i cant find a link to the release but someone on FB posted this..
overmoutnain.jpg
i cant find a link to the release but someone on FB posted this..
overmoutnain.jpg
That's sad.
This just came across Twitter: http://appalachiantrail.org/home/com...uctural-damage
The Barn is closed until further notice. As a trail maintainer with TEHCC I knew something was forthcoming. As of yet, I don't know what the final resolution will be: Torn down?, repaired?, etc.
The grassy area near The Barn is still open for camping.
See you on the trail,
mt squid
some observations
As someone eager to see all the cool iconic spots along the trail, this does make me sad.
Still a great tent spot.
You can walk in another person's shoes, but only with your feet
A lot of folks were responding on Facebook about how disappointed they were at the news, at how wonderful it was to visit Overmountain, etc.
Perhaps those feelings will inspire a serious fundraiser to pay for fixing the shelter. 'cause it won't be cheap....
Privy with a view
4419C324-7C10-42CD-B8CF-34D81A189EDE.jpg
76 HawkMtn w/Rangers
14 LHHT
15 Girard/Quebec/LostTurkey/Saylor/Tuscarora/BlackForest
16 Kennerdell/Cranberry-Otter/DollyS/WRim-NCT
17 BearR
18-19,22 AT NOBO 1562.2
22 Hadrian's Wall
23 Cotswold Way
The rumor that this was coming down the pipe was part of why I wanted to stay there this year. We camped on the grass but it was still cool to finally see the barn. Most of the thru hikers we were with camped in the grass as well. A group of locals were setup in the Barn proper.
AT: 695.7 mi
Benton MacKaye Trail '20
Pinhoti Trail '18-19'
@leonidasonthetrail https://www.youtube.com/c/LeonidasontheTrail
I stayed there for a moment but had to abandon it. A nor'easter came through and dropped the temps to 29 degrees in the middle of June! The wind was blowing through so I decided to go to the next shelter. That was no good either so I decided to get out the next morning.
Any update on the shelter? Have/will they tear it down?
I’m glad that I stayed there in 2018.
76 HawkMtn w/Rangers
14 LHHT
15 Girard/Quebec/LostTurkey/Saylor/Tuscarora/BlackForest
16 Kennerdell/Cranberry-Otter/DollyS/WRim-NCT
17 BearR
18-19,22 AT NOBO 1562.2
22 Hadrian's Wall
23 Cotswold Way
Follow slogoen on Instagram.
Yeah, a smaller, single story structure would simplify a lot of issues that will be expensive and labor intensive to correct - structure leaning, posts rotting, shear failure in a main beam, slope movement (the southeast side is sliding away), etc. It's not all that old of a structure especially compared to many of the older CCC shelters and such. It was built in the 1970's as a farm barn, then renovated/converted by the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club in 1983 as a shelter. http://appalachiantreks.blogspot.com...n-shelter.html But open unheated structures without proper foundations (especially given the slope) don't weather the elements well. It would be wonderful if they could restore and save it, but they are going to have to raise a lot of money or materials/in-kind contributions and volunteer workers to do so.
Hopefully they'll be able to save some of it and make a smaller 1 or 1.5 story shelter, keeping the "barn" theme would be pretty cool though too. I missed it on my thru attempt , decided to press on and not stay there (but I visited) and I regretted every minute of that decision until my thru when I made it a thing to stay there. That was in '17. So glad I did, it's one my icon moments on the trail. Sad to see it go (if it does), but can't have unsafe stuff out there. It's already not so safe an environment anyway, hiking long days, pushing yourself in thunderstorms, snowstorms, and the rock climbing up North. Haha
- Trail name: Thumper
Overmountain does have one of the top 10 shelter views. At least from the platforms on the side of the building.
BTW, if you decide to walk down the road instead of taking the trail to 19E, you end up a long, long way from where you want to be. But it's an interesting journey. It was actually kind of fun and avoided some nasty weather on the humps that day.
Follow slogoen on Instagram.
the road access is a big part of the problem, it will be less when the structure is removed
i stayed there in december´99. a great spot with a not so good night spent there.
the upperfloor sliding door was not there and the hole was covered with a sheet of plastic, torn and blowing in the wind, flapping like crazy, very loud and very drafty. 3 groups in there, all inside tents on the upper floor.
2 dogs were there, barking all night, and mice were all over. still better than outside in the storm i admit.
i thought it much older, it seemed to be falling apart then and i wondered how much longer it will be useable. did not give it 5 more years.
i like the idea of tearing it down, building a smaller shelter from the wood. if it has fundamental problems with the beam construction it will be very expensive to get it fixed and back in good shape.
happy trails
lucky luke
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resist much, obey little!