Thank You Damascus!!!!!!
This is very good news. We won't ask you to sit through the meetings, some of which can numb your mind ("do we need six porta-johns in this place or eight?") but just having your input on a number of things will be invaluable. Everyone has great respect for your knowledge. We are acutely aware of the trends in the campground, and next year want to bring this back to what the original Trail Days was designed to do.Originally Posted by Lone Wolf
Wonderful to hear that LW will be part of the TD committee. LW has a lot of knowledge of the AT hiking community and a no-nosense approach to getting things done that should be a great assets to the committee.
I didn't attend TD this year because our youngest hatchling graduated from college that weekend. I had planned to attend TD on Saturday only and to stay in Abingdon to hike over near Hungry Mother State Park in the Jefferson National forest the following week. The AT is just too darn crowded in that area during the week before and after TD.
I have attended several TDs in the past and found the local LEOs and LEOs who come from other other towns to help to be very laid back. I have seen them overlook fairly obvious behavior in the campground that would normally have gotten their attention as long as people were not causing problems and minors where not part of the mix. As I recall a minor from Abingdon nearly died several years ago due to having been given large qualities of alcohol in the tent city - it is little wonder that the LEOs take minors in proximity to alcohol seriously in light of that incident.
Local mentions that the campground will have a fee and that armbands will be required to enter. This is fantastic news even though it means I will not be able to enter to visit friends there unless I camp there or pay the fee. My guess is that it will cut down on thefts & other crimes and on local minors & adult non-hikers partying in tent city.
I had a blast at TD! This was my first time going, and it far exceeded my expectations. I did not feel the police were there to ruin the party. The people who got arrested or ticketed were probably being disrespectful when the police confronted them. One of my friends had the choice of being escorted back to his tent or he could get a ticket for underage drinking. Obviously he chose the escort. But I thought that was pretty cool that they didn't just go around writing tickets and making arrests.
The rape is a tragedy. I'm sure alcohol was involved. Stuff like that doesn't usually happen on the trial because people don't drink a whole lot when they're actually hiking. Nobody wants to carry around a bottle of booze...it weighs too much! Just be smart when you're around a bunch of drunk strangers.
I had a guy try to get into my tent the 2nd night I was there. He was obviously drunk because he tried to get in on the wrong side. It woke me up, and when I said, "EXCUSE ME!" he apologized and wandered off. I supposed he was just lost. I did set my tent up next to 2 other identical ones...
~Goldie Locks
I love Trail Days. The towns people are wonderful handling the huge crowds. I love the thru hikers. Interesting folks. I don't hang out at the campground, just spend money at Food City, Quincys, Mojo's, Dariy King and vendors and soak up the happy atmosphere. The half marathon was well ran and a unique experience for me. I didn't realize the helicopter was there for a rescue. I thought, "wow, a helicopter for the parade!" I'll continue to drive up and spend the weekend.
my idea is to have one gate for entering and exiting the campground. everyone must have a wristband. everone gets IDed. anyone under 21 wears a bright pink or whatever band. i would charge $15 per person to camp thursday - monday morning. $20 more for secure parking. the area where the gear reps are will not require wristbands and will have a different entrance. the camping gate should be staffed 24 hours a day. anyone that loses a band must repay to enter. visitors also pay $15 to enter
i have lots more ideas for the actual camping areas including a NO ALCOHOL section
That's an outstanding idea. The local semipro baseball team has a no-booze section and it's hugely popular. Quite a few people don't want to be around people boozing and/or doping.
Last edited by John B; 05-18-2010 at 17:31. Reason: typo
Bristol Motor Speedway has an alcohol free section
Amen to this. I think the no-alcohol section should be one of the nicer creek-side areas, maybe the area around the old swimming hole, or up by some of the rapids in Beaverdam Creek. I'm supportive of all your ideas here. I would add the requirement that anyone from within a 25-mile radius should have to pay a deposit of $1,000, and then if they don't get arrested they get their deposit back. This idea may not get a lot of support, however.
I told He-Dino about LW's ideas and he said we might camp there again if there was limited access and a no-booze section. You know we Dinos need our beauty rest or we are subject to bite toes and whip people with our tails.
Seriously, someone threw up on our tent and another person fell on our tent (both while we were in it) the last time we camped in the tent city (same year the kid got so ill). He-Dino said never again.
Sounds good. Esp the access to to gear reps (which was a little of a headache previous years, being connected to the campground. We walked in anyway without paying - we were not camping - so we could get Leki poles serviced)
To you, the town, and the countless other volunteers, but especially to those who helped prep the campground, thank you. I along with many others I spoke with had a wonderful time and you all did a great job considering the construction situation. We were very fortunate that it didn’t rain too much and that poison ivy seemed to be the main concern. Many, including myself who use to camp in the fields found out just how nice ‘and cool’ it was to be in the woods. I also felt the Leo's were fine and friendly and did what they had to do when they had to do. I did see and talk with quite a few local youth, mostly underage, ‘cruising’, ‘not camping’ in the campground. I’m not really sure why, but if we do get permission to use the ball fields next year and have ‘controlled’ in and out entrance(s) with use of wrist band(s) for certain purposes that should help some. Local I have a few suggestion to offer in that area, (just don’t forget to show up for coffee this time) and I’m sure those in charge would welcome ideas and suggestion that would help make this event flourish in the future.
I see you were paying attention during our coffee
They weren't always that way, but maybe they’ve changed, all I know is that we left Billville the way all who camped there or anywhere should, spotless.
LW,
ALL GREAT IDEAS!!!!!!!!
I had a wonderful time...I had arrived a little pissed at the town due to the constant change every year and what seemed like a lack of committment by the town towards the hiking community but that quickly passed once I had arrived. This was one of the best TD's that I've attended. Thanks to all!
geek
The presence of a few more strategically placed dumpsters may help.
I was there for first time and also had a great time. All of it! Stayed in camping area. People were great. Cops were fine by me. Thanks for having the shower house open. I'd definitely stay in a NO ALCOHOL section.
Local or LW,
What was the charge for the dumpster in tent city?
geek
I agreeSomeone may have a picture of him, 'comon now'
BoT's,
Seriously, we did have a problem with a drunk local in our camp but we handled the problem w/o LEO's and defused the situation.
geek
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