morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-09-05
From: Smarts Mtn Fire Tower

To: Moose Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I'll tell you what- I think they have the mileage off because I don't think it took me four hours to do 5 miles. The terrain was not that hard, and I was moving pretty decently. Oh well, got some ice cream from the eicecream man, Bill. His house is right off the trail. He gives everyonea a popsickle when they stop in. A couple people got sucked in there yesterday afternoon and played croquet all day and night. Funny stuff. Definitely a lack of water in these here parts. Its nice to still have nobos around to help plan water resupply. don't tell anyone i said that. Flying solo tinte in the shelter, nobody else around. Sweet. First time in a while.
Date: 2010-09-06
From: Moose Mtn Shelter

To: Hanover soccer fields
Miles today: 11.0

Blew through these eleven miles and made it to town by 1. I met two ladies about a mile from town who I talked with on the way in. They offered to buy me a gelato, and i gladly accepted. Although, being labor day everything was closed. So they took me to the pub instead where I got a huge awesome ass burger and fries, and a sierra nevada and some icecream. What amazing women. Way too cool. They dropped me back off at the trailhead, where there was another cool ass former thruhiker doing magic with burgers and dogs and longtrails. He ended up leaving us with a case of beer and some dogs and burgers. So, we proceeded to hang around and drink the beer all night. I FELL OFF THE WAGON TODAY! Oh well, back on tomorrow Now I know why this town is called Hangover... I mean Hanover.
Date: 2010-09-07
From: Hanover soccer fields

To: Stealth Tent
Miles today: 6.3

Well it only took me 2 hours to find the rec center.   For 5 bucks you can shower and do laundry. They even give you detergent and a towel. Stopped into Romunto¢s and got my free slice of pizza. Delicious! Didn¢t get out of town until 5:45pm. Hiked the last hour in the dark. I missed the shelter sign and realized it about a mile later. So I set up my tarp and went to sleep. It rained throughout the night and my tarp setup worked alright without the bivy. Woohaah! Just have to make sure to pick the right spot from now on or I¢m fuct.
Date: 2010-09-08
From: Stealth Tent

To: Steve and Kathy's House, West Hartford
Miles today: 4.0

So I stopped in to work at Steve¢s house. For reasons I won¢t get into, I need to make a few hundred bucks before I finish the trail . Steve lets people crash in his back yard and has a sign company on location. I helped him hang a sign and mowed his yard, for which he paid me very fairly. It was funny, they asked me if I could speak with any kind of accent. The guy who we were hanging the sign for made a funny comment about him hiring immigrants the last time he was there with a couple of hikers. I told him I could speak Russian, which they (he, and his wife Kathy) thought was perfect. When we got there, I spoke Russian to him saying that I see refuge. He bought it hook, line, and sinker.   Even when I started speaking English, he still thought I was Russian. Funny.
Date: 2010-09-09
From: Steve and Kathy's House, West Hartford

To: Cloudland Shelter
Miles today: 7.4

Hung out the first half of the day waiting to see if Steve could find anyone for me to work for. No luck, so I headed out and about noon. They said the people at the Cloudland Farm might have something, so I stopped here and am going to ask them in the morning if they need any help. The shelter is a half-mile off the trail, which it used to be on the trail but I guess they re-routed it. Anyway, shelter to myself. Today is the first day I realized that I¢m going to stop seeing Nobo¢s now¢¦ Just section and day hikers. A lonely, but good feeling. I need to find some cool Sobo¢s.
Date: 2010-09-10
From: Cloudland Shelter

To: VT 12
Miles today: 6.4

Alright! Let the Fall foliage begin! Vermont is creeping up on Maine as my favorite state so far. It¢s gorgeous with all the rolling hills¢¦. Such a great mixture of forests and fields. So no work at Cloudland or the Edge Farms, but this guy said he can pay me for some work, but he can¢t pay much. So I did some gardening for a couple hours tonight. I¢m sleeping in his huge barn up on the third floor. There is a futon mattress on the floor of his workshop, but there¢s a stereo. Ahhhhh, tunes. Yumm. Chillin out with Miles Davis as we speak. Dan¢s got a big box of old cassette tapes. Just listened to Willy Nelson and John Lee Hooker is next.
Date: 2010-09-25
From: VT 12

