DAY 1
On day 1, we left Big Meadows Campground and hiked 3.6 miles to our first site. The trail was fairly easy but due to not being used to having large packs, much of the group was worn down and napped once our tents were set up. We set up our tents near a stream so that we could easily filter our water. During the day, the temperatures were mild but it was very humid out. For lunch, we shared trail mix, baby carrots, pretzel bites, and granola bars. Mild dehydration occurred due to not knowing how much water to drink but after about 1 liter of water, we were all hydrated again. For dinner, our leaders, Rae and Eric, cooked rice and beans with cheese and flour tortillas. During our nightly GRANITE meeting, we played Human Knot. Although we were all strangers only a few days before, we quickly bonded and amazed our leaders by becoming un-knotted very quickly each time we played. As the sun went down, we all got in out tents and slept very well.
DAY 2
On day 2, we were woken up at 7:30 in the morning and were invited to breakfast, which our leaders cooked for us each morning. Breakfast options each morning were hot oatmeal, cranberries, or cold raisin bran cereal. We packed up our tents and packs before heading out on a 6.0 mile hike. The hike was more strenuous than the hike the day before but the humidity was lower and moral was kept up by singing songs such as Great Big Moose and having lunch near a waterfall. While hiking, we saw evidence of bears that had passed through leaving fresh scat. We kept our eyes out all day to experience a bear! Once we got to our next site, it started to rain and we quickly had to get our rain gear to wear and to cover our pack. While it was still raining, we set up our kitchen tarp to create a dry space for cooking dinner and to wait out the rain under. Once the rain stopped, we set up our tents and I cooked a spaghetti dinner as my role was cook for the day. After dinner, we played Silent Football and all received our names while in "Shenandoah-ville" We had our nightly GRANITE meeting and shortly after headed to bed anticipating a long hike the next day.
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DAY 3
.Once again, we were woken up and greeted with breakfast made by our leaders, Eric and Rae. Each morning, I ate hot oatmeal with brown sugar and cranberries. We headed out shortly after breakfast and packing up camp. My daily role was Trail Leader, along with Greta from Hungary. Our trek was 9 miles long, about 6 miles uphill and then 3 miles downhill. As trail leader, it was difficult to find a steady pace for everyone while still maintaining a quick enough pace to stay on time. The group eventually slowed down and took more breaks than we had the other two days. For lunch, we had bagels with peanut butter and jelly, trail mix, and granola bars. During one break near a small waterfall, we filtered more water and created lemonade in our water bottles with powered drink mix. When we were roughly one mile away from our next site, it began to downpour. The group quickly put on rain gear and managed to get to the site without any injuries. Many of our boots were very soaked.
DAY 4
We woke up the next morning, excited for our rest day but as several as the scholars and one of our leaders woke up, they were met with severe stomach pain and were vomiting. Those who got sick were not able to get our of their tent and the group was hoping that no one else would get sick. The group thought the sickness had been from food poisoning due to old cheese. During the day, most people got started on their Science investigations. Maitland, who was still feeling well at the time, and I decided on our question, method, and started to collect data. While the sick members got rest, the group members feeling well enough went down to the near by stream to wash off and filter more water. The day ended early as most people were tired and both of our leaders were sick. Close to 10 p.m., Eric and Maitland were evacuated and the rest of the group waiting to be evacuated in the morning.
DAY 5
We woke up early and hiked out 0.6 miles to meet Kim Hanson. She picked us up around 10:30 in the morning and took us back to Big Meadows campground. The group was not sure how long we would be in the campground but we were hopeful that we would be back on the trails the next day. We set up at our campsite and got much needed rest. The group played many card games through the afternoon. Eric had taught Euchre, Jona and Eysteinn taught us bubbles, Noel taught us liar, which was very entertaining, and I taught the group four of a kind. For dinner, Kim brought us cans of beef stew and we ate it with white rice. Having a bathroom to use and being able to brush our teeth in a mirror during the day allowed everyone to feel slightly more at home. At night, the group headed to Big Meadows as we watched the sunset, picked wild blackberries, and experienced the wild life.
DAY 6
When the group woke up, Jona, from Iceland, was feeling sick. Our leaders, Eric and Rae, were left with the difficult decision of whether to stay in the campground for the last night or to hike to our last location and return to the campground in the morning. As Jona and Rae rested at the campground, the rest of the group went on a day hike near dark hollows trail. For lunch, we had a mixture of trail mix and granola bars. By the time Jona was feeling better, it was too late for the group to hike out to our site and we decided to stay another night. For dinner, the group ate lentils. Although the majority of the group did not enjoy the meal, the lentils with rice and dehydrated vegetables was a favorite of mine. That night we went back to big meadows with the whole group to watch the sunset and pick blackberries. After the sun went down, the sky lit up with stars and we were able to identify Orion's belt and the big dipper. Rae taught us a cool trick that night about adjusting our eyes for day and night vision. The temperatures had been very cool all day, and during the night, the temperatures dropped even further. With the cool temperatures, falling asleep in the sleeping bag was very enjoyable.
DAY 7
The group woke up all feeling well with improved moods as we were going to be reconnected with the other group. In the morning, our group went for another day hike and finished our science investigations. I had very much so enjoyed working with Maitland and when we finished ours, we stood in the creek, looking for salamanders and frogs. The groups enjoyed hot chocolate, taking showers, and getting our luggage back. This was the last night before heading back to the hotel for the last part of our trip.