speaking of the PNW smile just submitted my backcountry application for the Wonderland Trail (mid September), my buddy applied with the exact same plan, so we've doubled our chances (and we clicked reverse our routes too)- our thinking that after Labor Day few less folks and our application was for mid-week, less people yet

supposedly will get back to us in a couple of weeks w/ a yeah or nay, there is also 30% of the backcountry permits that are allocated daily- so that's a possibility too