morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-11
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My feet are still unhappy. I experienced lots of crappy weather; hail, rain and wind. I took a little fall on some slicks rocks. Lots of bouncing back and forth on whether to go to Trail Days. It could cost me 5 days on the trail AND put me in a big group when I get back on. My attitude wasn¢t great today. To make matters worse (or is it better?) I felt definite hunger today for the first time. After not having that for so long, psychologically it was tough to deal with. I didn¢t really get to wish Mom a Happy Mother¢s Day (outside of a cell phone message). I did get one quick view from the Knob. It was nice. I am looking forward to what tomorrow brings (besides more rain).
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

First thing in the morning I got up to get trail magic. The Methodist Church in the area picks up hikers at the next road crossing on Monday mornings to give an all you can eat home cooked southern breakfast. Thanks to all those at the ATOM (Appalachian Trail Outreach Ministry). My feet are REALLY not doing well. Catfish and I decided a night in a motel room drying off with a good (matter of perspective) meal and rest the feet would be the way to go. I am glad I did because that¢s where Blues Traveler and Pop Top were, so we had a beer and caught up. Pop Top¢s 8 day adventure back on the trail is over. Spirits are a little better than yesterday.
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Bland

To: Tarp Brushy Mountain
Miles today: 15.7

Beautiful day! I took 2 hitches to get back to the trail since the first guy picked me up didn¢t speak English. Hitchhiking is definitely part of the adventure. Miles weren¢t as hard on my feet but I still have a long way to go before I feel good about doing 20¢s. I am still real worried about what it all means for my hike as a whole. It looks to be a nice night. Hope the spiders don¢t get me ?
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Pearisburg

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Went to Damascus for Trail DaysHighlights of the day;- 5:30 am back of a pick up for 2.5 hours with 9 people and 2 beagles- bought a Hennessee Hammock- saw a lot of people- saw the world premiere of Flagler Film- all you can eat pancakes for $4 (I ate 10 plates)- I camped right on the river in my hammock
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Pickle Branch

To: Barnaby Hostel
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

Highlights:-Dragon¢s Tooth- great weather-Still hiking a lot with Blues Traveler, Catfish and Boat (short for Boatright)-Huge pig out at Homeplace (all you can eat!!!)-Sent home winter gear from Cataba Post Office
Date: 2008-05-27
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Matts Creek
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Highlights:-Still having trouble with my feet after 15 miles. Thinking seriously about switching insoles again next chance I get and sending these home.-Ran into Catfish who was doing a southbound slackpack.-Catfish¢s mom was doing Trail Magic at Thunder Ridge Overlook-Still great views when out of the trees. -Getting to know a new group of people a little better.
Date: 2008-06-05
From: Sklyine Drive

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I¢ll keep this as short as possible. Basically these were probably some of the ¢closest to quitting days¢ I have had yet. I am writing this a week later when my attitude is much better. The biggest problem was the heat, bugs, lack of wilderness in the park (even though lots of wildlife) and that Virginia really did seem to be never-ending. I averaged my 17 miles a day. My final tally was 7 bears and hundreds of stupid deer. If they allowed hunting you could have done it with a hammer. A common question seems to be where I sleep. Generally I would say 8 times out of ten, I spent the night alone (at least a mile from someone) in my hammock. One time out of ten might be either in a shelter or hammocked nearby. And sometimes I would stay in a hostel or share a hotel room with a lot of people.
Date: 2008-06-12
From: Sklyine Drive

To: Mountain View Farm
Miles today: 19.0

What a day. I had a lazy morning at Bears Den Hostel. I made some Johnny cakes and ran into people all day including Stubbs and Mr. Bones, who convinced me to spend 2 nights (a true zero) working on the farms. Junker (PATC maintainer) also helped by promoting the Stonybrook Farm. I went over the 1000 marker and I left Virginia behind!!!Did a crazy bushwhack with a side trail and eventually used Greg (Sea to Land¢s web support) to find the farm, its address, map in relation to me and the showed up around 7:30-8:00 pm. They made me a meal and I watched the movies ¢King Corn¢ outside with them during their movie night. Set up my hammock on their porch and rested knowing I would be farming in the morning.
Date: 2008-06-13
From: Mountain View Farm

