morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-17
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to 

To: Stealth Spot
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up to rain and a slightly wet tent and sleeping pad. I can't express to you how over these types of mornings I am, haha. I packed up everything inside the tent and just sat silently, hoping the rain would stop. I someone approach and Radar asked if I was awake. I unzipped my vestibule and let him see that I was just sitting and waiting.We hiked out in the drizzle and after a few hours reached the mighty Kennebec River. The official AT here is a ferry service, more simply, an ATC hired canoe guide. There is a white blaze in the bottom of the canoe. It's the widest river the AT crosses without a bridge, over 500 feet and hikers have died. Radar and I rode across and then we were in the thriving metropolis of Caratunk. We tried to hitch to the Sterling Inn, where my resupply box awaited me, but we ended up just hiking the full 1.3 miles. Jamie put some new Injinji socks in there which make my feet very, very happy. Lots of good snacks too. Radar resupplied and we hiked back up Main Street to the Caratunk Hiker Hostel, where we met the owner Paul and both had burgers and milkshakes made by him. Delicious!We hiked out and up Pleasant Pond Mountain. We got to the top, made dinner, dried out our tents and waited for Juan. Multiple people told us he had been in town and was hiking, but we never saw him. Juan! Where are you?!Today, I passed an unlikely Southbounder. It was Book & Boot! My Australian friend from the Smokies! She is doing well, but fell in Virginia and broke her wrist. She went back home for 10 weeks but is now back out here to hike sections. It was nice to see her again, as I always wondered what happened to her. We're both Cormac McCarthy fans, so when I read Suttree, she wants to know what I think. Book & Boot, you rock!Well folks. It's coming down to it. Single digits days. Hopefully about 8. Monson, the 100 Mile wilderness and Katahdin. Yahoo baby!
Date: 2016-08-18
From: Stealth Spot

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to 
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Beautiful weather today and nice, smooth hiking. Lots of good audio book time today. Radar and I kept moving but still had time to take a few breaks and leave Juan Durer a few notes along the lines of "Where are you?" and "Hurry up dude!"The tread on my Hoka Challengers is already wearing out, so on wet, sloped granite they aren't the greatest. Today I slid a bit and fell onto my wrist. I was amazed by how much it didn't hurt. At the time.By lunch time, I could barely hold my trekking pole without excruciating pain. I got Radar to break my one pole down and attached it to my pack. I'd be hiking with one pole in my left hand for the rest of the day. That along with two ibuprofen and incredibly I've regained most of the flexibility without most of the pain. Hopefully in the morning it's 100%. I thought for sure I had done something bad, but it seems like some illnesses and injuries are very transient out here. Don't know what to make of it, but I'm glad. There's so much I need my dominant hand out here for. Making food, walking with a pole, squeezing my water bag, setting up my tent. Basically, everything.I met Junco today. Book & Boot was talking about him yesterday. He was there with her the day she fell and broke her arm. We got to talking about it and about his name. I told him a friend (Ho-Ho) had taught me what Juncos were back South. He pointed out that the reason we aren't hearing as many birds now is that they are migrating back to the South. Nesting is done.We reached the Piscataquis River today and it turned out to be the first that we legitimately needed ford and couldn't rock hop. We donned our camp shoes and walked across. Apparently the water can get dangerously high, which explains the rope strung across the river, but we hardly needed it.Did a big day today. Almost 20 miles. It has been a very long time since my feet were sore from high mileage. We're so excited about being in Monson tomorrow. One week to Katahdin!? Possibly?!Tonight at the shelter we met an older gentleman named Bloodman. I asked him about his name and he said he used to call his son Blood. His son died a few years ago, but wanted to do the trail. Now he is doing it in his memory. Way to go, Bloodman. You're an awesome dude.
Date: 2016-08-19
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to 

