Webmaster
06-23-2011, 07:59 AM
By Susan Gilmore
Seattle Times staff reporter
Sunrise in Mount Rainier National Park — the highest point reachable by vehicle — routinely draws summertime crowds eager for the view. But this year, those throngs may have to wait until July 8 to visit — and that has nearby businesses upset.
Even though the road to Sunrise is clear, the National Park Service has planned to keep it closed to traffic because of heavy snow surrounding the visitor area.
Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga said Wednesday evening that he is reconsidering the July 8 opening date but won't decide for sure until Monday.
What's particularly distressing is that, based on the current plans, Sunrise will be closed for the busy Fourth of July weekend, said Vivian Cadematori, who operates Alta Crystal Resort out of Greenwater. Chinook Pass on the east side of the park, meanwhile, was scheduled to reopen Thursday.
"We need the energy and traffic on this side of the park," Cadematori said. "Having Sunrise closed is the kiss of death to those of us who depend on Mount Rainier traffic for our livelihoods."
Even though the road and parking areas are clear, the surrounding areas are still covered in snow — 10 feet deep in some places, the park service said. The water and electricity also are not turned on yet and the toilets are not working, said Mount Rainier spokeswoman Donna Rahier. The Park Service had initially planned to open Sunrise on Friday but delayed it because of that heavy snow.
"We understand their frustration," Rahier said. "We are trying to get it open as quickly as possible."
Last year, the road to Sunrise opened June 25 — without the snack bar being open, Cadematori noted.
"Last year, the Park opened Sunrise without any services, just like we're asking them to do now. Why is this year different?" said Cadematori, who hiked the 10 miles from White River to Sunrise with her husband over the weekend.
Tiana Enger, marketing director of Crystal Mountain ski area, said the closure of the road has kept people away from nearby Crystal, which just opened a new gondola for the summer.
"We were banking on a lot of traffic from tourists, and if people aren't coming to this side of the mountain, it will significantly hurt our business," she said. "Sunrise always opens by July, and pushing it out past the Fourth of July weekend is absurd. The road is plowed, the lots are plowed. There's safe access. It does not make sense why it's closed. A lot of small businesses struggle offseason, and the longer the opening is prolonged, the longer they will continue to struggle."
Uberuaga said that he'd like to get Sunrise open for the Fourth of July, but he can't make that commitment.
"We've had an enormous amount of snow that Mother Nature has dealt this year," he said, adding that there's never been a year when Sunrise wasn't opened for the Fourth of July.
He said he hopes to make a decision by Monday. The power and water wouldn't be turned on, but he said he might be able to get some portable toilets.
"I'm assessing this every day," he said. "I don't want to put my staff to the wall. We can maybe open it with no services. I understand the concerns; my neighbors are the business owners. I want it open. The businesses want it open. I'm going to do my best."
Businesses remained concerned.
"Until we see something in writing from Mount Rainier that gives us an opening date, we only have the July 8th date to go on," Cadematori said. "Promises of 'maybe' opening it earlier don't really help all that much."
Over at Paradise, on the south side of the park, 907 inches of snow have fallen since last July, according to the park service. The record is 1,122 inches during the 1971-72 season.
What upsets the business owners near Sunrise is that the Park Service closes down the concessions there after Labor Day but keeps the road open into October. They suggest the park can do the same thing now. Uberuaga said the park does leave the road open after everything closes in September, but it's never done the reverse and opened it early.
The situation is different because there is usually no snow in September, said Patti Wold, another park spokeswoman.
"We want visitors to understand we have a ton of snow," Wold said. "People are coming to the park to have a summer experience. It's not a summer experience at Sunrise, but I know a lot of folks are upset about it."
Bob Grubb, owner of Wapiti Woolies in Greenwater, said the closure hurts his clothing business. "I realize there's a lot of snow, but they could open it if they wanted to. That's the bottom line."
from: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015399194_sunrise23m.html
Seattle Times staff reporter
Sunrise in Mount Rainier National Park — the highest point reachable by vehicle — routinely draws summertime crowds eager for the view. But this year, those throngs may have to wait until July 8 to visit — and that has nearby businesses upset.
Even though the road to Sunrise is clear, the National Park Service has planned to keep it closed to traffic because of heavy snow surrounding the visitor area.
Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga said Wednesday evening that he is reconsidering the July 8 opening date but won't decide for sure until Monday.
What's particularly distressing is that, based on the current plans, Sunrise will be closed for the busy Fourth of July weekend, said Vivian Cadematori, who operates Alta Crystal Resort out of Greenwater. Chinook Pass on the east side of the park, meanwhile, was scheduled to reopen Thursday.
"We need the energy and traffic on this side of the park," Cadematori said. "Having Sunrise closed is the kiss of death to those of us who depend on Mount Rainier traffic for our livelihoods."
Even though the road and parking areas are clear, the surrounding areas are still covered in snow — 10 feet deep in some places, the park service said. The water and electricity also are not turned on yet and the toilets are not working, said Mount Rainier spokeswoman Donna Rahier. The Park Service had initially planned to open Sunrise on Friday but delayed it because of that heavy snow.
"We understand their frustration," Rahier said. "We are trying to get it open as quickly as possible."
Last year, the road to Sunrise opened June 25 — without the snack bar being open, Cadematori noted.
"Last year, the Park opened Sunrise without any services, just like we're asking them to do now. Why is this year different?" said Cadematori, who hiked the 10 miles from White River to Sunrise with her husband over the weekend.
Tiana Enger, marketing director of Crystal Mountain ski area, said the closure of the road has kept people away from nearby Crystal, which just opened a new gondola for the summer.
"We were banking on a lot of traffic from tourists, and if people aren't coming to this side of the mountain, it will significantly hurt our business," she said. "Sunrise always opens by July, and pushing it out past the Fourth of July weekend is absurd. The road is plowed, the lots are plowed. There's safe access. It does not make sense why it's closed. A lot of small businesses struggle offseason, and the longer the opening is prolonged, the longer they will continue to struggle."
Uberuaga said that he'd like to get Sunrise open for the Fourth of July, but he can't make that commitment.
"We've had an enormous amount of snow that Mother Nature has dealt this year," he said, adding that there's never been a year when Sunrise wasn't opened for the Fourth of July.
He said he hopes to make a decision by Monday. The power and water wouldn't be turned on, but he said he might be able to get some portable toilets.
"I'm assessing this every day," he said. "I don't want to put my staff to the wall. We can maybe open it with no services. I understand the concerns; my neighbors are the business owners. I want it open. The businesses want it open. I'm going to do my best."
Businesses remained concerned.
"Until we see something in writing from Mount Rainier that gives us an opening date, we only have the July 8th date to go on," Cadematori said. "Promises of 'maybe' opening it earlier don't really help all that much."
Over at Paradise, on the south side of the park, 907 inches of snow have fallen since last July, according to the park service. The record is 1,122 inches during the 1971-72 season.
What upsets the business owners near Sunrise is that the Park Service closes down the concessions there after Labor Day but keeps the road open into October. They suggest the park can do the same thing now. Uberuaga said the park does leave the road open after everything closes in September, but it's never done the reverse and opened it early.
The situation is different because there is usually no snow in September, said Patti Wold, another park spokeswoman.
"We want visitors to understand we have a ton of snow," Wold said. "People are coming to the park to have a summer experience. It's not a summer experience at Sunrise, but I know a lot of folks are upset about it."
Bob Grubb, owner of Wapiti Woolies in Greenwater, said the closure hurts his clothing business. "I realize there's a lot of snow, but they could open it if they wanted to. That's the bottom line."
from: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015399194_sunrise23m.html