How full are shelters and tent sites on the AT in NH?

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ape

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I'm planning on backpacking in the Whites this weekend. Are thru-hikers filling up all the shelters and tent sites near the AT right now? My start will probably be a headlamp hike Friday night, and the last thing I want to find at 1am is a full site...
 
I'm planning on backpacking in the Whites this weekend. Are thru-hikers filling up all the shelters and tent sites near the AT right now? My start will probably be a headlamp hike Friday night, and the last thing I want to find at 1am is a full site...

There were a couple open sites on Gale River Loop Road, but based on the number of cars at the Gale River and Garfield trailheads this weekend, plus the thru and section hikers, I'd guess that section will be full.
 
I spoke with my son last night who is a backcountry caretaker at an AMC site on the AT. They have been told that the bolus of through hikers is due by this weekend.
 
Heading to a backcountry site at 1:00 AM on a Friday night/Saturday morning is sub-optimal. If it's a popular site (Liberty Springs, Garfield, Guyot, Nauman, Perch, Valley Way) they'll probably be full and the overflow sites aren't always obvious or allowed.
 
Thanks everyone for the information! I will try and choose a route away from the AT and maybe unpopular. Do you think Rocky Branch #2 (near Mt. Isolation) is likely to have room? If not, is it legal to pitch a tent next to the shelter?

David: Sure hiking in late Friday night is not ideal. But neither is having to drive up from NYC and needing your White Mountains fix :)
 
The AT thru NH north of Glencliff is mostly on the ridgeline and the options for camping at spots other then the designated sites is limited up on the ridgeline as the woods are thick spruce/fir. Generally the reason the AMC has campsites in thse areas is to maximize the use of the limited areas that are there. A headlamp hike is to an established campsite is an invitation for a site to be full up. The caretaker will try to work with you but even they are limited as what they can do. Make sure you read and understans the WMNF backcountry regulations and as I found out recently on another thread, even though a site may not fall under the rules the WMNF appears to be marking previously legal sites as closed.

On the other hand for much of the lower slopes and valleys, if you are willing to legitimately go well off the trail and avoid restricted use areas, there are loads of place to camp. The other option is that in many cases if you are on the AT, you may have to head down slope on a side trail for as much as a mile or 1000 feet of elevation and there are frequently flat areas to camp although some may lack water.

A general note is that the few shelters that arent on the AT are pretty beat and the forest service is neglecting maintenance in hopes they fall down. Frequently you can camp near those shelters as long a AMC doesnt have a caretaker (but read the rules). Rocky Branch #2 is one of these beat up spots. There are far nicer spots to camp just east of Engine Hill on the rocky branch trail. If you want Franconia ridge, the Osseo trail has some great open hardwoods for camping just make sure you are 1/4 mile from Wilderness trail and 200 feet away from the Osseo Trail. Ethan Pond trail has some nice open hardwoods about 20 minutes in once you are on the ridge heading south, just make sure you are 200 feet away from the trail. Realistically unless you have a fire or are really rowdy, not one is going to see you. Garfield trail also has plenty of nice spots near the beginning of the trail.

My suggestion is head up on Friday and stay at some of the primitive sites on either tripoli road, cherry mtn road, north twin rd or galehead roand and get up early in the AM and start hiking. If you insist on headlamp hiking , hike up a trail 1/4 of a mile (15 minutes or until you see the RUA boundary sign) and then turn perpendicular to the trail and walk 10 minutes then set up a tent. If you are not comfortable doing this you probably should reconsider hiking with a headlamp.
 
FWIW, there were a TON of NOBOs on Glastenbury (southern Vermont ) this past Saturday, heading towards the Whites at various paces....
 
Just east of the Rocky Branch crossing on the opposite bank from RB#2 up the trail 50 yards are some designated tentsites. RB#2 is a piece of crap, unfortunately.
 
peakbagger: I have the AMC maps, and they don't mark any of the primitive sites. Are they easy to spot from the road? Is there a map of them somewhere? Also, the only one of those roads I see on my map is Tripoli.

TDawg: Those sites you mentioned, are they north or south of the junction between the Isolation and Rocky Branch trails?
 
Hobblebush is pretty high right now...200 feet from the trail would be a miracle to find a flat spot that wasn't covered in it...your best bet are the roadsides, Gale River, Haystack Rd, Tripoli...
 
One of the huge advantages of seeking a sleeping spot in the dark is discovering any of the huge numbers of wonderful sleeping spots that you'd turn up your nose at, if you could see better. This experience may introduce you to a whole new way of looking at sleeping on backpacking trips! This applies mostly if you're cowboy camping, or with a small tarp or a tiny-footprint, low-height tent.

I mostly don't think of "camp" sites any more, just "sleeping" spots. Put that traditional idea of a broad, tramped-down-to-concrete clear area out of your mind and think of simply lying down to sleep. Amazing how small an area you really need. Much of the vegetation will simply cushion you, and spring back none-the-worse the following day.

The big problem in the Whites is NOT legal and reasonably flat sleeping spots. The problem, particularly once spruce takes over, is that the spots have little headroom or "moving around" elbow room. So you eat elsewhere, a good idea anyway. I just cook & eat right on the trail. And once you've cowboyed down for the night you may not have much room to rig your tarp or pitch your tent if it starts raining. I can't claim that is any fun at all. With a tarp it's not usually bad in a mild rain, you kind of drape it on the spruce rather than pitch it. If the rain turns torrential, and/or with a more elaborate tent I admit you're in for a bad experience and maybe a tarp or tent that will tear and need to be replaced. But that happens so seldom I believe this approach is useful.
 
I am not aware of a map of the USFS primitive sites. They are easy to locate and usually have a sign in front of them and the sites that look like they may be one but arent are also marked no camping. Many people drive up on Friday night and find them easily. Tripoli road usually has spots especially on the left side of the road as most want to camp near a stream. There is a fee for the Tripoli road sites. There may be some shifting around of sites on Tripoli road, l havent been down there lately but some locals may be able to comment. There are no sites on the road once you pass the Osseo trail.

There are no sanitary facilities at these primitive sites, so watch your step.
 
I'd nap and then leave NY at like 11pm friday, miss all the traffic and start hiking when I got there at dawn.
Makes a long day but I've done that from CT. I don't sleep well the night before a big hike anyway, so this works better (for me) than not sleeping well Thursday night, then not sleeping well again Friday night after driving and worrying about finding parking and a camp site. YRMV.

peakbagger: I have the AMC maps, and they don't mark any of the primitive sites. Are they easy to spot from the road?

On the Gale River Loop Road the sites are pretty evenly spread out over the entire road. The sites themself won't be too easy to spot but they all have a white 8x11 rules sign posted on a tree next to their entrance by the road. Some then are a bit off the road, so you may then find them occupied.
 
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David: Sure hiking in late Friday night is not ideal. But neither is having to drive up from NYC and needing your White Mountains fix :)
Oh, I understand. I was just pointing out that arriving late on Friday nights isn't ideal. We all have limitations based on starting points and jobs, so I feel your pain. I think the primitive road spots are a great option, as is the nap late and go for a dawn start.
 
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