One factor has been the Maine timber companies that have resisted allowing the trail access to their logging roads.
For $17,500, the park service purchased the right for trail users to cross a 500-foot parcel of private land, and for $150,000, it acquired a 10-acre tract that would allow the trail to bypass the private gates.
Separation of a mile or more would allow the trailing pair to cover the lead pair from surprise attack.
Wild camping is not allowed along the trail but CampInMyGarden.com may provide some answers.
One thing is key, though: the number of groups allowed on the trail has been reduced in recent years, making advanced booking all but required.
Only 10 people are allowed on the trail per day, so you have this unique area of protected wilderness to yourself.
(Bicycle rentals start at $4 an hour and $12 a day, including helmets and locks. Motorscooters, which are not allowed on the trail, are $12 an hour or $45 a day).
Make sure you have well worn boots, a tried-and-tested backpack, a sturdy tent, a warm sleeping bag, a reliable cooking stove (no fires are allowed on the trail), and an emergency communication device like a satellite phone or a personal locator beacon.
Make sure dogs are allowed at the trail first, and follow all regulations (such as clean up after you dog, keep you dog on a leash, etc).
