Sequoia Kings Canyon |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-current. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Thursday, June 19, 1986 SEKI reported two overdue hikers were the subject of a major air and ground search. The two started at Bishop CA in a party of four and after several days in the backcountry became separated. Due to heavy snow pack, and lack of a map of the area, they evidently chose the incorrect direction. They were last seen Wednesday 6/18. SEKI began a search on 6/21 after the other party reported the incident. Hikers reported found in fair condition afternoon 6/22.
Location: Kaweah River J.S. and 5 others were swimming in middle fork of the river near park headquarters. J.S. apparently was sucked down a water chute and trapped beneath the surface of the water. Paramedics arrived on the scene and performed CPR for two hours. They were unable to revive him.
Location: Ash Mountain, Headquarters & Employee Residence Area On 6/26, at approximately 10:40PM an off-duty fire aid noticed a fire to be burning in the area of park headquarters and the employee residence area. The fire spread quickly and eventually encompassed 160 acres. Firefighters totaling 175 were dispatched from various agencies to fight the blaze during the night. Equipment consisted of 4 pumpers and 2 helicopters. The fire threatened homes as well as park headquarters building. Nearby Potwisha CG was closed and utilized as a fire camp. The fire was contained by 6:00am on 6/27, and controlled at 7:00pm that evening. It has not yet been declared "out". A CDF employee found a homemade device (which is believed to have started the fire) approximately 1/4 mile from the housing area along the general highway. There are no suspects. Ho structures were damaged and no injuries occurred. NO estimate of damage has been determined. Potwisha CG has been reopened.
Location: Elizabeth Pass A body, identified to be that of R.S., was discovered on August 3, 1987, in an unnamed lake near Elizabeth Pass. R.S. was reported missing after leaving to go cross country skiing in the park in February earlier this year. Next of kin notified.
Location: Outside of park In November of 1986, a ranger from another park was sexually assaulted while on a bike trip through Sequoia. She had been bicycling near park headquarters when she was overtaken by a pickup truck with two men in it. They forced her off the road, then assaulted her. The ranger was able to report the incident to the park dispatcher shortly after it happened, and the two men were arrested within twenty minutes by Tulare sheriff's deputies. The two - brothers C. and M.S. - were found guilty of rape, and have been sentenced to life imprisonment by US District Court Robert Coyle, who declared from the bench that the sentence would send a message that violent crimes in our national parks will be severely punished. The defendants plan an appeal based on the judge's decision to deny their pre-trial motion to suppress evidence.
Location: Not given Four employees of the park concessioner, Guest Services, were arrested on March 4th for possession and distribution of illicit drugs. Small quantities of LSD, marijuana and cocaine were also seized. The arrests stemmed from a lengthy undercover operation in which the Tulare County Sheriff's Office provided the undercover operator.
Location: Parkwide A. and D.S. and M.P. left the Wolverton ski hut area of the park on March 28th with the intention of skiing the "High Route" to Symmes Creek. They planned on arriving on the 2nd; when they failed to appear by the 4th, the park began a search for them. An air search was conducted on Monday without success. On Tuesday, tracks were located in the Nine Lakes Basin area which appeared to go south toward the Chagoopa Plateau. Two teams of trackers were put into the field to follow these tracks. A search dog was brought in, and air searches employing two helicopters and a USFS/L.A. County aircraft with infra-red capabilities were continued throughout the area. The skiers were spotted by one of the helicopters at 11 a.m. yesterday morning about 16 miles from their intended route. All were in good condition. It is not yet known whether they were lost or just decided to take a different route. A total of 20 people were employed on the search.
Location: Mineral King The body of J.N., 35, of Malibu, California was discovered on the 16th after an extensive search in the Mineral King area of the park. J.N., a summer caretaker in Silver City, a private community within the park, was last seen on the 12th when he left his residence to go hiking. His wife reported him missing nearly 48 hours later on the 14th. Park officials initiated search efforts on Thursday, the 14th. As of the 15th the park was using 19 ground searchers and one dog in the search. J.N. apparently died of injuries sustained during a fall.
Location: Vidette Meadows At 11:30 am on July 30th, a single engine Cessna airplane crashed at 10,300 feet in Vidette Meadows, 200 feet from the John Muir Trail. The plane, piloted by C.D., 25 of Hayward, California, reportedly did not experience any engine problems but apparently lacked the power needed to clear the Sierra Nevada. Three of the four persons on board, including the pilot died in the crash. The survivor is currently hospitalized in Valley Medical in Fresno and is expected to live. A ranger was on the scene within 30 minutes and the victims were evacuated by helicopter shortly after.
Location: Sawtooth Pass and Columbine Lake A search is being conducted for W.K., 20, of Los Angeles, California in the Mineral King area of Sequoia-Kings Canyon. W.K. was reported missing on the 19th after failing to return home on the 16th from a week long solo hike in the area. An aerial search conducted on the 19th produced no trace of W.K.. A more extensive search involving 2 helicopters, 3 dog teams and 22 personnel was started on the 20th and is focusing on the Sawtooth Pass and Columbine Lake areas. W.K. is a former National High School Senior of the Year and was presented that award by President Reagan. Update - 9/23 The body of W.K. was discovered mid-day on the 22nd by search teams in the vicinity of Sawtooth Peak. W.K. appears to have died as the result of a fall. At the height of the search there were 7 dog teams, 4 helicopters, 3 infrared units and 65 people involved in search efforts. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Forest Service, California Mountain Rescue Association, WOOF (Wilderness Finders - dog teams), California Rescue Dog Association and the U.S. Navy.
A fire broke out in the park's SAR cache at 2:30 a.m. on the 16th and totally destroyed the facility and its contents. Total damage has been estimated at $20,000 for the SAR equipment and $10,000 for other equipment and the structure itself. The source of ignition appears to have been an electrical failure in a water heater in the building. One park ranger was hospitalized for a minor case of smoke inhalation. (Herb Gercke, WRO).
On July 30, 1988, a female visitor from the Netherlands reported to park dispatch that she had been raped near Potwisha Campground in Sequoia. Rangers began an investigation and eventually arrested 32-year-old R.R.E., an illegal alien from Mexico. R.R.E. was subsequently indicted for aggravated sexual abuse and pleaded guilty. On March 27th, he was sentenced to nine years imprisonment. At the conclusion of his term in prison, he is to be deported. (Pete Allen, LEO, SEKI).
While hiking to Moose Lake on the morning of Sunday, June 18th, actress J.F. became separated from her party. When she did not show up either at Moose Lake or at the group's base camp at Pear Lake that night, a companion hiked out and reported her as a lost person to park rangers around midnight. A helicopter flew a search over the Pear Lake and Moose Lake area on Monday morning and found J.F. unhurt. She apparently took a wrong turn while hiking and lost her way. She wrapped up in an insulated blanket and waited for help to arrive. J.F. was reunited with her friends at their base camp, and the group hiked out together. (Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from RAD/WRO).
On the afternoon of the 21st, 18-year-old K.G. slipped on a wet rock in the South Fork of the Kings River and was swept down the river and over Mist Falls, a 150-foot-high sequence of cascading falls. She landed in a deep pool and was carried to the shore by the current. K.G. suffered a possible fractured ankle, neck and back injuries, lacerations and broken teeth. About a dozen members of the park staff were involved in her rescue. K.G. was air-lifted from the scene, then transported by ambulance to the Valley Medical Center in Fresno. The falls are particularly hazardous - over the past 15 years, six people have lost their lives there and another three people have survived going over the falls. (Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message to RAD/WRO and RAD/WASO).
On August 27th, 14-year-old M.M. of Ivanhoe, California, was swimming with a group of friends and relatives in the Kaweah River near park headquarters. M.M. and one other member of the party went looking for other areas in which to swim; after finding a spot to their liking, they started to swim back down the river to get the rest of their party. M.M. swam into some rapids and became caught on the upper side of a rock. His companion tried to free him, but was unsuccessful and went to get help. When he returned with other party members, M.M. was floating face down in a pool. They brought him to shore, attempted CPR, and sent for rangers. Park medics and local ambulance personnel responded, but they were unable to revive M.M.. (Mike Warren, SEKI, via CompuServe message to RAD/WRO and RAD/WASO).
Attempts were made last night to directly contact parks in central California to determine any possible damage or injuries incurred during yesterday's earthquake. Efforts to get through to most parks proved fruitless due to the high volume of calls on trans-continental phone lines. Sequoia/Kings and Lassen reported that the tremors had not reached them. A call to Regional Director Albright revealed that there were no reported injuries to employees in other parks and that parks outside the San Francisco area were generally unaffected by the quake. Concerns are currently focused on Pinnacles, south of San Francisco, and parks in the city itself. At 4 a.m. PDT this morning, Capt. Clayton Connor of WRO's Ranger Activities called this office from a Park Police (USPP) field office and advised that, as far as the Park Police knew, there were no injuries to visitors or employees at Golden Gate. Damage assessments will be begun at first light. The fire in the city's Marina District, which was seen on many television stations last night, occurred close by the park's Fort Mason - Aquatic Park area, but it is as yet unclear as to what impact the fire has had on park grounds or facilities. At present, most damage appears to have occurred to the south and east of San Francisco; there have been no reports of any significant damage north of the city. The Park Police will probably be seeking extra personnel to assist them, as they will be responsible for the park and for providing support to the city. The regional office will be closed today. (Reports via telephone to and from RAD/WASO and Operations, WASO).
The following is the text of the briefing prepared for the Secretary this morning. It is based on current reports from Phil Ward and Capt. Clayton Connor in RAD/WRO and Doug Erskine in BFM/Boise: Overview Shortly after the earthquake struck California on the night of October 17th, the Washington Office began efforts to determine the impact the quake had on parks in central California and to ascertain what equipment, services or funding would be needed there. Although reports are still incomplete due to difficulties in communicating with both parks and the regional office, which is located in downtown San Francisco, it has been determined that no National Park Service employees or visitors were killed or injured by the quake and no major damage occurred in the parks.
At about 6 p.m. on the 13th, a Cessna 172 disappeared from radar and lost radio contact with the FAA while flying over Sequoia. The plane was last reported to have been south and west of Mt. Whitney and flying in very poor weather. Continued low visibility and snow storms have hampered search efforts by the NPS and the Civil Air Patrol. The search is now being conducted by numerous fixed wing aircraft and helicopters from the Army National Guard, Lemoore Naval Air Station and contractors. At the time of the report, the storm had deposited up to four feet of snow on the search area. It is believed that only the pilot is on board the Cessna. (CompuServe message from Paul Fodor, DR, SEKI, noon EST, 1/15/90).
The search for the missing Cessna 172 continued throughout Monday, but no sign of the plane was found. Although flying weather was good in the morning, it deteriorated on the west side of the divide as clouds arrived in mid-afternoon. The forecast for yesterday called for two to four inches of snow at elevations as low as 2,500', with increasing amounts at higher elevations. The search was accordingly suspended pending better weather. No ground search has yet been initiated because of weather conditions and the lack of a good location for the aircraft. The pilot's name has not yet been released. (CompuServe message from Paul Fodor, DR, SEKI, noon EST, 1/16/90).
The search for the missing Cessna 172 which disappeared from radar over the park on the 13th continued throughout the past weekend with contract and Lemoore Naval Air Station helicopters and Civil Air Patrol aircraft. A grid search of probable crash sites is in the process of being completed. Occasional, extremely weak ELT signals are being detected, but no fixes have yet been made on them. (Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe report from Herb Gercke, RADAJRO, 10:30 a.m. EST, 1/23/90).
On the afternoon of the 10th, forestry worker T.J., 50, was pruning a dwarf mistletoe infection from a sugar pine in Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon when he fell 150 feet to the ground. T.J. received immediate attention from several EMT-qualified employees. He remained conscious for about 30 minutes before succumbing, apparently to internal injuries and shock. He was medevaced to the Valley Medical Center in Fresno, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. T.J. was a Native American from Yosemite who began work with the NPS in that park in March of 1963. He had been climbing for most of his life and was considered to be a very experienced forestry crew member. It is unclear at this point what caused the fall. Park rangers and OSHA investigators will be investigating the incident. The park conducted a critical incident stress debriefing for employees yesterday morning. (Telephone reports from Chris Cameron, RAD/WRO, 4/12/90).
On Friday, May 25th, S.O., 18, and P.P., 21, both of Los Angeles, parked their car near Hospital Rock picnic area on the Generals Highway and forded the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River to camp illegally on the opposite side. Two and a quarter inches of rain fell in the area on the 27th and 28th, and the Kaweah rose from one to two feet, trapping the pair across the river. They tried to cross on the morning of the 28th, but were unable to do so because of the high water. They also attempted to hike out cross country, but gave up after encountering steep, rocky terrain and dense brush. Visitors heard cries for help later that afternoon and reported this to rangers. Rangers investigated and found S.O. and P.P. hiding beneath a rock overhang and suffering from mild hypothermia. "Angel 1", a rescue helicopter from Lemoore NAS, was summoned, and the two victims were hoisted cut and transported to park headquarters, where they were treated for hypothermia and released. Along with the two inches of rain, the park received up to two feet of new snow in the backcountry. The park anticipates the possibility of more requests for assistance in locating missing or stranded hikers who were not prepared for the storm. (SEKJ dispatch, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4 p.m. EDT, 5/31).
The park's contract helicopter was taking off from a small meadow near the Tindell Creek Ranger Station on a medevac flight on the 6th when the pilot began feeling vibrations and started to lose control of the helicopter's tail rotor. The pilot immediately put the ship back on the ground without further incident. The medevac was completed by the Peppermint helitack crew and ship from Sequoia NF. The incident, which was caused by the tail rotor striking a small tree, is currently under investigation by the Office of Aircraft Services. (Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/9).
On the afternoon of July 5th, P.H., 45, of Simi Valley, California, was dropped off at Whitney Portal on the east side of Sequoia for what he intended would be a transSierra run which would end at the Crescent Meadow parking lot around noon on the 6th. Hartman was dressed in a couple of t-shirts, a wind breaker and running shoes and was carrying a fanny pack. When he failed to meet his wife as scheduled, she notified rangers, who made an initial air search of Hartman's planned route. No sign of him was found. On the 7th, an organized search was begun which employed park personnel and helicopters from Lemoore NAS, the California Highway Patrol and the park's contractor. The search proved fruitless, but rangers were able to establish a "point last seen." On the 8th, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's helicopter with an infrared unit conducted an early morning search, then five WOOF dog teams and 15 ground searchers began working in the search area. Two other helicopters joined the effort. Just before 4 p.m., a tired, footsore, sunburned, dehydrated and confused P.H. was found in reasonably good condition by one of the helicopters. (Mike Warren, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/9).
At about 3 p.m. on the afternoon of July 14th, 13 hikers on the summit of 14,495-foot Mt. Whitney felt a buzzing sensation in their feet and noticed their hair standing on end. They entered the historic Smithsonian shelter and heard nearby lightning activity. About a quarter hour later, the group heard several loud booms, the cement and rock floor and walls of the shelter started buzzing, there was a flash, and a white and yellow, one-foot diameter ball of lighting started bouncing off all four walls. The entire group was numb for about five seconds; one member received third degree burns on both shoulders, one member went into cardiac and respiratory arrest, and the others received minor burns. Members of the group performed CPR on 26-year-old M.N. of Huntington Beach, California, for six hours but were unsuccessful. He was evacuated by a Forest Service helicopter to the Southern Inyo Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9 p.m. In a separate incident one half mile below the summit, another party of two was struck by lightning twice. One hiker went into respiratory arrest for 15 minutes, but was revived by his brother. The pair then walked about six miles and descended 2,000 vertical feet before being evacuated. The injured member was later diagnosed as having a fractured spine. (Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/16).
On January 13th, a Cessna 172 piloted by J.T. of Loma Linda, California, disappeared from radar while flying near Mt. Whitney. A search was initiated, but was suspended after 13 days when no sign of the aircraft was found. On July 28th, the plane and remains of the pilot were found at the 11,300-foot elevation one mile southwest of Colby Pass. J.T. was apparently killed on impact. (Chief Rangers' Office, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/30).
On the afternoon of July 24th, a 24-year-old Mexican national was swimming with his family and friends in the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River near Buckeye campground. He dove into a deep pool from a height of four feet above the water. As he was swimming across the 50 feet of water to the opposite shore, his family lost sight of him. When they next saw him, he was at the bottom of the river approximately eight feet below the surface. After he'd been submerged for several minutes, companions and other visitors brought him to shore and began CPR. When rangers arrived on scene, they continued CPR and initiated advanced life support measures. These were continued for an hour without results. The victim, whose name is being withheld until notification of his parents, was pronounced dead at the scene. (CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/24).
On the night of the 21st, a backcountry ranger in Kings Canyon heard someone yelling for help from the side of 14,242-foot North Palisade Mountain. A search employing park staff and the park's contract helicopter was begun at dawn. Lemoore Naval Air Station and the California National Guard each provided high-altitude, long-lift helicopters to assist in the search. Searchers soon found 22-year-old M.V. of Stockton, California, stranded at the mountain's 14,000 foot level in an area accessible only through technical climbing. Contact with M.V. was established through a portable radio lowered to him. He indicated that he'd been hit by a loose rock which had rolled over both legs and severely lacerated one of them. Due to the elevation and terrain, a corpsmen rappelled 200 feet from the Lemoore helicopter to M.V., then hoisted him to the ship. He was flown to a hospital in Bishop, California, where he is being treated for contusions, exposure and dehydration. While this rescue was underway, a ranger in the southern part of Sequoia noticed smoke coming from the Rock Creek drainage. Upon investigation, she found two people stranded on a high ledge above Rock Creek. They'd started a fire to attract attention. A corpsmen from the same Lemoore helicopter rappelled 75 feet to the pair and hoisted them out. They were brought to the Ash Mountain helibase, where one of the pair, P.M., was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a broken arm, fractured collar bone and lacerations. (Mike Warren, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 8/27).
On the afternoon of September 29th, a resident of Wilsonia Village, an inholding within the park near Grant Grove, discovered the body of a male in his early 30's located face down in a small creek. An investigation into his identity and the probable cause of his death is being conducted by rangers and FBI agents with the assistance of the Tulare County sheriff's crime scene unit. (Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/1).
On September 30th, rangers at Grant Grove responded to a structural fire in a small cabin in Wilsonia Village, an inholding area in the park. When they arrived, the cabin was fully engulfed in flames and was threatening several other structures. Additional help was requested from Tulare County and from the California Division of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). CDF units were released from a wildfire just outside of the park and were on-scene in 30 minutes. The cabin was a total loss, but no other structures burned and there was no significant wildland fire. An occupant of the cabin received third-degree burns to his feet in an attempt to retrieve belongings and put the fire out. The cause is under investigation. (Doug Morris, CR, SEKE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/1).
At about 3 a.m. on the 21st, 22-year-old A.I. of Visalia, California, lost control of the vehicle she was driving on Generals Highway; it went off the road, rolled approximately 300 feet down an extremely steep hillside, and came to rest next to the Kaweah River. A.I., who apparently was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle, which caught fire and burned completely. She lay on the slope until found by some fisherman around 7 a.m. Rangers stabilized her and employed technical rescue techniques to lift her litter up to the road. A.I. was taken by hospital to Valley Medical Center in Fresno for surgery. She was found to be suffering from a fractured vertebra, torn aorta and a broken leg, and is reported to be in serious condition. (CRO, SFJCE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/23).
A fire originating in the maintenance office of the park's headquarters building was discovered at 8:00 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Quick work by the fire brigade isolated the fire and limited major damage to that room; smoke and heat damage, however, extended to other parts of the building. Losses are estimated at between $5,000 and $30,000 at this time. (Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 1/2). Monday, March 11, 1991 On September 22, 1990, ranger Jennifer Hartley observed R.V., Jr., entering the park on the first day of hunting season with a weapon in plain view. Hartley stopped R.V. and cited him. During this encounter, a California Fish and Game warden heard R.V.'s name on the radio, recalled that he was on probation and could not lawfully possess either a hunting license or weapon, drove to the scene, and cited R.V. under appropriate state charges. R.V. paid his federal fine but went to court on state charges. After a pre-trial conference, R.V. changed his original plea to guilty, forfeited his $850 hunting rifle, paid a $3,362 fine, and was sentenced to serve one year in jail and another three years on probation. Hartley's testimony was instrumental in this outcome. [Pete Allen, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 3/5]
During a backcountry ski trip in the park last week, A.S., 34, of Corte Madera, California, began suffering from high altitude pulmonary edema. Her husband skied 20 miles in one day through very steep and icy terrain and 80 mph winds to report her illness to rangers. On Friday, a helicopter from Lemoore NAS braved 40 mph winds to successfully evacuate A.S. to a local hospital. A.S. was attempting a 35-mile, six-day-long traverse of the Sierra Nevadas along the High Route. [Dispatch, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4/30]
On June 23rd, rangers at Cedar Grove responded to a report of a man in the Kings River near the bridge to Cedar Grove Lodge and found the victim lying partly in the river and partly on a rock 25 feet beneath the bridge. He had jumped from the bridge in an apparent suicide attempt and had suffered numerous injuries, including a broken leg. Due to the location, it was necessary to lift him vertically to the bridge before transporting him by helicopter to a medical center in Fresno. [Dispatch, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/1]
Rangers responding to a report of a structural fire in "Wormwood", a concessions housing area at Grant Grove, found flames issuing from below the roof of a small cabin. A hose was pulled from a nearby hose box and employed on the fire until the fire brigade and engine could arrive. The cabin suffered extensive damage and will be torn down. Estimated losses are $10,000 to the cabin and $3,000 in personal property. The cause is still under investigation, but preliminary findings indicate that the fire originated from a wood stove. [Dispatch, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/1]
On June 23rd, rangers received and investigated a report of blasting wires sticking out of a hole of a large rock in Dorst campground. Because of the possible threat to visitor safety, a section of the campground was closed and about 30 people were evacuated. Qualified blasters from the park and Denver Service Center subsequently determined that there were no explosives in the hole and that the wires were probably left over from blasting of the rock in a quarry outside the park. That portion of the campground was reopened about three hours later. [Dispatch, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/1]
At about 6:00 p.m. on July 20th, an unidentified person in the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River about a quarter mile above Potwisha campground called for help. H.V., 24, of Tulare, California, jumped into the river in an effort to provide help. The person who called for assistance was able to get to shore, but H.V., who was wearing tennis shoes and jeans, sank from sight. Rangers were notified and were able to pull him from the river. They attempted to revive H.V., but were unsuccessful. H.V. was with friends and family members at the time of the incident. [Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/22]
During the night of July 23rd, a thief or thieves broke into a campground pipe safe and attempted to break into two others in the park. A hook from a vehicle power winch was hooked on to the safe padlocks and pulled until something gave way. Two attempts were unsuccessful; on the third try, the weld on the pipe safe plate broke and the contents were removed. This is the second year that rangers at Sequoia/Kings have seen this MO employed, and are trying to develop leads from it. District Ranger Mike Murray would like to hear from anyone who has experienced similar problems. You can reach him at 2095653341 x510 or FTS 4613341 x510. [Mike Warren, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/24]
F.V., 24, of Cicero, Illinois, a concession employee who worked at Grant Grove, fell approximately fifty feet while at Ella Falls on July 25th. F.V. landed on large rocks and lay partly on the rocks and in the water below the falls. His companions summoned help and kept his face above the water until rescuers arrived. Rangers and personnel from a local YMCA camp extricated F.V. and evacuated him by litter. He was then transported to medical facilities by a CHP helicopter. It is reported that F.V. suffered spinal injuries in the fall and that he stopped breathing while airborne. He is presently comatose and in critical condition. Alcohol was involved in the incident. [Pete Allen, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/26]
Rangers received a report on the afternoon of the 27th that R.D., 40, had dislocated his shoulder while in Lost Soldiers Cave. Responding rangers located R.D. at the base of a 70-foot vertical drop about 100 feet inside the entrance to the cave. Initial assessments indicated that some digging and alternation of cave features might have to be done to get him out; in order to avoid this, a local doctor was instead taken to the scene. R.D.'s shoulder was relocated and he was brought to the surface near midnight with the assistance of two vertical hoists. After regaining the surface, R.D. told his rescuers that he didn't feel that he needed further medical assistance and that he was going to remain overnight in the campground and drive himself to a doctor in the morning. Some 30 park personnel and two VIPs participated in the rescue. [Mike Warren, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/30]
On July 31st, rangers were advised that S.R., an employee of Guest Services, Inc., the park's concessioner, was missing, that he'd last been seen on the previous evening at Sunset Rock in Giant Forest, and that he'd been intoxicated at the time. A search was begun that morning and continued in to the following day. A helicopter, a dog team and 35 searchers were committed to the operation. Around 8:00 a.m. on August 1st, S.R. walked out on his own and the operation was suspended. No further information regarding the incident is available at this time. [CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 8/2]
L.S., a 31-year-old Marine stationed in Tustin, California, left the Cottonwood Pass trailhead in the Inyo National Forest on August 4th and failed to return as scheduled on August 18th. L.S. is described as a highly competent outdoorsman who has made four or five such trips in the past. His route to Onion Valley is unknown, and no clues have been discovered so far. Two helicopters and approximately twelve persons are currently committed to the search. [Pete Allen, Acting CR, SEKI, via Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 8/22]
On August 18th, the park began a search for L.S., 31, a Marine stationed in Tustin, California, when he failed to return from a twoweeklong hike in the park. Search efforts began with attempts to determine L.S.' route of travel and to contact other hikers who might have seen him. L.S. preferred to hike crosscountry and stay off trails and planned a 150-mile loop trip. Although he carried maps with his exact route with him, he'd only described the trip in general with his family. The search area was therefore several hundred thousand acres in size. Some 700 permits were subsequently reviewed and numerous hikers were contacted. Only two people said that they had seen L.S., and that he'd been near New Army Pass on August 5th. Park personnel, four WOOF dog teams and three helicopters one each from the park, Sequoia NF and Rogers Helicopters were utilized in the search. Members of the park's FIREPRO crew found L.S.' body on the 23rd in Rock Creek Gorge. The body was recovered by helicopter long line the following day after technical climbers reached his body. Preliminary investigation indicates that L.S. was attempting to climb down through Rock Creek into Kern Canyon. Rock Creek Gorge is extremely rocky, steep and narrow, and it appears that he may have fallen, injured himself, slipped into the creek, and gone over a 25foot water fall. The 24th was a busy day for rescuers in the park. In addition to the recovery of L.S.' body, there were four other helicopter medevacs involving the park's contract ship and a California Highway Patrol helicopter. The park has had 71 search and rescue operations or medical evacuations to date this year, 57 of which have utilized helicopters. [Mike Warren, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 8/26]
On the evening of October 13th, a group of Marines who'd climbed to the top of Moro Rock reported that they had found an explosive device there. Rangers from Lodgepole confirmed the report and evacuated and secured the area until the following morning, when a bomb squad from Tulare County was flown to the scene by a California Highway Patrol helicopter. The device was identified as a 40mm, rifle-launched, high-explosive grenade, possibly armed and probably unstable. It was determined that the only safe way to handle the device was to detonate it in place. An investigation into the incident is underway. [Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/15]
Following the recent arrest of S.M.W. by Modesto, California, police officers on a local charge, evidence was discovered which led to S.M.W.' linkage with thefts from Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and the Stanislaus and Toiyabe national forests. Park and Forest Service investigators determined that S.M.W. and E.B., both of Modesto, had burglarized the Grant Grove Lodge, the Miwok ranger station in the Stanislaus, and campground pipe safes in both parks and both forests. S.M.W. and E.B. are currently in custody on state charges, and a complaint for the Grant Grove Lodge burglary has been filed. Indictments are being sought and charges against other involved persons may still be filed. The investigation is continuing. [Pete Allen, LEO, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/28]
On November 10th, a 59-year-old female from Chino, California, was painting near the Tunnel Log on the Crescent Meadow Road when she was approached by two men who took her picture and subsequently offered to send it to her if she would give them her name and address. She did so, but later felt uneasy about the incident since she and her husband would not be returning to their home until the next day. She called her son, who lived in the area, and asked him to stay at her house and watch it that evening. Shortly after midnight, power was cut to the house and three subjects attempted to break in. The woman's son called the police and scared off the intruders along with some friends before officers arrived at the scene. The two men who contacted the woman claimed to be construction workers in the park. They have been described as white males (possibly Hispanic) in their mid-30's who were dressed in blue flannel shirts and blue jeans. One was 5'6" tall, clean shaven, and had wiry black hair and an angular face; the other was 6'0" with a "pasty-white" round face, thick black hair and a thick black, bushy moustache. Any areas with similar incidents are requested to contact the park's law enforcement office. [Pete Allen, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 11/13]
An extensive search for 26-year-old S.P.W. of Visalia, California, has been underway since November 14th in the Potwisha area of the park. Rangers checking an unattended vehicle in the Potwisha campground determined that S.P.W. was missing from his home and that he'd last been seen heading up the Marble Fork trail on the morning of November 12th. S.P.W. is known to abuse alcohol and cocaine, and has been described as depressed. S.P.W. was hospitalized from an overdose of drugs about three weeks ago, but denied that the overdose had occurred from suicidal intent. Search operations are being headed up by Dan Mason and at their peak involved a helicopter, three dog teams and over 60 personnel. No clues have yet been discovered. A storm on the 17th hampered search efforts. The search is continuing, but on a reduced scale. [Pete Allen, SEKI, via SEAdog message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 11/18]
Rangers received a report on the afternoon of November 30th that someone had spray-painted a rock near the Indian exhibit in the Hospital Rock area. Rangers found that the phrase "FARMS XIV" had been painted very close to an area of Indian pictographs. During an interview with the reporting party, rangers were able to develop a description of the suspect, who was described as a young man wearing what appeared to be "gang colors". He had last been seen in the area less than a half hour before rangers arrived at the location. At the same time, a maintenance worker found a similar painting on another rock outcropping several miles up the Generals Highway toward Lodgepole. Attempts to find the suspect were unsuccessful at that time. Later that evening, ranger Dave Ashe was patrolling in the Potwisha campground when he came upon an extremely disorderly campsite. During his contact with the individuals at the site, he noted that one of them fit the suspect's description. An investigation conducted that evening and the next day led to the arrest of one adult and two juvenile males who admitted to the vandalism. Due to the location of the vandalism, rangers are pursuing the possibility of filing ARPA charges with the U.S. attorney's office. [Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 12/3]
On December 11th, rangers received a report from a log truck driver who said someone had playing "chicken" with him on the Generals Highway between the two parks. He also felt that one of the individuals in the vehicle that had tried to run him off the road may have pointed a weapon at him. The vehicle was described as a small white sedan with two male occupants; when last seen it was traveling towards Giant Forest. The vehicle was spotted by two different park employees, who were able to provide the car's license plate and location. Rangers Mark Gorman and Walter Kelly contacted the two men in the vehicle in the Deer Ridge area. The pair admitted to playing "chicken" with the truck; they'd done so because loggers were "raping the land". They said that they did not have a weapon and consented to a search of their car. Rangers found drug paraphernalia and dried mushrooms during the search. Computer checks revealed that neither the New Mexico license plates displayed on the vehicle nor the VIN number on the registration were on file; the operator's driver's license came back as suspended. The two men were placed under arrest. During the inventory search of the car, rangers found another New Mexico license plate (which also came back as not on file) and four pounds of what appear to be hallucinogenic mushrooms with an estimated street value of $2,500 to $3,000. The men were charged with possession of controlled substances with intent to sell. The investigation into the incident is continuing. [Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 12/13] December 31, 1991 Late on the afternoon of December 19th, the park communications center received a 911 call, but the caller hung up before any information could be elicited. A ranger was dispatched to the likely address to investigate. Meanwhile, however, a maintenance employee called with a report of a fire in a cabin in Wilsonia, a private inholding near Grant Grove. By the time engines arrived on scene, the structure was fully involved. All that firefighters could do was protect surrounding buildings. The residence was totally destroyed, but there were no injuries. Tulare County and Forest Service units also provided assistance. The blaze apparently started when a stove blew up in the cabin. More details will be available after the investigation is completed. [Dispatch, SEKI, via SEAdog message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 12/30]
On February 14th, an informant notified ranger Mark Gorman that K.B., a park concession employee, was going to be purchasing drugs that day in Visalia, California, and that the drugs were going to be transported to the park and distributed there. The informant also described K.B. and his two accomplices and the vehicle which they would be using. A search warrant was subsequently obtained for the three people, K.B.'s vehicle, and one of their rooms. Rangers Gorman and James Ireland stopped the vehicle at about 9:00 p.m. that evening, executed the warrant, seized a quarter pound of marijuana, and arrested K.B. for possession of controlled substances and driving under the influence. Searches of the room and the other two suspects produced no useful evidence, but K.B. gave a voluntary statement in which he admitted purchasing the drugs with the intent to sell about half to his fellow concession employees. [Mark Gorman, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/18]
Kings Canyon seasonal maintenance employee Jill Ratchford was killed on April 26th when her car left California Highway 180 several miles outside the park, overturned and came to rest in the South Fork of the Kings River. Rangers and maintenance staff assisted Sierra National Forest, California Highway Patrol and Fresno sheriff's department officers at the accident scene. Jill was the daughter of Paul Ratchford, an employee of the Kings Canyon maintenance division. [Mike Warren, SEKI, via SEAdog message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4/29]
On Sunday, June 21st, rangers received a report that G.R., 34, who is severely mentally impaired, was missing near Lodgepole. An intense ground and air search was initiated, and selected search teams worked beyond midnight in rugged mountain terrain in attempt to locate him. Dog teams from the Orange County and Tulare County sheriff's offices and volunteer search dog teams from Tulare County were brought in the following morning to support the 40 ground and air search teams deployed in the search. The dog teams alerted to G.R.'s scent on the Twin Lakes Trail that morning, and he was found alive and well just after 2:00 p.m. [Pete Allen, LEO, SEKI, 6/29]
A five-year-old male black bear was illegally killed inside a park inholding in Grant Grove on July 5th. Residents in the Wilsonia area reported hearing a single gunshot early in the morning. An investigation revealed evidence which led rangers to the primary suspect, A.R.K. of Selma, California. On July 7th, a team of rangers and California game wardens executed a search warrant at A.R.K.'s residence and discovered a number of evidence items, including blood and hair samples from the rear of a pick-up truck. A.R.K. eventually confessed to the shooting. Rangers obtained a written confession, the weapon used in the shooting, and a bearskin. A.R.K. had buried the carcass at the bottom of a dry pond, then filled it with water. He has been charged with several wildlife and weapons violations. [Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/15]
Park dispatch received a 911 call from the trailhead at Mineral King on the afternoon of July 25th reporting that two people were calling for help from the cliffs above Eagle Lake. The reporting party stated that he had just barely been able to hear the stranded party and that they appeared to be about 100 feet below the top of the cliffs at 10,800 feet. Rangers started hiking to the location from the Mineral King area, and the park helicopter was dispatched with rangers Dave Ashe and Randy Coffman to find a landing spot above the stranded party. The ship was able to land in the vicinity, and Coffman and Ashe then rappeled 200 feet down to the victims - A.M. and S.B. - and assisted them to the ground. Both were in good condition. They reported that they'd been day hiking in the White Chief area, then had headed back down using cross country routes. When they started down the cliff, they realized that they could not get down and also could not get back up the cliff. When rescued, one was on a fairly large ledge, but the other was in a very narrow crack. [Mike Warren, SEKI, 7/29]
Kings Canyon rangers concluded a three-week investigation with the arrest of a campground ranger on August 19th on charges of embezzling government funds (18 USC 641). They found that she had been taking three to four campground fee envelopes a week for the past two months for a total theft of approximately $400. The investigation began when rangers received information that the woman and her husband had been distributing narcotics in the park and subsequently learned that the pair had sold a quantity of LSD in the park on at least one occasion. [Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, 8/19]
On September 1st, the P. family of San Juan Capistrano, California, was enjoying an afternoon of water activities at Hamilton Lakes when K.P., 17, disappeared from view. He was found and pulled from the water by his parents within five minutes. Family members began CPR while the boy's sister hiked into Bear Paw Meadow for help. Three rangers were flown to the site by helicopter to assist. He was taken to the Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. [Kathy Clark, RAD/WRO, 9/2]
