morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-09-21
From: Hwy. 17, Oquossoc, ME.

To: Rangely, ME.
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

It's a 13.1 mile slack pack today, but Bob tells me that it's a piece of cake. He's right! It's not flat, but after what I've been thru, it's no trouble. Plus which, I'm finally in pretty good shape. Bob drops me off where the kayakers picked me up the day before. I do a bit more than 13 mi. in about 6 hours and have caught a ride to the new IGA Supermarket when Bob shows up to haul us back to Gull Pond. It's my birthday. I mention in passing that this Appalachian Trail stuff should all be done with by now. If I hadn't gone back to Texas for 2 weeks after Trail Days, this would all be over by now. There's less than 100 miles to go to Shaw's Boarding House in Monson. I call Grampy to give him my best guess as to when I'll be at Shaw's.When I get back, bless my soul, here's a cupcake with a candle in it. Bob leads everyone in Happy Birthday, courtesy of Gull Pond B-and-B. I'm touched. I call Mother also, as I will be on the Trail tomorrow. It's been a good day, an easy day. Maybe the easiest day I've spent on the Trail ever, and I did 13 miles. The next 13 will not be as easy.
Date: 2003-09-22
From: Rangely, ME.

To: Saddleback Junior
Miles today: 9.7

Four of us get hauled out to the parking lot on Maine Hwy 4. I am the only nobo. Well, shoot. I have too much food and plenty of alcohol for the stove. Am headed for Stratton, thirty something miles north. I don't know it now, but it will take 6 days to get there. The hiker boxes at Gull Pond had good stuff, gorp and instant potatoes. Also, I'm carrying more sandwich stuff. Even a bit of Blackberry Brandy has found it's way into my pack. I'm carrying way too much, but I take it easy as I pass Piazza Rock Lean-to and Saddleback #1.Am actually heading for Poplar Ridge Lean-to, but the sheer ups and downs of the Horn and Saddleback Junior bring me to my knees. The only water I purify out of an alpine bog up on the Horn. It's getting late in the day when I give it up. I'm just not in the mood for another 3,000' climb up to a shelter. Also, another front is blowing in. I'll tent this one out. I feel like I've caught a break as I set up tent in a little flat spot. It looks like it'll be fine if it doesn't rain too hard. A good dinner and I wave as other hikers pass by. Later that nite, lightening and rain, but I am snug and sleepy. Sometime about 9:00 p.m. I hear a moose come by. It snorts in alarm when it finds my tent set up just off the path. The rain continues.
Date: 2003-09-23
From: Saddleback Junior

To: Saddleback Junior
Miles today: 0.0

Rain, rain go away, Texas Jack wants to hike today! But it doesn't, and I don't. It gets later and later and still the rain continues. More hikers pass, but I stay where I am. Still it rains. Hmmm...ya know, I am camped in a flat spot, a flat LOW spot. Hmmm...it needs to quit raining...but it doesn't and I stay where I'm at. Along about 3:00 a.m. I wake up with water in my sleeping bag. The floor of the tent is acting like a waterbed mattress with ripples and little waves when you touch it. Rats!! It's dark and the tent is in 4" of water.By headlamp, I drag the tent up out of the puddle and between two boulders above the swamp. I squeeze as much water out of the sleeping bag as I can manage and settle in to get what sleep I can, wedged between two big rocks on the side of a slope. Thank goodness it's not freezing cold. Synthetic saves me yet again. A down bag would be useless, but my Slumber Jack drains the water down the slope and keeps me warm while body heat drys it out.
Date: 2003-09-24
From: Saddleback Junior

To: Spaulding Mt. Lean-to
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Morning can't come soon enough. I am wet and so is everything else. I even pour water out of the bear bag that's been hanging in the trees. But, it's not raining and I'm ready to get on to the lean-to and dry things out. A couple of miles and the "Baseball Bat" Poplar Ridge Lean-to shows up ahead. Oops! There's a VERY friendly couple of hikers already there. They are drying out too, and sharing a sleeping bag for warmth (it seems) while their clothes dry. It's a couple of the hikers who passed me yesterday. Curiously, both the guy AND the girl were hiking in skirts. I recognized then 'cause the skirts were hanging up when I happened by. They don't seem to want to talk much as they had only met one another in Rangely and apparently hadn't gotten past the passion of the moment as yet. No problem. Gentleman that I am, I apologise a lot and keep going. It's 8 miles to the next shelter, but it's an easy eight, and three hours of steady hiking gets me some privacy and plenty of space to spread out and dry off at Spaulding Mtn. Lean-to. A hot meal and coffee have me feeling "fit as a fiddle" before dark. The sleeping bag still has damp spots, but I know that bodyheat will finish drying it out. One other fella shows up, but he tents down the way. Only 80 some odd miles to go.
Date: 2003-09-25
From: Spaulding Mt. Lean-to

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: clear sky

The days are getting shorter, the weather colder. No snow yet. Spaulding Mtn. is a healthy climb and right at my front door this morning. A bronze plaque honoring CCC workers stands amidst fallen timber from some forgotten storm. The trees are all laid over like children's jackstraws.There's plenty of run-off water and the Trail is wet but passable. As I work down the Mtn., I consider having to wade thru another ford on the Carrabassett River. It's a hassle to have to stop, take off my boots and 4 pair of socks, tie 'em around my neck, and carefully wade across the rocky bottom while using my sticks as extra support. Then to dry off and get going again.They suggest that you wear your footgear while fording, but for me, that would mean hiking in wet boots. That's a no-no, so at every ford, I go thru this little ritual. It's a pleasure to see that someone has manuevered a plank across the rocks spanning the ford. That's a good thing, as the river is still too high to wade thru. If not for the plank, I would have had to wait for the water to go down.It's 8 miles to Maine Hwy. 27, and then a 5 mile hitch to Stratton, but Crocker Cirque Campsite beckons with tent platforms (and tie downs, of joy!) and a bubbling brook. It's only 3 p.m., but I take my pick of tent platforms and get ready for another rainy nite. A dozen or so others wander in before dark, and the sounds of cooking and camaraderie filter thru the trees.One fella, Snakecharmer, is sort of loud and tells stories like I do. We swap friendly insults in a bantering sort of way. I kinda like him. We see each other off and on for the rest of my hike. He's a welder who's spent time in New Zealand and Australia and has been known to hop a tramp steamer or lend a hand on a sailing ship in order to get from place to place. Right now he's knocking around on the A.T. while he's between jobs.The friendly couple and the dog are tenting down the way. It's a good spot I think, as once again, the rain drives everyone to the safety of their tents.
Date: 2003-09-27
From: Stratton, ME.

To: Horn's Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 5.1

Folks, I want this to be over. Every day I grind out another few miles. Am down to the last two weeks, and I just want this to be over. I've done the worst of the worst, and the best of the worst and STILL there are miles to go. I know I'm staying in lots of motels and B and Bs, but I'm not really having fun. I've been out here a long time (it seems) and would have quit and gone back to Texas to finish up later if not for Grampie and Donna. I was ready to go home 300 miles ago and leave the rest for next time. Many and many is the time I read about Aloha Ann or Don Quixote or someone else 2 weeks ahead that I could be hiking with if only I had hopped back on the Trail after Trail Days. The guy from Stratton Motel hauls me back to the Trail and I'm grinding it out once more. As I pass Cranberry Stream Campsite, 5 or 6 hikers who couldn't afford a motel in Stratton pull out in front of me. We've been playing "Trail Tag" for a week now. They razz me 'cause I spent the bucks for a motel, and they camped for free, but it's all good natured and the young people leave me behind, huffing and puffing up my end of the Bigelow Range Trail. It's not that bad, but when I stop for lunch at Horn's Pond Lean-to, it starts to rain. Only 5 something miles today, but I've moved north. The caretaker lady and her new puppy drop by to chat, keep an eye on things and count noses. Snakecharmer is there, so are 12-15 others. The wind picks lup, the rain gets worse. Guess I'll stay here tonight. At some point, I break out the harmonica and get some pics of me playing and the puppy howling. A good time was had by all.   We are all sleeping (or trying to) when a greenhorn hiker comes stumbling in at 9:30 p.m. This guy doesn't know, as Judge Judy says, if he's afoot or horseback. He pretty much is in his own world, and proceeds to start cooking and wants to discuss the fine points of hiking gear at 10:30 at nite. All of this by the light of a headlamp that looks like it came off of some police helicopter. It's THAT bright! Guess I was feeling a bit on the testy side, 'cause I came quietly to a slow boil about 11 p.m. I finally came loose and read him the riot act about what an inconsiderate dolt he seemed to be and I offered to educate him further if that's what he wanted. (I meant it.) You could hear a pin drop for the rest of the nite.
Date: 2003-09-29
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Hallelujah! Spotlight Guy, and the guy who knows everything, fit together like 2 sides of a dovetail joint. It's getting colder, and the forecast is for colder yet. Calling for snow in the higher elevations.Ouch! Got to get a move on. The topographical maps show only easy walking between here and Caratunk. Water isn't a problem. There's run-off everywhere. The Trail drains fairly well thru here, and the roads crossed and markers passed fall away into the distance. East Flagstaff, Long Falls Dam Road, Roundtop, & West Carry all come and go. West Carry Pond Lean-to is spacious and inviting. The spring house takes some finding, but the water is cold with a good flow, if a bit on the stained side. (The surface water leaches tannin out of the organic matter and stains the spring water brown. It won't hurt you, but it does look like weak Coca-cola.) Other hikers continue to arrive until well after dark, and one of the tent sites has a bonfire going. The younger set socializes, but I'm down for the nite. The sound of distant loons calling to each other thru the darkness imprints itself on my soul. Thank you, Lord!
Date: 2003-10-01
From: US 201, Caratunk, ME.

