Wolfe Shelter: Fire Damage Repaired

Paul C. Wolfe Shelter

(Photo: Lori A. Nov 2011)

 

 

 

A very hardworking crew of four maintainers/volunteers went in today, Saturday, to do the final porch flooring repairs on the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter.  From the Humpback Rocks Parking Lot, it is a 2.5 mile hike to the shelter. The lumber, nails, tools, and any other supplies needed for the repairs were taken in using a deer cart. From previous, personal experience on a crew hauling 150 lbs. of QuickCrete to the shelter to put in the bear poles, the cart is obviously helpful in many regards, but it is still a very difficult and tiring trip since the trail has some quite rocky areas, places where the cart has to be picked up to get over obstacles (rocks again), narrow parts that are tricky, rock steps to navigate, Mill Creek to cross, etc. There can also be load-shifting issues with the materials on the cart to contend with.

 

Once at the shelter, the damaged boards had to be removed, the partially-burned joists had to be "sistered" with new joist boards so the floor is properly supported, and new floor boards were put in place and trimmed even. It looks like the steps to the porch were reinforced as well.

 

After the repairs were completed, the crew carried out the two plywood sheets used for the temporary repairs. They also cleaned up the trail on their way out and got back to the parking lot around 5:00. Here are the pictures from their day:

 

 

Just a reminder as to the extent of the damage:

One of the first photos of the fire damage.

(Photo: Reporting Hiker - March 11, 2013)

 

 

Cart loaded with boards, tools, & supplies in the HB Rocks Parking Lot
 & on the trail to the shelter.

Getting everything unloaded at the shelter.

 

 

Removing the burned, damaged boards.

 

"Sistering" the partially burned joists with new boards.

 

 

The new floor boards being nailed in place.

 

 

Trimming the new boards ..... almost finished.

 

 

Permanent floor repairs completed!

 

 

Three of the four members of the shelter repair crew.

 

 

"Leave No Trace" sign & a sign requesting that visitors to the shelter NOT cut, saw, chop or hack on live trees. The people who burned the shelter porch also bent, twisted and broke about 15 healthy 2 - 3" diameter hardwoods trees, leaving broken stumps and stems.

Yes, that would be a "level" reading!

Many thanks to this shelter repair crew for their hard labor and skilled work in putting the Shelter back into good shape! Not only do we thank them, but evidently a few grateful hikers thanked them as well. 

Great job, folks ...... much appreciated!

(All Photos, except as noted: David G.)

Related Posts:

 

Fire Damage At Wolfe Shelter

 

Crew Report: Shelter Damage Assessment

 

 

Update April 6 from Lori (Trail Maintenance Supervisor):  

Please see below a message from Kurt Speers after reading the report on Shelter REPAIRED.  Kurt is our friend and contact on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We get a lot of compliments on our section of the trail which do not get passed along.  Please know just how much all YOUR hard work and efforts are greatly appreciated by all who hike our section of the trail.

 

Please pass along my thanks to all involved.  I am always pleased to see the amount of dedication and care your club takes with the Appalachian Trail and its resources.

Kurt W. Speers

Ridge District Ranger

Blue Ridge Parkway