A lean-to Story

Antlerpeak · 08-20-2005, 12:29 PM

It is a rainy Saturday all my various chores for the day are done and I had an ugly hike yesterday. So ugly it resulted with almost no pictures. Teo made a comment on a trip report about the lack of a lean-to journal at Panther Gorge. It brought this story to mind. A new post is in order as hijacking another's post is a grevious offense.

This occurred about fifteen years ago and I doubt the punchline was very well known. My wife and I were part of a 46R group who went into the Cold River area to rehab the lean-to at Miller Falls. Two DEC rangers supervised the work. The logs, milled boards and roofing were flown in prior to our arrival. We were able to drive into Shattuck Clearing over the Syracuse Univ property.

What we found was a dirt floor lean-to that leaned seriously to one side. The logs had been infested with carpenter ants and were virtually decayed. They sat directly on the ground. Someone had brought a serious hydraulic jack, not powered but with a cranking system. The long and the short of this was we built a foundation from rocks gathered at the site and built a new lean-to when finished only three logs from the origional lean-to was used. Now then according to DEC personnel the regs do not clearly define repair and rehab and since part of the old lean-to was clearly used and the new only supported the old this was a legal rehab.

We discovered the lean-to had an adopter unknown to the 46R's or the rangers. The ranger commented if he had known the fellow would have been asked to join the project. From journal entries this guy came into the shelter twice a month having to drive up from New Jersey. I arranged to meet the ranger in two weeks for another project.

Two weeks later the ranger told me that the fellow who adopted the lean-to had built a shelf in the old shelter. I recalled seeing that as we were ripping things apart. It seems he had enclosed the shelf making sort of a small cabinet. Someone weeks earlier had filed a complaint with the DEC saying this did not conform to standard lean-to construction. The adopter was called on the carpet by the ADK and threatened with losing his lean-to if he did anything like that again.

The ranger told me he called the adopter asking when he was planning to visit the lean-to. The guy was comming up the next weekend. The ranger introduced himself as the one in charge of the Newcomb area and requested before going to the lean-to to stop into the office. The ranger had some questions for him.

When the guy arrived the ranger drove him into Shattuck Clearing to save time. The adopter said he had not been into the lean-to since the shelf report and was planning on taking it down on this trip. The ranger had only told the adopter there were some things about the lean-to he wanted to ask him about.

Once arriving at Miller Falls the adopter saw the new lean-to broke into a sweat and started screaming, "I didn't do it!" The ranger broke out laughing and told the fellow what we had done saying if we knew we would have asked you along. I would have loved to see the look on this guy's face when he saw the shelter. The ranger said it was priceless.

Thought you guys would like to hear an old story and that yes some DEC people have a sense of humor.

AlpineSummit · 08-20-2005, 03:31 PM

That is a pretty good story. Those lean-to adopters usually do a really nice job. How do you like the one on the Ward Brook Truck trail, the one with the profile of the Seward Range built across the top? Last time I was there they were repairing the picnic table. Picnic table, now that's nice.

Antlerpeak, you're giving away some clues now & then that tell me that you've been around for a bit.......... I'm thinkin' you're a greybeard by now!?

Antlerpeak · 08-20-2005, 03:34 PM

That and the sideburns but the top is still brown.

AlpineSummit · 08-20-2005, 03:55 PM

Yea, that seems to be about what I see in the mirror too.
If our schedules ever jive, how'd ya like to plan a trip sometime? Do some romping over hill & dale and trade some hiking tales along the way.

I'm off to Spencer's fairly soon - are ya planning to attend too?

Antlerpeak · 08-20-2005, 06:38 PM

I'd like to go to spence's but with all the hiking I have been doing there is too much to attend to around here. The price of ducking out for the hills is catching upi to me. As for getting together sure that would be fun. I am planning on Mendon, Mt Snow, and Dorset. No dates yet just some things that I havn't got around to. Then there is The Dome down near Pownel havn't got around to that one.

AlpineSummit · 08-21-2005, 09:49 AM

Cool, I do have to get healthy again first tho. A new & mysterious foot problem. Hopefully short-lived.

A nice time last nite and a great turnout; thanks again Spence.

