I Need to be More Observant, Pennsylvania: You Showed Me Your Best All Along – The Trek

Miles

So, on my current northbound thru hike, I fell into the “trap” of cruising miles, or as folks like to say “ripping/crushing” miles, all along the South and the Southeast on the Appalachian Trail (AT). No worries for me, the AT Mid-Atlantic couldn’t be that much different of a hike. I got this. Yep. Sure.

Pennsylvania Hiking

Then, Pennsylvania happened. Or, as it is referred to affectionately as, but maybe not so much in some cases, “Rocksylvania.” Pennsylvania started out as “cute” and “kind of a nuisance” with the seemingly gazillions of small, medium, and large rocks all over the trail causing me, at least, to start and stop my hiking over and over throughout a given day. There were substantial amounts of bouldering, navigating janky craigs, constant straight up and down of short mountain sides sans switchbacks, which was unlike the South and Southeast’s larger mountains, less rocks, sweeping trail, and often numerous switchbacks.

Up and down very large rocks and boulders.

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Changing Expectations

About halfway through Pennsylvania, I knew that my hiking expectations were very misguided and this state was going to be a slog. My knees started to really hurt as did my feet. In one fell swoop, for example, I tripped on a rock and ripped a very large hole in my trail runner, had the gaiter on that shoe implode, and tore up my knee. Pennsylvania said, “not so fast, bud… this is a different type of hiking.” And, it was indeed, but I still had not gotten that notion through my head. I needed to push miles, man! Why? I was being stubborn, careless, and likely arrogant and should have known better. A few major wipe outs later on rocks with battered shins and knees as proof, I slowly started to change my tune. I realized that my luck would run out falling down more frequently because I was rushing, and potential serious injury may await me. Thus, I dialed back my miles and expectations. Plus, my energy level was low and I needed to slow down or the Northeast states on the AT were not going to happen.

Changing my hiking expectations.

Hiking Community

Beyond the physical and mental toll, which was personal and an inward state of mind for me, Pennsylvania’s hiking community and care started to manifest itself. Certainly, this esprit de corps was there the whole time, I just had not looked for it. As I headed north in Pennsylvania, water was becoming a greater concern. Thank goodness to the kind hearted trail angels and communities that cached water along the route. Without this gesture, and many times a cache of water would be in very remote or mountainous areas that took time and effort, the hike would have been even more difficult.

A water cache in the middle of nowhere with inspirational messages. Thank you!

Last Day

And then, on my last day in Pennsylvania at Delaware Water Gap, you really gave me a jolt. In the morning of my last day of hiking in the state, I was just giddy that I was going to cruise into Delaware Water Gap by 1:00 on a short day, stay at a hostel, shower, do laundry, resupply, eat crazy amounts of food, and then mosey on into New Jersey the next day and all of that “Rocksylvania stuff” would be behind me. Right.

Last day in PA in the Pocono Mountains.

Unexpected Inclusivity

For the first two stay places I contacted in Delaware Water Gap, there were no responses. Hum. I looked at the hiker FarOut app and saw that there was a Presbyterian church hostel (Church of the Mountain Hiker Center) that was donation based (note: if you stay there, please give financially what you can). I walked to the church, texted the contact number on the door, and was heartily greeted with positivity. I received the door code and went in. I unpacked my gear, grabbed a comfy couch to sleep on later that night, took a shower, and then went outside to hang-up my wet tent from the night before. As I was putting my tent on the clothes line, a truck pulled up and a man asked if I was an AT thru hiker. I indicated that I was, and the man in the truck said that the building attached to the church was a banquet hall and they were having a milestone birthday party for a parishioner. He invited me as his guest. You don’t have to ask me twice. I went to the banquet hall and 50-60 people were present. The celebration was just getting underway. I was introduced to the group by the man in the truck. People were so welcoming and friendly. I spent hours chatting and answering questions about the AT, hiker life, food, gear, cool stuff experienced, hardships, and on and on. We ate, had cold drinks, wonderful birthday cake, and then the DJ cranked up the music and it was a dance party. The DJ started with The Beatles’ “Birthday” song, which in my family we blast the morning of someone’s birthday! Folks danced and laughed and had great community. After the celebration, we all helped clean-up, hugged, and said our goodbyes. I went back to the hostel, which I thought I would have to myself, and found my buddy Smiles there. I had not seen him in months since back in the Smoky Mountains. I also met calendar year triple crown attempter, Ricochet. We hung-out swapped stories, laughed, and ate.

Dance party and community fellowship.

With Ricochet (L) and Smiles (R).

I Take It All Back

So, Pennsylvania, I take it all back. The things I muttered under my breath, or may have said forcefully out loud, or thought inwardly. I got it all wrong. The best of you was there the whole time. Beyond the physical, it just took me until my last day in the state to really realize what a caring hiker community you have and the interest folks have in the AT. From the kind gestures of trail communities and angels that I will never meet to the birthday party folks open arms approach to me; all had me a bit teary eyed the next morning as I crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey. I’m going to miss you, Pennsylvania.

Miss you, Pennsylvania.

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