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Former Admin
09-10-2002, 05:21
Info, questions, comments, experiences (good or bad) regarding - Quarry Gap Shelter

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

Future hikers - any questions?

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Mini-Mosey
03-15-2003, 18:16
I stopped there briefly on a backpacking trip a few years ago-as I remember, it was very nice-twin shelters joined by a covered area containing a picnic table. The caretaker took a lot of pride in keeping it up. There was even a garbage can there, if I recall correctly.

Jumpstart
03-15-2003, 18:49
We camped here in '02 and in the middle of the night what can only be either a bob-cat or a mountain lion came through our camp (extremely close to our tent, as it so happened) and aside from scaring us all to death, it was a lovely spot for camping. The water is really convenient, the shelter was nicely maintained, and there was lots of camping room and nice platforms for tenting, and it's a great place to aim for if you spend too much of the afternoon enjoying the sun and swimming at the pool in Caledonia State Park :)

Peaks
03-16-2003, 08:36
I met the caretaker there when I hiked through in May 2001. He takes a lot of pride in this shelter. Typically, he goes out a couple of times a week to keep an eye on things. Certainly one of the best maintained shelters along the trail, if not the best.

We owe him a big thank you for all his efforts.

2Questions
03-16-2003, 20:06
Jumpstart....Your right about the Bobcat. We were camping there a few winters ago and about 1am this hollering, wailing, dying sound echoed throughout the hollow. We thought someone was getting murdered! Turns out the caretaker whom we met later in the day says a bobcat lives in the area and enjoys scaring the beejeebees out of hikers. I'll never forget that sound.

Papa Bear
05-29-2003, 11:07
When I passed by Quarry Gap Shelters in southern Pennsylvania, there was a sign on the front saying "so and so, Inn Keeper".

I didn't take note of the name. Anyone know who is the maintainer for this place? It's a beautiful place, well taken care of.

Thanks
Pb

Papa Bear
05-31-2003, 12:38
I've learned that the "Inn keeper" is Jim Stauch.

From my trip report of my section hike from Harpers Ferry:


I then came upon one of the prettiest shelter areas of my whole trek: Quarry
Gap Shelters. Surrounded by laurel groves and with a little brook running
along the front were two shelters joined by a common roof, with a picnic
table between them. Although the buildings were of 1940s vintage, the whole
area was in great shape and exhibited a great deal of care. Hanging from the
roof in the front, was a sign "Quarry Gap Shelters - Jim Stauch, Inn
Keeper". I have learned that this was placed here by hikers who appreciated
Jim's dedication to this site as maintainer. I too would like to add
"Thanks Jim, great job here!"

Papa Bear
06-01-2003, 12:55
Here's (http://gallery.backcountry.net/papabear_2003_HF_Duncannon/ada) a shot of the shelters.

And another (http://gallery.backcountry.net/papabear_2003_HF_Duncannon/adb) through the Mountain Laurel

Pb

knightjh
11-08-2004, 19:56
Stop there today (11/8/04) on a day hike shelter was very clean and well maintained
Once again "Thank you Jim Staunch"

BlackCloud
01-11-2005, 12:18
I passed this shelter back in '03, & thought I was going to cry b/c I didn't get to spend the night.

Let's just say I've played miniature golf courses that were not as well maintained as this shelter was. Someone should be charging a fee here for the amt of work put forth.

That being said, I know that a certain contingent of you would absolutely HATE this thing, replete w/ trash can, covered picnic table, roll-a-way wind screen, cement park bench, & a landscaped, rock-lined stream! It Was SICK! Unfortunately, So PA is pretty damn boring.........:-?

Footslogger
01-11-2005, 12:54
Amazing shelter ...that's all I can say. All the way from the hanging plants to the lighted walkway to the water source.

In 2003 a group of us stumbled into a church group doing a huge hiker feed in Caledonia State Park. We overnighted and then headed out the next morning (in the rain). I made it the 2 or so miles from that campsite to this shelter and decided to duck out of the rain. The rain started to come down even harder at that point and I ended up taking my first "NERO" day. We dropped the wind curtains between the two shelters and just hung out the rest of the day. Great place to get caught up on my journaling and rest.

