morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-10-07
From: White House Landing Campground

To: rainbow spring campsite
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

w/Traildawg, Eric & Jess, Londen Len, Chicago Rob9:54pm...could it be better? Final night. What am I going to remember most about tonight? Listening to theloons. Learning about English rhyme slang. Londen's half hour camel hatingtirade...and the half hour laugh afterwards! Seeing the Big Dipper's reflectionin Rainbow Pond. Falling asleep underneath a clear, star-filled sky. Sittingaround a fire with people who have walked the same 2,148 miles as me. Almost 6 months of these kinds of experiences have been widdled down to thislast night. I spent 2 days thinking of how I wanted to spend my last night onthe trail. At first, since I hadn't seen anyone for a couple of days, I thoughtthat laying next to a pond with the stars filling the sky above me and a fireburning beside me was the way to go. Then I remembered just why I did thistrail, and I wanted to spend my final night with those like-minded individualswho have spent the last 6 months as I have...oh, and I wanted a fire! So, as Igazed into the faces of my fellow hikers, their smiles, illuminated by the fire,a feeling of contentment washed over me...yeah, I will really miss this!In my head? Besides trail memories, thinking "when is it going to hit me?"
Date: 2004-10-09
From: katadhin stream campground

To: baxter peak
Miles today: 5.2

w/my mom at the Big Moose Lodge11ish in the pm....tired eyes and time flies GOT 'ER DOOOOOONE!!! So, this morning we woke up at 4:15...am, mind you and drove into the park so I could start my ascent bright and early. Well, it wasn't as bright and early as some people...Rowboat and Officer Taco started at 2!...apperently, they couldn't sleep and wanted to see the sunrise. Anyway, I started at 7...and less than 2 hours later I was done, officially! But what a great day it was! The morning fog I started in, ended up being a blanket of low clouds over the surrounding country side from on top of Baxter Peak...from where I saw almost clear skies and sun! Only a little bit of wind, so that wasn't that bad, but it was nice enough (for my Michigan blood, probably) to stay up there for almost 5 hours! I talked to a bunch of people...probably about 200 people where there over the course of my stay, so it was a busy day, but otherwise just sat up there, enjoyed the view, reflected on my past months and reveled in the fact that I was done!...oh, and the attention was nice, too . Eric and Jess showed up around 11 and I saw Londen Len and Chicago Rob on my way down...but it was definately a good end to a wonderful adventure! But now I'm tired and the beers I had with my fellow hikers down at the Blue Ox are a talkin'...sooooooo, a final thought is coming. Probably when I get back home after my ass recovers from my 18 car ride....maybe I should walk back !In my head? is it really over?
Date: 2004-10-15
To: 6 months wiser and 2,174 miles older
Miles today: 0.0

1:50pm...so much for insights Returning home has had its ups and downs, just as I thought it would. As I sat atop Katadhin, contemplating the conclusion of my adventure, I thought a lot of what would happen once I returned home...and what would not. I was excited to start putting into motion all that I had thought about during my walk: getting out of debt from my mega-spending, adventure of a life-time, finding a job in my field or going back to school, seeing the girl I¢ve tortured from 6 months of absence. The one thing I was not going to do?...slide back into my lazy ways. And I haven¢t. As it turns out, I have a job interview as a Forestry/Wildlife Resource Professional for the Ottawa Conservation District that I have to prepare for...as much as I enjoy sounding like a complete dumb-ass in from of professionals. I¢ve been cleaning my gear (with a tear ) to get ready for storage and I¢ve began the process of staying in touch with all the hiking companions I¢ve met along the way and those people that have been following my progress from my website (yes, everyone will get a response just as soon as my pictures are developed). And, of course, I¢ve been seeing friends and a girlfriend that I haven¢t seen in months . However, the biggest thing I¢ve been trying to figure out, besides how to readjust to ¢normal¢ society, has been how to answer the question: ¢How was your trip!¢ I¢ve already gotten a couple of those and I feel like people expect more than just a ¢great¢ or a ¢good¢. I¢ve heard so many cool stories from other hikers, but I really don¢t have very many of my own. I enjoyed the natural beauty of the East Coast and endured the hardships of trail-life with the most wonderfully diverse group of similar people and that is what I remember most. So how do you put 2,174 miles of memories into words? I don¢t think I can. It¢s an experience that people have to see for themselves to really be able to understand and appreciate. But that doesn¢t mean I won¢t try...telling stories, talking and laughing have never been my faults. Besides, I love the attention . So, thanks to everyone who has shared this adventure with me. And, although, you will not be able to see how the rest of my adventure turns out, I assure you that I¢ll be just fine. I never thought that there¢d be more to learn about myself, but this experience has blown that thought out of the water! A change for the better, no matter how small, is a change, none the less. Now all I have to worry about is getting reacquainted with my old life...wearing underwear, peeing in a toilet ALL the time, refraining from farting and burping in most public places...the usual. Wow, life WAS simpler when I was walking! But now, instead of following a white rectangle painted on a tree, I get to follow my heart...not so different, really.
Date: 2004-01-01
To: Life
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So I never planned on keeping a trail journal. My hike was to be for me, without the additional filter of deciding what to write about and record from every day. I still want to adhere to this, but after being on the trail for a few months I've discovered the value of TrailJournals as a place for contact information and the like, so I've put up this journal to keep semi-updated as to where I am, and to allow people to sign my guest book. After I finish the hike, I will actually be going back and putting my personal journal online, in whole or in part, so this will end up being a sort of "after the fact" trail journal, which may interest some. If you would be interested in reading it, I suggest you sign up for the notify feature that will email you when it's been updated, because it will definitely be appearing in large chunks, rather sporadically, as I have the time to work on it.Best wishes to all.-August 5, 2004
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Deckertown Turnpike

