Making GSMNP Reservations without the Bo dies!

“This really makes me mad! This is one of the reasons that it is sometimes difficult to plan a trip in GSMNP. Many times I have been unable to plan a trip using the AT in GSMNP. Then, later I find that there was plenty of space at a shelter that the Park Service said was fully reserved. People tie up a location for a possible group trip and then cancel at the last minute for ths spaces lacking bodies in their group. No-shows will always be a problem, but making reservations without the bodies is extremely rude! It can ruin the trip plans for a countless number of hikers.”

“This includes all the sites that require reservations, including Mt LeConte.”

“I think that happens everywhere that require reservations. I called a Florida State Park this winter. They said they had one open site, all others were full. When I got to the site a couple was there, but they had stayed from the night before, the man was feeling ill. They did not have reservations. No one else showed. I did not see but a couple of backpackers on the trail Sat. or Sun. I would guess the no show rate for the entire park had to be 75% that weekend. There were only a couple of cars at the trail head either day.

Last time I was in the GSMNP I had to change plans at the last minute. I did take the time to call and cancel my reservations.”

“the flatlander - That's good of you to call and cancel. Too many people don't call.

My knees, etc. do not permit me to skip most of the shelters. So, if I go from Big Creek, Cosby, or the Balsum Mtn. Trail to Mount LeConte and back, one full shelter prevents the trip. Even six weeks ahead I have had trouble adjusting the dates to obtain reservations because one or the other of the shelters was full on the night that I needed it. Sometimes I have had to hike elsewhere. And it pains me to realize that people have blocked the plans of other hikers with reservations that will never be used.

But I guess this is the way to go. If I overbook the size of my party, there will be more space available at each stop. I have the guts to do it, but not the heart.

It was bad enough that the closing of Ice Water Spring Shelter for two years and the subsequent damage to the Boulevard Trail prevented me from my favorite hikes for three years. But this overbooking the number of people on reservations really makes upsets me!”

“Planning IS 80% of the fun.”

“Do you try to reserve opening day?

I agree Frito Lay, I love trip planning....I plan and reserve months in advance to ensure I get what I want. I am guilty in recent years of overbooking, but rarely bother to cancel since I'm not gettin' a refund. However, I've probably only missed two or three booked trips in my life.”

“Do you try to reserve opening day?
twigeater

Sorry, twigeater, I'm not sure that I understand "opening day." At one time or the other I have backpacked in GSMNP during every month of the year. The park is open every day.
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I do make some shorter trips, but usually one of my trips each year is one to three months long. I try to reserve some final hikes early, usually north(east) of Newfound Gap. On those I enjoy doing the AT, getting to Mt. Sterling (CS#38), Laurel Gap, and Mt LeConte Shelters. But, first I play it by ear, starting with short, easy hikes, and adjusting for the weather, etc. It takes me about two months to strengthen my legs for the strenuous trails. (Both knees need replacements and my heart pumps about 85% of normal through my five bypasses.) In my best shape, eight miles on the AT is about my top limit.

And in the appropiate months I try to enjoy the balds for their flowers, Spense Field for the pin cherries, The AT south(west) of Clinkman's Dome for a variety of berries, and the Palmer Creek and Big Fork Ridge Trails for the fall colors.

In other words, I have had plenty of experience with the reservation system. I just became upset, when I saw someone holding reservations w/o people for the slots. I am probably wrong, I've been wrong before, and will be wrong again. But I'll be in Cataloochee tomorrow night before starting one week of backpacking. Pleasant hiking to you.”

“I don't know what all that means, but opening day = the first day a park will start taking reservations for the upcoming season. However I have little experience with nat'l parks and none with GSMNP, so I'll stay off this thread.”

“twigeater - Thanks, you're on to something. Since GSMNP is open everyday, I guess it means ASAP. At one time they had a limitation of something like two months in advance. I don't know what the current limitation is.

In looking for a limitation, I found on the back of the Park Map: ...courtesies ... 1. Do not reserve more space than you intend to occupy; to do so prohibits use by other backpackers. That's what this is all about.

As for the rest of it, I talk too much. I used way too many words to say that, "I have had plenty of experience with the reservation system."”

“What was this about Icewater shelter being closed for 2 years? Where can I get more info. on that, and why are they closing it? They just revamped the thing for god's sake!”

“I really enjoy planning trips. I also plan Waaaay in advance. I always get reservations (when required) the first day that reservations open. I've learned that some places fill up fast.

NS the GSMP allows reservations 30 days in advance. I'm sure you know this but I'd call first thing in the morning on day 30 out from your trip. It's the only way to get the trip you want.

I have had several trip plans ruined because of others hogging space they won't or don't use. Now I understand that I can always just go someplace else but the whole point was to to a particular trip. Last march I had three trip plans scrubbed in a row. The infuriating part is that I always find out from other hikers that the spaces I needed were not used.

Now for me it's just an inconvience that I have to hike longer or re-route. Some folks don't have that option due to a variety of reasons and are forced in some cases to just stay home.”

“Nowslimmer's a pistol when you get him going.”

“"NS the GSMP allows reservations 30 days in advance. I'm sure you know this but I'd call first thing in the morning on day 30 out from your trip. It's the only way to get the trip you want.
humanpackmule
10:07:46 AM
05/07/02"

I have tried to call before 30 days and they would not make the reservation. Now I call at excatly 8:00 am on the 30th day before the trip. It has worked for me so far. However I go during Sept. which is an off time.”

“I really like september in the mountains.”

“Guess I misread NS's post. Sounds like the shelter closing occurred a while ago. Did it?
November in the Smokies is wonderful too. Especially after the Fontana lake drawdown. That really affects the acoustics of certain campsites.”

“I know what you mean NS. I tried to get a reservation for Kephart shelter for this past weekend, and it was totally booked, I went through that area and I did not see a soul. The parking lot @ Newfound was totally empty. I have had trips fall through before, but I always cancelled my reservations.”

“The closing of Icewater Spring Shelter occurred several years ago, maybe 5 to 8 years back. However, they did allow the through hikers to stay there. Several different reasons were given by Park Service Personnel, the main one being excessive toilet stuff making the area look like an open cesspool. After two years one or more hiking clubs came up with a solution. They brought in a mulch making machine. The privy is now above a lawn or yard wagon. Every so ofter, it is taken downhill a little ways to the mulch making machine, and I assume the mulch is spread out downhill. For a while the hiking clubs had someone stay in a tent in front of the shelter to keep thing under control, etc. Everything appears to be working OK right now.

The shelter received its' new look about three years ago. Under the skylight the floor is now so large, I tell people that there hold dances there every Saturday night.”