morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-30
From: Manchester, VT

To: Little Rock Pond Shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: clear sky

I woke up will no lasting problems from the previous ordeal. But I will say it was kinda late when I got going. Checked out of the motel and went to the bookstore. I figure if I've got to chase Felton for a while, I'll probably have some time to read. So I sat for an hour waiting for the store to open, then another hour browsing. It really felt good being part of society, shopping again. I picked up a medical memoir, hoping for some inspiration about my decision of where to go to school.Feeling a little uneasy about not having access to info I need to make an informed choice, I hitched back to the trail, and walked right back up the same mountain I had walked up and down yesterday. So hour of stomping, took me right back to the top of Bromley and then on past. The trail was really fun today. Lots of climbing, lots of wilderness. Downed trees everywhere. I am pretty sure, if the trail clubs can't find anybody to maintain a section, they just let it go to crap, and call it a wilderness. I walked probably a mile around all the obstacles in the path today. But it was a change, and fun.With so many shelters to choose from in this section, I would just stop for a second, get killed by bugs, then decide to walk on because it wasn't too far to the next. I ended up making a 20 today, and didn't even start until noon. Awesome rebound after the short recent days and illness.
Date: 2008-06-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I just want to take a minute today, to thank everyone for their support along the way. Even as I am busy (bored to death) healing, reading the messages from people who had been reading is unbelievable. I had another visit to the doctor yesterday, my tibia is in fact healing up, but I have to stay in my air cast for another four weeks. Not good news. Not only that, but as I bummed about the long time this is taking, I got home and Appalachian Impressions was on tv. The second disk where they cross the Kennebec River in Maine. I immediately turned the tv off. So I'm still not sure about the return trip. Just have to make sure things are in line for school, and then keep July open for the possibility. I want to thank the guys I met and hiked with along the way for making my trip incredible. Trans- spent a lot of time complaining with you man. It was the most fun I've ever had complaining about anything in my whole life. Can't wait to hear about your finish and the construction of a shelter in your back yard. Donk, I really think you are crazy for your future adventures immediately following this one. I will keep a close eye on your website to make sure you are keeping it together. Trailfoot- we're not going (didn't, yet) to make it. Spence and Hurricane- if it wasn't for your girlfriends coming to visit so often, we could have had a bunch more time hiking together. Oh well, so goes the trail. LaserChuck- probably the most enthusiastic guy I met on the trail. Always so happy to be hiking (even the wrong direction, for hours, in the rain). The joy was contagious. Allgood and Alex- my amigos from the crazy south. Without the fun times we had at the start of the trail, I wouldn't have made it out of Georgia. There is so many other people along the trail that I met. Thank you all for sharing with me your lives, the stories that kept me interested in walking around the next corner to see who I would meet. And all the people along the trail who make it possible to thru-hike. I am really disappointed I can't send you that summit picture so my ugly mug can decorate the walls along the trail. Maybe I'll carry my x-ray up Katahdin for my summit picture. That picture would easily tell the story.Without question, I'll finish the Appalachian Trail, the timetable is just not set yet. More updates when anything comes up.
Date: 2009-06-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This is the update. Short and sweet. (Shorter this time because I have already written this entry once and then lost it trying to update the page. I guess that's why I should stick to handwriting entries and leave the computer stuff to other people.)There was so much I wanted to say before I started, about healing, learning, and returing to the trail. The time to go came up so quickly. So now, 5 hours before getting in the car to head to Vermont, I just want to get something down to mark the start of AT adventure version 1.2. This year, I have a far different feeling about heading to the trail. There are so many new people I have met this year that make it more difficult to drop everything and head into the woods. But not being able to finish the trail has been haunting me for the past year. When I was forced off, I didn't read my journals, look at my pictures, or think about what it would be like this year. I was too sad, it was way easier to ignore the whole experience. But one day in the library this fall, I saw the summit video of Donk and Transfat. I almost cried in front of my classmates. (I didn't, but had to leave the library quickly.) I wished I could have been with them, but that wasn't my hike, mine is still going. Even though I hiked nearly 80 percent of the trail last year, I am still a little nervous about getting back on. The uneasiness comes from not know what the conditions are like, who is out there, or what the resupply situation is like in the north. I also think breaking my leg last year has shaken my outdoor confidence. I hope the adjustment back to trail life isn't too bad. Even with the apprehension, I am still extremely excited to hike the most beautiful and most rugged parts of the AT. I am really in need of the simplicity of the trail. That's all I've got time for. More to come in the next few weeks.Two closing thoughts:1. I still haven't read my own trailjournal.2. I felt so good today watching the disgusting collection of hiker food being bagged at the grocery store.
Date: 2009-06-19
From: Route 103, Rutland

