NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, July 15, 2013
INCIDENTS
Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP
Climber Critically Injured In 50-Foot Fall
On the afternoon of Sunday, June 30th, the park received a report of a serious fall and injury to a 30-year-old climber approximately one mile from Sunset Rock on a popular climbing route called “Celebrity Flake” on Lookout Mountain.
The climber attempted to clip into a bolt, but either the bolt failed or he didn't securely clip in; an investigation continues to determine the cause of the accident. The climber, who was wearing a helmet, then fell 50 feet from the ledge and landed on his head.
Ranger Todd Milsaps and personnel from Lookout Mountain Police/Fire, Hamilton County Search and Rescue, and EMS arrived on scene and stabilized his injuries. Following an hour-long carryout up to the rim of Sunset Rock, he was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga and admitted with critical injuries.
[Todd Roeder, Chief Ranger]
Grand Teton NP
Rangers Rescue Two Climbers Injured In Separate Accidents
Rangers orchestrated the rescue and aerial evacuation of two injured climbers from the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton on Thursday, July 11th. The two climbers were injured in separate, unrelated accidents while ascending the Grand Teton - one accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon and the other on Thursday morning.
Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call for assistance from the first climber early on Thursday morning. He reported that he'd injured an ankle on Wednesday when a rock he grabbed pulled loose and he fell during a guided climb of the Grand Traverse. After his fall, he was able to scale the North Ridge, where he was met by other guides who assisted him to the Lower Saddle. He then spent the night at a base camp there, but his injury prevented him from hiking out from the high elevation camp on Thursday morning.
Rangers summoned the Teton interagency contract helicopter to evacuate the climber. Three rangers were flown to the Lower Saddle to assist with the mission. While loading the man into the ship, rangers were approached by other climbers in the area who reported a second injured person.
While climbing with a companion, the second climber took a fall at the Golden Staircase on Exum Ridge on the Grand Teton and sustained a facial injury and possible head injury. Rangers treated her and placed her on the helicopter with the first climber for a quick flight to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache.
The double rescue of injured climbers was completed by late morning. Both climbers were transported via private vehicles to St. John's Medical Center for further care.
[Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):
Death Valley NP - On July 10th, the park visitor center auditorium was filled with weather enthusiasts from across the nation who came to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the hottest day ever recorded on earth - 134 degrees at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913.
Office of Communications - More than $1.1 million in grants have been awarded to help preserve and protect America's significant battlefield lands. The funds will support 24 projects at 38 battlefields in 15 states.
Alaska Region - Biologists with the Arctic I&M Network have a paper in the current edition of the Journal of Wildlife Management describing new methods for monitoring Dall's sheep that provide better information while reducing costs by as much as 80% over existing survey approaches.
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings, newly introduced bills, and the status of legislation of interest to the National Park Service. This report covers the week ending on Friday, July 12th.
Pacific West Region - Woody Smeck has been selected as superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Smeck has been acting in this position since April.
Kennesaw Mountain NBP - Long-time park volunteer Don Sawyer passed away on July 3rd from health complications. He'd been volunteering at the park since 2005.
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The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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