Where Shall I Sleep on the A.T.???

A typical shelter on the A.T.

Among the many concerns faced by hikers of the A.T. is where they will sleep! Along the A.T., there are many shelters. Generally, these are basic three-sided structures with a sleeping platform and a roof. There are many different shelter designs that are used. Some are very basic, as shown in this photo. Others are more “luxurious” containing multiple levels, skylights and – if you’re lucky – a privy. (A privy is an outhouse). The shelters are spaced out such that they are about a day’s hike from each other. That makes them a very useful and convenient place to sleep each night! However, there is one reason alone that I will not be staying in shelters on the A.T. That reason is: Rodents. Mice. Rats.

Those cute, but annoying, little mammals come to the shelters not for shelter – but for food. Some hikers are careless or ignorant with regards to their food preparation and disposal. Also, careful and thoughtful hikers sometimes make mistakes or have an accident – spilling food. Regardless of intent or reason, food gets distributed around the shelter sites. Our furry mammalian cousins love an easy food source, and so they take up residence. That’s all well and good, at least for our furry friends. But I don’t like the idea of rodents crawling over me in a shelter while I’m in my sleeping bag. Not. Cool. At. All. So, the shelters are not for me.

If one is not staying in the shelters, they need to have their own shelter. Possibilities include either a tent, or a hammock with a tarp for rain protection. Hikers who choose hammock setups have a big advantage – reduced weight. But they loose the advantage of a totally enclosed shelter – bugs and other critters can make their way under the rain tarp. For this reasons, I have chosen to take the tent option.

For an A.T. thru hiker, choosing a tent is a tradeoff between many factors. Weight, size and durability are the primary drivers in making a choice. There are many mainstream companies that cater to the thru-hiker experience, offering products that meet the thru-hiker needs. But there are also several “cottage industry” companies that offer similar products. These companies are generally started by former or current hikers – and therefore create products that are “for hikers, made by hikers.”

For my choice of tent, I decided to go with such a company. That company’s name is LightHeart Gear, founded by Judy Gross – AKA “HeartFire.” Judy started her company because she was a seamstress and was sensitive to the weight concerns of thru-hikers. At the time I placed my order, Judy was still making tents using Cuben Fiber fabric as an option. Cuben Fiber is awesome because it is very waterproof and lightweight. My choice was the SoLong 6 tent made of Cuben Fiber.

A few weekend ago, I received my tent and had a trial setup in my backyard. Here are some photos from that setup.

Draping out the tent over the ground sheet

In the tent to install the support poles

The tent with awnings extended

Inside the tent as seen from outside

The tent with the awnings retracted into “storm mode.”

So! There it is – my personal shelter. This will be my home for 5 to 7 months while on the A.T. Because this is such a binding decision, I think my tent deserves a nickname. I would like to ask you – the readers – for nickname suggestions. I am thinking of things like, “The Hilton” or “The Cottage” or “It-sucks-to-be-stuck-in-this.” So please, if you have a grand idea for a tent nickname – post it in the comments!