morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-31
From: Tillamook,Oregon

To: Lincoln City, Oregon
Miles today: 0.0

Thur July 31st9am Up & showered, grab our Apple breakfast & pack the rental car & head back to the TILLAMOOK CHEESE FACTORY..to buy...WHATELSE????....CHEESE!GLORIOUS CHEESE! (sorry, had to throw in a DAIRY commercial there!)We buy several small blocks of assorted cheese "souvenirs"...pack them all in the cheepcooler we bought @ Fred Meyer (west coast KROGER) & head Southbound down the Coastal highway (Hwy 101).We take the scenic LOOP...along the Oregon coast with the beach front views...We drive thru Cape Mears, OceanSide, pacific City, Neskowin, & stopped in Lincoln City.We stopped @ shops & galleries along the way...Again, very impressed by the local artists.(Warren Dahl-Impressionist is a great painter).We check into a nice motel (Palace Inn & Suites) for only 59.99...WOW!our cheepest motel & the NICEST! (gotta LOVE those Mid-week SPECIALS)We hit a few tourist shops...(mostly JUNK shops & the CHEEPIE tourist shops...with trinkets made in Taiwan)..we buy nothing.We stopped by a grocery store & grabbed some "POP" (Cokes) & some munchies (nuts & candy bars) for later.We stop by the beach for one last walk...this is our last full day before heading back in-land to Portland.We walk on the beach awhile...taking many photos...Donna walking along the beach...kids playing in the sand & water.7pm we head back to the motel...i write in the journal...watch a little TV before turning in.We head South again tomorrow before heading back to Portland.Goodnite.
Date: 2008-08-01
From: Lincoln City, Oregon

To: Depoe Bay,Oregon
Miles today: 0.0

Fri August 1stWe wake up to a steady drizzling RAIN...& some fog outside our motel room.We pack our bags & jum in the car.We head South a few miles down the Coast to DEPOE BAY, OREGON...known to have the smallest Marina on the coast...& WHALE WATCHING...its very FOGGY today...as the rain continues to fall...We arrive @ DEPOE BAY...a small little town...right on the water...most of the shops are still closed @ 10:30a.m....we walk up & down the main street & check out the shops that ARE open...(mostly cheep touristy shops with cheep trinkets & CHEEPER T-shirts)Donna says she is ready to head back...the RAIN continues...NO WHALE WATCHING either...the COAST is now fogged in...we take the road back up HI-WAY 101.Our GPS (TOM TOM XL ONE) tells us to turn onto HWY 26...we do....we stop by a small, local diner & eat LUNCH...we were gonna call Ruth from here to tell her we're on our way BACK to her place...but, theres NO CELL SERVICE here...after lunch we continue our Journey!back into Portland & Mt Scott & to Ruth's House...arriving @ about 4pm.I download all of our photos onto Ruths computer...(all 900 of them)Donna & i go to WalMart to buy a few things & grab some Krispy Kreme Donuts for the kids, Katie, Gabe & Darren.We get back to Ruth's place & have supper...eat cake & ice cream & talk til about 9pm...we're tired & have a long day of AIRPLANCE flights tomorrow going home.Goodnite!
Date: 2008-08-02
From: Portland, Oregon

To: HOME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Sat. August 2ndNot much going today...its TRAVEL DAY...going home.We say GOODBYE to Ruth & the great grandkids: Katie, Gabe & Darren (they areGREAT kids!) & we're off.we turn in our Suzuki Forenza & grab a shuttle to the Airport terminal.Our flight leaves out @ 11:40am Local Portland Time.I got pulled out of the Security check point line because of the 25 lbs of "Souvenir" Cheese in our carry on bag...We get on the plane & 3 hours later...we're in KANSAS CITY, MO for a 2 hour lay over & then onto Nashville.About a 2 hour flight to Nashville...Teri (Donna's daughter) picks us up & taxis us home. THANKS TERI!Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh its good to be home.Vacations are GREAT...but, always good to be back in your own bed.THANKS to Aunt RUTH for the nice, sweet Southern Hospitality in Portland Oregon...you made our trip a MEMORABLE one...11pm...GOODNIGHT!
Date: 2008-08-24
From: HOME

