Pinnacles |  |
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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Thursday, October 19, 1989 The following is the text of the briefing prepared for the Secretary this morning. It is based on current reports from Phil Ward and Capt. Clayton Connor in RAD/WRO and Doug Erskine in BFM/Boise: Overview Shortly after the earthquake struck California on the night of October 17th, the Washington Office began efforts to determine the impact the quake had on parks in central California and to ascertain what equipment, services or funding would be needed there. Although reports are still incomplete due to difficulties in communicating with both parks and the regional office, which is located in downtown San Francisco, it has been determined that no National Park Service employees or visitors were killed or injured by the quake and no major damage occurred in the parks. The Federal interagency fire management community, including the National Park Service, has committed pertinent fire resources to the relief effort. The National Interagency Fire Coordinating Center (NIFCC) in Boise is operating on a 24-hour basis and is prepared to fill resource orders immediately. A Multi-Agency Coordination Group (MAC) has been established in Sacramento. Fire overhead teams, qualified specialists, equipment and supplies will be provided as needed. All personnel in the United States Park Police contingent in San Francisco are on 12-hour shifts; days off and leave have been cancelled. In addition to routine patrol activities, they have increased patrols in the Fort Mason area and are assisting the city's police department with traffic control in the heavily damaged Marina District. Pinnacles National Monument The superintendent of Pinnacles, which is about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco and the closest NPS unit to the quake's epicenter, reports that the park is undamaged. The only direct impacts of the quake were electrical outages and a leak in an LPG tank which was quickly shut off. The park is providing water to local residents from its 50,000 gallon water storage tank.
The following is the text of the brief prepared for the Secretary this morning. It is based on current reports from Phil Ward and Holly Bundock of WRO: Overview Except for NPS facilities along San Francisco's waterfront, all parks in the areas affected by Tuesday's quake are now open. A team of six NPS engineers from the Denver Service Center is in the process of assessing earthquake damage to Cliff House, lower Fort Mason, Fort Point, the Hyde Street Pier, and Alcatraz Island; until their work is complete, those areas will remain closed. Pinnacles National Monument Although the park was unscathed, there was heavy damage to structures and facilities in the nearby town of Hollister, where many park employees reside. The regional office is attempting to determine if any employees suffered personal losses as a result of the quake.
On the evening of the 4th, S.E., 29, of Fresno, and K.M., 37, showed up at a park residence and asked an employee's spouse for medical assistance. The pair had apparently received caustic burns while engaged in the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamines. The two fled when paramedics were called, but were apprehended outside the park. S.E. and K.M. were arraigned on the 6th and charged with assault with caustic chemicals (upon each other), disposal of hazardous waste with injury, disposal of hazardous waste, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of a concealed weapon. San Benito County is continuing the investigation with assistance from the NPS and BLM. (Ed Carlson, CR, PINN, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 6/6).
Late on the afternoon of March 26th, climbers B. and D.K. of Grants Pass, Oregon, were rappelling down the Twinkle Toes route on Machete Ridge following a climb of that peak. Since the climbers only had a relatively short rope, they rappelled half way down to an unfamiliar ledge, then set up another rappel point there. D.K. descended without trouble, but B.K. fell 80 feet into a boulder field when the rock horn anchor point came loose. D.K. went for help and notified park rangers Mike Morales and Dan Jarmillo at a nearby campground in early evening. The two rangers responded and called for King City medics and a MAST helicopter from Fort Ord. The rescuers carried B.K. a half mile to the waiting helicopter, which flew him to a hospital in Salinas. B.K. is in stable condition with several broken bones, a dislocated patella, a severely lacerated leg and internal injuries. [Bill Lester, PINN, via telefax from Kathy Clark, RAD/WRO, 3/27]
The U.S. Geological Service notified the park yesterday that the area around Pinnacles is under a 72-hour earthquake advisory. The advisory was based on information gathered from the extensive earth movement monitoring system located on the San Andreas Fault in the Parkfield area south of the park. A quake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale took place early yesterday at that location. The park has advised visitors of possible hazards from rockfalls, but has not closing any areas. [Superintendent, PINN, 10/20]
