North Cascades Lake Chelan Ross Lake |  |
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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Monday, June 23, 1986 Incident location: Just off west summit of Triad, a peak located in park. Summary: Partner reported that they were descending unroped. Normal situation. Partner heard rock slide. R.R. fell 200' and slid another 300-500', all on rock. Another climbing party went to victim & determined DOA. That group helped partner out to Marblemount Ranger Station. Park evacuated body. Next of kin notified.
Incident location: Mixup Peak Visitors involved: Party of 6 walking a traverse. Large rock came down & hit T.J. in head. Killed him instantly. Party unroped & not wearing hard hats, which is normal for that area. Body flown out by Chelan County Sheriff.
Location: Mixup Peak Mr. T.W. was climbing with a partner on Mixup Peak. The two had just completed a rappel; they were about to start a second when T.W. was hit with a large rock and fell 1500' to his death.
Location: Ross Lake Mr. R.R. went out on the lake last night to look for an overdue concessions boat. The boat returned, but R.R. did not. His overturned 14' boat was found early this morning, but he has not been located yet. A lake and air search is underway.
Location: Skagit District A Seattle City Light employee reported a suspicious vehicle parked under transmission towers on a Seattle City Light inholding within the park to the Skagit County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's officers responded and discovered G.G.L.'s body. G.G.L., a known manic depressive, had been reported missing for some time. Apparent cause of death is carbon monoxide poisoning. Skagit County handling investigation.
Location: Stehekin Valley On July 22nd, N.W. and M.D. were hiking near Horseshoe Creek in Stehekin Valley. N.W. decided to do a rock scramble by himself. When he did not return, M.D. sought help. A search was initiated and N.W. was found at about 11 am on the 23rd. N.W. apparently died due to injuries sustained in 150 foot fall and slide.
Location: Mt. Triumph Rangers checking the Mt. Triumph trailhead on August 6th found a car belonging to T.A.T. of Lyons, Colorado, and determined that the vehicle had been there for about a week. Upon checking backcountry permits, they found that T.A.T. had planned to be gone from July 31st to August 2nd. No missing persons reports had been received, nor had T.A.T. signed out for a climb. Rangers do not check backcountry permits for overdues, but do check climbing signouts. A ground and air search was begun on the 6th, and T.A.T.'s body was found in the Mt. Triumph area the next day. Cause of death has not been determined. The incident is being investigated by ranters and Whatcom County sheriffs.
At noon on the 6th, a park employee found dead grass around the gas tank in Marblemount Campground and discovered that the ground was saturated with gasoline. A check of the 500-gallon tank, which had been filled a few days previously, revealed that a total of only seven gallons remained within and that the tank would not hold air pressure. The DOT environmental officer in Portland and the US Coast Guard have been notified; the state's department of ecology will also be contacted. There is no runoff from the spill. The initial plan will be to stop any possible flow should the water table rise, then remove the tank and saturated soil. (Jon Jarvis, NOCA, via Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO).
On July 31st, a cougar caught and killed a goose owned by park employees G. and P.M., who live in the government compound at Marblemount. The couple own several ducks and geese and keep them in an enclosed pen, but they had been let out of the pen for their daily walk. Several days later, P.M. was walking the birds in a different location when the cougar jumped from cover, landed within a foot of her and caught a duck. The park staff contacted the state and made arrangements to relocate the cougar, as it was feared that the animal might cause harm to people living in the area. On August 5th, the cougar got into the couple's wood shed, and rangers were summoned to their residence. A capture rifle with Rompon and Kedamine was employed to anesthetize the cat, which was then relocated to another area in the park. The animal was a yearling female, weighing approximately 50 pounds. (John Malle, NCCA, via CompuServe message from RAD/PNRO).
On August 16th, the North Cascades Highway was closed by a major rock fall. Because of the size and quantity of material on the highway and the instability of the rock wall, it's estimated that the highway will be closed for at least two weeks. (CompuServe message from RAD/PNRO).
On August 16th, rangers in the Skagit District Office received a report that a visitor had seen an overturned raft in the Skagit River. When ranger Cindy Crowle arrived on the scene, she was unable to find a raft, but observed pieces of wood and numerous stuffed animals floating in the river. Crowle proceeded up river, following the trail of animals. At the end of the trail, she observed tire tracks and a swath of bent-over trees which indicated that a vehicle had passed through the area and entered the river. A number of stuffed animals were seen swirling in a nearby river eddy. Washington State Patrol officers and Skagit County Sheriffs Department divers arrived on scene shortly thereafter, and were soon able to determine that a trailer from a carnival concession had come unhitched and entered the river. Several hundred stuffed animals have since been recovered. A report was later received which indicated that a carnival vehicle had been observed in the area, and that several individuals had been seen looking over the bank into the river. They apparently decided to leave the trailer behind and continue on their way. (CompuServe message from RAD/PNRO).
Early on the morning of the 10th, John Dalle Molle, Marblemount District Ranger, died of cancer at Wenatchee, Washington. He had been living with the disease for several years. Private services will be held later this week, and a memorial service will be held toward the end of the month. Further details will be provided tomorrow. (Telephone message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 6/11).
Early on the morning of the 10th, Marblemount District Ranger John Dalle-Molle, 51, died of cancer in Wenatchee, Washington. John was among the first NPS scuba divers trained at Scripps, one of the first EMT's in the state of Washington, and a law enforcement officer who conducted road patrols, made felony arrests, and once contacted the Manson family in the backcountry of Death Valley. John was the first climbing ranger at Mt. Schurman in Rainier, ran many technical mountain rescues, and wrote one of the first manuals on helicopter use in SAR. John had published over 25 research papers on such topics as wilderness use, backcountry impact monitoring, bear-human interaction, revegetation, subsistence and traffic- wildlife interaction. He served at Denali from 1978 to 1989, playing a crucial role in developing the resource management policies of the park. John is survived by his wife Lois, who is working as a clerk at the Skagit office in Marblemount, and sons Andrew, 7, and Daniel, 5. The park is collecting photographs and memories of the people and places that were important to John and Lois. Please send them to Superintendent John Earnst, NOCA. A scholarship fund is being set up for Andrew and Daniel and donations can be sent to North Cascades National Park, 2105 Highway 20, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284, care of Pat Young. (CompuServe message from NOCA, via Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 6/13).
On August 2nd, D.K., an 18-year-old Explorer scout from Bellvue, Washington, fell 30 feet while climbing Arctic Falls. He was transported ten miles to Hozomeen Ranger Station by a private boater. Rangers Peggy Marcus and Cindy Crowle stabilized D.K.'s broken knee and treated him for severe facial injuries and shock. He was transported to Bellingham via a flight-for-life helicopter, where he underwent emergency surgery and had his spleen removed. He is reported to be in stable condition. (CompuServe message from NOCA, 8/3).
On August 4th, a jogger running along a power line access road reported being fired on by a man in a vehicle covered with a green tarp camouflaged with leaves and brush. Ranger Galen Stark and a Skagit County deputy investigated and encountered a middle-aged male suspect. The suspect, M.Y. of Albuquerque, New Mexico, claimed he was an anti-christ incapable of living in modern society, had squandered a $100,000 inheritance, and believed in white supremacy. He claimed he held his hand up to his head and clicked his mouth to scare off the jogger, who was tanned and who he therefore believed was non-Caucasian. A .22 caliber automatic pistol and loaded clip were found by a tree behind the car. The license plate was expired, but had a masterfully forged 1990 sticker. M.Y. was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. The investigation is continuing. (CompuServe message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 8/8).
On September 23rd, seasonal park ranger Andy Ross was dumping a bucket of water over a rock gulley at Copperridge Lookout when he slipped and fell approximately fifty feet. Ross was able to climb back up to the lookout, where a doctor who was hiking through the area helped stabilize his injuries. A medevac helicopter transported him to a local hospital, where he was treated for a broken left wrist, two broken toes, and deep lacerations on his lower left leg and right knee. Ross was to be released from the hospital yesterday. (CompuServe message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNR0, 9/25).
Record amounts of unseasonably warm rainfall, the heaviest since 1930, have caused major flooding in western Washington. The town of Diablo in Ross Lake received 11.4 inches of rain in one 24-hour period. Flooding water, rock and mudslides have caused major damage to roads and trails in North Cascades, Ross Lake and Lake Chelan, and Highway 20 remains closed with 100 feet of the eastbound lane washed away by a slide at one location. With more rain forecast, it will be days before the full extent of the damage to the park can be evaluated. Governor Booth Gardner has declared Skagit and Whatcom counties to be disaster areas. (SEAdog message from David Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 11/12).
Heavy rains and snowmelt over the Thanksgiving holiday caused additional damage to previously-flooded park roads. The saturation of the soils and snowpack two weeks ago combined with record rainfall over the holiday weekend to transform small drainages and creeks into debris-filled torrents. Sourdough Creek deposited approximately 500 cubic yards on the Diablo Lake Resort Road, stranding ten guests who were staying at the resort until Seattle City Light crews were able to remove the debris. Roads in both park districts sustained heavy damage. Some areas of the park may not be accessible until next spring. The full extent of the damage will not be known until complete surveys can be conducted of the entire road system. (CompuServe message from RAD/PNRO, 11/27).
A resident of the town of Stehekin dumped about 100 gallons of oil on the Stehekin River Road on the 18th, and there is a possibility that the oil may run off into a nearby stream. The oil is thought to be used and may contain solvents or heavy metals. The oil was poured on the road to keep dust down. The resident has confessed to the act, and the park is presently investigating the possibility of legal action. [SEAdog message from Kathy Jope, RAD/PNRO, 6/21]
R.D., 60, an engineering equipment operator, was seriously injured while filling a tire on a split rim wheel with air at the automobile shop in Stehekin on the afternoon of July 2nd. He was evacuated unconscious by air to the hospital in Wenatchee, where he underwent surgery for a compound fracture of the left forearm. R.D. also received minor lacerations to his left leg. Rangers are investigating the accident, and regional safety officers will followup on the investigation and necessary prevention actions. [John Jarvis, NOCA, via telefax from Reed Jarvis, RAD/PNRO, 7/3]
On the afternoon of July 18th, climbers J.D. and D.K., both of Tempe, Arizona, fell while attempting to climb the south face of Eldorado Peak. D.K. was leading a pitch on a rock when he fell; his protection and the belayers anchor both failed, causing the pair to fall approximately 30 feet. Both were conscious after the fall, and D.K. was able to dig J.D. out of the bergschrund in which he was trapped. D.K. stabilized him in a sleeping bag, then managed to locate the rest of his party. A National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) group climbing in the area organized the rescue and radioed an overhead aircraft for assistance. That call was forwarded to the park and local sheriff's department around 8:00 p.m. A rescue helicopter from Whidbey Island NAS was dispatched at first light the following morning, and evacuated the two climbers to a hospital in Sedro-Woolley, where they received treatment for various fractures, lacerations and bruises. [CompuServe message from RAD/PNRO, 7/22]
On July 21st, H.F., 44, and S.S., both from Hawaii, went on a day hike to Cascade Pass. After reaching the summit around 6:00 p.m., H.F., a geologist, decided to leave the trail and descend directly down the steep rocky sloop to the Cascade River road. S.S. hiked back down the trail and waited for H.F.; when he failed to arrive, S.S. went back up the trail to look for him. Just before 9:00 a.m. the next morning, S.S. went to the Marblemount backcountry office and reported that H.F. was overdue. Rangers began an immediate ground search and summoned a helicopter. Just before noon, rangers in the helicopter spotted Fok's body. H.F. had descended 700 vertical feet from the summit and was bushwhacking through thick huckleberry and hemlock when he apparently stepped off a rock cliff, fell about 20 feet, struck his head, then slid down another 50 feet. The body was evacuated by helicopter and turned over to the local coroner for an autopsy. [CompuServe message from RAD/PNRO, 7/24]
On August 6th, D.C., 45, of Knoxville, Tennessee, lost his footing while approaching the Fisher Chimneys on the west side of Mount Shuksan and slid 200 feet across snow and rocks. D.C. was knocked unconscious for about half an hour, and suffered multiple abrasions and lacerations of the head. One of his two climbing companions went for help and reported the incident to a trail crew working nearby in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Rangers were notified and the park dispatched a helicopter to the scene of the accident. D.C. was stabilized at the scene, then transported to St. Luke's Hospital in Bellingham for evaluation and treatment. [Dave Spirtes, CR, NOCA, via CompuServe message from Diane Wisely, RAD/PNRO, 8/8]
A male motorcyclist was seriously injured on August 16th when his bike went into a ditch off Highway 20 near Diablo. CPR was begun at the scene and a medical flight was requested, but the victim died before he could be transported to a medical facility. Park rangers and state highway patrol officers are investigating. [Dave Spirtes, CR, NOCA, via SEAdog message from Mike Blankenship, RAD/PNRO, 8/19]
Rangers received a report of an overdue climbing party on the northwest arete of Mt. Shuksan on August 21st. A search was begun, and a climber was soon spotted on a ledge above White Salmon Glacier by rangers in a contract helicopter. A radio was lowered to the climber, who identified himself as K.V., 29, of Bellingham. K.V. reported that he and his climbing partner, whose name is being withheld pending determination of his fate and notification of his family, were swept off their climbing route by an ice slide and small avalanche on the afternoon of August 19th. K.V. was buried to his waist, but was able to dig free. His partner was completely buried by the sliding ice. Despite a dislocated shoulder, broken ribs, lacerations and other injuries, K.V. was able to climb up to the ledge, where he spent Monday and Tuesday nights. He was evacuated from the ledge by helicopter and transported to United General Hospital, where he was treated and released. His partner is presumed dead and efforts to locate his remains continue. [Dave Spirtes, NOCA, via CompuServe message from Diane Wisley, RAD/PNRO, 8/22]
On September 14th, a party of climbers M.M., 19, B.N., 41, T.H., 40 and R.K., 47, all of Washington was ascending the Northeast Buttress of Goode Mountain when an accident occurred which led to B.N.'s death. M.M. was free-climbing and leading a pitch on rock at 7,200-feet; although tied into B.N., he was not being belayed. While climbing, M.M. knocked off a piece of rock. He yelled a warning, but B.N. was unable to avoid the rock, which knocked him off the face of the buttress. Although B.N. fell 140 feet and sustained head wounds, broken bones and probable internal injuries, he was breathing when his climbing partners reached him. R.K. remained with B.N., while M.M. and T.H. hiked out for help. At about 3:00 a.m. on the 15th, T.H. fell about 110 feet while crossing a glacier, but was not seriously injured. He and M.M. finally reached Bridge Creek later that morning and reported the accident. The park immediately dispatched a helicopter and rescue team to the area. R.K. was found at about 6:30 p.m. A radio was lowered to him, and he reported that B.N. had stopped breathing sometime during the night. R.K. was evacuated by helicopter and B.N.'s body was transported to Stehekin, where it was subsequently transported to Chelan. [SEAdog message from Dave Spirtes, NOCA, 9/17]
On the afternoon of March 6th, W.M. parked his pickup on the side of Highway 20 and hiked a short distance to a nearby waterfall. From this location, W.M. saw a gray sedan pull up behind his truck and watched the driver get out, approach the passenger side of the truck, and attempt to enter the vehicle. W.M. returned to the truck and confronted the man, later identified as R.H.F., 49, of Imlay City, Michigan. R.H.F. said that he was "just checking to see if everyone was okay", then immediately got in his car and drove away. W.M. reported the incident to a park maintenance man working in the area and provided him with a description of the vehicle. Ranger Galen Stark spotted the car just west of the park boundary and stopped it to identify the occupant. Stark was backed up by Ray Beazizo, a Washington state trooper. The initial checks of the vehicle registration and R.H.F.'s license came back negative and he was released. Within minutes, however, Stark and Beazizo received information that R.H.F. was wanted in Michigan on an outstanding warrant for homicide. They again located the vehicle heading west on Highway 20 near Marblemount and called for assistance in making a felony car stop. Officers from surrounding jurisdictions joined them, and R.H.F. was stopped near the town of Concrete. R.H.F. was transported to the Skagit county jail for booking. Investigators subsequently learned that R.H.F. was also on parole from a prison term for murder in Georgia. An investigation is underway. [Pete Cowan and Dave Spirtes, NOCA, via SEAdog message from Mike Blankenship, RAD/PNRO, 3/9]
A canoe with three paddlers overturned in the Skagit River at Dolly Varden Rapids on the afternoon of June 7th. Two of the canoeists made it to shore, but the third, a 36-year-old Washington man, was last seen struggling in the water. A search was conducted by rangers and Skagit County sheriffs, but no sign of the victim was found. The search was suspended Sunday night and was to resume yesterday morning. [Dave Spirtes, NOCA, via cc:Mail message from Kathy Jope, RAD/PNRO, 6/8]
On the afternoon of July 10th, park dispatch received a radio call from a woman at the Copper Ridge fire lookout reporting that her husband, D.W. of Asheville, North Carolina, had slipped and possibly broken his leg or knee. D.W. was located on a trail leading from Copper Ridge to the Chilliwack River valley in a remote section of the park, and it took several hours for backcountry ranger Jim Ohlsten to hike to the scene. Ohlsten found D.W. to be alert and conscious, but in need of medical evacuation for treatment of a possible dislocated knee, fractured patella and torn ligaments. Ohlsten and ranger Jim Hughes camped out with D.W. and continued to monitor his condition during the night. At 5:00 a.m., a crew of ten NPS employees and eight volunteers from a Chilliwack, British Columbia, SAR unit assembled at the Depot Creek trailhead in Canada and started hiking the 13 miles to D.W.. They arrived at 10:30 a.m., immobilized D.W.'s leg, loaded him into a stokes litter, and carried him one mile up a steep and narrow trail to the nearest helicopter landing spot. A UH-53 helicopter from Whidbey Island Naval Station landed at the helispot at 2:00 p.m. and evacuated D.W. to a hospital in Sedro Woolley. D.W. was eventually flown back to North Carolina for surgery. [Dave Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 7/14]
