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pastywhite 
Group: Members
Posts: 1558
Joined: May 2009
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 7:29 pm |
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Great Smoky Mountains News Release
Release Date: Immediate
Contact: Dana Soehn, Dana_Soehn@nps.gov
Phone number: 865-436-1207
Date: January 22, 2013
Park Announces Implementation of Backcountry Changes
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced today that changes to its current backcountry reservation and permitting process will take effect on February 13, 2013. As reported last March, the National Park Service approved the Park’s proposal to begin collecting fees for use of the Park’s backcountry campsites and shelters. The changes include a $4 per person, per night fee for backcountry camping. The fee will be used to provide increased customer service for backcountry trip planning, reservations, permits and the backcountry experience.
A park-specific reservation and permit system, to which users will have 24/7 access, will allow backcountry campers to make reservations and obtain permits online from anywhere internet access is available. Reservations may be made at any time up to 30 days in advance, allowing maximum flexibility for those making last minute plans. Backcountry users will no longer be required to call the Backcountry Office to obtain reservations. Reservation and permit requests will also be accepted in person at the Backcountry Office, which is located at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
Backcountry Office hours will be expanded with additional staff available to provide trip planning assistance both over the phone and in person. In addition, the Park will expand its backcountry Ranger presence to better protect park resources through enforcement of food-storage and other regulations and improved visitor education regarding Leave-No-Trace principles.
For more information about the changes, please visit the Park’s website at www.nps.gov/grsm and follow the Management link on the left side of the page or call the Park’s Public Information Office at 865-436-1207. For general backcountry information or backcountry reservations, call the Backcountry Office at 865-436-1297. On February 13, backcountry reservations and permits will be available at www.smokiespermits.nps.gov.
Molly Schroer
Public Affairs Office
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(865) 436-1203 office
(865) 210-1983 cell
(865) 436-1204 (fax)
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DeepSouthHiker
Group: Members
Posts: 161
Joined: Dec. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 30 2013, 9:25 pm |
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Thanks for the link...I was particularly interested in the FAQ section on their website and especially in this question:
7. Will there be a reduced fee for children or for residents of Tennessee or North Carolina?
Under FLREA, children younger than 16 years of age are exempt from entrance fees but not other fees, such as those for backcountry use. FLREA does not authorize reduced fees for residents of states contiguous to the national park.
I had been hoping that they would do some sort of family maximum or an exemption for children as my wife and four children have been slowly working our way toward 900 miler status.
If we stay at any of the front country developed campgrounds, we will pay between $14 - $20 per night ($23 in Elkmont at the riverfront).
If we camp in the backcountry, it will be $24 per night.
So, if we get a tent pad, table, fire ring, paved parking spot, flush toilets, and trash cans, the park will charge me less than if they provide me nothing...well, nothing other than the favor of helping them pay for the reservation system and enforcment rangers.
Anybody else see the strangeness of that?
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Hiker01
Group: Members
Posts: 906
Joined: Jun. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 30 2013, 10:06 pm |
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Amen, Deepsouthhiker. I also hoped for a discount for children or a yearly pass, it fell on deaf ears.
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cgaphiker
Hen Wallow Falls
Group: Members
Posts: 11005
Joined: Apr. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 31 2013, 12:15 am |
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Yeah, I really don't get their reasoning. They did a ton of work at Cosby and Elkmont and as far as I know haven't raised the price of a site at either campground. Seems like they could have raised a lot more money charging a couple of dollars more a night for a front country site.
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| Post Number: 5
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mossy
Group: Members
Posts: 730
Joined: Aug. 2007
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Posted on: Jan. 31 2013, 9:27 am |
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Going by how many times I've seen non-reservation hikers show up at reserved sites (and not pay any penalty), I'm highly dubious about the success of this fee. The reason they didn't up frontcountry fees is there would have been larger howls of protests.
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| Post Number: 6
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| Post Number: 7
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cevans
Group: Members
Posts: 618
Joined: Dec. 2009
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Posted on: Feb. 10 2013, 2:42 pm |
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I am not wanting to rain on anybody's parade, but maybe this is a cloud with a silver lining of the charging 4 bucks per person for backcountry camping in GSMNP. I am figuring with the budget cuts looming over the National Park Service come March 1st at a min. of 100 million dollars, they are going to have to increase fees they charge for everything in the National Parks to make up any kind of losses to keep all these parks going as well as all the services they provide depending on each Park. And,,it might just keep the trash down as well as vandalism in the backcountry a bit.
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If it can't be done outdoors, its not much worth doing!
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GoWest
Group: Members
Posts: 110
Joined: Apr. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 11 2013, 9:19 pm |
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This is all a bunch of crap!
Look at all the money that the federal government wastes on everything from foreign aid to Michelle Obama's security. Its just pathetic that we get charged to go to OUR own parks. Give the NPS more money, Congress and stop nickel and diming us to death while you waste billions!
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Kiss my days, light up my nights.
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| Post Number: 9
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ashepabst
Group: Members
Posts: 1009
Joined: Jul. 2008
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Posted on: Feb. 12 2013, 8:42 am |
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wow, don't think we should provide security to the first lady, huh?
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magicmomma
Wildest Flower in Tennessee
Group: Members
Posts: 2013
Joined: Sep. 2008
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Posted on: Feb. 12 2013, 9:46 am |
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Off the subject, but does anyone know if Campsite Three along the Beard Cane Creek Trail has ever reopened? I guess a better question would be has Beard Cane Creek Trail ever opened back up?
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| Post Number: 12
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kevinumberger
Group: Members
Posts: 3634
Joined: Dec. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 12 2013, 1:17 pm |
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i don't think beard cane will ever reopen........
