morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-08-09
From: Sugarloaf Mountain

To: Poplar Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

I left the Ski Lodge around 7:00 a.m. and did 11 miles to Poplar Ridge Shelter. I was dragging ass all the way. I don't know why I was walking so slow. I had a good meal for dinner the night before, had a great sleep, a decent breakfast that morning, took my vitamins. Not sure what it was. When I finally did arrive at the shelter, I thought I would see Jim there, but all I found was trail magic, in the form of 15 girls around my age. They were all speaking french. I guess it was an all girls camp from Quebec. That is my guess anyway since Quebec is so close. I heard Jim call my name from over in the shelter. All the girls slept in tents so the shelter was ours. I ate my dinner wishing I took french instead of Spanish!!!!!!!!!!!!!1Oh well, that's kind of the way things are going since I started heading south...................Transcriber's Note: Manfire reports total trip miles to be 1, 047 miles.
Date: 2005-08-10
From: Poplar Ridge Shelter

To: Rangeley, ME
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Knocked out 11 hard miles today and made some good time. Jim woke me up at 5:00 a.m. so we could make it to Rangley, ME before everything closed. We had some high regions to cover, but it was really nice. I had a few miles of exposed ridge walking. It was 11:30 when we hit the road. The first truck after Jim and I stuck our thumbs out stopped for us. Nice.................
Date: 2005-08-11
From: Rangeley, ME

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I left Rangeley Maine today and slack-packed 13 miles to ME 27 whre I was picked up by a hostel in Andover, ME. The hostel there is a nice place to come back to after a long day. I should be moved on to a new state soon. Actual Total Miles to date: 1,069
Date: 2005-08-13
From: Andover, ME

To: Speck Pond Lean To
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: few clouds

Did only 5 miles today. It was a hard five miles though. Tonight, I am staying at Speck Pond Lean_To. It is an AMC operated campgroung. I had to pay to stay there. It is also a very crowded camp. The people hanging out here look like they just stepped out of a L.L. Bean catalog. carrying heavy, expensive gear, measuring ingredients for their meals with a teaspoon, carrying salt and pepper shakers. For me, it seems odd to see this type of hiking activity. I decided not to shave my hair for the second half of my trip. I have also been thinking about not stopping whre I left off in VA, but continuing down to Springer, GA. We will see what happens as I push along.Total Trip Miles: 1,074
Date: 2005-08-17
From: Speck Pond Lean To

To: Imp Campsite
Miles today: 9.0

I left Gorham, NH this morning and hiked 9 miles to Imp Campsite. I have officially entered the White Mountains. The views today wre amazing. I would spend weeks up here if I could. Unfortunately, the Whites are being governed by the 'man'. You have to camp at designated spots. Not the same shelters you pay 8 bucks a night to stay in. It is ridiculously expensive up here. Huts are huge and have caretakers, so they are costly. The huts are about every ten miles, so it takes away from its remotness and that 'wilderness' feeling. I understand that because so many people come to this mountain, that some sort of order must be in place. However, I think there is another way, and perhaps a better way. Moving on from that.....one thing about the Whites........they are COLD!!!!! Did I mention windy? I will survive it, though...................Transcriber's Note: Manfire has skipped a few journal entries, so the total miles continures to be off. Total Miles to Date: 1,154.1
Date: 2005-08-18
From: Imp Campsite

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a very hard day. To avoid these pay sites, I decided that that I am going to do as many miles as I can each day so that I can get through the Whites. I ended up doing 14 miles today which included 7 peaks over 4,000 ft in elevation. They were North, Middle and South Carter Dome and the Wild Cats. When I reached Pinkham Notch I was exhausted. Pinkham Notch is on the road and looks like a hotel. It is actually an AMC hut that is 60 bucks a night. This includes dinner and breakfast. When I went to dinner, I felt like an outcast. Here was a smelly-thru-hiker sitting amonst neatly dressed and groomed vacationers. I managed to strike up a converstion with one guy who offered to take me to town the next day to get fuel for my stove. Total Trip Miles: 1,168
Date: 2005-11-08
From: Hanover, NH

