NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, March 6, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Gila Cliff Dwellings
Park Reopens Following Recovery From Flood
The park reopened late on the afternoon of February 14th when New Mexico DOT crews completed temporary repairs to the West Fork Bridge, which was damaged in the January 28th flood. The cliff dwellings are again open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with tours once again offered at noon each day. The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tours at the TJ site are no longer offered on a routine basis. The $3 per person entrance fee is in effect. Hikers are being urged to find alternatives to hiking the West and Middle Forks of the Gila River, as flooding has obliterated trails on the flood plains, and ground surfaces that were flooded are very unstable and rough. Camping is available at Upper and Lower Scorpion immediately below the cliff dwellings, but campers are advised to pay careful attention to the river and to relocate to the Upper Forks or Grapevine camps to prevent them from becoming stranded if the river rises and the West Fork bridge becomes impassable. Trailhead users at TJ and the West Fork should be aware that if the West Fork bridge washes out again their vehicles may become stranded until the bridge can be repaired. Parking for overnight backpacking is recommended at Woody's Corral. [Steve Riley, Superintendent]
Mount Rainier NP
Successful Search For Distraught Climber
Searchers spent much of Saturday, February 16th, scouring the backcountry in the vicinity of West Side Road and Tahoma Glacier in search of a distraught climber who reportedly planned to commit suicide on the mountain. Her car was located on West Side Road and the search was launched just before 11 a.m. The woman, an experienced Mount Rainier climber, was spotted from a helicopter around 4:30 p.m. at Glacier Island, which is just south of the glacier. Rangers Mike Gauthier and Stephen Lofgren found that she was in good condition. All three were then flown out of the backcountry. The ground search was conducted on skis and snowshoes in heavy, wet snow. Twenty people from the park were assigned to the incident, including three two-person ground search teams and an aerial search team in an MD500 helicopter. The incident commander was Steve Klump. [Patti Wold, Information Officer]
Grand Canyon NP
Rangers Recover Body From Below Canyon Rim
On Saturday, February 16th, rangers recovered the body of 43-year-old M.S. of Ypsilanti, Michigan, from a spot about 300 feet below the rim at an undeveloped viewpoint near the Buggeln picnic area on the South Rim. Rangers first noted what appeared to be an unattended vehicle in the picnic area on Wednesday, February 13th. Investigations on Thursday determined that the car was a rental and produced no evidence of recent activity near the vehicle. On Friday afternoon, a ground search was begun. A chair, camera and other personal items believed to belong to the driver of the vehicle were located nearby. A technical search team then began looking for the operator. M.S.'s body was found in deep snow around 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon. He'd sustained significant traumatic injuries during the fall from the cliff edge. His body was recovered in a helicopter long-line operation. Following an autopsy and investigation, M.S.'s death was determined to have been a suicide. [Brandon Torres, Acting Shift Lead]
Natchez Trace Parkway
Driver Killed In Parkway Accident
W.W., 68, of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, was killed in a two-car accident near milepost 363 on the morning of February 27th. W.W. was heading south on the parkway when the 1998 Chevrolet Tracker he was driving crossed into the opposite lane and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. W.W. was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries several hours later. The driver of the northbound vehicle was not injured in the accident. Weather may have been a contributing factor. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Grand Canyon NP - Secretary Kempthorne yesterday opened jet tubes at Glen Canyon Dam to release about 41,500 cubic feet per second of Colorado River water into the Grand Canyon - a scientific experiment aimed at learning more about how to improve the river for wildlife and visitors.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6268" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6268
Park Facility Management - The annual environmental management program report for 2007 has been posted to the web.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6265" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6265
National Partnership Office - National Park Week will be held next month. A current list of events has been posted to the web and is now available.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6267" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6267
Crater Lake NP - Craig Ackerman has been appointed superintendent of Crater Lake NP, replacing Chuck Lundy, who retired last year. Photo.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1844" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1844
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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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