Ranger waiting for The Crawfords
Is it true that the there was a BSP Ranger waiting at the top of Katahdin (ahead of the Crawford Family) on the day they headed up to tree line with their own hand-made sign?
Whether there was or not, whenever I think of the BSP rangers, I’ll picture Barney Fife with his silver bullet.
And no one ELSE thinks this comment is intensely disrespectful and uncalled for?Originally Posted by Tundracamper
I wonder how he feels about his local LEOs?
I wonder how he'll feel when he has to call the "Barney Fifes" for assistance somewhere in the park?
Old Hiker
AT Hike 2012 - 497 Miles of 2184
AT Thru Hiker - 29 FEB - 03 OCT 2016 2189.1 miles
Just because my teeth are showing, does NOT mean I'm smiling.
Hányszor lennél inkább máshol?
Guess I just ruined my chances for a post on the Supreme Court. Dang!
The Crawfords did not go all the way to the top. They elected to stop at the treeline and remain together as a family.
HikeWIthGravity, I believe RickB understands that point. He is asking a different question.
I wonder if the BSP officials were really expecting a 'Scott Jurek Moment' and were surprised when it did not happen? If so then it confirms that BSP's opinion of AT thru-hikers must be pretty low.
I am glad the Crawfords did the right thing.
“For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”
John Greenleaf Whittier
Even though:
Baxter has a trail runner assigned just to them, built an info kiosk just for them, adds staff at KSC just for them, built the Birches just for them, built a station on the Ranger's porch just for them, provides loaner day packs just for them, and also just for them - no advance reservations required and a discounted camping fee.
It's a shame ATers acquire a poor opinion of the Park based on gossip and the rantings of self anointed trail legends.
Teej
"[ATers] represent three percent of our use and about twenty percent of our effort," retired Baxter Park Director Jensen Bissell.
These are good points, and thru hikers should be greatful for the Park and the many hard-working people that care for it.
And most certainly not take it for granted.
That said, parks serve differnt visitors, well, differently.
At Baxter, the park has done some great things just for thrus. But other constituencies are not neglected either.
For some, they provide cut fire wood and karoseen lanterns and cabins (yes, at a cost). For others they staff backcountry sites.
For others they maintain som gr at car camping areas, and for many they provide interpretive programs. For still others, they open their roads in the winter for snow machines.
For still others they maintain canoes and some of the best cabins you can imagine — at prices that ar well below market (they always sell out)
And you can bet that for folks “in the know” many more examples of the great thing that BSP does for a wide variety of guests.
Thrus are lucky to be included on the list!
While some of this is appreciated (especially the birches and slack pack loner pack), all of that stuff is totally unneeded and is really a solution looking for a problem, as thru hikers could easily travel that last 15 (or so) miles on their own. It is taking a simple self sustaining process that thru hikers live and breath and adding layers of unneeded complications and that in the end is wasted resources and a less satisfactory solution.
Amazing thread highlighting the part of the community that thinks the AT must go to Katadin. Keep this attitude and the terminus will move. BSP goes above and beyond and ^^^ this is the attitude of way too many. Follow the rules and be grateful not an embarrassment.
Actually it does no such thing, the trail ends where it ends and will adapt as needed. I think you may see it as such because of how you feel about the issue and seeing it in places where it is not.
Isn't it is not uncommon to have a ranger at the summit? Yes they could have been being richards about it and send one up just to cause trouble.
There are trail stewards on Katahdin, 1-2 weekdays, 2-3 weekends.
I believe this unnecessary post is about an ignorant comment made the dad.
He thought he's so important the Park would assign a LE Ranger just to them.
His 15 mins are up, let's hope his fans stop spamming the forum soon.
Teej
"[ATers] represent three percent of our use and about twenty percent of our effort," retired Baxter Park Director Jensen Bissell.
I had no idea that one was likely to see Trail Stewards on the top of Katahdin these days. In the half dozen time I have been up, I have never seen ione.
I am getting old, I guess (and time flies).
One thing is for sure though— the park took notice of the Crawfords well before they entered the Park.
It was no coincidence that their post about AT hikers with a two year old having recently called the park and settling on a plan to take turns summitting was made last Wednesday 8/7. As I recall you followed up with a post here telling us that it was the Crawfords.
That’s not important, of course. Of the 400+ replies most everyone made the same mistake, and after the Crawfords really reached tree line, BSP did Acnowledge that their post was not about the Crawford. Geesh.
In any case, as an insider can you share how the Trail Monitors have been handling scofflaws on the summit? Have there been many this year? Are they educating, or writing tickets?
katahdin.pdf Good BPM article by famous naturalist and triple crowner.
As near as I can tell, he is a self described “famous naturalist”.
The only trail legend to weigh in on this — a real one, not imagined — is Warren Doyle.
For those not familiar with him, it’s worth a google.
Somewhere down the list will be a footnote about how he accepted a night in county jail rather than accept a small fine levied by the park som 40 years ago.
If your Googlefu is really good, you will find the famous letter he wrote from his cell, and poem.
Since this will “trigger” some here, I won’t post a link, but no matter what you think on the topic, Warren is definitely a part of AT lore.
I can’t wait. Hopefully their visibility will end sooner than later.
The park takes their charter and stewardship of the land seriously. They have every right to enforce their rules. This is fine.
The family finished their hike within the rules of the landowners/stewards. Responsible hikers will respect the rules of of the landowners, or risk losing access for all hikers to that trail. The family hiked their own hike as far as they could do so, without intruding on anyone else's hike. Good for them. I commented once when I first learned of their hike. I said then that I expect them to get as far as they get, just like any other hiker starting a through hike.
They got as far as they got, that's awesome. I assumed they achieved their goal. They hiked their own hike, without intruding on anyone else's hike. I don't actually follow any AT journals, so I'm assuming they're happy. I get plenty of drama and inspiration from my own life.
Everyone won.
Last edited by Puddlefish; 08-11-2018 at 09:59.
If you want to have notoreity, then publicly break rules and post on facebook, youtube, etc. Expect attention from BSP from now on.
1. Yes, at thru hikers are a pain to BSP, well documented
2. When episodes of rule breaking are shared on social media, it propagates it, makes ignorant others think its OK.
Heading off such instances saves them 10x the trouble in future.
Last edited by MuddyWaters; 08-11-2018 at 09:52.
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