting a serious relationship, to starting my first "real" job as a sales representative, to moving in with my boyfriend and his family, to leaving that job at Down the Road Beer, to starting a new career as a teacher! Talk about a roller coaster of major transitions all within about a ONE YEAR period. I finally feel like things are starting to turn around again for the better. I have a challenging and rewarding job that I love, time to do the things that I love, and a man who I love about to hike the trail that I love! Though Gary had been dreaming of an AT thru-hike for about 15 years, his actual choice of going now was very last minute (like he decided two weeks beforehand last minute). The ways that our two families came together to help him go really touched my heart. With my family's AT experience (Bombadil, Goldberry, Verge, and I all hiked the AT in 2016) and Gary's family's inside knowledge on how to calm his nerves, we made a good send-off team. I will miss him like crazy, but #perksofbeingateacher, I get the summer off! Come June, "Legs" will be back on the trail and by my honey's side (whatever his trail name might be!) Good luck Gary! I know you'll have an amazing experience.
Date: 2015-12-27
To: Katadin then Springer
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

"Preparation for 2016 AT Walk by The Wanna Bs "Anticipation, anticipation is making me late, is keeping me waiting." Carly SimonI read so many journals a couple of years ago as well as reading my books about hiking the AT, but I had to start focusing on my job and my family. Now I feel almost like I am starting over. It seems as though the AT is no longer the AT I have read about. I hope all the negative hype I am now seeing is an exaggeration.In any case, the time has come. We decided to do it a year early, thinking that we will be lucky to be able to complete the walk at our age and we best not push it.Now don't take that to mean that we are not determined to finish the hike, for we are. We just recognize that we are not young and the future is uncertain.With that in mind, we have decided to do the less conventional hike and do a flip-flop starting in Harper's Ferry going north then coming back to Harper's Ferry to go South. I gave my first official notice that we were going in 2016 rather as originally planned in 2017 on White Blaze. Every time I spend time planning and dreaming now knowing that the start date is merely a few months away makes my whole body tingle with anticipation. Bob retires this month. I take a leave in March. We hoped to start our hike on our anniversary, April 14th. We found that there is a flip flop festival or kick-off on April 16th and 17th so that fits very closely to our plans.We have done two long hikes before this. One 3 day, 28 mile hike, and one nearly 100 mile, 10 day hike. We have not climbed mountains on either of these hikes so we know it is not comparing apples to apples. I hope that the many who say, "we trained by hiking" or "there is no way to prepare for the AT besides hiking the AT" are at least partially correct.I also hope also that determination is as important as many say. Now before you weigh in to vote us as "most likely NOT to succeed, " realize that I hiked the majority of the 100 mile hike with a stress fracture in my foot and that should speak to my determination. Still there were times during that hike with my foot aching, wet, cold, and discouraged that I said, "why am I doing this anyway." Still the satisfaction of accomplishment was wonderful and the beauty of those woods still entices me to do another hike through them. But the call of the AT is strong and loud and grows stronger with every day and every step of preparation. We have our primary gear. We may need to do a little weeding but our weight is down quite a bit. We will be hammock hikers. I want to blog for the benefit of friends and family at home, but am not sure of which venue. I am thinking of doing it as a fund raiser maybe for clean water in impoverished countries as the fact that the 100 mile hike was a fund raiser helped keep me going in spite of intense pain. We have many promises (to ourselves) to keep and much planning and preparation before we hike.
Date: 2015-12-28
To: continued prep
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Saturday we hiked Cedar Ridge trails about 2.5 miles total with a number of pounds on the back. Next Saturday we will add more pounds and some Saturdays we will add another mile. It is not much but all we have time for while I am working full time and Bob is keeping our home sit by Park Hosting.I think doing the AT as a flip-flop allows us to take our time. I think we will not just hike it to finish but will hike to enjoy every mile, every minute of the challenge. Oh, I've read hundreds of journals and I know it is not a picnic but I am generally not a whiner. Well, I am but I am not a quitter. Well, I am sometimes but not always and I am not going to quit on this dream.
Date: 2016-01-01
To: continued prep
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

