Mount Rainier National Park News
Map to access and conditions
All monthly reports
MPG V2.7, July 2010

News and Information
August 1, 2010

August is the month of seasonal summer operations, see access and conditions Web page. The weather is less dynamic and extreme and August is consistently cool to warmer temperatures with little rain. All the roads and the facilities are open with the one exception that the Sunrise visitors center is closed for the season for renovation, but you can get information, food and stuff at the rangers station. You can get the complete information about visitor information or the NPS Newsletter.

The NP is using the Pavement Maintenance Program (PMP) to resurface sections of the highways in the NP, specifically Highway 123 from the southeastern border to Cayuse Pass, Surnise Road from the White River campground to the Sunrise (Yakima Park) visitors center, and roads in the visitors areas in the NP.

Highway 410 to the summit of Cayuse and Chinook passes and over to eastern Washington is open. The highway east of Chinook pass may be under repair for landslides or bridges from the pass to Yakima.

Highway 123 is open at the southern (Ohanapecosh entrance) boundary to Cayuse Pass. The Stevens Canyon road, highway 706 from Paradise to the intersection with highway 123, is open.

The Monthly News.-- The news for August are several things:
The weather is mountain summer at all elevations with chances of cool, and occasional cloudy and light rain;
The day and night temperatures are variable with consistently cool nighttime temperatures near or below 50 degrees at mid-elevations and colder at higher elevations;
The people will be there in numbers in August and through the Labor Day weekend.

August and September are the best months to visit the NP. The snow is gone almost everywhere, except higher elevations above 6,000 feet, making most of the trails snow-free. The daytime weather is normally cool to warm with little chance of rain except at high elevation on overcast or cloudy days. The night time temperatures will still be cool to cold at higher elevations.

This means you should still plan, get the most recent information, be prepared for quick and severe changes in the weather and conditions and be flexible with your plans and schedules. This includes the roads and trails where the NPS closes them, issues advisories or implements emergency rules.

Advisories

Advisory about Guns.-- Beginning February 22nd, openly carrying guns in the NP is legal and concealed with a legal permit. However, there are a number of conditions, which you can find here with links to additional information.

It is illegal to carry a gun indoors and it is illegal to use or fire a gun anywhere in the NP.

This is especially important in the visitors areas, the campgrounds, on the trails, and in the backcountry. You can only carry a gun and nothing else. In addition the NPS has now trained and instructed the park and backcountry rangers to treat all visitors as if they are carrying a gun. This applies to everyone unless it is clear the visitor does not have or is not carrying a gun.

It is still my personal opinion and recommendation that you leave any guns at home. They are unnecesary while visiting the NP and they are unnecessary hiking in the backcountry. There has not been a serious injury or death in the backcountry related to incidents with wildlife, and there are other measures better taken to protect yourself and others in the backcountry.

In addition, openly carrying a gun only endangers everyone else and indicates to them that you are insensitive and inconsiderate of others to understand guns are not necessary to enchance the visitor experience. There are park and backcountry rangers, some with firearms, who are trained and experienced in protecting visitors. They don't need or want your help, especially with your gun.

Resources

The Washington Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR) has produced a geology guide with road trips for Mt. Rainier and vicinty, IC 107 by Patrick Pringle. You can buy or download it.

The NPS has open several proposed projects and planning efforts to public comment. You can get details and add your comment on their Public Comment Web page. Become a participant in your National Park.

Please read the latest NPS news release on backcountry hikes. The NPS is advising backcountry hikers to be prepared for extreme weather and trail conditions and ensure you don't extend or endanger yourself or your hiking party.

The expedition project continues with the initial Web pages along with Web pages for the first topographic map of the NP by the USGS in 1915. Check the table of contents for links to these Web pages.

Access

Additional current conditions and information about the NP is available from the NPS Web page and access Web page.

Resources

Foldout photography guide and maps are available for the southern and northern halves of Mt. Rainier NP, by Tom Haseltine, etal. Road Guide to Mt. Rainier NP, by Barbara and Robert Decker. This book (48 pages) is dated 1996 and some information isn't current.

More information at Mount Rainier Climbing, the climbers' Mt. Rainier blog, the NPS-USFS Outdoor Recreation Information Center and Yahoo Group on Mt. Rainier NP.

Please use the contact link to send e-mail.