***previous*** — ***next***
1985
January 1985 A new weather record is set for January with only 9 inches of snow being recorded. “It was truly a delightful winter month, almost like summer.”
Crater Lake freezes over during the month because of a combination between cold temperatures and the lack of storms. There seems to be more correlation between ice forming on the Lake because of the lack of wind than because of cold temperature. Any ice that has historically formed on the Lake is usually broken up by the wind before the total surface has a chance to freeze over.
Some claim the Lake totally iced over for a few days. When the first snow came, after the ice formed in January 90% for the Lake was confirmed to be frozen. After a few days of snowy weather, only 25% for the surface was iced over. The Lake initially froze because of the stillness of the water. The January temperatures were not unusually cold. The thin skim of ice melted back because of the new snow’s weight forced the ice down and water crept up over the ice and melted it.
January 8 1985 Ron Warfield, Chief of Park Interpretation, reports that the Lake has completely frozen over. R.J Michael of the Lodge Company disagreed. “Spotting the open water areas has been easier since Sunday night’s snowfall. Until Monday morning it was difficult to determine if the covering was skim ice. Now, however, obvious open areas can be seen around Wizard Island and elsewhere on the Lake.”
In March 2013 Ron Warfield, former Chief of Intepretation, writes in reference to some recent ice on the lake photos: Put some snow on top of the ice so those of us who saw such a scene in 1985 can be vindicated as having witnessed the surface of the Lake being frozen over. I was pooh-poohed then for claiming to have seen the Lake frozen over even though I showed photos of the event at the time. To assuage the doubters I claimed only a 99 percent ice cover on the pond. Not to add to controversy, but has anyone since Frank Betts walked out to
the island? To me, it would be prima facie evidence of a solid ice cover if someone were to do so. Perhaps you could contact those idiots who swam across the Lake to ask them to return to walk across the Lake. If then they broke through the ice they could leave some interesting crack patterns as evidence of their aborted attempt to be the first to walk from Cleetwood to Wizard Island and back without getting their feet wet. To me that would make a more compelling photograph than the beautiful shots you forwarded.
Cheers from the Desert?Ron Warfield
February 19 1985 The Park Service attempts to move the date of the Crater Lake Rim Run to September. Congressman Bob Smith intervenes with Interior Secretary Hodel and the date is reestablished on August 10th. In an editorial blasting the idea of moving the Rim Run, the Herald and News says, “The Park Service should look hard at a management system which allows arbitrary and unjustified decisions on such long-standing events.”
February 19 1985 The AP reports that the Park has installed a $30,000 satellite dish and cable system linking 26 homes and a giant screen T.V. in the Community Center. A preschool playroom with playground toys is set up on the second floor of the Community Building. Discussions continue about classifying Crater Lake as a hardship post.
April 1985 John Lund, 52, P.O. Box 2126, Klamath Falls, becomes the oldest person to ski around Crater Lake, unaided, in seven hours. (John Day had a snow mobile running ahead laying track for his group.)
May 1985 Marion Jack, a science teacher from Medford, “retires” after a record-setting 24 continuous summers as a road patrol ranger and supervisor. Marion also supplied the Park’s horse patrols for over 10 years. (See June 1962.)
Marion Lee Jack, 78, of Talent, Ore., died March 6, 2013, in Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford, Ore. Marion was born Aug. 11, 1934, in Fremont, Neb. He taught science at McLoughlin Junior High School from 1959 to 1990 and for two years taught social studies at Medford Mid High School. He was considered an outstanding educator in the Medford School District.
During his teaching career, Marion earned awards for outstanding contributions to science education and also served the education community as an assistant coach in football and head coach in wrestling.
From 1962 to 1985, he worked summers as a U.S. Park Ranger at Crater Lake National Park, eventually serving as seasonal law enforcement supervisor. (Obit – MMT)
Summer 1985 Construction begins on a new parking lot and Lake viewpoint center at the North Junction. The 18- foot, 1934 vintage North Junction road is widened to 28 feet. The new Rim parking lot will cover 1/3 of an acre and hold 30 cars. The North Entrance Station is moved 0.8 miles north of it’s present to better line up with the 1980 boundary addition. Solar collectors are installed on the roof of the station to generation electricity for the station’s radios.
July or August 1985 First-year seasonal LE ranger, Jan Karwan, while on night patrol, spots a small “bonfire” in the old Rim Campground. Ranger Jan drives within about 30 yards of the fire where she observes several people moving around the fire. Jan calls for a backup and then proceeds to walk in the direction of the fire up a small rise. After looking down at her feet to make sure of her footing, Ranger Jan looks up and the fire, along with the people, have disappeared. No evidence of any fire was found.
June 23 1985 Twelve year-old Deanna Jack, of Klamath Falls, falls into the Rogue River at Natural Bridge near Union Creek and survives with only minor injuries after being sucked through the quarter mile lava tube.
A 12-year old Klamath Falls girl survived being swept through the Rogue River’s 225 foot-long lava tube known as the Natural Bridge. Deanna Jack fell into the river above the volcanic formation late Sunday while visiting the site with her family. She disappeared as the river went underground and later came out downstream. Before deputies could reach the site, the girl’s family had taken her to Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford. The girl was in good condition after the ordeal and was released after being checked out. The first time this has happened and the person has survived. Two people drowned in the Natural Bridge area last year and their bodies were never found. (Eugene RG)
June 1985 A clogged sewer line near Park Headquarters spill sewage into Annie Creek. People living along Annie Creek are warned to boil their water. (Oh no, not 1975 all over again!)
