morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-08-08
From: Stratton

To: Stratton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Stratton MotelRoom 2.   Slept well and late. Had breakfast at the Stratton Diner just across the street. Went through the drop box and figured five nights, four days to Caratuck. Resupplied with bagels and peanut butter, which is going down well for breakfast and lunch [when I get to the shelter early] Walked about and took some town photos. Charged the battery in my camera ¢ it was good for over 200 photos ¢ and will send the battery charger back in the drop box. Mostly just lounged around and slept.   All of my physical aches and pains have disappeared, but I still can¢t flex my left knee fully. Chewed the fat with Don the owner and just watched the world go by.   Thought for Today ¢   Without Work there would be no Rest.
Date: 2006-08-09
From: Stratton

To: Stratton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Stratton MotelRoom #2   Another lazy day, nice and sunny, so I took the opportunity to apply Sno-Seal to my hiking boots and let them soak up the sun and the wax. Spoke with a number of SOBO thru hikers ¢ Captain Seagrass etc. ¢ and also Red Dane, NOBO thru hiking. Checked the Internet access at the library and again was able to delete all but one message, without need for a response. Spoke with all at home, where all continues to go well.   Ate a lot and rested and napped. The Stratton Diner is closed on Weds, so no more soft serve ice cream for me today, but I did have a pint of Ben and Jerry¢s ¢ Cherry Garcia ¢ instead. Don has promised an early shuttle ¢ 7AM ¢ back to the trail in the morning.Thought for Today ¢   Home Thoughts from Abroad.
Date: 2006-08-10
From: Stratton

To: Horn's Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 5.1

A sleepy Don checked me out of the Motel at 7:00AM [they do take Visa] and his partner Susan drove myself, Red Dane, and her friend back to the trail, and we were hiking by 7:30AM Her friend, whose name I never did get, was going to hitch on to Caratuck, and Red was off and hiking out of sight in a flash, on her way to little Bigelow.   The morning was dull and cold and overcast with a forecast of rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon. A nice and easy ascent of the first half of Bigelow Mountain and I passed over an actual footbridge at Stratton Brook. Not many footbridges so far in Maine! There were also some very impressive wooden steps on this very nicely maintained trail. After passing a beaver pond, the trail gets steeper [but this is not reflected on the profile] with rocks and tree roots abounding but still a reasonable ascent.   Met with three SOBO hikers, Figi, Shooter and Spanky, attempting to go to the summit house on Sugarloaf [without maps or guides] I tried to persuade them to try for Crocker Cirque instead. There was a good view of Horn¢s Pond and the two Horns from a viewpoint just before the descent to the pond. I met with Patches and Homebrew NOBO at the shelter ¢ both pushing on despite the weather forecast ¢ with big miles in mind.   Spent a relaxing afternoon here with Jeff the caretaker, and Crystal NOBO thru hiking, chewing the fat and talking about Mountain Rescue, There are two shelters here. Someone, despite Jeff¢s protests, has erected a tent and slung a hammock in one of them, so we are all in the other.      As the afternoon progressed, the sky did indeed begin to cloud over, and as I write these words, the rain has begun to come down and we are now in a steady downpour. The owners of the tent sound as if they have returned from a day hike but the weather is so bad that I did not even see them.      It has become very cold with the mist now beginning to settle in around the Lean¢To. Crystal now says that the forecast from the Weather Channel says rain tomorrow and the next day. We shall see what tomorrow brings.Thought for Today ¢   Look for the Good in the Actions of Others.
Date: 2006-08-15
From: Caratunk

