morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-08-19
From: Monson and The100 Mile Wilderness

To: Big Wilson Stream
Miles today: 13.0

"Only those who risk going too far can learn how far one can go."                         T. S. Eliot      Up at 5:30 and switched on the news. The weather looks great despite a shower on friday - maybe one thursday. The Pie Lady cooked me a spectacular breakfast of eggs, bacon, home fries and french toast. If I had room, 2 muffins, OJ and cofee too. She dropped me at the trailhead by 8:45. Put Chloes' pack on and she sagged a bit. Both of our packs are huge and heavy. Mine is easily tipping 40 lbs and Chloes is 7 - 10. I felt badly for her and took out some of her food. That set me back a good 45 minutes. I hit the trail by 9:30 or so and off into the wilderness we were. I instantly realized this was going to be absolutely beautiful. We crosed a small brook and went up and around a spectacular pond. The terrain went up and down, up and down for the rest of the day. Unlike other sections of trail that take you up only to bring you back down, I didn't seem to mind this. The trail was very rooted and we went up and over lots of slate. At one point there was a slate incline that goes for about 3/4 of a mile and is as wide as a 2 lane road, the views were super great. Took several breaks because I could. Stopped at Little Wilson Falls for a spell, rinsed the body, already a sweaty dirty mess. Plus I took 3 pretty good falls today. Cut my knee and hand. No big deal - just scratches. Planned to hike to the second shelter but it was 6 pm and I found a great spot on Big Wilson Creek. It's only a half mile short of the shelter. Yes we are "completely alone" and its pretty cool. Did some skinny diping and hiked nearly all the day in just my bra top. Ah nature and solitude. Set up camp, ate and built a small fire. Some yahoos left a ton of garbage and it was gross, so I burnt it. The biggest news of the day is Miss Chloe. I usually hike with her attached to me by a 6 foot leash. On several occasions, especially going down steep hills today I would let her go. She was so good. I let her hike by herself the last 4 miles or so. She was excellent. Even waited for me - good dog. She even came back when I called her. So tomorrow I will let her go solo some more. Now she is completely passed out and I am next. The terrain and the wicked heavy pack made it a tough day. Tomorrow, more of the same. Hopefully I will get an earlier start.peace and positivity,Molasses
Date: 2003-08-20
From: Big Wilson Stream

To: Cloud Pond Lean To
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: light rain

"Life is a test and this world a trial."                        Winston Churchill Up at 5:30 and hiking by 7:30. A nice leisurely morning in camp. Had coffee and Capn Crunch, packd up and rocked. Forded the stream and fell in once. Wet feet make for sore feet. Through out the morning as Chloe would run free I would occasionaly, make that frequently, hear the same routine - a chirp of a red squirrel, the mad dash of a dog through the underbrush, the ripping of velcro and then silence. This happened at least 15 - 20 times. I would find her either standing in the trail or just off the trail,her pack around her neck. A few miles out, after hearing the scenario of mad dash, rip of velcro I heard silence. Hmm something was amiss...seems Miss Chloe lost her backpack and naturally all her food and water. I spent the next 1 and a half hour looking for it. Kakamandi {spelling?} and Sundance were heading sobo. He has his dog Mr Spencer. While Chole and Mr Spencer wreaked havoc through the woods they helped me look for the pack. Finaly, a few hundred prayers to St. Anthony, and a chunk of the day gone we found the pack, just off the trail near a rock. Black rock, black pack ... hour and a half shot. Crossed Wilbur and Vaughn brooks. Stopped and ate at Wilbur and gave myself a bird bath and hung out naked to dry off. There is virtually no one out here. Its great. A few more miles, forded Long Pond stream and had to cross with the aid of a rope tied from side to side. It was fun, feet hardly got wet. Chloe had to swim some. A quick current carried her a little downstream but she did it and I am proud of her. Chloe took off again, this time I found her laughing it up with 2 girls eating peanut butter sandwiches out with their 3 dogs. Chatted a bit then headed up the hill and bumped into 3 guys. Chatted with them a bit as it started to lightly rain. The guys were staying at the shelter and I knew I had 4 tough up hill miles, it was 3:30, so I decided to stay. Later Broc and Mousebait showed up. I met Broc at Springer Mtn. Amazing. I think no one is here and now the place is crawling with folks. On my way down the hill to get water, I ran into yet 2 other hikers out for a few days. Wow, as I was eating dinner, Broc and Mousebait were doing 8 minute abs. Crazy hikers - seems they have bets with people back home. Tomorrow I go up 1500 feet over Barren Mtn, down it then up 500 feet over 4th Mtn, up yet a smaller Mtn untill I camp at West Chairback Pond. The 3 guys here say its a sweet campsite, right on the lake and it even has canoes you can use. It's 9.2 miles away from here. Lets hope Miss "thing" doesnt lose her pack again and we beat the suposed rain.
Date: 2003-08-21
From: Cloud Pond Lean To

