Rainier chief addresses summer operations at community meetings
JEFFREY P. MAYOR
Randy King, superintendent at Mount Rainier National Park, will hold three community meetings this week to offer an update on summer operations at the park and to answer questions.
King and other staff will provide updates about park operations, expected open and closing dates, planning and construction projects, potential budget cuts and other park issues.
Maintaining positive relations with the park’s gateway communities is important, King said.
“We rely on these communities to provide many of the services we can’t provide our visitors,” he said.
“These parks are economic drivers locally and nationally. They are investments our country makes that pays off,” he added.
The meetings will be: Monday: Packwood Community Center, 3-5 p.m. Tuesday: Ashford Mountain Haus, 4-6 p.m. Wednesday: Enumclaw Library, 3-5 p.m.
King also is scheduled to attend a business gathering in Morton on Thursday.
For more information, contact Donna Rahier at 360-569-6501 or donna_rahier@nps.gov.
TRY WESTSIDE ROAD FOR FLOWERS, GOATS
If you are ready to see Mount Rainier National Park without its wintery mantle of snow, consider a visit up the Westside Road. Located not far from the Nisqually entrance to the park, there are wildflowers, waterfalls and maybe some mountain goats to be seen.
According to several sources, the goats have been fairly easy to see as the scamper across the rocky face of Mount Wow. There are plenty of breaks in the forest, allowing the spring sun to hit the ground and allowing some of the first wildflowers of the season to blossom. You might be able to see avalanche lilies and paintbrush.
The gravel road is open about three miles to Dry Creek and there are some patches of snow at the parking area at the road’s end. From there, hikers and bikers can continue up the old roadway.
If you want to stretch your legs, park near the intersection with the road to Longmire, the road makes for an easy family hike. There also is the lower portion of Kautz Creek Trail farther up the road.
MEADOW ROVER TRAINING
Even though more than 13 feet of snow still covers the meadows at Paradise, the park’s volunteer staff is preparing for the summer hiking season. They have planned training programs for people interested in joining the Meadow Rover program.
Participants will learn about the park’s natural resources, emergency procedures and how to effectively talk with park visitors about the importance of staying on the trails that cross the fragile sub-Alpine meadows.
The training sessions will be: June 23: For new Meadow Rovers, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Longmire Community Building. Register by sending an email to Mora_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov.
June 24: For experienced Meadow Rovers, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Longmire Community Building. Register by sending an email to Mora_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov.
jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com 253-597-8640
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