morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-07-07
To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 303.0
Weather: haze

Finally passed the 1000 mile mark last saturday! Been taking a few days off to rest after the big push through Virginia. Hoping to get back on the trail today sometime, but it looks like we won't be doing the 4 state challenge due to logistical difficulties. Hiking thru the Shenandoah National Park, or the Shenny Bar Crawl as we call it, was a blast. There were camp stores and waysides (basically gas stations) along the way that sold beer at a reasonable price. We spaced them out to get beers for lunch every day and then pick up a 6 pack a few miles before the end of the day. Saw 4 more bears in SNP, one posed for its picture. Hopped on the train to Washington DC on the 4th and spent the last few days there. Fireworks were kinda short but it was awesome to see them shooting up behind the Washington Monument. Met up with two more people along the way, Fundip and Corn Bandit. We partied on the mall lawn, and oddly enough in the dumpster next to us by the end of the night. Ended up killing enough time between wandering around and playing "red rover" with a group of high schoolers that the Metro shut down and we couldn't get out to the suburbs to find an affordable hotel. By the time 3 a.m. rolled around we settled on crashing wherever and a guy waiting for the bus pointed us to a park on the Potomac in Georgetown. First time ever bum camping in a city and it was an experience I will not soon forget. It was totally safe and in a nice neighborhood so noone bothered us and we were back to being regular tourists the next day. Toured the Smithsonian Natrual History and American History museums, Hirshhorn art museum and the national archives. Spent way too much time walking for a zero day but it was worthwhile. We were supposed to leave monday but didn't have reservations for the train and had to stay another night, this time we planned ahead and found a grocery store and a cheap hotel. Apparently the motel 6 saves money by not providing a phone, clock or shampoo.Now I'm off to tear through West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and hopefully New Jersey before taking some more time off for Kat's wedding. See most of you there!http://derek.ohlgren.com
Date: 2010-08-14
From: Warwick, NY

To: North Adams, MA
Miles today: 227.4

Been making good time since New York thanks to a few slack pack expeditions. Martin Hunley was kind enough to slack me and 3 trail friends from Bear Mtn to Pawling, NY and from there a trail angel slacked us to Kent, CT. Covered almost 70 miles in 3 days and had a blast doing it. So much easier to walk with only 5 lbs on your back instead of 30. There have been some amazing places to stay in New England. Three nights ago i stayed at a spot called Upper Goose Cabin about 20 miles before Dalton, MA. It is a cabin with caretaker located on a glacial pond with crystal clear water that was awesome for swimming in. Hung out with some great people there and laid out on the dock at night to watch shooting starts the night before the big meteor shower. Unfortunately it was very cloudy for the actual shower but the few I saw the night before were awesome. In the morning the caretaker treated us to AYCE pancakes and coffee. All for free and it was the motivation i needed for the hike into Dalton. There are a few trail angels in town that allow hikers to stay with them and in the morning they will drive you 23 miles up trail to the other side of Greylock Mtn to slack back into town. Greylock was spectacular, the first mountain we've climbed over 3000 ft since northern VA. You could see for miles from the top, also one of the first places were you see nothing but more mountains around you. There were hangliders and parasailers launching from the top of the mountain and gliding around on the thermal drafts. I've decided to stay in town another day and spend some quality time movie hopping in the local theater.Been running into alot more southbounders lately too. Everyone seems to enjoy messing with them, giving them a hard time for going the wrong way, asking them to carry heavy things back to people that don't exist on the premise that they need it badly. All in good fun and most of them are pretty cool about it. Its also nice to be able to trade info about where to stay and cool places to check out along the way.Pretty excited to have less than 600 miles to go. Seems like not too long ago i had only covered 600 miles. I can't wait to get up to the Whites and the 100 mile wilderness in Maine. Probably will be summiting Katahdin around the 25th of September.http://derek.ohlgren.com
Date: 2010-08-15
From: North Adams, MA

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 154.4
Weather: broken clouds