To: Little Wilson Stream
Miles today: 12.1

"Hell, we're not retreating - we're advancing in another direction."                     Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur Yes I am hiking south - backwards. Up early, 5:30 and hiking north by 7:15. Started up Barren Mtn, a big haul. Chloe was of being her merry self, she heard a red squirrel and she was off. I kept walking, knowing she would show up sooner or later. Well later came and she showed up "without" the backpack. Great - spent 3 hours loking for the damn thing. I tied her to a tree and I would dart off into the woods searching and then walk back towards the sound of her constant barking. 3 hours searching and I could not find the backpack. I had to think - we couldn't make it north up to Whitehouse Landing on the food I had, so reluctantly we headed south back to Monson. I'll need to find her a new pack that doesn't have velcro and get us both more food, then hopefully get shuttled back in to the wilderness. It seems the wildeness isn't so wild anyway. I planned to take 2 days to get back to Monson. On our way back Chloe went crazy, running through the woods after every red squirrlel. I on the other hand trudged on, fell several times and cut and scraped my legs up some more. We again stopped at Vaughn Brook and washed. While Chloe was napping a mink darted along the opposite side of the stream. Chloe missed it complewtely. Also saw tons of toads today - not to mention a zillion red squirrels. We made our way to Little Wilson stream and planned to camp here. On my way up 2 days ago, I saw this site, an excellent place with a nice fire ring, old pines with lots of needles on the ground and seats made out of large pieces of slate - very comfortable. Got here around 5 and leisurely made camp. Around 6 Truckin showed up. A little later Tang and Toothpick. Nice folks. We cooked dinner, Chloe had ramen instead of her regular food, chatted made a fire and went to bed by 8:15. Tomorrow Monson, an outfitter, Lord help me find one with puppy packs, a few essentials like dog food, shuttle arrangements and a much needed shower!   peace and positivity,Molasses
Date: 2003-08-23
From: Pleasant River

To: Carl Newhall Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

"If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good."                     Dr. Seuss Saturday was a 0 day and boy did i need it! I got beat up pretty badly. Falling down does that to you. A day off, some real food and a good nights sleep does a body good! So Pie Lady took me up to Greenville to the outfitter and we got Chloe a new backpack. Its a lovely, cobalt blue kelty. Its a little big, but it'll do. On the way back Pie Lady said she wished she had a hiker to do work for stay. I asked her what she needed done. She wanted her grass cut. I offered and cut it for her. So I got to stay a night for free! Did a little grocery shopping, ate a little food and watched a few movies. It was nice. Pie lady said she would take me back to the trail near Pleasant River after she baked her pies. That would be around 10, so i had a nice morning with Charles Kuralt and a breakfast sandwich from C&G. Hit the trail by noon and had a leisurely walk through Gulf Hagas. A nice gradual incline up 800 feet to Carl Newhall shelter. Bumped into Patience and she said she was going there. It was 2 miles short of where I wanted to end up but the company was nice. Got here around 3:30 and collected wood for a fire. Cooked dinner and hung out with Patience. She's cool and she's from Isreal. We had a great talk about the state of Isreal and also spoke about religon. She was funny when she saw an episode of Ricky Lake and thought all Americams were like that. How embarassing. Later Ragin Joe, now known as Bankrobber showed up. I havent seen him since the Shenandoahs when he was starting out his second half of his hike. It was a hot day and he gave me some Gatorade powder and an orange and banana. He gave Chloe water. It was cool to see him. Anyway it's quite cold - like 40 degrees. The fire is dying out and its time to crawl in the bag. Tomorrow I get my first view of Katahdin! Excellent!!!
Date: 2003-08-25
From: Carl Newhall Shelter

