This is a touchy issue...as expected and I can understand why. Being a former "shelter rat" I do see the ease and importance of shelters at the end of a 20 mile rainy day, but since my last section hike now take a different stance. Shelters are becoming severly overcrowded and turning into cluster spots for long distance hikers. Maybe it's time we start to dismantle shelters, this would encourage stealth camping and lessen the impact in any one area. This would also make the trail more wild and challenging, and would provide a more unique experience for the long distance hiker. I disagree with building huge (Peters Mtn) shelters to accomodate everyone...if we got rid of some shelters maybe people would spread out a little more along the trail. Just a suggestion.