morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-08-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up to rain. Stayed in the shelter for a while, but it never let-up. Finally I decided to go....Bad choice. It rained all day, the trail was flooded in some areas, simple stream crossings became major fords. I finally made it to a highway. My camera got soaked. It was full of water so I just ended up trashing it. good thing it is a cheap disposible one, but all my Maine pics were on it. Caught a ride to the Roadhouse in Andover. I am going to spend 2 nights here. The rain still has not let up. I took a shower, washed my clothes and went across the street for a cheeseburger and fries.
Date: 2006-08-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!41 years young! Caught a shuttle back to the trail. Hiked from East B Hill Rd to Bemis Mountain Lean-to, about 18 miles. It was a very hard hike with lots of steep ups and downs. I ended up night hiking the last 2 hours. The trail is so boggy I had to constantly stop to plan my next step.I have slipped so many times it ain't funny, but I never fell.
Date: 2006-08-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hiked to the Piazza Rock Lean-to. Came across my first trail magic in Maine. Just before highway 4 someone left a cooler of drinks and a bag of green apples. That really hit the spot. A lot of hikers went into the town of Rangeley to re-supply, but I skipped it because I have plenty of food to get me to Monson. I am really looking forward to Katahdin.
Date: 2006-08-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Left shelter about 10 am, hiked over Saddleback Mountain; stopped on top and had lunch. Great Views.Hiked to Poplar Ridge Shelter and took a break. Talked with some section hikers there for a while and that is when Parkbench caught up with me. We hiked on to Spaulding Mountain Shelter.On the way I tripped and fell....HARD. My right knee landed on a rock and it really hurt. I got up and shook it off and continued, but it was still hurting. A few minutes later Parkbench took a big spill, but he jumped back up and kept going. we got to the shelter, ate and talked with a group of college students. Hit the sack early.
Date: 2006-08-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a short day. Left the hostel about 11 am, and caught a ride back to the trail. It was cloudy and a little cool at first, but as soon as I started up the trail the rain came; not much, but just enough to get everything wet. The farther I hiked the colder it got and the wind picked up a lot. I stopped at the Horns Pond Lean-To and set up my tent. The caretaker came over and we talked for a while. The wind, cold and the rain just got worse by the minute. It was only 3:30 and I was bundled up in my sleeping bag. I ended up cooking and eating in my tent, which you should never do, but I didn't feel like moving at the time.
Date: 2006-08-28
From: Horns Pond

To: West Carry Pond
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Did not sleep much last night. My tent leaked badly. I was constantly wipping up water all night. I guess my tent is wearing out like me. Today I hiked to the West Carry Pond Lean-To. The sun never came out. It was cloudy and foggy all day. The trail was very slippery and I fell 4 times. I hiked all day and never seen another thru-hiker, only a few section hikers. Today I broke the 2000 mile mark. That makes me feel pretty good.
Date: 2006-08-29
From: West Carry Pond

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

WHAT A DAY!!! Even though I had the shelter to myself I didn't sleep good. There was a mouse that kept running into the shelter and something was gnawing underneath the floor of the shelter, it sounded like it was using a saw. I got up about 9 am, ate a bowl of fruit-loops and some lipton orientail noodles for breakfast. As I was packing up Lifesaver came in. He got an early start from the prior shelter. We had to get to the Kennebec River before 4 pm or we would be stuck for another day. I left about 10 am and made it to the river about 3:15( about 13.3 miles). I canoed across the river and decided to hitch to the Longley Store ( which is owned by the ferry-man) and ate some lunch. The driver who picked me up was Golden Waldo, the same guy who gave me a ride in Gorham NH. I ate a chicken wrap, a small pizza, a pint of Ben and Jerry's, 2 mountain dews and 1Ruby red grapefruit juice. After a few hours at the store, I hitched back to the trail. It was about 6:30 and I had 7 miles to get to the next shelter. I ended up night hiking the last 3 miles. Today was a good day.
Date: 2006-08-30
To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked to the Moxie Bald Lean-to. Had 2 mountains to climb today, but it wasn't too bad. I hiked with Sandman and Irish for the most-part. Today on Moxie Bald I got my first view of Katahdin; it looks close but it is still over 100 miles away. I hope to get into Monson tomorrow.THE BELL RINGS TO START THE FINAL ROUND. THE CHAMP CHARGES AT ME FROM ACROSS THE RING. HE IS THROWING PUNCHES FROM ALL ANGLES, HE WANTS TO END THIS FIGHT NOW! I CAN FEEL HIS ANGER, I CAN FEEL THE POWER IN HIS PUNCHES. HE IS JUST AS STRONG NOW AS HE WAS IN THE FIRST ROUND. I AM TIRED, I AM WORE OUT, BUT I AM STRIKING BACK. I AM STANDING TOE TO TOE, NOT GIVING IN AT ALL. HE KNOWS I CAME TO FIGHT, HE KNOWS I MEAN BUSINESS, HE KNOWS I AM NOT BACKING DOWN. AS LONG AS I CAN STAND I WILL BE FIGHTING BACK......AND I AM STILL STANDING.......
Date: 2006-08-31
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked to Shaw's Boarding house in Monson. On the way I saw 2 moose ( a cow and a calf) and forded 2 rivers. In Monson I got my re-supply, ate at a BBQ house and just sat around watching tv the rest of the time. This will be my last town stop before the 100 mile wilderness. I am looking forward to that.
Date: 2006-09-01
From: Monson