'Slogger
AT 2003

The Solemates
01-11-2005, 13:07
Stopped here for lunch on our thru on Opening Trout Day for PA. Caledonia had hundreds (I would venture to even say thousands) of people at it. Lunch at the shelter was with probably 30 other people. It was nice, but I was certainly glad to get out of there.

Panzer1
03-12-2005, 23:56
I call this shelter the head-banger. It has a low hanging brace over the front porch. I am 6 foot 1" and when I stepped up onto the front porch I struck the top of my head on the brace so hard that I nearly knocked myself out.

Short people won't have this problem.

Panzer

Crash
03-12-2006, 16:16
Really a great place.
Met a lot of nice hikers there.
I hammocked on the posts out front,
Luckily no one wanted to use the fireplace.
Has hooks on the back outside of the shelters to hang your smelly stuff.

Sly
03-12-2006, 18:21
When we hiked into Caledonia a guy came running across the river asking if we were thru-hikers and invitied us over to a family reunion. They fed us extremely well and the guy was boasting of his prediction to his family that they'd meet some thru-hikers that day. It was a humbling experience and trail kindness at it's best.

The guy was Jim, the caretaker of Quarry Gap where we stayed that night. It had been freshly painted and there was landscaping rock out front of the double shelters. Very nice.

EarlyBird2007
03-28-2006, 15:56
Socks the wonder dog and I hiked by this shelter on 3/25. Is this place really an AT Shelter? It seems more like a rental cabin!! The whole thing is freshly painted, EVEN THE FLOOR. There are two shelters joined by a kind of breezeway thing with a windscreen. A brick fireplace. Amazing.

knicksin2010
07-02-2006, 13:16
The care taker is very proud of his shelter and privy, and was very taken aback when he found out someone didn't like that the door on the privy opened inwards.

I met the family from hell here. A bunch of lunatics, the dad was running around making chipmunk noises trying to fish for it with a nut tied to a string, amomg other strange things, I wish i'd moved on but i'd already set up

HIKER7s
08-07-2006, 07:52
All I have to say is that you cant say enough about how Jim takes care of this place. Many kudo's to you over and over. Took a scout group there over the weekend (August 4-5-6). As I wanted to provide a good spot on the Pa trail they would remember, I am glad to say that we had the shelter all to ourselves SAT night. The time there was enjoyed by all.

I like the stone frontage you've put there, really shines it up! The c e water source and the nice fireplace walls provided great platforms for demonstrating filter and stove use respectively. The privy was I know a great source of releif for the newbies in my group who have never had the experience of "catholemanship".

The thing I hadnt seen before in my times here, those platforms! When did they go in? They were great. :banana




Has anyone heard the bobcat here LATELY? I told the people I was with they may hear it. Much critter activity at night, lots o little feet and scrunching sounds most attribuitted to investegating as there was really nothing left out. It was a problem finding a good bear bag tree. Only thing missing here is a BB cable.

Maybe one could be hung up behind the privy somewhere?????? Its not a complaint though. Its just thats the only thing that kept my stay there the other night from being 5 star trail stay. I had to bushwack over on a vector from the privy to the soutbound trail in a rockfall to find a suitable tree to hang in. About 200 YARDS away.

Otherwise Great stay!!! well done Jim

Undershaft
06-25-2007, 16:14
Quarry Gap is the nicest AT shelter I have ever seen. It was a 5 1/2 out of 5 stars. I really wish I had stayed, but I rolled through too early in the day to stop. According to what I saw written, there is a timber rattler that lives under one of the shelters, no mention of a bobcat though. This shelter must be seen to be believed.

Mishigami Manitou
07-05-2007, 14:57
The best on the trail. I felt like I was sleeping at a resort - except for the psycho section hiker that wandered in just as it was getting dark, ladened with a 70 pound pack, machete protruding from the top, and speaking of the fear he experienced the night before caused by what he swore were Velociraptor dinosaurs roaming the woods. He was checking himself in the next day at the sanitarium in Lower Mountain - and none too soon as far as I was concerned.

Other than that adventure, the night was great. We spent it with an older couple working their way through the triple crown, and a great guy named Moon Goat and his dog Otto.