The heavy rains which have fallen along the West Coast since the middle of last week have had significant impacts on at least three parks; additional reports are anticipated: * Pinnacles (California) - There has been significant flooding due to rain and runoff on both the east and west sides of the park. On the east side, the visitor center has been sandbagged to protect it from rising water, several garages have been flooded, and three feet of water was reported over the road leading to the headquarters building. The park's only campground, which is on the west side, is flooded and closed. A slide across the access road about three miles outside the park has cut off road travel to the west side. Both portions of the park are essentially closed to public use and there are no visitors in the park. Non-essential employees have been sent home. [Brian Smith, YOSE; Bill Lester, CR, PINN; Carl Christensen, WRO; Larry Nickey, EOC, OLYM; 3/10-3/12]
Additional reports of damage from the severe storms of the past few days have been received: * Pinnacles (California) - The park will remain closed until a full assessment of storm damage is completed. It's possible that part of the area will be opened this weekend. Overflowing streams and rock slides have closed portions of monument roads in both the east and west districts. Employees placed sandbags around the Bear Gulch visitor center to divert fast-flowing water away from it. Many large trees have toppled, road and trail bridges are damaged, and large sections of the park's trail system have been swept away. The bridge crossing Chalone Creek sustained a hole around the abutment about nine feet deep and eight feet across. Federal highway engineers are in the park to assess possible structural damage to the bridge. A rock slide in the administrative area buried a residential cabin to the window level. On the west side, Juniper Canyon creek overflowed its banks, established a new channel, and flooded Chaparral campground. At least five of the 18 campsites have been lost, and a portion of the parking lot was undermined. Park personnel placed sandbags to protect their residences from rising water from the west fork of Chalone creek. Numerous sewer and utility lines are exposed on both sides of the park. [Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO; Joe Lusa, CM, REDW; Don Neubacher, Superintendent, PORE; Jack Fitzgerald, CR, CHIS; Phyllis Shaw, JOMU; Leticia Ruiz, Acting Superintendent, PINN; Tom Tschohl, SEKI]
Additional reports have been received from parks struck by last week's storm: * Pinnacles (California) - Both state highways to the park remain closed and may not open until after the weekend. The park therefore remains closed. [Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO; Don Neubacher, Superintendent, PORE; Gary Candelaria, PINN; 3/14-15]
On the evening of July 30th, park employee Dave Larabe was approaching the entrance of the park when he came up behind a white pickup truck which was weaving down the road. When the vehicles arrived at the park entrance, the pickup pulled to the side and Larabe drove past and continued to his residence. When he pulled into his driveway, the pickup pulled in behind him and the driver got out. He approached Larabe and asked him if he worked in the park. When Larabe replied in the affirmative, the man punched him above the left eye, then got back into his truck and drove away. Larabe suffered a gash over his eye which took five stitches. The park has begun an investigation in an effort to find Larabe's assailant. [Bill Lester, PINN]
An investigation into the July 30th assault on park employee Dave Larabe conducted by ranger Michael Durfee led to the identification of both the vehicle and the suspect involved in the assault. The suspect, J.C., a local rancher, was interviewed at his residence and provided a statement implicating him in the assault. J.C. has a past criminal record for assault and mayhem. The case will be presented to the local DA for prosecution. [Bill Lester, PINN]
Steven Debenedetti, 47, the park's resource management specialist and fire management officer, died of cancer on August 11th. He was born and raised on Concord, California, and graduated from UC-Berkeley with a BS in conservation of natural resources and a BA in political science. He received his masters in watershed management from Humboldt State University. He began working in the NPS at Yosemite in 1972, then worked at Sequoia-Kings Canyon before moving to Pinnacles in 1984. Major projects and studies he initiated at Pinnacles included rock climbing impacts on wilderness areas, feral pig eradication, trespass and cattle fencing, revegetation, and air resources monitoring. He is survived by his wife, Jolene Wright, and daughter, Anna. Private services were held in Gilroy, California. Those wishing to make a donation in his memory should send a contribution to the American Cancer Society, 1715 South Bascom Avenue, Suite 100, Campbell, CA 95008, or to the National Park Foundation, 1101 17th Street, Northwest, Suite 1102, Washington, DC 20036-4704. Please indicate if your donation should go to Pinnacles. Condolences should be sent to Jolene Wright-Debenedetti, PO Box 566, San Juan Batista, CA 95045. The park plans on presenting his wife with a photo album in memory of Steve. If you would like to contribute any photographs, letters or stories about him, please forward them to Leticia Ruiz at Pinnacles NM, 5000 Highway 146, Paicines, CA 95043. September 9th has been tentatively set for a gathering of friends. If you have any questions, please call the park at 408-389-4485. [Gary Candelaria, Superintendent, PINN]