On the afternoon of July 18th, rangers at the Marblemount ranger station received word of a climbing accident in the Hourglass area on the west flank of Mt. Shuksan in which two climbers had fallen into a crevasse. A nine-person climbing party was descending when the accident occurred. The middle member of a rope team lost her footing in very soft snow and was unable to arrest herself before sliding into the crevasse. The lead member of the team was also pulled in; the third and final member of the group was pulled off her feet and into the crevasse, but was able to secure herself on its downhill side. One of the two women fell 35 feet, and the other fell about 50 feet and became wedged between ice walls. Remaining members of the climbing party, assisted by another group of climbers, were able to extricate the pair after protracted efforts which took, respectively, 45 minutes and two hours. Park Service personnel were flown to the scene with SAR equipment by helicopter. They found that neither woman had severe injuries, but that both were suffering from advanced stages of hypothermia. They were flown to the Concrete airport, then taken to a hospital in Sedro-Woolley, where they were released the same evening. Members of the climbing party believe that the two women would not have survived the night on the glacier. The original call for assistance came from a third climbing party on the mountain. A marine transceiver was used to call Vancouver Coast Guard, who forwarded the call to the Vancouver marine operator, who passed it on to the Forest Service's Glacier Public Service Center, who called the rangers in Marblemount. [Kelly Bush, NOCA, 7/21]
On Friday, August 7th, personnel from Chelan Airways left their Cessna 185 float plane tied up overnight at the Riddle Creek dock on Lake Chelan within the park. During the night, one of the pontoons leaked and the plane overturned and sank. A barge was able to recover the plane and transport it to Chelan for repair and salvage. [Dave Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 8/12]
Operation Lightning Creek III, a multi-agency operation to detect and intercept drugs crossing the border into the United States through the Hozomeen and Ross Lake areas, was conducted from September 1st to the 6th. Although no drugs were found, team members temporarily confiscated three weapons from Canadian citizens attempting to enter the U.S., expelled a Canadian national with a long criminal history who is prohibited from entry into this country, and appear to have foiled an attempt to smuggle an illegal Chinese alien into the United States. The team was comprised of representatives from the NPS, Customs, Immigration, and the Air Force. The Air Force provided a sophisticated communications link which allowed checks to be run through NCIC, the RCMP and Customs. The operation also served as a deterrent to prevent illegal border activity, helped to train NPS law enforcement, and promoted closer working relationships with Customs and Immigration. [Dave Spirtes, NOCA, 9/10]
On September 24th, rangers and Skagit County deputies recovered the body of R.H., 36, of Everett, Washington, who disappeared in the Skagit River on June 7th when his canoe capsized in the "S" curve rapids. The body was located near the mouth of Alma Creek, about a mile from where he was last seen struggling in the water. [Dave Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 9/24]
On October 4th, backcountry ranger Alan Cline was returning to the Bridge Creek trailhead after completing a three-day backcountry patrol when he was charged by a pit bull belonging to a worker at a nearby construction project. Cline had to fend the dog off with a fanny pack for almost ten minutes before he could get the owner's attention. The owner called off the dog, but the pit bull again charged Cline and bit him on the leg and hand. Cline drew his service revolver and shot and wounded the dog. Cline was treated for puncture wounds at a local hospital. The dog was impounded by a county deputy and subsequently quarantined. [Dave Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 10/13]
W.R., 69, of Elma, Washington, was killed instantly on October 13th when a falling rock crushed his car as he was driving east along Highway 20 through the park. D.W., 77, a passenger in the car, suffered cuts and bruises. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. Rangers assisted state troopers in the investigation. [Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 10/15]
L.E., 52, of Seattle, Washington, was taking the monthly snow survey at the Beaver Creek Trail course in a remote part of the park on January 29th when he suffered a heart attack. His partner began CPR, and L.E. was evacuated to a nearby town via the contract helicopter which was being used for the survey. Paramedics met the helicopter when it arrived, but were unable to revive L.E.. L.E. was a snow surveyor under contract to Seattle City Light Company. He had a recent history of heart problems. [David Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 2/2]
Leno Willbanks, a seasonal maintenance worker, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, January 31st. He was 38 years old. Leno began working at North Cascades as a trails laborer in 1988 after many seasons working with Forest Service crews. He had most recently served as a B&U worker assigned to the archeological office and lab construction crew at Marblemount. The park has sent along the following remembrance: "Always a competent, willing worker, Leno was totally at home in the wilderness. He is remembered for his love of the wilderness and willingness to share his nature observations with other crew members. Leno was a truly gentle person with an engaging sense of humor. He was a highly respected employee by all North Cascades' staff." Remembrances can be sent to Skagit Hospice, 2021 East College Way, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273. A memorial service is scheduled for February 14th at 1 p.m. at the Marblemount Community Club. [RAD/PNRO, 2/4]
On Sunday, June 13th, D.M., 41, of Lake Stevens, Washington, was backcountry skiing down a steep slope below Cascade Pass when he lost control, tumbled into a tree, and fractured a femur. His partner made him comfortable and went for help. A ranger and local paramedic flew in by helicopter; they applied a traction splint to stabilize his femur and MAST trousers for his deteriorating vital signs. A Whidbey Naval Air Station helicopter lowered a litter and winched D.M. off the slope. He was taken to a local hospital, where he's reported to be in stable condition. [David Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 6/15]
On June 18th, a juvenile from Clarkstown, Washington, was parking a van borrowed from the Stehekin Valley Ranch at the Stehekin landing when she lost control, ran over a retaining block, and entered Lake Chelan. The vehicle floated upright, but soon started to fill with water. The driver was able to lower her window and exit the van, but her mother had difficulty getting out the passenger side window. M.B., a North Cascades Lodge concession employee, yelled for help and jumped into the frigid water. M.B. was able to pull the mother from the vehicle and get her to an adjacent dock, where bystanders helped her out of the water. M.B. then swam back to the driver, who was disoriented and hyperventilating, and helped her swim to the dock. None of the three was injured in the incident. The van submerged in Lake Chelan within minutes. Scuba divers dove down 20 feet to the van the following day, attached cables to it, and removed it from the lake. The incident is under investigation. [David Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 6/23]
On August 11th, rangers received a report that E.T., 33, of Tiganand, Oregon, had failed to return from a day-long fishing trip to the park, and learned that E.T. had planned to fish his way down Bridge Creek to its confluence with the Stehekin River. A helicopter was dispatched to search the steep-walled canyon and quickly located E.T., who was stuck on a small rock face 30 feet above the river. Rangers rappelled 150 feet down the cliff face to him. They found that he was uninjured, but that he'd spent a cold and sleepless night hanging on to a small branch above the river and that he'd been without food or water for nearly 24 hours. E.T. was evacuated and treated by park EMTs for dehydration and fatigue. [RAD/PNRO, 8/13]
At about 2:30 p.m. on August 22nd, a woman was shot in her buttocks by a pellet gun while riding her bike at an unspecified location in the park. The woman was able to describe the vehicle which her assailant was driving, and it was later found in the park. Two of the four individuals within were arrested by county deputies. A detailed report is to follow. [Pete Cowan, NOCA, 8/26]
Early on the morning of August 13th, a party of six climbers on Mt. Terror radioed the park to report that two members of their party - Bob Apter and Tom Winn - had been injured and needed to be evacuated. The party included a doctor and a paramedic, and they were able to stabilize the two men's injuries. A helicopter was dispatched, but could not reach the ridge due to poor visibility. It landed in nearby Terror Basin, then reached the ridge later that afternoon. Apter and Winn were evacuated and taken to a local hospital by private vehicle. [CRO, NOCA, 8/23]
On Saturday, September 11th, a six-person climbing team was ascending the north face of 9,127-foot Mt. Shuksan. While cramponning up Winnie's Slide, a steep approach to the Upper Curtis Glacier, the lead climber of a three- person team began to fall. His two partners were unable to arrest the fall, and all three fell approximately 200 feet. T.K., 23, suffered a lower leg fracture; C.H., 21, suffered severe lacerations to a leg; the third climber received only minor injuries. Two climbers descended the mountain via Fisher Chimneys and reported the accident to park personnel. The park and Whatcom County sheriff's office established a joint ICS command and initiated rescue efforts. Because severe weather prevented helicopter flights, a rescue party of rangers and volunteers from Bellingham Mountain Rescue started overland to the remote location. The injured climbers endured a night of thunderstorms, hail and five inches of new snow at their bivy site. On Sunday morning, the weather cleared, and a helicopter was able to land and evacuate the injured climbers. [CRO, NOCA, 9/13]
On September 26th, a local climbing club was ascending Icy Peak when one member of the party twisted his left ankle. The group started a carryout, but had to stop because of the long distance and rugged terrain. Two members of the party hiked out to report the incident. Rangers flew in by helicopter, stabilized the swollen and severely angulated ankle, and evacuated the 53-year-old climber. [CRO, NOCA, 9/27]
Five people were arrested on the night of October 23rd in an interagency anti-poaching operation conducted along the Highway 20 corridor in Ross Lake. Rangers and officers set up two remote control deer decoys at different locations along the highway and arrested the five individuals on charges of hunting with the aid of artificial light, shooting from the roadway, and transport of a loaded firearm in a vehicle. Five weapons were seized with an estimated worth of nearly $4,000. The individuals involved face fines that could collectively exceed $5,000. Joining North Cascades rangers in the operation were officers from the Washington Game and Fish Department, the Forest Service and Watcom County. The operation received media coverage from a Seattle television station. Footage shot during the operation will appear in a news special on wildlife poaching sometime in late November. [Pete Cowan, Acting CR, NOCA, 10/26]
Two more would-be poachers were arrested in the interagency anti-poaching operation which has been underway for several weeks along the Highway 20 corridor in Ross Lake. The two were arrested on October 31st for shooting at a remote-control movable deer decoy which had been set up along the highway. Their weapons were seized and they face state charges of hunting with the aid of artificial light. [Dave Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 11/3]
A resident of Stehekin was awakened by noise from his dog in the early hours of January 12th and found his airedale fighting with a cougar. The resident shot and killed the cat. The dog was fatally mauled and had to be put down. Because the incident occurred on private property, the investigation was turned over to the Washington Department of Wildlife. The cat, which was identified as a two-year-old male, was removed for further study. [Michele LaFontaine, NOCA, 1/13]
On the afternoon of April 25th, Paul Jensen, a seasonal WG-6 packer, was helping construct a boardwalk trail at the Newhalem Visitor Center when he cut his leg with a power beam cutting saw. Jensen was transported to the Skagit Valley hospital by ambulance. The full extent of his injury is not yet known, but it is believed that surgery will be required. An investigation is underway. [Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 4/26]
On the afternoon of Monday, April 25th, Paul Jensen, a returning member of the park's trail crew, was cutting a piece of wood at the new trail being built from the Newhalem Visitor Center to the Sterling Monroe viewing platform when he got his right leg wedged between the wood and a circular saw and gashed his right knee in two places. Fortunately, the blade did not hit his knee cap. He was taken to a hospital in Skagit Valley. The prognosis is for a 100 percent recovery. [Ed Gastellum, NOCA, 4/27]
On the evening of July 6th, Wilderness District SCA volunteer Shelly Gorton reported by radio that she had just weathered a thousand-foot uncontrolled glissade down Copper Ridge which had culminated when she struck some brush and rocks. Gorton said that her injuries were limited to bruises on a leg and foot. Preparations were being made for a ranger to hike in to her location the next day when she called to report that she was feeling worse, with symptoms that included a headache, dizziness, chills and chest pain upon deep inhalation. A Navy helicopter from Whidby NAS with a ranger on board flew to Gorton's location and evacuated her to Skagit Valley Hospital, where she was treated and later released. [Pete Cowan, Acting CR, NOCA, 7/11]
Seasonal law enforcement ranger Rory Racine was injured on the evening of July 22nd while assisting with a disabled vehicle on the North Cascades Highway. Racine had parked off the road and was calling for a wrecker when his patrol car was hit from behind by a car traveling at a high rate of speed. The patrol car was totalled, and Racine and the driver of the latter vehicle both received multiple injuries. A passing motorist followed Racine's instructions and employed the patrol car's radio to report the accident to the park dispatcher. An EMT stopped at the scene shortly thereafter and provided medical assistance until rangers and state highway patrol officers arrived at the scene. Racine was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for injuries to his head, back and one leg. He was released early the next morning. Racine has worked five seasons in Ross Lake NRA within the North Cascades complex. [CRO, NOCA, 7/22]
A.G., 46, was seriously injured on July 22nd when his 1988 Harley Davidson went off the right side of State Route 20 near Newhalem. A.G. was wearing a helmet, but nonetheless suffered head injuries. He was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Bellingham, where he was pronounced dead on the morning of Sunday, July 24th. [Pat Young, NOCA, 7/26]
A seventeen-foot motorboat struck a rock wall on the shoreline of Lake Chelan at a high rate of speed around noon on August 28th, killing two of its three occupants - B.B., 43, a UCLA professor and anesthesiologist, and his father, M.B., 73, a retired brain surgeon who was living in the area. B.B.'s six-year-old daughter, who was in a rear facing seat at the time of the accident, survived and suffered only minor injuries. The accident was reported by a local cabin owner who heard the screams of the young girl from the damaged Boston whaler. The girl subsequently told rangers that the boat hit the rocks and turned around several times before the engine stopped. Rangers helped recover the bodies. The accident occurred in the vicinity of Riddle Creek, which is near the boundary of Lake Chelan NRA; the exact location of the accident is unknown at this time. The Chelan county sheriff is the conducting the investigation with assistance from the NPS. [David Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 8/29]
A multi-agency search is underway for two climbers who headed off for an ascent of two peaks in the Icy Peak-Ruth Mountain area on July 20th and failed to return as scheduled two days later. Poor weather conditions in the area are hindering the search. [Mark Forbes, PNRO]
During the extended U.S.-Canadian holiday weekend from June 30th to July 4th, rangers joined officers from the Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, Canadian Customs and Excise and the RCMP in a drug interdiction operation called "Operation Lightning Creek VI" at the Hozomeen border crossing at the north end of Ross Lake. U.S. Customs inspectors and rangers confiscated seven "personal use" quantities of marijuana and two of cocaine. The Border Patrol returned 23 persons to Canada for illegal entry into the United States, including three from Iraq who are not allowed entry into either Canada or the U.S. Most illegal entries were made by people with previous criminal histories, including narcotics convictions and active warrants for other criminal activities. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
A multi-agency search was begun on July 21st when L.L., 43, and J.A., 47, failed to return as scheduled from an overnight climb of peaks north of Mount Shuksan. The search involved rangers, sheriff's deputies, mountain rescue teams from Washington and B.C., rental helicopters, a Navy rescue helicopter, and a television news helicopter. The search effort was hindered by low clouds and extremely rugged terrain. They were found uninjured but stranded on the upper flank of Icy Peak on July 25th and were winched aboard the Navy helicopter. The incident concluded several hours before a major storm system blanketed the area with fog and rain. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
Shortly after 5 p.m. on July 31st, off-duty park employee L.A. and SCA volunteer J.V. were ascending the north face of Colonial Peak when L.A. slipped and fell 50 feet, lodging between a cliff and steep glacier ice and suffering a severe lower leg fracture. L.A. reported her accident by park radio. Rangers, supported by rental and Navy helicopters, were able to reach, stabilize and evacuate L.A. and J.V. as darkness and clouds cloaked the peak. L.A. is currently in stable condition at Skagit Valley Hospital. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
The combination of early snow in the North Cascades, heavy rains and rising temperatures brought significant flooding and damage to a number of areas in the Skagit River drainage - including portions of the park - on November 8th. Nearly seven inches of rain fell in a 36-hour period, causing damage similar in magnitude to that experienced during the floods of November, 1990: * Water erosion and rock slides in the Sourdough Creek and Rhode Creek areas caused culverts to become plugged and large quantities of rock and debris to be deposited over existing roads. * About 6,000 cubic yards of material covers the road access to Colonial campground and partially covers Highway 20 at the Rhode Creek crossing. The creek's former channel has also been filled, and the campground boat launch has been partly filled. The creek now flows down the boat launch and has caused damage to the roadway and parking area. * Another 2,000 cubic yards of rock debris was deposited on the road at Sourdough Creek, blocking access to Seattle City Light facilities beyond the site. * A large section of the westbound lane of Highway 20 two miles beyond the closed highway gate at Ross Dam trailhead has collapsed due to a slide. Damage is within the section of the road normally closed at this time of year. * Sky Creek and Damnation Creek are threatening bridge crossings between Marblemount and Newhalem. Extensive pavement damage and shoulder erosion is reported at both locations. The road above Marblemount has accordingly been closed to all but emergency and administrative traffic. Park maintenance crews are working with the state to redirect creek flows, repair damages and reopen this portion of the highway. * Some employees living outside the park have reported minor damage to their properties. The rain has stopped at present, but more is forecast for the area. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
