White Mts. Backcountry Campsite Fees

[Artex]

I'm sorta kinda new to the New England area. This weekend, I'm thinking about bagging Zealand Mt. and the Bonds.. and am thinking the Guyot campsite looks like a good place to overnight. I have a few questions...

1. How does the caretaker fee work? Does he/she come by and you pay him/her on the spot?

2. Are reservations required?

Thanks!

 

[vegematic]

I'm Jealous! Guyot is one of my favorite spots.

There are no reservations. I like to get in fairly early (before 3:00) to have maximum choice of tentsites but you whouldn't be turned away. Even if the place is "full" when you get there the caretaker will set you up on a shared tentsite or you will be directed to an overflow site. It might be less crowded now after Labor Day, especially if not on a weekend.

The caretaker will come around in the evening and collect your payment. cash and checks work, I recall seeing folks use credit cards, or you can be billed. The caretaker tent is usually an unmistakable white canvas cabin tent. Easy to find if you are looking for the caretaker.

Have fun!
vegematic

 

[Artex]

Most excellent. Thank you very much. A few others from thebackpacker.com might join me, but I'd like to extend an invite to anyone else who might be interested. I have yet to meet a VFTT hiker, and would welcome the opportunity.

 

[hardyb]

I have a related question. Does it cost anything to camp at Sawyer Pond campsite and shelter? I don't recall seeing anying about it on the AMC site. Also I plan on hiking into sawyer Pond on a Friday afternoon, camping Friday night then hiking Carrigain on Saturday and then camping again on Sat night and hiking out Sunday. Is it safe to leave the campsite set up on Saturday went we hike Carrigain? We want to do carrigain with just day packs. I have heard stories about Sawyer Pond being easy access and attracts non-hikers, I'm concerned about leaving gear unattended all day.

 

[Jay H]

Thanks, that was one of my questions too.. I had no idea that campsites were a fee and when Eric and I did my first trip there, it was good that we had some cash on us, I was wondering what happened if we didn't. It's $8/person per night, just to toss that in as a FYI here.

When we stayed at 13 Falls, they had 2 caretakers, a guy (whose name was also Jay) and a girl who was in training and they did make rounds around 5-6pmish. We didn't have a full campground though that night (a Friday night, 8/27)

Jay

 

[Doc McPeak]

I stayed at Guyot this past Sunday night. Two people on one platform, and my friend and I lounged in the beautiful new shelter by ourselves! The night before was a full house of 26, though the caretaker is a "squeezer" and will double that if he needs to. He will be there every night until October, and then the first two weekends in October. Awesome site! Go up to West Bond for sunset. All other info so far is right on. And they do take credit cards, but prefer cash, of course...

 

[MichaelJ]

There are 8 staffed backcountry campsites in the Whites that are run by the AMC and charge an $8/person fee. They are:

Kinsman Pond
Liberty Spring
Garfield Ridge
13 Falls
Guyot
Ethan Pond
Nauman
Imp
Speck Pond

For more information, see here.

 

[pocahontas]

Hi hardyb

There is no fee for Sawyer Pond Campsite .
Also, one nice, unique feature , that we weren't expecting,
is that there is a fire ring @ each tentsite. So bring the s'mores!

Have fun on Carragain

 

[pedxing]

Hey Artex - good to see you over here. You've met this VFTT hiker, (even if I didn't have my VFTT patch with me).

Thanks for joining me for the Willey, Field, Tom, Avalon loop Saturday!

BTW: I think you've put together a great trip. I love Guyot and the Bonds. If I wasn't working this weekend, I'd be sorely tempted to join you.

 

[hardyb]

Will there be a problem getting a site at Nauman
tent site at 4:00PM on Friday Sept 24?

 

[David Metsky]

Possibly. It's a short trip from the road and Fridays are a busy night for folks heading into the woods.

-dave-

 

[hikethe115]

hardyb....there will be 4 of us finishing our 115 on Carrigain this Saturday. Maybe we'll see you there!

 

[David Metsky]

Some friends of mine are finishing their 48 on Carrigain on Saturday as well. Say "hi" for me.

-dave-

 

[hikethe115]

Will do Dave!

 

[theothursday]

Imp shelter

I stayed at Imp this week and there was no caretaker and no fee. Only in the summer.

There is a west lookout about 50 feet from the shelter. The sunset over the presi's was awesome on Tuesday.

 

[Artex]

Re: Imp shelter

I stayed at Imp this week and there was no caretaker and no fee. Only in the summer.

Same deal at the Ethan Pond shelter. That lean-to kept us nice and dry in the relentless rain last weekend. Nicely built.

 

[David Metsky]

Will do Dave!

Change of plans, their coming to Moosilauke with us instead. Turns out this wouldn't have been their last peak anyways.

Have fun storming the castle!

-dave-

 

[trailbiscuit]

All the shelters should be caretaker-less now. According to the caretaker at Ethan Pond a couple weeks ago, the weekend after Labor Day was the final weekend for caretakers at the shelters.