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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I was NoBo but I spent an hour talking to the
Ranger at the B.C. office. They are actually quite interested in CDT
hikers</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>and in particular our gear, trail stories..
anyhow I hammed it up pretty good.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>For Southbound hikers the following advice was
given to me at the backcountry office in Old Faithful Village.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Since you will enter the Park at Summit Lake you
have just a days hike to reach Old Faithful Village. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>(It's friggin downhill the whole way from
Summit lake for you SoBo's!)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>You do not need a Back country permit for a day
hike in Yellowstone.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>So your first day would be from the park boundary
to the Back country office at Old Faithful Village to negotiate your
permit.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I was assured by the </FONT><FONT size=2
face=Arial>Permit ranger that they will do everything they can to accomodate CDT
hikers. If we are patient they will work a permit out</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>up and including finding a place for us to camp
overnight in Old faithful Village if neccesary the first night. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I was assured if we, as CDT hikers, give them a
chance they will come up with a schedule as close as possible</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>to our liking. There was even some talk of allowing
us to share certain campsites within the park in order to fit us
in.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The catch is that a lot of people get permits and
then change plans, don't show etc. So as the day wears on they</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>get cancellations and reports from rangers
regarding vacancies in the park. So if you show up un anounced you</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>may have to wait until a permit can be worked
out.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Not to worry. The Main BC Ranger assured me: They
will find accomodations in Old faithful Villaige if neccesary for CDT
hikers</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>depite what the official statement regarding no
camping there.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>If i were in your position I would call them in
advance, even if it's a week before, and just touch base with them.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>In my case it made a big difference. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I was NoBo but i did not go in to Dubois to
resupply so i had no way to call them 48 hours </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>in advance. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Because i had called earlier and let them know
there was no way i could call from Brooks lake they went ahead and </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>issued me a permit a week in advance provided I
camp only in the desiganted sites and show up in Old Faithful Village and get
the paper copy</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>on my way through the park. They gave me the permit
number over the phone so i had something in my posession should I be
stopped.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>This is not their official policy and i did have to
beg and cajole somewhat over the phone but they admitted they would rather issue
us permits</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>than have us sneaking around the park. It really
REALLY helps if you have a plan WITH campsite codes ready to go. J. Ley's maps
have some of them on there but according to the map in the BC office there are
way more sites.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The easier you make it for the ranger to check
availiablity ,the easier it is for them to decide to bend the rules and issue
you a permit in advance.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Just for your information when planning.. The
Shoshone Lake campsite as well as the very southernmost site on the Snake river
are the least used spots.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Heart Lake is almost always full.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The schedule i was able to get was 15 miles from
the southern park boundry to Snake river, 28 miles to Shoshone Lake, 30 miles to
Summit Lake, and then out. This was a very fast schedule. Of course if i had
fallen behind or gotten a sore knee or something.. I suppose i would have simply
had to stealth camp.. but of course that is totally against the rules.
;) Okay I am undoing all the good karma by putting that suggestion out
there so I am gonna pretend i did not write that...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>-Iceaxe</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>