morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-22
From: Speck Pond Shelter

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Another super-interesting day. We completed the famous Mahoosuc Notch and surrounding area, reputed to be the ¢hardest mile on the AT¢.Slept in late this morning, took lots of long breaks, contemplated life while on the tops of mountains, etc. Tonight is the last night in Maine, and, I can¢t help feeling satisfied in the accomplishment. Even if I end the trail horribly, I¢ve started off by completing 300 of the toughest miles in only 3 weeks, which I think is pretty impressive.Two things have been on my mind today: (1) Almost all the NOBOs I¢ve seen have been depressed, not having fun, and just plain look beat up. While we haven¢t gone nearly as far, almost all the SOBOs are in great spirits and can¢t wait to get to tackle the White Mts. Consequently, my new goal for the AT is -- do whatever I have to do to NOT get burned out. If that means carrying more junk gear, stopping more often, speeding up or slowing down, then so be it. I want to enjoy the entire trip!(2) Hiking the AT is a pretty selfish adventure. While I¢ve been leaning on friends and family for both big and small favors, there¢s really no recourse. In normal life, I try to always give more than I take, produce more than I consume. I take pride in being trusted and relied upon (at least that¢s the goal, I dunno if it actually happens). I¢ll have to make sure to remember the people who are providing me with the means to make this trip possible. Although it seems like (at times) I¢m the one making the sacrifice, I have to remember that it¢s my decision to be out here. Back in the real world I¢m spending money with no income for a materially-unproductive 5-month vacation, and periodically calling from a mountaintop to ask favors.I guess I just wanted to say thanks, everybody. ~ ObiePS:   thanks daniel
Date: 2007-07-23
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

Finally out of Maine! We decided to take a zero day in Gorham, which makes the trip exactly 3 weeks long so far.Yesterday Nathan caught a bus back to Virginia. I don¢t know what it is about the trail, but knowing him even for just a few days, it is sad to see someone leave the hiking circle.Anyways, it seems that for now, the emotional battle is over with, the health problems are dissipating, and all that¢s left to be concerned about is a ridiculously tough 75 miles to Franconia Notch.While the weather¢s still good, we¢ll be working to catch up with other SOBOs and keep meeting new people. Regardless, I¢m 100% sure that the Whites are going to be a whole new adventure.Thanks for reading. ~ ObiePS: felt so sad for the dead moose yesterday (sigh) - see pics
Date: 2007-07-25
From: Gorham, NH

To: Middle Carter Mountain
Miles today: 10.5

While hiking the last three weeks, I¢ve had ample opportunities to think and try to sort things out. Sooooo, ¢¦seems like its time to confront a personal issue which has been bothering me; and in the spirit of reinvention that I¢ve been in lately (feeling like a brand new person) I want to get it off my chest and continue the AT with a clear conscience. Initially I was going to spill my guts in an open forum, but its probably not fair to expose the other parties in a public confession. Understand that it involves a failed-succeeded-who knows what girl relationship thing and who gives a rip.What matters is that I have come to grips with my own feelings, and have initiated a dialogue with everyone involved. I guess the rest is up to them. My frustrations have been vented. Sorry to digress from trail stuff, but then again, maybe it IS trail stuff. I mean, while I¢m walking hour after hour, day after day, I don¢t just think about rocks and trees.Thanks for reading. ~ ObiePS:   Its ALL trail stuff.
Date: 2007-07-26
From: Middle Carter Mountain

To: Osgood Tentsite
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

WHAT A DAY.   The Whites are so far living up to the hype. It was all I could do to finish the hike today, and it¢s supposed to be tougher tomorrow (Presidential Range)!Oh well, at least it doesn¢t get harder than this. Sometimes knowing you¢re at rock bottom either physically or emotionally has a bittersweetness to it. I guess this and the next few days will include any possible hiking catharsis.By all accounts I¢m still doing well, but it¢s painful to see the mileage slip so low so fast. Plus, the weather has been soooo gracious it¢s pretty hard to feel justified complaining.***** A note to anyone reading trail journals, this is important *****OK people, it¢s time for a call-to-arms, so anyone interested in saving pristine sections of the AT listen up! The Appalachian Money Club (AMC) is attempting to buy out the Maine 100-mile wilderness and turn it into a veritable theme park. As I¢m sure you all are aware, this is one of the FEW remote areas still reasonably intact, and possibly the longest stretch of AT designated ¢wilderness¢. The 100-mile wilderness might easily be the flagship for why NOT to pave over every square inch of America.Call the AMC, write to the Maine and Massachusetts congress, protest, do whatever it takes to keep the 100-mile wilderness out of the hands of people who clearly have no idea why anyone wants to go hiking (or why unspoiled land should be preserved). DO NOT STAY IDLE! Trust me, if no one acts against this, the AMC WILL find enough yuppie suckers to donate their money and no one will ever hike the 100-mile ¢wilderness¢ as a wilderness again. Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS:   just promise to think about it
Date: 2007-07-27
From: Osgood Tentsite

