Highway 62 West passes through two historic-period camps at Whitehorse Crossing (site numbers CRLA 00-12-H and CRLA-00-02). This area was surveyed for cultural resources by the park cultural resources staff in July 2000, and the locations of isolated archeological artifacts and the boundaries of these sites were documented and recorded.
Park cultural resources staff also conducted a pedestrian survey of the area proposed for realignment of the switchback segment of Highway 62 West on 20, 27, 28 July and 3 August 2002. Six areas along the project corridor were surveyed including the switchback realignment area, the Pacific Crest trailhead parking lot, the area around turnout B, a turnout to the west of Whitehorse Crossing, Whitehorse Crossing, and turnout A (the Old West Entrance). No new cultural resources were recorded at the Pacific Crest trailhead parking lot, the area around turnout B, a turnout to the west of Whitehorse Crossing, or Whitehorse Crossing. At turnout A, a previously recorded site, CRLA 00-9-H, was observed and lies just outside of the area of potential effect; however, no new resources were recorded. At the switchback area, a segment of the 1911 road segment and a retaining wall were discovered. A second road segment was also discovered and an isolated find (CRLA-02-01-IF-H) was recorded.
A report (CRLA, August 2002) documenting the results of the survey and recommendations for the proposed action has been submitted to the Oregon SHPO. Eligibility determinations have been made on the wall (as a contributing element to the wagon roads in Crater Lake National Park Historic District) and the Highway 62 West corridor. Park cultural resource experts consider the wall a contributing element to the NRHP wagon road historic district and the road corridor ineligible. Documentation regarding these determinations has been forwarded to the Oregon SHPO (23 January 2003).
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