Lean-To Protocol

[Rookie]

I think I read here that if you want to use a lean-to, get there first.

I would guess that you have to share the space with as many people as possible.....but where does that line get drawn. Do they mark out the sleeping areas on the floor so the maximum number is established ?

If you wanted to drop your pack there and come back later does that constitute reserving a spot for yourself ? or do you leave a note and hope it's respected ?

I want to use the lean-to at Lake Colden in a few weeks on a Saturday night
but I'm thinking I'll get there by 1PM and would want to drop my gear and do a peak close-by.....but I want to sleep in a lean-to and not get "shut-out"..

[redhawk]

I think I read here that if you want to use a lean-to, get there first.

I would guess that you have to share the space with as many people as possible.....but where does that line get drawn. Do they mark out the sleeping areas on the floor so the maximum number is established ?

If you wanted to drop your pack there and come back later does that constitute reserving a spot for yourself ? or do you leave a note and hope it's respected ?

I want to use the lean-to at Lake Colden in a few weeks on a Saturday night
but I'm thinking I'll get there by 1PM and would want to drop my gear and do a peak close-by.....but I want to sleep in a lean-to and not get "shut-out"..

Lay out your sleeping bag and stuff on the lean to floor.

Carry a arp and Bivy "just in case", You may find the lean-to full by 1 pm...

I believe eight is the magic number for most lean -tos. Beyond that it gets pretty uncomfortable.

[Kevin]

Not all lean=tos are the same. Some can maybe hold 6, but I've seen them as small as myabe 4 (6 in an emergency), and as large as 8 comfortably (not many of these though).

The Lake Colden lean-to is a 4, maybe 6 capacity lean-to. I've also heard 8 being the magic number, but there's no way in hell you can fit 8 in all the lean-tos - unless someone brings along a physics and geometric reality suspension device.

In high traffic areas I do as redhawk says - bring a backup.

As far as etiquette - just remember that people who hike are all a fairly similar breed, and the fellowship we share is strong. No one with any sense of why they're spending time in the woods would ever turn you away, and should never make you feel unwelcome. Just be sure to indicate in some way, like spreading your sleeping gear out, that you intend on staying the night so the visitors before/after know to leave room for you.

[hikercop45]

Ive heard that 7 or 8 is a magic number - some times - with folks doing "fly-ins" they can only get 4 or so in a lean to - have a tarp or bivy shelter with you and pray for no rain and few bugs

[redhawk]

Rule that most people forget is that people take precedent over gear. If more people can fit in a lean to if people don't dtore their gear in it, then it's your resposibility to store your gear outside. if it's raining and your gear might get wet, that's your problem because you should be prepared for that situation.

I have had situations where there were people who literally took over a lean-to. Put ALL their gear inside, all spread out and then said that there was no room. My usual reaction to that is to kick all but the sleeping gear out of the lean to (people too if necessary) and show them they they miscalculated.

As far as the amount of people that a lean-to will hold. I have found that if you plan the layout with the same creativity as the tent manufacturers, there are very few that you cannot get eight in, and many that you can get up to 12 into.

Personally, I prefer a tent or a tarp to sharing a lean to with strangers (or bulldogs).

[NukedRocket]

Personally, I prefer a tent or a tarp to sharing a lean to with strangers (or bulldogs).

Oh boy, here it comes!

[Dick]

Another point that hasn't yet been mentioned is that, for some reason that completely escapes me, there are those who feel it's necessary to erect a tent INSIDE of a lean-to.

[RonandJon]

Tenting in the Old Lean-to

Geesh, Dick - Everyone knows the answer to that one: It's to keep the black flies out! Ron

[Rick]

I am on board with everything Redhawk said (but only in this post)

Seriously, most lean-to's will fit 8 folks. And,with sleeping pads side by side you could even perhaps get another on the end.

