morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-09-16
From: Monson, Me

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: scattered clouds

It¢s 7 before we get back on the trail right after breakfast. We are now starting the 100-mile wilderness and have 3 hard days of mountains followed by 4 easier ones before we get to the base of Katahdin. We only make 15 miles to Long Pond Stream Lean-to that required us to cross Big Wilson Stream where I slipped on a log and managed to get wet but not hurt. We set up our tents and I aired out my sleeping pad that got wet in my fall in the river. We celebrated going under 100 miles as we ate dinner and got to bed by 8 PM. We enjoyed a pretty sunset just before going to bed.
Date: 2004-09-17
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-to

To: Pleasant River
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

A light rain woke us at 5 AM so we hurried to get packed up before everything got soaked. Thankfully, it was a quick shower and the rest of the day was cloudy but dry. We had a long climb up Barren Mountain and lots of smaller climbs all day including around and over boulders along a muddy trail that left us exhausted at the end of the day. The rocks were also very slippery in some places and my left leg slipped forward at one point folding my right leg under me and badly twisting my ankle at the same time. I gimped along after all afternoon including a steep boulder descent down Chairback Mountain since I had no other options. By the end of the day my ankle was red and badly swollen but I had high hopes of fairly normal hiking tomorrow. We only did 15 miles today but each one was a struggle to do for me with the bad ankle. We camped near a nice stream just before we got to the west branch of Pleasant River that we will to ford first thing in the morning.
Date: 2004-09-18
From: Pleasant River

To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

It first gets light at 6:30 AM and we were on the trail shortly after. My ankle is very swollen and discolored but it seems ok to walk uphill or level on but going downhill is painful with each step. We have to wade across the Pleasant River and then start a long gradual climb up the Gulf Hagas Trail. I jokingly said that fording the river will be good therapy for my bad ankle. We had to climb 4 mountains today but thankfully they were just climbs and not technically hard to get up or down. Just before we came to the Carl Newhall Lean-to we came upon Tree Frog who was crouched in the middle of the trail cooking breakfast. He said he couldn¢t walk another step unless he had something hot to eat. We regretted later not taking a picture of him cooking breakfast. The day was overcast with poor views and got colder as the evening came on. The pain in my ankle made for a slow hard trek coming down the 1200 feet of White Cap Mountain. My ankle was very sore by the end of the day and I was glad to set up, have dinner, and get in a warm sleeping bag at the Logan Brook Lean-to. The brook was just below the shelter and came over a pretty waterfall just before the shelter.
Date: 2004-09-19
From: Logan Brook Lean-to

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

We got up to a cold morning that quickly warmed so we were able to shed our warm clothes within an hour of starting to hike. There were 2 500-foot climbs in the morning but the rest of the 20.4-mile day was over mostly good trail. Thankfully my ankle is feeling better and the swelling has gone down some. We finished the day at a pretty place called Antlers Campsite that was surrounded on 2 sides by a large lake. The wind was howling across the point where the camp was located that made it harder than normal to set up the tents. Cat Dog and I went down to the lake where a 5-foot drop gave us a break from the wind so we could cook our dinners. Someone had used their imagination on the privy because it had a non-functional sink for show and curtain gave the windows a nice touch. The evening would have been pleasant but the howling wind left us a little too cold to be comfortable. The warm sleeping bag felt good just as soon as we got done with dinner.
Date: 2004-09-20
From: Antlers Campsite

