Mt Rainier CITO on June 7

[+hydnsek]

For National Trails Day on June 7, we are holding a Mt Rainier CITO event. Mount Rainier still needs plenty of help recovering from the devastating storms of Nov/Dec 2006, despite the excellent restoration efforts being coordinated by SCA Mount Rainier Recovery.

 

Mount Rainier National Park is Washington’s premier hiking destination, and currently has 13 virtual caches and 2 earthcaches within its boundaries, along with many wonderful physical caches just outside the park. Many of us have enjoyed hiking at Rainier and finding the virtuals, and now is our chance to give back. (Note the new NPS geocaching policy leaves cache permissions up to discretion of individual parks, so it never hurts to help out the underfunded national park. )

 

CITOs need cacher attendance and support to be successful work projects, so I'm posting this early to raise awareness both locally and statewide and get it on your calendars, since not everyone sees listings outside their immediate area. Heck, make a weekend caching vacation out of it - you get free camping for participation (see cache page).

 

Caching, cleanup, cookout, camping - the 4 C's - what more is there? (Oh, yes - coins - well, we might raffle a few of those.)

 

Everything I currently know is on the cache page, and I will update both it and this thread as the event gets closer. Thanks in advance for your support!

Edited February 11, 2008 by hydnsek

[Team Misguided]

I need to give a big thanks to Abby for taking the reigns over on this event. We'll be there with all the help we can provide. (and a grill or two)

[+hydnsek]

Thanks, TM!

 

Tibby's People have a suggestion to turn this into even more of an 'event'... (they have trouble posting to the forums, so I'm forwarding this from them):

We (Tibby's People) could host a pre-event carpooling/coffee event in Kirkland, for folks who want to gather and carpool down. There's a nice large Starbucks on 85th, just up the road from 405, or a park-n-ride just down the road from 405. Might be a good spot for folks from up north to meet and share rides.

 

Who knows, if others picked up on the idea, there could be similar events all over the Puget Sound area (or even the state), for meeting up and heading to the Rainier CITO.

 

A multi-event, plus a CITO event, on the same day! What do y'all think?

[+-Hawk-]

Thanks, TM!

 

Tibby's People have a suggestion to turn this into even more of an 'event'... (they have trouble posting to the forums, so I'm forwarding this from them):

We (Tibby's People) could host a pre-event carpooling/coffee event in Kirkland, for folks who want to gather and carpool down. There's a nice large Starbucks on 85th, just up the road from 405, or a park-n-ride just down the road from 405. Might be a good spot for folks from up north to meet and share rides.

 

Who knows, if others picked up on the idea, there could be similar events all over the Puget Sound area (or even the state), for meeting up and heading to the Rainier CITO.

 

A multi-event, plus a CITO event, on the same day! What do y'all think?

I really like the Tibby's People idea. Although it will be tentative, I would consider setting up a "pre-event" event in the Gig Harbor or Tacoma area, for those that are on the Kitsap Peninsula and would like to attend and help out. We can gather, and caravan down to the event that morning. With having to be there at 9am, I am not sure what time to head out from the Tacoma/Gig Harbor area though....will have to research that one, having never been to Rainier before. Snookie74 and myself wanted to attend TM's event last year, but things didn't work out....hope it's not the same this year and we can.

[Team Misguided]

I don't mean to be a party pooper but the pre-events cannot be published as 'event caches'. These do not meet the litmus test of being stand alone events, they wouldn't happen if not for the main CITO event and therefore cannot be published.

 

If you want to set up a time/place to meet and carpool over to this event that's wonderful!! But the best way to publish these meet up locations will be through the forum page and as additional waypoints from the cache page.

[+-Hawk-]

I don't mean to be a party pooper but the pre-events cannot be published as 'event caches'. These do not meet the litmus test of being stand alone events, they wouldn't happen if not for the main CITO event and therefore cannot be published.

 

If you want to set up a time/place to meet and carpool over to this event that's wonderful!! But the best way to publish these meet up locations will be through the forum page and as additional waypoints from the cache page.

 

Retract my last then! Tibby's People still had/have a wonderful Idea.

[+hydnsek]

I don't mean to be a party pooper but the pre-events cannot be published as 'event caches'. These do not meet the litmus test of being stand alone events, they wouldn't happen if not for the main CITO event and therefore cannot be published.

 

If you want to set up a time/place to meet and carpool over to this event that's wonderful!! But the best way to publish these meet up locations will be through the forum page and as additional waypoints from the cache page.

 

Retract my last then! Tibby's People still had/have a wonderful Idea.

You all could still organize meeting points, with coffee and donuts (or not), which I'm sure would be greatly appreciated as meetup and socialization points en route. They just don't have to be listed as events. Everything doesn't have to have a smiley. I will be glad to post all the regional meeting spots on the cache page, along with their sponsors. It IS a great idea, kudos to Tibby's People for thinking of it.

