Appalachian Trail NJ: AMC Mohican Outdoor Center

Our second night out on our 2011 section hike the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey found us at the Appalachian Mountain Club's (AMC) Mohican Outdoor Center about ten miles north of the Delaware Water Gap.

Our one night visit left us surprised in many ways, both good and bad.

Unlike our first long distance section hike of the Appalachian Trail in Maryland, our first day ended not in thirst and leg cramps, but tired yet with a reserve of energy. So we were ready when we descended downhill towards the sound of running water. After a brief episode of rock hopping and crossing a wooden bridge, we found ourselves at a gray gravel road with a large green sign marking the entrance gate of the AMC Mohican Outdoor Center. A turn to the west and a short walk brought us to the large lodge building pictured above. We noticed a water spigot next to the garage across the gravel road and helped ourselves to pure water while cooling off. We doffed our pack onto one of several large benches along the road and walked up to the lodge entrance. Lights were out and no one answered our call. A local chasing his dog mentioned the caretaker was at a cabin and would likely return shortly.

Our host returned and we asked "What were the options for spending the night?" We could pay $9 to camp or considerably more for a cabin. We opted to pay the $9 to camp, paid an extra $1 for a cold Mountain Dew soda, and wandered towards the tent camping area. (In hindsight, being freshly showered and shaved from the church hostel and asking that particular question may have been a poor decision as long distance AT hikers generally camp for free.)

The tent camping area is located just past and behind the main lodge. A narrow trail winds through thick underbrush and trees. From time to time a clearing appears on either side of the trail with old wooden picnic tables. As we hang in a hammock at night we opted for site #3 which had well spaced trees with a BearSaver bear box and the privy not too far away. As this was a weekday evening in the first week of May we had the entire tenting area to ourselves. Close to dark we spotted several small deer feasting on the underbrush along the trail.

The next morning we broke camp, dropped by the lodge to "check out" and sign the log book.

Getting there

North bound hikers (NOBOs) will be coming downhill through the Delaware Water Gap NRA. After crossing the wooden bridge, make a left turn west and head up the gravel road to the lodge.

South bound hikers (SOBOs) will have left Catfish fire tower and will be traversing a ridgeline with wonderful views of New Jersey to the east. Coming sharply downhill, the trail will angle west and you'll also pass by at least one stealth camp site until you hear running water and emerge onto the gravel road. Make a right turn west and head up the drive to the AMC lodge.

Prices

$9 - Tent camping or hammocking
$3 - Indoor toilet and shower
$1 - Canned soda (Coke, Mt Dew)

Resupply

Resupplying at the Mohican Outdoor Center is only viable for SOBOs who have run out of food, as NOBOs should have picked up supplies in Delaware Water Gap or nearby East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania one or two days before. The Mohican Outdoor Center can provide water, canned sodas, candy bars, and sandwiches. Between those, you should have sufficient calories to get another 10 miles south to Delaware Water Gap, the best resupply point for over 50 miles in either direction.

The lodge also sells t-shirts and several other visitor center styled items such as wildlife guides and maps.

Appalachian Trail Hostels: Delaware Water Gap PA

The Presbyterian Church of the Mountain in Delaware Water Gap, PA provides a hostel for thru-hikers and long distance section hikers of the Appalachian Trail. We spent the night at their hostel during our recent section hike of the New Jersey portion of the Appalachian Trail.

Hours and Cost

The normal season for the hostel is May 15 to June 30, but the hostel is available to bona-fide long distance hikers before and after those dates. Instructions for entrance are on the hostel door. If arriving before 5 p.m., then continue up the driveway to the church office and chat with the secretary who can unlock the hostel. After 5 and before 8:30 p.m., then you need to call one of the church members listed in the instructions. After 8:30, well you're out of luck unless someone else is already staying there, as the instructions say to head to the motel and get a room. We arrived about 6 p.m. on a Sunday on the 1st of May and found thru-hiker already staying there.

The recommended donation for staying the night is just $3. Donations are placed thru a slot in the wall in the living room just to the left of the clock. Find the pink Post-It in the second photo below and you'll see the slot just above. To tell the truth there's so much stuff on walls and surfaces we had to ask another hiker where the donations box was ourselves.

Getting there

Finding the hostel is actually easy if arriving by bus and even easier if arriving on foot from the trail. The Apalachian Trail passes just one building away from the hostel.

Northbounders (NOBOs) will be coming downhill from Mount Minsi on Mountain Road. As you arrive at Main Street, the hostel is to your immediate left just on the other side of the Deer Head Inn. You likely saw the church through the trees as you were coming down Mountain Road.

Southbounders (SOBOs) will be coming uphill from the Delaware River bridge. As you arrive at the intersection marked with a large brown and white Appalachian Trail sign, you'll see the Deer Head Inn to your left and the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain just up the hill to the left.

Bus riders arriving at the Martz Trailways/Greyhound station should take a right leaving the bus station and then follow the first road on the right down into town, cross Cherry Creek, and then follow Main Street uphill. The church and hostel will be on your right.

In all cases, just follow the drive way and you'll find a picnic table and the hostel entrance on your immediate right, just after the steps to the front door.

