Let's Have A Parade!

It's almost time for the Eatonville 4th of July Parade. Be a part of the park's participation in this special event.

This year we will be celebrating 100 year of the Wonderland Trail.

We need  a set of "banner babes and/or dudes", flag wavers, folks smiling, waving, and giving high fives. As usually you can wear your uniform. But you can also dress to hike the Wonderland Trail. Or better yet, dress to work on the trail.  I'll have trail crew tools for you to carry!

Park staff, volunteers, scouts and their family members are welcome to join.
 
If you wish to take part, we gather at 11:30 AM, usually on Pennsylvania Ave., near Lynch St., one block west of the football stadium at Eatonville High School.  The exact spot is different each year and is not known until we arrive.  Just look around for some ranger hats.  For more information contact Jim_Ross (at) nps.gov
                                                                               
Please join us!

Jim

Meadow Rover Notes

First, I would like to thank all of you who attended the training sessions on June 13^th and 14^th.  I was overwhelmed by the response and the eagerness of both the new and returning rovers.  We gave Crow 57 new rover agreements and 65 returning!  A few of you did not turn in the volunteer agreement and will need to do so if you have not signed a new agreement since last year.

To date, I have held orientation for 15 new rovers at Paradise with 3 more scheduled for this weekend.  Lynn has also had several new rovers at Sunrise and they have been open less than a week!

For those of you who have done your orientation and completed your first solo rove, please remind me you have earned your “Meadow Rover” patch!  If I have forgotten to give it to you…feel free to tell me.  I am another year older after-all.

The weather is definitely hot – even at Paradise and Sunrise.  Please bring extra water, sunscreen, and bug repellant.  Your health and safety is paramount.

PARADISE PARKING

Crazy as usual!  Your best bet is to try the lower lot or picnic area.  If you wish to ride up with Interp crew, they leave at 8:45 and 11:30 from the Field Office.  The first shift generally has room for 3-4, the second 2-3.  I can take 2-3 with me around 9.  Please let me know ahead of time so I will wait for you.  Return times are around 5 and after 7pm.

TRAILS –

The Paradise trail crew has been working to rope troublesome areas and prevent damage.  They are constantly checking with me to hear of any reports from Rovers regarding trail conditions or hot spots.  Feel free to leave these on my desk or on the white board.  Sunrise Rovers can also leave reports with Lynn.

It has been a wonderful start to the summer.  So far visitor contacts have been very positive and the general population quite friendly.  So come on out and have some fun.  Thanks for being so positive about the job you do.

Maureen McLean

Coordinator MORA Meadow Rovers

360-569-2035

N2P Construction On Hold For 4th

Construction on the Nisqually to Paradise Road will cease over the upcoming holiday weekend, July 3 - 5.  While visitors can normally expect to experience delays on weekdays during daylight hours there will be no work this Friday, July 3.

It is still important to remember to drive safely when traveling along the park’s roads.  The roads are narrow and winding.  Roads throughout the park can be rough and uneven.

Construction along the road from Nisqually Entrance to Paradise began in May and is expected to continue through the end of July.  Work will resume again in early October. Delays of up to 15 minutes at each stop and no more than 30 minutes total through the project can be expected.

The road construction project is needed to address deteriorating road conditions that are due to many factors including abundant precipitation, structural and design deficiencies, large traffic volumes, and normal wear.  These improvements will preserve the road’s integrity as a popular scenic drive, and provide continued safe access for years to come.

Additional information on this important project is available on Mount Rainier National Park’s website: http://www.nps.gov/mora/getinvolved/nisqually-paradise-road.htm. Also, Follow MountRainierNPS https://twitter.com/MountRainierNPS on Twitter for updates on road construction status. 

Park-wide Fire Ban In Effect

New this afternoon:

"There is a parkwide fire ban in effect due to ongoing drought conditions and a red flag warning for the Mount Rainier area. Cooking by propane and white gas stoves and charcoal is permitted."

This ban affects all campgrounds in the park, including the Longmire Volunteer Campground.

Girl Scouts rock citizen science at Mount Rainier!

