Yosemite National Park (CA)
Search Continues For Missing Hiker
Park staff yesterday continued the search for E.G.-B. E.G.-B., a native of Honduras, is 22 years old and stands 5'8". He speaks Spanish and some English. Reports describing E.G.-B.'s clothing have varied, but may include jeans or khaki pants, varying tee shirt colors, and black shoes. He's believed to be carrying a Bible. Reports indicate that he was last seen at Washburn Point on June 8th. Approximately 125 searchers from Yosemite National Park, the California Conservation Corps, and Mono, Marin, Santa Clara, Ventura, Fresno, Contra Costa, Santa Barbara and Sierra Madre Counties, as well as the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit and China Lake Search and Rescue, including dog teams and aerial spotters, are participating in the search. Anyone who was in the area of Sentinel Dome, Washburn Point, or Glacier Point or on the Pohono, Panorama, Illilouette, or Four Mile Trails after 2 p.m. on June 8th — and those areas only — is asked to please call the park at 209-372-0311, whether they saw E.G.-B. or not. Any information, even from those who did not see him, will help park staff focus the search area. Media calls should be directed to public information officer Adrienne Freeman at 209-372-0480. [Submitted by Adrienne Freeman, Public Affairs Officer]
Curecanti National Recreation Area (CO)
Quick Response Saves Kite Boarder's Life
On June 6th, an 18-year-old Gunnison man was kite boarding in the Iola Basin of Blue Mesa Reservoir while four friends watched from shore. About five minutes after launching, the man crashed into the water. He was able to swim to his kite, which provided some floatation, but he began drifting farther from shore. One of his friends tried to swim to his location, but was unable to do so because of the distance and the cold water. About 30 minutes later, another friend called 911 to report the accident. A campground host was able to locate the man through binoculars and responding rangers were directed to his location. Within 20 minutes of receiving the call, rangers retrieved the man from the lake. He had been in 52 degree water for almost 50 minutes and was showing signs of severe hypothermia, including a decreased level of consciousness. He was not wearing a wetsuit or a lifejacket. He was transported by ambulance to Gunnison Valley Hospital, where his core body temperature was measured at 88.5 degrees. Had the man been in the water for much longer, it is likely that he would have succumbed to hypothermia. [Submitted by John Patmore, Blue Mesa District Ranger]
Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Day Hike Turns Tragic In Muir Snowfield
On the afternoon of Monday, June 9th, three hikers became trapped in a sudden blizzard while descending from a day hike to Camp Muir and took shelter on the Muir Snowfield. At 3:30 a.m. the following morning, they managed to get through to park rangers with a 911 emergency call. Because of heavy snow and near zero visibility, however, rangers were unable to immediately begin a search for them. At about 7:15 a.m., one member of the party found his way to Camp Muir and was able to direct a search team, made up of climbing guides and park rangers stationed at Camp Muir, to the party's location near Anvil Rock. All three of the stranded hikers were under shelter at Camp Muir by 8:30 a.m., though all suffered from hypothermia and frostbite. One man subsequently died, but his wife and a male friend survived. All are in their early 30s and are experienced mountaineers who had visited Camp Muir in the past and enjoy hiking on Mount Rainier. Two had reached the summit. Due to the nature of the hikers' injuries, the preferred means of rescuing them will be by helicopter rather than across the snowfield. A Chinook helicopter and crew from the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Lewis was on standby all day Tuesday to retrieve the injured hikers, but the weather never cleared enough. The survivors' were stable at the time of the report (late Tuesday evening) and were under the care of two doctors, clients of one of the park's guide services, who happened to be at Camp Muir. The shelter at Camp Muir is warm, dry, and well-stocked with hot foods and liquids. Efforts to retrieve the hikers by helicopter were to resume yesterday morning. [Submitted by Alison Robb, Information Officer]
Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL,MS)
Drowning At West Ship Island
Park visitors contacted lifeguards on West Ship Island just after 11 a.m. on Friday, June 6th, and told them that another visitor was in the midst of pulling a woman out of the Gulf of Mexico about 300 yards west of their lifeguard stand. Three lifeguards and a protection ranger responded and found a woman — J.M., 51, of Gulfport, Mississippi — lying in the surf. She was unresponsive. They brought her to shore, summoned a Life Flight helicopter from Mobile, and attempted to revive her via CPR and an AED for about an hour until the helicopter arrived. Resuscitation efforts were continued for another 10 to 15 minutes by medical staff from the helicopter, then were terminated. J.M. was examined at the scene by the Jackson County coroner, who, following an autopsy, listed the cause of death as an accidental drowning. J.M. was part of a large family group that came out to the island via the concession tour boat. She was last seen alive entering the water alone about an hour prior to being spotted face down in the water by a visitor. A death investigation, led by ranger Andrew Robinson, revealed underlying medical conditions, but it is yet unknown whether they may have contributed to her accident. [Submitted by Clayton Jordan, Chief Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Superintendents Summit '08
Superintendents Summit Web Site Opens
The web site supporting the July 16-17 Superintendents Summit '08 is now up and running, providing on-line registration, the event agenda, transportation advice, and work session background information.
