To see other space photos of national parks you can browse through the NASA image gallery.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Sunday, June 10, 2012
National Parks From Space
Most of you are likely aware, or have seen photos of earth taken from the space shuttle or the International Space Station. However, did you know that NASA has a collection of photos featuring various national parks around the country? To be honest, many of the photos weren't all that impressive, in my opinion. There are a couple, such as Death Valley, or Crater Lake and North Cascades, that are quite compelling. However, the one photo that I was extremely impressed with was that of Grand Teton National Park:
To see other space photos of national parks you can browse through the NASA image gallery.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
To see other space photos of national parks you can browse through the NASA image gallery.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Friday, June 8, 2012
Teen Dies after fall from Inspiration Point in Yellowstone
An 18-year-old woman died yesterday in an accidental fall near Inspiration Point in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
The woman, a Yellowstone concession employee on her first day in the park, was hiking the canyon's North Rim Trail with three other acquaintances when she ventured out off trail onto a loose rock promontory, which quickly gave way underneath her.
Yellowstone Rangers responded to a 911 cell phone call received at 5:44 p.m. Thursday, reporting a woman had fallen into the canyon. Rangers with the assistance of ground spotters and a Teton Interagency helicopter observed the woman's body resting approximately 400 feet down the canyon wall. They concluded that she had sustained non-survivable injuries.
Despite the hazardous terrain, the body was successfully recovered from the canyon by short-haul helicopter operation at approximately noon today.
The victim's identity is being withheld until next of kin can be notified.
Visitors are reminded that hiking close to canyon rims in the park is extremely dangerous. Staying on posted, designated canyon rim trails is a must due to the instability of loose dirt and rock near ledges.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
The woman, a Yellowstone concession employee on her first day in the park, was hiking the canyon's North Rim Trail with three other acquaintances when she ventured out off trail onto a loose rock promontory, which quickly gave way underneath her.
Yellowstone Rangers responded to a 911 cell phone call received at 5:44 p.m. Thursday, reporting a woman had fallen into the canyon. Rangers with the assistance of ground spotters and a Teton Interagency helicopter observed the woman's body resting approximately 400 feet down the canyon wall. They concluded that she had sustained non-survivable injuries.
Despite the hazardous terrain, the body was successfully recovered from the canyon by short-haul helicopter operation at approximately noon today.
The victim's identity is being withheld until next of kin can be notified.
Visitors are reminded that hiking close to canyon rims in the park is extremely dangerous. Staying on posted, designated canyon rim trails is a must due to the instability of loose dirt and rock near ledges.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Missoula Ranger District to Spray Trees in Rattlesnake NRA
The Missoula Ranger District will spray approximately 1000 trees with the insecticide carbaryl along a three mile section of the main Rattlesnake Trail (Trail 515) beginning as early as June 13 to protect the trees from attack by mountain pine beetles, which have killed scores of trees in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and the Rattlesnake Wilderness. Only the largest trees, 15 inches in diameter or greater, will be sprayed. The spraying will take place over two weekdays and will be weather dependent.
Recreationists and others will be restricted from the areas of the main trail where the work is ongoing or where it was recently completed to protect against exposure to the insecticide. District employees will be posted at trail junctions and at the main trailhead to advise and educate members of the public of the spraying and trail restriction.
To protect trees within a buffer area adjacent to Rattlesnake Creek where spraying will not be done, employees will attach verbenone packets to trees to repel mountain pine beetles. Spraying will not be done within a buffer of six feet in elevation and 130 feet horizontally from Rattlesnake Creek.
The spraying will begin at 5:30 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. over the two day period. Portions of the main trail will be open to the public, depending on the location of the ongoing or completed spraying.
Signs advising the public of the spraying and pending closure dates will be posted at the main Rattlesnake trailhead once weather conditions allow for spraying and a start date is selected.
For current information on the spraying, please contact the Missoula Ranger District office at (406) 329-3814.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Recreationists and others will be restricted from the areas of the main trail where the work is ongoing or where it was recently completed to protect against exposure to the insecticide. District employees will be posted at trail junctions and at the main trailhead to advise and educate members of the public of the spraying and trail restriction.
To protect trees within a buffer area adjacent to Rattlesnake Creek where spraying will not be done, employees will attach verbenone packets to trees to repel mountain pine beetles. Spraying will not be done within a buffer of six feet in elevation and 130 feet horizontally from Rattlesnake Creek.
The spraying will begin at 5:30 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. over the two day period. Portions of the main trail will be open to the public, depending on the location of the ongoing or completed spraying.
Signs advising the public of the spraying and pending closure dates will be posted at the main Rattlesnake trailhead once weather conditions allow for spraying and a start date is selected.
For current information on the spraying, please contact the Missoula Ranger District office at (406) 329-3814.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Rangers Conduct First Mountain SAR of Season in Grand Tetons
Grand Teton National Park rangers conducted the first short-haul rescue of the 2012 summer season late in the afternoon on Wednesday, June 6. Danielle Mendicino, 21, of Las Vegas, Nevada was attempting to summit Albright Peak (10,552 ft.) with a climbing partner when she slipped on snow and fell approximately 50 feet before coming to rest in a rocky talus field.
