High Visitation Expected at Mount Rainier National Park During Centennial Weekend

Mount Rainier National Park News Release

Release Date: August 19, 2016

Contact: Kelsea Holbrook, 360-569-6510

With an extended forecast for sunny, summer weather, Mount Rainier National Park officials advise park visitors to anticipate high traffic volumes and full parking areas in the park for the National Park Service Centennial Weekend, August 25-28. This summer visitors to Mount Rainier National Park have experienced hour long waits at park entrance stations during mid-day peak travel times, particularly on weekends. With the nice weather and park entrance fees waived, the park expects a very busy Centennial Weekend.

In recognition of the National Park Service’s anniversary date of August 25, 1916, throughout the National Park Service entrance fees will be waived for the extended weekend dates of August 25 through August 28.

For visitors to Mount Rainier National Park on Thursday, August 25, the park invites visitors to celebrate the National Park Service Centennial with some special activities around the park at Longmire, Ohanapecosh, Paradise and Sunrise between9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

At Longmire, the park is celebrating the history of the park. At the historic gas station you can visit with the park’s curator while viewing some of the rarely seen items from the park’s museum collection. Every hour, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 2:00 p.m., the park’s living history team will be presenting programs that feature stories about people from the park’s past. On the half hour, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 2:30 p.m., there will be walking tours of the Longmire Historic District led by the park’s historic architect and historic landscape architect.

At Ohanapecosh, the park is celebrating the next generation of park stewards with special Junior Ranger activities beginning every half hour from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. These programs will be followed by a National Park Service birthday celebration and Junior Ranger ceremony at the Ohanapecosh Amphitheater at 2:00 p.m. Kids can earn their Junior Ranger badge while learning about birds, bugs, animals, and more!

At Paradise, the park is celebrating the work that park rangers and park partners do to run the park. Visitors can roam the plaza outside the Jackson Visitor Center to learn about the work and the specialized equipment used to keep Mount Rainier National Park going. From tracking fox to rescuing climbers, there is no shortage of interesting work in national parks. Meet rangers between 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., followed by a Centennial birthday celebration at 2:30 p.m. with speaker Randy King, Superintendent.

At Sunrise, the park is celebrating the science conducted in the park to learn about and protect park natural and cultural resources. Through activities, demonstrations and guided walks learn about the work archeologists, botanists, ecologists and geologists do in the park. Meet scientists between 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., followed by a Centennial Birthday celebration in the Sunrise Picnic Area at 2:30 p.m. with speaker Tracy Swartout, Deputy Superintendent.

For those wishing to celebrate the anniversary with a service project, there will be volunteer projects at both Longmire and Paradise, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and lasting about four hours.  Meet at the Longmire Museum to volunteer for maintenance projects at the Longmire Stewardship Campground. To volunteer at Paradise, meet outside the Jackson Visitor Center at the staircase with the John Muir quote for a trail brushing project. Please bring water and snacks; tools and gloves will be provided.

www.nps.gov

Park information, announcements, and the Mount Rainier webcams are posted on the park’s official website, nps.gov/mora.

• Get additional information and updates by joining the Mount Rainier community on Facebook: facebook.com/MountRainierNPS
• Find out breaking news and road status updates through Mount Rainier’s Twitter feed: twitter.com/MountRainierNPS
• Explore the park and behind-the-scenes operations with our videos on YouTube: youtube.com/MountRainierNPS
• Share your own photos of Mount Rainier with other visitors in the Mount Rainier Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/MountRainierNPS

About the National Park Service- More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 412 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.

The NEW Newsletter - July 2016

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Volunteer group needed for Longmire Campground shutdown

Volunteers take down platform tents in 2014

Summer 2015 is now history, and as we ease into autumn, one task remains for the volunteer program: namely, shutting down the Longmire Stewardship Campground for the winter. This task involves taking down our five platform tents and hanging them to dry; storing their poles and cots in our warehouse; propping up the platforms under tarps for the winter; and generally cleaning up the campground from any litter, storm debris, or campfire residue left over from the summer. The whole task can easily be done with a dozen people in half a day, and is suitable for adults and/or teens.

