Crater Lake |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2025. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Thursday, August 28, 1986 Location: Lodge Parking Lot Summary: There was a structure fire alarm at the hotel at midnight and the building was evacuated. Mr. Z. was among them, and is reputedly a sculptor of some renown. He had a heart attack at 1 a.m.; rangers attempted to save him via CPR, but without luck. Mr. Z. had a heart problem and had made arrangements for oxygen and medical help, but not implemented because he was out of hospital.
Location: Crater Rim M. and K.R. signed out for a 30-mile cross-country skiing trip around the crater's rim on the afternoon of the 22nd, and said they would be back by 6 pm on the 24th. They failed to return at that time, but the park waited 24 hours before beginning a search because a day's delay is not uncommon when there are many skiiers using the trail. Preparations for a search began on the evening of the 25th, and about 65 people from the park and Klamath and Jackson Counties began a large-scale search for the couple on the morning of the 26th. The search area spread on the 27th, and 90% of the park's trails were covered. Snow and high winds precluded the use of a helicopter during the first two days of the search, but the park hoped to get one in the air yesterday. Dog teams have also been brought in. No trace has yet been found of the couple.
Location: Near park boundary The search for M. and K.R. which was reported yesterday has been successfully concluded. The two skiers were found by a helicopter crew late Monday near the park boundary, about two miles from the nearest park trail. They were hungry but uninjured. They had become lost in white-out conditions several days ago, and had dropped below the rim to escape the 30- 50 mph winds that were blowing there. They attempted to follow a lower contour around the rim, but became lost. The region reports that there was excellent inter-agency cooperation on the search, and that the skiers took all the right actions during the period that they were lost.
Location: Wizard Island Unexpected high winds and 4' to 6' white caps stranded 46 tour boat passengers on Wizard Island on Tuesday. At approximately 2:00 pm, the decision was made to suspend boat tours for the remainder of the day and to wait until winds lessened before attempting to cross the lake back to Cleetwood Cove. The passengers took refuge from the cold winds in the park research boathouse at about 5:00 pm. By 8:00 pm, winds had lessened slightly, and the decision was made to effect a rescue while daylight remained. Park rangers in a Boston Whaler research boat and an experienced boat driver in another tour boat made the five mile trip, into the wind, across Crater Lake to Wizard Island, bringing food and water for the visitors. They arrived at Wizard Island at 9:40 pm, loaded up the stranded passengers, and left for Cleetwood Cove at 10:00 pm. A woman with an injured ankle was transported via the research boat to Cleetwood Cove and then up the mile long trail via trail tractor. The remainder of the passengers arrived at the shore at 10:35 pm and were provided with flashlights and escorted up the trail by rangers. By 11:15 pm, all boats were moored and all parties had arrived on shore. By 12:30 am on the 13th, all parties had reached the top of Cleetwood trail and began returning to their homes. Twelve people, including one family of six, were housed in the Park Community Building for the remainder of the night.
On October 12th, federal charges were filed against eight men accused of poaching deer inside the park. All eight were caught more than a mile inside the park's boundaries. Four of the men were charged with felony poaching, a charge that could bring a five-year prison term, a $20,000 fine and forfeiture of any vehicles and weapons employed in the incident. The remaining four men were charged with misdemeanor poaching. (Doug Raeburn, CR, CRLA, via UPI news report).
On the afternoon of November 5th, a park ranger observed two men and a woman walking towards their parked vehicle in the Rim Village area. It appeared from a distance that at least one of the three had an open container of alcohol, but the trio entered their vehicle and departed before the ranger could contact them. The ranger followed, observed the vehicle being operated in an erratic manner and stopped it. The driver subsequently failed a field sobriety test. During the course of the stop, rangers found a loaded .22 pistol under the front passenger seat, as well as drugs and ammunition. A consent search of the trunk revealed two shotguns and assorted ammunition. One of the shotguns was a sawed-off twelve-gauge that was reportedly used by the subjects for "target practice and hunting." The two male subjects were arrested and placed in the Jackson County jail for a variety of charges, including DUI, possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, possession of a concealed weapon and possession of an illegal firearm (sawed-off shotgun). In U.S. Magistrate's Court, the pair were found guilty of a number of the lesser charges, but the illegal weapon was not acted upon by the U.S. attorney because of other caseload priorities. Despite the lack of official action, rangers pursued their investigation into the case, primarily due to the circumstances surrounding the three individuals and the "feel" that they developed after reviewing the circumstances of the case. On November 19th, rangers were contacted by detectives from the Sacramento, California, Sheriff's Department, who provided them with information pertaining to an unsolved homicide that had occurred in their jurisdiction in late October. According to information the detectives had received from an unidentified street source, a person that may have owned a weapon such as the one involved in the Sacramento shooting was reportedly arrested at Crater Lake by park rangers. The victim in that crime had been executed with a sawed-off shotgun, but no other leads had been developed. Since one of the subjects arrested had lived in the Sacramento area and also possessed a sawed-off shotgun at the time of his arrest at Crater Lake, it was decided to transfer the weapon to Sacramento to perform ballistics tests to see if it could possibly be the same weapon that had been used in the homicide. Ballistics tests confirmed that it was indeed the same weapon. The man is now in custody in California, and has admitted his role as the "triggerman" in the drug-related slaying. He has been charged with first-degree murder and will stand trial at a later date. According to Detective Darryl Edwards of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, this case would not have been solved had it not been for the outstanding investigative work and continued diligence in pursuing the facts of the case exhibited by the rangers. (CompuServe message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 6 p.m. EST, 1/9/90).
On June 22nd, rangers responded to a report that a 90-pound German shepherd had fallen over a cliff at Annie Creek Canyon. Rangers repelled approximately 200 feet down steep scree and an additional 120 vertical feet over the canyon wall to reach the dog. They were expecting to recover a body, but instead found the shepherd, known as "Jake", conscious, alert and in stable condition. He was packaged in a litter and evacuated back up the canyon wall. Throughout the operation, the dog's owners, a 10-year-old boy and his father, reassured Jake by talking to him over the park radio. At last report, Jake was doing fine, having suffered only a bruised lung from the fall. (CompuServe message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 6/27).
Late on the afternoon of the 4th, a car with five occupants crossed the center line of the park road about a mile from the park's boundary and hit a tree snag. P.A., 58, and a woman thought to be his wife were killed; the three occupants - two adults and a ten-year-old - were taken to a local hospital and are reported to be in good to serious condition. (Telephone report from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, via US Park Police, 7/5).
On the afternoon of July 27th, D.Z., 33, of Mead, Washington, stopped at Discovery Point with her three children, ages five, seven and 16. When the youngest got close to the crater edge, D.Z. attempted to get her back and fell over the rim in the process, landing some 700 feet below. Her body was later recovered by park rangers. (Telephone report from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 7/30).
Over the last few months, the park has begun to have problems with organized groups of pickers illegally collecting mushrooms for sale to Japanese buyers. Groups of up to 15 pickers are dropped off from vehicles along the highway, move into the weeds and harvest the mushrooms, then are picked up by the same vehicles. The mushrooms are taken to Portland and Seattle and are air-shipped to Japan the next morning. Pickers are paid from $12 to $15 per pound in cash, and can make from $200 to $2,000 in a day. The mushrooms sell for up to $40 per pound in Japan. Although picking is legal under a permit in the adjacent Winema NF, it is illegal in the park. Rangers have cited 22 people to date; two of the 22 have been arrested on outstanding warrants. Almost 500 pounds of mushrooms have been confiscated. Pickers have begun posting lookouts, wearing camouflage clothing, and running when contacted by rangers. Groups of pickers are claiming territorial rights in the park and forest, and there have been reports of confrontations between groups. Most pickers are armed with knives and/or handguns. (CompuServe message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 10/18).
On October 5th, rangers were conducting a hunting patrol along the park's east boundary when they discovered a Ford pickup truck parked in the woods about an eighth of a mile from the nearest road. It was apparent that the vehicle had been there for some time, as vegetation had grown up around the tires, there was a mouse nest on the floorboard and crusty rifle rounds were found on the seat. When the registered owner of the vehicle, a Mrs. L., was contacted, it was learned that her husband, who is 75 years old and suffers from Alzheimer's disease, had left it there when hunting near the park on October 3, 1989 and was unable to find it again. Friends and family searched the area for two weeks and again on several occasions last summer in unsuccessful attempts to locate the misplaced vehicle. Mrs. L. was grateful to rangers for their discovery, as this was the second vehicle her husband had lost within the past two years. They have yet to locate the first. Mr. L. no longer drives solo. Incidentally, the truck ran like a charm once the needles, nests and cones were cleared from the engine compartment and it was jump-started. (Angie Terrell-Wagner, CRLA, via CompuServe message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 10/22).
Sometime during the early morning hours of July 22nd, at least eight cars in the Mazama campground were hit by car clouters. A preliminary investigation indicated that between $600 and $700 was stolen. The clouters gained entry into the vehicles with a pry tool, removed cash from wallets and purses found on vehicle floors, then moved on. Credit cards and other items of value were bypassed in favor of cash. It is believed that this was an organized operation. The thieves may have stolen a Golden Eagle Passport bearing the name of L.V. and may attempt to use it to gain access to other federal areas. Additional details will be forthcoming pending further interviews with victims. No suspects have been identified at this time. For further information, contact ranger Doug Raeburn at 503-594-2211. [Doug Raeburn, CRLA, via SEAdog message from Mike Blankenship, RAD/PNRO, 7/25]
On August 9th, a golden retriever fell 300 feet down into the Crater Lake caldera. The dog's owner descended down a rotten vertical wall and about 200 feet of a steep talus slope in an attempt to save the dog. Responding rangers rappelled into the caldera, provided the dog's owner with a harness and helmet, then belayed him back up to the rim. As efforts were begun to secure the dog to a litter and raise her to the top, she died, presumably of internal injuries. The dog, which was not leashed or under restraint, had chased a ground squirrel to the caldera edge and gone over. This was the fourth incident involving dogs going over the edge in recent months. [Camden Brewster, CRLA, via CompuServe message from Diane Wisley, RAD/PNRO, 8/15]
Between the hours of midnight and 7:00 a.m. on September 9th, six cars were hit by car clouters in the Mazama Campground. The thieves took $737 in cash, $3,000 in travelers' checks, a Pentax camera, and some other items of little monetary value. The method of entry was the same as in the last wave of car clouts which occurred in the park on July 22nd entry was made through the passenger side door or window with the doors usually relocked and the windows rolled partially or all the way back up. In almost every case, attempts were made by the clouters to conceal indications that they'd been in the cars. Many victims were not aware that they were missing money until they left the park. No footprints were found; one partial print was discovered and will be processed through the local state crime lab. There are no suspects at this time. [Doug Raeburn, CRLA, via SEAdog message from Mike Blankenship, RAD/PNRO, 9/12]
A sewage spill was discovered in the park on the afternoon of October 21st. The spill entered a small side channel of Munson Creek about a half mile above park headquarters. Munson Creek flows into Annie Creek, which eventually empties into the Wood River outside of park boundaries. Although neither Crater Lake itself nor park water supplies have been threatened, there is concern that individuals using downstream surface water for domestic purposes could be affected. Officials are suggesting that residents who have surface water intakes for domestic use on these creeks boil their water until tomorrow. State authorities were immediately notified of the spill, and the park temporarily diverted the contaminated portion of the creek into the park sewage system until permanent repairs could be made. The spill was apparently caused by a plugged sewer line. [Telefax from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 10/21]
On October 23rd, the park began a search for G.A.M., 33, of Brea, California, after his car was found in the Rim Village parking area with his driver's license, keys, passport and cash inside. Investigation revealed that Mackie entered the park sometime between the 19th and 21st. He has not been seen since. Limited information currently available on G.A.M. indicates that he is not a hiker or backpacker, but that he is an avid photographer. G.A.M. resigned a position at Rockwell International in March, and has reportedly been touring national parks since that time. Within the past month, he had visited Yosemite, Grand Teton and Rocky Mountain. Ground searchers and dogs are being employed in the search, which has been hampered by several feet of snow, all of which has fallen since last week. [SEAdog report from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 10/28; UP news story, 10/28]