Edited February 12, 2008 by hydnsek

[Team Misguided]

 

It IS a great idea, kudos to Tibby's People for thinking of it.

 

It is a great idea and I really do hate to say no to great ideas. I just wanted to clear things up about the event guidelines before people started planning multiple events.

[+drakebrimstone]

As was the case last year, I'm currently planning on going up the day before and probably leaving the day after. I really recomend at least comming up the day before concidering the 9am start time. Last year I was all alone on the first night at the designated group site and moved to TMs RV camp site the second night.

 

I hope we get to work on the reroute of the WLT at Steven's Canyon... I don't want to do 4 miles of road hiking when I go all the way around in Augsut

Edited February 21, 2008 by drakebrimstone

[+LindaLu]

(bump)

[+hydnsek]

I spoke with our SCA contact last week, and they are eagerly looking forward to our work group on Saturday, June 7. National Trails Day is one of their biggest volunteer pushes each year, but they only have two groups signed up – us and a Boy Scout group. Three other groups have dropped out, so let's show them what geocachers can do! SCA's new Field Coordinator is a geocacher, and she's excited that we're coming.

 

However, when I spoke to SCA, they still had so much snow that trails and campsites were still buried, and they were just beginning to assess conditions. After the recent heat wave, they should be in better shape, and I will get another update next week. Here's what I know right now:

 

Work project: Likely projects for National Trails Day include tread work on Trail of the Shadows (Longmire), and perhaps some finish work on the section of Wonderland Trail that we helped with last year. There may be others, especially if SCA finds some lower elevation work.

 

Camping update: Cougar Rock campground still has winter camping conditions, expected to last into June, and hasn't been plowed yet. While they are open for snow camping, RVs and "regular" tent campers are currently out of luck. They hope to open to everyone by June 6 (the day before our event!), but come prepared to camp in snow. We still have free camping Friday and Saturday at the SCA group camp, which is the "Ranger Site" at the edge of the Group Camp area. Tent camping only, and the site holds about 25 people – first come, first gets (no reservations). RVs are welcome (also free if you reference our SCA work party), but you'll have to park in a regular site.

 

Raffle update: Thanks to WSGA and Groundspeak, I hope to have some nice giveaways to thank everyone for making the long trek to Mt Rainier. Special thanks to LindaLu for the very cool special prize she's donating, and I will toss in a few CITO coins. If anyone else has raffle prizes they'd like to donate, email me (and thanks!).

 

For more updates, see the Mount Rainier CITO cache page.

 

Edit: To fix campground "open" date.

Edited May 21, 2008 by hydnsek

[+TotemLake]

Cool. Looking forward to being there.

[Team Misguided]

Thanks for the update on the camping. We checked out the Mt Rainier page last weekend and saw that they are not expecting to open that campground until June 6th and were concerned. We plan to camp but I'm a wuss and I like to be warm at night, no tent camping for me.

[+hydnsek]

Thanks for the update on the camping. We checked out the Mt Rainier page last weekend and saw that they are not expecting to open that campground until June 6th and were concerned. We plan to camp but I'm a wuss and I like to be warm at night, no tent camping for me.

Yes, June 6....I forgot she updated me on the date from Memorial Day. The campground is actually open now for winter snow camping, but not for RVs and "regular" tent campers. They hope to plow and have it open for the rest of us on June 6. However, I will get an update in the next week.

[+drakebrimstone]

My ride there on the 6th is still not sure he's going, I'm also not sure he is prepared for snow camping. If he cancels is anyone able to give me a ride from the Renton area on Friday? I'd also need a ride out preferably on Sunday.

 

I wonder if I should take my snowshoes....

[+hydnsek]

Woo hoo - Mount Rainier CITO is almost here! I hope to see many of you there.

 

Our hosts (SCA) have been struggling with logistics for National Trails Day, as the heavy snows have put them weeks behind schedule in opening facilities and getting onto trails. Trails still have deep snow, Cougar Rock campground may not open till late June, and this weekend they are hosting 40 trainees as well as our National Trail Day projects. Our liaison sounded a bit frantic, but very eager for our help on priority work projects.

 

But we finally have the logistics set (as of today). Rather than copy it all here, please review the cache page (linked above). See especially updates to the Work Project, Socializing (cookout), Camping (especially), and Hiking sections.

 

To ensure a smooth CITO for us and SCA, there are two key things I need from all potential attendees:

 

1. If you plan to camp, you must email me by Noon Thursday and let me know 1) which nights you want to camp (Friday, Saturday, both); 2) tent, camper, or RV; and 3) if you're coming Friday, what time you'll arrive. If I don't hear from you, you will not be camping (sorry). Even if you're a "maybe," I need to know. (See Camping on the cache page for why. Short version: We can't camp at Cougar Rock, so SCA is allowing us to stay in their "private" work camp, but space is limited and we have to be escorted in.)

