Shadows of the Past Living History Program, Mount Rainier National Park.

Saturday Evening August 18 at Longmire!
Contact:  Park Ranger Curt Jacquot, (360) 569-6577

On Saturday August 18, Mount Rainier National Park will present Shadows of the Past, a “living history” program. Volunteers and staff in costumes will portray important individuals from the park’s past.  The early story of Mount Rainier and the National Park Service from 1883  through 1916 will be told.  Lead Rangers will guide groups along the Trail of the Shadows in Longmire. Historical figures will emerge from the darkness while volunteers with lanterns illuminate the scene!

The free program lasts about 80 minutes. Admission to the park is $15 for private vehicles.

Longmire is six miles east of the park’s southwest Nisqually Entrance.  Walks will leave (rain or shine) from in front of the National Park Inn at Longmire at 8:30 PM, 8:50 PM, 9:10 PM, and 9:30 PM.  Those attending should bring warm clothing, sturdy footwear, insect repellant, and a flashlight.

                                 – NPS –

VISITOR SHUTTLE SERVICE TO BEGIN FRIDAY JUNE 29, 2012

Mount Rainier Acting Superintendent Randy King advises that park visitors will once again be able to utilize the free visitor shuttle for transportation into the park from Ashford, Longmire and Paradise during the 2012 summer season running for 10 weekends beginning Friday June 29 through Sunday September 2.  On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the shuttle will run daily between Longmire and Paradise with stops at Cougar Rock and Narada Falls on the uphill run, and stopping at Comet Falls (pending status of the damaged and currently closed trail) and Cougar Rock on the downhill run. At Longmire, visitors will board the shuttle at the historic Longmire Gas Station.  On Saturdays and Sundays only, visitors can board the shuttle in Ashford at Whittaker’s Summit Haus (on SR706),  connecting with the Paradise Shuttle in Longmire. An additional shuttle will transport visitors to and
from the Paradise Valley Road, where overflow parking will be directed, and the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center during periods of peak demand.

For shuttle schedules and other park information, check the park’s web page
at www.nps.gov/mora.

                                  -NPS-

Mount Rainier National Park Offers Free Admission this Saturday

Ashford, WA: Get a head start on your summer fun with free admission to Mount  Rainier National Park this Saturday, June 9. In celebration of National Get Outdoors Day, all 397 national parks, including Mount Rainier National Park will waive entrance fees.

“Outdoor physical activity is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and Mount Rainier is a great place to get out and enjoy snow-free areas such as the Trail of the Shadows at Longmire or the Carbon River and Ohanapecosh areas” stated Park Superintendent Randy King.

Park roads currently open include Nisqually Entrance to Paradise, Westside Road, Stevens Canyon, State Routes 123 and 410 and the White River Road to the White River Campground.  Park Road Crews are in the process of removing the winter snowpack from the Sunrise Road in anticipation of having the road open to the public by June 22 (conditions permitting).  Sunrise Visitor Center and Sunrise Lodge Snack Bar & Gift Shop are scheduled to open for the season June 29.  The free public shuttle between Longmire and Paradise will begin operation on June 22 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and from Ashford (Saturday, Sunday only).

National Get Outdoors Day, now in its fifth year, encourages Americans, especially youth, to participate in outdoor activities while enjoying the beauty of public lands such as national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. Nationwide, hundreds of organizations and businesses will partner with Federal, state, and local agencies to provide fun and healthy events at sites throughout the country.

President Barack Obama has proclaimed the month of June as Great Outdoors Month and encourages all Americans to share in the natural splendor of which we are all proud inheritors.

At Mount Rainier visitors are invited to join a volunteer project:  (1) a campground opening project for all ages at Longmire at 9:30 a.m. (for details, see http:/ tinyurl.com/cnktf74); or  (2) a trail maintenance project on the Comet Falls Trails with the Washington Trails Association (http://vols.wta.org/ web/web.pl?s +19541+WP). Or, go for a hike on one of our many lower elevation trails, complete a Jr. Ranger booklet at one of our visitor centers, or play in more than 10 feet of snow that still blankets the subalpine meadows at Paradise (www.nps.gov/mora)!