To: Leeman Brook lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

After a nice night's sleep at Shaw's, I woke up to a great breakfast. I then went to the post office, ran a few last minute errands, and finally caught a shuttle back to the trail. This is the heaviest my pack has been in a long time. I had 11 days of food in it. Right now I am planning to summit on the 12th. I could do it sooner, but I don't want to finish on a weekend. It is just starting to hit me of what I am about to do. I really want to get it over with, but I hate to see it end. I have met so many nice people (both on and off the trail) it's really hard to just walk away knowing you will never see most of them again. Today I only hiked to the Leeman Brook lean-to. I plan to take it easy these last few miles.
Date: 2006-09-02
From: Leeman Brook lean-to

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked to the Long Pond Stream Lean-to. The weather was good. During a river crossing I should have just took off my shoes and walked across, but I tried to rock hop, and I missed the last rock and landed in the water up to my knees. Other than that, nothing else happened, just walking and walking. Last night I had the shelter to myself, tonight it is full.
Date: 2006-09-03
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-to

To: Chairback Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked to Chairback Gap Lean-to. Only 11 miles. The weather started off nice, then the clouds rolled in along with the rain. I got to the shelter just in time. Also along the way I ran into Single Malt heading south. I hiked with her in Virginia for a few days and never seen her since. She was doing a flip-flop heading south from Katahdin. I got to the shelter, cooked, and sat around with some section hikers.
Date: 2006-09-04
From: Chairback Gap

To: Carl A Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today was a good day. Woke up to a light rain, but it soon stopped. The section hikers in the shelter gave me their leftover food and even took my trash for me, so now I have more than enough food. About 4.8 miles from the shelter, just before a stream crossing I found more trail magic, a bag of whoopie cakes and some sodas. I ate a cake and took a Mountain Dew with me for later. I crossed the water and sat down to put my shoes on while talking with a ridge runner who works in that area. We talked for about an hour. I hiked on to the Carl A. Newhall lean-to. These short days are nice. I can take my time and enjoy it while giving my body a rest at the same time.Tomorrow I will go over White Cap mountain, it is supposed to be the last big climb until Katahdin, but I have heard things like that from the start of the trail, so I will wait and see. I am thinking about getting to Katahdin on the 11th instead of the 12th, so that means I will need to do a big day soon. This way when I finish, I can spend one night at the campground and when my family comes to get me I can just get in the car and go, instead of them waiting on me to finish.
Date: 2006-09-05
From: Carl A Newhall Lean-to

To: Cooper Brook Falls 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was the day. Left the shelter about 9 am. After a few small bumps on the trail I crossed White Cap Mountain. The weather was great and on top I got a perfect view of Katahdin. It is a massing looking mountain. Today some helicopters were flying all over the place. One flew over me, turned around, came back and hovered over me for about 30 seconds. I could feel the wind from it. I guess they were looking for someone, a lost hiker maybe? I got to the Logan Brook lean-to took a break and decided to move on. I hiked to the Cooper Brook Falls lean-to, 19 miles, not bad. I am now on track to hike 10 miles a day and finish on the 11th. I have been hiking by myself for a few days now. There is a group ahead of me and a big group behind me. I hope someone catches up because I would like to have someone with me to take my pic when I get to the top.
Date: 2006-09-06
From: Cooper Brook Falls 

