Morning Report Excerpts - 1992
The Morning Report includes accidents and incidents in the National Park System. I have excerpted reports I thought people might find interesting.
92-70 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - ARPA Incident
On February 29th, Escalante subdistrict ranger Jim Bowman discovered that 21 petroglyphs in the Mobius panel in Willow Gulch on the Escalante River had been seriously damaged. The petroglyphs, dating to about 950 to 1150 A.D., are part of a "billboard" of over 100 elements which is considered to be a highly significant scientific resource eligible for the national register. The panel is one of only a few such panels found in all of the Escalante canyons. The petroglyphs were damaged by scraping which was apparently done to enhance them so they would show up better in photographs. The scraping, which was probably done with a sharp instrument, removed natural varnish and altered their shape through careless tracing of the original outlines. The park archeologist believes that the damage is irreparable. Rangers investigating the incident have served a search warrant on a residence in Escalante, Utah, and the investigation into the incident is continuing. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 3/6]
90-x - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up on Serious Injury
On May 6, 1990, Johanna Donlin, 23, of Casper, Wyoming, dove off a houseboat into Lake Powell in Davis Gulch and sustained a fractured neck which resulted in complete and permanent quadriplegia. On May 4th, a Eugene, Oregon, law firm filed a $10 million tort claim against the park on behalf of Donlin. The claim is based on the premise that the NPS failed to supervise ARA Leisure Services, the park's concessioner, by failing to assure that they advise boat lessees of underwater hazards that exist in the lake. It is not presently known whether ARA Leisure Services will also be sued. The park recently completed a successful defense against another claim of failure to supervise the concessioner when a rope broke between a rented houseboat and a tag-a-long runabout and a passenger received severe trauma to the head. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/9]
92-214 - Denali (Alaska) - Climbing Fatality
Terrance "Mugs" Stump, 41, a highly-regarded mountaineer and guide, died in an accident on Mount McKinley on May 21st. His death was the seventh in seven days on the peak. Stump, who was employed by Mountain Trip, Inc., was following two clients as part of a three-person rope team at about 14,400 feet on the South Buttress when they stopped, looking for the route. As Stump moved to the front of the line, the snow broke away under him. Stump's clients were able to arrest their descent only when the rope from Stump stopped pulling. One client descended into the crevasse twice in hopes of locating Stump, but was unable to find him. The pair then continued down the mountain and reported the accident on May 22nd. After hearing a description of the accident and the crevasse, rangers decided to make no recovery effort. [cc:Mail message from John Quinley, Public Affairs, ARO, 5/25]
92-235 - Zion (Utah) - Flash Flood
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]
92-241 - Capitol Reef (Utah) - EMS Assist in Birth of Baby
Around 10:00 p.m. on the evening of May 27th, Kim Jackson was en route to the hospital in Richfield to give birth when she realized she was not going to make it. She stopped at the park and asked for assistance. Chief ranger Rick Nolan and ranger Neil Korsmo carried Jackson into Nolan's residence, where she gave birth ten minutes later to a seven-pound, seven-ounce baby boy. Mother and baby were later transported to the hospital and arrived in good condition. [Neil Korsmo, CARE, via telefax from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 5/28]
92-287 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Falling Fatality
Andrew Holmes, 14, of Roosevelt, Utah, fell to his death while free climbing in the sandstone cliffs 77 miles north of Glen Canyon Dam on the afternoon of June 16th. Holmes and his family were on a houseboat on Lake Powell near the Rincon when he and school friend Mike Bingham decided to climb to the mesa above the lake. After climbing to the rim, they started back down, with Bingham in the lead. Holmes stepped out on a rock which broke loose; he fell 50 feet, landing face down and sustaining internal injuries and a probable broken neck. Family members, including an aunt who is a doctor, came to his aid. Rangers and a Classic Lifeguard III helicopter were dispatched to the incident. Holmes' aunt pronounced him dead at the scene. Holmes' mother is an FBI agent, his father is a police officer in Roosevelt, Utah, and his grandfather is head of the Utah Highway Patrol. This is the park's second accidental death this year. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/17]
92-436 Zion (Utah) Rescue
Effie Shu, 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, 8/17/92]
92-437 Zion (Utah) Rescue
Just after 1:00 p.m. on August 11th, Michael Naylor 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, Naylor and his wife had become separated from the rest of the family because of flash floods. Naylor's wife, who weighed 230 pounds and was taking medication for her heart, began having cardiac problems and injured her leg. Naylor 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 Naylors, 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, 8/17/92]
92-431 Canyonlands (Utah) Search and Rescue
Patricia Barr, 37, of Columbus, Ohio, was hiking by herself in Elephant Canyon on August 2nd when she became disoriented. Rather than press on, she sat down and waited to be found. Needles District rangers conducted a hasty search that night and found her at 3:30 a.m. the following morning. On the evening of August 12th, Barr was again reported missing, this time in the Island in the Sky District. Rangers received a report that Barr was four hours overdue from a hike on the Wilhite trail. Another hasty search was conducted, and Barr was found unharmed at 2:30 a.m. the following morning. As before, Barr sat down and waited to be found once she realized she was lost. Search mangers discovered that Barr had poor night vision and lacked a sense of direction. They provided her with significant preventive SAR information as part of the after action review of the incident. [Steve Swanke, DR, Island in the Sky, CANY, 8/13/92]
