morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-02-20
From: Hiker Inn (Damascus)

To: DAMASCUS
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

its almost 1 and will be heading out soon. got 9+ miles to do. when i got here yesterday it was hard to find a place. finally got a hold of Suzanne at Hiker Inn. nice place. ive lost more weight then i want so i increaced my calories for the next 5 days. went from 235 to 205 in 50 days. pack weights in at 38#. heavier then i want, but i got the food (17#). met Jeff at Mt Rogers Outfitters. great help. wish i had met him before i bought my gear for hike. got a camera in my mail drop. will still take some pics with phone for the journal (smaller in size for e-mail) having a great time wish i could stay one more day, but hostel is booker for the weekend PLANS CHANGED. only wanderer came into libaray and invited me to his home tonite. has a pot roast cooked so i will be setting out in the AM. funny how things work out
Date: 2009-02-21
From: DAMASCUS

To: NORTH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

STILL HERE! only wanderer has been a great host and friend. he made me very comfortable in his home. im leaving this morn out of Damascus. dont know how far ill hike, but will edit later when i get service for PDA. i thought id take this time to answer questions asked. to do journal on trail i use a MOTO Q phone with broadband and hotmail plus to e-mail pics full size. as far as my gear i mention when something works good for me, but i will not post a gear list. hiking in the winter is different for each person. what works for me might not for you. all my gear i tested on shorter hikes. try things out and have fun. there is nothing better then winter backpacking. these are a few things i am very happy with. i use a alcohol stove (soda can type) has worked great. some say it takes longer to boil water at low temps, but it hasnt taken so long that it messed up my evening schedule my rain/wind gear is working great. have an Epic Mountian Hardware jacket (mt hardware runs long in general. great if your tall) and EMS pants with the side zippers. my pack is a Golite Pinnicale. i wish i had gotten a ULA Catalyst , but the golite got me this far OK. im using Appalachian Pages 2009 for my guide. big help in planning. i also carry maps and a compass. was a BIG help in snow. thought i might need a quick way out of woods a few times. alot of my clothes are from Goodwill or Salvation Army. its a good place to buy things to test out. they have gear now and then also. i got new mittens at the NOC, Meteor Outdoor Researh. a little overkill, but sure beats wareing socks for gloves. for a year and a half i read forum after forum on backpacking and hiking. the more info you have the better, but nothing beats getting out there and trying stuff out. PS somebody asked about fording rivers. havnt had to yet. guess ill cross that bridge when i come to it.
Date: 2009-02-23
From: NORTH

To: Saunders Shelter 
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

stayed at Only Wanderer for 3 days. stomach was going crazy. dont have to leave, but you know what Ben Franklin said about fish and guests . hiking to Saunders. i dont expect to have service for a few days. will catch up when i can...........well i got service. easy hike. got here at 5, left at 12. its 20*, but i was shivering like it was below 0. im in bag already. maybe it was the sinus pills or i got a cold. either way im warm now. i hope Mt Rogers has alot to offer, been getting alittle bored. the snow made it nice today
Date: 2009-02-25
From: Lost Mt. Shelter 

To: Wise Shelter 
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: clear sky

started early. hiked to Buzzard Rock. good view from there. on the way up Mt. Rogers ran into Stallion and Breeze. Stallion is SOBO left in Oct. Breeze was doing a section with him. moved on to Wise Shelter. when i crossed Greyson i got lost and very confussed. i went through fatman squeeze backwards and headed back the wrong way. sat down to read map and compass. (so many snow spots white blazes were hard to find) when i looked up a horse was right behind me. scared me to death 8O . when i found my way i had 4 mi. to go and it was 5pm. saw many more horses. got to shelter at 7. forced myself to eat and went to bed.
Date: 2009-02-26
From: Wise Shelter 