On the night of September 21st, the park was notified that a rodent from Azalea campground in the Grant Grove area had tested positive for bubonic plague. State personnel arrived in the parks on the afternoon of the 22nd and began working on the problem with park personnel. Due to the positive test results, high potential for human contact and history of plague in the area, both Azalea and Crystal Springs campgrounds were closed (Sunset campground was already closed for the season). Current actions center around live trapping rodents to better determine the extent of plague and to better formulate a plan of action. Due to several plague outbreaks on the eastern side of the Sierras, the state will not be able to begin dusting of rodent dens and burrows until approximately the 30th. It's expected that the campgrounds will remain closed for about four weeks. [CRO, SEKI, 9/23]
On September 24th, rangers responded to a single vehicle accident near Giant Forest village; upon arrival, they found three people trapped inside the vehicle on the front seat and two more lying outside. Of these five, all of whom were concession employees, four were critically injured and three needed to be mechanically extracted from the vehicle. The driver, D.D., was admitted in a hospital in Visalia with pneumothorax, broken ribs and a fracture of the zygoma. G.H., also a front-seat passenger, died shortly after paramedics arrived, apparently from acute intra-abdominal bleeding. A third passenger was admitted to the hospital with a broken back, and the fourth with a flail rib. All occupants of the vehicle were intoxicated. The driver's BAC was 0.16 four hours after the accident. Although the speed limit in the area was posted at 25 mph, the vehicle's speed at the time of the accident has been conservatively estimated at 65 mph. The vehicle hit a rock wall, scraped along it for 100 feet, swerved across the road, went over an embankment and became airborne for 40 feet, then hit a large pine tree. The case has been referred to the U.S. attorney for prosecution. [Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 9/25]
A fire totally destroyed the Grant Grove market concession building on January 6th. When the fire brigade arrived on scene, the building, an historic wood frame structure, was totally engulfed in flame. Only the foundation was saved. More information will be sent as soon as it is available. [Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, 1/6]
Grant Grove Market, the structure which burned to the ground on January 6th, contained a grocery store and cross country ski rental shop, both of which were operated by Guest Services, Inc. The fire department was called out at 3:15 a.m. by a 911 call from a local resident who reported that the market was on fire. When the brigade arrived, the building was fully involved, and the upper parts of all four walls and the entire roof had already burned and collapsed. The building and its contents were a total loss. No other buildings were involved. There were no detection or sprinkler systems in the building, and the fire was discovered only when containers in the market started exploding with sufficient force to awaken nearby residents. The building, which was designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who also designed the Ahwahnee Hotel and many other NPS buildings, was under consideration for nomination to the National Historic Register. The building was the park's original lodge when it opened in the late 1920's and also served as a recreation center before becoming the market. Losses are estimated at $200,000. Rangers and Tulare County fire investigators are still investigating the cause of the blaze. [Mike Warren, SEKI, 1/11]
On September 29, 1992, a group of intoxicated concession employees were returning to their quarters in Giant Forest when the vehicle left the road and crashed into a tree. All passengers were injured and Greg Allan Hardenburg was killed. The driver, D.A.D., was subsequently arrested and indicted on charges of vehicular manslaughter, felony drunk driving, driving with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding .08, and driving while his privileges were suspended. In a negotiated resolution, D.A.D. entered a plea of guilty to vehicular manslaughter, and the other charges were dismissed. On February 22nd, D.A.D. was sentenced to 64 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $19,400 in restitution. [Peter Allen, SEKI, 2/24]
R.A., 47, and his son K., eight, were found in good condition at the 11,100-foot elevation of the park on May 23rd following an extended search for them. The two were cross-country skiing with downhill skis and were carrying only a single canteen of water. They'd completed only the first third of their intended journey. Five search teams and air units were employed in the search effort, which was hampered by bad weather. [Pete Allen, SEKI, 5/26]
A 17-year-old boy drowned when he jumped into the Kaweah River as part of a school "ditch day" on May 24th. His body was located by the park helicopter and recovered by ranger Eric Morey with the assistance of members of local agencies. The park's rivers are especially hazardous at present because of the exceptionally heavy winter snow fall and resulting melt. [CRO, SEKI, 5/26]
On June 16th, E.B., a visitor from Chino in his early thirties, went for an evening stroll from Dorst campground, but did not return. He was last seen by a park employee who redirected E.B. back to his campsite. E.B. was reported missing that evening and a search for him was begun the following morning. At the time of the report on Friday morning, about 50 people and several dog teams had been committed to the search. Tom Tschohl is the incident commander. [Pete Allen, SEKI, 6/18]
Rangers and other personnel from the park have now been searching for E.B. for four days along with personnel from Yosemite, members of the Tulare County sheriff's department SAR team, CARDA dog teams, volunteer fire firemen from Camp Nelson and others. Clues found now indicate that E.B. built a campfire on the night of June 16th about two miles southwest of the campground, then headed downhill into the Yucca Creek drainage. Search efforts yesterday were to concentrate on this rugged area and its turbulent, cold and swift stream and on adjacent drainages. [Pete Allen, SEKI, 6/20]
After five days of searching rugged terrain for E.B., rangers came upon him walking along North Fork Drive outside the town of Three Rivers, which is adjacent to the park. He was in good spirits and health and declined medical attention. E.B. had walked from Dorst campground down the hazardous Yucca Creek drainage, apparently unaware that 100 ground searchers were combing the hills looking for him. He told investigators that he'd seen the search helicopter about 30 feet above the ground, but that he hadn't made any efforts to attract attention to himself. He said that he'd concluded that he had no choice but to walk out if the helicopter crew didn't spot him. Along the way, he'd managed to kill and eat two lizards. Diligent searchers had found the head of one lizard near a recent firepit, and had concluded that they were on the correct track. IC Tom Tschol praised the efforts of searchers from Sequoia-Kings Canyon and Yosemite, the California Office of Emergency Services, CAP, CARDA, the Tulare County sheriff's department SAR unit, and the Camp Nelson fire department. He also cited Guest Services, the park's concessioner, for their assistance in providing food. [Peter Allen, SEKI, 6/21]
Around 6 p.m. on June 26th, J.H.P., 21, was wading with family members in the cold and turbulent water of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River immediately behind the park's headquarters complex. All but J.H.P. exited the river; he apparently waded out a little further and was swept away by the swift current. A search was immediately begun by ground teams and a contract helicopter, but they were unable to find any sign of him. The search was continuing at the time of the report on Sunday. J.H.P. is presumed to have drowned. About two hours before the search for J.H.P. began, two other visitors were swept away by the current in the same general area, but they managed to extricate themselves from the water. [Peter Allen, SEKI, 6/28]
Park dispatch received a 911 call at 8 a.m. on July 3rd advising that a car had gone off the road at Amphitheater Point. Rangers and fire staff responded and found that a car driven by J.K. had gone over the rock retaining wall and continued about 20 feet down an extremely steep slope before coming to rest against a small tree. J.K. had not been wearing seat belts and had sustained injuries to her head and face when she hit the windshield. The vehicle was stabilized and J.K. was evacuated up the scree slope to the park ambulance. She was later transferred to another ambulance and taken to Kaweah Delta Hospital. If J.K.'s vehicle had not struck the tree or had slid sideways, it probably would have traveled another 300 to 400 vertical feet before coming to final rest. [Peter Allen, SEKI, 7/6]
A visitor contacted ranger Bob Meadows on the evening of July 2nd and reported that a 15-year-old male had fallen about 75 feet in the Hamilton Lakes area, struck his head, and suffered an open fracture of the skull. Meadows hiked into the area and stabilized the victim. Meanwhile, a ground team made arrangements to respond if necessary. Due to the time of night and the rugged terrain, helicopter evacuation was not feasible until the following day, when a helicopter from NAS Lemoore was utilized to transport the victim to the Valley Medical Center in Fresno. At last report, the victim was in critical condition and suffering from meningitis. [Peter Allen, SEKI, 7/6]
On the afternoon of July 2nd, rangers received a report that a man had fallen into the Roaring River and been swept over Roaring River Falls. Investigation revealed that D.L.C., 27, and a number of his friends were rock scrambling and climbing above the falls in a location which has numerous signs warning people of the hazards of entering the area. D.L.C. lost his footing and fell into the river; he was then swept downstream, over the approximately 60 foot high falls, and into a large pool below the falls. This area is considered hazardous even at low water, and is particularly dangerous this year due to the very high spring runoff. The body was seen by rangers several times on Friday, but all attempts to recover it have so far been unsuccessful. [Peter Allen, SEKI, 7/6]
J.K., the driver of the vehicle that went over the wall at Amphitheater Point on July 3rd, has been admitted to a hospital for mental observation. Since the accident, J.K., who has a long history of eccentric behavior, has made numerous telephone calls to public service and land management agencies in the surrounding area with stories about "dangerous" items and bombs in her vehicle, and has made threats against ranger Randy Coffman, who was the primary care provider at the accident scene. [Peter Allen, SEKI, 7/6]
At 1:40 p.m. on July 5th, ranger Tom Jeffrey was on foot patrol along the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River when he received a report that B.A., 35, had lost her footing and been swept downstream by the river's strong currents. Jeffrey made a quick survey of the river downstream from the location and found B.A. on the far side of the river. She had been swept over several minor drops and through a whitewater area about 100 yards long before she was able to swim to shore. Rangers and members of the park fire crew responded; rangers Coffman and Morey swam the river, set up a tyrolean traverse, and brought B.A. back to the road side of the river. She was treated for minor injuries at the scene, then taken by private vehicle to a local hospital for examination. [Dispatch, SEKI, 7/6]
On July 11th, Loren Shryer, 69, a seasonal ranger at the Ash Mountain entrance station, was in the Giant Forest area on his lieu day when his car became disabled and he decided to walk out to get help. Just outside the Giant Forest registration office, Shryer suffered an apparent heart attack. Lodgepole rangers responded and stabilized Shryer; he was then taken to Kaweah Delta Hospital. At the time of the report, he was resting well and experiencing no pain. Plans were to release him from the hospital last Tuesday. [Mike Warren, SEKI, 7/13]
On July 11th, a visitor came to the Ash Mountain entrance station and reported that a man had suffered some type of seizure while floating down the Southern California Edison flume across the Kaweah River from park headquarters. Rangers Randy Coffman and Mike Warren flew the park contract helicopter over the flume, located the victim, landed about three-quarters of a mile down slope, and hiked up to him. The victim, 58-year-old L.L., complained of pain in his back and had numerous abrasions. He also appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Additional personnel from the fire management office and the Sierra District were flown in; L.L. was carried down to the helicopter, flown to the Ash Mountain heliport, then driven to Kaweah Delta hospital by Exeter ambulance. [Mike Warren, SEKI, 7/13]
On the evening of July 28th, a German visitor advised rangers at Lodgepole campground that he'd seen someone fall in the vicinity of Tokopah Falls on the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. A second German visitor who was swimming in the pools below the falls reported that she'd seen a daypack wash into the pool with her. She retrieved the daypack and a shirt that had also washed into the pool; after meeting with the male visitor on the trail, the pair hiked to Lodgepole and reported the incident. Due to language problems, there was some initial confusion, but a concession employee who spoke fluent German was able to assist and clear up questions. A quick search of the Marble Fork from the campground to the base of the falls was conducted, but turned up only a pair of jeans. Search operations were suspended after that due to the extreme hazard presented to anyone climbing in the area after dark. The search was resumed the following morning by ground searchers and a contract helicopter. During the early stages of the search, a concession employee reported that he'd been hiking with a friend in the area of the falls, that they'd become separated, and that he'd wondered if the helicopter was looking for his friend. This was the first report received of anyone missing in the area. At about 11 a.m., the searchers located the body of the victim at the bottom of a pool below the falls. The name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. [Mike Warren, Acting CR, SEKI, 7/28]
Just after 7:30 a.m. on the morning of August 7th, a giant sequoia twelve feet in diameter fell in front of the old lodge registration desk in Giant Forest. The tree's fall was witnessed by many visitors present in the area; fortunately, none of them were injured. The sequoia took down several large trees, damaged several others, and caused minor damage to a vehicle, the lodge entrance sign and the pavement at the entrance to the parking lot. Although the tree fell parallel to the Generals Highway, debris was scattered across the road, closing it to traffic in both directions. Traffic was detoured around the area via Puzzle Tree Road. Rangers, maintenance employees and the park tree crew responded. A hazard evaluation was completed and three severely damaged trees still standing in the area were removed. The area was cleared and the highway reopened by 11:30 a.m. The park's tree crew foreman estimated that the sequoia was between 1,100 and 1,200 years old. [Kraig Snure, Acting DR, SEKI, 8/9]
Around noon on November 21st, park employees spotted a fire in a two-story wooden cabin in Wilsonia, a private inholding in the Grant Grove area. The cabin was gutted despite an aggressive initial attack response by the Grant Grove fire brigade, which consists mostly of NPS maintenance and GSI concession employees. The brigade was supported by rangers from Cedar Grove, Lodgepole and Ash Mountain, and by the Tulare County fire department. The cabin, which was valued at $120,000 by its owner, was a total loss. The owner reported that he'd left the door of his wood stove open while out of the residence. The cause of the fire is under investigation. [FMO, SEKI, 11/22]
A local landowner called rangers on December 3rd and advised that there was what appeared to be an explosive device on the road to Oriole Lake in a remote area of the Mineral King subdistrict. A 1.5 by 6.5 inch section of PVC pipe was found lying on the side of the road; both ends of the pipe had been sealed by a silicone-type sealant, and a wire protruded from one end. Tulare County explosive demolition personnel were summoned to the area and confirmed that the device was probably an explosive. The device was destroyed at the scene. Fragments were recovered and will be further analyzed. The county and park are conducting a joint investigation. [Mike Warren, Acting CR, SEKI, 12/3]
Around noon on December 11th, a large limb - approximately ten inches in diameter and 25 feet long - fell from a giant sequoia and struck the gift shop in the Giant Forest area. The building was occupied by several concession employees at the time, but no one was injured. The area was immediately secured and warnings were posted. The park's forestry crew is in the process of removing another threatening limb and assessing whether there is potential for more such failures. No structural damage assessment has yet been made. On August 7th, a giant sequoia twelve feet in diameter fell in front of the old lodge registration desk in Giant Forest (93-583). No one was injured in that incident, but the sequoia took down several large trees, damaged several others, and caused minor damage to a vehicle, the lodge entrance sign and the pavement at the entrance to the parking lot. A hazard evaluation was completed at that time and three severely damaged trees that were still standing in the area were removed. [Alan Schmierer, RAD/WRO, 12/14]
Rangers brought an extended investigation of pipe safe thefts to a successful conclusion on May 27th with the arrest of M.L.H., 34, of Lennox, California. There have been multiple thefts from campground pipe safes over the last year in which the thief employed some sort of "fishing" device to withdraw fee envelopes back through the deposit slot. Recently, M.L.H. and a female companion, C.L.G., 19, had been identified as suspects in a pipe safe theft in Cedar Grove. Nightly surveillance of the Potwisha campground was begun and paid off when M.L.H. was observed working for an hour and a half on a pipe safe there at 3:30 a.m. on a recent morning. M.L.H. and C.L.G. were subsequently arrested as they attempted to leave the area. The U.S. attorney declined to press charges against C.L.G., but M.L.H. was charged with theft of public monies, possession of a loaded weapon, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and tampering. The investigation is continuing. The couple is believed to have visited other parks, and may have committed similar offenses in campgrounds both in national parks and other jurisdictions. Parks who have had similar losses or rangers who may have contacted M.L.H. or C.L.G. are asked to call Pete Allen or Randy Larson at 209-565-3341 or contact them via cc:Mail. [Pete Allen, SEKI, 5/27]
On Monday, June 13th, the park received a report that R.O., 45, a German citizen working temporarily for NASA at Edwards Air Force Base, was overdue from a visit to the park. Rangers found his vehicle at a trailhead in Mineral King Valley, and have established that he was probably in the area for a day hike. A hasty search was conducted that afternoon, but failed to turn up any clues. The search is now focusing on Paradise Peak and the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 6/15]
Despite a massive effort over a two-day period last week, searchers were unable to find any clues as to the present location or condition of R.O., 45, of Manching, Germany; the search, accordingly, was scaled back significantly on Friday. Six ground searchers are continuing an investigation of the Cliff Creek area and attempting to gain information from other hikers who may have passed through the area and seen R.O. Interest from the European press remains fairly high. [Pete Allen, LES, SEKI, 6/17]
R.O., who had been missing in the park since Sunday, June 12th, and was the subject of an intensive search last week, walked into the Buckeye Flat campground around 9 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, June 18th. Except for some bread and raisins which he'd brought along for his lunch when he headed out on a day hike on the 12th, R.O. had been without food during the entire period. He had become lost when he took an old, unused trail, which eventually petered out and left him in heavy brush and steep terrain. R.O. was in good physical condition. He was reunited with fellow workers, who had flown out from Edwards Air Force Base for a helicopter overflight of the search area. [Pete Allen, SEKI, 6/18]
On the evening of July 17th, visitor B.W. of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, was injured when the top half of a white fir fell into her van. Neither W.'s husband nor her two children were hurt. She was placed on a backboard and taken to Kaweah Delta hospital in Visalia. The white fir was a standing dead snag about 15 feet off the roadway on Buena Vista curve about a mile below Giant Forest village. The W.'s vehicle sustained about $10,000 in damages to its roof, windshield and right passenger area. [Tom Tschol, SEKI, 7/19]
Shortly after midnight on July 23rd, rangers Tom Jeffrey and Thien Do approached P.M., 34, of Ridgecrest, California, regarding out-of- bounds camping in the Potwisha area. P.M. was sitting in his vehicle with his keys in the ignition. Jeffrey had seen P.M. driving about 20 minutes earlier; he now saw an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and began an investigation to determine if P.M. had been driving under the influence. As Jeffrey attempted to place him in custody, P.M. charged him, placed his hands around Jeffrey's neck and attempted to choke him. Jeffrey broke free and employed Capstun on P.M., who rand down a trail, crossed the Kaweah River and disappeared into the forest. Do then made a show of driving away, while Jeffrey waited near P.M.' car. When P.M. returned, Jeffrey again attempted an arrest. P.M. punched him in the face, knocking him down, then punched Do in the face and again escaped. Only when three other rangers appeared on scene did P.M. submit to arrest. Various charges, including DUI and assaults on federal officers, are being filed in federal court. [Pete Allen, LEO, SEKI, 7/26]
On the afternoon of July 23rd, M.B., 32, of Oceanside, California, was hiking with her husband near the top of Mist Falls when she reportedly walked out on a ledge, slipped, and was carried over the falls, plunging 130 feet to her death. Rangers recovered her body after diving into the pool at the base of the falls. Because of discrepancies in her husband's account of what happened, rangers and FBI agents are conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. [Tom Tschohl, SEKI, 7/26]
On July 27th, rangers managed five separate significant incidents, including two major searches and two backcountry medevacs. Search efforts were assisted by searchers from Yosemite NP, Lemoore and China Lake Naval Air Stations, Sierra Madre SAR, and CARDA SAR dogs. A 47-year-old man from Thousand Oaks was located in good health near the Hockett Meadows ranger station 36 hours after he left his campsite to relieve himself; a 52-year- old Davis man was evacuated from Dusty Basin after suffering from high altitude pulmonary edema; a 60-year-old man from Berkeley suffering from altitude illness and fatigue was evacuated from Wanda Lake; and a 34-year- old Frazier Park man was located in good condition 28 hours after he was reported missing by his hiking companion. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 7/28]
On the afternoon of September 3rd, G.J.F. of Monterey Park was killed in a one vehicle rollover in the Mineral King area of the park. G.J.F. was one of four occupants of a sedan which was leaving the area when its brakes apparently failed just above the Lookout Point entrance station and it went off the side of the road. The entrance station fee collector, who witnessed the accident, was able to reach the vehicle, which was about 250 feet down the slope beside the road. G.J.F. was found to be in full cardiac arrest; although CPR was begun immediately, she did not survive her injuries. It appears that she was not wearing her seatbelt, was ejected, and was injured when the vehicle rolled over her. Two other occupants of the vehicle remain hospitalized, one in serious condition with a basal skull fracture. The cause of the accident is under investigation. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 9/6]
While travelling home from Ash Mountain headquarters on Highway 198 on September 28th, a park interpretive ranger accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian, later identified as C.R., son of a former park maintenance employee. C.R., who was on foot, had crossed to the center of the roadway, then turned to go back and was struck. No charges have been filed against the ranger. [Randy Coffman, SEKI, 10/3]
Anne Shepherd, the budget assistant for the Division of Fire and Visitor Management, died suddenly on the evening of January 28th following a short illness. She was 45 years old. Anne started her 22-year career with the National Park Service as a park aide at Foothills Visitor Center. Her first permanent assignment was as the mail and files clerk, and she became well known as the mail and files "guru" due to her comprehensive knowledge of the central files. In 1992, Anne applied for and was selected for her "dream job" - budget assistant to the chief ranger. She loved her job and it showed in every occasion she took to help solve a problem for a ranger out in the park. Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 2nd, at Three Rivers cemetery in Three Rivers, California. The family has asked that donations be made in Anne's name to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Foundation in lieu of flowers. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 1/30]
Mike Warren, the park's fire management officer, was hospitalized on January 25th with cocci-meningitis and valley fever. On January 31st, he underwent surgery to implant a shunt designed to drain an accumulation of fluid on the brain resulting from the encephalitis that occurred secondary to the cocci-meningitis. Mike came through the procedure well, but his doctor is restricting visits and phone calls for the next two days. Mike is expected to remain at Kaweah-Delta Hospital in Visalia, California, for the next week or two. Full recovery may take up to a year. Cards and messages can be sent to Mike at 40984 Grouse Drive, Three Rivers, California 93271. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 2/1]
On February 25th, H.B., 15, of Los Angeles, was killed while descending from the summit of Big Baldy. H.B. and three others left the Motecito- Sequoia Lodge in Sequoia National Forest and skied to Big Baldy. Just short of their goal, they removed their skis to walk to the summit. On the descent, H.B. slipped and slid about 2,100 feet down a steep slope, sustaining fatal injuries. H.B. was participating in a "Naturalists At Large" outdoor education program for high school students at Montecito-Sequoia. The accident is under investigation. [CRO, SEKI, 2/27]
Mike Warren, the park's fire management officer, remains hospitalized at Kaweah Delta Hospital in Visalia with a severe case of cocci-meningitis. Unfortunately, he has not responded well to treatment, has experienced several setbacks, and will remain hospitalized indefinitely. Cards and letters are the most appropriate way to correspond with him, and may be sent to him at 40984 Grouse Drive, Three Rivers, CA 93271. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 3/3]
Additional reports of damage from the severe storms of the past few days have been received: * Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Falling trees struck and damaged a concession cabin at Giant Forest and a private cabin at Grant Grove, but there have been no other impacts. [Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO; Joe Lusa, CM, REDW; Don Neubacher, Superintendent, PORE; Jack Fitzgerald, CR, CHIS; Phyllis Shaw, JOMU; Leticia Ruiz, Acting Superintendent, PINN; Tom Tschohl, SEKI]
J.D., 21, fell about 600 feet to his death from the west side of Moro Rock on the evening of May 19th. J.D., an employee of Guest Services, Inc., had gone to Moro Rock with three friends. According to witnesses, J.D. and one of his friends climbed over the railing and were walking on the exposed slick rock when J.D. slipped and fell. Alcohol was apparently a factor in the accident. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 5/23]
A Forest Service biologist was walking in an open area in a section of the national forest in the Hume Lake area adjacent to the park when two to three bullets struck the ground within three feet of her. She did not see the person who fired the shots, but had earlier seen an adult male in the area. His description was relayed to local law enforcement officers, who found and stopped the man about two hours later. The man had a .30 caliber handgun in his possession; he admitted to firing the weapon in the area of the incident, but said he was only target shooting and had no intent to fire at any person. Officers could find no evidence to connect him with any anti-government movement or "home rule" organization. The man was charged with discharging a firearm over a body of water, then released. [Randy Coffman, SEKI, 6/13]
On August 3rd, J.R., 22, of Lemoore, California, was swept down the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River and presumably drowned. J.R. had scrambled downhill to the edge of the water in the Hospital Rock area and was rock- hopping when he misjudged a jump and fell into the river. He was swept over several waterfalls in the cold, fast-moving water, and was last seen floating face down in a large pool several hundred yards downstream from his point of entry. The swift, cold water is hindering ranger efforts to locate and recover his body. [Pete Allen, SEKI]
K.D., 27, of Oakland, began a solo, week-long hike into the park's backcountry on July 24th. He was not reported missing until Monday, August 7th, when he was a week overdue. A major search effort was initiated at that time. A search team of about 30 park staff and other personnel are now in the process of checking a very large area for clues as to his location. Paige Ritterbusch is incident commander. Because of the very late spring, there are large amounts of snow and high water levels throughout the area. These would have presented hazards to K.D. - as they are to searchers. [Pete Allen, Acting CR, SEKI]
Mike Warren, the park's fire management officer, has again been hospitalized at Kaweah Delta Hospital in Visalia for complications resulting from a severe case of cocci-meningitis which struck him last January. Although Mike was able to return home for a month earlier this summer, he was recently admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition for hydrocephalus secondary to valley fever. Cards and expressions of support can be sent to him care of the park. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI]
On October 19th, rangers received a report of an assault on and the attempted abduction of a 28-year-old woman from Germany on Sequoia National Forest lands adjacent to the park. The woman was held at gunpoint, but was able to escape and sustained only minor cuts and abrasions. Park rangers sealed and searched the area. At 11:30 p.m., officers took a suspect into custody and seized a high-powered rifle, a pistol and a knife. An investigation is underway. The incident is not related to the similar incident at Yosemite last week. [Tom Tschohl, Acting CR, SEKI]
A search for T.S., 49, of Oakland, was conducted by rangers on Thursday, December 14th with the assistance of personnel from Lemoore Naval Air Station and the county sheriff's office. T.S., an experienced and well-equipped backpacker, was two days overdue when a helicopter crew found him near Summit Lake. T.S. was uninjured and in good condition, but had been pinned down by storms since 4 a.m. on the previous Monday. He was making slow progress through three feet of fresh snow when spotted. T.S. was taken by helicopter to Grant Grove, where he spent the night before being picked up by his wife. T.S.'s vehicle, snowed in where he parked it, may not be recovered until the spring thaw. [Pete Allen, Acting CR, SEKI]
On Friday, July 26th, the park began a search operation in an attempt to locate seasonal backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson, who was last heard from on July 21st. Morgenson has been a seasonal backcountry ranger at the park for more than 20 years, and is considered skilled and competent. The last radio contact with him was on July 20th. Rangers found a note at his backcountry cabin in which he indicated that he was going on a three to four trail patrol. [Mike O'Neal, LES, PGSO]
A full-scale search is underway for seasonal backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson, 54, who has not been seen or heard from since Sunday, July 21st. About 65 people, a few search dog teams, a mountain rescue team, and four helicopters were deployed yesterday. Morgenson was last seen by two backpackers while on his way back to his patrol cabin at Bench Lake on the 21st. The backpackers said that there was nothing unusual about their contact with him. Morgenson slept at the Bench Lake patrol cabin that night, then headed out the next day on an extended patrol. The latter was determined from a note he left on the door of the ranger station that morning. During the "morning roundup" at 11 a.m., when every backcountry ranger is supposed to radio in, the dispatcher heard static when Morgenson's radio was on, indicating the possibility that he was trying to contact dispatch but was in a bad location for transmitting. There was no voice contact. Morgenson is a highly experienced backcountry ranger with 27 years in the park and is very familiar with his patrol area and its difficult terrain. Altitudes in the area range from 11,000 to 14,000 feet, and much of the terrain is only accessible to persons with mountaineering experience. The search effort is being led by backcountry district ranger and incident commander Randy Coffman. Because of the altitude and rugged terrain, it's difficult to bring in additional search personnel, particularly those from sea level, as it would take days to acclimate them to the altitude. [Paul Ducasse, SA, PGSO; Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI]
The search continues for seasonal backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson, 54, who has not been seen or heard from since Sunday, July 21st. Ninety-two people from five organizations and agencies are currently involved in the search, 63 of them in the field. Included are eight dog teams. Four helicopters were deployed yesterday; an Army Blackhawk with forward-looking infrared (FLIR) detection equipment was utilized Sunday night, but without success. No definitive clues have yet been found. The search effort will focus on the Arrow Peak and Lake Basin areas today. If nothing turns up, a reassessment of options will be made tonight. Searchers are also looking into the possibility that Morgenson may be outside the search area. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI]
The search continues for seasonal backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson, who has not been seen or heard from since Saturday, July 20th. As of Wednesday, no significant clues had been found. The search continued yesterday with 15 search teams, including helicopters and numerous dog teams. [Annie Esperanza, Plans Chief, Morgenson SAR Incident, SEKI]
The search for seasonal ranger Randy Morgenson was scaled back over the weekend due to the lack of any clues as to his whereabouts. The park will station one person at Bench Lake to interview hikers, and others will conduct intermittent patrols through the search area. Critical incident stress debriefings were held over the weekend for all employees involved in the search. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI]
On August 12th, a leaking cylinder of chlorine gas prompted the evacuation of about 170 employees and visitors from park headquarters and the Foothill visitor center. The cylinder, which holds about 150 pounds of chlorine gas used for water and wastewater treatment, had been loaded on to a park vehicle for delivery to an outlying area when the rupture occurred. Rangers utilized ICS to manage the incident, clearing and securing the area within a matter of minutes. A county hazmat team responded from Visalia. The cylinder was sealed and removed from the park later that evening. Thirteen park employees, including six firefighters, were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI]
The search for seasonal backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson, who has not been seen or heard from since Saturday, July 20th, was suspended on August 3rd. The park has provided a recap of search and investigative efforts to date: Early on the afternoon of July 23rd, the secretary for the Kings Canyon district advised district ranger Randy Coffman that the last communication with Morgenson might have been on the 21st. A check was made, and it was ascertained that he had last been heard from on the 20th, when he reported his position via park radio as at Mather Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail. Raes Lakes ranger Rick Sanger was dispatched to Bench Lake to check on Morgenson. Sanger arrived on the 24th and found a note on Morgenson's tent stating that he was on a three to four day patrol. Coffman and rangers Durkee, Lyness and Graban were flown to the Bench Lake station later that day, and plans were made to begin a search of high probability areas the next morning. A search was begun of Morgenson's 80 square mile patrol area on the 24th. The numbers and types of resources utilized grew with each search period, and peaked on July 30th with 94 people, five helicopters (one with forward-looking infrared search capability), and eight dog teams from 16 agencies. On August 2nd, the search was scaled back, and the final search team was demobilized on the 3rd. As part of an on-going effort, backcountry rangers have been assigned to look for clues while on patrol in the search area. Resource management staff and trail crew personnel scheduled to work in and around the search area during the remainder of the season and all park employees planning trips in the area are being encouraged to watch for clues that could assist in the investigation. A parallel investigation has meanwhile been underway. Morgenson's name has been entered into NCIC and CLETS data banks as a missing person, notices have been placed at trailheads throughout the area, and bulletins have been sent to numerous local, state and federal government law enforcement agencies. Investigations are being conducted into his physical and mental status. An on-site investigation of the Bench Lake ranger station has been conducted for evidence and clues to his location. Family, friends and supervisors have been interviewed, and personal effects, including his vehicle, have been located and inventoried. Hospitals, airports, train and bus stations, banks, hotels, motels and other businesses where Morgenson may have traveled have been contacted. Backcountry permit issuing stations for the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border to the park have been queried for information on who may have been traveling on the trail in the Bench Lake area around the time of Morgenson's disappearance. Several other leads have been or are currently being investigated. [Randy Coffman, SEKI]
On the afternoon of September 1st, D.D., 64, the president of the California Mountaineering Club, fell between 600 and 1,000 feet to his death while climbing on the Devil's Crag. D.D. was preparing to rapell down to his partner, Herbert Buehler, some 20 feet below, when Buehler heard him exclaim: "Oh no!" Buehler heard rock tumbling, so moved in close to the wall. After the rock fall, Buehler was unable to make voice contact with D.D., and the wall was so vertical that he couldn't see down. He subsequently climbed out and reported the incident to wilderness ranger George Durkee. Rangers located D.D.'s body on an 80 degree slope on the morning of September 2nd. Access was difficult due to the precipitous terrain and abundance of loose rock. D.D. had climbed most of the major peaks in the Sierras at least once, and many of them twice. This was his second or third ascent of Devil's Crag. Due to the loose rock on the vertical walls and the abundance of rock fall, the peak is described as one which requires a great deal of skill, along with luck. [Tom Tschol, Acting CR, SEKI]
Backpackers S.S. and C.M. were caught by a storm that dropped six inches of snow in the mountains while on a five-day hike out of Mineral King. Blowing winds and drifting snow made travel extremely difficult. The two well-prepared backpackers stayed on the trail, spelled out SOS in the snow, and waited in their tent for rescue. The storms that have been hitting the Sierras made access by helicopter difficult, but a skilled team from the Lemoore Naval Air Station was able to extricate the two very exhausted by healthy hikers on October 29th. [Tom Tschohl, DR, SEKI]
Storm damage reports have been received from two more areas. The next update on the situation in Yosemite will appear on Monday or Tuesday: o Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP and Devils Postpile NM (California) - The storms that hit the west coast after the first of the year caused significant damage throughout the two parks. This storm dropped up to four inches of precipitation at the 2,000 foot level and eight inches at the 7,000 foot level. The higher elevations already had a significant snowpack; the warm rain falling on it caused a runoff which exceeded anything seen in recent decades. Devils Postpile had over 14 inches of precipitation within three days. There were over 75 rock and mud slides on the Generals Highway between Ash Mountain and Giant Forest in Sequoia-Kings Canyon, and there were road washouts at Deer Creek and Halstead Meadow. All of these will be cleaned up and roads will again be open within the week. The foot bridge at Buckeye Flat campground crossing the Middle Fork of the Kaweah has been washed away. This bridge was approximately 20 feet above the normal water levels in this drainage. Several sections of the road into Mineral King have been undermined by the heavy flow of water. Numerous county bridges maintained by the local power company or county which are further downstream in the Kaweah drainage have also been washed away. There are over nine major washouts on Highway 180 just outside Kings Canyon. The highway provides the primary access road into Cedar Grove. One washout is over a half mile in length. There are also three significant slides with boxcar size rocks on the highway. The main road bridge adjacent to the ranger station at Cedar Grove within the park has been destroyed, and the motor nature trail in Cedar Grove has been completely washed out. The main foot bridge at Soda Springs in Devils Postpile was washed out. There was also extensive damage to the campgrounds, culverts, and the local water system. Additional damage in the two parks will not be known until the snows melt in the late spring. Based on observations in the frontcountry and at the lower elevations, however, its expected that there will be significant damage to trails and backcountry bridges. [Leslie Tyler, PIO, ORCA; Thomas Tschohl, SEKI and DEPO]
A long-term investigation of a burglary in Kings Canyon NP recently concluded with the conviction of C.P., a concession employee at the Flagg Ranch at Grand Teton NP. C.P. moved to the Flagg Ranch after committing the burglary in Kings Canyon NP. Grand Teton rangers and law enforcement specialist Bob Maguire assisted with the investigation; they contacted witnesses, seized evidence of the crime, and obtained a confession from C.P.. A change of venue agreement resulted in the C.P. case being tried in Casper, Wyoming. C.P. was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and another three years of supervised probation, ordered to pay $2,360 in restitution to the victim, and charged court costs. [Al DeLaCruz, SA, SEKI, 3/25]
Although active searching for missing backcountry ranger Randy Morgensen ended late last fall when the last of the park's backcountry rangers were demobilized, the park is still actively involved in the process of trying to reach a resolution on his status. No further clues have been located as to his whereabouts. The ranger covering the Bench Lake patrol area this year will be assigned patrols to the highest probability search areas to continue the search for clues. Other specialized patrols will be conducted by some of the park's most experienced backcountry rangers in areas which were known to be frequented and preferred by Morgensen. In the event that no further information or evidence surfaces, the NPS will forward a case record to the department for a final resolution to his "missing" status. The agency may, based on available supporting data, declare him deceased after one year passes from the date of his disappearance. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 5/23]
On July 26th, rangers contacted A.T., who was collecting butterflies with a net in Halstead Meadow in Sequoia NP. He had in his possession 51 butterflies representing a dozen species, all of which he'd collected in the park. During a search of his motel room in Exeter, California, rangers and FWS agents found another 193 butterflies and evidence of travel to and/or collection in numerous national parks, including Mesa Verde NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Arches NP, Zion NP, Capitol Reef NP and Grand Canyon NP. He also had specimens labeled as having been collected in Mt. Charleston, Nevada, Greenwich, Utah, and Sequoia NF. A.T. is a member of the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica, a European entomological society specializing in butterflies. For further information on this case, please contact ranger Scott Wanek via cc:Mail at NP-SEKI. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 7/28]
