Why do some people hate sleeping at shelters

[The Mechanical Man]

Shelters in the South are very full of rodents, always lots of mice, woods rats, and or worse................and way too many people trying to share them.

In the North, it is the same problem ongoing, it's just that Hauntivirus has actually been found here a few years ago, a thru-hiker almost died here on this section of PA years ago.

All AT Hiking clubs should have learned by now, how to set rodent bait stations at every shelter on the AT, or be required by law, to pay expert exterminators to do weekly visits to all shelters, to rebait traps and refill all bait stations, or else just shut them all down due to the unsanitary conditions.
Just like any Best Western, Mcdonalds, or Super 8 Motel,..........Long distance hiking, and The AT, is a huge business, and we all deserve the protection.
End Of Problem

[Egads]

Shelters are very full of rodents, always lots of mice, and or worse................and way too many people trying to share them.

what he said - I have a hard enough time sleeping w/o the jerks talking or making noise past hiker's midnight

[Lone Wolf]

except i'm pretty sure lw will still say shelters suck.

yup because i could give 2 poos about the gossip log and i cook breakfast outside my tent or in the vestibule, etc

[CowHead]

Maryland shelters are fairly nice spots to stop for lunch or sleep. And most of them seem to be anywhere from a quarter mile to half a mile off the beated path. Alot of times though I like sleeping in the hammock only under adverse weather conditions do I stay in the shelter at night

[Jaybird]

I have seen quite a few posts, where people bad mouth shelters. I don't get it, I like the shelters on the trail, although I also like setting up my own setup when hiking the smaller trails. The thing I like the most about the shelters is you get to meet tons of people. So tell me if you like or hate the shelters and why please.

The PEOPLE factor is why I prefer shelters...but, will tent if need be (I always take my tent!)...i'm not a fan of the mice...but, have accepted them as a shelter fact of life.

See ya'll out there MAY 2-14 w/ "Jigsaw" & "Model-T"...Harpers Ferry,WV to Swatara Gap,PA

[MintakaCat]

I like going to shelters and signing LW's name in the gossip log, lol.

But seriously, I've never seen the why folks want to get away from it all by hitting the trail and turn right around and sleep in a shelter with mice, snoring, etc. I don't mind stopping by a shelter and taking a photo and saying hi to whoever is there, but I wouldn't want to sleep in one. I mean, it's just a wood box.

[amac]

...be required by law, to pay expert exterminators to do weekly visits to all shelters, to rebait traps and refill all bait stations, or else just shut them all down due to the unsanitary conditions.
Just like any Best Western, Mcdonalds, or Super 8 Motel,..........Long distance hiking, and The AT, is a huge business, and we all deserve the protection.

I sure I'm going to be corrected on this, but I understand that our trails wouldn't be trails without the voluteers that keep them up and the trail clubs live off donations. That tells me there's not a hole lot of money out there for them. If we start legislating requirements that can't be met, we will lose the trails.

[zoidfu]

I think of sleeping in a shelter as exercising my immune system.

[winger]

Never stayed in a shelter and hope I never have to, I view them as "emergency" structures and as such I avoid them. I'm perfectly fine hanging in my hammock, listening to the birds and the wind.

[modiyooch]

absolutely 100% MICE I like nature, but I do NOT want nature scurrying around or over me, specifically rodents.

[SlowLightTrek]

Well I read alot of post about the mice at the shelters. I kinda liked the mice. Little pitter patter of little feet running was kinda cool imo. Helped me fall asleep. I stayed in shelters almost all of the time. If it was too crowded (more than 4 or so), I pitched my tent unless it was raining. There were alot of jerks but there were just as many nice people. Kinda like in the real world imo.

[Phoenixdadeadhead]

I don't know about liked the mice lol, but they never bothered me. My nephew on the other hand I sure you all read about the mice robbing him. Another night we both woke up to the Squeak Squeak, sounded like this mouse was getting the crap beat out of him or something. As it turned out, he had gotten to close to my nephew and he rolled over on the little guy lol. I bet that mouse has stayed far away from sleeping hikers ever since.

[jrnj5k]

Well the ground is dirty and it makes my stuff dirtier. They also make my gear smell. The ground is hard and uncomfortable.

[Chaco Taco]

Mice
Snorers
A**hole hikers that go to be before dark and wake up and complain.
Weirdo factor
Wilderness experience
too many people bunched up
Light in your face in the middle of the night when someone has to pee or poop
The overall sanitation of shelters is awful

[Many Walks]

Hmmmm, and not one post about the muddy wet dogs getting all over your gear.

I like shelters because they're a good place for everyone to pile up while we find a nice place to camp elsewhere.

[fredmugs]

I don't like shelters because they kill my back. I use a hammock and try to sleep near shelters but never in them. Shelters normally have reliable water sources nearby, bear cables, etc. Plus, since I typically hike SOBO, I can get good intel from the shelter dwellers who have just hiked NOBO.

[Big Red 68]

the best part i like about getting to a shelter is using a picnic table for cooking, not to say i can't get along without the pinic table. it's just nice to have a seat after 8- 10 hours of walking and eat a hot meal.

[Footslogger]

I have seen quite a few posts, where people bad mouth shelters. I don't get it, I like the shelters on the trail, although I also like setting up my own setup when hiking the smaller trails. The thing I like the most about the shelters is you get to meet tons of people. So tell me if you like or hate the shelters and why please.

========================

I don't particularly like them, for all the reasons stated so far in previous posts. That said ...during my thru in 2003 we went 2 months straight with 3 weeks of non-stop rain - - morning, noon and night. As much as I dislike shelters I have to admit it was nice to get in out of the rain now and then and spend a dry night.

'Slogger

[TJ aka Teej]

My opinion of lean-tos is in direct relationship to who is in them. Good company always makes the experience better. It's also good to factor in what 'Slogger mentions above - that at times 'shelter' is just what you need.

[Mags]

As Garlic said, I only use shelters IF the weather is bad AND it is not crowded.

When I hiked the Whites this past October, my buddy Tim and I had the whole shelter to ourselves on a cold, rainy day. Easier than pitchng a tent.

OTOH, when I did the AT even on a crappy day, I'd pitch a tent outside in bad weather if the place was crowded.


My compromise was as others have stated: Socialize at the lean-tos, but camp a little away from them. Privacy at night and socialization at dinner.

Best of both worlds.