Finally crossed into New Hampshire yesterday evening. Definitally the most excited i've been for a state line so far. Taking a zero in Hanover, NH to rest up before tackling the infamous White Mountains. We covered 147 miles in the last 7 days and slacked 95 of them in 4 days. Have to get all my cold weather gear back in a few days, which i'm not looking forward to because it will add 4-5 lbs to my pack. Vermont has been absolutely beautiful, one of my favorite states so far. Its so amazing to look around and see nothing but mountains not even a small village in sight. Hiked up Killington the other day and we could see all the way to the Whites in the east and Canada to the north.Looking forward to the Whites, which we should officially enter in 3-4 days. Much of the trail is above treeline and the weather changes constantly with snow recorded every month of the year. Only 442 miles between me and Katadhin!http://derek.ohlgren.com
Date: 2010-10-06
From: Andover, ME

To: Millinocket, ME
Miles today: 231.3
Weather: clear sky

Survived the 100 mile wilderness and arrived in Millinocket yesterday. Now we get to play the waiting game and guess what the weather is going to do. Should be clearish and sunny on Friday, so planning to summit then. Been getting views of Katahdin the last few days and it looks glorious. Can't wait to be up there myself.http://derek.ohlgren.com
Date: 2010-03-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

1st entry on TrailJournals! In the process of getting ready for my thru-hike to start on March 24th. I have been waiting four long months for this.. Fly out from Baltimore, MD to Atlanta, GA to stay at the hiker hostel on the 23rd and launch out on the 24th! Thank you for all your entries to help prepare. Let me know if you will be heading out around the same time.
Date: 2010-03-09
To: Two Weeks Away
Miles today: 0.0

Welp, only two more weeks left till I start my adventure. I had been in a buying "frenzy" the last two months and now have realized I have nothing left to purchase. I will do a shake down trip next week and plan on hiking all of the MD A.T. North of Harpers Ferry. I had my last day of work today and it felt great! However, now I have found myself explaining why I have chosen to hike the A.T. on a daily basis. It is hard for some people to understand why I would want to do this. I really just want to take an adventure and challenge myself. The real reason I even thought of the idea was due to my sister. I was reading "A Walk In The Woods" and my sister asked me about the book and I told her about the story. " Aw John, you should do that" and BOOM the seed was planted. Four months later and here I am two weeks away. I feel with all my knowledge of the outdoors passed on from my father, being a park ranger, and overall passion for the outdoors, I feel good about the hike. I know it will not be physical aspect that will bring me down, but right now I am thinking the food part. I would like to thank all my friends and family for their support and to all who pushed me to do it!"If you really want something, and really work hard, and take advantage of opportunities, and never give up, you will find a way"
Date: 2010-03-11
From: Less Than Two Weeks Away

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello to all! Today is my second day of no work and it feels great! Currently, cooking Mac-n-Cheese on the floor of my room to test out eating tools. Those who know me best are wondering if that is all i will eat on the trail! I happen to be a picky eater and mac-n-cheese is one of my favorites. I am sure after a few weeks on the trail it will not be though. Right now preparing for my shakedown trip next week. My pack weight is at 29 lbs with three days of food. Glad I got the Osprey Atmos as the 29 lbs don't feel like it! And by the way... The mac-n-cheese was excellent and I loved the spoon and fork! (nicole and andrew)My feeling have been crazy as of late. Although, I have been able to sleep well the last couple of nights. I might owe that to my friend "T" who has been quite a blessing. She has been around to hangout and take my mind off all the travels that are upon me.I went to BJ's yesterday and purchased a lot of "trail/junk" food to maybe make it the first 100 miles or so. Funny when I tell people about hiking 2,000+ miles, and some responses have been "how are you going to carry 2,000 miles of food?" I feel comfortable after reading so many books and speaking with people who have thru-hiked in the past that everything I need I can find on the trail when I get there! Since, I do not plan on mapping out my journey, I really do not know where I will be two weeks or one week into the adventure. I do know I will be in the Smokey MTS on May 1st for my Best Friends Wedding! (congrats Chase and Ana!) Atleast, I will have one full month on the trail to think about what I will say at the wedding!My sister (sara) will be posting my journal entries so I must thank her for everything! Along, with my mother and rudy for their support! As for now, I am getting my mail drops ready and after my shakedown trip it will be seeing my friends and family before I head off into the woods!"Anywhere is within walking distance if you have the time"
Date: 2010-03-16
To: Shake Down
Miles today: 0.0