On the afternoon of November 9th, equipment operator Burnie Riddle died at his residence in Chiloquin, Oregon. The cause of death is reported to have been an acute myocardial infarction. He was 44 years old. On November 18th, personnel specialist Anne Dickenson, 52, died of an undetermined illness while attending a training session in Western Regional Office in San Francisco. The park is waiting for a coroner's report regarding the cause of death. The park is providing all necessary support to their families. [SEAdog message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 11/26; received 12/3]
While skiing down a steep stretch of the Dutton Creek Trail on the afternoon of February 9th, K.W., 37, a long-time Crater Lake ski patrolman, fell and broke his leg when the tip of one of his skis dug into deep, soft snow. Other members of his party, including both rangers and ski patrol personnel, organized White's rescue. Medical and rescue equipment were transported to the site by skiers, and K.W.'s injury - a fracture of both bones in his lower left leg - was stabilized by EMT's. K.W. was placed in a rescue toboggan and towed three miles to a waiting NPS ambulance. He was then taken to a hospital in Klamath Falls. Eighteen persons were involved in the rescue. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, via SEAdog message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 2/10]
K.H., 23, of Gelsenkirchen, Germany, fell several hundred feet to her death inside Crater Lake caldera below Rim Village on the afternoon of September 16th. K.H. and a friend were hiking below the rim in a dangerous area which is closed to the public when she apparently lost her footing on a steep, unstable slope. She was found below some cliffs between 200 and 300 feet above the lake shore. Rangers climbed to the site from the lake later that afternoon, but were unable to safely recover her body during the evening because of impending darkness and extremely steep and dangerous terrain. The park expected to complete recovery operations yesterday morning. The incident is still under investigation. [Dan Jacob, CRLA, 9/17]
On July 20th, M.D. and W.D. entered the Crater Lake caldera - a closed area - in the vicinity of Watchman Peak and descended about 700 feet before becoming stranded in steep and difficult terrain. Neither had adequate footwear or technical equipment to either descend or ascend the caldera wall. The two men were spotted by park employees working on the lake. Rangers were contacted and evacauted the pair by descending to them, tying them into a static line, and escorting their ascent on belay from the rim. Both were cited for entering a closed area. [Ewe Nehring, CRLA, 7/23]
On August 12th, B.L., 30, of Dundee, Scotland, was hiking down Cleetwood trail with her husband when a falling rock about ten inches in diameter struck her on the top of her head. Responding rangers placed her on a litter and carried her a mile up the trail (and an elevation gain of about 700 feet) to a waiting NPS ambulance. The ambulance then took her to North Junction, where she was evacuated by helicopter to the Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford. At the time of the report, she was listed in critical condition. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 8/13]
On the evening of August 13th, B.L., 30, of Dundee, Scotland, who had been hit by a rock on the Cleetwood trail the previous day, died of her injuries at a hospital in Medford, Oregon. She never regained consciousness. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 8/18]
On September 27th, six rangers spent about ten hours pursuing between 40 and 50 Laotians and Cambodians who were illegally harvesting mushrooms from the park along Highway 62. Thirteen citations for commercial picking and three for weapons violations were issued; 62 pounds of mushrooms were seized. The mushrooms are valued at between $40 and $75 per pound. All the pickers were armed with knives, some over a foot long. Many other weapons were seen, but were outside park boundaries. Most of the citations were written well inside the park, rather than near the boundary as in the past. Pickers report that mushrooms are becoming extremely scarce, and that they are traveling great distances to find and harvest them. Forest Service officers believe that some buyers are advising pickers to come into the park. Pickers are suspected of starting seven fires on the Deschutes National Forest. The park had one small fire near Mount Scott which was probably started by pickers. Firefighters saw eight or nine vehicles near the mountain, but enforcement personnel were not in the area due to the problems along Highway 62. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 9/28]
On Tuesday, May 10th, law enforcement officers from numerous federal, state and local agencies served arrest and search warrants on H.M.H., 51, of Gresham, Oregon, who is suspected of committing over 1,200 burglaries of vehicles belonging to visitors camped in NPS, California state park, Forest Service and other camping areas around the United States, including Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Crater Lake, Lassen Volcanic, Glacier and about 20 other NPS units. He's also suspected of committing hundreds of auto burglaries in dozens of California parks. H.M.H. is currently being held on a federal detainer for violation of probation and cannot be released from jail. Over the next few days and weeks, H.M.H. will be charged with numerous counts of theft, burglary, and other related criminal offenses. Additional charges may be filed following analysis of truck loads of evidence seized during the execution of the warrants. Tens of thousands of dollars worth of suspected stolen property was taken from his home and a storage locker in Oregon. NPS investigators have been working for approximately three years on this single investigation, which was initiated by the NPS and California State Park Service but eventually evolved into a multi-agency task force effort. The following agencies participated in the investigation: National Park Service, California State Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Gresham Police Department (Oregon), Regional Organized Crime Narcotics Agency (Oregon), California Highway Patrol, California Department of Justice, California Department of Forestry, FBI, Multnomah County Office of the District Attorney (Oregon), Hillsboro Police Department (Oregon), Washington County Sheriffs Department (Oregon), Oregon State Police, and numerous California county law enforcement agencies. [Paul Ducasse, SA, RAD/WRO, 5/11]
A 20-year-old man was seriously injured in a fall and rescued from the caldera wall Sunday, August 14th. J.N., of Union City, California, suffered a dislocated knee and numerous abrasions and lacerations while illegally descending the wall. The incident began when rangers spotted Andy Lacayo, J.N.'s companion, at the edge of the lake and responded by boat to contact him. Lacayo then told them of his friend's injuries and location about 300 feet up the caldera wall. Rangers employed technical climbing equipment to descend a thousand vertical feet down the steep caldera wall to him. Falling rock created significant hazards to the team during the descent; ranger Carl Jones suffered minor abrasions while covering J.N.'s head with his own body to protect him from falling rock. J.N. was stabilized, belayed down talus slopes to the lake edge, then transported across the choppy lake, which had waves of from two to three feet in height. He was carried a mile up the Cleetwood Cove trail on a wheeled litter, then taken by park ambulance to a landing zone at North Junction. Due to the unavailability of civilian aircraft, park staff had called the 304th Air Rescue Squadron, Portland, Oregon for assistance. They responded with Blackhawk helicopters with night navigation and vision equipment and flew J.N. to a hospital. J.N. and Lacayo were cited for entering a closed area. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 8/15]
Over the course of the four-day period from September 18th to the 21st, rangers wrote eleven citations for commercial harvesting in the park and confiscated 44 pounds of mushrooms and numerous harvesting tools. During an associated consent search, they also discovered and seized an AR-15 A2 semi-automatic rifle with four 30-round magazines filled with live rounds. The weapon, however, was unloaded. Observations by rangers and Forest Service reports indicate that the mushroom collectors are well-organized and have heavily picked over the north side of the park. Picking crews are being dropped off, then picked up along the boundary. Forest Service officials advise that the peak harvest season has not yet arrived, and that many more pickers will be arriving with the onset of cooler weather and increased precipitation. [Uwe Nehring, CRLA, 9/23]
Late last week, rangers apprehended three poachers who had shot two bull elk in the park in two separate incidents on the opening day of Oregon's elk season. Rex Birdsong, Frank Van Pelt and Travis Raber were charged with illegal taking of wildlife and/or possession of loaded weapons in the park. Three rifles and a small caliber pistol were seized. Each violation carries a maximum penalty of $5,000 and/or six months in prison. In the first incident, Birdsong and Van Pelt picked up the trail of an elk which had been shot by another hunter outside the park and followed it into Crater Lake. Tracks indicate that the two crossed a surveyed and well-marked boundary line posted with signs about 115 feet apart. The line was also well brushed out with trees four feet apart which are clearly marked with red blazes. In the other incident, Raber shot a four-point bull elk that was inside the park from a location outside Crater Lake's boundaries. The boundary at this location was also well marked, this time by a fence. The meat from the two animals was packed out by rangers and will be distributed to charity by Oregon State Police. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 10/17]
On the afternoon of December 7th, Klamath Falls police advised the park that they'd received a call for help from two skiers via cellular phone and ham radio. The skiers said that they were exhausted from traveling in deep snow, that they were concerned about avalanche danger, and that one of them was suffering from pain from an artificial hip. A four-person park rescue team headed out to find them the following morning and contacted the two men early in the afternoon. Both were in good condition and were able to ski out on their own. The pair had headed out on a trip around the rim on December 4th. Although informed of conditions, they didn't appreciate the degree of effort required to break trail through soft snow (the park received a record snowfall of about 190 inches in November). They were closely counseled about winter skiing realities before being released. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 12/12]
Three-year-old S.M. fell from the third floor of the newly dedicated Crater Lake Lodge on the evening of July 7th. Responding rangers found the child in his room with his parents; they immobilized him, provided emergency care, and had him flown to a local hospital, where doctors determined he'd suffered only minor injuries. Preliminary findings indicate that the child landed on a newly revegetated surface, which may have prevented serious injury. An investigation is underway. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA]
Two girls were walking their dogs near the edge of Annie Creek Canyon on the evening of August 8th when they lost their footing and slid between 80 and 130 feet into canyon. They managed to secure footholds and remain in their locations until rangers arrived on scene to tie them into rappel lines. One of the girls was lowered to the bottom of the drainage, where she was treated for extensive abrasions; the other was lifted to the top of the slope via a raising system. Both girls were later released to their parents, who were camped in the Mazama campground. The dogs were not on leash and the girls and their pets were in an unauthorized area at the time of the incident. [Uwe Nehring, DR, CRLA]
Just before noon on August 22nd, D.G., 73, was sitting on the rock wall at Sinnott Memorial overlook at Rim Village when she apparently lost her balance and fell several hundred feet into the caldera. Rangers responded by boat and by rapelling down the caldera wall and reached her within 45 minutes of the incident. She was found to be dead upon arrival. D.G.'s husband was with her at the overlook. An investigation is being conducted as to the reason she fell. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA]
During the night of September 4th, two people broke into the Rim Village gift shop and took between $1,000 and $1,500 in goods. Although it was very dark inside the building, investigating rangers were able to glean sufficient information from a surveillance camera video tape to identify and arrest two concession employees - D.K., 23, of Eugene, Oregon, and J.G., 21, of Chico, California. A warrant for is being sought for a third employee, M.M., 19, of Maple Plain, Minnesota, who left the area immediately after the break-in. [Mark Forbes, CCSSO]
An AS 350 helicopter with an unknown number of people aboard crashed and sank into Crater Lake on Saturday, September 23rd. There were no survivors. The helicopter, which can hold up to six people, sank into the lake, which is about 1,500 feet deep at the crash site. No further details are currently available. [Associated Press]
The names of the pilot and passenger who died in the helicopter crash into Crater Lake on September 23rd have been released. The pilot was G.C., 52, of Enumclaw, Washington; his sole passenger was E.T., 45, of West Linn, Oregon. The search is continuing for any further clues on the cause of the accident. The helicopter, an Aerospatiale As-350 B-1 Astar owned by American Euro Helicopter of Grand Prairie, Texas, was en route from Seattle to Las Vegas when the accident occurred. The helicopter crashed in open water about a mile from the shoreline of the lake below Crater Lake Lodge. It broke up on impact, and pieces of the craft sank quickly to an estimated depth of about 1500 feet. Neither body has been recovered. The park is exploring methods for determining the location of the wreckage. Jet fuel and other contaminants were released into the lake's pristine waters. Most of the spilled jet fuel has already evaporated, and it's likely that 99% will evaporate over the next few days or weeks. There are also small amounts of more viscous fluids in the helicopter, which will take longer to evaporate. The park will conduct water testing and analysis for hydrocarbons at the crash site this week. The cause of the crash is still unknown. The weather was clear at the time the helicopter went down. [Mark Forbes, CCSSO @ CRLA]
Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are in the park to look at material collected from the crash site and to continue the investigation into the cause of the crash. A number of eyewitnesses observed the incident from the caldera rim and from Crater Lake Lodge. The weather was reportedly perfect, with glass smooth water producing mirror-like reflections. Witnesses told investigators that the helicopter made a turn near Wizard Island toward the lodge and continued in that direction while making a slow descent. Nothing appeared to be wrong; the helicopter appeared to just fly into the lake. It then tumbled and sank. Park personnel were on scene within 20 minutes. They were able to recover large pieces of the helicopter, personal gear, and a log book. The park staff is developing plans and alternatives for recovering the helicopter, but such an operation will likely have to take place next summer, as winter weather conditions are beginning to settle in. [Mark Forbes, Columbia Cascades SSO]
Mushroom harvesting has been heavy along the park's northeast boundary during recent days. Many pickers parked their vehicles along Highway 138 and on roads in the Winema National Forest, then entered the park to illegally poach mushrooms. Eight citations were issued for commercial harvesting and two more for illegal possession of weapons in the park. Rangers seized harvesting equipment, about 15 pounds of mushrooms, and two semi-automatic handguns. Forest Service law enforcement officers issued more than a dozen citations in the forest's "no picking" zone and confiscated weapons and over 90 pounds of mushrooms. Park, Forest Service and county personnel also combined on a number of searches for "lost" pickers on adjoining properties. [Uwe Nehring, DR, Red Cone District, CRLA]
Additional reports have been received from the Pacific West Field Area regarding the impact of the severe storm which struck the West coast earlier this week: * Crater Lake - About 20 feet of railing was lost from Goodby Bridge and many trees were blown down. Several struck and damaged vehicles. A significant cleanup effort is underway. [J.R. Tomasovic, GOGA; Jane Sikoryak, REDW; John Krambrink, MORA; George Buckingham, CRLA; Larry Carr, WHIS; Pete Cowan, NOCA; Don Neubacher, PORE]
Over the past two weeks, winter storms dropped over 126 inches of snow on the park, bringing snow depths to well over 100 inches at park headquarters. A 30- mile section of Route 62 from the park to the town of Prospect has been closed by the state due to the presence of hundreds of downed trees across the road. The communities of Diamond Lake and Union Creek outside the park are without power or road access. Employees residing on the west side of the park have been assisting the Forest Service with road clearing, since access to the park is cut off and they can't get to work. Several park employees residing in the Forest Service complex at Union Creek have been forced to evacuate and are living in barracks in Prospect or making their own arrangements elsewhere. Park road crews have managed to keep the eastern section of Route 62 and the road to headquarters open despite frequent white-out conditions and snow falling in excess of an inch an hour. The road to Rim Village has been closed to the public for more than a week, although a single lane has been opened periodically in order to permit staff to check on facilities there. More heavy snows were predicted for this past weekend. [Dispatch, CRLA]
On February 8th, a fire broke out in a 90-year-old store in Fort Klamath, an unincorporated village with no fire protection located about 25 miles south of the park. Eight park firefighters responded and worked the fire for about four hours. Although the store was a complete loss, no other structures - including a nearby park employee's residence - suffered significant damage. Town residents were very grateful to receive park assistance. Many were unaware that the park had the capability to fight structural fires. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA]
On the afternoon of April 1st, B.S. and his twin, nine-year old daughters, A.S. and S.S., were snowshoeing on the West Rim Trail about a quarter mile from the trailhead. A.S. was standing 10 feet from the edge of a cornice near the caldera when it fractured directly underneath her. She free fell about 20 feet to a 60-degree slope, then was carried 700 feet down the incline into the caldera by the resulting slab avalanche. The avalanche, which was about a half foot thick and 75 feet across the crown, continued for about 1,200 feet to the edge of the lake. B.S. was able to see his daughter's head, which was never completely engulfed by the avalanche, and could still see her when she was cast to the side by the debris flow somewhat more than halfway downslope to the lake. B.S. sent his other daughter for help, then entered the caldera to help A.S. S.S. contacted a concession employee, who reported the incident to rangers. Rangers assembled a team which entered the caldera on belay and rappel ropes. The first EMTs on the scene determined that neither A.S. nor her father had suffered from significant trauma. Both father and daughter were in stable condition, but chilled. They were belayed up from the caldera. The family was reunited at the Canfield ranger station, where they were treated for exposure. [Uwe Nehring, CRLA]
J.R., 20, and five friends - none of whom had obtained a backcountry permit - set out on a cross-country hike to a park spring last weekend. When they arrived, they found that the spring was dry, but that the mosquitoes were nonetheless numerous. He accordingly decided to leave the group and head back to the rim. When he failed to return after some time, the park was notified and a search was begun. Rangers were engaged in a significant search effort when J.R. reappeared on the north entrance road late on the evening of July 22nd. Although tired and very hungry and thirsty, he was otherwise okay. After leaving his friends, J.R. wandered for some time, then set up camp near a waterfall. The next day, he retraced his steps, saw nothing familiar, so wandered north and west around Mt. Mazama, ditching his pack in the process. He crossed the Pumice Desert and eventually ran into the entrance road. Rangers found that his pack contained, among other things, eight packages of hot dogs, a tent, a comforter, a compass (but no map), and a supply of wine. When asked why he hadn't eaten the hot dogs, J.R. said he forgot he had them. Although he'd abandoned his pack, he still had his journal with him. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA]
The park received a 911 call reporting that two young children were missing around 9:30 pm on Tuesday, August 13th. While the duty ranger was taking down relevant information, a personal report was made to the ranger stating that some people were in trouble in the Hillman Peak area, the same location where the children were reportedly missing. A 13-person SAR team was organized and immediately began a search of the area. Two 17-year-old males were spotted high on the caldera side of the peak. The team spent the entire night searching for a route to the two boys and in making a technical extrication once the route was found. The boys were astride a very narrow dike and in a very precarious positions. The rock in this location is very fragile, there's good deal of loose and falling rock, and there are few places to anchor lines - all of which made the rescue a significant challenge. Both boys were evacuated by 7:40 a.m. the next morning. They had one shirt between them and were dressed in shorts. Both were very cold and in the first stages of hypothermia; one had also suffered minor injuries from a short fall. They were warmed up, then issued violation notices for entering the caldera. Indications are that they fully realized the predicament they had placed themselves in and fully expected that they would not survive. The boys had apparently gone down to the lake shore, then hiked back up despite strict admonitions from one of the boy's parents that it was both illegal and unsafe to enter the caldera and they were to keep out of it. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA]
On the evening of September 9th, two Crater Lake Company employees were climbing Mt. Thielson just north of the park when one of them - K.G., 20 - fell about 50 feet. Her companion ran down the mountain and called for help, reporting that K.G. had suffered severe head injuries but was alive. The county SAR team requested technical and support assistance from the park around 10 p.m. A unified command was established; the NPS provided most of the technical support. Searchers found K.G.'s body on very steep, rocky and loose terrain around 3 a.m. It's believed that she died nearly instantly. Her body was removed from the mountain by helicopter long line the next day. Twelve NPS employees spent 18 grueling hours on the operation. A critical incident debriefing was held on September 14th. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA]
M.L., 62, of Milwaukee, Oregon, was killed on the morning of January 18th when her snowmobile struck a tree at the north end of the park while riding with a group of snowmobilers which included other members of her family. The state police and local EMS personnel responded. Rangers are conducting a follow-up investigation. [Pete Reinhardt, DR, CRLA]
The park received a relayed 911 cell phone call around noon on March 14th requesting assistance for a skier suffering from seizures about two miles from Rim Village. Responding rangers found a conscious and alert patient with an extensive history of seizures caused by a brain tumor, a recent head injury, and a sleep disorder. He was stabilized and transported by sled to a waiting ambulance. During the evacuation, he continued to suffer from a series of seizures. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 3/17]
Late on the afternoon of October 1st, the Douglas County sheriff's office received a report of a mushroom picker who had been missing and overdue for 24 hours. He was last seen just north of the park's boundary. The sheriff's office organized a search and asked the park to participate. Three rangers were assigned to the joint effort, which began early on the 2nd. During the initial briefing, it became apparent that the missing man was probably in the park, at which point the county and park swapped organizational roles. The man was picked up along the north entrance road by park snow plow operators late that morning. Despite prevailing weather conditions and the fact that he was dressed in jeans and a shirt, he was in good condition. He told interviewers that he'd covered himself with branches the previous two nights. During that time, temperatures ranged from 32 to 63 degrees and rain and snow fell. He was about six straight miles from the point last seen when picked up, but undoubtedly had walked much further. The man's brother was issued a violation notice for illegal picking in the park several weeks ago. Rangers have so far this fall issued six violation notices for illegal picking in the park, and have assisted Forest Service law enforcement officers in the issuance of about 30 USFS violation notices. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 10/3]
Just before midnight on November 22nd, the park received a report that three teenage snowboarders were overdue from a trip to the park. A hasty search was begun which led to the location of their vehicle. Shortly thereafter, a call was received from the mother of one of the three boys. Her son had managed to walk out and had called her, asking for help. A six-person SAR team was assembled. They followed the track of the boy who'd walked out and located the remaining two around 1:30 a.m. All three were evacuated. They were exhausted, cold, wet, and in the initial stages of hypothermia. The three had decided to take a "short cut" back to their car from Rim Village and had gone down the wrong side of the ridge, putting them in the park's backcountry. They had waded through knee-deep snow for approximately five miles and were only able to find a trail head because they stumbled across ski trail markings. Prevailing conditions included 17 inches of snow on the ground, temperatures around freezing, and falling snow. They were poorly dressed for conditions, and had no survival gear of any kind with them. It is probable that they would not have long survived if they hadn't been found by the SAR team. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 11/26]
T.C., 23, and S.C., 23, both from Winchester, Virginia, climbed down the caldera wall from the Watchman overlook to the shore of Crater Lake around the middle of the day on Tuesday, August 11th, and went swimming in Skell Channel about 20 feet from shore. T.C. began having difficulties and called for help; S.C. attempted to save him, but was unsuccessful. S.C. then located T.C. on the bottom in seven to ten feet of water and dragged him to shore with difficulty. She began CPR and shouted for help. After a considerable period of time, estimated at about an hour, hikers at the rim heard her cries and reported the incident at the visitor center. Rangers on the lake research vessel got to the scene shortly thereafter and began CPR. Two other rangers rappelled down to the location. A helicopter ambulance from Mercy Flights of Medford, Oregon, soon arrived. All resuscitation efforts proved fruitless. Hiking or climbing into the caldera is prohibited because of the sensitive environment and the extremely dangerous slope. [John Miele, CRLA, 9/11]
On December 5th, eight-year-old D.E. became separated from his father and grandfather while the three of them hunted for a Christmas tree in the Winema National Forest just south of the park. The park provided search and rescue equipment as requested during the early phases of the search; park personnel were subsequently requested after the Forest Service assumed responsibility for management of the search on December 13th. Ranger/medic Pete Reinhardt and ranger/ski patrol coordinator John Broward responded with members of the park's volunteer ski patrol to help with the coordination of more than 100 volunteers in a labor-intensive grid search of rugged terrain covered with four feet of snow. The operation was hampered by temperatures in the single digits. At the time of the report on Saturday, it appeared that the search would be terminated. Media coverage has been extensive. Volunteers included employees from many local businesses, school teachers, high school students, Oregon National Guard and Air Guard personnel, and employees from the NPS, Forest Service and BLM. Local businesses and individuals donated tons of food and clothing to searchers. [Ken Hay, Safety Officer, CRLA, 12/19]
K.M., wife of management assistant J.M., was killed in an automobile accident between Roseberg and Glide, Oregon, on January 10th. Kai had served as the postmaster at the park's post office for many years; several of her children worked seasonally for the park and its natural history association. The park's notice adds: "She was a much-loved member of our community who loved flowers and was constantly sharing her garden with us." Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Friends Church, 525 Debarr Avenue, Medford, Oregon; condolences may be sent to J.M. c/o Crater Lake NP, PO Box 7, Crater Lake, OR 97694. (Note: Chief rangers and other reporting parties - Please see Operational Notes below). [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 1/11]
