2Heeldrive – Walk it off Wimp!

Despite the snow that continues to fall at higher elevations – they had 3 inches of new snow at Paradise Wednesday – Cougar Rock Campground at Mount Rainier National Park will open Friday at noon.

“There is still snow on the ground in the campground, so campers should be aware that while they may have a cleared spot to park their vehicle, they should expect to have to dig out their picnic tables and a space for tents in many of the sites,” said Chief Ranger Chuck Young.

Potable water, restrooms and other facilities are up and running, he added.

Public road access into the White River Campground opened up Wednesday. The campground won’t open until June 24, however, as there is still quite a bit of clearing to take place and getting the water and power utilities up and running, Young said.

But, opening the road enables climbers to drive and park in the campground to access the Glacier Basin Trail.

POSTED BY JEFF MAYOR ON JUNE 2, 2011 AT 5:45 AM 
Read more: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure/2011/06/02/cougar-rock-campground-at-mount-rainier-opens-friday-at-noon/#ixzz1OE4oCzNN

Hiking over mountains and trekking through thick forests may seem to be a tough and demanding sort of activity, but in fact all it takes is a good fitness level, some basic equipment and a sound understanding of a few key concepts.

The key for those new to hiking, as with most other learning experiences, is to take things slowly.

So where should you start? An excellent idea to begin with would be to find a suitable location in your local area in which to practice; a park or an area of the nearest suburbs for example. By staying local to residential areas you are ensuring the terrain remains reasonably tame and that you are never too far from help if something should go wrong. Walking in a group with experienced hikers is always a good idea; it increases your own safety and that of the other members of the group and also allows you to ask questions if you are unsure about anything or would just like some extra guidance.

Anticipating weather conditions and equipping yourself accordingly is another important element of hiking and although you should only consider hiking in good conditions to begin with, it is still crucial that you remember to pack equipment and clothing for any outcome. Clothing is another element of paramount importance to a good hiker, with footwear being the most crucial attire of all. However, expensive hiking boots are by no means imperative; any footwear that is consistently comfortable and durable will be suitable for most hikes. It is vital, however, that you test a range of products and choose something most suitable to your own preferences. You should never wear a new pair of boots or shoes straight out of the box on a hike, instead wearing them for a few days in advance to allow yourself to properly adjust to them and ensuring that they are ‘broken in’ and will remain comfortable for the duration of the hike.

As with footwear, the rest of your clothing should be chosen primarily for the sake of comfort. Ideally, you should be wearing reasonably loose fitting clothes; they should not restrict your movement in any way, but should not be so lose as to become a hindrance. Weather conditions on your planned hike must also be taken into account and clothing that will maintain a constant and comfortable body temperature should be worn, with layering being the key here. Having chosen clothing to begin the hike in, you must also ensure you pack spares in case of changes in weather conditions; you should also never leave without a few extra pairs of socks!

Finally, there are a few items of basic equipment with which new hikers should familiarize themselves. The most important and potentially lifesaving of these are a good quality topographic map and compass. The ability to find your bearing and read a map accurately is the by far the most important skill for hikers. Other equipment to consider ranges from basics, such as sun lotion and sunglasses, through to potentially important items such as a first aid kit and water purifying tablets.

America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.*

Mark your calendar for these fee-free days in 2011:

January 15-17
(Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday weekend)
April 16-24
(National Park Week)
June 21
(First day of summer)
September 24
(Public Lands Day)
November 11-13
(Veterans Day weekend)
Making the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors with their ownspecial offers.

Here’s a tip – many of your 394 national parks NEVER charge an entrance fee. So start Planning Your Visit!

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

From the National Park Website

From the MOUNT RAINIER VOLUNTEERS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2010
RIP Damian, 1993-2010

Allan and Damian, 2007
photo by John Chao
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of one of our most faithful volunteers this afternoon. Many of you know Damian as the golden retriever service dog of volunteer Allan Dreyer. But Damian was a friend and volunteer in his own right, one dedicated to a lifetime of service who spread good will wherever he went. He died peacefully at his home this afternoon at 2:45pm.

Few people know that Damian, in fact, had his own volunteer agreement, signed with his paw print, documenting his important role on our staff. According to this agreement, Damian’s duties were to assist Mount Rainier National Park volunteer Allan Dreyer, as well as “spreading good will and good cheer among park visitors and employees; inspiring his coworkers with his dedication, enthusiasm, and positive demeanor; helping to bring positive attention to the volunteer program at Mount Rainier; and increasing the species diversity of our volunteer staff.” While there was certainly a tongue-in-cheek element to Damian’s paperwork, his service was beyond question, and he admirably accomplished all of the things listed in his position description and more.

Above all, Damian loved the outdoors, and Allan consistently reported that Damian would perk up when they drove up the road into Mount Rainier National Park. Even when old age led to creaky joints at lower elevations, he would happily bound through the mountain snow like a puppy, accompanying Allan on snowshoe walks or, in the summer, along the trails as a meadow rover. He loved people just as much, and was infinitely patient with visitors who wanted to pet his long, soft, orange fur.

Allan and Damian became volunteers together in August of 2003. Like so many volunteers, Allan had hiked the trails of the park for years before a chance encounter with another volunteer convinced him to ask about joining our program himself. It quickly became apparent that Damian was an equally valuable addition to our crew. Allan wrote a note to the newsletter of Dogs for the Deaf, from whom Damian was adopted in 1994, proudly announcing the news:

“I wanted you to know that Damian has officially been made a VIP — that is a ‘Volunteer in the Park,’ at Mount Rainier. The US Park Service used Damian’s paw print in lieu of a signature. Damian is a true greeter when we work at the park. When people enter the lodge to sign up for our park-led snowshoe hikes, he greets each of them. Our snowshoe hikes have about twenty people per hike. One of the rangers was complaining to me that the people were raving over Damian and thanking us for having Damian on the hike. The ranger said, ‘What about me? I was leading the hike.’ So they thanked him for coming along, too.

“Damian is one LOVED dog. People always come up and ask questions about him. He, in turn, loves everyone. The rangers at Mount Rainier love him to pieces. There are few people who are on our hikes who haven’t at least one photo of Damian to take home with them.”

Our friend died October 28, 2010, at the age of 17, after a long span of declining health. He is survived by his companion and friend, Allan Dreyer, and Allan’s wife Lisa, who live in Tacoma. They plan to spread Damian’s ashes in the national park he loved so much.
POSTED BY KEVIN BACHER AT 4:42 PM 0 COMMENTS LINKS TO THIS POST
LABELS: ALLAN DREYER, DAMIAN

MOUNT RAINIER VOLUNTEERS

I got just got back from hiking Lava Canyon and June Lake.
The WTA was working on the June Lake trail today and I can see several places where they repaired the tread on the trail.

Today was National Trails Day. I didn’t know there were so many events. It looks like there was a barbeque at Marble Mtn. snow park.

People were out picking up trash along the roads and cleaning up the trails.

I’ll have to look for this event next year.

I’ll post the June Lake pictures to the Eyehike Gallery tonight or tomorrow.
You can find them at: http://www.eyehike.com/modules/Gallery/

One additional note, the fall colors at Mt. St. Helens should peak in the next couple of weeks.

Switchback Steve