Vogel Park Logistics Recommendations

[PharmGeek]

Got a wonderful spot!! #20 - really secluded

Question - is it really good etiquette or against rules to have another party check in for you hours before you get there and put up a chair in your spot with your name?

What exactly does or "should" first come first serve" mean?

Acing a blast so far - hiked around the lake - had lunch in the AS - sitting under awning watching a bit of heavy rainfall

[Silver Otter]

Pharm - Blessings to you both. See you again at Topsail for CanO?

[PharmGeek]

Yup

[Aviator]

When our unit holds rallies at SP's we will often have an early arriver check us all in so that we can camp close to each other. It never crossed my mind that might be viewed as less than good behavior. I hope you will join some of our Southeastern Camping Unit rallies if they fit your schedule. Falluminum will be in October just up the road from where you are in Hiawassee, GA at the GA Mountain Campground on the lake.

[Tincampers]

So, how was the drive up there? Any issues?

[PharmGeek]

No - the drive was great - only issue was a minor detour through the road in I think Gadsden but no problem

We stopped for gas once, stopped at Walmart for a few items we forgot and are lunch in the AS at that point - all in all 6 hours flat including 30 min in Walmart getting crap

Thanks so much for all the advice

Connection is terrible - no photos yet

[PharmGeek]

[PharmGeek]

The park entrance was tiny -

I was like "wait - huh!? Is this like a back road or maintenance entrance?!"

Getting around in the CG roads was a bit tight as well - we got in our spot nice even with a tree obstacle making it pretty tight of a park

Such a beautiful park - just got back from hike around bear hair loop and saw the park overlook - trees over grew the overlook mostly - beautiful hike - saw the biggest moth I've seen as well - no bear sightings

[PharmGeek]

Originally Posted by Aviator

When our unit holds rallies at SP's we will often have an early arriver check us all in so that we can camp close to each other. It never crossed my mind that might be viewed as less than good behavior. I hope you will join some of our Southeastern Camping Unit rallies if they fit your schedule. Falluminum will be in October just up the road from where you are in Hiawassee, GA at the GA Mountain Campground on the lake.

Maybe it is good behavior and I was too grumpy lol

[xrvr]

I would think first come first served would meam just that if you are there first the site is yours. Otherwise make a reservation if that is possible. If I found a site that I liked and it was not reserved I would take it. Go find someone in charge to tell me otherwise. All the rally's I have been to have used reservations in blocked areas so we could all be together. Jim

[PharmGeek]

My legalistic or anal brain says the same - the trailer needs to be in the site = first come

First come does not equal someone many hours puts up a chair there

But who wants to then camp in hostel territory after that

I actually stopped and spoke to a guy that was in their group and asked him if he thought this was legit - he replied yes cause the spot was paid for - it does not to me seem right -

Some people drive many hours - some may even plan to be as early as possible to catch a good spot only to find they never had a chance as someone camping there from day before had the chair out instantly after the previous person left

Or perhaps I am thinking about it all wrong

Luckily we got a great spot - if instead there was a bad spot left I would have been tempted to call the park folks and press about it - but then the wife would have hated me lol

[Aviator]

Now that I think back on it, our sites are usually prepaid and preassigned. Sometimes we simply check in for someone arriving after hours.

[PharmGeek]

I was told by Vogel person on phone that if I get there at noon a good chance at a choice spot - the I get there and it mattered not if I had arrived at noon or 5pm

[perryg114]

There is a National Forrest Office in Blairsville that might be worth visiting to get maps and other information. The Walasi-Yi center is just up the mountain from you at Neals Gap where the AT crosses the road. They have a lot of information there. Google Earth has an EveryTrail layer that will have many of the trails around there on it, including the AT. The hike to Blood mountain is a good one from Neals Gap or up the Coosa Backcountry Trail. The Coosa Trail is straight up though. It would be a good one to come down on and go up at Neals Gap. The Coosa trail ends in Vogel. I use to lead backpacks up that way.

Perry

[PharmGeek]

Cool - we are dining at "turners corner" (great cobbler for desert!) and we saw that place on way down perry

[perryg114]

I have an older version of this book. I found it very good as far as trail descriptions go. If you want cool maps and graphics you are out of luck with this one but you can get all that on your phone.

Hiking Trails of North Georgia: Tim Homan: 9781561451272: Amazon.com: Books

Perry

[xrvr]

Bump

[PharmGeek]

Turns out that after I asked those folks about the chair holding the spot - a ranger drove by and removed the chairs and informed those folks that the person with the trailer would need to actually be there - otherwise the next trailer on premises gets dibs

At Vogel at least that appears to be what constitutes "first come first serve"

[perryg114]

Well every park I have been to requires you be there with your trailer to get the sight. This is assuming that it is a park where you can't reserve a specific sight.

Perry