I felt miniscule as I stood among the trees lining a towering mountainside while down below the river snaked along endlessly, without a ripple.
Inhaling the brisk autumn air, I felt a sense of accomplishment having just hiked seven miles of the 27-mile Appalachian Trail at Pennsylvania’s wondrous Delaware Water Gap in the Pocono Mountains, located some 70 miles west of New York City.
I was on a special outdoor Road Scholar Tour with 24 avid hikers of ages 50-plus. Adventuresome spirits all, we came for a six-day challenging trek in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with a stay at the scenic 105-year-old Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort. This historic hotel has been patronized by many famous politicians and celebrities over the years, including President Eisenhower, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, and Olympic skier Jean Claude Keeley.
The entire Appalachian Trail stretches from Maine to Georgia, spanning 2,173 miles. It’s one of the longest trails in the U.S., and can take as much as six months to complete. The six-day exposure of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey portion gave me a good taste of the magnificent, rugged terrain.
Each morning started with a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s River Room. Afterward, we packed our own lunches from a wide choice of cold cuts, snacks, and fruit. Then off we went in a van to the head of our hiking trail after choosing from three groups: a moderate group that would hike three to four miles, a moderate-challenging group hiking six to seven miles, or a challenging group venturing eight to nine-plus miles a day.