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Summitted Mt. Washington today, the first major disappointment of the trip. I think I¢ve figured out why ¢¦I don¢t like the AMC. I don¢t hate the AMC, but I don¢t like some of the things they do. They take care of trails well and provide a means for people who would never ordinarily hike, to see the mountains. However, they just don¢t ¢get it¢.In the Whites, the AT isn¢t its own trail. Rather, it¢s a pieced together patching of existing AMC trails. Since they don¢t understand the AT, they don¢t blaze the trail correctly. Although the huts are nicer than they have to be, I¢d rather sacrifice comfort and not have to pay premium prices every night. At the top of Mt Washington, instead of a gorgeous vista, there¢s a mini mall, a train, and a roadway. The mountain is destroyed to naturalists.At the summit house, the train pumps out pollution and people throw away recyclables and eat trash food from Styrofoam plates.On the entire trail to date, I¢ve been meeting thruhikers, big section hikers, summer campers, and weekend warriors ¢ and we are all EQUALS. Everyone says hi to total strangers, there¢s a common bond between everyone, and [MOST IMPORTANTLY] I trust everyone with my stuff and am never hesitant to share or lend to a fellow hiker.On the mountain top today I rarely met people who were unfriendly, but they seemed to not understand the hiker bond.¢¦ and I just didn¢t trust people like I usually do. It was a strange experience; not really bad per se, but the tourist-trap vibe has clearly permeated the Presidential range.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS:   its nice to be able to trust people
Date: 2007-07-28
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 18.9

After an official 25 days on the trail, I¢m in incredibly high spirits. Peace Train and I pounded out 19 miles in under 7 hours thanks to our new buddy ¢Blaze¢. Blaze is a freak of nature guy; hikes 4 miles an hour without flinching.Just finished the first ¢work-for-stay¢ of the trip and can¢t get over eating like kings at every meal. Since I have a little time tonight, thought I¢d address a few gear issues:WATER ¢ Wal-Mart bladder leaks at bitevalve, trashed it and replaced with Camelback.   CB works great. Still using Aqua-Mira to purify. Haven¢t gotten sick (yet), no aftertaste, and it¢s been easy to find good water sources.STOVE ¢ Still on 1st canister! Pocket-Rocket is amazing.SHOES ¢ about to buy a new pair of Dr Scholl¢s insoles, but happy to report that blisters are all but gone and shoes in great condition. The shoes dry out fast, and I have NO complaints.SOCKS ¢ socks are now Wigwams with thin nylon liners. Fantastic!TENT ¢ Sent home. Spent a couple of great nights watching sunsets on mountain tops. The rest have been in shelters or hostels.PACK ¢ Osprey is great! I love the pack. No hip-chafing whatsoever. Although a metal rod in the frame did snap in half, the pack is still functional. Called Osprey from the top of Mt Washington and the customer service guy was supper cooperative. Osprey is shipping a replacement rod to meet me a week down the trail, ¢¦ free of charge. Thanks Osprey.Loaded pack weight for the next 5-6 day trip: 35 lbs.Back to trail talk. After the last few days it felt soooo good to get a high-mileage day in. I can¢t wait to get through this touristy stuff and see Vermont. I never in a million years imagined I¢d still be hiking after this long, but today I feel stronger than ever.Trail Magic is in FULL swing. We¢ve lucked out so many times with food, weather, shelter, etc, it should be illegal.Nathan, I hope things go well for you. We miss ya and wish you the best while we kick these mountains¢ proverbial arses.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS:   is the ¢dungeon¢ considered a shelter or hostel or what?
Date: 2007-07-29
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Lincoln NH (hostel)
Miles today: 20.0

