Mt. Rainier NP achieves major milestone

Perhaps the NPS Ranger patrolling Crystal counting 410 tracks could be reassigned to flagging Glacier Hill thus mitigating additional costs and allowing weekday opening. Just a radical thought.

I fear we are being weaned off Paradise bit by bit so that full winter closure will be more readily accepted sometime in the future.

I don't know if they'll permanently close Paradise...they still have friendly relations with climbers, yeah?  What about winter ascents?  I would think that would ALSO cut revenue...However, with the ski track counter (probably being paid $20 an hour?), weekday openings are way outta line  :  I swear on everything holy if they close Paradise permanently, I will take two weeks off just to skin in to Paradise, set up camp right at the front door of the new and ridiculous lodge, and proceed to ski the s**t outta everything in sight.  I'll mail copies of the TR to the NPS.  Anyone else in?

Good civil disobedience.

I don't know if they'll permanently close Paradise...they still have friendly relations with climbers, yeah?  What about winter ascents?  I would think that would ALSO cut revenue...However, with the ski track counter (probably being paid $20 an hour?), weekday openings are way outta line  :  I swear on everything holy if they close Paradise permanently, I will take two weeks off just to skin in to Paradise, set up camp right at the front door of the new and ridiculous lodge, and proceed to ski the s**t outta everything in sight.  I'll mail copies of the TR to the NPS.  Anyone else in?

Good civil disobedience.

They are not going to completely close Paradise permanently. They have to plow the road to keep the Nisqually Bridge from collapsing under the weight of snow and to provide access to ensure the safety and maintenance of the buildings at Paradise. They will, of course, emphasize summer visitation and, as the previous supt said, increase visits by Japanese tour groups (a quick way to gain revenue, up visitor statistics, and minimize impacts to park facilities and staff). They could easily, and I suspect they will, permanently close general public access to Paradise during the week during the winter. And regularly close the park on winter weekends due to weather, avalanche danger, broken plows, etc. Some of the remaining weekends would have late openings, etc. Demand would fall off--how could it not? Just like with the flood closure, this does not mean they will limit access by concessionaires, guide services, and their clients; these had full access during the last big closure.

Please recognize if you do ski in and camp you will be fined for not having proper permits; during the last big closure there were many park employees (including LEOs and backcountry rangers) who got 40-50 ski days each on all that untracked snow. There will be plenty of bc activity, just not by the general bc skiing community.

Oh yeah, that's what I meant...closing it to the general public in winter.

However, they can't fine you if you don't park in the park and they don't catch you! 

We lost midweek access to Hurricane Ridge a few years ago and it sucks because they often don't get it open on the weekend when it's stormed a lot during the week. With daily operation at least they are doing some plowing everyday and don't have to dig out such a huge pile.

Well, I've had a couple days to calm down a bit.  Apologies to any (except MRNP management) who may have been offended by my previous posts on this subject.  I'm still angry and depressed, even physically ill and not sleeping well.  Too bad there doesn't seem to be a higher level of outrage over this senseless decision.  It seems to help me to post on media outlets to present an alternate view:  www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/01/up...dents-national-parks

Given the NPS's sordid history of retaliation against critics, I would not be at all surprised if I'm next.  My vehicle is well-known in the Park.  I'm almost hoping they will.  I intend to spend my last dollar and the rest of my days contesting this decision.  I'd love to drag their dead asses into court.  Any legal types out there willing to offer help or advice? 

I just spoke with the MRNP Deputy Super (R. King) who told me that for now the mid week closure is in effect but that they were trying to resolve logistical issues that would allow them to safely open the road to Paradise week long. He says that he hopes to be able to allow midweek access in the near future, perhaps by using signals stationed at either end of the damaged roadway. For now, King says, the staff is focused on preparations for this weekends opening. I for one intend to be positive and supportive in the hopes that public access is a priority to the park management and that this may prove an opportunity for them to demonstrate it.

Time will tell.