morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-20
From: NYC, center of the universe

To: The couch
Miles today: 102.0

NEW YORK CITY!!!!!I'm almost all the way through New York, but before blasting into New England I decided to take a break for a few days and visit my wonderful friend Lynne in NYC. Right now it's raining outside, and I couldn't be happier to be inside and out of the weather.The past few days since Unionville have been pretty standard. New Jersey and New York have been really refreshing in terms of terrain. In Pennsylvania, the hiking was flat but rocky and painful, as I previously noted. In Jersey and NY, the trail had a lot more ups and downs, but also a lot more views and a lot fewer pointy rocks. I've been hiking with my good friend Smiley, as well as a girl I just met recently named Tinkerbell. She started in Harpers Ferry, is going to flip-flop the trail, and also has a blog ... although I can't find the URL at the moment.Notable happenings:-In Jersey, I saw 3 bears! This wasn't exactly surprising, since Jersey actually has the highest concentration of bears anywhere on the trail, but was really cool nonetheless. I got a few good pictures and some video, which I will upload whenever I actually get a chance to connect my camera to a computer.-When I climbed Bear Mountain in New York, I could actually see the NYC skyline. Not a terribly notable      experience, but I thought it was pretty cool.That's about it for now. I'm going to be in CT basically right after I return from the trail, and then I've only got 740something miles until Katahdin!Summer in the city,
Date: 2009-07-06
From: Rutland

To: Da woods
Miles today: 0.0

Ahhh! 3 minutes left on the computer.Ok, since the last update:-Stayed with an awesome guy in Dalton MA-Saw my parents - Thanks Mom and Dad!-Summited Greylock, Bromley, and Killington Peaks-Stayed in a hostel run by a sort of commune in Rutland VT.Only 486.9 miles to go! I'll have a more thorough update in Hanover in a few days.
Date: 2009-07-09
From: Robinson Hall, Dartmouth College

To: I'm running out of witty things to write here...
Miles today: 43.5

New Hampshire.4 months on the trail.Awesome.Crossed the VT-NH state line yesterday at the tail end of a 26.9 mile day into the wonderful town of Hanover, NH; home of Dartmouth College. Not too much has happened since my last update except more rain. Guess I was a tad too soon with that proclamation in my last entry, huh?In fact, while I'm on rain, let me touch on that a bit more thoroughly than in the past entry. It's rained for the past month. I haven't been dry more than a couple times in the past month. My nightly routine is as follows:Take off bootsPour water out of bootsWring black water out of socksWring out shirtOptimistically hang everything out to dry with the full knowledge that none of it willAnd the morning routine:Pour still more water out of boots (it collects at the bottom overnight)Put on still soaking wet shirtPut on still soaking wet socksSlide wet feet into wet bootsGo hiking on trails that are half river and half mud pitIt sounds pretty miserable, but once you get used to it it's actually not that bad. In fact, it's kind of nice because it keeps the temperature cool and the bugs from getting to bad. However, I really hope it clears up soon - it'd be very nice to have a couple continuous days of sunshine. :-)ONWARD!!!!
Date: 2009-07-24
From: Rain, mud, etc.

