Finishing up Pennsylvania

[illabelle]

This spring we plan to finish Pennsylvania between Port Clinton and Delaware Water Gap. We will be flying up from Knoxville, then get a shuttle to and from the trail.

1. What airport makes the most sense?
2. Any strong reasons to do the trail NOBO or SOBO?
3. And just to keep it interesting, do we really need to bring a tent?

[GoldenBear]

1. You can get to Delaware Water Gap withOUT a shuttle either from NYC or Philadelphia.
https://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/sho...t=#post2177713

1. You can ride Bieber Tourways between Reading and either Philadelphia or NYC.
http://www.biebergroup.com/philadelphia
http://www.biebergroup.com/new-york-city
and then take a BARTA bus from Reading to the Cabelas in Hamburg
http://www.bartabus.com/wp-content/u...11/Route20.pdf
which would not be a bad place to either start or end your hike.

Thus, using either of these two cities would allow you to not use shuttles at all.

You mention "we." I suggest you look at driving between Knoxville & Pennsylvania. I know for a fact that this drive can be done in a day's drive, unless Tennessee is having an eclipse -- just take I-81 the whole way. Even if you have to rent a car one-way, it may be less money than paying for two (or more) plane tickets.

[BobTheBuilder]

I'm doing the same basic section this spring. The Allentown airport (ABE) works for me. Delta flies there and maybe one or two other carriers. You could get a shuttle from Bert's in Palmerton.

[illabelle]

Thanks G Bear for the reply. The non-shuttle options are worth looking into.

Yes, it is two of us. Because of work responsibilities, we can't devote two whole days to drive up there and back. Maryland is our northern limit for driveability. For us, airfare is the price of having fun outdoors. We live pretty frugal lives otherwise.

Looking at a Pennsylvania map, it looks like Philly is the big town of the area, so you're probably right to suggest it. But I'm wondering about Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. Seems like it's a similar distance from the endpoints of our hike, but without the big town congestion perhaps?

[illabelle]

I'm doing the same basic section this spring. The Allentown airport (ABE) works for me. Delta flies there and maybe one or two other carriers. You could get a shuttle from Bert's in Palmerton.

Ah, that makes sense. I didn't see Allentown on my Penn airport search, but Lehigh Valley was there. I'll contact Bert and see what the shuttle costs.

Maybe we'll cross paths out there! We'll probably do this section the 3rd week of May. Would prefer April if I can rearrange other obligations. Leaning towards SOBO at the moment.

[ldsailor]

I did all but 20 miles of Pennsylvania last year going NOBO. My finish point was Wind Gap. I stayed in Palmerton at Bert's Restaurant and Hostel for a couple of nights. Bob at Bert's gave me a ride down to Lehigh Valley International Airport for a flight home. Since Port Clinton is only 35 miles from the airport, that's your best bet. I flew Allegiant Airlines, which gave me a really good fare. Contact Bob for shuttle rates from the airport. I found his price very reasonable. There are other airlines there, but they will be more expensive.

As I mentioned, I was NOBO. However, Bob shuttled me to Wind Gap for my last day of hiking and I hiked back to Palmerton where he again picked me up at the trail head. Now if you look at your guide, that is a 20 mile hike and I finished at Lehigh Gap in the dark. You do not want to make that same mistake. Check out some pictures of it if you want to know why. The point is - despite the difficulty of going down at the gap - my impression is it would be even more difficult going up. To that end, you may want to consider going SOBO. I'm pretty sure Bob would take you up to Delaware Water Gap but it might be somewhat more expensive. He probably can shuttle you back to the Lehigh Valley International Airport when you reach Port Clinton.

All in all, with the exception of Lehigh Gap, I don't think there is much difference going NOBO or SOBO.

Bert's Restaurant phone number in the 2016 AWOL guide is 610-826-5454

[illabelle]

I did all but 20 miles of Pennsylvania last year going NOBO. My finish point was Wind Gap. I stayed in Palmerton at Bert's Restaurant and Hostel for a couple of nights. Bob at Bert's gave me a ride down to Lehigh Valley International Airport for a flight home. Since Port Clinton is only 35 miles from the airport, that's your best bet. I flew Allegiant Airlines, which gave me a really good fare. Contact Bob for shuttle rates from the airport. I found his price very reasonable. There are other airlines there, but they will be more expensive.

As I mentioned, I was NOBO. However, Bob shuttled me to Wind Gap for my last day of hiking and I hiked back to Palmerton where he again picked me up at the trail head. Now if you look at your guide, that is a 20 mile hike and I finished at Lehigh Gap in the dark. You do not want to make that same mistake. Check out some pictures of it if you want to know why. The point is - despite the difficulty of going down at the gap - my impression is it would be even more difficult going up. To that end, you may want to consider going SOBO. I'm pretty sure Bob would take you up to Delaware Water Gap but it might be somewhat more expensive. He probably can shuttle you back to the Lehigh Valley International Airport when you reach Port Clinton.

All in all, with the exception of Lehigh Gap, I don't think there is much difference going NOBO or SOBO.

Bert's Restaurant phone number in the 2016 AWOL guide is 610-826-5454

Excellent info, ldsailor. Thank you!

[SkeeterPee]

i'd recommend this lady from the at shuttle driver list. She is very flexible. Will make stops for you if you need to buy something get money, meal etc. She is near port Clinton, but covers the whole state and more. I bet she could advise about the airports. Harrisburg could be another airport option.

fyi there is large cabelas about 5 miles from port Clinton if you need fuel or anything else at the last minute.

