morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-06
From: Vernon NJ

To: New England
Miles today: 78.2

Just a brief update this early morning from a Dunkin Donut shop in this rural NJ town. The AT basically rides the border of these two states so it's sometimes hard to tell which one I am in.Hiking in NJ has been surprisingly very enjoyable, somewhat challenging rocky Trails, but pleasant. The sites and even the smell of the forest remind me that I'm home in the northeast.Had a fabulous Fourth of July - Trent and Michaela, Charlotte and Barrett met me in Port Jervis NY for the day and night. What a encouraging and fun breath of fresh air that was. It's been three months since I've seen them, or any family.Got to the trail head outside Vernon last night around 6:30 pm, walked the wrong direction toward town, had to redo that distance after I figured out I was mislead. When I finally got to the town an hour and a half later, looking for the hiker hostel at the Episcopal Church, a man pulls up in a SUV from a side street, engages me in conversation about my hike then offers me an alternative. So he drives me to his business, which is closed for the night where I can shower, get laundry done and sleep in peace. Again, he treats me like an old buddy. The kindness and generosity of people is amazing and humbling.I'm striding towards New England with anticipation.Keep charging.   BULL
Date: 2015-07-15
From: Great Barrington MA

To: Vermont and onward
Miles today: 165.0

I'll do a brief daily update for the last ten days or so, like I used to. Many seemed to enjoy that more than the highlights:Monday day 86. 7/6/15Much of this day was spent scrming over Hugh rounded top granite, much like I've seen in the Adirondacks. Enjoyable. The change to these summits as compared to PA is like being on a whales back instead of a dragons. Tented at night for the first time in days. 17.1 miles.Crossed into NY during the day as well- state# 9. Yahoo!Tuesday day 87. 7/7/15.Felt like a 30 mile day but was only a 22.8 miler. Really tough terrain. Numerous, strenuous up and downs- straight up and straight down over huge boulders. Around late after non I got to Harriman State Park and was out of gas, wanting to do another 7 or 8 miles. I found some vending machines near the beach, drank a Coke, ate a big ice cream sandwich, a Heath Bar ice cream bar, slammed a 20 oz Powerade. Then I was able to finish the day as planned. That kind of snacking is not rare and I'm still losing weight, down a little under 170 lbs. Yeah, you read that right.Wednesday day 88. 7/8/15.Got totally chewed by black flies last night around the West Mtn. Shelter. Got some more bug juice today. Shorter day today onto the grounds of Greymoor Monastary, an emence Catholic Franciscan compound on the Hudson that allows hikers to use their ball field for camping. There's a pavilion, shower and portable toilet. Nice of them eh.Thursday day 89. 7/9/15.Walking away from the Monastary by 6:30am. Some rain today. Tented behind a deli in Stormville NY tonight Fter a 23.9 mile day. Fun being so close to good food and coffee.Friday day 90. 7/10/15.Real pleasant day of hiking today. One of the most pleasant and enjoyable days of hiking I've had. After a rainy night I got things dryer out a bit in the early morning sun. So even though it was not an early start I did 24.5 miles. Hey, I had trail magic three times today.Saturday day 91. 7/11/15.Did a 19.8 mile day to Cornwall Bridge Conn. Where Roger Johnson, my wife's first cousins son, picked me up and brought me to his home in the area. Had a great time of getting to know Roger and his wife and two beautiful children a little more. He made an amazing breakfast the next morning before dropping me back at the trail- thanks Roger.Sunday day 92. 7/12/15.Some times on Sunday's I feel like taking it a bit easier so I did a 14 mile day and stayed at The Bearded One of the Woods hostel. This may be the best hostel yet- really almost B&B quality.Monday day 93. 7/13/15.Passed into Massachusetts today. Also passed the1500 mile mark on a 19.8 mile trek.Tuesday day 94. 7/14/15.Only did 8 miles today down into the town where I am giving you this update, Great Barrington MA. Seemed like a lot more than eight miles, likely because I was about out of food, so breakfast was a little thin. I don't perform well on no fuel. Time to resupply. Keep Charging BULL
Date: 2015-08-09
From: Gorham NH

