morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-02
From: Spaulding Mnt Lean-to,. ME

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

i know i know, another town. ugh. the only reason we had to stop here was b/c i have a maildrop in this town. but a little more town food doesnt hurt anybody now does it? teeheewe had a BIG clime today. it was up crocker mnt. it shot us straight up the mnt for about 45 minutes and it was tough. nothing is un-do-able but its definitly hard as hell. and the worst part about it was when we got up there, there was no view!!! just trees!! there was a stupid sign for a view and we followed it ang it just took us to this rock that had no view was so ever. so all that climing was for nothing. well, i mean, not for nothing, but its definitly more enjoyable when you can see your accomplishment.earlier in the day we did an extra 1/2 to summit the second highest peak in maine and that was spaulding mtn. on a clear day you can see katahdin and the whites but it was too cloudy for that today. there were views but nothing that far. we came into town and stayed at a hostel that is really nice. its one of the cleanest hostels ive seen this entire 4 1/2 months. very cool.so im at mile 1990.4 and have 187.9 miles to go... spaceman and i are planning on summeting katahdin on auguest 15th... crazy...
Date: 2009-08-03
From: Stratton, ME

To: Bigelow Mnt, ME
Miles today: 9.0

today was a beautiful day!! such a wonderful day to clime over the bigelow mnts. spaceman and i were soo happy. the climeing was good, not too tough. we got over 4,000 ft, above treeline and the top the mnts were just rocks. it was pretty awesome. we layed in the sun for hours on top and the view was rediculous. 360 view of mnts and lakes and not one cloud in the sky.spaceman hiked on and i stayed in the sun a bit longer and told him id meet him at the next shelter only 7 miles away. well i decided to camp up top of bigelow mnt, it was just too nice and i didnt want to miss out on the opportunity for a killer sunset and sunrise. plus, it was the last time we'd be over 4,000ft until katahdin. so i stayed up there and it got windy as the sun went down but i found a nice little cove b/w and below some huge rocks that allowed me to stay out of the direct wind and keep warm, so it was quite nice actually.when i woke up in the middle of the night there werent too many stars out cause the moon was just one night away from being full, so the entire sky was lit up and it was awesome. i absolutly loved it. then i woke up at about 515am and looked pocked my head out of my sleeping bag and noticed the entire skyline was pink and purple yellow and orange... i had woken up just in time to watch the sunrise and it was like a painting. thats all i could think of was a painting, the colors just smeared together like i had never seen before. and then all of a sudden the bright sun ball started to peak up from the mnt line. it was the most amazing thing to watch. espeically alone on top of a mnt, it was amazing....
Date: 2009-08-04
From: Bigelow Mnt, ME

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

to after watching the sunrise in the morning i has to bust ass to catch spaceman cause i never met him at the shelter and he was planning on staying 24.5 miles away. doable milage, but i hadnt done it in a while. so i hiked my little buns off and fell in the mud 3 times!!! i found myself yelling at the trail again, which i hadnt done in a while. i got to the shelter 10 miles away from where spaceman and i were sopposed to be staying. and on my way southbounders were asking "are you snuggles? your friend spaceman is waiting for you and worrid that you may have hurt yourself" so i felt horrible and when i got to that shelter the other poeple there said "ohhh snuggles! spaceman is going to be so happy. hes been here for 4 hrs waiting for you and was soo worried that you fell yesterday and hurt yourself and thats why you never made it to the shelter with him" man i felt bad. but when i saw him he said he was really dehydrated and felt like crap all day so he needed to take it easy. so he didnt lay around for 4 hrs just for me. phew... the bugs were horrible so i put up my tent (just the netting part) inside the shelter so i could sleep in peace. it was too warm to cacoon myself inside my sleeping bag.
Date: 2009-08-05
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to, ME

