My Favorite Shelter(s)-Don' Miss 'Em

[chris]

Some places I really liked that haven't been mentionned before. Tray Mountain (views, and the water is closer than listed in the companion), Plumorchard (off trail, but really nice), Fontana Hilton (go for a real swim, showers), Pecks Corner (yeah, it is 1/2 mile off trail, but a nice setting, little used, and you can get water on the AT to carry down), Davenport Gap (pleasant setting, close water, no one around since Mountain Momas is so close), Overmountain (yeah, its been mentionned already, but this is a no-brainer), Watuga Lake (swimming and rope swing close by, a portable throne that you can take to your favorite spot in the woods).

[Blue Jay]

I live near Mt. Greylock and have hiked all my life there. Bascom Lodge has always been excellent. It's hard for me to believe the AMC that ran Bascom was the same as the one in the Whites (I know it was a different division). The new outfit seems to also be very good.

[BamBam]

Bryant Ridge in VA. Not all that practical, but really cool looking.

[Papa Bear]

Our stay at Bascom was unusual and memorable. We called them from Pittsfield on Thursday night, May 16, 2002 (last May) and asked if they were opened. They said we open tomorrow (Friday the 17th). I said fine, we expect to arrive on Saturday. Fine.

This solved a problem of Saturday being either too long or too short. So anyway come Saturday morning at Crystal Mt Campsite we awoke to 3 inches of wet snow . We trudged down through Cheshire where we had rain and sleet, then up Greylock where rain turned to sleet to snow to lots of snow. At the top of Greylock we were hiking through 8 inches of snow. The site of such snow in late spring was awesome

We banged on the door and were met by two very surprised croo members who never expected a soul to show up. This was more snow than they had gotten all winter.

We made ourselves at home and had the place to ourselves. Hung out and dried off at the Fire and had a nice meal cooked to order. We were very happy to be here rather than the next shelter (I think 3 miles beyond).

The croo told us there had been a wedding reception scheduled there that night, but the road was impassable and it was held at the bottom of the mountain where the park had some facility.

My notes say it cost $45 for overnight and 2 meals. This is comperable to the White Mountain huts (which we also stayed in) and the accomdations where in some ways better. A lot but well worth it for us at the time. They were talking of setting up some kind of cheap place for thru-hikers but I don't know if they ever did. Naturally the croo complained how the previous lessor (the AMC) had let the place go to pot, and how much better they were runnimg things. Could not judge the truth of this - it may have been just talk.

Next morning (Sunday) we awoke to a beautiful sunny day. Grand old Greylock never looked better.

Here's the lodge in the snow.

[hikerat2002]

Muskrat Creek Shelter is a memorable one after hard climb out of Bly Gap. I liked the Matts Creek shelter too because it was alongside a nice stream and was scenic resting spot for the night after a 20+mile day in VA. Other shelters I favor include Bryant Ridge and Mt. Wilcox North Lean-To. The Wilcox lean-To is on a side trail and down a little hill. I had it to myself and was besides a small stream. The South Wilcox Lean-to is an eyesore.The WildCat shelter I had to myself once in May 2001 during the heat spell. I swear it was like being in the Blair Witch Project staying there. The place is not exactly scenic and NY kind of unnerves me anyway. The trail through NY though is killer in terms of ups and downs. Connecticutt rivals it next with its non-easy grades. I digress, but yeah, the OverMountain Barn is a fond place too. Good spring and huge space to camp out with. The Roan High Knob Shelter was a riot during a snow spell one year. I stayed in it for two days because I was too lazy and cold to get up and hike the 3.6 miles to the barn.

[waldo]

Rice Field Shelter outside of Pearisburg, VA

Quarry Gap shelter somewhere in PA

[tribes]

In my brief time on the trail I would have to say Riga Lean-to in Connecticut and Goddard Shelter in Vermont were my favorites.

[A-Train]

All the shelters in the Grayson highlands are pretty remarkable: Thomas Knob, Wise and Old Orchard had a beautiful setting.

Overmountain is pretty spectacular too. I could probably go on forever.

[Needles]

Jerry Cabin, why? It was the first shelter I saw on the trail.

[Almanac]

The two that come to mind first for me are Cooper Brook, which someone else has already mentioned, and Quarry Gap. Quarry Gap is two small shelters, both covered by a single tin roof with picnic table in the "breezeway." Water is right in front from a stream...with a bench right beside it.

