morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-08-31
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to

To: Shaw's Boarding House, Monson, ME
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

For some reason, last night was quite chilly at the shelter. Four out of six of us were chilled in the early a.m. The thermometer on someone's pack said 48 degrees, but I don't believe that. I was fine on the topside, but the air mattress was chilly. I am going to carry the Thermarest to put underneath. And this was August. But this is Maine. Just might get that cold again or colder in the next ten days.Did a short 9 miles to Rt. 15 and was there before noon. Caught a quick hitch into Monson and am now at the famous Shaw's boarding house. Interesting place and folks. There were 18 people here for dinner. Shaw's have been doing this for someting like 30 years.Also this is the last stop before the "100 Mile Wilderness". Not quite as fearsome as it sounds. Going to place a cache near a logging road and I sent a mail drop to White House Landing.Tomorrow is a zero shuttle-the-truck day.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-09-01
From: Shaw's Boarding House, Monson, ME

To: Shaw's Boarding House
Miles today: 0.0

Spent my zero day in a typical manner; driving all over Maine. Put out cache for myself and Aloha/Coffee at about 30 miles in. I also have a maildrop waiting at White House Landing. Don Quixote left a cache also and I brought him back to Shaw's.Then I drove to the North Woods Outpost to leave my truck. Keith Shaw, Jr. picked me up and shuttled me back to Shaw's.Shaw's has been in the boarding house business since 1977. Great meals that Mrs. Shaw prepares. The group of us are heading out tomorrow for the final section.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-09-02
From: Shaw's Boarding House

To: Long Pond Stretch Lean-to
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

After a hearty breakfast at Shaw's, ALoha's friend from '01, Pizzazz, drove me to the trailhead. So I was going by 7:40.We have a somewhat ambitious schedule laid out that started with 15 miles today. The trail was a little tougher than anticipated, so it took 10 hours to negotiate the 15 miles. The nearby brook was dry so water had to be obtained from the major stream down a steep hillside. All of this and the shorter days meant cooking and other chores by headlamp.Aloha, Coffee and Gutsy made it here also, but not Cee Bee and her friend that joined her at Shaw's. Don Quixote is up ahead having started yesterday. Also here is Walkabout, Carrot Stalker, Tom, Thirsty Boot and Drifter.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-09-03
From: Long Pond Stretch Lean-to

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: broken clouds

Started off the day with a 1700 foot climb up Barren Mtn. Lovely day with sunshine, with blue sky and puffy clouds. Had some great views off the mountain.This is the section where Bill Bryson and his friend Katz ran into trouble and they actually bailed out on the Katahdin Iron Works road where we have the caches located. Did start to run low on water, but got to a stream about 1.5 miles before the shelter.It took over 9 hours today to go the 11 miles. Trail is still a bit rocky and rooty (R&R) with some stiff climbs and steep descents. Trying to get to White House Landing by Saturday may be a bit optimistic.Slow Trails
Date: 2003-09-04
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

It started raining last night about 11 p.m. and then it really started to rain heavily at about 5 a.m. We all just stayed in the sleeping bags waiting for it to let up, because otherwise it was going to be very cold and wet hiking. It finally did cooperate and stopped raining at about 10 a.m. so we headed out.There were a couple of steep descents with boulders that were slow going with the wet conditions. The trail wasn't too bad and did the 10 miles in just over 6 hours. We forded a river that did require wading. All the ones previous could be rock hopped.Bypassed Gulf Hogas due to the late start. The trail to it was tourist smooth, but short, unfortunately. Have a full shelter tonight plus tenters.We also picked up our caches today. That makes a heavy load initially, but I'll eat that down.Caches by the Trail
Date: 2003-09-05
From: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to

To: East Branch Lean-to
Miles today: 10.8

Did our last big climb today going north. Except for Katahdin, of course. We climbed White Cap to a bare top with nice views. We had eight hikers at the peak at one time. This was followed by a 2500 foot descent. A little rough on the knees. The trail is still not the walk in the park as some people phrased it.The profile shows fairly level into Baxter Park, but that doesn't tell you how much stepping (tripping) over roots or rock hopping is going to have to be done.The quartet is together here tonight - Aloha, Coffee, Gutsy and myself. Hope we can summit together.Quartet Trails
Date: 2003-09-06
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: Antlers Campsite (tenting)
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

