Photo From the AT:
Tents and Shelters. The shelters are big lean-to structures. They will sleep usually 4-8 hikers side beside. Something interesting about the shelters is the Shelter Log. The trail maintainers provide spiral note books. The first page gives directions to the nearest water. There maybe a few suggestions for the upcoming trail. But mainly it is a place for a hiker, if they wish, to express how they feel, what they have seen and what their plans are. Some tell their occupations and reasons for hiking the trail. As you can imagine this is very interesting reading.
Bear encounters are seldom. We did see a couple on our hike. I smelled more than I saw. They do smell LOUD
just after a rain. You cannot miss it. We did see goats and deer. WE laughed, in Shenandoah’s just ten feet off
the trail lay a big Buck. The sucker just laid there following us with his head
and big set of ANTLERS, watching us go by.
It was funny; sorta like us going to a zoo and looking at animals.
Below, these root steps were actually easy to navigate.
Most shelters have mice. All food
is hung in trees with your pack. We usually
had a snack at bedtime, so we held back a small candy or pack of cheese
crackers to enjoy around the fire after the packs were hung.
There is a peak time for hikers.
A time that crowds are close by, that of course is near the beginning of the
trail. The shelters are full and tents
are pitched nearby. Once past the Smoky National Park the number goes down and
the number of hikers at a shelter will be 3-6.
Not crowded.
There
are three distinct definitions of the Thru Hiker. First and the largest number
are called Nobo’s (North Bounders) they start at Springer MT in Georgia and
head North. SoBo’s (Of course South Bounders) Start at MT Katahdin in Maine, heading
South. The other group is called Flip
Floppers. They hike either North or South to the center point. Then travel
(Usually by bus) to the Terminus where they were heading and head back to the
center point. There are several ways to Flip a hike. All are considered thru hikers if they do it
all in one 12 month period.
I try to imagine the many stories this abandoned house must hold.
Nite Shipslog
PS: Thank YOU ALL, for taking the time to stop by to visit. It
makes us smile. Nice you stopped by,,,,,
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4 comments:
What a clever way to keep the mice off the food. Do the shelters have phone connections in case of emergencies? Do cell-phones work on the trails?
God bless.
I think animal encounters would be the best! (Well, maybe not snakes.)
That last photograph of the old abandoned home is something! I want to say 'riveting', but that's not quite right. Perhaps 'intriguing' ... 'beckoning' even. Yes, stories that were told within its walls. Tears shed and laughter, too. Sparks one's imagination, doesn't it?
I think you all very brave to go to sleep in a place with critters around. Mice nearby is scary for me. I have signs of mice in my kitchen from time to time and have set traps to catch them. They made me put every thing in glass jars so they cannot get my food. I never had trouble with mice before living here and I don't like that at all. They say they come in through the openings where the water pipes come into the house. I tried to put steel wool in the openings to prevent them. But so far that doesn't seem to be happening. I'm thankful for a bed that is raised off the floor. No mice can get into my bed. I couldn't take the cold of night either, I like to be warm. I 'm not going to ever hike the trail, and have no desire to, but you did have a lot of fun.There seems to be no end to the pictures and I thank you for sharing your stories.
What a great adventure! The tree roots are so beautiful, love the angles.
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