morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-01
From: Near Cooper Lodge Shelter, Killington Peak

To: Killington Motel, Vermont
Miles today: 10.2

"In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed." - Ralph Waldo EmersonDay 143Today was what most people would consider a miserable day for hiking. It rained all night, guaranteeing a muddy, slippery descent off Killington. Then, shortly after breaking camp and heading down the mountain, it started raining again. For the first time on my journey, I put on a rain poncho, more so to keep me warm rather than dry. Also for the first time, I made no effort to avoid the mud puddles. I was like a big rig driver whose brakes have failed. If I was going to get wet and muddy, I might as well have some fun with it...so I did.I have previously discussed my fondness for Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I have related how I have applied Habit 2, Begin With the End in Mind, and Habit 7, Sharpen the Saw, while hiking the Appalachian Trail. The trail conditions on Day 143 present an opportunity to discuss Habit 1, Be Proactive. This habit involves taking responsibility for your life and owning your behavior and your response to situations. Rather than blame your parents, genetics, conditions, or circumstances for your behavior, you realize you have the freedom to choose how to respond to external stimuli. In effect, you and you alone are response-able. You focus on things you can control (your circle of influence) rather than on things beyond your control (your circle of concern).I was on a long, wet, muddy descent in the rain. It was chilly out. I was far away from my home and my loved ones. I really should be miserable. I should hate the day and the fact that I'm cold, wet, and muddy on the AT. But I don't have to feel that way. As a human being, I get to choose my response. I don't have to follow the normal, natural response to such situations. So on Day 143, I chose to be happy. I chose to splash in the mud puddles like a 10-year-old. Each of the three times I fell, I chose to laugh and give myself a score based on my technique and how well I stuck or didn't stick the landing. I chose to remember I am blessed to be on this trail and need to embrace the bad along with the good.Habit 1 can theoretically work in every situation, but we humans aren't disciplined enough to apply it in all situations. We get gloomy when it's rainy. We take offense when someone says something mean to us or about us. We get frustrated when stuck in traffic or in a slow-moving checkout line. And yet, we don't have to respond that way. We can choose something better, and I decided Day 143 was going to be a fun, memorable day of hiking.At the bottom of the mountain the rain finally stopped. I hiked through Gifford Woods State Park, crossed VT 100, and reached Kent Pond near Killington. Wet and muddy, I called the Killington Motel and the owner came and picked me up at the trailhead. I showered, did laundry, and devoured a 12" sub at the nearby Killington deli. It had been a good, fun, rainy, muddy day on the Appalachian Trail. At least for today, I decided not to let it be miserable.Fob
Date: 2016-08-02
From: Killington Motel, Vermont

To: Near Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

"And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham LincolnDay 144The owner of the Killington Motel imports coffee beans from around the world and roasts and grinds them at the motel. I tried his bold Kenyan roast and loved it. I also loved the motel's all-you-can-eat breakfast featuring blueberry pancakes. My day was off to a good start.The breakfast came in handy as I powered my way up Quimby Mountain. Shortly thereafter, I was passed by a familiar looking hiker and his dog. It was Pantry, who I had not seen since we shared a cabin in Shenandoah National Park. I love these random encounters with people I met earlier in my hike.After getting water at Locust Creek, I climbed up to the Lookout, a private cabin with fantastic 360-degree views. The owner lets hikers use it as a shelter. It has a long ladder that leads to a small platform, The Lookout, on top of the roof. I climbed up it for the views and hoped that maybe James Taylor would be up there escaping from a world that's been getting him down.I hiked on and, after a 16 mile day, set up my tent near the Wintturi Shelter, mile 1720.7. I was happy to see Pantry there, as I always enjoy watching him pull various ingredients out of his massive food bag. As he prepared some sort of fancy soup concoction, I ate two tortillas with peanut butter and honey. Since he's known as Pantry I should probably be known as Cupboard's Bare. As we sat there eating by the shelter, he told me about two interesting experiences he has recently had. First, he hiked with a guy who bought too much at a trail town grocery store and ended up hiking with two large summer sausages duct taped to each of his trekking poles. Ingenious...almost. That night a bear came and took the poles from beside his tent with the sausages still attached to them!At another campsite Pantry stayed at, an anonymous person called 911 and said that someone at the campsite had a gun. Next thing you know a "mini SWAT team" was on the scene, going from tent to tent looking for the nonexistent hiker with the gun. Pantry had no weapon for them, but could've given them dried lentils, kale, and more than a dozen herbs and spices. By the way, they investigated, determined who made the call, and arrested that hiker at another campsite for filing a false report.Fob
Date: 2016-08-03
From: Near Wintturi Shelter

