Mount Rainier National Park News
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MPG V2.7, February 2010

News and Information
February 4, 2010

February is the month in full winter operation mode with all the closures complete, see access and conditions Web page, and when the weather determines everything. Winter operation and closures will continue throughout the winter until the spring as the NPS operates the NP for winter. You can get the complete information about visitor information or the NPS Newsletter (PDF).

Highway 410 is closed at Crystal Mountain Boulevard to the summit of Cayuse and Chinook passes and closed 5 miles east of Chinook pass. The highway east of Chinook pass is also under repair from a landslide on the Naches River.

Highway 123 is closed at the southern (Ohanapecosh entrance) boundary. On occasion during the winter the Washington Department of Transportation may close highway 123 to the southern NP boundary at Highway 12 turnoff.

Paradise snowplay areas.-- The NPS has opened Paradise for winter recreation, is open to every winter activity in the designated snowplay areas. You should restrict your snow activities to the designated areas.

Advisory about Guns.-- For now, until administrative rules are established, guns are still not allowed in Mt. Rainier NP except as defined by the current regulations, meaning unloaded and secured in your vehicle. Guns can not be carried anywhere in the NP.

The news for February are several things:
The weather is winter snowstorms at all elevations with occasional periods of clear, sunny weather;
The day and night temperatures are consistently cold, below 40 degrees at all elevations, or colder;
The people are far fewer and mostly on weekends and holidays, and mostly at Paradise.

February is when the weather is the dominant factor, especially as the snow accumulates on the higher elevations and down to the lower elevations, from about 5,000 feet to 3-4,000 feet through the month with the normal seasonal snow..

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

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.

The NP photo guide now has updated winter photography Web pages with a map of places and activities. 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.