morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-03-25
From: .5 mile short of Snowbird Mtn.

To: Walnut Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 16.1

Oh yeah, my feet hurt...what an amazing day. We did a lot of climbing this morning, man we were sweating. I am collecting salt crystals on my body and clothing...oh yeah. Then we climbed Max Patch...what an incredible climb. It is a huge bald (I guess) - with a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains...including the smokies. We ate lunch up there and hung out for about 2 hours. While there, Mama D '02 and her friend Amanda...showed up with a little trail magic. And they took all of our trash too!!! Thanks you two! Hope to see you at trail days. Then we hiked another 6.7 miles to Walnut Creek Shelter. We were all pretty tired but not wiped out...me, Slickrock and Frigid Air...hiked down the path at dusk for water and proceeded to get lost, fall, Slick popped a blister and bled all over, and there was no water. This is an old shelter-they don't even have it on the signs anymore...but there is a privy! But we made it back up and will have to start tomorrow off with very little water...hopefully we will pass a stream soon.It's a little weird that we have been on the trail for almost a month. It has flown by so quickly!! I think my favorite thing so far was climbing the rock walls at Albert mtn. and singing praise and worship with 5 Alive up there...knowing that we are so small and our Father is so HUGE!!!Anyways...we get a shower tomorrow night!!!!I cant wait!!! We are going to try to get an early start cause we still have 13 miles to get to Hot Springs and my mother!!Blessings,specksong:"Chapel of Love"and "Hokey Pokey" pretty bad huh...
Date: 2003-03-26
From: Walnut Mtn. Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC - The Cody House
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: light rain

halleluia!!! I think that Slickrock and I did the miles faster than we ever have before.   And the majority of the hike was downhill...which she and I are normally slow at.   We were hoping that mom would make it to Hot Springs before we would but she isnt here yet. But we did find out where we are staying and it is NICE! 5 Alive plus mom and grandpa are staying at a hostel all by ourselves...there is a grill, kitchen, tv...so many options. All the other hikers we have gotten to know are here for a zero day too...they have been here for about 2 hours. I am still sitting at the trailhead waiting on mom to show up-everyone else is taking showers and then someone will come and replace me. I dont think that there is a cell phone signal here but if there is i hope to call many of you! Things are good....my feet are going to love me tomorrow.blessings,specksong:"Joyful, joyful we adore Thee" both Hymn and Sister Act versions...
Date: 2003-03-27
From: Hot Springs, NC - The Cody Hous

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

A zero day, a zero day...so much to do on a zero day. Mom and grandpa Sterling got here yesterday around 4:30 pm and they had food!!!! Mom's great fried chicken and grandpas baked beans and grandma Davis's 3(oh,yes I said 3) pies. Yum!!! And we were hungry. We went down to the local pub(the only place open in this town) and met up with about 20 other thru hikers that we have met over the past month...Mr. Crankypants, Cire, Red, Poptart, Dimples, A-train, Candyman, Denmark, Early Riser, Chaos and so many more! It was a fun "family reunion"..a lot of the hikers left this morning-we are actually a day behind them. The rest of us did laundry, shopped at the great Outfitter in town and 5 Alive plus mom and grandpa, Denmark, Early riser visited the Hot Springs for an hour. Oh yeah. I did get a new backpack today...Diesel and I have been talking about it for 2 weeks and I actually have been looking\researching since last fall-so I finally got an Osprey Ariel...and I love it. It fits well and weighs about 4 pounds less than my last one. Maybe this will help my feet...Great day over all-good food, wonderful family and well rested. blessings,speck
Date: 2003-03-28
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

It is so hard for 5 Alive to leave a town after a zero day! We almost had 2 zero days today...hahaha...grandpa Sterling took all of us to breakfast at Shoneys in Newport-which is about a 30 minute drive from Hot Springs. We were also able to run other errands over there-I was able to use my cell phone(since mom brought it with her) but most of the people I tried to call werent there! But I did get to talk to Misty and Doug-which makes me pretty happy.We hiked out of Hot Springs around 2:30 - after thanking mom and grandpa for everything they did for us. You both bless me so much thank you for the food, the laughter, but mainly the desire for life. I love you both!We did about 8 miles by 6:30 pm but still had 3 miles to the shelter-so we decided to keep going and do our first night hike. I loved it-the terrain wasnt too bad and not too many roots or rocks so it was fun for me...its hard to set up tents and hang the bear bag in the dark though...so we may not do that too often.Well, this has been long, my prayer for all of you is that you stop this weekend and find something that God blesses you with that you havnt noticed before. And I am going to try to do the same.song: "Night Fever" - yikes...blessings,
Date: 2003-03-29
From: Spring Mtn. Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

