morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-17
From: Mahoosuc Arm Summit

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Woke up this morning feeling lots of pain in my knees. My body's still not used to 19-miles a day.But, when I woke up, I got to see where we were sleeping. It was magnificent. We were on a little rock in the middle of a blueberry patch, cradled amongst enormous mountains. We are just North of the New Hampshire border, and the mountains South of here are massive. Well, the sunrise was awesome, and that was pretty much the coolest place I have ever slept. Ever.We got to the Mahoosuc Notch around 10:30 am. We stopped just before it to cook Ramen as an energy booster, because we were pretty worn out from yesterday. Also, people say this is "the hardest mile of the AT," so I was kinda freaking out. Wanted to eat away my fears...Well, that was ridiculous. It was not as hard as Northbounders made it out to be, but they're pansys. I don't know why I ever listen to them. The notch was freaking awesome. It was an adult junglegym. Cricket went Spelunking, and found ice! I waited for him and TNT (who caught up just before the notch) on some rock in the middle of the notch for like 20 minutes, and he showed up with ice! Couldn't believe it. It's August, and real hot out! I iced my knees. Saw a moose carcus in the notch. Sad. I met 2 guys from Jersey, one of which went to Princeton Day School! Small world.Oh, I also heard someone scream bloody murder in the notch while I was resting on the boulder waiting for SC and TNT...it was kind of alarming, but then when the guy came past me, I chuckled. He was clearly being a little over dramatic about whatever had happened to him just minutes before. Ohhhh, Northbounders.
Date: 2009-08-18
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Trident Col Tentsite
Miles today: 0.0

WAHOO I'M IN NEW HAMPSHIRE!!!We slept only a couple miles from the border last night at Carlo Col Shelter, and this morning I was behind TNT and SC leaving the shelter. Well, as I was walking down the trail, I looked forward, and they were standing in the trail next to each other, facing me, with their hands on their hips. TNT said, "Passport please," and immediately, I started crying. I CAN'T BELIEVE I MADE IT OUT OF MAINE! I honestly never thought I'd get this far. I'm so excited for the whites!Even though I'm so happy to be in NH, I am getting homesick, a bit. I miss my friends and family. And I want an orange. Or an avocado. Or both. We cooked Ramen by a stream midday, and then SC took off so he could get to town and get a maildrop.I might be getting sick. I was supposed to get into Gorham today, but I started feeling shitty almost immediately after we crossed into NH. I think I'm dehydrated or something, because I passed out in the middle of the trail today. I sat down, and was going to get some food out, and that's the last thing I remember. Before that, I was doing like 1 mph, and puking. 2 northbound girls came and woke me up. I was pretty disoriented. I rested for another hour or so, on my sleeping pad, and decided just to stop at this tentsite and not push into Gorham. There's a guy here that passed TNT and said that TNT wanted me to know that he was going to go to the White Birches in Gorham, in case I didn't make it into town. Well, I'm not making it. I'll get there tomorrow morning. Man, this tentsite was far off the trail, too. I hate that shit.I just cooked this dank soup that Greenlite gave me, it's like a Mexican corn soup with Jalapenos. Sooo good! Burned the roof of my mouth though.Going to bed. It's 5:53 pm.
Date: 2009-08-19
From: Trident Col Tentsite

To: Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I got up at the crack of ass today and hiked 6.something into Gorham. Got to the road, route 2, needed a phone to call the White Birches, and ran into a nobo section hiker, "Doc." He gave me a phone and was oh so nice! Got picked up 5 minutes later and taken to the hostel. TNT and SC aren't here...but there are 2 nobos named Sawman and Space, and I think they think I'm an alcoholic. I may or may not be drinking a beer. It's 9 am. They're judging me because I licked brown sugar off of a nutella jar...Breakfast time.(later that day)We got breakfast (Space and I), and ran into his friend Andy. They were a hoot! Then we went over to the library, and afterwards, we were walking down the road and a white van pulled over and SC and TNT shouted out the window. That was their hitch. Haha! We went to China Buffet and gorged. Thanks for buying, TNT!
Date: 2009-08-20
From: Gorham

