AMR parking

[2505]

https://www.perugazette.com/2021/03/29/dec-and-adirondack-mountain-reserve-to-pilot-new-reservation-system-in-2021/?fbclid=IwAR25ey5U5IX-ABlRpsHwaahZL4WN1vlAJBfB-SoAcdkiwPvQX39FsrvqzO0

Discuss....I am for any potential solutions...we'll see how this works

[TCD]

Being discussed over here:

https://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/forum/hiking/adirondack-mountain-hiking/511417-and-a-permit-system-was-implemented

Peru Gazette sub-headline is disingenuous, just parroting state propaganda. There's no evidence that these parking restrictions "increase public safety." In fact, all of the eyewitness evidence on the ground is that the restrictions implemented to date GREATLY HARM public safety, and I would expect the same result from this latest ham-handed state action.

[JimVroman]

Sad to say that it had to come.
Overcrowding is the greatest threat.

[Justin]

I’m happy to see some steps are being taken to help try & resolve some the extreme high use issues within the high peaks region. Kudos to AMR & DEC for starting somewhere. Obviously this is just a “pilot system” with lots of unanswered questions & data, so we’ll see where it goes. I’m just getting a kick out the amount of people who are so upset with this & think they can no longer go hiking whenever they want anymore and need to make a reservation first, as if this was the only access point for the prestigious 46.

[TCD]

Well it certainly has no effect on my hiking; I have not hiked from the AMR lot in quite a while.

But you cannot look at all this from just your own perspective. You have to recognize the reality of the user population. Maybe people are silly in wanting so badly to hike from that access point, but what matters is reality - lots of people want to start there. And safety is being impacted, as they trek along the shoulder of the highway to get there. It's only a matter of time before someone gets killed, and the state owns that for creating this situation.

So sorry, Jim, I have to disagree. Someone's kid getting killed by a car is the greatest threat, not overcrowding. Orders of magnitude greater.

And Justin, while I hope that accident never happens, if it does, you might having to delete the "laughing emoji" from your post.

We all would like to see this situation improved. But the state created this situation over the last 20-30 years, and every action they have taken so far has been wrongheaded, and has made things worse, not better (including this most recent action).

[Justin]

And Justin, while I hope that accident never happens, if it does, you might having to delete the "laughing emoji" from your post.

Tom, please don’t get me wrong. Of course I always hope that accident never happens also, but the fact that people actually think the AMR access is the only access to that region of mountains in the high peaks is laughable.

[Hear the Footsteps]

I'm not a fan. Yet I've expected something like this since the late 90's. If it had been initiated then maybe we wouldn't be where we are now.

I'm not a fan. But I can get a hike in in 14 hours from AMR.

I'm not a fan. But most of my hiking years are behind me. I can count myself lucky.

I'm not a fan. I never got a ride on the Bus on the Lake Road. I don't miss it.

Those that are not a fan and have hiking years ahead. They may not share my opinion.

As I said in a similar post on ADKHIGHPEAKS
I'm curious about the startup and whether the powers that be will make sure it starts up in an organized fashion. Once a system is in place and people understand how it works it will be tolerable. Not what the hikers want but OK. Those that never experience any other way won't miss it.

[Hear the Footsteps]

I’m happy to see some steps are being taken to help try & resolve some the extreme high use issues within the high peaks region. Kudos to AMR & DEC for starting somewhere. Obviously this is just a “pilot system” with lots of unanswered questions & data, so we’ll see where it goes. I’m just getting a kick out the amount of people who are so upset with this & think they can no longer go hiking whenever they want anymore and need to make a reservation first, as if this was the only access point for the prestigious 46.

Your laughing imoji. Why I count my self as blessed not to be a member of certain social media.

[Justin]

Your laughing imoji. Why I count my self as blessed not to be a member of certain social media.

I’m sure just as blessed as people who choose to use phone apps instead of actual maps. Some are out dated, and most are inaccurate. To each their own outdoor enjoyment and how they go about it.

[saabrian]

TCD: You are right that the state has exacerbated this problem by inviting masses of people to the HP without giving rangers, trails and municipalities adequate resources to deal with this influx.

But the public safety solution to the risk you mention is for the sheriff's department and/or state police (not forest rangers) to enforce parking regulations mercilessly. If a car is parked illegally on 73 or any other road, tow it. Or slap a $500 ticket on it. Word will get around and that will solve the problem pretty quickly.

[tenderfoot]

and the state owns that for creating this situation.