The strong storm which struck the Pacific coast from California to Washington on Tuesday produced very heavy rains and winds of near hurricane force, with gusts at some locations exceeding 100 mph. Reports on the storm's impacts have been received from several parks: * Pinnacles - The park has been experiencing high winds and heavy rain since Monday. The east side of the park was without power for most of Tuesday, but there has been no damage to resources or structures. Some branches are down, but there have been no major tree or limb falls. Both east and west sides of the park are open and fully functional. [J.R. Tomasovic, IC, GOGA; Andy Ringgold, Superintendent, REDW; Curt Sauer, OLYM; Gary Candelaria, Superintendent, PINN; Superintendent, EUON]
Climbers C.C. and M.S. finished an ascent of the 700-foot Machete Direct route on Machete Ridge just before dark on February 18th. They decided to rappel down the route in the dark rather than use the descent gully. Rocks broke away under C.C.'s feet, causing him to tumble over backwards. He slid down his rappel rope about 40 feet before his safety prussik arrested his descent and he was able to reach a ledge. His right knee was injured in the fall. M.S. rappelled down to him; they then doubled their ropes and rappelled down a single line to the ground. Rangers Andy Artz, Alan Cline, Paul Biddle, John Portillo and park medic Gerry Reynolds stabilized C.C., then transported him to the parking lot. The pair left in their own vehicle and drove to Salinas hospital for treatment. Both climbers were very experienced. C.C. said he'd climbed El Capitan in Yosemite over 20 times. Apparently they had only one headlamp between them, though. [Gerry Reynolds, Acting CR, PINN]
Eight visitors from Hollister, California, most of them juveniles, headed out for a five-mile, round-trip night hike to Balconies Caves around 8 p.m. on the evening of April 13th. The members of the group, who had only one flashlight among them, lost the main route through the caves and became stranded on a ledge above the center section of the caves. Three of them attempted to climb down into the caves to reach the trail; all three slid and fell about 30 feet. One of them, a 15-year-old female, suffered a compound fracture to her left lower leg and became soaked in the creek that ran alongside the trail. The other two suffered only minor injuries. Parkmedic Reynolds and EMTs Cuevas and Artz splinted and backboarded the victim, then extricated her from the caves with the assistance of rangers and bystanders. Rangers Artz and Paiva employed ropes to help the other members of the group regain the trail, after which all parties hiked out to the trailhead. [Gerry Reynolds, Acting CR, PINN]
Additional reports have been received regarding the impacts of the series of unusually strong winter storms that have struck or are striking the country: Pinnacles NM (CA) - A major storm dropped six inches of rain on the park in less than 12 hours on February 3rd. Around 6 a.m., a wall of water churned down Chalone Creek and Bear Gulch, the major drainages in the park, causing significant damage to facilities and utilities in both districts. Chapparal campground was heavily damaged in the West District; the CCC-era Chalone Creek bridge in the East District was destroyed. The storm also knocked out power and phones throughout San Benito and Monterey counties and caused major flooding, washouts, landslides and damage to several state highways, all of which provide access to the park. Highway 25 south of Hollister may be closed for up to eight months. Park residences and offices are currently without power, phones or water, and are cut off by state road closures and the collapsed Chalone Creek bridge. The chief ranger was stranded in his residence on the west side of the creek for some time. Park headquarters and the superintendent's house are also isolated and can't be reached. Eleven permanent and seasonal employees and family members spent the night in their dark and isolated homes. Park employees living on surrounding ranches were also without utilities and were isolated by road closures. On the morning of February 4th, the park's facility manager and other staff living outside of Pinnacles reached the Chalone Creek park residence area via high-clearance 4WD vehicles. Due to the continued lack of utilities and drinking water and the forecast for more heavy rains throughout the weekend, all residents were evacuated to King City, 35 miles to the south, where they are being lodged in a motel. The park is closed and will remain so until highway access is restored and emergency utility and bridge repairs can be made. The superintendent has established a temporary office in the regional office. All staff are safe and no buildings or residences have been damaged to this point, but the campground and park water, phone, road, and utility systems have all been heavily damaged. Park staff, with the assistance of regional and FHA specialists, will begin assessing the damage and planning repairs after the current storm system moves through. Reports from other parks that have also been significantly affected by these storms would be appreciated. [Norm Dodge, CR, ACAD, 2/6; Constantine Dillon, Superintendent, Fire Island NS, 2/6; Bryan Swift, CR, LAVO, 2/6; Bob Martin, CR, REDW, 2/6; Gary Candelaria, Superintendent, PINN, 2/7; Greg Stiles, SHEN, 2/6]