If you're part of a group this size and are looking for a way to volunteer, contact us and let us know! Our schedule is flexible, though the sooner we get this done the better, as autumn will only get wetter as time goes by. Please call Kevin Bacher, Volunteer Program Manager, at 360-569-6567, or write to Kevin_Bacher [at] nps.gov.

Volunteers will work on trails and native plant revegetation at Mount Rainier on National Public Lands Day, September 26; Entrance fees waived

September 21, 2015

For Immediate Release

Kevin Bacher, Volunteer Program Manager

360-569-6567, Kevin_Bacher [at] nps.gov

Mount Rainier National Park will celebrate National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 26, 2015 with several volunteer projects open to public participation. The work day caps a busy summer in which nearly 2,000 people have contributed to the protection of Mount Rainier’s natural and cultural treasures and helped serve its visitors.

National Public Lands Day is an annual celebration of public involvement in the stewardship of America’s national, state, and local parks and forests. More than 200,000 individuals are expected to participate in events all over the country. In recognition of this, entrance fees will be waived at all national parks for the day. Volunteers will receive an additional coupon for free admission on a day of their choice.

Members of the public are invited to join in the day’s work. The National Parks Conservation Association will help coordinate registration for the event beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the White River Campground in the northeastern corner of the park. After a brief welcome at 9:00, participants will divide into work groups. The Washington Trails Association and Park Service crew leaders will lead trail maintenance projects around Sunrise, while other crews will work on restoring subalpine meadows by planting species grown in the park’s greenhouse from seeds collected from the meadows of Sunrise. Trail work is suitable for ages 16 and up, while revegetation is good for all ages. Additional projects may be added as well.

Volunteers should come prepared for the possibility of cool, wet weather, with warm clothing, rain gear, sturdy footwear, and gloves. Knee pads are also recommended for planting. If the weather is nice, sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats are recommended. Volunteers should also bring water, snacks, and a lunch.

Free camping at the White River Campground is available both the day before and after National Public Lands Day for event participants. Contact Ian Harvey at Ian_Harvey@partner.nps.gov to reserve a campsite, and include the total number of people in your group as well as the number of tents you will be using.

Volunteers at Mount Rainier National Park maintain trails, patrol park roads and wilderness areas, assist and educate visitors, conduct research as citizen scientists, plant native plants, as well as dozens of other tasks. Last year, 1,693 volunteers contributed 57,336 hours of service, an effort valued at $1.5 million.

Information about Mount Rainier’s volunteer program, including a list of open positions, a calendar of activities, and pictures and videos of volunteers in action may be found on Mount Rainier National Park’s website at www.nps.gov/mora, or on its volunteer program blog at rainiervolunteers.blogspot.com.

- NPS -

Volunteer Newsletter: September, 2015

Looking Ahead to September

September is already off to a cooler start, though there is still hope for a last few rays of warm sunshine between these chilly and rainy days.  Even though the summer is starting to wind down, there are still plenty of opportunities to volunteer at Mount Rainier in the month of September.

MRNPA’s Annual “Reveg” – September 12

The annual Mount Rainier National Park Associates meadow revegetation work party will be Saturday, September 12th. MRNPA volunteers will again be assisting the Mount Rainier ecological restoration crew in planting wildflower seedlings, working to convert a historic campground area near Sunrise back into subalpine meadows.  Be prepared for almost any fall weather. In the past we have experienced everything from warm and sunny days to a driving blizzard. In addition to your sun hat, sunscreen, and your rain gear, bring a lunch, plenty of fluids to drink, gardening gloves, and a hand digging tool you like to use. If you have no gardening tools, the NPS will provide small hand tools. Most of the day you will be working on your hands and knees to do the planting, so you should bring some kind of protection for your knees. The pads available at your local gardening retailer work for most people. The work site is about a mile hike from the Sunrise parking lot, so plan on carrying everything you need to and from the work site.  If you plan to join the MRNPA volunteers on Saturday, September 12th, for this meadow revegetation work party, please reply to volunteer@mrnpa.org confirming that you are coming and indicating the number of volunteers that you will bringing with you.

