morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-08-16
From: Cloudland Road

To: Hanover, NH and back to the Lakehouse
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: broken clouds

Ah yes, the beauty of slack packing knows no ends. I carried nothing but my MP3 player in one pocket, a water bottle in another, with my jacket tied around my waist.   Fortunately for me, it was Rebel's turn to carry the backpack we've been sharing on slack packing days. 16.9 miles in about 4 hours, even without packs, isn't too shabby.   Definitely easier though without the 35 extra pounds slowing us down. We were moving, likely the fastest I've hike to date, for I had places to be. We had to get to Hanover before the post office closed at 4, and with a late start at 11, we didn't want to miss our chance to pick up care packages and better-late-than-never birthday cards.   Truth be told, the cards arrived on time; I was the one who was a week late. Time to celebrate nonetheless, with $2 margaritas an offer that simply couldn't be refused.   Might as well kill the time productively with drinks all around while waiting a few hours for those who weren't hiking according to the post office schedule. By the way, for the geographically challenged out there, Hanover is in New Hampshire, just across the state line via the Appalachian Trail from Vermont. Technically, although we arrived to New Hampshire today, waving at every single passing car in this modern college town until my arm hurt, we are not actually in New Hampshire yet, for miles remain in Vermont. It's another benefit of slack packing ¢ I don't necessarily have to hike the miles in order on the trail, but can skip and jump around according to what best suits my now busy schedule, just as long as I hike all the miles in a general semblance of moving ever northward.   Today, BI had to run some errands in New Hampshire, so where the shuttle goes, there the hikers do also.   We'll go back and finish Vermont over the coming days.   There's really no rush, for we're staying here in a gorgeous lake house for umpteen nights anyways.miles remaining 461.1
Date: 2007-08-17
From: Killington, VT

To: Chateauguay Road then Lakehouse
Miles today: 14.7

The last time I actually wrote in my journal on the trail was five states ago.   Although I haven't been good about penning my thoughts, I try to remember something special or unique about each of the states, what sticks in my mind in each place, what impresses or doesn't as I pass each consecutive state line. In New Jersey, I was fat and clean with daily deli and swim stops.   Just like most other thru-hikers, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed a state that I don't particularly care for in the real world. Hiking there is pretty great though, with gentle terrain, great swimming holes, and enough resupply points to avoid carrying too much in our packs. I still can't figure out New York , state of contrasts, love it or hate it.   The ice cream was phenomenal; the hitches not so much. I couldn't believe I was so close to civilization, its congestion and traffic, its pollution and commercialization, feeling so far removed from it with nary a desire to become a part of it once again. Another name for Connecticut could be yuppie central.   The people are nice enough, but hikers don't feel like they belong in the quaint but expensive towns. Sure we stopped along the way, but not to eat or stay or even do laundry for it simply cost too much.   Yet we made our presence known, as only thru-hikers can do.I distinctly remember two things about Massachusetts ¢ mosquitoes and Tom Levardi. Did I mention how much I love Vermont ?   Or that it is likely my favorite state so far? Or that BirdLegs is now a native Vermonter? Without billboards or Wal-marts, with down-to-earth hard-working people, Vermont is, pure and simple, the way life should be, the way I want mine to be after the trail. Coming up is New Hampshire, with the motto "Live free or die," should be a pretty interesting place.   Unless you're a communist. And then there's Maine, "the way life should be," but I don't want to talk about that, for it signifies that my journey is coming to a close.   I'm not quite ready for those difficult emotions yet.miles remaining 446.4
Date: 2007-08-18
From: Katie's and Mark's Lakehouse

To: still at the Lakehouse
Miles today: 0.0

As I ponder my journey thus far, during another relaxing zero day at another lake house in Vermont, I am reminded of one of my favorite poems by Mary Oliver, introduced to me by none other than Tina the Great. The JourneyOne day you finally knewwhat you had to do, and began,though the voices around youkept shoutingtheir bad advice ¢though the whole housebegan to trembleand you felt the old tugat your ankles."Mend my life!"each voice cried. But you didn't stop.You knew what you had to do,though the wind priedwith its stiff fingersat the very foundations ¢though their melancholy was terrible.It was already lateenough, and a wild night,and the road full of fallenbranches and stones.But little by little,as you left their voices behind,the stars began to burnthrough the sheets of clouds,and there was new voice,which you slowlyrecognized as your own,that kept you companyas you strode deeper and deeperinto the world,determined to dothe only thing you could do ¢determined to savethe only life you could save.
Date: 2007-08-19
From: Chateauguay Road

