SRGuy
Well-known member
OK, this should be interesting.
Year, after year, after year, I dutifully write the powers that be about the following proposal, which has come out of my absolute frustration with trying to get reservations at "No sites available" State and Federal parks.
Unlike some/most, I sometimes go to parks that are "full," after the gate offices close. I park in outside overflow, if available, sometimes, or down the road. I usually find a way to safely hike in, just to see the "packed" sites. Yes, I've been stopped a few times by cruising Park Rangers. I simply say that I was hiking, and got turned around. I've never been hassled. Once, I was driven to the gate, and wished well.
Anyway....I know from experience, as above, that most of the "No Sites Available" parks are, quite often, half empty! It's maddening!
With that in mind, I write to State and Federal offices proposing that the following rule should be enacted:
"If you have a paid in full reservation for a given site, BUT you are not in that site by 7PM on your reserved night, you will forfeit that site and not be refunded your charge for that night. Should you show up late, even into the next day, as long as you arrive before 7PM, your other reserved nights will be safe, but you may have to stay at a different site if the person on your site has paid to stay several nights."
Listen, I'm not new to this scene. I know things happen, on the road. Still, it's not fair for those of us who can make it to a given park, ready to pay for a site, early in the day, to be told nothing is available, when the staff knows, full well, that they'll have empty sites, that night, and every other night, usually. I know, they don't care. Less work for them. Still, I care.
The way I'd handle my system is to have a "stand-by" line of those wanting a site, after 7PM. I believe it would work, provided some staff is willing to work the line of waiting folks.
Any thoughts on this? I know it may strike some as unworkable. Still, there should be some way to fill up those empty sites with those who want them.
Year, after year, after year, I dutifully write the powers that be about the following proposal, which has come out of my absolute frustration with trying to get reservations at "No sites available" State and Federal parks.
Unlike some/most, I sometimes go to parks that are "full," after the gate offices close. I park in outside overflow, if available, sometimes, or down the road. I usually find a way to safely hike in, just to see the "packed" sites. Yes, I've been stopped a few times by cruising Park Rangers. I simply say that I was hiking, and got turned around. I've never been hassled. Once, I was driven to the gate, and wished well.
Anyway....I know from experience, as above, that most of the "No Sites Available" parks are, quite often, half empty! It's maddening!
With that in mind, I write to State and Federal offices proposing that the following rule should be enacted:
"If you have a paid in full reservation for a given site, BUT you are not in that site by 7PM on your reserved night, you will forfeit that site and not be refunded your charge for that night. Should you show up late, even into the next day, as long as you arrive before 7PM, your other reserved nights will be safe, but you may have to stay at a different site if the person on your site has paid to stay several nights."
Listen, I'm not new to this scene. I know things happen, on the road. Still, it's not fair for those of us who can make it to a given park, ready to pay for a site, early in the day, to be told nothing is available, when the staff knows, full well, that they'll have empty sites, that night, and every other night, usually. I know, they don't care. Less work for them. Still, I care.
The way I'd handle my system is to have a "stand-by" line of those wanting a site, after 7PM. I believe it would work, provided some staff is willing to work the line of waiting folks.
Any thoughts on this? I know it may strike some as unworkable. Still, there should be some way to fill up those empty sites with those who want them.
