Sunday, October 28, 2018

Sawmill Run Spring - Old Site of Shelter (REMOVED) - Shenandoah National Park

When I was looking at my GPS topo map I noticed a marking on it that suggested there once was a shelter at this location and a spring. I checked the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club AT map of the area (Map 11: https://www.patc.net/PATC/PATC_Trails/Hike/PATC_Maps.aspx) and it has a tiny indication (blue squiggle) of a spring there but no words. USGS has a great resource to look at maps here: https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer/#15/38.1080/-78.7880 where I was able to verify where the shelter used to be.
https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/img4/ht_icons/Browse/VA/VA_Waynesboro%20East_187152_1997_24000.jpg
So, on my latest hike, I decided to check this site out. Just North of Sawmill Run Overlook on Skyline Drive, at mile 95.3, the AT crosses the road. About 0.2 miles North on the AT the trail makes a sharp bend at the top of the hill. The old access trail is at that junction.
Google coordinates here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B006'49.1%22N+78%C2%B047'13.8%22W/@38.11365,-78.7871667,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d38.11365!4d-78.7871667
After a nice 0.3 mile walk down a somewhat overgrown and obscured trail, the spring can be found along with the site of the old shelter. There is a flat spot carved out of the hill where the shelter used to stand, along with an old fire ring. Fires are NOT allowed in SNP except at designated areas...this is NOT a designated area. The spring was actually pretty nice and flowing well.
Google coordinates here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B006'52.6%22N+78%C2%B047'19.7%22W/@38.1146,-78.7888167,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d38.1146!4d-78.7888167
Sawmill Run Shelter was built in 1941: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnHg_-hbxOkfXLVv71M9wL5UFp6s3j3lD0XNmjSOhJcbg6LrpVNM1lIZjTveSUeLI7LO0hAx0pgdyDFocxQo973NcAej3UohuPmtqn92FjZ8r4K3u2ySfd2HlELDjgZ-dC6R8AtbDiWg/s1600/Sawmill+Run+shelter.jpg
Sawmill Run shelter was removed from the AT in 1980 because of overuse.
Of interesting note, in 1984, PATC builds Calf Mountain Shelter from the remains of Rip Rap Shelter (not on the AT) and Sawmill Run Shelter.
Some photos from my trip: https://photos.app.goo.gl/W7p5pBAv4e11aLZg6

Here are a few links that mention the site, as well as some other info:
BLOG that mentions some history: http://www.wanderingvirginia.com/2016/01/shenandoah-national-park-former-at.html
cspitler's vid of the area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XueH6V1U52Y
National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory (interesting read):
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=14&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjwo7n_66neAhUFw1kKHarnAkwQFjANegQICBAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Firmafiles.nps.gov%2Freference%2Fholding%2F450499%3FaccessType%3DDOWNLOAD&usg=AOvVaw3kDkzBwY6mAMZlQ-Ji3YwQ
THE MANUFACTURE OF FIRE-BRICK AT MOUNT SAVAGE, MARYLAND: http://www.mountsavagehistoricalsociety.org/brick%20yard/manufacture%20of%20firebrick%20at%20Mt%20Savage.htm

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