morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-07
From: Front Royal VA

To: Harper's Ferry 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Oh the adventures never end when it involves a 6'2 Regimented stomper and 5'4" (ok Whisp..maybe 5'6")book worm! Of course I'm talking about the greatest hiking team ever to grace the AT, Fire and Whisp! Next time you think about putting down your pack to check out a "National Geographic-Worthy" view, THINK AGAIN!...or at least watch where you put your pack. Fire and Whisp decided just living in harmony with nature wasn't enough, they wanted to start a war. So they put their packs down right on a wasp nest to instigate the little creatures. Needless to say, they may have gotten swarmed with angry wasp's who wanted to tattoo their flesh as many times as possible. Lunch was lost on the ground, as the two ran for the hills...HA..oh wait..to make matters even worse, the view was less-than-picturesque! Wait..wait..it gets better. You know how you can blow up those latex gloves to look like cow utters? That resembled Fire's hand after the wasp's stings had a chance to fester a little bit. OUCH! Her career as a hand model is clearly going downhill. Our little Whisp turned the big 21 on July 12! Luckily, the AT is a dry trail Well, Fire may have managed to sneak in a small nip of Kahlua..but one can only guess whether she drank it herself or shared a night cap with Whispy. Happy Birthday Whisp, I hope your day was full of gently slops, day-hiker food, clean privies, and empty shelters!...oh maybe a shower would be a nice bday present too! After many many days of fruitless searching for ticks on her body, Fire finally got one to muckle onto her. Once she sees a red bullseye on her skin, she can rush to the doctor's and get treated for Lime disease - YES! Not much else going on, Virginia is almost done, only a day or so until Harper's Ferry (the hiker's psychological half-way point)! Then preparation begins for the half-gallon challenge mmmwhahahah! Of course, Fire and Whisp continue to meet people from Deliverance..and love every sketchy moment of it!
Date: 2006-07-21
From: Duncanon PA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 283.0

We finally got out of Virginia and now we're over half way done! There is no simple 1/2 way on the AT, it comes in stages. First there's the 1000 mile marker. Then Harper's Ferry where you go to the ATC center and have you picture taken and "register." This is the so called pyschological half way point. I was thru hiker number 614 to reach there in 2006 (about 1200 started in GA and half have made it this far... that's a pretty good drop out rate~ Go class of '06!). Then we passed the 1087.4 actual halfway point... an unmarked spot in the woods... then it was on to Pine Grove Furnace State Park for the half gallon challenge. I demolished mine (Neopolitan) in 22 minutes 11 seconds! Others who finished: The Pro from Dover -33 mins 46er- 44m45s Hightech- 45m18s and of course our very own Whisp 1hr 9m 42s... although he struggled he managed to put it all down ... and perhaps more notably keep it down! Speaking of Whispy, he had his 21st birthday on the 12th! We celebrated by eating copious amounts of food at his Great Aunt Helen and Uncle Ivan's house :-) His mom also sent cookie cake which we substited for the "granola" in one of my favorite combos... if you don't know what this means you're obviously not a true facebook stalker! The trail magic out here has been awesome, from Hopeful at the Blackburn ATC center w/ an awesome spagehitti dinner to many coolers along the way! Mud pumpkin and Stats (GA-ME 05) thanks for the cokes and lil debbies :-) and Rosesniffer you all are awesome! Kandymom left us some treats we enjoyed before 6 am this morning! and Caprisuns on the way into funcannon was soooo nice! Oh yeah and let's just say Fire transforms into Yogi the bear at parks... thanks to the family reunion and birthday party crowds at Pen Mar Park for lots of goodies :-) So I'm having a great time!!! It's been pretty hot out but we're getting more used to it... we hike early then take a long break in the afternoon and finish up in the evening... Ice will be shocked to find out that we spent 1 whole afternoon at the pool in one State park!! too bad they didn't have any of those in NC and TN! Alrightly gtg to the PO and get back on the trail!
Date: 2006-08-02
From: Camp Mohican, NJ

