morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-08-02
From: Riga Mtn. Shelter

To: Glen Brook Lean - To
Miles today: 0.0

10 Miles Another big milestone today - I crossed the boarder in to Massachusetts. Only Vermont, New Hamphire and Maine after this one! I had an enjoyable and relatively easy day of hiking today with Sheep Stuff. Knowing that we had some tough terrain ahead of us, we planned to hike near each other today. After my disasterous hiking yesterday, I really looked forward to the companionship today. Up and over Bear Mtn. which was an easy ascent for us. Once there, we grazed on blueberries - by far the best of the day - big, juicy, and full of flavor. The descent from Bear Mtn. was scary and trecherous - very rocky, slick and steep. Once down we had a snack just before the rains kicked in again. It rained all night last night. It rained a good while this afternoon but by the time we reached Race Mountain, the sun had peaked its head out for a quick hello. Taking full advantage of it, Sheep Stuff and I dropped our packs and plopped down in the center of the blueberry patches to eat ourselves silly. By the time I'd had my fill, I felt like the girl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who turns in to a blueberry. You could have rolled me off Race Mtn. Luckily, digestion had kicked in and I was on my way up Mt. Everett (Sheep Stuff likes to call it Mt. Everest), a very steep rock face that required a lot of strategic foot placement. Then I cruised on to the Glen Brook Shelter. When I got there, set in a beautiful Hemlock Forest I went down to the water source and soaked my feet. But the water was too inviting to stop there. Before I knew it, I was knee deep in this cold stream, soaking arms, legs, head, face, hair, really appreciating the perfect waters. It was absolutely delightful. Then I came back up to the shelter to hang my wet socks, shirt and tent to dry in the afternoon breeze. I made a fire hoping it would keep the bugs down. It didn't do too much good once I came to bed. I didn't set up my tent tonight; we're expecting rain.
Date: 2003-08-03
From: Glen Brook Lean - To

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

7 MIles or So.Oh, How I tried to sleep in this morning but the mosquitos would have none of it. They buzzed in my ears - an all too common alarm clock on the trail. Sheep Stuff left long before I was ready. I really took my time. Plus, because I had to prepare some Iodine water for breakfast, I had lots of waiting around to do. I guess I got on the trail around 8. I hiked for about an hour and had been lamenting the loss of Morph, Andrea and Jimmy (I hadn't seen them in SOO long). Suddenly, I round a corner and see the distinct purple of Morph's bandana on his head. Yippee!!! Oh, Joyous reunion! I shimmied carefully down the rock to give Morph a big hug and find out what had been happeing with him since New York. Journey and Corn Patch were just ahead. The four of us hiked on to Route 7 together to the Corn Crib to get Ice Cream. Sheep Stuff was there and just about to leave to go to Great Barrington to get a motel room. She told me I was welcome to join her. I knew that a night in this town was probably the best thing for me, especially because I needed to resupply my food. My maildrop for Tyringham, MA wasn't going to make it there in time. On my second ask, I found a woman willing to take me to the motel. We got in her car just as it began to rain again. Thank goodness I decided to take the afternoon off. It looks like it will rain the rest of the day. I spent plenty of money at the outfitter in Great Barrington on socks, Aqua Mira, and new superfeet insoles for my boots. Then I dropped some money at the grocery store on food and lots of cookies (really, enough to feed four other hikers). When we were finished with our errands and ready to go back to the motel (we'd taken a taxi the five miles or so to town) and adorable trail angel and hiker - Mooselegs - gave us a ride. He'd hiked the trail in 95. He offered for us to come to a spaghetti dinner feed,but I was just too wiped out to accept the offer. He did arrange to pick us up and drop us at the trailhead again in the morning. FANTASTIC!
Date: 2003-08-05
From: Mt. Wilcox North Lean -to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

