Rausch Gap Shelter Restoration Project

[shelterbuilder]

Hey, folks, I know that Tenn. Viking has posted this on the home page, but I'd like to take this opportunity to personally invite everyone to join the Blue Mtn. Eagle Climbing Club this summer as we attempt to restore the Rausch Gap Shelter to its former glory. Some of you may remember that, in years past, this shelter had been nicknamed "the Halfway Hilton", but over the last 40 years, exposure to the elements has caused structural damage that must be repaired this year. This is an involved project with many different phases, so that even if you're not a master carpenter or log builder, there's still PLENTY to do.

This site is on Pa. State Game Lands #211, so all applicable Game Commission regulations apply. While we do not yet have permission for overnight camping at the site, we DO have permission to drive in and out, which will save us a lot of time and effort. (There are several FREE "primitive" campsites on the nearby Greenland tract of State Forest land which can be used for overnight use, but these need to be reserved at the District Forester's Office in Cressona, Pa. before you use them.)

For more information, contact Shelterbuilder through a PM here, or log on to BMECC's website www.bmecc.org to check the upcoming schedule and for alternate contact information.

Hope to see you out there!

[Kerosene]

I had the pleasure of eating lunch at the Halfway Hilton in 1974, about 4 years after the shelter was built it sounds like. Here's part of my entry from April 8, 1974:

We pushed all morning to have lunch at Rausch Gap LT, the “Halfway Hilton” as it is known to thru-hikers. This lean-to had everything: a smooth, raised concrete floor, space for firewood, a huge stone fireplace with a chimney, a slate patio, a rain gutter flowing from the hill behind the fireplace that was the spring, and even a skylight! We would have loved to stay, but our schedule didn’t permit any tardiness.

[Toolshed]

I had the pleasure of eating lunch at the Halfway Hilton in 1974, about 4 years after the shelter was built it sounds like. Here's part of my entry from April 8, 1974:

We pushed all morning to have lunch at Rausch Gap LT, the “Halfway Hilton” as it is known to thru-hikers. This lean-to had everything: a smooth, raised concrete floor, space for firewood, a huge stone fireplace with a chimney, a slate patio, a rain gutter flowing from the hill behind the fireplace that was the spring, and even a skylight! We would have loved to stay, but our schedule didn’t permit any tardiness.

Did you ever wonder what just a little bit of tardiness would have done to you back in '74?

[Tinker]

Did you ever wonder what just a little bit of tardiness would have done to you back in '74?

I bet he has, but you can't relive the past, so you just push on (can't be tardy, of course ).
Relax is such a wonderful word. I should do a little more of it myself.

[Kerosene]

Did you ever wonder what just a little bit of tardiness would have done to you back in '74?

All the time. That's one of the drawbacks of being a section hiker. Back then, on only our second section hike, we really weren't very comfortable with ways to adjust our schedule. In the end, we ended up learning how the hard way...

One of our group thought he could use a windbreaker in lieu of a poncho. A chilling rain (early April in mid-Pennsylvania) eventually forced him to wrap his down sleeping bag around him to get warm. We hitched a ride down into Pine Grove and checked into a cheap motel to get warm and dry. Due to this and a couple of other incidents, our trip ended at Lehigh Gap instead of DWG. I ended up completing that section with my Mom a few years later.

Here is a poor photo of the Halfway Hilton from that hike 37 years ago:

[mweinstone]

that shot shows the tree table in its glory days. i remember so well i can smell it. rauch gap was one of those remote, exstra freash smelling places with the good spring and the cold shelter, it was a rough night there for folks without the warm clothes and bag. ive slept there after posteholeing to get there. its just a really good shelter. the skylight was so high tech back then. saint anthonys wilderness has allways been special. its quiet and far from things loud. the arangement of the shelters edge and the tree table and the stone walls and patio and chiminy created a climbing game we played in rain or mud. you had to be able to jump to the table and then all around without touching the ground. it used to flood so so deep it was almost a pool. its good to hear folks calling it by its real name. so many times i get a blank look from hikers when i say halfway hilton.

[shelterbuilder]

I have some of the old shelter photos in my personal files, and have seen others in the club's archives (which include the designer's drawings, files, and photos), but it's always nice to see other people's pictures. I always find some little detail or two that I haven't seen before - and this photo is no exception.

The table in this photo was the original one - an old cable-spool that was donated by someone. It was wooden, and gradually disintegrated over time and was replaced by a 2-piece stainless steel table..which probably won't stand up to a repeat performance of Matty's game!

Also, if you look at the front purlin, you'll see that it isn't straight! The original builder wanted the shelter to have an extremely rustic look. He used a purlin that was bowed, so that the front roof would look like it had been there for ages! It was replaced in the mid-90's, after it was determined that the bend in the purlin was getting worse.

Fast-forward to last Sunday...we removed the front section of the roof and the front purlin, and started trying to cut out the rotted sections of wall logs that support the front purlin. What a sorry mess! We removed over 30" of log sections and still couldn't lose the rotted wood. So, the project is "on hold" for now, while we try to figure out what we'll do next. The shelter is still usable, since the rear section of the roof remains in place, although the shelter looks a bit ragged.

Oh, yeah...we also started exposing the original stone "patio"! It was buried under about 30 years' worth of dirt and debris.