Arches |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2025. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Thursday, August 8, 1991 On the morning of July 30th, N.C.I. and H.N., both Japanese nationals who live and teach in Chicago, headed out for a short roundtrip hike on a trail in Devils Garden. They took a wrong turn on the trail, though, became lost in an area of tall sandstone fins and multiple drainages, and soon became separated from each other. N.C.I. eventually found a trail, returned to the trailhead, and reported his missing companion to a park ranger. Because of a variety of factors, including temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, H.N.'s limited outdoor experience, and his lack of adequate clothing and any drinking water, park staff determined that an aggressive response was in order. Personnel from both Arches and two districts of adjacent Canyonlands were mobilized. Three two-person hasty teams were sent out on foot, and two other two-person teams were sent out in vehicles to secure the search zone perimeter. A contract helicopter was brought in from nearby Mesa Verde to assist in the search. Soon after the helicopter's arrival on scene, observers on board spotted H.N. over a mile from any trail in rugged slickrock country. Although weak, extremely dehydrated (he'd been without water for eight hours) and hobbled by cactus spines in his feet, H.N. was in good condition and was released from a local hospital shortly after being admitted. H.N. observed and walked by numerous potholes and plunge pools filled with water from recent thunderstorms but never drank from any of them. [Telefax from RAD/RMRO, 8/7]
Sections of 306-foot-long Landscape Arch, the longest stone arch in the park, fell from the underside near the center of the span on last week. Several visitors at the arch on September 1st heard popping, cracking and snapping sounds, then saw a section measuring 60 by 8 by 5 feet fall to the ground. The park subsequently closed the trail under the arch. According to Superintendent Noel Poe, two more slabs fell on the 4th, and two other sections are expected to fall soon. The last recorded rockfall at Landscape Arch took place in the winter of 1941, when a large boulder slipped from the inside of the arch's north end. Poe said that no attempt will be made to prevent the arch from collapsing. [Associated Press, 9/7]
On July 10th, ranger Marc Yeston attempted to stop a late model BMW which was being driven in a reckless and dangerous manner - travelling at a high rate of speed and passing on blind curves. The driver sped away from the pursuing ranger, drove through two stop signs and left the park. A pursuit ensued which involved the ranger, a Grand County deputy, and Utah state troopers until it was apparent that the driver had eluded authorities. A roadblock was set up on the Colorado state line by Colorado troopers. The vehicle was eventually located about 37 miles northeast of the park by a local tour helicopter pilot who had been monitoring the pursuit over the radio. The BMW was finally stopped by a Utah trooper and an Emery County deputy north of Green River after having driven a circuitous 94-mile route east, west and then north of the park. Rangers Yeston and Al Cummings arrested the driver, W.H. of Pipersville, Pennsylvania. W.H. appeared before a U.S. magistrate that day and plead no contest to a count of reckless driving. He was fined $700. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 7/12]
On August 8th, a large thunderstorm passed over the park and dropped three- quarters of an inch of rain in about 40 minutes at the headquarters weather station. The weather was even more severe in the heart of the park further north, where hail caused whiteout conditions. Park visitors driving the main road pulled over to wait out the rain, including Dean Jakubczak, who was riding a motorcycle. A flash flood came down one of the dry washes that went beneath the road; the volume of water was many times the capacity of the 30-inch culvert and therefore spread down the road for about a half mile. Jakubczak's cycle was picked up and carried 770 feet down the road, then into another wash, where it was buried. The cycle and all of Jakubczak's personal gear were lost. Jakubczak, who had sought refuge in another visitor's van, attempted to save his cycle as the flood waters rose. His shoelaces became caught in the kickstand as the bike fell over, and he was dragged some 20 feet before becoming disentangled. He was not injured. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 8/24]
Arches rangers have been involved in a nine-month-long multi-agency investigation of the theft of paleontological and mineral resources from state-owned lands just west of the park. Based on information received last spring, rangers contacted four individuals - longtime Moab rock shop owner, fossil hunter and Canyonlands concessioner L.O.; L.O.'s female companion; and D.W. and E.W. of Rock Springs, Wyoming - who were excavating dinosaur bones and chert in the Dalton Wells area. After obtaining consent, a search of the W.'s vehicle revealed dinosaur bones which had been collected at this site. Subsequent investigations by Arches rangers, BLM rangers and Grand County sheriff's officers resulted in state charges being filed against L.O. and the W.s. Charges for theft of paleontological resources were quickly dismissed by the county judge, who unfortunately was unaware of the precedent-setting nature of the citations issued - the first known citations invoking the state's relatively recent paleontological protection act. The state proceeded with charges against L.O. in district court, contending that he had collected mineral resources from state land without a permit. The case will go to trial this spring. This is the first time such a case involving protection of mineral resources has been taken to district court in Utah. [CRO, ARCH, 1/14]
During the month-long period ending April 8th, the park's small staff were involved in four technical rescues, including one major rescue requiring the help of two Canyonlands rangers; three searches; four medicals involving transport to the hospital; four motor vehicle accidents, including a DUI and a rollover with four injuries and two trapped inside; and numerous minor law enforcement and traffic offenses. These incidents correspond to a significant increase in visitation (up 30% by the end of March) associated with the Moab area becoming a destination for college and high school students on spring breaks. During the same period, the park implemented a mandatory permit system for day hikers in Fiery Furnace, a popular but delicate sandstone fin area that has seen severe resource degradation in the last few years because of unregulated and uneducated users. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 4/10]
R.P., 38, of Moab, Utah, was killed in a motorcycle accident in the park on the evening of September 4th. Earlier in the evening, a visitor had contacted R.P. and his girlfriend at the Delicate Arch view point and told them that she was afraid because her husband had threatened her and their child. R.P. then drove to Devils Garden campground, reported the incident to a ranger, and was returning to the view point with the ranger behind him when he lost control of his motorcycle, slid into the westbound traffic lane, and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. An airlife helicopter and ambulance were summoned and CPR and first aid were administered to R.P. until the ambulance arrived. R.P. was later pronounced dead at Allen Memorial Hospital. While finishing the accident investigation, rangers were contacted by the woman who'd made the initial report about threats from her husband. She said that her husband had not returned and that she was concerned for his safety. She would not admit there was a problem, however, nor that she had earlier requested assistance. A hasty search was initiated but disbanded when a Grand County deputy located the husband in Moab. (Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH, 9/6)
Park campground host George Boardman, 76, died of natural causes on September 5th. He was flown to Saint Mary's on September 3rd and operated on for appendicitis. It was thought that he would be released within seven to ten days, but his condition deteriorated and he died on the 5th. Doctors have requested an autopsy, as they are unsure of the actual cause of death. His wife, Jean, and he were working on their second season as campground hosts here at Arches. She will return to Tucson after tying up her affairs in the area. (Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH,9/6)
On the afternoon of December 15th, a bighorn ram knocked down and injured a visitor who'd walked into the herd to take photographs. The man had gotten between the ram and the herd, then had turned his back on the ram and knelt down to take photos of the rest of the herd. Three smaller rams came to the front of the group and stared at the man, cocking their heads. When the man stood up, the large ram charged him, striking him on his right shoulder and knocking him to the ground. The man got up slowly and began screaming for help. Two passers-by ran to assist him, but the ram ignored them and charged again, striking the man in the middle of the back and again knocked him down. The visitors yelled and waved their arms at the ram, but he stood his ground. The ram did not charge again, though, and the visitors were able to get the man back to his car. Although the man suffered a bruise to his shoulder, severe abrasions on his back and complained of pain around his collar bone, he declined to report the incident and refused medical assistance offered by one of the witnesses. According to another of these witnesses, all of the rams displayed aggressive poses - lowering and cocking their heads - throughout the incident. This herd is well known in the Moab area because it grazes just off Utah Highway 191 along the park's southern border during the fall, winter and early spring. Many visitors stop to take photographs of the animals, but they usually move up the steep slopes into the park when photographers get too close. This is the first known instance of a bighorn butting a visitor. [Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH, 12/27]
