Mike_Gauthier Posted November 22, 2006 Posted November 22, 2006 The Supt and Congressman were discussing the topic in the Seattle Times . As always, I share my own gossip, innuendo and photo evidence over on the blog . And when I get some new climbing stories, I'll share those too. Quote
Weekend_Climberz Posted November 22, 2006 Posted November 22, 2006 Man, I can imagine the businesses are really suffering up there. We ought to have a pub-club some rainy weekend night at the Copper Creek or at least get a slideshow or something going on around there. Let's see the love Quote
StevenSeagal Posted November 22, 2006 Posted November 22, 2006 How bout a bender at the Lowlifer? Quote
Plinko Posted November 22, 2006 Posted November 22, 2006 Hey Mike, I have an annual pass at Rainier...since there's no access, what are the chances of getting a discount? Or perhaps extending the expiration? Quote
Weekend_Climberz Posted November 22, 2006 Posted November 22, 2006 Dude, they're already short on dough. Divy up some cash and consider it a donation. Quote
ClimbingPanther Posted November 22, 2006 Posted November 22, 2006 Dude, it was an act of nature, not the NPS that really closed the park. My guess is they're not responsible. Maybe if they decided to abdicate their posts in favor of an extended employee getaway to the Bahamas, you might have a case. Ask not what your NPS can do for you... Quote
ClimbingPanther Posted November 22, 2006 Posted November 22, 2006 from article... {road funding is OK} But money for trails and campgrounds could be more scarce I for one am interested in being part of a trail crew next summer. It would be sweet if a lot of cc'ers could populate trail crews. I need to meet some of you crazy foo's anyway. Quote
Kraken Posted November 23, 2006 Posted November 23, 2006 not that it really matters, but what are the chances that park fees will increase. It seems reasonable. Quote
aussie69 Posted November 23, 2006 Posted November 23, 2006 most deffinatly! hey if Rainier NPS needs trail work hit me up! i'd love to donate my time to the place i call home. I've got some experience from working at pack forest Quote
Mike_Gauthier Posted November 27, 2006 Author Posted November 27, 2006 Hey Mike, I have an annual pass at Rainier...since there's no access, what are the chances of getting a discount? Or perhaps extending the expiration? Good question, but there are no refunds. You could purchase a 2007 pass now, but with the park is closed, it would do you little good. Quote
AllYouCanEat Posted November 27, 2006 Posted November 27, 2006 I noticed your blog has snow measurement information. Where do you get that? Is the paradise telementry being kept up? It would be nice if mount rainier would beat baker for most snow which is why I'm hoping someone is keeping it up. Quote
Mike_Gauthier Posted November 27, 2006 Author Posted November 27, 2006 The telemetry is still down (needs consistent power and doesn't have it). But we are manually measuring the snow each day. Yeah, I wondered if Rainier really had more snow back in 1999. There were numerous days when it snow so much, we weren't able to even get the weather. On a few ocassions, this went on for days... Which greatly reduces the snowfall measurement, as much of the fresh snow gets compacted, and in a few cases, it even rained. Oh well, it's still looks great up here regardless of the record... BTW, records (any type) can be interesting, but as we know on cc.com, they can also lead to problems/disputes... Next thing you know, we'll have to have third party snow measurers... Quote
mtn_mouse Posted November 27, 2006 Posted November 27, 2006 A good third party measurer can be found at mountainspeedreading.org Quote
earthdog Posted November 29, 2006 Posted November 29, 2006 Hourly Paradise SNOTEL snow water equivalent, precipitation, and temperature data are available at: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/nwcc/sntl-datarpt.jsp?site=679&days=7&state=WA Please note that the snow depth sensor is not functioning properly so most of the depth readings are not valid. Quote
Alpine_Tom Posted December 4, 2006 Posted December 4, 2006 not that it really matters, but what are the chances that park fees will increase. It seems reasonable. Maybe they could take some of the million$$$ they're wasting bulldozing and rebuilding the perfectly good visitor's center and use THAT to fix the roads. Then they wouldn't have to raise the pass costs. Quote
