morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-09-24
To: Chaubach Gap lean-to
Miles today: 0.0

by RightyDay 2 of the 100 Mile Winderness. It rained most of the night. We slept in till 7am because it was still yucky out and we were only doing 7.3 miles today to give Lefty a chance to catch up. It wasn't much fun putting on wet socks, shoes, shorts and top but we had to so we could try to keep our sleeping clothes dry. I was dressed and ready to go first so I started hiking in order to warm up. The lean-to was right on a pond and you had to use bog boards to get back on the trail. No longer than 10 minutes into the hike, I saw 2 moose. They appeared out of nowhere like an apparation. I watched them for a moment and then another cloud rolled in and they disappeared in the mist. We had four mountain tops to climb today called the Chairbacks. The ups were steep but manageable. There were lots of areas where the water ran down the trail like a river and there was no way around it. You just had to tromp through it. The downs were also steep with lots of rocks and roots. You think I complained alot about how slippery rocks were. Slippery roots are so much worse. We went very slowly though and other than some minor slips and slides and a few falls, we managed without any serious injurys. It took us 5 hours to do the 7 miles. We saw nothing but clouds all dy. Absolutely no views even though we were on the top of four different mountain peaks above treeline. Too bad because this is supposed to be one of the most beautiful sections in Maine. It rained lightly all day today so everything is soaking wet again. We got to the lean-to at 3pm. Same as yesterday: strip off wet clothes, put on dry sleep clothes that are no longer completely dry, heat up water for tea to take the chill off. We're expecting Lefty to catch up with us today.
Date: 2006-09-25
To: Carl Neuwhaul Lean-tp
Miles today: 0.0

by RightyDay 3 of the 100 Mile Wilderness. I woke up in the middle of the night to roaring wind and a serious drop in temperature. In the morning it was very cold but there was a clear blue sky. Finally, no rain. It was a glorious day for hiking 10 miles. The four of us started out about 8am. We had clear visibility and easy ups and downs. Again, we crossed over 4 different peaks and had spectacular views on each. We had to ford a river today. I watched John cross and it didn't look too deep, but you never know if you'll step in a hole. I decided to put on my sandals (not sure why since my boots were still wet from the last 2 days) and I loosened my waist belt just in case I fell. Turned out it was an easy crossing with no mishaps. We did have one difficult, fairly long down hill scramble going down the backside of Hay Mountain. We got to the lean-to about 5pm. We had some GREAT trail magic today. At one spot we found oranges and when we crossed over a stream before the lean-to cut off, we found soda and beer. When we got to the lean-to, we found bags of candy. What a treat. It was nice to have a "Happy Hour". Our lean-to mates were Bear Can (because he carried one of those big hugh plastic bear cans in his pack) and Low Gear. There was a campsite nearby where another 6-7 thru-hikers tented. It was a good day and a fun day of hiking together.
Date: 2006-09-26
To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

by RightyToday is Day 4 of the 100 Mile Wilderness. We went to bed last night with clear, starry skies. I woke up at 3am to the sound of the wind howling, branches falling on the tin roof, and heavy rain pelting the lean-to. We all slept-in as it was cold and overcast and we had a low mileage day. The weather never improved. It stayed overcast and blustery all day; but it didn't really rain, so it was a decent day of hiking. We had to climb 4 mountains: Gulf Hagas Mt at 2080'. then West Peak at 3178', then East Peak at 3245', and finally White Cap Mt. at 3645'. There were lots of ups and downs but it wasn't too difficult. On a clear day you can see Katahdin from the top of White Cap. Unfortunately, it was not clear and Katahdin was hidden behind clouds. Our lean-to mate was Maple Leaf
Date: 2006-09-27
To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

