Former Snowbird lean-to

[Kevin]

Or is it Sno Bird? I forget. Anyways, is the old lean-to site nearest to Basin or Haystack in the col? Last Friday when hiking through there seemed to be 2 distinct camping areas, one nearer to Basin that looked more like an old lean-to site, and the one nearer to Haystack that looks like camping area(s).

[AntlerPerak]

This one is old, before my time but I found a reference to it. The ADK Mt Club High Peaks Guide Seventh Edition, 1962. This one was a gift presented to me by the ADK when I was doing research for a newer guide around 1980. It was a relic in their store room. Tons of interesting info in here including Jim Goodwin's in depth detail of old herd paths up trail-less peaks.

Anyway, Sno bird Lean-to was on the range trail between the Shorey Shortcut and the trail to Haystack. .16 miles on the Haystack side west of the shortcut and .45 east of the Haystack trail. I never saw this one as it was taken down long before I ever got into the high peaks.

I have no idea when they took Sno Bird down it was in the 8th edition, 1975 but not listed in the 9th edition 1977. I am guessing that one went out when the ones above Indian Falls were burned. Never saw those either. Read something years ago about the outrage over destroying lean-tos above 3500 feet. But I guess they got over it.

Here is one I never heard of, the Gothics Lean-to in the Gothics-Saddleback Col on the Range Trail. That was also in the 1962 guide book. That one burned down, not on purpose, bad campers. I find that out in a later guide, 1975. It does not say when it burned only that it was an accident and that lean-to was where the Ore Bed trail joined the Range. More than you wanted to know.

That second campsite you saw is not mentioned in any of the pre 1990 guides so it must be something fairly new.

The only one of the old timers lean-tos I had seen before they were taken out was the one at Lake Tear. We camped there the night before I finished on Skylight. I think Lake Tear lasted another year as I know the crew did not get to it in 77' They took out Four Corners before I got there too

Hope this helps.

[Kevin]

Hope this helps.

Excellent reading . I should check my old guide (circa early 70's) more often!

[Pete_Hickey]

when the ones above Indian Falls were burned. Never saw those either. .....

Here is one I never heard of, the Gothics Lean-to in the Gothics-Saddleback Col on the Range Trail.
.....

That second campsite you saw is not mentioned in any of the pre 1990 guides so it must be something fairly new.

I remember a VERY cold night in August, sleeping in the Indian Falls lean-to. It was the day after I slept in the one between Gothics and Saddleback. Years later, when I went back there, I looked around to try to figure out where things were. I couldn't even find the small stream from which I took my water. I passed the sno-bird lean-to that day, but don't know for sure.

Very soon after descending Basin, quote close to the Shorey Shortcut, there used to be an illegal campsite, on the right (heading to haystack), just off the trail. Further on (towards haystack) there was a small brook, and a path leading left to where. I BELIEVE, the lean-to was.

[Kevin]

Further on (towards haystack) there was a small brook, and a path leading left to where. I BELIEVE, the lean-to was.

I remember seeing that path, so the spot where the lean-to was must still be used for camping since a well defined path still exists.

It's above 3500 but less than 4,000, so I guess camping is fine there. Does it have to be designated? If yes, is the sno bird site a designated spot?

[Dick]

I recently looked this up and can't put my hands on it now, but I believe the current ADK guide book states that camping is permissible between 3500 and 4000 ft. only at designated sites, and that the only currently designated sites within that range are Sno Bird and Lake Arnold. One not mentioned, and which I'm not sure about, is the one on Rocky Peak Ridge, which is indicated on the current map, but is not mentioned in the narrative for that hike. Recent discussion on this over on VFTT.

[RonandJon]

From the UMP

Here is a link to some info:

http://www.adirondack-park.net/issues/high.peaks.ump.html

and some text:

Camping above 3,500 feet is permitted only in lean-tos or designated sites. As mentioned previously, no camping is permitted above 4,000 feet in elevation at any time of the year.

[lumberzac]

It's above 3500 but less than 4,000, so I guess camping is fine there. Does it have to be designated? If yes, is the sno bird site a designated spot?

Yes and yes. At least it was two summers ago.

[oldsmores]

Good and Bad Memories

...Here is one I never heard of, the Gothics Lean-to in the Gothics-Saddleback Col on the Range Trail...

On my very first backpacking trip to the high peaks (I believe it was 1970 or 71) we struggled to the col (no ultralight rigs for us) with the intention of staying in the lean-to there. Imagine our surprise to find a patch of scorched earth instead. Spent an extremely cold, though mercifully dry, night under the stars.
In '72, a friend and I did the range trail with full packs in a steady cold rain, arriving at the Sno-Bird lean-to as night was falling. It was full, but the kind folks already there showed mercy and let us squeeze in. We were packed in so tight I couldn't even roll over, but I was extremely grateful for the dry place to sleep.
That was the last time I did not carry a tent...