WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 26
  1. #1

    Default Birch Run Shelters

    A pair of 1940s structures. Some new construction between the shelters indicates replacements are in the works.

    Here's a picture.

    Pb

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-28-2003
    Location
    Mountains of North Georgia
    Posts
    391

    Default Birch Run Shelter

    I just finished reading a book dealing with the murder of two female hikers near these shelters in 1988. Wondering if there are any type memorials to the two in the area?
    "Just trying to keep life simple."

  3. #3
    A.T.2000 retread's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-06-2004
    Location
    Colorado Springs, CO
    Age
    73
    Posts
    33
    Images
    7

    Default

    All those small twin shelters in southern Pa. are known as the Pennsylvania Doll Houses. The two at Quarry Gap just north of Caledonia Park have been connected by one roof. Tagg Run just north of Pine Grove Furnace St.Park used to have twin shelters too, but the Boy Scouts caught one of them on fire and it was decided to tear them both down and build a new shelter...the current James Fry shelter. Retread

  4. #4

    Default

    I was hiking out there a couple months back. Hadn't been to Birch Run since 2001 and had to walk around the shelter a few times until I realized there was no longer two shelters. Just one big "new and improved" one.
    Last edited by ganj; 03-18-2004 at 00:54. Reason: to edit

  5. #5

    Default

    I live only several miles from Birch Run...the new Birch Run Shelter is def. posh but its location so close to the road is known for local boy scout troops and college partiers. I've always had good experiences there, but it can get crowded. Sweet campsite about a 1/4 south.

  6. #6
    Registered User Undershaft's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-03-2005
    Location
    Broadcasting in Stratovision
    Posts
    290
    Images
    168

    Default

    Very nice shelter with plywood bunks inside. Great water source right in front of the shelter. Covered porch with a picnic table. Could use a few more mouse hangers. There is one all the way up at the peak of the ceiling, but no way to reach it. There appeared to be several nice tent spots close by. The privy was a little dingy, but most of them are. I spent a great night here about a month ago. Surprisingly, it wasn't crowded despite it being memorial day weekend.

  7. #7

    Default

    ahh .....shelters. gods gift to hikers. blessed home. fluffy dry. welcome company. these are the best structures man has ever built.
    matthewski

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-05-2007
    Location
    Woodbury Heights, NJ
    Posts
    17

    Default

    Nice new shelter. Stopped by for lunch and almost wished we could have stayed for the night.

  9. #9
    Registered User cathy's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-16-2008
    Location
    parma, ohio
    Age
    69
    Posts
    38

    Default

    Beautiful! love it compared to the old shelters. Well Done. :-)

  10. #10

    Default

    Stayed at Birch Run last saturday night. Beautiful shelter with good company. Water was plentiful. Recommend this shelter along with a couple others on my section hike. Quarry Gap (did not stay), Tumbling Run, (did not stay). Ed Garvy (stayed) all nice shelters. I also have to say thanks to Bonepac at the Free State Hostel great place and good people.
    The Big J

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    11-18-2008
    Location
    New Hartford, Connecticut
    Age
    37
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Chappy View Post
    I just finished reading a book dealing with the murder of two female hikers near these shelters in 1988. Wondering if there are any type memorials to the two in the area?
    chappy,
    I didn't know there was a book about this- I'm pretty sure it happened at the first shelter south of duncannon.. rocky mt maybe? I didn't see any memorials in the area but when we got in to that particular shelter there was a pile of shotgun shells on the picnic table..ironic considering the history..

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-19-2007
    Location
    Hummelstown & Tioga, PA
    Posts
    2,465

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by desiderata View Post
    chappy,
    I didn't know there was a book about this- I'm pretty sure it happened at the first shelter south of duncannon.. rocky mt maybe? I didn't see any memorials in the area but when we got in to that particular shelter there was a pile of shotgun shells on the picnic table..ironic considering the history..
    Alas there has been more than one murder of hikers in south-central PA. The 1988 incident is chronicled in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Bullets-.../dp/1563410559 That book reports the incident to have occurred on the Rocky Knob Trail which is a nature/dayhike loop off the A.T. just south of Big Flat, or between Caledonia and Pine Grove Furnace State Parks just Trail-south of the half way point. I have hiked the RKT numerous times and if there is a memorial, I've never spotted it.

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-24-2009
    Location
    east berlin,pa
    Age
    69
    Posts
    1

    Default

    I remember this story very well.I was at the site about a week after it happened,it was all taped off.the guy who did it went by the name of mountian man.he lived in caves near by near the town of cleversburg.

  14. #14

    Default

    This is a GREAT shelter, newly polyed and lots of bunks. Great tenting. The water source is running strong clear and cold!

    also has a fly catcher nest (like most of the PA SH we saw last week)
    ~Christy

  15. #15

    Default

    OHHHH and I forgot to mention there is a great Bear pole at the site. no need to hang your food in the SH!
    ~Christy

  16. #16
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-02-2008
    Location
    South NJ
    Posts
    13
    Images
    4

    Default

    Just an update on this shelter

    Still nice as can be. Good water last weekend when we were there. Few locals walked in from the road. We came up from Caledonia SP.

  17. #17
    Registered User knightjh's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-07-2004
    Location
    South Central PA
    Age
    60
    Posts
    29
    Images
    7

    Default

    I went out there today and they now have a food hangers (to prevent Bears from "sharing you supper" with you)
    Great shelter
    "It will be a great day when schools have all the books they need and the Air Force has to have a bake sale to buy a bomber" (Unknown..to me at least if you know who said this I'll put their name here)

  18. #18
    HIKER TRASH birchy's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-08-2011
    Location
    Michaux State Forest
    Age
    57
    Posts
    260

    Default

    There are no BEARS at the BIRCH RUN SHELTER. I have lived for 18 years on the mountain a mere mile from the shelter and have never seen a bear in that area. I have hiked and hunted the big flat area and neither myself or anyone I know have observed bears in that area.

  19. #19
    Registered User JYD's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-27-2003
    Location
    Pasadena, Maryland
    Age
    62
    Posts
    4
    Journal Entries
    2
    Images
    31

    Default

    I'm going thru there this weekend...I'll look & let you know.

  20. #20
    Registered User Slow n' Steady's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-21-2012
    Location
    Waterford, VT
    Age
    72
    Posts
    57
    Journal Entries
    3

    Default

    I did not plan on staying here but ended up in a conversation with a volunteer who was doing work on the shelters and so I ended up painting the floor of one and staying in the other. It was a great stop!

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •