morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-09-24
From: Carl A. Newhall Lean-To

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey, it rained last night pretty hard. Other than the day I "zero'd" at Garfield Ridge Shelter in the White Mountains, it hadn't rained since Glencliff, NH! Mostly cloudy today, but nice hiking weather.This morning was my last serious mountain section until Katahdin. So this morning I knocked out Gulf Hagas Mtn, West Peak, Hay Mtn, and finally White Cap Mtn .... all by 11 am!The amount of trail work that went into the "up and down" White Cap Mtn was amazing. There were so many rock steps, especially going down! They moved a lot of rock making those steps. Wow! Much appreciated!!The afternoon was forest flat and fast hiking. Most of the trees are changing color now making for awesome scenery! The trail itself is very colorful covered with bunches of fallen leaves. Beautiful day of hiking today, but pretty tough (ok, in the morning).The first 2 days of this stretch were driven by the need to set up correctly to be able to hike the Gulf Hagas trail on day 3. I want day 7 to be relatively easy to rest a bit prior to summiting on the 8th day. Well, I have to cover all the miles obviously. So that leaves day 4 (today), day 5 and 6 to cover 60 miles exactly. So based on shelter availability, that means 18.9 today, 21.5 tomorrow, and 19.6 the next day. Whew!Now the good news is that the hardest day is done .... today (18.9, with mountains). Tomorrow will still be tough based on distance alone, but no mountains. The journey is winding down .... 3 days and a wake-up .... in military terms. Great adventure! My body has been renewed .... although it could use a break right now. My mind has been renewed also.It will be interesting to see how this adventure will affect everyday life back in the real world.Oh, I almost forgot. Paddy-O showed up at one of the forest roads with trail magic. I had a couple of hot dogs! Thanks Paddy-O.Good day on the Appalachian Trail! By the way, over 2100 miles today.
Date: 2009-09-25
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Good workout on the A.T. today! On the trail at 7:45 am. Nice morning, but pretty chilly with some wind so I had on the fleece, winter hat, and gloves to start the hike.Last night Lunch Box and I were discussing the lack of "bear sign" around for a while. That ended this morning when I came across a very young bear cub .... no sign of momma bear. And now I'm thinking of all the "don't get between momma and her cubs" stories. The cub was only a couple feet off the trail to the left. And it ran away straight ahead, left of the trail (i.e. they way I was going). So now I wonder, by running straight ahead, did you put me between momma and you .... that is, is she behind me? Or are you running toward momma, which is a good thing as you will both most likely just be on your way. So I carefully proceeded down the trail slowly as not to give momma the impression that I was chasing the cub. I never did see momma.OK. The first 10+ miles were so easy .... flat as a pancake and nice trail .... incredible. Had lunch at Jo-Mary Lake .... sand beach .... nice spot. The sun had finally come out, warmed things up a bit, and I hiked the rest of the afternoon in normal hiking clothing + a long sleeve undershirt.The afternoon was tougher with more rocks and rooty sections, but I got the mileage done.The highlight of the afternoon was a view of Katahdin at Pemadumcook Lake. Wow!! It looks big now and I'm 48 trail miles away. Good spot to take a break and stare at the "finish line".Beautiful hike today. Weather was perfect. Cool, sunny, breezy .... and awesome autumn scenery.Tomorrow is my last full day of hiking! Hard to believe I'm that close .... but I actually got to see the end today.Great day on the Appalachian Trail.2 days and a wake-up! 38.2 miles to go!
Date: 2009-09-27
From: Hurd Brook Lean-To

To: The Birches Campsite
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: light rain

