morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-04
To: The map
Miles today: 0.0

Well it has been a bit but I am really excited about the upcoming spring. The weather is getting ready to turn here and I can see buds coming out. I have not had time to get out on the trail as much as I would like but I have been walking at home everynight. I go out before the kids go to bed and it is very peaceful. Some nights I am out all alone and not even a single car passes by in the time that I am out. I go a bit over 2 miles before bed. It¢s not much but its better than nothing. I am planning a trip for around the 19th of April for about a week if I can pull out that much time away from home. Right now work is slow so I should take advantage of it. I want to get out a bunch this summer but if things pick up at work, well as they say, you have to make hay while the sun shines. I in the mean time have to follow all those who are blessed enough to be out on the trail right now. I am including a picture of the back of the door to my gear closet and the map that I follow everyone with. It is fun to move the name tags as people move up the trail. I get a real charge out of being out on the trail and meeting up with hikers. When I get a chance to learn someones trailname and it is someone that I have been following it is a bit like meeting a lost friend. A lot of the people like to hear who has come through in the last few days etc.
Date: 2008-04-05
From: Canopus Hill

To: NY Rt 9
Miles today: 5.0

Today was the first really nice day in almost a week so I took full advantage of it. I am planning my first section hike of the season in just under two weeks so I need to try to get a few warm up hikes in or I will be sorry. It has been eating at me but I only have 10.8 miles left in the state of New York and I will have my first state completed. I have a few other states that are half way completed but I do not have one that is fully done. The plan this winter was to do all of MD but if you look back to my journal from last year in December it did not quiet play out the way we would have liked it to. My section that I am planning is to go from Front Royal VA or there abouts to the I-70 footbridge in MD up by Hagerstown. Today I went and drove to Canoupus Hill rd and parked the car. This is where I stopped this past fall. I did some over nights later in the fall on the West side of the Hudson River but for my day hikes this is where I had ended. I went south on the trail from here. I really felt it that I have not been out on the trail. I think I hit almost every rock and root that there was on the trail. I was out late in the afternoon and didn¢t get going until about 3:30 or so and really felt it walking into the sun the whole time. It seemed that I was always a bit blinded by the sun. Anyway I finally made it to Graymoor Spiritual Center by about 5:30 so all in all it was not a bad time. The section is 5 miles and has only a few small climbs. I walked back to my car on the road which proved to be a bit faster. I was racing to get home and fix dinner for everyone. I now only have 5.8 miles left to go in NY.Daily miles 9.7 Grand total 300.4 miles
Date: 2008-04-09
To: 10 Days
Miles today: 0.0

Well it is almost real midnight not hikers midnight and I just got back from Campmor down in NJ. Yep I drove all the way down there from where I live a bit over an hour one way to return the screwed up tarp that I had bought back in January. The tarp I got which was a big one only had about 3 grommets on the whole thing. It figured that it would have happened to me to get the one defective one in the bunch right before the hike. I had no time to return it before that hike. I will try to stay one step ahead this time and tie out the new one and get all the lines rigged before the trip next week. This way if its screwed I can take it back before I leave. That is the plan at least.The plans for the trip as all set. Doggiebag and I will be heading North from the Front Royal area on the 19th and plan to go up to the I-70 bridge where we had to get off the trail this past December on the winter March O¢Fools. Should be fun. I think we will be ahead of the tip of the NoBo¢s by a few days or so and so it should be pretty empty out there which will be nice. I am sure given our ability to over complicate the simple we will be a FUBAR just looking for a place to happen. And if you stay tuned you can read it all right here.Till then it¢s the typical getting ready sorting food cleaning gear and trying to get out for a few warm up hikes if possible. I want to try to wrap up the last 5.8 miles that I have to go in NY. That would be nice to have that put to bed before I head south but who know.
Date: 2008-04-10
To: Spring is Here
Miles today: 0.0