To: Barn Loft, Mile 1737.1
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

"The world is divided into two classes, those who believe the incredible, and those who do the improbable." - Oscar WildeDay 145Four miles into my morning hike, I reached VT 12, Barnard Gulf Road. I headed .2 miles west off the trail to visit On the Edge Farm, where I ate my first homemade rhubarb pie, along with a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and Mountain Dew. Loved the rhubarb pie, even though I'm not exactly sure what a rhubarb is. I think they also use it to reinforce steel.After six miles of roller coastering on a hot day, I arrived at Cloudland Road with plans to make another .2 mile diversion to Cloudland Market. However, this proved to be unnecessary because I hit some Vermont Trail Magic! First there was a cooler with drinks and goodies just before the road. And then at the road, Gas Tank was set up with a full complement of snacks and drinks. A southbound AT hiker, he fell and tore his meniscus in the Whites and decided to provide some magic during his recuperation at home in Vermont. I'm not entirely sure what or where a meniscus is. It sounds like something a woman has or does that might make her grouchy. I will look it up after researching rhubarb and report back on both.I received word from several SOBOs about an awesome couple, Randy and Linda, who live in a house by the White River in West Hartford. (Not to be confused with Big Steve and Lil Jan, who live in a van down by the river.) This amazing couple feeds and shelters over 1000 hikers each year. I was also told they have a dog who will come after you barking, but will return peacefully to the porch after you pet him. Sure enough, at mile 1737.1, after a 16.4 mile day, I crossed the White River and headed toward the house with the big AT symbol on its barn. I heard barking and then saw Cujo's grandson charging at me as he slobbered. I quickly jumped out of his way, nearly tweaking my...meniscus? After petting him, he returned to the porch to wait for the next hiker.Linda and Randy feed hikers breakfast, lunch, and dinner...whatever meal you're there for...at no cost (optional donation jar). They also offer free lodging in the barn's mattress-filled loft or you can camp in their yard. On top of that, you can swim/bathe in the White River across the street or even take a 30-foot jump off the bridge into the water. After eating four grilled hot dogs and drinking two orange sodas, I claimed a bed in the barn's loft, and then headed to the river. I stripped down to my faded, oversized, pathetic, droopy, synthetic underwear and swam out into the rapids. Being full of rhubarb and already having tweaked my meniscus, I opted not to jump off the bridge. I enjoyed a peaceful rest of the evening along with Tough Love, Tin Man, Task Master, and several other hikers. It was good to be in West Hartford, a town flooded and nearly wiped off the map in 2011 by Hurricane Irene. It was also good to meet and receive kindness from Linda and Randy, two of Vermont's finest citizens.Fob
Date: 2016-08-04
From: Barn Loft, Mile 1737.1

