Winter Operations/Snow Rover Training

Save the date for Mount Rainier Winter Operations training (also known as Snow Rover Training), which will be held on Saturday December 3^rd in the Longmire Community Building.

 

Who: Those who plan on volunteering this winter.

When: Saturday December, 3

          9:00am-4:45pm (experienced winter rovers end at 3:45 PM)

Where: Longmire Community Building

What we will discuss:

·         Road Closures/Rules of the Road

·         Winter ecology

·         The 10 winter essentials

·         Winter driving tips

·         Radio protocol and procedure

If you wish to volunteer this winter, you need attend an orientation/training. Individual training takes up lots of extra time and resources. Please do your best to attend. 

 

RSVP to Mark Loper at Mark_Loper@partner.nps.gov

Reminder: Avalanches DO Happen on the Mountain

As witnessed by some of our climbing rangers earlier this week, avalanches do occur on the Mountain much more frequently than you may think.  Check out this blog post by Climbing Ranger Peter Ellis highlighting the avalanche just under Panorama Point, a very common point of interest for snowshoers and skiers. 

 



NPS Photo / VIP Kelly Teale

 

 

Whenever you travel to the park in the winter months, either for volunteering or for recreation, please remember to stay safe out there!  Check out this free online course on Avalanche Safety for a quick refresher on traveling in avalanche terrain.

A Wild Snow Rover Appears

NPS / VIP Kelly Teale

 

 

Rambling around the Mountain in the winter, you may see many different sights.  Maybe a pika out for a quick stretch before heading back deep into the snowdrifts.  Maybe a raven singing its angelic tune overhead.  Possible even a very cold and confused black bear, but more likely is a warm and alert snowshoe hare.  But, if you are ever around Paradise on a holiday weekend, you will see many visitors in search of any or all of these things, usually to no avail.  What you are more likely to see out there are more and more of our volunteers, out in full force.

 

Many times our Snow Roving volunteers will be dressed to the nines in their warmest gear, trekking poles in hand, with a pack that appears to be almost too heavy to sling onto a back, full of the Winter Ten Essentials as well as a few other odds and ends (maybe a Meadow Stomper button or two from the summer?).  Sometimes you will encounter one of these wild creatures in their natural habitat: high up the mountain, surrounded by untrampled snow, blazing a path of visitors to find their way around.

 

NPS / VIP Teale

NPS / VIP Teale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you were on the Mountain over New Years weekend, you know it was very busy (see: my last post), but even with hundreds upon hundreds of visitors flocking to the snowy subalpine meadows of Paradise, there was still a bit of peace and serenity to be found.  And VIP Kelly Teale was able to capture some of it, with a camera in tow.

 

This was Kelly's first time serving as a Snow Rover, but you may recognize her from the Education Center.  She is an Education Technician, developing and leading programs for students ages both in the park and all over the world through the Park's ever-growing Distance Learning Program.  Over the winter, in addition to having this new found love of Snow Roving, Kelly is also hard at work volunteering for the Park's Archives and Museum Collections, spending countless hours each day handling artifacts that helped to shape the park into what it is today.

NPS Photo / VIP Kelly Teale

 

I still want to hear about your story!  Have you taken any amazing photos while volunteering at Mount Rainier?  Want to share them with the world?  If so, send them to Ian at ian_harvey@partner.nps.gov and you too can be featured on our Volunteer Blog and Facebook Page, visited by millions of people every day! (Okay, that may be only slightly made up)

Just in Case You Hadn't Heard...

...sometimes it snows at Paradise.

NPS Photo / Harvey

VIP Sarah Pigeon shadowed by Eagle Peak
NPS Photo / Harvey

And then sometimes, we get over sixty inches of snow in just a few days span.  This is what happened to Mount Rainier National Park at the beginning of the holiday break for many people.  On December 23rd and 24th, the entire park was closed due to the sheer amount of snow we had received.  In the lower elevations, the snow was so wet and heavy that it was weighing down seemingly healthy trees left and right, many of which fell upon the roadway.  The roads crew was hard at work on both of those days, trying to clear the road as best as possible. 
When the Nisqually gate finally opened at noon on December 25th, the line of cars stretched well past the park boundary and continued over a mile down the road.  Luckily in that line of cars were a few of our hardy Snow Rovers, who spent their afternoon strolling along the Trail of the Shadows and trekking up the Wonderland Trail, making hundreds of contacts on a beautifully sunny day. 