To: Katahdin, baby
Miles today: 221.0
Weather: moderate rain

220.1All I have left of the trail is 220.1 miles.Wow.I'm in Maine! Specifically the wonderful little tourist town of Rangely, ME near the Saddleback Mountain ski area. I'm to lazy to even attempt coherent narrative, so I'll go to the usual fallback plan of bullet points.-The White Mountains were beautiful, inspiring, invigorating and fun. They were also steep, craggy, and painful. All in all though, a great experience. Probably the most fun part of the area was getting to stay in the huts. For those who have never been up there: the AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) operates 8 huts up in the Whites. The huts are completely off grid - they use composting toilets, get their power from solar panels and wind turbines, and use helicoptered-in propane for cooking. They're basically mountaintop hostels, but waaay more expensive than any hostel should be.Thankfully though, the huts offer a work-for-stay option for us poor thru-hikers where for a few hours of easy labor, we get dinner, breakfast, and a warm enclosed space to sleep in. The huts aren't supposed to take more than a few thru-hikers per night, but most of them were lax with that rule. This especially benefited me because I ended up meeting a big group of about 9 thru-hikers about halfway through the hut system and we merrily crashed through the rest of the huts together. The hut croos (as they call themselves) weren't always initially pleased when they saw a mob of us walking up to the hut, but they were good to us nonetheless.-Maine is hard. The Whites are a notoriously difficult section of the trail, so I was expecting it when I was led up sheer rock faces and through miles of rock-hopping. However nobody told me about Maine. Southern Maine was actually harder than some portions of the Whites were, with lots of climbs, rock scrambling and boulder crawling. Then, to make it more fun, the rain came back and turned the entire trail to mud. So for the past few days I've been dealing with the hard terrain of New Hampshire with the horrendous mud of Vermont in a state that I was hoping would be fairly easy. Needless to say, it hasn't been doing great things for my morale.Ok, that really ended up being more narrative than bullet, but whatever.As Maine is very rural, I probably won't have internet again until I'm done. However, to make up for the sparsity of my updates toward the end, I'll write an epic concluding entry (or two, or three...) once I'm back home. Until then, wish me luck in the final stretch!Oh the walkin' man walks...
Date: 2009-08-01
From: The shores of Lake Hebron

To: Lady K
Miles today: 105.5

Ok, so remember that whole "no update until I get back" thing? Lies. All lies. :-)I'm currently at the wonderful Lake Shore House hostel in Monson, ME and have 114.6 miles left to hike. Tentatively, I'm planning on summiting next Sunday and being back home by Monday, courtesy of my dear mother who is driving 9 hours up to Maine to pluck me off the mountain. (Thanks mom!) It's really quite bizarre to be thinking about sitting at my kitchen table and sleeping in my bed by next Monday night - I've been trying to wrap my head around it for the past 100 miles. I've become so completely adjusted to, immersed in, and in love with this lifestyle that it's going to be very interesting reintegrating myself into society.Among the many things I'm going to miss...-Waking to the rising sun and the morning air-Sitting around camp eating Ramen, or Knorr Sides, or Mac and Cheese-Meeting complete strangers and then immediately cohabitating with them for days or weeks-Seeing National Geographic-worthy sights everywhere I look-Hanging out in trail towns-HitchhikingAnd the list goes on...Since my last update in Rangely, my mood has improved considerably. I just hadn't given my body or mind enough rest from the Whites in Gorham, and that coupled with the terrain and the fact that I didn't really pack enough food from Gorham to Rangely was really dragging me down. After I rested and resupplied though, life was great. The weather has been off and on, but I've been hanging out with wonderful people, going swimming in ponds almost every day, and nearly drowning trying to ford waist-deep rivers with a full pack so I've been enjoying myself.Now it's on to the 100 mile wilderness - a section of about 100 miles that doesn't cross any major roads or go near any towns. I'm excited to make the most of my last few days on the trail and (hopefully!) the first stretch of good weather we've had in a while. Wish me luck!P.S. - I uploaded a bunch more pictures to the Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/69648633@N00/ P.P.S. - Remember my writing about Crux and PowPow (real names Richard Lee and Selica Sevigny), the awesome SOBOs running the Amee Farm Barn? One thing I forgot to mention was that the reason they had gone into Pittsfield to begin with was to run in an insane adventure race aptly named "Death Race." The really cool part is that despite having not done any training for it and being incredibly ill-prepared in terms of equipment, Crux won the thing and PowPow was the last woman standing. (She had to drop out because of severe hypothermia.) The New York Times did an article (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/sports/07deathrace.html) and took video (http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/07/06/sports/1194841322337/surviving-the-death-race.html) of the event, both of which featured the duo. If you have a few minutes, check it out!Walkin' on sunshine,
Date: 2009-08-27
From: Somewhere

