morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-21
From: Buff Campsite

To: Buff Campsite
Miles today: 0.0

Got to sleep in today on my day off, how wonderful. And I needed it too. It was nice for once to get up and be in the company of some people you were close to, and not rushed by anything.Keri and I just talked all morning. It was awesome. She even practiced a bit of her karate on me that she learned from Jenny. So later we all headed to downtown Bennington. We went to some monument that you could ride an elevator up in and then spent two hours walking downtown. It was fun to be able to act like a couple again with Keri. Walking around, holding hands, talking - yeah I might end up running to Maine just to be with her sooner.So we ate some lunch and then met back up with Jenny and Larry and then went back to the campsite. There, everyone took a nap, well, Keri and I ended up laying in the shade in our sleeping bags just talking some more. We were doing what we enjoy doing best: being perfectly content doing nothing together.Later we were led in a short Bible study by Larry on Romans 8. It was kind of confirmation to me because it talks a lot about perserverance and I believe that is something that God has been teaching me about. Some sermons I had recently listened to and now Romans 8 all lead me to believe I must be strong in perserverance to complete this chapter of my life, which will no doubt have a lasting impression on me. I just hope that since the Lord is trying to teach me on this subject that it doesn't mean that it all is about to hit the fan. Like I'm going through the blessings before I hit the famine. I just have this fear that things will get unusually hard for some reason. It is suppose to rain tomorrow. but I do know that a step at a time and I will eventually get to my destination. The Lord is my strength and my endurance. Without Him I couldn't go on.
Date: 2006-06-22
From: Buff Campsite

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

My last day with Jenny, Larry, and Keri.So we woke up, ate, and then headed out to find the other side of "County Road", because going in the way they originally came in looked more like an off roading track rather than a passable road. We tok a quick stop by the Williamstown post office to check on more time to see if my down vest had come in. Nope.So we eventually found the road we neede after a lengthy car ride full of stress because the maps weren't helping us and it was getting late. But Larry conquered the road in the end and Keri and I took off hiking. I felt bad that Jenny didn't get to hike. They came all this way to pretty much serve Keri and I and just do something special for the both of us. Sure, they were able to unplug a bit but really now - they for sure are a special type of people you just don't find too much anymore.So Keri and I hiked and talked, it was truly wonderful. We talked a lot about what we thought of our relationship. We then talked about what we expected out of marriage, not about us getting married, but rather how many kids each of us wanted or what would be one of the hard things to deal with that we could foresee once married. It was really cool to talk about.So after a break at the shelter, we continued on and finished our 11 mile hike. Keri did realy well, it wasn't an easy section at all. But, we got to the car about an hour late, it took longer than we expected. Jenny and Larry seemed understanding but eager to get on the road. I can't blame them, they have a long way to drive.So I hugged my girlfriend one last time. That was a difficult hug. I started crying first which in turn made Keri cry. I know I'll see her again in a month but man it will seem like an eternity. Pushing away the tears we finally let go and I watched as three great people drove away from my life once again. Man that was hard. I have to finished this God foresaken trail.So I pushed uphill and reached the shelter. Looks like I'm gonna be alone tonight. Just me and my fire. I have no service either so I can't call Keri. So I guess I'll just pray and think. Yet another blessing God has brought into my life. It's been like a crescendo, and I hope it doesn't end.fruit salad, coffee, bacon, pop-tart, energy drink------footlong meatball hoggie
Date: 2006-06-23
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept remarkably well last night. When I woke up around 6am it was just pouring down rain. Remarkable, I know. Blue Sky is gone and so is my Sunshine. So now I can fight off Mother Nature again. So, sick to death of rain, I went back to sleep. Woke up at 7am and it was raining harder than before. But I decided that I should eat, but then afterwards I went back to sleep. Around 8am it had almost stopped raining so I seized the moment, packed up my things, and then started hiking.It wasn't too bad today but nonetheless my knees felt tired. They have a ton of miles on them now. I think they'll feel like they are on fire from here on out.Met a few people today, Ric and Sharon of the Newlyweds and then about 5 other people doing the Long Trail. The rain held off which was nice but the bugs were out in force. I've been learning how much I underestimated the black fly. I just thought they were slightly bigger and just annoying. But I was so wrong. They are predators of the air. They'll attack you and bite you and suck your blood faster than a mosquito. And they have their mutant friend, the deer fly who can suck more blood and leaves a trail of blood when he bites you. And worst of all is that the deer fly can bite through clothing. So to fight back I'll catch one if I can, then rip off his wings and let him live so he can tell his friends not to mess with me.Later on at the shelter some trail maintanence guys showed up and they bust out their food and let us have at it. Nuts, cheese, crackers, a bit of beer, and some wine. And they were fun to talk to as well. Later on it started raining and from what I hear it will continue through the weekend.Oh, Veggie Bite told me that it didn't rain at all where they stayed last night. They were only about 8 miles from me. Figures. This all but confirms that the bad weather follows me around.So I'm still trying to grasp all that has happened in that past few days. Jenny, Larry and Keri treated me to such a wonderful surprise in which all of them sacrificed something in order to bring that surprise to fruition. I had a blast. No one has ever done something like that for me. And here I have two people I met a few weeks ago going out of their way to bring joy into my life. Wow! It still hasn't sunk in yet. It really hasn't. they could have spent their time doing something less stressful and involving just the two of them, but they wanted to spend that time with Keri and I. They brought so much needed joy into my life for the short amount of time they were here.pumpkin bread, pop-tart---cheese, crunchy peanutbutter---chicken veggie ramen noodles x2, merlot, pepperjack cheese, crackers, nuts, italian sausage
Date: 2006-06-25
From: Mrs. Gorp's House

