View Full Version : Trail Days campground - opening times
The Trail Days campground will be open to all campers on Wednesday, May 14. A wristband is available for $5 which gives you entry to the campground. Persons without a wristband will be asked to leave, or "escorted out," in the local terminology.
In an effort to hold down theft, we ask that all campers report persons without wristbands to the police, who will be at the entry point and other areas in the campground. We think most of the theft is done by locals, and are asking you to help us in reducing the number of items stolen. The beating of thieves in public is discouraged.
Parking passes are $15.
The 14 volunteers listed below will have access to the campground beginning Monday night, the 12th.
Upwardly Mobile, mtnkngxt, Just Jack, Fridge, J.D. Cool, Superman, Pogue, big'un, Root, Windjammer, Poker, Bearpaw, Quatro, and Rambo.
If I have inadvertently left your name off this list let me know.
Lone Wolf
05-11-2008, 10:56
The Trail Days campground will be open to all campers on Wednesday, May 14.
for people driving in too?
Looks like another "Charlie Foxtrot" in the making.
for people driving in too?
Yup, drivers too. I forgot to add that the local enforcement and hospitality crew of Lone Wolfe, Pirate, and Baltimore Jack will be available for consultation on matters related to Trail Days, Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Rumore has it Lone Wolf and Pirate are going undercover this year with a clean shave and a hair cut. Could it be?
Looks like another "Charlie Foxtrot" in the making.
Absolutely a genuine CF. Elections have made some people mad, some people happy, insults abound, and local Trail Days volunteers are become scarce. As always, this will probably be a self-monitoring group, which has always seemed to work best.
Lone Wolf
05-11-2008, 11:06
Absolutely a genuine CF. Elections have made some people mad, some people happy, insults abound, and local Trail Days volunteers are become scarce. As always, this will probably be a self-monitoring group, which has always seemed to work best.
a lot of the hikers here in town know nothing about this volunteer list. they're going to be showing up tomorrow thinking they can volunteer.
Lone Wolf
05-11-2008, 11:07
Yup, drivers too. I forgot to add that the local enforcement and hospitality crew of Lone Wolfe, Pirate, and Baltimore Jack will be available for consultation on matters related to Trail Days, Life, the Universe, and Everything.
i ain't french. drop the E
The Trail Days campground will be open to all campers on Wednesday, May 14. A wristband is available for $5 which gives you entry to the campground. Persons without a wristband will be asked to leave, or "escorted out," in the local terminology.
In an effort to hold down theft, we ask that all campers report persons without wristbands to the police, who will be at the entry point and other areas in the campground. We think most of the theft is done by locals, and are asking you to help us in reducing the number of items stolen. The beating of thieves in public is discouraged.
Parking passes are $15.
The 14 volunteers listed below will have access to the campground beginning Monday night, the 12th.
Upwardly Mobile, mtnkngxt, Just Jack, Fridge, J.D. Cool, Superman, Pogue, big'un, Root, Windjammer, Poker, Bearpaw, Quatro, and Rambo.
If I have inadvertently left your name off this list let me know.
Roots and myself will be driving down tuesday night to do a section hike. How early will access be granted to go ahead and pay for parking and get a wristband.:-?
I'm running a shuttle until early afternoon....I'll be able to come chip in for a bit after that.... as for BJ, LW and Pirate....42
Jason of the Woods
05-11-2008, 13:23
So there is a charge for tent city now? Is this a new thing?
Lone Wolf
05-11-2008, 14:35
So there is a charge for tent city now? Is this a new thing?
$5, yes a new thing
i ain't french. drop the E
Typo, Wolf. There was a disturbance in the Force.
Roots and myself will be driving down tuesday night to do a section hike. How early will access be granted to go ahead and pay for parking and get a wristband.:-?
Wednesday a.m. there should be someone at the campground to take your money.
Wednesday a.m. there should be someone at the campground to take your money.
Thanks!
warren doyle
05-11-2008, 20:32
Once again, there are plenty of nice, free places to camp or sleep in your vehicle within a five-mile radius of Damascus.
OK so let me get this straight. $5 to stay at tent city. I do not have a problem with that. Does that mean if I want to visit someone there that I have to pay $5 to get into the place just to visit someone.
On a side note. I do not think this is going to help much to stop the steeling.
Lone Wolf
05-12-2008, 04:01
OK so let me get this straight. $5 to stay at tent city. I do not have a problem with that. Does that mean if I want to visit someone there that I have to pay $5 to get into the place just to visit someone.