The park remains closed to the public and will likely be closed until the middle of March. Last week, the park's management team, functioning as an incident command team, directed park staff in a number of activities, including cleaning culverts, securing buildings, and shoring up undermined roads and a levee protecting the Chalone Creek housing area. Despite being hampered by heavily damaged state highways, intermittent rain, shortages of rock for road and levee repairs and shortages of equipment, maintenance and repair crews were able to stabilize the situation on the east side of the park. The Chalone Creek bridge has been destroyed, and it may take a month to install a temporary bridge. Federal Highways Administration experts visited the park last week and estimated that it may take 18 months to design and build a permanent replacement bridge. The west side of the park has been checked, and damage has been photographed and recorded. It has not been possible to move equipment into the area to clean or repair roads or facilities due to road conditions on the state highway to that location, but the situation appears to have stabilized, with little additional erosion or undercutting. Repair work may begin here later this week, depending on conditions and the availability of materials. State highway crews are working hard to repair roads and keep them open. State and park crews have worked together on Highway 146 to ensure access to the park, but Highway 25 remains closed between Paicines and Hollister due to a two-mile gap in the highway which may take as along as a year to repair. A small country road with three one-lane bridges may provide the only northern access route during that time. Most park residents returned to their homes in Chalone Creek on Monday. The incident command team is located in a motel in King City, and the park administrative division is occupying space in BLM's Hollister Resource Area headquarters. Although cc:Mail is down, park staff can be reached at the following numbers: ICS team, 408-385-4843, room 31; administration, 408-630-5016. Mail should still be addressed to the park, as the post office will deliver it to the temporary office in Hollister. If conditions allow, temporary park headquarters will reopen in the park on February 23rd. The administrative division, however, will remain in Hollister until the Bear Gulch headquarters can be reopened, perhaps on March 2nd. [Gary Candelaria, Superintendent, PINN, 2/17]
Reports have been received from two parks that have suffered serious impacts from the storms of the last two months: Pinnacles NM (CA) - The incident command center closed on February 22nd. The park's temporary headquarters is now at Chalone Creek in a vacant residence trailer. All park residents have returned home, but the chief ranger and superintendent are living in houses without water and the superintendent's house is without heat. The park remains closed to visitors and will probably not reopen until late March or early April. State highways on both sides of the park are still closed and awaiting repairs. FHA plans to remove the destroyed bridge over Chalone Creek and begin installing a temporary bridge this week. Particular attention will be paid to avoiding impacts to the endangered California red-legged frog populations at the bridge site. A temporary water line is also being installed to serve the Bear Gulch developed area. Clean-up and damage assessments are continuing. Assistance has been received from Yosemite, the regional office, the system support office and Denver Service Center. Damage and emergency response costs have been placed at $1.92 million; costs to replace the bridge will add another $1.16 million. This is the third major flood in the park in two decades. The park is accordingly developing plans to relocate facilities from vulnerable streambed locations as part of the recovery package. Reports from other parks that have also been significantly affected by these storms would be appreciated. [Scot McElveen, Acting CR, DEVA, 2/26; Gary Candelaria, Superintendent, PINN, 2/27]
Sometime during the morning hours of May 4th, thieves broke into the East District ranger's office. They attempted to enter the federal fee safes without success, but managed to pry open the hinge side of a weapons security locker and made off with several weapons. They also pried open the top off the honor system fee pipe safe outside the visitor center, but apparently found little or no money within. The thieves then broke into the superintendent's office, but it appears that they took nothing. The San Benito sheriff's office is leading the investigation and being assisted by rangers and USPP investigators. [Mark Igo, CR, PINN, 5/26]
