Dartmouth College Dorms

imported
#1

Does anyone know if Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH is accepting hikers in their dorms. I heard the decision was going to be made in March. Baltimore Jack? Do you know?

gumwood

#2

I left Hanover just over a week ago, and while the various dorms that have taken in hikers in the past had not yet met to make their final decision, I would be VERY surprised if any of theem (Tabard, Panarchy, or Alpha Theta) wil be taking in hikers this summer, unless on a very informal, day-by-day basis/decision.
If you’re hiking North, I suggest you ask Southbounders what the deal is in Hanover; you’l certainly run into many as you approach the New Hampshire border. There wil likely be info in trail registers also. If anyone in town is taking in hikers or letting them pitch tents behind their houses, as several folks have done in the past, the SOBOers will know about it.
Another good tenting option: Follow the Trail North out of town; five minutes from Main St. (downtown) the trail goes along the edge of a soccer field and then enters the woods at the end of the field. There is good tenting immediately to your left after you enter the woods. This is the best place to tent; the police and town officials know that folks tent here and they don’t seem to mind. A few pointers:

  1. DON’T pitch in the soccer field itself
  2. If you’re taking a zero day in town, break your tent down in the morning and pack up; it’s probably unwise
    to leave your stuff untended all day as this is a high-use area
  3. Don’t stealth camp in other likely areas such as the greener parts of campus, the cemetery on campus, etc.
    This is a good way to get arrested.
  4. If you do camp near the soccer field, be aware that there are nearby houses—this is NOT the place to get noisily drunk, have drum circles, or engage in other idiocy, or this campsite WILL be closed before long. If you stay here, keep in mind that a lot of folks will be depending on this site to be there and open.

B. Jack

#3

Panarchy, which was the only dorm to take in hikers (publicly) stopped doing so last year. If you’re travelling by yourself, you will probably have a decent chance to find people in town to take you in - - but the Velvet Rocks shelter is an easy walk from town, and is - I think - maybe half a mile from the town’s Co-op.

I lucked out and stayed with someone from town, but when I stopped by the DOC, the group leaders actually offered the couches in the basement to us. I’m sure this isn’t the norm, though. Just listen to SOBO trail gossip, as Baltimore Jack said, and you’ll likely find the most reliable information.

bearbait

#4

When ALDHA met in October there was a campground North of town (Storr’s Pon) which charged $5.00 per person to camp. That included use of toilet facilities and Hot showers and a swimming beach. During the Summer is that a possibility for Thru-Hikers or does it get filled quickly? Can reservations be made or is it first come – first serve?

The two or three miles out of town is not that far considering the mileage already covered and the place is quite nice.

Any opinions or suggestions?

Skylander

Skylander

#5

Have no idea about availability in summer months since I’m not from there. I think Storrs is a very nice place. I had a very nice time camping there at the Gathering. However, I can see both sides of it, being both a thru-hiker and weekender/camper. I have a general feeling that most thru-hikers would not want to bother going there. Its very different than being at the gathering. The campground is a good ways off the beaten track and you’re kinda trapped there to a certain extent. Hitches would be more difficult and there is no food or meals there. I’m just saying you may change your ideals of whats nice after walking 1700 miles. I generally went for whtever was easiest, most convenient, least walking, closest to food etc. You may be different but I just don’t see too many thru-hikers getting excited about this. You could camp for free on the AT and probably snag a free shower somewhere around dartmouth.

A-Train

#6

Hey B-Jack!!!

Anyways, after spending the night in Panarchy’s basement with moldy mattresses and a northbounder high on crystal meth- I am spending the night in Velvet shelter next time… :slight_smile: Besides, for northbounders, they can get food from the COOP before trekkng across the colleges soccer field! Gotta’ love it!

spanky

#7

A-Train, you have the experience so I must yield to your judgment regarding AT camping habits. I suppose that after 1700 miles with a goal in mind of another 500 miles there might be a reluctance to move too far off the trail (unless, of course it was a motel up Route 10) but if one wanted a safe place with some facilities then Storrs might be a good choice. It does have a “snack shack” open during the day during the summer and there is a beach for swimming, etc., and the showers are there for a good all dayt soaking if needed. And just a mile or so outside the campground there is a convenience store (at the Gas Station) and a little restaurant on Route 10 between the Gas Station (Reservoir Rd. and the North entrance to Storr’s Pond Campground).