To: Baker Brook
Miles today: 11.9

The all you can eat breakfast at Caratunk B and B ought to be famous. It's WAY good and the lady next door shuttles us out to Moxie Pond. It's a twelve mile slack pack back with rain forecast this afternoon. As a sobo, I pass a dozen people I've camped with this last week. Snakecharmer, and Indiana Slim. Spotlight Guy is still full of questions. (We're sort of pals now, and I take time to answer his latest round of querys. He seems to want to know and I respect that.I take time to savor the view from the high point. My odyssey is coming to an end. Almost make it back to Paul's before it rains. Am hardly wet at all, and it's only about 4 p.m. Plenty of time to watch a video and get ready for giant cheeseburgers and milkshakes. No need to go to a cafe tonight. We sit around upstairs, and chew the fat and tell hiker stories until the last story is told and the wind rattles windows above our beds. Over in the corner, someone snores quietly.
Date: 2003-10-02
From: Baker Brook

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

Had another great breakfast and a call to Grampie to let him know that I will be at Shaw's on 10/3 for sure. Another 2 days. Don't need all this food. Leave most of it in the hiker box at Paul's. Likewise, about 8 pair of extra sox. Don't need 'em now. Only 2 more days. Saints be praised. One more mountain to go!The Lady Next Door shuttles about 6 of us out to Moxie Pond again and, as luck would have it, a yearling moose jumps out of the brush and starts to run ahead of the van. Pond on one side and woods on the other, and the moose seems to enjoy an easy gallop this crisp morning. We all get pictures and the moose finally veers off the road into someone's front yard to watch us pass. We all feel special somehow to have been a part of this moment. Lady Next Door is as excited as the rest of us.Have to ford Baker Brook in order to go nobo, but no one falls in. Everyone is glad that the ford is no worse than it is. Lady Next Door waves goodbye as she heads back to B and B for the next shuttle. I wouldn't mind coming back to Caratunk B and B, 'cause it's first rate. Thank you Paul, but nobo beckons. Nothing serious, nothing hard. Even when a blue-blaze trail around the summit of Moxie Bald Mtn. presents itself, I opt to go over the top. This is what I came for, and it's the last peak I'll have to climb. Pictures of the fissures on the way up reward my trouble. Had I blue-blazed around the top, I would never have seen them. Only 7 miles later, I opt to stay at Moxie Bald Lean-to. It's a smallish place on the shores of Bald Mountain Pond. As the sun sets, the haunting call of loons sends shivers down my spine. I hear them still in the shadows of my mind.
Date: 2003-10-04
From: Shirley-Blanchard Rd.

To: Monson, ME.
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: light rain

