morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-08-27
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Sidney Tappan Campsite
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

Today was an interesting day, mostly from a people standpoint. We started with a climb up Chairback Mt. There were dark clouds on the horizon, but they passed us by and soon the sun was shining. Coming down off Chairback was a steep trail through a rock slide, slow going. Mid morning a guy passed us kind of jogging/hopping/fast walking down the trail. He had a headlamp on and just a hydration pack. A little while later we met two women who asked if we'd met Karel. He's trying to break the record for the fastest supported hike of the entire AT. We met his support team at a road crossing; he was already gone. He's on day 40 and hopes to finish tomorrow.  He's averaged 52 miles per day so far! More importantly his support team gave us some Snickers bars, cookies, and cheese puffs. Back to hiking, we had a stream to wade. It was wide and less than knee deep; it felt great on the feet. We took a lunch break by Gulf Hagas Stream. There was a side trail that would take you to Maine's Grand Canyon and several day hikers were doing that hike.Later we met a young girl who had started in March, too. She broke her elbow, was off seven weeks -- and now has passed me. When she told me her trail name was Eleven, it came back to me that I was in Glasgow, VA, and she was heading there when she fell. Several of her friends were in Glasgow and told me about it. The last part of today's hike was up to Gulf Hagas Mt, and then it was fairly flat to this campsite. We got here at 4:30, so we got the best spots! We set up camp, got water, then built a fire. Several new hikers here tonight, Boomerang, Meltdown, Bean, and Sweatline. Savage and Poe showed up after dark but had just seen a mother moose and baby up close.Fitbit steps 32679    floors 293
Date: 2018-08-28
From: Sidney Tappan Campsite

To: Mountain View Pond
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: broken clouds

This was the last day of carrying a full pack up a big mountain. The day started with climbs over West Peak, Hay Mt, and White Cap Mt. White Cap was the last and the tallest at 3600 feet. We sat up there for close to an hour. On a clear day you can see Katahdin, but it was a little hazy. Still there were good views of all the lakes in the valleys. The climb down wasn't too bad. It was steep but hikeable-- not rock climbing. We ate lunch at a shelter part way down. Josh and Tang (sorry Drew there's another Tang out here!) were there when we arrived. Two SOBO'S stopped also, then Savage and Poe got there before we left.We're camped by this pond, arriving about 4:15. We set up tents, then walked 0.2 miles to a spring to get better water than pond water. I cooked and ate the two dinners I had left (food drop tomorrow for last 3 days). It started to rain, and we headed for our tents about 6:45.The terrain from here to Katahdin is fairly flat, so we plan to do some bigger miles the next few days. Fitbit steps 30546 floors 264
Date: 2018-08-29
From: Mountain View Pond

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 14.2

Another interesting day on the AT. The didn't rain long last night, and our tents were dry this morning. We were hiking by 7 and had just under 3 miles to a road where we'd get our food drop. We went up and over Little Boardman Mt a climb of 400 feet. We got to the road and had 40 minutes to wait. Shaw's showed up right at 9, and we reloaded our food bags for the next 3 days. They also brought each of us a cold beer. We thought about having it at camp tonight but it wouldn't be cold, so we drank it there. The terrain the rest of the day was great. We took several breaks and still got to camp about 3:30. We hiked by several lakes and Cooper Brook with cascading waterfalls.We're at Antlers Campsite which is out on a peninsula, so we have water on three sides. It's a beautiful spot. I waded in and took a bandana bath. Again tonight right after dinner, a storm blew in. This one dumped rain and had some thunder and lightning. I stayed mostly dry with some splashes caming up under the rain fly. Thumper ended up in a puddle, and the water came through the floor of her tent. She got out and found a dryer spot to move her tent to, but Darth Vader and Nasa had checked radar and another band was coming. Thumper was nervous about sitting in a tent in standing water in a lightning storm, so she came and sat in my tent until round 2 passed. She apologized for crowding me, and I told her this was nothing. I got to tell about the time I slept sitting on a 5 gallon bucket at the river bank while keeping the fire going and tucking the plastic around my snoring Dad and brother!The rain stopped, and I helped her move her tent to higher ground. She dried it out the best she could. These are the nights that aren't much fun but make a great story later!It's still only 9:30 so hopefully I'll get good night's sleep. Three more days of hiking and then summit day (the AT ends at the top of My Katahdin). Fitbit steps 34514     floors 106
Date: 2018-08-30
From: Antlers Campsite

