morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Newfound Gap

To: Peck's Corner
Miles today: 10.4

Big breakfast buffet at Bennetts BBQ. Holy Shit! Third time I've eaten here. Heaven. AYCE eggs, bacon, sausage patties, sausage links, potatoes, sausage gravy, french toast, pancakes, kiwis, papayas, grapefruits, grapes, watermelon, cantaloups, honeydews, oranges...seconds...thirds...fourths...it's starting again. Endless stomach.Drove back to Newfound Gap and hiked on. We said goodbyes at Icewater Spring Shelter. Day Tripper and I hiked to Charlie's Bunion and took many pictures. If you aren't familiar with Charlie's Bunion it is a large rock outcrop overlooking a fantastic view. We yogied a pimento sandwich, pringles, and Famous Amos cookies. Today we strolled. After Charlies Bunion we walked through 'Sawteeth'. The name alone eludes to the terrain we hiked thru. If you have a chance walk from Newfound Gap to Davenport Gap - a virtual top ten of the AT hot list. We stopped at every attraction and view. Amazing wordless beauty! Then came 'Bradleys View'. Jesus Christ is this wonderous or what? We sat with our legs dandling 800' over air. I felt as though I was rfevisiting the limitless castles of my childhood kingdom. The sweet summer smells of lilacs, endless moments of joyous bliss. Peace with the world. Do you remember the feeling in your stomach when you were a little kid and you were reiding your bicycle down a slight, gradual-grandfatherly downhill? The warm summer breeze blowing thru your hair. You take a deep breath, exhale, let go of the handlebars. Coasting soaring down the hill. The butterflies flying comfortably in your belly. Then you close your eyes. Soaring. That is how I felt today. We walked and talked the afternoon away. We got to Peck's Corner Shelter, set the tarp up, chit-chatted with Spot. Spot's a nice fellow to talk with. In a strange way he reminds me of my father.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Peck's Corner

To: Mount Cammerer Observatory Tower
Miles today: 15.7

Fantastic Day! We started with a quick walk to Tri Corner Knob Shelter. We spoke with Blue who hurt her achilles tendon. Cooked a mac-n-chz, drank water, temperatures raised, hiked up to the 'heli-pad' at Guyot Spur (6360'). Sat and looked at distant mountains. Hiked on the long and winding trail downwards. Got to the turn-off for Cosby Knob Shelter, loaded up with water; decided to go to the tower. Both Rambunny and Rebel with a Cause told us how beautiful it was. Had to go. Got there near sunset. Perfect time. Empty. Beautiful. We listened to NPR classical music in the circa 1930's octagonal stone and timber tower. 360 degree views of a fire-red nebula of a sunset. Distant clouds splatter the sun's image. We played gin. We ate Pork Ramen with 8 oz of Tyson Chicken Breasts in the foil tins. Damn that tastes good! Mice scampered over big boulders...wind blew...at peace again.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Mount Cammerer Observatory Tower

To: Painter Branch
Miles today: 9.9

Got up to a beautiful sunrise. The mountains glowing with the new day. Everone should see the sunrise in the far away woods. The view from the tower was unbelievable. We started back to the trailhead and down the mountain. Leaving the Smokies is bittersweet. I love the park but I do not like the camping regulations.The walk from Davenport Gap ti I-40 along the Pigeon River was amazing. The Pigeon River, at least I think it's the Pigeon River, is awesome. It's a series of small waterfalls in deep woods. Pine Forest. Every time I pass I want to stop and swim...never have...Across I-40 and up up up. Those stairs kill me. We stopped by Curtis' & Marie's oasis called Standing Bear Farm. Met Icebreaker and A-Dog. Ate a pizza, drank 5 root beers in thirty seconds. The feed bag is on. I got the most awesome trail magic in the form of a box code named 'Maple Syrup' from my friend Doug and his wife Amber. 'Maple Syrup' is Vermont lingo for Veuve Cliquot Champagne and Remy Martin. We drank it, ate some beef jerky, shopped in the the cooler...Big thanks to Doug and Amber from Hippie Boy. I highly recommend Standing Bear. We walked till we reached Painters Branch, a campsite with streams on each side. Washed clothes. Built fire. I made cheddar cheese and garlic biscuits. Idea 10,001: How about the makers of Titanium light-weight cookpots make a lid out of teflon that you can cook pancakes and the miscellaneous biscuits. It would be a revolution in backpack cookware! So I built a strong fire. Made my biscuit mix and formed a 6" diameter biscuit. I put two rocks in the fire and balanced the lid over. I cooked the biscuits on one side then the other. Delicious. Lessons learned: seriously butter lid first. Have plenty of fresh butter to smear on it. We spent the remainder of the night in our Feng Shui campsite. It rained for 8 seconds at night.
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Painter Branch

