I started early from Leroy Smith shelter. I intended to make a 14 mile day to Kirkridge shelter, but wanted an option to try my first 20 mile day and reach the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain hostel at Delaware Water Gap PA.
Much like yesterday, the morning was relatively nice hiking along the ridge (pictures), but had to drop down at Wind Gap PA and face a climb back up after the day had warmed up.
While I was removing the lower legs from my convertible hiking pants to stay cool during the climb, a southbound section hiker Wounded Knee passed by (pictured) and we exchanged information about the trail. He warned me about rockiness and a particularly challenging section called Wolf Rocks about 7 miles north. I figured that might kill my hopes of making Delaware Water Gap today.
It was a moderately steep climb but not too long out of Wind Gap. Like yesterday, the warm sun tired me out and there were long monotonous trail sections with little of interest.
Frankly, Wolf Rocks (pictured) was pretty mild compared to Bake Oven Knob and Knife Edge.
I finally reached Kirkridge shelter (pictured) at 2:30pm. It is a very nice shelter and I perused the log, seeing entries from Penguin the day before and Bruzer (formerly Tweaker) from that morning. I refilled my water from the water spigot uphill, a welcome feature at this shelter. I decided that I had the time and energy to make Delaware Water Gap, so I had a quick lunch, washed and massaged my feet, then resumed hiking.
I hadn't really paid much attention to the elevation profile, which indicated an overall downhill from Kirkridge, but it turned out to be a fair amount of uphill to Mt Minsi, but at least the trail was less rocky and became a fairly easy service road for a couple of miles, before beginning a steep, rocky descent through thick Rhododendron groves (pictures). There I got my first views of the Delaware Water Gap, and passed several late afternoon day hikers on their way up.
I finally reached the town, hearing church bell chimes, and found my way to the hostel (pictured). Sitting at an outside table were Traveler and Shirtless with two others, and they gave me the rundown on the hostel.
First, a shower, then I went looking for dinner. Unfortunately, my first choice was closed (hoping for a hot dog and Root Beer float), so I checked out the restaurants in the other direction and found the Apple Pie Bakery and Café (pictured) still open, advertising a hot dog and slice of pie for $2.95.
Turned out the grill had just closed at 7pm, but they had two hot dogs left over and let me have both, plus a slice of blueberry pie. A nice place.
I wandered a bit more after dinner before returning to the hostel, where I got caught up on these updates.
Tomorrow, I leave Pennsylvania behind and enter New Jersey with the promise of fewer rocks. It will also be a shorter day of 10 miles, as I plan to stay at the AMC Mohican Outdoor Center, which features a bunkhouse, showers, and all you can eat dinner and breakfast!
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