Won't get through the Smokies in 8 days on thru-hiker pass. What are the options?

[0utlier]

I will begin my hike at least 50 miles prior to the Smokies and end at least 50 miles beyond the Smokies so I want to take advantage of the thru-hiker permit. However, I have a small problem. I intend on staying in Gatlinburg for a few days so I won't complete the Smokies within the 8 day timeframe the thru-hiker permit allows. It looks like I'll be beyond the Smokies on the 9th or 10th day. Is there anything I can do to stay "legal"?

[HooKooDooKu]

Get a pair of general backpacking permits... however you would have to get reservations for the exact dates you plan to stay at each shelter.

Otherwise, call up the back country permit office and discuss your situation with them. Perhaps there is some manual modification the rangers can do in the office that the online rules don't allow.

865-436-1231

[Venchka]

I intend on staying in Gatlinburg for a few days

Why?
Disclaimer: Gatlinburg is not one of my favorite places.
Enjoy your hike.

Wayne

[MuddyWaters]

Stay in gatlinburg on the way, or after, and just hike thru the park in 5 days without stopping

[illabelle]

Let's say a person has a thru-hiker permit dated April 1 (so valid from April 1 through May 8). The way I understand the intent is that they don't want you to be wandering around in the park for weeks. They want you to get in and get out in 8 days. What difference does it make whether it's the first 8 days (April 1-8) or some other 8 days (April 1-4 and May 5-8)?

A Thru-Hiker Permit is valid for up to 38 days from the date you obtain it. Thru-Hikers have 8 days to get through the Smokies. A break to rest or resupply in a nearby town does not negate one's standing as a thru-hiker.

[0utlier]

Why? Because America. Does it matter why? You must have misread the question. I didn't ask the location of your favorite place. I apologize for the confusing nature of my question.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[DavidNH]

I suggest you hike through the park and then take the time to visit Gatlinburg.

[TNhiker]

Why?
Disclaimer: Gatlinburg is not one of my favorite places.
Enjoy your hike.

Wayne

its his/her trip and not yours.....

[Slo-go'en]

If I can do the park in 5 days, anyone can. That leaves you with 3 days in town. Surely that's long enough?

If you stay at the Mt Collins shelter, you can get to New Found Gap before noon and be in Gburg early in the afternoon, giving you most of the day there. Then take a full day off, heading back up the next morning. That way you spend 2 nights in town, but really only loose one day out of your 8.

[rgarling]

Let's say a person has a thru-hiker permit dated April 1 (so valid from April 1 through May 8). The way I understand the intent is that they don't want you to be wandering around in the park for weeks. They want you to get in and get out in 8 days. What difference does it make whether it's the first 8 days (April 1-8) or some other 8 days (April 1-4 and May 5-8)?

This explanation is compelling. In other words, over a period of 38 days, you can spend up to 8 days hiking in the park.

[HooKooDooKu]

This explanation is compelling. In other words, over a period of 38 days, you can spend up to 8 days hiking in the park.

I called the back country office to get clarification.

The rule is that once you enter the park, your permit is valid for only 8 continuous days.

The way it was explained is that when you enter the park, you validate your permit by writing your entry date on the permit. Any ranger that asks to see your permit only has that date to go by to determine if your permit is valid. So while a side trip to Gatlinburg doesn't negate your thru-hiker permit, it also doesn't extend the 8 day deadline.

[Venchka]

Why? Because America. Does it matter why? You must have misread the question. I didn't ask the location of your favorite place. I apologize for the confusing nature of my question.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

its his/her trip and not yours.....

It was early. I was at work. My penultimate week at work. Before my first cup of coffee. I'm old. I'm grumpy.

I'm still at work. I'm in a better mood now. 9 days and a wake up until my permanent release from work & Houston.
3+ months from now I will be in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Going backpacking at Grandfather Mountain with my grandson. I promise I will be in a way better mood then.
Have a great hike. Enjoy the Smokies and Gatlinburg.

