morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-31
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: few clouds

Hot, Hot, Hot!!Today was a very long, butt-kicking day (if I haven't mentioned it before, I really hate hiking 20's!), but I felt quite accomplished getting to the shelter.We had heard that the forecast for today was calling for record-breaking highs. Sure enough, when I left this morning at 6:50, it was already warmer than I would like it. The morning hike was fine, and I felt really fast. After 4 miles or so, I heard a lot of movement in a tree. I looked up to see a bear just over me. I quickly moved on up the trail and then stopped for at least 20 minutes or so to watch it munch on blossoms of the Tulip Poplar. Shortly after this, I came to the highlight location of the day- Loft Mountain Campground. I took the wrong trail in (even though I have a detailed map of the area and could have figured this out, had I just looked), so getting to the campstore was a much bigger ordeal than it needed to be. Regardless, the result was the same- I sat in the cool breezeway for a very long break reading my book and enjoying first a Snickers ice cream bar and then a Bud Light Lime. Apparently, beer singles are the best deals in the park. The ice cream bar cost about twice what the beer did.Later in the day, the hiking really kicked my tail (partially thanks to the heat, I'm sure), but the whole day was okay. I spent a lot of time talking to various people, all eager to chat about my hike. Big thanks to the two groups who gave me rides in the campground, as well as the cool guy who gave me yummy granola at the end of the day! One last thing- had one other bear sighting today- hiked right up on one on the trail. Super cool! They are majestic!Postscript, May 31, 2011: This was a long, hard day, but one that I remember with fondness. (I think I have forgotten about all of the heat.) Also, Braids was back with me that night! I'm not sure why I neglected to write about it in my journal, but I was happy for us to be back together again. She had been hiking her own hike plan- long siesta during the middle of the day and then hiking late into the night- for several days, but I'm pretty sure this is the one where we partnered back up again.
Date: 2010-06-02
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut

To: Campsite near Hughes River Gap
Miles today: 18.3

It has happened again- I have gotten several days behind in my journaling. To catch up, I'll go back to the bullet point method.- "Very nice boys" last night- not so much. Stayed up drinking and talking loudly for a long time after dark. Very annoying!- Got up early and had breakfast with Inferno and Ink at Big Meadows Wayside. Awesome! Very fun and delicious breakfast.- Stayed for a long time, then eventually hiked on.- Long break at Rock Spring Hut, too.- Got to Skyland Tap Room later than expected. Went in for a quick drink and maybe appetizer or dessert, ended up getting dinner. Were very full, so didn't leave til around 7. No longer had any chance of getting to the next shelter until well after dark, as was our original plan. Hiked until we found a campsite.- Camping away from shelters in SNP is very tough! Campsite not great, but ok. I was going to hammock, but decided to join Braids in a cowboy camp.- Glad to be in!- We were spoiled today by FOOD!
Date: 2010-06-03
From: Campsite near Hughes River Gap

