morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-10-23
From: Horns Pond Lean to

To: Stratton, ME/Stratton Motel/Hostel
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: clear sky

Well I did manage to stay warm last night but it took me about 1.5 hours to get the body warmth going. And usually I never have to get up to pee during the night but of course last night I had to pee - brrrrrrrrrr!This morning we all got up and noved very quickly to pack up and start hiking. Swift was the first one out on the trail, me next followed by Llano, then Krazyfox. We only had 5.3 miles to go and we were all anxious to get to a warm town. Swift had no energy today (I think he is coming down with something). Krazyfox and I made it down to the road about 11am wanted to sit and enjoy the fact that we were done hiking for the day but it was so windy and cold we had to walk in place to stay warm. Neither of us had a working phone to call Sue to pick us up, we had to wait for Llano who showed up about 30 min later. We attacked her and told her to call the shuttle. Sue arrived but Swift had not - so we all sat in the van and waited for him which was fine cuz we were out of the wind. Once Swift arrived we headed to the motel. Swift really was out of it and felt bad he went to bed right after lunch (which was awful) and the rest of us relaxed, showered, and did some laundry.I talked to Krazyfox and Llano about possibly slacking the Crockers and then skipping Sugarloaf and Saddleback mountains cuz the weather is calling for rain for the next 6 days and that means snow and ice on the mountains. We thought about skipping to Rangley and then finshing from there as that section didn't have the high mountains. Sounds like a good plan.Well the more I thought the more I thought skipping one section just to go do another section in the rain didn't make much sense. If I am going to skip a section and have to come back to Maine to do it I might as well call it the end after slacking the Crockers. So I told Llano that and that I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. All I knew was that Swift was not hiking tomorrow and the girls were slacking the Crockers.Needlesstosay I did not get a good nights sleep. I was worried about Swift. I didn't like hiking without him and I was thinking maybe he needed to head home. My brain was going a mile a minute, I was stressing myself out.Finally I fell asleep I think.Tigerlily
Date: 2010-10-24
From: Stratton, ME/Stratton Motel/Hostel

To: Stratton, ME/Stratton Motel/Hostel
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

At 9am us girls were dropped off at the trailhead. We had two peaks to climb. We had a great day, no sun but mild temps and no wind (which makes all the difference).We made great time and played at both the summits and took lots of pictures. The trees were spectacular and we had some great views. After reaching the 2nd peak we started going down and there was quite a bit of ice. So we felt good about our decision to make this hike our last - cause with the rain that is forcasted for the next 6 days it would make it awful up here. We got back to the road at 2:30pm called Sue and were back at the hostel by 3pm. Swift made us a wonderful dinner of spag. w/saus, salad, garlic bread, and apple pie ala mode.Tomorrow I am taking a zero. Only have 60.4 miles to finish - not sure what I am going to do yet. I really want to finish but the weather is looking like it won't be able to happen.Tigerlily
Date: 2010-10-25
From: Stratton, ME/Stratton Motel/Hostel

To: Stratton, ME/Stratton Motel/Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Swift is still feeling lousy. I thought maybe he might be a little dehydrated so I got him some gatorade - he seemed to start to feel a little better after pushing some fluids. I'll keep my fingers crossed.Today was a zero, we just hung out and relaxed. Still hiking plans are up in the air - weather is the major variable and Swift. Colonel came today to pick up Krazyfox to take her home, they are also going to give Llano a ride to Portland. She will head back to VA from there to hike another 200 miles of the trail. They will be leaving in the morning. Tigerlily
Date: 2010-10-26
From: Stratton, ME/Stratton Motel/Hostel