The Washington State Fair – September 11 – 27

The largest fair in the State of Washington is just around the corner!  Volunteers are still needed on a few shifts either working the informational booth or (especially) by assisting on our indoor snowshoe track!  Volunteering for this event also gives you a free pass to the Fair as well as free parking, which is a $25 value.  If you are interested in volunteering during the fair, please contact Jim Ross at Jim_Ross@nps.gov for more information.

National Public Lands Day – September 26

Join us for one of our largest events of the year on National Public Lands Day!  This year, the event will be based in the Sunrise area with a variety of projects available for all ages, ranging from revegetation of native plants in the Sunrise subalpine meadows (suitable for all ages) to working on trail projects in the area.  Registration begins at 9:00am in the White River Campground.  As always, those planning on volunteering are able to stay in the campground free of charge for the time of their service.  For more information on reserving a campsite, please contact Ian Harvey at ian_harvey@partner.nps.gov by September 20 with the number of people staying in the campsite, as well as the number of tents being used.

WTA’s White River Trail Projects – Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until 9/27

Do you love volunteering your time to do trails work, but the Backcountry Response Team trips seem a little much for you?  Well, don’t you worry anymore, because the Washington Trails Association offers weekend and single day trail projects right here at Mount Rainier National Park.  Sign up for a day or the full weekend, and you will spend your time with likeminded individuals, determined to work.  Visit www.wta.org for more information on the projects offered at Mount Rainier for the rest of the month.

Paradise Trail Projects – Every Friday and Saturday until 9/27

Maybe the WTA’s White River trail project sounds like something you’d like to do, but it’s on the complete other side of the mountain, and you don’t want to drive all the way over there.  You’re in luck!  There is an option on the west side of the mountain for you!  Kevin Watson of the Paradise Trail crew will meet people at the stairway immediately behind the Jackson Visitor Center every Friday and Saturday at 9:00am for a walk-up trail work opportunity.  He is flexible with everyone’s ability levels, though this will be work done above 5,500 feet, so it is inherently more difficult.  If you have any questions about the projects, or want to bring a group out for a few hours of trail work, contact Kevin Watson at Kevin_J_Watson@nps.gov

Meadow Rovers – Until the Snow Flies

Just because it is getting a little bit cooler outside doesn’t mean we are done with the Meadow Rover program!  We still need volunteers to come out and protect the meadows at Paradise and Sunrise.  The meadows have been cloaked in their autumnal colors already, and they are absolutely beautiful.  This means there will still be hundreds of people hiking the trails through these meadows, and we still need the Meadow Rovers out there to help educate the public!

August Highlights

August came in like a lion and left…also like a lion, but a wet lion.  This extreme and sudden shift in weather hasn’t stopped hundreds of volunteers from coming out and sharing their knowledge and expertise with the thousands of visitors who entered through the gates surrounding the park.  Heat?  No problem.  Smoke-filled air?  Don’t worry about it.  Glacial outburst floods?  Easy.  All in a day’s work.  Here are some of the things our amazing volunteers have been working on over the month of August.

SCA Community Crew #2 & #3 – July 27 to August 10; August 17 to August 31

The second and third SCA community crews of the season arrived and went straight to work, assisting trails crew efforts all over the park.  Sometimes they were spiked out to Klapatche Park, other times they were able to call the Longmire Stewardship Campground their home.  No matter where they spent their evenings, the crews were always out working hard, improving the trails we all know and love.  The SCA has many opportunities for youth across the country, ranging from summer-long internships to year-long stays in some of America’s most beautiful locations!  For more information on how you can get involved, visit www.thesca.org

Starbucks – August 8 and 9

Fueled by their world-famous brew, over thirty volunteers from Starbucks locations all over the state joined the Paradise Trails crew for a weekend of stewardship.  With such an energetic and eager group, the project had two trail crew leads, and the group was divided into two different projects.  One group helped prepare a section of trail that will be repaved in the near future by brushing the edges and widening the trail to its original width (which, in some places, doubled the width of the trail!), while the second group spend most of their day moving large boulders and edging a section of the Skyline Trail, which was recently repaved, to help prevent the trail from crumbling under the feet of thousands of people each day.  Starbucks has been visiting the park in this capacity for many years and will also match donations to a variety of charitable organizations.  For more information on some projects Starbucks is working on, visit www.community.starbucks.com/en_us/home