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm
Backcountry Areas Closed Due to Storm Damage
• Chimney Tops Trail
• Deep Creek Trail from campsite #53 to US-441(campsite #53 is open)
• Thomas Divide Trail from the junction of the Sunkota Ridge Trail to US-441
• Kanati Fork Trail
• Kephart Prong Trail (Kephart Prong Shelter is open)
• Beard Cane Trail and campsites #3 and #11
• Hatcher Mountain Trail
• Scott Mountain Trail from campsite #6 to Schoolhouse Gap (campsite #6 is open)
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| Post Number: 13
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magicmomma
Wildest Flower in Tennessee
Group: Members
Posts: 2013
Joined: Sep. 2008
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Posted on: Feb. 12 2013, 1:23 pm |
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Thanks Kevin. I had a feeling that was the case. While I fought the fee and reservation system and I am still not happy about it I will try to go along and get along.
My conscience is clear on that matter.
It is really a shame about CT trail since they just completed the work on that recently! Seems everything about the Smokies is saying NO CAN DO from the weather to the NPS.
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| Post Number: 14
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Roger
Group: Members
Posts: 1893
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Feb. 12 2013, 5:41 pm |
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I see where AT through hikers will have to get a $20 permit which is good for 8 days of hiking and valid for 38 days from the day it is issued. This should not be a major problem as there are a number of places where one could stop and get the permit along the way. Still it will be a pain. I am glad I have already passed the park on my way north.
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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain
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| Post Number: 15
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pastywhite
Group: Members
Posts: 1558
Joined: May 2009
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Posted on: Feb. 14 2013, 5:07 am |
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The site is still down  I guess since this new system started yesterday we either 1) get to camp free without reservation or 2) everyone in the backcountry is a criminal
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| Post Number: 16
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magicmomma
Wildest Flower in Tennessee
Group: Members
Posts: 2013
Joined: Sep. 2008
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Posted on: Feb. 14 2013, 2:23 pm |
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LOL@ Gunslinger. 2 funny and 2 true!
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| Post Number: 18
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| Post Number: 19
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pastywhite
Group: Members
Posts: 1558
Joined: May 2009
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Posted on: Feb. 15 2013, 7:10 pm |
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It's working now but this could possible be the worst online reservation system I have ever seen.
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| Post Number: 20
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bacpacer
Group: Members
Posts: 48
Joined: Jan. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 20 2013, 8:38 am |
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I used the permit system for the first time and I found it easier than trying for hours sometimes to reach the backcountry office. It wasn't complicated at all and I had no issues whatever to make the required reservation for the campsites I needed. However,
I don't like paying more money to our government for this privledge, but over time my hope is that it keeps the rif raf out of this national treasure.
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| Post Number: 23
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ashepabst
Group: Members
Posts: 1009
Joined: Jul. 2008
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Posted on: Feb. 20 2013, 1:13 pm |
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i like that you can browse around and see how many folks will be at a site on a given night. that is of course if everyone's legal. i'm hoping that they're incorporating some car permit in this process so that even though they can't patrol each site every night they can at least have some accountability that way.
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| Post Number: 24
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Tuttle
Group: Members
Posts: 113
Joined: Jul. 2003
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Posted on: Mar. 21 2013, 4:57 pm |
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So how is everyone' experiences been so far? Going in a month (busy hiking time, I know) and am worried about "unregistered" people showing up at our shelter. Seems to be filling up quick. We're staying at Leconte so the thru hikers shouldn't be a problem. Thoughts?
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| Post Number: 25
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kevinumberger
Group: Members
Posts: 3634
Joined: Dec. 2005
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Posted on: Mar. 21 2013, 5:14 pm |
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havent been in the smokies since the reservation system went into effect.....
leconte has a ranger that stays up there thursday through sunday to check permits and kick people out.......trust me, he checked my permit multiple times throughout the day.....
not sure when the ranger season starts up though (it may just be an early summer to late fall type of deal)....
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| Post Number: 26
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magicmomma
Wildest Flower in Tennessee
Group: Members
Posts: 2013
Joined: Sep. 2008
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Posted on: Mar. 21 2013, 9:01 pm |
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pastywhite wrote:
I haven't camped since the tax yet either but I cannot imagine the people who didn't bother to get a free permit will suddenly decide to get one at $4/night.
I'd have to agree with you on that!
Ya made me laugh. :-D
Pastywhite............ I need to see you in my office. Seriously.
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| Post Number: 28
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Tuttle
Group: Members
Posts: 113
Joined: Jul. 2003
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Posted on: Mar. 26 2013, 8:48 am |
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Well, we've got our permit so we'll see how it goes. Done a lot of hiking in the Smokies but this is our first time staying in a shelter. Think many thru hikers will venture over to LeConte?
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| Post Number: 29
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kevinumberger
Group: Members
Posts: 3634
Joined: Dec. 2005
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Posted on: Mar. 26 2013, 3:05 pm |
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nawwwww........
you wont see any thru hikers at leconte.........not unless they got lost.........
leconte is a bit outta the way of the AT........
especially being in the area of newfound gap----where most people hop a ride into town for a resupply and/or zero day......
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| Post Number: 30
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unclehubert
ambivalence!
Group: Members
Posts: 248
Joined: Apr. 2003
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Posted on: Apr. 02 2013, 4:29 pm |
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I just looked at the new reservation system, and the only fee I saw was the 4 dollars for the reservation. Is that all you pay to camp in backcountry? I thought there was an additional fee for the campsite or shelter. Is this true?
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Hey!
Ego similis ambulo dudus!
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