THE QUESTION: CAN I CAMP AT YOUR RESORT THIS SUMMER?

MOUNTAIN 1: NEW HAMPSHIRE

First Contact: Woman, short sounding. Needed come coffee.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: No. (Silence…)
SAM: Okay. Aren’t you on National Forest land, though?
Staff: Not on our hill. There’s a certain section near our mountain that is on National Forest land, but you would have to call them.
SAM: I thought your mountain was part of the X National Forest?
Staff: Well, like I said, not on our mountain specifically. Maybe some of our cross-country trails are on National Forest, but not where you ski.
SAM: Hmm, okay. So I can’t camp then anywhere on your mountain?
Staff: No, you can’t. They will come and get you.
SAM: Ha ha, good to know.
Staff: Yeah, I mean we don’t even have snow machine trails on National Forest land, and I know if you did try and camp without a permit that they’ll come and find you. Just a warning so you now know.
SAM: Yeah, thanks.
Staff: I would just call the National Forest service and ask them where the best place is to camp around here and they’ll be able to help you.
SAM: Maybe I will do that. Thanks.

Rating: 4
Comment: It’s feeling a little cold in the East today.


MOUNTAIN 2: VERMONT

First Contact: Automated machine. Chose operator.
Answering phone: Male, super patient-sounding.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Ummm, not that I’m aware of. I think the closest camping is up along the X trail. I haven’t heard about camping on the mountain just because we have various mountain biking courses on our trails and it would become very busy and probably dangerous if people were camping near those.
SAM: Good point, but aren’t you on National Forest land, so technically isn’t it still public property? I wouldn’t camp anywhere near the mountain biking trails, of course.
Staff: Umm, I’m not sure what the regulations are right on the slopes. If you don’t mind holding for just one minute I can find out what exactly our rules are.
SAM: Sure. Hold time: 1:30
Staff: Thank you for holding. Sorry it took me so long, but I did find out. Basically, you are not allowed to camp on the ski area’s property because we actually rent the area from the National Forest so there is no easement on it. You can camp along the X trail, however, like I mentioned. That runs up our summit so it’s more or less the same area.
SAM: Okay, that works. So I can still park in your parking lot? Do you mind?
Staff: Ha, ha, not at all. That’s fine.
SAM: Thanks for your help.

Rating: 8
Comment: Patient, courteous, and took the time to ask someone else.


MOUNTAIN 3: VERMONT

First Contact: Woman, nice sounding.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: No. We don’t have camping. (Silence...)
SAM: Okay, so you don’t offer it as a summer activity, but isn’t your mountain on National Forest land?
Staff: Yes it is, but you would have to go all the way to the top.
SAM: The top? So I can camp at the top of your mountain?
Staff: Right.
SAM: Can I hike through your trails to get there?
Staff: No. (Silence…)
SAM: Oookay. But if I hike along the boundaries to the top then it’s okay since it’s not private land?
Staff: Right.
SAM: So I can camp at the top of your mountain, but I can’t hike through it to get there?
Staff: Right.

Rating: 4
Comment: Interesting. But I least I get to camp!


MOUNTAIN 4: IDAHO

First Contact: Automated machine. Chose general info.
Answering phone: Female, nice sounding.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Um, camping is pretty much…. Like what do you mean?
SAM: Well, I wanted to do some hiking on your mountain this summer and then hopefully camp as well.
Staff: Well, you can camp anywhere that’s on Forest Service land, but private property is frowned upon.
SAM: Okay, that’s cool. Do you know which parts are private property and which are Forest Service?
Staff: Well, the base area is owned privately, so not that area. Where did you have in mind?
SAM: Maybe along some of the trails or the summit.
Staff: Umm, hmm, hold on one second please. I’ll find out. (Holding…) I’m going to connect you to general manager’s telephone because he likes to authorize these kinds of things. I don’t think he’s in at the moment but just leave your name and number on his machine and he’ll call you back.
Left a message…. And the manager called me back.
SAM: Restated question.
Staff: Well, it depends. If you’re looking for camping in our campsites that are on our property than, yes, that’s one thing. You can definitely camp there, of course. If you’re looking to camp on the Forest Service property that’s another thing. How long were you hoping to camp for?
SAM: Probably just a night or two with a friend. Nothing major. I wanted to hike on your mountain and then hopefully camp along the trails maybe. Is that part of Forest Service land?
Staff: Well, we’re under a lease with the Forest Service throughout the winter, so technically you could camp there. When were you planning to come?
SAM: In July, I think.
Staff: Well, we also run mountain biking during the summer on the weekends and most of the week. And to have campers hiking along mountain biking trails and then setting up a camp would be dangerous. It’s not something we recommend.
SAM: Yeah that’s probably not the best idea. I’ll look into your campsites. How much is it to camp there?
Staff: Well, those are actually free to use if you participate in any of our other mountain activities like biking or hiking for example.
SAM: Okay, awesome. Well than I’ll just check those out then. Thanks!
Staff: You’re welcome. We hope to see you soon.