To: Maine
Miles today: 0.0

Hey, I messed up the mileage indicator - my actual mileage is 1890.8 as i sit in The White Mountain Hostel in beautiful Gorham NH. One more day of hiking will put me in Maine. I'm getting real close to completing this arduous and amazing journey. this hike thru the White mountains has lived up to the billing. I've had amazing days and crazy hard days. My trip over Mt. Washington was crazy. I had spent the night before my ascent in the lovely Lake of the Clouds Hut just a mile below the peak. So Thursday morning I venture out at 6:30am in thick fog and high winds. The weather report for the day doesn't sound that bad so I keep going. As it turns out I am hiking thru extreme conditions - dense fog where I could barely see the cairns(rock piles that mark the trail), and the wind was blowing at 50 mph, and gusting up to 70 mph. I was literally getting blown off my feet at times. I got over Mt Washington, then Mt. Jefferson and finally Mt. Madison. When I summited Madison and started down the other side to the tree line, the sun was out and everything was beautiful. Amazing. Yesterday I hiked the 21.1 miles from Pickham Notch to Rt. 2 here in Gorham. the weather was ideal, with perfect visibility and almost no wind and full sun. What difference an day makes, twenty four little hours. Wow.Zeroing today, Sunday the 9th of August, to rest my weary bones, then off into the challenges of southwestern Maine tomorrow. I'm getting real close now.Keep praying for me. Keep Charging. BULL
Date: 2015-09-02
From: Maine

To: Back Home
Miles today: 0.0

It's over! I summited Katahdin on Saturday August 29th, on a perfect weather day, and now I'm back in Ohio trying to get my head around the fact that I'm done.Sorry that there were so few updates the last few weeks. I actually wrote a long and detailed entry from Monson Maine, but the system ate it somehow and it never showed up on the site.Maine was the ultimate state. Incredible beauty and challenge. I loved it. I enjoyed my brief stays in Andover, Rangeley, Stratton, caratunk, and Monson.It ends with me blasting thru the 100 mile wilderness in four and a half days, and arriving at the base camp for thru hikers - The Birches - on Friday August 28th. I spent a lovely evening at that shelter with just the remaining 7 miles to the summit.I was up by 5:30 the Saturday morning, hiking by 6:30. I passed about twenty other hikers on the most strenuous ascent of the whole trail, to reach the famous sign marking the summit of Katahdin by 9:00 am -taking me two and a half hours. I was the first person the touch the sign that morning.That was an amazing and long awaited moment. I enjoyed it.My best buddy, Jeff Benson, met me about a out a third of the way up the mountain on my decent and walked with me as I finished my trek. What a rash, wonderful four and a half months it was. Thanks for coming along with me. Let's Keep Charging.   BULL
Date: 2015-02-15
To: My 2015 Section Hike Journal Begins
Miles today: 0.0

