morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-08-15
From: Port Clinton PA

To: Hawk Mountain Rd
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Papa Big Swig dropped us off in Port Clinton. We walked though the downtown area of this tiny little village towards the woods and eventually UP.  I¢m back at Sloth pace. It was hot and humid, and a long ways UP. Slothing got me there.  Once I reached the top I stopped for a minute to text with Papa Big Swig.  I know better than to try to text while actively hiking.  Hugs made it up there and passed me by while I was texting. All done, I put my phone in my pocket, grabbed my trekking poles, and took one step. BOOM! Down I went. One slippery rock and it was all over. I was hurt.  My left shoulder popped out of place and right back in place just as fast. I landed on a small boulder with my left hip. My back went into spasms instantly.  I have scratches and bruises to both legs, and I ache everywhere!  I¢m really soooooo sick and tired of falling!  Hugs came back to help me. Just as we were assessing all of my appendages a NOBO we had met yesterday came by.  His name is No-Chill and he started on March 26. That¢s the exact same day as Hugs.  We walked together as a group for a while before No-Chill moved on quickly. I really couldn¢t walk much faster. We passed two SOBO¢s before pulling up a big rock to take a seat for lunch. Today we stopped at a Tentsite instead of blue blazing to a shelter.  After lunch we quickly got separated again. Rocks rocks rocks! All of which lead me to Pulpit Rock View.  It was a beautiful PA View.  Back on trail I met a SOBO named Caterpillar. Shortly behind him was a dad with two kids. They are 8 and 10 years old. They¢re also SOBO thru-hikers. Hugs and I talked to the kids(Fizzy & Bear)a good while. They are very bright children! They knew about calories and hiking. They¢re both taking in about 3500 calories a day.  They look happy and healthy! It was a great little conversation!  I wish them success on the rest of their journey. We came down out of the rocks onto a service road. It felt too good to be true, but Guthook¢s confirmed I was on the right path. We got nearly 2 miles of service road walking before heading back up into the woods. We popped out onto the road about 15 minutes before Papa Big Swig was due to arrive.  We decided to walk on down and checkout the Eckville Shelter. I¢m not sure what I expected, but it wasn¢t really anything special at all.  We watched a small herd of deer cross the road just before our chariot arrived.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-08-16
From: Silver City Campground 

To: Silver City Campground 
Miles today: 0.0

Today was the planned zero day. We took it even though we had an unplanned zero on Monday. As much I wish I could have just stayed in bed and rested, I had things to do. It started with a 9am chiropractor appointment.  That went about as well as it could. My back is just in an acute phase right now, EVERYTHING hurts! My adjustment hurts, sitting hurts, standing hurts, bending hurts, coming up from bending hurts a lot, and I won¢t even try a twist or turn. We had breakfast at a mom and pop place. It was really good!  I had S.O.S.  The gravy was just like my mom used to make. Mmmmm good! My feet were in bad shape from being wet so much, so all three of us went for a pedicure. My feet feel so much better!  Then we headed into New Jersey to go to REI. I¢m now fully equipped with Permethrin and Picaradin. Deer ticks are horrendous in this area. I also got one more pair of boots. I know I¢m going to need them before this is over.  I also needed to get the hand loops on my trekking poles replaced. I thought REI did that, but they don¢t. Now I¢ve got to contact Black Diamond or figure it out on my own. REI didn¢t even sell replacement loops. Ugh!  I¢m about to do laundry and get my gear ready for tomorrow....then I¢ll rest. Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-08-17
From: Bake Oven Rd 