To: Thorton Gap/ Cabin in Graves Mtn.
Miles today: 7.3

-Very interesting camping experience last night!-It threatened rain during the night, and in true Loosie fashion, I got really stressed about it. Braids, however, handled it like a champ. -It never rained.-We got chewed up by bugs throughout the night. Around 4:30 or 5, awoke to an animal moving in the woods close by. Turned on my headlamp, and saw a young buck with velvet antlers. As we watched, he circled around to our right side, while two more came up on our left. We joked a lot about them being a teenaged gang, or what we called Thugs in Velvet. It was really cool!-Got up and hiked to Thorton Gap, where we were met by Bart Tuthill. I had not met Bart before, but know his wife, Traci, and daughter, Maggie, from Big Sky Kids years ago. They all welcomed Braids and me both and treated us like royalty. We spent the day with Bart and then were joined by Maggi, Traci, and Bartley around 8:30 or 9. It was so wonderful to be with all of them! Bart took us to lunch at a fantastic small cafe, where I had one of the best reubens ever. Yum! We stopped by the bluegrass festival for a brief moment to meet a musician friend of his, an amazing banjo player. Bart is also a big scotch drinker. Several years ago while in Scotland, Bart and a few friends bought an entire "Hog's Head" of scotch (a big barrel of it), which they have recently had bottled and shipped to the U.S. It's from Springbank Distillery, which apparently makes really good, top-of-the-line scotch. Bart was excited for us to try it and poured us each a small bit, diluted with a little water. Neither of us drink scotch, and Braids doesn't drink at all. I think we both found it a bit harsh, but at the same time, I could really taste the depth and complexities of flavor, and found the whole experience really fascinating. Thank you for sharing that with us, Bart!We then went up to their nearby cabin, a rustic one owned by the PATC (Potomac Appalachian Trail Club), of which Bart is a member. It was a beautiful place! Braids and I were exhausted after being robbed of good sleep last night and took a refreshing afternoon nap during a HUGE thunderstorm. It was so nice not to be hiking during that! The rest of the afternoon was spent talking with Bart and eating crackers, aged Cheddar cheese, and fish that Bart caught and smoked himself, as well as fresh strawberries that we bought straight from the farm on the way to Graves Mountain. Bart grilled us some fresh Cobia (fish) for dinner. It was delicious! After Traci, Maggie, and Bartley arrived, we had a wonderful time catching up and were fed strawberry shortcake (one of my favorites since childhood!). We were both exhausted and had to head to bed fairly early, but I'm so happy to be here!!! We're definitely living the good life!Postscript, June 3, 2011: Thanks again to the Tuthill family. That was such a wonderful visit!!!
Date: 2010-06-06
From: Front Royal, VA

To: campsite 1.1 mi north of Dick's Dome S.
Miles today: 17.0

Ah, Back on the journaling track. Sorry about that! I'm sitting in my sleeping bag on a tarp with Braids, wearing a hat, jacket, and socks for the first time in quite a while. It was still hot today, but as the front of thunderstorms left withing the last couple of hours, it cooled off quite a bit. It's also very windy, so with my warmer clothes on, it's perfect.Today has been fairly tough, although the terrain was nice. I almost always have a hard time leaving town, but today was even worse. I've been getting a bit burned out lately, so I think the 9-day break I have coming up will be wonderful. I've just been getting bogged down in the routine. There's absolutely NO wavering in my resolve to finish, but I've found myself getting fairly homesick lately. I think the break will be great, almost like hitting the reset button, and I also know I need to go back to my plan of a zero day every week or two after Harpers Ferry. (That is, a TRUE zero day!) There's just something about waking up and knowing you don't have to put on your pack and hike AT ALL.Anyway, so this morning was rough. We eventually got out around 10 and found that a shuttle from the hotel went up at 10:30, Perfect! We ended up hitting the trail around 10:45. We still got our 17 miles in, though we got a brief, but pretty heavy rain in the afternoon. Braids and I both spent part of the day in grouchy moods, but had both turned them around by the end of the day. Now, I'm rather happy to be here.My book (Thru-hiker's Companion) lists a spring and camping just one mile past Dick's Dome Shelter, a very cool, small, dome-shaped shelter. Unfotunately, the area around the spring (which was fairly nice) is covered in vines and thick growth. A sign to camping about a tenth of a mile past the spring led to a small clearing that appears to be manually maintained (basically just roughly cut, as with a Bushhog). Seeker was here with her tent set up. There are absolutely no possible places around for hammock, as any of the few trees are covered in growth. Instead of hiking on, though, I got cell service and checked the weather. Upon confirming that all of the storms are gone, we quickly agreed to cowboy camp. We've had a nice evening with Seeker and are in quite a cozy little cowboy camp. Yay, sleep! Tomorrow I must conquer "The Roller Coaster". A 13.5 mile section (I actually only do 10 tomorrow) with constant up and downs (and no views!), 10 in total. Better get rested up! Postscript, June 8, 2011: Oh, if only I knew then what I know now about that cozy little cowboy camp of ours... (See tomorrow's entry.)
Date: 2010-06-08
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