To: Cloudland Road then Lakehouse
Miles today: 14.5

Today may be our last day in Vermont , which makes me quite sad, for I have really grown to love this state and its people.   Another day of slack packing, another day of getting together with old friends, another day of being humbled and impressed by the kindness of strangers.   I was so happy to see Jean again, yet another strong woman who seems just made for Vermont ¢ she loves the outdoors and is a hiking machine, with the moniker "Mountain Gazelle" for her speed and grace on the trail.   Smart too, I enjoyed our conversation about conservation efforts in Vermont, the history of the state, how wonderful it is to live in the green mountains, what I can do to find employment locally after the trail. A friend of Jean's lives about a 30-second detour off the trail, in yet another gorgeous lake house.   Knowing our history with lake houses in Vermont, of course we made ourselves right at home. Larry invited us in, offered us cold beer and sharp Vermont cheese, allowed me to play his piano, didn't say a word when Rebel sat down to complete his daily crossword puzzle.   I could have easily spent the day there, but enough is enough.   Besides, we had another lake house waiting for the evening. It's been a tough life in Vermont .   It's going to be hard to leave. But we have no miles remaining in this state, and so it's time to move on.miles remaining 441.9
Date: 2007-08-20
From: Lakehouse

To: umm...Lakehouse
Miles today: 0.0

I guess I don't have to leave Vermont just yet, with an offer from Katie that we just couldn't refuse.   If we all agreed to a day of work at the farm, she would slack pack us another 60 miles in New Hampshire. In return for hiking without our packs for another three days, sleeping in a bed and showering each evening, eating good food and drinking beer, watching TV and playing games, hanging out with an amazing couple and their dogs and horses and goats in a lake paradise, all we had to do was labor for a day.   Um, OK. Rebel, Chach, Splendora, Mojo and I readily agreed to the deal, and so spent the day clearing dead and downed trees, cleaning up the rock wall along the property line, pulling weeds, dragging brush and limbs into two of the hugest bonfires I have ever seen.   Katie was all smiles at the end of the day when she noticed how much tidier her property looked. And we proved that thru-hikers are good for more than eating you out of house and home. Add another set of trail gods to my list with the superb kindness and generosity of Mark and Katie.   The Shaws are amazing!
Date: 2007-08-21
From: Hanover, NH

To: Lyme-Dorchester Road, then Lakehouse
Miles today: 19.6

The tronathon is in full force during the day as Rebel and I continue to create word games as we walk.   Playing games with him has made the miles go by quickly and more enjoyably, allowing us to challenge our minds as much as we do our bodies.   Other hikers wonder what the heck we are doing, trying to stay far away from us for fear of getting involved in hours-long arguments about whether a word or clue or definition or spelling is legitimate.   But we will continue our nerdy ways, for great minds think alike and therefore can amuse each other for hours on end, even in the middle of the woods. Today's winner was the homonym game, in which we gave each other clues for words that sound alike but are spelled differently.   By the end of the day, we were running out of the more obvious and thus resorted to plays on words, not only challenging each other mentally, but making each other laugh as well.   If you want to play along, see if you can figure out the following.   Correct answers are at the end of this entry. 1. A direction, to communication with pen or pencil, and a tradition. 2. Naked and a wild animal.3. Baking ingredient and plant life.4. Animal feet and a delay.5. Naval officers and ejaculation (yes, things go downhill quickly on the trail). 6. What Rebel considers himself and mushrooms.7. Kindness to those less fortunate and the moment of sweet ejaculation (and then progress even worse). 8. Contradiction and two places to fish.9. Global superpower and invest wisely. How many did you get?1. Right, write, and rite2. Bare and bear3. Flour and flower4. Paws and pause5. Seamen and semen6. Fun guy and fungi7. Compassion and cum passion8. Paradox and pair of docks9. Hegemony and hedge your money Now we're having fun.miles remaining 422.3
Date: 2007-08-22
From: Lyme-Dorchester Road

