August 3
Verbal threat of rape reported by YCC enrollee while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.
Seasonal Ranger, Phil Hixson rides the first horse over 5 miles of the new PCT Trail near the South Park boundary.
August 8
Arrest of James MacGregor for the burglary of $30 from a cold water cabin and for larceny of a car for $225.
August 9
Six inches of snow closes the Rim Drive for two days.
August 13
Large landslide scars the face of Cloudcap and “Chief Red Cloud’s” face.
August 15
Eight inches of snow closes the Rim Drive for three more days.
Summer
The YCC (Youth Conservation Corps) becomes the direct responsibility of the Park Service, rather than being handled on a contract basis.
Major rerouting of Pacific Crest Trial at Pumice Desert. The trail was moved east into the trees so as to cut down on plant damage in the desert and to line up with a rerouting of the trail around Mt. Thielsen.
Chief Ranger Sholly establishes physical standards and testing for all employees.
24 hour operations are moved from the Headquarters building to the Annie Spring Entrance Station.
Seasonal Ranger Phil Hixson’s only arrest when he takes in an 18 year-old man for trying to sell marijuana to a younger person in the Headquarter’s comfort station.
Horse patrols begin for paroling the back country and Rim Village.
The old Stone Pump House at Munson Springs is torn down.
Summer
Filming continues on the Park’s new film, “The Crater Lake Story”, written and directed by award winning filmmaker, Kevin Peer.
September
Seasonal Ranger John White runs from Park Headquarters through Rim Village, to the top of Garfield Peak and back again to Headquarters without stopping.
September 2
$300 worth of vandalism done to a MG convertible top.
September 4
Rescue of two hikers from below the Watchman. The hikers had been attempting to reach the Lake.
September 5
A Jacksonville man claims that he was offered $1,000 to go over the Rim Wall and retrieve a wallet containing $2,000 that had dropped from the owner’s coat as he leaned over the parapet to look at the Lake.
September 6 – 7
NPS Director, Gary Everhart and Deputy NPS Director visit Crater Lake. Director Everhart holds a press conference to discuss President Ford’s announcement of a $1.5 billion proposal for additions to and up-gradings of the country’s National Parks.
September 10
Brian Thomas, 26, a Viet Nam veteran suffering from a severe case of post battle shock, arrives at Crater Lake, along with his wife, hoping that the peaceful, mountain surroundings will calm his troubled spirit. Brian had been threatening suicide while battling bouts of depression. Thomas spent much of the night, sitting in the Lodge lobby, wrapped in a sheet, talking and praying. Mrs. Thomas keeps an all night vigil, hoping to be able to intervene in case her husband becomes violent or dangerous to himself.
September 11
At about 8:00 a.m. Brian Thomas suddenly jumps up, announcing that he is going to kill himself, and runs out of the Lodge. Mrs. Thomas screams for help, and is quickly joined in the chase by the boat crew and several other Lodge employees. Thomas leads his pursuers along the Rim Promenade toward the Visitor Center and the Sinnott Overlook. Running down the long stone stairway, with the boat crew yelling for him to stop, Thomas, without missing a step, jumps to his death from the curving parapet of the entrance walkway in full view of Ranger Linda Appanaitis and a group of Park visitors.
