morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-06-26
From: Hall Mountain Lean-to

To: Little Swift River Pond Campsite
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I've missed my target mileages every day since leaving Gorham. This has messed up my tentative schedule so I thought I'd try and fix this. I got up at 4 am and was hiking by 5 am. This worked well to get me through the 1500 ft down, 1500 ft up, 1000 ft down, 2000 ft up - but then it started warming up. I had hiked 13 miles by 1 pm and ended up doing 25.7 for the day. Unfortunately this doesn't meet my target, so I think I'm going to have to take an extra day to get to Katahdin. The hiking has been absolutely miserable in the 90 degree F temperatures and close to 100% humidity. I think these last three days have been the only days of the trip when I didn't want to hike at all. My feet hurt, probably because of the shoes I got in Gorham (806s instead of 805s), and I'm really tired. Maybe if this heat and humidity go away I'll be able to hike for real again. 25.7 miles to camp at Little Swift River Pond Campsite.
Date: 2003-06-27
From: Little Swift River Pond Campsite

To: Rangeley, ME
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: clear sky

I got up and started hiking this morning at 6 am. I was dripping sweat not more than a mile downhill. I decided it was stupid to continue hiking for another day in this heat and humidity without a break. When I got to Rt 4, I hitched into Rangeley, ME, got a hotel room, bought groceries, called home, and just relaxed. It was a short day and it sounds like the weather will be better tomorrow. The weather and terrain of southern Maine have been beating me and my body up. The break has been good. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to continue my quick drive to Katahdin. I'll be glad to finish - hopefully my body and soul will keep me going for the remaining days. 4.8 miles to a hotel in Rangeley, ME.
Date: 2003-06-28
From: Rangeley, ME

To: North Crocker Mountain
Miles today: 27.0

Today things took a positive turn. First, the weather cooled down and the humidity went way down. I got up at 4:45 am and was out on the road to hitch back to the Trail at 5:30. There was almost no traffic - 2 cars going into town. But the first car going in the other direction stopped and picked me up. The lady dropped me at the trailhead at 5:45 am and turned around and went back the way she came. That is real Trail Magic! The above-treeline walk on Saddleback was awesome. In 1991 I hiked that section in rain and fog, so this is the first time I'd seen it in good weather. (The Whites I've hiked numerous times so they don't impress me as much.) Finally, I was able to crank out 27 miles despite the drastic elevation changes. The hot weather definitely made the previous days' mileages lag. In today's case, I actually did 2 more miles than I planned. I did extra miles because (1) I could and (2) the ferry over the Kennebec River only runs in the morning so I need to get there before it stops running. In 1991, I almost drowned crossing that river. Unfortunately, I don't think I've learned my lesson - I will cross the river if the ferry isn't there, but I haven't decided exactly how yet. The ATC and MATC should put in a bridge or other more permanent solution. I've been seeing lots of southbounders lately - 10 or 20 per day for the last few days. Most of them congratulate me on making it this far and say that I'm effectively done. The encouragement does help me push on... 27.0 miles to camp on North Crocker Mountain.
Date: 2003-06-29
From: North Crocker Mountain

To: Camp One Mile Past West Carry Pond Shelter
Miles today: 27.8

I started hiking this morning at 5:45 am. The weather was chilly overnight, but warmed up quickly. I was soon sweating out the downhill from North Crocker Mountain. This was the last day of big mountain camps. Yesterday was over 8000 ft of ups and 6000 ft of downs. I'm glad that's over. Another few days of the Maine trail methodology (up and down as steeply as possible with the most amount of hand-over-hand climbing that the terrain will allow) might just do me in.... I made it over the Bigelow Mountains and am now camped in the mosquito infested lakes region/lowlands (approximately 1500 ft elevation). I pushed out and extra mile from the West Carry Pond Shelter and neglected to put on bug repellant. I got swarmed by mosquitoes as I hiked and set up camp with repellant on my legs and my rain jacket on. Right now I can hear what sounds like hundreds buzzing outside the tent. I'm glad I have a tent! I have no idea what happened to Overshot. He said he might go into Oquossoc the day before I went into Rangeley. I didn't see him that night, nor since. I know he doesn't sign the register much, but I haven't seen an entry. I did see a moose the day I went into Rangeley. Actually, I saw the moose's butt as it crashed through the brush to get away from me, but it still counts.
Date: 2003-06-30
From: Camp One Mile Past West Carry Pond Shelter