To: over the rainbow...
Miles today: 0.0

Here's the list of what I carried. It obviously varied from day to day and week to week, but this is sort of the trip-long average of the stuff.Big stuff:ThermaRestCat's Meow Synthetic 20 degree bagGroundcloth (made of standard Wal-Mart tarp)Pack coverMSR Hubba tentOsprey Aether 70 backpack without the brainKatadyn Hiker Pro water filterBoots (Asolo Fugitive GTX until NJ, then Vasque Breeze XCR)Leki Makalu Summit polesCooking:Snowpeak aluminum 1L pot w/ frying pan lidSupercat/Fancy feast alcohol stove1 cup measuring cupWindscreenBottom stove heat reflector (square of tinfoil)LighterCough syrup 1oz measuring cupSpongePlastic knife, fork and spoonBandannaOrange stuff sack:SunscreenBug repellantSwiss Army knifeHeadlampFirst aid kit:   Moleskin (rarely used)   Athletic tape   Benadryl   Epi pen   Zofran (perscription anti-nausea meds, acquired after my incident in TN)   Benadryl   Bandaids   Antibiotic ointment   TweezersSafety pins (rarely used)Gold bond powderA+D ointmentBody GlideLip balm (never used)mp3 playerCellphone w/ extra battery and chargerExtra camera and headlamp batteriesCamera USB image transfer cordWatchToothbrush and toothpasteDr. Bronner's soapClothes:1 pair underwear1 pair long underwear (winter only)1 pair fleece pants (winter only)1 fleece jacket1 wool thermal top1 longsleeve shirt (winter only)1 shortsleeve shirt1 pair hiking pants1 bandanna1 hat1 pair wool gloves (winter only)3 pairs Smartwool socks2 pairs liner socks1 pair super-light athletic shorts1 rain jacket (EMS brand)1 pair rain pants (EMS brand) (winter only)Misc.CameraThru-hiker's companionJournalPenPack towelToilet paperHand sanitizerCathole trowel (aka the shit shovel)MapsHandkerchiefGlasses-cleaning ragGatorade bottle
Date: 2009-04-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello to family and friendWe would like to thank the previous years journalist for their wisdom. This journal, however, will have none of that.We will try to keep everyone up to date with our bits of fiction. We our looking forward to the walk,rhododendrons, thunderstorms,life and liberty.Forrest says "silence is golden."Emma says she is looking forward to Dracula and last of the mohicans. "pretty darn excited."DAD says " see the above."valete
Date: 2009-04-18
To: airplane!!
Miles today: 0.0

WOW!!! This is exciting. x hrs away from hopping on the plane and heading to the start of our trip! As our family is gathered together, we share stories of what the future trip will hold. Like eating beans for dinner. And having a competition afterwards. And yes, I recommend not becoming friends with us. Or just not Dad. He wrote a song already. If I can get him to repeat it I will write down the beautiful lyrics.Not very many days (or hours haha) away, and we still have yet to pack our backpacks and find out how heavy they are. We have all the gear, just have not done the stuffing, grunting, pulling and pushing. Oh the joys of packing.They should start a packing service. But then you wouldn't know what was in your pack. And then bad things could happen. Like, when it's life or death, you realize there's no toliet paper. You never know what might save your life. It might just be toliet paper. Don't ask. Just follow along, watching your shiny desktops. Hopefully you're on the trail and/or walking somewhere. If not, continue what your doing. I imagine it's much much more easier and possibly more pleasent than walking and walking and walking and walking. Except you don't get to hear the wind blowing softly (or not so softly) against the trees, or the animals chattering there 'good mornings'. I've never been on the AT, but that's how it is in other places I've hiked. Random thought of the day: You need to go to the next Banff Film festival in your area. It. Rocks.The. End.The kids and I
Date: 2009-05-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 50.0

Here we are. On the trail. You can actually see where we are on the map, and no, it's not still at the beginning. We've come almost halfway through the state of this trail, and boy, it's awesome. Always one nasty rainy day, followed by a glorious nonrainy and/or misty day. We hardly ever see the sun. when it comes through it's like a gods-send. Most days can't even tell where it is. Just a bright grey (or dark grey) blob above us. Nevertheless, it is beautiful here. We miss everyone back home, but truely believe they are missing even more by not being here. The lucious green leaves, the...it's hard to explain the beauty of this place. And the water is suprisingly quite good!! better than tap most times!Well, there are other hikers waiting to get in touch with the rest of the world, so I best be off.Dad is now Quazi-modo, but everyone calls him Quazi. Forrest is Speedy Gonzalas (or however you spell that), but everyone just calls him Speedy. My (emma) name is now Spring Leaf, simplt because my rain jacket color. That's about it!!Love you all back home and happy trails to the rest of you~Spring LeafEmma received her trailname from turtleback- finally one she likes.Forrest recieved his trailname from Canada- Samsquench and jungleface.Mine was a collaberative effort from Emma and canada- a multinational effort.We already have a few cravings- Turtle Back got us on doritos hard. The kids were into peperoni dipped in rasberry jam- should start a cook book.alot of firsts- we climbed the tallest mountain in georgia- onthe AT(Blood MT)lots of thunder, our first 10 mile day, we have 1% of the trail done!!! etc.Riding on the peace trail
Date: 2009-05-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

