My last trail days

[Krewzer]

Thanks Damascus. Saw lots of old friends. Drank more than a few beers with them. Ate breakfast at Cowboy's and burgers at Quincy's. Visited with the Only Wanderer a bit. Hugged Miss Janet. Got my New "Yawker" fix from EZ and Lightning Boltz. Got my cholesterol checked for free by the Sweet Home Alabama gang. Bought a few more useless items from vendors. Got soaked in the parade.

Not the least bit surprised by Morpheus. It's the same tedious old annual WB they're picking on "us" again thread. Well, there is no "us" buddy. There was a Morpheus last year and there'll be a Morpheus next year.

I saw one kid get busted. Probably because he didn't know when to shut up. Hey Kid, did it ever occur to you underage drinking, probably drunk and definitely disorderly right behind the Baptist Church Tent where good people were busting their butts for others might aggravate more than a few? I mean they were in the middle of serving a huge free dinner to about 300 hikers... and they're Baptists........ "Here's your sign!!!"

Damascus is the friendliest town on the trail. Trail Days absolutely proves it.
Hike in Harmony, everywhere, all the time.

BTW. Note to self and next year's Morpheus. If you can't find a friend in the Friendliest Town on the Trail, then you're doing something very very wrong. Try catch phrases like, "good morning", "thank you", "how are you", "please", "hope to see you again", "Thanks for having us over." Smiles work really really well. Look up the definitions of Friend, Friendly, Friendliness and they're uses and meanings. If still not working, get a dog.

[ShakeyLeggs]

Sooooo, you give your opinion while stating that this is not the place for said opinion. . . . hmmmmm . . . . . . . . .

You got to it before I did......I said the exact same thing when i read that.

It was too easy. . . .

Man touchy aren't we. Me thinks you giys need to get out and hike more.

[Gray Blazer]

and further more, the couple of folks that i do know personally,that have been hauled in, were released the next day, with no charges of fine, just a long walk back from abingdon on the creeper.

That's pretty darn cool if you ask me.

[Lyle]

Though I have never been to Trail Days I will make this comment.

I do not enjoy loud, rowdy, drunk fests. As such, if I ever do attend Trail Days, I would most likely avoid the campground all together. Unfortunately, camping is my preferred accommodation, especially when attending a hiking function.

A suggestion for the future: I understand that Trail Days is a lot of work, and that new camping arrangements are being made. If possible, I would suggest that two camping areas be considered, in separate areas. One for the rowdy, party crowd, with whatever law enforcement the local community deems appropriate, and the other a "quiet" campground with the stated understanding that generally accepted trail rules apply - reasonable quiet hours and common courtesy. If this were the arrangement, and it were respected, I would be more likely to consider attending.

Just a thought.

[Gray Blazer]

and the other a "quiet" campground with the stated understanding that generally accepted trail rules apply - reasonable quiet hours and common courtesy. If this were the arrangement, and it were respected, I would be more likely to consider attending.

Just a thought.

Don't they have a nursing home in Damascus?

[Lyle]

Don't they have a nursing home in Damascus?

If this is the prevailing attitude, I'll just stay away.

Thought hikers were better than that. They used to be.

[Gray Blazer]

If this is the prevailing attitude, I'll just stay away.

Thought hikers were better than that. They used to be.

I was just kidding. I have no opinion about TDs as I've never been to one before.

[Lone Wolf]

Though I have never been to Trail Days I will make this comment.

I do not enjoy loud, rowdy, drunk fests. As such, if I ever do attend Trail Days, I would most likely avoid the campground all together. Unfortunately, camping is my preferred accommodation, especially when attending a hiking function.

A suggestion for the future: I understand that Trail Days is a lot of work, and that new camping arrangements are being made. If possible, I would suggest that two camping areas be considered, in separate areas. One for the rowdy, party crowd, with whatever law enforcement the local community deems appropriate, and the other a "quiet" campground with the stated understanding that generally accepted trail rules apply - reasonable quiet hours and common courtesy. If this were the arrangement, and it were respected, I would be more likely to consider attending.

