morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-27
From: Home

To: Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, I figured I'd get a post in tonight and then probably one more before I head off to Maine. I've got all my gear together, foot rehab has gone well, I'm still smoke free since January 27th, all should be well, just so long as the bugs don't eat me up. Spent 4th of July with Orangebug and his family and we have decided to pay a lady to do a fooddrop for us in the wilderness, other than that I just have a drop box to send off to Monson and I'm all good. Orangebug asked me the other day if I was scared at all, nope, just excited and looking forward to hitting the trail for what may be my last long hike for quite some time with plans to start grad school and have a child in the next couple of years, so I'm looking forward to getting going.   Oh yeah, and don't tell anyone but if I hit the Kennebec at the right time I will ford the river, I have decided that I'm built for power so why shouldn't I? Aside from all that I've got all this stuff going on for the next week or so. Last day of work is tomorrow for the school year and from there it's off to Chicago to visit family for a few days, then I get back down here to Atlanta next Wednesday and I'll have a couple days to tie up loose ends and then the weekend with Erin and I'm off on the 9th for the great state of Maine. My original plan was to make it through most of the Presidentials before finishing up and heading home, but I have decided to aim for Pinkham Notch instead and end there, Erin is gonna show up around July 4th and we're gonna sight see as we head back down to Georgia. Folks, this is how I get the wife to let me go out for weeks at a time, it's called compromise, I figure if ending a week earlier is gonna keep things all good then why not, it will be great to see her and it's not a bad place to stop.Anyways, I ain't got much else to say, so I'll pick a song of the day and end it.Song of the Day: Tripping Billies by Dave Matthews, why?, because it fits my mood with the end of the school year with the beginning of hiking season.Tripping BilliesWe were aboveYou were standing underneath usWe were not yet loversDragons were smokedBumblebees were stinging usI was soon to be crazyEat, drink, and be merryFor tomorrow we dieEat, drink, and be merryFor tomorrow we die'Cause we're Tripping BilliesWe're wearing nothingNothing but our shadowsShadows falling down on the beach sandRemembering once,Out on the beaches we worePineapple grass braceletsSo why would you careTo get out of this placeYou and me and all our friendsSuch a happy human race'Cause we're Tripping BilliesWe are all sittingLegs crossed round a fireMy yellow flame she dancesTequila drinking, oh, ourMinds will wanderTo wondrous placesSo why would you careTo get out of this placeYou and me and all our friendsSuch a happy human raceEat, drink, and be merryFor tomorrow we dieEat, drink, and be merryFor tomorrow we dieCheck 'em out, Boyd, yeah!Eat, drink, and be merryFor tomorrow we dieEat, drink, and be merryFor tomorrow we die
Date: 2008-06-08
From: Home

To: Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Alright, I used the same picture as earlier in the year, but I did it because I will be hiking with Orangebug starting on Tuesday, so I wanted to get a quick post in, not knowing for sure if I will be able to hop on before then. I will try to get my journal updated as quickly as possible, but I won't make any promises. The plans are set and so I will be hiking from Katahdin to Gorham for sure where Erin will meet me.   We'll spend the 4th up in New England and then head south where we'll knock out the Maryland section of the AT together. My foot appears better, I'm stronger than I've been in years...but heavier as well, let's see how much weight I lose.   Anyways, I'm excited to be going, but feel bad at the same time that I gotta leave Erin at home. Anyhoo, I've got an 8am flight tomorrow and probably should get to bed, so I figured I'd touch base and that would be about it. Night all! Catch ya' on the other side.   Song of the day: Dedicated to my wife, a wonderful woman who let's me disappear into the forest without complaint.Find It In Me-William FitzsimmonsThis house is full of secrets that ihave kept from her for far too longi hope i make it through the daymy conduct should be suspect and myintentions should be checked buy i'm toinvolved in making plans for my soulher heart is full of kindness that she'sgiven away and now she is tiredof all the parts of life that she madeshe tries to help out everyonebut i can only help myselfi question whether she knows she's safei hope you find itcause i could not find it in mei can't say when i'll leave you for goodmy selfish heart hopes you don't go firstGod knows i couldn't make it one dayi'll ask that you find someone to helplike you treated me like you were myselfyou broke your back to make it okaythese parts of life that i cannot holdyou carry me along with your loadyou're more than i could ever repayi hope you find itcause i could not find it in me
Date: 2008-06-10
From: Baxter Peak