On July 10th, sheriff's deputies and state highway patrol officers asked rangers to assist in an on-going pursuit of a stolen vehicle that had begun when the driver skipped out after filling up at a local gas station. The pursuit ended when the vehicle became disabled after travelling over extremely rough roads just north of the park. The driver, C.O., and a 16- year-old runaway fled on foot and jumped into a rugged canyon. They were soon spotted from a fixed-wing aircraft and arrested by rangers and state troopers. Two days later, a trooper pursued another stolen vehicle involved in another gas skip to a point near the park's visitor center, where the vehicle spun out and the driver, J.P., fled into the park. J.P. climbed up a steep, rocky slope above the visitor center. Rangers and officers quickly converged on the area and soon found him. J.P. threatened to jump off a cliff, but was subdued and arrested. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH]
On September 29th, rangers from the two parks assisted the Grand County sheriff's office with the rescue of M.M., 32, a rock climber who had been struck by lightning on Castleton Tower. They quickly reached her, provided advanced life support, and evacuated her from the area. M.M. suffered burns on 20% of her body. [Steve Swanke, CANY]
D.T., 13, of Magna, Utah, was running along the top of a sandstone fin in Devils Garden campground on November 25th when he lost his footing and fell 75 feet to the ground, landing on sand between two rock outcrops, missing both by inches. D.T. suffered open fractures of a femur and humerus. He was stabilized by a visiting paramedic and evacuated by park staff to a waiting ambulance. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH]
A number of incidents occurred in the park during the week preceding Easter weekend - the final week in over a month of "spring breaks," during which multitudes of college and high school students descended on the Moab and park area. These incidents included a high-angle rescue of a rimrocked father and his daughter, the carry-out and helicopter evacuation of a hiker who fell about 35 feet after entering a closed area, and assists (under a cooperative agreement) to BLM and the county sheriff in the surrounding Colorado River and Sand Flats areas. The latter entailed arrests, accident investigations, medical responses, crowd control, and numerous citations for alcohol, illegal camping and motor vehicle violations. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH]
Rangers from Arches and Canyonlands recently assisted Grand County sheriff's deputies in the evacuation of an 18-year-old woman who had fallen 50 feet and received extensive back and leg injuries. Rangers Galen and Wendy Howell, Steve Swanke and Marc Yeston provided the technical expertise required to lower the victim over a 150-foot overhanging cliff to a waiting litter evacuation team - all at night. The victim was then evacuated by helicopter to a regional trauma center, where she remains in intensive care. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH]
On April 29th, fee collector A.W. became suspicious of the validity of a Golden Age passport presented by a Mr. D. She asked him to take the pass out of his wallet and give it to her. As she was about to return it to him, she discovered that the back of it was blank. D. immediately admitted that it was a color photocopy that he had made for his wife when they were traveling separately, as she was only 62 years old. He then produced the original, which was confiscated. The investigation continues. A.W. noted that she wouldn't have realized it was a fraud even by holding it, as it had been printed on card stock paper. In May, the park began checking the identification of visitors presenting Golden Eagle passports, as there were indications that these were being misused. Over 50 passes were seized in a two-week period, all of which had been loaned or given to visitors by friends or family members. Since most of the visitors then purchased replacement passes, the park collected about $1100 it would otherwise not have received. One visitor admitted that he was the third person to use the pass, which was being circulated in Germany. Another visitor received his pass with the rental of his motorhome and provided the park with a copy of the company's brochure, which advertised the availability of Golden Eagle passports. When the company was contacted, the owner admitted that he received the passes from people returning their vehicles, and that he then gives them to subsequent renters. This investigation is also continuing. [Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH]
Last October 3rd, a patrol ranger spotted a single-engine plane flying at low altitudes near Balanced Rock. The plane was flying within 500 feet of the patrol vehicle when first observed, and continued its low flight past the Balanced Rock area, where several park visitors were on the trail or in the parking lot. The plane made several more low passes over some of the park's developed attractions, then headed to the airport near Moab. The plane and its owner, D.K., were identified at the airport the following morning with the help of staff from a local air tour operator. An enforcement complaint was filed with the FAA. The case went to a hearing in Salt Lake City on May 1st, and resulted in D.K. receiving a 30-day suspension of his pilot's license. D.K. still has the right to appeal. D.K. has had several FAA complaints filed against him in his home state of Texas [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH]
Q.F., a 22-year-old student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was struck by lightning on the Delicate Arch trail during the passage of a particularly active thunderstorm on the evening of Saturday, August 24th. Q.F. was hiking with his brother and two companions when he was struck. A physician, a third-year medical student, a paramedic and a critical care unit nurse were all in close proximity at the time of the incident and began CPR immediately. A cell phone call was made to the county sheriff's office; they in turn notified the park. A park team, which included a paramedic and an EMT and members of a local ambulance company, hiked in and provided advanced life support, restoring Q.F.'s pulse. He was flown to a hospital in Grand Junction, where he eventually succumbed from complicating internal trauma and burns. Two lightning-caused fires also occurred during the storm's passage. The first was extinguished by visitors in the campground who employed large squirt guns and kitchen tools to suppress the fire. The second caused minor burns to a visitor who attempted to put it out. [Marc Yeston, CANY]
On Monday, December 9th, A.M. of Moab, Utah, was reported overdue by her husband when she failed to return from a day of Christmas shopping in Grand Junction, Colorado. Local law enforcement officers and park rangers searched the off-road areas along the 110-mile stretch of highway between Moab and Grand Junction by ground and air, but found no sign of her. On the evening of December 12th, a trapper discovered her car in a remote area north of the park. The search was expanded the next morning and included rangers, local SAR team members, four dog teams, a state police helicopter, and Civil Air Patrol aircraft. Around 3 p.m., rangers discovered barefoot tracks in the area of Salt Wash within the park. Three dog teams were flown in and worked different locations along the canyon. Just before sunset, one of the teams spotted A.M.. She was evaluated by a park paramedic, then flown to a hospital in Moab and treated for dehydration and minor foot injuries. A.M. said that she'd taken a wrong turn while attempting to take a shortcut back to Moab. After her car became stuck, she decided to hike toward what she thought was the direction of the highway. Soon after she left her car, she lost both of her shoes in calf-deep mud. Over the next four days, she walked barefoot over rugged terrain, covering almost eight miles. A.M. benefitted from unseasonably warm temperatures and ample water in the form of snow. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH]
A ranger on morning patrol came upon a frost-covered vehicle parked in a day- use picnic area parking lot on the morning of January 31st. While walking through the picnic area, looking for an out-of-bounds camper, the ranger came upon the body of a man hanging from a tree limb. A search of the vehicle turned up a suicide note and many personal possessions. Positive identification and next-of-kin notifications had not been made at the time of the report. A joint investigation with the county is underway. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 2/3]
On February 26th, L.M. of Vail, Colorado, was hiking off-trail with a friend in rough, steep terrain in the Elephant Butte area when he slipped and fell at least 50 feet, suffering severe traumatic injuries upon striking the ground. Responding rangers and local ambulance personnel provided life support, but L.M. died about two-and-a-half hours later during a high- angle, night-time scree evacuation. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 2/26]
On March 17th, eight-year-old C.H. of Kaysville, Utah, jumped into an eight-foot-deep pothole on top of a tall, narrow sandstone fin located in a picnic area adjacent to the Devils Garden campground. He quickly realized that he was unable to climb out of the pothole; when his shouts failed to bring help, he removed his shoes and socks, filled them with sand and rocks found on the pothole floor, and repeatedly threw them up into the air, trying to draw attention to his location. The combination of visual and audio signals eventually attracted attention and led to a night-time technical rescue which concluded with a rappel of over 50 feet off the fin to the ground. C.H. was unhurt. The incident aroused substantial media interest in the Salt Lake City area and provided several opportunities for the NPS to provide preventive SAR information to the large number of people who will be arriving in the area on school breaks over the next several weeks. This was one of three search or rescue operations in the park within a four-day period. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 3/19]