Happy mothers day!!!!A little late but oh well. We're heading for north carolina! And the old oak that marks the state line.Since we're typing on the iPod touch it's a bit difficult so I think this will be short. We're at a lovely coffee shop... With decaf YUM. After doing laundry we hope to hit the trail soon.Happy y hiking!! Love you all back home The kids are hiking great. now I wish they would follow and complain just to make me feel better.Are we there yet, I'm tired, I have to go to the bathroom, etc- make me feel a little better.Thanks joe and tim the enchanters dad for the rides into and out of Helen. May your next bass be 5lbs.We miss MOMThinking of you allRiding on the peace trail
Date: 2009-05-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 37.0

Here we are in Franklin, NC. We are right on schedule with our plan, celebrating 110 miles after 11 days on the trip. YES!! We accidentally passed our actual 100 miles, we forgot that we did 8.8 miles from Amicalola, and only had to go 91.2 miles on the AT...At about 98 miles, I realized, WE HAD DONE IT!!! But then Dad said that we techincally had to do 100 miles on the actual Appalchian Trail for it to count for anything. So we guessed it out, and took our awesome first 100 miles picture!! Only 21 more 100 miles for you through-hiker people!! I kind of almost feel bad for you guys...my shoulder-ankles-knees-general muscles already feel the pain of doing 100 miles...and you have to do TWO THOUSAND MILES!!! aye ya aye! Much to much for me. It's a few days away from being our second week...and thinking about the 5 more weeks to follow...I'm trying not to think about it. I can take it day-by-day, but when I start thinking about the future...(*eeeeeeeeekk*) We crossed our first state border, GA/NC line. Saw the awesome gnarled oak tree, unfortunately forgot to get one with my phone so I couldn't send a picture back home...ah well. Speaking of pictures, we can't upload any to this journal. Because we're using other people's computers and what not, and Dad isn't lugging around an adapter, no pictures. You all will just have to wait till we get back home, or find a newer computer which we can simply stick the camera chip in. Sorry all, esp. G-parents!! It's beautiful down here, but it's starting to get HOT!! Suns coming out, and we're all starting to burn/tan a bit. Forrest has a very nice farmer's tan going. Well, we're off to check laundry, so who knows when the next time we'll add an entry...but till thenHappy Hikinh, ~~Spring Leaf~~(and the rest of the gang, The Vontraps)We have a new recipe for our book: peanutbutter, lots of sugar to taste rolled in instant oatmeal-yum.Georgia was beautiful,and hard. We have our legs under us now.Spring leaf dug a foreign body from under my upper eye lid- Have not told her yet that would have been 100 dollar ER visit. Hope her fees are not to high!Ran out of fuel half way through this last stretch- Speedy was seriously worried about his food.We had buetiful days, and the wood has been dry enough to cook with.Smokies here we comethinking of you allriding the peace trail QuaziThanks Ron for the ride into Franklin, and the entertainment
Date: 2009-05-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The trails in georgia are in excellent shape, and all the springs are full plus. Thanks to the trail crews for all the hard work!We started at amicolola with jungle face, and were sad to here he is off the trail- hope you get back on.We are gased up and ready to head out for awhile--thinking of you all.Spring Leaf--we only have a few moments before we head off back to the trail. I have just finished Dracula, so now Forrest can carry that heavy book. It is an awesome book for those who have never read it. Now, I can honestly say, Twilight series SUCK!!! Dracula is 1000X better. Anyway, must be off.Bye till later!!~Spring Leaf~
Date: 2009-05-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 40.0

