morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Bethel Me

To: Gorham NH
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: broken clouds

WHOOO HOOO! I got to spend the past 4 days with Carole, and her family. takign a total of THREE zero days in gorham. Now gorham isnt much of a happening place, but the company made it so. It feel GREAT, to be out of the State of Maine and to finnaly get to enter the White Mountains. Ive had some Really really bad weather before i made it into Gorham. It got me kind of scared with my low food supply and inadequate clothing. Fortunaetly all of those problems have been remedied. Ive picked up a colombia sweater, nice little pullover. Getting into Gorham was definaetly a BIG relief. Spending time with Carole and her family was a nice escape. We went to a few little towns, them graciously treating me to many meals. it was Very Very good to get some quality foods in me. It was esspecialy fun to ride around town on the rental bikes with Carole. we went ot the Arcade, indoor pools, and not much else, cuz this town dosnt really have tooo much to offer, But it was a hella good time. I was really bummer out to see her go, but the time before i see her again will go quickly, this I know from experience.   Oh yeah, I didnt get to mention that this Very generous couple in the Stoney Brook Camp Ground, put me up for the night in Grafton Notch. Them made me dinner, gave me a place to sleep, and treated me as their own. It was so kind of them, to help out myself, the smelly stranger. it really Touched my heart. Thank you So much Mr and Mrs Slate.Well, as Brandon and I continue on, I think that some kickass times will be wainting for us.
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Bethel Me

To: Gorham NH
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: broken clouds

WHOOO HOOO! I got to spend the past 4 days with Carole, and her family. takign a total of THREE zero days in gorham. Now gorham isnt much of a happening place, but the company made it so. It feel GREAT, to be out of the State of Maine and to finnaly get to enter the White Mountains. Ive had some Really really bad weather before i made it into Gorham. It got me kind of scared with my low food supply and inadequate clothing. Fortunaetly all of those problems have been remedied. Ive picked up a colombia sweater, nice little pullover. Getting into Gorham was definaetly a BIG relief. Spending time with Carole and her family was a nice escape. We went to a few little towns, them graciously treating me to many meals. it was Very Very good to get some quality foods in me. It was esspecialy fun to ride around town on the rental bikes with Carole. we went ot the Arcade, indoor pools, and not much else, cuz this town dosnt really have tooo much to offer, But it was a hella good time. I was really bummer out to see her go, but the time before i see her again will go quickly, this I know from experience.   Oh yeah, I didnt get to mention that this Very generous couple in the Stoney Brook Camp Ground, put me up for the night in Grafton Notch. Them made me dinner, gave me a place to sleep, and treated me as their own. It was so kind of them, to help out myself, the smelly stranger. it really Touched my heart. Thank you So much Mr and Mrs Slate.Well, as Brandon and I continue on, I think that some kickass times will be waiting for us.
Date: 2004-08-31
From: Gorham NH

To: Gorham NH?!
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: fog

AHH, the bermuda triangle strikes again!? Well, acctually, Gorham was the closest re-supply point from Pinkham Notch. So im Back again. Only this time i have First hand knowledge of the Carter-Moriah Range. Those Crazy peaks! my 2nd,3rd,4rth, and FIFTH highest peaks ive done so far! (Brandon quote: "what a way for me to start" ) Aint that the truth. I killed those mountains! But the bastards tore up my clothes. Well, acctualy i took a spill and got three runners in my tights. And not to mention that i Basicaly ran into a blowdown and ripped a hole in my shirt (AND MY SHOULDER) No worries, its healing up quite nicely. Im also gonna call patagonia up and see if i can get replacements.Isnt it Ironic, I flicked off Gorham from my lofty view of the town, and here i am again. The same Freaking Hotel, the same Freaking Library, the same Delicious pizza! AHHH i got to signon AOL! EVERYBODY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SIGN ON NOW!Well, im out. Dont forget to check out Bardog's Journal as well!
Date: 2004-09-01
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Plymouth
Miles today: 33.7