Well I think Spring may be here at last. Today was sunny and warm. We hit 70 degrees and some of the bushes and flowers are coming out. It is about freaking time. The winters here feel so much longer than they did out West. Now I am not stupid I live in NY I am sure the weather will turn back to gray and crappy any day for a while but I think we turned the corner.I went out today and rigged the new tarp for the hammock. It will give me more area to cook under and store gear with out it getting soaked. I think I have it pretty well set but I am sure that I will tweak it more as I go. I layed out in it for a while down in the woods and had a nice power nap. I just seem more at ease in the woods than elsewhere. It was that way even as a kid. I would go feral every chance I got. I feel that need to get back out there. Heck maybe I'll go for a night hike and see how well I did with the reflective dots on my section.
Date: 2008-04-14
To: Longing 
Miles today: 0.0

So what is it about me that as I get ready to head out on one excursion I am already thinking about another one that I would like to take? I am not sure what got it in my head but for the past few days all I have been thinking about is the Bighorns up in North Central Wyoming. I lived up that way for a number of years and spent a great deal of time tramping around up there on fishing, hunting and Snowmobiling trips. I now have a real desire to get back out there and spend about two weeks in that area. It is a wonderful mountain range and is not nearly as crowed as many others. I recall really long day fishing trip that I took where I hiked up through the head of a canyon above tree line and I was the only set of foot prints in the snow field. It was around the 4th of July weekend. I didn¢t see or hear another person that whole time. I guess inn some ways I am longing for the high wild places that were so much a part of my life for all those years. Don¢t get me wrong the trail is great but I guess in some ways it is not secluded enough. You hear the noise of towns coming up from the valley. Or you cross the road every so many miles. There is always that time you come around a corner and there are some day hikers who still have street shoes on and talking on their cell phones. I need away from all that. I need the wilds.
Date: 2008-04-15
To: Maintenance Work
Miles today: 0.0

Only a few days till I take off for the 6 day section hike with Doggiebag. Each day seems longer than the last one as I wait for the time to go. I have been trying to balance as much as I can the past few days getting in all the kids sports games and last minuet appointments on work and personal things.Today I went and managed to get in a bit of work on my section of trail, my sons lacrosse game fix and clean up from dinner and a short nighttime hike. Not bad for one day. I did a total of 7 miles today but it was really broken up. I was working on doing some erosion control on my section of trail as well as putting in a stone step where a lot of people slip. This all breaks up the hikes so you never really get into a good rhythm until I turn and head back o the car. During my nighttime hike I went to the top of Cat rocks and watched the last of the light fade and the lights of town all come out. It is pretty bright even with only a half moon. We should have a full moon during our hike if the sky is clear. On the way back down I stopped in at Telephone Pioneer Shelter and met a hiker named Woodchuck. He just got on the trail today and is heading south over the next few months. Every time I hear this I wish it was me out for that long.Daily miles 7 Grand Total 307.4
Date: 2008-04-17
To: The final countdown
Miles today: 0.0

Well I am just about all set for the trip. I have my gear spread out on the floor going through and packing and cleaning anything that needs work. I was out several weeks ago and got the hammock all set and the tarp rigged so that it is still all one unit and just pull it out and set it up. I have the sleeping bags hanging to get aired out and will make the final decision on which one to bring later.I went out last night for my nightly stroll around my home and it was perfect. A bit more than a half moon, good temps, no cars passing me and Pink Floyd on the Ipod. I am so ready for the hike I can barely contain myself tomorrow is te final day before we hit the trail and it is to be the best day weather wise hitting almost 80¢s up here. It looks fair for the time we are on the trail.
Date: 2008-05-04
To: Class Trip
Miles today: 0.0