To: Mountain View Farm
Miles today: 0.0

Helped with the harvest for market in the morning while picking everyone¢s brain as much as possible to learn what worked and what didn¢t for Mountain View Farms. They were doing everything on a shoe string budget and I enjoyed learning a lot about how they have progressed in their first years.The second part of the day was spent at Stonybrook Farm (not the big ¢Farms¢) a community part of the 12 tribes of Israel. They were so different from mainstream USA it was refreshing. I worked a little with cutting some chard but spent most of the day planting lettuce and watermelon with Jeremiah and others. Bessera (Jeremiah¢s mom), Jeff and really the whole community were extremely friendly and helpful. Afterwards they invited me to join in their celebration of the coming Sabbath. Lots of music and dancing with roots in the Jewish and Christian faith. Not to mention wonderful food filled with veggies and fruit. They gave me muffins and oranges to go and I shared them with many folks the next day. Their perspective is different in that they have the resources from other aspects of the community to invest in good tractors, fencing and a bio-diesel operation that produced 1000 gallons a week! They seem to be a monument to old school traditional resourcefulness and values. This has been a big part of my reason for wanting to go into farming. That night I got a ride back to Mountain View Farm (part of the Blue Ridge Center) and I was about to call it a night when I found a large ¢self sufficient¢ living book and proceeded to read it until 3 am.
Date: 2008-06-14
From: Mountain View Farm

To: Brownsville Gap
Miles today: 9.3

Quinn gave me a ride back to the trail where I proceeded to see people I hadn¢t seen since Trail Days. I then saw even more people I knew in town. Lots of people going home for either a week or permanently. Some of the fastest people are making the decision to slow down. I managed to avoid being drenched thanks to the Ed Garvey Shelter, another great shelter/privy built by the PATC.
Date: 2008-06-16
From: Annapolis Rock

To: Buena Vista, PA
Miles today: 17.5

Took it easy today with lots of long breaks and still managed a reasonable mileage day. I had a lot of food delivered for lunch to Free State Hostel (trying not to dip below 135 pounds). I wish I could have spent the night. With so many people getting off around Harper¢s Ferry there is nobody around (except Boat) again.
Date: 2008-06-17
From: Buena Vista, PA

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Highlights:-Homiest shelter on the trail with potted flowers, wood paneling privy, super clean, food box for critter protection and a small stream going by.-Caledonia State Park was beautiful with mountain laurel, water everywhere and friendly service at the snack bar.-Ran into Robin Hood, his dad and his brother-Also met up again with Sojo and Freebird
Date: 2008-06-18
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Iron Masters Mansion
Miles today: 17.3

Highlights:-Made it to the Halfway Point to Maine!!!!-I downed my 12 gallon of ice cream in 1 hour and 5 minutes and chased it with a big burger, 2 large fries, chicken nuggets, can of Pringles and a 20 oz of soda.-Stayed in a mansion that was part of the underground railroad-Got interviewed for a local newspaper-Great little tour of the mansion as part of the stay-Freebird played some great piano-I had a reunion with Dust in the Wind
Date: 2008-06-21
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: few clouds

Highlights:-Super dive hotel but nice in how it reminds me of the Alaskan hotel in Juneau. Super friendly owners, awesome food for the price and cheap beer to boot! Also there was live music at night.-Jammed my toe, bad walking for ice cream. I thought I might have broken my toe but 3 days later I can say it isn¢t broken.-I said goodbye to the fast gray blaze and got to catch up with Jackaroo, who was a little funk.
Date: 2008-06-24
From: PA 72