To: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-To
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night it rained like crazy. I woke up this morning and it was still cloudy, but I could see the sun trying to come out. After I started hiking the sun finally came out. It turned out to be a nice day. I hiked to the Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to. I took my time and got there early, it was an easy hike. I only saw 2 southbounders today. This is really starting to feel like a wilderness.
Date: 2006-09-07
To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up at 6:30 am. Don't know why I got up so early, I only need to do 10 miles today. I ate some oatmeal, a snack cake and then hit the trail. After about 1 mile I saw a sign that read " view of Katahdin" so I went to take a look. I walked about 50 yards off the trail toward the lake,...and there it was,....Katahdin!! Right across the lake. It was awesome, the best view yet. My heart rate sped up, I could feel the excitement building inside. I took some pics and then moved on. I caught up to 2 guys hiking north, but they were only going to Abol Bridge campground. They were from Switzerland. They came here just to do the 100 mile wilderness. The trail was really easy today, just a lot of rocks and bog, but no steep climbs. I stayed at the Wadleigh Stream Lean-to for the night. Later M&M came by, a thru hiker from England I have met a few times before. The first NOBO I have seen in a while.
Date: 2006-09-08
To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Woke up this morning a little late. M&M was already gone. He wanted to get to Baxter State Park by Saturday. I got up and started getting packed when Low-Gear came up. I have not seen him since New York. We hiked to the Rainbow Stream Lean-to, then he headed on to a campsite further ahead while I stayed. Along the way we seen a porcupine. Later on, Mountain Goat came in. He was also planning on summitting on the 11th, so we may hike together. This shelter had the most trash I have ever seen. I cleaned it up some, but it was disgusting. I found an old mouse trap, so I set it under the shelter and caught 3 mice.
Date: 2006-09-09
From: Rainbow Stream

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today I hiked to the Abol Bridge campground. I got a site right in front of Katahdin. It is an awesome looking mountain. The only bad news was it started raining. It rained on and off all day. I did manage to take a shower and wash my clothes. I went to the campstore and bought some food and sodas. That hit the spot.
Date: 2006-09-10
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Birches Campsite
Miles today: 9.9

Didn't sleep well last night. I am just too excited and the temperature dropped fast last night. I was really cold. I decided to go back to the store and buy a fleece pull-over. After I packed up I hit the trail and later signed in at the kiosk. I talked to the ridge-runner for a bit then moved on down the trail. The trail was pretty easy, but I did manage to slip on a rock and bang my left knee. It hurt some and bled for a while, but nothing major. I got to the ranger station in Baxter State Park and signed in. I am hiker # 227. I paid my fee and got a spot in the Birches Campsite. I met up with Low Gear and Mountain Goat. We decided to night-hike to Katahdin, and to summit before sunrise. After we come back down I am not sure what I am going to do, I will have to play it by ear I guess. So far the weather is perfect, but I know it will be different on the summit. I feel like a kid waiting on Christmas. Later this afternoon we had some trailmagic from Jellybean, a girl I have hiked with on and off for the past month or so. She had already finished and was staying at the campground with some family. We cooked hotdogs, corn on the cob, and some potatos along with some sweets. A nice touch to end the day. She also loaned me a few bucks since I was low on cash and had no access to an atm.Thanks Jellybean, and I will get it back to ya.
Date: 2006-09-11
From: Birches Campsite

To: KATAHDIN SUMMIT
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: clear sky

