morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-09
To: Leaving Tomorrow
Miles today: 0.0

Leaving Tomorrow! I can¢t believe it but I think that I am ready to go. The bag is all packed and at 28 Lbs is the lightest that I have ever had to start. Plan is still to arrive at Pinkham on the 12th and set out the following morning for Carter Hut, and the Wildcats.   I have decided to just stop worrying about things in the future over which I have no control. I have done the best that I can to plan for the hike and have taken all reasonable precautions to complete it safely and successfully. I now know that when I start worrying about the future and what the hike will bring with it this time, it is ¢The Other¢ that is whispering in my ear trying to destroy the happiness of the present moment. Each of us has ¢The Other¢ ¢ that annoying worrying whisperer who constantly dreams up the most horrible and unlikely situations that could occur. What if the bus doesn¢t arrive? What if the bus is so late arriving at Pinkham Lodge that I can¢t get in? What if I have forgotten something REALY important? So I have just decided that I am not going to pay the Other any more attention, and when I hear his voice nagging in my ear I am going to concentrate on how enjoyable the present minute is and remember that ¢the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done¢ I hope that by recognizing that I am a persistent and unnecessary worrier I can over come my own weakness.   A few housekeeping notes. I write my journal by hand in my paper Journal while on the trail. I do not have or use Pocketmail, so that my journal entries will not be posted until my hike is complete. I then post them in sequence when I have returned home. So you will ¢ I hope ¢ get a day-by-day account of my journey, it just won¢t start until some time in September. That way you will get to read an ongoing hike as the fall sets in about us. Until then;   Go neiri an bothar lib go lear! To recognize a weakness gives us great strength.
Date: 2006-07-12
From: Oak Park

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Joe Dodge Lodge Room 206And am I happy to be here!      I came by Concord Trailways Bus from Boston Logan International Airport and it was quiet the trip. Not because of any problems with the bus per se, but I picked my departure date to coincide with the collapse of the roof in one of Boston¢s major downtown tunnels that connect the airport to the city, with resulting massive traffic chaos. It took us an hour to get to Boston South Station from the airport ¢ a trip that usually takes five minutes. We were so far behind schedule at that time, that we were all transferred to another bus and combined with its load of passengers. The rapid transfer ¢ combined with the necessity for me to get a ticket at Boston South Station [which is the railway station] that stated that I had departed from Logan [the Airport] ment that I was the last passenger to board a very crowded and impatient bus load of people that had been waiting for 1.5 hours and were all blaming me personally for their delay. All I could do was to sit quietly and make myself as small as possible and try to pretend that I wasn¢t there.   Then a long ride through the Boston traffic ¢ they had now closed both the Eastbound and the Westbound sides of the tunnel to replace the roof and prevent any further collapse and fatalities ¢ in a violent thunderstorm that continued all the way here to the lodge.   So a very late arrival here has prevented me from thinking too much about the start of the hike ¢ being focused instead on the issue of just getting here. It is still raining now. Spoke with Kt on the landline. All is well. I have a nice room #206 ¢ Tree Fairy! We will see how things go from here. Thought for Today ¢   It is best to do the hard part first.
Date: 2006-07-16
From: Gorham

To: Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

Royalty InnRoom 124.   Slept late and had my favorite Humongous Omelet at Burger King for breakfast. A warm and humid day was a good choice for an air conditioned zero here and I walked the now familiar street of Gorham to see the town twice again ¢ that makes a total of four times in all!   At the Laundromat I met with Arthur Lange who had hitched a ride here from Berlin because the liquor stores in Berlin don¢t open on Sunday while the one here does. While we waited for my cloths to spin dry and for the owner of the liquor store to open the store at noon, he recounted to me the details of his life [in the hotel business ] his financial state [good, thanks to $685 a month from Social Security] his love life [excellent ¢ he lives in an upstairs apartment and his girl friend from Germany lives down stairs] and his health [just out of hospital after a heart attack] while he smoked cigarettes and acquired his 1/2 pint bottle [easy to fit into his pants pocket] I was genuinely sorry when time came for us to part and was struck once again how we are all so closely interrelated to each other and each of our stories is important to all of us if we only take time to listen.      The town seems to be the center of a very large Harley Davidson Motorcycle convention. Not the ¢Hells Angels¢ type of bikers, but the middle aged white male stock broker with the peroxide dyed blond on the back seat cyclists with the large comfortable bikes that look like double motorized Lazy-E-Boy lounge chairs ¢ another interesting group of people all friendly and helpful but with a perchance for loud mufflers.   Watched CNN coverage of the war in the Middle East with Israel bombing Hezbollah outposts in Lebanon and recalled a journal entry I wrote last year of the onset of the Iraqi war. All history repeats itself.   Spoke again with KT. Will collect my drop box in the morning ¢ I hope ¢ and get ready for the next stage to Andover. Forecast so far is hot and humid.Thought for today ¢    If you realy want to hear you have to listen and not speak.
Date: 2006-07-17
From: Gorham

