morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-07-23
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: broken clouds

Last night was ....interesting. The doctor who insisted we all bear bag and not mouse hang, baited mouse traps with cheese and placed them around the shelter. I woke up hearing a mouse skittering and munching. It was stuck in the trap but eating the cheese. I did what any good wife would do and woke up my husband to take care of the mouse. Luckily the mouse trap near the doctor's head didn't catch anything. I tried to talk to him about how the woods are the mouse's home and we are the intruders, but he wasn't interested.We got up at 5 and were hiking by 5:45 because we knew we wanted to go some big miles. The elevation profile was great with only one climb. There were rocks and roots and bogs and big bridges but also smooth pine needle laden trails. We saw lots of southbound hikers with huge packs. Hard to believe that that was us 5 months ago. But we did start with 26 and 30 pound packs and two of the guys we saw today were carrying 50 pounds. I could not do that! We met Green Briar, a southbound hiker, at a lean-to when we stopped for a snack. He got his name because he went to a forager seminar and enjoyed feeding himself from the land. When we left him, after eating our store-bought trail mix, he was getting his fishing pole ready to catch his lunch.We found wild blueberries and stopped for a late snack. I was hoping a bear would come by to share with us so I could get a Blueberries for Sal photo. But it didn't happen.We are staying at White House Landing. It's a camp on a lake. We are hanging in our cabin, had hot showers and a delicious burger, chips and pizza dinner. Santa had 4 sodas! Looking forward to their hiker breakfast tomorrow.It's bittersweet for me to be this close to Katahdin and know that I have to go back and hike the Mahoosuc and White mountains. I was also disappointed because since the first day in Georgia I told people I was going to summit with one of my best friends and it looked like it wasn't going to happen. But Santa talked to Donna and Paul tonight and if we can kick it up and summit on Tuesday they can finish with us. I will have someone to talk to (if I can catch my breath) and someone to cry with when it gets scary! So excited!!!
Date: 2016-07-24
From: White House Landing

To: Rainbow Lake Campsite
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: clear sky

We had a good nights sleep in our little cabin on the lake. The husband of the annoying lady was drinking Jim Bean at 7am. The annoying lady was even more annoying today. She dislikes public school teachers and thinks compulsory education should end at age 13, she thinks they shouldn't maintain the trail but should do better water management so the animals can drink, she thinks autism is caused by children being confined to classrooms, etc.We were hiking 19.4 miles today and got a late start. They don't serve breakfast until 7:30 and shuttles happen after breakfast. Breakfast was good- eggs, bacon, English muffins and all you could eat blueberry pancakes. The late start is somewhat demoralizing though. We didn't get in until 7 because we started about 2 hours later than usual. Making dinner, setting up the tent and other camp chores are easier at 5 than 7.We had a good hike and saw 13 southbound hikers. Two of them were not allowed to hike Katahdin because of lightning and hail storms Saturday and Sunday. Our forecast is looking good though.We stopped for snack and water breaks frequently because it was really hot and humid today. Lots of great water sources which was awesome. A couple of our breaks were to pick and eat wild blueberries. Yum!When we got to the campsite there were lots of tents here. The father and son we were at White House Landing with, two young women southbounding, a couple going north and a sister pair and a husband section hiking north. We chatted with the one sister and she was opinionated and funny. She suggested that we go swimming in the lake. I tried but it was too cold for me. I did rinse off and it felt very refreshing. There was a piped spring with cold tasty water.Off to sleep because we are doing another 19 mile day to set us up to summit on Tuesday! Nervous, excited, scared to climb the mountain that we got our first glimpse of today. It is very imposing. The loons are going to serenade us as we sleep tonight.
Date: 2016-07-25
From: Rainbow Lake Campsite

