- 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."
95% of Crater Lake freezes over during the month because of a combination of cold temperatures and the lack of storms. There seems to be more of a reason for ice forming on the Lake because of the lack of wind than because of the cold temperature. Any ice that had 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% of the Lake was confirmed to be frozen. After a few days of snow a weather, only 25% of the surface of 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 the new snow's weight forced the ice down and the water crept up over the ice and melted it.
- January 8, 1985
- Ron Warfield, Chief of Park Interpretation, reports to the Lake is 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."
- 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 re-established 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 and the management system which allows arbitrary and unjustified decision 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 TV in the Community Center. A preschool play room 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 snowmobile running ahead laying track for his group.)
- May 1985
- Marion Jack, science teacher from Medford, "retires" after a record setting 24 continuous summers as a road patrol ranger and supervisor. Marion has also supplied the Park's horse patrol for over 10 years.
- 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 one-third of an acre and hold 30 cars. The North Entrance Station is moved 0.8 miles north of its present to better lineup with the 1980 boundary addition. Solar collectors are installed on the roof of the station to generate electricity to the station's radios.
- June 1985
- Twelve year-old Dana Jack, of Klamath Falls, falls into the Rogue River and Natural Bridge near Union Creek and survives with only minor injuries after being sucked through the quarter mile lava tube.
A clogged sewer line near Park Headquarters bills sewage into Annie Creek. People living along any Creek are warned to boil their water. )Oh no, not another 1975 all over again!)
- 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 "be the final and definitive study that will help determine the Lodge is 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 refine redefine "rustic standards".
- August 1985
- John Salinas, Lake researcher, finds that Lake clarity has returned to 40 meters almost equalling 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 Mt. Scott Trail, on saddle". The plastic bag was removed. The label was posted in to 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 a watchful eye of a seven 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
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26.2 miles Toby Skinner 2:45.15
- Virginia Falkowski 3:19.11
-
(breaking of previous record 3:28.26)
- August 10, 1985
- Lee Juillerat and Ed Otterson, both Klamath Falls, complete their 10th straight year running in the Rim Run. Portlander Ray Langston, 50, places number 51, complete is 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 wheelchair contested, a woman, "wheeled" the 6.7 mile section, finishing number 48.
Obvious to 17, 1985
- Secretary of the Interior, Donald Hodel, flies by helicopter to view the two controversial geothermal energy test drilling sites located on eastern boundary of the Park. In a press conference, the Secretary said that he did not know whether the geothermal plan 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 eliminate the 75 year-old structure because of public outcry. Hodel said that he would prefer saving the building. "These kinds of buildings have a place in the hearts of the people who visit the parks."
- August 17 1985
- A helicopter flies of roof trusses to Wizard Island for a new research boat house. Because of volunteer help, the cost is held down to $35,000. Thirty-five men from the Medford Navy Seabee unit and the team of Student Conservation Association volunteers contribute over 2,000 hours of work for worth $33,000. The new boat house will allow year-round Lake study and will include an emergency Lake shelter. Concern is 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 storms set in.
- Fall 1985
- The Department of Energy reports that air visibility at Crater Lake Park is impaired by man-made smoke in dust for an average of about 4% of the time, during daylight hours, as compared with the Northern Cascades visibility being impared up to 15 percent of the time.
The latest lives study reports to the renovation of the Lodge even up to "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.
The Cold Water Cabins and the "fancier" Ponderosa four plex cabins located just below and behind the cafeteria are torn down and burned.
- October 1985
- Mail Tribune editorial writer, Richard Sept is invited to observe the annual Rim Run. He writes, " I found the run was well orgainzed and remarkable tidy. The road closures did not apperar to cause problems. The run brings people into the park who appreciate its beauty and respect its special qualities. These runners might generally be 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 in nature's beauty. The Park should be lucky if all its visitors behave as well."
- Season 1985
- Visibility Crater Lake is impaired by man-made smoke and
dust in average of about 4 percent of the time during daylight hours,
according to a recent study of the State Department of Environmental
Quality.
Season 1985 Visitation:427,927
(Next stop 1986)