morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-08-25
From: The Inn at Long Trail (Zero)

To: Lookout Shelter 
Miles today: 17.5

Got started from The Inn at Long Trail at around 10 or so with Sherpa and C-shot. Lot of up and down today, not very fun. Had to go over Quimby Mountain, which took a lot longer and was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Very steep in sections, and the sections that weren't steep took a lot out of me, I think because there were a few blowdowns and lots of roots reaching out over the trail. Made for lots of tripping. After lunch at Stony Brook Shelter, we only had 7.5 miles but it was pretty much either going up a mountain or going down one. About halfway before I got there, I started hearing thunder, so I tried speeding up a little bit. I got 3 miles before the Lookout Shelter, which is actually private property and is sometimes closed, when it started getting pretty dark. From this point there was only about 500 feet of elevation to go over but it seemed to come within less than half a mile, and once I got to the top of the ridge the storm that I had heard coming really started to blow. The wind picked up to probably around 45 to 50 miles an hour, thunder was right around me, and it got real dark real quick. I didn't really have anywhere to go, so I ran on the trail, trying to make it to the shelter as soon as I could. A couple of times I had to stop, put down my trekking poles, and find some good tree cover because lightning was going off around me. Then I figured that hiding under trees would probably be the worst place to be (especially since I had heard limbs falling somewhere closeby) so I'd put my pack on and keep running up the trail. Then the thunder would start up again and I'd think out on the trail probably wasn't the best place to be, either. So I'd go back under the trees. This cycle repeated itself probably 4 or 5 times, until at one point I came out from the trees and the sign to the Lookout Shelter was literally about 10 seconds away. I got to the shelter, got out of my wet clothes, and got my stuff situated. I turned my phone and had a message from my parents, so I called them and found out my Mom had just recently got some new golf clubs. She was pretty excited about it and it was pretty comforting talking to them after what I had just been through, so I decided not to tell them about it yet. At one point, Mom asked "So is everything going alright up there?" and I just said "Yeah, everything's fine," thinking to myself "I just had to dodge lightning and falling trees, so yeah, the fact that I'm inside right now is pretty awesome."
Date: 2007-08-26
From: Lookout Shelter 

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up pretty early in the shelter and saw some incredible views from the top of the shelter, there was a ladder with a platform up top where you could see for miles and miles. Started hiking around 9 or so, had only about 6 miles to a road where Sherpa was going to quit hiking and get a hitch back to Manchester Center to get his car and head back home. Lots of blowdowns on the trail before we got there, though, and several slick spots. After we got to the road, we headed down to a shop that sells fresh fruit and ice cream and all that so we spent about an hour or so just sitting out front eating. Headed back down, had several hills to go over, and eventually got to Thistle Hill Shelter, a nice shelter but the water source was a good 5 minute walk. Good group, met up with several hikers we had been hiking with and then a couple others who we hadn't met yet -- Crockett and Root Down. Good night overall, nothing too exciting but just a fun time.
Date: 2007-08-27
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Hanover
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Headed out from the shelter at the normal time, got down to West Hartford (about 5 miles from the shelter) and stopped at the library to check email and then went to the General Store, which had awesome sandwiches and really nice people. Made it to Hanover, picked up a new book since I had just finished the one I was borrowing from C-shot called "The Road," a Cormac MacCarthy book about a father and son living in post-apocalyptic times. A pretty disturbing book but great, one of the best books I've read. I bought "No Country For Old Men," another book by MacCarthy, from the bookstore in town. Hanover is where Dartmouth College is located, so it is a college town but it definitely has a different feel to it than the college towns down south like Athens. I guess it's because Dartmouth is an Ivy League school, there were definitely some very rich-looking people around. Not to say it was a snoody town -- it kinda was, but everybody there was real friendly. Anyway, I did my laundry in one of the dorms (I kinda had to sneak my way in) and later stayed over on the soccer field with a few other hikers.
Date: 2007-08-28
From: Hanover

