Mt. Rainier heavy-handed policing

No other park in the country has protected and promoted a superintendent that took a six-figure bribe from a concessioner.

To keep the record complete on this:

Uberuaga sold his Ashford house to RMI/Whittakers when he was in charge of letting contracts for the park, including the guide contracts, for over 300% of its appraised value.

There was an investigation and a whistleblower brought it to light. Among other things, the investigators determined that he had attempted to withhold information about the situation. He was reprimanded by then Park Super Jon Javis and the case was referred to federal prosecutors in Seattle, who both refused to prosecute AND refused to say why.

Jarvis, who oversaw this malfeasance, was promoted. He then promoted Uberuaga to Park Super, despite having signed the reprimand papers. Jarvis ended up as the NPS Director, where is AGAIN promoted Uberuaga to Park Super at the Grand Canyon, one of the most prestigious positions in the NPS.

So when the cronyism and acceptance of outright law-breaking goes all the way to the top of the NPS, what hope do we have of things actually changing?

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mount-...inized-on-land-deal/

Back on topic, I specifically asked the LE on Saturday whose policy it was to hassle park guests who were two minutes late getting out. She said it was the policy of the no-longer-acting-now-permanent superintendent, Tracy Swartout. I suggest that we all call and/or write and express how we feel about their heavy-handed treatment of their guests. I mean, can you imagine what would happen to a restaurant that behaved that way toward patron that left three minutes after the posted closing time? "Did you NOT see the three signs that say the gate closes at 5:00 PM?" was how I was greeted.

Continuing my rant (I am really pissed about this)...

Instead of treating people like criminals for being two minutes behind the staff clock for closing the gate, something like this would be more effective:

"Hello. I hope you enjoyed your visit to the park today. The mountain was beautiful. We just wanted to remind folks that the gate does close at 5:00 PM. You didn't quite make it down by that time so we're asking that you leave a bit earlier next time. Thank you!"

But instead she was making a very big production of recording everyone's license plate: She wrote mine down as I approached, then after I stopped, walked to the front of my vehicle and pretended to write it down again. This is just a blatant attempt to intimidate park visitors. They I got the "Did you NOT see the three signs..." speech.

I, among other things, told her that we'd come down from the summit and that's just not something that, especially in the winter, can be run according to a clock. Rushing down the mountain or road will result in more incidents/injuries which will certainly NOT reduce their OT spending.

Arghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

Continuing my rant (I am really pissed about this)...

Instead of treating people like criminals for being two minutes behind the staff clock for closing the gate, something like this would be more effective:

"Hello. I hope you enjoyed your visit to the park today. The mountain was beautiful. We just wanted to remind folks that the gate does close at 5:00 PM. You didn't quite make it down by that time so we're asking that you leave a bit earlier next time. Thank you!"

But instead she was making a very big production of recording everyone's license plate: She wrote mine down as I approached, then after I stopped, walked to the front of my vehicle and pretended to write it down again. This is just a blatant attempt to intimidate park visitors. They I got the "Did you NOT see the three signs..." speech.

I, among other things, told her that we'd come down from the summit and that's just not something that, especially in the winter, can be run according to a clock. Rushing down the mountain or road will result in more incidents/injuries which will certainly NOT reduce their OT spending.

Arghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

I guess the question is, next time will you be down through the gate before 5pm?

I guess the question is, next time will you be down through the gate before 5pm?

sounds like future employment potential at MRNP

I used to dream about skiing at Rainier National Park.  After the last few years of watching how the management operates, I no longer want to have anything to do with it.  I am a rabid skier but I hate dealing with entrenched  bureuons.  So much for my national hearitage.  I expect the roller coasters, bumpercars, and Magic Castle Sky Boxes  to be installed next.   Very depressing!

I was in Whittakers coffee shop this weekend and heard a few people complaining about this. They were from Vancouver and Seattle. Seems the word is spreading....Bad PR.