Tahoma News Summer 2007

November 2006 Flood Makes History The flood of November 6 and 7, 2006 was an previous records. Record amounts fell throughout up here, washing it away there changing course, historical, natural event unlike any other that has other regions of the park. seeking the easiest path through the debris. This been recorded in Mount Rainier National Park’s is why glacial riverbeds are wide and rocky, with 108 year history. The snow levels during the storm stayed above the river itself braided into constantly changing 10,000 feet in elevation, with the majority of the channels. Long before National Park status, debris flows precipitation falling as rain. Some existing snow traveled from Mount Rainier to the Puget Sound. above 7,000 feet melted, adding to the runoff in the Recent research at Mount Rainier National Park Areas near Tacoma and Seattle are formed of rivers. has measured aggradation in most park rivers prehistoric debris from the mountain. to occur at a rate of 6 to 14 inches per decade. As the rain flowed down mountain-sides and In comparison, during the November flood, the In more recent park history (1946-47), a series roads to the main watersheds, it caused extreme riverbed where Tahoma Creek flows under the of heavy snowstorms caused extreme damage to soil erosion and slides. It uprooted large areas of Nisqually Road rose more than four feet. facilities. For two weeks, the main entrance to the trees that eventually caused log jams that redirected park was closed to the public due to the danger of water. Due to aggradation, the White River is currently falling trees from sweeping avalanches at higher 16 feet above adjacent SR410 in some places. Parts elevations. This event resulted in the undermining or removal of the historic Longmire Village are 29 feet below of roadways, campsites and utilities. The flood also the current elevation of the Nisqually River and Mount Rainier has experienced many other washed away multiple foot bridges and sections of the river is nearly level with the park road in several floods and mud flowsthat have changed the hiking trails rendering some unsafe for travel. places. natural landscapes and threatened the security of structures. None of these events left the park Another contribution to the flood is a process With record amounts of water flowing across the without utilities and roads, a safe entry corridor or known as “aggradation”, the rate at which the landscape into aggraded riverbeds, damage to removed campgrounds throughout the four corners park’s glacial riverbeds fill with rock. This occurs as roads, utilities and structures presented an unsafe of Mount Rainier as has the most recent flood. Mount Rainier’s glaciers melt. Boulders, rock and environment. Thus the park closed for six months, silt are captured by the moving glacier and trapped making the November 2006 flood an historical An obvious reason for the November 2006 history within the frozen ice. All of the embedded material event. making flood as,w of course, scale. The 18 inches of is released into the river as the ice melts. The river rain recorded at Paradise in 36 hours exceeded all gradually tumbles the rock downstream, piling it Rushing Water Changes Mount Rainier It is hard to imagine that several days of rain in a wet • Kautz Creek changed course about a mile above the region such as the Pacific Northwest would close a bridge on the Nisqually Road and flowed instead national park for six months. But when copious amounts through the forest and across the road 200 yards east of water rushed down hillsides and roads and overfilled of the bridge. Two 12 foot diameter culverts were the rivers within Mount Rainier National Park’s installed to direct the water under the road creating boundaries, the end result was a loss of campgrounds, a safe passageway for cars. roads, trails and utilities. • SR123, the major road connecting Ohanapecosh to Sunrise, washed out in four places. One washout, at Campgrounds Milepost 11.5 cuts across both lanes to a depth of 70 • The Nisqually River breached protective levees to feet. Repairs will be extensive. An official opening reclaim about five acres of land from the Sunshine date has not been announced. Point Campground. • The Stevens Canyon Road washed out in three • Erosion caused damage to campsites, the access road places. Due to, a landslide, one lane of traffic is and the amphitheater along the edge of the White closed at Backbone Ridge. River. • A landslide that swept hundreds of feet down to Trails the Ohanapecosh River from Stevens Canyon Road Extensive trail damage has been noted around the park destroyed several campsites at the end of “C” loop in and some areas which remained snow covered during the Ohanapecosh Campground. the spring are now being evaluated. Stop by a visitor or • The Carbon River Road washed out, therefore car