Another day at the office

Below are the series of images for this morning from the NPS Webcams at Paradise in Mt. Rainier NP. For the NPS staff who have to drive up from Longmire, from the gate to the Jackson Visitors Center, it's just another day in the office, in the winter. First they have to navigate and clear the road as seen below.


Then when they get there, looking out the horizon, or what they can see, they see the Tatoosh Mountains to the south (first image below) and Mt. Rainier (second image below).



Then they get to work, clearing the parking lot of new snow for visitors when the gate is opened about 10 am (first image below), and go in the center to make sure it's ok from any overnight weather (second image below). The center isn't open on weekdays, so it's essentially in minimum heat mode, but with it's green, environmentally-friendly design, it doesn't cost much to operate and is easier and cheaper to heat.



And there they can get on with their other work there over the winter. It's not just sit and watch the snowfall. These folks have a lot of work just keeping the facilities snug and safe until the weekend. To them, it's not such a bad day at the office.

Sun and Moon Information

I've updated the Sun and Moon information Web page for the sunrise and sunset with corresponding azimuth along with links ot the moon rise and moon set with the corresponding azimuth for Paradise at Mt. Rainier NP for all of 2010. I was late with January and February (sorry about that, but it's now there for the whole year. Each page prints or you can use to link to get the original information.

The times are relative to an level view of the terrain and the horizon, which means the times should be adjusted for local terrain and the distant terrain where distant mountains will cause the times to be later in the case of sun or moon rise and earlier in the case of sun or moon set. This is true for all of western Washington (there's a 8-10 minute difference where I live), and especially in Mt. Rainier NP.

Anyway, the information is there for your use, and as always, you're welcome to send me any questions, suggestions or problems with the Web pages or information, see contact Web page.

Senator Murray response

Well, Senator Patty Murrary's office responded, Senator Cantwell's office hasn't yet. Here is what Senator Murray wrote.

Dear Mr. Knowles,

Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition for allowing loaded guns in our country's national parks. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.

The Senate recently debated H.R. 627, the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, legislation which provides new and necessary regulations to protect families from predatory and deceptive credit card practices.

During consideration of the Credit CARD Act, Senator Coburn (R-OK) offered an amendment that would allow loaded weapons in any national park or wildlife refuge. Since I share your concern about this provision, I voted against it, but nonetheless the amendment was agreed to by a vote of 67-29. However, because the Credit CARD Act was so desperately needed to address a number of issues, I felt that it was important to implement this legislation despite the unfavorable amendment. As a result, I voted in favor of H.R. 627, which passed in the Senate on May 19, 2009 and was signed into law by President Obama on May 22, 2009.

Throughout my tenure in the Senate, I have supported reasonable gun control measures that reduce gun violence while also providing the least possible inconvenience to law-abiding gun owners. Rest assured, should legislation related to loaded weapons in national parks comes before the Senate for a vote during the 111th Congress I will keep your thoughts in mind. If you would like to know more about my work in the Senate, please sign up for my weekly update at http://murray.senate.gov/updates. Again, it was good to hear from you and please stay in touch.

Sincerely,
Patty Murray
United States Senator

What this means, to me at least, is that while she's interested in doing this, it's clearing not a priority, or even on her radar. It's also clear she sees and understands the power of the gun activists, especially the NRA and now Open Carry group, to attack Senators who oppose gun rights. Even in the face of the evidence of the violence guns have caused in people's lives.

In short, I don't see her sponsoring, but maybe supporting, an amendment to fix the stupidity of Senator Coburn to appease gun rights activists over public's right to safety and security in public places, like National Parks and Wildlife Refuges, but only if it's attached to a bill she supports. This means our safety is held hostage to the whims of a minority who have cowered Senators.

I won't argue that being a Senator is about balancing diverse interests and balancing your constituents's interest with the national interests, but somewhere you have to take a stand for something and especially someone, and more so the public and our national parks. Apparently Senator Murray won't go out of her way to do that.

So what will it take for Senator Murray to do that? The proverbial body bag of a park ranger, or worse some citizen, shot by someone with a loaded in gun? Or will you do what the gun activists do, just distance that person from "law abiding citizens" and real gun owners?

What's the value of a life versus a gun? What's the value of public safety, especially for visiting foreigners, over a gun? What's the value of being an American versus a gun? And when and where is the value of a gun more important than anything else?

March Updates

I've updated the photo guide for March. It's still winter and the NP is still in winter mode and operation, and will be until May into June. You can read the news, map and report Web pages for the details, found on the above link.

One new bit of news, which applies to all National Parks (NP) and Wildlife Refuges (WR). Effective February 22nd, it is legal to openly carry guns and concealed guns with a permit in NP's and WR's. But there are a lot of limitations with this right. These are listed below.

1. The gun has to be unloaded at all times. Loaded guns are illegal.

2. The gun can not be carried anywhere indoors or were explicitly prohibited.

3. The gun can not used (unholstered) and discharged anywhere in the NP.

4. The gun can not used (fired) for the protection of life and property.

5. The gun can not used to threaten or intimidate another person.

In short, it's useless to use it, so it's useless to carry it. It doesn't enchance your visitor experience to the NP, and likely ruins other visitors' experience seeing it. So, just don't bring it. Doing so only show how insensitive and inconsiderate of others and our National Parks and Wildlife Refuges.