To: Hawk Mountain Rd 
Miles today: 16.4

Rocks, rocks, and more rocks...the end!  We did a SOBO flip-flop today. The only critters I saw were toads.  Some of them are so tiny they¢re only about the size of a marble.  The terrain started out ok but eventually it turned into large rocks and boulders. I spent two hours navigating through that.  When we reached the top, Hugs and I sat down for a little break. While sitting up there, I heard a loud expletive from below. It was a section hiker. He couldn¢t believe the climb he was looking at. We couldn¢t either, which is why we were taking a break.  We started moving on before he made it up, but eventually he caught us and asked to pass. He introduced himself as Jersey. Just as he started he pass he slipped on a wet rock and went down. He was able to hang on to a big boulder so he didn¢t go down the side but he lost his Gatorade. I¢m so glad Hugs and I didn¢t have to go into work mode.  Once we got over that rock mass the terrain became decent again. I saw the coolest looking red mushroom. I thought red mushrooms were only in storybooks or cartoons. We stopped at a shelter for lunch. Padre was there. He¢s a section hiker from Ocala Florida. He¢s a really nice guy who decided to take a break from the rocks and call it a day at the shelter.  From there it was more of the same. Mostly rocks with short intervals of smaller or fewer rocks. Oh how I miss my ridges and switchbacks!  At least it didn¢t rain today, and the breezes were nice. Sometimes all I could hear was the wind rustling leaves in the trees.  I saw a few more toads before I popped out onto the road where Papa Big Swig was waiting.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018) Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-08-19
From: Smith Gap Rd 

To: Blue Mountain Rd 
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Well I spent two hours constructing today¢s journal entry and somehow it was deleted. It¢s off my phone. It¢s not even in my deleted folder. Sadly this will now be short and sweet. Yesterday our trekking poles were just a nuisance.  We would throw them up to the next level and pray they stayed where we threw them. Anticipating more of the same we left our poles behind today. We also didn¢t carry a backpack.  Equipped with fanny packs only we set out for our Nero.  Almost instantantly I missed my poles.  I use them for stabilizing myself if the terrain is uneven, and more importantly I use them to take out spider webs!  I was spitting and sputtering way too much for my liking, so I grabbed a stick.  I called it my Harry Potter wand as I was making circles with it taking out webs.   The terrain was rocky today, but manageable. I could actually look at the forest around me and take in all it has to offer.  I stopped to take a photo of the beauty.  I hiked through another pine forest today.  This time it was the soft fragrant pines. Pine needles carpeted the ground, and that felt so good on my joints!   There were some significant rock scrambles going down the mountain to where Papa Big Swig waited for us today. They were nothing like yesterday.  Prayers were answered  Papa Big Swig made us a great surf & turf dinner.  I¢m going to sleep fat and happy!  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-08-23
From: High Point State Park

To: Trailhead Road 
Miles today: 14.0

My morning started with the Chiropractor. I was late but he still took me right in. Tomorrow he¢s opening the office just for me. This will be the last time I see him.  I was in slow motion this morning. Besides running late for the chiropractor, I didn¢t get breakfast before I saw him either.  When we went back to the camper to pick up Hugs, I grabbed leftover Spaghetti. Yes, I had Spaghetti for breakfast!  In the SUV no less.  We did a SOBO flip flop today. Our hike actually started in a tiny part of New York. It¢s sandwiched between two parts of New Jersey. I¢m not REALLY in New York just yet. I will be there on Saturday if tomorrow goes as I hope.  The trail started out muddy. I mean MUDDY! Hugs wears trail runners and in the first 5 minutes she had mud literally between her toes! It went right through her shoes.  I took the lead early and somehow managed to aggravate a squirrel right away. He ran up a tree letting me have it the whole way. He was chattering and wagging his tail. I have no idea what I did.  There are still rocks in New Jersey and at times they¢re plentiful, but there¢s definitely a lot more good trail than bad. During a good trail time I looked up just in time to see a very large doe leap into the woods from the trail. There are few animals more graceful than a deer.  I¢m in awe every time. Because my back has been annoying me, I walked slowly today. Hugs and I also took an extended lunch break. There was a shelter right on trail with a large beautiful open space in front of it. We both enjoyed the blue skies and sunshine as long as we could.  Eventually we had to go back under the canopy and continue our journey. We did a lot of ridge hiking today with more wonderful views.  As we were on some rocks near an overlook on my left, I happen to look down to my right. There was a huge ant pile. It was twice as big as a basketball! Red ants were rushing around all over it. I haven¢t seen a red ant on the trail in months.  I see lots of black ones, but no red ones.  We ended up crossing paths with a group of three thru-hikers going northbound. Obvious new college grads. They started June 3rd!!! Again I¢m a bit embarrassed.  Right past them I saw a man in the distance taking a break. When I got close he turned and looked at me. It was Trail Walker! We haven¢t seen him since the Shenandoahs. It was good to see he¢s still plugging away at it.  We had fairly good terrain going up Sunrise Mountain. There was a nice pavilion at the top which is 1653ft.  The views were great. It would have been a lovely lunch spot too, but we lunched already. From their the trail took us by a fire tower. The views without the tower were fantastic, but Hugs went up anyway. She said it multiplied in splendor up there. I was afraid to over tax my back.  From the fire tower it was pretty much down and out to the parking area where Papa Big Swig waited. There was one last view us as we went down. New Jersey continues to impress me. It¢s a great state to hike in!  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-08-26
From: Sturbridge Massachusetts 

