morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-05
From: Spy Rock Rd

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: moderate rain

It was too hard to leave the Dutch Haus early, so only made it 18 today. We hiked over our last big mountain for the next 900 miles supposedly? Big climb equal over 2,000 ft climb. "When someone asks what there is to do, light a candle in their hand. Like this." - Rumi
Date: 2009-06-05
To: Demographics
Miles today: 0.0

In response to a question on demographics. As far as diversity based on race there really is no diversity out here on the trail among us thru-hikers. I have no idea why, but it just seems that like there is not much diversity. I have yet to meet an African American or a Latino thru-hiker, at least that is hiking this year. I have met plenty of foreigners hiking, mainly South African, a couple of guys from New Zealand. One guy from Australia, another from Germany, and one from England. There is also this Korean Guy that I have been following, I still have not caught up with him, so he is really booking it. But evidently he speaks absolutely no English, which is both bizarre and funny. He signs all of the trail journals in Korean, and I have yet meet a person that has any clue what he is writing? Age is all across the board, the youngest that I have met so far on the trail is Sub Zero a 13 year old girl hiking with her mom and dad. The oldest that I have met would probably be a guy that was in his 70's. However, I would say that the average age is an even split between the 18-25 age group and 50-60 year age group. Basically a lot of us young guys who just got out of college or are between jobs. And all of the guys that just retired and have always dreamed of hiking the trail. As far as diversity based on sex, there must be a 4 to 1 ratio or maybe even a 3 to 1 ratio of guy to girl out here on the trail. I have heard that this year there are far less girls than usual? However, I can not verify this, since this is my first year hiking? I would be very interested in hearing what other thru-hikers have to say about some of my observations. Everyone of us has a completely different hiking experience, so I really hesitate to generalize the trail in such a way. This is only my account of what I have noticed.
Date: 2009-06-06
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I am sleeping in the basement of a Lutheran Church tonight. I just competed in a pancake challenge and lost. Second place is not a good place to finish in an eating contest. I am not feeling so hot right now! I am going back to the church to pay for my sins of gluttony. "'Go to the trees,' the old one told me 'Ask them where they find their strength And you will find your answer.'" - Sharron Johnstone, Cree nation
Date: 2009-06-07
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Skyland Resort
Miles today: 49.7

The challenge! We¢re getting a little bored, so we decided to carry a bottle of wine. Over the bottle, a fire, and a campsite we (Bonesy) hatched a plan to see how far he could hike in 24 hours. Blue Sky, Rocket, and I decided why not try it as well. Bonesy and Rocket left early around 6 and didn¢t wake us up. No worries because we were still on for the challenge. We some how ended up passing Bonesy and Rocket along the trail and hiking all night. It was a full moon and an amazing experience! All night we kept seeing eyes follow us from the side of the trail. Some eyes green, some red? I think it is best that we couldn¢t see what they were.
Date: 2009-06-10
To: Quotes
Miles today: 0.0

I really like quotes. I don't know why, but I just always have. I have just updated a lot of my journals with some of my favorite quotes. I was inspired by Joy Stanley¢s posting (Isaiah 41:13) on my Guestbook. Thanks everybody for your genuine interest and sending me your thoughts and prayers. Please, please, keep it up! I love all of you guys and there is no way that I could ever do a trip like this alone, so thanks everybody for being right there with me. Still will I strive to beAs if thou wert with me;Whatever path I take,It shall be for thy sake,Of gentle slope and wide,As thou wert by my side,Without a root,To trip thy gentle foot.I'll walk with gentle pace,And choose the smoothest place,And careful dip the oar,And shun the winding shore,And gently steer my boatWhere water-lilies float,And cardinal flowersStanding in their sylvan bowers.-Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2009-06-10
From: Beahams Gap

