morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-09-15
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Madison Spring Hut
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: few clouds

w/Swix, Squatter, Garland 5, Chicago Rob, Ishmael, A-Dawg, Londen Len, Task (sobo), Reverend Yukon Jack, Yoda, Mad Scientist, the slew of hut guests9:20pm....desha-hiking   Walking up the same mountain this morning never felt so right. After last nights fun with the Lakes crew, I was ready to move on...even if it was for only 7 miles. But having, yet, another wonderful day, I'd rather do nothing else than walk. So, up and over Mt. Washington, it was, again. But not until after a few phone calls and some other crafty stuff, from the top. Then it was on to the life of a hiker again...sort of.    The view down the valley below the Presidentials was beautiful, and I scored myself a hiking partner for the day, Wolfsong of the Garland 5...sure she talked my ear off but I didn't mind. With a nice slow pace because I had no place to be anytime soon, I enjoyed the company and everything else around me. More rocky around here than one would think. Kind of a rocky-type 5 mile scrambly day. Wolfsong fell on her face because of the rocks...I swear to God, it was the rocks! I felt bad though...but she's a tough girl. I pulled her up by her pack, saw that she was sporting some new battle scars, but nothing to worry about, and we kept on to the hut.   Yet another great crew and even better food (stuffed shells and peach cobbler) awaited us. Being able to relax, read, and then being well fed, is a luxury I've gotten way too used to in the past few days. But it's back to hiking as usual tomorrow, maybe. We have to do some work for our stay (well worth it as usual), and with no more huts, we have to go back to our usual methods. Who knows, the trail always has ways of spicing up your life...as the Spice Girls would say .   Speaking of spice, Swix had an interesting day. He met us at the hut later on because he had a date with his hut crew crush from last night. Ooooooo...but he had a great time. It's good to see a man happy because he's found a connection. Oh, the fun we'll have watching what comes of this . Well, I think I'm going to have some fun watching the back of my eyelids right now...I'm bushed. Too much sun and fun, I guess. I had the wierdest dream a couple of nights ago. I was using the bathroom in Barnes and Noble, but I needed to find something to read. So, I walked out...but apparently I didn't have any clothes on and was getting a lot of wierd looks as I was searching for some Dragonlance book. Eventually, I gave up looking and went back to the bathroom...but I just couldn't seem to find it. Yeah, so I'm walking around Barnes and Noble, naked, with my hand as a fig leaf, looking for the bathroom...great dream, huh. To make a long dream short, I had to ask someone and they escorted me to the bathroom...end sequence. I wonder what that says about me ?In my head? with all this talk of trail romance...i'm still wishing to hear my girl's voice...it's been too long!
Date: 2004-09-16
From: Madison Spring Hut

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: haze

w/Swix, Squatter, Gorbachov, some sectioners and the caretakers9:19pm...evaluate the re-evaluation of the value of the...   Here's this week in retrospect: beautiful weather; gorgeous scenery; short, easy days; lots of food, fun, and people. Completely different from what I'm used to...I think the White's have made me soft! Too much comfort leads to thoughts of home, my girl and how much I really just want to be done so I can be with both for good...and thoughts about the tough days ahead in order to finish that goal. With all the fun I've been having, I think I've lost sight of the finish...it's time to get back on track. It's time to focus enough on hiking so that I can get through Maine and home again, but not too much that I don't have fun. It's gotten too relaxed lately, so much that I rode the ski gondala up to the top of Wildcat Peak today instead of walking up it! Hey, it's all part of the experience and I was able to enjoy the view for once and not be all huffy and puffy...but that's it. No more being a slacker! We'll be in Maine in a couple of days and I need to get to done...I need to go big!...because I'm not going home until I do. Ooo, ooo, speaking of home, I finally have service enough to call my girl ! Yay me! I've waited way too long for this...and so I wait no longer...In my head? "Hello, is Cassie there?"10:55pm...and she was there . Ho hum...she sure knows how to make me feel better and more at ease. Now I should sleep really well, with her in my mind and bunny in my arms...hmmmm, the sleep we could have....
Date: 2004-09-17
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: US2 - Gorham, NH
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