After a couple of climbs this morning, the trail finally turned into the "walk in the park" that we have been promised. At least for about eight miles or so. You could really stride out without fear of stumbling or tripping. Made the sixteen miles is less than eight hours, although it was a push.Coffee and I went skinny dipping in Jo-Mary Lake to clean up. Coffee went on to the next shelter - just 3.5 miles - but Aloha, Gutsy and I are tenting here. Tarping in my case. I had had enough for today, even though it was early.This is a really pretty campsite, in a stand of red pines right on a peninsula in the lake. The weather today was beautiful, sunny and mild. Hopefully no rain tonight - doesn't look like it.Coffee, Aloha, Gutsy and I had the East Branch site to ourselves last night. Made for a very pleasant evening.Park Trails
Date: 2003-09-07
From: Antlers Campsite (tenting)

To: White House Landing Wilderness Camp
Miles today: 5.9

Bugs were a little bothersome last night since I was under a tarp. Great sunrise over the lake that had everyone up taking pictures.Just an easy day to the White House Landing, so it was a 2/3 zero day. You blow the air horn and they come across in a boat to get you. Had a maildrop of supplies that I sent here for the remainder of the trip.The crew plus a section hiker Vermont Pete that we have been with have our own cabin with private rooms. This place is sort of a cross between a hostel and a hotel. There is a bunkhouse that holds eighteen.Been eating away since arriving and running up a tab. The highlight this evening was a moose pair across the lake that showed up at dusk. Aloha finally got her moose sighting. Several people canoed over for a closer look.The rest today was good. On to the final run to Katahdin. Never did shower (rain) this afternoon as predicted. The weather just needs to hold good for four more days.Moose Trails
Date: 2003-09-08
From: White House Landing Wilderness Camp

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Last night was spectacular for the stars. Up about 3:30 a.m., after the moon had set. It was so dark and clear that the light from Mars was a red streak across the water of the lake.Breakfast this morning wasn't until 8 a.m. Until they totaled up the bills and phoned in the credit ccards and ran the boat across the lake, it was 9:30 until I got hiking, and I was the first one to leave. Not exactly hiker hours.Needed to go 15.8 today, so it ran late to get in. The last 8 miles of trail was not as easy as advertised. Still made it here by 6 p.m. but the last part was tiring.Down to 30 miles to go. There is frost predicted for tonight. The weather has been great. Could see Katahdin today and it was clear. Just keep it coming for three more days.Clear Sky Trails
Date: 2003-09-09
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge (Don Quixote's house)
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Last night frost was predicted. The weather radio said it wsa 36 degrees in Millinocket. The sleeping bag was just barely adequate. Glad I had the Thermarest for underneath.Did fifteen miles today and ended with major trail magic. Don Quixote took us to his home nearby for an overnight stay. Aloha, Coffee, Gutsy and I were able to partake of his generous hospitality. We had a dinner of moose steaks, salad, etc. and topped off with apple pie and ice cream. Thank you, Don (aka Boyd Brown).The weather has been fabulous. Katahdin got bigger and bigger at every vista. Completely clear at the top. Just hang on for two more days, we're coming.Trail Angel Trails
Date: 2003-09-10
From: Abol Bridge (Don Quixote's house)

To: Katahdin Stream Campground (lean-to)
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: clear sky

We had a nice breakfast at Don Quixote's place this morning. Until everything was completed, it was after 9 a.m. to get hiking. Today was an easy day with lots of stops and sightseeing. The hiking group was Aloha, Coffee, Tom, Thirsty Boot and I. We stopped at Big Niagra Falls for lunch and some sun bathing. Later we stopped at Daicy Pond and rented canoes. This is where the picture post card shot of Katahdin is always done.We have a shelter (lean-to) here at the campground. Lots of people gathered here right now. Family and friends as well as the hikers. Coffee's son brought all sorts of snacks, food and the fire is going. A big get together here tonight. Up tomorrow. Big climb. Up and down.Last Night Trails
Date: 2003-09-11
From: Katahdin Stream Campground (lean-to)

To: Mt Katahdin (Pamola Motor Lodge)
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: broken clouds

This offical trail mileage for today was 5.2, but, of course, it is actually twice that because you have to have to come back down. The climb up Mt. Katahdin, the northern terminus of the AT, is the biggest single ascent on the trail of over 4200 feet. About a mile of it is a rock scramble with rebar in a few places to make it possible to get up.I got up at 5 a.m. and was hiking by 6:10 to get a head start. It took me four and a half hours to get up and the rest of the crew arrived within about 20 minutes. It was a regular convention at the top with more arriving all the time until there were at least 25 people at the summit - mostly thru hikers and section hikers with some day hikers. We had a few clouds so the views weren't as good as yesterday when it was completely clear. Still pretty good though. The last week or ten days has been a blessing on the weather. Came back down in a little less than 4 hours. Various family of hikers had stuff to eat there, and then about 20 of us got together for dinner at a restaurant. Staying at a motel tonight.This will be my last entry for the time being. I am headed to Pennsylvania to help my Mother out and visiting family and friends along the way. When and where this saga continues is undetermined. This old body needs some rest and recovery. I will add some postscript entries later.Last Day Trails
Date: 2003-12-13
To: Under repair
Miles today: 0.0

