Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Two
College Students Die in Backcountry Slot Canyon
On the morning of Sunday, April 17th, dispatch was advised of a
search in progress in the Choprock and Neon Canyon areas of the
Escalante drainage within Glen Canyon NRA. Two BYU students in their
mid-twenties had entered the recreation area via the BLM Egypt trailhead
on Wednesday evening to complete a circuit loop of the canyons. When the
two failed to return on time, the family notified the Garfield County
Sheriff's Office. Searchers from the park and from the sheriff's office
were supported by rangers and a helicopter from Grand Canyon, local
volunteer rescue groups from Tropic and Boulder, Utah, and Classic
Aviation from Page, Arizona. A total of three helicopters and 32
searchers were involved. The bodies of the two students were found and
eventually removed from Choprock canyon, one of the most technical,
difficult slot canyons in southeast Utah — a canyon that is
infrequently hiked due to the advanced skills required. The recovery
efforts occurred in a long narrow slot section of the canyon that
averaged 18 inches wide at the recovery site. The canyon at that
location is over 200 feet deep, trends east and west, and receives no
sunshine. Temperatures in the narrow, dark canyon were hovering
around 40 degrees, with a water temperature in the low 40s. At the
bottom of the slot, a log jam dam created a debris-filled pool 40 yards
long, eight to 10 feet deep and less than two feet wide. The NPS
recovery team of Brett Timm, Laurie Axelson, Derek Dahlremple, Bill
Woverton, and Cathy Burns were starting the difficult process of
removing the first victim when they found the second victim under the
first and lying on the bottom of the pool. The cause of death is thought
to be a combination of hypothermia and drowning. The medical examiners
report is pending.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Situation Highlights — Friday, April 22, 2005
NPS Fires
For a brief supplemental narrative on each fire, click on the bar with the arrow. Internal NPS readers can link directly to full reports on each fire by clicking on the notepad icon; public readers of the Morning Report can obtain similar information by going to http://www.nps.gov/fire/news
No updates on National Park Service fires have been received since yesterday.
National Situation Report
The full NIFC Incident Management Situation Report for today can be obtained at http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf. NIFC's national fire news is at http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Servicewide
Upcoming Training Calendar
This listing is updated every Friday. It is not meant to replace any of the various training center calendars — just to augment them and provide a heads-up on new training courses. Please submit information to Bill Halainen. New listings and revisions are in bold face.
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May 10 — May 12
Colt M-16/AR-15 Armorer's School, Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte NHP&P, LA. The course will focus on the theory, nomenclature, dynamics, compatibility, interchangeability, detailed disassembly, assembly, maintenance, and trouble-shooting of the M-16/AR-15 family of weapons. Students must demonstrate proficiency as well as attain a score of 70% or higher on the written test in order to pass. The certification lasts for three years and costs $375. For more information, contact ranger Leigh Zahm at 504-589-2330 ext. 17.
May 16 — May 20
High Angle Rope Rescue Training, New River Gorge NR, Fayetteville, WV. This course is designed for persons who are tasked with responding to calls of injured or stranded visitors in a steep, high angle environment. Students can range from beginners to intermediate — everyone will benefit. Students and instructors will be camping out at the Burnwood Ranger Station area, located on the rim of the New River Gorge. Showers will be provided. This will not only help in keeping the costs down, but will serve as a good logistical location for any night exercises. Students need to bring their own personal rescue/climbing gear including a comfortable sit harness, rappel device, carabiners, helmet, and gloves. All students need to be in good physical condition. There will be extended periods of hanging on a fixed rope in an exposed environment. A direct email from your supervisor will be sufficient for the nomination. (Note: This training will be held prior to, and in conjunction with, a climbers rendezvous sponsored by the New River Alliance of Climbers and the Access Fund. Special presentations by nationally recognized climbers have been incorporated into this training. Equipment demos, climbing workshops, and competitions will be held the weekend following the training, May 20th to 22nd). Please direct all questions and correspondence to Rob Turan at 304-763-3145 ex 15. fax # 304-465-6559, or at rob_turan@nps.gov.
May 16 — May 20
Tactical Tracking Operations Level 1, Little River Canyon NP. The Tactical Tracking Operations School will conduct a level one tactical tracking class near the park that will cover basic tracking techniques, tracking team formations, tactics, camouflage, cover shoot and more. For more information, contact Jimmy Dunn at 256-997-9239 or jimmy_dunn@nps.gov.
May 23 — May 27
Fundamentals of Special Park Uses, National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV. The 36-hour course, listed as VRPSPU3003 on My Learning Manager, covers all aspects of special park uses, from First Amendment to filming and photography to wireless telecommunication sites. Temporary food services and other health and safety issues related to special park uses will also be discussed. DO-53/RM-53, 36 CFR and NPS Management Policies (2001) will be covered in depth. A draft agenda is posted on the special park uses page. For more information, contact Lee Dickinson, WASO special park uses program manager, at 202-513-7092. For an agenda, go to http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=185&id=3225
May 24 — May 26
Midwest Cemetery Monument Conservation Workshop, Omaha, NE. The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training has scheduled its third workshop on the conservation of cemetery monuments. The program will include a three-day, hands-on learning experience in cemetery and materials conservation. Partners include the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center and the Midwest Regional Office of the National Park Service. A lecture and a hands-on session on metal conservation will also be added to this year's training. For more information, contact Mary F. Striegel at 318-356-7444 or mary_striegel@nps.gov.
