NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Tuesday, April 18, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-157 - Yosemite (California) - Rescue

On April 2nd, Valley rangers received a report of an unconscious and seriously
injured visitor who had fallen about 25 feet into the Merced drainage below the
Vernal Falls foot bridge and suffered multiple fractures and head trauma.  A
15-person rescue team reached and stabilized the victim in an operation that
took about three hours.  A Lemoore Naval Air Station rescue helicopter assisted
in a 150-foot winch extraction from a narrow and confined area.  Ranger Chris
Pergiel lead the team.  [CRO, YOSE, 4/17]

95-158 - Yosemite (California) - Rescue

A 39-year-old male suffered a fractured femur and hip from an approximately 150
foot fall near the top of the Yosemite Falls trail on April 11th.  An 11-person
rescue team responded; due to snow and ice, it took them about eight hours to
stabilize and evacuate him.  A California Highway Patrol helicopter flew him
from the scene to the park clinic.  Ranger Mary Litell led the team. [CRO,
YOSE, 4/17]

95-159 - Yosemite (California) - Rescue

On April 13th, rangers were notified of four distressed climbers at Camp Six on
the nose of El Capitan.  It had been snowing and raining throughout the day,
and it appeared that the climbers, who were suspended about 3,000 feet from the
Valley floor on a vertical wall, were suffering from hypothermia.  A major
rescue operation involving over 60 people was initiated.  Rescue team members
on snowshoes and skis and in snow cats were unable to reach the top of El
Capitan due to deep snows covering the 16-mile route.  During a break in the
weather, a Lemoore NAS helicopter and an NPS contract helicopter flew an 11-
person rescue team to the top of El Capitan.  Team members were lowered 600
overhanging feet to the stranded climbers.  The climbers were able to ascend to
the top, but only with extreme difficulty and through the assistance of the
team members.  All four recovered from their hypothermia.  The rescue operation
and ascent were hampered by high winds, frozen ropes, and sheets of ice
dropping on rescuers.  Investigation showed that the victims were grossly under
prepared for what was a typical Yosemite spring storm.  Ranger Mary Litell led
the rescue.  [CRO, YOSE, 4/17]

95-160 - Gates of the Arctic (Alaska) - Search and Rescue

On April 11th, ranger/pilot Craig Johnson and state troopers began a search for
a group of four people on snow machines that was two days overdue from a trip
into the park.  The group was traveling on two snow machines from the village
of Ambler to the Alatna River when one of the snow machines broke down.  Two
members of the party decided to return to Ambler (about 175 miles away) to get
help, but became stranded at Douglas Creek, where they found that their
gasoline cache had been stolen.  Johnson found both groups, but was unable to
land on the snow-covered ground in his wheel-equipped Super Cub.  The pair at
Douglas Creek was rescued by a local SAR team the following day; Johnson
dropped food and a radio to the pair at Alatna River, who were later rescued by
a ski plane from Ambler.  [Glenn Sherrill, CR, GAAR, 4/14]

95-161 - Whiskeytown (California) - Gang Interdiction

Early on the evening of April 11th, about two dozen members of the Southeast
Crip gang were involved in a gang brawl in Lake Redding, 15 miles from the
park.  The fight was interrupted by Redding officers, who subsequently followed
the gang members to Whiskeytown and thence toward Brandy Creek beach.  Rangers,
California Highway Patrol ground and air units, Shasta County deputies, Redding
police and California fish and game officers converged on the area and were
able to prevent any violence from taking place.  The area was cleared without
incident.  [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 4/17]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service.  If you would like further
information on any of these hearings or bills, please contact WASO Legislation
at 202-208-3636.

May 17

Senate Appropriations' Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies (Gorton):
NPS FY 96 budget.

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
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