On June 26th, G.R., 49, was hiking the Delicate Arch trail when he experienced chest pains. Two friends went for help. Ranger Karyl Yeston responded along with a county ambulance crew and other rescue personnel. They found G.R. in full arrest and immediately began CPR and advanced life support efforts. These were continued during an air ambulance flight to a regional medical center. At the time of the report, G.R. was conscious, stable and able to eat whole food. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 7/2]
At 7:30 p.m. on August 22nd, dispatch at the local sheriff's office received a report that several people dressed in camouflage fatigues and ski masks and carrying rifles had gotten out of a vehicle near the Courthouse Wash trailhead and had entered the park. The area is just across a busy highway from a commercial campground and only three miles north of Moab city limits. The responding rangers and sheriff's deputy located five juvenile male Explorer Scouts matching the description. The boys, all from Layton, Utah, had been dropped off by three adult guardians who were going on a sunset hike to Delicate Arch. Investigation revealed that the rifles were in fact CO2- powered handguns that shoot paint balls, and that the boys were in the process of "playing war." An NPS-owned bulletin board, highway bridge, rock cliffs and culvert had all been struck by paint balls. Three of the boys eluded pursuit; the fifth boy was finally contacted 30 minutes after the arrival of the first ranger. The juveniles were brought to a park office to await the arrival of their guardians, who finally returned at 10 p.m., well after dark. Several mandatory appearance citations were issued, and the juveniles were released to the custody of the guardians after parental contact. This incident followed another paint ball vandalism incident in the Fiery Furnace section of the park earlier in the summer by a group of younger Boy Scouts from the Salt Lake City area who were on a sanctioned "adventure camp" trip. These incidents and others have led the park to begin discussions with the Utah Boy Scout executive leadership about the conduct, actions, guidance and supervision of Utah-based Boy Scout trips to NPS areas. If anyone in the NPS has had recent similar incidents concerning Utah Boy Scouts, please relay them to NPS Utah state director Marty Ott or to Arches chief ranger Jim Webster. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 8/28]
On September 21st, a locked canvas bag containing $2,025 in cash, travelers' checks and personal checks - the receipts from one fee collector's entrance station duty that morning - was stolen from the park's fee collection office. The theft was discovered the following morning by two visitor use assistants who were preparing the previous day's remittance. Rangers conducted the initial investigation and interviews; the FBI participated in the subsequent investigation. On October 15th, an FBI agent interviewed a first-year seasonal visitor use assistant (one of the two who "discovered" the theft) and elicited a confession to the theft. About half the cash was found buried in a plastic bag out in the desert near Moab and was recovered; the balance had already been spent. The canvas bag had been tossed in a dumpster in town and the personal and travelers' checks had been destroyed. The employee, who has been terminated, has agreed to repay the stolen money. The U.S. attorney's office will prosecute for theft of public money (18 USC 641). Jim Braggs was the lead NPS investigator. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 10/23]
On November 8th, five young adults became stranded on a vertical 400-foot cliff at Mat Martin Point near the Colorado River about 13 miles north of Moab. They had hiked to the top of the cliff to rappel down the rock face. During the descent, the cotton rope they were using, which had been acquired by the father of a member of the group during military service many years ago, got stuck in a crack, making further descent impossible. Since they didn't possess any ascending equipment, they were stranded on the cliff. Passing motorists heard calls for help and advised the sheriff's office, which in turn summoned help from the NPS. Rangers Galen Howell, Wendy Howell and Steve Swanke responded. Galen Howell completed a lead climb to the four members of the group who were lowest on the cliff (about 120 feet off the ground) and rescued them; the fifth was subsequently rescued by a county rescue team. The members of the group were dressed in T-shirts and shorts during their 18-hour ordeal. It rained and sleeted for most of the time during the rescue operation, and temperatures were in the low 30s. The rappel harnesses and hardware that one member of the group had were improperly and unsafely utilized. During the rappel, several of the group's members were hit by falling rocks; on one occasion, one of them fell while trying to free climb in an attempt to free a jammed rope and only avoided death by landing on a ledge. The rock face had tons of loose rock, which complicated rescue operations. All five were treated for the initial stages of hypothermia, then released. One was overhead saying that "they had conquered the wall." [Steve Swanke, DR, CANY, 11/10]
Ranger Kyle Nelson overheard BLM radio traffic about two parachutists jumping from a cliff located within Arches NP and along the Colorado River on November 11th. The BASE jumpers landed in a clearing in a campground being developed by BLM. Nelson asked that the BLM employees witnessing the incident detain the jumpers, which they did; rangers Nelson and Jim Webster arrived shortly thereafter. Investigation and interviews with the two jumpers - B.C., 29, of Long Beach, California, and Dr. M.C., 33, an emergency room physician from Lexington, Kentucky - revealed that they had jumped from a high cliff facing the Colorado River called Arches Point. Both claimed that they did not know that the take-off point was located within a national park. Their equipment was immediately seized and citations were issued two days later for air delivery (defined in CFR as "delivering or retrieving a person or object by parachute, helicopter, or other airborne means..."). Both paid their fines on December 12th and had their equipment returned to them on January 3rd. This is the first time that BASE jumping activity has been confirmed at Arches NP, although several reports have been taken in that area over the past three years. BASE jumping is occurring more frequently in the Moab area, and was broadly publicized by an organized event on BLM lands last spring, with at least one more event scheduled for later this year. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 1/7]
On January 2nd, M.C., 75, of Moab, Utah, was hiking with friends in a side canyon off of Courthouse Wash, a major drainage running through the park. She slipped and fell on ice on a talus slope, breaking the head of her right femur. One person in her group went for help, while the rest found a better location for her to rest, built a fire, and awaited rescue. A large rescue crew comprised of NPS personnel from all park divisions and from nearby Canyonlands NP responded. The extended carryout was hampered by rugged terrain, cold, darkness, and multiple stream and ice crossings. M.C. is a fit woman and was in training for an upcoming local half marathon. Ranger Karyl Yeston was IC. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 1/7]
K.H. of West Jordan, Utah, was stopped by a state trooper in Grand Junction, Colorado, on April 1st. A routine check showed that he had a felony warrant against him, but he sped away in his pickup truck before an arrest could be made. A 90-mile vehicle pursuit ensued, with speeds in excess of 100 mph. K.H. left I-70 north of the park and traveled cross- country through open, rugged desert terrain toward Arches. The truck was eventually stopped less than two miles from the park. Arches rangers Wendy Howell and Karyl Yeston played a pivotal role in getting K.H.'s forward progress halted and eventually stopped by their tactical positioning and knowledge of the area. Over 16 officers from five agencies and two states, a helicopter and airplane were involved in the pursuit. K.H., who stated that he would rather die than go to jail, was taken into custody without incident. There were no injuries. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 4/20]
On April 2nd, G.C., 19, of Spokane, Washington, was hiking and free- climbing in a narrow, steep, walled box canyon on BLM land near the park when she lost her footing, slid down a steep slickrock slope, and dropped vertically into a narrow crack. G.C. sustained multiple traumatic injuries, including a broken back, a severely angulated ankle fracture, and head injuries. The county SAR team asked the park for assistance, and rangers Galen and Wendy Howell responded. Galen Howell and five other rescuers were lowered by helicopter onto a narrow ledge near the accident scene. G.C. was stabilized, moved to a landing zone, then airlifted to a local hospital. Many of the people involved in the rescue had recently taken or instructed at a 32-hour, high-angle technical rescue course sponsored by the NPS. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 4/20]
