The replacement, conducted in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and U.S. Forest Service, is now complete. A ribbon-cutting was held March 17. 

“The Nantahala Hiking Club is responsible for the maintenance of 10 shelters along our 60 miles of the Appalachian Trail,” club member Victor Treutel wrote in an NHC newsletter discussing the project. “Some are in great shape, others are a little tired. Rock Gap shelter was the most tired. It had generations of graffiti and a large colony of mice entrenched within its weathered walls.”

Escalation in the cost of building materials meant that NHC had to use more than $2,000 of its own money to complete the project, in addition to funding provided by the USFS and ATC. Donations are encouraged at nantahalahikingclub.org/donations.

The completion came just in time for thru-hiker season. March is the most popular month for north-bound hikers to start their journeys in Georgia. Currently, more than 2,500 people have registered to start a thru-hike in February, March or April this year.