I just got off the phone with someone that was on the beta test of the new system.

YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE A PRINTED COPY OF YOUR PERMIT!!!

Printed copies can be made by printing it off from the computer you used to confirm the reservation, or from the copy they will mail to you. There will not be a permit you can fill out by hand and use.

This is counter to what I was told when I went to the open house on this issue. There they were saying that you wouldn't need one if stopped, all you would need is a valid permit number. Back then the idea was to cut down on paper use and make it user friendly. I guess user friendly is out.

This means that you will have to stop somewhere at some point and get a printed permit from a computer for your paid permit. If you leave Springer Mountain with your permit and guesstimate your entry date you should still be good even if you are off a few days. Getting your permit before you leave Springer is probably the best way to go. If you don't do it then, you will have to find a computer to print it off from at some town on the way there like Hiwassee, Franklin, Fontana, etc.

For MST and BMT hikers this is counter to what I have been saying up until now. If you are going to camp in the GSMNP back country you will have to have a printed permit. I was just told that there would no longer be a permit you can fill out before entering the park unless you go directly to the Sugarlands Reservation office. So if you are planning to do the BMT and were going to call in your permit before starting at either Big Creek or Twentymile, this means you will not be able to make this work. They will want to know where to mail a copy of your permit, and saying "I'm leaving Big Creek Ranger Station in 10 minutes" is not going to be a valid option.

I know this sucks. Every time I think I'm starting to get a handle on this there is some new snag. I personally cannot see the Park Service wanting to cite anyone for not having a paper permit on their person if they do really posses a valid reservation because it would likely get thrown out in court if a hiker was to want to push it - and given the mood of many hikers over this I imagine there may be one or two willing to. It's hard to justify a citation when someone has followed all the rules and has lost their paper copy (hint).

I thought I better put this out there, I don't want anyone getting into trouble thinking they are doing the right thing. If you have issues (and you probably do) please call the Park Service at the number they have provided for this: 865-436-1207

Maybe with enough real world problems with the system they have created and complaints from users, they will fix this policy.