Originally Posted by
windlion
Not sure I understand why you want to avoid shelters? There's almost always a tenting area well separated from the mouse house. Also, lots of trail sections in the band you picked that are subject to host rules (i.e. Sky Meadows SP and Shenandooah National Park in Virginia) that only allow tenting is designated areas -- but as you observed, there are *lots* of unmarked tent sites along the trail. Except in the SNP, where the rangers administer the Trail vigilantly.
Rather than hiking north past Harrisburg, you might head south through Harpers Ferry and toward Shenandoah National Park. Tent sites that are not colocated with shelters will be harder to find, but not impossible.
In any case, Leave No Trace, please? Especially if you are tenting outside the shelter areas.
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