The NPS Morning Report thread

[Sagebrusher]

A couple of notable ones today....


Monday, May 07, 2012
INCIDENTS

Blue Ridge Parkway
Naked Man Found Riding Horse Along Parkway

On April 13th, rangers received a report that state police had a man in custody who may have been involved in a possible accident in the area where the parkway crosses over Interstate 77. Upon arriving on scene, rangers learned that a man travelling the parkway drove his vehicle off the road and through a field, eventually striking a fence that parallels I-77. He then decided to take off all his clothes and begin walking. He eventually "commandeered" a horse belonging to a local farmer whose land borders the park and began riding the horse along an adjacent county road. When state and county officers arrived on scene, they saw that the horse was trying to buck off the naked rider. Eventually, the man was thrown from the horse, at which time officers took him into custody. He told the officers that he was under the influence of methedrine. He was taken to a local hospital for mental evaluation; charges are pending and may include horse theft, indecent exposure and public intoxication.
[Submitted by Bobby D Miller, Plateau District Ranger]


Mojave National Preserve (CA)
Armed Robbery Reported At Park VC

An armed robbery occurred at the Kelso Depot Visitor Center around 3 a.m. on May 4th. The reporting party contacted the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department several hours later to report that two individuals had robbed him of money as he was leaving the outdoor restroom at the visitor center. He said that they were armed with a silver pistol, that they struck him four or five times over the head with the pistol, and that they then fled. Several minutes later, he reported seeing a car driving away from the far side of the visitor center. The Barstow office of the county sheriff's department is leading the investigation.
[Submitted by Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]

http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/

 

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


Was the robber naked...??

 

[ppine]

The National Park system attracts a lot of visitors. I try to avoid them except for Yellowstone or off-season times. With crowds come urban problems like armed robbery. In the past the NPS recruited natural history types as interpreters and Park Rangers. Now they recruit people with police and military training.

 

[Sagebrusher]

If you're dead, probably a good reason to call 911...


Wednesday, April 11, 2012

INCIDENTS

Blue Ridge Parkway
Two Suffer Hallucinogenic Mushroom Overdoses

On the evening of March 31st, rangers were dispatched to the Craggy Gardens picnic area in response to a 911 call concerning a probable drug overdose. Upon arrival, they found a man and woman parked in a vehicle, both exhibiting an altered mental status. They said that they'd ingested psilocybin mushrooms, with the woman adding that she was dead and had no pulse. Rangers and EMS personnel began an assessment and noted that the woman was suffering from periodic convulsive events. At one point, she jumped from the stretcher, climbed into the rear seat of a patrol car, exited again, dropped to the ground, and experienced another convulsion. She was eventually placed in an ambulance, where she was transported to a hospital for treatment and evaluation. During the transport, she continually asked if she was alive or dead and if what was happening was real. Rangers remained at the hospital until she returned to a coherent state. Both the man and woman were issued violation notices for using a controlled substance. The driver was released to the custody of his father. The 911 call actually originated from the couple, who were concerned that they were already dead.
(Submitted by Tim Francis, Pisgah District Ranger)

 

[Judy Ann]

Too funny!

 

[Sagebrusher]

Monday, May 14, 2012


INCIDENTS

Olympic National Park (WA)
Missing Hiker Found After Three Day Search

The search for a missing hiker came to a successful conclusion early Saturday morning when he was hoisted from a drainage near the Irely Lake loop trail by a county sheriff's office rescue helicopter. David Snider, 55, was dehydrated, slightly hypothermic and tired, but otherwise appeared in good condition. He was transported to a local hospital for further examination.
Snider was reported overdue on Wednesday morning when he failed to return to work after a planned day hike on the trail. He'd begun his day hike on Monday afternoon with the intention of returning that afternoon. When he reached Three Lakes around 9 p.m., he attempted to loop back to the trailhead via a shortcut, but deep snow on the ridges and steep terrain in the drainage trapped him near the creek.
The park began a search for him on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday, observers in a search helicopter spotted tracks in the snow that led to the drainage near the Irely Lake loop trail. Ground personnel began tracking Snider from that point. A King County heat sensing FLIR helicopter was brought in on Friday night to assist in the search. The helicopter's crew spotted a light source around midnight and Snider was located with the FLIR about a half hour later. A second helicopter with a hoist was brought in at first light and lifted Snider out.
Over 40 people were involved in the search, including personnel from Olympic National Park and Olympic Mountain Rescue. They were aided by a German shepherd search dog team from Pierce County and personnel searching from the helicopters.
[Submitted by Rainey McKenna, Public Affairs Specialist]

