Bryce Canyon |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2025. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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May 4, 1988 Location: TWS Dormitory During the early morning hours of the 29th, rangers were awakened by a cry for help over the park radio system. A TWS concession employee had broken into an NFS residence to gain access to the radio and seek assistance following an incident in which one 39-year-old male TWS employee had sexually assaulted another, unconscious 19-year-old male employee. The attack had occurred after a party involving other concession employees, some of them under age, in which large quantities of alcohol were allegedly consumed. Rangers arrested the assailant, who is now incarcerated in the Garfield County jail on two felony charges. Prosecution will be conducted through the county.
On the afternoon of the 16th, a fire broke out in the old superintendent's house, which was built in 1929 and is currently being used as seasonal quarters. The park's fire crew responded, but the building was fully engulfed in flames by the time they arrived. The building was valued between $50,000 and $60,000. No one was injured. At the time of the report, the cause of the fire had not been determined. The state fire marshall will be investigating. (Jim Reilly, RMRO).
An investigator from the Utah state fire marshall's office has determined that an electrical short was the cause of the structural fire which burned 90% of the old superintendent's house on the 16th. (Carolyn Barker, BRCA).
At about 3:15 p.m. on the afternoon of the 26th, a severe thunderstorm struck the area around park headquarters. During the storm, a lightning strike hit a tree in Sunset Campground, then jumped to lodge employee C.L.B., who was holding a tent pole as she helped her visiting parents set up their tent. A campground host responded immediately, reported the incident and began CPR. Rangers responded within two minutes and continued CPR. A Garfield County advanced life support unit soon arrived and added its assistance. C.L.B. began to breathe shallowly, and a thready heartbeat returned. She was transported to Garfield Memorial Hospital, then airlifted to another hospital in Salt Lake City. Her condition in not good. (BRCA report via CompuServe to RAD/WASO).
C.B., the concession employee who was struck by lightning on July 26th, died of her injuries on the 30th after life support systems were removed. Memorial services will be held for her at the Bryce Canyon Lodge at 3 p.m. MDT this Sunday. A board of inquiry has been held, but no changes in policies or procedures are being recommended. (BRCA report via CompuServe to RAD/WASO).
M.D. 21, of Cedar City, Utah, was hiking with three comparisons on the Queens Garden Trail when he lost his way in the dark, stepped off the trail, and slid down a 35-foot frozen scree slope. M.D. attempted to climb back up the slope, but instead slid further down its face, stopping just above a shear drop. M.D. stabilized his position by removing his cowboy boots (which then slid over the cliff face) and stabbing his Buck sheath knife into the frozen ground. His companions rushed back to M.D.'s vehicle and pulled out the vehicle's stereo speaker wire to use as a rescue aid. By splitting the wire lengthwise, they were able to make it long enough to reach M.D., but the wire was not strong enough to hold his weight. M.D. told his companions to get the tire chains from the vehicle's trunk, then tied his car keys to the speaker wire. One companion took the car to get help, while the others removed their clothes (in 20 degree weather), tied their jackets and pants to the car's tire chains to fashion a rescue line, then lowered the improvised line to M.D. and pulled him to safety. Responding rangers found the group cold but safely back on top. (CompuServe message from CRO, BRGA, 12/11).
C.O., 13, of Magna, Utah, fell 300 feet to his death on the afternoon of the 14th while attempting to retrieve a camera he had dropped on a narrow ledge beneath Bryce Point overlook. According to family members who were with him, C.O. lost his footing after leaving the trail and recovering the camera. Rangers scrambled up to C.O. from the Peekaboo Trail below the point and recovered the body. [Telefax from Charlie Peterson, CR, BRCA, 2/15]
On June 19th, F.T. of British Columbia went into full cardiac arrest at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. Park rangers and the concessioner's nurse responded and began CPR within six minutes. Resuscitation efforts continued for 30 minutes until a heart rhythm and breathing were restored. F.T. was taken by ambulance to Salt Lake City, and the prognosis three days later was for a full recovery. [Telefax from John Morlock, Acting CR, BRCA, 6/27]
After scrambling 60 feet below the Rim Trail near Inspiration Point to get a picture on June 25th, O.H. of France was standing on an outcropping when it crumbled and he fell 10 to 15 feet. O.H. clung to the steep scree slope below the outcropping, which was just above a 100 foot vertical drop, until responding rangers were able to employ a rescue winch to reach him and raise him to safety. [Telefax from John Morlock, Acting CR, BRCA, 6/27]
A man who gained free entry to the park on July 8th by making a fraudulent claim has been cited for giving false information. The man claimed to be M.W.; he said that he had received the Distinguished Service Award while working for the Bureau of Mines and that this entitled him to free entry into parks and monuments. Fee collection supervisor Sheree Garrett checked into regulations in NPS-22, though, and found no such provisions. Ranger Bob Nalwalker subsequently made contact with the man in order to get him to pay his entrance fee. Nalwalker then learned that the man was actually H.W., that his father had actually earned the award, and that H.W. had used the information to gain free entry at another park. Nalwalker cited H.W. for giving false information. [SEAdog message from John Morlock, BRCA, 7/15]
Visitor J.L. was on a commercial horse ride below the rim of the canyon on the 16th when she suffered an anaphylactic reaction to horses. The 42-year-old woman, who has a known asthmatic condition, self-administered an asthma inhaler, but received no relief. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she soon stopped breathing and had no pulse. Other visitors began CPR and were soon joined by rangers. J.L. resumed labored breathing and her pulse returned. Oxygen-assisted ventilation continued until county ambulances and EMS personnel arrived and administered epinephrine. J.L. responded to the injection within minutes and began breathing on her own. She was taken to the county hospital. Several additional epinephrine injections were required before her breathing stabilized. [Charlie Peterson, CR, BRCA, 7/20]
On the afternoon of September 24th, Mrs. K.T., 66, a visitor from California, became separated from her daughter near Inspiration Point. An intensive search for her was begun shortly thereafter. K.T. suffers from memory lapses and disorientation, and searchers feared that she had fallen over the rim into the canyon. A helicopter and 20 NPS searchers were involved in the effort. Temperatures during the night were near freezing, and high winds blew. On the afternoon of the 25th, K.T. was finally located by an NPS tracking team in a low priority search zone two miles cross-country from the point where she'd last been seen. She was severely dehydrated and unable to speak or walk. K.T. had crossed a major highway during her journey, and denied having spent the night alone. She is recovering and en route back to California. [Charlie Peterson, CR, BRCA, 9/29]
The park's fire department was dispatched to a large vehicle fire just outside the park's boundary on the afternoon of June 10th. The vehicle, a $300,000, fully-automated paint striping machine, was found to be fully involved and blocking the highway. It was determined that the machine contained 500 gallons of paint and 200 gallons of toluene, so the area was evacuated. Once the flames retreated, an upwind attack was made with an additional 1800-gallon tanker. The vehicle, which was owned by the Utah Department of Transportation, was totally destroyed. [Charlie Peterson, CR, BRCA, 6/11]
