Saturday 7/15; Port Clinton, PA to Eckville Shelter (1217.8-1232.6)
Today was a pretty good day. Slow going with the rocks, and a late start put us into camp at about 7PM. This is later than we prefer, but still reasonable with the summer sun. Our feet are hurting from the rocky trail, but it's to be expected at this point. We're tenting tonight with a great group of people including Ten, Bluebird, and Alexis. We've met them all in recent days and like them very much. Plus we've still got Patch close by. Always a party! The next couple of days may be a bit challenging with a super fund site requiring us to camp outside it's proximity. Stay tuned...
Sunday 7/16; Eckville Shelter to Bake Oven Knob Shelter (1232.6-1250.0)
Holy Rocksylvania! The rocks we were promised in Pennsylvania have arrived! Today was hard. Physical, mentally, it feels like every time we make it through I've obstacle another presents itself. These rocks are no joke. Anything from small/medium rocks that move under foot to giant boulders that must be scrambled over. They're scary, tiring, make for slow hiking in order to remain safe, and most certainly make our already sore, tired feet just ache! A long, hard day of hiking, though, was followed tonight by learning that my sister became engaged over the weekend! She's happy and excited and I'm happy for her! Now to finish this so we can plan a wedding over a bottle of Frank Family!
Monday 7/17; Bake Oven Knob Shelter to Delps Trail Campsite (1250.0-1267.5)
Defeated doesn't begin to describe today's emotions. The rocks continue to pound and we got Lehigh Gap today which was the biggest climb we've encountered in a while. Actually, we opted for an alternate and it was still very hard! The main trail, we're told, was a giant rock scramble. We opted for the "winter route" in an attempt to spare my nerves. I still wound up melting down anyway. It was a big relief to find ourselves in camp tonight, and a little helpful to know that some of our friends had equally hard days and opted to stop sorry of their goals, too. So there are a few of us here in camp, where water is flowing for the first time nearly all day. Water never tasted as good as it did tonight when we'd been out for 5 miles after carrying extra through a government super fund site. The positives from the day: 1. We are lots of wild raspberries and 2. I found a "giant puffer" and played with it for a bit. Tomorrow's another long day, but we can do it. Hopefully the rocks will start to ease up as we head into NJ.
Tuesday 7/17; Delps Trail Campsite to Kirkridge Shelter (1267.5-1287.2)
Wow, what a day! Our pace was spot on all day, which is an improvement over yesterday, for sure! We're super excited to have made it just about 20 miles today, and that we'll be in town tomorrow! I'm craving a Sprite like there's no tomorrow! First stop, drinks! Currently, we are listening to a flip flop hiker who is 18 years old and extremely excited about... Everything. Holy wow can this kid talk!
Wednesday 7/18; Kirkridge Shelter to Delaware Water Gap, PA (1287.2-1293.6)
We made it to Delaware Water Gap!! This means that in a few steps, we'll be in NJ! Which means one more state down! 7 down, 7 to go, and the rocks of PA are behind us (in 50 or so miles). We had a leisurely morning before nearo-ing into town. It seems like days ago that we walked off the mountain and onto the street here in DWG to see a home renovation that struck us both. We looked on as we walked by and we're greeted by the owner, Marty, who is renovating this home to turn it into a B&B. It was lovely chatting with him and hearing about the plans. Check it Appalachian House on Facebook. We then walked on to find the church hostel here in town. They operate on donations and allow us use of their basement, including the shower. We're staying here tonight and may zero tomorrow. Or bodies are pretty beat up with all the rocks. We got the Village Farmer for lunch... And goodness, can we say baked treats?! Oh my gosh! I also hit the post office to pick up our package from U-Turn. Thank you for our hiker treats, all the way from the 100 mile wilderness! We'll enjoy every last bite that much more! Found out way to Wal Mart in the next town, resupplied, then walked to the laundromat which is decked out in film memorabilia. Then ran into Miss Janet who wound up giving us a ride from that little town back to the hostel, but not before the group ate something. So we thoroughly enjoyed time and a meal with Miss Janet, Scout, Mishap, Spillz, Bluebird, and Legs. We have done so much in a short day. Tomorrow, we rest!
Thursday 7/19; Delaware Water Gap, PA (1293.6; 0 day)
Today was a very chill day full of chatting with friends, moving from the busy, crowded church hostel to a quiet motel where we have spent the majority of the day lounging, napping, and watching TV. The Presbyterian Church hosted a hiker dinner where we enjoyed time with local church members and hikers alike. It's been a very quick zero day. Back out tomorrow for a couple now months to Katahdin!