To: Clarksville SUNRISE LABOR DAY CLASSIC
Miles today: 0.0

Sat. Aug 30thANother Saturday....another sponsored bicycle ride!Today is the "Sunrise Labor Day Classic" sponsored by the Clarksville Rotary Club & many others...This used to be the last RIDE of the seasonfor me (& many others) but now they've SPLIT this ride & another 100 mile ride til late in Septemebr (i'm already signed up!)Today i signed up for the 62 mile course...but, the grandaughter (RYLEE)is visiting this weekend...so, i'll just do the 33 mile route!I arrive @ RossView High School, the start & finish for the ride...@ approx 7a.m....the mass start begins @ 8a.m....Park & go in & register...grab my "GOODY BAG" (YES, another T-shirt & ANOTHER water bottle...Donna LOVES THAT!!!!)Prep my bicycle (2005 TREK Madone 5.2SL)...clean it...etc...meet a nice guy thats parked next to me...he also has a Madone...a NEWER one....niiiiiiice!all riders line up...for announcements, etc....I spot Mark Robertson, a fellow Veloteer & a friend he'll be riding with...at 8am...the 62 mile riders are off...& about 5 minutes later...us 33 milers are off....lots of 33 mile riders....i ride with a former TN Senior Olympics athlete, TOM Crow, til the 1st REST STOP....abt 10 miles in...travel down an Industrial Park road...then down Charles Bell road...(old Senior Olympics course included this road)...then into the Port Royal community (Hwy 238)...after the Rest Stop....I rode alone...the 66 milers split to the left & us 33 milers split to the right...lots of back-roads out here....heading towards Guthrie, KY...horse farms, tobacco farms, etc...on one of these back roads as i'm passing a farm....several dogs are road-side harrassing the cyclists....so i get ready...one lunges at me & i let him have it with a large SQUIRT from my water bottle...he yelped & called off the attack....& i pedaled on...ride into Guthrie & take a quick round about on the town...then head back out....onto Hwy 41 (which heads to Springfield...in the opposite direction)onto Russell Street going outta Guthrie (KY) & then thru Port Royal again...i pass the 2nd REST STOP (mile 23)....& back into South Clarksville area & to Rossview High School...good, short ride...                           33.23 miles today...& i got home in time for Lunch!Next bicycle ride...Sept 20thI plan on hiking some "make up" miles on the Appalachian Trail Sept 26-29 in Northern VA...See Ya'll UP the trail!
Date: 2008-09-26
From: HOME

