RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date:  Tuesday, March 21, 1989

INCIDENTS

89-37 - Denali - Follow-up on Climbers

Solo climber D.S. successfully completed his winter solo ascent of
Mt. McKinley via the West Rib route on or about March 11th and was flown out
from the mountain several days later. He reportedly had a very enjoyable
climb, except for being held up by high winds and having to contend with
some difficult ice fall climbing high on the route. On March 17th,
seventeen experienced Japanese mountaineers were flown to the southeast fork
of the Kahiltna Glacier at 7,500' to begin recovery of the bodies of the
three climbers who were killed in Denali Pass. The park has allowed the
recovery team to establish a supply cache at 9,800', but required that the
team start at the usual point on the southeast fork in order to properly
acclimatize. Once recovered, the bodies will be transported by commercial
helicopter to Anchorage. The recovery effort is expected to take at least
three weeks. The park will be working closely with the Japanese consulate
in Anchorage during the recovery effort. (Tom Griffiths, CR, DENA).

89-52 - Mount Rainier - Aircraft Accident with Fatality

On the morning of March 19th, a Cessna 210 piloted by 54-year-old W.S.
of Rock Island, Washington, flew into Willis Wall at the 12,500' level
of Mount Rainier. Rangers were able to spot the rear stabilizer section of
the aircraft, but were not able to reach the accident site because of the
extreme danger from falling rocks, ice and snow. W.S. was the only person
on board and is presumed to have been killed. According to newspaper
reports, W.S. had requested a turn while flying on instruments, and
acknowledged the clearance after it had been given by an FAA controller.
But flight control officials noted that W.S.'s plane did not turn when it
approached the mountain. Radar contact was lost, and a search was begun
immediately. The plane was found on Sunday by CAP searchers, and the park
was then notified. It is not known when or if it will be possible to
recover the victim's body because of the danger. (John Jensen, CR, MORA,
via Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO; Associated Press, 3/19).

89-53 - Death Valley - Search

On the afternoon of March 10th, an abandoned vehicle was discovered north of
the Cow Creek residential area. A search was begun for the owner, R.H.;
at its peak, the search involved eight Southern California SAR units
and more than 40 searchers. No sign of R.H. was found, and the search was
reduced to a limited effort by park rangers on March 15th. R.H.'s family
concurred with the decision to scale back the search. (Dispatch, DEVA, via
Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).

89-54 - New River Gorge - Body Found

At noon on March 18th, outfitters from Passages to Adventure notified the
park that they had recovered the body of a man from the New River. The body
has not yet been identified, but it was determined that it had been in the
water for several days. The body was taken to the county coroner for
initial examination, and will be sent to the state medical examiner in
Charleston for in-depth study. Although foul play was initially suspected,
it has been ruled out for the time being. (Rick Brown, Acting CR, NERI, via
Chris Andress and Ginny Paci, RAD/MARO).

89-55 - Capitol Reef - Search for Ted Bundy Victim

Shortly before his execution in January, serial killer Ted Bundy told
investigators that he had killed eight girls and women in Utah, and that
one, 17-year-old N.W., who disappeared in 1974, was buried near
Capitol Reef. Last Friday, searchers found human remains at a site one mile
east of the park. Forensic tests will be conducted this week to determine
if they are the remains of N.W.. There is no indication that any of
Bundy's victims were killed or buried in the park itself. (Associated
Press).

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) Fire Situation

a) National Park Service:

No major fires have been reported in the past several days. The largest NPS
fire during that period was a 200-acre, lightning-caused wildfire in Big
Cypress. Two NPS seven-person NPS squads are being assembled from NPS
hotshot crews and will be sent to south Florida due to the extreme fire
danger there. The firefighters will be based in Big Cypress, and will be
supervised by the NPS interagency hotshot crew superintendents. It's
anticipated that they will be in Florida from late March until mid-May.

b) Other Agency:

No significant fires.

2) Fire Activity - 294 fires for 5,140 acres in last 24 hours.

3) Analysis - Conditions remain extremely dry in south Florida, but snow or
rain is expected in the southwest. If the moisture is significant, an
evaluation will be made to determine if prepositioned suppression crews can
be moved from the area. The original plan was to leave these crews and
engines in place through Easter weekend.

4) Prognosis - Only minor activity is expected in the immediate future.

OFFICE NOTES

1) On March 30th, Western Region will be hosting a one-day workshop on
aircraft noise studies. In 1987, the region contracted for a study to
review the potential methods by which aircraft acoustical data could be
collected in park areas. Following field visits to several park areas, the
contractor has developed a new methodology for collecting this data. The
contractor will present the results of his study and technical assistance
will be provided to parks that want to initiate their own acoustical studies
or monitoring programs. Please address all inquiries on this workshop to
Dr. Milton Kolipinski, Western Region, at FTS 557-8373 or 415-556-8373.
(Steve Hodapp, RAD/WASO).

TRANSMITTALS

Memorandum: "Prescribed Natural Fire Plan and Program Reviews", signed by
Director Mott on March 14th and sent yesterday to RD's in AR, SER, WR, RMR,
SWR, MWR and PNR. Asks for assistance of certain staffers in parks in above
regions for detail to Boise to work on technical and policy review of fire
management plans.

Memorandum: "Review of Preliminary FIREPRO III Recommendations", signed by
Acting Associate Director, Operations, on March 16th and sent yesterday to
RD's in AR and NCR. Asks for evaluation of FIREPRO III package by 4/1/89.

STAFF STATUS

Belli in Denver all week with NPS-77 grazing work group; Loach on AL through
Friday.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
FTS 343-4874/4875 or 202-343-4874/4875