morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-03-19
From: Jenkens shelter

To: Jennys knob shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: few clouds

Started hiking in RAIN today it only lasted about two hours but thats enough for any body right walked across the I-81 intersection at bastian and almost got ran over the fog was so thick i couln't even see my hand a foot in front of my face hiking on to jenkens for the night.
Date: 2012-03-20
From: Jennys knob shelter

To: Doc's Knob shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: few clouds

Woke this fine morning to more rain it has rained every day for the past week. but with warmer temps thats a good thing, hiked up to a little store i remember going to in 2006 its about .5 miles off the trail at V.A 606 they have deli sandwiches and breakfast items what a great place on to docs knob.
Date: 2012-02-19
To: iGo Keyboard and Smartphone
Miles today: 0.0

(In which I make my first TrailJournals post with my portable bluetooth keyboard)I just received the iGo Stowaway bluetooth keyboard that I purchased a few days ago and I thought I'd take the opportunity to write my first entry with it. This little keyboard is 6 oz but it feels as nice to type on as any regular desktop keyboard. I'll make sure to upload a picture of it in case you're curious. I bought it for the sole reason of making journal entries on the trail but it may come in handy on my trip overseas next year. I'm typing into the "Notes" app on my Nokia 5800 and I plan to copy and paste each entry to Trailjournals. That allows me to stay offline while I compose the entry, saving precious battery.I¢ve never felt the need to "escape" from technology. A lot of hikers are intent on getting away from digital things while they¢re out. I'll use it when it makes my life easier and I'll leave it behind when it becomes a burden.
Date: 2012-04-07
To: Trail Name
Miles today: 0.0

(In which I talk about the trail name tradition and my own trail name)One of the first things you learn about long distance hiking is that it¢s accepted practice to have a trail name different than the name you were born with. I¢m not clear how this tradition got started but it¢s fun and it gives you the sense that the trail is a world apart from the one you¢re used to. How you get your trail name can vary. Some simply choose their trail name and others wait for the trail to name them. If you go with the latter option, the trail name usually gets its origin in some quirky aspect of your personality, your habits or your gear: ¢Umbrella Lady¢, ¢Slowpoke¢, ¢Snores¢, ¢Uhaul¢¢¦ you get the idea. If you don¢t want to acquire the name ¢Stinks-a-lot¢ though, you might want to tag yourself.Since I¢d probably end up with some trail name alluding to the intensity of my nighttime nasal symphony, I¢m going to start the trail with the name Reese. Reese is my middle name and I like it, but because it¢s in the middle it has always been relegated to a single initial. My older brother (by 6 years) gave me that middle name and there¢s a great back story that I'll save for any curious souls on the trail.So Reese it is, at least for now. I¢ve observed that sometimes, despite the best of efforts, the trail names the hiker and it¢s just too fitting to pass up. They are trail names after all.
Date: 2012-06-18
To: Gear List and Rough Schedule
Miles today: 0.0

(Gear, schedule and other planning info)I haven¢t been planning a thru-hike for 6 years, but I¢ve been acquiring appropriate gear for thru-hiking for 6 years. Bit by bit I¢ve accumulated pieces of lightweight gear; purchased, made myself or acquired as a gift. The most important resource I¢ve had along the way has been whiteblaze.net. If you have a question about any piece of gear, I assure you it has already been discussed in incredible detail on some thread there.A few months ago I decided to start a spreadsheet to keep myself organized and over time it turned into a monster. Instead of using the gear link that Trailjournals has, I¢ll just paste a link (below) to the spreadsheet. It contains my gear list as well as a rough schedule. I found it extremely helpful to look at other gear lists in my planning, so maybe this will help someone else. This gear (a work in progress) is for the start of the trail and I plan to switch out a few things as the weather gets cold. If you have questions, feel free to post them in the guestbook section and I¢ll try to get back to you.AT prep spreadsheet
Date: 2012-07-02
To: Pre-hike musing
Miles today: 0.0