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

I was up late last night doing my trailjournals and then I called Keri and woke her up just so I could talk to her for about 10 minutes. I think it was about 2:30am before I fell asleep. I actually woke up around 5am due to the sun blowing up all the windows in my room. I escaped underneath my covers till I woke up for good around 8am.I went online and checked out what the Lightning did on draft day - nothing. So I then went downstairs and found that Mrs. Gorp had breakfast waiting on me. Sweet deal. So we talked up a storm while I ate. I then packed up my things and then we headed out around 10am.I felt bad that I wasn't able to go to church today. I mean I could have gotten Mrs. Gorp to drop me off there but I would have shown up pretty late. Regardless, the drive back to the AT was a bit depressing. I feel like that neighborhood dog that always escapes from the backyard, but then the owner finds him and drags him back and the dog has a sad look on his face. Mrs. Gorp commented on how many deep sighs I took. It's just getting hard, especially when the weather man says that the 7 day forecast all involves rain.So I got dropped off and thanked Mrs. Gorp for everything and then off I went hiking. The hiking wasn't so bad today, but for some reason my feet are killing me.I got to meet a couple of LT hikers today by the names of Tim and Abby. They were pretty cool so I talked with them a bit, wish they were hiking the AT. Also, I met my first SOBO's today, although they skipped Katahdin altogether, so I guess they really don't count.So I made it to Big Branch shelter on dieing feet. There was gear spread out everywhere but no one was around. I looked down towards the water and sure enough there was Artful Dodger and Red Dane, naked as a jay bird. What is with me and running into naked people recently.Later on another Long Trail hiker showed up and asked where the water was - there is a raging river right behind him when he asked. I thought it was funny. He then later told me that Tim's girlfriend, Abby, thought I was cute. Haha, I still got it. And no Keri, her regards for God's amazing artwork of myself means nothing to me.blueberry pancakes, OJ, coffee, bacon---crunchy peanutbutter, cheese---teriyaki noodles x2
Date: 2006-06-26
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: 12 Tribes Hostel
Miles today: 17.8