Holy Cow! Today is a big day! I am finished with Virginia. I have hiked over 1,000 miles. I am in Harpers Ferry, a huge milestone as the "Psychological Halfway Point". I feel amazing!I did well getting up early and was on the trail by 6:15. I enjoyed my slackpack, but wanted to get to town as early as possible, so I really pushed and hiked as fast as I possibly could. Even with a 30-minute lunch break, I hiked 18.8 miles in 7 hours and 5 minutes.Braids spent the morning exploring the historic district and met me at the Shenandoah River Bridge with a beautiful handmade bracelet of grass and purple flowers, which we soon tucked into my Buff and converted to a tiara. She walked with me up to the ATC (the Appalachian Trail Conservancy). I nearly shook and couldn't suppress my grin as I walked up to the front of the building I've seen so many times. It felt amazing to finally be there! We hung out for a while, signed the register, and looked at the giant relief map of the whole trail. (It makes the Whites look terrifying!) I enjoyed having my picture taken in front of the iconic stone wall and ATC sign. I was officially registered as NOBO thru-hiker #257. What a milestone!We walked down to the cozy Town's Inn in the historic district. I was exhausted, so we had a pretty chill time, though we did get unexpected rides up and back to The Pub, and "interesting" but enjoyable local bar and restaurant, complete with a locked front door where you have to ring a bell to get in.Tonight is my last night with Braids for three months. We're both a bit sad, but okay. I'll miss you, B.
Date: 2010-06-09
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Amtrak train, headed West
Miles today: 0.0

Today is the first of a whopping NINE zero days! I plan to write pretty short journal entries for these days, but would like to include them, as they still are part of my AT experience.I'm currently on an Amtrak train headed from Harpers Ferry to Chicago. Today has been a bit of a sad day, because it was the last time I'll see Braids for three months or so. We slept in and had a nice morning, but then I saw her off on her train after noon and was a bit of a moper for the rest of the day.It feels odd, but good, to be on the train. This is the first time since March 11 that I've been away from Appalachia. It's strange. I've met some fun people who have taken great interest in my journey. I've enjoyed talking to them all.Now I'll try to get some sleep on this train. Hmmm.... Postscript, June 16, 2011: That's funny. Last year, I saw my dad just a few days after his birthday, and this year I did exactly the same. I'm a bit slower re-reading journals now, because I am spending my time at camp these days, where I'm busy almost 24/7. It's interesting to be back at camp (this is the same camp where I was a camper and counselor for many years when I was younger), because, though I never realized it before, it's actually very much like the trail. Of course, what I'm doing day to day is very different, but the feeling is similar. I'm busy from dawn til dusk, and things feel simpler like they do on the trail (though not quite as much). Because of that, it also feels somewhat emotionally similar- the highs are higher and the lows are lower. I remember this from when I was younger, but I never realized the similarity until now. Anyway, I'll try to keep up this summer, but that's somewhat unlikely. If I don't, I'll catch up when I can!
Date: 2010-06-10
From: Amtrak train, headed west

To: Lansing, IA
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I didn't get very long continuous sleep, but I didn't manage to get 8 or so hours cumulatively. We rolled into Chicago around 9, and I had several hours to tour the city. It was pretty assaultive culture shock when I left the station, but once I adjusted, I enjoyed myself. I walked to Millennium Park and enjoyed myself there, then went to Sky Deck. This is the top of the Sears Tower (now technically Willis Tower, but who really calls it that?), where you can take an elevator all the way up. It was amazing! It is still, even in 2010, the tallest structure in the world. There is now a slightly taller building in Taipai, but with it's antennae, the Sears Tower is still the tallest structure. The view was incredible! I almost didn't go, thinking it was too expensive, but in the end I was glad to have the experience.My train to La Crosse, WI was lovely, but the real excitement was getting off it and seeing my mom and Lena. After a yummy dinner, we drove back to the boat where it was docked in Lansing, IA. and I got to see Dad and Dave. It's absolutely wonderful to be with all four of them! We'll head off on our adventure tomorrow.Happy to be here...One more thing- all of the next several entries will say I'm sleeping in a house, but of course it's actually a category all of its own, as I'm sleeping on a houseboat.Postscript, June 16, 2011: Oh, I'm excited to read all of the upcoming entries! This was such a fun trip!!!
Date: 2010-06-11
From: Lansing, IA