Things I¢ve learned about thru-hiking, before thru-hiking¢¦1) Thru-hikers smell bad2) Pack weight is a point of pride (either really high or really low)3) Food occupies your thoughts most of the time4) Guns, dogs and hanging bear bags are topics which will start fights (avoid at all cost)5) Thru-hikers smell really, really bad6) The AMC hut system (Appalachian Mountain Club) sucks for thru-hikers7) What constitutes a thru-hike is debatable. That debate is vigorous, exhausting and interminable. Just walk the whole thing¢¦8) Your feet will hurt on a thru hike. They will always hurt. Suck it up.9) Your bladder will shrink due to perpetual access to ¢bathroom¢ facilities10) A day-hiker, a section-hiker and a thru-hiker were put into a pig pen to see which one would be able to stand the stench longest. The day-hiker left early on day one, the section-hiker left on day two, and the pigs bailed shortly afterwards¢¦I'll plan to make a "Things I¢ve learned about thru-hiking, after thru-hiking¢¦" list.
Date: 2012-07-18
To: Thru-hiking resources
Miles today: 0.0

Here's a list of the resources (a.k.a. - distractions from thesis writing) that I've used to prepare. This is not a recommendation for any of the books, sites or retailers listed below (would hate to get into trouble with the site managers), it is only a list of the resources I have used frequently in the past year or two. I found it helpful when others mentioned their often-used websites and books in preparation for long hikes. Enjoy! Informational websites:www.whiteblaze.netwww.appalachiantrail.orgwww.aldha.orgwww.thebackpacker.comArticles (informative, for thru-hike planning)http://www.backpacker.com/...hiking_the_appalachian_trail/destinations/12530http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/content.php?17-hiker-adviceBooks (my favorites):The Barefoot Sisters ¢ SouthboundA Walk in the WoodsMovies (my favorites):Trek (http://www.cirquevideo.com/Trekpage.html)Southbounders (www.southbounders.com)Very good trail journals:¢Portrait¢ ¢ AT Northbound 2011 (http://www.trailjournals.com/portrait)¢Badger¢ ¢ AT Northbound 2012 (http://www.trailjournals.com/kselbo2012/)Small-but-mighty retailers:Antigravity Gear (www.antigravitygear.com)The AT Guide (www.theatguide.com)Fun videos:¢Walking In¢ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQlPTqJ31AA)¢The Green Tunnel¢ (http://vimeo.com/20218520)
Date: 2012-08-17
To: Damage Report
Miles today: 0.0

Damage report!I'm two days from the start and I'm already hurtin'. My middle toe on my right foot is either broken or has some sort of cyst (so says the doc). It's not a problem for daily use since it's more uncomfortable than painful, but 15 mile days might be more of a problem...I'll have to wait and see. My upper back is a problem right now too - it's got some form of ongoing cramp. It's that pain you get when you sleep wrong and the next day you can't move your head around. Its been about a week. It could just be stress (plenty of that lately) and as long as it gets better rather than worse, I should be fine.In my hurry to leave Madison this week I left some important pieces of gear behind. My hat (winter type) and my long tights are in the storage unit back in Wisconsin. My passport also got left behind and I need it to apply for the Belgian visa. My back didn't feel any better as I realized all of this on the drive back to New York... My savior is my lady Kelly - she's headed back to Madison next week and has agreed to rummage through the storage unit and send some of these items to mail drops along the way. Until at least Rangley, ME, I'll have to substitute wind pants and the bandanna for the tights and the winter hat.In addition to covering for my forgetfulness, Kelly has volunteered to act as chief editor of this blog - which is a good thing for any readers because I'm an Enginer and don't speel too good.Two days away!!!
Date: 2012-08-19
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: overcast clouds

(In which I summit Katahdin)-Currently sitting at a picnic table in front of a lean-to at KSC- We got up at 6:30 and started at the trail head at 7:30. We made great time, summitting at 12:30. On the way we met a few northbounders on their way down - having finished just a few hours before. I couldn't tell in the moment if they were disappointed or exhausted, but after completing the section they had just come down, I'm sure it was the latter. At the top the view was amazing and the weather perfect. Lots of day hikers and a few emotional nobos finishing their journey. I congratulated one of them and after mentioning that this is my first day, he smiled and told me congratulations. I'm happy to be here.Now I'm at Katahdin Stream Campground with Corey and Greg - two great friends who are seeing me off tomorrow. It's burgers and beer tonight - that's great because I didn't put a whole lot of thought into my food selection for next week. Glad to eat well tonight. Corey says I should end each entry with a "today's post was brought to you by..." statement, and I like the idea. Today's post was brought to you by Mt. Katahdin, because the best way to start a 2,000 mile hike is with sore feet and blisters.5.1 down, 2,179 miles left to go...
Date: 2012-08-20
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: few clouds