 

[Sagebrusher]

Another naked guy on the Blue Ridge Parkway


Blue Ridge Parkway
Fleeing Man Apprehended Near Love Gap

On the morning of May 1st, a suspect fleeing from the Virginia State Police for a speeding violation entered the park in the Love Gap area. Shortly after coming onto the parkway, he lost control of his vehicle, resulting in the vehicle flipping onto its roof and catching fire. He then got out and fled into the woods. Rangers responded and assisted county and state law enforcement agencies in tracking him down. A canine tracking team quickly discovered his discarded pants. Ground-based teams and Virginia State Police helicopters continued to search for him until he was apprehended. At the time of his arrest, the 24-year-old man was naked and suffering from multiple lacerations as a result of fleeing through the wooded terrain. This is the second incident in a recent epidemic of naked men attempting to elude law enforcement in the area.
[Submitted by Kurt Speers, Ridge District Ranger]
The Morning Report for Tuesday, May 15, 2012

 

[Sagebrusher]

Thursday, May 24, 2012


INCIDENTS

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Man Killed In 600 Foot Fall From South Rim

The park received a report of a man over the edge at Pipe Creek Vista on the South Rim early on Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses told arriving rangers that they'd seen a man fall over the edge. They were unable to see anything from the rim, so rappelled down and found the man's body 600 feet below. The body was recovered and transferred to the county medical examiner. An investigation into the death is underway.
[Submitted by Shannan Marcak, Public Affairs Specialist]


Saguaro National Park (AZ)
German Visitor Dies While Hiking In Park

On Monday afternoon, a 35-year-old visitor from Germany was hiking on the Hugh Norris Trail with a partner, also from Germany, when she collapsed. Her partner attempted to revive her with water, but was unsuccessful. He then ran down the trail to his vehicle and drove to the visitor center to report the incident. A ranger and personnel from Picture Rocks Fire Department responded. When they got to the woman's location, they found that she had expired. Investigation revealed that the couple had headed out for Wesson Peak at 7 a.m. and reached the summit just before 11 a.m. While on the return trip, she told her partner that she was not feeling well. Shortly thereafter, she collapsed and became unconscious. Neither was carrying a cell phone and help was not readily available. The temperature high for Tucson that day was 105 degrees. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation.
[Submitted by Robert Stinson, Acting Chief Ranger]


Zion National Park (UT)
Classic Car Consumed In Fire In Tunnel

A 1964 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 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.
[Submitted by Ray O'Neil, Incident Commander]

 

[Sagebrusher]

Buffalo National River (AR)
Hiker Found After Being Lost For Six Days

On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 26th, park dispatch received a phone call from a woman who reported that her aunt and uncle had gone hiking in the Mill Creek area outside St. Joe on Saturday, five days earlier, but that only her uncle had returned. The creek is a tributary of the Buffalo River and part of it flows through the park. An interagency investigation was begun and the man was brought in for an interview. Based on his description of where he thought he and his sister had been hiking, interviewers assigned high probabilities of area (POAs) to corridors of Mill Creek outside the park boundaries and focused their initial search efforts there. Teams searched for the remainder of Wednesday’s daylight hours and into the evening, but suspended searching a few hours after dark. The next morning, teams resumed searching and ranger Justin Gibbs reported to the incident as the NPS liaison. Gibbs coordinated a resource order for a search helicopter, made recommendations to the IC regarding search team tactics, search area delineation, clue awareness, volunteer management, expansion of the mission’s ICS structure and media relations. In addition to the helicopter, the IC utilized ground searchers on foot, on horseback, and in 4WD vehicles and ATVs. Just before noon, one of the ATV teams reported that they had found the woman alive about two miles upstream of St. Joe in the Mill Creek drainage. They reported that she was exhausted, dehydrated, hypothermic, and had sustained multiple cuts, bruises and insect bites, but was otherwise in fair condition. A deputy picked her up via 4WD vehicle and transported her to a waiting ambulance from North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, which took her to a nearby hospital. She remained there for several days recovering from her six-day/five-night ordeal. She told investigators that she “just got lost” and that she ate hazel nuts and drank creek water for the duration of her unscheduled bivouac. Over 100 people from ten agencies and numerous civilian volunteers responded to this incident, and both the incident commander and the Searcy County Sheriff reported that the cooperation from the NPS liaisons was indispensable to the success of the mission. The park intends to host “Introduction to Search Operations and Search Management” classes in the near future and invite local sheriff’s office employees to attend.
[Submitted by Kevin Moses, Middle Buffalo District Ranger/SAR Coordinator]


