Park News August 28,2008

Southern Utah Group

Between August 21st and August 24th, law enforcement staff from Canyonlands and Arches, assisted by personnel from Glen Canyon, Black Canyon, Hovenweep, Natural Bridges and Glen Canyon, joined other regional law enforcement officers – a total of 200 – in working a large motorcycle rally in Grand County and the city of Moab, Utah. During that period, the Banditos motorcycle club held its annual meeting in Grand County. About 700 members attended. An interagency incident command team was formed and spent several months preparing for the event. Park law enforcement staff assisted in the planning efforts. Under agreements with local sheriffs’ departments, rangers participated in activities outside of the parks but were in return supported by the other officers. The high-profile enforcement strategy employed proved successful, as incidents and arrests were over minor infractions and infrequent. Both Canyonlands and Arches were visited by club members, but with no impact to the two parks.

 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The body of a missing kayaker was found yesterday morning in a section of the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River.  The victim, Isaac Ludwig, 27, of Hartford, Tennessee, was discovered by two kayakers who were not part of the search team that was looking for him, but were running the river on their own. Ludwig was reported missing on Tuesday evening by his two companions. They’d entered the water near the Chimney Tops trailhead with the intention of running rapids on the lower section of Road Prong, a tributary to the West Prong. The plan was to takeout before they reached the West Prong. Ludwig’s companions returned to shore shortly after they entered the river when they realized how swift the current was moving, but Ludwig continued on. His body was found about a thousand feet downstream from the confluence of Road Prong and West Prong. The stream level dropped about two feet yesterday, and his body was found above the water, entangled in vegetation. The area where the body was found is extremely rugged and heavily vegetated and not near a trail. At the time of the report, park personnel were still trying to reach the location.

 

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Just before 9 a.m. on Sunday, August 24th, a van operated by a 62-year-old visitor left the park road after failing to negotiate a curve at Windy Point. The van went about 100 feet down an embankment, rolled numerous times, and ejected the driver. Rangers performed CPR for about 15 minutes until the driver was confirmed dead by a paramedic from the Chester Fire Department. There were no other occupants in the vehicle. Witnesses told the investigating ranger that they’d seen the van heading northbound on the main park road at a high rate of speed prior to the accident.  They also reported that the van swerved onto both shoulders of the road several times prior to leaving the pavement. Alcohol may have been a factor.  Rangers, assisted by the park’s fire fuels crew and an interagency fire engine crew, conducted a low-angle scree evacuation to recover the body.

 

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is seeking qualified applicants for the position of chief ranger, overseeing for the Division of Resources and Visitor Protection.  Responsibilities include managing the largest, most complex resources and visitor protection program in the NPS by insuring that trained and qualified personnel are available for all routine and emergency incidents/operations throughout the park. 

For a copy of the announcement, click on the link below. The vacancy closes on September 10th.



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Petersburg National Battlefield

Petersburg National Battlefield is seeking candidates to fill the position of education specialist. This position is being announced as both merit promotion – COLO-08-129 (MPP) – and to all qualified candidates – GATE-08-159 (DEU). For copies of both, click on the link below. The closing date is September 12th. For more information, contact the Human Resources Office at 770-751-8638.



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Visitor and Resource Protection

The WASO special park uses program manager is looking for individuals interested in working on the next edition of Reference Manual 53.  The goal if to finalize the draft so it can be released for internal comments.  Specifics can be found by clicking on the link below, then clicking on the "Details" link at left. Applications must be received by October 15th.



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