To: The Birches Lean-to
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Our tent was on quite a slant last night so we both slid down to the bottom of our tent. Not the greatest night of sleep on this journey. We were both awake at 4:30 so decided to get up and moving. Packed up, ate breakfast and were on the trail at 5:15.We came to Rainbow Ledges and had another unbelievable view of Katahdin. And there were so many ripe blueberries at the top of the ledges. I just sat and picked them and then popped them into my mouth. A very wonderful break. The terrain was rocky, rooty and boggy and the mosquitoes were out but there wasn't very much elevation gain or loss.At lunchtime we got to the Abol Campground Store for lunch. Santa had the steak bomb, fries and two Mountain Dews. I had the Thanksgiving panini, fries, coleslaw and a soda. It was nice to sit out of the sun and have lunch. Plus we got to wash our hands with running water and soap before we ate!After lunch we had 10 more miles to the ranger station to sign up for the long distance hiker lean-to.Tomorrow we hike the last big mountain. I am driving Santa crazy because I am super nervous about it-especially because the forecast is for rain and thunderstorms.Off to bed so we can be up early to meet our friends Donna and Paul for the final climb.
Date: 2016-08-01
From: Gorham, NH

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

*Editor's Note: Wonder wants to hike the entire trail this year, so she and Santa will be going on short trips and day hikes to finish up the bits she missed*Great dinner and sleep last night. Ready to finish this 5 day stretch. Mike, our friend in Rangeley and the guy who loaned me his poles, is going to hike the last day with us.It didn't start off well. Santa was going to choose between his running shoes and boots. The shoes didn't have insoles so it's the boots. They don't appear to be comfortable, and his pokes aren't working. He was able to fix one bit not the other. Going to be a long day.We are going 17.5 today. Santa remembers them as not being fun. We shall see.They weren't fun! Poorly marked and maintained trail. Rocks, roots and rain. All the NOBOs were complaining when they got to the shelter. So we weren't the only ones who didn't have fun today. The shelter is full as are the tenting platforms. It's crazy busy here.Got in late, ate dinner, smelled the pot the younger hikers were smoking and went to sleep. Someone's alarm went off three times! Most annoying!We met a young woman who is a teacher in New Jersey (so happy I teach where I do-it's ugly out there) who we saw at Harrison's. She is SOBO and still a happy hiker. And excited to get a trail name. She was so excited about the 12 patriotic pancakes that her name is now Pancakes. Didn't get a picture yesterday because of the rain but hopefully I will find one in my archive.Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. We are only doing 9.5 but it's the Mahoosuc Notch and Arm so we will see how that goes.
Date: 2016-08-02
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: broken clouds

Interesting night in the shelter. A SOBO had his phone on and the alarm went off at 1am and his phone rang later on in the night.We were up and out to do the "most difficult or most fun mile" on the AT. It was a difficult hike to the Notch because the rocks were still wet from the rain yesterday and there were a lot of rocks! The Notch wasn't too bad. We felt it was more or less the AT in NH and Maine- lots of rocks, very few blazes. The rocks were bigger and we got to crawl through some spaces. There was still snow and ice in some crevices and the air was noticeably cooler. We got water at the stream and it was frosty good! I had a moment when I was on a rock and had to get to the other side by jumping over a very steep crack in the rocks- I was super scared and afterwards came very close to hyperventilating. That wasn't much fun. After the Notch we had a super steep climb up the Mahoosuc Arm to get to Speck Pond where we were going to spend the night.There is a group of 4 sheltering- parents and their grown children who are hiking plus a lot of people tenting. There is a caretaker so it's a fee site. He does trail maintenance and keeps people from making a mess at the pond.It's a 17 mile hike tomorrow to Andover for our resupply. Excited to shower, do laundry and eat town food.We saw two people we know hiking today. One was a guy we met in Monson who remembered us because we have him some of our extra food. He fondly recalled the yumminess of the patriotic cupcakes the girls sent us. And we saw Itailia again. She shared our tent during an afternoon thunderstorm in the 100 Mile Wilderness. That added a lot of fun to our day.
Date: 2016-08-03
From: Speck Pond Shelter

