Date: 2012-05-08
From: Wind Rock View

To: Sarver Hallow Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

We awoke in the rain, had a soaking all morning. We climbed down to the War Spur Shelter, made breakfast and had some Hot Chocolate. Sweet and low were still there, preparing their day. Peeper and I were looking forward to a long clmbing day, though wet there were some exciting attractions coming up. The long awaited Kiefer Oak, and a view off of Kelly's knob. The rain was slowing, but the fog was still enveloping the upper slopes. Kelly's Knob, though some interesting stone structures, was awash. We climbed down off the ridge, the skies cleared as we were walking in cow pastures, beautiful rolling hills guarded by the long ridges. We ate lunch in the sun atop one of the higher pastures, very soothing.I excitedly anticipated my encounter with the Keiffer Oak, the oldest oak in the southern part of the AT, reported 18' around. I needed to hug this tree. AWOL guide reports it at over 300 yrs old. Peeper thought my excitement was aliitle miss founded, but I am the tree lover of the pair. We walked though further pastures, and saw a massive Maple, but not the Oak. Peeper kept saying, "not yet Dad", but soon. I didn't want to miss it. Then the meeting, WOW, there was no missing this tree, of course there was a sign announcing it as well as a walk through around it. Never the less, WOW! The branches must have been spread out over 100 feet, the trunk was massive, for an oak. Needless to say, there was alot of tree hugging... for us both. Then the rain started again.We left the Kieffer Oak, a sad parting, put on our pack cover and rain gear, again, and off to the next ridge. We climbed a very steep trail with no over reduntant switch backs as has sometimes been a custom of the southern AT, the few switchbacks were welcomed. We encountered many stone piles along this ridge, we questioned if this might be an ancient Indian Burial Grounds, 100's of Mounds and some appeared like stone piled pillars. We had no history for explanation. The rain became a downpour, we were soaked and cold, we encountered the sign for the shelter, down a very steep 1/3 mile side trail. The sign had some cribbled blue marker on it from other hikers " Great Shelter only if raining". After brief discussion, we went. Sarver Hollow Shelter, the best constructed and rain protecting shelter we had encountered, thank God. The shelter and the picknic table in front were all coverd by the roof. Peeper and I were the only ones there. We spread out our gear to dry and started to make ourselves at home when in crawled "Sweet and Low", "Biscuits", and "Sugar Plum". We were all in the same predicament, get dry, 1/3rd of a mile climb out in the am did not matter.This was a fascinating place, by the water source there was the ruins of an old camp and a very large building with 3 fireplaces off the great room. This area was obviously well loved in the past by someone. The structures appeared post and beam with log exterior, the camp was a log cabin, falling down. The water had been diverted into an underground culvert of field stones. The history entices me to look further, Peeper reports from the shelter log that some people had been looking towards this area as a confederate burial grounds, ????. Rain and darkness gave me little time to explore. This thoughmay explain the rock mounts on the ridge, this was probably associated with this estate.We all spread out our wet clothes, talked of the day, and soon went to bed. Nice to be out the rain in a nice shelter, a good choice by all.