Smokies closes back country for gov shutdown

imported
#1

southbound folks may want to know, the great smoky mountians backcountry is temporaryily closed due to the givernment shut down and closing of national parks. The Park Service announced it today on CNN. 11:55am 10-1-13

BURN

BURN

#2

As a former thur hiker, I do not see any reason why a person could not just walk though the park regardless of its current status. However, car visitors may have a different experience. :cheers

stealthblew

#3

WWII vets, almost all over 84 years old, stormed past the “govt shut down” barricades at their memorial to honor the fallen.

Closure of the smokies is shameful political theatre. Bet your bottom taxed dollar that paychecks for the smokies federal employees and pension plans private citizens can’t dare dream of aren’t shut down.

Eyes open.

Jason

#4

As a person that has completed three thru-hikes, I agree with Stealthblew, I don’t see why a person that has hiked Hundreds of miles can’t just walk through the parks and the other parts that’s closed, and besides you wouldn’t have to buy a back country permit.

RED-DOG

#5

I hiked NB through the Smokies starting 10/1 and got off at Davenport Gap 10/7. Hitched into Gatlinburg 10/4 and hitched back 10/5 to resume my hike. I walked right by two park rangers and they didn’t say anything–made no attempt to stop me. I met several southbound thru-hikers in the Smokies. The AT Smokies is open.

Dogtags

#6

"Closure of the smokies is shameful political theatre. Bet your bottom taxed dollar that paychecks for the smokies federal employees and pension plans private citizens can’t dare dream of aren’t shut down.

Eyes open."

They get those retirements because they worked entire careers for them and those checks likely aren’t as sumptuous as you imagine they are. The US federal government adds considerable quality to American lives across the spectrum of society and if you don’t get that then you’ve probably developed an immunity to seeing reality. If you can’t have health insurance, then NOBODY can have health insurance, right? Give me a break.

Bullwinkle

#7

“The US federal government adds considerable quality to American lives…”

Considerable quality in the form of $17,000,000,000,000.00 debt! Give ME a break.

Butch Cassidy

#8

Our NATIONAL PARKS may have been Shut-Down, but the Golf Course at CAMP DAVID stayed opened. hmmmmmmm?
I guess that’s called "getting one’s priorites straight.

Gorp-Gobbler

#9

Yeah, right. They take the quality from the hard working, tax payers and give it to those who choose not to work.

Importman

#10

You mean like every Tom, Dick and Harry from another country that wants to come to America for a “Better Life”?

I choose to work so that I can have money to backpack all over OUR country, but can’t seem to get hired anywhere. Our country takes care of those from other countries and forgets about those that were born and raised here. What’s up with that?:mad

Gorp-Gobbler

#11

If it wasn’t for the US federal gov’t, the AT wouldn’t exist. I’d call that “considerable quality.”

tron

#12

The AT exists because of the countless number of volunteers and hours spent maintaining it, the ATC turned it over to the Federal Government so that it could be protected from land developers and to help with purchases of threatened areas.

Gorp-Gobbler