On a side note. I do not think this is going to help much to stop the steeling.
yes. $5 to get through the gate wether you camp or not and i'm sure it will help keep thefts down
Hey folks, new to forum hoping for some helpful info. Have 3 Northbound thru hikers in area of Lexington by next weekend. Looking for turn around to Damascus for Trail Days. Is renting a car their best best? Thanks - ckmom
$5 is cheap, whether you are camping out or not. You get a wristband good for the whole weekend, along with access to the bathrooms and showers. Ironmasters charges more than that to hang out. Driving a car, that's $20 for up to four days of camping. And I'm with Lone Wolf, hopefully the wristband thing will help with thefts.
StarLyte
05-12-2008, 09:14
I'm not sure how charging people to walk in or park will help with the crime. :-?
Certainly it's worth it to a thief to pay that OR BORROW SOMEONE ELSE'S wristband for access.
And yes, there are many other places to sleep/camp without charge. I'm sure those areas will be full to capacity. I'm with those guys.
I'm just not getting it all...$250 for a table (THAT COMPLETELY BLOWS MY MIND) and now I have to pay $5.00 to visit my friends.
Well friends, if you're reading this.... sorry to say I won't be seeing you at the campground-I'll be elsewhere there, but I'll see you at the Gathering. By the way, the Gathering costs $10.00 for an entire weekend of entertainment, education, fellowship. There is no charge for parking. And we have one wicked campfire at night !
I usually don't bust at the seams, but looks like I'm going to rip a big a$$ hole in my blouse now.
Footslogger
05-12-2008, 09:30
Remember the "good old days" when the town of Damascus actually had a sign-up for hikers and you were asked to check-in and make a donation ? Of course this was when we tented down by the river. I miss those thermarest races ...
As I recall, the town had a really hard time enforcing the donations by hikers and the program fell by the wayside. At least this way the town will recover some revenue and hopefully be able to secure the camping area.
'Slogger
Creek Dancer
05-12-2008, 09:35
Something had to be done to cut down on thiefs in the campground. If you do things the same way you have always done them, you will keep getting the same result you have always gotten. Paying the fee and requiring the wristband won't completely stop all crime, but I believe it will cut down on the problem. I will happily pay the $5 bucks.
I'm not sure how charging people to walk in or park will help with the crime. :-?
Certainly it's worth it to a thief to pay that OR BORROW SOMEONE ELSE'S wristband for access.
That was my thought exactly. I thief will do what to takes to steal. Now that they have a wristband they feel safer about steeling because they will not be being watch as much as they were in the past.
Creek Dancer
05-12-2008, 10:24
What do you suggest as a measure for cutting down on thefts in the campground?
What do you suggest as a measure for cutting down on thefts in the campground?
I wish I had an answer for you. If I did I would suggest it. I am just worried that charging will make it worse. I am hoping this helps but on the downside it could make it worse.
What is going to be the difference between last year and this year? Last year a thief did not have to wear a wrist band and pay $5 to enter the campground. This year a thief has to pay $5 and wear a wrist band. The difference is that the town gets $5 more per person entering the campground and the thief gets a little more security for doing his work because he is wearing a wristband and will not be watched as much.
It's kind of like AYCE, pay $5 and steal all you want. I agree with Troll, the wristband will keep eyes off of a thief a little more.
sofaking
05-12-2008, 10:41
'welcome to trail daze, are you camping or stealing?'
'uh, stealin...'
'well, in that case you get a pink wristband. that'll be $10.'
'uh, i meant campin, we're definitely campin.'
'okey dokey, that'll be $5 and you get a pink wristband.'
What do you suggest as a measure for cutting down on thefts in the campground?
Every year, somebody gets ripped off. If you're worried about getting ripped off, either don't go to trail days, or don't leave anything valuable or irreplaceable unattended. Or stay with a group, and have at least one person hang by your stuff at all times. Pretty simple.
max patch
05-12-2008, 10:45
This year a thief has to pay $5 and wear a wrist band.
Just a cost of doing business to the thieves.
Creek Dancer
05-12-2008, 10:54
To clarify, I meant what measures should the town and/orlaw enforcement take to cut down on the crime.
Last year I just locked anything valuable in my car for the day. No problems. Unfortunately the thru-hikers don't have that luxury.
Every year, somebody gets ripped off. If you're worried about getting ripped off, either don't go to trail days, or don't leave anything valuable or irreplaceable unattended. Or stay with a group, and have at least one person hang by your stuff at all times. Pretty simple.