Well, it has been three months since I summited Katahdin. The fact that I did not hike the southern section is obvious since there have been no entries since. Several reasons. It was just running a little too late. Had I gone on I would only just now be finishing, and there were things that needed to be done at home. The biggest reason is that the knees were not up to continuing.   At the moment I am five weeks post-operative from arthroscopic knee surgery. The surgery included a technique called microfracture, that is supposed to promote the growth of new cartilage. Just off the crutches, so still hobbling around and going to see the physical therapists (physical terrorists?) three times a week. This had all better work, because I really want to go again next year and finish what I started.
Date: 2003-12-14
To: things I missed
Miles today: 0.0

Among the things that I missed was, first, my own cozy bed - and pillow. The sleeping bag worked just fine and most nights I used the down jacket as a very fine pillow. However, there is something to not having your legs and feet confined to a narrow tube and being able to move them around independent of each other. Another thing that I missed was paper products (paper towels, kleenex, TP) and the freedom to use them freely, in abundance, even wastefully. There were times when I think I would have killed for a kleenex. I was very much of a shelter rat, and would go shorter or longer on the day to be sure to be in one. Never got shut out of a place in a shelter. I only pitched my tarp four times and my tent twice. And both times with the tent was on a tent platform. I lost forty pounds on the hike over four months. The problem is that I have already gained back 15 pounds of that. Another reason to go hiking again. I never suffered any gastrointestinal problems. The only time there might have been a slight hint of a problem was after a town visit. I always treated my water. For the larger, in camp, quantities I used Aqua Mira. On the trail, I carried an Exsteam purifier. At 9.5 ounces, it weighed almost as much as a filter. However, its main advantage was that it was dip and go. I didn't have to take off my pack and break out the filter. I only ever drank from an untreated source once. The purifier filter pack had separated and I couldn't get it back together right then and I REALLY needed a drink. It was a hot day in New York or Connecticutt as I remember. So I just got out my folding cup and drank deeply and well from a wonderful cold spring. I wasn't paranoid about the water treatment. I am very much in agreement with Roland Meuser and the recent Backpacker article that GI problems are largely due to personal hygiene, or lack there of, rather than the water sources. Consequently, I always, without fail, washed or sanitized my hands after use of a privy or cat hole. I started out washing my hands before any food preperation, but that only lasted about a week.
Date: 2003-12-15
To: logistics
Miles today: 0.0

As those who have followed my journal have noticed, I did my partial thruhike with some unconventional approaches to logistics. I had a pickup truck with a cap (camper shell) that I shuttled along with me. I would move the truck ahead and then get someone to shuttle me back south and then I would hike to the truck. The interval ranged as high as16 days right at the beginning, although 10 days was more a more typical interval. There were also a few three and four day intervals and some slackpack day hikes later in the hike. In effect the truck served as my mobile storage locker, where I kept extra gear, food and other supplies and as transportation to get supplies when in town. This solved a problem for me, as I do not have anyone at home to send me mail drops and spare gear.   Initially, I had a major concern about security for the truck while parked for the 10 days or so, since all my other stuff was in the back. I never parked at a trail head. I would leave the truck at locations where it wasn't noticeable from a busy highway and, more importantly, where there was someone who could sort of keep an eye on it. Never had a problem.I was also concerned about being able to set up shuttles on a timely basis, if at all. This also didn't turn out to be a major problem. The ATC shuttle list helped out in this regard, and shuttles from new found friends and hostel owners were available up north. I was prepared to self shuttle, if necessary, by hitching, hiring a cab, or renting a car one way, but never had to do so.The other thing that I did in connection with the shuttling of the truck forward was to stash caches of food and other supplies in the woods at three to four day intervals. This way I didn't have to go to town for supplies, with the accompanying uncertainities of hitch hiking, additional walking in town and iffy food choices. The caches were contained in a Ursack. The Ursack was placed in a cover of camouflage pattern silnylon and then tied to the base of a tree (so a critter couldn't drag it off, if found) located just off the trail near a major crossing highway for easy access with the truck. Throw a few leaves over the bag and it effectively disappeared. I sometimes had a hard time finding it myself early on. The finding system I evolved was to mark a line of trees with duct tape leading from the trail to the stash location. Never lost a cache and only one showed teeth marks from some small creature. I anticipate using the same overall system next year for the southern section that remains.Happy Healing Trails
Date: 2003-05-06
To: Why you should read my journal....
Miles today: 0.0

