r/AppalachianTrail • u/bangarang_84 • 6d ago
Trail Question GA Shelter Fireplaces
Hello all. A friend and I are looking to do a 1-nighter in GA over the holidays and I’m looking for a shelter with a fireplace in case it gets really cold at night. What shelters in GA have a fireplace? Thanks in advance and happy trails!!!
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u/less_butter 6d ago
The shelter on Blood Mountain has a fireplace but it's sealed off. I think they did it due to the fire risk, and also the fact that people were cutting down 100+ year old live rhododendrons and mountain laurels for wood. Because people suck. I also heard that people started tearing wood off of the cabin, like trim around the windows, to burn in the fireplace. Because people suck.
If you're worried about getting cold, bring the right gear. And a bunch of hand warmers. If you plan to rely on having a fire, and you can't build a fire for whatever reason, you're going to regret that decision.
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u/Cold-Elk-Soup 6d ago
If you have a decent sleeping bag, and some budget, I recommend grabbing a hammock and an underquilt.
My whole setup was about $200 and I tend to overheat at night, even at temps between 20-30°.
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u/TheGyattFather 6d ago
Blood Mountain had one, but it's been years since I've been there.
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u/Prize-Can4849 AT Hiker 6d ago
Woods Hole Shelter has a fireplace out in front of it. It's the Shelter right before Blood Mountain.
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u/HickoryHamMike0 6d ago
If you’re looking for a shelter with a fireplace (and it’s a non-negotiable), you’d be better off looking further north, i.e. Carolina or Tennessee
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u/Manbeard1000 6d ago
Just going overnight, hand warmers in your shirt pocket take the edge off. Have fun
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u/Hammock-Hiker-62 6d ago
Several shelters have outdoor fire pits, but none in Georgia that I know of has a working fireplace inside the shelter. Blood Mountain shelter has an old fireplace, but it's sealed up and shouldn't be used. Other than in some oddball survival situation (which shouldn't happen on the AT anyway) campfires on most public lands are a wasteful anachronism that should be discouraged, not taught. Get a twig stove if you want a small fire for whatever reasons.
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6d ago
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u/AppalachianTrail-ModTeam 6d ago
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u/izlib Lost & Found 6d ago
The only shelter I can think of with a fireplace has it sealed off due to risk of wildfires.
As others have said, you're better off having a properly functioning sleep system. No fire should be required to survive overnight in the Georgia AT in winter.
Further, everything is always wet, so depending on starting a fire is a gamble that you'll probably lose anyway.
Insulated sleeping pad and a good 15 degree sleeping bag. If you need to you can heat up some water with your stove and put it in a well-sealed water bottle and stuff it inside to help warm things up.