morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-20
From: Big Meadows Lodge

To: Big Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 0.0

Well, its official. I am taking a zero day without the rest of 5 Alive. We met Staci P. in the Tap Room last night- she is a second year law student who wanted three days of peace and quiet after finals so she came to the woods(and met us...hahahaha...peace and quiet...hahaha). But she wanted to do some hiking with us and said she could try to help us in some way. Well, let me tell you she has been a HUGE help. She agreed to slackpack5 Alive for 18.8 miles today by keeping most of our gear and meeting them at a road crossing around 6:30pm. AND I decided with a lot of prodding from the rest of the group to take a break. I am not sure what is wrong with my hip\rear end but it hurts and I cant even walk right without the pack. So I am going to take a couple of days to rest it and hopefully be able to keep hiking on Thursday with them. Its pretty crazy how hard it is for me to not be out there with them...I want to experience what they are experiencing...but I am here to hike my hike and that means I have to take care of me. So it looks like I will be returning to the Shenandoahs in th future to hike the 2nd half. AND today is beautiful weather!!! So after Staci hiked four miles out with 5 Alive and then back- she and I went and bought them hamburgers, Mountain Dew, candy and other stuff -which was a 45 minute drive out of the national park to get- and we were able to do some trail angeling. Staci thank you for EVERYTHING!!!Good luck with your crazy summer and sorry about your car window roller thingie. Its on its way to Katahdin!BEAR SIGHTING # 2!!! Staci and I saw a bear cub on the Skyline drive after we left 5 Alive and Cire with hamburgers and their gear. It was so incredible. I cant believe I saw it from a car though and not on the trail...we also saw at least 30 dear...pretty stinking rocking!!!song:"In my mind I'm going to Carolina" James Taylor
Date: 2003-05-21
From: US 522 Chester Gap

To: Denton Shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

Woke up to lots and lots of rain...Didnt know what I was going to do today...woke up at the Lodge with Staci. We had breakfast - and it was so gooooooood. After breakfast we got a phone call from Diesel-he told Staci that his stuff was soaked, and that he wanted her to pick him up.So she and I found 5 Alive and Cire and she shuttled us in two trips to Ft. Royal...THank you Staci!!! Which means that we missed the 2nd half of the Shenandoahs. I had already decided to miss it and try to hike it sometime this fall, and now we all have. So we are a day ahead of schedule which means that we are going to do easy miles for the next 3 days. Which is good for me because my hip still isnt doing too well. Oopu calls me problem hip and he tries to copy my limp. I move slowly but I am going to keep going!!!song: "Im a hazard to myself" Avril
Date: 2003-05-22
From: Denton Shelter

To: Dicks Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIESEL!!!!Pretty uneventful day. There is a haze and it misted on us most of the day but it never really rained. I enjoy it...especially since my feet werent wet. We celebrated Diesel' Birthday at lunch at Manassas Gap Shelter with a little debbie cake roll and candles. It was a little smashed but he appreciated it. We are now enjoying a fire that Oopu and Cire built for us. The shelter we are in is shaped like a dome and it barely fits the six of us well-it should be an interesting night. hahaha...We only have 20 miles to cover in the next 2 days so we are going to hike to a barbecue restaurant tomorrow for lunch and take it all easy. It's helping my hip to not hike huge miles. Hopefully between easy miles and our vacation next week- I will come back on June 1st ready for the next 3 months!!!song: "Faith like a child" Jars of Clay
Date: 2003-05-23
From: Dicks Knob Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hmmmm...some days you just gotta say hmmm...5 Alive got to sleep in a dome last night and there was room for noone else. We left around 9 am and had the opportunity to hike in rain again!!! Actually, once again we have been lucky cause it only mists on us till we get to the shelter. We went to Doc's Barbeque for lunch. It is only .8 miles to the left(for north bounders) at Ashby Gap in VA. And the owner gave us a ride back to the trailhead after we ate. I ate a lot of food-it was good! Had 11 chicken wings and a pork sandwich...yummy!!! My hip is feeling better except when I slide my right foot in the mud and have to catch myself with my left foot...but I dont walk as funny as I did two days ago. We will get to dry off tomorrow!!! song:"Hangin Tough" New Kids On The Block- Best group ever!!!
Date: 2003-05-24
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today turned into a beautiful day!We passed a sign that said "Welcome to the AT rollercoaster"...so we pretended we were on a rollercoaster climbing the first big hill...but there wasnt a big down...we did go up and down a lot. Pretty fun cause it was all beautiful!David's friend Mike picked us up at the Hostel and brought us back to his house for our next zero day. Mike and Heather have 3 little girls that have been entertaining us this evening. Thank you for the awesome fajita dinner! It is nice to be inside right now because it is raining so hard outside. Time for bed!song: "Stay the night" Cant remember artist or song title
Date: 2003-05-25
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Alexandria, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day!!!We are in Alexandria, VA and some of 5 Alive went to Washington DC for the first time today. Some of us went to church and then we all met up at Olive Garden for lunch. Cire, Slickrock and I spent the afternoon at Barnes and Noble...just sat, relaxed and read books. Aaahhhh...so nice. Again, thank you to Mike, Heather, Samantha, Natalie, and Courtney for sharing your house, food and everything you all did for us!   We are heading to Harpers Ferry tomorrow...hopefully my hip will be ready for 15 miles...I do feel pretty good.song: "83" John Meyer
Date: 2003-05-26
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: 1 mile past Key Gap
Miles today: 15.1

