morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-08-07
From: Monson, ME

To: Long Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: light rain

We hiked out of town in a cold rain and 50 degree temperatures. At this point, I think I am being propelled by an unstoppable force, greater than my self. We entered the 100 Mile Wilderness, reading the somewhat ominous warning sign, and forging ahead, without looking back. Immediately, we were slipping and sliding on the muddy trail. My feet were quickly soaked, like the rest of me. It continued to rain on us all day.The big challenge today was six different river fords. The record summer rainfall has made the bridgeless Maine wilderness pretty treacherous. Four of the six were what I would consider dangerous. The Little Wilson Stream, fortunately, had a large pine tree down over it where we were able to cross. Big Wilson was a challenge, but the worst crossing was our last one, Long Pond Stream. Here the water was nearly waist high and flowing with such force that we barely made it across. I shudder to think what would happen if someone gets swept off his/her feet in that current.Well, I'm in dry clothes, in my sleeping bag, and in a shelter trying to get warm after a day of being cold and wet in Maine.Just another wonderful day on the AT.
Date: 2008-08-08
From: Long Pond Lean-To

To: Carl Newhall Lean-To
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: moderate rain

The hardest thing about hiking is waking up at 5am and putting on cold, wet clothes, and that's exactly how I started the day today. Ah yes, there's nothing like the icy shock of soggy socks hitting my nice, dry, warm feet!It rained, and rained, and rained, all day long. I slogged through a flooded trail, ankle deep in mud, as I climbed Chairback Mtn. My feet resemble a cross between shriveled prunes and hamburger. It was a tough day of trying to stay warm, I have long abandoned the fantasy of staying dry. I'm in the Hundred Mile Wilderness of Maine and I hiked 20 miles today, and knowing that Mt Katahdin was close kept me motivated.Sleeping tonight in a crowded lean-to with Rethinker, the TN Twins, and two southbounders.It's bound to quit raining one day...
Date: 2008-08-09
From: Carl Newhall Lean-To

To: Cooper Brook Falls
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: light rain

Yeah! No rain today. The sun actually poked through a few times, too. We climbed some mountains this morning--Gulf Hagas (2680'), West Peak (3178'), Hay Mtn (3245'), and White Cap Mtn (3654'). There were too many clouds to get a view of Katahdin, though. There is intensive and on-going trail work happening in these mountains, consisting of impressive and beautiful stone steps and drainage devices. I met the trail crew today and told them how nice the work is. It's a joint venture between Maine Conservation Corps and the Maine ATC. I'm chafed and sore; my feet are like hamburger thanks to three days in a row of being soaked to the bone. I'm putting on dry socks in the morning and hoping for the best. I also hope that my camera dries out enough that it'll start working again. I've come all this way for that finish photo on Katahdin, and it would be a shame to miss it! Peace.
Date: 2008-08-10
From: Cooper Brook Falls

To: Wadleigh Stream
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, I guess the trail gods aren't done with me yet. Today, I have experienced the spontaneous fracture of the 4th toe on my left foot. I guess I set all this in motion in camp yesterday evening, when I walked down to the pond to gather some water, and stepped on a wet, sloping, flat rock. My camp crocs are about worn out and slick bottomed at this point in the hike, and I slid forward a foot or two, and jammed my toe painfully into a larger rock. This morning, I was moving along the ground at a good pace when suddenly, "pop." I felt a snap, followed by an excruciating pain. It is black and blue and hurts with each step, and I had to hike 21 miles on it today. So I taped it up and kept following those white blazes. At this point, it's all I know to do. Eat, sleep, walk. It's a simple life. Mt K just isn't coming too early for me. I told Rethinker that I would crawl up Mt K on my hands and knees if I had to, because there was no way in hell that I was not finishing this hike. On the bright side, the weather is gorgeous today. Maine is beautiful, and we saw a trio of moose (bull, cow, calf) grazing in the river. Cool! I had the battery out of my camera in an attempt to dry it out so...no photos. However, Rethinker got some.We're getting close to the end, only 38 more miles. This body only has to hold together a few more days...Another great day on the Appalachian Trail!
Date: 2008-08-11
From: Wadleigh Stream