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: clear sky

Our 6:30 start followed a very windy night and this morning we have lots of roots, rocks and mud before going the 5/9 miles to White House Landing. We had to hike 1.1 miles to the site where Bill Ware picks you up for a boat ride across the lake to his place. He lives on the property with his wife and son and serve as a place to resupply, get a good meal, and spend the night if needed. Since we got there in the morning we didn¢t want to hang around all afternoon and waste hiking time. Katahdin is close and we are anxious to get there. It¢s an expensive stop because it¢s about 12 way thru the 100 mile wilderness and I got by cheaper than anyone else at $40 for picking up my package ($15) and a pizza and cokes ($16) and a couple of other items to make sure I had enough to get to the base of Katahdin. Our ride back across the lake was cold and windy but we were anxious to get back on the trail. We came to a woods road at about 3:30 to find Strider, a former thru hiker, cooking corn, hot dogs, hamburgers, and best of al had cold sodas. It was fun to sit and seat the compare notes on the trail and to talk about what was to come. He even had a 5-day weather forecast with pretty good weather predicted for the next 5 days. We stopped at Wadleigh Stream Lean-to just before dark and tented with Cat Dog, Needs a Hug, and Scarecrow for the night. It was a good day but we wanted to go more than 13.6 miles
Date: 2004-09-21
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

We left Wadleigh Stream Lean-to at 6:30 on a very pleasant morning. I was able to shed my pants and jacket within the first 40 minutes on the way up Nesuntabunt Mountain-a 700-foot climb. The windy day was along good trail mixed with the usual roots and mud. A lot of the day was along a very pretty stream and then past 2 large lakes that as usual have lots of rocks all around them. I got in 19.6 miles to the Hurd Brook Lean-to, the last shelter I planned to stay in before reaching Katahdin. Cat dog wanted to extend her trip as long as she could and camped along Rainbow Lake. I hope to hike the 13.4 miles to the base of Katahdin tomorrow and then hitch into Millinocket to get cleaned up and rest for a day before meeting two of my daughters later that day. After cooking that night at Hurd Brook Lean-to I gave the rest of my food away just to make sure I didn¢t decide to camp out here an extra night. Fat chance, I¢m ready to be home.
Date: 2004-09-22
From: Hurd Brook Lean-to

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I left Hurd Brook Lean-to at 6:30 with plans to go just over 13 miles to the base of Mt. Katahdin. The day was beautiful and most of the hike was pretty flat and easy. I had 2 streams that were 20 feet across with heavy boards across them that we had to cross, very easy compared to what we have done in the past. I was happy to get to Abol Bridge by 9 AM and had a coke and a doughnut. I made reservations at Millinocket for the next 3 nights for my daughters and I while we get ready to hike Katahdin. I got to Katahdin Stream Campground early in the afternoon leaving only the hike up Katahdin to finish my 2174-mile journey of the Appalachian Trail. There were a lot of fellow hikers milling around the campground who were getting ready to hike the big mountain in the morning. It was easy to hitch to Millinocket out of the parking lot for a 20-mile ride to my hotel. Later, I was surprised when Cat Dog showed up with Peggy and Hawk later in the afternoon, deciding to come to town for comfort instead of camping out for the next 2 nights. As always, I was very happy to get cleaned up and rested before having dinner and going to bed early.
Date: 2004-09-23
From: Millinocket

To: Millinocket
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We all went to breakfast this morning before washing clothes and shopping for treats for our trip up Katahdin in the morning. I stayed around the hotel until Jess and Emy got in from the airport. I was glad to see them but hurried them over to Park Headquarters so we could see a movie about Katahdin. I wanted them to see what they were getting involved in before they started up the mountain in the morning. They laughed at me because they had both hiked and climbed mountains in the past. Maybe I was watching it for me to see what was ahead. Later, we went out with other hikers for dinner and planned for the early start in the morning.
Date: 2004-09-24
From: Glencliff

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I summitted Mt. Katahdin just after noon on Friday, September 24, the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and was made very special because not only did I summit with many of my hiking friends but also 2 of my daughters, Jessica and Emily. We started at 7:15 AM and got back to the base to the cheering of many of my friends and other hikers at about 5 PM, exhausted but very happy. We spent about an hour at the top of the mountain eating lunch and toasting with champagne. I was very happy to get to the top and even happier to get back to the bottom of the mountain. The end of a 6 month journey that left me emotionally and physically drained.I have a lot of my journal to catch up on and hope to add pictures over the next few weeks and months. I am very ready to get home and back into a more normal life.
Date: 2006-04-01
From: Home

