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Itemized report of weather conditions and cost of snow plow operation for Crater Lake winter 1930-31:

Snow plow operations stated November 15th.

Operators paid at rate of $100.00 per month and board.

Snow measurements shown taken at Government Camp. Approximately 50% more snow removed from road than precipitation shows on account of drifting in road cut.

Average depth at Rim April 1 – 10 feet, drifts up to 17 feet deep between Government Camp and Rim were kept open.

The winter of 1931-32 taxed the park’s snow removal capabilities to the limit. All known records of snowfall in the park were broken as 65 feet of snow fell at Government Camp and between 85-90 feet fell at the rim. Despite the heavy snowfall the park was able to keep “the upper sections of the park roads, from the Rim to points below Annie Springs towards both the west and south entrances, open all winter” with one rotary snow plow. It required two crews of two men each working almost constantly during the months of December and January to remove the snow from the upper park roads During those months the plow was operated continuously for 117 eight-hour shifts, an average of approximately sixteen hours per day. The south entrance road was open to the public on April 10, and the west entrance road on May 5. The delay in opening the west entrance road was caused by the refusal of the State Highway Commission to open its section of the highway from Union Creek to the west park boundary, and “considerable persuasion” by the Medford Chamber of Commerce and local residents was necessary to get the commission to take action. Heavy snow drifts delayed the opening of Rim Road until July 26.

Road and trail maintenance continued to pose problems for park management in 1932. Lack of funds for proper road maintenance resulted, according to Superintendent Solinsky, in “rather unfavorable comments from park visitors, due to the rough and cut-up condition of these highways.” As all of the park highways were of “the light oil mixed type,” they required “constant attention under heavy traffic to keep them in travelable condition.” According to Solinsky, “a vast amount of work” was required if these highways were “to be maintained in as good condition as the state highways leading to our park entrances. ” Of primary importance in this work was the necessity for widening the shoulders to support the pavement, resloping of the cut banks, and rounding of the slopes.

Because of the heavy snows during the winter the Crater Wall Trail was not opened until July 1. After the snow banks had melted, slides continued to fall on the trail, in some places almost obliterating it. The cost of maintaining the trail was extremely heavy with large cracks appearing in its path after the snow melted, thus leading to concern that sections of it could be lost.

In 1932 roadside cleanup was carried out along the south entrance road from Annie Spring to the south park boundary. This completed all the roadside cleanup work along the completed park highways with the exception of approximately two miles on the west entrance road.” [11]