Changes at Mt Rainier -- road closed Tues, Weds

...Grooming the Paradise Valley road would require finding the funds to acquire, operate  and maintain a grooming machine -- 

Doesn't the park still have that quarter-million dollar Pisten Bully that they use to groom the tube runs and cut down the parking lot snow walls when they get too high?  (Work that was done for decades with a surplus D-7, BTW)

I've seen them trash, -er groom, the road to 4th Crossing on numerous occasions.  Don't get me wrong, I prefer the wild snow, but it would be no great stretch for the park to groom the Paradise Valley Road as far as Stevens Canyon Wye if they wanted to attract more winter visitors.  The grooming could be paid for by using RMI's mothballed shuttles to haul the nordiques & snowshoers (separate lane!) back to Paradise at $5 a pop.  I agree Narada Face would be too dangerous to groom, but backcountry skiers might also use a shuttle from Narada.  The unplowed Paradise Picnic Area (Barn Flat) could also be groomed and a warming yurt set up.

Having maintained the winter trail markers by myself back in the Old Oolitic Silurian, I agree with Randy that an expansion of the marked trail system would be a lot of work.  If additional routes were to be marked, Mazama Ridge should probably be highest priority.  I think the poles would be quickly lost on the above timberline routes like Muir or the E Skyline Bench.

Gee, and the MTTA grooms 20 miles of trail, maintains 3 backcountry huts and 1 yurt, with a reasonable amount of signage, and a good map--all thru volunteers and donations with no guaranteed budget that I know of and no entrance fee or membership required (even to stay at the huts), only a snow-park permit. And, gosh, I use to ski groomed trails on FS land out of Bellingham and Snoqualmie Pass etc. etc. and didn't even have to pay an entrance fee (but needed a snow park permit).

I'm certain that with a positive "how can I help" problem solving attitude a group of people could approach the park service and work on improving conditions at the park as volunteers. I've found that working with the park service people to be a generally positive experience. Some of their priorities don't always align with mine, for example in past seasons a Nordic Patrol task was collapsing abandoned snow caves and igloos in the group camping areas on Sunday afternoon. The park service was concerned about potential liability if later campers fell through the roof of cave or igloo obscured by later snowfall. In recent years this task has been shifted from "something that should be done if possible" to "do if there is nothing better to do -- including just going skiing" -- In my view is that for many years the park has operated in very "liability adverse" manner, but that this is starting to shift a bit for the better.

Approaching the park service people with a confrontational, dismissive and disrespectful attitude seems unlikely to result in any changes for the better.

It looks like the NPS clarified its new policy on Wednesday.  Camping will be allowed above Longmire on Tuesday/Wednesday.  You can even drive up on Monday to Paradise, leave your car there for the closure, and then drive down on Thursday.  Source:  www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/winter-access-changes.htm

I added this comment to MRNP's Facebook post:
"I am deeply dissatisfied with this new policy. With no week-day amenities at Paradise, I don't understand how this closure decreases the park's operating costs. The road will still need to be plowed during closure days to maintain access, rangers will still be staffed for LEO, the visitors desk in Longmire, and the entrance gate. There was no public comment period and no prior announcement. While I'm glad for the clarified statement that allows for overnight camping above Longmire, the new policy appears poorly planned and explained. Please reconsider this policy while I write to my government representatives."

I think its time for an access-fund styled organization for human-powered, winter sports.  Even the sled-heads are better organized than this.  In this vein, I'm going to contact the Washington Climber's Coalition and the Access Fund about start-up strategies.  Anyone else interested in this cause?

I think its time for an access-fund styled organization for human-powered, winter sports.  Even the sled-heads are better organized than this.  In this vein, I'm going to contact the Washington Climber's Coalition and the Access Fund about start-up strategies.  Anyone else interested in this cause?

Is this the sort of space Winter Wildlands Alliance (or coalition) works in or do they only deal with issues in the Rockies?

MRNP responded to my FB comment:
"By focusing staff on fewer days, the park will be better able to provide access and services during times of greatest visitation, including more consistent road plowing and emergency patrols for visitor safety, than by distributing those same resources seven days per week. Specifically, plowing and patrol operations will be available to work longer shifts and will be more available to respond to emergencies on the five days that the road is open. This one of many changes, large and small, that Mount Rainier National Park is making to make its operations more efficent and responsive to public needs with limited resources available."

I seriously question that scheduling two down days for snow plowing operations - which I assume means minimal plowing. I do understand the argument that this way they can provide more robust coverage for emergencies (including stuck cars) the other five days of the week.

Its just another example that when you insist only on budget cuts, you reach a point where instead of limiting services agencies will simply choose to eliminate service altogether - its the easier solution.