To: Camp at Moxie Bald Lean-To
Miles today: 31.8

I got up this morning at 4 am and was hiking at 5:20 am. I got about 1/2 mile down the trail when I realized I'd left all my tent stakes in the ground at the spot I camped. So I dropped my pack and ran back and got them. Fortunately, it had rained overnight so the dry tentsite was pretty obvious (and it was right beside the trail). I hiked on. The terrain was flat and I made it to the Kennebec River ferry by 10 am (they only run morning hours, 9 - 11 am, until July 18th). I went across in the canoe. This was much easier and safer than my fording experience in 1991. Interestingly enough, the water in the river looked much lower than when I forded in 1991. I then stopped at the Caratunk House in Caratunk and got some ice cream and a soda. The owner was nice enough to give me some duct tape which I am using on my feet to alleviate some problems with the 806s versus the 805s. I called home to check in and found, as I expected, that I have to find my own way home from Katahdin. It won't be as easy or as fast for me, but will be easier on the driver from my family. I hiked the rest of the day and arrived at the Moxie Bald Lean-To at 7 pm. The 2500 feet of climbing over Moxie Bald and Pleasant Mountain will help keep me in shape for Katahdin (but I'd rather the terrain just be flat). The big advantage to climbing is that there are no mosquitoes at the higher elevations. It is much more pleasant walking without mosquitoes buzzing your head. (This happened most of the day at the lower elevations.) 31.8 miles to camp at Moxie Bald Lean-To.
Date: 2003-07-01
From: Camp at Moxie Bald Lean-To

To: Camp at Wilson Valley Shelter
Miles today: 28.3

I got up this morning at 4 am and started hiking at 5:30 am. The weather was cool in the morning and got hotter as the day progressed. The mosquitoes don¢t seem to care what time of day it is ¢ they will harrass you all day and all night unless you are in a tent        I walked the 18 miles to ME 15 and had an easy hitch to Monson. During the hike to Monson I slipped and fell into one stream and had to ford two. My feet were wet the rest of the day even with the clean dry socks which came in Monson.        I don¢t understand why there aren¢t any bridges installed on these rivers. It would seem easy for hikers to die fording during high water. Maybe (as morbid as it sounds) that is what it will take. They should install bridges before that happens.        I got my first resupply box in Monson (before I just got maps, etc.). I only had to buy a block of cheese, repackage, pack, and get water before heading back out. I did do a check-in call with home, though no one was there so I just left a message.        The hitch out of Monson took about 15 minutes which gave me just enough time to hike to this shelter where I¢m camped.        I also saw 4 moose this morning, 1 bull, 1 cow and 2 other which I couldn¢t sex.28.3 miles to camp at Wilson Valley Shelter
Date: 2003-07-02
From: Camp at Wilson Valley Shelter

To: Camp at Sidney Tappen Campsite
Miles today: 27.3

I got hiking a little late this morning ¢ 5:40 am. The day was a long one. While I had thought all the up, down, up, down Maine mountain ranges were done with the Bigelows, today proved otherwise. I got to climb up and down the Barren and Chairback range mountains and begin the climb for WhiteCap (which has many peaks leading up to it).        One other wonderful thing I noticed today is that on the sections of trail which are not traveled a lot, the maintenance is lacking. The brush on the sides of the trail is so overgrown in places that you can¢t see the trail you are walking on. [Note: when I was writing this I was tired and cranky ¢ I understand that trail maintenance is a volunteer effort and probably not a lot of the work is a whole bunch of fun.]        I can¢t think of anything else and I¢m really tired¢¦27.3 miles to camp at Sidney Tappen Campsite
Date: 2003-07-03
From: Camp at Sidney Tappen Campsite