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My shoulder is healed and I will be gettign back on the trail this weekend. I talked with Jim on the phone and he is willing to hike with me. Due to the cold weather resulting in a heavier pack, shorter daylight hours, and my focus on completeing the trail I dont plan on keeping a daily journal. I will be posting once in awhile though. I do plan on takig lots of photos though and posting them one here, so keep an eye out for them. Thanks for everyones support while I was hurt and i look foward to lettig you all know when i finish! (1,343 miles down and roughly 750 miles left)
Date: 2005-11-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Here are a few of the places I plan to pick up mail. If you want to get a hold of me by mail use the below address. Also, I will be carrying my cell phone. Not sure if I will have a signal everywhere, but you can try that too. Here are the addresses: (not sure of the dates, mail sonner then you think I will be there. They hold them for a long time.) Please hold for hiker: Anthony Manfre Inn at the Long trailSherburne PassU.S. Route 4Killington, VT 05751Please hold for hikerAnthony ManfreGeneral DeliveryManchester Center, VT 05255Please hold for hikerAnthony ManfreGeneral DeilveryGreat Barrington, Mass. 01230Please hold for hiker Anthony ManfreGeneral DeliveryN. Adams Mass. 01247Please hold for hikerAnthony ManfreGeneral DeliveryKent, CT 06757
Date: 2005-04-10
To: Away we go -- denatured alcohol and all
Miles today: 0.0

After laboring over what to bring and what to leave behind in an effort to lighten my pack, I was finally ready to start my 2,000 mile journey. Once my poles arrived, we left Saturday afternoon. We drove to Lavonia, Georgia, where we stayed in a hotel. The next morning, we went to Suchez, in northern Georgia. The weather was beautiful and I couldn't wait to get on the trail. I stopped at a general store about 1.5 miles off the trail, where I dropped off my first re-supply package. There were numerous bikers everywhere we went. We drove back to Amacola Falls to the park headquarters to sign in to start the trek. They had a place to weigh my backpack, but I decided against it as I didn't want to be too depressed. (Bill estimates it weighed 45-50 pounds. Eeek!) There was an access trail 8.5 miles long, straight uphill to Springer Mountain. We decided we would drive to the trailhead instead. After signing in, we went to pick up some fuel for my fancy stove. It runs on denatured alcohol. Went to several outfitters and they didn't have it. We drove 20 miles to a Walmart and they didn't have it either. We ended spending all of Sunday afternoon driving all over Georgia looking for "denatured alcohol." I guess I should have planned ahead, because we never did find it and we ended up staying Sunday night in a hotel in Blue Ridge. Monday we finally found it at an Ace Hardware store. Much to my chagrin, the can said Denatured Alcohol. Right below that, in little letters, it read "Paint Thinner." Ha Ha. I guess I shouldn't have slept through chemistry class.With my last supply purchased, we drove the access road 6.5 miles to Springer Mountain. We parked one mile into the trail, so we (Bill and the kids and I) decided to hike a mile back to the actual start so I could get some photos at the starting point. They have a nice plaque. It took a little getting used to the poles, as they initially hurt my shoulders, but I managed to make them work and was glad to have them. We hiked a mile to the trailhead, snapped some photos, then hiked back to the van to get my pack, eat lunch and say goodbyes. I plan to stop at the first shelter, which is a 1.5 miles in, because my ankle is bothering me a bit. A little ways in, I realized I forgot my rain poncho, but fortunately David ran it to me and now I can stay dry when it rains. marshmellow
Date: 2005-04-11
To: Stover Creek
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: broken clouds

I made it to the first shelter last night. I did three and a half miles (two miles without my pack). It was pretty hard. My pack weighs about 50 pounds. I am taking stuff out right now -- mostly food. I way overpacked on the food. I thought I would starve to death, I guess. I met some really nice people here at the first shelter. I am getting ready to go to the next shelter, which is about five miles. Hopefully, my pack will be a little lighter and it will be a little easier. It's starting to rain. Second day in and rain. Yesterday was beautiful but today it's raining. I'm fixin' to get my rain gear on and head out.
Date: 2005-04-12
To: Hawk Mtn
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

I managed five miles today -- mostly uphill. I was sure I was going to die. Every muscle I have screamed most of they day (and they are still screaming). Only 2170 miles to go. Call 911. Call the psych ward. I've lost my mind! The next shelter is eight miles, but I am going only half way. I put my tent up so I could go to bed. I don't want to hear any mice tonight.
Date: 2005-04-13
To: Cooper Gap
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: broken clouds