To: Rattle River Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Town is poison. It makes me lazy, and want to zero after zero after zero. Gahhh. Got out of town super late today. Hiked 1.6 up to the rattle river shelter. It was so easy that we dropped our packs, turned around, and went back into town for Subway sandwiches (me, TNT and SC). We thought we'd get a hitch into town but pretty much had to walk most of it. I got a sweet pink leopard print shirt at Walmart yesterday and was SURE that'd get us a ride. Well the person that picked us up was the same dude that drove us back to town from Walmart yesterday. Go figure! He might show up with beer tonight, he said he'd like to come party at the shelter. He's really cool! Anyways, got the subs, got back to the shelter, fed Squatch & Oddjob, and set up the tent. (later that night)SC = boogie legs. I'm scared of the dark, don't wanna leave the tent, but I have to pee. *Things to buy in town: AquamiraPack coverShoe-gooHeadlampEraserEmergen-C
Date: 2009-08-21
From: Gorham

To: Carter Dome Summit
Miles today: 0.0

I almost crossed over to the darkside today. It was such a shitty day!But the morning was good."All night night long long long," I couldn't sleep. Grrrrrr, afraid of the dark.Let's see. We left the shelter wicked late today. Well, SC and I did. The others were gone before we even got out of the tent. So we hung around the shelter, ate, napped, and then decided to leave when a nobo named DoubleZip came by and woke us up (at 11 am). So we started up the trail, and started climbing Mt. Moriah. It was the worst! We stopped like 0.5 miles up it to take a dip in the rattle river because we were overheated, and just felt like taking our merry ol time. It was REALLY hot today! Met a nobo named Ahab while we were eating a snack, and he told us about Hillary at the Zealand Hut...told us to "ask for the fluorescent moo moo." Don't know what that means, but I'll do it.So just as we got up to the top-ish of Moriah, it started raining buckets, and lightning was shooting out of the sky at an alarming rate. It was terrifying, honestly. It was a downpour like I had never seen, and really loud lightning. We said our prayers, and told each other what to tell our respective families if one of us were to die out there...I admitted that I never liked the fact that we have so many cats...So we got to the summit of our first 4,000 footer in this scary shit. But then we got below treeline and it was fine...until we got to the Imp Campsite and realized you have to pay to stay there. Eff that! It was 5 pm, and we had to move on. I was soaked, in my stupid pink cotton zebra striped shirt (that was a stupid purchase). We didn't leave the campsite until 6:30! 6 freaking 30! Mind you, it's still raining, it's cold rain, and we have 7 miles if we want to get to the Carter Hut, and we have to summit some big mountains before getting there!Fuck this.It was really tough. Cricket was in go-mode, while I was menstrual and tired. So I just put my head down, headlamp on, and walked. At 9:30, we ran into some nobos stealth camping in a no camping area. They informed us that the hut turned them away. That was where we were headed. That was our goal. It was 1.4 miles away from where we met the nobos, and I wanted to set up camp right there. What's the point in going on if we KNOW we can't stay there? Cricket wanted to keep hiking, so of course, I didn't say anything. Man I was close to the edge. I was so wet and tired and I just wanted to call it a night so I could get warm and in my sleeping bag. We started up Carter Dome, and I think he realized I was pissed. He got tired on the way up, too, and so then we decided to set up his tent on Carter Dome summit (we had to use his because mine isn't free-standing, and the summit is all rocks). The weather cleared up, so it's a good call that we set up here. It's nice. We're crammed cozily in the Big Agnus, and I have come back to the light.
Date: 2009-08-22
From: Carter Dome Summit

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light intensity shower rain

Dinner last night = dank. Blueberry bagel with sharp cheddar cheese, and pepperoni. Strangely delicious. But even better was dessert: Italian bread, Parkay butter, cream cheese, taco sauce, and one full avocado. I nearly died it was so good!The Wildcats today were fine, way easier than I had expected, because the nobos told me they were rough. Nobos are ridiculous, from here on out I will take their words of advice with a grain of salt.We stopped at the top of Wildcat and ate in the Ski Patrol building. I saw a momma moose and her calf, and ran right up to them. A tourist was taking pictures and said, "Wow you're brave!" Brave? Since when are moose dangerous?Now we (SC, Squatch and I) are waiting for Eric's uncle to come pick us up. We're going to zero at their house until the forecast for the whites looks better. At this point, it looks pretty unfriendly.
Date: 2009-08-23
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Osgood Tentsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Got a late start out of Pinkham notch. It was a weird day...I want to start being alone, so I'm staying at the Osgood Tent site while Squatch and SC moved on. They went up to Madison hut. I cooked corn soup for dinner and hung my food on a tree. There are no good trees here. There's a sign saying that there is bear activity here. Hoping for the best. All my food is hung and it should be fine.
Date: 2007-04-23
To: Troutville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