To: Warren, NH; Lakehouse, VT
Miles today: 18.8

This morning I awoke, yet again in a bed, saying "I don't want to hike any more.   I am so over this hiking crap."   I wasn't serious of course, but the hiking aspect, the physically putting one foot in front of the other, is not as exciting as it once was.   Unlike 5 months ago when I started the trail and felt exhilaration at the thought of hiking consecutive 20 mile days, the thought alone now makes me tired.   Don't worry, I am not ready to give up, with just over 400 miles remaining. But even with the mental stimulation to look forward to every day, I am getting bored with the trail.   The terrain no longer challenges, the sights no longer inspire, the wilderness no longer beckons. Yet again, the trail gives me just what I need precisely when I need it.   Today's beautiful vistas once again remind me why I'm out here.   The trail was gorgeous today. Yeah, I still want to hike. miles remaining 403.5
Date: 2007-08-24
From: Kinsman Notch, NH

To: Franconia Notch, NH; Janet's house...in VT
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I swear I was planning on sleeping in the woods in New Hampshire tonight. I honestly had every intention of leaving Vermont behind and getting back to the reality of trail life.   I truly was ready to tackle the Whites, once again carry all my needed gear on my back, cook instant dinner over my camp stove, bed for the night in my sleeping bag, become one again with nature.   But somehow, it didn't happen. Splendora tells how our best-laid plans went awry. "After a nearly tearful goodbye with BI at NH112, Snack Break, Rebel, and I thought we were in New Hampshire for good. We took to the difficult White Mountains , shouldering our full packs, with determination and excitement. However, hiking about 16.5 miles put us at Franconia Notch/I93. This just so happened to be near the house of a hiker friend of Snack Break's. She called her friend, Janet "Slow and Steady", who was delighted to host us for the night. As evening quickly falls, we meet Janet, an energetic early-50s Assistant Principal at a local K-8 school in the mountains. Like a true trail angel, Janet piles us into her Jeep Cherokee and presents us with fresh apples, grapes, iced tea, and chips and salsa. She then drives us to her house, which is, of course, in Vermont. Hello again, Vermont ; good to see you again, old friend. We spend a delightful evening with Janet, who spoils us with hot showers, laundry, BBQ chicken and pie a la mode, and warm beds." Add another to the ranks of Vermont trail goddesses.   At this rate, I don't know that we'll ever get out of this state. At this point, I'd be content to stay forever. miles remaining 372.7
Date: 2007-08-25
From: Janet's house

To: Janet's house
Miles today: 0.0

Splendora continues in what I consider to be her best trail journal to date."Fully intending to hit the trail again today, and once again leave dear Vermont behind for the second time, we drive back to Franconia Notch around 10:00 this morning. And it begins to pour. Part of my brain says, 'Splendora, suck it up and hike in the rain; Maine is waiting.' A much larger portion of my brain insists, 'Splendora, you are in the most technical and dangerous section of the AT. This danger is compounded by rain on the steep and slippery boulders. Even if you manage to avoid a nasty fall, you will be wet and cold at high elevations, and wet socks, shoes, and clothing for days on end is a guarantee for misery. You are in a warm, dry car with a wonderful woman who is offering to take you back to her house so you can relax, read, write, and rest. There is no need to hike today.' That part of my brain, as well as that part of Snack Break's and Rebel's brains, easily won the internal debate match. " So we remain for yet another day and night in Vermont , in the company of a fabulous woman I met earlier on the trail and who I'm sure will be a friend for life. Why wouldn't I want to spend an extra day with her?   Sometimes, Mother Nature knows best.   Thank God for the rain this morning. Thank God for Vermont. Thank God for the amazing people that make this journey what it is and more. Stay tuned to see if the trio ever makes it out of Vermont...
Date: 2007-08-27
From: Galehead Hut

