morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-08-07
From: Kennebec River 

To: Moxie Bald Mtn.
Miles today: 19.2

Started Kennebec River finished Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-to 19.2 mile day. Left early for camping spot. Hiking was roots and rocks with some ups and downs then the climb up Pleasant Pond Mountain a good rock scramble up to the Summitt. The trail went down just kept going down and up for 6 miles til I got to the bottom. Then a 3 mile flat section then up Moxie Bald which was not bad. Had some good views today I porbley could see big K but I had no ideal which Mountain it was. So down the north side of Moxie and staying in the shleter.
Date: 2012-08-08
From: Moxie Bald Mtn.

To: Monson,ME (Shaws Hostel)
Miles today: 17.9

Started Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-to finished Monson,ME staying at the Shaws Hostel 17.9 mile day. Some flat and some ups downs rocks roots that seems to be the way the trail is now. some parts are nice flat with pine needles then some are very rocky. I guess I am getting use to it. Resupply wash my clothes and get a shower and town food. Tomorrow head into the 100 mile wilderness so look out Big K here I come woo hoo last 114 miles to go now.
Date: 2012-08-09
From: Monson,ME (Shaws Hostel)

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to 19.1
Miles today: 19.1

Started Monson,ME finished Cloud Pond Lean-to 19.1 mile day. The story of the day is rocky roots ups and downs. The climb up Barren Mountain 600ft climb but it was one that just kept going and going to the top. It rained on us and made the trail slick. In my tent camping. Today was a grind.
Date: 2012-08-10
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to 19.1

To: Carl A Newhall Lean-to 
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: light rain

Started Cloud Pond Lean-To finished Carl A Newhall Lean-To 16.8 mile day. Rain and ruff rocky roots and slick trail. Ups and downs all day ford streams today. And was ok becasue my boots were soaked from rain so I just waded across with them on. Lighting on the ridge of Chairback Mountain when I went across. Little scary in a full shelter tongiht.
Date: 2012-08-11
From: Carl A Newhall Lean-to 

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To 
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Started Carl A Newhall Lean-To finished Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To 18.9 mile day. Rain again went over West Peak, Hay Mountain, and White Cap today. White Cap is suppost to have a veiw of Big K but rain and fog I had no views. Made better time today the tail got better after Logan Brook Lean To- it flattened out and I had good trail. Then a trail reroute over Boardman Mountain not in Awol guide book. But I was just .5 of a mile. Staying in Shelter rain all day. Shelter righ on the stream and waterfalls nice place.
Date: 2012-08-12
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To 

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-To 
Miles today: 29.6
Weather: light rain

Started Cooper Brook Falls finished Rainbow Stream Lean-To 29.6 mile day. Rain again today in the morning wet and slick trail. Made the Bog Bridges slick and I fell 2 times crossing them. Bugs were bad today also biting the back of my legs all day. Long day of hiking passed by Sand Beaches on Pond and got my first view of Big K in the fog. Saw the corner of the Mountain. In the shleter tongiht no rain.
Date: 2012-08-13
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-To 

To: The Birches Lean-To 
Miles today: 24.9

Started Rainbow Stream Lean-To finished The Birches Lean-To 24.9 mile day. Weather was great today trail was still wet and muddy from all the the rain. Saw a moose first thing right on the trail. Big Bull Moose ran off into the woods but we could see him standing and watching us watch him. Made it to the Abol Bridge Camp Store for some much needed food and 1 day resupply for the summitt of Big K tomrrow. Signed in at the rainger station #187 northbound thru hiker. Looks like the weather is good for tomorrow so the trail is open for summitt. 75 years the AT was opened up on the 14th the day I will summitt.
Date: 2012-08-14
From: The Birches Lean-To 

To: Katahdin, Baxter Peak
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Started the Birches finished Katahdin, Baxter Peak 5.1 miles and the finish of a long hard thru hike. It was flat for the first mile then the trail starts up and the higher it gets the harder the trail. You start at 1100ft. and end up at 5268ft at the summitt of Baxter Peak. Some day hikers were out that I passed on my way down and I don't think they have any idea what they are in for. The trail up is boulder and rocks scrambles up a ridge and exposed for a good 3 miles. The trail goes up and down then back up just to make it a bit harder they put a lot of hand over hand climbing. But in the end I was on the Summitt and finished. Whoohoo now to get home.......
Date: 2012-08-16
From: Katahdin, Baxter Peak

