Just south of Jay Peak, on the north side of Vermont Route 242, stands the smallest shelter on the Long Trail. Built as a simple day shelter, Atlas Shelter contains no bunks and can squeeze in only about three hikers. Despite its modest size, it has one of the more memorable origin stories on the Trail.
Origins and Construction
When the shelter was constructed in 1967, this stretch of the Long Trail crossed timberlands owned by the Atlas Plywood Division. As a gesture of support for outdoor recreation, the company designed and prefabricated a small plywood shelter at its Morrisville plant. The structure was then disassembled, trucked to Route 242, and reassembled on site by volunteers from the Green Mountain Club (GMC).
The project was overseen by Warren B. Drown, the company forester, who emphasized the importance of providing recreational access to Atlas’s northern Vermont timberlands as part of a broader multiple‑use management philosophy.
A Volunteer’s Account of the Shelter Raising
GMC volunteer George Pearlstein later described the lively scene on September 9, 1967, when the shelter was erected:
Shortly before 10 a.m., a truck from the Foss & Phelps Sawmill of Morrisville arrived at the Long Trail crossing on Route 242. A dozen or so volunteers were waiting, and without delay they transferred the cargo to a spot just north of the road, near the site of the Original Jay Camp.
Several large rocks were placed to form a foundation, and an 8‑foot‑square plywood platform was leveled. The pace quickened as the two side walls and the rear wall were fitted together. The one‑piece plywood roof—heavier and more awkward—was maneuvered into place.
Soon the structure was a hive of activity. Volunteers on the roof nailed down tar paper while others below spiked and bolted the frame securely. Outside, a pair of helpers enthusiastically coated everything in sight with creosote—so skillfully, in fact, that they were allowed to paint the interior as well. A porcupine‑proof drywall was added, and by early afternoon the shelter was complete.
A Small but Enduring Landmark
Though tiny, Atlas Shelter remains a distinctive landmark on the Long Trail. Its unusual construction, corporate‑volunteer partnership, and the vivid story of its assembly make it one of the more charming pieces of Long Trail history.
Sources
- Long Trail Guide Book. 23rd Edition ed. Green Mountain Club, 1985.
- George Pearlstein. Long Trail News. 1967.
