morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-09-10
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 16.0

Thank goodness it didn't rain last night - I had camped in a little gully. Woke up at 4:30 and decided it was too early. Woke up with a start at 5:45. I had been dreaming that I was at some kind of hospital because of problems from hiking and they had given me, in addition to some meds, three animals and one was big along with pens for them. And I was busy figuring out how to get them to take the animals back because I didn't want them. Anyone who knows what kind of dreams I have can appreciate the weirdness. Packed up and was ready to get on the trail at 7:30. We had a commitment to be 12 miles by 3 o'clock to get our food drop. So I left Camp before Garnet Turtle because she hikes faster uphill. By the end of the first 3.5 miles to the top of Little Boardman Mountain Garnet Turtle caught up to me. Had a chance to send a text to Side with our location. The trail for the rest of the day was all downhill. What a relief for me. And the trail is improving and not so hard on the feet. Stopped at the Cooper Brook Falls lean-to to filter water and for lunch. Someone thought they recognized me and turns out it was Standing Indian and also Breaking Badger who Side and I had done trail magic for in New York. I had told some of those people not to be surprised if they saw me in Maine. Handed out some extra food to them. We jaunted down to Jo - Mary Road to get our food drop right on time. AJ from Shaw's delivered. It was nice because I hadn't gotten to say goodbye to him when I left there - he had a couple of days off. He brought us a drink in addition to our food. My backpack had seemed heavy today even though it shouldn't have been because my food weight was lessening. Well it was good and heavy after adding three days of food. Hiked another four miles to Antlers campsite for a total of 16 miles today. Will my feet recover? Late getting into camp and there were already many tents set up. We finally found something passable and began the process. We're right on the lake so really pretty. It got dark before I was done for the night. Never did get a bear bag hung. It kept catching in the little wispy branches on the pine tree. I was lucky I got it back down. Hope the pesky red squirrels leave me alone. It started to rain lightly so I jumped in the tent. Hope we don't get much rain - not the best site for rain. We'll see what excitement the night brings.
Date: 2016-09-11
From: Antlers Campsite

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: few clouds

It rained just a little bit at bedtime and then there was just a gentle breeze all night so the tent was dry in the morning. Check the weather in the morning and realized rain and thunderstorms were predicted so we changed our plan again. Instead of hiking 12 miles as planned we changed to 7 miles. Figured that would give us time to get to a hostel, White House Landing, to beat the rain. Lucky to have cell service at the lake. Called and made a reservation. The owner said rain was predicted for noon so we should make it. Well the thunder began at 10 o'clock and by 10:30 it was raining and storming so we got good and wet before we got to the hostel. Got to Pemadimcook Lake and called for boat pickup. Told him on the phone that his two drowned rats had arrived. I had worn my pants for the first time and they weighed a ton or two. We were shivering by the time he got to us. Took a quick shower and made it for lunch. A huge cheeseburger, chips, two Mountain Dews. So delicious. Then began the process of drying everything out. No washer or dryer here. There's a hand pump down by the lake and large galvanized tubs and washboards for washing clothes and a clothesline. Lucked out and the sun came out and it was windy as could be. At least I got some of the perspiration out of the clothes. Had my boots out drying in the sun and was on the phone with Side when the dog took a boot and ran off. I about had a heart attack. My heart was beating like crazy. Just what I needed was to be walking in one boot and one croc. After many attempts of trying to distract the dog, he finally gave it up. I was shaking for a long time. Needless to say I never left my boots again. Oh, and totally forgot I was on the phone with Side.Finally got most everything dried out. Time for dinner. Homemade pizzas and a brownie. Now where does all the time go. Didn't even get to prop up my feet. I was able to make a few phone calls home. But boots never dried and are still soaked. Not how I wanted to start out tomorrow especially since now we have a longer hike from cutting today short. Goodness. Having a battle doing uphills of any size. I think I'm just tired. Hoping lots of food and a hearty breakfast in the morning will help. Feeling like a slug. Trail was mostly flat but still many roots and rocks so makes it slow going. Sigh. Coming to the end soon. Two more days in the 100-Mile wilderness. Donated more food to The Crow and Griz who were in the hostel with us. They were happy and my load was lighter so I was happy too. The owners have run this place for 25 years. It's up on the hill and they're have a number of cottages. All looking down to the lake. Clean privy called "The Oval Office". Forgot to mention the privy yesterday at Antlers Campsite. It's a double privy with a cribbage game between the two seats. Chose to forego the game and do a solo in the privy.
Date: 2016-09-12
From: White House Landing