On July 20th, a park volunteer spotted a vehicle whose occupants were suspected of looting and vandalizing Clough Cave over a period of several months. The cave is located in a remote area of the park, and is closed to the public because of its sensitive habitat for several endemic species. Rangers began surveillance of the entrance of the cave and the trailhead where the vehicle was parked. Three men exited the cave and got into the vehicle several hours later. The vehicle was stopped; about ten pounds of speleotherms (cave formations) and a small amount of marijuana were subsequently found in it during a consent search. The three men have been charged with violations of 36 CFR and the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 7/30]
On September 14th, T.P., 43, who was on a solo hike on a class three route at the 14,000-foot level of Mount Tyndall, fell 25 feet and fractured his pelvis and a femur. T.P. was able to attract attention by rolling large boulders, one of which was noted by a woman who was descending the mountain. She reported the incident. Two park medics were able to reach T.P. the following day, but evacuation efforts were hampered by high, gusty winds. By noon on the 16th, a total of 26 rescuers were on scene to move the 6'11", 250-pound T.P. down to lower elevations. T.P. was picked up by a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter at the 12,600-foot level. T.P.'s size, the nature of his injuries and the elevation at which the incident occurred presented significant challenges to his rescuers. Overnight temperatures on Mt. Tyndall dropped to 24 degrees. T.P. was wearing light, day-hiking clothing, including a long-sleeved t-shirt; the remainder of his gear was at his camp several miles away. [Tom Tschohl, DR, SEKI, 9/17]
On February 7th, M.M., 28, a resident of Three Rivers, was dropped off by an acquaintance on a county road about a mile from the park boundary and the Colony Mill trailhead. M.M. planned on hiking 20 miles to the Lodgepole area via a circuitous route that included trails and an unplowed, snow-covered road. Two days later, concerned friends reported that M.M. had not yet returned from his hike. Weather during the two days included heavy rains in the foothills and over two feet of snow at Lodgepole. Indications are that M.M. was marginally equipped for the weather conditions that he encountered. The first three days of search operations focused on lands primarily within the park, but shifted yesterday toward areas outside the park. The overall search area includes about 36,000 acres of rugged, mountainous terrain. The Lodgepole area currently has 83 inches of snow on the ground, and the weather forecast yesterday called for more rain, with snow at higher elevations. Tulare County and park personnel are managing the search under a joint command, with resources being shared cooperatively across boundary lines. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 2/12]
On April 30th, the foreman on a construction project on the General's Highway saw two men who'd parked near the construction zone carrying marijuana plants up a stream drainage. He contacted them, but they fled on foot before rangers could arrive. One of the men, Leal Tova, an undocumented alien from Mexico, was apprehended several hours later at Potwisha campground after an intensive search by six rangers, a state police helicopter and a canine unit from the county sheriff's office. Tovar has been charged with cultivation of marijuana with intent to distribute (21 USC 841(a)(1)) and is presently incarcerated without bail. A total of 111 marijuana plants and associated planting supplies and equipment were retrieved from the adjacent stream, and Tova's 1990 Ford Thunderbird was seized. Rangers found the cultivation site the next day and seized 561 marijuana plants. Tova's companion is still at large. Special agent Al De La Cruz is leading the investigation to determine his identity and whereabouts. Ash Mountain subdistrict ranger Randy Larson is the incident commander. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 5/7]
Seasonal trail crew employee Tamara "Tammy" Skaggs, 28, disappeared on June 28th while returning to camp from a reconnaissance of the High Sierra trail between Panther Creek and the Bear Paw High Sierra camp. She was last seen just after noon heading west over Buck Creek bridge. When she failed to return to camp by 10 p.m., a hasty search of the trail was begun. By Monday morning, there were 35 searchers, two dog teams and a park helicopter committed to the search. That number subsequently increased to about 60 people. A ground team spotted Skaggs on a ledge above the trail near Little Blue Dome creek yesterday at 5 p.m. At the time of the report, she had not yet been debriefed, but appeared to be in good condition. [Malinee Crapsey, PIO, SEKI, 6/30]
Additional information has been received on the search for seasonal trail crew employee Tami Skaggs, who was found by searchers on Monday afternoon. Skaggs had departed from a trail crew camp at Buck Creek on the High Sierra trail at noon on Sunday and headed for her own crew's camp at Panther Creek, some six to seven miles to the west. She left the trail at Nine Mile Creek to find a safe place to cross the stream; after crossing, she lost the route back to the trail. She spent the next two days on steep slopes, attempting to find the trail and to signal the helicopters that she saw intermittently. Skaggs was located by a team of ground searchers who heard her calls for help. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 7/1]
J.W., 27, of Smyrna, Georgia, was killed on Tuesday, August 4th, when he fell about 1,000 feet down a steep, icy couloir on the northwest side of Mount Whitney. J.W. and his partner had climbed the mountain via a technical route on the east side and had reached the summit around 11 a.m. that morning. They met two other climbers who informed them of an "easier" route down; taking their advice, J.W. and his partner joined them on a descent via the Mountaineer's Route, a cross-country route which requires traversing of snowfields and rock ledges. J.W. was attempt to plant an ice ax to stabilize himself while crossing the couloir when he apparently struck a rock, lost his balance, fell and slid about 200 feet on his chest, went over a small waterfall in the gully, then fell another 800 feet before stopping at the edge of the snowfield. The slope over the course of the fall varied between 30 and 60 degrees. The initial report was made by cellular phone by another climber and was relayed to the park by the Inyo County sheriff's office on the east side of the Sierras. A Forest Service helicopter flew a deputy sheriff to Alpine Lake near the base of Mount Whitney, and he was able to hike to J.W.'s location and confirm his death. Rangers Randy Larson and Steve Klump were flown to the site early the next morning to assist with removal of the body and to search the area for belongings. Rangers Bob Wilson and Charles Cuvelier interviewed the other three members of the climbing party when they arrived at the trailhead on the east side on Wednesday. This is the first fatality in the park this year. [Tom Tschol, DR, SEKI, 8/6]
Rangers have been searching for D.C., 51, and his 22-year-old son, C.C., since the two failed to return from a backcountry trip to the Rae Lakes/60 Lakes Basin on Monday, August 17th. There were last seen at Fjord Lake on the north side of the basin on Saturday. The C.s are considered to be experienced hikers, are well-equipped, and are familiar with the area. At the time of the report, 52 people, a dog team and two helicopters had been committed to the search. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 8/19]
Rangers began searching for D.C., 51, and his 22-year-old son, C.C., on August 17th after the two failed to return from a backcountry trip to the Rae Lakes/60 Lakes Basin. The two men were found alive and unhurt on August 21st. They were near Mist Falls, which is at the confluence of Gardiner Creek and the South Fork of the Kings River, about ten air miles west of the area where they'd last been seen. They had attempted to travel cross-country over Gardiner Pass to Charlotte Lake, but lost the route and ended up following Gardiner Creek down to the falls. Steep cliffs prevented them from going further. Even though they are experienced backcountry travelers, they'd become disoriented and were not certain of their exact location. Approximately 70 people, a dog team and two helicopters were assigned to the search. Many agencies and organizations contributed to the search effort. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 8/24]
On the evening of Friday, November 6th, the park was notified that a 1969 Cherokee Piper with three men on board had disappeared from air traffic control radar in the vicinity of Kings Canyon NP. The last fix occurred just before 3 p.m. over the Lake Basin/Dumbbell Lakes area - one of the most remote and inaccessible locations of the park, with peaks ranging from 12,000 to 13,000 feet. The pilot of the rental plane was L.M., 47, of Fresno; his passengers were J.A., 80, of Fresno, and D.A., 53, of Merced. The Cherokee's emergency transponder did not activate, so the exact location of the plane could not be determined. Intermittent bad weather hampered search efforts over the weekend, but clearing weather on Monday permitted a more extensive effort. Five helicopters and two aircraft searched a 162-square-mile area aound Mount Goddard, which searchers had determined was the area where the plane would more likely be found. No sign of it was detected, however, nor were any signals picked up. Approximately 25 people are working with park staff on the search, including personnel and aircraft from Lemoore and China Lake Naval Air Stations, the Air National Guard, and the Civil Air Patrol. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 11/8 and 11/10]
Air searchers found the missing Cherokee Piper about a hundred feet below the summit of Mount Goddard just after noon yesterday. The hazardous location of the plane prevented a climbing team of two rangers from getting close enough to physically assess the condition of the three occupants while there was still daylight, but they were able to see that the plane is wedged tightly into a steep gully with evidence of hard impact. From the condition of the plane's cockpit, it is evident to searchers that no one survived. The recovery effort and investigation will begin today. A seven-person climbing team will work from above to secure the plane; if they are able to do so, they will then attempt to remove the bodies. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 11/12]
Long-term seasonal ranger Jack Brush, 61, passed away on January 5th from complications stemming from an advanced case of cancer. Jack was an officer in the Los Angeles Police Department, retiring as a sergeant in 1985. He began his NPS career in 1979 as a seasonal commissioned ranger at Yellowstone NP, where he worked for five summer seasons. He resumed his work as a seasonal at Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP in 1986. Jack worked in the Grant Grove Subdistrict, where he made significant contributions to the subdistrict horse patrol operation and as a field training officer for a large number of new seasonal rangers. A service was held on January 8th at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Valcenia, California. He will be interred in Prescott, Arizona. Condolences can be sent to his family through his daughter, T.H. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, SEKI, 1/8]
A hiker suffering from the effects of high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) was successfully extricated from the summit of Mount Whitney during a rescue which took place on Wednesday, June 30th. H.R., 46, of San Jose, California, was airlifted from the summit at around 4:30 p.m. as his medical condition rapidly deteriorated. His breathing stopped several times and had to be assisted during the short flight to Lone Pine. After being stabilized there by hospital staff, he was flown in a pressurized aircraft to Loma Linda Hospital for advanced treatment. H.R. will recover, despite being perhaps minutes from death. H.R. was discovered on the peak's summit by an off-duty member of Inyo County Search and Rescue at approximately 1:15 p.m. that day. He was disoriented and in need of medical assistance. The off-duty officer called the sheriff's office in Bishop, who then notified the park. H.R.'s condition declined rapidly - an hour after the initial call he was incoherent, and by 3:50 p.m. he was suffering from convulsions. The rescue was challenging due to the difficulty in locating an aircraft capable of flying both to that elevation (14,494 feet) and in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees. High temperatures at higher elevations make it impossible for all but specialized aircraft to get the necessary lift for landing and taking off. Angel 6 from Lemoore Naval Air Station dropped off oxygen bottles and a litter on scene, but initially could not land due to the temperatures. A California Army National Guard Chinook from Stockton was en route to the scene when word was received that H.R.'s condition was worsening. Recognizing the need of a quick evacuation, the crew of Angel 6 striped their aircraft down to a minimum load by leaving gear and personnel at a site lower on the mountain. They were then able to land and extricate H.R. from the mountain, saving his life. H.R. and four other family members had begun their hike on Sunday, camping two nights at Whitney Portal and another night at 12,000 feet before hiking to the summit on Wednesday. [Tom Tschohl, DR, Sequoia District, 7/1]
On August 12, 1998, a visitor saw seasonal firefighter J.C. with a firearm in his possession in the park. J.C., who has been a seasonal firefighter since 1993, had been paroled after serving a year in state prison for a theft conviction. Rangers arrested J.C. the following day for being a felon in possession of a firearm, a felony and violation of 18 USC 922(g)(1). J.C. was returned to state prison for the parole violation and was sentenced recently in federal court to 30 months in prison. An associated investigation by rangers and the park investigator resulted in clearance of numerous cases of theft of government property. J.C. admitted to acquiring park keys over the years. He was therefore able to gain access to numerous park buildings during the late evening hours. J.C. stole an estimated $20,000 worth of government property, including two-way radios, chainsaws, computer components, tools and miscellaneous other items. J.C. was allowed to plea bargain the stolen property charges in exchange for a guilty plea for weapons possession. [Al DeLaCruz, SA, SEKI, 7/1]
At approximately 6:00 p.m. on July 7th, a graduate student who was in Kings Canyon National Park to do geologic research in the Granite Basin area died from head injuries received when he fell over 30 feet while rock climbing. P.M., 26, of Friday Harbor, Washington, was climbing with another researcher at Shorty's Meadow, about a half mile north of Granite Pass, when the accident occurred. Four hikers in the area responded to cries for help and remained with the unconscious victim while his friend went to get help from the Granite Lake backcountry ranger, stationed approximately a mile-and- a-half away. A helicopter was sent from park headquarters and arrived at the scene at 7:30 p.m. after picking up a park medic at Cedar Grove. P.M. was flown to University Medical Center in Fresno, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 9:00 p.m. in spite of advanced life support procedures performed at the scene and during the flight. Both researchers were students at Utah State University and had been issued a research permit by the NPS to gather data on geologic faults. [Ralph Moore, Acting CR, SEKI, 7/12]
On October 31st, the park received a report that M.M., 59, of Visalia, was missing and reportedly suicidal. His vehicle was found the next day about 18 miles up Mineral King Road. Rangers, the park's criminal investigator, and local deputies and officers found his body nearby. He had hung himself. His death has been ruled a suicide. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 11/23]
A.T., 20, of Tulare, California, who was working in the park on a project under the auspices of Tulare County Community Services and Employment Training, walked down to the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River during his lunch break around noon on June 21st. Two of his co-workers followed a few minutes later. They saw A.T. slip off a rock into the river, where he was swept into a rock and pinned against it by the current, his head periodically pulled under water by its force. They called 911 and returned to the scene with a long industrial extension cord. They were able to toss the cord to A.T., securing it to rocks and to themselves. Ranger Randy Larson arrived within two or three minutes of the park's receipt of the 911 call, but A.T. had by that time let go of the cord. More rangers and emergency response personnel reached the scene within the next few minutes. It took about 11 minutes to remove A.T. from the river. CPR was begun and continued for about 40 minutes until he was pronounced dead at the scene by medical control personnel. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 6/22]
On the afternoon of July 5th, C.S., 43, and his son, A.S., 10, drowned at the confluence of the Marble Fork and Middle Fork of the Kaweah River. A family member flagged down ranger Glen Giokaris and reported that the two were in trouble in the river. Giokaris was on scene immediately and pulled both of them from the river. Additional rangers and emergency personnel arrived within minutes. CPR and advanced life support measures were administered for about 50 minutes until halted by a medical control physician. According to witnesses, the son attempted to swim across the river to his father, but began having difficulty staying above the surface. Another family member came to the boy's aid, but he grabbed her in panic and was pulling her underwater. The father separated the two and the current carried her downstream a short distance. By the time she was able to get out of the river, both father and son had disappeared. Ash Mountain subdistrict ranger Randy Larson was IC; ranger Bud Walsh is the principle investigator. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 7/7]
On the evening of August 2nd, Fresno County Sheriff's Office detectives found the body of Doug Frizell, 53, at his home in Miramonte, California. Frizell, the building and utilities supervisor in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon NP, did not report to work on either August 1st or 2nd. Park supervisors and co-workers became concerned about his whereabouts, and a missing person report was filed with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office. The case is being investigated as a homicide; an autopsy has been scheduled to determine cause of death. Rangers provided county detectives with information on the illegal use of Frizell's credit cards which resulted in the identification of a suspect. The sheriff's offices in both Fresno County and Tulare County are actively pursuing the suspect. Park employees have attended critical incident stress defusing sessions conducted by peer support counselors in the park. Additional CIS debriefings by mental health professionals are being contracted through the Employee Assistance Program. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, SEKI, 8/3]
The Fresno County coroner has determined that building and utilities supervisor Doug Frizell, 53, died as a result of a homicide. The exact cause is being kept confidential for investigative reasons. Two suspects - J.R. and B.K.M. - are being sought for questioning by the Fresno County Sheriff's Office and the FBI. The FBI is now investigating this case since the suspects are believed to be out of the area and probably in another state. J.R. and B.K.M. are wanted in Oklahoma for robbery and kidnapping (a carjacking) and by Tulare County and Fresno County for property crimes and the use of Frizell's credit cards. The FBI is pursuing a federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Critical incident stress debriefings were held in the parks for all employees. Mental health professionals and peer counselors are still available for consultation. A memorial service for Doug has been scheduled for noon on Sunday, August 20th, at the Sunset Amphitheater in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon NP. Cards and letters of condolence may be sent to Dustin Frizell, c/o of Pete Lucero, P.O. Box 923, Kings Canyon National Park, CA 93633. Donations to the family may be sent to the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Employee Association (SKEA) c/o Pete Lucero at the same address. Make checks out to SKEA and on the memo line please write Doug Frizell. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, SEKI, 8/9]
The two suspects wanted for questioning in the murder of building and utilities supervisor Doug Frizell, 53, were arrested in Oregon by the Coos County SWAT team on Thursday, August 10th. The two men - J.R. and B.K.M. - had driven Frizell's stolen 1996 Toyota pickup onto a beach, where they got it stuck on the edge of the surf zone. They had it towed after it had been stuck for two days. When the two men failed to retrieve the vehicle after several days, the towing company called the Coos County Sheriff's Office. Officers there discovered that the vehicle was stolen and that J.R. and B.K.M. were wanted. B.K.M. was arrested without incident at a nearby campground, but J.R. fled on foot into forest and brush. It took three hours of searching before he was finally captured by a SWAT canine unit. The Fresno County DA is proceeding with extradition and will be filing first degree murder charges against the two men. A memorial service for Doug was held on Sunday, August 20th, at the Sunset Amphitheater in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon NP. Cards and letters of condolence may be sent to Dustin Frizell, c/o of Pete Lucero, P.O. Box 923, Kings Canyon National Park, CA 93633. Donations to the family may be sent to the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Employee Association (SKEA) c/o Pete Lucero at the same address. Make checks out to SKEA and on the memo line please write Doug Frizell. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, SEKI, 8/10]
Rangers received a report on the evening of August 9th of a woman who had been seriously injured in a fall from a horse on the Alta trail about four miles from the trailhead at Wolverton. Park medic Eric Gabriel was flown by the park's contract helicopter to a nearby helispot as darkness descended. He then hiked an additional mile to the scene and determined that T.B., 40, had a possible pelvic fracture that could be life threatening. Twelve additional rescue personnel were assembled by IC Charlie Strickfaden to assist with the carryout. The rescue team carried a wheeled litter and additional medical equipment four miles up the trail, arriving around midnight. T.B. was transported down the trail in the dark to a waiting ambulance. The entire rescue operation took about 10 hours to complete. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, SEKI, 8/15]
On August 13th, M.T. and C.T. of Tulare, California, hiked to the Muir Grove of giant sequoias from the Dorst Creek campground. They agreed to meet at a designated location near the trail's entrance to the grove. When she failed to arrive, he hiked back to the point where he'd last seen her, then out to their car. M.T. contacted ranger Rob Lewis and the two men made a fruitless hasty search of the area. A full search was begun the next day. Twelve rangers were assigned under IC Charlie Strickfaden. No sign of her was found that day or into the following morning, so the search effort escalated on the 14th. She was found that afternoon in the Dorst Creek drainage by an observer in the park's contract helicopter. She was in good condition and only mildly dehydrated. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, SEKI, 8/18]
The 75th annual "Nation's Christmas Tree" ceremony took place at Grant Grove on Sunday, December 10th. This event celebrates the two honors held by the General Grant, the third largest giant sequoia in existence. In 1926, the General Grant was designated as the Nation's Christmas Tree by President Calvin Coolidge; in 1956, the tree was established as the only living national shrine in honor of those who have given their lives in service to their country. During the one-hour ceremony, rangers placed a large wreath at the base of the tree in remembrance of those who have sacrificed their lives. This year's event attracted about 450 visitors, as the lack of snow facilitated access to the area. There were no accidents or injuries. About 22 people from various divisions in the two parks assisted with the incident. [Kris Fister, PIO, SEKI, 12/13]
Sequoia District FMO D.A. suffered extensive injuries in a single vehicle accident on Thursday, February 1st. He is in intensive care at Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia with a broken neck, concussion, and injuries to his shoulder, pelvis and head. Although his neck was broken, he is able to move his extremities. Since he is in intensive care, the park has asked that cards, flowers, and/or requests for additional information be sent to the park's fire management office until he is stabilized. The address: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Fire Management Office, 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA 93271. The park also asks that you keep D.A. in your thoughts, as he's facing a long road to recovery. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 2/2]
Sequoia District FMO D.A. suffered extensive injuries in a single vehicle accident on Thursday, February 1st. He was in intensive care at Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia for some time, but has been released and is now in the Cypress Rehabilitation Center. The park reports that his spirits are high, that he is feeling better each day, and that he very much appreciates the contact from all those who have reached out to him. You can write to him at the following address: D.A., Room 205B, Cypress Rehabilitation Center, 840 South Akers Road, Visalia, CA 93291. Local callers can call him at 559-624-3700; out of town callers may reach him at 1-800-994-7342. Visiting hours are limited due to the need for extensive physical therapy. If you're thinking of visiting, give him a call first to find out the best time to come by. [William Kaage, SEKI, 2/21]
The park's dispatch office received a 911 call from Potwisha Campground on the afternoon of April 16th, reporting that a young man had been swept downstream just below Marble Falls on the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. It took rescue personnel over an hour to reach the location, which is nearly four trail miles and 2,400 vertical feet above and beyond the Potwisha trailhead. M.N., 24, of San Luis Obispo, was located and extricated from a precarious, life-threatening location on the edge of the river by rescue swimmer P.S., who was belayed by ropes and equipped with a boogie board. M.N. was hypothermic, but he didn't require any medical attention and walked out under his own power. M.N. had attempted to swim to a spot in a large pool below the falls so that others in his party could take a photograph, but the swift current pulled him downstream. Although he managed to grab onto a rock, he remained partially submerged in 40-degree water for about 45 minutes. Other visitors in the area made a makeshift rope out of clothing that was knotted together and floated it to M.N. He attached the makeshift line to his wrist, and the visitors pulled him up onto a small ledge. He had to endure the spray of the waterfall for about two hours until he was rescued. Ash Mountain SDR Randy Larson was IC; 15 park employees from several divisions were involved in the rescue. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 4/19]
Supervisory visitor use specialist F.G., a 26-year employee at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, was found dead Tuesday inside his park residence from what appears to be self-inflicted injuries. Frank was a fixture in these parks, particularly at Ash Mountain, where he greeted untold millions of visitors and employees over the years. He is survived by sons T.G., 26, and J.G., 21. Chief ranger Debbie Bird adds this note: "We may never understand the reason why F.G. chose to end his life, but we will remember him with fondness. His friendly wave and kind words started many of our mornings out on a good note. He will be missed by all of the current and former employees of these parks." [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 5/9]
On May 21st, the Pacific West incident management team was activated to manage a visit today and tomorrow by President Bush and Secretary of Interior Gale Norton. The visit includes an overnight stay in the park, a speech to park employees, and a hike. About 200 people are assigned to the incident, including three special event teams from Pacific West Region and one from Intermountain Region. Another 50 park employees are providing incidental support. The IMT is working closely with White House staff, the Secret Service, the Marine Corps and the California Highway Patrol. More than 450 press and invited guests are expected to attend the event. For more information, contact the Pacific West IMT via cc:Mail at PacWest IMT or by phone at 559-565-3204. Demobilization of personnel is expected to be completed on June 1st. [Hugh Dougher, IC, IMT, 5/28]
President Bush and Secretary Norton arrived in the park on Tuesday, May 29th, and spent the night at the Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia NP. On Wednesday morning, they hiked in the Sherman Tree area, where they were given an overview of fire ecology and its importance to the sequoia ecosystem. The party next climbed the 300 steps to the top of Moro Rock, posed for media photos, and learned more about the geology of the area. The party then moved to an area outside of the soon-to-be-opened Giant Forest museum, where the president delivered a 20-minute speech to a gathering of 250 NPS employees, concessioners, cooperators, contractors and their families, plus 170 members of the local and national press. In his speech, the president expressed his appreciation to all NPS employees and cooperators for their care of the parks. He promised that his administration would be the first to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and to significantly reduce the Service's maintenance backlog. He also promised $1.6 million to finish the work being done in the Giant Forest area, which has been undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration that includes the removal of 300 buildings and the conversion of the old market into a museum. The president ended his visit by shaking hands with all of the NPS employees, posing for photos, and signing autographs. The event went smoothly and there were no incidents. Demobilization of resources is currently underway. The ICP will close tomorrow morning following an incident critique with park management. [Hugh Dougher, IC, 5/28]
On the night of June 9th, a structural fire was accidentally started by a homeowner in Wilsonia, a private inholding in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon NP. Nearby residents heard the owner's cries for help and notified the park around 9 p.m. By the time the Grant Grove structural fire brigade arrived on scene, the building was engulfed in flames. Units from CDF, Sequoia NF and the Lodgepole fire brigade also responded; a total of eight engine units, three crews of wildland firefighters and the Arrowhead hotshots assisted in the firefighting effort. Grant Grove residents were evacuated as a precautionary measure. A propane tank adjacent to the structure vented and caught fire, spreading flames to and destroying a neighboring house. A sport utility vehicle parked in front of the burning building also caught fire from radiant heat and was destroyed. The fire was declared controlled at 8 a.m. the next morning. The fire was started when the homeowner spilled lamp oil on a pot-bellied wood stove that was in use. The flames quickly spread when he attempted to extinguish the fire with water from a hose. Ranger John Stobinski was IC. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 6/20]
On the morning of June 23rd, the parks received a request from Inyo National Forest to assist in a search for A.P., 33, of Tucson, Arizona. A.P. started a solo hike in the forest at Whitney Portal on the east side of the Sierra Nevada on June 18th. He planned to hike the main trail to Mt. Whitney (14, 495 feet) and exit from the area on June 20th via the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek. When he failed to return, his family contacted the forest. The park's contract helicopter was dispatched to the area and quickly located A.P.'s body on a snowfield at about 13,020 feet on the northwest face of Mt. Whitney. Due to the difficult terrain, the helicopter could not land at the site. Helicopter operations proved unfeasible for the remainder of the day, so plans were made to recover A.P.'s body early the next day. On June 24th, rangers were flown to the mountain and climbed up to the spot. His body was flown out and released to the county coroner, who determined that he died from multiple traumatic injuries sustained in a long fall down a high-angle slope of rock and snow. The exact date of the accident is unknown. Lodgepole SDR Bonnie Schwartz was IC. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 6/26]
On the evening of June 14th, a visitor reported that her friend, M.F. of Nevada City, California, was stranded on a ledge halfway up the Watchtower. The pair had been free-climbing in the Tokopah Falls area of Sequoia NP when M.F., 28, decided to attempt a free solo climb of the Watchtower. M.F. reached a point where he was unable to continue his climb, so called his friend on a portable radio and asked her to go for help. Rangers Rob Lewis and Lloyd Walker attempted to reach M.F. by climbing a 5.6 rated route in the dark. They climbed until about 2 a.m. and reached a point several hundred vertical feet below M.F., but were unable to reach M.F. due to unsafe conditions in an area of loose, unstable rock. Rescuers remained on scene throughout the night to reassure him. Communication was maintained with M.F. by utilizing his friend's portable radio. Rangers Scott Wanek and Brian Bloom arrived at the base of the Watchtower before dawn the next morning. They reached M.F. and safely lowered him to the base of the wall early that afternoon. M.F. is being charged with 36 CFR 2.32 (a)(4) for creating a hazardous condition. A total of 15 people from the ranger division, interpretive division, and the Sequoia Natural History Association assisted during the rescue. Ranger Greg Williams served as IC. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 6/20]
On July 26, 1996, the park began a major search for seasonal backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson, 54, who had not been heard from for five days. Morgenson was a skilled and competent ranger who had worked for the park for 28 years. The search was suspended due to a lack of clues about two weeks later. On Sunday, July 15th, four off-duty trail crew members found human remains in a stream drainage northeast of Window Peak, a remote, trailless area within Kings Canyon NP. A pack and some equipment were found in the same area. Rangers flew to the site and conducted a cursory search of the area. The type of backpack, style of hiking boot and other items found there were consistent with what Morgenson had in his possession when last heard from. Rangers and two teams of search dogs were flown to the site the next day. The search area focused on a stretch of stream drainage about a quarter mile north of the large lake east of Window Peak. Among the other items found were a park-issued portable radio and a ranger uniform shirt with a badge and Morgenson's name tag on it. The remains will be sent to the Tulare County coroner for positive identification. It's believed that the remains are those of Morgenson, and that he died due to an accidental fall while attempting to cross the stream. The place where the remains were found was within an area of high probability of discovery in the original search, and had in fact been checked numerous times by ground searchers and dog teams. It's likely that his body was not seen due to the high amount of runoff in the stream that summer. The search in 1996 was a difficult one for the park's staff - both emotionally and physically. This discovery, although not yet confirmed by dental records, has helped bring closure and comfort to those who knew and worked with him. Peer support counselors from both Sequoia-Kings Canyon and Santa Monica Mountains have conducted CISD sessions for involved park staff. [Kris Fister, PIO, and Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 7/18]
Last week, rangers followed-up on a tip from a fisherman and discovered an extensive marijuana growing operation near a popular campground within the park. They eradicated 3,100 plants and removed about 550 pounds of equipment and supplies from the site, including garden tools, 2,500 feet of irrigation hose, about 80 pounds of fertilizer, camping equipment, canned goods and miscellaneous debris. A loaded 9mm magazine was also found at the site. Three separate areas, each about an acre in size, had been cleared under the oak canopy and the soil had been tilled in preparation for planting. It was evident that the garden had been abandoned after being discovered by the fisherman. No clues were found that would associate the site with any suspects, but the investigation remains open. [Al DeLaCruz, SA, SEKI, 7/31]
Rangers, Forest Service personnel and Fresno County deputies were involved in a search for a missing hiker in Kings Canyon NP last week. A commercial ranch just outside the park called to report that a 50-year-old client, R.S.A., had left early on September 7th for a day hike to Pavilion Dome and had not returned. An initial hasty search and containment efforts were conducted that night, but proved fruitless. Aerial and ground searches were begun the next day with four ground teams, two dog teams and three helicopters. Footprints located near the 11,846-foot summit matched R.S.A.'s shoe size, indicating that he had approached the summit via the normal route. No other hikers were known to have been in this remote area of the park and weather conditions were not an issue. On September 9th, the crew of the Fresno County helicopter spotted R.S.A.'s lifeless body outside the park at the base of the mountain. Sierra Crest SDR Debbie Brenchley was the incident commander.[Kinsey Shilling, DR, SEKI, 9/14]
Between October 4th and October 11th, rangers and the park's special agent found and eradicated 1,100 marijuana plants within the park. The marijuana was found at two different plantations, one of which was being harvested when discovered. Three more sites were found which had already been harvested; together, they contained about 8,900 plants. Rangers and firefighters removed about two-and-a-half miles of irrigation hose and 800 pounds of debris left behind by the growers. Evidence found at the scene revealed that all three were maintained and harvested by the same growers and were occupied by Mexican nationals. Three primary camp sites were found with food caches and bedding areas. One site, furthest from the main camp, was at 5,800 feet and was being irrigated by an automatic watering system powered by nine-volt batteries. No arrests were made, but some good leads were found at the sites. The investigation continues. [Al DeLaCruz, SA, SEKI, 10/16]
On the morning of October 23rd, a ranger and the park's special agent contacted two groups of Asian men poaching gray squirrels in the south fork area of the Sequoia District. The poachers had hiked past a sign with an international "no hunting " symbol situated at the trailhead. The area supports large populations of gray squirrels and is well known to local squirrel poachers. A total of seven people were contacted. They were armed with 12 and 20 gauge pump and semi-automatic shotguns and had game in their possession. Each was cited for possession of illegally taken wildlife and for possessing a weapon in the park. Three of the men also admitted to hunting in the area on prior occasions. All firearms, ammunition, knives and a total of 24 squirrels were seized from the violators. Rangers patrol the remote area periodically during the hunting season; they had previously responded to reports of shots fired, but had been unable to find anyone. [Al DeLaCruz, SA, SEKI, 10/25]
The 76th annual "Nation's Christmas Tree" ceremony was held at the base of the General Grant sequoia in Kings Canyon NP on Sunday, December 9th. Approximately 450 hardy visitors braved the chilly temperatures (upper 20s) and snowy conditions to participate in the event celebrating the tree's dual honors - it was designated as the nation's Christmas tree in 1926 and established as the only living national shrine in 1976 to honor those who have given their lives in service to their country. The tree's only decoration consists of a large wreath laid at its base by park staff during the one-hour ceremony. The area received four to five inches of new snowfall on the morning of the event, and park staff had to work quickly to clear and sand the roads, parking lots, and the footpath to the base of the tree. The only injury occurring during the event was a probable broken arm sustained during a fall. [Kinsey Shilling, DR, SEKI, 12/12]
On February 22nd, B.K.M., 24, was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in the July 2000 murder of NPS maintenance employee Doug Frizell. B.K.M. pleaded guilty to two counts of residential burglary and one count of assisting a homicide after the fact. B.K.M. was originally charged with murder and other crimes that made him eligible for the death penalty. Co-defendant J.S.R., 28, pleaded guilty last August to murder and was sentenced in September to 50 years to life in prison. The two sentences stem from the death of D.F., 52, who was found dead inside his home in Pinehurst, which is near Kings Canyon National Park. B.K.M. still faces charges in connection with the beating, robbery and kidnapping of a 21-year-old man in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in July 2000. B.K.M. plans to enter a plea agreement in that case that will result in a sentence to be served consecutively with the one imposed in California. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 3/15]
An air search is in progress for a small private plane that took off from Visalia Municipal Airport on Saturday, April 6th., for an overflight of Moro Rock. The plane, with the pilot and three passengers aboard, flew east into the park's airspace, then disappeared from radar in the vicinity of the rugged Marble Fork drainage. The pilot was a local Visalia man and his three passengers were all 15-year-old boys who attend Golden West High School in Visalia. The flight was a birthday gift for one of the boys. A faint signal has been picked up by triangulation teams from the Civil Air Patrol, but air and ground crews have not turned up any further evidence of the missing plane's location. The search is continuing, and includes additional air and ground crews and participation from Civil Air Patrol triangulation crews. Due to the difficulty of the terrain, a ground search will likely be conducted when there is reasonable anticipation of finding the plane. Kinsey Shilling is IC. [Shauna Dyas, IO, SEKI, 4/9]
Ranger Chris Waldschmidt radioed the park dispatch office on the morning of April 6th and requested a registration check on an unattended vehicle parked in the upper lot of Giant Forest Museum. The dispatcher advised Waldschmidt that the registered owner's name had been entered into the system as a missing person by his wife in Visalia the previous day. The 63-year-old man was reportedly suicidal; he had considered a suicide attempt from the summit of Moro Rock in September, 2001, but had changed his mind while talking with his wife on his cell phone. A major ground and air search was conducted over the next two days. A technical search team found his body at the base of Moro Rock on April 8th. All evidence collected during the search investigation indicates that he committed suicide by leaping from the summit of Moro Rock. Kings Canyon DR Kinsey Shilling was IC. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 4/8]
An air search is still underway for a small private plane that disappeared from radar while flying over the rugged Marble Fork drainage on April 6th. On board the Piper Cherokee were pilot P.C., 43, and passenges B.C., 16, J.M., 15, and J.T., 15; all are from Visalia. The plane took off from Visalia Municipal Airport around 3 p.m. on April 6th for a flight over Moro Rock in southwestern Sequoia NP. Radar contact with the craft was lost west of the park's Giant Forest area around 4 p.m. Based on the radar records, the search has focused on several canyons of the Kaweah River - the North Fork, Middle Fork and Marble Fork. The rugged terrain makes both aerial and ground searching difficult. The multi-agency search includes helicopters, airplanes and ground searchers. During pre-dawn flights yesterday, several of the aircraft employed infrared detection devices in an unsuccessful effort to find the plane. The presence of numerous search aircraft in the area presents a risk of further accidents, so the FAA has imposed a temporary flight restriction on all other aircraft. The restriction affects air space within a five-mile radius centered on Moro rock. The search continues. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 4/10]