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 7.9

Sometimes life deals you a hand and it is best not to argue! We had the most fantastic night of them all. We got up, wolfed down banana nut muffins and earl grey tea. Loaded up and hiked up Snowbird Mtn (4263'). We had heard of hiker feed not too far ahead. After a short lunch of Wasabi Peas, spicy goldfish, beef jerky and a delicious peanut butter sandwich we headed on.Remember folks -- our appetites are increasing every second. We left Deep Gap and marched on. Stopped at noon and said hi to K2. We started walking on. I thought I could smell baked beans. Faintly, but yes, there.A few more turns and I stumbled onto what easily could be called 'Hiker Heaven'. Within seconds a double cheeseburger dripping, no oozing, with mayonnaise was handed to me. Food, glorious food! There's nothing quite like a fat greasy cheeseburger out in the woods when you least expect it. We were gonna head on but then found out about the Rib Eye steak, Pork Chop, Venison, Salmon and Chicken dinner.
Date: 2004-05-31
From: Pearisburg, Virginia

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

story continued... still in Pearisburg...Worm dropped us off at the Hiker Inn in Damascus and said goodbye. Mtn. Mike - we looked for you when we left Laurel Creek... how did we miss you? Sorry bro...The hike Inn is a cool cool place to stay with many beauty products to play with. Lisa gave me my "Day of Beauty Chick Moment" I had a hot bubble mineral bath with scented candles. She applied a MUDPack to my face then massaged my battered feet with some kind of moisturizing natural organic oil suppose to harmonize with whatever. I felt like a chick that day. Lisa is so cool and wonderful. My life has been completely and fully revitalized because of her. I never ever known love could be so sweet and wonderful. Yeah, we have moments on the trail. When you walk and talk with someone constantly all day and sleep with them, and experience both the highest of highs (mountain top views, deer staring at you in the woods, shooting stars and satelites, sunsets and sunrises) to the low of lows (rain not ending for a weeks straight, putting on muddied dirty clothes that stink five mornings in a row...) it is hard not to have moments. We both knew this experience would either increase our love and devotion to each other or we would kill each other. So far, 630 miles into the woods, and it has been a fairytale experience beyond mere words. My love has grown so immensely for her. She is the perfect woman for me. Enough of this talk that probably bores everyone including both our parents and friends... Traildays was okay.... nothing special. The parade was fun. It was nice to visit friedns and the gear reps in the poison ivy covered muddy prison camp they kindly set up for us hikers. Granite Gear and Leki are the coolest of companies. Everyone buy plenty of their products, They RULE!The day we finally left town we did not feel much like hiking. We stopped constantly. It is very hard to leave the familar comforts of a warm four sided room with food bearby and accessable to go back into the woods. Damascus is still a hell of a vortex to leave...On a side note: watch out what you ask for or say out loud in the woods. It will come to pass... I told Worm how we did not have but three rain days in our first motnh. Since then we have had three days of sun in a month. on aanother side note: watch out what you ask for or say out loud in the woods. It will come to pass... I told Lisa that I have never ever had a snake in my tarp. That night we had a snake in our tarp. Lisa sat wide eyed with her headlamp peering into the woods looking for more. I think we actually scared the snake more.on aanother side note: watch out what you ask for or say out loud in the woods. It will come to pass... We were hight hiking and Lisa called out that there was a low lying log laying across the trail hidden by the dark. I said "FROG?" she replied "No, log" I replied "I would love to see a frog...." That night we saw an orange frog.
Date: 2004-06-06
From: Loaf City, Pearisburg, Virginny