To: Crescent Pond
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

We woke up to a cool windy morning. Everything had dried out pretty well. Thumper and I had coffee out on the point with water on three sides. That is a nice campsite, when it's not flooded!It was 8:15 by the time we started hiking, and the first mile and a half were by the lake. I had a text from Savage last night that Poe had forgot a fishing pole and small tackle box on a sandy beach, so we stopped there and found it. We didn't catch them today, so I'm still carrying it.We stopped for lunch by a big lake that Knobs, Shaggy, and I camped by 11 years ago. It was windy but beautiful.After lunch was a few small ups and downs then a climb up Nesuntabunt Mt.  At the top we had a great view of Mt Katahdin. It was still 35 trail miles away, but the end is in site!When we got to this campsite about 6, there was another tent here. When we went to get water -- there was Ed and Elaine, the couple from England that I haven't seen since New York. Thumper and I set up our tents, then cooked dinner down by the pond with Ed and Elaine. They are great people, and it was good to catch up.  Fitbit steps 44141      floors 243
Date: 2018-08-31
From: Crescent Pond

To: Abol Pines Campsite
Miles today: 19.1

Beautiful day weather wise, highs probably around 70 and no wind. Ed and Elaine were out early as they were headed for Abol Bridge and hitching into town. Our plan was to hike 15.5 to the last shelter in the 100 mile wilderness, but as the day progressed we started thinking about going to Abol Bridge -- if we could get there before the restaurant closed at 7. The hike today took us by several small ponds and then by Rainbow Lake. Rainbow Lake is several miles long. We saw a pontoon plane land and take off.We made good time today. We got to Abol Bridge about 5:30 and saw Ed and Elaine yogi a ride to town. We are camped at this campground which was a little confusing, so we asked a young couple if they knew how the sites were laid out. They didn't know but invited us back for a beer after we set up. We set our tents up, then went to the restaurant for food. After eating we stopped by the young couples' campsite and had a beer or three. Their names are Doug and Lyndzey just got married 2 weeks ago. Doug is an electrical engineer -- which was my first career. We built a fire and hung out way too late!Tomorrow we have a fairly easy 10 miles into Baxter State Park where I will meet Julie, Ben, and Molly. This is the last night camping in my tent on this trip!Hard to believe it's almost over.Fitbit steps 46136     floors 248
Date: 2018-09-01
From: Abol Pines Campsite

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 9.8

Last day carrying a full pack! I started packing up at 6:15. Thumper headed out earlier to sign up for a campsite in Baxter State Park. With the Native American gathering there are only 12 spots for thru-hikers to camp tonight. Julie, Ben and Molly were picking me up, so I would be staying in town.I went to the camp store at 7 and bought some food for both of us, then hiked to catch Thumper. It was a nice hike today and there was no big hurry. I saw a bald eagle along the Penopscot River. We took a break on a large rock slab and got to watch rafting boats pull up, and the people get out and float individually down a small rapids.Took another break at Big Niagara Falls. We hiked be Daicy and Grassy Ponds before arriving at Katahdin Stream Campground. I registered as a thru-hiker and am number 620 to get here. Savage and Poe came down from Katahdin while we waited. Their hike is done!Julie, Ben, and Molly showed up about 5 and we headed to town. I showered and had dinner, then made arrangements for a shuttle back to the park and the last day tomorrow! Fitbit steps 27858    floors 114
Date: 2018-09-02
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Mt. Katahdin Summit
Miles today: 5.2

