workshops at shelters

[squeezebox]

Not everyone who starts a NOBO in Mar. or Apr is a complete fool. But yes some are. So here is my idea. The experienced hikers could do a workshop every evening at the shelter they are at, say at 6:00/ 6:30 /7:00, pick a time so people know what to expect. Just a short little lecture/ workshop on stuff like LNT, digging a cathole with a stick, setting up/ taking down your tent in the rain, other general rain issues, cooking, generic Q&A period, staying warm, etc, etc. after a while these "workshops" would drift away, but just might save some newbies from a lot of pain and trouble. Yes and me being a newbie I'ld appreciate the info.
Nothing very formal or organized, just sitting around sharing info, experience.

[illabelle]

I've seen a little bit of this kind of thing. I remember being at a shelter in Georgia. Some of the other folks were part of a trail club and knew each other. One of them demonstrated a PCT-style bear bag hang, and others learned from watching and trying it out themselves.

There's a lot of informal learning that happens just by observing others. If I see somebody with a clever solution to a problem I've been dealing with, I'm gonna ask them about it. If somebody asks me, I'll share. From the context of your post, it sounds like you're suggesting this for the thru-hiker crowd as they start out. It's probably not a bad idea to be a little proactive about teaching one another, and who knows, it could save someone's life, or at least make their day bearable.

[Lone Wolf]

Not everyone who starts a NOBO in Mar. or Apr is a complete fool. But yes some are. So here is my idea. The experienced hikers could do a workshop every evening at the shelter they are at, say at 6:00/ 6:30 /7:00, pick a time so people know what to expect. Just a short little lecture/ workshop on stuff like LNT, digging a cathole with a stick, setting up/ taking down your tent in the rain, other general rain issues, cooking, generic Q&A period, staying warm, etc, etc. after a while these "workshops" would drift away, but just might save some newbies from a lot of pain and trouble. Yes and me being a newbie I'ld appreciate the info.
Nothing very formal or organized, just sitting around sharing info, experience.

that's what a caretaker is for

[WingedMonkey]

One of the reasons that the southern section is beat to death now is because "experienced hikers" want to be there to give advice to the newbies.

"Experienced hikers" should avoid the trail when it's already crowded.

[MuddyWaters]

There is usually a bit of it, sometimes by previous thru hikers. Some come across poorly, and arent well recieved.

Its hard to criticize someones gear, and everything they are doing, without basically telling them they are doing it wrong.

[Lone Wolf]

One of the reasons that the southern section is beat to death now is because "experienced hikers" want to be there to give advice to the newbies.

"Experienced hikers" should avoid the trail when it's already crowded.

i'll be on springer 21 march. i'll use no shelters or privies. i will give no advice

[Frye]

I know I'm probably a horrible person, but as long as it's not going to kill em, I like watching people make mistakes. Entertainment is important to me.

Besides, I feel as if I gained more respect for doing things the proper way by mucking it up a few times and paying the consequences.

[RED-DOG]

Making Mistakes is how we as humans learn if their was a experienced hiker giving Lectures I really don't think people would learn anything and they probably wouldn't care.

[WingedMonkey]

i'll be on springer 21 march. i'll use no shelters or privies. i will give no advice


Putting on another hiker feed?

:banana

[Scoop]

Learn by doing.

[Lone Wolf]

Putting on another hiker feed?

:banana

never put on one before, ain't about to start. i will try to get folks to blue-blaze with me from hightower gap to gooch gap on FS42. great views and water on the road

[Sarcasm the elf]

Putting on another hiker feed?

:banana

Does a bottle of moonshine really count as a "feed?";)

[Sarcasm the elf]

Not everyone who starts a NOBO in Mar. or Apr is a complete fool. But yes some are. So here is my idea. The experienced hikers could do a workshop every evening at the shelter they are at, say at 6:00/ 6:30 /7:00, pick a time so people know what to expect. Just a short little lecture/ workshop on stuff like LNT, digging a cathole with a stick, setting up/ taking down your tent in the rain, other general rain issues, cooking, generic Q&A period, staying warm, etc, etc. after a while these "workshops" would drift away, but just might save some newbies from a lot of pain and trouble. Yes and me being a newbie I'ld appreciate the info.
Nothing very formal or organized, just sitting around sharing info, experience.
I definitely think this idea has potential. I would think that it's the sort of thing that might best be done by or coordinated with the ridgerunners.

[Old Hiker]

I'm just wondering how the workshop would be received. I think a lot of hikers would regard it as Hike MY Hike, Dammit ! type of mentality.

http://www.pmags.com/hike-my-hike-damn-it-hmhdi

I don't use the shelters, so I wouldn't be able to listen in. I still don't feel comfortable with my own level of expertise to offer it to someone else; however, if I see someone struggling with whatever, I would probably ask, "Would you allow me to show you something about that?" This puts the option on them to accept or decline.

