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Can we talk about how people keep pushing the 'no permit needed' thing for the Enchantments?

I keep seeing posts and comments saying you can just show up for a day hike in the Enchantments core zone without a permit. That's flat out wrong and it's causing a real problem. I was there last August and saw three separate groups get turned around by a ranger at Colchuck Lake because they didn't have the required permit for the core, even for a day. The ranger told me they deal with this 'bad advice' every single weekend. It matters because it wastes ranger time, clogs the trailhead, and sets people up for a huge letdown after a long drive. The permit system exists for a reason, and telling folks to ignore it just makes the whole experience worse for everyone. Has anyone else had to correct this specific bit of misinformation for their friends?
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3 Comments
danielb43
danielb437d ago
Where did this bad advice start?
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elliotadams
Bad advice often spreads because it sounds smart and gets repeated by people who seem like they know what they're talking about. Like telling everyone to drink a gallon of water a day, which can actually be dangerous for some folks. It gets shared in fitness magazines and by influencers who want to seem in the know, so it just becomes "common sense" even when it's wrong. The origin gets lost in all the repeating.
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webb.dakota
Wasn't there a whole article about this in the local paper last year?
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