morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-02
From: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to

To: Housatonic River
Miles today: 6.2

w/no one but my own thoughts and fears...oh, and beer!9:04pm....my name is Mommas's Boy...you killed my hike...prepare to die!   So, when did "The Princess Bride" become a classic to be played on AMC? Things really have changed since I've been gone. Why do I ask?...do you ask? Because I'm sitting on my bed in the Sharon Moter Lodge in Sharon, CT watching AMC (of all things) and it just happens to be on. And why am I in Sharon?...you may ask? Well, it's the closest place with a hospital...and why do I need a....oh, alright! Out with it! My 6 miles of pain and limping today proved too much for even my incredible mental and physical stamina...so I got off to get it checked out. The diagnosis?...shin splints. The remedy?...nothing but rest. So as much as it pained me to walk for more than 30 miles with them...it pains me more to say that I'm heading home for a week or so WITH the full intention of coming back, I must add. Everyone's right. I'm too far into this trip to stop now...I've got too much invested...more than just money, too. Surely, no one would mock me for throwing in the towel right now and finishing it later...shit, I've walked from Georgia to Conneticuit! No one would really care that I didn't finish....but I would and that matters more than what anyone else says. And no matter how much I want to be done with this trip so I can get back to the one that I love...I equally want to prove to myself that I can finish this task that I started. How does one weigh things that are so equal? I can't answer that one yet...but I know, full well, that'll I'll be pondering that one for the week to come. You know what I'm pondering, now?....getting to sleep so I can get up at 3 AM for my 4 AM taxi to the airport! Apparently, I can't torment myself enough!In my head? riding the Zipper and watching fireworks in the arms of a beautiful girl .
Date: 2004-08-06
From: Grand Haven, MI

To: probably to a bar or something
Miles today: 0.0

w/everyone I've every missed while I've been away12:12pm....one word....impecable-timing So, all of the rumors and suspected sightings of a hairy sasquatch in town are true...I'm home! Actually, I've been here since Tuesday after my way-too-early-flight-and-wayer-earlier-cab-ride. I surprised my girl with a rose while she was at work and it's been sweeter than honey since then...it feels good to be back. It feels good to hold the hand of a wonderful girl, to laugh and joke with friends, to have dinner with family, and to sleep in the best bed on this earth...my bed! My timing was been great so far with it being Coast Guard Week, the carnival being here (I flipped a whoppin' 75 times on the Zipper!...no foolin'!), two friends from out of state are here that I haven't seen in WAY too long, and I got to see a friend play his first gig and another friend have a showing of his oil paintings! Yeah, it feels good to be home....too good. Unfortunately (depending on how I look at it), I've been resting my shin 3 days now with no real improvement...and I'm starting to get worried. But, you know what? I'm not gonna worry about anything right now and take it all in stride...that's one thing this trip as taught me, not to worry...things will happen for the best. Until then, I'm just gonna enjoy it all...watching movies with my cutie, talking with friends over some brew, hanging with the 'rents, and everything else that's all part and parcel to the home gig. Things will happen for the best....In my head? "When the hell are my friends gonna call?....I'm starving!!"
Date: 2004-08-19
From: Grand Haven, MI

To: too far from the arms of my love
Miles today: 0.0

w/ my myriad of thoughts about returning7:08am.....I'm not ready to go back!   Returning to the trail has been the hardest decision that I've had to make in a long time...but I am returning and should be summiting around the 12th of October. What else can I say? My heart and my head are colliding! I don't want to go back, so why do I feel that I need to?...something I'll figure out later, I guess. For now, I just need to get used to this decision because it's the one that I made. No use lamenting on the other choice...the one my heart wanted to make......time to be happy with the one I made...someone who loves me told me that, and she stands to benefit the worse from this (like me). Things are never easy.....In my head? way too much! EDITORS NOTE: Chris arrived safely in Falls Village, CT around 3:15 PM. He is starting back on the trail, planning a 6 mile hike to Limestone Spring Lean-to (shelter) where he will spend the night. He plans on being in Tyringham, MA on Sunday. Go get 'em, Chris!
Date: 2004-08-19
From: Housatonic River/US7