by RightyDay 5 of the 100 Mile Wilderness. We were awaken at dawn to the sound of a moose calling. A female moose (aka, a cow) I was told. She bellowed off and on for over an hour. It was very earie. Finally, a bull moose returned her call. A glorious day. Blue sky and sunshine. The temperature got up into the 60's but with a cool breeze. A perfect fall day. The first few miles were all down hill through a conniferous forrest where the trail was covered with pine needles. You made no sound walking. We had a 2500' climb that was easy and took you through deciduous forrest that was aglow with color. The sunlight filtering through made the reds, oranges and yellows brillant. Even the trail was covered with leaves. It made you want to drag your feet and hear the russel of leaves; but you dared not because of the rocks and roots underneath. We passed 2 ponds that were also gorgeous in the sunlight. The blue of the water seemed bluer today. The ponds in Maine are so big they look like lakes. We had to ford the east branch of the Pleasant River. It was easy. You were able to jump from rock to rock to get across. Our Lean-to mates were Hitch and Beer Nuts. Trixter & What and Daddy Long Legs tented nearby.
Date: 2006-09-28
From: Righty makes the 11pm news

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 0.0

by RightyDay 6 of the 100 Mile Wilderness. We were up at 5am this morning and started hiking by 6am. We wanted to get an early start so we could get to White House Landing early enough to enjoy the evening. It only took us 6 hours to do 14.7 miles. I saw 3 moose today. A pappa moose, a momma moose and a baby. I was very close but had no camera to take a picture. It was a very easy hike today...mostly flat. The trail ran next to a stream for miles and then around several ponds and through many bogs. We got to White House Landing about 1pm just after lunch was finished. I got to blow the horn to call for the ferry. We all had showers and Lefty and Buoy attempted to wash their clothes in an old fashioned wash tub. Dinner choices were pizza or cheeseburgers. I had a 1 pound cheeseburger which I wasn't able to finish. It cleared off a little and we had a beautiful view of the lake and the mountains beyond. Buoy bought some wine and we went back to their place after dinner to relax and sip. I got a poor night's sleep because the bunkhouse was heated with a wood burning stove and it was way too hot. I couldn't breathe. It was stifeling.
Date: 2006-09-29
To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

by RightyDay 7 on the 100 Mile Wilderness. We woke up to RAIN. What's new?The forcast was "chance of Rain" 100% so it was really no surprise. We went to breakfast at the dining hall at 8am. It was excellent. First scrambled eggs, bacon, english muffins, oj and coffee. Then, all the blueberry pancakes you can eat. When you come to breakfast, you are supposed to come packed and ready to be ferried back across the lake right after breakfast. Lefty and Buoy were going to stay until after lunch so they could enjoy their private cabin a little longer and get in another big meal. I hung out with them for a while since there was no rush to start hiking because we only had 8.7 miles to do and we were told it was fairly easy. As it turned out, I didn't leave until noon as Bill found one reason or another to NOT ferry me across the lake until someone from the other side blew the horn to get across. He already had my money so he didn't have to cater to me any more. John had decided to take an additional zero day there so we had to say goodbye to him. All these good-byes were getting really hard.,P.I hiked 8 miles in the rain (sometimes a downpour) in a little over 3 hours. The trail was not hard but it was wet, muddy and slippery. Lefty and Buoy got to the lean to about 6pm. Moments after they arrived the sky opened up and it poured again. Our shelter mates were 3$ and Strider. Strider had thru hiked in 2003 and was a wealth of knowledge. He was also from Maine, so knew this area well. He had a radio and we got the latest weather update. This is critical when planning when to summit Katahdin. The park rangers won't let you go up in bad weather and you are forced to "wait it out" until allowed to climb. We didn't have much of a "buffer" built in for waiting. Just as we were getting ready to go to bed, another hiker came in. It was Rickles, someone we had met several months earlier in Pearisburg. He had a bad stress fracture and was off the trail for a while. He had gotten back on and had flipped and was now hiking north to south. It was great to see him and to see that he was still hiking. We turned in early because we had a big day ahead of us the next day.
Date: 2006-09-30
From: Magnificent Maine - Part 2