Mount Rainier National Park will waive its $15 entrance fee on four more days in 2012 – September 29 (National Public Lands Day) and November 10 to 12 (Veterans Day weekend).


If you are planning a trip that includes multiple national parks, you might consider the $80 annual pass that provides entrance to all national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and many other Federal lands – more than 2,000 in all. This America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is offered free to all active duty military members and their dependents. Information on these and other pass options is available online. Mount Rainier National Park also offers an annual pass for the park for $30.


"You can connect to Mount Rainier National Park through our social media pages. Join the Mount Rainier community on Facebook, find out breaking news and road status updates through Mount Rainier's Twitter feed, explore the park and behind-the-scenes operations with our videos on YouTube, and share you own photos of Mount Rainier with other visitors in the Mount Rainier Flickr group."

Links used:
http://facebook.com/MountRainierNPS
http://twitter.com/MountRainierNPS
http://youtube.com/MountRainierNPS
http://flickr.com/groups/MountRainierNPS
www.nps.gov

MOUNT RAINIER SPRING/SUMMER OPENING SCHEDULE

With warmer, sunny days becoming a little more frequent in the Northwest now, it seems Spring has officially arrived and Summer is not far behind.  However, at Mount Rainier snow still blankets the slopes (15 feet at Paradise) and roadways.  The Spring melt is beginning and park Road Crews are cutting their way through the snowed-in roadway at Stevens Canyon.  This is still a great time of year to visit the park, to view the amazing snowpack, to cross-country ski or snowshoe.  Be sure to check on conditions with park staff before going – spring avalanches can be deadly.

Paradise Inn Opens May 18 - On Friday, May 18, the historic Paradise Inn opens its doors to welcome visitors for the 2012 season.  Constructed in 1916, the Inn showcases a beautiful lobby and dining room featuring hand painted hanging lamps depicting park wildflowers, three huge stone fireplaces to welcome guests, 118 guest rooms, a café, and gift shop with authentic Native American arts and crafts.  A full service dining room offers Northwest cuisine.  The Inn is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

In addition to the Paradise Inn, the National Park Inn at Longmire is also open for visitors.  The National Park Inn offers 25 guests rooms, a cozy fireside room for guests to enjoy, full service restaurant, general store and gift shop.

Both inns are operated by Mount Rainier Guest Services, Incorporated. Reservations can be made on line at www.mtrainierguestservices.com  or by telephone at 360-569-2275.

Businesses in the gateway communities surrounding the park are also open daily providing lodging, meals, gifts, equipment rentals, horseback riding, fishing, special events and a variety of other needs to park visitors. Information on these businesses is available on the internet at
www.visitrainier.com, www.mt-rainier.com, www.staycrystal.com,
www.destinationpackwood.com or www.minerallake.com.


CURRENT STATUS AND PROJECTED OPENING DATES:
Note:  These dates are projected and may be subject to change depending on conditions.

ROADS:

•   Stevens Canyon Road                                 May 25 @ 8:00 a.m.
•   SR 410 to SR 123 over Cayuse Pass            Open
•   White River Road to Campground lot         May 25
•   Sunrise Road                                               June 22 @ 8:00 a.m.
•   Mowich Lake Road                                     June 29 @ 8:00 a.m.
•   Skate Creek Road (USFS Road 52)            Open
•   Chinook Pass                                               May 25
•   Westside Road                                             Open to Dry Creek

Road Construction:

Stevens Canyon Road:  Road construction repair work will be occurring on two sections of the Stevens Canyon Road throughout the summer.  Work will be Monday through Friday until Labor Day - 20-minute delays should be anticipated at each section.  After Labor Day the road will be closed to all traffic from just east of the intersection with the Paradise Valley Road to east end of the tunnel at Box Canyon for the remainder of the season,  Visitors will still be able to access Box Canyon via the East Entrance.  During closure period, the road will be closed to through traffic for both vehicles and cyclists.

