morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-08-12
From: Pawling, NY

To: : Kent, CT
Miles today: 18.7

Weather: Cloudy and Humid Temp: 80's Song of the day: Eye of the Tiger We somehow got turned around somewhere in town and ended up at the wrong road crossing. We decided that it would take to long to find our way back to the right trailhead, so just started hiking. The Appalachian Trail Station was right there on the trail. If it had ben a weekend we could have gone into NYC for the day. Darn. I have wanted to go there the whole hike so far, but it looks as though I will have to wait until I finish. Flatlander and I have talked about going there after the hike as a "reward". As we walked across the road, we noticed a hot dog stand about 50 feet down the road. We didn't stop because we had just come from Toni's Deli. As we were walking through the fields, we noticed the sky was looking rather dark. We though rain was in our near future. We lucked out today, as it didn't rain! Finally a day without rain to help our lagging spirits. We took a rest at the Wiley Shelter, where we had entertainment fit for a king. Well, at least entertaining for smelly thru hikers. Cheif, Snot Rocket, and Iceburg Slim are musically talented. Chief played his drum for a while, and then the three of them started beat boxing. Very amusing to see three white guys beat boxing. We passed another state line today!Good bye New York, Hello Connecticut! Yeah baby! Our 10th state! Four more to go! Massachusetts in a few days! I feel like I getting some where now. We got into Kent around 7 pm and went straight off to dinner. Ummm, chinese food. While we were eating, we planned out our next few days. It felt god to sit in an aircoditioned building. It's so muggy outside. We are staying at the Episcapol Church in the basement. The pastor allows hikers to stay with permission but told us that we needed to be out by 9 am. No problem. If it weren't for church hostels and town pavillions lately, we would have been having to endure many wet nights. We have been very thankful for them and know we have been very lucky over the last week or so. I almost forgot to mention something- I met a SoBo named Pa Kettle. I think his daughter had signed my guestbook last year, saying that I might meet him and that he was from Iowa. I never thought I would have the chance to meet him, as he had hiked last year. Turns out that he got sick or injured last year and stopped after three states. He's now back out here to finish the rest of the trail this year. I have been enjoying meeting the SoBo lately. They are a different breed of hikers, that's for sure. It's interesting to see them at the 1/3 mark (for them), when they have not been worn down yet. I am feeling old and tired compared to them as the seem to just bound down the trail and within second are gone. We only see them for a minute or two at a time, but they are still part of our thru hiking family of 2003. Moving out of town tomorrow. Hope to get an early start after resupplying.
Date: 2003-08-13
From: Kent, CT/CT 341

To: Kent, CT/ Skiff Mt. Road
Miles today: 2.8

Weather: Foggy in the morning/ Sunny,hot and humid Temp: high 80's Our plans to make it outta Kent, CT by 10 am fell through. We sat in front of the PO for three hours going through while I shopped for food and Flatlaner wentthrough her box. We then went to the library to leave a message for Bono, who is now behind us, and ended up sitting on the computers for about two hours. Opps! We started walking back to the trail around 1 pm. Halfway up the first hill, I suddenly took of my pack and sat down. I've had it, I thought to myself. I can't do this anymore. Flatlander knowing what was going on, talked me out of my thoughts of turning around and heading back down the hill. About a hour later, I realized that I had forgotten to pick up my mail at the PO even though we had sat there for about three hours! We decided to hitch from the next road. Our decision was fueled on my the raging sounds of thunder that suddenly was all around us. (It never rained on us, although we heard of some bad storms near by.) When we got to the raod, there a car waiting for us! Well, not for us, but we were able to get a ride back to town. I put my pack in the back, climbed in and started talking to the lady. She was car supporting her husband and three sons who start mid May. Then I found out that they were from St Cloud, MN where I had gone to college! I hadn't even noticed the plates! We got a room at the hotel and just crashed for the rest of the day after I picked up my mail. I can't believe how tired I am. Good news for the next few days though - the rain is going to clear up. Yeah! We some good weather for our sanity.
Date: 2003-08-14
From: Skiff Mt. Road

