Webmaster
09-28-2007, 12:36 PM
JEFFREY P. MAYOR
The News Tribune
Published: September 28th, 2007 11:53
Legions of volunteers worked throughout the park to reopen trails, repair damaged areas and pulled non-native plants.
Perspiration darkened the ends of Carol Campbell’s brunette hair.
Her glasses slipped down her nose for the same reason.
Her T-shirt, with “Mount Rainier, Wash.” emblazoned on the back, was streaked with dirt.
But the Tumwater resident never slowed down as she planted pine saplings and bunches of grass along a new section of the Wonderland Trail not far from Longmire.
Campbell and 20 other people from the Washington State Geocaching Association spent a cool, damp Saturday at the park Sept. 15. Some people hacked away roots and pried out rocks sure to be tripping hazards on the new trail.
Others cleared debris, heeding the words written on a pink trail marker: “Rehab this area/make it look natural.” Their yellow hard hats stood out amid the greens, browns and reds of forest. Their laughter echoed among towering western red cedar and Douglas fir.
The geocachers were among the more than 1,500 people who heeded the call for help after flooding in November 2006 ravaged Mount Rainier National Park. Nearly 18 inches of rain in 36 hours washed away roads, campgrounds, trails and bridges.
What followed was a volunteer effort unprecedented at the park.
As of Monday, volunteers have donated 67,000 hours, compared to the 924 people who contributed 43,844 hours in 2006. The previous record for volunteer hours was just over 56,000 in 1999, the year of the park’s centennial.
Kevin Bacher, who heads the park’s volunteer program, put the dollar value at more than $1.25 million.
But measuring the true value of this year’s effort is harder.
“If we didn’t have the volunteer assistance, a lot of miles of trail most likely would not have been open or would be opening now,” said Carl Fabiani, the park’s trail supervisor. “If you count all the youth corps and volunteer support we had, it was at least half the work we got done.”
Carla Skansie, a park trail crew leader since 2001, has led the effort to rebuild the Wonderland Trail between Cougar Rock and Longmire. She was working alongside the geocaching crew.
“I love it. We wouldn’t have gotten this far on the trail this year without these groups. Every time another group comes in, it’s like ‘Yes, new people, more energy,’ ” Skansie said.
In addition to trail work, other volunteers served as Meadow Rovers at Paradise and Sunrise, keeping visitors on the trails and off the fragile alpine wildlflowers. Others replanted damaged areas or pulled non-native plants. Some cleared years of decay from the Longmire campground, turning it into a base for volunteers.
“At times, back in November and December, we were wondering how we were going to get this thing back in shape. We couldn’t have gotten as much done without those volunteers,” said park superintendent Dave Uberuaga.
IT’S OUR PARK
“More importantly, I think it helps build a long-term relationship with these volunteers, what I call the new stewards of the park,” Uberuaga added.
It was that sense of ownership that led many of the geocachers to toil in the dirt and occasional drizzle.
“A lot of people do feel like this is their park and want to help out when things like this happen,” Campbell said.
Sammie Arnold begged her mom, Tina, to come for the work day.
“I really wanted to come. I wanted to help rebuild the trail,” said the 14-year-old Tenino resident. “I like hiking on trails and wanted to build it for other people to hike on it and enjoy it.”
Also on hand was Jean Millan of Kent. The Wonderland Trail project was her 11th volunteer effort of the summer. She plans to be in the park today for the final volunteer project of the season.
“This is my mountain,” she said with conviction when asked why she keeps coming back.
“It has given me so much over the years. I figured, even though my tent campsite was destroyed, I would do anything and give back to the park.”
Coming to the park since 1983, Millan typically set up her tent at Site No. 18 at Sunshine Point Campground and spent a few days hiking. But much of the campground washed away in the rampaging Nisqually River.
“The first few days after the rains came I was just devastated.”
IT TAKES A COALITION
Working alongside Millan and the others were crew members from the Student Conservation Association, brought in by the park in January to coordinate the volunteer effort.
“The first step was figuring out what the parks needs and where we stand,” said Jill Baum, the SCA’s program director at the park. “We thought we would have a whole list of things to do when we got here, and that just wasn’t the case. A lot of trails were still under snow.”
But Baum said she was thrilled at how much work was done, given the crazy summer weather and inexperience of many volunteers.
“These are folks walking in who may never have picked up a Pulaski in their life. They showed up at 9 in the morning and left by 4. But, holy cow, we were able to get a lot done,” she said.
In addition to coordinating volunteers, the team of 80 SCA staffers, interns and team members worked throughout the park.
Aaron Fumarola, 22, of Cortland, N.Y., was glad he came west for the summer.
A May graduate of Binghamton University in New York, Fumarola thought working at the park would be a good experience as he considers pursuing a master’s degree in an environmental field.
“It’s been awesome. It’s work I’ve never done before. I’ve met amazing and passionate volunteers,” he said.