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

In New Hampshire now, and the trail is getting more challenging. Hiking out of Hanover, there were some very steep sections but well maintained and overall pretty nice. Hot day, took me quite some time to get warmed up, and even then it was pretty slow-going for the most part. I got to Moose Mountain shelter around 4 or so and found that the water source was pretty much just a big pool or muddy water, and when I got back to the shelter I found that there were gallons of water that people had brought up but they were all empty. So, I went down to an alternate water source (which is very rare for there to be one) half a mile downhill with C-shot and another hiker who was section hiking with his parents. I had passed them on my way to the shelter and they looked like they had no idea what they were doing out there, I found out from the son while we were filling up on water that they had gone to EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) just a few days before and loaded up on gear, and of course the EMS people sold them a bunch of stuff they didn't need so they were carrying probably around 65-70 pounds on their backs. Way to much for any person to carry. Anyway, the rest of the group got to the shelter, we had dinner, sang songs, etc. We had a really great view of the moon coming up and it was big and red as it came over the horizon, really cool to see. I camped out behind the shelter and heard something over by my tent throughout the night, sounded like a rabbit or something chewing on the leaves. I'd keep opening my tent to look for it but it would run off and return about 10 minutes later.
Date: 2007-08-29
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

Looking at the profile map for today, I knew that this was going to be one of the hardest days yet, and sure enough, it was. Actually, it was probably worse. It was really really hot and we had a lot of uphill climbing to do. I think overall there was around 6000 feet of uphill throughout the entire day, including Holts Ledge (1300 feet over 1.5 miles) and then Smarts Mountain (2100 over 4). Going up Smarts was real tough, there were some very steep sections and with the heat it made it much worse. There were some parts that were just bare rock that if I was going the other way and it was wet I'd have been terrified. There was a firetower up on top which had incredible views; I was able to see where I had come from and where I was going, which I haven't been able to do that much so whenever I can it's pretty encouraging. I left the top of Smarts Mtn. and got down to South Jacobs Brook, about a mile and a half before Hexacuba Shelter and set down my pack to load up on water and get something to eat. As I was pulling my food bag out I heard something rip. I paused for a second, figured I was just pulling something up with my food bag, and kept pulling, which I shouldn't have done because it was my food bag that was ripping. Oh well...it was pretty old, I bought it back in Franklin so it made it the majority of the trip. From the brook it was pretty much all uphill to the shelter, and I was incredibly tired and beat. When I got to the shelter I had to put medicated cream over several areas on my body due to heat rash: armpits, waist where my pack rests, feet due to blisters, and a couple of spots I won't mention. Pretty miserable feeling, I'd like to say I found some encouragement somewhere so I could go to sleep peacefully but I felt like crap and I kept waking up throughout the night. I know I've only got a month left and a little over 400 miles at this point, but I know they're going to be the hardest 400 miles of the trail, so at this point I'm worried about how my body will hold up in the long run.
Date: 2007-08-30
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Hikers Welcome Hostel in Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

Got out of Hexacuba Shelter at the normal time and immediately had about 2 miles of uphill to the top of Mt. Cube. Another hot day, I met up with a bunch of other hikers on top of the mountain and we all took pictures and then hiked down together. After we got down the mountain, I was hiking at the front of the pack, and I was letting the trail get to me. I had fallen coming down the mountain, not hard but enough to get me on edge (which hasn't happened very often since I started) and a little while later another hiker said something to me that got me pretty pissed off (I won't say who it was or what they said). I didn't say anything to this person, I just tried to let it go but soon after I felt something pop on the left side of my pack. The shoulder strap on my left side ripped apart from the pack and so I stepped off the trail and let everybody behind me go on by. It was easy to fix -- I just tied the strap to another part of my pack -- but it was frustrating thinking about it because I've known since I got my winter sleeping bag that I've got too much weight in my pack. I'm going to have to cut some weight somehow, I guess from here on out I'll just be carrying the bare essentials. Once I fixed my pack I moved on to the next shelter and met up with everybody else for lunch. Stopped there for about 45 minutes or so and soon after I started hiking my heat rashes started up again. From the shelter where we had lunch it was 2.5 miles to the next road crossing, and C-shot and another hiker Red, who is getting back on the trail after working at a boy scout camp all summer, were trying to hitchhike up to Glencliff where the hostel is. I could barely walk any more so I stood on the side of the road trying to get a hitch with them. After about 15 minutes or so we got a ride (with some help from Kimchi) and made it up to Glencliff, skipping about 5 miles of the trail. About an hour after we got there a big storm came through, so it was a pretty good thing that we yellow-blazed.
Date: 2007-08-31
From: Hikers Welcome Hostel in Glencliff, NH