Rangers noted a vehicle in the Chaparral parking lot past closing hours on the evening of March 8th. Park raptor monitor Monique Imberski reported having seen two climbers on the Machete Ridge climbing route that day; rangers Robert Baker and Carl Brenner soon located the young couple on the face of the ridge. They had continued their climb toward the top even as darkness approached and soon found themselves without light and unable to descend. They were wearing only light clothing, and temperatures were already dropping into the 40s, with a significant wind chill. The rangers provided them with lights. Baker then talked the pair safely down through various pitches over a period of seven hours. The couple stopped on a ledge around midnight, and it appeared that rangers were going to have to climb to them. Members of a climbing team were accordingly staged, but the two climbers were able to make the final descent and hike out. They showed some signs of hypothermia but were otherwise uninjured. [Mark Igo, CR, PINN, 3/9]
On March 4th, ranger Robert Baker saw a black Saab pass through the park entrance station without stopping to pay the required entrance fee. During the contact with the operator, Charles Andree, 51, Baker smelled the strong odor of marijuana. When asked for drugs, Andree produced several partially smoked marijuana cigarettes. An open travel bag with a large amount of marijuana (218 grams) was seen on the floor near the passenger, R.F., 43. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of another 400 grams of marijuana, 14 grams of hashish, $1,650 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. Andree and R.F. were each arrested on a misdemeanor and three felony counts. The minimum amount of marijuana that the local U.S. Attorney's Office will prosecute is 100 kilos, so the case has been transferred to San Benito county for prosecution in the state system. The two men were held on $41,000 bond. [Gerry Reynolds, DR, West District, PINN, 3/19]
Ranger Richard Banuelos received a report of an injured climber on the "Tourist Trap" route on Saturday, July 22nd. Ranger/EMT Don Gauvreau responded and found W.A. of Menlo Park on a ledge, semi-conscious and suffering from severe head trauma. W.A. had fallen about 20 feet, striking his head just below his helmet. W.A. was lowered 25 feet to the base of the cliff with the help of his fellow climbers, including his brother. A team comprised of park staff and CDF firefighters transported W.A. to an ambulance, then taken to a helicopter that flew him to Valley Medical Center. At the time of the report, he was in critical condition with severe inter-cranial swelling. [Jerry Case, CR, PINN, 7/24]
On July 27th, W.A., 22, died from injuries suffered in a 30-foot fall from the popular "Tourist Trap" climbing route on July 22nd. W.A. was wearing a helmet, but received a blow to the back of his head just below his helmet line. The injury produced severe inter-cranial swelling. [Jerry Case, CR, PINN, 8/9]
While closing up at 9:30 p.m. on April 30th, ranger Shawn Murphy came upon an unattended vehicle in the Chaparral parking lot in the West District. Murphy recognized the vehicle as belonging to local resident Dr. D.G. D.G. is well known to district staff as a hiker who frequently explores off-trail, but always returns to his vehicle well before dark. D.G. had left a note on the vehicle, saying that he was headed to Resurrection Wall. Murphy knew that the 80-year-old D.G. has had two knee replacement operations, so began a hasty search of the Resurrection Wall area. Murphy made voice contact with D.G. around 10 p.m. and found that the doctor was stranded on a ledge about 25 feet above the base of the wall. Several rangers from the East District arrived shortly thereafter and helped establish a staging area. Ranger Neal Labrie climbed up to D.G. and lowered him to the base of the wall. D.G. was uninjured. He had evidently gotten stuck on the ledge when attempting to reach his dropped backpack. When he found that he was stranded, he chose to stay put and await help. Increased visitation this spring has brought with it a noticeable increase in SAR and EMS incidents. [Neal Labrie, DR, East District, PINN, 5/3]
K.H., 31, of Fairfax, California, fell about 25 feet while climbing near the Rat Race route in the Tourist Trap climbing area on Saturday, May 5th. K.H. struck the back of his head, knocking himself unconscious. During the fall, he became entangled in excess rope, so he also sustained severe rope burns to the back of both legs. Ranger Neal Labrie climbed about 30 feet to K.H.'s position on an exposed ledge. K.H. had by that time regained consciousness, but was disoriented. After treating K.H.'s injuries, Labrie performed a solo pick-off to lower him to waiting paramedics and air transport to San Jose Valley Medical Center, where he was treated and released. Assistance was provided by CDF, American Medical Response and Calstar II Air Ambulance. This was the second technical rescue in a week and the second major climbing accident in the Tourist Trap area in the past year. [Neal Labrie, DR, PINN, 6/18]