Well today I went out with my son to do a dry run of his upcoming class trip. His class is going out on the trail for an overnight. I have been tagged to set up some large tents that they can all stay in leaving the shelter for the other hikers. It is only going up to the Telephone Pioneer Shelter but man those tents are heavy. He was using one of my old packs and I think that it will work fine for him for the day or so that they are out. I was able to find two places to put up the tents. When we were back home and I was on the phone talking to my mother, who had just gotten back from doing Habitat For Humanity down in New Orleans, I looked out the window just in time to see a bobcat come strolling along side of the house. I called out to my son and the two of us went out and around the house to intercept the cat. My son is almost like a coon dog. I had to call him back as he went chasing after the bobcat. It ran a little way off and looked back at us as it paused before it crossed the road and into the brush across the way. It never stops amazing me how much wildlife lives right under our nose.I am in the beginning stages of planning my next section hike. I will be at one point during the hike meeting up with River from the January March O¢ Fools trip. I need to complete the trail south out of Dalton Ma down into CT where I have left off. I will talk more about this as it all comes together.Daily miles 1.4 Grand Total 385.1
Date: 2008-05-06
To: Dragging Ass
Miles today: 0.0

Today it is Cinco De Mayo. I tell you this so that the rest of what I am about to tell you will make more sense. Today I walked about a half mile but it was some of the toughest and strangest walking hat I have done in a while. By the end of the day I was ready to call it quits.Being new in Real Estate with the way the market is right now up here you do what you can to get extra cash coming in. I have a friend who knows this and that I will whore myself out to pretty much any job that will pay. She called me last night and said hey I need to ask if you will do a party for me down in the City (The City is New York City for those of you who are not from the area). I would have to take a miniature donkey down to the Town Tavern in the Village and stand there while people pose and take pictures ect. She also told me that the wait staff were all going to be wearing Brazilian Bikini¢s This turned out to be a lie but it was too late I was in NYC with a Donkey on a lead line.They had me walk along around he few blocks near the bar while they handed out passes for a free drink and drum up business for the place. Now this sounds fine unless you have ever tried to get a donkey to do something it does not want to do. All the strange sounds would frighten her and she would stop dead in her tracks. This seemed to mainly happen while I was crossing a street and the light was changing. I tried to tell her that the bright yellow cars don¢t stop even for Donkey¢s. It was great to see the look on peoples faces when they realized it was not a big dog but a small donkey. I must be on about 300 peoples cell phones by now. Walking and dragging a donkey a half mile really takes it out of you.See these are the type of things that you do when you need to make cash to help buy a lighter weight sleeping bag, or get gas money for the next section of trail that you have to drive to. Yeah I guess there are bills too that can be paid. Bummer. End of he month its back to the trails for a week or so. Can¢t wait. No dragging Ass on that trip. (bad Pun)
Date: 2008-05-18
To: Busy busy busy
Miles today: 0.0

Ok well a quick update. I have not had a chance to get as much hiking in as possible but have found myself very busy with the trail. This past week on Wednesday night I had three hikers spend the night. Thursday I was given the opportunity to pick up a different section to maintain that is closer to my house. I now have the area from the AT train Stop south to the top of Corbin Hill. Friday I was out and helping with a Relo of a section of trail near Telephone Pioneer shelter. Saturday I was dropping off fuel canisters for Transfat and then got a call from Trailfoot that he was going to head home and so I drove up to Salisbury Ct to grab him. Today I got Trailfoot to the train for the City at 6:30am.The guys who came over on Wednesday I had met these guys down in Va when Doggiebag and I were out for the section hike. One guy we had been with for two nights one night at Bears Den and the other night at the David Lesser Shelter. He goes by Transfat. I had told him if he needed a hand when he got up my way to give me a shout. He took me up on the offer. He and Liquid were going to go into NYC for a few days and asked if I could help get them the train and stuff. It ended up being him Liquid and Trailfoot that came over and spent the night. The next AM I got Trailfoot back to the trail and the other two to the train stop. Donkeylegs who was with them stayed on the trail as he was going to have a few days off in Kent Ct just up the trail.I am excited about the new section of trail that I have to maintain and the opportunity that this is to have a section closer to my home. I have also been thinking about putting in for a paid position that the trail conference has open. I talked with the trail supervisor that I was helping with the relo about this and she thinks that I should give it a shot. I mean it is something that I have a passion for and it could also help pay a few bills at the same time what could be so bad about that right?I need to get out and walk the kinks out of he legs before next week. I have the plan to go and hit the trail around the 28th or so up in MA and hook up with some of the March O¢fools group. I will meet them a few days into the hike and we will be heading south to CT. If all goes well this could wrap up Ma and Ct for me. We will have to see. My feet are just healing up from the last section and I have some new things that I will be doing with my bots that may help with blisters. If not it¢s only 6 days of pain right?
Date: 2008-05-23
To: New Section
Miles today: 0.0

