Your first night in a shelter

An unguarded shelter is a roof, four walls and whatever the last person left behind. There is no warden, no reception and no guarantee of a free bunk. That is the whole idea: you carry what you need and the building takes care of the weather.

Assume nothing is provided. A sleeping bag and mat are not optional — most shelters have bare boards, and some have packed earth. Carry your own water unless the page says there is a source, and carry a stove unless it says there is one. A head torch matters more than you think: shelters have no lighting, and you will often arrive after dark.

Space is first-come. On a popular ridge in August a shelter that sleeps six may already hold ten, so plan a second option and be ready to use it. Nobody is turned away in bad weather — make room, and expect the same.

Check the status on the shelter's page before you commit to it. Conditions change: a roof fails, a stove is removed, a door is locked for a season. If what you find doesn't match what we say, add a report. The next person is planning their night around it.