Here I am sitting in my last shelter, at "The Birches" campsite. The hike in was pretty uneventful. However, I did see two moose today! Right after I left the 100-mile wilderness, I came out on Golden Road. There were 2 section hikers getting ready to start the 100-mile wilderness going south .... and also another couple was with them, dropping them off, not hiking. While talking with them, a cow (female moose) came out of the woods and crossed the road not more than 50 feet from where we were standing. Two minutes later, a bull (male moose) came out at the same location and crossed the road following the cow! I got a couple of great pictures of both! Pretty darn cool!There is a camp store right before entering Baxter State Park on Golden Road. Goose, Chewy, Ketchup, Creep and I went in for Cheeseburgers, Doritos, Gatorade, and anything else that sounded good. A week in the woods and even a microwaved cheeseburger tastes good!I finished the hike today and signed in with the Park Ranger. I am registered as the 426th Thru-Hiker for 2009. He said he expects another 100 before the season is over.Now I just sit here. I'll eat my last MRE. Just waiting for tomorrow. The forecast is for rain tonight and tomorrow .... fitting, I think. It rained lightly this afternoon. Here's hoping that it rains itself out overnight! I summit tomorrow .... whatever it may bring! (Time for that MRE ... more later perhaps) Last MRE dinner .... Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini .... my favorite ..... no accident of course saving this one for summit eve.Chewy, Goose and I sat around a bit and reminisced about the hike. We're all ready to be hiking up the mountain right now!Got the alarm set for 5 am, hoping to be on the Trail at first light. I expect to leave at 6 am and arrive on top around 10 am. I'll stay for a while, weather permitting, but plan to start down no later than noon.With the weather forecast, I expect a "Get 'R Dun" type of hike tomorrow.Day of anticipation on the A.T..
Date: 2009-09-29
To: Perfect Ending
Miles today: 0.0

Sometimes you come across things in life that make you wonder if someone planned it that way or if that is just the way it worked out!That's what I was wondering about the A.T. finishing on Katahdin. The more I think about it, it must have just been the way it worked out.In any case, to me, it is a perfect ending. The A.T. was all about climbing mountains. When you got to the peak of one mountain, you look toward the north (mostly), find the highest terrain you can see, and that's where you're headed next! The first thing about Katahdin that worked out was that it is an isolated mountain, so you could see it clearly for a couple of days before you got there. This inspired thoughts about the entire adventure prior to the finish, which was now in sight. It also inspired thoughts about what summit day would be like. The terrain being so kind over the last couple of days allowed the body to "rest" a bit, plus allowed free thinking about "stuff" without having to think about hiking so much.Then I thought the final 5.2 miles up Katahdin on summit day worked out perfectly as well. The first mile being very easy allowed you to get the body warmed up, as well as allow the mind to race freely with no thought required for hiking.The second mile slowly transitioned from easy hiking to climbing, slowly allowing you to realize, yep, the "final exam" had begun.The next couple of miles were a mountain climb .... requiring all of the "climbing skills" you had acquired over the last 6 months. A mixture of everything from "this is cool and fun" to "are you freakin kidding me?"And the final mile let you relax and sing a little song as you approach Baxter Peak, the Katahdin summit.I realized during this journey that I liked climbing, and finding each summit, and there could not have been a more fitting ending to my hike of the Appalachian Trail! Some thoughts: The reason I think that it just happened this way is that the trail was designed and completed not thinking that people would actually hike the entire thing at once. Most early references to the A.T. refer to the A.T. as north-to-south, Maine to Georgia. When Earl Shaffer claimed he had hiked the entire thing from one end to the other, the first thru-hike, some people were skeptical believing it couldn't be done.The thru-hike was born and many followed, mostly from south to north, simply because it is easier and more enjoyable, for many reasons.I have a lot of respect for those that go north to south, having to start with a summit climb of Katahdin. I had a difficult time with the A.T. Approach Trail. I can't imagine what I would have been thinking at the end of the day had I started on Katahdin.By the way, I have been wondering what it would be like to hike the Approach Trail again .... right now .... hmmmm. We'll see.
Date: 2009-09-30
To: Words of Wisdom From Others That I Found Priceless
Miles today: 0.0

