Guest Article by by Kate Kelly

Working Dogs Kept Telephone Lines Open on Mount Rainier

Throughout history, working dogs have been important to civilization. The use of sled dogs to keep communications open during winters on Mount Rainier is just one of many stories that could be told of well-trained working dogs.

Early Exploration

Located in Washington state southeast of Seattle, Mount Rainier is the highest peak (14,4141 feet) in the lower 48 states. It is actually an active volcano and is considered one of the most dangerous in the world because of the amount of glaciers and snowfields that would melt quickly if it were to erupt.

As the railroads came west, investors began to wonder about the mineral reserves around Rainier, but they also saw potential in Mount Rainier as a tourist destination, which would encourage more passenger travel on the railroads.  A few local politicians began floating proposals to make Mount Rainier a national park, and in 1899 it achieved this status as the fifth national park in the United States.  The park encompasses Mount Rainier peak as well as beautiful valleys, countless waterfalls, subalpine meadows, and plenty of forest land.

Rainier Becomes an Early Tourist Attraction

Near the southwest corner of the park is Longmire, the original park headquarters. This was very near where most people entered the park to begin their hiking and explorations. Most who arrived made their way toward Paradise Valley, a beautiful area that took them closer to Rainier.

As early as 1909 skiers began to arrive at Longmire; they wanted ski or snowshoe in to Paradise Valley in order to get closer to the peak. By 1916 there were enough visitors to merit construction of an inn at the far end of Paradise Valley.  Initially, Paradise Inn was closed in the winter, but within a few years, a hearty group of area residents known as the Mountaineers came regularly in the winter. The trip to Paradise Inn was beautiful and the trek was challenging.

Communication Needed

By the mid-1920s, telephone lines provided communication year-round from Longmire to the Paradise Inn.  The distance to the inn was only 12 miles, but to climb the elevations the road had to be constructed with many hairpin turns across areas traveled; the telephone lines were generally constructed along the roadway.

In the winter, however, snow amounts could easily total 20-30 feet, and at that time, no motor-powered vehicle had been created that could climb into Paradise. Those who visited in the winter and ventured past Longmire did so on skis or by snowshoe.

“Whose Snows Halt All But Dogs”

The winter scene was well set by Edward J. Crosby in an article, “Whose Snows Halt All But Dogs,” in the American Kennel Club Gazette (November 27, 1927):

“Soon all that will connect Paradise with the rest of the world will be the thin threads of the government telephone line. But when the lashing winds come roaring down from off the jagged ridges of the Tatoosh Mountains, the telephone wires will snap, and poles will be broken in two, like matches.”

These storms often happened very early in the season. Once the wires were brought down, communication between Longmire and Paradise was lost until the spring thaw.

Working Dogs to the Rescue

In 1924 one of the park administrators had an idea: import dogs from Alaska.

To read the rest of this article and more about amazing dogs go to America Comes Alive –  by Kate Kelly