morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-09-24
From: Osgood Campsite

To: Top Notch Inn
Miles today: 0.0

We woke up after sleeping till 9am. When I went to get the food bags out of the bear box, I saw a momma moose about 12 feet away from me. We packed up and left Osgood Campsite making a lot of noise so the moose would leave. We hiked to Pinkham Notch visitor center. It was a very easy hike. We had breakfast at the visitor center. After breakfast, we were going to hike but it started hailing and a big storm hit. We got a ride from a very nice couple into Gorham in smiley face van. We got dropped off at a McDonald's where I used my gift card finally. We both caught up on our phone calls to friends and family and got some lunch. We both used the free Wi-Fi to update our blogs and check email etc. We decided to pull a zero day and got a hotel at the Top Notch Inn. We both took super long showers and watched a couple movies on TV. We went and resupplied at a gas station and then went to dinner at an all you can eat buffet. When we came back we watched Monday Night Football and I did the laundry. We snacked on our supplies and then went to bed.
Date: 2012-09-25
From: Top Notch Inn

To: Rattle River Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

We got up somewhat early, showered and packed up, I had to wait on Big Foot again. (haha) We checked out of our hotel and walked to McDonald's for breakfast. We called a shuttle to take us back to Pinkham Notch. The shuttle picked us up at the McDonald's and drove us to Pinkham Notch. On the way our driver showed us what a moose call sounds like and demonstrated how to make moose calls. We met Wounded Knee who was passed without knowing it on top of Mtn. Madison. We talked with Wounded Knee for about 45 mins while Big Foot fixed his poles. We finally started hiking around noon and climbed up the Wildcat Mountains. We stopped at Wildcat D and had a snack by the chair lift. Then we climbed up the Wildcat¢s peak C and A. We stopped at Carter Notch Hut and had another snack then we said goodbye to Wounded Knee and climbed up Carter Dome, Middle Carter Mountain and South Carter Mountain. We then night hiked up the North Carter Mountain and finally stopped at the IMP shelter and cooked dinner around 9pm and then continued to night hike. I slipped and banged my elbow really hard to the point I thought I dislocated my elbow. We rolled up to the Rattle River Shelter at 2am. There was a homeless man there taking up half of the shelter already. We just unpacked and hung our food and went to bed to get a couple hours rest
Date: 2012-09-26
From: Rattle River Shelter

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We woke up at 7:30am and packed up right away. The homeless man tried to buy our socks off of us. He told us that he accidently lit his feet on fire and had second degree burns. He had no socks but a gallon of bleach in which he was using to clean his feet. He had a huge buck knife which he drew on us and then said do not be afraid. (haha)   He showed us some mouse traps that he had set and caught some dead mice. We also met 2 other guys who must have been tenting near by. We left by 8:15am. We got to the road in no time, it was pretty easy terrain. We got some trail magic from 3 guys starting their hike. They gave us a muffin which was very good. Big Foot called his grandparents for a while and then we continued onward down the road. We checked the weather and then climbed up Mtn. Hayes. It was very misty out. We then hiked up Mtn. Cascade and had a snack. We went past a lake and a pond that was very foggy, we took several pictures. We night hiked to Gentian Pond Shelter where we decided to stop because we were both tired and moving slowly. We met a trail crew who were part of the AMC and who were out installing bog bridges. They were very profane and cursed a lot and told some very dirty stories. We cooked dinner and then put our stuff in the bear box. Then we went to bed. We slept on the bottom and the trail crew slept on the top level.
Date: 2012-09-27
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