These seven young Girl Scout scientists from Tacoma spent the morning collecting data about flowers at Mount Rainier National Park! Their contributions will help us to understand variations in climate and their effects on the timing of plant bloom. They were assisted in their efforts by volunteer Crow and Student Conservation Association Centennial Ambassador Ian Harvey.

It's going to be hot... be careful out there

Mount Rainier's recreational forecast is predicting hot temperatures this weekend, peaking on Saturday with a high of 84 degrees at Paradise. While this is nowhere near the mid-nineties predicted for the lowlands, it's still a very intense temperature, especially when you factor in ultraviolet exposure at 5400 feet elevation (or higher at Sunrise). Please be careful!

From the National Weather Service's Special Weather Statement for the weekend:

...HOT WEATHER IS EXPECTED FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS WELL AS
RISING FIRE DANGER...

DURING HOT WEATHER IT IS IMPORTANT TO STAY HYDRATED BY DRINKING
PLENTY OF WATER. IF YOU ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE HEAT...STAY
INSIDE IN AIR CONDITIONED AREAS. AVOID LEAVING CHILDREN AND PETS
UNATTENDED IN CARS...AS TEMPERATURES INSIDE PARKED CARS CAN RISE
VERY QUICKLY TO DEADLY LEVELS. REMEMBER TO APPLY SUNSCREEN IF YOU
ARE OUTDOORS. 

There are a lot of activities scheduled in the park this weekend. The Washington Trails Association will be working on trails... Meadow Rovers will be out in force... Citizen Scientists are in bloom... and our intrepid volunteer program assistant, Crow, is still looking for people to help with Adopt-a-Highway litter patrol on Sunday morning.

Please make safety your number one concern. Watch your hydration and sun exposure, and take shelter if it becomes too much. Remember: the first rule of having fun is to STAY SAFE!

Fires limited in the Longmire Volunteer Campground

The fire ring north of Site 13, built by volunteers last fall,
will be further improved as a community fire ring.

If you've been up to the Longmire Volunteer Campground recently, you've noticed that fire grates and concrete fire pads have been removed throughout the campground. This is a decision by park management intended to reduce smoke and improve air quality. Campground regulations are being updated to reflect the new policy, which involves the following points:

• Fires are permitted only in established fire grates and fire rings.
• Self-contained cook stoves are permitted.
• Building new fire rings is not permitted.

Campground users will find a working fire grate in site number 6, and a second fire grate will be installed soon by park maintenance. A group fire grate will also be installed in site 13. These will be the only sites with facilities for campfires.

Site 6 has also been improved for wheelchair accessibility. It may be reserved like any other site in the campground, but with the caveat that those without mobility challenges need to defer to those who need the accessibility the site provides.

A community fire ring has been built and is already in use near site 13, and will be further improved soon by park maintenance with bench seating around it. This fire ring will be shared by everyone in the campground. Another fire ring is being built near the Community Building and will be used by both campers and residents. Campers are encouraged to gather at these sites and get to know their fellow campers.

For cooking food, volunteers should plan to bring self-contained camp stoves instead of firewood.

The revised campground regulations will be posted here as soon as they are updated.

MRNPA Work Party July 11 - "Deveg"

From John Titland:

Greetings,

The next Mount Rainier National Park Associates volunteer work party will be Saturday, July 11th.  This will be the annual Mount Rainier National Park Associates Exotic Plant Removal work party, which we refer to as the "deveg".  We will be working at the site of the new Carbon River Ranger Station, which is located a few miles west of the Carbon River Entrance of the park on the Carbon River Road.  The ranger station occupies a building that was formerly identified as the Carbon River Ranch.  The area is still referred to as the Thompson property.  The property extends all the way from the road down to the Carbon River.  There will be an abundance of invasive, exotic plants to remove.

To participate in the Exotic Plant Removal work party there is no need to know about native plants.  The NPS crew members we will work with will teach you which plants to remove, and they will be able to identify for you all the native plants in the area.  There will be no heavy tools (like shovels and pulaskis) to carry and use.  Safety helmets are not required.