The search for the missing Piper Cherokee aircraft with four people aboard ended late Wednesday morning with the discovery of the plane's wreckage. There were no survivors. The wreckage was discovered by a helicopter crew from Vandenberg Air Force Base assigned to search a very steep and rugged portion of the Castle Creek drainage, about three miles southwest of Moro Rock. The wreckage was found when the helicopter crew picked up a weak signal from the downed aircraft's emergency locator transmitter (ELT). The area in which the aircraft was located, determined by search managers as an area of high probability, had been searched previously. Along with pilot P.C., the plane carried B.C., 16, J.M., 15, and J.T., 15. All four were from Visalia. The flight occurred on Saturday afternoon in cloudy, foggy weather conditions and was a birthday gift for Bobby Craine. The party left the airport at 3 p.m. with the expectation of flying over Moro Rock and returning to Visalia for dinner. There has been intense local interest in the search, with church groups and other community organizations bringing food for searchers to the incident command post at park headquarters in Sequoia. Air crews from Tulare County, the California Highway Patrol, Lemoore Naval Air Station, and Vandenberg Air Force Base flew continuous search missions during daylight hours. The bodies were not recovered on Wednesday due to deteriorating weather conditions, but resumed yesterday morning and were expected to take all day. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 4/11]
Rangers and the park's special agent contacted a group of family members on the morning of May 29th after they were observed collecting plants in the Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park. The four individuals, all of Korean descent, had several plastic trash type bags filled with fiddleneck fern shoots. The weight of the plants, found in their van, totaled 140 pounds, with each plant averaging approximately four to eight ounces. One member of the family spoke a little English; the others spoke none at all. He said that the fern shoots were collected for personal consumption and not for commercial use. One individual admitted to owning a Korean restaurant in the Los Angeles area and said that the fern shoots, known to the Korean community as "kosari", are served in some Korean restaurants. Two of the group members are Korean nationals and indications are that they planned on taking some of the plants with them to Korea. They were scheduled to depart within a week of being contacted. All family members were cited for possession of plants. The two naturalized citizens were given mandatory appearance citations. [Al DeLaCruz, SA, SEKI, 6/18]
On the afternoon of August 16th, E.S., 25, an off-duty seasonal Forest Service employee working on a frog research team in Dusty Basin, departed his base camp for a solo climb of Mt. Winchell. E.S. left a hand-written note in camp regarding the climb, which was found by a co-worker. The co-worker contacted E.S. by two-way radio while he was climbing toward the summit. E.S. told her that he'd call when he reached the top; when she tried to reach him an hour to an hour and a half later, though, she was unable to raise him. E.S. was reported overdue on the morning of the 17th. A major search is now in progress. Involved are personnel from Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's, Yosemite NP, and the Inyo NF, the California Highway Patrol Air Operations, YOSAR dog teams, and the Inyo County Sheriff's Office Mountain Rescue Team. DR Kinsey Shilling is incident commander. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI[
On the afternoon of August 16th, E.S., 25, an off-duty seasonal Forest Service employee working on a frog research team in Dusy Basin, departed his base camp for a solo climb of Mt. Winchell. E.S. left a hand-written note in camp regarding the climb, which was found by a co-worker. The co-worker contacted E.S. by two-way radio while he was climbing toward the summit. E.S. told her that he'd call when he reached the top; when she tried to reach him an hour to an hour and a half later, though, she was unable to raise him. E.S. was reported overdue on the morning of the 17th and a major search was begun. On August 20th, E.S.'s body was found on the north face of Mt. Winchell. He had fallen over a thousand feet to his death. DR Kinsey Shilling was IC. More than 35 people participated in the search. [Lisa Meyers, PIO, SEKI]
Since this past June, park law enforcement officers have been involved in an on-going investigation of marijuana cultivation on park lands. Assistance in this investigation was provided by an interagency drug task force. The investigation resulted in the discovery of six marijuana gardens in the Sequoia District of the park - two in the South Fork drainage of the Kaweah River and four in the river's East Fork drainage. Tulare County Sheriff's Office narcotics officers discovered two more gardens near the East Fork drainage sites just outside the park boundary on Bureau of Land Management and Tulare County lands. Information gathered by park law enforcement rangers during a surveillance operation on two garden sites in the East Fork resulted in information which associated those sites with a larger cultivation operation being run by Mexican nationals. Numerous other garden sites in the Sierras are associated with the same group. On August 20th, park law enforcement officers eradicated 2,820 marijuana plants from the two South Fork garden sites. No arrests were made and no suspects were identified. On August 26th, an interagency operation coordinated by the park's special agent resulted in the eradication of 17,600 marijuana plants from the East Fork sites. An additional 3,100 plants were eradicated from BLM/Tulare County jurisdictions. If allowed to mature, the plants from both operations would have had a street value of just over $94 million. The interagency operation involved 36 officers and 13 support personnel from the park's fire and visitor management, resources management and maintenance divisions. A California Highway Patrol helicopter provided air support. The marijuana plants, associated debris and irrigation hose were extricated from the garden by a California National Guard helicopter. Participating in the operation along with park staff were special response team members from Yosemite NP, a BLM special agent, representatives from California DOJ, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement officers and county narcotic officers. The park SA was the IC on the operation. Approximately 600 pounds of debris and a mile-and-a-half of irrigation hose have been removed from the park sites. A semi-automatic pistol, a rifle, shotgun ammunition and edged weapons were discovered in the most recent operation. All gardens had campsites with evidence indicating that the sites had been recently occupied. Officers saw two men as they entered two of the gardens, but they fled and were able to evade capture. Significant damage to park resources was observed at all garden sites. Gardens were terraced on steep slopes, or individual holes were dug for clusters of plants. Chemicals found on site included ammonia and nitrate-based fertilizers; D-con was used to control insects and strychnine for rodents. Food caches and associated debris were evident. Evidence was also present that people in at least one the camps were poaching wildlife for food. Bear scat found in the area contained camp food. Plans are underway to rehabilitate damage to the sites. Arrests are anticipated at a later date based on intelligence and evidence collected by task force agents. [Al DeLaCruz, SA SEKI]
On September 4 and 5, law enforcement rangers removed 3, 716 marijuana plants from the South Fork drainage of the Kaweah River. This operation comes hard on the heels of a major eradication operation that culminated on August 20 and 26 with the removal of over 20,000 plants with a street value of $94 million. The plants removed in early September were within weeks of being harvested and had an estimated street value of over $14 million. The park contract helicopter extricated 3,150 pounds of marijuana plants and another 1,200 pounds of debris and irrigation hoses. No arrests were made, but evidence was found, which indicated that the growers were living on site. Other items removed included 250 pounds of unused fertilizer, a hunting knife, and two rifle scabbards. The plants were being grown in very steep terrain, with a slope in excess of 45 degrees. Oaks and other trees and brush were cut to build retaining walls to hold the soil in place, causing considerable resource damage that will need to be rehabilitated. The marijuana garden site was within a quarter mile of the Garfield trail, a historic and very popular trail used by backpackers and stock users traveling to Hockett Meadows and other destinations in the park and national forest. The Tulare County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from officers from California's Campaign Against Marijuana Program (CAMP), also conducted raids on the same dates in marijuana gardens in the South Fork drainage approximately one mile outside the park boundary. The proliferation of marijuana gardens in the park and adjacent forested lands has been exceptionally high this year. [Submitted by Al DeLaCruz, Special Agent, Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs]
Over a five day period between September 17 and 21, rangers and the park's special agent, assisted by a California Highway Patrol helicopter, discovered and eradicated another dozen marijuana gardens on the north and south slopes of the Lake Canyon drainage in the Mineral King subdistrict. Eight people were arrested, all of them illegal immigrants. They were taken to a county jail in Visalia. Rangers found and seized a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, an AK-47 assault rifle, and two air rifles. A team of Tulare County deputies assisted with eradication of plants on the second day of the operation. Additional assistance over the remaining days was provided by rangers from Yosemite, Santa Monica Mountains, Death Valley and Lake Mead; a regional special events team came in on the third day and remained to help out with the eradication of plants and the investigation and reconnaissance of high probability areas. Personnel from other divisions within the park also assisted. The gardens contained 10,164 fully-grown plants, some up to eight-feet tall and containing 18-inch buds. Harvesting had just begun; the growers had harvested fewer than 300 plants containing about 140 pounds of marijuana. Two very large resident camps and three smaller camps were found in the complex. These gardens were not far from others previously eradicated and are believed to be associated with the same drug cartel. Damage to resources was extensive. About 15 acres of steep terrain were disturbed, and fertilizer, pesticides and poisons were present throughout the gardens. The park contract helicopter removed over eight tons of marijuana plants and about three-quarters of a ton of debris, irrigation hoses, camp supplies and food. Park law enforcement staff remain vigilant, as there's about a month left in the marijuana harvesting season in the Sierras. [Submitted by Al DeLaCruz, Special Agent, Sequoia/Kings Canyon NPs]
On October 8, NPS investigators participated in the simultaneous execution of 19 federal and state search warrants on residences in Tulare, Fresno and Madera Counties in the latest development in the six-month-long, multi-agency investigation (Operation Big Foot) into marijuana cultivation within the park and on nearby public and private lands. Twenty-four people were arrested, most of them undocumented aliens associated with a Mexican cartel responsible for numerous marijuana plantations in the Sierras. Rangers and agents joined officers and agents from DEA, Border Patrol, INS, the Forest Service, the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement and the Tulare County Sheriff's Office in the serving of warrants on two of the residences, located in the community of Yettem in northern Tulare County. Five people were arrested. All are believed to be higher level members of the drug organization. About 200 officers participated in the overall operations. They seized a total of about $45,000 and numerous firearms, including shotguns, semi-automatic pistols and assault rifles. Some processed marijuana and other contraband were also seized. For an article on the eradication operations that have taken place this year, go to the Sacramento Bee web page at http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/4643366p-5661630c.html. [Submitted by Al DeLaCruz, Special Agent]
A ranger on routine patrol on Mineral King Road on October 19 stopped a vehicle for speeding. The driver and sole occupant had neither license nor identification and was determined to be an undocumented alien. The ranger recognized the vehicle as one of three that had been parked at a residence during the previously reported October 8 execution of search warrants at two residences whose occupants were suspected of growing marijuana in the park. By chance, the ranger who made the stop had also been the ranger who searched that same vehicle during the search warrant execution. He conducted a consent search of the vehicle and came upon some of the same items in the trunk as he'd found in the previous search. Manuel Calderon Vasquez was arrested for driving without a license and for immigration law violations following a non-custodial interview by the park's special agent. Information connecting Vasquez to two other residences where search warrants had been served was found during a search of his personal property. Park investigators suspect that Vasquez is a courier for an organized marijuana cultivation organization and that he was in the park to pick up processed marijuana from a marijuana garden or a cache located in the park. The U.S. Attorney's Office will pursue a grand jury indictment against Vasquez for conspiracy to cultivate marijuana. [Submitted by Al DeLaCruz, Special Agent]
On the afternoon of December 8, approximately 700 people attended the 77th annual celebration of the two honors held by the General Grant Tree, the world's third largest giant sequoia. The hour-long special event is organized by the Sanger Chamber of Commerce and includes the singing of seasonal carols by local choral groups and a seasonal message from a local pastor. Two members of the Kings Canyon National Park staff, rangers Jackie Weiner and Kinsey Shilling, laid a large memorial wreath at the base of the tree during the ceremony to remember those Americans who have died serving their country. Shilling, the district ranger for Kings Canyon, also acted for the superintendent by welcoming the participants to the park and reading a letter from President Bush. Local TV and newspaper outlets covered the event. The weather conditions were mild and dry with no snow on the ground. The event went smoothly with no accidents or significant medical assists. Approximately 23 park staff from different divisions and from both parks were assigned to the event. The General Grant Tree was designated as the "Nation's Christmas Tree" by President Calvin Coolidge in 1926, largely due to the efforts of the citizens of Sanger. The tree was proclaimed a national shrine in 1956 by President Eisenhower and is the nation's only living shrine. This event takes place every year on the second Sunday of December. [Submitted by Kris Fister, PIO, and Bob Wilson, LES]
On January 9, rangers checked the registration of a Ford van that had
been parked along the Generals Highway at Eleven Range for several days.
LAPD had recently listed the owner, a resident of Van Nuys, as a missing
person. The 57-year-old man was reportedly despondent over his finances
and was said to own several firearms. A closer check of the van revealed
that sheets had been secured on the inside to obstruct the view of the
interior back section. Other law enforcement personnel were called in to
assist with the investigation. The man's body was found inside the back
of the van. Evidence at the scene indicated that he'd perished from a
self-inflicted gunshot wound. A suicide note addressed to his family was
found on his person.
Park dispatch received a 911 call on the afternoon of May 11th,
reporting that a child had fallen into the Middle Fork of the Kaweah
River near the Hospital Rock Picnic Area in Sequoia National Park. Park
rangers and other staff responded immediately. Ten members of the Tulare
County Sheriff's Department dive team and a dozen volunteers from the
search and rescue team soon joined them. Crews worked until 7:30 p.m.,
when darkness made further searching dangerous. The search resumed the
following morning with divers, ground searchers along the river, and a
helicopter performing aerial searches. Cold, fast water and steep
terrain along the riverbanks are challenging the searchers; the water
temperature is approximately 45 degrees F. As many as 45 people have
been involved with the search effort. Divers, ground searchers, and a
helicopter are continuing to search for the 11-year-old Hanford boy. The
boy, who was visiting the park with family and friends, was playing near
the water when he fell in and was swept downstream.
On the evening of May 29th, A.L., 21, was swimming in the
Kaweah River with other off-duty seasonals when he became caught in the
river's swift current and was swept downstream. A search was begun, but
no sign of him had yet been found at the time of the report on Friday.
Tulare County SO is heading the search, with assistance from swiftwater
rescue trained park staff. A.L. is a student at Southern University in
Louisiana.
Concessions manager P.W. passed away on Sunday, June 1st,
after a lengthy battle with cancer. P.W. was first hired at the park in
1989 as a concessions specialist. Prior to that, she worked at Lincoln
Home NHS and in Northeast Regional Office in Boston. She'd also served
in the Air Force. P.W. was a resident of Visalia and was at Kaweah
Delta Hospital when she succumbed.
The body of park firefighter A.L. was recovered from the
Kaweah River by the Tulare County SO on the evening of June 8th. A.L.
was swept downstream on May 29th while swimming with friends and
co-workers in the Middle Fork of the Kaweah in the town of Three Rivers
outside of the park. The Kaweah and other Sierra rivers are experiencing
very high runoff due to late rains and snows. A.L., 22, was a first-year
firefighter who was working on a fuels management crew. He was from New
Orleans and was a student at Southern University. The park extends its
heartfelt sympathy to the family.
Park dispatch received a 911 call on the afternoon of May 11th,
reporting that a child had fallen into the cold and high-running waters
of Middle Fork of the Kaweah River near the Hospital Rock picnic area.
As many as 45 people, including divers, searched the river and banks for
several days for the 11-year-old boy, but without luck. On June 15th, a
local resident discovered his body about five miles outside of the park.
The county sheriff's department recovered his remains.
Dispatch received a report on the afternoon of June 25th that a young
man had jumped into the water of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River and
had not emerged. The park's search and rescue teams and the Tulare
County Sheriff's Office dive team responded immediately. A dive team
member found and recovered the body of the 22-year-old man in the cold,
swirling waters of the river shortly thereafter. Witnesses said that the
man had jumped into a pool below a waterfall to help a friend he
perceived to be in distress. The friend was able to pull himself out of
the water by relaxing and allowing the river to take him to shore, but
his would-be rescuer was pinned under the rushing water. This is the
second drowning in the Middle Fork this spring.
On the afternoon of July 12th, a climbing accident occurred on a
route to the summit of Starlight Peak, which is near North Palisades
Peak along the eastern boundary of Kings Canyon National Park. The lead
climber pulled out a large rock and took a 15-foot fall, injuring an arm
and a shoulder. The rock also struck his belayer, who suffered facial
lacerations and fractures, broken teeth, a broken arm, and internal
organ injuries. The belayer swung into a third climbing partner and
broke two of her fingers. The incident was reported by another climber
in the area who had a satellite phone. Parkmedic/ranger Debbie Brenchley
and EMT Fred Mason were inserted by helicopter just before dark.
Brenchley and another climber reached the injured climbers after
nightfall. She stabilized and administered pain medication to the lead
climber and determined that a technical litter lowering was required.
Brenchley remained with the patient overnight at an elevation of about
13,000 feet. It took about 20 rescuers about five hours to move the
patient from the rock face to the landing zone for a helicopter
transport. He was delivered to the Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop,
California, by late afternoon on July 13th. Six rescuers remained in the
field overnight and were extracted on the morning of July 14th. Park
rescue personnel were assisted by personnel from Yosemite National Park
and Inyo County with helicopter support from the park contracted
helicopter and the Inyo National Forest's contract helicopter. Kinsey
Shilling served as the incident commander.
On the morning of July 6th, a seven-year-old boy reported that a male
stranger molested him on a trail near the General Sherman Tree in
Sequoia National Park. The boy immediately reported the incident to his
family; within a couple of minutes after they began searching the
immediate area, the boy pointed out his assailant to his family. Family
members detained the man and reported the incident to park fire
personnel who happened to be in the area. No witnesses to the alleged
incident were located. The suspect, a 66-year-old man who recently
arrived in the country from the Republic of the Philippines, invoked his
right to an attorney. Rangers Pete Webster and Chris Waldschmidt
conducted the preliminary investigation, NPS and FBI special agents are
continuing the investigation.
A motorcycle accident fatality was discovered the evening of August
3rd on the Generals Highway near Little Baldy when park visitors stopped
at a pullout to enjoy the sunset. After noticing the wrecked motorcycle,
they discovered the body of a 60-year-old male ten feet off the road at
the base of an oak tree. It's believed that the accident occurred
earlier that day. The cause of the accident is still being investigated,
although excessive speed or inattention are suspected. Pete Webster was
incident commander.
An injured hiker was reported to the park by the Fresno County
Sheriff's Department on August 8th. The hiker, a 46-year-old woman who'd
been solo hiking in the park, was reported to be in Tehipite Valley, a
remote and seldom-visited area of the park. She had sustained multiple
lower leg fractures, a possible hip fracture and other injuries in a 50
foot fall while descending a steep, unmaintained trail into Tehipite
Valley. The fall had occurred on Monday, August 4th, and the hiker had
only been able to move a few feet to get to a nearby creek with running
water during the four-day period. She was stranded at that location
until a group of hikers came by and discovered her. The hikers left some
of their group with the woman while others hiked out several miles to
report the injury. They reached Crown Valley and contacted a resident
there. Because Crown Valley is remote and not accessible by road, the
resident rode a horse to a nearby peak from which he called a friend in
Reedley, California, via cell phone. The friend then called 911 to
report the injury. Notification to the park was further delayed because
the location of the incident was not initially clear. Park medic Debbie
Brenchley and EMT Fred Mason were flown into Tehipite Valley, then hiked
about 800 feet vertically up the mountainside to reach the woman. There
were no landing areas near the patient, so a California Highway Patrol
helicopter with hoisting capabilities was asked to assist with the
rescue. The woman was hoisted into the CHP ship and evacuated only
minutes before nightfall. She was then flown to University Medical
Center in Fresno.
On Wednesday, August 13th, rangers eradicated 205 marijuana plants in
an unnamed creek drainage near the Hospital Rock Picnic Area in Sequoia
National Park. The estimated street value of the plants is $820,000.
This case is being investigated in conjunction with the much larger
ongoing marijuana cultivation investigation in the park.
On August 21st, the park conducted a marijuana eradication operation
which coincided with a joint operation near the park boundary involving
Tulare County deputies and BLM rangers. The park special agent, LE
rangers and two county deputies with dogs hiked into a remote canyon in
the park and located a garden complex with five garden plots. Rifle and
shotgun ammunition were found in the camp, which also contained a
lookout post. One person was seen fleeing the area as the team
approached the grower's campsite. A BLM ranger arrested one grower later
in the day as he hiked to the road from the park garden site; a second
grower was also arrested as he arrived in his vehicle to pick up the
first grower. The two men who were arrested, both Mexican nationals, had
two-way radios in their possession. Over a two-day period, 1, 030
marijuana plants were eradicated and removed from the park. If allowed
to mature, the plants would have a street value of $4,120,000. The
plants were taken to an off-park site and destroyed. The investigation
remains open.
In late July of this year, park law enforcement rangers conducted
overflight operations in high probability areas of the park and
discovered several marijuana cultivation sites. On September 3rd and
4th, rangers and special agents from the park, Yosemite and Point Reyes
removed three large marijuana-growing complexes from the East Fork
Canyon of the Kaweah River. As has been the case with most other
plantations discovered in the park, these complexes were hidden beneath
thick chaparral vegetation on steep slopes well away from the park's
popular destinations. Law enforcement officers from the Tulare County
Sheriff's Department, Forest Service, and Immigration and Naturalization
Service assisted in the multi-agency operation. A K-9 officer assigned
to one of three teams was instrumental in the arrest of one person seen
watering his illegal crop. Another person, also in the same garden, fled
the scene. Both were identified as undocumented aliens. A total of
13,675 marijuana plants were eradicated over the two-day period. The
plants were approximately three to four weeks from being harvested; if
allowed to mature, their street value would have exceeded $54 million.
Rangers and members of a state narcotics team returned to East Fork
Canyon on September 8th and eradicated an additional 10,416 plants worth
an estimated $41.6 million. All marijuana plants eradicated from
parklands were removed by helicopter and turned over to the Tulare
County Sheriff's Department for destruction. All of the garden complexes
were found to have been operated by Mexican drug cartels. They contained
resident camps and large garden sites with extensive hose lines and
large amounts of fertilizer. Damage to resources was extensive. Park
investigators are working with other agencies to identify higher level
members of the group responsible for the sites found on parklands. The
investigation continues.
On September 1st, rangers received a call from the Fresno County
Sheriff's Office informing them of an overdue hiking party in the
Evolution Basin area of Kings Canyon National Park. The overdue
backpackers - L.J. and M.K. - should have
returned to the trailhead at Florence Lake on the previous day,
according to L.J.'s wife. Their vehicle was found to still be at the
trailhead. A unified command was established to manage and coordinate
the interagency search for the two missing hikers. Ranger Dario Malengo
was assigned to the search and joined up with a team of searchers from
Fresno County. After seeing some photos of the missing hikers that the
Fresno County team had in their possession, Malengo remembered
contacting and citing the overdue party for having a dog in the park's
designated wilderness. That contact had been on August 27th at the
McClure Ranger Station. At that time, Malengo had told the hikers to
leave the park with their dog, but he did not see their direction of
travel when they departed. On September 2nd, search operations increased
and continued throughout the day, with no sign found of the overdue
party. Late that afternoon, Fresno County called to report that the two
hikers were at the Cedar Grove Market, which is about 35 air miles,
several days of hiking distance, and about 180 degrees in the wrong
direction from where they were supposed to finish their trip. L.J.,
M.K. and the dog were uninjured. L.J. and M.K. may be prosecuted
for disobeying a lawful order to directly exit the park after being
cited for the pet violation.
Park rangers, assisted by a Tulare County Sheriff's Office deputy and
an INS special agent, eradicated 1, 027 marijuana plants from two
plantations in the park's Sequoia District on September 17th and 18th.
One site was located in the South Fork drainage of the Kaweah River near
the Garfield Trail. A cache of assorted equipment and clothing placed in
large military type ammo cans was found at the site. A solar panel,
measuring approximately 14 inches by 14 inches, was found near the
cache. Wire from the panel ran around the cache and back to solar panel,
and was presumably installed to keep animals away from the cache. A
second, similar solar panel was attached to a 30-gallon container with
an input water line attached to one end and a discharge line to the
other. A programmable timer was built into the water container. The
second cultivation site was located in the East Fork drainage of the
Kaweah River. The street value of the marijuana plants totaled over $4
million. No arrests were made. Rangers remain vigilant for additional
cultivation, as approximately two to three weeks still remain in the
marijuana harvest season.
On November 7th, assistant cave specialist Shane Fryer discovered
significant damage to Standup and Overhang Caves. Vandals apparently
took hammers to several cave formations, breaking off curtains and other
features. The broken formations were scattered about both caves. The
vandals left most of the damaged features on the ground; it appears that
they took little or none of the crystalline formations which they broke
off. They also scratched graffiti into the walls and left a large amount
of trash strewn about. Each of these caves is fairly close to a road in
the remote South Fork area of Sequoia National Park. It's believed that
the vandalism occurred within the two to three week period prior to its
discovery. Earlier this summer, a similar act of vandalism occurred at
the well-known Crystal Cave. Formations at the entrance of Crystal Cave
were destroyed, but the vandals were fortunately unable to get past the
metal cave gate into its interior. The National Speleological Society
has assisted the park in setting up a hotline to receive information and
has offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for the damage. Ash
Mountain subdistrict ranger Dave Walton is the investigating officer.
On the afternoon of December 14th, about 450 people attended the 78th
annual celebration of the two honors - Nation's Christmas Tree and
National Shrine - held by the General Grant Tree, the world's third
largest giant sequoia. The hour-long special event is organized by the
Sanger Chamber of Commerce and includes the singing of seasonal carols
by local choral groups and a seasonal message from a local minister.
Peter Rowlands, chief of natural resources, and Alex Picavet, public
information officer, laid a large memorial wreath at the base of the
tree during the ceremony to remember those Americans who have died
serving their country. Peter Rowlands, the park's acting superintendent,
welcomed the participants to the park and read a letter from President
and Laura Bush. Local TV and newspaper outlets covered the event. The
weather conditions were typical, with about a foot of snow on the
ground. Approximately 24 park staff from different divisions and from
both parks were assigned to the event. The General Grant Tree was
designated as the "Nation's Christmas Tree" by President Calvin Coolidge
in 1926, largely due to the efforts of the citizens of Sanger,
California. The tree was proclaimed a National Shrine in 1956 by
President Eisenhower and is the nation's only living shrine. This event
takes place every year on the second Sunday of December.
Over the past several months, the Ash Mountain headquarters area of
the parks has suffered through a string of burglaries of government
facilities and vehicles. Stolen were numerous firearms, computers,
radios and miscellaneous government supplies and equipment. An
investigation into these burglaries led to the arrests of J.C.
and T.D. of Fresno. Ranger Paul Scott Martin and special agent
Eric Inman of the Oakland office of the NPS Office of Investigations
conducted the investigation that led to the arrests and to the recovery
of the firearms and most of the other stolen NPS property. In addition
to the NPS property, property belonging to the Border Patrol, California
Fish and Game, and American Red Cross was also recovered. J.C., a
convicted felon, is a former seasonal firefighter at Sequoia-Kings
Canyon and had been previously arrested by rangers in 1998 for the theft
of National Park Service property. J.C. was sentenced to 30 months in
prison in the 1998 case after he agreed to a plea bargain in which the
theft of government property charges were dropped in exchange for a plea
of guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of firearms. J.C.
and T.D. will be indicted on felony theft of government property on
January 22nd.
Park dispatch received a 911 call reporting a fire in the kitchen of
the Grant Grove restaurant at 2 a.m.on the
morning of June 6th. When the Grant Grove structural fire brigade
arrived, heavy smoke was emanating from the restaurant's front entrance
and side emergency exit door. After determining the exact location of
the fire and observing the seat of the fire through a side window, the
brigade's entry team was able to quickly attack and extinguish the
flames. The fire's spread was greatly reduced by the lodge's sprinkler
system. Investigators from the California Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection determined that the fire had been started by a hot plate
that had been left on and had eventually ignited combustibles stored
next to it. Damage to the lodge has been placed at $10,000. Jim Gould
was the IC.
A member of the park's rare plant crew who injured her knee while
crossing a creek in Tehipite Valley, a remote area of Kings Canyon, was
rescued by helicopter last week. Due to a lack of adequate landing
zones, the park's contract helicopter short-hauled ranger/park medic
Dave Walton to the site, then short-hauled Walton and the injured
woman a short distance to a point where the helicopter could land.
She was then brought on board and flown to Cedar Grove. This was the
park's first operational short haul, having just finished all the
requirements for the program only a day prior to the incident. Cedar
Grove area ranger Erin Warrem was incident commander.
The problem of illegal marijuana cultivation in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks continues. This problem has been ongoing for the past several years and has resulted in damage to park resources and danger to park visitors and employees from armed growers. Over the past several weeks, rangers have taken a number of actions to deal with these illegal plantations: July 13 — A team of ten park rangers led by special agent Eric Inman raided a garden in the East Fork drainage of the Kaweah River. The operation was aided by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who provided coverage on the nearby road to arrest any fleeing gardeners. The team removed 3,800 plants from five separate garden plots. No arrests were made. July 26 — A team of fifteen park personnel, led jointly by Inman and restoration ecologist Athena Demetry, returned to the garden site and performed rehabilitation work. This included removing extensive irrigation equipment, removing trash and agricultural supplies, filling in and restoring the contours of the plant "bowls," and broadcasting brush that had been cut and piled by the growers. July 29 — A team of eight rangers, led by Inman and assisted by ICE agents (with their Blackhawk helicopter), California Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) officers, and the DEA agents conducted a raid of a garden in the North Fork drainage of the Kaweah River. Over 500 plants were seized in this garden. These actions are all part of the parks' Operation No Grow, which is
focused on combating the problem of marijuana propagation. The parks are
working closely with local, state, and federal agencies, including ICE,
DEA, CAMP, USFS, BLM, the US Attorneys' Office and the Tulare County
Sheriff's Office, to attack the problem on the ground and bring the
cartels responsible for the growing to justice.
Park staff conducted three short-haul rescues over the past two weeks: July 22 — Yosemite's Helicopter 551, with pilot Gary Spidell and spotter Jeff Pirog on board, short-hauled park medic Debbie Brenchley and a 69-year-old visitor with a broken leg from a 14,120-foot notch in the northern park of Kings Canyon. July 26 — Sequoia/Kings Canyon's Helicopter 552, with pilot Kent Pierce and spotter Carrie Vernon, short-hauled EMT John Ziegler and a teenage girl with a back injury from the the far side of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River in the foothills near Potwisha. August 3 — Park medic Dave Walton and EMT Fred Mason were short-hauled by Helicopter 552 to a remote river location, again on the Middle Fork of the Kaweah, to rescue two teenage boys who spent the night stuck on a mid-stream rock bar. These three incidents bring to four the number of short-haul rescues since the parks began the program this past June. Short-haul techniques place fewer people into dangerous terrain, provide definitive care more quickly to patients, and minimize disruptions to other park operations. [Submitted by Pat Grediagin, Sequoia District Ranger]
Operation No Grow — a sustained effort to eliminate marijuana plantations from the park — continued on August 2nd with the eradication of 13,452 marijuana plants from a massive clandestine farm in the park. With a potential value of $4,000 per mature plant, this crop could have netted nearly $54 million. The farm, discovered earlier this year, appears to have been under cultivation for at least two years. Participating in the operation were specially-trained rangers (guided by SA Eric Inman) and officers and personnel from the California Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP), the California National Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Supporting agencies also provided helicopters for the operation. In addition to the marijuana plants, rangers and officers seized a loaded semi-automatic shotgun, a .177 caliber pellet rifle with pellets, 30-30 rifle rounds, .45 pistol rounds, and .44 magnum rounds. Other significant evidence was collected and will be processed, examined and analyzed by task force members. Thousands of native shrubs, trees and herbaceous plants were destroyed by the growers to accommodate the marijuana farm, which was directly above a year-round water source. One inch black plastic irrigation hoses brought water to the complex from a half mile away. Thousands of depressions were dug to hold the marijuana plants. Evidence of hundreds of pounds of various fertilizers were found. A large trash pit, almost full of refuse, remains on site along with the remains of the irrigation system and two large camps with hundreds of pounds of miscellaneous camping gear, food, equipment and trash. The depredation of the natural environment from marijuana farms such as this is one is, by far, the most destructive human activity occurring in the parks. A limited amount of special funding has been made available to clean up and rehabilitate the many marijuana farm sites in the parks. Overall costs would have been substantially higher without the direct involvement and superb cooperation of the Riverside ICE air unit. Because of the helicopter and personnel they provided, the entire mission was completed in eight hours. The significant contributions of ICE and other cooperators have been and continue to be critical to the success of these operations. Park public information officer Alex Picavet arranged for local media, including Univision, the Spanish programming network, to witness and record this operation. A Univision camera crew filmed the remote marijuana farm from aboard the CAMP helicopter and a broadcast a report on the operation that evening. To date this year, more than 17,750 marijuana plants have been
eradicated from the parks through Operation No Grow.
On July 31st, the park received word that a 50-year-old woman was
experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath at about 13,500 feet
near Mt. Whitney. Park medic Dave Walton and helicopter crew manager
Carrie Vernon flew to the site in the parks' helicopter, piloted by
Larry Bartel. While Walton was treating the woman, four other visitors
approached Vernon, complaining of a variety of altitude-related
ailments. With little daylight flight time remaining, a quick assessment
was made and the woman and two additional patients were loaded into the
helicopter and flown to a medical facility. Typically 200 people climb
the 14,496-foot Mt. Whitney each day — not uncommonly in some state
of unpreparedness. Although the summit is located in Sequoia NP, most
people reach it via a Forest Service trail.
A camper who was lost in the rugged terrain near Dorst Campground for three days was found and reunited with his family this past Monday. On Saturday, August 14th, the park received a report that a camper had become lost in the vicinity of Dorst Campground. B.G., 39, and his wife and five children had been camping there with members of their church for the previous week. When B.G.'s wife didn't return from her morning jog, he and his teenage son went looking for her. After a few hours, his wife returned to their camp on her own with minor injuries after traversing through rough terrain along a creek bed. B.G.'s son also returned to camp. Just before 5 p.m., B.G. used a walky-talky he was carrying to tell his son that he was lost and to ask him to inform the park. The batteries in his walky-talky then ran out, so no further communication was possible. Thirteen rangers and a helicopter team searched until dark Saturday night. On Sunday morning, more than 35 park staff resumed the search, using two helicopters, two search dog teams, eight searchers from Yosemite NP, and numerous people on the ground. Footprints matching the description of the shoes that B.G. was wearing were found in a very rugged area southwest of Little Baldy Saddle. The search was suspended at dark, then resumed on Monday morning. This time there were more than 60 people involved, including two search dog teams, staff from Yosemite NP, helicopters (including one from the California Highway Patrol with infrared heat sensing equipment), and numerous searchers on the ground. An encouraging clue was discovered late in the afternoon when one of the ground teams found B.G.'s name and the date written in soft sand along with footprints matching the description of the shoes he was wearing. The team then found the words "Bob slept here" written in the sand, proving they were on the right track. At 5:40 p.m., a call came in from one of the search teams with word that B.G. had been found and was on the helicopter on his way to Dorst Campground to be reunited with his family. He was uninjured, just tired and dehydrated. Pat Grediagin was the IC.[Submitted by Alexander Picavet, Public Information Officer]
A camper who was lost in the rugged terrain near Dorst Campground for three days was found and reunited with his family this past Monday. On Saturday, August 14th, the park received a report that a camper had become lost in the vicinity of Dorst Campground. B.G., 39, and his wife and five children had been camping there with members of their church for the previous week. When B.G.'s wife didn't return from her morning jog, he and his teenage son went looking for her. After a few hours, his wife returned to their camp on her own with minor injuries after traversing through rough terrain along a creek bed. B.G.'s son also returned to camp. Just before 5 p.m., B.G. used a walky-talky he was carrying to tell his son that he was lost and to ask him to inform the park. The batteries in his walky-talky then ran out, so no further communication was possible. Thirteen rangers and a helicopter team searched until dark Saturday night. On Sunday morning, more than 35 park staff resumed the search, using two helicopters, two search dog teams, eight searchers from Yosemite NP, and numerous people on the ground. Footprints matching the description of the shoes that B.G. was wearing were found in a very rugged area southwest of Little Baldy Saddle. The search was suspended at dark, then resumed on Monday morning. This time there were more than 60 people involved, including two search dog teams, staff from Yosemite NP, helicopters (including one from the California Highway Patrol with infrared heat sensing equipment), and numerous searchers on the ground. An encouraging clue was discovered late in the afternoon when one of the ground teams found B.G.'s name and the date written in soft sand along with footprints matching the description of the shoes he was wearing. The team then found the words "Bob slept here" written in the sand, proving they were on the right track. At 5:40 p.m., a call came in from one of the search teams with word that B.G. had been found and was on the helicopter on his way to Dorst Campground to be reunited with his family. He was uninjured, just tired and dehydrated. Pat Grediagin was the IC.[Submitted by Alexander Picavet, Public Information Officer]
On Thursday, September 2nd, National Park Service rangers and law
enforcement officers and personnel from cooperating agencies removed
18,926 marijuana plants that were being illegally grown in the
wilderness in the East Fork drainage of the Kaweah River. The
eradication teams consisted of 13 national park rangers, a special agent
and 10 Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) officers. A Blackhawk
helicopter and crew from Immigration and Customs Enforcement also
participated and utilized employed infrared gear to monitor the site for
growers. The plants were nearing maturity; had they been fully mature,
the estimated street value would have been in excess of $75,000,000. NPS
investigators collected substantial evidence from the various growing
areas that point to certain individuals. The investigation is
ongoing. Firearms and other weapons were seized along with
evidence of the use of hundreds of pounds of fertilizers and pesticides.