To: Hurricane Shelter
Miles today: 10.2

boy did i hurt today. slipped a few times yesterday and pulled some muscles. they felt better after i walked for awhile. the rock walks scared me. kept thinking i was going to slip again. got to shelter at 4. it was 50# out, so i hung my socks out and shoes out to dry. cooked diner. the temp dropped to 45 by 7. not a bad nite.
Date: 2009-02-27
From: Hurricane Shelter

To: Marion, Va.
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: moderate rain

it was 40* at 7am. cloudy. packed my pack and at 8 walked out to privy and said "boy, looks like it could rain any minute". and it started pouring :D . i waited for a bit and hiked out in the rain in my dry socks and shoes about 9:30. rained for 2 hours. when i got to Rt. 16 i walked into Troutdale 2.6 mi. E. when i got to Jerry's Resturant i found out the Hostel wasn't open yet. i ate lunch and Jerry offered to take me to Sugar Grove. when we got there they were filled up, so he drove me into Marion. He is a real nice guy. he reffers to his family as "friends of the trail". he lived up to that with me. definity worth the stop. i stayed at the Virginia House Inn. Cheap, has an indoor bathroom and a TV, WITH CABLE.
Date: 2009-03-02
From: Marion, Va.

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

my weight loss has gotten out of hand. 237# to 193#. talked to Doc and a time off the trail was suggested, aleast until it is under control. this was not an easy for me, but when the dizzy spells started i got nervous. i did start eating more, but it wasn't helping. i think it was going right through me?? i'll let Doc do what he's good at. i'll keep yous up to date on what happens. i planned for alot of things; cold, shoes, clothing, maps, even a good first aid kit ; but this i was not ready for. it's been a great hike so far. i hope to finish it........ PS i'm snowed in in Roanoke Va. on a Greyhound bus and they won't let me hang my hammock in the terminal
Date: 2009-03-03
From: Home

To: Washington DC
Miles today: 0.0

well i thought i'd be home by now. im stuck in DC till 5am then to Wilmington, Del. 12 hour trip turning into 33 hours and i was having a problem with hiking foods. this terminal food is going to kill me :D ..........FINALLY HOME. updated some PICS. THANKS ALL for your support.
Date: 2009-03-04
From: Washington DC

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Princess at Fatty were thrilled to see me.    Wednesday i walked around the neighborhood in my snowshoes, but it melted to quick to kayak down the hills saw Doc yesterday and was given a clean bill of health so far. they tested sugar, oxygen, heart rate and stuff in office. even did an EKG. need to go for a cat scan and full blood work (and those over 50 tests they do to us men). have an appointment with foot doc in 2 weeks. as to why i felt so weak? doc thinks it was weight lose TOO quick.   im working on a diet now. good carb, bad carb stuff. protein intake. it hard to do because most information on the web or books are linked to the food or drug products they are pushing. checked with a friend at GNC about supplements, but will need to bounce it off Doc first. if anyone has any ideas for me please e-mail me (not the guestbook). have not set a time to start hiking again, but i have no time restraints and the trail ain't going nowhere. the house looks like Campmor exploded as i review my gear list and make repairs to stuff. thank you all for your well wishes and comments will update next week sometime.
Date: 2009-03-22
From: Home

To: Still Here :)
Miles today: 0.0

Hi everybody went to my Dad's 80th Birthday Party last night. the pic is my son (David), dad and i. he was very surprised. my sister (Donna) flew in from Californie with her hubby. my dad had a great time. all of his VFW friends were there. been doing my testing and all seems OK. foot doc says i should wear boots not trail runners. HE prefers trail runners, but not for MY feet. he hiked part or the trail when he graduated. go figure, i find a foot doc that hikes . been working off and on. ripping off old cedar shake roofing, sheathing and shingling. easy work . trying to not get too involved till i decide what i am doing. dont know if im going to flip-flop or not. lisa posted ALL my pics on webshots.com. they are under kayak karl. some cool picks of turbo (SoRuck). talked to Swamp Fox today. hes in philly seeing his pop who is under the weather, but doing OK. we're going to try to get together. be nice to see them again. thank yous ALL for still following my journey, signing my guest book and e-mailing me. TAKE CARE.
Date: 2009-04-15
From: Still Here :)

