Wind Gap to Leroy A. Smith Shelter – 4.6 miles
I guess my first day hiking the AT with Bauman was on 9/27/2013. I believe he was working at Ringing Rocks Campground at the time and had just completed a short section hike of his own a few months prior. On this particular hike he was hiking southbound from somewhere near the Delaware Water Gap, and I met him at the Wind Gap trailhead on the afternoon of September 27th. I knew nothing at all about backpacking, and had purchased a Jansport Katahdin 50L pack online simply I think because it said “Katahdin” on it and I knew that had some relevance to the AT. It fit very poorly and as we climbed 500 feet headed southbound out of Wind Gap I new I had made an awful mistake agreeing to join my friend on what was certain to be a fatal expedition. Bob took the time during our climb to educate me on the white blazes and how they worked. Single blazes mean go straight. Two offset blazes mean to turn. When we reached the top of the climb and I caught my breath determination set in and I told myself I would finish this hike if it killed me. Bob had neglected to mention that the PA section of the trail was famous for its rocks. (“Rocksylvania” “The place where boots go to die”)
We made it 4.6 miles to the Leroy A. Smith Shelter where we ran into some thru-hikers who had apparently made use of the kitchen at The Beer Stein in Wind Gap, where allegedly you used to be able to prepare meals for yourself if you were a thru-hiker because they let you camp there and gave you access to the kitchen. I’ve heard this is no longer the case…something about getting in trouble with the department of health or something… (Update: I have learned that The Beer Stein is now permanently closed.)
We knew they were thru-hikers because one of them commented on the luxuries of section hikers as Bob was unloading his gear from his pack. Neither of us were sure what exactly he was referring to. I was curious but too embarrassed to ask him because I’d never interacted with a thru hiker before and didn’t want to look foolish asking a question that probably had a clearly obvious answer to anyone that had hiked more than a day in their life. I was intimidated.
The hikers took over the shelter while Bob and I set up camp in a nearby grassy area. I’m not sure if Bob was using his hammock yet at this point or not. I had borrowed a Skyscape Scout tent by Six Moon Designs from a co-worker who had previously attempted a thru-hike. It was a very light tent that I’d practiced setting up before our expedition. It didn’t have a frame (wasn’t free-standing) but rather used trekking poles to support it. Brilliant idea, but it was required to be staked down in order to stand and the rocks in PA didn’t allow much for a place to hammer tent stakes into the ground. Lesson learned.
Wherever I May Roam 