morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-26
From: Caratunk, Maine (Northern Outdoor Resort)

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: clear sky

We (Caterpillar, Cottontop, Tapper, myself)started the day with an amazing breakfast at Caratunk's Northern Outdoor Resort. I knew, eating as much as I did, it would be a bitch of a hike early on. Always is when my stomach is full of grease. But worth it. Getting back to the trail turned out to be a chore. First, the hiker shuttle wasn't going to depart until around 10 am. So out to the road to hitch. By this time, we considered ourselves quite adept at predicting which type of vehicles would and would not stop to pick up hikers. old pickup trucks, yes. fancy schmancy SUVs, no. vans, yes. Anything Suburu, no. When a hummer drives by, we didn't even bother sticking our thumbs out. several trucks go by and ignore our desperate waves. we knew what we were doing. Or so we thought. A volkswagon beetle drove by real slow and the driver was curiously looking at us. We, the four of us, were amused at the prospect of getting a ride by such a small car, but really, why bother. We just waved, looking ahead, hopefully, at the oncoming traffic. The woman in the beatle pulled over, and asked if we wanted a ride. Um, OK..what's the catch? She said she can take two of us and then will drive back to collect the others. What an angel! Turns out, she is a thru-hiker herself finishing up a Maine section. Cliche life lesson learned - don't judge a book by its cover. Like in the movie Easy Rider, if I ever need to hitch, I won't discriminate. Flag down even the motorcycles. Hike was painful for a while. Moxie bald was beautiful and we hung out on top for a good hour. At the shelter, met up with Renaissance man and his gang of merry pranksters. Also, a youth group of about 10 pre-teen boys. Their leader, a kid of maybe 21, through a coniption fit when they couldn't find the tinfoil for their planned potato bake. He made all the kids empty out their packs to find it. In the end, it was in the leader's pack all along. What a dick. I regret to say I went to my tent early and missed all of the cool stuff that evidently happened while a slept - guitar playing on the beach, listening to singing loons, full moon delights, much laughter.   Story of my trail, seems.
Date: 2007-07-27
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I can't remember the exact miles for today's hike. I think around 17. I could check the companion. Doesn't matter. With the trio of Tapper, Cottontop, Caterpillar, we all wanted to get to Monson as early as possible. Going along with the first group of hikers more insane than me, I allowed myself to be talked into getting up at 4:30 AM so we could begin hiking at first light. We booked it to Monson. I think we made it to the road by 1 pm. Now came the part I usually dread - hitching to town. Luckily, the first car stopped. A truck actually, and we all piled into the back. In fact, Caterpillar was taking a piss or changing his shirt or something in the trees when we yelled, "RIDE!!!" It was pretty funny watching him rush to pull up his pants and run to catch up with us at the same time. The driver drove us right to Shaw's, the main hiker hostel in town. This would the last town stop/re-supply point along the entire AT and we were all a bit Nostalgic. Obviously, I had my obligatory B&J Phish Food pint and liter of DMD (diet mountain dew). And a few beers and hotwings at the lakeshore tavern that evening. Finally met Diablo. Had been following him and his heavymetalesque shelter entries for months. Quite a character. He has so much energy and personality,it was fun to watch him instantly become a hit with the townies. He had been in town for a few days and was planning to be there at least a couple more. Also in town was Renaissance Man and his crew (Eleven, Many Names, Biscuits, and others I can't remember). They are a cool bunch who, from what I heard some parents of theirs were planning a huge RV party for their summit up K on the 6th of August. Pretty sure by the time I left, Diablo had been roped into their gang. And before bed, had a chance to see the weekly music jam at the General Store. Just like a scene out of O Brother Where Art Thou. The aisles of the small store were packed with people stomping their feet and clapping along with the eight or nine musicians headlining at the front between the produce counter on one side and milk and eggs on the other.
Date: 2007-07-29
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: East Branch Lean-to
Miles today: 20.7

