Trail Shelters

“Do ya like 'em, love 'em or hate 'em?
What's the best one and what's the worst one?

I dig them myself! Nothing like getting to a sturdy structure after a long days walk. Even if they got mice, I find it entertaining to listen to 'em racing around.

The most welcoming shelter is Hobbs Cabin at Savage Gulf (Tennessee). 6 bunks, table, fireplace, Totally inclosed with two doors.
I also like any shelter I've slept in where it was raining outside and I was dry inside.

The shelters at Montgomery Bell SP in Tennessee are in pretty rough shape though. I bet they leak like a b@stard in a good rain.”

“I never stayed in a shelter and don't plan to.”

“I haven't been in all that many of them, but I thought Derrick Knob was pretty decent. I read in the hiker's log that the chimney didn't draw well, but we didn't find that to be the case at all. It's well drained, has a nice meadow out front, and the constant drone of bees in the tree above it during the spring is really relaxing.”

“That is a sweet lookin shack!”

“This is a fascinating concept to those of us (at least me) out west. I can't imagine staying at a "shelter" and calling that a backpacking trip? By no means do I mean this as direpectful of anyone's preferences...it's just a VERY alien concept to me to consider an area so populated that "shelters" were avaialable, yet that's called "backpacking"? I think of backpacking as a wilderness experience...”

“Sleep in an AT shelter. The mice provide a great wildlife experience. LOL
It's still backpacking cause your still toting your sh!t on your back for a ways out.”

“the only placce i have ever experienced them is along the AT. we had a tent with us the night we stayed at the harper's creek shelter but there was nobody else in camp so we slept in the shelter. we usually move away from the shelters and pitchour tent if others are in the area (unless the others are in a group we are with).”

“How 'bout bats? Seems like the shelter would make a great hangout. Get it?...hang-out...hahahhahah.

Seriously, though, I also think it might be a godsend in some cases to know that a solid shelter awaited you at the end of the day...”

“It's a great thing to be in one if it's raining outside!! I hate fooling with a wet tent or tarp.”

“most that i have seen have an outhouse in the vicinity also.”

“Doesn't dried rat or mice urine cause some serious sick when breathed in?”

“Only if you're allergic to it or it's from a Hanta virus-infected mouse or rat. I think it's the Hanta virus you're thinking of. That was the primary topic of discussion the night I spent in the Spence Field shelter. It's heavily infested. Than Hanta virus is nasty stuff and that is a legitimate concern.”

“wow.. I must have just .. (I don't know.. to be honest -- I just woke up).. but.. what a great start for a thread!!!

hMM.. favorite shelter.. It's a strange choice, but mine is TriCorner Knob.

OverMountain is most likely second.

After that.. Derrick Knob.. skully?. the nice meadow.. WAS it flooded when we hiked there? Or was that Siler's Knob?

Spookiest shelter was Mollies Ridge.. Most mice was Spence Field.

OK.. there's all the survey questions..

"This is ... a "shelter" and calling ... backpacking trip?"

wanderer
09:03:58 PM
12/07/01

I have had some similar reactions, but my experience is that GETTING to the shelter is often the 'wilderness experience.'”

“Double Springs was the one that was flooded. I hate that one!”

“"I was so glad to see the Double Springs Shelter. Twelve miles of our journey and enough great stories to last a lifetime."

http://members.tripod.com/towndawg/day1.htm

Anyone else done TriCorner?”

“Remember, the floor was flooded and when I jumped down from the top bunk I slipped and landed on my nother end?”

“"The good news is that we got into TriCorner Knob before dark, and ate dinner at a reasonable time."

http://members.tripod.com/towndawg/hike22.htm

So I get back to "This is ... a "shelter" and calling ... backpacking trip?"

wanderer
09:03:58 PM
12/07/01

I still go my earlier "my experience is that GETTING to the shelter is often the 'wilderness experience.'"

OK.. away from this computer for a while. Got cleaning up to do here.

*Armed with a vacuuum, he determines himself to get up, go clean.. *”

“skully: that you did!.. oh my gosh, had totally forgotten that. Glad you weren't hurt, that could have easily been a disaster.. (oh oh!!.. I can't RESIST)..

skully: that you did! guys, it almost di-ass'ed her.”

“Don't you have vacuming to do?”

“that's vacuuming.”

“ttyl. (heh.. actually.. have BEEN up.. cleaned one room.. starting on another... but after that, I have to change computers.”

“heh.. that's ironic..”

“Wallace's Hut, also called "Seldom Seen Hut". It has an amazing knack of disappearing into the snowgums when the weather drops.”

“I have to change computers, because ItsTooFarToWalk.”