To: East B Hill Rd
Miles today: 14.9

We had some good chats with the older couple and their children last night. The Mahoosucs have not been good to them. He fell and broke his hip two years ago and she did something to her ankle yesterday. They had a four mile hike to their car today so I hope it went well. It was a tough four miles.The first 4 miles were the end of the climb up Old Speck Mountain. It wasn't any more fun than the earlier climb but it was over fairly quickly. Then we had a steep down with lots of "butt scooting" happening. Santa's shorts are beyond repair and headed for the garbage heap. After we went down up we went to Baldpate West then down and right back up Baldpate East. Steep granite climbs but on the peaks there were ledges and ledges mean blueberries!We climbed down and passed the Frye Notch Lean-to and met a hiker section hiking New England. He miscalculated how long it would take him and was low on food so I shared the extras in my food bag- I always have extra food.The hike after the lean-to to the road crossing where we were being shuttled into Andover was sweet. Gentle ups and downs on pine needle trail. There were some steep bits but not a lot so no complaints.Santa's feet are toast. He had raw bleeding blisters on his little toes and heels. It was painful watching him walk. I can't imagine how much it hurt him to walk. We discussed what we should do about my section into Rangeley. We thought about asking a friend to hike with me or me doing it myself. The tent would be hard for me to carry.While we were waiting for a shuttle, we talked with a young woman who has been slack packing. So I am going to slack pack the next three days and get this section done. A little nervous but eager to hike this section and be finished.Long day and now going to sleep with a belly full of town cheeseburger, salad, fries and a chocolate milk shake. Life is good.
Date: 2016-08-04
From: East B Hill Rd

To: South Arm Rd
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

We slept well in our cabin in the woods. I wasn't sure I would because I was a teeny tiny but nervous about hiking on my own. But I slept and even slept in until 6!Off to breakfast at The Little Red Hen. The cook's daughter has laminated sheets with book reviews, an ongoing story, a journal ... It was fun to read and her mom gave me copies to share with my friend Donna who teaches fourth grade. It could be a fun summer project.So, fueled on mixed berry pancakes, eggs and cranberry juice, I started my solo hike. I started with a climb. Took my time, stopped and had a few "breath breaks" and some water. Then down a steep trail with rebar ladders, wooden ladders, rebar banisters and stone steps. The MATC loves stone steps and so do I. Think about doing a few flights of stairs and it's tiring but fighting your way up slippery rock while doing the same climb is much harder. It's a lot of work to make these stairs and I appreciate it! We always stop to thank maintainers when we see them.I stopped at the Hall Mountain Lean-to for lunch (a salad I packed out, Bugles and a candy bar). I wasn't very hungry so didn't eat my tuna and tortillas. I talked with two NOBO hikers that weren't excited about the climb to come. It didn't help that water was sketchy and scarce. I am happy that I always carry a lot even though it's heavy.I called the hostel to tell them when to pick me up. We had a miscommunication and they were going to pick me up at 2. As I was leisurely hiking along, I did the math. Oh no! I would never make it. So I power hiked the last real climb of the day and called back. Thankfully I had service and was able to change time to 3.Back to my happy hike. I stopped at all view points, took pictures, talked with other hikers and meandered my way down the trail.Two couples with their dogs were hiking and when we stopped to chat with each other they told me about a moose bone farther down the trail. I got a picture and sent it to two people who have children that are following our journey. One last stop to admire the pond and then I hiked to the road. The hostel people weren't there but Santa was! And he had two ice cold bottles of juice for me.So my first day hiking in Maine on my own was sweet. Hoping tomorrow is as nice. And then a friend, who is contemplating his own thru hike, will join me for the third day.We met a man who shuttles for the hostel. He is a trail chaplain and this is how he's serving the trail this season. He and Santa got to chat at length when he gave Santa a ride to Gorham to get his truck. So we now have a church to visit in Littleton, a book to read and a video to watch. Meeting interesting people on the trail has been one of the most amazing parts of our journey.
Date: 2016-08-05
From: South Arm Rd