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Well I am home and very tired from traveling all day yesterday. The day started with the breakfast at the AT cafe in Minninocket, very good food. Paul the "Old Man" took me and Daddy-O to the airport in Bangor,Me and dropped us off about 830am. This was good for me but Daddy-Os plane was not until tomorrow, so he headed off to town for a day. I checked in at the Delta check-in and checked my backpack for the flight. I had some time to kill since my flight was not until 430pm. I went got a newspaper and grabbed a seat. After a long wait I took the plane to Detroit,MI and then to Knoxville,TN and home around 10:00pm. Tired and worn out resting at home. I will post my thoughts of the trip when I am more rested. Thanks to all whom posted congrats on my page. I posted my summit pics so feel free to have a look.
Date: 2012-08-17
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well just a quick update. I am doing great its nice to have running water and a soft bed to sleep in every night. Its funny how simple things are nice to have and when your on the trail you miss them. Being dry every day is nice also, cant count the number of days I was wet from sweating and stayed that way becouse overcast weather and cool temps never dryed my close. Just a note on my equipment that worked. Summer bag Mountain Hardwerar 45deg worked very well. Neo-air thermarest mattress worked very well the whole trip. Jet Boil stove worked great only used 1 canister of fuel each month hiking. Dehyrated food was great and mixed with freeze dryed dinners kept me from getting bored with food. Protein powder helped with calories, i would drink this with dinner each night. Every town stop i would eat as much as i could to help with weight loss. You will loose weight but try and eat as much food in towns as you can and this will help. Backpack Ospery Atmos 50 just the right size, the first one the frame broke but Ospery replaced it and i was able to finish with the pack and if i was going to hike again i would use the same pack. Six moons lunar solo was my tent, 23oz and it worked well. Little condensation when it rained but overall worked good. Bleach for water treatment worked great for me. Used 3-4 drops per quart and i never got sick. wait 20 mins and its ready to drink. Used AWOL guide and it was good for the trail locations and towns. Extra close I just had fleece shirt extra socks pants and a shirt. winter close long underwear and puffy jacket and hat gloves. I only carried winter gear in the start to Pearisburg,VA and through the white mtns. I also had rain pants and a rain coat. My Tilley hat was great and I would use it again, when it gets dirty you can toss it in the wash and air dry just like new. Shoes or boots just buy a pair that fit your feet, that is most important take care of your feet. Leki hiking poles they worked for me the only repairs was replaceing the tips, great sticks. Be sure you keep your weight down in your pack, I stayed around 25-30lbs all the time and only carried 4 days food most of the time. Only a couple times did I carry 5 days food. One thing I always kept in my mind was hike your hike and not your buddys, and enjoy the trip. Think more of the destination then of miles everyday. Rember it the journey not the finish.
Date: 2010-10-11
To: Welcome Readers
Miles today: 0.0

Hello readers and welcome to our trail journal. This is the first of what we hope will be many entries to come that share our Appalachian Trail thru-hike with you. Ann and I plan to start our northbound thru-hike in March, 2012 and finish sometime in September later that year. As I write this, we are about 17 months from the start of our hike. There is not a day that goes by that we don't think about our coming thru-hike and how we long to just get going. As we hike, we probably won't keep our journal updated too well, but we'll do our best, and I promise that after we finish, we will provide a day by day account of our journey and reflections. We hope you enjoy our journal.
Date: 2010-10-11
To: About Us
Miles today: 0.0

Ann & I have been married for 30 years and plan to retire in about 1 year. We live in Charlton, MA and have been hiking together ever since we met. Our hiking resume to date includes the Long Trail in VT, the MA section of the AT, and all of the 4000 footers in NH a few times over. We feel we are very much ready now to tackle the entire AT, especially after completing the Long Trail. Now there's a tough trail. The southern 100 miles of the LT coincide with the AT until it reaches Maine Jct, where the LT continues north in VT for another 170 miles, while the AT veers east towards Hanover, NH. The northern 170 miles of the LT will certainly challenge any seasoned backpacker. Over the last several years, now that the kids are grown up and on their own, we have been able to get out together each year on at least one good extended backpacking trip. These have helped us immensely as we've learned to refine our equipment selections according to the demands that our trail experiences have placed upon us. I'll speak more about various pieces of equipment and why we have selected them in future entries.
Date: 2010-10-11
To: A Brief History
Miles today: 0.0

