JERRY_SANCHEZ Posted October 12, 2005 Posted October 12, 2005 Car entrance fees to triple at Mount Rainier 03:17 PM PDT on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 Associated Press SEATTLE -- Mount Rainier National Park plans to increase the entrance fee for vehicles next year by five dollars to 15 dollars. The park says it would be the first increase in the vehicle entrance fee in nine years. It says 80 percent of the fees improve facilities and services in the park, such as campgrounds, trails and visitor exhibits. Quote
kurthicks Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 from $10 to $15 dollars is not tripling the cost. That would be $30. Quote
Kraken Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 still a pretty cheap price to pay to climb the mighty peak. I'm not going to complain. Quote
knotzen Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 still a pretty cheap price to pay to climb the mighty peak. I'm not going to complain. But it isn't cheap if you just want to drive up to Paradise and look around, take pictures, go on a mile loop hike to look at flowers. I'd like to see our public lands a little more affordable to the whole spectrum of American society. Ostensibly, the lands belong *to* the American people, and are being managed by the park service, USFS, etc., on our behalf. It used to be parks were places everyone could go, for free. We're becoming accustomed to pay to access any park (even Marymoor, for christ's sake--unless you're close enough to walk, ride, or parachute in), and the entry fees keep climbing. I know, I know--budget cuts and all of that. Still...it's where you choose to spend your money (hint: Ireq). Hey, hey, a non-inane post. How's about that? Quote
JERRY_SANCHEZ Posted October 13, 2005 Author Posted October 13, 2005 I got this quote from King5 news so not sure why they said triple the fee which it should have said increase by half. I suppose it was meant triple the amount few years ago when it was just $5 Quote
ry_guy Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 I don't like the idea of paying $15 just to get in the park, and if there were ways around it I would use them, but then again I am cheap and broke and don't feel to remorsefull for skimping the park out of $15. Quote
sobo Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 (edited) Post deleted by sobo it didn't make sense any more after the moderators deleted the first few posts. Edited October 18, 2005 by sobo Quote
underworld Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 well the park is a good drive from seattle - can't they use the gas tax instead of charging admission? Quote
skykilo Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 Mt Rainier's just a big heap of crap anyway. Go to Mt Baker; it's free, the skiing and weather are much better, and there are stellar views of Mt Shuksan and the North Cascades the likes of which can't be found on Mt Rainier. Quote
Kraken Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 At the same time though guys, the park really is quite low on funds. They aren't making a hefty profit here. When you consider what it costs to get into other national parks, it really isn't that bad. Plus, the 10/15$ you pay to get in is good for an entire week. That includes parking, utilities, etc. Not bad in my opinion. To park at a trailhead anywhere else, for example, The Chugach...you're bound to pay $5/day...each day. I think I've paid the entrance fee 3 or 4 out of the 5 times I've been to the park and each time I've felt it was well worth the admission. Hell, I think they only charge during the busy season anyways, so if you want to climb in the winter or early spring, you don't pay anything. I don't think you could find many other mountains of such calibur that cost so little to climb. Quote
skykilo Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 Except, for instance, Mt Baker, which features all Mt Rainier's positive attributes and many more, less altitude, and no bothersome bureaucracy. Quote
Kraken Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 personal opinions and stances, I suppose. Just for curiousity's sake, what is the entrance fee for Baker, Hood, Adams, and Helens? It's been so long since I have been to any of them that I can't remember. That and the fact that mommy and daddy paid while I sat in the back playing gameboy or something. Quote
dbb Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 but sky, if you climb baker, you can't go and TELL THE WORLD that you climbed the highest peak in washington!!!! people can have different stances from you, but JEEZ what were you thinking??? Quote
skykilo Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 No doubt Dave, clearly I wasn't thinking. Plus with that $30 I save I'm just gonna get drunk, which can't be good either. I rescind my opinions. MT RAINIER is THE SHIT. Everybody come to Washington and pay whatever exorbitant fees they invent for shitters, signs, and whatever else is necessary to KEEP THE WILDERNESS WILD and help US enjoy OUR park. Quote