In addition the NPS has trained and instructed staff to now treat all visitors as if they are concealing or carrying a gun, until they see or know differently. So, please show them you're not carrying a gun for your and their safety and security.

The law will be in effect until Congress can pass and the President sign a law with the amendment repealing this (stupid) law. I'll keep you posted, and obviously happily when it's changed back to the old law.

Early morning

I decided to get the early morning Web cam images (see Web page) and show you what the early morning is like at Paradise, before the NPS folks drive up from Longmire to check the road from the control gage just east of Longmire to Paradise and to check the parking lot. And they open up the Jackson Visitors Center (only open to the public 10 am to 5 pm weekends and holidays).

These pictures are from this morning at 6:40 am PST. The cameras are in the Jackson Visitors Center. Looking north to the summit of Mt. Rainier across the snowplay area.


Looking east across the parking lot to the Mountain Guide Center and Paradise Inn and Mazama Ridge. Obviously someone(s) spent the night snowcamping.


Looking south to the Tatoosh Range.


And finally looking southwest to the road from Longmire.



The NPS folks usually arrive between 8-9 depending on the weather and road conditions. If there is snow on the parking lot and road, the snowplows are used (stored in the administrative building at Paradise). If the conditions are good and clear, even if some ice or snow on the persists, the gate above Longmire is opened between 9-10 am.

There may be an additional stop at the Nisqually Bridge (parking lot just south of the bridge) for the proper tires, chains if necessary, for the different types of vehicles. Almost always 4 wheel drive vehicles with winter tires don't need chains, but you are required to carry them (except they don't check).

That's it this morning. Check the Webcams during the day to see the number of visitors. And you can bet the folks who camped overnight won't have problems finding their truck in the parking lot.

Why Republicans suck

I'm going to venture off this blog to rant a little about guns in National Parks. I oppose it, as I've stated numerous times here. It's an unnecessary law endangering millions of visitors, including many foreign visitors, to our national parks for the pleasure of a few who want to carry a gun in a national park.

It doesn't matter that you can't unholster it and especially use it, so it's simply a show of your view on guns. Ok, but why show people how insensitive and inconsiderate you are by carrying one? It's not about the rights of the individual, as you assert, it's about the safety and security of the rest of us from potential harm using your weapon.

I wrote Senators Cantwell and Murray to introduce, or if not that sponsor or support, any amendment to repeal this law and reinstate the old regulations. The former hasn't responded but the latter did. Senator Murray, or her office, sent a response summarizing the history of this law.

She wrote:

"The Senate recently debated H.R. 627, the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, legislation which provides new and necessary regulations to protect families from predatory and deceptive credit card practices."

"During consideration of the Credit CARD Act, Senator Coburn (R-OK) offered an amendment that would allow loaded weapons in any national park or wildlife refuge. Since I share your concern about this provision, I voted against it, but nonetheless the amendment was agreed to by a vote of 67-29. However, because the Credit CARD Act was so desperately needed to address a number of issues, I felt that it was important to implement this legislation despite the unfavorable amendment. As a result, I voted in favor of H.R. 627, which passed in the Senate on May 19, 2009 and was signed into law by President Obama on May 22, 2009."

Furthermore she said she would seriously consider voting for the repeal of this law in any future legislation, but that depends on the bill the amendment is attached to. That means it's all in the politics, meaning we'll see what happens, but don't hold your breath.

I thanked Senator Murray and reminded her I don't look forward to hiking in Mt. Rainier NP in the future when there is the real possibility someone with a gun has different plans for his gun, whether just some random target shooting or more dangerous interests, such as my photography equipment and myself. The last thought I need miles into the backcountry.

It's the last thing anyone needs in the backcountry and more so in the visitors areas. To me now, it's won't be if someone is injured or killed under this law but when. Remember the law doesn't distinguish between an individual's right with a gun, just the the intent of the individual to use it.

Happy Birthday

Ok, a day late, but not dollars short, or at least only a few dollars short to make it better. On March 2nd 1899 President McKinley signed the bill designating Mount Rainer Forest Reserve a National Park, read the text of the law. That's 112 years ago. And through all the natural calamities and human events, it's not only survived, but prospered.

But that happened not because man interferred, as we're so common to do, but because we didn't interfer and let it be what it is, a great example of nature at its finest. All the problems, more often than not, were the result of our actions to manage and develop the NP into a visitor experience. That's not nature's fault, it's ours.

Mt. Rainier NP has gone through a lot of changes, natural and commerical, from nothing and no money for the first few years of life as a NP, to what we see today, with its state of the art visitors center, extensive trail system, extensive roads to every corner of the NP, and several first class accomations. It's a tribute to our values for nature and our belief to lessen the human impact for every visitor to see the most of the beauty of the mountain and the NP.

And is was done by thousands of employees, workers (CCC during the depression) and volunteers over its history and more so today with the current NPS staff and volunteers, the many citizen volunteers and the many support folks, like the Washington National Guard. We owe them our thanks as much, if not more, for their dedication, time and importance to the NP.

So, when you are there this year, cherish the beuty of Mt. Rainier and the NP, but also thank the work off all the people working there now as well as all those who preceded them. It's our National Park, and they have lovingly cared for it for us.