Winter Rolls in at Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier National Park got its first full taste of winter earlier this week. While the park has received several dustings of snow already this fall, almost a foot of snow fell at Paradise Monday and Tuesday, according to data from the Paradise weather station.

Park visitors need to remember that the road to Paradise is closed each night just past Longmire. It reopens each morning once snowplows have completed removing any new snow.

The status of four park roads, scheduled to close for the winter on Sunday, is day to day through the weekend. Mowich Lake, Paradise Valley and Stevens Canyon roads, plus the White River Road to the campground are to close Sunday.

The Westside Road is to remain open to the Dry Creek parking area through Nov. 15, as long as the weather cooperates. For road status updates, check www.nps.gov/mora or call 360-569-2211.

The Longmire General Store has switched to its summer hours.