To: Ashby Gap,VA
Miles today: 5.0

Fri.Sept 26th (Day #1)Today I head to Virginia for some "make-up" miles from ASHBY GAP SouthBound to Thornton Gap (abt 47 miles) that i had missed back in my annual A.T. Spring hike with "Jigsaw".4am "D-bird" (my lovely wife, Donna) & I get in the car (loaded to the brim), Patti (Heckle) & Joyce (Mingo) also are riding along for the trip.They have a condo reserved @ Massanutten Resort in Harrisonburg,VA & They'll be doing the "Tourist thing"... enjoying all the sites of Northern VA while i do my SoBo hiking.The drive takes 10 hours (OUCH!)We stop in Wyethville,VA to call my new hike bud, Robert "DAKS" Cartner (Suffolk,VA) to tell him we are on schedule to arrive abt 4 or 5pm @ Bears Den Hostel (our meeting place)."DAKS" drives to Bears Den (Montebello,VA)hostel, we pick him up & head up the road to Ashby Gap(900ft.elevation)...which is just outside (North) of Paris,VA.After a few minutes of WRONG TURNS...we finally find the trail-head parking lot...don our gear...get a few parting PHOTOS taken...& we're OFF!!! (5pm)SOBO!Its been raining for the last 4 or 5 hours...& its raining (a lite mist)now as we hit the trail (I hope our lawn @ home gets some of this rain, soon!)Not much daylight left...we plan on hiking approx. 9 miles today to Manassas Gap Shelter....hike, hike, hike.It gets darker...we don our head-lamps & the fog starts to roll in & the rain gets heavier...hike, hike, hike...our pace is picking up...rocks are very slippery!Its getting very hard to see now...with rain, fog & darkness...even with head-lamps on!As i hike over more slippery rocks....one of my hike poles gets stuck in between rocks & SNAPS! (DARN!!!!)   We travel on....As the rain cranks up even more...heavier & heavier...we decide to stop @ Dick's Dome Shelter (abt 5 miles in)...short of our goal.We BLUE BLAZE-it to the shelter as the RAIN cranks up another notch!WOW! Did we ever make the RIGHT decision...I ate Pop-Tarts as I spread out my rain-soaked gear...then stake out my spot & throw my sleep pad & sleeping bag out.I tried to call "D-bird" on the cell-phone...just to tell her we made it out of the rain to a shelter.The reception was bad...but, I got thru long enuff to tell her we made it.They had just gotten to their condo when i talked to "D-bird".8pm...LIGHT OUT TIME...as the RAIN continues...."DAKS" (short for DAKOTAS)& I have the shelter all to ourselves...we probably wont see too many other hikers this trip...most of the SouthBounders are well in front of us traveling to Springer Mtn.Goodnite!                     5 miles today
Date: 2008-09-27
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sat. Sept 27th (Day #2)   It Rained HARD...ALL NITE LONG.No mice in the shelter but several bugs that liked playing on the top of my bald head.We got up abt 7:30am...its still drizzling rain...I have DOUBLE-STRONG COFFEE (YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!) & a Pop-Tarts for breakfast.."DAKS" had some Tea & munchies.We were out of DICK's Dome Shelter by 8:30am.We're meeting "JUMA" today (a friend of "DAKS" that lives near Washington D.C.)somewhere around Manassas Gap."DAKS" & I hike together for the first 5 miles or so to Manassas Gap (for the most part)...the rain is just a light mist now...in fact, "DAKS" & I both have taken off our rain jackets but the pack covers stay on.We stop by a roadside picnic table along VA 55, re-watered & ate lunch.After that I had more energy to burn...we head out...SOBO!We see several Trail workers out today cleaning up trash, trimming brush & weeds, & non-native plants. We find out today is "NAT'L PUBLIC LANDS DAY"So a bunch of Scouts, parents, & volunteers are on the trail today(near roads).Good to see the activity on the trail...after I pass a Scouts tent (they didnt offer me food or drink!)...the trail headed East. I turn the corner onto a roadway (VA 638)& there is "DAKS" with his bud, "JUMA".We talk for a few minutes...then "JUMA" leaves...(i thought he was gonna hike the day with us...but he dropped us off some water @ the last gap & left)Seems like a nice fellow.We hike on...In another couple miles we come upon Jim & Molly Denton Shelter...we stop in for a rest, re-water & down some munchies to replenish our Energy...A day hiker was here eating his fill of Mac N' Cheese. Niiiiiice!3pm After "Juma" told us the weather channel is still prediciting 60-70% chance of showers again today...we decide to make this our short day & now our longer day will be tomorrow (our 3rd day on the trail).Okay with me!"DAKS" agreed.As I write this...it begins to RAIN...AGAIN.We made a good decision...it begins to RAIN harder, then harder...I even hear Thunder in the distance."DAKS" hangs his food bag & as soon as I get this journal entry finished...I'm taking a NAP before i cook dinner.Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-ZGOODNITE!                           10 miles today
Date: 2008-05-31
From: Maynard MA

To: Baxter State Park
Miles today: 0.0

It's a little past 6 on Saturday morning May 31. Come 8:00am I will be headed up north with my brother, Jeff (hiking the 100 mile wilderness w/ me) and our friend Earl. The plan is to camp in Millinocket this evening at a camp ground who can supply showers and a bathroom. Jeff and I will be dropped off at the trail head first thing tomorrow morning for our accent to Katahdin. I am more than ready to go. The past two days have been more stressful than I would have liked them to be. For one, my pocket journal is having issues. I can't seem to figure out why my entries are not being posted to this site. There should be 3 entries at this point, yet none are posted. This entry has been written directly in to the system and not pulled by my PocketMail device. I will be working hard to ensure that this on-line journal works.There is allot I could say regarding how I feel and what I'm thinking about. I will save it for later. Right now I want to break my pack down one more time to see if I can shed weight and pack more efficiently. If my posts don't end up taking, I will be back in 9 days to figure it out.
Date: 2008-06-02
From: Katahdin Stream Camground

To: Rainbow Spring Campsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Jeff and I woke up at 8:30ish. We were aiming to be on the trail be 8. Our goal for the day was to reach Rainbow Spring campsite, 21.5 miles south of Katahdin Stream campsite. I knew when we got up there was no way we were doing 20+ miles. The day itslef wasn't much to document. We pushed on as hard as we could to get our best estimates on going for the 21.5 miles. We reached Hurd Brook Lean to at aproximatly 4:30pm, there was no way we could squeeze in another 8 miles. Our avg. miles per hour for the day was around 2. If we had continued on we would have been racing against the sun going down, we also had Rainbow Ledges ahead of us which is a near 1000ft. acent to 2 large humps in the mountain side.We pitched camp at Hurd Brook Lean to. There were 7 other people at the site. 2 teams of 2 in tents and a group of 3 in the lean to. Jeff and I were polite but we pretty much kept to ourselves. We pitched our tents behind the lean to at a higher elevation. We ate freeze dried Pasta Premivera... it was outstanding.It's 10:00pm and I have a 14+ mile trek ahead of me tomorrow.*Entered 100 mile wilderness Phoenix3"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-03
From: Rainbow Spring Campsite

