July 8, 1987
87-149 - Glacier Bay - Missing Boater Found
Location: Tatshenshini-Alsek River
A party of eight boaters were running the river in two rafts. The raftscollided and dumped three boaters into river. Two were recovered three milesdownstream the third could not be located. The remaining boaters searchedfor three days for the missing individual. This was the first time he hadbeen camping. He had only light clothes, no food, and no camping gear. Thegroup decided, after three days of searching, to hike out from the area ofGateway Knob to report the incident.
The missing boater, L.S., was found eight days after the incident byrangers on river patrol with wardens from Kluane National Park, Canada.L.S. was transported to Silver Creek by raft and later evacuated to HainesJunction by helicopter. He did not require hospitalization.
July 13, 1987
87-155 - Glacier Bay - Boat Sinking
Location: 1 mile north of Ancon Buoy
At approximately 12:45pm personnel at Glacier Bay National Park received acall of a boat in distress, taking on water. The NPS boat Serac responded atapproximately 1:05pm. An attempt was made to pump 60 gallons of fuel fromthe distress boat onto the Serac and to tow the boat to shallow water. Theboat sank by 1:25, in 180 feet of water. It is thought to be unrecoverable.The Coast Guard has been notified. All passengers are fine. Boat's estimatedvalue to be $60,000.
Friday, April 26, 1991
91-132 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Search; Presumed Drowning
On April 5th, T.F. and F.F., both 24 and residents of Germany, began a twelve-week-long canoeing and backpacking trip within the park. On the morning of the 13th, their canoe went adrift, so F.F. constructed a raft out of their equipment and driftwood and paddled out on a calm sea to retrieve it. Ten minutes later, T.F. reported seeing the raft adrift without F.F. aboard. Early on the afternoon of the 20th, a park employee contacted T.F. at the mouth of Wachusett Inlet, at which time T.F. reported that F.F. was missing. A cooperative, NPS-led search effort was then begun which concentrated on Muir Inlet and adjacent areas. A helicopter, a fixed-wing aircraft, and dog and ground teams searched the area for the next two days. Part of F.F.'s raft was discovered on the shore of Sebree Island near the mouth of the inlet; the canoe and another portion of the raft were located near Muir Point and Adams Inlet on the opposite side of the bay. One dog alerted seaward near Forrest Creek, but searchers found no sign of F.F. [Telefax from Randy King, CR, GLBA, 4/25]
Friday, August 16, 1991
91-405 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Air Crash with Six Fatalities
On the evening of August 14th, a chartered Haines Airways Piper Cherokee with six people on board crashed northeast of Excursion Inlet just outside of the park. There were no survivors. The victims were:
B.J., IV, 28, of Haines, Alaska, a seasonal ranger at Glacier Baywho was on his first season as an NPS employee. R.H.E., 28, a boatcaptain for Glacier Bay Lodge and the son of B.E., the superintendentof Redwood National Park. K.S., 23, of Idaho Springs, Colorado, aGlacier Bay Lodge employee. S.W., 23, a Glacier Bay Lodge employee.L.M., 35, of Haines, Alaska, a Glacier Bay Lodge employee. B.S.,the Haines Airways pilot.
The Cherokee was one of two aircraft which had been charted by offduty employees for a trip to Haines. The other aircraft left first and arrived safely. When the Cherokee failed to arrive, a hasty search was begun by fixed-wing aircraft. The downed plane was located yesterday morning by park employees on board a Temsco helicopter. State troopers were in the process of recovering the bodies yesterday afternoon. The weather was foggy and cloudy, and helicopter access to the site was intermittent. The crash occurred at the 3,800-foot elevation of a steep mountain at the southern edge of the Chilkat Range. [Telefax from John Quinley, Public Affairs, ARO, 8/15]
Monday, August 3, 1992
92-375 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Air Crash with Fatality
M.I., the owner of Gulf Air Taxi in Yakutat, Alaska, was killed onJuly 29th when the plane he was flying crashed into the Barbazon MountainRange near Akwe Lake after leaving the park for Yakutat. M.I. had been abush pilot for over 30 years and a concessioner in both Glacier Bay andWrangell-St. Elias since 1984, and had routinely been hired by those parksto fly rangers on patrols. The accident is under investigation by Alaskastate troopers. [Randy King, CR, GLBA, 7/31]
Monday, August 23, 1993
93-625 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Ship Grounding; Rescue
On the afternoon of August 18th, the Yorktown Clipper, a 257-foot tour boat,ran aground on Geikie Rock about half way up Glacier Bay. The shipsustained damage to its forward hull and immediately began to take on water. There were 134 passengers and 42 crew members on board at the time. Thecaptain requested immediate assistance, and vessels throughout the area -including four NPS boats - responded to the mayday call. Park boatstransferred all 134 passengers and four of the crew members from the Clipperto the Westerdam, another cruise ship then in the bay. The Westerdam thenproceeded on to Sitka with the Clipper's passengers. Another 22 crewmembers were taken to Bartlett Cove. The remaining 16, including thecaptain, remained on board to stabilize the vessel and move it to shallowwaters in case there was a need to beach it. The Coast Guard responded tothe mayday with two helicopters from Sitka and the cutter Woodrush. Thehelicopters transported dewatering pumps, environmental assessment teams,damage control teams, an oil spill boom and absorbent pads to the Clipper. Crew members, assisted by rangers and Coast Guard personnel, utilized thepumps to minimize flooding. The Clipper was moved into Shag Cove off GeikieInlet so that any fuel or oil spills could be better contained, but only asmall amount of fuel - no more than 100 gallons - appears to have leakedfrom the ship. About 1500 feet of boom was deployed, and the landing craftGumption was dispatched from June with an additional 1.5 miles ofcontainment boom in case it was needed. The tugboats Chevelle Rouge andTagish were dispatched late in the day in order to help pump out theClipper's fuel tanks (it was carrying 23,000 gallons of fuel at the time ofthe accident) and tow the ship to port for temporary repairs. Salvagedivers from Ketchikan were flown into Gustavus that night and transported byrangers to the Clipper. They began an assessment of the damage to the hulland assisted with temporary repairs. Many of the ruptures were plugged, andtemporary repairs were begun which would enable the ship to make it to port. At last report, repair efforts were still underway. No obvious resourcedamage has occurred, but assessments were continuing. [John Quinley, PAO,ARO, 8/20; Bill Gabbert, GLBA, 8/20]
