Changes at Mt Rainier -- road closed Tues, Weds

Relevant editorial and comments www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2013/01/gu...-business-usual22681 ] from National Parks Traveler]:

www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2013/01/gu...-business-usual22681

"Great article. I have a suggestion for how to improve the NPS and get it ready for the 2016 centennial. My suggestion will improve the low employee ranking AND save money. It's called STOP PROMOTING INCOMPETENT AND POOR PERFORMING NPS EMPLOYEES. I could provide 5 examples for every year that I have worked for the NPS, of this phenomenon. The Park Service is no different from the Catholic Church. Someone is abusing a park, we will just transfer them or promote them to some where else. ...

LMAO!

Interesting pieces, thanks. As a former federal employee and ecologist (who did go thru an interview with the NPS in the PNW) I tend to give the Parks a break give their lack of funding - but I'd agree that the lack of cohesive mgmt is pretty stunning in the Parks, and quite frankly, in most federal natural resource agencies. Because I still work in the field (as a consultant) I work with the feds (including NPS on occassion). Poor management is an amazing de-motivator and turns folks into clock-punchers.

One of the values of the internet and sites like TAY and NPT is that the true scope of the problem can be seen and sunshine let in. While I am busy fighting my fight with ONP, it is useful to know that others have the same issues throughout the NPS. For example freehurricaneridge.blogspot.com/2012/10/...hy-all-turnover.html . Although it is possible that it is still just a handful of outspoken kooks making all the noise, some of the NPT comments especially lead me to believe that I am not alone and crazy.

It is also gratifying in a sick way the number of current and former NPS and ONP employees that have the same issues. Speaking from my experience, I have quite a few current ONP employees privately agree with the Free Hurricane Ridge movement regarding access, Waterhole removal, and lift upgrades. Unfortunatly, I have also heard that many current employees have been "strongly suggested" not to speak with me.

Has anyone had any sort of success effecting change? My experience is that feedback/efforts in this cause result in an amazing amount of canned-speech lip service and zero net effect on the direction.

"Thank you for your feedback. It's very important to us as we make decisions."

But the decisions seem to be exactly what they were going to do anyway. Stefan even slipped up during the fee increase meeting a couple years ago at Marmot when he told everyone they wanted to tie the climbing fee to inflation so they didn't have to "do this again" (gather public input).

The system is maddeningly rigged to allow graft and incompetence to flourish. Dave Uberuaga, after being written up for selling his Ashford property for triple its worth to RMI, was promoted from manager of contracts, to MORA Super, to Grand Canyon Super afterward. I contacted the offices of Sens. Murray and Cantwell about this and heard nothing back.

seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2016356020_rainier02m.html

Where is the accountability??

Edit to add: I see that they are opening the gate today, Thursday the 30th. At NOON.

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It is also gratifying in a sick way the number of current and former NPS and ONP employees that have the same issues.  Speaking from my experience, I have quite a few current ONP employees privately agree with the Free Hurricane Ridge movement regarding access, Waterhole removal, and lift upgrades.  ...

I recently talked to some adult/blue collar type seasonals about the need at MRNP for plow drivers.  There are lots of people in the Ashford area with broad practical experience, experience working in the park, and great recommendations who could do the plow driver jobs.  The attitude I heard is that the park is not interested in hiring locals, more interested in promoting from within, hiring from other parks thru an old-boy network, or just plain old cronyism.  It is disheartening to see very good workers very disappointed in the park.

@CascadeClimber  "Has anyone had any sort of success effecting change?"  Yes, in the cases of ensuring access to the park by judicial levee maintenance and river management; took a lot of effort by a dozen or more people backed up by a non-profit created specifically for that purpose that recruited several hundred members.  Things have to be organized and an effort must be concerted.

The main resistance I see to a concerted effort is that most people believe the closures were due to a much bigger, gov't wide budget issue; according to the Park Supt., they were not.

There are some rumors that our ex Gov. Christine Gregoire is up for Secy of the Interior; is this occurs then the time will be really ripe for a concerted effort to reform park management in general and address MRNP and ONP access issues in particular.

The main resistance I see to a concerted effort is that most people believe the closures were due to a much bigger, gov't wide budget issue; according to the Park Supt., they were not.

"According to Park Supt., they were not." They were not - due to budget issues? I attended the public meeting in Enumclaw, and Randy King stated the closure was due to vacant plow driver positions and the needed LEO shifts to cover both early morning thru late evening. King stated MRNP did not fill those positions due to possible upcoming budget issues.

Did you hear something different?