Today, I have geared up to hike the whole Maryland section of the Appalachian Trail. Two nights and three days of hiking around 50 miles! Looking forward to the trip. Pack weight is sitting at 27 lbs. Plan to hike to Annapolis Rock first night to try the tent out and then off to Crampton Gap Shelter the next night for some shelter livin'! After that off to Harper's Ferry National Park to meet mom and sis to head home for the weekend and then its off to Atlanta to stay at the Hiker Hostel. I will hike the approach trail to Springer MT on Wednesday March 24th, and then Thursday March 25 I will step foot on the Appalachian Trail in GA and head to Maine! Thanks to all my friends and family. I will be back Friday with another entry! Thanks."If you would be loved, love and be lovable"
Date: 2010-03-19
To: Test Hike
Miles today: 0.0

Well, hello to all! So, I went for a little hike on the AT starting at High Rock and started South and hiked 14.9 miles to Pine Knob Shelter. I met a nice guy named Max who was already there. The hike was 2.5 miles more than I had expected to hike, however, I felt pretty good. My Osprey Atmos 65 pack worked out great! Pack weight was less than 29 lbs for three days of supply. Staying at Pine Knob was a great call as three others came soon after I ate dinner. We all stayed up till about 10 p.m. making each other laugh at simple jokes. I didn't sleep very well due to the hard floor, but Dougie the big puppy kept my feet warm and I got a few hours in. Left camp at about 10 a.m. late and headed South for only 8.7 miles to Rocky Run Shelter to tent camp for the night. Arrived around 4 p.m. very tired and blistered. Ate big dinner and was asleep by 7 p.m. Today, hiked 5.5 miles by noon to meet up with mom and sis at Gathland State Park. Overall, great test hike for all my gear. Everything worked out very good. Pack, Bag, Stove, Camera, SPOT GPS, and Shoes all worked out very well. Might trade my tent out for a hammock to save some weight. The trail in MD is very rocky and offers some very nice views. Like to give a shout out to "blood squirrel" for keeping everyone cracking up at pine knob! I am going to take a nice quiet weekend before heading to Springer Mt. Tuesday. Will make another entry Sunday or Monday before heading to Atlanta! "I never go looking for a sucker. I look for a champion and make a sucka out of them."
Date: 2010-03-23
To: Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Well, today I flew into Atlanta to start this grand adventure. Good news is I made it here in safe, but am also a bit sick.Soar throat has been an issue the last day or two and might delaymy launch for a day. However, I am feeling really good today. I have to remind myself that what I am doing one dream of! God andmy family have given me this wonderful chance and I am very excited to start. Thank you to all reading and keeping up with me. My nextentry will be from the trail."Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease"
Date: 2010-03-24
From: Appalachian Approach Trail