Things you should bring are work gloves, a small digging tool like a hand trowel, or your favorite weed removing tool, your lunch, plenty of fluids to drink, and a full set of rain gear.  A warm jacket would be good to include. 

We will meet between 8:30 and 9:00 AM in front of the ranger station.  Be ready to go to work by about 9:00 AM and expect to finish about 3:00 PM.

If  you plan to attend this work party, please email to volunteer (at) mrnpa.org indicating that you are coming and give me the number of volunteers you expect to accompany you.  I need an estimate of the number of volunteers who will attend.

John Titland
Volunteer Coordinator
Mount Rainier National Park Associates

Stargazing with the Astronomers

What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing? You can find out! The Park is now planning sky viewing (weather permitting) every night through Labor Day outside Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise. We will start just after dark and continue for at least two hours. We will update our hotline recording at 360-569-6230 to provide information on what we will be viewing and to announce cancellations. Please join us in observing the wonders in the preserved wilderness night sky above the park.

Our stellar cast of volunteer astronomers includes:

Pat Beatie (Friday through Tuesday nights): Bellevue College Astronomy Professor and retired FBI agent.

Don West-Wilke (Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday nights): Recent Astronomer of the Year with Tacoma Astronomical Society. Also known as the Singing Astronomer.

Tom and Gracie Pauly (Thursday nights): Retired teachers and owner/operators of the non-profit Starryhill Planetarium and Observatory in Eatonville.

Matt Dieterich (Thursday through Monday nights): Geo-Corps astronomy intern recently graduated with a MS from the University of Pittsburg.

Additionally, our astronomers will also set up a solar scope outside the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise during some afternoons.

Litter Pickers Urgently Needed!

Just a reminder: Crow still needs a couple of volunteers to do a litter patrol along Hwy 706 on June 28. That's only ten days away, and so far, only one person has committed to the event. I need at least two more!

We will gather at Tahoma Woods (Park Headquarters) at 10 AM on Sunday, June 28. Long-armed grabbers, bags, gloves and safety vests will be provided. If you have not participated before, you will need to watch a short training video (required by DoT). Please RSVP  to Petrina_Vecchio (at) partner.nps.gov by June 24 if you are willing to help.

N2P Road Update for 18-25 June

Click to enlarge to readable size:

N2P Road Update for 12-18 June

To enlarge to readable size, just click the image.

Time To Tidy Up!

It's time for another Adopt-a-Highway litter patrol, and Crow is looking for a handful of volunteers willing to spend approximately two hours picking up trash alongside SR 706, the scenic route to the Park's Nisqually Entrance. We'd like to have the road to the Mountain looking tidy for our Fourth of July guests.

We will gather at Tahoma Woods (Park Headquarters) at 10 AM on Sunday, June 28. Long-armed grabbers, bags, gloves and safety vests will be provided. Please RSVP  to Petrina_Vecchio (at) partner.nps.gov by June 24 if you can attend.

Error in Newsletter

Our June 4 posting of the Volunteer Newsletter contains an error. It should read:

Future MRNPA WTA Projects

If you miss out on the June 13th work party, MRNPA Washington Trails Association offers plenty more opportunities to "get down and dirty." They will be doing trails projects in the Park every weekend throughout the summer. Visit their website at mrnpa.org and click on the "Volunteer" tab for their listings.

More Info for Meadow Rovers

Good Morning Meadow Rovers:

SUNRISE ROAD

The Sunrise road has opened and visitors will be hitting the trails on the east side.  Four radios have  been placed at the White River Wilderness Information Center for Meadow Rover use.  I know that is not enough, but I am on my annual search for more!  Sign out and time sheets are also available with more to arrive as we get ready to open the Visitor Center later in the month.  Thank you to all the rovers who will be in the meadows before we have the ranger staff there!

TRAINING

Meadow Rover training dates are June 13 for new rovers and June 14 for returning rovers.  All sessions will be at the Longmire Community Building. Please let me know you are coming so I can anticipate total numbers.  For new rovers, let the Entrance Station know you are attending training and you will not be charged the entrance fee.  New Rover training starts at 12:30 p.m. and the returning will begin at 9:00 with coffee and hellos!