To: Hogwallow Gap
Miles today: 15.0

Parents were still in town! Amazing, I love them so much! We were able to hang out all morning, eat a great breakfast, slack pack (hike without our backpacks, like a bunch of slackers) in the afternoon. In doing so we were able to hike 15 miles in around 4 hours, meaning more time with the rents and more time being pampered. Good stuff. Rough life. If it wasn¢t for my mom constantly nagging me about the second degree poison ivy covering up over 70 percent of my legs, I wouldn¢t mind them following all the way up to Maine!
Date: 2009-06-11
From: Hogwallow Gap

To: Front Royal
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

My Birthday! Parents were still here, but they had to leave. It was sad to see them go, but good, I think. I was starting to get really soft and getting use to seeing their car at the end of the day. I called up my old cycling buddy Peter (who lives in Hume, Virginia). I cycled with Peter across the United States, and I actually have not seen him since we parted ways in Savannah. Since I last saw him, he now has a wife, a child, and another on the way! And I have never seen him happier! It was really great to see him and to spend my 26 birthday with my parents, Blue Sky, Peter, Melanie and Wythe.
Date: 2009-06-12
From: Front Royal

To: Sam Moore Shelter
Miles today: 31.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I finally got back in the swing of things. It¢s back to the good old miserable days of hiking all alone and self contained. This is what the AT is about, and I have forgotten what it feels like to feel sore, tired, and grumpy. It¢s nice to be back.
Date: 2009-06-13
From: Sam Moore Shelter

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: clear sky

We¢ve cruised into Harpers Ferry--one of the most elusive trail towns for a lot of people. Each year about 600 thru hikers make it here and of those 600 only about 300 will finish. So now I have increased my chances of finishing to 50%! I¢ll take those odds any day. This is a great town! To quote Thomas Jefferson, "This is worth a trip across the Atlantic." In reference to the view from what is now known as Jefferson Rock in downtown Harpers Ferry.
Date: 2009-06-14
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Blue Sky¢s friends came out to Harpers Ferry last night. We all had a great time hanging out around the campfire. We were able to swing a ride into DC! As it turns out right to Dupont Circle right across the street to where my sister lives (too bad she¢s out of town!). Small world!
Date: 2009-06-16
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Dahlgren Campground
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

Late start, rainy, and hard to leave Harpers Ferry. A bear stole a buddy¢s food bag which was precariously hung right over my tent. As the bear pulled down the branch that the food bag was on, he broke a limb that landed about a foot or two from my tent. Therefore the food bag was still attached to the string and thus still attached to the trunk of the tree. So when my buddy went to retrieve the bear bag by pulling on the string, he ended up in a tug of war contest with the bear! A contest that he won but by winning he was bringing the bear closer and closer to the tent with each pull. Needless to say, it was a very restless night (waking up every time each twig snap in the woods).
Date: 2009-06-17
From: Dahlgren Campground

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: moderate rain

More, more, more rain. We had originally considered a good 30 mile day, but with the rain and wetness, we quickly changed our mind. Thanks, mom and dad for my birthday present. The Banjo weighs 2.5 pounds. It is by far the heaviest item that I am carrying, but I am learning how to play the song from Deliverance. I am getting there, slowly but surely.
Date: 2009-06-19
From: US 30, Caledonia State Park

To: US 30, Caledonia State Park
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Took a Zero Day! Blue Sky's mom came and picked us up and took us into Philadelphia. What a great day full of driving around in a car and eating some good home cooked Italian food. Blue Sky's mom is half Italian and evidently learned to cook brilliantly from her mother who was born and raised in Italy. I was able to impress everyone with my eating abilities--a quality that Italians look for in their males.On a side note, thanks to Dr. Plaxico for helping me secure three different ways to combat my poison ivy. I shouldn't have any more problems with that awful weed from here to Maine.
Date: 2009-06-20
From: US 30, Caledonia State Park

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Still in Philadelphia, but heading back out to the trail today. Not quite sure when or how far I¢ll hike today. Haven¢t hiked much at all in the past two weeks. Better start picking it up again or just going to keep falling further and further behind schedule. Maybe it is time for a new challenge. I¢ve successfully completed the 24 hour challenge. (hiking 51 miles). Maybe see how fast I can hike 100 miles? Maybe in three days? Maybe three, thirty-three mile days? That would definitely be a challenge and put me back on track.
Date: 2009-07-02
From: US 30, Caledonia State Park

