Date: 2017-06-13
From: Campsite 1.2 Miles South of Wind Gap

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: light rain

We woke early to get as far as possible before the day heated up. Very important on this day requiring almost 7 miles before more water would hopefully be available.The hike today starts on the downhill to Wind Gap before what should be the final major climb before Delaware Water Gap. And if course while we were anxious to reach that water, the trail wanted to again slow us down with rocks. By this time with PA almost behind us everyone was looking forward to leaving the rocks behind and enterinf New Jersey at the Water Gap. Also everyone was anxious to see if water was available at that spring known to be questionable. Just a few miles from the water two old friends finally caught up with us....Rocketman and Mr. Tea. They had left the trail in Port Clinton for two days. We expected to see them before the Water Gap As they hiked much faster than us and of course would be refreshed from time off. At the spring we found absolutely wonderful water!!! Just about 100 yards west and flowing very cold. Shortly after arriving several others joined. All hung out about an hour before moving on. A sign on the trail at the spring pointed toward a side trail around Wolf Rocks, the last boulder field in PA. All were ready to get there, get over and head toward the last night before Delaware Water Gap. Wolf Rocks was actually a fairly easy hike over. Not a bad climb and then basically a walk across them with minimal ups and down climbs. Immediately after the rocks the three of us regrouped for the downhill walk to our Shelter. I stayed back to take care of "personal business", knowing that on the upcoming terrain I would readily catch up. Leaving my pack beside the trail I took off to find a suitable spot the requisite 200 yards off trail. No sooner there than I heard a huge commotion of people coming up the trail!! I never did that so fast in the woods. Back at my pack I saw a herd of young adults heading my way. Turns out it was a church group of 90 from Michigan. They were headed for Wolf Rocks and was I glad to have not met them there. Passing through such a group in opposite directions would not have been fun. Soon I caught up with Fiddle and Bloodhound. We arrived at the shelter, decided to stay there vs camp. The draw at this shelter is a water spigot nearby. We all basically bathed in it to cool off. Campsites at this shelter are actually about .3 miles further. The result being that many heading there stopped here first to get water. Many passed through but did not stay. By evening only two others did...Shutter from Virginia and Maverick from who knows where. Maverick arrived late. Shutter had camped previously with him and body language told me something was up. Sure enough he was a odd young man. And obviously a loner to match his trail name. Just out of high school and obviously lacking g in social skills, he had hiked this far on the AT and still did not adhere to basic trail etiquette. Immediately upon arrival he started chopping wood for a fire; strewing equipment all over the place; and generally encroaching on everyone's common space. This culminated in him staying up and making noise long after "hiker midnight" of 9:30. The rest of us tried sleeping though this.Fiddle had decided today to, like me, get off the trail at Delaware Water Gap. Her reason was to get back to Montana to continue care for her Mom and Dad, both of whom had encouraged her to continue her quest to complete the AT. I would help her make arrangements once there as I had looked in to a variety of options before Cathy and I decided to make the trip home a vacation.Anxious to see my bride but a bit sad to be near saying goodbye to these two new friends.Blessings,