We got started around 8:40 am this morning...and it was a great hike today-even with a 1500 feet climb in 1.5 miles. But the weather has been the worst since we have started hiking...it was rainy all day...and now it is soooo cold. There are rumors that we will have snow flurries tomorrow. Yowzers...so we hiked our 15.3 miles and are now in a shelter with Duchess of Denmark, Early riser, and Slow Jeremiah. And we are FREEZING!!!I have had such a great day though...by the way...I saw such an amazing sunset last night. The sky was streaked with coral and it looked like an opal in the coral color. Loved it! I think I need to get in my sleeping bag cause it is so cold and wet...song: "Fruit Cake" - song I sang in high school.There was another one from 8th grade choir but cant remember what it was.blessings,
Date: 2003-03-30
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Boone Cove Road
Miles today: 9.1

Hi all~ Have you ever woken up and were not sure where you were or what had happened while you were sleeping? well, thats what happened to me today. we went to bed pretty cold, but NEVER expected to wake up to two feet of snow! Apparently noone else in this area did either. It was so cold(27 degrees), everything was frozen and it hurt!!! We (5 Alive along with Early Riser and Duchess)weren't sure if we should try to find the trail in a snow cover or to sit it out-but we decided to cut through the snow and try to find a road to get a hitch to Erwin for the night. Before we left we had to get our bear out of the tree-the rope froze to the tree(and our bag is not light), melt enough snow to make breakfast and fill our bottles(dad, it takes about 14 cups of snow to make 2 cups of water-we finally figured it out) and then I slammed my head into the corner of a sign...yikes, I did cry. But we finaly did get started. It took us 2 hours to hike 2 miles through the snow. It was so beautiful though...we did pick up the pace and find a road by 3:00pm. And the snow was coming down even more...so we decided to take our wet and cold selves to a hotel.Oopu went to a house down the road and asked them how we could get to town and they volunteered to drive us in 3 different cars...all 7 of us. They were such a blessing to us!!! Thank you Judy, Jackie and Bud-you are wonderful!!!Now we are clean and full in a hotel and are planning to get a ride out to the trail to hike 10ish miles and get a ride back to Erwin. Hopefully the weather will warm up enough for us to get back on the trail officially by tuesday.Anyways, all in all a good day. got to talk to some peoples tonight that I havent talked to in a couple of weeks. Have a great week!song:"I think I love you, but what am I so afraid of..."blessings,
Date: 2003-03-30
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Rector Laural Rd.
Miles today: 0.0

Hi all~ Have you ever woken up and were not sure where you were or what had happened while you were sleeping? well, thats what happened to me today. we went to bed pretty cold, but NEVER expected to wake up to two feet of snow! Apparently noone else in this area did either. It was so cold(27 degrees), everything was frozen and it hurt!!! We (5 Alive along with Early Riser and Duchess)weren't sure if we should try to find the trail in a snow cover or to sit it out-but we decided to cut through the snow and try to find a road to get a hitch to Erwin for the night. Before we left we had to get our bear out of the tree-the rope froze to the tree(and our bag is not light), melt enough snow to make breakfast and fill our bottles(dad, it takes about 14 cups of snow to make 2 cups of water-we finally figured it out) and then I slammed my head into the corner of a sign...yikes, I did cry. But we finaly did get started. It took us 2 hours to hike 2 miles through the snow. It was so beautiful though...we did pick up the pace and find a road by 3:00pm. And the snow was coming down even more...so we decided to take our wet and cold selves to a hotel.Oopu went to a house down the road and asked them how we could get to town and they volunteered to drive us in 3 different cars...all 7 of us. They were such a blessing to us!!! Thank you Judy, Jackie and Bud-you are wonderful!!!Now we are clean and full in a hotel and are planning to get a ride out to the trail to hike 10ish miles and get a ride back to Erwin. Hopefully the weather will warm up enough for us to get back on the trail officially by tuesday.Anyways, all in all a good day. got to talk to some peoples tonight that I havent talked to in a couple of weeks. Have a great week!song:"I think I love you, but what am I so afraid of..."blessings,
Date: 2003-03-31
From: Rector Laural Rd.

