MRNPA Work Party and Annual Gathering

From John Titland:

The August Mount Rainier National Park Associates trails work party will be on Saturday, August 15th.  That's a little over 4 weeks away.  Following every August work party MRNPA volunteers are invited to assemble in a nearby campground for some relaxed time together, a potluck dinner, and an evening spent sitting around the campfire. (This year we may need to forego the campfire because the forest fire danger is so high.)

The August trails work party will be somewhere in the Ohana/Paradise area.  I don't know the project or the location yet.  After work party we will retire to the VIP campground at Longmire (not the Cougar Rock campground). The Longmire VIP campground, as those of us that have been there will tell you, is a wonderful place.  It is not open to the public; only to park volunteers.  Thus it is quiet and without the constant activity of a public campground.  The restroom even has showers, with hot water, if you want to clean up after the work party.

For the late afternoon socializing there is also always a supply of soft drinks, wine, and beer.  Dinner usually takes place about 6 PM.  The potluck dinner selections are always great.  We make no attempt to organize the menu.  People contribute whatever they want.  Not yet has everyone brought only desserts, but I can still hope.  After dinner, it gets pretty mellow.

I think this August event always turns out to be a great day.  I am personally inviting you to come.  Spend part of the day volunteering and then join other MRNPA volunteers in a "non-work party" gathering.  This is the only event each year where we take off the blue helmets and the work gloves, and really get a chance to meet and talk with our fellow volunteers.  If you have other commitments and can't stay for the whole evening, then stay as long as you can.  It's up to you.  But if you don't need to leave, plan on camping overnight.  The group campsite at the Longmire VIP campground is reserved for MRNPA volunteers for both Friday night (dinner is up to you) and Saturday night.  So bring your tent and sleeping bag and spend the weekend.  On Sunday morning people tend to go in different directions, but we are usually able to organize a short group hike somewhere close by.  Everyone is invited to come along.

As I said, I invite you to come on August 15th, do some volunteer work, and then join the MRNPA volunteers at the Longmire VIP Campground to spend some time with a great group of folks who really care about Mount Rainier National Park.

If you plan to attend this August 15th trails work party, please reply to this email 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.  If you plan to camp, I also need to know if you will be there for one night (Friday or Saturday) or both nights.

John Titland
Volunteer Coordinator
Mount Rainier National Park Associates