13.4Didn't really feel like doing too much hiking today. I kind of dragged. Hiked on and off with Sheep Stuff. Had a break with Sheep Stuff at a road crossing - she sat on a road scrapper out of the mud. Saw Homer pass, which motivated me to move on. I did. Gladly got to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. After eating a snack, Homer and I ended up taking the canoe out on the pond. Hung out on an island farting and reading. He kept laughing at me for saying "excuse me" for my farts. He hadn't heard anyone excuse themselves from a fart in a really long time. Thunder and lightening drove us back to the cabin. It really started pouring down rain then. In the meantime, other hikers had arrived. But sitting on the porch out of the rain brought hikers running full speed through the rain - and I recognized the squeels! It was Andrea, Constant Motion, and Jimmy! We had a great time hanging out that evening. Met Squirel Meat and several other South Bound hikers. Really had a wonderful evening talking and relaxing with everyone. At some point Jimmy, Andrea and I took the canoe out on the water, with Andrea's new kite. We tried feverishly to paddle fast enough, to catch wind to fly the kite. Failed attempt after failed attempt. Finally we gave up and just went swimming. We soaked and laughed and swam and laughed and laughed. Breakfast in the morning is blueberry pancakes!
Date: 2003-08-06
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: The Cookie Lady's House, Pittsfield Rd
Miles today: 0.0

Andrea, Jimmy, Mountain Butterfly and I are sleeping inside the Cookie Lady's house. Andrea had some packages she needed to pick up here today - the funniest item in a package from her family was some really moldy bread that she didn't realize was bad until she'd taken a huge mouthful. She also received a poem from her dad, one he'd memorized a long time ago. We talked about memorizing poetry. We decided we should all select a poem to recite at a dinner on the trail someday in the future. Great idea. I tried my hardest to recite Song of the Open Road (Whittman) while we picniced in the front yard of the Cookie Lady's place. I didn't do as well as I've done while hiking alone - without performance pressures - but started along pretty well. Had some huge rains storms this afternoon. Andrea and I were running, running, running through the rain, lightening, sliding on duckboards and sloshing through mud puddles. Good fun. But her running shoes are better for that than my hiking boots.
Date: 2003-08-07
From: The Cookie Lady's House, Pittsfield Rd

To: Dalton, MA (Tom's Yard)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

About 10 milesHiked in to Dalton MA today with Jimmy and Andrea. Jimmy needs some new Chocos; his have finally given out. When I was passing by Tom's I saw a pack I recognized - Morph was here! So was CC and Chicken Legs. Leaf and a couple others were around. I did laundry and a couple other errands. Jimmy ended up taking the bus in to a neighboring town to find a pair of replacement shoes. When we all got back to Tom's that evening, he had planned an awesome dinner and served it out under this huge oak tree (I think it was an oak tree). I took a picture but everyone is in the shadows; it didn't come out. Andrea, Morph and I were discussing books today on Tom's Porch. Here's a reading list from my friends: Morph suggests:"The Log from the Sea of Cortez" Stienbeck"In Suspect Terrain" McPhee"7 Pilars of Wisdom" TE LawrenceHan Shan (translated by Gary Snyder) "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek" Annie Dillard"The Way of the Pilgrim" Andrea (ELF) suggests:Mary Oliver"Yellow Raft in Blue Water" Michael Dorrissee"The Unbearable Lightness of Being" and "The Gift of Laughter and Forgetting" Kundera"Zorba the Greek" And someone suggested "Stephenwolf" Herman Hessee
Date: 2003-08-18
To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 0.0

Received a call from Leanna today. She's in Killington, VT and should be in Glencliff, NH by Sunday. She's averaging about 15 miles a day and is still on schedule to finish by the end of September. She says the mountains are getting higher and that all last week she had rain. Because of the rain her hiking boots started busting at the seams again so she bought a pair of tennis shoes and is hiking in those. She says that the smell of sweet pine that you normally only get at Christmas time is an every day occurance here. She told me about carpets of clover that look like a lush blanket. Health wise she's doing fine. Her knee hurts from time to time, but not regularly. "What can I expect, it's got 1600 miles on it!" It seems like the hike at this point is getting a little monotonous and her motivation is waning just a bit. But her plan is to continue to stop and smell the roses (or the pines) and to appreciate every day to fuel her to Katahdin. I've updated her mail drop days based on where she is now. The next time I talk to her I'll check to see my new estimates are on target. Thanks to everyone for your messages, trail magic and mail goodies - it's much appreciated!Tracy
Date: 2003-08-26
From: Glencliff / Crystal Lake, NH

