Past Events

The Appalachian Trail: Backcountry Shelters, Lean-tos, and Huts

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Our speaker for October was Sarah Jones Decker. She discussed the structures along America’s most famous footpath and talked about her new book “The Appalachian Trail: Backcountry Shelters, Lean-tos, and Huts”.  For the first time, she documented all of the structures in one place and explores their differences in design, materials, location, and delves into some of their history.

If you missed the original presentation, you can watch the recording at this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/pfCnggacp-mGPfv52EIkZgSQK1Kh5y6oM8DQK_xajU5pbEK6ym2nBzDqZO6ptrU.Ogda-4iZhPYAoanj

Event Summary

EVENT: The Architecture of the Appalachian Trail (AT)

DATE: September 29, 2020

SUBJECT: Our speaker was Sarah Jones Decker who discussed the structures along America’s most famous footpath and talked about her new book, “The Appalachian Trail: Backcountry Shelters, Lean-tos, and Huts”, published on April 6, 2020. For the first time, she documented all the structures in one place and will explore their differences in design, materials, location, and delve into some of their history.

LOCATION of Event: Virtual Program via Zoom – Event sponsored by the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network for its members. 

CONTACT: Sarah Jones Decker          PHONE: 1-828-712-1857

                             E-MAIL: sarahjonesdecker@gmail.com

PRESENTER: Sarah Jones Decker moved to Madison County, N.C. from Virginia in 2003.  She thru hiked the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2008 and again, in sections, in 2018-2019.  She has an MFA in Photography from Savannah College of Art & Design and a BA in Journalism and Creative Writing from Virginia Tech.  Sarah and her husband own Root Bottom Farm in Marshall, N,C. and she teaches part time at Mars Hill University.

ATTENDANCE: 29 members logged into Zoom, including 8 Board Members

DESCRIPTION:  Whether you have spent a night or six months on the Appalachian Trail, every hiker eventually experiences one of the trail’s iconic lean-tos or huts.  More than 250 such backcountry shelters exist on the 2,200+ mile route from Georgia to Maine, and they have welcomed hikers on a first come, first-served basis since the beginning of the trail’s inception and eventual completion in 1937.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) (headquartered in Harper’s Ferry, WV) defines the shelter, sometimes referred to as a lean-to, as a ‘three-sided structure with or without bunks or floors, intended as overnight housing for hikers.  The term shelter on the A.T. can also include enclosed structures, unlocked cabins and the hut system in the White Mountains run by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC founded in 1876).  Built, maintained and preserved with thousands of hours by dedicated trail clubs and volunteers, shelters have always been and continue to be an integral part of the trail experience.

Photographer and writer Sarah Jones Decker worked with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy – and in collaboration with the trail community of hikers, historians, photographers, writers and clubs – to produce this first-of-its-kind resource.  

Here are some facts from Sarah’s presentation:

  • Each 3-walled structure is unique: one open side – some with overhanging roof
  • Structures spaced every 8-10 miles
  • Most structures are located off a small side trail
  • Less than 20 new structures built in the last 20 years
  • 547 miles of the AT are located in Virginia
  • Style of structures and materials vary from state to state: e.g. logs, stones, roof pitch, cinder blocks, rocks, and time period (mostly built from 1929-1972, many built by the CCC (some shelters milled on site or reassembled from another site)

Sarah Jones Decker was an exciting speaker with wonderful photographs and presented lots of good information, sprinkled with her own experiences and joy of hiking.  Her presentation was recorded by the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network to use for reference and/or future programs and the website.