To: Nahmakanta Lake 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Have I mentioned that it has been raining since we set foot on the trail on the 1st? It hasn't been constant wich I am thankful for, however everything I own is soaked through. Its not fun setting up and putting away a wet tent, or putting on and taking off soaking wet boots that weigh up toward 5 pounds. Today it did rain all day... from 6am - 4:00pm. One again I am thankful that it stopped at all. I just spent the past several hours drying my fleece, under armor, 2 pairs of socks, pants and bandanna over a pittiful fire. None of the wood surrounding the site is dry therefore it was a project to keep the fire hot enough to dry the clothes. I built little racks out of sticks to spread open the clothing and cover as much surface area with the heat as possible. Everything is dry (for now)! Everything smells like my sweat, fire and... my burned sweat. This is my proud response to the vicious attack from the bugs.Speaking of bugs. The misquito's and chiggers are OUT OF CONTROL! I literally have 35 bug bites on my face... literally! I have about 20 on my neck, 5-10 on my ears, one on my right eyelid, a couple on my cheeks and one on my upper right lip area. Every time I smile or squint my eyes I feel like my face is deformed. I'm glad Jeff is a nice guy, because I must be a sight to see.Today was pretty brutal. We hiked 14.5 miles from Rainbow Stream campsite to Nahmakanta Lake site. We passed by a gentleman that we had met at last nights camp, his name is Dave (22 yr old, just graduated college with History degree, from Oklahoma, no trail name).As we passed Dave he explained to us that his achillis tendon was hyper extended and he would be getting off the trail asap... that's to bad, I was looking forward to his company along the way. Getting late, another 15+ mile day ahead of us tomorrow. I can't wait to put on my dry clothes in the morning! Phoenix3"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-04
From: Nahmakanta Lake 

To: Cooper Falls 
Miles today: 0.0

The bugs were absolutly unbelievable today. I don't have the words to describe how rediculous the bugs were. Jeff and I hiked 15.7 miles in low water swamp lands (bogs, I guess they are called). I'd say that 35% of the hike was done on trees that were shaved in half and placed over the swamp by AT volounteers. The landscape was magical, covered in bright green moss and rich with life... including millions of misquito's, chiggers, black flys and horse flys. It was a hot and sunny today (outside of the deep woods). Both Jeff and I hiked all day in long pants, long sleve shirts, I wore gloves (with the fingers cut off) and we both walked with our head/face nets on all of the time. Every once in a while a misquito would find its way inside of my head net and I would attempt to swat it... I fell in the swamp once and submerged my right leg up to my mid shin. I also fell in a stream and submerged my right leg up to my knee. I also fell while resting. The bugs were such motivation to constantly be moving forward that we rarly took breaks. My feet were numb, my back was weak and when we stopped to drink water I simply fell over in to the bushes. It was a tough day to say the least.Currently I am in a lean to at Cooper Falls campsite with a new friend and fellow thru hiker. His name is Joe and we have gotton along very well thus far. Jeff chose to pitch his tent near by. I am getting swarmed by misquitos right now and must sign off to hide in my sleeping bag.Phoenix3"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-06
From: Cooper Falls 

To: Chairback Mt.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I did not write a full entry for yesterday. I had to use the minimal time that I had to write to my girlfriend who I miss very much. The short version of yesterday... rain, rain and... some wind and mist and fog. I don't have the maps in front of me to give the details re: mileage and altitudes etc. but we put in a full day at about 11.5 miles. We stayed at Logan Brook lean to at 2500 elevation. It was cold but there were no bugs. I am dissapointed that there is no time for me to write my journal the way that I would like. This first 8 days of my trip has turned in to a race to get Jeff home on time (I must state that I do not blame Jeff for this).Today we got up at 5am. We left camp at 7:45am... we just got to camp (Chairback lean to) at 8:15pm. Yes that is a 13 hour day of hiking through mountains with 50+lb packs. We summited something like 6 mountains today. Including White Cap mountain at 8:00am at 3600 ft with patches of snow still on the ground. We acomplished over 18 miles today. I am only somewhat proud of it. I am proud of the distance and the difficulty of the terrain through out that 18 miles, but I am dissappinted that I am pushing my body so hard in these first days when I still have 2000 miles to go! I will be taking a much needed break when Jeff gets off in Monson ME. In town I will take my first shower in 9 days, do my laundry (currently all soaked with rain and sweat) and I will purchase food for my next round with the woods.I am more exausted than I would ever like to be again and can't write much more. I've got to get my sleep because we have another 15+ mile day tomorrow over many more mountain peaks and similar terrain as we experienced today.Phoenix3"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-12
From: Horseshoe Canyon

