Yosemite National Park (CA)
Multiple Weekend Rescues
On the weekend of September 30th, park staff managed five significant SAR incidents while also dealing with a major search and the onset of the area's first winter storm. Together, these incidents were triple the normal SAR case load for this time of year. The park combined most of the rescues under one command structure, with a single incident command staff responsible for triaging all developing rescue incidents and allocating assets as appropriate:
Tamarack Flats Campground — On Saturday, Mather District rangers took a missing persons report for Stiles Cummings, 26, who'd last been seen on Friday when he'd walked barefoot out of the Tamarack campground. The district began a major search for him on Sunday, drawing a large number of searchers from around the park. The operation was eventually scaled back to a limited continuous search.
Cathedral Peak, Tuolumne Meadows — Just after midnight on Saturday morning, Tuolumne rangers were alerted to a seriously injured climber who'd taken a 40-foot roped climbing fall. Tuolumne SAR staff worked through the night to find and begin treating him. The helicopter and medical personnel committed to the Cummings search were diverted to this incident. Due to the severity of his injuries, the climber was flown from the Cathedral Peak area directly to Mammoth Lakes Hospital.
Zodiac Route, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley — Park dispatch received a 911 transfer call from CHP on Saturday afternoon, reporting a request for the rescue of a climbing team on the Zodiac Route on El Capitan. The Korean climbers on the wall spoke no English, and a Korean climber/interpreter who was assisting SAR personnel spoke only limited English. Clarifying the situation was accordingly difficult, but it was eventually determined that the climbers wanted to be rescued simply because their haul bag rope was tangled and they couldn't figure out a means to correct the problem. Following a careful evaluation of the situation, SAR staff declined to launch a rescue at that time. Cold, rainy weather engulfed El Capitan the next morning, though, raising the concerns of SAR personnel. Due to the team's obvious inexperience and the ongoing poor weather, SAR staff continued to monitor the progress of this team until they completed the route three days later.
Cables Route, Half Dome, Yosemite Valley — On Sunday, the park received several 911 cell phone transfers regarding a person who'd slipped outside the cables on Half Dome and slid 100 to 150 feet down onto the blank face. He was lying precariously on the face, using only the friction of his body against the rock to stop him from falling more than 800 feet to the ground. A ranger and a SAR climbing team were immediately dispatched to the incident location. The Yosemite rescue/fire helicopter was unavailable, so a primary rescue team was put on standby to await the arrival of another helicopter to fly them to the shoulder of Half Dome. A helicopter from Sequoia/Kings Canyon responded to the request for mutual aid assistance and was the first available for the mission. Unfortunately, due to the time it took to free up a helicopter, more than two hours passed before technical rescuers were on scene. SAR technicians then repelled down to the man and rescued him. Although uninjured, he was treated for hypothermia at Yosemite Medical Center and later released.
Union Point, Four Mile Trail, Yosemite Valley — At almost the same time as the Half Dome SAR was being reported, dispatch received another SAR request from a visitor who's lost the trail and become ledged out and stranded above the switchbacks of Four Mile trail. He was unable to move from his location due to the steep cliffs below and the dense brush above. The helicopter from Sequoia/Kings Canyon inserted a rescuer at the hiker's location. Together with other technical SAR staff, they were able to extricate him from his location.
Upper Yosemite Falls Trail, Yosemite Valley — On Sunday afternoon, dispatch received a SAR request for assistance from a woman with a lower leg injury. An EMS/carryout team was formed from staff who'd previously been assigned to other incidents. Her injuries mandated a litter evacuation to the trailhead. She was then taken to the Yosemite Medical Clinic.
