Blood Mt parking issues

[scope]

This is both a rant, and an FYI for those wanting to park at the Byron Reece parking area at Neel Gap...

Got a ticket this weekend. I'm not alone. The last 3 times I've been there, I've not been able to get an actual parking space, so I parked on the side of the road as I had done the previous 2 times, as everyone does because they have to. If there are 20 spaces there, there were 20 others parked in the "no parking" areas, some quite creatively.

Now, a no parking area is a no parking area, so they decided to enforce it and I'll have to pay the ticket. My rant is that there is literally nowhere to go - no real viable option. There is a sign at the end of the one way semicircle as you leave the parking area that says to go park at Vogel, and I presume take the Duncan Ridge trail from there to Blood Mt. That's a completely different hike plan and a $3 park entry fee. Hey, I don't mind the fee, but the option to go do a different hike than what was planned doesn't seem like a reasonable option to me.

No parking is posted along Hwy 19 north of where the AT crosses and I didn't notice, but didn't see parking on the south side either - and I'm sure I would've seen the parked cars there is there was any. Blood Mt is a very popular day hike for all kinds of hikers, and I do mean all kinds! So, I don't think this problem is going away. Lots of folks do overnites in the area, and so the parking lot always has cars in it, its large by most trail head standards, but its small in terms of actual use. If you don't get one of a dozen or so unused spaces by early a.m. - I guess what you're supposed to do is plan another hike for that same day, or go home.

There are options for different hikes beside Vogel. Lake Winfield Scott is a great one. But again, a lot of these day hikers aren't going to do that. Those of us who know about that loop might want to utilize it more often.

If anyone has more info about where to park in the area if one wanted to do the Blood Mt hike, or loop via Freeman, please post those options. Otherwise, feel free to rant.

p.s. the Freeman trail is rough; not exactly difficult, just a lot of rockyness to go up, over and around. After a wet evening, we had to really watch our footing the next morning on the trail. Still, I much prefer going around and up Blood as opposed to the short way.

[scope]

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/arch...p/t-66032.html

This came up on a google search. I did look here first, but then I'm search challenged. So, this has been going on a while. Here's a synopsis:

Pay the bill.
Question: Other popular spots aren't enforced, why is this one?
Answer: Parking is limited as a matter of reducing hiker traffic for the sake of the trail and environment.

Um, as a hiker, I've got no problem taking other trails, BUT, that's something I want to be able to plan for. It shouldn't cost me $50 to find out that something will for sure be enforced to the point that I must cancel the plans I had. Keep in mind, that on this particular day, I've got a non-hiker dad and 2 11yr olds with me. None of the other Blood options were a good fit, nor was the timing of driving to LWS for the other best option. I certainly could have taken them over to Hogpen Gap and climbed both Wildcat and Cowrock.

Look, I'll pay the ticket and move on, but IMO this type of "planning" is simply punitive to those who don't know any better, including a lot of folks who read a blurb in the AJC about hiking Blood Mt and just go. Not even a "parking is limited" really makes sense, because that should mean having to walk up to a half mile or so if needed to be able to park where there is no "no parking" sign. Not Blairsville. In RMNP they have a shuttle to deal with number of folks wanting to visit certain busy trailheads. Those trails seem to be doing just fine. Sounds to me like there is an managing authority here that just wants to be an authority and not really manage.

[Pedaling Fool]

I remember that issue. According to some locals on the thread http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...eece-Trailhead they reduced the size of that parking lot.

Why would they do that?

[scope]

Apparently to reduce traffic on the trail, but that seems like wishful thinking to me. I am not anti-govt, so I'm not going to say its a scam to make money. No, rather I think its just bad management, wishful thinking for well intended reasons, but completely impractical, and worst of all, shows no compassion for the public with regard to execution of the idea.

[Mockernut]

I've had parking issues with regard to space at several road crossings. Dicks Creek Gap for one is often full. I've even gotten to Woody Gap when it was at complete overflow and had to drive around to Hogpen instead to do a totally different hike. There are lots of options but I understand the frustration of not being able to park. Unicoi has a huge parking area and I've seen it get loaded down. There just is a limit based on where the road crosses the trail.

I do think the improvements made at the Byron Reece were to keep the place decent and organized from what used to be sort of a mess. Also, if there were 20 more parking spots there on some days, they would still be full. I'm imagining that some folks drove past the spot you parked in and went elsewhere knowing about the enforcement. FWIW, I've never been there on a weekend when there weren't cars with parking tickets on them. Fair warning...it gets enforced.