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

By far this is the worst day...and the best I have ever spent on the trail. The climb up is brutal, and the climb down was also brutal, with tons of rock scrambles. The great joy of the day was coming down in a Lightning/Hail storm. Orangebug got lost and had to hunker down up on the mountain. I made it back down but spent several hours wondering if he was okay, after spending some time looking for him. I'm taking my time this morning, no rush, as I'm going to blueblaze the Blueberry Ledges Trail. I didn't get to bed till after 1am!
Date: 2008-06-11
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Hurd Brook Lean To
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, the day was a good day for restoring spirits as I spent some time relaxing at Abol Campstore. Threw back three sodas, a roast beef sandwich, and a Milky Way. Headed off with Lucky at around 3pm for the shelter. It was a good day, and good company. Staying here tonight with Lucky, Dan, and Jeff. By the way, so far mosquitoes are the real enemy, not blackflies.
Date: 2008-06-12
From: Hurd Brook Lean To

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Got in around 3pm, and it's 6:30pm now. I am already fed, and relaxing. Just me and Lucky up till now. The young guys, Dan and Jeff, haven't shown up yet. Today was a day of high and low moments as I have decided bogs and roots are evil. On a positive note I saw my first two moose on the trail today. One of them I spooked only ten feet from me. I was first into this shelter, seen in the movie Southbounders due to it's proximity to the road. I thought Lucky had gone on, but somehow I got ahead of him. He's a good guy and I think we'll be hiking together till I get off in NH. Anyways, it's 6:45pm and the young guys just showed up, so I'm for social time!
Date: 2008-06-13
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-To

To: Mahar Tote, White House Landing
Miles today: 16.0

Today was my best day so far, and I was in the zone for most of the day, except for a couple of hours after lunch. Nestabunt Mountain wasn't such a big deal as Maine's maps are broken into 250ft increments. I ate lunch on a sandy beach on Lake Nahmakanta and then dragged for the next couple of hours. I met Nobo'er Bre'r Rabbit as I was headed for Nahmakanta Tent Site. I arrived at what I thought was the tentsite at around 4pm, but after drinking some water and resting a little I decided to push on to White House Landing. So I left a note for Lucky and moved on. Got here by 6:10pm and was treated to a 1lb burger and three sodas. Had a brownie for dessert, and then an outstanding shower. The mosquitoes are even worse here, and they travel in mobs. Being clean has it's own dangers. Anyways, it's getting to be about that time, and I hope the guys show up tomorrow. I have the bunkhouse to myself, it's nice, but kinda lonely, but I need the rest.
Date: 2008-06-14
From: Mahar Tote, White House Landing

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day today, and the theme for the day was eating. Lucky and Dan eventually showed up. Jeff popped in for lunch, but headed back out. Just Jim is here as well. Lounged throughout the morning after an outstanding pancake breakfast. I did some reading, and then the guys showed up just before lunch. Lucky and I went out for a kayak paddle on the lake, which is huge! It was nice lounging, and the weather was wonderful. Dinner was a pizza, and I saved some for lunch tomorrow. We heard Tim Russert died today, and that was quite a surprise, but it just reminds me why I'm out here. I have to do the things I want to do, because no one knows what tomorrow will bring. I'm all showered again, and we all had a great time bullshitting, but it's time for bed. We're looking at a 20+ mile day tomorrow, and I have to pick up a food drop.
Date: 2008-06-15
From: Mahar Tote, White House Landing

To: East Brook Lean To
Miles today: 22.0

Today started out well, and I moved at a great pace to Jo-Mary Road where my food drop was located. After that, the overcast sky opened up, and it got everything wet resulting in me eating it twice, and hitting the ground...HARD!!! I knew I had to do big miles today to stay on schedule, but it was still depressing and mentally draining. Got into the shelter at 8:15pm, and I was exhausted!!! Three new blisters, as my shoes have been dry about one day, and I have a developing case of monkey butt, not the end to a perfect day, but it is another day on the AT.
Date: 2008-06-16
From: East Brook Lean To