I think the other one I'm thinking of is Bryant Ridge? Is this the 3-story shelter on the river not far from Jennings Creek?

[papa john]

It was the first shelter I saw on the trail.

You didn't go by Cold Spring Shelter in NC? The trail runs right past it.

[mindlessmariachi]

i'm blanking on the name of it, but what's the shelter about 4 or 5 miles south of bear mountain new york? I think it's underrated; on my hike, few thru hikers bothered going there because it was about a half mile off the trail and had no water. But that half mile is actually a pretty interesting walk through some meadows, and the shelter itself has a cool view of the hudson river, george washington bridge and manhattan skyline. i know that's not for everyone, but i kind of liked seeing the worlds collide.

[jollies]

That shelter is called the West Mountain Shelter. I also took the side trail to this one even though it was considered to be way too much for a thru-hiker to go for a shelter. I spent perhaps my finest evening in a shelter on the trail at this shelter because that night was perfectly clear and you could see all the way to NYC. Not to mention that the Meadowlands in New Jersey was having something and that was all lit up too. Just a fantastic shelter. If it is a clear night, by all means, this was the best shelter on the AT by my standards.

P.S. Mt. Wilcox North got my vote as one of the worst. How could you like that shelter? When I got there, there were mosquitos everywhere and I had run out of water, and there was none there! Now of course my bad experience probably slants my opinion of it, but I don't see what's so special about it anyway.

[Jaybird]

Overmountain.

It's the ONLY shelter on the entire Trail that I make sure I stay at, regardless of what time of day I get there...................

WOW! what a recommendation! wish i'd have stopped now!


in my limited time out on the A.T......i've enjoyed Deep Gap (NC) shelter & because its the highest elevation shelter on the A.T.,...the Roan High Shelter.


see ya'll UP the trail

[A-Train]

That shelter is called the West Mountain Shelter. I also took the side trail to this one even though it was considered to be way too much for a thru-hiker to go for a shelter. I spent perhaps my finest evening in a shelter on the trail at this shelter because that night was perfectly clear and you could see all the way to NYC. Not to mention that the Meadowlands in New Jersey was having something and that was all lit up too. Just a fantastic shelter. If it is a clear night, by all means, this was the best shelter on the AT by my standards.

P.S. Mt. Wilcox North got my vote as one of the worst. How could you like that shelter? When I got there, there were mosquitos everywhere and I had run out of water, and there was none there! Now of course my bad experience probably slants my opinion of it, but I don't see what's so special about it anyway.

I Completely agree. I think West Mtn shelter is awesome and underated. Great ridge and views. I didnt stop on my thru hiker but i've been there many a times on sections and day hikes

And I also agree on Wilcox North. Again, stayed there on a section, not my thru-hike, but it was bug hell, a nasty dark shelter and hardly any water. And far off the Trail! Keep going to Upper Goose Cabin if possible, its an oasis

[Kerosene]

I wanted to have lunch at West Mtn. Shelter while I was slackpacking through New York a few Junes ago, but it was quite foggy so we pushed on. We did catch a quick glimpse through the clouds of the absolutely massive parking lots associated with the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area off the Palisades Parkway. It must be a real zoo on weekends.

[Jack Tarlin]

Jaybird---

Not only is Overmountain my favorite shelter, but it just might be my favorite place on the entire Trail; the view down the valley there is nothing short of spectacular.

I have such strong feelings about this place that I've arranged to have my ashes scatterred there when the time comes; if you've got to spend eternity in one place, you could do a hell of a lot worse than here; I hope the 2004 hikers make sure not to miss Overmountain.....if you arrive too early in the day to stop for the night, at least take the side trail down to the shelter and valley view and take a long break; you won't regret it.

[oyvay]

Jack I agree with you it's the best shelter on the trail. I planned a zero day there on a section hike, unfortunately the weather did not cooperate so I didn't stay a second night. Hopefully it's a long time before your ashes are scattered for the hikers' sake. (only a joke, don't get upset)

[Needles]

You didn't go by Cold Spring Shelter in NC? The trail runs right past it.

Actually not on that trip, my first time on the trail was an overnight trip and I actually only saw one shelter that trip. Of course since then I have seen many, many more shelters, and yes Cold Spring was one of them, in fact there may still be an imprint from my forehead on one of the logs spanning the top of that shelter :-)