It seems a thread for the Lula Tye Shelter was never started.
This might be in my plans for next Fall.
Pictures? Experiences? Anyone stay lately? Cool spot? Creepy?
It seems a thread for the Lula Tye Shelter was never started.
This might be in my plans for next Fall.
Pictures? Experiences? Anyone stay lately? Cool spot? Creepy?
I would not put off going there too long.
From the Green Mountain Club
Trail Updates and Relocations 2010:
GMC and US Forest Service and ATC will be building a new shelter at Little Rock Pond. The two old shelters, Lula Tye Shelter south of the pond and Little Rock Pond Shelter north of the pond, will remain open until the new shelter is completed.
http://www.greenmountainclub.org/page.php?id=203
“Only two things are infinite; The universe and human stupidity,
And I’m starting to wonder about the universe.”
Albert Einstein
Read the link- they are flushing tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds if not more manhours for a celebration; and so a few good ol boys can pat themselves on the back. Makes me wonder why anyone would support or donate to them?
I don't think you'll find anyone getting rich working for the GMC. The celebrations usually consist of the dozen or so hard working volunteers that actually built the shelter. I think you need to check the GMC out a bit more before you go slammin' them for wasting money and effort... I think you'll find they waste very little of either.
Personally I would like to see them rebuild the bridge to the island in the pond.
It was used to get to the shelter that was on the island, and it would be a great place to camp.
Photos from Walking With Spring by Earl Shaffer
“Only two things are infinite; The universe and human stupidity,
And I’m starting to wonder about the universe.”
Albert Einstein
It makes sense to build a shelter at Little Rock Pond. When I got to Lula Tye in June, 2009 and found out that I had to go another .3 miles N for water to Little Rock Pond Tent site I thought to myself, I might as well go there and camp. So I did.
The reason the shelter was moved away from the pond originally was because hikers (mostly short term - campers, really) trashed the shoreline. You won't see a shelter at the shoreline again. Even with LNT being widely known and taught, there are still enough people who don't (or pretend not to) know about it, and others who believe that leaving as little "trace" as possible is the same thing as NO trace, so we all miss out - sigh.
As I live, declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn back from his way and live. Ezekiel 33:11
Veteran,
Thanks for sharing those photos. Never knew about a shelter on the island.
Green Mountain Adventure, Vermont's Long Trail: An Illustrated History (1985) is a wonderful book with an abundance of old photos from GMC's archives. I'm looking through my copy right now signed by one of the authors at the Appalachian Trail Conference held in Vermont in 1985. Above the signature appears "Congratulations on your End-to-End."
On page 45 is an image of Lula Tye wearing a big smile. The caption indicates she faithfully served GMC as club secretary and treasurer for almost 30 years.
Not surprisingly, there's an image of Little Rock Pond Shelter too. I believe it was photographed by many LT hikers over the years.
Little Rock Pond is a popular site which sees heavy use and a shelter there is desirable from a resource management standpoint. I can't see building another bridge. Why do hikers need access to the island? That would be a long-term commitment of resources I don't believe justifiable given the benefits, but it's an issue for GMNF, ATC and GMC to decide. It would seem they decided against a bridge long ago.
When the shelter was on the island, it was a beautiful spot - from a distance. Nice concept, but as you can imagine, everyone wanted to camp there, so it was trashed.
The two existing shelters are both 1962 vintage, makes sense to me to rebuild before they become uninhabitable rather than wait for them to fall in on themselves.
The existing Lula Tye shelter is nothing to get excited about, but the last time I was there it wasn't run down, either. It's up a short side trail from the AT/LT.
As the guidebook entries imply, it's a short walk to Little Rock Pond.
Let me advance a theory here -
Maybe they're trying to catch up to the AMC............???
As I live, declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn back from his way and live. Ezekiel 33:11
That is funny as hell but I'm afraid there isn't always a real great reason to do these things other than to spend the money or lose it, and/or to justify the money recieved and the salaries it takes to manage that money. I realize this as a fact of life- doesn't mean I like or agree with it. The new shelter will probably be huge and pretty!
I still do not understand WHY it is needed but wouldn't mind knowing what must be a closely guarded secret....