A thief or thieves cut the narrow shank of the lock on the North campground fee canister safe around 3 p.m. on July 4th and made off with about $700. There were many people in the area, and the nearby campground hosts indicated that the theft occurred very quickly. It appears that the lock was cut with a bolt-clipping device. There are no suspects or leads at present. Area parks should be alert to such thefts, as a fee pipe safe was also taken at Zion on July 3rd. The pipe safe involved is a Knouff and Knouff FS836 shell with an FS836A insert. [Charlie Peterson, CR, BRCA, 7/4]
During the seven-month period from May to November of 1993, M.D.E. and J.A.S.-E. are believed to have committed numerous car larcenies, check and credit card frauds, thefts from tents in campgrounds, and thefts of fees from campground pipe safes and association donation boxes on NPS, Forest Service, BLM, state park and private lands in Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among the areas the couple hit were Yellowstone, Wind Cave, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon. On August 25th, they were indicted in Salt Lake City on from 10 to 13 counts of five 18 USC violations, including conspiracy, theft and property damage. The E.s were arrested separately in Akron, Ohio, and Seneca, South Carolina, earlier this week. They both admitted guilt during subsequent interviews and revealed many more violations, including theft of firearms, stolen money, pawning of stolen items, and a previously unknown and similar crime spree in 1992 which added many more parks to the list of areas which they'd struck, including sites in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and Mexico. The investigation into their activities continues. Many NPS rangers contributed information leading to these arrests. M.D.E. is being held on without bond due to the risk of flight; J.A.S.-E. may be released on a $25,000 surety bond with house arrest and electronic monitoring. They will be brought to Salt Lake City and likely tried there. [Erny Kuncl, SA, RMRO, 9/21]
J.T., 66, of Sequim, Washington was killed in a fall just south of Sunrise Point overlook on Thursday, December 8th. J.T. had been traveling with an Elderhostel group from Dixie College in St. George, Utah. Thursday was a free day for the group, and J.T. had gone hiking on his own that afternoon. When he failed to return to his lodging outside the park by evening, members of his group notified the Utah Highway Patrol. A search was begun for J.T.'s vehicle, and it was subsequently found around 9 p.m. at the Sunrise Point parking area. Rangers searched for J.T. throughout the night, but failed to find him. Night time temperatures dipped to ten degrees below zero. J.T.'s body was found below the overlook the following morning. It's not clear whether he died from injuries incurred in the fall or from exposure. [CRO, BRCA, 12/9]
Just before noon on December 25th, a 1994 Dodge sedan driven by Y.I., a Japanese citizen, crashed into the side of the park's west entrance station. The building's west wall was pushed in about eight inches; the cost to repair the damage has been estimated at about $5,000. There were no injuries, as the station was empty at the time and all the occupants of the vehicle were wearing seatbelts. High speed and icy roads contributed to the accident. The investigating ranger reported that Y.I. attempted to pay the $5 entrance fee as his vehicle was being extracted from the side of the entrance station. [Charlie Peterson, CR, BRCA, 12/27]
At 3:30 a.m. on February 18th, a park visitor reported finding what appeared to be a strange motor vehicle accident - the car's top damaged, but nothing else wrong - along a remote stretch of the park's Rainbow Rim Drive. Rangers found Aaron Wilson, 18, of Bakersfield, California, sitting in the driver's seat, fatally injured from an explosive device. The windows of Wilson's 1977 Lincoln Continental were blown out, and the doors and roof were expanded outwards by several inches. Several unexploded devices were found in the car's interior along with a detonation controller and cans of black power. The area was evacuated and the south end of the park was closed. An ordnance disposal unit from Tooele Army Base was dispatched to the scene; they employed a remote control tracked robot to remove the explosive devices and Wilson's body from the vehicle. The area was reopened late the same day. There were no indications of criminal activity. It's believed that Wilson either committed suicide or was infatuated with explosive devices and was killed in an accidental detonation. [Charlie Peterson, CR, BRCA, 2/21]
On the evening of July 20th, 36-year-old L.A.M. of Denver, Colorado, was gathering wildflowers at the edge of Bryce Canyon near Inspiration Point when she fell to a point about 300 feet below the rim. She apparently died instantly. Alcohol appears to have been a contributing factor. [Charlie Peterson, CR, BRCA]
During a seven-month period in 1993, M.E. and J.S.-E., his now ex-wife, stole money from donation pipe safes at NPS, USFS and BLM sites, passed fraudulent checks to agencies and businesses, and employed stolen credit cards and checks taken from cars and tents in campgrounds throughout the West. Among the areas the couple hit were Yellowstone, Wind Cave, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon. The E.s were arrested separately in Akron, Ohio, and Seneca, South Carolina, last September. They both admitted guilt during subsequent interviews and revealed many more violations, including theft of firearms, stolen money, pawning of stolen items, and a previously unknown and similar crime spree in 1992 which added many more parks to the list of areas which they'd struck, including sites in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and Mexico. They subsequently pled guilty to charges of conspiracy and theft of government money. Under a plea agreement, M.E. was sentenced earlier this summer to six months in federal prison and three years' supervised probation; ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the NPS and a $1,000 fine; and required to undergo drug and alcohol rehabilitation. J.S.-E. is expected to receive similar sentencing. [Erny Kuncl, SA, IFAO]
J.S. and two other temporary employees were terminated on August 2nd for drug-related activities. Early the next morning, J.S. vandalized or stole about $4,000 of personal property from sites in Sunset campground. A camper chased him, but J.S. escaped. Rangers from Bryce Canyon conducted an investigation with the assistance of rangers from Zion, Yosemite and Colorado NM and the special agent for Intermountain Field Area. J.S. was arrested on an unrelated outstanding warrant from Douglas County, Colorado, during the execution of a search warrant at his parents' residence in Littleton. Two others have been cited into court on charges of possession of stolen property. Most of the items which were stolen have been recovered except for a camera; the latter is in the possession of a suspect by the name of S.W., who is still at large. [Erny Kuncl, SA, IMFA]
Two helicopters flew into the park to a location near Sunset Point at dawn on the morning of November 21st. A Bell 206B-3 outfitted with a "spectra" camera held its position while a bungee jumper leaped off the landing gear of a Llama SA 315 which hovered at an altitude of 900 feet above ground. The Llama then flew out of the park with the bungee jumper dangling below. The entire sequence was repeated shortly thereafter. The helicopters then flew to a local landing area, where they were contacted by park staff. Plum Productions, the filming company, had earlier contacted the park for commercial filming information, and stated at that time that they would be filming from a helicopter during a short fly-over. There was no mention of low level flights or bungee jumping. The company had given the FAA office in Salt Lake City a full description of its plans, but the FAA failed to advise the park. The FAA has agreed to inform park staff of future requests for low altitude flights over the park. The company was filming a commercial for a popular soft drink. [Larry Nielson, CR, BRCA]
