View Full Version : Pickle Branch Shelter (VA)
Kerosene
11-08-2003, 15:07
Yet another basic 6-person design with uncovered picnic table and fire ring. Located well off the Trail (0.4-0.5 relatively flat miles). Ample tent sites along the access trail. Pickle Branch is 50 yards straight down a series of steps. It's a lovely large creek with crystal clear water. There are additional tent sites across the creek.
Note that there appears to be a trail relocation (October 2003) to the north of the access trail which eliminates a steep SOBO downhill off the ridge but adds another half-mile to the southbounder's mileage.
sweetpeastu
09-23-2007, 12:50
Has anyone been to this shelter recently? I was wondering if there was any water. I hiked up to Dragon'sTooth from the Dragon's Tooth Trail the other day and water was somewhat scarce. In fact, I don't remember the last time I saw it so dry.
There's a nicely flowing creek or two near Catawba, along the meadows just north of Dragon's Tooth. The ridge itself (between VA 624 and Pickle Branch Shelter) was totally dry when I walked across it last week. Trout Creek was flowing nicely, in the gap between that ridge and Audie Murphy Mtn.
I miscalculated that day, and darkness set in before I could make it to the shelter. I ended up tenting in a small meadow just north of the shelter access trail.
sweetpeastu
09-23-2007, 16:12
um Terrapin, are you just hiking through the area...or are you local?
sweetpeastu
09-23-2007, 16:13
Thanks for the info, btw. Do you know if its safe to leave a vehicle over night at US 621?
Yes its perfectly fine to park there. I do it quite often on the weekends (I'm in Blacksburg, the next "big" town over). never had worries about leaving it.
sweetpeastu
09-23-2007, 16:23
Hey another local. If you ever wanna go hiking lemme know. For ease of reference, I consider myself from Roanoke. Dude and your my age cool.
um Terrapin, are you just hiking through the area...or are you local?
Not local, I'm back home in Bedford MA. But I walked that route (Campbell Shelter to just above Pickle Branch) last Monday. The memory is still pretty fresh, and water was one of the main concerns of the hike -- all 587 miles of it.
sweetpeastu
09-23-2007, 17:42
how'd you get to Campbell Shelter? Where did you start on the A.T?
how'd you get to Campbell Shelter? Where did you start on the A.T?
The night before Campbell I was at the Econo-Lodge in Cloverdale/Daleville. I started this year's section at Lehigh Gap (PA) and ended at VA Rte. 601 (aka "Rocky Gap" on Kelly Knob.)