08-20-2005, 12:29 PM	#1
Antlerpeak Commander Join Date: May 2005 Location: Western Washington Posts: 514	A lean-to Story It is a rainy Saturday all my various chores for the day are done and I had an ugly hike yesterday. So ugly it resulted with almost no pictures. Teo made a comment on a trip report about the lack of a lean-to journal at Panther Gorge. It brought this story to mind. A new post is in order as hijacking another's post is a grevious offense. This occurred about fifteen years ago and I doubt the punchline was very well known. My wife and I were part of a 46R group who went into the Cold River area to rehab the lean-to at Miller Falls. Two DEC rangers supervised the work. The logs, milled boards and roofing were flown in prior to our arrival. We were able to drive into Shattuck Clearing over the Syracuse Univ property. What we found was a dirt floor lean-to that leaned seriously to one side. The logs had been infested with carpenter ants and were virtually decayed. They sat directly on the ground. Someone had brought a serious hydraulic jack, not powered but with a cranking system. The long and the short of this was we built a foundation from rocks gathered at the site and built a new lean-to when finished only three logs from the origional lean-to was used. Now then according to DEC personnel the regs do not clearly define repair and rehab and since part of the old lean-to was clearly used and the new only supported the old this was a legal rehab. We discovered the lean-to had an adopter unknown to the 46R's or the rangers. The ranger commented if he had known the fellow would have been asked to join the project. From journal entries this guy came into the shelter twice a month having to drive up from New Jersey. I arranged to meet the ranger in two weeks for another project. Two weeks later the ranger told me that the fellow who adopted the lean-to had built a shelf in the old shelter. I recalled seeing that as we were ripping things apart. It seems he had enclosed the shelf making sort of a small cabinet. Someone weeks earlier had filed a complaint with the DEC saying this did not conform to standard lean-to construction. The adopter was called on the carpet by the ADK and threatened with losing his lean-to if he did anything like that again. The ranger told me he called the adopter asking when he was planning to visit the lean-to. The guy was comming up the next weekend. The ranger introduced himself as the one in charge of the Newcomb area and requested before going to the lean-to to stop into the office. The ranger had some questions for him. When the guy arrived the ranger drove him into Shattuck Clearing to save time. The adopter said he had not been into the lean-to since the shelf report and was planning on taking it down on this trip. The ranger had only told the adopter there were some things about the lean-to he wanted to ask him about. Once arriving at Miller Falls the adopter saw the new lean-to broke into a sweat and started screaming, "I didn't do it!" The ranger broke out laughing and told the fellow what we had done saying if we knew we would have asked you along. I would have loved to see the look on this guy's face when he saw the shelter. The ranger said it was priceless. Thought you guys would like to hear an old story and that yes some DEC people have a sense of humor.

08-20-2005, 03:31 PM	#2
AlpineSummit Northern Lights Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Winter Sooo Suks.......... Posts: 1,320	That is a pretty good story. Those lean-to adopters usually do a really nice job. How do you like the one on the Ward Brook Truck trail, the one with the profile of the Seward Range built across the top? Last time I was there they were repairing the picnic table. Picnic table, now that's nice. Antlerpeak, you're giving away some clues now & then that tell me that you've been around for a bit.......... I'm thinkin' you're a greybeard by now!? __________________ Walk Softly

08-20-2005, 03:55 PM	#4
AlpineSummit Northern Lights Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Winter Sooo Suks.......... Posts: 1,320	Yea, that seems to be about what I see in the mirror too. If our schedules ever jive, how'd ya like to plan a trip sometime? Do some romping over hill & dale and trade some hiking tales along the way. I'm off to Spencer's fairly soon - are ya planning to attend too? __________________ Walk Softly

08-21-2005, 09:49 AM	#6
AlpineSummit Northern Lights Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Winter Sooo Suks.......... Posts: 1,320	Cool, I do have to get healthy again first tho. A new & mysterious foot problem. Hopefully short-lived. A nice time last nite and a great turnout; thanks again Spence. __________________ Walk Softly

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08-20-2005, 03:34 PM	#3
Antlerpeak Commander Join Date: May 2005 Location: Western Washington Posts: 514	That and the sideburns but the top is still brown.

08-20-2005, 06:38 PM	#5
Antlerpeak Commander Join Date: May 2005 Location: Western Washington Posts: 514	I'd like to go to spence's but with all the hiking I have been doing there is too much to attend to around here. The price of ducking out for the hills is catching upi to me. As for getting together sure that would be fun. I am planning on Mendon, Mt Snow, and Dorset. No dates yet just some things that I havn't got around to. Then there is The Dome down near Pownel havn't got around to that one.

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