No Business Knob shelter = creepy

[10-K]

This afternoon I hiked up to No Business Knob shelter, had lunch and packed out the trash.

Man, that's one gloomy shelter.... There was snow on the ground and it was foggy and windy. Even on a good day it's a dark, forlorn shelter but today was an especially creepy day at NBK.... I actually hurried up and got out of there... I felt like I was being watched or something...

[Slo-go'en]

Last time I was a NBK a "controlled burn" wasn't so controlled and we spent the night watching the fire line slowly climb up the hill towards the shelter. Thankfully, it never quite got there, but was a bit scarry.

[DLANOIE]

I get the same feeling from chairback gap lean to in Maines 100 mile "wilderness". Just a feeling I got when I was there last. If walls could talk.

[Chex Mix]

I stayed there on my first backpacking trip. Creepy is definitly right.

[Cookerhiker]

I also felt like there were eyes on me - but maybe that's because I shared the shelter and area around it with about a dozen hikers since I was there in thruhiking season (May '05). I was on a long section hike.

I remember 2 things about NBK:

1. All the thrus were bitching about having to go back down the hill for the water source.

2. I met Fishin Fred there for the first time. I think he and I were the only non-thru hikers.

Re. "creepy" feelings at shelters, I felt that way at Brink Road in NJ.

[jerseydave]

Re. "creepy" feelings at shelters, I felt that way at Brink Road in NJ.

That's just what NJ does to ya....... didn't have anything to do with the specific shelter...... I have to go through everyday life with that feeling!

[Teacher & Snacktime]

Re. "creepy" feelings at shelters, I felt that way at Brink Road in NJ.

My son (Strife) and I were dayhiking in NJ and came to the Brink Rd. Shelter. It was midweek in early December, so as we expected it was deserted. On the approach to the shelter was a large stump, and imbedded into it was a shining hatchet. We stopped cold that far and went no farther. There was no sign of anyone around and no answers to our calls. It was chilling though there was likely no reason for it to be. Presumably a caretaker had just left this piece of equipment, but leaning on the side of caution, I wrenched it from the stump and approached the shelter with "weapon in hand". There was no one anywhere, so I left a scathing message about responsible removal of "tools" in the journal with the hopes that the caretaker might read it, and instructions on what to do if he wanted it returned.

We stayed about 15 mins, and I transferred the hatched to my son's pack. As we left, we encountered a gentleman who was from the State Park Service (?) on his lunch break. He stated he was NOT the caretaker, and I kept mum about the hatchet. (Seriously, like I would hand over something like that to a total stranger in the wilderness!)

Was I wrong to remove it? I don't think so. I was completely creeped out and I was accompanied by a strong, stalwart Marine. Imagine the young female hiker who could arrive there alone to face a hatchet-wielding stranger! The shelter itself was great...a lovely setup, but I can't even think about that day without a "what if" shudder.

[BillyGr]

My son (Strife) and I were dayhiking in NJ and came to the Brink Rd. Shelter. It was midweek in early December, so as we expected it was deserted. On the approach to the shelter was a large stump, and imbedded into it was a shining hatchet. We stopped cold that far and went no farther. There was no sign of anyone around and no answers to our calls. It was chilling though there was likely no reason for it to be. Presumably a caretaker had just left this piece of equipment, but leaning on the side of caution, I wrenched it from the stump and approached the shelter with "weapon in hand". There was no one anywhere, so I left a scathing message about responsible removal of "tools" in the journal with the hopes that the caretaker might read it, and instructions on what to do if he wanted it returned.

We stayed about 15 mins, and I transferred the hatched to my son's pack. As we left, we encountered a gentleman who was from the State Park Service (?) on his lunch break. He stated he was NOT the caretaker, and I kept mum about the hatchet. (Seriously, like I would hand over something like that to a total stranger in the wilderness!)

Was I wrong to remove it? I don't think so. I was completely creeped out and I was accompanied by a strong, stalwart Marine. Imagine the young female hiker who could arrive there alone to face a hatchet-wielding stranger! The shelter itself was great...a lovely setup, but I can't even think about that day without a "what if" shudder.

Could also be that someone forgot it (not just the caretaker), or perhaps the care taker was thinking that most people wouldn't want to carry and might find useful for tasks that didn't involve anything dangerous or unlawful.

[SouthMark]

I get the same feeling from chairback gap lean to in Maines 100 mile "wilderness". Just a feeling I got when I was there last. If walls could talk.

Me too....

[Serial 07]

that's one of those shelters that sticks out in the memory banks...and i appreciate that No Business Shelter means there's No doin' Business at that shelter...if you know what i mean...

[Rain Man]

... I felt like I was being watched or something...

Last I heard, NBK Shelter had its own nuisance bear, so maybe you were being watched?!

My wife and I stopped there for lunch on a FRIGID cold day, I think the day before Easter. We ate as fast as we could and hit the trail to warm up. Our water lines froze and we had to stuff our water bladders in our jackets. Ahhhhh... but the next day was a big Miss Janet Easter feast in Erwin with a big crowd of locals and thru's at the church there.

No Business Knob Shelter in the snow on April 7, 2007

RainMan

.

[sherrill]

We camped near it last summer. Man, that place reeked of urine.

We were the only ones there and it definitely had the "creepy" vibe. But the woods are pretty thick there so I think it adds to the effect.

