NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
INCIDENTS
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Two Lost Hikers Tracked Down And Rescued
On the afternoon of March 4th, park dispatch received a report that two hikers, both men in their 60s, were an hour and a half overdue from a 15-mile day hike in the Tremont area. They were reported to be experienced day hikers who were in the process of hiking all 900 miles of trails within the park. Shortly thereafter, dispatch received a call from one of the men, who reported that they'd mistakenly gotten off the Panther Creek trail while trying to navigate around a large downed tree. They'd walked for about three hours in dense rhododendron, but had been unable to relocate the trail. They were unable to start a fire due to snow on the ground and wet conditions, and one of the men was reportedly cold and shivering. Wildlife technician Rick Varner and ranger Steve Spanyer interviewed the men via cell phone and determined that they were most likely off-trail on a finger of Timber Ridge between Lost Branch and Panther Creek. Since one of the hikers was evidently in the first stages of hypothermia and since temperatures in the twenties were forecast for that night, IC Helen McNutt decided to begin an off-trail search after dark. Ranger Todd Roessner and wildlife technician Dan Nolfi hiked in to the Panther Creek trail and found tracks going off the trail. The tracks showed that the hikers had missed a switchback, gone directly into the woods, encountered the downed tree, then became lost after going around it. Nolfi and Roessner tracked the men through thick rhododendron and steep terrain until they made voice contact with them. Due to the dense vegetation, it took Roessner and Nolfi nearly two more hours to reach the two men. They led them back to the trail, where the foursome forded a stream, then hiked another two plus miles back to the trailhead. Both men were able to walk back to the trailhead, but one was taken to a nearby hospital, as he was displaying signs of dehydration and exhaustion. Although both men were experienced day hikers, they had no experience hiking off-trail and limited experience with backpacking and winter conditions. [Steve Kloster, Tennessee District Ranger]
Prince William Forest Park
Rangers Disrupt Suicide Attempt
Ranger Dave Ballam contacted a man who appeared to be sleeping in a vehicle at the Pine Grove picnic area around 6:40 p.m. on March 5th. While ranger Benjamin Byrnes headed to Ballam's location to back him up, Ballam was able to identify the operator and determined that he had a warrant against him out of Florida, with no extradition requested. When Byrnes got there, the two rangers attempted to wake the man, but found that he was slow and lethargic, with labored and shallow breathing. He also had difficulty opening the vehicle's door. Although the rangers suspected that he was drunk, no signs of alcohol or illicit drugs were found in the vehicle. But they discovered about a score of empty prescription bottles with the man's name on them. The rangers later determined that he'd taken 50 Ambien sleeping pills along with the contents of the other containers and that he had a history of medical problems and had traveled from Ashville, North Carolina, to come to his “favorite place” to attempt suicide. He was taken to Potomac Hospital for initial treatment, then flown to Fairfax Hospital. He was placed on a 72 hour psychiatric watch and is continuing treatment for complications related to the overdose. [Norman W. Nelson, Jr., Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:
Servicewide - The theme for this year's celebration is “Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet,” recognizing the accomplishments of women who have taken the lead in efforts to save the planet.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7433" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7433
Cape Hatteras NS - Park staff will establish the 2009 pre-nesting areas for breeding shorebirds in Cape Hatteras National Seashore during the week of March 9th in accordance with the terms of a court-ordered consent decree.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7434" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7434
Risk Management Division - Mary R. Davis, data management specialist with the Risk Management Division, retired on December 31st after more than 23 years with the National Park Service.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2261" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2261
Harpers Ferry Center - HFC cinematographer Steve Ruth has left the National Park Service after a 22-year career.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=2260" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=2260
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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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