Well yesterday I went and walked my new section. I had a few hours in the afternoon before I had to go and get the kids from school. I had the section of trail from I-84 to the view just south of the Morgan Stewart shelter. I got a call from the supervisor of that section and she told me that a section closer to my house has opened up and they could use me there. I agreed to the switch. It turns out that it was two sections that opened up and the new supervisor just combined them together. This turned out not to be a big deal the total length is only about 1.5 miles. I now have from the AT Train Stop south to the top of Corbin Hill. The boardwalk is going to need a bunch of work but it¢s a neat section.The plans for the trip next week are coming together. I have not really gotten out as much as I would have liked to hike but It is what it is I guess. I am worried about my heels I will try the new lacing of the boots and the inserts but hope that they won¢t blister up like they have in the past. If they do I will have to toss these boots in the trash and find something else to use. My feet have just healed up a week or so ago and the blisters have peeled off leaving those great little dimples in your feet where the old blister was. Ah the joy of hiking.
Date: 2008-05-28
To: Last few hours
Miles today: 0.0

Well I am in the count down. Only a few more hours till my ride gets here to take me to the bus station. I am taking the bus up to the trail to avoid having to have a car on the trailhead this also means that I will have to try to find a ride back from where ever I get off. If I end with the rest of the group I may be able to grab a ride from them otherwise it may prove more difficult. This hike will be from Thursday till¢¦maybe Tuesday. I have left it open so we will see how it goes. I should have learned by now but as I am getting ready more and more stuff keeps getting added to the pack. The weight is really an issue that I need to address. Now most of the stuff that has been added is light extra blister pads, more duct tape to the hiking pole, extra set of AAA batteries for the headlamp, etc. the issue is in the food bag. I have food for 6 days this is more than most people carry on the At but given the schedule and the way that we are hiking it I don¢t plan on a resupply so I have it all. Now I have heard that most people say almost 2 lbs per day. If this is the case than I am just a tad over this as my food bad is about 13 to 14 lbs. A lot of it seems to be in a few items which I may just nix. All this is predicated on that fact that my scale is correct it may be way off and I could have like a 20 lb food bag. Yikes!I hope to meet up with some of the hikers that I have seen go by in the last few days. I met Yeti and Toddy Bear on Monday and also Amoeba. I was out weed whacking my new section. I have most of the board walk completed but ran out of gas about 100 yards from the bridge. I will have to bring fuel next time. Yesterday I met War Paint as he was pulling through Pawling. I may also get a chance to see Waterbear and Stormnnorm again if they haven¢t banged out too many big days. I will miss seeing Unknown Hiker. He called me last night. He was over in Bear Mt but I will be out on this hike when he gets to Pawling. I did drop off some 100% Deet for him as I am not sure the outfitter in Kent will have it. I hope it is still where I hid it when he rolls through.
Date: 2008-05-30
From: October Mt Lean-To

