Tent in Pinkham Lot

[jgiles3311]

Im pretty sure I know the answer already but I was wondering if anybody knows if you can pitch a tent next to a car in the pinkham lot. Im pretty sure the answer is no just want to confirm. Im planning on heading up thursday night from southern New England to summit on Friday with my girlfriend and we were just going to use thermarests in the back of my jeep but now two more friends are planning on coming with us in my car. Any thoughts on where to sleep that thurs night? Camping is preferable as im young and poor.

Jordan

[RR]

Im pretty sure I know the answer already but I was wondering if anybody knows if you can pitch a tent next to a car in the pinkham lot. Im pretty sure the answer is no just want to confirm. Im planning on heading up thursday night from southern New England to summit on Friday with my girlfriend and we were just going to use thermarests in the back of my jeep but now two more friends are planning on coming with us in my car. Any thoughts on where to sleep that thurs night? Camping is preferable as im young and poor.

JordanSorry, the AMC do not allow it. Now that Dolly Copp is open, Barnes Field has reverted to Group camping. Four people might count for a group. you can get contact infor (etc) here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/recreation/camping/

DOLLY COPP
Rt. 16, 6 miles S of Gorham, NH
$20 176
mid-May to
mid-October
Reservations accepted for 107 sites, Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
Flush toilets

Barnes Field Group
Rt. 16, 6 miles S of Gorham, NH
Fee based on group size
mid-May to
mid-October
Reservations accepted, Memorial Day to Columbus Day
Outhouse toilets

[boardman]

Fourth Iron tent site at the south end of Crawford Notch is only $8/night, and that's if anybody bothers checking on a Thursday night (wink-wink). I was there this past Friday night, and there was only one other site occupied, and no sign of Smokey the Bear.

[jgiles3311]

Thanks RR and boardman......i will look into both. I figured you couldnt pitch a tent in the lot.

Jordan

[jgiles3311]

Fourth Iron tent site at the south end of Crawford Notch is only $8/night, and that's if anybody bothers checking on a Thursday night (wink-wink). I was there this past Friday night, and there was only one other site occupied, and no sign of Smokey the Bear.

This is the thursday before the 4th of July though so it may be more crowded.

Anybody ever been to Blackberry Crossing Campground?

Boardman.....i couldnt find any info on Fourth Iron site....

Jordan

[icelanticskier]

park at walmart. you can camp there for free. i usually just pull down any dirt road, go to end and do the deal. lot c at wildcat would work if you pull in after beers and food at the moat. pay for camping? ya right. it's camping!

have fun

rog

[boardman]

This is the thursday before the 4th of July though so it may be more crowded.

Anybody ever been to Blackberry Crossing Campground?

Boardman.....i couldnt find any info on Fourth Iron site....

Jordan

You won't find any online. But it's noted in the White Mountains Map they sell at Pinkham, and it is signed, so just drive 302 toward Crawford Notch. If driving from the south, it's on the right, before you reach the Notch, if from the north, it's in the left, just after the Notch. There's a big, green Waste Management dumpster at the far end of the parking lot. It's about a 5-8 minute walk in to the sites. There's 8 sites, iirc. They are first come, first serve, with a drop box for your money (in the envelopes provided at the kiosk). Be aware, this area is visited regularly by bears, so proper food storage is a must - leave it in the car, or hang it properly.

icelantic may have a point. because of the holiday weekend, you'll probably want to get there as early as possible on Thursday.

[jgiles3311]

Thanks for the info guys. Icelantic, my next question was going to be about the Wildcat Lot. I most likely wont be pulling in to anywhere until about 2am and leaving at 7am so really I dont think anybody will bother me for five hours.

Thanks.....ill let you guys know how the trip turns out.

Jordan

[natron]

parking lot c at WC? never thought about that? that could work if ur coming late at night. if you have day light about .2-.3 of mile on the left of gos trail is a sweet little nugget to place a tent. If it's gonna be dark out don't sleep, take a nap before comin do some predawn hikin if you have flashlights or headlamps, start hikin at 3a be at ravine around 5ish you could beat the heat and the crowds and see the sun rise all weather dependant, have fun!!;)

[surfsnowywaves]

natron has a serious point that you should consider. if you're pulling into the lot at 2 am, just forget about camping. night hiking is spectacular. some of my most memorable moments include my night hikes: moonbeams breaking through the clouds over the dry river, being followed by a moose along the zealand trail, sunrise from the summit of washington, a firey sunset observed through the trees of the crawford path, watching morning fog lift off the kinsmans...

it's worth it. and besides the obs guys, not too many folks will be up there at those times. highly recommendable.

[icelanticskier]

mentioned above, parking lot c at the kitty will be fine no matter when you pull in around or after dark. i certainly don't mind paying for a hotel most of the time in winter for comfort as i don't like camping in the cold, but camping for free as opposed to paying is just too easy. i car camp all of the time in spring down behind the market in glen. it's all over man.

rog

[surf88]

the kitty cat option has worked well for me too. Especially, if you go down to the far north end where the grass is pretty high.

[icelanticskier]

just as a heads up. now everyone will do it. it's ok to park at pinkham overnight and walk either 150 feet into the woods to camp, or camp right into the field area (off to the side and out of the way are best bet) by the sherbie trail end where chauvin is always doing beacon drills with his patients, i mean clients. maybe i'll keep adding options when boredom strikes yet again.

rog

[winters2short]

I have often enjoyed camping across Rte. 16 at Square Ledge. It is a 30 minute hike in, but offers spectacular views into the ravine as well as alittle solitude. Not to mention the Ledge for hanging out. 50yds back from the ledge is a clearing when there is snowcover, and 150yds back into the woods is a stream for water and a more open wooded area. Never been there when anyone else was, so it always worked out nicely. You feel you worked alittle for it, although you really didn't. Just keep it clean.

[jgiles3311]

Thanks for all the input guys......

The night hike in would be awesome but I think ill save it for another day when I have time to get the internal clock back on schedule. When I pull all nighters like that it really throws me out of whack for at least a couple of days....Im heading out to Cali on tuesday to do some backpacking so i dont want to feel sleep deprived upon arrival.

Rog, you truly are a wealth of knowledge. Any of the options you guys have given seem reasonable.

At this point the weather could be the real issue.......NOAA is calling for thunderstorms.

I guess we will see.....

Jordan

[Telemark]

just as a heads up. now everyone will do it. it's ok to park at pinkham overnight and walk either 150 feet into the woods to camp, or camp right into the field area (off to the side and out of the way are best bet) by the sherbie trail end where chauvin is always doing beacon drills with his patients, i mean clients. maybe i'll keep adding options when boredom strikes yet again.
There's no camping allowed at all in the Cutler River Drainage (except Hermit Lakes and the Harvard Cabin), which includes most of the area around Pinkham Notch. You might be able to get away with it, but you might get busted by the rangers and end up with a ticket. You also have to be 1/4 mile from Rt 16 in the places where it is OK. If you go up the Gulf of Slides trail you still to 1/4 mile from the road.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/recreation/camping/backcountry_rules_2008-09.pdf

[icelanticskier]

do not pay attention to rules. the scenarios i mentioned can and have worked perfectly well. and even if i did get caught, it's really easy to play dumb. 20 years of driving and zero speeding/traffic tickets. it's all how you word things.

rog