To: Sliver Hill Campsite
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Weather: Sunny Temp: High of 88 Song of the day:Unwell by Matchbox 20 A short day equals a short entry. :) Not much happened today other than Flatlander bought a potholder with the 1940's picture of Rosie the Riveter. The picture was used as motivation to get women to go to work to help out the war effort. Across the bottom of the potholder is the slogan "We can do it!" Rosie is our new mascot for the rest of the trip. We can do it! As we left town late again, we hiked a short day. These cute little towns just suck you in! Ok, so it doesn't matter if they are cute or not. They still suck you in. Tonight in camp are Magic Rat, Turtle, Flatlander, Viking and a Wilderness School (aka Hoods in the Woods) and two women who are section hiking and maybe a few coyotes. We're not quite sure what's making that noise out there in the woods. I'm glad I am camped close to Magic, Turtle and Flatlander. Not that I am scared or any thing. It's just the whole safety in numbers thing. :)
Date: 2003-08-15
From: Silver Hill Campsite

To: Falls Village, Ct
Miles today: 15.0

Weather:Sunny Temp:Upper 80's Song of the day: A song by Jimmy Eat World I can tell what kind of day this is going to be. Ct is kicking my butt. This is the most difficult terraine we have done in a while. With only a few miles under our belts, it has taken us about three hours. Yikes! Hope we can pick up our pace otherwise we won't make it to our intended campsite tonight. Even with our time crunch, we stopped to take atvantage of a view as we haven't had one in days due to the rain. It was great to sit and take in the view. When we got to the Hydroelectric plant, we decided to find the campsite that was somewhere in town. It was advertised in the Companion. We couldn't find it, even after a local tried to help us by driving us around. Viking soon showed up and went to look for the site. It turns out that it is behind the Toymaker Cafe. We tented out behind the cafe, with the thoughts of a wonderful breakfast in the morning. Again, I am fighting the overwelming feeling to go home. I want to but at the same time I'm not ready yet. I have to finish what I started. This hike is turning into a melting pot of mixed feeling and confused choices and decisions.
Date: 2003-08-16
From: Falls Village, CT

To: Limestone Spring Lean-To
Miles today: 4.1

Weather: Rain after 4pm Temp: 70's Quote of the day: "It's more appitizing then it looks." Rumbler on Life - and on the messy (and empty) plate formerly containing eggs benidict. The Town Vortex is getting to be almost too much to handle lately. The five of us sat around the Toymaker Cafe eating breakfast (the sweet potato waffles are excellent!) and chating with the owners and with other customers. Everybody agreed that they could easily take a zero day here. After Hiker Biker Babe and Rumbler pulled into town and joined us, Magic Rat and Turtle left town. They were going to try to do 12 miles with a late start. Ambisious. Rumbler found out that I had been talking about going home and gave his impersonation of a motivational speakers. I soon realised it wasn't an inpersonation, he IS a motivational speaker. Or at least he should be. We finally moved out around 2, with plans on going 6 miles. When Flatlander and I got to the top of the ridge, we noticed the storm clouds rolling in. We thought we were about 2 miles from the Limestone Spring Lean-To, so we decided to go there to wait out the storm. We reached it sooner than we thought, which was good, because we were able to stay dry in the shelter during the rain. When we realized it wasn't going to stop, we set up our sleeping areas. We stayed. We didn't want to be wet. We hoped Viking was ok, as he had been ahead of us and was probably not coming back to the shelter. The storm raged with liberal use of thunder and lightning. Flatlander dislikes the lightning and I dislike the thunder, so it made for an instresting for an intresting afternoon of trying to ignore the storm. I was going nuts without a book to read until someone pointed out the last half of a Harry Potter book that had been left in the shelter. I just finished a book, The Secret Life of Bees, early that day and had handed it off to Turtle. I was glad to have book in my hands again. Tonight in the shelter is Mountian Mama (Lief's mom) and Pam, Pop-O, Free Radical, Moose, and Flatlander and I. "It's more appitizing then it looks." Rumbler on Life - and on the messy (and empty) plate formerly containing eggs benidict.
Date: 2003-08-17
From: Limestone Spring Lean-To