To: Near Velvet Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 11.3

Day 146The trail seemed a tad easier today and I frequently heard the sound of loggers in the distance. I often wonder if they hear me when I fell the occasional wilderness log.By mid-afternoon I reached the adorable, upscale town of Norwich. Bob Keeshan, better known as Captain Kangaroo, was from there, in addition to many other of Vermont's wealthiest residents. I headed .1 mile west to Dan and Whits General Store, known for its decent prices, good selection of groceries, and narrowest aisles on the AT. They also give hikers any available day-old deli sandwiches for free, so I downed a free roast beef sandwich after re-supplying. Three of my fellow hikers were asked to help an elderly woman across the street move a piece of furniture, and she rewarded them with some leftover food in the fridge, unaware it had mold on it. Awkward.After purchasing a 50 cent cup of lemonade from a young man in front of the store, I continued my journey over the Connecticut River...and into the great state of New Hampshire! Any state with the motto "Live Free or Die" is alright by me. After taking and posting the obligatory new state photo, I climbed the state's first hill right into the bustling college town of Hanover.I could have spent a week in Hanover taking in all of its sights, sounds, eateries and shops. Instead, I spent about four hours. My first stop was to an outfitter to pick up a package Janet mailed to me. I now have my stove and winter gear again. I then had a free slice of pizza and large salad at Ramunto's Brick Oven Pizza. I stopped into the nearby Verizon store and upgraded my phone with more storage. Not quite full, I headed back to the main drag and had a large ice cream at Morano Gelato and then two pastries (one free) at Umpleby's Bakery Cafe. I hit a couple of gift shops which were of course full of all things Dartmouth. On my way out of town, I stopped at the Co-Op food store for a couple of Gatorades and bananas.The AT goes by the Dartmouth stadium and practice fields and then up into the woods. I hiked about 1.5 miles and then, after an 11.3 mile day, set up my tent near Velvet Rocks shelter. I overheard a fellow hiker tell another hiker that a third hiker he knew had received a goat as a present from his parents and intended to hike with it the rest of the way to Katahdin. I laid in my tent considering the pros and cons of hiking the AT with a goat. There are some upsides, but overall I'd say it's a b-a-a-a-a-d idea.Fob
Date: 2016-08-05
From: Near Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Ice Cream Man's Yard
Miles today: 16.2

"I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by, oh my my..." - Van HalenDay 147Today was a record day for meeting SOBO hikers. I greeted all of them and spoke a bit longer with a few of them. They were glad to have survived The Whites and offered me some key tips that would pay dividends later. After a fairly tough climb up Holts Ledge, there was a turnoff for the Trapper John Shelter, apparently named in honor of the MASH character. Some day I hope to have a dilapidated, porcupine-infested privy on a blue blazed side trail named after me. It will be called The Fob Pot.At mile 1764.6, just passed Dorchester Road, I took a short side trail to the home of the late Bill Ackerly. Mr. Ackerly, who passed away just a few months ago, was known in AT circles as The Ice Cream Man. After filling hikers' bellies with ice cream, he would then beat them at croquet on his perfectly manicured backyard croquet course. According to a note on my AT Guthook app, his family plans to continue the ice cream tradition for one more year. It also said hikers could get water, use the outhouse, access the free WiFi, and ask about camping in the yard. When I arrived at about 4 p.m., no one was home and there were no cars in the driveway. I debated what to do. Should I stay or hike on? I asked myself, what would The Ice Cream Man want me to do? So, I set up my tent in the backyard at the edge of the croquet course, got water, accessed the WiFi, and made myself at home. I suppose I was technically trespassing, but it seemed like a risk worth taking. As the sun began to set on his still perfectly manicured croquet course, I regretted that I was not able to meet Mr. Ackerly, eat his ice cream, or lose to him at croquet. If it's possible to miss someone you've never met, I suppose that's how I felt about The Ice Cream Man.Fob
Date: 2016-08-07
From: Pease Home, Near mile 1780.6

