Question about Desingated Campsites

[Baker]

I know that lean-to's cannot be claimed by one group if that group is not large enough to fill the capacity of the lean-to. That is why I usually stay away from them. I am not comfortable with other people setting up a camp that close to me.

My question is if I set up a campsite on desgnated site, is that site mine and mine along?

I don't mean to sound so un friendly, but with regards to where I sleep, I need a little space.

[DRIFTER]

I don't know the legalities of it, but I highly doubt anyone would ever move in on a tent campsite. I've never heard of such a thing happening.







.

[timetohike]

No. But you can camp anywhere below 3500 feet and 150 feet from a trail or stream, so there is pleanty of space for you if you are fearful of having company at a designated campsite. However, rules restricting camping to designated campsites may go into effect in the spring of 2009 for the South Meadows Flowed Lands Corridor. It depends on whether or not DEC completes the plan for expansion of designated campsite by then. If those rules go into effect you will have to set up camp within 150 feet of the designated campsite disk. You can expect pleanty of company.

[Bill I.]

Yes, it is considered Adirondack etiquette that smaller groups camping in lean-tos should leave room for late-comers. And yes, it is considered Adirondack etiquette that any party using a tent site, even if it just a solo camper, is entitled to privacy.

However, NEITHER has been codified in DEC's regulations. Nothing in 6 NYCRR Part 190 that I have read requires a small party camping in a lean-to to make way for other people. But by the same token, state regulations do not grant anyone exclusive use of any portion of state land, meaning as far as I can tell that no one has the legal right to prevent other people from moving into their tent site or lean-to. It's all state land, and everyone has equal access to it.

In practice, however, this is rarely an issue for most of the Adirondacks other than the High Peaks. Most people don't want to camp with strangers, so if they see an occupied campsite or lean-to they'll move on. Most of the time. I have had some unfavorable encounters with people in lean-tos over the years, so when I'm alone and looking for solitude I avoid shelters unless I know for fact that there is little likelihood of encountering other people.

The eastern half of the High Peaks Wilderness is a different animal. At any given camping area at any time of year--not necessarily peak weekends--it is possible for multiple parties to be occupying a small number of tent sites and lean-tos. This has happened to me twice. The first time was in February 2004 at Flowed Lands, when my dog and I moved into the Livingston Pond Lean-to, went off to explore, and came back to find the shelter filled with people. There are, of course, multiple lean-tos at Flowed Lands but apparently mine was the one everybody wanted.

The second case involved the two tent sites at Lake Arnold. Again I was the first to arrive, had the pick of the litter, but found both sites overflowing when I returned from Colden. This was Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving, so I was hardly surprised. But when I greeted one of the girls moving into my site, she replied, "I hope you don't mind. Not that it matters." So much for respecting each other's space.

[chudski63]

i had a question that might fit into topic very nicely.....as it is a question about the tentsites in question.....was on the trail on my way to colvin yesterday and came accross the designated tentsites as you hit the state land.....i plan to use these sites for futher climbs but it made be think how helpfull it would be to know were the sites are on other trails....was wondering if a possible website or publication could help me out....hope i am nor too far off subject

[Baker]

The Adirondack Mountain Club has maps that show where all the offical camp sites are. They also desribe them in their guide books.

[Baker]

Your stories are very similar to the ones told to me by a friend of mine who is a 46er. She is not as put off by this as I am. She views the Lean-to as more of an emergacy shelter and sets up a camp near the Lean-to.

My experience with most people is that they respect and desire personal space, but there is that small percentage that don't. My question here has been answered by you and a DEC ranger and it saved me from making a major ass out of myself, because I would had tried keep people out of the tent site and I would have been wrong...so I guess I will make sure I have an emergancy supply of Irish whisky, brush up on my french and bring some ear plugs and spend more time on the mountains. Which I really is the important thing.

Thank you for you imput.

[timetohike]

i had a question that might fit into topic very nicely.....as it is a question about the tentsites in question.....was on the trail on my way to colvin yesterday and came accross the designated tentsites as you hit the state land.....i plan to use these sites for futher climbs but it made be think how helpfull it would be to know were the sites are on other trails....was wondering if a possible website or publication could help me out....hope i am nor too far off subject

As stated above, the ADK Club guide maps show both lean-tos and campsites, but they don't show the "new" campsites being established. For example, on the way to Phelps Mt there is a designated campsite just after you cross the bridge over Phelps Brook. This is a "new" designated campsite that is not shown on the ADK Club map.

There are also two more designated campsites further up the trail. The ADK shows them as one designated campsite.

The National Geographic maps (both software and printed) only show lean-tos.

The DEC published maps in 2003 as part of a draft plan for eliminating, moving, and creating new campsites and lean-tos. The problem with using those maps is you need on-site verification of whether the changes have taken place. For example, I know that "new" campsite exist on the Phelps trail because I walked past it last fall.

Here is a link to the DEC maps in pdf format:

DEC Lean-to and Campsite Plan Maps

[DRIFTER]

I hope a small turn would be alright at this point! I went to check out a lake once upon a time, that I had never been to before. I too, like solitude when I camp. When I came to the head of the trail into, [ I'll mention the name since I don't frequent it], Sand Lake [ Herkimer county], there was a tent set up directly in the middle of the trail with a couple of cars on each side blocking an easy entrance. I don't believe this to be proper etiquette in any way shape or form, but was it legal????

[Swamp Booger]

Drifter,
The State regs specify that camping is not allowed within 150' of a trail, stream, or body of water, unless on a designated site. If a party was camped on the trail, I would interpet that as a violation!

[DuctTape]

Drifter, isnt' sand lake quite a few miles in from any roads in the 5 ponds area? How'd they drive in? /confused

[DRIFTER]

Drifter, isnt' sand lake quite a few miles in from any roads in the 5 ponds area? How'd they drive in? /confused

Without my looking up county lines , it's the one on Powley
/Piseco road???? Excuse any spelling fluffs!

[DRIFTER]

Looks like just over the line in Hamilton county, sorry!

[Bill I.]

Without my looking up county lines , it's the one on Powley/Piseco road???? Excuse any spelling fluffs!

Hamilton County. And yes, camping at that spot would be illegal. The 150-foot-rule applies to roads as well as trails and water bodies. Unless there is a designated site (marked by one of those yellow CAMP HERE disks).

[DRIFTER]

Thanks all, I figured as much but wanting to find a secluded spot I just moved on, which worked out well! This all gives me an idea for a new camping product, roll out plastic trail.......Imagine, someone's in the spot you want, wait till they're not looking, roll out your plastic trail and call a ranger. When they're moved off, just roll it back up and pitch the old tent! Plastic Lakes maybe???? I'll work on it.