To: Ridge b/w Mooselocke & Kinsman
Miles today: 0.0

Morph and I are probably only a mile or so short of the Gordon Pond trail (and pond) where I was hoping to stay the night. But, we got on the trail a little later than expected, so all and all, we're actually positioned perfectly to get off at Franconia Notch tomorrow to see Morph's friend Cindy. We're tented amongst some pines and they're singing to us in the wind as they squeek and squall with each gust. Very rarely do I feel uneasy about tenting, but the number of dead trees still standing (in relation to my location) alarms me bit. Once I'm asleep, though, they'll be no worries. So tonight, I had a revoluation in my "kitchen." Art made me a soda can alcohol stove while I was visiting and it made the perfect mac & cheese dinner tonight. It even had me dining before Morph. Generally, I start cooking much earlier than him and eat about a half hour later. Today, I actually feasted before he'd perfected his Lipton. This is a wonderful solution to my slow, dirty (sooty), never-quite-boils anything Esbit stove. Yippee!!! Next thing you know they'll be calling me Chef Moonshadow. Better late than never. Five months is certainly enough of bad cooking. Now with one month left, I cn redeem my burned food pot senarios. In other good news, I had a superior surprise yesterday. Just as Morph and I were on our last two miles in to town Art Cloutman (who I met last year at the Gathering) and his friend Colleen were coming towards us. Oh, Joyous Reunion!! Art and I had communiated via e-mail and phone messages when I was in Hanover, so he expectedme in Glencliff on Monday afternoon. He came to surprise me as well as to steel me away to his lake cottage for some R&R. Morph and I readily accepted this generous offer. Next thing we knew we had dunkin' donuts in the tummy, grocery shopping for dinner complete, a shower and a fine feast. Clean laundry, too. Art's wife Sue had even repaired the rip in my skirt. It was awesome to catch up with Art, find out about other mutual friends of ours on (and off) the trail, as well as share stories of hiking this year. Art definately went over and above the call of duty to provide us with a great escape from the trail. The hike from Hanover to Glenciff was pretty cruisy hike - really nice terrain. I felt really strong hiking today - like a machine. I felt every centimeter of every muscle move - everything working in conjunction with every other part of my body. I felt very strong and solid - very much in the Zone. Love it! Hope it happens more.
Date: 2003-09-06
From: Gorham, NH

To: Maine State Line
Miles today: 0.0

Hi - It's Tracy here again. Leanna called me Saturday from Gorham, NH. She's 16 miles from the Maine border. I asked her what I should post in her journal and she said, "Tell them that I got spanked by the Whites." So that's what I'm putting. She said that hiking through the White Mountains was pretty difficult although they luckily had pretty good weather. She's still hiking with Morph with other hikers passing through. On Lafayette Ridge she said it was so gusty that she would put a leg straight in front of her to walk and the wind would blow it off to the side - hiking this ridge which was above tree line was memorable - but not for the view which was obscurred by the clouds. She figures that if she averages 12 miles a day she'll finish by September 30th. Her knees are hanging in here - her pack recently weighed in at 33 lbs. Hopefully once her pack is weighed down with food for the 100 mile wilderness her knees will be able to take the weight. She and Morph worked for stay at 3 huts in New Hampshire - she enjoyed the various odd jobs. She said probably the worst part of the last week was she unknowingly pitched her tent in a drainage field and woke up in a puddle. That's all from our favorite interstate wanderer.Tracy
Date: 2003-09-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

September 16 Leanna called home to say she was taking a half day at Straton, Maine. She'd just come down off Sugarloaf Mountain. Sugarloaf was tough going especially with the rain. She plans an early start the next morning and hopes for several days of clear weather. Should be in Caratonkin? in about four days and should reach the summit at the end of her journey on Friday October third.Currently hiking with Morf, Kemo, Lumberjack and Geeo. Has not been necessary to ford any rivers yet although she had expected several in this streach. The last part is a wilderness section of about 20 miles so she would not be able to give me a call every week as she has been doing.She sounds eager to finish although she wishes the rain would hold off. Mom.
Date: 2003-10-04
From: Base of Katahdin