To: Hikers Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

"You can do anything you set your mind to, man". - Eminem, Lose YourselfDay 149I awoke to the wonderful smell of sizzling bacon. I followed my nose downstairs where Grandma Toni had prepared a huge breakfast. She brought me a plate with four pieces of French toast, two eggs, and three strips of bacon. Grandpa Jerry explained that the syrup on the table was "the good stuff" from their own farm. It was the best syrup I've ever had. Sorry, Aunt Jemima. Just as I finished off my first plate of food, Grandma Toni brought out a second plate identical to the first one. "You're not my first thru-hiker," she explained. I ate everything but the 8th piece of French toast. After packing up, I thanked this amazing couple for their generous hospitality and gave them each a huge hug. I then returned to the trail and continued my northbound journey to Katahdin.Near mile 1782.4, Cape Moonshine Road, a gentleman was set up right along the trail in the woods providing Trail Magic! It had been over an hour since I had Grandma Toni's breakfast so I was definitely ready for the 4-egg omelette Big Tom was offering. He has been doing Trail Magic on this spot throughout the hiking season and had an obvious love for hikers and the AT.After a fairly easy 9.8 mile day, I arrived at NH 25 and headed east .3 miles to the Hikers Welcome Hostel. After eating and re-supplying at a nearby gas station, I joined Firefly, Pyro, Tin Man, Kiwi, Virginia Creeper and several others in the hiker lounge. Later, my hiking buddy Foxfire came strolling in and said, "Fob, John says hi." "John who?" I replied. Foxfire answered, "Some guy named John in a pickup truck pulled up by me as I crossed a road earlier today and asked me if I knew Fob. When I told him I did, he said he loves reading your blog on Trail Journals and to tell you hello and keep hiking and writing." That's just crazy. John, whoever you are, thanks for that message and for reading my blog and following my journey. You and others who have posted comments on Trailjournals or Facebook have had a huge impact on me at some times when I really needed it. I read and appreciate every comment.After some discussion on which two movies to watch of the hundreds of options, we settled on the rather strange combination of Road to Perdition and Joe Dirt. If the United States ever ceases to be and a future civilization studies our culture, may they never unearth a Joe Dirt DVD and judge us based on it.Fob
Date: 2017-02-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Friends, supporters, and fellow hikers...After a difficult labor, I finally birthed my debut novel, Sir Fob W. Pot¢s Journey to Katahdin, Volume 1¢¦now available on Amazon. Putting my 2016 Appalachian Trail thru-hike into words was difficult, yet rewarding. I hope you¢ll feel the joy and pain I felt on my journey of a lifetime across 14 states. If not, try dialing back your Epidural. Please do me another favor and write a review on Amazon and share this announcement with friends and family! Thanks for your tremendous support! I'm especially grateful to those of you who read my TJ blog and offered encouraging comments in the guest book. This book is for you!Fobhttps://www.amazon.com/Sir-Fob-Pots-Journey-Katahdin/dp/0692838333/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486735052&sr=1-1&keywords=fob+w.+pot
Date: 2016-05-06
To: Novato, CA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hello,After finishing the Grand Enchantment Trail last year, I was so homesick that I decided I was done thru hiking! A week after I made this decision, which nobody that knew me actually believed, I began to dream every night about hiking. This dreaming went on for about a month then one night I had a vivid vision where my wife told me to go hike. I woke up knowing that I was going to hike the Appalachian Trail. So when I told my wife, Cyndi, of this big revelation that I was going on another thru hike she reacted with no surprise. In fact, she really had no reaction to my big news other than look at me as if I was a child. Her reaction was pretty much the same reaction I got from all my family and close friends when I told them of my intention to hike the AT.Hiking the AT! Well I'm excited!
Date: 2016-05-08
To: Novato
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I started preparing physically for this hike in October making sure I hiked at least once sometime during the day regardless of how tired I was from work or other activities. In January, I took a leave of absence from work and started hiking twice a day. As part of my preparation I've also gone on a few overnight backpacking trips. I'm not concerned about how I'll adapt to living on the trail, I've gone on some type of thru hike every year since 2012 so living on the trail is part of my life.Preparing specifically for the AT I have purchased topographic maps, Guthook's GPS application for my smart phone, Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers Companion guide, and I joined the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. I've also followed the forum discussions on White Blaze, followed numerous trail journals, and watched a lot of Utube videos. I've talked to a few hiker friends that have hiked the AT. My hiker friends have assured me that a May start will not be a problem for me. Part of my preparation has also been a few gear purchases. I've upgraded my shelter from a poncho tarp to a tent tarp from Tarptent to keep my contact with rodents to a minimum, I hate mice crawling over me while I sleep! Another upgrade is a new sleeping pad. Besides those two items the rest of the gear I need for the hike is stuff I already own. In fact, I own at least two or three different types of each backpacking item so I have to decide between them. For this hike I've decided on the lightest of my items such as my 40 degree sleeping bag, my ion black diamond headlamp,Gerber dime knife, and Leki microvario poles. I'm leaving my gloves, balaclava, and beanie at home because the temperatures should be warm. I'll be going stoveless and treating my water with Aqua Mira. No stove, no fuel, no pots and pans, and no water filter means I'll be traveling an average of 4 lbs lighter then most thru hikers. The base weight of all my gear is 12.2 lbs. this includes a few luxury items such as my smart phone and a lot of hygiene items.I will not be getting resupplied from home, I'll be using a bounce box. As far as planning how much mileage I'll do each day, where I will stop, and take zeroes (days off) I don't bother figuring that out any more until I'm out on the trail. Oh and one other thing I will have to get use to is not having the family and friend support I've gotten on the West Coast. On the AT I'll actually have to take care of myself!
Date: 2016-05-10
To: Dahlonega, Georgia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My wife and I get up at 3 am and we are on the road 15 minutes later. An hour later my wife drops me off at SFO airport. Needless to say my wife is absolutely wonderful. The hardest part of my upcoming hike is going to be me being away from her. Now for her she's probably going to enjoy her time away from me. Ha ha.Two hour flight from San Francisco to Phoenix then after an hour lay over I'm in the air again going to Atlanta. I want to sleep, I can't I'm too excited. This flight lasts three hours.Landed in Atlanta, 30 minutes later I'm on a train to North Springs. 40 minutes on the train, I walk off the train looking for my shuttle driver. My shuttle driver has an SUV, I throw my pack in the back and were off. I tell him I need to stop at a grocery store for supplies. He says he doesn't have time because he has another run. I promise him it will take less than 10 minutes, he grudgingly stops at a small market. Five minutes later I'm back in the SUV with four days of hiking food. The shuttle driver is in disbelief. He now understands I know what I'm doing he becomes more friendly. We arrive at the hostel in Dahlonega, Georgia, it is 6:30 PM. I'm done traveling for the day. Well enough of this easy transportation tomorrow I walk!
Date: 2016-05-11
From: Dahlonega, Georgia

