[at-l] Baxter State Park: Wilder within

[papabear.nyc@xxxxxxxxxxx (Papa Bear)]

The following is an interesting idea from Buzz caverly, director of baxter
State Park.  I found this on the web site of Friends of Baxter State Park:

http://www.friendsofbaxter.org/main.htm

Click on "Issues" on the left side.

I personally tend to think these are great ideas and would only enhance the
AT experience, although some less mobile folks would find themselves
excluded.  Note that the AT follows the Hunt Trail which is mentioned in th=
e
first point.

It was pointed out on another forum that Buzz is one of the few living
persons working for BSP who personally talked to Percivil Baxter about thes=
e
issues.

What do you think of it?

Pb

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Over the past few months, Park Director Buzz Caverly has discussed his
"Wilder Within" proposal that the Park be made "wilder" in order to contend
with increasing use.

1) To reduce foot traffic on the Abol and Hunt trails (the latter from
Katahdin Stream Campground):

   Set limits on the number of day hikers. Develop a resource protection
plan which controls the numbers on these two trails and enforces
limitations. Explore a reservation option for day use, free of charge, for
those who plan ahead.


2) To reduce noise and water pollution:

   Eliminate the use of outboard motors, aircraft and snowmobiles on Webste=
r
Lake. Restrict snowmobile use on Togue Ponds. Outboard motor use on Lower
Togue would be restricted to the inholders on Clark Island.


3) To reduce the growing pressure of automobiles and to increase the
wilderness character of campgrounds:

   Have road access to Kidney Pond end at Foster Field (on the Perimeter
Road) or the bridge over Nesowdnehunk Stream, making the campground a
walk-in site. Over the years, as the cabins required major repairs, they
would be replaced with lean-tos. Under this proposal, Daicey Pond would
continue to have vehicle access and facilities for cabin camping.

    Have road access to Roaring Brook Campground end at Windey Pitch, as it
did in the 1940's, thus making Roaring Brook (about three miles away) and
all points beyond backpacking sites. At present, on any given day, over 300
people hike into Chimney Pond. Many are unprepared, from going barefoot to
wearing sandals, and without other proper gear. Their ignorance of the
difficulties of such a hike results in unreasonable impact on the Chimney
Pond Campground. The additional distance proposed within the =B3Wilder With=
in=B2
concept would tend to separate out the curious and unprepared.

    Close the Perimeter Road from Trout Brook Crossing southwest to Camp
Phoenix (approximately 10 to 12 miles). This would eliminate transient and
thorofare traffic using the Tote Road, which then would become an access
road to trailheads and facilities, as intended by Governor Baxter.