White House Landing Wilderness Camp

[TankHiker]

I stopped at White House Landing last year, only because I was low on food after losing more than a day detouring around un-fordable streams. If I had to do it again, I would not stop there.

My biggest problem was that the owners were extremely unfriendly. The woman was okay, but the man was clearly upset to have to deal with thru-hikers. I think he may have been nicer if I had spent the night there, but I just went over for lunch and resupply. I guess I didn't know that this was really more of a hostel than a restaurant/resupply point.

The burger itself was huge, and well worth more than the $5 they charged. The boat ride over was free, although you may get scowled at and sworn at by the owner. They have a limited amount of resupply food - candy bars, ramen, etc. It is all pretty expensive. They charged me $2/min to use their cell phone, and mistakenly told me that there is no phone at Abol Bridge (there is!).

Also, although the guidebook didn't mention it, their boat service is only for a few hours of the day. It's something like 11:00am - 2:00, and 5:00-7:00 (although I don't know the exact times).

Personally, I wouldn't go back unless I absolutely had to. I don't know if the owners were just having a bad day, or if they are always that surly to their customers. There is excellent camping all around that area (especially on Nahmakanta Lake nearby). I would camp nearby instead.

But that's just my opinion.

-Tank

[java]

We spent a night at White House Landing in 2001. Must say we spent a lot of money, but it was our last stop on the trail, so we lived it up (beer, pizza, burgers, ice cream etc.)
You can't expect things to be inexpensive when they are sooo far from town. I remember being surprised at how much food they did have for resupply.
The owners were nice and treated us with respect. I can imagine that overnight guests (hikers included) may get better service than folks who just swing by for lunch or snacks. It takes some time out of their busy days to drive the boat across the lake. Running a business that far from civilization cannot be easy.
I do remember that when we went through tenting was not allowed, and the phone was for dire emergencies only. I don't know if this has changed.
I will stop there again this year when I do the wilderness, it was a great place to hang out with fellow NOBOS and regroup before the last big push to Baxter.

-java

PS The phone at Abol is new. I was there last spring (2003) and there wasn't one, so they probably weren't aware one had been put in.

[nathan_]

i spentonenight therein 2002 it was kind of expensive butwas a welcome relief after 5 days of rain

nathan
gorham nh ----> katahdin 02
game05

[aaronthebugbuffet]

A great place to stop and spend the night, but not a great place to try and get in and out of if you are in a hurry. i spent the night there this year and enjoyed it. Like one of the previous posts said I found the male owner to be a little grumpy, but the lady was very friendly. The man did warm up to me later though when he found out i was staying the night and saw how much food I was going to consume.$$$$ Be sure to get there before dark, there are a lot of rocks in the lake and they won't come over at night. Be prepared to wait, you are at their mercy for rides across the lake and don't expect a hug when you get there. To address the price questions here are some of the prices i remember:the bunk is now $20 you get a shower, but they charge you for a towel, the loaded burger was about $7, cokes are $1, beer was more expensive than i care to remember, ayce b-fast was about $7, the boat ride was free.

[Spock]

Wonderful place. It breaks up the 100

[Spock]

Wonderful place. It breaks up the 100 Mile Wilderness and you can get a package there if you want. Prices were reasonable in 2003 - considering the 50 miles of bad roads to the nearest town. The folks were great. Friendly and helpful.

[Jack Tarlin]

Spock said "Wonderful place. It breaks up the 100."

On the other hand, there are plenty of folks who find the last 100 miles so wonderful we don't WANT it broken up, and chose to hike from Monson to Baxter without any layovers. Plus, people who overnight at WHL generaly miss overnighting at Antlers Campsite or Patawadjo Shelter. The first spot is perhaps the loveliest place to camp on the whole A.T.; the other is a beautiful shelter with one of the Trail's best water sources.

I always pack enough food from Monson to go straight thru the last 100 because I neither want nor have the need for it to be broken up, but to each their own.

[Peaks]

Spock said "Wonderful place. It breaks up the 100."

