The park deals with leadership and program changes, construction
By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news
There’s a lot happening at Crater Lake National Park, from the naming of an interim superintendent to uncertainty of summer season ranger-led programs to the annual efforts to open snow-closed roads.
Sean Denniston, who for several years has been Crater Lake’s deputy superintendent at Crater Lake, is currently serving as the park’s interim superintendent. It’s a position Denniston has previously held. Elexis Fredy, superintendent at San Juan Historical Site and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve in Washington, will be coming to Crater Lake to replace Denniston as the acting superintendent.
Kevin Heatley, who had taken the position in January, abruptly resigned earlier this month, citing deep staffing reductions he said are unsustainable. In an interview discussing his resignation, Heatley said he “did not want to be empowering the current administration to cause that kind of impact on the people that I’m responsible for,” adding, “And I did not want to participate in the dismantlement of the National Park Service.”
Several permanent park positions, including chief ranger, roads supervisor, and education coordinator, are also vacant. Crater Lake public information officer and chief of interpretation Marsha McCabe said the park is under a government-wide hiring freeze for permanent positions “so we do not know when the position will be filled.” She said the hiring process for law enforcement positions, including chief ranger and some critical maintenance jobs, is moving forward.
Because of the uncertainty of start dates for seasonal employees, McCabe said a ranger program schedule has not yet been finalized, “but we will be doing talks in Rim Village at the lodge and Sinnott, hopefully some junior ranger activities, evening campfire programs, and guided hikes.”
After a snowy year – 46 feet of snow, four feet over the current average – the snow depth at various locations is variable. In March the park measured 156 inches, which was significantly higher than the historical average for that date. While the snow has been melting relatively quickly in some areas, there are places where the snow is still 10 to 20 feet deep.
West Rim Drive, the North Entrance Road and East Rim Drive to Skell Head opened on Friday. Everyone should use caution and keep an eye out for construction vehicles traveling behind the gate. According to McCabe, there are no projections on when Rim Drive will be open beyond Skell Head because of numerous rock slides. She noted that visitors can hike or bike past the gate at Skell Head for about two miles.
“Everyone should use caution and keep an eye out for construction vehicles traveling behind the gate,” McCabe said.
The contractors for the ongoing East Rim Drive reconstruction project are also doing some plowing at the park to get access to this season’s work site. East Rim Drive will be closed for the rehabilitation project from Reflection Point to Sun Notch.
“We are hopeful that section will reopen for travel sometime in mid to late September,” McCabe said.
Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at 337lee337@charter.net.