But the SCA was just one part of the coalition that assisted the park.
More than 260 people have volunteered through Washington Trails Association. The trail advocacy group had a full-time crew leader in the park for the first time. It increased its work days at the park from the typical 10 or so to nearly 60.
“It was great to see how many people really cared. We had to close some work parties because we didn’t have enough assistant crew leaders. It was amazing to see the response,” said Jenni Blake, the association’s trail maintenance director.
Those volunteer work groups allowed the park’s trail crews to focus on more difficult tasks.
“Early on, they were doing the trail opening and that allowed our crews to do some of the major reconstruction projects that took a lot of time. Our crews worked on projects that required expertise and took more time, projects that involved blasting, working in extreme conditions,” Fabiani said.
Some volunteers came from groups like The Mountaineers and the geocachers, or businesses like REI, Boeing and Starbucks. The Washington’s National Park Fund provided financial support. The National Park Conservation Association lobbied lawmakers to obtain funding for flood recovery.
“We couldn’t have done it without them. The coalition made it easier for individuals to get involved,” Uberuaga said.
“What was crucial was when the executive directors of all these groups started to meet every two weeks. The synergy came together and it built more momentum than if we had done it individually.”
Jay Satz, the SCA’s Northwest executive, said the nonprofit groups now realize the power they wield by working together.
“Now we’re talking about how can we utilize our influence beyond the national parks. People forget the same storm slammed four national forests and they didn’t get a penny,” he said.
MAKING A CONNECTION
Campbell, the Arnolds and Judy Kennedy made a good team. One person would bring materials for replanting a site where the Nisqually River washed away the original trail. The others planted, smoothed out rough spots and gave the new trail a natural look.
“Now we’ll have to come back next year and see how our trees have made it,” Campbell said.
“Now it really makes it our park. Now we have a personal attachment to the park.”
Bacher plans to tap that attachment when the work season begins next spring. But he’ll do so, he said, with a deep sense of gratitude.
“The people who work up here know how much the park means to the people of Puget Sound. But when you get this outpouring of help, it’s very humbling to be entrusted with the job of caring for this place, knowing so many people in the community care about it.”
Janet Allen, who organized the geocachers’ outing, is one example. She “grew up in the shadow of the mountain in Tacoma.”
“My heart sank when I saw some of those pictures of the flood, more so than when Mount St. Helen’s erupted,” Allen said.
“This is something way more important to the park than picking up trash. It’s our way of saying thanks to the parks for letting us us them as a playground.”
from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/167010.html
The News Tribune
Published: September 28th, 2007 11:53
Legions of volunteers worked throughout the park to reopen trails, repair damaged areas and pulled non-native plants.
Perspiration darkened the ends of Carol Campbell’s brunette hair.
Her glasses slipped down her nose for the same reason.
Her T-shirt, with “Mount Rainier, Wash.” emblazoned on the back, was streaked with dirt.
But the Tumwater resident never slowed down as she planted pine saplings and bunches of grass along a new section of the Wonderland Trail not far from Longmire.
Campbell and 20 other people from the Washington State Geocaching Association spent a cool, damp Saturday at the park Sept. 15. Some people hacked away roots and pried out rocks sure to be tripping hazards on the new trail.
Others cleared debris, heeding the words written on a pink trail marker: “Rehab this area/make it look natural.” Their yellow hard hats stood out amid the greens, browns and reds of forest. Their laughter echoed among towering western red cedar and Douglas fir.
The geocachers were among the more than 1,500 people who heeded the call for help after flooding in November 2006 ravaged Mount Rainier National Park. Nearly 18 inches of rain in 36 hours washed away roads, campgrounds, trails and bridges.
What followed was a volunteer effort unprecedented at the park.
As of Monday, volunteers have donated 67,000 hours, compared to the 924 people who contributed 43,844 hours in 2006. The previous record for volunteer hours was just over 56,000 in 1999, the year of the park’s centennial.
Kevin Bacher, who heads the park’s volunteer program, put the dollar value at more than $1.25 million.
But measuring the true value of this year’s effort is harder.
“If we didn’t have the volunteer assistance, a lot of miles of trail most likely would not have been open or would be opening now,” said Carl Fabiani, the park’s trail supervisor. “If you count all the youth corps and volunteer support we had, it was at least half the work we got done.”
Carla Skansie, a park trail crew leader since 2001, has led the effort to rebuild the Wonderland Trail between Cougar Rock and Longmire. She was working alongside the geocaching crew.
“I love it. We wouldn’t have gotten this far on the trail this year without these groups. Every time another group comes in, it’s like ‘Yes, new people, more energy,’ ” Skansie said.
In addition to trail work, other volunteers served as Meadow Rovers at Paradise and Sunrise, keeping visitors on the trails and off the fragile alpine wildlflowers. Others replanted damaged areas or pulled non-native plants. Some cleared years of decay from the Longmire campground, turning it into a base for volunteers.