To clarify, I meant what measures should the town and/orlaw enforcement take to cut down on the crime.
With 30,000 people in town for the weekend, if a thief is determined, they'll find easy pickings in Damascus.
I suppose that you could institute some sort of system where you could check your pack - much like you check a coat at a nice restaurant. It could be run by a non-profit (ALDHA, Mt. Rogers AT Club), with a small fee for the service going to the non-profit.
I gotta say, I am pretty shocked by the aversion to the $5 charge. And it will definitely cut down on problems. It may only be $5, but having to walk up to the police and buy a wristband will definitely deter some from setting foot in the campground. And if you don't drive, Traildays is still cheaper than the ALDHA Gathering. In fact, it doesn't sound like you need a wristband to get into any of the presentations that are going on. If you drive to TD's with 4 people to a car, its $35 - or less than $10 per person.
I gotta say, I am pretty shocked by the aversion to the $5 charge.
I've paid more for just a shower. And it was worth it.
Jason of the Woods
05-12-2008, 11:16
Is the charge per day??
Lone Wolf
05-12-2008, 12:10
Is the charge per day??
no. for wed.-monday
Jason of the Woods
05-12-2008, 12:19
Thanks Wolf. Will I find you and Baltimore at Dot's buying beers?:D
no. for wed.-monday
SweetAss03
05-12-2008, 12:35
Can't think if John Steinbeck would laugh or cry.
I don't remember much stealing in 03 with the execption of some local kids making a grab for our beer. Hell I was young once and would have been doing the same thing. HOWEVER.. I would have been able to pull it off.
Wish I was going this year.
SweetAss
saimyoji
05-12-2008, 13:03
I suppose that you could institute some sort of system where you could check your pack - much like you check a coat at a nice restaurant.
Lockers.
Geeezus. It's only 5 bucks. you'd think they required a body cavity search for entry. Maybe it's my persepective from living in DC, 'cause I'm pretty sure it costs me 5 bucks just to get out of bed in the morning around these parts.
Last year we had two people say something like "Oh, I saw a guy hanging around watching our campsite and he didn't seem to be a hiker, but I didn't think anything about it." These were from sites where backpacks were stolen. One backpack was hanging on a tree, everything in it. So two recommendations: report anyone not wearing a wristband; don't pack your stuff up neatly and hang it on a tree with a "steal me" sign on it. These are small things but will help deter the casual thief. A determined thief will take something no matter what. Keep cameras, GPS equipment, other electronics with you.
Miss Janet
05-12-2008, 15:19
I think that the 20$ is a good price and at least an attempt to control the campground "traffic". I just spent the weekend at Merelefest where parking was 20 a day and camping miles away was 75$. Lets give them a chance.
Miss Janet
05-12-2008, 15:22
OOOPS! My original thought was matching bracelets for you and for your pack. No one walks out of the campground gate with out your arm bracelet matching your pack bracelet... just like with newborns in the hospital! I guess you can see where my mind is these days!!
sofaking
05-12-2008, 15:30
but babies have been known to be stolen from hospitals...and what about that cult of ob/gyn nurses that were caught a few years ago for switching all of those baby bracelets in new mexico? did you hear about that?
I went to the town forum a few weeks ago, and asked the present counsel members what the money from the fee was going to. It is going 100% to building a new campground. The current one will be built into a ball field or something....so what's wrong with funding something for the hikers by the hikers???? $5 for 4 nights is pretty dam good as far as I can see.
The people of this town welcome hikers......help them do something for us. If you like coming to trail days....why not pay so that we can continue to have a camp ground. I have no problem paying to go in there....but hey, that's just me. Jeez....it's $5 people!!!
As for the vendors, I cannot speak.....
Miss Janet
05-12-2008, 15:41
but babies have been known to be stolen from hospitals...and what about that cult of ob/gyn nurses that were caught a few years ago for switching all of those baby bracelets in new mexico? did you hear about that?
Now I will have to plan to set up 24 hour protection for when the granson is born... do any of my gun toting hiker friends want to volunteer to stand gaurd duty for and hour or two??
Maybe we should just spraypaint hikers and thier pack to match??
max patch
05-12-2008, 15:45
I don't think anyone is complaining about $5 for a multi-day camping spot with toilets and showers -- at least I hope no one is -- I think most folks are observing that the payment of a fee isn't going to deter theft.