To: Magnificent Maine - Part 3
Miles today: 0.0

by RightyThe 100 mile wilderness is so named because it is remote and basically no amenities along the way. It was quite an experience to be hiking and realize that you were miles from any town and services. It used to be that you needed to carry food and supplies for up to 10 days; but now there is a place to resupply about 60 miles in. Of course, in order to do so, you have to hike a mile down a blue blaze trail along a lake, blow an air horn and wait (patiently) for Bill to come across the lake in his boat to take you to his wilderness camp where there is a little store. I said "patiently" because we were told tht if you blew the horn more than once, he would take his time in crossing over to get you.We took off from Monson, Maine in the rain for our first day in the wilderness on Saturday, September 23. Lefty had proclaimed early on that we were going to take our time to really enjoy the wilderness. This coming from the gal that was doing 20+ mile days. Needless to say, Buoy and I were very happy with this decision. Even in the rain, everything was abolutely beautiful. The trees were in full color and the trail was strewn with leaves. Lots of people have commented on how "easy" Maine is and I'm not sure I agree with that. It's true the mountains aren't as high as in NH; but some of them were pretty tough. Most of the time you are hiking from valley level where it can be very wet with lots of bogs up to higher elevations where you have some serious climbs. One of the first days out, we had four peaks to cross which meant four ups and downs. One of the things Maine is known for besides rocks is roots. We're talking some serious roots and these roots can be really slippery....especially the ones that are in the boggy areas where they are covered with slime. I was used to trying to "miss" all the rocks on the trail and now I had to concentrate on not stepping on the roots too!! I can say from experience that at some point in time no matter how careful you are, you are going to slip and you're going DOWN. I managed to do just that several times. Another potentially dangerous thing is the bog boards. They also get very slippery and when you slip off them you land in some serious muck... sometimes up to your knees. Did that, too, but no photo to show it. I keep talking about how wet things can be; but I failed to mention that it rained in Maine ALOT. There is a saying on the AT; "No rain, No pain, No Maine"! This is so very true; especially while in Maine. Of the 8 days we hiked through the wilderness, it rained for four of them. Two days were just cloudy and two days were beautiful.All in all, Maine was one of my favorite states to hike through. I'm sure, in part, because of the time of year. The trees were at their peak color, the mountains were spectacular, the lakes beautiful, and the vastness of the wilderness awesome. Add to that that everyone we met were wonderful.
Date: 2006-09-30
To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

by RightyDay 8 in the 100 Mile Wilderness. We were all up fairly early today to cloudy skies but no rain. Our plan was to hike 20 miles to Hurd Pond Lean-to and be within 3 1/2 miles of Abol Bridge campground which is 10 miles from the base of Katahdin. As we were hiking, Lefty suggested that we try to go all the way to Abol Bridge campground today (24 miles), so if we had to, we would be in a better position to climb Katahdin on Sunday instead of Monday as planned. The reason for this was because the weather was supposed to be FAIR on Sunday and then rain on Monday and Tuesday. 24 miles isn't too hard for Lefty to do; but for Buoy and myself, it was a tall order. I hiked from 6:30am till 7pm and just barely got out of the woods before dark. I reached Hurd Brook Lean-to at 5:30pm and still had 3.4 miles to go. I practically ran those last miles because I really hate to hike at night. I was BEAT when I finally crossed the bridge. They say that the best view of Katahdin is from Abol Bridge and it was spectacular! You had this omnimus mountain in the background with the beautiful foliage reflected in the lake in the foreground. I waited for Lefty and Buoy at the campground store. Had a soda and some chips and visited with the other hikers who were there. We got to the campground at 8pm just in time to set up camp and get to bed. Buoy and Lefty set up their tent and I stayed in the shelter since I only had an emergency tarp. I had a NIGHT from HELL. It was absolutely my worst night ever in a shelter. I was wedged between two guys who both snored loudly. One of them had night terrors and would cry out like he was being killed. The other one didn't stay in his own "space" and was all over my mat and up against me. The more I moved over, the closer he got. It was really uncomfortable. On top of that, my legs were so tired that I kept getting a cramp and had to sit up to relieve the pain. I got absolutely NO sleep at all and was glad to see 5am come. I felt like a zombie but I couldn't get packed up and out of there fast enough. This was the day we were going to summit and I felt like I had been run over by a truck!
Date: 2006-10-01
To: K Day
Miles today: 0.0