Washington Trails Association’s Youth Volunteer Vacations – August 9 to 14; August 23 to 28

Throughout the month of August, the Washington Trails Association hosted two Volunteer Vacations for youth from all around the West Coast.  Through this program, the WTA provides an amazing experience for high school students aged 14-18 including camping and trails projects. This year, both groups have been based out of the White River Campground and have been primarily focused on the Glacier Basin Trail, with other projects mixed in.  For some, this was their first time ever stepping foot in Mount Rainier National Park, while for others, they grew up under the gaze of the mountain. But, for all, they now have a special connection to the park through their hard work and determination while volunteering through the WTA.  The WTA has many opportunities for all ages, with some programs specifically designed for youth.  Read more about them here: www.wta.org/volunteer/youth

Mount Rainier National Park Associates’ Trail Day – August 15

The Mount Rainier National Park Associates were at it again, this time doing some trail work high up on the Skyline Trail.  In fact, they were so far up the Skyline Trail that the entire day was spent working in a cloud!  The weather had shifted slightly in the middle of the month, and instead of the 90 degree days from the previous week, the group experienced mist and temperatures in the mid-40s.  Much of the work done on this day was resetting some stone steps that were in desperate need of attention, and now you can effortlessly climb your way to Panorama Point!  The MRNPA takes on an array of projects, ranging from trail work to revegetation to devegetation and removal of invasive species.  To learn how you can become a part of this amazing team, visit www.mrnpa.org today.

Volunteer Picnics – August 14 and 15 

The volunteer picnics have come and gone, and we would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all who participated in these events. We saw something falling from the sky for the Longmire Volunteer Picnic (our best guess is that it was... rain) and we were able to shift everything inside next to the roaring fire within the Community Building. As for the Sunrise Volunteer Picnic, we were much dryer, though it was much colder, with temperatures in the mid 40s for most of the day. We had great turn-outs at both events, and we thank all of the volunteers that could make it and those of you who could not.

Washington Trails Association’s Backcountry Response Team, #2 –

August 26 – August 30

Continuing the amazing partnership Mount Rainier National Park and the Washington Trails Association share, the WTA fielded two Backcountry Response Teams to share their trail maintenance experience for a week at a time while hiking deep into the wilderness of Mount Rainier and setting up camp in a cross-country zone on Emerald Ridge. In addition to having some pretty amazing views of Mount Rainier and some grand sunsets in the western sky, both crews completed a much needed reroute of the Wonderland Trail that will be used for years to come.  The WTA does some amazing work all over the state.  To learn more about some of the projects they are working on for the rest of the year, and how you can be a part of a great backcountry crew, visit http://www.wta.org/volunteer/volunteering/bcrt 

REI – August 24 to 26

The Longmire Stewardship Campground was jam-packed early in the afternoon on August 24, as just fewer than 150 people from every level of employment at REI joined us for three days of stewardship activities.  We offered a wide range of options for all ages, including trail projects on the Snow Lake Trail, landscaping within the Longmire Historical District, participating in Junior Ranger and Citizen Ranger activities, joining in on a variety of Ranger led programs in Longmire and Paradise, or exploring the trails on a self-led hike to help each person make their own special connection with the park.  The event was capped off with a catered meal and words of thanks from the Park Superintendent and the CEO of REI.  REI is dedicated to preserving the amazing landscapes across the country.  As a Premier Level partner with the National Park Foundation’s #FindYourPark campaign, REI is showing this level of commitment through more than just signing a check.  These people are passionate about what they do, and it can be seen through the work that nearly 150 volunteers did throughout the park.  For more information on how REI is working with the National Park Foundation to help celebrate the NPS Centennial next year, visit www.rei.com/h/national-parks

Urban Wilderness Works – August 28 to September 8

North Cascades National Park’s loss was our gain, as a group of enthusiastic volunteers from Seattle were rerouted to Mount Rainier due to the fires up north. Thanks to the flexibility of the park’s trail crew, this group has been hard at work on the Snow Lake, Nisqually Vista, and Skyline Trail, while camping out in the Longmire Stewardship Campground. Even the cool rain of early September hasn’t dampened their spirits! To learn more about this great organization, visit http://www.urbanwildernessproject.org/works-w.htm