Woke up to one of Old Keith Shaw's famous 4X4 hiker breakfasts...four eggs, four bacon, four sausages, four pancakes, and hash browns. Man, if that's not enough to choke a mule, he'll give you seconds. Grampie parked his truck back out on Shirley-Blanchard Rd. and Young Keith slacked us over to Maine Hwy. 15 where we had walked out of the "100 Mile Wilderness" on Aug. 2, 2001. It was pretty cold that morning, and it felt good to stretch out and warm up a bit for that last 3.3 miles. I don't want to tell any secrets, but Grampie said that he had completely forgotten about that little 3.3 mile stretch. Personally, I think he planned it that way. We really did finish our A.T. hike together. We dodged rain drops and puddles that morning and when we turned off the Trail back toward his truck, he paused for a moment. "That's the last one" he said, nodding back toward the last white blaze we had just walked past. I stopped in my tracks and felt a cold sensation well up from the base of my spine. "Damn!" I thought. Better take another look and I turned around and went back to take a long one.....When I was a fireman, I had worked with a fella, who, in his younger days, had worked unloading big sacks from boxcars. At the end of each day, his burly co-worker would throw down the last sack of the shift and tell him "Son, THAT'S the one we've been lookin for." I stood there, looking up at that white blaze and tears came to my eyes. I had started this journey on 3/13/01 and had hiked past and cursed, and yelled at, and dreamed about, "White Blazes" for 3 years altogether. Ten months of hiking, sweat, and falling down, and being snowed on and rained on and breaking a rib and I don't know what-all, and at LOOOONG last I am face to face with the one I've been looking for. The last one. The one that marks an end to this 2,169 mile marathon. We didn't have any film, but that's ok. I carry the picture with me in my mind wherever I go. I know I did it. I don't need a picture to prove it. Texas Jack had tears in his eyes as he and Grampie left Monson. Guess I'm just an old softie.It was long, and hard, and done with. I was mighty glad for the "Done with" part. We went on back to Meriden, CT. and Donna and I went out to buy me some "skinny clothes", 'cause I had walked out of the woods weighing 235 lbs. (When I started getting ready to hike, I weighed 325 lbs.) I swore I wouldn't put the weight back on, but we all do. (Am currently back up to 255 lbs.)
Date: 2003-10-05
From: Monson, ME.

To: Meriden, CT.
Miles today: 0.0

Was at Grampie and Donna's for a couple of days. Had to get my truck back from Kenny's where he had let me park it for the months it took to finish this. When we showed up to get the truck, Kenny had washed and vacuumed it out. (Kenny, that was way cool, and thank you so much!)Later, friends from the Ski Club dropped by for a little "Congratulations" party with a cake that had a picture of Texas Jack and Grampie on the summit of Mt. Moosilauke. Everyone was just wonderful. We were all glad it was over, but you know, it isn't really. It's never really over. Like Fluff Head told me one morning in the clouds, "I think about it every day, and every day is different because of it." It really does change us. Deep down, fundamentally. Then, there's the other thing.... Hiker Legend has it that no one who finishes the Appalachian Trail ever does it only once.... Hmmmm...ya know, I DO have alla this hikin' stuff laying around....would be a shame to waste it...don't you think? Famous Quote from the Author:            "Now that I have glasses, I'll be able to SEE what it is I'm         hiking past. This time I'll be able to appreciate some of the         "finer" points of ticks, broken bones, hurricanes, snow storms,         floods, and biting flies.            Sweating will be a LOT more fun now that I'll be able to         wipe it off glasses sometimes."And finally....Texas Jack thinks that "The End" of THIS tale has yet to be told...
Date: 2003-05-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, we leave in 2 days. We are driving to Houston and then flying to Atalanta wwhere we will meet Wes Wisson who will shuttle us to Deep Gap, NC. From there itis a short 1 mile hike to Standing Indian Shelter. It will be a long day, but we are both ready. We finished school on Thur. and Closed out grades and checked out on Fri. A little about us and what we are doing. A little over 2 years ago, Dorothy had just finished surgery to remove a small, cancerous lump in her right breast. She then went through 3 months of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation treatment. Her last week of radiation treatment, I was told that tests had shown probable lung cancer and that I would need surgery to remove the suspicious spots on my left lung. After 5 days in the hospital, I find out it was not cancer! YEA! but I still missed a month of work. Dorothy and I were both 52 at the time and very active. She ran and I cycled. We both needed something to do to come back to life. And we wanted something we both enjoyed. After reading Bill Bryson's book aand Lance Armstrong's book, we diecided to take up backpacking and train to hike the AT. Lat year we went from Amicolola to Standing Indian. This year we are starting at Standing Indian and are going to Damascus.And we leave in 2 days!!
Date: 2003-05-29
From: Deep gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: light rain

Left Houston at 8:30. They made us take our shoes off to check through Hobby. Flight was uneventful. Rode MARTA to North Springs station and met Wes Wisson our shuttle. Great guy. Got to Deep Gap about 3:30. Repacked the packs and hiked the 1 mile to Standing Indian. Got there about 4:30. Met Matilda, Duck, Lee and Brad. Had garlic mashed potatoes. Camera batteries were dead.
Date: 2003-05-30
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

