Tuesday, May 3rd

Leroy A. Smith Shelter (1276.9 mi) to Delaware Water Gap (1296.9 mi)

Hiking Miles: 20.0

Total Ascent: 2,029.5 ft

Total Descent: 3,062.3 ft

Total Grade: 254.2 ft/mi

Steps: 46,428

Up and out by 6:40 am and shortly into the hike we hit a steep climb. But I had a Cliff bar with peanut butter and a large cup of hot Folger’s instant coffee (and also some of Stevie’s coffee that I poured in his can that he ate his oatmeal in) so I was on cruise control. We were pushing hard to get to Delaware Water Gap, and at noon Stevie called to book a room at the Clarion Hotel in town.

It was a descent terrain day, but still a good share of rocks. However, the winding downhill climb at the end of the day was quite enchanting – a lot of green cover and a waterfall (with a frog).

We finally arrived in Delaware Water Gap at 4 pm and stopped at a local bakery for a pre-dinner treat. I ate a mini strawberry rhubarb pie and Stevie ate an apple pie while we sat at a picnic table in front of the bakery. We also devoured a bag of homemade vinegar chips and Gatorade, and purchased two Reading Draft Root Beers To-Go for when we had dinner later that evening.

We checked into our motel which had a drive-up Dunks (I hoped it would be open in the morning!) and then ordered a pizza and onion rings from a local joint. The food was sub-par, very greasy and the pizza was flimsy, but we were hungry just the same. After, we walked across the street to a Sunoco station and stocked up on a few food items. When we returned, we showered, made phone calls, I journaled, and watched a little TV.

It was comforting that evening to sleep in a clean bed and knowing that the next day we would be stepping out of Pennsylvania and entering New Jersey (our 5th state on trail).

SPECIAL ADDITION:

Fast forward a little over one year to May 24, 2023 (a few days after Stevie & Christina’s wedding in New Jersey).  Driving home on their way back to Minnesota, the newlyweds stopped in Delaware Water Gap with their pup Josie to relive a part of the trail experience together with her.  How wonderful is that!!

Leveraging a line from the awesome movie “A Walk In The Woods” (and based on the book by Bill Bryson) – We can essentially say that “Josie hiked the Appalachian Trail”.