morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-10-02
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

To: Bald Mtn. Lean-to
Miles today: 18.7

Pilot came into the shelter the night before and told us about a pancake breakfast .5 up the trail. Needless to say we flocked toward it and by seven-thirty were stuffing our faces and listening to Harrison's stories. (Mom-you would have liked him. He is a talented musician.) Unfortunately we all left later than planned and in order to catch the Kennebec river ferry we had to hike a four mile per hour pace. It would have been a nasty ford had we not made the last time slot. Lunch was short and I left before the guys, needing to get my blood pumping. At the river crossing I forded with out removing my already waterlogged boots and met both Cheeseburger and Happy on the other side. Later in the shelter, I got up around midnight to use the restroom and Happy got up as I was crawling back into bed. Apparently he had thought it was morning and was waiting for the sun to rise a bit to use the restroom. When i crawled back into my bag he got out used the restroom, smoked a cigarette and then realized dawn wasn't coming any time soon. There are benefits to wearing a watch!
Date: 2008-10-03
From: Bald Mtn. Lean-to

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

Happy, Pilot, Cheeseburger, Patch, Mule and I all stayed in close proximity of each other throughout the day. It really is amusing to see everyone ford the icy rivers. I managed to stay relatively dry all day until about a mile or so from the road where I fell and soaked myself, pack and all, in a creek. I hiked yet again without my soaked pants but hitched with my rain pants on. We sat in the back of the pick-up as it cruised the four miles to Monson and by the time we reached the lodge I was out of it! Luckily it was all you can eat fish fry in the basement pub and, believe me, I ate my fill.
Date: 2008-10-04
From: Monson, ME

To: Leeman Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: scattered clouds

So much for an early start...We hitched out of town with Ol'Man who had come up to take his daughter Hippie Chick and her husband Poet to the trailhead.   Our plan for a ten mile day melted when we hit the first shelter. My new boots were supposed to come in Monson and when they hadn't arived i was crushed. We decided to build a fire and roasted more than just hot dogs. The rubber part of a boot dries a lot faster than the leather and, as usual, I learned the hard way.
Date: 2008-10-05
From: Leeman Brook Lean-to

To: Long Pond Stream
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

We ate a long lunch and after our second ford (the first river was crossed via a log) we decided we'd had enough and were pleased to meat Pips, Dirty Girl and Spot in the shelter. Hippie Chick, Poet and Pilot followed with news of a few other hikers and we enjoyed a reunion before we curled up for the evening.
Date: 2008-10-06
From: Long Pond Stream

To: Carl A. Newall
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: scattered clouds

My this day was slow going. The terrain wasn't terribly difficult and we all enjoyed an amazing view at the top of Barren Mtn. but we had less than ten miles done when I met Mule for lunch at the top of Columbus Mtn. Patch, Pips and Spot followed shortly after and i had the pleasure of hiking and catching up with Pips for two miles to Chairback Gap Shelter. Patch, Mule and I, having an October tenth deadline for Mt. K. decided at four to head on to the next shelter and we forded just before dark.
Date: 2008-10-07
From: Carl A. Newall

To: Carl A. Newall
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

WOW! I was feeling so awful that I didn't even bother getting up when Patch's alarm rang at six. I had been sniffling and drained for a few days but I just attributed it to the rapid change in temperature and not enough rest at night. The guys had a twenty, thirty and twenty five mile three days planned and I knew that I would just be holding them back if i even attempted to hike. I said my goodbyes, mad that my body couldn¢t handle what I was demanding, and the guys headed off into the woods. I sat in the shelter all day as people passed and determined that with my dwindling food bag I would have to force myself to hike in the morning.P.S. If you have to get sick on the trail pick NY or NJ not the 100 mile wilderness!
Date: 2008-10-08
From: Carl A. Newall

To: Jo-Mary Rd.
Miles today: 22.6

I was out of the shelter by seven thirty and over the mountains before ten. I'm not exactly sure where I got the energy but I was really motivated to get my tush out of the woods. I saw Y and Vigilante at the East Branch Lean-to and they informed me that Hippie Chick's mom, Navigator, was doing trail magic at Jo-Mary that afternoon. An answer to prayer! I booked it to the road and at around four was on my way into Millinocket and a warm bed.
Date: 2008-10-09
From: Jo-Mary Rd.

