tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post3019675903851165847..comments2023-10-10T04:18:23.631-04:00Comments on The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: Are Backpackers Boycotting the Smokies?SmokyMountainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288538940523306530noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-16590845524532717832014-04-02T18:09:22.952-04:002014-04-02T18:09:22.952-04:00i really love your blog, it's so helpful!!!i really love your blog, it's so helpful!!!Micah|Timeshare Rentals by Ownerhttp://www.timesharescam.com/blog/131-timeshare-rentals-by-owner/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-70119254887524979932014-02-07T15:18:30.712-05:002014-02-07T15:18:30.712-05:00I have found that over on our blog www.gotsmokies...I have found that over on our blog www.gotsmokies.ning.com we don't have these problems created by anonymous posters since a real name is mandatory. I would suggest that you consider disallowing comments by folks who are unwilling to provide a real name. Since they are irrelevant to begin with. Especially since we all know who this anonymous is anyway.John Quillennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-81945507934517092172014-02-07T10:04:11.085-05:002014-02-07T10:04:11.085-05:00***** Alright guys, lets keep it civil or I'm ...***** Alright guys, lets keep it civil or I'm going to remove comments*****The Smoky Mountain Hikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019731497259511008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-16387281832187757072014-02-07T09:04:55.755-05:002014-02-07T09:04:55.755-05:00I can tell you right now, That i had planned to hi...I can tell you right now, That i had planned to hike a 5-7 day section of the AT that included the Smokies. That plan has been changed to begin just north of the National Park due to the regulations. Our start date may have to fluctuate by a day or so to accommodate work schedules. And that section thru the Park isn't all that easy to determine where you may end up in the evening.<br />I don't want to have to waste daylight if we arrive early to a shelter, Or risk running afoul of the law if we fall short of our daily mileage.<br />It's not about the money.<br />It's about needless control and denying hikers the ability to enjoy the hike across the Smokies with the ease needed to fully enjoy the experience.Brian Knudsennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-14571872927376006322014-02-06T23:36:01.017-05:002014-02-06T23:36:01.017-05:00like i said, we haven't been back since the we...like i said, we haven't been back since the weekend before the tax went into place.<br /><br />i think "anonymous" is a bit jealous because i actually have a hiking partner.<br />and all he could do the night we met, was sniff after her as we left park headquarters.joey bridgesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-90075368806157871402014-02-06T22:42:09.819-05:002014-02-06T22:42:09.819-05:00Anonymity is the refuge of cowards. Sounds like so...Anonymity is the refuge of cowards. Sounds like someone who didn't get invited to the Highlander trips. Middle school.John Quillennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-55267415824536799032014-02-06T22:35:35.243-05:002014-02-06T22:35:35.243-05:00It's comical to see comments From "Anonym...It's comical to see comments From "Anonymous" attacking people, yet won't post there name. Your obviously your one who follows the highlanders closely....hmmm who could you be? <br />Frank wAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-25751466017984754772014-01-30T16:58:45.103-05:002014-01-30T16:58:45.103-05:00The Park fully refunded our trip during the shutdo...The Park fully refunded our trip during the shutdown. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-91031286595607173382014-01-30T11:48:25.378-05:002014-01-30T11:48:25.378-05:00"we haven't been back to OUR PARK since d..."we haven't been back to OUR PARK since ditmanson forced this illegal double taxation feeasco on us."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />That's funny Joey---you're listed on one of the Highlanders trip.<br /><br />So, either there's another Joey Bridges or you're a flat out liar.<br /><br />And let me guess. You'll make some excuse why the rest of your croney friends still go backpacking in the Park.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-4887642468658784962014-01-29T22:43:49.708-05:002014-01-29T22:43:49.708-05:00Tom - great point and observation. Moreover, I'...Tom - great point and observation. Moreover, I'm sure there were many caveats for all the prior years, but are unable to quantify them at this point.The Smoky Mountain Hikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019731497259511008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-16979184279876855252014-01-29T18:45:56.690-05:002014-01-29T18:45:56.690-05:00I bet rain did shorten a lot of peoples backcountr...I bet rain did shorten a lot of peoples backcountry plans...but for most/many I bet they had still already paid the fee, and thus would have been counted in the numbers shown on the graph. e.g., last June I paid for 8 "reservations" for a wkd trip for my family of 4. Rained like hell so we bailed out after 1 night. But the smokies data still says we were there for 2 nights. Have to figure some people cancelled due to rain altogether but only after making the reservation and thus being counted. No matter the weather, you're counted as a backcountry user once you've made the reservation, not whether you actually made it out there.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13061569472867097610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-60987217043615708182014-01-29T16:55:20.322-05:002014-01-29T16:55:20.322-05:00Since October is one of the busiest months of the ...Since October is one of the busiest months of the year it should count as higher than just 6%. And although the government was only shut down for 16 days, as a hotel manager that sees a large hiker clientele, I can say that the shutdown had a month long implication. Because of the uncertainty, many people cancelled their October trips altogether. Our October business was down over 20%. The year before we saw a similar downturn because of the collapse of the road, although it did not impact us as bad since it was in late winter. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />5Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-88656952045360447652014-01-29T13:45:02.257-05:002014-01-29T13:45:02.257-05:00we haven't been back to OUR PARK since ditmans...we haven't been back to OUR PARK since ditmanson forced this illegal double taxation feeasco on us.<br />citico, countless trails on the plateau, pisgah, AT, linville gorge, roane mt. and an infinite amount of other awesome places now get our attention.<br />and.....our discretionary spending in the surrounding businesses.Joey Bridgesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-23759645216306642812014-01-29T09:10:45.778-05:002014-01-29T09:10:45.778-05:00Jonathon - I agree, there were probably quite a fe...Jonathon - I agree, there were probably quite a few "pirate" backpackers this year that didn't register. However, there very well could've been "pirate" backpackers in prior years as well - people who didn't realize they were supposed to register their overnight stays with the park. As far as I know, none of that information (citations) is available to the public, so I have no way of measuring that data.<br /><br />Anon - I think you bring up a good point about the rain this year. That likely did have an impact. How much? We will never know. And to Randy's point, some/many backpackers would probably press on regardless of the weather.<br /><br />As I learned from a statistics major several years ago, one data point does not make a trend. I think we'll have a much better handle on the impact of the backcountry fees in another year or two.The Smoky Mountain Hikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019731497259511008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-39095510178855160122014-01-29T08:29:22.716-05:002014-01-29T08:29:22.716-05:00Rain doesn't keep real backpackers away, plus ...Rain doesn't keep real backpackers away, plus if you lose the majority of your fee for canceling, you'll be more likely to press on during inclement weather, perhaps putting hikers in danger when they should abort. The fee and res.gov system has definitely affected my decisions. Randy Taylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-866312762143183542014-01-29T08:09:20.828-05:002014-01-29T08:09:20.828-05:00If you remember,we had record amounts of rain last...If you remember,we had record amounts of rain last year. Perhaps the weather had a more to do with it than fees. I know we changed our plans more than once due to the weather .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-83108595067899956272014-01-29T07:36:51.662-05:002014-01-29T07:36:51.662-05:00Is it possible people still visited, just delibera...Is it possible people still visited, just deliberately didn't get a back country permit so they wouldn't have to pay? Are there numbers on amounts of citations rangers wrote to unregistered back country hikers? I saw AT hikers with dogs because they didn't agree with that rule too!Jonathonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17822868554050396650noreply@blogger.com