June 6 — June 10
First Responder (6/6 — 6/10) and First Responder Refresher (6/9 — 6/10), Daytona Beach Community College, New Smyrna Beach, FL. The course meets national standards. Tuition is $125 for the full course, $40 for the refresher. The closing date is May 20th. For more information, contact Wayne Rose at Canaveral NS at 321-861-8674.
June 6 — June 17
Covert Electronic Surveillance (CESP-505), FLETC, Glynco, GA. See My Learning Manager for the announcement. Closes on May 2nd.
June 6 — June 17
Firearms Instructor Training (FITP-506), FLETC, Glynco, GA. See My Learning Manager for the announcement. Closes on May 2nd.
June 13 — June 17
Vehicle Ambush Countermeasures Training (VACTP-505), FLETC, Glynco, GA. See My Learning Manager for the announcement. Closes on May 4th.
June 14 — August 30
Criminal Investigator Training (CITP-535X), FLETC, Glynco, GA. See My Learning Manager for the announcement. Closes on May 6th.
June 14 — June 24
National Center for Preservation Technology and Training Summer Institute, Natchitoches, LA. Includes courses in preservation engineering that offer participants fieldwork using nationally significant structures in the Cane River region of Louisiana where NCPTT is headquartered. For more information, contact Andy Ferrell at 318-356-7444 or Andrew_ferrell@nps.gov .
June 20 — June 24
Law Enforcement Advanced Interviewing (LEAINTP-505), FLETC, Glynco, GA. See My Learning Manager for the announcement. Closes on May 9th.
Servicewide
Upcoming Conference/Meetings Calendar
This listing is updated every Friday. Please submit information to Bill Halainen. . New listings and revisions are in bold face.
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May 16 — May 20
"Current Archaeological Prospection Advances for Non-Destructive Investigations in the 21st Century," NPS 2005 Archeological Prospection Workshop, Hopewell Culture NHP, Chillicothe, OH. Lodging will be in Comfort Inn in Chillicothe. This will be the 15th year of the workshop, which is dedicated to the use of geophysical, aerial photography, and other remote sensing methods as they apply to the identification, evaluation, conservation, and protection of archaeological resources across the nation. The workshop this year will focus on the theory of operation, methodology, processing, interpretation, and on-hands use of the equipment in the field. There is a tuition charge of $475. Application forms are available on the Midwest Archeological Center's web page at http://www.cr.nps.gov/mwac/. The deadline is April 22nd. For further information, please contact Steven L. DeVore, archeologist, National Park Service, Midwest Archeological Center, Federal Building, Room 474, 100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-3873 (telephone: 402-437-5392, ext. 141; fax: 402-437-5098; email: steve_de_vore@nps.gov .
May 26 — May 28
Conference on African Americans and the Civil War (CAACW), Petersburg, VA. The purpose of the conference is to examine the impact the Civil War has had on African American culture from the 1860s to the present. The conference will include papers by leading academics, a folklore program focusing o African American music and dance, an education program for high school students, and tours to highlight the cultural and historical assets of the Petersburg area. Information about the CAACW and a registration form are available on the conference's web site (www.caacw.org ). For more information, contact Ann Blumenschine at Petersburg NB at 804-732-3531 ext. 203.
August 26 — August 27
Old-Timers and Employees Reunion, Estes Park Holiday Inn and Convention Center, Estes Park, CO. There will be a special program on Friday night at the Beaver Meadows VC, a free park bus tour on Saturday morning, and a banquet on Saturday evening. The cost for the latter is $30 per person. RSVP for dinner by sending a check made out to the Rocky Mountain Nature Association to Lynn Marquez, Rocky Mountain NP, 1000 Highway 36, Estes Park, CO 80517. Fore more information or to reserve a seat on the bus tour, call her at 970-586-1295 or email her at lynn_marquez@nps.gov .
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Buffalo National River (AR)
GS-025-9 Park Ranger
Buffalo National River is looking for a GS-025-9 park ranger. The announcement number is BUFF-05-21 and it closes on April 29th. The person in this position is primarily responsible for the Lower Wilderness area in the Lower Buffalo District, which is located 14 miles south of Yellville, Arkansas. This area has a low cost of living, low taxes, and very reasonable land and housing prices. The ranger who is selected for this job will have the opportunity to purchase a house (no housing available) within a thirty minute response area to Buffalo Point. There is also rental property available. Yellville (the county seat for Marion County) has a large school system (K-12), a three physician doctor's office, a dentist, a large grocery store, antique stores, electronics stores, three restaurants, pizza, auto parts, and convenience stores. Branson, Missouri, is an hour-and-a-half away. The park is looking for a confident, responsible and dedicated ranger with solid law enforcement experience, good EMS experience (First Responder or better), strong boating skills, good SAR skills, and good wildland fire skills. Patrols are scheduled for late at night and early in the morning by foot, boat, and vehicle. If you enjoy hunting and fishing in your free time, can multi-task, and aren't afraid of a challenge, this job is for you — take a look at it! For information, contact district ranger Jeff West at 870-449-8754. For a copy of the announcement, click on "More Information" below.
[Submitted by Jeff West, Lower Buffalo District Supervisory Ranger] More Information...
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found by clicking here. 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 Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.