Re: [at-l] a Baxter State Park question

In a message dated 12/28/00 7:35:23 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
spiriteagle99@hotmail.com writes:
<< On Kathy's AT page there is a link to an article in a Maine newspaper 
dated 
 October 16th that said that the rangers at Baxter were planning to crack 
 down on AT hikers who were ignoring the fact that Katahdin was closed 
 because of dangerous conditions.  They sounded very antagonistic toward AT 
 hikers. Did anyone actually get caught in that? >>
 The antagonism was by several thruhikers who snuck into the Park and 
'bootlegged' the peak while it was closed due to an early and heavy 
snowstorm. The storm shut the Park down, ending the camping and hiking 
season. Hikers had to be evacuated from Chimney Pond through five feet of 
snow. While the Rangers were saving lives on one side of the Park, thruhikers 
were risking lives on the other side. Needless to say, Buzz the park director 
blew his top.
 The Rangers soon reopened the Mountain for thruhikers only, and provided 
shuttle service from Abol Pond to Katahdin Stream Campground. A Ranger would 
check with hikers camped outside the park at night, and tell them how and 
where to catch the shuttle. Most nights the Rangers would then give hikers a 
ride 20 miles down to Millinocket.
 I think the Park went 'above and beyond' to help late thruhikers complete 
their hikes.
TJ
ps The weather in Maine is, well, weird. When I went up to snowshoe in 
November I found the Park open, and the perimeter road clear and snow free. 
Almost had the whole Park to myself!
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