Delaware Water Gap to Wind Gap - Southbound

Day 22
Tuesday, April 19
Delaware Water Gap to Wind Gap, southbound
15.5 miles
 

Left our truck at Wind Gap and John drove us to Delaware Water Gap to hike southbound.  We hiked from 8:30 to 4:00.  The southbound incline at Delaware Water Gap is not steep and it has beautiful views of the Delaware River below.  We were somewhat nostalgic as we left the view, knowing this was the northern terminus of our section this time.  But go south we must, so we left it behind and began to look forward to the end of the day, our last day.

The last half of today’s trail was a solid path of rocks, very similar to the section north of Eckville Shelter/Hawk Mountain Road. Actually these were the only two sections of PA that we found to be worthy of the title “Rocksylvania”.  We walked on rocks for at least a couple of hours—the small rocks that hurt your feet with no choice but to step on them.  I was so grateful when it was over. 

There was a steep decline into Wind Gap. We were tired but elated to be finished with our 270 mile section.  Until next time!!

 

Made it to the Delaware River!

Delaware River

 

At Nelson Overlook

Nelson Overlook

Nelson Overlook

 

Little Gap to Wind Gap

Day 21

Monday, April 18
Little Gap to Wind Gap

15.4 miles

 We staged our truck at Wind Gap and John took us to Little Gap to start hiking north.  We hiked from 8:00 to 3:20. Nothing unusual today--just plain ole rocky paths. Took pictures at Hahn's Overlook. Nothing else to see. Just getting it done.

When we finished hiking, we drove up to Delaware Water Gap to check out the parking sites. We had heard that the large parking lot there located in the woods is not safe, so we wanted to see for ourselves.  We did see a parking place on the street near the businesses across the street from the Presbyterian Church with a few spots.  It asked a nearby business person if it was public parking and he said it was.  However, we decided anyway to hike in reverse tomorrow and leave our truck at Wind Gap.  While there we took a stroll down to the Delaware River Bridge and took pictures so we wouldn’t have to do it in the morning. 

 

 

 

Bake Oven Knob to Little Gap

Day 20
Sunday, April 17
Bake Oven Knob to Little Gap
13.7 miles

John Stempa took us to Bake Oven Knob Road after staging our car at Little Gap and we started hiking (slackpacking) at 8:20.  It was a hard, hard day, including lots of rocks at Bake Oven Knob and Lehigh Gap.

 

While driving that morning, Wait-up asked me, “What is the scripture you are thinking of today.”  I answered, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  I Corinthians 15:57 and 2 Corinthians 2:14, “Thanks be to God who ALWAYS causes us to triump in Christ.” 

Speaking of Lehigh Gap – we had heard of it long before we got here and we were dreading it tremendously.  The climb up to the gap out of Palmerton was very steep.  Then we got to the top, making our way over the boulders, we were unsure of the trail so we followed some arrows (bad idea) that took us straight up to the base of the ridgeline.  Evidently whoever painted the arrows only wanted to go to the base of the ridgeline – they left us hanging there with no marked way to get to the top.  So we had to decide – do we go back down and find and follow the white blazes, or do we try to find our own way to the top.  Going down was not a very inviting option; it was too steep.  We kept trying until we finally made our new route to get around to the other side.  While doing that, we watched a group of three young people start at the bottom and climb to the top in no time.  They were obviously locals, these Pennsylvania folks grew up doing this.  They told us there was another way around the gap if we wanted to take it when we came back, I told them, “we’re not coming back!”  LeHigh Gap is reported to be among the most challenging on the AT south of the New Hampshire Whites Mountain Range. 

 

When we got through Lehigh Gap, standing on the rim of the mountain overlooking the valley below, I raised my arms and shouted, “Thanks be to God who ALWAYS gives us the victory.”  Timely scripture this morning again.

 

After Lehigh Gap there was about 4 miles of open, grassy trail going around the rim of the mountain due to a Superfund site reforestation project.  According to the AT Thru-Hikers Companion, this was the result of nearly a century of zinc smelting in Palmerton.  The path was very nice but being open made it hot with temps around 68.

 

At 5:00 we reached our vehicle parked at Little Gap and went to eat at the Blue Mountain Diner then drove back to Stempa’s house.