To: Churchill Scott Shelter, VT
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Last year all I wanted to do was complain in my journal. This year I hope to do a little less of that. Because as bad as the bugs, mud and climbs are, I am still hiking, which is more fun than a lot of things in life.I got new shoes (again) #6 on the hike. Finally picked up those Salomans I¢d been searching for. I debated about Gore-Tex waterproof vs. mesh, and I would have been an idiot if I didn¢t get the Gore-Tex. My feet would have been totally soaked in 1/10 of a mile had I gotten the other shoes. I looked at wet rocks all day and was terrified. Same conditions as last year when I went down. But walking slow is probably good for the knees anyway.I met Bad Hummus and John on the trail today. Hummus recognized me from his thru attempt last year and reading all of my entries. That felt so good to be part of the trail community again. It eased a lot of the nervousness I had about getting back on. (I honestly felt sick in the car on the way to drop me off). Hiking was tough. Fresh legs. Soft. I feel vulnerable to injury. Just gotta be safe.Note: also met Sharptooth and Unplugged today. Probably won¢t see them again. That¢s gonna happen a lot this year.
Date: 2009-06-20
From: Churchill Scott Shelter, VT

To: Lookout,VT
Miles today: 19.4

Day 2 of the return. Didn¢t really rain but clouds hung low all day. I looked close at my data book and realized it may have been a stretch to make Hanover NH in 4 days. So for lunch I swung into Mt. Meadows Lodge. That gave me some energy. I didn¢t plan on going too far today, but the shelters were spaced at 11 miles and 22 miles. So I put up my Hammock to try it out. I didn¢t really feel good about where it was hanging. I put it up in a 50 ft corridor between the trail and a logging zone. Also rain is in the forecast. It took me 15 minutes to get it up, and I got munched on by a swarm of mosquitoes. So aching, itching and unhappy, I decided to pack everything up and race the coming darkness to get to a lookout with a shelter.I am so glad I did because the lookout was amazing, and although cloudy, it was a beautiful view. The kind you hike all day in the mud and bugs for. Hanging out here with Iceman tonight. Not sure what tomorrow will bring.Note: put pants and sleeves on before trying to set up the hammock.
Date: 2009-06-21
From: Lookout, VT

To: Thistle Hill Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Today was hard for such short miles. I only want to write about one particular event. I had no idea there were fields (weeds) on top of the mountains in Vermont. Today consisted of miles and miles of walking through them. My legs are so cut up and red. In one short section of the weeds (which are full of bugs, and very hot) they were chest to head high. Out of nowhere (I guess) an 8 foot wide mud pit sucks me in. So I danced around the weeds a bit. I was doing a pretty good job keeping my feet dry, but then a bug flew in my eye, my right foot was placed without looking in the mud and I sank down almost to my knees. I was so mad, I ran the rest of the way through that field, crossed a road, and through the next field to the safety of the woods. My feet wet, legs cut up and bugs flying around my face, I was furious. What are those big grass fields anyway? They don¢t seem to have a purpose but to add misery to the trail.On a high note, I¢m going into Hanover tomorrow and have plenty of food. But I am tired.Note: Saw the sun today. It was hot.
Date: 2009-06-22
From: Thistle Hill Shelter, VT

