morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-20
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Woodstock,N.H.
Miles today: 8.8

It never fails to amaze me on how early one can get going when they know they're going to town.We were gonna skip this town but we need to find B-rad a dentist cause he has a toothache.Poor baby I know he's miserable.And ofcoarse it's raining again.And belive it or not it's COLD!We stopped in the Lonesome Lake hut to get out of the cold rain and had some all you can eat soup.So good and warms you right up.Took advantage of the dry place to put on some dry clothes too.Made the last 4 or so miles bearable.When we got to the road we found out the hard way about hitching on a state highway.The only car that stopped was a cop and after chewing us out and making sure none of us were wanted criminals he gave us a ride to town.Got a room and a hot cup of coffee and now we're drying things out an waiting on the rain to stop.                           Tomorrow is a...                              New Day!
Date: 2008-07-21
From: Woodstock,N.H.

To: Carriage Hotel
Miles today: 0.0

It took a minute but I finally found a dentist who can see B-rad.Bad part is we can't see her til the morning but wow ain't she nice cause she's gonna pick us up so we don't have to walk!Got the laundry done and all the gear dry so now it's just time to relax.                              Tomorrow is a...                                 New Day!
Date: 2008-07-22
From: Carriage Hotel

To: Garfield Pond
Miles today: 9.2

Happy Birthday B-rad!I can't belive he's 20 today.We didn't get started til about 11 am because of the trip to the dentist and all.Not to big of a deal cause we arn't going far.B-rad was in good spirits even though he was hiking out of town on his day but Old School was a little cranky,but this is how he gets when we start late cause he likes his evening camptime.The hike today was up,up,up and it was on the warm side.But like most of the other resent days it rained.We got to camp right before dark and while the guys set up tents I made dinner.Finished the night with a Rice Crispy Cake and a song.Hope you had a good day B-rad,it was an honor to share it with you!                        Tomorrow is a...                              New Day!
Date: 2008-07-23
From: Garfield Pond

To: Zealand Falls Campsite
Miles today: 11.1

Doing real good at getting where we are going for the day but the rain is making it real hard. We got to Garfield Hut in time for lunch and it was a good thing to because it got real cold and What?Started to rain!It is unbeliveable how much it has rained.How much can one state take?How much more can I take?We were at the Zealand Falls Hut at dinner and were told we could hang out to eat after the guest were done but it was too cold and the rain had been pouring on us all day and didn't look like it was gonna stop anytime soon.We hike on down to a campsite to find all the good spaces were taken.Finally found enough spaces without mud puddles and set up the tents.Old School and I decided that if the rain didn't stop we would pull off.You must stay safe.And I hate being WET!But for now I'm warm and dry in my bag.                              Tomorrow is a...                                 New Day!
Date: 2008-07-24
From: Zecliff Falls Campsite

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: fog

Woke up to rain so we packed up and headed for the road.We 're gonna hitch to Groham!We were about 3 miles up the trail when the rain really started comming down.We were all soaked by the time we got to the highway and it took a little time but 3 rides later we were at the post office picking up the drop box.It was still raining when we left the Buger King.Ran into a few hikers who said they couldn't get over Mt.Washington and had to come off side trails.75 mph winds,rain & hail!Sure made me glad we got off.Got a room and started unpacking to find most of our gear soaked!Not gonna worry about it though cause I'm now clean,warm & dry!                           Tomorrow is a...                                 New Day!
Date: 2008-07-26
From: Northern Peaks Hotel

To: Mizpah Campsite
Miles today: 5.8

Got a shuttle back to the trail thanks to Bruce.Much better than trying to hitch back.We decided not to go too far so that we could try to make the whole Presidential Range in the morning.It was a long climb up and I didn't feel much like hiking but again this is what happens when you stay too long in town.Not long after we found a spot for the tents and had dinner it started to RAIN again!I sure hope it stops by morning cause I want to get up to the top of Mt.Washington and get a hot dog!Well the thunder storm we are having is making me sleepy so...                           Tomorrow is a...                              New Day!
Date: 2008-07-27
From: Mizpah Campsite