[Praha4]

just announce a Yellow Blazing workshop, you'll have a packed house

[Slo-go'en]

It's fun to go down to Springer during prime time and mingle with all the wannabe's starting out. It's always fun to show up at Woods Hole shelter and announce "Congratulations, you've just competed 1.2% of AT" and listen to all the groans.

But seriously, if there was a full time caretaker at one of the early shelters, putting on an evening workshop might not be too bad an idea.

[OCDave]

I listened to an interesting podcast, "Invisibilia", this week about a blind man and how he developed his echo-location skills so acutely that on MRI his brain fired as if he were sighted. He attributes his superior development of this skill to the fact that his mother was extremely permissive and allowed him to explore the world for himself, fall, fail and figure things out. He has no eyes yet, he has learned to ride a bicycle. He feels strongly that as a society, when we "Help" blind kids, rather than protecting them we are stifiling their opportunity to expand. In effect, we cripple them by not allowing them to find how far they can go by themselves.

Want someone to rob you of the opportunity to expand fully? Just my thought for the day.

Good Luck on your hike

[Slo-go'en]

Want someone to rob you of the opportunity to expand fully? Just my thought for the day.

Good Luck on your hike

Sure, but one of the reasons humans dominate the Earth is we can pass our knowledge and experiences to others and then to build on that knowledge.

[OCDave]

Sure, but one of the reasons humans dominate the Earth is we can pass our knowledge and experiences to others and then to build on that knowledge.

Shoulder's of giants, so to speak. Sounds like a worthy perspective.

[No Directions]

i'll be on springer 21 march. i'll use no shelters or privies. i will give no advice

You're such a nice fella.

[Blissful]

I saw the title of the thread and thought why not put in a plug for an upcoming Backpacker workshop. Not at a shelter but right near Shenandoah National Park and like seven miles from the AT! Feel free to check it out HERE (http://blissfulhiking.blogspot.com/p/paypal-safer-easier-way-to-pay-online.html) - the workshop will be March 14th and guaranteed to get you ready for a backpacking adventure! Wish I had that that before I headed out in '07.

[Deadeye]

If someone starts lecturing me on how to hike his way, I'll just keep on walkin'

[squeezebox]

Your choice deadeye. Save it for the newbies that want to be informed by folks more experinced than you.
Never hurts to hear another opinon on a better way to do things.

[Lone Wolf]

You're such a nice fella.

yes i am:)

[Traveler]

I definitely think this idea has potential. I would think that it's the sort of thing that might best be done by or coordinated with the ridgerunners.

Agreed on both the idea and coordination. This kind of thing really needs a short list of "what needs to be learned and at what point". From a short list of things a syllabus can be assembled that might use shelters from known thru starting places as learning points. Before you chuckle, all of us regardless if you are a thru hiker or sectional can be affected by things some folks may be unaware of. Using a system that various topics are discussed may not be a bad idea.

As an example, the first three shelters from common starting places on the trail, that may have trailrunner oversight can be used for informal workshops/conversations. Each shelter can be coded by a number or just have a list of things that can be covered in the workshop topic arena. Something like;

Shelter 1 - public health. How to poop in the woods is not something I have seen a lot of new people go into the woods able to do well. Sanitation is a very important element of camping/hiking that requires knowledge so people do not become sick.

Shelter 2 - personal hygiene. This issue will start to become apparent and people notice by the second day or so. A brief workshop/conversation on how one can manage hygiene can be of tremendous help to the individual (never mind others nearby), and is not something new people have a lot of information on in my experience.

Shelter 3 - cooking and how norovirus works. This is near the point people will start developing intestinal problems. Some will maintain it is the change of diet or water but it's most likely norovirus from food preparation, consumption, or casual contact. This is pretty important for the overall health of the hiking community, even those who do not stay in shelters can be affected by norovirus if its being carried by others unaware they are spreading it around.

These are just a few of the ideas that can be set up for the first three shelters from common starting points in GA, VA, and ME (or other points). Trailrunners can provide this, or experienced hikers can have the conversation with a group. It does not need to be a seminar, nor more than five minutes of conversation. Awareness is half the battle.

Topics covering specifics in camping methodologies and other related topics are usually covered in casual conversation or just people watching how others do things, so they would likely not need to be covered in this manner. The human health stuff is not a bad idea though.

[illabelle]

How to poop in the woods is not something I have seen a lot of new people go into the woods able to do well. Sanitation is a very important element of camping/hiking that requires knowledge so people do not become sick.

A lot of privies have instructions posted, but I haven't seen instructions posted anywhere about how to poop in the woods. A tastefully designed info-graphic at the shelter would probably help. There are certainly no instructions posted behind the tree where somebody squats to do their business, business that occurs between shelters and privies. It's then, all alone, faced with rooty rocky soil, that a new hiker might benefit from the reinforcement of a human being giving a short talk at the shelter, maybe with a couple of stories or statistics about people getting sick from poor hygiene habits.