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

On Friday, October 3rd Leanna called me to say that they were not allowed to climb Katahdin because of bad conditions (level 4 - danger to hikers and rescuers (or something like that)). She was hoping to be able to climb it Saturday - she hasn't called me yet today so I'm really hoping she's been finishing her jouney and that's why I haven't heard from her. She's scheduled to get on a plane to come back to DC tomorrow - but if she can't climb Katahdin, who knows if she'll change her plans. Everyone out there who's rooting for Leanna, send out all that positive energy so that (1) the mountain is safe enough to climb and (2) once she starts on that 5 mile journey up and 5 miles down that she has sure footing on the ice and snow and that the winds are calm. These two things are what her 6 month journey have come down to. She really wants to finish it completely - so start the prayers!!Tracy
Date: 2003-10-05
From: Katahdin

To: The End
Miles today: 0.0

This humble entry will serve only as a placeholder until Leanna can post a *real* entry to recount her journey up Katahdin!! We heard from her this morning and she successfully climbed Katahdin on Saturday. Conditions were just shy of a 4 - but she went anyway. Three cheers for Moonshadow!!!She flies into BWI Monday morning and will be in DC for a week before traveling to SC. We must plan a DC bash to celebrate her accomplishment!!Moonshadow's Very Proud Sis
Date: 2003-03-19
From: Springer Mountain

To: Gooch Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

My first real day. Springer Mountain to Gooch Gap about killed me. My only regret is that I didn't get more in shape before I started the trail! I barely had enough strength to set up my stove and cook dinner. It has been raining non-stop. The shelter was completely full when I got there so I had to stay in my hammock. Within a couple of hours I was so wet, I didn't get a wink of sleep.
Date: 2003-03-20
From: Gooch Mtn. Shelter

To: Gooch Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

After everyone left the shelter this morning I decided to get some sleep. I set up in the shelter (since I was out in the rain all last night) to take a nap. Four (4) hours later I woke up! Now I had a dilemma, do I continue on or stay here for the day. Since a new group of hikers were already beginning to arrive, I decided to stay. Still raining!
Date: 2003-03-21
From: Gooch Mtn. Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: scattered clouds

I huff and puff up the upside of the mountain, cursing, wondering what the hell I'm doing here. Then on the other side I think I can make it to tomorrow and see how tomorrow goes. Still raining but at least the rain is not cold. It¢s only when you stop that you get chilled.I have been abandoning gear left and right. I started with a 30 lb pack and with all the rain its about 45 lb. In the middle of nowhere I met a lady with her young child. She had cokes and a snicker bars! What a trail angel. Thank you! I asked her if I unloaded my pack and give it to you, would you send it home for me? Sure enough she said she would. I gave her my extra gear, money, and she gave me her name and address. Again, thank you!The shelters are over run with mice. I hoist the food bag but you can hear the mice all night long. I haven't got a good night sleep yet. I've been packed in like a sardine in the shelters so far. A shelter that should hold six has at least eight.
Date: 2003-03-22
From: Woods Hole Center

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a ball buster mountain. Blood came out of my pores! I was so glad to get to the center. After 4 days of stomping through the woods I saw a sign, Congratulations, You have done 1% of the trail. UGH!!! 99 % more! All the young guys sprint to the shelter, and get there first. While hiking, you think you are about to top a mountain and when you get there you realize it¢s only a flat spot. I'll meet up with someone coming down, and they will tell me it's only 1 1/2 hours to the top. Even the down hills hurt.My knees are holding up great though. One guy on the trail hurt his knee and had to get off the mountain. I dug through my pack and gave him my knee brace. It at least got him off the mountain. He¢s packing up and going home.Another guy and his daughter gave me a ride into town and a Motel 8. They are going to give me a ride back in the morning.I'm ready to take my second shower of the hour it felt so good. There is a McDonalds across the street that is calling my name. Then when I come back to the motel. I¢ll turn my gear over to dry the other side:)I'll be back on the trail by 9:30 - 10:00.The food has been great. It's not really a problem. Everyone is sharing because they have over packed so much. And, everyone is really impressed with my alcohol stove.My only disaster so far is that I left my coffee cup at Woods Hole Shelter. I'll try and find another tomorrow before I head out.I've had a lot of time to think on the trail. I miss my wife and kids!
Date: 2003-03-24
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mnt. Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: clear sky