While I¢ve pretty much made up my mind about the AMC, New Hampshire as a state keeps restoring my faith in people. Just when I¢m getting so disillusioned I crank out miles to get out of the mountains (the touristy, jack up the price sections), we spend the night at a FREE hostel in Lincoln.The hostel guy, Chet, just opens his door and lets hikers stay in his basement. Anyone could rob him blind, but the positivity absolutely oozes through the walls such that the concept of any wrongdoing never even comes up.Looking ahead, it appears that the trail will be getting progressively easier, the towns progressively larger, and the mileage through the roof! Can¢t wait.There¢s really no way to explain it to someone (the ¢it¢ being this hiking addiction thing). They have to experience it to recognize that it isn¢t about the view from the top, it¢s about the tough, viewless 20 mile climb to get there.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS:   many kudos to Chet
Date: 2007-07-30
From: Lincoln NH (hostel)

To: Lincoln NH (hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

Still high on the hostel guy, Chet, again many thanks.Happy trails everybody. I want to give (as they say) a shout-out to all the section and weekend hikers I¢ve met. I love meeting people who are on vacation. Their optimism is infectious and their respect for nature is obvious. Hopefully, some of the tourist crowds I¢ve met recently will be inspired to start hiking more remote areas. Thanks for reading.   ~ Obie
Date: 2007-07-31
From: Lincoln NH (hostel)

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: few clouds

Again and again, I¢m reminded of how neat it is to meet the various people out here. I¢ve run into many more northbounders lately, and I¢ve started to notice their clicks and groups rather than just the simple fact that they are NOBOs. Sometimes this is good, sometimes not. But observing either group¢s behavior is always interesting.It was really quite sad to leave this morning without Blaze of Glory. But if all goes to plan we¢ll see him when we get down to New York. Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS: Happy trails, Blaze!
Date: 2007-08-01
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Glencliff NH (hostel)
Miles today: 17.0

I can hardly believe it¢s August already. Three more days and the trip will have officially lasted a month. Still going strong.We¢ve taken it pretty easy since we passed through Lincoln, but the next two days should make up for it (44 miles to Hanover).   It¢s been really great to get out of AMC land and back into the real woods.This is definitely the end of the beginning and the beginning of the long grind through the middle.Thanks for reading.   ~ Obie
Date: 2007-08-02
From: Glencliff NH (hostel)

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 26.7
Weather: few clouds

So, leaving the Glencliff hostel it¢s still 44 miles to Hanover ¢¦ and I need to be there tomorrow to catch the Post Office Saturday morning.Peace Train and I hit the trail at 8:00 AM, kind of a late start, and made great time (10 miles by 11:00). Out of water (3 liters so far) already and are mindful that the weather forecast is 95 degrees and 90% humidity. We hit a road crossing.Some really cool dude offers us a hitch we don¢t need, but I have a conversation with him and turns out he¢s a hiker waiting on friends. We press on as he drives off in his VW bus.Just off the trail we get water from a spigot at a girls¢ summer camp (scenic diversion) and return to the trail about 11:30.On top of Mt Cube I meet three hikers on a side trail (1:00 PM) who turn out to be the friends the VW guy was trying to meet. These guys are experienced hikers and we talk about the trail, well known hikers, etc, and find out the guy in the bus was ¢Trail Dog¢. Trail Dog is a crazy good hiker and holds the SOBO speed record (48 days). By chance Trail Dog calls the other hikers from a cell phone while we are there. I talk to him again and he tells me there¢s beer and corn at a shelter 14 miles ahead.I take off (1:45) like a bat out of hell, refill water (7 liters) and proceed into the 95 degree torturefest middle of the day. No matter how much I eat and drink, I cannot stop POURING sweat and becoming increasingly dehydrated.By the time I reach the shelter (7:00) I am exhibiting every symptom of heat exhaustion known to medical science (dizziness, ringing in ears, loss of balance, slurred speech, abnormal sweating patterns, cramps ¢ that should be enough). I fill up once again with water (11 liters) and begin the process of rehydrating just in time for Trail Dog to come to the shelter with a backpack full of beer.Once the beer starts flowing, all the shelter mates begin to trade stories and play AT trivia. Good times. Speaking of shelter folks, we finally caught up to Wagon Wheel, a fellow SOBO.More on AT people some other time, I¢m tired and cramping.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS: life is good ¢¦ thanks Trail dog
Date: 2007-08-03
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Hanover NH (motel)
Miles today: 16.7

