NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, March 16, 2009
INCIDENTS
Zion NP
Results Of Investigation Into Climbing Fatality Released
On October 17, 2008, J.W. fell to his death while climbing the Touchstone route in Zion National Park. The National Park Service subsequently conducted an investigation into the cause of the accident in cooperation with the Washington County Sherriff's office. Their findings have been released. The three-person climbing party had climbed three pitches (approximately 180 feet) without significant event. When the member leading the fourth pitch had reached the pitch's top anchor, he tied the end of a rope into it. The climbing party's gear, weighing 104 pounds, was attached to the bottom end of this rope, which was to be used as a haul line. The climbing partner then ran the haul line, which was also J.W.'s ascending line, through a Petzl Pro-traxion device, a pulley which incorporates a cam allowing for rope capture as rope is hauled in. The climbing partner pulled 15 feet of slack through the Pro-traxion prior to J.W. starting his ascent. The group planned to haul the gear to the top of the fourth pitch after J.W., the second climber, had completed his ascent. The third party member planned to ascend a second rope, the leader's lead climbing rope. J.W.'s fall occurred when the Pro-traxion failed soon after he started to ascend the haul line. The Pro-traxion operates with a cam and pulley mounted to a fixed plate. A sliding plate allows a rope to be inserted into the device. When the sliding plate is properly closed, a button locks the device together. NPS investigators were able to reproduce the failure of the Pro-traxion during informal tests when the device was closed improperly. They noted that the device could appear to be properly closed (but not truly closed) if the device was weighted prior to the side plate sliding into place. When improperly closed, the device can deform when weighted, causing rope to move rapidly past the cam in the unintended direction. When the Pro-traxion failed, the 15 feet of slack ran rapidly through the device, causing J.W. to fall this distance while still attached to the rope by his mechanical ascenders. The force generated by the fall transferred to J.W.'s ascenders, which severed the rope, resulting in J.W.'s tragic fatal fall. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
Yosemite NP
Man Commits Suicide By Going Over Yosemite Falls
On the afternoon of Monday, March 9th, rangers received a call from a man threatening to commit suicide from the top of Yosemite Falls, which falls 2500 feet to the valley floor below. A ground team was immediately dispatched up the steep trail to try to negotiate with the man, who claimed to be armed. Winter conditions, snow, ice, and steep terrain added to the complexity of the operation. A California Highway Patrol helicopter and Tuolumne County SWAT team members were also dispatched to assist with the incident. Rangers found D.Z. on a rock outcropping in the narrow, snowy gorge on the edge of Upper Yosemite Fall. D.Z. said that he had taken a large dose of medications, possibly including anti-anxiety and seizure drugs. According to the rangers, D.Z. appeared to be impaired when they reached him. Negotiations continued until just after 7:30 p.m., when D.Z. entered the frigid water and was carried over the edge. Recovery efforts have been unsuccessful but are continuing as conditions permit. Ranger Jeff Webb is the incident commander. [Adrienne Freeman, Outreach and Education, Protection Division]
Chattahoochee River NRA
Suicide Victim Found In Chattahoochee River
Local police and fire units responded to a 911 report from a fisherman regarding a body found in an infrequently visited section of the park on the afternoon of March 9th. They found the remains of a 54-year-old Georgia man near the banks of the Chattahoochee River. He'd last been seen on November 8th, but his family hadn't reported him missing. The medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. [Scot Pfeninger, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:
Cabrillo NM - Over the course of this month, Cabrillo staff are participating in the first annual San Diego Science Festival, including a “scientist for a day” event and a park science day. They're also offering “Yellow Submarine” live interactive virtual exploration (LIVE) programs from the park's tidepools to select San Diego area middle schools.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7445" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7445
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service. A dozen new park-related bills were introduced, but an omnibus bill that included nearly 80 measures affecting the NPS, including wilderness designations, boundary revisions and special authorities, failed to pass the House.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7444" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7444
Pacific West Region - Stephen “Steve” Black has been named the superintendent of Big Hole National Battlefield in Wisdom, Montana. Black also will serve as the unit manager for the Montana Unit of Nez Perce NHP.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2266" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2266
* * * * *
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).
--- ### ---