To: Riga Lean-To
Miles today: 7.5

Weather: Rain at 2pm Temp:Cold enough to see our breath. 60's after the storm.Short day again. Not motivated enough to hike in the rain anymore, especially when I arrive at the shelter dry. We were going to wait the rain out, but it continued so we stayed. Viking, Moose, and Free Radical decided to move on after waiting through the worst of the downpour. Woods Dragon, Randy and Tumbling Grace came in for a snack and soon left. Just Four in the shelter tonight. Mt. Mama, Pam, Flatlander and I. All women. As we were settling in, we noticed that a mouse (or two) had already come out to play. I got into my sleepling bag, proped up on my elbows I started to read. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a mouse very close to my "pillow". I hit the shelter floor with my book very close to where the mouse was. It went scurrying away. I did this several times as the mouse came back to investigate my sleeping arrangements. Very persistant. I wanted to go set up my tent, but most of the tenting areas were to the point of being flooded. I was going to be in the shelter whether I liked it or not. Flatlander thought this very funny and would laugh and make comments every time I would bang on the floor. I didn't think it was very funny as I was the one it was bothering. Why did I choose to sleep by the wall? I have learned my lesson. (Ok, it was funny, but I just didn't want to admit it.) I am looking forward to the beautiful sunrise in the morning. I am hoping that it won't be raining. We won't even have to get out of our sleeping bags.
Date: 2003-08-19
From: MA 23

To: Mt. Wilcox North Lean-To
Miles today: 5.1

Weather: Beautiful Sunny Day!Temp: 70Quote of the day:Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes. - on the bumper sticker on a car. by who? (please sign my guestbook and let me know. We couldn't see the name.)We woke to a huge breakfast set out on the table. I was really surprised at the amount of food that Kathy and Jon set out on the table. They understand how much thru hikers eat!Flatlander and I were dropped off at the grocery store while the guys were taken to the trail. We soon headed out to the trail ourselves. Before we did though, I noticed the juggling torches and knifes hanging by the back door. I ended up juggling with Kathy and Jon's son before we got into the car. He taught me a new juggling pattern. Fun!When we started up the trail, we saw a woman sitting on the trail. We stopped to talk and soon wished we had not. First thing out of her mouth was "Have you seen the Marauders?" Have no idea what she was talking about, we asked a few questions.She told us that people had been attacked by these trained gangs of Marauders recently. She had been heading south but was afraid to go any further cause of these gangs. She said that someone coming north told her about being attacked in the section that we just hiked.She went on to describe what would happen. She said they would scream like banchees before they attacked. If you didn't react, they wouldn't attack though. If you reacted, you would then be subjected to these gangs throwing sharp spear like objects tipped with arsenic or other poison. Or they would beat people up if they didn't have the spears.She said that she had even seen them in town. When asked what town, she never answered with a name.Then to add to the fun she added, "Oh, and then there are the Scavengers." Oooo, this was getting to be quite a tale. The Scavengers would come into the shelters. She made it sound as if they would take your gear, but no, "They take your light!" she said enthuasticlly.When she realized that we had not seen either groups, she said "You've had an innocent hike so far!" We told her that we would keep an eye out for these gangs and quickly were on our way after we asked her where she was going. She said that she was staying at the south Mt. Wilcox Shelter. I hope she doesn't change her mind. I don't want to be camping with a crazy person.Qouting a SoBo from a register "Some people look more nornal than what they really are." That was definately true in this case. She looked normal, but I think it was safe to say she had some screws loose. Tonight it is just Flatlander and I in the shelter area tonight. It doesn't look like many people come to this shelter as there are not many entrys. I hope we don't have any late arrivals, especially that woman.
Date: 2003-10-07
From: Millinocket, ME