To: Still Here :)
Miles today: 0.0

Hey everybody!thanks for the posts, e-mails and calls. i fell a lot better after putting on 20#'s. got out and did a little hiking. thats the pic which is the Batsto River off the Batona Trail just south of Quaker Bridge. it was weird. didn't have to worry about water, tuna and things freezing. it rained, but was still nice. planning a 3 day, 60 mi. shakedown hike in the Wharton Track in 2 weeks. Batona Trail runs through it, but i'm just going to compass and map. test out my 40* stuff. my pack without food is 12 #'s. amazing how much more you need to carry in the winter. chatted with Rockhound at Standing Bear Hostel, he said there are 20 hikers a nite there. he's busier then a one eyed cat watching 2 mouse holes. i don't think i saw 20 hikers a month, lol. that is one of the reasons i'm not going back on the trail now. call it selfish, but i liked having the shelters and hostels to my self. and the hiker are so YOUNG. i think its great, but i'm OLD and they like to do things like stay up past 8 and TALK. the other reason is the HEAT. if i leave now i may see temps as high as 75*, i would bake in that smoldering heat . i decided to finish my hike SOBO and start the beginning of August. that should give me enough time to finish this year. still working on my menu and i will post it before i leave. changing the axle on the kayak trailer right now. they need to be in the water soon. can't let them dry out in the heat of the sun.i'll keep ya posted. yous all take care.P.S. your done reading this!! TAKE A HIKE
Date: 2009-06-08
From: Still Here :)

To: Still Here :)
Miles today: 0.0

getting read to leave between 8/1 to 8/15. got my Appalachian Pages 2009 SOBO in the mail today. going over my gear. don't need to buy much. some clothes and a 20* over quilt for my hammock. im leaving with 40* gear. its going to be different. longerdays, clothes may dry not freeze. even the peanut butter and tuna won't be froze solid health is good. a few tests left, but are just for a baseline. so, what have i been doing. KAYAKING OF COURSE yous all take care.
Date: 2009-06-24
From: Still Here :)

To: Still Here :)
Miles today: 0.0

went kayaking with my son on fathers day. had a good time and got caught up on things. getting my gear together. plan on leaving 8/9/09 in the AM. i'm starting out with 40* gear. the only thing I've added is a PACKA. my rain gear is too insulated for anything above 40*. i also picked up a Golite Ultra 20* quilt for later on. i'm starting out with my Katahdin Equinox, not my Golite Pinnacle. ill post my final gear before i leave. I received my Appalachian Pages SOBO in the mail. the new 09 is better then 08. better town maps and info. haven't figured out where i will up gear to 20* yet. I'm having fun with the planning. see yous on the trail
Date: 2009-07-23
From: Still Here :)

To: Still Here :)
Miles today: 0.0

Hi, When to AC for a little R&R. the pic is the remains of the Jersey Devil (Believe it or Not). on the way down i got a call from Fishin Fred and his grandson, Mercury (now Boy Wonder) they were leaving to get Mercury home. they had a GREAT time. was nice hearing from them, met them both at NOC in January. i asked how Watchman was, but they had not seen him for a month or so. we said Bye and we might meet in Maine later in August. THEN 4 hrs later phone rings and its Watchman. Fred ran into him in town. Was good to hear from him. he plans to finish 9/15 so i should see him in the 100 Mile Wilderness. Finishing up final plans. got tickets, gear and stuff. just food to buy. plan to summit 9/10 now
Date: 2009-08-02
From: Still Here :)