 This is the day we decided the "100 mile wilderness" was not much of a wilderness. Turns out this is one very popular stretch of trail. In fact, I think only the Smoky Mountain NP and Shenandoah NP had more traffic. We rolled into the shelter to find a group of about 10 section hikers already in place. Then later, a youth group of 15 showed up. So - true, there are no re-supply points for 100 miles, but I felt more isolation on the AT in New Jersey and New York than in this part of Maine. Upon reaching the shelter, I walked down to the nearby river to collect my nightly water needs. I was startled to find a fully nude fat man bathing himself right where I was going to dip my water bottle. yuck yuck yuck yuck..I immediately gagged and turned around to walk back, deciding water could wait. Back at the shelter, a lady asked her friends if anyone had seen "Rod." Rod, they said, was down at the river taking a bath. Not wanting to wait, a few of us walked up the trail a ways to the next river access point. Unfortanutely, it was downriver from our nude bather. At this point of the trip, I had all but completely forgone treating my water, collecting and drinking straight from the source without filtering or chemical treatment. (I may expand on this decision in another entry). But this time, for pure peace of mind, I dropped in a few Potable Aqua tablets to my water. As Cottontop said, we were all drinking a little piece of Rod that evening.
Date: 2007-07-30
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: Nahmakanta Lake 
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: light rain

Day 3 of the "hundred mile wilderness." We had already passed the challenging sections and put ourselves in cruise control for this 27 mile day. Normally, there would be absolutely no reason to hike this many miles, but we REALLY, REALLY wanted to camp on Nahmakanta Lake this evening. And it turned out to be well worth our efforts. In fact, I think this night may have won the award for best night on the entire Appalachian Trail. Here's why:1. Perfect Weather. Meaning, no rain. 2. Sandy Beach on a huge Maine lake. All to ourselves. Me, Caterpillar, Cottontop, Tapper, and Lost. Well OK, there were also a couple of section hikers, but they were cool.3. Had time to take a swim in the lake before sunset. 4. Enjoyed colorful sunset reflecting on the water as we stayed up eating dinner and telling stories around the campfire.This was the home stretch and we knew the worst was behind us. These were the kind of nights when I wished the trail would never end.
Date: 2007-07-31
From: Nahmakanta Lake

To: Abol Bridge over West Branch of Penobscot River 
Miles today: 25.7

Took my sweet-ass time hiking these miles into Abol Bridge campground. Top 3 parts of the day.1. Rainbow ledges. I made my way up this baby climb onto the rocky ledges to find Dr. John, Tapper, and Caterpillar all hunched over the side of the trail. What the hell? Were they sick? Nope. Wild blueberries were everywhere. And when there are blueberries to be eaten, hiking and 'making miles' take a backseat any day. 2. The cold spring water source 0.7 miles north of the herd brook shelter. Most of the water sources in the "hundred mile wilderness" were marginal at best. warm pond, river, or lake water. moss filled creek drainages with some sort of weird mineral aftertaste. But this spring was pure liquid heaven. Clear, pure, and COLD. As Caterpillar said, "It would have been a great insult to treat that water." 3. Abol Bridge Campstore. I made it here about a half hour before closing. shew! This was the end of the "hundred mile wilderness", meaning the first re-supply point since Monson, meaning the first opportunity to buy chocolate, icecream, soda, and beer in 5 days. What a strange world to live in where there is no no greater joy than sitting down by the side of a road eating a whoopie pie.
Date: 2007-08-01
From: Abol Bridge over West Branch of Penobscot River 

To: Katahdin Stream Campground, Birches Campsite
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: broken clouds

