Yellowstone National Park rangers spent the day Monday responding to numerous incidents, including several involving significant injuries to visitors.
Carl Dullmaier, 56, of Gernsheim, Germany, sustained a head injury when he was thrown from a horse near Tower Junction. He later died from his injuries after being lifeflighted to a Billings, Montana, hospital.
A 37-year-old man from Provo, Utah, suffered thermal burns on the Solitary Geyser Trail in the Upper Geyser Basin. He was transported by ambulance to West Yellowstone, Montana, and from there by fixed-wing aircraft to the Salt Lake City, Utah, Burn Center.
A 65-year-old male British national from Bangkok, Thailand, suffered injuries when he was thrown into the air by a bull bison at Mammoth Hot Springs. He was transported to Memorial Hospital in Livingston, Montana.
Visitors are reminded to stay on boardwalks and designated trails while viewing all thermal features in the park. Scalding water underlies thin, breakable crusts; many geyser eruptions are unpredictable, and thermal features are near or above boiling temperatures.
Park visitors are also reminded that intentionally approaching or disturbing animals is dangerous and a violation of park regulations. Park rules require that you stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves at all times, and at least 25 yards away from all other animals including elk and bison.
Yellowstone officials respond to an average of 700 emergency medical calls each year.
Jeff
Hikes in Glacier National Park
I knew Karl-Heinz. Met him almost 30 years ago on his first journey to the States when he was down here in Austin. We stayed in touch over the years and spent a lot of time together on his many trips to the States - I was going to see WC Germany 2006 with him, but personal issues got in the way and I couldn't make the trip. He was coming to Austin with his family after the Yellowstone trip - the first time we would have had the chance to meet his wife and children. A great friend and a great loss. RIP, KH.
ReplyDeleteJ - I'm not sure if he goes by a different name, or maybe you mis-read the name posted in this blog?? The name I have for the man that died was Carl Dullmaier. Do you have something different?
ReplyDeleteIt's the same person; we've heard from his wife. All of his friends in Texas are in shock. I can't account for the difference in first names - I've known him as KH for the last 30 years.
DeleteJ - I'm sorry this had to happen to a friend of yours. Our prayers are with his family.
DeleteJeff