August 10
The 10th Annual Crater Lake Rim Run is conducted under the watchful eye of a 7 member Rim Run observation team charged with the job of assessing the run’s impact on the Park. 310 runners participate.
6.7 miles Kenny White of Medford, Oregon 33.50
Connie Reints of Bend, Oregon 42.35
13.0 miles Dave Trooesch 1:21.53
Sidney Morrison 1:32.53
26.2 miles Toby Skinner 2:45.15
Virginia Falkowski 3:19.11
(breaking the previous record of 3:28.26)
August 10
Lee Juillerat and Ed Otterson, both of Klamath Falls, complete their 10th straight year of running the Rim Run. Portlander Ray Langston, 50, placing number 51, completes his 51st marathon in one year. Ray expects to run 58 marathons this year, with two days to spare. This will set a new running record. The Rim Run’s first wheel chair contestant, a woman, “wheeled” the 6.7 mile section, finishing number 48.
August 17
Secretary of the Interior, Donald Hodel, flies by helicopter to view the two controversial geothermal energy test drilling sites located on the east boundary of the Park. In a press conference, the secretary said he did not know whether a geothermal power plant could be compatible with the Park. “I’m confident that no activities will occur that will jeopardize the Park. “ The secretary also visits the old Lodge. The NPS has been forced to rethink plans to abandon the 75 year-old structure because of public outcry. Hodel said that he would prefer saving the building. “These kind of buildings have a place in the hearts of the people who visit the parks.”
August 17
A helicopter flies roof trusses to Wizard Island for a new research boat house. Because of volunteer help, the cost is held to $35,000. Thirty five men from the Medford Navy Seabee unit and a team of Student Conservation Association volunteers contribute over 2,000 hours of work worth $33,000. The new boat house will allow year-round Lake study and will include an emergency Lake shelter. Concern is still expressed about the loss of the Lake’s clarity.
September
The North Entrance Road is closed to all traffic to allow time for the road contractor to finish widening and repaving the road before the winter snow storms set in.
Fall
The Department of Energy reports that air visibility at Crater Lake Park is impaired by man-made smoke and dust for an average of about 4% of the time, during daylight hours, as compared with the Northern Cascades visibility being impaired up to 15 percent of the time.
The latest Lodge study reports that the renovation of the Lodge up to even “rustic” standards, keeping the same room sizes, etc., would cost $5.2 million. If the Lodge were brought up to modern standards, with larger rooms, the cost would be around $8.6 million.
October
Mail Tribune editorial writer, Richard Sept is invited to observe the annual Rim Run. He writes, “ I found the run was well organized and remarkable tidy. The road closures did not appear to cause problems. The run brings people into the park who appreciate its beauty and respect it special qualities. These runners might be generally deranged, but they are a most pleasant and sociable bunch. The 310 runners did not interfere with normal usage; they didn’t impair park services or pose any safety problems. They rather peacefully covered the formidable course, and they cleaned up carefully. Those who encountered them discovered courteous people who enjoy blue skies, clean air and nature’s beauty. The park should be lucky if all its visitors behaved as well.’
1985 Season
Visibility at Crater Lake is impaired by man-made smoke and dust an average of about 4 percent of the time during daylight hours, according to a recent study by the state Department of Environmental Quality.
Season Visitation: 427,927
