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The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2024. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Monday, April 14, 1986 Zion National Park Superintendent Harold L. Grafe reports that an April 11 accident occurring in the park has resulted in the death of a 35 year old Colorado City, Arizona man. According to Grafe, J.F.C. sustained multiple injuries when the bicycle he was riding struck the south wall of the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel. J.F.C., H.B., H.B., and G.B., all of Colorado City, rode into the east tunnel entrance at approximately 3:15 Friday afternoon. A short distance inside the tunnel, J.F.C., who was riding in the back of the group, crossed the oncoming lane of traffic and collided with the concrete wall. At the scene of the accident J.F.C. was attended to by a physician, a registered nurse and park ranger emergency medical technicians. J.F.C. was transported by ambulance to the Dixie Medical Center in St. George, and later airlifted to Valley Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. At approximately 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 13, J.F.C. died, the result of injuries sustained in the accident.
Location: Scouts Lookout, Angel's Landing T.M.M. lost her footing (there is speculation that she tripped on the long dress she was wearing) as she was hiking with her husband and 2 others. She fell 250 vertical feet. Park personnel responded to the report. They performed CPR for 1 1/2 hours. T.M.M. was pronounced dead of massive internal injuries. A. board of inquiry has been tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 21 at park headquarters.
Location: North of the Grotto Picnic Area Two fishermen found the body of J.R., 51, of Las Vegas, NV, on the bank of the Virgin River with a gunshot wound in his chest. A hand gun at his side and other evidence collected by the county coroner indicate that J.R. died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On June 26th, seasonal fee collector K.S., 51, was working at the park's south entrance station when he suffered a heart attack. The male foreign visitor K.S. was dealing with at the time jumped through the entrance station window, cleared K.S.'s airway, and began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He was assisted in his efforts by another visitor, C.K.-M. of West Germany. Seasonal ranger John Ethridge soon arrived on scene and continued CPR. K.S. was taken to Dixie Medical Center Hospital in St. George, Utah, where he remains in intensive care. The name of the male visitor is still unknown, but it is thought that he was travelling with C.K.-M.. The park is attempting to find the two visitors in order to commend them. (Jim Richardson, park ranger, Zion, via CompuServe message from John Chapman, RAD/RMRO).
On the morning of the 17th at about 9:30 a.m., Dale Evans, the comptroller for the park concessioner, was leaving the lodge parking lot with the weekend's receipts (about $27,000) when a man approached his car, stated that he had a gun in his pocket, and demanded the money. Evans started his car, but the robber reached in and grabbed him in a headlock. As the car lurched backward into a parked car, the robber grabbed the money bag and fled on foot. Rangers were on scene within about seven minutes, and sheriff's deputies arrived shortly thereafter. Zion canyon was blocked off and all cars were checked and listed as they left. The FBI arrived on scene on the afternoon and reopened the canyon. The robber has not been found, but a description has been obtained from the comptroller, who is certain he knows the subject from somewhere. A crime lab from Salt Lake City is en route to the park. (CompuServe message from John Chapman, RCR, RAD/RMRO).
On the night of October 2nd, V.B., 28, an employee at Zion Lodge, was arrested for speeding by park rangers. During a routine check of his driver's license and registration, the rangers learned that Brevard was wanted on a warrant for a $25,000 theft from a grocery store in Illinois. V.B. was arrested, and was arraigned on the 3rd. He is being held for at least 90 days in order to provide Illinois officials with sufficient time to file for extradition proceedings. (UPI news report).
On November 20th, rangers arrested. L.P., 43, of Cedar City, Utah, on two counts of felony theft in the Kolob Canyon section of the park. The arrest marks the culmination of an investigation into several car clouts in that area over the past few years. Following the arrest, a search warrant was obtained for L.P.'s home, and two credit cards, a bank card and numerous wallets were found. It is possible that these may be traced to vehicle thefts which occurred up to 15 years ago. L.P.'s mode of operation was to stake out trailheads, then enter vehicles after he saw visitors leaving them for hikes. (Telefax report from Dave Buccello, Acting CR, Zion, via FAD/PMRO, 10:30 EST, 12/15).
UPI reports this morning that Paul Kirkland, a ranger at Zion, was injured in a weekend explosion during a Boy Scout training session and that he is in serious but stable condition in the University of Utah Hospital's burn unit. Kirkland and other Utah Boy Scout leaders were attending a weekend workshop at Snow Canyon State Park near St. George. According to UPI, Kirkland had loaded a "thundermug" - a noise-making device filled with black powder - and was about to ignite it when the device exploded in his face. Larry Wiese, a park spokesman, reported that Kirkland has undergone two operations on burned areas on his arms and face, and that he apparently will require additional surgery. We will provide further information as soon as possible. (UPI story, 4/2/90).
Ranger Paul Kirkland, who was injured in an explosion on April 1st, has lost his left eye, but doctors are very optimistic about the chances for his right eye to fully recover from the trauma incurred in the blast. Kirkland is also recovering from second degree burns on his arms and face. He will probably be hospitalized in .Salt Lake City for another week, then spend two more weeks there as an out patient. (Telephone report from Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 2 p.m. EDT, 4/13/90).
On June 6th, hikers informed park rangers that a large landslide had occurred in Kolob Creek, which flows into the popular park hiking route in Zion Narrows. The slide area is about a half mile upstream from the park boundary on private land. The debris from the slide has reportedly formed a 20-foot high dam in Kolob Creek, and water is backing up behind it. A helicopter overflight by rangers yielded little additional information due to the altitude the ship had to fly above the canyon, but it appeared that the pool was increasing in size. Rangers were to hike in from above the dam site on the 8th to try and gather definitive information about the impoundment, since any release will affect park lands. The state dam safety specialist in Salt Lake City has been advised and is awaiting information from the park. Due to the potential for dam failure, the Narrows have been closed to both upstream and downstream travel until further notice. (Telefaxed report from Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 6/8).
According to a UPI story this morning, seasonal Park Ranger John Ethridge, 40, was killed yesterday when he lost his footing on a trail in Hidden Canyon and fell off a cliff. Ethridge finished leading a group on a nature hike at 10:30 a.m.; when he turned to address the group, a rock slipped from under his feet, causing him to fall 150' to 175' to his death. Park personnel reached the body about an hour later, and Ethridge was pronounced dead at that time. Ethridge had worked in all divisions of the park and had served as a law enforcement ranger, backcountry ranger, fire control officer and maintenance worker. He was working as an interpretive ranger at the time of his death. We will provide more details as soon as we learn them. (UPI story, 6/20).
The park has provided some additional information on the death of seasonal park ranger/naturalist John Ethridge, 40, on the morning of the 20th. John was descending Hidden Canyon trail with some visitors who'd been on his nature hike when he lost his balance, apparently as a result of his foot sliding on sandstone rock. He then slid and bounced about 75 feet before dropping another 90 feet into a high-angle gully. A park medic was on scene in about an hour, but found no signs of life. John began his seasonal employment at Zion in May of 1978. He held numerous positions in the Division of Resource Management and Visitor Protection over the subsequent twelve years, and worked in fee collection, backcountry, fire and general resource management. This was his first assignment to the Division of Interpretation. John is survived by his mother and two brothers. We will try to provide you with information on the funeral later today or early Monday. (Telefax from Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 6/21).
On the morning of the 13th, rangers arrested two Boulder, Colorado, men for possession of controlled substances, including marijuana, cocaine, and what is suspected to be LSD and PCP. A quantity of mushrooms were also seized. Along with the drugs, many of which were individually packaged and marked for apparent sale, over $3,000 in cash was seized, a third of which was found hidden in a flashlight from which the batteries had been removed. The arrests came about as the result of an out-of-bounds camping violation. The two men were turned over to the Washington County Sheriff and have been charged with possession and intent to sell. One subject has been charged with a first-degree felony (he had a previous drug arrest) and is being held on $75,000 bail; the second has been charged with multiple second-degree felonies and is being held on $50,000 bail. Since both subjects have a history of failures to appear on previous enforcement actions, they must come up with the full amount to bail out. The FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office are also involved, since prosecution under Title 21 is being considered. (CompuServe message from Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 8/14).
During the early morning hours of January 6th, M.W., 24, and N.H., 26, both employees of Zion Lodge, were killed when their pickup truck slammed head-on into a tree on the road directly in front of the lodge and burned. Accident scene investigators have calculated that the vehicle was travelling at over 80 mph when it hit the tree. Alcohol is thought to be a contributing factor. Both victims were residents of Utah. (Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, via telefax from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO, 1/7).
On January 22nd, Robert Wright, a hunter from Hurricane, Utah, pled guilty in magistrate's court to charges of taking wildlife, using a weapon and travelling off established roads in the park during the black powder deer hunt last November. Magistrate Patrick Fenton sentenced Wright to six months in jail and $500 in fines for each of the three offenses, directed him to pay $500 in restitution charges for the animal taken, and ordered that his rifle be forfeited to the park. Fenton also barred Wright from hunting for the next 18 months and prohibited him from any national park until April 16th. Wright's jail time was stayed until that date, when Fenton will rule on how long Wright will be imprisoned. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, via telefax from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 1/23]
During the night of April 23rd, park medics Pat and Dave Buccello responded to a report of an unconscious 14-year-old female in the nearby community of Springdale. They were summoned by EMT's in the town's ambulance service who recognized the need for advanced life support for the victim. The Buccellos found the patient near death due to a suspected overdose of alcohol and/or drugs. They administered Narcan and IV fluids and kept the victim's airway open during initial care efforts and travel to the medical center 45 minutes away. The victim's blood alcohol level was .23 when she reached the hospital; no drugs were found in her system. According to the attending physician, the victim would not have survived more than another ten minutes if she had not received the ALS care provided by the Buccellos. [Telefax from Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 4/26]
Just after 9:00 p.m. on May 30th, rangers were notified that T.W., an 18-month-old child from Las Vegas, was missing in Watchman campground and hadn't been seen for half an hour. A few minutes later, friends of the family spotted the boy in the water about 200 yards downstream from the point where he'd last been seen. He was pulled from the river, and a doctor who was in the campground immediately began CPR. Despite assistance from rangers and a responding ambulance crew and physician's assistant, efforts to resuscitate him proved fruitless. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, via telefax from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO, 5/30]
On June 26th, P.K., a former permanent ranger and backcountry coordinator at Zion, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of felony theft of government property. The guilty plea was part of a plea agreement in which two other felony counts were dismissed and came the day before Kirkland was to have appeared before a jury on a three-count felony indictment. The charges followed a month-long investigation which began in February and centered around the theft of monies from the park's campground receipts. P.K. must also make restitution for the monies stolen. P.K.'s criminal activities led to his termination from the Service on June 8th. Sentencing is scheduled for August 26th. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, via telefax from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO, 7/5]
J.G. of St. George, Utah, was driving eastbound on Smith Mesa Road on the evening of July 14th when he failed to negotiate a turn and went off the road. The car plunged and rolled down a 300foot slope. J.G was ejected and killed; a passenger who was wearing a seatbelt suffered injuries but survived the accident. [Dave Buccello, ZION, via telefax from Sheri Williams, RAD/RMRO, 7/19]
Special agents and rangers from the NPS, BLM and OIG participated in a sting operation which resulted in the arrest on July 27th of G.W. of Cave Creek, Arizona, for ARPA trafficking. The arrest took place in Las Vegas. G.W. had been told on numerous occasions that the items he was attempting to buy came from Zion. G.W.'s 1986 Nissan Stanza and $6,000 in cash were seized. During booking, G.W. stated his occupation as a "trader of Indian artifacts." He was arraigned on July 29th. Ranger Activities in SWRO has a fulltime special agent assigned to ARPA investigations. For further information, please contact either Jim Radney or Bill Tanner at FTS 4766371 or 505-988-6371. [Telefax from RAD/SWRO, 8/5]
Faye Windsor of the Zion Natural History Association was counting cash receipts from sales at the park's visitor center on August 6th when she came across a twenty dollar bill which didn't look right. Further investigation revealed that the currency was counterfeit. The Secret Service has been notified. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, via telefax from Brian Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 8/6]
On April 19th, backcountry ranger Tom Gillette spotted four adults - A.S., E.R., R.M. and M.C. - collecting artifacts from the ground in the vicinity of Kolob Terrace. A mano and numerous projectile points and lithics were discovered in a search of the foursome. Rangers Greg Smith and Pat Buccello joined Gillette in a search of their vehicle and found numerous other artifacts which the suspects admitted having collected from surrounding public lands over the years. A.S. and E.R. have lengthy felony criminal histories, including heroin and marijuana trafficking; M.C. and R.M. have no criminal histories, but stated that they routinely collect artifacts on public lands in the Southwest. Citations were issued and an investigation is continuing in conjunction with BLM. Anyone with information on any of the four is asked to contact Pat Buccello. [CompuServe message from ZION, 4/24]
At about 4:30 p.m. on May 29th, a large localized storm cell moved over the North Fork drainage, producing intense hail, wind and rain. Numerous visitor vehicles were damaged, and up to 25 hikers were stranded in the Narrows of the Virgin River. Rangers successfully rescued two hikers, treated six hypothermia victims, and evacuated portions of two campgrounds. Hail was reported up to two feet deep in some locations. Subsequent rock and mud slides resulted in the temporary closure of Canyon Drive and closure of Gateway Trail for approximately one week. It's estimated that the Virgin River rose from seven to ten feet within 30 minutes. [Pat Buccello, Acting CR, via telefax from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO, 6/1]
E.S., 28, of New Haven, Connecticut, fell approximately 25 vertical feet and suffered head, face and leg injuries while in Hidden Canyon on the morning of August 11th. A 20-person rescue team responded. Due to the narrowness of the canyon, two members of the party had to be utilized to relay radio messages. It took the remaining 18 rescuers almost eight hours to move the patient to the trailhead, arriving at that point a half hour after midnight. Maneuvers through high-angle boulder fields and a number of vertical litter lowerings were required during the descent through the canyon. After exiting the canyon, rescuers had to belay the litter for almost a half mile along the trail, which has vertical drops of 200 feet. Shu was taken to a local hospital, treated, and released. [Larry van Slyke, CR, ZION, 8/17]
Just after 1:00 p.m. on August 11th, M.N. of El Toro, California, reported that his wife, 47, and his son and two daughters, all in their mid-20s, were in trouble in Zion Narrows and needed assistance. The family had planned a one-night campout in the Narrows over August 9th and 10th; they'd hiked about ten hours the first day, but had not quite reached the park boundary, which is about four miles from the trailhead. They had camped, then continued downstream on Monday, the 10th, but had covered less than four miles. During the hike, M.N. and his wife had become separated from the rest of the family because of flash floods. M.N.'s wife, who weighed 230 pounds and was taking medication for her heart, began having cardiac problems and injured her leg. M.N. hiked out through the rest of the Narrows on Tuesday without seeing his children, and reported the situation to rangers. While arrangements were being made to secure a helicopter, the son hiked out of the Narrows to report that his two sisters had returned to help their mother. In doing so, one of his sisters had fallen and apparently broken her tailbone, so was now unable to hike out on her own. FIREPRO personnel Eric Lutz and Koby Barnhurst were dispatched to the trailhead to hike downstream to the three women, and reached them despite considerable difficulty with flash floods. They spent the night with the M.N.s, providing food and water and assessing their medical situation. At the time of the report, plans were to get the party to the top of Narrows canyon so that they could be airlifted from the area if necessary. [Larry van Slyke, CR, ZION, 8/17]
On the afternoon of August 12th, four young Utah men attempted to descend into the canyon at Pine Creek Narrows utilizing a rope purchased from a hardware store. Because of the sheerness of the rock face and the numerous pour-offs, full-length climbing ropes, some climbing equipment and some expertise on their use are required for this descent. Despite their lack of all three, the group descended to the first pour-off, leaving a portion of their rope behind. At the second pour-off, three of the youths descended to the end of the now-shortened rope, then dropped into a plunge pool. The fourth member decided not to take the plunge and was therefore able to retreat and report that his companions were unable to get out of the pool. Four rangers and a local climber responded, rappelled to the trio, demonstrated ascending techniques, and belayed the youths out of the canyon - their first ascent, conducted on vertical rock and in the dark. The rescue operation was completed at 11:00 p.m. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 8/17]
On August 31st, rangers arrested 26-year-old C.C. on a misdemeanor warrant out of Los Angeles at the Zion Lodge, where he was employed as a chef. A criminal history check on him resulted in a five-page listing, which included 31 dated entries over a 16-year period. Included in the offenses were arrests and/or convictions for rape (both genders); possession, manufacture and sale of dangerous weapons; assult with a deadly weapon; battery on a person; arson; obstructing and resisting an officer; violation of parole; and drug violations. He had served six years in the state correctional facility at Chino for rape by force and/or fear. He was incarcerated him in the county holding facility in St. George, but the state of California declined to extradite him on the warrant and he was released. Parks with concession operations should keep an eye out for him, as he also worked in Death Valley at one time in some capacity. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 8/31]
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake with an epicenter near Kolob caused a rock slide which closed Utah Highway 9, the south entrance to the park, early on the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd. The slide dumped several hundred cubic yards of material over a stretch of the highway about a quarter mile from the entrance, which handles two-thirds of Zion's visitors. Park employees got in by walking across the rock slide, then riding to work in park vehicles. Power is out in Zion Canyon, and only one telephone line is working. No structural damage has been found in the tunnel on the east entrance road, but damage of an unknown extent was inflicted on buildings in the vicinity of the Kolob visitor center. Efforts were being made yesterday to reopen the road and restore electricity. [Denny Davies, CI, ZION, 9/2]
Following the massive earthquake-caused earth slide which closed Utah Route 9, the south access road to the park, and severed commercial power to the area, the park superintendent closed the Zion Canyon portion of the park. Zion Lodge managers subsequently closed that facility because of the power outage. Campers were allowed to remain, but told that they could not reenter if they left. By nightfall, campgrounds were nearly empty. Power was restored at 2 a.m. on September 3rd, and the east entrance was reopened to traffic and visitors. Two lanes of Route 9 were reopened later that day, and all park facilities and services were accordingly restored to normal operations before the Labor Day weekend. Although damage was extensive in Springdale, just a mile south of park headquarters, Zion escaped major damage. On September 4th, several dozen park employees participated in a joint effort with Springdale residents to remove and safeguard the personal effects of the families whose homes were destroyed. Media attention was widespread for several days after the quake. [Denny Davies, ZION, 9/4]
The Sunday edition of the Salt Lake City Tribune contains an article on Skinheads who say that they plan to create a whites-only homeland in Zion National Park. The article was accompanied by a photo of eight adults and a child in front of the park's Great White Throne, a geological formation. The group, which calls itself "The Army of Israel", recently moved from the Las Vegas area to the nearby community of Hurricane. According to Las Vegas police, the group is also known as the Christian Identity Skinheads, and is aligned with the Randy Weaver family/group near Naples, Idaho. Members of that group were involved in the recent shooting incident in which a U.S. marshall and Weaver's wife and son were killed. The news article also said that the skinheads consider white federal government agents to be "race traitors" and their enemies, and that they may attempt to hang a three-story-high swastika banner from the Great White Throne. Rangers are working with local law enforcement agencies and the FBI to monitor the group's activities. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 9/28]
On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 29th, twelve individuals associated with Christian Identity Skinheads, a neo-Nazi group, gathered below the Great White Throne for an interview with a Salt Lake City television station. The group was watched by rangers during the entire hour and a half that they were in the park and left the area without further incident. The TV crew asked to interview the superintendent, but the superintendent declined to talk with them since the skinhead group seemed focused on gaining media coverage. The interview with the group did not appear on the Salt Lake channel that evening, possibly because the reporter was unable to get the park's viewpoint. The TV crew reported that the skinheads are planning on returning to Zion in a few weeks or months. At that time, the skinheads say that there will be 500 of them, that they will all be armed with guns, and that they plan on marching on the park. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 9/30]
At 3:15 p.m. on October 10th, D.B., 32, of Salt Lake City, fell about 30 feet and suffered major injuries while attempting to rappel into the canyon of the left fork of North Creek near the park's western boundary. D.B. and two companions had tied their rope off on a small pinion pine near the canyon rim. His companions rappelled down safely; the 220-pound D.B. slipped when he attempted to descend, however, and the subsequent shock to the line pulled the tree out. D.B. fell backwards and landed on rock. Among the dozen or so other people at the location at that time was a doctor. He determined that D.B. had a pulse but that he was not breathing. Because D.B.'s airway was swollen, the doctor fashioned an airway out of the handle of a plastic milk jug, intubated him, and began ventilations. Meanwhile, a member of the party hiked out for help. Upon reaching the trailhead, he found a locked ranger vehicle. Since the ranger did not reappear (he was on foot patrol), the man broke the vehicle's window and used the park radio to call for help. The park received the call at 4:45 p.m. and immediately requested helicopters from Grand Canyon and Nellis AFB. The Nellis helicopter, which carried a paramedic, arrived at Hurricane at 6:30 p.m., and was on scene 15 minutes later. According to the park's chief ranger, the canyon posed one of the most difficult rescue problems he'd seen in 29 years - a slot canyon about 20 feet wide with 150-foot vertical walls. Nonetheless, the Air Force paramedic was successfully lowered to the scene, and he began working with the doctor to prepare D.B. for evacuation. At the same time, a team of two Grand Canyon and one Zion park medics began hiking in from the trailhead. By the time all was ready for the extrication at 7:50 p.m., night had fallen, and all subsequent operations were conducted by the helicopter crew while employing night vision goggles. D.B. was hoisted out and arrived at a hospital in St. George at 8:30 p.m. Although he still had a pulse at the time, doctors soon pronounced him dead. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 10/11]
Rangers Jeff Goad and Ray Wiger responded to a disturbance complaint at the Zion Lodge around midnight on October 24th and contacted 21-year-old G.R., who had been fired by the lodge earlier in the day. G.R., who was under the influence of alcohol, was both disruptive and verbally abusive, and was arrested for disorderly conduct, interfering with an agency function, and being under the influence of alcohol. While being taken to jail, G.R. first inflicted two minor head wounds on himself by bashing his head against the plexiglass screen between the cruiser's front and back seats, then bit Wiger's right forearm. The bite penetrated Wiger's parka and long sleeve uniform shirt and drew blood. The rangers were only able to fully restrain G.R. after placing a blanket over his head. Wiger and G.R. were both treated for their wounds at the Cedar City Hospital. G.R. was then incarcerated. Charges for assaulting an officer are being sought against him. [Larry van Slyke, CR, ZION, 10/26]
During the evening of November 1st, park visitors notified rangers that they had heard shouts for help from a pair of climbers stranded near The Watchman, a prominent park landmark. A flashing light was spotted in the area about 500 feet from the canyon floor shortly thereafter and a hasty team was dispatched to establish voice contact. A two-man technical rescue team was helicoptered into the area and dropped off above the stranded party the next day. They located a fourth class route that brought them close to the party, then rappelled to their location. The climbers were slightly hypothermic, dehydrated and hungry (neither had eaten in three days), but otherwise in good condition. The rangers successfully belayed the pair to a landing zone. All parties were then flown off the mountain. [Dave Buccello, Acting CR, ZION, 11/3]
A dam formed by a landslide on Taylor Creek in the Kolob section of the park broke at 9:30 pm last night, sending a ten-foot wall of water down the canyon and over Interstate 15. Because the highway is elevated, only two feet of water passed over the roadway. The force of the water was sufficient, however, to knock over a tractor trailer and several vehicles. Four injuries are known to have occurred. At the time of the report late last night, water was still flowing over the road but was subsiding. Water has also backed up on Ash Creek behind another naturally-formed dam, and it may fail in the near future. No park facilities are threatened and no evacuations are planned. County and FEMA authorities have been advised and are on alert. The park will make a damage assessment at 7 a.m. MST this morning. [Larry Weiss, Assistant Superintendent, ZION, 3/18]
Investigators have determined that the earthen dam that failed on March 17th gave way at the base due to soil saturation. There was about one surface acre of water behind it, and water rose between eight and ten feet in the downstream channel after the breech. An eight-foot by thirty-foot culvert under Interstate 15 was not large enough to accommodate the wall of water which came down the channel; water therefore flowed over the road to a depth of about a foot and a half. The water covered about 100 yards of roadway and dissipated within about 20 minutes. It was the probable cause of four personal injury accidents involving two trailer trucks and two cars. Complete reports on the accidents are not yet available, but it appears that the water forced the vehicles off the roadway. One of the trucks turned over and remained under eight feet of water until it was removed by a wrecker on March 18th. It may have suffered significant damage. Injuries to passengers at this point are described as minor. A minor spill occurred when one of the truck's fuel tanks ruptured; a hazmat team was called in to handle it. The highway appears to have survived intact. [Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 3/18]
At 5:20 p.m. on April 30th, the Washington County sheriff's office notified the park that they'd received a report that water was flowing over the top of the 85-foot-high Kolob Reservoir dam. Water from the reservoir flows into the North Fork of the Virgin River, which runs through the park and the park's gateway communities of Springdale and Rockville. Both the park and sheriff's office began mobilizing personnel in event of a major flood. A model had been developed by Washington County which indicated that a catastrophic release of the reservoir would increase the river's flow to 75,000 to 80,000 cubic feet per second throughout all of Zion Canyon. A county helicopter which was dispatched to check the report arrived at the dam at 7:40 p.m. and reported that water was not flowing over the dam. By the time that report was received, all low-lying areas in the park had been secured and all park employees and visitors who might be affected had been notified and/or evacuated. Rangers then began the process of advising all those they'd contacted that the report had been false. Although the report was erroneous, it provided the opportunity for a very good and valuable exercise. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 5/3]
On the evening of May 14th, two hikers advised the park that they had seen what they suspected were human remains in the rugged eastern end of the South Fork of Taylor Creek in the Kolob section of the park. A search party attempted to hike into the location that night, but the effort was suspended after midnight because of darkness and icy conditions. On May 15th, a Zion SAR team composed of climbing rangers and members of the local climbing community searched for and finally located the body after seven hours of travel over extremely hazardous terrain, including ice bridges, precipitous snow-covered cliffs, and unstable ground. The rugged, narrow canyon and high cliffs made helicopter evacuation impossible. The SAR team removed the body to a lower location, where they were assisted with hand-carry transport back to the trailhead by the Washington County sheriff's SAR team. A total of ten people from three agencies were involved. There was no identification on the victim and no climbing gear was present. It appears that the victim fell well over 1,000 feet. Because of the massive trauma sustained in the fall, immediate identification was impossible. The body was taken to the state medical examiner's office in Salt Lake City. Evidence taken from a lone car at the trailhead, together with dental records obtained from the family of the man to whom the car was registered, led the medical examiner to a positive identification of the victim as 21- year-old A.W.P. of Salt Lake City. The coroner ruled that A.W.P. had died within 36 hours of the discovery of his body. His auto was impounded by county officials. Suicide has not been ruled out. [Dave Buccello, ACR, and Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 5/20]
On the morning of May 25th, rangers and FBI agents arrested 19-year-old D.M., a Zion Lodge concession employee, on a felony warrant for trafficking in stolen property. D.M. was one of 51 people arrested that morning in a statewide sweep involving 275 officers. The arrests culminated a year-long undercover sting operation based in Holladay, Utah. Twenty-nine of those charged are gang members. Officers recovered $1 million in stolen property, including televisions, cellular phones, stereos, jewelry, 37 cars and two tractor-trailers loaded with interstate shipments. Homemade bombs, machine guns, and stolen military weapons were among the items exchanged at the Holladay gun shop which fronted the sting operation. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 5/26]
A group of eight people on a two-day hike in the Kolob Creek area of the park failed to return on schedule on Saturday, July 17th. A search effort was begun the following morning. A body was soon spotted from the air at the base of a waterfall in that area, but it was uncertain whether the victim was a member of the group. No signs of other members of the group were found. The search was expanded later in the day to include ground teams, and a winch lowering system was brought in to lower a ranger to the body. At the time of the report late yesterday afternoon, the body had not yet been recovered and no trace had yet been found of group members. [Jim Reilly, RAD, RMRO, 7/19]
On July 14th, a group of five Explorer scouts and three leaders from the Mormon Church's Riviera Ward in Salt Lake City headed out from Lava Point for a four-day hike into the park through Zion Narrows. The group had hiked two miles into the Kolob Creek area, where heavy spring runoff had filled the creek to nearly double its normal level, when D.F., 24, got caught in a whirlpool. K.E., another of the group's leaders, pulled him out, but was in turn sucked into the pool. K.E.'s body was recovered by M.B., 35, the third leader, who tried but failed to resuscitate him. The hikers left K.E.'s body on the bank and hiked another 150 years, where D.F. was swept over a waterfall and sucked into another whirlpool. He did not resurface. M.B. decided that the group shouldn't risk further forays into the creek and should instead await rescue. Their wet suits, ropes and dehydrated food were lost in the creek, so the hikers huddled in an alcove and shared food from the one remaining backpack. The group was reported missing on Sunday, July 18th, and was spotted the following evening, largely because the party alerted searchers by lighting a fire with glue and burning plastic, thereby sending black smoke into the air. Rescuers flown in by helicopter rappelled down the canyon wall and used a hand winch to hoist the six survivors to a ledge. After spending the night there, they were flown out by helicopter. Surviving were M.B.; S.E., 14, the son of K.E.; C.S., 15; M.P., 17; J.N., 18; and R.L., 16. [Denver Post, 7/21]