DavidNH
07-05-2007, 15:06
Quarry Gap is the cadillac of AT shelters. From what I have seen, no other shelter is anywhere near as nice. I would go so far as to say it's worth altering your schedule so you end up staying here. yes there are other shelters that are nice..quite nice..but none as nice as this one!


It is located in an easy section of PA, there are two cabin rooms with a pinic table between and sheltered by roof. THe place is landscaped, has potted plants, you got Karosene lanterns (just decoration) and even a fine spring.

Who says shelter's have to be rustic old lean to's?

David

Tractor
08-13-2007, 09:36
I only stopped in for a little break the other day. I couldn't help wondering if I had stopped later in the day and stayed over if there would have been someone's grandma tucking me in and waking me up in the morning wearing an apron and asking how I wanted my eggs.... :) .... Nice spot to relax at the very least.

twency
05-06-2008, 09:19
Stayed there a few nights ago while hiking north from Harpers Ferry. Amazingly beautiful.

This shelter now boasts a metal bear/critter box off to the side for the secure storage of food and other desirables.

Dave,
working on a 2008 flip-flop HF->ME, HF->GA

ki0eh
05-06-2008, 11:19
Dave,
working on a 2008 flip-flop HF->ME, HF->GA

:welcome to WB and good luck!

wystiria
05-28-2009, 11:20
Stopped in for lunch 5/22 fabulous SH JIm does a great job! loved the potted flowers :)


Saw an awesome timber rattler near the tent platforms tooks some great pictures, bet there aren't a lot of mice at this SH :)

johnnybgood
10-17-2010, 22:48
Stayed at this shelter 10/12 and I might say the paint looked fresh and the place was spotless. This is the most cared for shelter I've seen on the trail anywhere... period .
The caretaker Jim Stauch obviously takes great pride in this shelter and it shows.

He signs the logbook every time he makes a visit , which looks to be weekly .

The platforms kinda threw me off a little. Not accustomed to seeing them .

BadAndy
10-18-2010, 22:00
[QUOTE=johnnybgood;1060597]
He signs the logbook every time he makes a visit , which looks to be weekly .

QUOTE]

And is apparently not enjoying Penn State's perfomance this season

IronGutsTommy
01-14-2011, 22:09
yeah this is probably one of the nicest shelters, even has a bear box (metal cooler). was the cadillac of at shelters until recently when Raven rock was finished near the old devils racecourse shelter. that ones got this one beat hands down. that said, this one is the most well kept shelter by far, he comes weekly, is said to deliver mail once a week according to the thru hiker companion. this shelter (two shelters actually) sleeps 4-6 each and has a picnic table in between them with an adjustable windscreen/ tarp. was even stocked with various magazines and a few maps when i passed through. i sadly stayed at birch run so i passed through quarry gap going sobo around noon and kept going. my hats off to the shelter maintainer.

Enic
02-05-2011, 14:08
Stayed at this shelter night of Feb 3rd. Just went out for a overnight to test some new gear. Chilly night, but about 05:00 heard walking on the ice behind the shelter. The prowling was followed by that tell tale whine/cry a bobcat makes. Needless to say it took awhile to calm the girlfriend after waking up to the noise. Beautiful shelter, had a wonderful winter camp.

Jack Tarlin
02-05-2011, 15:27
Beautiful spot, with some small, private, very nice tentsites quite close to the shelter so you can enjoy the spot but also have your own place to stay. One caveat: I saw one of the largest timber rattlesnakes I've ever seen very close to this shelter and these snakes generally live their lives within a mile and a half of their den; they also tend to be family oriented, so if you ever see one in a particular place, this means there are probably quite a few friends and relatives in the immediate neighborhood. So by all means enjoy this spot, but keep your eyes open when there.

HIKER7s
02-08-2011, 07:03
Nice to hear the Bobcat is still around there

MTA
12-31-2011, 21:17
Stopped for lunch this afternoon on a day hike. This is one of the nicest shelters I've come across. Jim, the caretaker, was there cutting up a log someone had left on the porch. I thanked him for his work maintaining the shelter and we chatted for about 20 minutes. I definitely recommend this shelter!

Red Cinema
04-28-2015, 20:56
Still sweet!