RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:  Monday, October 18, 1993

Broadcast: By 0900 EDT

INCIDENTS

93-770 - Acadia (Maine) - Climbing Fatality

On October 12th, D.R. and P.R., both 20 years old and experienced
climbers, went out to Great Head, one of the most difficult rock-climbing
areas in the park.  They lowered themselves down a cliff to the edge of the
ocean, then made their way across boulders at low tide to a sea cave, where
they attached their equipment to the top of the cave and walked across the
ceiling.  At about 5 p.m., the high tide and high surf began impeding their
climb out of the cave.  In order to begin the ascent, they had to make
"Tarzan-type" swings out of the mouth to the vertical ropes.  P.R. was the
first out, and he went well into the ocean before reaching the ropes.  D.R.
followed, but got caught up in large waves and surf.  He expended a great
deal of energy trying to climb, but was unable to ascend because of fatigue
or hypothermia (the pair had been in the cold and water all day) and
eventually let go and was swept back into the cave.  P.R. made his way out
in the dark and reached the Bar Harbor police department at about 8:30.  A
major rescue effort was initiated which included rangers, Mount Desert
Island SAR, the Coast Guard, members of the Bar Harbor fire department,
students from the College of the Atlantic (where D.R. was a junior), and
volunteers.  Despite high winds and intense downpours, a member of the
rescue team was able to climb down a rope to a point where he could look
into the cave and see D.R. floating face down in the surf.  Rescue efforts
were halted until 6 a.m. the following morning.  A climber was able to
pendulum swing into the cave; he got within 15 feet of the body when the
surf picked up.  He was completely submerged two or three times and decided
to discontinue the effort.  At 1 p.m., rangers climbed down to an area that
was accessible by foot.  A ranger then crept across the face of the rocks
and attached safety ropes that other rescuers would use to cross the bottom
of the sharp cliff and recover the body.  The climber then made a lateral
climb back to the cave.  Other climbers, using the strength in their arms
and legs and at times suspended in midair with their backs to the sea, moved
carefully across the outcropping and retrieved D.R.'s body.  [Norm Dodge,
CR, ACAD, 10/15]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Padre Island (Texas) - Endangered Sea Turtle Rehabilitated

The park released a young Kemp's ridley sea turtle into the Gulf of Mexico
on September 23rd.  The injured hatchling turtle had been found near Bob
Hall Pier two months previously.  The turtle was nursed back to health by
park employees at the Sea Turtle Hatchling Rehabilitation Facility at Padre
Island.  A local veterinarian donated his time to care for the hatchling,
and the captain of a private vessel took it five miles offshore from Port
Aransas.  [PAIS]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady at regional chief rangers' conference (10/18-10/22).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin, Marriott, Berkowitz and
Halainen at regional chief rangers' conference (10/18-10/22); Dickerhoof at
IACP annual meeting and regional chief rangers' conference (10/18-10/22);
Sisto at CACO ORV and rock climbing task force meetings (10/18-10/22).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Farrel at fire planners' conference (10/14-
10/20); Gale instructing I-400 (10/18-10/23); Broyles on AL (10/18-10/23).


Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: Branch of R&VP - 202-208-4874
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