To: View Entry
Miles today: 100.0

So I've had a great almost 3 days off hanging out with my parents who have come down to see me! On Saturday night, Whisp, Tooth Fairy, and I arrived in Delaware Water Gap to stay an the Church of the Mountain Hostel. Then on Sunday morning my parents arrived with lots of bakery goodies :-) After church we headed out across the bridge to New Jersey and put yet another state in the record books! The paparatzi was following us, it seemed that everywhere we walked along the road either my mom or dad was there popping out from behind the bushes to snap our picture. It was awesome to slackpack for the 10 miles we hiked Sunday, but what was better was having them bring us a picnic lunch to enjoy by a bubbling brook! Monday I decided after much convincing by T.F and Whisp, I should take a 0 day! So we hung out and had a leisurely breakfast in our cabin (at the camp where my Dad used to work for many summers- hence why they came down to see me in his old stomping grounds). Whispy got to sip his coffee until noon as we chilled out and played some Yahtzee! After that it was off to run some errands (replacing my leaking camelback and most importantly picking up mail! -thanks Kelly, Moores, Aunt Sue and Aunt Brooke for you cards& pictures etc :-).Then we decided that we'd pick up big ol thick $10 air matress at Wally world and float down the Delaware River (so much cheaper than renting a tube), well it was great fun! Of course nothing could go too smoothly though, it had been sunny and hot all day and 15 mins after we put in the storm started. Just off and on rain for a while, but after about and hour and a half the lightning started so we headed for shore and bushwacked through many nasty thorns up to the road when Mom swooped in with the mini-van and picked us up! Oh yeah and in the meantime while we were drifting a park ranger came over and gave us a warning that if next time we didn't have life jackets we'd each get a $50 fine! ouch! Last night we stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, and I've decided to chill out for most of the day with my parents and then hike a few miles this evening and stealth camp somewhere! Who knows what adventures the next two months will hold for me as I start out on my own!~ Loving every minute though!!!
Date: 2006-08-23
To: Manchester Center VT 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Wow! I love New England! It's so great to be back in this neck of the woods so to speak. The hiking may be a bit more challenging (with all the rocks and roots and ups and downs) and a bit more dirty (mud that seems like it will swallow you whole at any point) but it's so awesome. Views that will take your breath away on a daily and even hourly basis as opposed weekly/monthly like the mid-atlantic. Can't say I could be any happier to be back in the real woods! This section is still jam packed with hikers from both the AT and the LT (the Long Trail and the AT are the same trail in southern VT), but it's been fun getting to know lots of new people. Let's see where I left off... I think I told you all I was going to hike with my cousin Jon for a few days, which was awesome. We took our time and RELAXED (yes if you can believe it). It was so awesome to go through Sages Ravine and be able to stop often and enjoy its beauty, the waterfalls and gorgeous 100+ year old forest. Also we had lots of time to chill out and catch up :-) When Jon got picked up by my Aunt Candy and cousin Johana we all went out to Subway in Great Barrington then window shopped for a bit before dropping me back off at the trailhead. After a few restful days I felt great! Miles went flying by (at this point I will not reveal exact mileages for fear of being scolded by Whisp and Tooth Fairy) but I did take a few chill days. Like the one into the AMC cabin on Upper Goose Pond. I hung out all afternoon in an inner tube and went canoeing for a lil while too. While I was drifting around a nice guy named Jay came down to the dock with his dog, we chatted for a while and I found out that he was on his first vacation in 3 years!!! Apparently he owns his own business... but my question (a very Thoreau like one) is at that point do you really own the business or does it own you??? yikes!Couple days later I made a great stop at the Cookie Lady's then it was on to Dalton to stay at the famous Tom's house and hit the Old Country Buffet (can you imagine what the manager thought when he saw 10 hikers walk in to devour his buffet). Now it time to rock and roll!!! Quick entry because I gotta hit Ben and Jerry's and get back to hiking :-)
Date: 2006-09-15
From: The Cabin, Andover ME