THE BIG DAY!!!Low-Gear, Mountain Goat, and I decided to start our hike up at 2 am. We woke up around 1 am and started getting ready. We left a lot of un-needed gear at the ranger's station. We put on our headlamps and began our trek. We signed in at 2 am sharp.The stars were shining, the moon was bright, and the temperature was cold, but we were ready. The climb started easy at first, but soon got a lot harder. We were climbing and bouldering, using our arms as much as our legs. Later it got a little easier as it leveled out, but then it went back to being a steady uphill walk. We turned off our headlamps when we got above treeline and could see very well. We were about a mile from the summit when we see the first signs of the sun, so we began to really push it, trying to get to the sign as soon as we could. We scrambled up the final rocks and I could see the sign. My heart started racing even faster. We got to the sign at 5:35 am. Low Gear got there first, then me and a few minutes later Mountain Goat. We got to the sign, looked at it, touched it, then we just sat down beside it in total silence. No one said a word for a while. The wind picked up a little, the temp dropped a lot, but the moment was wonderful. we just sat there and watched the sunrise. We were all in our own little state of shock, our minds were in the wondering mode, still trying to comprehend what we had just done. WE DID IT! WE REALLY DID IT! After the silence we finally started taking pics of each other. We started talking about our futures, and one question kept coming up: What do we do now? This is a dream come true. Not many people can say that.The coldness finally started getting to me, so I decided to go back down and Mountain Goat joined me. Low Gear decided to stay and wait on the other hikers to come up. Going down was scarier and harder than going up. In the daylight the mountain looked entirely different. I made it back to the campground about 10:45 am. I packed up my bag, ate and tried to decide what to do. I thought about going back to Abol Bridge campground and calling my parents from there. This would be easier and cheaper. A lady named Sylvia was giving hikers rides from Baxter into the nearby towns, so she gave me a ride. Just as we were leaving the gates I seen my family just getting ready to go in. We stopped, flagged them down and they stopped. That was perfect timing. I got my gear and put it in the car, gave my wife a big hug and started for home. I DID IT!! I REALLY DID IT!!For the past 5 years 9-11 is a date we all relate to as a day of sadness. I now hope this date will be a day of happiness for me.THE FINAL BELL RINGS. THE FIGHT IS OVER. I AM COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED. THE CHAMP LOOKS AT ME AND GIVES ME A SMILE. HE PUTS HIS ARM OVER MY SHOULDER AND TELLS ME "GOOD FIGHT". HE KNOWS HE WON, BUT TO ME THAT DOESN'T MATTER. I WENT THE DISTANCE. I SHOCKED A LOT OF PEOPLE. I TOOK ON THE BEST. I GAVE IT MY ALL. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN KNOCKED OUT, BUT I WASN'T. I FOUGHT TO THE END....AND I AM STILL STANDING.....
Date: 2006-11-11
To: Back Home
Miles today: 0.0

It has been 2 months since I finished my trip. It seems like time has just flew by. I am still getting adjusted to the real world. I am back working at my same job and trying to get into my old routine, but it ain't easy. Most of my pains are gone (except the numbness in my left toes), and of the 40 lbs I lost, I have put about 20 back on. Even though there were times when I was hiking that I felt like just stopping, and never hiking again, I am now longing for the trail. Things were so simple on the trail; eat, sleep, and walk. That's it. I still want to eat constantly, I just can't stand doing nothing. I still have a hard time believing it's over. It seems like it was just yesterday I was planning the trip. This was a dream come true, something most people never get a chance to do, but I could have never done it by myself. I would like to thank everyone who had a hand in making my dream happen, my sister who kept up with my journal, my parents who sent my packages and drove to Maine to pick me up, all the trail angels who really helped get me through some hard days, all the fellow hikers I have met along the way (too many names to list) and most of all I would like to thank my loving wife. If it wasn't for her, none of this would have happened. She had to do the hard part, working, running the household, making sure I had enough money to survive and just keeping things going while I was walking in the woods. I really missed her more than anything. I know I have the best wife a man could have! I LOVE YA!!Most likely I will never be able to do the whole trail again, but you never know what the future may bring. If I do get the chance to do it again, my wife will be with me. HAPPY TRAILS!
Date: 2006-02-26
To: One Week To Go
Miles today: 0.0

One week from today, Sunday March 5th, I will be standing on the top of Springer Mountain. I have all my gear ready and 90% of the food I need until the first re-supply.My food supply to start off is pretty much a clich©, pasta, rice, snack bars, cereal (though not granola), trail mix, instant pudding, peanut butter and jelly (still need to get the bagels, don¢t feel like having them sit around for a week), and jerky (salmon jerky, so slightly different).I will be flying into Atlanta on Saturday and staying at the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega, GA Saturday night. I have yet to decide if I am going to hike the approach trail or not. That decision will probably be made on Sunday morning.
Date: 2006-03-01
To: Background
Miles today: 0.0

