morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-08-02
To: In to the Whites
Miles today: 84.0

From the time that you start the AT you hear about the White mountains of New Hampshire. As you climb the switchbacks of the Smokies you hear that you will find no such paths in the Whites. Everything is up or down. Camping will be different too. No camping above tree line in the Whites. In the Whites you'll have the huts for shelter, expensive mountain hostels set up to provided room and board for the summer vacation hikers. You might be able to work for stay, peeling potatoes or cleaning tables, but don't count on it. If you can't afford the huts be prepared to descend 1000 feet to stay at a camping area or brave the 40 - 50 degree temperatures and high winds at night just below tree line. And expect to have your winter gear returned. You'll need it. Today I entered the Whites. Mount Moosilauke is the 4800 foot peak that begins the southern range. I ascended and descended in half a day. Though the morning views were affected by mist and clouds they were still remarkably beautiful. As expected it was cool and windy at the top. The down side hike followed a growing stream that cascaded in a series of waterfalls and flumes. Rivulets flowed into the stream from all around making the earth and stone wet. Some places were steep and slippery requiring extra care. At the bottom I relaxed in one of the many adjacent streams cooling my feet and enjoying the forest.Thank you all for your continued interest in my blog and pictures. In 6 short weeks this fantastic journey will come to an end
Date: 2015-08-11
To: Humility
Miles today: 155.0

Life and the trail is for learning.And I learned my lessons quickly. In the days I hiked beyond Mt Moosilauke the Whites got me. The temperatures are cool to almost cold. Nights in the woods drop to the 40's some days. I am glad I got my winter gear back from Dianne. My speed is down to no more than 14 miles on the best day and I've had 8 mile days. The mountains are steep. The rocks are ever present. The climbs take hours. Some places I must climb hand and foot. Going down is even worse. I have slipped and fallen more here than in any other section of the trail. I'm nursing a sprained left shoulder and am taking ibuprofen daily. It's stiff every morning but loosens up and is quite 95% of the time. So I keep going. Technically, I'm through the Whites. There are, however, many more days of mountain climbing ahead. But I'm ready. Almost nothing can stop me now
Date: 2015-08-11
To: Gratitude
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Some amazing people are found on trail.Jean was a neighbor of mine for 10 years. I haven't seen her for maybe the last 10. So how does it happen that I find her sitting in the Zealand Falls AMC hut a week ago? Turns out that she is a volunteer for the Appalachian Mountain Club and spends a lot of time in the area. What a nice reunion. Before I went to bed at 7:30 (yap) I told her of my wish to see the Milky Way. She gently woke me at 9:30 to take me out to the clear night sky. We saw shooting stars, too.Julie and Ann were complete strangers to me. They were hiking together and staying in the AMC huts at night. They actually witnessed Jean and my reunion. Days later we met again. Turns out they were supposed to have a third companion who paid but didn't show. They offered me her reservation and I was able to spend another night in doors with a good dinner and breakfast. How nice was that?!But maybe what is most amazing and for which my gratitude is overflowing is Mike and Asa. Mike picked me up hitch hiking. A newly retired teacher he was immediately generous in offering to take me to re supply as he runs his errands. In conversation I told him I would be staying in town over night. After re supply he offered to let me stay in a house he owned that was currently empty. He suggested dinner, too,  just down the road with his wife. He cooked fresh trout with healthy sides. Ice cream with blueberries for dessert. It was great. We all talked and got to know each other. We really got along well. I had breakfast there this morning. Now here I sit still in the house Mike lent me watching the rain get heavier as the day goes on grateful to be in doors and for the grace shown to me by others while planning to pay it forward some day.
Date: 2015-08-20
To: The final chapter opens
Miles today: 104.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Leaving the Whites and entering Maine has been a change of focus. I know the hardest parts are over. But. There are still mountains to climb. There is the dwindling availability of re supply. There is the 100 mile wilderness. And, of course, there is summitting Mt Katahdin. Current plans are for me to accomplish this on September 11. Once again I am off the trail after just 3 days and nights in the woods. They were great days, too. Strenuous but not exhausting climbs. Wonderful views. Varied terrain. I put in a 17 mile day. My longest in some time. Yesterday I did just 5 miles arriving at a pond side camp site that was just to nice to pass up. (See picture of morning sun rise.) I spent the day exploring the surrounding nature. (See snake picture and others.) I had just another 5 miles to the road leading into Rangley, MA. Here the town centers around Rangley lake and has the distinction of being half way between the equator and the north pole. It's a good re supply town.They say Katahdin is about a 2 week hike from here. I've got 3. I think I'll be slowly exploring more of the trails and towns of the Pine Tree State then I expected and I think that's great
Date: 2015-09-05
To: 100 Wilderness
Miles today: 200.0