To: Unionville, NY
Miles today: 262.8

I realize that it has been over 250 miles since I last updated my blog! Since then I have crossed the whole state of Pennsylvania (arguably the single hardest state on the whole trail). This I have to agree with--both physically and mentally! Blue sky, my hiking partner, and best friend out here on the trail, have had a rocky last couple of weeks. We have been hiking on and off together through the whole state of PA. So although PA does not have any sizable mountains, this has been the most up and down section of the trail for me. The only positive to PA is the fact that I have been able to meet some other great friends and hike with them for a while. These guys include Stud the Dud, Rainman, Ahab, Hard Core, Kiwi, Papa Kiwi, Couscous, Decap, Cyborg, Doc, and a couple of other guys. Thank you guys for helping me make it!This trail is hard enough as it is. Trying to juggle a relationship on top of that makes this almost impossible! But those of you who know me best know that I would not have it any other way. The highs are really high but the lows are even lower out here!
Date: 2009-07-02
From: Unionville, NY

To: Unionville,NY
Miles today: 11.0

I am not going to lie, I love New Jersey! After a miserable time in Pennsylvania, New Jersey has totally redeemed the North. However, I will say it is getting harder and harder to hitch into towns. My southern charm and smile doesn¢t get me as far up here. I even got the finger a couple of times this morning. Tonight I am spending the night at the mayor's house in Unionville, NY. I have just put a couple of pictures up sporadically in a couple of my old posts. I hope my beard doesn¢t scare you. It is getting pretty long and burly.
Date: 2009-07-07
From: Unionville,NY

To: Ten Mile River Lean-to
Miles today: 112.1

I wanted to start out this journal with saying that not a lot has happened since my last post but just thinking about that comment would not be true. Since the last post, I have entered into New England, celebrated the 4th of July, hiked with Blue Sky mom, then hiked with her sister, met up with some of my buddies from New York City, hiked some of the prettiest of sections of the trail yet, and met some of the nicest people yet. I am really excited to finally enter into New England! I have a new found energy and now know that beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will make it to Katadin! However, it is still 731.1, miles away--across the infamous White Mountains and Maine¢s hundred mile wilderness! I am sorry for starting to combine days out here, but to be honest, they are all just starting to blend together at this point. One day just leads into the next as seamless as the previous day began. What I do remember are the people that I have met since I last updated, such as Sir Richard, L-Train, Steps, Leon, Angry Beaver, Braid, Ketchup, and Doc.
Date: 2009-07-13
From: Ten Mile River Lean-to

To: Dalton, Ma
Miles today: 110.0
Weather: broken clouds

Massachusetts is the buggiest state that I have ever been in. I am just so glad that the mosquitoes were not this bad down in Georgia when I started or I would have never gotten out of the car. Mass has always been notorious on the trail for the state with the worst mosquitoes, and with all of the rain that we have had this summer they are horrendous! I feel like I have literally floated across the whole state, or at least have donated a couple of pints of blood. I caught up to Blue Sky just as she was about to get a ride into Boston, and I am so glad that I did. I am currently in Cohasset enjoying a glorious summer field day on the beach!
Date: 2009-07-14
From: Dalton, Ma

To: Mt. Greylock
Miles today: 18.0

The best day off ever! Just spent the whole day relaxing on the beach and when I wasn¢t relaxing, I enjoyed Blue Sky's grandmother¢s good Italian home cooking!!!But we made up for it today. Thanks to Blue Sky's grandfather, we hitched a ride back to the trailhead and started the day off hiking with full packs. We made it all the way to the top of Greylock Mt (our first substantial climb since Virginia). Getting us back in shape for what is to come... New Hampshire!At the top of Greylock, Farhma and Ma Farhma were waiting on us with open arms and enough food to feed a small army. You guys may remember from my earlier post, Farhma was the gentleman who drove Blue Sky and I back to the trail after trail days in Damascus. Since then we have kept in touch and have been planning this reunion. And man was it good to see them--just seeing the spark in Farhma's eyes as he was talking about his thru-hike back in 2007 was more than enough inspiration to keep on truckin. Ma Farhma's homemade apple pie from home grown apples and real honey didn¢t hurt either! Thanks so much!
Date: 2009-07-17
From: Stratton Pond 

