[hbb]

Didn't a coalition in Port Angeles fund plowing of Hurricane Ridge Rd. for a few years in the 2010's?

[altasnob]

[kiliki]

[Ski]

thanks.

[philfort]

I found an about the MRNP superintendent: https://mustreadalaska.com/controversial-park-service-supervisor-promoted-to-mount-rainier-park-post/

[cascadeclimber]

I'm just finding out about this closure. It literally turns my stomach. I spent a decade working to get a summit in each calendar month and I'd still be trying if my only overnight option was Saturday. MORA used to take pride in getting the road open safely every day. Before my time, they also kept the road to Chinook Pass open in winter. Edit toadd: And the park entry fee then was $5 and there was no climbing fee. Their accountability regarding the Paradise road has been eroding for years now, really since the 2006 flood damage when they closed it all winter, EXCEPT for the paying guide services, who were still allowed in. This announcement has me wondering if they will be allowed preferential access again this winter, while the public is locked out (at least M-F). The NPS needs better funding, but as long as they keep prioritizing things as they have at MORA it's hard for me to support that. Pubic access should always come first. Instead they prioritize commercial interests and spent millions on Camp Muir for their benefit, while ignoring ongoing Wilderness Act violations. Completely disgusting.

[Randito]

Just posted on Mt Rainier's Instgram feed

Some listings From USAJobs

[vogtski]

Better than blowing a gasket: https://www.change.org/p/restore-mount-rainier-weekday-winter-access/

[Carbonj]

As you can see the wages are not that great, and some of the jobs are seasonal(1039) hrs. If you care write your state and fed reps its the only way things change.

[cascadeclimber]

I saw a similar ad on Facebook. The one response noted that they were failing to pay 'scale'. With Target paying $20/hour during the holidays there's just no way they are going to get proper staff at $19/hour. And, the failure to properly staff the park in the winter is a failure that goes back years now. Over and over they used the excuse of not having enough plow drivers to get the road opened. For years. But yeah, they have money to install webcams, spend millions on Camp Muir, add internet service for staff at Muir Schurman, and blast a new and entirely unneeded helo pad in a Federally Designated Wilderness area at Camp Schurman (which obliterated prime tent locations).

[hbb]

The qualifications and requirements for the Park Ranger (Alpine Rescue and Mountaineering) position are laughable in light of the pay scale and seasonal nature of the position. On call 24/7, "may be expected to work up to 100% of any given month in travel status," Wilderness First Responder (or higher), Pro-1 Avy, substantial mountaineering experience, and at least one year of comparable experience. Working another seasonal job within NPS is not permitted, so it's not possible to transition to a summer ranger position at MRNP or another park. An 18 year-old high school drop out flipping burgers makes more money and has a better work-life balance. I suppose I can see someone really wanting to make a career as a climbing ranger taking the job, but I imagine most folks with the necessary qualifications would rather go into guiding and not have to deal with NPS bureaucracy.

[Bruce Albert]

[cascadeclimber]

[Randito]

[Bruce Albert]