WTA: Glacier Basin Trail Work Party

Glacier Basin Trail
Mount Rainier National Park
This work party starts at 8:30AM

Mount Rainier National Park. The Glacier Basin Trail sustained extensive damage during the storms of November 2006. Come help us as we continue to make progress on the reconstruction, which will not only rebuild the trail, but will move the trail away from the river and on to the hillside, to hopefully avoid future washouts. New trail construction tasks are fun and varied and often include clearing the trail corridor, removing organic material, and grubbing through roots and other material to establish a solid bench. WTA will continue to host work parties on this project throughout the summer on Fri, Sat, and Sun.

Consider carpooling. In Enumclaw, Farmer's Park and Ride is located at WA-164 & 228th Ave SE, Enumclaw, WA 98022. Another possible option would be the Enumclaw County Park off Hwy 410: (Google Map: 28600 Southeast Enumclaw-Chinook Pass Road, Uninc King County, Washington.) Sign-up for carpooling when you sign-up for this trip. To be added later, please e-mail trail_teams@wta.org.

Mt. Rainier National Park is Washington's oldest national park, celebrating its' centennial in 1999. It is located in the center of the Cascade Range and the center of the state. The park is dominated by the 14,410' Mt. Rainier, one of Washington's five volcanoes. The park contains 260 miles of trails through the state's greatest old growth stands of Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock, and spruce. The park receives heavy visitor traffic during the summer. Due to its height and location the park receives heavy precipitation, especially in the winter months.

Project:The lower part of the Glacier Basin trail was hit hard due to the 18" of rain fall it saw during a short period of time as storms ravaged the Park in November of '06. WTA will work with the Park this summer to help re-build this trail, through a 2-mile relocation that will keep the trail away from the river and on to the hillside.

Driving directions:
From the Seattle area drive south on State Highway 167 (Renton to Auburn and points south). Before Puyallup turn east on State Highway 410 toward Sumner. Continue on 410 past Crystal Mountain to the White River Entrance (like you're going to Sunrise). The gate will be open, and simply say you are volunteering on trail and they'll let you through. Past Guard Station continue 4 miles and turn left on road to White River Campground. After 1 mile the camp host/ information cabin and campground will be on the right. We will meet in the climber's parking lot which is on the left just past the camp host/information cabin. (Driving time from Seattle: 2.25 hours.)