Harpers Ferry, WV to Delaware Water Gap, PA

Day 2, Saturday, September 20

Harpers Ferry to Rocky Run Shelter, 14.1 miles

This morning the Potomac River is really raging. The Shenandoah is higher than last night and there is more water coming down the Potomac side now. The river is at least 5-6 feet higher this morning, in some places only a few feet below the towpath. I’m hiking by 9:45 AM or so and take my time on the towpath. I don’t get chased off this morning. I’m climbing Weaverton Cliffs by 10:30 AM and reach the overlook at the top by 11 AM. The view of the gorge and river below is incredible. You can really tell the mud-red river is beginning to spill its banks.

This morning is awfully muggy. The air has an almost tropical feel to it with the humidity so high. Maybe that’s what’s left of the storm after it passed through yesterday. I take a short break at noon at the Ed Garvey Shelter before pushing on. Up top on the ridge, the trail is great. There aren’t a lot of blowdowns from the storm so far. I had been envisioning the Appalachian Trail being a jungle of blown-down trees. So far it’s just tons of green leaves stripped off the trees on the ground.

At 1 PM I stop on the side of the trail for lunch, finishing the other half of the sub sandwich from yesterday. Not too bad. I reach Gaithland State Park at 2 PM and Compton Gap Shelter trail twenty minutes later. I don’t stop. I’m headed to the next shelter, Rocky Run, 5.2 miles away. Rocky Run lives up to its namesake on the ups and downs of Lamb’s Knoll.

Shortly after 4 PM I reach the shelter side trail. By 4:40 PM I’m dropping my pack for the day. There is a Boy Scout troop camped across the creek below the shelter when I arrive. They’re younger scouts and make a lot of noise, but nothing I can’t live with. Keeps the other wild animals away.

By 6 PM I’m cleaned up and snacked and ready to rest for the remainder of the day. It’s a nice evening, cooling off a little, with not too many clouds in the sky. I light a small fire just to drive off the mosquitoes, but it’s really a warm evening. Not a bad first day back out on the trail. It’s still summertime, at least through the weekend. I crawl into my sleeping bag at 7:20 PM and I’m asleep a few minutes later.