NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date: Wednesday, June 24, 1998 

INCIDENTS

98-309 - Great Smoky Mountains (NC/TN) - Follow-up on Shooting of Ranger

The memorial service for ranger Joe Kolodski will be held at 11:30 a.m. on
Thursday, June 25th, at the First Baptist Church of Bryson City, North
Carolina.  The church has limited seating, so entry during the 45-minute
service will be limited to family, close friends, and National Park Service
personnel, with first preference for seating being provided for staffs at
Great Smoky Mountains NP and Blue Ridge Parkway.  Delegations of NPS
personnel from throughout the Service are also expected, as well as broad
representation from the law enforcement and EMS communities.  To accommodate
this overflow, arrangements have been made for a large tent with 400 chairs
to be erected adjacent to the church and equipped with closed-circuit
television.  Immediately following the service, a public visitation will be
held inside the church.  A private service will be held subsequently at Joe's
hometown in Pennsylvania, so no motorcade is planned.  The following
information has been provided for those who will be attending: Bryson City is
about an hour and a half's drive from the Asheville airport, two and a half
hours away from the Knoxville airport , and three hours from Atlanta. 
Asheville and Knoxville have limited flight schedules, so it will be very
difficult to fly in and arrive at the service on Thursday morning.  Overnight
lodging is strongly recommended.  A block of rooms has been set aside for NPS
travelers at the Best Western in Cherokee, North Carolina, about 15 miles
from Bryson City, for the night of Wednesday, June 24th.  The number is
828-497-2020.  When calling for reservations, please mention that you are calling
for the National Park Service rooms.  The rate is $60 plus tax, but the per
diem lodging rate is only $50, so those travelling at government expense will
need supervisory authorization for the higher rate.  Wearing of the NPS
uniform is encouraged; because of the hot weather, the summer, short-sleeve
shirt should be worn rather than the dress blouse.  In accordance with Joe's
widow's desires, absolutely no flowers will be accepted.  As noted in
yesterday's Morning Report, a memorial fund in Joe Kolodski's name has been
established by the Friends of the Smokies, with the proceeds to be directed
to Joe's family.  Checks should be made payable to: "Friends of the Smokies"
and sent to Friends of the Smokies, 130 W. Bruce St., Suite 1, Sevierville,
TN 37862.  For additional details, call Great Smoky Mountains NP public
affairs at 423-436-1207/8.  [Public Affairs, GRSM, 6/23]

98-311 - Denali NP (AK) - Rescues

Two separate incidents occurred on the "Orient Express" route on Mount
McKinley on the evening of June 18th, both involving complex rescues.  Three
members of the nine-member British Army "Summit to Sea" expedition - M.S.,
35, S.B., 26, and P.W., 23 - fell 300 feet from a
point near the mountain's 19,300-level.  P.W. and fellow climber J.J.
were able to descend and report the incident to rangers at the
14,200-foot camp.  While descending, they came across two injured American
climbers near the 15,500-foot level.  The two Americans - B.F., 24,
and J.M., 25, both of Anchorage - were descending near 18,000 feet on
the "Orient Express" when they fell approximately 2,500 feet.  Ranger Roger
Robinson and ten volunteers climbed to the Americans' location, and, through
a series of lowerings and carries, brought them to the 14,200-foot camp. 
B.F. had multiple non-critical injuries; J.M. had suffered a critical
head injury and was unconscious.  An afternoon attempt by Army Chinook
helicopters to fly in to the 14,200-foot level failed.  J.M. was finally
evacuated from the north side of McKinley by the park's Lama helicopter at
11:30 p.m. and transferred at Kantishna to a waiting National Guard Pavehawk
helicopter.  That same afternoon, two members of the British Army team
remaining at 19,000 feet attempted to descend the "Orient Express" and fell
1,000 feet.  S.B., 26, who had suffered a head injury in the initial
fall, and J.F., 28, were near 16,500 feet when they fell. 
Ranger Roger Robinson witnessed the fall from the 14,200-foot camp.  A ground
team climbed to the location and transported the two to the camp.
J.F. suffered multiple lower leg fractures in the fall.  Inclement
weather prevented any aircraft activity on June 20th, and ground rescuers,
after two complex lowerings and carryouts from 15,500 feet, were too
exhausted to immediately move towards the remaining group at 19,000 feet.  On
the morning of the 21st, the park Lama, three Army Chinooks from the High
Altitude Rescue Team (HART), and Air National Guard parajumpers were staged,
awaiting a break in the weather.  Early in the evening, a Chinook was finally
able to land at the 14,000-foot camp and evacuate J.F., S.B. and
B.F.  Another American climber who was suffering from high altitude
pulmonary edema (unrelated to the other incidents) was also evacuated in the
same flight.  At approximately 9 p.m., the NPS Lama was able to make a food,
radio and equipment drop to the two remaining British climbers at 19,000
feet.  They had been without food for three days and had only bivy gear with
them.  Communications were also established.  Weather continued to hamper
later flights; after several failed attempts, Jim Hood, piloting the NPS
Lama, was finally able to short-haul both climbers from the 19,000-foot
level.  British press interest in the incident was extremely high.  [Ken
Kehrer, CR, DENA, 6/23]

98-312 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ) - MVA with Fatality

A.B., 78, of Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, was killed in an auto accident on
Route 209 near Dingmans campground on June 22nd.  Injured were her husband,
W.B., 77, who was driving, and her daughter, T.A.B., 37,
who was riding in the rear seat.  They were treated on the scene, then
transported to Newton Memorial Hospital.  Witnesses indicated that the car,
which was heading north at the time, drifted across the road and hit two
trees on the opposite side.  The NPS and Pennsylvania State Police are
investigating.  [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 6/22]

98-313 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Assist; Search, MVA with Fatality

On the morning of June 18th, El Portal District personnel responded to a
report of a vehicle in the Merced River west of the park.  The location where
the vehicle had left the road and gone into the river was found.  Rangers
located and interviewed the driver; they determined that the accident had
occurred almost five hours earlier, and that passenger W.A. had
last been seen crawling out of the passenger side window.  He then
disappeared into the river, which is currently at flood stage.  The county
sheriff's office requested assistance from the park; the park responded with
two dozen search and support personnel and the park's helicopter.  W.A.'s
body was found and recovered late that afternoon seven miles downstream from
the scene of the accident.  The vehicle is submerged somewhere in the Merced
River and has not yet been found.  The California Highway Patrol is
investigating.  [Mark Harvey, El Portal Ranger, YOSE, 6/22]

              [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE ACTIVITY

The fire report is not available this morning.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

No entries.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service or kindred agencies.  For
inquiries regarding legislation pertaining to the NPS, please contact the
main office at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be forwarded to the appropriate
legislative specialist.

HEARINGS/MARK-UPS

TUESDAY, JUNE 23

House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health: The oversight
hearing on fire and its effects on air quality, which was to have been held
yesterday, was postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.  The
subcommittee instead held an oversight hearing on Forest Service law
enforcement.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25

House Appropriations Committee: Mark-up of NPS FY99 appropriations
legislation.

House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health: Oversight hearing
on Forest Service training.

FLOOR ACTION

No action scheduled on NPS legislation.

                       *  *  *  *  *

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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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