May 29
The Medford Mail Tribune reports that Superintendent Jim Rouse has squelched rumors that Crater Lake has heated up and killed the fish. Many people are calling.
June
Sierra Club officials express concern about proposed geothermal drilling near the eastern boundary of the Park. California Energy Company has filed for permission to drill nine test holes down to 4,000 feet. The exploratory holes would be 8 inches at the surface, narrowing to 2.5 inches at the bottom.
The name of Forgotten Crater, between Hillman and the Watchman, is officially changed to Williams Crater, by the Oregon Geographic Names Board in memory of geologist Howell Williams. The name change was first suggest by Dr. Charles Bacon, U.S.G.S. geologist.
The Park institutes a major P.R. campaign to encourage donations of people, money or equipment.
Seasonal Ranger Larry Smith sets a new Park record by moving into his 14th residence, since 1962, which have included trailers, dorms, cabins and the Stone Houses.
A team of historical architects and engineers survey the Park’s historic building. A plan is to be formulated on how best to use and preserve the grand old buildings.
June 24
NPS Director Russell Dickerson states that all development should be removed from Rim Village except for an interpretive center in the Cafeteria Building and further states that continued use of the Crater Lake Lodge contradicts NPS policy to remove all non resource- related facilities from prime resource areas.
Summer
A contract worth $102,665 is awarded to Baker Construction of Klamath Falls for the replacement of the comfort stations down at Cleetwood Cove. The new solar powered potties are expected to require less maintenance.
Sharon Hackerott, 21, of Ashland, Oregon becomes the Lodge Company’s first female boat driver.
June 1
The Park’s procurement division discovers over $500 worth of Lost & Found property, including cameras and watches, missing from the L&F storeroom.
June 20
Harry Lee “Hawk” McGinnis of Dallas, Texas arrives in the Park eying a new Guiness Record. Hawk plans to be the first person to have walked in all 50 states during one single trip. McGinnis, 57, a retired minister, plans to complete the trip by his 60th birthday. He has completed 10 states so far and plans to write two books about his travels.
July
Park officials become very concerned about the proposed geothermal drilling along the east park boundary. “In 1,000 years Crater Lake will be one of the true benchmarks of untouched land. We have a responsibility to protect that”, says Superintendent Bob Benton. Resource Management Specialist Jan Jarvis says, “We are not an island in the middle of an ocean. Things that go on around us have an effect on us.”
July 5
A new Boston Whaler boat and a new aluminum research boat (The Queen III), worth collectively $24,000, are airlifted into the Lake from the Cafeteria parking lot. Several loads of fire wood are also delivered to Mt. Scott and the Watchman fire lookouts. The total job took 3 hours at a cost of $1,000 per hour.
July 12
A vehicle flips and rolls 150 down an embankment, below Rim Village, slightly injuring a female Lodge employee.
July 16
John Hillman, 62, of Walnut Grove, MS, collapses and dies of Acute Posterior Myocardial Infraction while attempting to climb Cleetwood Cove Trail. An attempt to evacuate the victim by helicopter fails because CPR could not be administered in the confines of the cabin. Evacuation was instead by the concession’s trail tractor.
July 27
The Lodge reports a theft of $116 in tips from the Watchman Lounge.
August
Eleven year-old Amber Smith accidentally takes the west side of Munson Ridge instead of the east side as she walks from Rim Village to Headquarters. Four hours later, after chasing butterflies and wondering why the trip was taking so long, Amber finds herself walking west on the West Entrance road, thinking she is still above Headquarters. Finally realizing she is lost and not sure of where she is, a visitor stops after seeing Amber crying and offers her a ride back to Headquarters.
August
Lightning strikes a clump of three Mountain Hemlocks alongside the Cafeteria Building in Rim Village. Since the day was a warm and cloudless day, the lightning literally “came out of the blue”. Hot, twisted and split wood fragments were scattered around a large area.
August 1
The NPS announces that the “historic but dilapidated” Lodge is to be closed and demolished. The decision is part of a plan to remove all major development from the Rim to near the Park entrance. “The 68 year old lodge is so poorly built and so badly deteriorated that it cannot be rehabilitated for use as an overnight lodge. The structure will be razed only after it has further deteriorated.” All accommodations, roads and parking lots are to be rebuilt in Munson Valley at a cost of $5 million.
Opposition grows against the planned destruction of a “much loved” building.
August 2
The Klamath Falls Herald and News reports that the excessive camping fee of $8 plus for a family per night has been keeping people out of Mazama Campground. Superintendent Benton requests the Lodge Company to reduce the rate to a flat $6 per night.
August 3
Superintendent Benton declares Crater Lake is the “toughest park” in which to live. “We need to do everything we can to alleviate the negatives of living at Crater Lake. When Klamath Falls and Medford have turned to Spring, the mere fact that you can look out and know it is Spring everywhere but at Crater Lake is very stressful.” (K.F. H&N)
Superintendent Benton question the appropriateness of the Crater Lake Rim “I’m bothered by the disruption of normal visitation. There is a lot of internal controversy within the park as to its legality. You are closing the park specifically for a special interest group.” (H&N)
