NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

INCIDENTS

Mount Rainier NP

Skier Killed In Crevasse Accident

Climbing rangers working with guides from Alpine Ascents International conducted a search and recovery effort yesterday for T.T., 33, an experienced skier, who skied into a crevasse on the upper Nisqually Glacier. T.T. was with an independent climbing party of four when the accident occurred. The guides were already on the upper mountain and responded to the incident; they rappelled into the crevasse and reported that T.T. had not survived. A team of four climbing rangers was inserted at the 14,410-foot summit by a helicopter and descended to the scene. They removed T.T. from the crevasse and prepared his remains for airlift off the mountain. A ground team of four climbing rangers was stationed at Camp Muir to assist as needed. The park recognizes the major efforts of the Alpine Ascents International guides throughout this incident. Approximately 20 park personnel were involved in the operation. A Bell 210 from Whirlwind Helicopters was assigned to the incident. Northwest Helicopters retained an aircraft and a pilot on standby for this operation and Army Reserve unit at Fort Lewis was diverted from another mission to assist but was later cancelled. [Patti Wold, Interpretive Media Specialist]

Gulf Islands NS

Confrontation With Camper Resolved Peacefully

On the afternoon of May 6th, rangers were notified of a camper who'd failed to pay camping fees for the previous three days. They issued a citation to G.J. and told him that he would have to leave the campground if he didn't pay his fees to date. After they left the campground, G.J. called 911 and said that he wasn't leaving the campground “until justice had been served.” Since G.J. was known to be under the influence of alcohol, had been seen to be emotional and upset, had expressed his intention to seek revenge, and was in a position of an advantage high up on the top of his RV, rangers approached the campsite with caution, with one ranger carrying a rifle. G.J. told him that he wasn't leaving and that he'd jump if anyone tried to make him leave. An Ocean Springs officer arrived on scene and offered to assist. The rangers backed away while the officer talked with G.J.. He repeatedly tried to get G.J. to come down; when the latter declined, the officer climbed up on the roof to talk with him. This led to a confrontation in which the officer used his taser on G.J., but failed to incapacitate him. G.J. then advanced on the officer, and a ranger employed his taser on G.J. in another attempt to incapacitate him. That failed as well, but G.J. then began to talk to officers and asked for help. An ambulance was summoned. When it arrived, G.J. climbed down from atop the motor home and was sent to the Gulf Coast VA Hospital for evaluation and treatment. [Dane Tantay, Florida District 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/):

National Parks of New York Harbor - The newly restored Overlook Pavilion, located just across the street from General Grant National Memorial, was recently opened to the public. It is serving the memorial as a contact station, complete with public meeting space, interpretive exhibits and a bookstore.

Yellowstone NP - Mary Hektner, plant ecologist at Yellowstone, retired on April 1st with over 32 years of service. Her husband, John Sacklin, the park's management assistant, retired on May 2nd with 35 years of service.

Office of International Affairs - The global conservation community -- and in particular the global parks and protected areas community -- has lost one of its greatest champions. Dr Kenton R. Miller, a former IUCN director general, passed away on May 9th. Photo.

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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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