"Don Casada and the Swain Commission literally ripped Cash a new one right in front of his face the other day. It's an entertaining video of the meeting. Very proud of Don. Cash didn't have a leg to stand on. Here is the…"
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"Yes, Erik. And on the heels of your insightful observations, Ca$h has closed three more backcountry camping sites. They may end up like Scott Mtn, closed in…"
"The NPS’s new motto should be “All things to all people – strapped not included.” What’s to prevent zip lining from being next (besides, perhaps, well-heeled commercial operations in beautiful Sevier Co)? After all, the…"
"The following editorial cartoon which appeared in the Knoxville News-Sentinel as a commentary on GSMNP backcountry fees back in 2013 also proved prophetic in its parking meter imagery while underscoring how quickly and easily sheep can be steered.…"
"Looks like Ca$h has decided that mountain biking is another revenue stream for the Smokies. So he is going to build some trails on our land and charge us to use them.
Mountain Bike Trail Approved For Great Smoky Mountains National…"
"Looks like the NPS is following the Ditmanson model of getting Leconte Lodge to make their parking pass plan look like the greatest thing…"
"I'd bet Blackberry Farm that the Blue Ridge Parkway is already looking into parking fees. Wouldn't be surprised if the Big South Fork is too.
Unchecked authority equates to impudent power which invariably expands and corrupts. "
"This is why I cancelled my subscription to the Knoxville News Sentinel yesterday."
"We need to promote this petition and get some media to cover our lack of confidence in Cash. If you haven't signed it, please consider doing so for all the reasons Mark, Erik and others have righteously pointed out. I will send it to the…"
"At the end of an article in Wedensday’s KNS:
“He (GSM Superintendent Cassius Cash) said Smokies officials visited and talked to other parks across the nation. He said there is a ‘buzz’ in the National Parks System about what…"
"Funding from the new parking fee and from the Great American Outdoors Act enacted in 2020 will provide the most new financial support for the Great Smokies since the park was created in 1934,” retired U.S. Senator from Tennessee…"
"And to Mark Cooke's question below:
"Where is the accountability on a proposal like this on where the monies will REALLY go. Does anyone care? How about transparency?"
Sadly, I'm convinced most don't care, despite…"
"What an absolute joke.
As Tom and (I'm sure) plenty of others have wondered, what constitutes a "correspondence" and what qualifies as an "independent comment"? Let the spin -- oh, never mind the niceties, let the lies…"
"Cash it forward indeed, Mark. Great points. It seems as if my esteemed Senator can't be bothered with this either."
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John Quillen's Blog
Cho Oyu Tibet
Posted on April 16, 2016 at 7:30am 18 Comments 0 Likes
This is a place where I intend to post dispatches from our attempt on Cho Oyu April 18-May 31. Our three team members are Frederick Johansson, Andrea Rigotti and yours truly. Dispatches may also be found at our group website here. www.chooyunews.com and …
ContinueSFW letter to Tn State Parks Director Regarding B/C Fees at S. Cumberland
Posted on October 2, 2015 at 6:04pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Mr. Robertson
Thanks for your response, however I find it difficult to agree with your assertion that taxpaying citizens are "appreciative" of the opportunity to pay to use public lands wherein no amenities other than a cumbersome reservation system are provided. I also find it highly specious that, as public lands czar for our great state, you were unaware of the Smokies fee scandal since you seem to have followed their…
SFW Response 9/10/15
Posted on September 10, 2015 at 9:05pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Case Number 15-5413
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
___________________________________________
SOUTHERN FOREST WATCH, INC. et al.,
Plaintiffs-Appellants,
vs.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
SALLY JEWELL, et al.,…
ContinueMyer's Appeal to Sixth Circuit 6/29/15
Posted on June 29, 2015 at 8:30pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Case Number 15-5413
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
___________________________________________
SOUTHERN FOREST WATCH, INC. et al.,
Plaintiffs-Appellants,
vs.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
SALLY JEWELL, et al.,
Defendants-Appellees.
____________________________________
Appeal From the United States District Court
For The Eastern District of Tennessee
Docket Number 3:13-cv-00116-TWP-HBG…
Comment Wall (37 comments)
- At 11:01pm on June 28, 2017,
Jan Cooke said…
- Happy Birthday, John!!!
