[at-l] trip report from Rocky Top crew

[t." <tjfort@netdoor.com (t.)]

we are talking about birch springs shelter, just north of Fontana dam?
right?

I use to like the way the old shelter was cut up against the hill.  I
thought the spring was down the hill behind the shelter.???  Not all that
far from the old horse rails.   I don't remember the spring muddying the
front?  In any rate, I've spent several winter storms in that shelter.

Where did you move the new one to?  in the same hole?  If I remember
correctly, that use to be a rather compact spot.   Is the new one like Ice
water springs?    any photos?

also, thanks to your group for doing this.  I wish I was close enough to do
maintenance.

t.


> We hiked into the new camping area at Birch Spring on Sunday, 10/21, and
> did a few small jobs there. One of the most enjoyable was burning parts
> of the old shelter. We had a wonderful camp fire every night; it was all
> the more pleasant because we didn't have to hunt for fire wood. The old
> rock walls of the shelter are now lining paths to the bear cables and the
> pipe spring. Many will remember that Birch Spring shelter was always a
> damp, gloomy place with the ground in front muddied by the spring.