Snow closes Crater Lake’s Rim Drive
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
November 13, 2002
By RYAN HARPER
The North Entrance Road and Rim Drive at Crater Lake National Park closed for the winter on Tuesday after recent storms finally brought snow and icy road conditions.
The roads close every year when the first significant snow begins to fall, and the closure is an annual early sign the Klamath Basin winter is at hand. The closure usually takes place in late October or early November.
“The snow has arrived a little bit later this year,” said park spokesman Michael Justin.
Despite its tardiness, the recent snowfall was heavy. Justin said there are about 34 inches of snow on the rim, and most of it fell over the past weekend. At park headquarters, the snowpack was measured this morning at 27 inches, compared to the average snow depth of 11 inches for this time of year.
The recent precipitation was felt throughout the Basin. Klamath Falls has received 1.15 inches so far this month, compared to an average of .62 of an inch for the first 12 days of the month.
But the Basin is still more than 2 inches below average for the calendar year, and is more than half an inch behind for the water year, which began Oct. 1.
Rainfall brought area streams back to life, with flows in the Williamson River measured this morning at 592 cubic feet per second, up from 543 last Wednesday.
Justin said that despite the heavy snow and indications of more soon to come, park officials are not predicting a heavy winter just yet.
“You can’t tell yet,” he said. “Our outlook is normal snow.”
The east entrance to the park is usually the first to be closed, and it was shut down last week. The south and west entrances will remain open all winter long.
The road from the park headquarters to the rim parking lot will also remain plowed and accessible to cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and anyone else who wants to see how the lake looks in winter.
“It’s just beautiful,” Justin said.
Winter visitor services are provided at the William Steel Visitor Information Center, which is in Munson Valley adjacent to the park headquarters. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Gift Store and Cafeteria at Rim Village will also be open all winter. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Other pages in this section
- Park ranger recognized for rescue efforts – December 15, 2002
- Crater Lake ranger presented with Exemplary Act Award – December 07, 2002
- Obituaries – James Robert Read – November 24, 2002
- Plan: Relocate rim parking: Rim Village parking may leave Crater Lake’s edge – November 22, 2002
- Crater Lake symposium broad as well as deep – October 07, 2002
- Renowned oceanographer featured speaker at Crater Lake symposium – September 18, 2002
- Rex Lee Trulove – September 08, 2002
- Crater Lake Fascinations: Diller’s pin, clear water, fish stories keep lake and park a place of wonder forever fascinating – August 31, 2002
- Navy pilot drops in to Crater Lake, again – August 27, 2002
- Crater Lake centennial party: Celebration amid the smoke – August 26, 2002
- Celebration day: Crater Lake National Park transformed for festivities – August 25, 2002
- Crater Lake license plate available in Oregon – August 25, 2002
- Happy 100th to the gem of Klamath – August 23, 2002
- Crater Lake learning center dedicated – August 23, 2002
- Long lines expected for new license plates – August 23, 2002
- National Park Service leader pays return visit to Crater Lake – August 23, 2002
- Crater Lake events listed – August 22, 2002
- Larson honored for Crater Lake work – August 18, 2002
- Obituary: Howard ‘Bud’ Hittenrauch – August 15, 2002
- Speakers set for Crater Lake – August 15, 2002
- Stunning revelations at high elevations: Runners experience life – August 11, 2002
- Lindgren makes memorable win – August 11, 2002
- Marathon has world, local flavor – August 11, 2002
- Runner takes ‘stroll in park’ – August 11, 2002
- Bush to visit Oregon, not Crater Lake – August 06, 2002
- Keep Rim Drive open – all of the way – July 31, 2002
- Crater Lake license plate unveiled – July 31, 2002
- Dedication of Future Science & Learning Center – August 22, 2002
- The fight for Crater Lake/Winning National Park Status Wasn’t Easy – July 28, 2002
- Centennial Award goes to Crater Lake researcher – July 22, 2002
- The Crater Lake murders and the 9-fingered man – July 21, 2002
- The party is ‘on’ at Crater Lake – July 18, 2002
- Park plan looks at snipping Rim Road – July 05, 2002
- Controlled burns set for Monday at Crater Lake – June 16, 2002
- Controlled burns set for Monday at Crater Lake – June 15, 2002
- Crater Lake’s north entrance open – June 05, 2002
- Crater Lake looking at trail relocation, rehabilitation – June 05, 2002
- Lake retains beauty after 100 years – May 22, 2002
- Crater Lake National Park Centennial ‘Let the celebration begin’ 1902-2002 – May 21, 2002
- The jewel turns 100: a century after it was dedicated, Crater Lake National Park inspires wonder for millions – May 19, 2002
- Old stories about W. F. Arant and Steel come back again and again for family – May 13, 2002
- W.F. Arant – Crater Lake’s first superintendent – May 13, 2002
- Quilting Crater Lake: Rocky Point will raffle quilt to raise funds – May 12, 2002
- Crater Lake alumni sought – May 09, 2002
- Cafe at Crater Lake to reopen – April 26, 2002
- Park Service names new concession official – April 13, 2002
- National park’s father returns: Will Steele on stage at Crater Lake – April 9, 2002
- Xanterra Parks & Resorts Receives Contract to Manage Concessions – April 5, 2002
- Crater Lake to be subject of museum lectures – March 30, 2002
- Crater Lake employee reunion part of Centennial celebration – March 25, 2002
- ‘How Crater Lake came to be’: A Klamath Indian legend Special for the Herald and News – February 25, 2002
- Making tracks at Crater Lake: guide shares insights with snowshoers; his knowledge of the lake is legendary – February 24, 2002
- Crater Lake Centennial Cookbook to be a part of this year’s celebration – February 22, 2002
- Crater Lake Ski Patrol crucial to park operations – February 21, 2002
- Crater Lake concession awarded to Amfac – January 30, 2002
- Lost skiers find searchers – January 24, 2002
- Search for overdue skiers – January 21, 2002
- Going postal for Crater Lake – January 13, 2002