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.6

Four of us in the bunkhouse. Other hikers in other buildings as well. Slept well but it was chilly. The Crow and Griz started rousing about 6 o'clock. Breakfast was family style at 7:30 sharp with coffee at 7:15 so with hungry hikers around don't come late. So I climbed out shortly after 6 and then Garnet Turtle. I spent a lot of time yesterday unloading extra food to others who were short of food. I felt like my pack was in much better shape. Coffee, OJ, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon just like I like it, blueberry pancakes, English muffin with homemade grape jelly. Full tummy when I left. There were 10 hikers to whisk back across the water. We were in the second batch. Had a 0.2 mile hike back to the trail then hoped for a big day to help compensate for the miles we couldn't do yesterday. The first 6 miles were pretty flat. It was a gorgeous day for hiking - cool with a breeze. There were several miles of bumpy, rocky, rooty trail. Then a 700-foot up that was steep. I was feeling strong today even doing well on the uphills. After Nesuntabunt mountain there was a nice viewpoint of Mount Katahdin. Very commanding. Took some good photos and continued on. Hiked past and along ponds many times. As we came to the trail to Pollywog Gorge neither of us realized that we had veered off the AT. Went downhill a bit to a dropoff to the gorge. Yikes. Realized that probably wasn't the trail. Although later in the day I would have been glad to jump off. About 4 o'clock I started having pain in my left hip - sort of like a knife stuck in there. Took a few vitamin I but it didn't touch the pain. Had to just keep hiking. Ran out of water about four miles from the shelter we were shooting for. Hadn't had enough to drink during the day but I didn't want to take time out to filter. Just trying to get to our lean-to and set up camp. The pain was brutal with every step of the left foot. Got in about 6:20 and set up my tent and inflated the air mattress, then went in search of water. Still in pain even without the pack on. Started dinner rehydrating, switched to dry clothes, drank over a liter of water before I felt caught up. Filtered water in the bladder and bottles for tomorrow and calling it an early night. Hope I can sleep. Tomorrow Side will be traveling up and waiting at the end of the day. Hope I can hike to him.
Date: 2016-09-13
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 15.0

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEKKI !!!!My tent site was slightly downhill so kept sliding down in the tent. When I climbed out in the morning, I could barely walk. The pain was so intense. Limped to the privy. Gathered up camp as quickly as I could. Started a hefty ibuprofen regimen. Started ahead of Garnet since there was no doubt I would be slow today. First thing I had to cross a stream on 3 thin logs. Great. I could barely walk. Morning dip anyone? I started hiking slow trying to adopt an even gait through the pain. And just kept going. Not much choice. Trail was pretty flat but it was the normal Maine trail. So hard to maneuver along. The second batch of 4 ibuprofen took the edge off a little more and I just kept going. Garnet stuck closer to me today. I was lucky to have her. Stepped with both feet into a mud mire. The muck went to the top of one boot and over the top of the other. Garnet had pointed it out but I didn't think it was as extensive as it was. My feet made sucking sounds as I pulled them out. What a smelly disgusting mess. At least I didn't fall down in it. Just what I needed. Boots that weighed 3 times as much as they should. Later stopped at a pond to clean up my legs and switch to clean socks. And a few miles later I took another partial step into muck. Just one of those not so good days on the trail. Stopped to filter water at Hurd Brook Lean-to. Didn't want to take the time but didn't want to run out like yesterday. By mid-afternoon the ibuprofen wasn't much helping. As we approached Abol Bridge I was so relieved to be exiting the 100-mile wilderness. Garnet Turtle said I think I see someone looking for you. Side was crossing the bridge to meet me. Now there's a dream come true. I had been envisioning that for days. Dropped Garnet off at the hostel where she was staying, came back to our hotel and showered and put on clean clothes. Went back to pick her up for dinner. Side had a nice place in mind.
Date: 2016-09-14
From: Abol Bridge