To: Stratton, ME/Stratton Motel/Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Dehydration must have been part of it because today Swift says he feels better and he is eating. I feel much better about making plans to go home.This morning I had to say good bye to the Colonel, Krazyfox, and Llano as they headed home and to other parts of the trail. I have been fighting back tears all day.Now it is just Swift and I here at the hotel/hostel, it seems very odd. I just want to hold him and tell him how much I love him and will miss him but I know I will cry so I am trying to stay busy. I have reserved train tickets, hotel rooms for Boston and Chicago and made arrangements to be picked up in the windy city.Swift and I didn't do much, he was trying to get his strength back. He did eat today and didn't feel sick so I think he is over the hump. I called Suzie paniced about the hike being over. Swift reached his brother and he is coming to pick him up tomorrow afternoon.The thought of this journey - this life being done is overwhelming. Right now I am grief stricken over the fact that my trail family is being taken away from me. Once I deal with that I can begin to reflect on the past 7.5 months of my life on the trail. I will be back next year to complete the 60.4 miles that I was unable to do this year. Am I a thru hiker - HELL YEA - I AM A THRU HIKER.Tigerlily
Date: 2010-10-27
From: Stratton, ME/Stratton Motel/Hostel

To: Boston, MA/Ramada Boston
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up at 3:30am - feeling very anxious. Today I am heading home (exciting) but what I can't get past is not being with Swift. He has become my rock on this trail, I can't imagine not seeing him everyday.I got up because I was going crazy just laying there - I went next door to Sue's office and got on the computer and updated my journal, cried, walked, cried some more. The plan is Sue is going to drive me to Waterville to catch the bus to Boston at 12:30 pm, the bus leaves @ 2:30 pm. All the arrangements have been made. I did the dishes in the hostel and headed back to the room. I did not want to start crying in front of Swift (it was hard not to). As I was aimlessly puttering around the room Swift announced that he told his brother not to come that he was going to go to Boston with me. He thought it would be a nicer place for us to say our goodbye's. I was thrilled, I had another day before I had to say goodbye.12:30 pm came, we threw our packs in Sue's truck and off we went. We got to the bus stop @ 2 pm bought the tickets. Swift made a quick run to Subway. The bus got there right on time, a 4.5 hour ride, ugh!! About half way in we pass close to where Swift lives. I felt bad he is stuck on this bus but greatful he is here. We pull into Boston again on time 7 pm and were at the hotel by 7:30 pm, not bad.We got something to eat and avoided talking about the inevitable. I had gotten up @ 3:30 am, so I was falling asleep while watching TV. Tomorrow we check out at 10:30 am head to South Station. My train leaves for Chicago at 11:55 am and Swift's bus for Portland leaves at 2 pm.Tigerlily
Date: 2010-10-28
From: Boston, MA/Ramada Boston

To: Chicago, IL/Hyatt Regency
Miles today: 0.0

The last day - I'm up at 5:30 am paniced, claustrophobic - have to get outside and walk. I go back to the room wake Swift up by accident around 7:00 am. We talked about the trail, what was the best town? the best breakfast, the funniest thing ect....Checked out - got a taxi and off to the station. Here we are, first to the ticket office - then track 10. I bought a couple of books, now I wait only 30 minutes though.My train pulls in and my stomach tightens up even more. I'm determined not to start crying. I stand up and hug Swift telling him I don't want to leave. I already feel empty at the prospect of being without him. I stayed in his arms as long as I could, told him I loved him and turned for the platform. That was it - my almost 8 month journey, my trail family gone. I stopped and took one last look, the blue grey Granite Gear backpack moving through the station getting farther from me with each step Swift took.I boarded the train, sitting in my cabinette. A rush of emotion flows through me - what a incredible journey I have had. I know now that I am among an elite group of individuals that have experienced the trail and that is a great thing. I will make several more posts: reviewing gear, reflections on the trail, transition home.Rite now I want to thank everyone that gave me a helping hand, an encouraging word or smile along the trail. All of your kindness is what made my hike so successful. Swift I don't need to say anything - I hope and pray you know how much you mean to me!THANK YOU2010 AT THRU HIKER GA -- ME Mar 2010 - Oct 2010Good bye for nowTigerlily
Date: 2010-10-29
From: Boston, MA/Ramada Boston

