Government Shutdown 2.0

I called this 2.0 because I think we had this conversation last year, right? I forgot. Anyway, if the government shut down tomorrow morning I'm wondering if the national parks will be affected as well? I got a backpacking permit secured for the Smoky this weekend.

Edit: Base on this information they better refund my permit fee......

My vacation plans didn't pan out, wrong gear for conditions so turned around and came home the same day after workng. I had another trip planned this coming weekend in Lassen VNP, but if things are shut down, it ruins that too.
Duane

I would strongly suggest you call ahead. It has been all over the news tonight and nights previous that a shut down will effectively and immediately close the National Parks.

Although its little consolation, there is probably a good chance you will be able to file for a refund. This summer we canceled our last night in a Sequoia NP campground and stayed the night in a park lodge to get packed and cleaned up for the plane ride home. Had to cut out at 3 in the morning. Had no problem getting refunded as long as I left by checkout.

Of course you will have to wait on your refund until the govmint goes back to work.

jimmyb

recreation.gov and reserveamerica are AFAIK contractors and not affected by gov'ment anything....

I'm guessing the powers to be will not have the will power to go the distance with this one and will cave to the pressure by this weekend. Fingers crossed for you folks and all the others who may be effected Hopefully they will come to an agreement.

jimmyb

PS just my two cents. the preceding is not in anyway whatsoever a political comment.

Oops, very true. Well good luck.

go ahead and go on your trip. Who will be there to stop you?

In some cases, locked gates.

ETSU, isn't there a lot of mountain range there outside the National Park? Don't cancel the trip, just have a Plan B!

A little history: Back in the 1980's, this sort of thing happened every year--it was a regular feature of the Federal fiscal year-end. I was working for a government contractor at the time. They had to give contractor employees 2 weeks' notice on October 1, but the shutdown never lasted that long. At Mt. Rainier NP they closed the park but not the gates, so we could get in free.

In 1995, Mt. Rainier NP closed the gates. That closure, of course, lasted a lot longer. I was no longer working for the contractor, so I don't know what happened there. I never did get my Social Security card replaced after my wallet was stolen from my desk at work in mid-December of that year. That shutdown lasted so long that the whole idea became politically unpopular--at least for the next 18 years.

No backpacking in the Smokies allowed until government reopens. permit information

Every backpacking land here in south is federal designated. I'm guessing the Department of Agriculture shut down all the national forests as well. Other wise I guess I'll go back to work this weekend instead of burning paid-time-off days.

have someone drop you off and go
A lot of trail heads are on main roads. You could go to Slickrock Citco Wilderness and hike for as long as you want.

looks like National Forest are shutting down also based on an email I got today

The National Forest Service is shutting down all its offices and facilities, but not closing the forests (in most cases, they can't!). Hikers are free to roam, and at least out here, they have said as much.

Per local news media,


I'd check local media before canceling your trip!

Yeah [sigh].

Happy 123rd birthday, Yosemite.

I did some googling; trails are open in North Carolina national forests per this article.

They closed 120 at Yosemite, at least from the east.

The shutdown should only affect NF land where you need a permit or have gates on access roads. For example, you do not need permits in the Wind Rivers (Bridger and Shoshone National Forests) and many access roads to trailheads are county roads.

I personally would still do a trip as long as I could park my car on non-federal land. For example, Twin Lakes trailhead to Hoover Wilderness is on private land. The private owner does charge to park, but I would still go in for a backpack, even without a permit. With such limited resources, giving you a ticket for going in without a permit is the last thing on the mind of the Forest Service.

Well, with Standing Indian Campground being opened, I could do a nice loop in that area. I just don't have a map. May see if my friend got one.

Edit: Thanks a lot Wandering Daisy. You need a permit here, but the permit are kiosk stand. So I can imagine they're still available...My friend and I are discussing it and since campground open, surely the kiosk stand still has paperwork for permits? In Linville Gorge in the Pisgah, you need a permit from visitor center from April-October, the rest of year you do not need a permit. I've backpacked there in November and no permits were required.

My friend can only do one night regardless, so I'm just going cancel and roll my PTO day for another weekend. I may try get back to Smoky while we're still in month of October. (I'm going on limb saying govt reopen during month of October..)

I already been approved to have Thanksgiving week off from work, and my friend put in request as well. Him and I going to do an insane epic in Linville Gorge that week for 3-4 days then be home day before Thanksgiving. Google Linville Gorge if you never heard of it. It's the best kept secret in the east until now. Some of you may remember my thread about a trip report in this area back in 2011. It wasn't picture intensive, but I'll be sure take more pictures this time.

I am taking an extended weekend trip in DC in late October to do some museum hopping (must see the Kacynski exhibit at the Newseum!). Several of the museums I plan to visit are private so still open but I had hoped to visit a number of house museums that are run by the NPS and they are now closed. If the government is still shut down I thought I might head over to the Capitol and boo passing by congressmen. That's not illegal, is it?

Nonrefundable plane tickets are already paid for so no cancelling for me.

I think you're good, according to the 1st amendment.

Edit: I went to Washington D.C. my 2nd year of college through the university. Saw all the museums, monuments, etc. Some cool history with interesting things to read and learn.

I got an email from the director of the North Country Trail which stated that all trail work, maintenance, volunteer led trips etc must be canceled. Since the NCT is under the National Park Service all insurance and liability issues are not covered. I would imagine that other trail like the AT are subject to the same restrictions. There were several events and work days scheduled for the NCT so those are canceled or moved to non National Park areas. Sad, stupid and unnecessary.

My brother wrote an email to our representative who is one of the tea party darlings and he received an email back telling him that he was unable to reply due to the shutdown but he appreciated his input. It is very valuable to him.

Any word on AT? I'm planning on hiking from one PA state park to another PA state park this weekend. It's also State Forest, so I don't think I'll have an issue.

It should not be a problem as long as you are not doing it as part of the AT conference. It would only be a problem to someone doing something as part of a government agency.

I've been following a few PCT blogs and apparently even with a shutdown, they can still find a way to keep a few rangers on guard..Imagine hiking all the way to ALMOST Canada..
http://somanymiles.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/day-164-trail-closed/

Just my .$02, but the land belongs to us, not the politicians. Do what ever you want. If it's got a gate blocking it off, use bolt cutters. But I'm an anarchist. Don't let me talk you into anything.