My plans are to do GA - ME in 2009 and start in March on my 60th birthday. To get an idea of my abilities I "sectioned hiked" from Standing Bear Farm to Troutville, VA - roughly 460 miles. My brother (Iceman - the ORIGINAL since 1986) is a 2007 GA-ME hiker. We grew up just about right on the AT in Cornwall, CT and always talked of thru hiking the trail. Well as circumstances go this was the best year for him to hike but the worst year for me to try and hike - so he is, I'm not.During the few weeks I hiked not only did I hike with Iceman but also Buttercup (from KY), Shiver (from VT), SoCo, Philmont, Holdon, Buffalo Bobby, Blaze (from CA), Brisk (from RI), Tater (from ME), Pyro (section hiker from FL) and a bunch of other neat people. The AT community is very unique in the fact that you are accepted into the ¢community¢ on face value. As you all know there is a certain amount planning that goes into a thru hike. Gear selection, bounce boxes, mail drops, etc. My shake down hike was a good experience for me. My brother and I have done a tremendous amount of hiking in the Whites. In addition we have ¢sectioned hiked¢ the AT from the Hudson River to Baxter.On this hike I realized that my antique 25 year old pack has seen better days. My 4lb + sleeping bag is great for horseback camping (which I do for a living) but really gets heavier each day its carried on my back. Between the pack and bag I was weighing in at almost 14 lbs ¢ that was even before food, water, clothes or anything else. Technology has certainly changed in the last 25 years!Like Iceman told me the secret to a light pack is a thick wallet ¢ modern technology isn¢t cheap!!So for the next year and half I will be in here getting all the info I can to plan for 2009.
Date: 2008-06-06
To: Decision Time
Miles today: 0.0

After section hiking approx 475 miles with my brother, thru hiker Iceman (GA->ME 2007), I realized that my old Coleman Peak I external frame pack had to go. It was literally falling apart on the trail. The seams were coming apart due to dry rot. This included the stitching for the padding on the shoulder straps. I had to have them re-sewn during my hike. Unfortunately the place that sewed them decided to sew them different than we had discussed. When the pack was returned to me and I started wearing it the shoulder straps and padding rolled up like a rope on my shoulders. In addition to that my empty pack and sleeping bag alone weighed 14 lbs! As I was hiking with well prepared thru hikers I realized that 50+ lbs packs were becoming obsolete.The zipper on my cold weather bag (as old as my pack) had come apart. The place I took that for repair told me it would be cheaper in the end to buy a new bag.I have a very small one person tent ¢ not enough room for me and my pack so one of us has to sleep under the stars at night (or in the rain). Since my pack has never protested when I leave it out it has always been the pack. Some nights the critters have really enjoyed that choice.So now is decision time¢¦..What pack style ¢ internal or external? Once that is decided ¢ what brand of pack?What brand and style of tent? Presently considering the Big Agnes 2 man ¢ my pack would be happy. Good space/weight ratioSince I am planning an early March start what temp rating and brand for the sleeping bag? Western Mountaineering makes a nice cold weather bag but it also carries a high price tag. Iceman once told me to get a light pack start with a thick wallet. As decisions are made and gear is purchased I will most likely add to these mumblings and ramblings¢¦¢¦.
Date: 2008-06-19
To: Packs
Miles today: 0.0

I took time yesterday to look at and try various packs. I tried the Gregory Baltoro and Z55 and also an Osprey Aether 60. I really liked the Baltoro except for the weight - weighing in at over 5 lbs.Today I want to try Granite Gear packs. I know last year there were a lot of them on the trail.I have decided on my tent and sleeping bag. The tent is the Seedhouse SL2 and the bag is the 15 degree Lost Ranger ¢ both by Big Agnes.
Date: 2008-06-25
To: Gear
Miles today: 0.0