To: Leeman Brook Lean-to 
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

It's hard to believe, but tomorrow was my original summit day. Not too awful far off. The 25th is just around the corner. Amazing.Even after I summit, it won't feel real. I'm sure it will take several days of waking up in a bed and not having to make miles before it feels real. I bet my legs start cramping within a few days. Then I'll probably want to be hiking again. Right now I'm pretty much done with hiking for years, haha. But I feel like I'll want it once it's gone. Maybe.Woke up this morning to the sounds of distant logging operations echoing through the forest. Radar was still half asleep and asked, "Is that a moose?" It's like, nah man, those are chainsaws and bulldozers and stuff, haha.We hiked swiftly this morning and got in 9 miles before noon, bringing us to Monson. The last time we visit before Katahdin! Radar and I hitched into town and got dropped off at Shaws Hostel. A really nice place owned by Poet and Hippiechick. We plugged in devices to charge, I got my resupply box as Radar just bought his supplies and we met up with McDoubles. We invited him to come eat BBQ with us at Spring Creek BBQ. On our way, we saw Juan standing outside a pawn shop! JuuuannnnnDurrrerrrr!He did it! He caught up! He got all of our notes we left on paper and in the mud. Yay! We all went to eat BBQ, which was a delicious pulled pork sandwich and a huge buttery chunk of cornbread for me with a sweet tea and a Smiling Irish Bastard beer. Bliss.Juan told me a story about how he ran out of toilet paper while we were apart so he dug into his food bag and procured the next best thing...a flour tortilla!We all finished there, got showers and laundry done at Shaws (I also had to get my required pint of ice cream) and got a shuttle back to the trail. We only did 3 more miles, but we entered the 100 Mile wilderness and now we only have 97 left. Haha! We have about 5 to 6 days of food each, so we really have to push it in order to... Survive.But you know what? The gang is back together!
Date: 2016-08-20
From: Leeman Brook Lean-to 

To: Stealth Spot
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

Less than 100 miles left! Ahhhhh!Rock hopped a few streams today that are often forded, but Maine has been so dry that water levels are down. It isn't great for Maine, but as a thru hiker it's been pretty awesome! Ha! Although, rain is indeed in the forecast for tomorrow.Today was a day for walking. 20 miles of it, in fact. Up and down and up and down these small mountains and over crazy root networks and over rocks and down rocks and through muddy boggy sections and rotting boardwalks and it was beautiful and I loved it. Great views from Barren Mountain. These miles will come easier in the second half of the 100 Mile wilderness because today felt very tiring.I was hungry and snacking all day, and this worries me because I fear I might not have enough food. I may have to ration things a bit, but Juan has a contact up here, a couple with a "camp", what they basically call a cabin or getaway home up here. They are a few days ahead, but some food that isn't out of my pack would help tremendously.Speaking of which, I passed two trail maintenance workers today, trimming trees back and painting blazes. Talked to them for awhile and they gave me a fresh cucumber and apple. Things I crave! Trail magic!Radar pushed on to Chairback Gap Lean-to, which is a few miles ahead. Juan and I had to stop and eat dinner in the middle of the trail around 5, and as a result didn't quite make it there. It's fine, we'll probably pass Radar in his tent before he's up tomorrow morning.Onward and upward!
Date: 2016-08-21
From: Stealth Spot

To: Easy Branch Lean-to
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: broken clouds

Wow! What a day. Almost 25. Probably should have listened to the shuttle guy from Shaws and saved the huge mile days for the second half of the 100 Mile wilderness, but oh well. Getting it done! And running out of food! Or at least, I feel like I am for 5 days. But maybe there is more than I suspect. I should probably count it out and see what it's looking like. You know what helps though? Trail magic! Two days in a row. Today there were Mountain Dews and Tuna Salad Sandwiches in a ziploc bag. Saying that out loud, now, I realize how sketchy that must seem to you, dear reader. Honestly it never crossed my mind. I never for one moment considered not eating one. It was... Amazing.I powered hard today. Over Third Mountain, into a stream (the rock under me shifted and my feet took a dunk), over Columbus Mountain, forded the Pleasant River, up and over Gulf Hagas Mountain, then West Peak, then Hay Mountain, then White Cap Mountain, then down down down and ended in the dark and finding Radars tent. I didn't see Juan today after lunch, but he knows the goal and hopefully can make it. Night hiking wasn't half as scary as it was back in Daleville, VA. Not sure why. I felt very far away from civilization then, but I'm surely farther away now.Today on top of White Cap, which was incredibly windy, I got a glimpse of Katahdin to the north. Or at least the body of it. The peak was behind clouds. But to see it so clearly with my own eyes. The end result of half a year of very hard work and dedication. The end of a remarkable journey. A beacon of hope and a sentinel representing great accomplishment. I will admit, I had tears in my eyes.I like to believe that I've grown in a lot of ways out here. I've changed, hopefully for the better. But what one thing I think I still need to work on is self-acceptance. Learning to be happy with who I am. But I feel like I'm never satisfied with myself, which maybe isn't a bad thing, but I'm always shooting myself in the foot for not knowing more or being better at conversation or what have you. It's like I get in my own way.It reminds me of a thing I heard. A guy is in a boat, rowing along, but it's very foggy. There's a loud smash, and he realizes that he's run into another boat. He curses at the other boatman and tells him to watch where he's going. He is very angry. Then, suddenly, the fog lifts and he can see that the other boat is empty.I like that story. I also heard an interesting phrase that I want to share with everyone.The cave you're scared of going in is where the treasure you seek lies.
Date: 2016-08-22
From: Easy Branch Lean-to

