GSMNP, The AT and thru-hikers

“when I called the park this morning they advised that 4 spots in each shelter along the AT were set aside for thru hikers.”

“they must have switched back then. it wasnt like that last year”

“Two years ago when I did this stretch as a section they said two spots were held back during thru-hiker season.”

“How does one say "NO" to a thru hiker? Even the park rangers aren't capable of doing that, as thru hikers are allowed to bypass the reservations system. I'm sure if the shelter is packed to the point of bursting at the seams on any given night and the ranger finds out, they be willing to work with the situation.

Personally, I'd yield my shelter spot to a thru hiker anyday. They're out for a 6-month trek; I'm just there on a measley 3-day weekend. Besides, living on the East (Right) coast, it's not very wise to needlessly burn bridges with the AT community.”

“I say we take our tents along and if the shelter is full, of thru's we crash in the tent. We'll have our reservation and if the ranger asks, we'll flash him that (and a freshly minted Grant) and hopefully he'll go away.”

“ENS, youre worrying needlessly. if the shelter is full, no one is going to get fined for tenting. and technically, if its full and you have a reservation, you have the right to ask someone to vacate a spot, altho i do not feel you have the right to "kick" them out, because to me that violates the spirit of the trail (not just thru-hiker) community. if youre going thru in late april (i went thru in early april), i think itll be thinned out enough to be a non-issue. and if it isnt, i really think youll be happier and more comfortable in your tent unless its downpouring when you get there. being jammed in like a wooden tinful of snoring, tossing, turning sardines sucks, especially for light sleepers (like me)”

“"I say we take our tents along and if the shelter is full, of thru's we crash in the tent"

this shouldnt even be a question. to me its foolhardy to go anywhere without your own shelter. you might not make it to the shelter site for any number of reasons, there might be some real pig-headed thru-hikers who decide first-come first-serve is the rule of the shelter (highly unlikely every single one of them will be like that), or you may come to a shelter site that the shelter has been torn down (the furthest west shelther is like that)”

“You've received some great advice so far.

No, you won't have to give up your reservations or spaces to thru-hikers; every year there are a few who cop attitudes, but most of them are great folks. However, if anyone does tell you the shelters in the Smokies are first-come first served, or that they're "reserved" for thru-hikers, by all means straighten 'em out!

Be aware the more and more thru-hikers are leaving earlier in the season now, so anytime after the second week in March will be crowded. The folks who've told you that you're permitted to camp immediately adjacent to the shelters if the shelters are full is correct, and this might be preferable to the shelters themselves, which are crowded, dank, and loud. If I were you, I'd LET the shelters fill up with others and then pitch a tent; you'll certainly sleep better.

Ther are several threads on Whiteblaze (www.whiteblaze.net) that deal with the Smokies; you might want to check them out.

Have a great trip!”

“The remodeled shelters without the fencing and with skylights are not as dark as they used to be. The expanded floors and roofs provide more space and the outside cables allow for hanging backpacks as well as foodpacks away from the shelter. In addition, outward expansion of the lower platform facilitates easier access to the upper platform, and with the benches at the front of the shelter, a nice amount of seating space is now available.

So, these shelters are brighter, have more space, are less crowded and are more comfortable. Icewater Spring Shelter can now accommodate dances on Saturday nights.

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last edited: 2/12/05 12:02:32 PM”

“the Leantos in the Smokies are the nicest anywhere I have ever been.”

“The new shleters look great. I can't wait to try one out. BTW Paul,when was that pic made?”

“I don't know, karo. I found the picture on this site,
http://journals.aol.com/terrydreams/TerryDreams/
last edited: 2/13/05 1:20:13 AM”

“concerning the story about the hikers who brought more people than they had reservations for: if there were reservations for four, and there were four spots left, in no way should anybody had to have moved out of the shelter. of course, there may be more to the story, theres always the chance of mis-communication, so ill withhold judgement and stick to my creed that all people suck

:-)”

“I have never had any conflict over bunk space in the dozen or so times I have shared shelters with thru hikers. Actually, I enjoy meeting other hikers. If the shelter were full pitch a tent or tarp, you are not going to fined...Park Rangers are generally reasonable and trail runners have no legal authority. If you don\'t want to deal with possible crowds go to the Big South Fork. I have done five day trips there, not seen another soul, and the camping policy is awesome.”

“I caused a problem once. I was off-schedule one night at Cosby Knob Shelter during the off-season. A hiker came by, took one look, never said a word and left. He and his three friends, who I did not see in the darkness, pitched one or two tents down below by the lower fire-ring. There were three vacancies in the shelter. Much later he returned and chewed-out the leader of a youth wilderness training group, wrongly assuming that he had an extra member in his group. This leader was almost ready to tell him where to go. The guilty person, me, was already in the sack. Had the guy been polite, I would have offered to sleep on the floor. Had he said something when he first arrived, I would have immediately moved to the floor.

He seemed to be the type of person who jumped to a conclusion, let his anger and resentment build up and then decided to vent his anger. Since he already had the tent or tents set-up, I figured the hell with it.

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last edited: 2/13/05 2:33:44 PM”

“did the angry hiker have a reservation?”

“He stated that he did have a reservation for four and that he knew that the park would not overbook the shelter. He never asked the group leader or me if we had reservations and for how many. Why he did not question me, but just jumped on the group leader, is something I'll never know. So I considered him to be a dump-ass as well. I was just about at the point to take the pressure off the group leader, when the man left.

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last edited: 2/13/05 2:42:25 PM”

“karo, here is a picture of Icewater Spring Shelter I took in Dec.


last edited: 2/13/05 2:58:20 PM”

“Good picture, Ewker. Thanks for sharing.”

“he knew that the park would not overbook the shelter

Wrong. I had that happen last winter. The park booked 8 more people than there were slots for. One dude decided to be an ass and assumed I had more folks than my permit allowed because we had the largest group (5). He then rounded on everyone in turn. We broke out the cell phone and called the park office and confirmed that everyone there had valid numbers. Oopsie.

As always, we offered to make room from the word go. He decided to leave as he had already pissed off everyone at the shelter.”

“Thanks, humanpackmule. I'll remember that if a problem ever occurs in the future.”

“HPM, you have a signal for your cell phone in the park? I never take mine maybe I need to just in case.”

“Nextel, Verizon and cingular get signal on the AT at certain points in the park.

We didn't use mine and I do carry mine but it stays turned off and buried in the pack. I'm not a fan of carrying it.”

“Here is LeConte shelter on MLK weekend.....
I love the skylights! Its not dark in there anymore!

”

“oh and p.s.
I feel you guys on the no shows.. Last time I went,after reserving spots we were told that the shelter would be full and that we got the last spots, so I only took 3 friends. When we got there, only a few hikers were there. I could have taken more people! what gives? I guess some people forgot to cancel.
AND on the whole being packed scenario....
I would, just out of kindness, give up a spot to a thru hiker... but in a pinch there is always the ground...you will stay dry unless its raining sideways. Otherwise.. just be an ass! ;-)

DH
last edited: 2/13/05 9:09:31 PM”

“Yo, that shelter looks pimped out!”

“the shelters in the Smokies are really nice.”

“Gotta love the fireplace on days like the above pics.”