To: Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Royalty Inn Room 124. A relaxing day. Picked up the drop box [I.D. required] and ate and napped. Hot and humid with a similar forecast for the AM. Checked e-mail via a very slow computer in the library. Watched the Mid East in flames on CNN. I also made reservations at the Andover Roadhouse for Sun Mon Tues. This hotel is full again today and I don¢t want to see a ¢No Vacancy¢ sign upon arrival in Andover, as per Luray! Will take a taxi to the trailhead and continue North in the morning. No Thoughts for today!
Date: 2006-07-24
From: Andover

To: Andover
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

AndoverThe RoadhouseRoom #1 This was a Rest and Recovery day! Well at least potential recovery. Slept late and ate breakfast at The General Store Diner ¢ corned beef hash and scrambled eggs! Recovered the drop box at the PO ¢ No I.D. required, but she did say, when I offered it, that she sometimes does ask just to see how much the hikers appearance has changed.   Spent the rest of the day resting with ¢ literally ¢ my feet up. The left calf now shows bruising and discoloration, so I think that I may have torn some of my gastromemus muscle. It feels much better now after a day of rest.   Many hikers came in to the Roadhouse just to visit, mostly from Pine Ellis bunkhouse. Aloha came by to use the Internet ¢ now working. Grey Rabbit, who has REALY hurt his back also dropped by. He is going off the trail to have his back seen by an orthopedic specialist. I also met with him and his friend Mule for dinner ¢ Lobster Roll and Waffle Fries ¢ at the general store.   A group of SOBO hikers also came by. Grit, from England [who knows Brit from England] Buddha, and a very interesting young man with an Amerindian name that I can neither pronounce nor remember but which means ¢one of whom much is expected¢ An electrician by trade, he is taking time off to write a book ¢The Seventh Fire¢ describing the fulfillment of an ancient Amerindian legend of a time when the white men and all of their works are destroyed and the land reverts back to the way it was before the white men ever came Very interesting idea and person.   Spoke with KT and all is well. I have decided to stay here for four nights and to give the knee a chance to heal, then take five days and four nights to Rangeley and rest up again.   Thought for Today ¢    Take Time to Heal
Date: 2006-07-25
From: Andover

To: Andover
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

AndoverThe RoadhouseRoom #1   Relaxing day, rested, ate, watched TV. A bunch of people were in and out all day long. The local hairdresser has a salon here, and her clients wait in the downstairs common room, where I am sitting with my leg elevated watching the TV. I was impressed at how busy the hairdresser is. She had a steady stream of customers from 10 AM to 6 PM. She told me that she has worked in this community for 20 years.   Two more SOBO thru hikers are staying here in the bunkhouse. I finally got to meet Kris, the Innkeeper here, who also runs the local Ice Cream Store. I ate again in the General Store Diner.   Knee and leg feels better. Called the Rangeley Inn and made reservations for Mon ¢ Weds. Much enjoyed the simple patters of daily life and living in a small town.   Thought for Today-   See the Harmony in the things about you.
Date: 2006-07-26
From: Andover