92-440 Zion (Utah) Rescue
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]
92-463 Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) Rescue
Late on the evening of August 22nd, two nine-year-old twin girls and an eight-year-old boy were playing in Wahweap Creek near Bigwater when a flash flood occurred. One the twins, Sierra Short, and the boy were caught in the water and swept downstream. The boy was able to get to shore; he and the remaining twin went home and played Nintendo, as they were afraid to tell their mothers what had happened. The mother of the twins inquired about the missing child after "counting heads" and realizing that one of her ten children was missing. Rangers and Kane County deputies responded and a helicopter was dispatched to search the area from the air. Many local volunteers also showed up at various points of the wash to search for the girl. Short was found by one of her older brothers, who swam across the wash to search for her. She was in good physical condition. The two were spotted from the helicopter and flown to the incident command post, where the girl was examined and released to her mother. During the search, one of the volunteers also became a victim. Wade Dewar of Bigwater was using the winch on the front of his truck as a safety line when an eroded bank gave away and he was washed down the river. He was found shivering and clinging to a bush about 300 yards downstream. An NPS employee pulled him to shore. Although the incident occurred just outside the park, the initial call came in as being within Glen Canyon. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/27]
92-468 Zion (Arizona) Arrest of Concession Employee
On August 31st, rangers arrested 26-year-old Cornelius Collier 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 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]
92-470 Zion (Utah) Earthquake
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]
92-470 Zion (Utah) Follow-up on Earthquake
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]
92-490 Gates of the Arctic (Alaska) Rescue
While conducting an aerial patrol in the northeastern part of the park on August 31st, the park's pilot spotted a backpacker who was signalling for help. The ranger at Anaktuvuk Pass responded in a BLM contract helicopter that was working the area and contacted Nick Truchanas of Sandy Bay, Tasmania, who had been stranded by injuries in Oolah Valley. Truchanas was in the sixth day of a solo three-week hike through the northern Brooks Range on the 25th when he fractured his ankle and tore ligaments and tendons in his lower leg. Using an improvised caribou antler crutch, he managed to cover just eight miles in seven days. Aircraft had flown over him for three days, but he'd been unable to get their attention until the park pilot saw him. Truchanas was evacuated to Fairbanks, where he was to undergo surgery on September 9th. [Glen Sherrill, CR, GAAR, 9/8]
92-535 Zion (Utah) Skinhead Activity
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]
92-535 Zion (Utah) Update on Skinhead Activity
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]
92-555 Zion (Utah) SAR; Fatality
At 3:15 p.m. on October 10th, David Bryant, 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. Bryant 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 Bryant slipped when he attempted to descend, however, and the subsequent shock to the line pulled the tree out. Bryant 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 Bryant had a pulse but that he was not breathing. Because Bryant'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 Bryant 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. Bryant 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]
92-581 Zion (Utah) - Assault on Ranger
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 Garrett Robinson, who had been fired by the lodge earlier in the day. Robinson, 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, Robinson 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 Robinson after placing a blanket over his head. Wiger and Robinson were both treated for their wounds at the Cedar City Hospital. Robinson was then incarcerated. Charges for assaulting an officer are being sought against him. [Larry van Slyke, CR, ZION, 10/26]
92-589 - Zion (Utah) - Rescue
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]
92-624 - Canyonlands (Utah) - Falling Fatality
On Sunday, November 29th, Peter Hess, 51, his wife, Anna Lea, and a family friend went on a day hike on the Big Springs Canyon Trail in the park's Needles District. When the came upon a snow-covered slick rock dome, Hess climbed it to scout out a route over it. His wife saw him lose his footing and slide out of sight. When she called to him, he did not respond. Lea and another visitor then hiked out the four miles to the visitor center to report the accident. District ranger Fred Patton led a hasty team to the site and found that Hess had died of massive head injuries after falling about 70 feet. Two squads of NPS employees and a county deputy were dispatched to the district to conduct a carry-out, which was completed at 9:30 p.m. Earlier in the day, Patton had contacted the Hess party and cautioned them about the hazards of winter hiking over exposed slick rock. An inch of new snow had fallen on Saturday night and created hazardous conditions in shaded areas. Hess, a Swiss national, was teaching as a visiting math professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, at the time of the accident. [Tony Schetzsle, CR, CANY, 11/30]