The beginning of the year of the long awaited AT hike. There is way too much to plan in too little time. Details of the hike and details of our life back home. Where will be store our RV while we are hiking? What will we do with our home when the kids living there return to their mission? Who will take care of our sweet Princess Muffin (Shit-zu) while we are hiking? Transferring from business health care to the market place; what will that entail? Should we also get "traveler's insurance" to bring us back home if need be?   Bounce box or no bounce box? Supply boxes with our wonderful dried fruits or supply as we go?   If I keep gaining weight, I will need new trail clothing (especially long underwear). Our shoes are WELL broken in, should we go ahead a break in new ones and start the trail with better shoes? Also we need to go though our storage as some of our hiking gear didn't make it to our RV somehow when we changed living situations back in March. REI garage sale is tomorrow but I do not think there is anything we really know that we need that we don't have. Not really worth standing in line at 6 am at this point. But there is a part of me that thinks we may be missing something.An intense anticipation itself transforms possibility into reality; our desires being often but precursors of the things which we are capable of performing.Samuel Smiles
Date: 2016-01-02
To: better shape
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

15 Weekends until the flip flop festival then the beginning of our hike We hiked an extra mile with additional weight on Saturday. We will continue to increase each weekend. We are currently trying to decide on a wilderness first aid course or should we just watch survival videos? Cost vs benefit.It is not about what you are capable of, it's about what you are willing to endure.   Orin Woodward
Date: 2016-01-18
To: prep
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We have taken MLK weekend as an opportunity to check our gear a little more. Found that the very expensive cuban fiber tarp purchased a few years ago is now worthless. Even the dew seeps through making a puddle below the thinning places of the tarp. We are glad to have discovered this before the first rain on the hike.We also took a good long hike with increased weight without notable problem. Again however, there were no climbs. I love the Meme found on facebook today which stated that there is no WiFi in the woods but a better connection. I am looking forward to that better connection. 86 days before we leave for the trail. We have decided to go by train for a couple of days of restful adventure before we begin the hike of our lives. Tickets are purchased. Reservations have been make in Harper's Ferry.Resignation letter is written and will be turned in tomorrow. That is the scariest of all. Will there be anything for me when I return from my gallivanting ways?Beverly Flach of the The Wanna Bs
Date: 2016-02-04
To: Flip Flop Festival Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

70 days until we arrive at Harper's Ferry for flip-flop festival. We have Guthooks downloaded and ready. We purchased the full map set but have bit looked at it much yet. We have the 2015 AT Guide and hope it will be adequate.We are very unprepared but we what we mack there we make up in determination. I hope.   We made gear list and a to to list tonight.   One to do is taxes. Life goes on. The details to be worked out will be easier to work on once I am finished with my job 43 days from now. However, it can't all wait until then.Aching to be on our way.
Date: 2016-02-05
To: Better prepared
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Wilderness First Aide Course, 12 hours today and 7 hours tomorrow. I think. Pretty expensive and some have said, the AT is not a Wilderness. To start the day today, they showed slides of nearby towns that had recently faced the devastation of a tornado. For weeks those areas were in effect a wilderness. No one could get in or our of some areas. Good idea to know first aide where ever you go. Hopefully we will not need the things we are learning today and tomorrow. Hopefully, if we do need them, we will be remember what we learned. Another great part is that we met and were able to visit with a couple who hiked in 2014 and hear about their experiences and get some answers to some questions and some great ideas about some side trips and places where they regret not spending more time. Makes me glad we are planning to take it easy and enjoy the ride. Bob and Beverly
Date: 2016-02-28
To: Harpers Ferry Flip Flop Festival
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

We went to get replacement shoes at REI today. I bought some low hikers by Keen. They are actually the same as I had before but I also bought the high impact Superfeet insoles to go into them.I also purchased some Choco's to use to cross the creek and to wear in camp.Bob purchased some Merrell shoes. He plans to wear crocs in camp.I also needed some rubber tips for my ski poles aka hiking poles. Needless to say we purchased a few other items while there including some snow peak titanium cup. We purchased some sock liners for Bev and a few food items to try. Bev's tarp arrived last week. We should be almost set with equipment. We are still in the process of drying food. A load of bananas came out today and a load of stawberries and cherry tomatoes went in.Three weeks left of work for Bev. Bob's given notice at the Park for April 6th. They give us a week to 10 days to depart. Our daughter's wedding in the 9th. We leave by train toward Harper's Ferry on the 13th.   Time is flying by.