To: Katahdin Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

We slept last night at a hotel in Sturbridge Massachusetts. This was a strategic stop. There¢s an REI not far from the hotel and we had plans for this morning. Before going shopping we ate breakfast at a local favorite. Annie¢s Country Kitchen served up some great corned-beef hash with over easy eggs and toast. My belly was happy!  Papa Big Swig found out this REI will change the loops on my poles. So that was top priority! I also returned some sandals, and had something I ordered online delivered there. And I needed one more pair of hiking pants. It¢s cooler here. It turned out the guy who was suppose to manage my loops wasn¢t there. He also failed to put out the supplies for anybody else. The manager gave me a whole new set of Black Diamond trekking poles. for $8.00. The cost of the loops only! I¢m happy!  It was about a 5 hours drive to Millinocket Maine. Papa Big Swig was driving so Hugs and I napped. We put in well over 100 miles this past week to get to New York for the flip up to Maine. We¢re exhausted!  Sadly, I slept the whole way through Vermont...Our first stop in Maine was Kennebunkport. I had a Lobster Roll for lunch! The best $23 I¢ve ever spent!   I¢m already in love with Maine! From the natural beauty to the fresh woodsy smells. I love it all!!  So for tonight all three of us are at the Katahdin Inn. We met twin brothers at the hotel. Frick & Frack plan to summit Katahdin tomorrow. I¢m so excited for them, and can¢t wait until it¢s our turn!  For now it¢s laundry, getting our big packs ready, and resting our bodies as much as possible. Papa Big Swig leaves in the morning. Hugs and I will be working with a shuttle driver to get us where we need to go tomorrow.  Until Next TimeBlue Raccoon (2018)
Date: 2018-08-27
From: Katahdin Inn

To: Katahdin Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Papa Big Swig left us this morning. He¢s going back home for a few days. It will take us about 10 days to summit Katahdin and hike through the 100 mile wilderness. Our shuttle driver Lloyd was here at 9:45 this morning to help us get ready for our big day. He drove us to Baxter State Park where we learned a lot!  The first obstacle is finding sleeping arrangements for when we come down the south side of Katahdin. My original plans were to tent with a friend who happens to be here at the same time. However, her tentsite is on the north side of Mt Katahdin. We are not hiking 30 miles back around to get there. We tried to rent a site on the south side, but they¢re full. In the end we accepted the expense of the A.T. Lodge for one night.  So it¢s official, we are registered and permitted to summit Mt Katahdin tomorrow!!! 5,269ft elevation! This is absolutely mountain climbing, not hiking. Our big packs will be left at the ranger station or the Lodge. Park Rangers lend out daypacks to summit Katahdin with. I REALLY cannot wait!  The shuttle driver said to anticipate about 10 hours of hiking to get up, over, and down the mountain. We¢ll see how Hugs and Blue Raccoon do at our standard sloth pace.  On the way out Lloyd took us to a shop at the park. It has a little bit of everything. Souvenirs, ATM, and food. We both got another Lobster Roll! Can¢t get enough of that stuff!  Right now I¢m permethrin treating my clothing and gear in preparation for several days in the wilderness. This wards off ticks and mosquitoes. We are only carrying half of our food. Lloyd will be hanging the other half for us in a tree at the halfway point in the wilderness. There¢s an old logging road he¢s using to get up there. This man is a gift from God! We have Papa Big Swig to thank for that. He¢s the one who found him for us. I understand there may be several days with no cell service. I¢ll post my journal when I can. Say a prayer for me and Hugs, this is a BIG deal in the hiking world!Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-08-27
From: Katahdin Inn