To: Webster Cliffs
Miles today: 16.6

Because of the difficulty of the terrain, daily mileage drops drastically in the Whites. Better safe than sorry, I thought 14 miles an achievable goal. It was another 8 or so to the next hut anyways, which was most definitely pushing it. Rebel had other ideas, but he¢s a tough guy, a lot taller than me, a lot stronger than me, a lot more ambitious in the Whites than me. I stood my ground, fought for less miles, got my way. Turns out I was wrong. Turns out Rebel might be smarter than me too. Nah¢¦We completed our (my) proposed miles for the day by late afternoon, still with a few hours of daylight remaining. Our (my) proposed spot to camp was really a parking lot without a good spot to camp. Our (my) plan called for a new strategy, one in which I would be more humble and apologetic. Actually, we (I) were at just the right place at just the right time. Things, on the trail, happen for a reason, for our friend Bear Spray arrived to the parking lot at precisely the same time, which was lucky for us (me). Because he had a car -- long story but he has been slack packing the entire Appalachian Trail, sleeping in hotels every night and not just in Vermont -- he would have an easier time buying a new trekking pole than would I, now that I was dedicated and determined to stay in the woods where I belonged. So he gave me a trekking pole, just like that. Turns out his favorite place to buy trekking poles is also Walmart, just like yours truly; because we were finally out of Vermont, Walmarts are again plentiful. Without my trekking pole, I felt like a three-legged dog, and now I got my leg back. Ha Rebel, maybe I am the smarter one.But I still had to make it up to him, for we decided that we should indeed hike a few more miles today. The best way to apologize to someone on the trail is hike hard, without a word of complaint, up a really steep hill, without an approaching water source, which means don¢t drink any water on the way up, to the campsite which Rebel proposed in the first place. Webster Cliffs, even without water, turned out to be a great place to stay for the night, tents sheltered from the wind, a fire to keep us warm, beautiful sunset over the mountains. Apology accepted. miles remaining 343.1
Date: 2007-08-29
From: Mt. Madison Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: few clouds

The White Mountains are a fragile ecosystem, with many trails above treeline, distinct flora and fauna, with easy access to major population hubs of the Northeast, and therefore corresponding tourist hordes, very much unlike the thru-hikers I have come to know and love. These visitors are more, shall we say, discriminating, in their requirements for backcountry sleeping quarters and shelter amenities. Nor do I think they appreciate our smell and outwardly hairy appearances, swine-like eating habits, and grotesque senses of humor. It¢s clear I¢ve been in the woods too long.Remember that the White Mountains are the most visited backcountry areas in the country, according to my friend Shatter in the Smokies, and he should know, because he spent a summer shoveling out toilets in the Whites. Remember also that a backcountry visitor refers to anyone courageous and daring enough to venture more than a quarter mile from the road or parking lot. To cater to these discriminating tastes, the Appalachian Mountain Club, or Money Club in thru-hiker lingo, maintains the trails in the Whites, as well as a system of huts. The huts, hands down, are the most beautiful, meals all inclusive, amenity-laden, and expensive shelters along the trail, something like $90 a night for those who make reservations beforehand. There are a few problems here for thru-hikers. We are used to spending zero dollars a night to sleep in the woods. We are accustomed to showing up when and where we please, without the forethought of reservations. We forget how to act in such classy places. We are dirty and disheveled. Did I mention we don¢t smell so good? The huts are the first place along the trail where we feel we don¢t really fit in.Besides the huts, there are no other places to stay in the Whites. Fortunately, the ¢croos¢ that run the huts are pretty accommodating to thru-hikers, even if the guests are not. Most will offer us to work-for-stay, in which we give an hour of labor in return for dinner and a table or floor on which to sleep indoors. I say most because I have also heard horror stories of thru-hikers turned away, forced to continue hiking, cleaning floor tiles with toothbrushes until all hours of the night. In my personal experience, however, these are just rumors, for last night we stayed at the Madison Hut, with a kind and generous croo that made us feel welcome, grime and all.Did I mention that the Whites are tough? My legs hurt, so we decided on a short day into Gorham to stay in a hotel, enough of the woods. We¢d try to make up the miles tomorrow by slack packing ourselves from one road crossing to another, basically hitching rides to and from the trailheads. Sounds like a good idea, but what a day we would have in store for us.miles remaining 319
Date: 2007-08-31
From: Top Notch Inn, Gorham