On May 6th, 23-year-old A.M. was on a group hike in the Delicate Arch area when other members of the group noted that he was missing. A search was begun immediately and he was spotted at the base of a 150-foot cliff. The location was inaccessible, though, so group members were unable to reach him. Rangers and the county short-haul team responded via foot and helicopter and determined that A.M. had suffered fatal injuries in the fall. His body was removed from the location by a helicopter using a long line. The circumstances surrounding the fall are being investigated by rangers and county authorities. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 5/11]
On October 13th, K.K., 43, of Conifer, Colorado, fell more than 200 feet to his death in a mountain bike accident on BLM land immediately adjacent to the park. Seven rangers from Arches and Canyonlands joined over 30 county SAR personnel in the recovery effort, which was complicated by nightfall, a high potential for rockfall, and the lack of helicopter support. The operation lasted for six hours and included several vertical litter lowerings and a 600-foot, belayed, low-angle scree evacuation. About six months ago, another mountain biker fell to his death from the same location. Many of the rangers and county rescue personnel worked both incidents. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 10/16]
A gas pipeline explosion occurred less than a half mile north of the park's visitor center and main entrance on Highway 191 just before 10 a.m. on December 3rd. A construction crew installing a new gas pipeline ruptured an existing ten-inch line carrying unrefined natural gas liquids. Workers heard the sound of escaping gas and fled; shortly thereafter, the gas ignited, creating a fireball and plume of black smoke visible for miles. Rangers heard the explosion and contacted the county sheriff's office. A 150-foot high column of flame was visible above the 200-foot high ridge directly in front of the visitor center, but the ridge prevented substantial and possibly catastrophic damage to the park's headquarters area and injury to park visitors and employees who reside there. The entire area was immediately evacuated, and gas and electrical services were shut off. Visitors and employees already in the park were prevented from entering the area and had to either exit the park via backcountry roads or spend the night in the park campground. An immediate interagency response ensued. Over 100 fire, EMS, SAR, hazmat and law enforcement personnel from about 20 agencies with a 200- mile radius of the incident responded. The incident was managed under a unified interagency command. There were initial reports of up to 20 fatalities, but these proved incorrect - three pipeline workers received minor injuries and a fourth was hospitalized with internal injuries. A D-8 Caterpillar bulldozer and eight other motor vehicles were incinerated in the blaze, and a tractor-trailer travelling over the highway was damaged. Damage to park resources included destruction of all vegetation covering about 50 acres and loss of a number of park boundary signs. Highway 191 was closed for a day and a half, and nearby high voltage electric transmission lines were shutdown for two days. Media interest in the incident was very high. Twenty-eight NPS employees from Arches and Canyonlands NPs responded; several filled key overhead positions and the remainder provided EMS, park security, traffic control, spotter aircraft overflights, public information, and family liaison. Eight park residents were evacuated from their homes for two days, with most housed in local motels. The park remained closed and the headquarters complex remained evacuated until repairs to the pipeline were completed in the early morning hours of December 5th. The park returned to normal operations later that morning. [Gary Haynes and Jim Webster, ARCH, 12/6]
Two motorized paragliders, also known as "powerchutes," landed at a picnic area inside the park at dusk on October 1st. The two men operating the craft were met by members of their group in motor homes, who were reportedly in radio contact with them while they were flying. A Biological Resources Division employee who saw the landing contacted the group. One of the pilots told her that he landed because it was getting dark. Rangers arrived shortly thereafter. During the several hours prior to the landing, the park had received multiple complaints that up to eleven paragliders were flying at low altitude over various park features, including over and beside Delicate Arch. The two pilots - M.L.T. and T.P.S., both French nationals - were cited under 36 CFR 2.17, aircraft and air delivery, and their equipment was seized as evidence. Rangers Jim Webster and Karyl Yeston met with members of the group the following morning to educate them about relevant regulations and laws and the issues of quiet as a valuable resource, overflights, and visitor expectations. The group was comprised of 14 motorized paraglider pilots and support crew members, all from France. They were making one-day flights over scenic areas along their route from Los Angeles to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, where they would be making demonstration flights. Several of the pilots are of international renown in the motorized paragliding community; one was featured in the March, 1999, issue of National Geographic. Prior to the incident at Arches, the group had been camping, landing and taking off outside parks, but had flown over Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Death Valley NPs. Group members had been contacted by rangers in each of those parks and had been informed of regulations governing air delivery (landing and taking off) and the FAA advisory requesting that pilots maintain a 2,000-foot altitude over protected areas. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 10/29]
On November 20th, Grand County SAR asked rangers from the two parks to assist them in the rescue of a seriously injured climber near Castle Valley, just across the Colorado River from Arches NP. Z.H. was climbing a route on the south face of Rectory Butte when a rock was dislodged by another climber above him; the rock struck him on the head, knocking him off a narrow ledge. Although he was wearing a helmet, he was knocked unconscious and suffered a closed-skull fracture and other traumatic injuries. One climber remained with him while another rappelled to the ground and summoned help via a cell phone in her vehicle, located over an hour away. A team of nine rescuers, including four NPS rangers, was flown by helicopter to the top of the 375-foot rock tower. Two rescuers were lowered about 100 feet to Z.H. They treated him and got him loaded onto a litter. He was then lifted to the top of the rock, where a waiting medical helicopter picked him up and flew him to a trauma center in Grand Junction. Night fell during the final stages of the operation. Z.H. remains in serious condition. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 11/22]
P.T., an inmate at the Grand County Jail in Moab, Utah, escaped from a cellblock through a ventilation shaft on the evening of May 31st. He'd earlier been overheard saying that he was going to escape and that he would kill anyone who got in his way. All available law enforcement personnel in the region were asked to help assist in securing the area. Eight rangers from the two parks were assigned to roadblocks and perimeter security duties. P.T. was stopped at a roadblock near Monticello. He turned his stolen vehicle around and fled at a high rate of speed, with state and city officers in pursuit. He left the highway and headed down a dirt road, but crashed the vehicle, suffering extensive injuries. He was taken into custody and is currently in a hospital in Salt Lake City. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 6/1]
On August 1st, a 13-year-old boy from Woodstock, Illinois, was mountain biking on a backcountry trail outside of Moab (and directly across the Colorado River from Arches NP) with his father and other members of a youth group. He biked ahead of his group, took a wrong turn, and became lost in very rugged desert canyon terrain. An initial search was conducted that night by county SAR team members; it proved fruitless, so a major search was begun the following day. The NPS was asked to assist and contributed 18 employees to the effort. The incident involved well over 100 people from numerous local, county, federal, private and volunteer organizations and received significant regional media attention. Arches and Canyonlands employees worked as trackers, ground searchers, dog team members, aerial searches, and support staff in plans, logistics and communications. Ranger Gary Haynes was the plans section chief. Environmental conditions were a major consideration, with daytime temperatures reaching 110 degrees, steep canyons, and rough and rocky terrain. The search continued until mid-day on August 5th, when trackers found the boy's body about two-and-a-half miles from his abandoned bicycle. There were no injuries or heat-related illnesses during the operation despite the prevailing conditions. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 8/7]
On the morning of September 19th, visitors reported that fires had been set in the area immediately around Delicate Arch. Investigating rangers found that four fires had apparently been lit on the previous night, one of which was still smoldering. The fires, set on bare rock and sand directly underneath and beside Delicate Arch, caused scorching and discoloration of the red sandstone. Efforts to restore the fire scars have been complicated by the presence of an oily or waxy substance that has stained and penetrated into the rock surface beneath each of the scars. The park is in the process of securing the services of a professional stone conservator to conduct a damage assessment and to determine if the fire scorching is permanent. A criminal investigation is currently under way. Investigators have already determined who set the fires and the reason they were set. A decision regarding prosecution will be made by the U.S. Attorney's Office when the investigation and assessment are completed, probably during the next few weeks. This incident has attracted statewide and regional media attention. Delicate Arch is probably the most famous natural span in the world and is a place of unsurpassed natural beauty in an incomparable setting. As well as being one of the most recognized icons of the National Park System, it is also synonymous with Utah in many people's eyes. The arch is featured in innumerable publications and advertisements and on Utah's centennial license plate. A facsimile was featured at the closing ceremonies of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 10/20]
