morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-09-08
From: Logan Brook leanto

To: Potaywadjo Spring Leanto
Miles today: 23.1
Weather: scattered clouds

A nice easy day. No big mountains and lots of streams with cascades and falls. Hiked most of the day with Carpenter and Double Zip. They are both in their 20's and a delightful couple. Did I mention that Double Zip is female? She got her trail name because a pair of her hiking pants have legs that zip off in two places. Neat trail name.I have finally found trail food that I like, Salsa, potatoe chips,(salt and vinagar flavor), bacon bits, cheese, venison summer sausage, jerky, with any combination rolled up in a flour tortilla. And none of it has to be cooked which is nice. Rufus, the Walker coon hound who is with his master Leon, (as in Ponce De Leon), also likes my bacon bits. At a lunch break he smelled them from about 20 ft. away and came over to beg me. I gave him a few but my selfishness prompted me to shoo him away. He didn't shoo very easy but my persistance won out.Met a lady at Jo-Mary road who was waiting to resupply a southbound hiker. Talked with her while we took a break. She informed us that the weather which had been beautiful was about to turn ugly on Friday or Saturday, (our planned summit day), and there may be class 5 conditions which will close Mt Katahdin. Carpenter, Double Zip and I decided collectively that we should leave the trail at Maher Tote road and get a shuttle from Whitehouse Landing into Millinocket, ME where my truck is stored, and summit on Thursday, two days early. From there we could return to hike the last 40 miles or so in the rain if need be. The Maher trail is only a couple of miles north from the next shelter and we can hike that and get a ride in a single day and be ready to summit the next. It was a plan.
Date: 2009-09-09
From: Potaywadjo Spring Leanto 

To: Maher Trail, Maher tote road
Miles today: 2.4

Boy, this was a short day. Took the Maher tote road and a blue blaze trail about 1.3 miles to the lake. The sign at the boat dock reads "blow the air horn and Bill from Whitehouse Landing will come in a boat to carry you across" So, we blew it and in 5 minutes we heard him coming. The boat ride cost us $3.00 each and Bill was disappointed to learn we were not staying. The lake is large and beautiful with many large boulders in it. It looks very much like the lake in the movie On Golden Pond. Once across the lake, which they refer to as ponds in Maine, I had cell phone service so I called Paul at the AT Lodge in Millinocket. Paul sent a friend to shuttle us and this cost us another $45. total. She arrived at 12:00 noon. On the ride into town we saw a sow bear and 2 cubs cross the road. We were all thrilled as we hadn't seen much wildlife lately.We're staying at a motel in Medway. Went to Lincoln, ME to purchase a camera to replace the disposable on I have been using the past week.The weather report we got from the lady at Jo-Mary road yesterday was totally incorrect and is supposed to be nice for the next several days. But since we are already here and have paid for the shuttle we may as well stay with our plan to summit tomorrow and hike the last 40 miles south bound the two days after.
Date: 2009-09-10
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Summit of Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: clear sky

Left the motel at 8:30 A.M. and began our ascent at about 9:30 A.M. The elevation is 4200 feet and much of it is very technical if not down right difficult. The Weather could not be better. Not a could in the sky. Carpenter injured his knee while attempting to jump from one boulder to another. I had some Ace bandage which he use to wrap it, and dragged himself to the summit. The climb took us about 4 hours and we took our trail packs. Most hikers leave their packs at the ranger station and borrow a day pack for the summit ascent, but we did not want to do that. There were two other thru hikers, Wendy and Ironman, at the top when we arrived so we got a group photos. There was also an 80 year old man who had first climbed Mt. Katahdin in 1949, exactly 60 years earlier. Very impressive.Our descent took about 3 hours.
Date: 2009-09-11
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Rainbow Spring Campsite
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: overcast clouds