Over the past month, rangers have noticed an increase in mountain lion sign and vocalizations along the Old Pinnacles Trail. On the night of March 31st, a ranger patrolling the trail alone heard movement on the hillside above him, followed by the sound of a large animal running down the hillside in his direction. Turning his flashlight on, he saw that the animal was a medium-sized mountain lion. The ranger's flashlight then faded and died. He tried to yell but unfortunately was hoarse from a cold and could barely speak above a whisper. He drew his pistol and, when the lion closed to within five yards, fired a round into the hillside between them. The lion veered off and continued across the trail ahead of the ranger into the brush of a creek bottom. The ranger backed down the trail, covering the area where he could hear the cat moving along the creek bed. The cat followed the ranger for about 300 yards, then disappeared. Ten days later, a resource management employee hiking the same trail at midday reported what she believed to be a mountain lion growling at her from the brush. Rangers have posted educational and safety information regarding mountain lions at trailheads in response to these incidents. [Jerry Case, PINN, 4/15]
On the afternoon of September 23, park staff responded to a report of two people suffering from dehydration on the High Peaks trail on the park's east side. G.H., 83, and his wife, B.H., 79, had begun their hike from the Moses Spring parking lot at 8:30 a.m. The hike brought them to the Scout Peak area, a trek that includes a 1,300-foot elevation gain over about two miles. The mid-day high temperature hit 106 degrees, and the H.s had only a soda and a small snack over the course of the day. At 3:30 p.m., a visitor contacted rangers and told them that two elderly people were suffering heat problems on the High Peaks trail. Ranger Kyle Johnson accompanied him up the trail. They first encountered G.H., who was in stable but serious condition, then continued another half mile up the trail to B.H.. Within a few minutes of their arrival, she went into cardiac arrest and Johnson began CPR. Ranger Eduardo Alfaro had meanwhile reached G.H. and begun treating him for severe heat exhaustion and preparing him for evacuation. California Division of Forestry personnel joined the rangers and began assisting with evacuation and medical care. After over an hour of no cardiac function, medics and life flight nurses were able to temporarily restore B.H.'s pulse, but she succumbed during her flight to the hospital. G.H. was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was treated and released in the evening. Nineteen park staff members from all divisions participated in the operation. This was the second major heat-related case in the park within three weeks. [Submitted by Neal Labrie, DR, East District, PINN]
On the afternoon of March 21st, a member of the park's trail crew
reported that a fence-building contractor had been injured while working
along the northwest boundary. J.M. apparently tore the ACL in
his right knee while carrying fence pickets down a steep grade. Due to
the remote location and extremely rugged terrain, it took park rescue
personnel two-and-a-half hours to reach J.M., who was about three
miles out from the crew's wilderness spike camp. An alternative
evacuation route was chosen for the carryout that required a mile of
off-trail travel through thick chaparral and four miles of travel on the
unmaintained North Wilderness trail. The primary response team was
joined by a second team comprised of employees from all park divisions
around 9:30 p.m. The rescue took over 13 hours and the assistance of
more than 15 members of the park's staff. This was the longest known
carryout (9 miles) in park history.
On Wednesday, March 31st, rangers received a report of a fallen and
unconscious climber in Fern Grotto. Climber M.S. and belayer
S.F. believed that they were following the Portent route on
Discovery Wall, but started to climb back down after realizing that they
were mistaken. As they were retreating, M.S. slipped off rock about
five feet above his last piece of protection, an Alien one-inch cam. The
cam came out and M.S. tumbled approximately 30 feet to the ground and
was knocked unconscious. A nearby hiker ran down a trail to report
the fall to rangers. Responding park EMTs and First Responders assessed
M.S., applied a cervical collar, reduced and splinted an open fracture
of his left humerus, and packaged him in a litter. Eighteen staff
members and on-scene volunteers raced to evacuate the litter to the
trailhead. M.S. was then driven to the helipad, loaded into a CALSTAR
helicopter and flown to San Jose Medical Center. His injuries included a
concussion, open fracture of the left humerus, seven cracked ribs in the
front, five cracked ribs in the back, and a collapsed and punctured
lung. M.S. was put on a ventilator to assist his breathing. Two
four-inch-long metal plates and six screws were used to piece his
humerus back together. Had he not been wearing a helmet, his head
injuries would undoubtedly have been much worse. Staff members from
every division in the monument participated in the incident.
