State Tourism Adds

“I guess the state is trying to boost tourism sales. A 2 page add in the paper that includes a lot of talk about the Mountains and National parks. I thought it was funny how it almost discouraged backpacking. "you can backpack in and stay at one of the many cabins. But for most people, the splendor of the setting is enough---and there are rooms in some of the lodges wherer you can take it all in from the comfort of your balcony..."

Gotta stay in a lodge to boost tourism revenu. Ha sounds boaring!!!!!”

“People who want to stay in a hotel should stay in a hotel, not go backpacking.”

“To me, it would be like riding the cable car up to the top of Mt Washington.. or driving up to the top of Springer, rather than hiking..

Now the problem perhaps is the grass-roots that feel that EVERYone should be able to enjoy the mountains, etc.. etc.. Let's face it, not everyone can hike into some of the remote areas we love.”

“And I like it that way. Everything shouldn't be easy just cause folks are lazy.”

“so you're biased against us old, trailer park hippies! Hey, I wan'na be able to do the AT on a smooth trail in my wheelchair after my knees give out.

And let's keep those BP people out of the hotels. They are cheap, they drag mud in on the carpets, they really dirty the towels, cook in the rooms, some even burn the no cooking signs and they leave beer cans all over the place, never once visiting our nice cocktail lounge. They even empty our ice machines to cool their beer and pop, and to wrap in extra towels as ice packs for their feet.

And in the morning they eat too many of the free donuts with their free coffee, and then try to sneak out with enough extra donuts to last a week on the trail. One nighters, all of them! Well, I'd rather see them as no-nighters!

I know! I'm an ex-motel owner/operator.”

“heh.. there are some bad folks in every crowd.. sorry to hear NS.”

“yellowstone 1934

a picture of tourists feeding bears

below a caption reads
"a chance to feed wild animals."”

“TIC”

“"come pet the wild buffalo" yellowsone- 1934”

“" come to death vally, the name is false, comon down there plenty of water." 1919”

“The State park system on Tn is losing so much money on their lodges and restuarants they are closing the hiking& camping parks part time or completely-
Not closing the restuarants-Not closing the lodges-
How stupid is that?
The tourism department used to do a good job.”

“Like one of my sisters, and two of my brothers.

Why do you folks have a problem with people with disabilities being able to enjoy our national, state, and local parks?

Some folks are unable to venture beyond their lodge/hotel balcony.

I think it would be GREAT to have accessable trails/boardwalks that lead deep (2-3 miles) into the backcountry of our parks. Who knows, that just might make a disabled kid's day...”

“Good point, Go.

Some people can make even sleeping on the ground an elitist, snobbish endeavor.

LOL”

“can you imagine if everyone started backpacking it would be horrible. There would be a line on the trails worst than at a theme park. Scary thought ain't it”

“gojo: let me clarify.. I have no problem whatsoever with how you described it.. its the folks that have no NEED to ever been in the woods.. and have no clue.. and with it so accesible.. it would be terribly dangerous.. and over run with idiots carrying shotguns and beer.”

“Gojo-
It is a sham here- The govenor is simply trying to scare the people of Tn into aggreeing to an income tax-We have good parks and lakes it really comes down to poor management-
They report huge losses on the "camping" line item-but you it seems you can never get a site.
Hey TD-
aren't the lakes managed by the Army Corps?”

“joshman: in a lot of cases.. yes.”

“I don't think the disabled are having any trouble getting into the outdoors. There are many who would get them out there these days. I just thought the add that made backpacking seem not worth bothering with was a little presumptuous.”

“I was just recently reading the engineering stats on an ATV-type wheelchair that's coming out soon. It had some pretty impressive maneuvering capacity.”

“Y'all read WAAAAAYY too much into what I said. I have no problem with making the outdoors accessible but not everyplace should be. Why can't there be easy trails and hard trails?

Balance in all things.”

“You contributors have touched upon a number of good, controversial items in this string (and others).

TownDawg is correct, "heh.. there are some bad folks in every crowd..." I went overboard in trying to make a point from the commercial viewpoint. So far so that I forgot the point.

Reading your posts brought the following to mind:

1. There is a growing problem of wildlife-people encounters.
2. There are growing population demands upon our linited wilderness resources.
3. Equal opportunities will increase since our national parks are dedicated to the enjoyment of all people.
4. There exists an unfortunate, reoccurring cycle of obtaining adequate financing, making improvements required by demand, and experiencing increased demand.

The wilderness is being depleted. Increasing use forces limited entry, limited stays, and increased restrictions. Our careful and respective use and enjoyment of it is actual a part of the problem. The problems are clear. The solutions, if any, will require work, our assistance, some understanding and patience.

Paul”

“NAHHHHHHH just go take a hike!”

“thinair - Sure, I'll take a hike. But each time I do, I encounter additional reminders ot the above items. One of these days I won't be able to "just go take a hike!" I'll need a reservation requested months in advance, there will be checks to see that I'm not carrying any glass or cans, etc., and I'll have to clock in and out.

