Nick Grindstaf’s fireplace. It was a somber reminder that we are all just passing through.
Moldy leaf
Grindstaf's fireplace
system
#3
What is Grindstaf’s fireplace, where is it located, and what’s the story behind it?
Gasoline
system
#4
Grindstaf had thru-hiked the A.T. in the 1960s and quietly took in a few hikers every now and then at his home near the trail in Pennsylvania. His home was made of timber from the area and it had a huge, wide stone fireplace that could warm a body and cheer the soul on a cold evening.
In 1987 a hiker from that area died on the A.T. in New Hampshire, and since the family wanted the body cremated and thought highly of Grindstaf, they let him do the honors. He cremated the body and the family decided to let him keep the ashes, in the spirit of their son’s love of hiking. Grindstaf placed the ashes in an earthen jar carved from a rock taken from the Pennsylvania A.T. and placed it on the fireplace.
We passed by Grindstaf’s place going SOBO a few years ago and he invited us in on a cold evening. After a generous dinner and some bourbon I commented on the container sitting on the fireplace, and he told us the story. It was a somber reminder that we’re all just passing through.
Rocalousas
system
#5
Wrong Grindstaf Rocalousas. The one Gasoline is asking about lived on the AT about 25 miles south of Damascus, near Iron Mtn shelter, in a cabin by himself. He lived there the last 46 years of his life. The only thing left is the fireplace and engraved on it is “Lived alone. Suffered alone. Died alone.”
Wolf
system
#6
From Leonard Adkins’ “The Appalachian Trail: A Visitor’s Companion” - Skirting man-made Watuga Lake, the trail passes by a monument on Iron Mountain inscribed, “Uncle Nick Grindstaff, born Dec 26. 1851, died July 22, 1923, lived alone, suffered alone, and died alone.” On a trip west to seek his fortune at the age of twenty-six, Nick was beaten and robbed. He returned home only to find his sweetheart married to another. Disillusioned, Nick ascended Iron Mountain to live out the rest of his days with only a dog or two for companionship.
This area is in Tennessee right before Damascus VA.
malcolm