View Full Version : Roaring Fork Shelter
I beleive I read somewhere this shelter had been relocated from just south of Lemon Gap to about 1 mile north of Max Patch. Can anyone help me verify this information?
Repeat
I beleive I read somewhere this shelter had been relocated from just south of Lemon Gap to about 1 mile north of Max Patch. Can anyone help me verify this information?
Repeat
This shelter is still in it's current location. Carolina Mountain Club is currently
working on the new shelter and location at this time. Once complete the current
shelter will be dismantled is my understanding.
Hope this answers your question.
Happy Trails,
Chip ;)
Lone Wolf
03-10-2005, 19:11
The 05 Data Book has it listed as 1 mile north of Max Patch summit.
i stayed at roaring fork in july 2001 the most mice infested shelter on the trail
:sun neo
bulldog49
03-11-2005, 09:26
This shelter is still in it's current location. Chip ;)
Where else would it be? Everything is in its current location. :D
trailfinder
07-13-2005, 20:52
As of July 8th the shelter was still standing. Plagues identifying the shelter have been removed along with some benches. Shelter can still be used.
Rain Man
11-15-2005, 18:21
Can anyone tell me the status of the Roaring Fork Shelter(s)? I understand the new one was finished last week or so? Where is it? Distances from other shelters? Old one torn down yet?
My wife and I intend to hike from Standing Bear Farm to Hot Springs over the Thanksgiving holiday next week. Any info on the current Roaring Fork Shelter situation would be appreciated.
Rain Man
I attended the dedication of the new Roaring Brook shelter, Sunday Nov. 6th. I believe the old shelter was still standing, but not for long. The new shelter is about 3m from Lemon Gap and 2m from max patch rd. The old shelter was just too close to the road and became a place to party and trash. Many thanks to Howard McDonald and all the others whose efforts made it happen. The 05 Data book was a bit premature LW.
Rain Man
11-16-2005, 10:54
I attended the dedication of the new Roaring Brook shelter, Sunday Nov. 6th. I believe the old shelter was still standing, but not for long. The new shelter is about 3m from Lemon Gap and 2m from max patch rd....
Nean,
Did they change the name for the new shelter? From Roaring Fork to Roaring Brook? Just wondering.
Also, to make sure I understand where the new one is, can you tell me how far it is from the old one, and whether the new one is north or south from the old one?
Thanks!
Rain:sunMan
.
This may be a repeat as my last reply went somewhere, neverland?
The new Roaring Branch hut still has the old name RMan. It's located just over 2m N of Max Batch Dr. and 2m S of old shelter and a bit more than 3m S of Lemmons Pass....if memory serves me.... If you look on the map, I believe its where Roaring Fork crosses the trail and is the shelter water source.
Repeat,
I just returned from hiking North from I-40 to Hot Springs. Along the way I noticed the new Roaring Fork Shelter.
Like the old shelter it is well made of logs and a great water source. It is located about a mile North of Max Patch summit approximately 200 feet from the trail. The "Marching Mountain Mamas" built a smart design with metal covered shelf for food preparation and a metal edge protects the edge of the sleeping platform from wear. When I visited the fire pit was still under construction. It actually looks like a hearth carved into the hill side in front of the shelter so the fire's light and heat would reflect back into the shelter. Finally, I believe I saw a moldering privy there as well.
The old Roaring Fork Shelter is still up. The privy was still there. The brass plaque had been moved to the new shelter.
HughD
Thanks for the update HughD. Our maintainer superviser for the CMC, Howard McDonald, designed the shelter. Howard is an incredible force. It inspires me to see folks so dedicated to the trail. Bob Peoples is another we all know as hikers but there are so many more of this mold, behind the scenes, making it all happen. The Marching Mountian Mommas donated most of the money to the new old shelter, but it was built too close to the road. They donated some money for the new one as well. It wasn't their fault where the old one was built so the plaque was moved to honor their gift. Did you notice there is a basment you can sleep in under? I've seen lots of shelters and I think this one is really nice.
I did not see the basement. I was trying to beat the weather and get out of the mountains before the snow.
Rain Man
12-04-2005, 23:17
My wife and I stayed at the new Roaring Fork Shelter on Thanksgiving evening last week. Four mice made a nest in my backpack. It was hung on the wall during the night.
You should know that the location of the new shelter on the current ATC topo map is correct, BUT the location as marked on the profile "map" below the topo map is wrong. In other words, the same map shows two different locations for the same shelter.
Just FYI.
The new shelter is in a MUCH better location that the old one. THANKS to the hard working volunteers, including Howard McDonald, who made it possible!
Rain:sunMan
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Kinda new to this site, but I have enjoyed doing research on a few section hikes here.