[Slo-go'en]

So, you knew parking there would be a problem on a nice fall weekend unless you got there really early, but you went anyway?

Two solutions to this problem:
1) get there really early
2) plan to go somewhere else from the start.

[scope]

Yeah, thanks guys. I know of at least one person who drove past the spot where I parked looking to go elsewhere... oh, wait, that was me! Yeah, about that "elsewhere" thing... there isn't. Look, my rant is less about me, because as you pointed out, I did know that it overflowed and that there were no parking signs. OK, I'll pay my ticket, its my fault, no one else's. And I at least know enough about the area to have made a Plan B on the spot. Double my fault.

The thing that makes this trailhead different is the clientele. Folks who haven't been here before, which kinds leads to what I fell into, "well, everybody else is parked along the side, guess I will, too" type of mentality. Hey, I know better now, right? But the problem is, and this is the crux of my rant, that this trailhead will continue to get novice hikers and others who have no familiarity with it other than its listed as where to park in the "Things To Do in N.Ga" article, book, etc. And who likely don't have a clue what might be a reasonable option for a hike if they choose not to park there. And who likely have no reason to think they need to make a Plan B and do some research on that beforehand. So, they're going to do just exactly what they've been doing, parking where they can and pay for it later.

For instance, if I was coming up with my kids and didn't know anything about it except having looked up online info, my line of thought would be that this is where I park to access the trailhead. When I get there, I see all the spots are full. I keep driving until I get to the exit where there is a sign that says you can park at Vogel and hike to Blood Mt from there. I go there, pay my $3 fee to get in, and go to the visitor center to find out that the trail to Blood Mt is 12m on the difficult rated Duncan Ridge trail. Screw that I say, I'll go back and find a spot on the side of the road. Can't find one where there isn't a No Parking sign, and its very limited anyway due to terrain. So I go back into the BR parking area, I see a number of other cars parked along the side of the road, and decide I might as well do that, too.

Now, if I want to limit the number of hikers accessing this trail, knowing what I should know about the popularity of this trail and who comes here, I'm NOT going to passively rely on parking enforcement to have a trickle down effect. Quite obviously, that's not working, though I assume it is buying someone's lunch. So, therefore, my rant is that BR is NOT managed for the purpose that it is supposedly managed for - preserving the environment with reasonable human access to that environment. It does nothing to prevent the traffic getting there, and once there, the traffic is going to do exactly what I described above, as is the evidence. Well, maybe they don't drive down to Vogel.

There will continue to be an endless stream of folks coming from all around to this Blood Mt trailhead through sources that have nothing to do with the USFS. The problem the USFS has wasn't made by them, and they likely are employing standard practices which would probably get heeded more at a place like Dicks Creek - which I was just there parking on the grass without issue. Different clientele. So, curb your solutions directed at me, my rant really isn't about me. Its about the situation where I think there is a clear problem with the management of the area, unrelated to the effect that problem had on me.

[Mockernut]

What would your solution be? Not enforce the NO PARKING areas, create more parking spots by clearing the woods, or just allowing folks to whatever they want to do? Is there an option 4? I understand your frustration but not sure what the answer is that you seek.

[Sarcasm the elf]

What would your solution be? Not enforce the NO PARKING areas, create more parking spots by clearing the woods, or just allowing folks to whatever they want to do? Is there an option 4? I understand your frustration but not sure what the answer is that you seek.

They could start by posting much more obvious signage, or better yet painting "No Parking" right on the paved shoulder, maybe a sign right at the actual trailhead that says "If you leave your car on the shoulder you will he ticketed." I have only been there two times, both times on a weekday, but I wouldn't have thought twice about parking in the shoulder to go for a hike. In many parts of New England where I hike regularly you are supposed to park on the shoulder, so this is news to me that you can't do it at blood mountain.

I think the OP's point is that the current setup is setting people up for failure, especially those not familiar with the area, and I would tend to agree.

[scrabbler]

I think the OP's point is that the current setup is setting people up for failure, especially those not familiar with the area, and I would tend to agree.

Much like any big city that you arrive in and plan to park in a deck on a popular day. You need to have Plan B in mind. And Plan C.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Much like any big city that you arrive in and plan to park in a deck on a popular day. You need to have Plan B in mind. And Plan C.

