My GAWD...we'll all be killed...Rainier Mud/debris flow...

[Backcountry]

Having lived in Orting and now Bonney Lake for the past 21 years...I really enjoy all the grandstanding about the potential hazards of the mountain. Uh, DUH...really????you mean that thing can blow?

It was odd that I lived in Orting from about '79 to '91 (parents still do) and nary did we ever hear a word about our imminent doom...Seems some persons of political minded intentions suddenly became very interested....

Rumors have that Orting was near hysteria the other day with the media's initial and misinformed reports...

The NPS Morning Reports this:

A high volume of melt water flowing out of the Kautz Glacier combined

with soft soils in the Van Trump basin to create a debris flow down

Van Trump Creek into the Nisqually River on August 14th. Fluctuations

and surges continued through the night, ceased for a while, then began

again during the heat of the day. The winter snow pack, which normally

would have absorbed much of the melt water which accumulates at this

time of the year, was lower than usual, resulting in an increased flow

of water into the loose, soft soil. Park personnel, assisted by

officers from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, temporarily closed

the road at several points and monitored Kautz and Tahoma Creeks

throughout the night. No campers were asked to leave the park or the

campgrounds. The largest flows of water tossed small rocks and dirt on

the roadway. The flows ebbed for periods of over an hour, then would

increase substantially for periods of more than a half hour at a time.

On August 15th, several additional surges traveled down the river

during high water. Hikers were evacuated from the trail to Comet Falls

and Van Trump Park. This trail will remain closed until further

notice. Four USGS geologists flew over the debris flow area yesterday

to assess the hazards. All other park roads and facilities remain open

as usual. Regional and national media interest has been very high.