The heavy rains which forced closure of parts of Mount Rainier on November 28th also caused record flooding throughout North Cascades, Ross Lake and Lake Chelan. The Marblemount ranger station received over four inches of rain in a 24-hour period; some areas of the park have received more than three feet of rain in the past 30 days. Preliminary surveys of the east side of North Cascades and the Stehekin area of Lake Chelan indicate that damage will exceed that inflicted by the Thanksgiving Day floods of 1990. Peak stream flows in the Stehekin River were measured at 21,000 cfs; in 1990, they were recorded at 13,000 cfs. Large sections of the recently repaired Stehekin Valley road were swept away, the park maintenance shop had over a foot of standing water on its floors, the Company Creek road and Harlequin Bridge areas were extensively damaged, and at least four residences on private land were damaged. On the west side of the park, the flooding aggravated damage caused by floods that struck the area in early November. Roads, trails, bridges, campgrounds and other park facilities received even greater damage. Initial estimates indicate that damage will exceed $1.3 million. As at Mount Rainier, however, recent snows have covered damage, making full assessments difficult. Several employees' private residences outside the park were damaged by the floods. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
Additional reports have been received from the Pacific West Field Area regarding the impact of the severe storm which struck the West coast earlier this week: * North Cascades - The park, which has been hammered by recent storms, was spared the brunt of this storm. Winds blew around 50 mph, but caused little damage. [J.R. Tomasovic, GOGA; Jane Sikoryak, REDW; John Krambrink, MORA; George Buckingham, CRLA; Larry Carr, WHIS; Pete Cowan, NOCA; Don Neubacher, PORE]
On the evening of March 17th, rangers, county deputies and mountain rescue volunteers began a joint search for a party of five climbers several days overdue from a five-day ascent of the north face of Mt. Shuksan. A helicopter crew located them on the lower flanks of the mountain the next morning. The climbers said that they'd experienced difficulties in finding the route in whiteout conditions. One of them had suffered a long fall, but was not injured. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
Ranger Bill Lester died on May 31st in Sedro-Woolley following a six-month battle with cancer. Bill began his career as a seasonal employee at Olympic in 1962 and became a permanent there in 1971. He later transferred to North Cascades, where he was district ranger for the Wilderness District, then moved to Pinnacles in 1992 to become chief ranger. He had just completed a move back to North Cascades at the time of his death. Bill was selected as the Pacific West Field Area's nominee for the Harry Yount award this year. A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. on June 8th at the park's visitor center in Newhalem. The family asks that donations be made to the North Cascades Institute (2105 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284) in lieu of flowers. Cards can be sent to Kathy and Mary Lester. [CRO, NOCA; Carl Christensen, PWFDO]
"Operation Victoria," a cooperative drug interdiction operation conducted by U.S. and Canadian agencies, was conducted at Hozomeen at the north end of Ross Lake on May 17th and 18th. The operation was held on those days in order to coincide with Canada's Victoria Day holiday weekend. Despite heavy rains which deterred most visitors from coming to the area, rangers and officers made five marijuana seizures, denied seven people entry into the U.S. because of previous criminal histories, and issued citations for a number of minor infractions. The penalty for each marijuana seizure was $5,000, but in each case was lowered to $500 because of the relatively small amounts of the drug involved. [CRO, NOCA]
Park biologist Jonathan Bjorkulan, 44, passed away on Thursday, June 13th, after a seven year struggle with Huntington's disease. Jonathan began working at North Cascades as a seasonal backcountry ranger in 1973 and worked every year thereafter (except for 1975) as a biologist. He accepted a career position in 1987. Jonathan began the park's long-running study of bald eagles wintering on the Skagit River, compiled years of data on migrating raptors, contributed to an extensive survey of the park's high lakes, and added to the understanding of this diverse park in many other ways. He's survived by his wife, Cindy, who is supervisor of the park's visitor center, and by his daughters, Melissa and Erika. Condolences may be sent to them at 2772 Lyman-Hamilton Road, Sedro-Woolley, Washington 98284. There will be a memorial gathering at Riverfront Park in Sedro-Woolley on Sunday, June 23rd, at 2:30 p.m. A potluck will follow. [Tim Manns, CI, NOCA]
On June 12th, J.S., 53, a power line right-of-way maintenance worker for Seattle City Lights, died of injuries sustained while falling a tree along the edge of the company's right-of-way on the north side of Diablo Lake. A multi-agency investigation of the incident is being conducted by the park, the company, the state's labor and industry office, and the county sheriff's office. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
Visitors advised rangers of a man standing on the east shore of Ross Lake, waving his t-shirt, on the evening of June 23rd. They contacted a 23-year- old man suffering from mild hypothermia. The man informed rangers that he'd become separated from his partner while hiking and had been caught unprepared by an afternoon rain storm. The second man was found shortly thereafter just north of the point where the first man was contacted. Interviews revealed that both men - one a Palestinian, the other from Kuwait - were attempting to enter the country illegally. They were turned over to Border Patrol officers, who in turn released them to Canadian immigration officials. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
On July 21st, park staff and personnel from two counties and two national forests began a search for P.S. and M.W., who were several days overdue from a climb along the very remote and rugged Ptarmigan Traverse. Rangers located and rescued the men by helicopter that afternoon. P.S. had injured his knee on July 17th and the pair had patiently awaited rescue through storms and with little food. [Hugh Dougher, DR, NOCA]
On the afternoon of July 5th, a 13-year-old girl fell into the Stehekin River while on a commercial rafting trip. The raft flipped over after colliding with a log jam, and all eight occupants were swept under the debris. Two rafters were pulled up through the logs to safety and five others emerged down river from the log jam. The girl, however, was pinned about two feet under the surface of the river. A rafting guide from a second boat was able to free her after she spent about five minutes under water. Two nurses on board the second raft started CPR when they could detect neither pulse nor respirations. Park emergency personnel were summoned and assisted with CPR and transportation of the patient. Advanced life support paramedics arrived at Stehekin by air from Chelan after about an hour. The girl was flown out by medical helicopter to Chelan, where she was placed in a critical care unit for two days. She recovered fully and was released from the hospital after four days. [Greg Moss, DR, Stehekin District, LACH]
A Cessna 152 crashed during takeoff from the Stehekin airport in the park on July 23rd. When park personnel arrived on scene, the plane was fully engulfed in flames and had started a quarter-acre wildfire. The pilot, Dr. Paul Anderson, received third degree burns over about ten percent of his body. He was flown by Chelan Airways to Lake Chelan Community Hospital, then transferred to a hospital in Seattle. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
On July 30th, rangers evacuated Seattle climber R.B., who suffered a leg injury on his descent from a climb of the Fisher Chimneys route on Mt. Shuksan. R.B. had fallen into a rock and snow moat below the Chimneys. Although he initially lost consciousness, he was able to later crawl back to the route. Other climbing parties assisted him to a landing zone and alerted his climbing partner, who was ahead of R.B. R.B. was medevaced by helicopter from the area. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
Supervisory park ranger Karan Bakke was killed on Friday, September 20th, while returning home from her job in the wilderness office at Marblemount. Reports indicate that she was driving west on SR 20 when an eastbound driver crossed the center line, hitting Karan's vehicle head-on. Alcohol may have been a factor. She was transported to Sedro-Woolley, but died while being flown by helicopter to a Bellingham hospital. She is survived by her husband, Doug, a son, eight, and a daughter, eleven. Karan had worked as an interpretive ranger at North Cascades since 1991, first at Sedro-Woolley headquarters, then at Marblemount. Before joining the NPS, she'd worked for the Forest Service in Sedro-Woolley and for BLM and the Postal Service. Graveside services will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Saxon Cemetery in Sedro-Woolley. The family has suggested that donations be made to The Nature Conservancy in Karan's memory. Cards may be sent to D.B. [Pat Young for Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA]
On June 24, 1996, rangers caught two men attempting to illegally enter the country through a remote area of the park. One of the two men was G.I.A.M., 23, who was arrested in New York in late July for an alleged plot to bomb the city's subway system. It's believed that G.I.A.M. was attempting to smuggle the other man across the border. G.I.A.M. and his compatriot were issued violation notices for illegal camping; they were detained, interviewed, fingerprinted, photographed and turned over to Border Patrol agents, who deported them back to Canada. Following three subsequent arrests in Whatcom County, Washington, G.I.A.M. applied for political asylum, alleging that he'd been accused in Israel of belonging to a terrorist organization. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 8/10]
On June 15th, a party of seven climbers failed to sign out on a voluntary climber register following a weekend climb of 9,100-foot Mount Shuksan. A check of emergency phone numbers revealed that two of the party members had already returned home after becoming exhausted on the approach to the summit; the other five were unaccounted for, and their vehicle was still at the trailhead. Rangers Kelly Bush and Craig Brouwer joined with Whatcom County Sheriff's Department officers in assisting a hasty search team, which found the five climbers descending their planned route. They had successfully summitted on June 14th, but became lost in whiteout conditions during their descent. They spent that night huddled in a snow cave without any overnight gear. The weather broke on Monday, permitting them to locate their camp and complete the descent. Area media interest in climbing incidents is high following the recent fatality on Mount Rainier. [Galen Stark, NOCA, 6/16]
On Tuesday, June 23rd, rangers began a search for C.J., 37, of Kirkland, Washington, and N.J. (no relation), 44, of Everett, Washington, when they failed to return from a three-day climb of Eldorado Peak. Rangers Craig Brouwer and Joshua Porter retraced their planned route from the Hidden Lake Peak trailhead towards the peak and located the pair just before 8 a.m. the following morning at the mountain's 6,500-foot elevation. Both had suffered minor injuries in a glissading fall on Sunday, then were delayed by flu, nausea, near freezing rainy weather, and poor visibility. They were able to walk out on their own with assistance from the rangers. A total of 15 NPS employees were involved in the rescue. [Galen Stark, NOCA, 6/24]
On Saturday, July 4th, G.H., 45, of Eugene, Oregon, fell and sustained a knee injury while descending from a climb of the Quien Sabe route on Sahale Peak with other members of a group being led by Alpine Ascents International. AAI guides alerted ranger Kelly Bush. Since rain and poor visibility prevented helicopter evacuation, Bush directed a difficult cross- country carryout by a dozen other employees and AAI group members on July 5th. [Galen Stark, NOCA, 7/6]
P.M., 42, of Watertown, Connecticut, fell while leading a climb of the east ridge of Forbidden Peak on August 26th and suffered open fractures of his left tibia and fibula and bleeding wounds to his face and scalp. A partner hiked out and reported the accident. A contract helicopter from Hiline Helicopters lowered rangers Kelly Bush and Doc Livingston to a point near the site. They assessed and treated the injuries and prepared P.M. for an airlift via Firewood Two, a rescue helicopter from Whidbey NAS. P.M. was lifted via two hauls to the Marblemount ranger station just before dark, then taken by ambulance to Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon. [Galen Stark, NOCA, 8/26]
A.B., 26, of Eugene, Oregon, fell while descending the Fisher Chimneys route on Mount Shuksan late on September 6th. A.B. fractured his forearm and sustained possible leg and back injuries. A companion called the county sheriff's office by cell phone and reported the accident. A contract helicopter flew rangers Kelly Bush and Galen Stark to the scene the next day. Bush splinted the fractures and prepared A.B. for a short-haul lift to a landing zone. A.B. was then flown to a hospital in Bellingham. A.B. attributed the accident to fatigue, letting down his guard while descending, and travelling unroped to save time due to impending darkness. [Galen Stark, NOCA, 9/10]
On November 17th, rangers, Customs agents and local law enforcement officers arrested M.K. and R.C. in Seattle for possession of 18.5 pounds of high-grade marijuana with intent to distribute. A vehicle was also seized. M.K., a Canadian citizen, had smuggled the marijuana into the U.S. through the park. At the time of their arrest, M.K. and R.C. were on their way to San Francisco, where they intended to sell the marijuana for $100,000. District ranger Hugh Dougher was lead investigator. There is a thriving indoor marijuana cultivation industry in British Columbia at present, with the extremely potent "BC Bud" selling for $7,000 a pound in Los Angeles. A number of groups utilize backcountry routes through North Cascades NP to smuggle the marijuana south and cocaine north. [Dan Walters, PNRO, 11/18]
H.W., 53, of Bothell, Washington, suffered multiple injuries on the evening of June 19th when a boulder struck him in the face while he was climbing the west face of Sahale Peak with other mountaineers, causing him to fall about 25 feet. A nearby climber reported the incident to park dispatch via cell phone. On Sunday morning, rangers Kelly Bush and Galen Stark treated H.W. in Boston Basin for facial, shoulder, and leg injuries. He was then flown out via contract helicopter to a ground ambulance. H.W. suffered a fractured orbit, lost tooth, dislocated shoulder, and numerous lacerations and contusions. [Galen Stark, DR, Wilderness District, NOCA, 6/22]
On Monday, July 19th, rangers and Whatcom County deputies began a ground and air search for two climbers - A.C., 33, and E.N., 42 - reported overdue from a climb of the Sulphide Glacier route on Mount Shuksan. Ranger Kelly Bush located the pair from a contract helicopter that evening. They had employed a signal fire to attract attention to their position, which was over a mile off and 3,000 feet below their route in the Shuksan Creek drainage. The pair had strayed off course on the heavy snowpack, which obscured their intended descent route. [Galen Stark, NOCA, 7/19]
E.H., 61, and R.P., 38, were reported overdue from a planned climb of Mounts Blum and Hagan on Tuesday, July 27th. Both are experienced climbers and leading members of the Olympia branch of the Mountaineers. Four ground crews searched the intended route, while ranger Kelly Bush searched from a contract helicopter for nearly six hours before finding the pair in a steep gully on the forested west slope of Mount Blum on Wednesday afternoon. Drinking water and a radio were lowered to the climbers, who were uninjured but very disoriented and dehydrated. Rangers guided them on a six-hour descent off the mountain to the trailhead. The major contributing factor was erroneous navigation over difficult cross- country terrain. [Galen Stark, NOCA, 7/30]
On October 1st, ranger Brett Timm was on patrol when he was flagged down by a female motorist who said that she'd just been confronted by a naked man while hiking the Thornton Lakes trail. Timm, a county deputy, and a state trooper began searching for the man - subsequently identified as R.C., 39, of Shoreline, Washington - and found him four miles from the trailhead. R.C. was clothed when contacted, but admitted exposing himself to the woman. He faces a mandatory appearance in state court on a charge of indecent exposure. [Hugh Dougher, NOCA, 10/12]
Parks throughout the system are making preparations for millennium-related events which will take place on or around New Years Eve. The Morning Report will provide continuing updates on those preparations and on the activities themselves as they occur. Today's initial entry comes from Jerry McCarthy in Pacific West Region: o North Cascades NP (WA) - Requests for assistance have been received from the Seattle-based power company that has several dams in the park. They would like additional security at the dams. An agreement for personnel and cost recovery is being worked out. Parks making similar preparations are encouraged to submit short summaries to the Morning Report. [Editor]
At about 11 a.m. on November 8th, a tractor trailer hauling gasoline- contaminated soil left the North Cascades Highway at high speed and sank in Diablo Lake in approximately 30 feet of water. The driver escaped the submerged cab through the rear window and clung to a floating log. One of the occupants of a second truck approaching the crash scene dove in to rescue the driver, and both were plucked from the water by a Seattle City Light boat crew (Seattle City Light is the public utility which operates dams within the park). The driver was transported to a Seattle hospital with back injuries and a fractured pelvis. The contaminated soil was from a clean-up operation underway further east on State Route 20 outside of Ross Lake, where a tank truck overturned on October 29th and spilled 7,000 gallons of gasoline. Rangers and other park staff, Washington State Patrol officers, and Washington State Department of Ecology personnel responded to the scene of the November 8th accident. A unified command was established and several oil-absorbing booms were put in place to contain the oil sheen. A large crane was brought to the scene, and the truck and trailer were retrieved from the lake by early afternoon on November 9th. The Department of Ecology's preliminary estimate is that the 32,000 pounds of contaminated soil which the truck was hauling may have contained as little as one to two gallons of fuel. [Tim Manns, PIO, NOCA, 11/10]
On February 12th, Canadian citizens E.M. and J.B. used two stolen snowmobiles to tow a johnboat 25 miles over snow-packed Canadian forest roads and across the international border into the park. The men hid the snowmobiles in the forest and boated another 20 miles to the south end of Ross Lake, where they cached $50,000 worth of high-grade "BC Bud" marijuana. They then attempted to return to Canada under the cover of darkness and snow, but were intercepted by district ranger Hugh Dougher and Whatcom county deputy sheriff Mark Lann, who made a felony boat stop. E.M. and J.B. had in their possession two life jackets with "NPS Park Ranger" stenciled on them, sophisticated radio/scanners, a GPS unit, and quality backcountry gear. Ranger Marshall Plumer played a key role in the apprehension; Customs, Border Patrol, and RCMP officers provided additional backup and investigative support. The two men are now in jail, and all their equipment has been seized. The snowmobiles were removed from the backcountry by helicopter the next morning. E.M. has an extensive criminal history, including strong-arm robbery and prison escape, and the RCMP discovered burglar tools in J.B.'s truck. Preliminary investigation indicates E.M. and J.B. are part of a criminal organization that was attempting to establish a pipeline to smuggle large quantities of marijuana through the park over the next couple of months. Ross Lake is an established smuggling route, with movement of drugs, money, and aliens occurring by foot, bicycle, kayak, powerboat, and now snowmobile. About four years ago, Plumer apprehended Abu Meser, a Palestinian terrorist, along this route. Meser was subsequently wounded in a SWAT raid in New York City. This is the second pair of smugglers arrested this winter - the previous pair were armed. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 2/14]