To: Luce's Lookout
Miles today: 6.5

Well, back on the trail. I took some time because I found a farm that had plenty of work. I stayed at a different farm, which I woofed at. For those not familiar, it¢s like a work for stay. It was neat, they had a big get together every week for the CSA. There was live music and drinks. FUN. I worked pretty much every day with Dave and Iris¢¦ two of the coolest people ever. Iris is staring a Kim Chi business (Korean) for which the garden I helped build was for. Dave owns a bar in NYC which he so humbly noted that it just got ranked as the 3rd coolest beer bar in the world by Men¢s Journal. So every day I dug up dirt with a pick and shovel, then sifted through to take out rocks and roots. The garden is looking beautiful. On one of the last days there, they made me and 2 other guys working there a sweet ass dinner, complemented by an eclectic mix of very great beers. It was splendid. So, time to walk again.
Date: 2010-09-26
From: Luce's Lookout

To: Stony Brook
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Such a beautiful view from this deck on top of a cabin¢¦The foliage is amazing. The leaves falling on the ground kind of remind me of a harvest. The different variety and color that scatters across the ground still seems so fresh and crisp, just like veggies. Have to wait to get my mail drop in Killington, so not a big day today. It¢s going to be a hard push to PA.
Date: 2010-09-27
From: Stony Brook

To: Pico Camp
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I am currently on Mt. Killington and it is pouring down rain. From my Mt. Washington experience I have gained a keen sense of when it is dangerous to walk, and this is certainly one of those times. I'm staying in this shack with four walls and a door, so it's a pretty sweet setup. So, I'm no longer a purist, as I "retroblazed" from the inn at the longtrail. The term means hiking a trail that used to be the AT, but due to re-routing it is no longer the trail. So, oh well, I'm still cool in my book, which is the only book that matters.
Date: 2010-09-28
From: Pico Camp

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: light rain

Ah, my first paranormal experience on the trail. I was asleep and awoke to footsteps and humming outside the cabin, which was extremely wierd because it had been pouring down rain all night and it was the middle of the night. Now, keep in mind that I had the door latched from the inside and I was the only one in the cabin. As the footsteps drew closer to the door, I heard a voice humming a song which I could not make out. The footsteps entered the building without the door opening. Then, all of a sudden, it stopped and I didn't hear anything for the rest of the night, which was cool with me. I popped my head out of my sleeping bag once to look and see if I could see anyone, but didn't see anything. That was after the humming stopped. Besides that, it was a wet and windy day. I fell three times on the leaves and the rocks. Hiked until after dark, and my headlamp is weak right now, which doubles the time it takes to hike.
Date: 2010-09-29
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: broken clouds

Felt like shit all day. Partly because I barely slept last night and partly because I don't feel well. I stopped to eat at this shelter and decided not to push on the extra 6 1/2 miles. Oh well, I met up with some cool guys here though. One I met oustide of Gorham already, he was finishing up the triple crown (all three trails, AT,PCT,CDT) which he has done now and is hiking south on the Long Trail before he goes home. Dude is ultralight badass hiker. Him and his ladyfriend liked my hiking stick and took a picture of it last time. Hopefully I get some sleep tonite because I fell on my face twice today. Word to yo mutha.
Date: 2010-09-30
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Bromley Mtn Warming Hut
Miles today: 13.5

Wow, what a day. Only 2 falls. It poured all day right until we reached the hut at the top of the mountain. The accomodations here are exquisite. At the peak of the mountain there is a building next to the ski lift where hikers can stay. Fully enclosed and warm, just the perfect spot after a day like today. Hopefully everything dries out a little tonite because I am soaked to the core. It was very nice hiking today. At one point there was close to a mile of bog bridges. San Gabe counted them. 214. 86 was the most consecutive bridges. Haha, living the hikers dream. Stoked, I get my new shoes tomorrow. Just have to get to town in the morning.
Date: 2010-11-10
From: Bromley Mtn Warming Hut