To: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to 
Miles today: 19.5

Sometimes you wake up in the rain and it's fine. Maybe even relaxing. Sometimes you wake up in the rain and your tent is COMPROMISED. Today was that day. I got out and moved my tent under the roof of the lean-to in order to break it down out of the rain, and I noticed a puddle where my tent was. Guess that explains it. Rain just ruins everything... Except the health of the forest... And things like that.Since I strive very hard to be honest and raw and tell it like it is in this journal, I forgot to mention a story from probably a week and a half ago. It was raining and I was hiking up one of Southern Maine's endless climbs, feeling very, very frustrated in that way that a cold, hungry, tired thru hiker can. When I finally reached the summit, all of my anger and bitterness came out in the form of a long, colorful stream of expletives. I had seen fellow thruhiker Chuckles up there, but I just needed to get it all out. What I hadn't noticed is that he was on the phone. Haha... Whoops! Hope whoever he was on the phone with enjoyed hearing a legitimate thruhiker meltdown.This morning, while waiting for it to stop raining, which it eventually did, I talked to a section hiker named B-dog for quite a while. Really nice guy from Ohio who drives a truck but loves to get outdoors whenever he could. His wife runs a B&B in Ohio near Cuyahoga National Park called the Whimsical Pig. Might have to check that out.Radar is the 11:11 man. He's had noticed that time probably about 6 or 7 times out on the trail since I've been with him. And he always sarcastically says, "It's 11:11 make a wish."I've been very hungry out here in the 100 Mile wilderness. Knowing there's nowhere to resupply I've been trying to ration my food but for whatever reason I'm just so hungry out here. Today, I was so hungry I caught myself literally drooling while talking about food with Radar.As if an answer to my food prayers, an angel appeared. Her name was Jennifer. And she was driving an SUV down Jo-Mary road. She slowed down and stuck her head out the window and asked if we needed any water. I shook my head, thanked her and jokingly asked, "Do you have any food in there?" She nodded with a smile and pulled her vehicle around. It turns out that she had just completed a section and had a bunch of leftover hiking food. Radar and I grabbed Mountain House meals while asking her if she was sure and profusely thanking her. We also got peanut butter packets, Sweet Baby Ray BBQ meat sticks, Kind bars and a few other goodies. Radar was very excited by the fact that the meat sticks had actual sauce on them. I was equally impressed. She had two ferrets in her car which was interesting. I asked her if I could hug her and so we hugged. Radar and I danced and whooped and we're so incredibly happy and thankful. It's truly amazing how excited hikers can get about food.Maine is awesome and I'm not even going to starve!I will have reached the base of Katahdin and will be with my wife by this time in two days. There are no words.
Date: 2016-08-23
To: Jamie Richardson
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Deadwood's wife here! He's almost done with his hike and I wanted to share some of my thoughts and updates. Just a week ago, I bought my plane ticket to fly up to Bangor, Maine tomorrow. I never wait that long to buy a plane ticket, but I really wanted to be sure we had his finish date nailed down so I didn't end up spending days lounging around in Millinocket. So finally I made him commit to a date. He was pretty sure he could handle 20+ mile days in the 100 mile wilderness due to a pretty tame elevation profile. He's doing great of course, nothing like a deadline to push a person!We haven't seen each other in almost 3 months (since I hiked with him in Shenandoah), so of course I'm incredibly excited. I've tried to make the most of this time alone, but everything is just better with my favorite person! I fly out tomorrow, and I'm not going to bore you with logistics (I know I'm sick of thinking about them!) but the goal is to reunite with Justin tomorrow evening and stay at a B&B in Millinocket. I may or may not have encouraged my husband to try to hitchhike to town to avoid driving deep into Baxter State park and paying a $14 gate fee just to pick him up (Seriously, Baxter? That is steep for a state park!). If there's no cell phone service, we've worked out a system for him to communicate with me via SPOT checkins. We'll see how all that works out.I made a reservation for parking at Baxter State Park's Katahdin Stream Campground parking lot for Thursday, and apparently they only hold reservations until 7:05a.m. (Seriously?!) So we will be getting an early start to climb Katahdin, whether we want to or not! Cue annoying rooster sound. I'm pretty anxious about my journey up there, honestly. I have to count on the benevolence of the Airline gods to get me and my luggage to Bangor on time! My connection in Philadelphia is only 50 minutes, which makes me a little paranoid that any minor delay could set off a domino effect of disaster. I'm mostly worried my checked bag won't make it with me, and I really want my checked bag because it has my trekking poles in it! I hate checking luggage, but between taking trekking poles (which are not allowed in a carry-on), extra clothes for Justin, and my camping gear, I have to do it.So I'm going to try and climb Katahdin with Justin. I don't know if you realize this, but here in Cary, NC, we have a serious lack of mountains. So my training is not ideal! The stairmaster is a poor substitute for a mountain. Katahdin will possibly be the toughest hike of my life! We are talking 5.2 miles with elevation gain of 4,188 ft. And then we have to get back down. But I am highly motivated by amazing views and photo ops, so I should be okay! It's going to be amazing!
Date: 2016-08-23
From: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to 