With the abundance of snow, the plows were working extra hard to carve their way to Paradise.  In doing so, our ancient snow moving machines suffered a few losses, and at one point, we were left with only one plow to move all of that snow.  With thanks to the park's auto shop, the plows were on the road in no time, and Paradise was finally open to the public once more.

NPS Photo / Harvey

In the days following the re-opening of Paradise, you could not ask for more perfect weather.  The alabaster snow was glistening under the warmth of the midday sun hanging high in the electric blue sky.  Of course, the Mountain, donning a new jacket reminiscent of mother-of-pearl, drew in all of the attention of park visitors and volunteers, stealing the show, as usual.  Just to the south, shadows were dancing across the ridges and valleys on the serrated Tatoosh Range, leaving the spectators in awe as the sun began to fade below the horizon.  Not to be outdone, every color of the rainbow was visible for only a few seconds on the flanks of the mighty Tacobet, as the sun was starting its race around the Earth, only to come up the following morning and do it all over again.

NPS Photo / Harvey

While the sights were inspiring to say the least, every single volunteer that took in the spectacular wonders of nature also assisted thousands of visitors, either directly or indirectly, during what could have been a chaotic time.  To put it in perspective, the Upper Lot, the Paradise Inn Lot, the Lower Lot, Narada Falls Lot, Christine Falls Lot, and Comet Falls Lot were all full of eager visitor's by 11:30am on Saturday, January 2nd.   

The introduction of over five new feet of snow, sunny skies, and the official opening of the Snow Play area at Paradise were all contributing factors to the influx of excited people to the Park, and with thanks to help from our Nordic Patrol, the visitors were able to find their way around on many miles of marked routes around the Paradise area. 

A big thank you goes out to all of our volunteers, and especially those who spent part of their holiday breaks giving back on the Mountain!  Without your help and dedication, this break would not have been as wonderful as it was!

NPS Photo / VIP Kelly Teale

This Thanksgiving, We are Thankful for YOU.

This Thanksgiving, we want to thank you. Yes, you, the Mount Rainier VIP. Without you, who knows what the park would even be like today. From maintaining the trails, to removing invasive species, to replanting our meadows, to educating visitors, to search and rescue operations, to assisting in the park collections, to answering countless questions in the Visitor's Centers, to collecting vital information from citizen science surveys, to seemingly infinite other responsibilities, the volunteers are really what makes Mount Rainier such a special place for nearly 2,000,000 visitors each and every year. We really cannot say it enough. Thank you, Mount Rainier volunteers!

 

 

Click to Enlarge

Snow Roving and Winter Operations Training

It seems as though we have skipped right over autumn and jumped headfirst into winter.  The nights are getting colder, the days are getting shorter, and snow is starting to accumulate at Paradise.  Every morning when I come into my office at Longmire, I am walking across frosted sidewalks and white grass.  With winter comes the announcement of the Winter Operations Training for volunteers and interpretation staff. 

The Winter Operations training will be DECEMBER 19th FROM 9:00am TO 5:00pm, and we will be meeting in the Community Building at Longmire, adjacent to the Longmire Stewardship Campground, for the first portion of the training.  This training will cover the paperwork necessary to become a Snow Rover (the position description and responsibilities are different from Meadow Roving and modified from last year's Snow Rovers, so anyone wanting to Snow Rove this year will NEED to fill out a new volunteer agreement), an introduction to the roles of different divisions in the park, general safety, the art of informal interpretation, and the operations of both Longmire and Paradise programs throughout the winter.  We will cap off the day with an example Ranger led snowshoe walk out of Paradise introduce you to "a day in the life" of a snow rover.

It is important to stress that Nordic Patrol, Winter Interpreters, Snow Rovers, and Meadow Rovers are each different volunteer positions, and each requires a separate volunteer agreement.  If you are already signed up as a Meadow Rover, for example, you are not automatically also a Snow Rover.  The duties and priorities are different, and if you have registered as a Meadow Rover or were a Snow Rover last year but haven't yet signed paperwork as a Snow Rover this year, you are notauthorized to do the work.  If you are interested in participating and cannot make it to the training on DECEMBER 19th, contact Ian (ian_harvey@partner.nps.gov) and make arrangements to sign up. 

5-Minute Presentations Are Needed!
We will begin the Winter Operations Training with a series of BRIEF presentations on winter safety topics, such as the 10 Essentials, preventing falls, snow shoveling, hypothermia, dehydration, frostbite, winter driving, cold and flu prevention, etc.  If you would like to put together  a 5 minute presentation on one of these topics, or something similar, please let us know when you RSVP, and we will add you to the schedule!

