6/16/06 Friday: Hahns Lookout to Presbbterain Church of the Mountain Hostel Delaware Water Gap (16.6)

PICTURES:
1. Hey!!!! I think the rocks situation is improving...:)
2. Thats Sven and Tailwind again
3. Apparently a gas line explosion prompted this construction
4. Im descending into the Delaware Water Gap and looking across at the mountains Ill be crossing tomorrow...:(
5. The church hostel....home for tonight
6. Just a note as you exit the church grounds... Very uplifting...



I was up and out by 0700, meeting my two x-ARMY friends right off for the 1000" descent to Wind Gap... Once down in the gap, we all walked .2mi to a hotel to buy some soda and get some much needed water for the days travel... There is prescious little water available up on the ridge where we are walking each day, with hikes of up to .6mi off the main trail just to get water... After a few min, we all struck out again for our 1000" ascent of this last section of Blue Mtn before making it to the Deleware Water Gap and out of Pensylvania and into New Jersey...:) Its always nice to move into another state...:)... Shortly after the ascent, Sven and Tailwind left me in the dust and I was on my own again... about 1015 I decided to take a break on some rocks and have some brunch... After a short break, I started moving and discovered Wolf Rocks which told me I had traveled about 8 miles.. While walking through this area, I took some pics while admiring the views and the rock formations... At 1145 I arrived at the Kirkridge Shelter and met up with Sven and Tailwind again as well as a few other hikers... Mechanical Man, a south bound section hiker provided me with some trail majic...a lightweight cloth towel to use for drying off.. I had had a similar one weeks ago but it fell out of a pocket and was lost forever on the trail... I was elated at the offer and thanked him for his thoughtfullness and generosity... The three of us were soon off again northbound with the church hostel on our minds for the night... We arrived at the hostel about 1430 and found a number of hikers already there from the previous day.. Still plenty of room for all... The hostel holds 10 in the bunkroom, and another 4 in the shelter with even more place to tent camp near the shelter in the back of the property... There were many oppurtunities for eating and resupplying also... I offered to drive a friend and his 2 friends from Ohio to a point 30mi north so they could hike back to the hostel together... the drive took more than 90min one way, but was nice getting a picture of the civilization surrounding the trail... I agreed to hide the keys in special spot and was able to use the care to help out a few other hikers, one needing to go to the local hotel, and early the next day another hiker deciding that the infected tick bite needed to be attended too by a doctor at the hospital after not improving for more than 5 day. I was happy to help in this small way, besides I wasnt paying for the gas...;)...