JERRY_SANCHEZ Posted October 13, 2005 Author Posted October 13, 2005 Local News: Thursday, October 13, 2005 Fees are rising at state's national parks The Associated Press E-mail article Print view Search Most e-mailed Most read RSS TACOMA — Effective next year, drivers probably will have to pay $5 more to enter the Mount Rainier and Olympic national parks. Both parks Wednesday announced plans to raise their vehicle entrance fees from $10 to $15 for a seven-day pass. It would be the first entrance fee increase for both parks in nine years, when the fee went up from $5 to $10. The increases are expected to be approved by the National Park Service and the Secretary of the Interior. The soonest the new fees could go into effect is Jan. 1. Eighty percent of that revenue will remain at the respective parks, officials said. Mount Rainier National Park would receive an extra $500,000 to $600,000 each year through the increase. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the park collected more than $2.37 million in fees, including entrance fees, park passes and campground revenues. The infusion of another $500,000 would allow the park to move sooner on projects such as reconstruction of the Narada Falls trail, redesigning camp sites along the Wonderland Trail to increase the number of spaces and rehabilitating the Westside Road. In addition to the vehicle fee increase, Mount Rainier officials are planning to raise the camping fee at White River Campground from $10 to $12 per night. At Olympic National Park, the per night camping fee also would rise $2. In another change, park entrance fees will be collected at Ozette in Olympic National Park. The day-use parking fee there will be eliminated. North Cascades National Park in northern Washington does not charge a vehicle entrance fee. An annual park pass to Mount Rainier or Olympic costs $30. Quote
Tony_Bentley Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 The NWAC is losing their funding from MRNP for 2006. They are out another $8000. The parking fees are warranted due to the high amount of tourism and low amount of recreation that goes on at Paradise. What do you suppose the ratio is for outdoor users (climbers, skiers, hikers) vs. tourists (those who walk the cement path or never leave the parking lot)? Maybe it is time to get some busses to shuttle passengers in and out of the park. Quote
knelson Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 Maybe it is time to get some busses to shuttle passengers in and out of the park. Don't worry - that's coming soon. Quote
Fairweather Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 I like the part about rehabilitating Westside Road!! If they're serious about this project - which I doubt - then I will support this fee increase. Put it in writing, Mr. Uberaga! Quote
dbb Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 I think the west side road is history. It'll just keep washing out unless they build something super. Personally, I like it just how it is out there... remote! I read once that all visitors to Yosemite travel, on average, 100ft from their cars on their whole trip. Quote
knotzen Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 The first--and only--time I've ridden a mountain bike with a full overnight pack was on the Westside Road. I hated it! But it was pretty cool out there. Quote
Kraken Posted October 14, 2005 Posted October 14, 2005 yeah it's amazing how much it costs to maintain a road. I was just talking to a guy named Jeff who actually designs and builds trails in RMNP and he said it costs around $10K per mile of normal trail, up to $40K per mile for bridged or planked trail... imagine how much it must cost to maintain a road. yikes. Quote
knelson Posted October 14, 2005 Posted October 14, 2005 I like the part about rehabilitating Westside Road!! If they're serious about this project - which I doubt - then I will support this fee increase. Put it in writing, Mr. Uberaga! I think you're right there Fairweather. Me thinks this is just some nice marketing words to make the increase sound palatable. The latest long-range plan I read for the Park did NOT include opening this road to PUBLIC traffic. The best option that was floated out there was a shuttle service. You'd park farther down the road from the current closure and be able to ride a shuttle bus up the road. The thinking is that if/when the Tahoma Glacier burps again and washes out the road, they would at worst only have to abandon a bus up the road - they wouldn't have to worry about all the private vehicles up there. Yes... there probably IS money allocated to "rehabilitate" the road, but that doesn't necessarily mean open it to the public. -kurt Quote
KaskadskyjKozak Posted October 14, 2005 Posted October 14, 2005 still a pretty cheap price to pay to climb the mighty peak. I'm not going to complain. But it isn't cheap if you just want to drive up to Paradise and look around, take pictures, go on a mile loop hike to look at flowers. anyone that can afford to fill up their gas tank to drive to the park should be able to afford the $15 entrance fee. I'd like to see our public lands a little more affordable to the whole spectrum of American society. Ostensibly, the lands belong *to* the American people, and are being managed by the park service, USFS, etc., on our behalf. It used to be parks were places everyone could go, for free. We're becoming accustomed to pay to access any park (even Marymoor, for christ's sake--unless you're close enough to walk, ride, or parachute in), and the entry fees keep climbing. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. I know, I know--budget cuts and all of that. Still...it's where you choose to spend your money (hint: Ireq). What's new? The taxman taketh and taketh again. Quote
Kraken Posted October 15, 2005 Posted October 15, 2005 People will gladly pay 10$ to go see a movie at a theatre in downtown seattle, but scoff when they have to pay $10-15 for a nature experience in a pristine environment? Quote
ivan Posted October 15, 2005 Posted October 15, 2005 trees and mountains grow for free, hollywood blockbusters take the entire gdp of some countries to finance Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.