I woke up this morning well before the sun and stewing in it. Today is the second of two #PCT permit days and I drew a late window to apply. This means that for any of the 15 available per day NOBO permits between March and June, or the 15 SOBO permits between late June and the end of July I don’t even get to request my ticket until the queue is fatigued.

“Okay,” I remind myself “just get a permit and you can look at modifying it as the spring comes on and others drop out.” It’s always a ...