Most versions of my plans for my October Road – Camping trip involve at least some “dispersed camping” in National Forests and visiting National Forest sites. While I am not planning leaving until October 14th, I know spiteful a Democratic president can be over the temporary lapse of appropriations, forcing closures of many developed recreation sites, including in some cases gating back-country roads, not because they cost the government much money, but to put political pressure on Republicans to adopt a budget they don’t agree with.
Not sure if this is going to be an issue this year, but I could see both sides dragging out their appropriation fight well into October and it might require me to reconsider my plans. One option would be to visit more state forests in the Southern Tier of New York State along with doing the Pennsylvania Pine Creek Rail Trail, another would be to head north, and do a trip to the Tug Hill Plateau and North Country / Massena.
I did camp in back country in the Finger Lakes National Forest during the shutdown in 2013, but it’s not clear if that was explicitly permitted or prohibited. The recreation sites were gated at the National Forest, but it’s rather hard to close off back-country roads that aren’t maintained by the forest service. State parks remained fully open, and while during the week I saw a Schuyler County Deputy and the NYSDEC Officer patrolling the roads to make up for the lack of working forest service rangers, they never stopped or said anything about camping during the government shutdown.
It’s not certain what will happen this year, but I should consider my alternatives.
I am thinking about taking off the the third week of October — the weekend after Columbus Day to that following week. While it’s possible I will be past peak color, especially in the high country, I’d rather avoid the crowds around Columbus Day and enjoy more solitude in the woods.
This isn’t the only option, but it’s an idea that I currently have, though I don’t necessarily love how long the drives are. But if I stay in the same location for multiple days, and don’t spend a lot of time ramming as much as I can into a vacation, I can enjoy more of it before heading home.
Saturday 10/14 – Drive down to Asaph Run Campground in Wellsboro PA, ride part of Pine Creek Rail Trail
Sunday 10/15 – Spend all day riding along the Pine Creek Rail Trail, do a second night at Asaph Run.
Monday 10/16 – Break camp early, head down to Cumberland MD, explore some of the C&O Trail in Cumberland then head down to Canaan Heights WV
Through Saturday 10/17 – Camp up at Canaan Heights – Table Rock outside of Davis WV, then do a lot of the bike trails and hiking up around Canaan Heights and Canaan Wildlife Refuge and Blackwater State Park – maybe Dolly Sods or the Otter Creek Wilderness but I don’t want to spend my whole vacation driving. I like setting up and having a home base, and not rushing from place to place, but instead kicking back at camp.
Saturday 10/18 – Head back up through Pennsylvania, overnight-ing at County Bridge Campground. I almost wish I could make the trip back home in one day but that’s not a practical option. Probably stop at a few Pennsylvania State Parks along Interstate 99 or maybe visit Penn State on the way back.
Sunday 10/19 – Head back home, maybe stopping at Chenango Forks State Park or Robert Riddel, though at this point I’ll probably be ready to head home and unpack.
I really don’t enjoy vacations anymore where I try to ram as much as possible into the trip. I’d rather set up camp, stay local, hike or ride from camp, or if I do head into town or to trail heads not make it an every day thing where I drive as many miles as possible each day. Gas is more expensive but also I find excessive driving can wear me out too.