We all stayed up pretty late last night...so waking up was HARD!!! Mike dropped us off at Bears Den right before 12:00 pm...it was a great day though. We had sunshine and the weather was clear and cool...loved it!!!Had a hard time finding the campsite. Everything is soo wet. The trail was completely under water so many times during this section...makes for a slippery mess. We were able to find one right off the trail about 5 miles outside of Harpers Ferry. There was a lot of poison ivy and mosquitos so we may be itching for the next couple of days.Tomorrow mom will be here and we will actually be in Harpers Ferry!!!Yeah!!!!song:"Adia" Sarah Mclaughlin
Date: 2003-05-27
From: Campsite 1 mile past Key Gap

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

HOME SWEET HOME!!! Its official...5 Alive is on a vacation from the trail. My mom met us in Harpers Ferry this morning. Slickrock and I woke up at 5:30 am this morning ready to find mom and get a shower. I got to drive today!!! Yep, I drove the whole way from W. VA to Ohio...loved it. Now after resting and a great dinner from the Winking Lizard Restaurant(Buffalo wings...yum!), I am ready for bed!song:"God of second chances" Bebo Norman
Date: 2003-05-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It's my 27th Birthday!!! This going to be a good year. I got to spend the morning with my mom- we ran errands and then had lunch and dad met us there. This is the first birthday that I have gotten to spend with them in abou 8 years...what a blessing. Then I flew out at 4:10 to Nashville so that I can hang out with some friends down there. Doug, Liz and Matt thanks for dinner and Liz thank you for the amazing CAKE!!!Blessings to all of you on this day...song: "Big Mistake" David Wilcox
Date: 2003-05-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well...hmmm...5 Alive is still on its "Vacation"...but it has been a harder couple of days for Slickrock and I then we thought. As you know I am in Nashville - ready for a couple days of relaxation. But I got a phone message to call my mom as soon as possible(which is so hard to receive because you never know what that can mean), so when I reached her before 9:00 am this morning, she shared with me that her mother, my grandma passed away the night before. On my birthday. So what do I do? I had a couple of really selfish moments today-where I didnt want to change my plans-but mom and my aunt would like to have a memorial on Saturday morning for grandma...so I am flying home tomorrow night now. I know she is no longer in pain. I know she can sing again. But I am going to miss her. It's hard to rejoice for her when I want one more time with her...I did get to spend time with some great people today. Paul and Jayana!!! You two rock, what a blessing to spend time with you! Hope to see you two more often in the future~when you adopt me to sit around your dinner table~hahaha.Good luck in your next chapter of life!Sorry that this entry has nothing to do with hiking!!!The next two days of entries probably won't either so you may want to skip to Sunday, June 1st when we are back on the trail if you don't want to read these.Song: "Baricades and Brickwalls" Kasey Chambers
