[Hikerdood]

I heard last Sunday (Jan 15) was a parking nightmare with cars parked in the middle of the newly paved road and several cars were blocking traffic... Anybody witness that?

[cascadeclimber]

Build a new trail. Spray about it blowing your own horn on the news. Build a giant new parking lot for new trail. Make sure to build parking lot in secluded location behind gate. Pay person to open gate every morning. Pay person to lock gate every night. Discover that poor location of lot results in many car break-ins. Pay to install surveillance cameras. Destroy parts of old trail after promising to leave it alone. Lock access to the parking lot all winter, causing frustration, upset, crowding, anger, etc. All the stuff we go to the mountains Edit to add: Whine and complain that your budget is inadequate to pay for upkeep and maintenance on the infrastructure you've built. Sorry, but this is just classic DNR dumbassery. So, so upset with them.

[cambajamba]

I did indeed witness that. I had hoped someone would have plowed the road so I could cruise down and check out the winter scene in my less that winterized car but when I pulled onto the road the parked cars started nearly immediately after the lutheran camp. Both sides of the road, center single lane was super tight and a sheet of ice so I didn't feel confident continuing. Backed out and went elsewhere. Sidenote: you think the Mailbox parking area was bad you should have tried pulling off the highway at Denny Creek the same day. Same type of scene but people were parking all down the on ramp and had been marked for tow. A cop had light spinning down by where the road toward Denny Creek Camp goes under the highway and numerous vehicles appeared to be stuck trying to find their way out of the mess.

[Hikerdood]

[Stefan]

Those dang humans trying to get away from the city! I betcha lotsa of them are newbies!

[iron]

amazon effect (among others)

[williswall]

And Bernado wonders why I'm not keen on the I-90 corridor....

[Kim Brown]

The road to at least that point has always been pretty good for any car to negotiate. I doubt the paving project has anything to do with it. But I bet it has a lot to do with the rising population in Puget Sound. Stories all over the news discuss the big influx of people here. Myriad construction cranes throughout the city. Read the articles about the building boom in Ballard, South Lake Union, Lower Queen Anne. People enjoy Mailbox. Blocking the road, though. That's lousy.

[Randito]

Meanwhile, not far away, every time I've been to the Mt Washington trailhead -- there has been plenty of places to park. Last time I was there, there was a superb view of Mt Rainier from meadows near the top and it was quiet enough from so few visitors that I took a little nap.

[SteeperColder]

[joker]

[nickmtn]

I don't think I'd ever go to Mount Washington again. Quite possibly the worst place I have ever been. Mailbox, Si, and Poo Poo Point are far superior options....

[JonnyQuest]

[Riverside Laker]

Someone should start a new route up Mailbox, just like the first one. Straight up hill, of course. It would be a true North Cascades alpine experience. That should last a couple years until it gets written up and goes viral like the first one. Then... start a newer one. A few of these should last through a pair of knees, then let the next generation worry about the proliferation of trails.

[Brucester]

Saw the parked cars all the way to the church camp. Roadway looked very icy.