View Full Version : Mohican Outdoor Center
Stayed at Mohican Outdoor Center recently after a 30 mile day. There are no shelters for around 25 miles north of Delaware Water Gap. Anyone know what prevented a shelter from being built north of DWG? MOC actually charges 20 bucks if you are a section hiker, not the 12.50 listed in the book--that's only for end-to-enders...
Lone Wolf
10-21-2004, 13:58
Another example of special treatment for thru-hikers. It should be the other way around. Or treat EVERY hiker the same. Thru-hikers shouldn't get special treatment in the Whites either. Pay full price or move on.
bearbait2k4
10-21-2004, 14:00
I loved the Mohican Outdoor Center when I stayed in 2003.
If I can remember correctly, tenting was free, and you could still use the facilities indoors. That, however, could have also been for thru-hikers only as well.
If you have a thru-hiker or companion book, you need to remember that almost all of that information pertains to thru-hikers, specifically.
Alligator
10-21-2004, 15:56
I passed through there in the summer. I was told I could stay and tent for free. Nobody asked if I was a thru, but I sort of look like a thru. I had only been out for 1 day, so I didn't smell like one though :banana . But then again, none of the hikers there really spoke to me:-? . However, I didn't stay, I thought a thru would appreciate the space more. I just bought a soda and a candy bar, filled up my water and camped further along. I thought the electric fence around the garbage was cool.
Its worth noting that 17.6 miles north of DWG is Blue Mtn Lakes Road. There is camping just before the road and there was a water pump, though I think they may have stopped its use/taken it out. From here its a mile off trail to Camp Ken-itt-wa-pec, or something to that extent. A couple of us spent a fun night there in 03'. Friendly camp director and a pretty lake. They offer 2 enclosed shelters with mattress. This place is kind of a hidden jewel. No food or showers, but certainly a great place to be if your not keen about tenting in this high bear area. Brink Road is really old and run down and small and so close to a road, I've always thought this section was a good candidate for a shelter somewhere. Maybe there is a private land issue or something, though I think the whole section of trail here is the DWG recreation area...?
I've been to Mohican a couple times, as a weekend warrior and thru-hiker and they are extremely nice folks. I was treated equally well each time. Their cabins are a cozy place to be on a winters night and I thought it was well worth the 17 odd bucks they charge. This is the AMC at its best IMO
The Solemates
10-21-2004, 18:08
We stayed at MOC this year on our thru and had a great time. We managed to hit it on a Saturday night, when they have live entertainment (this is every Sat night!) We showed up, they fed us lasagna, soup, salad, and cake and then we hung out listening to the band until late. We also tented for free. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Flash Hand
10-21-2004, 20:36
Another example of special treatment for thru-hikers. It should be the other way around. Or treat EVERY hiker the same. Thru-hikers shouldn't get special treatment in the Whites either. Pay full price or move on.
They knows that thru-hikers will be entering their area with thin cash, after month of spending. Thru hikers don't bring thick cash. Most thru hikers can be cash strapped. They knows that we have tight budget for 6 months of thru hike.
SO, they knows that thru hikers wouldn't have enough options to use purchase powers. I am not surprised if thru hikers just hiked past them because of $20.
L. Wolf, sorry, if its my first disagreement with ya but its not about special treatment for thru hikers, it is about business.
Section hikers have thick wallet.
If its 20 bucks.. I will just pass and tent out somewhere.
Flash Hand :jump
Toolshed
10-22-2004, 10:34
Its worth noting that 17.6 miles north of DWG is Blue Mtn Lakes Road. There is camping just before the road and there was a water pump, though I think they may have stopped its use/taken it out.
Atrain -
The pump is still working fine (as of this summer). I also agree that there are some beautiful flat spots just before you get to BML Road. However, having spent a couple of nights there over the years, thos spots are completely infested with wood ticks (AKA dog ticks, not deer ticks) and spent the evening pulling a few off myself and my 4-year old - and since we hiked on the old road, the tick exposure was mostly from sitting on some rocks eating dinner and enjoying views.
There is also a great camping spot several miles after you pass Crater Lake - You drop down into the hemlock grove just before climbing up to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain - plenty of nice forest cover and water.
