Kevin Octavio Pineda, the 20-year-old killed in a fall this week at Crater Lake National Park, had been participating in an organic agricultural education program when he decided to see the sun rise over the picture book lake.

"A hard-working, interested young man who was dedicated and enthusiastic about learning agricultural skills," said Eric Navickas, one of the owners of U.R. Organics in Prospect.

Pineda, of Orlando, Florida, walked to a rocky perch at about 5:45 a.m. Tuesday to see the sun rise over Crater Lake, only to have rock crumble under his feet, causing him to fall 50 to 70 feet, according to park officials.

Pineda arrived June 28 at the farm, also known as Upper Rogue Organics, as a participant in World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, a Sydney, Australia-based organization that connects volunteers to work opportunities. Friday was to have been his last day with U.R. Organics, located about 25 miles southwest of the national park, Navickas said.

Pineda has been attending Santa Monica College and living with his sister in the Los Angeles area, intending to eventually pursue environmental studies at a four-year college, Navickas said.

Pineda's family, including his sister, arrived at the 10-acre farm on Friday to collect his belongings. Navickas learned that Pineda's upbringing took place in Colombia; Queens, New York; and Orlando.

His death "has been really tough on our crew," Navickas said. "We work really closely together. We have all of our meals together. Everyone's been processing the situation. It's been tough on our whole farm."

Pineda had driven up Tuesday morning from Prospect to the park with two other U.R. Organics volunteers.

Pineda did not step over a protective wall nor walk past warning signs to reach the perch where he intended to view the sunrise, Alec Chapman, supervisory park ranger, said Friday.

Pineda did, however, walk off a trail to reach the perch, Chapman said. The perch, above a nearly 90-degree face, is perhaps a quarter mile west of the intersection leading either to Rim Village to the east or a clockwise tour around the lake, to the west. Also, the perch is short walk – perhaps 50 to 100 feet – from a vehicle pullout.

Snow did not play a role in the fall although snow still blocks some park trails, Chapman said. Park officials expect patches of snow, fallen trees and other debris through July and into August.

In late May, a 22-year-old man slipped on snow near the park lodge and tumbled 1,000 feet into the caldera. He survived, and a rescue helicopter plucked him to safety.

--Allan Brettman

503-294-5900

@allanbrettman