MILLINOCKET — For the past few years, a Vermont man has camped out all night behind a local hotel in below-zero temperatures and snowstorms to be the first in line to make summer reservations for camping in Baxter State Park.

This year, Bill Gunther of Newfane, Vt., will face some friendly competition from a Maine man.

“I’m going to be there first,” laughed Ed Garnier, 47, of Monmouth during a recent telephone interview. Garnier, an electrician, says he has never been the first person through the doors to make reservations. “There has always been someone ahead of me,” he said.

The Monmouth man won’t say just when he plans to arrive in Millinocket to make his reservations for the 1998 camping season in the 202,000-acre Baxter Park. “When is this article coming out?” Gariner wanted to know. “I don’t want Bill to find out,” chuckled Garnier.

Baxter park officials will begin accepting 1998 summer reservations for sites at 10 campgrounds, 23 cabins and at the highly coveted back country spots at 7 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2.

Because the number of people who come to make reservations typically exceeds the capacity of park headquarters, people making reservations first must get tickets for processing at the Best Western Heritage Motor Inn at 935 Central St. in Millinocket. Rangers with two-way radios will call out numbers, and those people may then walk across the street to park headquarters to sign up and pay fees for campsites.

On any given night in the summer, the park can sleep about 1,000 people. Although many of the prime sites will be reserved on Jan. 2 or by mail in the next few days, there are still some sites left in the summer, said Nancy Moxley, a clerk at the park. “There’s always some space here and there,” she said.

Baxter State Park Director Irvin “Buzz” Caverly Jr. says people who arrive at the motor inn before 7 a.m. Friday will have to wait in line outside. After 7 a.m., people will be admitted inside to receive tickets, and park staff will explain the procedure. About the only change this year is that at noon the line of people making reservations will be moved from the hotel to the new large conference room, located at park headquarters at 64 Balsam Drive.

Reservations for the 1998 summer season will be accepted by mail or in person at park headquarters after Friday. Traditional opening-day limits for the cabin campgrounds will apply, which is two four-person cabins or three two- or three-person cabins per ticket or turn, says Caverly.

Fees for the cabins are $17 per person per night, with a minimum of $30 for one two-bed cabin. Children between the ages of 7 and 16 go for $10 a night and those under 7 are free. Campsite fees are $6 per person per night with a $12 minimum for a site. People can reserve sites for up to two weeks with certain exceptions for prized areas such as the back country sites which reserve for only one night.

Nine of the park’s 10 campgrounds are open from May 15 through Oct. 15, except Chimney Pond, which usually is the last to see the snow go. It opens in June.

Caverly expects about 200 will turn out on Jan. 2 to make reservations for their favorite cabins and campsites. Standing in line all night to get a reservation for that special cabin has become a tradition for most of the people, who arrive in Millinocket on New Year’s Day.

Garnier wants to be the first in line this year because he wants to make sure he gets a special cabin at Daicey Pond. “My primary goal for going up early is to get my opening and closing dates at Daicey Pond,” says the Monmouth man.

He likes to be the first person to stay in the “Lookout” cabin when the season opens on May 15, and he likes to be the one who stays in that cabin for the last few days at the end of the season. The two-person cabin is the only one that sits right on the water at Daicey Pond. “It’s got a full glass front that looks across Daicey Pond and right up onto the mountain. To me, it’s the most beautiful spot in the park,” said Garnier.

It only took Garnier one visit and one climb to Chimney Pond to be hooked. He has camped and hiked in Baxter State Park every year for the past 13 years. Garnier has hiked every mile of trail and has climbed every mountain peak in the park that has a trail to the top. “I finished it in September,” Garnier says.

People who plan to come in large groups and take turns holding the rest of the group’s place in line could be disappointed. Gunther and Garnier say that won’t be tolerated. They have developed what they call rules of line etiquette.

“We have rules and guidelines for proper line etiquette. You are allowed to take a half hour, every few hours, to go eat or to go inside and warm up without losing your place,” Garnier explained.

“I’m ready,” says Garnier, who plans to dress as though he would be on the top of Mount Katahdin.