Friends of
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK
Volume 10 No. 3 * Summer 2005
Volume 10 No. 3 * Summer 2005
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Friends of
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK
Volume 10 No. 3 * Summer 2005 |
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What: Installing "Danger" signs to remind visitors to be careful around the caldera Where: Sign placement is at the North and South Entrance Approaches to the Rim Drive... When: August 26, 27, 28, 2005 Sadly, the Founder's Day Quarter Event with Friend's participation wilted on the vine, but interestingly enough, the encounter with Mars will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. The next encounter with Mars may come this close is in 2287 and The Friends may not have a Project Weekend that same day!! When the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 am The 2005 Project Weekend is Friday through Sunday, August 26-28. This years projects are near the Rim Drive, so we are camping will be at Mazama Campground for convenience. Right now, the Friends Volunteer House 25 is still available. The Friends Project this year will be installing "Danger" signs to remind visitors to be careful around the caldera. At the suggestion for a Friends Project, the Friends donated the money for the construction of these signs and will place them. We will also replace a "Danger Bear" sign for Mazama Campground. The existing sign is very faded and does not mention the bear proof food lockers that we installed. Since we do not expect these signs to take all day, the park is also planning another project which will involve a short hike and a cleanup/rehab of a backcountry campsite. If Friends have any energy left, they can also hike The Annie Creek Trail which begins and ends at Mazama Campground and was last years and also the 1997 Project Weekend. The trail twists and turns down the steep walls of Annie Creek Canyon, then follows the creek and crosses it several times before again snaking its way up the canyon walls. Due to is proximity to the large Mazama Campground and the opportunity to visit one of the few places running water is available in Crater Lake National Park, this is a very popular trail. We will have campsites (free) at Mazama campground. We camp Friday and Saturday nights with dinner, Friends can bring their Saturday and Sunday breakfasts and something for lunches but we will also bring something for breakfast and lunches. The Friends house is also available on a first come, first serve basis. Friday afternoon and evening (August 26) is devoted to social pursuits. Saturday morning August 27 we will gather for work at 9:00 A.M., so Friends can drive to Crater Lake Saturday morning too. Don't worry about being late, there will be somebody at Mazama Campground to help you find the Friends. We work Saturday, clean up as best we can, have a Board Meeting, and spend the evening eating and visiting and watching for Martians. Perhaps we will listen to Art Bell. Sunday morning (August 28) we finish up any work left, and say our farewells in late morning Friends who drive out the Fort Klamath Entrance can help with the adopt a highway if interested. It will help to know who is coming so we can reserve campsites and plan our menus. Contact any of the board members or (George Buckingham) at foclnp@alwaysonnetworks.com or 541-783-3136 or send us a post card. Even Friends who do not let us know are welcomed with Friendly arms!!
The Friends had a successful noxious weed removal the weekend of July 23-24. Tom Dew and I met at Hamaker Campground Friday evening. Tom roughed it and ate at camp, but I took the opportunity to visit Union Creek and dined at Beckie's Cafe for their well know cheeseburger and huckleberry pie. Last time I visited Beckie's was when the Friends planted Mt. Mazama Collomia in 1999 (see the Fall 1999 Newsletter or http://www.drizzle.com/~rdpayne/foclnp-news-v4n4a.html#4 to refresh your memories of this event). Right on time, early Saturday morning, Crater Lake Botanist Wendy Coleman, two Friends who were volunteering at Crater Lake in July, and other (probably misled, but) willing volunteers from the park, arrived at Hamaker Campground. After a dusty drive on gravel roads and a 30 minute hike to Spruce Lake the work began. Surprising to me, Spruce Lake was nearly dry. The target weeds were mullein and thistle that were growing on the north shore of the lake. So, with many water breaks (the north shore was in the sun) and heavy leather gloves, we pulled and bagged 40 lawn bags of weeds. All was not toil however, Crater Lake's Park Historian Steve Mark gave us a history of the Spruce Lake area of Crater Lake National Park, and Park Ranger Mac Broc detailed the resources of the area. Wendy explained her strategy at controlling the noxious and invasive weeds at Crater Lake National Park. Friend Tom Dew was Forest Service Ranger at that part of the Rogue River National Forest and gave more background. Wendy and the two Friends joined Tom and I at Hamaker Campground Saturday night for a chicken bbq and a welcome cool evening among the giant Douglas Fir. We ran out of bags Saturday so the project was completed Sunday morning. We really and truly appreciate Wendy for arranging for the Youth Conservation Corps at Crater Lake to pack out the 40 bags of weeds.
Friends of CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK * 2005
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