To: Hertein Campsite
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I got a ride into Pine Grove from a kid that was excited to pick up such an interesting person for his first hitchhiker. He gave me some interesting souvenirs. I got great home cooked food from Scholl Family Restaurant with some of the best service on the AT with a ride back to 501 shelter from the owner. I met Sandman again for first time since Trail Days.
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Hertein Campsite

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

The rocks are starting to wear on me. I went the extra distance into town to get to a payphone to see how Jaime was doing with her lyme disease. But when I got into town there wasn¢t any phones plus the bar and restaurant closed early. Luckily I got leftovers from other thru-hikers and Mudbug let use his cell. I met ¢Bones¢ briefly and got a trail magic beer from Sky.
Date: 2008-06-26
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: light rain

I had breakfast with Grits, Boat and Sojo. I had the most unfriendly service but good food and a shower from the Port Clinton Hotel. Great unplanned visit from Jason (bro) and Amelia with a trip to the Yuengling Brewery and dinner. I had a late night push to the top of the ridge.
Date: 2008-06-27
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Allentown Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Trying to write this entry on G130. As I departed PA one thing came to mind; how tired I am, especially by the time I write. I wish my journey in my mind was as well documented as the journey of my body. Unfortunately it takes too many words and energy and time to write such things. At the end of the day, energy and time costs miles.
Date: 2008-07-02
From: Blue Mountain Lakes Road

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Visit from Jaime after not seeing each other for 2 months. I had a good walk, talk and lunch with Gritz. Hopefully almost at the end of the rocks. Another good views and temps a little cooler after yesterday¢s storm**From Jaime**I drove down to New Jersey to see Rick for the day. It has been about 10 weeks since we have seen each other and I was looking forward to it. I picked him up on the road and we spent an hour or so trying to find a place to stay for the night. We found a place in Newton, New Jersey. After we settled in we went out for dinner at a local Italian restaurant. The next morning I dropped Rick off back in Branchville and said goodbye to him for a couple more weeks I have to add, Rick has lost a bit of weight but the big difference for me was the beard and hair. At times I didn¢t recognize him but then I would look into his blue eyes and know it was Rick. Don¢t worry we took a couple pictures which I hope to download soon.
Date: 2008-07-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I made an executive decision today. No more daily entries. The stats page is wrong. I¢ll fix it sometime in next year. Basically I am tired of writing the same old stuff. It was a great trip home for two days while I passed through CT, but way too short. New York had some horrid water sources and I think I drank out of something that needed a WASMAT team. Getting closer and closer to the White¢s and the views, terrain and everything are making me feel more like home, the kind of hiking I am familiar with. Of course there is a reason I don¢t normally hike in the summer. The mosquitoes have gotten horrendous. I hear them trying to get into my hammock at night, all night. I have passed 2 south bounders now. Not too many thru hikers where I am, but it¢s not as bad as when I was in New York. Replaced my boots for the first time since the beginning while home and they are breaking in. Unfortunately my right ankle is pretty badly strained (from my first day back). I am going to give it a week and then reevaluate.
Date: 2008-07-18
To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

When you see an oasis in the desert do you walk by without a drink? I had contemplated skipping spending the night here several times just to get 4 more miles in. The reality is that most of the reason why I have felt like this is a job is because I feel like I don¢t stop enough at places like this. I got a great swim, which takes some of the funk out of the clothes and body. Not to mention a couple of layers of DEET. I get good company (I wouldn¢t have had any people time today otherwise). Lots of respite from the mosquitoes and pancakes in the morning. This is the sort of thing I have been passing up to get to the end sooner. Side note: I realized how bad my ankle was when I tried to swim with it, impossible. If I am not careful all this rushing is going to throw me off the trail either physically or psychologically or both. This place truly is an oasis and I am taking a drink, a long one. The 4 mile price is worth paying.
Date: 2008-07-19
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Tom's house in Dalton, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