To: Baxter Park Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Happy Birthday Garnet Turtle !!Rain and possible thunderstorms for today so even though Garnet wanted to summit on her birthday, it just wasn't a good day. Picked her up for breakfast at the AT Cafe. Then went to Rite Aid to get some remedies for my back. Put on an icy hot patch. Stopped at the Baxter Park Headquarters to get more info about gaining access to Baxter Park to hike Katahdin. Not looking like I'll be able to do that. Thought tomorrow I'd try slackpacking the 10 miles before Katahdin but that may not be in the cards either. Terribly disappointing. I had wanted to summit on Friday which is supposed to be a really nice weather day. Taking Garnet Turtle out tonight to celebrate her birthday. Went to the hostel to pick her up and The Crow was there. He is headed to the summit tomorrow. Went just down the street from her hostel and had a really good meal. Garnet has decided to summit tomorrow also. The patch hasn't helped at all. We are headed home and I'll be driving back to Maine yet again as soon as I can safely hike. I couldn't wait to be done and head out of Maine but this is not how I imagined it. Big sigh.
Date: 2016-09-15
From: Baxter Park Inn

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

Trip home was 8 hours. Luckily I had no pain sitting in the car. But I moved at a snail's pace when we stopped at a service plaza and I had to actually walk. Let's hope this goes away and I can get back to Maine to finish. Hearing reports of other hikers I know successfully climbing Katahdin today. Garnet was one of them. So happy for them all.
Date: 2016-02-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hey folks! I wanted to thank everyone for coming by to read my trail blog. This site is intended to serve as my personal journal as well as a vessel through which others that are unable can join me on this adventure. I will share my thoughts, fears, hopes, desires, pains, joys, sorrows. Or perhaps just idle observations about trees and ferns and millipedes and things. Just kidding. (But seriously).Your interest is important to me! As it is all of your collective interest & support that will help to keep me motivated in this difficult (and incredible!) months ahead. That said, I'm so very excited to get this show on the road.I wanted to especially thank everyone who is donating to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation by way of pledging at my hikefor page (http://www.hikefor.com/Deadwood/AT/2016). ALSF is an awesome charity that helps children with cancer & funds cancer research.Recently, I read the book "A Walk For Sunshine" by Jeff Alt, and I decided I would hike for charity. Because, well, why not? I've dreamt of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail for about a decade. It never felt like it was something that would ever happen - until last summer.That's when I read Zach Davis' "Appalachian Trials", and his words really resonated with me. The timing wasn't exactly perfect, but my wife helped me make it work. The money would be incredibly tight, but I would be more frugal. Sacrifices have to be made for something this epic & demanding to come to fruition, and not just my own. But either I push the boat out now, maybe without everything I need to stay afloat, or I wait until I retire. Worst case scenario, I can dog-paddle.Poor boating metaphors aside, waiting your entire working life to complete your biggest & hungriest goal is no way to live. It'll be difficult, physically, mentally, socially and again mentally. But I at least have to try and give it my all. If I fail, then fine. But not trying at all is the only failure I refuse to accept.If you want something badly enough, you truly can make it happen. Even if it's selfish. And this is undoubtedly just that. This journey is an inherently egocentric one. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's immoral, wrong, misguided or can't also simultaneously be something very good.If I'm going to leave everyone behind for five months to go for this crazy pipe dream that I could never seem to shake, (I tried), than the least I can do is help someone else out. Every step I take when I'm freezing, starving, aching and lonely, I'll take another for ALSF. For the children who didn't get a chance to meet their goals, and for the ones who might. Go read about some of them at http://www.alexslemonade.org/heroes.One step at a time. Just one step at a time.Thanks for reading folks, seeya next time!
Date: 2016-02-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