This last 40+ miles is going to be hiked south which sounds weird, but logistically makes sense. I will be leaving the trail tomorrow again at Maher Trail, tote road.This has been very easy day. The first 10 miles is virtually flat and about 4 miles of it follow a nice sream with beautiful scenery. Stopped at Abol bridge store and took a break with several north bounders one of which was Hammock, the ukele player and singer. Rainbow ledges provide a nice view of Mt Katahdin and it looked so far away. Near the end of the day I met 5 northbounders, 4 of which I had been with at Pirce Pond shelter, the night we had the good music from Hammock and Braid. I wished them well and informed them that I had already summited and why, and also told them they should have nice weather for their summit on Sunday the 13th.This will be my last night on the trail so I spent it in my tent with my mattress of leaves.
Date: 2009-09-12
From: Rainbow Spring Campsite

To: Maher Trail, Maher tote road
Miles today: 19.6

Only one climb today and that was Nesuntabunt Mtn. Took some photos from the top with Katahdin in the background. Met 3 section hikers from GA today. and saw Braid also.My AT hike was finished today at the Maher Trail. Seems odd for it to finish there but it does.Took the tote road and blue blaze again to the pond and blew the air horn for bill to come across in his boat. Staying the night with them at Whitehouse Landing. Had their 1 pound burger which was very good and the breakfast he cooked the next morning was equally good. Worth the price and I recommend a stay at Whitehouse Landing for anyone. Discovered that Bill and his wife enjoy hunting shed moose antlers and I purchased one from them before leaving. It weighs 15 pounds but I only had to carry it .6 miles to the road where the shuttle picks me up.I still have photos and concluding remarks to add but that will have to wait for now.
Date: 2007-11-19
To: Preparing for the unknown
Miles today: 0.0

I sit here, 99 days until I depart for Wisconsin, and the full weight about my Appalachian Trail thru hike is starting to set it. I officially have less than 100 days until I leave to meet my group. In 99 days, there will be no more planning. In 99 days, there will be no turning back. It is hard to believe there is less than 100 days to go. I feel like I have a lot of things to get done, many tasks lay unfinished, when that really is not true. My planning is almost complete, I am working on mail drops right now, but that is the last major planning hurdle. It is hard to believe, still, as I sit here, wow! I am going to attempt to hike from Georgia to Maine, that is an awfully long way, but doable. I look forward to standing in the parking lot at Amicalola Falls State Park, I look forward to be standing at the top of Springer Mountain, I am ready, and yet I have this odd feeling of not being ready, as if something is missing, when really it is me really starting to comprehend what I want to do. With only 99 days to go, butterflies are starting to form in my stomach, I am preparing to enter the unknown. How far will I make it? I have absolutely no idea. I now start my contemplation, of the unknown.KirbyGA>ME 2008
Date: 2008-01-11
To: Meredith Emerson, my thoughts
Miles today: 0.0

By now, many of you have heard about the tragic events in regards to Meredith Emerson, I have no intention of restating any of the events regarding this story, as that is not fair to the family of the victim, accounts of what happened are widely available on the internet. I am writing this entry mainly because some people in my life are concerned about me, and my safety. I am writing this to express to you how this has affected me, and its effects on my trip. My hike is moving full steam ahead. What I learned from this story is to keep my guard up about suspicious people. I imagine other hikers I meet when I start will also be more cautious about personal safety. I have been asked by several people how I plan to change my willingness to tell people my timetable. No one knows my exact time table, except the group I am starting with. When I leave, there will only be a small group of people who will be kept up to date about my day to day plans, others will know where I am from time to time. This tragedy has affected me in ways that are hard to explain, it is a gut thing. This has sort of been a gut check, although it came in a horrible way. I'm sitting here, trying to figure out how best to sum this up from my point of view, but it is hard. Just know that I have recognized the tragedy, and that I will take proper action to ensure my personal safety.
Date: 2008-02-07
To: My Transcriber
Miles today: 0.0

