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<P align=left><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>I was scanning through the yellowstone national park website and looked at the backcountry trip planner :</FONT></DIV>
<P align=left><A href="http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/upload/bc_tripplanner9-08.pdf"><STRONG><FONT size=2>http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/upload/bc_tripplanner9-08.pdf</FONT></STRONG></A></DIV>
<P align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<P align=left><FONT size=2>It has a section in a text box on page 4 which I copied out below which seems to indicate that rangers will allow for phone reservations from CDT hikers. Do you think this represents a relaxing of the rules to make it more practical for long distance hikers or has the literature always been like this?</FONT></DIV>
<P align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<P align=left><FONT size=2>thanks Brian</FONT></DIV>
<P align=left>-------------------------------------------------</DIV>
<P align=left><STRONG>Entering the Park From</STRONG></DIV>
<P align=left><STRONG>a National Forest</STRONG></DIV></FONT><FONT face=FrutigerLTStd-Light size=1>
<P align=left>When possible permits should be</DIV>
<P align=left>obtained in person from the backcountry</DIV>
<P align=left>offi ce nearest the start of your trip.</DIV>
<P align=left>However, if you are entering the park via</DIV>
<P align=left>a national forest trail and cannot stop at</DIV>
<P align=left>a permitting offi ce, please contact the</DIV>
<P align=left>Central Backcountry Offi ce in advance to</DIV>
<P align=left>make other arrangements</DIV>
<P align=left>for obtaining your permit.</DIV></FONT><B><FONT face=FrutigerLTStd-Bold size=4>
<P align=left>CDT</DIV></B></FONT><FONT face=FrutigerLTStd-Light size=1>
<P align=left>The Continental Divide</DIV>
<P align=left>National Scenic Trail (CDNST) and the</DIV>
<P align=left>Nez Perce National Historic Trail (NPNHT)</DIV>
<P align=left>utilize parts of Yellowstone’s trail system.</DIV>
<P align=left>For further information on these trails,</DIV>
<DIV>contact the Central Backcountry offi ce.</DIV></FONT></td></tr></table><br>