NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, May 30, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Denali NP
Aerial Search For Climbers On Cassin Ridge Suspended
The active search effort for two missing climbers on the Cassin Ridge of Mt. McKinley was scaled back on Thursday morning after search managers determined that further air operations were unlikely to locate the men. Mountaineering rangers will continue to try and determine the whereabouts of the climbers through extensive digital imagery collected during the past week. T.Y., 27, and Y.I., 24, both from Japan, were expected to return from a climb of the Cassin Ridge on May 22nd. With no sign of the men, the National Park Service began planning the search on May 23rd, although cloudy and windy weather initially kept all aircraft on standby. From May 24th to May 27th, skilled observers flew a total of 33 hours of helicopter and fixed wing flight time in the aerial search effort. More than 3,000 high resolution photos of the search zone were captured during these flights. Analysis of the enlarged and enhanced images enables a concentrated and effective search effort to continue at ground level. There have been no sighting of the climbers or gear on or near the route, nor any evidence of a fall or related disturbance on the snow surface. Clues found throughout the week, including multiple sets of footprints and a campsite at 17,000 feet, suggest that T.Y. and Y.I. reached the upper elevations of the route. Tracks followed by a subsequent climbing party reportedly reached to upwards of 19,000 feet. During a low level flight on Wednesday, mountaineering rangers on board the NPS Lama helicopter also discovered tracks traversing the five mile length of the Kahiltna Peaks. According to the journals left in camp, the team had intended to approach their route via this knife-edge ridge, which reaches a peak elevation of 13,440 feet. The tracks follow the dramatic ridgeline and connect with Cassin Ridge, indicating the team accomplished an arduous and highly technical new variation on the traditional approach. In a discussion with Denali rangers a month prior to their climb, T.Y. and Y.I. said they planned to take five to six days of food and fuel on the ascent of Cassin Ridge. Furthermore, as is typical of a quick, technical ascent of the route, the team likely took minimal, lightweight gear. Based on the dated journal entries, the men probably left their camp at 7,800 feet as early as May 10th, and, as such, have been without food and water for as long as 10 to 14 days. In light of their limited supplies and the subzero temperatures, search managers consider that survival is outside the window of possibility. Observers have thoroughly searched the route and surrounding areas to a degree that would make it likely that the climbers would have been seen if they were visible on the surface. [Maureen McLaughlin, Information Officer]
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Motorcyclist's Body Found Following Extended Search Effort
On the evening of Monday, May 26th, the Park Police were notified that a motorcycle had left the roadway on the northbound side of the parkway south of the first scenic overlook - an area with a steep embankment between the roadway and the river, plus heavy underbrush and thick foliage. An extensive search for the motorcyclist was conducted in conjunction with local fire and emergency services units, the harbor patrol, and the military. The USPP's ‘Eagle' helicopter searched from overhead using a FLIR thermal imaging camera. Fire department personnel lowered rescuers with ropes and extended truck ladders over the embankment while harbor patrol units searched from the water. The motorcycle, a blue sports bike, was located that night on the embankment between the roadway and the river. Search and rescue efforts had to be suspended for safety reasons around 11:15 p.m., but resumed early the next morning. The motorcyclist - N.T., 22, of Alexandria, Virginia - was found in the woods near the crash site. He was a member of the military and was stationed in the area. The parkway was closed in both directions during the evening's search and rescue efforts and the associated investigation. The northbound lanes were completely blocked with rescue vehicles, while the southbound lanes had to be closed due to a serious crash involving an SUV. The driver had been distracted by the search operation and rolled the vehicle in the median. A tire from the vehicle broke off and struck a fire truck. All traffic traveling southbound was detoured onto Route 123 and northbound traffic onto Spout Run. Southbound lanes were reopened after the search was suspended. [Sergeant Robert LaChance, Public Affairs Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Servicewide - A major climate change report was issued on Wednesday that forecasts significant changes in the country's climate, a number of which will affect the parks and their ecosystems.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6554" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6554
Olympic NP - After 30 years of service to the NPS, Michael Smithson will retire on June 2nd.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1937" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1937
Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by both the National Park Service and its partners across the nation. Today's additions include a PEPC training course in Tennessee next month and an ARPA course in California in August.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=vieweventscalendararticle&type=Conferences&id=775" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=vieweventscalendararticle&type=Conferences&id=775
Events Calendar - Today's listing of upcoming NPS and NPS-related events across the nation. Added to today's listing is July's superintendent's conference in Utah.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=vieweventscalendararticle&type=Conferences&id=776" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=vieweventscalendararticle&type=Conferences&id=776
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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
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 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).
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