View Full Version : Smokies Through Hiker Registration ???
Johnny Thunder
03-21-2013, 17:22
So, now there's some regulation requiring through hikers to pay for permits through the smokies...but no actual information on the nps websites. surprising? no. alarming (for a hiker leaving in a few days)? yes. any information on the ACTUAL process?
ChuckBrown
03-21-2013, 18:44
https://smokiespermits.nps.gov/
The NPS web page is quite a mess with all those National Parks and you will have to go to the Great Smokey Mtn National Park portion of the NPS web page. A couple of things you should know. To hike the backcountry you need a "Backcountry Permit" this is available on line or in person at the main entrance to the park and is 4 bucks per night or 20 bucks total for a thru-hike. If you are not a thru-hiker, you also require a reservation for the shelters you will stay in. This reservation is free but you should call the back country office as soon as you can.
fredmugs
03-22-2013, 08:05
The NPS web page is quite a mess with all those National Parks and you will have to go to the Great Smokey Mtn National Park portion of the NPS web page. A couple of things you should know. To hike the backcountry you need a "Backcountry Permit" this is available on line or in person at the main entrance to the park and is 4 bucks per night or 20 bucks total for a thru-hike. If you are not a thru-hiker, you also require a reservation for the shelters you will stay in. This reservation is free but you should call the back country office as soon as you can.
OMG! You have to go to the specific park page to get a permit for a specific park? The horror. Not to mention the hundred of posts here about obtaining permits that would have taken all of 20 seconds to search for.
Old Hiker
03-22-2013, 08:08
OMG! You have to go to the specific park page to get a permit for a specific park? The horror. Not to mention the hundred of posts here about obtaining permits that would have taken all of 20 seconds to search for.
And not to mention it only goes up to 22 Apr 2013. How on Earth can I plan for my 2016 thru attempt if I can't get a permit early ?!?! :-?
What to do, what to do?
bear bag hanger
03-22-2013, 10:40
And not to mention it only goes up to 22 Apr 2013. How on Earth can I plan for my 2016 thru attempt if I can't get a permit early ?!?! :-?
What to do, what to do?
If you're thru hiking northbound, wait until you get to the NOC and get your permit there. Then you can be sure you have the latest and greatest(?) permit possible. All this could change drastically between now and 2016, including the fee being declared illegal by the courts. Apparently, there are about three or four lawsuits against the fee brought by the various towns, etc. around the park.
Since you have to know "when" you will be hiking thru the park for the starting day on the permit, what is the average number of days it takes to get from Springer to the entrance to the park?
Chaco Taco
03-23-2013, 08:26
Since you have to know "when" you will be hiking thru the park for the starting day on the permit, what is the average number of days it takes to get from Springer to the entrance to the park?
5-7 days. If you miss a shelter and end up stopping short at another shelter, its not a big deal, esp if the weather is a factor.
Snarkapalooza
QUOTE=fredmugs;1446125]OMG! You have to go to the specific park page to get a permit for a specific park? The horror. Not to mention the hundred of posts here about obtaining permits that would have taken all of 20 seconds to search for.[/QUOTE]
sliderule
03-24-2013, 00:04
This reservation is free but you should call the back country office as soon as you can.
If you think the reservation is free, you should call the backcountry office. Call me too; I want to learn how to make free reservations.
generoll
03-24-2013, 08:14
has anyone actually seen a ranger or had their permit checked? Since they are closing campgrounds, I wonder if they are cutting back on patrols as well.
Chaco Taco
03-24-2013, 08:17
I have had my permit checked a couple of times.....I think it may be different now that they are collecting money
has anyone actually seen a ranger or had their permit checked? Since they are closing campgrounds, I wonder if they are cutting back on patrols as well.
sliderule
03-24-2013, 09:34
Since they are closing campgrounds, I wonder if they are cutting back on patrols as well.
Which campgrounds are closing? And when?
Went to their website yesterday, filled out the form, paid them the money, that was it. No permit, no nothing. they sent me an e-mail saying I've paid but nothing else. Don't understand.
max patch
03-24-2013, 14:50
Email should have an order number and a link.
Rangers were waiting to check permits at the entrance to the park shortly after crossing Fontana dam. I also got my permit checked at elkmont campground when I dropped off the AT to the only open road to get to Gatlinburg to resupply.
They are out there and checking. I wouldn't try to sneak through without a permit.
I did see a couple thrus be allowed to enter the park with only the receipt and not the full permit.
I wouldn't count on this either. Pay the fee and get the proper paperwork to save yourself the hassel.
