Writers on the Range: Panhandling in our national parks - November 21, 2005

With little fanfare, the National Park Service is proposing to start soliciting money from both corporations and park visitors. The plan, which could take effect as early as this December, would convert the agency’s current passive posture of merely accepting donations to one of pursuing vendors, concessionaires and other interests for contributions.

The children and grandchildren of Arthur Paul Altorfer and Kathryn Louise (Bidge) Wampler will host an informal reception from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 26, for their 50th anniversary at the Ragland Cultural Center, 218 N. 7th St.

New parkway signs go up - October 21, 2005

Sections of Highway 39 between South Sixth Street and Highway 97 North have been known by many names over the years, but it's now officially the Crater Lake Parkway.

Scientists gather to save pines - October 09, 2005

Whitebark pines, the slow-growing, usually wind-twisted trees found at heavily visited areas of Crater Lake National Park, are often admired for their beauty and their ability to survive in high, harsh climates.

Recent snow and rain at Crater Lake National Park means that several prescribed burns will be done in the coming weeks.

But whitebark pines at Crater Lake, and throughout high elevation, sub-alpine reaches of the American West, are dying at an alarming rate from blister rust, an exotic pine disease. Because blister rust is non-native, trees have very little resistance.

Park rangers cleared in camper's shooting death - September 23, 2005

National Park rangers were justified in shooting and killing a drunken California man in July, federal officials announced Thursday.

Seismic monitoring stations wanted at Crater Lake - September 17, 2005

But, yes, geologists with the U.S. Geologic Survey and Crater Lake National Park officials would like to install six to 10 seismic monitoring stations at and near the park.

Proposal: Parks need an update - September 6, 2005

A set of proposed revisions to national park policy could open Crater Lake and other national parks to cell-phone towers, snowmobiles and private water craft.

Hike of the Week: enjoy solitude, panorama on Crater Peak - September 2, 2005

Spending a night on Crater Lake's Wizard Island - September 04, 2005

For more than 30 years I've experienced Crater Lake National Park from many perspectives - as a writer, photographer, father of a park ranger, recreationalist and continually bedazzled tourist. My most recently learned lessons in Crater Lake trivia came as a member of the park's Natural History Association board of directors, during our group's annual summer outing.

Kent Taylor is leaving Crater Lake National Park after 19 years of living and working at the park. But many of the amazing park collectibles he's gathered are staying behind.

After long months of work, Thursday was a chance for Klamath County residents to reap the rewards of a quarter campaign that features Crater Lake and the renaming of a road that leads toward the lake.

When Gov. Ted Kulongoski took a boat tour of Crater Lake Wednesday afternoon, he was just another tourist.

More than 100 bicyclists will be wheeling around the Wood River Valley and Crater Lake National Park Saturday during the first-ever Crater Lake Century ride.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski will be in Klamath Falls for a two-day visit starting Wednesday for a local celebration of the release of the Oregon quarter featuring Crater Lake and the dedication of the Crater Lake Parkway.

Jack Batzer, 89, fell and struck his head on the garage floor at his Canyon Avenue residence Wednesday. He lingered in a coma at Providence Medford Medical Center before dying Saturday at about 5:45 a.m.

Crater Lake plates boost park funds - August 20, 2005

Special issue Oregon license plates featuring an image of Crater Lake aren't just pretty. They also represent money in the bank for Crater Lake National Park's new Science and Learning Center.

Teens rehabilitate trails near Crater Lake - August 18, 2005

Why else would a crew of a dozen teenagers doing trail work in Crater Lake National Park's backcountry willingly hike two miles to gobble lunch in the shadow of Stuart Falls, then reverse the trek - a steeply uphill walk - to spend the afternoon widening the path, pulling out exposed rocks and replacing them with dirt fill, trimming limbs and other sweat-inducing tasks.

Rim runs, marathon an oxymoron - August 15, 2005

As it has for 29 years previous, the Crater Lake Rim Runs and Marathon challenged, literally and figuratively, runners from around the United States, and the world.

Layne claims victory in first trip to Crater Lake Rim Runs - August 14, 2005

Now living in Bend, Layne won the 13-mile race during Saturday's 30th anniversary running of the Crater Lake Rim Runs and Marathon, and finished in one hour, 32 minutes and 29 seconds.

Parking a concern at Rim Runs - August 11, 2005

In a normal year, Bob Freirich would be ecstatic at the number of entries in the Crater Lake Rim Runs and Marathon.

Crater Lake has seven rangers with authority to carry guns - August 02, 2005

Like their counterparts at the local or state level, federal officials with law enforcement authority go through training in an academy setting. Most of the training for rangers and other land protection officers is done at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glencoe, Ga.

Police records indicate a California man shot dead by a ranger at Crater Lake National Park last week had been arrested a year ago for allegedly pulling a knife on security guards who confronted him for shoplifting.

Ranger details Crater Lake shooting - July 30, 2005

Crater Lake National Park authorities say it took less than two minutes for a California man’s encounter with park rangers to escalate from a domestic disturbance to a fatal shooting.

A club-wielding man who threatened to kill two Crater Lake National Park rangers at a campground Wednesday night was shot dead by one of them in what was believed to be the first such shooting in park history, authorities said.

The Klamath Outdoor Science School will hold a workshop for educators on August 23 to show them what the new school has to offer. The school now has a site and temporary tents to stay in, but it needs teachers interested in taking their classes there come spring.

Construction Projects Update - June 30, 2005
Construction has begun on the first phase of a project to update visitor services at Rim Village in Crater Lake National Park. A portion of the cafeteria/gift store building is being rehabilitated as a year-round facility for gift sales and food service.

Make the most of Crater Lake quarter - June 02, 2005

Now that everyone's pretty much vented over the fact that the Crater Lake quarter's coming out party won't be at Crater Lake, let's resolve to make the best of things.

Mint strikes Oregon quarter - May 27, 2005

Chuck Lundy, Crater Lake National Park's superintendent, was among the group of Oregonians in Denver Thursday for the ceremonial strike of the Oregon quarter at the U.S. Mint.

Celebrations planned for state quarter

The Oregon quarter makes its appearance next month, and state officials are planning quite a coming-out party for the commemorative coin featuring Crater Lake.

Construction projects beginning at Crater Lake - May 24, 2005

A decades-long effort to return Crater Lake National Park's Rim Village to pedestrians will become a reality next week when long-awaited work begins on tearing out the existing parking lot.