Wayne

[George]

is there any restriction to getting 2 through permits? it would cost 40$ but that could be made up be reducing the visits to riplies and tshirt shop purchases over the 3 days

[George]

. Enjoy the Smokies and Gatlinburg.

Wayne

on one winter trip in the smokies I did both at once twice in one day

started early, still in the dark, a clear area gave me a view of the lights in gatlinburg - finished that evening also in the dark with the added view of the solid traffic from pidgin forge, looked kind of like a giant tail - to me it was an ideal way to see G burg

reality - G burg is a decent trail town, easy hitches, every thing you need is a short walk

[HooKooDooKu]

is there any restriction to getting 2 through permits? it would cost 40$ but that could be made up be reducing the visits to riplies and tshirt shop purchases over the 3 days

Two thru permits wouldn't fly...
To get 'A' permit, your hike must start and end 50 miles beyond the park boundaries.

Besides, it's not about the $20... that cost (in part) comes from the park moving to an automated reservation system and needed a way to pay for it.

Actually, other than having to register online and printing your own permit (and the $20) nothing has changed for AT thru hikers going thru the park. AT thru hikers have always had to write their entry date on their permit and have always had 8 days from the date on the permit to leave the park.
Compare that to the rest of the GSMNP backpackers. Now we not only have to pay a daily fee (which tops out at $4/night for a max of $20 and a max of 7 nights... sound familer?) but we have to have a reservation for a specific day for every campsite we want to stay at.

By comparison, AT thru hikers have it easy.

Sounds like Baxter is already implementing a plan to require AT thru hikers to register before they enter Baxter State Park... with talk that if conditions continue to get worst, they might start limiting the number of thru hikers per day allowed to enter the park.

I myself am planning a thru hike of the JMT this summer. If you want to hike the WHOLE trail (starting in Yosemite), you have to enter a lottery to get a permit... of which only 20 permits per day are issued (actually, there are more, but that's for starting somewhere OTHER than at the official start of the JMT). I don't know about numbers for this year, but the park service said that last year, 800 people per day were entering that lottery.

[TNhiker]

Two thru permits wouldn't fly...
To get 'A' permit, your hike must start and end 50 miles beyond the park boundaries.

why couldnt it be two regular permits and not the AT thru hiker permit?

reserve the shelters to stay at for the southern half----then reserve the shelters for the northern half....

one would just have to know how many days to stay in gatlinburg and then afterwards just pick the trail back up and hike on.........

[Slo-go'en]

why couldnt it be two regular permits and not the AT thru hiker permit?

reserve the shelters to stay at for the southern half----then reserve the shelters for the northern half....

one would just have to know how many days to stay in gatlinburg and then afterwards just pick the trail back up and hike on.........

Getting a thru hiker permit allows for flexibility. It allows you to show up when ever you get there and stay at what ever shelters meet your schedule. Besides doing the extra 100 miles, that maybe one of reasons the OP wants to go that way.

[MuddyWaters]

Suppose you run into the same backcountry ranger or ridgerunner.........twice.......

[TNhiker]

Getting a thru hiker permit allows for flexibility. It allows you to show up when ever you get there and stay at what ever shelters meet your schedule. Besides doing the extra 100 miles, that maybe one of reasons the OP wants to go that way.

i realize that, but the OP also wanted to stay "legal"....

this allows it....

and to be honest, getting through the northern half of the park, can be done pretty easily by knowing which shelters you want to stay at......after all, there's only 5 shelters...........four if one doesnt stay at icewater......

so, make a reservation at pecks, tricorner, cosby and davenport..........

stay in each one and bam=----OP is legal...........

or a variation of those shelters...........

[Starchild]

Combine your thru permit with the regular 'Joe' nightly permits for the remaining nights could allow it. You will not enjoy the flexibility that the thru hiker permits allow for that second section. Also your Thru Hiker Permit does allow 7 nights, which even with a extended stay in G-burg could allow the first day returning to be on your Thru Permit.

It does seem like some way of suspending the thru hike permit should be allowed, extended stays in places like G-burg or Cherokee can occasionally be expected.