To: Mississippi River, mile 692
Miles today: 0.0

What a glorious day! This was our first day out on the river, and we're all having a blast. We cruised about 30 miles north (after a training session) and went through our first lock and dam. We all learned to drive the boat and did it at least briefly, though only Dad and Dave have any real interest in driving. We're parked at a lovely beach, where we've seen lots of Bald Eagles, herons, other birds, and even two otters who swam by our boat. Earlier today we beached and saw nesting turtles. Life out here is wonderful, and I'm enjoying the break. After watching a stunning sunset from the top deck, I watched New Moon. It was expectedly cheesy and angsty, but a lot of fun. Life is good!
Date: 2010-06-12
From: Mississippi River, mile 692

To: Mississippi River, mile 709
Miles today: 0.0

Another nice cruising day. We motored up and went into the city of La Crosse from the municipal dock. We walked downtown and in looking for a grocery store, were offered a ride by a very nice young lady named Kate. She let us all pile in her small sedan, with Mom sitting on my lap in the front seat. She took us about a mile and a half down to Festival Foods. Thank you, Kate!!! I had absolutely no expectations of hitching or "yogi-ing" a ride while off the trail. It was quite funny!Had a great lunch at Bodega and then cruised on up the river to find a beach. We had a relaxing evening and all watched Trek, a really well-done documentary about thru-hiking the AT. It was filmed by a group of guys who essentially just took along camera equipment and filmed their hike. (And of course, later did some very nice editing). This was my fourth (I think) time seeing it, but the first since I've been on the trail. I saw it through completely different eyes, and I think it also helped to fan my fire and get me excited about going back. I hope that excitement continues to build over the coming days.
Date: 2010-06-13
From: Mississippi River, mile 709

To: Mississippi River, mile 727
Miles today: 0.0

Yet another fun day on the river. We went into Winona, MN today, a great town with free mooring at Levee Park, a very walkable downtown, and beautiful buildings that have been there since the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We enjoyed walking around and exploring the historical district and had a delicious lunch with bloody marys and beer, followed by killer desserts- strawberry shortcake on cornbread and the Cinnful Sundae. This concoction of fresh-baked snicker doodles, vanilla ice cream, caramel, cinnamon, whipped cream, and cherries was one of the best sundaes I have ever had! We left Winona and found a great beach just north of town. We could still see some of the unique steeples and the picturesque bridge from our beach. I finally got up the courage to swim. I just planned to go off the slide once just for the sake of doing it, then wrap up in a towel and go change clothes. The weather was pretty chilly, probably in the 60s. When I finally coaxed myself to go off the slide, I found the water fairly shocking, but not as much as I expected. By the time I got back to the boat, I thought the water felt great and was ready to go again. I slid and swam for a long time, and was eventually joined by Mom and Dad. The water was a perfect depth- about 4 3/4 - 5 feet- beneath the slide, a nice temperature, and had a great sandy bottom. It was perfect! We had a great evening playing Balderdash and Charades. I am absolutely adoring the company I'm in here!!!Postscript, June 16, 2011: Oh man! Every day on the boat was wonderful, but this one stands out as truly amazing all-around. I had forgotten about those desserts in town. Strawberry shortcake on cornbread- YUM! I'll have to remember that one for later!
Date: 2010-06-14
From: Mississippi River, mile 727