A ranger checking backcountry road conditions on February 21st came upon a vehicle parked 30 feet off Salt Valley Road. He saw that the engine was running and that dryer vent tubing ran from the exhaust pipe to a partially-closed window. The remaining windows were closed. The driver - a 40-year-old Denver man - was dead. The death has been ruled a suicide. Rangers and county authorities investigated. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 2/26]
On March 7th, a large rock fall occurred during a technical rock rescue training session being conducted in the park. Seventeen people were attending the training. The rock, estimated to be between 30 and 40 feet long and weighing over one ton, fell nearly 300 feet from the top of a sandstone cliff. It struck a small protrusion near the beginning of its fall, causing a loud noise, then broke up on its way down. The noise alerted six people who were directly below, sitting down to take a lunch break. They scattered just before the rock hit the ground a few yards behind the lunch location and exploded. Two park employees were injured. Andrew Fitzgerald was knocked to the ground by flying debris and suffered a head injury and multiple lacerations; Lee Kaiser, who was not among the six, injured his leg slightly while trying to get away from the flying rock. Fitzgerald was treated for his injuries, secured to a litter, lowered over the side of a 100-foot cliff to a second team, then transported a quarter-mile cross-country to a waiting ambulance. His injuries turned out to be relatively minor, and he was released from the hospital later that afternoon. Rain had fallen off and on for several days prior to the training session. Examination of the release site at the top of the cliff revealed that a large sandstone flake had simply let go of the surrounding rock. The rain-weakened condition of the sandstone, an existing crack in the rock, and freeze-thaw conditions typical of late winter in the area are thought to have been the primary reasons for the natural release. The high-angle rock rescue training is a joint NPS - Grand County SAR session conducted annually before the visitor season begins. Those who were directly below the falling rock with Fitzgerald and therefore had a "near death experience" were Murray Shoemaker and Nathan Plants from Arches NP, Dan Habig from Canyonlands NP, and Bego Gerhart and Frank Mendonca of Grand County SAR. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 3/10]
On May 25th, a group of 40 college students and professors from Juniata College in Pennsylvania went on a hike in a rugged backcountry section of the park. Several members of the group began exhibiting the symptoms of heat exhaustion following a climb out of the steep, 800-foot Colorado River canyon. The trip leader decided that the group could not descend back into the canyon because the route was too steep and exposed, so he lead them cross county to another canyon where descent was easier. More members of the group became ill from heat and lack of fluids, and two became lost. The leader made a 911 cell phone call at 12:30 p.m. and reported the group's situation. A multi-agency search and rescue mission was launched which eventually involved 37 people from Arches and Canyonlands, St. Mary's Air Care, and Grand County SAR, EMS and sheriff's office. Although a number of the students were suffering from various degrees of heat exhaustion, they were able to walk out of the canyon under their own power. Three required rescue from the canyon, including one in serious condition who had to be medevaced by helicopter; all three were hospitalized. Searchers found the two missing people just as the last heat victim was evacuated from the canyon. The high temperature for the day was 99 degrees. The three students who were hospitalized were all released later that evening. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 5/30]
On the morning of September 19, 2000, visitors reported that fires had been set in the area immediately around Delicate Arch. Investigating rangers found that four fires had apparently been lit on the previous night, one of which was still smoldering. Three of the fires, set on bare rock and sand directly underneath and beside Delicate Arch, caused scorching and discoloration of the red sandstone. Efforts by local park staff to restore the fire scars were unsuccessful, in part because of the presence of an oily or waxy substance that stained and penetrated into the rock surface beneath each of the scars. An intensive investigation led to the identification of Michael Fatali, 36, of Springdale, Utah, as the man who had set the fires. On October 19th, Fatali was charged in federal court with several violations of federal law in connection with these fires and others set at Canyonlands NP. Fatali, who apparently used the fires as a photographic technique, is charged with injuring or defacing mineral resources in a national park; unauthorized fire in a national park; lighting or using a fire that damages or burns national park resources; leaving a fire unextinguished on public lands; and aiding and abetting. Each of the seven misdemeanor counts carries a potential maximum prison sentence of six months and a fine of up to $5,000. Investigators believe that Fatali used Duraflame logs to start several of the fires, and that Fatali started similar fires about four years ago at Horsehoof Arch and in a slot canyon known as "The Joint Trail," both in Canyonlands NP. Restoration work on the Arches burns was completed on October 20th. Two of the three fire scars are no longer visible, and the worst of the three fire scars - the one directly beneath the arch - looks much better than before, though still visible. The rehabilitation project was undertaken by Bob Hartzler, NPS architectural conservator from Santa Fe, with assistance from Angelyn Rivera of Bandelier NM. Hartzler has described their efforts as follows: "Our treatments were conservative, consistent with our practice of balancing treatment effectiveness against the impact of the treatments on the monument. Most of the soot staining remaining on the sandstone is firmly adhered in the top millimeter of the stone, and proved to be resistant to treatments with either of the two cleaning preparations we brought. Spot tests with a small range of over-the-counter cleaning products also proved mostly ineffective. Cleaning efforts by the park and a year of weathering and natural erosion have removed most of the primarily surface soiling. We were able to remove all of the melted plastic-like deposits... Mechanical removal of the top layer of the soiled stone would eliminate the remaining soiling, but we believe that treatment is not warranted, and do not recommended it. Some soiling remains, but I believe the appearance of the damaged areas was improved, and the stains will continue to fade." [Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH, 10/22]
The Intermountain-Midwest incident management team remains very active in supporting the NPS commitment to the Winter Olympics, which begin on February 8th in Salt Lake City and will conclude on February 24th. The team has incorporated personnel from other agencies (USFS, BLM and Utah State Parks) into its organization in order to serve interagency needs during the games. Selections have been made for most NPS assignments (including alternates) for this event - a total of 105 Level I commissioned rangers (and six alternates), six information specialists (and four alternates), and eight media relations personnel have been notified of their assignments, some beginning as early as January 28th. Still to be notified are NPS employees who will staff the Discover Navajo 2002 exhibit. There was tremendous interest in these assignments and the team extends its appreciation for the high level of support offered by many field personnel and their managers. The NPS will provide commissioned rangers for a security detail under the direction of the Secret Service, primarily in the alpine venues around Park City. The Service will also staff the host city visitor center in downtown Salt Lake City daily throughout the games, along with BLM, USFS, and Utah State Parks. The host city VC opened on October 31st and features exhibits on America's public lands that were designed, fabricated and installed under the direction of Harpers Ferry Center and NPS Olympics coordinator Bob Van Belle. The center will also feature an interpretive sales area organized by a consortium of Colorado Plateau cooperating associations. The NPS will have staff at three different media centers in Salt Lake City and Park City at various times throughout the games. Park staff from Golden Spike NHS will work under a USFS IMT providing information on public lands at Snow Basin Ski Area. Staff from Timpanogos Cave NM will provide the same information at Soldier Hollow, where Nordic events will occur. The Service's trails program will also have an exhibit on the Pony Express at Soldier Hollow, with support provided by National Pony Express Association volunteers. This demonstration area, within easy view of the Nordic events, will feature buffalo, wild horses, Native Americans and other western Americana icons and will be managed through a cooperative state and federal effort. The Olympic torch relay begins on December 4th and enters Utah on February 4th, with visits to Arches NP, Bryce Canyon NP and Zion NP (all on the same day). The torch will pass through a total of 22 NPS sites across the country, with major events scheduled at four or five of those areas. For additional information, see the following web sites: NPS involvement (Intranet only): http://im.den.nps.gov/den_olyDR.cfm Visitor information: www.saltlakeinfo.org Interagency public lands information: www.fs.fed.us/r4/2002/apl Information on nearby NPS sites: www.npsolympics2002.org General Olympics information: http://www.slc2002.org Additional updates will appear in future Morning Reports. [Larry Frederick, IMT, 11/29]
