Increased Entrance fees for Mt. Rainier Nat' Park

Apologies if this has already been posted. I saw on Haleakala, Olympic National Park, and now Rainier, that entrance fees will be increasing. Haven't heard anything from Crater Lake..

Current fees: Annual $30, 7-day $15, Walk-up $5, Motorcycle $10, Camping $12-15
Proposed fees: Annual $50, 7-day $25, Walk-up $12, Motorcycle $20, Camping $20


Make your voice heard:
parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID...063&documentID=62342

This is part of a nation-wide push, for example:
www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2014/11/up...ng-changes-fees25870
Appropriations are unlikely to increase with the new Congress, so an increasingly fee-supported park system seems likely to be vunerable to visitation downturns, whether caused by the fees themselves or larger economic factors.

More worrisome to me for the long-term is the recent proposal by the NPS 'Masters of More' to issue naming rights and allow corporate logos in our parks:
www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2014/11/dr...g-opportunities25862
A commenter about this slippery slope uses the example of a possible 'Polaris Visitor Center' at Old Faithful

Other recent NPS news:
www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2014/10/up...job-temporarily25853
www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2014/11/ta...k-renews-debate25868
www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2014/11/co...erwise-congress25836
www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2014/10/op...0-years-neglect25790

Proposed rate for Rainier 7-day (aka the day pass) is $25, not $30.

A $25 entry fee will do an even better job at keeping the voting public away from the alpine wilderness.

Earlier news reports said this increase was to fund the celebration of the centennial of the creation of the NPS.

There is likewise a thread on this and proposed fee increases at ONP at Nwhikers.

You can submit comments at MRNP:

I'm using a different computer now, but I copied the MRNP link at NWhikers and this computer would not let me paste it here!

Go to page 1 of the NWhikers thread to find the link at MRNP for comments and a synopsis of the reasons for the increase.

This will hurt the poor for sure, but the parks are inadequately funded.

I'm using a different computer now, but I copied the MRNP link at NWhikers and this computer would not let me paste it here!

Go to page 1 of the NWhikers thread to find the link at MRNP for comments and a synopsis of the reasons for the increase.

This will hurt the poor for sure, but the parks are inadequately funded.

www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/proposed-fee-increases.htm

The link in the press release for comments, however, doesn't work on my computer.

Proposed rate for Rainier 7-day (aka the day pass) is $25, not $30.

A $25 entry fee will do an even better job at keeping the voting public away from the alpine wilderness.

I will say, I do agree with this as far as respecting the land is concerned.

If the passes are to be treated like commodities, then the wilderness is worth 50$/year.

Corporate logos suck.

I will say, I do agree with this as far as respecting the land is concerned.

If the passes are to be treated like commodities, then the wilderness is worth 50$/year.

Corporate logos suck.

Sorry, I can't follow the logic here. I have no opinion on the fee increase; my opinion will rest totally on the services provided. "Respecting the land" is independent of "bowing to management." "If passes are to be treated like commodities" ??? sold on the commodity exchanges? Passes are unlimited in number and the number is only determined by demand. Note there is practically no management in wilderness; so how is that related to passes for entry on roads? "Corporate logos suck"--that is a disconnect for me.

IMHO, entry fees are being increased >60% even tho real wages of the vast majority of the public and those paid to NPS employees have not increased much. Gas prices are actually dropping. More volunteer hours than ever are being exerted in the park; the Washington Trails Association is doing a major part of the trail work that is supposed to be done by the park; that is why I joined the WTA--to pay my dues. Climbing fees have increased as have concessionaire fees/payment in kind. So what is going on? Certainly appropriations for the park have fallen. But the military has grown. So are we expected to pay more for entrance fees to underwrite overseas adventurism? Or to compensate for reduced taxes by the rich and corporations (lowest real taxes in the developed world)? Or are we paying for unfunded mandates from Congress or, more importantly, from internal park deliberations. We will never know because there is no transperancy in the park budget.

I think they are asking for more income to maintain what we have. I haven't seen the numbers. The proposed increases don't seem a hardship. As long as my $10 lifetime senior pass stays.

Appropriations are unlikely to increase with the new Congress

Ya think??? >

I guess i should clarify.
I'm saying i'll pay 50$ to visit a great place.
Higher prices, less people, less development, more sustainability.
I have no political speculations, i give very few shits.