SR 123:  A micro-surfacing  treatment will be applied on the roadway from MP 6.8 to MP 13.8 (Cayuse Pass) from August 6 to August 17, 2012 with 20-minute delays anticipated.    In addition, replacement of a failed deep culvert at MP 10.6 will take place in mid- to late September.  It is anticipated that the work will take 2-days to accomplish and due to the depth of the culvert a road closure will be necessary.  A press release will be issued prior to the closure.

Longmire:
Longmire Museum:  Open daily - 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. through June 30.  9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. July 1-September 3
Longmire Wilderness Information Center:  Open daily -7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
National Park Inn: Open daily year round

Cougar Rock:
Cougar Rock Campground:  May 25
Cougar Rock Picnic Area:  May 25

Paradise:
Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center:  Open daily -10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (until May 17)
Paradise Inn:  May 18 to June 15 -10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
                       June 16 to September 2 – 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Ohanapecosh:
Ohanapecosh Campground                    May 25
Ohanapecosh Visitor Center                  May 25–May 28 -10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Fri.,
                                                               Sat. Sun., Mon.)
                                                               June 2-3 (Sat., Sun.)
                                                               June 9-September 2 – 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

White River:
White River Road to Campground lot            May 25
White River Campground                               June 29

Sunrise:
Sunrise Lodge (snack bar & gift shop)         June 29
Sunrise Visitor Center                                  June 29

Carbon River:
Ranger Station                              Open year round - Call for hours -
360-829-9639


For additional information visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/mora or call 360-569-2211. "You can connect to Mount Rainier National Park through our social media pages. Join the Mount Rainier community on Facebook, find out breaking news and road status updates through Mount Rainier's Twitter feed, explore the park and behind-the-scenes operations with our videos on YouTube, and share you own photos of Mount Rainier with other visitors in the Mount Rainier Flickr group."

Randy King Named Superintendent

SAN FRANCISCO – Randy King has been selected as the new superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park, located approximately 85 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington.  King has been serving as acting superintendent of the park since July 17th.  He replaced Dave Uberuaga who was recently named superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

“Randy’s charisma, leadership and park experience make him a triple threat and the natural choice for this selection.  Having served as both the acting superintendent and deputy superintendent, Randy is extremely familiar with the park, its partners and staff and has demonstrated success in building partnerships and solving problems.  We look forward to his continued guidance,” said Pacific West Regional Director Chris Lehnertz.

Over the course of his 34-year National Park Service career, King has served in six national parks and the Intermountain Regional Office.  King also participated in a six-month work exchange between the Alaska Region and Western Australia’s Department of Conservation and Land Management.  He
and his family lived in Denham, Western Australia where he served as the district operations officer for Shark Bay World Heritage Area and adjacent national parks.  Since 2003 he has worked as Mount Rainier’s deputy superintendent, which included a 15-month detail as acting superintendent in 2009-2010.  King is a graduate of Michigan State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Park and Recreation Resources.  He and his wife, Sally, and their three children, Mackenzie, Dylan and Skylar, now make their home in Eatonville, Washington.

"From a resources standpoint – both natural and cultural – Mount Rainier is an incredible unit of our national park system.  It is a park beloved by generations of visitors, served by dedicated and talented employees, volunteers and concession operators; and strongly supported by its partners and gateway communities.  For all of these reasons, and many more, I am grateful for the privilege to serve this great park as superintendent,” said King upon hearing of his selection.