On my flight home, covering in 3 hours, the distance it took 3 months to hike, I decided to pen down a couple of thoughts passed on to me from other thru-hikers before I started my hike that I found very helpful. 1.) Don't quit on a bad day! Priceless. 2.) Don't think of it as a 2200 mile hike from Georgia to Maine. That can be overwhelming. Just complete a one week hike, one week at a time, town-to-town.3.) It doesn't ever get "easy"! Sure, you get stronger, but then you just end up challenging yourself more. And there's always something working against you on the A.T.; terrain, distance, weather, injury, boredom, bugs, etc! 4.) Hike your own hike. It's your adventure. Do it any way you want to!5.) Leave no trace!
Date: 2009-10-01
To: Thank You !!
Miles today: 0.0

Thanks God for my many blessings during this hike! Thanks Jane and Keith for letting me stay at your place and use your hobby room as my A.T. "war room" and staging area .... complete with big board!Thanks Jessica for being my home support team. Mail drops worked perfectly and thanks for getting me those "last minute" items that came up from time to time.Thanks Megan for the transportation to and from the bus station and airport.Thanks Brian for the help downloading photos when impossible to do so from the Trail.Thanks Jane, Mary and Lisa for signing in and letting me know I wasn't forgotten at home! Thanks Mary for the visit in Harper's Ferry.Thanks Peanut (AT '08), Wrongway (AT '08), and other past thru-hikers for the great information that really got me started on the right foot .... literally!Thanks readers who signed in with kind words and support. It really did make me "pay more attention" out there, and words of encouragement always help!Thanks for those that provided trail magic along the way. It always brightened up the day!Thanks to those that provide services along the A.T.. So many less hikers could complete this adventure without you and the services you provide, especially to hikers on limited budgets.And thanks to all those hikers I met on the Trail this year. The A.T. already is an amazing "place", but you all make it special. Glad to have met you all! Thanks for the perspectives, hiking lessons, general info, and encouragement!
Date: 2009-10-02
To: Gear Review and Stats
Miles today: 0.0

Hi Y'all,Just a quick note to let you all know that I will make a journal entry reviewing each piece of gear, and also another entry on other general statistics .... hey, I'm a planner; got to have an "after action review" and evaluate the execution of the plan! How else does one improve? I'll also make an entry focused on lessons learned about the mail drops. I'll also actually put my mail drop list up in the Mail Drops section. There were reasons I did not publish it prior to, or as I was hiking. I'll explain in my mail drop entry.Thanks for following along, and allowing me to repay my debt to those who "lead the way".
Date: 2009-10-04
To: Mail Drops
Miles today: 0.0

(Note: I listed the maildrops I used in the "Mail Drop" Section of the web page. I listed all planned drops, and one that I added on the fly)I used maildrops simply for convenience and cost savings. Buying MRE's in bulk brought the cost of each to about $5 per MRE. I needed about 140 meals for my hike so the cost per meal does add up.I'm retired military so I was familiar with the MRE, and knew I could tolerate them for 6 months. I actually like the stuff! There is no cooking involved as each meal comes with it's own heater. Therefore, there's no pot cleaning, fuel requirements, etc.OK. Let's get to the maildrop planning itself. First, let's start with where to send them. There were some places along the Trail that I knew I was going to visit, so I started by penning them in. For instance, I knew I was going to take a zero day in Damascus and Harpers Ferry. Also, the Trail goes right through other towns along the way. No sense not using those towns for re-supply .... for instance, Hot Springs and Duncannon.After penning in the no-brainers listed above, I looked to fill in the gaps. First thing I looked at was distance off the trail. I planned my hike as much as possible for towns within a mile or two at most so that I could hike in if I couldn't get a ride. This was possible except in only a couple of areas.I used Post Offices whenever possible. Basically, the Post Office doesn't just leave your packages lying around, and all but a couple asked for identification. Also, I didn't always stay at the place I thought I would prior to the hike. If you send your package to somewhere other than a Post Office, it won't be secured. Most of the time, when I recieved packages at hostels, or places like that, the pakcages were just laying around in common areas.The disadvantage to the Post Office is they close early on Saturdays, and are closed on Sundays and holidays. This fact did come into play a couple of times, but never significantly impacted my trip.If I hike the A.T. again, I will use maildrops extensively to include more breakfast and lunch items as well. I can buy them in bulk as well.I will also include common items each time I re-supply. In each mail drop I would put several ziploc bags of the sizes I would use on the Trail. Place a roll of toilet paper in properly spaced drops. I wasted some money buying ziploc bags out there .... come in a box of 15 and I might only need 5. Sometimes others would need some and we could split the cost. You get the idea.The more you can do prior to leaving, the better, to reduce the load on those who will support you.Make sure whoever is providing your support has a copy of your maildrop plan. Also make sure they have a copy of the handbook you are using on the Trail. This will help when talking on the phone and coordinating changes or additional drops ... keeping you both on the same page, literally.Maildrops are not necessary. Many made it to Katahdin without them. If you're not into planning, just buy supplies as you go.
Date: 2009-10-08
To: Its all in the Statistics
Miles today: 0.0