This was the day of "lasts" on the ATThe last day on the AT wearing "Ivan" - the name I gave my backpack. We, Ivan and I, discussed it and decided he wouldn't be accompanying me up Katahdin the next day. No reason to carry a full pack on what amounts to a 10 mile roundtrip out-and-back dayhike. The last time resting on the rocks by the side of a river.The last random trailmix lunch break. The last time meeting a fellow thru-hiker who says, "when did you start?" and then after I told him, says without fail after a few seconds of mental math, "wow! you're really moving..." (I estimate having had this conversation about a 10,000 times on the trail.)The last campfire. I packed in a bag of Marshmellows from the Abol bridge camp store and we roasted about all of them. The last lipton dinner. Becoming a connoisseur of sorts when it comes to the lipton sides, I fervently believe the Asian noodle sides are by far the most tasty, with the Cajun rice sides coming in a distant second. The last time setting up the tent, crawling in, and exclaiming, "Holy crap, what died in here! I really need to clean and de-odorize this thing." Since I was so excited for Katahdin and the end of the hike, I hardly slept. When the unexpected rain started at 4:30 am, all I could do was laugh. As they say, "No Pain, No Rain, No Maine." The rain lasted just long enough to coat the rocks of 'K' with a nice film of slipperyness. No gifts for the last day. *******************A southbounder I met in Glencliff, NH made this little movie to give an idea of what hiking in Maine is all about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKFMQI4fw28
Date: 2008-02-03
To: moving on ..
Miles today: 0.0

It has been six months since that brisk August morning when I summited Katahdin, completing my trek of the Appalachian Trail. And yet, I think about it every day. I think about my initial decision to hike the AT last year around this time. About how exciting it was to tell people I was actually going to walk from Georgia to Maine. And to answer all of the silly questions about what I would do for food, or how I would defend myself against crazy toothless rednecks.I think about those first steps from Springer Mountain last April, and how nervous I was. Wondering if my mind or body would last more than a month along the trail. I think about Clingman's Dome in the fog, walking 10 miles in a downpour to reach moreland gap shelter in Tennessee, the glorious feeling of walking into Hot Springs at dusk, eating ben&jerry's and Pizza while wearing hand-me-down hostel clothes and watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on VHS at the Bears Den, standing in the rain trying unsuccessfully to hitchhike into Andover, drinking beer with other hikers and paddlers in Caratunk. And on and on. I think about how many forms the trail would take - up, down, sideways, rocks, boulders, dirt, mud, bogs, water, roots, roads, bridges .....I think about the people I met. How we all felt the same desire to walk 2000+ miles, and how it seemed like such an absurd endeavor to non-hikers. But to us, it made perfect sense. I think about my parents, family, and friends. how skeptical some were at first (maybe still are), but supported me anyway. A belated thank you to dad (pa of gopher) who meticulously updated my journal for me. And thank you to everyone else who either shared my enthusiasm for the trip or patronized me while I rambled about it. Also, thank you to Tapper, Caterpillar, and Cottontop for hiking with me through the greater part of Maine. You may never know how much your company added to my trip I think about how much this adventure has been absorbed into my identity. I am so glad I finally overcame the inertia that was my routine existence. I was able to actually step out of my comfort zone and do something out of the ordinary. I also think about how much I'd like to hike it again. And this time do what most people recommend - spend 6 or 7 months truly experiencing the trail. To all of the people who said I was going too fast. Well, you're right. And you will see me out there again in the next few years.But first, there is a little matter of a Pacific Crest Trail and a Continental Divide Trail that need to be taken care of. Until next time,Happy Hiking
Date: 2007-02-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hiking time is almost here and it's long overdue that I start this journal. I just got back to New Hampshire after helping my brother renovate his house in Pittsburgh the last month. We did a total overhaul on his old kitchen, but that is in the past and now I have two weeks to finish planning for my hike and tying up all loose ends that I can in New Hampshire.I have a plane ticket down to Atlanta, GA on the 12th of March and my best friend growing up, Eric Merrill is going to give me a ride to Springer on the 14th. So I'm exactly two weeks from starting this adventure that's been in my head for years and been in the planning for about one year. I'm excited. After hiking on the Long Trail this summer I can't wait to get back to trail life, this time for months instead of just a brief month.I'll end by thanking all the wonderful people who've helped me figure out this whole thru hiking thing and supported me in doing it Stu, Sarah, Matt, Monte, Red, Dodger, Ray Al, Pilgrin, Mariachi, Andy, Joyce and a whole lot of other people. It's amazing to have great friends like you all.
Date: 2007-03-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

