Noatak |  |
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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August 12, 1988 Location: Eli River On August 9th, and Arctic Tern, a single engine fixed wing aircraft, piloted by J.A., 38, of Anchorage, Alaska, crashed into a vertical snow bank at the headwaters of the Eli River in Noatak National Preserve. J.A. and his brother S.A., 35, of Nome, a passenger in the plane, were both killed on impact. They were apparently hunting. A ranger and an Alaska State Trooper responded to the scene to investigate and to remove the bodies.
At 3 a.m. on August 26th, H.P., 64, of Anchorage, was mauled by a grizzly bear while camping on Eli River. H.P. was in his sleeping bag in a tent when the incident occurred. The grizzly, which was described as "an old skinny bear", tore through the tent and the bag. H.P.'s right arm was dislocated and he suffered puncture wounds in his abdomen and back and minor scratches on his right arm, shoulder and back. H.P. was discovered about 12 hours later by J.W., a Kotzebue hunting guide, who flew him to Kotzebue, where he was immediately medevaced by jet to Providence Hospital in Anchorage. According to H.P., there was no food in his tent at the time of the incident. H.P. was on a photographic trip and was not hunting. (Warren Rigby, CR, NOAT, via CompuServe message from RAD/ARO, 8/30).
A full-scale search has begun for a Cessna 185 floatplane with three NPS employees on board which was last heard from over Noatak on Monday, September 14th. Ranger/pilot Bruce Rasmussen, 39, and seasonal rangers Patricia Taylor, 33, and Stan Caldwell, 24, left Kotzebue just after 11 a.m. that morning on a hunting patrol. The last contact with the plane occurred at 3 p.m. on Monday, and the aircraft was declared overdue at 10 p.m. NPS aircraft from Kotzebue and Bettles and other local aircraft began searching the north section of Noatak yesterday morning. Additional aircraft were to join in the search yesterday afternoon and evening. The search is being run through the Rescue Coordination Center at Elmendorf Air Force Base. In addition to private planes and pilots, other agencies participating in the search have included Alaska state troopers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state Fish and Wildlife Protection, and Civil Air Patrol. Weather in the search area is clear and temperatures are cool, with the evening low expected to drop to 20 degrees. [John Quinley, PA/ARO, 9/15]
The search for the missing park aircraft with three employees on board ended successfully early yesterday morning with a night helicopter rescue from the shore of a small lake along Makpik Creek in the northeastern portion of Noatak. The three rangers - pilot Bruce Rasmussen and seasonals Patricia Taylor and Stan Caldwell - were located by a pilot from Baker Aviation at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday. A radio and emergency supplies were dropped from search aircraft while an Alaska National Guard helicopter crew from Nome was mobilized for the pickup. With the assistant of an Air Force radar system in Anchorage and the National Guard in Kotzebue, the Blackhawk helicopter was directed to the site, landed at about 12:30 a.m. yesterday, and returned to Kotzebue about an hour later. All three rangers were suffering from hypothermia after spending 32 hours on the lake's shores. Taylor and Caldwell were examined and released from the Maniilaq Medical Center in Kotzebue; Rasmussen is still recovering from hypothermia and remains hospitalized. Their Cessna 185 floatplane had flipped on its back on takeoff at about 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The trio crawled out, hung onto the floats for a short time, then swam about 100 yards to shore. The temperature at the time was about 20 degrees, and a 35 knot wind was blowing. Thanks to survival gear carried in their flight vests, they were able to build a small fire to combat the effects of wet clothes and below freezing temperatures. [John Quinley, PA/ARO, 9/17]
In September, 1991, rangers on routine hunting patrol in Noatak spotted a Dall sheep carcass from the air near Kingaviksak Mountain and the Kugururok River. The sheep's horns and hide had been removed, but it had not been gutted and none of its meat had been taken. The rangers landed at a nearby camp and learned that there were three hunters in the area who had taken several animals, including moose, sheep, brown bear and caribou. Observing no violations in camp, they departed and called a state trooper to report their observations. When the hunting party arrived in Kotzebue, they were met by the trooper. B.S., a 28-year-old associate pastor with a church in Anchorage, and his father, a 59-year-old construction worker from Salem, Oregon, were charged with several hunting violations, including transportation and possession of moose antlers and sheep horns without meat and wanton waste of meat. On August 12th, the S.'s pleaded no contest to the charges; they were fined $500 each, had their hunting licenses suspended throughout the United States for two years, were sentenced to two years probation, and were required to forfeit all animal parts. B.S. was also ordered to spend 20 days in jail. [Warren Rigby, CR, NWAK, 12/11]
On November 24th, S.T., 41, of Kotzebue, Alaska, pled guilty to charges of taking a grizzly bear out of season in Noatak. Ranger Brian McCullough contacted S.T.'s hunting party near the mouth of the Kelly River while on a routine hunting patrol and found that the bear had been taken 11 days before the season started. S.T. was fined $500 and required to forfeit all animal parts. [Warren Rigby, CR, NWAK, 12/28]