To: Chicago, IL/Hyatt Regency
Miles today: 0.0

Now about 50 minutes from Chicago and am getting nervous. I am so used to a routine with you Swift - go to hotel, shower, laundry, fizzy drinks, and watch bad TV, you understand, noone here will. I miss trail life already. I know I will acclimate but right now I feel very out of place. I am walking back into a world of mistrust and aloofness not like the warmth and kindness of the trail life and towns. I hope I retain what I have learned and experienced over the past 8 months, I am a better person for it.
Date: 2010-11-05
From: Chicago, IL/Hyatt Regency

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well I just got my internet back up and running. My router was bad when I got home so they had to send me a new one. I just installed it. I will be making several more post over the next few weeks. I am struggling being off the trail, I really miss it.Will bring all of you up to date over the next few weeks, will also put up some more pictures. Thank all of you for following my journey and being a part of my life. I will never forget the trail or all of you. bye for now.
Date: 2010-11-12
From: home

To: home/Fort Wayne, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I got home, home on Oct 31. I spent the weekend in Chicago to help with the transition. I had a wonderful time in the big city with my friend. We ate and walked a lot.Being home has been hard for me. I am still struggling. I live alone (no fun) and I don't work. So I find myself just milling about. I have thought about the trail everyday and when every I do get together with people that is all I want to talk about and frankly they really don't care. This is what I have figured out for me at least. While I was on the trail I had a life and found out that I really enjoy having a life. On the trail you weren't teachers, social workers, atty's - it didn't matter if you were 17 or 65 - we were all hikers, a family. Out on the trail it was a community. Everyone on the trail understands what it is we did for the past 7.5 months of our lives. My days/life had direction and purpose. Now all of a sudden I am home. And it is not a community people come together for an event then run back to their private homes and lives that is not a true communty.   I returned to an empty home and no direction or purpose exsists here. Of course I miss my trail family but the hardest thing is noone here understands the life I have lived for the past 7.5 months. I feel even more alone here than before. I realize that most of us choose to hike the Appalachian Trail because we are searching for something or are in some transition period in our lives, and I know that I am the only one that can make the necessary changes in my life to find happiness - but it's hard. More contemplation: I have to figure out how to bring that fullfilling sense of self I had on the trail and incorporate it in my daily life no matter where I am. Well I guess I have found my ongoing adventure. Yet another big mountain to climb.I still have pictures to label and update, which I will work on over the next couple of weeks. Also my gear review.As for an ongoing posts - this is my final post for my 2010 thru hike - yes I know I still have 60 miles to do and I will put those miles on this post as soon as they happen (maybe the first of September). Talk you then. Thank you all again - what a wild ride.
Date: 2014-07-20
From: home/Fort Wayne, IN

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

tomorrow I leave to finish 60.4 miles of the AT. Let me take you back and explain -- long ago, well 4 years ago, I did a thru hike on the AT. I was in Maine and it was getting late in the season so a group of us jumped ahead and skipped a 60 mile section to make sure we could hike Katahidin.   I came home got busy with living with every intention of going back to finish those 60 miles but we all know what happens it just doesn't get done. Well I am no different. but this year I got an email from a complete stranger that read my trail journal and said how much she enjoyed it and asked if i had finished the 60 miles. I was amazed that my journal was being read and it brought the whole experience back to the forefront of my life. I made the decision right then I was going to finish those 60 miles this summer. So I started my preparations had to replace a few things, had to practice setting up my Tarptent, because in 2010 I used a blackbird hammock (which I loved). okay I'm all practiced up, relearned my knots, I'm packed and ready to hit the road tomorrow. oh did I forget to mention that I am terribly out of shape and have done nothing to get physically ready, yikes, not good planning oh well Maine here I come.I am excited and terrified, I am in loved with the backpacking lifestyle it is so fullfilling but on the other hand it is the people that make it so wonderful and I will not have the same great people I had in 2010--so I am scared I will be let down. I need to just push that thought out of my head - I am going back home.
Date: 2014-07-21
From: Fort Wayne, IN

