How is the budget cut affecting your local park? Check out this story by the Washington Post about Yellowstone: Budget Cut

The story above has great irony, you can find it in the post itself. Here in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, several frontcountry campsites will be closed for the entire 2013 season. Here is the list , it's located towards the bottom of the page.

doesn't matter the GSMNP is making money off the backpackers by charging them to use the park

Any idea how much the park collects from backpackers each year? Any idea how much the park spends on trail maintenance? (I'm not trying to start an argument here, I just honestly don't know the answer to either question. I also have no idea of how much labor and material/tools are donated by volunteer trail maintainers.) Finally, any idea whether the trail maintenance expenditures have increased since they began collecting fees from backpackers?

The Mark Twain and Ozark NF probably won't see much change. There aren't many "Lodges" or big fancy campgrounds here. Hard to say how the Buffalo River NP will be affected. I know the campgrounds make money there, and probably more than enough to pay their way, but that doesn't mean they won't be tagged for a budget hit.

Most all of our backpacking trails on NF land are maintained by volunteers, and we don't have a lot of those anyway. I'm sure the more popular day hiking trails are maintained by park employees, but again, there's not really a lot of those on NF or NP land here.

Our Missouri State Dept of Conversation is very well funded. In fact, it's over funded, and that's the land where most of the popular day hiking trails are located.

If I said anymore I'd have to say in the OT forum, so I'll leave it there.

This has been a heated debate in this part of the country. It as if there going to be another McCoy vs. Hatfield feud, or Moonshiners vs. Revenuers feud... So heated that a not-for-profit organization has filed a lawsuit against the Great Smoky Mountains National Park...

If my memory is correct, the Smokies has about 70,000 backpackers a year. (At least in that ballpark of some sort) So, at $4 per night per person, you can do the math. The Smokies claim the fee are associated with retrieving the cost of implementing a software system to provide 24/7 access to reserving campsites and securing permit. My question is: how much was the software and what are cost associated with server system? Is it possible for the fee to be temporarily until the cost of system is paid off? In all honesty, I kind of like the software system. I've had to make several phone calls to secure permits... Now, I can just click a few buttons whenever I'm on the internet and have a permit secured.

I've been on the fence by playing the devil's advocate for both side of the situation. I can't seem to find the information I want from the Smokies point of view, and the not-for-profit organization can't seem to take a 23 years old seriously. I make the latter statement because I asked them a question on their website and got deleted..... So how am I suppose to take them seriously when they won't take me seriously? *roll-eyes*

Anyhoo, Glenn, the maintenance is credited to a huge turnout of volunteers. Park Rangers do some of supervisions, but it mainly volunteers that do all of the work. All of the shelters along the AT and the trail itself is maintained by the local AT club. I've been told that the bear cables at all campsites were provided by donation. The Smokies' website has list of trail work somewhere and there been some good turnouts. (I guess Tennessee isn't called the volunteer state for nothing, huh?) Ha! The fee was originally suppose to help aid in trail maintenance, but it's now being said it only for recovery of software system. There has been contradictory from both parties, since the Smokies originally said the fee would increase ranger presence, trail maintenance and the software. Now they are saying it just the software. The lawsuit claims it an entrance fee, which is in the deed stipulation that the Smokies is not allow to charge such fee. Now the lawsuit claims the entire public process was handled in an illegal manner. Good grief, it as if neither side can keep their stories straight.

They just need shut up and go hiking!

This has been on my mind lately as I'm not only planning to go to Canyonlands this fall, but will be using the campground there and will be taking the train to get out there... Soooo... I've been worried.

I have been hesitating to get my train tickets. Pretty soon I'll have to bite the bullet and just hope for the best.

I don't know what amount of my taxes goes to the parks, but I'd be willing to bet it's not enough. I'd be willing to chip in a few bucks.

Guess time will tell...?

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) — The Great Smoky Mountains National Park can't open some visitor facilities because of the automatic federal budget cuts.

The 5 percent reductions caused staffing and hiring limitations which affected the park's ability to prepare some facilities for opening.

Park officials announced Tuesday the Look Rock Campground and Picnic Area and the Abrams Creek Campground in Tennessee as well as the Balsam Mountain Campground and Picnic Area and the Tow String Horse Camp in North Carolina will remain closed in 2013.

Smokies Superintendent Dale Ditmanson said the park regrets the inconvenience to visitors, especially those who enjoy the more remote areas..... http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/mar/12...etter_headlines

© 2013, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Visitor Services Closures:

Restroom Closures to Start Sunday, March 24, 2013
Due to the federal budget sequestration, some restrooms in the park will be closed starting Sunday, March 24, until further notice. Restrooms that remain open are located at: Rockside Station, Canal Visitor Center, Station Road, Brandywine Falls, Boston Store, Lock 29, Happy Days North Lot, Octagon, Ledges, Kendall Lake, Hunt Farm, Ira, and Botzum. Signage is located on bulletin boards throughout the park directing visitors to the open restrooms. We apologize for any inconvenience to visitors. Click here to see a flier with a map of open restrooms and their addresses.

I could say a few things, but then I'd have to moderate myself by moving my comments to Off Topic.


So far everyone is resisting getting into politics, so I will, too.

Well, I wasn't trying to get politic with it. I was just curious how it will affect other parks around the country.

That's what you were doing, and everyone so far has followed suit!