On July 17th, rangers arrested J.P.R. and D.L. for attempting to smuggle marijuana, hashish and psilocybin mushrooms into the country. The total value of the drugs has been placed at $20,000. J.P.R. is from Indiana, D.L. from Quebec. The arrests culminated an eight-hour mobile surveillance operation covering 50 miles of waterways, roads, and mountain trails, during which J.P.R. and D.L. unsuccessfully attempted several ploys to reveal the possible presence of any watching law enforcement officers. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 7/19]
On the evening of July 20th, rangers received a report of two suspicious men along the East Bank trail. The pair were panhandling food from hikers and generally causing visitors to have concerns for their safety. The 25-mile-long trail, which parallels Ross Lake and runs from the Canadian border to Route 20, has a history of being utilized by drug smugglers and illegal aliens. Two rangers immediately began sweeping north along the trail and checking associated campsites, while a third provided confinement on the lake. Jaimie Brett and John Dunning, both from Vancouver, B.C., were discovered asleep in a campsite shortly after first light. Neither had camping gear. Investigation revealed that Brett had recently been convicted of felony smuggling of marijuana into the U.S. Dunning had an extensive arrest record in Canada, including trafficking in narcotics and armed robbery. Both men were taken into custody and turned over to the Border Patrol for prosecution. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 7/21]
On July 23rd, rangers became aware of suspicious activity by three men at a trailhead for a trail to Ross Lake which is commonly used by drug smugglers and illegal aliens. The threesome - subsequently identified as brothers J., S. and P.D, all from Los Angeles - subsequently took a water taxi 24 miles to the north end of the lake near the Canadian border. On July 24th, three rangers and six agents from the Border Patrol, Customs and a county drug task force began surveillance of the lake and nearby trails. The D.s were arrested as they arrived back at the highway carrying 24 pounds of high-grade marijuana sealed in small plastic packages in two packs. The street value of the marijuana has been placed at between $72,000 and $100,000. This is the third incident of drug smuggling on Ross Lake in the past week. [Galen Stark, NOCA, 7/25]
On Saturday, September 16th, J.N., 50, of Surrey, British Columbia, slipped on a 50% snow slope while hiking with crampons on the Fisher Chimneys route of Mount Shuksan and slid about 125 feet onto rocks below, suffering injuries to his face, torso and extremities. Two other hikers happened by and rendered aid. J.N. was semi-conscious at first and complained of an ache in his side, but he lost both consciousness and pulse within 15 minutes. The hikers performed CPR for 20 minutes without effect. Rangers on board a contract helicopter were unable to land due to fog and darkness, so his body was recovered the following day. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 9/18]
On September 17th, a non-commissioned wilderness ranger contacted four men with large packs hiking south on the Chilliwack Trail, a 25-mile-long trail that crosses the U.S. - Canadian border. The men refused to acknowledge the ranger and continued south. Three hours later and 12 miles further south, district ranger Hugh Dougher was moving to a surveillance location when he encountered one of the men. The man dropped his pack (later determined to contain 18 pounds of "BC Bud" marijuana with a wholesale value of $70,000) and ran north. He met his companions and all four headed into thick vegetation. Dougher located and arrested one of the men, and also detained the suspected driver of a pickup vehicle - a man from Berkeley, California - at the trailhead. The remaining three suspects were not located, despite containment north and south of the scene and a search involving rangers, Customs agents, deputies, and a canine unit. While this incident was occurring, other rangers were attempting to locate suspected smugglers in a valley to the east, and the Border Patrol was arresting four other backpackers with 138 pounds of BC Bud and their courier along a trail immediately to the west. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 9/19]
On September 12th, rangers arrested M.Z., a citizen of the Czech Republic, for attempting to illegally enter the United States via the park's East Bank Trail. M.Z.'s companion, D.M. of Lynnwood, Illinois, was arrested for assisting him. The Border Patrol seized Miller's 1999 Chevy Tahoe. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 9/15]
On September 30th, Customs agents arrested Canadian citizen M.B. on a warrant for the 1997 theft of a rental boat from Ross Lake. M.B. and two accomplices were found to be in possession of 58 pounds of "BC Bud" marijuana with a wholesale value $200,000. The arrests occurred on a rented boat in Puget Sound. [Hugh Dougher, NOCA, 10/5)
On October 5th, rangers arrested Canadian citizen Roger Prior for attempting to smuggle 50 pounds of "BC Bud" marijuana with a wholesale value of $175,000 through the park. Early the next morning, rangers, Customs agents, and local police arrested his accomplice, Canadian citizen M.S., in a motel room 60 miles distant. Prior and M.S. were working for a crime organization. This was the third time in 30 days that the two men had smuggled drugs through the park. Since early July of this year, North Cascades rangers have been averaging more than one felony smuggling case weekly, with associated arrests. This success is the result of an on-going three year investigation, strong regional and WASO support, and close relationships with other agencies. [Hugh Dougher, NOCA, 10/5]
Acting on a tip, district ranger Hugh Dougher stopped two rental boats on Ross Lake on October 6th. Four people were detained and questioned. During the interviews, one of them admitted that the group had been hired to transport a large sum of money across the border into Canada. He told Dougher that no one in the group knew the amount that they had just dropped off nor the identities of the people who'd received the money. They admitted to having been paid $700 to smuggle the money. This incident confirms intelligence reports that large sums of money are being smuggled into Canada through the park as payment for marijuana being smuggled south into the United States. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 10/7]
On September 30th, C.Y.M., 48, of Vancouver, B.C., became separated from his companions while on a day hike near Hozomeen. He left the trail to obtain water at a nearby stream, but was unable to find it again. C.Y.M. then climbed what he described as a "small peak", built a bonfire, and spent the night. A search for him was begun the next day and concluded when C.Y.M. returned to Hozomeen after following a stream to that location. Ranger Margaret Goodro was the IC. [Hugh Dougher, DR, NOCA, 10/11]
Significant illegal commercial harvesting of mushrooms occurs in the park each autumn. This year, rangers Hugh Dougher, Margaret Goodro, Brett Timm and a county deputy sheriff made a concerted effort to address the problem. During the month of October, they apprehended 36 mushroom poachers and recovered 300 pounds of pine mushrooms with a market value approaching $9,000. A loaded handgun, a carbine, a club fashioned from a crowbar, and nine knives were seized. Arrest warrants are being prepared for two Canadians with criminal records who illegally entered the country, then resisted arrest by fleeing on foot back into Canada. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 11/1]
Early last summer, rangers uncovered the smuggling routes of a crime syndicate while investigating reports from park staff of unusual helicopter activity over remote areas of the park. The subsequent investigation ultimately involved the National Park Service, U.S Customs and Border Patrol, the British Columbia Organized Crime Bureau, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the U.S. Forest Service, the Skagit County Sheriff's Office, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, and the Washington State Patrol. Over the course of the summer, rangers and agents closely monitored a number of smuggling incidents in which rented helicopters were used to fly "BC Bud" marijuana into the U.S., and firearms, cocaine and currency into Canada. The helicopters flew low-level through the park's river valleys and passes, with the smugglers utilizing remote forest clearings to transfer loads to and from motor vehicles. On occasion, the pilots temporarily cached loads on alpine peaks in the park. To date, the investigation has resulted in the arrest of nine individuals in the United States and others in Canada. Additional prosecutions are anticipated. Three kilos of cocaine, 970 pounds of marijuana, $558,000 in American currency, $104,000 in Canadian funds, a house, two Mercedes-Benz automobiles, a Ford truck, and a number of firearms have been seized. An Astar 350 helicopter valued at $410,000 and recently purchased by the syndicate has also been seized. DR Hugh Dougher is the NPS lead investigator. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 1/24]
On the afternoon of February 18th, a resident of Stehekin saw a lone individual dragging a small raft from the Stehekin River to the Stehekin Valley Road. Rangers Cheryl Farmer and Craig Brouwer responded and found that two other people who had been in the raft were missing. A search was conducted by local residents and rangers. The two rafters, who had been dumped into the river, were found a short time later. They had managed to get out of the river and walk to their vehicle, which was a short distance away. Both were hypothermic. One of the two men was in serious condition, suffering from hypothermia and intoxication and uncontrolled vomiting. At the advice of Chelan Hospital EMS personnel, he was observed by rangers throughout the night of the 18th, then released on the morning of the 19th. The rafters were ill prepared for winter rafting conditions; they were not properly dressed, had only two life jackets among them, and were rafting in a six-foot vinyl boat with small plastic oars. Alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident. [Ed Pontbriand, DR, LACH, 2/21]
At the request of the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, district ranger Hugh Dougher and trails worker Artie Olson flew to the 10,300-foot level of Mount Baker on April 11th and employed mountain rescue skills to recover the body of 24-year-old F.H. F.H. and a companion disappeared while climbing the 10,578-foot volcano two weeks ago. No signs of F.H.'s companion have yet been found. The mountain is located just west of the park. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 4/12]
The increasing frequency of climate-change-related severe weather closures and incidents in NPS areas has warranted the creation this intermittent Servicewide summary: Ross Lake NRA — Due to very low precipitation in the Skagit Basin over past months, Ross Lake will be as much as twenty-five feet below normal levels over the entire summer. Although the area will remain open to visitors, the low water level will have an impact on the availability of some visitor facilities, services and recreational opportunities. Currently, the boat ramp at Hozomeen and all boat-in campsites on the lake are temporarily closed. Source: KPUG News.
A four-person ranger team seized 44.5 pounds of cocaine valued at $400,000, arrested four people, and impounded a 2002 Ford Explorer during a 28-hour surveillance operation that spanned the length of a 30-mile-long trail leading to British Columbia. The seizure and arrests marked the culmination of a four-month NPS investigation into the activities of a certain crime organization. District ranger Hugh Dougher was the case investigator. Ranger Brett Timms' observations and actions were pivotal to the success of the operation. The other two members of the team were subdistrict ranger John Madden and ranger Mona Iannelli. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 7/18]
On Sunday, September 2nd, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office asked for park's assistance with the rescue of three injured climbers from the Coleman Glacier on Mount Baker in the neighboring Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. A four-person rope team from British Columbia was climbing near the mountain's 8,600-foot level on Sunday morning when one person slipped, dragging the entire team approximately 100 to 200 feet down the glacier and into a crevasse. One member died of a skull injury, one suffered a probable fractured spine and leg, the remaining two sustained fractured wrists. The survivors were able to climb out of the crevasse and waved down an American Alpine Institute guide who was descending from the summit with two clients. A cell phone call to 911 provided the initial report. Rangers Kelly Bush and Galen Stark and Dr. Don Slack (park VIP) were flown to the scene by a contract helicopter. They immobilized the spinal fracture victim and transported him to a lower elevation. One of the injured climbers had already hiked out. The rangers and doctor spent the blustery, rainy night on the mountain with the other two injured persons, then joined about 40 people from several volunteer mountain rescue organizations and American Alpine Institute mountain guides in evacuating the two injured persons off the mountain the following day. [Galen Stark, DR, NOCA, 9/5]
National Park Service personnel systemwide are responding in many ways to the terrorist attacks yesterday on Washington and New York. Here's a summary, as of 11 a.m. today: o Pacific West Region - The USS Arizona and Cabrillo have been closed due to the closures of immediately adjacent naval bases. Lake Mead, Lake Roosevelt, Ross Lake and Whiskeytown remain open, but the dams at all four areas have been closed. Ditto for Hetch-Hetchy in Yosemite. [Bob Martin, RCR, NER, 9/12; Einar Olsen, RCR, NCR, 9/12; Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 9/12; Dennis McGinnis, Type 1 team, SHEN, 9/12; Dennis Burnett, RAD/WASO, 9/12]
The National Park Service continues to provide support to its parks and employees, gather information on the status of field areas for DOI, and deal with security issues throughout the country, including the brokering of numerous requests for operational support. Incident management in Washington has transitioned from Skip Brooks' Type 1 team to Eddie Lopez's Type 1 team. A regional Type 2 team from Southeast Region (Bob Panko, IC) continues to oversee the NPS expanded dispatch operation at Shenandoah NP. Members of the team in Washington are in the processing of making individual calls to every park in the nation to establish a comprehensive list of resources that can be utilized in emergencies if needed. About 230 calls have been made so far; more will follow this week. Callers are focusing on resources similar to those needed in past incidents, such as the floods in Yosemite and Hurricane Andrew. A report is due to Director Mainella by Friday. The following is a quick run down of continuing closures: o The dam at Ross Lake NRA remains closed. [EICC/Type 2 IMT, SHEN, 9/25; Kris Fister, NPS Type 1 IMT, WASO, 9/26]
The National Park Service continues to provide support to its parks and employees, gather information on the status of field areas for DOI, and deal with security issues throughout the country, including the brokering of numerous requests for operational support. The Service's Type 1 IMT (Eddie Lopez, IC) continues its operations from the South Interior Building; the Type 2 East Team (Bob Panko, IC) is overseeing the NPS expanded dispatch operation at Shenandoah NP. Here's a current report on the status of parks affected by this incident: o Ross Lake - The road across Diablo Dam is open. The peer support team working in the New York area will be demobilizing on Sunday. EAP services are in place and will be available to employees there. The CISM team made one-on-one contacts and conducted group debriefings for over 85% of the park, USPP and concessions staff in the New York area - a total of over 400 people. Peer support will continue on an as-needed, intermittent basis. Park personnel very much appreciate all the support they've gotten from around the NPS. If you know someone working in the NYC area, take a minute to send her or him an email note or a card. At a candlelight vigil at Fort Tilden last Sunday night, Billy Garrett, superintendent of Gateway's Jamaica Bay Unit, delivered an "affirmation" to those gathered. The text follows: "There is a hole in the New York skyline - a gap our minds try vainly to fill, a hurt we want to fix by restoring the world to the way it was before Tuesday morning, September 11th, before the rhythm of daily routines and long-term plans were ripped apart, before time stood still. "Here, on that beautiful late summer day, we saw the catastrophe unfold at a distance as if in slow motion, unwilling or unable to comprehend what was later confirmed by radio and television but was more directly conveyed by friends and family and neighbors who had been there. "Here, where the city meets the sea, the world we know fundamentally changed; as we went through the motions of scheduled activity, our eyes ever returned to the horizon,from the boardwalk at Jacob Riis Park, from the runways on Floyd Bennett Field, from the West Pond in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, we tried in vain to find our bearings. "For those of us who work at Gateway National Recreation Area and those who have visited this park, the towers of the World Trade Center were a point of reference: they gave us a way to gauge our place at the edge of the metropolis, they formed half of a symbolic contrast between nature and urban life, they helped frame our context and our purpose. "They are gone now...an image frozen in time. "As I made my rounds of the park later that week time folded back on itself: At Frank Charles Park, where we honor local men who died in the war to end all wars; at Fort Tilden, where great batteries helped defend New York Harbor from attack by sea and by air; and at the Ryan Visitor Center, where six decades ago air traffic controllers oversaw the departure of Grumman fighters for the Pacific Front. Ghosts of the past, reminding us of courage and sacrifice and dedication in defense of freedom at other times of national crisis. "I was also reminded of the crusading efforts of Jacob Riis, who helped make New York a more livable city for all of its residents, and of the intrepid aviators of the 1930s who inspired us with their daring and expanded our vision of the applications of manned flight... before we learned, first hand, how those bright possibilities could be twisted by evil intentions. "In the succeeding days we have been picked up by the momentum of daily necessity, carried through wakes and funerals, all the while standing vigil for the missing and injured. Together, we have moved through each day on ever steadier legs, reinforced by the creative energy of artists, actors and musicians, strengthened by the outstretched hand and smile of a stranger, nourished by the sacred word and a shared pizza, inspired by the timeless pattern of red-winged monarch (butterflies) as they flutter by at the beginning of a two thousand mile journey. "Terrible as the events of the past two weeks have been, they have formed a stark backdrop against which we can better examine old assumptions and reaffirm our commitments to one another. It is against this backdrop, that I restate our commitment to work with you; to develop this park, as a complement to a great city; to work in concert with you, our neighbors and friends, to create an example of harmony and mutual interdependence for people and wildlife - not apart from one another but as part of one another. "This park will continue to serve as a safe haven where all people can come; alone or with others to reflect and remember to grieve and to hope. This park will continue to be a place of re-creation and renewal: Where dreams and memories, play and learning, can inspire and enrich our lives - in mind, body and spirit. "On behalf of the men and women of the National Park Service, I welcome each and every one of you to this special gathering and to this special place - tonight and for all the days to come." [EICC/Type 2 IMT, SHEN, 9/27; Kris Fister, NPS Type 1 IMT, WASO, 9/28; Pat Buccello, CISM Team, 9/28; Billy Garrett, Superintendent, Jamaica Bay Unit, GATE, 9/27]