To: Katahdin Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Papa Big Swig left us this morning. He¢s going back home for a few days. It will take us about 10 days to summit Katahdin and hike through the 100 mile wilderness. Our shuttle driver Lloyd was here at 9:45 this morning to help us get ready for our big day. He drove us to Baxter State Park where we learned a lot!  The first obstacle is finding sleeping arrangements for when we come down the south side of Katahdin. My original plans were to tent with a friend who happens to be here at the same time. However, her tentsite is on the north side of Mt Katahdin. We are not hiking 30 miles back around to get there. We tried to rent a site on the south side, but they¢re full. In the end we accepted the expense of the A.T. Lodge for one night.  So it¢s official, we are registered and permitted to summit Mt Katahdin tomorrow!!! 5,269ft elevation! This is absolutely mountain climbing, not hiking. Our big packs will be left at the ranger station or the Lodge. Park Rangers lend out daypacks to summit Katahdin with. I REALLY cannot wait!  The shuttle driver said to anticipate about 10 hours of hiking to get up, over, and down the mountain. We¢ll see how Hugs and Blue Raccoon do at our standard sloth pace.  On the way out Lloyd took us to a shop at the park. It has a little bit of everything. Souvenirs, ATM, and food. We both got another Lobster Roll! Can¢t get enough of that stuff!  Right now I¢m permethrin treating my clothing and gear in preparation for several days in the wilderness. This wards off ticks and mosquitoes. We are only carrying half of our food. Lloyd will be hanging the other half for us in a tree at the halfway point in the wilderness. There¢s an old logging road he¢s using to get up there. This man is a gift from God! We have Papa Big Swig to thank for that. He¢s the one who found him for us. I understand there may be several days with no cell service. I¢ll post my journal when I can. Say a prayer for me and Hugs, this is a BIG deal in the hiking world!Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-08-31
From: Rainbow Stream

To: Nahmakanta Lake
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: broken clouds

I slept great last night!  The air was cool but I was snug as a bug in my Nemo sleeping bag. I had coffee cooking by 7:15 this morning.  I also had every intention of leaving the shelter by 8:00. However, very excited NOBO¢s started hiking by and I found myself chatting with all of them.  They¢re beaming with joy!  It was after 10am before Hugs and I took a single step.  My path ran right beside Rainbow Creek for a long time.  It¢s a swift little creek with lots of small falls.  There was a thin section of pines between the trail and creek, and the sun was positioned just right to shine between the trees. My path was warmed making it even more  lovely. I watched a toad hop its way across the path in the sunshine. He hid in a small pile of fallen leaves.  There are no daddy longlegs here, and the mosquitoes are significantly less.  I¢m not sure what those little guys eat up here, but I sure don¢t miss those spiders and skeeters! The creek stayed with the trail a long while. It twisted and turned with me as I walked until I came out onto an old logging road.  I walked the road a couple hundred feet to a wooden bridge and across the creek.  The sun shone brightly on that bridge so I just stood there. I was soaking it up while listening to the water rush under. About that time another happy NOBO came along. She looked at me and said ¢don¢t you just love sun puddles?¢  If that was a sun puddle, yes I do!  Shortly after the bridge I made a turn into the woods again.  The trail became a trail of roots!  I¢ve never had so many tree roots for such a long distance on this trail before. Hugs caught up to me in the roots. She had a message on her satellite phone for me. It was from Papa Big Swig, and I knew that couldn¢t be good.  I was right. It turns out my little cousin is ill.  She was a happy healthy college kid when I left. Please say a prayer for Aubrey. My heart is aching for her right now. I walked on alone and had a cry in the woods. I¢ll never understand some things. I just keep my faith that one day I will understand it all. God and I had a bonding moment out there. That¢s always nice.  A pheasant came to visit me right then...I waited for Hugs, and after some indecisiveness we decided to pitch our tents on the beach of this lovely lake tonight.  Nahmakanta Lake shore. After rinsing off in the lake , we built a beautiful fire on the beach and enjoyed our dinner right there.  I¢m sleeping with my rain fly open tonight. Hoping to catch moose drinking from the waters edge in the morning.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-09-01
From: Nahmakanta Lakeshore