I started at 10 a.m. My muscles were pretty sore. I wrapped my right ankle. Both ankles bothered me yesterday. My pack is still close to 50 pounds, is my guess. By 3:30 p.m. I had only gone 2.5 miles and was ready to quit for the day. I was at Horse Gap and facing Sassafrass. It's the mountain they call "Kickurass." My a** was already kicked pretty good. I decided to walk the road to Cooper Gap. It was raining by then. I stopped along the road and my mouthpiece popped off my water bottle. I almost cried. ALMOST! I looked for 30 minutes but never found it. By then I was drenched and getting cold. It was 5:30 and I had to go on. With my tube in my mouth, I stopped up the water with my tongue. I made it to Cooper Gap, set up my tent in the pouring rain and crawled into my sleeping bad at 6:15 or so. I ate an English muffin, cheese and a candy bar, I drank some water I purified from the side of the road and took some vitamins. At 2:30 a.m. I got up to pee. It was foggy and spooky. This morning I hurt like heck. I can't take another day of going up and down mountains with a 50-pound pack. I will probably walk Road 42 into Suchez and mail stuff home and throw out food. My friends, the Texans Dave and Chrystal cheered me on yesterday. We are moving about the same pace. I saw five other people yesterday and hope a car comes along to give me a lift to Suchez.
Date: 2005-04-14
To: Big Cedar Mtn
Miles today: 11.0

Day 3 turned out pretty GREAT. After getting a ride to Suches, I had a Dr. Pepper, talked to Bill on the phone, and washed my face and hands with warm water. I mailed home a bunch of food and some small items in an effort to lighten my pack. It's still heavy, but a little lighter. I got a ride to Woody Gap which saved me 10 miles of hiking. Cheating? Maybe. But I'm really looking forward to meeting Bill and the kids and I've got to make up some time. I started hiking at 2:30 and hiked for three hours. I think I made 1.5 miles. I'm camped near a creek on the top of Big Cedar Mountain just as it starts to descend. It's very quiet out here. Three hikers passed me at 3 p.m. and no one since. I feel like I am the only person on earth. A little lonely, but peaceful and soulful. I built a fire and set up my tent, heated some water, stripped naked and took a spit bath in front of my fire. There's something nymph-like about being naked in the woods. It felt wonderful to be a little clean with clean clothes on. I fixed my cheese and broccoli rice with chicken TVP. I felt so hungry but could only eat a few bites before I felt stuffed. I know my body needs fuel but I just couldn't eat. My feet really hurt today. I hope my arches aren't falling. My ankles seemed better. I kept getting a knot in my right shoulder -- muscle spasms. Suzanne, where are you?! It's 7:40 p.m. and the sun is going down and I am getting cold. I guess I'll build up my fire and stay up as late as possible so I won't have to pee until 6 or 7. My sleeping bag is calling me.
Date: 2005-04-15
To: Jarrard Gap
Miles today: 4.0

Day 5 started at 9:30 a.m. It's a beautiful day. Spring in the Georgia mountains is beautiful. I had lunch with Shiela and Ray, a nice couple I had met at Hawk Mountain. They are 56 and 54. He is a professor of entymology in Massachusetts. A disk in her back was bothering her. We soaked our feet in a creek and he told me about all the flowers in bloom. I looked at a butterfly with his binoculars. It was sweet! Then they went on ahead. I can't keep up with a 54-year-old woman with a herniated disk. I am SO sad!! BY 4:30 I was dead. Moutains are lovely but they go up and down. The climbs are killer and going down hurts my ankles. I am not complaining -- I chose this - I am just saying. I camped at Jarrard Gap after four miles of hiking. That's about my limit. A guy named Michael Jones (Lulampus) camped there too. He is getting off at Neels Gap. He may go on a mission trip instead.
Date: 2005-04-16
To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 6 -- I slept better last night. My hips are hurting less. Maybe they really will get used to sleeping on the ground. I slept good. I didn't think of bears once. I'm on my way to Neels Gap. It's a little over five miles. I sure would like to take a shower and enjoy some luxuries (like a real toilet). Then I'd stay for Sundayand rest. I found out Michael is LDS. I encouraged him to go on a mission. He's 34 though, so I don't know. Maybe I planted a seed. I made it to Neels Gap. I just had time to take a shower before the shuttle to dinner. All-you-can-eat and my appetite has returned just in time. Although only three others were staying here, we had dinner with the group from the other hostel, including my friends Ray and Shiela from Mass. Shiela's back will probably take them off the trail. A few of the others I had met along the way were there. I am loving the friends I meet along the way.
Date: 2005-04-17
From: Neels Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