It is great to be back, and I am so grateful for the rovers that have already been at Paradise.  Summer is definitely here with crowds expected today and tomorrow!

Maureen McLean
Coordinator MORA Meadow Rovers
360-569-6582

Volunteer Newsletter - June 2015

Interpretive Training June 1-12

Most sessions are already full to capacity, but you can be added to a waiting list in case there are cancellations. See the volunteer blog for schedule details.

Part-time Campground Hosts Needed!

We're still looking for people to host volunteers at the Longmire Campground this summer. If you can help even for a few weekends, contact Kevin_Bacher (at) nps.gov

MRNPA Work Party June 13

The next Mount Rainier National Park Associates trails work party will be on Saturday, June 13th.  The crew will be repairing the section of the Wonderland Trail in Stevens Canyon which was damaged during the winter.

If you plan to attend this June 13th trails work party, please reply to volunteer (at) mrnpa.org. Additional details can be found on our blog at rainiervolunteers.blogspot.com.

Future MRNPA Projects

If you miss out on the June 13th work party, MRNPA offers plenty more opportunities to "get down and dirty." They will be doing trails projects in the Park every weekend throughout the summer. Visit their website at mrnpa.org and click on the "Volunteer" tab for their listings.

Meadow Rover and MeadoWatch Training June 13-14

Meadow Rover/Meadow Watch training dates and locations have been finalized, and are different than the tentative dates advertised last month. On Saturday, June 13th, MeadoWatch training will start at 10:30 AM to be followed by Meadow Rover training at 12:30 PM. Advanced Meadow Rover training will be held on Sunday June 14th from 9 AM - 3:30 PM. These trainings will all be conducted in the Longmire Community Building. Please join us there!

Returning Rovers and Spring Opening

Want to get an early start roving? We need you on the Mountain! Lack of snow means greater accessibility to trails and (unfortunately) meadows. Rovers are needed now at both Paradise and Sunrise. Contact MORA_Meadow_Rovers (at) nps.gov to RSVP. Use the same contact information if you'd like to help with Spring Opening.

Butterfly Surveys Begin Earlier

With the snow disappearing and wildflowers emerging at the higher elevations, the Cascades Butterfly Survey project will be starting earlier than expected this year. Training is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30 at Sunrise. Volunteers who are interested in participating should meet in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center (near the water fountain) at 10 AM. The session will include an introduction to the program by Regina Rochefort, followed by identification practice during a short hike to the walk-in campground. Bring your lunch!

Amphibian Surveys

Want to count frogs, newts and salamanders? Amphibian Surveys begin next month. If you've signed up to participate in this citizen science project, you should be hearing from the coordinator early in July.

All-Park Orientation and Annual Safety Meeting

Volunteers are encouraged to attend the annual All-Park Orientation and Safety Meeting on June 24. Please watch rainiervolunteers.blogspot.com for more details.

Fourth of July Parade

As in past years, paid staff and volunteers are invited to represent the Park in Eatonville's Fourth of July parade. Details to be announced later.

Volunteer Picnics

Our annual Volunteer Picnics (Longmire and Sunrise) will be held on August 14 and 15 this year. Food will be provided at both events. Watch the blog for more details.

Short-Term Campground Hosts Needed!

We still need short-term hosts for the Longmire Stewardship (Volunteer) Campground for the following dates:

June 16-25

June 30-July 2

July 8-22

July 28-29

September 8-9

September 15-23

Weekend coverage is the highest priority, so if you are interested and available, please contact Kevin_Bacher (at) nps.gov.

Whoooooo's That?

From Keith Bagnall:

Now that seasonal staff is arriving in full force, the wildlife crew would love to hear about your owl sightings! We're a small crew, and there are so many places for owls to hide, any information you can pass along is extremely valuable.