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter, NH
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Just another day in the woods. Up by 5:00 am. Town by noonish. Ate, watched people walk by and look at us nervously. Sharptooth, Iceman and I hung out most of the day, then we lost Iceman who has finished his section and hopped on a bus. But I did run into Bad Hummus and John again. It was so good to hear about the ¢08 crew and find out a little about the hikers to come. They are hilarious and I wish I could hike with them more. But they fly.Hanover was pretty. But there wasn¢t a place to wash clothes or shower easily. So I moved out after a couple hours. I think in 3 days I¢ll be able to clean. Trail life is fun, but I was thinking today how much easier it would be to get off the trail. As a Thru there are people to make sure you don¢t. Who have suffered the same elements as you. But right now, and probably until the end, I¢m Section motivating. The hikers who don¢t know me, who see that I just got on, don¢t care if I get off.   Oh well, I think I can do it.4 days down. I¢m shooting for the end of July, 37 to go.P.S. Sharptooth has a homemade spear as a hiking stick. It is awesome to watch him throw it at stuff.
Date: 2009-06-23
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter, NH

To: Lyme-Dorchester Road, NH
Miles today: 18.1

Since I didn¢t read my trail journal from last year, I have no idea what I have and haven¢t complained about. And I know I said I wasn¢t going to gripe in my journal, but it really is my only outlet. Hiking is hard. The steep descents killed me today. My knee is torched. Achilles¢ tendons are both swollen.   I am hiking in pain. Then I realized today, even if I walked 80% of the miles last year I could summit by Aug 1st. I will have spent around 40% of the time last years trip took to finish. Right now that feels like a long time. Sharptooth asked me how I felt to be almost done. I told him I feel like I just started over. My journaling is getting tougher. There are only so many ways I can say hiking is hard. And the joy comes when you stop. Like stopping for lunch, to look off the top of a mountain, or to go to sleep. Did I already mention (yes) how bad my knee hurts. It swelled up and the sweat is pretty much sizzling off that region. I had to walk about 1.5 miles/hour all day. Half of what I could do last year. That means there is going to be a lot of early mornings and late nights trying to walk around 15 miles each day.On a positive note, I don¢t have any blisters yet and my gravity filter is working awesome treating my water.P.S. I stink, but am already immune to hiker funk. Note: After I wrote this entry, I packed up my stuff from Trapper John Shelter and hammocked 3 miles up the trail.
Date: 2009-06-24
From: Lyme-Dorchester Road, NH

To: Ore Hill Shelter, NH
Miles today: 16.4

The hammock was really nice once I set it up. I could hear the mosquitoes buzzing (crying) as they were repeatedly bounced off the bug net. I couldn¢t tell if I was hot or cold in the hammock. I would wake up thinking cold, but my skin is so sticky and damp the external cues say hot. It is a strange thing sleeping extremely dirty. Like sweating and freezing covered in a muddy gel.So I got a bit of a late start, and as soon as I packed up, walked about 50 yards uphill, I saw bear #2 of the trip. I¢m pretty sure he or she was heading over to check out my food hanging on my hammock. That would have been a rough way to wake up. As far as hiking today, I can scream up the mountains, but I can barely go downhill at all. The pain is just too great. I got passed going down Mt. Cube by a girl hiking and stopping every hundred yards to take pictures. I just have to go slow. I hope it gets better, my rest tomorrow should help. If it doesn¢t, the White Mountains are going to be really hard. Note: While sunbathing on Mt. Cube, rain came, soaked my stuff and the trail forcing me to pick up quickly and walk down the treacherous slope. Also, probably going to hammock again tonight.
Date: 2009-06-25
From: Ore Hill Shelter, NH

To: Glencliff, NH 
Miles today: 7.4

Finally made it to a hiker friendly place where my clothes are clean, I showered (but it will take many more to smell normal) and I drank a few sodas. So in the last 6 12 days I covered 106.9 miles and get a half-day off. I¢m feeling pretty good right now, but this morning, the descent into Glencliff wasn¢t all that bad and I struggled. So tomorrow is going to be a real test. The backside of Moosilauke is going to be a killer. I¢m not going to lie. I have considered getting off the trail. I know the first week or two are the toughest, but I am just not feeling the trail magic. I suppose it isn¢t time yet, but there may be a time when I realize there are other things I want to do with this precious time than punish myself. But hiking does make me realize how easy I had it studying and reading all day. Vast amounts of stimulus are better than pain and boredom. I do want to say thanks for everything to the guys at Hikers Welcome Hostel. It is such a friendly and neat place. Today has definitely helped remind me why hiking the AT is fun. (It isn¢t the ups and downs).
Date: 2009-06-26
From: Glencliff, NH 