To: Hawk Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 16.6

GoNzO hiker #407 ! Well, so I did the approach trail in which many and mostChose not too. Well hell I see why it started with 700 sets of stairs followedby 8 miles all up hill. Extremely hard and difficult but I planned on doing it beforeand glad I didn't change my mind. Spent the night in my tent on top of Springer Mt.and was great! Today was much easier than the approach trail but still not that easy.The shelter here at Hawk MT. is full of hikers from all over the country. I have metpeople with trail names such as: last one on the bus, country, yogi and his dog booboo, Supermax, uconnscott, and symbol. All great people and serves as why doing this solo is not a bad idea at all. I do miss my pups at home benners and brutes along with my family.For rudy the approach trail alone was harder than the megatransect. My next entry will be fromthe hiker hostel on sat. Thank you all. NO PAIN NO MAINE
Date: 2010-03-27
From: Hawk Mt. Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Well, the last two days have been exhausting. The Mts here in North GA are no easy task. I hiked about nine miles yesterday up Sassafrass MT. to Gouch Gap and stayed the night with fellow hikers from Hawk Shelter. Today however, I only did five miles to Woody Gap to stay at the Hiker Hostel as I am out of food. Myself and LastOnTheBus have been getting some miles in and need some rest. The trail has taught me many things so far in just three to four days. I have met so many nice hikers it has been amazing. People with trails names such as: LastOnTheBus(awesomeguy), Marry PoPpInS (I actually came up with that one!), Tomato, Baltimore Jack (trail ledgend), counrty, and locomotive and his grandson Paco! I have stayed with the same group of people over the last couple of nights and now we have all gone our different directions. It is kinda hard to lose relationships with such wonderful people, but everyone hikes at different paces and stay at different shelters. It has been quite cold and windy over the last couple of nights. Hard rains Thursday night while sleeping in the shelter makes for little sleep. Also, having to bear bag our food (hanging food above ground) you go to bed hungry and can do nothing about it. Not midnight snacks out here. Also, sleeping on wooden floors causes hips pain; as you sleep for 45 mins until you are awaken by pain to flip over to the other hip for 45 mins until that hip hurts and you do that damn process all night... Mts have been great! Climbing these mountians with fog during the morning gives off an scary feeling. Knowing Civil War soliders have died in these Mts, and the Appalachian history is amazing. Georgia only makes their trails straight up and straight down. This makes the hiking very difficult.Overall, I am having a better time than I ever thought possible. Feeling stronger everyday, but far away from any 30 mile days until I get out of the Smokey MTS. Enjoying my fellow hikers H2, Marry PoPpInS, Winged IT and MR. LastOnTheBus! Look for lastonthebus on trailjournals as his days were about the same as mine!I was told today mr. Benners (my puppy) isn't doing to well at home so please say a little prayer for him for me!"Nobody can go back and start a new begining, but anyone can start today and make a new ending"
Date: 2010-03-28
From: Woody Gap

To: Super 8
Miles today: 0.0

Hello to all! This morning was not so good. I did not get a full rest at the Hiker Hostel. I woke feeling very sick as I have been this whole trip. Against my will, I took a day off to go into to town to see a doctor to get some meds as the over-the-counter pills I have been taking the least five days have not worked. The doctor I saw was at the Super Wal-Mart (don't forget people I am in GA) and she was very nice. She seemed more interested in my hike and my state of mind than my illness. She stated I was her most intriguing and interesting person she had seen all year! I was not her first hiker though. I asked for as much of the strong stuff she could give me and she "hooked" it up! I got a Z Pak and some amoxicillin for future use! The last 24 hours have given me a world of experience. I hitched a ride from Woody Gap(yes, stuck out the ole thumb and got a ride), walked from my hotel room to WallyWorld, did laundry in the sink!, and for the second time in two days went through my pack and got rid of some weight(again). I now completely understand AWOL (trailname and book)on how everything works. If I have not used it in the first 30 miles I am sending it home or throwing it away. Overall, I started this adventure sick and didn't do anything about it and thankfully, I did not get too worse before I saw a doctor. Today, would have been miserable to hike in as North GA had high cold winds and thunder storms. The weather here in the Mts can change in a hurry and now, I am glad I read all the books to prepare myself. Mentally I am sad as I am behind all of my buddies due to this illness, physcially: tired but thankfully not sore, emotionally: Hopeful and eager to return to the trail tomorrow moring to continue!, and spiriutal: grateful!Like to give a shout out to my homies on the trail: LastOnTheBus, H2, Marry PoPpInS, Country, Winged It, and Tomato!Quote: Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Date: 2010-03-30
From: Woody Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: few clouds