This marijuana farm operation was organized and well maintained, with
numerous encampments throughout. Several acres of underbrush had been
removed by the growers to facilitate their plantation under the cover of
natural shrubbery and trees. Though it was well masked, this site was
detected by aerial surveillance and through investigative leads that
were gathered following the arrest of four Mexican nationals on August
19th. The individuals, as well as the driver and passenger of the
vehicle that picked them up, are under investigation for conspiracy to
grow marijuana on public lands. Operation No Grow, in this and previous
operations, has resulted in the eradication of more than 36,500 plants
this year.
On September 6th, the park's special agent stopped a person on Mineral King Road that he suspected had dropped off supplies to marijuana growers operating in the park. Evidence was obtained and shared with cooperating agencies involved in the Operation No Grow investigation. Two days later, three rangers and the park's special gent returned to a marijuana plantation that was initially raided on September 2nd and removed another 7,648 plants and about ten pounds of processed marijuana. The total number of plants seized in this one garden complex now exceeds 26,000. Substantial amounts of evidence were also collected from the camps. Items are being processed for fingerprints and DNA and being compared with previously seized evidence. One firearm was seized. So far this year, more than 44,000 plants have been found and eradicated within the park — an all time one-year record. The total street value is estimated at $176 million.[Submitted by Gregg Fauth, Acting Chief Ranger]
Wildland firefighter Daniel Holmes, 26, of Bellingham, Washington, was killed on Saturday when he was hit by a falling dead tree on the Grant West Prescribed Fire in Kings Canyon National Park. The accident occurred shortly after operations began at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 2nd. With four acres ignited, the top of a 100-foot white fir tree unexpectedly fell where firefighters were working, striking Holmes. Approximately 20 firefighters witnessed the accident and provided immediate medical assistance. Holmes was carried to a waiting ambulance by his fellow crewmembers, but passed away while being transported to a Lifeflight helicopter landing zone in the park. Daniel never regained consciousness after the accident and was pronounced dead by the Lifeflight medical crew. A three-person accident investigation team is now in the park. Teams like this one are routinely dispatched for the Department of the Interior following serious accidents. Over the next few days, they will complete a standard investigation, interviewing witnesses and gathering documentation. "The National Park Service is heartbroken over this loss," said Superintendent Richard H. Martin. "My two priorities now are providing help for Daniel's family and supporting our park family here at Sequoia and Kings Canyon." Holmes was a crewmember on the Arrowhead Hotshots, an elite firefighting crew that responds to large fires across the country. The National Park Service has two such crews: Arrowhead Hotshots at Kings Canyon and Alpine Hotshots at Rocky Mountain National Park. For more information about the crew, go to www.arrowheadhotshots.org. Additional details on services will appear as soon as
available.
Arrowhead Hotshot crewmember Daniel Holmes, 26, of Bellingham, Washington, was killed on Saturday when he was hit by a falling dead tree on the Grant West Prescribed Fire in Kings Canyon National Park. Born on January 16, 1978 in Springfield, Massachusetts, Dan was the son of R.E.H., Jr. and D.J.B.. Dan, his mother, and his brother M. moved to Rochester, New Hampshire, in 1984. Dan grew up in Rochester, graduating from Spaulding High School in 1996. An athlete all of his life, Dan played Babe Ruth baseball and later excelled as a varsity hockey and football player at Spaulding. In addition to his love of athletics, Dan grew up enamored with everything related to the outdoors. He appreciated every aspect of wilderness, whether as an athlete snowboarding, mountaineering, and climbing or in his academic pursuits in which he went on to graduate from Johnson State College with a BA in environmental science. In recent years, Dan accomplished many a boy's dream by combining his outdoor adventures with his passion to protect the environment by becoming a ranger with the National Park Service. He sought the wild natural areas of the West to begin this latest chapter in his life, beginning his career at Mt. Rainier. He spent several years there, first volunteering as a backcountry ranger, then being hire to work on trail crews and serve as a wildland firefighter. Dan became skilled at firefighting as his experience grew in the massive fires in the West. In 2003, he was selected to become a member of the National Park Service Arrowhead Hotshots, a crew which only selects the best of the best for fighting fires. Dan was with the crew when a large tree unexpectedly broke off during a firing operation and ended his too brief life. He will be sadly missed by his many friends and colleagues. Members of his family include his mother, D.J.B. of Rochester; his father, R.E.H. of Westville Massachusetts; and his brother, M.H. of Tampa, Florida. He is also survived by his girlfriend, J.S., of Bellingham. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Sierra Club or to the Wildland Firefighters Foundation in Boise, Idaho. For information on the former, go to https://ww2.sierraclub.org/membership/donate/ and click on "Commemorative and Memorial Gifts" on the left side of the page; for information on the latter, go to http://wffoundation.org/default.asp?page_id=1&parent_id=0) and click on "Donations." Calling hours will be from 6 to 9 p.m. this Wednesday at the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main Street, Rochester NH 03867. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 34 South Main Street, Rochester. Firefighters, rangers and others arriving in marked vehicles need to assemble at the Edgerly Funeral Home parking lot by 9 a.m. on Thursday for the short walk or motorcade to the church. Winter dress uniforms or clean and pressed firefighters uniforms should be worn. A reception with the family will follow the service. For more on the Arrowhead Hotshots and a tribute to Dan, please go to http://www.arrowheadhotshots.org/. NOTE: Please check InsideNPS later this morning or early afternoon
for guidance from the NPS and Department of Interior on protocols
regarding lowering of flags and the wearing of black bands on
badges.
Arrowhead Hotshot crewmember Daniel Holmes, 26, of Bellingham, Washington, was killed last Saturday when he was hit by a falling dead tree on the Grant West Prescribed Fire in Kings Canyon National Park. Information on funeral services in New Hampshire and on making donations in his name appear below. On October 5th, Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection Karen Taylor-Goodrich issued the following memorandum to all regional directors regarding commemoration of Dan's passing: "On Saturday, October 2, 2004, Arrowhead Hotshot Crew member Daniel Holmes died from injuries sustained in an accident that occurred while he was working on the Grant West Prescribed Fire in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. "As authorized by Director Mainella, I am requesting that flags be flown at half staff at all National Park Service facilities in his memory from sunrise to sunset on the day of his funeral, Thursday, October 7, 2004. All flags are to be returned to full staff on Friday. "The lack of written National Park Service protocol for commemoration of the untimely passing of employees on duty has led to numerous questions being raised on the proper means for paying our collective respects on this and past occasions. We will be establishing such a protocol in the near future and soliciting your thoughts and guidance on its contents." Calling hours will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main Street, Rochester NH 03867 (603-332-0230). Directions to the funeral home follow:
Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 34 South Main Street, Rochester. Firefighters, rangers and others arriving in marked vehicles need to assemble at the Edgerly Funeral Home parking lot by 9 a.m. on Thursday for the short walk or motorcade to the church. Winter dress uniforms or clean and pressed firefighters uniforms should be worn. A reception with the family will follow the service. Condolences may be sent to Dan's mother, D.B. and to his father, R.H. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Sierra Club or to the
Wildland Firefighters Foundation in Boise, Idaho. For information on the
former, go to https://ww2.sierraclub.org/membership/donate/ and click on "Commemorative and
Memorial Gifts" on the left side of the page; for information on the
latter, go to
http://wffoundation.org/default.asp?page_id=1&parent_id=0) and
click on "Donations."
Family, friends, co-workers and fellow fire professionals gathered last Thursday in Rochester, New Hampshire, for a memorial service for Arrowhead Hotshot crew member Dan Holmes. Blue skies and sunshine welcomed everyone. The procession to the First United Methodist Church was led by a four-ranger National Park Service honor guard. The casket was borne by an engine from the Rochester Fire Department, the town in which Dan grew up. The Arrowhead Hotshots walked alongside the engine, each person with one hand on the truck. Following immediately behind the engine were representatives from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, then Dan's family. The procession included the International Brotherhood of Firefighters Pipe and Drum Corps, the Rochester Fire Department, National Park Service firefighters, rangers and managers, representatives of the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, other community fire departments, Massachusetts Forest Fire Control, the US Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, this year's football team from Dan's high school, and scores of friends. Organ music and the posting of the colors opened the service, which was led by Reverend James Cann. Associate Director Karen Taylor-Goodrich and Pacific West Regional Director Jon Jarvis spoke, then were followed by remembrances from Dan's mother, D.B., his uncle C.C., cousin A.S., brother M.H., Denali NP climbing ranger John Leonard, and Arrowhead Hotshot superintendent Brit Rosso. All spoke with love for Dan, and of Dan's love for the outdoors. Next came a presentation of honors. Dan's mother, D.B., received the American flag from the Arrowhead base at the park; Dan's brother, M.H., received a hotshot helmet signed by the crew; Dan's father, R.H., received a park ranger stetson. A recession followed the service. Dan's casket was again borne by the Rochester FD engine, accompanied by the Arrowhead Hotshots, family members, and those who had gathered to celebrate his life. Taps sounded, played by a member of the NPS honor guard. The recession moved back to the funeral home, passing a final time beneath the American flag draped from the extended ladders of two fire trucks. At the reception, more memories of Dan were shared in conversations, a memory book and heartfelt hugs. A video, prepared by the Hotshots before they left Grant Grove, was played. Dan's family and friends laughed and cried. Dan's smile, occasionally colorful language, and joy in his work were all apparent. Dan's mother expressed gratitude to the crew for the video, adding that she'd heard those words from her son before. Arrowhead superintendent Brit Rosso gave her, Dan's girlfriend J. and Dan's father each a copy of the tape. Brit also presented D.B. with a bronze statue of legendary wildland firefighter Ed Pulaski in honor of her son, Dan. Condolences may be sent to D.B. and to his father, R.H. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Sierra Club or to the Wildland Firefighters Foundation in Boise, Idaho. For information on the former, go to https://ww2.sierraclub.org/membership/donate/ and click on "Commemorative and Memorial Gifts" on the left side of the page; for information on the latter, go to http://wffoundation.org/default.asp?page_id=1&parent_id=0) and click on "Donations." For more on the Arrowhead Hotshots and a tribute to Dan, please go to http://www.arrowheadhotshots.org/. For an editorial on Dan's life that appeared in a local paper, click
on "More Information" below.
A series of severe fall storms rolled across the Sierra Nevada during the five-day period from October 16th to the 20th, bringing up to four feet of snow and temperatures in the teens at higher elevations and stranding dozens of unprepared backpackers. An incident management team was established to oversee the park's response and moved from one incident to another over the five days. In so doing, the parks worked closely with other agencies, including the Inyo and Fresno County Sheriff's offices, the Forest Service and several volunteer SAR groups. Here's a summary of some of the responses:
As of the time of the report, the park had rescued/evacuated ten people. As of late Friday, no other hikers or campers were known to be in need of assistance. The incidents were managed under ICS, with Kern subdistrict ranger Bud Walsh as IC, assisted by plans chief Debbie Brenchley, operations chief Erika Jostad, logistics chief Jason Bauwens, and air ops chief John Ziegler.[Submitted by Gregg Fauth, Acting Chief Ranger]
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks hosted a memorial service for wildland firefighter Daniel Holmes on Saturday, October 23rd. The service was held at Kelly's Beach along the Kings River in Reedley, California. Over 700 people attended, including Daniel's mother, brother, girlfriend, members of 29 interagency hotshot crews and representatives from the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Department of Defense, Kern County Fire, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Ventura County Fire Department, and the City of Dinuba. The service began with a procession of Arrowhead crew members, past and present, escorting Dan's family through two long lines formed by all who attended the memorial. Speeches were delivered by Richard Martin, superintendent of Sequoia-Kings Canyon; John Kraushaar, deputy FMO for Pacific West Region; David Bartlett, FMO, Kings Canyon District; and Brit Rosso, Arrowhead superintendent. Remembering a safety message posted in Arrowhead's office, FMO William Kaage shared his hope that everyone would consider the meaning of "20 out, 20 back." "It's not just about bringing 20 people back safely from an incident," he said, "it's about the larger circle of families, friends, and co-workers who are touched by our lives." During a moment of silence, the local tanker base sent Air Attack 15 and Tanker 26 to fly over the memorial. At the conclusion of the service, participants stayed for a celebration of Dan's life with food, music, and a video of his fire season edited by his crew members. Huge bulletin boards displayed all of the sympathy cards received by the crew, newspaper articles from the New Hampshire funeral, and photos of Dan. Three members of the Rochester Fire Department, who hosted the Arrowhead Hotshots during Dan's funeral in his hometown of Rochester, New Hampshire, also came to California for the memorial on Saturday. The crew and park staff were honored by their presence. The Arrowhead Hotshots and the staff at Sequoia and Kings Canyon
National Parks wish to thank everyone for their support through this
difficult time. Special thanks go to all who attended the memorial on
Saturday and helped honor Dan's memory. The parks also wish to thank the
Wildland Firefighter Foundation in Boise, Idaho, for their
assistance.
The body of R.J.F., 37, of Los Angeles, was recovered by park rangers on Wednesday, March 16th. R.J.F. fell to his death while solo climbing Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park last Sunday. His body was recovered along with his mountaineering gear and other personal property. It's been determined that he fell approximately 1,000 feet from a point near the Notch on the Mountaineer's Route on the north face of the mountain. The elevation at this location is about 14,000 feet above sea level. On Tuesday, the park was notified that R.J.F. was overdue from his climb. An Inyo County deputy was flown to the area that afternoon in a California Highway Patrol helicopter and found his body. Since the incident was within the park, a team of rangers flew to the vicinity of the site on Wednesday morning to investigate and recover his body. The fall appears to have been accidental. According to other climbers who reached the summit on Sunday, the mountain was enveloped in clouds and falling snow, with extremely high winds and poor visibility. [Submitted by Alexandra Picavet, Public Information Officer, and Bob Wilson, Law Enforcement Specialist]
A ten-day search for a missing man came to a successful conclusion on Wednesday, August 17th. On the morning of August 8th, the NPS received a call from V.L., mother of B.L, reporting that he had left his uncle's house in Dunlap, California, on Sunday to go to Kings Canyon National Park. She also reported that he'd been diagnosed with paranoid-schizophrenia, had recently stopped taking his medications, and was scared of people in uniform. A multi-agency search was begun for him under a unified command that included the NPS, Tulare County Sheriff's Office, Fresno County Sheriff's Office and the Forest Service. Tulare County was the lead agency. At times, up to 70 search and rescue personnel a day were being used, assisted by helicopters (including one with infrared capabilities) and California Rescue Dog Association search dog teams. Missing person posters were also disseminated. Although several reports were received of visitors sighting B.L., searchers were unable to contact him. Search strategies were accordingly changed. Search teams were covertly dropped off to monitor areas where he'd last been seen and spent the night in the field. When this approach also proved unsuccessful, a decision was made to remove the command post and any obvious search personnel to reduce B.L.'s reluctance to come out from hiding. The search continued, with many more reports of sightings by park visitors. On August 17th, B.L. broke into a nearby unoccupied house and phoned his parents, but was unable to describe his location. His uncle was able to find him, however, and brought him to Kings Canyon, where his parents were waiting for him. He was taken to a hospital for observation. Assistance was provided by Hume Lake Christian Camp, which provided meals and support to the searchers, and Buck Rock Fire Lookout Association, which helped with communications relay. The Office of Emergency Services brought out communications equipment to provide phone and internet service to the unified incident command post. Also providing help were Tulare County Search and Rescue, Marin County Search and Rescue, Death Valley National Park, and China Lake Mountain Rescue. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
Search and rescue teams at Sequoia National Park discovered a body near Crescent Creek late on the evening of Saturday, August 10th. The body has been positively identified as P.A., the hiker who had been missing since September 7th. Park SAR teams began looking for P.A. after he was reported missing by his brother late on September 7th. Initial searches near Crescent Meadow, the area Arnes was last seen by his brother, were narrowed down to points off the Sugar Pine Trail after search teams located his sunglasses in that area. The area has heavy vegetation and steep embankments, making search conditions difficult. A full-scale search continued through September 10th, involving more than 40 ground searchers, five dog teams, mounted patrol, and a helicopter. A line search of the area led to the discovery of the body late that day at the bottom of a steep embankment near Crescent Creek and within a mile of the Crescent Meadow parking area. There was no sign of major trauma; the exact cause of P.A.'s death remains under investigation. This is the eleventh fatality in Sequoia/Kings Canyon this year. The National Park Service received mutual aid support from the Tulare County Sheriff's Office mounted patrol, Wilderness Finders, Inc. (WOOF), California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) search dog teams, and the California Office of Emergency Services (OES). Ground search teams consisted of National Park Service personnel, employees from Sequoia Natural History Association (SNHA), Delaware North Company in Sequoia, and volunteers working in the parks. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Specialist]
The parks' criminal investigations unit recently orchestrated a major, multi-agency, drug interdiction mission along South Fork Drive near Three Rivers, California. Working in close cooperation with the US Attorney's Office (Fresno), Bureau of Land Management, Central Valley Marijuana Investigation Team (CVMIT), Tulare County Sheriff's Office, and California DOJ's Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP), rangers and law enforcement officers embarked on a week-long surveillance, interdiction and eradication operation that led to the arrest of several suspects and the eradication of thousands of maturing marijuana plants. On Tuesday, September 20th, rangers and the park's special agent raided Burnt Camp Creek, lying above the South Fork Campground, and seized 1,408 maturing marijuana plants. On Friday, September 23rd, county and CAMP units raided Bennett Creek, which originates inside the parks and empties into the South Fork of the Kaweah River, and eradicated an additional 3,032 plants, the majority of which were being grown inside the park. During four days of interdiction operations, NPS and BLM rangers patrolled the South Fork Drive, contacting and detaining several individuals suspected of being involved in the criminal conspiracy. Further investigation of the individuals' activities, in coordination with the county led to four arrests. The investigation continues, with federal grand jury indictments being sought in Fresno. The parks have been engaged in a battle with marijuana cartels and cultivators since large-scale growing activity was discovered in mid-2002. Since 2004, efforts coordinated under "Operation No Grow," the park's official program to combat marijuana cultivation, have led to multiple arrests, confiscation of over 100,000 plants with a street value of up to $4,000 per pound, and seizure of hundreds of millions of dollars that might otherwise have made it into the coffers of drug traffickers. A threat to both people, wildlife and the environment, large-scale marijuana production has increasingly become a recognized problem for national parks and other public lands situated in California's Mediterranean-like climate zone, where topography and hydrology combine to create ideal conditions for the production of highly potent cannabis sativa. As recognition of the problem increases, authorities are seeing that the illegal growers themselves recognize no political boundaries, with farms sprawling from public land to private, from state to federal. To combat this, "Operation No Grow," in coordination with the CVMIT, has embarked on an unprecedented level of cooperation and information sharing that is enabling law enforcement to strike back at a criminal infrastructure that might otherwise be overwhelming for any one agency. (Bob Wilson, LES)
Around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 20th, park visitors drove a Porterville, California, man to the Giant Forest Museum, where he reported that the pastor of his church had jumped off Moro Rock in an apparent suicide. Rangers found the ministers body on the east side of Moro Rock about 400 vertical feet below the point where he had reportedly jumped. Rangers found the body around 9 p.m., so a ranger spent the night at the location to assure scene integrity. Rangers also looked for witnesses to the incident. Although there were other park visitors in the vicinity, none actually witnessed the fall. The body was recovered the following morning and turned over to the Tulare County coroner. The victim, who was the minister of a church in Porterville, was out on bail after being arrested and charged with multiple sexual assaults on two juvenile girls. Due to the uncertain circumstances surrounding the pastor's death, the FBI is assisting NPS special agents with the investigation. [Bob Wilson, Law Enforcement Specialist]
On March 1st, park law enforcement and natural resource staff completed a month-long project to restore natural conditions to 166 acres of wilderness areas damaged by marijuana farming. In a cooperative effort with the California Conservation Corps (CCC), the California Army National Guard, and the California Air National Guard, crews removed 4,650 pounds (157 bags) of garbage and hose, camp infrastructure, and 5.3 miles of irrigation hose from thirty-one gardens and seven camps that were occupied by illegal growers in 2002. Park staff also documented that 5,176 pounds of fertilizer, three gallons of pesticides (predominantly malathion), and ten pounds of rodenticides had been used in one five-acre area. More than 300 small Coleman propane canisters and one five gallon propane tank were removed from the site, and crews cleaned up and filled in six garbage pits. Illegal marijuana cultivation in Sequoia National Park has increased dramatically since 2001. The NPS has eradicated more than 113,000 marijuana plants at that site since 2001. While a tremendous amount of work was accomplished in this project, much remains to be done. It is estimated that slightly more than half of the known gardens have been restored. Restoration work is limited to a November to February window due to the presence of armed growers during the March to October growing season, as well the hazards created by extreme summer heat, rattlesnakes, and dry, slippery slopes. The greatest accomplishment was to complete this project with zero injuries, despite very difficult terrain, hazardous pesticides, inclement weather, and inexperienced crew members. The project was managed by restoration ecologist Athena Demetry and the parks' special agent. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Specialist]
A 57-year-old woman from Laguna Hills, California, fell to her death on Mount Mendel in Kings Canyon National Park on Wednesday, May 31st. The woman and her hiking partner were attempting to climb to the 13,710-foot summit of Mount Mendel using a route on the East Face, rated a Class 3 climb. They were not able to reach the summit due to the poor snow conditions. The woman, an experienced mountaineer and a Sierra Club leader, slipped and fell more than 300 feet. Her hiking partner, also an experienced mountaineer, witnessed the fall. She climbed down to her partner and determined, to the best of her ability, that she had died in the fall. She then hiked out and reported the incident to the Inyo County Sheriff's Office. The park received the report of the accident late on the evening of May 31st. The next day, a three-person team of rangers climbed to the scene to investigate the accident and recover the body. The cause of the fall is under investigation. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Specialist]
A search is currently in progress for a missing hiker in the northernmost section of Kings Canyon National Park. The missing woman was last seen by her companion on the afternoon of Monday, July 31st, when she went swimming near their camp during a multi-day backpacking trip. The woman's companion searched the area, then hiked late into the evening until he found a location where his cell phone had service. He called someone at Florence Lake who in turn contacted the Fresno County Sheriff's Office. The National Park Service was notified at 10:30 p.m. on Monday night. Search teams from the park and the Fresno County Sheriff's Office arrived on scene early Tuesday morning. A full-scale search involving three helicopters, dog teams, hikers, horses, and swift-water trained personnel is ongoing. At this time, the search is focused in and along the steep, narrow, river canyons of the San Joaquin River along the John Muir Trail. The search is being coordinated by the two agencies, with the Fresno Sheriff's Office taking primary responsibility for areas in the Sierra National Forest. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
The search continues for a hiker who has been missing in Kings Canyon NP since Monday, July 31st. L.S., 56, of Hershey, Pennsylvania, who was on a multi-day backpacking trip with three companions, was last seen sitting on the bank of the swift-moving San Joaquin River near their camp in Aspen Meadow. When her friends discovered that she was missing, they searched the area, then asked a group of hikers on their way out to Muir Ranch to get help. It was late evening when the Fresno County Sheriff's Office was contacted. The park was notified at 10:30 p.m. that night. Search teams from Kings Canyon and the Fresno County Sheriff's Office arrived on scene early Tuesday morning. Since then, a full-scale search has been conducted utilizing helicopters from Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Yosemite and the sheriff's office; three search-dog teams from California Rescue Dog Association and YODOGS; 13 ground searchers from Sequoia/Kings Canyon; and eight swift-water trained personnel from Yosemite. The sheriff's office has also had two horse patrol units and 15 ground searchers on scene. They have thoroughly covered both the area where she was last seen and areas radiating out from that location. No clues or leads have been produced during the multiple-day effort. The search will continue but has been scaled back. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
J.L., 20, fell and was seriously injured while climbing 12,608-foot-high Giraud Peak on Monday, August 7th. She was member of an organized climbing group doing the Sierra Challenge, which is to climb ten peaks in ten days. According to other party members, she fell 30 feet, then tumbled down a 40 degree snow field for 150 feet, then tumbled another 150 feet down a talus slope. Members of her party climbed down to her location; one man was sent out to Bishop (12 miles away) to report the accident to the Inyo County Sheriffs Office. A cell phone call was also placed by a member of the party from a high location, providing a brief report and general location before the signal was lost. A rescue team comprised of ranger John Anderson, Sierra Crest subdistrict ranger Debbie Brenchley and helitack crew member Carrie Vernon flew to the location in a park helicopter. One member of the climbing team used a silver-colored blanket to signal the helicopter. The helicopter was able to land on the snow at 11,300 feet, just below the point where the woman was lying. The rescue team climbed up to =, assessed her condition, and packaged her in full c-spine protection for transport. She was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Her injuries included facial and head trauma - lacerations and fractures, two broken arms, and numerous other lacerations and contusions. J.L. was carried across the loose rock field to the snow field. She was belayed across a section of snow, then lowered down the snow slope to the helicopter. J.L. was flown to Bishop and transferred to Northern Inyo Hospital, where she is in serious but stable condition. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Specialist]
On Wednesday, August 9th, rangers raided a marijuana farm inside the boundaries of Sequoia National Park, removing 2,152 marijuana plants with an estimated value of $2 million dollars. There were no arrests associated with this raid, but the investigation is continuing. The plantation was located within view of Moro Rock, a major feature in Sequoia National Park visited by hundreds of people per day. There were different varieties of marijuana plants, including several strains that appear to have been genetically altered. These new plants have only three leaves, and take less time to mature, allowing growers a chance to plant more than one crop in a season. In addition, the plants are shorter (less than three feet) which makes detection more difficult. The park received help during this operation from Pinnacles National Monument, Yosemite National Park, and Mojave National Preserve. Assistance from the regional office and regional special agents was critical to the successful completion of this project. [Jody Lyle, Public Affairs Specialist]
David Quintero, 22, a wildland firefighter who'd belonged to the park's Crew 91 since 2005, was involved in a serious single-car accident at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 13th. David was off-duty and heading eastbound on Highway 198 near the Horse Creek bridge when the accident occurred. He was flown by Life Flight to University Medical Center in Fresno, where he underwent brain surgery. He was then placed on life support, but succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday afternoon. A CISD debriefing was held for park staff yesterday morning. David was also a staff sergeant with the 1072nd Transportation Company out of Fresno, California, and a recipient of the Bronze Star during his service in Iraq. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 22nd, at the Three Rivers Memorial Building (43490 Sierra Drive). There will be a public viewing from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, August 21st, at Miller Memorial Chapel (1120 W. Goshen Avenue in Visalia). Cards and letters can be sent to David's grandparents in Three Rivers: D.S. and P.B.. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in David's name. The Foundation can be reached by phone at 208-336-2996 or on their website at HYPERLINK "http://www.wffoundation.org" www.wffoundation.org. Click on "Giving" and then "In-Memory Donations." [Jody Lyle, Fire Information Specialist]
On August 17th, rangers recovered the body of a missing hiker from the San Joaquin River in the northernmost section of Kings Canyon National Park. L.S., 56, of Hershey, Pennsylvania, who was reported missing on July 31st, had been on a multi-day backpacking trip with her husband and two friends. She was last seen by her husband sitting on the bank of the river near their camp in Aspen Meadow. The parks worked cooperatively with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office on this search. [Jody Lyle, Public Affairs Specialist]
The body of hiker G.R., 52, was found on Friday, September 1st, near the summit of Mount Brewer, bringing to a conclusion a four-day search for him. G.R., who was on a solo two-week backpacking trip in the parks, failed to appear as expected on August 27th. Two days later, his son contacted park dispatch and a search was immediately begun (Ned Kelleher, IC). Over the four-day period, 87 people were committed to the operation, including up to 21 ground searchers, six dog teams, mounted searchers and five helicopters. The 66th Rescue Squadron from Nellis AFB in Nevada was called in to help transport search teams to various areas and to conduct air reconnaissance. Due to the demands of heavy Labor Day weekend visitation, the Pacific West Region incident management team (Denny Ziemann, IC) was also brought in to assist the park with managing this large-scale search. G.R.'s pack and camp were found early on Friday by a dog team, so searchers began focusing on that area. He was spotted from a helicopter at 10:30 a.m. in a steep, narrow chute where access is extremely difficult and dangerous. Specially trained rangers from the Sequoia/Kings Canyon and Yosemite technical rescue teams recovered the body and are continuing the investigation of the incident. The cause of death is under investigation, but it appears at present that he fell to his death while trying to reach the mountain's summit. Also assisting in the search were SAR and technical rescue teams from six California counties - Los Angeles, Fresno, Tulare, Kern, Mono, and Inyo. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
This year's first major raid on illegal marijuana growing in Sequoia National Park took place on Tuesday, May 8th. More than 17,300 immature marijuana plants and a large nursery capable of producing thousands more were eradicated. Two arrests were made in connection with this operation, with more arrests anticipated pending further investigation. The investigation is ongoing, but preliminary evidence indicates that the marijuana grow sites raided yesterday are similar to those established by organized Mexican drug cartels that have been found in these parks since 2001. "As the growers have changed their tactics, so have we. These parks have a focused strategy which involves more park personnel and includes the addition of a narcotics-detection dog," said JD Swed, the park's chief ranger. "The National Park Service is committed to protecting these national treasures and this wilderness for the American people. We will do what it takes to stop this degradation of our natural resources." An NPS tactical team made up of rangers from several national parks participated with local park rangers in yesterday's raid. A helicopter unit from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, based out of Riverside, California, provided air support. Fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, and evidence of weapons were found in the grow areas. An extensive infrastructure was also found, including several camps, enough gear and food for several people to live on site for extended periods of time, and an irrigation system using thousands of feet of hose. Since 2001, more than 141,000 plants have been eradicated from Sequoia National Park. Few visitors tend to use the areas targeted by these grow operations due to extreme heat, poison oak, steep drop-offs and lack of developed trails. Anyone with information about illegal activities or who would like to report suspicious activity in the national parks should call 1-888-NPS-CRIME (888-677-2746). You may speak directly to a ranger or remain anonymous when reporting these activities. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Information Officer]
On May 17th, a federal grand jury in Fresno indicted S.P.-P., 27, and A.G.M., 19, both of Mexico, on charges of conspiring to manufacture, to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, and possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute. The two men were arrested on May 6th in connection with their involvement in a large-scale marijuana cultivation operation in the Elk Creek area of Sequoia National Park. Approximately 17,334 marijuana plants and 800 seedlings were seized by rangers from the cultivation sites - the largest seizure of marijuana plants from Sequoia National Park in connection with an indicted case and one of the largest seizures in the history of the National Park Service nationwide. "Large-scale marijuana production on public lands is a rapid growth industry which threatens precious natural resources," said U.S. attorney McGregor Scott. "This year, more than 1.1 million marijuana plants were eradicated from public lands in California alone, with an estimated street value of $4.5 billion." The defendants face a minimum prison sentence of ten years, a maximum term of life, and a fine of $4,000,000 per count. They were scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate for arraignment and pleas on the indictment on May 18th. [United States Attorney, Eastern District of California]
A couple on a three-day hike into the High Sierra in Sequoia NP in late May encountered a snowfield that covered the trail. Unprepared to cross it, they made the right decision to hike an extra 18 miles and return to their vehicle by a snow-free route. This, however, delayed the time of their expected return, and concerned family members accordingly contacted the park. About 20 rangers and California Highway Patrol officers began a search for them and a search helicopter was brought in. The pair were spotted from the helicopter on May 29th as they made their way back to Mineral King. They were within two miles of the trailhead - unhurt, but exhausted. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
On the evening of Monday, June 10th, three people in their early 20s were walking along a treacherous segment of the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River that contains boulders, sheer cliffs and steep embankments carpeted in poison oak. As they tried to climb up to the ridgeline above the river, one of them lost his balance and fell 10 to 20 feet into shallow water. The other two pulled him out of the water and onto a boulder, then one of them went to get help. John Cilmi, the Potwisha campground host, notified dispatch of the incident just before 7 p.m. Rangers Tim Bailey, Mike Nattrass and Amber Blythe responded. Because the man could not be reached via the river and no helicopter was available, a technical SAR team was assembled to conduct a night rescue. Bailey served as IC, while Blythe rappelled about 100 feet down to the victim via long-line to provide medical treatment. The rescue took over seven hours to complete and required complicated mechanical belays, rappels, and hoists. The man was placed in a Three Rivers ambulance just before 2 a.m. and driven to Kaweah Delta Hospital. His injuries were not life threatening. This technical rescue required the efforts of more than 30 people, including rangers, firefighters and staff from all districts, California CDF firefighters, members of a Federal Highway Administration illumination crew who were working in the park, and the volunteer Potwisha campground hosts. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Specialist]
On Tuesday, August 7th, park rangers raided a large marijuana operation within the boundaries of Sequoia National Park. They removed 5,432 marijuana plants with an estimated value of $14 million dollars, and will continue to remove plants and collect evidence for the investigation. During the operation, gunshots were heard from the site. NPS personnel, working with officers from the Tulare County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol, closed the Mineral King Road to vehicular traffic for the safety of the public while investigating the source. Residents in the effected area were notified of the situation and were escorted from the area at their discretion. Until further notice, traffic needing access to Mineral King Valley and private residences will be escorted several times a day by park rangers. Arrangements must be made ahead of time through park dispatch by calling 1-559-565-3195. Also participating in this operation were rangers from Yosemite, members of the Pacific West Region special events tactical team, NPS special agents, and personnel from US Customs and Border Protection, the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, and the California Highway Patrol. The plantation contained several varieties of marijuana plants, including strains that had been genetically altered. These new hybrid plants have only three leaves and take less time to mature, allowing growers a chance to plant more than one crop in a season. In addition, the plants are shorter (less than three feet), which makes detection more difficult. It's estimated that several acres of designated wilderness have been impacted by this highly invasive and destructive marijuana growing operation. Anyone caught with connections to this or any other marijuana growing operation on federal lands faces federal charges. Operation Weed Free seeks to deny ground to illegal marijuana growers within the two parks. The investigation into such activities will continue. Information about illegal activities can be reported anonymously or in person by calling 1-888-NPS-CRIME (888-677-2746). [Submitted by Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Specialist]
Additional information has been received on the Lake Canyon Incident, which is the most recent chapter in Operation Weed Free, this summer's pre-planned marijuana plantation detection and eradication operation. Lake Canyon began on Tuesday in the East Fork drainage of the Kaweah River with the removal of 5,432 marijuana plants valued at about $14 million. After shots were heard in the area during a helicopter re-supply flight on Tuesday afternoon, the focus of the operation shifted from detection and eradication to containment and capture of the growers and/or whoever fired the gunshots. An inspection of the helicopter revealed no damage. Since this episode greatly increased the potential complexity of the incident and increased concerns for personnel safety, though, park managers determined that an incident team would be needed to safely complete the operation. The Western IMT was accordingly brought in and took over management of the incident from the park's Type 3 IMT yesterday morning. Park law enforcement specialist Kip Knapp continues as incident commander. [Shauna Austin, Information Officer]
An intensive search for a missing hiker came to a conclusion last Thursday when with the discovery of his body in Dusy Basin. H.N., 39, of Garden Grove, California, began a backcountry hiking strip on July 30th and was scheduled to have complete his hike on or about August 6th. He started out at the Birch Creek trailhead west of Big Pone on the east side of the Sierra Nevada and his itinerary included possible travel along the Sierra Crest south of Bishop Pass before returning to the Birch Creek trailhead. H.N. was known to be a strong hiker with a history of long summer hikes, sometimes for weeks at a time. He also liked to climb "bag peaks" while hiking. The search for him involved ground searchers, man trackers, search dogs, and helicopters. A climbing team from Yosemite National Park was also brought in to search mountain summits that he might have climbed within the park. The search was coordinated by the park and by the Inyo County Sheriff's Office. H.N. evidently died in a fall from Isosceles Peak. An investigation is underway. [Debra Schweizer, Public Affairs Officer]
