SCA Mounts Rainier Recovery Effort

Roads, buildings, woodlands, trails and campgrounds entirely washed away. Damage estimated at $30 million. And as devastating as the photos are, the real story won’t be known until Rainier’s heavy snows melt away next spring.

But SCA is already planning a comprehensive restoration strategy with officials of Mount Rainier National Park. Bringing our past experience from SCA’s Yellowstone Recovery Corps and numerous post-hurricane wilderness restoration efforts, SCA – in collaboration with local support groups – will put recovery teams on the mountain and marshal other volunteers to clear debris, revegetate slopes, and rebuild trails as soon as conditions allow.

“The direct impact to Mount Rainier was unprecedented in scope and severity,” says Rainier Superintendent Dave Uberuaga. “I look forward to working with SCA and formulating a strategic response that would engage the public, provide SCA interns with an incredible life experience, and help get Mount Rainier back on it’s feet (trails) again.” (View Superintendent Uberuaga's powerpoint presentation of the damage.)

Look for details here soon on spring and summer volunteer opportunities and for ways to support this effort.