This is my first posted thread so please bear with me if my format and placement needs work.
I am going to thru hike the trail this year starting at Katahdin. Now there is many new bits of information I am getting on this whole endeavor. I have had some wrong impressions and so I am not fully sure on this but I hope on this first bit I am sorely mistaken.
So for me at this point to hike from Katahdin if I wanted to camp near by and get the trail it looks like Baxter first off wants me to sign up 4 months in advance. This puts my hiking date to July 13-14th. Not what I wanted or expected.
I had hoped to not have to pay in excess of 50$ just to do so. I mean I understand that it costs to maintain the park but for two days of camping and a car pass to park there for less then a day seems very excessive just so I can also back set my travel date at this rate to the end of July.
Here is the fee info I am looking at:
Entrance fees (per vehicle) $14.00 Season Pass $39.00 There is no vehicle fee assessed for Maine residents!
Camping Fees: Site Transfers $15.00 Campground Lean-to or Tent-site $30.00/night Backcountry Lean-to or Tent-site $20.00/night Bunkhouse (per person per night) $11.00
Cabins: 2-person cabin $55/night 3-person cabin $75/night 4-person cabin $100/night 6-person cabin $130/night
Group Areas: Per person per night $7.00 Group site minimum $42.00
So for 74$ I can pitch my tent for a two night stay and get dropped up here. Thus starting the south bound voyage. ONLY if I reserve my spot 4 months in advance. Better have an iron clad plan and all. Besides the fact that I cant even sign up for this and reserve a spot if I do not have a telephone?? Online?? Gotta love online reservations that wont let anything go through unless you have a phone number. Or I can mail them add on the delay of postal services.
I am at the point on all this eager to be about all this that I am ready to say to heck with Mt. Katahdin and just get a ride up to the gate get out and hike my butt the 10 miles out of Baxter Park as if I was trying to escape Mordor. At risk I won't be a Thru hiker for lack of a 5 mile hike up a mountain.
Somebody here I am hoping will know a cheaper more economic way to achieve my goal with out such a harsh kick to the balls as that above deal. I do not want to hike a 20 mile stretch on the first day fearing if I will make it out of the park before getting collared by an indignant ranger "for skirting the system".
Ideally I would like to start my hike in June rather then July. Seems like no matter when I go I will be facing bugs and potential freezing water stream crossings. I can handle that, but getting blood sucked for a camp site is not on my current menu. I do not mean to belittle the forest service, or demean the whole climb up mount Katahdin. I am just also as always on a budget and a bit stuck in my own ways. Maybe those camping spots were made with gold laced gravel for all I know..
Please any alternative CHEAPER suggestions on starting this first 'iconic' step would be greatly appreciated.
By Post or PM I will check back in later - or hey just troll me for being an unAmerican cheapskate! (how can I live with out a phone fer chrissakes!)