We want to do a 2 night hike around Max Patch. So far, our plans are to start at 1-40 and first night at GroundHog Shelter and second night at Roaring Fork then back to Max Patch Road to pick up the dropped car.
Any thoughts on that plan? We are not a big fan of the double back...
And, we are having some trouble getting accurate info on distances for each leg. Is there a better itinerary, any suggestions? Sounds like the new Roaring Fork shelter will be great, probably pretty crowded being so close to Max Patch.
Any ideas or help would be appreciated.
Thanks
trailfinder
12-15-2005, 19:22
During the summer my friends and I backpacked from Davenport Gap to Hot Springs. Stayed at Groundhog Shelter, Roaring Fork Shelter, etc. What we did was to drive to Hot Springs, left our car and get a shuttle to Davenport Gap. I don't like backtracking either.
Rain Man
12-16-2005, 00:33
We want to do a 2 night hike around Max Patch. So far, our plans are to start at 1-40 and first night at GroundHog Shelter and second night at Roaring Fork then back to Max Patch Road to pick up the dropped car.
Any thoughts on that plan?
The double-back from the new Roaring Fork Shelter to Max Patch Road won't be very far (less than 3 miles, I think), so that'll be a very short day.
BTW, there are very friendly mice in the new RF Shelter, so unzip all your pack pockets and hang your food.
Rain:sunMan
.
Anybody have a photo of the new shelter?
Ramblin' Wreck
01-04-2006, 21:53
Taken 12.31
Great Photo, Thanks
Veteran
Hello!
I stayed in the roaring fork shelter about two weeks ago, and yes I believe it has been moved. At least that is what I experienced as I hiked a lot of references were made to there being an old and new shelter. I only saw one on my hike. The shelter I stayed in was beautiful and about 4 miles from max patch. it was next to a couple of very nice springs. . .naturally.
Yup, its been moved as I understand it. Last year in June I ate lunch in the old shelter and so the construction in progress for the new one.
freefall
04-11-2006, 01:42
Both shelters standing as of April 6, 2006.
The old shelter will be gone soon. I'm sure there is a date in mind but I don't recall...
Digger54
04-25-2006, 11:41
I notice the AT trail guide does not list ANY campsites between Max Patch Road and Hot Springs, only shelters.
Now that the Roaring Fork Shelter is relocated, can the old site be used as a suitable campsite? I don't suppose there would be any reason why not?
I don't want to stay too close to a road crossing though. Had a bad experience with some local rowdies down at Three Forks in GA. once.
Here's why I'm asking: A couple of friends and I are going to do the section between Davenport Gap and Hot Springs. Original plans were to have two 10 mile days, stopping at shelters (setting up tents at shelter locations if the shelters were crowded). Then a bigger 15 mile day on into Hot Springs where a real bed, bath and meal would await. With the relocation of Roaring Fork, we'll have a 10 mile day, a 7 mile day, and then a big 18 mile day.
Never having been through that section, I was looking for a way to even out the days.
thanks :confused:
Jack Tarlin
04-25-2006, 13:26
Digger--
Even if/when the shelter is removed, there isn't a lot of camping space on the site. However, there is a spectacular, LARGE camping area less than .1 North of the old shelter. I stayed there a few nights ago; great spot, easy hike (just under 15m) from there to Hot Springs.
Another alternative is to go a bit farther North on the Trail and camp adjacent to the Walnut Mountain shelter; this would leave you with just over 13m to H.S.
Possible itinerary for you:
1. Davenport Gap to Groundhog Creek Shelter 9.7 miles
2. Groundhog Creek Shelter to campsite just past old
Roaring Fork Shelter 11.5 miles
3. Campsite to Hot Springs 14.8 miles
There are some flat spaces for tents and there is water at the old shelter site, so you could camp there I would think
UTM coordinates for the new Roaring Fork Shelter for the other nav geeks out there: 17S 0323828 3964061
Old Roaring Fork Shelter UTM coordinates : 17S 0324875 3965978
wilconow
06-05-2007, 10:53
You should know that the location of the new shelter on the current ATC topo map is correct, BUT the location as marked on the profile "map" below the topo map is wrong. In other words, the same map shows two different locations for the same shelter.
.
yes, made for some confusion!
Berserker
06-24-2009, 12:54
Any recent issues with bears at this shelter? How is the area for tenting? Also, are there bear cables at this shelter? There is a mention of bear cables at this shelter in the Walnut Mtn Shelter thread, but I found no mention of them in the 2009 ALDHA Companion.
Tennessee Viking
06-24-2009, 13:07
Summer time is the height of bear season. But RFS does have cables now. I would actually hang a bit further than at the cables.
Also some hikers utilize the RFS basebent. Go around the back of the shelter, and there is a good sized space to lay a sleeping bag down.