To: Bangor, ME
Miles today: 0.0

Wow! what a trip! The last few days have been somewhat of a whirlwind. I am in Bangor, ME right now and will be leaving Maine in under 48 hours. When I get home, I will log back on and give a full update on the last days of my adventure. I am Finished (as much as the weather will allow)! Oh and one more thing - Katahdin! I have a bone to pick with you, but it might have to wait 'til next year. I'm looking forward to the rematch.
Date: 2002-12-16
To: On the road to nowhere....
Miles today: 0.0

   Well, let's try this thing on for size just one more time. Maybe it will fit.    Maybe I won't be chased by Bulls and sprain my ankle this time. (I mean Texas Longhorns, but I could have sworn that they were bulls at the time!)    Maybe I won't get some kind of stomach illness again.    Maybe I won't get caught in the rain on a rigdeline in a lighting storm.    Yeah Right. In my wildest dreams. If it was all fun and games, it wouldn't be the AT. I think most of us go out there for the challenge, and that's exactly what I want. That's exactly why I went out there for the 2002 season.   But I know the trail isn't all fun and games, so I will be more prepared for the mental up and downs this time. I will be ready for the challenge. And I will definately be ready for the whole new circle of friends I will meet.   Class of 2003, I can't wait to meet you. See you on Springer at the end of March!
Date: 2002-12-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Here's the part where I bare my soul and let you in on some of my most appalling secrets.   As I child, I was a neat freak. (Gasp!) So much so, that when they brought out my traditional first birthday cake, they had to stick my hand in it to get the desired effect. Did they get the desired effect? If it was to watch me bring my hands, plams up, to face level and then scream until they were wiped clean, then yes, they got what they wanted. Ahhh.....I don't think that was what they wanted. Sorry, Mom and Dad. You always said that we should have come with instruction manuals.    So how did a child like that end up wanting to hike the Appalachian Trail? The mud, rain and general grubbiness would turn that kind of person away, right? Well, I guess I didn't even think about it. At least not until a few days into the trip when I realized that everything was going to get dirty anyway. I learned to live with it. Well, I learned to push it to the back of my mind, and tried to keep it there. It actually, somewhat worked for me.   Now I'm getting ready to push that part of me back into the deep, dark corners of my mind and let a layer of dust and cobwebs accumulate on that thought.    After I went home, I watched my friends (through the help of the journals and emails) finish their journeys. When they reached Katahdin, I realized how much I wanted to be with them. To see their faces at the end of a long journey. To see the tears of victory that they walked so far to cry. To cry those same tears myself.   In 2002 I hiked a little less than half the trail. About 900 miles. In 2003, I plan on starting at the beginning and finishing at the end, where ever "the end" turns out to be. I don't know if I'll make to Katahdin, but I invite you to find out along with me.
Date: 2002-12-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Well, my plans might be up in the air again.    In the next couple of weeks, I have to go under the knife to remove a cyst on my tailbone. And here's the problem: It's going to take a few months to heal because they leave an open wound after the surgery. Should be enough time to heal before the end of March rolls around, but no guaranties.    I can just see my stubborn self walking up the trail with my pack hitting my backside and me screaming "Ouch!" with every step. And then mubbling to myself, "Don't be such a baby. It's only a little pain." We shall see what happens. :)   I will be making plans like I will be going and then look at the situation when I get about a month away from my start date. Sometimes non-trail life just gets in the way. :) Gotta make the best of it.
Date: 2002-12-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   In my last entry, I mentioned that I have to go in for surgery. My doctor has sheduled it for Monday morning. I hope I will have enough time to heal before March. I hope.   I'm nervous that this might change my plans for a thru hike this year because of the long healing time required. I am really looking forward to being out there again, so it is difficult to even imagine the possibility of not hiking.    Right now, I feel the pull of the trail. The "Springer Fever" that past thru hikers talk about has made its presence known. I want to be out there. I can't wait to be out there again.    I hope I will be able to.
Date: 2003-03-10
To: Here We Go Again
Miles today: 0.0

