Home > Forum > Categories > Random Tracks > New St. Helens Winter Permit Process 11/1/08

New St. Helens Winter Permit Process 11/1/08

  • rnbfish
  • User
  • User
More
17 years 3 months ago #183547 by rnbfish
why not an annual pass like Mt. Adams & Mt. Rainier? $30 dollars gets you in the park for a year at Rainier.
any thoughts on a lobby for this?
cheers

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Jason_H.
  • User
  • User
More
17 years 3 months ago #183548 by Jason_H.


Jason is also correct, what if i wanted to snow camp and ski two or even three days in a row. Would I pay the 7 $ handling fee x3 plus the 15????


The fee just seems excessive, especially if you climb more than once. This seems to be out of their realm of thought, though. Who climbs more than once? Ha. I just don't like multiple fees at multiple places. It discourages outdoor BC use by families and even individuals. Some mountains like Rainier or deneli perhaps need it, but less complex mountains don't IMHO. Just because they are volcanoes isn't enough reason to charge a fee just because you can. I would be more apt to pay an annual fee for the state that combines all of these fees.

The real burn is that I ski, climb, hike, bike, kayak, raft 100 days a year. I guess I'm just soooo tired of all the rules. So much hassel.

Pretty soon I fear having to rent a PLB, pay a fee, register in person for specific camps on specific days, pay for each camping spot and in the end the fees just pay for more rangers to make sure you paid the fees. In the end, no value.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • rnbfish
  • User
  • User
More
17 years 3 months ago #183549 by rnbfish
jason
i really think this is an issue of generating revenue. " they" know that st. helens is climbed by many average weekend warriors. many will only climb once. follow the money. if you & i pay an annual fee to enter a park or buy a pass we pay it down by multiple visits. we do not generate a profit. but hundreds of once or twice tourist " climbers" generate multiple fees.
in this current environment i do have to support user fees with in reason.
I resent having to pay a fee on Mt. Adams .. which seems only to support the office that now collects the fees, but i still have the option to buy an annual climbing pass. I think this is a viable option for st. helens as well.. in that " they" would generate an up front fee such as a ski resort does..but i totally agree that the playing field should be the same for all users.. i am still under the impression that snow sleds were not legal on st. helens?

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Markeyz
  • User
  • User
More
17 years 3 months ago #183555 by Markeyz
My understanding is that snowmachines pay through snopark and licensing fees and thus do not need a climbing permit to drive to the crater rim. I don't have a problem with paying for an annual parks pass and if preregistration is necessary during the busy summer season to mitigate impacts I'm OK with that too. I do have a problem with a third of the climbing fee going to a private entity that provides no discernible services or benefits (besides T-shirts).

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Larry_Trotter
  • Topic Author
  • User
  • User
More
17 years 3 months ago #183557 by Larry_Trotter
Replied by Larry_Trotter on topic Re: New St. Helens Winter Permit Process 11/1/08
Hmmm... How many times have I seen climbers without their permits...  Usually they said they didn't have time to get one... or they were too late... well, those were the old days.... when we used to hang around at Jack's.

As an aside... I was flying in from Salt Lick about a week ago... didn't have my camera handy, darn... but I saw Adams and St. Helens bathed in a blazing sunset...  as we flew along, Helens disappeared into a fireball....  Hung a left turn around the north side of Rainier.... wondering who was on the mountain.   Straight down 410 for a Southern approach to Seatac.   

It is possible that some of the fee is refundable if climbing is suspended...
www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/mount-st-h.../permit-system.shtml

There is a $15.00 fee for each climbing permit, plus a service charge of $7.00. The total cost is $22.00 per complete climbing permit. If climbing is suspended by the Forest Service, permit sales will also be suspended. People who already purchased permits may receive a refund for only their ($15.00) permit fee. However, the service charge ($7.00) is not refundable. Please plan accordingly.



If you can't beat 'em, then join 'em...   errrr... volunteer?
www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volunteering/BecomeaVolcanoVolunteer.shtml

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Micah
  • Moderator
  • Moderator
More
17 years 3 months ago #183567 by Micah

Micah,
The big difference is that we used to be able to CLimb/ ski till MAy 15 by just showing up at Jack's in Cougar and buy a permit the night before or day of. This was appreciated becuase of weather and safety.
Now we have to buy on line for 22$ and the permit is day specific bad weather or avy conditions would cancel one out and then lose your money/


Thanks Robie. I thought the old system where you tried to get a permit at Jack's was bad enough. I wouldn't have predicted I would wish for its return!

Perhaps, being there is no quota till may 15 Why can't we just buy a one day permit usable on any day for the period of April 1 till May 14th ? Then we could just Use it on a day of our choice. This time frame is perfect for skiers as the road is usually open and the trail is still covered with snow.
Or is that too simple ?


This is a good suggestion. There are many options ranging from cheap and lo-tech (how about one of those fee tubes at the sno-park?? or an annual pass) to hi-tech (pay by cell phone on the way to the mountain) that would work much better for skiers. The fact that one does not exist says something about the management of the monument, IMO. It's not like MSH isn't a popular place to ski. Another thing that I find totally outrageous is that your national parks pass does not work at MSH b/c it is a monument. I could go on, but I think I will stop now before I get too angry.

Happy turns,

Micah

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.