So Exciting!!! It's that time of year again! When all the planning and gear wrangling and practice hiking and exercising begins. Yes, my 2015 AT Section Hike preparations have begun. I've been practice hiking with the dogs and husband for the past few months now, but sadly, our Plumbing Business has kept me from doing that activity daily and for more than 2 miles for each outing. Also, I have not yet started carrying any additional weight in a backpack. This will all come together though as I got a much later start last year due to AKC Agility Nationals late March 2014 and there were no resulting issues on our 2014 Section Hike.I have however done a much better job on the exercising front this year as I got started before Christmas, doing many more varied exercises, and have added in weight training sooner.I know I mentioned multiple times, throughout last year's Section Hike that I wouldn't hike with two dogs again. Well, I've reviewed the terrain on our next Section and have changed my mind. I just can't bear the thought of leaving Bandit behind and having to look into his sad eyes and tell him he can't come. Jackson and I will somehow manage to help Bandit carry his load. That's what good hiking partners do!!! This year's Section Hike will take off from the picnic table where we parted ways with Squirrel and Zima in Waynesboro, VA in 2014 and go north to Waynesboro, PA. My 2013 "A.T. Guide" says we depart at mile marker 857.5 but my brand new "A.T. Guide" says we are departing from mile marker 861.7!!! Yippee! Right off the bat we've done 4.2 miles and we didn't have to take a single step! That Section will be 202.3 miles. My fingers are crossed that we call pull a bit more mileage due to the gentler terrain and get another 50 miles in, but only a closer inspection of the maps and elevation will determine if that is realistic.So speaking of maps, new A.T. Guide, and elevation, I have ordered and received all the maps for Northern Virginia, the Shenandoah National Park, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. I calculate that should be good for all our 2015 and 2016 Section hiking.Final note about this year's section hike, a dear college friend of mine Jeff will be joining us for the entire stretch of Maryland this year! It will be good to catch up on life and have a good hiking buddy!
Date: 2015-02-28
To: Practice Hiking the Ice Age Trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Husband, the two boys, and I went out in 19 degree temperatures to put in another 2 miles of practice hiking on the Ice Age Trail today. It was wonderfully sunny and brisk, the dogs were in heaven. We hiked a repeat Section that was fairly flat as husband's right knee has been giving him trouble. Feeling really good about my wind and leg strength and feeling it is time to pull out some backpacks and start carrying some light weight on our mini-adventures. Wouldn't hurt to up that hiking time to an hour each trip either. It will be much easier to do the later after this weekend when the time changes and it stays lighter out longer in the evenings.Facebook and all the wonderful Appalachian Trail group postings are a huge distraction this time of year. There are so many wonderful postings on there about everyone getting ready to leave on their thru-hikes, about Section Hiker's posting pictures of past and current Sections because everyone is so excited to get back on the trail. I've also discovered a really cool FB group that likes to post pictures about "Hiking with Dogs". Wow, people take their dogs to cool places!Many thru-hikers have begun their 2015 adventure. There has been a lot of snow on the trail in the south and several hikers have had to be rescued already. This beautiful trail can be dangerous if you aren't prepared for it to turn on you weather wise. Once everything you own is wet, the temps are in the teens, and you are hours from the nearest road, preventing hypothermia will consume you. I've been mildly hypothermic twice on the trail with temps in the low 40s. Recognizing its onset early and correcting the situation is crucial. You have to get in your tent or a shelter, strip off the wet clothes and get in a dry sleeping bag even if you are naked and shiver yourself warm. Then you can worry about how to dry out or get off the trail.At this time, I believe there are only two major gear items that I need to replace. I need a new stove and a new water purification system. My Steripen failed me last year, I will be researching the gravity fed filter per Squirrel's advice. I had been using a Primus Micron Stove w/ a Piezo Self Igniter. I really liked it but the igniter broke last year. I'll be looking to replace it with something very similar.Dogs go in for their annual physical on Friday. Looking forward to getting the okey-dokey that they are good to rock for 200+ miles.
Date: 2015-03-05
To: Practice Hiking on a New Trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So we found this new trail that we've never hiked on before 1/2 way between our new plumbing shop and our house. So of course we just had to check it out. Hiked it on Wednesday in 19 degree weather and again today, Thursday in 11 degree weather. Nice and sunny but cold and brisk. Perfect for a two mile hike, right? It is a nice trail but not adequate for putting in many miles.Every practice hiking session has new lessons that help prepare us for our long distance AT Section hikes. These past two days, I discovered that once my cell phone is cold, it is totally useless. Takes a very long time once it is cold to recharge enough to use. Good information to learn at home, my phone will now stay in an inside jacket pocket to stay near body heat. If I needed it for an emergency, I'd certainly want it to work. Rule is, if it's electronic, it can't be trusted on the trail.... once again, proof positive of that rule.Sadly, this meant that I was unable to capture a stunning sunset as we walked west into the Natural Area. And then again a beautiful full moon rise in the east as we returned to our vehicle.
Date: 2015-03-07
To: Last Non-Backpack Practice Hike
Miles today: 0.0