Ok. Just for fun, I took a look and compared my planning information to my actual hike information.Zero days planned: 18Zero days actual: 22Miles hiked per day, planned: 11.6 (includes all days including zero days)Miles hiked per day, actual: 11.71 (includes all days including zero days)Miles hiked per hiking day, planned: 12.8 (no zero days)Miles hiked per hiking day, actual: 13.28Total number of days on the trail, planned: 187 (not including July break)Total number of days on the trail, actual: 184 (not including July break)Percentage of time I actually stayed at the exact hotel/hostel/etc as I had planned: 68%Mail drops planned: 31Mail drops used: 27 of the planned + 1 added on the flyHiking mileages comparison (days hiking these amounts of miles):20+ miles, planned: 11 days20+ miles, actual: 12 days10 - 20 miles, planned: 116 days10 - 20 miles, actual: 112 daysLess than 10, planned: 42 daysLess than 10, actual: 40 daysLongest day planned: 23.8 milesLongest day actual: 27.4 milesOK. Anything to really get out of this. Not really! Basically, all hikers that take about 180 days to complete the entire trail will have numbers that look just like this!I think it reinforces my choice to use primarily Post Offices for mail drops seeing as though I only stayed at my planned town stop location (hotel/hostel/etc) 68% of the time. This way I know where my mail drop is going and I can choose where to stay at as I gather more info going down the trail, not worrying about my mail drop going to a certain hostel, but wanting to stay at a different one than that one.
Date: 2010-01-07
To: Lesson Learned
Miles today: 0.0

Mike sent me a link to some pictures he had taken in New Zealand. They were incredible.OK. So what? Well, as I was looking at them, I realized I had developed something new while on my hike of the Appalachian Trail. I now appreciate photographs taken by others so much more. I am better able to try to see and imagine exactly what they saw.I would never have been considered a photographer in life. I just never took that many. For instance, I went to Brazil for a week during Carnivale one year and maybe took 30 photographs. The person I went with took several hundred. You get the point.But now after taking a couple thousand pictures during the hike, it taught be to better appreciate not so much what the picture shows, but of what the picture taker is trying to capture .... knowing the camera will never do it justice.The picture at the top of this page is one of the pictures I received from Mike. Today, Jan 2010, I can appreciate what he saw standing there much more than I would have in Jan 2009. Thanks once again Appalachian Trail.
Date: 2010-01-15
To: Time for Final Thoughts for This Adventure
Miles today: 0.0

It seems like an appropriate time to put a final page in this adventure's journal.I'm starting a "new career" at the end of this month. As most of you know, I'm retired Air Force. I'm taking a position with a company that is contracted by the Air Force. The position will be new, and the type of work will be relatively new, but I'm familiar with the location, and I have tons of old friends in the area. In short, I'm gonna be very comfortable and happy in my new place.I don't think I could have picked a better time in life to hike the Trail ... that being between one career and the next. It really did give me a chance to get away from the chaos of reality and search my own heart and soul. And do it in peace and quiet, not influenced by the constructs of man. I go forward knowing for sure what is important to me, what needs to be done, and what is simply chaff (military term used where most people would just say "garbage").I have been reading people's journals as they prepare for their Appalachian Trail thru-hike. I am excited for them and jealous. I would love to be out there again. And someday I may .... very doubtful however. That would be a step back, trying to recapture the last hike. I won't go until I'm ready for a "new" experience. And most likely, if I get the time again, it will be a bike ride across America ... something like that ... some different adventure.The Appalachian Trail .... what a wonderful world!!Peace!
Date: 2011-03-17
To: Two-Year Hike-Start Anniversary
Miles today: 0.0

