This question came up in Trivia #3. What’s the oldest standing shelter on the AT?
I’ll guess Cold Spring Shelter (NC), built by the CCC in 1933.
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Trivia #4 - Appalachian Trail
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#2
is that the shelter after standing indian MT? that one was definately jerimiah johnson style
burn
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#4
Well I guess Hurricane, Just kidding. I stayed in a lot of old ones from feb to july!! Hi Cindy
Paladin
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#5
Think Cold Spring Shelter is before the NOC.
If there are any shelters prior to the CCC, I’d think they would almost pre-date the actual trail. I think Pres. Roosevelt created the CCC around 1932-34.
JAWS
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#6
Glad to hear you’re taking the long walk again in the spring, JAWS. I look forward to your journal, sir!
Caughnawaga Shelter is 1931 vintage, just past Kid Gore in Vermud. Glad there was space in Kid Gore and didn’t have to wander on down to that relic for the night … it’s an oldie but a goody! :boy
Creaky old shelter
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#7
The West Mountain and Fingerboard Shelters in NY were built in 1928. I’m seeing a pattern forming. Many of the oldest shelters have stone walls: Gov Clement, Cooper Lodge ('39). I don’t remeber West, does it have stone walls? Caughnawaga deserves special recognition for ranking near the oldest and being a log shelter.
Another new stone shelter, Happy Hill in VT, replaced the former oldest shelter on the AT. Built in 1918 and torn down in 1998, the original HH might be the longest surviving shelter in the history of the trail. Anyone know of any that survived longer?
Celt
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#8
I remember a very old shelter in PA, next to a newer shelter. That looked like an old one -very small.
Also, some of the ones in Maine with the round log floors must be pretty old.
It would be interesting to see a book done on the structures of the AT.
Tha Wookie
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#9
A book on AT shelters is a great idea. I think Tha Wookie is thinking of the two Peters Mountain shelters. The older, much smaller shelter was build by Earl Shaffer sometime after his first thru hike. The baseball bat floor shelters in Maine do look very old but check out the shelters and dates: Hurd Brook '59, Poplar Ridge '61 and Rainbow Stream '71. Lots of logging in Maine but no saw mills to make dimensional lumber until the 70’s? :tongue
Celt
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#10
Yes, the little shelter next to Peter’s Mountain Shelter in PA was allegedly built by Earl Shaeffer. Anyone know the date of that one?
Cap’n
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#11
I know better than to argue with a dedicated hiker/maintainer such as Mrs. Gorp!
However, how old is the stone hut coming off Killington in VT? I think the name is Cooper Lodge.
There’s also a cool stone hut atop Chestnut Knob in Virginia, looks very old and Irish, but I’m guessing it’s younger.
Jan LiteShoe
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#13
Walnut Mountain shelter… north of Roaring Fork shelter… Or has it finally just killed over???
SPIDERMAN’03
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#15
Blood Mountain 1934
Cable Gap 1939
Cooper Lodge 1939
Chestnut Knob ??? (renovated 1994)
Walnut Mountain 1938
Celt
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#16
What’s the name of that shelter just before damacus? its like a very small unmarked (at least in wingfoots book) shelter. It looks like it sleeps one.
manfire
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#17
McQueens Knob Shelter (1934). I think it has “Damascus Holiday Inn” or another bargain hotel chain name on it.
Celt
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#20
a trail maintainer from the greem mountain club told me kid gore was from the early 1900’s, like 1905 or something. is that accurate or was he smoking crack.:smokin
the goat