Hi everyone. I am Scribe and I will be transcribing and posting Kirby's journal entries while he is out having fun. I've posted to Trail Journals before but just want to make sure all is working properly.I am happy to help out my fellow Mainer. This way I can live vicariously through him while I slog off to work every day. :-).Happy Trails Kirby. Good luck and I will do my best to make you look good.ScribeKirby here:I see you all have met Scribe, I decided to go with someone close to home to post my entries. I will be using Pocketmail and emailing them to him, I will also keep a handwritten journal for myself to look back on. The Pocketmail entries will most likely be very simple. Once I return, I will go in and elaborate more.If you wish to be up to date on where I am on the trail, I have an email group. Please email me at kirbyinanutshell232@yahoo.com, and I will ad your email address. Thanks everyone for all the support, I look forward to leaving at the end of the month.
Date: 2008-02-26
To: Boston, Wisconsin, Springer, and beyond
Miles today: 0.0

There is no more planning. There is no more waiting. There are no more frivilous tasks to complete in an attempt to keep myself occupied. This shall be my final entry before I start the Appalachian Trail.Here is my rough schedule for the nect few days:*Today(February 26th), I leave to stay at a hotel near Logal Airport in Boston.*Tomorrow(27th) I take a morning flight with one of my fellow group memebers to Wisconsin, where we will meet the other two people to come to four people for our start.*Thursday morning we will leave to drive to Georgia, arriving in the early afternoon of Friday.*Friday we will stay over at a campsite roughly one mile into the Approach Trail.*Saturday I will go to a morning presentation by the GATC, I will then start the Approach Trail, hence summiting Springer Mountain, and starting the Appalachian Trail.I have an email list as well, if you wish to be added, please send me an email at kirbyinanutshell232@yahoo.com and I will add you. Please note that starting later today, I may have limited access to a computer, so it may take me a little while to add you, so I just ask you to be patient.I would like to thank everyone for their support. I have tried to limit the amount of prep entries I have done.I imagine there will be new entries up once every 1-2 weeks, and I imagine they will come in bundles, so I once again ask for your patience.See you on the trail.
Date: 2008-02-29
To: Show time
Miles today: 0.0

Here I am. Amicalola Falls State Park, roughly 2,183 miles from Katahdin. I am ready. Everything is set to go.I feel surprisingly well considering. I am in the final stages of recovery from the cold, I get it every year.It is currently 1PM, and I am laying in my tent at a campground here in the park. This campsite is quite nice. I have access to running water, bathrooms, and electricity. I had breakfast this morning at the lodge, it was quite delicious. And it was all you can eat buffet, only $8.00!!Tomorrow morning I shall go to a presentation by the GATC. Then it is off to the Approach Trail to Springer, where I shall start my walk north.Thanks everyone for the support, and I hope to see you on the trail somewhere,KirbyPS: It is now 8:18PM, 18 minutes past hiker midnight, and it is raining. This is good and bad. The good news is that the south is in a drought, so this will help the cause, The bad news is that rain is bad for the morale, but I am still having a blast. My group is fantastic. I can easily see myself hiking to Katahdin wth them/
Date: 2008-03-01
From: Amicalola Falls Lodge

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was pure amazing, I summitted Springer just after 2PM.The day started out well. I ate breakfast at the lodge, courtesy of Shiloh and Shadowmoss. They were great people and I thank them very much for breakfast. I also met Jan Liteshope, and Awol during breakfast. Jan gave me a container with beef jerkey, and Awol gave me a bookmark with the entire trail on it, thank you very much!I then went to a presentation by the GATC, quite enjoyable.I started the Approach Trail around 11AM. The Approach Trail is not that difficult, a couple steep climbs though.Springer is a tad bit more amazing when you walk 7.5 miles to get there. It was completely clear today, so I had a nice view to the west. It was odd being there after 18 months of thinking and planning. I am looking forward to my walk north. It will give me enough tome to sort out my post high school life.Tonight I am at Stover Creek Shelter with several other thrus. Life is good.Good night,KirbyPS:I met a nice man named John at Amicalola Falls. He hiked in 1976, real nice guy, nice family as well.
Date: 2008-03-02
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

