AT hikers may have to blue blaze Pennsylvania this year.

[chickadee]

2007 Thru-hikers may have to tear out their Data Book’s four pages labeled Pennsylvania this summer. Unfortunately, as of Monday (7-9-07) at midnight, white blazers, may have to re-plan maildrops and blue blaze Pennsylvania’s 229.4 miles as State Parks are planned to close.

Governor Ed Rendell’s budget for Pennsylvania has created a halt in state legislature and will possibly cause the closure of more than 2 million acres of forest in 117 Pennsylvania’s state parks. In Campers hold their breath, a Citizens’ Voice article in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania that ran Friday (7-6-07), feature writer, Michael P. Buffer wrote, “…state parks could be closed this Monday [7-9-07] if Gov. Ed Rendell and the state legislature don’t agree on a budget.”

The disagreement will cause Pennsylvania to lose an estimated 1.5 million dollars of revenue for each week of park closure and much needed mapping, land surveys, and environmental reviews (needed for park permits). So don’t look to Pennsylvania to supply new topography or trail maps.

But Rendell’s budget will not only affect the states income, permits, and mapping this summer. With the exceptions of Norristown Farm Park, Salt Springs State Park, Big Pocono State Park, and Archbald Pothole State Park, which are not run by the state and will remain open, a total of 2300 state forest employees will be laid off. Without “unnecessary” workers, trail injuries will not be treated and calls for emergencies will remain unheard.

An unnamed source from DCNR said that every year on June 30th the state budget is reassessed, but state parks and jobs have never been in major crisis before Rendell’s administration. The source added, with these closures, any access through the barricaded parklands would be prohibited and Park Managers would enforce the blockades.

Furthermore, even if thru-hikers attempted to stealth hike the 229 miles, gates, marinas, and water and sewage treatment plants will also be closed as part of the disagreement. Meaning state park’s water will become even more polluted and your water pumps and purifiers won’t be able to siphon out the extremely unclean and unsafe materials.

Last year, I followed the white blazes through Pennsylvania to the summit of Katahdin. My home state houses Mt. Minsi, Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Caledonia State Park, The Pinnacle, Yellow Springs Campsite, Table Rock, and the great solar showers at the 501 Shelter. From bug spray to coolers of Capri suns, Pennsylvania is where I received most of my trail magic. It is also where I swatted mosquitoes, lost my cell phone, complained about the ankle busting rocks, and I remember a heat wave that left me without water for an entire day. But I never asked my Governor make Pennsylvania look like the state that told thru-hikers: Forget about your 2000 miler patch.

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

[Jim Adams]

as a Pennsylvania resident that pays taxes...THIS IS BULL*****!!!!!
hopefully someone with intelligence will intervene.
geek

[emerald]

chickadee, for a bird ordinarily exhibiting such a pleasant disposition, I'm surprised you've let this budget impasse get the best of you!

I can't help but wonder, are you nesting on a DCNR unit at this time? If you find this issue so unsettling, you may want to remove yourself to an attractive area along the A.T. on NPS A.T. corridor lands, State Game Lands or perhaps even the Borough of Hamburg's watershed. As you know, birds of all feathers are always welcome at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary too.

This like all things shall pass.

[CoyoteWhips]

Is this like last year when New Jersey had to close down the casinos?

[Tha Wookie]

Taking the forest hostage for political battles? How odd.

Doesn't he know that no one cares about the forests?

He should have banned the show Lost instead. That would probably get the supreme court involved.

[Lyle]

Strange, Michigan DNR is doing the same thing. As of Monday numerous State Forest campgrounds will be closed through the summer supposedly to save money. These are the campgrounds that are unmanned, pit toilets, and hand pumps. They charge $15 per night on the honor system for these sites. Some are backcountry sites, the only legal place to camp on some very popular backpacking trails (they prohibit dispersed camping).

They have warned, however, that they will ticket anyone caught camping illegally - apparantly there is money to hassle the campers.

Purely political BS.

[Trillium]

Taking the forest hostage for political battles? How odd.

Doesn't he know that no one cares about the forests?

He should have banned the show Lost instead. That would probably get the supreme court involved.

exactly. anytime the Public School system here wants to raise taxes, they threaten to cut out varsity sports; its never failed to get a tax increase.

[The Solemates]

Taking the forest hostage for political battles? How odd.

Doesn't he know that no one cares about the forests?

He should have banned the show Lost instead. That would probably get the supreme court involved.

now thats funny

[sparky2000]

Hiked thru NJ last year when the parks were posted closed. It didn't make any difference - keep on keeping on.

[Flexo]

If you want to get things done, close the state run liquor stores!!!

[teachergal]

Doesn't mean that you can't walk there does it?

Also, isn't the AT park of the NPS? Therefore wouldn't NPS trump State Parks and therefore the AT is still open?

[rockrat]

You can still walk the AT. In Tennessee, Governor Bredesen closed several parks when he first got elected so he could review the budget. When he closed the parks all the gates were closed, so you couldn't drive in, and all the staff were at home so the trails weren't well maintained. Even though this happened it wasn't illegal to park outside the park and still walk the trails.

[Lilred]

This thread is on here three times. Can admin condense them?

[Wonder]

exactly. anytime the Public School system here wants to raise taxes, they threaten to cut out varsity sports; its never failed to get a tax increase.

I grew up, and just moved from Philadelphia's western suburbs.
We had to fight, hard, to keep music in the schools........and this is when, Upper Darby, my Alma Mater, was ranked in the top 5 schools in the country for performing arts!

This news realy breaks my heart...for the hikers....and for my friends and family. Many of our greatest memories were made in the state parks...picnics, birthdays, my first kiss.....now other folks will not have options in a land of over-development, and land rape.

This is very depressing news for PA........the Mr. Rendell...I voted for you...now I'm ashamed of it

[Chaco Taco]

Gov. Rendell, shame on you!

[Chaco Taco]

Sound to me like someone needs a good ole ass whoopin!

[Wonder]

It's a shame, because from what I can remember....he really did a lot of good for philadelphia when he was mayor....and a lot of good for tourism when he was in his last term

[Jimmers]

Yeah, that's pretty much business as usual for the Republican controlled PA legislature versus the Democrat Governor. We had a $600 million surplus this year, and they're fighting over how to spend it. Neither side wants to compromise. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

[c.coyle]

A shutdown won't affect hikers in Pa., except possibly at the two state parks the A.T. passes through, Caledonia and Pine Grove Furnace. I think they're the only two.

For those of you not from Pennsylvania, not having a budget by the start of the fiscal year is practically an annual tradition, and it stinks. Governor Rendell has b*lls. Sure, he's holding out for some personal sweetheart line items, but most of the problem is self-serving legislators (both sides of the aisle). I predict the General Assembly blinks.

[emerald]

The A.T. passes through [two state parks], Caledonia and Pine Grove Furnace. I think they're the only two.

Coyle, you forgot Swatara State Park.