Today was a pretty good day. Slow going with the rocks, and a late start put us into camp at about 7PM. This is later than we prefer, but still reasonable with the summer sun. Our feet are hurting from the rocky trail, but it's to be expected at this point. We're tenting tonight with a great group of people including Ten, Bluebird, and Alexis. We've met them all in recent days and like them very much. Plus we've still got Patch close by. Always a party! The next couple of days may be a bit challenging with a super fund site requiring us to camp outside it's proximity. Stay tuned...
Sunday 7/16; Eckville Shelter to Bake Oven Knob Shelter (1232.6-1250.0)
Holy Rocksylvania! The rocks we were promised in Pennsylvania have arrived! Today was hard. Physical, mentally, it feels like every time we make it through I've obstacle another presents itself. These rocks are no joke. Anything from small/medium rocks that move under foot to giant boulders that must be scrambled over. They're scary, tiring, make for slow hiking in order to remain safe, and most certainly make our already sore, tired feet just ache! A long, hard day of hiking, though, was followed tonight by learning that my sister became engaged over the weekend! She's happy and excited and I'm happy for her! Now to finish this so we can plan a wedding over a bottle of Frank Family!
Monday 7/17; Bake Oven Knob Shelter to Delps Trail Campsite (1250.0-1267.5)
Defeated doesn't begin to describe today's emotions. The rocks continue to pound and we got Lehigh Gap today which was the biggest climb we've encountered in a while. Actually, we opted for an alternate and it was still very hard! The main trail, we're told, was a giant rock scramble. We opted for the "winter route" in an attempt to spare my nerves. I still wound up melting down anyway. It was a big relief to find ourselves in camp tonight, and a little helpful to know that some of our friends had equally hard days and opted to stop sorry of their goals, too. So there are a few of us here in camp, where water is flowing for the first time nearly all day. Water never tasted as good as it did tonight when we'd been out for 5 miles after carrying extra through a government super fund site. The positives from the day: 1. We are lots of wild raspberries and 2. I found a "giant puffer" and played with it for a bit. Tomorrow's another long day, but we can do it. Hopefully the rocks will start to ease up as we head into NJ.
Tuesday 7/17; Delps Trail Campsite to Kirkridge Shelter (1267.5-1287.2)
Wow, what a day! Our pace was spot on all day, which is an improvement over yesterday, for sure! We're super excited to have made it just about 20 miles today, and that we'll be in town tomorrow! I'm craving a Sprite like there's no tomorrow! First stop, drinks! Currently, we are listening to a flip flop hiker who is 18 years old and extremely excited about... Everything. Holy wow can this kid talk!
Wednesday 7/18; Kirkridge Shelter to Delaware Water Gap, PA (1287.2-1293.6)
We made it to Delaware Water Gap!! This means that in a few steps, we'll be in NJ! Which means one more state down! 7 down, 7 to go, and the rocks of PA are behind us (in 50 or so miles). We had a leisurely morning before nearo-ing into town. It seems like days ago that we walked off the mountain and onto the street here in DWG to see a home renovation that struck us both. We looked on as we walked by and we're greeted by the owner, Marty, who is renovating this home to turn it into a B&B. It was lovely chatting with him and hearing about the plans. Check it Appalachian House on Facebook. We then walked on to find the church hostel here in town. They operate on donations and allow us use of their basement, including the shower. We're staying here tonight and may zero tomorrow. Or bodies are pretty beat up with all the rocks. We got the Village Farmer for lunch... And goodness, can we say baked treats?! Oh my gosh! I also hit the post office to pick up our package from U-Turn. Thank you for our hiker treats, all the way from the 100 mile wilderness! We'll enjoy every last bite that much more! Found out way to Wal Mart in the next town, resupplied, then walked to the laundromat which is decked out in film memorabilia. Then ran into Miss Janet who wound up giving us a ride from that little town back to the hostel, but not before the group ate something. So we thoroughly enjoyed time and a meal with Miss Janet, Scout, Mishap, Spillz, Bluebird, and Legs. We have done so much in a short day. Tomorrow, we rest!
Thursday 7/19; Delaware Water Gap, PA (1293.6; 0 day)
Today was a very chill day full of chatting with friends, moving from the busy, crowded church hostel to a quiet motel where we have spent the majority of the day lounging, napping, and watching TV. The Presbyterian Church hosted a hiker dinner where we enjoyed time with local church members and hikers alike. It's been a very quick zero day. Back out tomorrow for a couple now months to Katahdin!
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| Rain barrels are all over Delaware Water Gap! |
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