[HikingBex]

Anyone know why the road to Paradise has been closed during such beautiful weather this week? It’s been closed the last 2 days and is supposed to remain closed tomorrow. https://mobile.twitter.com/MountRainierNPS

[Randito]

Having the road open is not just a matter of plowing. Staff needs to also patrol the road. Since the murder of Ranger Anderson, I think the NPS is unwilling to short staff the law enforcement aspect of patrolling the road. https://www.odmp.org/officer/21076-park-ranger-margaret-a-anderson#:~:text=Park%20Ranger%20Margaret%20Anderson%20was,at%20approximately%2010%3A30%20am.

[altasnob]

Appears Rainier updated their twitter to say the road closure was for staffing shortages. They should have added this info to their 11/18 closure notice and not leave us all in the dark. Too bad it's closed on this absolutely gorgeous November Saturday before Thanksgiving as it is supposed to snow and the road will now be closed for another week or more.

[altasnob]

[thunderhead]

Ahhh, the utter incompetence of MRNP strikes again.

[Randito]

I have volunteered with ski patrol at Paradise and in that capacity use a park service radio for communication. Listening to the park LE radio chatter it is amazing how much stupid stuff happens on the road between Longmire and Paradise, there are several vehicle incidents on a typical day. A common one is people not believing the hairpin turn "10 mph" signs and impacting the snowbank. Its not a run of the mill forest service road and it does seem to attract a lot of people with no experience driving mountain roads. A large proportion of people coming to Paradise in the winter are coming with kids to use the sledding hill. It's not just well prepared hard-core skiers with 4WD vehicles heading to Paradise.

[altasnob]

I don't doubt that there are numerous crashes on that road every day. I spun out once in my 4wd truck hitting an ice patch in the shade on a sunny, above freezing, day. But you don't need cops with guns to help people who crash their cars. Maybe Rainer wouldn't have regular staffing issues in winter if they use cheaper, non gun carrying cops to clear accidents on the road, and tell the sledders and skiers they need to go home at the end of the day.

[williswall]

I believe the staffing is for EMT presence, or unavailability, not LE.

[Shred]

I’m going to delay my April 15th Federal Tax deadline, “due to staffing issues”.

[Cyclopath]

[Randito]

The NPS could provide consistent funding for plowing the road by opening a Brew Pub in the JVC and requiring a two drink minimum. But that might result in other issues.

[joker]

[Secret Agent Man]

Is the park not able to contract an EMT team from one of the many companies providing that service in the area? I get that there are staffing challenges (though if they don’t have enough EMTs on park staff, are they hiring more, or is this just how it’ll be for the foreseeable future?) but it seems like yet another example of the park not prioritizing winter access. This is a solvable problem if they cared to.

[Shred]

[Pyrites]

It’s not like they’ll send you to Admax.