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 23.1
Weather: light rain

I taped the toe up, took some ibuprofen, and hit the trail bright and early. We climbed the little Nesuntabunt Mtn (1520') first thing and then cruised through the mud, roots, and rocks for the rest of the day. We heard a moose call a few times but didn't get to see one. I did see several loons, though. Rainbow Ledges (1520') had the biggest and best tasting blueberries of the trip, and we enjoyed several handfuls. As we walked out of the 100 Mile Wilderness, the first thing we saw was three logging trucks, hauling ass down the gravel road. When you hear them, you had better get out of the way. It was a tad bit disorienting. That sums up my experience of Maine, wilderness and logging trucks.As we crossed the west branch of the Penobscot River on Abol Bridge, we finally got our first view of the mighty mountain that I hiked all this way to climb, Katahdin. I'll be there in two days. We're camping tonight at Abol Bridge Campground and will enter Baxter State Park tomorrow.I saw a bald eagle fly over the river tonight--a good omen!
Date: 2008-08-12
From: Abol Bridge

To: The Birches
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

After a leisurely breakfast and several cups of coffee at the camp store, we hiked the last 10 miles to get us in position for Katahdin. Rethinker and I took the high water trail around the fords on the way in. The one actually looked too high to get around without much peril.Rethinker, Apostle, SiteSee, and I are at Baxter State Park. Apostle's girlfriend, Ina, is here to climb with him tomorrow. The Tennessee Twins (Pseudo and Two Shoe) are also planning on summiting tomorrow. It'll be great to see all my friends and hiking partners finish together.We are camping at the Birches, which is a thru-hiker only campsite at the foot of Katahdin. It's exciting to be here, knowing that I'll finish tomorrow!
Date: 2008-08-13
From: The Birches

To: Katahdin!!!
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

What can I say? After 2176 miles of trail, I have reached my goal. I've kept my eye on the prize (touching the sign on top of Katahdin) since March 21st. Through good times and bad, cold, heat, rain, magic moments, killer sunsets and sunrises, mosquitos and ticks, beautiful landscapes, great company and fellowship, excrutiating pain, blisters, sore feet and bum knees, inspired conversations, annoying irritations,and occasional boredom, I have arrived at the end of the trail. I am grateful to be here. Katahdin was even more majestic and grand than I thought she would be. I had beautiful views on the way up and then clouds on the top, as it should be. I kept thinking about how Henry David Thoreau described the mountain in 1846 as "primeval, untamed and forever untamable nature". The climb was tough, the biggest single climb of the entire trip, with more than 4,000 feet of elevation change to reach the 5,267 foot summit. I don't think I really even noticed, though. I had really spent the last 146 days training for this very day. I felt nothing but adrenaline.It was very special to finish with my trail buddies, Rethinker, SiteSee, and Apostle. I had hiked with these three guys at different times since Virginia, and the odds of us all finishing on the same day had to be be slim. It was also a great pleasure to meet Start and the Twins on their way up the mountain, as we were descending, knowing that they were on their way to finish. It was an honor to share this day with my fellow hikers, they were true friends and an inspiration at all times, I could not have hiked alone. After experiencing the Appalachian trail as a thru-hike, I have the upmost respect for any man, woman, girl, boy, or dog that has been through the challenges, hardships, and glories of the trail. I now know what they have been through, and it ain't easy!Finally, I want to thank my family, friends, co-workers, fellow hikers, and journal readers for the monumental encouragement and support that I recieved while I was on the trail. I can't emphasize enough the importance of the emotional and mental boost that I got from the guestbook. I couldn't have hiked without it.
Date: 2008-01-03
To: First pre-hike Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I can't believe we have less than 2 months till we fly to Atlanta. I am working many hours to finish all the planning for our wedding before we head out for our thruhike attempt. We are getting all our gear together so the final packing won't be too painful. I wanted to get a journal started. So here it is . . . stay tuned.
Date: 2008-02-08
To: Only 3 weeks to go
Miles today: 0.0

I can't believe that 3 weeks from right now we will be settling into our tent or a shelter for our first night on the AT. I don't think it has fully settled in for me that Brian and I will actually be starting this adventure. I have been buying the last of the gear I need. Today I got a shortie pair of gaiters and 2 pairs of really affordable boots. I also ordered a Marmot Precip jacket, it is an ugly pink color but hey when you are buying it at a clearance sale you can't be too picky. I was hoping we'd be packing and repacking and analyzing our gear list by now but with 3 weeks left to go, I am still finalizing wedding related stuff. I guess I will figure out the gear details on the trail.I also started reading this amazing book today about a woman's journey to Italy, India and Bali . . . it is really a great book about discovering oneself through a journey.
Date: 2008-02-26
To: Leaving on a Jet Plane
Miles today: 0.0