While conducting site survey work in the central Noatak Basin in the Brooks Range, the park's archeologist discovered that two house pits from the Late Thule to Late Prehistoric eras (1200 to 1600 AD) had been looted. The site is 130 miles above the Arctic Circle. Rangers and archeologists are investigating the incident. It appears that the looters reached the site by float plane. Digging of inland sites is considered rare in the Arctic; most known looting takes place at coastal sites which contain ivory artifacts. A $200 reward will be offered for information about the case, with a $500 reward for a conviction. [Jon Peterson, NWAK]
On the evening of May 18th, the park was notified that a search was in progress for H.J., who was on an extended hunting and trapping trip in the park and had not been seen for three weeks. The search involved Alaska state troopers, the Northwest Alaska Native Association (NANA) SAR team, the Civil Air Patrol, private individuals, hunting guides, and pilot/rangers Richard Kemp (NWAK) and Joe Holland (BELA). Evidence indicated that H.J. had suicidal inclinations. He told fellow villagers that he was thinking about going to visit his friends who had committed suicide. Hangman's nooses were found at two of H.J.'s known camping locations. He also moved into a ranger station tent for a while, using up the propane and heating fuel and eating the dry food stored there. H.J. left his bed roll behind at a nearby native allotment cabin, and headed off with only his snowmobile, a .375 magnum rifle, a blue plastic tarp and the clothes he was wearing. During the search, a 15-year veteran of the SAR team committed suicide at the base camp. The search was temporarily suspended in order to attend to this incident, then resumed. Alaska state troopers have coordinated the intensive air, boat and ground search, but will likely suspend active efforts in the near future. Native people have indicated that they will continue searching for H.J.. [Jon Peterson, CR, NWAK]
Two kayakers on the Noatak River damaged their craft 22 days into a planned 45-day float down the river, then camped in one location for 21 days until help arrived (it took two weeks for other river floaters to get word of their problem out to Kotzebue). A state game protection officer in a Cessna 185 with wheels made a high-risk landing and take-off in less than 600 feet in order to evacuate one of the kayakers. A commercial float plane operator then made an equally daring landing in a Cessna 206 on floats in shallow water near a rapid on a bend in the river in order to reach the second kayaker. Ranger Richard Kemp circled overhead, providing instructions to the pilot of the 206 in order to guide him through the rocks on the river. Because of weight restrictions, 110 pounds of gear had to be left behind. The kayakers reported that they had difficulty maintaining body heat due to cold temperatures and rationed food. They both lost weight, but were otherwise in good condition. [Jon Peterson, CR, NWAK]
While flying a moose census along the Noatak River in the park's wheel and ski-equipped Cessna 185, four park employees were caught by a fast-moving Arctic storm which had not been forecast. They were unable to reach Kotzebue because visibility there had dropped to three-quarters of a mile, so headed for the nearby village of Noatak, only to find that it was cut off by quarter-mile visibility, blowing snow and fog. Lack of good snow cover made a landing on the frozen tundra risky, so park pilot Richard Kemp headed for the Red Dog mine, 45 miles to the west. Before they could get there, the radio operator at the mine informed them that the visibility there had suddenly dropped to a half mile, with cross winds of 25 knots. Kemp then attempted to land on the icy mine road - the only road within 100 miles - but found it impossible due to 30 knot cross winds. With park biologist Brad Shults pumping down the skis and visibility dropping to a quarter mile, Kemp lined up into the wind for a landing on the tundra. A small frozen lake appeared as they dropped to about 50 feet off the ground, and Kemp landed without incident. They spent the night in the mine dormitory, then returned to dig out the airplane the next morning with help from mine personnel and equipment. They flew back to Kotzebue through clear skies. [Richard Kemp, NWAK, 11/26]
On Wednesday, September 6th, G.F., a professional outfitter from Alpine, Wyoming, and D.C., his 65 year-old neighbor, were hunting on foot near Poppie Creek in the northwest area of Noatak NP. They had spotted caribou in the vicinity earlier that morning and began stalking them from across the valley. As they walked out of a dense stand of willow, they saw a large, dark brown grizzly bear about 25 yards ahead. The bear was standing on its hind legs, looking in their direction. G.F. yelled a warning to D.C.. The animal immediately charged G.F., who fired two shots with a 30.06 rifle, one from point-blank range. The bear knocked him down and bit through G.F.'s lower left leg, fracturing both bones above the ankle. It then began to bite and tear at his thigh. D.C. took aim at the bear and fired once with a 7mm rifle from close range. The bear then fled. D.C. helped G.F. move approximately 80 yards away to a nearby clearing, attempted to make him comfortable, then left for help. He arrived at the small lodge he and G.F. were staying at around 7:30 p.m. D.C., local guide-outfitter J. "J." J. and four others returned on foot, arriving around 9 p.m., and began dragging G.F. back to camp on a tarp. The group returned to J.J.'s lodge the following morning. After reaching Kotzebue on Thursday afternoon via J.J.'s Super Cub airplane, G.F. flew to Jackson Hole for additional treatment and reconstructive surgery. As of this time, the grizzly bear that attacked G.F. has yet to be located. Rangers will conduct aerial patrols in order to ascertain the bear's location and condition. [Greg Dudgeon, CR, WEAR, 9/11]