Rating: 9
Comment: Call back from the GM with a great explanation. Cool!


MOUNTAIN 5: MAINE

First Contact: Young male, nice enough sounding.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Umm, yeah, I don’t think we do any camping here, but I can put you through to general reservations if you’d like?
SAM: Would I need a reservation? I’d just like to come up and hike a bit and camp a night or two...that’s not possible?
Staff: Ummm, yeaah. It’s private property so we can’t let you camp.
SAM: Hmm, all right. Thanks anyway.
Staff: Umm, yeah, thanks for calling, I guess.

Rating: 2
Comment: Ummm, yeah, I guess. Thanks for all the other options you offered.


MOUNTAIN 6: QUÉBEC

First Contact: Automated machine. Chose operator.
Answering phone: Young male, very nice.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Yeah sure, of course.
SAM: Oh, okay great. Do I need to let anyone know or can I just hike and camp along the trails?
Staff: Yeah, yeah, if you want, you can do this. We are a camping place, too. If you want you can take the trail to the top of the mountain and there’s a place there for your, ah, tent, yeah. Many people do it.
SAM: Perfect, thanks so much.
Staff: You’re welcome. Thanks for calling.

Rating: 8
Comment: The farther north you go the less rules they have.


MOUNTAIN 7: UTAH

First Contact: Young male.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Umm, you know, I actually don’t know about that. Let me connect you over to mountain operations.
Transferred…
Answering phone: Female, nice, but really tired sounding.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Um, you know, I don’t know the answer to that. I think the answer is no, but let me find out. Can I call you back in a few minutes?
SAM: Sure thing. Two minutes later… she calls back.
Staff: It’s not in our use permit actually, and since we’re in a watershed for the whole valley we can’t let you camp on our mountain. There are some other really amazing sites, though, right down the road. There’s X and Y camping, and a lot of friends I have go there pretty frequently.
SAM: Okay. So even though you’re on Forest Service land I can’t camp because you’re part of the watershed?
Staff: Yeah, I mean, that’s technically the answer. It’s hard, we don’t really get this question very often. I can dig a little deeper for you if you want, but the problem is that because we’re a watershed and all of that snow and runoff is used for drinking water in the valley, where would you go to the bathroom while camping? (Touché.)
SAM: Great point, I totally agree. Well, maybe I’ll just check out those other campsites then. Thanks for calling me back!
Staff: Anytime, thanks for calling. Sorry I couldn’t be any more helpful.
Wait for it… she calls back 20 minutes later!
Staff: Hey, this is XX again from XX. I did some more investigating since the answer I gave you was still a little vague. And actually, yes, you can camp on our property! There are no rules against it! With it being a watershed you have to be at least 200 feet away from any water source. That’s the exact rule with any activity like camping in a watershed.
SAM: Awesome! Should I let someone know when I come up to camp?
Staff: I don’t think it matters. I’m standing next to the director of guest activities so let me ask them, hold on...Nope, you don’t need to tell anyone.
SAM: Sounds great, thank you so much for calling me back again. I look forward to camping up there!
Staff: Sounds good, we still have a bunch of snow so maybe give it a month or two. Have fun!

Rating: 10
Comment: Customer service that voluntarily calls you back, twice… that’s definitely a 10.

Identity Revealed: Snowbird