To: Millinocket
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I spent the day in recovery. Wildflowers and a few others had summited the day before. They had waited for five days for the mountain to reopen. We played Rummy and Harts and then I went with Stubbs, Wildflowers and Windup to Karaoke.
Date: 2008-10-10
From: Millinocket

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

I didn't sleep at all and when I came down for the shuttle to the trail, I found Ol'Man still in his PJs. I registered with the rangers and then headed over to lean-to six to find Patch and Mule stuffing their faces with baklava. It was really great to summit with them! Mules Dad even made it up most of the Mountain on a class III day!!! In celebration Cornelius got down to his Speedo and Patch in his boxers in below thirty degree weather. We took multiple pictures with the sign and watched Firesocks get his stitches out before our numb fingers forced us down the mountain. Although we had clouds at the top, we did get a gorgeous view all the way down the mountain. It was a marvelous way to end my Maine ward journey. The Mountain is summited. On to the Plummit!
Date: 2008-10-11
From: Mt. Katahdin

To: The Birches
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I spent the day resupplying and Ol'Man gave me a free shuttle out to the trail on his way to pick up a few more hikers. Spring, Poker, Rambo, Dirty Girl, Pilot, Resin, and Trukin were coming off the mountain when i reached the ranger station and I was a little disappointed i didn't get to climb with them as well. If I had my way I¢d have summited with quite a few people that arrived on different days. We can't have it all but it was great to share in the joy of their accomplishment! I made arrangements with Pips to meet in Stratton in a few days and then spent the night at the Birches with Cheeseburger and 3%.
Date: 2008-10-12
From: The Birches

To: Rainbow Stream 
Miles today: 24.9
Weather: clear sky

UGG! I'm hiking South! It is the oddest thing to go north for so long and then change directions. I have to look twice at the road crossing signs that read AT North and point in the opposite direction. I took full advantage of the lovely day and hiked well after dark. I didn't consider my batteries and when they almost died I stopped and placed my mat on the trail unknowingly yards from the shelter.
Date: 2008-10-13
From: Rainbow Stream 

To: Potaywadjo Spring Shelter
Miles today: 20.2

I woke to find a mouse had gotten into my instant breakfast and was a little ticked to have a mess to clean up that early in the morning. After leaving the shelter late I met the English Muffins and was thrilled to see anyone after being by myself all the day before. Harvest and Scout came shortly after and meeting them was a real treat. Pips had told me about them all the way back in Hanover, NH and I was beginning to think they didn't exist. Once at the shelter I gorged, feeling really hungry for the first time in a week and talked Trucker Dan's ear off for the rest of the evening.
Date: 2008-10-14
From: Potaywadjo Spring Shelter

