Delaware canoe/camping trip...last minute

Delaware Canoe Trip:

I am planning a canoe camping trip for the entire length of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The route along the river is quite beautiful, with rustic campsites on the water and no development on the river banks along the route. For a river this size so close to the populated eastern seaboard, you will be amazed how undeveloped and clean she is. The thing about the trip is seeing the beautiful unspoiled Delaware valley.

I have posted this same trip on another site and am looking for a few more people from NY backpacers to join us (8). This is why I am limiting this meetup to 8 people on this group.

We will pass and scout out Minisink Island which was the cultural center of the Mininsink native American tribes whose former homelands extended from the Raritan River in NJ up to the Esopus river in the Catskills. Perhaps will find a discarded stone ax head, arrow point and maybe a net sinker...who can tell?

If warm enough we will swim in the river from a number of spots. At night we will camp in rustic park service campsites on the banks of the river. Fires and cooking are permitted at these sites so it will be a camping experience. Since we will be paddling floating backpacks, we can bring lots of supplies as far as food and other good stuff is concerned.

The river along the entire route flows at only 2.5 miles per hour and so this trip will require consistent paddling. It has occasional rapids of ranging from 1- to 1+ so it will not require skilled canoing.

The trip will start on Friday evening and will last till Monday afternoon.
I will plan the trip so that those that cannot take off on Monday will be able to leave on Sunday afternoon and be back in NYC by Sunday evening.

The trip cost is mainly the canoe rentals which are $43 per person per day. I am not sure if that includes taxes or not, but I will update on this. The cost includes the transportation of the canoes to and from the drop off and pick up spots. This makes things so much easier and ensures us more time on the water. There is a possiblity that I may find a cheaper canoe rental ($38) per day, but I dont think they are as helpful with the pickup/dropoff. I will check this soon. we will pay these fees when we get there if possible...

There is also the 8$ per pserson fee for camping friday night at Dingmans ferry which is a private campground.

Here is the trip itinerary:

Friday after work: Drive to Dingman's Ferry PA private campground about 1 1/2 hours from NYC
Friday night: Camp at Dingmans ferry
Saturday morning: get transported with canoes to Matamoras
Saturday all day: canoe from Matamoras to Namanock Island - 13 miles
Saturday night: Camp on Namanock Island
Sunday all day: canoe Minisink Island to Wallpack bend - 16 miles - camp
Sunday night: Camp at Wallpack Bend
Monday till late afternoon: Wallpack bend to Smithfield beach - 10 miles - get in cars and go home

total canoe trip = 39 miles

Those who can't take Monday off, will be getting out at Bushkills falls while the others continue to WallPack Bend for the evening.

You need to bring what you would normally bring on a camping trip.
Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mats, etc. If you dont have a tent, others with space may be able to share some space.

You will also need to double bag your sleeping bag and clothing and anything else that you dont want to get wet in heavy large plastic trashbags and then fit them into your backpack. Remember you have a floating backpack, so you camp bring all kinds of crap you wouldnt normally want to carry on your back.

For those who would like, we will plan to cook dinners as a group (steak, roasted vegetables, etc), but for breakfast and lunch you will need to plan and pack for yourself. If you wish to have a hot breakfast anyone who has one should bring a small gas cooking stove (the kind you would use for backpacking). We normally can share stove to heat water for oatmeal, coffee etc.

You should bring all synthetic clothing that dries quickly and you may need something warm a night....check nighttime temp forcasts for Dingmans ferry PA as the weekend approaches.

You should also bring old sneakers or strap-on sandals that can get very wet and that you can live in all weekend.

Hope you can come and enjoy.