To: Pleasant Pond lean-to, ME
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

longer day today then usualy latly, but it was really easy terrain. spaceman and i flew through it. felt pretty good for most of the day and spaceman felt much better so that was good. we had to make it to a river crossing that gets to 12 ft deep and use the ferry that takes you across. its really only a guy on a canue, but im glad they had it. i guess the stream was running at 8mph and was 10 ft deep at the time, so that would not have worked with a backpack on. we got across and made it to the post office near the trail to pick up our maildrops. we only had 5 miles left so we decided to lay in the sun for a while and the post office lady gave us ice cream cones!!! it was awesome!! it was even in a sugar cone, soo good. we got to the shelter and we were the only ones theres. the bugs were horrible again so we set up our tents in the shelter and it was a good night. we hadn't had a shelter to ourselves yet, theres been so many southbounders (sobos).
Date: 2009-08-06
From: Pleasant Pond lean-to, ME

To: Moxie Bald lean-to, ME
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

today was nice and easy 13 miles. we took our time and took a nice long nap in the middle of the day. it was great. but ill tell ya man, the mud is driving us crazy! it is constant and everywhere! i mean, ankle deep mud, some areas that you cant avoid, annoying crap! ugh, even after 4 straight days of sun there is just too much water out here that its not drying it up at all. oh well. the stream crossings in the maine never never have bridges so we just have to walk through the water so it cleans our boots off every now and then so they dont have a pound of mud on them.i cant beleive we had another day of sun. this is unbelievable. I SAW MY FIRST MOOSE!!! it wasnt the best sighting. spaceman and i were talking and then i heard some sticks breaking in the woods and we could see the outline of a huuuuuge moose, no rack or anything. it was sooo cool!!! i hope to see one even better though at some point.when we got to the shelter there were 3 sobos and one nobo there. the nobo has passed up on our hike, he was flying. i guess he left on april 25th! craziness. any ways... he asked when were planning on summetting and we said the 15 and he started laughing in our faces. i didnt understand but he was laughing at the fact that we were planning on summetting the day after him and he passed us on the trail and started a month after us and we only went 13 miles that day. he was the biggest ass we'd met. i couldnt believe he laughed at us. so we kinda got in a tiff and then i
Date: 2009-08-07
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to, ME

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: few clouds

kinda a long day into town but spaceman and i woke up and started hiking at 7am, so we were half way done by 10am, it was awesome! we had some lunch at a shelter and then headed out and a storm came through! we ended up gettin pretty wet, but didnt mind too much since we were heading into town. light at the end of the tunnel always helps warm and dry clothes! we got into town and took a 2 miles blue-blaze that braught us right the center of it. we stayed at the lakehouse hostel which was so great! showered us and got some food and then ran into hi-c! he had been busting butt and got to monson so catch up with us. we had been leaving notes for him in the registers at the shelters telling me whne we'd be in town and to try and make it there and he did! so that was awesome! so the duo changed to a trio, it was great!that night at the general store they have live music but the locals and it was great. they had all sorts of instruments, it was packed though so we didnt stay too long.
Date: 2009-08-09
From: Moxie Bald lean-to, ME

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: scattered clouds

last night it was only spaceman, hi-c and i at the shelter. so that was pretty cool. we did an easy 5 miles out of town. i ended up getting up really later and didnt start hiking 'til 11am! i told myself i wasn't going to do that in the 100 mile wilderness, oh well. we've entered the 100 mile wilderness, its 100 miles without easy access to a town/road. (or its sopposed to be). but we've passed railraod tracks, gravel roads, cars, motorcycles, and lots of day hikers with tiny packs who some how got in the middle of the 100 mile wilderness. its pretty funny. heard it was ganna be a muddy mess but its not too bad yet. i guess the last week or so of sun helped dry it out. so thats great!i walked alone for the whole day today and i liked it for a change. spaceman and i have been hiking together every day so it was nice to just go it alone. i got to the shelter that was .4 miles off the trail!!! it sucked! but once i got there i realized that this place ruled! it was right on a lake and was just beautiful and there were no bugs!! i dont know how it happend, but i didnt have to set my tent up to escape for'em. so that made me happy.
Date: 2009-08-10
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to, ME

