Mount Rainier National Park officials are recommending that a short section of the Wonderland Trail in the Carbon River area be rerouted.

Superintendent Dave Uberuaga released an Environmental Assessment last week that presents three alternatives for repairing the flood-damaged sections of the trail.

During the historic flooding in November 2006, about a half-mile of the famed trail was damaged, two miles east of the Ipsut Creek Campground in a designated wilderness area. The spur trail that crosses the Carbon River and connects the Wonderland Trail to the Northern Loop Trail also was damaged.

The Wonderland Trail is considered one of the must-hike trails in America. The 93-mile route encircles Mount Rainier. Prior to the flood, the Carbon River segment of the trail provided access to the Carbon Glacier, the Mother Mountain loop and points east from Ipsut Creek.

The missing trail tread, glacier river crossings, lack of a defined route and continued exposure to flooding is creating conditions that are unsafe for hikers and damaging to park resources, Uberuaga said in a news release.

Currently, hikers are being rerouted to the Northern Loop Trail via the existing spur trail.

Here is a look at the alternatives, according to the Environmental Assessment:

Alternative 1 (no action): Hikers would continue to bypass the damaged section of the Wonderland Trail by crossing over to the Northern Loop Trail via an existing spur trail across the Carbon River. About 0.8 miles of the Wonderland would be abandoned. The Northern Loop, from the spur to the Carbon River suspension bridge, would not be upgraded to Wonderland standards.

The spur access to the Northern Loop would continue to be vulnerable to flooding and other geological hazards.

Alternative 2: This option would detour the trail from the damaged section of the Wonderland to the Northern Loop via a spur trail that currently connects the two trails. The damaged 0.8 miles of the Wonderland would be closed and abandoned. The Northern Loop section from the spur to the Carbon River suspension bridge would be upgraded to Wonderland standards.

The Wonderland would remain susceptible to flooding across the spur to the Northern Loop.

Alternative 3 (preferred alternative): About 1,500 feet of the Wonderland would be rerouted to higher ground just above the washed-out area. The rerouted section would tie into the undamaged segments of the trail. The reroute would require the use of explosives in designated wilderness to open up approximately 500 feet of new trail through a hard-rock area. A small helicopter would be used to transport blasting/drilling equipment.

This alternative would provide the safest and most sustainable trail from Ipsut Creek to the Carbon Glacier, the Carbon River suspension bridge, the Northern Loop and the Wonderland to the east. A reroute would require less annual maintenance compared to the other alternatives. The Environmental Assessment

The document is available at parkplanning.nps.gov. From the drop-down menu, choose Mount Rainier National Park. It is also available at local public libraries. To receive more information or to request a CD copy, call the Donna Rahier at 360-569-2211, Ext. 2301.

To comment

Comments must be postmarked or electronically date stamped no later than Oct. 18. You can send comments in writing to Superintendent, Mount Rainier National Park, 55210 238th Ave. E., Ashford, WA 98304, or electronically at parkplanning.nps.gov by choosing Mount Rainier National Park from the drop-down menu.