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 0.0

Northern OutdoorsBoom Chain Cabin   ¢I do not think,¢ he said      As we both ate our dinner, in a shelter, on a mountain, in the rain      ¢That I have enough food to get me to the next town ahead¢      ¢That happened to me once¢ was my reply      ¢So now I carry an extra supply¢   We said no more   For he had asked me for food to eat   And I had given him words   Which he could not   And left him resentful   And more hungry than before.   Slept late and so missed saying goodbye to the NOBO group who had planned an early breakfast and start. I did see Orca today; she has also decided to take a zero day here. Had a big breakfast buffet, and explored the grounds. Despite taking numerous naps, I did manage to organize my resupplies for a four-day, three-night hike to Monson. I am going to try grits for breakfast on this section. Watched CNN in the Lodge and got caught up on world events ¢ nothing much has changed, fragile cease-fire in effect in the Middle East.   This is a very busy place. There must have been 50-60 people checking in this morning for rafting trips. I spoke with a guy who is going on a guided fishing trip to check out the area and plans to return on a hunting trip ¢ deer ¢ in the fall.   I also briefly met a young man from Galway, Ireland, last night. We were both on adjacent phone calls and couldn¢t talk much, and I could not find him again when I had concluded my call. I wonder if he might be the NOBO hiker named Irish that I have heard about, but I think that Irish is a lot further behind.Thought for Today-No one is entitled to Two Loves of Bread,Until everybody has One
Date: 2006-08-16
From: Caratunk

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 0.0

Northern OutdoorsBoom Chain CabinI hear a bird singingAnd the traffic on the highway,I feel a breeze blowing thru the windowAnd from the fan in the ceiling.I see the sunlight fadingAnd the lights in the cabins.I smell the smell of the conifersAnd of a hamburger cooking.I taste the clear waterAnd a bowl of vanilla ice cream.I perceive the entirety of natureAnd my own place in it.   Slept late again and partook of the excellent AYCE breakfast buffet amid the swirl and dash of the departing white water rafters. Was joined at breakfast by Orca and Bean who had hurt his foot playing volleyball in the pool yesterday. Both took the late departing 9AM shuttle to head back to the trail and the journey north.   Spent a frustrating hour on the computer here trying to get it to allow me access to my email - the mouse did not work correctly ¢ and then napped. The cabin I am staying in is on a ridge and about 0.5 miles away from the lodge and the main center of activity. I got a ride up here when I first arrived, but have been hiking it backwards and forwards even since. It reminded me of the painful hikes I took everyday at NOC while waiting there unsuccessfully for my injured knees to heal.   The first night here, returning from the main lodge in the pitch dark after a long phone call with KT, I had great difficulty with the lightless terrain. I have a problem maintaining my balance in the dark ¢ even with my headlight on. This has forced me on many occasions to take very short hikes away from the shelter, before peeing in the middle of the night. So if any of my nighttime shelter companions wondered at the nearby sound of my nighttime peeing, it was not laziness but cerebellar ataxia that was to blame. Last night with clear skies, some moonshine ¢ the literal not the liquid ¢ poles, headlamp and lights left on in the cabin, I did much better.   All of my aches and pains are gone now, except for the occasional twinge in the left knee. No more swelling or discoloration or bruising, so I feel good physically. I think that I have even gained some weight back while I was here.Thought for Today ¢Remembering the Last StepAnd anticipating the NextCaused me to miss the Present Step.
Date: 2006-08-21
From: Monson

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Shaw¢s Boarding HouseRoom 9   Did not sleep late today, as it was time for breakfast at Shaw¢s! There were a total of 24 hikers for breakfast that started at 6AM and was done by 7AM! They have a great system here ¢ they ask if you want 1, 2, 3, or 4? That is to say 1, 2, 3, or 4 servings of eggs, bacon, sausage, hash brows and pancakes ¢ with plenty of coffee and juice. A very efficient and simple system ¢ but those who call for 4 [Remake] had difficulty in finishing it all. At breakfast I saw another hiker, who I recognized but I could not remember his name or where we met. Jaybird remembered me from a meeting we had at the shelter with the ¢wall-less privy¢ and the trail magic hard candy in the bear box.   The morning was wet, but the afternoon cleared up and it turned into a pleasant day. I started with a trip to the PO and a successful drop box recovery ¢ strict ID required! Then a trip to the laundry, and a chat with a local little old lady, who was able to tell me that they provided hot sandwiches at the Mobil filling station [Robinson¢s Market] - as all of the other feeding spots appear to be closed on Mondays.      Spent a long time trying to figure out the last section thru the 100 Mile Wilderness to White House Landing and on to Baxter State Park. I plan on arriving at WHL on the 29th and staying the 29th, 30th and 31st. Then I plan on hiking on, to arrive at Abol Bridge on Monday Sept 4th, - thus avoiding the Labor Day Weekend crowd ¢ and summit [hopefully] on the 6th of Sept. So that is the plan.   Recharged the camera battery, and will send the recharger back home tomorrow together with my weekly letter to KT, post cards, this journal ¢ I will start a new journal book - and the excess maps of past country traveled.   Ate an excellent Colossal Burger, and called WHL to reserve a room for 29-31 so I have done as much preparation as possible.   Will package up the food tomorrow and figure out a shuttle back to the trail. Long-term weather outlook seems OK.Thought for Today ¢When worried about the futureRemember the easy fording of the Piscataquis!
Date: 2006-08-22
From: Monson

