morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-04-29
From: Maine

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Oh boy! Only 23 more days till we leave for Georgia, then 1 week after that we get on a train bound for Maine. It'll be nice when all of the traveling is over with and we're finally at Baxter State Park. Travel goes like this: car-train-bus-shuttle-foot.Gear update: the mother-in-law, who has decided to use an off-trail, trail name of 'Frail Angel', got us a camera to use for the trail adventure. Thanks so much! It's an Olympus TG-4. It's supposed to be tough, and therefore durable to withstand trail life. I have been using it around the yard and am very impressed with it. I wish this was the camera we had while studying abroad in Italy. With the battery it weighs in at only 8.8 ounces and fits in my pants pocket but my wife is going to carry it so it doesn't really matter, hehe.We are almost finished preparing our resupply boxes too, just in time for final preparations. We're not sure if my sister will be joining us. She only gets paid once per month and train tickets are getting pricier by the day. Even if she is able to make it I believe that her pack weight, being double that of ours, and the fact that she's bringing her canine companion, will put hiking distance between us. But at least she would be on the trail.Update on the sister: she just called and told me that she got her train ticket. She'll be leaving the same day as us but from here in Florida instead of Georgia, with us. That puts her only a few hours behind us and meeting up in Baxter at pretty much the same time. Cool!
Date: 2016-05-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today was a gooooood day. All of our resupply boxes are finally finished!! I am so tired of dealing with packaging trail food. However, I know that my future self will thank me. 55 flat rate boxes and one big brown box will supply the majority of our food and I believe that we have something like 12 in-town resupplies. I am a happy camper, but soon I shall be a happy hiker.We've got variety, nutritious veggies, fruit, jerky, protein, carbohydrates, honey, fats and oils, dark chocolate, and more yummy things and stuff.Whew...
Date: 2016-05-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm ready to trade Florida humidity for Maine. It's going to be in the 90's all week too. All of our gear, clothing, and food are ready. Just gotta pack the trailer and hit the road in 8 days. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight!In a couple of days we're sending our first 5 or 6 resupply boxes out ahead of us. The rest of the resupply boxes will be sent by our super supporters here at the Florida home base. Here's a sample of what our food is like: Bob's Red Mill quick cook oats, regular and steel cut, jerky from grass fed, healthy sources; Epic turkey, beef, and lamb, Wyoming sticks, and Nicks Sticks. Bear Valley Pemmican bars with four different flavors and over 400 calories each, dehydrated lentils, split peas, black beans, Brown rice, veggies, tons of different spices and seasonings, bbq spaghetti, instant mashed potatoes, cinnamon apples, hemp protein bars, raisins, jelly babies and wine gums, dagoba chocolate bars, and straws filled with honey, braggs amino acids (soy sauce), toasted sesame seed oil, and olive oil. Oh, and packets of pink salmon to go with brown rice.I put my Vespa in storage for the trip. I tried to sell it before the trail but people here in this part of Florida prefer trucks with big tires and loud exhaust pipes. But that's okay because I really like my Vespa. I think it would be awesome to travel cross country to all of the national parks, and motorcycle camp along the way.
Date: 2016-05-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

