Webmaster
12-21-2007, 07:16 AM
JEFFREY P. MAYOR
The News Tribune
Published: December 20th, 2007 01:00 AM
The snow play area at Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park will open Saturday.
It’s the first time the area will be open in two seasons, since the park was closed last winter as crews worked to repair damage from the floods of November 2006.
Because snow depths are hovering around the 5-foot level, the snow play might be confined to an area that is smaller than normal. Park officials want at least 5 feet of snow to protect the vegetation. In the 2004-05 season, the area never opened because there wasn’t enough snow.
Sledding and sliding are permitted only in the Paradise snow play area. Visitors should comply with the signs, fencing and barricades that define the snow play area.
For visitor safety, only “soft” sliding devices such as flexible sleds, inner tubes and saucers are allowed. No hard toboggans or runner sleds can be used.
Weekday visitors will need to use the marked trail from the Jackson Visitor Center because the upper parking lot is not open due to construction.
During the winter, the Jackson Visitor Center is typically open weekends and holidays only. However, the center will be open daily from Saturday through Jan. 2. Center hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food service is available, or you can bring a picnic lunch.
For updates on the weather and road conditions, go to www.nps.gov/mora or call 360-569-2211.
from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/234436.html
The News Tribune
Published: December 20th, 2007 01:00 AM
The snow play area at Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park will open Saturday.
It’s the first time the area will be open in two seasons, since the park was closed last winter as crews worked to repair damage from the floods of November 2006.
Because snow depths are hovering around the 5-foot level, the snow play might be confined to an area that is smaller than normal. Park officials want at least 5 feet of snow to protect the vegetation. In the 2004-05 season, the area never opened because there wasn’t enough snow.
Sledding and sliding are permitted only in the Paradise snow play area. Visitors should comply with the signs, fencing and barricades that define the snow play area.
For visitor safety, only “soft” sliding devices such as flexible sleds, inner tubes and saucers are allowed. No hard toboggans or runner sleds can be used.
Weekday visitors will need to use the marked trail from the Jackson Visitor Center because the upper parking lot is not open due to construction.
During the winter, the Jackson Visitor Center is typically open weekends and holidays only. However, the center will be open daily from Saturday through Jan. 2. Center hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food service is available, or you can bring a picnic lunch.
For updates on the weather and road conditions, go to www.nps.gov/mora or call 360-569-2211.
from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/234436.html