AT hikers may have to blue blaze Pennsylvania this year.

[ShakeyLeggs]

Republicans said they are frustrated at the scope of Rendell's proposals, including huge new funding for transportation, alternative energy programs and public schools.

Also here is a copy of the proposed budget.

http://www.budget.state.pa.us/budget...document.2.pdf

[emerald]

Yesterday, I spoke with two individuals who would likely have as good an idea as most anyone how A.T. thru-hikers would be impacted by a shutdown. They seemed to think a shutdown would not impact A.T. thru-hiking anywhere.

The official word would come I'd think from ATC at some point. If it were me, I'd continue to hike until instructed otherwise by ATC or a state official authorized to convey or act upon this information.

I'd think there'd be no services available at State Parks. I'd pay particular attention to signage, park management or LEOs you may come into contact with there.

If there's a shutdown, thru-hikers please post anything contrary to what I posted here as I agreed to pass along any problems you encounter to those who need to know in order to keep your inconvenience to a minimum. I'm hopeful you'll have an enjoyable experience in Pennsylvania, shutdown or not.

[shelterbuilder]

I may be speaking from ignorance (again!), but I'm going to jump in here and add my 2-cents' worth.

First, the AT is a part of the NATIONAL Park Service; it is not a state park, even though, in Pa., it does cross some land administered by the Bureau of State Parks, DCNR, and the Pa. Game Commission. If a budget impasse does occur, there would be no money to pay STATE employees to man STATE-OPERATED FACILITIES (ie - beaches, consession stands, parking lots, first aid stations, etc.), but the AT is NOT a state-operated facility. It is owned by the federal government, and managed jointly by the NPS, the ATC, and the local maintaining volunteer clubs. (Last time I looked, none of these groups were paid by the state. )

Second, while the State Parks may lock their gates and close their FACILITIES, I doubt very much that they can stop a thru-hiker from continueing their hike. Who would stop them anyway; all of the state employees would be furloughed! The same would be true for State Forest and Game Commission land.

I don't know if the State Police would be available to respond to an emergency, but then, the responsibility would fall to the next authority down the chain of command (township or regional police departments). The same for fires and medical emergencies - contact the local folks.

ATC is a private, non-profit organization - they will not be affected. Similarly, the paychecks of the local volunteer maintaining clubs will also be unaffected.

Go and hike your hike and don't sweat the little things like state budgets!

[warren doyle]

First post: Yeah, I'm still waiting for a Communist takeover, to confront the Taliban in the Roan Highlands, the bird flu, and for computers to save us money.

Hike on. What do state parks and paid employees have to do with preventing us from walking the trail?

I suggest the first poster goes into alarm clock design and development.

[shelterbuilder]

Now, Warren, don't be too hard on Chickadee - the way the article is written makes it hard to tell what the state plans to do. Once again, the backcountry falls through the cracks of civilization - thank God!

[Tipper]

Hmmm....I'm sorry. I'm trying to understand what specific impacts state park closure would have on AT hikers. I'm having difficulty remembering how much I relied on state parks during my PA traverse. Help me out with your argument.

Thanks.

[Uncle Silly]

The bathrooms will be closed?

[ShakeyLeggs]

Hmmm....I'm sorry. I'm trying to understand what specific impacts state park closure would have on AT hikers. I'm having difficulty remembering how much I relied on state parks during my PA traverse. Help me out with your argument.

Thanks.

Trails will be closed. If you are caught on the AT thru one of the state parks you will be escorted out and fined.

Pennsylvania has 117 state parks and more than 2 million acres of state forest land. All will be closed beginning Monday and will remain closed until a state budget is adopted, with the exception of Norristown Farm Park, which is leased to Montgomery County; Salt Springs State Park in Susquehanna County, which is run by volunteers; Big Pocono State Park in Monroe County, which is run by a concessionaire; and Archbald Pothole State Park in Lackawanna County, which is run by Archbald Borough.


Gates will be closed where feasible.



Temporary barricades will be erected where possible.



The central reservation system will be closed.


Campers and cabin occupants will be required to leave by midnight on July 9th

[modiyooch]

Trails will be closed. If you are caught on the AT thru one of the state parks you will be escorted out and fined.


Temporary barricades will be erected where possible.

Where did you get this tidbit of info? As another poster stated earlier, which state employees are going to be paid to enforce?

[saimyoji]

Where did you get this tidbit of info? As another poster stated earlier, which state employees are going to be paid to enforce?

Google much? ::PA DCNR

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/news/new...07-closure.htm

[ShakeyLeggs]

Where did you get this tidbit of info? As another poster stated earlier, which state employees are going to be paid to enforce?

About 2,300, or most, of DCNR staff will be furloughed. About 300 staff members will remain at work, including park managers, district forest managers and salaried rangers. Park managers and salaried rangers will be working enforcement and safety shifts only; state park and forest district offices will be closed.

[Yahtzee]

So what if you camped in State Land on Sunday, can you be fined walking out Monday morning?

When I first read this I dismissed it as overblown hogwash. Never underestimate a government's ability to make even the most irrational things come true.

[ShakeyLeggs]

it just now came over the tv 8:45pm that there will NOT be a buget tonight and the layoffs are on. This means the parks we are speaking of will close as of midnight. Thank you Republicans.

[shelterbuilder]

it just now came over the tv 8:45pm that there will NOT be a buget tonight and the layoffs are on. This means the parks we are speaking of will close as of midnight. Thank you Republicans.

Well, all, here's your chance for 1960's-style civil disobedience!! Let's all get out there and hike the State Parks. And I AM a Republican!

[rickb]

Thank you Republicans

But isn't it a Democrat Governor who is refusing to sign the Budget?

[modiyooch]

Google much? ::PA DCNR

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/news/new...07-closure.htm

yes, I did google the pa parks website and newspapers and did not see anywhere that at hikers would be escorted off the trail and fined. I still don't see it.

[saimyoji]

yes, I did google the pa parks website and newspapers and did not see anywhere that at hikers would be escorted off the trail and fined. I still don't see it.

Ahh...I don't see that either. However, it does say that rangers will be on call for safety and enforcement. That tells me that they'll at least tell you to get out. Now, if they hassle you, offer to leave via the road you're already headed down.

[ShakeyLeggs]

But isn't it a Democrat Governor who is refusing to sign the Budget?

The problem is that both sides are being pig headed and not willing to come to an agreement. I read the proposed budget that Gov. Rendell sent to the legislature. It looks like it has some good things in it but then again it also has some not so good things. But if both sides are unwilling to compromise we may be in for a long tough road. In my humble opinion what it really boils down to is that the legislature is controlled by the republicans and the Gov is a democrat. And this is a bit of payback for the US gov being now controlled by democrats. But this is getting to political for me. And this should not be a political discussion.

[modiyooch]

If they were saving $$ by closing the parks, I would understand; but, I believe they said they would lose 1.5 million/wk. How does that even help the situation?

[modiyooch]

If they were saving $$ by closing the parks, I would understand; but, I believe they said they would lose 1.5 million/wk. How does that even help the situation?

never mind; I see now it involves much more state services than the parks. I hope pa can work out their problems.