To: Sam's Gap
Miles today: 0.0

We had hoped to get in a lot of miles today - by having Miss Janet drop us off where we finished yesterday...but she had over 20 other hikers to drop off before us and couldnt pick us up till after 12:00. So we were on the trail by 2:30 and did around 9 miles. Early Riser was going to go with us but she started feeling sick right before we got picked up and she may have a stomach bug. So Miss Janet brought her back to the hotel...I hope it isnt a stomach bug cause we are all in the same room and I dont want to get sick out on the trail. So pray that 5 Alive is healthy and Early Riser gets better very, very soon. She really wanted to get out there with us. It was a beautiful day, the snow looked beautiful and the sun was shining...we stuck pretty close together...so I started asking easy answer but "get to know you questions". Which opened us up to talk about what we believe about God and who we are-it's pretty interesting because I knew everyone well before we started hiking but no one else really knew each other. So we are still growing as a "family" and learning to trust each other. I love conversations like what we had and hope that we continue sharing...I think we will. We are heading out tomorrow morning at 8:30 to hike officially into Erwin either by tomorrow night or the next morning for our mail drops and then moving on...song: "Forever" Chris Tomling and the "This is the day"song by Shane Barnar
Date: 2003-04-01
From: Sam's Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hi Everyone!I am Speck's and Slickrock's mom. Emily and three other hikers are stuck in Erwin at the Super 8 motel with the stomach flu. Please pray for their speedy recovery. Slickrock, Diesel and Frigid Air are trying to stay well. LynBy the way I am adding pictures to past journals for speck and slickrock ASAP. Check them out!An unexpected zero day...What I was hoping wouldnt happen~ DID happen...3 out of 5 of us have the stomach bug. Oopu at 12:30 am, me at 3:30 am and Slickrock at 2:30 pm. Denmark got sick last night too-so we made the decision to move to a cheaper hotel and take a zero day just in case anyone else gets sick ~ plus Oopu and I were weak.We got our maildrops and have slept or rested most of the day. Pray for Diesel and Frigid Air:that they DO NOT get this. We dont know what we are doing tomorrow, it depends on what happens tonight with all of us. I just ate bananas and applesauce - so we will see. Today is a special day even though its been a rough one for us- it is Doug Crews and Beau Dusseault birthday. Hope you two have the best day!!! blessings,
Date: 2003-04-02
From: Sam's Gap

To: 2 miles past Big Bald Shelter
Miles today: 10.0

After a bath at 6 am and a pretty decent breakfast at the Dari Ice, I was ready to start hiking again. Miss Janet(who runs a hiker hostel in town) called us to check on us and to see if we needed a ride to the mountains...so 5 Alive took her up on her free shuttle and were hiking by 1 pm. Thank you Miss Janet for everything-for the rides and for caring even though we didnt get to stay at your hostel.Where we started hiking was kind of boring: grey landscape, dry trees, and not much of a view. So I started pushing to get closer to Big Bald(which had incredible views!) but while I was doing that I realized that these mountains have been here longer than i will ever realize. I got to visit Israel two years ago and while I was there I went to the Garden of Gethsemene(where Jesus prayed and cried before he was arrested). There is an olive tree there that is 3000 years old. Which means it was 1000 years old when Jesus was there-I stood next to that tree and realized just how small I am. Our God is so huge and created so much and I am just a small part of that. It overwhelms me when I think about it because even though I am so small, I am so very precious to God. So I remembered all of this while hiking today and was able to appreciate the mountains that God made and I get to walk on them.I am proud of 5 Alive cause some of us are weak after not eating too much yesterday and we still got back out here and are hiking. Hopefully we wont be visited by the stomach bug again anytime soon. We will officially hike into Erwin tomorrow and then move on North.Big HUGE Thanks to AJ and Bethany for the packages and goodies-and both of you found incredible verses to share with us. We love it!!!song:"Why, Georgia, Why." John MeyerBlessin
Date: 2003-04-03
From: 2 miles past Big Bald Shelter

