morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-06-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.0

Easy day today, but it felt hard. Probably because my body is tired and still adjusting. Franky and Frostbite are still with me. We ran into a bunch of SOBO's at tonights shelter. There are so many people. I like that there's people, but I also like that I can lay in my tent and ignore them. I don't feel the need to be social so I'm not going to be. My feet hurt and I feel like a walking meat stick for the bugs. If only they were vegetarian like me. I try not to think about my bug bites. I don't acknowledge them and they don't exist... Until I just lose it, which happens. Today was beautiful and the trail was nice. For dinner tonight I had split pea soup with TVP, veggies, rice and potatoes. I then put salt and coconut oil in. It was really good. Franky and I stopped at a swim hole today. It was so nice. A guy named Jeff and his dog were there too. Sometimes I think I should feel weird stripping down to my sports bra and underwear around men I barely know, but its not weird. I like the way guys have treated me so far on the trail. They don't think any less of girl hikers. We are all just hiking. The weather has been too nice. Cukoo is here tonight as well. She's cool. She's quiet, but sweet and talkative when I talk to her. She wakes up really early and then puts in long days but still gets good camping spots. Smart. Tomorrow the elevation begins, wish me luck.
Date: 2017-06-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

So... I planed on 11.5 miles today, then I got there just shy of noon and Franky and I were like: "Welp... whats another 5 miles?" So we went another 5 and it was 2 miles to the nearest shelter, so we went. We arrived by 4:30. I'm so proud of my body. I'm feeling good. It's raining and the bugs are gone. I'm sleeping with Franky on one side and Cukoo on the other. When I'm hiking and planning days, I always underestimate myself. But then I get to where I planned and forget about the pain and the sweat going up and down mountains, so I keep pushing. One foot and then another. We are currently talking about how much moose poop was all over the trail. There is a lot! I'm loving all the pine, especially when it started raining. It rained today btw, it's still raining. I dont mind. No bugs. After dinner I was still hungry. I'm telling you, teenage boy appetite big time. I've been listening to the handmaids tail on audible. A weird book, bu tit was some good ah-ha! moments like 1+1+1+1 doesn't = 4, but is still 1+1+1+1. Let that role around your brain for a while. I finished my sour patch kids. Sad. Luckily it'll only be a few days before I'm out of the 100 mile wilderness. SOBO's really get thrown into the trail. I'm thankful for my 140 miles down south. Otherwise I'd prolly be going a lot slower. I will definitely take some time off in Monson.
Date: 2017-06-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.0

I felt great waking up this morning! Cuckoo left early as usual. Franky and I were slowly packing and getting ready and we must have seemed to be having a good time because a NOBO who stayed at the shelter commented on how refreshing out attitudes were compared to other SOBO's he's passed. I was just being my normal self. First five miles were smooth sailing; super easy. I had to ford a river and my feet were so cold. I'm so happy that I have Croc's for camp shoes. The rest of the day kicked my butt! Some steep trail today. Up and down x4. At one point I turned a corner and it was rock boulders straight up, refrigerator sized or smaller stacked. It was the devils trap for ankles. When I start to get lazy and I start tripping on the trail, I focus really hard on smooth foot placement. This is what I did up the rock face. Also climbing technique really helps. The best part of the day was running into Yoyo! He was at the hostel at the beginning. He did the trail NOBO and is now going SOBO. I almost didn't recognize him because he had shaved. A good looking dude! I asked him why he's yoyo-ing. "Well," he said, slowing down his words "I just needed more time." I didn't say anything. "That's the short answer." he said. I nodded and changed the subject. He's now [t I'll probably run into him in Monson, the next town. Tomorrow is my last full day in the 100 mile wilderness, then 4 easy miles on Monday and hitch into town :) If you haven't already checked out my youtube channel for video updates, my username is BriaMcCall.
Date: 2017-06-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