The refueling carnage scarf-fest 2007:                                        protein (g)        pop tarts                        -        5 bars                                44        4 bagels and peanut butter        28        8 oz block of cheese                56        7 oz tuna                        45        3 oz crab                        9        package lentil soup                32        tomato, apple, peach                -        pumpkin seeds and peanuts        10                                        224 total for a single sittingIt's soooo good to have my hunger again. On the way into Hanover, whether it was heat, dehydration, or just plain getting burned out, I did not want to eat. I had to force myself to stuff and choke down power bars, and became increasingly lethargic and miserable.But no more! PT and I took a well-needed NERO in Hanover, stayed in a great motel, and managed to keep our beer consumption under 10 per day.Some good news, my backpack replacement part came in (go Osprey!), and the pack feels noticeably better. Can't say enough good things about a company that goes the extra mile to help out a customer in need.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS: I need to recharge, both mentally and physically ¢¦
Date: 2007-08-04
From: Hanover NH (motel)

To: Norwich VT (motel)
Miles today: 1.5

We rolled out of town at about 9:00 PM smoking cigars and ready to conquer the world.Today was great, I LOVE Vermont -- anyone who says the views disappear is full of poop. In fact, my new rule is that as soon as someone tells me something unnecessarily negative, I immediately disregard everything they say, ¢¦ at least half anyways.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS: narrowly avoided a zero
Date: 2007-08-05
From: Norwich VT (motel)

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 24.7

Tonight, we've hanging out with some really cool NOBOs. Ziploc's playing a hiked-in guitar, and this will go down as one of the best days yet. I only wish my 15-minute description could properly convey the peacefulness and positivity found at the end of a hard, long, accomplished day.I'm glad to meet NOBOs who are still having fun.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS: if you are not enjoying the trail and all that it has to offer, what's the point?
Date: 2007-08-07
From: Rutland VT (Long Trail Inn)

To: Lula Tye Shelter
Miles today: 30.2

What a day. First off, the LT Inn was totally the right call -- good company, good sleep, and good breakfast. Made all the difference.Mental note: spend whatever is necessary to get the most comfortable sleeping pad available. The next day benefits are easily palpable.Next, the really big issue. This emotional discourse that's been brewing for a few days now. Upon achieving the goal of a 30 mile day today, a couple hours ago this is what I intended to write:set out to get thirty, didn't start hiking until 9:00, but still went 30. I am a baaaaaad man.This was at 7:00 PM, when I followed through on the urge to hike past Peace Train to make sure I got here by dark. And I flew, just shy of 4 miles an hour. However, (don't you hate it when there's a however-comma)¢¦ I soon realized why I'd wanted to get away from him so badly. Since he's been struggling (mentally, I mean, the guy's a strong hiker) I've become so polarized toward staying on the trail that I haven't had to confront my own worries. And the truth is, physically, at least hiker-wise, I AM a baaad man, and most of the time mentally as well. But there are still times when I'm not a man at all. I'm a scared little boy who only wants to pound out big miles so this AT thing will be over with and I can just go home. There, I said it.I love the honesty of the trail. No matter what, you have almost all day to think, and you most certainly will be confronted with your greatest fears. Right now, scared as I am, I couldn't be happier to evaluate my feelings and understand my thought processes. Sometimes it's a little difficult to get that honesty down on paper though. It's absolutely positively a tremendous high to push your limits every day and find you're capable of far more than you ever expected. Slapping these mountains around pulling 30 mile days doesn't hurt either.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS: has anyone out there ever heard of the Connecticut challenge?
Date: 2007-08-08
From: Lula Tye Shelter

