An Oregon Wild Wednesday Presentation:

Hoofin’ it at Crater Lake

The path to preservation in Oregon’s only National Park

Over 400,000 people visit Crater Lake National Park every year. Young children stare in wonder at the deep blue water. Amazed first-time visitors marvel at the caldera that was once mighty Mount Mazama. But how many people stray from Park headquarters and the Rim Drive? What number of visitors see the Park beyond the paved roads and parking lots? For National Park Service historian Steve Mark, the answer might be all too few.

Join Mark and the conservation organization Oregon Wild for a special Wild Wednesday event on the history of Crater Lake National Park’s hiking trails and their importance for preserving this unique place.

Stationed at Crater Lake National park, Steve Mark was born in Eugene and holds degrees from the University of Oregon and Southern Oregon State College. His masters thesis involved studying wilderness review in the East Mojave National Scenic Area (now Mojave National Preserve), and he has since written about the origins of wilderness preservation in southern Oregon and elsewhere. Mark is the author of several books on national park areas and has published widely, including Preserving the Living Past: John C. Merriam's Legacy in the State and National Parks (Berkeley: University of  California Press, 2005).

Mark’s presentation delves into past efforts to build and maintain trails in Crater Lake National Park and urges that a comprehensive plan direct future trail construction for the purpose of visitors becoming better acquainted with important park features.

Following on Mark’s presentation, Oregon Wild Wilderness Coordinator Erik Fernandez will explore the Park backcountry and beyond the Park boundaries in a tour of the Crater Lake Wilderness proposal. Fernandez will discuss the threats surrounding the Park and the burgeoning campaign to safeguard the area from future harmful development.

What: Oregon Wild Wednesday  – A free quarterly event open to all-ages. RSVP is not required, but we encourage you to arrive early.

When: Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 6:00-7:30 pm

Who: Steve Mark, National Park Service – and – Erik Fernandez, Wilderness Coordinator for Oregon Wild.

Where: Migration Brewing
2828 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97232
www.migrationbrewing.com

WIN!: Every person who attends this free event will be entered into our raffle for great prizes like Patagonia gear! Drawing to take place evening of event; you must be present to win.

Crater Lake Photo by William Sullivan