Highway 410 near Crystal Mtn turnoff — Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016

We tried to ski Highway 410 where it's closed at the turnoff to Crystal Mt and the entrance to Mt Rainier National Park. WA State Parks and Recreation lists a snow park called Silver Springs Campground with these directions: 30 mi east of Enumclaw. Hwy 410 east, turn left onto Crystal Mountain Boulevard, go 50 yards and turn right into Sno-Park. Problem is the Sno-Park is not plowed out, even though we called Enumclaw Ranger Station and they indicated it would be. Highway 410 into the park looked like it'd be ski-able, or fine for snowshoes but there is no place to park at this entryway, as it is posted 'no parking' at the end of the road (even though there would be space for a few vehicles). We went back to the Silver Springs Guard Station a little bit west/north back on 410 from the turnoff to Crystal Mtn. There was limited parking there, but found a couple who suggested snowshoeing west towards the White River and then south towards the park. We followed their tracks and it was a lovely snowshoe. There are some intermittent blue markers but hard to follow them, as not enough placed for guidance. But if you follow the general directions with the river nearby you won''t get too lost. Tried Sun Top snow park (FR73 turnoff) but a bunch of yahoos had spun out in ditches there, so we avoided this one. Camp Shepard turnoff was also not plowed well, and we started to skid so abandoned that idea. Slim pickins for x-country skiers/snowshoers off 410 near Crystal Mt/Rainier.