1983

• In the spring of 1983,  a Klamath Falls woman was skiing with Dan Miller and Niel Barrett on the backside of Hillman Peak. While skiing downhill she broke her lower leg in two places. Dan Miller acted quickly to get the attention of several skiers to go tell the rangers that Jennifer had broken her leg. Meanwhile, Niel stayed with Jennifer to monitoring her condition.  Dan skied down to the North Entrance Junction to obtain help of a snowmobile.

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  1983-84  (Year 1)

This was the second year for the ski patrol. Ranger Underwood was transferred to the Lava Beds.  Ranger Tim Oliverius took over responsibility for the patrol. Training was improved with sessions on cold weather first aid and avalanche rescue. Tim purchased skis, ski poles, avalanche peeps, probes, shovels, space blankets, and several first aid kits. There were 21 members skiing that year. 

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Ranger Tim Oliverius was transferred to another park and ranger Fred Van Horn took charge of the Ski Patrol.

Training was approved with the weekend dedicated to rescue techniques and cold weather first aid.

A Crater Lake Ski Patrol shoulder patch was designed, red hats and parkas were purchased as uniforms.  Backpacks and upgraded first-aid kids were also purchased.

The warehouse office ( Rat Hollow) was designated as the first Ski Patrol office and apartment 34 C was made available for overnight lodging for weekends.

Additional training with an overnight campout as held,  where igloos, snow pits and snow caves were constructed for shelters was conducted near the beginning of Crater Peak Trailhead.  Members of the  Klamath Falls Search and Rescue also participated in the exercise. Ken Hickenbottom and Len Ramp showed the patrol how to build igloos.  Patrollers were successful in the building of two large igloos, in which half of the group spent the night in. 

There were 24 active members that season.

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• This season started with the organizational meeting on November 15th  at the Community Center.

• Steve Bell, a National Ski Patrol area representative, presented a program on the Nordic National Ski Patrol.

• Thirteen members chose to join the candidate program, with the intentions of developing into certified National Ski Patrollers. The 17 remaining members continued on the Crater Lake Ski Patrol

• .All members agreed to ski three complete weekends on patrol and attend three full weekends of training. The three weekends equaled to 96 intense hours of training to qualify for the CLNSP.

• The patrol office and cache was upgraded with more equipment was purchased which included; compasses, altimeters, radio harnesses.  The 17 members who chose not to join the National Ski Patrol unit continued to be Crater Lake Ski Patrollers.

•  $36.00 was the annual dues for the National Ski Patrol.

• Don Hoffman was elected Patrol Director

•  Bill Stover as Secretary –Treasurer

• Dan Miller as Training Officer

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Training started on October 24th with the new National Ski Patrol Winter Emergency Care Program.

Dues went up to $43.00 plus an additional five dollars for the local Crater Lake Patrol.

Don Hoffman, Bill Stover, and Dan Miller were all re-elected to their respective offices.

Len Swanzy regional adviser from Bend spent many hours helping the members improve their skills. Len was a driving force in the development and training of CLNSP.  

Official National Ski Patrol Uniforms were adopted that year.  

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W inter Emergency Care  (W.E.C.)  review was held at the Community Center on October 15th. This years dues were $47:00 and the same officers were reelected.

There were twenty-two patrollers that include 8 NSP members with 2 candidates and 12 Crater Lake Ski Patrollers this season. The season ended with a great potluck party!

During spring break, a couple gets lost in the backcountry of Crater Lake and the patrol springs into action.  Rescue resources included aid from several

 local Search and Rescue Units,  a Air Force helicopter from Portland,  and local snowmobile clubs.  Rangers  located the couple with the aid of  a Air Force  helicopter 

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At the October 21^st training, a going away party was held for Freed Van Horn, who was transferred to another park in the early spring.  A rescue of an Elk hunter, who had a stroke, sent patrollers Dan Miller, Doug Robins, Jack Bennett, Niel Barrett, and several Rangers on a all night hike to Steward Falls. They missed the party but saved the live of the hunter.

This years dues stayed at $47: 00.  There were 9 NSP patrollers and 19 Crater Lake patrollers for a total of 28.

      New officers were elected:

Doug Robin as Patrol Director

Beth Hoffman as Secretary –Treasury

Dan Sullivan  was reelected as Training Officer

Ranger Sean McGuinness took over as the Ski Patrol Supervisor.