I have been so focused on the journey over the last weeks that I have neglected to keep up with this journal. Well now I have the time.While not as strenuous as the Whites early Maine was filled with the roots, rocks and mud that I've been walking in for more than a month, only more. Interposed with quaint towns in full summer mode with tourists mixed with hikers, mixed with locals. For 2 weeks I was walking 2 - 3 days and taking a day or a day and a half off to use up the extra days I've accumulated. The woods have been great. Maine is full of ponds of clear warm water just right for swimming. One point of caution, though. Leaches. They're kind of like ticks, only in water. You just have to flick them off when discovered. Occasionally these same ponds are the local water source for meals and drinking. Treated, of course. More often there is a steam or spring of cold clear water. Springs are a source where you see the water willing up from the deep earth. These sources I rarely treat. The water is spectacular. Munson, Maine is the last town before the 100 mile Wilderness. Smaller than most, the re supply isn't great. And on my visit the supplies were at a low point. I had planned on an eight day trek but for some reason only re supplied for six. Bad move. By day 2 I knew I would run low and began yogiing food from day hikers. It's sort of like panhandling. "Hay, I see you're out for a day hike. You wouldn't happen to have a spare granola bar in your pack, would you?" More often than not it worked. I also was able to pick up my pace. The second half of the Wilderness is flat and my mileage went to over 20 miles per day. I complete the Wilderness in 5 days. I went into the first restaurant I found and ate 2 meals.
Date: 2015-09-08
To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 16.0

Arriving at the northern end of the 100 mile wilderness as I did, famished, I went into the town of Millinocket to eat and re supply and spent the night at the AT lodge. By the evening, weather forecasts were calling for rain progressively as the week went on. Plus, the energy in the lodge was electric with next day summit anticipation. I made the decision to go up the next day. Just one small problem. I still had the 10 mile gap between Katahdin and the wilderness to complete.The next morning it was a 6 am wam-bam in the van. Twelve of us were being shuttled to Baxter Park and the base of K. After sign in we headed up individually and in small groups. Local hikers, other north bounders and south bounders increased the mix. The mix thinned out as the trail got higher and harder. This was not an easy climb. At tree line the rocks turned to boulders and some turned back. Climbing became hand and foot. Then knees and elbows. Wind gusts picked up. We had been told to expect them to 30 mph. Mist surrounded the mountain. The morning sun, so present at the base, could not burn it away. My distance stretched further from the other hikers. Some above. Some below. The higher I went the more mist poured over me. My hair grew wet. At one point I thought rain had begun. Then I saw my first descending hiker. He said he had summited before but was turning back due to the worsening weather. What! I went 20 yards more then stopped. Was I being foolish? I turned around. Twenty yards below I ran into three climbers going up. I turned back up with them. It didn't get any harder and when we crested the rim of the plateau we came to relatively level ground. With wind and gusts as expected. Walking through the mist and blow we headed the 2 miles to the summit. Thoreau spring was the half way mark. Named for HD's 1845ish climb, it continues to this day to stream all across the ground requiring the hiker hop to walk dry. At the final rise figures could be seen milling about taking, congratulating each other, taking photos and trying to text mom. Then there it was. The sign. KATAHDIN in faded letting. The mountain top and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.The mist never cleared for us at the summit but as we headed back it did lift from the lower side leaving actually the best views unobscured. The climb down was a cautious slow solo descent with a satisfying hint of ease. Then the thought occurred to me that if I just kept on walking south I could cover the 10 miles I still needed before becoming a thru-hiker. I had really every thing I needed with me. So I did it. I was down K by 2:30 pm and completed the trail by 6. Hitched-hiked back to the lodge. Ate. Celebrated. I took back my given name, Arthur. The trail and I were even now. Intimates. One, for the rest of my life I'll have one more post. The top 10 things I Learned on the AT
Date: 2015-09-19
To: Top 10 - 6 things I Learned
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Here are the first five of the top 10 things I Learned on the Appalachian Trail.10 - Duff is the decaying material found between the top layer of leaf litter and the earth. Loaded with bacteria, it is used to aid in the decomposition of human waste. When you enter a privy to poop there is usually a bucket of pre-collect duff. You add some to the mix when done. If the bucket is empty you are honor bound to collect more. If lucky, a rake is provided.9 - Rest, either sitting or lying down, but not sleeping, is way underrated. Now that fatigue is something I am now quite familiar with. I've really learned to appreciate rest.8 - The Milky Way does exist. Living under light polluted skys as I do I hadn't seen the Milky Way for many years. I've seen it again, as well at shooting stars in the nights sky.7 - The American Newt is alive and well and living in all states on the AT. 6 - There is much stillness in the woods. I often walk, camp and sleep in complete silence. No birds. No squirrels. No insects. My sense of hearing becomes very acute serving to pull my eyes in the direction of any sound. At times I strain to distinguish what might be wind rustling in the trees, water rushing in a stream or the beginning of rain striking the canopy
Date: 2015-11-01
From: Top 10 - 6 I Learned