Tuesday, August 24, 1993
93-625 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Ship Grounding
The cruise ship Yorktown Clipper, which ran aground on Geikie Rock in Glacier Bay last week, will probably be ready to move out of the baysometime this morning. The Coast Guard inspected repairs on the 22nd andrequired that additional work on damaged internal structural components becompleted before the ship was moved. They are also requiring that thefollowing be on the ship when it moves - four water pumps, 500 feet ofabsorbent boom, two electricians, a welder, two or three Coast Guardpersonnel, and two ship construction experts, one of whom was the foreman incharge of the ship's construction. A salvage barge with another 5,000 feetof absorbent boom will follow the ship. Contingency plans have been writtento prepare for the possibility of the incident escalating or becoming morecomplex, especially while the ship is being moved out of the bay. Theseplans address the potential for adverse effects on the natural resources aswell as how to prevent, monitor and mitigate them. [Bill Gabbert, GLBA,8/23]
Tuesday, December 14, 1993
93-850 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Hunting Case Dismissal
On October 5th, rangers on boat patrol near Garforth Island in Glacier Bayduring a commercial halibut fishery opening came upon the fishing vesselMermaid and saw individuals on board in possession of a dead seal. G.B.,37, a Tlingit native from Hoonah, admitted to having shot the seal. Since the legislation for Glacier Bay does not permit native hunting orother subsistence activities within the park, the seal and a rifle wereconfiscated and G.B. was cited for illegal taking of wildlife under 36 CFR2.2 (a)(1). The case provoked a strong reaction within the native communitythat was played out in the media. G.B. contested the charge, and a seriesof motions to dismiss were filed on his behalf by the defense counsel. TheNative American Rights Fund represented the Huna Traditional Council and theAlaska Native Sisterhood in an application to participate as amici curiae inthe case. The park was represented by attorneys from the Office of theSolicitor and the Department of Justice. The primary arguments raised inthe motions centered on the coastal native exemption for marine mammalhunting provided by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and on First Amendmentissues, supported by the Native American Religious Freedom Act, throughwhich seal hunting was portrayed as an important component of the religiouspractices of the local Tlingit. Problems with the applicability and scopesection of the regulations found in 36 CFR 1.2(b) surfaced at the trial inSeptember. The defense asserted that the NPS does not have jurisdiction onthe marine waters of the park - an area of proprietary jurisdiction - absentproof of ownership of the submerged lands. Because of the potentialimplications of the ownership issue (Alaska has asserted ownership of allnavigable waters within state boundaries, including the marine waters ofGlacier Bay), the judge directed the defense to include attorneysrepresenting the state in the brief preparation. The approximately 600,000acres of submerged lands included within the park's boundaries were reservedto the federal government for the purposes of the park prior to Alaskastatehood, and solicitors' opinions have supported the Service's claim ofownership. The government's attorneys felt it inappropriate to argue theownership issue in a misdemeanor criminal case, however, as the resultswould be binding on the federal government if against and not binding in thestate if in favor. The attorneys argued that the issue of ownership is moreappropriately addressed through civil process. A motion to dismiss the casewas filed by the government based on the applicability and scope problemswith the regs and its unwillingness to argue the ownership issue with thedefense and state in a misdemeanor criminal case. Alaskan rangerscampaigned vigorously against the motion to dismiss, but did not prevail. None of the legal issues raised in the case were addressed or resolvedregarding native hunting of marine mammals in the park. Alaskan rangers areconcerned that the decision to dismiss has potentially negated Glacier Bay'sability to enforce any regulations on the marine waters of the park. Absentownership of the submerged lands, it follows that the same applies to allpark areas under proprietary jurisdiction within the system. Prior todismissal, the Office of the Solicitor and the Department of Justicecommitted to pursuing quiet title claim in civil court for the park'ssubmerged lands. These offices, and the Department, have also committed toassisting with the revision of 1.2(b) of the regulations so that Parts 1-5and 7 will be applicable on waters within proprietary jurisdiction parkareas regardless of ownership. Draft regulations are now being formulated. [Randy King, GLBA, 12/9]
Thursday, February 17, 1994
94-75 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Ship Sinking
The "Westerly", a 72-foot fishing vessel out of Petersburg, Alaska, sank inthe park on February 15th. The vessel, which was laden with Tanner crabpots, ran into 50-knot winds and seas of six to ten feet while passingnortheast of Strawberry Island and began to experience severe stabilityproblems, possibly caused by the failure of a bulkhead. High seas quicklycaused the boat to founder, and the crew had to abandon ship within minutes. The "Arete", the park's 26-foot patrol boat, responded from Bartlett Cove,but had to turn back because of extreme weather and sea conditions. Anearby fishing vessel, the "Northwyn", was able to rescue all crew memberswithin minutes, however, and no injuries were reported. All crew membershad donned immersion suits before entering the ocean, where watertemperatures were in the low 40s. The "Westerly', which carried anestimated 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel in its tanks, sank in about40 fathoms of water east of Strawberry Island without a trace. Although noevidence of fuel leakage has yet been spotted, park and Coast Guardofficials will continue to monitor the scene closely and will be workingwith the owner to attempt to locate and salvage the vessel. [Chuck Young,DR, Bay District, GLBA, 2/16]
