I made my bi yearly visit up to Millinocket for the summer reservations opening day today. For those not familiar with this event, anyone who shows up in person on this one day every year can normally reserve any site in the park. A lot of folks want specific cabins or campsites that they use year after year usually on the same weeks and the way to guarantee that is show up for opening day. I drove over to Bangor Friday night and used a free hotel room then left early this morning and was at the headquarters around 5:00 AM. There were several tents plus several folks wrapped up in sleeping bags on lawn chairs. Unlike past years there is now an informal sign in list which means folks don't have to physically stand in line all night. I was number 33 on the list behind Deidre Fleming a popular outdoors journalist with the Portland Press Herald. I asked her if she was there for business or pleasure and she replied pleasure as she had gotten the "bug" four years previously.
Around 6 AM, the line formed up based on the sign up list. There were some folks who had camped a couple of nights more for tradition then for necessity although there are bragging rights to the first person in line. It was 6 degrees with bit of breeze so it was decidedly cool out. Jensen Bissel the park director opened the doors at 7 AM and the first reservations were processed around 8 AM. Before starting, Jensen talked a bit about changes at the park. The rates in the park have gone up for the first time in 6 years. The park has opened a new remote camping area this year on the perimeter road near the turn off for the Burnt Mountain trail. From a BSP faceboook post "The North Branch Camps are located off the Park Tote Road 1 mile east of Burnt Mtn. The camps are next to the North Branch of Trout Brook, but otherwise are just in the woods. The camps are about 6 miles from South Branch Pond campground and the trailhead for the Traveler Loop and several other northern Park trails. The camps are too far North for reasonable access to Katahdin trailheads". Its is an old logging camp last used by Maine DOT when they did maintenance on the park roads. There is a bunkhouse and a cook house that is available for reservation. He stated it is a fairly remote spot intended for groups. I did look at USGS map when I got home and there is spot labeled McCarty on the USGS with two buildings on the map. If McCarty is the spot, it is south of Burnt Mountain about a mile off the Tote Road. If this is the new site, it is about a remote as it gets in Baxter for a drive in site. I expect there are no neighbors close enough to offend if a group were to reserve both buildings. It is quite remote so probably not a great base of operations for folks who just want to climb Katahdin. The other change is a new bunkhouse at Nesowadnehunk
This was the first time I had ever been to a Saturday opening day. There were definitely fewer park staff present this year. The Friends of Baxter State Park used to be quite visible assisting but they weren't obvious this year. I did talk to a ranger regarding the trail up North Brother, it had been on the list for a total rerouting but the trail crew got diverted to the Abol trail work which is continuing this summer and starting a major effort on the Dudley trail as they are far higher use and more visible. The current plan for North Brother is 2018.
As in past years, it took awhile to process the initial rush. Stan from VFTT walked in around 9:30, he usually makes it up for opening day every year. His son Eric and his fiancé showed up a bit later. It was about 10 AM before I went in and got my 1st choice of reservations (Bear Brook 3 labor day weekend). As usual, the heavy activity was Daicey and Kidney Pond cabins. I don't know if they hit the 20% max but there were a few folks in line near me that ended up negotiating for Owls Nest at Daicey in August. Looking at the reservations book this evening, looks like the walk in sites like Chimney have plenty of openings when the rolling reservations start up.
They were up to giving out number 80 when I left. As usual the early birds tended to be older long term campers, not a lot of college age folks. Overall it was bit lower key than prior years, not sure if it was because it was Saturday but the level of energy by the staff was a bit lower than past years. Its a nice tradition and I expect the park doesn't mind some early season cash flow but the reality is the rolling reservation system appears to be working quite well. The popular sites still fill up quickly but for those willing to follow the rules, I haven't heard a lot of complaints.
The warm up didn't leave the Millinocket area unscathed. They have more snow on the ground and the snowbanks are higher but the town didn't seem to be bustling with snowmachines. The roads are in great shape and I made good time getting back to Gorham NH.
Around 6 AM, the line formed up based on the sign up list. There were some folks who had camped a couple of nights more for tradition then for necessity although there are bragging rights to the first person in line. It was 6 degrees with bit of breeze so it was decidedly cool out. Jensen Bissel the park director opened the doors at 7 AM and the first reservations were processed around 8 AM. Before starting, Jensen talked a bit about changes at the park. The rates in the park have gone up for the first time in 6 years. The park has opened a new remote camping area this year on the perimeter road near the turn off for the Burnt Mountain trail. From a BSP faceboook post "The North Branch Camps are located off the Park Tote Road 1 mile east of Burnt Mtn. The camps are next to the North Branch of Trout Brook, but otherwise are just in the woods. The camps are about 6 miles from South Branch Pond campground and the trailhead for the Traveler Loop and several other northern Park trails. The camps are too far North for reasonable access to Katahdin trailheads". Its is an old logging camp last used by Maine DOT when they did maintenance on the park roads. There is a bunkhouse and a cook house that is available for reservation. He stated it is a fairly remote spot intended for groups. I did look at USGS map when I got home and there is spot labeled McCarty on the USGS with two buildings on the map. If McCarty is the spot, it is south of Burnt Mountain about a mile off the Tote Road. If this is the new site, it is about a remote as it gets in Baxter for a drive in site. I expect there are no neighbors close enough to offend if a group were to reserve both buildings. It is quite remote so probably not a great base of operations for folks who just want to climb Katahdin. The other change is a new bunkhouse at Nesowadnehunk
This was the first time I had ever been to a Saturday opening day. There were definitely fewer park staff present this year. The Friends of Baxter State Park used to be quite visible assisting but they weren't obvious this year. I did talk to a ranger regarding the trail up North Brother, it had been on the list for a total rerouting but the trail crew got diverted to the Abol trail work which is continuing this summer and starting a major effort on the Dudley trail as they are far higher use and more visible. The current plan for North Brother is 2018.
As in past years, it took awhile to process the initial rush. Stan from VFTT walked in around 9:30, he usually makes it up for opening day every year. His son Eric and his fiancé showed up a bit later. It was about 10 AM before I went in and got my 1st choice of reservations (Bear Brook 3 labor day weekend). As usual, the heavy activity was Daicey and Kidney Pond cabins. I don't know if they hit the 20% max but there were a few folks in line near me that ended up negotiating for Owls Nest at Daicey in August. Looking at the reservations book this evening, looks like the walk in sites like Chimney have plenty of openings when the rolling reservations start up.
They were up to giving out number 80 when I left. As usual the early birds tended to be older long term campers, not a lot of college age folks. Overall it was bit lower key than prior years, not sure if it was because it was Saturday but the level of energy by the staff was a bit lower than past years. Its a nice tradition and I expect the park doesn't mind some early season cash flow but the reality is the rolling reservation system appears to be working quite well. The popular sites still fill up quickly but for those willing to follow the rules, I haven't heard a lot of complaints.
The warm up didn't leave the Millinocket area unscathed. They have more snow on the ground and the snowbanks are higher but the town didn't seem to be bustling with snowmachines. The roads are in great shape and I made good time getting back to Gorham NH.
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that's a nice thought. I'm heading over in 2 weeks to spend 3 nights and Chimney Pond.