To: Limestone Spring Lean-To
Miles today: 6.1

w/Atlas, Rowboat, Pete, Mikey & Malory7:55pm...the toughest job you'll ever love? Ok, Ok, so everyone was right... ...things have gotten better once I got on the trail. In fact, I had just gotten dropped off, when I saw my first hiker walking down the road toward me as I was getting my shoes on. Yeah, the trail truly does provide in mysterious ways. Then to boot, I even met Andy Brown, another dude from Holland who knows someone that I know from Grand Haven that I knew was out here! So yeah, things may have gotten better but it still doesn't lessen any of my fears. Oh wait, actually it kind of has...but it's still the first day, so we'll see. My heart still broke leaving my girl at the airport and I'm still worried about a lot of things...mleh! All in all, I may be tired and sad, but I'm still out here living a dream...even though that dream may have changed a little, but I'm out here. I'll be back home soon enough, I just need to enjoy the choice I made...and get used to going to bed at dark again...I can do this. Pete's been talking the whole time I've been writing, not caring who or who's not listening...he's so funny.In my head? Smiling to "BABIES EVERYWHERE!!!
Date: 2004-08-20
From: Limestone Spring Lean-To

To: Hemlocks Lean-To
Miles today: 17.5

w/Atlas, Rowboat, Mikey, Malory, Bulldog (southbounder)9:45pm....pour, rumble, CRACK!!, rumble, flash... One can never appreciate the comforts of a shelter until you get there having walked 45 minutes in the dark with headlamps, right before it starts pouring rain...aahhhhh dryness. Not a bad day. I figured I'd get back into the trail mentality by heading into Salsbury, CT to use the phone, send some emails from the library, send a letter from the post office...and, of course, get some good lunch from the deli. I thought that doing things that would normally make hikers happy would help me to re-adjust...it did. But what's really helping is being in a group again. Rolling with a crew is always nice. You can hike alone when you want to and you can laugh and joke with the others whenever. And we're making plans.....mmuuaaahhh! I guess we're planning on slacking for a couple of days...there's a dude from Dalton, Mass who likes to help hikers. So we're spend a couple of nights at his place and he's gonna slack us in the mean time. Aaaaahhhhh, getting back into the swing of things...except for the hiking part. I can definitely feel that I haven't hiked for two weeks as today just kicked my ASS! Of course, walking a mile straight up rock at the end of the day will do that to most people. And we're planning on a 20 tomorrow so we can spend more time chilling at Goose Pond the next day. But enough talk of miles for now (so much for taking it easy). My first full day back and I've already crossed a state line...I'm in Mass now! And we've had a refreshing river walk and an exposed ridge walk with a view of the valley that would make you get up and slap your momma! Well, we got in late, I'm tired and I just want to sleep so....zzzzzzzzzzz.In my head? "Happy Ending"-Avril
Date: 2004-08-21
From: Hemlocks Lean-To

To: MA23
Miles today: 16.4

w/Mickey and Mallory10pm on the dot...if only i were a duck   Man, you gotta love rain...mostly because if you don't you're going to have some miserable days, but also because it's just beautiful. The sounds of it pidder-paddering on the leaves, how it turns trickles into streams and streams into rivers, the smell...oh! You just gotta love it! Some downfalls: trails turn into streams and it does kind of suck being soaked all day. But, I did have the best lunch I've ever had on the trail. We stopped at the Corn Crib, a fresh produce place off a road. I had a bowl of Sugar Smacks, a bowl of tomato soup, a peach, some chocolate milk, a pear, a Snickers, an orange, a carrot, and an ear of corn microwaved to perfection! By then, the rain all but stopped and we hiked the last half of our day to this hostel at a Budist retreat center. I had already made the decision to come here, assuming that it was gonna rain for the rest of the day...and because why not...and because a hot shower, pizza and a bed really helps in the battle against rain. Rowboat and Atlas didn't make it, however...they decided to stay at an overcrowded shelter with like 40 billion dogs! I wonder who will sleep better tonight...hmmmm, that's a toughy!   Oh man, sleep's about to take over...good thing too, because I am bushed. And I'm still not sleeping well (something I should be used to, right?) still, so tonight will be enjoyable. Alrighty...I'm off to sweet dreams.In my head? I've come to terms with me and slacking!
Date: 2004-08-22
From: MA23

