Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Major Search Underway For Two Missing Parties
Search efforts are underway for two parties overdue from a weekend
trips on Mount Rainier. A party of two planning to winter camp on the
Muir Snowfield over the weekend was due out on Sunday, January 15th; a
second party of two climbers on a summit attempt via the Disappointment
Cleaver route was due back on Monday, January 16th. Western Washington
was hit by a storm over the weekend, followed by a severe winter storm
through mid-week, forcing a delay in the field search. Both parties were
outfitted for winter weather with the exception of snowshoes or skis.
Due to the weather conditions, it is expected that they are waiting out
the storms before attempting to descend to Paradise. Visitors to the
upper mountain are advised to stop moving, dig in and wait for better
weather during severe weather and whiteout conditions. On Tuesday, a
search team of two skied the route above Paradise to Panorama Point to
assess conditions in the area and to look for signs of the two overdue
parties. Travel was extremely difficult, with team members sinking two
to three feet into the snow. Visibility was limited, winds were gusting
up to 100 mph, and their tracks filled in behind them as they negotiated
the deep snow. Yesterday, a team of ten searched from Paradise up the
Muir Snowfield to Camp Muir without locating either of the parties.
Eight of the team members skied back down to Paradise, searching along
the way. There may be a short weather window this morning for the two
searchers remaining at Camp Muir to search under better conditions
before the next storm arrives midday. A helicopter is on standby at
Joint Base Lewis-McChord awaiting favorable flight conditions, although
freezing rain precluded flight operations on Thursday. The weather is
the greatest challenge to search efforts at this time. Both a winter
storm watch and a moderate level avalanche warning were issued for the
area. The search team is made up of highly skilled mountaineers who are
familiar with the route and in mitigating associated avalanche exposure.
The team is composed of Mount Rainier climbing rangers and park staff
and members of Everett Mountain Rescue, Seattle Mountain Rescue,
International Mountain Guides and Rainier Mountaineering Incorporated.
Kelly Bush from North Cascades NP is IC. Although both parties are
equipped for winter camping, concern for their well-being grows each day.
The Western Incident Management Team is en route to assist with the
incident. For information on weather conditions visit the park Weather
webpage at http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/
weather.htm. For a look at current conditions at Paradise visit the
webcam webpage
http://www.nps.gov/mora/photosmultimedia/
webcams.htm (note that the Camp Muir webcam is not maintained
in winter).
[Submitted by Patti Wold, PIO]
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Body Of Falling Victim Identified
A body found near Yaki Point has been identified as that of
41-year-old P.R. of Glenside, Pennsylvania. P.R.'s body
was found on Thursday, January 12th, next to the South Kaibab Trail
about a third of a mile from the trailhead, which is located near Yaki
Point on the South Rim. It has been determined that P.R. died of
injuries sustained in a fall. An investigation into the incident is
ongoing and is being conducted by the National Park Service in
cooperation with the Coconino County medical examiner.
[Submitted by
Shannan Marcak, Public Affairs Specialist]
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Man Indicted On Felony Theft Charges
On December 22nd, a grand jury indictment was issued out of Coconino
County for S.B.W. of Utah. The indictment included two class 5
felonies for theft and theft of a credit card and one class 4 felony for
taking the identity of another. S.B.W. had been living with his
girlfriend of a few weeks in the Wahweap District in July, 2010, when he
disappeared with approximately $2,000 to $3,000 worth of her property,
including her credit card, which he used to purchase snacks and fuel for
his vehicle at gas stations, leaving a trail from Page, Arizona, up
north into Utah. Ranger Scott Larson took the initial report for this
case and worked with the NPS Investigative Services Branch to bring it
to its conclusion.
[Submitted by Heidi Hall, Special Agent]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Blue Ridge Parkway
Jeri Swaim Has Retired
Jeri Swaim, human resources specialist at Blue Ridge Parkway, retired on December 31st.
Jeri worked for 35 years at the parkway, beginning her career as a receptionist in the superintendent's office in 1977 and rising to the position of human resources officer for the park.
Jeri's extensive knowledge of the varied aspects of human relations work activities and her leadership and organizational skills created an efficient and effective HR operation enabling a small staff to meet the growing demands of a rapidly changing human resources system. Due to Jeri's expertise in the area of employee and labor relations, she served as a steady and constant resource for the Blue Ridge Parkway management staff, and her knowledge led to frequent contacts and requests for assistance from park managers within and outside Southeast Region. She invariably provided a skillful, well balanced problem-solving approach, resulting in successful resolution of difficult issues.
For her sustained outstanding performance and her many contributions to NPS, Jeri was recently granted DOI's superior service award.
Jeri's work with management and employees has enabled the park to provide the public with one of the richest scenic experiences in the nation, and the results of her outstanding service in the human resources operation will have an ongoing impact on the success of the National Park Service as the many employees whom she has influenced continue in their careers.
"We are very grateful to Jeri for her many years of service to the Blue Ridge Parkway and its employees," said Phil Francis, the park's superintendent. "She worked hard to ensure that employees and managers received the kind of support that they needed to meet the mission of the National Park Service. She was an outstanding personnel officer, and we wish her well in retirement."
Jeri's current plans for retirement include enjoying her family, gardening and performing volunteer work.
[Submitted by Terri L. Wales]
NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site:
http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custompages.cfm?prg=45&id;=8728&lv;=2&pgid;=3504
All reports should now be submitted via this automated system.