Knot Maul Branch Shelter

[veteran]

Should it be Maul or Mole?
I have often wondered if the name was misspelled.
The USGS Map has it as Knot Mole Branch.



The Companion has it as Knot Maul Branch.

1,626.6 Brushy Mtn 3,200 547.4
1,625.3 Knot Maul Branch Shelter… 11.2mS; 9mN S, nw 2,880 548.7
1,625.2 Spring w 2,810 548.8
1,624.9 Lynn Camp Creek w 2,400 549.1

[Groucho]

Knot Maul Branch Shelter. Built by USFS and PATH, maintained by PATH 2.1 miles from southern end of section. This shelter is so named because local settlers obtained knotwood from trees found in the area for making hammers (mauls) for use on their farms.

Supposedly dogwood knots, which make a strong maul since it is so hard to split.

[See Bee]

Knot Maul Branch Shelter. Built by USFS and PATH, maintained by PATH 2.1 miles from southern end of section. This shelter is so named because local settlers obtained knotwood from trees found in the area for making hammers (mauls) for use on their farms.

Supposedly dogwood knots, which make a strong maul since it is so hard to split.

That is the best succinct, unrefutable answer I've come across in awhile.

[Kerosene]

Here's one of the worst then: When I hiked through this section, the latest Star Wars film featured a character by the name of Darth Maul. I wasn't the only hiker to refer to this shelter as the Darth Maul Shelter.

[TexasEd]

August 2010

Spring was dry.
Hot and Humid site though there was a slight breeze. Better site than than Crawfish Valley.

[Debbie]

Texas Ed;

Did you notice any water near the shelter in either direction?

[Kerosene]

There is a good-sized creek about half a mile north of the shelter I believe, slightly downhill from the shelter I recall.

[Debbie]

That's encouraging; a good-sized creek hopefully won't go dry. Is camping allowed near the creek?

[Rain Man]

That's encouraging; a good-sized creek hopefully won't go dry. Is camping allowed near the creek?

Not really any camping spots right around that stream, but at the bottom of the hill there are some nice ones, I believe.

RainMan

.

[Berserker]

What is the area around this shelter like for tenting? Any good space around the shelter or within close proximity to the shelter either South or North on the AT?

[Rain Man]

What is the area around this shelter like for tenting? Any good space around the shelter or within close proximity to the shelter either South or North on the AT?

Yes, there are some tent spots. Not a lot and not great (that I recall). But then, I hammocked.

RainMan

.

[excuses]

North is actually downhill from the shelter and that is where the creek is. You have to go down a ways (been 2 years) to any area for tents. narrow trail. Tenting around and above shelter though.

[earlyriser26]

What is the area around this shelter like for tenting? Any good space around the shelter or within close proximity to the shelter either South or North on the AT?

I didn't even think there was a spring at the shelter. If there is it only flows when things are very wet. Water source is a stream, downhill on the trail, north of the shelter 0.2 miles (but it is a hike). No good camping near the stream as I recall. Fairly steep. several places to camp near shelter.

[TexasEd]

Texas Ed;

Did you notice any water near the shelter in either direction?

Nothing that we could use right at the site. I think there was a trail that led to a mosquito breeding ground. The trail North does lead to a nice stream that seems like it would flow in dry weather.

We did not stay at this campsite and pushed farther on.

[BabySue]

Bear cables @ Knot Maul? Thanks.

[ScottC]

Was at Knot Maul this weekend. There are spots to camp near the shelter, a good flowing spring down the blue blaze, but no bear cables.