(In which a mouse gets into the food bag)-Currently sitting in Hurd Brook Leanto-This morning we went out to the car after packing up and Corey came over to me with some bad news. We left all of our food in the car the night before, but amazingly some little critter made it into the vehicle (the current theory is through a vent from the engine area) and ate a hole in my food bag. The little punk managed to get some trail mix out of the deal, but other than the bag and a few peanuts, the damage is minimal. I'm going to sew the hole before bear bagging tonight though, because this comically heavy food bag might not make it through the night otherwise. All I need is 8 days worth of food busting out of it in the night like a pinata after a lucky swing. Damn critter.The hike today was pleasant and beautiful. From what I've been told the weather should be great over the next week. One of the more memorable northbound-hiker sightings today was a fella who stopped to ask me in a hurried voice how far the Abol Bridge store was. I told him about 5 minutes and his face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. He rushed passed me while mumbling something about beer. Best part of the day: I got my bear bag rope up in a single throw. That has to be a good omen - a really good omen. Tomorrow I'll either go a short 11 miles to Rainbow Stream Lean-to or try to push 19 to the next shelter. I'm trying to pace myself but I get antsy when I'm at a shelter early in the day. Today's post is brought to you by rodents, because without them, my life would be too easy.
Date: 2012-08-21
From: Hurd Brook Lean-to

To: Wadleigh stream lean-to
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

(In which my short day turns into a long day and the IT band acts up)- Currently in my tent next to the shelter -Today was supposed to be an 11.5 mile day but it quickly got out of hand. I got on the trail this morning at 6:20 - a task made easier by going to bed at 7:30 pm. I went slow and even took a 1.5 hour break at a spring to eat, do my audio French lesson (this has turned out to be a great idea) and tape up some blisters. I made the 11.5 miles by 1:30 and I felt great except for some slight knee soreness. The idea of relaxing in the shelter all afternoon wasn't very appealing considering that yesterday I made the shelter by 2:30 and was completely bored by 5pm. It also didn't help that the group of nobos I met (Metric, Knife, Bad Dinner and Wall-e) insisted that I could easily make the 8 miles to the next shelter. I made the decision after they left to go for it. Fueled with food, Vitamin I (Ibprofin) and some caffeine, the first two miles felt great. The next two felt okay, and the last 4 felt like hell. My IT band on the right started acting up so much that it took the better part of an hour to come down the big hill just before the shelter (only about 1 mile). It's an injury that I've had before and it's definitely a too-much-too-soon kind of injury.So it was that my 11.5 mile day turned into a 19.6 mile day. The leg should be fine with some Vitamin I, elevation (pack under leg) and a short day tomorrow. It looks like I'll have to do my best to plan 15 mile stretches. I'm strong enough to do more without being exhausted, but the stabilizer muscles, tendons and ligaments need some time to come up to speed.Today's post was brought to you by Ibprofin and caffeine, because without them, my post would be about a boring day sitting in Rainbow Stream Lean-to.
Date: 2012-08-22
From: Wadleigh stream lean-to

