Snoring - The Long Trail - Vermont

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#21

Not sticking up for anyone in particular…

Just wondering the logic: if you wake up easily,
if you find partying, snoring, getting up too early, smoking, staying up late, et al disturbs your sleep, then why use the shelters?

As with the Prof, I only snore on my back…once I am on my stomach, I’m fine. But beyond that, I also am a light sleeper. I wake up easily…so all the people who party, stay up late, get up earlier than me, make too much noise, etc. wake me up.

Rather than kvetch about it, I choose to camp on my own. Again, far easier to modify my own behavior (camping away from noise), then to expect people to conform to my expectations at a communal area.

As for the guy refusing to carry a tent: That guy is being selfish at best. Irresponsible jerk is what comes to my mind. Not taking a tent (or tarp), esp. for an experienced hiker who should know better, is just stupid, wrong and selfish. Hope he stumbles upon a boy scout troop in a shelter who won’t let him in (it happens!) and he has to spend the night in a rain storm under a tree.

Mags

#22

Just about everyone hiking a long trail like the AT has a hot button, and there’s no shortage of other folks willing to push it.

(Mine = ultralighters who show up at camp, bragging about the 25 or 30 miles they just did and how light their load is, who then proceed to mooch food, water, filter, stove, etc. The worst among them insist that since they don’t carry a tent or tarp they have automatic right to shelter space.)

Since, as it turns out, there actually is no Czar of the Appalachian Trail to decree who can and cannot stay in shelters–I agree with Mags. Just tent out. You can’t deny anyone shelter space just because they snore/pee a lot/stay up late/cough/fart/have a dog/smell worse than the typical hiker/get up early so if any of this bothers you, your best bet for a good night’s sleep is to not stay in shelters. (I seldom do.)

Skyline

#23

When I’m out in the woods long enough to get comfortable sleeping on a shelter floor, I find I’m too tired at the end of the day to be bothered by snorers. Usually the only thing that wakes me up in a shelter is a mouse running across my forehead – or someone bumping into me as they prepare for an early morning departure. I guess I’m a heavy sleeper.

If people are really bad snorers, certainly they would be showing proper etiquette by tenting elsewhere. Still, I don’t think they have done anything “wrong” if they choose to utilize a shelter. Shelters are noisy (and dirty) places by nature; if this bothers you, find a nice place and pitch your tent.

Ozone

#24

Well, first let me say this. This was the second topic I started and I am tickled pink with all the chatter it generated. I touched a nerve. I’m not going to search past postings but I would guess this isn’t the first time this topics been discussed. Thanks to all for your input.

To continue, I snore. I admit it of my own free will. This is not something I am proud of. In fact, I have sought help for this affliction but to no avail. Alas, I am left to suffer the scorn of my ex-wife (I wonder) ex-girlfriend, friends, my camping buddies, people on the other platforms, people in the next tent over and of course the people in the shelter. In the morning while boil water, it’s sure to be a topic of conversation. “Who the hell was that snoring last night?” Heads turn in my direction. There is a silence. I say nothing at first, but then say, “Man, I slept like a log.” Eyes squint. I can’t take it any more and yell out, “Alright, it was me.” Thus, I am forced to go down to the brook and fill up everybody’s water bottler with the slowest pumping filter on earth.

But seriously, I snore and I am sensitive to those who have a hard time sleeping with somebody snoring. I plan on doing the Long Trail this summer and want to travel as light as possible, so my thinking is to hike shelter to shelter and only take a fly-only setup for when the shelter is full or (don’t laugh) when I don’t make it. I don’t snore that loud (the last time I was out, my girlfriend said she didn’t hear a thing) but I guess loud enough that sometimes it’s a topic in the morning. So, based on this thread I am seriously re-thinking taking my complete tent. But, if I do decide to shelter it, I will make sure my fellow comrades are aware of potential snoring and maybe carry extra earplugs to hand out. I was in a shelter (NH) last year. A thru hiker arrived very late. In the morning during the snoring conversation he was asked how he slept. He gave a knowing smile and said, “I use earplugs.”

PS. Here is my schedule. To those hiking the LT in August plan accordingly. I should be there around 7pm. Seth Warner 8/1/2005 Congdon 8/2/2005 Melville Nauheim 8/3/2005 Goddard 8/4/2005 Kid Gore 8/5/2005 Story Spring 8/6/2005 Spruce Peak 8/7/2005 Bromely 8/8/2005 Griffith Lake 8/9/2005 Big Branch 8/10/2005 Little Rock Pond 8/11/2005 Greenwall 8/12/2005 Clarendon 8/13/2005 ...... just joking *********************************

HikerDude

#25

Before starting the AT, another aspiring thru-hiker said that I should be sure to buy earplugs. I laughed.

 Oh come on.  Like that's REALLY going to be that big of a problem.

 I bought earplugs at Neel's Gap.

