1. Issue: Closure of North Peaks Trail Below Treeline
2. Background information:
A portion of the North Peaks Trail, that which goes from treeline down to the Northwest Basin Trail, was closed by the Park in 2002 for several reasons. First, the proposed establishment of the International Appalachian Trail continuing from Katahdin through the Park created concerns of illegal camping throughout the heart of the Park and increased use on this section of trail. Because backcountry sites are often reserved well in advance, it was felt that through-hikers, already requiring a higher level of management for climbing Katahdin, would simply ignore camping rules and hike through without reservations, camping wherever they chose. Second, the North Peaks Trail is a very low use trail. With limited resources to maintain trails, the Park found it difficult to justify continued maintenance. Third, the
trail was characterized as a high maintenance trail.
Related issues: Long range planning; cultural resources; International Appalachian Trail.
3. Friends' Position (as passed in a motion and vote of Board on 12 July 2004):
The Friends of Baxter State Park urges the Park to reopen the entire North Peaks Trail.
4. Rationale – how this position supports the FBSP mission:
The North Peaks Trail offers a quiet alternative to the heavy trail use around Katahdin itself. Low use trails offer the solitude integral to a wilderness experience and contribute to the diversity of trail experiences recommended in the Park Management Plan. We believe the trail allows hikers to enjoy the Park in the “right, unspoiled way,” and thus adds to the wilderness character of the Park for those willing and able to discover it. When combined with the Davis Trail, the North Peaks Trail offers a long distance, day use loop hike from Russell Pond with outstanding wilderness characteristics. The North Peaks Trail represents an appropriate balance of protecting natural resources while facilitating visitor use.
The Friends shares the Park’s concern about spillover and illegal camping from through- hikers of the International Appalachian Trail. However, with the North Peaks Trail closed and not maintained, some of these determined hikers may continue on the Davis Trail anyway since it is an alternate route. The difference of a few miles means much less to them. In time, we believe this spillover can be mitigated by the following actions, many of which are already in place. The establishment of a designated IAT route outside the Park to the east will steer most continuing hikers in another direction. Education of hikers by the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC), Baxter State Park (BSP) staff, and guidebook authors will help also. Since ATC and BSP staff contact most through hikers as they enter the south end of
the Park, only the few, true renegades are likely to continue into the Park without camping reservations.
The Friends also shares Park concerns about the burden of maintaining hiking trails, a tremendous challenge. Our understanding is that although use of this trail is low, the resource impacts and maintenance requirements are also low. The Davis Trail, as an alternate route to Russell Pond, has more use and more problems with erosion than the North Peaks Trail. Leaving the North Peaks Trail open offers an opportunity to spread use out a little. Although the above treeline section remains open, as a dead end path, it will likely receive even less use than previously. It may even tempt less experienced hikers to continue on the closed section of trail, a potential safety problem.
In summary, we believe: 1. the North Peaks Trail is a valuable part of the Park trail system that adds to wilderness experiences; 2. that IAT hikers can, in time, be managed effectively; and 3. that the North Peaks Trail is not a great maintenance burden.
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23 July 2004
Irvin C. Caverly, Jr., Director
Baxter State Park
64 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, Maine 04462
Steven Rowe
Attorney General of Maine
6 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
Roland Daniel Martin
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
41 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
Alec Giffen
Director, Maine Forest Service
22 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
Greetings:
The North Peaks Trail closure remains of great interest to the Friends of Baxter State Park. I write to urge the Park and the Authority to reconsider this closure and reopen this important trail.
After a discussion with Director Caverly several years ago, we set this issue aside. With an active policy committee now in motion, we decided it was important to formalize our position and communicate it to you. Attached you will find a statement of this position along with the reasons we believe this trail should be reestablished in its entirety.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Charlie Jacobi
President, Friends of Baxter State Park
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