w/Squatter, New Guy, and a whole slew of other people (it's a hostal afterall)11:21pm...I'd rather be talking...   I'm not sure what I'm thinking, but my thinking is really bemuddled when I'm tired. I got off the phone with my girl (yay, me!) to sleep and ended up writing a postcard and finishing my Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream...sorry hun . But I really do need to get to sleep, so I need to hurry...luckily I still don't write down my thoughts so I've forgotten almost everything I wanted to say...almost...I still talk too much .   So, we met this girl, Moonpie, yesterday who works at Pinkam Notch who already completed her thru-hike this year! I just thought it odd to run into someone who's already done. But we're close, less than 300 miles left AND we'll be in Maine tomorrow! To think, after leaving Georgia all those months ago, we're finally going to be in Maine...SO CLOSE!!!   But after the huge prime rib dinner, with salad and a beer, I had tonight here in Gorham, NH, and the ice cream and stuff, I'm still ready to move on and be done. That's still been one of the thoughts in the front of my mind lately...that and how hard this last part will be and how much I really want to be home looking at the face of a smiling, beautiful girl...sorry for the sappiness, but I'm tired and emotional and because I can . And I'm not quite sure if I'm really looking forward to the work (laziness talking), but I'm probably looking forward to the rewards... I'm also looking forward to AYCE pancakes tomorrow morning!...and to the next time I can coherently talk to my girl!In my head? Sick of being absent minded...I forgot my treking poles in the guys truck that gave me a ride into town (not sure what'll happen there) and I, somehow lost my hat (I think), a bunny trinket from my girl, and probably 40 billion other things in the past week. RARR!!
Date: 2004-09-18
From: US2 - Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

w/Swix, Squatter, Rob from the Birdcage (of all people!)10:43pm...Aahhhhhh! Surprise!!   So, we weren't quite sure what to think this morning when we woke up to the pidder padder of rain outside. I thought to go down to the restaurant attached to the hostal to have some coffee, write some post cards, eat some food, and, otherwise, decide if we were going to stay or go...but the owner would have none of that. After he got me coffee, he took some other orders, and came back to take my order. I told hom that I was going to wait a couple of minutes to write a post card...and he told me I couldn't do that. He said that I had to move to a table by the desk covered by a bunch of his crap...even after I told him I was still going to eat, just not now. Wierd...then he also told us there was a 50 cent charge if we couldn't finish our breakfast! I think he was joking, but I'm also not so sure...things were kind of wierd there.   That's why, when we decided to woose out and stay, we went elsewhere and found a room for $40 for the 3 of us at one of the motor inns...that like hikers! So, we had a great place to stay, where I could watch the State game!! It was cool, ESPN gameday was being taped in Lansing, and I called my college buds who were tailgating (Parko almost cut his finger off!). But most surprising of all was the appearance of Rob from the Birdcage in Dalton, MA! He bought us beer at dinner. I tried watching the game, but the only TV I could occupy was in the bar, so I was running back and forth from my table to the bar. But NH has some wierd law that forced the servers to have to carry my beer from bar to dining room! Afterwards, we chilled in his room for a little while, but there was a lot of other hikers in town who were there as well, so I chilled in my room and watched my game. The only thing that could've made the day better would've been talking to my girl...well that and State winning. But, alas, she was out having fun. Oh well, it's off to bed I guess.In my head? How am I going to go back to real hiking!
Date: 2004-09-19
From: Gorham, NH

To: US2 (Gorham, NH) to Carlo Sol Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: fog