Tuesday, March 22, 1994
94-127 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Aircraft Accident
On the afternoon of March 21st, a Grumman Goose amphibious aircraft operatedby the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) crash-landed at an elevationof 9,000 feet northeast of Mt. Fairweather - a very remote and heavilyglaciated area near the park's border with Canada. An ELT signal from theaircraft was picked up by the SAR satellite, marking its general location. The three occupants of the aircraft, who are believed to be employees ofDPS, all survived the crash, although at least one suffered back injuries.A Coast Guard helicopter performed a high altitude rescue of the threeutilizing a basket hoist. Information on the accident was still coming inat the time of the report and specifics - including the cause of theaccident - are as yet unknown. The accident may be in British Columbia. Canadian officials have been notified. [Chuck Young, DR, Bay District,GLBA, 3/21]
Friday, March 25, 1994
94-127 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Aircraft Accident
Investigation continues into the March 21st crash of an Alaska Department ofPublic Safety aircraft which occurred northeast of Mt. Fairweather near thehead of Margerie Glacier just outside the park in British Columbia. Allthree individuals in the plane, which was heading from Juneau to Yakutat,survived the crash with only minor injuries. Windshear may have been afactor in causing the crash, although final determination of cause ispending a state and FAA investigation. The aircraft sustained some damageduring the landing, and plans are to use a helicopter to lift it off thesite. It is unknown whether or not the plane, a 1930s era Grumman Goose,will be salvageable. [Chuck Young, DR, Bay District, GLBA, 3/23]
Tuesday, March 29, 1994
94-127 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Aircraft Accident
On March 27th, a commercial crew contracted by the state successfullyremoved the Grumman Goose amphibious aircraft from Margerie Glacier with alogging industry helicopter. The Sikorsky S61 lifted the Goose from 10,000-foot level of the glacier and flew it to a waiting tug and barge positionednorth of Russell Island in the West Arm of Glacier Bay. It was then takento Juneau for major repairs. The plane, which had been on the glacier forabout a week, had six feet of snow on one wing. The plane sufferedstructural damage to both wings and several struts. Although it's expectedthat the classic airplane will be repaired fully, it will be months beforeit will be certified to fly again. [Chuck Young, DR, Bay District, GLBA,3/28]
Monday, June 13, 1994
94-287 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Search; Presumed Drowning
A 54-year-old crew member of the 564-foot cruise ship SS Universe apparentlylost his footing and fell from the ship's port side pilot door about 20 feetto the frigid waters of Glacier Bay in the early morning hours of June 10th. The crewman was preparing the ship to take on park interpretive rangers, whowere scheduled to arrive in 15 minutes in a transfer vessel from parkheadquarters at Bartlett Cove. The crew member, a citizen of Hong Kong, wasseen flailing in the water for several minutes before the ship could slowand maneuver for rescue; by that time, he had disappeared and was not seenagain. Three park vessels participated in an intensive sea search alongwith a Coast Guard cutter and helicopter, several private and commercialfishing boats, and two commercial tour boats. The search continued for 12hours, and was finally called off at 5:30 p.m. The victim's shoes and aneyeglass case were the only items recovered. He was not wearing a lifejacket, nor was he attached to a lifeline. A joint NPS, Coast Guard, andstate investigation has been begun. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 6/11]
Tuesday, August 9, 1994
94-450 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - MVA with Fatality
An off-duty Army Corps of Engineers employee was killed in a single carmotor vehicle accident in Bartlett Cove on August 6th when the four-wheel-drive pickup truck he was driving overturned. R.P.P., 49, ofPalmer, Alaska, died instantly when he was crushed by his vehicle afterbeing partially ejected from the driver's seat. R.P.P., who was working asthe government overseer of a hazardous waste remediation project outside thepark, was returning from the park concession bar when the accident occurred. A passenger, W.L.S.P., of Chugiak, Alaska, suffered only minorinjuries. W.L.S.P. was wearing a seatbelt; R.P.P. was not. Alcohol isstrongly suspected as a contributing factor in this accident. This isbelieved to be the first fatality ever to occur on area roads due to atraffic accident. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 8/6]
Thursday, September 1, 1994
94-515 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Aircraft Accident
An NPS contract helicopter crash-landed in the water in the upper west armof Glacier Bay near Reid Inlet on the morning of August 30th. The Bell JetRanger II overturned in the water upon crashing, but pilot D.M., 46,was able to get out and was retrieved within minutes by park employees whowitnessed the accident. D.M. was the only person on board at the time, andwas making a test flight after encountering mechanical difficulties with theaircraft earlier in the evening. The cause of the accident is unknown. Thehelicopter was being used in conjunction with a mine cleanup and safingproject conducted by the Park Service. The helicopter was salvaged by asupport boat working with the project. The aircraft was severely damaged inthe incident. D.M. suffered some from exposure and what appeared to berelatively minor injuries. He was medevaced to Juneau early on the morningof the 31st for further examination. The Park Service is investigating theaccident with NTSB investigators. [Randy King, CR, GLBA, 8/31]
Thursday, September 8, 1994
94-531 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - License Fraud