To: Camp at Nahamakanta Stream Campsite
Miles today: 32.8

I got up and started hiking at 5:40 am. The day was cloudy and cool, 60 deg F (from the privy thermometer). The climbs up and over Whitecap Mtn, etc. were not bad. The downhill was a pain, literally as well as figuratively.        The weather then warmed up and got much more humid. When I got to the Cooper Brook Falls Lean To and got water, I read in the register that the bugs were bad in the next section.         Man, they were right! At 2pm until dark, even with bug repellent on, the mosquitoes were buzzing my head and biting anywhere I missed with repellent. (As a side note 20% DEET bug repellent is good for about 3 hours before it doesn¢t protect anymore.)        I hiked to the Potaywadjo Spring Shelter and got water. I then moved on to Nahmakanta Stream Campsite where I am staying tonight.        My right foot is a mess. The skin is raw on the bottom of my foot and the tape I had on one of my toes rubbed the skin off the toe. It will be interesting solving these so I can hike the next and last 2 days.        I think the cause of these foot problems is wet socks. Yesterday, I crossed the West Branch of the Pleasant River by hopping rocks. I dunked my right foot. (It wasn¢t the smartest move crossing on the rocks ¢ I should have just waded it.)        I think as the socks dry out they start to chafe and rub. This caused the problems on my right foot.32.8 miles to camp at Nahamakanta Stream Campsite
Date: 2003-07-04
From: Camp at Nahamakanta Stream Campsite

To: Camp at Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 28.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up at 4 am this morning but didn¢t get hiking until 5:45. My foot needed extra care on this important day and this added lots of extra time.         I met three Southbounders who had camped 100 yards from the campsite. The tent site they had was nicer than mine but I had a privy which is a nice place to get out of the bugs when doing the morning business.        At the Rainbow Stream Shelter there was a group of people who said they were making a movie, ¢Southbounder¢. It looked like they were acting out a thru-hikers experience. The funny thing was that everyone was so clean. One guy had on a white shirt which was bleach white compared to my grayish white shirt. The guy who was supposed to be playing the emaciated Northbounder was spotless. They were nice, though, and gave me some extra food to eat along with my lunch ¢ some summer sausage and a bagel with peanut butter.        I hiked on and arrived at the (private) Abol Bridge Campground where I¢m staying the night. I arrived at 6 pm which is a change of pace from arriving between 7 and 8 pm. The campground has real bathrooms and a pay shower, but I just washed my hair in the sink and wiped down with wet paper towels because I want to keep my feet in their best shape. I also was able to shave so I¢ll look clean cut for the summit photos tomorrow.        This is my last night and as luck would have it some thunderstorms have rolled in and it is pouring out. Hopefully, I did everything right setting up my tent so I don¢t get soaked tonight.        I¢m ready to be finished. The ferocious mosquitoes were back on the trail again today. I wouldn¢t want to be a Southbounder hiking into the swarms for the next several months. I only had to deal with them for two days (plus tomorrow, I¢m sure).        Early to bed tonight ¢ I¢m up early tomorrow to get to the summit, get down, and hopefully get out of ME.28.9 miles to camp at Abol Bridge Campground
Date: 2003-07-06
To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I got up at just before 8 am. I feet felt better but still not 100% (probably about 60%).        I checked my email and sent some notes to indicate that I had finished. My mother and I then went over to check on my cats. We then returned the rental car and got some lunch.        My parents' spare car would not roll (brakes locked up from not being driven), so my mother dropped me off at my house. My truck started and rolled but the check engine light was on. I looked into this and replaced a part but this did not correct the problem.         So the plan was for my mother to pick me up tomorrow and bring me over to my parents' house to fix the other vehicles so I would have transportation to fix my truck.      I'm back in the real world now...
Date: 2003-07-08
To: Thanks!!!
Miles today: 0.0