Well, i made it to North Woodstock baby! Believe it or not though, I'm currently staying in Dave's dormroom. Yup i thought ide give him a surprise visit! He told me to stay for the week, so i might just do that, and ill give brandon some more time to go at his pace. Dave was very surprised ot see me, but im definaetly enjoying my time at this college. not to mention shower, bathroom, all you can eat (with dave's guest pass). I had a bit of trail magic on the hitch from the notch, here. This nice guy, and a former hiker (i feel bad, i dont remember his name) picked me up, and treated me to a trail car ride up Cannon mountain. it was a very nice jesture. the view was nice, and it was an easy approach to the view, relatively to the hike up views that ive had. I havent picked up my mail drop as of yet, but i will in a day or so. Im going to call home soon! peace!
Date: 2004-09-09
From: Plymouth

To: Plymouth
Miles today: 0.0

OK, i think im in a bit of trouble. I NEED to be home by october 15-20 or so. I have a homecoming to catch. IM thinking, im going to take the chinatown bus from New York city and take that home. Hopfully i can do this, with B-dog. Ill be home for a while and then take a bus back up to New York, and get back on that trail.Something that is really coming to my concern, is that ive been getting to lazy for my tastes. I mean, yes i am avoiding this HUGE storm system by staying in Dave's dorm (Im planning on leaving monday, when the rain finnaly is going to stop, then im going to haul ass) but Ive been noticing that the weather is getting COLD! this is not good at all. I keep on going at this pace and i WILL see snow as early as mid virginia.I really do think that i needed the R&R of takign this nice-long-break. But, i give it two more days and ill be Dying of Cabin Fever. yup, if not only one. BUt Cabin Fever sure does beat the Cold Cold rain all day. As long as i stay Dry, ive got all the gear i need to tuff this weather out.I heard that once Southbounders get past Moosilauke, The miles are Easy-peezy. I hope they are REALLY REALLY easy. Don't they say, home is where the heart is?
Date: 2004-09-10
From: Plymouth

To: Plymouth
Miles today: 0.0

OH yeah, Ive had a problem with my sleeping Bag. On my REI Polar pod (20o) bag, the fabric kept on getting caught in the zipper, so eventually it had bunched up so badly that it was too stuck for me to simply muscle it out. I resorted to the leatherman, and the zipper pull and all snapped right off. So my bag is stuck open for good. The very next morn, i called REI up, and as soon as I mentioned that i was a Thru-hiker, they were completely willing ot replace my gear, UNCONDITIONALY. kick ass! So in hanover i have a bag waiting for me, as well as a pre-paid package to send the broken bag back to them. I was proud of myself for setting the whole deal up.
Date: 2004-09-12
From: North Woodstock

To: Wentworth
Miles today: 35.6

So Dave and I hiked this section in three days! The first night, we Camped out on top of Mt. Moosilaukie! COLD as hell! Excess of 30 mile per hour winds. (so claims dave) Yeah it was fun, until my stupid hipbelt Clip broke!!! Fortunaetly it still held on, if not barely. So I was forced to come back here with Dave, to pick up a new clip, but get this, in order to buy a new clip, and tentioner. $4.00, yuk. well, Atleast i get to relax a bit longer.Yo, Bardogger, im catching up to you! Im about a day away from hannover!ON the other side of Moosilaukie, i saw my first Pastureland, thank goodness, i was getting sick of the whites. YEP, IM DONE WITH THE WHITES! Moosilaukie was the LAST above the treeline peak for me on the trail! flat lands, here i come! I noticed this completely when the miles started to roll!
Date: 2004-09-13
From: Wentworth