On the evening of August 14th, ranger Rick Perkins contacted concessionemployee J.R., 18, while the latter was fishing on the BartlettRiver. J.R. could not produce a license and told Perkins that he'd leftit at his residence. When he failed to meet Perkins the next day, Perkinschecked the record of license sales at the front desk of Glacier Bay Lodge,a park concession. The records appeared to have been altered to show abackdated license sale to J.R.. A front desk employee of the Lodge,S.B., 22, admitted to altering the records when questioned byrangers, and J.R. admitted to asking S.B. to backdate the license sale. Both individuals plead guilty to all charges filed against them infederal district court. J.R. was fined a total of $1,350 and given ayear's probation for the three charges of fishing without a license,interfering with agency functions, and solicitation with intent to causeanother to engage in a crime. S.B. was fined a total of $2,000 and given16 months probation for tampering with public records. [Chuck Young, DR,GLBA, 9/2]
Friday, December 2, 1994
94-658 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Poaching Convictions
In May, 1993, rangers Rick Mossman and Mike Sharp investigated the poaching ofa brown bear on a remote section of the park's outer coast. Clues found at thescene led them to suspects in Fairbanks, where rangers and Fish and WildlifeService special agent Mark Webb subsequently served search warrants on tworesidences and an airplane. Evidence found in one of the residences tied thesuspects to the crime. Lengthy interviews and further investigation resultedin charges being filed against L.Z. and a companion. L.Z. is aconstitutionalist who believes that all state and federal laws and regulationsare illegal except for those spelled out in the constitution. During thesearch of his house, loaded firearms and ammunition were found in almost everyroom; an illegally possessed, mounted walrus head was also found andconfiscated. Following a lengthy review of the case with the U.S. attorney'soffice, a violation notice was issued to L.Z. in August, 1994, for violationof the Lacey Act through transportation of a bear which had been illegallytaken in the park. L.Z. paid a $5,000 fine and forfeited the bear's hide andskull and the walrus head. L.Z.'s companion was fined $2,500. The companionhas not paid his fine yet and has a court date within a month. [Rick Mossman,DR, Yakutat District, GLBA, 12/2]
Thursday, April 27, 1995
95-182 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Climbing Accident; Three Fatalities
On April 25th, one of three mountaineering parties climbing 10-495-foot Mt.Orville in the Fairweather Mountains reported finding the bodies of threeclimbers below the mountain at the head of North Crillon glacier. Theaccident, which was reported by radio-telephone, apparently occurred a day ortwo previously and had been caused by an avalanche or fall at the 4,900-footlevel. Rangers and an Alaska state trooper flew to the scene that afternoon,but were unable to land. Two climbing rangers from Denali, a ranger fromGlacier Bay and a state trooper finally reached the scene of the accident byhelicopter and ski plane the following day. Initial investigation revealedthat the three climbers were descending when they fell at least 2,000 feet totheir deaths. A foot of new snow had fallen while the party was on themountain, and avalanches were frequent while the recovery team was on theglacier. The bodies were flown to Juneau and turned over to state troopers. Names are being withheld pending notification of families. [Randy King, GLBA,4/26]
Wednesday, June 21, 1995
95-315 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Search; Probable Drowning
On June 15th, H.B. and D.W. were tending their fishing net onthe Alsek River about a mile upstream from the ocean when the boat's prop gottangled in the net. The current subsequently swamped the boat, and both menswam toward shore, about 50 yards away. H.B. made it, but D.W. didn't. Asearch was begun by park rangers within 30 minutes and ultimately involved anumber of private boats, two private airplanes, an Alaska state trooperaircraft and the Coast Guard. The overturned boat, still tangled in the net,was found a mile offshore in the ocean about an hour into the search. As oflate that evening, D.W. had not been found, and is presumed to have drowned. Neither of the men was apparently wearing a life jacket. [Rick Mossman, DR,GLBA, 6/16]
Wednesday, July 5, 1995
95-360 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Search
Two empty kayaks and some personal gear were found floating near Hunter Cove inthe east arm of the bay on the morning of June 29th. Rangers conducted apreliminary search of the shoreline in the surrounding area by boat in aneffort to find the owners and additional gear; when nothing was found, a formalsearch was begun. A contract helicopter was employed to conduct an aerialsearch of the area. The kayaks' owners, T.P., 37, of Germany, andC.G., 28, of France, were found on a beach in Wachusett Inlet,about seven miles from where the kayaks were found, late that afternoon. Bothwere okay. A high tide had apparently flushed their kayaks from the beachwhere they'd been camping. When they awoke, the kayaks were gone, but they hadno means of calling for help. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 6/29]
Wednesday, July 26, 1995
95-453 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Multiple Boating Accidents
During the week between July 13th and the 20th, four separate boat groundingstook place in the park:
* On July 13th, the 32-foot sailing vessel "Antares" grounded while atanchor near Gloomy Knob in the main section of the bay. The skipperapparently misjudged the 24-foot tide that day, and returned from a hiketo find the boat on its side. Rangers helped him safely refloat itduring the subsequent high tide.
* The "Gloria S.", a 49-foot commercial fishing vessel, grounded at CapeFairweather on the park's outer coast two days later. The 650 gallons ofdiesel fuel on board were successfully removed in a joint Coast Guard-NPSoperation. The vessel was severely damaged and is considered a totalloss. Efforts are underway to remove as much of it as possible; theremaining wooden structure will be burned. The operator is underinvestigation for operating the boat while intoxicated.
* A 32-foot trawler, the "Patty A.", grounded on Point Carolus at the mouthof Glacier Bay on July 16th. Investigation revealed that the operatorhad fallen asleep and run the boat up onto shore. Alcohol is believed tohave been a contributing factor. Rangers assisted in completing a damageassessment and in refloating the boat. The operator was cited fornegligent operation.