Two park employees became lost while attempting to ski and snowboard a popular but unmarked route (the "Horse Trail") from the rim of Crater Lake to the Sleepy Hollow residence area on the afternoon of June 22nd. Rangers were alerted when the travelers had not returned home by approximately 10:30 p.m. A search team located the pair at about 4 a.m. on the southeast slopes of Munson Ridge, approximately two miles from the starting point. Searchers were able to follow a well-defined trail for approximately five miles across the significant snowpack remaining in the park's backcountry. The couple spent much of the night sharing lightweight clothing and huddled in the snow well of a tree. They were cold, tired and dehydrated but otherwise in good condition. Search urgency was heightened by reports that one of the individuals may have had a pressing medical condition. This turned out to be untrue. [Dan Jacobs, DR, CRLA, 6/23]
On Monday, July 19th, G.E. became lost while attempting to backpack the Pacific Crest trail with a group of seven companions. The group departed from Annie Springs with the intention of traveling south through the Sky Lakes wilderness in the Winema and Rogue River National Forests. G.E. became separated from his group after stopping to rest and was subsequently unable to find the planned route. His companions looked for him until 9 p.m., then alerted rangers via cell phone. A search team found him at 1 p.m. the following afternoon on the Stewart Falls trail, approximately two miles from the point where he became separated from his group. G.E. traveled a total of almost ten miles on adjoining trails before returning to the area where rangers found him. A good deal of snow from this winter's heavy snowfall remains in the park's backcountry. Snow-covered trails and lack of a map and adequate compass contributed to G.E. losing his way. He was otherwise well equipped for backcountry travel and an overnight stay, and was in good condition when found. [Dan Jacobs, DR, CRLA, 7/20]
A fire in an unoccupied pop-up camper trailer necessitated the evacuation of 55 campsites in the Mazama campground on the afternoon of July 24th. Campers reported the fire to campground hosts, who phoned 911. Two rangers, a structural fire engine and crew and a wildland fire engine and crew were dispatched to the scene. They found the camper fully involved. The fire was quickly suppressed by the structural fire crew after the propane tanks had fully vented. Wildland fire crews extinguished a small wildfire ignited by the trailer fire. The 1998 Skamper camper and its contents were a total loss. The cause was under investigation at the time of the report. [George Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 7/26]
On the morning of May 6th, rangers came upon a vehicle parked at the Discovery Point pullout on West Rim Drive that had not been moved for some time, possibly several days. It was identified as having been stolen from a local Medford family on May 1st. Rangers learned from family members that the probable driver was the owner's sister, S.R., 35; they also discovered that she'd been missing since that date, was being treated for severe depression, had stopped taking her prescribed medication, and had left suicide notes with them. A short search led to the discovery of her body in the forest about 150 yards from the parking area. It appears that she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. [Dan Jacobs, Acting CR, CRLA, 5/8]
A sewer line about a mile above park headquarters overflowed on the afternoon of September 5th, spilling an estimated several thousand gallons of raw sewage into a tributary of Munson Creek. This creek supplies water for a fish raceway in which endangered bull trout are being held pending their release back into the wild as part of a recovery program. Employees working at the raceway noticed increased turbidity, which led to the discovery of the spill. Prompt action was taken to protect the fish. Two were found dead after the spill, but both may have had other injuries that lowered their resistance. A small area below the spill has been closed to entry because of the sludge that was deposited. The park is coordinating cleanup and monitoring with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Public Health Service. The spill was located several miles from the source of the park's water system and domestic water supplies are not endangered. The line that overflowed carries sewage from the Rim Village area and evidently had been blocked by a large amount of solid waste. An investigation is underway. [David Brennan, CR, CRLA, 9/6]
W.W., a program assistant in the Resource Preservation and Research Division, was seriously injured in an off-duty motor vehicle accident near Klamath Falls on February 9th. W.W. lost control of her vehicle on a patch of ice; it was then struck by an oncoming vehicle and rolled down a small embankment. She sustained injuries to the arteries supplying her brain, which compromised circulation to the brain and led to swelling and left-side paralysis. W.W. has undergone surgery to relieve the swelling and is currently on life support and in critical condition. Doctors have not been able to give a long -term prognosis for her recovery. Although W.W. cannot receive flowers or plants, she would appreciate cards and letters. Send them to her at Legacy Emanuel Hospital, WWICU, 2801 N. Gantenbein Avenue, Portland, OR, 97227. [David Brennan, CR, Crater Lake]
W.W., a program assistant in the park's Resource Preservation and Research Division, was seriously injured in an off-duty motor vehicle accident near Klamath Falls on February 9th. As of last Friday, she was recovering from brain surgery and was improving. There was a good chance that she would regain full consciousness over the weekend or early this week. Cards and letters can be sent to her at: Legacy Emanuel Hospital, WWICU, 2801 N. Gantenbein Avenue, Portland, OR 97227, Attn: Patient W.W. [Mary Rasmussen, Dave Brennan, CRLA, 2/16]
On January 21st, the park began a search for two skiers overdue from a ski trip around the rim of Crater Lake. K.G., 21, and D.S., 24, both from Portland, began the 33-mile ski trip on January 17th and planned to finish on January 19th. During the initial search on the afternoon of January 21st, ranger Randy Benham and volunteer ski patrol member Bill Bloom were skiing along the East Rim Drive ski trail about three miles east of park headquarters. They had met and were skiing with two visitors, R.W., 32, and K.F., 28, both from Klamath Falls. All four were caught in an avalanche that released on a steep slope approximately 100 feet above them. Benham and R.W. ended up on the surface, but Bloom and K.F. were completely buried. Benham and R.W. immediately began a search for the other two skiers. Seeing a ski pole tip protruding from the snow, they located and dug out K.F., who was buried head down in six feet of debris for about ten minutes. The three then resumed the search for Bloom, and located him using avalanche beacons and probes. They were able to dig Bloom out from six feet of debris after about 40 minutes, just as he was about to lose consciousness. Benham, R.W. and K.F. were uninjured, but Bloom was suffering from mild hypothermia. After rewarming, the four were able to ski out with assistance from other rescue personnel. Bloom was later transported to a nearby hospital, where he stayed overnight for treatment of slight pulmonary edema. The search for D.S. and K.G. was complicated by low clouds and fog, approximately 40 inches of new snow, and by areas of high avalanche potential that prevented searchers from reaching the majority of the search area. At about 5:00 p.m. on January 23rd, searchers located the two skiers, both uninjured, near Vidae Falls, about three-and-a-half miles east of park headquarters. They told rangers that their progress had been slowed by the amount of new snowfall, and that they had both been caught in an avalanche on January 20th, but were buried only waist-deep and were able to extricate themselves with a shovel. The pair were found just one day before a major winter storm was forecast to hit the park, with up to four feet of snow and strong winds predicted. Ranger Pete Reinhardt was IC; employees from Mount Rainier and Lassen Volcanic assisted in the search, as did personnel from the Umpqua National Forest and local sno-cat operators. Two critical incident peer counselors are currently in the park to support the involved employees and other park staff. [David Brennan, CR, CRLA, 1/24]
On the afternoon of July 18, rangers responded to an EMS call at Rim Village and treated C.S., 20, of Moscow, Idaho, for lacerations to his arms and legs. The rangers determined that C.S. and two friends had attempted to reach the lake via the caldera wall near Rim Village, and that he had sustained the injuries from falls during the descent and ascent. The caldera that holds Crater Lake is closed to entry due to dangerous cliffs and unstable scree slopes. C.S.'s companions were still in precarious situations on the caldera wall. Rangers conducted a technical rescue and found J.S., 19, of Caldwell, Idaho, and C.M., 20, also from Moscow, approximately 250 feet below the rim. J.S. and C.M. were able to climb out with assistance and protection by rescuers. The three were treated for minor lacerations and released, then were cited for entering a closed area. Shortly after completing the first rescue, rangers received another report of visitors stranded inside the caldera wall below Rim Village. Two children, ages 9 and 11, were stranded approximately 1200 feet below the rim and 300 feet above lake level. The children and their uncle, J.P., 27, of Bend, Oregon, became ledged-out while attempting to scramble down to the lake to go swimming. J.P. left the children on the ledge and climbed out for help. Because of difficulty accessing the site from above, rescuers were ferried across the lake in the park's research vessel, then climbed to their location. Both children were suffering from dehydration and severe cramping from holding on to a rock ledge while awaiting rescue. Rescuers lowered them to the lakeshore, ferried them across the lake to the Cleetwood Cove trail, and assisted them in hiking out. J.P. was cited for entering a closed area, with an investigation continuing into other possible charges. Editor's Note: This report was submitted in July, but got lost in the ether somewhere during its cross-country journey. The park just resubmitted it. [Submitted by David Brennan, CR&VP;, Crater Lake NP]
Rangers conducted special operations within and around the park over
the past month with the objective of intercepting undocumented aliens
and drug smugglers. Over the course of five nights, rangers and officers
from other agencies apprehended 83 undocumented aliens, many of them
from Brazil or the Yucatan. One of them was a wanted felon. More than
200 illegal entries into the country were witnessed, with most of them
passing directly through the park. Rangers patrolling the border on foot
have identified two new illegal vehicle crossings. Members of the
Mexican military were observed operating near the border on several
nights. Although drug traffic observations for the month are at a low,
the undocumented immigrant traffic continues in high numbers.
The Cattle Crossing Cafe, a well-known landmark in Fort Klamath, was
destroyed by fire early on the morning of August 8th. The
Chiloquin-Agency Lake Fire District was the first unit to respond and
immediately requested assistance from the park and several other
agencies. Four firefighters from Crater Lake responded with the park's
structural engine. First units arrived on scene at approximately 4:30
a.m., but found that the building was almost completely destroyed.
Firefighters concentrated on protecting exposed areas and surrounding
structures. There were no fatalities or injuries and limited damage to
other structures. An investigation of the cause is underway.
On August 8th, a visitor found a device that appeared to be a pipe
bomb in the Vidae Falls area. Rangers investigated and found a copper
pipe, an inch and a half in diameter and 14 inches long. It was capped
at both ends and sealed with grey epoxy and clear silicone, then wrapped
in foil tape. The Oregon State Police bomb squad responded, blew the cap
off the end, and determined that there was no explosive material inside.
Two days later, visitors diving near Cleetwood Cove found three stacked
cylinders that were identical to the single cylinder device found at
Vidae Falls. The three cylinders were wrapped with wire. The state
police bomb squad again responded, blew off the end caps, and again
found no explosive material. The investigation continues.
Ranger Ken Hay assisted Winema National Forest special agents and
officers in the investigation of illegal matsutake mushroom harvesting
just outside the east park boundary on September 22nd. Four people were
contacted at their campsite, which was camouflaged by brushing out
vehicle tracks and using tree branches to conceal tents and vehicles.
The investigation led to the discovery of approximately 100 pounds of
matsutake mushrooms, methamphetamine, and numerous syringes. Forest
Service agents arrested Noel Harshman, 47, for possession of
methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and commercial
mushroom harvesting in a closed area. Also cited for commercial
harvesting were D.S., 63, and S.E., 43. Evidence was
also found of recent mushroom harvesting within the park, but it was
insufficient to charge the suspects with violations of NPS regulations.
Winema National Forest lands that are immediately east of the park
boundary are closed to commercial harvesting of mushrooms, but areas
just north of the park allow harvesting under a commercial permit
system. Although the matsutake crop has been abundant and of high
quality this fall, the market value is much lower than in past years,
with pickers receiving only about $4 per pound for prime mushrooms.
Mushrooms are purchased by roadside buyers and shipped to Japan, where
they are a delicacy that sells for up to several hundred dollars per
pound. Evidence of widespread illegal matsutake harvesting has been
found within the park this fall following weather conditions which were
favorable to their growth. An interagency investigation continues,
involving the park, Winema National Forest and Oregon State Police.
On the afternoon of December 2nd, rangers responded to a report of an
unconscious person with head trauma outside the Mazama Village
concession employee dormitory. They provided EMS treatment and
transported the victim, a 40-year-old male concession employee, to an
area hospital. Investigation revealed that he was on duty and
transferring concession cash register receipts from the Rim Village
cafeteria to an office for storage when he was struck from behind and
knocked unconscious. The bank bag he was carrying was then stolen.
Although it's not yet certain how much money was in the bag, it's
believed that the total came to several thousand dollars. The employee
was released from the hospital later that night; he'd suffered a
concussion, a cracked thoracic vertebra and facial lacerations and
contusions. NPS special agents and rangers are continuing the
investigation; SA Eric Inman is the lead investigator.
