Wednesday, July 14, 2010

August MRNPA Work Party!

The next Mount Rainier National Park Associates trails work party is coming up on Saturday, August 7th. Again w e will be working on the construction of the Glacier Basin Trail reroute. We will meet at the White River Campground parking lot at 8:30 AM on Saturday morning, and be ready to move out at 9:00 AM.

Bring work gloves, a hard hat if you have one, safety glasses, full rain gear (you never know if you will need it), your lunch, and PLENTY of fluids to drink.

The August work party is always followed by a potluck dinner in the campground and an overnight camp for those who wish to stay. It's a fun event, so plan on staying for potluck dinner even if you don't want to camp. Sunday we try to do a short hike together.
As usual we will try to get campsites both for Friday night, August 6th, and Saturday, August 7th. The camping is free for volunteers but we are required to put two tents per campsite. Some of the campsites are very small for two tents, so if you like a little more privacy, you can arrive early and pick a site and pay just like all the other campers. Be advised however that the campgrounds fill up quickly in August.

If you plan to attend this work party, please reply to John Titland (volunteer@mount-rainier.org) and tell him that you are coming, how many volunteers you are bringing with you, and if you would like to camp.

There are safety gear rules for all MRNPA trail work volunteer work parties. (These rules apply to all trail workers.) Anyone using an aggressive tool - like a Pulaski, ax, shovel, etc., or anyone working near them, will be required to wear a hard hat and safety glasses. People working with or near a less aggressive tools will not be required (but will be encouraged) to wear a hard hat. Wearing safety glasses will be encouraged at all times. At this time we do not have a clear idea of how many volunteers will need hard hats. If you own a hard hat, please bring it along. We have a supply of hard hats for those volunteers who do not have one.

Safety glasses are a different issue! Not all safety glasses are comfortable for everyone and some will not fit over eye glasses. Because of cleanliness issues, some people don't like wearing safety glasses that have been worn by other people. For these reasons and probably many others, please purchase ( acquire, find, dig-up, whatever ) a pair of personal safety glasses that you will wear. The local hardware store is a good place to start shopping. A serviceable pair or safety glasses will cost about $10. And be advised that shatterproof eye glasses do not meet the requirement for safety glasses. Safety glasses all have side protection which eyeglasses do not.

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