Challenging, remote, and inspiring 10-person trip ideas?

[DSettahr]

The mile minimum separation distance applies only to the High Peaks Wilderness. In that area, the regulations are quite clear- any group that intends to camp on state land in the High Peaks Wilderness must have 8 or fewer people in the group at all times, and must maintain a mile of separation distance with any associated group at all times.

On most other units of state land (including both the Giant Mountain and Dix Mountain Wilderness Areas), the regulations are a little bit less strict. The 9 person limit applies only to the camping aspect of a trip. Legally, larger overnight groups can hike together during the day, as long as they separate into groups of 9 or fewer to camp separately at night. There is no minimum separation distance for how far the groups need to be apart from each other. In theory, this can work well if you have groups that are prepared to separate into discrete, self-contained camp groups with separate tenting, cooking, and campfires (if allowed) that are at least a reasonable distance apart. It still takes a fair amount of planning and experience on the groups part to put this into practice effectively.

It's also worth noting that a single $100 fine is on the extreme low end of the potential range for fines for violating group size limits. Many of the DEC regulations are written so that all group members can be held liable for the conduct of the entire group, and each group member can be issued individual citations- so the fine very well could be $100 for each group member, or $1,000 total for a group of ten (and possibly even greater).

[Hard Scrabble]

I'm so over tired of regulations that I could throw up.
Nine or less, separate tent sites, fines if you violate state regulations.
The high peaks are unique and deserve special rules.
But taking a bunch of kids on a hike in the Silver Lake "wilderness" takes the cake.
We can't recreate "wilderness". That's up to nature after we're long gone.
Any thing else is vanity.
Jim

[Trail Boss]

What was the Silver Lake Wilderness Area like just before it became part of the Adirondack Park?

[Wldrns]

I would say that the regulations in the Adirondacks are among the least restrictive of any park or "wilderness" area in the lower 48. You don't find anything as easy as camping with respect to the 150 foot rule in many other wooded backcountry places nationwide.

The regs have been formulated as necessary over time due to past human abuses, to today environmentally protect what we have, while allowing the best possible experience by human visitors. There are reasons for each regulation, most are for the most part meant to preserve the land and waters for future visitors.

Want to wreck it? Just allow huge unregulated groups to come in to do whatever they want at any time with little knowledge or regard to what works and what does not.

[DSettahr]

Want to wreck it? Just allow huge unregulated groups to come in to do whatever they want at any time with little knowledge or regard to what works and what does not.

And this is exactly what happened in the 60's and 70's that lead to the implementation of backcountry regulations, as well as the formulation of minimum-impact ethics like Leave No Trace.

The photos at the end of this research paper are a great example of the benefit that can come from regulations. Undoubtedly, the implementation of regulations prohibiting camping at high elevations in the Adirondack Park (and the enforcement of those regulations) played a significant role in allowing the alpine summits in the High Peaks to partially recover from those impacts.

If the levels of use 40-50 years ago without regulations was enough to cause significant impacts then, just imagine what a regulation-free environment would be like in the Adirondacks today, with usage levels that are much, much higher...

[Fly Rodder]

I would say that the regulations in the Adirondacks are among the least restrictive of any park or "wilderness" area in the lower 48. You don't find anything as easy as camping with respect to the 150 foot rule in many other wooded backcountry places nationwide.

The regs have been formulated as necessary over time due to past human abuses, to today environmentally protect what we have, while allowing the best possible experience by human visitors. There are reasons for each regulation, most are for the most part meant to preserve the land and waters for future visitors.

Want to wreck it? Just allow huge unregulated groups to come in to do whatever they want at any time with little knowledge or regard to what works and what does not.

Agree 100% with this. I'm currently planning a 10-day trip to Yellowstone and SW Montana - it's a whole different ballgame and Yellowstone is remote to begin with. The Adirondacks are within a 6-hr drive of 1/4 the population of North America.