To: Still Here :)
Miles today: 0.0

7 days to go.been working on my gear list. i keep changing things, but i think this is my final list. AT SOBO Hike 8/10/09 StartCLOTHING Men's New Balance MO1201Low Gaiters2 Smartwool socks & Seal Skinz Poly T shirt2 Terramar Silk EC2 UnderwearPoly pro glove linersMist Over mitt (DIY)Micro FleecePacka.comSilk ShirtConvertible PantsFoam Towel3 bandanasStuff sack SHELTER & SLEEPINGExplorer UL A-Sym w/zip mod Jacks ¢R¢ Better Nest under quiltJRB Stealth QuiltStock HH Tarp w/2 titanium stakes & line set JRB Compression Sack for quiltsCOOKING & FOODDenatured Alcohol BicCaldera Kitchen w/3cup pot w/utencils,stand, stove14 oz8 fl. Oz. of denatured alcohol Polar Pure (2) Platypus 1 L¢s w/pouch for shoulder strapStuff SackBear bag hookNAVIGATIONCompassS.P.O.T. (green tunnel test run) 8 ozKey chain thermometerATC Map Bundle / 4 mail dropsAppalachian Pages 2009 SouthboundSmall tablet, pencil and penHeadlampPACK & POLESGo-Lite Pinnacle Pacer Poles 3 section carbon3 mil trash bagESSENTIALS & SUNDRIESFirst Aid Kit (3 oz.)Chap stickBug net hat100% DeetTPHand sanitizerTooth brush/paste Dental flossMISCELANEOUSKodak Easy Share thestickpic.comDuct- tape, Poly thread w/needle, superglueBB Curve w/broadband + Charger w/backup battery w/case (24 oz)DIY Wallet/ ID DebitWeight of Pack w/o food, water and clothes on back -16lb tomorrow i'll post my winter gear i'll be having dropped when the night temps drop below 30.
Date: 2009-08-03
From: Still Here :)

To: Still Here :)
Miles today: 0.0

6 days left This is what I have set up for drops as weather changes. WINTER GEARMt Washington Under quilt GoLite Ultra 20° Quilt GoLite Adrenaline 0° Long Mountain Hardware Men's Epic JacketThunderhead Rain PantsPatagonia Down Sweater The North Face 700 Bootie¢sTerramar Silk EC2 Underwear CrewneckTerramar Silk EC2 Underwear PantsTerramar Thermasilk BalaclavaOutdoor Research Meteor MittsCMI Instep CramponBalaclava (face mask)Warbonnet Superfly TarpFleece Hat
Date: 2009-08-07
From: still here

To: Still Here :)
Miles today: 0.0

I'm leaving for Baxter. not really Baxter. let me explain. we have a cat named Baxter. he's in the pic. the dogs think he's a toy . but he somehow survives with a Rottweiler and a Golden Lab-Pitbull mix(Princess will chew your leg off, but she'll bring it back ) so i'm not leaving for Baxter, but to Baxter. Train leaves Wilmington, Del. 11:36pm tomorrow. can't wait
Date: 2009-08-08
From: Still Here :)

To: Still Here :)
Miles today: 0.0

leaving on the train at 11:35 pm to Maine. not as excited. hate trains, planes and automobiles (liked the movie) its a shame about John Hughes . im sure ill be more excited when i get there it's going to be weird. warm and people all around. much different from the winter, so I've been told. I'll try to be cordial to them and give them a jersey "how yous doin'" my major concern is food. i will be posting what I'm eating and will be weighting myself at town stops. i don't want the weight loss to be a set back again THANKS again for all yous that have signed my guest book and/or have supported me in so many ways.
Date: 2009-08-10
From: Appalachian Trail Lodge

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

Left ATL at 6:30. Got my site and pack and headed up. Nice following those white blazes again . Climb was hard, like going up a ladder 2 rungs at atime. At the summit ther were about 50 hikers. Took pics and headed down with a small group. 4 eagle? scouts and steve and dave. Started raining hard at the tree line for 2 hours. It 8 pm its raining an nothing is drying . At least its 75 degrees . Nice to be back. PS battery dead, SPOT down, using camera batteries for OK.
Date: 2009-08-12
From: birches