To: Logan Brook Lean To
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

"Walking with silent inspiration - keeping my eye on the Holy land."                     James Taylor - "Walkin Man" (Rev) Woke up at 4:30 as Patience and Bankrobber were discussing the leak in his platypus. Checked my watch, noticed it was 4:30 and put my had back down, only to smack it on the rear wall of the shelter. Up for real around quarter to six. Patience was picking up and was gone by 6:30. Bankrobber dillied til 7 and I rolled around an hour later. I knew I had 3 or 4 pretty good up hill climbs with about 2800 feet rise in elevtion. All the ups were steep, Gulf Hagas wasn' too bad, West and Hay Mtns weren't that spectacular but White Cap was a pretty good climb. Once near the top it must have been close to the tree line. The pines got very small and scrubby looking. There were alot of rocks and the summit was nearly bare. Once I got up there I knew I would see Katahdin, but I looked and looked and couldn't find it. Then I looked left and good grief - there it was - huge, just enormous and still 72 miles away! It started to rain lightly and I snaped a photo and moved on. The climb down was wicked. Verysteep and rocky. I'm glad I went up the way I did! Got another view of Katahdin a mile below the summit that was qually nice. Made it to Logan Brook Lean To by 2 and met SG. She through hiked in 1976 and section hiked in 98. She's out doing the 100 miles over a 2 week period. We chatted and chatted. I planned tomove on another 3.6 miles, but the terrain isn't too bad tomorow so I opted to stay. 4 others showed up, 3 Colby students who are meeting members of the Outdoors Club and Lars from Bethel, Maine. It's a great reunion of neighbors - practically. Weird. Made a nice fire and ate ramen with soup mix, a little mashed potato flakes and TVP. I was so hungry it tasted like lobster. Thats what I plan to eat after Katahdin - 2 lobsters and 2 lbs of Ipswich clams! salad and bread. That is my goal. Also took a look at the profile map for the final 35 miles or so and Katahdin is absolutely frightening looking! Good Lord give me strength - but thats days away! Tomorrow, Cooper Brook Lean To. Theres a swimming hole there, I hope it warms up some. I dont thinkwe hit 70' today! Kinda chilly today and cloudy. Hopefully sunny tommorow skies.! peace and positivity,Molasses
Date: 2003-08-29
From: White House Landing Wilderness Camp

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 35.0
Weather: overcast clouds

