Campsites

[VWBUB67]

ANY CAMP SITES BETWEEN PETERS RUN SHELTER AND RAUSCH GAP SHELTER IN PA.? NOT SURE I CAN MAKE THE 17.8 MILES IN ONE DAY. THANKS.

[Youngblood]

There weren't any in 2000.

[slabfoot]

many suitable dry camps on top stoney and sharp mts. starting about 10 mi. east of peters mt. shelter. pa state game lands permit camping along the corridor but must camp a specified distance from springs and creeks. not sure but i think it is a couple hundred feet. most springs are good but a couple show the orange stain indicating mine drainage. also rausch run has high mine acid level. i dont know if that will hurt you but i fill up elsewhere. lately the spring has been dry at rausch gap shelter, but much rain has fallen here this last two weeks so i'm sure spring is at it again. side trips to the bottom of the valley will reward the quiet hiker with encounters with deer, turkey, grouse, fox and black bear. also a very loud owl. the creek has a wild population of brook trout also though it has been having a difficult time competeing with the larger stocked trout. not sure when you're doing this section but in summer saw the biggest rattler i've ever seen on the trail where it follows the cinder rail bed. not sure if this is what you were looking for, but you will find a few nice flat spots with fire rings and many spots suitable for a stealth/notrace type camp. rifle season for deer runs dec. 2 thru dec 14, wear orange and stay on the trail!

[veteran]

Anybody have a list of stealth campsite locations
in the White Mountains?

[Lone Wolf]

I don't have an actual printed list but if I were with you I could show you some prime stealth spots. My favorite is within 300 yards of Lakes of the Crowds.

[Ann]

Veteran...I can suggest some options in the Whites...that would be considered legal...they certainly are not prime and certainly not stealth, but camping in the Whites can be kind of tough considering the terrain and the strict regs.

As an alternative to Liberty Springs:
Pick up water at Liberty Springs, head up to jct. with Franconia Ridge Trail and Liberty Springs Trail go towards Mt. Liberty (head south) you will be outside the FPA, go towards the west side of the trail and there are some hardened spots.

As an alternative to Galehead AMC hut:
Pick up water at hut..head up the Frost Trail to Mt. Galehead at the wooded summit you will see herd paths that lead to some hardened sites.

As an alternative to AMC Mizpah or Nauman Tentsite, head down
MT. Clinton trail... outside the FPA you should be able to find some possibilities.

As an alternative to Carter Notch Hut:
Head down the Wildcat River Trail. Just past the FPA are some possibilities. Water is available nearby.

I wish I could give you some better suggestions but these are just some close-by alternatives that are not too far from water and could be used as some replacements to the AMC spots. I don't know how far anyone is willing to travel for a decent spot and hate to see anyone lose any significant elevation gain.

It's a very tough stretch between Mt. Clinton and Mt. Madison...the only suggestion I can give you there is that it would be easier to travel with a hammock there, it would provide you with more camping options and you'd lose less elevation gain when trying to find a spot because you cannot camp above treeline, you'll have to dip down to camp. The terrain makes it hard to find a spot that is legal. If you are traveling with a tent you'll be able to find some spots but you'll lose some serious elevation gain in order to get a decent spot.

Hope this helps.

[Wander Yonder]

Ann, I read that it is legal to camp anywhere in the Whites if you hammock camp. Is that true?

[Ann]

Sharon...
The answer to that is NO. There are some very strict rules about camping in the White Mountain National Forest. There are quite a few restrictions...I don't know where you read that info but this is a link to the camping rules in the Whites:


http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/white/recrea...try_rules.html

BTW, this link only give the "short" version of the rules...there are even more but this is all the usfs provides online.

If you do attempt to camp illegally make sure you are not in view because if you are spotted/caught you could be fined. (Not that I am advocating you camp illegally but can understand how you might be put in that position when traveling through the Whites.)

