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Traveler
08-27-2014, 11:24
I have a cat

Perhaps the most curious thing I ever saw on a trail was going down the Hunt trail on Mt Katahdin, a woman with a siamese cat on a leash. I ran across them about 2/3rds of the way up the trail from the parking area so they had been doing this for a while. The cat didn't look all that happy to be there and on a forced march to what I'm sure it felt was its certain death. I have never seen a cat on a leash before being forced to climb a mountain of that nature.

As a post script on this oddity, the woman returned to the parking area not long after us and was quickly taken to the Ranger station and escorted out of the park. Baxter has a very strict no pets policy that this gal apparently thought she could ignore with impunity.

ShaneP
08-27-2014, 11:54
OK, Scoutmaster here

We like to do several trips on the AT every year and a fifty miler on the trail every other year.

If you are a Scoutmaster, don't plan a camping trip at a shelter. That's not it's intent. We have encountered other troops that park a mile away, hike in and overtake a shelter. Don't do that. It's not a scout camp.

We sometimes like to camp near shelters when long distance backpacking, but not in them, unless our group is manageable and small - like 2 adults and two to three older respectful scouts. Though in these cases, these groups usually opt not to sleep in the shelter. I think it is good to expose the scouts to the shelter experience. They are fascinated by thru hikers, there is usually a good water source nearby, and privy access. There are many teachable moments around a shelter.

We understand that most people are less tolerant of other people's children than they are of dogs. To take them camping was our decision, not yours. We try not to be tone deaf to whether our boys are annoying you and will clear space if necessary. We also understand that not all Scout leaders are this in tune with the effect our boys have on you, but we try to use this as an opportunity to teach respect and consideration.

When we camp near a shelter, we try to leave it in better shape than we found it by performing some sort of service project. Often we will try to rehabilitate a spring site by clearing debris, and stacking stones to help keep it clear of mud. We will also try to leave duff buckets full and clean trash from firepits and sites.

Old Hiker
08-27-2014, 12:06
ShaneP: Scouting in action. Thank you, sir, from a LONG time Ass't SM.

bangorme
08-28-2014, 08:50
OK, Scoutmaster here

We like to do several trips on the AT every year and a fifty miler on the trail every other year.


How refreshing! That was my first exposure to the AT over 45 years ago. The troop I was in had a hard time finding a place to camp (there were about 25 of us). We ended up camping up in the woods down the road from the Wildcat Mtn ski lift. Someone eventually told our scoutmaster that we shouldn't be there and should not come back. I wonder what the options are for scouts in that area?

Oh yeah. I agree, a troop shouldn't take over a shelter, but spending a night tenting around one is a great learning experience.

Thanks for helping our kids so much.