"That time of year, you won't likely run into a ridgerunner checking permits."

Going through the Smokies in March this year, with lots and lots of snow, ridgerunner Kentucky Greybeard was out on the trail, doing trail maintenance and generally hanging out, so I wouldn't count on ridgerunners not being out based on time of year (!).
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Brian Lewis
http://postholer.com/brianle