To: Hanover
Miles today: 29.0
Weather: broken clouds

Yeah, so I made it here. I had a hickup, my boots died on me completely, so i had to hitch ahead to Hanover. It was definaetly a hit to my state of mind, lately i hadn't been in the best moods. I'm not even sure the reason, whether it was the cold, my never going away sniffles, my slower than expected pace, the rain and sloppy boots, whutever. But, After a good long talk with the martins, i feel much better now. Believe it or not, this morn and last night have treated me really well. I had found lodging with these two Dartmouth Juniors, who have treated me exceptionaly well. Dale and Gloria, Thanks a bunch! Gloria took me on the clifnotes tour and afterword the four of us (Their Funny californian friend Alex as well) went to see the school accapela group preform to all the 08s. This might sound snobby, but i felt a tad bit supperior, being with 06s. Afterward we went to this frat house and played a game of Straight-up pong. We shared the laughs, as I got into the game. This morn Gloria used me as her taste tester and fed me her experimental chocolate chip pancakes. Yum. SO today, to solve the shoe problem, Dale and Gloria Took me out to the EMS where I picked up some trail runners, some Garmont Eclipse XCRs With Gore-tex XCR. My favorite flavor! To treat myself a little i baught a titanium MSR kettle. Ive gone 441 miles, i deserve it. Yay Carl!So, im back at the DOC, Getting ready to send some extra food, and pot home. Im getting too much. i can never find that balance. I will eventualy. Ive just got to keep going, one step at a time.Monk Out!
Date: 2004-09-18
From: Hanover

To: Manchester
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Boy, oh boy. for the past week, ive been Homesick, lipton sides sick, poptartsick, Rain sick, trailsick, and sick to my stomach (hope it wasnt the water). I was giving it some serious thought, even CONVINCED, that I was going to abort the trail. Ive just about exhaughsted every resource of getting food, or should i say, food i want to eat. Im really missing luxuries. Warm showers, fresh foods, cotton sheets, you name it. I even gave blood for some Sandwitches. IT was in a good cause. To let me eat! Well, ill update again soon ! Monk out!(The reason im in Manchester, is because i did a bit of hitching ahead to catch up with B-dog!)
Date: 2004-09-21
From: Manchester

To: Dalton, Mass
Miles today: 90.0
Weather: clear sky

All right! Yup, so as you've all noticed, im much, much further down the trail. Yeah, Ive done some white blazing, blue blazing, and a dash of yellow blazing. But, i must say, I feel much much better! A few nice clean sheets, some killer meals, and great hospitality! These past few days have allowed me to unwind! Feels great to be out here now. Today, B-dog and I slackpacked 10 nice and easy miles. We've been staying at Rob Bird's "Birdcage". Cool place! It's definaetly nice to be picked up from after watching a movie, greeted with some cold cold beverages, and introduced to a bed called "the Cloud". *** Attention all Future hikers **** -- Check out Rob Bird's Cage ----Some of the best trail magic hospitality yet!*** End of Transmission ***Monk out!
Date: 2004-10-05
From: Great Barrington

To: Pawling, Ny
Miles today: 70.0

Alright! I finnaly get out of that terrible state called Connecticut! Honestly, i dont think ive EVER been to a more inhospitable state. There was one nice guy by the name of benny, but other than that, I only recieved dirty looks. Something that really made my day, was the fact that i found a grocery store with FREE SUSHI!! i snagged quite a bit. A couple of fly by hand fulls! This was in Salsbury Ct. Supposedly Meryl Streep owns a Huge property bordering the trail there. Well im kinda glad that I had gotten through that sucky state so quickly. Honestly, if there was a state for people that perpetualy had a polo stick stuck up their asses, this would be it! (Notice how im not holding my tounge? IM sorry, but that state was a bad trip!) So as soon as I entered NY, people started just coming up to me, "Or which way are you going?" or "wow you must be in great shape" or "Your pack looks pretty light, how much does it weight?" Lots of nice people. So nice infact, that people stop to offer us rides, and the town allows hikers to sleep in this kick butt pavilion in the park! Bathroom, pay phones, and a fireplace!SO keep in touch everyone! Your email of support are appreciated!!!- Monk out! P.S. I cant wait to go home in 2 weeks, to catch that homecoming ive been looking forward to for months!
Date: 2004-10-10
To: Home, where the heart is...
Miles today: 0.0

Alas, monk sets his pack down and Carl returns home. I was ready as Ill ever be to come home. The trail isnt going anywhere. Ill be out there, in due time. I will finish what i Started. I have to say, im very very happy to be home. I get to see everyone again, I feel great and motivated to conquer the day.Carpe Diem!
Date: 2004-10-14
To: To Walkie Talkie Class of 97 
Miles today: 0.0

