Crater Lake Special Events Log

The Smith Brothers' Chronological History of Crater Lake National Park

1997

For the first time in seven years, Rangers conduct winter lake research by conducting water quality research from their base station on Wizard Island. The Park had stopped the winter sampling excursions in 1990 because the research boat was no longer safe, but now they have a new boat.

January 18, 1997

A Milwaukee, Oregon woman is killed when the snow mobile she is operating strikes a tree on the North Road between the North Entrance Station and Highway 138. Mary Stewart Lanz, age 62, was at the Park with members of her family. The Oregon State Police initially investigated the accident. The Park Service was not alerted until several hours after the accident. Another snow mobile accident occurred about an hour later within a mile of the first accident. One person was seriously injured. Because of heavy rains, the snowpack was extremely icy.

February 4, 1997

The Mail Tribune quotes a Medford pilot who reported seeing "three strange lights" near Crater Lake. The pilot was flying a small plane from Bend to Medford when he spotted in the UFO's. He said he also saw several military jets pursuing the strange lights. A loud sonic boom rattled windows and set off car alarms up and down Western Oregon the evening of the 4th. Was it a meteor, or an explosion, sonic boom or a visitor from another world?

A report in Oregon Business Magazine places Crater Lake National Park 4th in state visitation after the Oregon Coast Aquarium (1.3m), Bonneville Dam (1.1m), Portland Zoo (1.1m), CLNP (0.5m)

Mark Buktenica, Crater Lake aquatic ecologist, announces a new clarity record using a Secchi disk of 43.3 meters , 142 feet. This is the clearest the Lake has been since the first measurement in 1896. Most lakes only measures 16 feet. Some of the factors for the rising clarity could possibly be: a cyclical decline in the fish population, less plant plankton in the water, the fact that the Lake is cold for its entire depth, and the Lake rose 4 feet this past winter. (See August 5, 1969 where Dr. Doug Larson claims a world clarity record of 45.0 meters)

Quoting Chief Ranger George Buckingham, the Mail Tribune reports that so far the public has excepted the doubling of the entrance fees at most National Park's and Park areas. "They are OK with the fee as long as it stayed at Crater Lake. Crater Lake will undertake 18 improvement projects with the revenue, including the restoration of the Watchman Fire Lookout, plant new vegetation and replacethe ugliest entrance signs known to mankind. The key is to replace and improve things people can hear feel, see, and touch". 80% of every entrance dollar is kept by the Park.

A German Park Visitor's ribs are fractured as he slides down snowy Watchman Peak and tumbles into a rock outcrop. Stephan Weiss, 38, is flown by helicopter to Providence Hospital in Medford. Weiss slips in and out of consciousness as he waited for the airlift.

Boat tours are halted at the Cleetwood Cove due to a fuels spill. Some fuel spilled onto the ground, but there was no indication of any fuel entering the Lake. Shut down for 5 days.

August 31, 1997

Inspired by Al Smith's (Lodge House Boy) 1939 trek around Crater Lake, Larry Smith hikes around Crater Lake in 14 hours. (See Al Smith, Summer, 1939)

September 18, 1997

Rim Village is placed on the National register of Historic Places. Countributing structures include: Sinnott Memorial, Kiser Studio (VC), Lodge, two comfort stations (on the plaza and in back of the cafeteria), Community House (Rim Center) and the promenade stone wall. If and when the cafeteria building is returned to its ca. 1928 -- 1941 configuration, it then maybe included in the listing.

October 31, 1997

The 30 year concession contract with Crater Lake Lodge expires. Yearly "Letters of Agreement" will be issued until the Park's Master Plan and Environmental Impact Statement is finalized.

Travel pattern studies have shown that less than 5% of the Park's visitors stay 2 or more nights.

November 16, 1997

Howard Arant, 85, dies in Medford. Arant, the grandson V. F. Arant, the first superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, was born in Ashland, Oregon on March 24, 1912. His mother, Maude Boothby, was born in Prospect, Oregon, the daughter of the builder of the Prospect Hotel.

November 21, 1997

Three teens, all from the Grants Pass area, become lost after an afternoon of snowboarding in the Denton Creek area. The group wanders for most of the night in knee-deep snow. After walking for miles two of the group are too exhausted to go on. One boy decides to continue walking. About midnight he spots the light from the Annie Springs Entrance Station and calls for help. An NPS rescue team follow the boy's tracks to find the other two borders about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

December 10, 1997

New draft coffee of the Visitors Services Plan is released to the public. The plan calls for changing traffic circulation at Rim Village. A new visitor center will be built on the site of the existing parking lot, to be surrounded by a new pedestrian promenade. The Cafeteria building will be reduced to its original size, but the other remaining historic structures (Sinnot, Kiser, Community House, and two comort stations) will been restored and retained. The main parking lot will be removed to behind the smaller Cafeteria building. The goal is to recreate the design landscape that was originally put in during the 1930's. "Instead of what you see their now, with the vehicles, and pedestrians trying to dodge the vehicles, he'll have a leisurely, pedestrian friendly environment." (J. Miele) Services at Mazama, will be expanded. The Cleetwood Trail and dock area will be re-built with permanent facilities both on top and down at the water. The number of daily tours will be reduced from 9 to 7. The estimated price to it is $15 million, with $10 million in Federal money.

December 12, 1997

MT editorial concerning the new development plan: the... plan to move development off the Crater Lake Rim and return Rim Village to a more natural 1930's look is a good idea that has been along time coming. It's a nice counterpoint to... "Pave paradise and put up a parking lot." Does this plan really spring from the National Park Service that is only a few years ago was proposing more development right on the Rim? The answer is" yes," and that's good for the park environment, for the critters to live there and for the humans who visit there. It will be much easier to appreciate and contemplate this natural wonder if it's a genuine outdoor experience and not a tour of a big and dangerous parking lot.

The Crater Lake entrance fee is raised to $10 per carload. Eighty percent of any increase in fees will be kept at the parks. Crater Lake presently raises about $500,000 in fees annually. It is estimated that $240,000 will be kept in the Park for maintenance and improvements. Most National Parks are doubling or trippling there fees, including traditionally "free" parks.

Visitation: 501,000 Operations budget: $34 million

(Next stop 1998)

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