Stayed at Fingerboard in Nov 2004. Nice old stone shelter with a new roof. Was clean at the time. Has two indoor fireplaces - a welcome addition to the shelter the night I was there. No privy and no water in November. When it's running, the spring is to the left and down the hill. Very close to a parking lot so I assume it gets a lot of use in the summer, especially on the weekends.

Peace,

Bill

hey Bill!

- Doug

Where is the Fingerboard located on trail?

New York. Harriman State Park.

Long walk for water ...

'Slogger

On Sunday mornings there is a good chance of being woken up by Asians to a fire and a hot dog breakfast.

It can be busy in the winter, too. I once spent the night in that shelter when a bunch of NJ firemen and their wives were in there, having a party. They hung a tarp across the open side, got fires going in both fireplaces, and it was warm as toast inside. They had a five gallon jug of White Russian. It was a blast.

Here's a photo of Fingerboard Shelter taken during the Blizzard of 2006 (26.9" snow). When I woke up, my bag was caked in ice. You can see it hanging up to dry.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/6/5/4/7/fingerboard_shelter.jpg

Amazing seeing it all snowed in given the fact that I hit it in the heat of summer 2003.

Brrrrrrr

Kinda looks like a shelter here in Wyoming at the moment (if we had shelters !!)

'Slogger

There was a tiny but useable spring on the hillside just above the shelter when I was there last fall. Just to the right of the shelter, looking uphill. Had a pleasant stay. There were two or three groups camped in the hollow down below the shelter.

I stayed at Fingerboard shelter the night of 4/3/2007. It was a rainey night but no leaks to report. While the water at the shelter isn't all that reliable it's not far from Tiorati circle where you can get water, in season.

I rember staying here last here... it was in July and very warm.

Only down side.. it was a very long down hill to water..all the way down to the lake and then a long hike back up.

David

There's usually water a little south of the shelter maybe 100 yards down the hill. While going to the lake is far to go for water, it's reliable.

Stayed there in mid march 2007 (when was the eclipse? thats where I was), and water runoff from snow melt was all around free for the taking.

I stopped in to the Fingerboard Shelter today, 1-27-08, for a lunch break. It's in generally good condition except for a hole in the roof at the ridge line, but it's not over the sleeping area so not to worry.

I tented near the shelter on 12/15/08 and it seemed to be in good condition.
There was water down hill on the blue blaze that goes past the shelter.

i went there during a weekend trip and i like the shelter alot and the surroundings. except the only problem was the water. The water is a tenth of a mile away and for me the water tasted horrible. it felt like it left a coating of grime on my teeth. I disagree that alot of people go there. God forbid the tourists could hike up a .1 of a hill. They dont so it wasnt a problem when i was there. I remember if u go nobo you come across a water tower. it was so stupid they get the water from the lake and they have a spigout like a foot inside a fence. they couldnt be nice people and let the thru hikers get nice clean cold water. But i devised a plan. i got a stick pulled up the lever and slid my water bottles underneath the fence. worked great. if you guys have any question of harriman appalachian trail u can ask me. i live right near there