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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Friday, July 1, 2011 NOTICE This publication will not appear while I am on vacation and out of the country (Tuesday, July 5th, to Sunday, July 17th). Kat Kirby in the WASO Office of Communications will be putting out InsideNPS and the Morning Report during that time, but not this email abridgement. During this period, readers should employ the links listed under “Other News” below to keep up with both incidents and general NPS news. INCIDENTS Denali NP&P Search Underway For Missing Climber The park began an aerial and ground search yesterday for an overdue solo climber on Mt. McKinley. J.K., 41, of Koetschach-Mauthen, Austria, was last seen at 8 p.m. on Monday while ascending to Denali Pass at 18,000 feet on the West Buttress route. When J.K. had not returned to his tent at the 17,200-foot high camp by the following evening, a guided team alerted NPS rangers at the 14,200-foot camp. J.K., a mountaineering guide in the Alps, was last seen on skis and told other climbers he intended to ski from the summit via the standard West Buttress route. It is unknown how much survival gear and supplies J.K. was carrying, although he was wearing warm clothing and was believed to be carrying a satellite phone. Weather conditions at the time of his disappearance included low to moderate winds, some cloud cover, and temperatures between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. In the two days prior to his disappearance, rangers at high camp recorded several feet of new snow. On Wednesday morning, rangers began ground investigations and searching with a spotting scope, while several guided and independent climbing teams headed towards the summit were on alert for clues to J.K.'s whereabouts. On Wednesday afternoon, Denali's A-Star B3 helicopter and a Pilatus PC-12 airplane from BLM's aviation branch joined the search. They searched upper elevations and the West Buttress route for six hours, but found no sign of the Austrian mountaineer. Hundreds of high resolution photos were taken, though, and are currently being examined for clues. The aerial, ground, and photographic search resumed early yesterday morning and was expected to continue as weather permits. [Maureen McLaughlin, Information Officer] Cape Lookout NS Rangers Rescue Boy Scouts From Core Sound Rangers and personnel from Harkers Island fire and EMS responded to a 911 call for a water rescue near the visitor center on that island on the evening of June 23rd. Six canoes containing 11 Boy Scouts and an adult were trying to paddle south on Core Sound to camp on South Core Banks when an incoming tide and high winds blew them off course and toward the north. Ranger Lance Herman responded from the visitor center, ranger Joseph Lamm from South Core Banks, and chief ranger Barry Munyan from home. The scouts and their leader were rescued and transported to the visitor center. There were no reported injuries. All twelve were wearing lifejackets. [Joseph Lamm, Park 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/): Department of the Interior - Secretary Salazar this week announced the designation of 14 new national historic landmarks in 11 states and the District of Columbia, all of which have played an integral role in the development of the country. Workplace Enrichment - The new NPS Student Employee Network surveyed student employees this spring. Results show that they enjoy working for the NPS and have suggestions on how to improve the workplace. Cape Cod NS - Bob Grant, chief ranger at Cape Cod National Seashore, retired in June after a successful 34 year career with the federal government. Photo. Training and Conference Calendar - A compilation of upcoming training courses and conferences across the nation, plus online training. Added to this week's calendar is a July webinar on white-nose syndrome in bats. * * * * 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). --- ### --- |