Register / permits

[peakbagger]

Since this has drifted into answers about Baxter, let me ask a question. If you reserve a camping spot or a shelter spot in Baxter to climb Katahdin (not coming in as a thru), does that reservation include a parking spot?

A camping reservation in the park gets you a parking spot at the campsite you booked. Sounds simple but there are only three campgrounds with parking lots that access the trailheads for Katahdin and only one campground, Katahdin Stream that accesses the AT. There are limited parking spots at each campground and they are managed fairly closely. If you are camping in the park at one of the many other campgrounds (some of the northern campsites are 2 hours from KSC), then you have to get up real early and drive over to the trailhead parking lots and grab a spot before the Day Hikers drive in the park. People who just want to day hike have to buy a day use permit for a specific lot on a specific day. They are guaranteed a spot to park. Its highly likely on a weekend that the Day Use permits will sell out and the three katahdin trailhead parking lots will be full quite early, in that case a camper inside that park can and will be turned away when the lot is full. The Togue Pond gate is usually opened about 1/2 hour before sunrise so those in remote sites may have to get up around 4 AM to ensure they beat the day use folks. Go during a non holiday weekday and you have much better odds.

[shawnlakenorman]

To keep it wild and remote, the number of visitors is limited and s trictly enforced. BSP wants tp prevent it from being loved to death.

Wow. I am now worried about taking this thru hike on. Will o be blocked along the way from enjoying out USA nature land. What is the big deal. Have so many before me caused so many negative issues.

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[shawnlakenorman]

If you are talking about BSP, if you are caught, you will be escorted out of the park and likely not be allowed back for a long time. National parks will issue tickets and/or summons to appear if you ignore them. If you stealth camp in places like CT or MA that require the use of designated camping areas you run the risk of the AT being closed and road walks taking you around that property owners section (in CT that would be the stretch of trail from Lions head through to Sages Ravine for example).

Bottom line is, its usually easier to play by the rules than game them. Unless there is an emergency like bad weather or injury that causes you to hunker down in place and you can't get to a designated camping area, you are better served by observing the rules of the trail where ever you are. There are many areas of the trail where one can camp and embrace LNT (sometimes termed stealth camping), which is why guide books from the AMC or Awol's Guide are important to know what the local rules and restrictions are along the trail.

Wow. Takes the adventure out of it. Market and business.

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[Traveler]

Wow. I am now worried about taking this thru hike on. Will o be blocked along the way from enjoying out USA nature land. What is the big deal. Have so many before me caused so many negative issues.

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Wow. Takes the adventure out of it. Market and business.

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I'm sure for some any regulations regarding trail use or camping access are inconvenient. Most others find little problem working inside them and understand the need for some level of restriction in popular areas.

[shawnlakenorman]

I'm sure for some any regulations regarding trail use or camping access are inconvenient. Most others find little problem working inside them and understand the need for some level of restriction in popular areas.

Thanks I agree. Some of the post seem a bit unnerving. I have my guide and have downloaded all the rules for the various areas. Easy to say ok I am gonna do this but there are alot of logistics and planning. Plus trying to take advantage of the window of opportunity of time to do it.

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[Traveler]

Thanks I agree. Some of the post seem a bit unnerving. I have my guide and have downloaded all the rules for the various areas. Easy to say ok I am gonna do this but there are alot of logistics and planning. Plus trying to take advantage of the window of opportunity of time to do it.

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Thats all part of the challenge!

[shawnlakenorman]

Thats all part of the challenge!

Agree.

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[GoldenBear]

> Have so many before me caused so many negative issues.

Yes.

U.S. law states that the National Parks Services exists "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

A key adjective is "unimpaired."
That means if visitors' usage of a national park would impair the enjoyment of such parks for future generations, then the law REQUIRES the NPS to regulate that usage so that it no longer happens.
If that means restrictions for backpackers, so be it.

[Fireplug]

Ok now next question. How do you know when you enter an area where these permits are required. I don't see anything in the AWOL BOOK

[shawnlakenorman]

Ok now next question. How do you know when you enter an area where these permits are required. I don't see anything in the AWOL BOOK

I have been researching for a year. Have the at trail guide and so many downloads. I am hoping posting will be there

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[Sarcasm the elf]

Ok now next question. How do you know when you enter an area where these permits are required. I don't see anything in the AWOL BOOK

As far as permits, AWOL's guide lists the milage markers for the northern and southern boundaries of each park, though it doesn't explicitly say "permit required here" on the mileage list.


Regarding other regulations and camping restrictions, the AWOL book notes the rules in the "data spread" (their fancy term for the mileage list) for each state, so you have to read each line of the mileage list to see if anything important is noted. For instance my 2013 AWOL guide says this for the NY/CT Line in the Connecticut section:

"729.2 1456.7 CT-NY Campfires prohibited in CT. Camping only in designated areas."


The ATC/ALDHA guidebook generally prints these rules more clearly in an italicized paragraph just underneath each states' mileage chart. (I have a slight preference for this book over AWOL's.)

[Sir Setsalot]

Every year BSP comes be a topic of discussion. I have pasted a link here. The problem with BSP is the popularity. They limit the amount of thru hikers to twelve only because the Birches (cap12) is res for thru hikers but does not mean you cannot get another campsite, by reservation, elsewhere in the campground. If you can hike in to the rangers station by 12 noon (cutoff for starting a summit hike) then you should be able to hike it. I think maybe 1% of the thru hikers would be able to do that. because you would have to hike all the way from abol bridge, checkin with reanger, summit, check out with rangers, and hike back to abol bridge.

http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/hiking/at.htm

[Venchka]

You could buy a copy of "Called Again" by Jennifer Pharr Davis and read about her most uneventful summit hike. She had help from a lot of sunshine and a full moon.
Good luck.

Wayne


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