|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Wednesday, December 26, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Yosemite NP Rock Fall Closes Northside Drive A series of winter storms brought snow and ice to the park during the week of December 18th and caused several rockslides along Northside Drive between Camp 4 and the El Capitan crossover. A large boulder was reported on the roadway around 4 p.m. that afternoon, the product of a rock fall that occurred near the cliff face of Middle Brother in Yosemite Valley. The drive was immediately closed. Since vehicles couldn't exit from the road due to a large downed oak tree at El Capitan straightaway, they had to be escorted out through a construction road closure. There were no injuries, but employees leaving work were inconvenienced. Staff from roads and trails, the sign shop and visitor protection opened Southside Drive for two-way traffic. Northside Drive remained closed and was monitored. Another rockfall occurred that night, and a second large rockslide occurred in the closed area around 3:30 p.m. on December 19th - but did not reach the road. The closure remains in effect until further notice. The valley remains open to all traffic via Southside Drive. [Leslie Reynolds, Valley District Ranger] Mount Rainier NP Snowshoer Killed In Avalanche The body of a missing snowshoer was recovered lat Friday evening, bringing to a close a search that lasted more than three days. K.R., 22, disappeared in a snow avalanche on the afternoon of December 18th as he and Troy Metcalf, 23, were returning from a day hike above Paradise. Metcalf searched for his friend until dusk, but was unable to find him. Rangers, mountain rescue volunteers, and employees of the Crystal Mountain Ski Area, who provided avalanche search dogs, began a full-scale search for K.R. on Wednesday. With Metcalf's help, they were able to pinpoint the location of the accident, but heavy snowfall, poor visibility, and high avalanche danger prevented a thorough search either Wednesday or Thursday. Avalanche control measures were used to stabilize the slope during a break in the weather Friday afternoon and K.R.'s body was located under the snow shortly thereafter. At the peak of the search on Friday, 40 people were committed in the field, including 32 volunteers from mountain rescue units throughout the state. Local media interest has been high because both men are from the Seattle area and because avalanches have already been blamed for five previous deaths in the Washington Cascades this winter. [Kevin Bacher, Public Information Officer] Gila Cliff Dwellings NM Body Of Missing Hiker Found The body of a 26-year-old man missing since last October 14th was found in the Gila Wilderness near the east boundary of the park's Cliff Dwellings Unit on Friday, December 21st. When a hiker discovered and turned in a piece of the missing man's driver's license and a piece of notepaper with addresses he'd visited, investigators were able to concentrate on an area not previously searched by foot and soon found the victim's remains. In late October and early November, park and Forest Service staff assisted the New Mexico State Police with horse, foot and helicopter searches of the wilderness, which were then followed by three days of searches with cadaver dogs. Given the lack of information on where the young man had gone and the rugged terrain, active searching was halted in mid-November. The area in which he disappeared consists of over 200 square miles of extremely rugged terrain with narrow, deep canyons and heavy timber. On December 22nd, NPS staff assisted state police officers and USFS personnel in evacuating the body. [Steve Riley, Superintendent] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external): Fort Pulaski NM - On the evenings of December 14th and 15th, park staff and volunteers commemorated the Confederate “Nog Party” of 1861. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6098" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6098 Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6097" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6097 Servicewide - A multi-agency campaign to promote holiday traffic safety and discourage drunk driving was kicked off last Tuesday in Washington. The National Park Service is among the many participating agencies. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6096" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6096 Shenandoah NP - Robbie Brockwehl, retired concessions specialist, lost her battle with cancer on Wednesday, December 19th. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1776" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1776 WASO - The Washington Office has issued an announcement for an ES-0401 or ES-1301 associate director for natural resource stewardship and science. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Jobs&id=3091" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Jobs&id=3091 * * * * * 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). --- ### --- |