To: Eliza Brook Shelter, NH
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Enter the White Mountain National Park right after seeing the sign welcoming you (to hell). You have a short rock hop over a stream. I decided it would be too easy to climb 3500 + feet into the White range with dry feet. Awesome. Actually the climb wasn¢t all that bad, views were great and I got to talk to the outside world. This is a mixed blessing. It is great to hear form everyone, but it does make me wish I could just be hanging out and having fun this summer. Coming down off the mountain followed a waterfall. It was a real tester for the weak knees and heels. They did surprisingly well. But after lunch I had a total mental melt down. The climbs are steep (no problem) the downs are long (hurt) but this afternoon I learned that you can take your expected mph for the day and cut it in half. The 7 miles took 5 hours or so, without much elevation change. At one point on a false summit, I threw my poles down and sat on a rock exhausted. And before I could pull myself together, the black flies came and forced me to move on. I eventually made the miles. I met Handyman and Spinmaster today. Handyman is another ¢08 who dislocated his ankle in VT forcing him off. Glad to see him back. Also, he had such a positive attitude, he makes me feel like I just might make it after all.
Date: 2009-06-27
From: Eliza Brook Shelter, NH

To: Liberty Springs Tentsite, NH 
Miles today: 11.4

After a little encouragement, and adjusting my mental mileages the hiking today was a little better. The last few miles were alright, plus I ran into a couple former hikers ¢90 and ¢95. They gave Sharptooth and me the most delicious cookies. Then the caretaker was awesome at the campsite. As a 2005 Thru Hiker he said slow down and take it easy through this region. It is really nice hanging in the hammock this evening. It is really relaxing and gives me time to heal. Got to talk to a Southbounder today. It was neat that all he had done is what I have left. But I know he¢s already been through the tough terrain, and will only have mental demons to deal with as he goes. I hope all I¢ve got is physical challenges and not more mental hurdles.Note: Never show weakness to a Southbounder.
Date: 2009-06-28
From: Liberty Springs Tentsite, NH

To: Zealand Fall Hut, NH
Miles today: 17.4

Today was the day to witness The Amazing Franconia Ridge and be ¢Awestruck¢ as the companion states. But the view was totally socked in the clouds. Windy, rainy, typical Whites. Had lunch with a slight view from Mt. Garfield. Something important today was the work for stay at Zealand Hut, and the work for lunch this afternoon. Did dishes for soup at lunch, and ¢reamed the icebox¢ for a place to sleep. That included chipping ice off the inside of the freezer and washing it out, then repacking it. It is defiantly worth it to be able to hang out with the great hut staff and get a meal/sleep dry. I didn¢t do a ton of miles today. But to do the 17+ it took around 12 hours. Slow, slow, slow. But it takes that long if you want to be safe. And no matter how slow you walk, you eventually have to make a tough move. Through these parts it is high likelihood there will be falls.
Date: 2009-06-29
From: Zealand Fall Hut, NH

To: Mizpah Hut, NH
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: fog

There are no pictures from today. It rained, and it rained hard. I got to wear the Togg (rain coat) and rain kilt for the morning. But it stopped raining for a bit at lunch so I packed it away and started up a huge climb. I was hot, it started pouring again, and it felt good, until I got to the ridge then I froze. It is the classic summer hypothermia case. I wasn¢t really that close, but I could see how it could easily happen. I hate walking in the rain. If you try to explain it to someone, they probably think, ¢yea, hiking in the rain, you get wet and it probably isn¢t fun¢. Not exactly. It is horrible. Everything, everything gets soaked. I could have jumped straight in a lake with my pack on and it wouldn¢t have mattered. And everything slows down. Time, miles, your pace. The rocks are slick, your feet hurt worse. I hate walking in the rain. It makes me wonder why people like hiking at all.Got another work for stay and talked to a lot of scouts about hiking. I always tell them I love it. I do not always love hiking.
Date: 2009-06-30
From: Mizpah Hut,NH

To: Madison Springs Hut, NH
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: fog

