[at-l] Smokies section hike

[lparker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (L. Parker)]

"Jim Stewart" <jim.stewart@usa.net> wrote in message
news:mailman.1043202101.83344.at-l@mailman.backcountry.net...

[clip]

> Brings up a question though.  If the shelter is full and I do have the
> shelter on my permit, can I tent at the shelter?  Or is that only for
> thru-hikers?

GSMNP determines you are a thru hiker by whether you say you are or not -
literally. If you are going all the way thru the park and you sign in at
Fontana as a thru hiker, then you are a thru hiker.

GSMNP neither knows nor cares how far you have traveled before Fontana or
how far you are going after, only that you are traversing the park as a thru
hiker. Yes, they do say things in the rules (something about having started
at least fifty miles from the park or some such) but there is absolutely no
way of checking them.

Lee I Joe