On the afternoon of September 17th, an employee of the concession-operated Mazama campground discovered two bodies inside a tent while checking on an overdue campsite payment. Investigating rangers found the bodies of 25-year-old A.C. and 27-year-old T.C., both of The Dalles, Oregon. The tent was tightly closed and it appeared that a propane camping lantern had been burning inside. A toxicology analysis revealed that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death. The couple is believed to have died sometime during the night of September 14th. Rangers and an NPS special agent, assisted by the Oregon State Police, are continuing the investigation. Autopsies on the two victims are expected to be completed later this week. [Dave Brennan, Chief Ranger]
On Saturday, August 19th, M.S. was involved in a head-on collision with a motorcycle on East Rim Drive near Skell Head overlook. M.S., 61, of Roseburg, Oregon, struck the motorcycle immediately after turning onto East Rim Drive at the beginning of the "Rim to Roseburg Century Ride." Responding rangers and firefighters found M.S. unconscious and suffering from severe head and chest trauma. They were assisted in treating him by a doctor and a nurse who were also on the ride. M.S. was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Medford, Oregon, where he remained unconscious until he died on September 6th. Investigators determined that M.S. was traveling against traffic in the southbound lane as he turned onto East Rim Drive. A front tire blowout may also have contributed to the accident. No criminal charges will be filed. M.S. was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. [Dave Brennan, Chief Ranger]
A major search is underway in the Cleetwood area for eight-year-old Samuel Boehlke, who was reported missing at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 14th. Over 200 people are committed to the operation, which is being managed by the Pacific West Region's all-risk incident management team. An initial search was conducted by Crater Lake rangers and members of Jackson County Search and Rescue. Although search dogs alerted on the boy's scent, searchers were unable to find him. Operations yesterday focused on the north slope of Mount Mazama from Cleetwood Cove. If weather permitted, plans called for a helicopter search inside the caldera. The terrain where the boy was last seen is extremely steep, requiring technical climbing in places. Wet, snowy conditions are expected to continue through Thursday. Support for the search is being provided by personnel from Lassen, Yosemite, Whiskeytown and Lava Beds, horse-mounted patrols from Klamath and Deschutes Counties, the Portland Mountain Rescue Unit, personnel from BLM, and crews from Winema and Rogue River National Forests. [Rudy Evenson, Information Officer, Pacific West All-Risk Incident Management Team]
The search for S.B., the 8-year-old boy lost at Crater Lake National Park since last Saturday, will be scaled back significantly beginning today. The search area was covered numerous times by up to 200 searchers over the past six days, with different search teams utilizing a wide variety of techniques and modes, including grid searches, high-angle and technical climbing, canine searches teams, horseback teams, watercraft search teams, helicopters equipped with infrared cameras, and handled infrared cameras. No clues were found, other than scent alerts detected by canine searchers on several days. Although each of these was thoroughly investigated, they did not reveal the missing boy's location. Due to the low likelihood of survival after five days in cold, wet and snowy conditions, the search for S.B. will shift to a limited continuous search beginning today. Most teams assigned to the search will be released, but small-scale ground and air searches will continue intermittently until winter arrives. "We are deeply appreciative of the extraordinary contributions by all of the agencies and individuals who participated in this search," said chief ranger Dave Brennan. "We are disappointed that our intensive search efforts over the past six days have not located Samuel. Our sympathies go out to Samuel's family, and we understand how difficult it must be for them to cope with this uncertainty." The family released the following statement following the above announcement: "Like any other eight-year-old, S.B. likes root beer, mac & cheese with extra cheese, and corn dogs. He likes playing with Yugio cards, Legos, and tinker toys. He enjoys playing with sticks and digging in the dirt. Pirates and dragons are his special interests. He likes hiking, fishing, and being out of doors. His favorite stuffed animals are Piggy and Treasure the horse. But Sammy has a disorder that affects his life. What might be merely irritating to another person can be overwhelming to Sammy. Sammy has Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a condition also known as high functioning autism. Sammy has extreme reactions to loud noises such as blow dryers and barking dogs. Because loud noises cause him to run away or hide with his hands over his ears, searchers were asked from the beginning not to use sirens, whistles, or other loud noises to locate Sammy. This has been a factor in the difficulty of the search. Although searchers have had this information since the start of the search, in the interests of maintaining their privacy, the family has not released it to the public until today. However, the great public sympathy and media interest in the search for Sammy have prompted the family to take this opportunity to help people learn about ASD. For more information, please contact the Oregon Health Sciences University Doernbecher Children's Hospital, or visit their web site at HYPERLINK "http://www.ohsu.edu/cdrc/clinical/portland/autism_links_oregon.html" http://www.ohsu.edu/cdrc/clinical/portland/autism_links_oregon.html. In addition, the family expresses their thanks to the paid and unpaid professionals who participated in the search 'for their incredible conduct, kindness, and superb efforts on behalf of our families. We appreciate the sacrifice their families are making for them to be here.' While expressing their appreciation for volunteer involvement and public sympathy for the search, the family would like to reiterate their request to be left in privacy at this difficult time. Although they are aware of the numerous inquiries made by the media, they are not interested in speaking directly with reporters." [Rudy Evenson, Incident Information Officer]
In September, 2006, firefighters working on the Bybee Fire Use Complex discovered human remains in the Bybee Creek area of the park's backcountry. Investigating rangers found partial skeletal remains, along with clothing fragments and personal effects. Shortly after this discovery, the winter's first major snowfall shut down access to the site. A more thorough search this summer by an FBI evidence recovery team yielded additional skeletal remains and personal property. NPS rangers and special agents, along with FBI agents and forensic scientists, are continuing the investigation in hopes of identifying the remains. Investigators are looking into whether they could be those of G.M., who has been missing since an October 1991 visit to the park. G.M., a 33-year-old Brea, California resident, was the subject of a search after his vehicle was found in the park's Rim Village just before that year's first major snowstorm. Despite an intensive search at the time, no sign of G.M. was found. The remains were found in a remote, off-trail area. Their weathered condition makes it apparent that they have been there for at least several years. A partial skull containing several teeth with dental work was recovered, and investigators hope to identify the victim through dental records and DNA analysis. The cause of death has yet to be determined. [Dave Brennan, Chief Ranger]
On July 27, 2005, two Crater Lake rangers responded to a domestic disturbance in Mazama Campground. During the incident, one of the rangers shot and killed the man involved in the disturbance as he charged them while brandishing a deadly weapon and threatening to kill them. The investigations into this shooting, and the board of review that was convened afterward, found that the involved rangers were acting within the scope of their duties and in full compliance with National Park Service policies. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon concluded that it was a justifiable and necessary use of deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm. At the time of the shooting, based on the interests and needs of the involved rangers, and in consultation with the U.S. Attorney's Office and deputy solicitor, the park chose not to release their names to the public. With the passage of two years, and in consultation with the involved rangers, comes the realization that sharing information about shooting incidents with the law enforcement community can be an important step toward providing healing and closure. The sharing of this information, including the names of involved rangers, can also help prevent an officer from carrying the burden of a line of duty shooting alone in his or her private life. The rangers involved were seasonal ranger Pieter Sween, who was the ranger directly involved in the shooting, and supervisory ranger Peter Reinhardt, who as Sween's partner provided backup and assistance during the incident. In recognition of their actions during the shooting, Sween and Reinhardt have been presented with exemplary act awards. Fourteen other Crater Lake employees were presented with unit citation awards for their actions in responding to and managing the incident. Rangers Sween and Reinhardt acted quickly, decisively, and appropriately to prevent death or serious injury during a rapidly evolving situation. They demonstrated superb courage, judgment and tactics in successfully resolving a violent and dynamic situation without injury to innocent persons. It's hoped that this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of appropriate training and tactics, and that the lessons learned can help the safety of other officers. [Dave Brennan, Chief Ranger]
The storm that struck the Pacific Northwest early this week caused some problems in parks throughout the region, with the most serious occurring at Olympic. Here's a roundup: Crater Lake - No flooding or other damage was reported. Two inches of rain fell on a relatively thin snow pack, so skiing was ruined for some time. Visitation is very low at this time of the year, so visitors weren't much affected. [Chuck Young, Chief Ranger, MORA; Barb Maynes, Public Affairs Officer, OLYM; Dave Brennan, Chief Ranger, CRLA; Dennis Stanchfield, Maintenance, NOCA; Karen Newton, PWRO]
The home of longtime park aquatic ecologist Mark Buktenica and his family was destroyed by fire on Thursday, January 10th. The fire broke out around 9 p.m. that evening. Their property is located about 12 miles outside of Ashland, Oregon, and is accessed by a driver that's about a quarter-mile long. By the time Mark and A.B. arrived home that evening, the house was almost fully involved. Their pets (two dogs and a cat) were inside the burning building when they arrived. Mark forced his way into the house, rescuing the unconscious animals. They made a 911 call to the fire department, then left their house to take their pets to emergency care in Medford. Unfortunately, one of their cherished dogs did not survive. The fire department was hampered from getting to the home by the snow conditions on the lane to the property. The loss of the home is total, the structure having burned to the foundation. The Buktenicas lost practically everything they own in the blaze. The cause is still unknown. For now, Mark, A.B., and their three children (J. 17, A. 15, and M. 14) have access to a furnished house in Ashland. While the property and contents were insured, the amount of coverage will probably not be enough to cover all of their losses. And, as A.B. said, so many of their most precious possessions were the things more sentimental than material in value. A donation account has been set up at a local bank for those wishing to assist the family financially (Key Bank, 183 E. Main St., Ashland, OR, 97520, 541-482-2451). If you have specific questions or cards and letters to forward to Mark and A.B. and their family, please contact Scott Girdner at the park or call him at 541-594-3078. [Scott Girdner, Fisheries Biologist]
On May 8th, J.F. was found guilty of felony abusive sexual contact in a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Medford, Oregon. The crime occurred inside the park at the Crater Lake Rim Dormitory in the early morning hours of August 31, 2007. J.F., 34, had been hired as a uniformed security guard by Xanterra, the park concessioner, and assigned to nighttime security of its property and interests. On the evening in question, J.F. invited four underage Xanterra employees to his trailer in Mazama Campground for drinks. He socialized with them, served them alcohol, and drank with them. Several hours later, while on duty and in uniform, J.F. continued drinking and doing shots of alcohol with the same and other Xanterra employees at the Rim Dormitory. A short time later, in the early morning hours, an intoxicated 24-year-old woman was carried to her bed and covered with a blanket. J.F. later came back to this room, entered without her permission, and sexually assaulted her. Two friends of the victim discovered J.F. in the room with her and J.F. quickly left. The incident was immediately reported and Crater Lake rangers responded and investigated. The case was prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office in Medford. Ranger Charles Mayer was case officer and investigator. [Pete Reinhardt, Acting Chief Ranger/Operations Supervisor]
A fire started in the laundry room of the camper store in Mazama Village sometime between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on the morning of Monday, July 21st. Xanterra concession employees who were working near the area at the time noticed smoke coming out of the store, discovered flames and a small fire just inside the exterior laundry room door at the back of the building, and called 911 and park protection rangers via radio. They then returned to the laundry room door and used handheld fire extinguishers to attack the fire through a crack in the door. Ranger Pieter Sween soon arrived on scene and set up an incident command. He was followed by ranger Marshall Neeck and the park's structural engine, which was staffed by firefighters Liza Wall, Bill Devereaux and Cory Wall. Sixty minutes after the initial call, the Chiloquin Volunteer Fire Department company arrived with two engines, a water tender, and a full complement of firefighters. Working in concert with park staff, the Chiloquin company had the fire contained within 20 minutes. Mop-up operations continued until approximately 6:30 a.m. The laundry room itself sustained considerable damage. The fuel dispensing electronics that control the gas pumps were destroyed and will take at least a few days to repair. All three commercial grade washers and three commercial grade dryers were destroyed, along with three-fifths of the linen/laundry stock of the entire concession operation. Numerous electrical circuits were also damaged, which in turn shutdown propane service, phone service, computer functions, and refrigeration units. Structural damage to the building was minimal and was restricted mainly to the door and exterior entry to the laundry room, but smoke damage was widespread (the full extent has yet to be ascertained). Xanterra has made an initial estimate of damages in excess of $75,000. The company hoped to have partial power restored by early Tuesday. They plan to reopen the camper store in a limited capacity as soon as possible, and anticipate that fueling operations will be up and running by the end of the week. Emergency purchases have been made to replace lost linens and towels, and temporary laundry functions will be performed at the Rim Dorm and Mazama Dorm. An assistant state fire marshal conducted an investigation immediately after the incident and has ruled the fire accidental. The cause of the fire has been determined as spontaneous combustion as a result of oil/grease rags that had been recently laundered and piled in large plastic cart. [Marshall Neeck, Park Ranger]