For example, I usually start 2 or 3 months of BP-ing at Cataloochee in GSMNP. Once there was a primative campground (CG) there, but now it is a "developed campground." A number of years ago the Park Service tried to "improve" the area and convert it to a miniature "Cades Cove." Invironmentalists objected and won. Now the Park has re-introduced Elk in that area. This has resulted in the deer being ejected, fewer wild turkey sightings, etc. The big change is the influx of sightseers and additional campers. So now the Park is talking about expanding the campground. Improved roads will then be required, etc. This will expand further and the Park Service will get their minature "Cades Cove."

Activitie like this are counter to the Park's reason for eliminating the Rich Mtn. and Scott Gap Shelters. They said that they wanted to return the Park as much as possible to a primative state.

I would like to see a lot of places returned to a primative state. I never will, it will never happen. And only interested people like you, me, and others who enjoy hiking and the outdoors can be counted upon to try to guide and control "progress" in an orderly and sane manner.


BTW, thinair, what does "and peak bagger" mean? It is a new term to me. Thanks.”

“peak bagger = guy who likes to climb peaks in addition to hiking and backpacking. I guess the term "bagging" comes from the way we keep lists of the peaks we climb.

I don't think our wilderness areas have become less wild. Sure there are more people ventureing into the backcountry, but most stay in the highly "popular" spots. I read once that if all the wilderness backpackers took out there flashlights at night and shown them skyward and we took a satalite picture; we would see little spots of light all around rivers, lakes, and other popular spots. Between the little spots of light would be vast areas of darkness, or solitude.”

“thinair - Thank you for your explanation. I have been to many peak tops, but have not done any climbing. Scrambling across boulder fields, like those of Long's Peak in Rocky Mtn. NP(RMNP), is as close as I've come to climbing. (I have used a rope to scale an 8-ft. embankment to bypast a washout.)

The development and encroachments are changes that I've seen over almost 70 years. Examples include:

RMNP uses permits and they charge for overnight backcountry use. A lot of fishing is catch and release.

Gettin reservations at shelters in GSMNP can be difficult and frustrating during Spring Break and when the Thru Hikers hit the AT each spring.

The hard path in GSMNP leading to Laurel Falls is crowded and the parking lot there is almost always overflowing during the day. Hiking along that trail cannot be considered a wilderness experience anymore, just a stroll through some woods.”

“I don't know, out here in California I've been to a lot of popular wilderness areas on solo hikes and with a group where we only saw a few souls. Last summer on the PCT I saw maybe 15 people on 8 days of trail. 7 on the first day were day hikers. This was in Yosemite where I always hear people complaining about crouds. Maybe it is because I usually hike in early or late season and depart usually on mid week days.

BTW there are hundreds of peaks that can be hiked up with out ropes in CA. I've done a few.”

“thinair - It's great that you able to enjoy the outdoors in your area. By any chance are you at San Francisco State U?

Hiking up to the peaks is a popular thing in the Rockies. Another park I forgot to mention is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in MN. There, they had installed use limitations, reservations, and, occassionally, they would fly-in on a float plane and check for bottles, cans, and whatever else you were not supposed to have with you.”

“I'm at Fresno State U. I live about 1.5 hrs from Yosemite
2 hrs from Kings Canyon and everything else is less than a days drive.

I've never heard of rangers being so intrusive before. All the questions I've been asked are mostly reguarding when, where, and how long. The newest question is "are you going to store your food properly?" I've never run into a ranger in the backcountry, only at the ranger station before hikes. My father has been checked for permits and told to not camp near a lake once. But in 31 years of hiking that isn't bad.”

“Gunman Says Sound of New Jersey Made Him Snap

February 14, 2002 7:21 am EST

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas jury on Wednesday found Thomas Mitchell guilty of aggravated assault for shooting his girlfriend because he thought she was about to say the words "New Jersey."
His attorney unsuccessfully sought his exoneration on grounds that certain words set off an uncontrollable rage in Mitchell, who has a history of mental illness.

Words that triggered a bad reaction in Mitchell included "New Jersey," "Wisconsin," "Snickers" and "Mars," lawyer Maria Mercado told the court.

Throughout the three-day trial, Mitchell, 54, covered his ears when he thought the words were going to be spoken.

Witnesses used flashcards with the words written out instead of saying them in court.

"When he has one of these episodes, he isn't focused," lawyer Mercado said.

Prosecutors contended that Mitchell was troubled, but not crazy.

He was convicted for shooting girlfriend Barbara Jenkins three times on March 19, 1999, when he believed she was about to utter the phrase "New Jersey." She survived the attack, but died from unrelated causes just before the trial.

In a statement, Mitchell told police: "I had seen that word at my mom's house and then Barbara said what she said (and) I just snapped."”

“you're too late, Violin, pekka already posted this”

“Where?”

“backpacking in CA has changed a little since I started, it's still good, but when you folks talk about campfires I get a little sad, cuz' I can't have em' here in too many places. Those ads won't stop people from backpacking, I just wish they'd mention to pick up your trash.

GET OUT THERE! And pick up your trash, because your Mother doesn't work here!”

“Violin, National Hiking Thread day.”