As everyone may now know I'm at home and recovering from the pounding I gave my body from Waynesboro, VA to Mt. Katahdin, ME. My feet are feeling better and better as the days go by, especially without shoes on and I'm attempting to cut back what I eat so I don't balloon out.I'd like to thank everyone who supported me on this trip - my mother, father, sister, my sister's fiance, my coworkers, my employer, the Troop 3 Groton Boy Scouts, and anyone else who I've missed. I'd also like to thank all the Southbounders who congratulated my in the last 200 miles of the trail. Those few words really helped sink home how close I really was and kept me going even when the going was tough (as was all of Maine).I'm sorry I wasn't able to meet or hang with more of the Northbounders - especially those from TrailJournals. The connection between the TrailJournals hikers seemed to be stronger than those who you'd never met before. I was hiking my own hike and my hike was quite a bit different from most everyone else's.I'd also like to thank the folks at TrailJournals for this great site. This was a great venue to allow my friends, family, and anyone else who was interested to follow along with my journey.Finally I'd like to thank my transcriber, who is also my sister. The amount of time she had to spend to enter my handwritten entries must have been enormous. I just finished with the last 6 days and it took me a long time just to type in the entries and add one photo.Thanks All!!!
Date: 2003-08-08
To: One Month After
Miles today: 0.0

I've been off the trail for over a month now and the trail recovery is close to complete. My toes and feet are no longer numb. My walk is no longer the "thru-hiker town shuffle" -- I can actually walk normally again. My knees still bother me some when I go down stairs (this actually seems to be a problem that has occurred since I finished). On a bad note, I have put on 7-10 pounds. This is probably in part due to not doing much exercise because I have been really watching what I've been eating.I have been quite burnt out as far as hiking goes. I have done a few hikes where I trained before beginning the trail, but nothing more than 6-7 miles. Unfortunately when I go out hiking now it seems like a race to see how quickly I can finish the hike, instead of a leasurely relaxing stroll through the woods.I have been back at work for about 3 weeks and as much as people said how tough it was to go back, it was no problem for me. I enjoy coming in because it forces me to do more than just sit around and do minor chores around the house. I guess my motivation did an about-face when I finished my hike and now I need to recover that before tackling some more ambitious projects at home.I appreciate people signing my guestbook. It's nice to attach some names and words to the hit counter numbers. I plan on putting in some to the thru-hike cost data as soon as I can transcribe it into a spreadsheet and total it up -- I did record just about every penny I spent for the trip (less gear cost). That data will be interesting because I don't think I spent close to the average for a typical thru-hike.
Date: 2003-01-02
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Wow, 58 days to go..... This year... It's still sinking in...My pack and tent still haven't been delivered, but are due sometime this month. I will have to start practice hikes soon with a pack & more weight, to test my back & shoulder. I have a Dana Design - Shadow Peak day pack I can use until my ULA-P2 comes in. Maybe today I will put it on & see what happens. My back has been acting up lately, I need to see if I can hike through the aches (I will have to on the trail, so I may as well try it now).I'll keep you posted.
Date: 2003-01-02
To: Around the neighborhood
Miles today: 5.0

Today I took my first walk since my shoulder surgery, with a real pack on.I walked a hilly 5 miles through my neighborhood, wearing my Dana Designs Shadow Peak day pack. Total weight was 10 pounds. No back pain, no shoulder pain, just some arm muscle pain. I will wear this pack for the next week or so, and see if any pain appears. But so far, so good. I must have looked a little odd on my walk. I had on Patagonia tights & a patagonia stretch capilene Top. Not your normal SC walking attire, I got some funny looks from a few women when I walked by (but that's a normal occurance for me..) :-)I feel a short overnight trip coming soon....
Date: 2003-01-05
To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