To: Nahmakanta Stream Campground
Miles today: 5.8

(In which my right IT band gives me trouble and I discover another hole in my food bag)-Currently sitting on a rock next to a fire with the campsite to myself-I woke this morning and couldn't bend my right leg at the knee without considerable pain. Not a good start! I took some Ibprofin before moving and slept another hour to let it kick in. At that point I sqeaked out of the tent and pulled my food bag down (pct style hang) to discover that one of those devil rats must have descended the rope in the night and nibbled through the bag. It got a good cross section of my flour tortillas and an entire bag of GORP - yes, I will be eating those tortillas. At that point I decided my leg needed a rest so I planned to elevate the leg in the shelter all morning and hydrate. There was some excellent reading material including a book that Corey could use (see center book in picture). Corey had his first experience relieving himself in the wilderness when the urge came on at 4,000 ft on Katahdin. His first attempt was a no go - a bit of stage freight - but on the second round, great success. All kidding aside, it's a great book. I met a woman going southbound who stopped at the shelter to rest. She's in her 50s roughly and doing the 100 mile wilderness. It was nice to have some company as I haven't seen another southbounder yet. We leapfrogged all day as I was limping along and she was taking breaks to fish for trout. After a few hours at a pathetic pace (about 1 mi an hour) I decided to stop at this campground. On the bright side, my leg feels much better than it did yesterday. That could be the maximum dose of Ibprofin talking, but I'm pretty sure it's on the healing track. Tomorrow I'll hike slow but get started early and hopefully make it the 15 plus mile to Cooper Brook Falls lean-to. Today's post was brought to you by pathetically slow hiking, because that's all there was today.
Date: 2012-08-23
From: Nahmakanta Stream Campground

To: Cooper Brook Leanto
Miles today: 15.7

(In which I encounter my first boyscout troop and my first inconsiderate section hikers)- Currently laying in the leanto listening to a waterfall - Last night, just after I wrote my post, a boyscout troop rolled into the campsite. I've read in other journals how terrible an experience this can be - and I've had a bad experience car camping in Iowa a few years back (remember that Carrie?). Typically troops stay up much later than thru hikers and make more noise than most think is acceptable. Ultimately this group was just fine. It was 3 boys and two dads who knew what they were doing. I chatted with one of the fathers who has been waiting for the chance to thru hike the AT for 30 years - glad I'm getting my chance right now. Hopefully other boyscout encounters go this well. The hike today was slow and steady as planned. Most of the trail was nice and soft but there were a few spots where the mud made it look like the Eternal Bog of Stench (see move: Labyrinth, David Bowie). I took my time, got my miles in and took one long break at a sandy beach with a firepit. There was also a short break at a privy called Fort Relief - it had two seats! The leg was sore this morning but not nearly as bad as it was yesterday morning. It'll heal. I finished at one of the nicest leantos I've ever seen - clean, cozy and overlooking a waterfall. My other encounter today is a group of three short-section hikers - two girls and a guy. I desperately want to ask them what sorority and frat they were in. This shelter can fit 6-8 people easily, but with all their stuff thrown about you'd think it would be tough to squeeze in the 4 of us. I watched the interaction as four northbound thru-hikers strode up the shelter, looked at their crap, looked and them, and nothing happened. I was tempted to tell them to move over and make space but I figured after 2100 miles of hiking the nobos would say something if they didn't want to tent. It's difficult to tell whether this group decided they didn't want to make space or whether they just didn't make the connection... either way it's interesting to watch the clash of worlds between weekend warrior and long distance hiker. The guy just asked me where he could read my blog and I gave him the address...Tomorrow is a planned short day over relatively easy terrain. I only have about 3 days of food left though so I need to cover some mileage sooner or later. On a side note, the battery in this phone has lasted 5 days. I'm impressed. I have another one ready to go, but 5 days is more than I hoped for. Today's post was brought to you by double-seated privys, because I don't always have to go, but when I do, I prefer double-seated privys.
Date: 2012-08-24
From: Cooper Brook Leanto

To: Logan Brook Leanto
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: few clouds