On the other hand, there are plenty of folks who find the last 100 miles so wonderful we don't WANT it broken up, and chose to hike from Monson to Baxter without any layovers. Plus, people who overnight at WHL generaly miss overnighting at Antlers Campsite or Patawadjo Shelter. The first spot is perhaps the loveliest place to camp on the whole A.T.; the other is a beautiful shelter with one of the Trail's best water sources.

I always pack enough food from Monson to go straight thru the last 100 because I neither want nor have the need for it to be broken up, but to each their own.

totally agree with you Jack.

[Lone Wolf]

Wonderful place. It breaks up the 100 Mile Wilderness and you can get a package there if you want. Prices were reasonable in 2003 - considering the 50 miles of bad roads to the nearest town. The folks were great. Friendly and helpful.

I agree. It's a wonderful place to throw a tent up next to the lake. But no more packages are accepted. Most thru-hikers are ready to be done by then so they don't stop.

[Jeff]

Was at WHL in Aug '06...good time, great food. Bill mentioned that with the mild winters of late (and lack of good snowmobiling), thru hikers are their number one customers.

[TJ aka Teej]

you can get a package there if you want.

No mail-drops anymore.

[Footslogger]

Have only stayed there once and had a positive experience. The pizza and burger were something I could never forget.

That said ...next time I traverse the wilderness I think I might seriously consider carrying enough food to get me all the way to Katahdin.

There are SO many one-of-a-kind campsites in the 100 mile wilderness and I promised myself that next time I would take my time and maybe even "zero" next to a pond as I approached the end of my hike.

'Slogger

[LEGS]

I Stopped By There 2years Ago And Thought It Was Great, People Were Friendly And Helpful. Had Excellent Burger And Drinks. Beer 2.00,burger 5.00 , Most Resupply Items Were Reasonably Priced. Just Remember Everything Is Trucked In 10 Miles About Once A Week. Would Recommend It As A Good Stop Anytime, Just Don't Get Impatient If You Have To Wait For A Bit On The Boat To Get There, Relax And Enjoy The Scenery.

[Bluebearee]

I went there two years ago on my thru- just for lunch. I hadn't considered doing this, but my brother hiking the Wilderness with me insisted we experience this since a SOBO in Vermont highly recommended it. Bill seemed fine with us just having lunch and didn't even ask if we were staying. He was friendly, cooked up the burger, I think it was ~ $5 or so. The Buds weren't outrageous, given where you are. Maybe $2.50 I think, not even $3. They only have cell service out there on the lake, and yes they charge for it. This isn't Main Street Harper's Ferry folks, it's in the woods, off the beaten track. I felt the prices were fair for what we got. It was a nice diversion in the middle of the day. People don't hurry much up here in Maine, by that point in your hike, you should follow suit.

[Mountain Dew]

I got to the boat dock within the required time and sounded the fog horn like is required. After busting my ass to get there on a 22 mile day to beat the rain I was happy. I sounded the fog horn and proceeded to wait for an hour for a ride accross. Thirty minutes into my wait it started raining which wasn't pleasant when the temp is in the 50's. Like Tank said..... He was then grumpy like I had kicked his dog. The bunkhouse was warm and the food is great. I didn't care about the price because I knew it was a long haul to get it there......PLUS I didn't HAVE to buy it if I hated the prices so much right ? Overall....I suggest going there if you need to dry out or need resupply.

[Rambler]

Having lived in New England most of my life, some of the nicest people I know are grumpy. Remember, sweat smelling thru-hikers might not be their favorite visitors. http://www.mainerec.com/ware.shtml
Have I lived in New Englaqnd all my life? Not yet.

[A-Train]

Although I wasn't trying to have a "traditional" thru-hike, I thought it was more approrpiate to do the 100 mile wilderness the ole' fashioned way, without resupply. (I know someone may chime in and say the wilderness was lined with hunting camps in Earl's day). I thought going 100 miles without resupply was a last final little challenge to the trip. Sure I was REAL low on food by the time I got to the end, but the donuts at the Abol Store never tasted better.

The WHL sounds like a good place if what you need is a dry place to sleep and food, but at the end of my hike I was certainly ready to stop paying excess amounts for town luxuries.

[Crash! Bang!]

Remember, sweat smelling thru-hikers might not be their favorite visitors.

its just about their ONLY visitors, so they better cheer up about it!