SOLcreature
03-27-2013, 12:46
I will not have a problem getting a permit if I don't sweat it until I reach that point and just buy at the gate though for a NOBO hike, will I?
max patch
03-27-2013, 13:24
I will not have a problem getting a permit if I don't sweat it until I reach that point and just buy at the gate though for a NOBO hike, will I?
"the gate" isn't anywhere near Fontana where you enter the park on a thru. get your permit at home the day before you leave. its good for 38 days. Plenty of time.
ChinMusic
03-27-2013, 13:26
I did see a couple thrus be allowed to enter the park with only the receipt and not the full permit.
I wouldn't count on this either.
Several folks at NOC thought they were done once the receipt was printed. It seemed like a natural end point. I had NOC make a copy of my permit, and tape it to the wall near their computer, to show those after me of what the actual permit looks like.
I had my permit checked on the road mentioned above. The ranger did say that several before me only had their receipt and not the actual permit. Since several are making this mistake they are being lenient. I suspect a change in the process to make it more clear.
I had also asked the ranger about people just having the receipt and received the same answer. I told that the website process was very hard to follow though, especially if your not very tech inclined. He said he would pass that on to the people that take care of that stuff.
When we went through last year we only saw one ridge runner, no rangers. Also the consensus seemed to be that they're somewhat lenient with thru-hikers if you don't stick to your schedule exactly, just make your best guess.
couscous
03-28-2013, 20:31
Since you have to know "when" you will be hiking thru the park for the starting day on the permit, what is the average number of days it takes to get from Springer to the entrance to the park?
It's 167.1 miles so the "average" days might be something like 12-16. I'll guess that Chaco Taco was stating it takes on average 5-7 days to hike "through" the Smokies rather than "to" the Smokies.
sliderule
03-28-2013, 20:43
When we went through last year we only saw one ridge runner, no rangers. Also the consensus seemed to be that they're somewhat lenient with thru-hikers if you don't stick to your schedule exactly, just make your best guess.
Ridge runners have no option other than being lenient. They have no enforcement authority. Neither do the majority of NPS rangers. Thru hikers are not required to stick to a schedule; they have no reservations.
Chaco Taco
03-28-2013, 21:28
Ridge runners have no option other than being lenient. They have no enforcement authority. You would be surprised how much authority they do have....
Pedaling Fool
03-29-2013, 08:45
You would be surprised how much authority they do have....OK, I'll bite...How much authority do they have?
sliderule
03-29-2013, 08:57
You would be surprised how much authority they do have....
No, I would not. I know, first hand, exactly how much authority ridge runners don't have.
What does surprise me is your continuing pontification over things that you know little about.
Chaco Taco
03-30-2013, 20:07
No, I would not. I know, first hand, exactly how much authority ridge runners don't have.
What does surprise me is your continuing pontification over things that you know little about.
seriously what is your problem
MuddyWaters
03-30-2013, 20:29
Ridgerunners have no authority per se. They are LNT amabassadors mostly, attempting to educate people while checking and reporting on trail and facility conditions.
But as respected employeess of either the ATC, or sometimes I think they can report directly to NPS, they could make trouble for someone for people flagrantly disobeying rules if they wanted. But they dont really want to, one of the reasons they have no real authority is so that they are not seen as imposing authority figures. They want to be seen as helpful and have good rapport with hikers.
You can catch more flies with honey, than vinegar, is the modus operandi.
For instance, Im pretty sure if a ridgerunner in the smokies came across some hikers ripping up eating benches at a shelter and burning them for firewood, those hikers would be met by rangers before they got out of the smokies.
Chaco Taco
03-31-2013, 07:15
Ridgerunners have no authority per se. They are LNT amabassadors mostly, attempting to educate people while checking and reporting on trail and facility conditions.
But as respected employeess of either the ATC, or sometimes I think they can report directly to NPS, they could make trouble for someone for people flagrantly disobeying rules if they wanted. But they dont really want to, one of the reasons they have no real authority is so that they are not seen as imposing authority figures. They want to be seen as helpful and have good rapport with hikers.
You can catch more flies with honey, than vinegar, is the modus operandi.
For instance, Im pretty sure if a ridgerunner in the smokies came across some hikers ripping up eating benches at a shelter and burning them for firewood, those hikers would be met by rangers before they got out of the smokies.
I was wrong and my interpretation of the job of a ridgerunner was mis informed, mostly on my own part. Sorry for coming across as a know it all, just trying to help.