w/Swix, Squatter, Nick (sectioner)9:20pm...   Bbbrrrrrrr, it's chilly. So, it's supposed to get down to like 25 degrees tonight! Well, I guess that's Maine for ya...oh, that's right...I'm in Maine!! And it greeted us with a vertical, down, rocky scramble, so hard, that I had to take off my pack and drop it down! I guess that about sums up my day, which was only really, partially bad.   Rob gave us a ride back to the trail, and I slipped a whole lot today AND I fell twice. My first one, I slipped and tried to regain my balance but ended up spinning around 3 times and falling 10 feet into the woods! Swix thought it looked like I was trying to take the ball to the endzone . That one didn't hurt...it was just funny. But on the second one, I hurt my wrist and broke my watch when I slipped down a rock. Those were the only bad parts of my day, really. Well, that and I keep doing things I told myself I wouldn't do anymore...like walking too far and into the night.   So, I might have more choices to make again...or it's just me thinking too much . I think Swix and Squatter are no longer going to let me be a bad influence...trying to make them slow down and finish on my schedule. I was planning on staying in Andover because it fits my schedule. But they're trying hard to get back to the fast schedule they had before we met so they can get done. I guess my choice comes into play because I'm still not willing to kill myself to get done...even though I have more reason and drive to be finished than they do, sort of. Going fast wasn't fun when I left and it still isn't now. But I just don't know...I'm just really bad at making choices. On the up side, there are a ton of people around to hike with, but the three of us just get along so well. Grrrrrrrr! Why can't things just be easy!?! Well, I'm tired (what's new?) so maybe I'll sleep on it...or try to, as always. I dreamt last night that this huge spider was crawling around the drapes in our room. I even had a visit from my girl! I was sitting in a room and she walked by, turned around and said "There you are!" Man, was she beautiful and she was all smilely and happy...[sigh] . She's always in my head, it seems.In my head? Thanks again for everything this weekend, Rob (I know you read these!)
Date: 2004-09-20
From: US2 (Gorham, NH) to Carlo Sol Shelter

To: Carlo Sol Shelter to Speck Pond Shelter (ME)
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: clear sky

w/Swix, Squatter, Nick, Loreaxe, Timex, Grubs, Mr. Potato Head7:18pm...wish I had a quote pad   Mmmuuuuuuuuaaaaahhhhh, the Gap is here! Run! Don't walk from...the Gap! Muuuaaahhhaaahhaahaaa! Yeah, we crawled through, what's said to be the hardest part of the trail today, Mahoosic Notch. Basically, it's like playing tag on the Imagination Station...raised to the googlieth power! We had to rock climb, crawl and jump all with our packs on...but only for a mile. But it took us an hour to get through.   Before that, we got to see what Maine has to offer for the first time...it's pretty gorgeous. It could have been warmer, though. I think it took my feet like a hour to get un-numb this morning. Yeah, my bag was just warm enough so that I couldn't sleep a wink, I was so cold! It got better, but it was a chilly one for most of the day.   Speck Pond is pretty, too. I guess Maine has a lot of lakes like this, so that's something to look forward to. We were joined tonight by a foursome of sectioners who are pretty damn funny. One of them, Loreaxe (given to him by his youngest daughter, hense the spelling ), is a die hard Bush hater...he had some pretty funny things to say about him. Actually, he has a bunch of things funny to say in general...enough that I probably should've written them down!   And so much for choices. My hiking crew is now planning on staying in Andover afterall...after my coaxing and the chance to slack for a couple of days. Good thing too. I had made up my mind today to stay to my schedule so I could call my girl and get a good night's sleep. Eh, maybe it's just prolonging our breakup and maybe not. I think it'll give me the chance to see if I can do their pace and still have fun and enjoy this beautiful state. If so, then I could finish on the 6th with them...that'd be cool. One day at a time, really, that's how I have to take it...one day...baby steps.    Well, I actually have time to do some reading before I head off to bed. I've been trying to finish my book so I can send it home and start Sid Hartha...a good classic. But, I may just end up falling asleep, too. We'll see...In my Head? Wondering what my girl is up to right now and how my brother did in Kansas at his banjo competition.
Date: 2004-09-21
From: Carlo Sol Shelter to Speck Pond Shelter (ME)