On July 15, 1993, D.F., 27, and K.E., 37, drowned in two separate incidents about an hour apart on private property in Kolob Creek adjacent to the park. The two victims, a surviving adult and five teen-age Explorer Scouts were on a four-day hike which was scheduled to conclude in the park on July 17th and had a permit for the last night of their trip through Zion Narrows. After they were reported overdue, an extensive helicopter search in very rugged terrain was initiated. The six survivors were located and rescued on July 19th through a cooperative effort by Washington County sheriff's officers and the park's SAR team. The body of K.E. was retrieved the same day; D.F.'s body was not located and retrieved until ten days later because of extremely high, cold water and steep narrow terrain. The latter recovery effort, directed by district ranger Dave Buccello, was one of the most technically demanding and hazardous retrievals undertaken by the combined county/park SAR team. The 12-day incident generated over 300 media inquiries, including live TV coverage from five stations in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, and made the 1993 top ten story list for two of the three network affiliates in Salt Lake City. On January 3rd, the park received multiple tort claims for millions of dollars from attorneys representing families of both victims and survivors and passed them on to DOI's solicitor in Salt Lake City. The solicitor's office has up to six months to rule on the case. Attorneys for the families filed copies of the claims directly with the Utah media, which has generated many additional inquiries to the park. Media reports also indicate that the families are working with a movie studio on the development of a feature film. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 1/7]
On June 20th, the Department of Interior solicitor in Salt Lake City denied the $20 million plus tort claim filed last January as a result of two fatalities and personal injuries which occurred in accidents on the north boundary of the park on July 15, 1993. On that date, D.F., 27, and K.E., 37, drowned in two separate incidents about an hour apart on private property in Kolob Creek adjacent to the park. The two victims, a surviving adult and five teen-age Explorer Scouts were on a four-day hike which was scheduled to conclude in the park on July 17th and had a permit for the last night of their trip through Zion Narrows. After they were reported overdue, an extensive helicopter search in very rugged terrain was initiated. The six survivors were located and rescued on July 19th through a cooperative effort by Washington County sheriff's officers and the park's SAR team. On January 3rd, the park received multiple tort claims for millions of dollars from attorneys representing families of both victims and survivors and passed them on to the solicitor. On instructions from the solicitor, the park is releasing no information and media inquiries are being directed to his office for response. A suit in district court is possible. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 6/29]
Around 10 p.m. on July 16th, M.D. of St. George, Utah, was westbound on the park entrance road when he lost control of his motorcycle and collided with the south wall of the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel. M.D. was pulseless, apnic and had fixed and dilated pupils when park medics arrived. Aggressive efforts to resuscitate him proved fruitless, and a doctor at Dixie Regional Medical Center subsequently ordered them to cease their efforts. [Dave Buccello, DR, Frontcountry District, ZION, 7/18]
During the seven-month period from May to November of 1993, M.D.E. and J.A.S.-E. are believed to have committed numerous car larcenies, check and credit card frauds, thefts from tents in campgrounds, and thefts of fees from campground pipe safes and association donation boxes on NPS, Forest Service, BLM, state park and private lands in Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among the areas the couple hit were Yellowstone, Wind Cave, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon. On August 25th, they were indicted in Salt Lake City on from 10 to 13 counts of five 18 USC violations, including conspiracy, theft and property damage. The E.s were arrested separately in Akron, Ohio, and Seneca, South Carolina, earlier this week. They both admitted guilt during subsequent interviews and revealed many more violations, including theft of firearms, stolen money, pawning of stolen items, and a previously unknown and similar crime spree in 1992 which added many more parks to the list of areas which they'd struck, including sites in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and Mexico. The investigation into their activities continues. Many NPS rangers contributed information leading to these arrests. M.D.E. is being held on without bond due to the risk of flight; J.A.S.-E. may be released on a $25,000 surety bond with house arrest and electronic monitoring. They will be brought to Salt Lake City and likely tried there. [Erny Kuncl, SA, RMRO, 9/21]
On the afternoon of November 6th, four people were caught BASE jumping off of Angel's Landing in Zion Canyon. Acting on a tip from Lew Hansen, a park maintenance employee, rangers Fred Hoeger, Shawn McNally, Beth Martin and Ed Dunlavey responded to the area and contacted M.H., P.M., F.L.P., and M.M. After multiple interviews, the four admitted to the jump and were cited under 36 CFR 2.17 (a)(3), air delivery by parachute. The jumpers subsequently led rangers to four separate locations where their equipment had been stashed. All equipment was seized pending court appearances, where forfeiture will be pursued. [David Buccello, Acting CR, ZION, 11/7]
On the morning of November 12th, Zion dispatch was given a vehicle and driver description regarding a recent "gas skip" in a neighboring community. Ranger Karen Frauson identified the driver as he entered the park, notified patrol, and requested the standard entrance fee. The driver refused to pay the fee, stating that he did not recognize federal authority, and drove on. Patrol ranger John Patmore stopped the vehicle a short time later. The driver, R.C.B. of Nevada, refused to identify himself, insisting that the federal government had no right to stop him and had no authority on Utah lands. R.C.B. drove off just as back-up ranger Ed Dunlavey arrived. The two patrol units began a pursuit of R.C.B., who now refused to stop. R.C.B. continued for a dozen miles to the park's east entrance, where road spikes were utilized in an attempt to stop him. R.C.B. was able to drive around the spikes, narrowly missing a Utah Highway Patrol officer in the process. He continued out of the park until stopped by sheriff's deputies at a roadblock about 21 miles from the point of the initial stop. R.C.B. was cited for numerous state and federal charges, including fleeing, interference with agency functions and failure to pay required fees. R.C.B. is a member of a local constitutionalist/"wise use" extremist group which has threatened land management rangers and policies in the past. [David Buccello, DR, Frontcountry District, ZION, 11/13]
L.P., 35, of Crested Butte, Colorado, fell about a hundred feet to his death while descending from a climb in the Court of the Patriarchs area of the park around 8 p.m. on November 22nd. The accident was reported by his climbing partner. The cause of the accident has not been determined, but darkness is thought to have been a contributing factor. This was the first climbing- related accident to occur in the park in many years. [Denny Davies, ZION, 11/23]
Just after midnight on February 28th, a Washington County deputy asked Zion rangers for assistance in stopping a vehicle that was heading toward the park on Utah Route 9. As two rangers from the park responded, the deputy reported speeds exceeding 100 mph, several attempts to ram his patrol vehicle, and shots being fired at him by an occupant of the vehicle. The driver of the fleeing vehicle lost control of the car three miles west of the park's entrance and went off the road; the male and female occupants fled on foot in opposite directions. Three other rangers responded and a search was begun. The woman was apprehended about an hour later by a county deputy. Around 3 p.m., park maintenance worker Paul Valencia, who was on-scene as an EMT for the Springdale/Rockville ambulance, noticed a bush shaking nearby and directed ranger Ed Dunlavey to the site, where the man was found shivering so hard from the cold that he was shaking the adjacent bush. He was arrested and transported to a local medical facility for treatment of a head wound which he'd received earlier that day. While trying to steal the new vehicle of a local resident in order to escape from the area, the vehicle's 70-year-old owner had clubbed him in the head with a two by four, effectively dissuading him from stealing the car. [Steve Holder, CR, ZION, 3/2]
A 500 foot-long landslide occurred on the night of Wednesday, April 12th, causing the Virgin River to cut into and erode the road that connects the Zion Lodge with park headquarters and the main canyon. Rangers estimate that a 600-foot section of the road was destroyed by the cutting force of the river. The destruction of the road resulted in the isolation of the lodge from the rest of the park until emergency repairs were completed last night, thereby permitting about 300 guests and a number of employees to leave the lodge area, where they were confined for about 22 hours. No injuries or overdue persons have been reported. Although the seven-mile long inner canyon drive is temporarily closed, many trails are still accessible. The Kolob section of the park at Exit 40 on Interstate 15 was not affected by the slide. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 4/13]
Park maintenance crews completed emergency repairs to the water line serving the headquarters area and campgrounds last Friday, and both the South and Watchman campgrounds were reopened in time for Easter weekend. The six-mile inner canyon drive is the only part of the park that still remains closed to public access. No estimates are yet available as to when the road might reopen. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 4/14]
Park and Federal Highway Administration staff have been working to replace the 600-foot segment of roadway lost in the April 12th landslide and hope to have repairs completed by Memorial Day. Crews have placed riprap along the embankment of the temporary road to protect it from rising waters being fed by melting snows from the upper reaches of the Virgin River. Core samples have been taken of the underlying strata to determine if they are stable enough to support a permanent road; once these are analyzed, it will be possible to determine costs and timetables for completing the project. The perception by some that the park is closed is not accurate and needs to be dispelled. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 4/30]
On the morning of May 16th, J.H., E.S., and M.S., all 19 years old, rappeled into Pine Creek Canyon, a technical canyoneering route that begins near the east entrance of Zion Tunnel. They soon discovered that they were not prepared for existing water conditions, and that they could not extricate themselves from the canyon. They were trapped on a portion of the route near the popular Canyon Overlook trail, however, and a visitor heard and reported their calls for help. Responding rangers conducted a technical rescue and evacuated the trio. A thunderstorm struck the area as ranger Dave Buccello and the last of the three victims were being lifted from the narrow, slot canyon floor; while they were hanging on the rescue rope at the midpoint of the 150-foot canyon wall, a flash flood covered the canyon floor. It is certain that all three would have died if they hadn't been rescued. [Steve Holder, CR, ZION, 5/17]
Over the Memorial Day weekend, rangers were involved in three separate, complex technical rescues. On May 28th, a 20-year-old male fell 80 feet while scrambling on slick rock on the east side of the park and landed in a narrow crack system about 300 feet above the ground. A park medic rappelled to his location and provided advanced life support while the rescue team set up a technical haul system. Following a difficult, eight-hour extrication, the patient was flown to a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with over 50 fractures of his mandible, crushed temporal-mandibular joints, severe fractures of his right wrist and foot, and numerous other injuries. He will likely undergo at least five surgical procedures, and has been flown back to his home state of New Mexico. While rangers were clearing from this rescue, the park was notified of two injured juveniles in the remote Left Fork slot canyon on the park's west side. They were raised about 400 feet to the drainage rim the following morning, then helicoptered to an ambulance. Injuries were confined to a fractured fibula on one victim, and bilateral ankle sprains on the other. The two were part of a group of 21 who had ignored posted closures of this drainage due to high runoff from heavy snow melt and spring rains. On May 29th, four individuals were raised 100 feet out of the Pine Creek slot canyon after becoming stuck due to a lack of appropriate climbing gear and skills. This was the third technical rescue from Pine Creek in the last two months. [Dave Buccello, Frontcountry DR, ZION, 6/1]
During a period of less than 20 hours in early June, park medics provided advanced life support to two park neighbors suffering cardiac arrests and successfully revived both of them. On the evening of June 2nd, medics responded to Springdale to assist local EMTs with an 88-year-old man experiencing chest pain. Shortly after their arrival, the man went into full arrest. Cardiac drugs, CPR and defibrillation were utilized to restore his pulse and breathing. During the lengthy transport to the hospital, the patient again went into full arrest and was again revived. He was treated at the hospital, and was to be released this week. On the following afternoon, medics and an off-duty park maintenance worker responded outside the park to assist EMTs with a 70-year-old resident who required resuscitation. Advanced airways, drugs and defibrillation were employed to revive him on scene. Emergency room doctors expressed their amazement at the medical crew's ability to resuscitate these particular patients while sustaining them during the almost hour-long transports. [CRO, ZION, 6/5]
On the afternoon of July 15th, ranger Marcia Menz was patrolling congested Canyon Drive when she came upon a van with its back hatch open, revealing that it was filled with cactus plants. Menz contacted two French nationals, M.C. and D.C., who said that they'd been traveling through public lands in the Southwest, Mexico and Central America for the past three years collecting all types of natural resources. A search of their vehicle led to the discovery of over 100 species of cactus, over 100 fossils and minerals, and numerous plant parts. Federal charges are pending. The family plans on traveling through the Southwest until their visa expires in late August. Parks they admitted visiting include Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Big Bend and others in the Southwest. Investigators wanting to share information should contact Marcia Menz or Pat Buccello at 801-772-3256. [Pat Buccello, SA, Colorado Plateau SSO]
During a seven-month period in 1993, M.E. and J.S.-E., his now ex-wife, stole money from donation pipe safes at NPS, USFS and BLM sites, passed fraudulent checks to agencies and businesses, and employed stolen credit cards and checks taken from cars and tents in campgrounds throughout the West. Among the areas the couple hit were Yellowstone, Wind Cave, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon. The E.s were arrested separately in Akron, Ohio, and Seneca, South Carolina, last September. They both admitted guilt during subsequent interviews and revealed many more violations, including theft of firearms, stolen money, pawning of stolen items, and a previously unknown and similar crime spree in 1992 which added many more parks to the list of areas which they'd struck, including sites in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and Mexico. They subsequently pled guilty to charges of conspiracy and theft of government money. Under a plea agreement, M.E. was sentenced earlier this summer to six months in federal prison and three years' supervised probation; ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the NPS and a $1,000 fine; and required to undergo drug and alcohol rehabilitation. J.S.-E. is expected to receive similar sentencing. [Erny Kuncl, SA, IFAO]
Rangers responding to a report of a motor vehicle accident on the Zion-Mount Carmel road east of the main tunnel into the park on the afternoon of November 14th discovered a vehicle at the bottom of a 50-foot vertical cliff face in Pine Creek Canyon. The Swiss driver, M.H., 53, was found dead at the scene; there were no other occupants in the vehicle. M.H. had stayed at Zion Lodge the previous evening. He had told the desk clerk that he was on cardiac medication and not feeling well and insisted that the desk clerk take emergency contact phone numbers in the event that he became seriously ill. It's believed that M.H. had a cardiac event and lost control of the vehicle while trying to get off the road. [CRO, ZION]
As was noted on the December 18th Morning Report, the governmental shutdown has been classified as an incident for incident reporting purposes. Several parks have submitted reports of the impacts of the shutdown on their areas; reports from other areas will appear in coming days. * Zion - On December 29th, the president of the chamber of commerce from Springdale, Utah, the community at the park's south entrance, called the park and advised that he intended to hold a peaceful march to protest the closure of Zion and other NPS units due to the budget crisis. Newspaper ads and radio announcements in southwestern Utah invited the public to participate in the march, which was set for 1 p.m. on New Year's Day. Media reports stated that planners hoped for several thousand participants. Because of First Amendment rights issues, the park coordinated planning with the Intermountain Field Area and WASO Ranger Activities management teams to assure a proper response in terms of the park's closure. About 80 southern Utah residents and out-of-town visitors showed up for the walk at the appointed hour. A local resident read a prepared statement which was critical of the way the budget impasse was handled. Her remarks, however, stressed that the NPS was not to blame and voiced strong support for the park's staff and the good relations between the town and the park. The event was covered by four Salt Lake City network stations and three area newspapers. The march lasted for about 90 minutes; there were no incidents. [Chip Jenkins, MA, YOSE; Denny Davies, PIO, ZION; Maureen Oltrogge, PIO, GRCA]
On July 15, 1993, L.E. and D.F. drowned while leading a group of five Boy Scouts on a technical route through Kolob Creek near the northern boundary of the park. A third adult leader and the five Scouts survived the cold, fast moving water by moving onto a small ledge out of the water and waiting for rescue. After they were reported overdue, an extensive helicopter search in very rugged terrain was initiated. The six survivors were located and rescued on July 19th through a cooperative effort by Washington County sheriff's officers and the park's SAR team. The body of K.E. was retrieved the same day; D.F.'s body was not located and retrieved until ten days later because of extremely high, cold water and steep narrow terrain. The latter recovery effort was one of the most technically demanding and hazardous retrievals undertaken by the combined county/park SAR team. On January 3, 1994, the park received multiple tort claims for a total of about $24.5 million dollars from attorneys representing families of both victims and survivors. The plaintiffs alleged that there was a failure to warn them of how dangerous the route would be because of high water flow releases from a dam above the slot canyon route they attempted. The tort claim was subsequently denied. All but one of the survivors then joined in a civil suit against the park and the Washington County Water Conservancy District for unspecified damages. The case has generated substantial interest by the public, resulting in numerous newspaper and magazine articles. The media focus has centered around the issue of personal responsibility for safety versus the government role of attempting to judge personal skills and abilities of backcountry users. Media interest was raised recently when the government discovered the surviving adult scout leader was debriefed soon after their rescue by officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (many scouting groups are sponsored by LDS churches.) The debriefing was recorded and transcribed by church leaders. The plaintiffs argue that the documents are protected by clergy privilege and a judge is now reviewing the documents to make a final determination on whether or not any of the information will be released. On April 24th, government attorneys will argue for dismissal of this case based upon four issues: o whether the park's decisions with respect to furnishing information to its visitors involve the permissible exercise of policy judgement and are protected by the discretionary function exception to the Federal Tort Claims Act; o whether liability of the United States is also barred in this case by the misrepresentation exception to the Federal Tort Claims Act; o whether, under Utah negligence law, the United States had an actionable duty of care toward the plaintiffs or their decedents upon which liability can be based; and o whether the plaintiffs' claims against the United States are barred by the Utah Limitation of Landowner Liability Act. If the case is not dismissed the trial will probably go forward in late June of 1996. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION]
On July 15, 1993, K.E., 37, and D.F., 28, leaders of a church- sponsored expedition from Salt Lake City, drowned in two separate incidents about an hour apart while attempting a hazardous route down Kolob Creek drainage on Zion's northern boundary. After receiving a report of the overdue party on July 18th (the last portion of the planned four-day trip was covered under a backcountry permit), the park initiated an air search for the party of eight and successfully completed a very hazardous rescue of the surviving adult leader and five teenage males, who had halted their expedition and were awaiting rescue. In January, 1994, attorneys for the families filed a $24.5 million tort claim with the Department of Interior solicitor in Salt Lake City. The claim was denied six months later. A civil case for wrongful death was subsequently filed in U. S. District Court in Salt Lake City against the United States and the Washington County Water Conservancy District, which directs releases from Kolob Reservoir into Kolob Creek. The jury trial was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 19th. On June 17th, however, the water conservancy district entered into an out-of- court settlement for an undisclosed sum. Based on a variety of factors, U.S. attorney S.M., Jr., decided to also seek an out-of-court settlement. The agreement reached on June 19th stipulated a cash settlement of $1.49 million for the 13 claimants. Superintendent Falvey and key staff who were briefed by S.M.'s staff prior to the announcement are convinced, in view of the findings, that the they negotiated a superior but difficult settlement. Because there was no trial or findings of contributory negligence, this case neither has, nor establishes, any legal precedent. As a result, the park's authority and mandate to manage backcountry operations remains intact. The federal attorneys provided several suggestions for operational improvements which will be implemented immediately. Specific targets are internal communication issues. This case and settlement continue to generate considerable public attention. Media reports reflect the fear that there would have been considerable pressure to curtail backcountry/ wilderness travel on public land if the United States had lost this case. In response, park staff has been stressing that this settlement is administrative only and does not establish case law. The media contacts have also allowed park staff to focus on the unique features of this case, which involved artificial releases of water into a backcountry slot canyon by another agency. Also stressed is that backcountry users bear the ultimate responsibility for their own well-being and that possession of a permit is no guarantee of safety. One newsman asked if we viewed this settlement as a victory. In our opinion, there are no winners in this case. [Denny Davies, PIO/CI, ZION]
A small rock slide occurred at Weeping Rock on the afternoon of July 20th. Several rocks up to two feet in diameter fell from an overhang and struck three visitors. Rangers Kassovic, Stubblefield, and Barnes responded with parkmedics Dave and Pat Buccello and treated a variety of injuries, ranging from a minor injury to a compound leg fracture with a transected Achilles tendon. The latter was suffered by a native of Switzerland who was taken to a hospital in St. George for surgery. The Weeping Rock trail was closed immediately and remained closed until the following morning so that an assessment could be made of additional hazards. [Steve Robinson, PIO, ZION]
Secretary Babbitt and the governor of Utah joined the park superintendent and water conservancy directors from Kane and Washington counties in the signing of a precedent-setting and historic water agreement on December 4th. The ceremony took place on the banks of the North Fork of the Virgin River at the Temple of Sinawava, seven miles upstream from park headquarters. This is the first such agreement in Utah; it forever protects the park from major reservoir developments upstream from Zion, while at the same time recognizing the need for future water development in the fast-growing southwestern corner of Utah. The federal government first filed for water rights in 1987, believing that the case would have to be adjudicated in state court. In 1991, however, through the efforts of the Service's water office in Fort Collins, the Department of Justice, and Utah water attorneys, the parties determined to pursue a negotiated settlement rather than a litigated process that would have been costly to all parties. That process came to fruition today with this signing ceremony. Secretary Babbitt and the state and county officials all congratulated those involved in this long process and commented that they hoped this event will set a new tone of collaborative effort for future state-federal agreements. A total of 80 people witnessed the signing in the outdoor event, which was covered by all three major network affiliates from Salt Lake City, several radio stations, the Associated Press, and local newspapers. There were no incidents during the hour-long ceremony. Assistant chief ranger Dave Buccello was IC; IMFA law enforcement specialist Brian Reiley and Park Police sergeant Norbert Bomjo coordinated security; IMFA public information office Karen Breslin assisted with media affairs. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION]
On January 2nd, J.C., 36, of Provo, Utah, apparently fell to his death while solo rock climbing on "Prodigal Sun," a popular climbing route on Angel's Landing. Although there were no witnesses to the accident, it appears that one of his two ropes slipped through his rappel device, causing him to fall about 800 feet to his death. A search was initiated after the park was notified that J.C. was overdue. The park's search and rescue team discovered his body around 9 p.m. that day during one of the heaviest winter storms to strike the park in recent memory. Recovery efforts were hampered by severe flooding, which made it impossible for team members to ford the Virgin River. A high line system was established so that they could reach the body. It was removed by carrying it down a scree slope, placing it in an inflatable raft attached to the high line system, towing it across the river, then winching it from there to a parking lot. During this operation, rangers were also handling a second rescue in which four day-hikers were evacuated from the East Rim trail, where they'd been trapped by the rain/snow storm without equipment or food. After crossing the normally dry Echo Creek, which was three feet deep with flash flood water, rescuers were able to reach the hypothermic group and escort them to safety. [Dave Buccello, Acting CR, ZION]
On the afternoon of March 16th, park dispatch received a report of a vehicle rollover about a mile outside the park's east entrance. Rangers responded with the park's structural fire engine, ambulance and rescue truck. The two occupants were both outside the vehicle and suffering from multiple injuries - C.B., 21, had shoulder, extremity and possible cervical injuries; K.S., 30, was trapped under the vehicle's right front tire. Rangers employed extrication tools to remove her. The women were taken by ambulance to separate local hospitals. K.S. was admitted to the hospital in St. George with multiple rib fractures and a pulmonary contusion. C.B. was lifeflighted from Kanab to Salt Lake city with neck pain, a concussion and a possible shoulder dislocation. Alcohol and/or drugs may have been a factor. [Dave Buccello, ZION, 3/17]
T.E., 12, fell to his death at the Emerald Pools on the afternoon of March 28th. Bystanders attempted CPR and reported the fall to park rangers, who responded with advanced life support equipment. Due to the extent of T.E.' injuries, life-saving attempts were not successful and he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to eyewitnesses, T.E. had taken off his shoes and was wading in Heaps Creek when he apparently ventured too close to the edge of the middle pool, slipped, and fell about 100 feet to the base of the lower pool. A joint investigation by the park and county is underway. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 3/30]
P.B., 36, of Medford, New Jersey, was hiking with her husband on the approach trail to Observation Point at the upper end of Zion Canyon on the afternoon of May 9th when she fell 500 feet to her death. Her husband was apparently hiking ahead of her and did not see her fall; there were no other witnesses. The accident is being jointly investigated by rangers and county deputies. The body was recovered by Zion's technical rescue team, which is comprised of employees and a cadre of four volunteers. This is the third accidental falling fatality in the park this year. None were reported in 1996. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 5/9]
D.P., 24, fell about 50 feet and suffered serious injuries while hiking in Hidden Canyon on Monday, May 26th. The upper part of this canyon is difficult to reach and notorious for areas where falls are common. A total of 13 rescuers, including three visitors, were involved in the strenuous, seven-hour litter evacuation, which ended in darkness at 10 p.m. D.P. was admitted to a local hospital with a total of eight fractures, including a compression fracture of his lumbar spine, two pelvic fractures, and fractures to both ankles and his coccyx. The incident commander was assistant chief ranger Dave Buccello. [Steve Holder, CR, ZION, 5/28]
An off-duty motorcycle accident outside the park on June 22nd has left park maintenance employee D.O. in critical condition with a serious head injury. D.O. was riding with friends when he hit a deer. He was taken to a local hospital for emergency stabilization, then flown by aircraft to Utah Valley Hospital in Provo for specialized medical care. He is currently in a coma, with intermittent periods of consciousness. Before coming to Zion, D.O. worked at Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP and Hawaii Volcanoes NP. [Steve Holder, CR, ZION, 6/23]
Maintenance employee D.O., who was seriously injured in an off-duty motorcycle accident on June 22nd, remains in critical condition but is now conscious and responds to questions with non-verbal communication. It appears that his nervous system is intact. Friends may send written messages to Dave at Utah Valley Hospital, 1034 North, 500 West, Provo, UT 84605. His family thanks Dave's many NPS friends for their support. [Steve Holder, CR, ZION, 6/26]
Maintenance employee D.O., seriously injured in a non-duty motorcycle accident on June 22nd, is still recovering, but has been transferred to another medical facility. Friends may write him at the Veterans Hospital, 500 Foothill Boulevard, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, or call him at 1-800-613-4012, station 1630. [Steve Holder, CR, ZION, 7/8]
Maintenance employee D.O., seriously injured in a non-duty motorcycle accident on June 22nd, underwent 13 hours of reconstructive surgery on July 22nd. The surgery went very well, and D.O. now has complete body control. Full recovery is expected, and he may be released as early as July 30th. Friends may write him at the Veterans Hospital, 500 Foothill Boulevard, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, or call him at 1-800-613-4012, station 1630. [Dispatch, ZION, 7/24]
Early on the morning of August 10th, an unexpected thunderstorm dropped an inch and a quarter of rain on the park (as measured at headquarters) during a three-hour period - just under 10 percent of the park's average annual precipitation. The storm also produced very active lightning. Rainfall totals may have been higher along the Zion-Mount Carmel Road on the park's east side. The road soon became blocked by debris and washouts, and was closed by rangers. At the park's request, county deputies intercepted park- bound traffic 13 miles further east at Carmel Junction on U.S. 89 and advised them of road problems and delays; before they were able to get in position, however, over 100 vehicles had stacked up at the east entrance. A roads and trails crew headed by Jeff Ballard responded and found blockages in three different locations over a two-and-a-quarter mile stretch of road. The road was reopened in the afternoon after eroded portions were filled in with many truckloads of base material and debris was removed. Crews also dealt with minor washouts in the Watchman housing area. As a result of the heavy runoff, the flow of the Virgin River increased over a hundredfold, rising six feet and accelerating from 30 cubic feet per second (cfs) to over 3,000 cfs. Over 30 hikers had received overnight permits the previous day for the 16- mile-long Zion Narrows hike on the North Fork of the Virgin River, a hike which would have brought them out that day. Two hikers disregarded instructions to seek higher ground and to wait for waters to recede and instead decided to swim out of the canyon while the river was at severe flood stage. Both made it, but they lost most of their gear in the process. Others who stayed at their camps reported seeing the two pulled under several times as they swam past. The river receded by Monday, and the remaining groups of hikers made it out. By this time, park dispatch had received several reports of overdue parties. The hikers were interviewed as they exited the canyon; all reported that their designated campsites were above the flood line and that they were never in danger from rising water. [Denny Davies, CI/PIO, ZION, 8/12]
On August 30th, D.G., 66, slipped and fell on the stream bottom while hiking the popular "Subway" route of the North Fork Creek. sustained a closed fracture of his lower right leg. The fracture was reduced and treated on scene by an orthopedic surgeon who happened upon shortly after the accident. Rangers responded to the scene and provided additional medical treatment. Due to impending darkness and the approximately three mile litter carry-out over rough terrain which would be required to reach the trailhead, was shorthauled from the scene by the Grand Canyon NP SAR helicopter team. [Dispatch, ZION, 9/2]
D.B., 27, of Flagstaff, Arizona, was on a solo hike about two miles up the rain-swollen Virgin River narrows on the afternoon of September 14th when a rush of wind alerted him to an oncoming flash flood. D.B. turned around and raced 100 yards to a small side drainage, where he found refuge and avoided the brunt of the rushing water. Because of the fast-flowing water, D.B. was forced to spend the night at that location. He was lightly dressed, but warded off cool temperatures by building a small fire and doing exercises. Due to periodic flash floods and wildly fluctuating water flows, rescuers were unable to reach D.B. during the morning hours of the 15th. A helicopter was en route to his location that afternoon when the river flow subsided enough for D.B. to alternately swim and hike out. He was examined by a park medic and found to have suffered no injuries or ill effects from his experience. [Dispatch, ZION, 9/18]