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

w/Rowboat, Atlas, Mickey & Malory, Spirit Al & Canadian Goose, Publics10:54pm...shooting star, ooo, make a wish So, today we got to reap the rewards of days upon days of rain...mud. Nothing is more rewarding than the sucking sound mud makes when you pull your foot out of a three foot deep puddle. It was all worth it for the spectacular views and the comfortable cabin we're staying in tonight at Goose Pond...well, I'm not going to stay IN the cabin per say. The pond with the stars and the moon reflecting off the water while I talked to my girl was so beautiful, that I'd be a fool not to give up my padded bunk inside for it...I'm a dork. It was funny watching Rowboat and Atlas getting in the canoe for a night paddle. Man, they should've went over! But after the wonderful sunset tonight, I'm sure the sunrise will be even more gorgeous! Plus I'll be able to watch the planes light up the sky like fireflies...where to they all come from!In my head? What DOES a black grape taste like!?!
Date: 2004-08-23
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton, Massachusetts
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

w/Rowboat, Atlas, Mickey & Malory, London, Beatbox, Mr. T, Scorch, Chicago Rob, Otter 11:42pm...let them walk cake What a beautiful day...sunny, warm...a perfect day to daydream about beautiful girls and picnics in Central Park and my current situation. You see, it's odd being the new person entering a group of people. They laugh and tell stories of people I've never heard of, they're already comfortable with one another, personal jokes are established, and comical banter flows freely. So, where do I fit in?...well, I guess I don't know. Being the friendly guy that I am, I have no problem hanging with this crew. In fact, I actually like these guys (and gal) and I wouldn't mind chilling around them for as long as they'll have me. But it's hard for me to not feel as if I'm nothing more than a tag-a-long. I've been trying to avoid that by hiking alone when I'm not talkative and by trying to get to know them...ah, I don't know. Maybe it's just me thinking too much. But right now I'm just thinking of sleep. The stars kept distracting last night, so I didn't get that much sleep. But it was beautiful...as was the sunrise. We're spending the night at a resident's house named Rob. Man, is this guy something special. He likes to help hikers out so much that he invites us into his house, gives us a shower and a place to sleep, drives us around everywhere (he's driving me to get my boxes in Tyringham THEN back to where we're slack packing!), and probably more that I don't even know! While I was waiting for my shower, I asked him if I could fill up my water bottle and you know what he said to me?..."You want a cold beer instead?" If that's not cool, I'm not sure what is. Nothin' says lovin' like a cold beer after what will probably be the last easy day for a while. But yeah, my floor bed is calling me...and I must heed it's call......In me head? So, all I have to do is fart and laugh about it to be a part of this group!?!...that should be easy.
Date: 2004-08-24
From: Mt. Greylock

To: Dalton, Massachusetts
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

w/Rowboat, Atlas, Mickey & Malory, Scorch, Otter, Beatbox, Chicago Rob12:02am....let it be...let it be... Slacking south is still as wierd as it's ever been, but it did make for an easier day coming down from Mt. Greylock instead of going up. And I'm not sure what's up with phalic monuments on top of mountains, but this is the second one (ar least) I've seen so far...explorers trying to compensate for something? Hmm? I sure wish I could stop thinking so much, though. The group I'm tagging along with is taking a really short day tomorrow into Williamsburg where they're staying with friends of friends. I would still like to roll with this crew, and, although they've been talking about this day for a while, I've never been officially invited or included in the conversations. And I don't want to be that guy who asks to stay somewhere and I can't just assume that I'm included. So, I'm just gonna let things happen. If I go with them...cool. If not, I'll just continue on to Bennington. I met some cool people today that I may see and I may meet some more...who knows? Either way I'll have memories like Atlas eating a 24 in. sub, or Rowboat farting up a storm...and I'll miss him the most, it must be a Michigan thang. What will be, will be...I'm just gonna roll.In my head? "Break away"-Kelly Clarkston
Date: 2004-08-25
From: Mt. Greylock (MA)