A male hiker was stalked by a mountain lion while hiking alone on the Under the Rim trail in the Swamp Canyon area of the park on June 21st. The hiker said that the mountain lion followed him, then approached and growled. The animal left only after the hiker waved a stick, then threw it at the lion. It's not known if the mountain lion was a juvenile or adult, since the size description given by the hiker would more nearly fit the size of a saber tooth tiger. [Larry Nielson, CVS, BRCA]
Seasonal ranger Michael Beaulieu, 23, of Presque Isle, Maine, was killed when his patrol vehicle rolled over in a single-car accident just north of the Natural Bridge View area at 9:45 p.m. on August 26th. He was responding to a visitor report of a burning tree at the time. Although the cause of the accident is not yet known with certainty, the road was wet at the time. Beaulieu was wearing his seatbelt and the vehicle's air bag deployed, but he nonetheless suffered fatal head injuries. Beaulieu, a former police officer in Presque Isle, was in his first summer as a seasonal law enforcement ranger. No further details are currently available. [Erny Kuncl, SA, IMFA]
Seasonal ranger Michael Beaulieu, 23, of Presque Isle, Maine, was killed on the evening of August 26th when his 1995 Taurus patrol vehicle slid off the roadway and rolled down an embankment. He died instantly from head injuries, although his seat belt was buckled and the vehicle's air bags deployed. The Taurus, which he'd driven all season, was in good condition and had a full police package, ABS brakes and new tires. The road had recently been paved with a new, non-chip-sealed pavement and was wet from earlier rains at the time of the accident. Tracks suggest that he lost control before a turn; the vehicle then left the road, went 50 yards down a 30% slope, rolled and struck a 10 to 11 inch fir tree, which was snapped and uprooted when struck by the roof of the vehicle. The accident is being jointly investigated by the park, the county sheriff's office and the Utah Highway Patrol. A CISD team headed by Pat Buccello of Zion is on-scene in the park. Among those counseled was Michaels's girl friend, who was visiting from Maine. Area parks are offering assistance, including additional rangers to augment and support park staff. Michael graduated from the park ranger training program at the University of Maine in Presque Isle in 1995, then worked that summer as a seasonal ranger at Acadia. There will be a memorial service for him today at 3 p.m. in the auditorium at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. A potluck will follow in the residential picnic area. Michael's body has been flown to Maine for the funeral; his supervisor, Bob Nalwalker, accompanied him. Visitation will be at the Duncan and Graves funeral home in Presque Isle tomorrow at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be at St. Mary's Catholic church at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Cards and condolences may be sent to Michael's father. [Cheryl Schreier, PIO, BRCA; Larry Neilson, CR, BRCA; Erny Kuncl, SA, IMFA; Ed Clark, VAFO]
A college donation fund has been established for J.W., the daughter of ranger Michael Beaulieu, who was killed in an on-duty motor vehicle accident on August 26th. Donations should refer to account number 193095007467 and should be sent to the Key Bank of Maine, 187 State Street, P.O. Box 847, Presque Isle, Maine 04769. [Cheryl Schreier, BRCA]
The park's fire brigade, supported by AMFAC concession employees, saved the historic Bryce Canyon Lodge from extensive fire damage on October 16th. The county sheriff's office notified the park of a fire alarm at the lodge curio shop around 9:20 a.m. that morning. District ranger Clyde Stonaker responded and found the curio shop filled with light wood smoke. AMFAC maintenance staff were on scene, but were unable to determine the source of the smoke. It appeared, however, that it was coming from the lodge fireplace. Further inspection led to the discovery of smoke in the crawl space under the lodge. AMFAC employees followed the crawl space to the end of the lodge opposite the curio shop, where open flames were discovered in the sub-floor underneath the lodge kitchen. The building was evacuated and all power and gas shut off. The park fire brigade deployed a hose line and extinguished the fire. Brigade members continued to enter the crawl space in alternating teams to remove smoldering material and to see if the fire had spread. Access to the fire proved extremely difficult, as firefighters had to crawl to it in full turn out gear and self-contained breathing apparatus. The fire was confined to the flooring under the kitchen and was declared out at 3 p.m. An area measuring approximately 15 feet by 20 feet was involved, with heavy charring occurring between the floor girders. A state fire marshal inspected the burned area and determined that the source of ignition was somewhat unusual. A large Cleveland Range steam cooker (model 36CGM300) is located directly above the point of ignition. The steamer is fueled by a propane burner that is approximately two feet above the kitchen's concrete tile flooring. No insulation or shielding material is present between the burner and the concrete tile. Over the years, heat conduction through the concrete tile to nails in the sub-flooring had caused the wood around the nails to carbonize. The carbonized wood is capable of self-igniting at temperatures above 212 degrees F. Steam cookers of this type are in common use in restaurants, schools, and other larger kitchen facilities. It is not yet known for certain if this steamer or the old one it replaced in 1997 is the primary culprit in the carbonization of the wood. Regional safety officer Galen Warren will be distributing more specific information on the cause of this fire to interested parks. The fire marshal estimates that the fire would have broken through the lodge floor in 15 minutes had it not been extinguished. The Bryce Canyon Lodge is a famous historic structure that was constructed by the Union Pacific Railroad during the mid-1920s. The lodge remains closed, except for the registration desk, but is expected to reopen before the end of the season. [Larry Nielson, CR, BRCA, 10/16]
Rangers were notified on March 28th of a person stranded on a cliff edge and found a 21-year-old man about 25 feet below the trail on a steep scree slope above a ten-foot cliff. Another steep, 150-foot scree slope began at the base of the cliff. The victim had managed to stop his fall at the edge of the cliff, and his three companions had tied backpack straps together to create an emergency safety line just long enough to reach him. Two of them had then gone to get help. Rangers employed a rope from a patrol vehicle rescue pack to secure him, then lowered a rescuer to him to help him ascend back to the rim. The rescue team included employees from maintenance, interpretation, fire and protection, with additional assistance rendered by a local volunteer ambulance company. The victim said that he'd been "skiing" down the loose gravel along the rim when he slipped and fell. He was shaken but otherwise okay - and thankful. [Steve Mazur, IC, BRCA, 3/31]
On August 16th, two park visitors were injured by a lightning strike at the Inspiration Point overlook. N.B. of England was standing under a low tree near the overlook when he was injured by an indirect strike. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, then flown to Salt Lake City. He is in critical but stable condition. A second, as yet unidentified visitor was taken by private vehicle to a local hospital, where he was treated and released for flash burns from what is believed to have been the same lightning strike. [Clyde Stonaker, BRCA, 8/17]
