Near Jay Peak, on the north side of route 242, sits the smallest shelter on the Long Trail. Designed as a day shelter, it has no bunks and can accommodate a mere 3 hikers. When the shelter was built in 1967, this section of the Long Trail ran through timberlands belonging to the Atlas Plywood Division. The company built the shelter from plywood at their Morrisville plant. The shelter was dissembled, trucked to its current location, and reassembled by GMC volunteers.
George Pearlstein, one of the GMV volunteers, gave this account of the Atlas Shelter raising:
Shortly before 10 am on Sept. 9, 1967, a truck from the Foss & Phelps Sawmill of Morrisville came to a stop at the LT crossing on Route 242 south of Jay Peak. A dozen or so people awaited the arrival and without delay they quickly transferred the cargo to a carefully chosen spot located a few feet north of the road where the Original Jay Camp was located. After the placing of several large rocks in a square. A rugged plywood platform 8′ square was taken from the truck and expertly leveled. The pace quickened and two side walls. Then the rear wall was fitted precisely to the side walls. The one-piece plywood roof was a bit heavier and more awkward but was also maneuvered into its appropriate location. Lo and behold! We were putting a lean-to together! With all pieces in place, the new structure was literally the center of a swarm of activity. Up on the roof a crew was busily laying down and nailing tar paper, while directly underneath other people were actively spiking and bolting everything down securely. Outside, a couple of people were happily creosoting everything in sight, including the shelter: they showed so much talent with a paint brush, in fact, that they were allowed to do the inside as well. A drywall to keep out the porcupines was built. The shelter was finished in early afternoon. The shelter was designed and prefabricated in the Morrisville Plant under the direction of the Company Forester, Warren B. Drown, who also supervised the assembly. Mr. Drown emphasized the need for recreational use of its extensive northern Vermont timberlands as an important aspect of their multiple use management.
Long Trail Guide Book, 23rd Edition 1985
Long Trail News, Nov. 1967
