Overcrowded Shelters

[Andrew Smith]

I am planning on starting my Thru-hike in the beginning of April and I was wondering if there is any advise as far as avoiding over crowded shelters? Or is if there is ample space around most shelter for the first few weeks to setup tents if they are full, or is this frowned upon?

[Stir Fry]

All have more then enoush space to set up tents. Expect shelters to be full unless you get into camp early.

[SGT Rock]

Avoid shelters.

[msupple]

Avoid shelters.

Always listen to your Sgt! That's my plan Sarge...will be hanging in my Dangerbird.

Miguel From HFs

[TammyLynn]

I was at Hawk Mountain Thurs night, and there were about 30 of us there. Gooch Mountain the next night was around 40. Be sure you have something else to sleep, and that you're not counting on shelter space!

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

[Spokes]

Starting a thru hike the first of April you will become very familiar with the term "where's the hiker bubble?". It can be a curse or a blessing.

Good luck.

[pdcolelli42]

I also plan to thru this year, starting the 28th. I wonder when or how far north before the shelters are not crazy full all the time? I'm sure eventually some nights will be totally full still but can I expect the shelters to not be full at some point?

[SCRUB HIKER]

I remember the shelters being full or close to full up til southern VA, with only a few exceptions (started April 3 NOBO last year). After that, there are a lot of variables that dictate shelter crowdedness, like where the hiker bubbles are, what day of the week it is, how close to the road the shelter is, did the weather just get nice and call hordes of people to the woods, etc.

It's very easy to find camping solitude if that's what you want. My first night, I passed up Hawk Mtn. Shelter because there were going to be about 40 or 50 people at it, and I managed to camp alone on top of Justus Mtn. a few miles later. As long as you have enough water for dinner and breakfast, you can dry camp almost anywhere, especially in the South where the trail is more heavily traveled and there are more existing tentsites that aren't in any of the guidebooks.

There is ample space around many of the shelters, not necessarily all of them, for tenting.

[daddytwosticks]

Spent this past Saturday night tenting at Plumborchard Gap Shelter area. There were NO thrus there that night. Just me and 5 section hikers. Go figure? It's just hit or miss. The thrus must have been in Hiawassee partying it up Saturday night.

[Terry7]

Why people want to go out into the mountains and then cram themselves into a small room with a bunch of people ?

[Spokes]

Why people want to go out into the mountains and then cram themselves into a small room with a bunch of people ?

Hmmmm........ Because they're wet, shivering, and too lazy to set up a tent?

[Tinker]

Why people want to go out into the mountains and then cram themselves into a small room with a bunch of people ?

Well spoken!

I'll hazard a guess - maybe most of them aren't real comfortable being in the "wilderness" alone, or are more interested in the spirit of adventure than a pursuit of "fellowship with the wilderness" as was spoken of by Benton MacKaye.

Many young folks like to party. Parties are more fun if you're not alone.

[fiddlehead]

Since the shelters are often near the water supply, I often will stop to cook my evening meal around 5 or 6 and socialize a little, then put the pack back on, carry a litre or two out of there and walk another few miles.
This serves a few purposes:
Get's me camping away from the bears and mice, where it's quiet (all night long) (no smell of food cooking to chum the animals in either)
and not damp (camping near a stream or water source is usually where the dew generates)
I often get to camp at a viewpoint or high up.
Also this is the time of day when you are more apt to see wildlife on the trail.

I usually figure on a half litre of water during the night and a cupful for coffee in the morning and have some left for the first 5 miles or so.

Works for me.
Nobody complains if I have a beer, a smoke, or play my guitar either.

[lowkeywanderer]

Fiddlehead!!! i thru'd last year nobo and hiked the last 1/3 or so with diamond dave and heard many great stories!!! -beirburger

[Derek81pci]

Since the shelters are often near the water supply, I often will stop to cook my evening meal around 5 or 6 and socialize a little, then put the pack back on, carry a litre or two out of there and walk another few miles.
This serves a few purposes:
Get's me camping away from the bears and mice, where it's quiet (all night long) (no smell of food cooking to chum the animals in either)
and not damp (camping near a stream or water source is usually where the dew generates)
I often get to camp at a viewpoint or high up.
Also this is the time of day when you are more apt to see wildlife on the trail.

I usually figure on a half litre of water during the night and a cupful for coffee in the morning and have some left for the first 5 miles or so.

Works for me.
Nobody complains if I have a beer, a smoke, or play my guitar either.

I would be saddened to know I missed guitar playing while out camping. Always a welcomed treat.

[mad4scrapping]

Since the shelters are often near the water supply, I often will stop to cook my evening meal around 5 or 6 and socialize a little, then put the pack back on, carry a litre or two out of there and walk another few miles.
This serves a few purposes:
Get's me camping away from the bears and mice, where it's quiet (all night long) (no smell of food cooking to chum the animals in either)
and not damp (camping near a stream or water source is usually where the dew generates)
I often get to camp at a viewpoint or high up.
Also this is the time of day when you are more apt to see wildlife on the trail.

I usually figure on a half litre of water during the night and a cupful for coffee in the morning and have some left for the first 5 miles or so.

Works for me.
Nobody complains if I have a beer, a smoke, or play my guitar either.

I think this is an excellent idea! Its the best of both worlds, IMHO.

[CrumbSnatcher]

most first time AT thruhikers have never hiked before, let alone backpacking. so i would say they are not comfortable being alone in them there hills

[SCRUB HIKER]

most first time AT thruhikers have never hiked before, let alone backpacking. so i would say they are not comfortable being alone in then there hills

I've read a lot of BS on this forum, but that out-BSes all of them. I met TWO PEOPLE out of hundreds last year who had never backpacked before attempting their thru-hike. This is the type of grumpy-old-man-looking-down-his-nose-at-everyone-else garbage that can make WhiteBlaze so infuriating. The question was "Can I avoid overcrowded shelters and, if so, when?" and this is your answer? Great.

[Sly]

I've read a lot of BS on this forum, but that out-BSes all of them. I met TWO PEOPLE out of hundreds last year who had never backpacked before attempting their thru-hike. This is the type of grumpy-old-man-looking-down-his-nose-at-everyone-else garbage that can make WhiteBlaze so infuriating. The question was "Can I avoid overcrowded shelters and, if so, when?" and this is your answer? Great.

CrumbSnatcher has hiked the AT three times that I'm aware of, so he probably knows what he's talking about. Perhaps you're taking him too literal and he meant most haven't hiked long distances prior to starting the AT, for which I'll agree.

Also, if I'm not mistaken he was responding to this, and not the OP

Originally Posted by Terry7

Why people want to go out into the mountains and then cram themselves into a small room with a bunch of people ?

And although he may be grumpy-at-times, I don't think he's an old man, or looks down on anyone.

[msupple]

I've read a lot of BS on this forum, but that out-BSes all of them. I met TWO PEOPLE out of hundreds last year who had never backpacked before attempting their thru-hike. This is the type of grumpy-old-man-looking-down-his-nose-at-everyone-else garbage that can make WhiteBlaze so infuriating. The question was "Can I avoid overcrowded shelters and, if so, when?" and this is your answer? Great.

According to the book....Long Distance Hiking by Roland Meuser, which is comprised of various trail statistics developed through personal interviews, suveys etc...he claims at least 20% of the people surveyed had not even one night camping under their collective belts. Interestingly enough their initial averages were 10.8 miles per day and after a few weeks was up to 15 mpd....not unlike their more experienced brethren. So...it appears the truth appears somewhere in the middle.

BTW...was it just me or was your response just a tad harsh?

Miguel