tent and lean-tos

[BrawnyMan]

Then don't hang hammocks. Just take up 1/6 of the width of the lean-to per person. If you put a tent or hammock or whatever in that 1/6 area, then more power to you. The point is to keep the lean-to open for 6 the entire evening.

[Pete_Hickey]

need for a rule just common sense.

You could probably say that about 90% of all rules and laws.

When it is real hot and buggy, I don't bother with a lean-to. In y tent, I can sleep naked on top of the bag. No way would I do that in a lean-to.

[Neil]

Case study

Here's a case in point:

My son and I once arrived at the Bradley Pond LT at 3am. There were two people sleeping and one tent with 2 more people in it. We woke everybody up while moving in to the LT and the 2 people in the tent got out of it and literally tossed it off to the side of the LT. The 6 of us settled into a nice evening's nap. The tenters were cool people.

The dumber the rule the dumber the people the rule has had to be made for.

[hickoryskier]

I think it is a pretty dumb rule. If there is room then I don't see the harm. If it is in the way of other people using the lean-to then it should come down. No need for a rule just common sense.

BINGO!

[Lute Hawkins]

I always thought the rule about pitching a tent in a leanto was silly, because I could never comprehend why anyone would want to pitch a tent in a leanto to begin with. The whole idea seems rediculous, until I consider the yokels coming up from the city.

Oftentimes, if it's buggy out and I plan to spend the night in a leanto, I bring along mosquito netting and tie it on (no nails) just before bedtime (and after the fire dies down). If anyone else comes in for the night, I ask if they mind the netting, and offer to remove it. Nobody ever minded and in fact they seemed to appreciate the benefit.

[colden46]

My son and I once arrived at the Bradley Pond LT at 3am. There were two people sleeping and one tent with 2 more people in it. We woke everybody up while moving in to the LT and the 2 people in the tent got out of it and literally tossed it off to the side of the LT. The 6 of us settled into a nice evening's nap. The tenters were cool people.

3am? As a serious question, with no offense intended, don't you think moving in and waking everybody up at that hour was a bit inconsiderate? I've been woken up by 4am arrivals, and I'll admit I was a little peeved.

Sorry for the threadjack.

[Kevin]

If everyone ha a tent, why have lean tos? Or where the lean tos constructed for prople who did not have or did not want to carry tents?

I thought the intent of having lean-tos was to provide backcountry emergency shelters?

[Neil]

3am? As a serious question, with no offense intended, don't you think moving in and waking everybody up at that hour was a bit inconsiderate? I've been woken up by 4am arrivals, and I'll admit I was a little peeved.

Sorry for the threadjack.

We didn't rush in and clamor, "OK everybody! Wakeup and move over!" But, the 4 people took up all the space so we made room. We were soft spoken and the people were as nice as can be. With fellowship and camaraderie we talked for about a half hour and climbed Santanoni with one of them the next day.

If they had been resistant and ill-tempered I would have gently apologized for the wakeup but insisted that we had as much right to be in there as they did.


I am used to be people getting up in huts in Banff at 2 and 3am to go climbing or arriving past midnight after traversing avalanche terrain when the temps are cooler and the way I interpret it is that communal backcountry facilities are there to support people in their various endeavors. No matter how empty a hut or LT may be at midnight I always anticipate someone coming in during the night and make sure there is room for them.

[jessdrone]

If i was looking for a lean to at 3 am and people were in it i wouldn't even wake them up to move over because i would feel like and idiot even asking and if someone was to do that to me id probably tell them to get lost. Unless it was raining real hard other than that i think thats ridiculous.

[Kevin]

Unless it was raining real hard other than that i think thats ridiculous.

Precisely what I was trying to get at in my last post. Lean-tos are not intended for what they're current used (abused). I think the reason for the anti-tent regulations in a lean-to is for situations like you describe. To ensure max capacity could be met if needed.

I think the current system and attitude among those using lean-tos is fine. Have yet to have a bad experience regarding people hogging a lean-to, etc. Most people heading into the backcountry have similar interests in mind (to enjoy themselves), and if the need arose to squeeze extra bodies into an already cramped lean-to I'm sure people would. I've met some nice people sharing a lean-to with them. But now I usually bring a tent. Relying on lean-tos is risky because of the amount of hiking traffic most everywhere there's lean-tos.

[Neil]

If the people had been using the LT according to the regs. ie: no tent set up in the LT - we would have slid in there so quietly they would never even have known we were there. If there are less than 6 using it room should be left for late arrivals. That way there is never any reason to tell someone to get lost.
As for feeling like an idiot if you arrived at three, why on earth would you feel that way?

[CrisisBill]

About 15 years ago I was spending a winter night in the Terrace Mt lean-tos, in the middle of the night I felt a little nibble and warm breath in my ear. In my slumbered state I started thinking that my partner was getting a little amorous, till I came to my senses and remembered I was camping solo! I very slowly turned away from my late night lover and reached for my flashlight, when I turned to shine my light on my visitor I came face to face with a very large skunk; he / she turned and left without leaving me any perfume.
After it was gone I had a craving for a cigarette, and I don’t even smoke!
I much prefer sleeping in tents these days.
I feel lentos are no place for tents myself, it's one or the other....

[alombard]

If I carried my tent all the way in hiking, I'm going to pitch it and leave the lean-to for others who did not bring a tent. Both lean-tos and tents are the same thing "shelters". Why combine the two? It does not make sense and is an inconsiderate thing to do! If you can't stand a few bugs pitch a tent at a camp site. Or sleep in the lean-to with a small bug net.

[Cahill]

What if it's a reservable lean-to?

Like on Alger Island or Tioga Point?

[redhawk]

What if it's a reservable lean-to?

Like on Alger Island or Tioga Point?

I'm not sure. That would be best to check with whatever agency has the jurisdiction.