On October 6th, Garfield County dispatch asked the park's fire brigade to assist on an aircraft emergency at Bryce Canyon Airport, located just west of the park's northern boundary. An American Airlines MD Super 80 en route from Denver to Los Angeles had reportedly experienced depressurization and had smoke in its cockpit. The fire brigade and many other employees responded along with ambulance and fire units from the area. The plane landed safely. No fire was discovered, and all of the passengers and crew exited the plane without incident. Park staff helped provide logistical support for passengers, assisting in briefings and arranging for transportation. The pilot was unable to restart the plane's engines, so it had to be towed off the runway by a local towing service. Bryce Valley Airport is part of a nationwide system of airports built in the 1930s in strategic locations throughout the country to provide spots for emergency landings. The airport has a 7,400-foot runway. The crew of the MD Super 80 was attempting to land the plane in Las Vegas, but the emergency required a more immediate landing. [Clyde Stonaker, Protection Branch Manager, BRCA, 10/12]
Two AMFAC concession employees - D.C. and C.C. - were arrested last week following a violent altercation in a concession-operated recreation hall. D.C. allegedly assaulted C.C. with a knife. A concession security guard attempted to intervene and called on rangers for assistance. When the rangers arrived, the fight was still in progress. An expandable baton had to be used to force C.C. to back out of the fight; when he failed to heed repeated attempts to comply, the rangers employed OC spray to subdue him. D.C. was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. C.C. was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest under state law. [Clyde Stonaker, Protection Branch Manager, BRCA, 10/12]
The Intermountain-Midwest incident management team remains very active in supporting the NPS commitment to the Winter Olympics, which begin on February 8th in Salt Lake City and will conclude on February 24th. The team has incorporated personnel from other agencies (USFS, BLM and Utah State Parks) into its organization in order to serve interagency needs during the games. Selections have been made for most NPS assignments (including alternates) for this event - a total of 105 Level I commissioned rangers (and six alternates), six information specialists (and four alternates), and eight media relations personnel have been notified of their assignments, some beginning as early as January 28th. Still to be notified are NPS employees who will staff the Discover Navajo 2002 exhibit. There was tremendous interest in these assignments and the team extends its appreciation for the high level of support offered by many field personnel and their managers. The NPS will provide commissioned rangers for a security detail under the direction of the Secret Service, primarily in the alpine venues around Park City. The Service will also staff the host city visitor center in downtown Salt Lake City daily throughout the games, along with BLM, USFS, and Utah State Parks. The host city VC opened on October 31st and features exhibits on America's public lands that were designed, fabricated and installed under the direction of Harpers Ferry Center and NPS Olympics coordinator Bob Van Belle. The center will also feature an interpretive sales area organized by a consortium of Colorado Plateau cooperating associations. The NPS will have staff at three different media centers in Salt Lake City and Park City at various times throughout the games. Park staff from Golden Spike NHS will work under a USFS IMT providing information on public lands at Snow Basin Ski Area. Staff from Timpanogos Cave NM will provide the same information at Soldier Hollow, where Nordic events will occur. The Service's trails program will also have an exhibit on the Pony Express at Soldier Hollow, with support provided by National Pony Express Association volunteers. This demonstration area, within easy view of the Nordic events, will feature buffalo, wild horses, Native Americans and other western Americana icons and will be managed through a cooperative state and federal effort. The Olympic torch relay begins on December 4th and enters Utah on February 4th, with visits to Arches NP, Bryce Canyon NP and Zion NP (all on the same day). The torch will pass through a total of 22 NPS sites across the country, with major events scheduled at four or five of those areas. For additional information, see the following web sites: NPS involvement (Intranet only): http://im.den.nps.gov/den_olyDR.cfm Visitor information: www.saltlakeinfo.org Interagency public lands information: www.fs.fed.us/r4/2002/apl Information on nearby NPS sites: www.npsolympics2002.org General Olympics information: http://www.slc2002.org Additional updates will appear in future Morning Reports. [Larry Frederick, IMT, 11/29]
The Intermountain Region/Midwest Region incident management team has established an incident command post in the BLM state office building in downtown Salt Lake City in support of the NPS involvement in the upcoming winter Olympics. The IMT has had a presence in Salt Lake since January 9th, and the full team will be in place effective today. The phone number for the information desk at the ICP is 801-539-4273 and will be staffed daily throughout the games, which end on February 24th. The IMT should be released on or about February 28th. Around 140 National Park Service personnel will be involved in supporting the games, including members of the IMT, personnel already stationed in Salt Lake, staff from Timpanogos Cave NM and Golden Spike NHS, law enforcement personnel assigned to the games, and staff who will work at the media centers, the host city's visitor center, the Pony Express exhibit at Soldier Hollow (venue for Nordic events), the Discover Navajo 2002 exhibit, and information stations at Snowbasin ski area and Soldier Hollow. The incident has become an interagency effort, with BLM, the Forest Service and Utah State Parks joining the NPS to form the "America's Public Lands" coalition and cooperating at all levels, including filling positions on the IMT. The IMT and NPS staff in Salt Lake are also supporting requests for assistance from the offices of the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the National Park Service. The opening of the games, which occurs on the night of Friday, February 8th, will be proceeded by the Olympic torch relay, which passed through Yellowstone NP on January 27th and will enter Utah at Delicate Arch in Arches NP on the morning of February 4th and continue on through Bryce Canyon NP and Zion NP the same day. [Larry Frederick, Deputy Ops Chief, IMT, 1/25]
On the afternoon of September 16th, rangers investigated a report of
a mn who had fallen and sustained a head injury on the Navajo Loop
trail. They found a French critical care physician performing CPR on
G.D., 59, of the United Kingdom. G.D. had sustained a massive
head injury after falling down a 20-foot slope with a 17-foot vertical
drop. The French doctor was nearby and responded within a minute. G.D.
was unresponsive to all stimuli, had fixed pupils, and stopped breathing
on his own after 20 minutes. CPR was then begun. More than 16 park staff
were involved in the subsequent rescue effort. G.D. was brought to a
waiting Garfield County ambulance crew; contact was made with a hospital
in Panguitch, and permission received to cease resuscitation efforts.
G.D. was part of a tour group visiting the park. [Greg Jackson, Acting
Chief Ranger]
On Saturday, October 11th, rangers and county search and rescue
personnel responded to a report of a hiker who had fallen from the
Queens Garden Trail. A witness told them that the victim, a 49-year-old
man from Michigan, had left the trail, walked out on a narrow fin and
was attempting to climb onto a hoodoo when he slipped on the talus slope
and fell. Rescuers were able to reach the man by both rappelling from
above and climbing up a narrow, steep canyon from below. They found that
he had died in the 170-foot fall. The recovery was accomplished by a
technical raising back to the trail. Ranger Steve Mazur was IC.
