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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Wednesday, September 19, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Olympic NP Update: Recovery From 2006 Storm Continues Eleven months after the rain, wind and floods of last autumn, crews continue to make repairs to park roads and other facilities. This week, a contractor will begin installing a permanent bridge over West Twin Creek on the Hoh Road, while another contractor has been selected to remove stockpiled timber and storm debris elsewhere in the park. The Hoh Road was severely damaged by rain and floodwaters last November, with the most significant damage at West Twin Creek, where a 65-foot-long by 25-foot-deep section of road, along with two culverts, completely washed away. A temporary one-lane bridge was placed across the creek last winter, replacing the culverts and restoring fish access. “Not only will this bridge provide visitors with continued access into the Hoh Rain Forest, it replaces two aged culverts that blocked fish passage to the upper creek,” said superintendent Bill Laitner. “I extend my thanks and appreciation to park staff and our partners for their creativity and hard work in restoring access to both humans and fish.” Before beginning work on the bridge, workers will remove the damaged culverts that were washed downstream. After the bridge is installed, the temporary bridge will be removed and the area rehabilitated. The road is scheduled to remain open throughout the construction period, although several short closures may be required during placement of the bridge girders. The project is scheduled to be completed by early to mid-January. Meanwhile, a contractor will begin work later this month to remove timber and storm debris from the Elwha and Sol Duc areas. Visitors are urged to use caution as large trucks will be used to haul the timber and debris out of the park. [Barb Maynes, Public Affairs Officer] Yosemite NP Climber Rescued From Half Dome Park dispatch received a 911 call from a climber at the base of the Northwest Face of Half Dome around 10 p.m. on September 4th. He told the dispatcher that he'd been in contact with a climber from another team who was experiencing a medical problem of unknown origin that caused him to suddenly collapse and that the climber was unable to either continue his ascent or rappel the route. The climber, Marco Feith, was stranded on a small ledge about 2,000 feet up the Northwest Face. Due to the late hour of the report, rescue operations were organized to begin early the next morning. A 17-person technical rescue team was flown to the top of Half Dome by the park's contract helicopter. Ranger/park medic Eric Gabriel was lowered 500 feet down the overhanging face to the ledge. Gabriel and Feith were then hauled back to the top. This was repeated a second time so that ranger Aaron Smith could retrieve Feith's partner. The lowering and raising operations took a total of less than three hours to complete. Feith was taken to the park clinic, treated for severe dehydration, and released later the same day. [Keith Lober, Emergency Services Coordinator] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) 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 are, respectively, HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/ and ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/). * Fire and Aviation Management - Additional information has been received on the passing of Brad Cella, including complete details on this Saturday's memorial service in Boise and how and where to send condolences, flowers and memorial contributions. Here's a link for details: HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1682" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1682 * Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Park Police investigators have determined that a thin, oily substance spread on some sections of the memorial and its adjacent paving stones last Friday was an act of vandalism. Preservation and maintenance staff from the National Mall and Memorial Parks continue their work to identify and remove the substance. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=5815" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=5815 * News Story - Business Week has an article about a new trend in luxury wilderness camping called “glamping” (glamorous camping). HYPERLINK "http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/sep2007/db20070912_931599.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_after+work" http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/sep2007/db20070912_931599.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_after+work * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828). --- ### --- |