There hasn't been a cloud in the sky all day! I decided to break up the trip and stop here tonight. There are about six peoplein the shelter with me, all over 55. People are dropping off the trail like flys, mostly for injuries; blisters, ankles etc... I am real fortunate my old feet are like plow horses feet.I'm looking at the most gorgeous sunset...A note from Morningcrow's wife - Today I received the package that Nevin gave to a trail angel to send home. Included was a post card from Baadai. Thank you!
Date: 2003-03-26
From: Tray Mnt. Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Deep Gap was a nice shelter. Blue Mnt. was old. You wonder how the people got the shelters in here. There are big beams in some ¢500 lbs. But I¢m glad they did.I haven¢t seen any wildlife so far ¢ except for mice. Boy, the mice overrun the shelters. I take both of my water bottles and set them down in my boots so they don¢t have access.The trees are just beginning to look like spring. The blossoms are going to explode in a week.I have had some incredible overlook views. However, I¢m not getting as many pictures as I would like because every time I think it would be a nice photo, I don¢t want to stop take my pack off, and get my camera out. I think I will get some sort of a strap to attach to the camera so I have easy access.Within a few days of the start of the trail most hikers realized that the extra shoes they brought along were way to heavy to carry. I left my extra pair in the Motel 8. The outfitters here have the lightest shoes, almost weightless! But the colors are awful, bright orange etc¢¦ A lot of hikers are getting these ¢Clara bell¢ shoes because they are so lightweight. ¢Are you going to wear those into town?¢ they are teased. I think I may end up with some. J
Date: 2003-03-27
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap - Hiawassee
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: few clouds

It¢s 10:30 am and I just got into a Howard Johnson¢s in Hiawassee. I¢m going to do laundry, eat a real breakfast and pick up my next find drop. I¢ll also try and find a library where I can check my email. I¢m almost through Georgia. I state down, twelve more to go! I really miss my family. I¢ve stayed in shelters the last two nights. My hammock isn¢t really for cold weather. There have been some backbreaking hills. But I have to thank Debra again. The poles she gave me have saved me! They help on the up hills AND the down hills! Every step I have taken on the trail has been with the poles. Thank you Debra and Tom!!Even the loner in me is being overwhelmed. It is nice getting into the shelter and talking to everyone. And everyone is nice. However, as soon as it gets dark the shelter is quiet. Soon someone starts snoring.I¢ve almost recovered enough so that I¢m not completely exhausted at the end of the day. I think I¢ll be able to start writing in my journal and not just dictating to my wife.Note from Debora: I asked Nevin today if he was going to complete the entire trail. He responded, ¢Yeah, why?¢ I told him that based on our conversations the first week I wasn¢t sure he was going to finish. He said the first week HE wasn¢t sure he would finish. And actually after the first day, there was a day hiker that offered to take anyone into town the next morning and Nevin signed up for a ride. The next morning however, he reevaluated and decided to continue on.
Date: 2003-03-29
From: Plum Orchard Shelter

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: light rain

Today was cold and wet so the decision was maade early to make it a short day. The highlight of the day was passing from GA to NC. The state line caught me by qurprise. I had my head down and wasmaking tracks toward Muskrat Creek Shelter when I looked up and there was the little sign nailed to a tree stating Ga/NC. I immediately made the decision to camp on the state border instead of going to Muskrat Creek Shelter. After putting up my hammock at Bly Gap I took some pictures of the old twisted tree which use to represent the state lines. It was a dry but cold night.
Date: 2003-03-30
From: Bly Gap

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: broken clouds

After a cold night in my hammock and watching the weather slowly move in I decided to make it a short day and doge the weather. I hiked to Deep Gap and caught a ride from Deep Gap back to Hiawasee, where I'm back at the motel. I've been hiking with Bill (Bat) and he has decided to keep going. His daughter will be having a baby soon, and he will be getting off the trail for the happy event. He wants to get as much of the trail in before he leaves. It was nice hiking with Bat!