[Submitted by David Pope, Keith Lober, Yosemite Search and Rescue]
Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL,MS)
Two Arrested For Aggravated Assault
On the afternoon of October 3rd, ranger Merrick Moody came upon a person wearing a hooded winter parka lying in the back seat of a vehicle park near the Nature's Way trailhead in the Davis Bayou area. The fact that the man was wearing a winter parka on such a warm day appeared suspicious. When Moody approached the car, he found that the parka was covered with blood, that blood was issuing from the man's nose, and that he was unresponsive. Moody immediately called for assistance from local police and EMS. The man was taken to Ocean Springs Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition. A joint investigation by the park and Ocean Springs PD led to the discovery that the man had been assaulted by two people outside the park in the town of Ocean Springs and that the attack had been over a 15-year-old girl. After he was assaulted, the man was placed in the back seat of his car, driven into the park by one of his assailants, and left on the side of the road. The two assailants have been arrested. [Submitted by Robert Harris, Acting Chief Ranger]
Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
Texas Man Sentenced On Marijuana Possession Charge
On January 8th, rangers responded to the San Pedro campground area after receiving information regarding a possible drug delivery to that location. When they got there, they saw a man attempting to flee on foot. He was detained and later identified as A.P. of Del Rio, Texas. Rangers searched the area and found five large duffle bags near the spot where they'd first seen A.P. Together, they contained just over 203 kilos of processed marijuana. The case was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for federal prosecution. In September, A.P. pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana (21 USC 841). On October 11th, A.P. was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by five years of probation. [Submitted by Bruce Malloy, Chief Ranger]
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (SD)
Body Discovered In Park
On October 19th, two members of an archaeological assessment team discovered human remains in a rugged drainage in an off-trail area seldom visited by the public. The body had evidently been there for a number of months and has not yet been positively identified. Rangers are investigating along with FBI agents and Pennington County officials. An autopsy will be conducted this week. [Submitted by Mike Pflaum, Chief Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Olympic National Park (WA)
Funeral Held For Dan Green
Services were held last Friday, October 20th, for park equipment operator Dan Green, who died on October 13th from head injuries sustained in a fall.
The funeral was held at the Independent Bible Church in Port Angeles, Washington, and was attended by over 500 mourners. More than 125 current and retired NPS employees were there, along with friends from the local community and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
Pacific West Regional Director Jon Jarvis spoke of the many unsung heroes of the National Park Service, people like Dan who grade roads, clear brush and maintain facilities day after day to keep parks clean and safe for visitors.
Jarvis also shared words and insights from Dan's co-workers, speaking of Dan's commitment to park visitors and to the National Park Service and noting the special enjoyment Dan took in working with and mentoring young members of the Washington Conservation Corps. Another speaker from outside the NPS remembered Dan explaining his job by saying "the key word is 'service' -- it's the National Park Service."
Other speakers at the funeral remembered Dan's strong Christian faith, his intensity of living and his commitment to family, especially his eight grandchildren. The "Young Gunz", a youth softball team from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, presented a signed softball and an eagle feather in Dan's memory, expressing their appreciation for his unflagging support and enthusiasm. They remarked that while Dan probably hadn't noticed this himself, he was "the only white guy who ever cheered" for the tribal team.
A graveside burial service and community dinner at the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Center followed the funeral. Many people shared experiences and memories of Dan, including a council member of the tribe who observed that the support and care shown by so many people were sure to be a comfort to Dan's family.
[Submitted by Barb Maynes, Public Affairs Officer]Northeast Region
Personnel Changes Announced For Regional Office
On October 19th, Director Bomar issued an announcement to all regional employees regarding several acting designations that are now in effect. The text follows:
I am extremely proud to become the 17th Director of the National Park Service, although it is bittersweet because of having to leave my many colleagues and friends in the Northeast Region. I know, however, that I am leaving the Regional Office in excellent hands. Effective immediately, Sandy Walter is Acting Regional Director and Linda Canzanelli is Acting Deputy Regional Director for the Northeast Region. On Monday, October 23, 2006, Joanne Blacoe will begin her detail as Acting Assistant Regional Director for Communications. Superintendent Bob Kirby of Petersburg National Battlefield will be coming to Philadelphia soon as Acting Associate Regional Director (ARD) for Park Operations and Conservation Assistance.
I regret that I must also share with you the news that Sandy will undergo surgery in November which will take her away from the office for approximately one month. To ensure continuity in our Northeast Regional Office operations when Sandy goes on sick leave, Superintendent Dennis Reidenbach of Independence National Historical Park will become Acting Regional Director on November 7, 2006. I know we all wish Sandy the best for her surgery and recovery.
Sandy and I have the utmost confidence in those serving in acting positions, and know they will help keep us moving forward during a time of transition. We both ask that you give them all the same outstanding level of support you have given us in the past.
While it is a great honor to become Director, it has been an equal honor to work with you -- the Northeast Region Team. Thank you for all you have done and for all that you will do in the future, to care for the special places in our great nation preserving them, unimpaired, for the generations yet to come.
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found by clicking here. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.