Appalachian Trail Part Two - Gardner, PA to Delaware Water Gap, PA

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” – Dr. Seuss

“The World Is Not In Your Books And Maps, It Is Out There” – J.R.R. Tolkien

“After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.” – George Macauley Trevelyan

The Story -

My amazing sister Stacy began the 1150-mile northern section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) at the beginning of May, starting in Front Royal, Va with hopes of making it to Katahdin, ME by September if not earlier. At her current pace, she will complete the AT by late August.

Below is the second short summary from Stacy on her trip as well as some pictures of her adventures. I also included a brief paragraph with more information about the AT at the end.

Please keep Stacy and her hiking companion Carla in your thoughts and prayers over the next few months as they continue on their life-altering journey.

In Stacy’s Own Words -

Carla and I are leaving Pennsylvania tomorrow morning (Friday June 10), crossing the Delaware River, entering New Jersey, having completed a total of 325 miles since starting our journey in Front Royal, Virginia.

Pennsylvania is popularly known to hikers as Rocksylvania. It is 229 miles we, and our feet, are happy to put behind us.

We spent a relaxing day today, our second zero-mile day since May 9, doing nothing, except eating, in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania. Here, True Love is defined as a hot dog and a slice of homemade apple pie at the Village Bakery. Tonight, we were lucky to catch live Jazz at The Deerhead Inn built in 1853. The Village Bakery has macaroni and cheese pot pies and we have eaten there three times in the last twenty-four hours!

We’ve seen at least one snake a day, some days as many as three, including one rattlesnake and a couple copperheads.

We have survived the Knife’s Edge and climbing up and over the Blue Mountain summit. Who knew PA would be so darn tough and rocky?!?

Happy Trails

Appalachian Trail Photos -

Crossing the Delaware River like a General!

not an optical illusion - the trail is that slanted!

Are there rocks in PA? Asking for a friend

The Appalachian Trail -

The Appalachian Trail (AT), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost 2,200 miles (3,540 km) between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine and passing through 14 states. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy claims the Appalachian Trail to be the longest hiking-only trail in the world. More than three million people hike segments of the trail each year.

The trail was first proposed in 1921 and completed in 1937 after more than a decade of work. Improvements and changes have continued since then. It became the Appalachian National Scenic Trail under the National Trails System Act of 1968.

The Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail informally constitute the Triple Crown of Hiking in the United States.

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