To: Antlers campsite
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

Woke up at 7am again. The outside of my tent was soaked. It did not rain, so that¢s how heavy the mountain dew was last night. My shorts and sports bra I rinsed in the lake and hung on branches to dry overnight are MORE wet now than when I went to sleep.   It was after 10:30am again before we left camp.  It just took that long to dry out our tents enough to pack them up. I rebuilt the fire this morning though, and that was nice.  Coffee by a fire is always good. The first NOBO I met up with was Grey Squirrel.  I¢ve seen plenty of grey squirrels before, but I bet he¢s never seen a Blue Raccoon! Haha!  He was on the grumpy side.  The fist NOBO thru-hiker I¢ve met in such bad spirits.  Anyway, as he was complaining a little red squirrel came running by with a very large nut in its mouth. The nut was so big that it was funny!  I took a second to wish Grey Squirrel well and left while the red squirrel still had me smiling. Hugs left with me, still giggling about that huge nut.  We came across a big ole pile of moose poop! Our eyes were open the rest of the day. No luck. I know they¢re out here somewhere. Then we came across more of those amazing tree roots that grow themselves across huge boulders to find soil on the other side.  That¢s a phenomenon if you ask me.  Soon I came to a Blue Blaze it went to a view of Katahdin.  There were some boulders on a lake with a perfect view from 40 miles away. That¢s today¢s photo.  From there to the campsite was pretty uneventful.  I stayed on moose alert and listened to water planes come and go.  The Maine forest is just amazing to me.  I¢m never bored.  Antlers Campsite is pretty awesome.  Lots of tent room, a privy not far away, and another big beautiful lake!  There are about 7 other tents here. We¢re so used to being alone, it¢s a nice change of pace. Red Hawk and Cribbage are some younger thru-hikers from California. I¢m pretty sure they¢re a couple since they use names like Babe and sweety for each other. Red Hawk went fishing in the lake with good success!  He threw 3 fish wrapped in aluminum foil with seasoning on them right in the fire.  About 20 minutes later I tasted some of the best fish I¢ve ever eaten! Another great day here in Maine! Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-09-04
From: Carl Newhall lean-to

To: Chairback gal lean-to
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

I slept like a baby in my tent last night. It¢s far better than dealing with mice in the shelter.  The breezes were blowing little pine cones down on top of my tent. I woke to thud, thud-thud-thud, thud.  Who needs an alarm clock!  The trail started out going down today. Water is plentiful here. There¢s always a creek or river near by.  That means when I go DOWN, it can get boggy. That¢s how it was for a couple of miles this morning.  The mud and swampiness of it all made me feel like I was in the Louisiana Bayou.  Once I started back UP the feel was completely different. To my right was the river with a small but lovely waterfall. The rivers here are always crystal clear.  They¢re beautiful to see and beautiful to hear.  Just past the waterfall was a big ole pile of moose poop! Still no moose!  My favorite thing about going up was the big white pines. Every now and then it smells like Christmas.  My mind goes back to mom¢s warm gingerbread with homemade whipped cream on top.  I came to some log benches by the river and decided to wait for Hugs.  When she arrived we took a little break and removed our boots. We had to walk across this river in our Crocs. Very quickly I began going UP. This was 3.4 miles up to Chairback Mountain. The grade was steep in the beginning. I broke a good sweat. About halfway up there was a false summit that gave some reprieve before I started UP again.  I continue to call this portion of the 100 the ¢tree root trail¢.  Planning my footing for every step is painstaking.  I saw another toad today hiding out in the roots.  I¢ve never seen a toad this big before in my life.  He was bigger than my fist!  I took a little break at the summit of Chairback Mountain. There views from the ledges for a good while. Today¢s photo is one of those views.  Sometimes I look down from a mountain top and I¢m just in awe of how much land there really is.  Miles and miles and miles of pine trees and lakes is all I saw.  It was something to behold.   It was only 0.5 miles from there to my campsite at Chairback Gap Lean-to.  I pitched a tent again with plenty of daylight.  Unless I can¢t help it, I¢m not sleeping in a shelter again.  The mice are too much!  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?