To: Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: clear sky

Well today was a very mellow day. I got up and took a late start out of the shelter as I only had 8.8 miles to do today and the terrain is still really mellow. As I cruised along I stopped to mess around with a beaver dam that I came across in hopes of the beaver coming and trying to fix the dam. After sitting for about 15 mins and getting attacked by black flies it was time for more Deet and to keep moving. About lunch time I met up with three hikers who had stayed at the Goose Pond cabin last night they were all raving about Slowfoot the care taker. The hikers were One Flop, Laser Chuck, and Hurricane. I chatted with them for a bit about who I have seen and who is where on the trail etc. What was really funny is that when they asked my name and I told them one of them thanked me for the beer from back in Maryland! This is the second hiker in a row that had gotten one of these beers. How funny is that. It is such a small small world on the trail.I was coming up to the Mass pike which is where I was to meet my friend last fall and I ran into to guys who were going cross country. They didn¢t have a plan and they were going to walk the trail some and then roads other times. They were so not prepared for the trail. They were in cotton T-shirts and jeans. They were asking me what people do about water? I told them what I could and encouraged them to really think about how they are going to do things. But they did have a website for their trip. I guess that is the really important thing right?I made it to the Goose Pond Cabin by 3:30 and met Slowfoot the care taker and Chipmonk. I had met him back at the Wiley shelter in NY. I was dropping off the fule canisters for Transfat and he was there was Just Hiking. This was the night that I had gotten the call from Trailfoot from up in Salisbury. It was like meeting an old friend. We hung out on the porch telling stories and trail gossip. About dinner time Chipmonk and I went out on the lake in the canoe this was great as the water was like glass. It was all good until as we were docking the canoe I tipped it over and in I went. I was able to hang my stuff in front of the fireplace at the cabin and got it all dried by the next AM. I have to say that Slowfoot a great host. He¢s the man!Ascended 1530         Descended 1840         Duration 5:07Daily miles 8.8 Grand Total 403
Date: 2008-09-19
From: Va 522 Front Royal

To: Tom Floyd Wayside
Miles today: 2.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I made the long drive back down into VA. I am getting on the trail and heading south this time from the same place that Doggie Bag and I started in April just outside of Front Royal. I was able to set it up with Mike the Greatful Greenpeace Guy and the owner of Terripan Station up in Chester Gap to leave my car at his place for a small fee. I feel better about that than it just sitting on the side of the road for a week or so. He was great and gave me info about the water siuation at the first shelter or the lack there of. I had to head out and UP into the park with 7 days of food and a full 3.5 ltrs of water. It sucked. I was at the trail head heading south on a beautiful day by 1:30. The climb up from 522 through the field was nice and then down into some woods beofre the real climb up to the shelter began. I saw some bear scatt almost as soon as I was into the woods. It was purple due to the cherries and other berries that they are eating at this time of the year. I also a bit from the shelter scared up a few deer but they didn't bolt off they just kind of watched me. One was a small buck still in summer velvet.I came into the Tom Floyd Wayside about 3:15 or so and found a spot to set up my hammock. As I was getting set up I could hear another hiker down below me talking. At first I thought that were were two people but turned out to be only one guy who had been on his phone. He said something about just going out on the trail and seeing how long he would stay out. He had just left some Buddist monestary or something. Not really sure he seemed a bit off so I was happy to hear other hikers coming into the shelter from the south. I gave them some time to settle in before I went up to hang out.I went on up and was in the process of intoducing myself when I recognized them from up in Pawling. They are actualy SoBo's who passed though the park once already and were hiking it again NoBo with their girlfriends. It was Cleamson and Sweet Tea. It was so funny to run into them. I had given them a ride to the train station so that they could go into NYC. It was neat hearing their adventures from then to now.We talked about what a small world the hiking community can really be. They even knew my friend Wrongway who was on the trail as a NoBo this year. Sweet Tea and Wrongway had tried to get a fire going together in really poor conditions together but with out much sucess. We had better luck this night and had a nice blaze and just hung out by the fire for a while talking.I went to bed and slept well unti early AM. I got up as it was getting light and was excited to really get into the park so I got an early start.