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"In cooperation with Sugarloaf USA, signs advising hikers that
the Sugarloaf summit building is now closed to the hiking public and
that no camping is allowed above treeline on the Appalachian Trail in
Maine were placed at the Carrabassett River bootleg campsite, the
junction of the Sugarloaf side trail, the Sugarloaf summit building
and at Spaulding shelter. This was in response to complaints of trash
and human waste due to the lack of sanitation facilities on the
privately owned Sugarloaf summit.
Signs advising hikers of the Kennebec Ferry service and its
hours of operation were placed at the Long Falls Road and points
south to Spaulding Shelter. As reported by MATC board member Craig
Dickstein "The first known northbounder crossed the Kennebec on
Wednesday the 21st. He apparently forded (service did not start
until the 23rd) and showed up wet and cold at the post office where
Marie took him in to warm-up and dry out. He was 77 days out of
Georgia."
Notes from a Maine Trail Maintainer, May '08
jersey joe
05-27-2008, 12:54
77Days to the Kennebec...that dude is moving at a pretty good clip.
skinny minnie
05-28-2008, 08:36
Or it could be Leap. I haven't talked to him in a while but I know he is close.
77Days to the Kennebec...that dude is moving at a pretty good clip.
Took me 8 days to reach Katahdin From the Kennebec. Probably will take this person 4-5. In other words, he's done if Katahdin cooperated weather-wise.
Cookerhiker
05-28-2008, 08:51
That's a bummer about closing the Sugarloaf summit house but understandable if hikers were trashing the place. It was a most welcome stay on my 2005 hike (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=114825) when a bunch of us were snug while a storm raged outside.
Lone Wolf
05-28-2008, 08:51
"In cooperation with Sugarloaf USA, signs advising hikers that
the Sugarloaf summit building is now closed to the hiking public and
that no camping is allowed above treeline on the Appalachian Trail in
Maine were placed at the Carrabassett River bootleg campsite, the
junction of the Sugarloaf side trail, the Sugarloaf summit building
and at Spaulding shelter. This was in response to complaints of trash
and human waste due to the lack of sanitation facilities on the
privately owned Sugarloaf summit.
surprise, surprise! hikers screwing up another good place to hang out. i'm surprised it wasn't made off limits years ago
jersey joe
05-28-2008, 09:00
Sounds like they could have used a privy up there.
warren doyle
05-28-2008, 10:53
Trek may have been passed again.
I'm rather surprized that many thru-hikers would go off the current AT to summit Sugarloaf.
skinny minnie
05-29-2008, 12:20
The thru-hiker who forded was indeed Leap. He finished yesterday!
skinny minnie
05-29-2008, 12:24
And I gave him a mild scolding for fording :)
RITBlake
05-29-2008, 12:27
That's a real shame to hear. One of the most amazing sunsets I saw on my thru hike and one of the most interesting places to spend the night:
http://maine2georgia.com/Maine/slides/079.JPG
http://maine2georgia.com/Maine/slides/085.JPG
http://maine2georgia.com/Maine/slides/089.JPG
Cookerhiker
05-29-2008, 12:48
That's a real shame to hear. One of the most amazing sunsets I saw on my thru hike and one of the most interesting places to spend the night:
Man, nice photos. I couldn't see 10 feet the night I was there - had trouble finding the building in the fog & howling winds.
Lone Wolf
05-29-2008, 12:52
And I gave him a mild scolding for fording :)
why?......
RITBlake
05-29-2008, 12:53
Thanks in the 3rd photo you can see the chairlift off to our left
skinny minnie
05-29-2008, 13:23
why?......
That's what he said.
And because I'm a worrier that's why!
I want to express my appreciation to Sugarloaf for their generous offer to permit the 1991 MCC Carrabassett Valley Team to stay on the summit and for the support they provided my team. I remember a night we spent on the summit when I watched a thunderstorm from above with some of my team members. It was awesome.
Now if this is what Sugarloaf desires, hikers should respect their wishes. I may have understood correctly there is now a regulation concerning camping above treeline in Maine? If so, I would like to see it posted here by an MATC, ATC or State of Maine official. A link to this information from the website of any of the above or a photo of a sign along the AT with the Maine code or LURC rule posted to WhiteBlaze's gallery would be appreciated. Thanks.
warren doyle
05-30-2008, 04:59
Congrats to Leap on being the first NOBO to finish (apparently) and for fording the Kennebec!
jersey joe
05-30-2008, 09:10
Yes, congrats on finishing LEAP! Quick pace too at roughly 84 days...
Lone Wolf
05-30-2008, 09:13
Yes, congrats on finishing LEAP! Quick pace too at roughly 84 days...
slow compared to Ward's 60 days
jersey joe
05-30-2008, 09:20
Yes, slow compared to the RECORD finishing time...
i am sad to learn that the summit building on Sugarloaf is now closed to hikers. I stayed there on my 2006 thru hike and had the whole building, even thewhole summit, to myself (September). The place seemed fairly clean though there was no outhouse and no electricity andno running water. One has to really want to visit this building to go there for it is a full 0.6 miles steeply uphill from the AT.
The only things i can think of for the buildings closing is either very inconsiderate hikers or their winter employees. It is too bad, For the view up there is astounding and you get like a 270 degree view through windows in the building.
David
jersey joe
05-30-2008, 10:43
One has to really want to visit this building to go there for it is a full 0.6 miles steeply uphill from the AT. David
Ah, this explains why I don't remember seeing this building.
Cookerhiker
05-30-2008, 11:41
I really doubt that the abuse was by thruhikers - it just doesn't make sense that hikers who have about 2,000 miles on their boots and take a steep sidetrail up to the summit are going to trash the place. Hell, they don't have much trash to begin with! I suspect because of the actions of a few locals and 1-night hikers, everyone else including thrus have to pay the price.
If there was no infrastructure to deal with human waste atop Sugarloaf, this decision should have been made sooner to protect the fragile environment above treeline.
orangebug
05-30-2008, 20:50
Do we really know that the complaint is trashing of the summit area?
I'd be suspicious that they are simply doing the CYA thing, to assure that anyone injured would be a trespasser and not covered under their liability.
Agreed. Plus in the last couple years people have called (by telephone) the ski area to ask about staying up there. Maybe the people heard about a quiet secret that could be kept quiet.
Numbers.