On Thursday, August 12th, a 58-year-old Dutch national who was hiking
the Bristlecone Loop Trail with his wife and another couple was struck
by lightning near Yovimpa Point (elevation 9,000 feet). The incident was
reported by visitors to a Bryce Canyon shuttle bus driver who
immediately called the park via radio. Five rangers responded, but
the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The body recovery and
investigation were conducted jointly by the park and Garfield County
Sheriff's Department. The last time a visitor was struck by
lightning at Bryce Canyon was in September, 2002. The woman
recovered after spending over a week in intensive care. It marked
the fifth time that a visitor has been struck by lightning in the park
in the last 20 years.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 23rd, a significant rock fall occurred on the Wall Street section of the Navajo Loop trail. Rock debris weighing an estimated 400 to 500 tons covers an area roughly 60 feet long, 15 feet deep, and 15 feet wide. The rocks range in size, with the largest about the dimensions of a midsized car. The trail will remain closed at this point to ensure visitor safety as the park develops a plan to reopen the trail, complete environmental compliance, and obtain funding. It is projected that work to clear the rock fall debris will start in the spring of 2007. If deemed safe, the park plans to open both sides of the trail up to the rock fall so that visitors will be able to view the rock fall and the large spruce tree in Wall Street. [Colleen Bathe]
Rangers responded to a report of two people over a cliff in the main amphitheater near Sunset Point on Sunday, September 17th. As they were helping the first man to safety, they quickly determined that he was in an altered mental state. The man said that he and his friend had been using psychoactive mushrooms and had decided to "fly" off the cliff face. Having been only partially successful, they landed on the scree slope approximately 60 feet below. Rangers rappelled to the second young man, who was suffering from drug-induced schizophrenia and alternating from combative to unresponsive, rendering him unable to assist in his rescue. He was evacuated via a technical raising. Rangers found drugs stashed in the cliff face and in their vehicle. Both were arrested after being released from the hospital and remained in custody until appearing in court. Both have since entered guilty pleas to felony charges and will be sentenced in December. The park is seeking restitution for the cost of their rescue. [Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
Rangers were notified of a disturbance at the park lodge just after 2 a.m. on Thursday, November 2nd. Ranger Scott Engelhardt arrived to find a visibly intoxicated man threatening others in the area. When Engelhardt attempted to intervene, the six-foot, three-inch man swing at him, forcing the ranger to use an arm bar to control him. When he continued to resist. Engelhardt used a touch stun to put him on the ground and make an arrest. The case has been closed with guilty pleas entered by the defendant and a review by Ranger Activities in Intermountain Region. Engelhardt was in a similar situation last year prior to taser training and ended up on the ground with the man he was attempting to arrest. After this instance, he noted that a taser "can be a great tool to increase officer safety." [Brent McGinn]
On the night of Friday January 19th, a cougar kitten was shot and killed east of the Mossy Cave parking area near the Tropic town line. The park and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) are jointly investigating this crime and are requesting help from the public.In conjunction with the National Park Service, the Bryce Canyon Natural History Association is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible. A reward is also being offered by the DWR.Anyone with information can contact the DWR "Help Stop Poaching" hotline at 1-800-662-DEER, lieutenant Scott Dalebout at the DWR Southern Region Office at 435-865-6100, or chief ranger Brent McGinn at 435-834-4800. Callers may remain anonymous. [Submitted by Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
On October 25, 2006, rangers were notified of a poaching incident within the park via several 911 calls and a report from a ranger in the interpretation division. The callers reported that three people were gutting a deer on the side of the road. Ranger Scott Engelhardt responded and conducted a vehicle stop on a vehicle matching the description of the one driven by the poachers. Engelhardt was able to obtain a confession from the shooter. Rangers seized the deer and rifle. On March 22nd, the shooter, J.H., pled guilty in federal court to a violation of the Lacey Act and was sentenced to a year's supervised probation, a $500 fine, and payment of $2,000 in restitution to the park. J.H. was also banned from visiting Bryce Canyon for one year. [Dave Fox, Ranger Operations Supervisor]
On April 27th, a visitor's vehicle was burglarized at Fairyland Point. The two thieves - later identified as C.M. and A.M. - broke the driver's side window with a rock and stole $5,000 worth of equipment, including two passports, a credit card, and a driver's license. The M.s, who were driving a stolen vehicle, were captured on video using the stolen credit card at Zion National Park's east entrance. Ranger Tim Sveum worked with Zion rangers to retrieve the video, which aided in the prosecution of the M.s. The couple had fled Tennessee in a stolen vehicle, knowing that they were not going to pass mandatory drug tests to meet parole and probation conditions. They stole two more vehicles in Las Vegas before being arrested in Wyoming during a traffic stop. After being charged in Wyoming, they waived extradition and were brought to Garfield County, where they were convicted of third degree felony burglary. Although the passports were returned, the M.s said they'd sold the other stolen property to buy crack cocaine. Sveum also worked with Kane County prosecutors to obtain a conviction for three counts of credit card fraud. Each of the M.s was sentenced to five years in prison. [David Fox, Ranger Operations Supervisor]
On the afternoon of Monday, August 27th, a visitor was struck by lightning at Bryce Point Overlook. The victim, a 40-year-old man from England, was standing at the far end of the point during a storm which computer data indicates produced seven lightning strikes in the park. Responding rangers completed a rapid evacuation to an awaiting ambulance. The man was eventually flown to a hospital in Salt Lake, where he is recovering from burns and associated trauma. [Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
The park's fire brigade was called out to assist at the scene of a mass casualty incident near Red Canyon campground in the Dixie National Forest late on the morning of Thursday, July 17th. The driver of a passenger bus lost control of his 40-foot-long motor coach, which slid down a small embankment before it rolled over onto its roof in a creek bed. The passengers, a group of teenagers, were able to scramble out of the overturned bus as it caught fire. The vehicle was fully involved when the first engine arrived on scene, a unit from Panguitch, Utah. Incident command was established and the IC requested resources from neighboring counties. Five engines, eight ambulances, and more than ten deputies and troopers from four counties responded along with eight NPS firefighters and EMT's. The fire was extinguished and the 55 victims were triaged and transported to Garfield Memorial Hospital. [Dave Fox, Chief Ranger]
During the week of August 24th, rangers assisted officers from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, Utah Department of Public Safety's SWAT, the Forest Service and several other local and state agencies with a marijuana garden eradication operation north of Panguitch, Utah, in Dixie National Forest. Rangers Mark Hnat and Bryan Adams from Bryce Canyon, along with ranger Grant Stolhand and field trainee Mark Cutler, worked alongside Utah DPS SWAT team members posing as hunters in order to monitor traffic in the area and performed reconnaissance patrols in order to locate a marijuana growing site. On August 29th, rangers Mike Zirwas (CARE), Jeff Kracht (GLCA), and Scott Larson (GLCA) joined Hnat and Adams in assisting the joint agency team assembled to raid the garden. Approximately 1500 plants, almost twp miles of irrigation piping, and associated equipment and supplies were removed from the area. This raid was one of seven raids in three days in southern Utah. Several arrests have been made in conjunction with these operations. [Mark Hnat, Deputy Chief Ranger]