I pulled into camp last night, and the fist think I heard was Adam bitching about his gear, jesh!Today was an easy day, but quite enjoyable. To be quite honest, there was not really anything note worthy, there was a interesting open field about two miles south of the shelter, I believe it is used for logging, not sure though.The shelters are not nearly as crowded as people say, we are averaging 10-12 a night.There was also a large hollow tree along the trail, quite fascinating really.The trail is Georgia has been thus far. There are very few rocks and roots along the trail, makes for very nice hiking. I give props to the GATC for keeping this trail in order, thank you GATC!I was also able to send to my dad a couple text messages, which is good, I don't have a strong enough signal to call, but I can text with 1-2 bars of reception.Well, it is around 2PM. I am going to take a nap.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-03
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Woody Gap/AT Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a 'go with the flow' type of day. I started out from Hawk Mountain around 6:45AM. I knew there was a storm coming, so I wanted to get to Gooch Mountain Shelter early and get a spot in the loft part of the shelter.The high point of the day was lunch on the unmarked summit of Sassafras Mountain. There was a semi decent view, so I took a picture and ate some food. Beef jerkey is a great trail snack, and peanut butter on half a bagel fills me up quick right now, the hiker diet is not quite here yet.I then moved on, going up and over some random bumps in northern Georgia, and descending into some interesting gaps.The trail passes by some interesting creeks, and trees are starting to bloom in the lower elevation areas the trail passes through. Indeed, the trail is a green tunnel in some places, it makes for some nice hiking.I then wandered my way to Justus creek, a nice water source along the trail. I then arrived at Gooch Mountain shelter around 10:45AM. I was planning on staying there for the night, but I decided it was too early to call it a day, so the General and I continued onto Woody Gap, mile 20.1 of the trail.The trail from Gooch to Woody is not that difficult. There are nice views here and there, and steep climbs that made me stop and breath from time to time.Woody Gap is a nice spot for a picnic. There is a gorgous view as you come off the trail, and there are high tech privies.The Hiker Hostel picked me up around 2:30PM, and I was showered and doing laundry by 3:30PM.I am not sitting in a comfy chair eating Chinese food and watching "Total Recall" staring Governor Schwarzenegger.Tomorrow I will start late and go 7-9 miles, giving me a short day into Neel's Gap Wednesday. I was going to try to push to Neel's Gap tomorrow, but I decided I don't want to pay for two nights at Neel's, but that could change tomorrow, I will see how I feel.Life on the trail is good.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-04
From: Woody Gap/AT Hiker Hostel

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: moderate rain

Today I woke up in a comfy bed, under a blanket, and in a warm room. I slept very werll at the Hiker Hostel. Josh and Leigh(Sp?) run a fnatastic place, and it was worth every penny to stay there.When I woke up, today was very up in the air. There was a nasty storm moving through, so I was hesitant to leave in the morning.I ended up lounging around for most of the day. Weathe forcasts made it seem the storm would be gone by 2-3PM.I decided that I wanted a short day into Neel's Gap tomorrow, so I was determined to make it to Wood's Hole Shelter today.I hit trail around 2:15PM. On my descent of Big Cedar mountain I went into lightening position for about 20 minutes riding out a thin ban of severe weather I knew was coming.Once the weather passed, it started to cleap up. There were nice views here and there, so I toke some photos and moved on. I also got some photos of me in lightening position, and hiking in the rain.The trail was either flooded, muddy, eroded, or all of the above during todays hike, we thru-hikers cause a lot of damage to the trail, and I do here by take some of the responsibility for this.As I arrived at the full shelter, it became cold and windy fast. So I setup my tent as quickly as possible. I then cooked dinner in the shelter, it acted as a large windscreen.Tomorrow I shall go to Neel's Gap, four miloes away, not including the .4 I need to hike to get back to the trail. I think I am going to buy a new stove, and maybe even a tent if I can find one a like.Well, time to sleep, I want to get to Neel's Gap quickly tomorrow. It it now 7:59PM, one minute before hiker midnight. I am quite tired.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-05
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neel's Gap Hostel
Miles today: 4.0