In about 12 hours Brian and I will be boarding a plane to Georgia. I am so nervous, not yet packed and feeling very overwhelmed. Atleast our wedding invitations are made and I don't have to worry about them and can start our hike a little more carefree.Can't write much now but will write tomorrow.
Date: 2008-02-28
To: Night Before
Miles today: 0.0

The last few days have been a whirlwind that finally landed us here in Atlanta. We left Boston before daybreak on Wednesday after getting no sleep and packing at the last minute. I worked on our wedding invitations until about 12 hours before the plane took off. Luckily I have very little wedding planning left to interrupt this upcoming adventure. Vandana (my sister) was a REAL trooper Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. She stayed up past 4am to help me load music onto my MP3 player and then to drive us to the airport. I felt a little emotional saying goodbye to her and it was strange to leave her all alone. We checked our luggage in the basement level of Logan's Airtran terminal and then got some breakfast at Dunkin D's. We saw a few guys who looked like they were carrying thru-hiker type gear and indeed it was Kirby and his friends from Whiteblaze. They will be passing us on the trail I am sure. Once in Atlanta, our first and most precious trail angel, Leigh Anne picked us up at the airport and shuttled us to REI and then to her house for the last couple of nights of preparation. The next day, our second trail angel, another friend of Brian's, Sean, shuttled us around to get our food and last minute supplies. He also treated us to a movie and Leigh Anne treated us to lunch and we are as ready as we will be for this trip. Hope tomorrow is a nice day.
Date: 2008-02-29
From: Amicalola State Park

To: Springer Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Leigh Anne woke up really early to take us to Amicalola State Park. We have decided to hike the approach trail, so even though today was only 0.2 miles on the Appalachian Trail the total miles today was 8.8 miles of mostly uphill. We got to the visitor's center but it was closed because it wasn't even light out yet. We took all the needed pictures and weighed our packs which weighed way too much. Mine was 39 pounds and Brian's was 47 pounds. We decided against waiting the 90 minutes for them to open to sign in. Instead we started our hike around 7am after saying goodbye to Leigh Anne. We had the trail mostly to ourselves with a exception of a brief few minutes when other hikers went by. We went pretty slowly stopping often to take pictures and chat. It took us just shy of 7 hours to get to the start of the AT on Springer Mountain, a total of 8.6 miles. We spent 30 minutes taking various pictures and signing the register before hiking our first official steps on the AT to Springer Mountain Shelter which was 0.2 miles away. On this Leap Year Day, I finally leapt towards my dream to thru-hike the AT. To have Brian here with me on the start of this is a joy I cannot explain. I look forward to what the next 6 or so months brings our way.
Date: 2008-03-01
From: Springer Mountain Shelter

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, here is Day 2 and I am still having fun. YEAH !!! Left Springer a little later than expected. Had breakfast with Kirk, Kabir, KTR and Solace. KTR spent much of last night talking about yummy food which was making us all hungry since Lipton Rice only provides so much satisfaction. I already have my trail name. Brian named me last night. I am now "Hot Cheese". Since I practically dream about hot bubbly pepperjack cheese with every step I take on every hike. YUM !!! So, to return the favor I gave Brian the name "Mojo" since he is carrying 2 good luck items, one from my Dad and one from his friend Rich. (But, don't get used to that name because by the time I am updating this journal his name has already changed). We saw a LOT of people today since Mar 1 is historically a popular start date and with it being on a Saturday, it is mobbed with thruhikers starting. We met Mother Nature and Smokestack, who hiked a large chunk of the trail in 2004 and knew Brian from back then. We also met the 4 sisters, who aren't actually sisters, that is just their trailname. They reminded me very much of another 4 girls out on a similar adventure in 2004 (myself, Jen, Megan and JBob on the Long Trail). What great memories. I miss you ladies. We also met HikeFarm and IndyGirl and a bunch of others. We took it slow again today stopping for a hot lunch of Ramen Noodles. Then Brian actually went swimming in the frigid cold waters of Lowell Falls. That kid is crazy. I got some cool picures of him under the Falls. Anyway, we are at Hawk Mountain Shelter but have opted to stay in our tent tonight because we listened to KTR read from the shelter register that recently a female hiker woke at night to a mouse STUCK in her hair. YIKES !!! We actually had reception here so we each called home.
Date: 2008-03-02
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