The site is http://www.wwsc.us/events/nps . All summit participants are requested to go to the site and begin the registration process immediately.
Developed by the summit planning team and hosted by a private contractor, the site allows one-stop shopping for conference information. It also features the new conference logo designed and donated by Chris Byrd, a talented graphic artist with Alaska Geographic, the cooperating association for the NPS Alaska Region. The logo appears on most of the web pages beginning with the registration tab.
About 500 people will attend the summit, including superintendents, the National Leadership Council, and many of the Service's "emerging leaders" — people identified as being among those ready to take on additional responsibilities. The Summit website details many of the speakers who will address the group, including DOI Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Director Mary Bomar, demographic and marketing researcher Dr. Emilyn Sheffield, and filmmaker Dayton Duncan. Additionally, several superintendents will lead breakout discussion and teaching sessions on issues and accomplishments in key areas for the Service such as attracting youth to parks.
New information will be added to the website as the days progress. So visit it from time-to-time. It can be found each day under "Hot Topics" on the right side of the home page for InsideNPS.
[Submitted by John Quinley, Public Affairs, Alaska Regional Office]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
United States Park Police
Sergeant Leon "Jeff" Capps Retires
Sergeant Jeff Capps retired from the United States Park Police after more than 20 years of service on June 7th.
Prior to joining the Park Police, he served honorably in the United States Army from May 1976 until February 1988. During his last six years, he worked as a counterintelligence operative with duty assignments in Germany, Grenada and Washington DC.
Jeff was appointed to the Park Police in December of 1987. After completing the police academy and field training, he worked as a patrol officer in the District 4 and 5 stations patrolling National Capital Parks East, which includes Anacostia Park, Suitland Parkway, Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Greenbelt Park and Fort Washington, until 1993.
Jeff briefly transferred to the Central District, patrolling the National Mall and surrounding parks, until he was selected for the Traffic Safety Unit. He was also assigned to the Crime & Violence Task Force in 1994. In 1996 he was selected to be in the Motorcycle Unit. Jeff was also designated as the Force Representative to the National Board for Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS).
In November of 2005, Jeff was promoted to the rank of sergeant and went back to the Central District. In May of 2007, he was reassigned to the Motorcycle Unit, and assigned as Motor One, where he remained until his retirement.
Over the years, Jeff received numerous awards and letters of appreciation for his dedication to duty and professionalism. At his retirement ceremony he was personally thanked and presented with an award by the United States Secret Service for his work on Presidential details while assigned to the Motorcycle Unit.
Acting Assistant Chief Sal Lauro, who presented Sergeant Capps with his retirement credentials at the ceremony said, "Jeff has served our country faithfully and honorably for more than 32 years, 12 with the United States Army and 20 with the United States Park Police. During this time he has been a teacher, a leader, and a warrior."
[Submitted by Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer]
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.