Summit Day and the end of this journey! We caught the AT Lodge shuttle this morning at 6:30. Ed and Elaine were on the shuttle also. We told them our plan for Julie to pick us up, and they decided to hike with us.There was a half hour wait in line to get in the park and many people were turned away. We got to the trailhead about 8 and headed up the trail. The first mile was smooth, then it got progressively steeper. Above tree line we got to boulder climbing.It started out foggy but halfway up the fog disappeared and we had some great views. 30 minutes later the fog moved back in as fast as it had left. We saw Thumper on her way down and made plans for dinner. At the table lands the trail leveled out quite a bit and we had 1.6 miles to finish. It was foggy enough that we couldn't see the sign until we were almost on top of it.I must say I had a wave of emotions reaching that sign and the end of this journey. It's been one hell of a ride!We took all the normal pictures then sat and ate lunch. The fog never lifted while we were up there. Afteran hour we headed back down.We took the Abol Trail down. It's shorter than the AT and kept us out of the Native American gathering. We got down at 5 and Julie was waiting for us. We finished the day with dinner with Thumper, Ed and Elaine.  Tomorrow there will be no hiking!Fitbit steps 27203    floors 387
Date: 2018-09-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It's been 5 days since I finished the trail so this is as update on what I've been up to.On Monday we woke up in Milliknocit and went to the AT Cafe for breakfast. Thumper joined us there. Julie bought me three new AT tee shirts and a coffee mug. I signed the 2018 hiker ceiling tile which will be displayed in the ceiling. I asked about where the 2007 signatures were and back then we signed a wooden door that was right behind the ceiling tile that I just signed. Molly finally spotted "Twofer" and it ended up being just above the 2018 ceiling tile that was leaning against it. Later Ben looked at the photo he took of my 2018 signing and the 2007 signing was in the same picture!We checked out of the motel, picked up Thumper and headed out. We gave Thumper a ride to Bangor to pick up a rental car. She planned to visit some friends as she headed to her Dad's house in Connecticut. After we dropped her off we drove to Acadia National Park for a quick tour before heading back to Boston.Tuesday I aired all my gear out, washed my hiking clothes then loaded the pack back up and put it in a duffel for checking baggage on our flight home. I managed to squeeze a nap into my "busy" day!Wednesday was another lazy day. Ben and Molly were working so we hung out with their dog Chloe all day. I did get outside and did a little yard work. We also got organized for flying home the next day. The four of us went out to dinner before calling it a night.Thursday we flew back to Iowa. We got to Des Moines before noon and met my parents, my older sister and my brother for lunch. It was great to see everyone for the first time in 7 months! Finally we drove home, unloaded the car and found the couch! Today I got my haircut and beard trimmed up a bit, so I don't look quite as much like a homeless person!I'll try to do a better comparison of my two AT hikes in a few days but here's some quick thoughts. My pace was very similar for most of the hike. I think I slowed down some this trip in New Hampshire and southern Maine. That is the toughest hiking and it felt tougher this time, maybe because I'm 11 years older, or maybe because the weather was worse (let's go with the latter)! The weather was definetly worse this hike than the first. I had more cold weather, more rain and a whole lot more days above 90 deg. I remember thinking on my first hike "I wonder how I'd handle a bad weather year?" There are many things that can take a person off the trail, and I feel very lucky and blessed to have finished both hikes.Thanks to everyone for following along with me and for all the encouraging guest book posts!!
Date: 2018-09-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I finally got my Fitbit data totaled and did a comparision of my two hikes.Fitbit totals are: steps 6,118,627 and floors 51,656The AT says it's a journey of 5 million steps but that is just for the trail miles. I don't know how accurate my fitbit is but it's a good comparision for day to day effort. The fitbit also gives me credit for all the off trail miles I walked; i.e. to and from water sources and campsites, to and from towns, zero day miles, etc. The floors became something I'd look at if the day felt tough. Anything over 500 floors was a tough day! Fitbit sets the daily goal for floors at 10 and since I'm from Iowa that is not always easy to get when I'm home!Here is a comparision of the stats of my two hikes. One of my goals this trip was to spend more time in the woods and I did that!                               2018           2007Miles                           2192.0          2174.2# Days                           184            179Zero Days                         17             18Hiking Days                       167            161Avg miles/day                     11.91           12.15Avg miles/hiking day                13.13           13.50Nights in a shelter                    9             42Nights in my tent                    126            66Nights in a hotel                     17            42Nights ia a hostel                     22            24Nights in a house                     10             5                     Days over 20 miles                    5             11Days 15-20 miles                     60             49Days 10-15 miles                     62             64Days 5-10 miles                      35             35Days 0.1-5 miles                      5              2
Date: 2018-06-05
To: Off trail
Miles today: 0.0

