Glacier National Park
Search Underway For Two Missing Hikers
A search is underway for two hikers who were reported missing by
family members after they missed their flight from Montana to the East
Coast and failed to return home. It's believed that 32-year-old N.P.
from Virginia and 32-year-old J.H. from Maryland departed
from the North Shore trailhead at Two Medicine on Tuesday, October 9th.
According to their backcountry permit, the two men planned to camp at
the Oldman backcountry campground on Tuesday night and return to Two
Medicine on Wednesday, October 10th. Rangers located their vehicle
late on Friday and began a search early on Saturday morning. The weather
has been quite challenging for the search operation. Search personnel
are encountering up to 18 inches of snow on trails, snow drifts, limited
visibility and very windy conditions. Aerial operations were limited
yesterday due to low visibility and extremely windy conditions. A
recently used fire ring and tracks were identified in the area of the
search on Sunday. It is believed the evidence may be related to the
missing hikers. It's likely that due to winter weather conditions and
snow covered trails, the two men may have gone off trail. The fire ring
and tracks were found in the Nyack Drainage on the west side of the
Continental Divide, which includes some very dense, steep and
treacherous terrain. According to their backcountry permit, N.P. and
J.H. were planning to hike from the North Shore trailhead at Two
Medicine on Tuesday and camp at the Oldman Backcountry Campground on
Tuesday night. It's believed that they planned to hike to Pitamakan Pass
and along the Continental Divide to Dawson Pass, returning to Two
Medicine on Wednesday. The entire loop, as planned, is
approximately 17 miles in length. Approximately 50 people are involved
in the search, including personnel from the park and Flathead Country
Search and Rescue. N.P. is six feet tall, weighs approximately 180
pounds, and has brown hair and blue eyes; J.H. is six feet tall, weighs
about 200 pounds, and has brown hair and green eyes. N.P. may be
wearing a red hooded rain jacket and J.H. may have a blue North Face
beanie hat. Anyone who may have any information or may have been in the
area and seen hikers who meet these descriptions is encouraged to
contact the park at 406-888-7805.
[Submitted by Denise Germann,
Public Affairs Officer]
Virgin Islands National Park (VI)
Park Institutes Closures Due To Tropical Storm
All ports in the territory were closed over the weekend due to the
imminent passage of Tropical Storm Rafael. St. Thomas employees were
unable to report for work on either Saturday or Sunday. Staggered
closures were in effect in the park on Sunday due to the storm's
approach, but the Trunk Bay and the Cruz Bay visitor centers remained
open. Plans were to reopen the park yesterday if weather permitted.
[Submitted by Mike Anderson, Deputy Superintendent]
Bandelier National Monument (NM)
Rangers Guide Lost Hiker Out Of Backcountry
Rangers and Sandoval County Sheriff's Office personnel successfully
concluded a search for a lost 23-year-old woman on October 9th. The
woman was on a solo loop hike in the park but missed a trail junction
and hiked for some distance before realizing her mistake. Knowing that
she would not be able to get back to the trailhead before nightfall, she
bushwhacked to the mesa top to get a cell phone signal and called 911
for help. Staff at the Sandoval County 911 center who picked up the call
were able to determine the phone's GPS coordinates and passed them on
the sheriff's office. A deputy drove to Dome trailhead and made cell
phone contact with the woman. He was also able to see a light she
carried and she could see his. Rangers were advised of the situation and
began hiking to the woman's location at 9:45 p.m. They reached her
around 12:45 a.m. by navigating about two-and-a-half miles off trail,
following the GPS coordinates to her location. She was in good condition
and hiked out with the rangers, meeting the deputy at the trailhead. All
parties were back to their vehicles and clear of the area by 7:15
a.m.