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

So, I haven't written in my journal in a while, but a shit ton of things have happened. So, I'm in Harpers Ferry now, with a new packI'll tell you, its a world of difference. I have to average 20 miles a day in order to finish by new years, so my days are pretty long and I'm sure I'll be pretty tired by the time I get to Georgia. I stopped writing because I was so cold for a while, and now its warming up I still just go right to sleep after dinner. I'll try to keep up from now on. Gotta go see a man about a vacuum cleaner.
Date: 2010-11-19
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Ahhh, the beautiful Shenandoah. Such a nice walk. Met some super cool people, trail magic struck yet again. I stayed at a shelter one night with a guy named Mark Tesh. He was out blowing off steam over the weekend and was trying to avoid thruhikers, so I felt bad being there at first. It was cool, we bullshat about our professions, and in my case lack of one, and random hiking adventures. The next day I caught up with him while he was snacking and I stopped and said hello. I told him I saw the guys up on the mountain who were about to do trailwork and offered to help. He got a big grin on his face and told me I reminded him of his son and he handed me 20 dollars. I refused, then he immediately refused my refusal. What a cool man. Then, I stopped at a wayside, which was closed, to eat a quick snack to crank out the last 7 miles of the day. Just as I was about to leave, a man came up to me and asked if i wanted a sandwich. I graciously accepted the offer and walked over to the picnic table they were eating at. The women started basically throwing food at me, telling me to take whatever i want with me. they left shortly afterwords, leaving me with a table full of food. two entire rotisserie chickens, bread, dips, grapes, dates, sodas, gatorades, 14 juice boxes, 2 lbs. of turkey, cheese, m and ms, craisins, and other stuff i cant even remember. i left there with 15 more pounds of food than i arrived with. so i got back on the trail at dark after i cleaned up the area and stuffed my face full of food, and hiked the 7 miles in the dark. my pack was so heavy that i tripped over a rock and faceplanted on some more rocks. it was just about impossible to get up, but the thought of more chicken in my belly boosted my confidence. i arrived at the shelter pretty late and met 2 other sobos, sissy hankshaw and ewok. ive been hiking with them ever since. today i will be saying goodbye to them, for i need to move. i love this trail.
Date: 2010-11-26
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Its about time it got cold again. Ive been sweating my ass off this past week. So, let me just tell you what a different hike this is from the beginning. Doing twenty some miles a day sortof takes some of the joy of hiking away. Don't get me wrong, it is exhilerating and it definitely gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, but boy do I miss Maine. I forgot to mention my first black bear encounter on the trail, in the Shenandoahs. Our paths crossed, I let it know I was there, it looked at me and ran. Can you blame it? haha. Well, its gonna be a long fast December. I'm really looking forward to whats in store for me. peace.
Date: 2010-12-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, my friends, they say every great thing must come to an end. I have to disagree. This journey will last with me forever. Words cannot describe what an enlightened experience this trail has been for me. My only hope is that one day the world will operate like the mighty Appalachian Trail. Having the ability to step away from society into such a pristine wonderland of adventure and excitement has made this man see the true meaning of being a man. By climbing above the inevitable clouds of ignorance and looking around at the sacrifices, hardships and generosity it takes to create such a magnificent world I have gained precious insight to the underlying beauty of man. Simultaneously, my journey has also enabled me to highlight select flaws, which throughout time have been omnipresent, that we all need to help correct in order to live as one, not only with ourselves but with Mother Earth. I view my expedition not just as a walk in the woods, but rather an irreplaceable education. As Henry David Thoreau so wisely asks us, "Will you be a reader, a student merely, or a seer? Read your fate, see what is before you, and walk on into futurity."So, I hang up my Appalachian Trail boots for now, knowing I will putting them back on sometime in the future. The great thing about the AT is that it will always be there, and I can always return at a more financially stable time. I guess it's time to put on the day hiker and weekend warrior boots. boohoo. I CAN'T WAIT TO DO TRAIL MAGIC! Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this trip. Thank you to all of the beautiful people I was so blessed to meet, who so selflessly gave, may one day your generosity be returned tenfold. But mostly, thank you to the volunteer trail maintainers who dedicate their time to building one of the most beautiful trails in the world. Without them this journey would never have been possible.Peace,~Why2K?
Date: 2010-06-25
From: Katadhin Stream