To: Andover
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

AndoverThe roadhouseRoom #1   Leg feels much better with another day to rest and recover, and I feel OK to return to the trail again tomorrow.   Paula, he hairdresser, had another full day today, working from 10AM to 6PM, in what must have been a fiendishly hot little salon, off of the common room. I remain amazed at the number of customers she continues to see each day in a town with a total population of about 900 people.   Mr. Alt, who recently hiked The Burran in Co. Clare in Ireland with his family, is here with his father. He has developed a burning interest in the question ¢Why does the town clock chime every hour?¢ He does not accept the simple explanation ¢ so that the people will know what time it is! ¢ and had Paula call all of her friends ¢ and the local Historical Society, to see if there was a deeper, more significant reason. There wasn¢t!   Heavy thunderstorms this afternoon, and another one now, kept the two SOBO [Eric and Derek?] and another hiker who is dumb and communicates by writing messages ¢ kept them all here following the old hiker adage to ¢never leave a shelter when it is raining¢   Kris has promised to drive me back to the trail head at 6:45Am in the morning and I will set out for a slow five day, four night, hike to Rangeley. We will see how the knee holds up to the slow pace.   I have realy enjoyed my time in Andover. I love the Roadhouse, it is just across the street from all of the services, and was not at all crowded. Kris is very laid back and easygoing and I have recovered a lot of my strength and self composure after a very difficult ¢ head down, heart pounding, breath gasping, sweat dripping, snot drooling, leg shaking hike from Gorham.Thought for Today ¢    A Time to Rest,   A Time to Heal.
Date: 2006-07-27
From: Andover

To: Hall Mountain Lean-To
Miles today: 6.0

True to her word, Kris collected us at 6:45AM and had us back to the trailhead by 7:00AM. It had rained and thundered through out the night and everything was still damp and wet and dark.   It was a nice smooth ascent, from East B Hill Road up to Surplus Pond. A smooth rising trail at a uniform rate was conductive to a steady rhythm and a nice walking flow.   At Surplus Pond the sun made a valiant attempt to break thru the gloom, further improving my mood. The pond was quiet and misty with a little house and jetty hidden away on the other side. Makes one wonder who lives there and why? ¢ maybe some rich trauma surgeon who just shows up for the occasional weekend!   After Surplus Pond the trail became even easier, and I was just looping along at a fine rate. My left knee did complain, and I could feel the swelling coming back in the lower leg, but no great pain and certainly not anything to slow down the hike.   The Handbook promises vistas at the top of Wyman Mountain, and there was even a sign saying ¢scenic view¢ which indicated a mist filled valley with absolutely nothing to see on this day.   A short down hill, and I was here at the shelter. The much maligned water source was just fine ¢ at least after the rains of yesterday, and I was soon ensconced in the shelter, drinking my coffee and eating my lunch.   A sign to ¢Viewpoint and Gunsight¢ provided an uphill exploration, resulting in another hazy viewpoint. The ¢Gunsight¢ turned out to be a deep split in the cliff, rather like a notched gunsight, very interesting.   The rumble of midafternoon thunder sent me scurrying to save my drying hiking gear from the line, and brought Long Haul NOBO thru hiker hurrying into the shelter. Like me, he has decided that this is enough for today, so I will have company for the night.Though for Today ¢   Every day has a certain pace and rhythm to it.   Try to find it and keep time to its beat.
Date: 2006-07-31
From: Sabbath Day Pond

To: Rangeley
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: scattered clouds