To: Hikers Welcome Zero
Miles today: 0.0

Cloudy, rainy morning here at the hostel. We've got a huge climb going up Mt. Moosilauke, which is the beginning of the Whites, and this morning we all just sat around and watched a DVDs of The Simpsons (season 4). I went across the road to the post office to pick up my bounce box and another package (oh yeah I forgot to mention I left my cooking pot and fuel cannister back at The Inn at Long Trail last week and had them mail it up to Glencliff) but the latter package wasn't there so I've got to wait around until tomorrow morning for it to get here. This also gives me a chance to rest up for the Whites and get a good view on top of Moosilauke and allow my heat rashes to heal up. 398 miles to go!
Date: 2007-01-02
To: First Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, today marks 75 days in the countdown till I make it down to Springer to hike the Appalachian Trail. I couldn't be more excited. I put all the gear I have in my pack last night and it weighs in around 20lbs so far. That doesn't include a lot that I still need to get or plan on including so I'll have to see what I can cut. Santa was very generous this year with camping gear for my trek including buying me a brand new tent which is on it's way from REI. I'm obsessed with tracking it online to see where it is - should be here soon, but never soon enough. Santa also brought me a book about hiking the AT written by a women called, Always Another Mountain. Good so far but makes me want to hike right now! Maybe I should go test out my new tent this weekend... hehe."We're all in this thing together Walkin' the line between faith and fear This life don't last forever" -Old Crow Medicine Show-Danielle
Date: 2007-01-04
To: My Tent!
Miles today: 0.0

I finally got my new tent today! I put in up in the lobby of my building cause it doesn't fit in my room and because of this I couldn't anchor it but I still managed with some shoes and a piano leg chair. It's perfect! I have enough room for my pack and myself in it. The best part is that the rain-fly has a 'sunroof' so I can see outside of it. I think I will have to go camping this weekend to test it out. Yippie!!-Danielle
Date: 2007-01-05
To: Last classes!
Miles today: 0.0

Well, this week was the first week in my last quarter here at college! I graduate March 16th and I start hiking hopefully the 19th! I'm taking an interesting class this quarter called the Sociology of Appalachia. Already it seems like I'll love the class and we had one. My teacher briefly touched on the Appalachian Trail and I'm 100% sure my face lit up. I wanted to scream, "I'm going to hike it!", but stayed quiet so he could go on teaching. Hehe. He talked about the music that has developed in the Appalachia area that I love so much. He also talked about the beautiful landscape and wonderful people in the Appalachian area. What a perfect class to take and begin my journey with!"Head down don't you make a soundKeep your plans all to yourselfThey'll come true they follow youThey're what you're obligated toDon't you listen to nobody else"-The Avett Brothers-Danielle
Date: 2007-01-08
To: Test Hike
Miles today: 0.0

This weekend I decided to do a test hike. I planned on hiking Saturday and camping that night at a local state park. I carried my pack with me on a 4-5 mile hike during the day. I decided after hiking that I need to lose some weight in my pack because my shoulders hurt really bad afterward - but maybe I just need to get more used to it. I then set up my new tent and cooked some food. I fell asleep and woke up freezing because it started spitting sleet. I wasn't prepared for the 30* drop in temp and that combined with everyone else leaving the campsite and not feeling safe there by myself I too went home. I felt kind of defeated with it being the first time I've ever left a campsite without staying there the night but given the situation I believe it was probably a good one. At least I got a feel for my pack with full weight and got a beautiful hike in! Hopefully weather will be good in early March to get a few more night camps in around here. A good side note: I signed up for 5 back-country cooking classes at our local adventure clinic. I'm excited! If my plans work with hiking with Keith maybe we will open a traveling AT restaurant. HAHA! Yum!-Danielle
Date: 2007-01-10
To: 1st Cooking Class
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday I had my first back-country cooking class! It was the first one out of five and even though we went over a lot I already knew I had a lot of fun. It was a good review on different types of stoves, backpacking resources and cooking methods. They even had stuff to make your own alcohol stove which i plan on doing next time. I got some looks when I mentioned that i was bringing my rocket-pocket with my to do the AT... what can I say I love it! I like it because I can light it in my tent when it's windy without feeling like i'm going to burn my tent down and it's small but not to heavy. In any case, I'm looking forward to the rest of the classes. I can't wait till we start trying new recipes! -Danielle
Date: 2007-01-24
To: 2nd Class
Miles today: 0.0

