New Gunks Campground Experience -The Good, Bad and the Ugly

My partner and I stayed at the new Sam Pryor CG last week. Since we typically avoid weekends (crowds) we were there Sunday evening through Friday (the week just prior to Memorial Day weekend). My impressions and disappointments FWIW:

CG is well thought out and designed to encourage group socialization and minimal impact by providing the pavilion, shared fire pit, etc. Quiet and relative privacy at the sites - social gathering, meet up, communal eating at the pavilion - nice.

CG grounds are also well designed with a variety of sites, composting toilets and limited cars to prevent overcrowding and impact. Good. Grounds are also kept neat and clean - trash picked up frequently.

HOWEVER, the bathrooms were not cleaned the entire week of our stay. Coming in after a full weekend we expected and hoped the restrooms would have seen a good cleaning. The cleaning guy was there Tuesday - he washed the floors. He semi-cleaned the showers, leaving hair and soap debris in the shower drains after washing them down (yuck!). He never touched the sinks, counters or toilets (big yuck!!)

We asked Paul the CG manager about this and showed him the lack of cleaning. He told us he would "get on him about it" implying he would be sure the cleaning would be better. However, nothing was touched the remainder of our stay, so we used dirty restrooms the rest of the week - all this with an imminent holiday weekend.

I also note that the utility sinks and picnic tables at the pavilion were not cleaned, although these weren't quite as disgusting, therefore tolerable. I do think they should be cleaned by CG staff a couple of times a week or at least as needed (it was needed). Personally I think brushing your teeth and spitting should be done in the restroom sinks not the utility sinks where we wash our dishes - but maybe some people disagree. (I watched 4 people do this one morning)

I feel that campers should clean up after themselves. But in reality, many campers do not realize the mess they leave behind and they will never clean restrooms nor should they be expected to if they are paying their camping fees.

If no one else has complained then the CG staff could plead ignorance on the condition of the bathrooms (especially the women's restrooms since all CG staff appear to be male). I ask folks who camp here to take notice and politely ask for better cleanliness in these areas if it seems necessary. If we don't speak up then the staff doesn't know and are less likely to do their jobs well. Everyone deserves a fairly clean bathroom - public restrooms have to be cleaned not only for comfort and a good camping experience but also for sanitation. I certainly hope this CG shows improvement in cleanliness by our next visit.

I have stayed here a bunch of times over the past two years. I love the place. I don't k know what it looks like for a whole week but for three days it is great. It is brand new now and I hope it doesn't go down hill in a couple of years. I of course only took one shower over the allotted time and brushed my teeth on occasion but over all thought it to be a great place. Last year saw the red moon which was amazing!

Keithconn--its only been open less than a year.

Chris Duca wrote:Keithconn--its only been open less than a year.

Keith was accidentally staying here

mohonk.com

but didn't realize it.

What I meant was last season and this season. Two seasons. But I really appreciate the attention to detail. Thanks.

JeanGClimbs wrote:My partner and I stayed at the new Sam Pryor CG last week. Since we typically avoid weekends (crowds) we were there Sunday evening through Friday (the week just prior to Memorial Day weekend). My impressions and disappointments FWIW: CG is well thought out and designed to encourage group socialization and minimal impact by providing the pavilion, shared fire pit, etc. Quiet and relative privacy at the sites - social gathering, meet up, communal eating at the pavilion - nice. CG grounds are also well designed with a variety of sites, composting toilets and limited cars to prevent overcrowding and impact. Good. Grounds are also kept neat and clean - trash picked up frequently. HOWEVER, the bathrooms were not cleaned the entire week of our stay. Coming in after a full weekend we expected and hoped the restrooms would have seen a good cleaning. The cleaning guy was there Tuesday - he washed the floors. He semi-cleaned the showers, leaving hair and soap debris in the shower drains after washing them down (yuck!). He never touched the sinks, counters or toilets (big yuck!!) We asked Paul the CG manager about this and showed him the lack of cleaning. He told us he would "get on him about it" implying he would be sure the cleaning would be better. However, nothing was touched the remainder of our stay, so we used dirty restrooms the rest of the week - all this with an imminent holiday weekend. I also note that the utility sinks and picnic tables at the pavilion were not cleaned, although these weren't quite as disgusting, therefore tolerable. I do think they should be cleaned by CG staff a couple of times a week or at least as needed (it was needed). Personally I think brushing your teeth and spitting should be done in the restroom sinks not the utility sinks where we wash our dishes - but maybe some people disagree. (I watched 4 people do this one morning) I feel that campers should clean up after themselves. But in reality, many campers do not realize the mess they leave behind and they will never clean restrooms nor should they be expected to if they are paying their camping fees. If no one else has complained then the CG staff could plead ignorance on the condition of the bathrooms (especially the women's restrooms since all CG staff appear to be male). I ask folks who camp here to take notice and politely ask for better cleanliness in these areas if it seems necessary. If we don't speak up then the staff doesn't know and are less likely to do their jobs well. Everyone deserves a fairly clean bathroom - public restrooms have to be cleaned not only for comfort and a good camping experience but also for sanitation. I certainly hope this CG shows improvement in cleanliness by our next visit.