RSVP RSVP RSVP RSVP RSVP
Please RSVP to ian_harvey@partner.nps.gov in advance to make sure we have enough materials and space available in the Community Building before December 19th.  If you have any questions about registering or that should be brought up in the training, please also send them to Ian in advance so we can better prepare!

Take a look at this list if you are interested in Snow Roving this year:



Please click the image to enlarge.

We look forward to a fantastic winter!

Snow Rover Handbook (first edition!) published

Good news, Snow Rovers! Just like the summer Meadow Rover program, there is now an official "Snow Rover Handbook," full of all kinds of helpful information for those of you serving in this important volunteer capacity! Learn the answers to common questions... the basics of communicating with park visitors... radio procedures... and much more. Download your copy today!

The Snow Rover Handbook was created by Volunteer Extraordinaire Taryn O'Connell, so give her a big "thank you" when you see her. If you have suggestions for future editions of the Handbook, send those to us as well.

And don't forget, of course, all of the other resources available to you, listed in the links on the right-hand side of this blog page -- including our "Volunteer Handbook," which contains additional valuable information about volunteering in general.

Post-holiday updates

Happy New Year from Mount Rainier National Park!

Your humble Volunteer Program Manager was on vacation over the holidays, but of course life on The Mountain continued without a break. Here's a sampling of what's in my in box on my return to the office:

Climate Friendly Parks Internship Posted

(December 22) I have sent the announcement out to a few of my contacts to get the word out. It is a fairly quick turnaround, so if anyone knows of a good spot to post....

http://www.thesca.org/serve/position/climate-friendly-parks-intern/po-00640952 

Margaret Anderson Remembered:

Webcam capture, January 1, 2015, 10:44 a.m.

(December 28) As we approach January 1, 2015, we will mark three years since the murder of US Park Ranger Margaret Anderson.  On January 1, 2015, all Mount Rainier National Park employees are authorized to wear black mourning bands across their badges in honor of Ranger Anderson's sacrifice. 

At 10:42AM, Mount Rainier National Park Communications Center will request a moment of silence in honor of Ranger Anderson.  Additionally, rangers will lower the flags at the Jackson Visitor Center and Old Station to half mast at this time.  If the road to Paradise is closed due to weather or other issues, the flag at the Longmire Admin building will be alternative location.
Sincerely,

Dave Keltner, West District Ranger

Tragic Conclusion to Search Efforts:

(December 29) Search crews located an unresponsive male fitting the description of an overdue snowshoer at 11:57 this morning. The Pierce County Medical Examiner will make the final determination and identification. The body was found by ground searchers next to Edith Creek in the Paradise area.

The missing snowshoer, a 37 year old male from Puyallup, Washington, disappeared during Saturday evening’s winter storm that dropped 20 inches of snow in 48 hours. He intended to overnight at Camp Muir, but was forced to descend due to formidable winter storm conditions. A second party took him into their shelter at Panorama Point, but when the shelter was destroyed by the extreme conditions they attempted to complete their descent to Paradise together. During the descent the individual separated from the party in the vicinity of Edith Creek.

Members of the Nordic Patrol, and Tacoma, Everett, Seattle, and Olympic Mountain Rescues [all volunteers] conducted the ground search. The US Army Reserve 214th Air Division out of Joint Base Lewis McChord and park climbing rangers aboard searched the avalanche prone areas by air. Approximately 30 personnel were assigned to the incident.

The Paradise River in Winter:

NPS Photo by Steve Olson

(December 31) Photography volunteer Steve Olson sent several photos for our official NPS collection, taken along the Paradise River after the Winter Operations Training on December 13. Here's a sample to enjoy!

Update on Drone Policy:

(January 1) Below is the latest statement from the FAA regarding the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS, aka drones).  Please steer those looking for guidance (employees, volunteers, cooperators and public) to the website.

“Last week, drone industry trade groups teamed up with the FAA and model aircraft hobbyists to launch a safety campaign aimed at amateur drone operations. The campaign includes a website, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/ , where operators can find FAA regulations and advice on how to fly safely. The trade groups said they also plan to distribute safety pamphlets at industry events and are working with manufacturers to see that safety information is enclosed inside the package of new drones.”

Glenn Kessler, Park Aviation Manager

Calling All Snow Rover Volunteers!

(January 2) Now that everyone has had time to recover from holiday festivities (which for some was volunteering!), it is time to take a look at our schedules and set up dates to be a snow rover.

