Camp Muir webcam?

Rainier is wilderness and should be treated as such.

Except with a paved, plowed road to 5k open 7 days a week through winter :

Except with a paved, plowed road to 5k open 7 days a week through winter  :

If only it were true. See:
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=26113.0

If only it were true. See:
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=26113.0

But that's what he appears to want, isn't it?: "And now they've closed Paradise to the public Tues-Wed all winter. Enough is enough."

I get it: It's annoying to see NPS close the road for lack of funding when it's fooling around with webcams and such. I also get not wanting a bunch of electronics encroaching on a place valued by many as an island away from the connectivity. But making some kind of wilderness argument while in the same breath complaining about a paved road not being plowed and opened enough is a bit weak. Wilderness doesn't have paved roads AT ALL. Never mind plowing. Maybe the "wilderness" begins above Pan Point or something.

I can tell you they are using reasonably inexpensive off the shelf components, and up until IT got involved recently to fix issues they (stefan and the rangers) were cobbling this thing together and fixing it (including motherboard repairs) all on their own.

I, and I expect many others, get a lot of value out of this webcam. It's the only webcam in the NW at 10,000' and allows you to see cloud ceilings that you'd otherwise never now about. So for me, the cost-benefit ratio is hugely positive.

Defining "wilderness" is much like defining "art"; it's different for everyone. However, I'd suggest that if you are seeking a wilderness experience in the alpine, the trip to Camp Muir from Paradise is not going to fit inside that definition, nor has it for a long time.

I sent Stefan an email asking how much public money was spent on this boondoggle project in both staff time and materials. No response. I'm pretty disappointed with what's going on in the park lately.

Was the tone of the email one that merited a response? If its in line with what your wrote here maybe not.

... Maybe the "wilderness" begins above Pan Point or something.

Strong comment and very good guess! 

The Paradise developed area and the entire Edith Creek Basin are excluded from the capital W Wilderness along with the road corridors (250' on each side of the centerline, I think)  Edith Basin is likely excluded because it is the Paradise water supply:
www.wilderness.net/map.cfm?xmin=-1357221...294&ymax=5941919.692
Looks like they could legally put com equipment near Pan Point...