To: somewhere between here and Maine
Miles today: 0.0

All packed, loaded the car and off I go. It was about 9am. I am using a new gps unit (garmin Nuvi) when I put in my final destination, it routes me thru Canada. Since I don't want to go thru Canada, I have also printed out an alternate route. So bouncing between the two sets of directions I managed to get on 75N, but got on to far north and went 200 miles out of my way before I realized, So I had to back track Yes 200 miles. I was so pissed, wasted so much time and gas. Finally got back on track and tried to put it behind me. Now plowing thru Ohio trying to get to PA before I stop. Elevan hours on the road and I only made it to Erie, PA, tomorrow I have another 11 hrs to Andover, ME. Stayed at the Microtel in Erie, relaxed and got some sleep.
Date: 2014-07-22
From: Microtel, Erie, PA

To: Pine Ellis, Andover, ME
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up early, well set alarm for 6:15am, ate some cereal in the lobby and was on the road by 7am. This time I had the gps set to Albany, NY. Once I got closer I reset the gps destination for Pine Ellis that way it kept me out of Canada. After twelve hours on the road 23 hrs in total (which should of taken 16hrs) I made it to Pine Ellis. Checked in with Don, got something to eat at the General Store Diner and looked over plans for hiking.I Checked the weather it is supposed to stormy tomorrow afternoon, lots of lightening, hail, so I think I will stay an extra day let the severe weather pass. Since I haven't been on a trail in four years it would be nice to start with dry conditions. Still haven't figured out what my plans are, not know how i will feel its hard to judge what I want to do. I guess I will play it by ear.
Date: 2010-05-14
From: Springer Mtn.

To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.0

Getting ready to start day 6 on the Appalachian Trail, which I started onSunday May 9th. Ava dropped me off at a parking lot about a mile in onthe trail and hiked back to the summit of Springer Mtn. with me. After wegot back to the car she decided hiking the AT wasn't for her and Icontinued on my own. I hike about 8 miles the first day and tent campednear a shelter because the mice where supposed to be pretty bad inside. Shelters are 3 sided buildings with a raised sleeping platform spacedevery 5-10 miles along the trail. Makes it easy because you don't have totent but there are usually tons of mice and other critters.Hiked almost 20 miles the second day, and have been averaging about 15 aday since. I met up with a guy from St. Louis on the second day and havebeen hiking with him. He's planning on going halfway to Harpers Ferry,West Virginia so I may have a hiking parter for that much of the trail. We stopped in Hiawassee, GA last night to get beer, pizza and showers. Split a hotel so cheap they didn't even have phones in the hotel room!Also hitch hiked for the first time yesterday to get in to town. It wasremarkably easy, stood on the side of the road for less than a minute andthe second car picked us up.I'll be trying to upload pictures to facebook as often as I can, but itseems that most libraries have the site blocked on their computers. Nextstop will probably be next Tuesday night at the Natahala Outdoor Centernear Bryson City, NC. By the end of the day we will have passed out of GAand into NC, covering a total of 80 miles. I'm hoping to be in HotSprings, NC (270 miles) by my birthday, May 31st.http://derek.ohlgren.com
Date: 2010-06-01
From: Erwin, TN