To: Lizard Hollow, somewhere in Virginny
Miles today: 0.0

Yes Folks,here I am at Lizard Hollow enjoyonh Freed Estate Hawaiin Coffee and the super warm glow of friendship... Two days ago we passed Virginia 42 and headed into the woods. We came across One Leg who had the unfortunate luck of having his solar powered leg run out of power. We had a pleasant, brief chat with him and camped near a road and a river. The next morning we arose early to rain falling on our tarp. After thirty cups of bad coffee we decided to push on forward. Up a steep up and across a field that soaked us to the bone. Now wet and close to freezing we decided that today would be better spent laying dry and warm in a tarp playing gin, drinking hot cocoa and contemplating great thoughts. We were seeking shelter from the storm. Water being an important part of the simple good life we went a looking for water, not in the rain form. We got to Sarver Shelter and started the long walk down the ridge to get water. No good water... I did see the haunted house and ruins of a second house. Thought about camping near both but decided against it. Back up the ridge and down the trail we wondered... I was worried about Lisa getting hypothermic. Her face wasn't turning blue from cold yet but she was shivering. We crossed the wet, slick rocks before Niday Shelter. The rocky part where wild goats lick salt off of you. Great if you are into animal husbandry. Lisa asked me if there was a way to a motel to warm up and dry off. I told her not for two days. No sooner did we see an apparation appear through the wet and cold. Loon was going southbound. Loon offered up friendship at Lizard's Hollow somewhere in Virginny. Shelter from the storm. Blessings!!! For the last two days we have been living the high life. Drinking coffee from Loon's coffee estate in Hawaii. Enjoying Lizard's garden and fresh chicken eggs. I cooked breakfast and a dinner for everyone. This my friends is what the AT is really about. Lisa told me she wasn't a hiker. I told her neither was I. I love the outdoors and great mountain views, but I am no hiker. I u-thrike NOT thru hike! The magic of the AT or long distance hiking is the characters that people this world. The magic is the warm companionship of a Loon or a Lizard. This is why I hike. You meet the most wonderful people you would never ever meet in your nornal life. Think of all the people you walk past in your normal life that you never even say hello to. The people you see every single morning commuting to work but never dare say hello. In the simplified world of long distance hiking it is impossible to not say hello to your fellow denizens. I love the simplified life... Our needs are food water and shelter and that is it. Life taken back to what is truly and important. Not the materialistic worries of whether or not I have the latest computer or hairstyle. Enough ranting as I must get back to the woods... Get out your Bob Dylan cds and listening to Shelter from the Storm... I would quote it but Jimmy Deane met yell at me... Give me shelter from the storm...Peace and UNity (Wit wa da da)ONE LOVEASWAH
Date: 2004-07-08
From: Bears Den Hostel, VA

To: Kent, CT (approximately)
Miles today: 0.0

Good Afternoon and a very very short update...I apologize for not posting in a while. Day Tripper and I have been sooooo busy hiking, canoeing and depleting the ocean of seafood via seafood restaurants in Washington, DC that we haven't gotten to 'puter in ages. Sorry... Our thru hike has metamorphed into an 1800 section hike with the possiblitity of completion next year. We jumped from Pennsylvania to New York do to personal time constraints... just got to Kent and are heading out tomorrow am. I will promise to catch y'all up on everything as soon as we hit a town where we have a little time to type. Life is fantastic...!!! LISA and I are now officially engaged and planning to marry next summer!!! YEAH!!! New York has been the official "Dead Carcass sprawled over the AT State" We have come across three dead deer carcasses!!! Yummy!Mosquitos are terrible!!! more later...Aswahp.s. we are still having the time of our lives... every second with Day Tripper gets better and better...p.s. THANK YOU to Gary and Joan, my soon to be new inlaws! They Rock!
Date: 2004-07-13
From: Sages Ravine, well at near there...

To: Great Barrington
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

short note as I only have seven minutes left on this puter before i get DAS BOOT... we are in Great Barrington, Mass with the yuppies of the north. Met a dude named Blue Jay with whom we had an amazing day. Started off with a trailside (actually mountainside) beer descending Mount something or another. He offered us use of his car... ended up drinking beers in town with him, watching The Terminal (excellent movie) and eating over priced sushi. Cool dude... more later... Today we just got done watching F911. wow what an eye opener! Too bad people in this country are completely brainwashed by the BOOB TUBE and the lies our government (yes folks BOTH the republicans and the democrats) spew. Until we realize that our only hope to true happiness will be to kick both parties out, kick out corporations only interested in making money and all the above keeping us fighting each over... nothing will ever change. We are sheep being very carefully led down an extremely perilous path towards destruction. Viva la Revolution!ASWAHP.S. WATCHED A COOL SHOW ON water... interesting how the world bank is getting involved... water is a basic right by all whom dwell the earth. STOP buying bottled water... start opening your mind and awareness to the reality.... education is the gun of liberation... peace and I am off to the woods...
Date: 2004-07-14
From: Great Barrington

