I'm glad it pretty much worked out.

As much as I might get outraged It might be useful to consider how the rangers see it. Generally they don't get to set policy. They are charged with enforcing rules that they didn't write and which they might object.

I once talked to a ranger who had to call several families that had scheduled outings up to a year in advance and tell them that 'something had come up and they no longer had a permit'. So sorry. The inside on that was a senator decided on the spur of the moment that they wanted to use the site. Politics, and the fact that the senator can cut USPS funding at will because he is on a particular committee, means he gets what he wants. All the rangers can do is smile at the senator and work hard to make it up to the families that got screwed over.

Of course even outside the politics and pressure no matter what system is in place someone will not like it. The rangers hear about it in no uncertain terms and all they can usually do is nod, smile and take it as gracefully as they can manage. Rangers aren't all great guys, they have their share of SOBs, but I don't envy their position and considering the situation it is a wonder that many are as nice as they are.