Rocky Mountain National Park (CO)
Woman Dies In Fall While Hiking In Park

A 50-year-old Colorado woman took a 40- to 50-foot fall while hiking with a family member on the north side of Deer Mountain on the afternoon of Saturday, September 29th. Rangers reached her just after 8 p.m. that evening and determined that she did not survive the fall. Her body was found in steep, rocky terrain about three miles from the Deer Mountain trailhead. The body was flown out the following afternoon and turned over to the county coroner.
[Submitted by Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer]

 

[Sagebrusher]

You can't fix stupid

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Hikers Charged With Child Abuse

In October 2012, a couple attempted to take their eight-month-old daughter from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River and back to the rim in one day – a hike strongly discouraged by the NPS. They were unprepared for the hike and therefore resorted to eating the baby’s food along the way. On the hike out of the canyon, they could no longer carry the baby due to exhaustion, so gave the child to a hiker who was a stranger but had offered to help. When the hiker reached the South Rim – without the family – he immediately went to the Bright Angel Lodge and requested law enforcement assistance. Upon reaching the rim, the family of three flagged down a shuttle bus and reported that their baby had been kidnapped. Rangers responded and called for assistance from the Investigative Services Branch. A joint investigation was conducted by rangers from the South Rim and Canyon Districts, ISB agents, and personnel from Arizona Child Protective Services. The baby was placed in the protective care of CPS and each parent was charged with a felony count of child abuse, recklessly placing a child in a position where its health was endangered. Both parents ultimately pled guilty in court to Arizona Revised Statute 13-3619, permitting life, health, or morals of minor to be imperiled by neglect, abuse, or immoral associations – a Class 1 misdemeanor.

 

[Sagebrusher]

And so it begins again this season, from the NPS Morning Report:

White Sands National Monument (NM)
Two Visitors Rescued In Separate Incidents

Park staff, supported by personnel from other agencies, were involved in two rescues earlier this week – one on Sunday and the other on Monday. On the afternoon of Sunday, April 29th, Otero County dispatch received a report of a park visitor with a back injury who was in need of help. The 32-year-old woman was walking down a sand dune when she tripped and fell, rolled down the dune, and landed on a section of hard-packed playa. Rangers Luke Hayden, Ryan Moore and Kelly Roche responded and provided EMS care until Alamo West EMS and American Medical Response (AMR) arrived with paramedics and took over. AMR transported the woman to a local hospital, where she received additional care and later was transported to an El Paso, Texas, hospital for treatment of a dislocated hip. On the following afternoon, Otero County dispatch received a 911 call from a 25-year-old hiker who was lost in the dunes. He’d left his vehicle around 10 a.m. and hiked about 14 miles barefoot. He said that he hiked cross country when he realized he was lost and out of water and provided coordinates from his smart phone’s GPS application. Rangers and Alamo West SAR personnel responded to the coordinates that were provided, but found no sign of the lost hiker, He was contacted again by cell phone. Using the hiker’s description of the unique vegetation and distant structures he could see, David Bustos, the park’s chief of resources, was able to hone in on the location and find the hiker’s footprints. He was located about eight miles from his car in the parabolic dunes along the monument’s remote northern boundary. He was treated in the field for blisters and transported by UTV back to the command post, where he was assessed and released. The search was managed under a unified command with NPS and Alamo West SAR. The park, which has limited staff, expressed its appreciation for the support received through their partnerships with Alamo West, American Medical Response, Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range.

A more detailed article on the bare-footed hiker here:

Hiker Rescued At White Sands National Monument Forgot He Wasn't Just Strolling The Beach | National Parks Traveler

 

[ChadTower]

That guy is a total dumbass. Cody Lundin's book has a few choice terms for people like that. Total turd in the gene pool.

 

[Sagebrusher]

That guy is a total dumbass. Cody Lundin's book has a few choice terms for people like that. Total turd in the gene pool.