On the afternoon of Sunday, February 6th, three BASE jumps leapt
sequentially from the middle tier of Balconies Cliffs, an ecologically
sensitive area currently under visitor advisories for nesting prairie
falcons, peregrine falcons and golden eagles. The park raptor monitor
witnessed the jumps, as well as extreme disturbance to raptors in their
nesting territories as a result of the sounds and motions of the
deploying parachutes. The jumps were also seen by a ranger who was on
the Balconies Cliffs trail almost directly underneath the BASE jumpers.
The jumpers, later identified as D.D., 26, R.V., 34,
and B.C., 26, were immediately apprehended at the talus base of
the Balconies Cliffs in an area closed to visitors due to revegetation
efforts. All three were issued mandatory appearance citations for air
delivery and were released after their equipment was seized as evidence.
Numerous other charges are pending. Glenn Yanagi is the case
ranger.
Maintenance employee John Osborne, 48, was struck and killed while attempting to cross Highway 101 near Salinas, California, just after 9 p.m. on August 4th. He was declared dead at the scene. Osborne worked in buildings and utilities on the west side of the park. Since he was the only maintenance employee in that area, he was responsible for all manner of maintenance tasks. He spent 16 years at Pinnacles National Monument and a total of 23 years in federal service, including time in the Marine Corps and at Point Reyes and Lassen Volcanic. [Dana Sullivan, Protection Operations Supervisor]
Over the weekend of May 3rd and 4th, Pinnacles staff dealt with several incidents, including a wildfire and two motorcycle accidents resulting in one fatality. On Saturday, May 3rd, supervisory ranger Dana Sullivan responded to a wildland fire at the Pinnacles campground. California Department of Forestry firefighters assisted with suppressing the fire, which burned about a quarter acre. The fire was evidently caused by a 13-year-old boy playing with matches. Later that day, Sullivan and rangers Brett Hergert and Sara Bartels responded to a motorcycle accident along Highway 25 and assisted the California Highway Patrol with managing the scene and providing EMS to an adult male who'd lost control of his Harley Davidson motorcycle and hit a speed limit sign. The rider had to be evacuated by air ambulance to the local trauma center. On Sunday, May 4th, while investigating the previous day's wildland fire, the three rangers responded to an agency request for assistance for another motorcycle accident on Highway 25 adjacent to the park. A man lost control of his motorcycle, went off the road, and crashed. Sullivan and Hergert were first on scene and provided EMS care to an extremely combative patient suffering from an apparent head trauma. The rider was flown out to the local trauma center, where he expired the following day. [Submitted by Albert Faria, Chief Ranger]
Over the weekend of May 3rd and 4th, Pinnacles staff dealt with several incidents, including a wildfire and two motorcycle accidents resulting in one fatality. On Saturday, May 3rd, supervisory ranger Dana Sullivan responded to a wildland fire at the Pinnacles campground. California Department of Forestry firefighters assisted with suppressing the fire, which burned about a quarter acre. The fire was evidently caused by a 13-year-old boy playing with matches. Later that day, Sullivan and rangers Brett Hergert and Sara Bartels responded to a motorcycle accident along Highway 25 and assisted the California Highway Patrol with managing the scene and providing EMS to an adult male who'd lost control of his Harley Davidson motorcycle and hit a speed limit sign. The rider had to be evacuated by air ambulance to the local trauma center. On Sunday, May 4th, while investigating the previous day's wildland fire, the three rangers responded to an agency request for assistance for another motorcycle accident on Highway 25 adjacent to the park. A man lost control of his motorcycle, went off the road, and crashed. Sullivan and Hergert were first on scene and provided EMS care to an extremely combative patient suffering from an apparent head trauma. The rider was flown out to the local trauma center, where he expired the following day. [Albert Faria, Chief Ranger]
On the night of March 18th, rangers investigated a report that a car had gone over the edge of Bear Gulch Road on the east side of the park. An SUV was found below the road - unoccupied, with its airbags deployed. The SUV struck a pine tree on the hillside, which kept it from landing in a creek bed 100 feet below. The passenger was found in the campground and taken by ambulance to a medical facility. Investigation revealed that the driver was fleeing from rangers to avoid prosecution and that he was injured. Search dogs were called in, along with a San Benito County canine unit. The driver was eventually found as friends attempted to drive him to the hospital. He was arrested and has been charged with a number of offenses, including felony DUI. [Brett Hergert, Operations Supervisor]