To: Rainbow Lake Camp
Miles today: 21.1

Left at 6 am this morn. Photo opps w/buckeye(NOBO) till 6:15. Got to Hurd Brook lean-to by 12. Headed to rainbow spring campsite and got there at 6pm. I passed about 15 nobo's. Trail was very muddy and it was about 75 and clear. Made good miles, but then there was no major elevation gain. Having fun
Date: 2009-08-14
From: Sandy Beach

To: Stream Bridge
Miles today: 9.5

Hiking today was hard. Could not catch my breath. The heat and humidity combined with just starting left me resting every half mile. By 4 I had enough and camped by the lake. Nice thing about hammock, you don't need level ground. tomorrow should be better PS- I'm entering journal daily in note pad of phone and cut & paste when I get service. I can't remember back 3 days anymore
Date: 2009-08-15
From: Stream Bridge

To: Jo-Mary C.pground
Miles today: 8.0

Slept from 5pn till 6am. Must of needed it. Did 8mi. In 5 hours. Was a little easier even though it was hotter. Got off trail at Jo-Mary Campground. Nice place. GOOD cooked food. Showered and wash done. Great people. They are shuttling me back to trail in AM. AFTER my egg, bacon, french toast, baked beans and toast, orange juice and coffee breakfast
Date: 2009-08-16
From: Jo-Mary C.pground

To: Logan Brook Camp
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

BIG BREAKFAST and then on the trail at 9am Campground gave me a ride) high 80,s but hiking was OK. Went for a swim in Crawford Pond. Pasted about 10 hikers. It's 5 PM and i'm eating at Pleasant River Lean-to wondering if I should move on?? Moved on to Logan Brook Lean-to. Its raining now. Got a 2000ft. Right at the git-go tomorrow
Date: 2009-08-17
From: Logan Brook Camp

To: Gulf Hagas Brook
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Left at 7 to beat the heat. That didn't work . Up and down, up and down, over 4 mountains(which have my full respect now). Took me 8 hours to Carl A. Newhall Lean-to. I'm eating and planning to move on again. This state of Maine has beautiful woods and a very well maintained trail I moved on to just before Gulf Hagas Trail in the stream.
Date: 2009-08-18
From: Gulf Hagas Brook

To: Southside of Third Mtn.
Miles today: 9.0

Got off to an early start, but it is still HOT. Met a ridge runner today, she said it was above 90 degrees and humidity %. Made it over Third Mtn. That's all I had in me. Been drinking 5-6 liters a day. 22.5 miles left to go till Monson
Date: 2009-08-19
From: Southside of Third Mtn.

To: Long Pond Stream Camp
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: few clouds

Cooled off a bit today. Didn't start out till 8. Rough hiking today. Only made 3 miles by 2PM. Just didn't feel well. Rested and made it to Long Pond Stream lean-to by 5. Decided to camp here with another SOBO and get some rest. A lot of nice views along the way today. 15 to Monson. other pics are posted
Date: 2009-08-20
From: Long Pond Stream Camp

To: Leeman Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiked with How today. I couldn't keep up on the uphills still very trying for me. met a maintaining crew today. Great bunch of guys. They paint the blazes with a 1 1/2 in. paint brush? I thought they used a stencil and roller. They looked at me strange I thanked them and moved on. there are 7 so far at the shelter. 5 in the lean-to and a hammock and mine outside of it. only 3 miles to Monson in AM. Will be staying at Lakeshore Hostel. 100 mile wilderness almost complete....THAT WAS EASY....LOL
Date: 2009-08-23
From: Monson, ME

To: Moxie Balb Lean-to
Miles today: 18.0

Left Monson this morn at 7:30. Tina the cook at the general store took us to the trail. Everybody in the town was very kind to us. Walking was easy today. Temp was about 75 with some overcast. The rain last night washed the pollen and humidity out of the air. We forded e more streams. The deepest so far, about 3'. Breathing came easy today, but tomorrow I got 3000' of elevation gain. We'll see how that goes. We are at Moxie Bald Lean-to. I'm in my hammock, 7 NOBO's are tenting and How is in the shelter all alone. He said he's starting to get a complex . That's it for tonight.
Date: 2009-08-24
From: Moxie Balb Lean-to