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Life is good at the cabin! Wow! What a great place to relax and rejuvanate for the rest of the journey (only something like 233 miles to go now). Honey and Bear are some of the most friendly and hospitable people I've met out here, and that's saying something. The first night I got here I was wondering if I had died and gone to hiker heaven, within a half an hour of getting picked up at the trailhead I had shower, put on clean clothes, and was sitting down at the table to a feast with something like 8 other hikers. The food was plentiful and amazing! Yesterday after fueling up on Bear's enormous breakfast I slackpacked 13 miles and returned :-) Now it's almost time for our early morning breakfast and then I'll be back on the trail heading for Mother K (as Bear calls it).I loved it, when you get to the Maine state line there's a sign welcoming you that says "Welcome to Maine, The Way Life Should Be." Awesome! It's so great to be back in my home state! The Whites were awesome though, I had quite good weather considering it's Sept. The days I walked across the Presidentials and then over the Wildcats were especially amazing. I took a bit of a fall coming down Lafayette and ended up with a massive bruise on my right hip (which I just bumped again during a repeat performance recently)... fortunately the arnica my mom sent was applied immediately. I busted out 15 mile days (and one 20) through terrain most thru hikers only do 10 over... so I got a bit exhausted and at one point I tripped, landed face first in the dirt with my pack pinning me down... that was probably an emotional low point for me on the trail. How appropriate that the very next day I recieved an inspirational card from Nancy Bond that lifted me up. :-) Mahoosuc Notch was a few days ago... what fun boulder scrambling with a pack on! Alright, now it's time for breakfast so I gotta run! 2 weeks and I'll be at Katahdin. Various visits are possible between here and there if anyone wants, call (207) 327-2184 my parents for more info! Woohoo I'm almost home! :-)
Date: 2006-09-16
To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

As of today we have less than 200 miles left to Mount Katahdin and tomorrow we're going to cross the 2000 mile mark :-) Wow! Time flies! I must admit I'm getting a bit of channel fever, but I'm still enjoying myself. Can't wait to see my Dad and AJ on Wednesday in Caratunk. Then I'll be meeting my parents and grandparents in Monson on Friday and then an undermined bunch at Gulf Hagas on Sunday! So excited!I forgot to mention some important things in my last journal. To add to my enjoyment of the Whites I was able to rendezvous with Tooth Fairy, Storyteller and 46er. I met Tooth Fairy a little after lunch and we hung out all afternoon and evening at the Eliza Brook Shelter (in the southern Whites, just north of Moosalauke). We swapped notes and LOTS of stories :-)   A bit further north I met up with Storyteller and 46er in Gorham (I thought I had missed them after reading a register entry at Carter Notch Hut that had them there the night before me, but they we doing a northbound section so I found them back in Gorham). We a very enjoyable dinner complete with an ice cream feed back at the hotel. The next morning we were fueled up by pancakes and went our separate ways. :-) So good to see you guys!Speaking of seeing, I've seen 3 moose on my journey thus far. First one was in NH crashing away through the woods, all I saw was his rump. Then I saw a bull wandering through the woods in Maine and a cow in a lake munching on grass on the bottom. Love it! Anyways I've been loving the fall, the colors and smells and crisp air are just great! Gotta to go eat though (surprise!)!!! Looking forward to seeing lots of you all soon!
Date: 2006-09-30
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: HOME!!!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

This morning I summited Mount Katahdin and completed my thru-hike. Wow! What an exhilirating feeling to finish such an awesome journey. I'm exhausted (not from today's hike, just a cumulative thing) and have no words to write as of now. Perhaps tomorrow... Thank you all for your support, it's been an amazing adventure.
Date: 2009-07-23
To: The Trail lives on
Miles today: 0.0