" We're going to need a bigger boat. "  Roy Scheider   "Jaws" Woke to loons singing on Rainbow Lake. It was early, like 6. Rolled over and slept some more til like 7. Finally got up quietly. I noticed that Cliffdweller was still in his hammock. Got my food bag and started to pack up quietly. I soon realized Cliffdweller was indeed up. He was getting water. So my silent, quiet tippy toe morning now allowed coffee and a bit of chatter. We had a nice breakfast as Spike and Hopper visited. They too were headed to Abol Bridge. Finally packed up and was hiking by 930. Walked slowly realizing this was my last day hiking with Chloe. Tomorrow I would meet my folks and they would take her to Connie McManus kennels in Millinocket while I walked to the Birches and then hiked Katahdin. Chloe seemed to enjoy her hike sniffing and chasing and barking at every red squirrel and chipmunk that dared move within a mile of us. Cliffdweller caught up to us about 4 miles out, then passed us as we chatted with Jack-On-The-Mountain. He hiked to Hanover then flip flopped and is now southbound. We, Cliffdweller and I later met up on Rainbow Ledges on what was becoming an absolutely gorgeous afternoon. The sun was very warm,so warm that I had to tke my shirt off an enjoy the sun on my back! There is a also a spectacular view of Katahdin. We hung out for an hour or more then hiked the 2.5 to Hurd Brook, the final shelter outside of Baxter State Park. Ranger Dave was there and full of information. Ask him anything, he had the answer - the weather...Ranger Dave says rain thursday, so plan to summit wednesday. That plant I've been seeing is a Lilly of the Valley, poison, don't eat it, hadn't planned on it and still wont eat it. Read the register and everyones message was very sentimental. I lefy my sentimental thoughts and hiked out knowing that very soon, I would be drinking a beer and eating a cheeseburger at Abol Bridge Campground. Ranger Dave also said the guy who owns the store and campground at Abol Bridge died last night so they might close early. About 15 minutes into my last 3.5 miles a group of 3 people were heading south and 1 guy said "your parents are waiting for you" I nearly freaked as I suddenly thougth I was a day late! Turns out they were early. I hauled ass the final 3 miles and met them around 5 pm. The campground was indeed closing so I opted for staying with them in Millinocket. We would take Chloe to the kennel the next day and I'd summit Katahdin the next day. Ate glorious fried food and went to bed. Didn't do much on tuesday except drop Chloe off with Connie McManus and eat. We did however take a ride up to Baxter and to Katahdin Stream Campground to check things out as we would be leaving the motel in Millinocket very early in the morning in the dark, about 5:00 AM, so I can start hiking up Katahdin around sunrise. peace and positivity,Molasses
Date: 2003-10-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Note from Molases/Margies' DadIt has been a long time since we entered a journal. Molasses has been very busy the last few weeks but still says she will write a final journal entry summing up the total AT adventure. She has been working at Eastern Mountain Sports in King of Prussia, PA and has an apartment in Honey Brook, PA. She also has an exciting job offer that she is checking out.Norm McQ
Date: 2003-11-12
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

A note from Molasses Dad for the many folks who followed Molasses adventure: Molasses / Margie has been extremely busy lately and unable to get to a computer to add a final Trail Journals entry - she does say that she will do so sooner or later. I have read several of the last entries of some of the AT hikers that she met and who Anne and I also met and was quite touched and impressed by the emotions and thoughts expressed in those messages. The AT will be a life long worthwhile character building experience for these nice people. The final Trail Journal entries that I am referring to include those from: Tucson, Bumpkin, Goldberry, Mudbutt, Smith Family, Sassafras & Flying Cricket.
Date: 2003-11-27
To: Top 10 Again!
Miles today: 0.0

Top 10 things I do miss about the Trail10. The incredible beauty everyday!9. The utter simplicity of getting up, walking and finding camp.8. The complete freedom to do whatever, whenever, however!7. The many wonderful people on, off and around the trail6. Sleeping in my tent.5. Sleeping in my sleeping bag.4. The smell of 17 hikers in a shelter made for 63. Miss Hazel2. The ability to eat anything and everything1. My dear friends Strider, Daisies and Flatlander
Date: 2003-11-27
To: Top 10 again 2
Miles today: 0.0

Top 10 things I don't miss about the trail10. The rain9. The cold8. The heat7. The rain6. The Monotony of "just walking", everyday5. The rain4. Going up the big hills3. Going down the big hills2. The rain1. Liptons rice and noodles (never again!)
From: Red Pine Plantation, CT

