tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post8092029440466236598..comments2023-10-10T04:18:23.631-04:00Comments on The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: New Tools Available For Reducing Noise FootprintsSmokyMountainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288538940523306530noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-66951817161167192011-03-08T16:46:01.685-05:002011-03-08T16:46:01.685-05:00I say ban the motorcycles, or at least, enforce a ...I say ban the motorcycles, or at least, enforce a noise law. These bikers have a huge meeting in Townsend every summer or so, and those things are way too loud for the park, and drive me crazy. No way should something that loud belond in the park, or Cades Cove. It's ridiculous what we allow......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-27083376752945247972011-03-07T20:24:50.077-05:002011-03-07T20:24:50.077-05:00I hike to get away from noise and turmoil. The noi...I hike to get away from noise and turmoil. The noise of motorcycles and dirtbikes bothers most hikers, but I don't know if we can ban them.Ray Andersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-86898354099914593702011-03-07T12:32:09.601-05:002011-03-07T12:32:09.601-05:00Chuck - actually there is a Cades Cove shuttle:
h...Chuck - actually there is a Cades Cove shuttle:<br /><br />http://www.cadescoveheritagetours.org/<br /><br />This will be the 3rd season for the service. However, it doesn't seem to be putting a dent in the problem. <br /><br />I agree with both of you on the motorcycle issue. I don't believe that we should ban them, as they also own the parks, but there has to be some type of compromise on the issue. <br /><br />There are several points along the Sugarland Mtn Trail where you can hear the din of traffic and motorcycles on Newfound Gap in the valley below. There are many other places in the park where you can hear traffic noise while hiking as well.<br /><br />What kills me is that the park continues to promote "auto touring". Why? <br /><br />Here's a blurb from the park website:<br /><br />Auto Tours - The park’s backroads offer a chance to escape traffic and explore remote areas. A road guide and self-guided auto tour booklets are available for several popular, and a few quieter destinations in the park including Cades Cove, Newfound Gap Road, Roaring Fork, Tremont, and Cataloochee. All items may be purchased at visitor centers.The Smoky Mountain Hikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019731497259511008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-50007273130086480702011-03-07T11:01:57.549-05:002011-03-07T11:01:57.549-05:00Standing alone at Inspiration Point last Summer I ...Standing alone at Inspiration Point last Summer I was witness to the beauty that is the Smoky Mountains. I was also witness to the far away, but annoying, noise of motorcycles. Ban them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-13080802776281168082011-03-07T10:13:34.279-05:002011-03-07T10:13:34.279-05:00I don't buy it. The NPS is not concerned about...I don't buy it. The NPS is not concerned about noise pollution.<br />I always found it interesting that National Parks allowed noisy loud generators to run in their campgrounds and actually built campgrounds (large sites for RVs)that encouraged the use of generators. Also the Blue Ridge Parkway does not permit large and non-noise polluting bicycle rides such as Cycle North Carolina on the parkway but I have seen official BRP escorting hundreds of muffler-less and ear-splitting motorcycles numerous times. What about that ridiculous spectacle of auto traffic at Cade's Cove? I don't see any electric trolleys there offering to give people an alternative to their Suburbans and F450s. I say put up or shut up NPS!HometownHikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03507623571330364950noreply@blogger.com