Rangers received a report of smoke and flames issuing from Bryce Canyon Lodge - a National Historic Landmark - just after 5 p.m. on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 28th. The park's fire company and Tropic Volunteer Fire Department responded. The sprinkler system in the affected area was engaged, with one sprinkler head spraying water on the fire. Vertical ventilation was conducted and the fire was extinguished. The fire was limited to the attic above the boiler room that provides heat to half the lodge. Although it had recently been inspected and cleared as safe to operate, investigation revealed that a short section of the chimney in the attic was of single wall construction, that it was surrounded by insulation, and that it was within two inches of the wood construction. Due to recent low temperatures, the boiler had been in continuous operation. The investigation revealed that flame did not contact the roof, but that the fire was started by heat radiation. The sprinkler system is inspected biannually. The system managed to contain the fire to the area of origin, preventing extension into the rest of the historic structure. After the fire was suppressed, the sprinklers were taken off line. The lodge was put on a 24-hour fire watch, and the alarm system was restored for advanced notification. The protection systems were restored on the following day with a service call from fire protection specialists. The investigation was completed by a trained fire investigator. Inspection of the area showed no flame impingement outside the chimney, and the resulting report confirmed it was a radiant heat start. Single wall chimney construction is not adequate for such a unit and will be replaced with triple wall chimney. The fuel oil fired boiler was scheduled to be replaced (pre-fire) on November 3rd with a propane fired boiler. No changes have been made to those plans. The lodge was scheduled to close for the season after breakfast on November 1st. The lodge closed early and reservations were transferred to local hotels. As of October 30th, no food service or sleeping accommodations are being considered. Additional damage has been sustained to the structure due to frozen water pipes as a result of taking the boiler off line and not being able to drain the system properly. [Dave Fox, Chief Ranger]
On December 8th, park structural firefighters assisted in the suppression of a blaze at a sawmill in nearby Escalante. When Escalante VFD firefighters reached the scene of the blaze, they discovered that the dry kiln building was fully involved and asked for support from all fire departments in Garfield County. The park sent its Type 1 engine with certified firefighters from its visitor and resource protection and resource management divisions. The park engine supported a defensive operation and drafted from a dip tank supplied by a pumper relay that included several tenders from various parts of the county, two other Type I engines, and a USFS Type III engine staffed by BLM employees. The dry kiln building was a complete loss, but the control building, located just two feet from the kiln building housing all the controls, furnaces and mechanical equipment, suffered almost no damage. The Escalante Sawmill is the biggest employer in Escalante. [Mark Hnat, Deputy Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of May 29th, rangers received a call for assistance from the Canyon Trail rides concessionaire regarding a woman with an injured leg on the Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail. The wrangler on scene described the seriousness of the injury, prompting rangers to call for additional resources from the county and other divisions within the park. The local response was rapid, organized and professional. Rangers and EMT's were on scene within minutes of the initial request for help. The woman's leg was twisted at an awkward angle, probably indicating a spiral femur fracture. Tropic Fire Department EMT's started an IV and administered morphine. Due to the serious nature of the injury, personnel on scene made the determination that she should be airlifted to the nearest hospital equipped to handle this type of trauma. Tropic Fire Department EMT's and rangers applied a traction splint, prepared her for transport, and hauled her to a ridge on the Peek-A-Boo Loop where a Classic Lifeguard air medical transport helicopter was able to touch down. This is the first time in many years that a helicopter has landed within the Bryce Amphitheater among the hoodoos, requiring considerable expertise by the pilot. The woman was then flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center. The park extends its thanks to the dedicated Tropic Fire Department personnel who volunteer countless hours of training and applied skills to saving human lives. The park would also like to extend a special thanks to the retired civilian doctor who remained with the patient and monitored her condition throughout the ordeal. [Daniel Fagergren, Acting Deputy Chief Ranger]
Park employees and park partners responded to several incidents over the course of a two-day period last week. At 3 a.m. on Monday, October 17th, rangers responded to a report of an assault at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. A concession employee was arrested and transported to the county jail in Panguitch. Later that day, rangers responded to a motorcycle crash on Highway 63, the main road that runs through Bryce Canyon. The motorcycle operator failed to negotiate the first in a series of turns in the highway called "the S curves;" the front wheel of the motorcycle caught the soft shoulder, causing it to tip onto its operator while in motion. The operator was transported to Garfield County Memorial for treatment of multiple injuries. As emergency personnel were returning from the motorcycle accident, they received a report of a lightning strike igniting a tree behind the Bryce View Lodge in Bryce City. The park fire department responded with a structural engine and provided backup for Tropic Volunteer Fire Department. The fire was extinguished shortly after they arrived on scene. On the afternoon of October 18th, rangers responded to a report of a serious motor vehicle collision on Highway 63 in which a visitor had fallen asleep at the wheel and driven off the road. The car crossed the oncoming traffic lane, went onto the shoulder, struck several trees, and hit a park sign. The sign impaled the passenger side windshield, narrowly missing the driver. A park structural engine, Tropic Volunteer Fire Department, and Garfield County Ambulance responded to the scene and used extrication equipment to remove the driver. The visitor was transported to Garfield Memorial Hospital for stabilization and then flown to a hospital in Salt Lake City. Once again, Bryce Canyon emergency personnel would like to thank the dedicated Tropic Volunteer Fire Department and Garfield ambulance personnel who volunteer countless hours of training and applied skills to saving human lives in Garfield County as well as in Bryce Canyon NP. [Tyla F. Guss, Park Ranger]
An international visitor was killed by lightning along the Rim Trail between Sunrise and Sunset Points on the afternoon of Thursday, August 18th. The victim has been identified as V.K., 51, from Hamm, Germany. V.K. and his family were on the Rim Trail near Sunset Point when a rapidly developing thunderstorm approached the area. The family began returning to their vehicle to seek shelter from the rain. V.K. sought refuge under a large ponderosa pine, which was struck by lightning while he was under it. Family members ran to the Bryce Canyon Lodge nearby to call for help. A registered nurse and her husband, visiting from Washington State, were first on the scene and determined that V.K. had no pulse. They immediately began performing CPR. Park rangers and Garfield County emergency medical technicians soon arrived and continued CPR. Attempts to revive him continued while he was transported by ambulance to Garfield Memorial Hospital in Panguitch, Utah, 25 miles away. Hospital staff took over care of the patient but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. The last lightning-caused fatality in the park was in 2004. [Dan Ng]
A 48-year-old Maryland woman was rescued from the Under the Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon on the evening of Wednesday, November 7th. The woman had become disoriented while attempting to solo hike the Peek-a-Boo Loop day hike the previous day. When she descended the trail from Bryce Point, she inadvertently turned onto the Under the Rim trail - a trail stretching approximately 23 miles southward from Bryce Point into designated wilderness. The woman hiked a little over 10 miles over two days, clad only in a T-shirt and shorts and with minimal water and food. Temperatures dropped into the 30's that night. Staff at the hotel where she was staying in Kanab, Utah, reported her as missing around 10 a.m. on the 7th. Rangers located her rental car parked at Bryce Point and began recruiting staff and visitors to watch for the missing solo hiker on frontcountry trails. Park search teams hiked approximately 19 miles of both frontcountry and backcountry trails and found five "S.O.S." notes left by the hiker in her 29 hour journey. Ranger Eric Vasquez located the missing woman at approximately 4:30 p.m. near the Sheep Creek junction of the Under the Rim trail. She was in good condition, partially due to unseasonably warm weather. The woman said that she had been awake all night doing calisthenics to stay warm and had built a shelter out of tree branches in preparedness for another night in the backcountry. Ranger Tyla Guss was the IC for this incident. [Tyla F. Guss, Park Ranger]
