Valley Way tentsite

[poison ivy]

I have a couple of questions about Valley Way: Anyone happen to know if there is water available at or near the Valley Way tentsite? Or am I going to be carrying water down from the Madison Hut?

Is this tentsite one of the particularly popular ones that fills up early on a weekend or am I safe arriving for a spot in the late afternoon on a Saturday?

Thanks for everyone's help!!

- Ivy

 

[DougG]

There is water available near the tentsite, however, if you are descending from the Hut area anyway, you may wish to pack down some water from a 'trusted' source.

Arriving late on a Saturday should not be considered safe. There are only two large platforms and little if any good overflow space.

 

[David Metsky]

To confirm what DougG said, this site fills up every Saturday night. With only two platforms there's little margin for error. I don't know what the overflow situation is like. Does the hut croo from Madison acts as the caretakers.

-dave-

 

[Mr. X]

I thought that campsite was closed? Also, Dave, what did you mean to say in your last sentence?

 

[David Metsky]

The campsite was closed for a few years until they built a composting toilet up there. It's been open again for at least 4 years.

I was asking if there is a seperate caretaker there (I don't think so) of if someone from Madison comes down each night to collect fees and steer people to the overflow spots.

-dave-

 

[el-bagr]

As folks have said, that site gets heavy use on summer weekends (fairly heavy at other times too, actually). Dave, my understanding was that Madison sends someone down in the evening to administer the sites.

 

[poison ivy]

Thanks again everyone for all your help!

- Ivy

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

I was asking if there is a seperate caretaker there (I don't think so) of if someone from Madison comes down each night to collect fees and steer people to the overflow spots.

For what it's worth, the AMC Backcountry Campsites page does not list the Valley Way campsite.

 

[Ann]

Dave, my understanding was that Madison sends someone down in the evening to administer the sites.

Is that something new?
As of last year we were the only ones there on a Sunday night...the place was a dump...I had to bury little doggie land mines, and the human stuff was worse because it had toilet paper...all within eyeshot of the privy, and there was a ton of trash we packed out.

 

[David Metsky]

For what it's worth, the AMC Backcountry Campsites page does not list the Valley Way campsite.

I just dropped them a line.

-dave-

 

[David Metsky]

Hrmm, it looks like Valley Way is a USFS site, not an AMC site. As such, no caretakers and not listed on the AMC website. That would explain it.

-dave-

 

[DougG]

Valley Way campsite - and Valley Way trail - are administered by the USFS. Despite the somewhat cooperative nature of AMC and FS dealings, I would find it strange if AMC Hut staff - who have plenty to do as it is - were overseeing a USFS campsite except on a very occasional basis.

With the relative high quality of the Randolph Mt Club sites, too bad they don't have domain over the Valley Way platforms.

The likelihood of the FS tossing any $$ to RMC or AMC to take over administration is probably remote too.

Valley Way tent site was, I believe, a stop-gap measure by the USFS to respond to growing numbers of Presidential Range /AT backpackers and the lack of legal campsites between Nauman and the woods of lower Osgood/lower Mad Gulf.

It gives the Madison staff a place to direct campers too. Lakes has the dungeon, Madison has Valley Way platforms. And according to Ann's report - and what I have seen - the two places are equally unappealing.

 

[KenC]

I stayed there some weeks back on a friday night. All to my lonesome!! Saturday they were starting to fill in. It was clean and the privy was in good shape.

I had stopped on the way down valley way (a ways above the spur to the site) there was a heardpath down to the stream where i filled up with water. There was a small seeping spring near the campsite.

 

[Mr. X]

Weird, cause I thought it was RMC. Looks like we all had to take a second look.

 

[poison ivy]

You all have convinced me to change my plans around so I'll be heading for Crag Camp instead. I'm doubtful I could make it to Valley Way before the tentsites are full. (Besides,I'm told Crag Camp is an all-around better option anyway.)


Thanks everyone for all the info, it really helped me make a decision for my trip!

- Ivy