About the Hostel

The hostel was recently renovated with fresh paint and new carpet. (Note the AT symbol cleverly set into a carpet square inside the door.) The hostel consists of a main living room, a bunk room and shower, a half bathroom with commode and sink, and the outside picnic table area.

The bunk room consists of eight wooden sleeping platforms covered with carpet. There is lots of space and post tops to hang or open backpacks. You'll need your pad and sleeping bag for the bunk room.

The shower entrance is located in the middle of the bunk room. The shower consists of a single stall with curtain. Church members have donated shampoo and soap which are in containers next to the stall. You'll find generous stacks of towels inside the two closets just outside the bunk room to the left.

All in all, we enjoyed our stay at the Church of the Mountain hostel and had a much nicer experience than our first hostel stay in London, England way back in 1979. A hot shower and a shave were much appreciated after a long 2-day bus ride and we were glad not to start our hike late in the day up one of the hills to a legal camping spot. Our sincere thanks to the hostel volunteers!

Mobile Guide to the Appalachian Trail

We've been developing a new mobile web curriculum at the office. As part of our research, we discovered a cool mobile web design tool at Ubik.com. While playing with the tool to learn its capabilities, the idea struck us that we could create a small mobile web site to support our upcoming section hike. That idea led to the better idea to develop a lean digital guide book that could be easily viewed on mobile devices.

We are pleased to announce the Mobile Guide to the Appalachian Trail is under development. You can follow the build here:

at.ubik.net

As mobile devices are not currently standardized and most cannot handle large graphics, long pages, and javascript, we've decided on a simple menu for the new mobile guide:

• Water


• Shelter


• Resupply


• Emergency


• About


• Disclaimer

As we're planning for a section hike of the AT in WV/MD/PA, we'll probably fill in the data for those sections of the mobile guide first. Then, we'll focus on the completing the emergency contact list for all states. Springer to Fontana section will follow third as new hikers will likely need the information most.

The purpose is not to supplant the existing ATC guide and data books, but to provide information in another format for fellow hikers. (Personally, I'd like to build the site and then hand everything over to the ATC for them to brand and possibly derive mobile ad income.)

Backpackers Hostel: Ironmaster's Mansion to Close

Kind of sad to know that, when I pass through lower Pennsylvania, a well known Appalachian Trail landmark will be closed. It was recently announced that Ironmaster's Mansion in Pine Grove Furnace State Park will close at the end of April 2010.

Ironmaster's Mansion hosted about 1,500 hikers each year and will be dearly missed. I had hoped to stop, not for the night, but for a picture from their balcony which features a trail sign giving the mileage between Springer Mountain and Mount Katahdin.

Central Pennsylvania Conservancy is in talks to take over the building and may reopen the hostel after renovations. Should that come to pass, the new hostel will be considerably smaller and reservations will likely be needed.

Boiling Springs No Camp Zone

One of the more disturbing things we encountered in our planning for a section hike of lower Pennsylvania is the existence of an 18 mile long (depending from where one measures) no camping zone extending from Alec Kennedy Shelter just south of Boiling Springs to Darlington Shelter, about 5 miles north of I-80. Now, we understand why the zone exists. This is the area of the Appalachian Trail most encroached by civilization. Some of the trail is on private land. The thin strip the trail occupies just can't handle hikers, hobos and all who wish to camp in the limited space. But, twenty miles?

For the seasoned thru-hiker, this encumbrance is no barrier. Thru-hikers have been pounding out 20 mile days for a month or more by now. For section hikers, who don't or haven't yet built to that level of endurance. this section could be an obstacle.

The first strategy in completing this section is to position oneself as close to Boiling Springs as possible. One option is the camp site along the noisy and active railroad tracks south of town. Few hikers opt for the camp site. The more common option is to rent space in the backyard of John & Molly Garman, bathroom privileges not included. (You are planning to stop at the pool on the way in and take care of your hygiene needs, aren't you?). Here's how to contact the Garmans:

Garmanhaus
John & Molly Garman
PO Box 307
Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania 17007-0307
Phone: 717-258-3980

There is another B&B in town, but you really don't want to leave your pack out back and enter using the fire escape, do you? The proprietors seemingly like the income, but not the dirt that hikers bring.

Now that you're in Boiling Springs, you can top off fuel and water at the ATC center and sprint north towards Darlington Shelter. For those not wishing to put in a full day of hiking, one can opt to overnight along Highway 11, between the PA turnpike and I-80. Within a mile to the west are several motels and a Flying J truck stop with 22 showers, laundry, and a 24/7 Denny's. Be careful about the motel you select as at least one has been reviewed as having bed bugs. A local transit bus travels along Highway 11 and one can ride to a Walmart in Carlisle, to a K-Mart in Mechanicsburg, or to downtown Harrisburg and the Amtrack/Greyhound depot.

Our plan is to remain overnight in Boiling Springs, hike to Highway 11 and take the bus to downtown Harrisburg. Downtown, we'll catch the one evening commuter bus to the Duncannon area and hike south to Highway 11. Back at Highway 11, we'll shower at the Flying J for $12 and take the bus back downtown to the Greyhound depot and head home.