It rained all last night without letting up. this is becoming quite ridiculous. I mean honestly, rainforrests doin't receive this much rain. I haven't seen my shadow in the state of Vermont yet, minus the few days that Larry, Jenny, and Keri were here.Today I waited till the rain let up before I headed out. But about 30 minutes after I started hiking it just started pouring. It was bad. And it didn't let up all day. The hiking would have been pretty easy today, but throw in a ton of water and it became extremely difficult. I actually fell twice and almost dislocated a finger in the process. Every time I came to a shelter I would stop to ring out my clothes. I couldn't tell if it was water or swet, but regardless I was soaked all day. It was miserable.I called Keri halfway through my hike to say hey and I got all teared up when I started telling her how bad it was. I told her to pray for a way out of this mess. So I pushed on.Perserverance is the thing that rang through my mind as I hiked. I kept being reminded that I need to keep pushing forward towards that goal.I passed a few interesting sights today. At white rocks, people had made all these little rock towers everywhere. I wonder why no one has just knocked them all down. They were like sand castles waiting to be squished. But whatever, I wasn't going to do it and get yelled at.So God came through big today. I needed to get out of the rain, and God provided. "Plans Too Much" runs a shuttle service for hikers and posted his phone number in one of the shelters so I called him and he agreed to pick me up and take me to the church hostel in Rutland.When I got there I found Furious there as well. He's taken 6 zero days due to back spasms. So I took a shower, checked my email at the library, and then went to the Chinese buffet down the road. It was pretty good. I thought it was funny though, part of the dessert tray was Little Deby swiss cake rolls chopped in half.I got to talk to Keri for a while too, that's always good. I treated myself to a movie after dinner and I feel quite refreshed after doing so. It really helped me unplug. Though the new "Fast and Furious" movie was a let down.Tomorrow, more hiking and then back to the hostel.cinnamin life, pumpkin bread---cheddar cheese, crunchy peanutbutter---chinese buffet
Date: 2006-06-27
From: 12 Tribes Hostel

To: 12 Tribes Hostel
Miles today: 19.8

Slept good last night and I feel quite refreshed. I chalk it up to the movie. That really helped me unplug. Funny, I have to unplug from being in the woods. Most people go to the woods to unplug. But not I.I packed up and ate breakfast at the palce down the road, about 4 doors down. I think it was called Sal's. Plans Too Much actually met me there, and after I was done eating he dropped me off back on the trail.The hiking wasn't too hard today, although there was a ton of mud still. I listened to sermons the whole day. the one that really caught my attention was one based on Romans 8, which, ironically, I read last night. The point that was hammered home for me was a certain aspect of the battle of flesh and spirit. We all know that they both crave opposite of each other. the hard thing for me to grasp in this passage was how we actually suffer when we do the will of the spirit. Our flesh growns when we deny it soemthing that it wants. but what the flesh craves is death, things of this world, and the spirit craves rightiousness and purity. For instance, when I glance and see a woman revealing too much and I make the decision to look away, I am doing exactly the opposite of what my flesh desires, thus it groans. Or if I decide on one beer instead of ten, my flesh groans, it craves evil and death. But I must consider those groans, those hardships, joy because I'm putting to death the cravings of the world and am putting up a new brick on the wall for defense. Plus, the reward I will get come the day of judgement will far out weigh any of my suffering now. Anyways, thought it was interesting.Today was...nice! Sun was out and no real threat of rain. Praise God! So I hiked and listened to sermons all day. I went up and over Killington and then to Maine Junction, the place where the Long Trail and AT split. It's nice to be off the Long Trail, I was just tired of it. Just so many people in a different level of hiking, I always felt like I was showing off when I talked to them, and that's why I didn't really talk to them.So I ran into TANK at the end of my hike and he came back to the hostel with me via Plans Too Much, who brought me a beer. Back at the hostel I talked to some of those that lived at the "community" about their way of life. It seems that they all fell in love with the love everyone had for each other. Though I find it a bit odd all the Hebrew traditions they follow, but regardless, I will see them all in heaven.western omlett, homefries, toast - Sal's---cheese, crunchy peanutbutter---jr. bacon cheeseburger x2, large fry, medium frosty - Wendy's
Date: 2006-06-28
From: 12 Tribes Hostel