To: Newhall Lean-To
Miles today: 10.9

RAIN!!! Is the word for the day. Not a particularly long distance day, but a rough one, nonetheless. Spirits are pretty low as my knee is hurting from the fall yesterday, and I'm missing my wife. Nothing like an injury, shitty weather to lower the spirits. Might have been a beautiful day if it had been sunny. Too many people in the shelter tonight. Short 9.9 mile day tomorrow, followed by a 16 miler, and then a 10 mile day into Monson.
Date: 2008-06-17
From: Newhall Lean-To

To: Stealth Site past Chairback Lean-To
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Alright, it has been raining almost non stop for two days now, and my knee is getting worse. The climb today wouldn't normally be so bad, except for the wet trail, with it's wet rocks and roots. I'm having serious difficulty pushing off with my right leg. The knee doesn't so much hurt, as it just feels odd. I decided to stealth camp as I don't feel like sharing a crowded shelter tonight. I'm done taking off my shoes at fords too, so I just waded through the East Branch, rather than switching shoes. They're already wet, so what's the point? According to my map, there is a road up ahead that connects to another road, that will take me into Monson. Blueblazing out of necessity this time, I don't think the knee can handle many more steep climbs without a rest. I'll wait till I get into Monson before I decide if I'm done. I hope I can go on, but the trail only gets tougher past Monson.
Date: 2008-06-18
From: Stealth Site past Chairback Lean-To

To: Monson
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: broken clouds

MORE RAIN!!! Set out around 6am. I knew the road would make things easier, and it did. Legs are strong as long as I don't have to climb. The knee is tight today, thankfully, I didn't have to lift it up high. I made great time throughout the day,and the rain occassionally lifted from a heavy rain to a light one. I had a lot of time to think, and decided that I would take a zero, and see how the knee is after that. If it isn't feeling better after a day off, then I am done. I'll need to check it out, and seeing as I am a wrestling coach, I can't afford to ruin it, in the quest for extra miles. The trail will still be there for me to come back to, if necessary. Sitting here in a private room at Shaw's. Dinner was pizza, and right now I have to crawl up the stairs on hands and knees. I think I did something to my MCL, but can't be sure yet. There are three other hikers here, and their all pretty cool. The ladies said all the fords are running very high, and another day of rain will mean dangerous levels. Glad I came in on the old logging road.
Date: 2008-12-16
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Well, as you can tell, I got off the trail..and lost my journal. Someone mailed it back to me, two weeks ago. Thanks John! On top of that I am always slow to update the summer hike. I don't know why but whenever I get off I'm like this. I did indeed sprain my MCL, and was told I could have done real damage had I kept going. Hiking is a vacation for me, so there is no point in hurting myself. I'm a wrestling coach, and need my knees. It took almost two months of rehab before it finally got better. It sucked having to get off, as I was hiking with a great group of people, but there will be new ones to meet next season. I'll post an end of the year entry later, but for now, it's enough that I got my journal up...FINALLY!
Date: 2008-01-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It's been really hard writing this very first journal entry. In some way, I feel as if it is the most important entry; the one that will capture your interest and keep you coming back to this site to follow us and encourage us to push northward. But how am I supposed to write such a captivating entry when I am not yet on the trail? Am I supposed to interest you with my everyday life? I might be wrong, but I have a hard time believing you would be interested in this. It's not that my life is excessively boring. In fact, just this morning, something out of the ordinary happened. The biggest cat I have ever seen ran across the road in front of me as I walked to the bus stop (our apartment complex is known for having a large population of stray cats). Once it reached the other side of the road it stopped, turned around, and stared me down. This cat was so big it could easily have passed as a tiger cub. I was even a little concerned that it was going to maul me to death and...Alright, so my life is pretty boring, but this doesn't mean I don't like it. I actually like my life a lot. My wife is amazing, my job is the job that everyone dreams of having, and I live in a great town. So why am I planning on walking away from it all in one month? There certainly are some things which I won't miss. I won't miss the smell. It¢s the smell that we no longer realize we smell. It's the car exhaust and factory fumes. It¢s the smell of molten asphalt mixed with dust emanating from every one of the two thousand construction sites in Chapel Hill. It¢s the smell of a city. I also won't miss seeing all the trash. Just today, I counted ten bottles, one long strand of packaging tape, four half-disintegrated cardboard boxes, a shattered top to some large plastic storage container, one newspaper, and other random bits and pieces of trash just between the bus stop and my apartment. I know I will encounter trash along the trail, but there will be a lot less than here. It will be nice being in a place that has not yet been completely destroyed by human presence. Lastly, I won't miss the complexity of my current life. I've found myself to be addicted to technology (as I think most people are today). I enjoy using my laptop and currently can't imagine life without the internet, but something just seems to be missing. I want to experience life without it and slow down a little. The high-speed world is just getting too fast for my liking and I want to take a break from it for a while.So off to the trail we (Amanda and I) go. We've purchased nearly all of our gear and have set a date. We will be leaving for Georgia via Amtrak on the night of the 16th and the hike will begin the next morning. Wish us luck! Oh, and if I see that cat again I will definitely take a picture.-Joshua
Date: 2008-01-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