To: County Road 519
Miles today: 17.3

Train to Port Jervis, NY...bus to the state line, walked up the hill to High Point State Park. Hiked the Iris Trail back to Deckertown Turnpike, then the AT back to 519. Many thanks to the Camera Crew for the lift back to Secaucus.
Date: 2004-07-15
From: Mount Vernon, NY

To: Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 7.3

Back on the trail after getting test results--I was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, but it was more than that. Motivation problem. More on that later.I ended up missing an approximately 7 mile stretch of the trail when I hitched into town for the Lyme Disease test. This will make my final miles on the AT the stretch from Black Mountain to Bear Mountain, which I will hike with a friend after I finish Katahdin. It's not what I'd planned, but the feeling of accomplishment when standing in Maine will not really be lessened, and I'll have the added bonus of getting to hike with a friend to the actual "completion" of the trail, which will certainly be nice.
Date: 2004-05-28
To: Here we go again!
Miles today: 0.0

The more I do this, the more last minute I get. I have all my food, clothes tent etc. But it is all piled up in the bedroom. Somehow it needs to organize itself and jump into the pack. Guess I'll have to do that tonight after I finish with this last minute chore of setting up my Journal for this year.--- The GoalWalk from Pen Mar Park (The Pennsylvania-Maryland Border, thus Pen-Mar), to Deleware Water Gap, without ingesting any Cicadas. The distance I will need to cover is about 230 miles in about 3 -4 weeks.In order to achive this goal, a congruence of good things had to occur: ----The support of Friends & Family, the graciousness of a wonderful empolyer that allows me do this (and still keep my job!), and the understanding of my fellow co-workers whose willingness to shoulder the additonal load my endeavor places upon them, is a kindness I can only hope somehow, one day, to repay. If not for simultaneous occurance of these events I would not be able to do this, and therfore greatfully and humbly understand how very lucky I am. Thank you all, sincerely for your support.I also cannot diminish the aspect of being given a relativly healthy body to occupy, while I'm here on this short visit of life, that we all embark on. I am reminded of my fortune by the reality of what is now occuring where I live.----The joy of life has just occured for some neighbors in my development. They have a brand new baby boy, and they both are in awe of the miracle they have just experienced together. And then, the saddenss of the visit ending fills the few remaining days of another neighbor whose fight with a terminal disease is almost over.So, the joy and the sadness are what I'll be thinking about in my time out in the woods. How truly short our visit is, and how lucky I am to be in this life that has been given to me. My thoughts will be with both families as they go through lifes journeys. Hopfully, you will read on, as I meander through mine.....
Date: 2004-05-29
From: Boiling Springs