By Buoy Righty, Lefty and me are currently back in Monson staying in the magnificent Lakeshore House. I wanted to give you guys a short update on our progress. This computer is pretty slow and I am only allowed 30 minutes online. We will update you in length in a few days. What can I say. I am so proud of my wife and her mom. We all summitted Mount Katadhin on Sunday. Lefty is out finishing off 25 miles south of Monson that she had skipped 10 days ago. Once she is back and DONE we will update you again. Thank you to all of you for the wonderfull guest book entries over the last couple of days. These reflections and greetings are bringing out so many good feelings in the three of us. cheers Buoy
Date: 2006-10-05
To: Connecticut - by Lefty
Miles today: 0.0

by Lefty- Hi all, This will be short and sweet as I am writing from a rest stop with internet access in Mass. We can't seem to get away from composting privies. This is the first rest stop we've ever been to that has one...We tried to upload more of our summit photos as well as photos from our last few weeks of hiking, but the computer in Monson died on us. At least we got one up! Please check back in in the coming weeks as we work on getting more journal entries and pix up. We are, of course, flying high right now. Is it really true? Are we really done? Have we really accomplished our dream.....it will take a few days to sink in. We are LOVING all your new guest book entries! Thank you!More later, -Lefty
Date: 2006-10-12
To: Greetings - by Lefty
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings- by LeftyMy goodness, how time flies when you¢re not hiking 12 hours a day! It has been nearly two weeks since Righty, Buoy and I summitted Mt. Katahdin on October 1st, 2006, thus bringing to a close our 6-month journey of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. The past few days I have been thinking about what I wanted to write as my ¢final journal entry¢. This hasn¢t been an easy task as there are still so many things I want to write about, including: all of the remarkable trail angels we met and how they so deeply impacted the course of our journey; how it felt to see the sign a top Katahdin, realizing in that moment that we had accomplished our goal; how hard the hard days were and how amazing the good days were; gifts that the trail has left us with; and about readjusting back to ¢our life before the trail¢. Since there is still so much to share about our journey, I¢m going to take my time reflecting on and writing about the highlights. I hope that you will check back in periodically to read more about our trail adventures, and of course, to keep tabs on if/¢¦when¢¦¢¦. Buoy finally gets his boat!With warm regards,Lefty
Date: 2006-10-13
To: Gifts from the Trail - by Lefty
Miles today: 0.0

Gifts from the Trail - by LeftyI am still scratching my head at all the gifts our time on the trail has brought us. When I look back at this long list of good fortune and luck I realize that most of these gifts can be summed up as ¢opportunities¢. This trail experience has brought us so much more than a chance to fulfill a dream, it has created space for innumerable opportunities in which we could experience the sweetness of life. For these gifts, I will be forever grateful. 1.A chance to live a dream.2.Time to spend 5 of the 6 amazing months of this hike with my mom.3.Time to spend 5 of the 6 amazing months of this hike with my husband.4.To be known by thru-hikers (many of whom knew of us before they met us) as part of the mother-daughter team living strong and living beyond breast cancer.6.For the generocity of spirit from each and every trail angel who helped us along our journey!7.A new appreciation and respect for small-town America.8.A chance to have new routines, new measurements of success, new faces, new challenges and new discoveries.9.Learning that practicing a little neediness every once in a while allows a door to open that usually remains closed. 10.Camaraderie with other hikers, with nature, and with oneself. 11.Elation at the thought of an impending hot meal, a shower, a comfortable bed. 12.The bubbling up of excitement, energy and happiness (an adrenalin rush maybe?) felt in the middle of particularly grueling weather or a difficult section of the trail. 13.A new understanding of the power of breaks to lift the spirit and reenergize the body.14.A new interest in and enjoyment of pushing myself physically.15.A new love and respect for my body.16.A new interest and motivation for staying in great shape and eating healthy. 17.The great reward felt at the end of the day, knowing that you completed your miles and your work is done.18.Being able to go to bed before 7pm and not feeling guilty about it.19.Being able to eat as much as you want and whatever you want and never feeling a bit of guilt.20.A chance to tune out and to tune in. 21.Time to stop and smell the roses, watch the critters, and marvel at the views.22.And, time to photograph them.23.Memories to last a lifetime.24.Our trailjournal site, filled with our stories, pictures and the incredible support of friends who signed our guest book. Thank you!25.Meeting new people and places we look forward to visiting again.26.A beautiful taste of how sweet retirement will be, in say¢¦¢¦¢¦..30 years!27.An acceptance of my belly. If it ain¢t gone after hiking 2,175 miles, it ain¢t never gonna be gone!- Lefty
Date: 2006-10-14
To: Welcome Home Party - by Righty
Miles today: 0.0

