MRNPA September Revegetation Work Party!

Greetings Alpine Gardeners and Trail Work Volunteers,

 

The annual Mount Rainier National Park Associates meadow revegetation work party will be Saturday, September  8th.  That is the Saturday following the Labor Day weekend, about two and a half weeks from today.  MRNPA volunteers will again be assisting the Mount Rainier ecological restoration crew in planting wildflower seedlings, working to convert a historic campground near Sunrise back into alpine meadows.  Will Arneson, the NPS crew supervisor, tells me that there will be approximately 55,000 seedlings to be planted this fall before the snow covers the meadows.  Saturday, September 8th, will be a big day in getting this effort started.

 

On the morning of Saturday, September 8th, MRNPA volunteers will meet in the Sunrise parking lot between 8:30 and 9:00 AM.  As you arrive at Sunrise, look for a dark green Subaru Outback Wagon, parked on the far left (south) side of the parking lot, that is surrounded by people who look like they know what is going on. That will be the MRNPA volunteers.  P lease check in with me as soon as you arrive.  I need to get a count and the names of all MRNPA volunteers.  There will be volunteers from other organizations milling about so stick close with the MRNPA group and be ready to move out at 9:00 AM.  Because MRNPA volunteers have been involved in planting at Sunrise for so many years, we are normally the first ones to head out to the work site.

 

Be prepared for almost any fall weather.  In the past we have experienced everything from warm and sunny days to a driving blizzard.  In addition to your sun hat, sunscreen, and your rain gear, bring a lunch, plenty of fluids to drink, gardening gloves, and a hand digging tool you like to use.  If you have no gardening tools, the NPS will provide small hand tools.  Most of the day you will be working on your hands and knees to do the planting, so you may want to bring a pad for your knees. The pads available at your local gardening retailer work great.  The work site is about a mile from the Sunrise parking lot so plan on carrying everything you need to and from the work site.

 

We normally work until at least 3 PM and will break for lunch at about at noon.  This is a great outing to share with your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend and even your kids.  It is a beautiful location,  It is very instructive to see how much of the area has been replanted and how it is slowly returning to being a meadow.

There is no charge for volunteers to enter the Park.  When you enter at the White River Entrance, tell the gate attendant that you will be doing volunteer work on the meadow restoration project at Sunrise.   

 

If you would like to camp for free at the White River Campground the evening prior to or the evening of the work party (or both evenings) contact Will Arneson at soon

.   For free camping, he must make the arrangements well in advance of the scheduled date. 

If you plan to join MRNPA on Saturday, September 8th, for this meadow revegetation work party, please reply to this email confirming that you are coming and indicating the number of volunteers that you will bringing with you.

 

John Titland
Volunteer Coordinator
Mount Rainier National Park Associates

 

 

 

If you would like to volunteer to do planting at Mount Rainier but September 8th is not a convenient date, please consult the Mount