My love for hiking was kindled when I was a boy. My father used to go off on day hikes in NH and ME and would often ask me if I wanted to come. These were fun times for me. I can remember days in the White Mts of NH seeing hut boys cross paths with us, carrying upwards of 100 lbs of supplies to and from the AMC huts in makeshift external frame packs stacked 2 feet over their heads I would watch them with envy and marvel as they passed us by. To me, they were the gods of the trail. The mountains and woods have always been a source of peace, solace, and renewal for me and I try to take every opportunity possible to get out there whenever I can. When I met Ann and discovered that she also liked to camp and backpack, I thought it was too good to be true. I have wanted to hike the AT since I was a teenager, but I always kind of thought that if I were ever to fulfill that dream, I might have to do it alone. Then one day about 15 years ago, while we were out for a walk, our conversation turned towards hiking and the AT, and then out of the blue Ann said, "Lets just do it!" I looked at her in disbelief saying "Really?" and she replied with a simple "Yea, why not?" From that moment on, the disease took hold. We bought books. We bought videos. We'd go to REI just to look at stuff. It's been like a virus that won't go away! There's only one cure: hike the AT. Today, with less than 1-1/2 years to go before we start, the reality of it is finally starting to set in. We are more excited than ever and are already busy with our preliminary preparations and planning. Where will we stay each night? What will we bring to eat? What type of shelter is best for us? What kind of stove? How many mail drops? What will we do with the house and yard while we're gone? The list goes on, but we're enjoying every minute of thinking about these things. We are so ready to go, it's hard to wait, but wait we will, hard as it may be. May the days of waiting pass quickly and then the days of hiking last forever.
Date: 2011-02-01
To: Trail Musings On A Winter Day
Miles today: 0.0

Here I sit at work, eating lunch and looking out of my office window at yet another huge snowstorm bearing down on us here in MA. Ann & I have just a few more months now until we retire, and then it's down to business with our thru-hike planning. Actually, we are already doing quite well with our planning even though we won't hit the trail for another 13-1/2 months. Snowbound and housebound as we are this winter, we've spent some time on weekends going through the AT Thru-hikers Companion, trying to map out a general plan for daily mileage, mail drops, meals, etc. Here are some of the things we are planning so far:We will take a train to Gainesville, GA and stay at the Hikers Hostel in Dahlonega the night before we start. We plan to start our thru-hike on March 19th and finish sometime around Sept 26th. Taking our time and enjoying everything about this experience will be our top priority. We've tentatively built in 18 zero days and 22 mail drops into our plan. Zero days are important to us. They allow the body and mind to rejuvenate. After a day or two in town, we are always ready to get back on the trail. For the most part, we are choosing food mail drops over supermarket shopping trips. 22 mail drops will cost us some money for shipping, but at the same time, we will ensure that we have delicious and nutritious meals. As everyone knows, the path to a happy thru-hiker is through the stomach. We will dehyrate many of our dinners, using recipes that we've been experimenting with at home. Our dehydrated dinners for 2 generally do not weigh more than about 10oz, they easily fit into a one quart freezer bag, and provide a very ample meal for both of us once rehydrated. We also save on fuel since all we have to do is add water, bring it to a boil, and let it sit for a few minutes. We bought a Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 tent for our night time accomodations. Yes, it's a bit heavier than a 2 person tent or a tarp tent, but the roominess and peace of mind that it gives us is worth it. We had a tarp tent that we used on backpacking trips over the past couple of years, and while it was very lightweight and roomy, it did not always do a good job at keeping the rain out or staying upright during strong winds. Also, since it is not free standing, once you set it up, you can not easily move it to another position unless you dismantle it and set it up again. Well, I'd better get back to work. We look forward to meeting many of our other class of 2012 thru-hikers and we check the growing list of journal entries every day. Drop us a note and say hello.
Date: 2011-05-27
To: Shakedown Hikes
Miles today: 0.0

Hello again readers.Less than 10 months now until we set off from Springer Mt. We are getting so excited. Before we tackle the AT, we have a few shakedown hikes planned that I'll share with you:In mid-July, we plan to hike the Grafton Loop Trail in Maine. We completed this hike once before a few years ago and enjoyed it very much. It is a very pretty 39 mile loop that begins on the AT in Grafton Notch State Park, about 2 hiking days north of the infamous Mahoosuc Notch. The first few miles of our hike will take us on the AT north to the summit of East Baldpate. From there, we veer off to the right onto the Grafton Loop Trail. The trail winds its way around and over Puzzle Mt and then Old Speck, where it rejoins the AT back down into Grafton Notch State Park.In early August, we will hike the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail. This is a 50 mile trail that begins on the summit of Mt Monadnock in southern NH and meanders a course north through the NH countryside. Short road walks are interspersed with walks through beautiful hardwood forests, meadows and moderate mountain peaks before it finishes on the summit of Mt. Sunapee. I've completed this hike twice on my own, but I've always wanted to share it with Ann, so this will be our chance.Finally, in late October, we will drive down to Amicalola State Park (you all know where that is!) to begin a 75 mile hike of the Duncan Ridge Loop Trail. This hike really intrigues us because part of the loop includes a short section of the AT from Springer Mt to Blood Mt. Our hike will begin on the approach trail to Springer Mt. Next March, when we set out on the AT, we do not plan to hike the approach trail to the summit of Springer, so this will be our chance to do that. From the summit of Springer, we will head north on the AT for a few miles, at which point the Duncan Ridge Loop Trail veers off to the left. The Duncan Ridge Trail then gradually works its way clockwise around through some rugged Georgia mountains to the west of the AT before finally hooking back up with the AT near the summit of Blood Mt. From there, we'll hike back south on the AT and back down the approach trail to Amicalola Falls State Park.So, these are our plans for this summer and fall. With these three hikes, we should certainly be able to shake out all of the kinks before we start the real thing.Are any of you planning to attend the ALDHA Gathering this Colombus Day weekend in North Adams, MA? Ann and I are planning to go since it's so close to home and will give us the opportunity to mingle with many past, present, and future thru-hikers. Drop us a note if you'll be going. We'd love to meet you.
Date: 2011-10-02
To: Retirement
Miles today: 0.0