Visitors S.M. and T.S. were enjoying the view from an overlook near North Junction on the evening of September 11th when their vehicle, a 2003 Volkswagen Passat, rolled into the caldera. Further investigation revealed that the Passat rolled backwards in an arc across the parking area for approximately 100 feet, through a narrow opening between the rock wall and a clump of trees, and finally over the edge of the caldera, plunging more than 1,100 feet until it came to rest in 10 to 30 feet of water on the edge of Crater Lake. The initial investigation indicated that S.M. had failed to set the parking brake when she got out of the car. S.M.'s dog, "H.," a Dingo-Akita mix, was in the vehicle at the time of the accident and was ejected through the sunroof of the falling vehicle, but suffered only minor injuries. It took the dog approximately 15 minutes to make its way back up approximately 600 feet of talus slope to the parking lot. The Passat and associated debris within the caldera were later removed by a helicopter from T.S.G.A. Two loads were hauled out, and the pilot was also able to employ a grappling hook to extract some of the larger items scattered along the caldera wall, such as a seat, bumper, and muffler. [Marsha McCabe]
On Saturday, October 15th, rangers were conducting hunting patrols on the west boundary of the park when they were advised that a 69-year-old hunter was overdue by six hours to his camp on USFS roads. Rangers immediately conducted a hasty search of the area, which resulted in no findings. Contact was established with the lost hunter via cell phone and a family radio system but was intermittent. A decision was made to pull searchers from the field for the evening and resume a larger scale search the following day. Over 30 search and rescue personnel were assigned to the incident. The Crater Lake search and rescue team, which consists of protection rangers, firefighters, and interpreters, was assisted by Jackson County and Klamath County SAR teams. Rescuers staged at a USFS warming hut in the Rogue National Forest and began searching on Sunday morning. The hunter was asked at intermittent times to fire his weapon to assist searchers in determining his location. Search teams were able to locate him northwest of Union Peak and walk him out to the road. He was in good condition, aside from being cold, wet and mildly dehydrated. Jason Ramsdell was operations chief for the incident and Joe Spillane is the lead investigator for the case. [Jan Lemons, Incident Commander]
On the afternoon of Sunday, June 10th, rangers received a request for help from a visitor who spotted two women stuck in deep snow in the Crater Lake caldera. They were unable to climb back up and continued to slide down toward the lake. The park SAR team responded and was assisted by staff from other divisions, including fire, natural resources, and fee collection. Rangers Seth Macey and Paul Schauer rappelled down to the two women, secured them, and raised them up to the rim. The women complained of being cold and wet but had no reported injuries. Operations supervisor Jason Ramsdell coordinated the operation. The women, both from Chicago, were illegally hiking in the caldera, which is prohibited due to the steep and dangerous nature of the area. The Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only exception to this regulation. Neither woman was near that trail, so they were cited for being in a closed area. [Jan Lemons, Acting Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of July 16th, dispatch received a radio call from the park's remote north entrance station reporting a female bicyclist who was experiencing chest pain. VUA Chris Reinhardt went to the 52-year-old woman's aid and relayed patient information to responding rangers and other park emergency services personnel. While other resources were still en route to the scene, Reinhardt advised that the woman had become unresponsive and that he was beginning CPR. EMS personnel, including park medic Jason Ramsdell, arrived to find the woman in cardiac arrest. They immediately employed an AED to administer three shocks to her. The shocks, combined with ALS medications, restored her breathing. She was then flown by Mercy Air to a hospital in Medford. The combination of effective early CPR, delivery of the first shock from an AED within eight minutes of the arrest, and ALS interventions contributed to saving the woman's life. Responding to the incident were rangers, personnel from fire management, fee collection and resource management, and the Chemult Rural Fire Protection District ambulance. Supervisory park ranger Jan Lemons was the incident commander. [Curt R. Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
On July 16th, park staff responded to a woman complaining of chest pain at the park's remote north entrance station (click on HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=6264" this link for the initial report). The woman subsequently went into cardiac arrest and was successfully resuscitated by park EMS personnel. The cardiologist who treated the woman recently called the park to report that the incident had had a positive outcome and to say that every link in the chain of response and treatment resulted in saving her life. Key factors included the following: Prompt recognition of the problem. Effective CPR with fast, deep chest compressions. Prompt use of an AED. Early ordering of the life flight, as the woman likely would not have survived a ground transport. Getting the patient on a cardiac and breathing machine as soon as she arrived at the hospital in Medford. Implanting a new stent and placing the patient on a hypothermia machine. The cardiologist said that survival rates for CPR/AED events are less than 10%. The woman's previously implanted stent had become completely clogged. She arrested 12 times after arriving at the hospital and was shocked back each time. But she was off the cardiac machine within three days, was off breathing tubes and other interventions within seven days, and was discharged from the hospital 12 days following the incident. While the full extent of damage to her heart may not be known for a few more weeks, her survival is the result of every person in the chain of care working together, providing excellent treatment and making wise decisions. The doctor plans to submit the story of the incident to the American Heart Association due to the remote nature of the incident and the positive outcome. [Curt R. Dimmick, Chief Park Ranger]
Park personnel were kept busy with multiple incidents during the weekend of August 18th. On Saturday, a rock and tree fall temporarily closed the Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only access to the lake and the location of the park's boat tour operation. The park's trail crew was able to reopen the trail in a few hours. On Sunday, several EMS incidents were managed by staff from several park divisions. The first incident was a mutual aid call to a motor vehicle collision with multiple injuries a mile outside the park's north boundary. Later in the day, park maintenance worker Doris Wilson came across a single vehicle accident on Highway 62 in the park. A vehicle left the roadway, rolled over and came to rest approximately 15 feet from the road, upright and on a 25 degree slope. Inside was a family of three visiting the park. The husband and child escaped the vehicle uninjured, but the mother was trapped inside by the crushed roof. Her arm, which was outside the passenger window, was pinned between a tree and the window frame. She was conscious with multiple systems trauma and a head injury. Wilson made the initial assessment, called in the report, and provided on-scene management until other assistance arrived. Due to the instability of the vehicle, ropes were attached to secure it from slipping further down the slope. Wildland fire personnel used a chainsaw to remove the trees pinning the woman's arm and park structural fire personnel used extrication equipment from the park's structural engine to free her. After removing her from the vehicle, personnel used a rope belay to move the woman on a backboard up the slope to a waiting ambulance. She was then transported via park ambulance to a Mercy Air helicopter and flown to a hospital in Medford, Oregon. Her husband later reported that she escaped with no major injuries or fractures. Communications supervisor Lucy Gasaway was incident commander and supervisory park ranger Jason Ramsdell served as operations chief and medical leader. Park staff from maintenance, fee collection, wildland fire, and resource management - along with the park superintendent - assisted rangers on this incident along with personnel from the Chiloquin EMS and Fire Departments. During this latter incident, ranger Paul Schauer responded to two additional medicals elsewhere in the park involving a dislocated shoulder and a possible allergic reaction to a bee sting. [Curt R. Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
On September 29th, park personnel responded to a motorcycle crash inside the park on Highway 62 West. The operator of the motorcycle sustained a dislocated shoulder, broken ankle, and various abrasions and lacerations; the passenger, who sustained a concussion and a spiral femur fracture, was flown to a Medford hospital by Mercy Air. The next day, close to the scene of the first accident, another motorcycle also crashed on Highway 62 West. The passenger on this motorcycle also sustained a femur fracture along with a hip fracture, a broken tibia and fibula, and other injuries. The operator had multiple abrasions but refused care. The passenger was flown by Mercy Flight to a hospital in Medford. The operators were each charged with unsafe operation, with speed being a contributing factor in both crashes. This has been a record year for EMS incidents involving major trauma and illness at Crater Lake National Park. To date, there have been eight medical evacuation flights with at least five critically ill or injured persons whose lives were likely saved by prompt EMS response, professional care, and rapid transport to area hospitals. [Curt R. Dimmick, Chief Park Ranger]
Rangers Jason Ramsdell and Jordan Neumann were called out on the evening of January 9th by a plow driver who reported a U-Haul truck and travel trailer stuck in a snow bank near the park's west entrance. While responding, county dispatch notified them that it matched the description of a vehicle stolen out of Medford, so the two rangers conducted a felony traffic stop in the snowy, icy conditions. They arrested two men and a woman, all from Sacramento, and also dealt with two pit bulls inside the travel trailer. They transported the suspects to Medford, where all but one was cited and released due to jail crowding. The trailer with the pit bulls was towed to Medford. [Jan Lemons, Acting Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of Sunday, February 23rd, rangers received a call from a pair of skiers who asked for assistance in getting out of the park's backcountry. They reported that they were in the area of Pumice Castle along the East Rim of the lake. Weather conditions (rain, fog, and snow) along with severe fatigue were factors that led them to request assistance. They reported no medical issues or injuries at that time and said that they had sufficient supplies/equipment for another night in the backcountry. Due to the time of day, they were advised to find a suitable campsite for the night and told that a rescue team would be dispatched the following morning. On Monday morning, a team consisting of park staff and volunteer Crater Lake Ski Patrol members was assembled. The team was led by current ski patrol volunteer and retired chief ranger Pete Reinhardt. The rescue team reached the skiers at midday. They dried, warmed, fed and hydrated the couple, after which they were able to ski with them out of the backcountry before sunset. Factors contributing to the incident included poor or inadequate equipment and lack of camping/skiing experience by one member of the group. Supervisory Park Ranger Jan Lemons was the Incident Commander. [Curt R. Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
On the morning of Wednesday, April 30th, park dispatch received a report that a visitor who'd rented snowshoes from the park concessioner two days previously had failed to return from a hike in the park to take pictures. Rangers immediately began a search of the Rim Village area and located his vehicle. Rangers, other park staff and volunteer ski patrol members searched trails leading from Rim Village for any sign of him. A life flight helicopter flew the caldera rim below the village, but could only search briefly due to high winds in the area. The helicopter also flew the road around the lake, but there was no sign of the missing hiker. Rangers contacted all other persons who had rented snowshoes during the time period between that Monday and Wednesday. Following a lead from one of them, rangers located a personal item belonging to the hiker that had been turned in as lost and found. Search teams then responded to an area along the Garfield Peak Trail where the item had been found and came upon a single set of snowshoe tracks leading from the trail onto a snow cornice that had collapsed. Extensive search efforts were conducted in that area over subsequent days by ground and air, but no signs of the man were found. The broken snow cornice extended out over a near vertical 1100 foot section of the caldera wall. A fall from that location would likely not be survivable. The search was subsequently scaled back, but is ongoing as weather and snow conditions permit. Investigation of the lakeshore by boat will occur in the coming weeks once access is possible and conditions are safe. Warm, sunny weather the day the hiker went missing followed several days of substantial snowfall at the park and likely contributed to the type of unstable snow conditions that lead to the cornices collapsing. Snow cornices pose a serious hazard. Cornices are formed when snow is blown over sharp terrain such as the rim of Crater Lake. The snow forms an overhang with no solid ground beneath it for support. Snow cornices are a regular occurrence in the park this time of year and can collapse without warning. Visitors are warned to use extreme caution and stay away from the edge of the rim at all times. Ranger Jordan Neumann is the incident commander. [Curt R. Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch was contacted by Crater Lake Lodge staff around 6 p.m. on July 10th and advised that a man was causing a disturbance at the service bar in the Great Hall, yelling at staff and visitors. Chief Ranger Curt Dimmick responded. While en route, he learned that the man had begun throwing things from the bar, including pitchers of water, a sales computer, and a credit card printer. He was subsequently advised that the man had also struck a visitor in the head with a crutch. As he entered the Great Hall, Dimmick saw that the man, later identified as D.T. of Medford, Oregon, was standing in front of the bar, leaning on a crutch and yelling obscenities at two employees. D.T. immediately turned to Dimmick, started advancing across the room with the crutch under his arm and began yelling "I am going to [expletive] kill you! You are going to die tonight!" Dimmick ordered D.T. to stop and get on the floor several times as he advanced, repeatedly yelling the same threats. When D.T. was only a few feet away and still refusing to stop, Dimmick used his taser to put him on the floor. Ranger John Neumann soon arrived and handcuffed him. There were about 50 visitors and Lodge staff present during the incident. Lodge staff had cleared most of the people from the Great Hall and secured the doors into the restaurant just beyond the bar to provide for the safety of guests while lodge and restaurant managers had kept D.T. occupied, waiting for rangers to arrive. The man who was struck in the head with the crutch was a minister who had attempted to talk to D.T. and calm him down. When the minister spoke to him, D.T. first tried to spit in his face and then swung his crutch at the minister's head. The minister ducked, but the crutch still hit the top of his head, causing a one inch laceration and contusion. The minister declined medical treatment. Rangers later located D.T.'s truck, which was parked immediately in front of the lodge in the loading zone. Inside the truck were a loaded .22 caliber rifle and an unloaded 7 mm. rifle with two dozen rounds of ammunition. D.T. was charged with assault, resisting or impeding an officer, disorderly conduct and vandalism. D.T. did approximately $2500 in damage to lodge property. On July 28th, D.T. pled guilty to all charges. His sentencing is scheduled for September 2th. He has been in jail since the incident. The court has already ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation. He told the judge he was having a bad day and had too much to drink after learning his ex-wife was trying to get sole custody of their son. Rangers had prior contact with D.T. Last November, he entered the lodge after it was closed by entering a side door that may have been left unlocked. He spent the night with his dog in one of the lodge's rooms, where he was found by concessioner maintenance staff the next morning. He was cited for trespass at the time. [Curt R. Dimmick, Chief Park Ranger]
