morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-06-23
From: PA248/Palmerton 

To: Allentown, PA 
Miles today: 0.0

I'm exhausted. These zero days wear me out! Today, Ma, Michelle, Sam, Tristan and I went to Dorney Park. We got there before they opened at 10am, and Michelle and I headed for Talon, an inverted rollercoaster, just to kickstart the day. Oh, how I miss rollercoasters! Between, riding rides, hanging out at the water park and the sudden heat (88*!), I. Am. Tired.I had a great time with my family. I wish I'd had more time with them, but I'm ready to get back on the trail. Town things wear me out. Decisions all the time. TV. Radio (which I enjoyed). Cars flying by. Being in a flying-by car. Choices of food. People that don't talk to me. Just a lot of things I'm not used to. When I ride in a car, I feel a little 'off' for several days. I think it's motion-sickness that gets stretched out longer because I don't ride in cars very often, and not usually for any length of time. I'm thinking about a good night's sleep in my sleeping bag tonight. And about hiking tomorrow.I'm ready to keep moving north. And, especially, to get out of Pennsylvania. It's not been my favorite state, as the combination of rocks and rain make hiking a slower, more deliberate activity. I guess, having passed the halfway point, I'm thinking a little bit about the final destination. I don't dwell on it, and still have small 2 to 5 day goals, but Katahdin has been on my mind a little bit. I've also started thinking about Life After the Trail a bit more. I have a lot to think about. Or maybe I don't. I'll work it out as the situation dictates. Time is on my side. Right now, I'm still enjoying the ride.
Date: 2003-06-28
From: Culvers Gap/US206 

To: US206/Milford/Port Jervis 
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a zero day. I hiked 5-6 miles. Pa, Bryan, Dan and I decided it would be too much trouble to find equipment so we could all go out overnight on the AT. We're going to do one or two day hikes instead. Today's hiking was impromptu, as we drove up to High Point State Park to look around, and ended up hiking about 1.2mi on the AT, and 4 or 5 miles after that, including hikng to the top of High Point and the monument there. We had great views from there, and the observation platform south of there on the AT. It was a bit hazy, but still, the views were great.We were all tired today, since they got in around 2 this morning, and we didn't crash until about 3:30. We left the hotel in Milford and got one in Port Jervis, which is nearer to High Point State Park. Hotdog stayed at the Milford Motel and took a zero day there today.It is great to have family around. I have missed them, and I am very happy to share this trip with them. I wouldn't mind if we didn't hike at all on the AT, although I know they'd like to. My main goal, while they are visiting, is to have a good time with them. That's not usually a difficult thing for me to do around family, and this visit shouldn't be any different.
Date: 2003-06-30
From: NJ23 

To: Gemmer Rd 
Miles today: 5.6

Today, I didn't feel like doing a lot of miles, and I think the guys' feet were pretty sore too. Last night, I took some pleasure in watching them hobble a bit after getting up, just like I do. I felt better knowing they felt like me.We decided to do some AT miles today, and headed north from the Park Visitor Center. That would be the second time I hiked the first 1.2mi north of there, but this time, I was carrying my pack. Not fully loaded. I was slacking again. We didn't want to mess with a taxi, so Bryan, Hotdog and I headed north and Pa and Dan drove to a road 3 miles out and hiked in to meet us. We were all still on alert for bears, but once again, had no luck. When we got to the 3mi road, Dan volunteered to drive the car again, as his foot was hurting. So, Pa, Hotdog, Bryan and I headed north again, this time for 2.6mi. Pa and Bryan got to climb several stiles... lucky them! We saw plenty of chipmunks, and some deer, but no bears. Bummer.Dan hiked in about a half mile to meet us, and when we got to the car, we said 'goodbye' to Hotdog, as he was continuing north. Then we went to get some lunch! My favorite after-hike activity: food! We ate at a local restaurant, adequately filling our tummies, then went looking for batting cages. We found them. But they are open only from 4-9pm. Darn! We were all pretty tired anyway, and went back to the hotel to relax.I had a few chores to do, before hitting the trail, but I didn't start laundry until about 9pm. Unfortunately for me, the dryer was broken, and Bryan and I had to drive to town to dry the clothes. It was about 10pm then, and we were back at the hotel before 11.I don't want the fellas to leave. I've been thinking about it, and I don't want them to leave. I want them to hike with me... to Katahdin. :-) I have breakfast with them in the morning, but that's it. I'll have to cherish that, and let them go.
Date: 2003-07-18
From: October Mountain Lean-to 