To: Speck Pond Shelter to Guest House in Andover, ME
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

w/Swix, Squatter, Eric & Jess, Katz, Brood X10:09pm...sorry, Cass... Well, so much for going right to bed...sometimes it sucks being so dedicated to journaling. But if I don't do it now, I'll probably end up forgetting today's thoughts...and we all know I have enough trouble with that already. Another day in paradise...paradise meaning cold and cloudy Maine, the final leg of my journey. Yet another restless night, in which I listened to my radio all night to stave off the cold and snores. Oh man, you have some wierd dreams when the radio is in the background when you're trying to sleep. I dreamt I was walking downtown and some guy tried to sell me a VW from the biggest dealer in Maine. I told him I was from Michigan and it wouldn't make much sense buying a car from so far away. Then, as I was walking through a stripmall, the govenor of Maine came up to me and told me how some buisnesses in Maine have to choose between unaffordable healthcare and none...most end up having to choose no healthcare. Definitely the hightlight of last night. Aside from loosing the trail for a litle while on a foggy, windy, cold mountaintop, the day turned out good. I felt the need to run on the smooth-rock top of a mountain for a mile or so, feeling like a highlander or a mountain man, carrying my poles like spears...it felt cool jogging in the wild with the mountains in the background. Before that, I hiked with Nick, the sectioner we met a couple of nights ago. He blew my mind when he asked me if it was wierd knowing that I was hiking into my 3rd season today...being the first day of autumn and all. Yeah, that made me feel like I've been out for a while. And I have...I'm in Andover, Maine! We're staying at the Guesthouse after a good dinner of Shepards Pie at of of the three local diners...yeah, it's a tiny town. My comrades are planning an ambitious 24 mile slackpack tomorrow...that should be interesting. We'll see if I can make it. I've been thinking a lot today about stuff. Ursa Minor, a gal who started the same day as me, is in the area. I've been thinking if I catch up to her and she's thinking about ending the same time as me, I might stay with her. I thought it'd be really cool to be able to summit with her...especially since she started with me. We'll see, I seem to be bad at making decisions. But I should try to take advantage of the bed I have tonight so I can be all rested and up early...assuming we can even get a ride to where we want to go early enough. The lady who runs this place is kind of loopy...yeah, this should be interesting!In my head? only 18 or less more days...I'm so close, I can start counting down!
Date: 2004-09-22
From: Speck Pond Shelter to Guest House in Andover, ME

To: East B Hill Road to ME17
Miles today: 23.4

w/Swix, Squatter, Elexa & Annie, Rooster, Guy, Freebird, Katz, Heather11:05pm...so that's what being crushed by a rock feels like... Save me...my feet are screaming at me, my entire body hurts and I'm as tired as a dog! But really don't save me...I dig this kind of crap! Getting up at 5am for our 24 mile slackpack was definitely one of the harder parts of today. But we had a great breakfast at the diner (they're so cute there, they gave us a goodie hiker bag before we left ) We were on the trail and walking by 8am. Plenty of time...and it was. But it was also plenty of hard. I started off fine, apparently hiking with no pack really IS easier! I had a sub that I bought from the gas station for lunch...if you can call it that, it had almost nothing in it and it did nothing to quench my hunger, even with the 6 cookies. But around 15 miles is when I started to bonk out. Not enough gas for the last 9, but I just kept on truckin'! The last mile was probably the toughest, with nothing, not even fumes in the tank...and all uphill. No worries, I still made it and was rewarded with a cool sunset with red sunrays and everything! Then our ride came, and we were back in Andover before we knew it. But my body hurt...oh boy did it hurt! I tried to make up for it all by showering and having a cheeseburger and a pizza for dinner with some chocolate milk to wash it all down, but what really did the trick was just lying down and talking to my mommy, my bro (he just got back from a National Banjo Competition)...and especially my girl . I wanted to let her know that she was right (smile away, cutie), and that there aren't many people that I don't get along with and that it's alright to do my own thing, blah, blah, blah. Because that's one thing that I thought about a lot today...doing my own thing. I don't need to rush to get done like these guys do, and, as I watched them walk, I realized that they hardly ever look around to see the beauty that they're going through. That's not me. I love it out here (ha! ha! nature dork!) and I want to be able to really enjoy my last 2 weeks on this trip beause it's been nothing but extraordinarily beautiful! These guys are great guys, though and I'll see at least one of them again. Yeah, I think too much, I just need to do...just like I need to sleep...onto dream land...In my head? Feeling like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders...and dropped on my body!
Date: 2004-09-23
From: East B Hill Road to ME17