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: overcast clouds

w/myself...unless you count the 10 Yale kids doing orientation10:11pm...fireside chats So, it's been a pretty good past couple of days. Rob was an amazing host in Dalton...asking for nothing and giving everything. Staying at his place allowed us to relax, watch some Olympics, call my girl (I've been able to talk to her a lot lately yay!) But the herd must move on, and so must I. And although, I move on alone, I have gained a traveling companion...this one permanent. My girl sent me Bunny...well, a smaller version of my Bunny, that is...she's so cute! And, as always, I'm not alone. There are always more hikers and the woods, it seems, are crawling with Yale freshmen out on orientation (and a pretty cool one at that). But they're all cool and fun to talk to...even twice. I hiked today with Canadian Goose and Spirit Al, an older couple from Prince Edward, who were trying to make it to this shelter too...but apparently they didn't. Oh well. I got to chill and chat with another Yale group at their fire...again, you're never alone on the trail. There's still reason to celebrate: crossing the Vermont state line, and having less than 600 miles left! Yay me!! Lessons learned? Well, that I can still just fly by the seat of my pants, go with the flow and have fun. My group may have stayed in Williamsburg, but I'll be in Bennington, VT, another cool college town tomorrow night where I'm probably gonna take a zero on Friday. Good thing too because I'm definitely getting sick...I think I'm getting a case of the Pink Eye. But it should be fun, though. Ooo, ooo, I'll get a chance to work on my project for my girl! Heheheeeeee...she should like it. All in all, I'm still just kickin' it...even if I am on my own. I can do this.In my head? Oh God, is Vermont gonna be as muddy as this!?!
Date: 2004-08-28
From: Bennington, VT

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: haze

w/Swix, Squatter, Wideload, Butterfinger, Odie, Swedish, The Observer8:43pm...and then there was silence   What can I say?...the past couple of days have been great and relaxing, well, sort of relaxing. I still don't get enough sleep when I stay in town, but I did have a bed and a room all to myself for 2 nights! Expensive but well worth it. Besides, can you really put a value on being able to walk around naked? Apparently, Al and Goose were also there on my first night but I wasn't around when they called. That night I relaxed, looked into a doctors appointment...SON OF A BITCH!! That bastard mouse just ran away with my Kiss! Right in front of my face, too!    Oh well, as I was saying, then I showered and walked downtown to get some grub and a beer. Then I came "home", watched some Olympics, talked to my girl (something I've gotten WAY too used to...but I've been lucky lately in that respect ), and went to bed...after eating some ice cream, of course.   Then yesterday, I just walked around town, went to the post office, the library, my appointment, had a lunch that involved tabuli, found a bus ran by the Red Cross to take me to Walmart and back, went to the coffee place, wrote some postcards...pretty much just walked too much for taking a rest day.   Beautiful town, though. Huge houses wrought with history (probably), friendly people, they even have a mini-Washington monument that I saw from above the city before I came in, but thought it was a road...oops. I didn't get to see it, though. Then I got some more dinner, went home, watched some Hoosiers, talked to my girl (can never get enough of that), then made her a surprise until 3am...the REAL reason I don't get enough sleep in town...but she is my favorite distraction! Oh boy, she's gonna like it!   Aaaaaaaanyway, today I took my sweet ol' time getting my errands done and didn't get back out on the trail until after 3...I can never get out early. I only had 10 miles to go anyway, but I got to the shelter just in time to watch some really black clouds move in and dump buckets on us...and I mean hard! It was fun to watch while I ate some dinner looking at the lightning flash, the thunder roll, and listening to the rain pommel the roof!...feeling glad I didn't have to be out in it.   But now, my little sleep has caught up to me...and so I sleep in the cool, post storm air...aaaahhhhh.In my head? Wishing these Kiss's were real ones .
Date: 2004-08-29
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: few clouds