Here We Go AgainI was thinking about the PCT this year, but instead I'm going to hikeSpringer to Damascus. See my PCT journal for a few more detailson this change of plans.I'm really excited to be heading back to the AT.All the stress and worry and doubts that I had last year about hikingare gone and instead I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve who can'twait to go downstairs in the morning and see all the presentsunder the tree.I'm looking forward to meeting new people and maybe evenreuniting with others from 2002. I'm excited to see the trailagain but with a different point-of-view and I'm sure differentweather conditions. I'm anxious to see all the 2003 hikers atthe start of their unbelievable journey. I can't wait too losesome of the 30+ pounds I've gained in the off season!
Date: 2003-03-25
To: Final Preparation
Miles today: 0.0

Last Minute DetailsMy trip planning has been thrown into disarray by an unscheduled bout with theflu. I'm just now getting back to normalafter over 10 days of fighting with the virus.I'm planning on visiting my parents overthe weekend in Williamsburg and thenheading to Atlanta on Monday and thento Springer later that day, or first thingon Tuesday morning.I hiked the approach trail last year andpretty much kept to the "purist" philosophywhile hiking but I don't think I'm going toapproach my hike this year in the same way.I'll probably get dropped off at FS 42 andtag the summit of Springer before headingnorth again instead of starting at AmicalolaFalls.I'll be posting a few mail drop locations onthis web site shortly but I plan to purchasefood along the way and use a bounce boxthis year instead of having my parentsresupply me via mail drops. Both methodshave their pros and cons. I thoughtI would see how the other method worksthis time around.
Date: 2003-03-31
To: Almost There
Miles today: 0.0

This will be my last entry before heading back to the trail.I'm tying up loose ends while visiting with my parents inVirginia. Tomorrow morning, I fly down to Atlanta whereGirl Next Door (GA->ME 2002) will pick me up and shuttle meto Springer. Depending on what time I arrive, I'll eithercamp at the summit for the night or head on down to the trailto either Stover Creek or Hawk Mountain shelter.Since I'm going to be purchasing food along the way thistime instead of using maildrops to resupply, I'll onlybe posting a few maildrops on the trailjournals site. I'mnot sure how quickly I'll get my trail-legs back so I'mnot really sure of my daily milage. The arrival dates onthe maildrop page are going to be early so that I don'tarrive before any packages.
Date: 2003-04-01
From: Springer Mountain, GA

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

April 1, 2003S: Springer MountainE: Hawk Mountain ShelterMiles: 7.6I was up at 5:30 this morning to head out to the airport for my 7:30 flight. The security guard had a funny look on her face when she opened my duffel bag and found my sleeping pad and a number of stuff sacks. The flight was uneventful and I was soon in Atlanta where I met Girl Next Door for my shuttle up to Springer. A couple hours later, we were bouncing along US Forest Service Road 42 and soon parked just a mile north of the start of the trail. We did stop in at the visitor¢s center at Amicalola Falls State Park to register my hike, weigh my pack (35 lbs), and chat with several thru-hikers.I put on my pack for the hike to the summit because I wasn¢t sure if I was going to stay at the shelter or hike on this afternoon and also because I am still a ¢purist¢ at heart. Girl and I made our way up to Springer and hung out there until 3:00 chatting with hikers and the caretaker (Gizmo). Part of Gizmo¢s job (he works for the ATC) is to educate hikers on leave-no-trace practices and considerate behavior when in towns. With over 2,000 thru-hikers the trail and the towns can take quite a beating if people aren¢t careful.Around 3:00, I said goodbye to Girl and headed north on the trail. I hiked w/ Scott (just out of the Coast Guard) to Stover Creek Shelter ¢ since he had hiked the approach trail today, he called it quits for the day, but I decided to push on to Hawk Mt. Shelter.I kept up a good pace and made it to the shelter by 6:00 with just a quick stop at Long Falls. I figured it would be crowded and found about 40 people at the shelter area. It was too busy to meet everyone, but I did say hello to Sonic, Spitfire, Psycho-Pat, Kodiak and Sassy and a few others.While I did hike this section of trail much faster this year, I¢m still pretty tired and sore from the eight miles ¢ it is clearly going to take a while to get my trail legs back again.[GW/mds]