Dear Walkie Talkie Class of 97, I just wanted to say, NO i didnt yellow blaze conneticut, but If i were to do it all over again, I WOULD HAVE. The reason you didnt get word of us, is because no one would stop to talk to us! If you are a connecticut native, i believe that this is the longest conversation ive EVER had with a connecticut native!
Date: 2003-12-01
To: Here we go...
Miles today: 0.0

"20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do, than by the ones you did do...Sail away from safe harbour. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark TwainSo. This Appalachian Trail thing. Yes, I am going to do it. Or at least give it a damned good nudge. I only discovered the Trail earlier this year. I am an avid reader and have become a fan of Bill Bryson's books. I found his book 'A Walk in the Woods' and from there, my interest in the AT has been piqued. There has been a lot more information gathering since finishing BB's book. People found who have done the Trail. People found who will be doing the Trail. People found who would like to do the Trail one day. People who have never heard of the Trail (I was one of them).There is a lot of planning to be done before February 29th. Not made any easier by the fact that I will be travelling from Australia to start this epic journey. Some big expenses on the way. Hopefully not too much on the gear front though. I have a pack (well travelled), a tent, a stove and some clothes. Still, there is also the nitty gritty things that I need to buy. Will get into that further down the track.Preparation. Humph. Not too many mountains around here to practice on (and the fact that I am lazy). I hired a step machine for 3 months. I used it twice. It went back to the hirer today. Waste of money really. I need to get a little bit more motivated that's for sure. T-minus 89 days and counting until kick-off. I have been trying to walk as much as possible. Beach walking to increase the fitness. Working night shift doesn't help much either. I know it is just an excuse, but it IS my excuse.All for today. More musings when the mood strikes.
Date: 2003-12-27
To: 'Tis the season...
Miles today: 0.0

"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph" - Shirley Temple.So, the silly season is upon us. I can vouch for that. I have been Boxing Day shopping. I hit my favourite outdoors store after convincing myself that there would be no-one else there as no-one else would be silly enough to do that sort of shopping on Boxing Day. Now who's the silly one???Chaos and madness ruled supreme in Ray's Outdoors. Talk about a sensory overload. For the 'not gear minded' people (me) it is an overwhelming experience. I had money to spend, burning a hole in my pocket. Who am I kidding? That's how I live my life! It was a day for shopping for the fiddley bits. The nitty gritty's. I bought some stuff sacks, some thermal tops, a pack cover, some socks...the list goes on. There are still a few things I want to get at a later date (hiking poles, a water filter, my Pocketmail, oh, and a flight to the US might help too!). Still managed to spend over $180 though just on the little things which all fitted into one bag. Seems like I am leaving the major purchases to last.I set up my Tarptent for the first time on Christmas Day. I had this thing about setting it up on the front lawn prior to now. It was fine on Thursday - to the untrained eye it would have looked like I got the tent as a Christmas present - perfectly acceptable. No major problems with setting it up, which is always a confidence booster. Got the seams sealed too which is always a bonus for when it rains! I am off to Queensland on the 1st of January for a couple of weeks, during which I will be going camping for a few days with friends. Admittedly, it is not the sort of camping I will be doing next year but it will be a good chance to sort out the tent and what I can do with/to it. Probably more a case of what it will do to me. I know already that I am going to look like a novice first up. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?Of course, there is also the post-hike planning to be done. Mum is coming over to the US to meet me at the end of September (I will be going to the UK for a month or so post-hike, to allow me to re-enter the USA visa-wise for further travel and also to earn some cash while I am in the UK), so we are currently planning our travels together through the US. A lot of fun and the excitement is building already! I bought a huge map of the USA today and it is now hanging on the wall at home. Every time I walk past it I see something else I'd like to visit! 64 days to go until I start hiking. Time flies when you are procrastinating.
Date: 2004-01-13
To: Feelin' hot, hot, hot...
Miles today: 0.0