So we have a ride to the train station in Gainesville Georgia from cousin Mollie!! Yay, thanks Mollie. Can't wait to hang out...Also, another thanks to cousin Renee who helped us begin this trail thing months ago when she dropped us off at Amicalola, and then when she rescued us from a failed hike four days later at Three Forks...see you soon!
Date: 2016-05-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Leaving for Georgia in 3 days!! Said bye to me mum and told my sister we'd see her in Maine June 1st. We are starting this adventure together, and though we may not hike with each other every day I hope we finish together. See you soon sister person.Mom, every time I am hiking a mountain or near a river or under autumn trees I will think of you and the times we spent in Pisgah forest, with the smell of someone grilling something amazing...great, now I'm hungry.
Date: 2016-05-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well, hopefully we head out tomorrow to our place in Georgia. Last year we spent three months there living in our tipi. We experienced blistering heat and below freezing temperatures. Poppy, our little tipi bunny, is probably the first bunny ever to live in a tipi. We have an outdoor covered shower and composting toilet. Setting up the tipi is a big job though and since we'll only be there for a few days we're not going to set it up this time. We have spent a total of six months living in the tipi and it's one of our fondest memories. Maybe after the trail we'll set it up again. We live one county over from Springer Mountain. It's quite an amazing area to be.
Date: 2016-05-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We've been in Georgia for four days now and we leave for Maine in three. It's been a lot of fun here simply enjoying "being". Tonight, it's very dark because the moon doesn't come up for several more hours so the lightning bugs are putting on one heck of a light show! It's past hiker midnight but I'm staying up by kerosene lamp light to write. We have had a great week seeing friends and family before the trail and some of them we didn't think we would see and did anyways. First was cousin Mollie! Holly got to hang out with her in Blue Ridge.Then we went to have lunch at an amazing Greek restaurant called Great Greek Gyros. We have known the owner for about a year now and she makes the BEST gyros! She is half Greek and half Italian which makes her extra cool and kinda feisty. We met her daughter also today and she's awesome to talk to and she's outdoorsy too.Then we went to Blue Ridge to get cupcakes and cheesecake at the SweetShop. Our friend Ashley was there and that was a big surprise. We've known her since we've been coming to this area for three years now. She's getting married next year. We invited her along on the trail but she would probably get lost So she'll stay here.Then we went to the Blue Rige Jerky because last year we met the owner, Christy, and it was cool because she had jerky from healthy sources and I didn't think a store like that even existed. She thought it was cool that we lived in a tipi, so we always go say hey to her when we come up. We weren't sure if we would see her either today so that was another great surprise. We got some jerky here for the trail...thanks Christy!And now we just got back from hanging out with cousin Renee and her husband Kurt. They live only five minutes away. They are really cool people and great family. They're the type that would give you the shirt off their backs and maybe even a sock.And then we found out today that our longtime best friend Nugent Myr, that we went to Italy with, is coming down for a night to hangout, sip some tea, and read some books with us. We've known each other for like forever which equates to eight years, whoa!All of this is amazing because in general I can't stand humans. But this week, I have actually enjoyed holding conversations for the first time in a long time. Thanks to all you guys and gals we saw this week. We hope you follow our journaling and enjoy reading about the adventure.The aforementioned businesses had no previous knowledge of being mentioned in this post, and we are in no way trying to advertise for them. That being said: there's a very good reason we go to them
Date: 2016-05-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So, cousin Mollie wanted to know what our train experience was like from Gainesville Georgia. She picked us up from our place today in her nice new Jeep, thank you. And she brought her friend Madison as navigator, water bottle opener, and banana peeler. First I have to say that they made this experience a lot more fun and a lot less stressful than it could have been. You girls made our send off a very memorable one, thank you both so much!So the four of us pull up to the station and it's located in the middle of Sketchy-ville! Not a good feeling. All of our spidey senses were on red alert. We try to go inside but the whole place is locked up tight. Madison finds out online that the station doesn't open till 8pm, which is one hour before our train leaves, and it's only 4pm, 5 hours to wait at a deserted train station in a sketchy neighborhood! So the girls took us with them, driving around town killing time. We eventually stopped at Cook Out, a fast food chain in this area with grilled burgers and like 40 something flavors of shakes and got a bite to eat. We drive back to the station again and park. The car next to us belongs to a guy with greasy hair and a suit. He was up to something, I don't know what, but all four of us were so uncomfortable that we started driving around again. Eventually, with only 3 1/2 hours left, the girls dropped us back off at the train station which was still locked up. After hugs and goodbyes, cousin Mollie and Madison left for Blairsville. We walked around to the track side of the station trying to find a bench, but alas there were none. At this point we have locked up our house, locked and left our car, only have our packs, some food, and half a gallon of water; we are feeling very alone and abandoned. But, not without the knowledge that we have always been provided for in the past. So we looked for a place to sit on the concrete floor when suddenly an employee door opens up and a man pops out, his name is Chris. He tells us to come inside and allows us into the waiting room. He asks where we're hiking, we tell him the Appalachian trail, he says he sees lots of AT hikers come through here. He then asks if we have enough food and water. Yes, we have some of both, but he gives us a pack of bottled water and some moisty towels kits, and another pack of waters!!! This trip is already weeding out our fears and apprehensions.So, thank you so much to our first trail angels: cousin Mollie, Madison, and train station Chris
Date: 2016-05-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