To: Top 5 - 1 things I Learned
Miles today: 0.0

5 - As a physical therapist I am familiar with human gait. Usually that is walking on flat level ground, stairs and occasionally over obstacles. Hiking gait is a whole other thing. Not only are surfaces not level but obstacles are everywhere. Long sections of the trail are filled with rocks, boulders, roots, sticks and other debris which challenges the normal bio mechanics of gait. I have felt my ankle turn in an awkward or unexpected direction hundreds, maybe thousands, of times. I have seen others do the same. Still, the foot and ankle finds enough stability to push off and continue forward motion with out injury. There is both a feedback and a feedforward system at work. Eyes and feet are linked by cognitive, propriceptive and somatosensory systems.  There is heightened awareness and attention to surroundings. You're judging every step and at the same time moving automatically.Some times the sudden destabilization of a step is so severe that to accommodate the degrees of freedom necessary to avoid injury not only does the ankle turn but the knee will bend and even the hip and back will flex. At hiking speeds of up to 4 mph these processes can perform nearly flawlessly. Amazing!4 - The beauty of the woods is in the myriad of ways it creates itself.3 - Falls are inevitable. It's not a matter of if, but when... and how often. You must constantly practice good vigilance. Watch your feet. Even a stumble takes at least 5 steps to recompose yourself2 - There is time for frank conversation on the trail. I had the opportunity to speak with a recently retired psychologist about my goals over a 2 day period. What he recommended seemed obvious but I really took it to heart. Strengthen my relationships. Take the time to nurture my wife. Don't lose the bonds with my adult children. Keep old and make new friends. So simple and so true.1 - There is time for deep thought on the trail. Time to examine your life and beliefs. What I've come to realize is that I am an atheist. I think I've known it for a while but have been reluctant to admit it to others. Now I will, but it still is not easy. Call it embarrassment or maybe a hesitation to disappoint others. I have theist family and friends. Maybe I'm afraid of rejection. It's the reason this posting has taken so long.Anyway, I am at peace with this because there is love in the world, and beauty, grace, art, intellect, companionship and all the other joys and interests of humanity without a god.
Date: 2015-11-03
From: Top 5 - 1 things I Learned