Just a thought.

i will push heavy for this at the meetings for next year's TD

[gungho]

i will push heavy for this at the meetings for next year's TD

i think they attempted to have a quiet zone this year, over on the other side of the vendors and manufacturers.....but dont know how it turned out

[Krewzer]

Follow up. I think maybe I wasn't clear enough about the kid that got busted. My intent was to say that I saw one and only one incident during my 4 days at Trail Days with several thousand people attending. I've been to a few drunkfests and thrown a yard drunk or two myself back in younger years. Trail Days ain't even close.

[Lyle]

Well, nice thought, but I expect it would work out about as well as a "NO Smoking" area in a small restaurant, just not very effective.

Kudos for recognizing the problem though.

[general]

i will push heavy for this at the meetings for next year's TD

if there is a calmer campground where there is no drinking allowed, i think that some jerks will use the lack of law enforcement in that area to their advantage and camp in that place and drink and get rowdy anyway. there would have to be a no tolerance policy in that area to remove those people immediately to make it work. i think that a no drinking camp is a great idea. i would definately stay there if young son came with me.

[ChinMusic]

I am a non-drinker who likes the quiet.

I survived the noise and mayhem.

Bring ear plugs.....problem solved.

There is no need to separate into groups.

[Lone Wolf]

if there is a calmer campground where there is no drinking allowed, i think that some jerks will use the lack of law enforcement in that area to their advantage and camp in that place and drink and get rowdy anyway. there would have to be a no tolerance policy in that area to remove those people immediately to make it work. i think that a no drinking camp is a great idea. i would definately stay there if young son came with me.

i would personally monitor the area for "jerks" to make sure they stay out

[Lone Wolf]

I am a non-drinker who likes the quiet.

I survived the noise and mayhem.

Bring ear plugs.....problem solved.

There is no need to separate into groups.

it ain't that simple

[Bulldawg]

Though I have never been to Trail Days I will make this comment.

I do not enjoy loud, rowdy, drunk fests. As such, if I ever do attend Trail Days, I would most likely avoid the campground all together. Unfortunately, camping is my preferred accommodation, especially when attending a hiking function.

A suggestion for the future: I understand that Trail Days is a lot of work, and that new camping arrangements are being made. If possible, I would suggest that two camping areas be considered, in separate areas. One for the rowdy, party crowd, with whatever law enforcement the local community deems appropriate, and the other a "quiet" campground with the stated understanding that generally accepted trail rules apply - reasonable quiet hours and common courtesy. If this were the arrangement, and it were respected, I would be more likely to consider attending.

Just a thought.

There are several, very nice campgrounds within half an hour of downtown, if you need amenities such as hot showers, etc. If you don't need any of that, head out towards Mount Rogers and pick the first good site you see. There are plenty of options for those who wish to avoid the hoopla or have small children with them.

[QuebecRun]

i think they attempted to have a quiet zone this year, over on the other side of the vendors and manufacturers.....but dont know how it turned out

This is where I camped. Did it work, yes and no. If you brought ear plugs like I did it worked fine. The area got crowded and some of the younger hikers didn't realize that some were trying to keep it a quiet zone. Eventually it was just as noisy as anywhere else. But heck it's Trail Days. We all survived.

Now if there is a more organized, "safe zone" camping area marked out by the organizing committee, completely apart from the party zone camping area, then I think it would work. I had a great time camping this year with everyone, but if there is quieter camping with a no alcohol policy that's where I'll be in the future.

[tzbrown]

This was our first time at TD. We had a great time.
Parked not far from the vendor area, Met many new people, and old friends.
We walked through the campground area, during the daytime it was quiet.
The LEO activity was great to see. Things can get out of hand fast without some supervision.
Everyone needs to take responsibility for their actions, if you know what you are doing will offend others, or is illegal, expect to pay the consequences.

Many Thanks to the town of Damascus, and all of the volunteers for their efforts and tolerance during Trail Days.

[Lyle]

The one problem I see, from the town's point of view: Would establishment of a "quiet" campground, and a "party" campground imply or establish condoning the activities in the rowdy area?

This may open the town to legal liabilities that are now in a very "gray" area. Something they would need to consider, I guess.

[Lone Wolf]

Now if there is a more organized, "safe zone" camping area marked out by the organizing committee, completely apart from the party zone camping area, then I think it would work. I had a great time camping this year with everyone, but if there is quieter camping with a no alcohol policy that's where I'll be in the future.

that's what i'm shooting for at the meetings