One of the first questions people ask is why. Why would you want to go out into the wilderness for five months, away from your friends & family, freeze your butt off, get rained on, deal with blisters, sores, cuts & bruises, constantly being hungry, lightning, physical & mental fatigue, sleeping on the ground, struggling in the cold and the heat, and so forth.It¢s a fair, simple question that unfortunately doesn¢t warrant an equally simple answer. Why am I thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail? Because, over the last decade, it's the one thing that I could never get out of my head. From the day that I found out from a thru-hiker that it was possible I just felt a need to do it. Not because I am running from something, like some hikers. It¢s not escape that I¢m looking for. It¢s because I'm running toward something.How many of us actually, truly push ourselves beyond what we think we're capable of? Take ourselves to the edge of exhaustion, then ask our bodies and minds to keep going? It¢s in those moments that we find out what we¢re made of, and maybe, who we really are. I don't feel like many Americans experience any sort of major rite of passage these days, with the exception, I would say, of our military & veterans. Hats off to each and every one of them. But for the rest of us, we are either never tested, or we find something that takes us far out of our comfort zone. It¢s not just about being uncomfortable. It's about being uncomfortable and being okay with it. Challenges are opportunities for growth. I hope to come back different than I went in, and I suspect I will. Firm this rant up, Mr. Eliot.¢We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.¢ - T.S. EliotNow we¢re getting somewhere. I should¢ve started with that quote? But we¢re not done. Here¢s another, slightly more modern quote to sum it up. ¢Life is short. Do awesome shit, stupid." - Zach Davis, author of ¢Appalachian Trials¢Thanks T.S. Thanks Zach. Now here¢s my quick list.I am thru hiking the AT because...It has been my life goal for over a decadeI will have the rest of my life to sit in front of a computerI love nature & singularity of focusIt is my rite of passageWhen I successfully thru hike the AT, I will...Be a much more confident & patient manWill have better perspective on my life and my place in the worldHave no regretsWill have the attitude to persevere in whatever I do in lifeHave the story of a lifetimeIf I give up on the AT, I will...Have abandoned a decade-long dream. But I would have the maturity to accept that the goal is no longer as valuable or desirable to me. Values change and that's okay. At least I will have given it my best effort.
Date: 2016-03-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

So what¢s the deal with trail names? Why do we do it? How does it happen? Where did it begin?It¢s a tradition for hikers, and especially long-distance hikers, to take on trail names. I really don¢t know where or how this began,but why not participate in something so whimsical? There is a sticking point though.Typically trail names are given, not chosen, and often they are related to something embarrassing that happened to you or that you did. Otherwise, obviously, I would be something along the lines of ¢World¢s Sexiest Dudeman¢ or perhaps ¢Super Coolguy J. Rich¢ or maybe ¢Macho Libre¢ (is he joking?). But that just won¢t do. I never would have settled on ¢Deadwood¢, but there is always a logic behind the new title.When hiking up Mt. Mitchell for a weekend backpacking trip with some of my best buds, I was the only one left that didn¢t have a trail name. Mt. Mitchell is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi, and I was feeling the elevation gain. I was also the only one without trekking poles (these bad boys take 15 pounds off of your knees). Feeling left out of the cool-guy / smart-guy trekking pole club, I rooted around the fringes of the trail until I found two woody, gnarly, poor substitutes for trekking poles. Not ideal, but I happily used them for the remainder of the weekend and I still maintain that they (maybe!?) helped my knees. At the end of the hike, Smiling Otter & Seal donned me ¢Deadwood¢. And so I shall remain!
Date: 2016-03-12
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Campground
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning was surreal, but now it's real. The journey of a lifetime has begun. It's exciting, but it's hard not to question it all now that I'm way out here, so far from the ones I love. I got my tent setup with plenty of daylight left, was just sitting in there getting things organized and felt suddenly very alone. I already miss my wife so much - she makes everything worth it. That said, I know this doubt and fear will pass. The hiking today wasn't too bad, but, barring injury, I can already tell this is going to be a mental game. There are some folks here that I'm going to hang out with for dinner. Update: I talked to Wan (Wanderer), Sylvan & Bryson. All seem nice, and Wan is awesome at ukulele. I recognized some of the tunes he was playing as songs from the "Into the Wild" soundtrack by Eddie Vedder. Turning in at 7:30. Rain coming in tonight.
Date: 2016-03-13
From: Hawk Mountain Campground

