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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Wednesday, September 26, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Wrangell-St. Elias NP&P Update: Search For Missing Hiker Suspended The week-long search for 68-year-old P.S. of Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, has been suspended as winter descends on the park's high country. The difficult decision to remove ground search teams from the field was made by the superintendent, incident commander and state troopers on Sunday afternoon. It has been three days since any new clues as to P.S.'s location have been discovered. A camp chair found a short distance from his camp soon after the search began was positively identified as belonging to P.S., but footprints found on September 20th could not be confirmed as being his. “We never stop looking for a missing person,” said superintendent Meg Jensen. “The search for P.S. covered all high probability areas repeatedly until the likelihood of finding him alive was very small. Blowing and drifting snow and continued snowfall at the search site caused increasing hazard for the search teams . For these reasons, on the afternoon of September 23rd a decision was made, with input from the family, to suspend the search mission.” P.S. is believed to have walked away from his campsite on September 13th. Since he was reported missing on September 17th, searchers have checked approximately 6,700 acres of rugged, glaciated terrain in the Skolai Pass area. At times, low visibility due to fog and snowfall hampered search efforts. An Alaska State Troopers helicopter assisted in the search for four days, but was released on Sunday to address critical needs elsewhere in the state. A spotter for helicopter operations was provided by the Alaska Mountain Rescue Association. The great size and ruggedness of Wrangell-St. Elias attract backpackers, hikers and campers seeking wilderness adventure. The park urges visitors who enter the wilderness to be prepared for any eventuality. Wilderness travelers should have a plan and let someone know where they are going and when they expect to return. Always travel with appropriate survival equipment and supplies. Hiking with a partner greatly increases the margin of safety. [Shauna Austin, Smitty Parratt] 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/). * Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front NHP - The park will be “launched” this coming Saturday at the historic Kaiser Shipyard No. 3 in Richmond, California. The ceremony will recreate a World War II ship launch against the backdrop of the huge Art Deco Kaiser General Warehouse, the S.S. Red Oak Victory, and San Francisco Bay. * Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - The comment period for the penultimate version of RM-55, the Incident Management Program Reference Manual, has been extended to November 30th. * US Park Police - Deputy Chief Ronald DeAngelo is retiring from the United States Park Police on September 29th after 29 years and 2 months of exemplary service. * Lake Mead NRA - Longtime ranger Kay Rohde, currently the park's chief of interpretation, will retire with 31 years of service on September 30th. She will then begin the next chapter of her career, working in the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming. * * * * * 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). --- ### --- |