Mount Rainier National Park -- This month's National Park Getaway

By Ingrid Nixon, Chief of Interpretation, Mount Rainier National Park

Photo: NPS.gov

Looking for snow? Then Mount Rainier in Washington state is a great place to be. The park, on average, receives about 641 inches of snow each year; it lingers in the high country long after spring flowers are blooming in the low lands. That means there's usually plenty of snow for snowshoeing, skiing, camping, sliding, and more.

While snow closes most roads in the park to vehicles, the road from the Nisqually entrance to Longmire is open year-round. The stretch of road from Longmire to Paradise opens daily if weather allows. You can check the road status on Twitter: MountRainierNPS.

You'll find rangers to answer your questions at the Longmire Information Center seven days a week and up at Paradise in the Jackson Visitor Center on weekends and holidays. When open, the Jackson Visitor Center offers displays to learn about the park, large windows to enjoy mountain views, a snack bar and gift shop.

Photo: NPS.gov

Never been on snowshoes? Then join a park ranger or volunteer for a free, guided snowshoe hike offered several times a day on weekends at Paradise. Rangers will even lend you the snowshoes. Or you can rent snowshoes from the park concessioner or a business outside the park and head out on your own snowy stroll.

Once enough snow has fallen to protect delicate vegetation in the meadows, the park grooms a snow play area just north of the upper Paradise parking lot for weekend sliding and sledding. This often stays active into March.

Before ranging too far afield, talk to a ranger about known avalanche paths and risks, such as tree wells and snow bridges over streams. Once you know what areas to avoid and what danger signs to look for, you can head off for some backcountry fun.

You won't find ski lifts in the park, so backcountry skiers and snowboarders spend a lot of time climbing hills to earn that sweet, memorable ride down.

Winter campers can get guidance and a free camping permit from rangers at Longmire or Paradise. If you're not in the mood to rough it, consider booking dinner and a night at the National Park Inn, located at Longmire and open year-round.

Keep in mind that mountain weather changes rapidly; a gorgeous day can quickly turn rotten. Check the weather, road, and avalanche conditions before you come, and consider rescheduling your trip for another time if things look bad. All vehicles are required to carry tire chains in winter, and drivers need to know how to put them on. (Some businesses outside the park rent tire chains.) Be sure to bring warm clothes, waterproof outer wear, and adequate foot gear so you can be comfortable no matter the weather. Get a preview of your winter visit via the park's webcams.

For more information on Mount Rainier National Park, click here. For the current edition of "Tahoma News," the Mount Rainier National Park newsletter, click here.

Eerie landscape awaits at Idaho's Craters of the Moon

Chief of Interpretation Ted Stout guides us through Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, a national park formed by a massive volcanic fissure know as The Great Rift. Craters of the Moon was declared a national monument in 1924 by President Coolidge and features a number unique formations, including rafted blocks, cindercones and spattercones, due to the park's volcanic ties.

Yes, you can -- camping at Mt. Rainier in the winter

When most boondockers think boondocking, they think of the national forests and snowbirding in the warm southwestern deserts.

But if you can't get away for the winter but still want to do some winter camping, Mount Rainer National Park is opening up some areas of the park for RV camping without hookups.

RVs will be allowed in the Paradise lower parking lot or the upper parking lot across trom the Paradise Inn as well as at Narada Falls and Longmire. A new webcam went online last week showing the view of Longmire.

Mounted on the second floor of the administration building, the camera looks toward the Longmire Museum and the road leading up from the Nisqually Entrance, with the National Park Inn hidden behind the trees in the distance. There also are six additional webcams at Paradise and one at Camp Muir. You can find the webcams here.

Extreme cold weather RV camping requires some extra safety precautions and planning to stay both safe and warm. Some tips and adv ice for winter camping can be found here.

Winter snow camping is not for all of us, but Mount Rainier makes it possible to try it out under favorable conditions with help--if needed--near by.

A big day for Mount Rainier volunteers

Coming up this weekend: National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 24, 2011. Washington's Mount Rainier National Park is looking forward to masses of folks coming to plant native plants, maintain trails, and rededicate the Glacier Basin Trail after four summers of repairs. The work day will cap a highly successful season during which about 2,000 people have contributed to the protection of Mount Rainier’s natural and cultural treasures and helped serve its visitors.

Volunteerism has a major impact at the big mountain park. Last year, 2,016 volunteers contributed 73,990 hours of service, an effort valued at $1.54 million. Park officials are hoping that this weekend's volunteers will make a huge difference in this last big push for the season. Of course, the Washington venue is just one of many across the country. More than 120,000 individuals are expected to participate in events all over the nation. In recognition of this, entrance fees will be waived at all national parks for the day. Volunteers will receive an additional coupon for free admission on a day of their choice.

At Mount Rainier, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Washington Trails Association will help coordinate the event and lead volunteer projects. Participants may register at the event, or pre-register by e-mailing Mariely Lemagne at mlemagne@npca.org. Volunteers will sign in at the amphitheater in White River Campground, in the northeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Beware that the Stevens Canyon Road in the park is closed due to construction. The White River Campground can be reached via State Highways 410 or 123.

Volunteers of all ages will help with revegetation efforts at Sunrise and with several trail projects near White River Campground. Come prepared for cool, wet weather, with warm clothing, rain gear, sturdy footwear, and gloves. If the weather is nice, sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats are recommended. Volunteers should also bring water, snacks, and a lunch. Volunteers will re-gather at the amphitheater in White River Campground at 3:30 p.m. for a more informal celebration, with refreshments provided by the Washington Trails Association.

Information about Mount Rainier’s volunteer program, including a list of open positions, a calendar of activities, and pictures and videos of volunteers in action may be found on Mount Rainier National Park’s website at www.nps.gov/mora, or on its volunteer program blog at rainiervolunteers.blogspot.com.

photo: Mount Rainier National Park Volunteer, courtesy NPS. GOV

Mount Rainier National Park launches Twitter page

Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga has announced the launching of the parks official Twitter page. Follow the park at http://twitter.com/#!/MountRainierNPS to discover news as it's happening, learn more about park topics that are important to you and get the inside scoop in real time.

Before you leave home, or during a stop while en route to the park, check the park out on Twitter. Is the parking lot full at Paradise? Are the roads open throughout the park? Are there any emergency situations that will affect your visit? Keep up-to-date on road and facility openings and closures, emergency situations, special events, and watch for other noteworthy and timely tweets.

Future plans for park social media include Facebook, Flickr and YouTube pages. The best place to learn about the launching of these sites is on the Official Mount Rainier National Park Twitter page!