If the name Sinnott Memorial is mentioned, most park visitors and employees think at once of the excellent views of Crater Lake to be had from that point and of the art and photograph exhibits in the room behind the lookout platform. This, of course, is the reason for the existence of this observation post. It is there to enable all who visit Crater Lake to better appreciate its meaning — scientific, scenic, and aesthetic.
To the ranger naturalists who stand duty there, the lake and the wall around it are of continual interest. The lake is never the same. Even if it were, no single viewing of Crater Lake would impart complete understanding to the viewer.
Some of the questions that visitors ask at Sinnott Memorial are about the area just below and around this observation point. Many interesting and sometimes unusual observations of mammal and bird life have been made from Sinnott Memorial; for example, the viewing of swimming eagles on different occasions by Dr. George C. Ruhle (Farner, 1952) and Ranger Naturalist John Mees (1954). I have enjoyed watching some of the more usual antics and habits of the smaller mammals around Sinnott Memorial. Any one of the smaller animals in that vicinity can be an absorbing study in itself.
The golden-mantled ground squirrels are very much in evidence all during the day. I have often marveled at their lack of appreciation of the approximately 900-foot drop to the lake surface from Sinnott Memorial. I have seen them scamper along the stone wall at the edge of Sinnott Memorial and take a flying leap into midair. They invariably land on some small crag of rock along the steep outer wall. Then they will jump from one small outjutting to another until they reach the more level ground west of Sinnott Memorial.
They leap, too, from rock to rock along the slide area east of this observation post. Now and then one golden-mantled ground squirrel will chase another away from some source of food. In the process of rapid movement, he will dislodge a rock, and a rock slide begins. At the beginning of the summer season, streams from melting snow caused larger rocks to roll down this slope. When the snow disappears, minor erosion continues as ground squirrels and an occasional marmot dislodge smaller rocks from the slopes.
Like the ground squirrels, the marmots have no fear of the drop to the lake surface. They do not jump from rock to rock as do the squirrels, but scamper up the steep slide area east of Sinnott Memorial. They seem startled when their movements start the rolling of a rock downhill. Marmots are also agile in their movements on rocks. They often climb and lie upon rocks a hundred feet or so below Sinnott Memorial.
One of my rarer views of a marmot in action was obtained on the grassy slope just west of the walk leading down to Sinnott Memorial. Ranger Naturalist Edward Burnham first noticed a young marmot nibbling at the head of a sedge. The marmots along the rim usually avoid approaching humans. This one seemed an exception. He continued working his way up the slope, standing, grabbing stalks of sedge in his two front paws, and eating the seeds. Many visitors photographed this unusual sight as the marmot approached within two or three feet of the wall beside the walk.
To the interested observer, the slopes, slides, and rocks around Sinnott Memorial can provide surprising discoveries about the habits and ventures of golden-mantled ground squirrels, marmots, and other small mammals that live thereabouts.
Literature Cited
Farner, Donald S. 1952. The Birds of Crater Lake National Park.Lawrence, University of Kansas Press. xi, 187 pp.
Mees, John. 1954. Unusual eagle experiences. Nature Notes from Crater Lake 20:5-6.
“Teddy Bear Point” along the Garfield Peak Trail
From Kodachrome by Welles and Welles.
Chipmunk Sequel
In the last issue of this publication, I described the events which followed the “chipnapping” of a baby Allen’s chipmunk by a “villainous” Clark nutcracker at the eastern end of the Rim Campground (Burnham, Edward A. 1954. The nutcracker and the baby chipmunk. Nature Notes from Crater Lake 20:14-15). This chipmunk was picked up by the big bird, which tried to fly away with him and then dropped him. Mrs. William Loftis, wife of the Park Engineer, took over the upbringing of our little “orphan.”
The young chipmunk was released last fall by Mr. and Mrs. Loftis in an attempt to adjust him to his natural environment. According to Mrs. Loftis, they did not band or mark him in any way; however, they now have one Allen’s chipmunk which sits on the window sill of their home and seems less nervous and excited than most Allen’s chipmunks. He will even approach within a few feet of them for food. They are not certain that this is the same chipmunk, but since he is much tamer than the other chipmunks, they think he is perhaps the matured baby of last year.
A Wildflower Garden
By Edward A. Burnham, Ranger Naturalist
The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the bird for mirth;
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.— Frances Louise Gurney
There are many hidden gardens in the 250 square miles which comprise Crater Lake National Park. Most of these are for the more adventurous souls who enjoy out-of-the-way places.
But there is one wildflower garden, close to the road, which even the elderly or those to whom walking is a chore may visit with a minimum of effort.
 Eastern side of Castle Crest Wildflower Garden, looking southward. From Kodachrome by C. Warren Fairbanks |
Castle Crest Wildflower Garden may be found beside the Rim Drive, one-quarter mile eastward beyond the service station near Government Headquarters. At this point a large sign indicates the way to the wildflower garden, the path beginning near the parking area across the road.
A cold stream flows through the shady glen beneath the hemlocks and firs. The half-mile trail passes over a rustic bridge and through a nursery of young Shasta fir trees. Beyond, one may start the loop walk by either of two branching paths. One of the fascinating aspects of this wild garden is its inclusion of wet, mushy parts and dry, dusty sections. Each area has its characteristic variety of plant life, and one may give way to the other within a very few feet. Springs flow from many places on the slope to one side of the garden, forming wet areas where profuse growths of plants are found.
It has been my privilege, during the seasons of 1954 and 1955, to place identifying signs for many of the flowers and plants, not only in Castle Crest Wildflower Garden, but also along the trails to Garfield Peak, to Discovery Point, and to the lake. Often my wife and eight-year-old daughter come along as helpers. Here at Castle Crest, late in the afternoon, we have watched yellow-bellied marmots feeding peacefully among the rocks. Here, too, flit many tiny hummingbirds, sipping nectar from the wild flowers.
We have found peace in the quiet of early evening at Castle Crest Wildflower Garden. Perhaps you, too, may find here a sanctuary!