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This poem is a reflection of my experiences before, during, and after my hike. I hope it will stir the memories of others who have hiked on the trail and give future hikers a little idea of what is to come.I would like to dedicate the poem to all the past, current, and future hikers of the trail as well as all of the dreamers, planners, and workers who have made hiking the AT possible. Finally, I would like to thank all the friends I made on the trail for their companionship, the trail angels for their acts of kindness, and all the trail characters who make the trail a special place.The ATA path that is rugged and hardAnd crosses each mountain and stream,With rocks that seem never to endWhile going from Georgia to Maine.From all walks of life they come to the trailThe old, the young, and all other kindWill give up the comforts of home for that pathAnd leave family and friends behind.Most plan for months, a few on the spur,Spending hundreds for tent and a pack,The commitment is great but when all¢s said & done,Nearly eighty percent will turn back.There are some who are seekers & others are dreamers,They¢re all on the trail for a reason.For those on that path endure all of the hardships,And savor the beauty as they hike thru the seasons.Some hike for a cause and others themselves,Still others it¢s God that they follow,From trail to town & back again,As sunrise begins each tomorrow.Exhaustion and hunger are always around,As you learn to live simply and cheap,Thank heavens for Trail Angel¢s magic;The friendship, the kindness, and treats.When sadly we finish our sought-after journey,And we see that goodbyes are a must,We know that in time we must leave the trail,But the trail will never leave us.Quest   AT-04
Date: 2004-03-27
To:  In The Beginning
Miles today: 0.0

In The BeginningMore than thirty years ago, newly married, Gary and I moved from the Midwest to the East Coast and discovered Shenandoah National Park. On one of our first backpacking trips, I sat down to rest on a three sided wooden platform with a roof. A really mangy hiker with a huge pack towering over his head, came up the trail and asked me," Are you a Thru-Hiker"? I said no, I wasn't through, we had just started hiking. He informed me that I couldn't stay in the "shelter," that they were only for Thru-Hikers, and told me he had walked all the way from Georgia on the Appalachian Trail. No way! I didn't believe him--that was impossible. And what's the Appalachian Trail?It is amazing how the concept of a trail stretching 2170 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine has captured my interest. Since that day, I have hiked parts of the AT, read dozens of books about the Trail from novels to true hiking stories to "how to guides."I think, apart from the sport of hiking and pleasure of camping and involvement in nature in wild areas, the idea of an epic journey, with a beginning and an end, is a compelling reason to hike the Appalachian Trail for me. I want hiking the Trail to be a celebration of the past years of raising my family. I want to really think about and evaluate the direction I'd like my future to take. Hiking the Appalachian Trail will carve out a segment of time in my life to focus and mark this period of transition.Terry
Date: 2004-03-28
To: #2 Preparation
Miles today: 0.0

#2 PreparationI decided several years ago that I wanted to reintroduce hiking and backpacking as part of my life. I searched for trails near my home and joined a hiking club. I started section hiking the Horse Shoe Trail that runs 140 miles from Valley Forge, westward to its junction with the Appalachian Trail, on the crest of Stony Mountain north of Hershey, Pennsylvania.But I wanted to do more than day hike, I wanted to backpack. I wanted that feeling of self-sufficiency and simplicity; everything I need in my pack, access to more remote and less-visited areas. I wanted that special peace and tranquility I had found in going to sleep in a tent to the hooting of owls and waking with the serenade of birdsong.I needed gear. I live in an area where "outdoors" means the courtyard in enclosed malls, "outfitter" means The Limited or The Gap. If you want a backpack, a salesperson will show you a tiny, all-leather Coach purse, and water treatment means Perrier.This wasn't going to be easy. Armed with Backpacker's Gear Guide it was Internet buying to the rescue. I ordered 10 tents and tested them out on 10 consecutive nights in my backyard. My family thought this was hysterical. "Mom has lost it." I ordered 10 backpacks and took them out for test hikes on local walking trails, dodging lycra-clad joggers and families on bikes. " Ya got yer lunch in that backpack?"Last summer I found a backpacking course for women in Yosemite National Park. What better introduction could I ask for? I spent a spectacular week with seven women backpacking along the Lahamite Creek, North Dome, Yosemite Falls and the Mist Trail to half Dome. I came home and talked Gary into buying a backpack and we tested it out on the West Rim Trail in Pennsylvania's Pine Creek George.And then I met a group of women through the Appalachian Trailways newsletter planning on hiking the AT in 2004. I became a member of the Bandana Bunch. Friendships were forged over the Internet and various meetings and hikes and a Long Distance Hiking workshop with Melody Blaney. We were going to hike the Appalachian Trail.
Date: 2004-03-29
To: #3 Set to go
Miles today: 0.0