On the morning of September 19, 2000, visitors reported that fires had been set in the area immediately around Delicate Arch. Investigating rangers found that four fires had apparently been lit on the previous night, one of which was still smoldering. Three of the fires, set on bare rock and sand directly underneath and beside Delicate Arch, caused scorching and discoloration of the red sandstone. Efforts by local park staff to restore the fire scars were unsuccessful, in part because of the presence of an oily or waxy substance that stained and penetrated into the rock surface beneath each of the scars. An intensive investigation led to the identification of M.F., 36, of Springdale, Utah, as the man who had set the fires. On October 19th, M.F. was charged in federal court with several violations of federal law in connection with these fires and others set at Canyonlands NP. On December 7th, M.F. pled guilty to seven misdemeanor charges for injuring/defacing mineral resources in a national park, setting an unauthorized fire in a national park, lighting/using a fire that damaged or burned park resources, leaving a fire unextinguished on public lands, and aiding and abetting. As a part of the plea agreement, M.F. agreed to "personally make full restitution to the National Park Service (Arches NP and Canyonlands NP) for the offenses charged." The sentencing hearing will be held on February 1st. For additional information on this incident, see the October 26th Morning Report. [Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH, 12/7]
The Intermountain Region/Midwest Region incident management team has established an incident command post in the BLM state office building in downtown Salt Lake City in support of the NPS involvement in the upcoming winter Olympics. The IMT has had a presence in Salt Lake since January 9th, and the full team will be in place effective today. The phone number for the information desk at the ICP is 801-539-4273 and will be staffed daily throughout the games, which end on February 24th. The IMT should be released on or about February 28th. Around 140 National Park Service personnel will be involved in supporting the games, including members of the IMT, personnel already stationed in Salt Lake, staff from Timpanogos Cave NM and Golden Spike NHS, law enforcement personnel assigned to the games, and staff who will work at the media centers, the host city's visitor center, the Pony Express exhibit at Soldier Hollow (venue for Nordic events), the Discover Navajo 2002 exhibit, and information stations at Snowbasin ski area and Soldier Hollow. The incident has become an interagency effort, with BLM, the Forest Service and Utah State Parks joining the NPS to form the "America's Public Lands" coalition and cooperating at all levels, including filling positions on the IMT. The IMT and NPS staff in Salt Lake are also supporting requests for assistance from the offices of the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the National Park Service. The opening of the games, which occurs on the night of Friday, February 8th, will be proceeded by the Olympic torch relay, which passed through Yellowstone NP on January 27th and will enter Utah at Delicate Arch in Arches NP on the morning of February 4th and continue on through Bryce Canyon NP and Zion NP the same day. [Larry Frederick, Deputy Ops Chief, IMT, 1/25]
The Olympic torch made its official entry into the state of Utah on February 4th in a dramatic sunrise ceremony beneath Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. On hand to witness the flame enter Utah were the director, the governor of Utah and other dignitaries, all of whom made the mile-and-a-half hike to the arch in the dark in temperatures well below freezing. Media from around the globe covered the event live from both Delicate Arch and from the Windows section of the park. Some 400 members of the public viewed the entry from the bowl beneath Delicate Arch. The events within the park and the subsequent torch relay through the nearby community of Moab presented a huge logistical challenge, with some 150 personnel dedicated to the event. Grand County SO and Moab PD were the primary players in a unified command structure with the NPS; support and personnel were supplied by Moab FD, Grand County SAR, Grand County Ambulance, BLM, Utah State Parks and Moab Public Works. Local outfitters supplied shuttle buses and drivers to provide transportation to both media and members of the public. Included among the torchbearers were Arches employees Gary Haynes and Natalie Hettman and Canyonlands employee Dan Greenblatt. Arches chief ranger Jim Webster was the IC. [Paul Henderson, IIO, IMT, 2/5]
On the morning of September 19, 2000, visitors reported that fires had been set in the area immediately around Delicate Arch. Investigating rangers found that four fires had apparently been lit on the previous night, one of which was still smoldering. Three of the fires, set on bare rock and sand directly underneath and beside Delicate Arch, caused scorching and discoloration of the red sandstone. Efforts by local park staff to restore the fire scars were unsuccessful, in part because of the presence of an oily or waxy substance that stained and penetrated into the rock surface beneath each of the scars. An intensive investigation led to the identification of M.F., 36, of Springdale, Utah, as the man who had set the fires. On October 19,2001, M.F. was charged in federal court with several violations of federal law in connection with these fires and others set at Canyonlands NP. Restoration efforts were largely successful. Two of the three fire scars are no longer visible, and the worst of the three fire scars - the one directly beneath the arch - looks much better than before, though still visible. On December 7, 2001, M.F. pled guilty to seven misdemeanor charges for injuring/defacing mineral resources in a national park, setting an unauthorized fire in a national park, lighting/using a fire that damaged or burned park resources, leaving a fire unextinguished on public lands, and aiding and abetting. As a part of the plea agreement, M.F. agreed to "personally make full restitution to the National Park Service (Arches NP and Canyonlands NP) for the offenses charged." The park subsequently recently received a cashier's check in the amount of $10,922.90. On February 1st, M.F. was sentenced to two years' probation, during which time he will not be allowed to enter Canyonlands or Arches National Parks. He will also be serving 150 hours of community service. [Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH, 2/12]
On December 6, the pursuit of an armed man who had stolen a Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) cruiser was resolved when he was arrested less than a half mile north of the remote northeast boundary of Arches. Over 30 officers and two aircraft from seven agencies, including two Arches rangers, were involved in the pursuit and ensuing manhunt. After crashing the patrol car on a rugged two-track road, the handcuffed suspect, L.S., stole an assault rifle from the trunk of the car and fled on foot. An Arches ranger was dispatched to secure the eastern flank of the search area and evacuate a 15-person NPS exotic vegetation crew working in the Lost Spring Canyon part of the park. The ranger was the first officer to make contact with L.S., who was near the NPS work crew vehicles. A minute later, two UHP officers with a police dog arrived. L.S. was arrested without incident following a short foot chase. The rifle was recovered several days later about a mile from the arrest site. [Submitted by Jim Webster, Chief Ranger]
On December 17, five Arches and Canyonlands rangers assisted local law enforcement agencies in securing Highway 191 through and near Moab, including the Arches entrance road, when a semi tractor-trailer driver led police on a dangerous high speed chase through two states and down the main street of Moab. The operators, M.P. of Salt Lake City, had driven through two roadblocks and had his tires flattened by road spikes. He told police via telephone and CB radio that "you guys will have to kill me, I'm not stopping." The truck was finally stopped four miles north of the park entrance, but only after the trailer's air brake lines had been disabled by gunshots fired by a Utah Highway Patrol supervisor, causing the rear wheels of the trailer to seize up. M.P. was finally arrested after officers broke the truck window to get to him. [Submitted by Jim Webster, Chief Ranger]
B.G., 68, of Hemet, California, became lost near the
Devils Garden Campground on the afternoon of May 13th. She became
separated from the rest of her party while hiking on the Broken Arch
Trail and was found by searchers 22 hours later — thirsty, hungry
and tired, but otherwise in good condition. Park and Grand County SAR
ground searchers, with the assistance of a scent dog, found her
footprints late in the evening of May 13th in rough, canyon-cut
slickrock terrain and began tracking her. Replacement ground
searchers continued tracking her the next morning and were joined later
by a Civil Air Patrol plane and two helicopters, one from Mesa Verde NP
and the other from the Utah Department of Public Safety. Over 50 people
were involved in the search from Arches, Canyonlands and Mesa Verde and
seven other federal, state and local agencies, including the U.S.
Geological Survey, Civil Air Patrol, BLM, Utah Highway Patrol, Grand
County Sheriff's Department and Search and Rescue, and Moab Valley Fire
Protection District. The incident received significant regional media
interest.