Date: 2003-05-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Have you ever had a heaviness on your chest so much that you feel you could cry at any time? I have been more emotional these past two days than I thought I would be. It's crazy because I was sitting on an airplane earlier this evening listening to some tapes that I have made and certain songs would just make me want to cry. It is mainly because I miss my grandma, but I also am struggling with the fact that I can't control life. I have so many hopes and dreams and expectations about my own life and I want to know what to do next and start planning and I can't. I do trust my heavenly Father with my life...but I still want Him to email me, shout at me and just let me know so I can relax about it all. But it's not looking like He is going to do that for me. BIG SIGH.I spent a great day with Doug, Liz, Jayana, and Paul. Liz took me to get a pedicure and the lady scraped my feet with a razor blade...and they are still tough...yikes. Thank you to all of you for making my visit and birthday special!!! Now I am home and I have tried to help my plan the order of the service tomorrow and take care of other things. It is going to be very casual because that is what my grandma wanted but we at least have a plan. What an honor to be apart of a celebration for a woman who shared her voice, books, and joy for crafts with me. Carolyn Sterling...thank you.song: "Lets start with the end" or something like that by David Wilcox
Date: 2003-06-01
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up early in Cuyahoga Falls, OH and my wonderful parents had breakfast and lunch stuff for us to take with us. Then dad drove us back to Harpers Ferry...some of us explored the town and then joined the rest of us on the trail. Easy and good hike for our first day back after our longest break.I talked to Diesel a lot today about how different it is to come back to the trail this time then when we first started hiking 3 months ago. I have almost a sense of dread, mixed with hope and joy and comfort. I know what to do out here...I dont have to wait on anyone else to meet my needs because they are all my responsibility. But I am also amazed at how quickly the first 3 months went by and I KNOW this second half will be over before I know it. Which scares me a little because I don't know what I am doing at that point. I know that where I go is exactly where God wants me to...I am learning to live in the struggle/the fear of not knowing...and not trying to control it or make a decision that doesnt need to be made yet. Anyways,we are in probably the nicest and newest shelter on the AT-it even has a varnished floor!!! OH yeah, I am trying my New Balance hiking boots out this week because my Garmont boots are slowly dying. I am not sure that the NB boots are going to give my feet enough support...but I will figure that out.Song: Theme song from Gettysburg-dad had played that this morning to get us excited about getting back on the trail.
Date: 2003-06-02
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Annapolis Rocks
Miles today: 17.6

Such amazing weather!!! Great Hike!!! We all agree that we like Maryland the best so far...and we will be in Maryland only one more day. Sigh. After our first four miles we got to the National Park Gathland-which had old houses and info on Gath PLUS bathrooms and a coke machine. Then we had lunch about an 1 1/2 hours later on a BIG rock. Another two miles and we were at the only State Campground on the trail that provides a free HOT shower...so we all took a shower. 2 more miles and we got to tour the first Washington Memorial which also had a phone, bathrooms, water and coke machine. It's nice when our day gets broken up by all the variety! Plus all the amazing views and some of the mud is drying up.My feet are tired though! I cant decide if these NB boots are better for me or not. My bunions didnt bother me as much today but my feet hurt...hmmm...We got to talk to mom too and that is always a blessing. Do keep praying for her and us as we continue to deal with losing grandma.song: "My worst fear" Rascal Flatts
Date: 2003-06-03
From: Annapolis Rocks