To: Mississippi River, mile 692
Miles today: 0.0

No town stop today. We tried, but to no avail. We had all been excited to stop at the Trempealeau Hotel for lunch or dinner, but were thwarted. We pulled into the marina (with great difficulty as it's not in an easy location). When Dad finally tracked someone down to ask about gas, water, and docking, a woman told him that they charge for water (most fill it up for free) and would charge $20 just for us to dock for up to 3 hours to go into town. What crap! (Most places, this is free) We left and motored on down through the lock just below. We were bummed to miss out on the Trempealeau Hotel, but had an amazing lunch anyway- Lena cooked us a fantastic Spanish omelet. YUM!I have felt pretty crummy and slept a lot today. Though the reason for it sucks, I have enjoyed laying around and sleeping so much.We have motored back to the same place we stayed the first night. It's a beautiful spot, with the open river behind us and diverse wetlands just 40 or 50 yards up river. Eagles fly constantly over the wetlands, and this is also where we saw the otters. We saw one again tonight, swimming in the same path.After dinner tonight, everyone but Dad played UNO. We wouldn't have thought to play this had Jessica not sent a deck in Front Royal, but we all got really into it and will definitely play again tomorrow. Thanks, Jess!
Date: 2010-06-15
From: Mississippi River, Mile 692

To: Mississippi River, Mile 692
Miles today: 0.0

Lazy Day! We didn't go anywhere today, but just hung out and did as we pleased. There was a pretty big storm last night, and it rained in the window over all of my stuff. I started the day by pulling it all out and drying it off, but it's all fine. I spent the day doing laundry, eating a fantastic cooked breakfast (Thanks, Mom!), sorting some stuff in my pack, watching Avatar, and talking to my sweetheart on the phone. It has been great! We saw some otters this evening, but this time there were three instead of two.More Uno capped off a fantastic uber-relaxing day. Hurray!
Date: 2010-06-16
From: Mississippi River, Mile 692

To: Mississippi River, Mile ?
Miles today: 0.0

Last night on the boat!We left very early this morning (pulled away at 6:00, when I was still in bed) and came down to a beautiful beach fairly close to S & S Rentals, where we must return the boat. We were here by 10:30 and had a lazy day--laying in the sun, reading, talking on the phone to my dear friends at Eagle Mount (and of course to Braids!), battling deer flies, and swimming. The water is colder here, but nice. The current is quite strong, so you had to swim hard as soon as you surfaced from the slide.In the late afternoon, we watched An Education, an excellent British movie. I highly recommend it! Tonight we had an amazing steak dinner and then played Balderdash. It's been a great day!Postscript, June 16, 2011: Aww, last night on the boat... That was such a delightful trip! Dave and Lena are dear friends, and I hope to see the again soon.
Date: 2010-06-17
From: Mississippi River, Mile ?

To: Amtrak train, headed east
Miles today: 0.0

Today has been a very emotional stressful day, but I'm feeling a bit better now.I haven't really been on my own for more than a day in almost two months. I have been with Braids practically 24/7, and then I've spent the past wonderful week with Mom, Dad, Dave, and Lena. As you may recall, I set out more excited than ever to do this on my own, amazed by the concept of making decisions for no one but myself. Then Braids came along, and I learned how to let myself need someone again. Suddenly, the prospect of going out again on my own seems rather terrifying.So, I woke up with a giant knot in my stomach. I cried when Mom and I said goodbye at the train station. I cried a few more times on the train, and in Union Station in Chicago. For once, I was grateful that people in big cities tend to ignored one another, because every one just let me be. I am not ashamed that I cried, for I am, in fact, quite human. It helped me sort through my emotions, and now I'm feeling so much better. I had a delightful (and delicious) dinner in the dining car with Carl, Steve, and Mr. Gross. They all cheered me right up. I still have some anxiety about hiking out on my own tomorrow, but I'm also looking forward to it. Katahdin, here I come!