NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

INCIDENTS

Grand Teton NP

Climber Cited For Creating Hazardous Situation

Rangers have completed an investigation stemming from a search and rescue response in August that was initiated by the activation of a SPOT rescue locator. D.S., 33, of Missoula, Montana, was issued a citation because his actions that day created a hazardous situation during a late-hour rescue operation to retrieve his stranded climbing partner, Jesse Selwyn of Florence, Michigan. D.S. was charged with disorderly conduct. On Friday, August 19th, D.S. and Selwyn intended to climb the Black Ice Couloir on the northwest side of the Grand Teton, but the two climbers could not find the entrance to the couloir and got off route, ending up on the Grandstand. After an extended discussion about how to proceed, Selwyn informed D.S. that he felt he was unable to continue. Selwyn said that he believed he would become injured or die if he attempted to retrace the route they had come. He then told D.S. that he was going to call for a rescue by activating the SPOT rescue locator that he was carrying. Until that time, D.S. did not know that Selwyn was carrying the device. Selwyn then activated the device and rangers were notified. After they hovered over the scene in a Teton Interagency helicopter and Selwyn signaled that he desired a rescue, D.S. told Selwyn that he (D.S.) did not need to be rescued. Further discussion ensued and ultimately, D.S. left with the party's climbing rope, made four rappels and then began to retrace his route to the Valhalla Traverse. D.S. made this decision before confirming that rangers were indeed going to return to rescue Selwyn. The citation was issued because D.S. assumed a rescue would occur and left his partner, taking their only climbing rope. D.S.'s decision created a hazardous condition for Selwyn, since at this point there was no guarantee of rescue. Selwyn was reached by rangers that night and was extracted via short haul with darkness imminently approaching. Climbers are reminded that pursuing these activities requires a high level of personal accountability and responsibility. There is no guarantee of your safety or rescue when climbing or traveling in the backcountry. Disorderly conduct is a violation under the Code of Federal Regulations 36§2.34(a)(4). [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs Officer]

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/):

Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial - President Barak Obama and Vice President Joe Biden joined Secretary Salazar and officials from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation on Sunday for the official celebration honoring the work, struggles, efforts and successes embodied into the new memorial honoring King's legacy.

Office of Communications - Secretary Salazar has announced that the NPS will waive admission fees on 17 days in 2012 in order to encourage Americans to explore America's natural beauty and rich history and culture.

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The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced with the support of the Office of the Assistant Director for Information Resources 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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