July 1985 Boat passenger and Wizard Island hiker, David Kenney, misses the boat. When informed of her husband’s non appearance, the NPS told her that was impossible because of the careful accounting of each passenger getting off and on the island. She insists that he was back on the island. Sure enough, the next morning he was patiently waiting on the dock for the first boat. (541-891-7365)
July 17 1985 The Portland architectural firm of BOOR-A heads up a team of structural, electrical and mechanical engineers to determine if the 75-year-old Crater Lake Lodge is worth saving. This $144,000 study will “be the final and definitive study that will help determine the Lodge’s fate.“ Congressman Jim Weaver says that all previous studies contained errors and biases and that the previous studies called for turning the Lodge into a building with “contemporary standards”. The new study will redefine “rustic standards”.
August 1985 John Salinas, Lake researcher, finds that the Lake clarity has returned to 40 meters, almost equaling the 1969 record of 44 meters. Speculation continues as to why the Lake has clarity cycles. The nutrient rich spring flowing from an old sewer leach field beneath Rim Village remains suspect.
August 3 1985 Ranger John Salinas discovers human ashes “not 20 feet from the Mt. Scott Trail, on saddle”. The plastic bag was removed. The label was posted into the Mt. Scott Lookout Log Book. “Cheri Mari Peterson, age 32, Place of death: El Centro, CA. Date of cremation: July 22, 1982. Mortician: Hems Brothers Mortuary, Frye Chapel and Mortuary Crematory, Brawley, CA 92227
August 10 1985 The 10th Annual Crater Lake Rim Run is conducted under the watchful eye of a 7 member Rim Run observation team charged with the job of assessing the run’s impact on the Park. 310 runners participate.
6.7 miles
Kenny White of Medford, Oregon 33.50
Connie Reints of Bend, Oregon 42.35
13.0 miles
Dave Trooesch 1:21.53
Sidney Morrison 1:32.53
26.2 miles
Toby Skinner 2:45.15
Virginia Falkowski 3:19.11
(breaking the previous record of 3:28.26)
August 10 1985 Lee Juillerat and Ed Otterson, both of Klamath Falls, complete their 10th straight year of running the Rim Run. Portlander Ray Langston, 50, placing number 51, completes his 51st marathon in one year. Ray expects to run 58 marathons this year, with two days to spare. This will set a new running record. The Rim Run’s first wheel chair contestant, a woman, “wheeled” the 6.7-mile section, finishing number 48.
August 17 1985 Secretary of the Interior, Donald Hodel, flies by helicopter to view the two controversial geothermal energy test drilling sites located on the east boundary of the Park. In a press conference, the secretary said he did not know whether a geothermal power plant could be compatible with the Park. “I’m confident that no activities will occur that will jeopardize the Park. “ The secretary also visits the old Lodge. The NPS has been forced to rethink plans to abandon the 75 year-old structure because of public outcry. Hodel said that he would prefer saving the building. “These kind of buildings have a place in the hearts of the people who visit the parks.”
August 17 1985 A helicopter flies roof trusses to Wizard Island for a new research boathouse. Because of volunteer help, the cost is held to $35,000. Thirty-five men from the Medford Navy Seabee unit and a team of Student Conservation Association volunteers contribute over 2,000 hours of work worth $33,000. The new boathouse will allow year-round Lake study and will include an emergency Lake shelter. Concern is still expressed about the loss of the Lake’s clarity.
September 1985 The North Entrance Road is closed to all traffic to allow time for the road contractor to finish widening and repaving the road before the winter snowstorms set in.
Fall 1985 The Department of Energy reports that air visibility at Crater Lake Park is impaired by man-made smoke and dust for an average of about 4% of the time, during daylight hours, as compared with the Northern Cascades visibility being impaired up to 15 percent of the time.
Fall 1985 The latest Lodge study reports that the renovation of the Lodge up to even “rustic” standards, keeping the same room sizes, etc., would cost $5.2 million. If the Lodge were brought up to modern standards, with larger rooms, the cost would be around $8.6 million.
October 1985 Mail Tribune editorial writer, Richard Sept is invited to observe the annual Rim Run. He writes, “ I found the run was well organized and remarkable tidy. The road closures did not appear to cause problems. The run brings people into the park who appreciate its beauty and respect it special qualities. These runners might be generally deranged, but they are a most pleasant and sociable bunch. The 310 runners did not interfere with normal usage; they didn’t impair park services or pose any safety problems. They rather peacefully covered the formidable course, and they cleaned up carefully. Those who encountered them discovered courteous people who enjoy blue skies, clean air and nature’s beauty. The park should be lucky if all its visitors behaved as well.’
Season 1985 Visibility at Crater Lake Park is impaired by man-made smoke and dust an average of about 4 percent of the time during daylight hours, according to a recent study by the state Department of Environmental Quality.
Season 1985 Scientists calculate the rate of water seepage by observing how much the lake dropped when it was briefly covered by a layer of skim ice, preventing evaporation, at more than 2 millon gallons every hour! (CL Reflection, Summer 2017)
December 1985 A winter poem by Charles Davis, Crater Lake Lodge Manager
I’ve decided to send you a poem that I wrote in 1985 and sent to the Crater Lake Lodge employees in their Christmas cards….
Winter Comes to the Crater Lake Lodge
Freezing winds
pound shuttered views,
and creaking walls
in eerie rooms,
the iceman sings
the blizzard’s tune.
The forest sleeps
with hidden dreams,
on snowy nights
that devour light,
that turn inward
…sight.
In the morning
drifts are deep,
snowplows rumble,
blades attumble,
an early skier
starts to grumble.
“The road is clear!
Come up to the rim!
The sky is blue,
the lake is, too,
and the view?
…INCREDIBLE!”
Season 1985 Visitation: 427,927 (Online says: 390,604)
***previous*** — ***next***
***menu***
