Hike #43
The group on the Wolf Rocks, southernmost point of glaciation on the Appalachian Trail.
Hike 43
12/29/1
Driving to our beginning point, Wind Gap
Having just returned from Las Vegas for Christmas with Cathy’s family, I wanted to do
one last hike for the year. I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail from Wind Gap to the
Delaware Water Gap, using some side trails. This time, I was joined by Tea Biscuit, Rich
and Eric Pace, old friend Dave Riedel, and a girl he was seeing named Daria.
In the parking lot at Wind Gap, AT.
Wind Gap PA
Wind Gap PA
Wind Gap PA
Ascending on the AT north from Wind Gap PA
AT north from Wind Gap
AT north from Wind Gap
AT north out of Wind Gap
Wind Gap
Wind Gap PA on the AT
Wind Gap PA on the AT
Wind Gap PA on the AT
Along the AT north of Wind Gap
On the AT north from Wind Gap
AT near Wind Gap
On the AT near Wind Gap PA
AT on the Blue Mountain Water Company Road
Blue Mountain Water Company Road, AT
Blue Mountain Water Company Road, AT
I had known Dave since we were very young when he would visit my next door
neighbors, and we bacame friends in middle school when he tought me how to run better,
and control breathing. Up until this time I was one of the slowest runners in my class, and
Dave’s slight push at this time led me to make my way to fastest by the end of high school.
I had not known Daria very well previously, only through the fact that she had dated Mike
Delgado.
I picked Tea Biscuit up at my Dad’s house on Morgan Hill near Easton early in the
morning; he had stayed up most the entire night previous trying to get some action with
one of my sister’s friends. Tea Biscuit was a tired wreck the entire day and remembers
little of the hike as a result!
After spotting Rich’s car in the Delaware Water Gap, we piled into the Camaro and
Dave’s car, heading to Wind Gap. Dave brought his dog which was well behaved. We
ascended the ridge quite quickly, but by the time we reached the top, Tea Biscuit had laid
down and gone to sleep. We did’nt give him much time before we needed to move on.
Dave and Daria walked far ahead of the group most of the time, waiting up only at the
Blue Mountain Water Company road. I walked with them for some time, then fell back
with Rich, Eric and Tea Biscuit. The woods in this section are quite varied, but boring if
walking from the north. This was the best time I had hiking this section as I recall.
In this first stretch, we encountered only one other hiker, a man who had bushwacked up
the ridge from Pen Argly, PA through a friend’s property.
Blue Mountain Water Company Road, AT
Blue Mountain Water Company Road, AT
AT on Blue Mountain PA
AT North of Wind Gap
Stopping to look at the maps on the AT near Pen Argyl PA
Along the AT near Pen Argyl PA
Along the AT near Pen Argyl PA
Along the AT near Bangor PA
Along the AT near Bangor PA
Along the AT near Bangor PA
Along the AT near Bangor Pa
Along the AT near the Big Offset
Approaching Wolf Rocks on the AT
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
View from Wolf Rocks, AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Eventually, we reached the Wolf Rocks, the first realy point of significance, though it
offered less than thrilling views. Tea Biscuit again went to sleep while the rest of us
chatted on the rocks. Daria wanted to turn back, so she and Dave left the group at this
time, leaving the three of us to continue on.
We stopped for a break at the Kirkridge Shelter, and again at Nelson Vista. which offered
a much more scenic view than our previous summer trip here. We continued on over the
Lunch Rocks, and to Tott’s Gap, again with better views, stopping along the way at the
Tott’s Gap cave. The sun was already beginning to set at this time, and the moon was full,
and showing bright over our view of Mt Tammany.
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
Descending from the Wolf Rocks on the AT in PA
View over Cherry Valley from the AT west of Fox Gap PA
Cherry Valley overlook on the AT west of Fox Gap PA
At in Fox Gap, Rt 191
AT in Fox Gap pa
View from Kirkridge on the AT in PA
Kirkridge Shelter on the AT, PA
The AT on Kirkridge in PA
Nelson Vista on the AT in PA
Nelson Vista on the AT in PA
Nelson Vista on the AT in PA
Nelson Vista on the AT in PA
Nelson Vista on the AT in PA
Nelson Vista on the AT in PA
Nelson Vista on the AT in PA
Nelson Vista on the AT in PA
Viewpoint along the AT in PA
At the Lunch Rocks on the AT in PA
Lunch Rocks, AT in PA
View from the Lunch Rocks along the AT
View from the Lunch Rocks along the AT
View from the Lunch Rocks along the AT, looking toward Totts Gap and Delaware Water Gap
Lunch Rocks along the AT
Lunch Rocks along the AT
Totts Gap Cave
Inside Totts Gap Cave
Totts Gap Cave
Totts Gap Cave
Totts Gap Cave
I was almost completely dark by the time we left the top of Mt Minsi, and we followed
the Minsi Fire Road back down. Fortunitely, I know my way down that road very well,
and we were able to reach Rich’s car with no further problems.
Utility line overlook along the AT, Kittatinny Ridge in PA
Utility line overlook along the AT, Kittatinny Ridge in PA
Utility line overlook along the AT, Kittatinny Ridge in PA
Utility line overlook along the AT, Kittatinny Ridge in PA
Eric at Utility line overlook along the AT, Kittatinny Ridge in PA
AT on the Kittatinny Ridge in PA, nearing Mt. Minsi
AT, Kittatinny Ridge in PA
View from the top of Mt. Minsi along the AT
View from the top of Mt. Minsi along the AT
View from the top of Mt. Minsi along the AT
Me on Mt. Minsi
View from the top of Mt. Minsi along the AT
View from the top of Mt. Minsi along the AT
Here's where you can see all of the pictures from this hike:
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/sneezehorse/hike043%2012-29-1/
Photography by Rich Pace, Mike and Scott Helbing. Rich used his 2mp digital camera, I
had a manual one Rich gave me, and a disposeable advantax camera..which sucked, and
Tea Biscuit had a 1 pm digital.
View from the top of Mt. Minsi along the AT
View from the top of Mt. Minsi along the AT
Moon over Mt Tammany from Mt Minsi
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