On Sunday, October 14th, rangers received a report of a 27-foot Bayliner adrift three miles south of Stehekin on Lake Chelan. Rangers Craig Brouwer and Ed Pontbriand responded and investigated. They determined that the boat had been operated by D.D., 39, of Yakima, Washington. Witnesses said that they had seen the boat in the area of Bridal Veil Falls on the evening of October 13th, and that the boat had remained moored near the falls all that evening. The same witnesses said that they then saw the boat adrift a mile further south the next morning. A hasty search was conducted in the area, including camps and local residences. D.D.'s vehicle was found at a nearby marina on the 15th. Yakima County SO investigators found that D.D. had not returned to his home or showed up at work. A search was then begun with ground teams, search dogs, and helicopters. Ground teams searched both shores of the lake on the 16th; on the 17th and 18th, a SAR dog was utilized in an effort to locate scent on the lake's surface, but the scent was evidently dispersed by the lake's depths (200 to 300 feet). Olympic NP divers Paul Seyer and Dan Pontbriand searched for D.D. at the point where he was last seen, down to a depth of 60 feet. Investigators checked the boat and determined that D.D. had attempted to use a small, 15 horsepower kicker motor when he found that his main engine batteries were dead. In order to use the kicker motor, D.D. had to stand on the boat's dive platform. Rangers believe that he fell overboard while attempting to start the motor, that he wasn't wearing a life jacket, and that alcohol may have been a factor. Innerspace Exploration Dive Team, a non-profit diving team from Seattle, will be using side-scan sonar this weekend in an attempt to locate D.D.'s body. District Ranger Ed Pontbriand was IC. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 11/1]
Over the course of last spring, summer and fall, residents on the lake shore just below Stehekin in Lake Chelan NRA reported numerous instances in which houses were broken into and food was stolen. Rangers concluded that the thief was living in the forest near the area where the break-ins were occurring. "Trace," an NPS search and rescue dog, was brought in. The dog alerted to scents several times in the area of Maxwell Lodge; ranger Craig Brouwer also reported the smell of smoke in the same area. In December, an area resident and ranger Ed Pontbriand followed tracks in the snow to a spring head behind the lodge before losing them on rocky, bare soil. On January 10th, residents who were hunting cougars in the area found a tent and campsite in the forest on park lands. Rangers in Stehekin were advised. While they were en route, the hunters spotted a lone person leaving the tent and entering the forest. Pontbriand subsequently found and contacted G.W., 42, of Missouri. G.W. said that he'd been living alone in the forest for the last 11 months. He ran out of food after three weeks, so began breaking into homes to steal more, leaving other valuables since he was only after food. G.W. also said that he'd been thinking of committing suicide. Detectives from Chelan County flew to Stehekin and took G.W. into custody. On January 11th, he was arraigned in county court and charged with burglary. Bail was set at $2,500. [Ed Pontbriand, DR, Stehekin District, NOCA, 1/17]
Rangers Hugh Dougher, John Madden and Galen Stark rescued 34-year-old W.K. on January 28th after a ten-hour search for him by helicopter and snowmobile. W.K. was suffering from frostbite, hypothermia, and an ankle injury, but refused definitive medical care. Investigation revealed that W.K. had hiked 66 miles through rugged mountains in a winter storm over a three-day period in an attempt to smuggle one pound of "BC Bud" marijuana, valued at $4,000, into the United States. The marijuana was seized and W.K. confessed to previous successful smuggling efforts. He will be charged with smuggling and distribution. [Hugh Dougher, DR, NOCA, 1/30]
On September 28, rangers were notified that a pair of climbers had made a radio call to any listening party, stating that they were stranded on the Northwest Arete route on Mount Shuksan. The call was made on a commercial CB handheld radio. The late hour and an incoming storm precluded any rescue response for two days, but rangers, deputies and Bellingham Mountain Rescue volunteers were able to maintain radio contact with the man and woman, who were bivouacked with only minimal food and gear on a ledge at the mountain's 7,300-foot level. During a break in the weather on September 29, rangers flew to the area, located the pair, and extracted them from the mountain. When interviewed, M.C. and L.R., both 24 and from Abbotsford, British Columbia, said that they had primarily rock climbing backgrounds, and acknowledged that they were in over their heads on this mixed mountaineering route. [Submitted by Kelly Bush, District Ranger, Wilderness District]
At the conclusion of a successful two-day-long SAR operation on Ross Lake on October 5, a ranger came upon a lone kayaker setting up camp in an undesignated area. Due to the weather and the location, the ranger was concerned enough to check on the kayaker, who he thought might be in difficulty. During the course of the contact, the ranger discovered that the man had 20 kilos of high-grade "BC Bud" marijuana in his possession. Investigators determined that he was a U.S. citizen and that he was returning from Canada. He was arrested and the marijuana was seized. The estimated value has been placed at $80,000. Customs is assisting with the investigation. [Submitted by Pete Cowan, Chief Ranger]
The park recorded five significant rescues during the nine day period ending last Friday:
[Submitted by Pete Cowan, Chief Ranger]
Heavy rains that have fallen in Washington and elsewhere in the Northwest over the past several days have caused some serious problems:
For details on the storm's impacts on the Northwest, click on "More
Information" below, which will take you to the lead story in yesterday's
Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
A 49-year-old woman from Burlington, Washington, died on September
4th as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Ross
Lake NRA. The woman was heading west on Highway 20 on her 1997 Suzuki
motorcycle when she lost control of it on a sharp corner. The bike went
off the road and she was thrown off. She was pronounced dead at the
scene. A joint investigation was conducted with the Washington State
Patrol and the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.
October rains brought flooding, avalanches, and debris flows to the
park, damaging roads, bridges, trails, and buildings. As much as 10
inches of rain fell in 48 hours in some areas. The natural processes
which damaged infrastructure also added another to the park's count of
245 natural lakes. Sometime in the latter half of October, a very large
landslide occurred on the east slope of Trappers Peak, falling into
Goodell Creek, which meets the North Cascades Highway just west of the
town of Newhalem. The avalanche dammed the creek, and a subsequent
outburst flood distributed rock and large woody debris a quarter mile or
more downstream. The remaining lake occupies about five acres. A few
weeks later, several million cubic yards of rock descended Afternoon and
Falls Creeks just east of Newhalem, damaging the North Cascades Highway
and cutting off the town of Diablo. Another large quantity of rock
remains poised above the highway and the adjacent Skagit River. There is
the potential for the next rockfall to dam the river and, in combination
with predicted heavy rains, threaten the town of Newhalem. Most of the
40 residents have left the town, which is owned by Seattle City Light,
the public utility which operates three dams further up the Skagit
River. The National Park Service is cooperating with Seattle City Light,
the Washington State Department of Transportation, the U.S. Geological
Survey, and Skagit and Whatcom Counties in assessing the situation and
planning the response to future events.
A party of three climbers began an ascent of the North Ridge of
Forbidden Peak on Saturday, July 31st, after first crossing the Quien
Sabe and Boston Glaciers to reach the ridge. Around 9 a.m., B.M.
of Seattle was leading the ascent when he fell about 40 feet, pulled out
two protection pieces, then fell another 80 feet down a gulley. B.M.
sustained open fractures of both legs, but no other apparent injuries.
His two partners raised him the 80 feet back to the ridge, then left him
there and climbed out to seek assistance. Eight hours passed before they
were able to climb to a location where their cell phone worked. They
then contacted the park. Just before dark, a recon flight was made of
the accident site and a radio was lowered to B.M. to inform him that a
rescue effort would be undertaken the next morning. Four rangers were
flown in early on Sunday. Two climbing rangers were lowered to a point
near B.M. and prepared him for extrication. B.M. was shorthauled to
a flat snow bench further down the ridge, then transferred to an Airlift
Northwest medical helicopter and flown to Harborview Trauma Center in
Seattle.
At approximately 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 10th, a party of six climbers attempting Sharkfin Tower in North Cascades National Park suffered a mountaineering accident resulting in the deaths of three members of the group. A fourth climber received severe head injuries. The group was on a trip organized by the Tacoma, Washington, branch of the Mountaineers, a climbing and hiking club based in Seattle. Sharkfin Tower is above Boston Basin along the ridge between Forbidden and Boston Peaks east of the town of Marblemount. While the party was negotiating the gullies below the granitic cliffs of Sharkfin Tower and above Quien Sabe Glacier, a rock struck the group leader. Due to this minor injury, combined with deteriorating weather, the group decided to abandon the climb and began descending. At the top of a snow- and rock-filled gully they had earlier ascended on the approach, a rappel was rigged and two members of the party successfully descended one rope length and began constructing a second rappel station. Two people in the upper party began a simul-rappel with the injured member with them. Preliminary accounts indicate that the large boulder used as the rappel anchor, to which the fourth member was also tied, broke loose, sending all four and the boulder down the gully. Two of the climbers died at that time and a third some time later. The two climbers in mid-gully miraculously avoided injury, despite one falling 20 feet into a moat. They descended safely to the gully bottom, and one began descending the glacier alone for help. Another climbing group nearby, affiliated with Alpine Ascents International, a commercial permittee in the park, was met on the way, and, using a cell phone, made a call which led to the park being contacted. A team of park rangers led by Craig Brouwer and including Alex Brun, Joe Cook and park volunteer/paramedic Brett Bergeron ascended to the accident scene for six-and-a-half hours during the night, arriving just before dawn. They were supported by a team of rangers who carried additional gear to the base of the glacier in the event of a carryout. At daybreak, the rain had stopped and the cloud cover lifted enough to allow an Airlift Northwest medical helicopter to land near the accident scene and transport the injured climber directly to Harborview Hospital in Seattle. HiLine Helicopters, operating under contract with the park, then brought out the remaining two climbers, uninjured but now nearing hypothermic condition. Rangers Kelly Bush and Kevork Arackellian then joined the rangers on scene investigating the accident site and recovering the deceased climbers.The recovery operation and transfer to the Skagit County coroner were completed around noon. Media attention was extensive from Sunday night through Monday. The climbers who died in the accident, all of whom were Washington State residents, were group leader J.B. of Tacoma, M.H. of Bellevue, and J.A. of Seattle. The injured climber is W.M. of Tacoma, and the two climbers who were not injured are M.H. of Olympia and J.F. of Seattle. NPS incident commander for the incident was Kelly Bush. [Submitted by Kelly Bush, Wilderness District Ranger, and Tim Manns, Chief Interpreter]
On October 26th, a man contacted rangers and reported that his wife had been experiencing severe abdominal pain for several days and that she remained at a remote backcountry campsite alone, awaiting help. The ensuing rescue effort was hampered by poor weather, but rangers and volunteers from Bellingham Mountain Rescue were able to reach her and begin providing emergency care. During a window of good weather on October 28th, she was evacuated by helicopter and taken to a hospital. The woman then underwent surgery for an ectopic pregnancy that doctors said would otherwise have been fatal that day. Follow-up interviews by a ranger on the couple's unusual backcountry trip revealed that the husband and wife were using aliases during the incident. The man was found to have a warrant out against him. He was arrested and extradited to Michigan. The couple was actually trying to flee into Canada via the 20-mile-long trail that leads into British Columbia. [Chief Ranger's Office]
On Sunday, March 25th, two climbers were rescued through the combined efforts of rangers, volunteers from Bellingham and Skagit Mountain Rescue, and personnel from Whidbey Naval Air Station. The call for help came in to the National Park Service on Friday, but the effort to extract the two men from steep and difficult terrain was hampered by a storm that dropped tremendous amounts of rain across western Washington over the weekend. The party of four men from Everett and Lynnwood set out to climb Pyramid Peak on Wednesday, March 21st. By Friday, they'd abandoned their climbing goal and attempted a shortcut descent, deviating from their ascent route. This led to trouble, as the group encountered steep terrain on the slopes above Diablo Lake. Two members made it out on their own Friday night and reported to a park ranger that they had left two other members stranded, one with a leg fracture. The reporting pair were both treated for mild hypothermia. Saturday's efforts to reach the two men were limited by heavy rainfall and poor visibility. A helicopter flight to locate them was attempted but aborted due to visibility concerns. On Sunday, a ground team of park rangers and volunteers reached the climbers and prepared them for evacuation. Whidbey Naval Air Station search and rescue helicopter Firewood 21 hoisted M.B., 22, of Lynnwood from the mountain on Sunday afternoon during a break in the weather. Rangers escorted his partner out by ground. Limited access, avalanche hazards and dangerous weather make attempts to climb the bigger peaks in the North Cascades infrequent during the winter. "It is unusual for park rangers to have a rescue this time of year," explained Kelly Bush, park search and rescue coordinator. "Just as we see fewer backcountry travelers in the winter, resources - including rescue personnel capable of working in technical terrain under harsh conditions - are limited in the off-season . . . but it was also the winter snowpack, poor visibility and limited daylight that forced the injured and exhausted men to spend two nights in miserable weather awaiting rescue." Bush also commented that "shortcuts" in the North Cascades often lead to trouble. [Charlie Beall, Public Affairs Officer]
On Sunday, April 8th, Seattle resident J.C., 28, died in a fall as he was traversing rough terrain while on a fishing trip in the park and in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. J.C. and a companion had been backcountry camping in the park and were attempting to hike cross-country between two lakes. The pair encountered difficult terrain and were trying to negotiate a cliffy area above a sheer vertical wall when J.C. fell several hundred feet to his death. His companion hiked out the same day and called authorities. Difficult weather and terrain hampered ground searchers and poor visibility prohibited an aerial search until Tuesday afternoon, when J.C.'s body was located. He was found in a narrow gully that bisected a 600-foot cliff face just outside the park boundary. The recovery was a joint effort by the Whatcom and Skagit County Sheriff Offices, volunteer Mountain Rescue Association units and National Park Service rangers. Recovery efforts involved flying teams of rescuers to the base of a cross-country route, helicopter insertion of gear for the technical raise of J.C.'s body out of the gully, and the eventual short-haul of his remains from the top of the cliff. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
On Sunday, May 27th, Washington State Patrol officers asked the park for assistance during a pursuit of a motorcyclist who was headed into the park. The incident began on Highway 20 outside of Marblemount when a trooper attempted to stop the motorcyclist for traffic violations. The pursuit continued up Cascade River Road, where the operator finally stopped at Marble Creek campground in a Forest Service area adjacent to the park. A foot chase ensued, during which the suspect circled around behind the trooper and stole his patrol vehicle. He then tried to run over the trooper, at which time the trooper shot at and wounded him. The man continued on down Cascade River Road, where he eventually crashed the patrol car. Rangers set up checkpoints along the road; a Skagit County canine unit was brought in to search for the man and eventually found him. Ranger Andy Blake provided EMS until an ambulance arrived on scene. The man was flown by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He appeared to be under the influence of alcohol when arrested and was found to have several outstanding misdemeanor warrants posted against him. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of July 28th, R.K. reported that D.K., his 62-year-old wife, was overdue from a day hike along the Eastbank trail. According to R.K., his wife had left their summer home in Mazama that morning to hike a portion of the trail. When she failed to return as expected, he and a friend drove to the trailhead and found her vehicle still there. They then hiked approximately a quarter mile down the trail, where they found her walking stick on the side of the trail. Disruption of the vegetation in the area indicated that she might have fallen 100 feet down a steep embankment and into Ruby Creek. R.K. then contacted the park for assistance. A hasty search with aircraft was begun that evening, but no sign of her was found. The interagency search continued the next day with ground searchers, a tracking dog, and aerial and river support. The fallen hiker's body was found in the river, entangled in a log jam, about two-and-a-half miles downstream from where her walking stick was discovered. Her body was removed via a short-haul extrication. The section of the trail where she fell is well maintained and the exact cause of the fall is unknown at this time. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
A missing hiker from Seattle was found on Friday, September 21st, after surviving on wild berries and stream water for six days. M.W., 31, left Seattle last weekend to do some solo hiking in the area east of Darrington, two-and-a-half hours northeast of Seattle. Authorities were notified of her absence when she did not arrive at work Monday morning. Her vehicle was found Wednesday in Diablo, another hour northeast of Darrington. M.W. said that road closures altered her original destination. She hiked the Stetattle Creek trail near Diablo Dam Sunday, but became disoriented and spent the next five days trying to get back to her car while surviving the elements without overnight or cold weather gear. M.W. said that she found shelter under trees and slept on fallen leaves and needles while covering herself with bark and branches. She was able to build a fire the first two nights, which helped her deal with the low evening temperatures and some rain. M.W. left several clues along the creek that helped direct searchers, including several handwritten notes and a grocery card. She made an effort to be visible and was located by helicopter searchers at 2:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon, five miles from the trailhead. A helicopter flew M.W. to Diablo, where she was treated for minor cuts, bruises, and exhaustion, then released. Approximately 40 searchers, four helicopters, and five dog teams were involved in the search over the three-day period from Wednesday through Friday. Searchers, half of whom were volunteers, were from Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish Counties, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the National Park Service. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
The storm that struck the Pacific Northwest early this week caused some problems in parks throughout the region, with the most serious occurring at Olympic. Here's a roundup: North Cascades - Preliminary indications are that the park weather the storm fairly well. A few creeks have jumped their banks in Skagitt on the west side and will require significant maintenance work. Stehekin on the east side received about two-and-a-half feet of snow, which turned to rain; there don't appear to be any problems there. The Cascade River area, damaged in 2006, had not been checked at the time of the report. [Chuck Young, Chief Ranger, MORA; Barb Maynes, Public Affairs Officer, OLYM; Dave Brennan, Chief Ranger, CRLA; Dennis Stanchfield, Maintenance, NOCA; Karen Newton, PWRO]