Day 0 My AT section hike was complicated by the fact that I am running to be a state representative.  That meant my hike needed to start only a few days after my students graduated and I needed to get a campaign letter out before I hit the trail.  It wouldn¢t have happened without help from a great group of friends, Bill and Ann, Joyce, Emery, Brent, and my wonderful wife.  Letters in the mail, I packed for the trail and we headed to Cincinnatti to stay with our sun Joel before an early morning flight to Baltimore.
Date: 2018-06-06
From: PennMarr, PA

To: Snowy Mountain
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 1It was up at 5:15 for a 7:00 flight to Baltimore.  A friend, Mary and her husband, Dewey, are in charge of maintaining the trail in Southern Pennsylvania.  They live in Baltimore and Mary offered to help out with my hike when I make it their section.  She offered to pick me up at the airport and drive me to the MD/PA border.  She even hiked with me for the first few miles.  It also gave her a chance to check the trail for maintenance needs.  It was one of the best maintained sections I have hiked!  We hiked south fir about a hundred yards to the state line, also the Mason Dixon Line, I was hiking on the Northern part of the AT fir my first time.  I started my hike at 11:30 and did 12 miles to a campsite on Snowy Mountain.  The best view on the trail today was at Chimney Rocks, although the mountain laurel along the trail was awesome.
Date: 2018-06-07
To: Woodrow Road
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 2The day started by hiking 6 miles to Caledonia State Park.  It is a beautiful state park, but the first thing I was interested in was. Water from a faucet that I didn¢t need to filter.  I met a young boy (maybe 4 or 5) who was walking with his grandmother.  He was curious about my pack and my hike.  I told him I hike about 200 miles each summer.  He replied, ¢I can count to 200!¢  I think I met a future mathematician.  I had a snack at s picnic table with four through hikers.  They were looking enviously at a group of ladies a few tables over.  The ladies had quite a spread of food on the table and the through hikers were wondering if the ladies might offer them some.  I told the I would ¢prime the pump¢ for them.  As I got up to hike on, I stopped at he ladies table and said if they happened to Gabe any good left that hey didn¢t want, the thru/hikers would be thrilled with it.  I learned later from the group of thru-hikers that the ladies came through with lots of food for them. I did 21 miles and camped at a great campsite.  The thru-hikers went another mike to the next shelter.  They had hiked from Georgia and didn¢t know how to hang their food bag so they always stay at shelters that have some kind of bear system.  I like the idea of hiking until I find a great campsite along the trail.  This one was great except for the whipper-will that tried to sing me to sleep,  I carry ear plugs in case I sleep in a shelter with people who snore.  They also work for whipper-wills!
Date: 2018-06-08
To: Near Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 3I am on the trail at the peak of the mountain laurel bloom.  They are wonderful.  When I look up I see mountain laurels and when I look down I see lots of milky quartz.  One piece of quartz was about 8 feet long and 3 feet wide.  It was partially coated in bright green moss.  Many smaller pieces of quartz are along the trail.  Interesting fact - well, interesting to me - quartz is a predominant rock (or mineral?) in the Appalachian Mountains.  It contributes to the low ph of the region, which is what provides the perfect soil for mountain laurel, rhododendrons, and blueberries.  The mountain laurel is at its peak; unfortunately the blueberries are not.I hiked to Pine Grove Furnace State Park.  It is known along the trail as the site of an AT museum and the site of the half-gallon challenge.  Thru hikers try to eat a half gallon of ice cream.  I opted for a pint, because I knew I had many more miles to hike.  The museum was great.  Besides the history of the trail, it had stories of early thru hikers.  Several of them hiked the trail in their 70¢s.  Who knows, I might finish this thing yet.I left the museum and headed north on the trail at the same time as a middle-aged couple.  The woman said to me, ¢You go first, because I am a slow hiker.¢  I said we¢d probably meet again because I took frequent breaks.  As I hiked along the gravel path through the park I heard them hiking behind me, and getting closer.  I hiked a bit faster, but they stayed right on my tail.  I hiked faster.  Finally, when the AT turned off the gravel path and headed up a steep incline, I decided I needed to step aside and let them pass.  To my surprise, it wasn¢t the couple I had talked to earlier. It was two young men with very long legs.  The couple was too far back to be seen.  I slowed down my pace and headed up the mountain.The plan was to do another 20 mile day.  It was mostly level with one big climb and something call a rock maze.  I pictured a bunch of rocks set in concentric circles on the flat top of a mountain.  The kind that people leisurely follow while meditating or contemplating life.  It was not that kind of maze.  It was a bunch of huge boulders that you had to go around, squeeze between, and climb over.  One was so large that I wasn¢t sure I could climb over it with my pack - but I did.  There were arrows and white blazes to show the way, but I was pretty sure there was a more direct path without quite so many climbs and tight squeezes.  If it wasn¢t located at mile 17 of my day, it might have been entertaining.I completed the maze and did three more miles to a camp site at a creek crossing near a huge patch of germs.  There were no other hikers there so I spent the night in my tent alone in the forest.
Date: 2018-06-09
To: Carlisle
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