To: Osgood Tentsites
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: fog

Wasn't feeling up for my hike today cause the weather didn't look very promising and my guys wern't helping matters either.But 4 grouchy hiker packed up and headed North. Old School said we were gonna get all the way over them today!And can you belive we did it!The climb up Mt.Washington was amazing!One minute it was all socked in and then it would blow over and give you a view.Truly a sight to be seen.We were on the top in time for lunch and just let me say I had one of the best chili dogs ever!Took a few pictures and the pushed on.YoungBlood and I even mooned the Cog Train!It was so funny!It was getting Late whe we got to Madison Spring Hut but Old School insisted we could make it to osgood .Yes we went down Mt.Madison in the DARK!Not real smart but we all got down safely.We finally got to camp about 11 pm and man are my ankles swollen!Sure hope I can walk in the morning.Every mile is one closer to Finishing What I Started!                              Tomorrow is a...                                 New Day!
Date: 2008-07-28
From: Osgood Tentsites

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: fog

Woke up feeling every bit of yesterdays hike.With everyone moaning we packed up and headed for Pinkham Notch.We got there before the snack bar closed and got a cheeseburger & fries,then headed down to the basement and got a quick shower.Now I feel great!This feeling didn't last long thanks to the drizzle of RAIN that has started.We decided to hike accross the road to find a place to pitch the tents so we could call it a night.Found a good spot but we had to ford a stream to get to it.The water was cold and felt great on my ankles,then about half way accross I realized I had to come back accross in the morning!Bet that will be a wake up.I feel so wiped out at the end of the day so it's time for sleep.Climbing the Wildcats in the morning!                           Tomorrow is a...                                 New Day!
Date: 2008-07-29
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Carter Notch Hut stealth sight
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: fog

Out of the Whites and into the Wildcats!Up,Up,Up.How many peaks are there again?There was a little maintence going on that looked a little scary.They were fixing washouts and stablizing boulders!Thanks for that but it still makes me nervous.At the Gondola we ran into a bunch of tourist who seemed Real Surprised that we "WALKED" up there.Can you guess how they got there?Hiked to the Carter Notch Hut to be disappointed that they had no soup!But we got Lemonade and bought a few candy bars then hiked on.We just started up when we spotted a tent sight and called it a day.It was early but all the ups today have me pooped and I seem to stay tired & sore,Not to mention it started RAINING again!The Carters will have to wait til morning cause I must sleep.                              Tomorrow is a...                                 New Day!
Date: 2008-07-30
From: Carter Notch Hut stealth sight

To: Moriaha Mt. Site
Miles today: 11.1

Yea for us!Had lots of big climbs but we made it over the Carters & Moriah too!We stopped about 2 miles before the Rattle River and set up the tents.Gonna take a short day in Gorham tomorrow to re-supply and take care of a few issues occuring back home.I can't belive We are almost in Maine.Have I really hike that far?Sometimes it feels like a dream then the motrin wears off and I know it's reality!Surprise,surprise here comes the rain.                                 Tomorrow is a...                                    New Day!
Date: 2008-07-31
From: Moriaha Mt. Site

To: Gorham,NH.
Miles today: 3.9
Weather: fog

Started Thunderstorming right after we packed up this morning.No worries though we'll be in town and dry soon.I did have a fall on a wet rock that I thought made me break my finger but it's just bruised real bad cause it hurts but I can bend it.It was hard getting a hitch,probly because of the pouring rain and the fact we were soaked.But we finally got a ride and he dropped us off at McDonalds in time to have b-fast.Got a room at the Madison and began drying out gear.Did laundry,re-supplied at Wal-mart then had dinner at KFC.I love their coleslaw!Got everything packed and ready to hike out in the morning so it's time to chill.                                 Tomorrow is a...                                       New Day!                                    Tomorrow is a...
Date: 2008-08-01
From: Gorham,NH.