To: Devil's Racecourse Shelter
Miles today: 11.1

This is my favorite day so far...everything makes me laugh. Its been and continues to be a pretty ridiculous day. I am laying in the 2nd smallest (okay, not really but its small) shelter with 9 others and I am in about 5 inches of space. We left Annapolis Rocks at 9 am and it was sprinkling a bit but not too bad...we covered 7 miles before 12 pm and ate lunch at a great big and new sheler. While there it started to rain pretty hard. Slowly but surely most of 5 Alive left to get to this shelter...Oopu and I waited 3 hours before we left. I was SURE the rain would stop-HA! So we started out and slipped, slid and got completely wet in about 15 minutes. But we kept laughing. The trail is its own stream...and when you get to a real stream...its a river. We had to cross two rivers and the first one was up to my knees and the second one covered my shorts and the bottom of my pack. Hahahaha...again I am still laughing.   Then we get to the shelter...and it is full of wet !people...and NO room for us. He decided to put up his tent and while i am still trying to figure out what to do...Diesel offers me his spot in the shelter (he was going to join Oopu in the tent)...but their tent is soaked already so me, Slickrock and Ketchup are squeezed into a 2 person spot with Diesel at our feet and Oopu is in my spot. Good times. Thankful to be here experiencing all of this...song: "You're so vain" Carly Simon
Date: 2003-06-04
From: Devil's Racecourse Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, I think we all agreed that there was very little sleeping in the Devil racecourse shelter last night. It took us awhile to get started but we made it to PenMar Park where we were able to get some pizza. Actually we werent able to get them to answer their phone so wonderful Bill Mills(the caretaker at the park) volunteered to take me up to the pizza place to get. Yeah!!! So we got 3 large pizzas and it was good. Thank you Bill. We only had about 4 more miles to this shelter which we decided to stay at cause it was empty and we wanted to miss the coming rain. We have been joined by Sunshine, Eurotrash and 2 other guys but there is still plenty of room for some good sleeping. Oh yeah, we crossed the Mason-Dixon Line and are in Pennsylvania now. Hasnt been to bad yet(only hiked four miles so far)...but bring on the rocks!song: "I'm a fool, fool, fool for you" Alan Jackson
Date: 2003-06-05
From: Deer Lick Shelter

To: 2.4 miles past Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: scattered clouds

awoke late (8:30) and took another shower. my father had been up awhile and drove around looking for breakfast places. so when he came back, he said he had found a panera bread company. everyone else was still asleep, so my father, grandfather, speck, and i headed for breakfast. i ate well (asiago bagel, cinnamon roll, and a chai latte) and had a nice family time. i was glad to get this time with them, especially after my grandma's death, because you can never get enough time with someone you love. we grabbed 13 bagels for the others and headed to the hotel. we took our time getting ready and my father took the girls first to the trail (with my grandpa) and we waited for the others. my grandfather really enjoyed seeing us with all our gear and he decided when the others came, he would hike and film us. so my dad and grandpa walked a bit with us, taking video and photographs. it was nice, i love sharing this with my family. they headed home and we hiked on. it was a cloudy da!y but no rain came. so a quick 10 miles and we set up camp in a nice campsite. i am going to relax, read, and enjoy the nice weather tonight
Date: 2003-06-06
From: 2.4 miles past Quarry Gap Shelter

To: 1.8 mile past Pine Grove State Park
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Another early start today, which allowed us to do 10 miles before lunch! I love that because we can hang out all afternoon. We got to the official halfway point around 2 and took pictures. Then we went to the Pine Grove State Park to pick up our packages and try the 1/2 gallon challenge. They didnt have too many choices of flavors today...Ketchup and Oopu chose vanilla, Slickrock chose Banana Split, Cire went for different flavors in the pint size and I chose Peanut Butter Cup(choc. Ice cream with a peanut butter swirl). Now if you didnt know this about me...I am not the biggest fan of ice cream...both my sister and I prefer slushies or icies over ice cream any day. So this was going to be hard for both of us...I also am not a huge fan of chocolate, but I didnt want just vanilla. In the course of an hour...Slickrock, Oopu and Cire decided they werent going to finish their half gallon-even though they did eat about 2 pints. Ketchup ate her half gallon in one hour and !11 minutes...Yeah!!! I was only half way finished at that point. It took me another hour to finish my half gallon in 2 hours and 20 minutes. Blech. I dont feel too badly though. Congratulations to Ketchup and Speck!!! Most of us ate a hot dog too. Yowzers!!!We have hiked another 2 miles past the state park to a campsite and only have 7 miles to meet my dad and grandpa tomorrow at lunch for our Gettysburg adventure. This A.T. hike has provided All of 5 Alive with so many opportunities!!!Thank you Sandi Blank(trail supporter extrordinair) for another fun package!!! Love the hair extension...Song: "Always look on the bright side of life" from Monty Python's Life of Brian
Date: 2003-06-07
From: 1.8 mile past Pine Grove State Park