As I said, if one wanted a respite in a safe place away from the bustling crowds of Hanover then Storr’s Pond is a good alternative. But it may be filled at any given time and especially on weekends. A call to the caretaker would be prudent. Another good thing about Storr’s Pond is that it would be a good place to meet family/friends who might want to spend some time with you before the final push to ME.

Of course – HYOH!

Skylander

Skylander

#8

Hanover is a great town, the co-op at the north end of town is to die for. that being said, i was under the impression that this was not a town to screw around in. there are many nice people there and lots of friendly students but i don’t recall a story of Panarchy(off campus fraternity? i think) that didn’t include drugs and/or police activity. plus, there is a high school just a block away from the coop. if you don’t know what that means let me spell it out for you, B-I-G B-R-O-T-H-E-R.

I would rate Hanover as a perfect 10.

local people have lots of positive energy. the resturants are awsome and affordable. the coop cannot be beat. the trail/town is clean(no trash anywhere). not big town or to small for your needs. free bus line. very easy to get lucky w/ trail angel. no crappy line of fast food chains.

just keep your nose clean and you will find more positive energy than you can imagine.

happy hiking all!

magic

magic

#9

this is the responce i recieved from the DOC as of 06/01/03.

“we do not house or assist in housing hikers. a hiker may become an invited guest like any other friend or family member, but that decision and responsibility is up to all the members of that house”

laymans terms: we(the DOC) will not help you, but you are free to solicit or accept an invitation to stay.

magic

magic

#10

when we thru hiked last year we were the last hikers to spend the night at panarchy. there was another group on campus who let hikers stay. i can’t remember which one. there were two guys who went to one of the bars with a sign asking to stay with a local. it worked like a charm. the dorm kids are nice and let us in to do our laundry as well. i wouldn’t stay at panarchy again. a possum came in the basement while we slept and the mattresses were nasty. they also had a party going on above us that we were not invited to. there is a lot of bad blood between some of those guys and hikers. the other group seemed nice and willing to keep hikers.

dirty bird

#11

Geez, Magic, lighten up…the cops in Hanover are fine, as long as you aren’t doing anything stupid. I know a lot of these guys; none of them have it in for hikers; in fact, several of them ARE hikers. There’s no “Big Brother” presence in town; believe me, I’ve lived here since 1996. As I said in my post, if you behave like a jerk at the soccer field site, by making excessive noise, partying too much, etc., you invite a police visit. If you choose to use illegal drugs, well that, too, is something that you’ve elected to do, so therefore be prepared for possible unpleasant unconsequences. Likewise, there was never a police problem at ANY of the Dartmouth dorms, except on those few memorable occcasions when hikers acted like such jerks that the police were unfortunately called to the scene…it was episodes like this that got Panarchy closed this sumer, probably for good. In short, there’s no need to slam Hanover for unfriendliness or an overly agressive police force or presence: Don’t act like an idiot and you won’t have any problems. Act like a jerk and you invte an official response, and this is as true in Hanover as it is anywhere else.

B. Jack

#12

The loss of Panarchy is another example of a hiker service that is now closed due in large part to hiker misbehavior.

Like Jack says, act like a jerk and you invite an official response. This is as true in Hanover as it is anywhere else.

Hence, the continuing need to educate all hikers on appropriate trail town behavior.

Peaks

#13

Be clear that the places you are talking about (Panarchy, Tabard, Alpha Theta, etc.) are fraternities, not dormitories. Dorms are locked these days and you should probably consider them off limits. Dartmouth has a summer term, so most residences of every kind are open and functioning during hiking season. Individual students, especially active DOC members are usually wonderfully helpful to hikers – unless they’ve been burned by some. Many fraternities and other private student residences are happy to have hikers camping on the lawn or in the back yard. Dartmouth students like a good party and are generally open-minded, but they don’t like being ripped off, treated without respect, or put at risk of legal trouble any more than anyone else. Go into town with a good attitude and you’ll have a great time.

creaky