* On July 20th, the 39-foot sailing vessel "Rio-Nimkish" ran aground atBlue Mouse cove immediately after the skipper pulled his anchor and ranover a shoal. The boat was refloated on the next high tide.
The four groundings were unrelated. Poor weather was ruled out as a primarycause for any of the accidents. [Chuck Young, GLBA]
Thursday, July 27, 1995
95-462 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Theft
Acting on a report from the park concessioner, rangers contacted a deckhand whowas suspected of taking over $1400 in cash and blank company checks from thetour boat he worked on. J.F., 27, of Kent, Washington, was about toboard an airplane to leave the area on July 23rd when rangers held the plane'sdeparture in order to question him. During the questioning, J.F. consented toa search of his belongings. The missing money and checks were found in theluggage, and J.F. confessed to having stolen them on the previous evening. Hewas arrested and booked into the correctional facility in Juneau. Aninvestigation in conjunction with the state DA's office is currently underway. Felony theft charges may be filed against J.F.. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA]
Wednesday, May 22, 1996
96-219 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Bear Poaching
Rangers received a report on May 18th of a bear poaching incident in progressat Excursion Inlet on the park's southeast boundary. A similar report hadbeen received from the same area a week previously, but the suspect had leftthe scene with the bear before the report came in. Rangers respondedimmediately by plane and boat to this report. While the park planemaintained surveillance of the hunting party from the air, rangers from thepatrol boat contacted the party on the beach as they were completing fielddressing the recently shot adult male black bear. J.D.S., 47, ofJuneau, Alaska, admitted to shooting the bear, but said he was unaware he wasin a national park. A co-worker had told him about the abundant bears in theinlet area, but apparently neglected to advise him that the inlet was in anational park. That co-worker is now a suspect in the previous week's bearpoaching incident. Smith was cited and will appear in federal magistrate'scourt on June 19th on charges of illegal taking of wildlife and possessing apet in a closed area. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA]
Wednesday, July 17, 1996
96-370 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Assault
On Monday, July 15th, five park employees and ten Tlingit natives from Hoonahvisited several archeological sites located within Dundas Bay. Whilevisiting a shoreside site near the mouth of the Dundas River, anunidentified, armed male came out of the nearby woods and approached andthreatened a lone member of the group at gunpoint. The individual thendisappeared back into the woods. Protection rangers on scene were able tosafely evacuate the party from shore and depart from the bay. Aninvestigation is underway in conjunction with Alaska state troopers. Untilthe safety of visitors is assured, the Dundas Bay area of the park willremain closed to all on-shore activities. [Randy King, CR, GLBA]
Friday, July 19, 1996
96-370 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Assault
On Monday, July 15th, five park employees and ten Tlingit natives from Hoonahvisited several archeological sites located within Dundas Bay. While in thearea, an unidentified, armed male approached and threatened a member of thegroup at gunpoint, then disappeared into the woods. Five rangers from theAlaska special events team (Jim Hannah, team leader) arrived in the park onWednesday, accompanied by an FBI adviser and J.D. Swed, IC of the fieldarea's all-risk incident management team. They were joined by a statetrooper. The team launched an investigation into the incident, and soonidentified a suspect. Subsequent investigation raised concerns about thesuspect's mental stability and about both officer and suspect safety in anypotential encounter. The area where the assault occurred is heavilyvegetated and only accessible by air or water. The land area in Dundas Bayhas been closed to public use until further notice. Boats may continue touse the bay, but the public is cautioned not to go ashore. Notices to thiseffect have been posted in area communities. Media attention is now beingfocused on the incident. [Kevin Apgar, PIO, GLBA]
Tuesday, July 23, 1996
96-370 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Assault
On Monday, July 15th, an armed man threatened a charter boat operatorstanding on the shore of Dundas Bay. The man is believed to still be atlarge, so the area - including land, waters and air space - remains closeduntil further notice as a precautionary measure. The area that has beentemporarily closed is lightly used by recreational boaters, kayakers andsports fishermen. The commercial crabbers who have pots set within the bayare being accommodated when (and if) conditions permit. Rangers arepatrolling the entrance to the bay and contacting boats in the vicinity toadvise them of the closure. Members of the Alaska special events team andother NPS personnel are investigating the incident, and information is beinggathered on his identity. The man is described as white, in his mid to late20s, weighing about 170 pounds, and about 5'10" tall. No further informationis currently available. [Kris Fister, IO, GLBA]
Monday, July 29, 1996
96-370 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Assault
Rangers and a special emergency reaction team of four Alaska state troopersarrested P.G.D., 34, in Dundas Bay without incident around 5p.m. on the afternoon of Saturday, July 27th. P.G.D. is suspected of beingthe gunman who threatened a charter boat operator on the shore of the baynear the mouth of the Dundas River on Monday, July 15th. P.G.D. wastransported by helicopter and plane to Juneau, where he is being held on afelony warrant for assault in the third degree. The closures of marinewaters and air space have been lifted, but the Seclusion River and shorelineclosures will remain in effect until further notice. Rangers have securedthe site of the arrest and investigators from the NPS, FBI and state willthoroughly search the area for evidence and make sure that it's safe beforelifting the remaining closures. Approximately 30 to 35 people were involvedin the investigation, planning and preparation stages of the incident, whichwas managed by the field area's all risk incident management team. [KrisFister, IMT, GLBA]
Friday, August 9, 1996