w/Swix, Squatter, Papa, Janet8:59pm....rain doesn't help humidity   So, what does a "pay" shelter look like...well, nothing more than a regular one, but it is near a pond! And I got to swim!...and I got a free Heinekin from the caretaker!...and I get to watch a storm roll with some cool lightning! Great end of the day!   Kind of a rough day though...the humidity just has been zapping my strength, so I'm really bushed from the climb up Stratton Mountain today. But, I wasn't alone. I hiked today with a couple of the guys I was with last night...and one (Swix) is from MI! It still amazes me that there are so many of us out here. Always good to have company.   How am I feeling, though? Well, I have to admit that I feel pretty good. I think that my mind is finally getting used to my chill schedule...and it likes it! I'm still kind of worried about people and what not, but hey, we'll just see what happens. I'm just enjoying it and going with whatever happens, happens.Oh yeah, Fred Funk is the coolest name in golf....yeah, I've been listening to golf for the past couple of days.In my head? Wishing I could distract someone on MSN until 3am this morning.
Date: 2004-08-30
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Bromley Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: light rain

w/Swix, Squatter, Butterfinger, Wideload8:20pm...rain dampens everything in more ways than three I am really starting to like this new "laid back" schedule...but I'm still really tired...must be the humidity...and something else I won't go into, but anyway. I had time today to hike my miles, hitch a ride into Manchester Center, VT to fix my ski poles, eat some General Tso's Chicken and some strawberry ice cream (4 hours worth of slacking), AND still get to my destination...well almost. Rain drives most relatively smart hikers (I include myself in this category) into shelters, so my dreams of staying on top of Bromley Mountain tonight got shot. Damn. I really wanted to see a sunset, watch some stars, and awake to a sunrise all in one sitting...and I wanted to surprisingly call my girl to see how her first day of school went . Oh well, you can't always get what you want. I hiked with Swix and Squatter again today...they's good folk. Actually, they're really fun...too bad my schedule makes it impossible to keep anyone around. I finally got my screw up fixed...hopefully, assuming that Jason Morris got the message I left for him. For some reason I told him to pick me up on Wednesday when I'll really be there tomorrow...there's a reason my mom planned most of my trip. But I may be able to catch those two again in a couple of days. But they're schedule is different then mine over Labor Day weekend in Hanover, NH...damn holidays always screw me up. We'll see...things always happen for a reason. I had a good conversation with Swix about that today. He's a good, Christian kid who believes that God provides for him in his times of need out here. He thought it was cool that I was able to admitted to, roughly, the same thing. I just can't pass some of the things that have happened to me off as luck. All things happen for a reason and there's definitely someone out there looking out for me...no doubt. Actually, it made me miss some of the conversations I had with the Sheriff waaaaay back when...it must be a Michigan thing. And I passed the official 3/4 mark...I'm so close, I could almost spit on Katadhin!. Yeah, not so much.In my head? Bruce Springsteen, Madonna...how do those songs get stuck in your head!?!
Date: 2004-08-31
From: Bromley Mt. Shelter

To: Forest Service Road 10
Miles today: 15.8

w/Jason & Rebecca Morris12:36am...always a hasty good night   Seeing as how my morning started off at 10 with a message from Jason, upping my pick-up time to 4pm...it didn't go too bad. Granted, I ran the whole way and couldn't stop for lunch, BUT I discovered the joy of sliding on wet boards (weeee ), I used my "ski poles" on a real ski hill, and I was finally able to see the beauty of Vermont...all piney and good smelly. Still lots of mud (I can see why some call it Ver-mud)...enough so that I have to look down enough that I think I'm back in Pennslyvania! Really though, I got some really great views today and a whole lot of that wonderful pine forest smell.   Of course a bed to sleep in as well, ain't bad. Jason & Rebecca have been great hosts...and they feel bad about not being able to be around more. They made time in their hectic schedule and that's enough foe me...besides, I'd give just about anything to watch some Simpsons and talk to my girl. She helped me to decide to move on tomorrow (she's smarter than me somehow ) in lu of an invitation to sleep in and return in the afternoon. I guess I'm going to try to catch Swix and Squatter to see how they're going to handle their mail in Hanover...and see whether or not I can tag along...I think I'd rather be hiking anyway. A nice, restful morning does sound enticing, especially after distracting and being distracted by my girl 'til after midnight...but I think I've tormented their dogs enough for a little while. They may never look at a bearded man the same again! So thanks again...I'm off to enjoy their bed, at least for a couple of hours.In my head? Or should I sleep in?...