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Stayed in Erwin, TN with they guys at the Super 8 (which is NOT hiker friendly!) to celebrate my birthday. Not much of a party town since there are no bars and you can't buy liqour. We made the best of our time and smashed pennies on the train tracks after a quality dinner at sonic. Pushed 20 miles per day the 3 previous to get here and planning on sticking with that schedule for a while. The goal for now is to be in Pennsylvania by the end of the month, which requires and average of 21 miles per day. Everything feels good so far except my feet, so I should be able to manage that. Ordered a new pair of trail runners so I can get rid of the Vasque boots that are chewing up my feet. Never had blisters this bad before. Oh well, "No pain, no Maine." I think I should be able to make it to Katahdin by the end of September, maybe earlier if the miles go well through Virginia. Hoping to be in Damascus , VA for my second zero day by next Monday. It's reputed to be the friendliest town on the trail so it should be a good time. I'm loving my time on the trail and like the feedback I'm getting from everyone on facebook and e-mail. Hopefully I'll get some pictures uploaded soon and can share the awesomeness of the trail with everyone.http://derek.ohlgren.com
Date: 2010-06-07
From: Damascus, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 426.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Arrived in Damascus, VA yesterday and am enjoying my second zero day. Got poured on yesterday on the way into town and have never been so excited to see a building with four walls! Picked up a new hiking partner, 3 Ball (named so because of the pool ball keychain on his pack) and we've been doing some pretty strong miles. Hit my biggest day last week with 27.6 miles and then 26.1 coming into Damascus yesterday. Still aiming to be across the border into Pennsylvania by the end of June, so we need to average 24 mile/day for the rest of the month then hike the 4 state challenge (52 miles from VA border, thru WV and MD, across PA border) at the end.Had an interesting wildlife encounter at the shelter two nights ago. Just showed up after a long day of hiking with food poisoning and was trying to make dinner and left my pack leaning against the edge of the shelter. Heard it start to fall over and the guy across from me goes "Look, look, look (me not paying attention) RACCOON'S GOT YOUR STUFF!" That got my attention and i turned in time to see a large raccoon grab my pack liner with his teeth and run off behind the shelter. I jumped up from the picnic table and chased him about twenty yards thru the wood running as fast as i can in flip flops. Caught up with him and stepped on the bag right before he tried to run up a tree with it. Apparently this raccoon is notorious for stealing from people at the shelter and takes everything not just food. My liner bag only had clothes in it a the time.Moving on tomorrow and hoping to cover 160 miles in the next week and be in Pearisberg, VA by next Monday. I'll be mailing by broken camera home to my dad where he's going to upload some pictures for me. http://derek.ohlgren.com
Date: 2010-06-26
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 227.0
Weather: few clouds

A lot has happened in the last week or two since I've updated. 3-Ball and I have been moving at a brisk pace to try and reach Harpers Ferry in time to catch a train to Washington DC on the 4th of July. Not quite making the original deadline of crossing the Pennsylvania border by the end of June but I think a few days off at the end of a long stretch will be nice. After that we will be attempting the 4 state challenge with the assistance of a slackpack (someone else transports your gear by car) from a guy named Bonzo. We've been averaging 22 miles a day for the past week and pushed another day over 30 miles bookend by 25's. Long days mean sometimes hiking at night which has been awesome with the full moon. The first night I saw something amazing while walking with no headlamp. Looked down and saw what looked like a glowing string of beads. Picked it up and it was a glowworm! (I looked it up, thats the official name) Never seen anything like it before, it looked like a milipede but it glowed like a lightning bug from in between its body segments.Stopped over in Pearisberg a week and a half ago and Eric Boynton came a picked us up and took to his place in Blacksberg for the night. It was a great break from the trail to go out to a bar and hang out like a normal person. Got extremely lazy the next day and barely hiked 7 miles out of town, but the shelter had and amazing view of the West Virginia valley. Saw my first sunset of the trip from the ridge and it was amazing. Hopefully I'll get pictures of it up soon. Got a new camera from Ava, so I'm back in business in that department.Celebrated the summer solstice on Monday by participating in Hike Naked Day! Hiked about 8 miles out of Daleville in nothing but my birthday suit! Very interesting experience. We were the only people participating in this area as far as i know.Been stopping at every swimming hole we can lately, I was told Virginia is experiencing record heat right now. Crossed the James River a few days ago on the longest footbridge on the AT (old train bridge). There were a bunch of high schoolers out there with rope swing rigged up that involved jumping out sideways from one of the 40 ft piers and swinging back under the bridge before dropping into the water. Didn't think about it too much and just jumped and it was hella fun.Nearly ran out of food two days ago thinking we could make 130 miles in 6 days on a normal amount of food. Apparently when you hike 25-30 miles a day you eat A LOT! Caught a good hitch from some kids who were out swimming and screwing around and they took us to the store with them on their beer run. We picked up a few beers with our snacks and it seemed to make the 3000 ft climb afterwards much easier. Might try that more often.Currently staying at a free church run hostel that is amazing. Has internet, phone, shower, laundry, BIG screen tv and a bunch of movies. We lucked out too because this is the last day of the season they will be open. Moving on in the morning to start the Shenandoah park section. Should be there 4-5 days they 2 more to Harpers Ferry.