On Sunday, July 29th, Grant Grove rangers responded to a report of a 22-year-old man suffering from a severe anaphylactic reaction. The man had been stung by wasps while riding his motorcycle on the Generals Highway. He knew that he had an allergy to insect stings (he'd recently exhausted his personal Epi-pen), so he stopped and told a companion who was riding with him that he was about to have a severe allergic reaction. Upon arrival, ranger/park medic Cathy Dalrymple could not detect a blood pressure. Dalrymple administered epinephrine, then measured his blood pressure at 70/60. While waiting for the helicopter to land, she administered more epinephrine and fluids via IV. The man's condition improved greatly and he was transported to the hospital by a Skylife helicopter. [David Schifsky, Grant Grove Subdistrict Ranger]
A 65-year-old man was bitten by a bear in Kings Canyon National Park on the afternoon of Thursday, September 6th. The man had been sleeping on a rock near Mist Falls, a four-mile hike from Roads End in Cedar Grove. He was awakened by other visitors who were yelling to him to warn him that he was being approached by a bear. As he sat up, the bear bit his right thigh, causing numerous puncture wounds. The man yelled and swatted the bear, but the bear did not leave the immediate area. Several people helped scare it away. Ten days before the incident, warning signs were posted at the Roads End Ranger Station following reports of a small bear approaching people near Mist Falls. Wilderness rangers looked for the bear on several occasions, but could not find it. On Saturday, this yearling female bear was found, tranquilized and euthanized by bear management staff. The man's injury was treated by park medics at Roads End. He then went to Sierra Kings Hospital for further treatment. [Submitted by Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Specialist]
A 65-year-old man was bitten by a bear in Kings Canyon National Park on the afternoon of Thursday, September 6th. The man had been sleeping on a rock near Mist Falls, a four-mile hike from Roads End in Cedar Grove. He was awakened by other visitors who were yelling to him to warn him that he was being approached by a bear. As he sat up, the bear bit his right thigh, causing numerous puncture wounds. The man yelled and swatted the bear, but the bear did not leave the immediate area. Several people helped scare it away. Ten days before the incident, warning signs were posted at the Roads End Ranger Station following reports of a small bear approaching people near Mist Falls. Wilderness rangers looked for the bear on several occasions, but could not find it. On Saturday, this yearling female bear was found, tranquilized and euthanized by bear management staff. The man's injury was treated by park medics at Roads End. He then went to Sierra Kings Hospital for further treatment. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
M.C., 39, of Santa Barbara, California, was caught and buried by an avalanche in upper Tokopah Canyon in Sequoia NP on Monday, January 28th. M.C. and companion Jason Gardner were skiing through the area at the time. Gardner uncovered M.C., but he had already expired. Gardner was found shortly after the avalanche and was in good condition. Additional details are pending. [Kip Knapp, Acting Chief Ranger]
Additional details have been received on the avalanche fatality reported yesterday. Late on Sunday night, the park received a report that two winter travelers were overdue from a winter backcountry trip in Sequoia National Park. A search and rescue effort began immediately. Early on Monday morning, two teams of rescuers with advanced technical winter travel skills began skiing from Wolverton, near Giant Forest, toward the Pear Lake ski hut, looking for signs of the two men. About five hours later, searchers located the body of M.C., 39, among trees at the bottom of an avalanche chute. A medical assessment was conducted, but no sign of life was found. The two rescue teams then joined and followed the tracks of the second man, who was found in good condition and escorted out of the backcountry by the team. The two men had spent Saturday night at the Pear Lake Ski Hut, approximately six miles from Wolverton. On Sunday, they left the hut, intending to ski and snowboard out, but were caught in a severe snow and windstorm that caused whiteout conditions. They were carrying a tent and camping gear and camped overnight at Heather Lake, approximately four miles from Wolverton. They set out again on Monday morning but lost the trail. They were crossing a steep slope where the avalanche occurred. The initial investigation indicates that both men were swept more than 200 yard downslope in the avalanche. Both men were experienced in safe winter over-snow travel and knowledgeable about avalanches. Each was equipped with an avalanche beacon. They appeared to have followed safe practices for traveling in avalanche zones. However, with the recent heavy snowfall after a significant rain earlier in the week, conditions were especially unstable at the time the avalanche occurred. These conditions delayed recovery of the body until Tuesday. A team comprised of six members of the Tulare County Sheriff's Office search and rescue team, four rangers and two local volunteer search and rescuers, with the assistance of a helicopter, recovered the body and transferred it to the Tulare County coroner. Parks staff can recall no avalanche deaths in Sequoia and Kings Canyon in the past several decades, though the southern Sierra Nevadas often have high avalanche danger. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
On Wednesday, February 27th, the Grant Grove structural fire brigade was called to respond to the Montecito Sequoia Lodge, located on adjacent Forest Service lands, to deal with an explosion and fire that occurred in an employee dormitory. The explosion flattened the two-story employee shower house/dorm building, threw debris (some pieces as large as half-sheets of plywood) hundreds of feet from the site, and left the remains on fire. Rangers determined that the burning remains posed no exposure danger to adjacent structures because of the snow levels (exceeding six feet). The area was secured and the scene turned over to USFS and Tulare County Fire units. Rangers treated one employee for minor injuries sustained during the explosion. The employee said that he'd been sleeping in his bed in a room on the second story when the explosion occurred and awoke to the building collapsing. He said that he "rode the building" as the second story fell into the first story, then crawled through the rubble into the snow. Had the explosion occurred just a half hour earlier, other employees likely would have been injured, as several were using the showers and preparing to go to work. Tulare County Fire and USFS are conducting the investigation. [David Schifsky, Grant Grove Subdistrict Ranger]
On April 22nd, Earth Day, National Park Service rangers, aided by NPS special investigators, agents from the Office of Homeland Security, Tulare County Sheriff's Office deputies, and California Highway Patrol officers, located and removed a new marijuana grow site in Sequoia National Park. Rangers seized 7,922 plants, many not yet in the ground, and destroyed the infrastructure and camping area to keep the growers from coming back to the area. Although they hoped to capture growers tending the site, the two people encountered fled and eluded capture by running down a steep embankment. Rangers tracked and pursued them while Tulare deputies conducted road surveillance and officers from the California Highway Patrol searched from an airplane. Efforts to find the pair proved fruitless. Investigators worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office to obtain a search warrant for the tent found on site. Evidence collected has been submitted to the Drug Enforcement Agency lab in San Francisco to be analyzed and may lead to future arrests. The growing of illegal marijuana on public lands is a major threat to national treasures like Sequoia National Park. Since the year 2000, more than 157,000 plants have been removed from the park by protection rangers. Over the past three-and-one-half years, rangers and natural resource staff have also found and removed 18,465 pounds of garbage and hazardous waste, including 445 small propane canisters, empty and partially empty packaging from 9.5 gallons of liquid insecticides, 12,900 pounds of fertilizer, and 22.7 miles of irrigation hose. All of this was collected from more than 105 grow sites and camps illegally cut into the wilderness of Sequoia National Park. The long-term damage that this illegal activity has done to once pristine wilderness is not easy to evaluate, but it is evident in the alterations to the land and the volume of poisons and fertilizers that have been used by the growers in connection with these activities. A more extensive cleanup of this most recent site is planned for later this year. The investigation continues. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
On the afternoon of Thursday, May 1st, the park received a report that a 21-year-old man had gotten separated from his group while on an extended trip in the park wilderness and was missing. The Sierra Institute, an extension of Humboldt State University, was conducting a seven-day-long wilderness skills course in the Redwood Meadow area of Sequoia National Park. On the afternoon of April 30th, M.G. became separated from his group. The other members of the group conducted a search for him that day; when that proved unsuccessful, two members hiked out to get help. A helicopter from the California Highway Patrol conducted an aerial search for M.G. with no success. Rangers hiked in and met with the rest of M.G.'s group. They were escorted out of the backcountry while other rangers began an investigation. The search continued on Friday, with three teams of rangers searching on the ground, including a search dog and handler. A helicopter contracted by the National Park Service searched the area and located M.G. along the drainage of a creek just after noon. After confirming his identity, they dropped food and water to him because there was no safe landing site in the area. Rangers hiked to M.G.'s location, reaching him around 4 p.m. M.G. was in good condition. He'd lost a boot while crossing a stream and was therefore unable to hike out. Rangers had the helicopter drop a pair of boots and additional supplies. They then hiked out with him, arriving at the trailhead at 9 p.m. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
Park employees working in Crystal Cave late last Thursday afternoon found what appeared to be live explosives left over from the 1930s. All visitors and employees were evacuated from the area. Park officials also contacted the chief regional blaster, who is certified by the NPS in the handling of abandoned explosives and who also happens to work in the park. On Friday, the chief blaster and a cave specialist assessed the situation and found three drilled holes which may contain unexploded charges. The CCC opened up trails in the cave in the 1930s using small explosive charges to widen passages and increase head space where they deemed it appropriate. The discovery of the abandoned explosives was made while the cave specialist was planning a new lighting system for the cave. Efforts will begin this week to remotely remove the wires and any attached explosives. There's a distinct possibility, however, that the explosives used to develop the cave included nitroglycerin, which becomes unstable over time. The safest course of action therefore may entail detonation. In preparation for that possibility, park staff will install temporary blasting mats and blankets to protect cave formations and features. The area remains closed. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
Late on the afternoon on May 15th, park employees working in Crystal Cave found what appeared to be live explosives. After the discovery was made, all visitors and employees were evacuated from the area and park officials contacted the chief regional blaster, who is certified in handling abandoned explosives. On May 16th, the chief blaster and the park's cave specialist assessed the situation and found three drilled holes that potentially contained unexploded charges dating back to the late 1930's. They worked with park managers and staff to formulate a plan to remove any explosives with little to no damage to the natural formations in the cave. On Tuesday, May 20th, the chief blaster removed the wires from the three holes in an operation that lasted until 9 p.m. He then set off a total of seven small charges in an effort to cause the historic explosives to ignite, but none did so. The materials were determined to be inert and were manually removed from the holes. Crystal Cave reopened to the public at noon on Wednesday. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
The park continues its aggressive efforts to find and eliminate marijuana plantations on NPS lands. So far this year, staff have found and removed 19,348 plants in three separate operations: April 22nd - On Earth Day, 7,922 plants were found and removed, along with the associated infrastructure and camping area. June 6th - Another 5,166 plants, most of them nearing maturity, were found in another area of the park, along with a nursery and drying racks. They were destroyed. June 9th - Staff eradicated 6,260 plants, most of them still seedlings that hadn't yet been planted. Also removed from these areas were 20 pounds of hazardous material (including rodenticides and insecticides in original containers), 158 pounds of unused fertilizer in original containers, two five-gallon propane tanks, two backpack sprayers containing small amounts of unknown liquids, and about 10,000 feet of drip irrigation tubing. Since 2000, more than 176,000 plants have been removed by law enforcement rangers in the two parks. They've also found and removed 18,465 pounds of garbage and hazardous waste, including 445 small propane canisters, empty and partially empty packaging from nearly ten gallons of liquid insecticides and 12,900 pounds of fertilizer, and about 23 miles of irrigation hose. All of this was collected from more than 105 plantations and camps illegally cut into the wilderness of Sequoia National Park. The long-term damage that this illegal activity has done on once pristine wilderness is not easy to evaluate at this time, but it is evident in the erosion of the land and the volume of poisons and fertilizers that have been used by the growers in connection with these activities. A more extensive cleanup of these illegal cultivation sites is planned for later this year. The associated investigation continues. [Alexandra Picavet, PIO]
On Wednesday, July 9th, rangers were notified that hiker R.K., 26, had suffered a dislocated shoulder in a fall and was located on a rock in Roaring River above Roaring River Falls. Due to steep terrain and the R.K.'s condition, it was determined that a helicopter shorthaul rescue would be the safest rescue method for both rescuers and R.K. Ranger Debbie Brenchley was shorthauled from the Roaring River Falls parking lot to R.K.'s location, where he was prepped for the extraction. Both were then flown to the waiting Cedar Grove ambulance, where he was treated by a park medic. During the follow-up interview, R.K. said that he'd been hiking with friends, slipped, and fell approximately 12 feet into the river and landed on a submerged rock, injuring his shoulder. He was then swept over a 30-foot waterfall and self-rescued himself on the cliff side of river. This was one of nine SARs that occurred in Kings Canyon National Park between July 1st and July 9th - six of them major SARs. [David Schifsky, IC/Grant Grove Sub-District Ranger]
For the past two weeks, the National Park Service has participated in intense field operations with 13 other agencies under Operation LOCCUST (Locating Organized Cannabis Cultivators Using Saturation Tactics). During this operation, nearly half of a million marijuana plants were eradicated from 82 identified grow complexes. Most of these complexes had several plots and camps for the cultivators. "The cooperation of all of these agencies made Operation LOCCUST the huge success that it was," said superintendent Craig Axtell. "The National Park Service alone would not have been able to attack this problem with the ferocity and resources that this cooperative effort was able to provide." Planning for Operation LOCCUST began almost eight months ago, with the National Park Service working closely with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office (the host of the operation), US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, California National Guard, and many other federal and state agencies. Approximately 80% of the grow complexes were found on federal lands. During the two week field operation, the NPS provided almost 50 people and one K-9 unit. NPS rangers assisted with ten arrests and seized eight guns and twelve pounds of processed marijuana. "It was a real honor to have the opportunity to work with sheriff Wittman and his staff," said chief ranger JD Swed. "The professionalism and hard work that went into the planning and implementation of this operation was outstanding. Operation LOCCUST did send a clear message to drug trafficking organizations that Tulare county will not allow our public lands to be ruined or used to grow marijuana." Three grow complexes were found early in the season on Sequoia National Park lands, resulting in the seizure of 19,348 plants and seedlings, one arrest, and the identification of several persons of interest. All three grow complexes were cleaned and restored by the end of the operation. Sequoia/Kings Canyon has operated under Operation Weed Free for the past several years, with a mission of early interdiction and denying ground, thereby disrupting marijuana growing operations. The results of that effort are evident in the low number of marijuana complexes now being detected in the parks and the early stages of development of the plants that are being found. Operation LOCCUST has a multi-tiered approach to marijuana prevention, through education, investigation and prosecution, eradication, and restoration of affected lands. During Operation LOCCUST, an awareness youth fun fair was held in Visalia, California, with information booths, K-9 demonstrations, and a Blackhawk helicopter. A media and VIP tour of a grow complex was conducted while agency staff and the High Sierra volunteer trail group cleaned up and restored the area. They removed a mile-and-a-half of irrigation tubing, along with over a ton of garbage and hazardous waste, including more than 200 pounds of fertilizer and two gallons of pesticides. On August 5th, John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and United States attorney McGregor W. Scott came to Visalia for a press conference and tour of a grow site to learn more about this multiagency effort. To date, there have been 42 arrests as part of Operation LOCCUST. Drugs and property seized as a result of this operation include 272 pounds of processed marijuana, eight ounces of cocaine, 42.5 ounces of methamphetamine, $11,900 in cash, 32 weapons, and four vehicles. About a third of the grow complexes that have been eradicated during this operation have been cleaned and restored. Personnel have also removed 19 dump truck loads of garbage (totaling more than 30,000 pounds) and 63 5,000-pound cargo net loads of waste (including more than 31 miles of irrigation pipe, 2,975 pounds of fertilizer, 22 pounds of pesticides, and 33.5 gallons of liquid chemicals). For each acre of marijuana plants, there is a negative environmental impact on approximately 15 acres of adjacent land. Operation LOCCUST has a goal of reclaiming at least 40% of grow sites during the current operational phase, with additional reclamation scheduled for the winter months. Though eradication and restoration efforts will continue through out the season, August 9th was the last day a joint command post was maintained for Operation LOCCUST. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers responded to a vehicle fire at Deer Ridge on the Generals Highway in Sequoia National Park on the morning of August 18th. A visitor from Pomona, California, pulled to the side of the road after her 2000 Volkswagen Passat filled with smoke. She and her mother and her seven-month-old twins were able to get out before the VW was completely engulfed in flame. Since fires along switchbacks on this highway can spread quickly and present safety problems, the park implemented the Generals Highway evacuation plan and closed the road. Structural fire engines from Lodgepole and Ash Mountain, the wildland engine from Ash Mountain, and the park helicopter with a bucket all responded. When they arrived, they found that the car had been completely consumed by the fire and that it had spread into roadside vegetation. The vehicle fire was extinguished and firefighters contained the wildland fire, which had spread about 100 feet into the duff uphill from the car. A bucket drop helped contain that fire. The highway was reopened about two hours later. [Deb Schweizer, Fire Education Specialist]
Concession managers at the Lodgepole Market reported that an estimated $1,848 in quarters had been stolen from their coin-operated shower stalls over the course of a week in late August. On the night of August 25th, rangers Steven Powell and Chris Waldschmidt set up surveillance of the shower area from the roof of the Lodgepole Visitor Center directly across from the showers. Around 2:30 a.m., they saw two people quickly enter the shower area with a bucket, presumably to hold quarters, and intercepted them as they left the building. Both were arrested and found to be concession employees. A key used to access the shower entrance doors was found on one of them and a key to access the vending boxes which held the quarter dollars was found on the other. A consent search was conducted of one of their residences, where the rangers found and seized $108.75 in quarters and $1,695 in cash. On August 26th, a search warrant was obtained for the other suspect's residence and vehicle, where rangers found $785 in wet quarters, $2,773 in cash, and a key to the laundry vending machines. Both suspects are being charged with felony burglary and conspiracy. [Kip Knapp]
The park is asking for assistance from the public in obtaining information about an abandoned campsite near Twin Lakes. The site has a good deal of gear and food left in it, but there's no sign of whoever set it up. On November 30th, two hikers reported that the campsite had not been occupied for more than 24 hours, following up on a similar previous report. An investigation is underway. The park is asking for assistance and additional information from any person who has been in the Twin Lakes area - including those hiking between Lodgepole and Silliman Pass - since October 31st. The park's dispatch office can be reached any time at 1-559-565-3341 ext. 0. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
A three-day-long short-haul operation was conducted last month to rehabilitate a marijuana plantation that was discovered and eradicated several years ago. Though short-haul is a method often used by the NPS during search and rescue operations, this was the first time it was used for a law enforcement operation. Park protection rangers were short-hauled to an area near the remote site so that they could safely approach it. When they determined that it was unoccupied, they removed infrastructure and cleaned up the area. About a mile of hose, 637 pounds of trash, and several pounds of hazardous materials were removed. This is one of the more remote sites found in the park. In the past, rangers who hiked into the site were limited by travel time and physical fatigue in conducting efficient cleanup missions. Without the use of short-haul to insert the team, this operation could have taken more than twice as long to complete, exposing employees to a variety of hazards. "Bronco," the parks' K-9 patrol dog, and his handler were among the first to be lifted to the site in order to assure ranger safety. The park has been authorized to use short-haul for marijuana eradication operations since 2007. To use short-haul for a marijuana mission, the park has to weigh all the risk factors to see if it justified. This was the first mission to meet those criteria. The park worked closely with regional and national aviation managers to ensure that the mission was properly conducted. The process worked extremely well. The lessons learned from this mission will be considered in the planning of future missions to improve safety, efficiency and effectiveness. The hope is that when a site is rehabilitated, growers will choose to not reoccupy the area. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Specialist]
On Wednesday, May 27th, an NPS special agent, numerous protection rangers from Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Hawaii Volcanoes, and Yosemite National Parks, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, and California Department of Fish and Game wardens raided a marijuana grow site inside the southwestern boundary of Sequoia National Park. Due to the extremely steep, brushy terrain, lack of helicopter landing sites, lack of trails and access points, high daytime temperatures, and other safety and security concerns, rangers employed helicopter short-haul techniques to access the site. A tactical team, including a canine unit, was flown to an insertion site near the grow site. While a second team of rangers was being inserted into an opening in the vegetation some distance away, the first rangers spotted a man near the short-haul insertion site and took him into custody. He was linked to the marijuana patch and a firearm, flown out in a litter with a law enforcement attendant, and subsequently charged with several felonies. More than 2,400 plants were removed from the site, each valued at about $4,000. A Customs and Border Protection Blackhawk helicopter and crew took part in the operation, and also played a vital role in finding additional grow sites in the area. ICS was used to manage the incident. [Kevin Hendricks, Chief Ranger]
On Saturday, May 30th, a volunteer river rover radioed dispatch to report that a 23-year-old man had fallen into the Kaweah River near the Hospital Rock picnic area, which is inside Sequoia's southwestern boundary. The victim had been standing on a rock above the Kaweah River, which was running high and fast due to spring runoff, when he slipped and fell. The current swept him to an underwater rock, where he was able to stand in cold, waist-deep water. Rangers coordinated a successful, multi-divisional swift-water rescue. A lifejacket and helmet were passed to the man. Because of the river's topography, rangers determined that rescue swimmers could neither safely nor effectively reach him. Rescuers set up downstream containment with a downstream rescue swimmer, and a tethered rescue board was deployed with safety lines. The man quickly placed himself on the board in the fast current and was pulled to shore, evading dangerous hydraulics and undercut rocks. He was treated for mild hypothermia and released. Throughout the rescue operation, the river rover successfully prevented the victim's family and other onlookers from entering the river to attempt a rescue, thereby thwarting the potential for a secondary incident. Sequoia's river rover volunteers contact visitors at key access points on the park's rivers to advise them of the risks and dangers of swift water. They also serve as park ambassadors, distributing a wide range of park information to river users and other visitors. The river rover program at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks has been instrumental in reducing the number of injuries and deaths through early notification and activation of emergency services. [Kevin Hendricks, Chief Ranger]
From July 12th through 25th, NPS law enforcement personnel participated in intensive marijuana interdiction efforts with 15 other agencies under Operation S.O.S. ("Save Our Sierra"), organized by the Fresno County Sheriffs Office. Northern portions of Kings Canyon National Park are located within Fresno County, as well as a highway corridor connecting two frontcountry areas of the park. During the operation, over 400,000 marijuana plants were eradicated from 71 illegal cultivation sites. Most cultivation sites were located on public lands and tied to Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Law enforcement also made over 80 arrests, served five warrants, confiscated 32 weapons, and seized 46 pounds of processed marijuana, three vehicles, and over $40,000 cash. Drug trafficking and associated support activity have been detected with increasing frequency by rangers in Kings Canyon in recent years. Much of this illegal activity has occurred along the Highway 180 corridor between the Grant Grove and Cedar Grove Subdistricts in Kings Canyon. A total of 29 NPS law enforcement personnel took part in the operation, including rangers from Yosemite NP, a number of special agents from the Investigative Services Branch, and the Pacific West Region Special Event and Tactical Team. NPS personnel conducted 24-hour highway interdiction during the course of the two week operation, disrupting drug trafficking supply lines during what is considered peak marijuana season. Over 40 arrests were made by NPS personnel. One known cultivation site in adjacent Sequoia National Park was abandoned due to nearby pressure and activity by law enforcement. Operation S.O.S. took a multi-tiered approach to combating the marijuana problem, focusing on education, investigation, prosecution, eradication, and restoration. A media tour was permitted during the clean-up of a site by the High Sierra volunteer trail crew. Director Gil Kerlikowske of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the nation's "Drug Czar", was also present and was briefed on the detrimental environmental impacts of the grow sites on federal lands. Working on this operation strengthened interagency ties between NPS and other law enforcement agencies involved in marijuana eradication. This is the second year Sequoia-Kings Canyon has participated in a major, interagency eradication operation. [Kevin Hendricks, Chief Ranger]
Two young girls, ages 13 and 14, lost their lives in separate drowning incidents on the Kaweah River at Hospital Rock in mid-July. On Saturday, July 18th, park dispatch received a 911 call at about 3 p.m. from a pay phone in the Hospital Rock picnic area. The caller reported that a 13-year-old girl was trapped under a rock and drowning. Rangers arrived on scene within 15 minutes. The young girl was visible beneath the surface, but rescue efforts were unsuccessful, as one of her lower limbs was apparently caught under a rock or limb under a large, partially submerged boulder. Rangers were able to recover her body two hours later. On the next day, park dispatch received another 911 call from the Hospital Rock picnic area at about 8 p.m. The caller stated that a 14-year-old girl had disappeared under a large rock while swimming with her family and did not reappear on the downstream side of the rock. Rangers again arrived on scene with 15 minutes of the report. They immediately searched the area of the boulder under which the girl had disappeared, but were unsuccessful. A search of the downstream river banks continued until midnight. Large searchlights were set up after dark and downstream containment was conducted throughout the night. At first light, a park contract helicopter searched the river corridor, focusing on deep pools downstream of the point where she'd last been seen. Park swiftwater rescue technicians and a local dive team from the Tulare County Sheriff's Office also arrived to search the underwater area beneath the large boulder where the girl was last seen. At 11 a.m., helicopter crew members spotted what might be her body at the bottom of a large deep pool about 300 feet downstream from the point last seen. Divers from the Sheriff's Office searched the pool and recovered the body of the 14-year old girl. Statistics from past drownings in the park show that most occur in late spring and early summer, when temperatures are often in excess of 100° F, river currents are very high (averaging above 1000 cubic feet per second, with flow rates in May 2009 above 2700 cubic feet per second), and water temperatures are below 50° F. Daytime air temperatures during the weekend were above 105° F, water temperature ranged in the high 60s to low 70s, and the river was flowing at less than 150 cubic feet per second. Signs in English and Spanish warned visitors of dangerous river conditions. Volunteer river rovers were on duty both Saturday and Sunday afternoon, warning visitors of dangerous river currents. The weekend was also a "fee free" weekend, resulting in high visitation in the lower foothills river access areas. [Dan Pontbriand, Sequoia District Ranger]
On Wednesday, August 5th, Sequoia/Kings Canyon rangers, a Pacific West Region special agent and a Yosemite ranger raided a marijuana plantation located near the northwest boundary of Sequoia National Park at an elevation of 6,000 feet. This grow site was the highest in elevation raided within Sequoia National Park to date. The tactical team was inserted near the site via short haul. The growers established this site in extremely steep terrain, causing a severe amount of damage to the area. Ninety-five percent of the trash, hoses, hazmat and plant materials brought into the site, weighing approximately 1,000 pounds, was flown out by helicopter at the end of the day. As a result of the raid, more than 3,500 plants were seized with an estimated street value of more than $14,000,000. An investigation is underway. [Adrienne Freeman, Public Affairs Officer]
The Crystal Cave road and guided tours were closed to the public early on the afternoon of August 23rd due to automatic gunfire being heard near the cave entrance. A subsequent search of the area revealed a large marijuana complex across the valley from the cave entrance. This is the first time Sequoia National Park has been forced to close a major visitor attraction due to an illegal marijuana grow site. On August 27th, rangers from Sequoia and Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks, with assistance from agents of the NPS Investigative Services Branch and the Department of Homeland Security, raided the site. Within the marijuana complex, they found tactical vests, evidence of five different calibers of weapons, and harvested marijuana. Rangers seized 7,750 mature marijuana plants, 20 pounds of processed marijuana, and numerous hazmat items. The creek supplying water to the grow site is the same creek that created Crystal Cave and still runs through the cave today. During the raid, efforts were made to remove any chemicals located in order to protect the cave resources. No arrests were made during the raid and the investigation is ongoing. The cave was reopened to the public on Saturday, August 29th. [Adrienne Freeman, Acting Public Affairs Specialist]
The search for three missing backpackers concluded successfully on the afternoon of Thursday, October 15th, when brothers Ja.Z. and Jo.Z. and L.R. were reunited with their families after being short-hauled off a ledge above the Roaring River in the Cedar Grove area. The three had begun an ambitious 65-mile hike on October 8th with the intention of walking out on October 12th. Family members contacted park staff at 10 p.m. on Monday when the group failed to return. An investigation into the incident began on Tuesday, although heavy rain and high-elevation snow hampered initial aerial and grounds search efforts. A hasty search was conducted as weather permitted on Wednesday, and additional resources were ordered for a full-scale search on Thursday. Approximately 50 searchers and two helicopters (including the park helicopter) were in the field or on their way to the search area when the three men was located. Rangers Jack Corrao and Debbie Brenchley conducted the short haul operation from Helicopter 552. Statements from the three men acquired after the incident indicated that they had not been able to complete the hike that they'd planned and began to backtrack in the middle of the trip. They became stranded after attempting to return to their vehicle via a treacherous cross country route through the Roaring River drainage. Kings Canyon district ranger Ned Kelleher was the incident commander. [Adrienne Freeman, Acting Public Affairs Specialist]
On Saturday, October 3rd, two men were climbing the East Buttress route (difficulty 5.7) on Mt. Whitney. They were on a ledge at 13,500 feet when a large rock fell from above and hit one of the climbers on the helmet and upper back. The impact pushed him down to the ledge and caused him to experience neck and back pain with numbness and tingling on his entire left side. The uninjured climber assisted his partner in rappelling down two rope lengths, but his companion's pain was so intense that he could not continue. A cell phone call was made to the park that came in around 10 p.m. On Sunday morning, the park's helicopter flew ranger/medics Deb Brenchley and Rich Browne in to locate the climbers and evaluate the possibility of a short-haul extraction. The climbers were found at their camp at Iceberg Lake. Due to the cold, they'd continued to descend in the dark and finally arrived at their camp at 5 a.m. The temperature when the rescue team arrived was -16° C (about 3° F). The injured climber was transported to Southern Inyo Hospital, where he was diagnosed as having suffered a fractured scapula, broken ribs, and a compression fracture of his c-spine. [Michael Cole, Lodgepole Subdistrict Ranger]
On Thursday, October 15th, following a four-month-long joint investigation by NPS Investigative Services Branch agents and Sequoia and Kings Canyon rangers, three brothers were indicted on charges of conspiracy to manufacture and cultivate marijuana on federal lands. O.A.-D., G.A.-D. and J.A.-D., all from Stockton, California, were arrested in connection with two separate grow sites found within Sequoia National Park. Investigations began in early June when the two sites were identified within the Dorst Creek drainage of Sequoia National Park. On August 5th, they were raided and 3,545 marijuana plants were eradicated. During the raid, a search warrant was served at the camp site and items were collected as evidence. On October 6th, an additional search warrant was served at their Stockton residence, where all three men were arrested. During the search, additional marijuana plants, processed marijuana, cultivation supplies and four firearms were found and seized as evidence. At the time of the search warrant, eight adults and five young children were living in the house. Providing valuable assistance in the case were agents from both the Central Valley Marijuana Investigative Team and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. [Adrienne Freeman, Acting Public Affairs Specialist]
The search for hiker K."W."B., which began on Tuesday, October 27th, after he failed to return from a day hike up Mt. Whitney, came to a conclusion this past Saturday when his body was found by searchers on the mountain's eastern slope. The search was run jointly on both sides of the Sierra Nevada by the Inyo County Sheriff's Office and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, as the trail originates on the Inyo National Forest but the summit is in the park. Ground searchers and dog teams from Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks and numerous county teams participated in the search effort, along with helicopters from the National Park Service, California Highway Patrol, and the National Guard. Extremely windy conditions grounded helicopters all day Tuesday and much of Wednesday, and ground searchers were unable to reach the summit due to inclement weather until Thursday. K.B.'s pack and ice axe were located on Friday afternoon by the crew of a National Guard helicopter on the western slope of Mt. Whitney, and his body was discovered on the eastern slope on Saturday. The cause of death has yet to be determined. [Adrienne Freeman, Acting Public Affairs Specialist]
On April 6th, three skiers were reported overdue when they failed to return from an ambitious trans-Sierra ski trip through the park. Investigation revealed that Fresno-area residents M.B., E.S. and R.S. had been dropped off at the Shepherd Pass trailhead outside of Independence, California, on April 1st and that they planned to conclude their trip at Wolverton on April 5th. All three were well outfitted and very experienced in winter backcountry travel, though none of the three had attempted the route before. They were carrying maps, a compass, a GPS unit, and food for five days. A major winter storm hit the central Sierra Nevada mountains on April 4th, bringing with it more than four feet of snow, winds exceeding 100 mph, and temperatures around 0° Fahrenheit. Due to the hazardous weather and the party's being 24 hours overdue with a limited food supply, a search was begun. The winter caretaker at the Pear Lake Ski Hut began a ground search on April 6th, but reported no sightings of the overdue party and no tracks along their route in the Pear Lake area. On April 7th, a helicopter was ordered and assigned to fly the group's route and check locations where others had historically encountered problems. At approximately 11 a.m., the helicopter crew spotted the party just southwest of Colby Pass. The men were in good condition, but three to four days behind on their itinerary due to the recent storm and low on supplies. The party was evacuated to Ash Mountain by helicopter. [Adrienne Freeman, Acting Public Affairs Specialist]
On Saturday, May 29th, Grant Grove rangers received a report of a cabin on fire in the community of Wilsonia, a private residential inholding within Kings Canyon under the exclusive jurisdiction of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Grant Grove Engine 52 and a cooperating agency structural engine from Hume Lake responded. Rangers arrived on scene to find moderate smoke coming from the roof eaves and windows on the chimney side of a two-storey cabin. Due to snow conditions, an extensive hose lay was required to reach the structure. Hose teams entered the building and exposed the seat of the fire, which was within the wall above the fireplace. The fire was extinguished before it had the opportunity to extend to the second floor. The fire was found to have been caused by a fire in the fireplace that had escaped through cracks in the chimney, allowing it into the interior of the walls. The wood frame structure would have been a total loss without the intervention of the Grant Grove and Hume Lake brigades. Damage was estimated at $20,000. [Ned Kelleher, Kings District Ranger]
Backpackers contacted park staff on the morning of July 4th and reported that they'd seen a body in the South Fork of the Kings River near Mist Falls. Rangers investigated and confirmed that there was a body in difficult-to-access terrain about a tenth of a mile below the falls. A park search and rescue team recovered the body from the river the next day. The victim has been identified as K.N., 40. More than 20 rescuers and a helicopter were employed in the recovery. The cause of death has not been determined, but drowning is presumed. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
On Thursday, July 1st, protection rangers removed an illegal marijuana patch in Sequoia National Park. A total of 20,324 plants worth over $81 million were removed from the park, along with trash, fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, and other hazardous materials. Some expended gun shell casings were also found. The site is believed to have ties to a Mexican drug trafficking organization. No arrests have been made yet. An investigation is ongoing. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
On Friday, July 16th, rangers destroyed a marijuana plantation in the park containing 8,125 plants worth an estimated $32.5 million. In the near future, trash, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides and other hazardous materials will be removed from the site. The plot, located near an area where a large number of marijuana plants were removed on July 1st, is believed to have been planted by people with ties to a Mexican drug trafficking organization. No arrests have been made yet. An investigation is ongoing. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
On Wednesday, September 29th, rangers removed an illegal marijuana plot with a total of 13,077 plants worth over $52 million from Sequoia National Park. They also found several hazardous materials that can cause harm to the natural environment at the site, including trash, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. The plot is believed to have ties to a Mexican drug trafficking organization. No arrests have been made yet. An investigation is ongoing. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Specialist]
The body of S.G., 54, of Hanford, California, was recovered from the South Fork area of Sequoia National Park on Saturday, October 9th. While the man had not returned home since Monday, it is unknown how long he was in the park. The cause of death is under investigation and awaiting the results of an autopsy. S.G.'s car was found in the trail parking lot at South Fork Campground the day before. A ground and air search was begun, with 25 people and a helicopter assigned that first day. Operations continued on Saturday, with a total of 59 people, six search dogs, five horses, and a helicopter assigned to the incident. Assisting the park were the California Rescue Dog Association, Sequoia Mountain Rescue, Tulare County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Team, Tulare County Sheriff's Posse, and Yosemite National Park's YODOGS (canine search and rescue team). [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