After the solid rain and clouds we¢ve had, it was really nice to get a view. The walk up to Mt. Washington was awesome. It was easy, we flew, and Sharptooth and me ran into Bad Hummus and John again. I didn¢t think I would see them again, so it was a nice surprise. At the top I got snacks, sent a couple post cards, and threw away the sleeves of my rain jacket that I cut off this morning. (I now look like a wizard in my rain gear). Usually the wind blows 20 mph on top, it was nearly calm. I also found out it rained 2 inches the day before. So that¢s what we had to hike through. Coming down Mt. Washington, John mooned the Cog Rail (a tradition for Thru hikers, who walk to mountain top while the riders take the train to the top). It was really funny. The people on the train knew it was coming and had their cameras ready.Note: In order to get work for stay, you have to arrive at a certain time, be the first set of Thru hikers, and look like you can¢t push on. We achieved this by watching the hut from a distance and picking our arrival time carefully.
Date: 2009-07-01
From: Madison Springs Hut, NH

To: Carter Notch Hut, NH
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: light rain

Today was a little tough for me. The ankles started acting up a little more on some fairly easy stretches, so I fell behind the guys on our walk today. Something really important about today is that we passed an incredible amount of people heading south to Springer (southbounders). We crossed paths with probably 20 of them. Apparently these are the June 1st starters who all got held up by some impassible river fords just north of here. We¢ll see if we have better luck crossing the rivers. But I am so glad that we are leaving the White Mountains as they are heading in. It really could have messed up our Hut hop and work for stays. Wildcat Mountain was a good hard climb, mostly because it is a roller coaster getting to the top, climbing and descending many times. And once we made it up to the ridge, the mud and overgrown pine trees made it difficult to hike. The wet muddy feet and branches clawing at your soggy arms and hands made it unpleasant. But when we got to Carter Notch Hut, the crew was wonderful and let us stay in a bunkhouse. Today I also want to share a couple stories about Sharptooth and his ability to eat anything. A couple days ago at one of the huts there were two occurances that made me wonder if there is anything he wouldn¢t eat. First, there was a pancake that had been sitting out on a counter all day that kids had obviously played with and poked holes in. It wasn¢t very big, or apatizing in any way, but Sharptooth looked around to make sure nobody would see him, then grabbed it and ate it. The next morning as we were packing up to leave, I saw him with a half a piece of chocolate cake. It had come from the slop bucket where all the dinner plates are scraped into before washing so the food waste can be composted. He didn¢t care, slop bucket pretty much meant pantry to him. (There was a whole plate of cake he hadn¢t seen up on the counter that had not been in the slop bucket.) I¢m pretty sure I¢ll have more to say about this topic later.
Date: 2009-07-02
From: Carter Notch Hut 

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: fog

I think the hike would have been nice today. Half the day with some tough terrain, but the other half really nice. But the rain made it so cold, just like it always does. Two things I will remember take from today. First is that I finally left the White Mountains. It has taken 7 days to walk the past 100, they have been tough, but I made it. This means not more AMC Huts to deal with. Although the work for stay was fun, I decided if they would offer me a $10 sleep on the floor and leave me alone option I would have taken it. It is such a nice service to be able to help out at the Huts and eat leftover food, but I just got sick of begging, sitting outside for hours waiting to go to sleep, and having to entertain guests as they ask about hiking. It will be nice to get back to the normal shelters and be able to get to sleep early without a bunch of hassle. Second is that there was a tough river ford today (actually you have to cross the river 3 times). The Rattle River is one that kept a bunch of southbounders sitting on the bank waiting for the water levels to go down for days. They were a little tough, but we made the fords. It was awesome to see a ton of people who looked like they had been camped out just across the bank for a long time. They were waiting thinking it was not crossable, and we ran right by them with a wave and a smile having just crossed. Times like those make me really feel good. I am in Gorham, a nice trail town that is a little spread out staying and the White Birches Hostel.   I got all the chores done, and was able to eat at a Chinese Buffet with the guys. The hostel owner told us to be careful because some southbounders had eaten there and been so full they got sick and threw up. Figures, the southbounders just don¢t know how handle themselves at the AYCE yet. They are funny.