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Arrived at a beautiful little village called Boiling Springs. In the center of the village is a small lake, fed by, of course, a spring named Boiling! I think I read that this spring produces 11 million gallons a day. Not hard to believe when you leave the source and go to the end of the lake where the water deepens. Amazing. But Boiling refers to the effect of the water "boiling" out of the ground. The temperature I'm told is 56 degrees! BRRRRR!The homes that face the lake are all on the National Register of Historic Places and the B&B I am staying in is 180 years old. The overall appearance of these old, immaculately maintained homes makes you feel like you're in a Norman Rockwell painting. Everything is quaint, with little touches on the homes that make them unique. The couple that run the B&B have lived there 37 years. The home is full of at least 50-100 pictures of the owner's family during different stages of their lives. One picture of them with their children and in another room, pictures of those kids with their children. Throughout the house, decorated in a victorian style, is furniture as old as the owners but immaculately kept. Walking around town and what else do I see? An old style tavern with beer for me! Met another hiker in there named Tennessee Walker, a section hiker like myself, who is also trying to hike Pennsylvania this year. In talking to him I find out about a young lady I met named Swiss Miss when I was doing trail maintenance in Virginia near Asben Gap. She came hiking down an overgrown, weed covered hill I was trying to clear. We chatted for a while, told her I'd be hiking soon as well and we may meet again. Her eyes lit up when I told her about a 1/4 mile down I had left sodas and Nutter Butters. She was off and I went back to work.Anyway, Tennessee saw her at a shelter not far from here. He said it looked like bad weather and he was in for the night, along with a couple of other hikers. (Turns out this is the day we had tornado warnings where I live.) He said the thunder and lightening was intense but she liked the thrill of being out in it, so off she went and he hasn't seen her since. Alright, I'm sleepy and got to catch a shuttle ride at 8:30 tomorrow to start hiking!
Date: 2004-05-30
From: Penn Mar Park

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

First day out. The shuttle ride was great, with Mike, the son of the owners of the B&B, giving an oral history of the area we were riding through. At the drop off point (Penn Mar Park), we said our goodbyes and got about 100 yards through the park before being stopped by two elderly gentlemen who wanted to chat about what this hiking thing was. After a half hour conversation, I learned that one of the fellows still buys used cars at auctions and sells them to used car dealers (he buys from an auction house where I live so he knows the area). The other gentleman was a park worker for many years, who was taking a break on the opposite bench swapping stories wtih the wholesaler. Well, that done, started out and in another 100 yards a couple, who are also section hikers, strike up a conversation. Great folks and 1/2 hour later, I'm on the trail!An absolutely beautiful day for hiking with moderate terrain. Made great time and pulled into the shelter about 6 PM. A thru-hiker who passed by earlier on pointed out some great campsites that had a picnic table and was next to a brook with the sound of water flowing in the background. A perfect ending to a wonderful day!
Date: 2004-05-31
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Caledonia State Park
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: moderate rain

Got a late start - finally left camp at 11:30. Embarassing! First day out takes a while to get the routine organized. Cook breakfast, put away sleeping bag/pad, tent, pack the pack - Phew, I need a nap!Overcast and rain on and off all day made for a yucky day of hiking. One of the thru hikers at the shelter last night was going ultra light, meaning her pack with food and water was about 20 pounds. Her goal is to hike PA in 7 days! That's 25 - 30 miles a day. Staying at a state park tonight, so that means a shower (a warm one). The only problem was that the shower handles were spring loaded, so you had to hold onto the handle to keep the water on. Well I McGyvered it with a bungee cord to keep it on.Hope tomorrow clears up in terms of weather.
Date: 2004-06-01
From: Caledonia State Park

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: scattered clouds

More of the same as yesterday with one exception. Yea, it rained all day on and off with the requisite amount of teeth clenching lightning and thunder. The bonus, however, was hail! First pea size, then it grew to marble size and stung when it hit. It was so hard it knocked the trail map (how far to the next shelter?) out of my hands. Finally came upon a vacant rental cabin that had a big front porch. Wrung out my clothes, made some hot coffee and soup which stopped the teeth chattering. On to the next shelter, hiking double time down the trail because the skys are still ominous. Did pass an unusual shelter ealier called the Quarry Gap Shelter. It is maintained by a fellow who visits almost daily I'm told. A stone lined stream, hanging flower baskets, a privy with deodorizer inside. Like being in someone's house!At the shelter tonight relief from the brutal weather was found. But, also, from a fearful question. Hiking the wet trail that was at times a creek bed, there were prints in the wet mud. Utilizing my "expertise" in identifying tracks, I surmised that there was a bear on the trail somewhere ahead. I expected the bear to get off the trail, but the tracks keep showing up. Into bear defense mode, clacking hiking sticks and hollering "HEY BEAR". But the shelter held the answer. A thru hiker couple - with their chocolate covered Lab named "Hershey". What a yuka puk I am!
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Iron Master Mansion
Miles today: 10.0

