tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post4630556422702811822..comments2023-10-10T04:18:23.631-04:00Comments on The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: Outdoor Recreation Participation Report: Camping and Backpacking Continues to DeclineSmokyMountainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288538940523306530noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-62986387946390998462014-07-31T16:54:53.117-04:002014-07-31T16:54:53.117-04:00For the record, it was actually down 25.4% versus ...For the record, it was actually down 25.4% versus 2012. When compared to 2011 it was down 30.4%. I mentioned several caveats in a posting back in January as to why those numbers may have been down LY: http://hikinginthesmokys.blogspot.com/2014/01/are-backpackers-boycotting-smokies.html<br /><br />However, to support your position, backcountry camping figures are again suppressed when compared to 2011 and 2012 (or even since 2000). I just checked the NPS website, and so far, thru June, backcountry camping is up only 4% when compared to the same time period LY. If there isn't a rebound over the last 6 months of this year, 2014 will still be well below the medium-term average. <br /><br /> The Smoky Mountain Hikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019731497259511008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-52745421952164701872014-07-31T16:26:06.668-04:002014-07-31T16:26:06.668-04:00You may be right. Folks do like their plugged in ...You may be right. Folks do like their plugged in abilities. One recent report showed that Millenial generationers eschew the outdoors because of a lack of immediate connectivity and an ability to instantly upload photos to social media.<br />However, I find it a little more than coincidental that since the NPS instituted the backcountry fee in the Smokies, backcountry camping declined almost %30 in the very first year. John Quillennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-78833775096799669042014-07-31T14:51:38.141-04:002014-07-31T14:51:38.141-04:00Good grief! Did you get room service with that? Gr...Good grief! Did you get room service with that? Granted, that is probably an extreme example, due to its proximity to one of the most expensive places to live, but you may have a point. <br /><br />Keep in mind though that hotel rates have also risen in recent years. The analysis that needs to be done is to see if overall hotel rates have risen as much as camping fees across the country, and then see how the occupancy rates have been impacted. Also, are those rate increases in line with inflation?<br /><br />I believe that the real reason is that people would rather have a comfortable bed, and their Iphones.... The Smoky Mountain Hikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019731497259511008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-12948555394828886932014-07-31T14:02:34.877-04:002014-07-31T14:02:34.877-04:00Of course I'm sure that has nothing to do with...Of course I'm sure that has nothing to do with the fact that the NPS is charging exorbitant fees to use public lands and sleep on unimproved ground. I stayed at Sycamore State Park (in the National Forest lands)in California last week and paid $45 per night for a tent site. I'd say that may a little bit to do with a decline in use when tenting nears hotel rates.John Quillennoreply@blogger.com