To: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

my god another kick ass sunny day! i dont know how this is happening! i woke up today though completely tired, it was horrible, but i started hiking by 830am with spaceman. hi-c and spaceman are trying to get me to drink more water cause im always dehydrated so hopfully this'll help my tiredness, i dont know....we had an awesome view on chairback mnt where we ate some lunch. it was a little cloudy and kinda windy, but nothin too horrible. its always great to spend lunch time on top of a mnt where you just look out at the great view. theres nothin like it.
Date: 2009-08-11
From: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to, ME

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lena-to, ME
Miles today: 19.0

so today was a little cloudy, kinda looked like it was ganna rain but it never did, so that was great. we passed a bunch of lakes that looked so great for swimming but i was just never hot enough since it was overcast. we had some mnts to clime today, hay mnt, white cap mnt and a few others, but they werent anything hard at all. the last big climes we'll have for a few days. no views since it was cloudy, but i guess you cant get'em all. the shelter we stayed at was awesome though! there were falls right infront of it and a great swimming hole too! there were a ton of people staying there, a full house, hasnt happend for a while. we were the only thru-hikers there though. so we slept to the sound of the falls which is one of my favorite things to do. its just so calming and soothing. a great nights sleep.
Date: 2009-08-12
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lena-to, ME

To: Nahmakanta Lake, ME
Miles today: 15.0

beautiful beautiful day today. we all got up pretty early and hiked out to get the first 11 miles done by noon. theres this place called the lakehouse landing that is a mile off the trail where you can get great food! for the meat eaters they get the famous 1 pount burger and for me, a pizza!so the hike was really flat and not real rocky or rooty so we could move pretty fast. we got to the doc a mile off the trail where you have to blow an air horn and the people jump in their boat and ride accross the lake and pick u up to bring you to the house. it was pretty neat. the food was great and they were super nice. well worth it. a little muddy of a path to get to the doc but no too bad. there was a huge grassy lawn infront of the house on the lake and the mnts surrounding the area. it was a great place to be. so we got back on the trail with full bellys and the guys layed around to digest all the meat they just consumed and i started hiking. i hiked to the lake solo, it took longer than i expected cause the terrin was covereed in roots and rocks and it was muddy and the bugs were just horrible! i tired to walk as fast as i could to avoid as many bites as possible, but i was still eaten alive. i was pretty hot and sweaty when i got to the lake and no one else was there, so i decided to take a swim in the lake and clean some nasty clothes and then lay in the sun. it was perfect. the lake had an amazing view. reminded me of the movie, the beach. it was that perfect of a place, like paradise. spaceman and hi-c got there and they both took a dip and we decided to camp out on the beach right on the lake. everything was perfect. the sunset on the lake was soooo great, the red skies and with the reflection. beautiful. but once that sun went down the no-sums went to town!! so i got to escape in my tent to keep in one peace and no get a million bites. the stars were out and i saw 6 shooting stars while listening to the loons calling all night. i dont think it coulld have been any better. the loons are just amazing and probebly one of my favorite parts of maine. being near all the lakes, you always sleep to them. its amazing...
Date: 2009-08-13
From: Nahmakanta Lake, ME

To: Rainbow Lake, ME
Miles today: 15.0

headed out with spaceman again this morning into another sunny cloud free day. its unbelievable. the terrian wasn't too bad. we had one mnt to clime in the morning, but it wasnt a huge clime. there was a real nice view ontop overlooking rainbow lake, so that was really great. we stopped and had alittle snack there.the rest of the day was fairly flat. rocky and rooty and kinda muddy, but nothin too terrible. we decided to camp out again. this time on rainbow lake. it was a great camping spot too, not a sandy beach, but it was really great. it had some huge rocks on the shore that we just sat on and looked at the lake and watched the day turn to night. we had a nice fire which we hadn't had in a long time. it was just the 3 of us again, which we were all happy about. we got to listen to the loons again during the night. and the water spashing on the rocks. my god am i ganna miss this. there is nothing that touches these moments on the trail.... they are truely magical
Date: 2009-08-14
From: Rainbow Lake, ME

