This winter, are you considering visiting Mount Rainier National Park? If you are not well prepared, you may want to reconsider.
According to personal injury lawyers at John Foy & Associates, the park is the second-deadliest national park to visit in the winter.
The lawyers examined death data from the U.S. National Park Service to identify the deadliest U.S. national parks. They examined fatal events that occurred from 2007 to 2023 between November 1 and February 28 (or February 29 if it was a leap year). After calculating the average number of visitors over the studied period, the parks were ranked according to the highest number of winter deaths per 10 million visitors.
For this analysis, national parks with fewer than 10 million visitors between 2007 and 2023 were excluded.
These were the top five most deadly national parks in the United States, per the study:
However, why is Mount Rainier National Park the second-deadliest in the United States?
The popular active stratovolcano Mount Rainier is the name and home of Mount Rainier National Park, which is situated southeast of Tacoma.
It’s easy to be amazed by the mountain’s immensity and splendor on a clear day. No matter the season, the 14,411-foot summit of Mount Rainier is always covered in white snow, however the amount of snow rises in the fall and winter when winter weather arrives.
According to the Mount Rainier Institute, Mount Rainier attracts around 1.75 million tourists annually who wish to get a close-up look at the mountain because of its immense size and varied landscape.
Although it is essential to visit MRNP if you reside in or are visiting Washington, it can be risky to do so in the winter because the park is situated at an elevation of 14,408 feet at its highest point and 1,600 feet at its lowest.
According to the NPS, a number of park roads, including White River, Sunrise, and Route 410/123, close throughout the winter. During the winter, park roads that are open are typically coated in snow or ice, thus visitors are advised to check the condition of the roads before entering and must bring tire chains.
The park’s website states that through June or July, winterlike conditions may be experienced on trails at higher elevations.
Nevertheless, even in the winter, a lot of individuals choose to travel and complete the hazardous walk to the top of Mount Rainier.
The park experiences 8.55 winter deaths per 10 million park visitors, which is 191% more than the national average, according to the report. Six of the 19 deaths that occurred during the period under analysis were caused by falls, making them the most common cause of death.
According to the study, the difficult ascent draws thousands of mountaineers year, but because of the elevation and weather, it demands a high level of competence.
The NPS advises park visitors to be mindful of the following safety precautions:
It can be challenging to maneuver in severe winter circumstances, and sudden changes in mountain weather can become a survival nightmare.
You shouldn’t anticipate traveling as far as you would in the summer because winter days are shorter.
Make sure you know which roads are open and that you are prepared to travel on snow roads. Many highways are only available on specific days, close early, or close entirely during the winter.
When roads, sidewalks, and trails are icy, use traction aids like shoe chains to prevent slipping and falling.
Avoid camping or going close to an avalanche zone because avalanches in the park are most frequent following storms.
You can fall through weak snow bridges, so stay away from areas where you can hear running water.
Steer clear of snow ledges that dangle over an edge since they may collapse.
Refrain from approaching trees too closely as you could trip over loose snow and sustain injuries.
Wear clothing that can assist keep body heat and protect against wind and rain, eat often, minimize exhaustion, and seek shelter because exposure to cold temperatures can cause hypothermia.
According to the NPS, backcountry skiers, snowshoers, and campers should have the following winter basics to ensure they survive nights out:
An avalanche transceiver, an avalanche probe (a metal rod used to detect victims), a full-length insulated sleeping pad, a stove and fuel, heat packs, goggles, wool hats, a spade for digging a snow cave, a map, a compass, and a GPS unit are all necessary. Visitors must also be able to evaluate the risks of avalanches and mountain weather.
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