Treadiquette is a monthly column helping hikers calibrate their moral compasses. Have a burning question about ethics or etiquette on the trail? Send your predicaments to treadiquette@backpacker.com

Dear Backpacker,

I recently noticed a post in a thru-hiker social media group about pitching tents inside shelters. People in the comments seem really upset that anyone would erect their own temporary shelter inside a lean-to or other permanent structure, but I don’t see the problem. A tent doesn’t take up any more space than a couple of sleeping pads, right? Plus, it sounds extra cozy in inclement weather. What’s the big deal?

—Confused Camper

Dear Confused,

Shelters are communal spaces, and, like anywhere strangers are in close quarters, tensions (tent-sions?) can run high. I’ve seen this firsthand: A couple of summers ago I was camped next to the Guyot Shelter on New Hampshire’s Pemigewasset Loop, one of the most popular backpacking routes in the state. It was packed: The 12-person shelter was full and every inch of the nearby tent platforms was occupied with multiple parties squeezed in rainfly to rainfly. My hiking partners and I were enjoying our dinners from the shelter’s elevated deck, watching the caretaker zip around finding spots for the steady stream of backpackers making their way into the camp. Amidst all the chaos, a large dog barked and whined incessantly, tugging at his leash, which was secured to a support in the center of the shelter. I asked around, and some nearby campers told me the dog’s owners had left to tag nearby West Bond, a mile and a half round trip. The abandoned dog was clearly stressed without his humans, and as a result, what little peace we might have expected to find at a crowded backcountry shelter was shattered. Not cool.

The moral of this story? You might hike for solitude, but if you’re bedding down for the night at a public shelter, you’re unlikely to spend it alone. Being considerate of your fellow campers is just basic decency.

Keep in mind that weary thru-hikers frequent shelters, especially those along long-distance trails like the AT. By the time they’re finished with their daily miles, most of them would love nothing more than to throw down a pad and crash under a solid roof. That’s not to say that any one hiker has more right to shelter space than another—but if you have the time and energy to pitch your tent, you might do so out in the open, leaving shelter spots for those in need. This is especially true in busy areas where shelters fill up fast.

From the inside, your tent might seem no wider than a pad or two, but stick the whole thing inside an already cramped space, and it’s surely going to seem bigger to your neighbors. Have to pee in the middle of the night? Imagine navigating around a whole tent versus a couple of prone backpackers. Even the Appalachian Trail Conservancy advises against setting up tents in shelters because they take up too much space..

If you want the privacy of a tent, a shared shelter might not be for you. Many backpackers enjoy the social atmosphere of communal dwellings. Embrace the community vibes, and you might enjoy the experience even more. And if you accidentally spoon with a stranger in the night, you’ll certainly be cozy and warm.

Here’s a different scenario: It’s winter. Snow is blowing sideways in the gusty winds. You’ve been postholing down the trail all day, and haven’t passed another soul. The shelter in the distance is just the refuge you’ve been dreaming of, and the only thing that will make it cozier is pitching your tent inside for some added warmth and wind protection. Sure, go ahead and pitch that tent. Just put it off to the side, in case someone as crazy as you happens to wander down the trail after dark.

From 2024