Park rangers were completing a day of short-haul training when Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received the call for help just before 5 p.m. Two rangers boarded a Teton Interagency contract helicopter from the training site and accompanied the pilot for a reconnaissance flight of Albright Peak and the Death Canyon area. During the initial flight, the pilot and rangers located the injured climber and determined they would land the helicopter on the summit of Albright Peak. At 5:50 p.m. one ranger exited the ship on the summit and descended about 750 feet, reaching Mendicino at 6:10 p.m.
Once on scene, the ranger stabilized Mendicino's injuries and prepared her for a short-haul extraction in an aerial evacuation suit. At 7:05 p.m. Mendicino was flown via short-haul to the historic White Grass Dude Ranch where she was met by a park ambulance just five minutes later and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. Mendicino's injuries prevented her from hiking out on her own. Rangers estimated that it would have likely taken 12 rangers approximately 10 hours to perform a ground evacuation over rough, steep, and difficult terrain, exposing many more rangers to the hazardous terrain.
Short-haul is a rescue technique where an individual is suspended below the helicopter on a 100 to 200 foot rope. This method allows a rescuer more direct access to an injured party, and it is often used in the Teton Range where conditions make it difficult to land a helicopter in the steep and rocky terrain. Patients are typically flown out via short-haul with a ranger attending to them below the helicopter, as was the case for this rescue.
Mendicino was carrying an ice axe, but was unable to self-arrest. Additionally, Mendicino was not properly equipped for her intended trip; she was wearing tennis shoes, and did not have experience on snow.
Officials warn that backcountry users should be in good physical condition and stick to hikes and routes that are within their ability and comfort levels. Appropriate equipment, and the knowledge of how to use it, is essential for a safe trip. Rangers remind backcountry users that variable snow conditions persist above 9,000 feet. Hikers, climbers and skiers should also note that most accidents involve slips on snow or ice, and most occur on the descent at the end of the day. Users are advised to stop in or call a visitor center or ranger station on the day of travel to obtain the most current trail, route and snow conditions.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Park rangers were completing a day of short-haul training when Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received the call for help just before 5 p.m. Two rangers boarded a Teton Interagency contract helicopter from the training site and accompanied the pilot for a reconnaissance flight of Albright Peak and the Death Canyon area. During the initial flight, the pilot and rangers located the injured climber and determined they would land the helicopter on the summit of Albright Peak. At 5:50 p.m. one ranger exited the ship on the summit and descended about 750 feet, reaching Mendicino at 6:10 p.m. Once on scene, the ranger stabilized Mendicino's injuries and prepared her for a short-haul extraction in an aerial evacuation suit. At 7:05 p.m. Mendicino was flown via short-haul to the historic White Grass Dude Ranch where she was met by a park ambulance just five minutes later and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. Mendicino's injuries prevented her from hiking out on her own. Rangers estimated that it would have likely taken 12 rangers approximately 10 hours to perform a ground evacuation over rough, steep, and difficult terrain, exposing many more rangers to the hazardous terrain.
Short-haul is a rescue technique where an individual is suspended below the helicopter on a 100 to 200 foot rope. This method allows a rescuer more direct access to an injured party, and it is often used in the Teton Range where conditions make it difficult to land a helicopter in the steep and rocky terrain. Patients are typically flown out via short-haul with a ranger attending to them below the helicopter, as was the case for this rescue.
Mendicino was carrying an ice axe, but was unable to self-arrest. Additionally, Mendicino was not properly equipped for her intended trip; she was wearing tennis shoes, and did not have experience on snow.
Officials warn that backcountry users should be in good physical condition and stick to hikes and routes that are within their ability and comfort levels. Appropriate equipment, and the knowledge of how to use it, is essential for a safe trip. Rangers remind backcountry users that variable snow conditions persist above 9,000 feet. Hikers, climbers and skiers should also note that most accidents involve slips on snow or ice, and most occur on the descent at the end of the day. Users are advised to stop in or call a visitor center or ranger station on the day of travel to obtain the most current trail, route and snow conditions.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Yellowstone National Park Solicits Comments For Buffalo Plateau Trail Project
Yellowstone National Park is soliciting comments for a proposed project to do routine rehabilitation work on a portion of the Buffalo Plateau Trail. The project will focus on the section of the trail between the Slough (pronounced "slew") Creek Junction and the north boundary of the park. This section of trail is almost entirely in the Buffalo Creek drainage. If funded, the project will take place during the summer of 2013.
The main intent of the project will be to re-establish surface tread and erosion control devices on the trail. This will be accomplished with the construction of a rock base and mineral soil trail surface. Crews will also install a system of water bars and retainers to limit erosion on the trail and retain tread material. The entire project will consist of work in the current alignment of the trail and will not involve any new route construction.
The project is being considered for funding by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Recreational Trails Program, and would be directed by National Park Service staff in partnership with the Montana Conservation Corps.
Written comments should be received no later than July 5, 2012. Comments can be emailed to Bill_Hopkins@nps.gov; or mailed to Bill Hopkins, Backcountry Trails Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
The main intent of the project will be to re-establish surface tread and erosion control devices on the trail. This will be accomplished with the construction of a rock base and mineral soil trail surface. Crews will also install a system of water bars and retainers to limit erosion on the trail and retain tread material. The entire project will consist of work in the current alignment of the trail and will not involve any new route construction.
The project is being considered for funding by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Recreational Trails Program, and would be directed by National Park Service staff in partnership with the Montana Conservation Corps.
Written comments should be received no later than July 5, 2012. Comments can be emailed to Bill_Hopkins@nps.gov; or mailed to Bill Hopkins, Backcountry Trails Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
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