NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Monday, June 8, 2009

INCIDENTS

Denali NP&P

Remains Of Missing Climbers Found Through Photo Analysis

Although there is still no clue to the whereabouts of missing climber Dr. G.M., high resolution images collected during the recent search did reveal the remains of two young Japanese climbers who disappeared after an attempt of the Cassin Ridge in May 2008. On Sunday, May 24th, while in the process of analyzing new photos from the upper west face of Mt. McKinley, rangers observed what appeared to be two partially-buried figures connected by a rope in a steep rocky area west of the Cassin Ridge at 19,800 feet. On the afternoon following this discovery, the park's contracted A-Star B3 helicopter was able to hover close enough to the site for a NPS mountaineering ranger to confirm the presence of two frozen figures. Based on their location, clothing, and rope color, NPS mountaineering rangers identified the bodies as 27-year-old T.Y. and 24-year-old Y.I. The National Park Service and the Japanese Consulate in Anchorage notified the next of kin. Family and friends representing both the T.Y. and Y.I. families came to Talkeetna this week to meet with mountaineering ranger staff. T.Y. and Y.I., both from the Tokyo area, were expected to return from a climb of the Cassin Ridge on May 22, 2008. During the subsequent week, National Park Service observers aerially searched the mountain for a combined total of 33 hours of helicopter and fixed wing flight time. Thousands of photos were also taken of the vast search zone. Although numerous clues were discovered using the images, including extensive tracks and a probable campsite, the two men were not found. During the 2008 Cassin search, which was the first time Denali National Park rangers used the photographic approach to search a vast land area, the cameras used were effective in locating tracks and general disturbances in open snow fields, but finding definitive clues in rocky and shadowy terrain proved difficult. A more advanced camera and higher powered lens were used during the recent May 2009 search for Dr. G.M. While the majority of images taken during G.M.'s disappearance in May have been analyzed, the photographic search will continue through the remainder of the season. National Park Service managers have determined that the bodies of the two Japanese climbers will not be recovered from their current location due to the extreme risk posed to a recovery team. [Maureen McLaughlin, Public Information Officer]

Glen Canyon NRA

Fourth Boating Accident Victim Recovered

Park divers recovered the body of R.P. - the last of the victims of the boating accident that claimed four lives in April - late on the morning of Wednesday, June 3rd. His body was found at a depth of 442 feet using side scan sonar and recovered by divers and staff employing a remote operated vehicle. The April 25th accident occurred near Padre Butte on Lake Powell. The incident began when Glen Canyon dispatch received a call of an overdue boating party of six. A National Park Service ranger soon arrived on scene and rescued two survivors, who reported that their boat had swamped after taking on water in a wind storm. Two bodies were also recovered at that time. The park immediately launched an intensive interagency search and rescue operation for the two remaining missing boaters. The body of the fifth victim was located and recovered on April 27th. The search continued for R.P. and involved both the Kane and San Juan County Sheriff's' Offices, Utah State Parks, and the Utah Department of Public Safety. The search for the boat continues; the cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Brian Sweatland, Chief of Planning, Compliance and External Affairs]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:

Point Reyes NS - Last fall, the park and its partner, the Point Reyes National Seashore Association, completed most of the construction of the Giacomini Wetland from reclaimed ranch land. Since then, an extraordinary array of species have populated the wetland.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7790" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7790

NIFC - The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) is soliciting start-up proposals to support regional consortia of fire science providers and managers. Proposals are due by July 10th.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7789" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7789

Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service. Included in this week's summary are new bills authorizing suitability and feasibility studies for adding certain coastal areas of Hawaii and the National D-Day Memorial as parks and to acquire lands to protect several Revolutionary War and War of 1812 sites.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7788" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7788

Fire and Aviation Management - On May 27th and 28th, members of the Service's Alpine interagency hotshot crew and a California hotshot crew participated in the annual South Canyon "staff ride" - a site visit and evaluation of the 1994 fire that took the lives of 14 firefighters. Photo.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7784" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7784

DSC - DSC contract specialist Joy Jamison retired on May 29th after 22 years of federal service, but returned immediately thereafter as a part-time contract specialist for the Contract Services Division.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2374" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2374

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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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