To: One more lesson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Another lesson of my AT hike occurred to me this morning. I¢m sorry I did not remember it in time to include it in my top 10 things I learned on the AT. Now I have more than 10. I saw this in the forest in the late spring and through mid summer. Small perfectly healthy new branches drop from the trees to fall and die on the ground. Now to be sure these branches will return to the earth and become the soil and nutrients for the next generation. But why did they fall? I considered the possibility of animals or insects or disease but when I examined the shoots there was no sign of this. They were perfectly healthy. I wondered if the wind blew them off. And yes, some were surely blown off by the wind. But the wind wasn¢t the reason they fell. I eventually concluded that the reason they fell was that the trees were self pruning. In the spring they produce an over abundance of small new leaves on new shoots. As the leaves grow healthy and strong they begin to compete with each other for light from the sun and nourishment from the trees. Eventually the over abundance becomes a burden on the trees, so the trees produces some kind chemical that weakens the small branch. It breaks loose and falls.This is a natural event. The trees know that they can only support a finite number of leaves. Emotionless they cut off a part of themselves to maintain a balance. The result is the individual and unique character of that tree. This raises a number of intriguing thoughts and metaphors. Don¢t you think?Interestingly, our brains do much the same thing in the growth and development of neurons. Throughout life, but especially from fetal development through adolescence, our brains produce new neurons, and neurons new dendrites.   An over abundance. These are pruned in much the same way. Only it's our environment, experiences, thoughts and behaviors that determine which shoots are pruned. The result is who we are. How we think and act. Our unique character
Date: 2006-09-26
To: AT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Hello everyone,My name is Jeremy(no trail name yet,but working on one) who is going to be hiking the AT SOBO starting June 1 07. I'm really excited that I finally have the chance to fulfill this dream of mine. I've wanted to thru-hike for several years now, but school has kept me from doing it. So, because I'll be graduating in May 07 with my MBA/accounting degree, I figured this will be a good time to do this trip. I love nature and feel very close to God every time I'm doing something that involves the outdoors. I hike(duh), kayak, mountain bike, scuba dive(just got certified two weeks ago), like I said I love nature. Well I'll keep you posted on my new journey I'm headed on...Keep me posted on yours....Later
Date: 2006-09-29
To: AT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well today I added some of my gear to the Gear list. I think I'll be able to keep my pack down to 35lbs? As each day gets closer I get more and more excited. Most other people think I'm crazy or they don't know what the AT is.I was talking to a friend that lives in GA, and told him he was going to be the one to pick me up when I finish, but he didn't even know the trail started in Maine. He thought it only took about a week. Crazy city people....Later
Date: 2006-10-06
To: AT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hello I tried to get another entry earlier in the week, but life had me tied up..Well anywho. I decided to just go with the gear I have now It will save me alot of money, except that i need new boots, but that is easy. I was going to get some ultra-light stuff( tarptent, new backpack, stove, etc.) but right now my stuff isn't to heavy, and I know I'll be able to deal with it. Well anyway. I've put some pictures up of past trips I've done with the gang I'll be going to Glacier with, so I hope you like them. Later
Date: 2006-10-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well, I decided on a trail name last night. I know some feel the need to get one on the trail, but I want mine to have meaning to me everytime I hear It. This will help my spirit and drive me to enjoy the world around me. So its Angel, In memory of my mother who passed away Sept. 25 2001. I feel her memory every day, and know that God sent her to this earth to be my angel. That is why I have chosen this name. Also, today I chose to go with the Eagle Nest Hammock. I think the rain issue might cause me to get mad with my tent. With the Hammock I can put up the dryfly first and not get my sleeping area as wet, but with my tent rain and wind will be an issue while trying to put it up. Also i want something that i can handle at night/rain/wind just in case.I went out and got me some Aquamira water treatment to try. I'm going to see how it might work out. I'm worried about the taste, but if my pump goes out I need a back up, or if I can deal with it I'll just use it and save a little weight.Later...
Date: 2006-11-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hello all, Its me. Well I tried out the Aquamira and I don't like it. The stuff in the water just gets to my mind. I tried to filter it but there were still little bits and the color was brown. When you get older your imagination gets crazy. When I was a kid me and all my friends would drink right from the water in the woods. Now I can't get over a few pieces of leaves. Well if it comes down to it I'll do it, but right now I'm thinking I'll take my pump.I also got my trip planned out from day to day, not set in stone, but to give my friends and family an idea where I'll be and when. I have to get the airline tickets and reservations set up next. I also found out some in my family are not so thrilled about my trip. They think its crazy, dangerous, and a waste of time, but who cares. I've waited this long to start my career, and it can wait, and they can get over it. I love them, but everything we do in life is not for someone else's happiness. Love you Family!!!Well that's it from me...later...
Date: 2006-11-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well, I got my Eagle Nest hammock tent? in last week. I was going hiking( ok hiking in Mississippi is not real hiking), and camp out this weekend but things didn't work out where I could. I did try to put my new tent up in the yard( I live in the country), but we don't have enough trees in our yard for it to actually work. The only two trees that came close to being capable of the task I set forth to accomplish where on a hill. One was on the top of the hill( maybe I should call it a dirt mound),and one down the hill(?)from it about a foot to close to get the dry fly to be snug enough. It was about 38 degrees out, and I had on a big leather coat(please don't be made about the leather, It was a gift), a pair of jeans(I agree with "Amazonwoman", jeans don't work), and dress shoes(I'm a little crazy, and It was Sunday). The whole combination didn't work out to well. I couldn't move because of the coat, and my hands where numb from the cold wind, my jeans where loose, but not hiking material, and I keep sliding because of the shoes. I advise you never to try this combination. I realized how I wish I lived closer to the trails so I could get some real time in to get things together. So I've decided to go out this weekend(no excuses) and camp, the'll be more trees to hang from, and I'll carry the right gear. I think I was to close to the comforts of home to really get into it.(I don't see how "Toasty" did it) I would have been in my warm bed by mid-night. Ok I'm sounding like I don't know what I'm doing now, but I do, and I have camped out in my yard before, so i wouldn't have gone in the house. But the point is I learned some lessons while trying to put up my tent. (1) Have some trees around, (2) wear the right gear, and (3) Have Fun while trying to do it even if your doing it all wrong.   until next time....Later....