Got out pretty early, the morning routine is taking shape. Morning started out nice, then, yup, once again rain - cold drizzling rain coupled with some climbs has made this a tough 3 days. Ended the day early at the Iron Masters Hostel run by the American Youth Hostel Organization. A huge old mansion that has been restored and it's many rooms fitted out of bunk beds and bathrooms for hikers, bikers and travellers of all sorts. It can hold about 60 people.Upon checking in - $15 for a bunk, $2 for a towel. A great deal. Also the hostel keeper tells me that a large group departed earlier and left behind pans of turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet & mashed potatoes - SCHWEET!!!!!Downside is everything I have is soaked and I was looking forward to washing and drying clothes. Well, dryer's broke, so I had to hand wash and air dry inside the hostel cause it's still raining. She (hostel manager) was having trouble with some lights so I helped fix those and then settled down. Talked to a Canadian thru hiker who told the neatest story. Trail Magic is an act of kindness to hikers, generally consisting of finding snacks, sodas, sometimes folks setting up cookouts at some point on the trail. Much appreciated and always a surprise. This hiker describes Trail Magic as some mysterious hiker in front of him, knowledgable in nature, who would leave notes on the ground. The notes would say look up and there was a bird's nest with baby birds inside, or look left and a particular type of plant or flower would be seen. He said being from Western Canada and unfamiliar with various plants (he learned what poison ivy was the hard way), that this was the best Trail Magic he has experienced on the trail thus far.
Date: 2004-06-03
From: Iron Master Mansion

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

From a weather perspective, this was the first perfect day from beginning to end. From a hiking perspective, WHOAH NELLY! Steep climbs, sharp descents and obstacle courses through boulders that required the tossing of hiking poles and pulling oneself through the field of boulders hand over hand. Nothing in the books about this! Also, biggest mileage day so far, 11 hours of hiking. Price has to be paid for doing this, however, blisters. Looks like I'm going to lose 2 toenails and appears these boots I bought are gonna get sent home. Dinner, Advil, I'm toast!
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 3.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Short day, late start. Mellow hike into town. Met a woman doing day hikes of the trail. She was from Georgia and has been doing hikes like this for years. She stated she'll have driven 2000 miles to hike a hundred. My guess is she was in her 60's out hiking the trail by herself, and loving every minute of it!Got into town and found a room in Boiling Springs (the B&B is booked as they are having a town celebration), and went out for pizza, then bought a pair of sneakers. Those boots have shredded my feet.
Date: 2004-06-06
From: Boiling Springs

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Bullets, mud and wild turkey. Oh my!Got a late start. It's hard to leave a hotel room when you know your feet are gonna be soaked from the wet fields as soon as you get going. I'm hiking with a $50 pair of sneakers now, as the boots that destroyed my small toes on both feet are on their way home. I coated the sneakers with water repellent and I must say they did quite well in the conditions today, which were wet and muddy. The hike is a forced 14 miler as there is no camping in this section. I was hiking through the Cumberland Valley and the trail was very flat for the first 12 miles as it meandered through pastures and fields. The problem with hiking in pastures with wet ground is wherever the animals walk the ground sinks so you have these mini mud puddles everywhere and dodging them to keep your feet dry is an effort. And then, of course, is it really mud or........The next encounter made one unnerved to say the least. In retrospect, there must be a shooting range along the trail. But leading up to that conclusion was, let's say, disconcerting. Bop, bop, bop, pow, pow, bop. The sound of gunfire getting louder. Partying farmers? Hunters on the loose? I hike cautiously, pausing behind big trees, listening for the sound of bullets cutting through the leaves and woods. None. Hike to the next big tree, same exercise. Needless to say, I was happy to hear the sound of gunfire behind me. Phew!And, finally, wild turkey. I wish it were the bourbon, but alas it was the real bird! Seems I surprised a mother and her clutch. Before I knew it, she was making all kinds of noise and running back and forth. That's when I saw them. About 6 turklings? Trying to do what their Mom was telling them, but every one confused. One runs right in front of me and I get two photos. I hope they come out! And I hope Mom finds this stray.I'm toast, got a 12 mile day into Duncannon tomorrow.
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

So, I'm starting to get an idea of what the concept of rocks are. Haven't seen this much rock since the Smokies. Definitely slows you down. Do the first 7 miles pretty quickly, and was heading down a side trail to get water when - Ptstss! Run!It happened that quick. As careful as I try to be, I startled a rattle snake. Now what really happened, in slow motion, was I heard the rattle, looked down hill, determined he wasn't in front of me and ran! After getting down the hill (running with a pack?)about 20 feet, I turned to get a look. He was about 4 feet long and was about a foot from where I was standing. Went back up and took a few pictures of him. Turned around to head back down to where I started and thought "You know where he is now, but you won't when you come back!" So, I decided to forge on ahead on the trail and forget the water!In the small town of Duncannon now. Everyone is very friendly and used to hikers, as the trail weaves through the center of town. Washed clothes, bought some groceries and settling down for the night in the Doyle Hotel. Almost 100 years old and originally built by Anheiser Busch, it has seen better days, but the owners cater to hikers, and it is famous in hiker circles as a must stop (so I did!).