To: MA8/MA9/Dalton
Miles today: 11.8

It was one of those days. I woke up, and knew I was headed to TOWN. We were just planning on stopping in Dalton for lunch, then heading north for about 5 miles to a campsite. We had a pretty good pace going this morning, even though we stopped at the Cookie Lady's house and chatted with the Cookie Man for at least a half an hour. He was a nice guy, and they allow hikers to get water from a spigot, occasionally camp in their lawn, and offer cookies. It's wonderful that they assist hikers this way. Great people!It started raining around 10:30. Once again, it wasn't a downpour, so all I put on was my pack cover. The rain didn't last too long, but continued to drip and blow off the trees for the rest of the way to Dalton. That just meant we didn't want to stop much. When we got to Dalton, the rain had stopped. But the damage was done. We were planning on camping tonight, but the rain made us want to NOT do that. I know I was thinking 'hotel, shower, laundry' and Hotdog must've been thinking the same thing, because as we ate burgers at Dugg & Del's, we decided to stay.Ahhh.. it's nice to be clean! My shirt doesn't look clean, but it smells better at least. I can't believe how filthy I can become, in just a day. My body and clothes can be washed, but I believe there is no hope for my backpack. It is nasty, smelly, dirty, filthy, slimey, stinky, and all-around gross! Because of the humidity, it doesn't dry at night and in the morning, I strap it to my back once again. (sigh) That's just the way it goes. I've been threatening to go to do-it-yourself car wash and wash my pack. I might have to make that threat real! But I keep saying to myself "Why bother now?" Hmmm... those difficult decisions!I miss my friends and family at home. I keep thinking about these next few months, and at times, I want the time to fly by. I don't think I am rushing through the miles and ignoring the sights though. Hotdog and I used the excuse that we were rushing to reach a maildrop (which we got a ride to today. Thank you Rob at Shell!!) and that's why we did 112 miles in a week. But I enjoyed it. I like pushing myself a little bit. I think we did a good job of mixing long days with shorter ones, and those shorter ones really help me rest up for the next day's hike. It's amazing how a 12-mile day can be 'restful'.Tomorrow, we climb Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts' highest peak. It's a long climb, and at the end of a 17-mile day, but I've heard it's not too bad going northbound. It doesn't matter really. I will hike whatever the trail dishes out for me. That's the easy part of this hike--just follow the blazes. Thru-hikers don't think much about where to go, as long as we see the white blazes.No matter how long it takes me, or how soon, I will enjoy this until the end. How could I not? It is just an awesome experience!
Date: 2003-07-24
From: VT11/VT30, Manchester Center

To: Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Dave and Lynne, David and Sundi, and Aiden have been so incredibly wonderful to us! This morning, Dave cooked breakfast: scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, OJ!! Man, was that good! Then Hotdog and I got a ride from David, Sundi and Aiden, into town so we could do our town chores.I bought new hiking shoes, which will hopefully last until Katahdin, and a new shirt since my other one was wearing out. We had lunch at McDonald's, then did resupply shopping. I got a $9 haircut from an 80-year-old barber. It's the first time my hair's been cut dry. But it worked out just fine. It grows like weeds anyway. We considered seeing a movie but the earliest show was at 7pm, and that was too late for us, especially since we were relying on others for our rides.I saw many other thruhikers today: Red and Blue, who I hadn't seen since... southern VA; Drew and Desmond; Trailfrog; Space Monkey; Flowcefus; and Bree. I'm sure there were others in town too, but I didn't see them. It was great to see some that I thought were way ahead. It seems a lot of NOBOs are from the Northeast, and have been taking time off visiting family. It kindof shuffles the hiking groups, which is fun, because I get to see old friends and make new ones.After dessert at Friendly's, we called our host family for a ride back to the house. They gave us dinner too: steak; mashed potatos and gravy; corn on the cob; salad. And for dessert, an awesome sundae bar! Man, oh man! That was great. I also got to try Dave's World's Best Super Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies. Being a chocolate chip cookie lover, I must say, it was very, very good!I cannot believe how fortunate I am. To be taken in, not just for one night, but for TWO, and fed and cleaned up, is just incredible! The trail, and the people near it, still amaze me. It is quite refreshing to see that we humans are still caring, helping people. I know I can never repay those that have helped me out, and they have no idea how grateful I am and how much it means to me that they have gone out of their way to help. I can only try to pass it on to other hikers, once my adventure is over. Just keep paying it forward. Dave and Lynne and family are now a special part of this hike. Every day, it seems a new memory is created. I hope I am keeping track of them well enough to recall them after this hike is done. I know the lessons will remain, and that is the important part.
Date: 2003-08-15
From: Rattle River Shelter