To: Rainbow Lake Campsite
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: clear sky

Talked to fellow northbound thruhikers Patches and Doc today about how surreal it is that we're almost done. And about the food we're going to make and eat after this.Today was pretty flat with the exception of Nesuntabunt Mountain, but despite that the hiking has continued to be difficult. It's very rooty and rocky here and it slows you down and requires constant diligence. It'd be a bummer to get a bad sprain or broken bone now.Passed several large lakes today with beaches and waves and everything. There's water everywhere up here.I got some better views of Katahdin today. It's beautiful and enormous and getting very close.Never in my existence on this planet have I wanted two thinga so badly: To see my wife after almost 3 months of being apart, and to summit my life goal, and both within 24 hours of each other. Life is good.So today I came across a random pile of animal bones. Like 3 skulls of some sort of fox animal or something, as well as other assorted bones. That was almost as odd as the random swimming fin in the trail by a creek. You just never know what you're going to see.So this is my last night in the woods. My last night using my sleeping bag, tent, pillow, and lots of other things on my thru hike. Tomorrow night Jamie will pick me up and I'll sleep in a bed at the B&B. This is it!"Continue the adventure wherever it leads." This was scribbled onto a registration box. I wonder what this means for me. I still contemplate on this. What's next? What could compare? Whatever I do, I won't be leaving Jamie behind to do it. We've spent enough time apart. The heart is plenty fond.I think, at least for awhile, all I'm going to do is enjoy life. Cook good food, sleep in a bed, shower daily, pet cats, watch movies, play games and be lazy for a little while. That sounds nice.
Date: 2016-03-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, this is my second entry, one year later. I retired last October and will now start my hike on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. I've been buying gear for the last year and have gotten in some practice overnights since leaving work. Tested the sleeping bag the other night. The bag is rated at 20 deg and it was 19 outside. I slept with everything on that I'll be carrying and still it started to get uncomfortable cold around 4 a.m. Hopefully there won't be too many cold nights left in this winter. Right now I'm trying to pack 10 pounds of "stuff" into a 5 pound bag, so to speak. It will get in there eventually. Base weight right now is running 24 lbs winter, 21 lbs summer. Maybe I can still shave some off. So, the rest of this week is more packing of boxes, cleaning the house, hiking with the pack, etc. Time is running down, 10 days to go.
Date: 2016-03-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Packed the last boxes today. Pack weight with 4 days food looking like it will come in around 32 lb. I'll be happy with that. Will take a hike tomorrow up at Bradbury Mtn State Park. It will be raining hard, should be a good final test hike. Slept out in 19 deg the other day, uncomfortably cold but doable. I think 15 degrees would be the lower limit I'd want to sleep out.. Now just have to do the mundane things, like cleaning the garage and getting the car serviced. On the plane next Wed! It has been two years thimking and planning for this.
Date: 2016-03-17
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