[Wander Yonder]

Thanks, Ann. Wow, there ARE a lot of regulations!

I had read that on a Boy Scout leader's hammock camping site somewhere on the net. From what I have read on hiking forums, I didn't think it was true, but thought I would ask.

As for rules, I obey them unless they endanger me (like telling me I have to stay somewhere where my instincts scream DANGER!) or where I am too exhausted to get to where I am supposed to be.

[Ann]

I have been flamed (not on this board but on another) for saying this BUT I would absolutely put personal safety above ANY regulation...no question about it.

[Lone Wolf]

You ain't gonna get flamed here Ann. Some rules are made to be broken. I NEVER pay to camp in the Whites. I always stealh camp. What's good enough for a moose is good enough for a wolf.

[Ann]

Thanks Lone Wolf...

I have to say, IMHO, the people on this site, in general, have a much more realistic view of the world than another site which shall remain unnamed, (but you know the one I mean)!!

[Blue Jay]

Yes, stealth camping the Whites is a wonderful tradition. I doubt anyone would get flamed for approving that. You might get flamed for a pro AMC stand, however. The whole system there is rediculous. If they really wanted to preserve the Whites, which is why they claim to have the regulations, they would Tear Down the Huts. The regulations are purely to limit the use for us Dirt Baggers, and to increase the use for people they can suck money from.

[Ann]

The whole system there is rediculous

Blue Jay...I fully agree with you.

[prozac]

Does anyone know what the General is? A couple years ago while hiking in the Rausch Gap area there was a blue blaze trail with a sign for "The General". Normally I couldn't have missed something that intriquing, but it was getting late and raining so I pushed on. Slabfoot, you seem pretty familiar with this section, any idea?

[Peaks]

I might add to Ann's post,

near Galehead, there is the site used by the folks during the building of the replacement hut. It's just south of Galehead.

There are numerous stealth sites around Zealand.

Near Carter Notch, there are sites used that are not so stealth near the intersection of the AT and the 19 mile brook trail.

Why the regulations? Because of the heavy use. It's one way to control it.

[slabfoot]

...is an old rusting steam shovel(actually early deisel) that was abondonned at the end of a coal dig nestled up in the false valley just a short ways off the trail south of rausch gap. on the back of the cab on the large iron counterweight is the (i presume) manufacturers name "GENERAL".

REGARDS

BILL

[VWBUB67]

SLABFOOT

THANKS FOR THE GOOD INFO. AFTER GETTING THE PA GUIDE, I DID READ THAT ONE COULD CAMP ON PA GAME LANDS IF YOU ABIDE BY THEIR RULES. THIS HELPS WITH MY PLANNING.

VWBUG67

[Aubrey]

Slabfoot, you're right. I've hiked out to the General a couple of times - neat little area. Still signs of the old strip mining, lumbering operations that ravaged the ridge. (happily, the ridge is MUCH nicer these days.)

And there is indeed a plate that reads, "GENERAL". The amazing thing about the old clunker is the shape its in after all these years...

[Jack Tarlin]

Stealth camping, by definition, means spending the night where you're not supposed to, and frequently means that you're choosing to disobey posted regulations and even break the law.

There are many good sites in the Whites and elsewhere that are no longer viable for stealthing because their locations have been publicly posted and discussed, which has led to these sites being patrolled by Rangers, AMC Ridgerunners, etc.

If anyone out there wants to share their knowledge of stealth sites, well this is all well and good, but can we please do this THRU PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE?

Publicly posting the exact wherabouts of specific unofficial or illegal sites is a really good way to get these sites posted, patrolled, or demolished.

Let's share our knowledge and resources folks, but let's do it in an intelligent manner. If you wanna keep your favorite stealth sites alive and well, then share the knowledge of their existence and wherabouts in a discreet, sensible fashion. Otherwise, these spots won't be there anymore when YOU need them, nor will you advice and suggestions be of any use to anyone else, either.