Did you read my post? They are ticketing for parking on the shoulder, a practice that is perfectly acceptable on a great many trailheads and they have it signed poorly. Signing it better is the best way to actually encourage people to follow the law, Isn't that the whole point?

Waxing over some version of "well they should have known better" doesn't do anything to fix an otherwise easily solved problem.

[mtntopper]

Reading the ops post he said he saw the no parking sign. No Parking means no parking!

[Slo-go'en]

In many parts of New England where I hike regularly you are supposed to park on the shoulder, so this is news to me that you can't do it at blood mountain.

An example is the parking lot on RT 2 which accesses the AMC Mount Madison hut. Cars parked half a mile down the side of the highway is a common sight. But the road is wide and straight at that point with a decent shoulder to pull 100% off the road onto. I don't think this is the case near Neel Gap, which is more of a narrow, twisty road with little or no breakdown lane. I base this on what I've seen at the gap and similar roads in the area. I bet cars pull off into the drainage ditch on the side of the road there.

[Sarcasm the elf]

An example is the parking lot on RT 2 which accesses the AMC Mount Madison hut. Cars parked half a mile down the side of the highway is a common sight. But the road is wide and straight at that point with a decent shoulder to pull 100% off the road onto. I don't think this is the case near Neel Gap, which is more of a narrow, twisty road with little or no breakdown lane. I base this on what I've seen at the gap and similar roads in the area. I bet cars pull off into the drainage ditch on the side of the road there.

I'm not arguing that parking on the shoulder should be allowed. I'm saying that if there is a persistant problem of out of towners not knowing that they aren't allowed to park there then perhaps the simple matter of better sineage would both prevent well intentioned people from getting ticketed and prevent people who disregarded it from claiming ignorance.

[Spacelord]

Most people when hitting a new trail will read all the signs around the trailhead before hitting the trail. I can't see a sign and not read it most of the time. I would suspect that this is about protecting the area around the parking lot and not limiting the amount of hikers. I've never met a ranger or dnr officer in Ga. that was not psyched to have people using unfunded resources. Only my opinion and perspective so take it with a grain of salt.

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[Spacelord]

Under funded..


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[Mockernut]

The Byron Reece parking area has very obvious and extensive NO PARKING signs posted. The OP saw the sign and unless you were impaired in some way, there is really no way to miss them. No more signs needed, please.

The real joy at Neels Gap is the tourists who park at the store and then head up the trail for a "quick walk". Towing has been known to occur in some circumstances...now that makes for a happy shopper...and there are signs warning for that as well.

[FatMan]

This seems like a pretty silly rant. Although I have not been over at the Reece parking area lately, I can assure you there used to be plenty of no parking signs. I have no reason to believe they have been removed.

The OP appears to know what other options are. Best bet is Lake Winfield Scott, but there is a fee to park. If too cheap to pay the fee you can always park on the side of Wolfpen Gap Rd (SR180) near the intersection of Happy Hollow Cir. and walk the road up to Henry Gap.

[scope]

I guess its par for the course, but folks seem to be focusing on the fact that there were no parking signs, I parked there, got a ticket, and I guess they think I'm ranting about that. That would indeed be silly.

Thank you STE for getting it. I think what you said about the folks coming in being setup for failure really hits the nail on the head for what I'm actually trying to rant about. Not only does it setup folks where a high percentage of them really can't make different plans, but in terms of the USFS, it sets them up for failure as well. Sounds like a lot of money is being earned, but collection baggage is costly.

And I'm not looking for answers for myself. Just ranting and hoping for discussion, which might lead to actual thoughts, which have a chance at leading to a solution. For now, I'm with STE in that the signage does not go far enough for the type of area that it is. They need to decide what they really want to do with the area, and really manage it. You put the no parking signs at Dicks Creek, and folks will stay off the grass and that trailhead won't get as much traffic. That is, of course, the standard USFS plan. That ain't gonna work here - you'd be setting up everybody associated with that area for failure.

[scope]

This seems like a pretty silly rant. Although I have not been over at the Reece parking area lately, I can assure you there used to be plenty of no parking signs. I have no reason to believe they have been removed.

The OP appears to know what other options are. Best bet is Lake Winfield Scott, but there is a fee to park. If too cheap to pay the fee you can always park on the side of Wolfpen Gap Rd (SR180) near the intersection of Happy Hollow Cir. and walk the road up to Henry Gap.

Fair options for the knowledgable hiker. Not fair options for the typical day hiker at Blood.