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cowpoke
01-19-2011, 23:13
A friend of mine said that Icewater Springs shelter is only for thru-hikers...is that true? I can't find any info that states that...appreciate any help...cheers.

Lone Wolf
01-19-2011, 23:15
absolutely not

cowpoke
01-19-2011, 23:20
Thanks LW....cheers.

kayak karl
01-19-2011, 23:47
i was there in '09. i was the only thru out of 12

TallShark
01-19-2011, 23:56
last spring there were sectioners staying there, quite a few i might add.

HooKooDooKu
01-20-2011, 11:11
Anyone is allowed to use shelters in the GSMNP, you just have to have a reservation at ALL shelters and for many of the "rationed" camp sites.

However, the reservation rules are a little different for thru-hikers. So what someone MIGHT say is that only thru-hikers are allowed at shelters "without a reservation"... but that goes for all shelters, not just Icewater Springs.

SassyWindsor
01-20-2011, 11:43
Has to be one of the most used shelters on the AT.

ken209
01-20-2011, 15:05
A friend of mine said that Icewater Springs shelter is only for thru-hikers...is that true? I can't find any info that states that...appreciate any help...cheers.
Back in the late 80's a sign was posted on the shelter " for thru hikers only" I guess because it was a garbage dump.

Blissful
01-20-2011, 17:50
Just get a reservation and its your space too

Roche
01-20-2011, 20:28
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping.htm

ChinMusic
01-20-2011, 21:00
Has to be one of the most used shelters on the AT.
Easy distance from the road, you bet. It looked like a nice place to stop but I just had lunch there and moved on to Pecks.

kayak karl
01-20-2011, 21:13
http://image68.webshots.com/468/3/53/22/2586353220104593866CxClpQ_fs.jpg

Ox97GaMe
01-30-2011, 18:42
Icewater Springs shelter is the most used shelter in the park. Relatively easy 3 mile hike from the busiest parking lot in the park. People can get reservations and drop off their packs, then go over to Charlies Bunyon or the Jumpoff.

LoneRidgeRunner
01-30-2011, 19:08
A friend of mine said that Icewater Springs shelter is only for thru-hikers...is that true? I can't find any info that states that...appreciate any help...cheers.

I read that somewhere also but apparently it may have been out dated material...
I am planning a section hike thru the Smokies sometime in March and was planning to jump off at NFG and hit Gatlinburg for resupply and 1 night r&r but due to the fact that I can't be 100% certain of 441 being open in March (It's often closed for bad weather which can happen in March) I've decided to skip the Gatlingurg r&r and just hike straight thru and skip by Icewater ..just means I gotta carry all my food from Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap...but will save a day by not going to Gatlinburg ( and money)

sliderule
04-10-2011, 14:16
Anyone is allowed to use shelters in the GSMNP, you just have to have a reservation at ALL shelters and for many of the "rationed" camp sites.



How about all rationed campsites? (What do you think "rationed" means?)



However, the reservation rules are a little different for thru-hikers. So what someone MIGHT say is that only thru-hikers are allowed at shelters "without a reservation"... but that goes for all shelters, not just Icewater Springs.

It doesn't "go" for all shelters, just shelters on the AT.


Back in the late 80's a sign was posted on the shelter " for thru hikers only" I guess because it was a garbage dump.

Probably because a thru hiker put up the sign.

WingedMonkey
04-10-2011, 14:50
It doesn't "go" for all shelters, just shelters on the AT.
From GSMNP website.

The park requires that you stay at designated campsites and shelters while camping in the backcountry.

Advance reservations are required to camp at the following sites:
• All shelters
• Backcountry Campsites 9, 10, 13, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 29, 36, 37, 38, 46, 47, 50, 55, 57, 60, 61, 71, 83, 86, 90, 113

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping.htm

sliderule
04-10-2011, 15:04
From GSMNP website.

The park requires that you stay at designated campsites and shelters while camping in the backcountry.

Advance reservations are required to camp at the following sites:
• All shelters
• Backcountry Campsites 9, 10, 13, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 29, 36, 37, 38, 46, 47, 50, 55, 57, 60, 61, 71, 83, 86, 90, 113

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping.htm

The "published" rules do not address the special exemptions for thru hikers, which apply only to sites on the AT. Said exemptions do not apply to the non-AT shelters.

TallShark
04-11-2011, 12:48
^ I'm confused now

Gray Blazer
04-11-2011, 13:25
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/5/DSC00080a.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=18315&original=1&c=member&imageuser=5)

Thrubees Keep Walkin'!

Gray Blazer
04-11-2011, 14:19
The mice are the only ones guaranteed a spot.

sliderule
04-11-2011, 14:31
^ I'm confused now

A hiker who meets the NPS definition of a thru hiker is not required to have a reservation for any authorized overnight stop on the AT in the Park. Said exemption does not apply to any non-AT camp site or shelter. (Shelters like Mt. Collins and Pecks Corner are considered AT shelters, even though they are not precisely located on the AT itself.) Mt. Leconte, Kephart and Laurel Gap are not AT shelters and are not subject to the reservation exemption.

HooKooDooKu
04-11-2011, 15:24
^ I'm confused now
A minor clarification was being made about shelters and special rules for thru-hikers.

I was trying to make the point that to stay at any shelter in GSMNP, you are supposed to get a reservation. That goes for shelters located on the AT and those NOT located on the AT.

I tried to qualify that statement by saying there are special rules in place for thru-hikers such that they don't require reservations at the shelters.

Sliderule then added that the special rules for thru-hikers don't apply to shelters that are NOT along the AT (such as the LeConte Shelter).


With that in mind, go back and carefully re-read ALL the comments and you'll see the logic works out to these three main points. (It's one of those rule sets where there are exceptions to the rules, and then exceptions to the exceptions).

HooKooDooKu
04-11-2011, 15:27
Never mind, I see sliderule clarified it a little while ago.

sheepdog
04-11-2011, 16:18
Ice water springs was the first shelter I stayed at on the AT. I was driving around GSMNP and stopped at Newfound Gap. I just had some basic camping gear with me. I discovered that I was on the AT and a shelter was pretty close. It was a couple hours until dark and I grabbed my sleeping bag, a couple bottles of water and about a pound of gorp and rushed off to the shelter. Spent the night all by myself there. Didn't realize I broke any rules until later. One of my good hiking memories.