A severe weather cell accompanied by lightning, strong winds and heavy rain struck the park's headquarters area late on the afternoon of July 21st. The resulting damage temporarily closed the main park road, flooded parts of the Watchman campground, uprooted trees, and led to a four-hour power loss. Over an inch of rain and pea-size hail fell at park headquarters in less than an hour. Three loops of the campground were the most heavily impacted. Runoff from a nearby side canyon covered parts of campground loops A, B and C with six to ten inches of mud, gravel and debris. A few tents and personal belongings were damaged in the debris flow, but there were no reports of injured or missing visitors. After the storm passed, some campers voluntarily left the area, but most others moved to the many other parts of the campground that were unaffected by the runoff. At the time the storm hit, the campground was about half full. There was no flooding in the Virgin River and the storm impacts appeared to be confined to a small area around park headquarters. The storm also closed the Zion-Mount Carmel highway for about four hours. The road connects Zion Canyon with U.S. 89 on the park's east side. Debris swept across the road on the west side of Zion tunnel in four places. By 9 p.m., park crews and contract haulers had cleared the debris and reopened the road. The strong winds uprooted a large cottonwood tree in the employee housing area, but it caused no damage or injury. Lightning struck a power pole and caused a small fire, which was quickly contained by park crews. Power was soon restored. Damage assessments are currently underway. Crews are working to reopen loop C of the campground and continue the cleanup of mud and gravel on the Zion-Mount Carmel highway. No disruption of normal services or activities is expected. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 7/22]
Heavy rains caused flash flooding in the park on Monday, July 27th, that killed two hikers. The gauge on the Virgin River at park headquarters recorded an almost seven-fold increase in stream flow, which jumped from 108.5 cubic feet per second (cfs) to over 740 cfs. Because the National Weather Service had issued a flash flood warning, rangers warned visitors not to hike in Zion's slot canyons before the flood and throughout the day. As ranger Jon Anglin was checking the Narrows trail early on Tuesday morning, he was contacted by seven hikers who reported that they'd seen a body floating in the North Fork of the Virgin River the previous evening and had pulled it to shore. They were stranded by the high water, though, so were unable to hike out and report the incident until Tuesday morning. Rangers recovered the body at 10:45 a.m. They subsequently found an unlocked vehicle parked in Zion Canyon which had two wallets inside. A license in one of the wallets indicated that the victim was R.A., 27, of Long Beach, California; information in the other suggested that he was hiking with P.G., 31, of Paramont, California. Two other hikers confirmed that a man meeting P.G.'s description had been hiking with R.A. A search was immediately begun, which led to the recovery of P.G.'s body from debris in the North Fork on Wednesday. The two men had apparently been hiking in the Narrows when they were caught by the flood and swept away. The Narrows route is a rugged, 16-mile hike in a narrow canyon that is between 800 and 1,000 feet deep; about half the hike is through the river itself. All major trailheads in the park have signs warning people of the potential of flash floods. Park spokesman Denny Davies noted that the volume of water would have been almost impossible to withstand: "At 150 cfs, it's impossible for even the strongest hiker to maintain his or her balance. At 740, you're lucky to survive." [Denny Davies, ZION, Michael Vigh, Salt Lake Tribune, 7/29]
S.T., 27, of Palisade, Colorado, fell 30 feet and was seriously injured while scrambling in remote Hidden Canyon on the morning of August 1st. S.T. was hiking with his uncle, who witnessed the fall. It took him 90 minutes to walk out and report the accident to rangers, who hiked to the scene of the accident at the upper end of the canyon and found S.T. unconscious and suffering from major head injuries. A carry-out would have taken over four hours in the rugged, steep terrain, so a helicopter was summoned from the 66th Rescue Squadron at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas. They responded with an HH-60 helicopter with a long-line winch system which could drop a line into the narrow, 200-foot deep canyon. S.T. went into cardiac arrest five hours after the accident. CPR was conducted for an hour with no response before medical control authorized discontinuance. The helicopter was turned around and S.T.'s body was carried out. The carry-out entailed lowering the litter more than a dozen times over pour-offs and rough terrain. Twenty-five people were involved in the 12-hour operations, which lasted until midnight. Scott Brown was IC. [Tom Haraden, Assistant Chief Park Naturalist, ZION, 8/2]
W.H., 56, jumped off a five-foot ledge into the Left Fork of North Creek on August 22nd, severely injuring his ankle. Hikers with W.H. moved him to an open area, then sent for help. Responding rangers stabilized W.H. and remained with him overnight. He was short-hauled out of the canyon by the Grand Canyon NP helicopter on the morning of the 23rd. [Scott Brown, IC, ZION, 8/24]
High river flows in the North Fork of the Virgin River forced a temporary closure of the access to Zion Lodge on Saturday, September 11th. Over two inches of rain fell on the park during the 10th and 11th, causing the river flow to jump from 280 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 4,200 cfs over a four- hour period on Saturday. The river damaged a retaining wall along the scenic drive in the canyon, then undercut the road, creating a sink hole 30 feet long, 15 feet wide and 20 feet deep. The closure affects only the last six- and-a-half miles of the dead-end canyon drive. All other roads and services remain open. Federal Highway engineers arrived in the park over the weekend to begin assessing damages and developing repair plans with park staff. [Denny Davies, ZION, 9/11]
Zion Lodge and Zion Scenic Canyon Drive were reopened yesterday morning following a closure mandated by collapse of a portion of the drive due to high river waters. Federal Highway engineers worked with park and contract crews to complete temporary emergency repairs over the weekend. Once they were completed and engineers determined that the road's integrity had not been compromised, the road was reopened, making it again possible to reach the lodge. An estimate of the cost of the emergency repairs is still being formulated. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 9/14]
On Friday, October 23rd, fire consumed most of the park residence occupied by Kolob Canyon supervisory park ranger Fred Hoeger, his spouse, personnel assistant M.H., and their two teenaged children. Three local fire departments responded, but a large portion of the inside of the house had been consumed by the time they arrived. Although none of the family members was injured (the family dog also survived unscathed), virtually everything in the house was destroyed. The cause of the fire in the three-bedroom modular structure, located in Kolob Canyon, is still under investigation. The Hoegers do not have insurance to cover their personal losses. Michele's mother also died over the weekend, and the family has departed for a few days to attend the funeral. Zion NP, Cedar Breaks NM and Pipe Spring NM are gathering clothing and other needed items, and park management is exploring all options to get assistance for the family. The most urgent need at present, however, is obtaining sufficient funds to buy clothes and essentials. The Zion Natural History Association has established a donation account to facilitate this process. Checks should be made out to "ZNHA- Hoeger Fire Fund" and sent to Zion Natural History Association, Zion National Park, Springdale, UT 84767. [Tom Haraden, ACI, and Steve Holder, CR, ZION, 10/26]
A 42-year-old woman from Las Vegas, Nevada, became lost and spent the night in a slot canyon on Saturday, November 14th. The woman missed several of the rock cairns marking the trail while returning from a day hike to Cable Mountain, so instead followed a drainage that she felt would lead her back to the trail. She climbed down several pourovers and swam several pools before becoming too cold and exhausted to continue. She spent the night soaking wet, standing on a rock surrounded by water. Her daughter, who was staying at a hotel in Springdale, reported her missing at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning. Ranger Jon Anglin was able to make voice contact with the missing woman by mid-morning. Anglin and rangers Scott Cooper, Tony Thaler, and Brent McGinn reached her after swimming through deep pools of 48-degree water that required the use of drysuits. When found, the woman's oral temperature was 92 degrees. She was dried, warmed, and outfitted with warm clothes and a drysuit. Her temperature began to rise before evacuation. Since a vertical evacuation was impossible, she was helped out on foot. The evacuation consisted of technical raisings at four locations, the highest of them 15 feet. Seventeen park employees from various divisions participated in the rescue. The overnight low was 40 degrees. [Tom Haraden, Assistant Chief Interpreter, ZION, 11/19]
Roy James Williams, 53, a 24-year veteran heavy equipment operator at Zion, died at his home in Rockville on the morning of December 9th. Park medic Dave Buccello was the first medic to arrive on scene. Attempts to resuscitate Roy were unsuccessful. The cause of death is unknown, but may have been heart related. Funeral services will be held today at the Springdale LDS Chapel. Roy is survived by many family members, including his wife, D., and daughter, M., both of whom work in the park. Roy's death came as a great shock to the many employees who knew and valued him as a close friend. Critical stress debriefing is being provided by a CISM team from Zion, Canyonlands and Arches. [Denny Davies, PIO/CI, ZION, 12/11]
Condolences to the family of Roy James Williams, 53, who died on December 9th, may be sent to D.W., P.O. Box 311, Springdale UT 84767-0311. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 12/15]
V.G., 25, and his climbing partner, L.E., 20, were attempting a technical climb near Moonlight Buttress late on the afternoon of December 27th when V.G. fell between 20 and 30 feet and sustained a major head injury. L.E. reported that V.G. went into an immediate seizure, then was unconscious for about 15 minutes while hanging in his climbing harness. L.E. rappelled off the wall, contacted another group of climbers, asked them to go for help, then climbed back to the accident scene and lowered V.G. to a ledge. A four-person technical SAR team led by assistant chief ranger Dave Buccello began a night technical rescue operation. They were supported by another dozen members of the park staff. V.G. was provided with advanced life support while being lowered over 600 feet from the ledge. The rescue operation was completed at 3 a.m. V.G. was taken by park ambulance to St. George, then flown to Las Vegas by air ambulance. He remains in critical condition and in a medically induced coma to help him recover from his brain injury. V.G. was not wearing a climbing helmet. In addition to the complicating factors of a technical rescue at night, rescuers had to deal with freezing temperatures, wind, rock fall hazards, and evacuation across numerous rivers. [Steve Holder, CR, ZION, 12/29]
On Thursday, January 21st, S.S., 20, of Springdale, Utah, was killed when she fell 150 feet while climbing the Mountain of the Sun canyoneering route. S.S. was climbing with a group of friends and was near the end of the route. She was trying to release a jammed rope from their previous rappel when a rock dislodged, causing her to lose her balance and fall. The remaining members of the group did not have a rope long enough to complete the final rappel. At 6 p.m., an employee of Zion Lodge heard shouting from the cliffs above the lodge and contacted park dispatch. John Hannon, the first ranger to arrive on scene, found S.S.'s body. The others in the group tied ropes, a sling, belts and packs together and lowered them to rescuers, who attached a 300-foot rope which they pulled up to them. They then rappelled down. S.S.'s body was removed that evening. The five-hour operation was conducted in darkness by 15 park employees from all divisions and three climbers from the local community who train with park staff. Scott Brown was IC. [Tom Haraden, ACI, ZION, 1/23]
Rangers responded to a report of shots fired on the Zion Canyon scenic drive on the evening of Thursday, May 13th. Two women sitting in their vehicle at a pullout reported being approached by a man with a gun who demanded their money. After they told him that they had no money, the man reached for the vehicle keys, at which point the women drove off. Several shots were fired, striking the left front tire, left rear door, and rear window. A roadblock was established, but failed probably due to the length of time it took before a passerby reported the incident at the park lodge. A sheriff's department search dog and crime scene technician were called in and recovered a considerable amount of evidence; a composite sketch of the suspect is being prepared. Climbers on the adjacent cliff face have provided a vehicle description and a western states lookout has been distributed. [Brent McGinn, ZION, 5/14]
On the evening of Thursday, May 13th, an armed man shot at two women in their vehicle in Zion Canyon after a failed robbery attempt, striking the vehicle three times. Fifteen employees from all park divisions searched the roadway adjacent to the crime scene on Friday, looking for evidence that may have been discarded as the assailant fled. Over the weekend, park and concession employees were screened to rule out a possible suspect living in the park. A composite sketch was released to the public on Monday and was to appear in local newspapers yesterday. Physical evidence is being analyzed and individual rangers are being contacted about unusual or suspicious incidents around the time of the shooting. Follow-up interviews with the witnesses and victims were also conducted yesterday. There's no indication as to whether the assailant is a local resident or someone passing through the area, or why he picked the two young women, who were waiting for their boyfriends to finish climbing. He is thought to be an amateur, as he was shaking and very nervous during the attempt. [Brent McGinn, ZION, 5/18]
The park received two-and-a-half inches of rain on August 30th, causing a 30- fold increase in the flow of the Virgin River. Dozens of visitors were unaccounted for in the Narrows of the Virgin River for up to 36 hours. Debris and damage caused the park to close roads for an hour while crews cleared and checked them. No visitor or employee injuries were reported. [Aniceto Olais, CR, ZION, 9/7]
Over a period of from two to three weeks, three local men made numerous trips up the Kolob Terrace Road, which passes through the park and private inholdings, and shot and killed at least 18 deer and one adult bull elk. The head and antlers were removed from the elk, but all the deer and elk were left to rot. A joint investigation was conducted by rangers John Bueg and Pat Zurcher and officers from the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources. Evidence located at several points made it possible for them to identify the suspects. A search warrant was secured for one of the suspect's garages; the elk antlers were found there and seized. All three men then made full confessions. Under Utah law, wanton destruction of wildlife is punishable as a third-degree felony if the aggregate value of the protected wildlife is more than $500. State law also makes it a third degree felony to take a bull elk with an antler size equal to or larger than the one the men had taken. The punishment is up to five years in prison, plus restitution of $8,000. The case is still under investigation. The state has taken the lead, as the poaching incidents were found to all be on private inholdings. [Aniceto Olais, CR, ZION, 9/29]
On the evening of October 2nd, rangers received a report that a woman had fallen over 100 feet over a cliff near Potato Hollow on the West Rim. She was said to be conscious, but suffering from severe trauma to both lower legs. A helicopter being used for park fire operations shuttled the park's technical rescue team and equipment to the scene before dark. The victim - 22-year-old A.P. - had been exploring and scrambling down the head of Imlay Canyon. She was about 100 feet below the rim when she lost her footing and fell an additional 100 feet into the three-foot-wide slot. Team members reached and stabilized her, then raised her the 200 feet to the rim. A Flight for Life helicopter from Las Vegas landed at the helispot at 11 p.m. and flew her to a hospital in that city. A.P. suffered bilateral fractured ankles (one of them open) and contusions to her head. The rescue team hiked five miles to Lava Point and cleared from the operation at 4 a.m. [Scott Brown, IC, ZION, 10/4]
On October 16th, park dispatch received reports of three backcountry incidents - all requiring SAR and EMS - within the space of 30 minutes. The first was a fractured ankle in Hidden Canyon, the second a fractured ankle at Upper Emerald Pool, and the third a minor injury requiring evacuation of a party of three from Pine Creek Canyon. A total of 18 park staff and SAR team volunteers participated in the rescues, which required levels of intervention ranging from a simple wheel-out to semi-technical evacuation to a technical rope-raising operation. The park's SAR team had just finished the last day of a week-long technical rescue seminar at the head of Pine Creek when the reports started coming in. This permitted a quick response to the Pine Creek incident and immediate mobilization of personnel to assist on the other two evacuations. All those needing medical attention were en route to the hospital within three hours of receipt of the first reports. [Aniceto Olais, CR, ZION, 10/22]
On the afternoon of November 13th, rangers received a report of a rappelling accident at the Great Arch. Responding rangers hiked to the scene and found a 17-year-old boy at the base of the cliff. He was conscious and breathing, but had suffered multiple fractures and contusions. Investigation revealed that the young man and his party had tied a 400-foot rope and a 200-foot rope together with an overhand bend in an attempt to reach the bottom. One member of the party successfully rappelled past the knot with a figure eight descending device. The second member was passing the knot when it came untied and he fell 20 to 30 feet to the ground. The park's technical rescue team lowered park medic Cindy Purcell 450 feet down to the victim. He was treated and raised to the rim, then transported by ambulance to a local hospital. (Scott Brown, PR, ZION, 11/14)
Personnel assistant Michele Hoeger, 39, died on Sunday, February 13th, after experiencing respiratory distress in her government quarters. Michele is survived by her husband, F., who is a district ranger at the park, and her son, Z., 18, and daughter, A., 14. Michele began her NPS career at Glen Canyon and had worked at Zion for the past five years. Services will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Cedar City at 11 a.m. this Thursday. Visitation is scheduled for an hour prior to the services. The family has asked that donations be made in lieu of flowers to Christ the King Catholic Church, 60 North 200 West, Cedar City, UT 84720-2570. Michele will be sorely missed. For further information, call 435-772-0178. [Brent McGinn, ACR, ZION, 2/15]
Over a period of from two to three weeks last September, four local men made numerous trips up the Kolob Terrace Road, which passes through the park and private inholdings, and shot and killed at least 18 deer and one adult bull elk. The head and antlers were removed from the elk, but all the deer and elk were left to rot. A joint investigation conducted by rangers John Bueg and Pat Zurcher and officers from the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources led to their identification and arrest. In May, K.S. pled guilty to four counts of wanton destruction of protected wildlife and was sentenced to a year in prison and 36 months probation, ordered to pay a $6,400 fine to an anti-poaching fund, barred from possession of any firearms, and prohibited from hunting or fishing for the next 15 years.. The judge also ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service, write a letter of apology to the people of Utah for publication in a local newspaper, and forfeit his 1980 truck and three rifles. Co-defendants R.J. and J.M. were previously found guilty. R.J. was sentenced to 30 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, and 18 months of probation; J.M. got 90 days in jail and 36 months of probation, forfeited his 1988 truck and three rifles, and must pay $5,600 to a wildlife restitution fund. The fourth member of the group, J.L., goes on trial next week. [Scott Cooper, Dispatch, ZION, 5/23]
On the afternoon of July 19th, rangers responded to a report of a visitor with a broken leg on the Upper Left Fork of North Creek. Rangers Cindy Purcell and Scott Cooper found 51-year-old R.S. a quarter mile below Russell Gulch. R.S. had jumped six feet from a boulder and suffered what appeared to be an angulated fracture to his lower right leg. Due to the narrow slot canyon, a short-haul extrication was not possible. The park's technical rescue team and gear were flown by a BLM contract helicopter to the rim, and R.S., Purcell and Cooper were raised 475 feet to the rim through heavy brush and over cliff bands. Upon reaching the rim, R.S. was transported by a medivac helicopter to a local hospital. Rescue operations were conducted entirely in the dark and took until daybreak to complete. The rescue team came upon another incident while being flown out of the area - a 33-year-old male with a severely sprained ankle at the head of Russell Gulch. He was flown out in the contract helicopter. Kevin Killian was IC. [Aniceto Olais, CR, ZION, 7/25]
On the afternoon of July 31st, over 40 members of an American Trails West tour group were picnicking on the grassy area in front of Zion Lodge when a strong down canyon wind snapped the trunk of a 30-inch diameter cottonwood tree, which then fell over onto several members of the group. Four teenagers were transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center for treatment of suspected C-spine and other injuries. No serious injuries were found, however, and the four were treated and released. Nineteen people, three ambulances and sundry emergency response vehicles from the park and two neighboring agencies responded. Kevin Killian was IC. [Chuck Passak, Chief of Operations, ZION, 7/31]
G.S., 63, of Illertissen, Germany, died from head injuries when he fell 10 to 15 feet while hiking off-trail near the top of Angel's Landing on August 2nd. Several EMT's and a Swiss emergency room physician were nearby and provided immediate medical assistance, including CPR. The latter was terminated after 45 minutes after consultation with the physician on scene and medical control at Dixie Regional Medical Center. A hiker in the vicinity used his cell phone to call for help, and park personnel were dispatched to the scene; an NPS trail crew working nearby was first to arrive. The body was removed by helicopter. Counselors were on scene to provide assistance to witnesses and family and conduct a CISD debriefing for responders. G.S. was traveling with Rotel Tours of Germany. Seventeen park personnel and a BLM contract helicopter were involved. Chuck Passeck was IC. [Tom Haraden, Acting CI, ZION, 8/2]
Six members of the park's SAR team hiked into Orderville Canyon on the evening of July 25th in response to a report of a 43-year-old visitor with an ankle injury. J.R. of Clovis, California, had been canyoneering with two friends when he rolled his ankle and suffered a severe fracture. His companions left him behind and hiked three-and-a-half miles to report the accident. While waiting for help to arrive, J.R. crawled about a quarter mile down the canyon. Four members of the SAR team spent the night with him and were joined in the morning by six more team members. J.R. was carried out on a litter through several deep pools in The Narrows on the North Fork of the Virgin River, then floated by raft about two miles to Riverside Walk. He was evacuated by ambulance to a hospital and treated for his injury. Cindi Purcell was IC. [Dispatch, ZION, 7/31]
R.W., a 55-year-old visitor from England, was descending a slope in Hidden Canyon around 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of September 4th when he lost control while sliding down a rock face and sustained a compound fracture of his lower right leg. The accident was reported to the park and initial responders were on scene by 5 p.m. they found R.W. in a small alcove at the base of a 30-foot rock obstacle. Park medics treated him and prepared him for a three-quarter-mile technical carryout down the canyon to the Observation Point trail. The carryout team arrived at the Weeping Wall parking lost at 8:30 p.m. and transferred R.W. to an ambulance. He was taken to a hospital in St. George. This was the third visitor injury in a week requiring an evacuation from a slot canyon. [Chuck Passek, Chief of Operations, ZION, 9/5]
A.G., 26, and Q.C., 25, were rescued from a slot canyon on North Creek on Wednesday, September 6th. A.G. and Q.C. headed out for a three-day canyoneering trip down the right fork of the creek on September 2nd. By mid-morning on the 3rd, they realized that they were off-route in a difficult slot canyon with numerous pools. Once they realized that they were lost and that they were unable to either climb back up or continue down the canyon, they stopped and waited for rescuers. They were reported overdue when they failed to appear for work; the park was notified late on Tuesday afternoon. A helicopter search was begun and they were found after a space blanket was spotted in the bottom of the narrow canyon. The helicopter landed nearby and rangers rappelled to the pair. They were uninjured but out of food and water (their water filter had clogged). Rangers taught them how to ascend a rope and assisted them out of the 400-foot-deep canyon. Five rangers and two helicopters were used in the operation. Canyoneering is a sport requiring special equipment and a variety of skills, including map reading, rappelling, ascending ropes, and prior experience. Said ranger Kurt Spears: "Rappelling is not the only skill needed to safely negotiate these canyons. We're seeing a lot of people without skill or experience. You can't rely on just reading a route description." [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 9/7]
On the evening of September 24th, rangers were notified that 48-year-old B.S. was overdue from a hike in the park. B.S.' wife took them to the point where she'd dropped him off just after noon, a spot four miles south of the Orderville Canyon trailhead between Eglestead and Birch Hollows. B.S. had been on foot for 10 hours at the time of the report and was not prepared for an extended trip. A search was begun the following morning; a dog team and later a helicopter were utilized. B.S. was found by helicopter at 11 a.m. He was uninjured but stuck several hundred feet below the rim of Eglestead Hollow. B.S. had rappelled down several cliff bands, but did not have the requisite equipment to continue. The park's technical rescue team was flown in by helicopter. B.S. was raised to the rim and evacuated. The guide book that B.S. was using did not provide him with adequate information to find the correct route. [Scott Brown, IC, ZION, 9/27]
Rangers were dispatched to a reported disturbance in the concession dorm early on the morning of Saturday, September 30th. They found a disoriented employee in the hallway and another bleeding from numerous injuries in the restroom. Both were hallucinating and unable to communicate. They were taken by ambulance to a hospital, where it was determined that the pair and a third employee had ingested jimson weed (also known as datura, angel's trumpet and thorn apple), a psychoactive plant common to the Colorado Plateau. Rangers and a deputy sheriff returned to the dorm and found the third person, who had been unconscious for about 12 hours. During the investigation, the deputy and his dog found more drugs in the dorm. Symptoms of jimson weed use include blown pupils, rapid heart rate, and extreme hallucinations. It's normally ingested as tea or by chewing the root and can be fatal. [Brent McGinn, Acting Superintendent, ZION, 10/3]
A 33-year-old climber suffered multiple traumatic injuries when he rappelled off the short end of his doubled rope as he completed a climb of the Grasshopper route on October 8th. E.W. free fell about 20 feet, then tumbled another 20 to 30 feet. His partner, I.W., flagged down a park shuttle and got the operator to request medical assistance. Rangers and a park medic responded. E.W. was treated for a severe head injury, flail chest (six or seven broken ribs), a pneumothorax with subcutaneous emphysema, fractures of both clavicles, a fractured right wrist and hand, and multiple head, hand and arm lacerations. He was flown to the trauma center in Las Vegas for treatment. [Aniceto Olais, CR, ZION, 10/9]
Rangers Tim Havens and Randy Fisher attempted to stop two dirt bikes on the Kolob Terrace Road on October 7th. Both operators fled at high speed. They were pursued for a short distance, but the rangers broke off the chase because of the speeds involved and the winding nature of the road. They eventually tracked the motorcycles up a hiking trail to the point where they'd been ditched. Additional rangers arrived on scene and a search was begun for the pair. They soon came out of hiding and turned themselves in; they were arrested for a variety of offenses, including an outstanding state drug warrant. [Ray O'Neil, IC, ZION, 10/8]
Four men between the ages of 30 and 50 entered Pine Creek Canyon on the afternoon of October 10th. It was rainy that day, with a 60% chance of thunderstorms. A short time after they entered the canyon and had made several rappels, a flash flood came down the drainage. The men were able to climb to safety on an eight-foot-high pinnacle. Their cries for help were heard and reported to park dispatch. Ten members of the park's SAR team were mobilized and were able to reach a point on the rim directly above and across the drainage from the stranded party. The four men were evacuated via a tag line from the pinnacle to the other side of the flooded creek; they were then helped to the rim and up another pitch until they reached a point where they could walk out. The leader of the party was subsequently issued a citation for creating a hazardous condition. [Kevin Killian, IC, ZION, 10/11]
On October 11th, an air and ground search was begun for a four-person party that was overdue from an overnight trip through the Narrows. Rain caused the Virgin River to increase in flow from 50 to 250 cubic feet per second. A search helicopter located the party that afternoon in the Narrows section of the river's canyon near the exit of Mystery Canyon. Ground searchers contacted the party and escorted them out of the canyon. The foursome stayed on an isolated area of high ground within the canyon until the river flow dropped to a level that they could manage. [Cindy Purcell, IC, ZION, 10/11]
On October 31st, ranger Brad Miederhoff attempted to contact several people in a concession dorm room about drug use. At least two were able to escape before he gained access to the room, but evidence found there aroused his suspicions about drug activity and distribution. District ranger Brent McGinn and a canine officer followed up the next day, interviewing suspects and utilizing the dog to find evidence. Marijuana, LSD and methamphetamine were recovered along with paraphernalia and distribution materials. Two people were arrested on felony drug distribution charges and two more for possession. Information obtained revealed a serious methamphetamine problem among concession staff. On November 2nd, rangers conducted drug testing for 16 employees at the request of AMFAC management. Fifteen were fired after failing or refusing the tests. Rangers will meet with concession management to outline a plan for recruitment, hiring and testing of employees to prevent similar situations in the future. [Brent McGinn, DR, ZION, 11/6]
A 15-year-old boy fell approximately 30 feet while attempting to descend Zion Canyon on the afternoon of April 11th. Rangers found that he'd suffered a compound ankle fracture, a separated shoulder, and other injuries. Park medics Cindy Purcell and Rick DeLappe reduced the separation while the SAR team rigged for a 600-foot technical scree evacuation to a landing zone prepared by the park helitack crew. The boy was flown to a regional medical center, where he is currently in stable condition. Twenty people were involved in the rescue. [Brent McGinn, ZION, 4/12]
Park staff conducted three rescues on Saturday, April 14th. At 9:30 a.m., two park teams were called out to rescue a group of visitors stranded on the "Subway" canyoneering route. A party of ten had begun a day trip on the route the previous day. After traveling about halfway into the slot cabin, they realized that they were unprepared for the technical and water obstacles that they were encountering. Eight of them decided to wait for rescue, while two others continued on. The two exited the drainage the next morning and contacted park dispatch. The rescue teams entered the upper and lower sections of the canyon, and the upper team contacted the group around 2 p.m. Members of the two teams assisted them through the remainder of the canyon, exiting around 8 p.m. There were no injuries. Ranger Cindy Purcell was ops chief. While this rescue was underway, dispatch received a report that a person had fallen 100 feet while climbing off-trail near Emerald Pools. Responding rescue personnel found a 17-year-old boy with significant trauma injuries adjacent to the trail. He'd been climbing up from the lower pool to the middle pool when he pulled a rock loose and fell backwards. He was stabilized by park medic Rick DeLappe and Springdale EMS personnel, then carried on a litter to a waiting ambulance. The ambulance met a medivac helicopter about ten miles outside of the park and flew the boy to the UMC Trauma Center in Las Vegas. Ranger Ray O'Neil was ops chief on this incident. While personnel were engaged in this operation, they found that the boy's 13-year-old brother, who had been climbing with him, had become stranded on a ledge. Park SAR team members rappelled down to the boy, secured him to a lowering system, then lowered him to the ground. He was uninjured. Ranger Scott Cooper was operations chief. [Chuck Passek, ZION, 4/15]
Four visitors entered the slot canyon on Pine Creek around 1 p.m. on April 22nd. None of them had a wet suit, and the only descending gear they had with them consisted of two lengths of webbing. After passing the second rappel, they realized that they were not equipped to continue down the canyon. One person was able to climb back up the canyon and alert a ranger. The park's SAR team responded, and team member Bo Beck rappelled about 100 feet down from the canyon rim to the stranded party. Each of the three people was then raised to the rim. There were no injuries. The leader of the group was cited for failing to obtain a canyoneering permit. Ray O'Neil was the ops chief for the rescue. [Chuck Passek, ZION, 4/23]
Ten-year-old M.M. of Las Vegas fell to his death on the evening of Sunday, May 13th. M.M. was hiking on the Canyon Overlook trail with family and friends during a rain and hail storm. The rain caused flash flooding, including a stream of water that cascaded across the trail. Initial reports are that M.M. and his brother were swept off the trail and over the edge while attempting to cross this stream. The younger brother got caught on a tree and was rescued, but M.M. fell about 250 feet down a steep slope and another 150 vertical feet in the slot canyon formed by Pine Creek. Park dispatch received the call just after 6 p.m. The park SAR team was immediately dispatched; the first ranger to arrive, a park medic, rappelled down into the canyon, located the boy, and determined that the fall had been fatal. Another rainstorm that swept through the area caused additional flash flooding and hampered recovery efforts. The boy's body was recovered around 11 p.m. [Aniceto Olais, CR, ZION, 5/14]