Mount Rainier National Park was designated as the nation’s fifth national park when President William McKinley signed a bill that was passed by Congress on March 2, 1899.  The boundaries of the park encompass 235,625 acres of forests, meadows and mountains, with 97 percent of the park designated as wilderness and the remaining three percent being part of the National Historic Landmark District.  Mount Rainier, the focal point of the park, is a large volcanic peak that rises to 14,410 feet, towering far
above any other peak in the North Cascade mountain range.
                                  -NPS-

Historic Chinook Pass Entrance Arch Restoration Nears Completion

  The Chinook Pass Entrance Arch, as drawn by the staff of the Historic American Engineering Record.

Mount Rainier park craftsmen have completed the year-long restoration work on the Chinook Pass Entrance Arch, a unique historic structure in the National Park system.  Spanning across the Mather Memorial Parkway (SR 410) at 5,432 feet in elevation on the eastern boundary of the park, the arch
was designed as both an entrance portal and an equestrian overpass, to convey hikers and riders on the Pacific Crest Trail.  Built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Rustic Style arch had deteriorated due to the elements and nearly eight decades of use.  The final phase will take place on Monday, August 22, when the log stringers will be put in place.

The restoration project replaced inkind all of the deteriorated parts of the structure, including replacement of the log stringers that support the bridge deck and repair of the stone masonry abutments.  Deteriorated components of the arch were removed last season, including the log stringers and masonry to prepare for replacement.  Replacement logs were shaped and fitted according to National Park Service standards over the winter, in preparation for installation this summer.

The entrance will remain open, but visitors traveling on State Route 410 are advised that short traffic delays will occur as the logs are put in place.

When the project is complete, there should be no discernible changes for visitors, except the remarkable structure will be in good condition for another 80 years of service!

                                  -NPS-

Rehabilitation of 10 miles of Stevens Canyon Road Planned in 2011, 2012 and 2013

Mount Rainier National Park News Release
Mount Rainier National Park Acting Superintendent Randy King and Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division officials announce that Phase 1 of the planned rehabilitation of  Stevens Canyon Road was awarded to MidMountain Contractors, Inc. of Kirkland, WA for $2,322,367.90 with a Notice to Proceed issued for project start on Monday, August 15, 2011 and a contract completion date of October 30, 2011.

The National Park Service prepared an Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), which was approved by the Pacific West Regional Director on July 1, 2010.  The FONSI calls for the resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of the Stevens Canyon Road and other related facilities, including bridges, tunnels, culverts, guard walls, retaining walls, turnouts and the short Wonderland Trail section adjacent to Reflection Lake. The improvements will occur along two segments of the road, totaling 10.09 miles of the 19 mile road.  Segment 1 begins at the Nisqually Paradise Road intersection and extends east for 4.83 miles to the Stevens Creek Bridge. Segment 4 begins at the Backbone Ridge Viaduct (just east of the Backbone Ridge Viewpoint) and continues for 5.26 miles to the intersection with Washington State Route (SR) 123.

Ten sites in Segment 1 and 35 sites in Segment 4 have been identified as needing subsurface stabilization to halt roadway embankment creep that has resulted in surface tension cracks and appreciable horizontal and vertical displacement. Two of the 10 sites in Segment 1 require full roadway embankment replacement down to 22 foot depth and retaining/guard wall replacements.  Most of the 35 sites in Segment 4 require either ¾- width or full road embankment replacement down to 5 foot depth, some of which require retaining/guard wall replacements.

Due to the scope of the extensive roadway embankment stabilization efforts, it will be necessary to close the east end (Segment 4) of Stevens Canyon Road from the gate located just west of the Grove of the Patriarchs (see attached map) to just east of the popular Backbone Ridge Viewpoint from September 6, 2011 to the end of the contract period on October 30, 2011. Pending weather conditions, the roadway will likely be shut down for the winter season upon project completion. The contractor will also be doing subsurface compaction grouting in both road segments to stabilize the roadway in 2011.  Visitors will be able to access the Reflection Lakes area, Box Canyon and Backbone Ridge Viewpoint area and adjacent trailheads from the west during the 2011closure period.