To: Manchester VT
Miles today: 20.1

So, it's been an interesting couple of days, and the most exciting part has been meeting new people. We've been playing shelter-tag with Stargazer for a week now, and decided to sprint ahead into Manchester to catch up.Manchester is actually a pretty cool town; all the tourist stuff without the obvious tourist look. However, due to a horse show of all things, we almost couldn't get a motel room to save our lives! We weren't planning on taking a zero, but ¢¦¢¦ ran into Boo-Boo and Musicman at the Post Office, went to eat,¢¦ ran into Hedgehog, went to drink, ¢¦saw the Bounce something or other movie (hilariously impossible), got another drink, ¢¦ and all of a sudden you've just zeroed. Wow, see how easy that is.Although we probably should've moved on, it was quite pleasant to hang out with the people we've been reading about in the registers, ... and we definitely needed the break.Surprisingly enough, the group we were trying to catch (Sketch, Sugar, et al), stopped in Rutland and we flew by them without ever meeting (sad). Oh well, happy trails and forward march!Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS: a nice town with nice folks to hang with makes for a nice zero
Date: 2007-08-09
From: Manchester VT

To: Manchester VT
Miles today: 0.0

Zero days can be a good in the right setting with the right people. As mentioned yesterday, this was a good break for Peace Train and me. For one thing, it has given me time to think some more about ¢¦the Connecticut Challenge (CtC). Turns out the CtC involves hiking approximately 53 miles in 24 hours. This is the mileage from the Mass-Conn border to the SECOND southbound Conn-NY border, i.e., when you have crossed into NY state and left Conn behind for good. As if this were not enough, there is NO convenient trail head at the Mass end, so the hiker (challenger) is required to hike all day (south) to approach the state line, and then camp on the north side of Bear Mountain, probably at or near the Sages Ravine Campsites. Actually, I'm not aware of any really good place to crash on the NY side either. It's not like I'm going to want to hitch somewhere. It's more like I'm going to pass out on the spot (hope I fall and land on the NY side).There's more. One also has to consider the luck factor. Knowing that there is a long south-bound hike to set the stage, there's always the possibility of a minor injury (twisted ankle which normally would only slow you down), or just your body feeling 'out-of-sorts' (had a lot of that lately), and finally, don't forget the weather (have no control over that whatsoever).Anyways, other hikers have done this challenge and much more (see the survivor-man on the discovery channel -- makes AT thru hikers look like pansies).   Addressing the CtC issues would be a motivator, something to aim for. Separates you from the crowd. Finally, I really DO APPRECIATE the comments from guests who have signed the register, especially recently concerning the CtC. I have not pleaded for people to 'sign in', so to me that adds even more weight to the fact that when someone does write, it implies that something I said moved them enough to try to communicate their best wishes, concerns, advice, etc. THANKS so much. I cannot over emphasize how much it helps knowing that others want you to succeed, and are willing to help anyway they can.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS: still just thinking about it, the CtC that is.
Date: 2007-08-10
From: Manchester VT

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 25.1
Weather: broken clouds

Today was kinda nice except ... for the terrible weather this morning: temperature never got above 60 degrees all day (the middle of August?) and of course, the rain. Rain, yuck. Also, I took a wrong turn and hiked 4 miles extra -- I was NOT a happy camper around 1:00 PM. But ¢¦ around 5:00 we ran into a party at a shelter (hooray!).A crowd of NOBOs had hiked in beer, wine, hard liquor, and junk food to take a zero while on the trail. Peace Train and I ate supper and hung out until 7:00, then pressed on for 5 more miles to crash tonight.Although I'm glad we decided to press on and post the miles, I have a sneaking suspicion that if we had stayed and fully boozed up, I would probably have hitched back to town with one of the girls there. Whatever. I'll stick to my game plan of being friendly and awkward rather than forward and obnoxious.Well, trying for 32 tomorrow into North Adams, better get some sleep. Best of luck to all the trail folks.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS: Connecticut is one state away
Date: 2007-08-11
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Mass - VT state line
Miles today: 28.7

Alright, got some 'splaining to do. The last few days I've been so busy DOING things that I haven't actually had time to write it all down. So, accept my apologies, but today's journal will have to be short.Understand that Peacetrain and I hiked 55 miles in 2 days to camp cowboy style just past the Vermont-Massachusetts border, arriving at 8:30 with no water the last 6 miles. This is NOT the recommended way to travel (waterless that is). Oh, and my stomach hurts so bad I'm doubling over (this is the important detail). Don't know yet what's got me (food poisoning, virus, ??). Pick one, doesn't matter.   The past few days I've been exposed to virtually everything on the planet that could attack my intestines, and now I'm paying the price.Thanks for reading.   ~ ObiePS: gotta go throw up