A catered year-end party with 100 folks enjoyed Steaks or Salmon was a classy end to the season.

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•   Officers held a special meeting April 8, 1990 to elect new officers and develop a "package"  training program for new CLNSP candidates.

•   The same officers were elected for another year.

   

  • Doug Robin -Patrol Director

  • Beth Hoffman- Secretary/Treasury

  • Dan Sullivan (Miller) -reelected as Training Office

• Five NSP patrollers and six candidates signed up and paid their $ 47:00 dues on Nov 4 1990.

• April 20, 1991 was a proud day for Kyle White, Cynthia White, Marian Masters and Sean McGuiness. They passed the candidates test and became certified NSP members.

• April 20th also marked a change of officers. Cynthia White and Marian Masters accepted to share the responsibilities of Secretary/Treasury.  Sean McGuiness remains Ski Patrol Coordinator for the park.

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• New Ranger Mark Magnuson took over as the park Ski Patrol leader from Sean McGuiness, who had his responsibilities changed.

• The( NSP) (WEC) refresher was held on October 26 & 27 at the Community Center.  At the Nov. 16 CLSP kick-off meeting, Bill Stover and Dan Miller presented the new Ski Patrol Information Display.

• Nov 17, 1991 was start of the season business meeting. Topics included NSP emblem pack covers, the great success of Cynthiana's t-shirt fund raising drive and how we might expand our future fund raising efforts, and how the NSP Oregon Region might better serve patrollers training needs.

• February 8th was Sean's off to Alaska party. We will always remember Sean as a powerful force in the development of the patrol.

• April 11, 1992 was another exciting day for Susan , and Rich Long, and Mike House. They passed the candidate test and joined the ranks of the CLNSP.

  • April 12, 1992 was the end of the year business meeting.

  • Election results were:

    • Kyle White, Patrol Director

    • Mike House, Assistant  Patrol Director

    • Cynthia White and Marian Masters, Secretary -Treasury

    • Dan stayed in his position as Training Officer

• Other topic's coved in the meeting included, finishing the candidate book, fund raising, more group activities, recruitment, and a strong dedication to having fun.

• April 25, 1992 was the end of a long journey for both Dan Miller and Doug Robins. They became certified as NSP Senior Patrollers.

•   While skiing down a steep stretch of the Dutton Creek Trail on a sunny afternoon  on February 9th, Kyle White,  fell and broke his leg when the tip of one of his skis dug into  deep,  wet, soft snow.  Other members of his party,  including both rangers and ski patrol personnel, organized White's rescue.  Medical and rescue equipment were transported approximately 2 & 1/2 miles to the site by Ski Patrollers and Rangers.  White fractured both bones in his lower left leg.  Dan Miller stabilized Whites broken leg.  White was placed in a rescue toboggan and towed over three miles to a waiting NPS ambulance.  He was then taken to a hospital in Klamath Falls.  Eighteen persons were involved in the rescue that took over seven hours to carry out.  

• An end of the year party which included a spaghetti feast was held at Wilson Cabins.  

Ranger Mark Magnus leaves the park and moves to another position at the Grand Tetons.  Ranger Steve Gough started his first season with the patrol in the capacity of Patrol Coordinator.

November 14, 1992 was the WEC refresher, which welcomed many new faces from both the park and the patrol.  Three new candidates were welcomed into the program.  JT Hummel, Donna Short, and John Jensen.

March 20-24, 1992 a NSP three-day over-night mountaineering class was held at Crater Lake. Twenty-two NSP patrollers from all over the NW showed up to ski the rim for the Mountaineering class.   Rangers Pete Reinhart and Steve Gough took place in the class and skied around the rim for their first time. 

• A new Patrol Council is formed in 1993 

  • Evan Olson as Patrol Director

  • Randy Benham as Trainer and Public Education

  • Niel Barrett as Trails 

  •  JT Hummel as Equipment    

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• Ski Patrol helps move SAR cache from Rat Hall back to the Warehouse.
• Niel Barrett is seriously inquired in an industrial accident on September 27, 1993 in Klamath Falls.
• Evan Olson is elected as patrol Director with new council members.
• The Patrol as 19 members total, reaching the lowest number. 
• Ranger Steve Gough leaves the park
• Interest in maintain the NSP declines

• In October of 1995, District Ranger Uwe Nehring calls a meeting of the patrol council to decide the fate of the National Ski Patrol involvement at Crater Lake. By unanimous vote, it is decided to drop the NSP from the park and concentrate on the Crater Lake Ski Patrol. Nehring and Broward, with approval of the patrol council, initiate a "minimum standards" task book to be completed within 2 to 3 seasons. All National Ski Patrol certified members active on the Crater Lake Ski Patrol are grand fathered in as certified members. It is agreed that patrollers receive the Crater Lake ball cap when certified.

