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By John Dillon
- “Rocksylvania.”
- When you gotta go, use the “facili-trees.”
- The rugged, often remote Appalachian Trail crosses the Delaware River on a bouncy concrete sidewalk on the I-80 bridge.
Thirty-four OLLI members learned these factoids and more on a trip to hike sections of the Appalachian Trail along the Pennsylvania-New Jersey line near East Stroudsburg, PA, October 20–25.
The trip was a Road Scholar program that offered four days of hiking with a choice of three distances, generally ranging from three miles to more than nine miles. The common element, as one handout noted: “All hikes are ROCKY with difficult terrain.”
OLLI hikers took this warning in stride (literally) since most are members of the hiking interest group and are familiar with the rocky trails in the Happy Valley region. Members knew to watch every step. A seasoned Road Scholar guide praised the group as the first to not complain about “Rocksylvania.”
The group stayed and had their meals at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort near the town of Delaware Water Gap. Built in 1911, the sprawling hotel is known for its historic golf course on an island between the Shawnee and Delaware rivers. The hotel once drew famous names in sports and entertainment, from golfer Sam Snead to comedian Jackie Gleason. It’s home for the Road Scholar “Choose Your Own Pace” hiking programs that run from late spring into the fall, and it serves a steady stream of golfers and outdoors types.
The five days of hiking on the AT, as I reflect on it through the photos, were simply brilliant. The pictures and associated memories bring back warm feelings of generosity, love for the outdoors, strengthening (and budding) friendships, and nature’s beauty. It truly was a magnificent week.
The trip was organized by OLLI hiking group leader Alice Clark. It offered a scenic sampling of the 2,200-mile trail that runs from Georgia to Maine, plus educational programs such as the woodland tour led by an expert in trees, flowers, insects — and even the rodent family.
Members returned with memories and friendships nourished along the trail, on the hotel veranda, and in the beer garden. I asked my fellow hikers about them. Here are some of their thoughts:
“I felt like I was meeting a famous person while hiking on the AT. It is historic. It has been travelled by millions of people. . .Honking geese haunt my dreams.” — Mary Conner-Righter
“The trip gave me a new perspective on reconnecting with nature (even rocks!) and I enjoyed my fellow hikers, especially those who opened up during the hikes and shared life experiences. And yes, the fact that gophers are squirrels was a real eye-opener! I will never look at them the same way!” — Michael Busges
“Things that stick in my mind: using the facili-trees or green latrine (I hope to never use those words again), mustard packs to combat muscle cramps, pre-dinner cocktail on the porch, ‘cozy’ van rides to/from the trailheads. . . ” — Patty Stephens
“The naturalist was incredible. We learned so much from him about trees, plants, birds, and other wildlife. I loved seeing the owls, especially close-up at the Wildlife Rescue Center presentation.” — Jeff Lengel
“When I was a teen, I thought one day I would try to thru-hike the AT, but life happened and that didn’t. I was so excited to be able to do a 27-mile section of the trail on our trip. It did not disappoint. The experience, views, fellow hikers, and weather combined for a memory of a lifetime.” — Carla Rossi
“What best describes this adventure is the word family. From the minute we arrived, we were surrounded by the beautiful inn filled with family treasures from years past. Who can forget the picture of Jackie Gleason golfing!” — Helene Shanahan
“It was fun to see the through-hikers, especially those two guys who became friends while hiking on the AT. This time they did the Harper’s Ferry to Delaware Water Gap section.” — Alice Clark
“It was Tuesday, after lunch on Raccoon Ridge, before we . . . started our gradual descent to Coppermine Trail. The path led us through a small, flat woodland area where we were struck by the burning bush trees bursting with color, leaves a brilliant red against the backdrop of yellow and rust. The pleasantries exchanged between us came to a quick stop. We were silenced by the exquisite beauty . . . and perhaps the brief reprieve from the usual rocky trails as well.” — Phoebe Busges