The Secret Shelter

[Alligator]

Still catching folks four years later with that post.

BTW Dogwood, I spent my first 25 years in NJ as well as I return 2-3 times yearly since, so I know where all the nice parts are.

The secret shelter wasn't meant to be a written up from what I understood (having stayed there) so when this thread started, I laid in a little discouragement.

[Wise Old Owl]

Well I had no trouble finding the donkeys on google earth...

a little further and one of the houses has a helicoptor pad right next to the trail!

[mooseboy]

So are you guys saying the post on appalachianpages.com is a hoax, perpetrated by those who wish to keep the Secret Shelter a secret? I'm just wondering if someone would actually do that... after all, we're not here to spread misinformation, are we?

[Frosty]

So are you guys saying the post on appalachianpages.com is a hoax, perpetrated by those who wish to keep the Secret Shelter a secret? I'm just wondering if someone would actually do that... after all, we're not here to spread misinformation, are we?

Think of it as honoring the wishes of Murray.

[mooseboy]

Ok, I'll leave it at that then.

[traildust]

Open or closed. Only takes what five minutes for a hiker to find out. Turn left at the "well water" sign - on the edge of the gravel road and you are there. It is no secret. In 2006 we stopped, ate lunch, took a shower and moved on to Unionville, which is less than an hour hike away. Nice service that Murray provides for those who are in need. But it is no secret.

[World-Wide]

Does anybody know what the deal is with the "Secret Shelter" or maybe I shouldn't bring this secret up .....LOL

Briefly described in William Schuette's book "White Blaze Fever!" Forget what page though!

[Panzer1]

As I understood it, the "secret" is not supposed to be a secret from hikers, its supposed to be secret from non hikers since it is more or less accessible by car. Hikers are supposed to spread the word to other hikers. This gives it a little of a mystique.

Panzer

[K-Man]

I was out last week doing bear mtn to rt 23 and stopped by murray's property. The usual "shelter" was locked, but the other cabin was open. This cabin just has a little 2 person table, no loft and no sink. The water was still on for the outdoor shower. Well water was still on too. The donkey's were out of their pen and came right up to us, then took off into the woods =) I wonder what prompted the switch in cabin offerings?? Ran into Peru, a nobo who wanted to make it as far north as possible for the year. She was super nice and we hooked her up with some cliff bars.

[gubbool]

The 'secret shelter' posted here and all comments are both true and false.

There is/was a shelter as described here but this one is no secret.

For fact - this shelter IS listed in the 2007 handbook and was open in 2008 during my thru.

Now for the 'real truth' (or as much as I care to write here, as if I wrote everything, then the 'real secret shelter' would be no secret any longer.

Fact: there is a shelter in Vt that largely remains a secret
Fact: the shelter has an actual name but I'm not telling
Fact: the shelter is a true three side shelter privately built by the owner
Fact; the shelter reflects the construction of a master carpenter
Fact: the shelter is off of the A.T. by just under 0.3 miles as the crow flies
Fact: the shelter is owned by a beautiful woman
Fact: she has an attractive daughter with a great smile, about 16 now
Fact: they have been known to both wear red hats while hiking
Fact: the shelter has a most unusual circular privy
Fact: there can be no mistake about being at the one, true secret shelter
Fact: I have the gps waypoint of the shelter, a picture of it, and
Fact: I have a picture of the owner and daughter


Warren
AL-ME '08

[Bags4266]

I was there last year and meet Jim.... He told me that whole grass field and hill he cuts with a push mower!!!! I was quite amazed. Its got to be at least 3-4 acera's (sp)

[Captain Blue]

Here is a photo of it taken in June of 2009. It is not a real big secret. It is visible from a public gravel road. When I was there the neighbor’s house was pretty noisy with a barking dog and chainsaw sounds.

[Jtd724]

If that is the secret shelter gubbool is hyping up, well, lets just say its a major dissapointment.

[StubbleJumper]

It's no disappointment at all.

It really is a work of art, with the entire shelter being built using mortise and tenon. The privy has a screen door and skylight, with a magazine rack. The water source is a cold, rapidly flowing creek (probably spring fed) with a foot bridge across it from which one can dangle one's swollen feet in the water.

In short, Swansong is a beautiful place.

[oopsdy]

a mini oasis:
close to the trail, delicious cold well water, beautiful setting with pond views -
thanx Mr. Murray!!!
we ran into nobo's who were beaming with praise of the place this past saturday...

[LDog]

Ok, so I'm jotting down these hints in my Companion and I found it is, uh, absolutely *not* already listed in there. Cause, um, if it were, it wouldn't be much of a secret, would it?

[George]

Actually I heard that the AT was going to seize the property from him because it is on the AT corridor..
I'm not sure that is true, but that is what I heard.

Panzer

it is off the trail down a lane and other private property dots the area, so this does not sound likely

[BigHodag]

Spent one night at Jim's place last month during my NJ section hike. Did some work-for-stay and swept out the outhouse and first cabin. Really appreciated the high stoop on shelter building and the scale. Hammockers will find the trees just to left of the cabin an ideal spacing for hanging. Water was delicious. The road in was grey dirt and freshly graded. Was excited to see the small "well water 100 yards" signs.

I met two other hikers a few days later who had passed up the "well water" and they ended up sleeping in the closet at the bar in Unionville. Both had older guidebooks and had planned to camp in the park or at the "hostel."

[attroll]

Here is a photo of it taken in June of 2009. It is not a real big secret. It is visible from a public gravel road. When I was there the neighbor’s house was pretty noisy with a barking dog and chainsaw sounds.

This is not the Secret Shelter. I don't know which shelter this is but it is not the Secret Shelter.

[Jeff]

Hey Troll....the photo you referenced is the "Secret Shelter" of Vermont...a few miles south of Gov. Clement shelter. It is also know as Swansong shelter and is on private property as well.