Permit day for the Wonderland Trail used to be an all-day affair
I remember waking up early to call for Wonderland Trail permits. You could be on hold for hours only to get a no. These days, it's all online and quick. Kinda miss the old drama, though.
Think about all the people who just could not sit by the phone all day waiting. They had real jobs or other stuff going on, so they never even got a chance. The new online thing is less exciting, but it lets everyone try their luck equally. I kinda miss the old tension too, but let's be honest, it was mostly just frustrating. Now at least your permit hopes don't get wrecked by a busy signal.
Remember that year they had the phone line and the website going at the same time? My friend got through online instantly while I was still listening to a busy signal for an hour. Felt like two totally different worlds.