I am sitting atop of a rock by a lake edge and I watch as the water dances with the wind. All my life, I've never noticed this act of play between the elements. Earlier today I stood atop a bald mountain as the wind sized up this skin sac of water and minerals that my soul possesses. This sac, this body that I care for is so much stronger than I can fathom, yet so fragile. Today I took a scary fall down a rock face. I somehow managed to not get hurt, but as I lay on my pack in the position I landed, still buckled in, the danger of this trail became very real to me. I'm thankful for the weather, especially the breeze that spent its day drying the bullets of sweat dripping down my face and catching my eyebrows. I love my eyebrows. They are growing out along with my other usually shaven areas. I feel free out here. One set of clothes and everthing I need in a sac on my back of this sac for my soul. I crossed two river fords today. As I crossed the second, I yelled across the river at my friend who was putting his shoes on. "Hey Franky, wanna go swimming?" I reached the other side, shed my pack and clothing down to my bra and underwear, and jumped back in. I waded up and let the current bring me back down. I haven't showered in a week and at this moment, yet I feel so clean, so refreshed, so pure and in tune with this body of mine that I am ever grateful for. I am currently at a shelter that is 4 miles from Monson. I plan to take a long break in town. This will be my first real town experience and let me say am I craving some pancakes. I've never felt so hungry in my entire life for pancakes.
Date: 2017-06-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: clear sky

Got into Monson by 8 am this morning. The caretaker of the lakeshore hostel picked us up. She was going to take Franky and I to the other hostel, but we decided to stay with her. I took a shower and put on a black dress that was in the loner closet and a bit oversized. We headed next door to Pete's for breakfast where we found Cukoo! I love that girl. I ate two big blueberry pancakes, two pieces of French Toast with syrup and brown sugar and a thing of beans. The food went down so easily. I can't describe how nice it is to take the day off. My body is quite thankful. This hostel is lovely. They even fed me watermelon and oreos. We keep watching movies, but no one watches. We are all talking and hanging out. There is a lot of weed and alcohol going around which I mean... Whatever, but I avoid the weed and am sort of a snob about what alcohol I consume and to cheap to buy it. There is a lot of weed on the trail. Hike your own hike I guess. This hostel is right by a lake and we can go swimming and kayaking, but honestly I'm happy hanging out inside. Hikers are so easy to please. A shower. If you really want to get fancy, throw us a cotton t-shirt. Some food, let us steal some toilet paper. Do some laundry. Basic human care we greatly appreciate. It has been really hot the past few days. I'm enjoying the AC and nursing my fee and appetite back to normal. Well I mean.. my appetite will not be back to normal for a long time.
Date: 2017-06-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Man, I love zero days. We were all up by 6:30 AM. That was sleeping in for a lot of us. Yo-yo took off today, he's back on the trail. I felt pretty at ease taking time off. Some hikers have been saying that they feel restless. I've really been enjoying my time in Monson. I've eaten so much food today it's actually kind of gross. I tried fiddleheads today. It's like deep-fried baby ferns. Vegan if you're wondering. I've done a lot of hanging out today. At one point we went kayaking and swimming in the lake outside of the hostel. I've been wearing an image dragon concert T-shirt that I found in the loaner closet. Cotton feel so nice against my skin. I saw frostbite again today! Franky and I were over at Shaw, the other hostile, and I knew he was there so I yelled his name. He came out on the deck upstairs and yelled "Dotty!"! He seems to be doing well. He said he was going to head out with Franky and I tomorrow, but I think he's just got the hots for a girl who isn't leaving until the next day. So I bet he stays with her. If you're wondering there's nothing going on between Frankie and I. Just good hiking companions. The lady at the hostel asked if we wanted a private room and I gave her a weird look. "OK" she said, "bunks it is" Frankie is great, though I love having him around. My body is feeling more rested but my pack is heavy again. I have my super feet insoles that were sent in my resupply, but I'm carrying the old ones too just in case. I have hiking pants now too but too many clothes. I plan to send some stuff back when I get to Stratton. Ready to get back onto the trail.
Date: 2017-06-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: few clouds

