Mt Rainier - Part 2
 

Last fall there was a storm that dumped 18 inches of rain on Mt. Rainier in 36 hours. The destruction on the mountain was enormous. The park, which is normally open year round, was closed for six months.

Just before it reopened, I took the teachers in on bike/camp trip up to the Ipsut Creek campground via the Carbon River Road. We tried to bike in most of the 5 miles to the campsite, carrying our bikes where there was no road. We camped alone at the usually crowded site, getting there well after dark. The trip took a lot longer than expected – I thought there would be more road, but instead it was mostly a 10-15 ft deep washout.

The destruction from the storm was incredible.

Here is a photo from the Seattle Times today of that very area...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABP...003755636.html

When did it reopen? Was that just recently?

That was a pretty amazing picture that you posted. I'm sure there were plenty of other places in the park just as bad. That is a ton of water.

It re-opened on Memorial Day weekend, IIRC. We went in two weeks prior.

Yes, there was extensive damage throughout the rest of the park. It was the worst flooding the park has experience in its 108 year history according to their website.

Here is a snippet on the section we visited...

"Flooding from the Carbon River partially or completely destroyed two miles of road between the park entrance and Ipsut Creek Campground. In places, only culverts and road signs remain to remind visitors that new river channels used to be roadways. The historic Ipsut Creek Cabin was undermined when a channel of the river flowed directly beneath it. The windstorm in December toppled dozens of trees across the damaged roadway."

http://www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/nov...6-flooding.htm