Date: 2017-07-17
From: Unnamed Campsite at Mile 1276.9

To: Delaware Water Gap/Church of the Mountain Hiker Center 
Miles today: 16.7

7/17Unnamed Campsite at Mile 1276.9 to Delaware Water Gap/Church of the Mountain Hiker Center 16.7 milesTotal miles:  1293.6Note: I have uploaded all my photos up to Delaware Water Gap. I got up a little early this morning, because I knew I had a long day of uncertain trail and wanted to get to Delaware Water Gap as early as possible.  I also was a bit concerned about the water situation, since the last water source was at the shelter yesterday.  While I did tote an extra liter, we had a dry camp last night, which uses water.  Also, I always start the morning by drinking a liter of water if there is a source, and that was not possible this morning.  I had a bit over a liter and a half to get to the next source at Kirkridge Shelter, 10.3 miles away.  I wanted to hike as much as I could as early as I could, before the heat of the day. I did decide to take a photo of all of my equipment before stowing it in my pack.  I'll not list equipment here.  If you are interested, I did fill out the gear section of this journal, and I have made few changes.  It's easy to see how hikers attain the trail name, Yard Sale, if they spread their stuff out early in their hike.  I've known two Yard Sales.  I was off before 7:30 and faced several miles of challenging, rocky trail.  There was also a quite steep ascent out of Wind Gap, and I scarcely covered a single mile in the first hour.  The trail improved somewhat after that, as I worked my way toward the shelter.  There was some extra tricky boulder scrambling at Wolf Rocks, and I got a special treat at the top.  Actually, two treats, as I found Red Eye already there looking at a very unconcerned buzzard who was surveying his domain from the summit.  Red Eye hoped to see him fly, but he wasn't in any hurry to comply.  After Wolf Rocks, I was pleasantly surprised that the trail improves tremendously, as Dr. Jekyll paid a house call.  I had been told that there were rock fields all the way to Delaware Water Gap, but hiked over a mile on pretty decent trail. I was glad, because of my water situation.  I made it to the shelter moderately hydrated and with a little water left, but I was beginning to fantasize about Gatorade and waterfalls.  Unlimited amounts of clean, readily available drinking water is something we very much take for granted.  I made it to the shelter and drank one liter of water and mixed up a liter of Propel and drank it on the spot.  I filled all of my available bottles and played the "I can get a drink as often as I want" game for the remaining 6.4 miles to Delaware Water Gap.  Childish, perhaps, but it helped me continue to hydrate and also helped when the trail was rugged.  However, the trail again followed an old road for two of those miles, which made for easy hiking. I guess it is human nature to remember the difficult and challenging times at the expense of the good times, but, in all fairness to Pennsylvania, there was never a day when there wasn't some easy hiking to go with all the rocks.  Soon after leaving the shelter after lunch, I saw something bright red through the trees.  Thank you again, AT, for giving me another unexpected experience. A man with a hang glider (perhaps a hang gliderist?) was perched on a high grassy area preparing for take off.  I set down my pack and sat down to watch.  He waited about ten minutes until the wind was just right and took off.  He immediately disappeared from sight as he veered to the left, but I saw him soaring high overhead several times.  As cool as it would have been to watch that buzzard become airborne, I think the hang gliderist more than made up for that.  I made good progress toward Delaware Water Gap as clouds began to gather and thunder started to grumble. I took a photo of the Delaware River from an outlook just before the storm began. I was into the descent into the valley, with 1.5 miles to go to town, when the storm hit. The thunder was loud and the lightening bright, but believe it or not, the sun continued to shine during the entire storm. The sunlight reflecting on the streams of rain was particularly beautiful.  I thought about all I have written lately about the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde character of the Pennsylvania AT, and I like to think that both gentleman turned out to say goodbye to me as I leave their state tomorrow.  Of course, rocks pay little attention to political boundaries, and it is reported that the first twenty or so miles into New Jersey are equally as rocky.  I made it to Delaware Water Gap at around 6:00 and headed for the Church of the Mountain Hiker Center.  Run as a mission of the church, the hiker center is supported by donations.  Rather than stay in the hostel, I opted to tent in the yard.  Also immediately after arrival, the power went out in the entire town.  I took a nice, hot shower in the dark and prepared to go into town for food.  It was rumored that the pizza place uses gas ovens, so I headed that way.  I met Rooster, a fellow thru hiker along the way. The rumor was true, and I enjoyed a mushroom pizza and a beer.  The power came back on while I was there.  Gravity showed up, and he had also landed at the Hiker Center.  Of the four big things: Shower, Laundry, Resupply, and Food, I've only completed the first and the last.  Jerry, a member of the church, said he will be running a shuttle to Wal-Mart in the morning at 7:30.  That takes care of resupply, and I hope to find a laundromat. I still plan on hiking tomorrow and am presently 0.3 miles from the New Jersey line. I couldn't help from feeling somewhat nostalgic today as I prepare to leave Pennsylvania. New Jersey will be my eighth state, and the first one I have never visited before.  Hopefully, I will start my New Jersey adventure with clean clothes.  And if not, I know there is a laundromat soon to be in my future.