morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-08-01
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Since my last post I have run in to some really cool people that have helped us out alot. One of those was Dave (shaft) he thru-hiked in 99 and was doing trail magic when we crossed the road to Bennington. Not only to he offer all sorts of treats but he also gave us a ride into Bennington, drove us around town, joined us for dinner, and then gave us a ride to North Adams so that Santana could meet his family there. Another place where we were treated very well was in at a place called the Birdcage in Dalton where one of the local trail angels opens up his house to thru-hikers to stay for free and even helps them to slackpack around the local area. His place was one of the coolest I have stayed at.We have been flying through these states since my last post. I am currently getting ready to cross over from Massachusetts to Connecticut and should be through it within a couple of days. I am still hiking with Santana, Mango, Grettle, and Cubby. While hiking through VT we ran into some NOBOs that mentioned that they had Aqua blazed (canoed a river instead of hiking the trail) a section of VA. This got us started trying to figure out if there was anywhere that we would be able to do a similar thing going south. After researching it a little bit we discovered that the Housatonic river in MA and CT parallels the AT for a large portion of it. So after calling around to a few outfitters and not having too much luck we hitched into Great Barrington and came across a local outfitter named AdventureUS. When we asked them about the idea and whether they could help us they were enthusiastic and extrememly helpful. So through their help we are going to be able to canoe from Great Barrington, MA to near the CT/NY border in hopefully about 2 days. This may save us about a day but more importantly it will allow us to get another cool experience while we are out here.Thats about all I've got for now. I hope everyone is having a great summer and if there is anything anybody wants to here more about just let me know. oh also I was able to add a few pictures if anybody is interested.
Date: 2008-08-08
From: Great Barrington, MA

To: Fort Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 0.0

Well the aqua blaze was a success CT flew by and we had a blast. We split up into two canoes Santana and I took one canoe and three packs while Mango, Grettle, and Cubby took the other canoe and the remaining two packs. We ran a few rapids including one that was an old broken dam that probably would have rated as a large class II rapid. It flooded our boat and capsized the other boat but we all still had fun. The other rapids were mostly small class I's and II's. Because we did this trip we were able to cut out all but about 3 miles of hiking in CT. The day following our paddling trip we crossed into NY and came upon the Appalachian Trail Train Station which consists of a platform and bench made of 2x4's next to the tracks leading to NYC. The station only operates on the weekends but since we were only 3 miles from Pawling, NY which had a regular station we hiked into it and caught a train into the city to take a zero there with some of Grettle and Mango's friends. This was my first time in NYC and it was quite an experience. Everything from arriving at Grand Central Station with packs on our backs and wearing hiking clothes then trying to get across the city to the place we were staying to when we visited times square and just got overloaded with the incredible numbers of people everywhere. After a full day of that we were ready to get back on the trail. We hiked back from Pawling and spent a couple of days on the trail including one at a pavilion at a catholic monastery before we went into Fort Montgomery to meet up with some more of Grettle's friends who are putting us up tonight. However before we got picked up we hiked through the Bear Mtn. Zoo which is actually on the AT. It was actually kind of sad the animals were all in small metal and concrete cages that just did not appear to have been designed to make their lives very interesting. I guess i've just been spoiled by having a really good zoo in Knoxville. oh well. We should be able to fly through the rest of NY over the next couple of days and get on into NJ by next week and then PA soon after. for those wondering off the top of my head I believe that we are about 780 miles into the trip so far. Thats about all I got for now so until next time bye.
Date: 2008-08-21
From: Fort Montgomery, NY

To: Reading, PA
Miles today: 0.0

Its been awhile and we've covered a few miles since the last update. So here is a little bit of whats been goin on. We hauled through the rest of NY following leaving the Fort Montgomery area. Right before we crossed the state line I was able to meet up with Spires, a fraternity brother of mine who has been working up here for a few months now. It was really good to see a familiar face and catch up a little bit. Next we got into NJ. Our stay in NJ was pretty short but while we were there we did get to stay at the house of the mayor of Unionville, NY. He just started in the past year running a place similar to rob's in Dalton. He opens up his house to thru-hikers, provides breakfast and dinner, and offers to slackpack us. All for free. We all really enjoyed our stay with him and the two guys that help him out (Butch and Bill). During our stay there we even got to enjoy some of the hospitality of the town because an older gentleman in the town had heard about what the mayor was doing and donated a couple of turkeys and pies. So we got a full turkey dinner while we were there. that was a real treat. During our slackpack of the 23 miles south of town I was able to get Jersey (a friend from school) to come out and hike with us a little bit. Again it was really good to see another friend from home.After we left the mayor's house we crossed into the Delaware Water Gap and while doing so crossed into PA. The water gap is a really cool area its one of the few places in the world where a river has actually worn a gap straight through a mountain. We stayed with Caitlin, one of Grettle's friends, while we were there. She let us stay a couple of days and do a little slackpacking. After that we met up with some more of Grettle and Mango's friends and camped with them. It was really cool meeting them. They hiked in a short way and met us on the trail so they brought in some beer and steak with them. Following that Tim, one of Mango's friends offered us the use of his car to slackpack through the area around Reading this week so we have been staying at his place and trying to bank some miles. Yesterday was a big milestone we crossed the 1000 mile mark while slackpacking. Also within a few days we should be past the Halfway point at pine grove furnace state park and within another week or so we should be in Virginia.
Date: 2008-08-30
From: Reading, PA