P.L., 37, of Beaumont, Texas, died while hiking in the park on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 16th. P.L. had been hiking with two companions in the Left Fork of North Creek, but left them to return to the trailhead. Two hikers found her lying motionless and unresponsive on the trail. One ran to the trailhead, stopped a passing motorist with a cell phone, and made a 911 call. A group of backcountry rangers who were on a training exercise in the area were dispatched to the scene. They found that P.L. had no vital signs and that she'd been in that condition for at least 40 minutes. Medical control at Dixie Regional Medical Center advised not to start resuscitation efforts due to the time that had elapsed with no vital signs. Investigators from the park and county sheriff's office determined that P.L. had gone off trail, then had attempted to descend back to the trail. In the process, she apparently fell about 50 feet down a steep slope. There were no witnesses. The investigation continues. [Ron Terry, ZION, 5/17]
Park dispatch received a report of a man suffering from chest pains on the Lower Emerald Pools trail on the afternoon of June 20th. Park medics Rick DeLappe and Cindy Purcell administered advanced life support measures to the 56-year-old man. As he was being evacuated on a wheeled litter, he went into cardiac arrest, but respirations and pulse were restored through defibrillation. He was taken to a medevac helicopter, then flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. He was in stable condition at the time of the report. Eighteen park personnel were involved in the rescue. [Chuck Passek, ZION, 6/21]
Park dispatch received a cell phone report of an unconscious man on Angels Landing around 2 p.m. on July 4th. The caller said that the man had fallen about 20 feet and was now lying on the trail. Responding personnel reached the 18-year-old man at 3 p.m. and found him still unconscious, with indications that he'd struck his head in the fall. He was stabilized by park medics. The Grand Canyon NP helicopter short-hauled him from Angels Landing to the canyon floor just before 5 p.m., thereby averting the need for a thousand-foot vertical lowering operation and scree evacuation. The man was then taken by ambulance to another helispot, where he was transferred to a waiting medivac helicopter and flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas. Twenty-five people participated in the rescue, which was carried out in near 100 degree temperatures. Kevin Killian was ops chief. [Chuck Passek, ZION, 7/4]
On July 28th and August 3rd, there were seven successful and one attempted car clouts of vehicles parked at trailheads on Kolob Terrace Road. The same method was employed in all eight incidents. Damage to the vehicles totaled about $3,000; stolen were items valued at around $4,000. Rangers were able to trace one of the stolen credit cards, which was used at several businesses in St. George, Utah, and identified three suspects. A joint investigation with the Washington County Sheriff's Office led to the identification of two more possible suspects. At the time of the report, three of the five had been arrested and charged with a total of 54 state felony and misdemeanor offenses. The other two are still being sought. Most of the stolen property has been recovered. Ranger Cody Cole and DR Brent McGinn were the primary NPS investigators. [Chuck Passek, ZION, 8/6]
A shuttle bus and trailer caught fire and burned just south of Weeping Rock around 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 22nd. The driver of a second shuttle bus, which was headed in the opposite direction, spotted the fire in the engine compartment and used her radio to advise the other driver. The shuttle driver reacted quickly, stopping the bus and evacuating about 60 passengers. The park's structural and wildland fire units and EMS personnel were on scene within 15 minutes from the time the fire was reported. It was quickly extinguished before it could spread into roadside vegetation, but the damage to the bus and trailer was extensive and has been estimated at about $330,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No one was injured. [Chuck Passek, ZION, 8/23]
The Intermountain-Midwest incident management team remains very active in supporting the NPS commitment to the Winter Olympics, which begin on February 8th in Salt Lake City and will conclude on February 24th. The team has incorporated personnel from other agencies (USFS, BLM and Utah State Parks) into its organization in order to serve interagency needs during the games. Selections have been made for most NPS assignments (including alternates) for this event - a total of 105 Level I commissioned rangers (and six alternates), six information specialists (and four alternates), and eight media relations personnel have been notified of their assignments, some beginning as early as January 28th. Still to be notified are NPS employees who will staff the Discover Navajo 2002 exhibit. There was tremendous interest in these assignments and the team extends its appreciation for the high level of support offered by many field personnel and their managers. The NPS will provide commissioned rangers for a security detail under the direction of the Secret Service, primarily in the alpine venues around Park City. The Service will also staff the host city visitor center in downtown Salt Lake City daily throughout the games, along with BLM, USFS, and Utah State Parks. The host city VC opened on October 31st and features exhibits on America's public lands that were designed, fabricated and installed under the direction of Harpers Ferry Center and NPS Olympics coordinator Bob Van Belle. The center will also feature an interpretive sales area organized by a consortium of Colorado Plateau cooperating associations. The NPS will have staff at three different media centers in Salt Lake City and Park City at various times throughout the games. Park staff from Golden Spike NHS will work under a USFS IMT providing information on public lands at Snow Basin Ski Area. Staff from Timpanogos Cave NM will provide the same information at Soldier Hollow, where Nordic events will occur. The Service's trails program will also have an exhibit on the Pony Express at Soldier Hollow, with support provided by National Pony Express Association volunteers. This demonstration area, within easy view of the Nordic events, will feature buffalo, wild horses, Native Americans and other western Americana icons and will be managed through a cooperative state and federal effort. The Olympic torch relay begins on December 4th and enters Utah on February 4th, with visits to Arches NP, Bryce Canyon NP and Zion NP (all on the same day). The torch will pass through a total of 22 NPS sites across the country, with major events scheduled at four or five of those areas. For additional information, see the following web sites: NPS involvement (Intranet only): http://im.den.nps.gov/den_olyDR.cfm Visitor information: www.saltlakeinfo.org Interagency public lands information: www.fs.fed.us/r4/2002/apl Information on nearby NPS sites: www.npsolympics2002.org General Olympics information: http://www.slc2002.org Additional updates will appear in future Morning Reports. [Larry Frederick, IMT, 11/29]
A group of visitors were playing catch with a boomerang while hiking down the trail below Refrigerator Canyon around 3 p.m. on January 3rd. When the boomerang landed off the trail, a member of the group attempted to retrieve it and fell about 30 feet. A seven-person park SAR team evacuated the 36-year-old man by wheeled litter back to the trailhead, where he was picked up by an ambulance and taken to a hospital in St. George, Utah. The man was found to have suffered a "burst fracture" of his L2 vertebra and was flown to Salt Lake City for further treatment. Scott Cooper was IC. [Chuck Passek, ZION, 1/6]
On the afternoon of February 17th, a 25-year-old woman who was hiking alone fell six feet and struck her head while climbing down a rock obstacle in Hidden Canyon. Visitors heard her calling for help and found her a short time later. They controlled the bleeding she'd sustained from a head laceration and sent a person to the trailhead to summon help. Park SAR personnel reached the woman around 5 p.m. Park medics provided advanced life support and the woman was littered to the trailhead, where she was transferred to a park ambulance and taken to St. George. Doctors at the hospital there determined that she'd sustained an intra-cranial hemorrhage, so she was flown to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas for further treatment. [Chuck Passek, ZION, 2/18]
The Intermountain Region/Midwest Region incident management team has established an incident command post in the BLM state office building in downtown Salt Lake City in support of the NPS involvement in the upcoming winter Olympics. The IMT has had a presence in Salt Lake since January 9th, and the full team will be in place effective today. The phone number for the information desk at the ICP is 801-539-4273 and will be staffed daily throughout the games, which end on February 24th. The IMT should be released on or about February 28th. Around 140 National Park Service personnel will be involved in supporting the games, including members of the IMT, personnel already stationed in Salt Lake, staff from Timpanogos Cave NM and Golden Spike NHS, law enforcement personnel assigned to the games, and staff who will work at the media centers, the host city's visitor center, the Pony Express exhibit at Soldier Hollow (venue for Nordic events), the Discover Navajo 2002 exhibit, and information stations at Snowbasin ski area and Soldier Hollow. The incident has become an interagency effort, with BLM, the Forest Service and Utah State Parks joining the NPS to form the "America's Public Lands" coalition and cooperating at all levels, including filling positions on the IMT. The IMT and NPS staff in Salt Lake are also supporting requests for assistance from the offices of the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the National Park Service. The opening of the games, which occurs on the night of Friday, February 8th, will be proceeded by the Olympic torch relay, which passed through Yellowstone NP on January 27th and will enter Utah at Delicate Arch in Arches NP on the morning of February 4th and continue on through Bryce Canyon NP and Zion NP the same day. [Larry Frederick, Deputy Ops Chief, IMT, 1/25]
Rangers conducted a dramatic and technically challenging rescue of an injured climber and his companion from Angels Landing in Zion Canyon early on the morning of Wednesday, April 17th. The two climbers, B.H. and C.D., both of Jackson, Wyoming, were attempting the Northeast Buttress Route when B.H. fell approximately 20 feet, injuring his back and head. The initial call came into park dispatch at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Other climbers in the area said that they had heard cries for help from a person on Angels Landing. The park immediately began organizing a rescue team. One of the two climbers was spotted on a ledge about 500 feet below the summit of Angels Landing, but was too far away for verbal contact. A helicopter flew over the area and located B.H. and C.D. on a five-by-twenty-foot ledge. Rescuers and equipment were flown to the top of Angels Landing, where they began rigging ropes for the 500-foot rappel down to the climbers. The route was heavily choked with brush and rocks, which made the descent even more treacherous. A park medic and a local SAR volunteer reached the climbers at approximately 7:30 p.m. B.H. was stabilized and preparations began for his evacuation. Meanwhile, three other SAR personnel began rappelling down to assist with the operation. Rescuers decided that the best option would be to lower B.H. down approximately 900 feet to the base of Angels Landing. B.H. was secured in an evacuation litter and slowly lowered along with two of the rescuers by the three remaining SAR personnel on the ledge. The park structural fire engine's spotlight was used to follow the climbers as they made their way down. They reached the bottom of Angels Landing at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday morning. B.H. was then carried down a steep, rock-covered slope to the road, arriving at 1:20 a.m. B.H. was transferred to Zion Canyon Ambulance for transport to the Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. Once B.H. and the two rescuers were safely on the ground, the remaining rescuers and C.D. rappelled the 900 feet to the base of Angels Landing. According to chief ranger Aniceto Olais, the rescue was one of the most technically demanding in Zion in recent years: "Steep, exposed slopes, rugged terrain and the fact that it occurred at night made this rescue very challenging. This is a great example of the skills and teamwork that it takes to perform under such conditions. We are very proud of all those involved in this rescue." [Janice Kali, ZION, 4/17]
Rangers conducted two rescues within 19 hours early this week. On Sunday, April 28th, D.H. and his climbing companions were canyoneering in Heaps Canyon. They were completing their descent of the canyon when D.H. fell while attempting the final 300-foot rappel. Park dispatch was notified of an injured person near Upper Emerald Pools. The SAR team was immediately dispatched. The first ranger reached D.H. just before 8 p.m. and found that he was suffering from head, back and leg injuries. Two park medics stabilized him, and an EMS helicopter from Page was dispatched to the park to assist with the evacuation. The SAR team began the evacuation around 10 p.m., carrying D.H. across a boulder field and down the Emerald Pools trail to the trailhead. He was flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. On Monday, April 29th, park dispatch received a call about a hiker in distress on the Angels Landing trail at 12:30 p.m. The SAR team was again dispatched and found that a 57-year-old man was experiencing chest pains. He was littered out and flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center, with the helicopter lifting off from the park within two hours of the first call. Doctors determined that he'd suffered a heart attack. [Janis Kali, ZION, 4/30]
Rangers evacuated an injured hiker from the Narrows on May 7th. At approximately 3:55 p.m., the park dispatch office received notification of an injured hiker in Orderville Canyon. The park SAR team, including a park medic, was dispatched to the scene. The team found C.E., from Spokane, Washington, with an injured ankle and unable to walk. They splinted his ankle, placed him on a litter, then put him in an inflatable rescue raft for evacuation from the Narrows. The rescue effort was completed at 9:45 p.m. C.E. was transported in his personal vehicle to the Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah, where he was treated for a fractured ankle. C.E. had been day hiking in the Narrows and was exploring the lower reaches of Orderville Canyon when he jumped down and injured his ankle. He was not wearing sturdy footwear with good ankle support, as is recommended for hikers in the Narrows. The inflatable rescue raft was designed and built especially for Zion National Park for rescues such as this one. The raft consists of two inflatable pontoons connected by four supports where a litter can be strapped. This incident marked the first use for the new raft; members of the SAR team were very pleased with its performance. [Janice Kali, ZION, 5/8]
On May 21st, R.T., 35, of Bournemouth, England, fell about 180 feet to his death while attempting "The Spaceshot," a technical route on the Leaning Wall on the east end of Zion Canyon between Big Bend and the Temple of Sinawava. R.T. was climbing with a partner, also from England, who was not hurt. The cause of the fall is still under investigation. According to R.T.'s partner, the two climbers were descending from their climbing route when the accident occurred. Ranges conducted a critical incident stress debriefing with the partner in order to help him with personal needs. [David Eaker, ZION, 5/22]
The park's SAR team responded to a rappelling accident in the Pine Creek slot canyon at 2 p.m. on June 1st. A 51-year-old man had been descending a 100-foot rappel at the end of the slot canyon when he lost control of the rappel and fell the final 20 feet to the ground. Rescuers reached the injured man at 3:30 p.m. and a park medic provided ALS treatment. The patient was placed in a litter and an 800-foot guiding line system was used to raise him and an attendant 600 feet to the canyon's rim. From that point, he was carried about a mile to the main park road, then transported to a hospital in St. George. Doctors determined that he'd suffered a fractured left tibia, compressed lumbar vertebrae, and second degree rope burns on both hands. Seventeen people were involved in the rescue, which concluded at 10 p.m. Kevin Killian was the operations section chief. [Chuck Passek, ZION, 6/2]
Concession employee A.W.C. has been charged with aggravated assault, criminal damage to property and public intoxication in the wake of an incident that took place in early June. A.W.C. had spent a night and morning consuming a fifth of liquor and a twelve-pack of beer. He returned to his concession dorm room early in the morning and awakened his roommate, who went to get security. When the man returned, A.W.C. reportedly attacked him with a pair of pliers, hitting him twice on the head. The man ran for help, with A.W.C. pursuing. A.W.C.'s roommate got away, after which A.W.C. punched his right hand through a window, then returned to their room and trashed it, wiping his blood on all four walls. A.W.C.'s roommate was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center, where a doctor closed his head wound with nine staples. A.W.C., who was also taken to the center to have his hand stitched, became violent while in the hospital and had to be physically subdued. Rangers arrested him and ran a blood alcohol test on him that revealed a BAC of 0.219. A.W.C. was bound over for trial on one felony and three misdemeanor charges at a preliminary hearing on Friday, June 28th. [Brent McGinn, ZION, 7/1; newspaper article at thespectrum.com]
On Tuesday, July 23rd, rangers conducted a demanding technical rescue of an injured hiker from Russell Gulch near the upper starting point for the popular Left Fork of North Creek, also known as the Subway. G.B., 19, of Perry, Utah, fell approximately 30 feet while hiking with his parents and three friends and sustained a fracture to his lower right leg. The Washington County Sheriff's Office received a cell phone call at approximately 7:15 p.m. on Monday from G.B.'s father, who informed them that his son had fallen and injured himself in the area of Russell Gulch. The accident occurred at around 3 p.m., but very poor cell phone coverage in the area made it necessary for G.B.'s father and three companions to hike out to the Kolob Terrace Road to make the call. G.B.'s mother stayed with him. Park dispatch was then contacted and rangers immediately organized a search and rescue team and hiked into the area. G.B. was located at approximately 9:30 p.m. A park medic assessed his condition and provided emergency treatment. Because of darkness, the technical nature of the planned extraction route, and the fact that it was not an immediate, life-threatening injury, rangers decided to wait until morning to make the rescue safer for all involved. They stayed with G.B. throughout the night, then began rescue operations around 6 a.m. the following morning. G.B. was secured to a litter and raised to the canyon rim via a 400-foot guiding line. From there, he was carried a quarter mile to a spot where a helicopter could transport him to the Kolob Terrace Road. A fire department ambulance from Hurricane then transported G.B. to a hospital in St. George. [David Eaker, ZION, 7/23]
On the evening of July 19th, park dispatch heard radio traffic on the Washington County Sheriff's Office frequency regarding a single-vehicle rollover accident on the Kolob Canyons scenic drive. Kolob ranger Craig Thexton was dispatched to the area, about a half-mile from the park visitor center. He found numerous EMS and sheriff's office units on scene, treating three people with minor injuries and one in critical condition - 14-year-old J.N. of Cedar City, who'd been ejected from the Isuzu Rodeo. All were taken to Valley View Medical Center in Cedar Center; J.N. was then flown immediately to Salt Lake City Primary Children's Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries the following day. A joint investigation is underway. It appears that excessive speed was a primary factor. The driver and one of the passengers - H.R., 18, and her fiancé, H.K., 24 - said that H.R. had overcorrected in an attempt to avoid a large rock in the road, but investigators found no evidence of a rock at the accident scene. The statements were recanted in follow-up interviews. The sheriff's office is leading the investigation. Kevin Killian is the case ranger. [Kevin Killian, PR, ZION]
Park staff responded to a report of a rappelling accident in Pine Creek Canyon at 3:30 p.m. on August 11th. A 50-year-old man had been descending into the slot canyon from the north rim when he found that his rope end did not reach to the canyon floor. When he attempted to stop his downward movement, he turned upside down and rappelled off the end of his rope, falling 15 feet to the canyon floor. EMS personnel reached him at 5 p.m. and provided ALS. The man and an attendant were then raised 100 feet to the canyon rim. Rescuers got him to the trailhead at 9 p.m. He was taken by park ambulance to a hospital in St. George, where he was found to have sustained fractures to four ribs on his right side and to his left femur in two locations. The leader of the five-person group was issued a citation for not having a canyoneering permit. Kevin Killian was IC. [Chuck Passek, ZION]
The park's SAR team located and rescued a stranded Canadian couple from a ledge in Russell Gulch on Thursday, September 5th. M.S. and C.S. of British Colombia had obtained a permit to hike the popular Subway route two days previously. While hiking to the Subway, they strayed from their route and descended into the gulch. They attempted to lower themselves down the first rappel by webbing, which proved to be too short. M.S. was unable to hold on; he slid down the webbing, then fell about 15 feet into a pool of water, sustaining burns on his hand and a laceration to the back of his head. C.S. followed and received similar burns to her hands, a laceration around one eye, and an abrasion to one arm. The couple then found themselves stuck on the ledge, unable to go either up or down. A helicopter was employed to find the S.s, but strong winds prevented it from being used to shuttle rescuers and gear to the site. Two SAR team members hiked into the site and determined that the S.s were in good shape medically despite their falls. The rest of the SAR team arrived later with rescue gear and extracted them from the gulch. They were brought back to their car, where the S.s opted to drive themselves to the Dixie Regional Medical Center to have their burns examined. This incident provided a good illustration of the importance of informing others about planned outings. The permit system provided the information needed to locate and rescue the lost and stranded hikers. [Submitted by Ron Terry, Public Affairs Officer, Zion NP]
Last week, a federal grand jury indicted S.L.M. for the attempted armed robbery and carjacking of two female visitors along the Zion Canyon scenic drive on May 13, 1999. The indictment charges S.L.M., 35, of Orange, Massachusetts, with attempted carjacking and use of a firearm in commission of a violent crime. S.L.M. allegedly approached the women while they were sitting in a car in the Great White Throne parking area, brandished a handgun, demanded money, and attempted to take their car keys. When the women fled, he fired numerous shots, striking the vehicle several times and shattering its rear window. Rangers established a roadblock upon receiving the report, but were unable to locate a suspect. Over the next several months, numerous leads were pursued without result. Investigators got a break in the case when the FBI's St. George resident agency office received information from Georgia about a prisoner who claimed to have committed crimes in federal areas in Utah. Zion ranger Brent McGinn and FBI special agent Scott Schons traveled to Nahunta, Georgia, and interviewed S.L.M. in the Brantley County Jail, where he was serving time on unrelated charges. During a lengthy interview, S.L.M. confessed to numerous armed robberies and several other crimes committed during May and June 1999 while he was driving across the United States. S.L.M. is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence in the Georgia State Prison for rape, aggravated sodomy and kidnapping. Additional state charges against S.L.M. are pending in other jurisdictions. [Submitted by Brent McGinn, District Ranger, Canyon District]
The body of D.K., 66, of Joshua Tree, California, was found
at the base of Scouts Lookout on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 21.
D.K. was apparently visiting the park alone and was a guest at Zion
Lodge. When her belongings were found in her room after her scheduled
departure time, the park was notified and efforts were begun to locate
her or her vehicle. Night patrol rangers found the latter at the Grotto
parking area; it was still there on Tuesday morning, so a search was
begun for her. A search team on West Rim trail saw some type of personal
gear at the base of Scouts Lookout. A second team was sent to that
location and found her body. Scout Lookout, about 900 feet above the
floor of Zion Canyon, is a popular viewpoint along the trail. The
fatality is being investigated by the county sheriff's office in
cooperation with the park.
The wooden roof of an employee home caught fire from an ember from
the building's chimney on the afternoon of Thursday, February 6. Chuck
Passek, the only ranger then on duty, happened to be passing by at the
same time. He notified dispatch, then put out the fire with a garden
hose. The park fire brigade and a local VFD responded with two engines
and eight firefighters. Damage to the building was limited to a
two-by-two-foot area on the roof. The residents were not home at the
time. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it's
thought to have been started by a spark that came out of the wood stove
chimney, through the spark arrester, and onto the cedar shake
roof.
On February 22 and 23, a dozen members of the park staff assisted the
Washington County Sheriff's Office with a search for parts from the
space shuttle Columbia. NASA believes that there is a high probability
that a piece of the shuttle came down within the search area, which is
located on the park's western boundary and includes a small area within
the park itself. A total of about 50 people searched the area, which is
comprised of rough terrain filled with thick brush. No parts have yet
been discovered. For additional details on the search, click on http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58305-2003Feb24.
html
A visitor reported that a woman had sustained an injury on the Angels
Landing trail around 3 p.m. on March 25th. Resource management staff in
the area found that J.M., 59, had sustained a hip injury and
could not walk out on her own. Due to the rugged nature of the trail,
rescuers concluded that they would have to use either a complicated
technical lowering or a helicopter short haul extrication to evacuate
her. The latter proved feasible, so the park asked Grand Canyon to send
its helicopter down to lift her out. Meanwhile, park medics arrived on
scene and determined that J.M. had sustained a fractured right hip.
She was stabilized and prepared for evacuation. J.M. was flown off
Angels Landing at 6 p.m. to a waiting ambulance. She was subsequently
flown to a hospital in Denver. A total of 17 people from Zion and Grand
Canyon worked on the incident. The IC was Cody Cole.
On August 13th, the park received numerous reports of a helicopter
flying extremely low in the Zion Canyon area. Ranger Brent McGinn
responded along with the chief of police for nearby Springdale and
determined that a helicopter had landed outside the park boundary and
picked up a passenger. The helicopter then flew over the park and up the
main canyon at an altitude estimated to have been less than 200 feet off
the canyon floor. The helicopter then departed, flying over the Kolob
Terrace and Parunuweap Canyon sections of the park. McGinn and the
Springdale chief waited for the helicopter to return and drop off the
passenger, but the pilot saw them waiting and departed, disembarking the
passenger approximately a mile away before heading for the airport in
St. George. St. George police assisted by holding the pilot and three
additional passengers until McGinn could arrive. When contacted, the
pilot, R.V., refused to produce his pilot's license as required.
R.V. was arrested and transported to jail without further incident.
R.V. has been charged with two counts of interfering with an agency
function, violation of FAA minimum flight altitudes, and violation of
the National Parks Air Tour Management Act.
A visitor sustained head and arm injuries and suffered from
intermittent unconsciousness after a ten-foot fall while hiking the
Angels Landing trail on the afternoon of August 17th. Ranger Erich Robb
and parkmedic Cindy Purcell hiked to the scene, evaluated the woman's
condition, then requested a helicopter short-haul evacuation. The Grand
Canyon NP helicopter responded, arriving about two hours after the
incident was initially reported. The woman was flown from the trail
to Zion Lodge, then taken by ambulance to the hospital in St.
George. She was found to be suffering from an epidural hematoma and was
transferred to the trauma center in Las Vegas. Ray O'Neil was IC. This
was the third time this year that Grand Canyon's helicopter was used to
short-haul a patient from the Angels Landing trail.
On Friday, September 5th, C.F., 37, of Springdale,
fell while descending through Behunin Canyon, a rugged canyoneering
route that involves route finding, numerous rappels, and normally takes
about eight hours. C.F. was traveling alone and intended to
complete the trip in one day. Friends reported him overdue late Friday
evening, and a ground search was begun early on Saturday morning. In
late morning, a helicopter joined the search. C.F.'s body was
found just after noon at the base of one of the rappels in the middle of
the canyon. It appears that he fell 60 to 80 feet while attempting to
locate the rappel station. A technical raise and helicopter long line
were used to remove his body from the canyon. Marcia Gilles was the
operations chief for the incident. On Saturday afternoon, the park
conducted a second major rescue effort. A raft and wheeled litter were
used to carry an eleven-year-old boy with significant lower leg injures
out of the Virgin River Narrows. While the above two incidents were
occurring, park personnel also responded to an injury accident involving
a motorcycle in the mile-long Zion Mount Carmel Tunnel.
A fatal traffic accident involving two motorcycles occurred in the
Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel just before 6 p.m.
on Sunday, March 28th. The two motorcyclists, C.R.M., 21,
of St. George, Utah, and A.J.P., also 21, of Salt Lake City,
Utah, were killed when they failed to make a curve in the tunnel,
crossed the oncoming traffic lane, and hit the wall on the opposite side
of the tunnel. Rangers provided the initial response to the
accident. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel was immediately closed and
remained closed until 11 p.m. Sunday
night. The Utah Highway Patrol is assisting with the accident
investigation. Speed seems to be the primary casual factor at this
time.
Rangers rescued an injured hiker from Angels Landing in Zion Canyon
on Saturday, June 5th. C.V., 33, of New York City, had
injured his knee the previous evening and spent Friday night with
rangers near the top of Angels Landing. He was evacuated Saturday
morning by helicopter. C.V. and a group of nine colleagues began the
2.5-mile, 1,488-foot climb up the Angels Landing trail on Friday
afternoon. About 200 yards past Scout Lookout, C.V. injured his knee and
was unable to put weight on it. His hiking partners tried to help him
back down the trail but the steep, rocky terrain made it too difficult.
The group used a cell phone to call 911. Park dispatch was alerted a t
8:30 p.m. and two rangers and a medic and
EMT began hiking to the scene. They made contact with C.V. at
10:30 p.m. He was stabilized, but because of
the dark, it was decided the safest course of action would be to spend
the night on top and begin the rescue operation the next morning. The
rangers monitored C.V.'s condition through the night. It was decided
that a technical rescue would require a larger number of people and
increase danger to the team. A short-haul operation using a helicopter
was chosen instead, and the NPS helicopter at Grand Canyon was
requested. On Saturday morning, a paramedic was flown to Angels Landing
suspended 100 feet below the helicopter. C.V. was attached to the rope
and, at 10:45 a.m., flown with the
paramedic to the Zion Lodge parking lot. There he was transferred to the
Zion National Park ambulance and taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center
in St. George, Utah. Ten Zion rangers and a Grand Canyon helicopter crew
of four were involved in the rescue. This was the fourth search and
rescue operation in the park in less then a week and the first
short-haul operation for the year. In 2003 three short-haul operations
were performed — one moving a visitor with a minor injury from a
difficult location and two that saved lives.
On Friday, June 25th, Boy Scout K.J., 14, of Long Beach, California,
fell to his death from Angels Landing. Park dispatch received a call
reporting that a person had fallen from Angels Landing around 3 p.m.that
afternoon. Rangers were immediately dispatched to the scene. A search
and rescue operation was begun, employing a helicopter and a five person
technical search and rescue team. The boy's body was located from the
air and the technical rescue team was flown to the top of Angels Landing
to descend by ropes to that location. The team rappelled about
three-quarters of the way down the cliff face on Friday evening and
reached the body at 6 a.m.on Saturday morning. The body was then
airlifted out by helicopter. On Friday evening, the scout group was
taken to the LDS Church in nearby Springdale, where they were cared for
by park staff trained in critical incident stress debriefing and by
members of the Springdale Ward of the LDS Church. Angels Landing is a
popular hiking destination in the park. The vertical drop to the base of
the cliff is approximately 1,000 feet at the location of the fall. The
fatality is being investigated by the Washington County Sheriff's Office
in cooperation with the National Park Service.
Boy Scout M.L., 14, of Orem, Utah, took a 40-foot tumbling fall while
hiking in the park on Friday, August 6th, and sustained numerous but not
life threatening injuries. At 11:30 a.m. a park owl researcher working
in the Left Fork of North Creek, also known as "The Subway," contacted
the Boy Scout group just as M.L. fell. She immediately radioed park
dispatch and the search and rescue team was mobilized. A park medic was
flown by helicopter to within a half-mile and was on scene by 2:00 p.m.
This section of the canyon is 300 feet deep. The safest way to raise
M.L. to the top was by using a technique called a "reeve." A 450-foot
rope was stretched taut across the top of the canyon. A ranger was
lowered the 300 feet from that rope to M.L., who was raised to the top
and pulled to the edge of the canyon. He was then carried to the
helicopter and flown to a waiting ambulance at 7:00 p.m. and transported
to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. Over 20 people were
involved in the rescue. The three group leaders had traveled the Subway
in the past, but the seven Scouts in the group were spread out ahead of
them. Being unfamiliar with the route, they made a wrong turn at a
critical junction and descended into the canyon down a steep slope.
M.L.'s accident occurred about 40 feet from the bottom. "The Subway" is
a narrow canyon in the Kolob Terrace section of the park that has become
a popular canyoneering route in recent years. It is a strenuous
nine-and-a-half mile hike requiring extensive route finding and
technical rope skills. It also requires swimming through several pools
of cold, debris-filled water.
Mount Carmel Tunnel was reopened to traffic Saturday night after road
crews blasted away a house-sized boulder that was blocking a switchback
stretch of the highway just west of the tunnel. The rock fell on the
road, which crosses the southern portion of the park, on Friday morning,
bringing hundreds of tons of debris along with it. At least two
explosions were needed to break up the boulder, which was then carried
away in pieces with heavy equipment. Both lanes were open by 6:30 p.m.
Saturday. It was the second rockslide to hit the switchback in as many
weeks. On February 13th, a stone slab three feet thick, five feet wide
and 20 feet long crashed onto the roadway, temporarily blocking
traffic.