Well today I took another step forward in the preparation of my 2009 hike. I ordered my tent, Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 and my Big Agnes Lost Ranger sleeping bag.I have decided to hold off on ordering a pack until I have accumulated more of my gear and also to have an opportunity to look at more packs. I cannot find anyone within a hundred miles that stocks Granite Gear packs, and I don¢t want to buy a pack without trying it on.
Date: 2008-08-25
To: Pack purchase
Miles today: 0.0

Well I finally got a chance to get "off the mountain" where I work and got to an outfitter to buy my pack. After much discussion and trying different packs I went with the Osprey Atmos 65. I haven't had a chance to hike with it yet but have been playing around packing my gear in it in different configurations to see what works the best. I also picked up a pair of Marmot Precip full zipper rain pants. I have most of my gear now and need to fill in the voids. Still need to get a pair of hiking boots, socks and a few other items. March will be here before I know it!
Date: 2008-10-09
To: Gear
Miles today: 0.0

Basically I have purchased all of my gear except for a camera that I feel will be suitable for the trail.I went with Danner 453 GTX boots. I wore Danners last year when I sectioned hiked. The boot was very comfortable but last year my toes rubbed on the inside of the toe and wore the inside lining away. Cabela¢s refunded my money without any problem. This year I went to an outfitter and tried on different sizes and ended up going with a size 12, up from a 10 1/2. I add Spenco insoles and use two pair of socks. The boots feel great to walk in. I have yet to be able to do any serious hiking in them but have done some road walks.Now I am taking the time to pack everything into my pack and adjust as necessary. To me I am still on the heavy side as far as pack weight is concerned. I am at 21.5 lbs without food and water. Adding 1.5 liter water and six days of food will bring me up to just about 37 lbs. I know since I am starting the first week of March I need the polypro and the warmer sleeping bag, but still I would like to be in the upper 20 ¢ low 30 range for total pack weight.The Atmos 65 upper comfort range is mid 30 ¢ 40 lbs. I will be pushing it with a full load of food and water.I have a hike coming up 10/24 ¢ 10/26 so I will see how things carry. If worse come to worse I can always step up to the Aether 70 which has a comfort range up to 50 lbs, but only weighs 15 oz more than the Atmos.
Date: 2008-10-14
To: Shake down day hike
Miles today: 0.0

Today I packed all of my gear, except food, and went out for a short day hike to test everything. Instead of food I just add "extras" to make up the weight. I found a trail that had a lot of uphill. On the return I took a different trail down that was basically a dry waterfall. This was good because I had never hiked with trekking poles before. Once I got the poles adjusted I can see where they will be a real knee saver.The pack and the gear rode well and I really didn¢t find any big problems. I will be going out on a few more day trips and then on the weekend of 10/26/09 I will be going out with Iceman (GA>ME07) for an overnight.I also made my reservations with Amtrak to get me to Gainesville, GA and my reservations at Hiker Hostel. I will use their shuttle service from the train station, spend a night there and then have them shuttle me to the trail.Now it¢s just a matter of fine tuning everything and getting in as many ¢practice¢ hikes as I can.March will be here before I know it!
Date: 2008-10-23
To: First Overnighter
Miles today: 0.0

This was my first chance to do an overnighter with the new gear. It was just a short "out and back" on the Mattatuck and Mohawk Trails in the Mohawk State Forest in Cornwall, CT.The weather was perfect for hiking and even though I didn't have a thermometer there was heavy frost in the morning. My 15 degree Big Agnes was plenty warm. The sunrise was great and made the oaks just "blaze" in color.This was the first of more overnighters to come before I start my thru on 03/04/09.
Date: 2008-11-09
To: More prep
Miles today: 0.0

