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View Full Version : The Smokies Might Be Re-Opening Soon



jvreeland
10-11-2013, 09:28
It looks like the Smokies might be re-opening very soon as the state of Tennessee is going to try and fund the park itself (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/oct/10/no-headline---shutdown11_parks/) (subscription required).


NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam is working with Tennessee congressmen to assess the feasibility of using state government resources to reopen the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and three other areas closed by the partial federal government shutdown, a spokesman said Wednesday.

marti038
10-11-2013, 09:29
Wow. October is the busiest time of the year for tourism in east Tennessee. They must be losing a ton of revenue to step in like this.

HooKooDooKu
10-11-2013, 09:35
I heard about this on the news last night on my drive home... but the latest word at that time was that efforts failed.
Besides, my guess is that it would require efforts from both TN and NC to get GSMNP going again without Fed support... and I just don't see three government entities coming together in time... not for something as big as the Smokies.

And for me... at this point I believe it is too late. I had reservations for this weekend... but now I'm looking at just a local hike rather than a trip to GSMNP.

HooKooDooKu
10-11-2013, 09:36
Wow. October is the busiest time of the year for tourism in east Tennessee. They must be losing a ton of revenue to step in like this.
Weeks ago, someone in the news accurately expressed it this way: To the locals, closing the GSMNP in October is like forcing retailers in other cities across the country to close between Thanskgiving and Christmas.

SteelCut
10-11-2013, 09:37
Utah just did a similar thing. They are opening 5 of their NP according to CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/11/us/utah-parks-reopen/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Alligator
10-14-2013, 11:11
Reminder-Read the post about the government shutdown on the homepage, follow the user agreement (http://whiteblaze.net/cmps.php?page=agreement), particularly #3 & #4. Thanks.

MrMiner2
10-15-2013, 12:12
Can you still day hike and whatnot? If the employees aren't working, would anyone be there to tell you to leave?

Mags
10-15-2013, 12:16
Can you still day hike and whatnot? If the employees aren't working, would anyone be there to tell you to leave?

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/hiking/trail-updates

For the AT specifically, but applies to all the parks. Legally, you are not supposed to be hiking in the park during the closure.

I know on other threads, people have been stopped by LEO rangers and told to leave.

max patch
10-15-2013, 12:20
The State of New York is paying $61,600 A DAY (!!!!!!!) to reopen the Statue of Liberty.

How the hell is that amount possible?

If little ole Liberty Island costs over 61k a day to operate, how much are feds asking for the GSMNP?

MrMiner2
10-15-2013, 12:25
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/hiking/trail-updates

For the AT specifically, but applies to all the parks. Legally, you are not supposed to be hiking in the park during the closure.

I know on other threads, people have been stopped by LEO rangers and told to leave.

Awesome (not the situation, but the info)!

Is Cherokee Nat'l Forest open? The Tellico area?

Mags
10-15-2013, 12:49
Awesome (not the situation, but the info)!

Is Cherokee Nat'l Forest open? The Tellico area?

GEnerally, the USFS units are open (except for facilities). Having said that, USFS units are more individualistic. A handful of USFS units are closed similar to parks. I see you are in Knoxville. A local outdoor store may have more "info on the ground" and can probably give you more updated info than I. :)

Mags
10-15-2013, 12:51
The State of New York is paying $61,600 A DAY (!!!!!!!) to reopen the Statue of Liberty.

How the hell is that amount possible?

If little ole Liberty Island costs over 61k a day to operate, how much are feds asking for the GSMNP?

Can't tell you about the Smokies, but the state of Colorado is paying $40k/day to keep open RMNP
http://www.coloradoan.com/viewart/20131011/NEWS01/310110019/Colorado-paying-reopen-Rocky-Mountain-National-Park

TNhiker
10-15-2013, 13:50
tennessee's initial figures are 60 k a day to open GSMNP....

but.......looks like its going to happen....

there's a deal in the works to get it open by wednesday or thursday is what we're hearing....

more later....

TNhiker
10-15-2013, 13:52
Is Cherokee Nat'l Forest open? The Tellico area?



yes.....these are open.....

the frontcountry camping spots (such as indian boundary) are closed but trails and what not are open,....

HikerMom58
10-15-2013, 14:22
The latest...

http://www.wate.com/story/23695001/great-smoky-mountains-national-park-may-reopen-wednesday

Many Moons
10-15-2013, 18:35
Open this Thursday for the weekend. HIKE ON!!!

Miller

HikerMom58
10-15-2013, 19:08
Open this Thursday for the weekend. HIKE ON!!!

Miller


http://www.wate.com/story/23695001/great-smoky-mountains-national-park-to-reopen-wednesday


YUP!! :)

MrMiner2
10-15-2013, 19:29
Hey Knox folk!

Theosus
10-15-2013, 19:31
One report on the Weather Channel (the only "news" channel I will watch), says it costs $90,000 a day to run the Grand Canyon. It's a big ass ditch with a river running through it. It's been there for several hundred million years (or seven thousand years if you are a complete ignoramus), and we have only been around to "run it" for what, 200 years? I think it will do just fine without a bureaucrazy "running it". (Yes, I misspelled that on purpose).

HikerMom58
10-15-2013, 19:34
Keeping it real & only talking about opening the GSMNP with regards to hiking. :D

Coffee
10-15-2013, 19:54
One report on the Weather Channel (the only "news" channel I will watch), says it costs $90,000 a day to run the Grand Canyon. It's a big ass ditch with a river running through it. It's been there for several hundred million years (or seven thousand years if you are a complete ignoramus), and we have only been around to "run it" for what, 200 years? I think it will do just fine without a bureaucrazy "running it". (Yes, I misspelled that on purpose).
The Canyon is very developed below the rim. It is not remotely "wilderness" along the corridor trails. Treated water, toilets, rest houses, etc. I was quite surprised on my trip this spring.

yaduck9
10-15-2013, 20:10
One report on the Weather Channel (the only "news" channel I will watch), says it costs $90,000 a day to run the Grand Canyon. It's a big ass ditch with a river running through it. It's been there for several hundred million years (or seven thousand years if you are a complete ignoramus), and we have only been around to "run it" for what, 200 years? I think it will do just fine without a bureaucrazy "running it". (Yes, I misspelled that on purpose).


Its a bit more than "a big ass ditch", but hey, why let facts get in the way!;)



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_National_Park_Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_Villag

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_ranch

Traffic Jam
10-15-2013, 21:03
Does anyone know how reservations will be handled since the website isn't being maintained?

HooKooDooKu
10-15-2013, 22:45
Does anyone know how reservations will be handled since the website isn't being maintained?
I figure that either the reservation website will be back up tonight at 12:00 midnight (website time) or back up in the morning, or reservations will be done by phone (the old way) once Rangers are back on the job and in the Backcountry office tomorrow. Given the number of people likely to be trying to call... I really hope the website will be back up tonight.

Traffic Jam
10-16-2013, 09:29
Website is still down but reservations can be made by calling 865-436-1231.

Theosus
10-16-2013, 19:40
The Canyon is very developed below the rim. It is not remotely "wilderness" along the corridor trails. Treated water, toilets, rest houses, etc. I was quite surprised on my trip this spring.

Wow... Had no clue. Well that sucks... Sounds like someone mucked up a nice wilderness area.

Coffee
10-16-2013, 19:58
Wow... Had no clue. Well that sucks... Sounds like someone mucked up a nice wilderness area.
Don't get me wrong, the canyon is awesome even on the corridor trails. Just not wilderness IMO. Apparently the trails outside the corridor are much less developed but I was on the corridor for the entire rim to rim hike.