One week from flying to Atlanta. The time is flying by. There are so many small things to do packing, organizing my stuff, wanting to see family and friends. Thankfully I'm not working right now which means my days are full time devoted to getting myself ready to be on the trail.Last night I was listening to an eco-theology discussion with some friends and the speaker was lamenting that she can almost never find places in the woods where she finds true silence. There is almost always the noise of a distant road, or airplanes, or now hikers on cell phones even. She shared some wonderful memories of an old growth forest she had know growing up which she remembers as more of a cathedral than anything she's ever known.The past few days, even before this talk, I've been thinking about silence as I head back into the woods for this hike, and I've been reflecting on it. Living in a trail town, Hanover, NH, the last four years I've met a lot of thru hikers and had the opportunity to overhear how people talk about thru hikers. One of the things that people find most disturbing about thru hikers is that most of them "are too comfortable just sitting and not talking to anyone." This lack of need for conversation, music, television, or some constant auditory stimulus really bothers people. It makes them think you're crazy.The expression "deafening silence" also keeps coming to mind. The first couple days I spent truly alone on The Long Trail - not seeing or speaking to anyone - I sort of thought I was going crazy or deaf at times. I started talking and singing outloud to myself to fill the space. Whenever I was quiet I just didn't hear anything and it drove me crazy.Then in this silence that made me feel so deaf I started to hear a beautiful noise. Birds, trees, all sorts of animals, water, wind and everything around me became a gorgeous sound. The small still sounds started to sing. I stopped needing to hear someone else or myself talking and started to feel a lot more comfortable in the stillness, which speaks very softly. For a little bit I felt like the prophet Elisha who went to a cave to listen for God and expected him in the thunderstorms, earthquakes, fires, and great windstorms. But in all of these he did not hear God. Only after them, did he hear God in the whistling of gentle air - a still small voice.
Date: 2007-03-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Another day of gettting ready. Last night I went to EMS for some last minute items and had Campmor send some stuff to my friends Eric and Kerri in Atlanta. I think I now have everything purchased and ready to go for the hike. Yesterday I finished weighing everything that I might be bringing or having mailed to me at a later date. Today I'll finish my taxes, and try to make sure that all the paperwork in my life is as done as possible. I've been hearing from lots of friends that I haven't talked to in a long while, so it's been great to catch up. I'm also really trying to set aside time to meet with friends in the area before I go. The only down side to heading out on the trail, in my mind, is the number of people I won't see for such a long time. But that's the way with all journeys it seems. Onward.
Date: 2007-03-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

A final preparation entry. I'm down in Atlanta right now staying with my friends Eric and Kerri. They've been great to host me in Atlanta and we've been having a wonderful time and I've been running around getting all the last minute details and shopping done before I hike. I definetly have the feeling of having stepped into a completely new world. It started in hanover the day all my things were finally packed and I was down to just my pack. Here in Atlanta I had to borrow clothing from Eric to go out for the evening. What I have and what I use is so reduced it's amazing. It was one thing to do for three weeks on the long trail, but for five months it's an amazing transition from the me of all the stuff in Hanover to the me here where everything I have fits neatly in a pack on my back and I get wierd looks for being dressed funny whenever I'm not in the woods.Tomorrow Eric is going to give me a ride to Amicalola Falls where I'll start on the aproach trail.It's great having Eric drive me up there and start the hike with me. He's been a friend just about for forever at this point and is more like a brother at this point. I having this feeling tonight like when you're five and it's Christmas tomorrow. The anticipation is so much I just can't sleep. It's been a lot of planning and a long time thinking about it and tomorrow this becomes real.I couldn't be happier.
Date: 2007-03-15
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Springer Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

