NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

INCIDENTS

Zion NP

Woman Seriously Injured In Canyoneering Accident

On November 15th, a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman completed the Jolly Gulch HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyoneering" canyoneering route, a seldom visited route on the east side of the park. The route involves two rappels, one of 160 feet and the other of 100 feet. After completing the rappels, most canyoneers then hike a mile and a half through the canyon to a road. Instead, the pair attempted to free climb up the side of the canyon with the goal of reaching the canyon rim. The woman fell 60 feet from a small ledge to the ground and suffered shoulder and ankle fractures as well as lacerations to her spleen and liver. The man and woman worked at a local resort and made contact with the resort front desk by family radio. The National Park Service response was delayed due to confusion amongst the resort staff, who initially believed resort employees could resolve the incident without assistance. When a Kane County deputy arrived on scene, he requested an immediate response from the Zion SAR team due to the patient's deteriorating condition. Ranger/medics Ryan McDonald-O'Lear and Brandon Torres responded and stabilized the HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypotensive" hypotensive patient. Ranger Therese Picard was the incident operations chief and led the rope raising operation, which was conducted entirely in the dark. Members of the Kane County Search and Rescue Team assisted with the operation and coordinated the medical helicopter evacuation. The woman survived and is currently in stable condition. The man was cited for failing to obtain a required canyoneering wilderness permit. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau 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/):

James A. Garfield NHS - Approximately 450 visitors braved cold weather and snow flurries to come to the park on November 17th for the launching of the James A. Garfield Presidential $1 coin.

Natchez Trace Parkway - The park has planted 14,000 native tree seedlings and saplings in three states this year as part of comprehensive scenic and natural resource protection effort.

Harpers Ferry Center - Sam Vaughn is retiring following 35 years with the National Park Service. A retirement celebration will be held on December 2nd.

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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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