Changes at Mt Rainier -- road closed Tues, Weds

Ok I have had it. Enough is enough. I have lived up here for 35 years and will not keep my mouth shut any longer.

Randy King has handed over road opening decisions to law enforcement. The word in Ashford is that the law enforcement is not getting along with the road crew. The decisions lately of road opening and timing is made by the few LE and those few are not listening to the capable and veteran-knowledgable road crew. By keeping the road closed the LE has been blatantly abusing it's new-found power and has been heard stating "we all get paid regardless if it is open or not….. so…."

Back in the 70's in my first week as a rookie, I was oriented thusly by a veteran NPS seasonal:  "The rangers hate the maintenance guys because they make more money, and maintenance hates the rangers 'cause they're dinks."  That was certainly a considerable exaggeration, but with a core of truth.  For maintenance workers, the park was part of their home; rangers were usually transient and more focused on their careers.  Sounds like not much has changed...except I've heard a new phrase around Ashford recently:  "Bluebird Rangers"

I was not surprised by today's closure; at least the Twitter times were improved.  I was annoyed they would use avalanche hazard as justification without the modifier 'future'.  Maybe they never read "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?

Given the forecast for heavy snow and warming, it seems safe to assume Paradise will remain closed this weekend.  Should they open, it will be more evidence that this supposed safety policy is arbitrarily applied.

As for funding being the root cause, I just don't buy it.  160 year-round employees is too many for a part-time park. They had enough money to upgrade to HD webcams, and apparently a way to switch them off when they need to...  :

They can afford dozens of scientific specialists.  I'll believe public access has once again become a priority when they add a professional avalanche forecaster at the snowiest park in the country.

This caveman finally succeeded in putting the MRNP portion of the 2012 Federal Employee database into Excel.  The 2013 edition will be free in a few weeks; it should be interesting to compare.  I'm still learning the sort, search, graph functions, but PM me with email for the raw spreadsheet if anyone wants to see it.

@vogtski,

I agree with you re: Avy conditions--- The official forecast is for "High" near or above treeline. NEAR TREELINE definition:
Near Treeline is the middle of the three elevation bands used in NWAC forecasts. It is a transition zone between dense forests and treeless alpine areas. It is the narrowest of the three elevation bands, extending only a few hundred feet above and below the treeline. It varies locally, and is not a constant elevation or width.

It is CONSIDERABLE below treeline

In addition the, snowpack right now is nil for any large-scale vehicle damaging avy event to take place. I was there yesterday- when they had to open the road -late - because the excuse of the sun being too bright would'nt go over with Randy- and the snow that is laying on the ground below Paradise is pathetic.

Kinda off topic:
I have a camper van. Can I sleep in it in the overnight lot?

Apparently: no sleeping in vehicles at Paradise is permitted; campers must camp 300 feet from any road; you may not camp where there is less thand 5 feet of snow on the ground.

So with the Congress passing a budget for the next two years what will MRNP have for future excuses?

www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenew...7c-0019bb2963f4.html

November road closure statistics:

Nov 3rd: open 10a-3p
Nov 4th: open 11a-5p
Nov 7th: open 9a-2p
Nov 8th: open 9a-4p

Closed: Nov 12, 13,15, 16, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

Open all other days-