Date: 2018-09-14
From: Brink Shelter, NJ

To: Delaware Water Gap National Rec. Area
Miles today: 16.5

Just before I decided to pack up I heard light rain on the tent. It happened twice and then I packed up quickly. I didn't want to carry a wet tent. A good incentive to get up. I retrieved my food from the bear box, said goodbye to Southwind and headed up to the trail. I begin hiking at 7:19. Today was to be more interesting than yesterday but it also was more difficult. Right away it was a climb up Rattlesnake mountain. Since it was damp and foggy I had to be careful on the slick open ledges. After a few miles the trail followed an old road that once was for seasonal houses. The government took the properties for the development of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. A big part of the project was a dam on the Delaware River but it was never built. Maybe an easy mile on the road then the trail entered the woods and down a mini cliff. What a sudden change, from cruising to bruising. At a dead end paved road I went down around the corner to a spring. Back up the road to the trail I had another mile or so through the old development. Travel was fast and good. The road ended and it was a rocky trail once again. Then another paved road, a dirt road, and a trail up to Catfish Fire Tower. (Yesterday's fire tower was Culver Fire Tower not Catfish). After climbing the tower I had a few good views of Kittatinny Ridge which I had been following. Rain showers could be seen in different directions. As I climbed down I began to receive some of the shower activity but it didn't last. At about 3:20 I turned up the road to the Appalachian Mountain Club's Mohican Outdoor Center. The AMC is the same organization that runs the hut system in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. (AMC is also known as the Appalachian Money Club due to their prices). I went in and got a $2.75 16oz bottle of Dr. Pepper (see what I mean). I asked Misty about the Thru Hiker Breakfast. Though it was supper time breakfast is served all day. I ordered the breakfast and while it was being made I took a $5 shower. The hot shower was worth it. The $12 breakfast was worth it. It had a 1" plate size pancake, scrambled eggs, four strips of bacon, and toast. I had one big bulging belly! I paid my $19.66 bill and thanked Misty who was a wonderful host. Then I went out to pack up. Southwind came in. We talked a bit and he even invited me to stop at his place in Harper's Ferry, WV when I pass through. His hike ends tomorrow at the Delaware Water Gap, about 10 more miles. He was hiking all of New York and New Jersey. We said goodbye and I headed out. Speaking of pancakes I saw a rattlesnake on the road. I think the tour bus I saw on this narrow dirt road earlier flattened him like a pancake, though my pancake was much thicker then he is right now. Back on the trail at 4:45 p.m. and I want to get four more miles in. But just after 6 p.m. I came to the boundary of Worthington State Forest. Camping is only permitted at two locations and I didn't want to travel that far tonight. So I backtrack a few hundred feet to where I saw a legal campsite. AT thru hikers can camp in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area if they between 50 to 100 feet off the trail and I was. I set up my tent facing Pennsylvania across the Delaware River. This will be my last night in New Jersey. Tomorrow it is 8 miles to the Interstate 80 bridge across the Delaware River and into my home state of Pennsylvania. Also monitoring the track of Hurricane Florence. At this time it looks like the heavy rains will be west of me. I hope not to have to evacuate off the trail as I was told to do during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Right now the katydids are singing. They are not alone as I can hear a high school band down below to my east in New Jersey playing away.