View Full Version : Guess the shelter
This CCC shelter (http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/8236/size/big/sort/1/cat/514) used to be on the AT. No, the shelter has not been moved. :jump I think identification should be easy, but... Can anyone id it?
Additional picture (http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/8237/size/big/sort/1/cat/514)
Clues: I know of only one thru-hiker who stayed here on their thru. It is on the southern half of the AT.
Air Head
08-10-2005, 10:05
I wouldn't know it,but that's an awesome shelter. it's got a fireplace??? Niiiice. : )
BlackCloud
08-10-2005, 13:06
C'mon, @ least give us the state. It looks like something along the Blue Ridge Pkwy........
C'mon, @ least give us the state. It looks like something along the Blue Ridge Pkwy........
Sure. It is in VA and is along the Parkway. The AT is now to the W. This is a view (http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/8254/sort/1/size/big/cat/500/page/) from the shelter.
Air Head: Fireplace pic (http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/8253/sort/1/size/big/cat/500/page/). No longer functional.
Answer posted later tonight. I know someone has seen this.
This is Rocky Knob Shelter near mile post 168 of the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA. The trail to the shelter is part of the Rock Castle Gorge Trail (http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/hiking/628.html)(map and description), a 10.8 mi. loop.
Earl Shaffer stayed here on his first thru. In Walking With Spring, 3rd printing, page 60, the shelter is pictured with the caption “A cold night wind howled through the stone shelter at Rocky Knob”.
Anyone know of another thru staying here on their thru-hike?
The map for this area was deleted and can't be edited. This is a post to a new map for those interested. See above posts for pictures of the Rocky Knob Shelter and a view from the shelter.
This is Rocky Knob Shelter near mile post 168 of the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA. The trail to the shelter is part of the Rock Castle Gorge Trail (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=10874&catid=searchresults&searchid=3054)(map and description), a 10.8 mi. loop.
Earl Shaffer stayed here on his first thru. In Walking With Spring, 3rd printing, page 60, the shelter is pictured with the caption “A cold night wind howled through the stone shelter at Rocky Knob”.
Anyone know of another thru staying here on their thru-hike?
wow thats very interesting,thanks for posting these pictures and info:cool: neo
BlackCloud
05-03-2006, 13:11
I've been wanting to hike the Rock Castle Gorge trail, as it sounds quite nice.
Any suggestions as to best time of year to do it???:-?
Another Link (http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/hiking/wb/xp-43059)
BlackCloud
05-04-2006, 08:12
Another Link (http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/hiking/wb/xp-43059)
An excellent trail description, thanx...:clap
Neo: You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.
BlackCloud: This time of year should be good for wildflowers. Summer would be a good time to find a pool on the creek.
Veteran: Good link.
There is about 3000' total climb on this hike. You can pick up a map or register for the campsite at the Visitors' Center at the entrance to the picnic area. You don't have to register to day hike this trail. From the Saddle Overlook you can see Buffalo Mt (http://www.state.va.us/dcr/dnh/pgbuffalo.pdf)., a prairie-like reserve. It is about a thousand foot climb to the summit. S a short distance on the Parkway are some wineries, Mabry Mill, and Meadows of Dan (just off the Parkway). Nancy's Candy Co. is located at Meadows of Dan. Good candy and free samples.
I copied the map from the gallery and it looked pretty good. By the way, there is something in it for Grammar Coach!
MedicineMan
05-05-2006, 21:30
and querried the members here of its location in the past....i had no takers on guessing where it was.....i posted it to show that the AT was indeed somewhere else at that time, in fact on a local hike to 'high rocks' in our area my scoutmaster recently pointed out that on Earls first AT thru he didnt hike Roan Mountain since the trail at that time was shifted way over......one might argue that the AT got the lesser of the deal post the shift away from the Blue Ridge PKWY viewwise.
[QUOTE=Groucho]
a short distance on the Parkway are some wineries, Mabry Mill, and Meadows of Dan (just off the Parkway). Nancy's Candy Co. is located at Meadows of Dan. Good candy and free samples.
You Mentioned Mabry Mill, it is a must see if you are in the area.
Photo Link (http://static.flickr.com/7/11152187_28fea7ba1d_b.jpg)
wow veteran...almost looks like a painting or a postcard...very lovely old mill
Programbo
05-07-2006, 14:54
I like AT history especially re-routed trail sections...Here`s another for the oldtimers on here...Identify this long gone AT shelter....Hints..It was below the Mason-Dixon line on a river..All that remains now is the concrete slab on which it used to sit
http://hometown.aol.com/programbo5/index.html
I think there was a shelter that looked something like that along the C&O Canal in 1980. Since I no longer have my A.T. Databook I carried on my thruhike in that year, I couldn't provide a name, although for some reason Weaverton Shelter wants to come to mind.
As I recall, it was a dry shelter and Dr. David Gwinn and I boiled Potomac River water to prepare our evening meal.
I like AT history especially re-routed trail sections...Here`s another for the oldtimers on here...Identify this long gone AT shelter....Hints..It was below the Mason-Dixon line on a river..All that remains now is the concrete slab on which it used to sit
http://hometown.aol.com/programbo5/index.html
Shelter!?!:eek: That shed is still standing in my grandparents backyard.:D
Programbo
05-07-2006, 18:18
Yes that`s it..Weaverton Shelter...It was divided into two halfs each which had a closing door and cemet floor..There were 4 wooden bunks in each side and as Shades mentioned there was no water source there...I`m not sure exactly what year it was washed out in a flood and never rebuilt but my photo is from about 1974 and is one of only 3 photos I still have of my hiking days :( ...All the others were lost when my brother was evicted from his apartment while I was away in California
and querried the members here of its location in the past....i had no takers on guessing where it was.....i posted it to show that the AT was indeed somewhere else at that time, in fact on a local hike to 'high rocks' in our area my scoutmaster recently pointed out that on Earls first AT thru he didnt hike Roan Mountain since the trail at that time was shifted way over......one might argue that the AT got the lesser of the deal post the shift away from the Blue Ridge PKWY viewwise.
I missed your post on the old shelter. You must have missed my original or I'm sure you would have guessed it. The picture I took from above the shelter is app. the same angle as Earl Shaffer took, a fact I did not realize at the time. Then I reread "Hiking with Spring" and there it was. On a later hike, I found that a tree prevents taking a pic from that exact angle.
You might be interested in this:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4919
If you take the Rock Castle Gorge Trail don't worry about getting your feet wet. Sometime in the last few years very nice pedestrian bridges have been built at the creek crossings!
MedicineMan
05-08-2006, 23:06
I want a map much like the current NPS map (sold at the ATC, you know the really long narrow one) that has the current AT on it AND the route that Earl first hike.....any takers? any cartographers? I would love to see how much has changed.
MedicineMan
05-09-2006, 04:37
who was the other thru-hiker?
i'm sure Avery at least visited but he wasnt a thru, Espy?