On the evening of Friday, August 19th, Zion dispatch received a report that a 15-year-old Boy Scout was suffering from hypothermia in the Narrows. Through-hiking the Narrows involves 16 miles of river walking in the Virgin River in the bottom of a narrow slot canyon. The Boy Scout was reported to be with two physicians/leaders who believed that the he was unable to complete the hike. The report indicated that the boy was two hours hiking time from the trailhead at the end of the route. A medic and a raft carryout team headed into the Narrows after dark. The leaders were not visible from the primary route through the Narrows, so the carryout team did not locate the boy until 2 a.m. Rangers spent the night with the boy, then floated him to the trailhead by raft the following day. He was found to be suffering from rhabdomyalysis, a rare muscular disorder which can be exercise induced. (Ray O'Neil, IC)
On August 20th, following the rescue of a Boy Scout from the Narrows of the Virgin River, the park received word of a climbing accident requiring a rescue operation. A 32-year-old canyoneer was down-climbing a short drop in Englestead Canyon when a 100-pound rock peeled off and landed on his sandal-clad foot. The canyoneer suffered a mostly amputated big toe along with several foot fractures. The experienced members of his group completed the route and reported the injury to Zion dispatch, leaving three inexperienced and unprepared canyoneers with the victim. The Englestead Canyon route begins in Kane County, outside Zion National Park, and is completed within the park boundary. The route involves about 10 rappels, including a 300-foot rappel to enter the canyon. The park consulted with the Kane County Sheriff's Office and agreed to conduct the rescue. The victim was found a quarter-mile outside the park during a recon flight. Rescuers were flown to the rim of the canyon and park medic Kevin Killian was lowered 600 feet to his location. Killian and the patient were raised to the rim during the night. The rim of the canyon was ledgy and choked with oak brush, so a short haul was completed with the Grand Canyon short haul team on the morning of August 21st. The patient was delivered to a hospital in late morning. Two rangers assisted the three unprepared canyoneers through the remainder of the canyon. (Ray O'Neil, IC)
Around 1:30 p.m. on New Year's Day, park fee collectors received a report that a 36-year-old man had taken a 40-foot fall into a drainage adjacent to the road on the park's east side. He was reported to be conscious and alert, but unable to move and complaining of back pain. Medics and rescue personnel responded and provided ALS care, including use of a full body vacuum splint as a precaution to protect his spine. He was carried by belayed litter up a short scree slope to the roadway and transported by park ambulance to an area hospital. He was later flown to a Level 1 trauma center in Las Vegas, where he is expected to fully recover. His injuries included a pneumothorax and fractures of eight vertebrae (L 1-4 and T 9-12), all ribs, left knee and pelvis. Ten park staff were involved in the rescue operation. (Kevin Killian, Canyon District Ranger)
Around 1:30 p.m. on New Year?s Day, park fee collectors received a report that a 36-year-old man had taken a 40-foot fall into a drainage adjacent to the road on the park?s east side. He was reported to be conscious and alert, but unable to move and complaining of back pain. Medics and rescue personnel responded and provided ALS care, including use of a full body vacuum splint as a precaution to protect his spine. He was carried by belayed litter up a short scree slope to the roadway and transported by park ambulance to an area hospital. He was later flown to a Level 1 trauma center in Las Vegas, where he is expected to fully recover. His injuries included a pneumothorax and fractures of eight vertebrae (L 1-4 and T 9-12), all ribs, left knee and pelvis. Ten park staff were involved in the rescue operation. [Submitted by Kevin Killian, Canyon District Ranger]
On May 1st, during the park's law enforcement refresher, dispatch notified rangers that a park researcher had just reported seeing parachutes in the air in the vicinity of Mount Kinesava. Rangers drove to the Chinle trail near the park boundary and contacted four men carrying mid-size backpacks, none of whom would submit to a consent search of his belongings. A search warrant was prepared and served on the men, resulting in the seizure of four parachutes and associated equipment, including video cameras. Each was issued a single mandatory appearance violation notice on scene for illegal air delivery (36 CFR 2.17 (a) (3)). An investigation into additional violations committed by the foursome is underway. [Kevin Killian, Canyon District Ranger]
On May 31st, three men set out to traverse Behunin Canyon, a venture that requires eight rappels of up to 150 feet. They used a GPS unit as their primary means for locating the head of the canyon. The canyon that they found and entered, though, was Heaps Canyon. The heads of the two canyons are separated by a quarter mile, and the differences between the two routes would have been apparent if the men had used a map or a detailed route description. The Heaps Canyon route is a multi-day trip that includes swims through numerous potholes with water temperatures in the 40s and many rappels, including one of 300 feet. The men discussed discontinuing their trip when they failed to find anchors at the first cliff band, but they instead created an anchor and forged ahead. Once they realized their mistake, they were unable to return to the canyon rim. On the morning of June 1st, one of the men decided that he'd had enough of swimming through the frigid pools and climbed to a nearby knoll to await rescue. The other two continued into the narrowest section of the canyon. The three men were reported overdue on the evening of May 31st. A ranger patrol began a hasty search of Behunin Canyon the next morning, but determined by that afternoon that the men were not in that canyon. A helicopter search was then begun. All three men were located and equipment, clothes and radios were lowered to them. On the morning of June 2nd, additional equipment was lowered to the pair in the canyon, and they were able to complete the passage under their own power. The third man was flown out in the helicopter. Rangers are surprised that the two men who continued on down the canyon did not succumb to hypothermia. Thick wetsuits or drysuits are typically used to traverse the route. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
On the morning of June 20th, a visitor reported by cell phone that she had broken her ankle on the way down the chained portion of the Angel's Landing trail. Rangers were dispatched to the scene; upon arrival, they determined that a short haul rescue was the safest option. A helicopter from Grand Canyon NP extracted her and landed her on the canyon floor. Within an hour of the return of the ground crew from Angel's Landing, a report arrived of a visitor complaining of chest pain at a campsite in the Virgin River Narrows. During a reconnaissance performed by rangers with the park's contract helicopter, a suitable landing zone was located on a ridge top approximately 600 feet above the patient. As rescuers were being shuttled to the Narrows, visitors reported three people yelling for help several hundred feet above the Weeping Rock area. At dusk, a ranger was able to make voice contact with the trio and determined that they were uninjured. They were simply stuck at the last rappel in Echo Canyon (350 feet) with not enough rope (280 feet). This section of Echo Canyon is closed due to the presence of popular viewpoint at the base of the rappel and the associated rock fall danger. A rescue team was dispatched to reach the canyoneers and bring them safely to the ground. At about this time, visitors reported a man with an injured knee in the Narrows, last seen a half mile above Riverside Walk in the river, moving slowly downstream and requesting assistance. Two rangers were dispatched and reached the man as he was exiting the river with the assistance of a friend and a stick used as a crutch. The rangers transported him to the trailhead by wheelchair and cleared to assist with other incidents. Meanwhile, in the Narrows, a medic had been lowered to the patient, found that she was stable, and elected to spend the night in the canyon. By this time (2 a.m.), the Echo Canyon rescue team had reached the canyoneers, lowered one to the ground and facilitated the belayed rappel of the other two. An interview with the group leader revealed that he generally knew what canyon they were in but had not conducted enough research to know that the lower section of canyon was closed or how to exit the canyon once he got in there. Early the next morning, the park's contract helicopter was able to land 300 yards south of the Narrows campsite. Due to canyon winds, this landing zone was not accessible the previous day. On the morning of June 21st, the patient was assisted to the helicopter, flown to the waiting park ambulance and transported to an area hospital. In all, over 25 park employees and volunteers were involved in the rescues. [Kevin Killian, Canyon District Ranger]
B.V., 29, of Las Vegas, Nevada, fell to her death while hiking in the park on Tuesday, August 22nd. The fall was from Angels Landing, one of the most popular hiking destinations in the park. A 911 call was placed by her husband via cell phone. At approximately 6:30 a.m., the park dispatch office was notified of the call. A search and rescue operation was mobilized and a helicopter was called in to assist. At approximately 8:25 a.m., the helicopter located her body on a talus slope approximately 1,200 feet below the summit of Angels Landing. A ground search and rescue team recovered her body A joint investigation by the NPS and county sheriff's office is underway. [Ron Terry]
On May 1st, dispatch notified rangers that a park researcher had reported seeing parachutes in the air in the vicinity of Mount Kinesava (click on "More Information" below for the original report). Rangers responded and contacted four men, all of whom were carrying large backpacks. All four refused to consent to a search of their backpacks, so a search warrant was requested, obtained and served, resulting in the seizure of four parachutes and associated equipment. Each was also issued a mandatory appearance violation notice. On August 8th, the last of the four men entered his plea. F.J., 28, C.M., 28, J."JT"H., 26, and J.H., 24, all pled guilty to 36 CFR 2.17(a)(3), the regulation on "air delivery" (this rule prohibits "delivering or retrieving a person or object by parachute, helicopter, or other airborne means, except in emergencies..."). Each worked out a slightly different plea agreement with the assistant U.S. attorney, so the fines ranged from $2,000 with permanent forfeiture of equipment to $4,000 with return of equipment. Plea agreements also included a 24 month ban from the park and $500 in restitution to the Peregrine Fund, as the cliff that they jumped from was closed at the time because it was an active peregrine falcon nesting area. [Kevin Killian, Canyon District Ranger] HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=2555"
A hiker overdue from a backcountry hike was found and rescued on Monday evening. T.G., 55, of Chesepeake, Virginia, was located off route in a rough and steep area above Wildcat Canyon in the Kolob Terrace section of the park. While attempting to descend into Wildcat Canyon, T.G. fell approximately 100 feet down a steep slope and dislocated his shoulder. Because of his injury, he was unable to leave the area where he had fallen, so he remained there and awaited rescue. T.G. had set off on a hike through The Subway on Saturday. When rangers found his vehicle still at the trailhead on Sunday morning, a search was begun, employing ground teams, helicopters and search dogs. On Monday evening, a search and rescue helicopter from the 66th Rescue Squadron from Nellis Air Force Base joined the operation. Flying the search area at night, the military helicopter crew detected a strobe light being flashed by the missing hiker. Rescuers were lowered to T.G. and he was winched into the helicopter, then flown to a waiting ambulance, taken to the Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah, and released later in the evening. The successful conclusion to the search was possible because T.G. had obtained a backcountry hiking permit which included information useful to the searchers. He had also notified other people of where he was going and when he planned to return. In addition, he did not move from his location and was adequately supplied to await the rescue. [Ron Terry, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services]
Rangers were called out to a report of a rollover accident with injuries in Zion Canyon shortly after midnight on May 24th. Responding rangers found that the five occupants - all concessions employees returning from St. George - had gotten out of the vehicle on their own and that all but the driver had hitched a ride to the lodge up the canyon. The driver, C.G., 47, was uninjured but arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Park and Springdale EMS units transported three of the passengers to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. One was later found to have suffered a fractured back in the accident. Canyon district ranger Kevin Killian was IC. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
K.B., 48, of Garden Grove, California, fell to his death while canyoneering in Heaps Canyon the evening of Monday, June 4th. K.B.'s two companions were at the Upper Emerald Pools waiting for him to descend after completing the 285-foot last rappel out of the canyon when he fell to his death for unknown reasons. Once his companions determined that K.B. had not survived the fall, they hiked down the Emerald Pools trail to Zion Lodge and reported the incident to park dispatch at 11:34 p.m. Rangers responded and confirmed the death. K.B. and his two companions had a valid permit for Heaps Canyon. Canyon district ranger Kevin Killian was the IC; ranger Craig Thexton is the primary investigator for the NPS, working in conjunction with the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Heaps Canyon is temporarily closed to canyoneering while the incident is under investigation. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
B.G., 53, of St. Louis, Missouri, fell to his death while hiking the Angels Landing trail on Friday, June 8th. Park dispatch received a call from family members just before noon, reporting that he'd fallen from the trail at a point between Scouts Lookout and the summit of Angels Landing. Rangers found his body at the base of the cliff. It's estimated that he fell about a thousand feet. The incident is being investigated by the park and the Washington County Sheriff's Office. [David Eaker, Fire Information and Education Specialist] HYPERLINK "http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660228165,00.html"
On Monday, July 2nd, rangers rescued D.W., 45, of St. George, Utah, who'd injured her ankle the previous day in the Subway (the Left Fork of North Creek). Rangers were contacted by members of a group hiking out of the Subway Sunday evening. They reported that a woman in their party had sustained a ground-level fall near the last rappel in the canyon and was suffering from a severely sprained or possibly broken ankle. Rangers arrived at the scene at approximately 8:30 p.m. and found that D.W.'s ankle injury prevented her from hiking out. Due to the time of day and the nature of the incident, it was decided to attempt a helicopter evacuation on Monday, since a technical rescue would require a larger number of people and increase danger to the team. Two park rangers/medics spent the night with D.W. in the Subway. Early on Monday morning, a helicopter from Grand Canyon National Park was called in to perform the short haul operation to extract her. D.W. was successfully airlifted from the Subway at 10:30 a.m., then transferred to the park ambulance and taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. [David Eaker, Public Affairs Officer]
Canyoneer J.T., 47, of Salt Lake City, sustained serious injuries when he fell about 40 feet while completing the last, 100-foot rappel on the popular Pine Creek route on Monday, August 13th. J.T.'s brother rappelled down to him, determined that he was too injured to make it out on his own, and hiked out to report the incident, making contact with rangers just before 8 p.m. While a team was assembled to undertake the lengthy and highly technical 400-foot raising required to extricate J.T. from the canyon, ranger/paramedic Rob Wissinger hiked to J.T.'s location and determined that he was stable enough to survive the night with additional treatment and supplies. A second medic and other rangers hiked to Pine Creek and spent the night with J.T.. Rescue plans were modified to assure that a safer, daytime rescue could be completed the following morning. The SAR team employed a Norwegian reeve highline to lower the litter and raise J.T. and his attendant. He was lifted 400 feet to a window in the side of the Mount Carmel Tunnel, pulled through the window, then taken by park ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center, where he was found to be suffering from a fractured back, a bruised lung, and strained pelvic ligaments. The extrication was completed around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. Plateau district ranger Ray O'Neil was the operations chief. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
Ranger Kelly Brownson was involved in a head on collision while on patrol on the Kolob Terrace Road around noon on Friday, August 24th. Brownson was able to call dispatch, report his accident, and request an ambulance and traffic control. Rangers and Utah Highway Patrol and Washington County officers responded and found that both Brownson's patrol vehicle and a full-size pickup from Arizona had sustained severe damage in the accident. Brownson and a 17-year-old passenger in the pickup were taken by ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. Brownson was treated and released later that afternoon. Evidence at the scene suggests that the driver of the truck lost control on a curve due to high speed and drifted into the oncoming lane. The Utah Highway Patrol is investigating. Charges are pending. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a call from a park resident just before midnight on Monday, December 17th, reporting that her historic home in the Pine Creek area was on fire. She said that everyone was out of the house and that nobody had been injured. The park's structural fire brigade was immediately called out and arrived on scene within four minutes with a Type 1 engine and a rescue truck. The Springdale Fire Department was also called and responded within minutes. Ray O'Neil, district ranger, structural fire captain, and occupant of the residence, attempted to use a hose from a nearby hydrant to extinguish the blaze from the outside before firefighters arrived, but the attic was fully involved and his efforts were unsuccessful. Firefighters had water flowing to the house in less than five minutes. They entered the house and used a newly-acquired piercing nozzle to penetrate the attic through a second story ceiling, significantly cooling the fire. Other firefighters were then able to gain access to the roof, ventilate the building, and extinguish the fire from above. The roof, attic, and second floor ceiling sustained significant fire damage, and the interior of the historic stone house suffered smoke and extensive water damage. Washington County deputies and a state fire marshal also responded and assisted firefighters. Structural fire captain Tom Haraden was the IC. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but has been ruled an accident. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
Early on the afternoon of Monday, March 24th, a 40-year-old climber who was following the first pitch of the Moonlight Buttress climbing route took an unexpectedly long pendulum swing, struck the rock wall, and sustained an incapacitating hip injury. One of his partners descended and reported the accident to a shuttle bus driver. Rangers responded and reached the injured man via a short technical climb to the small ledge he was resting on, which was about 50 feet above the talus slope at the base of the route. He was packaged and lowered via a guiding line system to a waiting litter team that carried him down the scree slope and across the Virgin River to a waiting park ambulance. Doctors diagnosed his injury as a fractured pelvis. The rescue involved 14 park staffers and was completed during daylight hours. Ranger Andrew Fitzgerald was the operations supervisor. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of Friday, June 20th, rangers learned that K.L., 18, had climbed 100 feet up the side and end of Shelf Canyon without ropes or equipment and that he'd gotten stuck and was unable to descend safely without assistance. Responding rangers found that he was actually closer to 200 feet up a fifth class slope - but, fortunately, uninjured. Rangers Andrew Fitzgerald and Vid Walker lead a climb to the stranded Boy Scout, set an anchor, and safely lowered him to the ground. The group that K.L. was with had mistakenly thought that Shelf Canyon was the approach to the popular Spry Canyon. Craig Thexton was the operations chief on this incident. On Saturday evening, park dispatch received a report that cries for help had been heard coming from Echo Canyon. Rangers Rob Wissinger and Tom Parrack responded and located a party of four canyoneers who'd become stranded hundreds of feet above the bottom of a side canyon. They'd attempted to exit from the side canyon because a 30-foot-high wall of snow blocked their safe progress down the canyon's traditional route. After determining that there were no injuries, Parrack made a technical descent to their location and supplied the four men with overnight gear, food and water. They were raised up from their position the following morning after receiving instructions on ascent techniques. A similar technical rescue was performed in the same canyon on May 13th, when another group of canyoneers found snow blocking their route. They were also unable to go either forward or back and had to be rescued. Craig Thexton was the incident commander. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 25th, M.H., 39, was attempting to complete the final rappel along the popular Subway canyoneering route in the Left Fork of North Creek - a route that involves several swims and short rappels. Instead of rappelling, though, as other members of his group had done, he chose to climb down a series of ledges, leaving him with a six- to eight-foot jump to reach the canyon floor. M.H. injured his lower right leg when he landed on the uneven creek bottom. Members of M.H.'s party hiked to the trailhead to seek assistance. Ranger Cody Cole, field training ranger Moses Rinck, and ranger Chris Scheid hiked into the canyon and met up with M.H. around dark. The rangers spent the night in the canyon with M.H., who had been attempting to hobble downstream. On the morning of June 26th, M.H. found that he was unable to bear any weight on his injured leg. A short-haul helicopter rescue was organized utilizing the Grand Canyon's short-haul team. The operation was complete by early afternoon. This was the third short-haul rescue of an injured hiker out of the Left Fork canyon in the past two months. Jumping, as opposed to using a rope to rappel, is one of the most common causes of preventable injuries in Zion's backcountry. Plateau district ranger Ray O'Neil was the IC. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
An off-duty park SCA intern was rappelling at Pine Creek on the afternoon of July 30th when she fell approximatley 100 feet. Park staff responded and she was evacuated to a medical facility by an aircraft from Nellis Air Force Base, located outside of Las Vegas. The extent of her injuries are not known. The park was hosting a VIP/dignitary protection class at the time, and about half of the members of the class assisted in the rescue. [Bonnie Swartz, Chief Ranger]
On Wednesday, July 30th, K.B., 23, a backcountry volunteer in Zion (not an SCA as was originally reported), was canyoneering with a friend on her day off in Pine Creek Canyon, a popular route that she had completed in the past. As she attempted the route's final 100 foot rappel, K.B. fell the entire distance of the rappel. K.B.'s canyoneering companion immediately contacted park dispatch using K.B.'s park radio, which had been left at the top of the rappel. Responding paramedic rangers Lisa Hendy and Brandon Torres from the Grand Canyon rappelled from a window in the Zion Tunnel to reach K.B., where they found her being cared for by another canyoneering group who had not seen but had heard the fall. K.B. was able to talk to her rescuers, but was severely injured and could not recall exactly what had happened. The paramedic rangers provided advanced life support treatment while additional rescuers rappelled into the canyon. K.B. was packaged, placed in a litter, and carried about a quarter mile to an area in the canyon where an Air Force Blackhawk helicopter could safely lift her and Air Force medics into the hovering craft. She was then transported via helicopter directly to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas. K.B. remains in intensive care in critical condition with multiple severe traumatic injuries, but is showing signs of improvement. In addition to Zion and Grand Canyon personnel, rescuers and responders included personnel from Yellowstone, Glacier Bay, Guadalupe Mountains, and the US Secret Service who were all attending a US Secret Service Dignitary Protection training class that was being hosted by the park. An investigation into the cause of the accident is continuing. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
J.W., 34, of Durango, Colorado, fell to his death while climbing a popular climbing route called "Touchstone" on Friday, October 17th. Around 7:15 p.m., two climbers who were ascending a nearby route stopped a Zion Canyon shuttle bus and reported that another climber had fallen. Rangers on scene determined that J.W. had fallen approximately 300 feet and confirmed it was a fatality. His two climbing partners witnessed the fall. Eleven members of the Zion search and rescue team responded and worked through the night removing the victim and investigating the fall. "Touchstone," located across the canyon from Angels Landing, is one of the most popular big wall climbs in the park. Over 1,000 feet high from river to rim, it is usually a two-day climb requiring an overnight stay on a "port-a-ledge," a cot-like device attached to the wall. J.W. was considered a very experienced climber and had recently completed a climb of El Capitan in Yosemite. This is the first fatality in the park for 2008, and the sixth climbing fatality since 1983. Preliminary investigation reveals that J.W. was climbing a rope using mechanical ascenders. It appears that a short fall occurred, causing the ascenders to sever the rope. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
On the evening of October 18th, park ranger/medic Cody Cole was flagged down by a motorcyclist along the Kolob Terrace Road. The motorcyclist said that his brother, E.C., 52, of Saint George, Utah, had been involved in a serious motorcycle accident. Cole and ranger Pete Sawtell responded and provided advanced life support to E.C.. A Washington County deputy and ambulance and Utah Highway Patrol officers also responded. E.C. was pronounced dead at the scene. The Utah Highway Patrol is leading the investigation. It's believed that alcohol, drugs, and speed were contributing factors to the accident. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
Rangers received a report of a falling accident near the park's east entrance on the afternoon of November 29th. The reporting party said that C.F., 55, of Salt Lake City, had fallen about 20 feet while hiking in a side canyon off Highway 9 and that he'd landed on his head and was unconscious. When rangers arrived 12 minutes later, they were told by bystanders near the road that CPR was in progress. Rangers and park medics continued CPR and employed an AED, but were unable to revive C.F. His body was transferred to the Kane County medical examiner. An investigation by the park and sheriff's office is underway, but it appears that C.F. was attempting to descend a small slope after scrambling up to a flat ledge with other hikers when he lost his footing. He slid down a slope and was able to hang on for a short time before losing his grip and falling. Therese Picard is the lead investigating ranger. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
On the morning of Wednesday, February 25th, ranger Luke Hodgson noted that a pickup truck that had been parked near the Canyon Overlook trailhead the previous evening was still at that location. Hodgson investigated and found that the owner - D.B., 48, a New Jersey resident - was believed to be despondent and that his family was concerned that he might be considering suicide. A hasty search was conducted that afternoon, but no clues were found to his whereabouts. Early yesterday morning, D.B.'s body was found at the base of Great Arch. It appears that he fell from the end of the Canyon Overlook trail into Pine Canyon. Rangers conducted an on-scene investigation, then employed a technical raising system to lift the body 400 feet to the canyon rim. It was then released to the Washington County Sherriff's Office for further investigation. Ranger Andrew Fitzgerald will continue the investigation with the county, and was also the operations chief for the technical raise. The IC was district ranger Ray O'Neil. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
On October 17, 2008, J.W. fell to his death while climbing the Touchstone route in Zion National Park. The National Park Service subsequently conducted an investigation into the cause of the accident in cooperation with the Washington County Sherriff's office. Their findings have been released. The three-person climbing party had climbed three pitches (approximately 180 feet) without significant event. When the member leading the fourth pitch had reached the pitch's top anchor, he tied the end of a rope into it. The climbing party's gear, weighing 104 pounds, was attached to the bottom end of this rope, which was to be used as a haul line. The climbing partner then ran the haul line, which was also J.W.'s ascending line, through a Petzl Pro-traxion device, a pulley which incorporates a cam allowing for rope capture as rope is hauled in. The climbing partner pulled 15 feet of slack through the Pro-traxion prior to J.W. starting his ascent. The group planned to haul the gear to the top of the fourth pitch after J.W., the second climber, had completed his ascent. The third party member planned to ascend a second rope, the leader's lead climbing rope. J.W.'s fall occurred when the Pro-traxion failed soon after he started to ascend the haul line. The Pro-traxion operates with a cam and pulley mounted to a fixed plate. A sliding plate allows a rope to be inserted into the device. When the sliding plate is properly closed, a button locks the device together. NPS investigators were able to reproduce the failure of the Pro-traxion during informal tests when the device was closed improperly. They noted that the device could appear to be properly closed (but not truly closed) if the device was weighted prior to the side plate sliding into place. When improperly closed, the device can deform when weighted, causing rope to move rapidly past the cam in the unintended direction. When the Pro-traxion failed, the 15 feet of slack ran rapidly through the device, causing J.W. to fall this distance while still attached to the rope by his mechanical ascenders. The force generated by the fall transferred to J.W.'s ascenders, which severed the rope, resulting in J.W.'s tragic fatal fall. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
During the last weekend in April, rangers rescued a number of people following boating accidents in Zion Narrows. During the spring snowmelt runoff season, the flow of the North Fork of the Virgin River is occasionally high enough to allow for whitewater kayaking. This year, five boating parties obtained permits for one-day trips through the Narrows over the weekend. Members of four of the groups unintentionally spent nights in the Narrows, with kayakers in two of the groups losing their boats and requiring assistance to complete their trips. On the afternoon of April 24th, kayaker C.M. was washed under a log jam. Fortunately, he was not trapped by the hazard and was able to safely reach the river bank, but his boat was lost downstream. The remaining two members of his party left him their extra food and warm clothing and continued on their way. They eventually came upon another group and both groups spent the night together. On the following afternoon, C.M.'s party reported his predicament to the park, which organized a rescue team that including roads and trails foreman Don Sharlow, ranger Dan Hovenac, and local resident Logan Hebner. The team began its descent of the Narrows on Sunday morning. A Bell 47G helicopter served as a radio relay. Two of the other groups that had planned day trips for Saturday failed to clear the Narrows by day's end. The first group, consisting of two hard shell kayakers, provided C.M. with additional food, then continued downstream; members of the second group, who were in two inflatable kayaks, invited C.M. to accompany them. On Sunday morning, C.M. and his new travelling companions came upon the boats of the hard shell kayakers who had passed C.M. the afternoon before. One boat was on a gravel bar in a narrow section of canyon. The boat was tied to a rope which was anchored 80 feet up the difficult to climb cliff face. A second boat was found upside down downstream. C.M. finally exited the Narrows on Sunday afternoon, 48 hours after losing his boat. When C.M.'s party came out of the Narrows, they reported the abandoned kayaks. The Bell helicopter began searching the mesas above the kayaks. The two kayakers were discovered, cliffed-out 800 feet above the river, unable to climb up or down. The two had attempted to climb out of the canyon after one of the kayakers lost his boat. They were concerned with fluctuating river levels and flash floods. The helicopter's pilot was unable to land near them due to heavy brush, so Grand Canyon's short haul team was requested. Due to higher rotor clearance, the Grand Canyon MD 900 helicopter was able to locate a safe landing zone and the two kayakers were picked up and flown out of the backcountry. Zion Narrows was temporarily closed to boating while the causes of the multiple incidents were evaluated (they were reopened on April 30th). The NPS has advised prospective boaters that they should be comfortable with Class V whitewater prior to attempting the Narrows run. At some levels, the rapids may warrant a lower classification, but the extreme difficulty of rescue requires that boaters be highly proficient and self-sufficient. Rescue in the Narrows, if possible at all, will be significantly delayed due to the extreme inaccessibility of the canyon. Boaters are also reminded to plan for unintended overnight stays and emergencies. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger; Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
On Saturday, May 9th, rescuers responded to a climbing accident near the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. A 27-year-old man was on a route known as "Feast of Snakes," which is located on the Pine Creek Canyon wall directly below the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, when the fall occurred. He had placed an anchor at the top of the route and was cleaning gear while being lowered by his partner, who was using a GriGri climbing device at the bottom of the climb. The rope being used by the climbers was too short for the slingshot belay technique and the end of the rope went through the GriGri, dropping the climber 20 feet onto his neck and back on a ledge below the route. Due to the steep terrain and loose footing, along with the mechanism of injury, rescuers called for a helicopter for a winch extrication. The rescuers had to first perform a technical lowering to move the climber from the ledge. An additional low-angle technical raising, followed by a low-angle lowering, were performed before carrying the patient to an open area away from the canyon walls. A Blackhawk from Nellis Air Force Base extricated the man and flew him to a waiting ambulance at the Coal Pits helispot. He was then taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with C-1, T-1 and T-5 fractures along with a lacerated spleen. About 25 park personnel were involved in the rescue. [Therese Picard, IC]
On May 19th and 23rd, rangers responded to nearly identical rescues in Middle Echo Canyon, a technical canyoneering route located within the park. Both parties had completed the technical portion of the route but were blocked from exiting the canyon by a 30-foot-high wall of ice and snow. Some members of one party were able to scramble out of the canyon near the snow wall, but the majority of the involved individuals were unable to make it out. Requests for assistance ensued and the SAR teams performed a series of 100-foot raises from the same spot in each incident. Nobody was injured, but some complained of minor hypothermia due to their lack of preparedness for the deep, cold-water wading required on this route. Members of one of the parties received citations for failure to obtain a permit and for creating a hazardous condition. The second rescue may not have been necessary if a required canyoneering permit had been obtained and current canyon conditions checked. Rescue in the canyons of Zion National Park is never guaranteed and always presents some degree of hazard to rescuers and victims. The second rescue team performed technical raises of victims after dark and with lightning in the area. The park has temporarily closed Middle Echo Canyon to recreational use due to visitor safety concerns stemming from these recent rescues and the similarity of the current conditions to those experienced in 2008. Rangers will periodically check canyon conditions and will reopen it to recreational use when the snow and ice obstacles have melted out to a degree which is passable by canyoneers of average ability with standard canyoneering equipment. Canyon District Ranger Kevin Killian was IC for both rescues. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