We got a beautiful hour hike into this afternoon. Husband was gone up north snowmobiling with a friend so the dogs and I had a wonderful "dog" day. First we went to our very first Obedience Trial. Jackson competed in Beginner Novice A. We didn't qualify but we did some very good things. Then is was off to Agility Practice followed by this beautiful hour hike on the snowmobile trails in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest. Temps were in the mid-40s. We didn't see any other hikers. It was hard going in the melting snow, but this was good exercise for a practice hike. Tomorrow we will pull all the backpacks out of storage and use them on our Sunday hike. Time to get this party started!!!
Date: 2015-03-08
To: Mom got our backpacks out! 
Miles today: 0.0

Yippeee!!! The backpacks came out of storage and we went for a 45 minute hike in some tough melting snow. Good workout. All the packs appeared in good working order needing only some minor resizing of straps and some sorting out from being washed. Neither dog had any issues with wearing their packs so Tuesday, mom gets to start carrying hers with an initial 5 lbs added in it and each dog will get 2 lbs to carry, 1 lb on each side. Their packs absolutely have to be balanced as no matter how hard you attempt to strap them down, they will list to the heavy side. This initial weight will only be for a week, then we slowly start adding weight and distance to our practice hiking. I'll top out at 35-40 lbs and the dogs at 10-12 lbs. We will ultimately work our way up to 10 miles for a hike with that weight the week prior to our departure.This is always an exciting day, getting the packs out for the first time. It is a clear timestamp that we are into our hiking mentality. It will now be all about the gear, the food, and the itinerary for the next 2.5 months. My poor husband, family, and friends are totally subjected to all my nonsense talk! LOL
Date: 2015-03-11
To: Sunset Hike to Brady's Rocks
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

An hour sunset hike tonight on the Ice Age Trail near Brady's Rocks in Southern Kettle Moraine Unit. No backpacks because 50 degrees = too much mud = more laundry! Came home with two tired dogs and tired hiker legs! That's a good sign that the legs got a workout in the tough melting snow.
Date: 2015-03-14
To: Hiking and Shopping
Miles today: 0.0

With company and a three day Agility Trial for the weekend, squeezing hiking in was tough. But Saturday afternoon was free and the company wanted to go hiking and to Cabelas. Yipeeee!!!! So I pulled my Primus Micron Stove w/ Piezo Igniter (see gear in 2011 journal - this is my camp stove) out of my hiking box to investigate its damage from last year. Was I going to need to buy a new one? Cabelas was a good place to look. Husband and I looked at the self igniter. I had tried on the trail last year to clear it by tapping it upside down on a picnic table breaking the ceramic ring around the flint. The self igniter didn't work well after that requiring a lighter to start it. Husband thought we might be able to fix it. It still does work as is though. I could save myself $100 and just use it as is.I also needed to get a new water filtration system since my Steripen refused to work half way through last year's Section. So I checked with Squirrel and she recommended either the Sawyer Squeeze or the Gravity Works 2.0 Filter. I went with the Sawyer and bought three additional liter bags to go with it. I looked at the stoves and found none that had a self igniter so I didn't buy a new one.Before we went to Cabelas, company, husband, and I went for an hour and 20 minute hike on a tough section of the Ice Age Trail in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest. Beautiful 60 degree weather made for some really muddy and slippery footing.4/10/2015 -- Stove update, I just found a Primus Express Stove with Piezo Igniter on sale at REI!!! With the sale, my REI dividend and my annual 20% discount, I got it for 1/2 price! Pretty sweet!
Date: 2015-03-17
To: Hiking with weight
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Only two months until our 2015 Appalachian Trail Section Hike!!! Time to kick up the practice sessions. So, 2.3 Mile, 1 hour hike tonight with the boys on a tough up/down section of the Kettle Moraine SF. I loaded 4 lbs on Bandit, 3 lbs on Jackson, and for some strange reason for myself jumped from carrying no pack before to my full-size pack and 9 pounds!!! Not sure what I was thinking! Wow, what a good workout!!!
Date: 2015-03-21
To: Fitbit Experiment - Gear Testing
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Every year I like to add something new to my gear or meal plan to experiment with. This year my new Fitbit seems to be my most interesting addition. On a work day of which I sit mostly at a desk, when I don't practice hike or have an agility lesson, I may only get 7,000 steps. The normal day is work, hike and/or agility lesson and averages around 13,000 steps. High end is working at an Agility Trial, with 26,000+ steps or 11+ miles for the day. The screen capture seems to give more information than just showing the Fitbit screen itself. I'm guessing a 20+ mile day on the AT is going to give some pretty high step counts. LOL Ya think. Now when I note that I've gone 20 miles in a day, that means 20 miles of just the AT and doesn't count all the side trips for water and so forth. The Fitbit won't lie and will tell us exactly how many miles I've walked for the day, I hope.The Fitbit also tells me how many stairs I've climbed in a day. This year doesn't promise to have the high climbs and descents as past years but it still isn't going to be easy. Watching the stair count will also be interesting.
Date: 2015-03-25
To: 2014 AT Section Hike exit point
Miles today: 0.0

