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Story perspectives

Bots Hoard Wave Permits, 2% Applicants Get Spots

5/19/2026

47 8 Full Breakdown

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Story summary
  • Bots dominate the Recreation.gov permit platform, turning access to the Wave into a contest that excludes most hikers.
  • Only about 2 % of Middle Fork applicants and 0.3 % of campground seekers receive permits despite 200,000 yearly applicants for 48 spots.
  • Jack built multiple bots and accounts, while forum users share free scrapers or pay thousands for custom software to secure permits faster than manual clickers.