11/11/2010
Date: 11/12/2010
In September we told you about potential drastic fee increases to climb Denali and Rainier. Since that time, the Access Fund has been working with partners American Mountain Guides Association and American Alpine Club to get a public process put in place to evaluate the current mountaineering programs and associated budgets to identify the best way to service climbers—and the appropriate fee levels. Both parks agreed to a public process and have announced a series of public meetings to discuss their mountaineering programs. These meetings will provide climbers the opportunity to discuss and understand aspects of the current climbing programs at Denali and Rainier and help the parks identify viable options for designing the programs and how to pay for them. Climbers are encouraged to attend.
Mount Rainier National Park will host public meetings at the following locations in late November and December:
Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 7-9 PM
Mountaineers Building
2302 N. 30th St.
Tacoma, WA 98403-3323
Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 7-9 PM
Seattle Mountaineers Building
7700 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Wednesday, December 8, 2010, 7-9 PM
Mount Rainier National Park Education Center
55210 238th Ave. E.
Ashford, WA 98304
Denali National Park will host public meetings on their mountaineering and cost recovery program in Talkeetna and Anchorage in December and in Seattle and Denver early in January 2011. Dates and specific meeting locations will be announced in the near future on the Denali’s website at www.nps.gov/dena, or contact either Chief Park Ranger Peter Armington at (907.683.9521) or Public Affairs Officer Kris Fister (907.683.9583) for more information.
The public comment period for both Denali and Rainier started on November 1, 2010 and will continue through January 31, 2011. Email or write each park directly about their programs at the following addresses:
Superintendent
ATTN: Climbing Cost Recovery Fee
Mount Rainier National Park
55210 238th Ave. E.
Ashford, WA 98304
Superintendent
ATTN: Climbing Cost Recovery Fee
Denali National Park and Preserve
P.O. Box 9, Denali Park, AK 99755
[email protected]
Mount Rainier National Park has set up a website for the public to email comment at www.nps.gov/mora/parkmgmt/climbingfee.htm.