There are some rude (or uninformed) folks out there that will fill the L/T with gear and 2 people and give you the "eye" and a defensive (or non-friendly) posture as you hike up to the L/T. Many will even offer to "help you" by calling out "There's another lean-to a half mile beyond here."

There are others that will start moving their gear over and welcome as soon as they see you coming.

I personally like Katz's approach to rude backpackers - head out early in the AM and take their shoelaces with you as you leave.

Back to the question or getting there and then heading off for a day trip. I usually put my pack inthe back of the L/T and throw my sleeping bag over the center beam, over the spot where I am going to sleep, hopefully by a side wall. Most do or would understand this is the standard signal that the "spot" is taken.

You probably won't fnd an open L/T easily at any point on a Saturday. If you could get there on a Friday, you would have a better chance.

I once got to a L/T at Marcy Dam (the big one) with a group one Friday AM and saw a lone sleeping bag hanging over the center beam. We were curious at just the sleeping bag with no gear, and speculated about it that evening when no on e showed up, but still respected that spot.
On Saturday AM, a lone hiker without a pack came hiking in and was surprised to find us at the L/T. I mentioned that if that was his spot, it was still open and we wondered if somethign had happeend to him last night.
He mentioned that he had a group coming in later today and (he lived locally) had hiked in Thursday night and left the sleeping bag there to claim the L/T for his group.
He seemed surprised that we would move into an L/T that had already been reserved. (BTW, this was a February trip).
I said there was still room for 3-4 more (we had 6 in our party), but he declined and said they would find somewhere else.

Anyways, it is probably a tough call if you go ahead of your group and try to "reserve" the whole L/T for your party - espcially if one or two lone hikers come by looking for a spot in it.

BTW, It's not cool if one decides to set-up their tent by the L/T to sleep in and "claim" the L/T for cooking and hanging out. You would yield the right of way to those who come in later and want to sleep in the L/T.

I've only encountered a few rude folks over the years, so it isn't that prevalant, though it happens.

Good Luck
Rick

[shaggy]

if you are particular about your space, then just bring a tent. socially, i love leantos, i mean if you are 6-10 miles in the woods with a complete stranger, you obviously have a lot in common.

my question is what is up with leanto's without a floor? the dirt floor ground leantos? can you set up a tent in them? or just sleep in the mud/dirt?

shaggy

[BarbOrdell]

I've never had much of a problem squeezing into a full leanto. But I draw the line when spooning is required.

[wiltz101]

DEC regulations say there is a maximum of 8 people per lean-to even if the lean-to can hold more. The lean-tos are first come first serve and no one can deny you the right to stay at a lean-to if there is less than 8 people there.

[mike46r]

The social aspects of the lean-to can be one of the great experiences of a hike. I almost always enjoy the conversation, but I always carry a tent or bivvy sack and count on the leanto as a plus, if it is clean and the people are friendly. Lately I have been doing section hikes on the Appalachian Trail and meeting through hikers who have been on the trail for months and a thousand miles makes for really interesting conversation, a different kind of conversation and jargon from high peaks hiking.

I would not want to try to for myself into a leanto where I was not welcomed, but most of the time people have warmed up once I got inside.

Mike

[Rick]

....Lately I have been doing section hikes on the Appalachian Trail and meeting through hikers who have been on the trail for months and a thousand miles makes for really interesting conversation, a different kind of conversation and jargon from high peaks hiking.
Mike

Interestinly enough, It seems everybody on the AT usually knows that shelters are first come first serve, and people always make room for thru hikers.
I wonder if it is becuase on the AT you are passing through, and the shelter becomes just a point on the trip, whereas in the Adirondacks, the L/T, in many cases becomes the trip destination - usually as a basecamp.

[erica]

I wonder if it is becuase on the AT you are passing through, and the shelter becomes just a point on the trip, whereas in the Adirondacks, the L/T, in many cases becomes the trip destination - usually as a basecamp.

That's a really good point Rick, and people coming in for an overnight (as opposed to hiking the AT) may be looking for solitude or time alone with their family as the goal of their trip.