Fairweather Posted December 5, 2006 Posted December 5, 2006 not that it really matters, but what are the chances that park fees will increase. It seems reasonable. Maybe they could take some of the million$$$ they're wasting bulldozing and rebuilding the perfectly good visitor's center and use THAT to fix the roads. Then they wouldn't have to raise the pass costs. Damn Good Idea Tom! From time to time we actually speak the same language. Quote
chris Posted December 5, 2006 Posted December 5, 2006 (edited) not that it really matters, but what are the chances that park fees will increase. It seems reasonable. Maybe they could take some of the million$$$ they're wasting bulldozing and rebuilding the perfectly good visitor's center and use THAT to fix the roads. Then they wouldn't have to raise the pass costs. The visitor center sucked ass. It leaked, was a bitch to heat, and cost more to maintain for three years than to tear down in three months. The only reason it hasn't happened sooner is that the Park couldn't get the funds budgeted to replace it. Good riddance. Hey Mike, are you guys back in Longmire yet? What happened with you permanent residents - are you back at home? Is there some sort of access from the back road? Is the bridge to the community center OK? Edited December 5, 2006 by mtnfreak Quote
Drederek Posted December 12, 2006 Posted December 12, 2006 I heard a story about that visitor center, that it was designed for a park on a volcano in Hawaii! Scoop Jackson, the story goes, did some kind of senatorial maneuvering and got it for MRNP. I always did wonder about those basically flat roofs Quote
catbirdseat Posted December 12, 2006 Posted December 12, 2006 That's pretty much the story. And because the roof won't support the snow loads, they have to continually shovel it off all winter. Some say that is the only reason they keep Paradise open in the winter and the reason they plow the road. Quote
Mike_Gauthier Posted December 12, 2006 Author Posted December 12, 2006 That visitor center has been something of a maintenance issue for a number of years. The roof, as noted, isn't appropiate for the environment. And there is truth to the fact that the NPS needs to keep the snow off of it for threat of damage. But we don't manually shovel it, there is a complicated heated water system that does... But when the power is down, so is the system. Seems that March is being thrown around as the date things may open to Paradise. I wonder how much the winter weather will monkey with that? As for Longmire, the required occupants never moved out; we're living through the inconsistancy of power and sewer. There was an offer to move, but that seemed far more inconvenient than using a honey bucket. The generators still power the place, hopefully, the power will be connected over the next few weeks. Other than the maintenance employees and a few rangers, there are no NPS employees regularly working in Longmire. As for a road, the back road was quickly fixed after the storm. It provides one lane access (via snow-covered dirt/4WD road). At it's current state, the road could not handle public usage (or continued usage by employees either). Quote
skykilo Posted December 15, 2006 Posted December 15, 2006 Since it's not on Mike's blog yet, I thought I'd post this crucial info here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/traveloutdoors/2003479825_webrainier15.html That's right, just in time for Arc's epic outing, people are free to enter the park! Quote
Mike_Gauthier Posted December 16, 2006 Author Posted December 16, 2006 Since it's not on Mike's blog yet, I thought I'd post this crucial info here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/traveloutdoors/2003479825_webrainier15.html That's right, just in time for Arc's epic outing, people are free to enter the park! Hey Sky Actually, I did hint at the opening to the Westside road on Dec 11th. I just wasn't officially released yet. I also heard that they are allowing visitors to the National Park Inn in Longmire to be shuttled up over the holiday stretch. So if you've got a reservation for the hotel, you can get to Longmire. These days, however, I'm in VT. They's why my pipeline of Rainier info is limited. More on the park when I return. Hope you folks are all well out there w/ all the wind storms. My thoughts are mostly w/ the 3 climbers on Hood, and Christine and Charlie. Quote
WookieMac Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 Have you guys seen this .pdf? I didn't see the link, so FWIW: http://www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/upload/floodPP.pdf Some amazing pics of the damage at Rainier..... Quote
CatsClaw Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 Mike and others appreciate your posts. Looking forward to updates in the spring on trail damage in the park Quote
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