Yep, I wonder why he didn't just follow his footprints back? :tinysmile_hmm_t2:

 

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


Kinda feel badly for the guy. His brain must have been on total flame-out. The kind of person that gives dorks a bad name. Makes me wonder what kind(s) of 'medication' he was on.:help:

 

[Sagebrusher]

A couple of notable ones from the past few weeks:


Friday, June 07, 2013


INCIDENTS

Lava Beds National Monument (CA)
Vandals Inflict Major Damage On Petroglyphs

On May 17th, rangers discovered vandalism in an area of the park known as Petroglyph Point. Damage included over 50 occurrences in which individuals had carved over prehistoric and historic petroglyphs (a form of rock art) across a 300 foot stretch of the west face of this important cultural site. Petroglyph Point contains thousands of culturally significant petroglyphs, the most concentrated number in the state of California, which may date as far back as 4,000 years and are important to members of The Klamath Tribes. A temporary site closure has been enacted and additional security measures have been taken while a long term protection plan is established. Rangers are currently conducting an investigation into this incident of vandalism.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013


INCIDENTS

Jewel Cave National Monument (SD)
Young Girl Seriously Injured In Fall

On May 28th, a family from Utah took a guided cave tour with their three-year-old daughter. Upon arriving at an elevated platform at the top of a set of stairs, the mother, who had been carrying the little girl, put the girl down and she promptly ran over to a railing and fell through, landing on an outcrop of the cave wall. Her 18-year-old brother witnessed the fall and unsuccessfully attempted to grab her as she fell. She then slid down the angled wall below the platform, impacting rocks on the way down, and fell a total of about 17 feet, landing on the rocks below. She was taken to the surface by her father and park staff, provided initial BLS stabilization by park EMT’s, and transported by ambulance to the Custer Regional Hospital. She was then flown by Life Flight helicopter to Rapid City Regional Hospital, the nearest Level 2 trauma center. The girl suffered a basal skull fracture, a broken nose, cheekbones and jaw, and numerous abrasions and lacerations. On June 1st, she was released from the hospital and is expected to fully recover. The family stopped by the visitor center shortly thereafter to visit park staff.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013


INCIDENTS

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Ailing Hiker Rescued Via Helicopter Short-Haul

Late in the day on Tuesday, June 4th, visitors found a 29-year-old man in severe distress on the North Kaibab Trail. The hiker reportedly drank large amounts of water, but had eaten very little food. This, coupled with the expected increased perspiration while hiking in hot temperatures, lead rangers to believe this visitor was suffering from a potentially life-threatening condition due to low blood sodium levels known as hyponatremia. Responding via helicopter, ranger/medic Brian Bloom utilized a portable blood chemistry instrument (iStat) to confirm his suspicions and begin appropriate field treatment. Due to the serious nature of the man’s condition and the lack of nearby landing zones, he was helicopter short-hauled with Bloom from switchbacks in the Redwall to the North Rim helibase. He was then placed inside the helicopter, flown to the South Rim, and taken from there to Flagstaff Medical Center. Heis expected to recover.


Tuesday, June 11, 2013


INCIDENTS

Buffalo National Scenic River (AR)
Man Drowns Following Jump From High Bluff

On the afternoon of Friday, May 31st, Newton County Arkansas 911 was notified by cell phone of an accident that occurred within the park just downstream from Erbie at a place known as the Charcoal Fields. The reporting party said that a man had jumped from a 40-foot bluff, landing on his face, and that he did not resurface. First on scene were National Park Service SAR team members, augmented by personnel from the Newton County Search and Rescue Team, Tri-County Search and Rescue and the Mennonite Disaster Service. The watershed had received significant rainfall on Thursday evening and Friday morning, raising the river to a high level. Search conditions were hampered by fast moving water and zero visibility due to turbidity. Four boats were launched from lower Pruitt, two of which were equipped with sonar. The search was suspended at sunset but resumed the next day. On Saturday morning, search teams prepared to resume operations, but heavy rains throughout the night had brought river conditions to full flood stage, making further efforts hazardous. Later in the day the river receded enough to resume operations for a few hours. The victim, 27-year-old Stephen Carney of Austin, Texas, was found around 4 p.m. on Sunday in about four feet of water and approximately 25 yards downstream from the point where he was last seen. The Mennonite team located the remains using side-scan sonar; the actual recovery was made by Harrison Swift Water Rescue.

 

[Reed]

Those parents sound like nut jobs. Why do people like that even try to go out to places like this when they should know they're out of their element.

Jim Morrison was right........People are strange.