To: Summit Katadhin
Miles today: 5.5

So this was our first actual day of the thru-hike. Me, my dad, Jarred and Mike drove up to Maine Yesterday and stayed at the AT lodge in Millinocket. We woke up early at breakfast quick and made our way into Baxter State park. After a bumpy and long drive into the park we found our lean-to (shelter) that we were going to spend the night in. Today was day one so we had to start by summiting Katadhin. Let me say it was one of the toughest walks of my life. we left at 10 AM to begin up Hunt Trail and we didn;t reach the summit until around 3:30 pm. after waling up hills, rocks stairs and streams we came to the climb about half way up the mountain. We had to litteraly scale huge boulders and rocks to get to what we thought was the peak. it turns our we had about another two hours up the mountain. At this pointmy dad was absolutely exhausted and a little nervous. At this point we were about 4,000+ feet high. The view was amazing. We had to leave dad at a nice spot were he could hang out for a while. The climb up after this point was rediculous. Almost a vertical assent to the top. Two hours later we reached the summit. At this point it was running some what late in the day so we had to be quick, we made a quick lunch and snapped a couple of photos. It took about abother 5 hours to get down the mountain. But before we got off the trail me and bush took a dip in one of the natural springs coming from the top of the mountain, it was FREEZING. It felt like and ice bath and it was great. The views were amazing and Maine is gorgeous. When we got back to the lean-to my dad decided he wanted a shower and a bed so he made his way back to Millinocket to stay at the Lodge again, Jarred, Mike and I stayed back at the lean-to to spend the night. I said my good-bye to dad and he was off. All in all the day was a 10 mile hike up and down. I hope I'm not too sore in the morning.
Date: 2010-06-27
From: Katahdin Stream

To: Rainbow Lake Campsite
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a good Hike I'm tired so it's going to be short. We added a girl to our crew, Rebecca (the Rambler) for the 100 Mile Wilderness. We hiked about 8 miles today and 10 yesterday. We are at a campsite right on Rainbow Lake and its Gorgeous. An older man Tater-chip joined us for the night. He's from south Carolina. He is already 1000 Miles into the hike and flip-flopped up to Maine to finish the rest. That means he was started in Georgia, hiked up about half way to Harper's Ferry and came up to Maine to finish going southbound instead of going North the whole way.Towards the end of the night another guy came into camp, Steven. He loved Mushrooms. the first thing he took out of his pack were 30 pounds of fresh picked mushroom from the forest. One of them was huge, the size of a watermellon (flat though of course). He said the had medicinal properties and he was all into natural remedies. interesting guy I suppose. Tomorrow our plan is to hike to Rainbow lean-to about 8 miles away.
Date: 2010-06-28
From: Rainbow Lake Campsite

To: Rainbow Stream
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

RAIN! Today was our first day of poring rain. Everything got soaked. I left my clothes out to dry the night before and they got drencehd in the rain. We had to trek on thoughand it was well worth it. We made it to Rainbow Spring lean-to and the spring was awsome. It'es very close to the shelter and the view was amazing. We took a dip in the spring and it felt great even though we had been soaked all day long. We met another kid Chad at the Lean-to. he was from Florida. Tater-chip is also with us as well, he is 63 and a champ. I'm feeling great and I'm excited to keep moving on and meeting new people. Rebecca is also still with us. WE made a fire to dry our clothes and a clothesline above it so we can hang them real close, it worked out great. The days are going by so quick, while hiking time flies. I dont have my trail legs just yet but I'm definetly in better shape and able to hie farther. Tomorrow is supposed to be a tough hike so I should go get some well deserved rest.
Date: 2010-06-30
From: Rainbow Stream

To: Potaywadjo Lean-to
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a fairly flat day. My legs are also feeling much better than a couple of days ago. We are at Potaywadjo Lean-to. There is a beautiful natural spring about 150 feet away. We bathed in a different spring a little further north from here. Tomorrow should be flatter as well, before we hit the Whites. 6.5 mor days till we get to Monson. I can't wait to make it. This shelter is nice, fits 8 and there is only 3 of us here. Me bush and Mike. Chad left to go to his parents, he said he is going to meet us in Monson, we'll see.
Date: 2010-07-02
From: Potaywadjo Lean-to

