NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

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INCIDENTS

Zion NP

Hiker Falls To His Death In Canyon

Rangers received a report of a falling accident near the park's east entrance on the afternoon of November 29th. The reporting party said that C.F., 55, of Salt Lake City, had fallen about 20 feet while hiking in a side canyon off Highway 9 and that he'd landed on his head and was unconscious. When rangers arrived 12 minutes later, they were told by bystanders near the road that CPR was in progress. Rangers and park medics continued CPR and employed an AED, but were unable to revive C.F. His body was transferred to the Kane County medical examiner. An investigation by the park and sheriff's office is underway, but it appears that C.F. was attempting to descend a small slope after scrambling up to a flat ledge with other hikers when he lost his footing. He slid down a slope and was able to hang on for a short time before losing his grip and falling. Therese Picard is the lead investigating ranger. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]

Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP

Information Sought On Possible Missing Hiker

The park is asking for assistance from the public in obtaining information about an abandoned campsite near Twin Lakes. The site has a good deal of gear and food left in it, but there's no sign of whoever set it up. On November 30th, two hikers reported that the campsite had not been occupied for more than 24 hours, following up on a similar previous report. An investigation is underway. The park is asking for assistance and additional information from any person who has been in the Twin Lakes area - including those hiking between Lodgepole and Silliman Pass - since October 31st. The park's dispatch office can be reached any time at 1-559-565-3341 ext. 0. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. The internal, NPS-only version of InsideNPS can be found at: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index . The public version, called NPS Digest, can be found at: HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/

Gateway NRA - Rutgers University and Gateway NRA recently utilized an autonomous underwater vehicle to map the bottom of Sandy Hook Bay. The information gathered will be used to help the park better understand its submerged resources.

Natural Resource Program Center - A PDF version of the summer 2008 edition of Park Science is now available online.

Isle Royale NP - Larry Kangas, chief ranger at Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, will retire on January 2nd after a 29-year career that has taken him to four National Park Service areas.

Southeast Region - The park's law enforcement staff recently received special recognition for outstanding community service at the second annual Old Fourth Ward Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363

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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