A Zero day! Woohoo!! I was so happy to wake up and know I didn't have to pack up and kill myself for one more day. I did laundry, washed my dishes, resupplied my food from the hiker box and made a whole new set of friends as one group left and another arrived. My friends Chrystal and Dave from Texas stopped in and said hello. She has been in the hospital for a few days. She had gotten acid reflux so bad she was vomiting blood and had to call 911. They are hitting the trail today and moving on from here. Dave is now two-packing as he moves ahead, sets his pack down and goes back for Chrystel's pack. I think Chrystal's trail name should be 911. I met a super great section hiker named Grateful. He is in the army and just got back from Iraq. He is a Chaplain and a Catholic priest. I really liked him. He was such a nice guy and reallyhandsome. It's okay for me to think that -- he's a priest! His love for mankind was amazing. I did a shakedown in the store today. I have been shaking my pack down a little everyday. I got it down to 35 and the expert said I had done a great job. He gave me a few tips and I'm mailing a box home. The biggest change is going with a 20 ounce pop bottle for fuel instead of the humongous one I had from Trangia. I also got my Big Agnes sleeping pad that I had ordered. Bill mailed it here and I love it. I am doing a dump box on the blueberry patch to lighten my food stuff. I got to talk to Bill and the kids and my mom and baby sister today. Or should I say my sister with her new baby. Happy birthday to Mom and Karleen. My kids seem to be doing great. I sure miss them. I am so glad to have them cheering me on! I was sorely disappointed that the Internet was down here. I would have loved to email my peeps...
Date: 2005-04-18
To: Rock Spring Top
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Got off to a slow start this morning. I enjoyed hanging out while getting ready to go with Moonshine and Slow'n'steady. I left around 11:10 a.m. and hiked 3.5 miles until 5:20 p.m. It was hard getting back into a rhythm after taking a day off. I'm on this cool saddle with a view from each side. I think it's Rock Spring Top. I'm really screwed tomorrow as I'll have to hike eight miles to get water if I don't want to hike an extra 1.2 miles to Whitely Shelter. That's 1.2 off the trail and then another 1.2 miles back to the trail. The sun just went down and I'm cold so I will write more tomorrow.
Date: 2005-04-19
To: Whitley Gap
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: clear sky

It was a very rough day today. I think the newness and excitement of the adventure is wearing off and the trudgery of it all is wearing me out. It hit me today as I was struggling up Wildcat Mountain that I traded a life of drudgery for a life of trudgery. I left this morning at 8 a.m. and had only gone three miles by 1 p.m. It's so discouraging. I trudge and trudge and trudge but only get a few miles. I have to stop a lot to catch my breath and rest. I took three catnaps today just to get to Whitely Shelter. Will I ever get in shape? My muscles don't hurt as much and my feet felt great today. I just have no stamina. I thought a lot about Bill. The thought of snuggling up in his arms made me cry the first tears of the trail (Day 9 -- not bad). I have a different life now -- the trail life. It is overwhelming at times. The best feeling in the world is stopping in the evening. I am the only hiker foolish enough to go 1.2 miles off the trail so I have the place to myself. It was so wonderful to put my pack down, boil some water for my lasagna, and roll out my sleeping bag. My hips don't hurt anymore since I got my Big Angnes air mattress and all the huffing and puffing I do during the day makes a few more puffs a breeze. I walked down to the spring and took a bath and washed my hair and put on some clean undies. I feel fabulous! It almost makes me forget the hot, sweating, exhausted-beyond-description trudging of the day. If only I didn't know I have 5.6 miles and four mountains to climb tomorrow to make it to the next shelter. Yikes!
Date: 2005-04-20
To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: clear sky

Day 10 -- Whew! Today was hot. I stopped a lot. I left at 9:20 a.m. and arrived at Low Gap at 5:20 p.m. Eight hours and 5.6 miles -- I am getting better. I seemed to have more endurance today. Yeah!! The first hill out of the shelter was a killer and I did not want to do that four more times. Except for the last little climb and seemed to go on and on when I knew I was almost there, I enjoyed the hike. The vistas were gorgeous. Tonight I'm sharing the shelter w/ two guys. Three other men are tenting. It was so nice to have dinner conversation. Hustler thru-hiked last year. He's on his way to Damascus. He sure knows a lot of stuff (except how not to get blisters). He hiked 18 miles yesterday and has some doozies. I feel so blessed to not have gotten any. I am trying for 7.2 miles tomorrow; there are no big mountains.
Date: 2005-04-21
To: Red Clay Gap
Miles today: 4.0

