Backcountry Patrol

Type: Long-term and intermittent individuals
Dates: Year-round
Status: Not currently recruiting, but open to inquiries; may hire interns this summer through the Student Conservation Association if funding permits

Quick summary: Mount Rainier's wilderness backcountry is extensive. A small team of volunteers supplements seasonal park staff to patrol the park's hundreds of miles of trails, assisting visitors, checking backcountry permits, and performing minor trail and campsite maintenance. These additional eyes and ears are especially helpful during the busy summer, and in remote parts of the park like Carbon River.

For more information: While the park is not currently recruiting additional volunteers in this area, inquiries are welcome. Direct them to West District Ranger Daniel Camiccia at 360-569-2211 ext. 3419; East District Ranger Geoff Walker at 360-569-6031; or Carbon River Ranger Jim Hull at 360-829-9639.
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Climbing Ranger

Type: Long-term individuals
Dates: May to September
Status: Now recruiting

Quick summary: Many of the rangers who patrol the high mountain routes on Mount Rainier and staff the high camps are, in fact, dedicated and highly skilled volunteers. This is one of the most specialized duties volunteers perform at our national park.

For further information or to apply: Contact Lead Climbing Ranger Stefan Lofgren at 360-569-6010 for more information. Please note that only individuals with extensive climbing experience will be considered for this job. Also check out Mount Rainier's climbing blog.
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Emergency Roadside Assistance

Type: Long-term individuals
Dates: June through mid-September
Status: Now recruiting

Quick summary: At Mount Rainier's busiest locations, Paradise and Sunrise, volunteers help by patrolling parking lots and local roads and trails, assisting visitors, directing traffic, and helping with lockouts, emergencies, and jump starts. Volunteers also help to extend the season at Sunrise in the fall, when the availability of seasonal rangers is short.

For more information and to apply: Apply online at volunteer.gov. At Paradise, volunteers will be supervised by Jordan Mammel, 360-569-6073. At Sunrise, volunteers are supervised by Uwe Nehring, 360-825-6585 ext. 3608257210. New volunteers are not needed at the present time, but inquiries are welcome.

Meadow Rover

Type: Intermittent individual volunteers
Dates: June through October
Status: Now recruiting

Quick summary: One of Mount Rainier's most popular--and critical--volunteer programs, Meadow Rovers patrol trails and viewpoints, mostly above Paradise and Sunrise, to educate visitors about the importance of staying on trails in those fragile environments.
 
For further information: District Interpreters Lee Snook, 360-569-6043, or Christine Czazasty, 360-569-6047; or our online Meadow Rovers resource page
Apply online
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Nordic Patrol

Type: Intermittent individual volunteers
Dates: December to April
Status: Now accepting new members of the Washington Ski Touring Club

Quick summary: One of the few active volunteer opportunities during Mount Rainier's snowy winter season is our Nordic Patrol. These valuable volunteers assist visitors, patrol trails on skis, mark routes, and help with emergencies. Rather than working with individual volunteers, the park has partnered with the Washington Ski Touring Club to provide its members for the winter ski patrol.

For further information about ski patrol activities at Mount Rainier, contact District Ranger Daniel Camiccia at 360-569-2211 ext. 3419
To apply: Contact the Washington Ski Touring Club directly through their website.
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Preventative Search and Rescue Internship

Type: Long-term individuals
Dates: 16 weeks beginning May 23
Status: Now hiring through the Student Conservation Association, conditional on funding

Quick summary: Mount Rainier's climbing program this year has proposed hiring two 16-week interns to patrol the lower portions of the route to Camp Muir. These individuals will assist visitors and make sure that they are prepared for the challenging conditions on the Muir Snowfield, and will educate hikers about ways of protecting the fragile subalpine meadows.

For further information: Lead Climbing Ranger Stefan Lofgren, 360-569-6010
Apply online

Wilderness and Climber Information Centers

Type: Long-term individual volunteers
Dates: May to September
Status: Not currently recruiting

Quick summary: Several volunteers assist seasonal rangers in the park's Wilderness Information Centers and Climber Information Centers throughout the park. These volunteers assist visitors in planning their backcountry trips and issuing permits, and must have extensive knowledge and experience about the park's network of wilderness trails, especially the Wonderland Trail.

For further information: West District Ranger Daniel Camiccia, 360-569-2211 ext. 3419; East District Ranger Geoff Walker, 360-569-6031; or Lead Climbing Ranger Stefan Lofgren, 360-569-6010.
To apply: Additional volunteers are not currently needed for this position.