We tried to get up at 5am, but once again it was cold out and we decided to sleep in till 6:30am when the sun came up. We got packed up and the trail crew gave us some free fruit. We left Gentian Pond Shelter and were going to push into Maine today. We hiked up Mtn. Success, elevation 3,565 feet which was a 1004 foot climb. It was a steep climb. The climb sucked and seemed like it took forever to get to the top. It was windy and cold. We walked across several foot bridges and bogs which causes our feet to get very wet. We then crossed over into Maine where we celebrated and had a couple snacks. The end of new Hampshire was tough and tried to kill us. (haha) We took videos and pictures in front of the Maine sign. We skipped going to the Carlo Col Shelter because it was too far off the trail. We then climbed Mtn. Carlo, elevation 3,565 feet. Then we climbed up Goose Eye Mountain East Peak, elevation 3,790 feet and then the North Peak, elevation 3,675 feet. We stopped at the Full Goose Shelter around 5pm because the toughest part of the trail was coming up and we didn¢t want to do it in the dark. It was freakishly cold. We ate dinner and worked on some journals in our sleeping bags. Big Foot fell asleep and I worked on some journals by myself. Then I got really cold. We went to bed. It was an extremely cold night. We met a SOBO at the shelter who warned us about the Mahoosauc Notch which is the toughest mile on the AT. We feel bad that we are going so slow but the terrain and weather are making it tough to push out big miles in southern Maine.
Date: 2012-09-28
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Grafton Notch Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We tried to get up early again, story of our life, (haha) but slept in cause it was freezing outside. I cooked up a ramen while Big Foot decided to sleep a little longer. We got water from a nearby stream but our water was some shade of yellow, it looked very appetizing. Then we packed up our stuff and headed down the AT wearing most of our clothes. I wore my rain pants for the first time in months just to keep my legs warm. We hiked up Fulling Mill Mountain South Peak, elevation 3,395 feet. Once we were over the mountain we got to the toughest section of the AT according to our guide books¢¦ the Mahoosuc Notch. We got through the Notch which was 1 mile long in an hour and forty minutes, which according to some of the people we talked to was very fast. Going through the Notch we had to do a lot of bouldering, climbing over, under, around huge rock formations. It looked like someone threw a stick of dynamite in the canyon and where ever the rocks fell, that was now the trail. After we made it through the Notch, we hiked up Mtn. Mahoosuc Arm, elevation 3,770 which was a 1600 foot climb over 2 miles. It was very steep and wet. Luckily for us it started raining after we had made it through the Mahoosuc Notch. We met 4 SOBO's on our assent up the Mahoosuc Arm. We then stopped at the Spec Pond shelter and cooked lunch and tried to warm up/dry off. We met a guy who had flip flopped and was now hiking south with his girlfriend who did not look like she was having much fun all bundled up in her jacket. We traded stories for a while and then they left but he mentioned that we should stay at the hostel in Andover. Said that they do shuttles from Grafton Notch. So we called Dave the guy in charge of the Pine Ellis Hostel and set up a ride to be picked up. Then we ventured off in the rain up the old spec trail which led up the mountain, elevation 3,985 feet, at the top there was a lookout tower. After that it was all downhill, I waited for Big Foot at a side trail and then again at the bottom each time for about 5 mins. Once we reached Grafton Notch parking lot, Dave was there to pick us up. My guess on time was spot on. When we got to the hostel Dave showed us around and signed us in. We then went to the Little Red Hen, one of the only restaurants in town for dinner. We both ordered 2 dinners each because we were starving. Big Foot had a steak and a double bacon cheeseburger and I had 2 double bacon cheeseburgers with lots of fries. The food at the Little Red Hen was amazing and I would recommend that place to everyone if you¢re ever in Andover. After dinner we went to the general store and picked up some snacks for the night. Then we each took a long hot shower to warm up and clean ourselves off. We met a group of NOBO's at the hostel that we had been reading about in the journals. We then caught up on our phone calls home, watched TV, pigged out on snack food and went to bed. We had an entire room to ourselves and the beds were super comfy. Big Foot talked me into taking a zero day the next day to rest our feet and knees.
Date: 2012-09-29
From: Grafton Notch Hostel

To: Grafton Notch Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

We slept in till 9am. I did our laundry and watched TV till it was done. Then we each took a shower and went to the Little Red Hen for breakfast/lunch. We both ordered 2 meals again and our waitress questioned us, she said are you sure your eyes aren¢t bigger than your stomachs. Big Foot had another steak and eggs and a hungry hiker meal (eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, and hash browns) I had a sausage omelet and a hungry hiker meal (eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, and hash browns). I overheard our waitress talking to the owner/cook and she said I think these guys are in a little over their head. (haha) The owner/cook said I don¢t think so, they were here for dinner last night too, they can eat. Sure enough, we both cleared our plates. After breakfast, we went back to the general store and picked up some snacks for the day. Then we went back to the house where Big Foot talked to his girlfriend and I took a nice nap. We spent time calling all our family and friends and updating them on our status. We watched movies on TV and football all day. We worked on some journals and then we went to the Little Red Hen for all you can eat pizza buffet for dinner. It was very good and we got very full. They made whatever kind of pizza you wanted. We came back and signed up for some slack packing for the next day. We watched some TV and went to bed.
Date: 2012-09-30
From: Grafton Notch Hostel

