Sleep system for Camel’s Hump, VT? 4,000ft

To Ray's point
"It is amazing how quickly the weather can change in the mountains. You really should plan for the worst and bring both your bags and pads if you need to work with what you have."
>>
In Winter, having a pre-established and agreed upon self evacuation plan is essential.

To the earlier comment that the majority of BPLers are rules benders, I think the other thread that was started about rules in US Forests belies that point. And even if the majority of the posts favored rule breaking, that does not mean the majority of BPL members do.

We have seen this debate before on the BPL site. There are those who assume that stealth camping is by definition illegal camping, others like me who argue that it means legal LNT camping off the beaten path, often cooking a mile or two from the camp site to spread the impact.

I keep seeing the point made that the rules are arbitrary and therefore do not apply to me. Most of the USNF changes to land use regulations are implemented after a period of public posting and public review. Citizens and public interest groups have the opportunity to influence them. While you might not agree with them. with a little bit of research, you can figure out they are not arbitrary.

As to the comment that a lot of rules are not enforced and maybe therefore we do not need to follow them. Take for example the fire permit rules during the summer on USNF land in the Western states. The permit system allows at least two things 1) collection of data on land use so the land use planning and regulation can be based on empirical data and 2) when Rangers (who are law enforcement officers) or local law enforcement come across someone they suspect of other illegal behavior (drug labs, starting wildfires, poaching, etc.) and those suspects have an illegal fire, they can be cited if not arrested for the fire permit violation. Subsequent investigation can then confirm the suspicion of other violations.

Be safe and have great trip.

"There are those who assume that stealth camping is by definition illegal camping, others like me who argue that it means legal LNT camping off the beaten path, often cooking a mile or two from the camp site to spread the impact."

My issue was the camping above the elevation line where they are trying to protect rare and fragile plants that are rare in Vermont. And that using a hammock does not mean you do not have an impact, less yes but you still have to walk on the ground and when the trail goes across rock and avoids the plants then anything off trail is going to be the fragile stuff.

stealth camping below treeline is usually not illegal and actually encouraged in the White Mountains (and i'm sure there are similar rules for Green mtns). As long as you go 200' from the trail and water sources. that spreads out the impact.

"My issue was the camping above the elevation line where they are trying to protect rare and fragile plants that are rare in Vermont. And that using a hammock does not mean you do not have an impact, less yes but you still have to walk on the ground and when the trail goes across rock and avoids the plants then anything off trail is going to be the fragile stuff. "

We've already discussed the role snowpack has in insulating and preserving alpine environments in the other thread- you even responded to it. The White Mountains allow travel in alpine zones with a snowpack of higher than 2 inches, and the snowfall on Camel's Hump has already exceeded that.

It's safe, we've established that it's safe. That point is hardly relevant anymore.

2 feet. Not inches. I dont know what it is like up there now so who knows. I still think you are in for a surprise

Well, by all means, don't share the surprise ;D

There's already snow on Camel's Hump. More is going to drop Thursday. The storm should put up to three feet up there on the peak. If there isn't two feet, we won't walk across it.