Tara, aka "Candy Mama," shares her reasons for not staying in shelters on the Appalachian Trail. Although she acknowledges the benefits of shelters, such as quick setup and protection from the elements, she believes the cons outweigh the pros. Her main concerns are related to people and animals. With regards to people, she mentions the uncertainty of who you'll be sharing the shelter with, noise disturbances, and the risk of contracting illnesses like norovirus. As for animals, she highlights the issues with mice, rats, and bears, which can carry diseases and be a nuisance. Tara suggests that hikers should carefully consider the pros and cons of staying in a shelter and read reviews from previous backpackers before making a decision.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker, Tara, also known as Candy Mama, hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2019.
2. Shelters on the Appalachian Trail offer quick setup and breakdown of sleeping materials, saving time for hikers.
3. Shelters provide a safe haven from the elements, including lightning, downpours, intense wind, and falling trees and branches.
4. Each shelter is built differently and maintained by different people.
5. The speaker met a man named James Jordan at a shelter, who was later involved in a violent incident on the trail.
6. In 2019, the speaker and her group got caught in a freezing rain storm and took shelter, but later got sick with norovirus.
7. Norovirus is a common hiker virus that causes inflammation of the intestines and stomach, leading to vomiting and diarrhea.
8. The speaker believes that mice are a bigger issue in shelters than bears, as they can carry diseases and spread viruses.
9. Mice can be a problem in shelters even if hikers take precautions such as hanging their food and keeping a clean shelter.
10. The speaker has had personal experiences with mice in shelters, including having them run across her sleeping bag.