To: Skowhegan
Miles today: 7.7

After an early morning start I hit Jo-Mary Rd and started walking in what I thought was the direction leading to RT. 11. After about thirty minutes a couple of gentlemen on four wheelers stopped and took me a good ten miles the other way. It really is difficult riding on the back of a four-wheeler with a heavy pack strapped to your back but with tired arms I thanked them and walked to the gate. About a mile after the gate I was picked up by the Young¢s who have a camp in the area and they took me the remaining fourteen miles to the road. My third hitch was a retired school principal named Brad. He took me all the way to Bingham where I got a ride with a couple celebrating their thirteenth wedding anniversary. The couple got me all the way to Skowhegan or the town before Skowhegan where a lady with two toddlers in the back of a large 15 passenger van took me another ten miles or so. My sixth hitch was a Psychology major at the University of Maine and I rode with him for close to an hour to Farmington. In that town I had to walk a mile or two to the outskirts where I could get a longer hitch. A few police officers passed and out of habit I yanked down my thumb and then reminded myself that hitching in Maine is legal. A large bearded young man picked me up in his truck and actually drove me the forty four miles to Stratton. Wow, I was finished hitching! The hostel there was closed so I reached for my phone to call Pips. We had planned to meat on the fifteenth but I¢d received a text earlier in the day stating that her dad would arrive a day early. After talking with her for a few minutes I found her to be in Millinocket! Said town is twenty minutes from Jo-Mary rd. She had left Stratton that morning and had assumed that I would go north to Millinocket before I went south to Stratton. Basically we both spent the day driving in opposite directions between points a and b. I got the name of a town along I-95 and told her I¢d meet her there the next evening or the morning after that. Since there was no place to stay in Stratton I stuck up my thumb and headed east toward Farmington and Skowhegan. My goal was Waterville, ME. My first hitch took me to Farmington and then my second got me twenty miles from Waterville. Unfortunately the spot where I was dropped off was a straight strip between Skowhegan and Waterville and there was nothing in sight either way. I had my thumb up for over an hour and the sun had set when a driver heading in the opposite direction slammed on his breaks and turned around in the middle of the road. And then there were blue lights!!! I was cold and miserable and I had a police officer informing me that although it is legal to hitch in Maine it is illegal after dark. News to ME! The officer was really nice and let me off with a warning and then offered me a ride to Skowhegan. I ate some pizza and was pointed in the direction of the nicest of the cheap motels in town. Pat Dubois, the lady at the desk, offered me a ride to Waterville in the morning and so I showered and watched a little cable TV before I went to bed.
Date: 2008-10-15
From: Skowhegan

To: Waterville, ME
Miles today: 0.0

The owner of the hotel was on her way to Whaterville and offered me a ride which I greatfully excepted! I spent the majority of the day catching up on my journal at the public library. On my way to find dinner a lady going the opposite direction on the sidewalk stopped and asked me, rather directly, if she could take me home. Caught slightly off guard i agreed and introduced myself. Her name was Stephanie Carter. She lived on a lovely plot of land just outside of town with her husband Bill and foster child Zeek. Bill and Steph took me to dinner and i stayed at their house that night. During dinner Pips texted me and let me know her grandfather was ill and they had already passed waterville in thier hurry to get him home. I would have to find another way to Rutland!
Date: 2008-10-16
From: Waterville, ME

To: Rutland, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Bill Carter took me the first ten miles and I began what would turn into the longest hitching day of my life (so far)! I decided to take every hitch I could no matter how far they were headed in my direction and in the end I think it paid off. One elderly lady picked me up took me two miles and then as I got out of the car she offered me money, hahaha. I assured her I was fine and she sweetly went on her way. It really is a strange feeling being thought of as not just a hiker but a bum. I reached a town in Maine and stopped at a cafe because no one in town was picking me up. After eating a large brunch I hit the road again and it was explained by the young man who picked me up that the town had had a serial killing hitch-hiker a little over a year ago. No wonder no one was picking me up!! The young man went twenty miles out of his was to get me over the New Hampshire border. What generosity! It had been raining all morning and I was grateful when a lady and her young daughter picked me up on their way to NY and took me all the way through New Hampshire. Once over another border I was feeling slightly more confident about reaching my destination.   After a kind young lady took me to the hwy instead of rt. 5 I found myself in a slight dilemma. I waited a good forty minutes in the muggy weather with my thumb up and facing a no hitching sign. Fortunately as the sun began to slip from above me, a young man just getting off of work offered to take me to the next, slightly busier, exit. He gave me the best apple I¢ve ever eaten, dropped me off at the gas station and then just before I thanked him and closed the door he says "wait here forty minutes". He then drove off and left me more than a little puzzled. I decided that since it was getting darker by the minute it wouldn¢t hurt to trust him. Thirty minutes later a large red pick-up pulls in front of me and the driver says "What are you waitin' for, hop in¢. More than a little confuse I begin to open the cab door as he says "So Sauerkraut, you¢re going all the way to Rutland with us?". The gentleman turned out to be the young man's boss and was headed to Rutland that evening. We arrived after dark and I set up at the Hostel. I'd traveled over twenty hitches and 236 miles which is proof that there are more good people in this world than bad and we should all have a little more faith in our fellow beings.
Date: 2008-02-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

