Day 15 – 13.4 miles - Rattlesnake Campsite

AT Version of Stonehenge (in the backgrond not foreground!)

Hurray, in New Jersey today.  Unbelievably long, hot walk across the bridge going over the Delaware River just to start the hike up a mountain.  Lots of snakes today, must have scared up about 10 of them but none of them dangerous.  Passed an unusual natural pond - Sunfish Pond - where just about the only fish in it are sunfish.  The water is so acidic that most fish can’t live in it except a few species.  You can see the handiwork of idle hiker hands along a particular section of the shoreline where they have created their own version of Stonehenge in a shallow section.  Personally, I think most would be too tired to do that but youth has its energies. 

Last night, a fierce storm came though the valley and knocked out all the power in the Water Gap township.  The power didn’t come back on until about 2am.  I was at the Church hostel and it didn’t bother me or other thru hikers, we were already in bed. 

Too Tall and Whole Wheat

I was fortunate enough to run into section hikers Too Tall and Whole Wheat as they were hiking Southbound.  Last I saw them was Tuesday in Lehigh Gap.  They hiked to Delaware Water Gap, shuttled to the NJ border and were hiking back to the Water Gap today.

The water in NJ has a lot of tannin in it so even though it’s clean, it’s not clear, it has an opaque look to it.  Don’t look at it, just drink it!  The last couple of days have been so hot and humid, I am consuming large quantities of water as I go. 

Shakin and I have headed our different ways.  Was in touch with Shakin in the morning and his back is hurting badly. He may need to take several zero days at Delaware Water Gap. Hopefully he made it there today and will be able to recover enough to come back on the trail.