The Grand County Sheriff's Office began receiving 911 calls reporting a traffic accident involving a fatality and burning car just inside the park around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 10th. Responding emergency personnel from several agencies found a burning car in the middle of the Moab Fault Overlook pullout, a man sitting in the driver's seat of the burning car (later identified as J.R.C., Jr., 26, of Richwood, Texas), a pickup truck 40 feet down an embankment, other injured people, and a fatally injured woman (later identified as R.R., 34, of Seabrook, Texas) lying on the ground in front of the burning car. First responders performed CPR on R.R., but she was pronounced dead at the scene. J.R.C. was able to exit from the car before it became totally engulfed in flames and was treated for minor injuries. The family of three who were in the pickup truck that went over the embankment, including a year-old baby, escaped with minor injuries. Witnesses told investigating officers that they had seen R.R. and J.R.C. arguing and fighting just prior to the vehicle accident, and that J.R.C. had run over R.R. immediately before striking the pickup truck and sending it and its occupants over the edge. J.R.C. was treated for his injuries at a local hospital, then taken into custody. Arraignment in state district court occurred on Tuesday. Charges brought against J.R.C. by the Grand County attorney included one count of criminal homicide, three counts of attempted homicide, one count of felony DUI, two counts of assault-domestic violence, one count of aggravated assault, and several traffic violations. The Grand County Sheriff's Office and Utah Highway Patrol are investigating the case, with support from the National Park Service. Other agencies assisting were the Moab Fire Department, Grand County EMS, Moab City Police and Grand County Search and Rescue.[Submitted by Jim Webster, Chief Ranger]
On Tuesday, September 7th, a preliminary hearing was held in state court in Moab regarding the August 10th traffic accident/homicide that occurred at the Moab Fault overlook. James Cunningham pled not guilty to ten criminal counts:
The judge bound him over for trial and he remains in custody. The
trial is set for February 7th. Click on the following for the
original report on this incident:
On Sunday, March 27th, an 18-year-old man from Orem, Utah, fell to his death near the boat ramp area along the Colorado River. The fatality was within the legislated boundary of Arches National Park but occurred in a section of land that is patented to Grand County for recreational purposes. The fall was not witnessed, but evidence suggests that he was scrambling up a cliff when he fell approximately 15 to 20 feet, then tumbled another 15 to 20 feet. He sustained massive facial and head trauma in the fall. Although he had companions with him that day, they'd left the area. His body was found late in the afternoon, but it's believed that he fell earlier in the day. The Grand County Sheriff's Office is taking the lead in the investigation.
Rangers Karen McKinlay-Jones and Will See were returning from a SAR incident in separate patrol vehicles around 11:30 p.m. on August 27th when they encountered a vehicle traveling into the park at a high rate of speed. An attempt to stop the vehicle five miles into the park was unsuccessful. As the rangers pursued, the driver - later identified as K.T., 36, of Bradenton, Florida - turned around and headed back towards the entrance. The rangers were unable to catch up, so requested assistance from the Grand County Sheriff's Department. While searching a turnout for the vehicle, See had to take evasive action to avoid having his cruiser struck as K.T. hastily left the overlook. McKinlay-Jones and a county deputy attempted to stop the vehicle at the park entrance. K.T. headed directly toward the parked patrol vehicles, swerving away at the last second as he left the park. County deputies and Moab city officers stopped him just outside the park by using a moving roadblock. At their request, the two rangers assisted with the arrest. The county will be prosecuting the case. K.T. has been charged with excessive speed, fleeing, attempted aggravated assault and operating a vehicle with faulty equipment. [Denny Ziemann, Chief Ranger]
Between August 21st and August 24th, law enforcement staff from Canyonlands and Arches, assisted by personnel from Glen Canyon, Black Canyon, Hovenweep, Natural Bridges and Glen Canyon, joined other regional law enforcement officers - a total of 200 - in working a large motorcycle rally in Grand County and the city of Moab, Utah. During that period, the Banditos motorcycle club held its annual meeting in Grand County. About 700 members attended. An interagency incident command team was formed and spent several months preparing for the event. Park law enforcement staff assisted in the planning efforts. Under agreements with local sheriffs' departments, rangers participated in activities outside of the parks but were in return supported by the other officers. The high-profile enforcement strategy employed proved successful, as incidents and arrests were over minor infractions and infrequent. Both Canyonlands and Arches were visited by club members, but with no impact to the two parks. [Denny Ziemann, Chief Ranger, Canyonlands/Arches]
A 75-year-old man left his wife and dog in their vehicle to take a short walk to Turret Arch for photos on the afternoon of Sunday, June 6th. Temperatures at the time were above 100 degrees and he had neither water nor food with him. When he failed to return, his wife went looking for him; when that effort proved fruitless, she contacted the park. Arches staff, later assisted by Grand County Sheriff's Department personnel and county SAR team members, staff from Canyonlands, and a BLM helitack module, conducted a search that lasted throughout the night. Dogs, a helicopter and ground searchers were deployed during the season's first period of extreme heat. Ground searchers found the man lying on a rock and not moving about 24 hours into the search. He was semiconscious and incoherent. A park medic from Canyonlands conducted an assessment and provided care, then flew with the man to Allen Memorial Hospital in Moab. He was eventually transferred to St Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, where he's receiving treatment for a fractured wrist and kidney failure resulting from heat-related illnesses. [Denny Ziemann, Chief Ranger]
On March 12th, a 22-year-old man who had scrambled to the top of a rock fin near the park's primitive loop was standing on a rock that crumbled under him, causing him to free fall about 100 feet to the dry wash below and inflicting critical, life-threatening injuries. Two visiting paramedics rendered care and were able to communicate using the campground host's radio, who was on a hike and responded to the scene. A team of maintenance, road crew, fee, reservation and resource personnel, some of them in the vicinity, were lead on a rescue operation by visitor and resource protection staff. The injured man was packaged and carried out a quarter mile on a litter to a waiting helicopter and then flown to a hospital. The rapid response contributed to the saving of the man's life. [Kevin Moore, Supervisory Park Ranger]
The park experienced a series of heat-related medical emergencies involving seven visitors and one employee within a period of just over 24 hours last weekend. High temperatures both days were in the 100 to 104 degree range. Of this total, three were taken by ambulance to a local hospital and a fourth was flown to another hospital in Grand Junction. The remaining four were treated and released. Just before 2 p.m., on Saturday, July 12th, rangers received a report of a woman having a heart attack on the Delicate Arch viewpoint trail. The first rangers to arrive were unable to find her on the trail, but were soon flagged down by the occupants of a vehicle near Wolfe Ranch. Two men inside who'd just come off that trail were suffering from heat exhaustion. They were treated by park personnel and Grand County EMS. Around 8:30 that evening, a report was received of an unconscious man near Delicate Arch. Park, Grand County SAR and Grand County EMS personnel responded, hiking a mile and a half up from the trailhead. The man was treated for heart issues arising from heat stroke throughout the rescue and litter carryout. He was taken to Moab Regional Hospital EMS incidents resumed the following afternoon when rangers received a report of an unconscious man near Delicate Arch. Park and Grand County personnel again responded, treated the man on scene, and littered him out to the trailhead. He refused further treatment and transportation to the hospital. While the above rescue was in progress, an interpretive ranger preparing for a guided hike reported coming up an unconscious man in the Fiery Furnace parking lot. The responding ranger found an incoherent man with tingling in his arms and legs. A woman in the car was suffering from severe headache and cramping. Both were taken by ambulance to the hospital. A third EMS emergency was reported while the above incidents were underway. Around 4:30 p.m., the same ranger who'd called in the above incident was leading the guided hike when a visitor collapsed. The ranger reported that the woman was unconscious and that she could not obtain a radial pulse. EMS personnel who were still in the Fiery Furnace parking lot headed down the trail. The woman was assessed and found to be suffering from heat stroke. She was flown by helicopter to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. Finally, at the conclusion of the Delicate Arch carryout, one member of the park SAR team was treated on scene for heat exhaustion. [Michael Henry, Supervisory Park Ranger]
On May 2, 2014, several witnesses and an NPS employee saw a person HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASE_jumping" BASE jump from the top of the Three Gossips formation in Arches National Park. Park rangers responded and tracked footprints in the area until they found the BASE jumper, A.L., hiding among rocks. A.L. was arrested and charged with five violations. On December 18, 2014, A.L. pled guilty to providing false information, illegal air delivery, and interfering with agency functions. He was fined $965 and was placed on non-supervisory probation for 18 months. Conditions of A.L.'s probation include no criminal activity, no entrance into any national park or monument, and no contact with National Park Service employees. A.L.'s enhanced probation is the result of repeated illegal air delivery charges in more than one NPS unit. A.L. is not allowed entry into any NPS unit until November 2, 2015. The case ranger was Liza Kent. [Kevin Moore, Supervisory Park Ranger]
So Does Utah — The State of Utah paid more than $66,000 to federal workers to provide custodial operations and work in visitor centers, park stores and some campgrounds in four national parks in the state between December 21st and January 11th (the story was posted on January 14th, so does not cover the period since then). Rangers were also paid with state money; they are safeguarding park roads and resources in Arches, Zion, and Bryce Canyon NPs. A handful of employees were also on the job in Canyonlands NP. Counties, cities, and nongovernmental organizations are also kicking in some funds. Zion facilities remain open thanks to donations from Washington County, St. George, and the Zion National Park Forever Project. Canyonlands Natural History Association is providing funding for Arches and Canyonlands. Bryce Canyon Natural History Association is helping fund operations in that park. Source: Bloomberg Environment.
