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Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Conviction For Illegal Mountain Biking
On January 20th, three men — D.Y., S.M., and J.T. — hiked out the Bright Angel Trail, backpacking out their mountain bikes. The group of three cyclists told visitors that they were on a two-year-long mountain biking trip, riding their bikes from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to the tip of South America, and that they had carried their bikes across the canyon. They also told them to look at their web page (http://www. ridingthespine.com). Several days later, ranger Paul Austin checked out the page and discovered photos and video of the group riding their bikes on the North Kaibab Trail. In addition, there were photos and video of them camped on an upper section of the trail. In their journal, they wrote about riding the trail and their concern about being caught by rangers: "(We) began riding down the trail...'Goat' [one of the three] managed to bomb section after section of the trail, walking his bike only when coming into contact with other trail hikers, and when those infuriating water bars were too high to bunny hop...we were excited by the prospects of a day filled with epic downhill, we hopped on our bikes and headed down, sliding our way down a treacherous mix of snow and loose rock. Almost immediately I flew over a series of ledges and cracked the rear end off my Xtracycle." On February 16th, Austin and AUSA Camille Bibles presented a criminal complaint and affidavit before US Magistrate Judge Mark Aspey in Flagstaff, who in turn issued a summons for the group to appear in his court. D.Y., S.M. and J.T. were charged with camping without a permit, camping in an undesignated area, use of a bicycle in a closed area, giving false information, and conspiracy. Austin tracked the individuals through their website as they rode to Southern Arizona and prepared to cross into Mexico. They had posted in their blog that they were attending the "24 Hours in the Old Pueblo," a large and popular mountain bike race north of Tucson. Saguaro rangers Todd Austin and Heather Yates drove to the event site on February 17th and were able to locate the trio. Austin posed as a freelance writer interested in the group's trip, then later identified himself as a federal law enforcement ranger and issued each his summons to appear in court in Flagstaff. The three men retained an attorney and subsequently reached a plea agreement to three charges. In lieu of a $500 fine, the men agreed to donate $500 each to the Grand Canyon Search & Rescue Fund. They also agreed to redact sections of their website pertaining to illegal activities and were sentenced to 48 hours in Coconino County jail. The case generated considerable media attention. [Submitted by Bil Vandergraff, Supervisory Park Ranger, Canyon District]
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Natchez Trace Parkway (AL,MS,TN)
Apparent Suicide
On the afternoon of Thursday, March 8th, ranger Rachel Strain investigated an abandoned vehicle in the Cypress Swamp Trail parking lot near milepost 122 in Madison County and learned that it belonged to a 43-year-old Ridgeland, Mississippi, man who was reported to be missing and suicidal. Strain and ranger Patrick Gagnon, assisted by Madison County officers, found the man's body in a secluded area just off the trail. A firearm and suicide note were found on his person. The body was taken to the state crime lab in Jackson for an autopsy. The death is being treated as a suicide. The FBI and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are assisting. Strain is the investigating ranger. [Submitted by Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
GL-0025-9 Protection Ranger (Lateral Reassignment)
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is recruiting for a full-time GL-9 protection ranger with a Level 1 commission and EMT-B certification for a lateral reassignment to the Bullfrog Subdistrict at Lake Powell. The subdistrict is located in the Uplake District, which encompasses over a million acres of slickrock canyons, including about 800 miles of lake shoreline. The Bullfrog visitor and resource protection operation has a vigorous program in front/backcountry and marine law enforcement, plus structural fire, EMS and SAR. Bullfrog, although a remote location, is the main access point to Lake Powell for Utah and Colorado visitors, and visitation is heavy in the summer. Our patrol operations range from boater safety to backcountry canyoneering, archeological resource protection and hunting patrols. We provide opportunities for training and certification in motorboat operation, structural firefighting, park medic and high angle SAR training, among others. The person selected for this position will be expected to take a leadership role and work well in team operations, in the incident command system, and in solo situations involving remote areas. This is a required occupancy position with assigned housing options of two- and three-bedroom duplex units with fenced yards and garages. The area is remote. Full city services are available in Price (175 miles) and Grand Junction (215 miles). Bullfrog does offer a K through 12 modern school, seasonal medical clinic, hotels and restaurants. Although remote, the area contains miles of pristine canyon and high desert country managed by the NPS, BLM and Forest Service. It offers abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, including canyoneering, backpacking and whitewater rafting. World class skiing is about five hours away, and the entertainment of Las Vegas is about eight hours away. The great western parks of Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Hovenweep, Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges, Capitol Reef, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Bryce, Zion and Monument Valley are all within several hours drive away. In all, this is an exciting, traditional, full emergency service ranger position. If interested, or for more information, please contact subdistrict ranger Scott Ryan at 435-684-7411 or by email at Scott_Ryan@nps.gov.
[Submitted by Scott Ryan, Subdistrict Ranger]
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Mammoth Cave National Park (KY)
GS-560-9/11 Budget Analyst
Mammoth Cave National Park, located in the beautiful rolling hills of Kentucky, has issued two announcements on USAJOBS for a vacant GS-9/11 budget analyst position — one full time and one part time (32 hours per week). However, the park will also entertain the possibility of non-competitive, lateral reassignments at either the GS-9 or GS-11 level. This is a challenging position at a park with significant ONPS, project, fee, and other types of funding. If you are interested, please contact Mary Conner or Jackie Johnson at 270-758-2170.
[Submitted by Mary G. Conner, Administrative Officer]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. 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 the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.