[at-l] Smoky back country fees

[Richard Calkins]

I like my "Seniors Pass" that gets me into all of the national parks for free!  I think I paid, like, $20 bucks for it back when, and it's good for as long as I live.   No back-country fees for moi!   
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-----Original Message-----
From: tech.mann at verizon.net
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:09:08 
To: <mfactor at gmail.com>; <Trailwife at aol.com>
Cc: <at-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: Re: [at-l] Smoky back country fees

I like the way it is done in the SNP.  Visiters entering on Skyline Drive pay a fee (good for one week) but AT hikers entering on the AT don't.

Sent from my HTC InspireT 4G on AT&T


----- Reply message -----
From: "Mara Factor" <mfactor at gmail.com>
To: <Trailwife at aol.com>
Cc: <at-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: [at-l] Smoky back country fees
Date: Thu, Feb 16, 2012 9:18 am



If a fee is going to be implemented, I wonder if they have considered a parking fee similar to that used in the White Mountains?  


In the Whites, it's possible to buy a yearly parking sticker which enables you to park in any White Mountains lot or buy a daily parking pass at the self service station at each trailhead. 


This would solve the problem of the toll road.  Those just passing through would not be charged a fee.  Only those who stop to use the park would pay.


This presents its own set of inequities but alleviates others.  Cars with five hikers would pay the same as cars with one.  Thruhikers, likely the only hikers to arrive without a vehicle, would not be charged.  And given the large number of visitors to the park, the fee could be small enough not to discourage visitation and yet still generate significant revenue. 


Mara
Stitches, AT99
Visit my Travels and Trails web site at: http://friends.backcountry.net/m_factor
 


On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 8:30 AM, <Trailwife at aol.com <mailto:Trailwife at aol.com> > wrote:
 
 
... Does this include the highway users that are only traveling from one point to another? If so would the highway become a toll road?