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Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
In Partnership with
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Christine Hoyer
Backcountry Management Specialist
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
522,000 acres
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
848 miles
of maintained trail
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
89 Campsites
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
15 Shelters
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
7 Privies
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Hitch rails….
Footlogs, fire rings, etc.
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Both park tradition and
traditional tool in wilderness
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
~89% proposed or recommended wilderness – managed as W by policy
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Benton MacKaye Trail = 86 miles in the Park
Total length-Springer to Big Creek = 286 miles
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Mountains-to-Sea Trail = 24 miles in the Park
Total length-Clingmans Dome to Outer Banks = 1,150 miles
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Appalachian Trail = 71.6 miles in the Park
Total length–GA to ME = 2,168 miles
* AT is not on the park trail crew inventory – cooperatively managed, involving a
large volunteer effort
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
535 miles of the 848 mile network is horse trail – 63%
*Including ~30 miles of the 71 miles of A.T. in the park
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
~11.4 million
Visitors in 2018!
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
-
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Camper Nights by Month and Year (2014-2018)
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
“The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources
and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration
of this and future generations.”
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Recognition of Park Need(s)
Special Interest
Framework Skills
Program Lead Interested Volunteers
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
5 Year Agreement at the National LevelSigned Oct 2014
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
5 Year Agreement at the National LevelSigned Oct 2014
(NPS VIP Program Framework)
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Employees Volunteers
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Employees Volunteers
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
• Requires a Supervisor and detailed
position description
• Park assumes liability for volunteers – Workman’s Comp
• Same safety/program requirements, rules, regulations
• Requires commitment of funds - for staff support or necessary
supplies/equipment
• Mutual benefit for both sides of the partnership
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Spring Trail Clearing Mulch Pack Support
LNT Smokies Master
Educator Alliance Special Projects
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Spring Trail Clearing Program Goals: Assist with the clearing of
blowdowns in the spring on the AT and other
identified park horse trails.
Certification Requirements:
• USFS MTDC Chainsaw Certification (AT
requirement) or equivalent
• CPR/FA or higher
Program Requirements:
• Annual safety meeting and agreement per
individual
• Detailed scheduling, radio and safety
protocol must be followed – including
riding helmets
• Chainsaw use is only authorized during
one-month ‘chainsaw window’
• Clear activities only apply to blowdown
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Program Notes:
• Program includes ‘Chainsaw Operators’ and
‘Spring Clearing Assistants’
• Risk is high – very detailed JHAs/safety
protocols in place; significant coordination and
oversight necessary
• Agreement can be utilized (would be valid) at
other times throughout the year if necessary -
but exercising that is extremely rare
• This program is built on the trail crew utilizes
chainsaws to clear the trails, based on a
programmatic MRA and inclusion in our
Backcountry Management Plan
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Program Goals: Pack support for the Rocky Top Trail Crew who completes
trail maintenance and rehab on the AT. Packers provide support at the
beginning and end of the season to establish the backcountry spike camp
and provide the tools and equipment needed by the crew. Throughout the
season, packers provide a food re-supply for each 8 day hitch.
Certification Requirements:
• No specific certifications are required
• These trips are not leisure rides and those participating are to be
seasoned riders/packers in the Smokies
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Program Notes:
• Spike camp location changes each season –
some pack in routes are much longer, more
difficult/logistically challenging than others
• Risk is high – very detailed JHAs/safety protocols
in place; significant coordination pre-season and
for beginning and end of season pack-in and
pack-out
Program Requirements:
• Annual safety meeting and agreement per individual
• Detailed scheduling, radio and safety protocol must be followed – including riding
helmets
• Coordinate with Rocky Top Crew to coordinate
specific pack in needs prior to each hitch
• Coordinate any backcountry overnight
needs for packer volunteers prior to the
start of the season
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Mulch Pack Support
Program Goals: Provide pack support for mulch
supply to moldering backcountry privies that are
horse-accessible on the Appalachian Trail.
Certification Requirements:
• No specific certifications are required
• These trips are not leisure rides and those
participating are to be seasoned riders/packers
in the Smokies
Program Requirements:
• Annual safety meeting and agreement per individual
• Detailed scheduling, radio and safety protocol must be followed – including riding
helmets
• Coordinate with the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club to pick up the mulch and pack-in
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Program Notes:
• Privies are located on high use corridors to concentrate
the impact
• Mulch pack support is provided for Spence, Cosby,
Tricorner (and Pecks)
• Significant work is done to prepare the mulch before it is
packed – created (park trees), bagged and weighed
(hiking club), staged (in some cases by helicopter in the
backcountry in conjunction with other airlift efforts in the
area)
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
LNT Smokies Master
Educator Alliance
Program Goals: Team teach (as the Smokies Master Educator Alliance) an annual
Leave No Trace Trainer course that covers the standard and equestrian LNT
curriculum. Any outdoor enthusiast can attend.
Certification Requirements:
• The members of the Smokies Master Educator Alliance (SMEA) are park staff
and equestrian volunteers that have completed the Stock-specific Leave No
Trace Master Educator Course.
Program Requirements:
• Each active member of SMEA must teach
sections of the annual LNT Trainer course
• Assist with recruiting and planning efforts for
each years’ course
• Remain in good standing with the Leave No
Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Program Notes:
• SMEA was established in 2012 – this year will be our 8th year in partnership and 8th
LNT Trainer Course (and counting !)
• Annual LNT Trainer Course cost is supported by one of the park partners (either
Friends of the Smokies or Great Smoky Mountains Association, depending on the
year)
• The majority of the courses to date have been held at Big Creek Horse Camp –
horses are not used as part of the actual training
• Continue to try to recruit a higher number of equestrian participants – if anyone in
this audience has an idea of how we do that, please let Tom or I know!
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Program Goals: Support and complete other
projects at the request of the Park and/or the
Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
Certification and Program Requirements:
• Project-specific
Examples of Projects:
• Construction of hitch racks at backcountry shelter sites that are horse-accessible
• Packing and construction work for some of the shelter remodeling/repair projects
• Packing-in of fire-rings/wooden signage, when replacements are necessary
• Pack and swamper support for hazard tree mitigation at the overnight sites
(upcoming related to an on-going RTP grant project)
Program Note:
• These projects are planned with input from all
of the relevant partners
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
• We benefit from a strong park packing program and strong
local horsemen groups
• Our programs are long-standing but have evolved
• Keep the focus on the mutual goals and vision
• Clear and open communication and flexibility are key –
rules change and expectations much be known
• Agreements must work and be
honored by all sides of the partnership
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
QUESTIONS?