To: zee woods, somewhere in Massachusetts
Miles today: 0.0

I actually got to another computer and saw that someone had commented on my seeing F911. True... just because it is in movie form, on TV, IN THE NEWSPAPER, in a book or on a website doesn't mean it is real. I do realize that. But none the less, the movie does bring forward some troubling bits of info and does raise some interesting points. I personally lean slightly (hard to believe) more towards the conservatives on SOME issues. But as I get older I have grown very weary of our two parties. At times it seems as though we have one party that seems more interested in creating wars for reason's that most americans wouldn't want if they knew the truth. If we are such humanitarians that we decided to sacrifice the lives of our soldiers to save the Iraqis from the horrors of their dictator, why didn't we help other peoples in areas where there is NO OIL? Why do we choose to help one people and not another? Personally we have no right going to another country and displacing their system of government UNLESS they pose some form or threat to us. Iraqi clearly did not. Wouldn't it be interesting for another country to invade the USA because they felt that BUSH, Clinton or one of the other MORONS were oppressing us? Couldn't the poor that are getting poorer certainly make the case that they in fact are being held in oppression? I would love to see a viable third party come along and completely change our way of governing and bring forth true equlaity and freedom for all... now enough soap boxing...Tonight is going to be a glorious day on the trail! Tonight we have walked in cheese fondue, apples, sour dough bread, a bottle of Cote du Rhone from Guigal and other goodies! Life truly is sweet! Love and Peace to ALL!!!Aswah
Date: 2004-07-19
From: zee woods, somewhere in Massachusetts

To: Bennington, Vermudd
Miles today: 0.0

My Gawd I love dem woods! Life is so peaceful out here in the woods! I had a nightmare last night that I actually had to go work again... I woke up screaming there's no place like the trail, there's no place like the woods. Daytripper woke up during the night and yelled at me "Aswah, get you headlamp I am caught in a spider nest." I awoke drowsy and kind of in a just-awoken state. I said Lisa there's no spider web what are you talking about? To which she replied some expletive that I cannot repeat! I laughed so hard! Almost as hard as when she let out the fart that was heard around the world in her sleep! She is amusing!We happily went over Greylock thru a few more miles of Mass and into Vermudd. I love this state despite the MUD! It is so green and beautiful! Every waking second is pure heaven! It is raining on and off every single day. Gotta keep that mud fresh and slippery. I am looking forward to getting to Stratton Mountain and my favorite piped spring on the trail! Day tripper and myself are planning to ZERO in Manchester Center next Friday. We are going to rent a car and drive to the Ben and Jerry factory! Joy of joys! Across the street, or thereabouts, is a great Apple Cider Mill that makes fresh, hot Apple Donuts with Maple Sugar! I am drooling into the keyboard as I type. Then we are going to camp the night away at a cool waterfall across route 108 from Mount Mansfield. Yes it is not on the AT or even the LT! I used to live in this beautiful state and THAT is one of my favorite waterfalls around!I just started reading the Fellowship of the Ring. Why is it that books are always better than movies? Fantastic book! Lisa is deep into Ishmael, another great book. We are hoping to induce Loon into catching up... we miss his loonyness!ASWAH in a perma grin state of bliss!!!
Date: 2004-07-27
From: Bennington, Hero Day Proclaimed!!!

To: Inn at Long Trail and a Vermont Half and Half
Miles today: 0.0

Oh the joys of trail walking! The Inn at Long Trail has defineatly got to be one of the highlights of anyones u-thrike. Yesterday Lisa and I hitched into the Inn and promptly ordered Shepherd's Pie, Irish Beef Stew and many pints. The trail has gotten to be far more interesting since we stopped calling it a u-thrike and started just enjoying our rapidly dwindling time in the woods. I have picked up yet another Edward Abbey book, a Journey Home and finished yet another Lord of the Rings book (Fellowship). Why Follywood continues to masacre great books to make them into movies I do not understand... I forgot how much better the Lord of the Rings books were compared to the movie. They left so many crucial parts out... Oh well, add this to the list of Last of the Mohicans (did the writers actually even ever look at James Fenimore Cooper's book at all?), the Legend of Sleepy Hollow (did they ever even hear of the story?) etc etc etc...The woods have been fantastic. We spent a wonderful night atop Bromley Mountain watching golden orange and purple sunsets with a 360 view, eating Spaghetti and Meatballs and drinking wine. If you walk thru this neck of the woods plan on staying here. It was interesting, we did see one thru hiker not even look at the sunset as he walked up the mountain and then down... go figure...peace for now
Date: 2004-07-29
From: Inn at Long Trail and a Vermont Half and Half