Late on the afternoon of May 31st, rangers received several reports from hikers on the Emerald Pools trail saying that people were yelling for help from a canyon above them. At about the same time, the International Emergency Response Center notified the park that they'd received a 'rescue alert' from a SPOT satellite personal tracker from deep in a slot canyon. This signal confirmed that the accident was in Behunin Canyon, rather than Heaps Canyon. A short-haul ready helicopter from the Grand Canyon was called; upon arrival, the pilot picked up ranger Keith Winslow and ranger/paramedic Andrew Fitzgerald and flew them to a point above the canyon where they could rappel to the victim - L.H., 37, of San Pedro, California - with medical supplies and overnight gear. The rangers had to provide food and warm clothing to a total of seven people because neither L.H.'s party nor the party providing assistance to him had brought adequate gear for an overnight or extended stay. Rangers reached L.H. just before midnight, then treated and spent the night with him. The next morning, rangers rigged a highline to get L.H. across a pool prior to the last two rappels out, then piggybacked and scooted him across other obstacles. L.H. was able to control his own descent on the last two rappels with fireman's belays from below. Once out of the canyon, he was short-hauled to the canyon floor, then taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. Kevin Killian was the initial IC, Ray O'Neil was the operations chief. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
Staff at the front desk of Zion lodge reported a propane leak at 9:30 a.m. on the morning of July 2nd. Zion dispatch transmitted emergency tones and ICS was established with ranger Kevin Killian as IC and ranger Keith Winslow as operations section chief. Winslow arrived on scene within minutes, set up a protective perimeter, and ordered the evacuation of the main Zion Lodge building and a nearby public restroom facility. The second responding ranger provided medical care to a Xanterra maintenance employee who had suffered a propane inhalation injury; additional patrol and park wildland fire units assisted in traffic control, enforcing nearby trail closures, and performing trail and building sweeps. Park maintenance employees, using breathing apparatus, had the tank shut off by 10 a.m. An investigation into the cause of the leak is currently underway. A mutual aid response was received from Springdale police, fire and ambulance and from an ambulance and crew from the town of Hurricane. [Kevin Killian, Acting Chief Ranger]
N.M., 55, of Glendora, California, fell about a thousand feet to her death on the morning of Sunday, August 9th. N.M. was hiking with her family when she fell from the north side of Angels Landing, a popular hiking destination in the park. The fall was first reported via a 911 call from another hiker's cell phone. A St. George Police dispatcher received the call and notified the park. Rangers responded to Angels Landing while a park search and rescue team was mobilized and sent to the location to begin a search for the victim. The woman's body was located on a steep, rugged, talus slope at the base of Angels Landing below the saddle area between Angels Landing and Scout Lookout. Two big wall climbers half way up a route below Angels Landing also witnessed the fall, as the victim fell dangerously close to their porta-ledge. A technical recovery was required to bring her body down to the floor of Zion Canyon. A rappel along the fall line was also performed to look for additional evidence along the cliff face. The Washington County Sheriff's Office is investigating the fall in cooperation with the National Park Service. Plateau district ranger Ray O'Neil was the operations chief, Canyon district ranger Kevin Killian was the incident commander. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
An ultralight plane carrying two people crashed near the right fork of North Creek around 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 17th. The pilot and a passenger received injuries ranging from bumps and bruises to bone fractures. Hikers saw the accident and reported it via 911. Two park medics hiked in, stabilized their injuries, and spent the night with them. On Sunday morning, a helicopter from Grand Canyon landed nearby and all four were evacuated. One of the accident victims was transported by ambulance to the Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah, but the other refused further medical care. The ultralight reportedly lost power while flying over the river and struck trees before hitting the ground. The search and rescue operation involved 13 park staff and four crew members on the Grand Canyon helicopter, plus the crew on the Hurricane ambulance that transported the injured person to the hospital. [Kevin Killian, Canyon District Ranger]
T.G., 50, of Pocatello, Idaho, and St. George, Utah, fell about a thousand feet to her death on the north side of Angel's Landing on the afternoon of November 27th. T.G. was hiking the popular Angel's Landing trail at the time. The call came in via St. George PD dispatch and rangers were immediately dispatched to Angel's Landing. A ground search and rescue team was mobilized and sent to the location to search for the victim. The Angel's Landing trail was closed for a short time during investigation and recovery operations. T.G.'s body was located and recovered by 6:30 p.m. The incident is under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and Zion National Park; preliminary information suggests that this was an accidental death. [Kevin Killian, Canyon District Ranger]
Ranger Anne Pestolesi came upon several large bags of illegally collected wildflower seeds along the side of the road in the Kolob Terrace area of the park last August. Over the next several weeks, Pestolesi and park staff began an investigation that led to the discovery that several hundred pounds of Palmer's penstemon wildflower seeds had been illegally harvested and removed from the park. Special agent Matt Fisher was brought in to assist with the investigation. On September 21st, Fisher and Pestolesi travelled to the remote backcountry area where the illegal harvest had taken place. They arrested undocumented aliens C.L.-A. and C.M.-G., who were illegally camped in the backcountry and engaged in the illegal removal of the seeds. The total weight of collected seeds exceeded 900 pounds. The seed collectors intended to sell their illegal harvest to commercial seed distributers who then frequently sell their seed to federal agencies pursuing revegetation projects. On December 7th, C.L.-A. and C.M-G. were convicted on felony counts of 18 USC 641, theft of government property, and sentenced to 24 months of supervised probation in addition to time served. The two had been in custody since their September arrests. The court also imposed the condition that the two shall not illegally reenter the United States. Charges against additional suspects are pending. The assistance of the NPS Investigative Services Branch and the Saint George Assistant US Attorney's Office was instrumental in the successful prosecution of the case. [Ray O'Neil, Acting Chief Ranger]
On Sunday, April 25th, rangers received a report of an overdue party from a float trip down though the Virgin River Narrows. Investigation revealed that two 23-year-old men from Las Vegas had hiked into the Narrows with the intent of constructing a log raft and floating approximately 50 miles through the Narrows to Hurricane, Utah. The men were not equipped with wetsuits or PFDs, did not have whitewater rafting experience, and had limited camping experience, little food and no overnight gear. They told their father that they intended to record their entire trip on video camera as an entry into the "Man vs. Wild" competition. The SAR operation concluded on April 26th when both bodies and a small amount of personal gear were recovered from the river. [Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a report of a climber in distress in Pine Creek Canyon just before 7 p.m. on April 30th. The caller said that a member of his canyoneering party had lost control during the final 100 feet of a rappel and was hanging upside down and unable to right himself. Rangers immediately recognized that this was a life threatening situation. A hasty team responded to a gallery window in the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel, where two rangers were lowered to the climber. The rangers were able to get him right side up and connect him to the rescue system. Personnel in the tunnel window then raised all three to a safe location. From initial report to completion of the rescue took just 56 minutes. The fast response is credited with saving the man's life. Only one person in the party of eight finished the last rappel; due to darkness and the inexperience of the climbers, it was determined that raising all party members to the tunnel window was the appropriate course of action. One lane of traffic was closed in the tunnel for rescue vehicles. A large haul team was required to raise the seven members of climbing party and their two rescuers through five raising evolutions. Nineteen park personnel participated in the operation. The IC was ranger Andrew Fitzgerald. [Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of May 16th, a 50-year-old woman fell 20 feet in Hidden Canyon. landing on the upturned branches of a dead pine tree. Initial reports indicated that she had suffered impalement and lost a significant amount of blood. Responding ranger/medic Ryan McDonald-O'lear discovered that the woman had suffered two significant lacerations. She was unable to bear any weight on her injured limbs, but was stable. Accessing Hidden Canyon requires traversing a cliff face on a three-foot-wide trail using chains. In order to avoid the chain traverse, rangers constructed a 400-foot-long highline, but twists were soon discovered in the line. Since the woman was stable and darkness was limiting the team's ability to safely construct the highline, the decision was made to complete the operation the following morning. Ranger/medics spent the night with her. The SAR team returned at first light and completed the highline and safely evacuated the woman. Twenty-four park employees were involved in the rescue. [Ray O'Neil, Operations Chief]
On July 21st, twelve members of a Las Vegas-based Boy Scout troop were completing the second day of a planned four day backpacking trip in the park. C.B., 17, was having difficulty and lagged behind as the group hiked south along the Hop Valley Trail. Around noon, a leader who was hiking a short distance in front of C.B. turned around and did not see him. He hiked five minutes back down the trail to the point where he last saw C.B., but could not find the boy. Rangers conducted a hasty search that afternoon by foot and helicopter with no success. More than 25 NPS personnel participated in the search the next day. Four dog teams from the Zion K-9 SAR Team, based in Hurricane, Utah, joined the operation. Early in the afternoon, two of the dog teams alerted on a side canyon near the point last seen. Ground searchers discovered C.B.'s body there. It appears that he hiked about 500 feet off of the trail and into the brushy side canyon. A cause of death will be determined by the state medical examiner's office. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
After much rigorous planning, training and implementation, the park launched its short-haul program with two missions on two consecutive days last week. On Friday, a 61-year-old man from Salt Lake City suffered an angulated ankle fracture while in the upper reaches of the Left Fork of North Creek, an area popularly known as "The Subway." He was short-hauled out, transferred to an ambulance, and taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, with ranger/paramedic Rob Wissinger as his attendant during the operation. On Saturday afternoon, a severe thunderstorm dropped an inch of rain in less than a half hour in some areas of the park, causing flashfloods in several canyons. One was Spry Canyon. The mouth of that canyon is visible from the switchbacks on the main park road. After the storm passed, an off-duty ranger reported seeing a flashing light at the top of the last rappel in that canyon. Two rangers investigated and found that three men had been flushed out of the canyon by the flood; two had been washed over 40-foot and 60-foot drops and a third had been washed over the 40-foot drop and was at the top of the 60-foot drop. Two of the three men had sustained potentially life-threatening injuries requiring immediate evacuation, so a short-haul operation was conducted. The two men were then transferred to two different Classic Lifeguard air-ambulances and flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center, where they underwent surgery. The third injured man was assisted out by foot, then transported by ground ambulance to the medical center. The rescue effort required the use of about 20 park personnel and three helicopters. Paramedic/rangers Wissinger and Brandon Torres were involved. [Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
On Saturday, September 19th, a 20-year-old hiker from Boise sustained an unstable ankle injury when she jumped eight to ten feet off an obstacle along the Subway Route. Ranger/medic Ray O'Neil and Dan Hovanec hiked in six miles, stabilized her injury, and spent the night with the injured hiker. Rangers Kelsey Taylor and Derrick Fassbender hiked in additional equipment and escorted the rest of the hiking group out in the dark that evening. On Sunday, Grand Canyon's helicopter and flight crew short-hauled the woman out of the Subway Route to a waiting ambulance. In the area where the incident occurred, a bolted anchor is available to rappel or hand-line down. Despite discouraging the practice, jumping to negotiate obstacles continues to be a frequent cause of injury while canyoneering in Zion. [Brandon Torres, Canyon District Ranger]
On October 10th, seasonal protection ranger Jared Carter was working in the Kolob Canyon Visitor Center when a visitor showed him an annual pass to enter the park. During the exchange, Carter noticed a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the visitor. The man purchased a new T-shirt, left the visitor center, changed his shirt, then entered his truck and drove into the park via the scenic drive. Carter contacted the man at a pullout, told him he could smell the marijuana, and advised that he had probable cause to search the vehicle. At that point, the man said: "You got me; I smoked some this morning." Before Carter could start his search, the man told him that "what you are looking for is in the ashtray." Carter searched the cab and found a plastic bag with what appeared to be a couple of ground-up buds, packs of smoking paper, a white envelope containing a large amount of cash, and a dominoes tin that contained a grinder, glass pipe, and a vacuum sealed plastic bag containing approximately 60 buds. Carter then contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office drug task force. A search of the truck bed resulted in the finding of soft-sided luggage containing three large empty duffel bags, a bag containing three rolls of what appeared to be the same vacuum seal bag material as the bag that contained the marijuana buds, and numerous white envelopes containing cash. The total sum written on the envelopes exceeded $35,000. The task force proceeded with the investigation and seized the truck and cash. The man spent a week in jail before he bonded out. He was charged with a third degree misdemeanor for possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, and a Class A misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia. DEA has adopted the case regarding the seizure of the truck and cash. The county drug task force was able to enhance each charge by one class because the park is considered a drug free zone. [Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
On Sunday, April 17th, rangers received several calls regarding overdue parties who were on the Subway Route. All were located by 2 a.m. the following morning. While investigating the reports, though, ranger Ray O'Neil noted that one vehicle was still parked at the Left Fork trailhead with a day permit for April 16th. Backcountry permit checks revealed that a party of two had planned to hike the Subway Route via the Russell Gulch technical entrance and that they had not been reported overdue. Initial investigations revealed they were not due to return to work until Tuesday. The Subway Route and all technical access routes had extremely high water flows over the weekend due to the high country snow melt, and several parties travelling top down were experiencing difficulties. A hasty search was accordingly begun that afternoon. The search continued into Monday, with air support and additional SAR personnel joining in. By Tuesday, a full ICS operation had been established that included 25 NPS ground searchers, air support and two dog teams. During this time, the Subway Route remained open to visitors under the required permit system. Every exiting party was interviewed, but none reported seeing the two missing hikers. A separate report of a single overdue hiker was also received during this time. A request was put into the military for an infrared flight over the Russell Gulch and Subway area on Tuesday evening, and two helicopters were dispatched from Nellis AFB. Before they could arrive, a party exiting the Subway Route received a 911 call, with the caller reporting that a group of nine hikers remained in the canyon due to difficulties in getting through the technical section of the route. The group included all three of the missing hikers. The helicopters were redirected to the Subway Route, where they employed infrared and night vision equipment to locate the group. Two parajumpers descended to them to determine their condition and traveled with them to the trailhead. All missing persons were accounted for, and none required medical attention. They said they'd had serious trouble getting through the water and the narrowest sections of the canyon. The Subway Route has been temporarily closed for safety reasons until further notice. [Cindy J. Purcell, Chief Ranger]
On Saturday, May 21st, a 24-year-old hiker from Norway sustained a lower leg fracture near the summit of Angels Landing when he jumped approximately five feet off a small, isolated pinnacle atop the route. Grand Canyon's helicopter and flight crew were summoned and short-hauled the man off the peak. While waiting for the helicopter, rangers prepared for a lengthy technical lowering operation down the 1500-foot-high north face of the mountain should weather or other factors preclude a short-haul evacuation. While doing so, rangers learned that a 62-year-old male from St. George had collapsed from severe chest pain approximately half way up the Angels Landing trail and responded. He was quickly treated and evacuated via wheeled litter, then flown to a hospital via commercial air ambulance, surviving what was described by hospital staff as a massive heart attack. The hiker from Norway was successfully short-hauled off the summit to a waiting NPS ambulance crew. [Brandon Torres, Canyon District Ranger]
On June 8th, a 30-year-old visitor from the Netherlands fell approximately 10 feet onto his head while down-climbing a slick rock section along the Hidden Canyon route. A visitor who was in the vicinity of the fall ran out to the entrance of the canyon and located another visitor at with cell service to report the incident. A technical rescue operation began that involved 27 park staff. Responders carried the man over difficult terrain out to the mouth of the canyon in a litter. Once carried out of the steep-walled, narrow section of the route, Grand Canyon's helicopter and flight crew were able to short-haul him from a high ridge to a waiting NPS ambulance. [Brandon Torres, Canyon District Ranger]
The park's search and rescue team conducted four HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyoneering" canyoneering rescues in three days, then took on a big wall rescue of two injured climbers: July 16th - On the morning of July 16th, a 20-year-old man suffered a lower leg fracture after a short fall while descending into Mystery Canyon. When the injury occurred, he was over a quarter mile and 400 vertical feet below the canyon rim in a steep, heavily-vegetated gully. When rangers arrived on scene, he told them he'd be willing to assist with his evacuation, but that he could not bear any weight on the injured leg. Over the next six hours, he laboriously worked his way to the canyon rim with rangers' assistance while the park's contract helicopter staged at a nearby landing zone. His fortitude prevented the need for a complex technical rope rescue or a helicopter short haul. When he arrived on the East Mesa Trail, the helicopter evacuated him from the wilderness. While this incident was occurring, rangers were alerted to a 37-year-old male in the Narrows who was unable to stand or walk. The man, who was suffering from cumulative knee and lower leg injuries, had stopped hiking and sent others out to seek help. Though he had intended to complete the strenuous, 16-mile route as a day trip on July 15th, he spent an unplanned night in the Narrows. Members of the park SAR team conducted a six-hour litter carry of the patient via the park's SAR pack raft. July 17th - A group of seven canyoneers in Imlay Canyon requested help for two people who had taken separate falls. Members of the group began their descent of Imlay on July 16th. This canyon has one of the park's more difficult canyoneering routes, with over 20 rappels, extremely cold water, and numerous potholes requiring specialized techniques for escape. As group members were completing a 10 foot rappel using a log jammed crosswise in the canyon as an anchor, the log anchor failed and the 20-year-old man who was on the rope suffered a possible lower leg fracture. The injured man was moved a short distance down canyon to a wide area and all spent the night there. In the morning, one party member stayed with the injured man while the remaining five canyoneers continued on the route, promising to send help once their trip was complete. Early in the evening of July 17th, they arrived at the last rappel 140 feet above the Zion Narrows. The first canyoneer to complete the free-hanging rappel then hurried to the Temple of Sinawava Trailhead two miles downstream to report the incident. Group members were using the carabineer block technique at the anchor, allowing party members to rappel on one strand of rope while using two strands of rope tied together to function as a pull cord. If used correctly, a carabineer and knot jam against the anchor prevents the rope from pulling through the anchor while the canyoneer is on rope. Connecting the rappel device to the correct side of the anchor is critical. The second-to-last party member to descend the last rappel attached her device on the wrong side of the anchor; when she put weight on it, she fell the entire distance into the shallow water below - a distance equivalent to 13 stories. Her life was likely saved by the friction or bunching of the rope whipping through the anchor, slowing her fall just enough at the last second. While a ranger at the trailhead was taking information concerning the initial lower leg fracture, a visitor rushed to the trailhead to report that a woman had fallen 140 feet. Rangers quickly organized a carryout via raft litter and evacuated the woman to the trailhead, arriving shortly after midnight. Her most serious injury was a shattered ankle. On the morning of July 18th, Grand Canyon National Park's contract helicopter and short-haul team evacuated the man with the initial lower leg fracture out of the center of Imlay Canyon. The use of short haul prevented the need for a long, difficult technical rope rescue. Charges concerning the group's wilderness permit violations are pending. July 19th - Just after 11 p.m. on July 19th, flashing lights and shouts for help were seen and heard from halfway up the vertical cliff face below Angels Landing, prompting a shuttle bus driver to alert park rangers. Using a patrol vehicle PA system, spotlight and headlamp flashes, rangers were able to communicate with the climbers. They determined that there were two climbers on the Northeast Buttress and that at least one had fallen and suffered a head injury. Before calling for help, the climbers had attempted to retreat but did not have enough rope to clear a huge free hanging rappel. They'd also discovered that their single 70-meter rope had been badly damaged. Members of the park's technical rescue team rallied early the next morning at the top of Angels Landing for the rescue. The Zion helitack crew supported the team with recon flights and a sling load of ropes and equipment. Helicopter recon proved critical in establishing the appropriate fall line for the ensuing 1,300-foot lowering operation. The team used two high directionals to help keep the mainline free of obstacles. As ranger/paramedic Brandon Torres was lowered approximately 700 feet to the climbers, he carefully cleared debris to significantly reduce rock fall hazard. The climbers, brothers aged 34 and 31, were in stable condition and able to describe the events of the previous day. They'd gotten off route on the fifth or sixth pitch of the Northeast Buttress. Once off route, each had taken separate and substantial falls - one had sustained hand injuries and the other hit his head and lost consciousness for a short time. Torres connected the climbers to the rescue system and all three were lowered another 600 feet to the ground. The climbers were on the ground by 1:30 p.m. Ranger Therese Picard served as operations chief. [Andrew Fitzgerald and Ray O'Neil, Park Rangers]
On the evening of Monday, August 8th, ranger Josh Wentz contacted a driver for an equipment violation near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Following an investigation, he was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The driver, an Idaho resident, had two previous DUI convictions from Idaho (2007 and 2008) and a current Idaho misdemeanor warrant for previous violations of his conditions of release specifying "no alcohol." Further investigation revealed that the driver had these conditions of release due to two other pending Idaho DUI charges and numerous criminal mischief charges. Because of the driver's previous DUI convictions, the local assistant U.S. attorney declined the case, as the federal CFR charge is a Class B misdemeanor, and transferred the case to the state authorities for prosecution. While Zion is proprietary jurisdiction, there is also federal case law (US v Palmer 1992, US v Fox 1995) that has ruled against parks using the Assimilated Crimes Act to incorporate state DUI charges that may carry heavier penalties into federal court due to the existence of the existing 36 CFR DUI charge. Rangers are working with the Washington County Attorney's Office on the case. In Utah a third DUI conviction within 10 years qualifies as a third degree felony, with penalties of $5,000 and up to five years in prison. Interest from the Idaho authorities has been high based on the long alcohol-related history of the driver, pending Idaho charges, and existing misdemeanor warrant. Zion is one of three parks partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the second year of an Impaired Driving High Visibility Enforcement Project along with Delaware Water Gap and Great Smoky Mountains. Through the funding assistance of NHTSA, the project at Zion has included 24 hours of training on NHTSA's standardized field sobriety tests, increased enforcement during national campaigns and local events, increased media outreach, public education and notification, as well as partnering with local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and highway safety offices. [Therese Picard, Zion NHTSA Coordinator]
On November 15th, a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman completed the Jolly Gulch HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyoneering" canyoneering route, a seldom visited route on the east side of the park. The route involves two rappels, one of 160 feet and the other of 100 feet. After completing the rappels, most canyoneers then hike a mile and a half through the canyon to a road. Instead, the pair attempted to free climb up the side of the canyon with the goal of reaching the canyon rim. The woman fell 60 feet from a small ledge to the ground and suffered shoulder and ankle fractures as well as lacerations to her spleen and liver. The man and woman worked at a local resort and made contact with the resort front desk by family radio. The National Park Service response was delayed due to confusion amongst the resort staff, who initially believed resort employees could resolve the incident without assistance. When a Kane County deputy arrived on scene, he requested an immediate response from the Zion SAR team due to the patient's deteriorating condition. Ranger/medics Ryan McDonald-O'Lear and Brandon Torres responded and stabilized the HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypotensive" hypotensive patient. Ranger Therese Picard was the incident operations chief and led the rope raising operation, which was conducted entirely in the dark. Members of the Kane County Search and Rescue Team assisted with the operation and coordinated the medical helicopter evacuation. The woman survived and is currently in stable condition. The man was cited for failing to obtain a required canyoneering wilderness permit. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
On the evening of Monday, August 8th, ranger Josh Wentz contacted J.H., 37, for an equipment violation near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Following an investigation, J.H., an Idaho native, was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Based on J.H.'s previous two DUI convictions, the assistant U.S. attorney transferred the case to the state of Utah. J.H. remained in state custody at Purgatory Correctional Facility between his arrest and court date. After waiving his rights to a preliminary hearing, J.H. pled guilty to a third degree felony DUI charge (three DUIs within a ten-year period) on November 1st. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for time served, a $1500 fine, substance abuse counseling, ignition interlock device in all vehicles, and three years of supervised probation, including the restriction of no alcohol. Within three days of being released from jail, J.H. was arrested for violating the terms of his probation by consuming alcohol and being intoxicated. J.H. subsequently pled guilty to the probation violation and was sentenced to a year in jail with supervised probation terminated upon his release. All other terms of his sentence remain intact. Zion is one of three parks partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the second year of an impaired driving high visibility enforcement project along with Delaware Water Gap and Great Smoky Mountains. Through the funding assistance of NHTSA, the project at Zion has included increased enforcement during national campaigns and local events, increased media outreach, public education and notification, and partnering with local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and highway safety offices. [Therese Picard, Zion NHTSA Coordinator]
A 1964 HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Cobra" Cobra sports car valued at $800,000 was completely consumed in a fire in the Zion Mount Carmel tunnel on the afternoon of Monday, May 21st. The fire was reported to the park just after 5 p.m. and the park's structural fire engine company responded along with the Springdale/Rockville fire department and two wildland fire engines. A Type Six engine with a 250 gallon tank and a pump capacity of 150 gallons per minute entered the tunnel with two firefighters wearing HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCBA" SCBAs. A second Type Six engine, two Type One engines, and the wildland engines provided backup for the initial attack engine. Firefighters with the initial attack engine were able to successfully contain and extinguish the fully engulfed sports car. The two occupants of the car had found relatively safe refuge in two of the tunnel's gallery windows. All other vehicles and people exited the tunnel prior to initial attack efforts. The two occupants were transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The tunnel and road were closed for two-and-a-half hours. The insurance value of the sports car was reported to be $800,000. Construction of the tunnel, which is just over a mile long, began in the late 1920's and was completed in 1930. At the time the tunnel was dedicated, it was the longest tunnel of its type in the United States. In addition to concerns with the potential for multiple vehicles and people trapped inside the tunnel, responders were aware that wooden timbers provide structural support and prevent rock fall in the interior of the tunnel. The NPS engine company conducts yearly training sessions in the tunnel and had determined that a smaller engine would provide better access and egress from the tunnel in the event of a vehicle fire. Firefighters were also aware that afternoon winds would likely vent smoke away from them as they approached. A protective coating along the walls in the area of the fire protected the tunnel's wood timbers. [Ray O'Neil, Incident Commander]
Just before 1 a.m. on July 1st, a climber, after running over two miles to get to a phone, reported that his partner had fallen approximately 40 feet and sustained serious injuries off the first pitch of the Moonlight Buttress route. He then returned to the area with two rangers, but in the darkness and steep terrain he was unable to find his injured friend. SAR team members gearing up along the roadside could see a faint headlight glow about a quarter mile down canyon from the base of the Moonlight Buttress, though, and therefore shifted their response. Subsequent investigation revealed that the two inexperienced climbers had planned to climb the route despite never having visited Zion before and never having practiced the aid climbing techniques typically utilized on the route. During their approach in fading light, the climbers mistook the Minotaur Tower for Moonlight Buttress and attempted to climb, in the dark, a crack system not associated with any standard climbing routes. Rescuers determined that the climber's injuries were not immediately life threatening, so technical rigging operations were suspended until daylight. A 300-foot-high, steep-angle lowering and wheeled litter evacuation brought the climber to the roadside around 9 a.m. The climber survived the night with multiple injuries and was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center via the park's ambulance. [Brandon Torres, Canyon District Ranger]
On August 16th, D.B., a 77-year-old German national, hiked into the lower end of the Left Fork route, intending to visit a formation about four-and-a-half miles from the trailhead. Late in the day, D.B. slipped on a rock and injured his knee. To avoid cramps and stay warm, he slowly hiked in circles through the night. On the morning of the 17th, D.B. encountered some hikers who sent a text message to relatives requesting assistance from the park. Ranger Nick Wood hiked to D.B.'s location about two-and-a-half miles from the trailhead and found that he was able to walk slowly. D.B. believed that he could hike to the trailhead, so he and Wood slowly began making their way out of the canyon. Over the next six hours, D.B. and Wood hiked one mile. An ascent of a steep 500 foot slope is required about a half mile from the Left Fork trailhead; although hikers travel up and down the slope on a well-used social trail, a litter carry up the slope would be challenging and hazardous to rescuers. As dark approached, D.B. still had not reached the bottom of the ascent. A ranger spent that night in the canyon with him. After a good night's sleep, D.B.'s mobility had not improved. Rangers discussed options for carrying him up the hill, including a direct carry up the difficult route, a 700 foot guiding line, or a helicopter short haul operation. Based on available resources, the non-critical nature of D.B.'s injuries, and the lowest overall risk to rescuers, the decision was made to construct a guiding line up the steep slope. The guiding line consisted of a main line and a belay line with a track line that could be slackened or tightened to move D.B. and an attendant away from a talus slope and the rock fall zone. Fifteen park employees and members of the Kane County SAR team constructed the guiding line on the morning of August 18th. After hauling D.B. to the top of the steep ascent, he was carried by litter to the trailhead, where he arrived at 2:30 p.m. [Ray O'Neil, Operations Chief]
Park medics saved two visitor lives in separate incidents that occurred a week apart in early September. On the afternoon of September 6th, dispatch received a cell phone call reporting that a hiker was suffering from chest pain. Although the relayed cell phone calls were repeatedly dropped, rangers learned that the 54-year-old man, who had a medical and cardiac history, was on the Upper Emerald Trail about a mile from the trail head. Park medics Ryan McDonald-O'Lear, Cindy Purcell and Ray O'Neil reached him within 30 minutes of the first call and began providing care. A litter team arrived a few minutes later and began a carryout Due to the man's medical history and condition, though, it was determined that a medevac was in order. The man was transferred to a helicopter within two hours of the initial call and flown to the cardiology center at Dixie Regional Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with an acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction and received a stent (his second). Fourteen responders from the park were involved in his evacuation. A week later, on September 13th, dispatch received a report of a concession employee, also with a significant cardiac history, who was experiencing a rapid heart rate and wasn't feeling well. The 34-year-old man previously had two valves replaced and a history of supra ventricular tachycardia. He'd tried for an hour to self-convert his heart rate back to a normal rhythm before requesting medical assistance. EMT Logan Tucker responded along with McDonald-O'Lear and O'Neil. They found that the man was suffering from extremely high blood pressure and a heart rate of 280 beats per minute. He was still alert and oriented, but was complaining of weakness and exhaustion and was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center. The ambulance and medics were 15 minutes out from the hospital when they received medical direction from doctors to shock the man's heart when he became lethargic and less responsive. After the shock delivery, his heart rate converted to a normal rhythm. He was admitted and diagnosed with wide complex tachycardia. [Therese Picard, Park Ranger]