[10-K]

Last I heard, NBK Shelter had its own nuisance bear, so maybe you were being watched?!

My wife and I stopped there for lunch on a FRIGID cold day, I think the day before Easter. We ate as fast as we could and hit the trail to warm up. Our water lines froze and we had to stuff our water bladders in our jackets. Ahhhhh... but the next day was a big Miss Janet Easter feast in Erwin with a big crowd of locals and thru's at the church there.

No Business Knob Shelter in the snow on April 7, 2007

RainMan

.

I just found out not too long ago that I could almost throw a rock and hit Miss Janet's house from where I live now. I hate I missed that.....

[maybe clem]

No Business Knob Shelter in the snow on April 7, 2007

What's that poor yellow creature trying to escape out the side?

[Rain Man]

What's that poor yellow creature trying to escape out the side?

That thar is whut you call "red neck in-sull-lay-shun," I reckon! Some old raincoat or piece of plastic stuffed in the gap between the block wall and the roof.

RainMan

.

[fehchet]

When I lived in Erwin, I would walk from Gay Street over to the Nolichucky River and then up the switch backs to No Business Knob Shelter. One afternoon I arrived to a very misty and foggy woods surrounding the shelter. I sat down and began eating the lunch I carried in. When all of a sudden 20 turkeys quietly walked out of the fog and began pecking away at the ground near the fire pit and close to me. I didn't make a sound until they had walked back into the foggy woods.
It may seem creepy there because of the spirits that still inhabit these historic Tennessee woods but I'm sure we are all welcome. We are just the future travelers passing through.
Going back down to the Nolichucky is always the fun part because the walk up was the work of the hike -- such views too. Then a Mountain Dew at Uncle Johnny's and 2 miles on the flats back into Erwin. But 9 times out of 10 someone will stop and give me a ride home.

[10-K]

When I lived in Erwin, I would walk from Gay Street over to the Nolichucky River and then up the switch backs to No Business Knob Shelter. One afternoon I arrived to a very misty and foggy woods surrounding the shelter. I sat down and began eating the lunch I carried in. When all of a sudden 20 turkeys quietly walked out of the fog and began pecking away at the ground near the fire pit and close to me. I didn't make a sound until they had walked back into the foggy woods.
It may seem creepy there because of the spirits that still inhabit these historic Tennessee woods but I'm sure we are all welcome. We are just the future travelers passing through.
Going back down to the Nolichucky is always the fun part because the walk up was the work of the hike -- such views too. Then a Mountain Dew at Uncle Johnny's and 2 miles on the flats back into Erwin. But 9 times out of 10 someone will stop and give me a ride home.

I've been taking the Temple Hill Trail up to Temple Hill Gap instead of walking up all those switchbacks. It's over a mile shorter and only the last .75 mile is uphill.

I can be at NBK shelter in less than 1.5 hours from Uncle Johnny's.

[fehchet]

I've been taking the Temple Hill Trail up to Temple Hill Gap instead of walking up all those switchbacks. It's over a mile shorter and only the last .75 mile is uphill.

I can be at NBK shelter in less than 1.5 hours from Uncle Johnny's.

Yes, I know that route. I'm assuming you then must do the switch backs down to Uncle Johnny's for the views?
Ever go up behind the high school to Curley Maple Gap Shelter the next shelter north? Lots of roads, routes, and trails from centuries of travelers crisscross the woods all around there. North Carolina can be found with a little work.
I have a friend who is almost 100 years old and has lived in Erwin all his life and he has pointed me in many interesting directions in the area.

[10-K]

Yes, I know that route. I'm assuming you then must do the switch backs down to Uncle Johnny's for the views?
Ever go up behind the high school to Curley Maple Gap Shelter the next shelter north? Lots of roads, routes, and trails from centuries of travelers crisscross the woods all around there. North Carolina can be found with a little work.
I have a friend who is almost 100 years old and has lived in Erwin all his life and he has pointed me in many interesting directions in the area.

Do you remember the trail behind the high school up to Curly Maple Gap shelter enough to tell me how to get there? I *thought* there had to be a route up there somewheres - from a mile north of the shelter you can look right down on the high school.

[fehchet]

Do you remember the trail behind the high school up to Curly Maple Gap shelter enough to tell me how to get there? I *thought* there had to be a route up there somewheres - from a mile north of the shelter you can look right down on the high school.

Let's see. Go straight up the road behind the high school until you reach a forest service road with a gate. (sometimes it is gated and I just walk around) Keep going up this road until it takes a major left. (about a mile) It is soon after a pipe spring to the right and a stream goes under the road at the turn. From this corner, take a hard right through an open area with some fire pits. There used to be a small cabin there but someone pushed it over a couple of years ago. Keep to the right. You'll find a trail that has a small stream to the right. Keep going up this trail until you'll see an obvious turn to the left. You'll know you have missed that turn because the trail doesn't go much further. It should be easy this time of year with the leaves off the trees. Go up through this area and you should come to a big bend to the right on to a much wider road from a century or two ago. This road will go up to a point where you can only go to the left through a rodedentron tail that should bring you out on to the AT and about 200 yards north of Curley Maple Gap Shelter. In other words, take a right down to the shelter.
I know lots of other trails that run near the AT from the Connie's Greasy Creek Friendly back to Hot Springs. Lots of fun bushwhacking around.