To: Bears Den Hostel, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

When we left Tim's house Cubby's parents picked us up and took us out to dinner it was really cool meeting them and his girlfriend they all seemed like great people. Cubby stayed off trail for a couple days to hang out with them. But they dropped us off in Duncannon and from there we hiked to hwy 11 where Crotchey, one of Mango's friends picked us up, fed us, and let us crash at his place. The next day he hiked with us into Pine Grove Furnace State Park, the half way point of the trail and also the site of the Half gallon challenge. For those who don't know the half gallon challenge is a tradition in which thru-hikers eat a half gallon of ice cream in order to celebrate their completion of half of the trail. Santana and I reached the store first and while we were in there a tourist who knew about the challenge offered to pay for our ice cream. So while Santana had some doubts about participating before the question was solved because the ice cream was bought for us. I selected chocolate chip cookie dough and he chose peanut butter swirl. While we were eating the others showed up and decided to skip the challenge after they saw the pain on Santana's face. He ended up failing and gave the rest of his ice cream to Grettle. I on the other hand completed mine in a fairly respectable 32 minutes. Not the quickest but definitely better than alot of people.From there we took a couple days to get to the Pennsylvania/ Maryland state line which also happens to be the mason dixon line. It feels good to be back down in the south. We camped near the line and the next day hiked all of maryland (40 miles) and on into Harper's Ferry, WV. Harper's Ferry is the home of the ATC and the spirtual halfway point of the trail there we got our pictures taken by the trail conference and found out that we were numbers 9-12 of the southbounders that had come through there. Also while we took a zero there Cubby was able to catch up. So we left Harper's Ferry the next day with our group reunited. From Harper's Ferry we have taken a couple of short days (12mi and 8mi) to take advantage of a couple of excellent hostels along the way. Last night we stayed at the Blackburn AT center a free hostel that typically provides dinner to whoever is staying there. However the highlight was finding out that one of the caretakers was a former Knoxvillian and a Vol fan. They talked us into taking another short day to the Bear's Den hostel, where I am right now. I must say it was not a bad decision this hostel is run by the ATC and is in an old stone house just off the AT. It is definitely a cool place to stay even if you aren't a thru-hiker and I will probably try to stay here again sometime. Hopefully over the next few days I will be able to figure out where I can watch the game Monday. I think we will be near Front Royal so I might try to find a place around there to catch it.         Its that time of year again and even though I'm not currently in Tennessee it is definitely FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!!! GO VOLS!!!
Date: 2008-09-30
From: Bears Den Hostel, VA

To: Floyd, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Well its been awhile since my last update and I apologize for that and the brevity of this one. I've been putting this off because keeping this up is beginning to get like homework. So since this is the last night i'm staying at the Franklin farm and I want to go to sleep very soon it seems like the perfect time to start writing this.since Bear's den we have had some great experiences. A few days after leaving bear's den we entered the shenandoahs. Mom came up and met me and everyone I was hiking with and she took us to a cabin she had rented so that we could slackpack a section of the shenandoahs for a few days. the cabin and the whole experience was awesome and everyone was really glad to see her. After she left we continued on through the park and into waynesboro.We left waynesboro and a few days later came to a hostel called Rusty's hard time hollow. It was a really cool experience to meet him and check out his place. he only just recently got a phone and electricity there however he has opened up his home to hikers since the early 80's and is a bit of a landmark on the trail.When we left there we pushed on to Buena Vista where Grettle's parents picked us up and brought us back to their farm in Floyd. Their farm is a bit of a work in progress since they only started moving in and constructing their house this spring. however it is absolutely beautiful and their house is going to be amazing. Since that point we have slackpacked as well as gone off on a 4 day trip and returned afterwards. This has been a great experience here getting to know their family and having the opportunity to mix up our experiences on the trail with experiences off as well. it has allowed us to make virginia a much more interesting state than it otherwise would be.Tomorrow we will be leaving the farm for good because we are almost out of Virginia. In fact by Friday we should be in Damascus and on Saturday we will be entering Tennessee finally.thanks everyone for keeping up with me and if anyone was interested in coming out and hiking with me while i am in tennessee just give me a shout and let me know. If we can work out the logistics i'd love to have friends come out.
Date: 2008-10-14
From: Floyd, VA

