The Mountaineers
The North Plaza friction slabs at our Seattle Program Center have become a popular resource, and it's important we keep safety in mind during course instruction. We ask you, as leaders and participants, to be aware of large groups spilling out into nearby streets or frequently crossing the eastern roadway, as this creates the potential for a traffic accident.
In the interest of safety for both slab users and drivers, climb leaders are strongly encouraged to place cones during use of the friction slab, or when participants are crossing the eastern roadway to practice glacier and climbing techniques on the grassy knoll across the street.
Traffic cones are provided. These are located at:
- The friction slab gravel area
- The north storage area
- The Mountaineers basement
The following images are recommended examples of how to place traffic cones along the western and eastern roadways.
Western road facing north. Traffic cones divert traffic away from the area and warn drivers of the nearby activity.
Western road facing south. Traffic cones divert traffic away from the area and warn drivers of the nearby activity.
Eastern road facing south. Traffic cones divide traffic to slow speeds and warn drivers.
Eastern road facing north. Traffic cones divide traffic to slow speeds and warn drivers.
Eastern road facing north. An alternate traffic warning with a warning sign.
North Plaza friction slab cone location.
Questions or concerns?
Please email Garrett Arnold, our Mountaineers Rental and Events Manager, at garretta@mountaineers.org, or Jeff Patterson, our Seattle Safety Chair, at jeffreypatterson@comcast.net.
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While friction slab activities are the focus, those activities which circumnavigate the building also need advanced vigilance and protection.
Further suggest:
>>all twilight and later participants wear headlamp0s
>>paint a fog line and ask for forgiveness later
>>set up flag depots for crossing at several points
>>set up horses and caution tape between them to harness errant students and instructors
>>recruit Cascade Bicycle colleagues to do a ride in to slow traffic -- call the press first
>>Set up reader board (like US2) that displays number of days since last Close Call
>>Invite soon to be elected new Seattle City Council rep for our district to join the club
>>Reserve six to eight parking spots on W side of byway for Mountaineers cars that will sport rooftop, red flashing lights oriented to oncoming traffic
>>Park decommissioned police car on W side with obvious radar device
>>Erect sign with rotating messages: Beware Microspikes...Speeders Will Be Alpine Scrambled...Ball Nutz in Roadway...Alien Cams Reported
Has the Staff continued to try to implement Peter Hendrickson's suggestions of April 19, 2019, now that in-person activities at the Center a recommencing?
Hi Michael, I can briefly speak to these points on what's been implemented.
- Traffic cones are still available in the basement and North Storage areas for activity use. I witnessed Navigation using them on the east side of the building roadway with headlamps ~2 weeks ago. Although reestablishing a norm is going to be a part of hosting more activities at the SPC going forward.
- Repainting traffic lines and adding clearer traffic lines is a continued conversation and request from Magnuson Park. I sit on the Magnuson Park Advisory Committee (MPAC) and have advocated for this. Repainting the traffic lines on the west road-way as well as the red curb for fire access is on the facilities to-do list.
- In 2021 Magnuson Park installed new signage and bike path access from Sand Point Way to the front of our building. The signage says "Kids at Play". At last check there were crossing flags for crossing Sand Point Way. There isn't a cross walk painting from Sand Point Way to The Mountaineers but I've expressed the need for even more clear designations for crossing safety.
- I haven't coordinated with Cascade Bike Club or discussed the additional ideas Peter mentioned but as noted above, I coordinate with MPAC and Magnuson Park officials on ideas that the whole park community can support.
Open to any other ideas or suggestions. Thanks for the follow up!