#3 Set to GoIn just a few days Gary and I will start driving from Pennsylvania to Amicalola Falls, Georgia. I need about another month to figure out the food and drop boxes and maps! I am really grateful for the camaraderie of the members of the Bandana Bunch to share information, work out logistics and just be supportive of each other.People keep asking me, aren't you afraid of bears? (of course, but I've encountered bears on the trail before) of snakes? (not freaky about creepy-crawler stuff) of ax-murdering, banjo-playing bad guys? (nah, they only hang out in malls). This is a journey of exploration and learning and I have already been pushed out of my comfort zone. I have to conquer Pocketmail transmissions to an online journal and download photos from a digital camera. Now that is scary.Terry
Date: 2004-03-31
From: Amicalola Lodge

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The Night BeforeAmicalola Lodge is beautiful. No sooner did Gary and I arrive and start to check in at the desk than we heard our name called. It was Tim, Laura's husband. We were the last to arrive of the Bandana Bunch members. We all began to get acquainted over dinner.This is going to be a great group of people to hike with. Gary and Tim are two husbands that will hike for a few days and some others will join us as we walk toward Katahdin. After dinner, we all went back to the cabin. Thanks, Annie, the decorations of the Bandana banners were a special touch. We had a champagne toast and everyone signed a quilt patch for me.Starting on Springer Mountain tomorrow morning will be:Gary and Terry KramzarTim and Laura (Lala)Dodie (Bear Bait)Peg (Timex)Gini (Dreamcatcher)Christina (Queen Bee)Tova (Sabra)Sharon (Mama Frogbutt)We'll all meet for breakfast and a ride to the Trailhead early next morning.
Date: 2004-04-01
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: broken clouds

We had a beautiful day to start our hike. But cold! Bear Bait's husband, Larry, gave us a ride up the forest service road to the top of Springer Mountain. When we got to the parking lot it was about 32°. We left our packs in the car and hiked .9 miles up to the terminus where we all signed the register and took many pictures of each other and the famous plaque. It was emotional for many as we have dreamed and planned for this moment for a long time. I gave Gary a big hug and kiss and thanked him for supporting me in this adventure.It was then back .9 miles to the parking lot to pick up our packs and to begin to hike in earnest. The Trail was kind to us. The light dusting of snow on top of Springer was the last we saw as we began to warm up and shed jackets. Hiking even at 40° is hot! We quickly separated into groups depending on our hiking styles and speeds. Lunch at Stover Creek Shelter. On the menu was cheddar cheese and hard salami. On to Hawk Mountain Shelter, our home for the night. We arrived about 4 pm and the shelter was full and many people were tenting. A shelter on the AT is often a wooden structure, 3 sided with 1 side open to the elements. Hikers sleep on wood platforms or the floor. I think there were 10 in the shelter with another 20 tenting nearby. A very full house by AT standards.It was exciting to see my first shelters, but even more exciting to see that the privy was an open air, 3 sided structure, also! And with that many people, there was often a line but that was good because someone could stand guard for the person whose turn it was.Very tired hikers enjoyed a campfire and Gary and I dined on freeze dried Mountain House Pasta Primavera. For the first night out, we even enjoyed a cup of wine, brought along in a collapsible plastic bottle.Warmed from the fire and with a full stomach, we slept toasty in our down sleeping bags. At least until we heard the big helicopters over head. The Army Rangers use this mountain for maneuvers and often hikers hear the sound of mock skirmishes all night. I don't think I would have heard them over the sound of the gale force winds and sleet hitting our tent all night, however. Frogbutt's tent blew down twice!
Date: 2004-04-02
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Up early to the camp stirring, we soon had hot cups of coffee in hand and they tasted pretty good even if they weren't Starbucks. Gary and I have been using our new Jetboil to boil water for all our meals and drinks and it is one fine piece of equipment. It will boil 2 cups of water in 90 seconds, a little longer if the fuel canister is cold. This system beats out my little Esbit stove and I plan to continue using it even when Gary leaves. Gary and I hiked with Dreamcatcher today. We seem to have a similar hiking pace. The Trail was a roller coaster of climbs and descents. I learned today that the mileage on the maps can be incorrect. We were pretty tired, looking down the trail, hoping to see the shelter. Gary had the map and reported we had over 2 miles to go. My guidebook (Wingfoot) said 1.1 miles. Going up the Trail we met two hikers out "geocache-ing" They hide boxes in the woods and other locations all over the country. People then try to locate the boxes using a GPS unit and coordinates published on a website. Ed showed Gary on his topo map and GPS where the shelter was located. I collected my first two signed quilt patches. Everyone was very happy that we had only 1.1 miles to go.It looks and feels like winter in these Georgia mountains. The sun is warm but the low gaps and tops of mountains are very cold and windy. Still, there are signs of spring. I have seen blue and yellow violets, white bloodroot, trillium sprouting up, and several other emerging flowers that I can't identify. I really wish I could afford to carry the weight of the Appalachian Flowers identification book. That's not going to happen. At 30 to 35 pounds, my pack is heavy enough.
Date: 2004-04-03
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