Back on the trail. Feeling refreshed. The hike was pretty easy today, but regardless 18 miles is a lot and I'm tired. We are tenting at a shelter on a lake. We saw giant leeches in there as well as loons and an otter! The bugs are terrible but they don't get to me like they used to. Frostbite made it to camp as well! Franky and I made a bet of a Snickers on if he'd stay. I won the bet. Scout is here as well. It's nice to be back in the woods. I had my hiking pants sent to me in Monson, and I'm glad I have them now. They will save my legs a lot of pain and bites. Frostbite and Scout just caught he leech and are messing with it. "this is just ugly" scout is seen. He's an older skinny white-haired man hiking the trail. The sunset on the lake is beautiful. I just went down to check out the leech. Yucky. This morning my pack felt heavy with the resupply. Resupplying kind of sucks in that sense. When Chelsea the caretaker at the hostel dropped us off, I gave her a big hug. It's amazing how quickly I can grow attached to some people. But only some. On the trail today, we forded two rivers. I love fords, I like taking my shoes off and letting the cool water soothe my tired feet. The weather was perfect for hiking, but a bit chilly for swimming. Oh I also saw a bunch of snakes today and a deer. The otter though was the highlight. Looking forward to a nice sleep in my tent tonight. After tent yoga of course.
Date: 2017-06-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Lots of elevation today, but my trail legs are starting to kick in. It was another beautiful day but the rain is coming in. I'm at a pleasant pond shelter tonight. We got here pretty early. I got lost looking for the shelter and wandered of a gravel road to find a beautiful lake home. I really wanted to knock on the door and try for a shower and bed, but I restrained myself. Instead, after finding the shelter I went down to the lake and went swimming. It was chilly. The shelter has the nicest privy. I'm very impressed. We could have pushed and made it to Caratonk today, but towns equal more money. So here I am in a shelter with good ol Franky and Frostbite. We have a fire going to keep the bugs away. I was cleaning my pot and usually I dump out the little bit of dirty water into the fire pit. But usually there is no fire. So without thinking, that's what I did. Frostbite died laughing and it took me a second to realize what I did. If he wasn't laughing so hard at how ridiculous it was, he would've been mad. I guess I was running on autopilot. I had my super feet insoles mailed to me in Monson. I wore them the past two days and they haven't felt right. Luckily I kept the old ones. I hope I will get used to the super feet, but they might not work. Well, Frostbite owes me a massage tonight and he's currently offering, so I'm gonna take him up on that. I hope y'all are having a great day.
Date: 2017-06-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Remember playing sports as kids and having practice in the rain? I used to play soccer and I thought that I was so hard-core when I would be covered in mud and require to lay a towel down in the car after practice. I'd go home, shower, put on cotton PJs and dinner would be waiting for me downstairs. Backpacking is not like that. It rains. You wake up to the rain, you eat and dress in the rain, you hike in the rain, pee in the rain, and push miles to end up at a full shelter and put up a tent in the rain.  The few dry pieces of clothing go on your body immediately and you are surrounded completely surrounded by wet things. That was my day. However, I am currently in good humor as I write to you in the dark with a full belly. I got to take the canoe ferry to Caratonk today in the pouring rain. That was cool! I crossed a sketchy damn that was overflowing with water and I balanced on a skinny plank of wood several feet above bodies of water as I skirted around lakes. Rocks in roads turned into the devil's teeth with the help of rain. He must have poor hygiene, however, because the few times he got me, I slipped through the missing teeth without a scratch. My body feels great, all except my right hip that is irritated from my pack. Stupid protruding hip bones, always causing trouble. I was very excited to go see Cukoo at the shelter tonight. She is snuggled down with a big group of Sobo's all of whom left Katahdin before we did. I'm running out of space to write, time to let my body recover.
Date: 2017-06-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 18.0

