Mount Rainier National Park’s Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center will be open today through Monday for the Presidents Day weekend.
The center offers exhibits, a park movie, gifts and food service. The center will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.
Ranger-led snowshoe walks will be conducted each day at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. The walks last about two hours, traverse about 1.2 miles and are limited to 25 people (8 years or older) on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sign up at the visitor center information desk one hour before each walk. Snowshoes are provided, but a donation of $4 is suggested. Visitors who want to take the snowshoe trek should wear layers of warm clothes, hats, mittens, suitable boots, sunglasses and sunscreen.
The snow play area has two tubing runs in place. This is the only area in the park where sliding and sledding are permitted. Use only inner tubes, plastic sleds, saucers or other soft sledding devices.
An air compressor is available during snow play hours at the upper parking lot rest room.
Thanks to fresh snow Friday, Paradise now has 115 inches on the ground, about 80 percent of the average normal amount for February.
Visitors are reminded that all vehicles should carry tire chains when in the mountains. For road conditions, call 360-569-2211.
Jeffrey P. Mayor, staff writer
