New member and have some A.T section hiking questions

[T-Bone1]

Hello, I am new to these forums so please bear with me. I have some questions about section hiking the A.T. from Springer Mt. to Franklin, N.C. I have done some research on distances and etc. so my real question is about camping/shelters. So which is better. I know packing a tent is more weight but it seems the obvious choice to me because I have heard that some of the shelters can get a bit crowded. This is the first of many questions I have. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Two Speed]

First, .

Next, I'd strongly advise carrying a tent. You're not guaranteed a place in a shelter, and almost all shelters are infested with mice. I don't stay in shelters very much, although I do like to "check in" and see what's going on; more of a social thing than a suitable place to sleep IMHO.

[bloodmountainman]

Camping in your own tent is way better than shelters. It depends on the time of year, if the shelters are full or not. They are good for ducking a storm or preparing meals (some have tables), but most are pretty nasty places to sleep. Tenting will give you more freedom to choose when to stop for the day.

[papa john]

Welcome to the forum and at AT! Shelters are usually filled up during the thru hiking season (Mar-May in the southern states) but during the rest of the time, you are likely to get a spot. That being said, sleeping on a hard wooden platform is not for everyone. You should always carry a backup shelter such as a tarp, tarp-tent, tent or hammock. This way you don't have to worry about hiking from shelter to shelter as much as there are plenty of camp sites along the trails in areas that are much more scenic than the areas around the shelters.

[T-Bone1]

Thanks everybody. with all that said (and tents seem to be the way to go) what about the bears. Certainly you are safer in a shelter than a tent right? Or is that something not to be worried about? (you will really have to convince me that it IS SAFE!!)

[Lone Wolf]

Hello, I am new to these forums so please bear with me. I have some questions about section hiking the A.T. from Springer Mt. to Franklin, N.C. I have done some research on distances and etc. so my real question is about camping/shelters. So which is better. I know packing a tent is more weight but it seems the obvious choice to me because I have heard that some of the shelters can get a bit crowded. This is the first of many questions I have. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

tenting is 10 times better for sure and there are a ton of places in that section to do it. screw them wooden boxes

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks everybody. with all that said (and tents seem to be the way to go) what about the bears. Certainly you are safer in a shelter than a tent right? Or is that something not to be worried about? (you will really have to convince me that it IS SAFE!!)

bears ain't a problem. i sleep with my food but that's just me

[ZEKE #2]

First, .

Next, I'd strongly advise carrying a tent. You're not guaranteed a place in a shelter, and almost all shelters are infested with mice. I don't stay in shelters very much, although I do like to "check in" and see what's going on; more of a social thing than a suitable place to sleep IMHO.

Either I am a deep sleeper or the many mice is a myth. I slep in many a shelter from Georgia through Virginia and had few encounters with mice. But carrying a tent is a good idea. Often shelters are full.

Zeke

[earlyriser26]

If anything, bears are attracted to shelters where food scraps and tasty hikers can be found. carry a tent. It gives you options and reduces your worries...

[BigBlue]

I agree with the tent definitely bring one, if you're trying for ultralight maybee a bivy or a hammock. There are bears, but as long as you take proper precautions (don't cook or eat at your tent, hang food in a tree, etc.) they won't bother you. A bear can easily be scared away with noise and waving arms. No worries.
Big Blue

[Two Speed]

Either I am a deep sleeper or the many mice is a myth. I slep in many a shelter from Georgia through Virginia and had few encounters with mice. But carrying a tent is a good idea. Often shelters are full.

Zeke

Or a very lucky person, either of which is good. I've had a mouse do a burn out on my face in the Blood Mtn shelter many years ago. Not something you wanna wake up to.

[Plodderman]

Half of this or another. You can see a bear at any time whether tenting or in a shelter. The Smokies have taken off much of the fence at the shelters that was placed there for protection because people left food out for for bears and shut the gates.

My point is I do not worry about bears, study how to act if you see one, take proper care of your food (hanging it up), try not to eat in the place you are sleeping and whether or not you are in a tent or a shelter you should be okay.

We have scene many bears and have never had a problem. One good thing about tenting is that you are away form the crowd and those who keep there food in the shelter.

[T-Bone1]

once again thanks. so this brings me to my next question and that is: What exactally do you do with your food if it's in your pack? Do you hang your pack from a tree or take it out of your pack, put it in a seperate bag and hang that bag? As you can tell I am new at this. My plan is to hike Springer to Franklin next May (late) or early June.

[jesse]

...There are bears, but as long as you take proper precautions (don't cook or eat at your tent, hang food in a tree, etc.) they won't bother you.

I second this. Bears don't want us, they want our food. Hang your food, trash, and dirty pots away from your sleeping area.

[Bearpaw]

Definitely take some kind of personal shelter. It can be something as simple and light as a poncho tarp (though it's weather-worthiness is really dependent on site selection and how ingenious you are in pitching it).

Another light multi-function option is the Gatewood Cape. It makes very nice raingear:



And a more reliable shelter in nastier weather:




You can even pitch it directly against the ground if you expect downpours, though you'll get some condensation from your breath on the inside.

But there are TONS of great lightweight fully enclosed shelters too, like the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo (link to it from the SMD site with the Gatewood Cape).

Going without any shelter of your own is asking for some significant discomfort (or possibly worse) at some point, and a slavish need to camp only at shelters.

[Hoop]

No need to hang the whole pack.

[Marta]

If I'm in a shelter, I hang my whole pack, either on a mouse hanger in the shelter, or on the bear cables outside. The reason is not so much to keep it away from bears (with whom I have never had a problem), but to keep it away from mice, squirrels, chipmunks, and their rodent brethren.

If I'm tenting, I normally keep my food inside my tent. I use a trash compactor bag as a pack liner, which keeps down odors.

One way to avoid bear problems is to check online to see if the place you're planning to stay has been having active bear problems. Then, when you reach wherever you're planning to camp each night, look around for bear scat, and check in the shelter register. If there is a problem bear haunting that area, you'll probably find both scat and a lot of register entries detailing the encounters hikers have had with the bear.

It's actually quite helpful to see a bear or three. Generally they go about their business, paying no attention to you, or running away before you can get a decent photo of them. The cubs are incredibly cute.

[Analogman]

I've had a mouse do a burn out on my face in the Blood Mtn shelter many years ago. Not something you wanna wake up to.

ROFLMAO! I'm getting this mental picture of the mouse doing a leg-spinning, smoke-billowing, Scooby Doo-like take off, complete with the ZING! sound effect.

[Two Speed]

ROFLMAO! I'm getting this mental picture of the mouse doing a leg-spinning, smoke-billowing, Scooby Doo-like take off, complete with the ZING! sound effect.

I'm glad that someone got something out of that episode, and that's a check on the leg-spinning, smoke-billowing, Scooby Doo-like take off part, but the sound was more like a Three Stooges "whoop, whoop, whoop" sort of thing.

All kidding around aside I've had more trouble with mice than any other kind of wild life on the AT, and it's almost always been at a shelter. Only have had one incident with mice camping out, and that was no big deal.

[Plodderman]

If in the shelter I hang my food on a rope at least 10 feet but usually twelve or more off the ground on a good sturdy limb and 25 to 50 yards from the shelter with a climbers clip and my pack inside the shelter on a small rope suspended from the ceiling with a tuna can or or the bottom of a pop bottle. My food bag is nothing special just a water proof bag from Walmart. This keeps the mice out. I unzip my pack so if the mice get to it they do not have to eat through the pack.

If I am in a tent I do the same with the food and just put my pack in the tent.