The trail thus far has been enjoyable. It has been well maintained, switchbacks are everywhere, and the views are a delight.Today started out horrible. I woke up and it was cold and windy. My tent was sagging, and my gloves were useless, and I became cold quite rapidly.I quickly made the shelter picnic table my headquarters, and began the process of packing up as quickly as I could with nearly frozen hands, or so it seemed.I decided to move out quickly, so I just ate a granola bar and some cheaddar cheese crackers.I decided to take the Freeman trail around Blood Mountain because the weather was sketchy, and I was determied to get to Neel's Gap in short order.The Freeman trail has a lot of rocky stretches, reminds me of hiking in Maine. I covered those stretches was ease. The trail is fairly level, no significant climbs or descents.Apparently I missed the toughtest part of the AT descent into the Gap, I found the final 1.5 miloes to be enoyable.At Neel's Gap I had my pack shook down by Winton. I ended up buying a Jetboil, a sleeping bag liner, stove fuel, and some food resupply. Winton is a fantastic man. He helped me resolve a fiasco with my debit card. He answered every question I cound think of, and always has a smile on. When I started running low on cash on hand, je even offered to give me cash, as long as I paid him back once I hit Hiawassee. I declined, but it is the tought that counts from my perspective.Tomorrow morning Winton said he will help me pack my pack in a way that makes it carry better. Currently I am having friction problems along my waist, plaster tape has been quite useful in resolving that issue.Winton also said that he might be able to find a more effective way to set up my tent.I also learned my wool socks have built in sock linters, so I was able to send a pair home. I kept one just in case blisters develop. I have never had blisters on the back of my heels.Tonight I am staying at the hostel in Neel's Gap, overseem by Pirate. He is a nice man, strikes me as humble and quite friendly. Seems to be enjoying lige.I am currently watching Deliverance, waiting for my Domino's pizza to be delivered.I believe I will try for Low Gap Shelter tomorrow, not sure though.I will be in Hiawassee in three to four daus, a zero mile day might be in order.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-06
From: Neel's Gap Hostel

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

I woke up at 5AM hungry, so I reached over to my Domino's pizza box and ate my remaining two slices, quite delicious.I then woke up at 7AM. Pirate made pancakes and coffee for all the guests of the hostel. I ate four pancakes and drankl a cup of coffee, quite a tough life I am living.I then had a hot shower with soap, I have never had a greater shower in my life. I felt quite clean afterwards.I then threw everything in my backpack and walked 50 feet to the outfitter. A staff member helped me pack my backpack in a more effective way, it now carries a whole lot better.I hit trail around 10:30AM. There were a few climbs that made me curse the GATC.There were plenty of nice views today, my first day of hiking with a lot of views. I stopped a few times on an exposed rock and ate some pringles.I am at the point where I will pack a can of pringles out of a resupply, a great trail snack.Towards the end of the day there were many pointless ups and downs(PUDS), they eventually became mindless(MUDS).I am now at Low Gap Shelter, I had a lipton pasta packet for dinner.Adam(Por Boy) went from a nice man to a caulky and arrogant hiker. He has offended a lot of people wth his statements, including myself.I hope to have that be my only bad talk about another hiker in this journal.Shitty weather tomorrow, I am thinking I will only go 7 miles.Time for hot chocolate.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-08
From: Unicoi Gap/Hiawassee

To: Unicoi Gap/Hiawassee
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Rest is good for the body and soul, which is why I took a zero mile day today, there was also cruddy weather in the region. Good day for rest and relaxation.I left the Holiday Inn Express around 10:30AM for the Blueberry Patch Hostel.This hostel is perfect for rest, there is nothing to distract you. It is always calm, unusual for a hostel.A little later I played Rummy 500 with Hearts and Bill. I won with 580 points, second place was 410.August then asked me to help out on some yard work, which I gladly did. It helped lower the amount of money I have to leave. It is donations only, you pay what you can.After that we lounged around a bit. We then decided to go to Winton's birthday party at Neel's Gap. That was an idiotic move.I met some great people there, but there was way to much drinking for my taste. For the record, I do not drink. Not sure if I ever will.I am now back at the Patch, and I am exausted. Sorry this is short, I want to sleep.Kirby