So this is my first (and probably my only) prep journal log. I have been doing all the drying / buying food while working and being a new first time homeowner. I am not looking forward to leaving my girlfriend or my new farm behind¢¦ but it is all part of the challenge posed by the trail. If I don¢t try now, I won¢t have another chance for probably another 25+ years.My planned start date to hike is March 20th¢¦. With a reasonable pace I should be on Katahdin around the 1st of Sept. Right now trying not to worry too much about all the what-if¢s that could happen out there and all that I will be missing by taking this time off. But as my brother says¢¦ ¢I am learning how to start living my life¢.   Of course you don¢t take the work out of a workaholic that easily :>)If you (or someone you know) is interested in being a trail angel for me¢¦ drop me a email. Be advised I will be odiferous. I will have my cell on me although coverage may be very limited so be advised that I might not be heard from for days or even weeks except for trips to pay phones.To date I have purchased 350,000 of the 500,000 I plan on shipping to mail drops. Of course this will be supplemented with lots of food purchased on the trail that will go bad faster (like cheese, bread, ice cream, veggies, and more) and of course all you can eat buffets! This should be enough to help me maintain weight. A concern for my friends and family.
Date: 2008-02-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

So you can consider this my last prep ¢update¢ until (god-willing) I finish the trail. I am sending this out to all my lists / address¢ / etc. so some of you will get several copies. I just want to make I don¢t forget anyone. I am at the point where I am tired of worrying about food, tired of worrying about gear, tired of worrying about mortgage payments and bills, tired of worrying about stuff I won¢t get done on the farm¢¦. And just want to get out there and hike. It¢s time to let the cards fall where they may. My last day of work for a while is March 6th. I head up to Maine for my last trip on Friday March 7th. Jaime and I are spending Thru Thursday night (13th) at Sugar Loaf Mountain. Then at the farm in Auburn, Maine until Sunday (16th). Finally I fly out on Wed to Georgia to start hiking to Maine.
Date: 2008-03-03
To: RI
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I pared down my 21 mail drops to 15 (that includes all hand carries by friends and my first box to start things off)¢¦ but the boxes weigh more than I thought I would want to carry. That should make my mom¢s job a little easier and my worrying about PO¢s being open or not as well as lost time going into more town¢s a little easier. So the tough decision now is whether to start taking stuff out or just pig out the first couple of days after a drop. Probably the later until I figure out if I am able to maintain weight and handle the pack.   I already feel like mail drops are probably not really worth all this hassle. The only bright side is I should be eating less junk than I would be without the mail drops.I want to say thanks to everybody that came out for my surprise ¢going away¢ party and a special thanks to Jaime and Greg for putting it together. It was great to see everyone together one last time. With me ¢sort of¢ up in Auburn I knew I couldn¢t throw a party at my house. Trinity worked out great. I still feel like there is so much to be done, but at the same time¢¦ if I were to leave in a day, I would probably make out just fine. I am hoping that a trend toward more excitement and less nervousness begins soon. I kind of feel it coming now. :>)PS: A lot of people have been asking if this means I am done with hydrography completely. I figure I have until at least Spring 2009 due to financial / tax reasons before that can disappear.
Date: 2008-03-19
From: RI

To: Amicalola Falls
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I am at the hiker hostel tonight and these guys are great. Looks like great weather for a start so i figure, what the heck... i'll add the approach trail for another 9 miles so i get a great sunset view from Springer Mt. tomorrow. Thanks to all my friends and family that have given me support and jaime for putting up with having me talk about it for so long while having to associate it with our time apart. love you all.
Date: 2008-03-20
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Stover Creek 
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