Leki-Less

#26

but, I have honestly not met another hiker who, at one point or another, did not snore.

Most people will snore when they have either had too much to drink, or are seriously exhausted. Two things that can happen on any long distance hike.

Honestly, there is no law that dictates that you have to stay at shelters, and very few places on the A-trail require you to do so.

Yes, we know how important a good night’s sleep is when you’re hiking, but that’s all the more reason to just pitch a tent anyway. Sure, it’s extra work, especially when it’s raining/snowing, but it makes for such a better night’s sleep.

bearbait

#27

I remember a hiker named “Cloudwalker” who would arrive at a shelter and announce that he snored. He would then pull out a handful of new earplugs and ask if anyone wanted to use them in case he snored too loudly. I took some, but it turned out that I didn’t need them. I never heard “Cloudwalker” snore that night. Maybe I was too exhausted and slept soundly!

Pancho

#28

Hello, my name is Cheers and I have a problem, I snore.

I’ve been told that I only snore the first half hour of the night though. Armed with this information I make it a point to hit the hay before everyone else (if I stay in the shelter). That way they can all moan and groan about me for half an hour then go to bed themselves.

There are many snorers out there, even some you would least suspect to snore. Yes, it’s mainly the older gentlemen that saw the place down, but I’ve heard some younger folk, and women, yes women, snore for the U.S.A.

It’s communal, so snorings gonna happen. I leave my hiking stick next to me at night and tell my shelter mates that i have no problem with anyone giving me a quick prod with the Leki - snorers take note!

The only thing that annoys me slightly is when people turn up late at a shelter, when everyone’s in bed asleep “Is there room for one more in there” when it’s obvious there isn’t, but we all squeeze up and wait half an hour for the offender to cook, crunch around then write his journal. This happens alot more further north on the trail, when some people are dead set on long days. Thats worse than any snorer. After all, what were earplugs invented for?

Cheers

Cheers

#29

That’s why sleeping in a tent, even in a downpour, beats a shelter any day of the week. No hard wood or “baseball bats,” snorers, mice, or waking up to the unconscious spooning from your shelter mates.

Anyone from AT '02 remember Full Moon Walk? God bless him, what a great guy, but man he could rattle the tin roof! :lol

Cap’n

#30

i will have to agree with alot of the posts. i just want to clear up a couple of things. when i am in a shelter with other people i give them the respect they should have if they snore or not… the only time i use the hikning poles as anti snoring device is when i am with my 2 hiking comrades whom i have been hiking w/ 4 over 10 yrs and we are forced to spend a nite in a shelter with no other ocupants. we have done enough hiking to as they know the routine. there have been many ocasions when i have gotten up and moved outside,down the trail,behind privy etc…its just sometimes circumstances do not allow moving…god bless those who do not snore and those who do because at least we are all on the trail. as they say a bad day/nite on the trail is better than a good day at work… peace out, nitewalker :smiley: :cheers

nitewalker

#31

i snore, sometimes, not always. can’t control it excepts by staying awake…but seems to me sleeping on hard ground, wooden floors or concrete would be more sleep depriving than good ol’ american deep sleep sounds…how can folks adjust to those bad sleeping conditions on the trail, but not natural sleep sounds???

Big Dee

#32

I’ve really enjoyed these postings. I am female, and occasionally I have been told I snore, it’s not a regular thing, but when extremely tired or ill. In '02 I hiked with a snorer. We came to a shelter at dinnertie, no on e else was around, it was raining and we decided to stay in the shelter and not set up our tents. At dark three other hikers arrived. By 5 am all were gone. My hiking partner had bad head cold and was snoring extra loud. The funny thing was, with my ear plugs I didn’t hear a thing all night long. Not the snoring or the others packing up. For happy trail life earplugs are a must. they solve most of the inconsiderate noise, and the snoring that people can’t help.

Grassy Ridge

#33

Well, There seems to be a general consensus

- For everyone, be courteous to others
- For those who snore
Full disclosure at the shelter
If you snore loudly, maybe think about using your tent
If you snore loudly, carry earplugs to hand out. I think this is a
great jester and will promote harmony amongst shelter people

- For those who don't snore
Carry earplugs
After a full disclosure, think about using your tent

Above all, talk about the subject without getting all pissed off.

Disclaimer:
These are just some guidelines, I’m not telling anybody to use them.
This is coming from a one who snore, so I’ve been told.

But, I have come to notice that when I use earplugs I don’t hear myself Snore.

Hikerdude

#34

always use a tent. Get away from everybody.

Chef

#35

i solved my snoring woes today. i went out and purchased 1 outdoor research deluxe bivy sack through the local EMS store and i also asked one of my snoring comrades to bring me home some ear plugs from his job. i told him it would benifit the both of us. i will end up with sleep and he will not end up with bruised shins. lol… nitewalker
:lol

nitewalker