Date: 2018-10-18
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 24.8

Tommyhawk fetched his food and mine from the bear box at the shelter just before my alarm went off at 5:30. We each prepared our breakfasts from the comfort of our sleeping bags in the shelter. Butterfly¢s combination thermometer, compass and whistle said it was 35 degrees, but, fortunately, there was little wind. Sunrise is now several minutes past seven, and the sky doesn¢t begin to lighten until 6:30, so we did most of our morning routines in the dark. Because Tommyhawk had arrived at the shelter yesterday during daylight hours, he knew where the privy was. Otherwise, I would have never found it as there¢s no sign pointing in the right direction and no real trail to it either. I think this is because the shelter is brand new. It¢s a really nice shelter, so no complaints from me.We got on the trail at about 7:15. Like yesterday, there was hardly a cloud in the sky, and the cool temperatures invited sweat-free, brisk hiking. The plan that I put together last weekend at Bear mountain had me going about twenty miles to the Backpacker Campground, but Tommyhawk and I discussed the possibility of pushing on to Delaware Water Gap. The days hike was along the same ridge as yesterday¢s, with occasional little dips and rises to views of the valleys on both sides. The walking was easy and we made good time. We hiked up Rattlesnake Mountain, by Rattlesnake Spring and through Rattlesnake Swamp with no snake sightings. At Kittatinny Mountain, we met a group of bird watchers recording raptor sightings. We stopped and chatted for a while, and I recognized one of the guys, named Tom, from yesterday at Sunrise Mountain where he was hawk watching. As we talked, two bald eagles glided passed. Neat.We walked along the rocky shores of Sunfish Pond around 4:30 - water and sky were crystal clear. With 6 miles to Delaware Water Gap, we considered staying at the Backpacker Campsite just passed the Pond, but the thought eating town food and having a roof over our heads and on a night predicted to hit 32 degrees, and the fact that most of those miles were on forest roads and paved roads, spurred us onward. We passed a couple trout fishermen along amply flowing Dunnfield Creek on our descent into the gap, and then walked along Old Mine Road and over the Delaware River on a bridge that bounced up and down significantly every time a semi flew passed.We arrived at the Church of the Mountain Hiker Center at 6:20 - just after sunset. The lights were out, but there were three, full backpacks there suggesting that we had company there. After setting our stuff on bunks and showering, we headed out for dinner at the Sycamore Grill. On our walk there, we ran into the owners of the three backpacks: Red Eye, Guru Bob and Megatrash Poptart (Mega for short). After introductions and chatting a bit, Mega informed us that he had staked a bunk claim with a green carabiner. Oops . . . thinking the carabiner was left by someone inadvertently, I had taken over his claim. I explained as much to Mega and suggested that he simply move my stuff. He said no worries, there are plenty of bunks and that he¢d take another.Dinner was French onion soup, the steak and ale special and a salad. Upon returning to the hostel, I got ready for bed. As I did so, I found some Exofficio underwear mixed in with my clothes. I thought perhaps they belonged to either Dirty Gulp or Long Squat whose laundry I had done at Bear River - that perhaps I had mixed them in with my clothes inadvertently, so I tossed them on the bunk above mine. Turns out, Mega had played a practical joke on me and had added them to my clothes pile when Tommyhawk and I were eating. We all got a good laugh out of that one.  Tonight I am thankful for a hiking companion, excellent weather, good trail, the generosity of The Presbyterian Church of The Mountain and good humor.