Hey, did I mention that a few weeks ago I fell through the 2nd floor ceiling from the attic? Just checking... Yeah, I thought so... I went up in the attic to put Christmas decorations away today.... But I cleared a wider path thru the attic first. One farther from where I fell through... LOL... Don't want a repeat performance...Well, I've been out walking 3 times so far wearing a 10+ pound day pack... So far so good, no shoulder or back issues. I will add a little weight next week, then more when my ULA P2 pack comes in the mail. I will work up to 25 pounds... I have a couple overnight trips planned before I start my AT thru hike, to do more gear tests. Well, that's all for now... Stay tuned..
Date: 2003-01-07
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well, it's January 7th.... Seems strange that there are less than 2 months to go before my hike. I have yet to carry more than 12 pounds on my back, but I think my shoulder will be OK. My back is not 100%, but I think that will be OK too, as long as my pack weight is low. My draft maildrop list is ready, my maildrop boxes are starting to get filled, my gear purchases are mostly done (a couple pieces being worked on & will be shipped soon). I need to put everything in my pack & see how much all this light weight gear weighs.. LOL!! Probably too much, but I am sticking to my guns... Keep it light!! Come Hell or high water, 30 pounds will be my max pack weight, including food & water. Stay tuned for a laugh when I first weigh my loaded pack.. See what I have to remove. I'm still walking 5 days a week, usually 5 hilly miles carrying a pack (I add some weight every week). I should be working out my abs & back full time before the hike, but I stopped doing it as much when I had my shoulder surgery.... And never got back on track.... But I will... Soon....My dehydrator is out, my ground beef is ready to cook.... Soon to come, seasoned gourmet dehydrated ground beef in small sealed packages.. Yummmm..... Makes Ramen noodles taste good. Life is good.....The wait is killing me.... March first... Hurry up & get here!!!
Date: 2003-01-18
To: Amicalola State Park
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

In the morning we got up & started breaking camp, at 8AM it was still one below zero, but it went up to 10 or so as the sun came up more.I had on everything I wore dinner time, but added my Marmot Precip rain pants too to block the wind that was picking up. At about 9AM we started up the trail. I was a bit over dressed, but hiked slow.... Wearing my stretch top, fleece & vest with mittens. Stretch bottom, shorts & precip pants, pull over hat and cool shades... ;-) We are cool. It was 5 below¢¦ It¢s almost a brag now¢¦Every person we passed on the trail, we told how cold it had been¢¦. People passed us in both directions¢¦ And before we knew it.. The word had gone full circle¢¦. A group hiked north up the trail & as we said hello, they said¢¦ Hey, did you hear it was 5 below last night? Pretty cool¢¦. We just looked at each other & smiled¢¦ We were cool¢¦.We took our time & enjoyed hiking to the park, and felt great the whole way. We stopped at the Amicalola Lodge and were seated for the all you can eat buffet lunch. The first thing the waitress asked us was how much our packs weighed¢¦ Only on the trail, will 2 stinky hiker get welcomed into a fancy lodge for lunch, wearing tights, with out a second thought. The first thing I wanted was HOT coffee, and lots of water, without leaves in it. Felt good to relax, be warm & eat while looking out a big window at the mountains in the distance... Life is good. After lunch, I hiked to the visitor center, pcked up the 2nd car and for the people we were meeting. Once we found them we drove back to Springer mountain to retrieve my truck.Beautiful hike. Great gear test.I haven¢t done anything like this in a long time.. maybe ever.. A winter overnight in harsh conditions¢¦ We met the challenge and enjoyed it.. It¢s a wonderful world out there¢¦. I can¢t wait to see more of it.. Along the AT¢¦..Life is good.
Date: 2003-01-23
To: Ruck
Miles today: 200.0

Well, today I left for the Pennsylvania Ruck (a friendly gathering of hikers).I figured I would drive to Northern VA & get a hotel, then continue on the next day to Pine Grove Furnace State Park in PA. Well that plan worked for about an hour... I was on schedule, until the first traffic backup occurred (did I mention the snow, the day before?). Well after an hour, traffic began to move, and the tone had been set for this trip. It took me 6 hours to go the first 100 miles of my trip.... I made it to a hotel (200 miles from home), after 9.5 hours... Sigh.... I had to go through Charlotte, NC. and they had 200 accidents in the area, and 9 inches of snow (Route 85 had tons of ice on it). Then I drove over some mountains that had patches of ice all over (Route 77, heading for route 81). It was a white knuckle 9+ hour trip. I was drained by the time I hit my hotel... Went straight for the cofeee pot, then sacked out for the night.....I was plum tuckered out... More later