Info, questions, comments, experiences (good or bad) regarding - Cherry Gap Shelter

Past/Present hikers - what can future hikers expect here? Have any good stories or memories from here?

Future hikers - any questions?

This could be the best watersource on the AT: The water is piped out, flowing fast, and is on a flat(!) trail not far from the shelter. A good place to stay coming out of Erwin and just before reaching the Balds and Roan Highlands.

We had an interesting experience here. During the night we were awakened by something rustling around right outside the shelter. My hiking partner shone his headlamp outside to reveal a pair of red eyes. The animal ran away and we thought it was a fox from the way it ran. It came back around several times during the night but we never caught sight of it again.The next morning it was discovered that the excess rope had been chewed off the line we used to hang our bearbag. As we were packing up to leave I spotted a dog lurking nearby which was probably a bear hunting animal since it had a collar of the type used by hunters for radio tracking. It ran off as soon as it saw us looking at it. A new varmint to watch out for - domestic dogs. :rolleyes:

[quote=hiker33]We had an interesting experience here. During the night we were awakened by something rustling around right outside the shelter. My hiking partner shone his headlamp outside to reveal a pair of red eyes.
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May well have been a coyote. Have had a similar experience.

'Slogger

[quote=hiker33]We had an interesting experience here. During the night we were awakened by something rustling around right outside the shelter. My hiking partner shone his headlamp outside to reveal a pair of red eyes.
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May well have been a coyote. Have had a similar experience.

'Slogger

That was what we thought initially, or possibly a fox. From the way the black lab was acting, though, I'd say he was the culprit.:)

Had a coyote encounter at this shelter in spring of `05.

Hiked from Erwin to Cherry Gap Shelter early last May as part of a longer section hike. I remember:


Banging my head several times on the low roof -my sheltermates were ready to give me a new Trail Name
The shelter is situated in a flat area affording many places to pitch tents so plan on staying there, even if the shelter's crowded
Didn't hear/see coyotes and/or foxes but a pileated woodpecker certainly made his presence known
The NOBO hike from Erwin was stirring up to Beauty Spot and Unaka. Wildflowers - particularly spring beauties and bluets were prolific. But the 2 or so miles just before the shelter featured PUDs which no one needed at the end of a day's hike.

It's a nice place, I live in the area..