“At times, back in November and December, we were wondering how we were going to get this thing back in shape. We couldn’t have gotten as much done without those volunteers,” said park superintendent Dave Uberuaga.
IT’S OUR PARK
“More importantly, I think it helps build a long-term relationship with these volunteers, what I call the new stewards of the park,” Uberuaga added.
It was that sense of ownership that led many of the geocachers to toil in the dirt and occasional drizzle.
“A lot of people do feel like this is their park and want to help out when things like this happen,” Campbell said.
Sammie Arnold begged her mom, Tina, to come for the work day.
“I really wanted to come. I wanted to help rebuild the trail,” said the 14-year-old Tenino resident. “I like hiking on trails and wanted to build it for other people to hike on it and enjoy it.”
Also on hand was Jean Millan of Kent. The Wonderland Trail project was her 11th volunteer effort of the summer. She plans to be in the park today for the final volunteer project of the season.
“This is my mountain,” she said with conviction when asked why she keeps coming back.
“It has given me so much over the years. I figured, even though my tent campsite was destroyed, I would do anything and give back to the park.”
Coming to the park since 1983, Millan typically set up her tent at Site No. 18 at Sunshine Point Campground and spent a few days hiking. But much of the campground washed away in the rampaging Nisqually River.
“The first few days after the rains came I was just devastated.”
IT TAKES A COALITION
Working alongside Millan and the others were crew members from the Student Conservation Association, brought in by the park in January to coordinate the volunteer effort.
“The first step was figuring out what the parks needs and where we stand,” said Jill Baum, the SCA’s program director at the park. “We thought we would have a whole list of things to do when we got here, and that just wasn’t the case. A lot of trails were still under snow.”
But Baum said she was thrilled at how much work was done, given the crazy summer weather and inexperience of many volunteers.
“These are folks walking in who may never have picked up a Pulaski in their life. They showed up at 9 in the morning and left by 4. But, holy cow, we were able to get a lot done,” she said.
In addition to coordinating volunteers, the team of 80 SCA staffers, interns and team members worked throughout the park.
Aaron Fumarola, 22, of Cortland, N.Y., was glad he came west for the summer.
A May graduate of Binghamton University in New York, Fumarola thought working at the park would be a good experience as he considers pursuing a master’s degree in an environmental field.
“It’s been awesome. It’s work I’ve never done before. I’ve met amazing and passionate volunteers,” he said.
But the SCA was just one part of the coalition that assisted the park.
More than 260 people have volunteered through Washington Trails Association. The trail advocacy group had a full-time crew leader in the park for the first time. It increased its work days at the park from the typical 10 or so to nearly 60.
“It was great to see how many people really cared. We had to close some work parties because we didn’t have enough assistant crew leaders. It was amazing to see the response,” said Jenni Blake, the association’s trail maintenance director.
Those volunteer work groups allowed the park’s trail crews to focus on more difficult tasks.
“Early on, they were doing the trail opening and that allowed our crews to do some of the major reconstruction projects that took a lot of time. Our crews worked on projects that required expertise and took more time, projects that involved blasting, working in extreme conditions,” Fabiani said.
Some volunteers came from groups like The Mountaineers and the geocachers, or businesses like REI, Boeing and Starbucks. The Washington’s National Park Fund provided financial support. The National Park Conservation Association lobbied lawmakers to obtain funding for flood recovery.
“We couldn’t have done it without them. The coalition made it easier for individuals to get involved,” Uberuaga said.
“What was crucial was when the executive directors of all these groups started to meet every two weeks. The synergy came together and it built more momentum than if we had done it individually.”
Jay Satz, the SCA’s Northwest executive, said the nonprofit groups now realize the power they wield by working together.
“Now we’re talking about how can we utilize our influence beyond the national parks. People forget the same storm slammed four national forests and they didn’t get a penny,” he said.
MAKING A CONNECTION
Campbell, the Arnolds and Judy Kennedy made a good team. One person would bring materials for replanting a site where the Nisqually River washed away the original trail. The others planted, smoothed out rough spots and gave the new trail a natural look.
“Now we’ll have to come back next year and see how our trees have made it,” Campbell said.
“Now it really makes it our park. Now we have a personal attachment to the park.”
Bacher plans to tap that attachment when the work season begins next spring. But he’ll do so, he said, with a deep sense of gratitude.
“The people who work up here know how much the park means to the people of Puget Sound. But when you get this outpouring of help, it’s very humbling to be entrusted with the job of caring for this place, knowing so many people in the community care about it.”
Janet Allen, who organized the geocachers’ outing, is one example. She “grew up in the shadow of the mountain in Tacoma.”
“My heart sank when I saw some of those pictures of the flood, more so than when Mount St. Helen’s erupted,” Allen said.
“This is something way more important to the park than picking up trash. It’s our way of saying thanks to the parks for letting us us them as a playground.”
from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/167010.html