Merry Christmas my friends. I believe this news will be a big present to us all. 
Good news my friends. I just got a letter from the ATC and here is a few paragraphs that was in it: 
"The council unanimously endorsed a maximum-stay-limit of four nights at A.T. shelters and designated campsites. The issue was discussed at three of four Regional Partnership Committee meetings and supported by the NPS-Appalachian Trail Park Office. The purpose would be to reduce vagrancy, panhandling, and potential crimes at overnight sites along the Trail. ATC staff will work with NPS-ATPO to urge agency partners, particularly the U.S. Forest Service, to establish such stay limits. The Trail and Camping Committee discussed a reservation and permit plan proposed by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and agreed with ATC Southern Regional Director Morgan Sommerville’s recommendation that ATC should oppose the plan. ATC later submitted comments to the Park stating its objections. "