Wow, you sound like a whole lot of fun... Who swarms the gunks? Last I checked.. It's the way of the entitled and sloppy NYC converts that can make the quick trip but can't aim or clean a seat for those that care so much, like you. I hope your long winded rant you just sprayed made its way all the way back there and rinsed off all that toothpaste spit at the CG pavillion you were so offended by.. Because seriously, you paid your camp fee and deserve to have a spotless living quarter in the great outdoors. Complete with plumbing, maids and a power source to charge your iphone. Go pound sand and yup somewhere else.

Derek Jf wrote: Wow, you sound like a whole lot of fun... Who swarms the gunks? Last I checked.. It's the way of the entitled and sloppy NYC converts that can make the quick trip but can't aim or clean a seat for those that care so much, like you. I hope your long winded rant you just sprayed made its way all the way back there and rinsed off all that toothpaste spit at the CG pavillion you were so offended by.. Because seriously, you paid your camp fee and deserve to have a spotless living quarter in the great outdoors. Complete with plumbing, maids and a power source to charge your iphone. Go pound sand and yup somewhere else.

Holy turds you're a moron.

City Dweller wrote: Holy turds you're a moron.

No you

This sort of conflict was pretty much inevitable when they built a fancy campground.

On the one hand, I snickered when I read that "everyone deserves a clean bathroom." On the other hand, for $38 they're not totally wrong. I'd rather pay $5-$10 for a shitty campground with fewer Manhattanites, but that's not really the point, and clearly the people who built this thing must have had gentrification in mind because it was entirely predictable.

Are they offering "Glamping at the Gunks" on Groupon yet? :-)

Anyway, I've stayed there and haven't had any complaints. I didn't go in expecting anything special other than the convenient location though. There was probably hair and soap in the shower when I was there, I wouldn't have noticed...

Wow total bummer! They probably didnt fluff your pillow either did they or bring sprtizers by after dinner. I'd at leat expect a $38 a night campground to give you a free pedicure after you spent all day in those tight climbing shoes. I can't even imagin climbig all day and getting dirty and not having a pristine shower I mean it's going to be like 24hours until your home!!!!!1! just because its stupidly overpriced doesnt mean its goignt o be any different than any other climber camp maybe you should just stay in the city because pathetic little whine asses like you are whats wrong with climbing now!!!!!! Dont ever drive farther north to climb because some of camping up here doesnt even have pavement or outhouses and you might throw a fit or DIE!!!!!!

I was there at the same time (you had that awesome pop-top van yea?). I had just spent two weeks on the road including stays in the Red, New, and Seneca. This campground was easily the cleanest and most organized. It's a bummer the bathrooms didn't get cleaned as they truly should have, but compared to most campgrounds, and particularly climber campgrounds, this place was luxurious.

NESteve wrote: you should just stay in the city because pathetic little whine asses like you are whats wrong with climbing now!!!!!! Dont ever drive farther north to climb because you might throw a fit or DIE!!!!!!

Daaaammmmn Steve! Back at it again with crazy talk! Thought you were hibernating for the summer, bruh. Maybe think about dialin' it down a notch?

:)

PS. If there's anything "wrong with climbing now" it's that morons like you feel empowered to speak with authority about climbing. You're setting an awful example!

Wow. Anger issues with some peeps.

The OP seems to be from VT. I think that's north and they would be driving south to the Gunks. I could be wrong. OP seems to have done a fair bit of climbing as well and doesn't strike me as a whiny climber. Not that I still disagree and love the campground, but whatever, to each their own.

I don't think the OP was "whining" or being overly expectant.