The park and Inyo County are conducting a joint search in and around Mount Whitney for three men who hiked to the mountain late on Monday but have not returned as planned. About 45 people are currently assigned to the operation, which is being hampered by snowstorms that have dropped between one and three feet of new snow on the region. Additional searchers and a helicopter are scheduled to join the operation today. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
The park and the Inyo County Sheriff's Office are still conducting a major search operation in and around the Mount Whitney area. Three people have been rescued from Mount Whitney, but the search has now been expanded to include two other missing men. Three Nebraska men were rescued from Mount Whitney around noon yesterday. They'd originally planned on a day hike to Mount Whitney on Monday, but had been trapped by a snowstorm in a hut on Mount Whitney ever since. Three NPS search and rescue personnel hiked in to the site, with a California National Guard helicopter reaching the men at approximately the same time. All three men were able to walk and move around during a quick general health assessment by park personnel. Various parties assisted with this search and rescue operation, including the California National Guard and Yosemite Search and Rescue. Two other hikers, a father and son who were not part of the previously missing group, had planned a three-day, 36-mile cross-country loop in and around the Mount Whitney area, starting and ending at the Whitney Portal. They planned to return on Tuesday, but failed to reappear. Approximately 45 people have been assigned to the two search and rescue incidents. Search operations are still being hampered by snow with accumulations from one to three feet. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
Two missing hikers - a father and son who were overdue from a planned 36-mile cross-country loop hike in the Mount Whitney area - have been found. S.S.B., 27, and A.S., 56, walked out on park trails in the Cedar Grove area, which is approximately 50 miles away and far from their original planned route. Approximately 70 people assisted with the search and rescue effort. Groups searching for the missing hikers included the National Park Service, Los Angeles County Search and Rescue, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, the Inyo County Sheriff's Office, Inyo County Search and Rescue, and the California National Guard. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
A man found guilty of drug trafficking in the park was sentenced in mid-November to 10 years in federal prison for growing thousands of marijuana plants in Sequoia and Kings Canyon and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. G.O.V., a Mexican national, was arrested by park rangers during a raid on a marijuana grow site in the park in 2009. Following the arrest, agents from the Investigative Services Branch continued the investigation and prosecution. G.O.V. was suspected of having been responsible for all the marijuana grow sites within one canyon in the park since 2002, and ISB had linked him to two marijuana grow sites within the park in 2005. G.O.V. was also responsible for damaging over five acres of previously undisturbed park land. During cleanup operations at the site, rangers removed over a half ton of garbage, 10,000 feet of irrigation hose, and a wide array of hazardous materials, including fertilizers, pesticides, rodenticides, and propane canisters. G.O.V. was sentenced to ten years in prison and was ordered to pay $59,094 in restitution to the park for the costs of cleanup operations and for the damage to natural resources. This successful prosecution provides an excellent example of the strong working relationship between the Investigative Services Branch, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the park rangers of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
Park staff encountered a man speeding into the park though the exit side of the Ash Mountain entrance station in Sequoia National Park in Three Rivers around 2 p.m. on November 25th, Protection rangers responded and found the man near the Ash Mountain Visitor Center, where other park staff had encountered him a few minutes earlier. When they arrived, the man threw a pistol to the ground. Additional rangers arrived on scene within moments, and he was taken into custody without further incident. After further investigation, it was found that the man, a 42-year-old Sacramento resident, had discharged at least eight rounds in the vicinity of the visitor center while shouting about the end of the world and Armageddon. He was taken to a local hospital and held for psychiatric evaluation. Rangers found drug paraphernalia and approximately 10 pounds of packaged and processed marijuana (valued at approximately $35,000) in his vehicle. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
Flooding, mudslides and rockslides, caused by a major winter storm that hit the Sierra Nevada Mountains this past weekend, have forced the closure of the inbound lane of the southern access into Sequoia National Park, as well as the road between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, until further notice. The Generals Highway is closed from the entrance station at Ash Mountain at Sequoia in Three Rivers to Highway180 in Kings Canyon. Weather conditions are expected to worsen in the immediate future. Park visitors and guests at Wuksachi Lodge are being provided notice of a voluntary evacuation or advised to consider sheltering in place for up to several days. The safety conditions warrant an R1 rating, or requirements for all vehicles entering Kings Canyon to either have four-wheel drive or chains, cables, or snow tires. Vehicles without the proper equipment are not being allowed into the park. Access to the General Grant Tree and the Kings Canyon Visitor Center is currently open, but access to the Generals Highway is closed at Highway 180. The entrance to Kings Canyon National Park remained open as of last night. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Specialist]
On Tuesday, a 52-year-old woman headed out from the Farewell Gap trailhead on a solo day hike as part of her training for an ultra-marathon. She hiked up Farewell Canyon, crossing Franklin Creek on a snow bridge. On her return trip, the snow bridge collapsed underneath her and she fell into the creek. She was swept downstream under the snow for 30 to 40 feet before being able to stop herself. She stood up in the creek under the snow, but had no access to the surface. Using her hands, she dug through about five feet of snow and created a small hole, then threw her backpack out of the hole. It was seen there by other visitors, who went to examine the pack and found the woman under the snow nearby. By that time, she'd been trapped in the creek under snow for over three hours and was hypothermic and incoherent. One person pulled her out while another went back to the trailhead to summon help; the other members of the group helped warm her. Rangers and a park helicopter with a medic on board were dispatched to the scene. When the rangers arrived, the woman declined either evacuation or medical assistance. The rangers helped her return to the trailhead. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
On August 2nd, dispatch received a report of a hiker who was three days overdue from a 17-day wilderness trip in Kings Canyon National Park. The 60-year-old man left Cedar Grove on July 13th and was expected to return on July 29th. The hiker, who was reported to be a very experienced backpacker, was familiar with the area. Investigators found that the man had three potential itineraries for his trip and was known to be very flexible in his plans. Interviews with wilderness permit holders yielded a point last seen in the Kid Lake area on July 21st. On August 3rd, a helicopter searching east of Kid Lakes spotted a signal fire started by the hiker. When found, he was in fair condition but disoriented and was evacuated and transported to a local hospital. The man had lost all of his all his equipment three days before being found and had not eaten anything since losing his equipment. He is expected to make a full recovery. [Ned Kelleher, Kings District Ranger, and Malinee Crapsey, Acting Public Affairs Specialist]
On the evening of August 23rd, park dispatch was informed of a mountaineering accident on Thunderbolt Peak in the North Palisades of Kings Canyon National Park. Thunderbolt Peak is a 14,003-foot peak with a popular Class 4 ascent route. Rangers began mobilizing that evening, with the first ranger on scene hiking through the night and arriving in the area before 6 a.m. That ranger was able to confirm calls for help coming from the mountain. Two additional rangers were flown to the area and conducted an aerial reconnaissance, locating the climber on a cliff face above the 13,000-foot elevation. He was on a small sloping ledge in otherwise completely vertical terrain. A possible short haul operation was dismissed due to unstable and increasing winds. The two rangers were flown to a landing zone near Barrett Lakes, where they began a 1,300-foot Class 4 and 5 ascent to the victim. They reached him in mid-afternoon and found that he was suffering from exposure and from open fractures to his right leg and left arm. As they were preparing to spend the night on the ledge with him and continue evacuation operations in the morning, there was a brief window of clear and calm weather. A short haul operation was begun and the climber was successfully removed from the ledge and taken to the base of the mountain. He was then flown to Bishop, California, where he was admitted into the hospital. [Ned Kelleher, District Ranger]
An extended search for a man overdue from a hike in Kings Canyon came to a conclusion on Saturday evening when he reappeared in Bishop, California. J.W. began his trip at the Bishop Pass trailhead on Saturday, September 17th, intending to conclude his hike on the following Friday. His planned itinerary included Simpson Meadow, Tehipite Valley, Crown Valley, Blue Canyon, and the John Muir Trail between Evolution Valley and LeConte Canyon. When he failed to return as planned, a search was begun. As of last Friday, the park had committed 45 people to the operation, which was supported by searchers from the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, Tulare County Sheriff's Office, Kern County Sheriff's Office (China Lake Rescue Unit), San Mateo County Sheriff's Office (Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit), Inyo National Forest, and the California Rescue Dog Association. Although more than a week overdue, J.W. was in good health. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Specialist]
The park and California Highway Patrol began an aerial search for an overdue 54-year-old hiker on the morning of Wednesday, November 16th. Searchers determined that the man had planned a five-day trip in Sequoia National Park, beginning at the Wolverton parking lot and ending in the Black Kaweah/Big Arroyo area. During the search, an orange tent was spotted by the CHP helicopter along the expected route. They found the hiker there and flew him back to the park's Ash Mountain helibase. He was in good physical condition despite having encountered challenging snow and avalanche conditions in the backcountry. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Specialist]
Seven mules and two horses owned by the park have died due to a failure in the water system at a remote winter pasture in the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge. The winter pasture is located approximately 35 miles south of Tulare and 45 miles north of Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley. Two other animals, a horse and a mule, have been under the care of a veterinarian. The cause of the incident is under investigation. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
In the early morning hours of June 23rd, four employees of Kings Canyon Park Services, a concession at Kings Canyon National Park, were involved in a car crash just outside the park boundaries. A 21-year-old man from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and an 18-year-old man from Badger, California, died in the accident; a 24-year-old woman from Selma, California, and a 22-year-old woman from Fresno, California, survived. The incident is under investigation. Kings Canyon National Park staff assisted at the accident scene. Superintendent Karen Taylor-Goodrich made this statement: "The National Park Service is saddened by this tragedy. We offer our condolences to the families of those deceased and the staff of Kings Canyon Park Services." [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Specialist]
A search was begun on Tuesday for T.H., 31, who took a day hike to Mount Langley on Sunday but failed to return as planned. T.H. was last seen that day on Mount Langley around 1 p.m. His hiking route was expected to run from the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead through New Army Pass to the summit of Mount Langley, with a return to the same trailhead. Participating in the operation were personnel from Sequoia-Kings Canyon, Manzanar and Yosemite, the China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue ("YODOGS"), Inyo National Forest, Montrose Search and Rescue, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, and the Tulare County Sheriff's Department. T.H.'s body was found on Wednesday. The cause of death has not yet been determined; an investigation is underway. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of G.D., 60, the subject of an extended search, was found last Thursday and recovered from the Middle Palisades of Kings Canyon National Park. G.D. was found on the south face of Norman Clyde Peak during search and rescue operations managed by the NPS and Inyo County Sheriff's Department. G.D. was an experienced backcountry hiker who was camping north of the peak. He reportedly embarked from his campsite at Finger Lake on July 28th with the objective of reaching the summit of Norman Clyde Peak, which is located above Big Pine, California. He was expected to return to his campsite that evening. His companions contacted the Inyo County Sheriff's Department and reported him overdue the following morning. More than 40 people and four helicopters from a number of agencies were involved in the five day search. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
Park rangers and members of a helicopter crew assisted an injured firefighter on the Piute Fire Complex in Sequoia National Forest on August 6th. A firefighter on a Type 1 crew in steep and difficult terrain near active fire sustained a serious foot injury and needed medical evacuation from the fire line. The incident management team accordingly requested a helicopter evacuation. The park responded with its contracted Eurocopter AS350-B3 and a ranger-medic qualified in short-haul. After evaluating the scene and configuring the helicopter for short-haul, the crew successfully extracted the firefighter and transferred him to advanced medical care. "Rangers and helitack crew members train together regularly for short-haul evacuations in the remote wilderness of the parks," said Kevin Hendricks, the park's chief ranger. "It is rewarding to use these skills beyond park boundaries to assist a firefighter in need." [Malinee Crapsey, Acting PIO]
On the morning of September 1st, a 59-year-old man was climbing North Palisade Peak (14,284 feet) in the northern portion of Kings Canyon National Park with two companions. Near the summit, he attempted to climb over a bulging ledge, but slipped and fell several hundred feet and was killed instantly. He was not on belay at the time. His companions reported the accident to a second party, who hiked out to report the incident. Rangers were notified of the accident late that evening and recovered his body the next day. [Dana M. Dierkes, Public Affairs Specialist]
A search is underway in Kings Canyon National Park and the adjacent Inyo National Forest for 53-year-old L.C. of Pacific Palisades, who failed to return from a hike as planned last Monday. Twenty people from the park and the Inyo County Sheriff's Department are involved in the operation, which includes both ground searchers and three helicopters, one with thermal imaging technology. Efforts have been hindered by snow and high winds. L.C. started his hike last Friday at the Taboose Creek trailhead in the southern portion of the Sierra Nevada in Inyo National Forest with plans to travel over Taboose Pass toward the John Muir Trail in Kings Canyon National Park. His route may have included Split Mountain and areas to the south, including Pinchot Pass. He planned to return to the Taboose Creek trailhead last Monday. The search area is in rugged terrain between 10,000 and 12,000 feet. Between a foot and a foot-and-a-half of snow is on the ground in the search area. Temperatures are ranging from the mid-30s in the day to the low 20s at night. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
Search efforts continue for hiker L.C., who's been missing since October 19th. A total of 35 staff from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the Kern County Sheriff's Office, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, and Yosemite National Park were part of the operation. Six ground search teams and two contract helicopters focused on specific high-probability areas on Tuesday, including likely travel corridors/camp locations around Pinchot Pass, Taboose Pass, and Split Mountain. Search conditions remained challenging, with significant areas covered by a blanket of snow, masking the ground and potential clues. Temperatures have ranged from the mid-40s in the daytime to the low-20s at night. Ground crews have been effective in searching for clues within the established search area. Despite aggressive searching, no clues have been located that have been tied to L.C. since he was seen by another hiker near his vehicle on October 19th. Ground search assignments have been completed and ground teams have been removed from the search area. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
Efforts to locate missing hiker L.C. have been suspended. The search of likely areas lasted for eight days, utilizing 56 personnel from multiple agencies - ten ground search teams, three dog teams, and five helicopters and crews. L.C. began a four-day trip into the rugged wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park at Taboose Pass on October 19th, where he was last seen by an outbound hiker. A winter storm arrived in the area on the evening of October 20th and deposited up to 12 inches of snow. L.C. was reported overdue to the Inyo County Sheriff's Department on the evening of October 23rd and the Sheriff's Department confirmed his vehicle was still at the trailhead. On October 24th, the Inyo County Sheriff's Department notified the National Park Service; search operations began later that day and continued through October 31st. Environmental conditions were challenging in the search area, which covered 48 square miles of mountainous terrain. Elevations ranged from 8,000 to 14,000 feet. Nighttime temperatures dropped to as low as 15 degrees, and snowdrifts made travel by foot difficult. Two searchers were evacuated by helicopter due to medical concerns related to environmental conditions. The incident management team, with the assistance of the state search and rescue coordinator, reviewed operations and decided to suspend the active search due to lack of information and any additional clues. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
During the month of January, rangers twice dealt with disturbed visitors - one suffering from Alzheimer's disease and the other from an emotional disturbance. On the morning of January 15th, an entrance station employee reported that a white sedan had not stopped while entering Kings Canyon National Park. Shortly after, a ranger responding to that report saw a white Ford sedan traveling eastbound on Highway 180 following several other vehicles. As the ranger followed the group of vehicles toward Grant Grove Village, the sedan crossed into the oncoming lane. The ranger attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver ignored the patrol vehicle's lights, sirens, and air horn. After the line of vehicles in front of the sedan pulled over, the sedan continued eastbound while occupying both lanes of travel and seldom reaching the posted 35 mph speed limit. A second ranger responded to the call. About a mile-and-a-half later, the sedan pulled over near the north boundary of the park. The driver was an 89-year-old Alzheimer's patient from Bakersfield, California, who had been reported as "missing and endangered." The man, who lived with family, had wandered away from home approximately 14 hours earlier. After a disagreement, he had recovered hidden keys to his car and left home for a drive to "clear his head." He agreed to be transported to a ranger station to await the arrival of his family, who picked him up later in the afternoon. On January 27th, a park maintenance employee reported by radio that a vehicle was stopped in traffic on a blind curve near Dorst Creek in Sequoia National Park. The employee noted that something appeared to be wrong with the driver, who reported being out of gas but then rolled up his window and refused to talk further with the employee. Responding rangers found the vehicle still in the roadway blocking traffic. The driver, a 27-year-old man from Stockton, California, expressed concern about being physically hit by the rangers. Rangers convinced the man that he needed to be transported to a ranger station to contact his family. Family members informed the rangers that there was no pertinent past medical history, knowledge of drug use, or known explanation for the man's unusual behavior. Unfortunately, the man's condition deteriorated and he began to act very strangely. He spoke in repetitive phrases, repeated a series of hand gesticulations, wanted to pace around the ranger station, and did not seem to recognize family members on the phone. By this time, plans were established to transport the man to the hospital by ambulance. Rangers coached him onto the gurney and restrained him with seatbelts. Any attempts at treatment were met with a high degree of agitation from the patient. The man was transported without further incident. At the time of this report, he is still hospitalized, and the cause of his condition is unknown. [Ned Kelleher and Dana M. Dierkes]
A missing 63-year-old California man was found by searchers on Saturday in his wrecked pickup truck 300 feet down a mountainside about a quarter mile north of a popular vista in Sequoia National Park. The man, who'd been missing since May 28th, was alive, but his condition was not known at the time of the report. Family members reported him missing to Bakersfield PD on May 28th and that department issued a regional 'be on the lookout' message that included a description of his vehicle. Family members contacted park staff late on May 30th and advised that he might have been traveling to Sequoia-Kings Canyon or other public lands in the area. Video surveillance records confirmed that he'd entered the park's southern entrance, and a full-scale search was immediately begun. Other agencies joined upwards of 40 park staff in the effort to find him, including the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, Fresno County Sheriff's Office, and Sequoia National Forest. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
The park, in cooperation with Tulare County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol, conducted a driving under the influence/sobriety checkpoint near the entrance to Sequoia National Park on Sunday, June 30th. A total of 571 drivers received initial screening at the checkpoint. Law enforcement officers conducted field sobriety tests on 13 people. At the checkpoint, officers arrested three people, including one for driving under the influence and two for driving on suspended licenses. One of the suspended licenses was for a prior DUI offense. In addition, a citation was issued for possession of a controlled substance and a warning was issued to a passenger for an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. This sobriety checkpoint took dangerous drivers off the road, increased public awareness of the consequences of impaired driving, and encouraged the use of sober designated drivers. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
On August 9th, rangers in Sequoia National Park responded to two fatalities at the same time in different areas of the park. Rescue teams searching for a missing 65-year-old hiker in the Mineral King area were attempting to reach a body that had been discovered by NPS contract helicopter when a call came in regarding a second incident. A 54-year-old man from San Diego collapsed in the New Army Pass section of the park. A park medic was flown to the scene to provide advanced life support, but resuscitation efforts proved unsuccessful. A body recovery ensued. Since daylight hours were limited, the body located in Mineral King was flown out by helicopter on August 10th and transferred to the Tulare County Coroner's Office. The body was later identified as that of a missing hiker from San Rafael. [Matt Fagan, Acting Public Affairs Specialist]
On Monday, September 2nd, the body of Y.K., a 60-year-old man from Torrance, California, was recovered in Sequoia National Park by National Park Service personnel assisted by the Inyo County Sheriff's Office, Inyo National Forest, and Tulare County Sheriff's Office. On the afternoon of September 1st, Y.K. fell approximately 200 feet down a cliff along the Mount Whitney Trail to his death. The incident happened approximately a mile from Mount Whitney at 13,500 feet above sea level while Y.K. was on the way back to the Whitney Portal trailhead. Earlier in the day, Y.K. and three other people hiked from that trailhead, located in the Inyo National Forest, to the summit of Mount Whitney. The dispatch office at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks received the initial report of the incident from the county sheriff's department at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 1st. The National Park Service dispatched a contract helicopter and a park medic to the accident scene, while nearby U.S. Forest Service wilderness rangers walked with other members of the hiking party back to the Whitney Portal trailhead. Due to limited daylight hours, the body recovery was scheduled for Monday, September 2nd. A mountaineering technical rescue team of four park rangers from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks was sent to recover the body. The cause of the fall is under investigation. Weather is not considered to have been a factor. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
The park received a 911 call reporting a single vehicle rollover accident on Highway 180 in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon around 2 a.m. on Saturday, August 31st. Responding rangers and park medics found that a 35-year-old North Dakota man had died at the scene and that four other people in the pickup had been seriously injured. Also responding to the accident were personnel from Yosemite, the California Highway Patrol, the Fresno County Coroner's Office, and the Sequoia Safety Council. All of the truck's injured occupants were transported by ambulance and/or helicopter to the hospital. The accident is under investigation. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
On July 3rd, a 33-year-old Clovis, California, man hiked from Florence Lake into the northern part of Kings Canyon National Park with the intent to climb Mt. Goddard. He was expected to return to his vehicle on July 7th, but by July 9th had not returned home. Joint search operations were begun on July 9th with Fresno County Sheriff's Office. On July 10th, search operations intensified, with six NPS hasty teams, the parks' contract Type 3 helicopter, Yosemite NP's Type 2 helicopter, and an NPS liaison assigned to Fresno County. Searchers reached the summit of Mount Goddard (elevation 13,558) and the peak register was found to have an entry left by the missing man on July 5th. On the evening of July 10th, the final team insertion took place around sunset near Davis Lake (elevation of 11,058), about two miles north of Mt. Goddard. As the helicopter was on final approach to the landing zone, the man was seen lying on the ground approximately fifty yards away. The search team contacted him and found he had significant trauma to his lower extremities. He said that he had been injured five days earlier while descending Mt. Goddard, had run out of food, and ultimately crawled toward Davis Lake. As sunset approached, potentially grounding the helicopter, the man was rapidly bandaged and carried to the helicopter by hand. He was flown back to the park helibase, where he was transferred to a Life Flight helicopter for transport to a local hospital. [Tom Parrack, Incident Commander]
On the evening of July 28th, the parks' trail crew found a missing 13-year-old boy who had been separated from his hiking party while in the Arrow Peak (elevation 12,959 feet) area of Kings Canyon National Park on Sunday, July 27th. The boy stayed overnight at the trail crew camp until he was airlifted out of the Bench Lake area of the park yesterday morning. Prior to the flight, a park medic evaluated him and found him to be uninjured and in good condition. Dispatch received a call about the missing hiker from the Inyo County Sheriff's Office around 2 p.m. on Monday afternoon. The hiking party had departed from Taboose Pass in the Inyo National Forest and was headed for Bench Lake and Arrow Peak in Kings Canyon National Park. A search began later that day. Among those participating in the operation were 25 National Park Service staff from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks who searched by ground and helicopter, conducted interviews, and planned for the next day's operation. Incident operations concluded yesterday with 28 NPS employees involved, primarily in getting the boy to the helicopter landing zone and returning searchers to their normal work locations. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of missing hiker D.J. was found on the north slope of Mt. Whitney just before nightfall on July 30th, bringing to a conclusion a two-day search for him. D.J. is believed to have fallen in a very rocky and steep area. The cause of the accident is under investigation. D.J., who was from Redwater, Texas, was hiking in the wilderness of Sequoia National Park with his wife. On July 29th, he decided to hike on his own from Guitar Lake to Mt. Whitney and planned to return to the Lower Crabtree Meadow area of the park. He was last seen by other hikers between Trail Crest and the summit of Mt. Whitney at approximately 3 p.m. on the same day. On July 30th, D.J.'s wife hiked to the closest ranger station to let a wilderness ranger know that he had not returned as planned. A total of 39 park employees were involved in the search. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
On Tuesday, August 19th, park staff, supported by searchers from Yosemite SAR and that park's dog team and personnel from the California Highway Patrol, began a search for a 46-year-old California man who was reported overdue from a backpacking trip in Kings Canyon. On August 10th, G.M. departed on a solo hike from the Roads End area of Kings Canyon National Park. He planned to hike to Gardiner Basin via Gardiner Pass. After several days in the basin, he planned to hike out Gardiner Creek to Woods Creek and return to Roads End in Cedar Grove by August 17th. G.M. is described as being 6 feet tall and weighing from 160 to 170 pounds. His hair is blond and he sports a big beard. G.M. is wearing a bright blue shirt, green wool pants and black boots. He's carrying a red internal frame backpack, fishing gear and either a blue tarp or an orange tent. The park is asking anyone who was in this area from August 10th to August 17th or who might have information on the missing man to call 559-565-3118 or 888-677-2746. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 20th, the body of missing hiker G.M. was recovered in the area northwest of Mount Gardiner in Kings Canyon National Park. He is presumed to have fallen in a steep and rocky area at approximately 12,000 feet in elevation. The cause of the accident is under investigation. On August 10th, G.M. departed on a solo hike from the Roads End area of Kings Canyon National Park. He planned to hike to Gardiner Basin via Gardiner Pass. After several days in the basin, he planned to hike out Gardiner Creek to Woods Creek Trail and return to Roads End in Cedar Grove by August 17th. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' SAR staff, supported by searchers from Yosemite SAR, Yosemite's search dog team (YODOGs), and a helicopter from the California Highway Patrol, began a search for this 46-year-old Santa Cruz, California, man on August 18th after he was reported overdue from a backpacking trip in Kings Canyon. A total of 71 NPS staff and park partners worked on the three-day-long search. [Ned Kelleher, Incident Commander, and Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
On Tuesday, September 16th, rangers participated in the successful rescue of a 67-year-old man from San Jose whose plane crashed in a remote area of Sequoia National Park. The plane was reported missing when it failed to arrive as scheduled in Lone Pine, California, on Monday afternoon. The park was notified around 3 a.m. on Tuesday morning that a transponder signal had been traced to the Forgotten Canyon area of Sequoia National Park. At approximately 9 a.m., the wreckage was spotted near Funston Lake by the Civil Air Patrol and visual contact was made with the pilot. The park helicopter was used to insert a parkmedic and investigators at the crash site. The pilot was treated and transported to the Ash Mountain helibase, where he was transferred to a waiting SkyLife air ambulance and flown to an area hospital. The National Park Service is coordinating the investigation into the cause of the crash with the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration. The California Office of Emergency Services and Tulare County also assisted with this search and rescue operation. [Jana McCabe, Public Affairs Officer]
A search is underway in and around the Cedar Grove area for R.P. and M.P., who failed to return from their backpacking trip as scheduled on Monday, October 29th. They planned to hike the Rae Lakes Loop, departing from Cedar Grove on the Woods Creek trail and returning via the Bubbs Creek trail. In addition to teams on foot, searchers are using the park helicopter and horse patrols. There were 15 searchers hiking trails within the search area and interviewing other hikers yesterday. The 32-year-old R.P. is described as 6 feet tall and weighing 160 pounds, with short, light brown hair and brown eyes. M.P. is 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 140 pounds, and has shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes. Any hikers who may have seen or come in contact with either or both of them should call the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Incident Command Post at 559-565-3341 or 888-677-2746. Click on the link below to see a flyer with a photo of the P. HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/seki/upload/Missing-Person-Flyer-2.pdf" [Jana McCabe]
Searchers found missing hikers R.P. and M.P. in a remote area of Kings Canyon National Park late on Wednesday afternoon. Both were in good condition. Five rescuers assisted the couple on Wednesday evening and hiked out with them yesterday. The P.'s wilderness permit indicated that they planned to hike the Rae Lakes Loop, departing from Cedar Grove on September 25th via the Woods Creek trail and returning September 29th on the Bubbs Creek trail. Information from other hikers helped to focus the search area. The Charlotte Creek drainage, where searchers found them, is within the area of their intended route. In addition to teams on foot, searchers used the park helicopter and horse patrols. [Jana Friesen McCabe]
Around 2 a.m. on August 31, 2013, Kings Canyon National Park received a 911 call reporting a single vehicle rollover accident on Highway 180 in the Cedar Grove area of the park. Responding rangers and park medics found that a 35-year-old North Dakota man had died at the scene and that four other people in the pickup had been seriously injured. Personnel from Yosemite, the California Highway Patrol, the Fresno County Coroner's Office, and the Sequoia Safety Council also responded. A cooperative investigation was conducted by Investigative Services Branch agents and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks law enforcement rangers. On October 14th, N.M., 25, was sentenced to four years and four months in prison for involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol. For more information, go to HYPERLINK "http://www.justice.gov/usao/cae/news/docs/2014/2014_10/10-14-14Moser.html" [Michelle Fidler, Acting Public Affairs Specialist]
On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 6th, overdue hiker W.R. was located outside Kings Canyon National Park in the adjacent Sierra National Forest. Searchers found the 62-year-old Virginia man in good condition in Crown Valley. On October 30th, W.R. departed alone from the Rancheria Trailhead on the Sierra National Forest. He planned to hike to Tehipite Dome in Kings Canyon National Park, then, after several days in Tehipite Valley, return to the Rancherita Trailhead by November 3rd. Dispatch was notified that he was overdue on the morning of November 5th. Sixteen National Park Service and twenty Fresno County Sheriff's Office search and rescue personnel were involved in searching by ground and helicopter, conducting interviews, and planning search operations. An NPS helicopter, Fresno County Sheriff's Office helicopter Eagle One, and California Highway Patrol's helicopter H40 also assisted. The search area, located approximately 35 miles southeast of Huntington Lake, ranged from elevations of 4,000 to 9,000 feet. The first significant storm of the season passed through the area on October 31st and November 1st, resulting in 12 to 18 inches of snowfall at higher elevations and heavy rain at lower elevations. [Ned Kelleher, Incident Commander, and Michelle Fidler, Acting Public Affairs Officer]
A park visitor stopped at the Ash Mountain Entrance Station in Sequoia National Park early on Wednesday morning to report an incident involving a bear and a camper at Potwisha Campground. According to reports, a bear nudged a man in a sleeping bag and woke him up at a campsite there around 6:30 a.m. The bear then stepped on the man, who ran away. The bear followed him, then turned around to grab the man's sleeping bag and drag it to the edge of the campsite. Other campers said that they banged pots and pans to scare the bear away. The 25-year-old California man sustained minor injuries - lacerations to his back and a puncture wound. He declined further medical care by park staff. Currently, park personnel are trying to locate the bear. Notices have been posted and campers contacted at Potwisha and Buckeye Flat campgrounds. Campground patrols have been increased. The incident is under investigation. [Dana M. Dierkes, Public Affairs Specialist]
Two fatalities occurred in the park this past weekend, one on Mount Whitney and one in the Kaweah River. On Friday afternoon, a group of climbers descending the eastern slope of Mount Whitney crossed paths with a solo climber who was heading up the Mountaineer's Route. Like the commonly used trail to the 14,494-foot peak, the route starts at Whitney Portal but is far more challenging. Sometime later, they saw a backpack fall and realized that the climber they passed might have fallen. As soon as they were able to obtain a cell signal, they called 911, reporting the incident to the Inyo County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office began an investigation, but it was too dark to begin an aerial earch. Saturday morning, they conducted a helicopter search and spotted the man's body after about four hours. He had apparently been traversing the north face of Mount Whitney, an area covered with snow and ice, when he fell. Because this area is in Sequoia National Park, Inyo County Sheriff's Office contacted the park; rangers recovered the body on Sunday. The second fatality occurred on Saturday afternoon. A 21-year-old Tulare woman and three friends were alongside the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River a short distance downstream from the Hospital Rock Picnic Area when she fell into the river and was swept away. Her friends contacted the parks for help and a search and rescue operation was begun. Further downstream, another visitor saw the woman in the river and managed to get her out. CPR was begun, but was unsuccessful. Source: KTVN-TV news story.
A ten-day, multi-agency law enforcement operation investigating illegal marijuana plantations in the two parks lead to six arrests last month. The investigation concentrated on foothill canyon roads where marijuana growing sites have been located previously. A total of 30 officers logged nearly 1,000 work hours and made more than 100 motor vehicle stops. Over the last 14 years, nearly 300,000 plants with an estimated value of $850 million have been eradicated from these two parks. The law enforcement agencies and other parks participating in the operation included the Bureau of Public Lands, California Fish and Wildlife, California National Guard Narcotic Task Force, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Point Reyes National Seashore, Tulare County Sheriff's Department, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and Yosemite National Park. Source: Visalia Times-Delta.
A father and his two children are recovering after being struck by lightning on a Labor Day backpacking trip to Sequoia National Park. C.L. and his two children, A.L., 12, and N.L., 9, were caught in a storm at Jennie Lake during their first family backpacking trip. They'd just hiked six miles on a trail when it began to pour, and C.L. stopped to take a short video of the experience and post it to Facebook. Moments later, a lightning bolt struck the tree they sat under and hit all of them. Witnesses later told them that it looked like the electricity blew them up and that their bodies were "flying," C.L. said in a Facebook post. The father suffered first- and second-degree burns on his back, arm pit and down his arm; his skin was black and the clothes burned off his body. C.L. was also paralyzed for a few hours. N.L. suffered burns to her arm and thighs and also suffered partial paralysis. A.L.'s injuries were the worst, C.L. said. His eardrum was blown out, he was wounded from the top of his skull to his jawline, and his legs were burned. Campers at Jennie Lake rushed to the family's aid and called for emergency services. Soon, the three were riding in a California Highway Patrol helicopter and on their way to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, where they are recovering. Source: Fresno Bee, submitted by member Dennis Burnett.
Missing hiker E."H."N. was spotted from a search helicopter in Sequoia National Park on Saturday, September 30th. He was hiking towards Mineral King on the Franklin Lakes Trail, approximately two-and-a-half miles east of the trailhead. Rangers contacted him, confirmed that he was uninjured, and provided an escort out of the wilderness to reunite with his family. E.N.'s party departed from the Sawtooth Trailhead in Mineral King on Monday, September 25th. He was reported missing after separating from them on Wednesday and failing to arrive at an expected rendezvous point. A common factor in many search and rescue operations is individuals hiking alone or separating from their party. Hikers are strongly advised to stay together, stick to their planned itinerary, and let someone know when they return from their trip. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs.
A Fresno County sheriff's search and rescue team has recovered the bodies of a San Diego couple trapped in a car that crashed off a cliff in Kings Canyon National Park in August. J.S., 32, and her husband, Y.W., 31, had been reported missing on August 11th by a family member who became alarmed when the couple disappeared while on vacation. They were last seen at the Crystal Caves in Sequoia National Park on August 6th. Y.W., a Chinese national, had lived in San Diego for about a year. J.S. lived in China and visited her husband several times a year. The car was spotted in August while officials were trying to retrieve another car that had plummeted 500 feet after plowing through a highway guardrail on July 26th. Two exchange students from Thailand had been in that car, which came to rest on boulders in the river. Their bodies were recovered in September. J.S. and Y.W.'s car was found because a deputy watching a TV report on the recovery of the Thai students and their car spotted a license plate lying in the brush that didn't belong to their rental car. That led to a helicopter search of the area and the discovery of J.S. and Y.W.'s car, which was deeply submerged underwater. Heavy winter rains created high water levels in the river that made it too dangerous to try to examine the wreckage closely or retrieve the bodies until recently. The amount of water now flowing in that portion of the river is down nearly 10 times from what it was in early August. The two cars apparently crashed about 50 feet from each other along a winding road. It's believed to be a coincidence that both cars crashed in the same area within weeks of each other. Source: San Diego Union-Tribune.