Day 11 -- It was a very long and trudging day. I started at 9:30 a.m. and tried to make it to Red Clay Gap, followed by another 1.4 miles to a campground. I felt very wore out today. There was an insomniac at the shelter and I didn't get enough sleep. A mouse knocked someone's glasses off the shelf at one point. I am thinking tenting is much better -- NO MICE! The day started out really hot. It was a gentle climb for the first two miles of the killer day. I stopped at 5:30 p.m. next to the trail. I am so excited that tomorrow I only go 1.8 miles and then shower. I called Lisa and Chris to see if they want to come up and hike with me this weekend. I told them to leave me a message at the campground. If they can't come I'm going to ask Bill to come and get a hotel in Helen or Hiawasse. Pizza sounds so good right now. I may not be eating enough as I am getting really beat down. Yesterday was a good day but today was low energy. It looks like rain so I 'm all set up and am going to eat and sleep.
Date: 2005-04-22
To: Blue Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 1.8
Weather: overcast clouds

It is a beautiful morning. I slept much better. There are definite advantages to camping alone. (Not having to go far to pee at 3 a.m. is the main one.) I love sitting here listening to the birds and reading my scriptures. It never did rain yesterday. A few sprinkles and then the sun came out. After I left the shelter yesterday at 9:30, I didn't see a single soul until about 2 p.m. Besides a group of southbounders, I saw six people in the late afternoon. Two were older grandpas who were doing three days and were at the shelter. They were so nice and encouraging. They said I have a lot of perserverance. I hope I have enough. I knew this would not be an easy endeavor but knowing it and living it are two different things.I ended up staying at Blue Mountain Shelter. I never found the path to the Enota Campground. I was so frustrated. Around 2 p.m. the sky started looking really dark and nasty. I was filling my water bottle at the spring when three nice day hikers stopped to chat. We were about three hundred yards from the shelter. I was quickly donning my rain gear and covering my pack. They hurried on but one nice gentleman came back and carried my pack up to the shelter. Just in time! A huge hail storm broke loose. I was so happy to be at the shelter. I had no cold food and they gave me an apple and some peanut butter crackers. What a blessing! I had planned to go down to Unicoi Gap then into Helen, but I heard Lance Armstrong was in Helen for the Tour de Georgia and was afraid I wouldn't find a room. Plus, some other hikers came in drenched around 3 p.m. They were fun to hang out with. So I decided to stay there for the night. I called Bill to meet me at Unicoi Gap Sat around noon. Then I played Spades with Mark, Jen and Marcia. Mark and I won. I figured I was getting a little lonely to choose a fun game of cards over a hotel room. The highligh of my stay at Blue Mountain Shelter was a note in the hiker register from Too Obtuse. He said my positive attitude and mental fortitude is inspiring. How awesome! I couldn't do this without the comaraderie of the thru hikers I am meeting.
Date: 2005-04-23
To: Hiawasee
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: broken clouds

Last night was very cold. I slept with a shirt, a long-sleeved fleece shirt and my coat on and I still shivered most of the night. My bag is rated to 10 degrees -- yeah right. I had to get up twice to pee. It was pouring down rain. It thundered a lot. It was not a great night. I started down into Unicoi around 9 and arrived at 11:20. There were a lot of nice people around as the tour was coming through there. I sat in a van to wait for Bill as it was COLD. Bill and the boys arrived around 12:15. I was ecstatic. They had cold pizza and lots of hugs and kisses. We found a hiker inn in Hiawassee, ate Mexican food and went to the store. I'm definitely packing more cold food/snack stuff. My food bag weighs about 12 pounds though. My next food drop is Franklin, which should take seven days. What and how much food to carry versus how much it weighs is definitely a science.A long, hot bath, a warm bed and some snuggling did much to revive me. I had a small break down mostly from exhaustion but Bill talked me through it. I expect next week to be equally hard. I have at least another week to get my trail legs. It could take another three to four weeks to maximize my condition and have stamina to do 10-15 miles a day. I'm shooting for 6-7 miles a day this week.