So, cousin Mollie wanted to know what our train experience was like from Gainesville Georgia. She picked us up from our place today in her nice new Jeep, thank you. And she brought her friend Madison as navigator, water bottle opener, and banana peeler. First I have to say that they made this experience a lot more fun and a lot less stressful than it could have been. You girls made our send off a very memorable one, thank you both so much!So the four of us pull up to the station and it's located in the middle of Sketchy-ville! Not a good feeling. All of our spidey senses were on red alert. We try to go inside but the whole place is locked up tight. Madison finds out online that the station doesn't open till 8pm, which is one hour before our train leaves, and it's only 4pm, 5 hours to wait at a deserted train station in a sketchy neighborhood! So the girls took us with them, driving around town killing time. We eventually stopped at Cook Out, a fast food chain in this area with grilled burgers and like 40 something flavors of shakes and got a bite to eat. We drive back to the station again and park. The car next to us belongs to a guy with greasy hair and a suit. He was up to something, I don't know what, but all four of us were so uncomfortable that we started driving around again. Eventually, with only 3 1/2 hours left, the girls dropped us back off at the train station which was still locked up. After hugs and goodbyes, cousin Mollie and Madison left for Blairsville. We walked around to the track side of the station trying to find a bench, but alas there were none. At this point we have locked up our house, locked and left our car, only have our packs, some food, and half a gallon of water; we are feeling very alone and abandoned. But, not without the knowledge that we have always been provided for in the past. So we looked for a place to sit on the concrete floor when suddenly an employee door opens up and a man pops out, his name is Chris. He tells us to come inside and allows us into the waiting room. He asks where we're hiking, we tell him the Appalachian trail, he says he sees lots of AT hikers come through here. He then asks if we have enough food and water. Yes, we have some of both, but he gives us a pack of bottled water and some moisty towels kits, and another pack of waters!!! This trip is already weeding out our fears and apprehensions.So, thank you so much to our first trail angels: cousin Mollie, Madison, and train station Chris
Date: 2016-05-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

So, cousin Mollie wanted to know what our train experience was like from Gainesville Georgia. She picked us up from our place today in her nice new Jeep, thank you. And she brought her friend Madison as navigator, water bottle opener, and banana peeler. First I have to say that they made this experience a lot more fun and a lot less stressful than it could have been. You girls made our send off a very memorable one, thank you both so much!So the four of us pull up to the station and it's located in the middle of Sketchy-ville! Not a good feeling. All of our spidey senses were on red alert. We try to go inside but the whole place is locked up tight. Madison finds out online that the station doesn't open till 8pm, which is one hour before our train leaves, and it's only 4pm, 5 hours to wait at a deserted train station in a sketchy neighborhood! So the girls took us with them, driving around town killing time. We eventually stopped at Cook Out, a fast food chain in this area with grilled burgers and like 40 something flavors of shakes and got a bite to eat. We drive back to the station again and park. The car next to us belongs to a guy with greasy hair and a suit. He was up to something, I don't know what, but all four of us were so uncomfortable that we started driving around again. Eventually, with only 3 1/2 hours left, the girls dropped us back off at the train station which was still locked up. After hugs and goodbyes, cousin Mollie and Madison left for Blairsville. We walked around to the track side of the station trying to find a bench, but alas there were none. At this point we have locked up our house, locked and left our car, only have our packs, some food, and half a gallon of water; we are feeling very alone and abandoned. But, not without the knowledge that we have always been provided for in the past. So we looked for a place to sit on the concrete floor when suddenly an employee door opens up and a man pops out, his name is Chris. He tells us to come inside and allows us into the waiting room. He asks where we're hiking, we tell him the Appalachian trail, he says he sees lots of AT hikers come through here. He then asks if we have enough food and water. Yes, we have some of both, but he gives us a pack of bottled water and some moisty towels kits, and another pack of waters!!! This trip is already weeding out our fears and apprehensions.So, thank you so much to our first trail angels: cousin Mollie, Madison, and train station Chris
Date: 2016-05-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well we arrived in Portland Maine late last night by bus from Boston, a very pretty city. Portland is also gorgeous. I have decided through personal experience that transportation by any method other than "beam me up Scotty," sucks. My sister had a much longer distance to travel coming from Florida. She wasn't due to arrive in Portland until 2pm today by train. Originally, Holly and I would have left Portland this morning to Bangor by bus then another bus to Medway where our shuttle service from the Appalachian trail lodge would have picked us up to spend the night in Millinocket. However, my sister would have only made it to Bangor but not in time to catch the only once-daily bus to Medway. She didn't have enough money to stay the night there so Holly and I decided to wait for my sister and stay here in Portland together and finish the journey to Baxter State Park together. At this point our launch date to katahdin should be June 2nd.We just ate dinner and it has been a good day. Btw, Nugen, if you're reading this, you must try the mint infused liquid cane sugar....it is amazing!!
Date: 2016-06-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

