A.T. camping in NY

imported
#1 
									Hi everyone - I could really use your advice here. I'm doing a through-hike of NY state beginning Labor Day weekend. The shelters aren't at convenient locations for my timeline, and this is my first time on the A.T. All the guidebooks I have state that camping outside of designated areas (i.e. shelters) is prohibited. What I'd like to know is if this is really strictly enforced and what are the risks of camping outside these areas? I will definitely follow leave-no-trace guidelines...but if I camp off the A.T. a few hundred yards each night while in NY, am I running any risk? Any suggestions or thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Also, what if you camp in the area around shelters but don’t stay in the shelter themselves? I’m not a fan of rats, so even if I camped in an area around a shelter, is that a bad thing?

Thanks!!!

Brad

									_Brad_
#2 
									At most shelters there are places where you can set up a tent with out a problem. Many hikers do not like sleeping in the shelters with the vermin so this is common. Hiking outside of designated areas is discouraged due to the impact it has on the areas that get over used. With that said if you do not have a fire, set up camp late in the day and leave no trace you should not have any problems. The corridor around the AT in NY is pretty small so sometimes finding a good spot a few hundred yards from the AT is not easy.

Have fun on your hike!

									_Big B_
#3 
									Brad, there are places where enforcement is a bit more strict, I'm thinking of Nuclear Lake, a friend of mine was tossed out of there by a ridge runner when he tried to stay there overnight. In fact, I think there are "no camping" signs there. But if you avoid those areas I don't think you'll have a problem.

									_Brian_