96-370 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Assault
Additional details have been released regarding the arrest of P.D.,34, for threatening a charter boat operator on the shore of the bay in mid-July. Arresting rangers and Alaska state troopers discovered that P.D. hadexcavated a large, square crater measuring 20 by 20 feet and six feet deep. He had cut and peeled small trees by hand and was using them to constructwalls of a cabin within the hole. He told the members of the arresting partythat he intended to construct a roof which would be level with the ground andcover it with moss and other ground vegetation. Items found at the sceneincluded a .308 M1 rifle with a sniper's barrel and scope, a .22 caliberThompson "Contender" with a scope, about 35,000 rounds of ammunition, 90pounds of fishing gear, an inflatable raft, and other camping equipment - anoverall total of almost 2,000 pounds of gear. [Kris Fister, PIO, IMT, GLBA]
Wednesday, October 30, 1996
96-646 - Glacier Bay NP&P (Alaska) - Poaching Conviction
Under a plea agreement, L.P. was sentenced to pay $3,000 into thepark's resource protection fund for two commercial crabbing violations -fishing in closed waters and use of improper escape mechanisms on his pots -in magistrate's court on October 23rd. He was also placed on supervisedprobation for 30 months and prohibited from fishing in park waters duringthat time. The magistrate added a $1,000 fine for any fish or wildlifeviolations which L.P. may commit during the probation period. This is thesecond plea arrangement arranged by park staff which entailed payment intothe park's resource protection fund. [Mike Sharp, CI, GLBA]
Wednesday, January 15, 1997
94-658 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Poaching Convictions
In May, 1993, ranger Rick Mossman and criminal investigator Mike Sharpinvestigated the poaching of a brown bear on a remote section of the park'souter coast. Clues found at the scene led them to suspects in Fairbanks,where rangers and Fish and Wildlife Service special agent Mark Webbsubsequently served search warrants on two residences and an airplane. Evidence found in one of the residences tied the suspects to the crime. Lengthy interviews and further investigation resulted in charges being filedagainst L.Z. and his son-in-law T.D. L.Z., a constitutionalistwho believes that all state and federal laws and regulations are illegalexcept for those spelled out in the constitution, had given T.D. the bear-hunting trip as a wedding present. Both men were charged with misdemeanorLacey Act violations for illegal transport of the bear and 36 CFR violationsfor illegal taking within the park. During a search of L.Z.'s house, loadedfirearms and ammunition were found in almost every room; an illegallypossessed, mounted walrus head was also found and confiscated. L.Z.subsequently entered into a plea agreement and paid a $7,500 fine, but T.D.fled to the lower 48 and entered college. Last August, U.S. marshalsarrested T.D. during an anti-government rally and incarcerated him based onthe arrest warrant from Alaska. T.D. then paid his outstanding $2,500fine. The bear hide and skull were returned to the park for tanning and willbe placed in the Yakutat visitor center for interpretive purposes. [MikeSharp, CI/Pilot, GLBA]
Monday, May 19, 1997
96-370 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Assault
On Monday, July 15, 1996, five park employees and ten Tlingit natives fromHoonah visited several archeological sites located within Dundas Bay. Whilein the area, an unidentified, armed male approached and threatened a memberof the group at gunpoint, then disappeared into the woods. Rangers and aspecial emergency reaction team of four Alaska state troopers arrestedP.G.d, 34, in Dundas Bay without incident two weeks later. Thearrest team seized about 3,000 pounds of duffel bags and assorted gear,including an M-14 rifle with a scope, a .22 rifle with a scope and threemini-mag lights mounted around the scope, 24,000 rounds of live ammunition,another 5,000 rounds of reload supplies, two dozen snares and a small amountof marijuana. Investigation revealed that P.G.D. had been dropped off withinthe park around July 11th. He subsequently dug a deep pit and was in theprocess of constructing an underground log cabin to live in and store hispossessions. He'd cut about 55 spruce trees near his camp to build thestructure. P.G.D. was arraigned in state court on the assault charge; afederal grand jury subsequently indicted him on two counts of felonydestruction of government property and seven misdemeanors. Plea agreementswere sought to force P.G.D. to forfeit his equipment, which would be sold topay his past child support payments to Michigan and for mental counselingprior to release. Both failed when P.G.D. refused to cooperate with a court-ordered psychological evaluation and demanded a jury trial. Trail was heldin federal district court over four days from May 5th to May 8th. The juryreturned one felony guilty verdict for cutting the trees, but reduced thesecond felony of digging the hole to digging and leveling a campsite. Thejury also found P.G.D. guilty of six misdemeanors for possession of weapons,traps and marijuana, but he was found not guilty of residing within anational park. The court has ordered another psychological evaluation. Sentencing will occur within the next 30 to 45 days. A Forest Servicemethodology for assessing the resource damage associated with cutting treesin a wilderness area which was upheld in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appealswas employed in this case. An NPS landscape architect used a nationalpublication, "A Guide for Plant Appraisal," to value the 55 spruce trees at$36,000. This figure will be used during sentencing. [Mike Sharp, CI/Pilot,GLBA, 5/13]
Tuesday, October 7, 1997
96-370 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Assault