I agree with that....townies will pay too
If one does not want to pay the $5...don't go in the campground. Simple solution.
Mike
Footslogger
05-12-2008, 17:05
If one does not want to pay the $5...don't go in the campground. Simple solution.
Mike
============================
Yeah ...you could sit outside the gate and say HEY as all the hikers come/go.
'Slogger
I went to the town forum a few weeks ago, and asked the present counsel members what the money from the fee was going to. It is going 100% to building a new campground.
Very cool! Thanks for checking into this, Wonder.
In reference to Trail Days in general, please keep in mind that Damascus is once again in one of its advanced dysfunctional modes, due to a recent election. And with a population of under 1,000, we have only a few really good volunteers. But Trail Days seems to be a model of a self-regulating community, and we hope this continues. 99.9 percent of the hiker community is a remarkable group of individuals, and will take care of their own. We local folk need to be more diligent about some of our residents.
And I need to lay off the margaritas. Hasta luego, muchachos y muchachas. Que la vaya bien.
Where did you find a margarita here???:rolleyes:
sofaking
05-12-2008, 22:09
...there's booze in the blender...and soon it will render...
not complaining about the $5 wristband good idea,
what about colorwise of the wristband a 'camping color' vs a 'visiting color' that way we can separate those who are just visiting the area but not staying the night, you can distinguish someone rummaging through a pack that shouldn't be.
Trillium
05-13-2008, 07:23
not complaining about the $5 wristband good idea,
what about colorwise of the wristband a 'camping color' vs a 'visiting color' that way we can separate those who are just visiting the area but not staying the night, you can distinguish someone rummaging through a pack that shouldn't be.could be a workable idea but too late. I'm sure they already have all the wristbands that will be needed for this year.
IronmastersMansion
05-20-2008, 19:11
"Ironmasters charges more than that to hang out"? Lets see, we opened a Day Use area for hikers which includes showers, towel, internet and phone...all based on the honor system for $6....so far, we've been paid $9, lots of garbage and wet towels. Hey, if you'd rather we close the Day Use rooms down...not a problem it would be much less work for us. We would just feel bad for the other hikers who have to hang out on the back porch waiting for check-in.
"Ironmasters charges more than that to hang out"? Lets see, we opened a Day Use area for hikers which includes showers, towel, internet and phone...all based on the honor system for $6....so far, we've been paid $9, lots of garbage and wet towels.
Looks like most hikers have no honor. I would suggest it's time to scrap that system. Seems to me the honor system is a great way to enable cheapskate hikers - many of whom would obviously rather spend their money on beer, weed, and other self indulgent things.
Lone Wolf
05-20-2008, 20:22
Looks like most hikers have no honor. I would suggest it's time to scrap that system. Seems to me the honor system is a great way to enable cheapskate hikers - many of whom would obviously rather spend their money on beer, weed, and other self indulgent things.
hence "The Place".
So, have there been any reports of stolen packs?
Panzer
Lone Wolf
05-21-2008, 03:06
So, have there been any reports of stolen packs?
Panzer
didn't hear of any. just a Billvillian cited for untaxed liquor.:)
Frolicking Dinosaurs
05-21-2008, 06:44
didn't hear of any. just a Billvillian cited for untaxed liquor.:)Shocking, who would have thought...... ;)
::: Dino digs into wallet to help pay fine for Billvillian :::
Shocking, who would have thought...... ;)
::: Dino digs into wallet to help pay fine for Billvillian :::
Was it anyone we know??
Panzer-the curious
Alligator
05-21-2008, 12:57
didn't hear of any. just a Billvillian cited for untaxed liquor.:)What's the fine on that?
Frolicking Dinosaurs
05-21-2008, 13:00
I don't know who it was yet, but still willing to help. It isn't about who, but about what. The sort of police presence mentioned by several - covert surveillance and SWAT-type approaches to camps posing no threat of harm - has no place whatsoever at TD.
IronmastersMansion
05-21-2008, 15:48
We're holding out to see if things change. Last night we had 3 hikers who used the Day Use Rooms and then stayed over...they even washed their own towels after hearing about the "problems" we've had with the Day Use Area. That goes to show you they, us and other hikers want to keep it open.
the dude is the one that got busted on the shine.... also they had atf agents runing round in the woods
StarLyte
05-22-2008, 10:25
Hello again-
There must be 6 Trail Days' threads....
Here are some photos from Trail Days 2008 click here (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/browseimages.php?do=member&imageuser=271)
Credit to Kevin Richter for photography!