16 Miles

May 15, 2025

Wind Gap, PA to Delaware Water Gap, PA

Mile 1297.4

Moon and TieDye, my shuttle drivers from the day before, picked me up at the hotel to bring me back to the trail. They’d handed me a soda and snacks in the shuttle to the hotel two days ago; this morning, they offered me donuts. They also lent me a pack cover to try out between here and Delaware Water Gap.

No downpours expected until afternoon today, but plenty of mist and drippage. The climb out of Wind Gap was a little tough after a day off, but soon enough I found myself back on the ridge. My aim was Kirkridge shelter, 9 miles out.

Lots of rocks on the trail, but no real elevation gains or losses to speak of. 

I was surprised to meet Frankenstein on trail this morning—I’d met him at The Lookout, and figured he’d be long beyond me by this point. We spoke for a bit—he had a reservation at a hostel in DWG tonight. Soon enough, though, he’d moved on, and I was passed by a few more thru hikers as the day went on. 

I was moving slowly over damp rocks and muddy ground, and chose, given the weather, to take a blue blaze bypass around the last big rock scramble on the ridge.

Still, I made decent time, and arrived at the shelter around 2PM. It was damp outside, but the rain hadn’t started, and as I ate lunch, I considered. The hostels were all full—lots of folks waiting out the last of the rain—but there were a few hotels walkable from the trail in town. I felt like I had the miles in me, so I made a reservation, packed up my bag, and set off around 2:45 to cover the 6-7 miles it would take to make it to Delaware Water Gap. 

I started rethinking the choice about a mile out when the downpour started, but kept going. The trail in this area was narrow and crowded with rock, with greenery closing in on either side, and often above. It smelled old, damp, dark—a very different vibe from the clean honeysuckle scent of Swatara Gap, or the pastures of Carlisle. After a mile or two, things opened up into a forest service road for a mile and a half, then swung into a sharp, rocky descent down into town. Creeks and streams were glutted with water and areas of the trail featured standing water and muddy crossings. By the time I reached the trailhead parking in town, I had my 15-mile day (by my watch, over 16 miles, since I’d taken the bypass), but I was wiped—and there was at least another mile to walk through town to get to my hotel. Luckily, the owner of the on-trail hostel I passed on the way offered me a ride into town—a much-appreciated bit of trail magic after this long day.

I was delighted to see two more hikers I’d met at The Lookout in the hotel: Kimberly and Hotspot. I’m pretty sure Trash Tye is staying here as well. Today’s work hadn’t reduced my hostel-queen status one bit, since I’m once again under a roof, but I still felt proud of getting my longest day ever. I’ve got a package to get at the post office tomorrow, a pack cover to return to Moon and TieDye, and some resupply to figure out. Next stop: New Jersey!