By Darree Sicher, SOS Co-chair, Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club
Were you one of the 16.5 million people who enjoyed hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2025? Or maybe you traipsed the AT another time, as a section hiker or a thru-hiker? Or maybe you just value the natural opportunities that the National Park Service (NPS) offers throughout 14 states? Sometimes we are all just itching to get outdoors.
Much of the AT is maintained by passionate volunteer organizations, like PA Berks County's Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club (BMECC), which works to keep the AT accessible to the public by clearing debris, chopping underbrush, heaving rocks, offering upkeep to campsites and shelters. The BMECC is working to create a bit of access for anyone to enjoy the natural beauty that IS the Appalachian Trail.
Unfortunately, it is now necessary for us to challenge the NPS plans to demolish two rustic hikers' shelters along the AT in the Berks County, Pennsylvania corridor. BMECC has formed the "SOS: Save Our Shelters" committee to encourage the NPS to reevaluate demolition plans of the 501 and Eckville shelters.
Why keep the 501 shelter (near Bernville) and Eckville shelter (near Kempton)? Because of the following:
- Hikers use and appreciate rustic shelter locations that offer a solid roof overhead; potable water and bathing options; electricity to recharge phones; and easy access to public roadways for restocking food and emergencies.
- Both properties are maintained by the BMECC volunteers and on-site caretakers, limiting actual NPS fiscal and physical output.
NPS’s response to our appeal was that both are "non-conforming structures" and "it's written in our manual.”
With 25% cuts to NPS staff and funding, doesn't demolishing appreciated and useful physical structures seem like an epic waste of taxpayer dollars?
The "SOS: Save Our Shelters" committee has requested that the NPS reconsider demolition plans and amend this out-of-touch 30+ year-old "rule" to be more relevant to hikers needs; grandfather and preserve both the 501 and Eckville shelters, support hikers, save money and honor the history and locations that support the enjoyment of the natural wonders that the AT offers.
Now it's your turn! Regardless of your location, reach out to the NPS and request that they reconsider plans to demolish the AT 501 and Eckville shelters, located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Reach out to your elected officials who determine funding for the NPS and ask them to discourage the demolition plans of shelters that support hikers on some of the toughest parts of the PA-AT.
Join us for a boots-on-the-ground "SOS: Save Our Shelters Hike", sponsored by the BMECC SOS Committee. Open yourself up to the experience of the history and value of these rural parts of the Appalachian Trail, used as hiking trails even before there was the AT and NPS! Come see for yourself the joy of time spent outdoors and the value of a welcoming shelter.
BMECC "SOS:Save Our Shelters" Information Hike
May 9th, 2026 8:30am
Eckville Shelter, off Hawk Mountain Rd, near Kempton, PA
Parking off Eckville Shelter parking lot, off Pine Swamp Rd
For Information, visit our website or call us at 610-823-8258.
This blog was included as part of the April 2026 Sylvanian newsletter. Please click here to check out more articles from this edition!