After an immeasurable amount of procrastination, I am at last sitting down to write my first journal entry. Luckily, Josh went ahead and wrote one before me, so I don't have to fret over being captivating.   I'll add to his thoughts that aside from my appreciation of nature and a desire to take 6 months off to embrace the simplicity it offers, I am in many ways looking forward to having a "boring" life on the trail. On one hand it seems like a grand adventure, and on the other hand it means solitude and challenges of a different sort than I am used to. I am eagerly anticipating the change of pace, and I feel good about the upcoming future. Admittedly, at this point I think Josh and I are both growing a little nervous, but I believe it's a beneficial sort of nervous excitement... the kind that comes before any major life change and makes you appreciate all that's about to come. We'll be hiking towards Springer Mountain in Georgia (via the approach trail) in 23 days. Most hikers begin mid to late March, but our desire to spend some time hiking in the snow and get going before the trail is overcrowded led us to chose February 17 as our start date. We're more-or-less all packed and ready to go. Fully loaded with food and water, our packs weigh 33lbs and 53lbs. Much heavier than I'd hoped for, but the winter gear really adds up. The weight is manageable though, and it'll be nice to know that it'll only get lighter as we trek northward. It's been fun planning to hike the Appalachian Trail together for the past 3 years. We wanted to hike the trail separately before we even met, so it's been nice to have someone to share the dream with and mold it into a reality.   -Amanda
Date: 2008-02-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday was my last day at work. I have really enjoyed spending the last few months working at REI--largely due to the amazing people that I work with--and my last day at work was no exception. A wonderful coworker named Angela made me the most gorgeous cake (picture posted under "photos"--click to enlarge)... it was one of the most thoughtful things that anyone has done for me. The triple-layer cake was enormous too, so everyone at work was able to share in the celebration. I cannot even begin to imagine how much time and effort went into the flawless dessert. Note that the rocky peak in the center of the cake is Katahdin I should also say that I was given a lovely card as well... thanks to everyone that signed it. It meant a lot to me.Other happenings: we switched tents, and dropped 3.5 lbs in doing so. Together Josh and I also shed 15 inches of hair. As soon as we sell our car, we'll be officially ready to go.In less than a week we'll be in Georgia! -Amanda
Date: 2008-02-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We're off on a midnight train to Georgia tonight!"L.A. proved too much for the man,So he's leavin' the life he's come to know,He said he's goin' back to findOoh, what's left of his world,The world he left behindNot so long ago.He's leaving on that midnight train to Georgia,And he's goin' backTo a simpler place and time.And I'll be with himOn that midnight train to Georgia..."
Date: 2008-02-18
From: Springer Mtn Shelter

To: Cooper Gap
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: broken clouds