I arrived back home in Myrtle Beach, SC on Wednesday, October 11 and learned that my good friend, Mary Cynthis Walters and her husband, Boyd Walters were throwing a "Welcome Home" party for Lefty and I on Saturday, October 14th at the Residents Clubhouse where they live. They were very dissappointed to learn that Lefty was not going to be able to be there. She and Buoy left from Connecticut (where their van was) to drive cross country back to San Francisco so that she could get back to work on time.The party was a hugh success and a very festive affaire. The theme was, of course, breast cancer awareness so the clubhouse was decorated with pink tablecloths and pink balloons and the cake was chocolate (my favorite) with pink and white icing. Present at the party were many ski club friends, personal friends, neighbors, and daughter Shana. And last but not least, Kathy Sellers and Sally Peebles representatives from "A Cure in our Lifetime" the local organization for which we were raising funds. Kathy and Sally presented me with a wonderful framed painting by a local artist. It was an unexpected gesture and very much appreciated. They had a painting to present to Lefty also and I know that she will be as thrilled with it as I was.The Coastal Ski and Outing Club, of which I have been a member for many years, was a big supporter of mine. Members were kept updated via our monthly newsletter and many sent us messages via the Guest Book on our website. The Club presented me with a gift certificate to a local Day Spa for a full day of pampering and relaxation. What a surprise and a perfect "coming home from the trail" present. I have not been yet because I'm trying to let a few scrapes, bruises, aches and pains heal up first; but I am looking forward to going.Once again, a special thanks to Mari and Boyd for all their love, concern and support and for throwing the party. And, thanks to everyone who was able to come and enjoy the festivities with us as well as those who couldn't make it. Thank you Kathy and Sally for sharing your story with us and for taking the time out of your busy schedule to attend. Thank you all for your interest in this worthy cause and for your continued support.If you haven't made a donation and would like to, you may send a check to "A Cure In Our Lifetime" c/o Kathy Sellers, PO Box 1193, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. Just be sure to write Righty and Lefty or AT Hike on the memo line so they will know who to credit it to. Thank you.
Date: 2006-11-20
To: Post AT Traumatic Stress Disorder - by Skywalker
Miles today: 0.0

Post AT Traumatic Stress Disorder (PATTSD)written by Immo Christoph (aka Skywalker)submitted by RightyPATTSD is an inability to readjust to normal society after thru-hiking and is characterized by the following:1. Putting leaves in the toilet2. Filtering water from the faucet or dropping tablets in a glass of water3. Asking for a "spork" at a restaurant4. Asking company to "pack out" their trash5. Digging catholes in the backyard6. Walking around the house with your trekking poles7. Still sleeping on your thermarest or on a 17" space on the bed8. Blowing snot rockets from the couch9. Referring to other people as hikers10. Checking for water sources everywhere you go11. Gaining 600 pounds because you are still thinking in trail metabolism.12. Asking people how far they are going today or how many miles they are going13. Swatting at invisible insects14. Eating dinner by 4pm and in bed by 6:30pm15. Wearing the same clothes for 3 days16. Referring to floors in buildings by their elevation17.Asking people if they are a NOBO or a SOBO18. Forgetting to put on deodorant
Date: 2006-12-10
To: A CURE IN OUT LIFETIME update
Miles today: 0.0

by RightyAs you know, Lefty and I were raising money for two organizations. I had selected a local non-profit organization called "A Cure In Our Lifetime". I am pleased to announce that we raised nearly $4,000. My employer, Wal*Mart matched the first $1,000. A heartfelt "Thank you" to everyone who donated money to this worthwhile cause.Our initial purpose was to bring awareness to the importance of early detection of breast cancer. We tried to do this through conversations with other hikers, through our journal entries, and through media coverage. We encourage you, the reader, to continue to spread the word for us.