Rainier gushes

“be careful out there!

http://www.king5.com/detailtopstory.html?StoryID=24555”

“Mt. Rainier park closed; damage "amazing"
By Warren Cornwall

Seattle Times staff reporter

STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

The Sunshine Point Campground at Mount Rainier National Park was completely washed away by the Nisqually River. Acting Chief Ranger Alison Robb, Ranger John Piastuck and press information officer Lee Taylor examine the damage on Thursday.



STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Park Ranger John Piastuck walks through the west entrance to Mount Rainier National Park on Thursday. The park may be closed for weeks because of flooding.


Mount Rainier National Park has been completely closed to visitors for the first time in recent memory, after swollen rivers devoured chunks of roads, swallowed several campgrounds, cut electricity to much of the park and forced Park Service employees to flee their headquarters.

"It's really kind of an amazing amount of damage," said Lee Taylor, spokeswoman at the park.

The devastation, which could keep the park closed for weeks, was just part of the damage to forest land and recreation areas all over the state brought by this week's flooding.

Many roads are closed at all three of the state's national parks. Roads throughout the region's national forests have been washed away. Thursday, parts of the North Cascades Highway were closed because of possible flood damage. And flooding has complicated the cleanup of an 18,000-gallon diesel-fuel spill near the Crystal Mountain ski area.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003386501_natparks10m.html”

“"In the northwest corner of the park, the Carbon River Road suffered so much damage it may not get rebuilt.

The road is frequently damaged by flooding, and the Park Service plans to eventually let it become a hiking trail, Taylor said."

That's sad.”

“And they say its fixing to rain for the next week there

cool

rewilding in action.”

“Flood damage at Mount Rainier extensive

By SHANNON DININNY
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

Nearly 18 inches in 36 hours.

That's how much rain fell earlier this week at Mount Rainier National Park, one of the crown jewels of the Pacific Northwest. The deluge swamped roads and bridges, cut power and sewer lines and forced park officials to swing the gates closed to visitors for the first time in 26 years.

"Some places get that much rain in a year, and we had it in 36 hours," spokeswoman Lee Taylor said, noting the 17.9 inches of rain that fell Sunday and Monday. "When we were finally able to get out and start assessing the damage, it was a very sobering day."

Glad I got to do a couple hikes in the park in late October. Will have to wait until next year to go again.

It's been so wet here the past week that my sump pump has been running quite a bit. The odd thing is that I heard that this was going to be an El Nino year which means relatively drier than normal for the PNW.
last edited: 11/10/06 9:25:41 PM”

“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003668591_webcayuse16w.html

Confirmation that Cayuse Pass will not reopen this year. But Chinook Pass is expected to open by Memorial day weekend.”

“Wow, I was at Cayuse Pass in May, 1976 when there was close to 30' of snow cover and the roads had been opened (thats how how I could tell the snow was 30' deep, it was like a canyon alomg the road).

There again, May, 1977, no continual snow cover, just scattered patches of a few feet of snow.”

“MRNP OPENING SCHEDULE FOR ROADS & FACILITIES

May 5 - Nisqually Entrance to Paradise, (If construction stays on schedule)
May 5 - Longmire Museum and Jackson Visitor Center
May 18 - Cougar Rock Campground
May 18 - State Route 123 will open to the Stevens Canyon Entrance
May 25 - Longmire Wilderness Information Center
May 25 - The Ohanapecosh Visitor Center and Campground
May 25 - State Route 410
May 25 - road to White River Campground (Campground
June 29 - Mowich Lake Road
Late June - White River Campground
Late June - The Sunrise Road and Visitor Center
Late June - Ipsut Creek Campground, walk-in campers only.

NOT TO OPEN THIS SUMMER - Sunshine Point Campground
NOT TO OPEN THIS SUMMER - State Route 123, Stevens Canyon to Cayuse Pass
NOT TO OPEN THIS SUMMER - Carbon River Road
QUESTIONABLE - Stevens Canyon Road”