RangeleyRangeley InnRoom 104      The trees reach with their branches      To touch me as I pass      The rocks turn up their backs      To give me secure footing      The earth softens the surface      To give comfort to my feet      The sun shines down      To give me warmth      The clouds scurry by      To give me shade      The wind blows gently      To keep me cool      The rain falls softly      To give me water      The blazes reassure me      To give me direction      And the trail beckons me      Always forward      Military man [Harold] was indeed joined by his buddies, Fire Man [John] and Gear Man [Mike]. They all belong to a group call COP ¢ Columbus Outdoor Pursuits ¢ that organizes a lot of outdoor activities, based out of Columbus, Ohio. They had started at Monson with six people, of whom only these three persist. It is hard to say who, if anyone, is the leader at this stage. They all seem to be self-sufficient with their own gear, food, and stoves.   Slept well and again marveled at the number and brightness of the stars in the night sky. We all got up early and I was off again and on the trail by 6:00 AM. I did not feel hungry for breakfast and the thought of oatmeal was nauseous, so oatmealless I started off.   This was the easiest days hiking so far this trip ¢ that makes two in a row ¢ and I finally averaged a respectable 1.3 miles an hour ¢ respectable for me that is! It also allowed me sufficient space and time to compose the opening poem. It was all pretty much up and down, but realy mostly down. I passed the power line, which was realy the only good view all day, and stopped for a nice break at Little Swift River Pond Campsite ¢ even the four adjectives do not do it full justice.    Just before arriving there I met with Roman Goat [¢Ro Man¢ from his name, and ¢Goat ¢from Go AT] he told me of a close encounter with an 800-pound bull moose at the pond this morning. He is hiking with a 30 year old Kelty Tioga backpack ¢ I have one just like it in my basement somewhere.   I was unable to decide which of the many flowing streams was Chandler Mill Stream, and was still looking for something more substantial in terms of water flow, when I heard the traffic on Route ME4.   Car #24 stopped and I sat up front with Dad, while 7yo Alice sat in the back and told me about her loose tooth. I was dropped off at the front door of the Inn. While awaiting my room to be made ready, I took a quick tour of the town and acquired a large soft cream ice cream cone - vanilla ¢ and a new pair of hiking poles ¢ MSR Denali III.      I had a big bacon cheeseburger and curly fries at Sarge¢s Pub after my shower and have just returned from a, half mile each way, hike to the supermarket. The fridge is loaded now with Diet Coke ¢ soon to be ice cold ¢ in cans. Good cell signal here and all is well at home, and here also. No AC here alas!   Will deal with laundry in the AM and explore more tomorrow.Thought for Today ¢ In the forest I saw You, Looking at Me, Looking at You.
Date: 2006-08-01
From: Rangeley

To: Rangeley
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Rangeley InnRoom 104   Slept late and awoke to a violent thunderstorm that recurred intermittently during the day. A good day to pick for a zero.   Had breakfast at the BMC Diner, which is the only place open for breakfast in Rangeley, as far as I can tell. I did laundry and it took two cycles to get rid of the grime and the smell. Went back to the IGA Supermarket ¢ can¢t stand the idea of oatmeal anymore, so I am going to try bagels and peanut butter instead.   Had dinner at the Red Onion amidst the tourists. Spoke with KT at length. Lost the TV signal just now, as another thunderstorm rolled on through.   Good day. My left knee is still giving me some trouble, but I still feel OK to move on. Will figure out a place to stay in Stratton in the AM, and try to make arrangements for a ride back to the trail on Thursday when the forecast looks better. Thought for Today ¢ A wet day is a good day for a Zero
Date: 2006-08-02
From: Rangeley

To: Rangeley
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Rangeley InnRoom 104   More morning thunderstorms made me glad that I took the extra zero day. Walked to breakfast in the rain at a packed BMC Diner. Mailed letters and post cards home and spent a few hours at the local library responding to [i.e. deleting] 219 email messages, and replying to one!   The day improved after that, the sun came out, and it got hot enough to get another soft serve ice cream ¢ vanilla with raspberry swirl.   Made arrangements with the Stratton Motel to stay there, and with Bob O Brien to be picked up at 10:00 AM for a short hike to the next Lean-To.   Weather forecast looks better for tomorrow, and better again for the day after that.Thought for Today ¢    Onward Tomorrow!
Date: 2006-08-04
From: Piazza Rock Lean-To