Don't forget that you are asked to volunteer once a month (8 hrs) to be considered an active volunteer!

Email me back at mora_meadow_rovers@nps.gov to set up your volunteering dates; I'm looking forward to hearing from you all.

Cheers!

Taryn O'Connell, Snow Rover Coordinator

Thanks again, Nordic Patrol:

(January 3) The volunteer Nordic Ski Patrol has finished marking all the Paradise winter ski trails, the Nisqually Vista snowshoe trail was completed yesterday. Thanks for everyone's patience this year with the late start due to the marginal snow pack. The Nordic Patrol will maintain the trails through the last weekend in March, conditions permitting.

Please bring any deficiencies or needs with the marked winter trail system to myself and/or Jeff Gardner's attention. Jeff is supervising the Nordic Patrol operation again this winter.

Kraig Snure, Wilderness District Ranger

Winter Trail Report:
(January 4) Please note the date for reports and recognize changes may have occurred since report. If a trail or area does not have a specific report, conditions are unknown as of the date of this summary. Check the Northwest Avalanche Center Report and the Mount Rainier Recreational Weather Report before heading out. Avalanche assessment and route-finding skills are needed for many winter activities in the park this time of year. Call the Longmire Information Center between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM if you have questions (360-569-6575).

Weather Report Link: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew/get.php?wfo=sew&pil=REC&sid=SEW

Avalanche Report Link: http://nwac.us/avalanche-forecast/current/cascade-west-south/

Southwest Summary Report, 01/04/15: There are only a few more inches of snow in the park at all elevations since the last report. The snow from the previous storm has consolidated and a high freeze level with rain will likely consolidate the snow further. Watch for icy roads.

Longmire Area Trails, 01/04/15: There are only a few inches of snow on the ground in Longmire, expect less once you get under the canopy of the old growth forests. Multiple downed trees persist on the trails in the Longmire area. All trails can be hiked with good boots with not quite enough snow for snowshoes. The foot bridge over the Nisqually to Carter Falls (near Cougar Rock campground) is washed out, no report on the trail beyond that point. Remember everyone is responsible for their own navigation when snow covers the trails.

Longmire Winter Trails PDF:
http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/upload/Longmire-Winter-Trails-Dec13.pdf

Paradise Area Trails, 01/04/15: Paradise 5400’ the snow is a compact 4‘. Please use extreme caution around the Pan Point area; it is very icy and experienced back-country users have reported the most heavily travelled tracks going through the avalanche terrain. Three of our winter routes have been marked with orange and black poles. Please refer to the Paradise Winter Recreation PDF for marked routes and suggested routes to avoid avalanche terrain in the Paradise area. Remember navigation is your responsibility and tracks in the snow is not a trail.

http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/upload/Paradise-Winter-RecreationWmap-Nov13-1.pdf

East Side Area Update, 12/3/14: SR 123 and 410 are closed at the park boundary. Silver Creek sno-park is not up and running yet, but parking lot is accessible. No report on trail conditions, use the southwest area conditions as an estimate. There is self-registration set up at the north boundary arch bulletin board for wilderness backpacking. There is also self-registration set up at the White River Ranger Station for backpacking and climbing. (Climbers are directed to fill out a climbing card and to pay the fee utilizing a pre-addressed envelope when they return from their climb).

Carbon/Mowich Area Update 12/3/14:

Call (360) 829-9639 for the Carbon River Ranch Ranger Station hours. There is self-registration for climbing and backpacking set up outside when the Carbon River Ranch Ranger Station is not staffed. There is light snow on the ground near the Carbon River entrance, the warming trend and rain will likely melt this snow. There is snow and ice on the road to Mowich outside of the park boundary with approximately 1.5’ of snow at Mowich Lake itself. The lower elevation trails can be quite icy, traction devices recommended but without enough depth for snowshoes yet. The old road bed to Isput Creek campground has sections washed out with the remainder being very muddy. Recent flooding has created numerous hazards and difficulties in the Carbon River/Mowich area. Bridges are washed out to Chenius Falls, over the Mowich Rivers on the Wonderland and on the approach to Carbon Glacier on the Wonderland. The trail to Carbon Glacier also had sections wash out and other areas blocked by landslides. With bridges and sections of trail washed out, sections of trail blocked by landslides, and icy conditions elsewhere, this trip would be very hazardous. For any experienced back-country user who still is considering this hike please use extreme caution.