To: Mt.Hayes Campsite
Miles today: 5.5

Left town with 3 cranky men and light rain falling.As always we had a short day.Found a good place to make camp and the I cooked the Steaks we packed out!Served them with garlic mashed potato's and even had A1!Worth a short hike day.We plan on making it to Maine Tomorrow so it's another early night.                                 Tomorrow is a...                                    New Day!
Date: 2008-08-02
From: Mt.Hayes Campsite

To: Trident Col Tentsites
Miles today: 1.4

Well I guess the Cosmic Forces are against me!Had a signal lastnight and called home to find out that our youngest is having some health problems.She woke up yesterday with what she thought was a toothache but now has discovered big lumps behind her jaw and ear.Her sister will be taking her into her dentist this morning to find out what's going on and will let me know this afternoon.To make matters even worse B-rad woke up sick.He said he would be ok so we packed up and headed up the trail.We hadn't hiked a half mile when B-rad started sweating and throwing up.He was in no condition to hike so again we called it a day.By 10:30 there was nothing to do.B-rad & Old School took naps and YoungBlood and I hung out.I'm worried about Taylor I hope she's ok. Atleast I have a good signal so I can find out whats wrong.We had to send most of the afternoon in the tents thanks to RAIN but it let up long enough to cook dinner.I got the news from back home that Taylor's wisdom teeth were causing her the pain.Thats the good news,the bad news is that they are impacted and one is almost touching the nerve so they need to come out!Now I have more crap to worry over.The dentist said that motrin will help her pain and when the swelling goes down she'll feel much better.These are the things you don't tell a Mom out hiking the trail.My mental state is now shaken.With lots on my mind sleep will not be easy.                           Tomorrow is a...                              New Day!
Date: 2008-08-03
From: Trident Col Tentsites

To: Maine Boarder
Miles today: 11.0

How much RAIN does one state need?That is the question in my mind. Started hiking with 2 cranky men,1 Great husband and the RAIN!Don't they know this is hard enough without extra crap from them?Got out of the RAIN and had our lunch in the Gentian Pond Shelter which is also the last shelter in N.H.The RAIN stopped long enough for me to dry out a little,rung out the socks & got the jacket dry.But this didn't last long cause not 2 miles up the trail it started RAINING again!For more than a week now the trail has resembled more of a stream than a trail.My feet are raw from the constant dampness and stay sore from,well just hiking. We were at the Maine boarder by 6 pm and I'll never forget the way I felt when I first saw the sign...I cried out I see Maine!I heard Old School reply No you don't.Yes I Do!I see Maine!Then I just cried.We took some pictures the pitched the tents in the same spot Old School & B-rad had in 06.Still can't belive I hiked to Maine! Tried to call home to check on Taylor but I don't have a signal.Still worried about her.Hope she is feeling better.I'll just hope to have a signal somewhere in the morning.Going to sleep with a heavy heart and on top of tha here comes the RAIN!                           Tomorrow is a...                              New Day!
Date: 2008-08-04
From: Maine Boarder

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: light rain

I didn't get alot of sleep last night for thinking of my daughter and the rest of my hike.The most important thing was will she be ok if asked to wait til I was finished?Is it fair to her?How much pain was she in?As we hiked the Rain started,not just a drizzle or a normal rain,but a down pour!I was going up Mt.Carlo when it hit me like a ton of bricks.How could you even think of asking her to wait to be relived of her pain?I just turned around and told my men I was going home cause Taylor needs me. They looked at me in disbelief and asked How,when?It was still raining so we would have to figure it out when we get to the shelter.Going over Goose Eye Mt.(north peak)I missed a bog board and fell forward to sink in mud up to my knees & elbows.The funny part was on the third time I realized the board was non-existant!Now it's funny.We decided to stop at the shelter to make our game plan and save the Mahoosuc for in the morning.It's a full house here tonight.Even all the tenting platforms & overflow spots were taken!Looks like Bethel,Maine will be my jump off point.Being a Mom was what took me out of the thru hiker running and being a Mom has cut a long section short.Don't be disappointed,I'm not.After all I did hike to MAINE!                                    Tomorrow is a...                                       New Day!
Date: 2008-08-05
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Bethel,ME
Miles today: 9.7