My body feels good and my mind is feeling more positive. I am still very nervous about pack weight and about just using a tarp. I feel like I have made so many compromises already on gear. I am afraid to lighten too much more. I saw my first ¢drop out¢ today. I have seen a lot of people that don¢t look like thru-hikers. There are a lot of them though. On Saturday, alone, 50 people started and today there were over 20 people. Great weather though and should be for a couple more days. I am glad I started at Amicalola Falls.
Date: 2008-03-23
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Pains: Feet and KneesHappy Easter!!I knew I was going to need a light day after yesterday. I have learned that there is a thing as too much sun when you don¢t have sunscreen. The lack of evergreens (compared to up north),no foliage on the trees combined with 3 days without a cloud in a sky and you get a red Maine lobster.I am staying in a private cabin with ¢Rave on¢ (65 years old), ¢Pop Top¢ (55 years old) and ¢Jeremy¢ (23 years old). We have all been going about the same pace since day one. We have officially made it to the point where 20% of the people drop out. Blood Mountain is the highest on the AT in Georgia and it¢s behind us. Can¢t wait for tomorrow to see what it brings.
Date: 2008-03-28
From: Cloud 9 Hostel

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: light rain

I have wanted to write so often about this trip but something silly has kept hindering me. I was either missing a pen, slept in a shelter or just cold, tired, sore, etc. But I think of so much while hiking. My spirits are real high right now as I finish my first state. Of course this next one is a dozy.Since my last writing I have had a day where it snowed on/off all day. I have primarily been using my tarp to avoid snorers. I have had many nights in the 20¢s (my sleeping bag is rated to 32 degrees). I stayed at a trout farm for a night in Hiawassee. The rhododendron forests everywhere remind me of Elle Pond back home. I have met so many great people and it has really just begun. Everyone in this little community just helps each other and the trail magic, trail angels and ¢paying it forward¢ is everywhere.
Date: 2008-03-30
From: Beech Gap

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

My biggest miles yet. I am feeling good considering. I wanted to catch up with Red Dog and Lucky Dog. And glad I did because now we have Chuck and Pop Top. It¢s like the old gang here.Some things I could mention; yesterday morning started with hail so hard. It stung through my shirt/fleece/jacket and drenched to the bone. Luckily hiking at a good clip most of the day dried me off (or at least my pants). Of course it all started with lightning and wing the second I let my tarp lines loose. Last night I spent the night at Beech Gap with the pathfinders (a great group of kids) and they scored me an 11 oz. fuel bottle (top of my gear wish list). Last night I had pea soup fog, the kind where I couldn¢t see my feet with the flashlight. I woke up drenched from the fog. Went over 100 miles today and decided I am going to skip Franklin to go straight for the N.O.C. First long stretch. I should be out of food by the time I get there. Wish me luck.P.S. Thanks to Greg and Dad for the heads up and help with the bank crisis.
Date: 2008-03-31
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 7.5

I had a short day after yesterday¢s long one. Glad I stopped early because the shelter came in handy when the skies opened up around 4pm. Heaven knows I do not need to get anymore wet. Another couple of days of this and I am going to have to worry about mildew or mold. I decided to skip the Franklin town visit. Saved a couple dollars and it helps me ensure that I am a day ahead of schedule when I hit the Smokies. Been hiking pretty alone the last couple of days and now have a new group of people. I miss Red Dog, Lucky Dog, Pop Top, and Chuck but I know they will catch up before the end of the North Carolina. The bottoms of my feet are still sore but nothing unbearable. Still rockin¢
Date: 2008-04-02
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 11.5

Finally got my much needed shower and clean clothes. Crabby definitely took a hit for the team last night (check out his journal). Long story short, he doesn¢t sleep in the shelter because he snores and doesn¢t want to keep other awake. He tented in a bad spot, we had horrible weather and a mouse chewed a hole in his tent. Thanks again Crabby.I met a Bernese Mountain Dog called Trekker. I totally love the Bernese Mountain Dog and would love to have one for my farm someday. I¢ll have to keep an eye on rescue sites.Also Chewy, Colby, Strider and Tracer are all cool. I hope to see more of them when I slow down on the trail.