NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, June 12, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Yosemite NP
Missing Hiker Found By Searchers
The massive search for E.G.-B. came to a successful conclusion yesterday afternoon when he was found alive and okay south and east of Washburn Point, where he was last seen on June 8th. Almost 200 searchers from Yosemite National Park, the California Conservation Corps, and Mono, Tuolumne, San Mateo, Marin, Santa Clara, Ventura, Fresno, Contra Costa, Santa Barbara and Sierra Madre Counties, as well as the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit and China Lake Search and Rescue, participated in the search. [Adrienne Freeman, PIO]
Curecanti NRA
Quick Response Saves Kite Boarder's Life
On June 6th, an 18-year-old Gunnison man was kite boarding in the Iola Basin of Blue Mesa Reservoir while four friends watched from shore. About five minutes after launching, the man crashed into the water. He was able to swim to his kite, which provided some floatation, but he began drifting farther from shore. One of his friends tried to swim to his location, but was unable to do so because of the distance and the cold water. About 30 minutes later, another friend called 911 to report the accident. A campground host was able to locate the man through binoculars and responding rangers were directed to his location. Within 20 minutes of receiving the call, rangers retrieved the man from the lake. He had been in 52 degree water for almost 50 minutes and was showing signs of severe hypothermia, including a decreased level of consciousness. He was not wearing a wetsuit or a lifejacket. He was transported by ambulance to Gunnison Valley Hospital, where his core body temperature was measured at 88.5 degrees. Had the man been in the water for much longer, it is likely that he would have succumbed to hypothermia. [John Patmore, Blue Mesa District Ranger]
Mount Rainier NP
Day Hike Turns Tragic In Muir Snowfield
On the afternoon of Monday, June 9th, three hikers became trapped in a sudden blizzard while descending from a day hike to Camp Muir and took shelter on the Muir Snowfield. At 3:30 a.m. the following morning, they managed to get through to park rangers with a 911 emergency call. Because of heavy snow and near zero visibility, however, rangers were unable to immediately begin a search for them. At about 7:15 a.m., one member of the party found his way to Camp Muir and was able to direct a search team, made up of climbing guides and park rangers stationed at Camp Muir, to the party's location near Anvil Rock. All three of the stranded hikers were under shelter at Camp Muir by 8:30 a.m., though all suffered from hypothermia and frostbite. One man subsequently died, but his wife and a male friend survived. All are in their early 30s and are experienced mountaineers who had visited Camp Muir in the past and enjoy hiking on Mount Rainier. Two had reached the summit. Due to the nature of the hikers' injuries, the preferred means of rescuing them will be by helicopter rather than across the snowfield. A Chinook helicopter and crew from the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Lewis was on standby all day Tuesday to retrieve the injured hikers, but the weather never cleared enough. The survivors' were stable at the time of the report (late Tuesday evening) and were under the care of two doctors, clients of one of the park's guide services, who happened to be at Camp Muir. The shelter at Camp Muir is warm, dry, and well-stocked with hot foods and liquids. Efforts to retrieve the hikers by helicopter were to resume yesterday morning. [Alison Robb, Information Officer]
Gulf Islands NS
Drowning At West Ship Island
Park visitors contacted lifeguards on West Ship Island just after 11 a.m. on Friday, June 6th, and told them that another visitor was in the midst of pulling a woman out of the Gulf of Mexico about 300 yards west of their lifeguard stand. Three lifeguards and a protection ranger responded and found a woman - J.M., 51, of Gulfport, Mississippi - lying in the surf. She was unresponsive. They brought her to shore, summoned a Life Flight helicopter from Mobile, and attempted to revive her via CPR and an AED for about an hour until the helicopter arrived. Resuscitation efforts were continued for another 10 to 15 minutes by medical staff from the helicopter, then were terminated. J.M. was examined at the scene by the Jackson County coroner, who, following an autopsy, listed the cause of death as an accidental drowning. J.M. was part of a large family group that came out to the island via the concession tour boat. She was last seen alive entering the water alone about an hour prior to being spotted face down in the water by a visitor. A death investigation, led by ranger Andrew Robinson, revealed underlying medical conditions, but it is yet unknown whether they may have contributed to her accident. [Clay Jordan, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Superintendents Summit '08 - The web site supporting the July 16-17 Superintendents Summit '08 is now up and running, providing on-line registration, the event agenda, transportation advice, and work session background information.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6583" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6583
Glen Canyon NRA - Glen Canyon announced late last week that all vessels found with live, adult zebra mussels will be quarantined until a certified biologist deems them safe to be launched.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6585" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6585
Deputy Director - On May 23rd, Deputy Director Lindi Harvey addressed the Boy Scouts of America organization at their Annual National Leadership Meeting in San Diego.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6584" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6584
Recreation Fee Program - A new list, entitled “America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program - Locations Where Interagency Passes are Issued by State,” is now available via InsideNPS.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6582" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6582
Washington Office - Dr. Herbert C. Frost has been named Associate Director for Natural Resource Stewardship and Science.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PressReleases&id=798" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PressReleases&id=798
US Park Police - Sergeant Jeff Capps retired from the United States Park Police after more than 20 years of service on June 7th.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1954" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1954
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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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