Again it RAINED all night and alot of gear got wet.With the exception of the exta weight it was no biggie.Less than 10 miles to go.We did the Mahoosuc Notch which I thought was alot of fun.Scary at times because the rocks were wet.The Moose is still there but it is only bones.Saw alot of year round ice too.You could feel it first then started looking in cracks til we saw it.The exit was a interesting one also,It was very hard to determine where the trail was.And when we figured it out we had to walk thru water up to our knees to stay on it.The Arm came next.Wow what a climb!The boys hiked ahead and got a ride to town in time to get the last box that was sent from home at the P.O.The sign that led off to the summit was a beautiful sight!Only 3.2 to go.about a mile from the Grafton Notch we spoke with the boys and told the we would be there soon.Old School & I were at the road at 6:00 pm.Wouldn't you know it the only traffic on the road was going the other way!After about a half hour we started walking for town.We had walked 3 miles before we were lucky enough to get a ride.Thank you so much Andy you REALLY helped us out.We met up with B-rad & YoungBlood at the P.O.,Went and got a burger and a room,and started planing our trip home.We were however lucky enogh to beat the rain tonight.Got to the Hotel just before it started!Man it's good to be inside!                              Tomorrow is a...                                 New Day!
Date: 2008-08-06
From: Bethel,ME

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well I woke up hurting this mornind.I think my body knows the journey is over for now.I hiked 866.9 miles this summer and I'm proud of every one of them!We checked out of our room and had to walk back to town in the pouring RAIN!The local people say they have had record breaking RAIN this year!Ya think.Anyway we found a car on line using the computers at the Mouse & Bean and then learned of a shuttle service that would take us to get it.On our ride home I thought of how I miss the trail already and how sad I was to be going home.Wow did I say sad?After all the RAIN,pain,ups,downs,heat,cold & sweat?YES!I miss it!But now I have a excuse (reason)to take time off next summer!Don't be jelous.I have 266.8 miles to Finish What I Started!
Date: 2007-03-01
To: The initial plan
Miles today: 0.0

NOTE: THE 2008 PREPARATION TO COMPLETE THIS SUCKER BEGINS WITH PREP 10The plan for this 2007 AT section hike is coming together. Initially I wanted to finish this year with oldest son Matt (trail name: Wally) hiking the last 100 miles in Maine with me. Circumstances with his work and the family necessitated a change to that plan. Now, I will start at Kent, CT where I left off last summer, on July 2, hook up with him about August 1 at Franconia Notch and finish at Grafton Notch around August 11. In 2008, I plan to retrace some of NH and finish at Katahdin. Hang on for some experiences I have had in latter hiking years.
Date: 2007-03-02
To: Its been a long time trek
Miles today: 0.0

My buddy Harold got me backpacking back in 1990 or so with a weekend hike from Fontana Dam to Russell Field and down a side trail to the parking area. It was February and I've never had such cold feet before or since..Not a real good start but the final day was sunny and mild to insure a good memoryof the experience.. For the next ten years weekend AT hikes added up to hiking from Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia to Fontana Dam and the stretch from Hot Springs, NC to Spivey Gap. The notion began to cross my mind that maybe I should try a longer hike, say 100 or so miles. In 2000, I hiked from Spivey Gap to Damascus,about 150 miles, and I was hooked.. The next year the journey was from Fontana to Hot Springs partly with an ol' Air Force buddy named Tom Williams. By now over a dozen years had passed. I had hiked all the first part of the trail from Springer Mt, GA to Damascus, VA about 450 miles. In 2002 I went to Alaska to hike in Denali National Park and in 2003 I had a bad case of sore back. A buddy, Kenyon, aka Grand Canyon, hiked with me the 250 miles from Damascus to I-81/Daleville in 2004. From there to Boiling Springs, PA took the better part of a month in 2005 and I got to Kent, CT last year. That's 15 years so far and 17 years to complete the AT if I get to Mt Katahdin in the summer of 2008. Not a short or long time record but respectable for stubbornness I guess.
Date: 2007-03-08
To: Training-feet
Miles today: 0.0