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

This was one of the toughest days in recent memory. Woke up in a wet tent, broke down in the rain & mud. Only my electronics and clothes were dry. It was a very misty, wet morning as I hiked. Met another hiker named Chris, who was only wearing sandals on his feet. The rain finally cleared off, but I'm worried about rain again tonight. There are no designated campsites left, and I'm set up on a slope.Today I hiked with Wild Child and her dog, Panda. She's very nice and was great company as I hiked. I ended up motivating her to continue to the shelter. Her pack was as large as her.I talked to some folks at the shelter, which was full. They seemed nice, but I'm having trouble connecting with big groups. I don't have an appetite yet, and I ran out of fuel halfway through heating up dinner. I at half cooked noodles and it was horrible.Fingers crossed for a clear night.
Date: 2016-03-14
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Lance Creek
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: broken clouds

No rain last night, but have had off and on sprinkles today. I felt awesome, and got my first trail magic, too. I was walking by when a guy named Sticks asked if I wanted a pancake. He brought an outdoor stove and had a bag for trash. I was taken off guard because it was my first trail magic, but he asked if I wanted chocolate chips in my pancake and I said "yes." He thru hiked last year. I saw the legendary Miss Janet drive by and honk her horn, but I didn't talk to her. Later in the day, I ran out of TP, so it was a new first using leaves. I opened up to a lot of people today, and it paid off. People out here are truly nice. There's SpaceGoat, Jai, Reeses, Scurvy, Josh, Irie, Moses, Get Weird, Hi-Ho, Beaver, and a few others. Beaver tented next to me, and he's only 17 but he's got his head on straight. Tomorrow is Neel's Gap and onwards. Yahoo!
Date: 2016-03-15
From: Lance Creek

To: Swaim Gap
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: light rain

Today was awesome. Hiked out of Lance Creek with Hi-Ho and found we have a similar pace. We'll probably keep on together for awhile, and split a room in Hiawassee. Pretty cool guy, he's 53 but there's no age barrier out here. Hiked up Blood Mountain today, which was the toughest uphill yet, but also had the best views.We met up with Hare and Moses, and as we were getting ready to go down the mountain, Scurvy announced that there was a pizza party at Neels Gap at 3:30. So everyone immediately threw their packs on, excited to start hiking, but then everyone realized he was not serious.Hare led the way down the mountain to a dead end. Very appropriately, Moses led us back out and down the mountain. We all went into Neel's Gap together, and I got a shakedown and dropped about 2 lbs from my pack. Got some more food, and Hi-Ho got me a coke and a slice of pizza, which I hoovered. Hiked out of Neel's, and found a great spot to camp up on a ridgeline. I wonder if these lights twinkling in the distance are Dahlonega. Camping with Hi-Ho, Moses, Scurvy, and Space Goat(who has a 95L pack). Great day.
Date: 2016-03-16
From: Swaim Gap

To: Chattahoochee Gap
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: mist

Wow, what a day! Last night, I had dreams about a vine man coming out of the edge of the woods and staring at my tent. Didn't die, woke up and hiked to Tesnatee Gap, where my cousin Scott and his friend Jeremy came out to hike.First they gave me a beer, which was amazing, then a ton of candy. They drove up to Hogpen Gap and I pushed to hike the mile from Tesnatee to Hogpen to meet them. Only took about 30 minutes.I freshened up with some Axe body spray. We all pushed hard and ended up having a good time and blowing past our planned camping spot. This was my biggest day yet by far. My cousin Scott (Candy Cowboy) was offering candy to every hiker he passed. It was nice to get to know his friend Jeremy (Tennessee Honey), who was named so for his choice of liquor which he packed in. Had a great time at camp catching up with Scott and getting to know Jeremy, who was a paramedic with some wild stories. Scott has been wandering around camp taking photos, and made the observation that there are no animals out here at all. Very tough day, my knee was really hurting, but that's nothing that Tennessee Honey out of a dog bowl can't fix! Starting to get an appetite. Great day.