Baxter???
What's everyone's thoughts on how to handle Baxter State Park. I heard only 10 permits allowed per night to camp. What will someone do if they arrive and the 10 permits are taken?
Will you be a thru-hiker?
If so North or South bound?
What you need to do to make a reservation depends on these answers.
By the way there are 12 sites at the Birches, the site set aside for thru-hikers.
http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/hiking/at.htm
"Chainsaw" GA-ME 2011
Just gave the big thread about Baxter a quick once over, things look pretty bad.
Being NOBO in the high season I think IŽll be patient, keep to the rules and improvise if necesarry (if I make it that far).
All sorts of other options, for example, my wife and I simply reserved a regular lean-to, $30/night, sleeps 4, you can get others to share the cost as we did (another couple. Or is it $60/night and our portion was $30? I'm getting O.L.D. This only works, of course, if you know when you'll get there. We knew when we left Monson, allowing ourselves 7 days in the 100-mile, which we did easily. Lots of folks don't like setting a deadline like this, but we're comfortable with it just so we would have zero chance of a hassle when we got there.
Another option is that when you get to the ranger station, there is a daily shuttle to Millinocket to the AT lodge, around 3:30-4pm. Take that, stay a night in the Hostel, take the shuttle back the next morning, climb the Big K, then the shuttle back to Millinocket. We saw a ton of folks doing this when we finished this October.
This is all assuming the 12 spots are gone, which is probably the best option. when we passed by the signup, only two names were on the list, so we could have done that easily. It was a Wednesday, by the way, September 30th.
Or you camp at abol and get a spot the next day.
Or , as has been happening, ranger finds you a spot in a campground, but thats part of the problem....
Sounds like you just need to be flexible, follow the rules, and don't throw a tantrum if you don't get your way.
Hard to beat that as a good summary. Last summer on two days before labor day, the Birches had open slots. There is also a state campground located about a 1/2 mile from the park entrance and a camp store just across the street at Abol Bridge so if you want to roll the dice with the Birches compared to making reservations in Monson in advance you may end up spending a night outside the park along nice section of the Penobscot river and then you can go sign up for the birches slots in the AM. I expect there will be additional assistance to hikers entering the park though Abol bridge based on last year issues.Originally Posted by squeezebox
Thanks guys. Good advise
Tried to PM you so as not to attract ire by my agreeing with your reasonable assessment. Your mailbox is full. Putting this thread on ignore before it degenerates. Therefore, I will not see your responses here.
In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. - Abraham Lincoln
Not sure why I only have one PM in my inbox
Seems to be the 2 biggest problems are 1) A hiker insisting their friends and family summit with them. despite reservations. 2) weed & alcohol.
Is it possible that's only one problem...entitlement.
I was reading a trail journal where the couple started hiking from Abol after midnight and then signed in and started up Katahdin around 4am. They did leave one pack at the Birches lean to but never camped in the park.
Worry about it if you get there.
Funny, I thought this was a thread where someone was seeking logistic information in BSP....
Aren't there plenty of other thread where curmudgeons (AKA pseudo-cyber-hikers) can drone on endlessly about how rude today's AT hikers are???????????????? Like about two dozen other, essentially identical threads????????????????
And what the heck is wrong with family and friends joining us for our Katahdin summit????????????? The mind boggles.
Nothing, presuming you and your family and friends access and use the park in accordance with the rules.
The biggest problem is showing up without arrangements for stays, or travel out the park, expecting that rules will be bent to accomodate for them, and their families, because by God, they are a thru hiker. Or a poser with a fat belly...whatever.
The second biggest problem is flaunting the rules in place in other regards.
As was said, its an entitlement mentality.
Thats a long day.
So what are the regulations about getting Baxter reservations if you are not a Nobo thru hiker, let's go with Baxter's definition of thru hiker as starting 100+ miles south. I'm under the impression it takes weeks. It's difficult to know when you're gonna hit Baxter weeks before. And Baxter seems to not want to take time to make those arrangement for you, you friends and family. Hooking up for a ride home seems to be in there too. It appears for an individual hikers it's easy enough but with friends and family it becomes much more difficult.
Just thinking.
You could be up there for sunrise, which would be pretty cool.
I met a hiker coming down at about 8 am he did that, said the views were great. By the time I summited it was raining with almost zero visibility.
"Chainsaw" GA-ME 2011
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