Good day. Easy. Had trouble getting used to the packs. Cool and sunny. Stopped for lunch at Carter gap shelter. Saw Matilda and Duck. Met 3 hound dogs with radio collars after lunch. Got to the campground about 3:30. The toenail on my left big toe is bruised and will probably lose it. Tried to trim it with a knife but it hurt too much. Later found a pair of nail clippers on a rock. Trimmed them and they are OK. Only night on the trail that we have been alone.
Date: 2003-05-31
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Standing Indian Campground
Miles today: 9.6

Climbed Albert Mountain - tough - rocky and steep. It was raining and windy all day. About 50 degrees. Had lunch at Big Spring shelter, then hiked on to Rock Gap Shelter. Had planned to go to Rainbow Springs Camp, but took the wrong road to Standing Indian. Nice place with showers and bathrooms. Harry brought us a half an apple pie! It was great. Washed clothes in the shower and dried them on the grass. Cleared off into a beautiful day. It was very windy. Blew our tent away twice until we staked it better. Jimmy is having trouble with his fingers and toes. Much better than last year with his knees and heat problems.
Date: 2003-06-01
From: Standing Indian Campground

To: Silar Bald Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: few clouds

Beautiful day. Started about 9:30. Dorothy found a wild strawberry. It was good. Lots of climbing, but not too hard. Jimmy had trouble with his pack but finally got it adjusted. Dorothy is doing great. Matilda and Duck caught us after Winding Stair Gap and we met them, Brad, and Lee at the shelter about 1:30. Spent the afternoon lying in the sun on some soft grass. Rice and gravy were good for supper. 12 Boy Scouts came in about 5:30. Tres has Aunt and Uncle who own Bicycle Sports Shop in Austin!
Date: 2003-06-02
From: Silar Bald Shelter

To: Cold Springs Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Wayah Bald - great view. Could see everywhere we had been - Standing Indian and Albert Mountain. Got to Cold Springs Shelter about 4:30. Everyone else went on. Dorothy hated this shelter and no bear bags. Jimmy nearly never got the bear bag hung. About 7:30 another hiker came in. Southbound from Harper's Ferry(half-way point on the trail). He was a UT graduate from Glen Rose. Small world. We set our tent up in the shelter to get away from bugs. Good choice as it rained all night.
Date: 2003-06-03
From: Cold Springs Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: moderate rain

Our hardest day yet. Got to Nantahala Outdoor Center at Wesser at 5:00 after leaving at 8:00. Rained off and on all day. Muddy, slick, rocky,and steep. Very slow going-treacherous in places. A great view from the jump-up. Azaleas everywhere. Took 4 hours to do the last 5 miles going down. Jimmy's pack is killing him. May get another at NOC. Checked into a hostel. Had a hamburger for supper and went to bed at 7:30. Will take a 0 mile day tomorrow. Dorothy's knees are hurting and we both need a rest.
Date: 2003-06-04
From: NOC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Stayed at NOC in base camp. Ate a lot, slept a lot and got ready for Thursday. There was a DARE group - 15 boys - and they left us bacon and eggs for breakfast. Met Viola, Jake, David and Jessie(the dog). Jimmy bought a new pack and knees were ready to go again.
Date: 2003-06-05
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: few clouds

All up hill today. Climbed 3350 ft. Tired, but not to bad. Met Viola, Jake, David and their golden retriever, Jessie. They're from Nashville- great folks. They are going to spend the night on Cheoah Bald, so we probably won't see them again. Later, Betsy and Amy, mother and daughter from Dallas came in. They started at Winding Stair Gap and are going to Fontana Dam.
Date: 2003-06-06
From: Sassafras Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: clear sky

Left Sasafrass about 8:30. Stopped at Cheoah Bald - great views of the Smokies. We will be there in a couple of days. Got to Stecoah Gap about 1:00. Had lunch and visited with Steve. He remembered us from NOC. Told us the next 21/2 miles were one of his least favorite on the trail. He thru hiked 2 years ago. He was right. Took us 2 hrs to cover 21/2 miles. VERY STEEP! Got to the shelter at 4:00. mike , Betsy, and Amy also showed up. Looked like rain, so we pitched our tent in the shelter; good thing because it poured later. Dorothy is in bed at 7:00 and I'm right behing her.