MRNP: Bold as brass, up your ...

It is really a sad, sad story.  I've heard that the current federal budget impass has caused many agencies, including the Forest Service, to put as much spending, including previous budgeted and planned expenses, on hold - because they don't know if or how much subsequent funding will come.  This might be the underlying cause of MRNP's plowing retreat.  ...

In a recent face-to-face conversation with MRNP Supt. Randy King (who I know from previous conversations as well), he reiterated what he also told the Tacoma News Tribune: (1) it is not a budgetary problem;  (2) they are short-staffed on the plow crew due to loss of 2 people;  (3)  they did not rush to fill those positions, they are advertising now;  (4) the Law Enforcement and safety people do not want to open the road to Paradise when there is a skeleton crew, so the Park is closed 2 days/week (or if they are short, like Thursday evidently [conversation with park employee], for example); (5) even if they fill one or more positions, they probably will not change the schedule of a 2 days/week closure this winter; (6) they are actively monitoring the response to closure in terms of overall visitation, gate receipts, business activity in the concessions, and complaints from the public and elected representatives.

Now, draw your own conclusions.

The upgrades only benefit a small set; concessionaire guides and their paying clientele with funding coming from "franchise fees".

"Four new toilets will replace five existing toilets," because less is more, right?

IMHO, the upgrades are necessary and desirable.  But note all the press releases say something like "mostly or mainly from franchise fees".

The upgrades only benefit a small set; concessionaire guides and their paying clientele...

Does anyone know if the "Client Shelter" scheduled for replacement is shared among the guide services or used exclusively by RMI?  I can't imagine they would want clients comparing notes with those from other companies:  www.dailyhiker.com/gear/rmi/

...(4) the Law Enforcement and safety people do not want to open the road to Paradise when there is a skeleton crew, so the Park is closed 2 days/week (or if they are short, like Thursday evidently [conversation with park employee], for example); ...

On that point -- given the sad events on 1/1/2012 where Margaret Anderson, a Mt Rainier Law Enforcement Ranger was killed in a gun battle with a whack job and another Mt Rainier Law Enforcement Ranger was fired upon, with multiple bullet holes in their vehicle, including one in the shoulder strap of their seat belt -- I personally can appreciate that Mt Rainier Law Enforcement Rangers would prefer not to operate with a skeleton crew.

...Mt Rainier Law Enforcement Rangers would prefer not to operate with a skeleton crew.

What is a 'skeleton crew' anyway?  Twice as many LEO's on duty would not have prevented poor Margaret's murder.  The small possibility that something else terrible might happen hardly seems a rational justification for excluding the public from their park.  By that logic, all NPS units should remain closed until SWAT teams can be stationed at each attraction.

So let's review the excuses so far.  1) Not enough visitation (a self-inflicted wound).  2) Improvement of service on the remaining open days (Opening times M, Th, F are much later than previously).  3)  Budget shortfalls (there are hundreds of thousands of dollars to build RMI a new hut at Muir).  4) Critical vacancies of plow operators (little apparent effort to fill them, and the road is still plowed on closed days).  And now institutionalized paranoia...

So have any of you folks taken the time to write our Washington senators and your congressional representative about the tues/weds closures and the unreliable gate opening times? If so what sort of response have you gotten?

I know that Riechard has a special interest in the park (or at least he did before redistricting)