(I which I lose yet another bag of GORP to the rat devils and discover how amazing music on the trail is)-Currently lying in my tent at a vacant campsite just south of White Cap mountain-Today was difficult for a number of reasons. I woke this morning to another hole in my food bad and an entire bag of trail mix essentially gone. This time I was upset to the point of real anger. The loss of two and a half bags of GORP puts me about 3/4 day's worth of calories short for the week. The real danger out here isn't the bears, it's the little critters. So all morning I cursed the rodents of the world, and while plodding along on my gimpy leg and musing about what squirrel meat tastes like - my guess is something not too unlike roasted peanuts and dried cranberries - I resolved to sleep with my food like 90% of the northbounders do. There is more danger in me losing my food supply to the critters than a bear dropping by to sniff my tent. The bear can have my food... from my cold, dead, hands. As it is I'll walk out of here hungry like never before. I also decided to push on past the scheduled mileage knowing that I'm low on food. I think one of the reasons I made it this far today was that I used the last of cell phone battery #1 to play music. It's incredible how good it sounded and it's like the last few miles floated by. If I make good mileage tomorrow too, then there's a chance I could squeeze out of here a day early. Today's post was brought to you by music, because I believe I might be able to live on that alone - for at least a day or two.
Date: 2012-08-25
From: Logan Brook Leanto

To: Chairback Gap Leanto
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

(In which I sleep with my food and meet my first flip-flopper)-Currently sitting on a rock behind the shelter with the sun setting-I still have all my food and I didn't get attacked by a bear. I'm pleased. Sleeping with your food is a little unnerving, but considering that all the northbound thru-hikers have been doing it for well over 1000 miles, I'm happy to give it a go. I'll hold onto my bear bagging equipment because there are some places along the trail (New Jersey for instance) where the bears are prolific and fearless. After fording my first river today (an easy ford - up to mid calf at most) I met my first flip-flopper. A flip-flopper is a thru hiker that does half the trail going one direction, then gets a ride up to the other end of the trail and finishes the trail going the other direction. Slow northbound hikers will do this if they think they wont make it to Baxter State Park (the finish line) in time before it closes. So this fella with dreds and a great beard strolls through the water and introduces himself as Ridiculous. His four-legged friend Pearl is a golden retriever who tends to growl at day hikers... we chatted for a while and at one point a pack of day hikers rolls by and Ridiculous sniffs the air and seems repulsed - "day hikers smell bad" he says. He's gonna be fun. He says he hikes slow - hence the need for flip-flopping, but from what I can tell he hikes really fast and just tends to do 10 miles a day. There were three more flip-floppers in the shelter tonight, so it looks like I'll have some company for the next few days. The hiking today was uphill most of the way, downhill the rest. I'm not sure which is harder on the leg. Tomorrow I'll have to get going early to knock out 15 miles. I'm down to about a half day's worth of food so it's Monson in a hurry. Today's post was brought to you by tuna on peanut butter on a flour tortilla covered in olive oil, because I'm pretty sure I would have passed out 3 miles ago without it. Mmmm...
Date: 2012-08-26
From: Chairback Gap Leanto

To: Wilson Valley Lean-to
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: few clouds

(In which I pull the most difficult miles yet and run out of just about everything)-Currently lying in my tent behind the shelter next to a trickling stream-Today was a challenge. I wanted to make the 15 miles here so that I only have 10 tomorrow morning and can get some things done in town in the afternoon. I was also motivated by the calorie shortage. Dinnertonight was a flour tortilla and two tablespoons of peanut butter -the last edible things that I had (yes, it was delicious). I also ranout of Vitamin I this afternoon and nearly out of tea - major crisisavoided however, as I brought two extra tea bags in a side pocket ofmy pack that I discovered just a few minutes ago. The lack of Ibuprofinwas the really troublesome part. Apparently 50 pills isn't enough for a 7day backpacking trip - this seems crazy to most people I'm sure, butdo the numbers on even a half-of-maximum dose for the whole day, forthe whole trip, and you'll see that you need more than 50. I justdidn't see that coming. Without the Ibuprofin each step was killer. Theterrain was the most difficult yet - steep ups and downs the wholeway. The last two miles I ran out of gas and pathetically plopped intothe shelter.Tomorrow I'll hike out with a flip-flopper named BullMoose. We're staying at the same hostel and we move at about the samepace. I'm looking forward to food, a shower and food. I'll make up aresupply list tomorrow afternoon and my tentative plan will be to takea nero (near zero mileage day) Tuesday since there's a storm coming inTuesday morning and I desperately need to let this leg rest.Today's post wasbrought to you by absurdly long downhill blue blaze trails to getwater, because you didn't plan ahead and bring more water over the last mountain... stupid, stupid, stupid.