Funny that almost EVERYONE tented last night, guess that story about the mouse in the girl's hair really struck a chord. Anyway, we woke to the MOST gorgeous sunrise this morning. Brian took off the fly on the tent so we could watch it unfold from the warmth of our sleeping bag. I was pretty warm last night. I even had to unzip my bag so atleast I will be warm in the Smokies, hopefully. Today, most of us hiked here to Gooch Gap from Hawk, but KTR and Solace have hiked on to Ramrock Mountain. Talked a bit more to the four sisters today, Little Bear, One-way Ticket, Graceful and Olivia. Very nice young ladies. We also met, Coconut and Duck and his dog, a second set of twins (KTR and Solace are also twins) and a few others. Indygirl who is now also known as Ninja Lady was cold last night so tonight we lent her Brian's down jacket and my nalgene bottle for hot water to keep her warm.
Date: 2008-03-03
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Jarrard Gap
Miles today: 10.0

So, today was an early morning for us. We had originally planned a long day and woke at 5am to get on the trail by 6:30am. We got out of the shelter with hopefully minimal noise and finished packing out at the trail junction. Brian went and got our stuff from Ninja Lady and made great time all the way to Woody Gap. Here we took a 2 hour lunch break which would come back to haunt us later in the day. Ran into KTR, Solace, Chief Daddy and Wrongway. KTR and I exchanged our usual banter about food and then he says "Hot Cheese, everytime I see you all I see is a big bucket of crispy fried chicken." So, I say "Well, I don't know what that means, but I am going to take it as a compliment". Hahaha. The hiking was much harder after Woody Gap and I was exhausted by Jarrard Gap, so we decided to just tent it down a side trail about a quarter mile away. This adds 2 miles to our already long day tomorrow but my feet are happy right now. Been having some foot pain so it feels best to baby them a little bit.
Date: 2008-03-04
From: Jarrard Gap

To: Neel's Gap Bunkhouse
Miles today: 5.0

What a day! I was awake at 4:15am and should have just packed up then, but instead went back to sleep. When the alarm went off at 5am, it was still dry outside. But just 20 minutes later, the deluge began and it would be the start of about 12 hours of steady torrential downpours. Now, at 4pm it is still raining and I haven't seen this much rain in a LONG time. We slept in till 7am once we heard the rain beating down. It took us almost 3 hours to get packed up with it pouring so hard outside. Everything got soaked, right down to my base layers. My pack and my boots and everything. I had water squishing out of my boots by the cupful with each step. The trail was literally a river. Sometimes, over a foot deep in spots. I was SOAKED. It was cold and windy on Blood Mountain which we climbed today. I thought a LOT about meredith Emerson today. Such a devastating tragedy that such a beautiful young life ended right here in these very mountains. Rest in Peace Meredith.All the way down to Neel's gap, I thought about pizza and once we got there, the desire to dry out and eat pizza overtook the desire to get the rest of our 8 miles for the day, so we have decided to splurge on the bunkhouse. We spent a bit of money for insoles for me and croc knockoffs for Brian. Brian met up with a thru-hiker from 2004 today who goes by The General. Very nice man. It was fun for Brian to see someone from his first thruhike. The bunkhouse is full tonight. We got the last 2 spots. The 4 sisters, Chief Daddy, HikeFarm, the Professor (Baker) and Wing It and a few others are here tonight. KTR, Solace and Ninja Lady are off at the cabins down the street. We have done laundry and are showered, warm and dry. YEAH !!! The pizza however, at $17 for a large that is only the size of a medium is a major disappointment. So, Hot Cheese wasn't too happy with the hot cheese. Oh well.BTW, Brian got his new trailname yesterday. He is now going by Birdbath and I think this time it will stick. So, we are Hot Cheese and Birdbath.
Date: 2008-03-05
From: Neel's Gap Bunkhouse