To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was somewhat difficult. We had to make a 12 mile trek, the last 2 which wer uphill. We are summiting White Cap Mountain tomorrow and possibly making a 17 mile trek. Legs are feeling good and I'm getting into better shape each day we push on. The spriing at this shelter is beautiful and cold. I ran our of water on the hike up the moutain so when I got here I was so thirsty and dehydrated. We are with Faila the rambler, a stranger and easy stride. I'm tired so I'm going to bed early tonight.
Date: 2010-07-07
From: Logan Brook Lean-to

To: Monson, Lakeshore House
Miles today: 76.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I didn't walk 76 miles today. I just had to update the mileage so It is on track. We finally made it to MONSON! the city of lights! or not. Its a small town but it is great to be in civilization. We were exhausted and the last couple days have been absolutely tiring. Me bush and Faila made it here though. 114.5 miles down. 2,000 someodd more to go. I'll be writing more as we push on, the computer here is slow so I'll add more at the next town.
Date: 2010-02-15
To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

Wander a whole summer if you can. Thousands of God's blessings will search you and soak you as if you were a sponge, and the big days will go by uncounted. If you are business-tangled and so burdened by duty that only weeks can be got out of the heavy laden year, give a month at least. The time will not be taken from the sum of life. Instead of shortening, it will indefinitely lengthen it and make you truly immmortal.-John Muir
Date: 2010-03-01
From: home

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well its one week until i get on a bus and head for springer mountain Georgia to begin my thru hike. Having looked forward to this day for so long i can't believe it's right around the corner. People constantly ask me if im worried about bears and snakes and being alone in the woods which i can honestly say i'm not. What i am scared of though is the constant grind of hiking every day up mountains carrying a pack in the rain, snow, sleet, cold and anything else nature can throw at me. The magnitude of this trip is huge and can be discouraging but that is what makes it worthwhile to attempt. To try and hike from georgia to maine sounds crazy to many as well as me but so does the idea of getting up and going to a shitty job or going to class for four years to get a degree just so you can get up every day and then go to a slightly better job with no end in sight. I hope that i can find strength not to quit and come running home to security at the first sign of trouble but if i should fall short of my goal i will still take comfort in knowing that at least i attempted to follow my dream. Every day will be an amazing experience good or bad but i hope more than anything that i can finish.
Date: 2010-03-12
From: springer mountain

To: hawk mountain shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

first day! raining but beautiful only went 7.8 miles to hawk mountain but did it in less than three hours. had to resist pushing ahead as i know i dont want to burn myself out to early. might try and do more tommorow, we'll see. got into the shelter just as the rain and wind picked up. as the day turned to night at least 20 more showed up so it was a pretty crowded wet shelter but all in all a good first night.
Date: 2010-03-13
From: hawk mountain shelter

To: woody gap
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

day two. rough day. went from hawk mountain and camped up on the mountain just past woody gap and set up camp. walked on and off through the day with another thru hiker named quarter pounder. Today was another wet cold day. it rained on us, hailed, and snowed all in the same day. super excited looking forward to reaching neels gap tommorow and staying at the hostel and getting dry. no bears yet though last night at hawk mountain there were coyotes singing right down the trail and it was beautiful.
Date: 2010-03-14
From: woody gap

To: neels gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

walked ten miles super fast today cause i was so excited to get to neels gap and stay the night in a warm place. the last stretch of the hike was super hard though, i had to climb up blood mountain. blood mountain was the highest ive climbed so far i think it was around 4,400 feet up and i felt it. up on top it was covered in a beautiful blanket of snow. the way down the mountain was just more like rock climbing than hiking. just huge slippery rocks the whole way down and it felt very dangerous but i made it to the inn. i've heard so much about the walasi yi inn and all its history and it lived up to it's name. i got a bunk in the warm basement and met a ton of awesome people. nobody, moonpie, lil brown, zip code, boston, walking man and others. we had pizza and it was so amazing to be in a warm dry place and have REAL food.