Broken Promises

On May 12, 2012 word had spread around the trail about an annual tradition held at Overmountain shelter one week before the Trail Days festival in Damascus,VA. A party is put on every year on the saturday before the festival at this shelter, about 4-5 days of hiking to get to Damascus. This year that party did not occur, but the hikers still flocked to the shelter. We created our own entertainment in place of a kegger. Frisbee, fireside stories, and music made for a great night.


Side view of overmountain shelter

  The Shelter is a converted barn about .2 miles off the AT.

Front view of shelter with several hikers cooking dinner

 Seen in the picture on the right is the lower sleeping platforms which had 8 people sleeping in them. The "Hayloft" upstairs area also had about 25 people sleeping in it


Lower right sleeping area seen in picture above

 Dinnertime, food is far more important than smiling for photos.


Lower Left sleeping area with indoor fire ring

  A light drizzle had started so we movied the fire inside, under the overhang of the barn.


Part of our musical entourage



Several musicians were present for our makshift party, ChattyCathy on children's guitar, Bueller on accordian, RunningWater on a penny-flute, and myself trying not to destroy the music with my harmonica.

Several hammocks in the hayloft sleeping area



Several Hammocks were put up in the Hayloft sleeping area.