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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Wednesday, March 28, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS North Cascades NP Climbers Rescued From Pyramid Peak On Sunday, March 25th, two climbers were rescued through the combined efforts of rangers, volunteers from Bellingham and Skagit Mountain Rescue, and personnel from Whidbey Naval Air Station. The call for help came in to the National Park Service on Friday, but the effort to extract the two men from steep and difficult terrain was hampered by a storm that dropped tremendous amounts of rain across western Washington over the weekend. The party of four men from Everett and Lynnwood set out to climb Pyramid Peak on Wednesday, March 21st. By Friday, they'd abandoned their climbing goal and attempted a shortcut descent, deviating from their ascent route. This led to trouble, as the group encountered steep terrain on the slopes above Diablo Lake. Two members made it out on their own Friday night and reported to a park ranger that they had left two other members stranded, one with a leg fracture. The reporting pair were both treated for mild hypothermia. Saturday's efforts to reach the two men were limited by heavy rainfall and poor visibility. A helicopter flight to locate them was attempted but aborted due to visibility concerns. On Sunday, a ground team of park rangers and volunteers reached the climbers and prepared them for evacuation. Whidbey Naval Air Station search and rescue helicopter Firewood 21 hoisted M.B., 22, of Lynnwood from the mountain on Sunday afternoon during a break in the weather. Rangers escorted his partner out by ground. Limited access, avalanche hazards and dangerous weather make attempts to climb the bigger peaks in the North Cascades infrequent during the winter. “It is unusual for park rangers to have a rescue this time of year,” explained Kelly Bush, park search and rescue coordinator. “Just as we see fewer backcountry travelers in the winter, resources - including rescue personnel capable of working in technical terrain under harsh conditions - are limited in the off-season . . . but it was also the winter snowpack, poor visibility and limited daylight that forced the injured and exhausted men to spend two nights in miserable weather awaiting rescue.” Bush also commented that “shortcuts” in the North Cascades often lead to trouble. [Charlie Beall, Public Affairs Officer] National Mall and Memorial Parks Final Sentence Issued In Robbery, Assault Convictions The fifth and final defendant has been sentenced in connection with the series of armed robberies and sexual assaults that occurred on the National Mall between May and July 2006. R.N., 17, was recently sentenced in D.C. Superior Court to 41 years of incarceration. R.N. pled guilty last August 29th to one count of first degree sexual abuse while armed, six counts of robbery, and four counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. R.N. was the leader in the incidents, and he participated in every one of the robberies and sexual assaults. R.N.'s co-conspirators were sentenced between October 2006 and January 2007: T.T., 19, was sentenced on January 9th to 26 years and 4 months of incarceration in connection with his plea to one count of first degree sexual abuse, three counts of robbery, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of conspiracy, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Thomas participated in the armed robberies on May 25, 2006, and in the armed robberies and sexual assault on May 27, 2006. Z.B., 20, was sentenced last October 26th to 10 years in jail following his guilty plea to one count of conspiracy, three counts of armed robbery, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. The charges were in connection with the two robberies that occurred on July 11, 2006. M.B., 22, was sentenced on October 24th to 8 years in jail in connection with his guilty plea to one count of conspiracy, two counts of armed robbery, one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon for his participation in the two armed robberies on the National Mall on May 25, 2006. M.B., 16, pled guilty on August 11th to one count of armed robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, for his participation in the May 27, 2006 armed robbery on the National Mall. On October 16th, he was sentenced to 2 years in jail. To see the initial and follow-up reports on this case, click on the following links: HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=2803" http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=2803 HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=2851" http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=2851 In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Taylor and U.S. Park Police Chief Dwight Pettiford commended the investigative efforts of Todd Reid of the U.S. Park Police and the outstanding team of detectives, along with David Knoedler of the U.S. Secret Service, Marty Flynn of the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Criminal Investigative Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office, particularly John Marsh and Larry Grasso. They also commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Zachem and Elana Tyrangiel, who prosecuted the case. Chief Pettiford made these closing comments: “This brings closure to a series of horrendous crimes that occurred on the National Mall. We are concerned for the victims and we continue to support them in their recovery. I believe the sentencing of these young men sends a strong message to all criminals." [Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer] OTHER NEWS The following stories can be read on either the InsideNPS web site (if you are within the National Park Service) or at the InsideNPS public ‘news digest' site (if you are outside of the NPS). The web sites appear below: Independence NHP - An archeological dig was launched on March 21st at the site of the former President's House. The purpose of the dig is to find out whether any artifacts from the period when Presidents Washington and Adams resided there may still be in the ground. Natural Resources - The Service has announced the names of the recipients of the 2006 Director's Awards for Natural Resource Stewardship. The seven winners have exhibited leadership in the effort to preserve park ecosystems. Employee Development and Training - Servicewide participation in the Albright-Wirth grant program was again high last year - the program's panelists reviewed 402 applications, requesting in excess of $1.8 million in funding. The names of the recipients and their projects are included. NPS Alumni -Penelope Hartshorne Batcheler, 78, the only woman on the team of historic preservationists who restored Independence Hall in the 1960s, passed away last week. Jobs - Announcements are posted today for two GL-9 protection lateral reassignments at Rocky Mountain NP and a GL-7 term protection ranger position at Saguaro NP. To see the above articles, go to InsideNPS ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/) or NPS Digest ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/). For NPS incident reporting standards, go to HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363 * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-426-2430). --- ### --- |