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Back in action... I hiked out of Monson this afternoon. I wanted to have a lite day to get things going again. The swelling in my feet never fully subsided and I left town kind of late to get good miles in. I'm at Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to this evening, 8.9 miles outside of Monson. The terrain was easy for the most part. I trekked at just under 2 miles per hour. No mountains and no ledges. I did run in to the East Branch of the Piscataquis River which had to be forded. I had a conversation with Dozer (north bound hiker who stayed at hostel with me) last night about the pains of fording rivers. He suggested that I just do it with socks and boots still on and dump the water out on the other side. When I got to the river bank I was apprehensive to cross with the boots still on, but I did. It was 100% better than going bare foot. My balance was better and my feet appreciated it. I squeezed my socks and drained the boots while sitting on a log on the other side. The rest of the hike was squishy and not the most comfortable thing, but camp was only 2 miles away.As soon as I got here I scoured the surrounding woods for good fire timber. I lit a good size fire in the pit and propped by boots upside down on sticks to help dry them. I also made little drying racks for my socks. This is the first full hiking day alone. I am occupied only by my mind and keeping this fire going. I can hear the rapids from the west branch of the Piscataquis River (which I will have to ford tomorrow). It is very peaceful here and I feel good.Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow yet. Phoenix3"by myself but not alone"
Date: 2008-06-13
From: Horseshoe Canyon

To: Bald Mt. Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0

Interesting day... I woke up at 4:30am and was on the trail by 6. I knew that crossing the west branch of the Piscataquis was within the first 3 miles of my hike. I have been hearing horror stories about it since I left Monson. Evidently the river was running extra high and extra quick. People were getting sucked in to the current... not what I wanted at 6am. I don't stress about much but whenever people build up anticipation to something, its the anticipation that kills me. I kept going over in my head whether or not I would be wearing my boots in or not. It certainly felt better on my feet, but this time I had 11 miles to hike after I crossed. The river was moving quick alright. I could see that the normal entry point was 1 ft under water from all of the excessive rain lately. I took a deep breath and said "screw it, now or never". The water reached the bottom of my pack in the deepest parts (that's a little above my waist). The current was powerful. If I attempted to adjust in the slightest, the river just about grabbed hold of me and forced me to fall out of line. There were several close calls. I just kept saying "slow, slow, no rush, just get through this", and I did.I rested on the other side of the river. My boots were upside down and draining while I changed my socks and hung the wet ones on my pack. The dry socks definitely helped. The boots were obviously still wet, but the new socks helped absorb some extra moisture and at least I wasn't squishing.I hiked a few more miles and unexpectedly hit another ford that required me going in. The risk of being swept away wasn't a factor but there was no way to leap from rock to rock in order to avoid wet boots and socks again.This time it was Bald Mt. Stream. I tried my damnest to balance on a thin piece of fallen tree that was a few inches under water, but it was slippery and soft. I slipped in with my left and kept balance by also going in with my right... so much for the new dry socks. Once again I let my boots sit upside down on the other side of the stream and changed in to my final pair of dry socks. also, once again I hung the wet ones from my pack. The rest of the day went fairly well. I summited Bald Mt. @ 2630 ft. The sky was crisp and perfectly clear. I had a 360 degree view of all of the ME wilderness, including the 120+ miles that I have hiked. I took some pictures and a short video on my camera.It's 7pm at Bald Mt. Lean-to (13.0 miles on the day). I have already ate dinner, hung my bear bag of food and trash, lit my fire and am ready for bed. All of my socks were dead dry from the hot weather. I intend to get up again tomorrow at 4:30 and have a 15 mile day ahead of me to the town of Caratunk ME. I'm not sure if I will be stopping in for some additional food. I'll play it by ear. Phoenix3"by myself but not alone"