This past weekend I had the pleasure of hanging out with some NOBOs, Plunger, Mr. Right, Gangsta, Wags, Cricket and Loon (and her brother too). I had a great time chatting with them in the sun as they enjoyed some extra food I had brought along, just in case... After that I got to hike in to Spruce Peak Shelter to spend the night with Whisp, one of my longest term hiking buddies in '06. What a great time seeing him, catching up on each others lives, eating some food and drinking a few beers. I had a great weekend and it stirred up so many memories in me. I really felt like keeping on going north with just the pack on my back... instead I, like many others resorted to living vicariously through the hikers I met by way of their trail journals. I was signing Plunger's guest book when I was taken aback by the profoundness of Blue Jay La Fey's comment to her and Mr. Right; My friends,don't worry about "when it's over" because even when you get to the big K it won't be over. It's too late for you, you're addicts now. You'll be standing in a big box store years from now and Wham you'll be back on some Mt. in Virginia or New Hampshire, the smell of the wind, the feel of your legs,the entire experience will ripple thru you. This will never leave you, so relax you're free and always will be.How true that is, whether it's getting back out on the trail for a day hike, an overnight with my parents, or a section of NJ with Toothfairy, I've been fortunate to actually remain physically close to the trail. The thing is that even when I'm geographically distant the trail is still close in my heart, the change it made in my perspective of life is still there. I can breathe slowly close my eyes and be out there, free. I still have the firm belief (reinforced by so much trail magic and general kindheartedness) that people are generally good, that if you put one foot in front of the other you really can achieve something great, and most of all that I am continually lifted and loved by something great than myself, the beauty of God's creation surrounds me all the time, shouts of love, new life, and community with others.
Date: 2006-02-09
To: My girfriend is making me do this.
Miles today: 0.0

Just kidding. I have thought about hiking the AT for many years and I would probably still be just thinking about it if it wasn't for Kim. Her excitement about thru hiking is inspiring. We met on the trail and have had many wonderful experiences exploring nature together. I look forward to many more.I'm so exited! There are times that it's hard to think about anything else. I wish we could start now. I made the decision to thru hike a couple of months ago and the wait is torture.I put together my gear list today. I still have some things to purchase; tent, jetboil and some odds and ends. What can I say? I'm extatic. Being somewhere new everyday, sharing experiences with other hikers, soaking in the beauty of the land I walk through. It doesn't feel real yet. One day I'll wake up and I will be on my way, heading up the approach trail with a smile on my face and a twinkle in my eye.Good luck to all those that are hiking this year. I hope to meet you out there. Happy Happy Joy Joy
Date: 2006-02-11
To: Spread the word
Miles today: 0.0

I had told a few friends a while back about my plans to hike the AT. They were excited for me and very supportive. One friend offered to drive me to the approach trail to see me off on my journey during her spring break. As it turns out, the timing won't work but I appreciate the thought. Today I told more and I'll tell just about anyone who will listen. I don't think someone standing in line at the supermarket would be very interested or even understand what I am talking about but it will be hard to restrain my enthusiasm.Next thing to do is to tell my family. They know I love hiking and spending time outdoors exploring nature. They have gotten used to me going out on short trips though they did worry a bit at first. They still worry sometimes when I go solo. It may be hard for them to understand what I'm going to do and why? I hope they'll be happy for me and know much it means to me.Woo Hooo! Just a couple of months to go. I wish we were leaving tomorrow.There's a big storm coming through. I'm looking out the window watching the snow whip by and wishing for more. I am dissapointed by the lack of snow this year. I wonder how much snow I'll find in the Smokies.The Devil Went Down to Georgia just came on from a mixed CD I haven't listened to in a long time. Sure makes me think of starting the trail. Georgia, here we come!
Date: 2006-02-23
To: Tick Tock
Miles today: 0.0