During the night of September 15th, an American Champion Scout aircraft belonging to the park was damaged by a bear at the Kelly River ranger station in Noatak NP. The bear broke out the left rear window, slashed the plane's fabric skin, chewed the rear seat, and slightly damaged the plywood floor. Former park pilot and current regional aviation trainer Rich Kemp made temporary repairs with patches comprised of plywood, a duffel bag, parachute cord, and duct tape. Kemp then flew the plane to park headquarters in Kotzebue, a distance of 110 miles. Kemp and ranger Peter Christian had been conducting aerial hunting patrols along the Noatak River. There was no food or other known attractants in the plane at the time of the incident. This is the third time in less than a year that bears have significantly damaged park property at the remote ranger station. [Greg Dudgeon, CR, WEAR, 9/18]
On August 30, K.K., 28, of Hokkaido, Japan, was nearing the completion of a 21-day solo canoe trip down the Noatak River. That evening, he went ashore on an island seven miles below the confluence with the Kelly River to camp for the night. At approximately 1 a.m. the next morning, K.K. was awakened by the growling and grunting of a bear in close proximity to his camp. The bear pounced on his tent, breaking the tent poles and flattening it; it landed on K.K.'s legs, then bit through the tent fabric and into his right shoulder. Although K.K. had capsicum spray (used to ward off bears), he was reluctant to use it inside his tent and remained silent and motionless the entire time. The bear departed, but returned approximately one hour later, again grunting and growling near his tent. K.K. remained in the collapsed tent, lying motionless, until the bear departed without further incident. Because of darkness, K.K. never saw the bear, so it's not known whether it was a black or grizzly bear. The following afternoon, K.K. floated down to the village of Noatak, where he was treated at the local clinic for puncture wounds to his right shoulder. He then flew to Anchorage. On September 17, K.K. returned to Kotzebue and reported the incident to a National Park Service ranger. By then, the puncture wounds were nearly healed, but a measurement of scars indicated that the bite had been by a large bear. At the time of K.K.'s encounter, the Noatak River salmon run was nearing its annual peak, which draws a concentration of bears - especially grizzly bears - to the area. [Submitted by Leigh Selig, Deputy Superintendent, Western Arctic National Parklands]
An Idaho man — P.S., 51 — was indicted in federal court on four counts of felony Lacey Act violations on March 22nd. According to the US Attorney's Office, P.S. violated the act by "illegally guiding, filing false state of Alaska Department of Fish and Game hunt records in order to conceal the illegal take of brown bears and to conceal illegally guided hunts, along with transporting illegally taken game across state lines." According to the indictment, P.S. guided fellow Idahoans on a hunting trip within the park without appropriate permits. According to the law, non-resident hunters need to be guided by a licensed big game guide and have the appropriate state-issued big game tags. P.S. is not a licensed guide and his out-of-state clients did not possess the tags. The incidents occurred on three separate dates in 2013 and 2014. The National Park Service and Alaska Wildlife Troopers conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. If convicted, P.S. can be sentenced to five years in prison and a quarter-million dollar fine on each of the four counts. Source: Alaska Native 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: Olympic NP/Mount Rainier NP/North Cascades NP — The parks are planning for phased reopenings of certain day-use facilities this month. Sarah Creachbaum, superintendent of Olympic, summarized the situation for Washington parks: "The opening of each of the parks is necessarily predicated on being able to outfit our employees with adequate PPE (personal protective equipment), with adequate cleaning supplies to keep the restrooms clean, and with adequate enforcement to keep people from crowding around restroom areas." Source: Rob Ollikainen, Peninsula Daily News. 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.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Noatak NP — An Idaho man who pleaded guilty to illegally guiding hunts in Alaska is banned from ever hunting in the state again. Paul Silvis was sentenced to six months of house arrest and 100 hours of community service and has banned from hunting in Alaska for the rest of his life. He was also ordered to write an article for a hunting periodical detailing his crimes, and he owes $20,000 in fines and $2,000 in restitution to individuals who say Silvis never led them on hunts for which they paid deposits. Silvis' article will run in The Alaska Professional Hunter Association Magazine and contain an apology to Alaskans and those in the outfitting and guiding profession. Silvis, 52, led bear and moose hunts in Noatak in 2013 and 2014 without obtaining a license to outfit or guide in the state. Source: Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman.
