Avalanche lake winter tenting?

[chrix]

Hello,

We are going out for 4 or so nights hoping to climb the ice around avalanche lake. The question I have is should we setup base camp at Avalanche Camp and hike up to the lake each day or is there a nice tent site around the rugged lake? I would ideally hope the lake is froze in a week when we are going there so we wont have to trudge around the lake.

Any thoughts or previous experience out there would help. I have stayed at the old avalanche leanto in the winter before but we don't mind tenting it (better insulation anywho).

thanks,
-chris.

[rdl]

There are designated campsites between Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden. That would take you beyond your destination but you wouldn't be hiking up from Avy Camps to Avy Lake each day -- that's a decent little ascent to start your day. It's pretty flat between Avy Lake and Lake Colden.

[Hobbitling]

right around the lake is pretty much sheer cliffs. no flat areas suitable for camping.

rdl is right, camp between the Avalanche and Colden or even over by flowed lands. good morning warmup walk.

[Neil]

Why not set up right on the lake?

[Little Rickie]

Why not set up right on the lake?

You have to camp 150 feet from water. Liquid or solid.

[chrix]

There are designated campsites between Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden. That would take you beyond your destination but you wouldn't be hiking up from Avy Camps to Avy Lake each day -- that's a decent little ascent to start your day. It's pretty flat between Avy Lake and Lake Colden.

I was planning on coming in from the loj area and carrying all our climbing gear plus tent/bags etc. I was hoping someone would say there was an isolated spot around avalanche lake that was suitable for a small tent. Carrying all that gear up to Lake Colden from either direction doesn't seem worth it. I do know of folks who camped out at the base of the trap dyke before but after the recent avalanche there I am not brave (read:stupid) enough to do so.

[Bill I.]

You have to camp 150 feet from water. Liquid or solid.

The "150-foot rule" is superceded by this one at Avalanche Lake:

§190.13 Wilderness Areas in the Adirondack Park
f. Miscellaneous restrictions.
5. In the South Meadows-Flowed Lands Corridor, no person shall camp except at a primitive tent site, provided that this section shall not be effective until such time as the department completes its designation of such campsites within such corridor, and provided further that until such time as the department completes such designation no person shall fail to comply with the camping instructions contained on any sign posted by the department.

The South Meadows-Flowed Lands Corridor is defined (generally speaking) as everything between Marcy and Algonquin, South Meadow and Calamity Brook.

So, in short, within this area it's camping at designated sites only.

Really, I'm beginning to think Neil should permanently post all these regs on the forum. It would save me having to correct him all the time.

[Hobbitling]

when in doubt, call the ranger. anyone got a number?

[hillman1]

Just stop by his cabin on the way in at the lake. They probably love visitors and may even give you a hot cup of cocoa...

[DuctTape]

when in doubt, call the ranger. anyone got a number?

http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6079.html

[oldsmores]

The "150-foot rule" is superceded by this one at Avalanche Lake:
Quote:
§190.13 Wilderness Areas in the Adirondack Park
f. Miscellaneous restrictions.
5. In the South Meadows-Flowed Lands Corridor, no person shall camp except at a primitive tent site, provided that this section shall not be effective until such time as the department completes its designation of such campsites within such corridor, and provided further that until such time as the department completes such designation no person shall fail to comply with the camping instructions contained on any sign posted by the department.

...

Huh? Ya gotta love the drafters of these things. If I follow this through, they wrote a regulation that isn't effective until some indefinite time in the future, and until that time (whenever it is), "follow the signs". It's a thing of beauty!

[Bill I.]

Huh? Ya gotta love the drafters of these things. If I follow this through, they wrote a regulation that isn't effective until some indefinite time in the future, and until that time (whenever it is), "follow the signs". It's a thing of beauty!

Yeah, this wasn't one of DEC's greatest moments in terms of clarity. This reg was posted several years ago, so I can only assume the designated campsites are all in place.

[Wldrns]

when in doubt, call the ranger. anyone got a number?

The Region 5 Ranger Roster is a very handy document to print and save. Get the Region 6 version while you are at it. Rangers are not often by their phones, so it may take a few tries to reach the one you need. You can always go to the top, HQ in Ray Brook or Watertown.

[redhawk]

Huh? Ya gotta love the drafters of these things. If I follow this through, they wrote a regulation that isn't effective until some indefinite time in the future, and until that time (whenever it is), "follow the signs". It's a thing of beauty!

It's probably intentional. It allows enforcement under about any conditions in case things change after the regulation is written.

Sort of like the "subject, but not limited to" clause you find in many contracts or agreement.

In effect, making them open ended.

It's legalese wiggle room.

Hawk

[KurtVon]

Camping on Avalance lake

If I'm correct, there is a place to camp on avalanche lake or at least near the lake. Take a look at a map; you will see a campsite on the south end of avalanche lake...its between lake colden and avalanche lake. I have passed through there a few times and did see people camping at that spot. I would always check with a ranger just to make sure to be safe. Good luck climbing and hopefully you'll post some pictures of your trip.

Kurt


"To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here’s where things grow. But of course, without the top you can’t have any sides. It’s the top that defines the sides. So on we go...we have a long way...no hurry...just one step after the next...."