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 14.5

We got going about 8 am and knew we had about 14 miles to do by 5 pm...so I started moving pretty fast. We did the first 5 miles quickly but both slickrock and Oopu were still feeling pretty weak. We probably should have taken another day of rest to make sure our bodies were ready. But we made it and will be finally leaving Erwin tomorrow!!! Yeah! I think we are all ready to move on. When we got back to Erwin we went back to the Best Southern Motel to meet up with Early Riser and Denmark for dinner and to pick up our food boxes. And its official-Early Riser is leaving the trail. We knew she was thinking about it these two days but she just left to catch a bus. Sigh. Its sad cause all 7 (5 Alive plus Early Riser and Denmark) have been together since the smokies and have really enjoyed spending time together. We will miss you Erin!!! You are in my prayers as you figure out what to do next-its going to be exciting!!!Going to eat now. Have a blessed day!!!song: Didnt really have one-spent a lot of time thinking and praying.blessings
Date: 2003-04-04
From: Nolichucky River

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Whew, what a day. I woke at 5 am and took a bath at 6 am but then made myself get back in bed because we were still waiting on Oopu's tent poles to show up at some Post Office.After many phone calls we figured out they were sent to the wrong post office in Johnson City - So then we had to find a shuttle over there. Miss Janet to the rescue AGAIN! And guess what?! They had been sent to the correct post office in Erwin. Sigh. So she brought us back and by this time its lunch time...so Janet asked us (since we hadnt stayed with her yet) to stay at her hostel tonight and she would take us out 8.8 miles so we could hike south into Erwin and then eat and sleep at her place. So its official 5 Alive and Duchess are moving to Erwin for life. hahaha...It was a pretty easy hike...we "freedom hiked" again and also carried Ben and Jerrys Ice cream to a shelter to Mr. Cranky Pants and Cire...yeah!!! Fun. Now after Spaghetti dinner and some praise and worship with Diesel - its time for bed! We are going to try to get some bigger miles-hahaha- tomorrow.I am learning HUGE amounts of patience(if anyone is wondering) this week. I have been ready to go and its hard for me to wait on others and I HAVE TO...so God is teaching me. And I am pretty willing to learn depending on the day. THIS is my life-every day...I get to hike, live, enjoy, learn, and seek Gods face. Too incredible for words!Love you all!!!song: "Dixie Land Delight" ~ AlabamaBlessings,
Date: 2003-04-05
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: one mile past Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: moderate rain

Took another shower this morning...I might get really used to that...no not really -I love it out here. I have been in such a good mood all day because we have really left Erwin and it is beautiful out here! We walked across Beauty Gap and were able to take pictures of Erwin...far, far away. And then we climbed Unaka Mountain, which at the top is completely wooded and it looks like a fairy tale forest...dark and green. Pretty fun! We didnt get to the trail till 12 but took it easy and are camping about a mile past some of our other friends. We know we have a HUGE climb tomorrow afternoon so we were trying to eliminate some miles from tomorrow.Slickrocks boyfriend came to join us for the weekend -so its been fun seeing him. 4 of us played the card game Rook-I learned how bout 3 weeks ago...now I can play four card games. Other than that...glad to be alive and out here. I have been singing the best song all day-its one of my favorites by Shane Barnard...about waiting on God even when you dont hear from him and praising Him during that time. Dang, thats good. Have a great weekend.song: "Waiting Room" - Shane BarnardBlessings,
Date: 2003-04-06
From: one mile past Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Roan High Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Crazy day...dont have too much to say at the moment...lots of climbs - every hiker out here is wiped out.5 Alive is currently without much food, but other hikers are donating. We hiked through hail and rain and its cold...and our food was supposed to have been brought by Paul and Denmark to this shelter but Denmark isnt here. So now we have to figure out what to do-we are also lacking a sleeping bag...so its an interesting situation. Will fill you in tomorrow about what we are doing.Pray for us!!! We have had a yucky couple of days...song: " Patience" - Guns and Rosesblessings,
Date: 2003-04-07
From: Roan High Shelter