Last night I had my second cooking class in which we made alcohol stoves. It was a lot of fun. I'm almost tempted to take that instead of my stove but I just got my pocket rocket and I still love it. We also made mock menus for weekend backpacking trips which was fun. I met with my professors wife who has hiked a lot of the AT today for lunch. It was a fun meeting and made me even more excited to hike. Last night while studying I realized after reading two pages in my book I had know idea what I was reading because all I can think about is the trail! I'm going home this weekend to get some more gear and hopefully will post a gear list soon.
Date: 2007-01-29
To: Dharma Bums
Miles today: 0.0

While reading some new camping cooking books this weekend I came across the most perfect quote to express what I feel about getting ready to hike the AT:"...what does he care if he hasn't got any money: he doesn't need any money, all he needs is his rucksack with those little plastic bags of dried food and a good pair of shoes and off he goes to enjoy the privileges of a millionaire in surroundings like this."      - Jack Kerouac, Dharma BumsOnly 48 more days....
Date: 2007-02-16
To: Gear List
Miles today: 0.0

I think this is the most detailed gear list I've made. I think I have pretty much everyone on this. Sorry folks, it's more just me thinking outloud.. 30 days!1. Kelty Tornado Women¢s 4000cu backpack2. REI Roadster UL Solo Tent3. Therm-a-Rest Women¢s Trail-Lite Regular sleeping pad4. Slumberjack Ultimate 20* Sleeping bag5. Leki Makalu Ultralight hiking poles6. REI hiking boots7. Petzel Tikka Plus8. TREK 1 Coghlan¢s first aid kit9. 1 emergency blanket10. Bathroom stuff:      a. Plastic trowel      b. 2oz Purell      c. Small camping towel      d. Toothbrush, toothpaste      e. Toilet paper      f. Dr. Brooner¢s11. Highgear watch with digital compass12. Cooking Supplies:      a. GSI outdoors set (bowl, cup, two skillets)      b. RocketPocket with pot      c. Light My Fire spork, lime green      d. Portable Aqua iodine tablets      e. Campsuds13. Maxi Deet14. Sunscreen on carabineer 15. Sunglasses16. 32oz Nalgene 17. Clothes:      a. REI women¢s trail running wind breaking jacket      b. North Face fleece      c. Stearns waterproof women¢s jacket      d. Stearns waterproof pants      e. Under Armour heat gear women¢s shirt      f. Under Armour cold gear women¢s shirt      g. Under Armour cold gear women¢s long underwear      h. Running pants      i. Columbia long underwear shirt      j. Quest polartec hat      k. Shorts      l. Socks      m. Bandana      n. Gloves18. Buck Whittaker Knife19. Storm proof lighter / bic20. Cell phone21. Maps22. Book and pen23. Gregory pack coverHope that's everything!Danielle
Date: 2007-03-08
To: Backwards With Time
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday, I attended my last college class - and today the numbers reaches 10 days until I start to hike. I am not sure what feel at this point in my life. Should I be sad I am leaving school? Sad I am closing friendships or should I be excited to find myself in the woods for six months. I guess you can't have one without the other. Folk always told me that my heart would growThe older the man, yeah, the stronger the stoneAm I losing my mind?Am I growing backwards with time?Some say with age that a purpose comes clearI see the opposite happening hereAre we losing the fight?Are we growing backwards with time?I was young and love was funNow it's so seriousNow all the fun has equal painThere's something wrong with thisFor all I know there's more I don'tOh the little I have learnedFor every year of knowledge gainedIs a negative year I've earnedFolk always told me that my heart would growThe older the man, yeah, the stronger the stoneAm I losing my mind?-Backwards With Time by The Avett Brothers
Date: 2007-03-10
To: Blackbird Fly
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday, I woke up, crawled in my reading nook and noticed something different. For the first time in months it smelled like spring. It was a wonderful day; bright, sunny and full of fresh spring air. I went on a long walk and enjoyed the new greenery around campus for close to the last time. I¢m becoming weary of people asking me why I want to hike the Appalachian Trail. I¢ve been asked a handful of stupid questions while preparing for it like, ¢What happens when you have to go to the bathroom?¢ You go. ¢What do you do when you are hiking?¢ You hike. ¢What do you eat?¢ Bark. I guess I am so used to the idea that hiking for six months that it does not seem out of the ordinary for me. I want to hike for several reasons. One, being that I just graduated college and I worked hard to achieve that to fit societies norms and now I want to do something for myself. Second, being that I went to school in the Appalachia region and I¢ve seen all that you can gain from being here. It¢s not only scenically beautiful, but the people are amazing. The area¢s rich culture is something everyone should be jealous of and I¢m excited to get to experience it more. Thirdly, this will give me time to reflect on myself, hopefully internally grow and in the end become a better person. I¢m also looking forward to a sunset being the best thing in the world. So often people never bother to see one and being back to the fundamentals of nature and seeing the beauty of life will be humbling. I can only hope that hiking the AT will bring me more then I expect - lifelong friendships, the ability to smile at something small, and a handful of experience words won¢t be able to describe. ¢Blackbird singing in the dead of nightTake these sunken eyes and learn to seeAll your life You were only waiting for this moment to be free.¢ ¢The Beatles
Date: 2007-03-18
To: Georgia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hey everyone! This is my first tj from the trail... sorta... haha. I'min Georgia now staying at the Amicalola Falls Lodge. The view is amazing. Right now the sun is setting over the blue mountains and it couldn't be a better way to kick off the trip. Tomorrow we are going to go to the AT center to register and weigh our packs. From there we'll start the approach trial which is about 8 miles until we reach Springer MT. - the start of the AT. Until then I'm watching Star Wars on the lodge tv and repacking my gear... G'nite everyone!
Date: 2007-03-19
From: Approach Trail