We are sitting here at the bus station in Bangor Maine, waiting for our 6:30pm bus to Medway. We've seen many people come and go over the last 4 1/2 hours. But I'll just tell you about the ones with backpacks. The first person to come in with a pack was a girl, tall with dark hair with blue tips; looks pretty cool. She has a large teal Osprey pack. Then two dudes came in together also with Osprey packs. Some of their gear looked dirty already so I assumed they were nobos going home but as I was eavesdropping on the guys talking to the girl I found out that the two guys already hiked Georgia and now they're completing the trail sobo. The girl is going sobo because she knows someone who was a sobo and plus it gave her a chance to save up more money for the trail.Why was I eavesdropping? Because, remember, I am a sobo and am less social than many, by choice. I plan on opening up more out on the trail but till then don't talk to me...totally just kidding! Haha, ahem.So there are a total of 6 AT hikers in here right now. 5 Osprey packs and one Gregory pack. The moral of the story is to use an Osprey pack !!There is also an Amish family sitting in the corner. An older man and woman traveling with a young man. They're each wearing the traditional clothing you would see an Amish family wear. They've been speaking in Pennsylvania Dutch, I'm fairly certain. They seem really nice as they are smiling and laughing while they eat their bigmacs.Maine is beautiful and the weather is gorgeous. It feels just like it did in Georgia a week ago. Anyways, I would like to take a moment and say hello and thank you to Worm, a bloke from Scotland who is following our journey! That's so awesome! He signed our guest book a couple of days ago, which I, we, really enjoy reading. I encourage all of you who follow us through the woods to message us through signing the guest book.Ill let you know of any more interesting conversations I eavesdrop in on. Ciao!!
Date: 2016-06-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Not sure why but trail journals placed this update in front of the earlier one today.Update: Finally made it to the Appalachian trail lodge! They said this was their biggest group ever and that the concord coach line driver, for the first time ever, had to call ahead to the Lodge with this, "I've got a bus full of those AT hiker people. You'd better have two shuttles ready to get all these people to the Lodge."So we've already set a new record for them. They even had a banner welcoming the AT hiker class of 2016!This is really a great place and I'm so glad we are here.This may be our last chance to update until the end of the 100 mile wilderness, approximately 12 days from now...stay tuned.
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Abol Pines Campground
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 2. It was only ten miles today. Only ten?!! Only ten, after a day of going up and down Katahdin. Had we not done the summit then today would have been WAY easier. I believe that I have discovered a new feature on my backpack and it's not something they tell you about at the outfitter: my pack has the ability to gradually absorb the surrounding air and slowly increase my pack weight. Yup, this morning I started with about 28-30 lbs and by the time we arrived at Abol bridge it weighed in at 45 lbs. It's magical.But the trail was gorgeous as it followed along a beautiful river of rushing white water. The 'maine' challenge of the trail today was roots. But not just any roots. These apparently have the ability to grow instantly up from the ground, wrap around a hiker's ankle and pull them down into oblivion.Holly and I learned something else today too; we thought that my sister's pack weight and dog would keep her trailing far behind us. But no, in fact her one-dog sled team propels her far ahead until she stops so we can catch up. Ever tasted crow?
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Abol Pines Campground

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 3 finds us here on the Penobscot River at Abol Pines campground across the road from the Abol bridge campground. There are fewer sites but it is more affordable. I'm sitting here catching up on days 1 & 2 for the journal while a group of white water rafters head downstream.Today is our first zero day. The last two days, as you know, were grueling. Holly and Lynn are both physically in pain as their bodies refuse to do anything with effort. But I was like that yesterday and today I feel pretty good so I believe they are recovering well and will feel much better tomorrow morning when we begin the 100 mile wilderness!! We also call it the 100 acre wood because of Winnie the Pooh. So far today we have acquainted ourselves with our campsite neighbor, Nehemiah. A super nice guy who bummed an already hurt knee. He left his life in California and decided to do something with his life and hit the trail. Tonight will be his third night at the campground giving his knee a rest. He's determined to head out tomorrow into the wilderness. We're rooting for him.Last night was our first night in our tent, the Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo. Lots of room. At this point our plans are to take an easy day tomorrow, known as a nero day, and hike just three miles into the wilderness to the Hurd Brook lean to.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Abol Pines Campground

To: Hurd Brook lean to
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 4. Today we each woke up feeling great. Lynn no longer walks like a grandma. We got to know a guy named Shawn. He works construction in Boston and comes to Abol Pines Campground a lot to unwind. He knows everything about the area and really enjoys helping out anyone including hikers so Holly started calling him the Caretaker. He thought it was funny that my sister is going without a stove and eating cold food. She had a Ziploc baggie of cold oatmeal sitting near the fire, trying to warm it up and so Shawn called her a cave girl, who seemed to have just discovered fire for the first time; and thus was born Lynn's trail name: Cave Girl.So we hiked three miles today from Abol bridge to Hurd Brook shelter. Holly and I beat Lynn...haha!! We met a ridge runner who gave us tons of advice and information. Her name is Moxie, from the cola drink up here in the north. We met our first nobo today named Dirt, who started in February. He signed the log book and left. Right now there are about 15 or so people at a six man lean to. But only three of us are inside and everyone else is in their own shelters.We've got three days to get past Jo Mary rd. To pick up our resupply. The Appalachian trail lodge will drop off a five gallon bucket of our food in a secret hiding place. They gave us instructions on where to find it but I lost them. Fortunately I took a picture of them with my camera. At this point we are 37 miles away from there. Hopefully we can do twelve miles tomorrow. We'll see!