June
Massive search conducted for two teenage boys who become lost while playing on a snowfield below just below Rim Village. The boys confuse their directions end up walking 20 miles West to highway 230 where they were picked up by a trucker and are fed their first food for the day at Beckies in Union Creek. The boys said they were following their Boy Scout training which says to “head down hill when lost.”
June 15
Two floating Styrofoam docks are airlifted by helicopter from Discovery Point to Cleetwood. The foam floats ended up bouncing so badly, the docks are unsafe to use. Compounding the problem was the ripping off of huge hunks of Styrofoam every time the docks struck a rock. (Styrofoam was seen floating in the Lake for years.) One dock was destroyed in a storm and other one served for a time as an unstable fueling dock.
June 18
A 1600 acre prescribed burn is set, extending from Sharp Peak to the northeast corner of the Park.
June 23
The Oregon Court of Appeals is asked by former Crater Lake Lodge owner, Ralph Peyton, to set aside the $15,000 in punitive damages formerly awarded to Janice Joachim in 1978. Her lawyer accused Peyton and other officials of a “massive cover up”. The lawyer said there is evidence that most of the Lodge staff was sick by June 30, and that Peyton allowed sick employees to serve food and that he did not notify authorities of their gastrointestinal illnesses.
July
Ten year-old Brian Smith runs up Cleetwood Cove Lake Trail, with a pack on his back, in 12 minutes.
“A Crater Lake Boy”, written by his father: I find myself reliving again and again that look of pure joy on Brian’s face as I climbed off the Crater Lake Tour Boat. Brian was waiting at the dock expectantly. “Dad, I caught a fish!” he announced in front of everyone. His first one! All on his own!
What was the strange inner desire that drove this ten year-old son of mine to ride his little one-speed bike fourteen miles around West Rim Drive at 5:30 a.m. so he could fish in Crater Lake? Perhaps it was the ovation Brian received from that early morning boat load of park visitors after the attending Ranger announced how Brian had arrived at the Lake shore that morning. Perhaps it was the special award she give Brian that morning as the boat pulled away from the dock. Never-the-less, Brian’s enthusiasm for fishing has continued, even on the days when he goes fishless. There is certainly something mystical about spending hour after hour keeping a fishing line wet when nothing noticeable is happening. Success doesn’t come easy to a 10 year-old fisherman, but there is always hope.
Brian has spent 8 years of his short life exploring the meadows and trails of Crater Lake National Park. First it was the frogs of Munson Creek that attracted his attention. Now, as he as grown older, he finds added joy in locating a new waterfall or perhaps discovering what is over the next mountain ridge. Observing the moving waters of Munson Creek or watching the splash of water on wet stones continue to have a special fascination.
Now that Munson Valley has been explored from ridge to ridge, Brian’s desire for further exploration has expanded. Christmas backpacking equipment has remained in the closet too long. Red Cone Springs and Boundary Springs are shouting out to be explored. Soon it will be Tututni Pass and Stewart Falls. The joy of reaching the day’s desired destination creates a special satisfaction. Perhaps this specialness comes from being away from his pesky sister, or maybe just being with his dad.
Millions of visitors have enjoyed Crater Lake and its environs, but no one more so than this son of mine. Each day brings special plans to enjoy this spectacular place. Perhaps one of these years Brian will realize how fortunate he really was being raised in a national park and that he was truly a favored person. “Dad, aren’t you glad that I enjoy doing things like this, so that you can enjoy places like this?”
July 7
Thirty-five year old ultra-marathoner (100 miles), Warren Finks of 6917 S.W. 33rd Street, Portland, Oregon, runs the Cleetwood Lake Trail twice in 38 minutes, including a drink from the Lake.
July 18
Jonel Jack and John Todd marry in the Rim Center.
July 20
Domesticated sheep found grazing inside the Rim at Steel Bay. Two carcass are later found on the East Rim.
July 22
Mrs. Stanley Service, sister-in-law of famous Alaskan poet, Robert Service (“Cremation of Sam Magee, etc.) visits the Park.
July 28
National Geographic editor, John Eliot, visits Crater Lake while doing research for a future article on the 75th anniversary of Teddy Roosevelt’s legacy of establishing National Parks. Eliot hikes several trials and takes a boat ride.
August 8
Rudy Luech, box 333, Springdale, Utah, 84767, a former ranger at Crater Lake from June 16, 1929 until June, 1936, visits the Park. Luech was with Chief Ranger Godfrey when he died in a snowstorm on the South Road in 1930.
August 9
Fifth Annual Rim Run Winners:
Men: 6.7 Pat Fox Beaverton, Oregon 34.42
13.0 Dave Collins San Francisco, California 1:20.11
26.2 Al Glidden Klamath Falls, Oregon 2:44.12
Women 6.2 Kris Haeckeer Grants Pass, Oregon 43.35
13.0 Shirley Sandrowski Chico, California 1:51.48
26.2 Jeanne Ottoman Klamath Falls, Oregon 3:30.29
Nearly 500 runners participated on a very warm race day.