Casey Overturf, Park Guide

Winter Operations Training, December 13, 2014

Winter Operations Training will be held in the Community Building at Longmire on Saturday, December 13 beginning at 9:00 a.m. This training, for both full-time staff and intermittent volunteers, will cover the basics of winter travel, emergency response, and "Snow Roving."

Volunteers who are interested in helping out as "Snow Rovers," or with guided snowshoe walks, should plan to attend this training if possible. Alternative orientation opportunities will be available for those who can't make it, but this will be the most thorough option. Returning and new volunteers are both welcome. The training will cover volunteer logistics, safety, road conditions, emergency response, radio use, snow avalanches, winter driving, and hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing routes.

"Snow Rovers," like "Meadow Rovers" in the summer, patrol the meadows above the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise, contacting visitors and assisting them with their experience. During the winter, of course, the meadows and trails are covered by snow, so Snow Rovers focus less on resource protection and more on visitor safety, informing people about current conditions and making sure they are prepared before they head out. The work is done on snowshoes or skis, and focuses on lower-elevation routes near the visitor center. Those who are interested in more extensive patrols, deeper into the wilderness and higher up the mountain, should consider joining the Nordic Patrol, operated by the Washington Ski Touring Club (www.wstc.org). Snow Rovers also often help with guided snowshoe walks, especially serving as a "sweep" at the end of a line of visitors to assist those who are having trouble with their snowshoes and to make sure the group stays together.

The Winter Operations Training will begin at the Longmire Community Building, across the suspension bridge from the rest of Longmire, at 9:00 a.m. After a break for lunch, the training will move to the Wilderness Information Center, and then, weather permitting, up the road to the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise. Note that state law requires all vehicles to carry tire chains, and depending on road conditions, chains or 4WD may be required to get to Paradise. At the conclusion of the training, about 2:45 p.m., participants may join an optional snowshoe walk.

Volunteers are needed to make short 5-minute presentations on safety topics during the training. We did this last year and it was very successful. Topics may include hypothermia, frostbite, route finding by GPS or map and compass, the 10 essentials, shoe traction, putting on tire chains, dehydration and sun exposure, winter weather, or any other subject related to staying safe during the winter at Mount Rainier. A PowerPoint projector will be available if you choose to use it, but presentations of any kind are welcome. Please reply to this message ASAP to let us know what you'd like to contribute.

Please RSVP if you plan to participate in Winter Operations Training so that we can get a sense for how many will be attending. You may reply to this message, or write to the general Meadow Rover mailbox at MORA_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov, which will be the standard contact address for correspondence throughout the winter. We are pleased to welcome Taryn O'Connell, who has served with our education staff during the summer, as a winter interpreter and coordinator of the Snow Rover program. She can be reached at the MORA_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov e-mail address.

Bring a sack lunch and warm clothes, and we'll see you on Saturday the 13th!

Calling all Snow Rovers to a Winter Wonderland at Paradise

As many of you probably know, over the past week and a half Paradise has gotten a lot of new snow. When I took the total measurement on Sunday morning, the reading was 177 inches. The snow was still falling as the wind blew it into the already covered trees, creating a scene as picturesque as the inside of a snow globe. With all this new snow, there is even more fun to be had out on the trails volunteering with the snow rover program!

Contact Ben Monroe at MORA_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov to sign up to volunteer!

Ben Monroe, Snow Rover Coordinator

Last week, we introduced the winter Snow Rover volunteer program. Today, meet one of the individuals who's helping to make it happen. Ben Monroe is a student at The Evergreen State College who's serving in a 12-week internship at Mount Rainier for college credit. Part of his duties include corresponding with and coordinating the volunteers who patrol around the parking lots and snow play area at Paradise. When Snow Rovers check in, he's the one who tells them where they'll be most helpful. When new Rovers arrive, he's the one who orients them and provides training. When all of our Rovers are huddled at home around their television sets watching the Seahawks, he's the one who fills in out on the trail, talking to visitors and making sure they have good information for visiting Mount Rainier safely and enjoyably.

In fact, a lot of Ben's duties involve getting out in the snow. In addition to coordinating volunteers, Ben, along with another Evergreen volunteer, Matt Sommerville, spend a lot of their day collecting weather data, resetting snow poles, marking and breaking trail, organizing supplies, and otherwise keeping our winter operations running behind the scenes.

Ben spends weekend afternoons staffing the information desk at the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise, so if you're up on the Mountain enjoying all of our new snow, stop in and say hi. Ask how you can help as a Snow Rover or, in the summer, a Meadow Rover, and thank him for his work helping to make it happen!