P.D., who was arrested on July 27, 1996, for threatening federalemployees with a gun, was subsequently indicted on the assault charges instate court and on two felony charges of destruction of government propertyand seven misdemeanors in federal court. P.D. arranged a plea agreementwith the state, but failed to come to a similar agreement with the U.S.attorney's office. The state then reinstated the assault charge againstP.D. for breach of a state plea agreement - the first time in Alaskahistory that a felony charge has been reinstated because of a failed pleaagreement condition within a federal case. P.D. was found guilty on allbut one federal felony charge and remained in custody pending sentencing. The latter took place in state court in mid-August, and P.D. was sentencedto three years in prison, with all but six months suspended. Two weekslater, he was sentenced in federal court for time already served on thecharges, but also ordered to pay $37,500 in restitution for damage caused togovernment property (cutting down 55 spruce trees). When arrested, P.D.was in the process of constructing an underground log cabin made from thetrees, which he'd cut from the surrounding area. During the searchassociated with the arrest, rangers found and seized about 3,000 pounds ofcamping/survival gear, two rifles, 24,000 rounds of ammunition, 24 snares,and a small amount of marijuana. P.D.'s personal property is still beingheld under seizure by the U.S. attorney pending appeal; the state of Alaskahas issued a lien against the property for past due child support. The U.S.attorney is proceeding with "Deadbeat Dad" violations to ensure that P.D.'ssurvival equipment is not returned to him while he still owes child support. It is significant that the judge fully accepted the NPS appraisal of resourcedamage for cutting the spruce trees. The defense had argued that theappraisal methodology was invalid for use on wilderness trees. [Mike Sharp,Pilot/Criminal Investigator, GLBA, 9/5]
Thursday, February 19, 1998
98-71 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Sinking; Rescue
Rangers on the patrol vessel "Talus" received a distress call from thefishing vessel "Oaxaca" in the Beardslee Islands while on a fisheriesenforcement patrol on February 15th. Rangers Dennis Kaleta, Jim Capra andChuck Young responded to the area, which is known for its many shoals,shallow rocky areas and navigational hazards. P.T., the owner/operator of the vessel, a 36-foot, wood-hulled trawler, and his companion,C.D., had been passing one of these shoals when the vessel struck hardaground. The vessel immediately keeled over onto its port side, allowingwater to rush in over the gunwales and into the hull. With the watertemperature in the low 40s and the vessel sinking quickly, the twoindividuals began donning immersion suits and put out a "mayday" call. Several other vessels in the area also responded to help with the rescue ofthe pair and to assist in stabilizing the sunken vessel. One fishing boatarrived on scene before C.D. and P.T. had to enter the water. The rangers and others attempted to stabilize the "Oaxaca" and de-water it, butwere unsuccessful because the vessel refused to remain upright. Iteventually sank in about 25 feet of water. The vessel, which carriedapproximately 230 gallons of diesel fuel in its tanks, began leaking fuel outit* vents, but P.T. stopped the majority of the leaks by sealing off thevents. Rangers deployed 160 feet of absorbent boom around the sunken vesselto soak up any residual leakage. P.T. was treated for cuts and scrapes andmild hypothermia. The "Oaxaca" was refloated by a salvage vessel on February16th and towed out of the park. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 2/18]
Wednesday, August 5, 1998
98-462 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Search and Rescue
S.R., a 23-year-old employee who works for the park's lodgeconcessioner, was reported overdue from a multi-day kayaking trip in the bayon July 31st. He had told co-workers that he would be kayaking alone in therelatively safe and calm waters of the Beardslee Islands and Beartrack Covefrom July 28th to the 30th. Rangers were notified when he failed to show upfor work. Investigation and interviews revealed that S.R. had talkedabout a desire to climb into the Beartrack Mountains, a steep and ruggedcross-country hike/climb which goes from sea level to nearly 4,000 feet inunder three miles. S.R. had no technical climbing experience, had notechnical gear, and had planned the climb as a day hike. An air search waslaunched on the afternoon of the 31st. His kayak was found on the beach atthe foot of a drainage which led up to the ridge line. Ranger MargaretGoodro, patrolling by boat in the area, checked the kayak and immediatelymade voice contact with S.R., who had fallen 25 feet down a rocky slopethree days earlier and been badly injured. S.R. had walked and crawleddown the mountain to sea level over the three days and arrived at the beachjust as Goodro came ashore. He had a badly lacerated hip, fractures to onefoot, multiple lacerations on his face, arms and legs, and broken teeth. Hewas placed on a backboard, secured to a litter, floated on an inflatable raftout to a waiting float plane, flown to Juneau, then taken by ambulance to ahospital. Deteriorating weather, the proximity of tall trees to the beach,and large boulders on the beach prevented a helicopter hoist or landing. Doctors found that S.R. had also suffered a broken floating rib and apartially collapsed lung; they estimated that he'd lost almost a quarter ofhis blood during the accident. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 8/2]
Wednesday, August 12, 1998
98-487 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Assist; Homicide
On July 5th, rangers responded to a 911 call reporting shots being fired at ahome in the community of Gustavus, which is just outside the park. Theydetermined that a homicide had occurred, detained two people, secured thearea, and provided assistance to state troopers when they arrived fromJuneau. This is the first homicide that has ever occurred in Gustavus. Theinvestigation is continuing with the assistance of park rangers, who operateunder a memorandum of understanding with state police. [Mike Sharp,Pilot/SA, GLBA, 8/10]
Wednesday, October 7, 1998
98-641 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Poaching
On September 23rd, ranger Rick Perkins investigated the taking of a moosealong the park's boundary during the course of the state's sport mooseseason. His findings led to a full crime scene investigation with theassistance of special agent Mike Sharp. An interview with the hunter and areturn visit to the kill site revealed that the hunter had taken the mooseinside the park. The animal was being called out of the park at the time itwas shot, but the hunter failed to wait until it crossed the boundary line. The moose was dragged some 300 feet, where it was gutted, then another 200feet to an access road. Perkins and Sharp backtracked the moose's hoofprints from where it dropped to the location where it was hit. Bloodspatters found on a small bush led them to the actual location from which therounds were fired. There were also rope drag marks on a tree on the boundarywhich had an NPS boundary sign attached. The moose was seized and amandatory appearance citation was issued. [Mike Sharp, SA, GLBA, 10/1]