- At 1:04pm on March 31, 2015,
Thank you sir!! Glad to be here!!
- At 6:55pm on September 29, 2014,
Cynthia Clark said…
Thanks John. I'm glad to be here. It's good to know there are others who share some of my views.
- At 10:24am on June 19, 2014,
- Ha! Yeah. Thought I should get my own membership instead of stalking Mark's!! He was telling me about Bobs Bald and what a cool place. Had to see the pics for myself and he was right! We are heading to Gregory Bald this weekend. Day hike of course ;-)
- At 8:17pm on September 5, 2013,
Scott Powrie said…
Thanks John pretty impressive site.
- At 10:38am on July 21, 2013,
- Hey John...I have thought about you several times over the summer...sorry to hear about the difficulties y'all have experienced,but I'm glad your doing well...I enjoyed reading your prospective / thoughts on the people of Pakistan...
Look forward to reading more of your updates
-Alan Fair
- At 6:22pm on March 19, 2013,
Martin Hunley said…
- Knox County, TN commission is considering passing a resolution similar to Blunt County's. All you Fee Fighters in Knox County need to contact your Knox County Commissioners and tell them to support the resolution. Let them know how you feel!!
Commision emails:
tony.norman@knoxcounty.org
jeff.ownby@knoxcounty.org
richard.briggs@knoxcounty.org
larry.smith@knoxcounty.org
brad.anders@knoxcounty.org
dave.wright@knoxcounty.org
michael.brown@knoxcounty.org
mike.hammond@knoxcounty.org
ed.shouse@knoxcounty.org
sam.mckenzie@knoxcounty.org
amy.broyles@knoxcounty.org
Also Mayor Burchett county.mayor@knoxcounty.org
Better
- At 6:18pm on March 19, 2013,
- https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1285026139&refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fn%2F&src=email_notif#!/1285026139/timeline/story?ut=3&hash=-6750051010593665280&wstart=1362124800&wend=1364799599&ustart&__user=1335017977
- At 7:08pm on March 5, 2013,
Mark Cooke said…
Hey John,
After reading the lawsuit over the weekend I just wanted to thank you and your Knights of the Backcountry for the hard work. Great piece of work. As I told Myers we are hopeful to get a judge with integrity and one you does not cave to political influence. Just wanted you to know that my wife, sister, nephew and I were hiking the Husky Gap trail a couple of years back in the fall and we ran into the Chief Ranger at the intersection of Sugarland Mountain Trail. He told us he was retiring soon and he was walking over to look at where they were thinking of moving campsite 21 to. We all were headed to Little River Trail so we hiked with him.
As we walked I asked him what was going on over off of Ace Gap trail and he told me as I circled my map with a sharpie campsite 4 and 7 were going to be closed. I asked why, and he told me they had some problems being close to a "farm" and mentioned some water quality issues because of run-off from a pond. Thought you may find that interesting. I did not know the details that the SFW exploited until I started following this FEEASCO over a year ago. If I did I would of asked more direct questions. Appreciate you helping bring things full circle.
I enjoy bushwhacking as much as you guys do and I did go up an old trail that went NE between CS 90 and 89 that took you past the old CS 88 before you see the Jenkins Ridge trail to the N. We crossed the creek and walked in the creek at least 17 times as we headed up that old non-maintained trail. At the time we did not know that the old CS 88 was still there but I asked this Chief Ranger why did they reuse the old numbers. When you create a new CS why not issue a new number so you can keep up with how many sites you have had over the years. BTW, as you know there is a new CS 88 on the section of Lakeshore Trail not far from Proctor heading W. He could not answer my question. No method to their madness. I think when he retired Mellisa took over some of his duties of moving and shutting down CS.
Thanks again for standing tall against the wrong.
- At 6:13pm on March 1, 2013,
Erik Gerhardt said…
John,
I appreciate the forum, the Southern Forest Watch site, the hassle of the FOIA request, the organizational skills, the time, money and certain exasperation you've expended in dedication to this cause. I feel bad arriving so late to the party -- kinda like I've been "freeloading" off you guys. I just never have been one to monitor or participate in these online communities.
Elsewhere you stated that out of the stimulus money (64 million, right?) $200,000 went to repairing horse trails and that was it where the backcountry was concerned. Do you recall where you turned that up, and if you do, could you point me to it?
Thanks,
Erik
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