Chapter Four

Shelters and Tents

Though sleeping under the stars might be romantic in perfect conditions, the truth is conditions are rarely perfect. From rain and snow to mosquitoes and black flies, something is bound to come along and wreck your perfect evening. There is a reason that early man first found shelter in caves and quickly learned to design their own forms of shelter. Even the desert Bedouins carry protective tents as they travel across the desert. And that is why, when planning an overnight hike on the Appalachian Trail, be it one night or three-hundred and sixty-five, it is essential to plan for some sort of shelter. Many is the time we have gone to sleep under a starry sky only to be awakened by rain or snow.