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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 10, 2016 15:36:37 GMT -8
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on May 10, 2016 17:44:57 GMT -8
$100 for a weekend backpack? That S steep. Not an established campground fee? If we're still talking about the 4-Pass Loop, it's more typically a 4-day trip, although a fast hiker who's already acclimated could do it in a weekend, minus a lot of the enjoyment.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on May 10, 2016 18:03:56 GMT -8
$100 for a weekend backpack That's not bad. The Forest Service needs the money. I paid $90 for my last GCNP permit. Four Pass Loop is easily 3 nights so $10 permit fee, $8 per night per person so the cost for (2) hikers would be $58. If it limits the number of hikers and balances the load, its better for all concerned. The supply of these special places is limited. There is a capacity. Demand is and will continue to rise as population increases. Preservation will cost money, users should pay to supplement federal funding.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 10, 2016 18:48:12 GMT -8
$100 for a weekend backpack? That S steep. Not an established campground fee? If we're still talking about the 4-Pass Loop, it's more typically a 4-day trip, although a fast hiker who's already acclimated could do it in a weekend, minus a lot of the enjoyment. No absarokanaut mentioned South Colony Lakes was $100 for a family of 4 weekend backpack in San Isabel NF. And that is a lot for a backpack imho so I wondered how that totaled out.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on May 10, 2016 19:06:27 GMT -8
SOUTH COLONYFact Check: Couldn't find any info regarding a fee. Lots of over use has created issues.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 10, 2016 19:09:54 GMT -8
SOUTH COLONYFact Check: Couldn't find any info regarding a fee. Lots of over use has created issues. Yes that's the page I posted as well: sounds like a nice area but probably a bit too convenient to get to which often leads to issues of overuse and abuse from my observation.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on May 10, 2016 19:12:30 GMT -8
If we're still talking about the 4-Pass Loop, it's more typically a 4-day trip, although a fast hiker who's already acclimated could do it in a weekend, minus a lot of the enjoyment. No absarokanaut mentioned South Colony Lakes was $100 for a family of 4 weekend backpack in San Isabel NF. And that is a lot for a backpack imho so I wondered how that totaled out. Oops! I can understand a big fee for South Colony Lakes. That trail system gets very heavy use, and is easily approached from the Rainbow Trail, which allows ATVs. (It also has a fair amount of mountain bike and horse traffic). Huge tour groups use those trailheads (by huge I mean multiple school buses), and that's not counting the 14er crowd headed to Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, and Kit Carson. absarokanaut remember the time I squawked about an oversized group from his alma mater that was illegally camped directly on the lakeshore, which was clearly marked as off-limits. ETA: I completely understand why the use is so heavy. The hike and the destination are incredibly beautiful without being extraordinarily difficult.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on May 11, 2016 7:27:26 GMT -8
I'll also note, re fees, that we had to pay a per-night fee to backpack in the Canadian Rockies (in the National and Provencial parks). IIRC it was something on the order of $20 or $30/night for the family (I just looked on their web page, and it's $9.80/person for park entry, and another $9.80 per person for the campsite. We bought an annual pass for our entry fees, so our nightly fee was around $40. It made our month in Canada our most expensive car trip yet, as there were no free nights anywhere (we are used to paying little or nothing for backpacking, and usually on driving trips at least some nights at the car as free dispersed camping as well). The total cost was still less than 3 days at Disneyland.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on May 11, 2016 8:04:20 GMT -8
Most times, there are allowances for low income users, whether it be free days, or subsidized permits. All they need to do is inquire. That is the rub, actually. These programs are not highly publicized, so not enough people know about them.
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