On July 4th, park EMS staff responded to a report of a Crater Lake Lodge employee suffering from an allergic reaction. The employee had consumed a piece of chocolate not knowing that it contained nuts to which he is highly allergic. A seasonal ranger/paramedic provided ALS medical care for the man, who was exhibiting signs of significant respiratory compromise. He was taken by park ambulance to a local ambulance service outside the park for transport to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls. The emergency room physician credited the prompt medical interventions, including administration of steroids, as the major factor in the man's full and rapid recovery. [Curt Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
Rangers were called out in the early morning hours of July 4th to the Mazama Dorms, a concession employee dormitory, for a disturbance involving two concession employees. One employee was intoxicated, uncooperative and had threatened to kill his roommate. The man was arrested for disorderly conduct and taken to the Jackson County detox facility in Medford, where he refused to cooperate with staff or to take an Intoxilyzer test. He was subsequently booked into the Jackson County Jail. [Curt Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
On July 15th, rangers and park EMS responded to the Rim Village area to a report of a woman with a possible diabetic emergency. The reporting party said that she was screaming and that there was a combative man with her yelling at people to leave her alone and "let her die." Responders found the woman unconscious and began providing advanced life support. The woman was with her ex-husband, their two juvenile children, and a friend of the ex-husband. The ex-husband continued to be uncooperative and was threatened with arrest before he allowed EMS personnel to care for the woman. The woman was taken by park ambulance to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls. En route, she regained consciousness and said that she had been assaulted by the ex-husband. Later during the transport and at the hospital she recanted her statement, claiming she had been picked up by two strangers while she was walking who injected her with methamphetamine and then sexually assaulted her. The woman had injuries consistent with a sexual assault and her other symptoms were consistent with methamphetamine use as well as an overdose of insulin. Follow-up attempts to interview both the woman and the ex-husband at the hospital produced no significant information. Rangers were assisted in the investigation by the Klamath County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police detectives. The woman refused to cooperate with a sexual assault investigation and was released from the hospital the following day. Rangers reported the incident to the Oregon Department of Human Services, Child Protective Services Division, due to concerns for the safety of the juvenile children. Three days later, the woman contacted her local police in northern Oregon to report the sexual assault. She told DHS and police investigators there yet another account of what happened in the park, describing being abducted by contractors in a van and being assaulted with pillows. Oregon State Police again assisted in the case, going to her residence to interview her and her husband. Once again she refused to cooperate further with the investigation. To date, no charges have been filed. [Curt Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
On August 6th, rangers responded to a report of an equipment rollover a half mile west of the Annie Springs Entrance Station on Highway 62 in the park. An employee of a contractor conducting a chip seal project was operating a pneumatic asphalt compactor when he drove too near the edge of the roadway. The compactor rolled onto its side on the road shoulder. The operator jumped from the compactor as it rolled and landed on the paved road surface, suffering a broken arm and dislocated elbow. He was transported by ambulance to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, where he underwent surgery. [Curt Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
On August 20th, the park's structural fire engine company responded to a reported hazmat incident at Rim Café and Gift Shop. Approximately 150 gallons of fuel oil had spilled while being transferred between the main tank and the day tank located in the basement of the building. The spill was confined to the basement. A portion of the spill had been contained in an overflow chamber, but it was determined that a significant amount of the fuel might have entered the park sewage system by means of floor drains. Engine company personnel used spill kits and absorbent pads to remove remaining fuel on the basement floor, ventilated the building, and flushed all the drains with water from the engine. There were no injuries to employees or visitors in the building. [Curt Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
On August 15th, rangers were advised by a student intern working in the park of a sexual assault that had occurred four days previously. The intern reported that she'd befriended a group of six Pacific Crest Trail hikers and had allowed them to spend the night in the park dormitory where she was living while she worked in the park. During the night, a man in the group sexually assaulted her. He left the park the next day to continue hiking on the PCT. The case is currently still under investigation. Rangers are being assisted in the case by a special agent from the NPS Investigation Services Branch and detectives from the Oregon State Police. [Curt Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a report on August 27th that a woman had stolen jewelry from the Rim Gift Shop. Visitors and shop employees saw her putting jewelry into her handbag, then leave the building. A park maintenance employee saw her get into a red Jeep Cherokee driven by a man and leave the area. Chief Ranger Curt Dimmick saw the vehicle speeding south on Munson Valley Road a short time later in an apparent attempt to flee the park. He was able stop the vehicle on west Highway 62. The driver and passenger, a husband and wife, were arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail in Medford, Oregon. An impound inventory of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of over $7,700 worth of merchandise which had been stolen from the Rim Gift Shop along with several more items that may have been stolen from other stores. Both husband and wife had prior convictions for theft along with other charges and were currently on probation for a previous theft charge from Curry County, Oregon. On September 4th, both were indicted by a federal grand jury on felony theft charges. A jury trial is currently scheduled for later this fall. [Curt Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
The National Park Service is investigating reports of vandalism - acrylic painting on rocks - in at least ten national parks in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Utah. Details are not yet available because the case is under investigation, but the vandalism is believed to have occurred in the following parks (asterisks indicate that confirmation is pending at a particular area) - Grand Canyon*, Yosemite, Death Valley, Sequoia-Kings Canyon*, Joshua Tree*, Rocky Mountain*, Crater Lake, Bryce Canyon*, Zion and Canyonlands. Said a Washington Office spokesperson: "There are forums for artistic expression in national parks because national parks inspire artistic creativity. These images are outside that forum and outside the law." The link below is to a representative media report on the investigation. HYPERLINK "http://gazette.com/vandalism-investigated-at-10-national-parks-including-rocky-mountain-national-park/article/1540003"
A 21-year-old New York State woman, C.N., has been identified as the primary suspect in recent vandalism cases that affect eight national parks in the western United States. National Park Service investigators have confirmed that images were painted on rocks and boulders in Yosemite National Park, Death Valley National Park, and Joshua Tree National Park, all in California; Rocky Mountain National Park and Colorado National Monument, both in Colorado; Crater Lake National Park, in Oregon; Zion National Park and Canyonlands National Park, both in Utah. Investigators continue to collect evidence of the crimes and conduct interviews and are consulting with the U.S. Attorney's Office about potential charges. The image in Rocky Mountain National Park was reported to the park and removed in late September before similar images were found in the other national parks. Ice and snow now cover the image at Crater Lake National Park, and it may not be accessible for assessment and clean up until next summer. An image in Yosemite National Park was removed by an unknown person or persons. If people visiting these parks come upon these images, they should contact the nearest park ranger with information about the image location. Visitors should not attempt to remove the images. The National Park Service was contacted on October 20th about this vandalism case. The investigation began immediately. [Jeffrey Olson]
Rangers responded to the Mazama concession dorm last September 23rd regarding an employee who had been terminated for repeated alcohol problems among other issues. The rangers and the concession's general manager contacted the man, J.S., 47, at his dorm room and warned him that he could remain on the premises until the next day, provided he stayed in his room. Approximately ten minutes later, the rangers saw the man in the parking lot, staggering around and being very loud, and attempted to arrest him. As they were trying to handcuff him, he struck one ranger in the face and shoved another into a patrol car. When a third ranger arrived on scene, J.S. attempted to kick him as he was being placed into leg restraints. J.S. was finally controlled and transported to jail, but during the transport he attempted several times to break out the side window of the patrol vehicle, continued to scream profanities, and threatened to kill the rangers and their families. Later, after being released from custody after an initial court appearance, J.S. failed to appear for a second court appearance. He was tracked by rangers to a resort outside Page, Arizona, where he had taken a job as a chef. He was subsequently arrested by Glen Canyon rangers and Coconino County Sheriff's Office deputies on a federal warrant and turned over to the U.S. Marshal Service. On January 13th, J.S. appeared for sentencing in U.S. District Court in Medford, Oregon, where he had previously entered a guilty plea to a charge of resisting and impeding federal officers (18 USC 111). J.S. was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. Following his release, he will remain on three years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay one of the rangers restitution for the sunglasses that were destroyed when the ranger was struck in the face. Click on the link below for a news story with additional information. HYPERLINK "http://federalsoup.com/articles/2015/01/22/chef-cooks-up-trouble-with-federal-officers.aspx" [Curt R. Dimmick, Chief Ranger]
The park is putting its water shortage action plan into effect following the state's call to cease withdrawing water from Annie Creek. The main water supply for the park comes from Annie Creek, a tributary of the Wood River located in the Klamath Basin of southern Oregon. Despite above average snow and precipitation in Oregon this winter, stream flows in the Wood River are not at the levels determined necessary to maintain healthy and productive riparian habitats for native plants and fisheries in the Klamath Basin. As a result, a call for water has been issued and validated on the Wood River, and Crater Lake must use an alternate source of water for park needs. Like most western states, Oregon follows the "prior appropriation" doctrine of water use, often referred to as "first in time, first in right." This means that when there is insufficient water to satisfy all water rights, water users with senior priority dates make a "call" to receive water, and users with junior water rights are shut off until the rights of the senior users making the call are satisfied. Under the Treaty of 1864, the Klamath Tribes have the right to hunt, fish, trap and gather on former reservation land. The tribes have legally determined claims that provide for instream flows sufficient for the protection of riparian habitat during spring runoff months. The priority date for these instream determined claims is "time immemorial," making them senior to all other rights. On April 13th, the Klamath Tribes called their claim on the Wood River. On May 1st, the Wood River was regulated to "time immemorial," the earliest available water right. On May 3rd, the Oregon Water Resources Department informed park staff that the park had to cease withdrawing water from Annie Creek, the park's primary water source. Park staff are asking all visitors and employees to use water wisely during the water supply shortage. Source: Press Release, Craig Ackerman and Marsha McCabe, Crater Lake NP.
A 20-year-old Florida man fell to his death last Tuesday while hiking in the park. Witnesses saw him venture out to a rocky point along the rim of a collapsed volcano, which gave way while he was standing on it. He fell 50 to 70 feet. Rangers in the park confirmed his death after reaching him. The victim was hiking in a closed area. Park officials said hiking along the rim of the collapsed volcano is extremely dangerous and prohibited. Source: News story, CNN.
Crater Lake National Park has issued a Level 1 evacuation notice for Rim Village and Park Headquarters, effective as of 5 p.m. last Saturday. The Level 1 notice informed residents and visitors to "be ready" for a potential evacuation of Rim Village and headquarters in the event that the Spruce Lake Fire approaches these areas. Mazama Village and other areas in the park are not affected by this notice. Residents and visitors have been asked to monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information regarding potential evacuations. There are three evacuation notice levels: Level 1 asks people to "BE READY" for potential evacuation, Level 2 directs them to "BE SET" to evacuate, and Level 3 directs them to "GO" now. Park visitors will be advised as conditions change and are encouraged to check the park website, Facebook, and/or Twitter, and have been instructed to go to the relevant InciWeb site for current status reports and updates. The Spruce Lake Fire was started by lightning on July 24th and is being managed collectively with the Blanket Creek Fire, which is also burning within the park. Due to potentially hazardous conditions created by the Blanket Creek Fire, the following road and trails in are closed to entry and use until further notice:
The following road and trail closures due to the Spruce Lake Fire continue to be in effect until further notice:
These closures will remain in effect until further notice. Visitors are not at risk. All other roads and trails in Crater Lake National Park remain open as well as all park entrances, facilities and services. Source: Evacuation preparedness news release and trail and road closure news release, Crater Lake NP.