“LOL TD! I try to get the closest parking space!”

“I spent the night in one once while on the AHT in harrison crawford state forest.It was cool I guess.Lots of strange noises comming from the walls very strange.”

“Laurel Gap was my favorite shelter because there has always been a picnic table there. Sometimes I would find the table inside the shelter, othertimes it was outside. Comparing the size of the table to that of the entrance, the move has to be quite difficult. (The table is very heavy.)

But since the remodeling job, Icewater Spring has become my favorite. Even the name excites me. Because of the increased floor area, I tell people that dances are held there on Saturday nights under the skylight. With the cooking/eating area it rates five stars with me. And the extended lower platform makes a great place to sit and was needed for easier access to the upper platform. I have seen many a person hurt a leg by falling, previously, while trying to climb down during the middle of the night.

Rich Mtn. and Scott Gap (both now gone) tied for the worse shelter with me, because they retained their wire mesh sleeping platforms long after all the others were changed to all wood (in GSMNP).

And of course, the Fontana Hilton remains highly rated. I have heard that Georga now has some great shelters, so I expect to hear about them.

For those not familiar with GSMNP, it currently has 15 shelters, 12 on the AT, assuming that Birch Spring Gap Shelter is down and the spot is now fully a tent site. Additionally, the park has 85 backcountry campsites, so most of us who BP there do not spend all of our nights in luxury.”

“It sounds like you guys have alot of fun in GSMNP.I think I am going to plan a trip there in 2002 maby in the spring.Does anyone have a trail or a place I should start at.

Just looking for ideas..

Mike”

“TownDawg - Yes, I have spent more nights in Tricorner Knob Sh. than in any other. Once I holed up there for 3 nights due to heavy rain. I have had a lot of experiences there and someday, perhaps, we can exchange tales.”

“iluvbackpacking, here are some trail descriptions and such. you can order a trailguide that describes all the trails and backcountry sites as well as a overview trail map from this site. look around it some.”

“I rather enjoy the shelter life myself. always a good conversation with other hikers if theres anyone there and easy to pack up in the morning because everything is dry . I love feeding mice crackers out in front of the shelter a ways and watching the little buggers scurry around all night. There is a new very cool shelter in Ga on a new section of AT trail just south of the old shelter at Gooch Gap. It is one of the best designs I have ever seen anywhere,including in the Smokies. It beats the heck out of the new shelter at Ice water springs. (not that that one isnt nice too)I do enjoy a picknic table and windows that open and close. Im spoiled I know but it really is nice after a long hike.”

“Nowslimmer: thanks for those memories.. I share Laurel Gap.. to be honest do NOT remember the picnic table.. but I do remember the water source.. was a pain -- cos it was close, but down a short/steep trail.

I also share IceWater spring. Did not know about the dances. Sounds GREAT!.. And close enuff.. could get HaySeed Dixie in there or someone.. :)

Both IceWater and Silers Bald as you know, have the new style floor plan.. I agree.. a HUGE improvement.

Good to talk to someone that had ACTUALLY been somewhere.. *poke poke*.. (in a mischievous mood to Mike -- actually Mike.. I know you and some of those other ppl wanted to start a club and got several emails about it.. so theyhaven't planned a trip yet?.. was the guy who was supposed to show up this morning.. was he one of them?.. )

-- back to nowslimmer -- have to get back to work, fella.. but again.. good to talk to ya.. we have some common destinations.

:)

I just wonder if we answered wanderer's original question..”

“One of my worst nights sleeps was in a shelter in the Shanendoah of VA. Not sure why, cause I've slept on many floors with no problem. Even with my thermarest, the shelter floor seems so flat, hard and uncomfortable.”

“I think there are some cabins and fire look-out towers in the national forests in MT that you can rent ahead of time, hike to, and stay in. I don't think there is any actual shelters along trails that you can just pop into though. Aero or Chief may know more about this. I think it would be cool to stay at a fire look-out tower.”

“I'm cool with the shelters depending on condition. All the shelters I have been in are in the Smokies. The worst was Mt. LeConte, consistently thrashed by the ignorant and rude. Personally I loved Silers Bald. Tricorner seemed to have the best stargazing. Icewater is really nice too but too close to the road for my tastes. Laural Gap is the most peaceful. Cosby Knob I could take or leave. Double Spring Gap looked kinda nasty last I saw it.”

“heh.. HPM.. good to see ya.. so when is that group of kids you take out headed on another expedition?.. Still luv your story from your trip there.

post the link again if you have it, I could read it again. My reaction to IceWater was same as yours.. a half-mile is way too close.

although.. as tribute to BB/RAD..

