As I read the various posts, I see many references to the consumption of alcohol--either on the trail or while in town.
Personally, I have spent plenty of time with folks who are drinking alcohol. I have also spent plenty of time with people who are on hiking trips. However, I am not used to being with people who are combining those two activities.
Two questions:
1. How common is alcohol consumption on the trail and in town? (Do most AT hikers drink alcohol on a fairly regular basis? or Do a large percentage of AT hikers drink alcohol rarely or not at all? or Is the answer "somewhere in between"?)
2. When hiking the AT (and at shelters), how often do you encounter intoxicated people who are behaving in an obnoxious or abusive manner?