To: PA 34
Miles today: 6.8

Rain, rain, rain...it was pouring when we woke up. so we packed up as quickly as possible and booked it to PA 34 where dad and grandpa were going to pick us up. There was a General store .2 miles down the road so we all went there to change and wait...and eat. Dad and grandpa picked us up at 12:15, and dad had already found a hotel so we ate, showered and were on our way to Gettysburg. We had a great couple of hours there, listening to the two of them share their passion about the Civil War. Thank you to both of you for taking your time to educate us!!! Then of course: DINNER. Steak. i have eaten more steaks since I have been hiking then ever before. I love it!Got to talk to a great friend before I went to bed then sleep.song: "I fell in a vat of Chocolate"Smothers Brothers
Date: 2003-06-08
From: PA 34

To: Backpacker's Campsite
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

My sister and I got to steal some time with just our dad and grandpa this morning. Dad had found a Panera Bread so he took us there for breakfast while the others were still sleeping. I love hanging out with both of them together-you two are funny! Dad dropped 5 Alive back on the trail at 11:45 and we hit some rocks, met some section hikers and sweated cuz its humid! We got to hike through a Soybean farm...looked pretty cool. I love all the different things we get to see out here! We are camped by some train track right outside of Boiling Springs...(Candi, I cant get away from trains!!)...there is actually one going by right now! I may not sleep well tonight. Oh well.It's not raining, that is always a HUGE positive!song: "You can sleep while I drive" Melissa Etheridge
Date: 2003-06-09
From: Backpacker's Campsite

To: Riverside Campsite in Duncannon
Miles today: 28.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, what do you know. 28 miles today. I told 5 Alive back in the beginning of our hike that if I got an opportunity to, I would like to hike a marathon(26.2 miles). And they laughed at me... I decided last week that if I was going to do it had to be today because the terrain isnt too bad and the rocks are supposed to get worse after Duncannon. So I mentioned it yesterday to everyone and they surprised me because they all wanted to try to do it! Ketchup was even out of her tent this morning before I was!!! She left at 7 am and Slickrock and I left at 7:30 am...I am not sure when the guys left but we saw them at lunch after 10 miles-BUT they arent here yet and it is almost 10 pm. We hiked 26.2 miles into town but then had to hike all the way across town to this campsite. whew...my feet hurt. It was a great day though. We walked across a diverse trail today: 2 towns, cow pastures(wet mud and poop-all over my boots and legs), farm land, mountains, a rock slide...ver!y cool day. Now I am going to sleep well.song: "Simple Gifts" Shaker Song
Date: 2003-06-10
From: DUncannon

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hellllooooo...hmmm...after yesterday's award winning 27 mile hike, I tried to convince some of 5 Alive to hike just 5 miles today...but no go. They just laughed at me. Hey, I try. We woke up at the Duncannon Riverfront Campgrounds(which was also by a train-we don't like to sleep much), picked up our maildrops and then headed to the Methodist Church. The church has a library that they open up for hikers to rest, relax and check the internet. We were able to spend the morning there waiting for Ketchup's friend Tiffany to pick us up. Then I lost my wallet. It's actually a plastic baggie with my id's, debit card and money and so I am sure someone is having fun with the money that I had in it. I am hoping that someone turns it in to the Post office or Police station though because without my id, Slickrock and I can't pick up our packages. They are all sent in my name...to make things simpler...anyways, send anything to me NOW in Julia's name!!!! Bummer, worse things can happen but this does sort of make things harder on us. I have called everyone I could think of looking for it and canceled all my cards so I should be okay. BUT we are in Harrisburg with Tiffany, George, Bree, and Connor and we are RELAXING!!! Watching movies tonight and tomorrow all day.Big HUGE Thank You to the Wernet's! 5 Alive loved our package with all the Agape and goodies. We did not expect that! We miss you all and are praying for you!
Date: 2003-06-11
From: Duncannon

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Well, haven't done much today. Watched a couple of movies, worked on my IRA's(that's exciting!) and am looking for a job in the fall...HUGE thank you to the Dinsmore's for opening their house to us! And Bree, I will continue working on my UbiDubi language. Okubay?! Heading out tomorrow from Duncannon...hoping it's not going to rain for awhile. It's been nice not smelling like mildew. :-)Song: Music from the "Moulin Rouge"