I respectfully disagree. As a driver, father, individual I would not choose to park on the shoulder of a highway. If lot is full I move on. I do not think people are forced to park on the highway because the lot is full. It's full! Go elsewhere.

As a hiker occasionally transiting through AMR property I appreciate the graciousness of the host. I do not understand the details of the easement but am grateful they provide access. If they choose to reduce parking, require registration, etc. fine by me. I appreciate the access.

I also appreciate the shuttle provided by Keene, the additional parking improvements along the 73 corridor but would not appreciate increasing parking capacity at the expense of the wilderness people are visiting.

Just my 1.5 cents

[montcalm]

TCD: You are right that the state has exacerbated this problem by inviting masses of people to the HP without giving rangers, trails and municipalities adequate resources to deal with this influx.

But the public safety solution to the risk you mention is for the sheriff's department and/or state police (not forest rangers) to enforce parking regulations mercilessly. If a car is parked illegally on 73 or any other road, tow it. Or slap a $500 ticket on it. Word will get around and that will solve the problem pretty quickly.

I respectfully disagree. As a driver, father, individual I would not choose to park on the shoulder of a highway. If lot is full I move on. I do not think people are forced to park on the highway because the lot is full. It's full! Go elsewhere.

As a hiker occasionally transiting through AMR property I appreciate the graciousness of the host. I do not understand the details of the easement but am grateful they provide access. If they choose to reduce parking, require registration, etc. fine by me. I appreciate the access.

I also appreciate the shuttle provided by Keene, the additional parking improvements along the 73 corridor but would not appreciate increasing parking capacity at the expense of the wilderness people are visiting.

Just my 1.5 cents

I agree with both these sentiments. It's not a problem where you can really point at one entity, and it's up to citizens to be responsible for their own safety as well. We constantly hear certain people crying about the "nanny" state of public safety affairs, but it's really up to individuals to own up to their decisions. Without going off into that rabbit hole, enforcement of these kind of things can help education, or give people the boot in the ass they need to figure something else out.

I'm not really all too worried about uber-popular hikes like Cascade. I think eventually that trail will be a "wilderness foot road" and it will be what it is. Well used, hopefully well-built, but non-motorized. Damage will hopefully be contained to a minor corridor and people will be educated to stay on bare rock on summits.

It's not like there aren't a million other things to do in that general region of the world, so hopefully hikers burn themselves out and branch out to other areas, and we just accept the high use areas and manage accordingly.

[JimVroman]

Well it certainly has no effect on my hiking; I have not hiked from the AMR lot in quite a while.

But you cannot look at all this from just your own perspective. You have to recognize the reality of the user population. Maybe people are silly in wanting so badly to hike from that access point, but what matters is reality - lots of people want to start there. And safety is being impacted, as they trek along the shoulder of the highway to get there. It's only a matter of time before someone gets killed, and the state owns that for creating this situation.

So sorry, Jim, I have to disagree. Someone's kid getting killed by a car is the greatest threat, not overcrowding. Orders of magnitude greater.

And Justin, while I hope that accident never happens, if it does, you might having to delete the "laughing emoji" from your post.

We all would like to see this situation improved. But the state created this situation over the last 20-30 years, and every action they have taken so far has been wrongheaded, and has made things worse, not better (including this most recent action).

I'm sorry that you misinterpreted my comment.
I was referring to the overcrowding of trails and peaks, not parking on a busy highway.

[BillyGr]

Not sure how this is a STATE action (since the group doing it is private). The state may say it's OK but they didn't set it up.

Also, it would actually help with the parking and walking on the road situation, since there is no longer a reason to walk on the highway, as walk ins without a reservation WILL NOT BE ALLOWED (as it said in the story).
So no one needs to park elsewhere and try to walk in, since they won't be able to anyhow!

[TCD]

Not sure how this is a STATE action (since the group doing it is private). The state may say it's OK but they didn't set it up.

Also, it would actually help with the parking and walking on the road situation, since there is no longer a reason to walk on the highway, as walk ins without a reservation WILL NOT BE ALLOWED (as it said in the story).
So no one needs to park elsewhere and try to walk in, since they won't be able to anyhow!

1. Read the announcement. The state is taking the credit, and "DEC" is giving itself "top billing" over "AMR" every time they are both mentioned. So yeah, AMR is doing all the work, but if the state is trying this hard to get the credit, as far as I'm concerned they own it.

2. The woods is big; I doubt that people who want to walk in are going to walk up to the gate and knock. Plus, this will simply push more people to Chapel Pond and the Garden, and there will be more road walking in those areas.