RAVENS – All Summer Long

Our Roadside Assistance Volunteers (better known as the “RAVENS”) have been absolutely amazing this summer.  We cannot begin to show our gratitude for Les and Gary and the work they have done throughout the summer.  These two have seen it all while out on the trails and roadways of Paradise, ranging from rescuing keys locked inside a vehicle to performing life-giving CPR for over an hour.  From collecting trash thrown by careless hikers to being the first on the scene for the rescue of an individual who had fallen off a cliff, the RAVENS have provided a service that has greatly impacted the lives of countless visitors, whether directly or indirectly, and we cannot thank them enough.  But, we will try.  Thank you.

Meadow Rovers – All Summer Long

With the early start of the summer this year, there has been a great need for protection of the beautiful resources that are the meadows around Paradise and Sunrise.  Luckily, the Meadow Rovers responded, and in greater numbers than ever.  Both Lynn and Maureen were training larger and larger groups as the summer went on, with record numbers of contacts being made each day.  Even though the summer is starting to wind down, we can always use Meadow Rovers out on the trails. Don’t forget to come help in September and October!

And More

These are only a few of the many things volunteers have been up to this summer. MeadoWatch, Amphibian Survey, and Cascades Butterfly Survey volunteers have gathered valuable data as Citizen Scientists. Backcountry patrol volunteers have kept the wilderness trails in good shape. Historic Landscape Architecture interns have inventoried, stabilized, and restored important parts of the park’s history. Costumed volunteers portrayed historical characters from the park’s past in the annual Shadows of the Past program. Campground hosts made visitors and volunteers welcome. Astronomy volunteers delighted visitors with views of the heavens through their telescopes at Paradise and Sunrise. Volunteers are everywhere, and we could not protect Mount Rainier National Park for the enjoyment of present and future generations without them.

Photos from many of the volunteer projects listed here are posted on the park's Flickr page at http://flickr.com/MountRainierNPS. Check it out -- you might find someone you know!

Looking Further into the Future...

It may seem like summer has come and gone quickly for some, but just because it isn’t over 80 degrees every day, doesn’t mean the park is shutting down.  Snow will soon be on the forecast, and many of our summer volunteers and interns will be migrating back to their homes across the country and across the world.  At the Volunteer and Outreach office, we just want to thank you for all you have done to help make this an absolutely amazing summer at Mount Rainier.  With the elongated summer, we were expecting a higher number of visitors hiking our trails, exploring our visitor’s centers, and experiencing all that is Mount Rainier.  Without your crucial help, this summer would not have been nearly as great as you have made it.  Thank you so much for all you have done and we look forward to working with you again very soon.

If you have any special stories you’d like to share about your time volunteering, please send them to Kevin_Bacher@nps.gov.  Throughout the winter months, we plan on featuring different stories from volunteers all over the park, and we would love to hear you input.  Send us a story, a letter, some pictures, or anything that made your time volunteering special for you. 

And again, THANK YOU.

Volunteer Newsletter – August 2015

You’re invited to a picnic!

Before we get into the newsletter… this is just a reminder that the volunteer picnics are coming up very quickly at Mount Rainier, and you are invited!  This is the social semi-potluck to celebrate all of the hard work our volunteers put in throughout the year.  We will have two picnics, one on each side of the mountain.  The first will be on August 14^th at the Longmire Community Building while the second is August 15^th at the Sunrise Picnic Area.  Both events will start at 4:00pm and will go until 6:00pm, so come out and share some of your volunteer stories and a side dish or dessert with us!

Now, on with the newsletter:

July Highlights

The month of July was a hot one, yet we still had large numbers of volunteers coming through the entrance gates all over the park.  This just shows how dedicated all of our volunteers are!  Here is a recap of some of the projects that volunteers worked on throughout the month of July.

SCA Community Crew #1 – July 6^th to July 20^th

The first SCA community crew of the season came to Mount Rainier just after Independence Day this year, and spent half of their time in the park at the far end of the Westside Road at Klapatche Point.  Here they were doing some brushing and trail work on some of the backcountry trails in the area.  The remainder of their time was based out of the Longmire Stewardship Campground and traveling around the Longmire and Paradise areas, working on trails along the way.  Featuring two crew leaders from the Seattle area and 6 high school students (or recent graduates), the first community crew had an amazing experience while here at Mount Rainier.  The SCA has many opportunities for youth across the country, and even right here in the park!  For more information, visit www.thesca.org .