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: clear sky

We slept in a little bit today. Brian woke me at 6:50am about 10 minutes before the lights came on. Good thing too, because Pirate, the caretaker, came by about 7:15 with 2 BIG metal pots to bang together over everyone still sleeping. Kinda funny to watch. He cooked up blueberry pancakes and a store bought lemon cake that was the best darn cake I have ever tasted. We donated a few dollars each to him for his generosity. We hit the trail around 8:20. It was cold and windy and I had to add layers. There was even rime ice as we climbed higher. Seemed much like the White Mountains of NH. We met Tuit, Zoom and Jess and leap frogged a bit with HikeFarm. Also saw Hal at the start of the day but not again. On the hike down it started to warm up a bit. I was contemplating the meaning of being rich today. I am pretty sure I won't ever be rich in the traditional sense of the word. I know I won't likely have a big house or expensive cars or fancy clothes and toys, but I do know this . . . some people are rich in money and others in experience and a lucky few have both. But, if I had to choose one or the other, I would choose experience, which I guess is obvious when you lookm at the choices I have made in my life thus far. Just as I was thinking this last thought, I got hit in the face with multiple whacks of sharp stinging rime ice flung off the trees by the wind. OUCH!! There's an experience for you . . . a snowball fight with Mother Nature.We did miss some trail magic by minutes in Tenestee Gap But, it was beer and not food so I am not too upset since even a few sips of beer would have me drunk as a skunk right now and we have miles to go before we sleep. Still having some foot pain but atleast the shin splint I had last night are gone. Also, we got some pepperjack cheese at Neels and so Hot Cheese is happy with a belly full of hot cheese tonight. We lay in the tent and looked up at the twinkling stars for almost an hour tonight, what a life !!!
Date: 2008-03-06
From: Low Gap

To: Near Rocky Mountain Summit
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

Got a nice lazy start tonight. Got up at 7:30 and got hiking by 9:40. Birdbath helped One-way Ticket with her boots since she is having trouble with her feet. The day warmed up quickly and we spent over 2 hours having lunch, taking some trailside baths and doing some trailside laundry. We are clean now. We stopped into Blue Mountain Shelter briefly to say Hello and pushed on. Once again we missed some trail magic by just minutes. This time it was apples and candy bars. However, the trail angel, Bill, I think, did have one apple left when he caught up to us near Unicoi Gap. That was the BEST darn apple I have ever eaten. Rain is predicted tomorrow. We are camped down a side trail near the top of Rocky Mountain, we'll probably get wet.
Date: 2008-03-07
From: Near Rocky Mountain Summit

To: Sassafras Gap (in Georgia)
Miles today: 9.0

WOW! What a day. I thought yesterday was lazy start . . . well, today we got hiking by 2 pm, yes folks, you read it right. We hiked from 2pm to 8pm. It started pouring at just past 6:30pm. Should've started hiking at noon, because now we are wet, soaked to the core and it is COLD outside. We hiked the last 2 hours by headlamp, which is hard when the fog is so thick. We ate and are going to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a long day, so we'd better rest. We were lucky to find this campsite in what we believe to be Sassafras Gap, the fog was so thick that looking for campsites was really hard in what seems like dense forest.
Date: 2008-03-08
From: Sassafras Gap (in Georgia)

To: Plumorchard Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke to extremely cold temps. Practically everything we own is wet and frozen solid. My boots were like 2 blocks of ice on my feet. These are the days that are difficult. Luckily, we got to go into town for about 3 hours to do laundry, resupply and eat restaurant food. Leigh Anne drove up today with her 4 year old Parker, and Chris and Ryan (who are joining us for the next week). We met them at Dick's Creek Gap, where we hiked North a little ways and then Chris and Ryan kept going to the shelter, while we returned with Leigh Anne and Parker to the car for our town errands. They were so wonderful to shuttle us around. We split the chores up and got everything done in just about 3 hours. GREAT. Back to the trail with clean dry clothes and full packs, we headed in to meet up with Chris and Ryan. We got to the shelter just as it got dark. They were just starting to worry. On the way, we saw 4 big wild pigs. It was super cool. This was one COLD night. Coldest yet. 23 degrees at the trailhead at 4pm and I am guessing hovering just over 10 degrees at night. Brrr.