I find Google Earth to be an amazingly fun place to play. Here is a picture of the guardrail that the dogs and I climbed over to exit the AT in last year's 2014 Section Hike. We will begin our hike at exactly the same spot this year. The area circled in red shows the 2"x6" white blazes that mark our trail north bound. This is the Blue Ridge Parkway in Waynesboro, VA. GETTING STOKED!!!
Date: 2015-03-28
To: Practice Hike - Emma Carlin - 6 Mile Loop
Miles today: 0.0

Attempted the 6 mile/2 hour hike with my 12 lb pack at Emma Carlin Trails. Feeling this might be crazy!! Done in 2 hours 5 minutes. Very slippery and muddy. Good thing I had my trekking poles. Feet finally tired. NICE! Working on our selfies. Hard to take them. Need to remember to smile! LOL
Date: 2015-04-02
To: Single-file hands free leashing w/ two dogs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We will begin this year's hike with a 100+ mile stretch through the Shenandoah National Park (SNP). On the majority of the AT, once you are into the backcountry, a well behaved dog can be let off-leash without issue and it is wise to do so for safety of dog and hiker as the AT is often not easy to negotiate. Re-leashing and stepping off the trail for other hikers is proper etiquette in addition to the fact that technically your dog should be leashed at all times.However, in the SNP you MUST lease your dog at all times. There are too many road crossings, people, cars, bears, deer, etc. to safely negotiate otherwise. So I have put together this rig from three separate products to manage as a solo hiker two dogs with packs while carrying 35 lbs myself. I will need to do so hands free has I will need to use my Trekking poles. Initial tests are good. I used a jogging harness from Stunt Puppy which has a waist strap that doesn't interfere with backpack hip belt. There is a 3' bungee strap for each dog hooked to a Y-strap. I then use one dogs regular leash to hook the Y-strap to the waist belt and the other dogs leash to hook Jackson's bungee to Jackson. Since we are walking single file on an 18" wide trail for 100 miles, this puts Jackson out in the lead, Bandit in the middle and myself in the rear. Both dogs behaved beautifully during this arrangement in practice. Thus there are no unnecessary components or extra leashes required when in camp or town. Now all I need is a pair of roller skates and Jackson will be able to tow me up the mountains faster!Further discussion with friends about this rig has added a panic snap between the wait belt and the attached leash. A panic snap is typically used for horse as a means of emergency detachment. Perfect application to rescue myself from the dogs in an emergency.
Date: 2015-04-04
To: My favorite AT Memento - 4' AT Map
Miles today: 0.0

This is my favorite memento from my AT adventures. It is a 4' map of the 14 States that the 2,189 mile AT winds through. Each year I use a Sharpie and mark off that year's Section. On the 3rd picture, I show 4 arrows. The bottom one is the Southern Terminus at Springer Mtn. The top one is the Northern Terminus at Katahdin Mtn. The 2nd from the bottom is how far North I have hiked so far and the 3rd from the bottom is where I hope to hike to this year, the 1/2 way point of the trail. The map is a little deceptive in that the lower 1/2 of the trail is only 20" and the upper 1/2 is 23". The southern 1/2 is more twisty than the northern 1/2.