Under a separate contract yet to be advertised, Phase 2 will take place during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, which will involve subsurface stabilization work on the west end (Segment 1) and require closure from just east of the Paradise Valley Road to the Box Canyon Area immediately following Labor Day 2012 to when the road is shut down for the winter. The contractor will also be repairing the tunnel walls at milepost 6.9 and 8.5 during the closure period.  During this period, visitors will be able to access up to the Box Canyon area from the east.  From approximately June 2012 to just before Labor Day 2012 the contractor will be conducting work in both segments, at which time visitors should anticipate 20 minute delays Mondays through Fridays.

During the 2013 season, the contractor will focus on drainage improvements, repair/stabilization and reconstruction of historic rock retaining walls, milling/recycling the asphalt surface as road base; and resurfacing with new hot-mix asphalt which will be accomplished while the roadway is open to the public. At this time visitors should again anticipate 20 minute delays Mondays through Fridays until project completion estimated in September, 2013.

Stevens Canyon Road connects the east and west side of the park, extending for 19 miles from SR 123 at the east end to intersection with the Nisqually to Paradise Road at the west end, two miles south of Paradise. During the 2011 & 2012 closure periods, visitors are encouraged to access the Paradise area from the southwest via the Nisqually Entrance at east end of SR 706. Visitors traveling from the east via SR 410, SR 123, and/or US 12 who wish to visit the Paradise area have two detour options:  Via Gifford Pinchot National Forest Service Road 52 (Skate Creek Road) beginning on US 12 in Packwood and ending on SR 706 east of Ashford; or the longer route via SR 7 beginning in Morton on US 12 and ending on SR 706 at Elbe (see attached map).

While the construction and associated closures and traffic delays present an inconvenience, the rehabilitation work will not only improve the driving surface of the roadway, but ensure its longevity.

Updated information on this project may be obtained by calling Mount Rainier National Park at 360-569-2166. Information on this project, as well as general park information, is also available on Mount Rainier National Park’s website www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/newsreleases.htm.

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NOTE:  Drivers can now get real time traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most cell phones. This new traveler information system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that manages 4.6 million calls each year.  Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction, mountain pass conditions, and state ferry system information, as well as toll free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.

                                  -NPS-

Night Sky Programs Aug 5 and Beyond!

Star Party and Night Skies Program at Paradise: 9:00 PM, Friday August 5, 2011.

Families and individuals of all ages are invited to the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park for a special program on Friday, August 5. The event starts at 9:00 PM in the lobby of the Paradise Inn with a short presentation about the National Park Service “Night Skies” program.  The National Park Service has come to embrace night skies as one of the many scenic vistas the agency is a steward of. It is essential to keeping a park whole and touches on almost every aspect that is important to us - from
sustainability to stargazers, and animals to ancient ruins.

At 9:45 PM there will be outdoor star gazing in front of the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center with Tacoma Astronomical Society (TAS) volunteers and their telescopes. Astronomy Society volunteers will also assist  with special children's astronomy activities.  All ages will be able to make astronomy devices called "star finders."

If weather makes star gazing difficult, the party will move inside the Paradise Inn lobby for a 45-minute film about the Milky Way galaxy.

Night Sky viewing at the park through Labor Day

Visitors are also invited to join Mount Rainier volunteer astronomer-interpreter Don West-Wilke for night sky viewing Thursdays through Sundays through Labor Day.  Don and his unique telescope will help visitors see the night sky (weather permitting) beginning at 10 PM at the following park locations:
Thursdays: Longmire Plaza in front of the National Park Inn
Fridays: Plaza in front of the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center
Saturdays: Plaza in front of the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center
Sundays: Backbone Ridge pull-out along Steven's Canyon Road
Mondays: Plaza in front of the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center

If you have questions please contact Park Ranger Curt Jacquot at (360) 569-2211, extension 6577.

Information about the Tacoma Astronomy Society is found online at: http://www.tas-online.org/

General park information is available at www.nps.gov/mora  or by calling 360-569-2211.


                                  -NPS-