NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
INCIDENTS
Chiricahua NM
Ailing Hiker Rescued With SAR Horse Assistance
On November 2nd, the park received a report that a 33-year-old woman with a previous health history had become fatigued and was unable to continue hiking the Echo Canyon trail.
Rangers responded with their professional search and rescue horse, Boomer. The woman was evaluated and then evacuated on Boomer.
Chiricahua has 17 miles of day use hiking trails and 86% of the park is designated wilderness. Because many of the park's trails are too narrow for the use of UTV's or helicopters for rescues and because of limited staffing, carry outs by horse have proven to be the safest and quickest method for extricating people. The unique geologic features of Chiricahua National Monument make it one of the few national parks that require an active horse rescue program.
Boomer is a 21-year-old HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Walking_Horse" Tennessee walker who is currently celebrating his 20th year as a Park Service employee. Boomer started his NPS career at Big South Fork National Recreation Area; he has worked at Saguaro National Park as well, and has been with the Southeast Arizona Group for the past nine years. Boomer is used not only for rescue, but for boundary and routine patrols as well. He is a highly specialized, internationally recognized lifesaving horse.
Most horses have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years, and many horses at Boomer's age have been removed from service to enjoy well-earned retirement. But Boomer's gentle nature, large size and keen intelligence contribute to the ongoing and excellent performance of his duties.
[Matt Stoffolano, Chief Ranger, Southeast Arizona Group]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's InsideNPS. To see the full text, 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 Morning Report web page ( HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/" http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/):
George Washington Memorial Parkway - Secretary Jewell has announced that $24.9 million from Hurricane Sandy restoration funds will go to the park to restore Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve. Funds will be used to stabilize more than two miles of Potomac River shoreline, protect 60 acres of existing tidal marsh that is disappearing at a rate of 1.5 to 2 acres per year, and rebuild nearly 150 acres of marsh.
Southeast Region - Priscilla L. Nalls, an interpretive specialist with Southeast Regional Office in Atlanta, died this past Sunday. She'd served with the federal government for 33 years.
Midwest Region - Theodore Roosevelt NP Superintendent Valerie Naylor received the National Parks Conservation Association's Stephen T. Mather conservation award during the Association of National Park Rangers' 2013 Ranger Rendezvous in St. Louis last week.
Park Facility Management Division - The September/October issue of Park Facility Management Division Update is now available online. A link is provided to both current and past editions.
Fire and Aviation Management - The Office of Structural Fire recently presented awards to a number of parks and individuals who have made a difference over the past year in furthering the structural fire program Servicewide.
Northeast Region - John Piltzecker has been selected as the next superintendent of Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island. He will succeed David Luchsinger, who will retire on January 3rd.
* * * *
The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
--- ### ---