You've done it, I know, skipped over a journal because the writer was "just" a section hiker. I admit that I am as guilty as the next person. But isn't a commitment to hike the entire trail in sections as worthy as a commitment to do it in a year? I often find myself almost making apologies for hiking over five years instead of doing the trail in the usual six months. Four hundred fifty miles a year. That's nearly the length of the Colorado Trail, longer than Vermont's Long Trail, and four times longer than my Lone Star Hiking Trail!My plan to hike approximately 450 miles a year for five years means that I should climb Mt. Katadin in 2007. I will be 60 years old that year. How cool will it be if I can climb on my birthday!?! So come along with me for the next five years and see what happens.
Date: 2003-05-07
To: Get Ready
Miles today: 0.0

It's been two years since I first decided to hike the Appalachian Trail. That's not long compared to a lot of people, but it seems like an eternity to me. For two years I have been reading journals, following hikers, putting together gear, hiking, reading books, and planning the details of my hike. As much as I wanted to do a thruhike, I realized that it was impossible for me at this time. My husband simply could not do without me for six months and neither could my students. (modest, aren't I?) Anyway, a five year section hike is what I finally came up with. Four hundred and fifty miles per year, then climb Mt Katadin on my 60th birthday in July of 2007! So, I begin by training with Warren Doyle the first week of June. Then, June 7th, I hit the trail in Damascus. I debated starting at Springer, but Warren is so close to Damascus that I decided to start there and do Springer to Damascus next year. Also, I think that I will get to hike with more thruhikers starting in Damascus than at Springer in June. Only one month left to get ready!
Date: 2003-05-08
To: Get Set
Miles today: 0.0

My dear husband has known for a long time that I am a little crazy. But he puts up with me and has agreed to support me on the trail. He has come a long way since he told me that his idea of camping was the Holiday Inn. He will be in our travel trailer at the nearest campground while I am hiking. Every four or five days he'll meet me at a road crossing, take me to get showered and resupplied, then put me back on the trail again. He loves sitting around visiting with folks at the campgrounds, or just fishing, so he should be fine for a month or so. I've been spending a lot of time searching for campgrounds near the trail that will be nice for him. I've tried to set a tentative schedule for when I'll be where so he can meet me. That has been the hardest part, since I'm not sure how fast and far I'll be hiking each day. Twelve to fifteen miles is not a lot in Texas, but then I haven't been climbing elevations...
Date: 2003-05-13
To: Go Hiking part 1
Miles today: 0.0

Where can a gal from Texas get practice for the AT? Folks will probably tell you there's only one place to really hike in Texas - Big Bend. So for Spring Break, that's where I went. It's a long drive across the state to the mountains of Big Bend National Park, but it is worth the time it takes. Spring Break is the busiest time at the park, so I asked a hiking buddy ("The Hiker") about some trails that might not be so busy. He not only suggested great hikes, he also agreed to meet me after his three day solo hike and show me some of his favorite sites.My first day I hiked from Rio Grande Village to Hot Springs. I only saw one person on the trail, and about five at the springs. (I'm sure that later in the day the springs were full of people who drove in the short way) It was beautiful and gave me a little feel for the park.The next day I hiked the Ore Terminal Trail. This trail follows an old tramway that was used for mining. The tram is down now, but there are artifacts all along the trail, including cable, towers, and the large metal containers used for hauling the ore. It is an awesome hike, and I did not see one other person on the trail. (Cool, for such a busy time of year!)On the third day, several women from Louisiana and I met The Hiker. He led us on an amazing hike to an old farmsite on Onion Springs. It was a real oasis in the desert. The hike tested me with climbing and scrambling, but I managed to keep up all right. (The Hiker now refuses to call me "Oldkathy" perferring the name "Mountain Woman" - LOL)Anyway, Big Bend was awesome, but I can't afford to head out here whenever I feel like hiking. So next time I'll tell you about some of my other prep hikes.
Date: 2003-05-14
To: Go Hiking part 2
Miles today: 0.0

Now, I want you all to know that Big Bend is not the only place to hike in Texas. My usual stompin' grounds is the Lone Star Hiking Trail. This is a 100 mile National Recreation Trail through the Sam Houston National Forest (outside Houston). I belong to the Lone Star Hiking Trail Club and try to get out as often as possible. It is a smaller "long green tunnel" through pines, magnolias, and dogwoods. There are plenty of creeks, several lakes, and lots of ponds. We try to keep it well maintained and have begun adopting areas individually. This is where I learned to hike in cold, rain, heat, and bugs. (No snow, yet...:>) I figure that if I can handle fifteen miles in the heat and humidity of Texas in August, I should be able to handle the AT this summer.