To: Manchester Center
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

A nice little half day! We were not planning on it, but we were sucked into the cute little New England town of Manchester! We ran into Buckeye again¢haven¢t seen him in over a month! It was really great to see an old friend and catch up. We¢re staying tonight at the Green Mountain House. Highly recommended!
Date: 2009-07-18
From: Manchester Center

To: Rt 4
Miles today: 50.0

Wow this trail really knows how to sock it too you! One day I am at the top of the world and the next I have hit an ultimate low. It is so hard out here. Blue Sky and I have been rocky for a while, but right when I thought everything was working out (we even set a date to summit together: August 21), we¢ve split up. So after having hiked over 1700 miles together across 12 states, we aren¢t going to finish the last 500 miles together. I felt like a part of me went missing yesterday. I was lucky to run a friend who I met earlier on the trail, Buckeye. I hiked with him some yesterday and today. I am pretty hurt and do not know what to do. I really just do not want to hike alone right now and will continue to hike with Buckeye (although his summit date is August 12). I have spent the whole trail looking forward to New Hampshire and Maine--just listening to Blue Sky and all the other present and past thru-hikers talk about it. I am most certainly am not going to give up, but for the first time throughout the whole trail I feel lost, scared, and alone. I know this will be ultimately good for me. It will be a great time to think back on my previous actions and think about all of my future actions. To think about how I want to live my life. What I want to do. How can I be a better person, a better Christian, a better friend...
Date: 2009-07-22
From: Rt 4

To: VT 103
Miles today: 18.0

Doing great! I met up with Mark and Mary--two really amazing people. I am going to defer all commentary to Buckeye (a much more eloquent writer). Plus I am in a huge hurry right now to go eat breakfast with my amazing cousins. Man, this is a rough life! I am truly blessed to have such great friends and family!!!www.trailjournals.com/atbuckeye/check out his last two posts.
Date: 2009-07-23
From: VT 103

To: NH 25
Miles today: 93.0

Doing great and feeling good!From last Friday when Blue Sky and I split up we (Buckeye and I) have had amazing trail magic! We have not spent a single night in the woods. From two nights with Mark and Mary, two nights with a good friend that we meet in Woodstock, to a night in Hanover with my cousins Helen an Hank, to last night with a nice crazy old lady in Lyme, NH. You know in the south when we say, "Devil is beating his wife with a frying pan". I never have understood why, but it is used when it is sunny outside but yet still raining. That is how my week has been. It has been tough, but still great at the same time. It turns out that Buckeye fits right into my family, he was picked up by my cousins at the post office and taken to a picnic. (My cousins are currently sending him care packages! Man I should have kept up with him!) I missed out and ended up hanging out all afternoon in the hotel room by myself, which sounds depressing, but was amazing!!! And was able to meet up with Blue Sky, to talk, which is always awkward, but it when well. We decided that after being on the rocks for a bit that our relationship out here just isn't going to work out and we're hiking our own hikes for a few days before reuniting as friends to finish what we started and tackle the Whites.Wish me luck and please keep up the prayers, only 398.5 miles to go!!!
Date: 2009-08-01
From: NH 25

