April 20, 2011, - Mt St Helens - ROAD CLOSED
4/20/11
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
8741
11
Bad news. The road to Mt St Helens Marble Mtn snow park is closed at Cougar snow park. A 5 mile hike will get you to Marble Mtn from the road barrier.
Sorry for the off-topic rant but
We're expected pay-pay-pay: $40 for a seasonal snow park permit until April 30. I bought mine with the expectation that snow park access would be reasonably guaranteed until April 30. I guess I need to rethink my snow park permit purchasing decision next year. To add insult to injury, skiers are legally obligated to pay a nonrefundable $22 fee for the privilege of hiking up. The first indication that the road was closed was at the road closure barrier. The MSH website doesn't mention the road closure. The climber register doesn't have any sign advising the closure. The only public announcement is on the Mt St Helens Institute web site to whom we pay our climbing fees.
I understand budgets are a problem but "pay to play" comes with reasonable assurance that play will happen after pay. That whole MSH fee system sucks. Makes poaching a tempting option.
JJS
Sorry for the off-topic rant but
We're expected pay-pay-pay: $40 for a seasonal snow park permit until April 30. I bought mine with the expectation that snow park access would be reasonably guaranteed until April 30. I guess I need to rethink my snow park permit purchasing decision next year. To add insult to injury, skiers are legally obligated to pay a nonrefundable $22 fee for the privilege of hiking up. The first indication that the road was closed was at the road closure barrier. The MSH website doesn't mention the road closure. The climber register doesn't have any sign advising the closure. The only public announcement is on the Mt St Helens Institute web site to whom we pay our climbing fees.
I understand budgets are a problem but "pay to play" comes with reasonable assurance that play will happen after pay. That whole MSH fee system sucks. Makes poaching a tempting option.
JJS
Thanks for the update. I will be changing my Friday plans.
Thanks for posting. I was planning to go there in the next 2-3 weeks.
Dumb question: it's closed due to a gate closure not because of unplowed snow, correct?
Sounds to be the case. No information's available concerning the gate's open date?
author=johnspeth link=topic=20598.msg87727#msg87727 date=1303306973]
The first indication that the road was closed was at the road closure barrier.
Dumb question: it's closed due to a gate closure not because of unplowed snow, correct?
Sounds to be the case. No information's available concerning the gate's open date?
Could this be a result of the Warming Hut fire?
author=Boot link=topic=20598.msg87753#msg87753 date=1303333489]
Could this be a result of the Warming Hut fire?
what? I was up there last month!!! did somebody burn down the warming hut?
and I completely agree with all the posts. if we pay fees we can expect to get something for them.
Maybe if we say we're planning to log the area they'll unlock the gate? Having just bought some passes this is pretty annoying.
author=mtneer ordinaire link=topic=20598.msg87752#msg87752 date=1303331187]
Dumb question: it's closed due to a gate closure not because of unplowed snow, correct?
What I found was large orange and white standard hiway issue ROAD CLOSED sign that spanned most of the width of the road. There was green colored tape on each side of the side to block the rest of the road. There was a big white handwritten sign that said NOT PLOWED. If there's more to it, it wasn't stated. I doubt there's anything more to it.
They stopped plowing at the end of March right before the April dumps started. I was up there in early April and found the road open but barely passable.
JJS
I agree with you JJS, those fees are bollocks. Mt St Helens National Monument is Federal Land, collectively owned by the people. Charging someone $22 to walk through their own backyard is ludicrous and very much unconstitutional.
If you're directly benefiting from those fees, for instance, being able to make use of posh lodging/restroom facilities, or receiving expedited rescue services, (should one be needed) with tea and biscuits provided, are some exceptions. If, however, you are not using any amenities, no fee should be required.
The snowpark permit is another ball of steamy poo. You're specifically paying for lot access. When they refuse to plow, quid pro quo, they're not holding up their end of the bargain. I would write the issuing agency and demand a refund for breech of contract.
If you're directly benefiting from those fees, for instance, being able to make use of posh lodging/restroom facilities, or receiving expedited rescue services, (should one be needed) with tea and biscuits provided, are some exceptions. If, however, you are not using any amenities, no fee should be required.
The snowpark permit is another ball of steamy poo. You're specifically paying for lot access. When they refuse to plow, quid pro quo, they're not holding up their end of the bargain. I would write the issuing agency and demand a refund for breech of contract.
author=johnspeth link=topic=20598.msg87758#msg87758 date=1303339701]
What I found was large orange and white standard hiway issue ROAD CLOSED sign that spanned most of the width of the road. There was green colored tape on each side of the side to block the rest of the road. There was a big white handwritten sign that said NOT PLOWED. If there's more to it, it wasn't stated. I doubt there's anything more to it.
They stopped plowing at the end of March right before the April dumps started. I was up there in early April and found the road open but barely passable.
JJS
The SnoPark plowing and grooming money always runs out by the end of March. In big snow years its even sooner. The late season snow is what's causing the closure. No money left to plow it.
The road is Marble Mountain snow park will re-open to vehicle traffic on Friday, April 22 at noon.
http://mshinstitute.org/index.php/climbing/index
http://mshinstitute.org/index.php/climbing/index
"I agree with you JJS, those fees are bollocks. Mt St Helens National Monument is Federal Land, collectively owned by the people. Charging someone $22 to walk through their own backyard is ludicrous and very much unconstitutional."
Where in the Constitution does it forbid the use of fee's for access to Federal Lands?
Where in the Constitution does it forbid the use of fee's for access to Federal Lands?
author=climberdave link=topic=20598.msg87822#msg87822 date=1303502073]
"I agree with you JJS, those fees are bollocks. Mt St Helens National Monument is Federal Land, collectively owned by the people. Charging someone $22 to walk through their own backyard is ludicrous and very much unconstitutional."
Where in the Constitution does it forbid the use of fee's for access to Federal Lands?
it doesn't, but Congress (in 2008, I think) rescinded the Forest Pass, as it was, for access to NF lands, for the very, and expressed, reason that we already own them. The Pass could only be required in specific locatiuons where specific amenities are provided. We've had a few chats about this here, before, but glad to see a few more folks are pissed off. I may not buy a snopark permit next year, and I certainbly will not buy a Forest Pass. Ahhh, for the good old days when logging payed for all that stuff - but now we can just import what we need while we live in a park - tough call..
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