Just how far?

[freefall]

How far are you willing to go to get to a shelter or campsite?

[neighbor dave]

30 miles especially if it's rainin' an' the shelter has a t.v. and beer

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Camp away from shelters and established campsites - normally involves walking into the woods about .2 to .3 miles to be out of sight.

[StarLyte]

I usual hustle to get to shelter so I don't have to pack my tent, but if I do tent, it's within site of the shelter. Unless I'm with someone and we want to be alone which is rare

[freefall]

I usually camp near the shelter, just because of the social aspect and water. The few times I tried to camp off on my own, I was usually not alone as others had the same idea and happened to pick the same location. Guess I need to pick better stealth sites.

[Kerosene]

Half a mile isn't too bad, unless it's all downhill.

[freefall]

Half a mile isn't too bad, unless it's all downhill.

Yeah- lot's of people complained about the Sarver Hollow shelter because of this. It's .4 STRAIGHT downhill from the trail. But it is a great location: nice views, a boxed spring , good campsites for hammockers and ground dwellers alike and an old homestead to explore. Not to mention it's 666.0 miles from Springer- makes for good conversation while cooking and getting settled.

[Just Jeff]

...it's 666.0 miles from Springer...

Off topic, but the address of my wife's grandfather's church is 666. If I were clergy there, I'd have requested a change. Or maybe just get a PO Box or something...mailing something to a church at 666 Anystreet is kinda creepy.

There's also an apartment building here in Monterey that's 666 Hilby St. I think they're proud of it b/c they have the normal 666 address posted, then a big huge 666 over the doorway...like 24" letters.

But then, some people just don't think about things like this...maybe they never even realized it. My wife's grandfather didn't understand when I commented on the numbers...so I just let it go.

[freefall]

Off topic, but the address of my wife's grandfather's church is 666. If I were clergy there, I'd have requested a change. Or maybe just get a PO Box or something...mailing something to a church at 666 Anystreet is kinda creepy.

There's also an apartment building here in Monterey that's 666 Hilby St. I think they're proud of it b/c they have the normal 666 address posted, then a big huge 666 over the doorway...like 24" letters.

But then, some people just don't think about things like this...maybe they never even realized it. My wife's grandfather didn't understand when I commented on the numbers...so I just let it go.

I would think this would be like so many buildings not having a 13th floor. Superstition might not be real- but why take the chance? To me having that address (666) would be an invitation to demons, etc..or at the very least become the target of cults or the like.

[Jack Tarlin]

It depends entirely on the weather.

When it's pouring rain out, even half a mile isn't far if you know there's a
shelter at the end of it, and even if you have to go uphill the next morning to get back to the Trail, it's a small price to pay. The only thing worse than breaking down camp in horrible weather is settitng it up.

[MOWGLI]

I went to the Whitley Gap Shelter in GA in 2000. I believe it's 1.5 miles off the trail. Downhill.

[max patch]

I went to the Whitley Gap Shelter in GA in 2000. I believe it's 1.5 miles off the trail. Downhill.

So did I. I woke up in the morning to the rangers doing manuevers, which was kinda cool. I knew about the rangers, but I've always wondered what the reaction would be of someone who didn't know about the rangers in the area -- they'd have to think they were in a war zone or something.

[tarbender]

Took the 1 mile blue blaze to the Old job shelter. Later that night while reading the shelter register I discovered that there was a sweet blueblaze running south that hooked back up to the AT. Another thru had obviously had maps had been at the shelter via the blue blaze and had logged it. I took the blue blaze and it was marked decent and I did not see another hiker while I was on it. It was kind of pretty back there too. I remember it started out along the creek near the shelter. Blue blazing is not the devil. I think it is a worthy thing to do as long as every instance isn't about saving miles or time. Rainbowblaze the AT!

-jeff aka frankenfeet

[Footslogger]

I would go a lot farther off trail to a shelter at the beginning of my hike than I would later on.

As to exactly how far ...depends on how bad I want to get to the shelter.

Weather and water sources can drive hikers to do things they ordinarily wouldn't do.

'Slogger

[saimyoji]

ainbowblaze the AT!

Uh oh...here we go again....

[saimyoji]

Uh oh...here we go again....

Make that Rainbowblaze.

[freefall]

I would go a lot farther off trail to a shelter at the beginning of my hike than I would later on.

As to exactly how far ...depends on how bad I want to get to the shelter.

Weather and water sources can drive hikers to do things they ordinarily wouldn't do.

'Slogger

I was the exact opposite. I wouldn't go more than .25 off the trail at the beginning but wouldn't hesitate to go well over .5 later on. I was looking for the solitude more towards the end.

[general]

miles walked to a shelter are bonus miles, that means you can yellow blaze the same mileage at a later date.