To: Rte 4
Miles today: 24.4
Weather: light rain

It was a chilly night in our rustic cabin. I slept with my liner plus the blanket but Santa was a little chilly with just the blanket. But all is good and we got up, dressed, packed up and off to breakfast. Back to The Little Red Hen for the hungry hiker breakfast- pancakes, eggs, bacon, home fries, hash and toast. I don't eat hash so Santa took care of that for me.My last day in Maine on my own. Started with a climb up Old Blue Mountain. Stopped at the viewpoints to take pictures and catch my breath. It's hot today do I started drinking my water early. I wasn't particularly enjoying the climb. About half way up I saw a SOBO who was ecstatic about spending the night on top of Old Blue. His enthusiasm made finishing the climb much easier.The middle part of the day was the usual ups and downs. The forest changed a lot and it made the hike much more interesting. At lunch time I was on top of the first Bemis Mountain peak and stopped to eat my salad, raspberry muffin, Bugles and M&Ms. Then I noticed all the blueberries- took an extra long break to pick and eat. Then I waked on lots of ledge but the climbs and downs were more gradual than usual and there were lots of blueberries. Not making great time but having fun.I ran out of water 2 miles from the end (the only water source I saw this stretch was a stagnant puddle). I wasn't in any danger but once you know you don't have water, you tend to get really thirsty. I had a mule climb down (steep, tricky and not fun) then a mile climb to meet Santa. As I was finishing the climb down I saw a red truck on the gravel road. I was excited because I thought Santa had come to meet me early and had drinks but also bummed because I wasn't going to be done and would still have a mile climb. But it wasn't Santa- it was Teddie and Bruce! They were trail angels with drinks and food. I had a coke, a water and another coke. Couldn't stay for a burger because Santa was waiting so I took two blueberry muffins to go. It was awesome to sit, rest and chat. I didn't see many people today so it was kinda lonely on the trail.As I climbed I saw Scootch, a SOBO we met earlier in Maine. We were going to chat but the trail angels were planning on packing up so I moved her along so she could get dinner and a drink.One last nasty climb and there was Santa. He brought me juice, a sandwich and watermelon. So I ate and told him about my day as we drove to Mike and Diane's cabin.They hosted us when I got back on the trail in Rangeley and Mike is going to hike my last 13 miles with me. Diane has lots of family visiting. We had a barbecue last night then Santa and I went off to sleep in our tent. It sprinkled last night so I am glad that we didn't cowboy camp.A little nervous about a new hiking buddy because it's always been Santa and I. I hope I don't slow him down too much! Mike says he doesn't talk much while hiking (I should be used to that). One more day in Maine!
Date: 2016-08-06
From: Rte 4

To: Rte 17
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Had a good dinner with our friends Mike and Diane and Diane's family. They had a full house so we set up our tent and fell asleep listening to happy family noise as they played Monopoly.Mike and I were up early and Diane got up with us to make breakfast. Santa took us to the trail and Mike and I started our walk.We had a steep up to begin but then the trail eased into gradual ups and downs. We stopped at ponds to take pictures and ate some blueberries. Then Mike asked, "Is that thunder?" I answered, "No, that's an airplane." But then we heard it again and it was thunder. We still had lots of miles so we just hiked along and got sprinkled on.We stopped for lunch and Mike pulled out his maps. He is a map/compass hiker. I wish I was but I have spatial issues and maps are confusing to me. My Guthook app makes sense to me and is helpful. Mike did think we might be off the trail at one point because the area we were walking on was overgrown but we were still on the AT.It was great having company. We chatted about the trail, our families, religion and politics. It made the miles go quickly.Once we finished, Santa dropped Mike off at his house and I used the bathroom then Santa and I headed to Mass. We wanted to go to church in the morning, visit with a special little boy, see Santa's brother and then go to NH to see our girls. It's a busy life sometimes.
Date: 2016-04-17
From: Wallace Gap/Franklin -Ron Haven Budget Inn 

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Susan (828-371-0849 -Husband-trail name Hometown) picked me up and I began at Winding Stair. Thanks Susan! A Very nice couple gave me fruit & carrots at Wayah Bald. They hiked down to the shelter to see what they look like. Their son hiked last year. Wish I had gotten their name.
Date: 2016-04-20
From: NOC

To: Cheoah Bald campsite
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: clear sky