I'm running between 10 and 15 miles a week and hiking once a week with a 20 lb pack in the Kennesaw Mt Nat'l Battlefield Park a few miles from where I live in a northwest Atlanta suburb. My back is fine and I've not had any foot problems yet. Even the left big toe nail I lost last summer is about grown in.. TMI you say, however, feet are very important aren't they for this journey. I've learned to buy boots 1.5 sizes larger because my feet have grown (swelled) over the years of hiking. Too narrow boot width two years ago just about killed my mobility so I buy 4E now and spread out a bit since I have wide feet anyway. One last observation from last year; I wore smartwool socks and poly pro liners on several of the wet days. The liners abraded lots of skin cells from the underside of my toes (like when as a kid I scruffed my feet playing in a concrete lined swimming pool). Lost about a day as a result so off come the liners.. Okay no more foot stuff. I'm just writing this to get an uugghh from my grandchildren..
Date: 2007-03-09
To: Training-AT
Miles today: 0.0

Toward the end of May I plan to hike again the Georgia section of the AT for training. In June I'll be traveling elsewhere so I can't do it closer to the July 4 travel day to Connecticut. Mentally, the section hike is fairly easy.. Out for a month or so and when I get really tired/bored its off the trail until next year. I can incorporate the lessons learned into my bag of goodies to use next time. The down side is the physical training to get ready of 10-15 mile days, day after day. On the trail it takes me about three weeks to really get some trail legs going assuming no serious blisters or other foot problems. The more I train beforehand the shorter the breakin time is. Last year I hiked with a pack about 135 miles in training in the three months before I left. Even thru the PA rocks I had only a moderate case of shin muscle pull. This year I plan on 200 miles or so which includes the GA section to get ready for Vermont and NH. Tryin to take it up a notch.
Date: 2007-03-12
To: Nature Moment-2006
Miles today: 0.0

I wrote about this incident last year but it has apparently been deleted. Now this is some natural occurrence so read on.. Its June 16, 2006 and I'm hiking through the last of the Pennsylvania rocks in the early afternoon before coming into Delaware Water Gap. I see a large black snake on the side of the trail eating a smaller garter snake which is about half way swallowed. I can see its tail hanging out. As I approach to get a better look, the black snake starts shaking its tail in the leaves making the sound like a rattlesnake. It is a snake behavior I've seen before and I back off some to not interfere too much with this drama going on. The black snake is obviously startled and rears up its head keeping a wary eye on me and dangling the garter snake looking like a thick strand of pasta out its mouth while its tail is shaking those leaves like crazy. I back up another little bit but still am really interested in seeing what's going to happen next. Suddenly the muscles of the black snake's neck right below its head swell out looking almost like a cobra hood and out pops the garter snake on to the ground. The black snake then quickly slithers away with its head held high still glancing at me. I rush to where the garter snake landed and it is gone.. That's right, gone, no where to be seen. Well, my thoughts are mixed. I apparently have enabled the garter snake to live to see perhaps another sunset, but on the other hand, the black snake didn't get its lunch.
Date: 2007-03-16
To: You mean you hike alone!
Miles today: 0.0

People I run into or already know often ask me if I hike with anyone else or am I out there ALONE. I usually say that I start out alone but always meet some great people on the trail. This is an incomplete but pretty accurate list of some of the other characters I've had the pleasure of meeting or hiking with during the 25 days I was on the AT in 2006. Cosmic Punchline, Orangeman, Granite, Headin'Out and wife Tag-a-Long, Fix It, Zombi, Sweet Pea, Teddy Bear, Snapper, Bag of Tricks, Yatze, Dog's Breath, Coyote, Tackle, Kid, Mowgli, Covergirl, Denali and high school son Mr. Pink, Posey Picker, Just Gene, Breeze, Tailwind, Big Toe, Han, Meadowlark, Patches, Conductor, Cookie, Silverback,(these last two are "mature" like me) Hindfeet, Tinkerbell, Gummy and wife Coyotebec, Delicious, Bloody Mess, Biz, Master Plan, and not the last, Sandman. A short word about Sandman. Who would have thought that I would meet a guy on the trail that is about the same age as I am, 62, has been married to the same woman for over 40 years as I have been married to the same but different woman for over 40 years, has 3 grown sons, I have 2, has 6 grandkids, I have 5, is a retired science teacher, so am I, is from the great state of Massachusetts, I'm from Georgia(now there is a political and religious contrast), is an unabashed extrovert, while I am introverted and we got along great over the many days we hiked together! Couldn't have planned it better. So when you ask hikers if they hike alone, the usual answer is not on your life...