To: 19 East Rd
Miles today: 15.1

Can I tell you that these past three days have been so physically difficult! The trail has taken us up and down every mountain in this area! We actually hiked our last 6000 foot mountain (till we are in New England) yesterday and then proceeded to hike about 3 5000 foot mountains today. We found Denmark this morning about a mile North of the shelter - down the side of Roan Mountain...she and Paul didnt know there was a parking lot closer to the top of the mountain and she knew she couldnt carry all of our stuff up there, so she waited hoping we would come and find her. Oopu and I did try to find the road or a different parking lot but it was raining/hailing on us and so we stopped short of one mile...if we only knew. It was a joyous reunion - we are all thankful that both Denmark and Paul are okay -thank you Paul for driving our stuff up the mountain...so after eating breakfast we started the first of our many climbs. We crossed a bald that had at least 40 mile per hour winds...it was hard to stay on the trail - it stayed cloudy/rainy and very windy till about 12 and then most of it lifted. Yea! We were finally able to see some views from all the way up there. We ate lunch at a place called the Barn-which is where the Revolutionary War soldiers crosse!d and I believe a major battle was fought there...its now a shelter for the AT. Kind of cool.We talked with Mr. Crankypants and Cire this afternoon and they told us that there was a County Kitchen Restaurant about 1.5 miles down 19-E...so we all decided to eat dinner there. Dang, that was a good decision. Had some fried chicken and I am stuffed. We hiked most of the way there but got a ride on the way back...Yea! song: "Unto You" Shane Barnardblessings,
Date: 2003-04-08
From: 19 East Rd

To: .6 mile past Laurel Fork
Miles today: 13.7

It's kind of been a damp, yucky day. Mud is everywhere and the rocks are slippery...we only had one fall today though and no injuries. Right where we started hiking some local (or anyone) had dumped their trash on the trail and in the river and it looked so gross. Its pretty sad to see that when everywhere else we go is so beautiful. I mean there is sometimes trash but not like this...so the four girls(Slickrock and Denmark got the most) picked up some of it to carry to the Hostel to throw away. I know we didnt make a dent but any little bit helps.We laughed a lot at lunch...we have been noticing that Frigid Air puts ketchup on almost all of her food if she can...and today to try to finish her Ramen mixed with jambalaya...she added about 7 packages of ketchup...it was sooooo disgusting...so we have started calling her Ketchup today and have a phrase of the day -check below.Hey,any of you that have Jami Smith's worship CD(Candi or Doug?)...I cant remember all the words to "your love is deep, your love is wide". Please email me the words cause I can sing most of it but one phrase. Thank you! Man, I am damp tonight...I can make it! Will take shower tomorrow!song: am - "Get a job"      pm - "Your love is deep" Jami Smith or Rita SpringerQuote of the day: "Just put ketchup on it!"blessings,
Date: 2003-04-09
From: .6 mile past Laurel Fork

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 0.0

We woke up to rain...and more rain...but we did get out of our tents by 7:10 am. I hiked out ahead of the others and got to see three whitetail deer...it was so amazing! They actually ran away from me but it was still fascinating to see.We are at the Kincora Hiker hostel, which is run by Bob and Pat AND they are so incredible. Stop by here if you get a chance...yeah, a shower and clean clothes. I don't know what it is about Wednesdays but I have had deep, philosophical moments for the past couple of Wednesdays. Pondering life, relationships, God, future...I wish I could just make some solid decisions. Hahaha...decisions...out here? Its hard enough deciding where to get water or where to stay for the night. Real decisions? Not today.song: "Down Here" David Wilcoxblessings,
Date: 2003-04-10
From: Dennis Cove

To: Watauga Dam Rd
Miles today: 0.0

Yowzer, what a day. It snowed on us again today. We had heard rumors of snow flurries for today so Bob from Kincora took us 14 miles North to hike back to him...So we started hiking in the rain-35 degrees and about 2 hours later our feet are soaked and we are cold...and it starts to snow. So COLD! I was pretty glad that we were heading back to the Hostel-warm bed, showers, and dry clothes. But we did almost lose someone, and Cire fell into the river..pretty scary. We are okay though-this has been such a crazy couple weeks...the good part is that we bought steaks, garlic bread and salad stuff last night so we are eating good tonight...glad that I am here for the night~dry bed...oh yeah.song: I cant rememberblessings,