To: Monson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Shaw¢s boarding HouseRoom 9.   At breakfast this morning ¢ 2 scrambled ¢ I had quiet the time. It was a much smaller group than yesterday, consisting of two section hikers SOBO, but as we were eating, Grits arrived! I recognized him as soon as he sat down, from the long conversation that he and I had in the restaurant in Atkins, and he remembered me also. It was like an old home reunion, because, even though I have met a lot of very memorial people on this journey, I almost never meet any of them again, which makes it all the more enjoyable and remarkable when I do. Don Quixote ¢ from England ¢ arrived soon after him, and is now the happy recipient of much of my hiker box excess food packages.   Also at breakfast, I met Sketcher, a prolific pencil and paper artist, who showed us some of his work. Heading SOBO, he and Grits and I had a very interesting conversation about the emotional and spiritual aspects of our travels and life in general. Sketcher said that he believes that the good and the bad in people interact to produce a third force a ¢Trinity¢ he calls it, and doesn¢t believe that we are evolving from bad to good. He understood perfectly the notion of ¢walking on the stray sod¢ and the remarkable sensation of being in unity and harmony with the trail and the world and every thing in it ¢ every rock and pebble, every blade of grass, and leaf, and drop of water ¢ being in that extraordinary sharp focus of reality. It was great ¢ only on the trail do you meet people like these!   The rest of the day, warm and sunny, was spent in preparing the food for the next 7D 6N to White House Landing. It is the heaviest food bag that I have ever carried and all of the big mountains come early on in the hike.   I went to see Tim, who ownes the General Store, and we chatted about his military experience in Turkey ¢ people are just so interesting if you just take time to get to know them.   Took a trip to the local library and responded to two of 127 messages on my email. Even took a nap in the afternoon, despite the Monson Municipal Workers, busy in the sun, installing new storm drains right outside my window,   I feel good ¢ apart from an occasional twinge in the knee and back ¢ and am ready to return to the trail in the morning. They tell me that they will shuttle me back after breakfast. A good rest stop here.Thought for Today ¢   ¢Every Little Birdie Welcome¢[I saw this written on a small roadside birdhouse just down the road from Shaw¢s, and I thought, what a great philosophy it would be if we applied it to people, as well as to birds.]
Date: 2006-08-30
From: White House Landing