To: Grafton Notch Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We got up and showered and tried to go to the Little Red Hen for breakfast again but it was closed on Mondays. So we went to the general store for breakfast and also got some food for our slack pack. We then went back to the house and packed up our stuff and got ready for our shuttle back to Grafton Notch. The ride took about 40 mins. Once we got dropped off it started to drizzle on us, so we put our pack covers on and started our slack pack. We passed the Baldplate Shelter. It was a terrible shelter and was falling apart. We then hiked up Baldplate Mountain West Peak, elevation 3,662 feet in the rain. It was cold and wet. We then hiked up Baldplate Mountain East Peak, elevation 3,810. The rocks were very slippery and it was pretty steep. It started to rain harder. We had to be very cautious on the way down due to the slippery wet rocks. We stopped at the Frye Notch Shelter and ate some of our snacks and tried to warm up our bodies up. We spent a while getting warm and joking around in the shelter. We also called Dave and told him our status and how we were doing and gave him an estimated time of finishing so he could come pick us up. When we left the shelter and started hiking up again we ran into about 5 older men who were section hiking. They looked really tired and were asking us how close to the shelter they were. The rest of our hike was mostly downhill and wet. Our shoes got soaked because the trail was like a river where the water just flowed down the trail. There was no avoiding it, you were going to get wet. We passed Dunn Notch Falls. It was a pretty sweet view and the water was flowing really fast. We had to ford the river but were lucky enough to be able to rock hop across the whole thing. Then we hiked .8 miles further and we had to ford another stream and this time there were less rocks but we still managed to make it across without getting too wet. Dave was waiting for us on the other side at East B Hill Road. We were done hiking by 2:00 pm. Then we took off our wet clothes and climbed into the warm van and Dave drove us back to the hostel. We put our clothes in the laundry and once again took nice hot, long showers. We ate our snacks that were left over from our zero day I really didn¢t eat dinner. We watched Monday Night Football again and worked on some more journals. We settled up with money for our stay. Then we went to bed.
Date: 2012-10-01
From: Grafton Notch Hostel

To: Bemis Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We got up early around 6:30am and showered. Then we got all packed up and of course, I was waiting on Big Foot, so I watched TV until he was ready. Then we got shuttled back to East B Hill Road. We said our goodbyes to Dave and then started Hiking. We hiked over Wyman Mountain. Then we stopped at the Hall Mountain shelter and refilled out water bottles and ate some snacks, the trail was wet but it was a nice day. We saw the biggest Gardner snake I¢ve ever seen once we started down the mountain. The leaves started changing color and falling off the trees. It¢s a beautiful view but it¢s a hassle because the fallen leaves camouflage the trail and hide rocks and roots. Once we got to the Sawyer Notch we had to ford a brook/river but we were able to rock hop across the entire thing and not get our shoes wet. Then we hiked over Moody Mountain and it was a tough climb about 1400 foot climb over .9 miles. Then we descended the mountain and made it to South Arm Road and came across another river, the Black Brook. This one we were not able to rock hop across. We had to walk in the water and it was really cold, we got our shoes and socks soaked. Once we made it across we started ascending up Old Blue Mountain, elevation 3,600 feet. It was starting to get dark and it also started raining. Old Blue Mountain seemed to go up forever and ever before we reached the summit. The Awol book was wrong and we were a little confused about mileage but kept hiking to try and make it to the Bemis Mountain Shelter. The rocks were very slippery but we hiked to the Bemis Mountain West Peak, elevation 3,580 feet. It was a relief to reach this point because we knew it couldn¢t be much further to the shelter. On the way down the mountain to the shelter there were long rock slabs that were super slick and since I was usually in front I went down them first.   I slipped right off my feet and fell and slid down a rock slab and cut my pinky finger open pretty good and then I said ¢Don¢t go that way with a laugh¢ after a couple curses flew. (haha) This was the worst night hiking experience for both of us on the entire trip, we were wet, tired and frustrated. When we finally got to the shelter there was no one there so we had the entire shelter to ourselves. We cooked up dinner and changed out of our wet clothes and went to bed. Due to the fact that I can¢t fit on the shelter floor sleeping perpendicular to the front we both slept parallel to the front and had lots of room
Date: 2011-12-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My northbound journey started in 2005 at Springer Mountain. At that time, my daughter Danielle and I hiked the 66 miles to Hiawassee Georgia. Since that time, I have continued northward one vacation at a time. Last spring the trail took me to Bland Virginia. This year it is my dearest hope to finish hiking the trail. It is my dream.Please take a moment to sign the Guest Book so I can stay in touch with you.
Date: 2012-03-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well dear reader,I submitted my notice of resignation at work today. My last day of work is March 30. I plan to leave on April 5, out of Lakeland, Florida for Wytheville, Virginia to continue my Springer to Katahdin journey of a lifetime. At the moment, I'm too blown away to add anything else, and it is late... and I do still have a job.
Date: 2012-04-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The Invitation                                                                                    by                                                                  Oriah Mountain Dreamer It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing. It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive. It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human. It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy. I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, ¢Yes!¢ It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children. It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back. It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
Date: 2012-04-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