Today was an amazingly beautiful day to hike. Bright blue sky and sunshine warmed us up very quickly. We left the campsite about 9 am, knowing we really had to make the miles today.I found the hiking difficult . We climbed 5 mountains! Ramrock, Big Cedar, Granny Top, Burnett Field and Turkey Stamp, all above 3,000 feet elevation. It was big hard climb up then knee killer down and then do it again and again. I was the last of the line much of the day. Gary and Tim hiked on ahead to get campsites. Just to make it even more interesting, the shelter was located about a half mile from the trail with the spring for our water about half way from the shelter. Of course Gary had the filter and I had the water carrier. Fortunately, I used Dreamcatcher's filter and carried 4 liters (heavy!) into camp so no one would have to hike back. The spring flowed right out of some beautiful rocks and had baby salamanders swimming in the tiny pool. Sure hope the filter did it's job or we may have had extra protein with our dinner.Woods Hole shelter was completely full and finding a tent site was not easy for those arriving later. Hikers coming in looked exhausted and worried but someone reassured them by saying, it's not full until everyone is here. I think that set the tone for the evening because we talked around a campfire and all admired a gorgeous sunset and a rising full moon. Thru Hikers are a social group. There is a wonderful camaraderie.I have never experienced sleeping in a tent in gale force winds. Tonight's wind makes last night¢s seem like balmy breezes! Wow, just unbelievable. I don't mind being in the tent with the wind, but there is no way I am going to the privy!
Date: 2004-04-04
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 4.7
Weather: clear sky

Everyone was up and breaking camp very early this morning. We just couldn't take any more wind. Gary fixed a quick cup of hot chocolate for each of us in our tent's little vestibule. Even that much was a major challenge with everything whipping all over. To heck with breakfast, we just needed to get out of there as fast as possible and start hiking to get warm.We just stuffed tent and all in the backpacks. Folding up anything would have been impossible. Not to mention it was freezing! Gary's Platypus hose froze up and my fingers were numb to the point of pain. Even fast hiking didn't warm us up for a while.Today we had to climb Blood Mountain, and I was pretty worried because we had heard some scary stories, but compared to yesterday, it was a nice hike with amazing views. We rolled into Neels Gap and quickly got delicious cups of hot coffee at Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi Center, and then devoured cheeseburgers. Real food and a bed in Blood Mountain Cabins for tonight.Tyler and Tanner are here and ready to start hiking tomorrow. They may be in for a shock.