To: Popular Ridge Lean-To
Miles today: 8.9

I had company last night, Combat SOBO thru hiking, who made a great deal of arranging his mosquito netting all over his sleeping bag by suspending it [the net, not the bag] from the roof. Also here was Whisper, also SOBO thru hiking. There were also ten people ¢ three adults and seven adolescents ¢ tenting out, and I got a bagel and trail mix when they cooked in the shelter.   Awoke this AM to the sound of rain in the roof. As always, the rain was not half as bad when you went outside, as it was listening to it inside the shelter. Started out in full rain gear in a wet and dismal morning, up a steep ascent of Saddleback Mountain. The initial part of the climb is not too bad, passing a series of ponds ¢ Ethel, Mud, and Eddy.   As the trail ascended Saddleback the conditions started to improve and I emerged from the trees as the sun emerged from the clouds. I was able to discard all of my rain gear, and as I climbed up to the Alpine Zone, I was once again walking in the ¢Stray Sod¢   The above tree trail reminded me of the Franconia Notch section in the Presidential Range ¢ glorious views with 360-degree visibility, in what was now a beautiful day. There were dry open rock sections with excellent traction and easy way finding. As I approached the summit, two of the ¢Group of Ten¢ young men joined me, for a spectacular break at the top ¢ and an excellent cell signal and [joy of joys] I spoke with KT in far off Oak Park.   Then it was a wonderful hike above the tree line ¢ down off of Saddleback, up to the Horn, down off the Horn and back up again to Saddleback Junior. This was a good section to hike today with great weather and excellent views. It was a steep descent down off of Junior and then a final mile on here to the shelter.      Here at the shelter is red haired Summer, a science teacher from Connecticut who has been hiking the trail every summer for the past four years. This year she started at Connecticut and hopes ¢ like me ¢ to finish. Also here is the Group of Ten who have filled all of the tent sites. Chris, the caretaker from Piazza Rock, is also here doing some general maintenance.   Hatchet ¢ SOBO thru hiking - just arrived. So called because he carries a hatchet to protect himself from black bears, because he was attacked by one when he was a child ¢ true story, he showed us the scars on his leg to prove it!   Had a cup of coffee, and the residual half of my morning bagel ¢ good with peanut butter. Will eat dinner later. All of my wet gear is spread out to dry, and I have a spot on the ¢baseball bat¢ shelter floor.   This was a great day, walking on the stray sod once again, with everything in that extraordinary sharp focus, and a wonderful weather day to hike - warm not hot ¢ dry and with a gentle breeze. Can¢t beat days like today.Thought for Today ¢ We must become aware of our surroundings.
Date: 2006-08-07
From: Crocker Cirque

To: Stratton
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: broken clouds

Stratton MotelRoom 2.   A quiet and solo night at Crocker Cirque campsite. I decided to flip-flop my sleeping position in the tent i.e. reverse my head and feet. Better view, but harder to get at the zippers, but I think that I like it better this way.   Awoke early and was on my way with the dawning sun, in a cold and overcast morning, to make an early start on the ascent of South Crocker Mountain. As anticipated it was steep and rocky and hard ¢ especially a section that went straight up a very rocky scree of jumbled boulders. A second similar scree was traversed without too much difficulty, with good views back down to the Cirque, with the orange-gold of the early morning sun peeking through the clouds.   As I climbed higher the sun disappeared and was replaced with a cold and clammy mist, which accompanied me to the viewless and tree covered summit of South Crocker. Then it was down off of South Crocker and back up to the summit of North Crocker ¢ slow going but not as bad as the south face of South Crocker.   The descent down off of North Crocker is very nice, and with the improving foot candy of the trail, the sun returned and all was well with the world. The last five miles were realy nice ¢ slowly descending trail, well maintained and conductive to a good hiking rhythm.   A group of adolescent girls passed me going south on their way to Crocker Cirque. They all looked overloaded with gear and a little apprehensive about their journey. I told them to remember the secret mantra ¢ ¢One Step At A Time¢   The descent down from North Crocker was so pleasant that it was almost a disappointment to arrive at the Maine 27 road. Car #17 stopped ¢ an insurance salesman who did his own share of hitchhiking in his youth ¢ and dropped me off at the door here. No one here, but a note on the door directed me to my room. A very nice room it is, with a TV, fridge, microwave and shower. It even has a phone, and there is a good cell signal here also. All the comforts and luxury that a body could ask for.      So I have showered, eaten, collected my drop box, done my laundry and spoken with KT on the cell. An early evening thunderstorm just rumbled on through, and I have met with the owner, Don. He is very laid back and friendly but says that business is down 50% compared to last year. This is only his second year running the motel and hostel. Seems like a realy nice guy.   Last evening I finished reading the C S Lewis book ¢The Problem of Pain¢ As I read it I discovered that some of his ideas about animal pain are just plain wrong. I was surprised at my own surprise to find him in error. I was reading the book in order to obtain knowledge and I didn¢t expect him to be wrong on this subject. Which led to the following;   Thought for Today ¢   Education is the Ability to be Deceived by the Printed Word.