Three days into Wilderness Wildlife Week and this is my first organized hike. Beginning in Elkmont and ending in Tremont, we are in the capable hands of George Owen, lecturing above. Today's history lesson covered a couple GSMNP tidbits. The park, formed in 1934 was the first national park to be created from formerly private land. Using the powers of eminent domain the National Park Service was able to appropriate through condemnation of property between 4000 and 5000 land holdings. Most, of course, included homes and farms as well as public buildings like schools. Some years later, about 1940, many more properties were appropriated before construction of Fontana Dam. Although that was related to Tennessee Valley Authority, the land became part of the national park.
GSMNP does not charge an entrance fee putting it at a disadvantage with other parks. Parks which charge an entrance fee, keep 80% of it for their operating budget. The remaining 20% goes into a pool for those parks which do not charge a fee. According to the NPS website: The reasons for free entry to the national park date back at least to the 1930s. The land that is today Great Smoky Mountains National Park was once privately owned. The states of Tennessee and North Carolina, as well as local communities, paid to construct Newfound Gap Road (US-441). When the state of Tennessee transferred ownership of Newfound Gap Road to the federal government in 1936, it stipulated that “no toll or license fee shall ever be imposed…” to travel the road.
At that time, Newfound Gap Road was one of the major routes crossing the southern Appalachian Mountains. It’s likely the state was concerned with maintaining free, easy interstate transportation for its citizens. North Carolina transferred its roads through abandonment, so no restrictions were imposed.
Action by the Tennessee legislature would be required to lift this deed restriction if Great Smoky Mountains National Park ever wished to charge an entrance fee.
Creek crossings are always interesting events. Everyone seems to feel they can't get a boot wet no matter what. This one might have risen over your boot so gaiters are in order, note Steve sporting gaiters on the left.
This 11 mile hike featured a fairly level route with lots of forest scenes, small creeks and major grapevines. We passed the obligatory homesites and one cemetery.
Finishing early at Tremont, we had over an hour to gaze at and listen to Middle Prong from the bridge leading to Tremont. The Tremont Institute has been supported by the GSMNP for many years It relies on the park to supplement its budget shortfall. Recent budget cuts are forcing those umbilical cords to be cut. The park would like Tremont to cover its operating budget shortfall through fundraising. I know this is a tough time to have to go out and beat the bushes for charitable donations, especially when there are so many others in and around the park already competing for those dollars.
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