On the afternoon of January 9th, a 150-foot-tall, 38-inch-around Jeffery pine fell on four vehicles parked in Lodgepole Market's employee parking lot. There were no injuries to staff or visitors. The cause of the tree falling is still unknown and park officials are looking into the situation. Rangers are encouraging visitors to maintain awareness of their surroundings when hiking, camping, and traveling through Sequoia and Kings Canyon. They are also being advised to avoid spending prolonged periods under dead or partly dead trees or branches. According to state officials, there are roughly 129 million dead trees in California because of drought and bark beetles— 25.2 million of those trees are in Tulare County. "The number of dead and dying trees has continued to rise, along with risks to communities and firefighters if a wildfire breaks out in these areas," said Randy Moore, regional forester of the U.S. Forest Service. "It is apparent from our survey flights this year that California's trees have not yet recovered from the drought, and remain vulnerable to beetle attacks and increased wildfire threat." Source: Visalia Times-Delta news story.
A hiker and a mountain climber fell to their deaths in separate incidents in the park the week before last. One death occurred on Mount Whitney and the other on the Watchtower section of the Lakes Trail out of Lodgepole. On May 5th, two people descending Mount Whitney found two ice axes and what appeared to be a blood trail leading to a body 1,500 to 2,000 feet below the ice axes. Rangers recovered the body the next day and transported it to Ash Mountain, where it was turned over to the Tulare County Coroner's Office. The victim was identified as E.J., 29, of New Jersey. On May 6th, the park was notified of a hiker who had fallen from the Lakes Trail. A.D., 29, of San Diego, slipped on ice and snow and slid over a cliff. Rangers responded that same day, but dangerous ice and snow conditions with a very steep slope forced them to turn around. The next day, rangers found the body, but could not retrieve it due to the complexity and technical aspects of the recovery. It was recovered on Tuesday. Source: Fresno Bee.
A five-day effort to find a missing hiker came to a happy conclusion when searchers located him on May 28th. S.M., 67, who uses the trail name 'B.,' began hiking the Pacific Crest Trail northwards in March and was last seen near Kearsarge Pass in the park on May 18th. He wasn't reported missing until May 23rd, a day after he failed to pick up a food supply at Mammoth. S.M. was found to be in good health. He said that a winter storm had slowed up his progress. Source: YourCentralVallley.com.
A 36-year-old man died on the afternoon of Sunday, June 10th, after he was swept down the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River. Rangers were alerted around midday after the man went into the river near the park entrance parking lot. Swiftwater rescuers were called in. The man's body was found not far from where he entered the river. It's unclear if he fell in or went in voluntarily. The circumstances and cause of death are under investigation. This was the first river death this year at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, where rivers fed by snowmelt are running much faster than most people expect. The higher discharge levels, combined with the slickness of the rocks at the water's edge, pose dangers not only for the public but also for rescuers. Source: Los Angeles Times.
A 30-year-old man died and another was trapped while hiking on the John Muir Trail/Pacific Crest Trail near Center Peak on July 12th. The two men had been climbing park peaks during the day. Around 4 p.m., the park received a satellite device call from a hiker who reported someone calling for help about halfway up the peak on the northwest side. The hiker was unable to make direct contact due to the terrain and bad weather. Rangers responded and found a 37-year-old man who had been hiking with a friend. He was uninjured but unable to ascend or descend from his location. A helicopter was requested, and the man was evacuated. At about 6:30 p.m. rangers found the other man and confirmed he was dead. His body was recovered the following day and transferred to the Tulare County Coroner's Office. The cause of death has not been released. Rangers have completed about 20 more search-and-rescue operations this year than they did in mid-July last year. The park reminded hikers that monsoon-type weather can happen unexpectedly and bring lightning, strong winds and heavy rains. Source: Fresno Bee.
On September 5th, local, state and federal officials raided an illegal cultivation site within the park's designated wilderness and found 3,500 marijuana plants valued at $5.25 million. The cultivators caused major damage, including thinning and removing vegetation, and diverted about 10,000 gallons of water daily to their plantation. Crews also reported finding large amounts of trash, fertilizers and pesticides. Authorities said they have eradicated nearly 300,000 plants worth about $850 million in the two parks over the past 14 years. Source: KTLA News.
A woman who was reported missing after hiking in Kings Canyon National Park last Friday has been found alive. D.S., 63, who was hiking with two family members and planned to cross Bishop Pass, exiting at South Lake in the Inyo National Forest, was spotted by other hikers. More than 50 responders searched for D.S. with support from the Inyo County Sheriff's Office and Yosemite National Park Search and Rescue. Source: Fox News.
The National Parks — Articles on the effects of the shutdown on several specific National Park Service areas — and the ad hoc and often inconsistent ways in which they're being managed during the shutdown: Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs — The park announced last Friday that visitor centers in both parks would be open during the Martin Luther King holiday weekend. Sequoia Parks Conservancy, the parks official partner, made a donation on Friday that covered National Park Service interpretive rangers and facility maintenance expenses at all locations. The donation's sum was not known. Source: Joshua Yeager, Visalia Times-Delta.
A major storm that began on February 1st deposited up to seven feet of snow on the area over the ensuing weekend, closing all roads in and around the park — and leaving more than 120 visitors and staff snowbound for five days in the Montecito Sequoia Lodge. Crews reached the lodge by snowmobile on Wednesday morning and were able to assure that everyone was okay. They returned Thursday with additional supplies. Maintenance workers had to plow eight miles of highway and clear about a score of trees before guests and staff could leave the lodge last Friday. The lodge had enough food, fuel and general supplies to keep everyone comfortable during their unexpected stay. Source: Amanda Lee Myers, Associated Press.
Two weeks after a heavy snowstorm that closed park roads and left more than 120 visitors and staff snowbound for five days in the Montecito Sequoia Lodge, another storm last Friday brought more heavy snow and whiteout conditions to the park, leading to its closure. Generals Highway was closed from Hospital Rock, located near Sequoia National Park's southern entrance, to Giant Forest. Access to many of the parks' amenities, including Lodgepole and Wuksachi Lodge, also proved impossible. National Weather Service forecasters expected the storm to dump between 3 and 6 feet of fresh snow across the region. Source: Sheyanne N. Romero and Joshua Yeager, Visalia Times-Delta
A massive multiagency search in the park and Sierra Nevada Mountains to locate missing Marine Corps Lt. M.K., 24, underway for more than a week, has transitioned to "limited continuous search" status. M.K. set out on a solo skiing and hiking trip on February 24th with the objective of completing the 195-mile Sierra High Route by March 4th or 5th. On March 4th, his father contacted Mono County Sheriff after not hearing from his son. Cell phone information showed that he'd last been online in the Independence area in Inyo County. The county SAR team began a search for him on March 5th. Backcountry snow instability and weather issues, including high winds, presented a significant challenge to search crews. Both aerial and ground searchers identified avalanche activity, cornices, and snow bridges throughout the wilderness, including along the Sierra High Route. The search zone was larger than the state of Rhode Island and consisted of the 195-mile Sierra High Route and numerous possible exit points. Searchers have to date found no trace of him. Agencies assisting in this operation included Sequoia-Kings Canyon and Yosemite SAR teams, the Marine Corps, officers and search teams from Mono, Inyo, Madera, Fresno, Los Angeles and Tulare Counties, the California Highway Patrol, the Air National Guard, the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team, the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit, China Lake Naval Weapons Base, and the California Office of Emergency Services. Source: InciWeb.
The increasing frequency of climate-change-related severe weather closures and incidents in NPS areas has warranted the creation of this intermittent Servicewide summary: Sequoia NP — A winter of heavy snowfall has left the Lodgepole Campground buried under so much snow that park staff don't expect it to open for the season before May 22nd, and then not completely. The campground closure includes reservations, walk-ups, and the self-registration system that usually begins in April. Source: National Parks Traveler.
An interagency search is being conducted for L.D., 41, who failed to return from a climb up Mount Whitney last week. L.D. planned to summit Mount Whitney on Wednesday, June 12th, then return to work in Virginia the following day after catching a red-eye flight from Las Vegas. His rental car was found in the Whitney Portal parking area on Saturday and a search for him was begun the next day. Searchers have received several reports from hikers who either saw or spoke with L.D. on Wednesday, both during his ascent and at the top of the mountain. Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states, lies on the boundary of Sequoia National Park and the Inyo National Forest. Searchers report that conditions in the backcountry are still extremely snowy, with significant challenges presented by snow instability, ice, and heavy runoff. Source: Carmen George, Fresno Bee.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities: Sequoia NP — The Bearpaw High Sierra Camp in Sequoia National Park will remain closed for the entire 2019 season due to damage to tent cabin structures as a result of above-average snowpack (175% of normal) and delayed access for pack animals critical for repairs and supplies. Source: Porterville Recorder.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Sequoia NP — The body of L.D., who'd been missing since June 13th, was found on Tuesday, June 18th, on the north side of Mount Whitney. The cause of death remains under investigation. L.D. flew into Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 11th, planned to summit Mt. Whitney on June 12th and drive back to Las Vegas after summiting, then catch a red-eye flight back home in order to be at work on June 13th. The search consisted of about 30 square miles of high mountain terrain. The search teams included staff from the park, Inyo County Sheriff's Office, Inyo Search and Rescue, Mono Search and Rescue, China Lake Mountain Rescue, and aerial reconnaissance from CHP-Inland Division Air Operations. Source: KMPH News.
The search for 56-year-old M.G., missing in the park since last Friday, came to a happy end on Monday when the crew of a California Air National Guard aircraft spotted tree bark that spelled out S-O-S on the ground. Responding rangers found M.G. in good health, though she was cold, hungry and thirsty. M.G., a traveling nurse from Mississippi, was working in San Francisco and had left on Wednesday to visit the park. She was supposed to return to San Francisco that night, but never showed up, prompting the search. When located, M.G. was about three-and-a-half miles from the spot where her car was found. M.G. issued this statement: "I am profoundly thankful to the National Park Service, who worked tirelessly to rescue me and were so very kind when they did. I am hungry, a little dehydrated, and I have cuts and bruises, but I'm very fortunate to be in as good a condition as I am. My priority now is spending time with my family. Thank you for your support and coverage and for the time and space as I recover." Source: KFSN News.
The body of a hiker reported missing early last week has been found in the park. A.S., 40, of Huntington Beach, was reported missing by family members a week ago Monday. A search by both Inyo County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol began on Wednesday. A ground team discovered his body at the top of the Darwin Glacier, near the base of the notch to go up Mount Darwin. The cause of death has not been determined. The investigation continues. Source: YourCentralValley.com.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, mostly related to the recent spate of significant storms across the country. Kings Canyon NP — The park's Highway 180 entrance into Kings Canyon National Park was closed last Friday morning due to unsafe road conditions and excessive snow. Crews were working to clear the road, but it wasn't yet certain when the entrance would reopen. The Highway 198 entrance into Sequoia National Park in Tulare County remained open, but more snow was expected. A major holiday storm blanketed the sierra with 18 inches of snow on Wednesday night and grew on Thursday and Friday morning. Source: Joshua Yeager, Visalia Times-Delta.
A Visalia, California, man faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to felony theft in Kings Canyon National Park. D.F., 43, was indicted by a federal grand jury in October on suspicion of stealing a vintage Rolex and other jewelry from national park-goers. Between February 9th, and March 11th, while working at the park's John Muir Lodge, D.F. is suspected of stealing more than $16,000. In February, a Kings Canyon park employee gave a jewelry purse filled with valuables to the manager of John Muir Lodge for safekeeping. The manager put the jewelry purse in a locked drawer inside his office, located behind the lodge's front desk. On March 11th, the person asked for the purse back. With a witness, the two discovered most of the jewelry was no longer in the purse. The woman made a list of what she believed was stolen, which included a vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch. Ranger Robert Lewis began an investigation. Management at the lodge told him that only overnight clerks would have been able to go into the manager's office when the office was empty. During the time in which the jewelry could have gone missing, only three people were working. D.F. had three of the shifts. What sparked investigators' suspicions even more was that D.F. stopped coming into work after the investigation. A detective subsequently found that D.F. had been selling jewelry at Visalia Jewelry and Loan in January and February. Although none of the missing items matched what was sold at the business, the detective told Lewis a few days later that a Rolex had been sold at the business by Lindsay Peterson. Lewis discovered that Peterson and D.F. knew each other. After viewing the surveillance video from February 20th, Lewis found that Peterson and D.F. went to Visalia Jewelry together. D.F. handed Peterson the Rolex, which was sold for $1,200. D.F. is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24th. Source: James Ward, Visalia Times-Delta.
A blaze last Friday morning left a commercial building at Grant Grove Village unusable. The building, used by the park's concessioner, Delaware North Companies, was found fully engulfed in flames by fire crews. The structure contained kitchen, laundry and restroom facilities for their staff. The blaze was confined to half the building due to its design, which included a separating fire wall. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The park service was assisted by two units from Hume Lake Fire and Rescue and crews from Tulare County Fire Department. Source: Paul Schlesinger, KSEE/KGPE News.
Two people died from a plane crash that occurred last Friday in a remote wilderness area of the park. The single-engine aircraft had been flying near the vicinity of the Sequoia Complex Fire complex fire that's burning roughly 90 miles east of Visalia. The plane departed at 11 a.m. Friday from the Visalia Airport and was scheduled to land at 1 p.m. at Needles Airport in San Bernardino County. Radar tapes, however, showed that the plane's last location was near the Upper Horse Creek drainage in Mineral King wilderness, which is in the proximity of the 55,000-acre SQF Fire. By 8 a.m. Saturday, the parks' helitack team had located the aircraft crash site. It was not immediately known what caused the plane to crash, though smoke from the SQF Fire might have hindered the pilot's visibility. The plane crash caused a fire approximately a half acre in size, which ended up being contained by park personnel. Source: Bryant-Jon Anteola, Fresno Bee.
V.C., 20, drowned while playing in the river with his family adjacent to the Potwisha Campground on June 21. Source: Visalia Times Delta
On July 21, a hiker who was part of a group was headed toward Crescent Meadow just east of Panther Creek when he walked off trail without his backpack. He has not been seen since. The park is looking for any information from hikers on the High Sierra Trail between Kaweah Gap and Crescent Meadow. Source: Fresno Bee
On July 27, three day hikers on top of Mt. Whitney became hypothermic after their clothes became wet. Other visitors gave them supplies and a tent to survive the night and called the emergency in. The next morning, a California National Guard Chinook helicopter crew with 3 Inyo County Search and Rescue team members was able to find them quickly. The helicopter touched down with only its rear wheels on the mountain, and the crew was able to safely load the hikers and fly them to Bishop Airport. Source: Recordnet
On February 19, M.J.C., 33, assaulted an individual with a firearm, slashed the tire of a car in a parking lot in the park, and led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase outside the park that allegedly resulted in the shooting of a California Highway Patrol officer. On August 5, M.J.C. was indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts. He is currently in custody in Tulare County. Source: Sierra Sun Times
Sequoia National Park — The body of Matthew Thoke, the hiker who went missing on July 21 near Crescent Meadow, was found. The park has not released details of location or the circumstances of his death. They stated that "his body was in a location that was not visible by air and hardly visible on the ground." Search efforts were conducted by 13 agencies in steep, thick vegetation and had been scaled back the previous week. Source: Visalia Times Delta, ABC 30
On September 9, a lightning storm passed through the Sierra Nevada, starting 3 new fires in the park: Colony, Paradise, and Cabin. Cabin was largely contained within 3 days, but the other two have been combined into a single incident, the KNP Complex Fire. As of September 17, the park and Three Rivers area was evacuated and the park was closed. Kings Canyon remained open. On that date, the fire was at 11,365 acres, 0% contained, with 482 personnel assigned. Source: National Parks Traveler, Inciweb
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks — The KNP Complex Fire is 84,166 acres, 11% contained, with 1,866 personnel assigned. There are multiple evacuation orders in place and both parks are closed indefinitely. No damage has been reported to structures or giant sequoias in the parks at this time. Source: Inciweb, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks — On October 7, four firefighters were hit by a falling tree while working on the KNP Complex Fire. They were helicoptered to a nearby hospital and treated for injuries. All were released by the next morning. As of October 17, the fire is currently at 87,890 acres, 55% contained, and 747 assigned personnel. Kings Canyon partially reopened for day-use and backpacking on October 18, though there will be no running water available, and no camping or lodging. The NPS has stated that developed areas of the park will not reopen before December. Source: KPIX, Inciweb, KTLA
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks — Part of Sequoia National Park reopened on November 11 for the first time since the KNP Complex Fire started on September 9. The foothills area, from the Ash Mountain Entrance Station to Hospital Rock Picnic Area, and most of the trails in that area are now open. Access to Giant Forest and Lodgepole remain closed. As of November 16, the fire is 88,307 acres, 75% contained, and has 179 personnel assigned. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inciweb
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks — On November 19, the park announced that as many as 3,600 giant sequoias in 27 groves perished in the KNP Complex Fire. This represents 3-5% of the world's giant sequoia population, and comes on the heels of the 2019 Castle Fire that killed up to 14% of the world's sequoias. Source: Los Angeles Times
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks — On December 11, Giant Forest opened for the first time since the KNP Complex Fire passed through in September. It will be opened on a limited schedule for the coming weeks, and the phased reopening may be further affected by inclement weather. Source: KTLA
On December 17, family of a 50-year-old hiker reported him overdue from a five-day, four-night trip in the backcountry around Mt. Whitney. On December 19, searchers using an avalanche probe found the victim's body under deep snow at the base of Ebersbacher Ledges (the Mountaineer's Route). Investigators believe he was experiencing acute mountain sickness and that snow, high winds, and single-digit temperatures likely caused him to fall 30 feet to his death. Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks — Roads between Hospital Rock and Giant Forest are closed until at least January 14 due to high snow loads and lots of debris hazards due to the 2021 KNP Complex Fire. Source: KMPH
Sequoia National Park — The NPS and Sequoia Parks Conservancy have announced that the Crystal Cave will remain closed for the entire 2022 season due to ongoing damage from the 2021 KNP Complex Fire. The road and trail to the cave suffered damage from fallen trees, rockslides, and damage to safety railings. Source: KMPH
Giant Forest has now fully reopened for the first time since the KNP Complex Fire swept through the area in September 2021. It had previously been open on a limited basis since December. The Generals Highway between the two parks also reopened for the first time since the fire. Source:Fox 40, Los Angeles Times
A rockslide occurred during the winter closure of State Route 180 in Sequoia National Forest (the main access to Kings Canyon), leaving a 600-foot debris field, 15 trees, and boulders weighing up to 200 tons. It is located near Boyden Cavern. Caltrans crews are working to clear the roadway. Access to the canyon was scheduled to open on April 22, but has been delayed until the slide can be cleared. Caltrans estimates that it will reopen on May 9. Source: National Parks Traveler, Caltrans Facebook page (4/20, 5/2)
On April 18, a body was discovered just below the 99 switchbacks leading to the Mt. Whitney summit. Due to unstable conditions, including high winds, helicopters were unable to make a recovery until April 23. A rescue crew that included personnel from California Highway Patrol and the Inyo County Sheriff's Office recovered the body. This is the fourth confirmed death of hikers attempting to summit Mt. Whitney. Several of these deaths were due to improper skill or gear for dealing with winter and spring snow conditions. Source: KOLO
On May 16, 2022, a 28-year-old entered a camper van and attempted to stab the occupant. The occupant was able to defend themself and the suspect fled in a car that was stolen from a repair shop. When the NPS attempted to arrest the suspect, the suspect refused to comply, and a taser was deployed to take them into custody. The suspect has been charged with assult with a dangerous weapon, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and failure to obey a lawful command. Source: U.S. Attorney's Office - Eastern District of California
The week of July 17, a rock climber "in remote wilderness" in the park was seriously injured by lightning. One of the other members of their party activated a satellite device to request help, and an NPS helicopter team utilized a short-haul line to rescue the individual. The patient survived and is now in stable condition. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Facebook page
On July 22, the park reported that there are toxic algal mats in the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River downstream of the park boundary. The park is investigating whether or not there is also toxic algae inside the park and visitors are advised to know signs of algal mats and how to keep themselves and pets safe. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Facebook page September 7, 2022 On August 23, a black bear was struck by a vehicle and killed near Cedar Grove. California Fish and Wildlife officials responded. It is unknown if any visitors were hurt. Source: Sacramento Bee September 7, 2022 On August 21, a 66-year-old individual became separated from their hiking group while hiking near the base of Split Mountain. The group intended to hike to the summit and return to the trailhead the same day. The individual was reported missing on August 22. The search has included ground searchers, canines, infrared imaging, drones, and trail investigation from personnel from the NPS, Inyo County Sheriffs Department, Inyo National Forest, Inyo County Search and Rescue, California National Guard, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, the Airforce Rescue Coordination Center, Tulare County Sheriffs Department, and Yosemite National Park. On September 1, the park scaled the search back to "limited continuous mode", which means that the search personnel was reduced. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (8/30, 9/1)
On January 4, many public lands managers preemptively closed due to the prediction of an atmospheric-river event likely to bring flooding and the potential for power outages. As of January 9, many parts of Golden Gate, Redwood, and Sequoia remain closed due to the impacts of winter storms and further incoming weather. Source: Outside, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Redwood National and State Parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
The atmospheric river event caused significant amounts of damage in the park from flooding and landslides. The damage is being assessed in collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration and Generals Highway is closed past Hospital Rock Picnic Area. The South Fork Campground and nearby trails and roads were damaged and are currently closed. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, National Parks Traveler February 22, 2023 The Generals Highway reopened to Giant Forest on February 11. It had been closed since early January due to damage from a series of storms. A section of the highway is still single-lane and is not expected to be repaired until May. The section between Giant Forest and Kings Canyon remains closed for the winter. Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Due to a forecasted atmospheric river event, the park closed both entrances on the evening of March 9. Due to the impacts of flooding and ongoing storms, the park has remained closed. Kings Canyon's closure is expected to last at least through March and Sequoia will not open prior to April 15, "and likely much later than that date." Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (3/8, Current Conditions page)
On March 25, the park shared an overview of storm damage from the most recent round of atmospheric river events. Though damage assessments are ongoing, the park has identified 20 areas of significant damage along Generals Highway, many of which will require contracted highway construction crews. Mineral King Road also sustained significant damage. Caltrans also reported major road damage on sections of Highway 180 leading into Cedar Grove. Grant Grove has an estimated reopening date of April 14. The foothills area below Hospital Rock is estimated to reopen between April 7-14. Giant Forest is estimated to reopen in late May to mid-June via the Highway 180 entrance, with the Highway 198 access estimated in June. There is no estimated opening date yet for Cedar Grove, Crystal Cave, or Mineral King. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Due to ongoing winter storm damage (see Coalition Report from 3/22/23 and 4/5/23), the park has announced that the Cedar Grove area of the park is unlikely to open before the end of this year's summer season. Mineral King access is unlikely before mid-June. Source: KMPH
On May 25, the parks announced significant winter snowpack damage to two popular backcountry trail bridges on the John Muir Trail/Pacific Crest Trail: Woods Creek Bridge and the San Joaquin Bridge. Neither bridge is usable and there is no timeframe for repair yet. Neither location has a safe ford. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
On June 2, the Giant Forest area of the park reopened for the first time since winter storms damaged the parks' roads and infrastructure. It is only accessible through the Big Stump Entrance on Highway 180. The section of General Highway between the foothills area and Giant Forest remains closed, with an estimated opening date of early July. No camping is available in Giant Forest or Lodgepole until later in June. Source: The Sentinel
On July 1, the park opened Generals Highway after a closure of over three months. The road was closed due to severe winter storm damage. Road construction is still underway and traffic lights will be used in places for one-lane vehicle travel. Source: The Sentinel
On July 14 at 5 AM, a vehicle fire was reported on the Generals Highway in the Giant Forest area. Rangers located the vehicle and found it "completely burned." While investigating the fire, a call came in about an individual who attempted to rob a visitor's cell phone, keys, and wallet by waving a knife and a stick. The visitor refused, and the suspect fled into the forest. Law enforcement attempted to locate the individual, and during that search, they found that the Giant Forest Museum had been broken into and damaged. It is unclear currently if some or all these incidents are related. A closure and shelter-in-place mandate were put into place temporarily. A suspect was found and arrested that evening. The closures were then lifted. The incident is under investigation by the NPS, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Forest Service. The Giant Forest Museum remained closed for several days and has since reopened. Source: Sierra Sun Times (7/15, 7/16)
On August 4, an individual drowned in the Kaweah River near the Potwisha Campground. Staff from the NPS, Tulare County Sheriff's Office Swift Water Rescue Team, and Tulare County Fire responded. Additional details about the specifics of the incident have not been released. Source: ABC30, KMPH
On August 9, a 76-year-old began a backpacking trip, entering the Cottonwood/Trail Pass Trailhead in the Inyo National Forest, intending to hike north along the John Muir Trail and meet up with family at Bullfrog Lake on August 12. Their family watched the individual's progress via a satellite tracker and the last updates were near the west end of the Caltech Peak ridgeline in Sequoia National Park. The individual accidentally deviated from their intended route due to snow and afternoon thunderstorms, and they lost their satellite tracker while descending the west side of Caltech Peak. They found their way to the Lake South America Trail and ran into another hiker on August 14. The other hiker let them use their satellite device to contact their family, and a park search team located the individual 10 minutes later. The individual was in good health. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Facebook page (8/13, 8/14)
On July 31, an individual entered a person's cabin in the park and committed one act of sexual assault and acts of abusive sexual contact. On August 17, a 46-year-old suspect was indicted by a federal grand jury on both counts. Source: United States Attorney's Office Eastern District of California
On August 15, the Redwood Fire was discovered, burning near Redwood Meadow. It was ignited by fire in one of many storms in August. As of September 3, it was 262 acres and posed no threats to life or property. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inciweb
On September 13, a 65-year-old participating in a multi-day backpacking trip with seven others went for a day hike in the Ranger Lake area and failed to return. After 48 hours, a ranger located the individual in the Rowell Meadow area. The individual was in good health and assisted to the Rowell Meadow Trailhead, where they were then driven to their car. Source: Fresno Bee, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Facebook page
On August 15, the Redwood Fire was discovered, burning near Redwood Meadow. It was ignited by fire in one of many storms in August. As of September 17, it was 1,158 acres. The Redwood Meadow Ranger Station has been wrapped with structure protection wrap and several trails in the area have been closed. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inciweb
On August 15, the Redwood Fire was discovered, burning near Redwood Meadow. It was ignited by lightning in one of many storms in August. As of September 30, it was 1,957 acres. The Redwood Meadow Ranger Station has been wrapped with structure protection wrap and several trails in the area have been closed. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inciweb
On August 15, the Redwood Fire was discovered, burning near Redwood Meadow. It was ignited by lightning in one of many storms in August. As of October 15, it was 1,957 acres and 45% contained. The Redwood Meadow Ranger Station has been wrapped with structure protection wrap and several trails in the area have been closed. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inciweb
On October 17, an individual began a hike from Whitney Portal up the Mountaineering Route of Mt. Whitney. The individual was reported missing the following day when they missed a flight. That day, flyover searches were conducted in the area. On October 19, ground searches by the NPS and Inyo County Search and Rescue revealed "clues" that a hiker may have fallen off a cliff in an area on the route known as "The Notch." An NPS helicopter searched the area and located a motionless hiker with clothing matching the description provided. The individual had fallen about 1,000 feet. That evening, the individual's body was recovered via helicopter and transferred to Tulare County Sheriff's Office, and their identity was confirmed. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
The 46-year-old individual who was accused of entering a cabin and committing non-consensual acts of sexual conduct on July 31 (see 8/23/23 Coalition Report) pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact on October 23. The individual and the victim were both employees in the park (employer unnamed). The individual will be sentenced on February 26, 2024. Source: U.S. Attorney's Office: Eastern District of California
As of October 22, the Redwood Fire was 2,248 acres and 70% contained. It is not currently threatening established containment lines and features. Source: Inciweb
The Sequoia Parks Conservancy announced that Crystal Cave will remain closed through the 2024 season due to the damage sustained to the road, trail, and visitor facilities during the 2021 KNP Complex wildfires and early 2023 winter weather. They hope to reopen the cave in 2025. Source: YourCentralValley.com
On April 29, the park began a eight-week repair of the Generals Highway between Hospital Rock and the Giant Forest. Some closures and delays will be in place during the project. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
On May 7, two individuals were reported overdue on Mt. Whitney. They had intended to go to "the Notch," then ski and snowboard back to their camp at Upper Boy Scout Lake. Inyo County Search and Rescue initiated a search, with support from the NPS, Tulare County Sheriff's Office and Coroner, and California Highway Patrol Air Operations. The individuals were found deceased within the Tulare County side of the mountain (the north face of Mt. Whitney, which is within the park). Source: Inyo County Sheriff's Office Facebook page
On May 13, the park announced the reopening of the Generals Highway between Ash Mountain and Giant Forest, 10 days ahead of schedule. Repairs and traffic delays are expected through the end of June. The park will also begin repairs on the Mineral King Road this week, which are expected to last eight weeks. The damage was incurred by winter storms in 2023. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
On June 4, a sink hole appeared on the Generals Highway near Stoney Creek in the Sequoia National Forest. The road between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks was closed for emergency road repair. The hole was repaired with gravel and it reopened the following day, with ongoing repairs and single-lane closures the following week. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (6/4, 6/5)
The last week in May, the park responded to two swift water rescues on the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. No other details were released about the incidents. The park issued a press release urging caution around the park's rivers. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
On June 10, Cedar Grove reopened for public access for the first time since severe flooding in the winter of 2022-2023 (see 4/5/23 Coalition Report). Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
On July 3, Sentinel Campground, in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon, reopened for the first time since the severe road damage from 2023 winter storms. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
On July 18, a U.S. Army soldier was reported missing after failing to report for duty at Fort Irwin (CA). They had last been seen at Monrovia Canyon Park, which is currently closed to the park due to prior mud and debris slides. On July 30, the individual "was found safe" in Sequoia National Park. No further details are available. Source: Victorville Daily Press
On August 3, lightning caused the Coffeepot Fire in the southwest corner of the park, about 2.5 miles southeast of Case Mountain. It was quickly contained by fire crews at 0.1 acres. After "nearly a week of no activity, a burning tree fell and rolled over the containment line, and the fire began to grow." As of August 19, the fire was 869 acres and 0% contained with 353 personnel assigned. It has expanded along the southwestern perimeter of the park onto Bureau of Land Management lands. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inciweb
On August 3, lightning caused the Coffeepot Fire in the southwest corner of the park, about 2.5 miles southeast of Case Mountain. It was quickly contained by fire crews at 0.1 acres. After "nearly a week of no activity, a burning tree fell and rolled over the containment line, and the fire began to grow." As of September 2, the fire was 11,625 acres and 13% contained with 1,369 personnel assigned. It has expanded along the southwestern perimeter of the park onto Bureau of Land Management lands. The portion of South Fork Drive within the parks is closed. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inciweb
On August 3, lightning caused the Coffeepot Fire in the southwest corner of the park, about 2.5 miles southeast of Case Mountain. It was quickly contained by fire crews at 0.1 acres. After "nearly a week of no activity, a burning tree fell and rolled over the containment line, and the fire began to grow." As of September 16, the fire was 14,086 acres and 79% contained with 637 personnel assigned. The portion of South Fork Drive within the parks is closed. Access to the Mineral King area is also closed, including all campgrounds and trails. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inciweb
On August 3, lightning caused the Coffeepot Fire in the southwest corner of the park, about 2.5 miles southeast of Case Mountain. It was quickly contained by fire crews at 0.1 acres. After "nearly a week of no activity, a burning tree fell and rolled over the containment line, and the fire began to grow." As of September 20, the fire was 14,104 acres and 93% contained with 637 personnel assigned. On September 21, the park lifted all road closures and all trail closures except the Lady Bug Trail. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (8/16, 9/20), Inciweb
Crystal Cave will open to visitors again this year after a four-year closure due to the 2021 KNP Complex wildfires and road damage sustained during Winter 2023 (see 3/6/24 Coalition Report). Tickets go on sale March 31, and tours will run May 23 through September 7. Source: ABC30
On May 25, a 26-year-old was "recreating" with friends and family on the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River near Paradise Creek Bridge in Sequoia National Park when their sibling got swept away in the current. The 26-year-old jumped in to attempt to save them, and they were also swept away. The sibling was able to make it to shore, but the would-be-rescuer was pulled under and not seen again. Park staff conducted a search for the individual, including ground teams, canines, underwater cameras, drones, and helicopters. Divers have been unable to complete an underwater search due to dangerous conditions. On June 5, the search transitioned to "limited continuous mode," with fewer resources actively searching. As of June 10, the individual had not been located. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (5/30, 6/5), The Travel
On July 12, a 36-year-old was reported missing after going out to hike Sawtooth Peak. The following day, the individual's family and friends, as well as NPS personnel, began to search the area around Sawtooth Peak. The individual was found deceased below the peak by family and friends. Source: SFGate
On July 24, the 26-year-old who went missing in May after attempting to rescue their sibling in the Kaweah River (see 6/11/25 Coalition Report) was located by the Tulare County (CA) Sheriff's Office Swiftwater Diver Rescue Team, in coordination with the NPS. The individual's location was identified as a "point of high interest" by a certified water K9 team from the California Office of Emergency Services in early July, but water conditions prevented discovery until July 24. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
On August 21, the park announced that an illegal marijuana cultivation site was removed from the park (location undisclosed) by hand and helicopter sling-load operations. It consisted of 13 acres of disturbance, including 2,377 full-grown marijuana plants, 2,000 pounds of trash and infrastructure, a semi-automatic pistol, a variety of hazardous and banned chemicals, significant disturbances to waterways, terrain, and native vegetation, and evidence of poaching. The site was detected and raided in 2024, but was unable to be rehabilitated until this year due to the presence of the chemicals. The operation was conducted by personnel from the NPS and Bureau of Land Management. No arrests have ben made in conjunction with the site; the investigation is ongoing. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
On August 16, a hiker went missing while hiking in the area near Cottonwood Lakes, located in the Inyo National Forest. A multi-day search ensued, including personnel from the China Lake (CA) Mountain Rescue Group, Mono County Search and Rescue team, the NPS, California Army National Guard, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter. The individual was located near Cottonwood Lakes and evacuated on August 19. Source: GVWire
On September 20, a 66-year-old unexpectedly passed away while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail at Forester Pass. Source: The Orange County Register
On May 25, a 29-year-old was taking a picture of Roaring River Falls when they slipped off a rock into the water. The individual's spouse (age 30) attempted to rescue the individual. Both individuals drowned in the incident. Source: SFGate
On July 23, a 79-year-old had a medical emergency while visiting the General Sherman Tree. NPS personnel responded to the scene and provided treatment, but the individual passed away at the scene. No further details were given. Source: SFGate
On August 2, a 27-year-old drowned near Hospital Rock on the Kaweah River. NPS staff and other personnel responded to the scene and provided emergency medical care. It is unclear whether the individual passed away at the scene or was taken to the hospital. No further details were given. Source: SFGate
On August 2, a 30-year-old rock climber fell while attempting a first ascent in the park backcountry (location undisclosed). The individual passed away from "blunt force trauma injuries sustained as a result of [the] fall." Personnel from the park's search and rescue team recovered the individual's body the following day. Source: SFGate, Climbing
On August 22, a fire was reported in upper Paradise Valley at the confluence of Woods Creek and the South Fork of the Kings River. As of August 23, the Arrow Creek Fire was 3.5 acres and 0% contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
On August 22, a fire was reported in upper Paradise Valley at the confluence of Woods Creek and the South Fork of the Kings River. As of August 24, the Arrow Creek Fire was 3.5 acres and 100% contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Source: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (Facebook)
On October 4, a 52-year-old hiker was found deceased by NPS personnel in "the Mount Whitney Area." The individual's body was recovered and removed from the wilderness the following day. No further details were given. Source: The Fresno Bee | |