Park News September 5,2008

Yosemite National Park

On the afternoon of Sunday, August 31st, rangers received a report that a man had taken a significant fall off the Upper Yosemite Falls trail. Helicopter 551 was ordered for a rappel and/or short-haul mission, while rangers and SAR site personnel blitzed up the trail. A second 911 caller reported that the man was still alive but had sustained multiple injuries. Rangers Jack Hoeflich and Keith Lober rappelled onto the trail and were joined by ranger Rob Lewis, who had blitzed up the trail in record time. The three rangers reached the man, who was found in the inner gorge, and determined that his injuries were life-threatening.  A park visitor was on scene with him and had clearly helped prevent his death by providing aid, keeping him calm, and helping rescuers reach him. Short-haul operations commenced, with Hoeflich attending the victim through the flight to Ahwahnee Meadow. At the meadow, medical care was provided by a doctor, nurses, paramedics and park medics. The patient was transferred to an air ambulance and was in flight to the hospital two hours and 15 minutes from the first 911 call.  The extraordinary teamwork, talent and professionalism of the rangers, SAR site personnel, fire personnel, clinic staff and the heroic bystander saved the man’s life.

 

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Concession managers at the Lodgepole Market reported that an estimated $1,848 in quarters had been stolen from their coin-operated shower stalls over the course of a week in late August. On the night of August 25th, rangers Steven Powell and Chris Waldschmidt set up surveillance of the shower area from the roof of the Lodgepole Visitor Center directly across from the showers. Around 2:30 a.m., they saw two people quickly enter the shower area with a bucket, presumably to hold quarters, and intercepted them as they left the building.  Both were arrested and found to be concession employees. A key used to access the shower entrance doors was found on one of them and a key to access the vending boxes which held the quarter dollars was found on the other. A consent search was conducted of one of their residences, where the rangers found and seized $108.75 in quarters and $1,695 in cash. On August 26th, a search warrant was obtained for the other suspect’s residence and vehicle, where rangers found $785 in wet quarters, $2,773 in cash, and a key to the laundry vending machines. Both suspects are being charged with felony burglary and conspiracy.

 

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Park dispatch received a report via cellular phone late on the morning of August 31st that CPR was in progress on a man on a boat at Oak Bay on Lake Powell. Several rangers responded from Dangling Rope Marina, approximately 10 miles away. Rangers Chad Hunter and Seth Palmer were first on scene. Hunter located the speedboat and found the man lying in the stern. Hunter immediately applied an AED and delivered one shock, restoring the 67-year-old man’s pulse and breathing. A pediatric emergency room doctor on the boat had begun CPR about 20 minutes before the rangers arrived, bringing oxygen and a bag valve mask that enhanced the CPR efforts. The man was flown to Page Hospital, then taken to Flagstaff Medical Center. He was conscious and talking to staff in the ER in Page.

 

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is actively recruiting qualified candidates for a lateral transfer to a GL-0025-9 protection ranger position. Up to two positions may be filled from this announcement.

Government housing is available.  Applicants must meet all NPS law enforcement medical, drug, and background survey standards.

Delaware Water Gap NRA is one of the ten most visited areas of the Nation Park System and includes the most used portion of the Appalachian Trail. Though summers are busiest, the park is active year around; it is within a two hour drive of the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas.  The individual selected to fill this position will serve as a Type I commissioned law enforcement ranger in the Lenape District of Delaware Water Gap NRA, which includes both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In addition to law enforcement, the selectees will be involved in wildland firefighting, prescribed burn operations, and emergency medical services at the first responder level or higher.  There are also opportunities for involvement with the park SCUBA and high angle rescue teams. Delaware Water Gap NRA also participates in the National Park Service’s field training and evaluation program, so there is also the possibility of future assignments as a field training ranger.

Interested applicants should contact the chief ranger’s office at (570) 426-2414 or (570) 426-2440.