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 15.6

Woke up this morning dreading the day. I knew there would be rain and I also knew that I wasn't going to be coming back to the 12 Tribes Hostel to shower up and get dry. TANK and I went to Clem's for breakfast. I really enjoy the simple things these days.So Plans Too Much came in and after we ate we packed up the car. I went back inside the 12 tribes cafe, Back Home Again, just to say goodbye to the people. I think some of them lack certain social skills, like ending a conversation is always weird. Like normally when two people say goodbye they turn from each other and go their separate ways. Here, they stand and stare at you with a smile and then will turn and go a little later after you are on your way out. I don't know. They are nice people but some need some lessons in social skills.So we all went to Wal-Mart real quick so I could print up some pictures and buy some candy bars. Next, off we went to the trail. So we said goodbye to Plans Too Much ans started hiking...in the pouring rain. I am seriously in awe at the amount of rain I've received. We are nearing Biblical proportions.At lunch, I met Nightrider, he'll be at the shelter tonight. So the rest of today's hike was wet and a bit over grown. But God gave me perserverance and I made it out of the cold rain and into the shelter. Dreamer was there so it was nice to see him again.I opened my second of seven envelopes that Keri gave me. It's just added encouragement ya know. It keeps me moving. I did realize recently that I have less than 500 miles to go - Praise God.So tonight it's Dreamer, No Cheese, Norm, Nightrider, TANK, and myself crammed in this one shelter. Tomorrow I'm praying for no rain. I'm tired of hiking in soaking wet boots.western omlett, homefries, toast - Clem's---crunchy peanutbutter, cheese---noodles and sauce x2
Date: 2006-06-29
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: light rain

Guess what, it rained today. Dreamer woke up around 5am and so did I, but it was raining so I went back to sleep. Woke up around 7am and it had stopped so I went with it and packed up and was hiking by 7:50am.The trail was slppy and nasty, but since the trail went through a lot of coniferous forrest and there was a lot of pine needles on the ground it was pretty clean for most of the day.About at the halfway point I found Dreamer coming down the road from a farm. He told me that they said sold some snack foods there so I decided to head up the hill and eat lunch there. I was able to check my messages while I was there. It seems that my down feather vest has arrived at home, somehow. Also, Mom, Denis, and Keri and her parents will all be in Maine on July the 26th. Dang, I'm going to have quite the fan club cheering me in once I get to Katahdin.So after I ate, I left the farm and started hiking again. and that's when the Monsoon rolled in. I got to watch it roll in from behind me. I tried to outrun it but it was moving too fast. Every time I looked back across the valley, the distant mountain ranges would fade away behind a wall of rain. So I knew it was going to hit me hard so I quickly got my rain poncho out and no sooner did I have it on was I hit with gallons of water. It was nuts. the wind was blwoing so hard that it almost knocked me over. I barely could stay on the trail. My boots, which had finally reached a barable level of wetness, quickly filled up with water. Later on I literally dumped water out of my boots when I emptied them out.I'm starting to get to the point where this crap isn't bothering me as much. But really, it isn't because I'm maturing but rather because I'm becoming a lunatic. This rain is going to send me to the nut house. So I pushed on the Happy Hill shelter.I was almost running when I got there because another storm was threatening and I couldn't take getting hit with more water. Dreamer showed up behind me later on.Tomorrow we both will be going in to Hanover, New Hampshire. It'll probably be the last time I see Dreamer because he is going to take some zero days there with his wife. I'm gonna miss that guy, he's a good man. So tomorrow is New Hampshire. Adios Vermont, you suck. But thank God for getting me through such a miserable couple of weeks worth of weather.cinnamin life, pumpkin bread---cola x2, rootbeer x2, teriyaki beef jerkey, crunchy peanut butter, cheese---ramen noodle x2
Date: 2006-06-30
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: light rain