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." - Dr SeussWell, the journey to Queensland is over and I survived the four nights in my Tarptent. Unfortunately, there wasn't a great deal of variation in the weather - Queensland's slogan is "Beautiful one day, perfect the next" after all...temperatures up in the high 30's low 40's (deg C) for most of the time I was there (read: Megan did get burnt). A bit hard to handle having lived in London for the past two years and not having had an Australian summer in that time. It was wonderful to catch up with friends I haven't seen in over a year, most of which I was used to seeing every day when I lived up in Queensland.We did have a few drops of rain one afternoon and a couple of lessons were learnt by moi. Of course, they had two solid hours of rain the day after I left. "You should have been here yesterday with your tent! It would have been perfect weather to try it out in the rain." Oh well. I am sure there will be plenty of occasions on the Trail this year to try out the wet weather capabilities of my Tarptent.I am not quite at the "It will take under 2 minutes once you get the hang of it" setting up stage, but that will hopefully come with practice.Not in any particular order of importance: 1) Carry extra tent pegs to peg down the middle section of the tent during rain.2) Leave the tent open as much as possible for ventilation. Condensation is not a problem in this tent (at least not in the situation I was in), as it has mesh sides, but stuffiness due to insufficient airflow was. 3) Accept the fact that you are not going to get any privacy in this tent. 4) Put some sort of anti-stick thing on the tent flooring so that every time you roll over, the Therm-a-rest doesn't scoot to the opposite side of the tent.5) Ensure that the zip opening on the tent is done up and that the floor flap bit is inside the mesh when there are winds and dust flying around.6) You will not look graceful either entering or departing the tent.7) Do all you need to do before getting into the tent (peeing especially). 8) Get some hiking poles so you can use them instead of the upright provided - that way the height of the tent can be adjusted in case of front on rain assault.9) Try and camp on as flat an area as possible (mind you, this wouldn't be as much of a problem if number 4 had been taken care of).10) Hang the torch on the upright pole of the tent so you don't have to ferret around looking for it in the middle of the night. I think that's enough lessons learnt in four days don't you? Many more lessons to be learnt methinks.Now I have to think about packing things into my backpack and concentrate on not taking too much stuff(I am a notorious over packer..."Just incase" Can't afford to be doing that this year!).
Date: 2004-01-23
To: Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!
Miles today: 0.0

"I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself" - D.H.LawrenceWell, I guess it's time for another journal. 33 days until I fly out - hopefully I have the right visa!Dangers and annoyances on the trail. Well, I believe there are a few. Not dangers necessarily, but things to avoid.Firstly, we have bears. These pesky critters have been known in the past to wander through the shelter sites in search of food. It is for this reason that food bags (this also includes toothpaste or anything that has a scent)are suspended well away from tents and shelters. They are lifted up into the trees and hung above the ground in a way that makes it difficult for the bears to get to them. Notice I didn't say impossible. Having not come across these contraptions yet,it is a bit difficult for me to explain. Will go into this when i know more. Some of the shelters in some areas have chains across the doors to keep certain wildlife (hikers) in and other kinds of wildlife (bears) out.Rattlesnakes. I want to see them, but from a safe distance. Apparently, these creatures have tendencies towards sunning themselves in the middle of the AT. I have heard stories of hikers who have unknowingly walked directly over the top of a rattlesnake only to be told by the person they are with what they have done. I want to be the person behind.Skunks. Another thing I would like to see, but not from within spraying distance.Porcupines like hikers. Well, they like the sweat of hikers. Some of the shelter floors have been nibbled where porcupines have had a go at the wood to get the salt.Mice. Most shelters have a resident population of mice. Mice have a delightful habit of chewing through backpacks to get at the food in them. It is for this reason that hikers leave their packs unzipped so that the mice create minimal damage to gear. Hooks are available in the shelters to hang your food bag from. Another nifty gadget to deter the mice is an upturned can to prevent the mice sliding down to the food bag. Then there are the dangers you cannot see. Giardia, a water-borne parasite is a major bugbear (pun intended) to hikers. Most hikers filter their drinking water to get rid of as many germs and parasites as is possible, to avoid 'the belly'.I have my 'Big Five' that I want to see on this trip: Bears, moose, rattlesnake, skunk and porcupine. All from a safe and reasonable distance mind you.Of course, the major danger to myself is me. My lack of knowledge at this stage is a concern, but not a major worry. 'On the job training' for me!I want to take this opportunity to thank the people who have signed my guestbook. I appreciate you taking the time. Keep 'em coming!