To: US2/Gorham
Miles today: 1.9
Weather: clear sky

Whew! Tough miles today! Not! It was a very pleasant walk from the shelter to the road. Not many rocks, gradual downhill. Very nice. After the last couple of weeks, I needed that.It took us about 20min to get a hitch into Gorham, and when we got one, it was from a local police officer. Very nice man, and not just because he gave us a ride. He was pleasant to talk to as well. He dropped us at the Post Office, and I called Suz to see what her status was. She said she'd be by in about 40 minutes so we walked to McDonald's for breakfast. We met a great man there as well, who knew, looking at us, that we were thruhikers. He had a LOT of knowledge about the AT, not only in this area, but down south too. I'm not positive, but I think he has hiked all of the AT. He had a great memory, and I would have loved to talk to him for longer, but we had to get back to the PO to meet Suz.We got our packages from the PO and dug through them until Suz arrived. When she was pulling up, I heard her say "There they are!" I wondered who she was talking to, and then I saw them. It was Shoe and Chief! They are staying at Suz's tonight too, and will go back to Crawford Notch, where she picked them up. Very nice to see them. Shoe is planning on finishing on the 18th or 19th, and depending on how I handle Maine, I will finish a bit before her most likely. Chief is finishing up the hike he started a year or two ago.Suz is very kind to offer up her house, shower, laundry, back yard for drying, food, and drinks, and to give rides to trailheads! It is nice to relax in a house, and that is what I plan to do tomorrow... get some shopping done, then relax. I cannot say enough, how much I appreciate what people like Suz mean to this trip! It just makes it... better!Mark and Judy (uncle and aunt) came to take me out to dinner. It was wonderful to see them, and I am so glad they were able to make it. THey've had a lot going on lately, and had a 2-hour drive up here, then 3 to get back home to Boston. We had a good time though, sharing rattlesnake stories, and laughing. It made me excited for Heather's wedding! It's going to be fun!I'm still caught in the I-wanna-get-finished-but-don't-wanna-at-the-same-time line of thinking. I am ready to visit family and friends at home, but know that I will miss the woods. It might be a strange combination since most people I know at home don't share the love of the woods with me, and don't know how it is to take a long trip like this. But I feel I can get the bsst of both. Or maybe I know that, when I need to, I will immerse myself into nature to regain my sanity. It's going to be a weird transition, but I will be fine. It all works out in the end. After this adventure reaches it's termination.
Date: 2003-08-16
From: US2/Gorham

