Date: 2015-06-11
From: Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Today's hike started with a climb and then 7 miles of "worse" rocks. 3 hikers including Wild Thing passed by before we started. We passed by Firestarter's camp who is another hiker I have read in the registers. He caught up to us and I hiked and chatted with him about several topics for about an hour. He is from Massachusetts and a computer science major. We caught up to Wookie who took a break with me while I waited for Crafty. The three of us set off again. Wolf Rocks is another fun big rock traverse similar to Knife's Edge but not very elevated or as narrow so it's not as difficult. We descended and headed to the shelter where we ran into GQ, Walking Man, Firestarter and Wild Thing. Snake man and Theresa were there and they had made pork chops and hot dogs for the hikers. We arrived and they were out of chops and only 2 hot dogs were left but they offered to make us a pancake on the campfire. Snake man hiked from Springer to Damascas and finished up with a week at Trail Days. So they came up to the shelter to do some trail magic. We chatted and he told us about the rattle snakes he picked up with his barehands in the morning when snakes are lethargic. He also gave me the last few green beans and a red bell pepper which was delicious!! Remedy whom we have not seen since Shenandoah National Park walked in and had a "Chicken of the Woods" mushroom which he asked to cook on the fire. Intrigued, I googled and discovered the chicken mushroom is a meat substitute for vegetarians. I offered Remedy my spices and he cooked up the mushroom with some of Ferris' broccoli and let us taste it. Quite good. I hope to find one myself! We moved on. Looking down at the rocks, I managed to walk right into the pointy end of a branch wit my head. Ouch! I waited a minute to recover and then hiked on but had fallen behind Crafty and Wookie. I paused at the Mt Minsi vista and a couple lookouts. Finally I made it to Delaware Water Gap and walked to the Church of the Mountain which has a hiker hostel and I was told is the oldest hiker hostel still on the trail after 30 years.?Crafty and I set up our tents in the back of the church and then took advantage of the shower. Wookie joined us for ice cream at Zoe's where we ran into Loon, Bladge, Wild Thing, Firestarter and Ferris. Loon showed us a picture of Hawkeye passed out face down on the trail. None of us knew how he was going to make it up that climb in his condition.At 6 pm the church put on its Thursday night hiker dinner. We thought it was a hot dog dinner so I had planned on eating buns and Nutella. However it was a full blown church potluck where many people brought dishes. Hot Dogs, Chicken, Chicken Enchiladas, Pasta Salads, Green Salads, Rice Salad, Fruit, and an amazing dessert table with homemade strawberry ice cream. There were about 30 hikers total. Not a crumb was left over! We sat at tables and mingled with the folks who provided the food. I sat with Linda, Caroline and Sandy who told me about how the church supported orphans in Kenya and also had mission in Cuba. I also met Bill who runs marathons and helps organize the Run for the Red Pocono Marathon in Pocono in May. He offered to take me and any of my friends who decide to run the race around the course next May. He said the race is very fast and one of the top Boston Qualifiers. http://www.poconomarathon.org/index.phpI also chatted with Bill who has spent time in FL and had a Florida Panther leap over the front of his car while driving. After dinner, I played Schmegma, a card game with rules made up by Saffron and Star Trek. Then several of us walked next door to the Deer Head Inn and listened to some live has music. A great way to end our hike in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania which officially became a trail town last year!Hikers at the hostel: Ox, Obsolete, Hawk, Austin, Minotaur, Pippa, Saffron, Star Trek, Spirit, GQ, Walking Man, Wookie, Remedy, Wild Thing, Ferris, Five, Loon, Gucci Baby, Bladge