As you may know, earlier this year the US Fish & Wildlife Service initiated a review of Northern Spotted Owls under the Endangered Species Act to consider elevating their status from threatened to endangered. Results from owl monitoring at Mount Rainier have shown apparent declines in the number of spotted owls and territory occupancy, as well as an increase in non-native barred owls which compete for space and resources. These species are similar in many respects, but the photos below will help you tell them apart.

Both species are quite large, measuring 17-20" tall with 40-42" wingspans.

***From the front: Spotted owls are a chocolate brown color with numerous white spots, while barred owls appear more pale with dark vertical streaking on the belly.
***Take a look at the face: Spotted owls have mostly brown feathers on the facial disk (minus the "eyebrows") while barred owl faces look more gray, even in dim forest light.
***From the back: White marks on spotted owls are much less apparent and chaotically arranged, compared to distinct white horizontal markings on the backs of barred owls.
***In flight: Both species look remarkably similar at quick glance.

What about hoots?? Simply put, there is a LOT of variation in owl vocalizations. If you hear an owl, or an owl-like sound in the forest, we'd like to know. We have an extensive library of owl calls and can work through it on a case-by-case basis.

All that said, there are a few things to note when recording owl info. The more detail the better, but at a minimum we would need the date, description of what you saw/heard, and a location. If we aren't already aware of an owl in that area, we'll follow up on your report by surveying the site and get back to you with our results.

Contact me by email keith_bagnall (at) nps.gov OR phone x6774 .

June 13 Trails Project Update

We would like to remind volunteers who wish to participate in the MRNPA's trail work parties that there are certain safety requirements and dictates which must be followed. Per John Titland:

*******

For the Mount Rainier National Park Associates trails work party on Saturday, June 13th, we will be working on the section of the Wonderland Trail in Stevens Canyon, repairing trail damage that happened during the winter.  We will meet at the east end of the parking lot at Reflection Lakes at between 8:30 and 9:00 AM.  Be ready to move out at a 9:00 AM.  We will be moving all our cars down the hill to either the point where the Wonderland Trail crosses the Stevens Canyon Road or further down to the Box Canyon picnic area parking lot.  No decision on that yet.

Be prepared for a hike to the work site.  And to be clear, from wherever we work - it will be an uphill climb to get back to the cars.

As always, bring your lunch and plenty of fluids to drink, work gloves and safety glasses, and a full set of rain gear.

If you plan to attend this June 13th trails work party, please reply to volunteer (at) mrnpa.org indicating that you are coming and give me the number of volunteers you expect to accompany you.  I need an estimate of the number of volunteers so that Park staff can be sure to have enough tools for us all.

There are safety equipment requirements for all MRNPA trail work volunteers. (These rules apply to all trail workers.)  Anyone using an aggressive tool - like a Pulaski, ax, shovel, etc. - or anyone working near them -  is required to wear a hard hat and safety glasses.  People working with or near a less aggressive tools are not required (but will be encouraged) to wear a hard hat.  If you own a hard hat that you can wear, please bring it.  If you do not have a hard hat, MRNPA and the NPS have hard hats that we loan for the day.

Wearing safety glasses is encouraged at all times. 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.

MRNPA Work Party, June 13

From John Titland:

The next Mount Rainier National Park Associates trails work party will be on Saturday, June 13th.  That's a little over two weeks away.  I do not know what the project will be yet.  Our trail crew leaders are still evaluating.  I will pass along the information about the project and where we will meet as soon as I get it.

If you plan to attend this June 13th trails work party, please reply volunteer (at) mrnpa.org indicating that you are coming and give me the number of volunteers you expect to accompany you.  I need an estimate of the number of volunteers so that Park staff can be sure to have enough tools for us all. 

Butterfly Surveys Begin Earlier

With the snow disappearing and wildflowers emerging at the higher elevations, the Cascades Butterfly Survey project will be starting earlier than expected this year. Training is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30 at Sunrise. Volunteers who are interested in participating should meet in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center (near the water fountain) at 10 AM. The session will include an introduction to the program by Regina Rochefort, followed by identification practice during a short hike to the walk-in campground. Bring your lunch!