Joyce A. Carlin

Pine Grove, PA

(570) 345-0474 (570) 516-3447 (cell)

Commercially insured for your safety. All of PA (MD line to Delaware Water Gap). Please call between 8 am and 10pm unless it is an emergency situation. Pickups earlier than 8 am, please call the night before.

[illabelle]

Thank you, skeeterpee. Always good to have options.

[ldsailor]

Excellent, ldsailor. Thank you!

I forgot to mention that I had a tarp with me, but never used it. I stayed in shelders, motels and a hostel (four nights total for the latter two) exclusively. Be careful if you try the same thing. If you're in a bubble or hike late, you may not be so lucky.

[illabelle]

I forgot to mention that I had a tarp with me, but never used it. I stayed in shelders, motels and a hostel (four nights total for the latter two) exclusively. Be careful if you try the same thing. If you're in a bubble or hike late, you may not be so lucky.

We're happy to take space in a shelter if it's available, but we always carry a tent. We're much too slow to outhike anybody, and I'm hoping April/May will be non-bubbly. However it turns out, we'll just deal with it.

[Gambit McCrae]

I am in the same boat...kinda; Little Gap, PA to Duncannon ...115 miles left.
PA for me is a 10 hours drive non stop. I can:
A- Leave work at 330 and drive until midnight get a hotel and be at the trail about noon the next day for a total of 21-22 hours of driving. Gas cost round trip is $170. with a Friday night hotel $100, but only 1 shuttle at the beginning of the trip
B-I can fly to PA...Looking like a round trip to Allentown for about $400 with a shuttle at beginning and end of trip would get me on the trail by about 9am Saturday, still having a Friday night hotel $100.

I am weighing if the flight is worth saving the 18 hours of driving...I know it will as soon as I am in PA at 9pm Friday night....

[illabelle]

I am in the same boat...kinda; Little Gap, PA to Duncannon ...115 miles left.
PA for me is a 10 hours drive non stop. I can:
A- Leave work at 330 and drive until midnight get a hotel and be at the trail about noon the next day for a total of 21-22 hours of driving. Gas cost round trip is $170. with a Friday night hotel $100, but only 1 shuttle at the beginning of the trip
B-I can fly to PA...Looking like a round trip to Allentown for about $400 with a shuttle at beginning and end of trip would get me on the trail by about 9am Saturday, still having a Friday night hotel $100.

I am weighing if the flight is worth saving the 18 hours of driving...I know it will as soon as I am in PA at 9pm Friday night....

It's just money, right?

We try to avoid those motels, not only because of the cost, but also because they're so far removed from nature. Light pollution, noise pollution, people everywhere, commercialism - ugh! Usually we'll take a morning flight up, do whatever is necessary to get to the trail (shuttle/rental, fuel, travel, food, etc), and expect to be camping somewhere in the woods that evening. Leaving the trail is the same in reverse, off the trail in the morning, shuttle to hostel/shower/car/airport, get home late. For more remote locations (most of Maine), I budget a full day of travel on each end.

[ldsailor]

B-I can fly to PA...Looking like a round trip to Allentown for about $400 with a shuttle at beginning and end of trip would get me on the trail by about 9am Saturday, still having a Friday night hotel $100.

I am weighing if the flight is worth saving the 18 hours of driving...I know it will as soon as I am in PA at 9pm Friday night....

If Allegiant is at any airport near you, check them out. They always have good fares if you book way in advance. You won't find them on travel sites like Expedia. You have to go to their web site. You can find out if they serve your area by going to your airport's web site and check out the carriers flying from there.

[dudeijuststarted]

See if you can fly Allegiant to Allentown. I'd recommend finishing in DWG and heading over the border to NJ for a mile or so.

[rocketsocks]

NOBO for a picturesque view at the finish, you’ll see what I mean when ya get there.

[rocketsocks]

...but if logistics dictate SOBO, Palmerston is a great view also.

[illabelle]

ldsailor and dudejuststarted,
I checked Allegiant's website. From Knoxville, most flights go to Florida. There's one to Newark, another to DC. Not too sure they help us much. But yeah, Allegiant has some terrific pricing.

[illabelle]

rocketsocks,
We've already done the rest of Pennsylvania and all of New Jersey. I remember the view walking south from NJ to DWG. Despite the rocky reputation, I'll always remember Pennsylvania as picturesque. Springtime is nice because it's all green, and the water sources haven't dried up yet.

I think we'll try to use Palmerton as a resupply/shower/laundry stop. Need to spend some time analyzing my AT Guide to see which direction works best. We'd like a half-day hike on the first day, reasonable daily mileage, and good campsites with water.

I'm wondering about Lehigh Gap. I've heard it's an awful climb out of there. In my experience, awful climbs aren't much fun going down either. Maybe we'll do this in two pieces, Port Clinton to Palmerton, DWG to Palmerton. Then we don't have to climb up either way. We're so lazy.

[Durunner]

Personally, I think down would be harder and tough if any fear of heights. My first backpacking trip ever was Lehigh Gap to DWG. I wondered if I could even pull myself up the rocks with a pack, but actually it wasn't as bad as expected. There are so many rocks, but at least that area is a lot of ridge walking. I am local, so used to the rocks though. ABE is 35 minutes from Port Clinton and probably an hour or a little more to DWG. DWG is awesome, but most of Lehigh Gap to DWG is boring, except at those points of course. Port Clinton to Lehigh Gap has, Pulpit Rock, The Pinnacle, Bear Rocks, Knife's Edge and Bake Oven Knob. More good views through that part.