On Saturday, October 6th, a 41-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman began a trip through Heaps Canyon, one of the park's more difficult canyoneering routes due to its length, cold water, a 300-foot free hanging rappel, and numerous obstacles, including slick rock potholes. Because of its length and difficulty, those who wish to complete Heap's Canyon as a day trip typically get a pre-dawn start. However, when this pair received their required wilderness permit around 9 am on Saturday, they said that their intention was to complete the canyon in one day. When park staff informed them they would not be able to complete the trip before dark, they said that they were prepared to spend the night. While the two were never reported overdue, rangers did note that their vehicle was still parked at a trailhead on the morning of Monday, October 8th. The Grand Canyon NP helicopter was requested in order to conduct a search. The helicopter crew found the canyoneers in the lower reaches of Heaps Canyon late that afternoon. After three days of travelling, the two had only completed about two-thirds of the canyon and had not gotten past some of its most difficult obstacles. The crew inserted a radio to the pair, who said that they couldn't complete the canyon without assistance. The woman reportedly sprained her ankle and was also having difficulty with the cold. On the morning of October 9th, a ranger and firefighter were inserted on a bench above the two canyoneers. They cleared a helispot, which made it possible for the helicopter to land with additional rescuers. The six-member rescue team lowered a medic from the bench 125 feet down to the stranded pair and then hauled all three people back to the bench. The two canyoneers did not require medical assistance. The experience and competence of the Grand Canyon pilot, manager, and ranger/medic were instrumental in ensuring the successful completion of this complex operation. Had rangers not noticed the canyoneers' vehicle at the trailhead, it is unclear when or if the two would have been reported overdue. Wilderness hikers should always inform someone of their plans along with an expected exit time. The pair also had far less experience than most Heaps Canyon travelers. The man, the more experienced of the two, had previously rappelled through several of Zion's easy to moderate canyoneering routes and had some top rope and gym climbing experience. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
On October 16th, a 28-year-old woman fell through a log jam while attempting the Das Boot/Subway Route in the Left Fork of North Creek, sustaining an unstable lower leg fracture. Two members of her party hiked through the Subway towards the Left Fork Trailhead until they were able to obtain cell phone service and reported the accident to the park at 6:30 p.m. The reporting party said that the injury had been splinted and that the woman and her companion had enough food, water and clothing to spend the night without NPS assistance. Zion's SAR team coordinated with Grand Canyon National Park for a short-haul mission the following day. At first light on October 17th, rescue teams traveled through the Das Boot canyoneering route to reach the woman. A technical lowering operation and a short litter carry were required to move her to a short-haul extraction site, where she was picked up via helicopter short haul at 2:30 p.m., 23 hours after the accident, and transferred to Hurricane Fire and Rescue for ground transport to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. This was the second short-haul mission completed at Zion utilizing a multi-park team consisting of a Zion short-haul rescuer already on scene working with Grand Canyon National Park spotters and aircraft. By removing the need to insert a short-haul rescuer, the risk and cost associated with short haul missions in Zion has been significantly reduced. [Ryan McDonald-O'Lear, IC]
On the afternoon of June 29th, Kane County contacted the park and asked for assistance in the rescue of a 21-year-old woman who'd fallen between 40 and 60 feet in the Birch Hollow slot canyon just outside the park. Cindy Purcell, the park's chief ranger, and the Kane County sheriff served as incident commanders. Kane County mobilized its technical rescue team; the park responded with medics, a technical SAR team, and a short-haul rescue crew. A park ranger/medic and a park EMT rappelled into the canyon, assessed the woman, and stabilized her. Suspecting a possible hip fracture and potentially significant internal injuries, the team quickly secured her in a full body splint and litter and raised her 90 feet out of the deepest part of the slot. The remaining two members of the party were also raised out of the canyon. Still not to the rim of the canyon, a tough climb through a heavily vegetated slope awaited the SAR evacuation team if a short-haul rescue was not possible. The interagency SAR team remained overnight with the injured woman. On Sunday, the crew of an NPS helicopter utilized a 250-foot line for the short-haul operation. The park medic and patient were lifted out of the canyon and delivered to a helispot north of the Zion Ponderosa, where a Life Flight medical ship was standing by. The accident was caused by the incorrect use of a technique referred to as simul-rappelling with a non-experienced person on one side of the rope and the victim on the other, counterbalancing each other's weight. Simul-rappelling is considered an advanced skill by many in the canyoneering community. The woman was still 40 to 60 feet from the bottom of the rappel when her tandem partner touched down and apparently let go. This release resulted in her free falling to the canyon floor. Late the next day, the county received a telephone call reporting a second accident with injuries on the same rappel in Birch Hollow. A 21-year-old woman, new to canyoneering and rappelling, had rappelled off the end of her rope and fallen 20 to 25 feet. She and her partner apparently misjudged the length of the rappel. The victim, who was the first to descend, sustained spinal and lower limb injuries. Kane County, Zion NP, and BLM and state park rangers reacted quickly. The woman was stabilized, raised out of the slot, and short-hauled with a medic to an awaiting Life Flight medical ship in just six-and-a-half hours. [Aly Baltrus, PIO]
On Monday, July 8th, rangers and helitack crew members completed three short-haul evolutions to rescue an overdue party of three canyoneers from Heaps Canyon, one of the most difficult canyons to navigate within Zion. The three men had obtained a day permit for Saturday, July 6th, but started their trip the prior evening. The family reported them overdue early Sunday morning and rangers began to monitor the canyon exit. Due to thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon, rangers were unable to fly a reconnaissance flight, but began to plan for a search on Monday morning. During one of the search flights on Monday, rangers spotted the trio on a bench above Heaps Canyon. They later reported that they'd reached a "dead end" in the canyon early on Saturday afternoon, not recognizing that conditions change dramatically from year to year and that they were in fact still in Heaps Canyon and potentially in a "keeper pothole." The permit holder had been through Heaps Canyon in 2011, a relatively wet year. The three men spent most of Sunday at this 30-foot-tall obstacle before convincing themselves they were in the wrong drainage. On Monday morning, they climbed 100 feet up to a bench above Heaps Canyon to await rescue. Ranger/medic Tim Hearns was inserted by short haul to assess injuries and extract the canyoneers one by one. This past week was one of hottest ever recorded in Zion, with seven days in a row above 111 degrees. [Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
The park received a report of an accident with severe injuries at a watercourse known as "Employee Falls" behind the Zion Lodge employee housing area on the evening of Saturday, July 20th. S.S., 22, a Xanterra employee from Florida, had been socializing with several other employees at the base of the falls all afternoon. He joined a group of four who arrived to practice rappelling skills and climbed above the falls. While on the bench of the falls, he walked near the edge to wave to the group below, lost his footing on the sloped edge, and fell approximately 50 feet onto the rocks below. S.S. suffered significant traumatic injuries in the fall. Ranger/medics provided ALS medical care while evacuating Schena from the canyon. During the evacuation, he became unresponsive and stopped breathing. S.S. was resuscitated by the rangers and Lifeflight personnel and transported by air to Dixie Regional Medical Center, where he passed away. The incident remains under investigation. [Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a report of a severely injured hiker in Behunin Canyon at 5 p.m. on Monday, September 2nd. The Behunin canyoneering route typically requires about nine hours to complete and involves hiking to the rim of Zion Canyon and then completing a series of nine rappels up to 165 feet in length. Reports indicated that the hiker had fallen the length of the canyon's fifth rappel (90 feet) and that he had suffered head, arm, leg, and back injuries. Due to the location of the patient and the severity of his injuries, rangers requested assistance from Nellis Air Force Base's 66th Rescue Squadron. A team of four rangers hiked and rappelled through Behunin Canyon arriving at the patient's location at midnight. The Nellis HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_HH-60_Pave_Hawk" Pave Hawk helicopter arrived in the area 30 minutes later and conducted a hoist operation to remove the patient from the canyon. A thunderstorm rolled through just after the operation was completed, causing the rangers to seek high ground due to the potential for flash flooding. The injured hiker was flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where doctors reported that he likely would not have survived spending the night in the canyon. The 33-year-old Arizona man was not connected to a rope and was hiking in a steep slick rock area near the anchor when he tumbled and fell. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
Park dispatch received a cell phone call asking for assistance on the route to Angels Landing around 6:30 p.m. on the evening of September 6th. A 23-year-old man who was hiking off route with one of his friends had taken a 20 to 30 foot sliding fall to a ledge and was complaining of lower back pain, a head laceration with prior loss of consciousness, and a knee injury. Medics rappelled to his location, made an assessment, immobilized him with a full body evacuation splint and spent the night with him. Grand Canyon assisted with a short-haul of the injured man and one of the medics the next morning. The man was taken to a hospital by Springdale Ambulance. This was the third significant overnight incident involving technical SAR personnel during a five-day period. [Cindy J. Purcell, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of February 8th, the park was notified that a fatal HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASE_jumping" BASE jump had occurred at Mount Kinesava. A couple from Salt Lake City, both experienced BASE jumpers, had come to Zion to jump from the mountain, although jumping is not permitted in the park. Mount Kinesava is also an area of the park that contains important natural resource habitat protecting threatened and endangered species. Investigation revealed that the man had previously jumped from this location on several occasions. His wife was wearing a custom-made HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingsuit_flying" wing suit, which she was using for the first time from this location. According to her husband, her main chute did not open in time to stop her from hitting the mountain's talus slope. The husband completed his base jump and hiked out to report the incident after dark. Rangers were short-hauled by Grand Canyon's helicopter to the victim's location on a cliff band 1500 feet below the summit and recovered her body. For more information, see this news story: HYPERLINK "http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/09/us/utah-newlywed-killed-base-jumping/" [Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
A group of eight bicyclists from Salt Lake City attempted to illegally bicycle through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel in Zion National Park late on the afternoon of Friday, February 22nd. While doing so, two of the bicyclists apparently hit the tunnel wall and crashed. One, a 51-year-old man, suffered significant head trauma and was transported to the hospital by the park ambulance. The second cyclist ran into the tunnel wall, sideswiping it and tearing his shirt. He refused medical care. It is illegal to bicycle through the tunnel. To ensure the safety of bicyclists and that of passing traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians must be transported through the unlit, narrow, mile-long tunnel in a motor vehicle. The bicyclists were part of a larger group of 12 who had arranged for a shuttle to take them to the other side, which is proper protocol. Apparently eight people in the group (including two minors) decided to ride through instead. "As soon as we rounded the corner, it was like pitch black, and that's where it happened," said one of the bicyclists near the back of the group. "He was just lying there. They were in a bad spot, and only two of the bikers had little flashers. I thought, 'someone else is going to get killed.'" He turned around and went back to the tunnel entrance to stop traffic from entering too fast. "That was my first thought cause I didn't want anybody else to get hurt," he added. "It was really stupid what we'd done... I think we all learned our lesson and we now have to pay the price." "I just can't believe that we put ourselves in that kind of situation," said another member of the group. Park rangers issued violation notices to group members. [Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
On Tuesday, March 11th, Zion dispatch received a report of an injured canyoneer in Jolly Gulch along the park's eastern boundary. Initial responders discovered that the man had fallen approximately 30 feet unrestrained and bounced several times off the rock wall before landing on the canyon bottom. He was not wearing a helmet and suffered significant multi-system trauma. Due to a lengthy carryout and his deteriorating condition, Grand Canyon helitack was asked to assist with a short-haul operation. In order to get to an appropriate short-haul extraction point, Zion rescuers needed to move the 250-pound man out of a pothole, perform a technical lowering operation, hand carry him down two more vertical drops up to ten feet in height, and navigate a slot canyon layered with snow and ice filled pools - all while in a canyon that was only three feet wide at times. Gusty, erratic winds hampered the short-haul efforts before the Grand Canyon helitack crew was able to successfully extract the man and a Zion rescuer. To further complicate logistics during the mission, LifeFlight AirMedical (St. George, Utah) was diverted from this mission to another one, but Classic LifeGuard (Page, Arizona) was able to fly the man to a medical care facility. [Craig Thexton, SAR Coordinator]
On the morning of March 23rd, S.L., a well-known and accomplished climber and BASE jumper, was reported missing by his wife after failing to return home to California from a trip to the park. Investigators soon discovered that S.L. had planned to BASE jump from the top of West Temple in a wing suit on the evening of March 13th, intending to fly the notch between West Temple and the Three Marys, which are east of West Temple. Rangers working with the Grand Canyon helicopter located S.L.'s remains on the north side of the Three Marys approximately 300 feet below the summit on the afternoon of March 23rd. A recovery was not attempted due to the strong crosswinds mixing near the ridgeline. Based on favorable weather forecasts, rangers instead planned a recovery effort for March 25th utilizing Grand Canyon's helicopter. Two rangers were short-hauled to top of the Three Marys and rappelled to S.L.'s location for the accident investigation. S.L.'s remains were then long-lined from the scene and the rangers were short-hauled from the summit. S.L. held the speed record for climbing the nose of El Capitan in Yosemite and interest in the climbing community was high. Several of S.L.'s friends independently climbed Gentleman's Agreement, a 5.13b, 900-foot climb up the Three Marys on March 24th and fixed lines to the summit. Four of S.L.'s friends with climbing and NPS rescue experience joined rangers to form a raising team on March 25th in case the helicopter operation was not possible. Although BASE jumping is not permitted in the park, this was the second such fatality to occur in Zion within the last six weeks. The first occurred at Mount Kinesava and was HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=6896" reported in the February 24th edition of this publication. A third fatal BASE jump this winter occurred at Grand Canyon and was HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=6886" reported in the February 16th edition. [Therese Picard, Canyon District Ranger]
On September 27th, 1.9 inches of rain fell on Zion National Park, including 1.27 inches which fell over a three hour period beginning at 10:30 a.m. The North Fork of the Virgin River rose from a flow of 52 cubic feet per second (cfs) at 10 a.m. to a peak of over 4000 cfs at 1 p.m. The associated flooding forced the closure of the Zion Mount Carmel Highway (Route 9) as well as the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from late morning through late afternoon. On the morning of the 27th, the National Weather Service forecast indicated a 90% chance of rain in Zion Canyon, with heavy rain possible. The flash flood potential rating was at the highest level of concern, and many slot canyons were expected to experience flash flooding. Two men from California drove up Zion Canyon instead of using the required shuttle bus and began hiking upstream from the Temple of Sinawava Trailhead at 8 a.m. Rain started to fall on the pair while they were in the Zion Narrows, but they continued a short distance up the canyon. They eventually turned around due to concern with the weather, but were trapped by the rising river on separate river benches 200 feet apart about a quarter mile north of the end of the paved Riverside Walk. Both men were on high ground and safe from the swollen river and waited for most of the day for the flood waters to drop. They were able to see each other but were unable to communicate due to the noise of the river. Late in the afternoon, the downstream hiker believed that he could not survive the night because of hypothermia and decided to risk swimming the river, which was still flowing at a rate of about 1000 cfs. He made it to safety and reported to rangers that his companion was safe and on high ground. Due to the continued high flows, it was impossible for rangers to check on the condition of the stranded hiker. Early on the morning of September 28th, rangers learned that the reporting party had hiked back into the Narrows to the point where he had last seen his companion but was not able to locate him. A large search team was mobilized and the team located the body of the missing hiker at 2 p.m. on the bank of the river near the Riverside Walk about a mile downstream from the point where he was last seen. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
Over a span of ten minutes on the afternoon of October 10th, the park received reports of two visitors requiring evacuation by means of technical rope rescues from two separate locations. A 35-year-old canyoneer in Pine Creek Canyon had jumped five feet into a pool of water. He thought that the pool was deep enough to cushion his landing, but landed on a ledge hidden just below the surface. He broke his fibula and was unable to bear any weight on his injured leg. Ranger/Medic Matthew Chuvarsky rappelled through the canyoneering route to the man's location. The Canyon Overlook Trail follows the rim of Pine Creek Canyon; rangers set up a lowering system to lower a litter and attendant from the trail to the man's location, then raised him and two attendants 350 feet back to the trail. The second injury occurred in Hidden Canyon, where a 51-year-old woman jumped a short distance while she was down climbing an obstacle. She also suffered from a broken fibula. Evacuation of a victim from Hidden Canyon requires the construction of a 400-foot-high line to bypass a section of the trail carved into a cliff face. Ranger/Medic Matthew McCarthy hiked to the woman's location and explained the challenges of a litter evacuation to her. She decided to attempt to hobble out of the canyon with assistance from crutches and rangers and was able to complete the task. A litter team met her just past the cliff face and carried her to the trailhead. Twenty-five SAR team members assisted during the two incidents. Jumping, as opposed to using a rope or down climbing, is the leading cause of preventable injuries in the Zion Wilderness. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
The National Park Service is investigating reports of vandalism - acrylic painting on rocks - in at least ten national parks in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Utah. Details are not yet available because the case is under investigation, but the vandalism is believed to have occurred in the following parks (asterisks indicate that confirmation is pending at a particular area) - Grand Canyon*, Yosemite, Death Valley, Sequoia-Kings Canyon*, Joshua Tree*, Rocky Mountain*, Crater Lake, Bryce Canyon*, Zion and Canyonlands. Said a Washington Office spokesperson: "There are forums for artistic expression in national parks because national parks inspire artistic creativity. These images are outside that forum and outside the law." The link below is to a representative media report on the investigation. HYPERLINK "http://gazette.com/vandalism-investigated-at-10-national-parks-including-rocky-mountain-national-park/article/1540003"
A 47-year-old climber from California died in an 80-foot fall on the afternoon of Sunday, October 19th. C.S. was hiking with a fellow climber to the base of "Iron Messiah," a technical 5.10 climb in Zion Canyon near the Zion Lodge which the duo planned to climb together. They were on an approach pitch in easy fifth class terrain when C.S. apparently fell backward, tumbling approximately 80 feet down the steep slope and striking a series of ledges. C.S. was not roped in and was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Rangers were notified of the accident at approximately 11 a.m. via 911 calls placed by his partner and another witness. Park medics located and reached C.S. by noon. Due to the steep rocky terrain, rangers needed to belay the litter with three attendants down the scree field. Park medics and a requested Lifeflight medical crew stabilized C.S. during the almost three hour technical evacuation. C.S. was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center by Lifeflight, where he succumbed to his injuries. This was the eighth climbing fatality in the park since 1983. [Therese Picard, Canyon District Ranger]
A 21-year-old New York State woman, C.N., has been identified as the primary suspect in recent vandalism cases that affect eight national parks in the western United States. National Park Service investigators have confirmed that images were painted on rocks and boulders in Yosemite National Park, Death Valley National Park, and Joshua Tree National Park, all in California; Rocky Mountain National Park and Colorado National Monument, both in Colorado; Crater Lake National Park, in Oregon; Zion National Park and Canyonlands National Park, both in Utah. Investigators continue to collect evidence of the crimes and conduct interviews and are consulting with the U.S. Attorney's Office about potential charges. The image in Rocky Mountain National Park was reported to the park and removed in late September before similar images were found in the other national parks. Ice and snow now cover the image at Crater Lake National Park, and it may not be accessible for assessment and clean up until next summer. An image in Yosemite National Park was removed by an unknown person or persons. If people visiting these parks come upon these images, they should contact the nearest park ranger with information about the image location. Visitors should not attempt to remove the images. The National Park Service was contacted on October 20th about this vandalism case. The investigation began immediately. [Jeffrey Olson]
A trailer truck attempting to drive through the Zion Mt. Carmel tunnel from the east side just before 2 a.m. on December 22nd became wedged around the last turn before exiting the tunnel. The truck driver passed three signs from the Mt. Carmel Junction to the park entrance warning of tunnel size restrictions. Evidence on scene suggests that the truck scraped the top of the tunnel intermittently along its entire 1.1-mile length. The truck driver walked out and climbed up above the tunnel until he was able to get a cell phone signal to call for help. Rangers Rohrbach and See responded and were on scene for several hours working with a tow truck out of Kanab. The truck was dislodged by removing compressed air and lowering the cab. Civil charges are pending. [Cindy J. Purcell, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch was contacted by the fee ranger at Tunnel East around 2 p.m. on the afternoon of April 3rd and informed that there was an injured man in Pine Creek Canyon requesting assistance. Pine Creek is a technical slot canyon requiring wet suits and multiple rappels. The reporting party was a member of the injured person's group and had ascended a rope that another group in the canyon had fixed at the first rappel. He said that a member of his party had broken his ankle at the second rappel in Pine Creek and would need SAR personnel to help him out. A technical rescue team was organized and had a high line with a reeve system set up by 5 p.m. A high line with a reeve is a system where a rope spanning the canyon is tensioned and the rescuer and litter are attached to the high line with a pulley and pulled across using tag lines on either side of the canyon. The rescuer is positioned directly over the patient in the slot canyon and lowered using a technique called a reeve. Ranger-Medic Ryan McDonald-O'Lear, who was lowered to the man, provided medical care and packaged him for extrication. Both were then raised to the high line and moved back across the span to the Canyon Overlook Trail. The injured man was carried off the trail by wheeled litter and transported via park ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center. Fifteen SAR personnel took part in the rescue, which took approximately 5 hours to complete. [Andrew Fitzgerald, Park Ranger]
On the evening of April 21st, rangers assisted Kane County, Washington County and Utah Highway Patrol officers with a vehicle chase that started near Kanab, Utah, and went through the park. The pursued vehicle was stolen out of Kanab and rangers were told that there were drugs and weapons involved. The first set of spike strips were deployed at the park entrance, but the vehicle's driver maneuvered around them by traveling through the gate on the employee inbound lane. A second set of spike strips were deployed in Virgin, Utah, which resulted in two flat tires. The vehicle travelled approximately six more miles before being stopped by local officers. The operator was arrested. Zion rangers provide mutual aid to towns of Rockville, Springdale, and Virgin through an MOU on a regular basis. [Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a request for mutual aid from the Washington County Sheriff's Department late on the morning of July 3rd. The county had received a call from an OnStar dispatcher who advised that a stolen vehicle from Las Vegas had been remotely disabled by the OnStar system and was currently located in LaVerkin, Utah, 30 miles from the park. A sheriff's deputy was on scene and had detained two people. An altercation ensued and shortly thereafter the deputy reported that his patrol vehicle had been stolen by one of the two people. Washington County reported that the stolen patrol vehicle, a marked Dodge Charger, was headed toward the park's South Entrance at a high rate of speed. Incoming visitor traffic was backed up at both the South and East Entrance stations of the park. Rangers responded by blocking outgoing visitor traffic at the South Entrance. As suspected, the operator of the stolen vehicle ran the South Entrance by traveling through the outbound lane. The Zion Mount Carmel tunnel operation was shut down, with all traffic held, further facilitating the passage of the stolen vehicle through the park. A ranger and a Kane County deputy placed two sets of spike strips on the exit lane at the park's East Entrance. With four flat tires, the stolen vehicle traveled only another eighth of a mile outside the east boundary before coming to a stop. Rangers assisted Kane County deputies with the ensuing felony arrest. [Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
A man was rescued last Tuesday night after hikers heard him yelling for help from a precarious perch on a cliff several hundred feet above the Weeping Rock Trail. Park dispatch received a report of a person stuck on a cliff on Tuesday afternoon. A man in his early 20s decided to climb off trail at Observation Point; when he found he couldn't get back up to the point, he descended to a point where he became stuck on a ledge. A team of four skilled climbers responded. Two members of the team traversed the cliff face until they were above the man, then rappelled down, set up an anchor, and rappelled with the man down to the canyon floor. The man was back on solid ground by 10 p.m.; all the rescuers made it down by 11 p.m. Source: Julie Applegate, Saint George News.
A hiker descending Lady Mountain on the morning of June 6th slipped near the summit and fell approximately one hundred feet into a narrow rock ravine. A friend who witnessed the fall reported the accident to park dispatch. Park medics responded immediately, but the climb to reach the victim took almost two hours. Once on scene, the medics conducted an evaluation while a technical rescue team ascended to their location. The injured hiker was then lowered 135 feet to an area accessible to the helicopter and flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center. Source: Press Release, John Marciano, Zion NP.
Three separate search and rescue operations were conducted simultaneously in the park last Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday night, rangers received a report of a visitor who had fallen from a tree and injured his ankle on the Wildcat Canyon Trail three miles from his vehicle. Park medics responded and provided medical care throughout the night. A SAR team carried the man back to the trailhead the following morning. While the SAR team was carrying the injured hiker back to the Wildcat Canyon trailhead, dispatch received a call reporting that a man on the West Rim Trail (Angel's Landing access trail) was experiencing shortness of breath and needed medical attention. Park EMTs responded. As the EMTs were hiking to the patient's location, an interpretive ranger on scene reported that the man had collapsed and that CPR was in progress. A park medic, additional EMTs, Springdale medics and a rescue team were also dispatched to the West Rim Trail. Park and Springdale EMS personnel continued CPR, attempting to resuscitate the man, but were unsuccessful. The National Park Service and the Washington County Sheriff's Office are investigating the fatality. During the emergency on the West Rim Trail, dispatch learned that another man was complaining of chest pain and difficulty breathing on the Emerald Pools Trail. A different park medic and rescue team responded and provided care. The man was carried by litter to the trailhead and then transported by Life Flight to Dixie Regional Medical Center, where he is recovering. Source: News Release, John Marciano, Zion NP.
Although the parks weren't overrun with violators during last week's brief government shutdown, several incidents have been reported: Zion National Park — A poacher killed a pregnant elk inside Zion National Park the weekend before last, apparently taking advantage of park security being limited because of the government shutdown. Remains of the elk were found in Lee Valley. An investigation is underway. If you've heard of any other incidents, please send them along. Sources: Washington Post and St. George Spectrum.
A woman's body was found in Refrigerator Canyon along the West Rim Trail on the afternoon of Monday, February 5th. Rangers and the park's SAR team responded. The woman's injuries were consistent with a high elevation fall, possibly from the Angels Landing Trail. The Washington County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation. Source: Zion NP news release.
The park's SAR team and Rockville-Springdale Fire were called out on the night of Saturday, March 17th, for what became a lifesaving event. A team of 16 rescuers responded to calls for help coming from the Pine Creek slot canyon. Eight canyoneers — wet, borderline hypothermic and too tired to continue — began yelling for help after they had made it through about half of the technical slot canyon. Two members of the party eventually found the strength to finish the slot and go for help. Once rescuers reached them, it was discovered the group was poorly equipped for canyoneering at this time of year. The canyoneers had inadequate footwear and gloves and should have been wearing insulated dry suits rather than the 3mm "farmer John" wetsuits for traversing the ice-cold pools of water in the slot. To complicate matters, a heavy snow storm rolled into the area, bringing sub-freezing temperatures and causing a flash flood on Pine Creek. The technical rescue SAR team worked through the night, under the trying conditions, to extract each of them, one at a time, using ropes and pulleys. "There is little doubt in my mind that we saved lives that night," said Dan Fagergren, the park's chief ranger. "Hypothermia is a real threat in slot canyons, even during the summer months, because the trapped water never sees the light of day. You can imagine how cold this group was, given the time of year, the drop in temperature, the blizzard like conditions and not being prepared." Source: Zion National Park.
A man alleged to be responsible for writing on a rock face at Angel's Landing in permanent marker is facing criminal and civil penalties after having left information that led other visitors and park officials to him on the internet. "The social media backlash for the perpetrator's action has been swift and severe, prompting him to admit to the wrong-doing and cooperate fully with the on-going investigation," the National Park Service said in a news release. The graffiti came to light on social media after photographer J.B. posted a photo of the vandalism on his Facebook page, expressing his frustration with the act. The graffiti was found on the popular Angels Landing hike on a viewing area off the trail, J.B. said, adding that there was more graffiti nearby. Source: St. George News.
A rockfall injured two visitors on the Riverside Walk Trail on the afternoon of Sunday, June 3rd. They were treated at the scene and taken to a medical facility. The trail was closed temporarily until a geologist could examine the area and the trail could be cleared. The Riverside Walk, historically called "The Gateway to the Narrows," is one of the park's most popular trails. The relatively easy trail parallels the North Fork of the Virgin River as the canyon begins to narrow, with cliffs as high as 1400 feet on each side. The rockfall was near the far end. Source: Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
A park trail has been closed due to two rock falls on successive days. The park reported that the Hidden Canyon Trail would be shuttered on the July 4 holiday and at least through the following day until a hazard geologist could examine the area and the trail could be cleared. The first rock fall occurred on the afternoon of Monday, July 2nd, along a 45-foot section of the strenuous trail where hikers must hold onto chains. A second rock fall occurred Tuesday. No injuries occurred in either rock fall. Source: KSL News.
Several park roads were closed by flash floods last Wednesday after the area received three inches of rain in a short period of time. There also were several rock and debris slides on the switchbacks before the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel on the southeast side of the park. As of Friday, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and several trails, including Angels Landing, Kayenta, Upper Emerald Pools, and West Rim from the Grotto to Cabin Spring, remained closed; the Riverside Walk had reopened. Mud and debris on the highway was three to four feet deep in several areas, overwhelming the road drainage culverts and making the road impassable. Dozens of vehicles were initially stranded in the mile-long tunnel and some were stuck in the mud flow. Roads crews were able to plow a path to the vehicles to get them out late Wednesday night. Further engineering assessments are planned to be done on remaining damaged areas. The damaged areas include:
The Kayenta Trail, Upper Emerald Pools Trail and a small section of Lower Emerald Pools Trail will remain closed until repairs can be made. Shuttles are running normally. The Watchman, South and Lava Point Campgrounds and the Zion Lodge are fully open. Sources: KSL News; KUTV News.
Hikers in two separate groups visiting the popular rock formation known as The Subway needed rescuing on Monday, July 30th. One hiker who received a knee injury on the hike spent the night with rescuers before being airlifted by a helicopter. Another group spent the night in the canyon after getting lost. They were found and rescued Monday morning. The Subway is a tubular formation within the Left Fork of North Creek in the park. Because of the popularity of the canyon, there is a lottery system for permits. For hikers starting at the top of the canyon, there is a necessary 30-foot rappel that requires ropes and technical canyoneering gear. One of the groups that required a rescue had disregarded and mocked a ranger's advice when they picked up their permit to visit The Subway. The ranger recommended they bring a rope and multiple harnesses for at least one of the rappels, but the leader of the group, who had been there before, said that they could cross the log and find an easier way down. The ranger told them that the log had washed out last year and once again recommended the gear, but the group dismissed the information and started the 9.5-mile hike without ropes or harnesses. When the group reached the 30-foot rappel, they attempted to make the 6- or 7-foot jump to the other side of the drop, but one person landed badly and received a knee injury. A medic and two other rescuers responded and spent Monday night with the hiker. A helicopter from the Grand Canyon evacuated him the next day. Another group whose members were wearing "inappropriate footwear" got lost several times while hiking toward The Subway. They finally reached the famous formation late Sunday night, so they spent an unexpected night in the canyon. On Monday morning, they got lost again and missed the trail that leads out of the canyon to the trailhead. Instead, they continued farther downstream. At some point, they decided to try to climb a cliff face to reach the road. Heat exhaustion started to set in, so members of the group activated their emergency locator and reported a heat-related illness. Search and rescue responders were able to locate the group, give them water and help them find their way back to the trailhead. Source: KSL News
The Hidden Canyon Trail at Zion National Park was closed for at least a week after a rockslide trapped six visitors on Tuesday, August 28th. The nine visitors were rescued with the help of Zion's search and rescue crew and a helicopter and crew from the Grand Canyon. All nine visitors were flown out of the canyon. No injuries were reported. The area is being monitored for more rockslides while the trail is closed. At the time of the report (last Tuesday), Weeping Rock, East Rim Trail, Observation Point Trail, Cable Mountain Trail and Deer Trap were still open. Source: KSNV News.