... It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy. ... Oriah Mountain DreamerDo not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something. ... Henry David Thoreaumoraladjective 1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes. And why, dear reader, all this talk of morality? It seems I cannot come to grips with the idea of being without my family for months. It is as though I am betraying a trust. I feel I am being selfish to the extreme. It matters not that my family fully supports me in this venture. Perhaps I worry too much. It may come to pass that, in my absence, they will grow to be more independent and find in themselves strength they did not know they possessed.I do know that I can never repay this debt to my wife. I hope I do not have to disappoint another to be true to myself and to my dream.
Date: 2012-04-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours ... In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness. Henry David Thoreau - Walden (1854)Talk of mysteries! ¢ Think of our life in nature, ¢ daily to be shown matter, to come in contact with it, ¢ rocks, trees, wind on our cheeks! The solid earth! The actual world! The common sense! Contact! Contact! Who are we? Where are we? Henry David Thoreau - The Maine Woods, Ktaadn, Pt. 6 (1848)Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. Henry David Thoreau - Walden (1854)
Date: 2012-04-05
To: Bland
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

The journey from Brandon to Bland Virginia is a success. Fern saw me off at the airport. At 7:30, the plane lifted off and landed about 5 minutes behind schedule. This left me 30 minutes to get off the plane, get my luggage (pack), get a cab ride to the bus station, and get on the bus. I made it with about a minute to spare!At the Wytheville stop, there was a MacDonald¢s, and I grabbed a quick bite before beginning my hitch to Bland. I hitched for about 30 minutes, in the rain; before a guy in a truck gave me a lift about 10 miles down the road. From there, I got a ride right to the door of the Big Walker motel from a businessman in a Lexus. There is no telling who will pick you up!
Date: 2012-04-06
From: Bland

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: few clouds

At 7:00 the motel coffee was ready as promised and I had a quick cup before beginning to hitch to the trail head. It was about 5 miles, so I decided to walk and hitch rather than just hitch. After about a mile and a half, a truck stopped to pick me up. It was, I found out, the husband of the maid at the hotel. He was on his way to visit his mother who lived just off the trail.At the trailhead, the ¢apartment¢ from last year was gone. There was only a picnic table. Last year there were couches, chairs, a table and even a microwave oven¢¦As I crossed over I-77 I was able to look down on the traffic. It was eerie. I felt a bit like a god on mount Olympus looking down on the world. I made it the Helveys Mill shelter well before dark. On the way I met a very young thru hiker (not even a beard¢¦) named Lorax. At the shelter I met Tetrus and we talked until dark. He showed me his ¢perfect¢ stance for going to the bathroom in the woods. Only on the AT! I took careful notes; feet flat on the ground, spine straight, knees fully bent, with forearms resting on the knees and pointed inward. At this point I realized I would never, ever, be able to bend like that. Oh to be young.There were turkeys gobbling in the distance as I went to sleep. The stars were beautiful until the moon rose and washed them out.
Date: 2012-04-07
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

It was a rather cold night, mid-thirties I¢d say.   During the night I heard several owls. At dawn, I woke to the whistling of songbirds and the gobbling of turkeys. I started hiking about 9:00 AM.   The climb over Brushy Mountain was not too hard. I reached the shelter well before dark. Here I met Drew Jones, a section hiker.