• Members agreed to ski three complete weekends on patrol and but only have two full weekends of training. The two weekends equals 40 hours of training.  Patrol ball caps are ordered by Doug Robins and paid for out of the patrol account.

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The patrol is of immense value on several carryouts and SARS. This includes a technical rescue for a 10-year-old girl caught in an avalanche inside the Caldera.

In June of 1998, District Ranger Uwe Nehring leaves the park and goes to Mt Rainier. Former Staff Ranger Dan Jacobs takes over as backcountry District Ranger.

J.T. Hummel begins Ski Patrol Raffle as a fund raising event. Some of the funds go towards purchasing patrol handbooks made by Randy Benham.

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The patrol goes thought a major transition. Approximately, 15 core members form the nucleus of the patrol at the start of the 1996 season. Fifteen new members become candidates between 96  and 98 and help to create the new generation of patrollers we see today.

During the winter of 1996, Ski Patroller Niel Barrett producers and edits the first newsletter, named, Ski Safely and Have Fun.

Patrol T- shirts are made based on the design (from Sue La Masters design) and sell like hot cakes. This task was completed by JT, Hummel.

J.T Hummel begins organizing fund raising activities, using the "Friends of Crater Lake", organization to maintain funds. The money will be used for such things as Handbooks, Hats and other items.

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At the annual Ski Patrol orientation meeting in Dec 1998, the patrol votes on a new name for the newsletter. The "Caldera Chronicles" wins by unanimous vote.

Superintendent Chuck Lundy replaces Al Hendricks who transferred to Corral Reef.

Advanced skills qualifications disseminated to council for review.

Council members invite new blood into the council at orientation meetings but no patrollers are willing.

Patrol Parkas are replaced by the NPS with new ones manufactured by Benham Designs. Old parkas are donated to Mt Rainer.

Niel Barrett still unable to fully participate is daily Ski Patrol activities because of the direct and indirect injuries received from the industrial accident. Nevertheless, he is key in completing many important administration functions, such as, being the editor of the newsletter, conducting a Ski Sign inventory, helping to create new winter ski sign's, and much more.

Ski Patrol once again moves SAR Cache while the Warehouse is being repaired.

The Patrol continues its tradition of assisting the park and neighboring communities with help in emergencies. The Ski Patrol becomes involved in several SARS, including searching for a young boy who becomes missing near Pelican Butte. The boy was never found.

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Jeanette Gilbert takes over as council member of Safety and Education.
On the 5th of February, Ranger John Broward is involved in a serious ski accident while attending training in Washington. He breaks a bone and injuries his ALC.  He is out for the count and the rest of the season.

The Ski Patrol is involved in a body recovery in May for a suicide victim near Discovery Point. The Patrol assists on 6 other SARS this season including one in January in which 2 lost people used a cell phone to call and rent a snow cat from Diamond Lake to come pick then up. 

Led by Ranger Pete Reinhart, the Ski Patrol takes charge of replacing the entire Watchman Repeater for the second time in two years.

Approximately, 10 patrollers participate in the summer SARS class and Solstice party.

News media articles include: one feature article, three others mentioning the patrol, one TV report about the patrol.

As a result, of the media coverage, 12 new candidates expresses interest in the patrol.

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James Platt, John Bellon, and Niel Barrett become" inactive" patrol members. Because of their long standing commitment and many years of dedicated service, John Broward with approval of the patrol council, initiates an “Active Alumni Status”. They are invited to patrol whenever they can without maintaining a six-day commitment. It is decided that this status will only be granted for patrollers with more than ten years on the patrol.

This season marked one of lowest snowfalls on record. Ninety-five percent of the Snow pack is nearly gone by May. The Hemlock, West Rim and Ravens trails were closed early due to low snowfall and the eagerness to plow these areas.

John Broward is interviewed for a radio program about winter camping and the Ski Patrol.

JT Hummel reports there is $1000.00 from donations in the account.

Basic qualifications reviewed by council.

Chief Ranger Dave Brennam replaces George Buckingham who retired. This was Dave's first winter.

