government shutdown impact

[4eyedbuzzard]

^^^ like ^^^

[Furlough]

Don't wear sandals try to avoid the scandals
Don't wanna be a bum you better chew gum

The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles

[johnnybgood]

Grabbing the proverbial wheel to keep this discussion from veering off course...

[Grampie]

I am involved in being a caretaker at the cabin at Upper Goose Pond. The cabin is owned by the National Park Service. during the last government shut down the cabin was forced to close even though it is run and staffed by all volunteers. The government was able to do this by pulling the liability insurance that covers the volunteers.

[Furlough]

I am involved in being a caretaker at the cabin at Upper Goose Pond. The cabin is owned by the National Park Service. during the last government shut down the cabin was forced to close even though it is run and staffed by all volunteers. The government was able to do this by pulling the liability insurance that covers the volunteers.

Same in SNP for PATC volunteer trail maintainers. Kinda of a double hit for me. I am a Federal Employee, was furloughed and would have loved to head up to SNP to do a combined roving patrol for both trail maintenance and backpacking during this time.
Also, proud to be part of the perceived bloated bureaucracy. If MW thinks/advocates that, then just the opposite is most likely true.
Furlough

[Uncle Joe]

The park service isn't always impacted by shutdowns. Previous administrations didn't necessarily include them and even let states keep them open and be reimbursed later. It's political whether we like it or not. It's up to the Executive Branch. Republicans (love 'em, hate 'em...up to you) have been critical of closing parks so maybe that bodes well should it actually happen.

[scudder]

If the government shutdown happens at the end of this week, how will it impact AT hikers? Looking for your stories/memories from 2013. Please keep your politics out of this thread if you don't mind.

[Sarcasm the elf]

This should bring you to the all encompassing discussion of the 2013 shutdown.
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/showthr...al-Parks-close

My buddy and I hiked from the Approach trail to Hogpen gap during the 2013 shutdown. The only conspicuous difference was that the bathrooms were locked and had shutdown notices. From everything I heard only the National Parks and federally managed buildings/amenities were closed to access, they appeared to be allowing access to national forest land as well as all state and local land

[colorado_rob]

Zero impact on me even though I was in the middle of SNP when the shutdown took effect. The ranger told me to "hike on" and that the shutdown does NOT affect the Appalachian trail, but he of course advised me that the waysides were all closed. I reported on this back then and all H-E-double-hockey-sticks broke loose on this forum, folks telling me I was a liar or a law-breaker, but I laughed.

All this being said, I would think this could have an actual effect on GSMNP, given how regulated that park is. SNP seems more laid back to me.

Just my experiences, no politics.

I do, however, have to relay a story: I finished my hike just a couple days after the shutdown, at Front Royal. I saw on the news my first night off trail that a bunch of World War II veterans had "crashed" the "closed" WWII memorial in the middle of Washington DC. These 90-something heros basically tore down the "closed" tape on this little outdoor park area, which just happens to be administered by the NPS. There are no facilities there, it's just a bunch of cool outdoor exhibits and memorials. Not sure why the NPS felt a need to tape it off, but oh well. In any case, these veterans ignored the tape and had their little celebration as they apparently did there every so often. Of course, they were not hassled by cops or anyone else, in fact, they were lauded, as they should have been, by the press.

Anyway, back to me.... I was flying home from Dulles the next day, sitting in the airport waiting a few hours for my flight and suddenly I heard this huge ruckus, applauding, cheering, etc. I went over to investigate, and voila, there they were, the same bunch of 90-something veterans walking down this gauntlet of airport employees, all cheering them on. I teared up! Fantastic.

[TNhiker]

I would think this could have an actual effect on GSMNP, given how regulated that park is.

yup..............it did the last time....

[Zea]

In 2013 in NH along the AT the only difference I noticed was locked bathrooms and free parking

[Uncle Joe]

It's doubtful this administration would shutdown the park service. More likely they would remain open under the scenario of the 95-96 shutdown where states could opt to pay for them and be reimbursed when services resumed.