To: Birches, ME
Miles today: 17.0

so today is our last long day. tomorrow is katahdin. this is crazy and doesnt feel real. <the skies were clear and the sun was out and we got a good start at about 8am. spaceman and i hiked to able bridge camp store that we pass about 9 miles from the shelter were staying at. when we walked over the bridge we looked to our left and there it was. katahdin. it was magnificent. huge, and the only mnt of its kind around. there she was. we got some food and sat in the sun and then the 3 of us hiked off together. the terrin was flat and easy and the sun was hot! we stopped at a place that had a great swimming hole were we took a dip and layed in the sun. the water was cold so when you got out and layed on the rock it felt amazing. the rock was soooo warm and it was like sitting infront of a fire on a winter night. sooo great. we hung around there for about an hr and then headed off for the last few miles we had left. we were hikin and saw a sign and went to read it and went "holy shit" cause it was the sign telling us we had left the 100-mile wilderness. crazy... we were 10 miles from katahdinwe strolled into the campground at baxter state park. we were staying at a thru-hikers only shelters. we had to register and pay a small fee. as we were getting all that sorted out we ran into dude, blondie, and patrick. they had just finished there thru-hike and just finished the clime down from katahdin. they said it was amazing. they looked completely lost in life now though. which i was already feeling.we went to the shelter were 5 other hikers were at that were going to summit with us in the morning. we had a great fire and roasted marshmellows. such a perfect night before finishing. the last few days hikin through the 100 mile wilderness was over. it was time for what i always thought was so far away. we had come 2,173 miles. we were 5.3 miles from the summit of katahdin. the feelin was kind of comparible to christmas eve. your excited and anxious. but it also had sadness tied into it cause i only had one more day. needless to say... i didnt get much sleep at all...
Date: 2009-08-22
From: KATAHDIN, ME

To: best advice given to me
Miles today: 0.0

The best advice given to me was my first day and that was, "take one day at a time." sounds genaric, and i thought so at the time. but when i was climing a mnt running out of steam, or i was looking ahead on a rainy day thinking, "i have 4 more months of this?" i remembered what i was told on day one. to take one day at a time. to know i wont always be feeling this shitty climing a mnt, that i will start climing back down eventually. that no matter how cold and wet i was somewhere outside, that in not too long ill be in a hot shower followed by clean dry clothes. to just take it in chunks. just get to the end of a day, or maybe look at it from town to town. what ever i was feeling, to break it down into smaller incraments. nothing is too hard when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. its what got me to maine, and what will help anyone to keep walking forward...
Date: 2008-03-29
To:  April 2009
Miles today: 0.0

Today I am starting the planing of my 2009 hike to finish the AT. This has long been a dream for me. Why 2009? I hope to have a four-month sabbatical in 2009. But first I must get myself back in shape to do the walk. In 2003 I took five weeks and walked to Fontana Dam. I have now made it to Damascus VA. So on I go.
Date: 2008-03-30
To: Still Planning
Miles today: 0.0

One of my members brought me a book on the trail today. Mountain Adventure by Ron Fisher. Published in 1988 by the National Geographic Society. I stayed up late reading Trail Journals and longed to be back out there. I know I have to get to working out more or I will not be ready but at 60 it is harder then it was at 40 when I took my first hike. That was the Foothills Trail and it rained for four days. I can't belive I got hooked.
Date: 2009-01-14
To: RamBunny
Miles today: 0.0

Talked yesterday to RamBunny who is running the Happy Hiker Hostel in Atkins VA. This is new for 2009 and she says she will pick me up in Marion and drop me on the trail at the parking lot at Graysom Higlands State park on the 15th of April. So far I can tell my nightly walks on the treadmail are helping.
Date: 2009-01-15
To: Pictures
Miles today: 0.0

Posted some pictures today from my June 2008 Hike Watauga Lake to Dennis Cove. Clay and Anita Britt Joined me for this hike, I'm the fat guy. But I am working on the weight problem. It snowed here so, I broke out my new Lowa boots to try them out. I think I'm going to like them a lot. I am still trying to pick between a tarp and a tent. I know light weight is the way to go but a tarp just does not give the same protection as a tent.
Date: 2009-01-30
To: Seven Weeks Out
Miles today: 0.0