Another topic of the mind that I have talked to a lot of people about but haven¢t written much about is the effect of being in so much solitude on my brain. The left side- the part that deals with living in the present, creativity, etc. has a sort of new control. The right side- the part of my brain associated with linking past to future, communication with the outside world and even some rational thinking, doesn¢t have the same control or maybe I should say ¢power¢ it once had. It can only be described as feeling like I am thinking with someone else¢s brain sometimes. This has given me a slightly different perspective at times. It¢s like the pathways that connect the right with the left sides are changed and they don¢t talk the same as before. Luckily I know that it shouldn¢t be permanent. I can see gradual improvement every hour I am in town. One of the places most people seem to notice it, is at restaurants or other retail establishments where choices/questions/answers are abound and suddenly my mind doesn¢t reach in an expected manner. This is so hard to explain in words.More pertinent to today is the fact that I felt overwhelmed with emotion several times today while hiking. Not just one emotion but several. I wonder how much was due to adrenaline pushing me through the ankle pain. Tom has the biggest heart ever for being the best host to thru-hikers. Met a whole bunch of thru-hikers there including catching back up to Lotus and Thinker.
Date: 2008-07-20
From: Tom's house in Dalton, MA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I had another heavily emotional day. One of the emotions was related to an NPR reading of a collection of short stories about the war with the title having the word ¢Homecoming¢ in it, written by soldiers and their families. One part was because I met 2 thru hikers from the 90s. They mentioned one of the things they missed was the true appreciation for the small things in life.This has been a fear of mine because the appreciation I have right now for running water, a toilet, even a well-trimmed privy, a chance to have ice cream or even a deli sandwich. The list goes on and on. When an average Joe is thirsty, he walks to his water faucet and gets a glass of water. A thru-hiker might have to walk 0.6 miles down a steep hill after hiking 10-15 miles to get water from a puddle using a hand pump for 10 minutes. And the water never tasted so good (this hasn¢t been a problem in New England) but it is a good example of a certain appreciation that average Americans can¢t fathom. For the same reason that my best mal of my life was after 28 days in the Gulf of Alaska sea sick, I fear the number of times I have felt sheer joy and appreciation for the smallest things on the trail that I won¢t feel again once I assimilate again into the ¢real world¢. I can only pray that it lasts as long as possible and that my finely tuned ability to find silver linings on the cloudiest day stays with me for the rest of my life.
Date: 2008-07-21
To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