65 and rainy.I arrived with Eric at Amicalola Falls State Park at 1:30pm after a late start. It's sad to say goodbye to Eric and Kerri and it reminds me how many people I'm going to miss. But starting is thrilling.I hiked 8.8 miles up the top of Springer Mountain and hit the first white blaze on the AT at 6pm. It started raining half way through the hike so I decided to stay here on the mountain. The journey has begun. The wet journey. The caretaker here, Roger, is a great guy and welcomed me to the trail. There are five other hikers here tonight.
Date: 2007-03-16
From: Springer Mountain

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

35, wet, foggyI made fourteen miles today to Gooch Gap shelter. It's been cold and rainy all day. Tonight will be below freezing. We had to send out two hikers from the shelter who were freezing and unprepared for the cold. I made them some hot cocoa and a retired ER doc, by the name of bearbag, made sure they got dried off, but it became apparent that they weren't going to be able to continue on the trail as is. We wound up being luckign that an old thru hiker had come in to check on new folks and was parked at a crossing about a mile away.Even with all the fog, cold, and brown I'm starting to see the first signs of spring. I came across a startllingly white trillium right by the side of the trail.It's a strange thing how content you can be when wet, cold, tired, and sore.
Date: 2007-03-17
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Blood Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: clear sky

18, clear, cold, windyI love this shelter. It's one of the beautiful old stone shelters put up in the 30's. It's on the peak of the tallest mountain the Ga, AT crosses over. You have to pack water up the mountain to it so it also winds up being less crowded.The views in all directions are stunning, and at night you can actually see the lights from Atlanta. It's a perfect example of man made beauty coexisting with natural beauty.The irony is that this symbol of harmony sits on the top of a mountain named from Cherokee history for their bloodiest battle, where so many violent deaths caused blood to run down the mountain. My feet are growing acustomed to hiking every day. I've got a couple blitsters and sore spots, but nothing to be concerned about. All in all my body seems to be cooperating very well.Today at lunch i watched a halk riding thermals out in front of a cliff for about half an hour. Wonderful. Despite all the cold the azaelias look like they are thinking about budding.The forests down here are so interesting. They're much different than the ones I'm used to in the northeast. Everything looks and smells very different. At 4,000 feet it's really amazing to be surrounded by oak and poplar hardwood forest, instead of alpine forest.Well I'm off to go share a bottle of wine with two weekend hikers. Thank God for the generosity of weekend hikers (one of whom is a former thru hiker).
Date: 2007-03-18
From: Blood Mountain Shelter

To: Loewe Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

40, overcastLast night was the coldest yet. All my water froze, which made breakfast a little difficult. Tonight things seem to finally be warming up a little bit and the wind seems to have finally let up a little bit. I passed through Neel's Gap today just in time for a little "trail magic." Some former thru hikers where cooking burgers and hotdogs. The whole thing was a great way to relax and turned lunch into four hours lounging around talking with other hikers.Lunch fueled my first race against sunset to make it to Loewe Gap. I got in just before sunset at 8pm and barely had my tent set up before I needed to put on my headlamp to go get some water.Right before the shelter I saw a beautiful lone daffodil, looking a little frost bitten, but soaking up the last rays of the sunset.
Date: 2007-03-19
From: Loewe Gap Shelter

To: Cheese Factory Site
Miles today: 13.0

55, breezyStarted hiking with a nice group of other hikers today. Two from Ma. One is a nurse at Baystate. She's got a really nice dog, which has added a whole new aspect to being in camp in the evening. It's funny meeting folks so close to home out here. It's been great hiking weather and we're making some good time and really enjoying the Georgia Mountains.
Date: 2007-03-20
From: Cheese Factory Site

To: Hiawasee, Ga
Miles today: 12.4

room with central heating (actually a bit to hot)Ahhhh. First town stop along the way. Rick, Terrapin, Stitches, Murray and I split a room at the Hiawassee Inn. I took a nice long shower, and we hit up the all you can eat steak house in town.