REI Sumner working with the Washington Trails Association – July 10^th

We were visited by the Logistics Team at the REI Distribution Center in Sumner early in the month, and they were excited to get out of the office and get their hands dirty.  They worked on a section of the Wonderland Trail heading towards Summerland in the northeastern corner of the park.  After clearing many of the drainages and making a few new ones along the trail, the crew then went on a hike led by Ranger Kevin around Sunrise and by the end of the day, their green REI Co-op t-shirts were filthy, sweaty, and covered in dust, but the group couldn’t have been any happier.  REI is a premier partner of the National Park Foundation’s “Find Your Park” campaign.  For more information, visit http://findyourpark.com/partners#rei.

Mount Rainier National Park Associates “Deveg” – July 11^th

The brave volunteers of MRNPA answered a panicked call for help and began their assault on the alien species found around the new Carbon River Ranger Station in the Northwest corner of the park.  The day was spent pulling a variety of non-native species including stinky bob and foxglove destroying the alien invaders.  Are you interested in saving the world?  Then sign up for the next work party with the Mount Rainier National Park Associates at www.mrnpa.org .

Washington’s National Park Fund – July 18^th

Nine representatives from Washington’s National Park Fund joined us for a day of trail work in Paradise (literally) in mid-July.  Their project involved widening a portion of trail immediately behind the Jackson Visitor Center to its original width.  This work was crucial because this trail will be repaved later in the season, and the group was excited to help.  Following a hot day in the sun, the group retreated to their campground to clean up before going on a hike.  That night, some members of the group joined our astro-volunteers for a detailed view of the cosmos in a way they may have never seen before.  “The Fund” is the official nonprofit partner of Mount Rainier National Park, as well as North Cascades and Olympic National Parks.  For more information on how you can help with “The Fund” visit www.wnpf.org .

Citizen Science Projects throughout the Park – All Summer Long

Hundreds of volunteers spend their time in the park working on a variety of Citizen Science Projects offered throughout the 230,000+ acres of Mount Rainier National Park.  Some of these include MeadoWatch, which studies the wide range of stages of development for many subalpine flowers and where they are found on the mountain.  With this data gathered by many volunteers, scientists at the University of Washington will be able to compare it to previous years’ data to help determine the role of global climate change in the Mount Rainier area.  Other projects around the mountain include the Cascades Butterfly Project, the Amphibian Survey, and the Cascades Carnivore Survey (a survey that tracks some of the carnivores throughout the park through careful examination of their scat).  All of these projects will be continuing throughout the summer months.

RAVENS – Around Paradise All Summer Long

If you have had any issues with your car or maybe a fall on the trail in Paradise, chances are you have met one of our RAVENS (Roadside Assistance Volunteers).  Gary and Les have been working long hours all summer to provide the safest environment possible at Paradise, and if you see them around, feel free to thank them and even give them a high five!

Meadow Rovers – All Summer Long at Paradise and Sunrise

The Meadow Rovers have been out in full force this summer, as both Paradise and Sunrise have been swamped with visitors all summer long.  Recently, Maureen had the largest group of Rovers out on the trails she has ever had, and that was lucky, because on the same day there were seemingly countless tour busses and large groups all along the trails.  Sunrise has also been quite busy, having some of their highest amounts of visitors to date, and at both locations, some Rovers have been reporting over 500 contacts in one shift.  That is amazing everyone!  It seems as though the crowds will continue to grow as long as this beautiful weather sticks around, so keep up the amazing attitudes and know that you are always welcome to come and Meadow Rove, and even bring a friend if you’d like!  Lynn and Maureen have been having new Rover orientations all summer long, and don’t want to stop!

We also want to give a special shout out to Puget Sound Energy, whose donation through Washington’s National Park Fund allowed us to purchase additional radios for our volunteers to use this summer, enhancing their effectiveness and helping to keep both them and visitors safer on the trails!