 

So far, I've only had confirmations from drakebrimstone, LandRover, and TotemLake. Other potential campers (LindaLu, love3, et al.) have not contacted me - please do so if you want a spot!

 

2. I need to give SCA a tally for the work party, so they can prepare our project (numbers affect where we work, how many tools, etc., esp. with all the snow). It's hard for me to figure, partly because I've heard folks talk about coming who have not posted on the cache page. If you plan to come and haven't logged your attendance, please post there by Noon Thursday and indicate how many - thanks! If you've already posted, let me know of any changes (as some already have).

 

Finally, you can reach me on my cell phone at 425-283-2224, until I get out of range at Rainier on Friday afternoon.

 

Fingers crossed for decent weather - should be fun!

 

And thanks to TotemLake for setting the June HOTM on Sunday at the nearby Rainier virtual caches - bring your snowshoes!

[+hydnsek]

Also, we have a visiting cacher from Germany, DRunners, who would like to attend the CITO but needs a carpool from Seattle. Anybody from Seattle willing to give our visitor a lift so he can get up close and personal with Rainier? Thanks!

[+drakebrimstone]

Ok, I have my ride on Friday, hope some one can bring DRunners on Saturday, it's great to see people from all over

[+brumbjorn]

Ther serson who was going to go with me bailed out. I don;t want to drive alone and can only go for the day. I live in Renton so if anyone wants to carpool, drop me a line! I really don;t want to drive 80 miles by myself.

[+WeightMan]

I just heard on KOMO news that traction tires are advised for travel to Mt. Rainier.

 

Have a great time in the snow. I hope you can get some work done.

[+hydnsek]

Yes, up to three inches of snow predicted on the roads today, but should be okay tomorrow (fingers crossed).

 

Brumbjorn and DRunner both have rides; thanks to those who volunteered carpools. Three folks are camping this weekend up there - TotemLake, LandRover, drakebrimstone - I hope they are prepared for this unexpected weather.

 

Our work project will be at either Cougar Rock or Longmire, doing storm-debris cleanup and snow removal. No trails work on National Trails Day, alas. And we may get to have the cookout indoors, if the weather is horrid, thanks to SCA.

 

Last year, it was 75 degrees and sunny for the National Trails Day projects.

 

See y'all there! I'm carpooling down for the day with lucyandrickie.

Edited June 7, 2008 by hydnsek

[+TotemLake]

Traction tires were not required. It rained and it rained and when it stopped raining, it then rained some more. 6 hours worth. The Nic Wax gave out on my jacket on Friday. Fortunately, when I car camp, I tend to prepare for the obvious... We live in the Great Northwet! I had a catalytic heater and started drying out my jacket as soon as I was in the tent for the night and continued in the morning while fixing breakfast. That rain culminated my five hour drive from Kirkland. Three of it was getting to Puyallup.

 

Hydsek,

Thanks for setting this up. That was a great bunch of kids to work with (at half my age I can call them that ). I stopped by the community center Sunday afternoon and thanked them for hosting us and for the awesome amount of work they do! I'm absolutely flabbergasted at the level of energy these kids have. Great snowball fights too! Video to be linked later.

Edited June 8, 2008 by TotemLake

[+hydnsek]

Wow, that was a lotta snow! Huge thanks to the 15 hardy cachers who showed up at the Mount Rainier CITO to help dig Cougar Rock Campground out from near-record snow levels. You guys rock! Those who made the journey were rewarded with good weather (even sunshine!), great company, and fun snowball fights. Special kudos to DRunners, who easily won the distance award - he's visiting from Germany!

 

We spent the morning shoveling snow from the "comfort stations" (SCA lingo, I call them "restrooms") and dumpsters in Cougar Rock's six campground loops. After lunch, we tackled the most daunting task: digging out the amphitheater, which was buried under six feet of white stuff. Yikes! Shovels and snowballs were soon flying. (Don't believe a word Annie says, she threw the first one! ) Considering there was almost no place to PUT the snow we shoveled, I was amazed that we cleared out the main area of the amphitheater (our SCA reinforcements, with their youthful energy, made a huge difference).

 

Afterward, we had a nice cookout at Longmire, gave away some geo-goodies, and still had time to cache on the way home. Thanks again to my fellow cachers for donating your time and effort to a good cause, and I hope your muscles aren't as sore as mine!

 

The cache page logs have a lot of great pictures, and nice thank-you notes from the park rangers and SCA. Apparently, they thought the amphitheater was a lost cause, but we proved them wrong. Go geocachers!

 

Amphitheater - six feet under:

 

Digging in:

 

Success!

Edited June 10, 2008 by hydnsek