[at-l] Smoky back country fees

[Amy Forinash]

You used to be able to buy a more expensive lifetime pass for anyone but they stopped offering it. Friend of mine got one in college. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 16, 2012, at 1:22 PM, "Richard Calkins " <racalkins at msn.com> wrote:

> 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!   
> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
> 
> -----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? 
>  
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