Ranger Bob met me for breakfast at the River's End Restaurant. Later Ginny arrived and we all started uphill. Ginny hiked most of the trail and then turned around to head south to her car. Bob and I continued and tented on top. Great views. Thanks Bob & Ginny for sharing the day and night with me on the trail.
Date: 2016-04-30
From: Uncle Johnny's Hostel

To: Uncle Johnny's Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Zero to attend the festival in town and enjoy festival at Uncle Johnny's! He & Charlotte know how to make the hikers happy. Rained late afternoon, but the party went on until dark. Won a pair of socks from Mr. Fix-it. Cruising Missile is a hair stylist in Manhattan. She gave me a trim. Thank you! (Can't remember the guy photo bombing us)
Date: 2016-04-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well for some stupid reason I'm thinking about hiking the Appalachian Trail again.   After all things worked out so well the last time. In 2013, I started my hike on April 22nd. On April 27th (which by the way is my birthday) I took a nasty fall and broke 2 ribs. I had hiked about 50 miles and was 10 miles or so from the Georgia - North Carolina border. I heard a crack when I fell so I was rather certain my ribs were broken. I took a few days off hoping I would feel better. Rather than go to the hospital I wanted to hike a few miles just to be sure I couldn't continue my little trip. I hiked another 50 or 60 miles and the pain was unbearable. Lessons learned: 1. Broken ribs hurt like hell2. It's hard to breath at times3. You can't lay flat on your back or your side 4. Most importantly you just can't carry a 32 pound pack and hike through the mountainsThe bottom line is I went to the hospital in Franklin North Carolina and the doctor told me I could stay in a hotel for 2 months or go home and enjoy the summer. So my first AT hike ended at 110 miles.
Date: 2016-04-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

This year if I go I'm planning on hiking the month of June. I say if I go because right now I have a few nagging injuries that may stop me before I start. My knees are very sore. I've been running for 20 years and I think old father time has caught up with me. I can't even walk down a flight of stairs without pain in my right knee. Plus I fell on the ice about two months ago and hurt my shoulder. I should go to the doctor and get an x-ray but I'm afraid what he's going to say. Right about now you're probably thinking this guys an idiot and I'm not sure I can really argue with you. But if I don't hike this year I just don't see things improving next year. Each year you get a little older, lose more muscle mass so you're a little fatter and a little grayer. So basically it's now or never.
Date: 2016-05-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

For the last few weeks, I've been trying to get myself motivated for my little trip. When I hiked in 2013 I tried to keep my pack weight reasonable and I purchased a lightweight sleeping bag, pad and tent. These were all expensive items but well worth it because my pack only weighed about 32 pounds. I noticed many hikers were carrying at least 40 pounds. I don't know how they did it because 32 pounds was kicking my ass. The mountains in Georgia were not very forgiving, I guess that's why the Rangers have a training facility there. This year, I decided that I'm to weak to carry a 32 pound pack. So my goal is to get my pack weight down to 25 pounds. So the question now is how do I drop 25 percent of the pack weight? I started by spending $150.00 on a new pack. That's actually pretty cheap for a new pack. I saved about $50 by using a coupon (I love coupons). The pack is the same size and brand I used last time only it's 2 pounds lighter. Next I got rid of small stuff that was light but added up to a pound or so. Who really needs a compass. The last I checked the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. And when you think about it the sun is never in the northern sky - the bottom line - no compass for me. I'll let you how that works out. The one thing that could be a huge mistake is I decided not to carry a tent. I'm obviously hoping to get into a shelter. That's one decision that could come back and bite me in the ass. I decided to fly into Roanoke, Virginia and hike to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia which is pretty close to Washington DC. That's about 310 miles and barring another little fall I should be able to do that in 30 days or so. The experts all recommend that when you start the trail you never hike further than 10 miles a day for 3 weeks. Once you get your trail legs you can do more miles if you wish. Using this theory I should get to DC in time for the 241st anniversary of our country on July 4th. Since I took off of work for 7 weeks that will give me a couple weeks to get home and relax a little.