Bogley

[Iceaxe]

NPS Morning Report
Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Zion National Park (UT)
Canyoneer Rescued By Short Haul

On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 25th, Michael Holcomb, 39, was attempting to complete the final rappel along the popular Subway canyoneering route in the Left Fork of North Creek – a route that involves several swims and short rappels. Instead of rappelling, though, as other members of his group had done, he chose to climb down a series of ledges, leaving him with a six- to eight-foot jump to reach the canyon floor. Holcomb injured his lower right leg when he landed on the uneven creek bottom. Members of Holcomb’s party hiked to the trailhead to seek assistance. Ranger Cody Cole, field training ranger Moses Rinck, and ranger Chris Scheid hiked into the canyon and met up with Holcomb around dark. The rangers spent the night in the canyon with Holcomb, who had been attempting to hobble downstream. On the morning of June 26th, Holcomb found that he was unable to bear any weight on his injured leg. A short-haul helicopter rescue was organized utilizing the Grand Canyon’s short-haul team. The operation was complete by early afternoon. This was the third short-haul rescue of an injured hiker out of the Left Fork canyon in the past two months. Jumping, as opposed to using a rope to rappel, is one of the most common causes of preventable injuries in Zion’s backcountry. Plateau district ranger Ray O’Neil was the IC. [Submitted by Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]

http://home.nps.gov/applications/morningreport/

[Sombeech]

Iceaxe wrote: This was the third short-haul rescue of an injured hiker out of the Left Fork canyon in the past two months.

Interesting. I'm assuming this is the spot

[trackrunner]

Sombeech wrote: Iceaxe wrote: This was the third short-haul rescue of an injured hiker out of the Left Fork canyon in the past two months.

Interesting. I'm assuming this is the spot

I believe so

Quote: At a logjam, the stream plunges through the logs to make a waterfall. Carefully cross the top of the waterfall to the ledge on canyon left. Walk out this ledge 50 feet (15m). A bolt anchor allows a rappel 30 feet (10m) to the canyon floor, or a series of ledges before the bolts allows the more agile to downclimb and traverse ledges to drop to the canyon floor 20 feet (6m) close to the base of the waterfall.

http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/zion/subway.php

[Iceaxe]

Last time we did Subway some idiots were jumping the last drop....

See the ledge just over the woman in the pictures backpack?
See the waist deep pool just below her feet?

The idiots were jumping form ledge to pool.... maybe an 8' jump? First guy down passes up the "expert" advise of.... "land in the pool in a sitting position because it's only waist deep." :roll:

Ya can't fix stupid. :nono:

[Iceaxe]

Quote: or a series of ledges before the bolts allows the more agile to downclimb and traverse ledges to drop to the canyon floor 20 feet (6m) close to the base of the waterfall.

Yeah.... Tom might want to reconsider posting those words of wisdom.....

Sometimes there is a log propped up where Tom is talking and the down climb is pretty easy... the ledge Tom is talking is the nose (on the right) with the sun on it three pools behind the woman. At least that is where we have DCed before.

:cool2:

[Sombeech]

That's Jan, by the way.

[Mooseman70]

Maybe Bo can shed some light on my question here:

When NPS rescues somebody, does the rescuee get sent a bill to cover expenses incurred during the operation? Or does the NPS foot the bill?

[trackrunner]

Mooseman70 wrote: Maybe Bo can shed some light on my question here:

When NPS rescues somebody, does the rescuee get sent a bill to cover expenses incurred during the operation? Or does the NPS foot the bill?

As of a few years ago, rescuee is not charged. source "Canyoneering the Colorado Plateau"

[skianddive]

Iceaxe wrote: Ya can't fix stupid. :nono:
I thought "DUMBASS" was your favorite and that you would take advantage of circumstances like this in order to use it?? :haha:

[shagster]

Mooseman70 wrote: Maybe Bo can shed some light on my question here:

When NPS rescues somebody, does the rescuee get sent a bill to cover expenses incurred during the operation? Or does the NPS foot the bill?

I know that the SAR Rescues up here in Davis County are free of charge. We cover all the costs. Yes sometimes I wonder about that, but if we start charging maybe people will start being more hesitant to call when they do need help.

[Iceaxe]

I'm no expert... but It's my understanding the NPS does not charge for rescues..... but I do remember Bo once saying the helicopter bill was pretty large and was passed on. I know Zion NP sometimes (always?) uses a private helicopter company for rescue work and that bill, I was told, is passed on. At least some of the time....

And a little FYI: The two copters that crashed recently were used for Zion and Grand Canyon rescues.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/29/helicopter.crash/index.html


Medical helicopters collide, killing at least 6

CNN -- At least six people were dead and one critically injured Sunday after a midair crash between two medical helicopters near a hospital in Arizona, authorities said.

Rescue workers sift through wreckage from two medical helicopters that collided midair Sunday afternoon.

The collision, at Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, set fire to a 10-acre area, according to fire officials, and another two rescue workers were injured by a secondary explosion after the crash.

The helicopters collided at roughly 3:45 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

"As you can imagine, we've got lots of heaps of metal to go through," said Capt. Mark Johnson of the Flagstaff Fire Department. "It's just difficult right now."

He said a landing pad on the roof of the hospital is used by medical helicopters.

Federal Aviation Authority officials originally had reported at least seven deaths and three critical injuries, but they revised those numbers after investigators spent more time on the scene.

Flagstaff Police Department Sgt. Tom Boughner said the two rescue workers were not immediately believed to be seriously injured. He said the helicopters crashed into a wooded area near a neighborhood and that no one on the ground was believed to have been injured or killed in the crash.

He said the fire had been contained by Sunday evening.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said at least one of those killed in the collision was a patient.

He said three of those killed, including the patient, were aboard a Bell 407 helicopter operated by Air Methods Corporation, an air medical service provider. The other helicopter, operated by Classic Helicopter Service of Utah, also was a Bell 407. The other four victims, including the one critically injured, were on that helicopter.

Both helicopters were headed to the hospital at the time of the crash, Gregor said.

FAA safety inspectors from Phoenix, Arizona, were en route to the scene Sunday, and additional inspectors from Washington were expected to arrive Monday morning. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead a probe into the crash, Gregor said.

[shaggy125]

The one survivor was an ER nurse at the Hospital I work at, although he's extremely critical. Very sad.

[snatch]

Iceaxe wrote: Quote: or a series of ledges before the bolts allows the more agile to downclimb and traverse ledges to drop to the canyon floor 20 feet (6m) close to the base of the waterfall.

Yeah.... Tom might want to reconsider posting those words of wisdom.....

Sometimes there is a log propped up where Tom is talking and the down climb is pretty easy... the ledge Tom is talking is the nose (on the right) with the sun on it three pools behind the woman. At least that is where we have DCed before.

:cool2:

"DCed" = Dumb Cabroned break your leg?
"DCed" = Daringly Carefree jack up my ankle ?
"DCed" = Dangerously Courageous oh my f@#$ing leg, I'm coming out of the booooof?
"DCed" = Damn Cool I am, my luck I'll press?
"DCed" = Douche Clown this rap, I'm better than this?
"DCed" = Duely Concerned, but I'll do it anyway?

Please elaborate, I'm completely 100% absolutely lost.

[trackrunner]

snatch wrote: Please elaborate, I'm completely 100% absolutely lost.

I believe DCed = down climbed

[Sombeech]

District of Columbia