To: Allen Gap, TN (8mi north of Hot Springs, NC)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

So we are finally back in Tennessee and it feels great. After we left the Franklin's house we crossed the Grayson highlands. This is the section of the trail that has wild ponies roaming on its high elevation balds. The views were absolutely spectacular but it was pretty cold up there. After we crossed the highlands we hopped off the AT and rented bikes so that we could ride the last 17miles into Damascus on the Virginia Creeper Trail. That was a really cool change of pace for us and everyone was feeling pretty good after getting to Damascus. The first day after we left Damascus we crossed the Tennessee border. From there we headed further south on down to Kincora Hostel which is an awesome trail landmark ran by Bob Peoples he was a truly interesting person to talk to about all his travels. From there we pushed onto the Hump Mountain section of the trail. I consider this section to be the best on the entire trail so I was really hoping for good weather as we approached, sadly it was not. However our experience was made much better by a man that we had met up in Mass. when he was section hiking. He had told us back then to give him a shout when we got down this way and when we did we were not disappointed. He took us to his amazing cabin up on yellow mountain (it is connected to hump mtn) fed us and gave us beds to sleep in it was a great experience and we are all glad we had a chance to meet him. The weather started clearing up the next day as we passed overmountain shelter and carver's gap. The views we saw as the clouds cleared gave everyone just a taste of how awesome that section is when it isn't completely clouded in. At the gap my good friend Luke Sadler came up and hung out with us for a few hours. It was good to see a familiar face and just drove home the fact that I am getting closer to home. Two days later the Sauls' picked us up in Erwin and brought us back to their place in Greeneville They have taken great care of us and before they put us back on the trail we setup a plan for them to pick us up again today. Over the last 53 miles since they dropped us off we have seen even more great views and met more cool people. Just today as we were hiking to the road we ran into a group of 4 former thru-hikers two of whom live right next to the trail. After talking to them for a little bit they offered to slack pack us the last 7 miles and then meet us at there house next to the trail and feed us Ice cream sundays. So of course we accepted and we were not disappointed they took great care of us until Mr. Sauls showed up to give us a ride to his house.Tomorrow we hike into Hot Springs and Saturday we will be entering the Smokies. Can't believe we are this close to being done.
Date: 2008-03-02
To: Jefferson MA
Miles today: 0.0

Hello to Friends far and wide. Tomorrow is the day. I leave for Atlanta from Boston Logan at 6:00 AM. Half Way has agreed to pick me up and take me to the trail. He may even do a day hike with me. It will be a great reunion. We hiked together during a section in MA last year with Stagger Lee. Last year I did the section from the Delaware Gap into Vermont and got the bug . So here I go to Georgia. I hope that I meet as many great people as last year and have as much fun. Thanks to Hobbit, Kentucky Blue, Tau, Stash, Remix, Juniper,the Maine couple, Halfway, and Stagger Lee for the friendship and encouragement to continue and begin anew this year. We just had a dinner with my Dad, sister Kathie, daughter Ali, friend Peter and ,of course, Joellen. My good buds Malcolm, Rick, and Steve came by to have a last adult beverage and bid me adieu. My preparation has been a litttle shaky but will hope to cope as I go. The plan is to go to about Roanoke VA and return home for Joellen's April school break and then return to complete to the Water Gap this year. Hopefully, all will go well. I will try to keep the journal up as I go if I can get to a computer on occasion. I wish I had the Hobbit's skill with the technology. Oh well. It's 10:20 PM and we are up at 3:45AM .Better try and get some rest. I will write when time and situation allows. Happy Trails, Peace, Squire
Date: 2008-03-03
From: Springer Mountain GA

To: Hawk MTN Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: broken clouds

I am ging to write briefly for now so I can get as much of this in as possible. I will also add more details later. I flew to Atlanta and was picked up by Halfway- the first of, I hope, many trail help. We went to REI for fuel and arrived at Sringer at 12:15. We went the .9 mile up to the top. Halfway and I hiked the first .9 back to the car, and I was on my own. We met the caretaker at the top. Manysleeps and Halfway and I started the trail at 1:15PM. All went well and I hiked 7.8 even though I got up at 4:00 am today. It was warm 58/60 and the trail is crowded. 95 people started over the last 4 days. Many started leap year day and 44 started in February,considerably different from last year. Lots of people. I slept in the crowded shelter. Thanks to all who made this happen especially Joellen and my hiking partners:Johnny D, Carol, Sue, and Tatty. Hello to Jamie and Allison.
Date: 2008-03-04
From: Hawk MTN Shelter