Two years ago today I had been on the Appalchian Trail for a week, having started on 10 March 2009. Every year at this time I find myself searching through Trail Journals for a hiker to follow to Katahdin. This year is no exception.I also find it hard to concentrate at work because Spring is here ... and I'd much rather be hiking! Good luck to all the hikers this year. It will be a great adventure.After reading some journal entries, I find myself drawn to thoughts of hiking the PCT. Two hikers I hiked the A.T. with in 2009, Gezza and Top Shelf, are talking about hiking the PCT in 2012. I don't think I'll be able to do that, but I'm entertaining the thought of the PCT in 2013.As my niece would say, just a "baby dream" right now, no promises, but time to start the preparations ... just in case everything works out. I prepared for the A.T. for years!! Happy Spring!!
Date: 2011-06-22
To: Hopefully Helping Others
Miles today: 0.0

I was hit hard with "Springer Fever" this year. Sunnuke is on the PCT this year. Top Shelf, Gezza, Goof and his dad talking about hiking the PCT next year. Star Trek e-mailed me thinking he may hike the A.T. again next year.Peanut (AT '08), my hiking mentor, is hiking the John Muir Trail this summer. All this is driving me a little crazy because I want to hike too. So I've been babbling about hiking at work lately and a friend of mine there suggested that writing about it may help satisfy that urge. So I did!I thought the best way to serve future hikers is to simply address the questions and concerns that many non-seasoned hikers have prior to an A.T. thru-hike. I relied on Peanut to answer a lot of those questions, as well as reading some books and a bunch of blogs on certain topics (e.g. resupply options).It was fun and did help satisfy that hiking fever. I hope some people find it useful as they prepare for their future hike.I titled it Average People; Extraordinary Trail, Volume I - The Appalachian Trail. Hey, I'm an optimist, leaving room for Vol II - The Pacific Crest Trail, etc!www.BisonAT.com
Date: 2009-02-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Hello everyone. We've set up this first entry for those readers who would appreciate a little background information before joining us on our hike. Therefore, if you are already familiar with the "A.T." and what it represents to a potential "thru-hiker" you might want to skip ahead to the next journal entry.   "The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is America's first National Scenic Trail, extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately 2,175 miles long. The majority of the trail is in wilderness, although some portions do traverse towns and roads, and cross rivers.   The Appalachian Trail is famous for its many hikers, some of whom, called thru-hikers [that would be us], attempt to hike it in its entirety in a single season. Earl Shaffer was the first to do so in 1948 [and he did it again in 1998 at the ripe old age of 79].   Along the way, the trail passes through the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.   The Appalachian Trail along with the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail form the Triple Crown of long distance hiking in the United States."FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:(1) Will we be carrying a cell phone or any other type of electronic device (such as a GPS tracking device)?   -No. We will be alone in the woods, technologically speaking.(2) Will we be carrying a gun, mace, bear spray, or even a bell around our necks?   -Again no. Even if we did carry it, we would have it tucked away in our packs and not anywhere useful should we need it. This is simply the life of a backpacker.(3) How many miles are we going to cover each day?   -We are expecting to cover between 8 and 25 miles each day, depending on the difficulty of terrain.(4) How will we get food?   -We will be able to resupply in nearby towns every 6-12 days.(5) Is anyone going to send to anything like food?   -We are going to recieve maildrops approximately every 10-12 days. Most often these will only carry venison jerky and the occasional calling card [Thanks mom!].(6) Have you read "A WALK IN THE WOODS"?   -Yes.(7) Are there bathrooms or anything like that?   -Not really. In fact we are rarely going to shower, we will use catholes as necessary, and we must carry out all trash- including our toiletry trash.That's all for now, if you'd like more information please visit the official A.T. website at: www.appalachiantrail.org-Bonnie & Teigan