Snow Rovers patrol a winter Paradise

Lots of transformations happen at Mount Rainier National Park from summer to winter. One of those metamorphoses is that our summer Meadow Rovers become winter Snow Rovers. Shedding their hiking boots and acquiring snowshoes or skis, these volunteers migrate along the popular snow routes around Longmire and Paradise. Snow Rovers travel from visitor to visitor along these routes, providing trail condition and safety information and helping visitors have a memorable experience at the park.

Have you encountered any of our Snow Rovers out in the snowy wild?

Photo by Gary Ouellette, shared on our Flickr photo group: http://flickr.com/groups/MountRainierNPS

- Brandi Stewart, originally posted on Mount Rainier's Facebook page

Winter Volunteer Opportunities and Winter Operations Training

As the snow accumulates at Paradise, I have begun receiving e-mails from Meadow Rovers asking about options for winter volunteering. While such opportunities are more limited than they are in the summer months, they are not non-existent, and plans have been developing behind the scenes for winter operations training and supervision. Here’s a quick summary of what’s on the agenda:

Nordic Patrol training, December 2010
photo by Phil Hertzog

Nordic Patrol, Interpretation, and Snow Roving
There are three main options for winter volunteering, depending on your skills, interests, and experience. Nordic Patrol, AKA Ski Patrol, is a partnership between Mount Rainier National Park and the Washington Ski Touring Club (WSTC). Its members patrol the routes above Paradise on skis, coordinated by the park’s division of Visitor and Resource Protection. They provide both preventative and responsive search and rescue, and monitor the ski routes for potential danger. Patrol members should be physically fit and comfortable on skis. To participate, contact WSTC through their website at http://www.wstc.org.

Winter Interpreters, by contrast, work primarily out of the Visitor Center. They assist visitor center staff at the information desk on a regular basis, filling vital slots in our schedule. They are trained to provide informal interpretation and answer questions, and also help with snowshoe walks, usually by serving as a "sweeper" at the back of the line to keep the group together and assist anyone who falls behind. These positions are limited to a few people with previous experience, and all such slots are filled for this year. If you’re interested in participating in the future, stop by the Visitor Center and chat with our staff to let us know!

John McCarthy, Snow Rover
Photo by Ed Hunds

Our third group of volunteers are Snow Rovers, who are roughly analogous to summer Meadow Rovers. But whereas the primary duty of Meadow Rovers is to protect fragile subalpine meadows, the primary job of Snow Rovers is to promote visitor safety. Snow Rovers patrol areas close to the trailheads – including the trailheads and parking lots themselves – assisting visitors with information about where to go and how to get there and back safely. Like the Meadow Rover program, the Snow Rover program is supervised by Mount Rainier’s volunteer program manager, Kevin Bacher, and his staff. Maureen McLean will be on duty on Saturdays from December 14 through January 4, and after that, a winter intern (yet to be hired) will take over the role.

It is important to stress that Nordic Patrol, Winter Interpreters, Snow Rovers, and Meadow Rovers are each different volunteer positions, and each requires a separate volunteer agreement. If you are already signed up as a Meadow Rover, for example, you are not automatically also a Snow Rover. The duties and priorities are different, and if you have registered as a Meadow Rover or were a Snow Rover last year but haven’t yet signed paperwork as a Snow Rover this year, you are not authorized to do the work. If you’re interested in participating, contact us and make arrangements to sign up.

How to Be a Snow Rover
If you want to serve with Nordic Patrol, you’ll work directly with the Washington Ski Touring Club. If you’re a Winter Interpreter, then you’ve already been contacted and scheduled by our interpretive staff. If you’re interested in becoming a Snow Rover, then you’ll be working with me. Here is a quick summary of how that works:

1. Sign up. As mentioned above, if you have not signed a volunteer agreement specifically for Snow Roving this year, you must do so before venturing out on the snow. Snow Roving is different than Meadow Roving.
2. Attend training. If possible, join us on Saturday, December 14 for our winter volunteer orientation. See below for details.
3. Choose when to come and where to go. Our greatest need is on weekends at Paradise, especially when the weather is good, followed by Fridays. Weekday roving is less important, but welcomed in the Longmire area.
4. Let us know you’re coming. Snow Rovers MUST check in ahead of time so that we can make sure enough radios and other resources are available for you. Let us know if you plan to ride our employee shuttle, which is an option if space is available and you plan on being here all day. The shuttle leaves Longmire at 9:00 am on weekends and holidays, weather permitting, and departs Paradise at 4:45 pm. Also let us know if you’d like to spend the night in the volunteer apartment at Park Headquarters, which has two bedrooms and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Since multiple people will be supervising the program over the course of the winter, the best way to RSVP is by writing to the Meadow Rover mailbox at MORA_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov. Please don’t wait until the day before to RSVP, and please give us at least a two-day lead when requesting the apartment.
5. Call ahead to check conditions. Current road and weather information is available by calling 360-569-2211 and listening to the recorded message. This includes an estimate on when (or if) the road to Paradise will open, and whether chains or 4WD will be required. Note that state law requires you to carry tire chains in your vehicle during the winter, even if current road conditions do not require putting them on.
6. Check in when you get here. Snow Rovers must check in in person when they arrive, either at the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise (open weekends and holidays) or at the Longmire Information Center (open seven days a week). Our rangers will give you current information on weather, avalanche, and trail conditions, and may ask you to help with specific tasks such as resetting the poles marking trails, or checking on trail conditions in a certain area.
7. Check out a radio. Safety is your highest priority – for both you and the visitors we serve! No one should be out on the trail without a radio and knowledge of how to use it, especially in the winter (in addition to the rest of the 10 Essentials).
8. Be safe!
9. Check back in when you return. Check your radio back in, report anything relevant, and log your hours and visitor contacts in the volunteer notebook. If the notebook is not available, send your hours via e-mail to MORA_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov when you get home.

Winter Operations Training
If possible, plan to join us on Saturday, December 14, 2013 from 9:00-4:00 for Winter Operations Training. We’ll meet at the Community Building at Longmire and, weather permitting, move up to Paradise in the afternoon. Details of the agenda are still being worked out, but topics will include safety, logistics, and emergency response. This training is highly recommended if you plan to participate as either a Snow Rover or Winter Interpreter, and is also an excellent opportunity to update your paperwork if necessary.

5-Minute Presentations Are Needed! We will begin the Winter Operations Training with a series of brief presentation on winter safety topics, such as the 10 Essentials, preventing falls, snow shoveling, hypothermia, dehydration, frostbite, winter driving, cold and flu prevention, etc. If you would like to put together a 5-minute presentation on one of these topics, or something similar, please let us know when you RSVP, and we’ll put you into the schedule!

Please RSVP to MORA_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov so that we’re sure to have plenty of chairs and snacks. Use the same e-mail address if you have questions. See you there, and we look forward to working with you this winter!

End of Season!

Today, Sunday November 2^nd, is the official end of Meadow Roving for 2013.  It is a good day to end as the meadows are covered in snow.  Winter has definitely set foot on the mountain. 

For those of you who would like to continue as Snow Rovers, there are several changes coming with that program this winter.  For more information, contact Kevin Bacher (Kevin_Bacher@nps.gov). or stay tuned to this blog for training information.

I wish to thank each of you for all your help this season and look forward to working with you next year.  Stay tuned to this blog for information on our training sessions next June.  My government e-mail will be closed while I am off the rolls so I will not be able to communicate with you. 

Maureen McLean

Coordinator MORA Meadow Rovers

End of Season for Meadow Roving

Summer seems to have ended and fall is rapidly move onward too.  Thus our days of meadow roving are also coming to an end as the meadows will soon be covered with snow.  The last official day of roving at Sunrise will be on October 6.  As the WIC prepares to close for the season, I will be collecting all of the radios and the logbook.  At Paradise, roving will continue daily through October 14.  During the following three weekends, radios will also be available at the JVC.  This of course holds if we have meadows instead of snow fields.  November 3 will be the last day for meadow roving for this year at Paradise. 

We are currently looking for a volunteer to coordinate the snow roving at Paradise on weekends and holidays or a couple of people who would like to trade off the duties. Housing at Tahoma Woods would be provided.  Contact me at maureen_mclean@nps.gov or Kevin Bacher at Kevin_Bacher@nps.gov . 

I have truly enjoyed working with each and every one of you this summer.  You have made my job so much easier with your enthusiasm and your "never give up" attitudes no matter how crazy the trails became.  I look forward to roving with you next summer.

