A Personal Reflection on the National Parks

This May, I traveled to California to spend a few days in Yosemite National Park. It is a favorite park of mine, one where I have often spent time over the years. Staying for a few days inside the park was within my modest income.

For this visit, I needed to scramble for a reservation, hoping to chance upon a cancellation. As I logged into park accommodations, I had my first shock – rooms at Yosemite Valley Lodge cost around $400 per night. I opened the accommodation options to see if anything else was available, and a tent cabin that slept four popped up. No water, no electricity, no WIFI, on...