Park concessions will sell people whiskey and trail mix, but out there in the vastness, most of us would languish before too long. Generally, park administrators consider this and try to prevent people from wandering too far off into the woods. Some parks recognize that no one would come unless their visits are made considerably easier than they would have been, say, in a state of nature. At Glacier Bay in a near-inaccessible corner of Alaska, most visitors look upon the edges of the great ice fields from the decks of ships, usually cruise ships. Cruise ship companies would like to send more vessels in there.
Environmentalists say the bay is too polluted already.
I visited the bay on an excursion vessel operated by a national park concessionaire. It came complete with a snack counter, a park ranger naturalist and heaters to protect us from the August chill. Now and then, the ship could nudge up to a beach and drop off or pick up groups of hikers and kayakers. One passel of Texans boarded with their kayaks and empty bear-proof food containers. They had been exploring remote sections of the park as part of a family reunion.