To: Hawk Mountain Tent Site
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

After breakfast at the Hostel, the owner of the hostel, Josh loaded me and four other hikers in a van to take us to start our hikes. The four other hikers wanted to start at Springer Mountain while I wanted to do the approach trail. So we took the four to Springer then Josh drove me to the approach trail.At the ranger station at Amicola Falls I weighed my pack now fully weighted with 4 days of food and two liters of water. It weighed 23 lbs.I started hiking the approach trail at 11 am. Falls were beautiful. So glad I didn't let other hikers talk me out of hiking it. The approach trail adds an extra eight miles to the hike that is not counted as official AT miles. My philosophy is eight miles to see something special, no problem.I'm at the top of Springer Mountain at 2 PM. I signed the register and had my picture taken. At 6 PM, I was at Hawk Mountain tent site. These are new tent sites established this year. Only two other hikers for the 30 sites.One of the other hikers that was with me in the van this morning, she was dropped off at Springer Mountain, I passed her when she was about two miles from the tent site. She was having a difficult time, she had only covered six miles in five hours. It took her about two hours to cover the final two miles to the tent site. When she arrived at the tent site she was exhausted. She asked me where the water was. I told her it was a 1/4 mile down the hill. She said, "Oh no." I thought she was going to cry. Oh well, I didn't want that so I gave her my two liters of water and I went back down to the spring to get two more liters. I hate to be judgmental but she is not going to make it. I couldn't bring myself to tell her to quit. I admire the human spirit it is so amazing though it can get you in trouble. It has to be so heartbreaking to plan and make arrangements for a hike that will take four to six months only to find out in one or two days it won't be possible for you.For me it was an easy day, no soreness, and no blisters. I'm so happy to be hiking. Today was a beautiful day. For some reason when I started hiking today I was nervous, I had butterflies in my stomach. "Easy by easy," I reminded myself throughout the day. Today I covered 17 miles including the approach trail. I need to average 17 miles a day to reach Katahdin by October 1.Hiker tips: I try not to overdue it my first day. You can gather a lot of intel at hostels, some of it pertinent and some of it not. The main lesson I learned at this hostel was that there were a lot of injured and unprepared hikers that had already decided to quit after two or three days.