BB: Dude.. we could put some water slides here, that could double as ice runs in the winter.

Rad: yes, this place is close enough to drag in steaks!

BB: hey, I got it! We get in the water park business!. We borrow a bunch of money and put in some water slides,

RAD: and everyone when they hike up to IceWater, we could charge them like $5 or something..

BB: and we could have STEAKS cooked up and waiting, and then hand them something like a snowboard?

RAD: awesome! and they could take the combination WaterSlideNIceRun path back!”

“Howdy Dawg, thanks.
My March '01 trip in the Smokies

Our Troop goes out every month plus 1 week of summer camp (this year in north Georgia near Dillard) and 2 one week "High Adventure" trips for the experienced guys.

January 12,13 Cumberland island could be 10m could be 20m.

Feb 15,16,17 Osceola NF 24 miler weekend

Right now the plan for the next biggie is March 16-24 (Spring Break) and most likely they will do a 50+ mile trip in the Smokies. Some of the guys want to start section hiking the AT this time but I won't let them do the Springer north section that time of year cause of the crowds. The southern section will have to wait until the crush subsides, maybe summer.

Oh yeah, I'm sick of Mt. Collins shelter. Been there too many times.”

“humanpackmule - Glad to hear of your enthusiasm for Mt Collins Shelter. Having been to all the others in the park, I'm going to have to spend a night there sometime in the near future.”

“I personally think shelters are a blight on the backwoods. I sleep indoors every night. When I hit the trail I want to sleep outdoors. Shelters are a reminder of the outside world. Now, I’m not so anal that a trip is ruined by seeing man made things, I like to minimize them. Beyond this they are a mouse (Huanta Virus anyone?) and bear magnet. Even worse than the mice and bear are the PEOPLE they attract and the number of people they attract. Do I want to stay somewhere where they have to put chain link fence across the front to protect the hikers from bears? And finally and maybe most importantly, who wants to sleep on a hard wood floor when you can have a bed of leaves or fragrant pine needles under you?

I’ll stick to the tarp/tent or nothing at all.”

“I don't think thay are that bad but when I got to areas where there are shelters I only spent a couple of nights around them at most. (well, except last time anyway.)”

“thank you for typing that, nigal, so i didn't have to.”

“nigal & radaqast -

1. They are doing away with the chain link fences at some of the remodeled shelters. (Ice Water Spring, Peck's Corner)

2. Personally, I have enjoyed some great experences and have met lots of wonderful people at the shelters. I look at it as sharing the backpacking experience and more. It has been a learning experience, too.

3. Mice! At Gregory Bald, CS#13, a mouse forced its way between the zippers and ran throught and around the inside of my tent while I was in it.

4. True, the shelters are a magnet for bears, skunks and other critters. But bears travel, too, and I have had numerous experiences with bears at my tentsites.

5. Sleeping on those platforms is much better than some sites where roots and/or stones or acorns, nuts and pine cones projected themselves up into my back. At some sites these things cannot be avoided, unless the tent is pitched into a potential watershed or waterhole.

6. It sounds as though you two may be a little anti-social, at least in your backpacking. But from your posts, advice, and comments I have respect for you and your viewpoints. Please do not look at this post as criticism. I am merely expressing a different, personal view of the shelter experience.”

“#6 is pretty close.

when i go out, alone or with a single partner, i don't go out looking for a crowd.

TT trips are nice, but that's what i go out expecting.

it's no fun when you find an unexpected crowd, and those are usually found at shelters.”

“PLUS, i like to camp where i want to camp...

and that is not in a shelter area that looks like a car-camping campground.

shelters are great for thru-hikers, but when i go hiking, if i see a shelter... i feel like i'm back at civilization.

is that backpacking? it may be, for you. not for me. i go to get out there. if i'm alone, i go off trail. usually as far as i can.”

“But Rad, We'd have never had the pleasure of meeting the famous "Chip" if we hadn't of stayed in Blood Mountain Shelter that time.
LOL”

“yes!

and it was AMAAAAAAAAAAAZING!!!!”

“I agree with Rad. I can imagaine that on a through-hike (which I have not done) a little civilizaton and saved time (by not setting up a breakingdown as much camp) might be welcome. But in my case I don't get out as much as I would like and the purpose for getting out is a little wilderness communion - and of course using all the nifty gear.

If the hiker's creed is to leave no trace - I kind of feel like a shelter is a pretty big "trace."”

“You can't carve yer name on yer tent wall. 80(”

“Nowslimmer
I've heard bears, skunks, and raccoons, around campsites before but never shelters, just mice and other skanky hikers.”