On May 2nd, a park trail crew found a man's remains on the East Bank trail in the Ross Lake portion of the park, about 24 miles from Canada and eight miles from the Highway 20 trailhead. It's not known which way he was heading, but a Canadian phone card was found on his body along with some herbal supplements. The victim was of Asian origin and about 30 years old. Cotton clothing and an estimate that one to two months had elapsed since his death suggest that he may have succumbed to hypothermia. No one has been reported missing in that area, nor has anyone been reported missing who matches his description. The body was evacuated from the remote setting by helicopter and turned over to Whatcom County. The investigation is continuing. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
A Chelan Airways Dehavilland DHC-2 Beaver float plane with five people on board crashed into Lake Chelan just south of Stehekin as it was attempting to make a routine water landing on the afternoon of May 17th. Rangers were first on scene and were joined by county deputies who responded by boat. An Air Force helicopter was also dispatched to the scene. The rangers found that three of the plane's occupants had gotten out of the passenger compartment shortly after impact. The two remaining passengers - W.S., 64, and R.P., 67 - were eventually freed from the Beaver, which was upside down and sinking. Both were in cardiac arrest. CPR was performed on them until they arrived at Lake Chelan Community Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The 61-year-old pilot, H."B."W., suffered head lacerations and other non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and was flown to Chelan by the Air Force helicopter. P.S., 60, W.S.'s wife, was taken by private boat to Chelan for treatment of hypothermia. A 16-year-old Stehekin girl was treated for mild hypothermia and released. The cause of the crash is under investigation. NTSB and FAA investigators are on scene. Witnesses reported that the plane's wheels were protruding from both floats as it attempted the water landing. They may have caused the plane to nose dive into the water, then turn upside down. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
On July 18th, four climbers were ascending the lower slopes of the Eldorado Glacier when one member of the group had an unwitnessed fall down snow and a short rock cliff. His companions found him unconscious at the base of a rock-snow moat. One climber made a three-hour-long hike out to make a 911 call, while the remaining two climbers, one of them an ER physician, cared for their partner. Rangers arrived to the scene via the park's on-call contract helicopter. After brief EMT care and packaging, the patient was short-hauled to a site lower on the mountain, where an Airlift NW medical helicopter could safely land. He was then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he remains in the neurological ICU with a critical head injury and bi-lateral arm fractures. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
On July 31st, climbing rangers from North Cascades National Park were finally able to recover the body of a 50-year-old Maryland woman who died after a fall on July 26th while on a mountaineering trip in the park. The woman and her husband were three days into a week-long traverse across several glaciers and alpine terrain when the accident occurred. They were negotiating a col which separates the Klawatti and McAllister Glaciers, scrambling un-roped, when she fell approximately 35 feet into a moat separating glacier ice from a rock wall. The woman's husband cared for her for 24 hours, unable to reach a 911 cell connection, before she died in their tent. The 58-year-old husband then crossed three glaciers and over several off-trail miles, descending 6,000 feet in elevation. Just before reaching a road, he fell from a log while crossing a river, nearly drowning and injuring a knee before jettisoning his pack and getting unpinned. Other climbers found him on the road and delivered him to the NPS ranger station during the night. Attempts to reach the accident site by helicopter were thwarted for two full days. Rangers focused on assisting the surviving climber, who had emerged with no personal resources (cash, cards, car keys, phone or clothes). During a window of clear weather between two storms, rangers recovered the woman's body from the top of the Klawatti Glacier, and transferred it to the Skagit County coroner. Although from the east coast, the couple had been spending mountaineering vacations in the North Cascades for many years, having accomplished other alpine traverses and peak ascents. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
On Saturday, May 23rd, a commercially-guided party of three mountaineers took a tumbling fall down Mount Shuksan's summit pyramid while roped together. The trio had reached the summit and were descending when the accident occurred. The guide had belayed his two clients individually down the first pitches of steep snow, then descended himself. As he was doing so, he fell and, unable to arrest his fall, pulled the other two with him for about 400 feet. Luckily, there was only one significant injury - one of the clients injured an ankle and was unable to continue. Climbing rangers on patrol lower on the mountain were picked up by the park's on-call SAR helicopter, an MD 500 from HiLine Helicopters, and flown to the accident site. The rangers were able to carry the injured climber across a section of the Sulphide Glacier, then fly her off the mountain. She was transported to a Bellingham, Washington, hospital for evaluation. [Kelly Bush, Wilderness District Ranger]
A missing hiker was found on Sunday afternoon when he walked out of the backcountry under his own power after six nights in the Cascade Pass area of the park. M.A., a 22-year old resident of Everett, Washington, was reported missing on Thursday, June 18th, when he did not return to work or check in with family after going hiking. The park was notified late Friday that M.A. had planned to hike somewhere in the North Cascades range. A search was begun, and it was determined that he'd obtained a backcountry camping permit for the Cascade Pass area for the nights of June 15th and 16th. His car was also found at the corresponding trailhead. M.A. said that he became disoriented in the thick and low fog cover on Wednesday morning as he descended from Sahale Glacier camp, where he had a permit to camp. Realizing that he was lost, he pitched his tent to await help. On Sunday morning, he made a successful attempt to find his way down a creek drainage to the Cascade River Road and to the rescue crews stationed at the Eldorado parking area. Approximately 60 searchers, including two dog teams, were involved in the search over the weekend. Teams of searchers included National Park Service employees and volunteer groups from Bellingham Mountain Rescue, Skagit Mountain Rescue, Olympic Mountain Rescue, Seattle Mountain Rescue, King County Explorer Search and Rescue, and Bellingham Summit to Sound Search Dogs. [Kerry Olson, Stehekin District Interpreter]
On July 1st, two mountaineers successfully climbed two of the three summits of a peak known as The Triad in North Cascades National Park. While descending a steep snow slope, one of them took a sliding fall of approximately 100 feet. Unable to arrest the fall, he slammed into a rock at the bottom of the snow slope, which resulted in an open leg fracture but likely saved him from free-falling an additional 300 feet below the short rock field. Due to the exposure of the site and limited options for helicopter landing sites near the climber, responding rangers were short-hauled into the site and lifted out with the man to a staging site on the glacier 600 feet below. He was then flown out of the backcountry and transferred to an ambulance. A likely contributing factor was a problem with the climber's crampons. Wilderness district ranger Kelly Bush was incident commander. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
Late in the afternoon of on July 5th, climbers called for help from the false summit of Mount Terror, the highest peak (8,151 feet) in the park's Southern Picket Range. Earlier in the day, the party of four was "simul-climbing" as two rope teams when S.T., leader of the higher team, fell approximately 60 feet. S.T. suffered a femur fracture and apparent head injury and was hanging unconscious on the rope. His partners were able to anchor the injured climber on a small ledge. Two of them then decided to climb higher in an attempt to reach cell service, while one climber remained to care for his partner. With approximately four hours of working daylight left, a climbing ranger was inserted via short-haul to the accident site. The ranger and patient were flown to a staging site, where S.T. was transferred to a medical helicopter. Due to the fading light, a second hoped-for maneuver to rescue the other climber, J.S., was cancelled. However, during the pick-off of the patient, a pack with survival gear and a park radio had been handed to J.S., who was now stranded at the cliff site. Due to fog, rain and eventually snow at the accident site, aerial rescue attempts were postponed. The stranded climber was able to locate a small overhanging ledge, where he stayed for the next four days until the weather was clear enough for an air rescue. J.S. was short-hauled off the mountain and soon reunited with his friends. Rangers then flew directly to the Eldorado Peak area to evacuate another climber via short-haul who had suffered a lower leg injury the evening before while descending through a large boulder field. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
On July 25th, park rangers on patrol in the Cascade Pass area were contacted by a climber who reported that a separate climbing party needed assistance - one climber was disabled due to a leg fracture and another had turned back due to signs of hypothermia. One of the rangers accompanied the reporting party along the start of an alpine route known as the "Ptarmigan Traverse," while the other climber located and assisted the hypothermic man. During the assessment of the leg fracture and mission planning with the IC, a thunderstorm and deluge occurred. Due to the unstable weather in the region, a helicopter evacuation was delayed to the following morning. With bystanders caring for the injured climber, rangers hiked out, but found that the road servicing this popular trail had been washed out in a flash flood, stranding dozens of visitors. This unusual event required a "road rescue" involving several rangers and maintenance staff to clear enough debris to safely get a few people out and supplies in to accommodate those stranded in the trailhead parking lot. Early the following morning, two wilderness rangers were flown back and short-hauled the injured climber out. Follow-up showed that the climber had multiple fractures in his foot/ankle and the hypothermic climber had fully recovered. The road remained closed for several days. Wilderness district ranger Kelly Bush was the incident commander. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
A climber was killed early on Sunday, August 9th, in a mountaineering accident involving an icefall. C.L., 49, of Golden, Colorado, and Guillermo Benegas of Sandy, Utah, were beginning the Torment-Forbidden Traverse, which is an alpine rock ridge traverse connecting the two peak summits. The climb begins with an ascent of Mount Torment. Having ascended most of the Taboo Glacier on approach to Mount Torment's southeast face, the two climbers were negotiating a huge gap between two sections of ice called a bergshrund. When Luebben moved onto the upper section of glacier, a piece of ice measuring 100 by 20 by 10 feet broke off, taking the climber with it. A single cam device held his fall, but he still fell approximately 40 feet and was critically injured by falling ice. Pieces of ice also hit climbing partner Benegas, but he was able to position Luebben on a ledge and scramble to a location where he could call 911 with a cell phone. National Park Service rangers were transported to the scene by via helicopter and preceded with a recovery and rescue of the two climbers. Luebben was a well-known and accomplished climber, Everest guide and author, having made first ascents in Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Zion and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Parks. [Kelly Bush]
Two climbers were ascending the Dorado Needle via the SW Buttress Route on August 17th when the lead climber fell approximately 20 feet. The belayer was able to lower his partner to a protected ledge. While not critically injured, the fallen climber suffered a severe puncture wound which left him unable to climb or descend further due to pain and profuse bleeding. The partner was able to travel out across three glaciers and significant cross-country terrain to report the stranded climber to the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount. Three rangers were flown to the site via the park's on-call contracted aircraft from HiLine Helicopters. The extraction was completed with a wall pick-off type short-haul, then an internal flight. The 36-year-old climber was treated at the local hospital and released. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
A debris avalanche that occurred on March 15th rendered unusable a local access road that connects two reservoirs within the park. The volume of the debris is estimated at 56,000 cubic meters; the width measures 60 meters at the toe of the avalanche. The Ross Dam haul road, which is about a mile long, is an important administrative road that does not connect to any public road but serves several organizations. It provides Seattle City Light, operator of three hydroelectric dams within the park, with access from Diablo Lake to the Ross Powerhouse and the top of Ross Dam; Ross Lake Resort, a park concession operator of floating cabins on Ross Lake, with transportation service for their guests to and from Diablo Lake; and paddlers with portage between Diablo Lake and Ross Lake. The debris avalanche covers the road and destroyed Seattle City Light's barge dock, Ross Lake Resort's truck, and the National Park Service's canoe and kayak landing. Implications for Seattle City Light operations are significant, as access to the Ross Powerhouse and the top of Ross Dam is limited to foot traffic, prohibiting the use of any heavy equipment that may be necessary for service or repair. The area remains unstable and dangerous. A contractor has been hired to evaluate and stabilize the cliff above the slide. Several large rocks could still fall and double the volume of material, making recovery even more difficult and time-consuming. After the area is evaluated and stabilized, it could take several months to reestablish the road. The size of the slide makes it unfeasible to remove, so Seattle City Light plans to develop a new barge landing upstream of the slide to provide access to Ross Powerhouse. A new dock and trail downstream of the slide are also planned to provide Seattle City Light with access to the top of Ross Dam, support Ross Lake Resort and National Park Service operations, and reestablish portage between Diablo Lake and Ross Lake for paddlers. Additional images of the debris avalanche are available at the link below: HYPERLINK "http://www.flickr.com/photos/northcascadesnationalpark/sets/72157623673190486". [Charles Beall, Public Information Officer]
Early on July 6th, rangers were alerted to an injured climber on the northeast ridge of Black Peak. Two Seattle men had attempted a one-day ascent of the peak on July 5th. When they were HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simul_climbing" simul-climbing 200 feet from the summit, the lead climber fell approximately 45 feet before his protection caught him. The 28-year-old lost consciousness for 20 minutes following the accident. After regaining consciousness, the pair rappelled much of the route despite injuries that included facial trauma, a possible wrist fracture, multiple lacerations, and chest pain. Eventually the climbers bivouacked for the night and the uninjured man continued solo at dawn to seek help. Four rangers responded with the park's contracted helicopter. A medical helicopter from Airlift Northwest also responded to the selected staging site on a flat snow slope. The injured climber was located, packaged, and short-hauled from the peak to the staging site, where rangers transferred him to the medical crew. He was flown directly to Harborview Trauma Center in Seattle. [Kelly Bush, Wilderness District Ranger]
A thunderstorm brought heavy rainfall to the park last Thursday evening, causing flash flooding and debris flows in three creeks along Lake Chelan in Lake Chelan NRA near Stehekin. Substantial damage occurred to the Lakeshore Trail, washing out the bridge at Four Mile Creek and leaving the trail impassable to hikers and stock between Hazard Creek, less than a half mile from Stehekin, and Four Mile Creek, just under three miles from Stehekin. The three watersheds - Hazard Creek, Four Mile Creek and an unnamed creek - were burned by the 2006 Flick Creek Fire. After wildfires, debris flows can occur from significant rainfall because little water absorbs into the soil, causing rapid runoff that converges in drainages. The runoff erodes material from the steep slopes and channels of these drainages and gradually becomes a slurry of soil, rocks and mud. The slurry can quickly pick up speed, as well as additional rocks, large boulders, and trees, and radically modify existing drainages. Photos of the debris flow damage along Lake Chelan can be found at the park's HYPERLINK "http://www.flickr.com/photos/northcascadesnationalpark/sets/72157624544175015/" Flickr site. [Kerry Olson, Public Affairs Officer]
A search is underway in the area of Storm King Mountain for a 49-year old resident of the Seattle area who was reported missing on Monday, August 30th. The experienced mountaineer was planning to solo climb Storm King Mountain on Saturday, August 28th. Late Wednesday afternoon, a backpack was found by a ground search team at the 7400-foot elevation level directly below Storm King's 8500-foot summit. The backpack was on the route to the summit, and it is believed that the pack was purposely placed at this location. National Park Service rangers were able to confirm the gear belongs to the missing climber. Rangers confirmed that a tent and other gear found on Monday belong to the missing climber, who had been issued a backcountry permit to stay at that location on Friday, August 27th. The designated camp site is along the Park Creek Trail en route to a Storm King climbing route. Ground searches on Tuesday and Wednesday covered a 1500-acre search area. The terrain where the searches are being conducted is steep and difficult. Fifty personnel from the National Park Service, Chelan Mountain Rescue, Stehekin Community and the King County Sheriff's Office are now searching for the missing climber. They were aided yesterday by four helicopters, including two with forward looking infrared (FLIR). FLIR is an imaging technology that detects thermal energy and can help find missing persons if they are in areas that cannot be seen. Updates will also be made available via the North Cascades National Park Twitter account that can be found at: HYPERLINK "http://twitter.com/CascadesNPS". [Kerry Olson]
The body of missing climber J.A. was found by rangers on the north slope of Storm King Mountain on Friday while they were conducting an aerial search along the "fall line" below the location where his waist pack was found on Thursday. While previous flights had been made in this area, recent snow melt made it possible to find his body. This location was approximately 300 feet below where the waist pack was found. At the time of the report, rescue personnel were in the process of evaluating recovery options, which were complicated by the steep, technical and unstable terrain. The 49-year-old mountaineer had planned to solo climb Storm King Mountain on Saturday, August 28th, and was reported missing two days later. Fifty people from the National Park Service, Chelan Mountain Rescue, the community of Stehekin, and the King County Sheriff's Office subsequently conducted ground and aerial searches over steep and difficult terrain, covering a 1500-acre search area. A backpack belonging to J.A. was found last Wednesday by a ground search team at the 7400-foot elevation directly below Storm King Mountain's 8500-foot summit. The waist pack was found at the 8000-foot elevation. [Kerry Olson, Stehekin District Interpreter]
