The Adventure Guys » Mt. Rainier snowplay

Mount Rainier snowplay area will not open today, likely this weekend

Jeff Mayor — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:17:04 +0000

A snowcat used to create paths and grooms sled runs can be seen working this morning near the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center in a webcam image. Park crews were to begin grooming the runs at the snowplay area today. (Mount Rainier National Park)

UPDATE (11 a.m., 12/22): Mount Rainier National Park is reporting that the gate to Paradise at Longmire is open and the snowplay area is open. Tire chains or 4WD/AWD required.

The snowplay area at Paradise will not open today as scheduled.

Following a series of storms in the last week, Mount Rainier National Park road crews have been working this week to remove fallen trees and clear snow from park roads and parking lots. They are today beginning to groom the runs at Paradise.

More than 50 inches of snow has fallen at Paradise in the last week, leaving current snow levels at 123 inches.

A park spokeswoman this morning said the goal is to open the sledding area this weekend, but could not say if crews could complete the work done today so the area could open Saturday.

The gate to Paradise at Longmire is projected to open by 10:30 a.m. Drivers are reminded that all vehicles are required to carry chains.

No surprise, road to Paradise is likely to be closed all day

Jeff Mayor — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:09:16 +0000

More than 30 inches of snow in the last 24 hours has buried the entrance to the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center, as seen in this webcam image taken at 9:05 a.m. today. (National Park Service)

Anyone who has been watching the weather reports, or got the blizzard alerts Sunday, will not be surprised that the road from Longmire to Paradise is not expected to open today.

Mount Rainier National Park officials made that announcement earlier this morning.

Some of the reasons: winds whipping to 100 mph at Camp Muir and 44 mph at Paradise, on top of the 33 inches of new snow at Paradise.

According to weather data from Paradise, there is now 110 inches of snow on the ground. That should be good news for Saturday’s opening of the snowplay area, assuming crews can get the equipment to Paradise to groom the runs.

Snowbanks cause for concern at Mount Rainier National Park

Jeff Mayor — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:50:01 +0000

High snowbanks along the roads in the Paradise area are causing concern among officials at Mount Rainier National Park.

The high snowbanks, created by the park’s road plowing operations, coupled with unseasonably high snowdepths, present a falling hazard above plowed roads and parking lots.

The parks is telling skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers to use extreme caution when playing in the Paradise area.

“Make sure you have scoped out your intended route before engaging in snowsports around the Paradise area. Parents should ensure children are kept away from all snowbanks above roads,” said a park news release.

There are currently …