Two Utah women lost in the park's snowy backcountry were located and rescued by rangers in a recent overnight incident. At approximately 6 p.m. on the evening of January 11th, the women called 911, stating that they had lost the trail near the Corral Hollow area. They had started at about 11 a.m. from Rainbow Point (elevation 9115 feet) in an attempt to day hike the Riggs Springs loop trail (about 8.5 miles). The area was almost entirely covered by snow up to three feet deep. They were able to follow tracks along the trail to the Corral Hollow designated backcountry campsite, arriving by about 4 p.m., but approximately 30 minutes past Corral Hollow they lost the trail. Using only the map in the park brochure, the women then decided to travel cross country, following a drainage towards the bottom of the Pink Cliffs, which they reached after several strenuous hours of HYPERLINK "http://hiking.about.com/od/Hiking-Glossary/g/What-Is-Postholing.htm" postholing through the snow. There they succeeded in finding another portion of trail, but without any tracks on it. As darkness fell the women decided to call for help, which necessitated climbing a nearby windswept ridge to attain cell phone reception, and then took shelter next to the trail, where they started a signal/warming fire. Weather conditions consisted of temperatures down to the high 20s with winds gusting to about 35 mph. Due to limited available resources, and sporadic text message communications which yielded conflicting information about their possible location and uncertainty about their ability to endure an unplanned winter night out without serious consequences, rangers contacted park dispatch at Glen Canyon NRA and requested a Classic Lifeguard helicopter (stationed in Page, Arizona) to assist in pinpointing the party's location. Classic located the women and was able to provide their approximate GPS coordinates to rangers. Rangers David Hansen and David Sutherland then snowshoed cross country to the point the women were last seen by the helicopter and located the two women nearby by using emergency whistles. Both individuals were in good health and after refueling with food and fluids all parties were able to hike out to Rainbow Point, arriving just after 4 a.m. on January 12th. The women said that they had overestimated their expected speed and endurance in the difficult conditions and thought the trail would be easier to follow. Rangers credit the incident's positive outcome to their good physical condition, their foresight in bringing warm clothes, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bivouac_sack" bivy sacks and a fire starter, and their good judgment in calling for help and then staying put. They were counseled on poor equipment choices (leaving snowshoes in their car and not carrying a topo map, compass or GPS), and their decision to continue on after realizing they had lost the trail, rather than retracing their own tracks. Ranger Tyla Guss was the incident commander. [David Hansen and Tyla Guss, Park Rangers]
On the evening of Saturday, March 22nd, rangers David Sutherland and Tyla Guss received word from the Garfield County's Dispatch Center that they'd received a partial cell phone call from within the park from a group of lost hikers. The hikers were able to report that they began their hike at Bryce Point before the call was dropped. Efforts to reconnect with them proved fruitless. Guss implemented ICS and assumed the role of incident commander. Short on park resources, with darkness closing in and the temperature dropping, she called in air support to help locate the missing hikers. Classic Helicopter Service out of Page, Arizona, responded to the call. Guss also requested the assistance of the local volunteer search and rescue team, Tropic Fire and Rescue, which immediately responded and provided essential ground support. The Classic Helicopter crew located the missing hikers on the Hat Shop Trail well below the rim and several miles from Bryce Point around 11:30 p.m. Two volunteers on the Tropic Fire and Rescue Team hiked to their location. Aside from being tired and ill-prepared to spend the night in such cold temperatures, members of the group needed no further medical treatment and were escorted back to the trailhead. [Daniel Fagergren]
On Saturday, July 26th, rangers received an emergency call reporting that a trail rider had been thrown by a mule during a guided trip on the Peekaboo loop trail and been seriously injured. Rangers assembled a rescue team that included personnel from Garfield County EMS and Tropic Fire and Rescue. A medical team determined that an air evacuation would be needed, as the nearest trauma center is four hours away and the accident had occurred two-and-a-half miles from the nearest trailhead. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter from Page, Arizona, flew to the park and picked up the injured visitor at a landing zone established by rescuers. The injured visitor was taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, for treatment for a pelvis fracture and shattered collarbone. [David Sutherland, Park Ranger]
The park received a report last Monday of a visitor down and unconscious and in need of medical assistance on the Rim Trail. A storm had recently passed through the area, bringing heavy rain and lightning. Rangers began a hasty search along the trail and found the visitor suffering seizures off to the side of the trail between Sunset and Inspiration Points. Initial signs and symptoms indicated that the visitor had likely been the victim of lightning side splash, as a tree several feet away had recently been struck by lightning. An ambulance from Garfield County EMS was soon on scene. The patient was transferred to the burn unit at University of Utah Medical Center for further care. [David Sutherland, Park Ranger]
The National Park Service is investigating reports of vandalism - acrylic painting on rocks - in at least ten national parks in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Utah. Details are not yet available because the case is under investigation, but the vandalism is believed to have occurred in the following parks (asterisks indicate that confirmation is pending at a particular area) - Grand Canyon*, Yosemite, Death Valley, Sequoia-Kings Canyon*, Joshua Tree*, Rocky Mountain*, Crater Lake, Bryce Canyon*, Zion and Canyonlands. Said a Washington Office spokesperson: "There are forums for artistic expression in national parks because national parks inspire artistic creativity. These images are outside that forum and outside the law." The link below is to a representative media report on the investigation. HYPERLINK "http://gazette.com/vandalism-investigated-at-10-national-parks-including-rocky-mountain-national-park/article/1540003"
On the afternoon of October 7th, Bryce Canyon Lodge Gift Shop management reported that approximately $8,600 in jewelry and other items had been stolen during the previous night. There was no video footage available and no signs of forced entry or other physical evidence, leading rangers to suspect it was an "inside job." Through numerous interviews over the next week, several possible local suspects emerged. On October 15th, rangers located one of the suspects, a lodge employee, and interviewed him about the theft. After initial denials the employee implicated two other individuals and confessed to obtaining the keys and stealing items during two separate burglaries. One of the implicated suspects had recently left his job at the Lodge, but was staying at a local area hotel with family. The other implicated individual was still a lodge employee, who had denied involvement in a prior interview and written statement. Bryce Canyon having proprietary jurisdiction, rangers coordinated with the Garfield County Sheriff's Office and the county attorney. An arrest warrant was secured from the local magistrate for the former employee staying at a nearby hotel. On the morning of October 17th a ranger and a county deputy served the warrant, taking the man into custody without incident. He also confessed. In consultation with the county attorney, rangers had intended to serve the third suspect with a court summons. However, further investigation revealed he was a likely flight risk as he intended to soon leave Utah. He was also supposed to have remained in Colorado in order to serve a probation sentence. A related warrant had also recently been issued for his arrest if found within Colorado. He was arrested in the park without incident by rangers on the evening of October 18th. In total, rangers recovered approximately $25,000 worth of stolen items, including some from an off-trail cache located within the park. The three suspects each face Utah state misdemeanor and felony charges, including burglary, retail theft (shoplifting), obstruction of justice, and conspiracy to commit a felony. Lodge management was educated about improving physical security measures and inventory tracking practices. The successful conclusion of the investigation is a testament to the continued close cooperation between Bryce Canyon and the local authorities. [David Sutherland, Park Ranger]
Garfield County officials have declared the park's public drinking water system to be a "significant threat to the health" of residents and visitors and have issued a formal resolution to that effect. Officials say the park's water system has tested positive for E. Coli contamination multiple times in the past seven years and that the problem still has not been resolved. They say the contamination is due to Utah prairie dogs that have burrowed into the ground near the spring source. Photographs released by the county appear to show that the animals have been in the area burrowing around the water sources. The county's resolution demands that the National Park Service fix the problem and remove the prairie dogs from the water source's 100-foot primary protection by May 31st. It also demands that the animals be removed from the source's secondary protection area no later than July 31st. Source: Good4Utah.com.
