NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

INCIDENTS

Grand Teton NP

Skier Injured In Backcountry Avalanche

Rangers enlisted the help of the Teton County contract helicopter to rescue a backcountry skier who was injured during an avalanche on the morning of Tuesday, March 15th. B.S., a 32-year-old Jackson resident, triggered an avalanche around 11:20 a.m. while skiing with friends on the northwest side of Cardiac Ridge in Granite Canyon. He received several injuries as a two-foot-deep, 40-foot-wide soft slab avalanche carried him about 400 feet down a slope near a feature known as Shady Lady. Because of the remote location in Granite Canyon, the skiers could not get cell phone reception. One of the B.S.'s companions made his way back up the slope they had just skied in order to reach a saddle just northwest of Rendezvous Mountain and made a 911 call. Teton County dispatchers received that call for help about 1:15 p.m. and in turn notified the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center in Grand Teton National Park. Rangers immediately contacted the Teton County Search and Rescue coordinator and requested assistance from their contract helicopter. In the meantime, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers made preparations to ski into Granite Canyon from the resort boundary to help with the rescue. Two ski patrollers met B.S.'s companion at the mountain saddle and the three of them skied to his location, arriving at approximately 2:30 p.m. The patrollers provided emergency care and prepared B.S. for the arrival of the ship. He was flown to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, then transferred to a county ambulance and taken to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. The remaining members of the ski party were also evacuated by air from Granite Canyon. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]

Organ Pipe Cactus NM

Seven Drug Smugglers Plead Guilty And Are Sentenced

Last July, rangers arrested seven smugglers and seized 375 pounds of marijuana near Ajo Mountain Drive during a tactical tracking operation. A special agent from the NPS Investigative Services Branch assisted rangers in the investigation of the case. ISB special agents from the Grand Canyon also joined in to provide assistance, given the large number of defendants. The defendants were prosecuted under violations of 21 USC. Between February 16th and March 4th, J.P.-B., E.F.-R., J.H.-I., T.V-G., J.M.-S., F.L.-G., and L.E.-G. each pled guilty and was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison and three years' probation. The seven will be remanded to federal immigration authorities upon their release for deportation proceedings. Ajo Mountain Drive, the area of the park where the smugglers were detected and apprehended, is one of the most frequently visited areas of Organ Pipe and is open year-round to visitors and employees. The utilization of NPS operational leadership principles resulted in the safe and successful detection and removal of these smugglers in keeping with the Service's mission to protect park visitors, employees, and resources. The United States Attorney's Office in Tucson, Arizona, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Border Patrol provided outstanding cooperation and assistance throughout this case. [Investigative Services Branch]

New River Gorge NR

Man Arrested For Theft Of Truck

Ranger Jamie Keach recently received a call from a park neighbor who lives within the boundaries of New River Gorge National River, reporting a missing truck and an overdue trailer. She entered the missing truck and trailer into NCIC and identified a suspect. Keach learned that the man had sold the truck for scrap, was still in possession of the trailer, and found that he had an outstanding warrant against him. Keach contacted the man and convinced him to drop the trailer at the Sandstone Visitor Center. Summer's County Sheriff's Department deputies and rangers waited for him to arrive and effected an arrest. Keach continues the investigation; felony theft charges are pending. [Jeff West, Chief Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):

Office of Communications - The growing connection between public lands and public health is the focus of National Park Week this year, which will take place from April 16th to April 24th. The theme - “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” - highlights the many recreational opportunities available in parks.

North Cascades NP - North Cascades and Mount Rainier each recently hosted a climate change education workshop. Over 145 employees and partners, representing a range of disciplines, listened to presentations from and discussed climate change with leading Pacific Northwest scientists at the two workshops. Photo.

Uniform Program - A 100% cotton short sleeved t-shirt was recently added to the Service's uniform program. Particulars are provided on who may wear it and in what circumstances. Photo.

NPS Alumni - Career ranger Norman Dodge, 68, died on March 14th, at Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor, Maine. He was a 35-year veteran of the National Park Service, retiring as chief ranger from Acadia.

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of Communications and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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