In 2003 I hiked the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) from Katahdin to Cap Gaspe in Quebec. Since then I have had the desire to hike the AT and since I am going back to school in the fall I felt this was an opportune time.AT background:The AT runs from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Katahdin, Maine. It is approximately 2,172 miles long (it is constantly being re-routed and the total distance changes year to year). It takes between four and eight months to hike the entire trail. The average hike takes six months (I have a little less than five).Every few days there are towns where food and other supplies can be obtained (also, worms and mushrooms if I get hungry in-between). For shelter there are over 250 lean-tos (three walls and a roof) and many campsites.The trail is well marked with ¢white-blazes¢ (white paint on a tree approximately 2¢X6¢). Are bears and snakes a problem?The problem with snakes and bears is that you won't see them often. Sometimes you only see signs of them, such as tracks or a shed snakeskin. That's because snakes and bears, and most other animals, shy away from humans. If you do see a snake or a bear, don't try to touch or feed them. Animals along the Trail are wild and should be left alone. (from appalachiantrail.org)
Date: 2006-03-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I leave for Georgia tomorrow and need a third journal entry so here is a ¢hiking resume¢1-My first overnight trip was my college outdoor orientation to Mt. Madison in NH.2-Bunch of hikes in ME during college including: Mt Bigelow, Old Speck, Mt Jefferson, Katahdin (cloudy at the top), etc3-Study Abroad in Australia- Hikes included Six Foot Track in the Blue Mountains (about two hours outside of Sydney), the Jatbula Trail in Katherine Gorge National Park (Northern Territory a few hours south of Darwin), and the Overland Track in Tasmania (where I was studying abroad, if you go to Australia do not skip Tasmania).4-General post-college- Lots of hiking in Harriman State Park, Hudson Highlands State Park (both about an hour outside of NYC), and the Catskills (about 2 hours from NYC)5-International Appalachian Trail- Approximately 670 miles from Katahdin( which was cloudy at top, again. The third time better be the charm) through New Brunswick and ending at Cap Gaspe in Quebec. (for more info www.internationalat.org)6-Glacier National Park in 2004. Hiking and fishing with my brother and his friend.
Date: 2006-03-05
From: Springer Mountain

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

The morning of the start of my hike and I could not decide whether to hike the approach trail (8 miles to the start) or start near the top (.9 miles to the start), so I flipped a coin and it said start near the top.I made it to the top of Springer Mt around 9:40 and hung out with a few other hikers taking pictures for about half an hour. On top of Springer I met ¢Many Sleeps¢, a ridge runner (person who volunteers for the trail) and former AT hiker. He explained ¢Leave No Trace¢ ethics and gave me a ¢Leave No Trace¢ match book to trade in 30 miles on at Neels Gap for a bandanna.I left Springer at about 10:10. The weather was perfect and I arrived at Gooch Mountain Shelter around 4:30. The first day went well and the shelter had room for me. So far everything is going well.
Date: 2006-03-06
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Bull Gap
Miles today: 16.7

I woke up about 6:30. It had rained overnight, but I stayed dry in the shelter. Left the shelter around 8, at 8:45 I stooped and hung out with a group of hikers in Gooch Gap. Later in the day I would hike with some of them up to Blood Mountain (named so because a battle there was said to have covered the mountain with blood). They stayed at the shelter on top and traveled down to Neels Gap to pick up my bandanna and get some snacks. After leaving Neels Gap I hiked on for about half an hour to Bull Gap. The guide book said there was water there, but there was none. The lack of water required me to have a PB&J for dinner, but I had picked up Moonpie at Neels Gap so it wasn¢t that bad
Date: 2006-03-07
From: Bull Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

When I woke up my tent was covered in frost, so I spent a good amount of time brushing it off and packing up. Hiked 10 miles into Low Gap Shelter for lunch and water, I was able to dry my gear off while eating.When leaving the shelter I met Hobbit who I later saw at Blue Mountain Shelter. The 7.2 miles to Blue Mt. Shlter were rather easy and I made it in 3 hrs.