[Alligator]

It's doubtful this administration would shutdown the park service. More likely they would remain open under the scenario of the 95-96 shutdown where states could opt to pay for them and be reimbursed when services resumed.

This happened in 2013, see this page https://www.congress.gov/congression...e-report/124/1
. One of the park units listed in the background section was GSMNP. I did not post this to discuss the appropriateness of the linked act, but simply for the facts mentioned. I do not recall the effect the states' donations had on access to GSMNP. State money would have been put forth later in the shutdown.

[Alligator]

Threads merged. Discussion is limited to previous shutdown impacts on the Appalachian Trail, specifically access issues.

[Uncle Joe]

This happened in 2013, see this page https://www.congress.gov/congression...e-report/124/1
. One of the park units listed in the background section was GSMNP. I did not post this to discuss the appropriateness of the linked act, but simply for the facts mentioned. I do not recall the effect the states' donations had on access to GSMNP. State money would have been put forth later in the shutdown.

I'm aware that it happened in 2013. There was much criticism at that time because the precedent from the previous shutdown was to allow parks to stay open and give states the opportunity to fund them on a temporary basis. Many in 2013 believed the parks were impacted to force public outcry and limit the duration of the shutdown by political pressure. Ultimately, it's up to the Executive to close the park service or leave it open. Hence my earlier comment that I would imagine given the current state of the Executive and Congress that the 95-96 would likely be held and impact would likely be limited. We can hope.

[BobTheBuilder]

I had a section planned in 2013 that included SNP. There was a lot of conflicting information available, even here, but the majority of reports indicated that the entrances to the park were manned and hikers were being turned away. Some reported that you could stealth your way in, but that seemed iffy. I cancelled that trip, just because I didn't want to get caught up in that mess, so it had a very real impact on my plans. I made the trip the next spring, no problems then.

[rocketsocks]

How will they keep people out of the national parks...build a wall? or just some additional border patrols?

[Alligator]

I understand what you said now Uncle Joe. They were "open" with no non-essential federal services and the states could pick up the tab but individuals could enter the area in the previous shutdown. Closed to entry (with no non-essential federal services) in the last one unless the state's picked up the tab. Closed and open to me are opposites-binary states. There's a third state of being really-call it winter maybe.

Is it closed? No, it's closed closed.

Or is the town park open? Yeah it's open until I try to go take a dump and the restroom is locked. Then it's closed. And it is winter...

Let's steer away though from the pros and cons of the state of openness under past, present, or future shutdowns as that would get political.

[LittleRock]

I was out hiking the AT during the 2013 shutdown. I started at Standing Bear and went north, avoiding the Smokies. Other hikers were telling me that you could hike through the Smokies, as long as you didn't need to park a car there or use any of the campgrounds. The park service has neither the manpower nor the will to chase down every hiker who walks into the park. Honestly, I kind of wished I'd hiked the Smokies - it would have been a rare opportunity to hike that section in peak season without all the crowds.

[Tennessee Viking]

This is NOT intended to be a political post. But there is news that Trump is going to be asking congress (and not Mexico) for the initial funding to build his wall. There is also talk that this funding issue might force a gubmint shutdown on April 28th.

Can anyone tell me how the government shutdown of 2013 affected access to GSMNP? I recall rafters trying to launch on the grand canyon on the day of the shutdown being denied access. However, those that launched prior to the shutdown were able to continue the 28 day trip even though it overlapped with the shutdown period. I imagine it would be similar for thru hikers entering GMSNP... if you can get in before the 28th then there wouldnt be a problem, but any date afterward, and there might be rangers blocking entrance.

Hopefully, this doesnt happen and wont be a concern. My start date is going to be sometime in April and I have some wiggle room on the exact date. What day would you want to start at Springer to make sure you are in GSMNP before April 28th?

I was at Fontana on vacation during the last shutdown. All trails were closed including the AT. Hikers had to shuttle from Standing Bear/I40 to Fontana Village. Only car travel along US 441 was permitted. No entry signs and barriers were setup at the major trailheads.


I remember a couple stories of hikers entering the park but were quickly caught and ticketed by the Park's skeleton crew.