To: Gorham
Miles today: 100.0
Weather: clear sky

I am taking a much needed day off, and it is killing me just sitting around doing nothing... I am so bored... I am trying to find things to do so I dont have to just sit around and continously stuff myself with Ben and Jerry's ice cream.I have already walked up and down the length of Gorham looking for stuff to do. I have been in every outdoor store in town looking for something to buy to cheer me up. Maybe a new hat, possible some camp shoes, maybe some new shorts. But soon as I pick them up and realize that if I buy it I will have to carry it I change my mind.I even contemplated going in a getting a hair cut, cutting off this silly little mullet thing that I have been sporting the whole way as a joke. Sorry no longer funny after three months, the joke has gotten old. I am currently sitting in the basement of a hotel about .6 miles outside of the city, apparently the only place in town that has internet on a Saturday. It took me at least two hours to find this place, and according to my pace at least six miles of walking. The AT should technically be considered well over 3,000 miles, considering how much walking we do around the towns that we visit. So here is the big news. Blue Sky is off the trail. She hitched hiked into Gorham a two days ago, and I went onto hike into Gorham and meet up with her yesterday afternoon. To find out that she had already booked plane tickets and was on her way to South California to a cousins wedding. She didnt even take a day off to consider the idea. But oh well, it is done, I watched her drive away this afternoon in her friends mom's car.Its a bummer because she (we) only had 300 miles to go and at a very reasonable pace (for us)of 20 miles a day, 15 days, a little over 2 weeks. Hopefully some day I will understand her reasoning. Hopefully one day I will understand her. We still are good friends and plan to keep in touch, but I am not going to lie and say that I am not hurt by her decision. When I summit Kathadin, which I will, I will do so alone.
Date: 2009-08-03
From: Gorham

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Man I rocked it today!!! GreenLite is back! I absolutely destroyed the AT these last couple of days--consider it payback! And I left the grand finale for today. Today I hiked the hardest 33 mile section of the whole trail (the most elevation gain and decline). I knocked it out in 13 hours. The total elevation gain was 12,000, and decline 11,000. Every south bounder that I have seen (and nobos for that matter) are taking three days to do this section. Two river fords and six mountains! I will write another update after I get some sleep, drank another gallon of water, and eat my second dinner. On a side note, my medium waste belt cannot tighten anymore ¢ sad day.
Date: 2009-08-12
From: somewhere within the '100-Mile Wilderness' section

To: almost to Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 264.0
Weather: light rain

I talked to David/GreenLite today, and he's about 45 miles from Mount Katahdin! He plans to summit this Saturday or Sunday (depending on the weather), and he said to stay tuned for another entry and photos after the weekend. http://www.themethodisthome.org/davidgreen.html - Laura (sister) _______________________________________________________________________________________
Date: 2009-08-18
To: Pictures!!!
Miles today: 0.0

I am sitting here in Bar Harbor with my family, about to go to the beach!!!Here are some photos! I just dumped them all on Snapfish, but will later go back and edit them. I will add captions and get rid of a lot of photos so that you dont have to look at all 300 hundred of them. Stay tuned for a proper conclusion entry to my trip. http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1146877002/a=12057753_12057753/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/andhttp://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1147144002/a=12057753_12057753/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
Date: 2009-08-19
To: Macon, GA
Miles today: 0.0

I am heading home!To anybody that has been following, near Macon, and would like to come:You are invited to a drop in reception at the front entrance of the Rumford Center at the Methodist Children's home on Sunday, August 30th at 4:30. I will talk, answer questions, and show some pictures from my walk to the children in the chapel at 6:00. I would be great to see you there and have you join us in the chapel.
Date: 2009-08-20
From: Macon, GA

To: Pictures
Miles today: 0.0

Hey guys, I just put about 60 pictures on the internet. I have heard some people have had trouble accessing my other pictures. I hope that this helps, plus there are only 60 pictures, much more manageable to look at then 300! I hope you guys enjoy. I am still waiting for it all to soak in before I write my conclusion entry.AT Slideshow Pics
Date: 2009-02-18
To: Prep 1 2009
Miles today: 0.0

Packed and repacked equipment tonight. Excitement for trip is growing daily, my 2008 thru-hike was shot out of the water less than two months before departure date due to family illness. Trying to keep excitement in check due to fact my chain was jerked hard last year. No problems in sight and am better prepared in lots of ways this year.