To: White House landing
Miles today: 0.0

Quiet a few hikers showed up by dinner time ¢ which has the same menu as lunch, either the Famous One Pound Burger, or the 14 Inch Pizza ¢ my choice with enough left over for lunch today. There was Long Knife ¢ who had flip-flopped, and his brother Ivan, who was going to hike this section with him, but who is now going to leave the trail here. Hono is also here ¢ named after a Hawaiian turtle [why all the Hawaiian names?]. He is staying with me in the Cottage, and is sectioning SOBO. We spent a lot of time talking, and going over the SOBO map sections to Monson. I was trying to reassure him that he could do it, but I think that I may have scared him with my descriptions of some parts of the trail ¢ although all were true.   Also here is Ellipse, named, not after the shape but the grammatical expression ¢.... " and also Little Engine SOBO, a young man who has a photoelectric display to power his cell phone. I wonder how much it weighs? And costs? And how durable and water resistant it is? Linda drove Ivan, and her son Ben, to Medway to catch the 9:30AM bus.   I had breakfast with the whole bunch AYCE ¢ initially eggs and bacon and English Muffins, with coffee and OJ, followed by pancakes until all were filled. Then Bill ferried, by motorboat, the whole lot back across the lake at 9AM.    New people have been trickling in during this perfect day, spent eating ¢ Ben and Jerry¢s Cherry Garcia Ice Cream ¢ and reading in the sun, watching the waters of the lake dance, and my boots dry.   Bill came and turned on the propane fridge in the cottage last night, so now I have my own satellite supply of ¢Ice Cold Diet Coke In A Can¢ I have resupply with enough food to get me to Abol Bridge, 3N 4D. Three other hikers in the cottage, names unknown as yet, have joined me. Bill also said that he could charge my phone ¢ they have solar powered electrical panels in their house - but he can only do it at night, and I need the phone to call KT at 8PM after she gets home from work, and Bill closes up shop here at 7PM. Oh well ¢ I am sure that we will work something out.   I did get to talk to KT last night, all is well at home. Some news of rain on Monday, but no forecast yet for Wednesday for the summit. Only one more week to go till I summit!! I hope!Thought for Today ¢   ¢Do not lie¢ is not the same as ¢Tell the truth¢   You can just be silent about some things.[Thinking of my conversation with Hono]
Date: 2005-11-14
To: First Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well here goes...the beginning of my AT journal. I have about 4 1/2 months until the beginning of April when I plan to start this great journey. Since Mama and Daddy want to drive me down to Springer, I will most likely be starting on Tuesday or Wednesday (April 3 or 4). A day or two later than planned, but entirely worth it to have my parents send me off. So where am I in my planning? I have all of my major gear. I'm not going to buy anything else until after Christmas...after all who knows what Santa might bring !! Dehydrating tons of vegetables is a top priority as I think they will really add to the meals. I am trying out different foods with my stove so I can begin buying and packing things for mail drops. Speaking of mail drops, these are being planned as well. I'm also working a lot of hours to save money. Every little bit helps. Squeak (my cat) still needs a foster home. I'd like to find someone who will keep her inside. She's a good little cat, a little mischievous, but very loving (when she wants to be ). Well, that¢s really all that¢s going on right now. I will try to start my gear list soon. Have a wonderful day!!April
Date: 2005-11-16
To: Trail Names
Miles today: 0.0

There seem to be two distinct camps in regard to trail names. One says that your trail name will find you and that you have to earn it. The other insists that you should choose it yourself lest you get stuck with some unflattering handle.I'm of two minds on this. Although I'd hate to be labeled with some ridiculous name, I've never had a nickname unless you count some pet names my ex had for me. I just haven't hit on anything that would suit. So I guess I'll fall in with the first camp and let the trail name me. Unless of course I or someone else have a burst of brilliance. Anyone who knows me and has any suggestions, please leave a note in my guest book or send me an e-mail. Have a wonderful day and help me think of a trailname!! April
Date: 2005-11-17
To: Good News!!
Miles today: 0.0

I got some wonderful news earlier today and I was almost afraid to write this entry for fear I¢d jinx it. Apparently, a verdict came down in a class action lawsuit I was a part of and I¢m to get a little over 4,000 dollars! I had filled out the papers the lawyers sent me pertaining to an auto accident I¢d had over 10 years ago, never expecting it to amount to anything . . . now several months later I get the news that this is my portion of the verdict. Talk about astounded. I about fell out of my chair with surprise. So, with the money I¢m saving, I should have plenty to finance my hike plus have a bit to fall back on!!! YEAH!!!!!!!
Date: 2005-11-28
To: I'm going to be an Aunt!!!
Miles today: 0.0