On Thursday, October 4th, the Klamath County Sheriff's Office received a report of a missing 56-year-old man who went mushroom picking in an area near the base of the eastern slope of Mt. Scott. The man, identified as M.H., was reported missing by family members after he failed to check in with them. The family had located M.H.'s vehicle and discovered that he left his phone and jacket in it and worried that he was not prepared to stay out in the elements. Based on this, Klamath County's volunteer SAR teams were activated and a search was begun. Over the course of the next three days, teams comprised of members of Klamath and Jackson County ground and mounted SAR teams, along with family and friends, used all available assets in a fruitless attempt to locate M.H. On Sunday, October 7th, Klamath 911 dispatch received a call from a hiker in the area of the Pinnacles Trail to the south of Mt. Scott inside Crater Lake National Park. The hiker had located a man who identified himself as M.H.; he told them he had been lost for four days and needed help. Search teams were able to use GPS positioning from the hiker's 911 phone call to pinpoint their location and rescue M.H. M.H. survived three nights in rugged terrain with temperatures well below freezing and periods of heavy rain, wearing nothing but blue jeans and a t-shirt. He described sleeping inside a hollowed-out log and underneath brush to stay out of the elements. He was not injured and only complained of being cold, tired and having multiple blisters on his feet. He was able to walk out under his own power with assistance from rangers and the hikers who located him. Source: Klamath Herald and News.
The Oregonian — Although Crater Lake NP remains open, visitors will now need to hike a long way in, as the south entrance has been closed due to a buildup of human waste in the park, which the paper calls "a disturbingly common problem at national park sites" since park employees got sent home when the shutdown began. "Due to conditions caused by the impact of human waste buildup on the park's water system," read a note on the park's website, "the road to Crater Lake is now closed to vehicles at Highway 62 to protect public health and park resources. The road may not reopen until after the shutdown." The northern entrance road was closed earlier in the season. Source: The Oregonian.
A man was rescued on Monday, June 10th, after jumping onto some snow along the lip of the crater, then slipping and sliding about 800 feet into Crater Lake's caldera. Responders descended into the caldera, reached the, man and walked him down to the shoreline, where he was retrieved by a Coast Guard helicopter. He was then transferred to an AirLink Critical Care Transport team and flown to Bend for treatment. The man fell while in a steep spot near Rim Village that wasn't guarded by a railing. Source: Jim Ryan, The Oregonian.
Divers have recovered the body of a 27-year-old man who jumped off a rock cliff at Cleetwood Cove into Crater Lake on August 18th and never surfaced. People on scene immediately threw out a life ring and staff from the Crater Lake Hospitality park boat tour operation went to the area in a small boat to help with the search. Park staff mobilized quickly and responded to the location, over a mile down Cleetwood Trail. The search continued by boat, but the water was choppy and visibility was obscured in the area. Divers were called, but due to the remote location there was no time for them to do any searching before darkness fell. After more than three hours from the time of the incident with no sign of the victim, the search was called off for the night. Divers mobilized on Monday and located the man 90 feet below the surface on a rock ledge. The lake drops off to 1,200 feet beyond that point. Swimming is only allowed in the area around Cleetwood Cove and along the shore of Wizard Island. The incident occurred at the end of the Cleetwood Trail at a location on the lakeshore where every summer thousands of park visitors jump into the cold lake and then quickly swim to shore. Locals refer to the spot as the 'Jumping Rock.' Park staff are unaware of any previous drownings in that area. Source: KOMO News.
In July 2018, E.M. of Grants Pass, Oregon, took his ATV to the Pumice Desert and drove in circles that dug ruts a foot deep while a friend took pictures of him. His action caused widespread vegetation mortality, destroying plants from at least 15 different native species. E.M. was assessed $60,000 for the damage he caused. Last week, he paid $200 out of his own pocket; his insurance company paid the rest. The Pumice Desert once was a glacial valley. It was buried by pumice during the eruption of Mount Mazama, the Cascade peak that imploded and left behind Crater Lake. The park has recently seen an increase in vehicles illegally driving off-road. Restoring the damaged areas is costly and takes years. Source: KOMO News.
A former concession food service worker has confessed to severely sickening two coworkers by putting Visine eye drops in their water bottles in 2016 and has been sentenced in federal district court. C.M. was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and two years' probation after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor assault charges. C.M. worked in the park's employee dining room, which was near a prep kitchen where several employees kept water bottles. On two occasions in 2016, C.M. put Visine drops in the water bottles of two coworkers, including his supervisor. Both became extremely sick, with the supervisor saying she experienced severe nausea and pain that she described as "almost like hot pokers, almost like labor pain." A few days after becoming ill, the supervisor overheard C.M. bragging about putting Visine in her water bottle. Investigators tested the water bottle and found it contained tetrahydrozoline, the active ingredient in Visine, which can cause respiratory distress, coma, blurred vision, diarrhea, seizures and other complications when ingested. When questioned, C.M. admitted he intentionally put the Visine in one of the victim's water bottles as a "harmless prank" after first researching Visine poisoning on the internet. The investigation revealed that at least a dozen employees experienced similar symptoms during the same period. C.M. could have faced up to six months in federal prison, but prosecutors did not recommend prison time because of C.M.'s willingness to admit his guilt and his minimal criminal history, which included one conviction for selling counterfeit videos. Source: Mark Freeman, Mail Tribune.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, Crater Lake NP — Highway 62, the main access road to the park, is among a number of Oregon roads that have been closed due to rockslides triggered by recent heavy rains. Giant boulders — each about 15 feet by 15 feet — fell from a hillside that has endured pounding rain and repeated freezing and thawing of the rock due to harsh winter conditions. About two miles of the highway remain closed as geologists and hydrologists inspect the slide. Source: KOMO News.
On February 4th, 2021, a White City, Oregon man was sentenced for violating the Lacey Act by illegally poaching a trophy bull elk in the park A.D.W., 44, was sentenced to five years' federal probation to include a six-month stay at a residential reentry center. The court also ordered that A.D.W. be banned for life from Crater Lake National Park, be restricted from hunting for the duration of his probation, and pay $42,500 in restitution to the National Park Service. In July 2014, the NPS, FWS, and Oregon State Police (OSP) began a multi-year investigation into A.D.W.'s illegal hunting activities based on reports that he was poaching wildlife in the park. At least two people reported that A.D.W. had killed several deer and elk on the west side of the park after baiting them into meadow with rock salt. OSP received further reports that A.D.W. was illegally poaching wildlife at night. In August 2014, an OSP trooper observed A.D.W. and his son leaving the national park after dark. When the trooper approached him, A.D.W. hurried toward his vehicle and acted as if he were trying to hide something. After speaking with A.D.W., the trooper located a loaded AR-15 semi-automatic rifle outfitted with night optics beneath his truck. A.D.W. initially claimed the rifle was for bear hunting, but after the trooper pointed out that the rifle was not lawfully equipped to hunt any wildlife, A.D.W. then claimed it was for personal protection. The trooper cited A.D.W. for being a felon in possession of a firearm and seized the rifle. A.D.W. was convicted in state court of the charge and placed on probation. Throughout 2015, NPS and OSP continued receiving reports of A.D.W.'s illegal poaching. NPS rangers found carcasses and piles of rock salt in an area of the park frequented by A.D.W. In October 2015, an NPS ranger found an elk skull, jaw, and vertebrae in the national park. The remains were determined to be near a custom track log found on A.D.W.'s GPS unit. Investigators later learned A.D.W. entered and won second or third place in a Sportsman's Warehouse Big Bull elk hunting contest. In August and September 2016, A.D.W. engaged in several incriminating text conversations. On August 28, 2016, A.D.W. texted his wife about his attempt to locate a bleeding elk he had shot. A photo later discovered on A.D.W.'s phone, taken on August 28, appeared to depict a trail of blood. Investigators also found a custom waypoint named "Hit" on A.D.W.'s GPS device created the same morning as the date-stamped photo. The "Hit" location was within the boundaries of the national park. On September 7, 2016, A.D.W. texted another individual, bragging about his hunting activities: "I've been in the elk since opening season and passed up 5 last Sunday because I have a problem shooting a small 5 point when there is a monster 50 yards away screaming at me...I'm pretty good at finding elk around here, I've killed 24 and get one every year." On September 22, 2016, OSP contacted A.D.W. in his vehicle as he was pulling a horse trailer near the boundary of the national park. Although A.D.W. stated he had not been hunting in 2016, the trooper observed blood on A.D.W.'s hands and clothing. A.D.W. then gave the trooper a partially validated Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) archery elk tag, which also had blood on it. The next day, an OSP trooper returned to the area where they had contacted A.D.W., walked a short distance into the national park, and discovered a freshly killed and partially butchered elk. The carcass was in the same meadow wherein A.D.W. was previously reported to have hunted elk. The trooper noted that the elk's head was sawed off and some meat was removed. Shortly thereafter, A.D.W. texted photos of himself posing with the elk. OSP obtained the photos and matched them to the carcass. On October 4, 2016, FWS agents executed a federal search warrant on A.D.W.'s residence. They located multiple firearms, assorted ammunition, and several wildlife specimens. FWS special agents later searched A.D.W.'s GPS units and confirmed he was in the national park when he killed the bull elk on September 22 and had marked the location of the kill. They further confirmed that the majority of his GPS hunting waypoints and track logs between 2011 and 2016 were within the boundaries of the national park. Forensic scientists at the FWS National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab, conducted forensic examinations and genetic analyses of the wildlife specimens taken from A.D.W.'s residence and compared them to animal remains recovered in the national park. DNA analyses revealed that A.D.W. possessed parts of at least 13 elk, 12 deer, and one black bear, and the blood found on A.D.W.'s ODFW archery tag matched the DNA of the elk poached on September 22. A forensic pathologist further determined the elk killed on September 22 had been killed by a gunshot. In total, investigators definitively linked six seized specimens to elk or deer poached by A.D.W. in the national park in 2015 and 2016. On May 1, 2019, A.D.W. was indicted by a federal grand jury in Medford, Oregon for violating the Lacey Act by unlawfully taking and transporting a trophy bull elk from Crater Lake National Park and illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. On August 17, 2020, A.D.W. pleaded guilty to the Lacey Act charge and agreed to pay restitution to NPS for the wildlife illegally taken from the national park. Source: United States Attorney's Office, District Of Oregon.
On January 12, the park closed all facilities and the road from park headquarters to Rim Village. Source: Crater Lake National Park
The NPS has provided notice to Crater Lake Hospitality, a subsidiary of Aramark, that it intends to terminate their concession contract unless they show "cause as to why the NPS should not do so." The press release stated that "termination would be an extremely rare action." Recent annual reviews by the NPS have shown that the concession has had "poor facility upkeep, failure to complete maintenance projects and a lack of staff training," as well as staff reports of "sexual assault and harassment, and subpar living and working conditions." Aramark has stated publicly that "the challenges at Crater Lake National Park are not indicative of our overall business operations." The current contract was set to expire in 2030. Source: The Seattle Times, National Park Service Regions 8, 9, 10, and 12 (Pacific West Region)
On July 17, the Middle Fork Fire was discovered in the Middle Fork area in the northwest corner of the park. As of August 5, the fire was 1,938 acres and 1% contained, with 30 personnel assigned. Source: Inciweb
On July 17, the Middle Fork Fire was discovered in the Middle Fork area in the northwest corner of the park. As of August 19, the fire was 5,222 acres and 0% contained, with 54 personnel assigned. On August 13, the park closed the North Entrance to allow firefighters to prepare control lines along North Entrance Road. The road is closed from North Junction to the park boundary at the junction with Highway 138. All other park roads remain open, with the exception of construction closures on East Rim Drive. Source: Inciweb, Crater Lake National Park
On July 17, the Middle Fork Fire was discovered in the Middle Fork area in the northwest corner of the park. As of September 2, the fire was 5,282 acres and 46% contained, with 75 personnel assigned. On August 13, the park closed the North Entrance to allow firefighters to prepare control lines along North Entrance Road. The road is closed from North Junction to the park boundary at the junction with Highway 138. All other park roads remain open, with the exception of construction closures on East Rim Drive. Source: Inciweb, Crater Lake National Park
On July 17, the Middle Fork Fire was discovered in the Middle Fork area in the northwest corner of the park. As of September 16, the fire was 5,286 acres and 70% contained, with 0 personnel currently assigned. It is being monitored by NPS staff. As of September 13, the Bald Crater Loop, Bert Creek, and Boundary Springs Trails remain closed due to hazardous conditions. Source: Inciweb, Crater Lake National Park (8/11, 9/13)
On July 17, the Middle Fork Fire was discovered in the Middle Fork area in the northwest corner of the park. As of September 19, the fire was 5,286 acres and 70% contained, with 0 personnel currently assigned. It is being monitored by NPS staff. As of September 13, the Bald Crater Loop, Bert Creek, and Boundary Springs Trails remain closed due to hazardous conditions. Source: Inciweb, Crater Lake National Park (8/11, 9/13) | |