The topic for today is related to yesterday. Basically that living the trail is living like these are the last days of your life. It¢s a tough one to describe, partially because hiking isn¢t really what you want to do a lot of days. But appreciation of each day, you are alive and able to keep walking is beyond words. At least with the speed I write and my limited vocabulary. Not to mention the feeling when you finish the day that you are much closer to Katadin. Then those days pile into a 100 mile markers and then states. Today marked less than 600 miles to go and entering Vermont. As I write this I hear a pack of coyotes wailing and I celebrate the end of merciless millions of mosquitoes.
Date: 2008-07-22
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I¢ll write this one the old fashioned way. Long story short, I just barely beat the rain and spent the night in a shelter for the first time in a long time. I am definitely out of the crazy bugs now. This was the first day I felt ¢cool¢ since over 1000 miles ago. Yes, Vermont is muddy, but my boots are holding up well. I shared shelter with a bunch of ¢long trail¢ hikers just starting out and Early Bird (6 time long trail plus the AT under her belt). Just a great group of people that all took sharing to a high level. The whole stay gave me a little more hope in today¢s youth (3 girls in high school) compared to some of the camp groups and boy scout/girl scouts which were more like valley girls. The girls were more mature by far than the groups I have met in the past. Those groups were probably preteens mostly. I also talked to Mala about the Whizer dealer in Auburn. Mala is back on the trail.
Date: 2008-07-23
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I saw a moose today. Picked and ate a lot of raspberries. I had decent views until a heavy rain set in. I met my first kind of grouchy Southbound thru hiker, complaining about how crowded the shelter was and how it was the north bounders fault, even though there were just as many AT North and AT South. Oh Well.
Date: 2008-07-30
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I know it has been awhile. As usual it is because so much is going on and I have no time to write about it. I went swimming a couple of times including jumping off a decent rock at Little Rock Pond. I made steps towards helping ¢Billy the Kid¢ with his fear of heights. Spent a beautiful night at the warming hut on Bromley Mountain. Great sunrise and sunset. Unfortunately it allowed Thinker and Lotus to get a full day ahead of me. Spent a little time with 12 tribes in Rutland. They really are great people with a great caf© if you are ever in the area (Back Home Again Caf©). As far as wildlife, add a beaver to the list. Still seeing a couple garden snakes per day. As far as my body, my knees are aching a little again but my big concern remains to be my ankle. Although it isn¢t as bad as it was a week or two ago..it¢s not a lot better. I feel ok enough to go into the Whites in a few days, but I am going to have to continue to be super careful. It is a little frustrating because I know that if I saw a doctor he would just say ¢take it easy for a few weeks and you will be fine¢. But I don¢t take even one zero mile days ever, never mind multiple days. Of course it could be worse. I caught up with Mister F. Gentle Spirit at 12 tribes due to his multiple ¢Slack packs¢ and ¢Zeros¢. He is a cool cat (known in the real world as David Petrone, the jazz singer) that has had to deal with a hernia for the last 100 miles or so. He still pushes on though and pushes it back in when it doesn¢t go on its own. If you are looking for a little amusement I suspect you would find some good stuff on his site- brotherproof.com. Of course I had hoped to write more about my minds journey, but once again I am too tired by the time I get to that point. I would like to share something that came out of some reflections last weekend. Basically that I think some of the secrets to happiness comes down to loving thy neighbors (everyone), believing in your self and having faith in God I think that if you truly achieve all three things it would be hard not to live a happy and healthy life. Peace.
Date: 2008-08-03
To: JefferÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Brook Shelter, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Welcome to the Whites! We have had some crazy rain lately with the trail as a river again and some good fjording brooks. Crocs have come in handy there but my boots are still soaked and thanks to my crappy pack-cover replacement with the ¢drainage hole¢ designed in, so is my sleeping bag. Somebody needs to slap that engineer. Oh well, enough complaining. I actually got a good visit the other day from Kevin. Good to chat, vent, have some great trail magic and just have somebody around that hikes my pace. I caught up to Lotus, Thinker, Hot Wheels and Shutterbug again. We are all planning on a summit of Katadin on the same day right now. Tomorrow is Mt. Mooselake, the first big climb in the Whites and I will meet with Jaime at the bottom for our last visit before the end. Less than 400 miles to go! Hearing a lot about thru-hikers having problems with Lyme disease. To Lucky Dog, Pogo, Mr. Bones, Blaze and all the other folks I know out there, you are in my prayers. Hope to see you after Katadin.
Date: 2008-08-05
From: JefferÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Brook Shelter, NH

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings from Woodstock, NH! This is Jaime (again), Rick¢s girlfriend. I met up with Rick on Monday in Woodstock. It was so great to see him. We spent the afternoon catching up, doing laundry, de-funk Rick and walked around the town. Woodstock is a great little town and we had a nice meal at the Woodstock Inn Station. Today I said goodbye to Rick as he continued his journey through the Whites. I can¢t believe it is going to be 4 weeks. Keep it up Rick! Almost there.
Date: 2008-08-06
To: Galehead Hut (work for stay)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

I have had so much to write about the mind but I¢ll take a short break from that to talk about the body¢s trip. So as of right now we are at 17 out of 20 days of rain. And it isn¢t supposed to slow down in the near future. Rain is scheduled for every day on the horizon. So no views expected in all of the Whites and I am not expecting my boots to dry until at least Maine. With the wet rocks and a heavy pack, the terrain is more like mountaineering/rock climbing than it normally feels like with a day pack. I still fall about once a day or so (sometimes worse than others). So my body feels kind of like it¢s been in a car accident, but I am ok¢¦.So I was interrupted again while writing¢¦and again now the next day¢¦ Why don¢t people realize that if I am writing, I don¢t want to talk?