Mt. Rainier or Olympics NP?

I'm sorry WoJo's experience fell short of expectations. There's not much to do inside snowy Mt. Rainier NP at
this time of year for someone not interested in climbing, skiing or snowshoeing. I'd agree that the Park
concessions leave a lot to be desired, perhaps because the local operation by Guest Services Inc. is largely
a tax write-off for the company that runs the government cafeterias in Washington D.C. They've even recently
discontinued their traditional ski/snowshoe lessons and guided trips.

I'd also agree that Ashford is mostly a collection of shacks and mobiles, but it's far less tacky than a lot of National Park gateway communities. Many local residents are retirees and refugees from our increasingly ugly and unaffordable cities. Climate change is killing lots of local trees; the chain saws are busy in the Spring because firewood needs to season at least six months to be ready for the long, hard winters. Many people here keep dogs because law enforcement response time is at least one hour. There are worse things than noisy chainsaws and barking dogs. Locals have to put up with automatic weapons fire and fleets of military helicopters commuting between Tacoma's Fort Lewis and the Yakima firing range. There are also compensations like talented artists and seeing elk herds from your porch.

Rural areas are not "wilderness", few of which have steaks and fresh produce either. Despite the official designation, this 'scenic drive' National Park is not truly wilderness in my opinion. It's just too small to include winter range for many species. It's also too sliced up by the past road-building enthusiasm of National Park managers, who increasingly exclude the public from roads plowed and maintained for "administrative use". Hopefully, the Park staff didn't tell you to "go somewhere else if you don't like the way we do things". This has been the all too common experience of visitors who question this Park's policies.

The above comments are intended as explanations, not excuses. Despite all these shortcomings, I hope WoJo
returns sometime in August (perhaps September this year) and gives our nation's 5th National Park and
greatest mountain outside Alaska another chance. In early morning before the crowds arrive, it's easy to
understand why John Muir called aptly named Paradise "...the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine
gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings". Less crowded attractions like Sunrise and Chinook Pass are equally beautiful.