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Politics & Government

Sunrise Opens Friday With Some Facilities Available

Almost-clear road to open at 8 a.m.; hiking opportunities at lower elevations.

The Sunrise area will open July 1 at 8 a.m. with limited service, due
to deep and persistent snow pack, the National Park Service says.

Park crews are working to clear snow and activate utilities. Vault
toilets will be available but there may not be potable water. The Sunrise Day Lodge and gift shop will be open and may have some pre-packaged food and water available.

Also, Park crews are working to clear snow and winter debris from the
White River campground, which also will open July 1.

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Be aware that all trails are still covered in snow and winter conditions persist, the Park says.

Vivian Cadematori of Alta Crystal Resort rode a bicycle to Sunrise this
week and said she couldn’t believe the lack of snow compared with the week before, although there still is plenty there. She said in an email that 2 or 3 feet of snow had melted at the top, and she saw wildlife and some wildflowers. She said the road was virtually snow-free.

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The Sunrise Visitor Center is still scheduled to open July 8. New
exhibits tell the story of the Sunrise area of the park--the volcanic forces that created the mountain, the glaciers that mold the landscape, the plant and animal life of the subalpine meadows, and the tribes linked to the area.

A Junior Ranger program at Sunrise also begins July 8 and continues each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Sept. 4. Children of all ages are invited to join park staff for fun activities that explain the mountain's glaciers, habitats and more. Programs begin at 10 a.m. at the White River Campground Campfire Circle and generally last one hour.

Visitors can also meet at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily for a 45-minute stroll along trails to learn about the natural and cultural history of the Sunrise area. Participants meet at the Sunrise Visitor Center flagpole.

A Visit Rainier news release says: "Visitors will have the opportunity to see for themselves massive amounts of snow, due to near-record snowfall this winter," said Mary Kay Nelson, executive director of
Visit Rainier. "Or to take a drive over Chinook Pass and view the sheer
snow walls that surround the highway. It's a thrilling experience."

Despite the snowfall, there are plenty of hiking opportunities at lower elevations. According to rangers at the U.S. Forest Service Visitor Center at Silver Creek, many lowland hikes along Highway 410 are easily accessible. Among the hikes are:

--Skookum Flats, along the White River. This level, 8.2 mile hike takes travelers through old growth forest. It is accessed from Forest Service Road 73 off of Highway 410, outside of Greenwater.

--The Snoquera Falls Loop trailhead is accessed from Shepard Camp just past mile marker 52. It is 2.8 miles in length, bringing hikers up close to the falls.

--The Palisades Trail (or Dalles Creek Falls trail) offers moderate elevation gain and excellent views.

The Visitor Center is located at Silver Creek at mile marker 57 off Highway 410, near Crystal Mountain Boulevard. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday. Rangers will be conducting several, daily interpretive walks from the summit of CrystalMountain through-out the summer. For more information call 360-663-2354.

 

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