The Tricorner Knob Shelter, just below the summit of Tricorner Knob (el. 6,120 feet/1,865 meters) in the Great Smoky Mountains. The shelter is one of the most remote structures in the state of Tennessee, being a 9 mile hike from the nearest parking lot. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In January 2012, I posted about whether it’s better to shelter or tent. I’ve reproduced the discussion below. But now there may be a big disadvantage to sleeping in a shelter versus choosing a tent. Hantavirus! This nasty affliction is spread by rodents, especially mice. Mice habituate shelters, and hikers tolerate them.
In the picture above, hikers can hang their food, but hikers are exposed to mice scurrying around during the night. Hantavirus is a severe illness. http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Case-of-hantavirus-in-Adirondacks-confirmed-3973769.php
Most hiking trails don’t provide shelters. The Appalachian Trail and The Long Trail (Vermont) have many shelters.
They are convenient, but a tent, especially for sleeping, has advantages.
Privacy – You aren’t a stuffed sardine when it gets crowded.
Warmth – A tent with a rain-fly is warmer than an open shelter.
Better Sleep – You are not poked, or kicked, or outsnored.
No Mice – Those critters can drive you nuts!
So why choose a shelter to sleep in?
Convenience – Less hassle. No need to unpack and set up a tent; no need to dismantle and re-pack the tent in the morning, possibly in the rain.
Clothesline – Many shelters have them already. Easy to rig up, or simply hang garments from nails and hooks provided. Clothes are protected from outside weather.
Ease – Can sit and lean against a wall to read, journal, contemplate (I’m sore, I’m tired, I wish I had pizza and beer.)
Camaraderie!
Related articles
- Johns Hollow Shelter to Brown Mountain Creek Shelter (birts.wordpress.com)
- NPMA Estimates 21 Million Rodents Are Seeking Food & Shelter (blogpestcontrol.com)
Ray Anderson 
And what hunts and eats mice?
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Cats! I met one Appalachian Trail thru-hiker whose cat rested on the top of his pack. Don’t know if they made it all the way, but in the shelter that night the cat caught some mice.
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I was thinking of the “other” hunters of mice, snakes!
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Aha! Didn’t think of that, but I don’t ever remember seeing a snake in a shelter. Thank god.
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Nice to see you writing again Ray!
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Thanks, Paul. It’s good to be back.
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I am not a hiker, but used to love camping out in the Adirondacks every fall with my family, and always in a tent. I thoroughly enjoy all your blogs, pictures and good advice. Thanks, Joan
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Thank you, Joan. Yes, there is always something special about camping in a tent.
I also read your newsletters. Keep on hammerin’!
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I found the shelters to be pretty gnarly and unsanitary on the Appalachian Trail, though I only passed six or seven of them in Tennessee.
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Yes, I know what you mean. There is usually a broom in every shelter, but when that’s gone, it can be a bit messy.
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I wrote this same kind of blog post early on in our hike, and then, much later on, we discovered the reason to stop sleeping in shelters altogether- GIANT spiders. I mean the biggest you have ever seen. Pretty much scared us off of shelter sleeping from MD on!
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Yikes! That unnerves me just reading about it. The only thing that startled me in a shelter was the time I rolled down my bedroll, lay down on it and looked up to see a bat hanging upside down right above my head!
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At bat! That is awesome! I don’t think I ever saw a bat inside a shelter but I am surprised that doesn’t happen more often!
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But big spiders really give me the creeps.
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Us toooooo 🙂
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