Proposals are still in the works to turn Grout Pond recreational area into a paid area. Now there is no charge, but they want to charge $16 for camping plus day use. Grout Pond is a few miles east of the Stratton parking area; they have car camping sites as well as hike in sites.

They used to have a guest host who kept tabs on campers, there have been a few cases of disorderly campers. Usually the problem gets addressed if warranted the police have come up. Otherwise I have not seen serious problems.

This initiative strikes me as the classic political division between Jeffersonian small government, and Hamiltonian muscular "don't trust the people" government.

Hapgood Pond is a federally paid area, it tends to attract large RVs, not many people there for real physical activity and recreation. That is apparently what the USFS is aiming for, more regulation, more money for rangers and other projects.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/f...reation%20Area

https://freecampsites.net/#!327&query=sitedetails

If you want to challenge the proposal, the Manchester district is looking for input by October 10. It isn't too late. https://www.fs.fed.us/organization/M...ger%20District