I just finished the Tahoe Rim Trail and ended up sleeping two nights literally on the trail as I fairly often do anyway. What is the trail etiquette (sp?) for doing this. Don’t settle down til dusk? Up and at’em at the crack of dawn? On the Arizona Trail, I probably slept a quarter of the nights in the middle of the trail. Some of the more mountainous areas leave you little choice and there’s almost nobody on that trail.
bowlegs
ON the TRT as long as you dont mind getting creamed by a biker its no problem. I slept a few nights on PCT seemed ok. I woke up many trail sleepers when I stepped over them during my night hikes too. No worries not an issue.
Guino
I’ve done that many times on less-used trail sections. But only as a last resort–it’s getting dark and you’re in the middle of a 6-mile traverse on a steep hillside on the PCT, nearest trailhead is over 10 miles away and it’s Tuesday. Someone lingering over coffee in the middle of the trail on Sunday morning a mile from a busy trailhead would be a different story, for sure. A little common sense and nobody will ever notice.
I’ve been more concerned about getting run down by critters than by people. When I see lots of scat on a shelf trail, I have visions of a bear or coyote with nowhere else to go trotting right over my butt. That would make a good story, at least.
I’ve also walked through middle-of-the-trail camps in pre-dawn hours, and just chuckle. No problem at all.
Garlic
No sleeping within 100 feet of the PCT in the Naches Ranger District.
$250 fine…
And Barry…will…find…you.
Other than the fear of being pepper-sprayed in your sleep by a six four Black belt Backwoods Ranger, no problem. 
daniel smith
Does Barry work after dusk or before dawn? Is it just Naches Ranger District or is it a Wilderness
Area requirement?
bowlegs
Just the NRD as far as I know, though the ranger lady there tells me that other districts do too. Barry definately works after dark, because he likes to go out at dusk and rouse people camping within 100 feet of a lake too. He’s quite a guy - a local legend. Many people have believed him to be only a myth, much to their chagrin when he catches them sleeping in unauthorized locations.
Oh yeah, he doesn’t like sunflower seeds either - in a serious way.
Here’s a discussion, one of many, on our local hiking page:
http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7969412&highlight=barry
daniel smith
I talked with Barry for about half an hour last year and I thought that he was one of the nicest dudes out there. Really cool guy. Don’t hate on him, I’m sure he was doing his job.
guino
You don’t get to be a local legend by sitting behind your desk eating doughnuts. He has his good days, and I too have interacted with him on those days.
I’ve also had run ins with him when he was less than sociable, if you know what I mean. I guess it depends what side of the bed he got up on, or whether his BA pad deflated during the night or whatever.
It doesn’t really matter now, because he’s off after Labor Day and anything goes in the NRD after that - which is part of my aggrivation. Hunters can camp wherever they like, and spit sunflower seeds all day,because the strict enforcement along the PCT drops to zero after Labor Day.
The hunters have been camping within 100 feet of the lakes around here for over a century - think a little thing like a new rule is going to stop them? Nope. With zero enforcement in the fall, hikers take the brunt of the enforcement.
Is it OK that one group suffers while the other gets a pass? In an ideal world, no, but we live in this one, don’t we? I can still complain though, you know?
daniel smith
Yeah in the Sierra it’s October first, then all the mountain bikers from Mammoth Lakes hit the trail in the John Muir wilderness. One guy who works reservations at Mammoth Mountain said him and his 8 buddies all rode from Mammoth to the VVR (two years ago i think) Said he had to go out in a pack so people wouldn’t give them grief.
I want to be a late season ranger that would be interesting. I really like to yell at Mtn bikers. Really scared one near Big Bear this year. It was neat.
Guino
There are many trail runners that run through the night on the TRT. For your sake and theirs I would not sleep on that trail
gg-man
Barry The Backwoods Bastard - And Barry…will…find…you… - Six Four Black Belt Backwoods Ranger - Barry Never Sleeps - Many people have believed him to be only a myth, much to their chagrin.
Dang! You are good!!
It’s like I’m sitting around a campfire late at night and being told the story of the hooks clanking on the car window for the first time.
Continue creating the legend, Daniel. You are a current day Boswell to Barry’s Johnson.
Wingo
I never said anything about his hook-hand. Have you met him too, or did you just read about him on one of his fan (if you can call it that) websites??
Incase you haven’t heard, there is a movie in production right now (shot in the woods around Vancouver, BC, so how realistic can it be?) that I hear is a cross between Deliverance, The Life and Times of Jeremia Johnson, and the Saw movies.
You really, really don’t want to know what he does with his crosscut saw and the potted sunflowers…
daniel smith
I’ve got this image in my mind that I can’t get rid of. It plays over and over. ‘I am hiking into the night and I have my headlamp on. I’m tired and there are too many trees and underbrush and I can’t find a spot to pull off the trail. Finally, before I fall asleep on my feet, I decide to sleep on the trail. I get into my sleeping bag. I am feeling guilty because I know that I shouldn’t be doing this. I finally fall asleep. I am awakened by a sound. “What was that?” I open my eyes and there is six four Barry The Bastard in his park ranger uniform, with his black belt wrapped around his waist, with a can of pepper spray in his hand, a demented smile on his face and gleam in his eye that reminds me of Jack Nickolson in ‘The Shining’.’ Thank you again daniel smith for helping create that image…appreciate it.
Wingo
camped on the trail in europe one time, something slammed into my tent & knocked it over; was it a dog or a deer?
I still dono. fin.
gingerbreadman
On the PCT, the NRD encompases about half (the nothern ) of the Goat Rock Wilderness, all of the area between White and Chinook Pass, and a bit north of Chinook Pass as well.
When you pass through this area, walk fast, don’t sleep near lakes or the PCT, don’t eat sunflower seeds, and don’t make eye contact with any tall whipsaw carrying rangers. I’m just sayin…
daniel smith