To: Springer Mtn!
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: broken clouds

I made it! I just finished cooking a great meal - Punjab choley - an Indian meal with rice. Now the sun is setting and I'm drinking hot chocolate in my tent. We did the approach trail today to the actual start of the Appalachian Trail. It was 8.8 miles from the approach trail start to our camping spot tonight - Springer shelter. It whooped my ass today and I will be sore tomorrow for sure! We stopped on Springer Mountain to take our pictures with the official starting plaque of the AT and it was a beautiful view. It looks like the first re-supply we will hit is Neels Gap and the first town is Hiawassee. Well it's getting dark here so I better go hang my bear bag and brush my teeth. Yea for the AT! Danielle
Date: 2007-03-20
From: Springer Mtn!

To: Hawk Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Ouch. Most of today was full of groans and moans from being sore after yesterdays approach trial and my pack doesn¢t seem to be fitting right so my shoulders were a blistery red mess by tonight. Hopefully at Neels Gap I can fix this. Last night was cold and windy so I didn¢t sleep much, but the hike today was wonderful. Most of it was through these giant pines next to a river. There were also magnolia groves which were worth the pain. We stopped at Strover Creek shelter for lunch which included some smashed pop tarts, tang, and dried apples. We then hiked to Hawk Mtn. shelter. Got to eat dinner (tuna in red curry sauce and rice), set up tent and met some other hikers. Met Daniel and Brian on spring break from Atlanta. Played euchre with them and a woman named Scholar. It was a lot of fun. (Ps. they liked my firefly.) Also met Jason, aka - Smiley, Phil from NY, and two hikers I can¢t remember. It was a lot of fun and to end the night we watched shooting stars from the clear GA sky. 7.4 miles today, 7.3 tomorrow. Danielle