I am going to do my first section hike...well, first hike ever that the air force didnt make me do! I am doing a couple parts in CT, and I would rather stay in my tent than the shelters. What are the rules about tenting near the shelters and what is tenting etiquette when tenting near shelters? I have tried to plan to stay at campsites for the most part but will not be able to everytime. Thanks

I don't think there is any etiquette per se regarding tents near shelters. I mean it would just be common sense, like don't pitch your tent where somebody coming in to the shelter would trip on it in the dark, don't leave your garbage in the bear box, stuff like that. Most of the shelter areas in CT have marked tenting areas (you'll see little signs on the trees saying, 1, 2, 3) as well as a map at the shelter of where the tent areas are located. I personally prefer to stay at the one that's farthest from the latrine, just in case the door bangs in the wind! And if a big or loud group is in the shelter, you'll want to tent as far away as you can, but that's really about it.

I have always thought that it was okay to cook and eat at the shelter even if I wasn't staying in it, although I guess others may differ on that point. To me there is no point crouching over a semi-flat rock, hoping your cannister doesn't dump over, when there is a picnic table yards away.

It is so hit and miss with shelters, even at the height of thru season... you'll be someplace one night and every single site and the shelter are jammed to the rafters, then the next night you're all by yourself with only the owls for company. It's strange!

Jane in CT

I am going to do my first section hike...well, first hike ever that the air force didnt make me do!

you had to hike in the air force? i thought y'all played badminton and croquet for physical training.

L. Wolf, good one.

Me being an Army Vet -thought the same thing about those in the airforce.

:D

One of us had to hike to get the rackets and mallets. And the hike from the bar to the dorms was a good block or two.
Oh, and the shelters do have AC right??? The tents in the Air Force did!

Don't tent IN the shelter.
Had that problem with a high school ROTC group couple years ago.

They put their tent in the shelter??? Must have been the Army ROTC and not the Air Force ROTC!

putting up a tent in a shelter is at the height of weeniedom

Sleeping in a shelter and a tent both suck.:D
Get a hammock, hiking poles, and water filter and really enjoy nature. Like
L.Wolf does.:p
Seriously....go to the woods to "Smooth It" not "Rough It".

www.hammockforums.net

if'n you ain't cowboyin it you ain't *****...

If you tent near shelters make sure to have earplugs so you don't get kept up late or woken up earlier. Probably it's better to tent pretty far from the shelter. The main conveniences are having other people around for dinner & the evening for conversation and frequently water is located nearby.

Animals are attracted to shelters, that's a negative you may not have thought of.

The main conveniences are having other people around for dinner & the evening for conversation and frequently water is located nearby.

Which is why I like to stop at shelters for dinner, water, and conversation, then keep hiking for a few miles to sleep. (Doesn't work as well in the winter, with short days, but this time of year it's great.)

L. Wolf, good one.

Me being an Army Vet -thought the same thing about those in the airforce.

:D
Apparently you folks haven't heard of the PJ's, Air Force Pararescue. We never hiked, we ran.