Been doing a lot of preparation lately. We ordered some stuff, played around with the topo program, looked at maps and refined our food and gear lists. Kim worked up some spreadsheets on Excel that included mileage, shelter information, maildrops, gear lists and other items. I've been reading through the ALDHA Companion and think that I will take it with me. She prefers Wingfoot's Guide. I will be working. A lot. Weekends and overtime, 12 hours per day, seven days a week for awhile to help fund the hike. I still haven't found a place to store my car. Thankfully the insurance will be next to nothing. My tent should be here by the beginning of next week. I can't wait to have all of my gear together so that I can do test packing and figure out my base weight (which excludes consumables). We went to Campmor, EMS and REI over the weekend. We got some great deals on winter clearance items. We both got Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Tech vests for $34 apiece! I also got a Sierra Designs wool sweater for $10 and a pair of Sahara convertible pants for $19. It was hard to resist the temptation to acquire obscene amounts of new gear at irresistable prices. We have decided that our "Last Supper" will be a mega sushi binge. Just one of the things we will miss while on the trail. TICK TOCK TICK TOCK!!!
Date: 2006-03-16
To: I love getting gear in the mail!
Miles today: 0.0

I've started piling up all of my gear in a corner and checking off things on the gear list. Somehow the stuff in the corner spread to the entire room. I think REI threw up in here. The other day Kim started weighing all of the gear and we came up with our average base weights. Her's is 20 pounds and mine is about 25. She finds that quite amusing. We are pretty confident with our gear selection at least until we hike a few hundred miles. I finally told my family about the thru-hike. They were suprisingly very supportive and encouraging but then again, they're not very geographically inclined. I'm not sure they completely understand the enormity of it all. Their technological know-how is limited to the on/off switch on the remote control so I will be keeping up with them by phone and snail mail whenever possible. My Dad tried to hook me up with a humongous Rambo knife. He means well but I think I'll stick with my 2 ounce Gerber. We've been too busy to get out on the trail so we've been gear testing our sleep system by leaving every window open at night. I had my tent set up in the bedroom for a couple of nights. Yes, I slept in it. Actually, we both slept in it just to prove that 2 people could sleep in a 1 person tent if needed. It's a Sierra Designs Mach 1. I guyed it out with two 10 pound dumbbell weights. I don't think I'll bring those, much to Kim's dismay. I was surprised to get a decent REI dividend so I'll be heading over to pick up a Jetboil PCS amd our insoles. The last things on the "To Buy" list are food items and miscellaneous supplies like film, batteries and duct tape. Pretty much everyone I work with knows I'm hiking because I can't stop thinking about it and I've been talking about it constantly. I get all of the usual "you're bringing a gun, right?" and "what are you going to do about food?" and "are you walking the whole way?" I have about 3 weeks left to work, a few free days to tie up loose ends and a few days to spend time with Kim's mom and grandmother in Vermont. Then I have about 150 free days to walk. I'm glad I'm so busy because the time seems to be just flying by. Well, I'm off to go roll around in my gear. Happier than a pig in...well...you know Ba-deep ba-deep ba-deep...that's all folks!
Date: 2006-03-26
To: Are you a badfish too?
Miles today: 0.0

20 Days!!!!! I get a silly grin on my face whenever I think of the "hike", which is quite often. I'm filled with anticipation.I got a day off after a couple of weeks of toiling. My internal clock is stuck at a 5:00AM wake up time so I couldn't sleep in as I intended. I've spent the morning recharging and relaxing while reading some journals, listening to some tunes, looking at pictures of some of my previous hikes, stretching and reading a bit of Desert Solitaire. I started reading it over a month ago yet I'm only just past halfway. It's good but I guess I haven't been in book reading mode recently. All the while, the AT is doing it's happy song and dance in it's little corner of my mind.I asked my man Joe (aka Jersey Devil) to transcribe my trail journal. He graciously accepted and I'm glad he'll be taking care of that for me. Thanks Bro, it's very much appreciated. Kim and I are hoping to have a free night in April so we can get together with some local hiker comrades. We've met many great people out on the trail. Some are kinda' "strange" but harmless (kidding disclaimer for the sensitive folk). Everyone has been incredibly supportive, sharing their excitement and good vibes, adding fuel to the fire. MAYPers, TTers and others, many thanks