The body of missing climber J.A. was recovered yesterday via helicopter by Snohomish County Sheriff's Office at the request of the National Park Service. The 49-year old mountaineer from the Seattle area began a solo attempt of the 8,500-foot Storm King Mountain on Saturday, August 28th, and was reported overdue two days later. J.A.'s body was located from the air by National Park Service personnel on September 3rd on the steep face of Storm King Mountain at an elevation of 7,700. Due to technical challenges and poor weather, recovery operations were delayed. Search and recovery participants included members of the Stehekin community, Chelan County Mountain Rescue, King County Sheriff's Office, Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, and National Park Service. Photographs of Storm King Mountain, including the approximate location of J.A.'s fall are available at the park's HYPERLINK "http://www.flickr.com/photos/northcascadesnationalpark/sets/72157624748751327" Flickr site. [Charles Beall]
Around midnight on August 25th, rangers received a 911 call reporting that a climber had taken a 60-foot "leader" fall near the summit on the east face of 7,440-foot Mixup Peak. Two members of the group of six climbers went for help and reported that the injured climber had sustained a potential head injury and broken lower leg. Meanwhile, the three remaining climbers lowered the injured climber to a shallow, down-sloping ledge that was nearly 2,000 feet above the glacier below. Rangers organized a rescue for the next morning after a reconnaissance flight determined that a helicopter short haul operation was the safest and most efficient recovery method to use. Two rangers were short hauled to the site to stabilize and package the patient, who was then short hauled to an ALS ambulance at the closest trailhead. Kelly Bush, Wilderness District Ranger, was incident commander. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
The park's search and rescue team recently responded to two separate mountaineering accidents, evacuating four people from remote mountain peaks. On Friday, July 13th, after they'd successfully navigated through the remote northern Picket Range and climbed several peaks, a party of three climbers requested assistance. One of the three hiked out to report that his two partners had been hit and injured by falling snow from a steep wall above their camp in a basin below Luna Peak. Rangers evacuated the injured 29-year-old male and 29-year-old female climbers via a National Park Service-contracted helicopter from HiLine Helicopters to Marblemount, where the man was transferred to a local hospital by ambulance and the woman was released. On Saturday, July 14th, a party of seven was climbing the south side route of Sahale Peak. One member of the party inadvertently pulled out a large boulder, which struck him and then a member of the party below. Another member of the party hiked to Cascade Pass and contacted a wilderness ranger who launched a rescue response. Climbing rangers approached the two injured climbers on foot from Boston Basin and by helicopter from Marblemount. The critically injured 24-year-old woman was moved from the glacier by a National Park Service-contracted helicopter from HiLine Helicopters in a short-haul maneuver, and then transferred to an Airlift Northwest medical helicopter at a road site. She was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and was reported to have multiple fractures but was in stable condition. The 25-year-old male climber, who had minor injuries, was also flown out of the backcountry, but was released. Digital images of the Sahale Peak rescue are available for download and use at the park's HYPERLINK "http://www.flickr.com/photos/northcascadesnationalpark/sets/72157630591752592/" Flickr site. [Charles Beall, Acting Superintendent]
On Monday, July 16th, the park received notice of a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPOT_Satellite_Messenger" SPOT beacon emergency alert from near the northern Picket Range. The beacon was registered to a man who had a week-long backcountry permit in the area for a party of two. Two rangers responded in the park's contracted search and rescue helicopter from HiLine Helicopters to investigate. The two climbers with the beacon were quickly found by the helicopter team, but at a location with no landing site nearby. The climbers clearly indicated over and over that they were okay, but seemed to gesture another message, at first difficult to understand. Gathering more information from the park's Wilderness Information Center, the SAR rangers eventually found that a party of six had a seriously injured climber in a nearby gully. This location also was not near a possible helicopter landing site. The two rangers and pilot found a staging site in the Access Creek basin and from there were able to insert a ranger into the accident site by helicopter. The ranger and patient were then short-hauled to the staging site. The patient was a 49-year-old man who had fallen an estimated 1200 feet across steep snow and rocks down a gully on Luna Peak's east flank. He suffered a head injury and extremity fractures. A medical helicopter from Airlift NW was brought in to fly him to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he is expected to remain for another week. [Ken Hires]
A 35-year-old motorcyclist was killed in an accident on North Cascades Highway east of the Ross Lake Trailhead on Sunday. He was heading east on his 2010 Yamaha when he failed to negotiate a left hand curve and ran off the highway. Rangers provided medical treatment with assistance from two medical doctors until the local ALS ambulance arrived. The man was declared dead at the scene. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
Colonial Campground staff members were contacted by a park visitor just after noon on Labor Day and advised that his father had collapsed in the morning at their Panther Creek backcountry camp and was unresponsive. The son performed CPR but was unable to revive his father. He and his nine-year-old daughter then hiked out three miles to the trailhead. Rangers flew in to investigate and document the incident and long-lined the deceased out of the backcountry. Fourteen park staff, including a family liaison and a pilot from HiLine helicopters, were involved in this operation which was concluded by 8 p.m. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
On September 8th, two climbers contacted a park climbing ranger in the field to report that a member of their team had fallen 100 feet onto rock on the south face of Mount Torment. They reported that he was initially unresponsive and confused and had possible internal injuries and a broken arm. The climbing ranger contacted the man and secured the area for a helicopter hoist. In the dwindling daylight, a helicopter from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island arrived on scene, hoisted the injured man into the helicopter, and transported him to a local hospital. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
Late on the morning of September 9th, park dispatch was notified that there were three injured climbers on Ruth Mountain, which is just outside the park's northwestern boundary. The climbers had fallen into a crevasse in mid-morning; one managed to climb out on his own, reached a location with cell phone reception, and dialed 911. Whatcom County SAR was notified and alerted park dispatch to the situation. Rangers accepted a request from the sheriff's office for an agency assist on the incident. Meanwhile, a ground team of Bellingham Mountain Rescue volunteers started up the trail toward the mountain. Two climbing rangers were transported to the scene in a contracted helicopter from HiLine Helicopters and located the injured climbers. They found that a separate climbing party had already extricated the remaining two critically injured and hypothermic climbers from the crevasse. They were separately short-hauled from their location on the glacier to a lower staging area. Two Airlift Northwest medical helicopters landed at this staging site, received the patients, and flew them to hospitals in Seattle and Bellingham. The third party member was flown by HiLine Helicopters to a roadside staging area and was met there by an ambulance for transport to Bellingham. Bellingham Mountain Rescue volunteers assisted by retrieving gear left behind by the injured party and hiked back out to the trailhead. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
On October 4th, rangers received a report that a leased HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_R22" Robinson 22 helicopter had crashed the day before in a remote area of the park about six miles south of the international border with Canada. Rangers located and interviewed the pilot and passenger, who were uninjured in the crash and had hiked out over 20 miles to the nearest road. After several days of poor weather conditions and some rough off-trail travel, rangers documented the scene with agents from Homeland Security Investigations and assistance from Customs and Border Patrol's Air and Marine Division. The helicopter was released from the site on October 11th and removed by private contractor to a facility for inspection by the NTSB and FAA. Charges are pending. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
A mountaineering party of two experienced an accident on Mount Goode on July 6th. After summiting the 9,200-foot peak via the Northeast Buttress route, the climbers were descending the Southwest Couloir, a standard descent. At 8,400 feet one climber fell when the rappel anchor in use failed. He suffered an open elbow and arm fracture, among other injuries, and was initially unconscious. The man's partner activated a satellite beacon at 9:30 p.m. and then bivouacked in the couloir with his injured partner for the night. Early on July 7th, a rescue of both climbers was carried out by NPS rangers utilizing a contract helicopter from HiLine Helicopters and assisted by the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office's SnoHawk 10. The injured climber is being treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
On Sunday, July 28th, a party of four mountaineers from the Seattle area attempted the Northeast Ridge of 8,970-foot-high Black Peak. The climbers split into two rope teams and quickly found that the first rope team was ascending at a faster pace. The teams became separated along the Northeast Ridge, with one summiting the peak and then descending the south face route back to their camp, having lost contact with the other two climbers. The two climbers who had summited could see their friends about midway up the ascent route, and observed that they were stationary for hours, well into the night. The two stranded climbers began flashing headlamps, presumably to alert their friends. The climbers at camp asked other visitors who were leaving the area to call 911 when they got into cell phone range and request assistance. Rangers received this call for assistance at 2 a.m. on Monday morning, with it unclear if either of the stranded climbers was injured. Early on Monday, rangers made a recon flight to Black Peak, making visual contact with the stranded climbers but unable to rule out injuries to either of them. By then, they'd been stranded at the same location for almost 24 hours, just before a steep pitch on the most technical part of the route. A ranger team, using the park's contracted HiLine Helicopters MD500D, evacuated each climber individually by short haul to their base camp. The rescued climbers appeared to be shaken up by the experience, but were uninjured. All parties agreed that steep technical mountaineering routes with thousands of feet of exposure above massive glaciers are much more difficult than the same level of climbing difficulty in a gym, which they were more accustomed to. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of Sunday, August 11th, a torrential thunderstorm caused severe damage within park and the surrounding area. The unusually intense rainfall obstructed a culvert on the Cascade River Road near milepost 22 and washed out a section of road about 60 feet wide and 15 feet deep. Cascade River Road terminates at the Cascade Pass Trailhead at milepost 23, which is one of the most popular trails in the park. The washout stranded 36 cars and 72 day hikers and backpackers overnight. Wilderness rangers hiked from their field locations back to the parking lot that evening to provide support to the stranded visitors, and park personnel responded from the downstream side and formulated an evacuation plan for the following morning. On Monday morning, food, water, critical medications and essential supplies were flown to stranded visitors via helicopter, while park staff and a private contractor began making a temporary road repair. Initially estimated to take several days to fix, workers were able to complete a temporary repair by 4 p.m. Monday afternoon, allowing visitors to depart. Twelve vehicles still remained at the trailhead as of Monday night with their owners still on backpacking or climbing trips. Park staff will continue to monitor the repair and work to evacuate the remaining visitors and their vehicles. The road remains closed to vehicles until a more permanent repair can be completed. This same thunderstorm also caused an indefinite closure of State Highway 20 just east of the park complex. For additional images of the washout, click on the link below. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger] HYPERLINK "http://www.flickr.com/photos/northcascadesnationalpark/sets/72157635049191212/"
A large and powerful storm cell triggered a massive mud and rock slide in the community of Stehekin last Thursday night. Many vehicles in the long term parking area and at the mouth of Imus Creek were buried. Businesses affected were Discovery Bikes and Stehekin Reservations and Fly Fishing Shop. Most of the bicycles were damaged or washed into Lake Chelan and the log cabin office for fly fishing and reservations was surrounded by mud and rocks. A historic NPS storage shed at the Imus Cabin was filled with water and mud, the storage shed at the Lake House was damaged, and mud encroached on the public laundry building. Gas is currently turned off to that area to reduce the potential for fire. There were no injuries. National Park employees, assisted by local residents, are clearing the road and currently it is partially open for shuttle service and the public. Assessment of the work needed to recover the damaged vehicles and to stabilize the slide debris is currently underway. Bicycle rentals are temporarily suspended, shuttle buses are operating as passage through the site is allowed. NPS boats have been shuttling people around the slide area to ensure pedestrian safety. The Imus Trail is closed to public use pending a safety assessment, trail repair and bridge replacement. Additional images of the mudslide can be found at the link below. [Ken Hires, Stehekin District Interpreter] HYPERLINK "http://www.flickr.com/photos/northcascadesnationalpark/sets/72157635421195577/"
On the morning of September 13th, the park received a report that a 60-year-old man was two days overdue from a nine day backpacking trip in the Berdeen Lake area. An aerial search was launched and he was found by day's end near Lower Berdeen Lake. Rangers determined he'd sustained no life threatening injuries, but that it would take too long for him to hike up to the nearest landing zone given his exhausted condition, the rough terrain and impending darkness. They therefore instead supplied him with food and a radio and advised that they would return the next morning. Rangers long-lined the hiker's gear to a nearby landing zone the next morning and then helped him to the helicopter. The Berdeen cross-country zone is a seldom visited, trail-less portion of the park with extremely steep and challenging terrain. The hiker said that he knew he was unable to complete his trip and return to his vehicle by day five, but that he continued on his hike to get out of the wooded area and into the open so that searchers could more easily locate him. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief of Visitor and Resource Protection]
Late yesterday morning, park dispatch received a cell phone report that one of two skiers who'd been ascending the north face of Mount Shuksan for a ski tour had been hit by a snow slide and swept down the mountain. The other had narrowly avoided the slide. Two climbing rangers were dispatched via the park's contract helicopter to perform an aerial search and spotted the missing skier around 3:30 p.m. They determined that he hadn't survived the fall, estimated at over 2,000 feet. Due to the nature of the terrain and the warm weather with potential for continued unstable snow conditions, rangers were unable to recover the body yesterday. Another effort will be made today if conditions permit. Whatcom County SAR and Bellingham Mountain Rescue also responded to the incident. [Ken Hires, Stehekin District Interpreter]
A National Park Service helicopter crew conducted three rescue missions in a single day over the weekend before last — one rescue in each of Washington state's three large national parks. The first distress call came in at 9 a.m. Sunday, reporting an 18-year-old backpacker with respiratory distress in the northwest section of the North Cascades National Park wilderness. By midday the clouds had lifted enough for the helicopter crew to get through to the hiker and hoist him aboard from the rugged terrain below. He was then flown to the hospital for treatment. The pilot and crew then responded to Olympic National Park in the late afternoon to perform a medical evacuation of a 55-year-old man who had gotten lost after going out for a day hike on Tuesday, six days earlier. Rangers had hiked into the area on foot and found the man at about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. But the man was found to be too weak to travel, and the terrain proved very difficult for ground-based rescue. So the helicopter crew flew in and evacuated the man to a local hospital. Source: KOMO News.
Rangers and a team from the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office are searching for a man missing in the North Cascades. C."C."Z., 31, went camping with a friend on Saturday, June 16th, at the Colonial Creek Campground near Rockport. He was last seen at the campground on Saturday. His friend reported C.Z. missing on Sunday around 1:00 p.m. Nearly two dozen people searched for C.Z. on Monday. Some of his belongings were found, but there was no sign of C.Z.. C.Z. is about 5-feet-9-inches tall, weighs about 190 pounds, and has dark blond hair and blue/green eyes. He was believed to be wearing jeans, a light gray shirt, a light green jacket and a black and white baseball cap. Source: KOMO News.
The body of a 31-year-old Seattle man who has been missing since June 16th was found last Tuesday in a remote wooded area near the park campground where he was last seen. As noted in the last issue, rangers and searchers from the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office had been looking for him ever since. C.Z. was last seen at the campground on Saturday, June 16th. The friend he was camping with reported him missing the next day. C.Z.'s death has been ruled a suicide. Source: Bellingham Herald.
A missing seven-year-old girl was found safe on the evening of Sunday, May 28th, nearly 24 hours after she got lost in the North Cascades. She'd last been seen playing in the Lower Goodell group campground. Searchers found the girl hunkered down in a steep, woody area about a half mile from where she'd last been seen the previous evening. She'd evidently decided to stay put, then call out to rescuers when they got near her location. More than 120 volunteers and five canine teams participated in the search. At times, a helicopter and drones were used to try to get a view of the search area from above. Source: KOMO News.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, North Cascades NP — The North Cascades Highway is about to close for the season -- its latest closure date in over a decade. December 11th tied the date for the eighth-latest closure since records began being kept in 1972. It's the first time the pass has remained open through November since 2013, when it closed on December 3rd. It's now the latest closure since 2008, when it closed on December 15th. Source: Scott Sistek, KOMO News.
Rangers are investigating damage to the Newhalem Rock Shelter archeological site near Newhalem that was discovered last summer. The shelter is a significant archaeological site that is recognized as a mountain goat hunting camp and for artifacts that establish its connection to exchange networks through the greater Pacific Northwest. The archaeological site is "extremely significant" to the culturally associated tribes, and this illegal excavation has caused irretrievable damage to the site and the tribes' heritage. The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of those responsible. Source: David Rasbach, Bellingham Herald.
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.