Washington Trails Association – Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the Summer

The WTA has been working hard on a section of the Wonderland Trail in the northeastern corner of the park, leading to Summerland.  Every weekend, many volunteers come for a day or the entire weekend to work alongside the coordinators on projects to improve sections of the trails that have been washed out.  Much of the work has involved putting in new check steps and clearing drainages, and the trail looks beautiful now!  Additionally, the WTA has just completed their first Back Country Response Team trip to Emerald Ridge.  This small group of four volunteers spent five days in the backcountry, miles away from the Westside Road, and a two hour roundtrip walk away from the closest water source to begin work on a new section of the Wonderland Trail that was slowly falling over the edge of a cliff.  The WTA will continue work throughout the summer.  Do you want to get your hands dirty?  Then sign up for a single day, or a full weekend of trails work at www.wta.org .

And more…

These are just some of the volunteers working all over the park this summer. Interns are helping out in the visitor centers and surveying our streams and glaciers. Youth crews are repairing trails at Paradise and above Reflection Lake. Volunteer campground hosts assist visitors to our campgrounds, and other volunteers patrol backcountry trails and assist with park maintenance. If you come across our volunteers, or if you’re a volunteer yourself, send us your pictures and stories and we’ll publish them on our blog or Facebook page. Look for the volunteer patch wherever you go, and say thanks!

Looking Ahead to August

The weather is showing no signs of letting up anytime soon, which means there will be plenty of opportunities to volunteer throughout the month of August!  Here is a glimpse of some of the projects that will be going on all month and some of the groups coming in to join us.

Volunteer Picnics – August 14^th and 15^th, at Longmire and Sunrise, respectively

I think it is worth mentioning again that our volunteer picnics are just around the corner!  See the details at the top of this newsletter, and please join us!

Mount Rainier National Park Associates – August 15^th

The MRNPA will be back in action on August 15^th to help with the trail crew on a project around the Paradise area.  Following their day of hard work, they will be having their annual potluck in the Longmire Campground, and all participants in the work party that morning are invited.  Free camping will also be provided at the Longmire Stewardship Campground for anyone interested in joining for the night.  For more information, visit www.mrnpa.org .

Back Country Crews Hard at Work – Throughout the Month

The second SCA Community Crew has been in the field for a week now, and their third Crew will be coming later in the month.  In addition to the SCA, the Washington Trails Association’s Back Country Response Team number two will be out in the field at the end of the month, so if you see any of these groups deep in the woods, make sure to thank them for their great work!

Washington Trails Association – Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the Summer

The WTA is a longstanding partner of Mount Rainier National Park, and every weekend they are having volunteer work parties that are designed to improve sections of trail that are commonly traveled.  For information on where their next work part is in the park and how YOU can join them, visit www.wta.org.

Starbucks Trail Crew – August 8th

Over fifty members of the Starbucks crew will be coming this weekend and will be working alongside the trails crew at Paradise for the weekend. Follow the smell of coffee and sweat!

Shadows of the Past – August 22^nd

The annual Shadows of the Past living history program will commence at dusk on the night of August 22^nd. Join us at Longmire for a one-of-a-kind tour of the Trail of the Shadows by lantern light, and meet James and Virinda Longmire, John Muir, Fay Fuller, and many other real-life characters from Mount Rainier’s past!

REI – August 24^th to 26^th

Quite possibly the largest volunteer group ever to stay in the Longmire Stewardship Campground, over 150 people representing all of REI within 250 miles of the mountain will be here for three days of stewardship. Volunteers take note, if you need camping during these three days, we will be assigning you to overflow sites in the Cougar Rock Campground.

JVIPA (Japan Volunteers-in-Parks Association) – August 22^nd through September 5^th  

Our international volunteers will be back again later this month, working on a wide array of projects throughout the park.  In recent history they have built many of the picnic tables you have eaten lunch on and worked on a section of the boardwalk at the Kautz Creek trail.  Make sure you say hello and konichiwa to this group of volunteers that keep coming back year after year!

Looking ahead to September

Mark your calendars! September will include a public revegetation day at Sunrise on September 12, and National Public Lands Day on September 26. Watch our volunteer blog and this newsletter for more details!