Today is been by far the hardest day on the trail physically. I woke up to light rain and came to realize that it was time to put on my dreaded wet hiking clothes. Hiking in the rain sucks, but the worst part is wet clothes in the morning. During the first 7 miles, which were the easiest, I took a wrong trail and spent a mile there and back. I was so mad. I got to a shelter for a snack break and Frankie and Scout were there. They got to hear all about my frustration. The bugs were bad, so I sprayed some Deet on my bare legs. I then got out my bag of tortillas and rested them on my thighs. When I took them off, I had the bag design tattooed on my legs, calories in all. Deet is scary shit. Today was insane. I can't even tell you how much elevation we went up-and-down and the trail was no walk in the park. We had some refrigerator rock scrambles and at points the trail consisted solely of roots and rocks. Most of the time we were going straight up or straight down. We started around 6:30 AM and didn't get to our destination until around 8 PM my body is like a machine. The last few miles were incredibly slow and I felt like I was in a daze. I felt miserable and blissful at the same time as I walked in what felt like a drunken slumber. There were some incredible views today and the accomplishment I felt at the top was priceless. Thankful for my body, good friends, good weather, and this opportunity.
Date: 2017-06-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up to an amazing view from the shelter. Of course we were all awake by 530. Cuckoo was already gone leaving. Scout, Ethan, Frankie, Frostbite, and me. The 5 miles downhill to Stratton was slow going. We ran across a family of day hikers around 730 who gave us chocolate chip cookies. I inhaled them.. They went down so easily. We called the hostel when we got to the highway, and they came and picked us up. By the time Franky and Frostbite had showered and eaten breakfast I smashed down three giant blueberry pancakes and eggs (I never eat eggs, but it sounded good). A lot of our friends who have been behind us arrived. One of them being Buck, I think he is such a cool guy. I hope he starts hiking our speed. You know, I haven't talked about many lady hikers. There's actually quite a few. The problem is other then Cuckoo, I keep passing all of them. It's kind of nice to be around a good group of guys after  four years at a women's college. However, everyone made a trip to the liquor store today. I have a "no spending money on alcohol rule" with myself, but I was offered plenty from others who aren't quite as concerned. I was sipping on moonshine as well as Kentucky bourbon, just enough for that little buzz. Frostbite killed the moonshine, he was so funny last night. He kept saying he was pickled. He convinced me to tango with him in the hostel hang out area. I kept stepping on his feet. Usually his feet are in a lot of pain, but moonshine can do some weird things to a person because he didn't even notice. We all ate spaghetti and salad for dinner, played some music, and were asleep by 9 PM.
Date: 2017-06-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi! This is Chelsea, I'm Dot's friend from college and I am taking over updating her trail journal from now on. She has given me permission to insert any snarky comments I want, but I'll keep them at a minimum for her own peace of mind, haha! If I do insert my own comments or modifications, they will be indicated by closed brackets [].A few notes before you get to her blog. Dot restarted her blog day count once she reached Maine to start the remaining portion of her SOBO hike. Unfortunately, the blogs from the first 14 days this second leg of the trip were lost. (Update: The blogs from the lost days have been found and will be updated) You can view Dot's videos from that time frame on her youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/B...). Today's blog is day 15 of this second leg. Now to Dot's own words!There was a big storm rolling in today so we decided to take a full 0 day. I mean... we blamed our 0 day on the weather, but a day off is always nice.For the most part, we've just been hanging out today. It's so freeing to not have much to do besides rest your body. Hiking the trail overall has been a very freeing experience. I've really been enjoying all of the people that I've been meeting. I feel like I have so many friends. I just came back from the common room where I was teaching Mary Poppins, a dude from Switzerland, how to play guitar. Frostbite and I have this mutual massage train going on, but I get the better deal since he's certified in massage therapy! He finds some gnarly knots in my back.I finally had a good conversation with my parents. It's hard for is to get a hold of each other. My mom mostly [knows] how I'm doing through this blog. She asked me how I got my trail name "Dot". I told her from darn tough (tuff?) socks with polka dots that she got me for Christmas. She died laughing, thinking the name was silly. It is silly. I always tell people, "Hi, my name's Dot. If you forget, just look at my socks". I've also been called Dotty and Dot Dot, but everyone always remembers it. Its like my alter ego, or a second identity. Most people don't know my real name. It's freeing to be here.
Date: 2017-06-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.0

