The Paradise Inn, with Mount Rainier in the background/Rebecca Latson file

A petition drive seeking to reopen mid-week access to Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park questions whether the National Park Service is going to exacerbate weekend crowding in the park with the mid-week closure, and questions whether park staff took "into account the impact of this closure on the winter recreation community?"

Park staff announced on November 29 that the Longmire area would continue to be open seven days a week barring any major storm events, but that access to Paradise for now would only be on weekends. The park has had challenges hiring for utility operators, custodial crew, roads crew (plow operators), and with the visitor and resource protection staff, who are the folks in the park that respond first to emergency medical needs and search and rescue operations. 

But those behind the petition drive question the park's rationale.

"... winter in Paradise provides a wilderness experience, without the infrastructure and traffic of the major ski areas and highway passes," wrote Steve Price, the individual behind the petition on change.org. This is even more the case during winter weekdays, for those who choose to avoid weekend crowds. The decision also appears archaic, given today’s changed and flexible working environment. Restricting access to weekends denies those who work weekends the opportunity for winter recreation. For others, 'days off' might be any day of the week. With a consistent and reliable weekday opening schedule, the park could host many more users."

The petition, which on Sunday was approaching 1,500 signatures, asks:

• What was the decision-making process which led to stop public access during weekdays and at what administrative level did it occur?
• What policies and objectives were considered during the decision making process?
• What were the criteria and information used to make the decision, including budgetary issues and visitor demand? What trade-offs were involved in aligning policy objectives?
• Were public stakeholders involved in assessing the potential outcomes of this decision?
• Since this is a change from previous practice, did the agency take into account the impact of this closure on the winter recreation community?
• Were cost-sharing opportunities with winter user-groups evaluated prior to the decision being issued?

"Stopping weekday access will only increase crowds and traffic congestion on weekends," Price wrote. "The park’s 2015 Foundation Document planning report identifies the need to mitigate congestion: 'The park is experiencing severe congestion in key locations as all visitors want to do the same thing, at the same time, at the same place.' This decision conflicts with the park’s own goals."

According to the park, daily snowplowing will continue seven days a week between the Nisqually Entrance and Longmire. Snowplow operators will also attempt to plow the 12 miles of road to Paradise to a minimum level throughout the week to limit snow accumulation and make road access more attainable on the weekends. While this effort will allow park employees with appropriate equipment to access the area in emergencies, minimal weekday plowing and staffing levels will not be sufficient to allow safe public access.

The sledding runs at Paradise also will not open this year due to staffing shortages, the park's release said, and sledding is not permitted elsewhere in the park. Winter camping at Paradise will be available Saturday nights only, conditions permitting.