To: ME17 to Piazza Lean-To
Miles today: 14.9

w/Swix & Alexa, Squatter, Rowboat, Eric & Jess9:05pm...and the streak has been broken Night hiking has never been so fun. I usually don't like to do it, but, yeah, everyone else was. So I've got this strobe setting on my headlamp that's REALLY cool in the dark. It made my head feel really funny after about 5 minutes of trying to focus so I wouldn't trip over a rock or root. It was a good light hearted way to end the day. We didn't leave Andover until after 12...and my girlfriend helped me realize that the owner of the Guesthouse reminded me of Pillsy the Squirrel! But we took our sweet old time, so I had lots of coffee, wrote some letters and postcards, ate an omelete and a blueberry pancake and then packed up my stuff and headed out. We only did 13 miles or so...slacking again, so we had plenty of time and wonderful weather. AND I saw a moose!! He was right off the trail and he...was...FREAKIN' HUGE!! I got a picture as he meandered off, but he was the first big animal I've seen since...wow, as far back as Connecticut. So that made the day, as did all the lakes we passed by...seeing the surface ripple from a fish, hearing the waves lap on the shore...it made me really miss home. I stopped by the last lake of our day to take a gander and was greeted by two (count 'em 2!) more moose directly across the lake! Yeah, it was a good day. And I'm commited to being in Stratton for two days because of mail, so my compadres will be moving on without me . They were funny today, always trying to find ways to convince me to stick with them...I think they really must want me to stay. But I have to do my own thing from now on...and, yes, there are more people around, so I know I'll be fine . I think Rowboat and I are going to go into Stratton together and try to find a slack for Sunday. I really don't need to be idle on Sunday because I've had plenty of those kinds of days lately. We'll see, I'm just going with it like I always try to do...besides, it's not like Swix doesn't live like a half an hour away! I'll see him again. I'm getting close! Every couple of minutes I think of the fact that I'm in Maine and that I'm almost done and every time it gives me more drive to keep going...and more drive to relax and just enjoy what's left. Only about 15 days left!In my head? I still can't believe I'm in Maine!
Date: 2004-09-24
From: ME17 to Piazza Lean-To

To: Piazza Lean-To to Spaulding Lean-To
Miles today: 16.8

w/Squatter, Rowboat, 5 funny overnighters8:13pm...MOOSES EVERWHERE!! Laying here, listening to "8 Simple Rules", makes me realize that Friday nights can't get much better...well, actually they can, but not right now. I mean, I'm walking through Maine, watching the colors change, seeing mooses trample through the woods, wading through rivers...and that's just the first week! We're starting to get more reds now to mix with the yellows in the leaves...it's really beautiful. We saw it from some of the mountain tops and ridgelines we hiked today. And it's only going to get better. I saw a couple of people today that I haven't seen since New York. Father Ounce and his girlfriend Samson flip-flopped from Hanover a couple of weeks ago. It's always good to see familiar faces. So, Squatter got separated from Swix today. He got a late start this morning because of his hut girl . Unless he comes later, I'm not sure what he's going to do. I know I'm going into Stratton for a couple of days with Rowboat...we both are getting "mail screwed." But we're going to try to find a slack for Sunday so we don't have to be idle...wouldn't want to get fat or anything . And we saw another moose this morning, too! Eventually it saw us and started to run...those things sound like a tank going through the woods. One even started to walk through our camp earlier as we were getting up, but it must have heard us, so it ran...straight into a tree! Then it ran away...that's what Jess said, she saw it. I'm really looking forward to going it alone after Stratton...well, as alone as I can get on the trail. I'm sure I'll still find some company, but we'll see. I'm also looking forward to getting back to the woods. I think I've been spending too much time in towns and other places with luxuries lately. We'll see, I'm just going to enjoy the time I have left in whatever form it comes. Oh, and apparently, Nirvana's "Nevermind" and the Chilly Pepper's "Blood, Sugar, Sex Magic" came out this same day back in '91! My random tid-bit of information for today.In my mind? Definitely still recovering from our insane 24 mile slack...my whole body still aches!