Last night when I finished blogging, I walked into the room to find Frostbite star-fished across his bed and Franky curled on his side, both asleep as Frostbite snored softly. It was a sentimental moment. I thought to myself, "These are my boys". We are a "family".Lots of elevation today leaving Stratton. For a while, the Appalachian Trail turned into the Appalachian River. There were some fun rock scrambles today but my pack felt really heavy. My pack weighs a lot more than the boys. It's all food, but they have been losing weight and I cannot afford to lose much. They are usually impressed by how much I can eat. I can put down some serious calories. I've been eating more vegetarian than vegan, especially in town. I even ate an omelet. It sounded good, but I didn't really enjoy eating it. Mary Poppins, from Switzerland, ironically gave me a piece of Swiss cheese at the shelter [Really Briana...of all cheeses the one that tastes like sweaty feet?]. I ate it. It was yummy.We talked to a NOBO at the shelter and there isn't that many SOBOs ahead of us, maybe a dozen. We have been crushing miles of SOBOs. I love that we have caught up to Buck and Mary Poppins. They are such cool guys. People tell me all the time to take my time. I think that I am going the right speed for myself. That's all that matters. I enjoy pushing miles. I enjoy town days as well! We may decide to go into town tomorrow in Rangeley to meet up with Scout. I hope we make it. I'm ready to get some sleep! Mary is roasting a pop-tart over the fire right now. He cracks me up. [He's] such a creative guy guy, always doing something funny. Goodnight!
Date: 2017-06-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 19.0

I woke up at 4:30 this morning anxious about today's hike; 19 miles over the toughest terrain in Maine. I'm on a time crunch so it has me stressed out. Franky and I slid out of the shelter with Frostbite sitting up just long enough to say that he was staying back with Mary and Buck. Probably a good choice.Today kicked my ass. The first ten miles I was a complete head case. At one point I was crying up a mountain. Nothing was wrong, I was just losing it. It happens. When I made it to a shelter for lunch, I came up dragging my trekking poles and avoiding eye contact with Franky because I was barely keeping myself together. He knew though. He started hiking behind me after that. At one point, I fell going down some wet, steep slab and later he described me as looking completely broken in that moment. I felt it. There was no flat today, [it was] either straight up or straight down. There was a flash flood at one point, making the rocks a dangerous balancing act. We were on a ridge line for a while that was quite beautiful, but the wind  was blowing so hard that I could barely walk on the trail without getting blown off into the brush. When we got down to the last 5 miles or so, I felt much better than in the morning  and I started thinking about dinner with Scout and Frodo.At 5am, I told Scout that our ETA was 5:30pm. We got to the parking lot at exactly 5:30pm. Called it! We met Frodo and started catching up with Scout. They took us to the hiker hut  where they had already reserved Franky and I a bed. We changed into cleaner clothes and went into town with them. Dinner was fabulous, but after hiking for over 12 hours, it was really challenging to sit through dinner. My knees were becoming so stiff and my body was aching. I had to get up and stretch at one point. I had a blueberry soda, water, white wine, veggie pasta that was vegan(!), and lemonberry cake. It was all amazing. The hiker hut is the cutest hostel in the world. These people live off the grid, solar outdoor shower, the works man. There are a bunch of little huts and buildings around and also gardens all around. It's so cute. I'm looking forward to a long sleep and lazy morning tomorrow.