Yeah - hairs need to be cleaned from floor drains as part of the cleaning. That's not asking for pillow-fluff level service.

I am sure Paul will get pointed to this thread, if he hasn't already, and whatever lapse occurred will be dealt with.

As for people brushing their teeth at the communal spot - I agree that's yucky, and strange, though if the bathrooms nearby aren't readily available(lines) and if the composting potty doesn't have water/sinks, I can see why it would occur. But I also get grossed out by people who brush their teeth in their campsite and "spit" into the shrubbery (or worse, next to the picnic table).

Since people are accusing the OP of being too picky, I am going to go on record with this: If you are camping in a campsite, "spit" in the firepitnot the AAC Gunks communal one, I mean at campgrounds with per site firepits) of your trash bag, and not in the open spaces or brush. And also - how much toothpaste does a person need, anyway? Since people complain so much about the cost of campgrounds, may I suggest using a smaller bit of toothpaste as a regular thing, or at least when brushing in the outdoors? If you're going to be all skimpy on paying for services from others, at least show that you aren't a ignorant of your own wastefulness!

I stayed in the campground on a Sunday and Monday night in mid May. I found the campground to be very clean but I didn't use the showers or sinks and there were few other campers at that time.

I am not an AAC member so I had to pay $38 per night. It didn't make sense to become a member just to get the discount when only staying two nights. $38 is a lot for camping but I wrote it up to scarcity and proximity to NYC, just like the $17 per day to access the cliff.

I would recommend that the AAC put the costs to stay as a member and non-member right on the gunks campground main webpage. I spent too much time messing around with the booking process in order to figure out the costs before I found out they are listed in the "Gunks FAQ", which I assumed was about the climbing not the campground.

I will stay there again if I return to the Gunks.

WOW Hippiegrrrrumpy thats you advise to people who dont want to pay $38 for a campsite? Save money by using less toothpaste?!?! does anybody else think thats retarded?!?!

NESteve wrote:WOW Hippiegrrrrumpy thats you advise to people who dont want to pay $38 for a campsite? Save money by using less toothpaste?!?! does anybody else think thats retarded?!?!

I get her points, both the sincere, re: $38 is pretty steep for a campsite, and the sarcasm, re: the toothpaste.

What I'm not able to figure out is how someone 30 continues to act like an 8 year old in plain view of his peers.

NESteve wrote:WOW Hippiegrrrrumpy thats you advise to people who dont want to pay $38 for a campsite? Save money by using less toothpaste?!?! does anybody else think thats retarded?!?!

Its retarded to fuss about $38 vs $24 or the $17 entrance fee when an annual membership is available.

It's retarded to whine about $$$ if you have already shelled out the bucks to get climbing gear and get yourself there.

If you are climbing at the Gunks you are not a dirt bag no matter how glamorous that might sound. It's not like shelling out the $$$ to camp is going to keep you fro, putting trice and beans on the (cardboard box) table for your family.

You people are making me embarrassed to be a climber. I used to say that climbers were the most intelligent, interesting and creative group that I had ever been associated with. If this is what the community is coming to, I'll just have to retract that statement or give it a expiration date.

The OP simply gave a reasonable evaluation of the campground without vitriol. It was reasonably balanced so I fail to understand why the childish anger is warranted. Don't people understand how to disagree without being loutish anymore? Another example of the dumbing down of America.

frank minunni wrote:You people are making me embarrassed to be a climber. I used to say that climbers were the most intelligent, interesting and creative group that I had ever been associated with. If this is what the community is coming to, I'll just have to retract that statement or give it a expiration date. The OP simply gave a reasonable evaluation of the campground without vitriol. It was reasonably balanced so I fail to understand why the childish anger is warranted. Don't people understand how to disagree without being loutish anymore? Another example of the dumbing down of America.

I thought the OP's post was an honest critique.

Frank, climbers, like any other group, have their share of thoughtful and intelligent people like you, then they have the other end of the spectrum like NESteve.

I try to avoid generalizations, generally speaking. :)

Frank

I understand what you're saying but this sort of behavior just seems to be more prevalent all the time. It's disheartening really. The danger in not taking these kind of people to task is that others won't want to state an opinion or observation for fear of being harassed.

It does seem like some are not doing a very good job of following Guideline #1.

But I do appreciate that there are plenty of good folks here.

PS: Don't call me thoughtful and intelligent. I have a reputation to live down to.