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Left at 7. First mtn was not that bad. Was cloudy 70 and rained a little bit. We had lunch and started up second. It was 4.7 to peak and took us 4.5 hours to get there. The sun waw out now 75. A long, long climb. After the peak its a straight down to shelter. The mtn is named PLEASANT Pond Mtn. A very deceiving name. Tomorrow we cross the Kennebec River. We are trying to catch the 9-11 boat.
Date: 2009-08-25
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up to 50 degrees, "Sweeeet" Left a 6:30 and got to the canoe ferry by 9. 6 miles, what a morning jount . Hillbilly Dave was the caption and he let me row in the front. After I said "can I?, can I?, can I? ....about 10 times. LOL. We ran into 2 other SOBO's we met in Monson and hiked to West Carry Lean-to. There we were met by a boat with soda. It was a trail magic boat. There are about 8 other NOBO's by now. All in all it was a great day
Date: 2009-08-26
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to

To: Safford Notch Tentsite
Miles today: 12.2

Hiked to the base of Mt. Bigelow today. How and I plan to summit tomorrow then go into Statton. Looked like rain, but it held off. 2000 ft straight up in AM in the first 2 miles I,m going to need my sleep.
Date: 2009-08-27
From: Safford Notch Tentsite

To: Straton Hotel
Miles today: 9.0

UHHHHHO-HEEEEE WOKE UP TO 42 DEGREES what a wonderful start to a day started up to mt avery about 8. Nice hike in the crisp weather. Pasted a lot of hikers. The other 2 SOBO's had pasted us yesterday. They probably camped on top. Must of been 34 degrees. Nice views an weather all day. at Horns Pond we met Jeff the caretaker who told us the history of the area. Very nice informative guy. When I got to S. Horn my left knee started hurting. In 2 miles I could hardly walk down hill. Made it to the first dirt road and got picked up by hostel owner, Sue. Getting a shower, food and going to bed. Tomorrow is another day.
Date: 2009-08-28
From: Straton Hotel

To: Caribou Valley Rd.
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

My knee felt better in the morning and a blister on bottom of my foot went down. The group.was planning a 9mi. Slack pack so went along. Figured it would help my knee. Hike went good. Knee feels OK. Looks like rain all day tomorrow.
Date: 2009-08-29
From: Caribou Valley Rd.

To: Parhem Logging Rd
Miles today: 9.0

Woke up to rain. The gang wanted to slack pack again. It rained all day. Packa.com worked great. Got cold when waiting for ride and started a fire. L-Train showed up an went to town with us (other pic in photos). How and I made spaghetti and sausage for diner. Good day in spite of rain pic is left to right- Bill, Mossy Brown, Gaia, How
Date: 2009-09-01
From: Gull Pond

To: Bemis Mt Tent Area
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: clear sky

Bob dropped us off at 8am. Hal (not HOW, I,ve been misspelling it) and I started at rt. 4 and headed south. Easy hike till the last 4 miles . Got the lean-to at about 7. About 8 others. All but 2 are SOBO,s. One guy is from Ireland and have been running into him and his girlfriend a lot. It going to drop to 35 tonite. Can't wait
Date: 2009-09-02
From: Bemis Mt Tent Area

To: Sawyer Brook
Miles today: 11.3

Wasn't that cold this morn, but slept in and left at 8:30. Hiking was hard today. A lot of downhills that were rough on my feet and ankles. I am on the last map of Maine with 32 miles to go to New Hampshire. The NOBO's told me there are no roots, mud or big rocks there. I can't wait
Date: 2009-09-03
From: Sawyer Brook

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Was a short hike today. I was separated from all the other SOBO's since I didn't camp near a shelter. When I got to Pine Ellis everybody was there. Picked up my mail drop of food I sent and had a big dinner. The pains in my legs seem to move around from foot to foot and then up to the knees and then back down again . I think it's just the nature of the beast.