wilderness information center to see maps and pictures camping is not available at Ipsut Creek Campground. of trail damage and closures. For 2007, a Wilderness Camping Permit is required for walk-in camping. Damage ranges from sections of trail being obliterated One of four washouts on Highway 123, between Ohanapecosh and White River. • Four backcountry camps were closed. Current to embankments being undercut. Trees, boulders and openings and backcountry camping permits are other debris may block safe passage. Crews are focused • More than 28 bridges and footlog crossings were available at any visitor or wilderness information on getting as many trails open as they can , especially the damaged or washed away. center. Wonderland Trail. • The debris laden Ohanapecosh River destroyed the suspension bridge leading to the island. Roads Most of the 93 miles of the Wonderland Trail, which • The Tahoma Creek suspension bridge was closed for circumnavigates the mountain, is safe to travel. But due All the main access roads to Mount Rainier National major repair. to closures, permits will not be issued in 2007 for people Park incurred loss or sustained damage except for SR410, who wish to hike the entire trail. in the northeast. However, White River did overflow its Additionally, the November flood broke the park’s main . banks, inundating SR410 for several miles . utility lines leaving Paradise and Longmire without • As the Nisqually River swelled it took out 200 yards Bridges sewer, phone, water and commercial power. Water of the Nisqually Road at Sunshine Point. Rebuilding Throughout the spring, trail crews have restored many entered the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center. The Kautz the road was a priority in order to reopen the park. water crossings. With spring rains and heavy snow melt, Helibase and maintenance yard suffered erosion. Three • On the Nisqually Road crews have rebuilt hikers need to be mindful of the potential dangers in feet of silt was deposited atop the roots of 1000 year old embankments to prevent the road from collapsing. crossing swift running water (see page 9). trees at the Grove of the Patriarchs. 5 Mount Rainier National Park Emergency:National Park ServiceDial 911 from any phone located in the park U.S. Department of the Interior Driving Around Mount Rainier Sumner Enumclaw - Map Not To Scale 410 Puyallup - Mileages Are Approximate 512 Buckley South Prairie 100 mi Greenwater - Mileages Are From to To I-5 162 162 Wilkeson Orting Carbonado - 100 mi Nisqually Entrance to White River 7 Graham Carbon River Rd is closed 1/4 mile inside the - 95 mi Ohanapecosh to White River 161 165 park to vehicle traffic. Open to foot traffic. via 12 & 410 Kapowsin Carbon River Entrance 51 mi Sunrise 410 Mowich Lake Mount White River Eatonville Rainier 14,410' Closed to vehicle and foot traffic due to flood damage Elbe Nisqually Paradise Ashford Alder Lake 706 Entrance Longmire Naches Ohanapecosh N arr ow,W 52 indy R 4 mi To Yakima d.RV 23 mi Tra 17 mi ve l N o t R 7 mi ec 37 mi om 12 7 m e n d e White Pass d Packwood Morton 12 33 mi Randle 12 To I-5 Plan Ahead, Fuel Up and Take your Time The Mount Rainier Annual Pass Visitors can explore all areas of the park, including and The New National Parks Longmire, Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Sunrise, White and Federal Recreational River, Carbon River and Mowich. SR123 north Lands Pass Program of Steven’s Canyon Road and south of SR410 will remain closed for the summer. The above map The Mount Rainier Annual Pass highlights alternate routes that will require extra If you only plan to visit Mount Rainier time and gas. Plan ahead and drive safely. National Park, consider the Mount Rainier Annual Pass. It costs $30 and, like the • The Carbon River Road to Ipsut Creek Interagency annual pass (described below), Campground is closed to vehicular traffic. is good for 12 months from the purchase Visitors can park 1/2 mile from the entrance date. The Mount Rainier Annual Pass is gate and hike or bike 5 miles to the Ipsut available at any Mount Rainier National Creek campground. To stay overnight obtain a Park Entrance Station. backcountry camping permit from the ranger station at the Carbon River entrance. The Interagency Annual Pass A landslide on Steven’s Canyon Road. This pass entitles access to, and use of • Expect delays when driving Stevens Canyon federal recreation sites that charge entrance Road. A short section of Stevens Canyon is Paradise/Longmire to Sunrise/White River or standard amenity limited to one lane traffic. Be courteous to other (Southwest corner to northeast corner) fees. The Interagency visitors, pay attention to the stop signs, watch 1. From Paradise or Longmire, travel west to the Annual Pass costs for construction crews and emergency vehicles.

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