I was 4 miles from Boiling Springs, less than two hours of hiking, so I decided to hike into town for a real breakfast rather than a protein bar breakfast.  My hike started through a forest with easy ascents a descents.  I was surprised by the number of sink holes I passed along the hike.  As I neared Boiling Springs, the trail exited the woods and I found myself hiking along a cornfield.  The terrain was completely flat.  The trail was suddenly ¢crowded¢ with day hikers, walkers, joggers, and people walking dogs.  I guess they liked the flat trail, but I couldn¢t help but wonder why they chose this spot to experience the Appalachian Trail because it didn¢t exactly connect with nature.  Just past the corn field was a CAFO (confined animal feeding operation).  It was about a half mile away, but the smell was over powering.  The fields are owned by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC).  I assume the CAFO is not owned by the ATC.As I hiked into Boiling Springs I stopped at the ATC regional office.  I asked about a good place to eat and I asked about the sinkholes.  The volunteer looks me they weren¢t sink holes, but charcoal puts used long ago to make charcoal for the iron furnace.  He also pointed me to a great breakfast spot and said I could leave my pack at the ATC center.  After a great meal, I hiked on to the next town, Carlisle, where I planned to stay in a hotel so I could wash my clothes and leave behind some things from my pack.  I had packed too quickly and was carrying extra weight.  I was hoping to leave some stuff at the hotel to pick up after my hike.
Date: 2018-06-10
To: Duncannon
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 5Rain was predicted for all day and all night.  So much for getting dry clothes.  Most thru-hikers were taking a zero day.  I decided to hike 18 miles in the rain and stay at a hotel in Duncannon.  It rained steady mist of he day.  I folded up one of my hiking poles and used my umbrella.  I still got wet but it kept the rain off my glasses - for the most part.  I only saw one other hiker all day, when I stopped at a shelter to eat and rest.  When I stopped hiking, the rain, the wind, and my wet clothes made me cold, so I didn¢t rest long.  I did meet about six trail runners.  I wasn¢t sure if they liked the rain because it kept them from getting hot, or if they ran the trail every Sunday regardless of the weather. When I reached the road to Duncannon there was a sign with a number to call for a ride to the Red Carpet Inn.  I looked at the trail map and saw I was going to hike right past the Doyle Hotel in town.  That was probably a mistake.  Duncannon was a sad town that I think has seen better days - I hope it has seen better days.  The Doyle cost $25 per night and was probably over priced.  I decided to call the Ref Carpet Inn.  They picked me up and took me to a real hotel.  I got in 18 miles and got to dry my clothes and shoes at the end of the day.