Appalachian Trail Day 115 - Ridge top campsite to Delaware Water Gap (Mile 1293 to Mile 1297)

I woke up at 5:07 to find that Kelly's already awake. I slept 9 and 1/2 hours last night and it was divine, although my sleeping pad was way noisier in my hammock than it is when I am sleeping on the ground.  I tried sleeping with my pad last night in lieu of my under quilt, because the pad offers me a lot more flexibility in the rainy weather, allowing me to sleep in a shelter occasionally. I don't want to carry both, but I was worried I would be too cold with only the pad.  I am happy to report that the experiment was a success, and I will be leaving my under quilt at home now. 

Motivated by the thought of a Nero today (a near zero), and a weekend of zeros to follow, we are packed and on the trail by 6am!

We can see the sun rising through the trees, but we don't get a decent view of it until we are about a half mile from camp. The sun is now over a ridge to the east, and it really hazy from the wildfires. Everything is a burnished orange yellow.

The trail goes steeply downhill over some rocks in places, interspersed with nice level trails for the next two miles. 

We didn't eat a real breakfast this morning, since we will be in town shortly. There is a coffee shop in Delaware Water Gap that is calling my name. On the way down the hill, but while we were still well above the town, the smell of bacon wafts up to the trail and I find my mouth absolutely watering and my stomach is grumbling.

The trail emerges onto a gravel forest road and the walking is smooth sailing. I pass by a big pond on one side of the trail.  The outflow runs under the road and shoots out through a pipe on the other side, where it cascades down the hill.  Minutes later the trail emerges onto the parking lot where Kelly's car is parked.  We are assaulted by millions of mosquitos before we jump in the car.

Today's Stats: 4 miles, 200 feet ascent, 1,280 feet descent

Trail Stats: 1,297 miles, 258K feet gain, 267K feet descent