On Wednesday, August 12th, a search was begun for a pilot after a friend of his reported that he was overdue and hadn't been heard from in three days. The pilot reportedly flew from Fairbanks on Sunday to check on a river rafter in a remote area on the upper Noatak River. His plane overturned when landing. The park dispatched one of its fixed wing pilots to conduct an initial overflight and discovered the overturned red and white Super Cub. The NPS pilot was not able to land but was able to talk to the river rafter at the site, who climbed into the wrecked plane to establish radio contact. The rafter reported that the pilot had begun walking upriver on Monday to find help. The NPS contracted a Northern Pioneer helicopter working in the area to assist in the effort. When the helicopter was unsuccessful in locating the pilot, the NPS sought assistance from the Coast Guard, which has FLIR (forward looking infrared radar) capability. A US Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched out of Kotzebue in the evening and found the pilot. He required no medical attention. The pilot chose to remain in the field to repair his aircraft with logistical assistance from the NPS. This SAR was a coordinated effort between the Alaska State Troopers, the US Coast Guard and the NPS. Source: Jan Maslen, PublicNow.com.
On December 1, a 66-year-old and a 60-year-old were charged with engaging in business without a permit, failure to follow a lawful order, providing false information, and violation of provisions of a permit for illegally transporting caribou hunters in the preserve in 2019 and 2020. Source: Kobuk Valley National Park
On June 13, two fires were observed in the park by the Galena Fire Management Zone Office: The Tututalak Fire is located 32 miles northeast of Noatak Village and 4 miles of the Kelly River and Noatak River confluence. As of June 17, the Tututalak Fire was about 7,000 acres. The Urgoon Fire is located 22 miles northeast of Noatak Village and 8 miles south of the Kelly River and Noatak River confluence. As of June 17, the Urgoon Fire was 4,264 acres. Both fires are being monitored by the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center by aviation overflights. There currently are no threats to people, property, or Native allotments. Smoke is present in the Lower Noatak River area, Eand the Eli and Agashashok River drainages. Source: Noatak National Preserve
On June 13, two fires were observed in the park by the Galena Fire Management Zone Office: The Tututalak Fire is located 32 miles northeast of Noatak Village and 4 miles of the Kelly River and Noatak River confluence. As of June 17, the Tututalak Fire was about 7,000 acres. The Urgoon Fire is located 22 miles northeast of Noatak Village and 8 miles south of the Kelly River and Noatak River confluence. As of June 17, the Urgoon Fire was 4,264 acres. Both fires are being monitored by the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center by aviation overflights. There currently are no threats to people, property, or Native allotments. Smoke is present in the Lower Noatak River area, and the Eli and Agashashok River drainages. Source: Noatak National Preserve
On June 13, two fires were observed in the park by the Galena Fire Management Zone Office: The Tututalak Fire is located 32 miles northeast of Noatak Village and 4 miles of the Kelly River and Noatak River confluence. As of June 21, the Tututalak Fire was estimated at 8,533 acres. The Urgoon Fire is located 22 miles northeast of Noatak Village and 8 miles south of the Kelly River and Noatak River confluence. As of July 23, the Urgoon Fire was 6,083 acres. Both fires are being monitored by the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center by aviation overflights. There currently are no threats to people, property, or Native allotments. Smoke is present in the Lower Noatak River area, and the Eli and Agashashok River drainages. Source: Noatak National Preserve, Alaska Wildland Fire Information
On June 13, two fires were observed in the park by the Galena Fire Management Zone Office: The Tututalak Fire is located 32 miles northeast of Noatak Village and 4 miles of the Kelly River and Noatak River confluence. As of June 21, the Tututalak Fire was estimated at 8,534 acres. The Urgoon Fire is located 22 miles northeast of Noatak Village and 8 miles south of the Kelly River and Noatak River confluence. As of July 23, the Urgoon Fire was 6,083 acres. Both fires are being monitored by the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center by aviation overflights. There currently are no threats to people, property, or Native allotments. Smoke is present in the Lower Noatak River area, and the Eli and Agashashok River drainages. Source: Noatak National Preserve, Alaska Wildland Fire Information | |