Delaware Water Gap: Days 21 & 22

Miles Since Last Update: 0 mi.

Total Miles Hiked: 271 mi.

Miles Remaining: 1,909 mi.

Delaware Water Gap is a small town in Northern Pennsylvania, and I believed that my time there deserved a post unto its own.

You see, when the fires in Canada got really bad, and the smoke was streaming down over northeastern US, it was here, in Delaware Water Gap (DWG) that I sheltered from the terrible air quality. It is important for me to note that the reason I was able to do so, was due to the kindness and generosity of the Church of the Mountain Hiker Hostel (fun fact, this hiker hostel is actually noted to be the FIRST hiker hostel on the trail!).

In the basement of this church, they have built bunk beds and a simple shower. They also have a living room of sorts which hikers can lounge in on couches.

On Thursday evenings, members of the church/community gather at the church for a hiker potluck, where the church members bring food, and they feed us hikers–their only requirement being that we spread out and sit with the church members in order to talk and get to know them. While donations are accepted, the church provides all of this for free. 

I would like to add that, while I do have an option here on my website for you to donate and help me afford hiking the AT, if any of you are thinking of donating, please also consider donating to this church. It provides so much to hikers asking nothing in return (when so many other hostels on the trail nickel and dime us hikers for everything), and these are the types of facilities that I want to see continue on the trail.

I ended up staying almost 3 full days in DWG, hiding out from the smoke.

On the first day, I befriended a fellow thru-hiker, Skip (and his dog Lizzie). Skip had a car and he drove me to the library (so I could post for you, my lovely readers) and to the mall, where a group of us gathered to water Guardians of the Galaxy (because what else is there to do when the air quality outside is so horrendous that you cannot hang out outdoors).

Because I ended up staying for 3 days, not only was I lucky enough to be around for the hiker supper (where I ate probably the most food in one sitting since I’ve been on the trail and it was DELICIOUS), but I also got to go to the Deer Head Inn, the oldest continuously running jazz club in the country.

That’s all! From here on out, I probably won’t be posting long posts because I’ve found that I do not run into library’s often enough and I as I continue to pick up more and more miles each day (I’m hiking 20+ miles a day now!), I find that I just do not have the time or energy to author long posts. Any who, I am sure that you probably appreciate shorter posts anyway haha. If you want even more, follow my Instagram because I have posted photos and stories there that I have not had a chance to post here!