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04-13-2007, 08:45 AM
Mount Rainier's busiest road opening May 5
By Warren Cornwall
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Seattle Times environment reporter
Fans of Mount Rainier have missed the entire winter there, thanks to November flooding that devastated roads and forced the longest closure in its history. But they won't miss the spring.
The most popular road at Mount Rainier National Park, Highway 706 to Paradise, is expected to reopen to the public May 5 — barring last-minute construction delays or bad weather, the park announced Thursday. Several other roads are expected to follow later in May.
But some other routes won't be open at all this year.
The reopening of the highly traveled Nisqually entrance near Ashford will provide access to the snow-covered Paradise area high on the mountain's southwest flank, as well as the visitor center and National Park Inn at Longmire.
Parks supporters said the announcement shows progress in the extensive parkwide repairs, which are expected to cost $36 million when they are all done.
"The public has been waiting patiently since November for the day when they can get back into the park to camp, hike and climb," said Sean Smith, northwest regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association.
The park has been open only to weekend visitors, who are bused in, and to climbers who hire guides to lead them up the mountain.
Specifically, the tentative opening schedule is:
• Highway 706 from the Nisqually entrance to Paradise opens May 5. The Longmire Museum and Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise will open then. The Cougar Rock Campground is set to open May 18. The Sunshine Point Campground, much of which washed away in the flood, won't open this year.
• The Stevens Canyon Road connecting Paradise to the east side of the park is closed, and it's unclear when it will open.
Highway 123 will be open up to the Stevens Canyon entrance on the southeast corner of the park May 18. But it will be closed all summer from Stevens Canyon to Cayuse Pass. The Ohanapecosh Campground, just before the Stevens Canyon entrance, will open May 25.
• Highway 410 will open mid-May. The White River Campground is expected to open at the end of June, about the time that the Sunrise Road is set to open.
• The Carbon River Road will stay closed all summer, but walk-in campers can go to Ipsut Creek Campground at the end of the road. Nearby Mowich Lake Road is expected to be ready for its usual opening at the end of June.
The extent of trail damage is also becoming apparent as winter snow recedes.
The park's landmark 93-mile Wonderland Trail, which circles Mount Rainier, has two seriously damaged sections that will require detours. Part of the Carbon Glacier trail, just upstream from the Lake James, was scoured down to bedrock. At another point, hikers will have to spend 4 miles walking on the Stevens Canyon Road.
"Those planning their 'once-in-a-lifetime' trip on the Wonderland Trail might want to postpone the experience until next year," said park spokeswoman Lee Taylor.
The trail to the Emmons Glacier climbing route up the mountain is also in "bad shape," the park service said.
The park service is warning visitors to use caution, particularly on damaged trails and roads. A Puyallup couple, Robert and Frances Annette Blakely, died in March after falling into Ipsut Creek from a makeshift log bridge.
Warren Cornwall: 206-464-2311 or wcornwall@seattletimes.com
from: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003664877_rainier13m0.html
By Warren Cornwall
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2007/04/12/2003664714.gif
Seattle Times environment reporter
Fans of Mount Rainier have missed the entire winter there, thanks to November flooding that devastated roads and forced the longest closure in its history. But they won't miss the spring.
The most popular road at Mount Rainier National Park, Highway 706 to Paradise, is expected to reopen to the public May 5 — barring last-minute construction delays or bad weather, the park announced Thursday. Several other roads are expected to follow later in May.
But some other routes won't be open at all this year.
The reopening of the highly traveled Nisqually entrance near Ashford will provide access to the snow-covered Paradise area high on the mountain's southwest flank, as well as the visitor center and National Park Inn at Longmire.
Parks supporters said the announcement shows progress in the extensive parkwide repairs, which are expected to cost $36 million when they are all done.
"The public has been waiting patiently since November for the day when they can get back into the park to camp, hike and climb," said Sean Smith, northwest regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association.
The park has been open only to weekend visitors, who are bused in, and to climbers who hire guides to lead them up the mountain.
Specifically, the tentative opening schedule is:
• Highway 706 from the Nisqually entrance to Paradise opens May 5. The Longmire Museum and Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise will open then. The Cougar Rock Campground is set to open May 18. The Sunshine Point Campground, much of which washed away in the flood, won't open this year.
• The Stevens Canyon Road connecting Paradise to the east side of the park is closed, and it's unclear when it will open.
Highway 123 will be open up to the Stevens Canyon entrance on the southeast corner of the park May 18. But it will be closed all summer from Stevens Canyon to Cayuse Pass. The Ohanapecosh Campground, just before the Stevens Canyon entrance, will open May 25.
• Highway 410 will open mid-May. The White River Campground is expected to open at the end of June, about the time that the Sunrise Road is set to open.
• The Carbon River Road will stay closed all summer, but walk-in campers can go to Ipsut Creek Campground at the end of the road. Nearby Mowich Lake Road is expected to be ready for its usual opening at the end of June.
The extent of trail damage is also becoming apparent as winter snow recedes.
The park's landmark 93-mile Wonderland Trail, which circles Mount Rainier, has two seriously damaged sections that will require detours. Part of the Carbon Glacier trail, just upstream from the Lake James, was scoured down to bedrock. At another point, hikers will have to spend 4 miles walking on the Stevens Canyon Road.
"Those planning their 'once-in-a-lifetime' trip on the Wonderland Trail might want to postpone the experience until next year," said park spokeswoman Lee Taylor.
The trail to the Emmons Glacier climbing route up the mountain is also in "bad shape," the park service said.
The park service is warning visitors to use caution, particularly on damaged trails and roads. A Puyallup couple, Robert and Frances Annette Blakely, died in March after falling into Ipsut Creek from a makeshift log bridge.
Warren Cornwall: 206-464-2311 or wcornwall@seattletimes.com
from: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003664877_rainier13m0.html