This week's update consists of a random sampling of reports on park reopenings extracted from various news source: North Cascades NP — A limited reopening is underway. The three popular overlooks along the North Cascades Highway — Diablo Lake, Ross Lake, and Gorge Creek Falls overlooks — reopened on Friday. The park system's trails have reopened, but for day use only: The Stehekin marina and public docks at the head of Lake Chelan have reopened for day use only. So have boat launching facilities on Diablo and Ross Lakes. 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. Sources: Krista Langlois, National Geographic; KTVH News; KOMO News.
Search and rescue crews are looking for a California man who was last seen on October 8th near Colonial Creek Campground in the North Cascades. According to the park, 35-year-old A.P.'s white Toyota Corolla was found two days later parked along Highway 20 (North Cascades Highway) along with an easel he had set up for painting. At the time of the report, the park had 20 SAR personnel in the field. They're searching the campground and the Diablo Lake area. Source: KCPQ News.
North Cascades rangers are searching for an Everett man whose car was found in eastern Whatcom County. Park rangers are looking for C.J., 31, a white man who is 6-foot-3-inches tall and weighs approximately 160 pounds. C.J.'s 2008 Honda CRV was located by park personnel on January 13th along the north side of Highway 20 near the Goodell Creek Campground, approximately one mile west of Newhalem. C.J., who is believed to be suicidal, was last seen Monday at his Everett home. He is believed to be in possession of a firearm and traveling with a small, white Blue Heeler-type dog. Source: David Rasbach, The Bellingham Herald.
The Bear Creek Fire, which was first detected on July 30 in the Chilliwak drainage/ Hannagen Pass Trail area) has grown to about 1,000 acres. The fire has been mostly contained by cooler temperatures and moisture in the area. There is a team of firefighters using a confine-and-contain strategy. The cause of the fire is under investigation and, specifically, the park is looking for information on a hiker who accessed the trailhead on bicycle that day. Source: goSkagit, North Cascades National Park August 24, 2022 On August 8 around 4:45am, law enforcement responded to a report of gunshots in an area near Newhalem. They talked with a 40-year-old individual sitting in a vehicle who said they did not hear any shots. While investigating, rangers noticed a large quantity of blood and bullet holes along the guardrail nearby the vehicle. When they looked down the adjacent embankment, they found a deceased 69-year-old. The 40-year-old was detained and an AR-15-style rifle was discovered in the vehicle. The individual was interviewed by detectives and confessed to intentionally shooting the 69-year-old, who was their sibling. The individual was arrested for first-degree murder and domestic violence, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Source: Fox 13 August 24, 2022 On August 11, a lightning storm passed through the park, igniting the small McGregor Mountain Fire. Firefighters from the NPS and North Cascades Smokejumpers were able to contain the fire at about about one-quarter of an acre on August 13. Source: North Cascades National Park, KPUG September 7, 2022 On August 23, multiple fires were ignited by storms through the Chilliwack area. The northwestern corner of the park is currently closed. As of September 6, the fires were estimated at 3,700 acres. Firefighters are working to protect the Copper Lookout and adjacent areas. Source: Seattle Times, North Cascades National Park (8/24, 8/27, 9/6) September 18, 2022 As of September 17, several of the fires in the Chilliwack Complex had merged, and the fires continue to burn in steep and rugged terrain. It is 7,388 acres with 31 personnel assigned. Source: Inciweb
A series of lightning strikes the week of September 12 ignited the McAllister Creek Fire in the Thunder Creek drainage of the park. There are no trail or camp closures related to the fire and it is being monitored for growth. Source: Interior Newswire, North Cascades National Park
On October 7, the park closed the Desolation Trail and the portion of the East Bank Trail from Lightning Creek to Desolation Trail, and Desolation, Lightning Creek Hiker, and Cat Island Camps due to fire activity in the Desolation area of east Ross Lake. Source: North Cascades National Park
The McAllister Creek Fire has grown and has the potential for rapid spread due to record breaking temperatures and low relative humidity. As a result, the park has closed the Thunder Creek Trail from the trailhead to Neve Camp, the Panther Creek Trail from the trailhead to Neve Camp, and the Thunder Knob Trail, as well as many campgrounds, day use areas, picnic areas, and beaches in the area. Source: North Cascades National Park
On May 28 and 31, a black bear got into food left out by visitors at the Cascade Pass parking lot. The park has now banned the consumption of food at the lot and the adjacent Johannesburg camp is closed to overnight use. Park staff are working to haze bears away from the site to deter them from further seeking food at the site. Source: GoSkagit.com
On July 10, a fire was detected in the area of the Rainbow Loop. Aerial support and smoke jumpers from North Cascades, Missoula, and Redmond smokejumpers responded to the fire. Boulder Creek Trail and Hooter, Rennie, and Reynolds Hiker and Stock camps closed temporarily. On July 15, the fire was declared extinguished, and the closed areas reopened. Source: North Cascades National Park (7/12, 7/15)
On July 26, a storm brought lightning strikes through the park. Two fires were detected in the Pyramid Creek Drainage along State Route 20, the Pyramid Peak Fire and Pyramid Creek Fire (known collectively as the Pyramid Area Fires). The Bouch, Colonial, and Snowfield cross-country zones were closed on July 28 for visitor safety. As of July 29, the fires were considered contained, and the closed areas reopened. Source: North Cascades National Park (7/28, 7/29)
On July 29, the Sourdough Fire was detected. It was started by a lightning strike near Diablo, Washington. As of August 8, the fire was 1,440 acres and 0% contained, with 349 personnel assigned. The Sourdough Trail is closed to the junction with Big Beaver Trail. Sourdough and Pierce Mountain camps are also closed. On August 4, State Route 20 (the North Cascades Highway) between Newhalem and Rainy Day Pass was closed. There is no estimated reopening date yet. Source: North Cascades National Park (7/29 - first report, second report, 7/30, 7/31), Inciweb, Idaho Statesman
On August 15, the park closed several trails, camps, and backcountry zones in the Bridge Creek and Blue Lake area due to the Blue Lake Fire, which is burning near State Route 20 milepost 160, 30 miles west of Winthrop, WA, on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Source: North Cascades National Park
On July 29, the Sourdough Fire was detected. It was started by a lightning strike near Diablo, Washington. As of August 20, the fire was 5,618 acres and 12% contained, with 404 personnel assigned. The Sourdough Trail is closed to the junction with Big Beaver Trail. Sourdough and Pierce Mountain camps are also closed. On August 4, State Route 20 (the North Cascades Highway) between Newhalem and Rainy Day Pass was closed. There is no estimated reopening date yet. Source: North Cascades National Park (7/29 - first report, second report, 7/30, 7/31), Inciweb, Idaho Statesman
The park has had several instances of bears obtaining human food in the park, necessitating closures. In addition to May incidents at Cascade Pass Trailhead (see 7/5/23 Coalition Report) that caused officials to close the picnic area, bears have recently gotten into human food, approached people, and destroyed property in the remote Terror Basin area. The park has closed the Terror Basin cross-country zone until further notice. Source: The Columbian
On August 15, the park closed several trails, camps, and backcountry zones in the Bridge Creek and Blue Lake area due to the Blue Lake Fire, which is burning near State Route 20 milepost 160, 30 miles west of Winthrop, WA, on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Source: North Cascades National Park
On July 29, the Sourdough Fire was detected. It was started by a lightning strike near Diablo, Washington. As of September 2, the fire was 6,234 acres and 25% contained. Much of the greater area around Sourdough Camp is closed. After a long period of closure, on August 30, State Route 20 reopened to through traffic. There is no estimated reopening date yet. Source: North Cascades National Park (7/29 - first report, second report, 7/30, 7/31, 8/30), Inciweb, Idaho Statesman
On July 29, the Sourdough Fire was detected. It was started by a lightning strike near Diablo, Washington. As of September 15, the fire was 6,369 acres and 25% contained. Much of the greater area around Sourdough Camp is closed. After a long period of closure, on August 30, State Route 20 reopened to through traffic. Source: North Cascades National Park (7/29 - first report, second report, 7/30, 7/31, 8/30, 9/15), Inciweb, Idaho Statesman
On July 29, the Sourdough Fire was detected. It was started by a lightning strike near Diablo, Washington. As of September 28, the fire was 6,369 acres and 25% contained. Much of the greater area around Sourdough Camp is closed. After a long period of closure, on August 30, State Route 20 reopened to through traffic. Source: North Cascades National Park (7/29 - first report, second report, 7/30, 7/31, 8/30, 9/15), Inciweb, Idaho Statesman
On July 29, the Sourdough Fire was detected. It was started by a lightning strike near Diablo, Washington. Much of the greater area around Sourdough Camp was closed, but has now reopened. The fire is no longer considered active. It burned 6,369 acres. Source: North Cascades National Park (7/29 - first report, second report, 7/30, 7/31, 8/30, 9/15), Inciweb, Idaho Statesman
On October 12, two anglers found possible human remains inside a suitcase in a "remote area" of the park. The individuals told NPS staff about their discovery. The Whatcom County (WA) Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident and no other details have yet been released. Source: KATV
On July 23, the park closed Cascade River Road, Cascade Pass Trail, and the Johannesburg Cross-country Zone due to the nearby Pincher Two Fire, located on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Source: North Cascades National Park
On July 23, the park closed Cascade River Road, Cascade Pass Trail, and the Johannesburg Cross-country Zone due to the nearby Pincher Two Fire, located on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Source: North Cascades National Park On July 25, the town of Stehekin in Lake Ross National Recreation Area (part of the North Cascades Complex) evacuated all visitors due to a Level 2 order ("be ready to leave") for evacuation due to the Pioneer Fire. About 130 people left the area via ferry. The fire started on June 8 due to "undetermined" causes. On July 28, Stehekin Valley to High Bridge moved to Level 3 evacuation, requiring all residents to leave. As of July 30, it was 33,276 acres and 15% contained, with 732 personnel assigned. Source: The Wenatchee World, Inciweb, North Cascades National Park On August 3, the campground, raft launch, and picnic area at Goodell Creek were closed due to a wildfire started by an illegal campfire. It is known as the Goodell Fire. Source: North Cascades National Park On August 4, the park closed a number of new trails due to a new fire start, the Flat Creek Fire, located west of Stehekin on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. As of August 4, the fire was 5 acres and burning in "steep and rugged terrain." Source: North Cascades National Park
On July 23, the park closed Cascade River Road, Cascade Pass Trail, and the Johannesburg Cross-country Zone due to the nearby Pincer Two Fire, located on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Source: North Cascades National Park On July 25, the town of Stehekin in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (part of the North Cascades Complex) evacuated all visitors due to a Level 2 order ("be ready to leave") for evacuation due to the Pioneer Fire. About 130 people left the area via ferry. The fire started on June 8 about 18 miles down lake from Stehekin at Pioneer Creek due to "undetermined" causes. On July 28, Stehekin Valley to High Bridge moved to Level 3 evacuation, requiring all residents to leave. As of August 9, the fire had moved past the Stehekin landing toward the Stehekin RIver Valley. As of August 19, it was 38,727 acres and 23% contained, with 622 personnel assigned. Source: The Wenatchee World (7/25, 8/9), Inciweb, North Cascades National Park On August 3, the campground, raft launch, and picnic area at Goodell Creek were closed temporarily due to a wildfire started by an illegal campfire. It was known as the Goodell Fire. Source: North Cascades National Park, KIRO7 On August 4, the park closed a number of new trails due to a new fire start, the Flat Creek Fire, located west of Stehekin on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. As of August 18, the fire was 43 acres with 11 personnel assigned. Source: North Cascades National Park, Kitsap Sun On August 9, the Ruby Fire was discovered burning on the south side of Ruby Mountain in Ross Lake National Recreation Area (part of the North Cascades Complex). It is believed to be lightning-caused. On August 9, the park closed Colonial Creek South Campground and boat launch, the Diablo Lake area from State Route 20 to Thunder Creek, and nearby trails and backcountry camps. As of August 16, the fire was 500 acres and 0% contained, with 87 personnel assigned. Source: North Cascades National Park (8/9, 8/10, fire closure page), Inciweb On August 9, the Riprap Fire and Pierce Fire were caused by lightning. The Riprap Fire is burning on Sourdough Mountain. As of August 10, it was 0.1 acres. The Pierce Fire is burning on Pierce Mountain. As of August 10, it was estimated at 1 acre. Both fires were "supported with aerial delivered water throughout the day." Source: North Cascades National Park
On July 23, the park closed Cascade River Road, Cascade Pass Trail, and the Johannesburg Cross-country Zone due to the nearby Pincer Two Fire, located on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Source: North Cascades National Park On July 25, the town of Stehekin in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (part of the North Cascades Complex) evacuated all visitors due to a Level 2 order ("be ready to leave") for evacuation due to the Pioneer Fire. About 130 people left the area via ferry. The fire started on June 8 about 18 miles down lake from Stehekin at Pioneer Creek due to "undetermined" causes. On July 28, Stehekin Valley to High Bridge moved to Level 3 evacuation, requiring all residents to leave. On August 23, the evacuation notice for Stehekin was reduced to Level 1 ("there is a wildfire in the area"). As of August 28, it was 38,735 acres and 23% contained, with 401 personnel assigned. Source: The Wenatchee World (7/25, 8/9), Inciweb, North Cascades National Park (Fire Closures page, 8/23 press release) On August 4, the park closed a number of trails due to the Flat Creek Fire, located west of Stehekin on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. As of August 29, the fire was 100% contained. Source: North Cascades National Park, Kitsap Sun, Watch Duty On August 9, the Ruby Fire was discovered burning on the south side of Ruby Mountain in Ross Lake National Recreation Area (part of the North Cascades Complex). It is believed to be lightning-caused. On August 9, the park closed Colonial Creek South Campground and boat launch, the Diablo Lake area from State Route 20 to Thunder Creek, and nearby trails and backcountry camps. As of September 2, the fire was 959 acres and 0% contained, with 50 personnel assigned. Source: North Cascades National Park (8/9, 8/10, fire closure page), Inciweb
On August 3, park staff found an abandoned car at the Hannegan trailhead with all its windows rolled down and the wallet of a 39-year-old sitting on the dashboard. A dog was found eight miles down the trail, later identified as belonging to the individual. A search was started, and eye witnesses stated they saw the hiker near the Chilliwack River without any overnight supplies on July 31. Ground and air searches were conducted for several weeks. On August 30, a Pacific Northwest Trail Association trail crew heard the individual calling for help in Chilliwack Basin. The team called for a helicopter, which used short-haul techniques to transport them to a waiting ambulance. He was taken to United General Hospital in Sedro-Wooley, Washington. The individual was said to be "uninjured," but "weak from malnourishment." They said that they had hiked that trail before, but the river crossing had changed since their last excursion, leading to them getting disoriented. Source: Cascadia Daily News, USA Today, KPLC
On July 23, the park closed Cascade River Road, Cascade Pass Trail, and the Johannesburg Cross-country Zone due to the nearby Pincer Two Fire, located on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. As of September 16, they remain closed. Source: North Cascades National Park (current conditions) On July 25, the town of Stehekin in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (part of the North Cascades Complex) evacuated all visitors due to a Level 2 order ("be ready to leave") for evacuation due to the Pioneer Fire. About 130 people left the area via ferry. The fire started on June 8 about 18 miles down lake from Stehekin at Pioneer Creek due to "undetermined" causes. On July 28, Stehekin Valley to High Bridge moved to Level 3 evacuation, requiring all residents to leave. On August 23, the evacuation notice for Stehekin was reduced to Level 1 ("there is a wildfire in the area"). As of September 8, it was 38,735 acres and 23% contained, with 401 personnel assigned. Source: The Wenatchee World (7/25, 8/9), Inciweb, North Cascades National Park (Fire Closures page, 8/23 press release) On August 9, the Ruby Fire was discovered burning on the south side of Ruby Mountain in Ross Lake National Recreation Area (part of the North Cascades Complex). It is believed to be lightning-caused. On August 9, the park closed Colonial Creek South Campground and boat launch, the Diablo Lake area from State Route 20 to Thunder Creek, and nearby trails and backcountry camps. As of September 16, the fire was 1,300 acres and 0% contained, with 42 personnel assigned. Source: North Cascades National Park (8/9, 8/10, fire closure page), Inciweb
On July 23, the park closed Cascade River Road, Cascade Pass Trail, and the Johannesburg Cross-country Zone due to the nearby Pincer Two Fire, located on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. On September 18, the Cascade River Road and Cascade Pass Trail reopened. As of September 30, the Johannesburg Cross-country Zone remains closed. Source: North Cascades National Park (current conditions) On August 9, the Ruby Fire was discovered burning on the south side of Ruby Mountain in Ross Lake National Recreation Area (part of the North Cascades Complex). It is believed to be lightning-caused. As of September 24, there were closures on the Fourth of July Trail, Panther Creek Trail, the Thunder Creek Trail north of Junction camps, seven backcountry camps, and the Ruby Cross-country Zone. As of September 23, the fire was 1,336 acres and 0% contained, with 12 personnel assigned. Source: North Cascades National Park (8/9, 8/10, fire closure page), Inciweb | |