PATC Policy
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club strongly supports and encourages hikers to exhibit a “wilderness ethic” and use minimum impact camping techniques at designated campsites and shelters. In addition to campsites, the construction of shelters and cabins in vicinity of the trail will assist in promoting trail usage. The Supervisor of Facilities coordinates the development of goals, policy, and the planning, construction, renovation, maintenance, and disposal of all Club owned or managed facilities.
Trail-side Shelters & Campsites
Use
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club supports a policy regulating overnight use of primitive campsites and shelters along the Tuscarora Trail that limits users to a maximum overnight stay of three nights. The Club acknowledges that it cannot enforce this policy. However, this policy allows the PATC to better coordinate its efforts with local partners regarding regulations governing the use of these important facilities.
Management
The Chairman of the Shelters Committee supervises construction and major repairs of shelter facilities. The Chairman establishes annual priorities and organizes his budget around these and regular maintenance needs. Shelter construction projects will be coordinated thoroughly by PATC with local partners.
Location & Proximity
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club feels that a distance of 8 to 12 miles between shelters or campsites is optimal, but recognizes that management policies of local partners and the local terrain may cause this to be modified. Shelters should be constructed at least one mile from public roads and away from views. The shelter and campground areas will normally be within three-tenths of a mile of the Tuscarora Trail. The source of water will normally be within one-half mile of the facility.
Vehicular Accessibility
Club personnel who are anticipating future sites must consider that a road accessible to 4wd vehicles must lead to the site for construction purposes and future privy maintenance, where applicable. The soil must be suitable for primitive sanitation facilities (privies) and the sites must also avoid environmentally sensitive areas and those which have a high fire potential in any season. Privies will be constructed and placed in accordance with local health regulations.
Natural Materials
All trail structures should be made of natural material to the extent practicable. The shelter will have a minimum twelve by eight-foot area for sleeping and a covered cooking area, either separate from or attached to the shelter, but outside the sleeping area. Each shelter and campground will have a table for eating and a fire ring where permitted.
Naming
In order that hikers may identify shelter and campground locations with geographic features, the shelters and campgrounds will normally be named after features associated with the trail. An appropriate plaque may be utilized at the location to honor donors and Club members associated with the facility or trail.
Recreational Use Cabins
Cabins may be constructed on land owned by PATC in vicinity of the trail for trail crews and in order to promote membership and trail usage and appreciation of the natural environment. The Chair of the Cabin Construction Committee will supervise the construction of cabins. The Chair of the Cabins Operations Committee will recruit and appoint cabin overseers and assist them in performing other than normal maintenance duties. The Cabins Operations Chair also coordinates cabin rentals with the Cabins Reservations Committee Chair.
Trail Centers
Trail Centers are useful for accommodating Club meetings and training, overnight stays for trail crews, and supply and tool storage. A Trail Center should have a sleeping capacity from 12 to 16 inside with outside tenting areas. The main room should be large enough to hold thirty people attending a meeting.
Partners’ Policies
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Bureau of Forestry
Bureau rules and regulations regarding camping (§51.61) state that camping without a current camping permit is prohibited, except that primitive backpack campers not using developed facilities shall not need a permit if they stay no more than one night at any campsite. Camping in Pennsylvania state forests is prohibited within one mile of an adjoining state park.
Bureau regulations (§51.62) specify the following restrictions regarding open fires:
- Small fires for cooking or warming purposes shall be permitted only at places where adequate precautions are taken to prevent the spread of fire into the forest; all other fires are prohibited.
- All open fires of any kind shall be prohibited when the forest fire danger is posted as High, Very High, or Extreme.
- Any person causing a wildfire, in addition to possible criminal penalty, shall be liable for all damages, costs of extinction, and fines.
Bureau of State Parks
The Bureau allows camping (§31.32(a)) and overnight use of its lands but in designated camping areas only. The following are excerpts from Chapter 31 of Department rules and regulations on overnight use of state recreation areas:
- Camping is defined as overnight lodging using acceptable camping equipment (§31.33(a)).
- Occupancy is limited to one family unit or a group of no more than five persons per site. A responsible person of at least 18 years of age shall accompany each group.
- All campers shall have a valid camping permit (§31.34(a)). Camping permits shall be issued on a “first-come, first-served” basis for those sites not included in a reservation system.
- It is unlawful to start or maintain a fire on state recreation lands “… except in fireplaces, grills, stoves or other designated camp fire facilities or during a declared fire ban.” (Chapter 31.5(a)(17)) It is also unlawful to leave a fire unattended.
Game Commission
Camping is prohibited on Pennsylvania Game Commission lands.
West Virginia
Division of Natural Resources
Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area
Camping on wildlife management areas is permitted in designated areas only. Fires are permitted only in fireplaces, fire rings, or grates provided on the area. No fires may be left unattended.