To: Top Notch Inn, Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The Whites took something out of me, for I am mentally and physically exhausted, as I lie in bed and cry because I don¢t feel up to hiking today. I have to be prepared for the final push into and through Maine, and today I am not. I have decided to stay in bed today, cry a little, sleep a lot, take some time to rest my body and spirit.Part of my emotion stems from the fact that I realize the end is approaching and that scares me. I have become used to this free and adventurous way of life and I don¢t want it to end. How will I be able to go back to the real world after living in the woods, for the most part anyways, for the past few months? Will I be able to function in society again? Or will I still pee standing up behind some bush or tree? Will I ever smell good again, or at least not like BO? What will I do when the trail ends? Mostly, I¢m wondering how I will survive without this fabulous group of people around me. Will I ever see them again? Who will understand me the way that they do? Will I ever have this deep a connection with other human beings in my lifetime? How can I hang on to this feeling forever?I awake with tears in my eyes and a sadness in my heart that I just can¢t shake. I tell Rebel that he has to keep hiking, that I want him to leave me behind in Gorham and continue north, that it¢s time to move on without me. I ask Rebel to leave today so I don¢t have to deal with the inevitable good-byes in a few weeks time, get it over with now so I don¢t have to think about it any more and can therefore avoid it in the future. My theory was, I¢ll be sad today, but I¢ll have the remaining miles to come to terms with it; I¢ll have plenty of emotions to deal with on that fateful day at the end of my journey, so let¢s get the ones I can out of the way now. I can¢t bear the thought of never seeing you again, so let¢s just get on with it. Please, I beg you, leave me behind and continue on your own journey without me.Damn him, he just wouldn¢t go away.
Date: 2007-09-01
From: Gorham, NH

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: few clouds

I feel much better about hiking today. I didn¢t come this far to just lie in bed and cry. Besides, hotel rates go way up on the weekends, and I can¢t afford to stay in town any longer. Maine, here I (we, although I would have preferred otherwise) come!I think part of the reason Rebel stayed was because I am such fabulous company on the trail, with my wealth of trontastic games. I am one of the few who continues to play along, not get exasperated when I lose each and every one, as we create a new word game a day. Today¢s was along the lines of something I once saw on Jeopardy ¢ with a letter added the word means (this), take away that letter and you have (blank). For example, with a ¢d¢ it¢s the female in a wedding party (bride) and without the ¢d¢ it¢s a type of cheese (brie). Here are some more good ones, compliments of Rebel, of course.Without a ¢v¢ it¢s the legal age to imbibe, and with the ¢v¢ it¢s the drink of choice. Got it?Without the ¢ch¢ it¢s where we¢re headed; with the ¢ch¢ it¢s what I am.ME, it¢s all about ME! I can¢t believe that we crossed the border into the 14th and final state of the Appalachian Trail. I simply cannot fathom that I am now in Maine, with a sign welcoming me to ¢the way life should be.¢ I leave New Hampshire and enter Maine buff and bloody, with some serious bruising and, I kid you not, blood running down both my legs. I may be beat up, but never will I be broken. Oh yes, it¢s time for that celebratory drink at the border, Jim Beam for Rebel and some nasty blackberry brandy that tastes more like Robitussin cough medicine for me.If I thought the terrain in the Whites was tough, it¢s got nothing on northern New Hampshire into southern Maine. The most challenging terrain of the trail has to be in this section. I¢ve been hiking nearly non-stop for almost six months now, my body is a conditioned machine in the best shape of my life, but the miles today were among the most difficult I¢ve ever experienced. I admire the hikers who are out for only days at a time, for they surely must be struggling. And section hikers, those who complete a portion of the trail each year, have more determination and staying power than I ever would, for they undertake this challenging terrain and shaping-up process time and again, year after year. Kudos to them.Your answers: beer age and beverage; Maine and machine. On the trail, the fun never ends.miles remaining 276.5