Congressman Reichert at Glacier Basin Trail

Washington's Congressman Dave Reichert made a special visit Monday to view the progress being made on the Glacier Basin Trail by over 498 different volunteers including the SCA group of high schoolers who were working during his visit. Reichert took the time to talk to each one of the SCA volunteers and extended his appreciation to all volunteers who have given their blood, sweat, and tears in efforts to promote the goals of the National Parks.

A Congressional Commendation

I just got a copy of this from Sean Smith at the National Parks Conservation Association. Apparently, Congressman Dave Reichert read a commendation of our volunteer program into the Congressional Record! Here's the complete text:

THE 2008 COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION AWARD
HON. DAVID G. REICHERT OF WASHINGTON
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, April 17, 2008

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate Mount Rainier National Park, the Student Conservation Association, SCA, the Washington’s Trails Association, WTA, the National Parks Conservation Association, NPCA, Washington’s National Park Fund, and The Mountaineers for being awarded the 2008 Cooperative Conservation Award, CCA, from the Department of the Interior. The CCA is the Department of Interior’s highest award presented to private citizens and organizational partners who support the agency’s mission and demonstrate significant contributions to its programs.

The award was given to the coalition for their outstanding efforts in rebuilding damaged trails, campgrounds and other facilities at Mount Rainier following the disastrous floods and windstorms during the winter of 2006. The coalition named their efforts the Mount Rainier Recovery Initiative and enlisted the help of more than 700 people from all over the country to rebuild and solidify some of the most beautiful trails, campgrounds and habitats in the country. The work they did was truly remarkable. Their dedication is appreciated by residents of the Pacific Northwest and the residents of the Eighth District, the district I represent.

The work by the coalition, along with countless volunteers, will be enjoyed for years to come by the thousands of visitors to Mount Rainier. With all the coalition has accomplished, their efforts continue by expanding their reach outside Mount Rainier to other areas in Washington State affected by extreme weather utilizing the success of their Mount Rainier Model. Again, congratulations the SCA, the WTA, the NPCA, Washington’s National Park Fund and The Mountaineers for their dedication to the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest and urge them to continue in their efforts.

Spring Break Roundup, part 2

More news from my in box this week:

Volunteer Program Management Training: Mount Rainier National Park will host training in volunteer program management on May 28 and 29. This 15-hour course will focus on the nitty-gritty details of recruiting, hiring, and supervising volunteers, as well as running a volunteer program. It's targeted first to NPS supervisors, but would also be valuable training for anyone who wants to work with volunteers--including volunteers interested in taking on leadership roles. Click here for the complete training announcement and nomination form.

Snow and other winter hazards: Ohanapecosh might open late due to the heavy snowpack. One of our seasonal housing apartment buildings was damaged a few weeks ago when snow pushed over the chimney; it won't be habitable until the furnace venting has been fixed. And it looks like the opening for Skate Creek Road, between the west side of the park and Packwood, will be delayed because of an extensive rock slide across the road. WASDOT has projected tentative opening dates of May 9 for SR 123, and May 23 for SR 410.

New Visitor Center Sneak Peek: Climbing volunteer Rebecca Agiewich got a preview of the new visitor center under construction at Paradise. Read her report, with lots of pictures, on the Mount Rainier Climbing Blog.

From Reindeer to Rainier: Check out a free presentation subtitled "People and Climate Change from the Nordic Countries to the Pacific Northwest" on Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. at the Seattle REI. This far-reaching discussion includes input from UW scientists, volunteer glacier monitors in Iceland, and North Cascades Superintendent Chip Jenkins.

A report from Tamaki Yasuoka: Tamaki is a member of the Japan Volunteers-in-Parks Association who spent a few weeks volunteering in the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise last summer. Her report, attached here in PDF format, is a colorful and informative look at the experience of an international volunteer at Mount Rainier. We work with several such volunteers every year; they take a lot of extra planning and logistical preparation, but the benefits can be very rewarding, both for the volunteer and for the park.

Day Hiking: Mount Rainier: That's the title of a new book of day hikes published by Dan Nelson and reviewed by the National Parks Traveler blog. 1% of the proceeds from the book are donated to the Washington Trails Association, a major partner with Mount Rainier National Park in our volunteer trail maintenance and repair following the storms of November 2006.

Association of Partners for Public Lands lauds Cooperative Conservation Award: We were recognized by APPL in their monthly newsletter. That awards ceremony is coming up in just two weeks, on April 21, in Washington, D.C.

Mount Rainier Reopens!

Mount Rainier staff and partners, including State Senator Marilyn Rasmussen (2nd from left), Congressman Dave Reichert (3rd from left), Congressman Norm Dicks (5th from left), and volunteers Alan Dreyer and "Damien" (3rd from right), open the Nisqually Entrance gate on May 5.