family camping at Storm Lake on Gulfside Trail

[Jim W]

A very curious conversation took place on Sunday 8/22.
I was on my way down from Mt. Adams on the Short Line Trail. At 1.2 miles from the trailhead at Appalachia, I stepped aside to let a family of five pass me as they hiked up.
The mother was leading followed by three children then the father.
I assumed they were heading to an established campsite, or one of the huts, such as The Perch, Gray Knob, or Crag.
So, I asked "Where are you guys heading?"
The oldest boy said "Storm Lake".
I asked him to repeat it. He did. So, I said "Don't you mean Star Lake?"
Nope, the father said they are camping at Storm Lake. I was puzzled, to say the least. When I asked the father what trail it was on, he replied that he didn't know, because his wife had the map. Then he said he thought it was on The Grizzly Trail about 3.5 miles from Appalachia.
Yikes.
He asked me if the terrain in the alpine zone was as flat as it seemed on the Topo maps. I told him no. There is no such thing as flat in The Northern Presidentials.
It was 4:20 in the afternoon. I wanted to ask him if he knew what he was doing, but, I couldn't do it in front of the kids. So, I just told him to be carefull and have fun.
Storm Lake is at 5,200 feet, in the alpine zone.
Should I have been more assertive? I don't like to seem like a know-it-all and I'm kinda shy, so I kept quiet.

 

[Rik]

It is always a tough call correcting someone and I usually don't but the fact that kids were involved makes it even tougher. If someone can safely learn from the experience then making mistakes is a good thing. If those kids never want to go hiking/camping again because of it then it is very unfortunate. If someone got hurt and you read about it later you would probably kick yourself for not being more assertive.

 

[DougG]

Jim,

I am mapless at work. Where did you find Storm Lake?
This must be one of those seasonal puddles that could be dry during a 'normal' summer.

This year it probably has white caps.

I empathize with you not wanting to appear as a know-it-all, but you may consider simply letting folks know it's against the rules (law??) to camp in the alpine zone. Just appeal to their (supposed) sense of environmentalism. If that doesn't sink in, tell 'em it could cost them $$ if a USFS ridge runner catches them.

 

[David Metsky]

Storm Lake is near the junction of the Israel River trail and Gulfside. There's usually some water there, but it's often nearly dry.

I usually inform people of the regs and mention the WMNF ridgerunners who will ticket them. It helps if you can offer alternative camping spots, rather than just say that the place they are headed is off limits.

-dave-