The popular West Rim Trail, including the route to Angels Landing, reopened last Saturday morning. It had been closed since an intense thunderstorm on July 11th caused flooding, mudslides, and rockfalls (see the July 18th edition of this newsletter for the original report). The heavy rainfall caused major damage in the area of Refrigerator Canyon on the West Rim Trail, which visitors pass to and from on their way to Angels Landing. A section of retaining wall failed, as did several protective check dams that were built over 100 years ago to protect the trail. The flash flood opened an 18-foot gap in the trail that was over five feet deep. To reopen the passage to Scouts Lookout, Zion's trail crew stabilized both ends of the trail and built a new custom bridge to span a 30-foot section where the trail and the retaining wall had been damaged or washed away. The crew also built four new check dams to protect the trail from future storms. The Kayenta Trail, Upper Emerald Pools Trail, the terminus of Lower Emerald Pools Trail, and Hidden Canyon remain closed. Park staff and engineers continue to identify strategies to repair or reroute the trails safely. Closures are being enforced due to unstable and unreliable trail integrity. Source: Zion National Park.
So Does Utah — The State of Utah paid more than $66,000 to federal workers to provide custodial operations and work in visitor centers, park stores and some campgrounds in four national parks in the state between December 21st and January 11th (the story was posted on January 14th, so does not cover the period since then). Rangers were also paid with state money; they are safeguarding park roads and resources in Arches, Zion, and Bryce Canyon NPs. A handful of employees were also on the job in Canyonlands NP. Counties, cities, and nongovernmental organizations are also kicking in some funds. Zion facilities remain open thanks to donations from Washington County, St. George, and the Zion National Park Forever Project. Canyonlands Natural History Association is providing funding for Arches and Canyonlands. Bryce Canyon Natural History Association is helping fund operations in that park. Source: Bloomberg Environment.
A 34-year-old Arizona resident was hiking the Left Fork of North Creek (also known as The Subway) on Saturday, February 16th, when one of his legs became trapped in quicksand in the middle of a creek. His leg was buried up to his knee and he was unable to free himself. A woman who was with him left him with warm gear and clothing and then had to hike three hours to get to a spot with cell phone reception in order to call 911. By the time rescuers arrived, the man was suffering from exposure, hypothermia, and injuries to his extremities. It took them two hours to free the man's leg. Search and rescue crews decided to camp at the site for the night after getting the man free, staying with him in frigid conditions with four inches of new snow. A Department of Public Safety helicopter flew to the area; during a break in a series of winter storms Sunday afternoon, the crew extracted the man and took him to a waiting ambulance. The ambulance then took him to a local hospital. Source: Pat Reavy, KSL News.
Heavy rains late last week led to slides that forced the closure of a principal park highway and access to several park trails. The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway was closed on the evening of March 2nd due to a rockslide onto the switchbacks below the tunnel. A retaining wall failed and an eight-foot section of the road was severely undercut east of the first switchback. The highway will be closed from the East Entrance to Canyon Junction until further notice. Several trails that are accessed from the road have also been closed, including the Canyon Overlook Trail and the Keyhole, Canyon Overlook, Pine Creek, Spry, Clear Creek, Fat Man's Misery, and Lodge Canyon canyoneering routes. Other trail closures remain in effect. The Kayenta Trail and Upper Emerald Pools Trail remain closed due to a landslide that occurred last July. The East Rim Trail, as well as total access to Hidden Canyon and access from the main canyon to Observation Point, remain closed due to a landslide that occurred in January. Zion Canyon has received 10.12 inches of precipitation over the past five months. During the same time period a year ago, the same area received 2.77 inches of precipitation. Source: Aly Baltrus, Zion NP.
Rangers and special agents are investigating a shooting that took place in the park on the evening of Thursday, February 21st. Park dispatch received a call at that time advising that a man had been shot at the West Mountain overlook. Rangers and Hot Springs Police Department officers responded, found the man, and provided initial care. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was last reported to be in stable condition. West Mountain Summit and all trails on West Mountain were temporarily closed to the public, but have since reopened. Source: National Park Service.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Zion NP — The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, which was closed on March 2nd after heavy rains undercut a section of the road, reopened last Friday morning, albeit with limited hours and only for non-oversized vehicles. The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway is still closed from the tunnel to Canyon Junction. No through traffic will be allowed until temporary repairs are in place. The park is currently working with Federal Highways on repairs to the road; it's not yet known when it will reopen. Some canyoneering routes — Keyhole, Canyon Overlook, Pine Creek, Spry, Clear Creek, Fat Man's Misery, and Lodge Canyons — will remain closed "until more reliable road access is ensured that can safely support canyoneering activities." Source: Aly Baltrus, Zion NP.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Zion NP — The park continues to recover from the flooding and landslides that occurred last month. The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway was closed on April 9th for road repairs and will remain closed for at least three weeks. A section of the existing road will need to be completely removed and rebuilt; a retaining wall below it will also be rebuilt. Access to the east side of the park is limited to vehicles smaller than 7'10'' in width and 11'4'' in height between the East Entrance and the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. All vehicles entering from the East Side will have to turn around before the tunnel. Other road and trail restrictions remain in place. Source: Zion NP.
A body found below Angels Landing last Thursday has been identified as that of hiker who'd been previously reported as missing. Crews spent Thursday searching for P.S., 35, who'd told his friends he was planning to visit the park and was going to hike up to Angels Landing on Tuesday. P.S.'s roommate reported him missing on Wednesday afternoon when he didn't come home from his trip. At that point, rangers began looking for him and found his car in the parking lot. A search was conducted at the base of Angels Landing, where they found his body below the north side of the trail that leads to the top. According to a preliminary investigation, P.S.'s injuries were consistent with a high elevation fall, likely from Angels Landing Trail. Source: Carter Williams, KSL.com.
The increasing frequency of climate-change-related severe weather closures and incidents in NPS areas has warranted the creation this intermittent Servicewide summary: Zion NP — The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway which was closed on April 9th so that March's flood damage could be repaired, reopened on April 27th. The road closure had forced visitors to take three-hour-long alternative routes to access the park. Some of the park's more popular trails have yet to reopen, though. The Kayenta Trail and Upper Emerald Pools Trail, both popular attractions along the park's main canyon, remain closed due to a landslide that occurred last July. The East Rim Trail, access to Hidden Canyon and access from the main canyon to Observation Point, closed since January, will not be fixed until those areas dry out and staff can make assessment of the work that needs to be undertaken. Source: David Demille, St. George Spectrum.
A twelve-year-old boy was wading near the edge of the Virgin River around noon on June 14th when he was swept away by the force of the current. His mother and a second woman dove into the water after him and helped him onto a boulder. Bystanders rescued the second woman, then helped search and rescue crews reach the boy's mother. Rescuers reached the child using a kayak and ropes. No one suffered any injuries during the incident. The park remains concerned that visitors aren't exercising appropriate caution near the river, which has high water levels this year. The section of the Virgin River in the park, including the Narrows, was closed at the beginning of April because of fast-flowing snowmelt waters; additional precipitation this year had added to the flow, raising it to a level too high for public access. It's currently flowing at 210 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is enough to knock someone off their feet and drag them downstream. River access will stay closed until water drops to at least 150 cfs for an entire day, which probably won't happen for another week or two. Source: Cara MacDonald, KSL News.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities: Zion NP — As noted in the incident above, the Narrows remain closed due to high flow in the Virgin River. The closure was instituted last month due to spring snowmelt; although the water level is coming down, the closure will likely continue for another 10 to 14 days. Upper Emerald Pools Trail, Hidden Canyon Trail and Observation Point (from Weeping Rock) are also closed due to rockfall and storm damage. Source: Mercy Owusu, KTVX News.
Rangers rescued a 48-year-old man from a strenuous slot-canyon hike called The Subway on Monday, July 22nd. The man had begun his hike on the nine-mile-long trail the previous evening. He overexerted himself and was unable to go any further; he had to stay out overnight until the park's SAR team could get to him on Monday morning with the help of a helicopter from Grand Canyon. The man was okay and declined medical attention. The Subway is one of several trails in the park that require a permit and are recommended for experienced hikers only, as it requires climbing down waterfalls and scrambling over boulders. The park again warned visitors that the key to hiking such trails is preparation and prevention and knowing what you're able to handle before you head out for a hike. "Listen to your body and don't push yourself past what you can do," said ranger Eugenne Moisa. "It's okay to come back and try again next time." Source: Katie Karalis, KTVX News.
On the afternoon of Saturday, August 24th, a substantial piece of rock broke off Cable Mountain, approximately 3,000 feet above Weeping Rock, and hit the closed East Rim Trail below, knocking down trees and showering visitors at Weeping Rock with smaller rocks, branches, and a plume of dust and sand. Three visitors were injured; one was taken to a hospital by the park ambulance. Several people were stranded at the end of Weeping Rock Trail for a short time but they were able to self-rescue. Shuttles were stopped for approximately 90 minutes while the dust settled. The Weeping Rock Trail and Weeping Rock shuttle stop are closed until further notice. The Echo Canyon and Observation Point Canyon canyoneering routes are also closed, as is the East Rim Trail from Observation Point to Weeping Rock. Source: Aly Baltrus, Zion NP.
Angels Landing trail beyond the Scouts Lookout waypoint was closed after a rockslide last Saturday. Park staff learned of the rockslide, which occurred in a steep section of the trail where chains are affixed to the rocks for handholds, later that day. No one was hurt or trapped in the slide. A rock about the size of a refrigerator, as well as several other smaller rocks, are obstructing a very narrow section of the trail. Several of the rocks are unstable, so the trail will remain closed — probably until Friday — so that the rocks can be broken up and removed, The West Rim trail remains open, Source: Paighten Harkins, Salt Lake Tribune.
The body of a hiker was found at the bottom of Angel's Landing Trail on the morning of Thursday, November 28th. The victim was subsequently identified as 19-year-old S.M., a Maine resident who worked for Xanterra at Zion Lodge. S.M. had been reported missing late on Wednesday afternoon. The park reports that her injuries "were consistent with a high elevation fall." The trail is well-known for its steep drop-offs. The trail had reopened on Tuesday after being closed for several days because of a rock fall. Source: San Antonio Express-News.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, Zion NP — A rockfall last summer dumped over 435,000 cubic feet of debris onto Weeping Rock and other nearby trails and a new report from the Utah Geological Survey finds similar rockfalls could happen at any time in the area. The park has accordingly closed Weeping Rock trail, Hidden Canyon trail, and Observation Point trail (East Rim from Weeping Rock) for an indefinite period. Lower Emerald Pools trail will remain closed until this spring. "[Zion] is a place where geology happens," said the park's chief of resource management. "Canyon carving isn't a past tense thing." Source: Lexi Peery, St. George Spectrum and Daily News.
A northern Utah man was cited for BASE jumping from the Great White Throne — a well-known monolith of white Navajo sandstone — last weekend. The jumper and his two companions, all from the Salt Lake City area, were also cited for camping out of bounds and violating a raptor nesting closure. Source: St. George News.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Zion NP — M.M., who was caught BASE jumping from Great White Throne in March, has been fined $5,000 and banned from Zion for two years. The judge also warned him that any new offense would result in a jail sentence. M.M. wore a wingsuit and glided before deploying his parachute and landing in the area below Angels Landing, which is a nesting ground for endangered California condors. Source: Scott D. Pierce, Salt Lake Tribune.
This week's update consists of a random sampling of reports on park reopenings extracted from various news source: Zion NP — Memorial Day weekend was busy. The park was full and turning away visitors by 7 a.m. on Saturday; one visitor described the scene as "hectic." For information on the status of other parks in the system, go to the Service's "Active Alerts In Parks" webpage and use the search engine to find information on a particular site. Sources: Krista Langlois, National Geographic; KTVH News; KOMO News.
The park suffered a particularly egregious act of vandalism last month — unknown persons painted vivid blue blocks in the Kolob Terrace area of the park, spurring an investigation into who's responsible. Rangers spotted the blocks on July 8th while on patrol on the Kolob Terrace Road. The paint had been heavily applied and was still wet. The rangers, thinking they might be able to capture photos of the perpetrator, came back two days later to install cameras in the area, but by then the blocks had been removed. "The thinking now is that it is most likely for a mold/texture for someone doing concrete work or maybe metal work, but we don't know that for a fact," said a park spokesperson. "The thinking is they peeled it off as sheets and then perhaps took it back to their construction site to use as a texture, maybe for decorative concrete work. But that's just speculation." The vandals painted six bright blue squares, each approximately three feet by three feet, on the sandstone a mile south of the Wildcat Trailhead. Just a few "blobs" of paint were left behind by the individuals. You can see pictures of the blue squares in the article below. If you have information that could help identify those responsible, please contact the park. This information could help investigators. Callers don't have to identify who they are but are asked to share what they know so rangers can prevent this from happening in the future. Information can be provided via the Park Service's tip line: (888) 653-0009. Source: Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler.
A California woman who had been missing for nearly two weeks was found safely on Sunday, October 18th, and reunited with her family. H.S.C., 38, hadn't been seen since riding a private shuttle into the park's Grotto area on October 6th. Her disappearance prompted multiple search and rescue efforts that were complicated by the fact that H.S.C. didn't have a cell phone and hadn't left a trip itinerary. Park rangers located H.S.C. after receiving a credible tip from a park visitor. "We are overjoyed that she was found safely today," H.S.C.'s family said in a statement released by the park. "We would like to thank the rangers and search teams who relentlessly looked for her day and night and never gave up hope. We are also so grateful to the countless volunteers who were generous with their time, resources and support. This wouldn't have been possible without the network of people who came together." The circumstances of H.S.C.'s disappearance and ordeal were still largely unclear as of Monday afternoon. But in a statement, H.S.C.'s daughter filled in some of the gaps, describing an agonizing and brutal experience. "Early in her trip into Zion, she injured her head on a tree," K.C. said of her mother. "She was very disoriented as a result and thankfully ended up near a water source — a river bed. She thought her best chance of survival was to stay next to a water source." K.C. said that her mother was "too weak and disoriented to actively seek out help," and that she was "without food" for the 12 days she was lost in Zion. "She was unable to take more than a step or two without collapsing," K.C. said. "She told me she was so dehydrated she couldn't open her mouth." The search for H.S.C. brought together federal, state and local resources, including the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the Grand Canyon National Emergency Service Team, plus park staff and volunteers. Sources: Steve Kiggins, USA Today; Daniel Arkin, NBC News.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Zion NP — The Washington County Sheriff's Office has opened an investigation into the case of H.C., who was found by searchers after being missing for ten days. H.C., a 38-year-old from Los Angeles, was seen on October 6th getting off a shuttle at The Grotto shuttle stop, a starting point for several trails in the park. She was found alive by a rescue team in a thickly vegetated area along the Virgin River. Though questions have been raised about the lost hiker's story, officials say that at this point in their investigation they have found no evidence to support the allegations that the incident was committed intentionally as an effort to achieve financial gain. Source: Ashley Fredde, KSL News.
On June 29, Zion received over an inch of rain in an hour, resulting in flash flooding that damaged roads, covered many areas and cars in boulders and mud. The park closed that afternoon and reopened the following morning, with some areas remaining closed and clean-up ongoing. Some areas remain closed and clean-up is ongoing. Source: USA Today, Zion NP Press Release.
At a park update meeting with the gateway community of Springdale, Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said five shuttle bus drivers have quit due to verbal abuse by visitors over the mask mandate. Source: St. George Spectrum
On August 30, a 32-year-old was reported to be complaining of heat exhaustion at the exit route of the Left Fork of North Creek. NPS staff responded and found the victim unresponsive. CPR was administered for an hour until instructed to stop by St. George Hospital medical control. The patient's body was extracted by helicopter via long line. Source: ABC4, Lake Powell Life
On August 31, an individual allegedly set fires in dumpsters and to LDS churches in St. George, UT. The suspect was pursued from St. George into the park, where he crashed at the Canyon Junction bridge. He was taken into custody. A small fire was started at the crash site and a Hurricane Brush truck was dispatched to put it out. The incident is under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Source: Zion National Park
On September 2, the NPS closed The Narrows to search for a missing hiker. The Narrows had been closed the day before due to the danger of flash flooding in the area. The hiker was found alive mid-day by rescuers. Source: Utah Public Radio
On September 15, a rockfall happened in the Narrows just beyond the end of Riverside Walk. Many cobble-sized blocks tumbled into the river, one striking a visitor. Search and rescue was able to transport the patient to a local hospital, and her injuries were announced as "non-life threatening." Both Riverside Walk and the Narrows were closed temporarily and have since reopened. Source: ABC4, Salt Lake Tribune
On September 28, a 79-year-old hiker staying with a group of 50 others in Kanab, Utah, was reported missing. He had last been seen that morning at the hotel and said that he might hike the Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion. His vehicle was found at the trailhead, and the trail and Pine Creek Canyon were both closed to conduct the search. Teams from the NPS, Nellis Air Force Base, and Washington County Sheriff's Office were involved. On October 1, the hiker was able to make a 911 call to Washington County and leave a voicemail for his family. These communications gave enough insight to focus the operation to a more targeted area and the hiker was found alive on October 2. He was treated on scene, and then transported to St. George for further medical attention. Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Zion National Park
A man was reported to have brandished a handgun during an argument in the city of Hurricane, Utah. The suspect evaded law enforcement and drove toward the park along State Route 9, shooting at multiple vehicles along the way. The highway was closed and shuttle buses inside the park were stopped so that emergency response vehicles could respond. Officers deployed spike sticks and exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who eventually crashed and ran into a neighborhood in Rockville. He was found with a gunshot wound and taken into custody. Source: Spectrum News/Associated Press
On October 16, a vehicle was observed speeding through the eastern end of Zion National Park. Rangers tried to stop the vehicle, but it was able to leave the park headed east. Kane County Sherriff's deputies approached the car going west, but they were forced off the road when the vehicle swerved into their lane. Spikes were also laid on the roadway, but the suspect was able to avoid them. The suspect was observed by deputies driving in excess of 105mph and driving erratically. The suspect crossed into Arizona, and was eventually stopped by spikes laid out by an NPS ranger at Lee's Ferry, 100 miles from where the chase began. The suspect was taken into custody. Felony charges in both Utah and Arizona are expected to follow after the investigation is complete. Source: ABC4
On November 12, a rockfall occurred west of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, blocking both lanes. The road was able to reopen the following day to standard-sized vehicles, and two days later for oversized vehicles. Park officials have said that no significant damage to the road was sustained. Source: KJZZ, ABC4
On November 27, a group of three visitors went canyoneering in Heaps Canyon. To complete the final exit from the canyon, the individuals were to rappel to a narrow ledge 280 feet above the ground to set up for the final rappel. However, the first person rappelled past the ledge by about 20 feet and then was unable to ascend to the perch and remained suspended. The other two managed to utilize their "pull line" to rappel to the ledge. They attempted to use their phones to call for help several times throughout the evening, but poor signal prevented them from getting out. They were able to finally get a call out early the next morning. Over 30 rescuers and two helicopters responded to the incident, and the Upper and Middle Emerald Pools Trails were closed for the day to conduct the rescue. The person who descended first perished in the incident, though the cause of death has not been announced. The other two individuals were rescued. Source: WAVY
On January 10, a backpacker became stuck in two to three feet of snow at the top of Hop Valley. The hiker used a SPOT satellite messenger device to request help and mark the location. Later messages stated that her legs were numb and she was going in and out of consciousness. Washington County Sheriff's Search and Rescue and staff from the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service responded to the incident via snowmobiles, snow bikes, and on foot. The patient was treated for hypothermia and a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter was able to respond and take her to the hospital in Cedar City for further treatment. Source: St. George News
On May 1, a 35-year-old solo hiker scrambled up a cliff face adjacent to Kolob Canyon Road near the curve at Lee Pass. Upon descent, the hiker fell about 30 feet and caught himself on a 6-inch-wide ledge and a small bush. A family member alerted NPS officials, who attempted to rescue him, but were unable to reach him. The hiker ended up spending 12 hours standing on the small ledge before being rescued at first light by a helicopter from the Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau. The hiker sustained injuries to his ankle and abrasions on his body. Family members took him to a local hospital. Source: St. George News June 15, 2022 On June 5, the park closed the popular (and permitted) Angels Landing Trail due to damage on a rock anchor that supports the chain section. While the trail was closed, additional staff assessed the rest of the trail, cleaned graffiti, and removed trash. The trail reopened on June 8. Source: The Salt Lake Tribune
NPS monitoring has revealed that toxic cyanobacteria continue to exist in the North Fork of the Virgin River. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has issued a warning advisory for the North Fork, as well as North Creek and LaVerkin Creek. Source: St. George News
On July 20, lightning started the Kolob Upper Fire adjacent to the Kolob Terrace Road, about 15 miles north of Highway 9. As of July 23, the fire was 100% contained at 17 acres. Firefighters from the NPS, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Hurricane Valley Fire, and State of Utah responded. Source: The Spectrum, Zion National Park
On August 3, a 19-year-old fell nearly 60 feet while illegally mountain biking off-trail on slickrock in the eastern part of the park. The individual suffered multiple compound fractures. Park staff were able to move the individual to a nearby road, and a life flight helicopter took them to a hospital in St. George. Source: ABC4 August 24, 2022 On August 19, a 29-year-old was reported overdue from a hike in the Narrows. Multiple hikers were affected by flash flooding in the Narrows that day. One visitor was swept downstream several hundred yards and had injuries. Other visitors were isolated on high ground. NPS staff responded and helped evacuate those hikers. Afterward, the individual's sibling reported them missing and noted that they do not know how to swim. NPS staff and Search and Rescue members from Washington County are continuing a search for the individual, both inside and outside the park along the Virgin River. The Riverside Walk and Narrows are currently closed. Source: USA Today, Zion National Park September 7, 2022 The 29-year-old who went missing after a hike in the Narrows during a flash flood was found deceased on August 22 in the Virgin River near Court of the Patriarchs, about six miles south of the Narrows. Source: NBC News
On November 22, a 33-year-old and a 31-year-old began a permitted hike down the Narrows, which is a 16-mile trek in the Virgin River. They stopped about a mile and a half from the north end of the Riverside Walk, where a paved trail begins. Early the next morning, one individual continued on to get help while the other remained behind. The individual who went for help was assisted down the Riverside Walk by other visitors, while others went down trail and alerted a shuttle bus driver of the need for help. Other visitors administered CPR on the individual who had stayed in place upriver before Zion Search and Rescue team members arrived, but the individual passed away. The Washington County Sheriff's Office, Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, and the NPS are still investigating the victim's death. The other individual survived the incident and reported that they became dangerously cold overnight and experienced symptoms consistent with hypothermia. Source: Zion National Park February 8, 2023 On January 20, two hikers attempted to hike the Subway route from the top, down. They were reported as overdue on January 21. A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter was able to locate the hikers, utilizing Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR). They then lowered a rescuer to assist the hikers into the hovering helicopter by hoist. The hikers were transported to a waiting NPS medical team. One hiker was "dangerously hypothermic" and transported to a hospital. That individual was reported to now be in a stable condition. Source: Zion National Park
On March 15, the park announced the closure of Kolob Canyons Road beyond the visitor center due to storm-induced rockfall. On March 21, electrical service to Zion Lodge was interrupted due to damage to buried electrical lines. It was restored on March 22. On March 23, temporary closures and delays on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive were enacted, also due to storm and rockfall damage. Repairs to roads and sewers are ongoing. It is unclear when Kolob Canyons Road will reopen. Source: KSL.com, Zion National Park
On March 9, staff from The Peregrine Fund observed a bird exhibiting signs of illness. They monitored the individual until it passed away and then collected it for testing on March 20. The bird was sent to the Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory for a necropsy, which worked with the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Service Laboratory to analyze samples. On March 30, the results were found positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. As of April 4, two other deceased individuals were also confirmed to have had HPAI. There are five additional deceased birds, which are pending necropsy and testing. Five other birds displaying signs of illness were captured by The Peregrine Fund and sent to Liberty Wildlife in Phoenix, Arizona, for quarantine and care. One of those five individuals passed away upon arrival. Source: National Park Service Office of Communications
On April 28, visitors reported to emergency services that a 25-year-old individual was holding onto a log in the Virgin River and calling for help. NPS staff and Washington County (UT) Sheriff's Office were conducting a swift water rescue training exercise nearby and were dispatched to the scene. They were able to pull the individual from the river near Birch Creek. The individual was unresponsive with no pulse when pulled out of the water and CPR was administered. A pulse was regained and the individual was flown by air to a local hospital. Source: News 3 LV
During a routine inspection, it was found that a trail bridge near Zion Lodge is shifting on its foundation. The bridge is closed until the NPS can consult with engineers and geologists to assess options to restore access. Access to Emerald Pools can still be reached by the trailhead at the Grotto. Source: Zion National Park
On May 31, lightning ignited a wildfire on Crater Hill in the southwestern section of the park. As of June 1, the fire was 136 acres and 100% contained. Source: St. George News, Inciweb
On July 18, while on a hiking and tubing trip with family in the Narrows, a 14-year-old became separated between two factions of the group. During that time, they thought they were following familiar footsteps and began traveling up the wrong canyon. They also removed their shoes at one point in order to scramble up a section, leaving them behind. Both factions of the group thought the individual was with the other group, and the slower group had an ill, injured member that impeded progress, so it took many hours for the group to realize the individual had been separated. They alerted the NPS, who was unable to start a search that night. The following morning, a separate visitor group of two also took the same wrong turn and came upon the teenager. The party of two helped the teenager walk three miles downstream without shoes before an NPS rescue team was able to take over. Source: Fox 13
The park has issued an official "health watch" for the North Fork of the Virgin River and La Verkin Creek, and an official "warning" for North Creek due to cyanobacteria levels in the waterways. Visitors are advised not to drink stream water anywhere in the park. Source: KVVU
On July 29, a law enforcement officer on patrol observed a fire at the Watchman Campground. Firefighters were able to contain the fire at 0.25 acres. Agencies supporting the incident included the NPS, Hurricane Valley Fire, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, State of Utah, and the Springdale Police Department. Nine campsites were impacted and will remain closed until further notice. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Source: Zion National Park
On November 14, park staff received a report of rockfall near Weeping Rock. Upon arriving on scene, rangers encountered a dust cloud on the road. The dust cloud interrupted shuttle service for about an hour. No one was injured in the event. The Weeping Rock shuttle stop, parking area, and trail are closed until further risk analysis can be done. Source: Zion National Park
The park has reopened Kolob Canyon Roads. The road was damaged after a landslide earlier this year (see 4/5/23 Coalition Report). Source: ABC4
[Editor note: The article does not actually specify which park the equipment was stolen from; Cedar Breaks and Zion are the two closest units to the individuals' home.] On December 7, an NPS law enforcement officer called the Iron County (UT) Sheriff's Office to report that an individual in Cedar City, Utah, had listed a telescope, harmonic drive mount, tripod, extension tube, eyepieces, and other related items for sale on eBay. The items, worth more than $6,000, were believed to be items stolen from the NPS, based on notes written on the equipment. An Iron County deputy made contact with two individuals, aged 41 and 31, the latter of whom had listed the items. After questioning them, the individuals were placed under arrest and taken into custody. All of the items were found inside the 31-year-old's vehicle. Both individuals have been charged with a single count of theft of value over $5,000, a second-degree felony. Source: St. George News
On January 26, a 63-year-old became unresponsive on the West Rim Trail near Scout Lookout. Other hikers performed CPR on the individual until NPS staff arrived on scene with an AED (automated external defibrillator) and heart monitor. After 90 minutes of unsuccessful resuscitation and checking the individual's condition, park staff consulted with a doctor at medical control and the patient was pronounced deceased. Over 20 search and rescue team members and a park ambulance responded to the incident. Though the official cause of death has not been determined, officials said the symptoms are "consistent with a cardiac event." The trail was closed during the emergency response. Source: Zion National Park
On April 28, two people riding a tandem bicycle collided with a deer near the South Entrance. Personnel from the NPS, Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue, and the Springdale Police Department responded. The two riders were transported to St. George Regional Hospital. Source: KSL
On May 6, an individual went unresponsive while hiking at Scout Lookout. Rangers on scene immediately responded and performed CPR, while other rangers hiked in with additional medical equipment. After 90 minutes of unsuccessful resuscitation efforts, medical control gave the order to terminate further efforts and the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. The response included over 33 staff from the NPS and Intermountain Life Flight. The Washington County Sheriff's Office, Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, and the NPS are still investigating the cause of death. Source: Zion National Park
On July 4, a 19-year-old was driving a motorcycle in the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel when they crashed. Personnel from the NPS and the Hurricane Valley Fire District responded quickly and administered CPR. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and the individual was pronounced deceased at the scene. The incident is under investigation by the NPS, Utah Highway Patrol, and Utah Office of the Medical Examiner. Source: Zion National Park
On June 30, the park's Search and Rescue team responded to an "emergency call at the Narrows." Shortly afterward, a party sent a 911 text message reporting an injured hiker at the left fork of The Subway. Due to the other ongoing incident, Washington County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue was dispatched to manage the Subway incident. A Utah Department of Public Safety Helicopter, Star 8, was sent, and they successfully located the party 1.7 miles from the trailhead for the left fork of The Subway. The patient, traveling with one other person, had an ankle injury, and was airlifted to the trailhead parking lot, where Washington County personnel provided a splint. The patient declined further medical transport. Star 8 then returned to the site to retrieve the other member of the party, but the individual was no longer on scene. Washington County's personnel set out to locate the missing individual and found them "emerging from the canyon onto the plateau," uninjured. Source: St. George News
The first California condor successfully hatched in Zion National Park, known as "1K" due to being the 1,000th condor ever tagged, passed away recently due to lead poisoning. Condors often scavenge carcasses left by hunters, sometimes ingesting lead-based bullets. Lead poisoning remains the number one cause of death in California condors. Source: KSL News Radio
On July 23, the Kolob Terrace Fire started in Hop Valley, likely due to lightning. As of July 28, the fire was approximately 601 acres, 40% contained, and displaying "minimal fire behavior." The Hop Valley Trail was closed temporarily. Source: Zion National Park, St. George News
On October 5, a group of four was canyoneering in Heaps Canyon when one of them, a 40-year-old, fell about 150-200 feet. Personnel from the Zion Technical Search and Rescue Team and the Washington County (UT) Sheriff's Office provided emergency medical care. The individual was extracted by a Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter and brought to a landing site near Watchman Campground. The individual then received medical care from Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue and Intermountain Life Flight. However, the individual was pronounced deceased before they could be transported by air ambulance to a hospital. The following morning, October 6, two of the other members of the party were extracted by the DPS helicopter. Zion's SAR team assisted the final member of the party in rappelling down the canyon. The incident is under investigation by the NPS and Washington County Sheriff's Office. The Springdale Police Department also supported the incident. Source: Zion National Park | |