To: Two Grateful Dead Shows... Nirvana... Alpine Slid
Miles today: 0.0

I really feel sorry for those that only follow the white blazes and never divurge off the path... It seems those folks still follow those crazy spreadsheet programs of their daily mileage filled out when we did not know exactly what to expect of the trail. To me, the trail has always been about the community and communion with nature... Jah Blessings!Lisa and I have not decided exactly what we are doing next... we might wander up the Long Trail or jump to the Whites, Mahoosuc Notch and Special K... Last night we slept at Smuggler's Notch, Vermont deep in the woods br a singing river... I have never felt so alive and peaceful... My love for her has grown more and more every single moment we are together...This weekend we are going to see the Grateful Dead in Boston and Saratoga with a dreadie we met at the Inn at Long Trail. Life is so wonderful how it plays out. By not following blazing but by following my heart I have had adventures that only a restaurant bound Aswah could ever dream about... Long live freedom and free thought... Follow your heart and you will always be there!!!Aswah in a state of true bliss!!!p.s. I think this will be the last time I venture on this trail for a while...   The PCT is next...one love...
Date: 2004-08-04
From: Two Grateful Dead Shows... Nirvana... Alpine Slid

To: YELLOW BLAZERS HELL, White Mountains!
Miles today: 0.0

Yes, I am on the fast train to hell! Last I left both of you I was off to see the Grateful Dead twice. The Mansfield, Mass show was unbelieveable! The music was as good as it has ever been. The show SPAC (Saratoga, NY) wasn't as good and we saw a girl OD next to us. What a pretty picture that is! We had the best time squatting at Murph's house and Shaggy Van in Rutland, Vermont. We met Murph at the Inn at Long Trail. He is one of the bartenders brothers. After some drunken talking we ended up meeting for two shows, a night at a holiday Inn courtesy of him (well, we stayed in his van in the parking lot - those damned parking lot scenes - shakedown street), an ethnic festival with very wild and vivid colours and swimming in a lake. Murph is the kind of person that refreshes your hope that all is not lost in this world. He gave so unaskingly. Our world is sometimes so hard to cope with... just read the newspapers and see which big company is screwing us this week. I also am very impressed with the way he and his girl have decided to raise their child... no TVs, no electronic toys, no new clothes... just hand me downs... it is nice to see people walk the way they talk...We are currently sitting at the Hostel in Glencliff. I wish I could say good words about the people running it here BUT I have not met them and I am only killing time waiting to go to the PO and Mount MOusilake. Sadly Lisa and I only have three weeks left and I am defineatly saddened. Nature is such a wonderful place to live for five months. Everytime we end up back in a city we can't wait to get back to the quietness of the woods. Oh, when in Rutland stop at the Back Home Again restaurant, hostel and whatever. The place rocks. Check out their cool bus! Lisa and I are looking forward to our remaining time in the woods. We are doing the Whites, Gorham to Andover then the wilderness. I am sad. I guess there is always next year's adventure. Like I said previously, I am temporarily done with the AT and looking for other adventures (and teachers). I have enjoyed this freedom that hiking without destinations can give. This year it just seemed like a lot of people never broke free of the excel spreadsheet syndrome of hiking. If you want to white blaze and conquer the trail, fine. But you are missing the friendship and relationships that occur. I would never met Murph if I hadn't gone off trail. I would never had met Loon if I hadn't gone off trail.   We were in Manchester Center (Yes - I saw Alan who I used to work for at EMS in Oakbrook, IL.) and ran into two girls we met way back in Hot Springs, NC. They both were happy to finish and just wanted to get it over with. I do not understand that. If you aren't happy simply go home... Nothing wrong with that.Me, I love the woods. I love going to sleep in a dank forest and waking up to birds. I love sunsets and the stillness. Enough. Onward to the Whites!