Camp Ken-itt-wa-pec, or something to that extent.
Yeah, whatever it's called. Kinloch and I took the mile walk down to the camp. It was before they opened for the season so we had the whole place, and the lake, to ourselves.
There are two screened cabins down next to the lake. The right one leaks... a lot! :P It was a great place to stay and for the right price... free.
The YMCA Camp 1 mile below Blue Mountain Lakes Rd is on a beautiful spot. Did a little work for stay in August '04 and scored dinner & breakfast for free!!!
El Toro '94
06-12-2009, 21:54
Anyone know if Mohican is open year round(late Oct-early Nov.)? Will be out of shape and will definitly not be ready for the 25 miler from Brink to DWG.Was going to start a DWG to Springer at DWG, but may start at Bear mtn.
SoundWitness
06-12-2009, 22:42
I have stayed there in Mid-October, but you can e-mail them or contact for info and/or reservations
http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodges/mohican/mohican-rates.cfm
GalHikingTheGap
06-19-2010, 08:11
The YMCA Camp 1 mile below Blue Mountain Lakes Rd is on a beautiful spot. Did a little work for stay in August '04 and scored dinner & breakfast for free!!!
I'm 99.9% sure that camp is closed now, it was leased to the Y by Uncle Sam and was a losing venture. The closest open Y now is Camp Mason up Millbrook Road.
DWG is a place that's nice to have a tent at -- Backpackers' site, there are overlooks about 1-2 miles up from Mohican before you pass the orange rattlesnake swamp trail and hit Catfish Tower. Similarly, there are a few places to tent before you hit Blue Mountain Lakes Road, fairview lakes overlooks.
From here its a mile off trail to Camp Ken-itt-wa-pec, or something to that extent. A couple of us spent a fun night there in 03'. Friendly camp director and a pretty lake. They offer 2 enclosed shelters with mattress. This place is kind of a hidden jewel. No food or showers, but certainly a great place to be if your not keen about tenting in this high bear area. - ATrain
Yeah, whatever it's called. Kinloch and I took the mile walk down to the camp. It was before they opened for the season so we had the whole place, and the lake, to ourselves.
There are two screened cabins down next to the lake. The right one leaks... a lot! :P It was a great place to stay and for the right price... free. - Dharma
I went through here in 06. Two screened cabins on the shoreline of a scenic swimming lake(beach area) in a quiet spot at the camp. The water was so warm and I was so thru-hiker filthy I remember enjoying it well. There was a little raft you could swim out to. I was told by the camp director the shelters were open to hikers for free as long as there were no groups from the camp staying in them, which the camp director told me was practically never. I got there around dinner time. I was invited to eat at the dining hall if I came near the end of dinner. The folks were very nice, but they don't cater to you, which is what I wanted and what I expected since I was not paying to stay there. I offered to help wash some dishes (for all of 15 mins) which they all seemed to greatly appreciate.
It did rain hard and the roof does leak in the one shelter because the roof is damaged. Even though a private camp, I would like to see some AT hikers show their appreciation by fixing the leaky roof by donating some materials and labor! I think the camp is mostly a losing or break-even financial proposition. Shame! because like A-Train said the place is like a hidden jewel. Just needs the right care and support.
The access road to the camp may not even be a mile. The Camp Director let me know of a connector trail back to the AT(about a mile or so long) that starts beyond the screened shelters at the far end of the lake. It's a bit overgrown, but easy to follow and it means you don't have to backtrack to get back to the AT.
It was late July or Aug when I went through and since the shelters are on a lake there were abundant skeeters.
MOC actually charges 20 bucks if you are a section hiker, not the 12.50 listed in the book--that's only for end-to-enders...
Then don't stay there if your a section hiker. I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to pay more just because your a section hiker. But you can camp there for free.
Also there are many camp sites north of there with very good views of the valley below and with a nice breeze to keep the mosquitoes at bay.
Panzer
Old Grouse
06-19-2010, 13:06
Panzer's right. Just north of MOC on the ridge there are some super spots to tent or hang.
The qre part of the AMC, American Money Collectors.