I was in a rather good mood this morning while I was hiking. I really don't know why. Maybe because it was sunny, or maybe because I enter in to New Hampshire. Or maybe I'm just excited that I got to leave Vermont, what a miserable state.So I hiked in to town and went to the Dartmouth College cafeteria, but when I found out that they don't do an all you can eat lunch for the summer semester I quickly left.The town of Dartmouth is pretty cool, but high class. Everything was within walking distance. I stopped by the Brick and Brew pizzeria and got my free slice of pizza. Then I headed to the post office and mailed a few things out. I also got a package from Jenny as well as one from Carissa. Rock on! but the letter my sister wrote me was awesome. I think our relationship has been growing a lot recently and I really enjoy that.So after I was finished at the post office, I went back to the Brick and Brew for a large pizza and a beer. TANK came in a bit later. He helped me finish off the pizza. Got to talk to Keri for a good bit too. She was sun bathing at the lake - geez. So I ate and then went to the library and then the grocery store and then around 4pm I started hiking again.But I cranked out the miles and around 10:30pm I made it to Trapper John shelter. What a way to bust in to New Hampshire - doing a night hike. Tomorrow I'm gonna try to make it to Glencliff so I can catch Restless, 2 Shoes, and Mango. I wish TANK could have gone the extra miles with me today. Oh well. Probably the last time I'll see him, and Dreamer too. Dreamer is going to take a few days off and spend time with his wife.Adios June - Welcome July...the month I finish in!!!pumpkin bread, snickers---half a large pepperoni pizza - Brick and Brew---ramen noodle chicken teriyaki x2
Date: 2006-07-01
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Happy Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 26.7

I will finish the trail this month. What a wonderful feeling. Although, I'm not getting too excited, I'm about to get my butt kicked by the White mountains.So I actually woke up at 6am today but since it was ridiculously cold out I went back to bed for about another hour. There wer two girls in the shelter with me who had their tent up, and I was rockin' their world. I had some pretty bad gas all night long. When I'd let one go it would rumble the shelter floor. But since I was so tired I didn't care.So once it warmed up I got moving, which was hard to do. All I felt like doing was sleeping. The hiking was rough, I'm not gonna lie. It was the worst time to do 27 miles. I had 3 huge climbs today which were murder, plus my legs were still burning from yesterday. But to make matters worse, about 90% of the trail had been turned into about a foot deep of mud. I had to walk on the sides of the trail most of the day. Then, during my 20% chance of rain day, I got rained on, twice. Each time is started raining I would get my poncho out and put it on, and then 5 minutes later it would stop raining. Tell me that wouldn't aggitate anyone. While it was raining I would try to keep a good attitude. I would sing Amazing Grace over and over but I could hardly get through the song entirely before I would break out in tears. This rain crap is wearing me down. Then, I came across a section that looked like a war zone that I must have been the first to hike through. The blowdowns were probably caused by the wind and rain that I had encountered. there was even a car on the side of the road that had a newly fallen tree laying on it's windshield, probably owned by a section hiker.But I eventually made it to the Happy Hiker Hostel. What a sight for sore eyes. I got a ride to the Twig restaurant where I finally met up with Restless, 2 Shoes, and Mango. They were happy to see me as I was them. It's good to be back with the boys.Tomorrow, the White Mountains. I've been threatened by these things forever it seems, ever since the Smokies. I'm going to make them my new girlfriend.So about a week ago I had the feeling God was wanting to teach me perserverance and I thought that all would hit the fan soon after that realization. Well, it has hit the fan, weather wise, and I'm sick of learning this lesson. Do I really need the practical experience when I completely understand the concept? I know that with God I can perservere through anything. But why must I need more experience, and I am talking about the weather. These are my current frustrations. But God is good. And I don't know His mind.honey nut cheerios, dehydrated strawberries---crunchy peanutbutter, pepper jack cheese, beef jerky, fruit snacks---large pepperoni pizza