The Coyotes are howling in the distance. They sound so playful. They have a lot more energy than we do at this hour, having hiked 11.6 miles today straight up and over mountains. Luckily for us the terrain didn't feel nearly as challenging as that of the AT Approach Trail. We started the day off by backtracking from the shelter to the summit of Springer Mtn, in order to sign the hiker registry. We read a few entries which were mostly funny, regarding being sopping wet and the thick fog (lack of view). The weather throughout the day was gorgeous--sunny clear blue skies. It was 55 degrees F and we were hiking in shorts and a t-shirt. Lots of great views too... a welcome change from yesterday, when we weren't even sure that we were in the mountains because the fog was so incredibly thick. Despite not training at all, we're not nearly as sore as we thought we'd be. At this point we've actually even passed two thru-hiking couples that started the day before us. We never thought that would happen, considering that I inherited 100% of my mom's athletic inability, and 0% of my dad's marine genes. It's great to be on such an exiting journey and so far we're loving every bit of it. We're looking forward to the upcoming adventures as we trek northward!--Amanda
Date: 2008-02-19
From: Cooper Gap

To: Just past Woody Gap
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Another tough day, but we are both doing great. We left Cooper Gap around 9:45AM. It's really tough to get moving when temps are in the low 20s. The ground crunched beneath us as we took down the tent. We set off over Justus Mtn and down to Justus creek. We filled up all our water bags and bottle and aquamirized them. We then began the climb up to Woody Gap. The views were spectacular! Nothing extremely exciting happened today. In fact, we haven't seen a single hiker in over 31 hours. The most amazing part about to day is where I am currently writing this journal entry. We found the most amazing tent site ever. For other hikers who may be interested in finding it, it is about 0.5m past Woody Gap. About halfway up Big Cedar Mtn there is a giant rock to your right with a phenomenal view of GA. You'll know it when you see it. There is a small side trail off to the left which will lead you to the tent site. I wish I had words to describe this view, but I fear such words do not exist. The GA countryside splattered with a thousand different shades of green. Forests and fields, mountains, valleys, and plains. It's all there. Off to sleep I go with the temps dropping into the 20s and the wind whistling, I should have no trouble sleeping tonight.--Josh
Date: 2008-02-20
From: Just past Woody Gap

To: Just past Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today our biggest feat was climbing Blood Mountain--the highest mountain on the AT in Georgia, with an elevation of 4450 feet. According to The Thru-Hikers Companion book, the name supposedly comes from tales of the Creek and Cherokee in which the two nations battled ferociously on Blood Mountain until the ground was red and blood-covered. Josh and I wondered if the history behind the name was true/if they incorporate this story into their history, or if the name of the mountain was yet another savage Indian depiction. If the intention of the mountain's name is to pay tribute to this story and people, we also thought it should be named an Indian name. Aside from our Blood Mountain climb, the day was mostly easy. We woke up at 7:45AM, and hung around in the sun at our gorgeous campsite location until we started hiking 2 hours later. Somehow we managed to hike 5.5 miles in the first 2.5 hours--lots of downhill. Towards the end of the day we ran into 2 thru-hikers (Kevin and Spencer) and a past thru-hiker (Gills) that was temporarily accompanying them. The three were practically running down the trail. We lost sight of them almost instantly.Shortly after we made it to Neels Gap. I think I read somewhere that a mentionable percentage of people don't make it this far. As of right now we're still going strong! : ) For anyone interested in what we're eating--as thru-hikers we should be consuming 4,000-6,000 calories/day--here's what it's been so far: poptarts, trail mix, lipton noodles, instant potatoes, candy bars, crackers, bread, girl scout cookies, and my mom's perfect beef jerkey--our favorite! Tonight we grabbed hot dogs, summer sausage, and combos from the outfitter at Neels Gap... delicous. Josh has already started having dreams about food, but I'll leave that for him to share. One thing we really started noticing today was how sparse winter wildlife appears to be. In 4 days of hiking we've seen 3 birds, and Josh saw a chipmunk. We also saw frog eggs and a spider nest/ball, but I'm not sure if those count. In the distance we've heard coyotes, geese, owls, and other miscellaneous birds, but mostly it's just us, the frigid wind, and the trees that creek like old houses. --Amanda