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving! I got some wonderful news. I'm going to be an aunt!!! My little sister, Melody, is going to have a baby in late June/early July. I'm going to have mama mail me a cell phone (I know horror of horrors!!) about 3 weeks before her due date. Melody wants me to come in when she has her baby. So I'll be getting off trail a few days then. I should be someplace in PA, so it won't be too far to come home. The baby's name will be Lucas Edward (after my brother and father) or Lilly (no middle name yet). Ok, I know that's not exactly trail related so I'll add some gear stuff. I'm contemplating buying a new sleeping bag and pad. Since I'm going to have a little more lee-way financially, I decided to upgrade some stuff. I'm looking at a Mont-bell Super Stretch Down Hugger #5. It's rated for 42.8-28.4 degrees F (I'm a really warm sleeper so that should be plenty warm enough) and weighs just 1 lb 10 oz. Plus it's stretchy!! The bag I have is really too constrictive for me. I'm a side sleeper and it's just miserable. Then I'm also looking at the Pacific Outdoor Equipment - Max-Lite W 1.0 Regular Self Inflating Pad. It weighs in at 1 lb 10 oz as well. So that would be all my sleeping equipment for 10 oz less and be more comfortable as well. If anyone has any opinions on either of these items, please let me know. I've heard some good things about the Mont-bell bag, but any additional insight would be welcome. Have a wonderful day!!
Date: 2005-12-14
To: Update
Miles today: 0.0

I haven¢t posted an entry in a while, so I thought I¢d write a quick update. Not much is going on actually. I¢m reworking my itinerary (I know it will probably go out the window after the first week, but I need to give my mom, who will be sending me my maildrops, a rough idea.). I don¢t know what I was thinking when I made the first one. I had 18 and 19 mile days planned for the first 2 weeks. Sorry, not gonna happen. So I¢m reworking it using a more realistic (for me anyway) 8-12 miles a day for the first 3-4 weeks. Then I¢ll start working up the miles. My mama¢s family exchanges gifts for Christmas and we had our dinner this past weekend. (Lot¢s of fun by the way) My Aunt Bea got me a headlamp, whet stone, and a tiny pair of binoculars for my trip! Very cool gifts. I¢ll update my gear list after Christmas. I know my parents are getting me some things for my trip. I¢ll have a better idea then of what else I need. Other than that right now I¢m just working and dreaming. After the holidays I¢m going to really start working on getting in shape. I think I can lose 20 pounds or so and get into fairly good shape in 3 months. The trail will have to do the rest. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
Date: 2005-12-23
To: Merry Christmas
Miles today: 0.0

Merry Christmas everyone!!! Just wanted to write a quick note to wish you and your family a happy holiday season. Hope Santa brings all of you lots and lots of goodies! I'm headed to my Mama and Daddy's in Summersville, WV this evening after work. I get to see them and both of my sisters and my brother in law! Can't wait!!!!   I'm going to show them the movie 2000 miles to Maine. I watched it with my cousin last weekend, just to kind of check it out. Pretty cool. I can't wait to get started on the trail in April. Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.LoveApril
Date: 2006-02-03
To: Update
Miles today: 0.0

It's been a while since I last updated my journal. I'm sure some of you were beginning to wonder if I'd lost interest. Not at all, you can be sure of that. I'm still patiently (or not so patiently) plugging along. I'm still working on full time and 2 part time jobs, so I don't have a lot of free time. What little I have has been dedicated to getting ready for my thru. So here's an update:   I've ordered and received all of the gear I'd planned to purchase. I also got several things for Christmas. I hope to update the gear list this evening or early next week with all of my goodies!!    Until this week (I have got a terrible cold), I've been working out on an elliptical trainer 3-5 X a week. It's not hiking, but working 12pm-11pm almost every day I've had precious little time to get outside. Ah well, I just try to keep in mind why I'm working so much - so I can spend 6 months outside!!!    One of the ladies at work put me in touch with a great guy who thru-hiked in 1980, Peter, and he has been an enormous help now that it's crunch time. He's provided lots of great information and advice.    I'm still working on dehydrating lots of veggies (yum) and planning all of the mail drops.    Also, the date I am beginning has changed again. Actually just changed back. Dad and I talked last weekend and decided to move my start date back to April 1. We'll leave from Summersville, WV on Thursday evening, March 30. Since we're taking my parents RV, we'll stop at a rest area and sleep then continue on, hopefully reaching Amicola Falls Friday afternoon. Then we'll have all evening to rest, and I can start early Saturday morning.    So, that's where I am now.   Thanks to all of you who have signed my guest book. So wonderful to hear all of the encouraging words from ya'll! Have a great day.April Hickman