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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Wednesday, February 28, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Grand Teton NP Rescue Of Seriously Injured Backcountry Skier On the afternoon of February 25th, rangers and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers rescued a seriously injured backcountry skier who'd been caught in an avalanche while skiing the TNT Couloir in the lower portion of Granite Canyon. A.S., 32, of Jackson, Wyoming, sustained multiple life-threatening injuries when he was swept downslope approximately 2,000 feet by an avalanche that he apparently triggered. The region's interagency dispatch center received an emergency call at 2:40 p.m. from another backcountry skier who was in the vicinity of the accident. Rangers and ski patrollers immediately began to coordinate both air and ground rescue operations because of uncertainty about stormy weather conditions. Ski patrollers quickly mobilized and skied from the slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to the accident site in the park's backcountry. After reaching A.S. at 3:50 p.m., patrollers assessed his condition, provided emergency medical care, and prepared him for transport out of the backcountry. Patrollers and other backcountry skiers in the area also packed down a landing zone to receive a rescue helicopter in the event that weather conditions permitted a flight. Two park rangers staged at the Teton Interagency Helibase to rendezvous with a Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter for an aerial rescue, while another two rangers drove to the Granite Canyon trailhead to begin packing a snowmobile trail into the canyon in case the helicopter was unable to fly. Weather permitted the pilot to fly, though, and the ship left the Jackson Hole Airport at 4:26 p.m., arriving on scene just five minutes later. A.S. was loaded into the helicopter and flown to the helibase, arriving at 4:42 p.m. He was then transferred to a park ambulance for transport to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of his injuries. Avalanche danger for the Teton area was rated as moderate at the time, with a caution that the avalanche danger would rise from new snow accumulations and that surface slabs could be human triggered in wind loaded starting zones. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer] Lake Meredith NRA Special Event: Amarillo Sand Drags The park hosted the 34th annual Amarillo Sand Drags, an event for off-road vehicle enthusiasts, over the period from Friday, February 23rd, to Sunday, February 25th. Agents from the Amarillo District Office of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens, and BLM rangers assisted park rangers in management of the event, held in the Rosita Flats area bordering the Canadian River. The event is on both federal and state lands, mandating a federal-state partnership in enforcing laws. During the event, organized each year by the West Texas Outlaws Off-Road Club, ORV and ATV riders descend on the Canadian River bottom for fun in the sand and river waters. As with any event of this nature, alcoholic beverages were readily available and violations common. About 25,000 people attended this year's gathering. While the crowds were large, most of the participants were well-behaved and manageable. There were no major incidents and only one medical emergency requiring a medevac flight. [Dane Tantay, Chief Ranger] HYPERLINK "http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/TX/AmarilloSandDrags.html" http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/TX/AmarilloSandDrags.html OTHER NEWS Other news from today's edition of InsideNPS, the National Park Service's home page: USS Arizona Memorial - On Friday, February 23rd, the National Park Service unveiled plans for a new Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. Director's Office - Director Bomar will testify on Thursday morning at a House hearing on the FY 2008 budget request for the National Park Service. The hearing will be webcast live on the committee's website. Great Smoky Mountains NP - Richard “Dick” A. Moeller passed away on February 14th after losing his battle with cancer. National Mall and Memorial Parks - National Capital Region has issued a vacancy announcement for a GS-14/15 deputy superintendent position at the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Fire and Aviation Management - FAM is seeking a GS-11/12 administrative officer. NCRO - National Capital Region has issued a vacancy announcement for a GS-12 cartographer position located within the Division of Lands, Resources and Planning in NCRO. To link to InsideNPS, click on HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/ * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |