Changes at Mt Rainier -- road closed Tues, Weds

Yeah, I saw Park response to criticism from naive backcountry travelers ; boy I learned a lot except why openings were more reliable and dependable when snowfall was heavier and snow removal equipment was more primitive than in the last 15 years and why things like closures the day before a storm ....

I see they could only afford to use a camera that films in up to 720p...

30 inches in 24 hours? That's small potatoes for the Mt. Baker crew. And avalanche danger? There's little to none for the road from Longmire -> Paradise. I hope they got permission to use the slide photos, too.

I was disgusted by the delusional tone of the video. Instead of hiring one person to plow the roads, they hire six people to implement the Road Closure Policy--and to make excuses.

When friends from out of town want to see Mt Rainier, I recommend they drive to Crystal and ride the Gondula up to the Roundhouse.

And avalanche danger? There's little to none for the road from Longmire -> Paradise.

The section from the Nisqually bridge to Ricksecker Point has been known to slide...

Mt Baker / HWY-542 is most similar road maintained by the WSDOT to the road to Paradise.

The WSDOT does a much better job of keeping that road open -- but then if the road is closed -- the state loses at least $5 in sales tax revenue for every skier/rider that doesn't get to the ski area if the road is closed -- so the state is motivated to keep the road open.

At Mt Rainier -- the loss of revenue is less dramatic -- so they are less motivated.

Now if everyone (including geezers with lifetime free park passes) had to pay $5 each time they got to Paradise (and only if they got to Paradise) the NPS might get their plowing act together.

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Now if everyone (including geezers with lifetime free park passes) had to pay $5 each time they got to Paradise (and only if they got to Paradise) the NPS might get their plowing act together.

I pay $15k/yr in fed taxes that I have earmarked for Mt. Rainier and asked not to be spent on the military; and I have been doing that for a few decades; comes to much more than $5 each time I get to Paradise; of course, if I was active duty military or a family member I would get a free pass and maybe I could keep my income taxes. Sheesh

BTW, Randy, the $10 lifetime passes for senior citizens (most of whom paid substantial taxes for 50 years) have been discontinued in favor of free passes for the active military and their spouses (but not the veterans of previous wars, just the current ones).