Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Rapid Melting and Rain Cause Flooding, Damage
The recent warm temperatures that brought heavy precipitation and record flooding to some areas in the northwest part of Washington also caused extensive damage within the park. While the park did not receive the record-breaking precipitation recorded elsewhere, the unusually high temperatures, combined with an unstable snow pack and rain at the higher elevations, resulted in rapid melting, sending large volumes of water into the rivers and streams flowing from Mount Rainier. This rapid runoff resulted in serious damage to roads and facilities in many park areas, and the park estimates that repairs will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Areas known to have received damage include:
- Approximately 120 feet of the protective dike and 90 feet of pavement were washed away by the Nisqually River on the upper end of the Sunshine Point Campground. The campground is temporarily closed and will reopen once the flood threat has subsided and assessments can be made.
- Approximately two feet of fast-moving water crossed the Westside Road about a mile above Dry Creek in an area known as the "Texas Culvert." Conditions beyond this area are unknown at this time.
- A scenic viewpoint at the end of the boardwalk overlooking Kautz Creek was undercut by the high water and sections have been lost. The end of the boardwalk currently is closed due to the instability of the site. The creek also washed away the rock walls protecting the Kautz Creek Bridge footings, but the bridge remains open.
- A 120-foot section of the roadway between the Longmire suspension bridge and the Community Building was undercut by the Nisqually River and washed away. This road is closed.
- On the east side of the park, State Route 410 is closed until further notice from the north park boundary to Cayuse Pass due to extensive flooding and diversion of the river channel. The area affected begins at approximately the north park boundary and extends for about a mile into the park. The road will probably not reopen this season. State Route 410 from the east (Yakima/Naches) to Cayuse Pass and State Route 123 from Cayuse Pass south remain open.
- In the Carbon River area, many of the footbridges are either underwater or gone. The park road has water flowing in ditches, but the Carbon River Road remains open. Visitors are advised to use caution when traveling on this roadway and watch for possible flooding.
- All footlogs on the Wonderland Trail between Cougar Rock and Narada Falls have been washed out. Attempting to cross the river channel is extremely hazardous and not recommended.
- The first footbridge over the gorge a quarter mile up the Comet Falls Trail has been washed away, eliminating access to this trail.
- The Carter Falls trailhead footlogs are also gone.
Damage to trails and bridges in the park's backcountry are unknown at
this time, but visitors should assume that all lowland bridges and
crossings are out. Repairs will not be made to most of these areas until
next season. Park visitors are also advised to use extreme caution if
attempting to cross any fast moving streams. For updated information,
check the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/
mora/current/current.htm; for recorded information about the park,
call 360-569-2211.
[Submitted by Eric Walkinshaw]
Yosemite National Park (CA)
Rangers Threatened by Knife-Wielding Man
On the morning of Tuesday, October 7th, rangers Todd Bruno and
Lincoln Else responded to a report of a suspicious person in Lower Pines
campground. The man, K.S.B., appeared nervous and agitated when
rangers questioned him about the earlier arrest of his camping partner
for possession of a controlled substance. When rangers asked for
permission to conduct a consent search of his belongings, K.S.B. became
extremely belligerent; when they asked him if he had any weapons, K.S.B.
quickly unsheathed and brandished a 13-inch knife, raised it over his
head and stabbed it into a picnic table, then backed away. K.S.B. refused
to go to the ground as ordered by the rangers. He then walked back to
the table, grabbed the knife, and told Bruno that he was going kill him.
With firearms drawn, the rangers commanded K.S.B. to drop the knife.
After several seconds of standoff, K.S.B. finally tossed the knife back
on the table. He ignored further commands to get on the ground and
picked up steel bicycle floor pump and brandished it at the rangers
shouting, "You'll have to kill me". The rangers pepper-sprayed K.S.B.,
who then ran away from the campsite. They caught up to him and took him
into custody. A bag of marijuana was found in K.S.B.'s camping gear when
it was impounded and inventoried. On October 16th, K.S.B. was indicted by
a federal grand jury on two felony counts — assaulting a federal
officer and threatening a federal officer.
[Submitted by Todd Bruno,
Park Ranger]
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Ginseng Poaching Arrest
While on patrol in the Big Creek area on October 4th, ranger Steve
Kloster noticed what appeared a suspicious vehicle backed into a wooded
area at Browns' Cemetery, just outside of the park boundary. American
ginseng is found in the area in quantity, so Kloster hid his cruiser and
headed into the woods to begin surveillance of the vehicle. Kloster was
about to put on his camouflage clothing when he heard someone walking
toward him through the woods from inside the park. Kloster hid behind a
large tree and watched two men in full camouflage clothing walk to
within 25 feet of him, then drop to their knees and prepare to dig in
the ground with a tool. Kloster came out from behind the tree,
identified himself, and ordered the two men to stop and get on the
ground. Both men immediately jumped up and starting running in opposite
directions. Kloster followed one man, later identified as D.E.R.,
46, of Boone, North Carolina. D.E.R. ran through the woods about
50 yards, exited the park onto State Route 32, then ducked into a large
culvert that passed under the road. Kloster cut him off as he exited the
culvert and placed him under arrest. He fond a loaded .22 caliber
handgun in the top pocket of D.E.R.'s overalls, but no ginseng. Kloster
asked him if he'd taken any ginseng from the park; D.E.R. said that he
hadn't. Rangers Cody Murphy, Kirby Stiles, and DeAnn Shults arrived to
assist Kloster. Using man-tracking techniques, they backtracked D.E.R.'s
movements and located a plastic ziplock baggie near Route 32 that
contained 83 American ginseng roots. The roots were freshly dug and
still had moist dirt on them. D.E.R. was arrested and charged with
gathering and possessing ginseng plants, interfering with agency
functions, and possession of a concealed weapon and placed on a $5,000
bond. D.E.R.'s companion was not apprehended, but leads have been
developed which may help in identifying him. The investigation is
continuing under the lead of ranger Larry Hartman.
[Submitted by
Rick Brown, District Ranger]
Cowpens National Battlefield (SC)
Felony Warrants Arrest
An off-duty Cherokee County officer came upon a vehicle on the park's
auto tour road on the afternoon of October 5th and saw that the driver
was passed out behind the wheel. He investigated and found that she was
under the influence of either alcohol or a controlled substance. A check
on her revealed that there were 13 outstanding warrants against her for
fraudulent checks in Spartanburg County. She was arrested and taken to
jail; while being booked, officers found that she had methamphetamine in
her possession. She will be charged with possession with intent to
distribute.
[Submitted by Pat Ruff, Chief Ranger]
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Arrests for Smuggling of Illegal Aliens
During the early morning hours of October 18th, rangers conducting a
special operation saw a red pickup driving illegally on the Red Tanks
trail system. Using night vision equipment, they watched as the truck
passed their location with a large number of passengers in its bed.
Pre-deployed deflating spikes were used to stop the truck, and the
driver and a dozen suspected illegal aliens were taken into custody. A
check on the truck revealed that it had been stolen from Phoenix. The
vehicle and driver were turned over to the county sheriff's office; the
undocumented aliens were turned over to the Border Patrol. The Red Tanks
trail system is popular with park visitors, but in recent years has also
become a smuggling route for narcotics and illegal aliens. This was the
seventh stolen vehicle recovered by rangers on the trail system during
the past twelve months.
[Submitted by Grant Stolhand, Park
Ranger]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.