Maureen McLean

Coordinator MORA Meadow Rovers

Meadow Rover Updates and new correspondence e-mail address

Hello Meadow/Snow Rovers!
From: Curt Jacquot, West District Area Ranger and New Meadow/Snow Rover Supervisor

Recent Happenings
I am writing to update you on the Meadow/Snow Rover program and happenings at Paradise.  Fall colors have faded and Winter is close at hand (or is it here?).  Several feet of snow fell at Paradise in the last few weeks.  The foxes are still making rounds and some people are beginning to carry skis up to enjoy the Muir snowfield. The "Stay off the Meadow" signs and rope-pole barriers have been removed for the season.  Several park roads have also closed for the season.

As some of you may have heard I have been hired on a permanent basis as the West District Area Ranger. I am also the Meadow/Snow Rover supervisor. I am still catching up on the changes that took place last summer, but I hope to continue the momentum in the meadow rover program that was started by Erin Whittaker and Lee Snook. One of the ways we plan to do that is by having an email strictly for Meadow/Snow rovers. All questions, concerns, comments about Meadow/Snow Roving should now go to:

MORA_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov

Kevin Bacher (Volunteer Program Manager), Lee Snook (West District Interpretive Supervisor), and I (Curt Jacquot) will check the inbox at MORA_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov .

What Volunteers are Needed for in late Fall and Winter
Even with a couple of feet of snow, the meadow is not protected when people venture off trail. Meadow rovers are definitely needed in late fall!  Rovers can assist by greeting people at the Skyline trailhead and discussing fragile plants and the importance of staying on deep snow and not on the vegetation. Many people will have questions about the snow play area and why it is not open yet. We need to explain the need for deeper snow and grooming the run before the snow play area can open as planned on December 18th. Rovers can also talk with visitors about the avalanche forecast and "Keeping Wildlife Wild."   Once we start leading snowshoe walks on December 18th, Meadow/Snow rover volunteers can assist by taking the "sweep end" of the groups so no one falls behind.  Other things volunteers might assist with:  Trail updates. What condition are they in? Is a trail completely snow covered, or just partially? Has a trail been wanded/marked? Once the trails are wanded/marked Snow Rovers can help reset the poles if they start to get buried or fall over. If you prefer to be inside it is possible to rove the visitor center giving directions or answering questions about the exhibits.

Winter Interpretive Training Open to Volunteers
On December 10th we will have Winter Interpretive training at the Longmire Community building from 8:30 AM through 5:00 PM. The training will cover Winter park operations, safety, and Winter interpretive programs. In the afternoon we are planning an example guided interpretive walk at Paradise. Please RSVP for the training by emailing or calling West District Interpreter Lee Snook (lee_snook@nps.gov , (360) 569-6043).

Who to Contact:
If you are planning to come up to volunteer it is helpful for us to know when you are coming.  If you could email me at the new Meadow Rover email address (MORA_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov) to let me know in advance I can be sure to save room in the van if you would like to ride up with staff. The Van will leave from the Museum on weekends and holidays at 9:15 a.m. If you wish to use the volunteer apartment at Tahoma Woods please confirm your duties with Lee Snook or I via the Meadow Rover email and let us know you would like to use the apartment. Lee or I will check to see if the Tahoma Woods VIP apartment is available on the date(s) you need it.  If you are coming up to volunteer during the week, you can check out a radio at the Longmire Museum (if you have been trained on park radio use). The Museum is open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily.

If you have questions about volunteering at Paradise or Longmire, please contact Lee Snook or I via the Meadow Rover email. If time is short and you want a quick response don't hesitate to call us. My days off are usually Thursday and Friday and Lee is off primarily on Sunday and Monday. If you have questions about the overall volunteer or outreach programs, please contact Kevin Bacher at kevin_bacher@nps.gov  or (360) 569-2211 extrension 3385.

Once again, contact information:
The best place to send email regarding the Meadow/Snow Rover program:
Meadow Rover email: MORA_Meadow_Rovers@nps.gov

Also:
Curt Jacquot: curt_jacquot@nps.gov, phone: (360) 569-6426
Lee Snook: email: lee_snook@nps.gov, phone: (360) 569-6043
Kevin Bacher: kevin_bacher@nps.gov, phone: (360) 569-2211 extension 3385
Longmire Museum: (360) 569-2211 extension 3314
Paradise Jackson Visitor Center: (360) 569-6036

Thanks for being a Meadow/Snow rover! As always, let me know if you have any questions.

Curt Jacquot
Park Ranger - Interpretation, Meadow/Snow Rover Supervisor
Mount Rainier National Park
55210 238th Ave East
Ashford, WA 98304
(360) 569-2211, Extension 6426