NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
INCIDENTS
Mammoth Cave NP
Efforts Continue To Fully Reopen Park
Although most of the park is still closed following last week's ice storm, some additional services have returned. Tours were expanded yesterday to include the “Historic,” “Frozen Niagara,” and “New Entrance” tours, and the “Wild Cave” tour will resume sometime this coming weekend. Mammoth Cave Parkway, Brownsville Road (Highway 70), Cedar Sink Road (Highway 422) and Park Ridge Road are open, but crews continue to work on reopening other park roads, in particular the Green River Road and the Cave City Road. Increased winds yesterday posed a problem for crews working along wooded roadways and assessing backcountry trails and cemeteries. “Throughout this incident we have kept safety as our number one priority for park staff and visitors,” said superintendent Pat Reed. “All personnel in the field are required to wear hardhats and reflective vests, and they must work in teams. We are making progress, but it will take some time before we can open the rest of the park.” [Vickie Carson, Public Information Officer]
Grand Teton NP
Rangers Again Rescue Lost Skiers From Granite Canyon
Just four days after rescuing two skiers who got lost in Granite Canyon after heading out from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, rangers found and rescued another pair of skiers in a similar incident. On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 28th, D.G., 32, and P.T., 39, both residents of Jackson, became disoriented in whiteout conditions and accidentally took a wrong turn after exiting an out-of-bounds gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The two men spent the night out in the mountains with temperatures hovering near zero. They were located during an aerial reconnaissance flight at 9 a.m. the following day and flown from the backcountry at 9:30 a.m. D.G. and P.T. exited the upper gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on Wednesday afternoon, intending to ski into the Rock Springs drainage. Whiteout conditions obscured the route, causing them to ski westward and ultimately into Granite Canyon, rather than southwest into the Rock Springs area. The two men searched for ski tracks to confirm their whereabouts, but by 2:30 p.m. they realized that they were not where they intended to be. About an hour before sunset, they decided to make preparations to spend the night in the backcountry. They dug a snow cave, collected pine boughs to insulate themselves against the snow and made a fire. The two men were carrying food and water, but also melted snow to replenish their supplies. While they did not have a map, compass or GPS device, they did have extra clothing and full avalanche gear - recommended equipment for anyone entering the Teton backcountry. Early on Thursday morning, D.G. and P.T. began skiing upslope in order to get a clear view above tree line and determine their location. When they spotted Mount Hunt, they realized they were in Granite Canyon. The Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter, carrying a park ranger and county rescue staff, spotted the skiers' tracks and eventually located them about 9 a.m. near the Shady Lady Couloir. Rescuers communicated to the two men, directing them to ski to a landing zone where the ship could safely touch down. D.G. and P.T. were then flown to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Park rangers credit the pair with doing everything right to keep themselves safe and attempt their own self rescue. They carried the basic necessities and kept their wits about them during an unexpected night out in the Tetons. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Golden Gate NRA
Suspicious Bomb-like Device Found
A park maintenance employee contacted park dispatch on the morning of January 28th and reported a suspicious looking object that had been taped to the back of a park sign at the overlook of Battery Spencer. This overlook receives heavy visitation because of the magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the city of San Francisco. Four rangers and a Park Police identification technician responded. As a precaution, the area was closed to the public and a bomb dog was requested; due to a considerable delay in the dog's arrival, the San Francisco Bomb Squad was summoned and arrived a short time later. The device was eventually rendered safe by the squad. Further investigation revealed that it was actually a pinhole camera that was taped to the back of the sign to take a black and white image of the bridge. The individual responsible for the camera had left his business card taped to the can and the pieces were intact enough to be able to contact him. The USPP Criminal Investigations Branch will be conducting the follow-up investigation. [Kim Coast, Operations Supervisor]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:
National Natural Landmarks Program - A Texas cave, unique serpentine barrens in Pennsylvania, and fossil sites in Kentucky and on the New York-Vermont border are the first National Natural Landmarks designated in over two years.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7322" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7322
Fire and Aviation Management - The National Park Service and the Department of the Interior are recruiting for natural and cultural resource specialists to serve on post-wildfire burned area emergency response (BAER) teams.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7320" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7320
Northeast Region - Patricia “Trish” Kicklighter has been selected as the new superintendent of Assateague Island National Seashore. Kicklighter succeeds Scott Bentley, who became superintendent at San Antonio Missions NHP.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2241" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2241
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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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