[Submitted by Chris Judson, Public Affairs Officer]
Olympic National Park (WA)
Rangers Participate In Interagency Enforcement Operation
Over a two-day period in mid-September, rangers participated in an
interagency enforcement operation to "cooperatively develop, test and
evaluate procedures and protocols in responding to threats to our
national borders" and ports on the Olympic Peninsula. To assist in
this effort, rangers conducted a traffic emphasis during two night shift
patrols on Highway 101, the most heavily used throughway for traffic
between Port Angeles and seaports to the south and west. They made over
106 vehicle stops and issued citations for a variety of traffic,
vehicle, drug and paraphernalia possession related violations.
Several individuals with misdemeanor warrants out against them –
and one with a felony warrant – were taken into custody and
transported to the Clallam County jail. Search dogs and detectives
from OPNET (the local drug task force) assisted in the effort. Other
agencies involved in the north Olympic Peninsula-wide effort included US
Customs and Border Protection (including both air and marine units), the
Coast Guard, Washington State Patrol, Clallam County Sheriff's Office,
Port Angeles Police Department, Sequim Police Department, Neah Bay
Police Department, Civil Air Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office,
and Elwha Police Department.
[Submitted by Colin Smith, Chief
Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs
Weekly Legislative Activities Report
The Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs puts out weekly reports on hearings, new legislation and other activities on the Hill.
This report covers activities since September 28th. The House and Senate are in recess until November 13th.
In order to obtain the full text of any of the bills that appear below, click on the following link: http://thomas.loc.gov/ . That will take you to Thomas, the Library of Congress legislative tracking system. Enter the bill number in the "Search Bill Text" block, being sure to also click on the "Bill Number" option below the block.
*****************
New Public Laws
On September 28th, President Obama signed into law H.J.Res. 117 (Rogers, R-KY-5), making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2013, and for other purposes. The resolution provides funding for federal agencies through March 27, 2013. It is Public Law 112-175.
On October 5th, President Obama signed into law H.R. 2240 (Tsongas, D-MA-5), to authorize the exchange of land or interest in land between Lowell National Historical Park and the city of Lowell in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for other purposes. It is Public Law 112-182.
Presidential Proclamation
On October 8th, President Obama issued a proclamation establishing the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument. Located in Keene, California, it is the 398th unit of the National Park System.
Floor Action
Nothing to report.
Committee Activity
Nothing to report.
New Bills Introduced
Nothing to report.
Upcoming Committee Activity
Nothing to report.
*****************
For additional information, please visit the Legislative and Congressional Affairs Office website at http://www.nps.gov/legal/
[Submitted by Susan Martin]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
East Servicing Human Resources Office
GS-0201-12 Human Resources Specialist
The East Servicing Human Resources Office in Atlanta has issued an announcement for a human resources specialist.
Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties and procedures for applying.
It closes on October 26th.
More Information...
Outer Banks Group
GS-1101-11 Revenue and Fee Business Manager
The Outer Banks Group is seeking candidates for a position as the group's revenue and fee business manager.
Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties and procedures for applying.
It closes on October 26th.
More Information...
Castillo De San Marcos National Monument (FL)
Passing Of VIP James Guier
It was with much sadness that Fort Matanzas National Monument received the news of the passing of long- time volunteer James (Jim) Guier's on September 12th. Jim leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Ingrid, two adult children, and two grandchildren.
Jim was a regular Tuesday afternoon volunteer at Fort Matanzas since 2002. During his time with the park, he accumulated 1,698 volunteer hours. Prior to his volunteer work for the park, Jim owned a business in St. Augustine for more than 20 years.
Jim brought those business skills with him to the park when he began volunteering. He always arrived for work a few minutes early and was always willing to stay a few minutes extra when needed.
Jim enjoyed meeting people from around the world as part of his duties. He related to each person he met with a style and ease that was enviable. Ever ready with a silly joke or a serious conversation, he used his gifts to improve the visitor experience at the park.
Jim's ties with the National Park Service went even deeper than Fort Matanzas. Jim's own daughter, Alexandra Picavet, works for the National Park Service at Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, California.
Jim was always happy to arrive for work and upon leaving would wish the staff well and promise to return the following week.
He will be missed.
[Submitted by Jon Burpee, Chief of Interpretation]
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.