THE FRIENDS AUGUST 2005 PROJECT WEEKEND
By Branden Marlow
Friends of Crater Lake

Hello - I'm Branden Marlow, a Park Pal of the FOCLNP. I attended my first work weekend project back in 2001 when I was eight with my grandpa. I worked on Crater Peak Trail rehabilitation spreading various types of seed along the trail's edge and helped open the new trailhead. I also helped install picnic tables in the Vidae Falls picnic area, the start of the Crater Peak Trail.

Friend Branden watched the highway traffic at the sign replacement project.

Over the next four years I adopted Crater Peak Trail as part of the adopt a trail program, installed bear food boxes at Lost Creek campground, worked on the foot bridge replacement on Annie Creek, and the replacement of safety-cliff warning signs. I remember working with Dave, Cheri, Jennifer, and Linda Sue of the park staff and the many friends who took and interest in me, talked with me, and helped me with the projects.

On the Lost Creek project while working with Dave, I introduced him to the world of Pokemon. At day's end he probably heard more about Pokemon than he ever wanted to know. Thanks Dave for listening.

I enjoy coming to the park to work on these projects, camp, play, and enjoy the scenery. Nothing like a cup of hot chocolate and a warm cinnamon roll prepared by Greg Reddell on a cold morning, especially trying to eat the roll before a bird snatches it out of my hand. Playing around the evening campfire and toasting marshmallows is lots of fun. I get quite dirty which requires many changes of clothing over the weekend -- really, a lot.

The Friends at the troublesome sign on the North Entrance Road at the end of a long project day.

I'm now 12 and in the 7th grade at Mcloughlin middle school in Medford. I can read 218 words a minute and do 9th grade Algebra. I really enjoy going to the work weekends. It helps to get out of the city every once and a while to go up there and help with the projects. The cold clean air also helps a lot. Spending 2 or 3 days in the park is really important to me. I think I make a difference and it is nice to go up there and give some of my time to Oregon's only National Park.

I'm looking forward to attending the 2006-work weekend. Sure would be nice if other Park Pals could come to the park and help the friends on the project weekend and visit with me. We'll work and have some great fun.

Branden Marlow
Friend of Crater Lake

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