Well here we are on the edge of the national park. Suprisingly there is no cell service here... So sorry mom, I can't reach you. We will of course try tonight etc. We got our mail drop. I'm now sitting here with my sweet Smosh shirt. I fell bad though, it's going to get so nasty and grimy... And I love it so much!!! Oh well. We were also pretty psyched to get some almond snicker bars! Love you mom you're amazing!! We had a shortish day of 5.5 miles. Had the yummiest burger and onionrings ever. First time I have ever eaten that size of burger so fast. Had diet coke and peach pie ala mode. After a quart of shared ice cream and a cookie ice cream sandwhich I was finally full. Forrest is still a little hungery after eating all that plus Pringle chips, which our new favorite chips We had a really nasty rainy day after we left our previous town, bit it's been blue skies since. Oddly enough, it's also FREEZING at night. Two nights ago we all scrunched together trying to stay warm. Are now sleeing with about 3 layers of clothes on. It feels like winter weather!!!! And this is supposed to be the roasting southern summer I've beenlooking toward too!!! Well I'll let someone else write. Love everyone back home and especially you Mom!! -Spring Leaf-We are entering the Smokies- still having fun:-)New recipe: any candy bar used as a spoon to scoop peanutbutter, and trail mix smashed into a piece of cheese- yum.Thinking of you all- ESP. MOM Riding the peace trail. Quazi
Date: 2009-05-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 4.5

Oh. My. Goodness.   Here we are in the most touristy, weirdest city on the whole AT. A Hollywood Wax Museum after 3 weeks on the trail!! Yeah, pretty crazy for us.    Best part about this city...Shoney's. I, Spring Leaf, ate 3 plates tip top full of delicious breakfast food, Speedy Gonzales ate 6, and Quasi-modo ate 4. Didn't eat ANYTHING till just now...12 ounces of delicious steak. But enough about food, even though it is the number one topic between towns among hikers (what are you going to eat when you get to _____, well I'm going to eat ____ and ___and ___ etc.etc.etc.).   So far this Park has been the best part of the hike for me. Smoother trails than what we've been on. Met some awesome people like Hiking Poles, two really funny brothers (sorry I can't remember their names, but one said he was going to move to Montana to grow Dental Floss...some old song or something!), A 72 year old man that could easily out hike me, and Clogger, Sunshine and Mowgli and many more besides. There are so many awesome people on this trail, it's hard to keep track of them=)   Climbed up to the highest point in the Appalachian Trail and in the same day hit our 200 mile mark...YAY!! These last 100 miles seemed a lot easier than the first 100...must finally be getting into shape! Actually I know so...Yes, I'm so vain, I admire the lumps forming in my thighs whenever I flex haha. Ok, I'm going to go help pack, so I'll just shout out a big "I love you" to all ya'll who know deserve the shout, like Mommy...sorry our phones died on us =(.~~Spring Leaf~~ps. If you ever want to do a small section in the AT, do the Smokies...IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL!!! and it's pine trees...like way way way back home...*sigh*but yeah, do the Smokies.Right, bye ya'll!!"it may hurt, but I'm free" (something written in one of the shelters)
Date: 2009-05-25
To: smokies
Miles today: 0.0

Hello- thinking of you all. Hope the weather settles down in Montana for you Chip.I hiked these parts of the Smokies 20 years ago with Matt and Paulo, so I'm reminiscing a bit.I am also telling you the Appalachian mountains are Growing! The trails are longer and steeper. The air is more rarefied at the tops. We use experience and the latest in technology to determine this. Everyone else altimeters seem to be off.We are on are third state (Tennessee).We have 10% of the trail done nowHave not zeroed yet, but getting close- maybe in Hot Springs.   thinking of you allriding on the peace trail      QuaziHI, this is Forrest now. I'm having a great time hiking through the smokies but still am waiting to see a bear. Almost everyone else on the trail has already seen like 4 or 5 so I'm really jealous. We even took a seven mile side trail just to see one but never saw anything. I'm glad we made it to Gatlinburg in time for breakfast, we had to get up early and hike fast but we got to eat at an all you can eat breakfast buffet. I was in hiker heaven, we have only come 200 miles but the hiker hunger is kicking in and I'm always hungry. I went up 6 times and had two hot chocolates, it was the most food I have ever eaten but it was so good. today we are hading out on the trail again so I'll talk to y'all later. peace, Speedy Gonzolas