To: North Conway, NH
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a lazy day of relaxing and walking around this tourist town. It will be strange, and yet fun, to be a tourist in towns like this, instead of a hiker taking a break. I look forward to vacations. This has been somewhat of a vacation, but much more tiring and much more work than most vacations. However, it has been, and will be the most rewarding thing I've done.I thought about Ted a lot today, and wondered how different the hike would've been with him on the trail. I talk to him while hiking, and know that he provides good resting logs or campsites when I need them. Selfishly, I wish he were hiking with me, physically. I know he is with me in spirit, but I want to talk with him, and hear back from him. I will have to wait until it is my Time.What makes a person go through with a goal like this? I felt, barring injury or illness, that I could do this thruhike thing. I knew I could. Why would I think that? This has been the hardest thing I've ever done. What made me think I'd have a chance at completing this? I still have a hard time recognizing the magnitude of this. Is it really a Big Deal? Once I am done with this adventure, I'm sure I will look back and realize how great this is/was. I have a slight idea now, but while still trying to reach the goal, I try to only think about the next few days. It is difficult NOT to think about Katahdin, though.After talking to friends and family, once again, I feel more ready to get this over with. I don't mean that I am tired of it, or that it's a chore, but I want to see my family and friends. I'm homesick, and yet, I feel at home on the trail. It's quite a mixed bag of emotions, and I don't suppose that will get any better, the closer I get to The Goal. I think about my post-hike life more often now and I guess that's natural too, especially for someone who is using this as a time of change. I now know that I don't need as much change as I had thought before the hike, but I want to do things that make me happy. I want to have a job that I like, and have hobbies that I like. I will always need time in the woods now, and I hope my job can accomodate that.I have changed my opinion or view on some things. For instance, right now, I don't think I need as many luxuries as I had before. I was, by no means, rich, and I didn't have too many toys, but I realize that I wasted a lot of money on things that aren't necessary. I think that, when traveling, I won't be as likely to get a hotel room when stopping for the night, but rather, just sleep in the car, or go to a campground. I hope I don't feel the need to spend hours on a computer every day, or spend evenings watching TV. I'd rather read a book, or sit outside. There is no way for me to know what the future holds or how I will change once back into "civilization" but I believe that I won't lose all of what I've learned out here. It will stick with me forever.
Date: 2003-08-19
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Speck Pond Campsite
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: clear sky

Today, I conquered The Notch. Actually, it was kinda fun. I didn't expect to go fast, and therefore wasn't disappointed. Mahoosuc Notch is known as a "jungle gym" of rocks. No, boulders. Huge boulders. We crawled over, under, around these boulders. It was hard, but it was fun too. We took about 2 hours to get through that mile. I saw some ice down in some of the deep holes, not where we hiked, but down farther. That was very cool! There must've been a 15 degree difference in some places between crawling down in the boulders and scrambling over the tops. It was amazing.After Mahoosuc Notch came Mahoosuc Arm, and I'd heard it was a steep hike up sheer rock faces. It wasn't nearly as bad as I'd imagined from what I heard. It was fairly steep, but definitely not the worst I've climbed. I am thankful there was no rain though. It would've made it a lot harder. The view from the top of Mahoosuc was gorgeous. We sat up there, and had lunch, looking out on the mountains nearby and in the distance. I could see the trail going up neighboring Speck Mountain. I always like that.Thristy Boots was already there taking a break, and he left shortly before we did. We eventually hiked the 0.9 to the shelter, with the intention of hiking on for the night. Once here, we debated on staying or going. We eventually decided to stay. I didn't want to have to push for any reason, and would rather do what I want to. The miles are tough in this area, and there will be times when the miles will be easier and I'll do more.As excited as I am to be getting toward the end, I want to enjoy Maine, and not rush past good views or ponds. It's a difficult situation, the pull toward home versus the desire to stay on the trail and enjoy it to the fullest. I really liked the pond here, Speck Pond, which is Maine's highest pond at about 3500'. It is very beautiful! I just wanted to stay and enjoy the pond and the sunny weather. I ended up swimming in the pond. It was quite chilly, but wonderfully refreshing! Aaahhhhh.... it felt great, not only the fresh water, but the relaxing scene too. Sitting on the rocks by the pond was heaven! The sun was so warm. What a great day!I will make more miles per day than today. Usually. But it felt great today! I thought my knees would feel much better after the day off in N.Conway, but after a couple of days back on the trail, they are just as sore as before the days off. As long as the problem is just aches, I will be fine. I don't want any injuries. At the same time, I think that the quicker I finish, the quicker the aches will go away. The struggle continues between a desire to go home, and a desire to stay here. I'm going to try to find the happy medium.
Date: 2003-08-27
From: Horns Pond Lean-tos

