Park News October 29,2008

Grand Canyon National Park

On Sunday, October 19th, Nic Korte, a 59-year-old backpacker, was seriously injured in a fall while hiking with two companions near Tapeats Cave in a remote area below the North Rim. Korte fell 30 feet down a 40-degree slope, then off a 20-foot drop into a dry stream bed with large boulders. Korte’s son-in-law, a Grand Junction (Colorado) firefighter, ran ten miles to the Colorado River in two hours to summon assistance. There he contacted members of a river trip with a satellite phone. Park rescue personnel responded by NPS helicopter just before sunset. Due to the late hour and remoteness of the site, it wasn’t possible to land, so ranger/paramedic Brandon Torres was dropped off at a nearby point and hiked to Korte’s location. Torres treated him throughout the night. Korte’s daughter, Ann, later told a Grand Junction Sentinel reporter that “the paramedic’s calm demeanor and positive attitude put both Dad and I more at ease.” She had nothing but praise for the National Park Service. “After Dad was a little more comfortable, I sat down a little ways away and sobbed uncontrollably. It felt good to be able to let all that emotion out, especially since I knew my dad was in good hands.” On Monday morning, park personnel conducted a helicopter short-haul evacuation from below Tapeats Cave. Korte was flown three miles, along with Torres, to the Surprise Valley area, where a Classic Lifeguard aeromedical helicopter was staged. Classic Lifeguard then transported Korte to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he received treatment for a broken pelvis, arm and femur, a head injury, and multiple abrasions and contusions.  Della Yurcik served as incident commander.

 

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park

On October 7th, a BASE jumper and his partner pled guilty to separate charges in federal court following their arrest after a BASE jump a week earlier. Andrew Gromek pled guilty to a violation of 36 CFR 2.17(a)(3), illegal delivery of a person by parachute, the regulation prohibiting BASE jumping. Gromek was ordered to pay $2,000 in fines. Tracey Hodson, Gromek’s partner, who aided and abetted him by acting as a radio lookout and posing as a hiking partner, pled guilty to interference with an agency function and was ordered to pay a $250 fine. Despite the duo’s extraordinary efforts to avoid detection, including surveillance of the ranger station, scouting the jump location the previous day, using two-way radios, leaving for the jump site under darkness, and completing a backcountry permit stating they were hiking together, ranger Mark Franklin was still able to outwit the two and observe Gromek BASE jump off the 2,250-foot-high Painted Wall, Colorado’s highest cliff, early on the morning of October 1st. Later that morning, rangers contacted a bewildered Gromek and Hodson as they exited S.O.B Draw and confiscated all the equipment used in the jump. Gromek had attempted to hide all of the equipment and other evidence of the jump in nearby trees prior to leaving the area.

 

Intermountain Region

Dates: 10/27/2008 - 11/19/2008

The National Park Service is seeking a CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) project manager to oversee integrated remedial action and natural resource restoration at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site as part of the Clark Fork River Superfund cleanup.

This is a full time, term position, established as not-to-exceed three years, but can be extended up to a total of four years. Applicants must include documentation of their citizenship, Social Security number, Selective Service status (if applicable), and DD 214 (if applicable).  If any one of these items are not submitted, applications will be deemed ineligible. Please read the entire announcement carefully. College transcripts must also be included.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is located a quarter mile north of Deer Lodge, Montana. Complete services are available in Deer Lodge, including schools, grades K-12; dental and medical facilities; and a hospital.  Colleges are located in Butte (37 miles), Helena (57 miles) and Missoula (82 miles).  The climate is very dry with moderate summers (rarely exceeding 90 degrees) and cold winters.  No government housing is available; however, a variety of rentals and property for sale is available in Deer Lodge.



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Fort Union National Monument

Fort Union has an opening for a WG-8 maintenance worker. It is listed on USA Jobs as both open merit promotion and all sources. The person selected will perform a variety of trades/craft duties associated with the preventive maintenance and rehabilitation and repair of buildings, utilities and grounds, and to a lesser degree roads and trails. Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement.



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Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is seeking candidates to fill the position of engineering equipment operator. The person in this position is responsible for the operation of engineering equipment for the roads and trails operation and works out of Shawnee Shop, located near Eminence, Missouri. The announcement is OZAR-MPP-09-01 and closes on November 26th. A copy can be obtained by clicking on the link below. Note that it is also being offered to all qualified candidates under OZAR-DEU-09-01.

For more information, contact Leslie Richardson, Human Resources Assistant, 404 Watercress Drive, PO Box 490, Van Buren, Missouri  63965 (573-323-4236 ext. 234).



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United States Park Police

United States Park Police sergeants Charles Dennings and Greg Knee, detective Kevin Fornshill, and officers Samuel Karns, William Brancato, and Luis Liguori ran in the 33rd Annual Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, October 26th. A total of 18,273 runners finishing the race. Here’s how they came in:

• Charles Dennings – 4 hours, 16 minutes and 6,231 overall


• Greg Knee – 4 hours, 52 minutes and placed 11,270 overall


• Kevin Fornshill – 5 hours, 16 minutes and 13,895 overall


• Samuel Karns – 4 hours, 51 minutes and 11,158 overall


• William Brancato – 5 hours, 41 minutes and 15,820 overall


• Luis Liguori – 4 hours, 52 minutes and 11,278 overall 

The marathon is sponsored by the Marine Corps and is dubbed the “Marathon of the Monuments” due to its race course. The picturesque race begins and ends at the Iwo Jima Memorial, with spectacular views of the Potomac River while running along the George Washington Memorial Parkway and along Spout Run. 

Runners then cross the Potomac River over Key Bridge and pass through Georgetown, with views of the C&O Canal.  After passing the Kennedy Center, the runners enter the National Mall, where participants pass by many monuments and memorials such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, and the U.S. Capitol. Afterwards, they cross back over the Potomac River, through Crystal City, past the Pentagon and finish back at the Iwo Jima Memorial.  

The United States Park Police provided extensive security and logistical support to this event.