Comments on: Bush Whacked: Wandering off-trail opens new worlds of adventure for three Smokies hikers. http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/current-issue/bush-whacked-wandering-off-trail-opens-new-worlds-of-adventure-for-three-smokies-hikers/ Blue Ridge Outdoors is the source for gear reviews, events, expert outdoor advice, and travel destinations in the Blue Ridge Mountains for skiing, snowboarding, running, camping, hiking, and other outdoor sports. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:02:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: kewijp http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/current-issue/bush-whacked-wandering-off-trail-opens-new-worlds-of-adventure-for-three-smokies-hikers/comment-page-1/#comment-11247 kewijp Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:45:18 +0000 http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/BRO_DEV/?p=2147#comment-11247 JMiTa8 <a href="http://eakpqcvzghxq.com/" rel="nofollow">eakpqcvzghxq</a>, [url=http://zlbcmfbrcvts.com/]zlbcmfbrcvts[/url], [link=http://ijqqqvbkcjdv.com/]ijqqqvbkcjdv[/link], http://uniacnjcuiih.com/ JMiTa8 eakpqcvzghxq, [url=http://zlbcmfbrcvts.com/]zlbcmfbrcvts[/url], [link=http://ijqqqvbkcjdv.com/]ijqqqvbkcjdv[/link], http://uniacnjcuiih.com/

]]> By: Mayday! Hiking to Plane Crash Sites in the Southern Appalachians | Blue Ridge Outdoors: Skiing, Snowboarding, Hiking, Biking, Running, and Events in the Blue Ridge http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/current-issue/bush-whacked-wandering-off-trail-opens-new-worlds-of-adventure-for-three-smokies-hikers/comment-page-1/#comment-8700 Mayday! Hiking to Plane Crash Sites in the Southern Appalachians | Blue Ridge Outdoors: Skiing, Snowboarding, Hiking, Biking, Running, and Events in the Blue Ridge Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:05:21 +0000 http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/BRO_DEV/?p=2147#comment-8700 [...] else have you seen while hiking off-trail? Bear dens, marijuana patches, moonshine stills, people living in the backcountry…and a lot of [...] [...] else have you seen while hiking off-trail? Bear dens, marijuana patches, moonshine stills, people living in the backcountry…and a lot of [...]

]]> By: Peter J. Barr http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/current-issue/bush-whacked-wandering-off-trail-opens-new-worlds-of-adventure-for-three-smokies-hikers/comment-page-1/#comment-7079 Peter J. Barr Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:03:40 +0000 http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/BRO_DEV/?p=2147#comment-7079 The ferocity of opposition to off-trail hiking will never fail to amaze me. All of those opposed to it have almost without exception never attempted it. It should be noted that 1) it is not illegal nor against park regulations and 2) the NPS's primary distaste develops out of fear for a rescue because inexperienced hikers getting in over their heads. This stresses the Park Service's time and resources, and it costs money. I think the majority of the opposition stems from fear and not environmental concern. It is narrow minded to not realize that one also has a negative environmental impact by hiking ON-trail - and most of the time, more so. Driving a polluting automobile through the park and to a trailhead is even more irresponsible, if you really want to debate the environmental impact of off-trail hiking. so many times I have hiked off-trail in places where I had been before, or where I knew others had traveled prior, and could not find evidence that another human had been before me. the environmental impact of off-trail hiking is far over exaggerated. The Smoky Mountain Hiking Club journeys off of the trails in the park as much as they hike on them. They have followed this practice since the 1920s and continue to off-trail hike frequently to this day. The club is and always has been one of the greatest stewards and advocates for the park, and specifically, for its backcountry. I truly do not think one can say they have fully experienced the Smokies if they have always remained on the maintained paths. In the least, they have not been experiencing the true feeling of wilderness that the park offers. Harvey Broome, perhaps no greater advocate for the Smokies in the history of the park, once wrote in his journal (following one of his countless off-trail explorations): "My fears of the unknown and of getting off a trail had been blunted. The experience led to an awareness that every foot of the mountains was open to me, and that the trails, though a convenience, were not a necessity.” Those who hike off-trail will always end up with a greater appreciation for wilderness, and a deepened urgency to preserve it and fight for it. If the environment is your concern, off-trail hiking isn't your battle. The ferocity of opposition to off-trail hiking will never fail to amaze me. All of those opposed to it have almost without exception never attempted it. It should be noted that 1) it is not illegal nor against park regulations and 2) the NPS’s primary distaste develops out of fear for a rescue because inexperienced hikers getting in over their heads. This stresses the Park Service’s time and resources, and it costs money.

I think the majority of the opposition stems from fear and not environmental concern. It is narrow minded to not realize that one also has a negative environmental impact by hiking ON-trail – and most of the time, more so. Driving a polluting automobile through the park and to a trailhead is even more irresponsible, if you really want to debate the environmental impact of off-trail hiking.

so many times I have hiked off-trail in places where I had been before, or where I knew others had traveled prior, and could not find evidence that another human had been before me. the environmental impact of off-trail hiking is far over exaggerated.

The Smoky Mountain Hiking Club journeys off of the trails in the park as much as they hike on them. They have followed this practice since the 1920s and continue to off-trail hike frequently to this day. The club is and always has been one of the greatest stewards and advocates for the park, and specifically, for its backcountry.

I truly do not think one can say they have fully experienced the Smokies if they have always remained on the maintained paths. In the least, they have not been experiencing the true feeling of wilderness that the park offers.

Harvey Broome, perhaps no greater advocate for the Smokies in the history of the park, once wrote in his journal (following one of his countless off-trail explorations):

“My fears of the unknown and of getting off a trail had been blunted. The experience led to an awareness that every foot of the mountains was open to me, and that the trails, though a convenience, were not a necessity.”

Those who hike off-trail will always end up with a greater appreciation for wilderness, and a deepened urgency to preserve it and fight for it. If the environment is your concern, off-trail hiking isn’t your battle.

]]> By: Joe B http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/current-issue/bush-whacked-wandering-off-trail-opens-new-worlds-of-adventure-for-three-smokies-hikers/comment-page-1/#comment-6939 Joe B Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:15:10 +0000 http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/BRO_DEV/?p=2147#comment-6939 Same on you for publishing this article!! I don't care how many experts you get to say there's a minimal environmental impact, it's terrible to promote this type of "exploring". Our great outdoors are a limited resource and if we have more hikers decide to go "off trail", that leads to more and more devastation of our great forest lands. Please refrain from publishing articles that promote an inappropriate practice like this! Same on you for publishing this article!!
I don’t care how many experts you get to say there’s a minimal environmental impact, it’s terrible to promote this type of “exploring”.
Our great outdoors are a limited resource and if we have more hikers decide to go “off trail”, that leads to more and more devastation of our great forest lands. Please refrain from publishing articles that promote an inappropriate practice like this!

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