I think I (SilverGirl) am due to write an entry. My last day of work was Friday. I am officially an early retiree. Yay! I have been working as a Speech Language Pathologist in a school setting for students 4th grade and up. This has been a rewarding job for me and I have met and worked with some wonderful people that I will certainly miss but it's time for something new. Some of my co-workers were interested in following our journal and I am excited to share my adventure with anyone who wants to know more (hopefully our journal will describe an adventure all the way to Maine). I have been planning to step up my training when I retire but I think, in reality, the increase will be more modest than my original plan. I usually try to fit in some type of workout 6 out of 7 days a week. So far Bob and I would typically go on a day hike in the Whites or in the Berkshires (maybe twice a month in good weather), hike 7 miles around a local lake (pretty flat), do a yoga or Kathy Smith workout video, or go down into our basement (ugh) and do a work out on an elliptical machine. As the snow and ice closes in I know that these outdoor hikes will cease. (I've never really winter hiked before). So I don't see a realistic way to get in best hiking shape of my life over the winter. We do plan to downhill ski weekly so that may help. I'm not keen on lugging my pack up and down the stairs. I guess I'll just try to do the best I can and what will be, will be. Ready or not, here we come. Our last significant prep hike will be in a couple weeks spending 5 days in the Smokies. I really haven't hiked or camped in cold weather so we'll see what mother nature brings us. It will be good to test out some of our equipment.We are using a Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 person tent. I am bringing my winter bag- Marmot Helium-15 degree. (My summer bag will be a REI Kilo Flash 35 degree). I've had a good chance to test out my Neoair pad and other than a crinkling noise (I have a crinkly inflatable pillow too), I have no complaints with it. I am also pleased with my pack (Osprey Exos 58) I have not had the opportunity to try out my rain gear in pouring rain- I have a Arc'teryx Beta SL that I got on sale..but still more than I wanted to pay... it better keep me dry... my last two jackets didn't. I chill very easily when I get wet. I haven't tested my REI rain pants in the rain yet. I have hiked with them but used them mostly to keep the bugs away in the evening at camp. I am still undecided about extra pants. I had been planning to hike with only long underpants and my rain pants but wonder if I will get sick of wearing my rain pants for town, evenings, extra warmth etc. This worked well for me on the Long Trail...but doing this for 6 months may be another story. This hike will also give us a chance to try our alcohol cat can stove on cooler mornings. More on this hike later. (Oh no, I think they just got snow) Next weekend we are attending the ALDHA Gathering in North Adams. We are excited about it and looks like fun. That's all for now. Time for a walk around the lake... maybe I'll take my pack.
Date: 2011-10-11
To: ALDHA Gathering
Miles today: 0.0

LongStride here¢¦SilverGirl & I attended the ALDHA Gathering in North Adams, MA this past weekend. We got to meet a lot of wonderful people there. It was a lot of fun being around so many others who are just as passionate about long distance hiking as we are. We arrived at the designated campsite in Williamstown at about 3:00 pm on Friday afternoon and set up our Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 tent under crystal clear skies. A few miles to east, a wonderful view of Mt Greylock reigns front and center. After checking in and getting settled, we drove over to the MCLA campus in North Adams, where the presentations and workshops for the weekend were held. After the opening meeting that evening, we had the good fortune to meet Cimmaron, the 89 year old thru-hiker, who flew up from Florida to attend the Gathering. Unfortunately, Cimmaron was not able to complete his thru-hike this year, but he sure gave it one hell of a try. We followed his trail journal closely this year and it was an honor to meet this man. To even attempt the AT at his age was truly a remarkable feat.   Hail Cimmaron!!During the rest of the weekend, we attended a variety of presentations, including:First Aid on the TrailThe Northville Placid Trail in New YorkClass of 2011 presentation with question/answer session for 2012 dreamersSlide show/soundtrack called ¢Seven Moons¢ on a 2000 thru-hike (excellent)John Muir Trail presentationPresentation by Andrew Skurka about his 4,700 mile Alaska adventureCDT video by Lynne WheldenThese were just a few of the many excellent presentations that were offered during the weekend. We thank everyone who presented and made this weekend possible for all of their hard work and look forward to attending again next year in West Virginia.