So Does Utah — The State of Utah paid more than $66,000 to federal workers to provide custodial operations and work in visitor centers, park stores and some campgrounds in four national parks in the state between December 21st and January 11th (the story was posted on January 14th, so does not cover the period since then). Rangers were also paid with state money; they are safeguarding park roads and resources in Arches, Zion, and Bryce Canyon NPs. A handful of employees were also on the job in Canyonlands NP. Counties, cities, and nongovernmental organizations are also kicking in some funds. Zion facilities remain open thanks to donations from Washington County, St. George, and the Zion National Park Forever Project. Canyonlands Natural History Association is providing funding for Arches and Canyonlands. Bryce Canyon Natural History Association is helping fund operations in that park. Source: Bloomberg Environment.
Two hikers who got lost in the park on the Monday before last were rescued by the country's SAR team. According to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, "the conditions were extreme and these two individuals who were from California were not prepared for the winter weather we were having at the time." County dispatch received a call around 6 p.m. from rangers who had been contacted about the lost and stranded hikers by other visiting park hikers. The county's search and rescue team was sent out and the two hikers were subsequently found and retrieved. Source: Mori Kessler, St. George News.
On Friday, May 3rd, rangers and county SAR team members rescued an Idaho man who'd been lost in the park for four days without food or water. Garfield County dispatchers received a call Thursday reporting that J.W., 39, had been missing since Monday, and that he had planned to go hiking in Bryce Canyon. An interagency search was immediately begun, but J.W.'s vehicle was not found until Friday morning. A Utah DPS helicopter was then called in to assist. J.W. was found around 1 p.m. He was suffering from dehydration and minor scrapes and bruises and was taken to Garfield County Memorial Hospital for treatment. J.W. planned on taking a two-hour hike on the Swamp Canyon Trail but had somehow got lost. He had no food and only one bottle of water, but was able to drink from some steams. He was wearing only shorts and a shirt. Source: Yvette Cruz, KSL, via EastIdaho.com.
Rangers from Bryce Canyon joined personnel from other law enforcement and emergency service organizations last Friday in responding to a fatal tour bus accident just outside the park. The bus was carrying 30 Chinese-speaking tourists toward the park when it rolled off State Route 12 and crashed into a guardrail. Four of the passengers were killed and another dozen or more had "very critical" injuries. Investigators said the bus drifted off the road to the right and the driver then overcorrected to the left, tipping the bus over and causing it to roll. The vehicle struck a guardrail as it rolled and landed with its wheels blocking the westbound lanes. It's unclear what caused the accident, which occurred on a stretch of open road where there were no sharp turns or particular reasons for the driver to lose control. Source: St. George Spectrum and Daily News.
Parks are slowly and carefully reopening following what appears to the pandemic's peak. The summary that follows focuses briefly on articles of note on a few large parks and how they're dealing with the reopening. Click on the related URL's for details: Bryce Canyon NP — Bryce Canyon, the last national park in Utah to close as the coronavirus swept the nation, is poised to be the first to resume operations, which are scheduled to begin today. For the time being, visitors will be restricted to limited reaches of the high-elevation park and services will be all but nonexistent. Source: Brian Maffly, Salt Lake Tribune. For information on the status of other parks in the system, go to the Service's "Active Alerts In Parks" webpage and use the search engine to find information on a particular site.
Missing hiker M.L. was located by search and rescue crews along the Under-the-Rim Trail near Yellow Creek on October 23rd. A helicopter crew flew him to the visitor center area for a medical assessment and to be reunited with his family. He was reportedly a little hypothermic, dehydrated, and confused, but otherwise in good shape. M.L. reportedly parked his vehicle at the Sheep Creek/Swamp Canyon trailhead. He planned to hike the four-mile loop and was expected to check in to a hotel in Bryce Canyon City later that evening, but failed to arrive. Source: KUTV News.
Due to flashflooding on July 24, many trails have been closed due to damage from rocks and mudslides. They include the Queen's Garden, Navajo Loop, Peekaboo Loop, and Peekaboo Connector Trail. Sources: KSL TV, Bryce Canyon National Park August 24, 2022 A visitor took a video of a person jumping from an overlook railing, then slipping several feet before coming to a stop on the edge of a cliff. The video gained traction on social media, and the park's visitor and resource protection division is now reviewing the video. Source: KSL September 18, 2022 An 80-year-old was reported missing while visiting the park on September 1. The individual was last seen exiting a shuttle bus at Bryce Point and no one knows what the individual's plans were. The search is ongoing and the park is looking for any information anyone might have. Source: St. George News
On March 16, the park closed the Navajo Loop Trail temporarily due to multiple retaining wall collapses along the trail. Storms and melting snow caused the collapses. Source: National Parks Traveler
On April 25, an individual was toweling off in a shower stall after bathing when they noticed a phone camera pointed at them from underneath the curtain. The showering individual screamed and tried to grab the phone. The person with the camera, a 19-year-old, ran and was chased by the showering individual. The victim "put the individual in a hold," but the suspect was able to flee the facility. The victim's partner was able to catch the suspect and the individual was arrested. The suspect said they didn't film the victim, though law enforcement found videos of other individuals on the suspect's phone. The individual faces charges of voyeurism, assault, disorderly conduct and tampering with evidence. Source: The Sacramento Bee
On August 25, a 64-year-old was reported overdue from an afternoon hike on the Fairyland Loop trail. A search was started, with personnel from the NPS, Garfield County (UT) Sheriff's Office, and the Utah Department of Public Safety. The individual was found that night in Campbell Canyon, about a mile east of the Fairyland Loop. They were pronounced deceased at the scene. The cause of death was not announced, but the park noted in its press release regarding the incident that flash flooding occurred that afternoon in dry washes along the Fairyland Loop. Source: Bryce Canyon National Park
On December 8, about 4,000 pounds of rock came loose off a canyon wall, leaving rocks and small boulders across the lower switchbacks of the Navajo Loop Trail on the Two Bridges side. It took two days to clear the trail. Some retaining walls are still damaged and will be repaired in the spring. Source: Sacramento Bee
On April 1, a 72-year-old took a fall while hiking in the park, incurring "massive trauma" to the head. Visitors from the public supported the individual before first responders came on scene. The individual was taken by ambulance to Garfield Memorial Hospital, then by air to St. George Regional Hospital. Responding agencies included the NPS and Garfield County. The individual passed away from their injuries the following day. The individual was well-known as the spouse of the President of the Florida State Senate. Source: Outdoors.com, Florida Senate President Pro Tempore Dennis Baxley
On June 7 around 11:30 PM, NPS ranger Tom Lorig, 78, fell while directing a visitor to a shuttle bus after programming in the park's annual Astronomy Festival. He struck his head on a rock and went unresponsive. A visitor notified a nearby law enforcement ranger, and several staff responded quickly to provide care. They were unsuccessful at resuscitation. Tom worked for over 10 years as a permanent, seasonal, and volunteer park ranger at 14 NPS sites. Source: St. George News
On September 18, a 47-year-old failed to return from a day hike in the park on the Swamp Canyon Trail. They were reported missing and NPS staff began a search that evening. The following day, NPS staff spotted the individual's "unique shoe tracks" and were able to follow them until they made contact with the hiker. The individual was exhausted and dehydrated, and was extracted by a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter. They were then treated by Garfield County (UT) EMS. Source: Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page | |