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: few clouds

It's not often that I get to sit on a boulder, on a huge pond and watch sunset while the blows waves into the shore. I got to do that tonight. I wasn't actually able to see the sun, but the sky was bright orange, and the clouds dark blue against the lighter blue sky. It was beautiful. I miss watching sunsets. That used to be one of my favorite things to do at home. I hope to see more before I reach Katahdin.Today was a great day! I had great views all day long, despite the teasing rain. The clouds were moving so fast, a rain shower would blow in and as soon as I had pack cover and rain jacket on, the rain would let up, and the sun would come out again. It was windy again today, making walking on the peaks and up to the peaks of West Bigelow and Avery Peak of Bigelow quite challenging. It was the strongest gusts I've faced yet, but the wind wasn't as steady as when I was on The Horn of Saddleback. It is so cool to fight to stay standing, and challenging to take pictures without swaying. But so awesome.When Hotdog and I stopped for lunch on the East Peak of Little Bigelow, we could see back to where we started the day. I just love that. The clouds were moving fast today, and it was neat to watch them as their shadows pass on the land below. If I weren't up on the mountain peaks, I wouldn't get that perspective of the clouds' shadows. Down in the valleys, when a cloud would pass, all I ever knew was that it got colder and the sun was hidden, but from above, I have a different perspective. A better perspective.It was a long, hard day today, but quite rewarding with the views and the lake and ponds. I cannot believe how big the "ponds" are here in Maine. To me, they are all lakes! And Flagstaff Lake was huge! They are all just amazing, with mountains around them. Beautiful.The shelter is full, with CeeBee, Aloha Ann, Coffee, Walkabout, Recycled, Hotdog and I, and another hiker is tented behind the shelter. It's nice to meet up with familiar faces (Recycled and Walkabout), as well as those I've been following in the registers. We have been having a great time, joking around and laughing. Again, I wonder, is this hike supposed to be this much fun? Whether it's supposed to or not, it is fun. I think all of us here are headed to Caratunk tomorrow, so, depending where everyone stays, it could be more fun and laughs in town. Then, the next morning, it's back to trail life. Unless, of course we end up with similar schedules. Then, the laughs never end... Just as a hike should be!
Date: 2003-08-29
From: US201/Caratunk

To: Bald Mountain Lean-to 
Miles today: 14.7

It was nice sleeping in a bed, but it got a little chilly last night in the barn. That's where the bunkhouse is, the loft of the barn. I think it was 50* overnight. Good sleeping though, all bundled up in a sheet and quilt. Aaaahhhhh...Hotdog and I were back on the trail around 8:30am. Not too bad for leaving town! Paul at Caratunk House was a wonderful host. I got to talk to him about his hikes too: AT in '90 and PCT in '94. He's also planning to hike the PCT again, next year, and maybe the CDT after that. He said there were videos about the PCT up in the loft, and they would have made me fired up and ready to go hike it, so I'm glad I didn't know that, and watch. I might've left the AT and headed West. Okay, maybe not. Yet.It was a nice hike today, with one mountain, about an 1100' climb. The views were good today, then the clouds came, and stayed, dropping a few drops of rain, after I reached the shelter. The drops were just to tease CeeBee though, as she was trying to dry her tent on a rock and has had to bring it in twice. I think she gave up on it.It's crowded here at the shelter tonight. Recycled was here first, then Hotdog, me, CeeBee, Old Corpus, and Don Quixote joined him. When Aloha and Coffee showed up, they brought a hiker friend of Don's from 2001, Mountain Dancer. He came to hike with them for a couple of days. How cool! Aloha and Mountain Dancer are tenting, and Walkabout and Carrotslayer have just arrived and will be tenting too. There is a group of freshmen and their guides out here tenting too. We've seen a lot of freshman orientation groups out here lately. I guess it's that time of the year. Good group though. They shared their 10# bag of pepperoni with us. That isn't what makes them good. But it didn't hurt.The rain is falling steadily now, but not pouring. Yet. I'm hoping it doesn't rain tomorrow, but if it does, as usual, I'll just deal with it. The weather here in Maine has been great, despite occasional showers. I'm sure there will be more rain to come. I've come to expect it this year, anytime, anywhere.