I have been working on my gear and mail drops over the last few days. I found it useful to list them and to work out the schedule. Doing this has forced me to go back over what I will pack and what I can leave out. I still can not decide on a tarp or tent. I hate the weight of a tent but I can not get the black flies out of my mind. A tarp just does not give the same protection from varmints as a tent with netting. I have decided to us Sawyer¢s insect repellent on all my clothes and will probably mail drop some to reapply before summer hits in full force. Because I am such an atrocious speller I have recruited a proof reader for the journal. Be patient with me folks and the errors will get corrected. A BlackBerry does not come with spell check just yet. As for pictures I hope to be able to upload those every week, but that will depend on the gracious of my off trail host.    I have not told you that I am a pastor and that in 2003 my church at the time gave me five weeks to walk the trail now the church which I am pastor is giving me four months for a sabbatical. I know that some folks take their sabbaticals and spend it in school or writing a book. Me, I going for a walk, I have no idea how far I will get or how much I will walk each day. I know in 2003 I walked about 400 miles in five weeks with lots of zeros. At that rate maybe I could get 1200 or so done. What I do know is that I plan to take my time meet some good folks and write a few journal entries.   I have about ten weeks to go before I hit Mount Rogers; I need to keep working on my weight and my pack weight.   And as my son who has walked with me often says, ¢we will see how we do.¢
Date: 2009-02-02
To: It's Febuary 
Miles today: 0.0

Well the Groundhog saw his shadow and we are in for six more weeks of the cold. I have been glad not to be spending my nights in a shelter, especially in the Smokey Mountains. I found out Sunday that I have a ride to Grayson Highlands on Easter Sunday and so I will began my walk a few days early. My wife gave me Eric Kampmann¢s book, Trail Thoughts, for Valentines. I have not read any of it yet but plan to over the next two months.
Date: 2009-02-04
To: Sixty-Nine days
Miles today: 0.0

I have begun the process of washing and treating all of my clothing and gear with Sawyer¢s Permethrin Military Treatment. I have never used this but it is suppose to keep the bugs away. I have a proof reader in place and am meeting with her tomorrow and I have my ride to the trail. I just need to stay focused on work for the next 69 days and I¢m good to go.
Date: 2009-02-05
To: Just Day Dreaming
Miles today: 0.0

Just had to get back with you, and tell you about my Bible study group today. Jesus had just finished feeding the five thousand. He sent the disciples out into the boat and He withdrew to the mountain to pray. When a storm comes up on the sea He does the walking on water thing. Well in my mind, I could see the trail winding up the mountain and the water running down like a river. All I seem to think about these days is that footpath from GA to MA. I may need some attention drugs to get me through the next nine weeks. I am asked a lot of questions these days and I have learned to answer, "I don¢t know how far I¢ll walk; I don¢t know how many miles I¢ll do a day; yes, there are other people crazy enough to try this; and I know I will meet some interesting folks out there." I do look forward to meeting some of you and hearing your stories about the snow, the rain and the fog. But also, how neat the view was from the Beauty Spot or how much fun you had in Hot Springs and Damascus. I¢ll miss all of that but there are still miles north and towns to rest in and mountain views to see.
Date: 2009-02-17
To: Still Planning
Miles today: 0.0

I feel as if February is creeping by. I know it is the shortest month in the year, but with my mind on the trail I cannot imagine that it will be another fifty-six days before I begin. There is so much going on here at the church that I cannot believe I will be gone for four months. The Session (our governing body) voted Sunday night to proceed with the rebuild of our organ and the renovation of our sanctuary. I will be on the trail during most of this work and my staff, including my co-pastor (spouse), is pushing me to have all the details worked out before I leave. I feel for those of you who have given up jobs and careers to walk the trail. I envy those of you who are able to retire and give the whole year to your walk. If my legs hold up and I am able to do eight hundred to twelve hundred miles, I know that someday I will finish. But before I can begin, there is this part of the Christian year known as Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. I think that this year I need to give up dreaming about the trail and stay focused on the church and the work to be done. I have made it a part of my day to read the up-dated journals, so keep posting and I will keep reading. Clay Britt, one of my walking buddies, told me on Sunday that he plans to walk the first week with me. Good to have friends on the trail.