To: Massachussets
Miles today: 0.0

"If I had ny life to live over I'd like to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax. I would be sillier. I would take fewer things seriousily. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream. I would ride more merry-go-rounds and pick more daisies."                     Nadine Stair You know it's a thrilling day when the most exciting thing that happens is losing a toenail. Not sure how or why, but, this evening as I was cooking dinner, I noticed my left pinkie toenail was hanging by a thread. so I yanked it off. Hardly even hurt. Woke up on cousin Lyndas' couch after a pleasant evening and restful nights slumber. It was so good to catch up with my family. I havent seen Lynda and Laurie in about 10 years - my family rocks! Headed north at 815 after briefly contemplating a beach day. Since I didn't know of a good beach in Connecticut, I opted for the mountains. Made it back to Cornwall Bridge in a little over an hour and continued north into Massachusettes. Hit the Egremont-Great Barington area and thought of tenting at Beartown State Park but they were full. So I headed further north to October Mtn. Got a decent tent site under a big pine tree and settled in. Caught up on some planning - cooked dinner then headed into Lee to pick up a few things. Tomorrow I'll hike Upper Goose Pond and maybe Finerty Pond. i'll spend tomorrow night here then head to Vermont where I hope to find Skids and Baloo. Chloe likes to play with their dog Frodo. He's a standard poodle without all the poof. Cool dog. Chloe had an uneventful day in the car = all her toenails are intact, but she did discover red squirrels. Her life will never be the same. I get the feeling mine won't be the same either. It's getting very buggy and it looks like rain.      peace and positivity,Molasses
Date: 2003-01-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Okay, this entry thing is all really new for me, so if it's really screwed up, I apologize in advance! Well, if you dont know already, I'm Montana and THEAT's 14 y/o daughter Makoshika. When people find out that I'm hiking the trail with my parents, I always get bombarded with silly questions like 'how are you going to deal with school along the trail?' and 'won't you miss your friends and family?'. So I tell them that my parents will homeschool me and yes, I'll miss my friends and family a lot-I am human!! But I also tell them that those things really dont matter to me that much in the big scheme of things-what really matters is that I'm doing something amazing that not many people I know have ever done before. I'm going out and experiencing nature in its fullest and actually living in it-thats what I try to dwell on in these conversations. In other news-my mom has now changed her mind and wants to leave on march 31st because shes superstitious about leaving on april fools day! Well, I guess it gives us an extra day to make it to Maine, so thats good. Everything seems so real though, now that we have made reservations at the lodge in Amicalola State pPark for march 30th-wow, less than 3 months! I'm so excited!-makoshika
Date: 2003-01-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Things are moving so quickly. I will be done working next Friday, 1/17 and will be "working" full-time on finishing our preparations for our hike. We've been selling our home, have our two cars up for sale and can begin working with Makoshika's high school teachers to develop her education plan while on the trail. Lots of work selling, packing and planning.We had a great hike on New Year's Day. It was cold, rainy and sleeting with snow on the ground. We were on the PA portion of the trail in the area of the 501 Shelter. Makoshika had been at a friend's house the night before and was picked up early morning. She forgot her hat and gloves but looked kind of cute with a WAWA food bag tied on her head and yesterday's socks on her hands for mittens! She's a creative one. We figured we would see the New Year in with a ceremonial hike and it would be a great way to work up an appetite for that PA Dutch tradition of Pork & Sauerkraut dinner on New Years Day. We also figured we need to get used to nasty weather. It was pretty and we saw only a shelter caretaker on our entire hike. The three of us continue to hike outdoors when we can and have kept to a regular schedule of walking with our loaded packs on an elevated treadmill for an hour. BORING but we hope it will help us once March arrives.We've looked into Amtrack schedules to travel by train from Philadelphia to Gainseville GA. At this point it looks like we'll be departing on Sat. March 29th, arriving on the 30th and staying at Amicalola Lodge. As of now, we'll begin hiking the approach trail to Springer Mountain on March 31st. WOW.Montana's brother Steve will be our transcriber while we're on the trail and I'd like to try a few trial runs of having Steve decifer our journals and post them before we're off and walking. We're so lucky to have such wondeful support.THEAT