Hello all out there in the real world! The last two days have been pretty toughbut I am feeling much better thanks for Doctor Sonja ! I must give a big thankYou to her and Leigh, josh, and staci at the Hiker Hostel for making my minorbump in the road as smooth as possible. I started from woody gap and hike up and through the Blood Mt. Wilderness in a mistof fog and haze. Scary setting to be hiking were indian blood shed turned the creekswater red for days. The area on top of Blood Mt. is told to be haunted but on thisafternoon I stopped in to eat the remainder of the pizza (carbs my friends) I had fromthe super 8 last evening. I ghost down the pizza and continued to Neels Gap wheremy wonderful mother and sister had a maildrop of food waiting for me. After that I Continued with about 7 pounds more pack weight of food and could feel the difference.I found my two buddies Country Gold and LastOnTheBus (LB) and set up camp. Camping on top of a Mt. With 30mph wind and slight rain meant for little sleep forthe Gonz. This morning was rough as everything was wet and cold. I thought I heardLB yell that he didn't want to go to school today in his sleep this morning. TodayWas very difficult as it was just all PUD's (pointless ups and downs). I didn't getmy chance to get my vitimin I or S in due to poor conditions. (snickers and ibprophin)However, around 11 a.m. TrailMagic appeared! A church group set up at a road crossingto give out drinks and snacks. I ate two big donuts a bag of chips and a soda and thenclimbed on the the hardest mts. In my life. Pushed on further and camping at Low Gapa very cool shelter.Overall, my plans from my zero doctor day worked as I got my protein supplement fromMcDonald double quarter pounder and "carb builder" pappa johns pizza which I used For fuel on dinner breakfast and lunch (backpacker rule everything must have two uses to carry)SlSo, my plan worked and I caught up with my buddies! I am feeling near 100 percent healthy after my Zpak. I would like to say anyone about to take off on this adventure do t letthese mts. discourage you. At Neels Gap is where 10 to 20 percent quit. Just do t push yourself to hard and listen to what your body is telling you. I also want to say hello to all my friends back in MD,VA, MA, AZ, and TN! I miss you all. Quote: what most people need to learn in life is how to love people and use thingsinstead of using people and loving things.
Date: 2010-03-31
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blueberry Hostel
Miles today: 25.0

Hello, to people with tvs, beds, real food, and sports! Hope this entry finds everyone doing well. I am currently at the Blueberry Patch Hostel. Here you will find Gary and Lonnie Poteat. Here is also where you will find the best breakfast on the AT! It has been a long few days since my last entry. LastOnTheBus had to go into town to deal with minor foot injury but is back on the trail a day behind. We (country gold) and I already miss him. He is a real funny intelligent guy and very quick witted. The weather has been great so I have tent camped every night and have slept much better. The sun has been out so I have gotten pretty tan quickly (after I took a shower I wasn't as tan as I thought). The miles still are not coming easy as I was hoping for. Ten miles out here is order than twenty miles in my home TN hills. I got lucky and met Baltimore Jack (trail legend ) who has thru hiked six times and wrote many articles for newspapers. He shared his knowledge and food with me a couple of nights ago. Still no sights of bears.. I must be close though; stories of a bear eating peoples bear bags (food bags hanging from trees) eaten and even a bear taking and eating a hikers backpack.So, far the trail has taught me many things in one week. You have to fend for yourself out here. I prepare all my own food, clean my dishes, set camp, break camp, nothing is given to you here. The mts are very strenuous and you have to want to do this as it is not a vacation. I was telling chase (bestfriend) today the of the 70 some miles there was maybe 6 total miles that week somewhat flat. 54 miles more than likely uphill and ten downhill. You wake up, pack everything, eat, hike eight miles, eat and take a nap, wake up, get water, hike a little more, set camp, get more water, pig out of noodles, sleep and do it all over again. During that you get to see vistas, overlooks, snack where people would 30 bucks for a peanut butter sandwich just fir the view, see a mountain from the bottom and climb it too the top and conquer it, eat dinner with the sun setting over the mountains, and have a true sense of accomplishment after everyday!I am loving every moment of this!Week one count: 0 Bears, 0 Falls, half a blister (had it from the MD AT shake down trip)Want another category let me know in the guest book.Thank you all for the messages! It helps keep me going and gets me know I haven't been forgotten!Quote: What is meant to be will always be though I control my destiny. (a song called country road)