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John Broward accepts a job at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in July.  A going away party was held for both John and Jeannette in August, a large majority of the ski patrollers showed up to wish them well in their move to Hawaii.  John and Jeanette will be greatly missed.  John was a huge supporter of the Ski Patrol and with his help created the platform for the patrol to move forward, grow and learn in the years to come. Thank you John for all your hard work. You will be missed.

Randy Benham is hired to temporality fill John's position and help the Ski Patrol transition into the 2002 season and bring John's permanent replacement up to speed with the operations of the Ski Patrol.

The patrol Orientation is set for December 8 & 9

In January 2002, the patrol was called out on the rescue. Bill Bloom and Randy Benham participated in a search for a couple of overdue skiers. The two started out on the East Rim during a massive storm that had been relentless for the last several days, in search of the two missing skiers. As a result of the storm, several new feet of fresh power blanketed the park. When the patrollers reached the Vida Ridge Area, near Crater Peak trailhead, they triggered an avalanche that covered both Bill and Randy, and two other skiers. (Kris Fischer and Rick Ward, whom they met on the trial that day and volunteered to help). Randy managed to dig himself out quickly and started to hunt for the other buried skiers. Randy uncovered the two-day skiers first, but could not find any radio transmissions on the avalanche beacon from Bill or any other signs of him. After 30 minutes, Randy believed he was not going to find Bill, but was not willing to give up his search, even though, Randy was both mentally and physically taxed. By sure willpower and years of training, Randy picked up Bills signal from his transceiver. Randy quickly found the strongest transmission spot and stated to probe. After, several attempts at probing, Randy's probe pole found Bill. Bill being in a state of hypothermia was still alert enough to grab the stabbing probe pole to alert Randy of his location. If it was not for all the training and the expertise of the patrollers on that day, especially Randy, lives could have been lost. Several days later, the two over due skiers were located.

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Ranger Mary King takes over as the Ski Patrol Coordinator. Dave Brennan, Crater Lake National Park’s chief ranger, Dave Brennam presents Randy Benham, with the Exemplary Act Award during ceremonies at the park

Mary submits an application to the National Park Foundation on behalf of the Crater Lake Ski Patrol for the distinguished, first ever, George Herzog Award.

In April 2003, the patrol receives the George Hartzog Award for outstanding volunteer service by a group in the nation.

In May of 2003, a selected number of ski patrol members went to Washington DC to receive the George Herzog Award at a dinner ceremony held at the Old Ebbitt Grill. Those patrollers were Niel Barrett, Doug Robbins, Dan Miller, and Mary Hess who represented the Ski Patrol. Ken & Lorain Hickenbottom, Donna Short, Paul and Whitney Nolte paid there own way, but all received the red carpet treatment. The patrol when on tours of the FDR Memorial, the US Capital Building, and met with Gayle Norton, the secretary of interior and other distinguished politicians, like Ron Wyden, Gordon Smith, and Gary Walden.

In June of 2000, Martha Hess submitted an application to the Park Foundation. Later that month, the Patrol received the Allegra grant of $5000.00. (Great Job Martha)

In April Mary King receives another job at Lason Volcanic Park and transfers. A dinner on Mary's behalf was held at the community center. During the dinner, JT Hummel awarded Mary with a beautiful picture on the patrols' behalf, the picture was of Crater Lake.  Mary for her short time did a great job as Coordinator and will be dearly missed.

The Weather Channel does a story about the 2002 avalanche, and airs it in February.   Crater Lake purchased two copies of the video for future reference.   

Patrol numbers reach an all time high of 43. There were 30 certified members and 13 new candidates.

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• A special edition of the Caldera Chronicles was sent out in July in celebration of the patrols' achievements.

• Steven Martin replaces Mark King as the Patrols Coordinator.

• The Patrol Council goes thought major changes. The council met in both June and October to talk over these changes.  It was decided that the focus would be to get back to the basics.  This includes doing more trail marking and having patrollers  do more skiing  on the backcountry trials. Also, the council created a three year rotating training   program for the Orientation weekend. 

• New Council members take over:

•       Bill Bloom as Patrol Director

•       Tim Hennessey as Education Safety Officer

• Ann Michaels as Equipment Officer and JT graciously remains doing fundraising
• Kevin Groh, as Training Officer
• Niel Barrett remained as Trails Officer

• New Amendments to the Charter were added and voted on by the patrol.