11/9/8 Started @ Rt. 20 outside Lee, MA (AT s/b mm 638.6) Sunday afternoon and headed to the Cabin @ Upper Goose Pond. The weather was cool with heavy overcast skies. 11/10/9After midnight the rain started and morning arrived with 35F and a mixture of rain/with a few flakes of snow. At 8:30 I put on the rain gear and hit the trail. Of course within 15 minutes the sun came out and the rain stopped. Since the woods were dripping wet I left the rain gear on and it is a good thing I did. About two miles later the wind picked up and the snow moved in and snowed heavily for a short period. It was cloudy the rest of the day with a mixture of rain and snow showers. I arrived at Mt. Wilcox North Lean-to (s/b mm 654.2) at about 4:00 PM and settled in for the night.11/11/8It was again a cold morning. No thermometer but the condensation from my tent was ice crystals on the framework. The sun was a tease ¢ it greeted me in the morning but quickly went behind the clouds as soon as I started hiking. Once the day awakened fully the wind also came alive and blew most of the day. Even though it was overcast it was kind enough not to rain or snow on me.I stopped for lunch at the Tom Leonard Lean-to (s/b mm 661.3) and relaxed for about an hour. After lunch I headed out for my final destination for this short trip, Rt. 7 in Great Barrington, MA. (s/b mm 667.7). Once I crossed the Housatonic River and was walking the trail through the meadows along it¢s banks the sun reappeared and graced me with it¢s presence. It was very enjoyable feeling the warmth of the sun and a nice finish to the trip. On this trip I tried ¢freezer bag cooking¢ (FBC) for the first time and found it an easy way to prepare my meals. When I got to camp in the evening I would heat the water and get the meal going. While it was ¢cooking¢ in the bag I would set up my tent and get the sleeping bag ready. The really nice part was that when I finished the meal there were no dirty dishes!!
Date: 2008-11-28
To: Phone
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

After looking at Pocketmail I decide to go for an "all in one" type of device. Since I already have Verizon service I went with the Blackberry Storm. When I did a long section hike in 07 I had cell service many times when others didn't. Since I am "learning" the phone and how it works I figured I would do this entry with it. It does take some getting use to typing on such a small keyboard!
Date: 2008-12-11
To: Arrival of Guide Books
Miles today: 0.0

Today the ATC Guide Books and Maps arrived!! I will probably just carry the maps and not the books. For a guide book I am going to carry Appalachian Pages.I know there is a lot of discussion on certain forums whether it is a waste of time and worth the extra weight to carry the maps. Well I am map and compass type of guy. When I look off and see a lake or mountain top I would like to know what the name of it is.It is hard to believe that it is only 83 days until I start at Springer. It seems like every day I go over my food lists, gear and pack. I pack, unpack, and re-pack my pack different ways to see which I like the best.I will be doing mail drops so I have also been trying out different foods to include in the mail drops. Breakfast for me is pretty easy ¢ oatmeal. Lunch will be a variety of different things ¢ granola bars, Snickers, Ramen all depending on my mood when I put the mail drops together.I have been experimenting with the dehydrator and have made up different meals for dinner. So far the best one is still my pasta and dehydrated sauce. Today I am going to try dehydrating hot Italian sausage to see how well it works, tastes and most importantly lasts!Mail drops will be just a small part of my re-supply of food. Where I think getting into a town will be more time consuming or a hassle I will do a mail drop. Along the way I plan on re-supplying in towns every 3 ¢ 5 days.I still need to one more final purchase of gear and that is my camera. Still looking, but no final decision yet.
Date: 2008-12-20
To: Training slow down
Miles today: 0.0

Well my ¢training¢ has gotten a minor set back. I have a history of kidney stones and have been ¢carrying one around¢ since early summer. It hadn¢t bothered me much so I took an ¢out of sight out of mind¢ mentality towards it until I decided to positively thru hike in 09. Once I knew I was hiking I decided to become pro-active and have it removed. On the 11/19/08 I went into the hospital and had an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy done. On the 12/01/08 I went for a follow up x-ray to determine if the above procedure was successful. I was advised that the x-ray was inconclusive. On 12/15/08 I went in for a blood draw. At that time I requested getting another x-ray because I wanted to know if I still had a stone or not. Another x-ray was scheduled for 01/12/09. At 11:50 PM on 12/15/08 the question if I had a stone or not was answered. That is when I was awakened by the intense pain of a kidney stone announcing its movement! Finally at 10:30 AM on the 16th I called the Doctor¢s Office and was advised to go to the Emergency Room ¢ which I did. At 1:45 PM I was wheeled into the operating room to have an emergency ¢ureteroscopic stone removal¢ performed. This is where the Doctor passes a small ureteroscope through the bladder into the ureter to snare the stone.So now I have a stent in. I have to wait until 12/23/08 to see the Doctor and have the stent removed. At that time I will receive further information on my situation. Until that appointment I have stopped doing my daily hill climbing walks, and also postponed my trip to Fla. to do some hiking.I do not anticipate any surprises, but I am disappointed not being able to walk everyday to keep the pace up.