A man and a woman died last Friday morning when they fell into the bowl area near Delicate Arch; a third, younger man, also fell and was injured. Rangers were notified of the fall around 7:30 a.m. The area was closed while an investigation was conducted, then reopened later that afternoon. It's unclear if weather played a role in the accident, although it had been raining and snowing in the park. Those conditions can make the trail leading to the arch slippery. The deceased were identified as a 65-year-old man and a 60-year-old female; a 30-year-old man was injured. All were from California and appear to be related. Source: Paighten Harkins, Salt Lake Tribune.
The family of a women's rights activist from Uganda has filed a more than $270 million wrongful death and personal injury claim against the National Park Service after she was decapitated by an unsecured park gate. Newlyweds E."E."N., 25, and L."L."M., 26, were driving to get ice cream during a camping trip last June 13th when a metal gate blew closed in strong winds and sliced through the side of their car "like a hot knife through butter," according to the administrative claim, which was filed in October. The gate narrowly missed L.M., who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. Attorney Deborah Chang, who filed the claim on behalf of L.M., as well as E.N.'s parents, wrote that the National Park Service has for years used entrance and exit gates made of metal poles with "spear-like sharp ends," and they were known to swing into roadways when left unsecured. Employees "knew or should have known that winds strong enough to carve stone are certainly strong enough to blow an unrestrained metal pipe gate into the path of an oncoming vehicle," wrote Chang, who plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected.. The National Park Service and Arches National Park are accused of not securing the gate, which was installed to swing in the wrong direction and was being held open by a "flimsy metal tab" that was "worn down and rounded," according to the claim. Source: Thomas Peipert, Associated Press, via ABC News.
On August 7, a hiker became light-headed due to dehydration while on her way to Delicate Arch. She fainted, fell off the rock she was sitting on, and landed face-first on slickrock. J.B., who plays Claire Dunphy on the popular television show "Modern Family", and her sister, a doctor, responded and treated the hiker's injuries and gave her electrolytes and snacks. The hiker was taken to Moab Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a fractured nose and given five stitches.
Backcountry rangers recently cleaned up an illegal camp. They hauled out 150 pounds of trash, including tarps, clothing, a foam mattress, and other gear. The park posted about it on its social media. Source: The Spectrum
The person whose body was found and recovered from the Devils Garden area of the park on October 1 was successfully identified. The cause of death is still unknown, and details of the investigation, such as whether foul play is suspected, have not been released. Source: KUTV December 14, 2022 A trial against the NPS began on December 5 for a 25-year-old visitor who was killed when an unsecured park gate blew into their vehicle in 2020. The trial concluded on December 12 and a verdict is pending. The plaintiffs are seeking $140 million in damages. Source: KNAU, KSL February 8, 2023 On January 27, the family of the 25-year-old visitor who was killed by a metal park gate that swung into a personal vehicle in June 2020 was awarded a sum of over $10.5 million in U.S. District Court. Source: KJZZ
On February 24, a 71-year-old visitor collapsed while hiking with family. Rescuers from Classic Air Medical, the NPS, Bureau of Land Management, and Grand County (UT) responded. Rescuers attempted to resuscitate the individual, but they were unsuccessful. The incident is under investigation by the NPS and Grand County. Source: Arches National Park
On March 12, a 56-year-old went into cardiac arrest on the Devils Garden Trail. CPR was performed by others on scene. Personnel from Grand County Sheriff's Department, Grand County EMS, and Classic Air Medical also responded. The individual was unable to be resuscitated and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Source: Arches National Park
On May 15, rangers were alerted to a report of CPR in progress on a 73-year-old at Devils Garden Campground. Personnel from the NPS, Grand County Sheriff's Department, and Grand County EMS responded. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and the individual was pronounced deceased at the scene. Source: Arches National Park
On May 25, a 69-year-old had a medical emergency on the Primitive Loop section of the Devils Garden Trail. CPR was administered, but unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at the scene. Personnel from the NPS, Grand County (UT) EMS, and a Life Flight helicopter were involved in the response. Source: KSL TV
A 66-year-old was reported overdue while traveling in the park. Their car was found in the Sand Dune Arch Trail parking lot. NPS staff began a search in the area and found the individual deceased in an off-trail location near the trailhead. An investigation by the NPS and Grand County Sheriff's Office is ongoing. Source: Arches National Park
Further details have been released about the 66-year-old who was found dead in the area of Sand Dunes Arch parking lot (8/9/23 Coalition Report). The individual was found 2.5 miles from the parking lot, off-trail. They likely went on a longer hike that morning and perished on a second, shorter hike that afternoon. Their water bottle was empty, they were taking a medication that leads to dehydration, and temperatures were over 100°F. An official cause of death has not been determined, but heat and altitude are considered "relevant factors." Source: Associated Press
Park staff have observed a pattern of "unusual" bat behavior in the park, including a visitor getting bitten. On August 18, a bat at the visitor center was confirmed to have rabies. The park is encouraging anyone who has had contact with a bat in the park to get tested immediately. Source: Idaho Statesman
On December 10, a 26-year-old was climbing down a sandstone fin on the Devils Garden Primitive Trail when the rock collapsed. The individual injured their lower leg in the fall. Paramedics from Grand County (UT) EMS and the park's search and rescue team carried the individual over a mile of rugged terrain via a wheeled litter to an ambulance. Source: Idaho Statesman
On August 20, a 58-year-old became unresponsive on the Delicate Arch Trail. CPR was started by others who were present on-scene, and staff from the NPS, Grand County (UT) Sheriff's Department, Grand County EMS, and Classic Air Medical responded to the scene. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is under investigation by the Grand County Sheriff's Office and NPS. Source: Arches National Park
On August 23, NPS staff became aware of an abandoned rental car at the Sand Dune Arch trailhead. They were able to track the vehicle entering the park on August 16, driven by a 76-year-old. Their family had last seen them on August 13. The park began a search on August 24, including personnel from the NPS, Grand County (UT) Search and Rescue, and a Bureau of Land Management helicopter from the Moab Interagency Fire Center. The park is looking for any information the public can provide. Source: Arches National Park
On October 8, a 68-year-old was near Black Arch Overlook on the Devils Garden Trail when they fell about 30 feet. Other visitors began CPR, and staff from the NPS, Grand County (UT) Sheriff's Office and EMS, Classic Air Medical, and the Utah Department of Public Safety responded to the incident. The individual was pronounced deceased at the scene. The incident is under investigation by the NPS and Grand County Sheriff's Office. Source: Arches National Park
A body recovered at the Three Gossips rock landmark in 1983 was recently identified through DNA evidence. The individual was 17-year-old Robby Lynn Peay, who had run away from a youth treatment center in Salt Lake City, Utah, in October 1982. His body was found in February 1983 with a gunshot wound to the head. Decomposition had made his body unidentifiable at the time. His truck was found several months later at Lake Powell, nearly 300 miles away. In 2008, Robby was added to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. In 2018, a forensic dentist reviewing cold cases found that Robby's dental x-ray data had been entered incorrectly. By correcting the issue, he had a high-percentage match with the remains from Arches, but there was no DNA sample match. Robby had been adopted at birth, which meant that Provo Police Department needed to unseal court adoption records to locate a blood relative. In 2022, detectives found an uncle on Robby's mother's side that agreed to a DNA sample. The case file has now been transferred to Grand County (UT) Sheriff's Office for investigation as a homicide. Source: SFGate | |