Hey ya’ll…I’m planning a 5-day hike that will take me from Wayah Gap up to Fontana the last weekend in May. I was planning on going light, staying in shelters and carrying no tent. It occurred to me there might some late thru-hikers starting, and I hate to crowd shelters when they really should get them…is late May a time when they’re still running through that part of the AT?
Rashberry
What happens when you roll up on a shelter after 15 miles and it is bulging at the seams with people and there is no room and rain is in the forecast. I think the carrying no shelter whatsoever is both a basd idea and irresponsible as a hiker. One should at least have a tarp to get out of rain if needed. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Tribes
Why the heck do you think thru-hikers should really “get shelters”? Shelters are first come, first served. Thru-hikers are an extremely small minority of folks who use the trail. EVERYONE should carry a tent/tarp/bivy/hammock as an alternative. Never count on getting space in a shelter. Thru-hikers are no better than overnighters or section-hikers or day hikers. Don’t put them on a pedestal Rashberry.
huh?
OK,
Let’s assume that Fontana is 2 weeks from Springer. According to the survey done by Roland Muesser and published in his book “Long Distance Hiking,” 90% of thru-hikers start before April 16. So, 2 weeks later, most of them are beyond Fontana. So I wouldn’t expect to find many on that section of trail with you in May.
Peaks
Don’t depend on getting into a shelter. I have run into groups that took up the whole shelter or there where obnoxious people staying there and I didn’t feel comfortable. Your best bet is to carry a tarp just in case.
However, that said I think you will be able to get into a shelter.
You should know you’ve choosen a pretty rough section of the AT. The trail between Wayah and Fontana is along the original route which means very few switch backs with steep climbs. Good Luck!
Darth Pacman
I hiked the entire AT and slept in 3 shelters the whole way. It can easily be done without staying in a shelter. i tented at shelter sights of course, but as my trip progressed I began tentiong away from the crowds.
Chef
I was just up from NOC and the Sassfras (new shelter) stayed empty all night. I and 4 others camped up on the ridge. About 8 others hiked up to the bald. The shleter was empty. I understand that Brown Shelter just past there had plenty of room as it is a very big shelter.
Not sure about the Wesser shelter but it has a big over hang if the shelter is crowded.
FYI: It is always a good idea to carry some type of shelter. However, that was not your question. You should probably be alright at this point in time. MOst hikers are going from Wayah to Wesser(NOC) in one shot. Some will stay in one of the 3 shelters (Cold Springs/Wesser/Rufus Morgan) before there, therefor spreading out the herd. Then when they leave NOC they either camp on the bald or head for Brown Fork Shelter which is large and then straight to Fontana.
Hammock Hanger
hey hammock…thanks for the info. i’m taking it a little slower…wayah to cold spring, then to rufus, then sassafras, then brown fork, hiking out to fontana. just under 10 miles a day. i’d rather have an early day than kill myself out there, esp. when i’m only hiking a little at a time. anyway, thanks so much for the 411!
Rashberry
When my husband hikes with me for a section he is always telling me that we are not trying to reach Maine before the snow. He likes to get into a shelter around 2p.m. Chill have some peanut butter and cracker hor’dovrs and relax a bit. HH
Hammock Hanger