On Tuesday, July 7th, rangers from Pinnacles National Monument assisted the Bureau of Land Management and local law enforcement agencies in raiding three different marijuana growing operations near the park in southern San Benito County. This is the second operation this year, and one of many in the past three years in which the National Park Service has participated as part of the interagency task force. The monument has established agreements with the Bureau of Land Management and the San Benito County Sheriff's Office that enable rangers and deputies to work cooperatively in eradicating growing operations on all federal and local lands within the county. During Tuesday's operation, rangers and officers located 32,188 plants with a potential street value of $6.6 million. Participating were 35 officers from the sheriff's office, the San Jose Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, the San Jose Drug Enforcement Agency Drug Task Force, the California Department of Fish and Game, the National Park Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Land Management. The plants were initially located during aerial flyovers with the National Guard. [Brett Hergert, Operations Supervisor]
On the evening of November 15th, park staff assisted two climbers down from a climbing route after they had become stranded due to nightfall. Both climbers were uninjured. The climbers were able to place a cell phone call to a friend around 6 p.m. after they could no longer climb in darkness. They were near the top of a 500-foot route on the Condor Crag formation in the High Peaks area of the park. The climbers were in different locations on the route and could not complete the final 100 feet without additional light. Rangers contacted the party via cell phone and determined their location and condition before the phone battery was exhausted. With an overnight forecast of 25 degrees Fahrenheit and gusting winds, rangers and search and rescue team members were dispatched to climb to their location. The crew of a California Highway Patrol helicopter located the pair using infrared radar and a powerful "Night Sun" floodlight. Assisted by monument staff, the climbers then completed the route and descent. By the time they got down at 1 a.m. they'd been on the route for 14 hours. [Brett Hergert, Operations Supervisor]
On September 3rd, rangers responded to a request for assistance from a San Benito County Sheriff's Department deputy who had observed two drug traffickers cultivating a marijuana garden on a nearby ranch. Ranger Jason Gigliotti joined the deputy and confirmed his observation. Ranger Mike Brindeiro then arrived and secured the area with the assistance of a California Fish and Game warden. Two people who were in the plantation fled upon the officers' arrival. The gardens contained about 1500 plants and a processing station with several bags full of processed marijuana. An intensive search for the two suspects was conducted, but neither was found. [Albert M. Faria, Chief Ranger]
On Wednesday, May 11th, three people broke into an unoccupied park residence on the west side of the park. They'd left the Bear Gulch area "to see the caves" early in the afternoon, but, instead of heading towards the caves, they mistakenly hiked into the high peaks area of the park, then knowingly followed signs away from their vehicle because the trail led downhill and they would otherwise have had to walk some uphill sections to get back to their vehicle. The trio arrived on the west side to find no visitors or staff in the area. They proceeded to break into the residence to send a text message to family members in an attempt to get a ride home. Ranger Giasone Gigliotti arrived home to find the three leaving his residence through the back door, just as ranger Roberto Cruz was traveling through the area on patrol. All three were detained and cited for trespass and one who was on parole was cited for possession of a controlled substance. Further charges may be pending. [Chief Rangers Office]
A fire began on July 28 off Highway 146 near the West Pinnacles Visitor Contact Station. By July 31, it was 100% contained at 171 acres. The west entrance of the park and all hiking trails that lead to the west side closed temporarily and are now open. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Source: East Bay Times, Cal Fire
From November 7-10, the NPS closed Balconies Caves for an extensive graffiti removal project. News media did not specify when the graffiti had appeared. The park reported that the project would take over 100 personnel hours, utilizing over 500 pounds of equipment. Source: Miami Herald
On April 17, a hiker suffered a leg injury. H-70, a helicopter with the California Highway Patrol Coastal Division Air Operations, was able to hoist the hiker from the trail and deliver them to a ground ambulance crew. Source: KSBW (including video from the helicopter)
A series of lightning strikes hit the region around the park on September 9, causing a wildfire near the High Peaks. The park was closed for emergency response. The same day, the park was able to contain the fire and reopen the park. Source: BenitoLink
On December 1, the park announced that it has suspended shuttle services due to "unexpectedly losing" both its shuttle drivers. The park clarified that they were lost as employees and no deaths were involved. Applications for positions will open soon. Source: SFGate
On September 27, a fire started near the campground. As of September 27, it was 17 acres and 50% contained. The cause is under investigation. Source: CalFire, BenitoLink | |