To: Gooch Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: moderate rain

What a day! Pouring rain all day but you know "no rain no Maine." Hiked for 4 hours total (yesterday hiked 3 hrs 15 min). I had a late start, 8:23, leaving, but it gets light late here- 7:00 am and hard to see in the shelter. I had oatmeal to start the day. It was fairly tough- up and down. I broke my pole today and fell twice. I did not bring my baskets- big mistake. I am having Joellen send them, but I used some John Dryden magic and had a saw on my knife and was able to do a shelter repair. Following John's advice, I brought the knife with the most gizzmo's on it instead of the Swiss Army and it has come in handy.I had to forge a stream today and one boot went in. The rivers are very high- what a night- thunder and lightening and rain. It reminds me of "rainy night in GA." You can actually hear the wind coming down the gap and up the mountain. I have never seen rain like this or hear wind coming from afar. The temp is going below freezing tonight, but I have kept dry clothes, and I am in the shelter. My bag and insert work well and are warm. I need better rain pants, but the jacket is holding up well. (EMS)
Date: 2008-03-05
From: Gooch Mtn Shelter

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

On the hike at 7:00 am-cold night and in the morning everything was frozen. Boots were frozen and had to work them out to get going. The clothes I left out to dry were frozen. It actually rained again and when I got up to use the privy at 5:00 am ,there were snow flakes. Oatmeal and Swiss Miss again and Ramen noodles and tuna and tea for dinner last night (the usual). I started the hike with two fleece shirts, but it got hot and again like Johnny D, I started to take them off one at a time: coat, first fleece, second fleece, down to Underarmour. What a great day- lots of gaps, but as Sue Tatty and I say,"It was beautiful!" I used a privy at Woody Gap, the same style as the new one at Head of the Meadow Beach and Herring Cove. I felt right at home. There were great sights and overlooks- the GA mtns. are quite spectacular! I am omiting the people whom I met and will give you info on them later- many, many new trail names. I got to Neel's Gap after hiking the 15.6 in 8 hrs and 15 min.- not too bad. I knew Iwas going in to a hostel at Walasiyi. There was an outfitters, but I opted to get a shuttle down the road to Goose Creek Cabins because I teamed up with Jukebox and Wasabi. The outfitter did help me out by fixing my broken pole and cleaning the inside of both shafts. Good to go agai. The cabins are trout fishing cabins and they let you rent a pole for $1 and fish for trout, but you have to pay for your catch. We sent out for pizza and saved 3 slices for breakfast. The cabins were very basic. There was a photo of Robert E. Lee over the door , lots of guns, and a Confederate gen's hat in the lodge along with a tv and firplace. Keith, the owner, was a GA U bulldog grad. I thought the Civil War was over, but he said "They were just regroup'n." I was up late- 8:35. I slept ok- the cabin was more like a shelter but it had heat. I stayed there with Solace and KTR (kick the rocks) who worked at Nickerson State Park one year and Indy Girl and a guy Peter ? from Manhattan..
Date: 2008-03-06
From: Neel's Gap

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

When I got up, there was frost and ice on Keiths car at 8:00. The temp was 30 in the car.We paid $25 for the night and $5.00 to wash our clothes. We got the shuttle back to Neel's today I hiked for 5 and one half hours. I had a great breakfast of pizza. I met Hillbilly today and hiked with him for a while. He is from Surry?? Ga Sow mtn. There is a potter there who paints faces. Lots of info.Also, I made a snowball today and threw it at a tree like the old days, but snow in GA? The snow stayed on the tops of the trees only at the highest elevations. It was a picturesque effect as I hiked. The were lots of people on the trail. The shelter was full and there were at least ten tents pitched in the area. Got to the shelter with Hillbilly and Indiana Girl. August made a fire. Poor Boy shared Oreos (a real treat) and Peter let me try his filter system. Jim a guy from Phily, LiPeter , from Manahattan, Poor Boy from Newton MA (Probably not to poor) Zack (again) and Kirby , a junior in high school from Portland ME. Also Jukebox and Wasabi There have been bear hoists at all the shelters so far. So all is well, however, Indiana Girl left her tent last night and came into the shelter and she said that there was something big around her tent. It was probably Wassabi getting up in the night to relieve himself. Long day tomorrow (15 or so) with two tough ups and bad weather reported. Happy trails, Peace, Squire