This is his wife, Nancy.   He called at about 4:30 pm and had reached his shelter area.   He said he had a good day but it was really hard. His brother, Jack, had driven him from Atlanta to the starting point. With his full pack, he decided to give his brother his camera and his iPad, and keep just his phone. Because of that, I don't know if he will be making any trail journal entries for a while.   He was going to take it easy and work the cramp out of his leg. He found the weather warmer than expected, in the high 40s during the day. In this location, there were about 20 different campsites occupied. His evening meal was going to be a Freeze-dried dinner packet that he had purchased online.
Date: 2016-03-19
From: Gooch Gap

To: Lance Creek
Miles today: 7.1

Nancy here. 7AM Saturday.   Didn't hear from Bob Friday evening or this morning, but assume all is okay.   He was supposed to have made it to the Gooch Mtn Shelter yesterday afternoon and will be heading for the Lance Creek Shelter for his Saturday night.Need to get the SPOT system open and see where he actually is. NancyUPDATE: 9AM Saturday, he finally called.   It was the first time he had cell signals. Which might explain why SPOT is acting up also.   He recharged his phone during the night with one of those techie gadgets.   He is doing okay but needs to make up a mile today so he can make Lance Creek. His feet are doing okay.   Mood seemed good.UPDATE: 2PM Saturday.   Surprise, Surprise !   He was sitting on top of Cedar Mtn and decided to call since he had cell phone coverage. He wasn't sure if there would be coverage at Lance Creek Shelter, where he was heading, which is down in the valley.Before he got to Cedar Mtn, he stopped at a way station where they were serving lunch. So he scarfed down hot dogs and coke and brownies. This was near where the AT trail crosses of Route 60 in Georgia.He was having a nice day, a little cooler and windy, but Lance Creek was less than 2 hours away. and downhill. He had somewhat of a view as the trees had not leafed out yet. He's promising me some photos later.And the SPOT device sent its end of day automatic message, for the first time. So, he arrived at the shelter and that device had coverage.
Date: 2016-03-20
From: Lance Creek

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 0.1

7:15AM rec'd text message that Bob was starting out from Lance Creek. A little earlier start than his first three days.Today he hopes to get to Whitely Gap Shelter, approximately 6-7 miles away. He'll be passing Woods Hole Shelter, Blood Mountain Shelter and Neels Gap, Georgia (town). You might find interesting info if you Google these names.   NancyUPDATE 10:52. He's making good time today, per the SPOT device. He's already passed the East end of Slaughter Creek. But, I just realized it is actually a 14 mile hike today, so he is going to be huffing and puffing by the time he is done. No wonder he started early. Nancy.Update 11:25. Finnegan (Bob)called and is sitting on the top of Blood Mtn. Cloudy and windy and rocky. Already hiked about 7 miles today. Might stop at Neels Gap in the valley at the base of Blood Mtn. There is a hostel there which might have a vacancy. Otherwise, he'll stock up at the store and maybe mail things back to me and be on his way to another shelter. Currently, at the top of the mountain the temp is about 44 and winds are gusting up to about 20mph.   Nancy.
Date: 2016-03-20
From: Lance Creek

To: Neel Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.4

Update 3:15pm Sunday.   Bob called and is spending the night at the Neels Gap Shelter.   It was set to be a 14 mile day, but the mileage was just too much, too early.Google Neels Gap Outfitters...looks like an interesting place. Plenty of food for him to buy. And he is staying in their hostel for the night. He is sending some things home that he doesn't need. It's just not getting as cold as he prepared himself for.He said he would send me some photos.He'll aim for Whitely Gap Shelter tomorrow morning.All for today.   Nancy.