Thursday, October 15, 1998
98-666 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Hazmat Incident
Following the recent completion of a hazardous materials certificationcourse, staff discovered two containers of picric acid which were beingstored in the park. The liquid chemical had been used by researchers to dye-mark seabirds several years ago. Picric acid becomes highly explosive whencrystallized or if evaporation occurs over an extended period of time and canhave explosive power exceeding that of TNT. The bottles, which containedabout three pints of the chemical, carried an expiration date of June, 1995. Although the chemical was still liquid, it was assumed that it nonethelessposed a risk of explosion. A bomb technician from the Juneau policedepartment was flown in to assist with its disposal. He took the bottles toan abandoned dump in the park and blew them up with blasting caps and detcord. All traces of the picric acid and containers were vaporized in theexplosion. Other parks should be aware that this substance is used fairlycommonly in research which involves marking birds and that it should beconsidered an extremely hazardous substance. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 10/13]
Thursday, October 15, 1998
98-667 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Fuel Spill
A private contractor hauling out surplus mobile homes from the Bartlett Coveheadquarters area on October 12th broke a capped fuel line, allowing about200 gallons of diesel fuel to leak into the soil and marine waters before therupture was discovered. The contractor initially cooperated in taking actionto remediate the spill, but soon backed out and has since refused to continuecleanup operations. A park ICS team has taken over management of thecleanup, with oversight from the state and the Coast Guard. The spill siteis adjacent to an inter-tidal area, and rainy weather is forecast. A primaryobjective of the operation is to remove affected soils as soon as possibleand dispose of or store soils where runoff won't create more problems. Ranger Rick Perkins is IC. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 10/14]
Thursday, April 1, 1999
99-109 - Glacier Bay NP (AK) - HazMat Spill Conviction
The Holland-America Line (HAL) has pled guilty to two felony violations ofthe Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for the discharge of oily bilge waterfrom its cruise ship SS Rotterdam into park waters. HAL also pled guilty toa charge of failing to keep records for such discharges, as required by law. The incident occurred between midnight and 4 a.m. on August 29, 1994, in anarea near Juneau, Alaska. An engineer on the ship informed the Coast Guardof the discharge and an investigation was begun. The settlement was madepossible by a cooperative effort by the NPS, Coast Guard, U.S. Attorney'sOffice, and DOJ's Environmental Crimes Division. HAL agreed to pay acriminal fine of $1 million and also agreed to pay the National ParkFoundation (NPF) $1 million in restitution, earmarking the money for marineecosystem management and protection of national parks in Alaska. The NPS andNPF have agreed to place the funds in an endowment and use the interest tofund resource management and research projects in Alaska's national parks. Aseparate investigation is now being conducted by DOJ against those whoactually discharged the oily bilge water. [Mike Sharp, Pilot/SA, GLBA, 3/30]
Wednesday, April 7, 1999
99-118 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Commercial Use Conviction
Late last month, Canadian river rafter B.O. pled guilty in federalmagistrate's court to conducting business operations in a park and solicitingwithout a permit. During 1998, B.O. received a private river raftingpermit from the park for a party of eleven. He subsequently posted flyerssoliciting for the trip and charged each person a fare. The magistrateawarded the $500 penalty to the park's resource protection fund. B.O. hasbeen restricted from participating in any Alsek/Tatsheshini River trips forfive years. [Mike Sharp, Pilot/SA, GLBA, 3/30]
Tuesday, May 4, 1999
99-156 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Search; Missing Plane with Park Employee
Long-time seasonal employee Scott Croll, 34, departed from Haines, Alaska, onthe morning of Sunday, May 2nd, as the sole passenger in a small, privateplane which was flying to Juneau, then on to the park. Croll was to reportto work on Monday. The pilot, David McKenzie, reported turning back due topoor weather about an hour into the flight, but was not heard from again. Asearch for the plane began in mid-afternoon. The area the plane was passingover when it was last heard from is very rugged, with few landing spots. Scott is the son of retired NPS employee S.C. [Jay Liggett, AKSO, 5/3]
Thursday, May 6, 1999
99-156 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Follow-up: Search for Plane, Park Employee
The search continues for NPS seasonal employee Scott Croll, 34, and pilotDavid McKenzie, 51, reported overdue from a flight from Haines to Juneau in asmall plane on May 2nd. The Coast Guard and Alaska state troopers aremanaging the search under a unified command. Six aircraft and two CoastGuard rescue boats participated in the search on Sunday afternoon andevening; on Monday and Tuesday, the search was continued by numeroushelicopters and airplanes, including the park's C-206. A Coast Guard rescueboat may have picked up a very weak ELT signal on Monday in the generalvicinity of the aircraft's last reported location. Ground teams with ELTreceivers were deployed in this area on Monday and Tuesday to search forestedand mountainous terrain. NPS teams have been requested and were to assist inground search efforts yesterday. A number of people have asked how they canreach S.C. and E.C., Scott's parents. [Randy King, CR, GLBA, 5/5]
Friday, May 7, 1999
99-156 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Follow-up: Search for Plane, Park Employee
The search for NPS seasonal employee S.C., 34, and pilot D.M.,51, reported overdue from a flight from Haines to Juneau in a smallplane on May 2nd, is being suspended. The Coast Guard and Alaska statetroopers decided to suspend the search following several days of intensiveair, water and ground search efforts. The missing Piper Comanche aircraftwas last seen and reported over Berners Bay in Lynn Canal, flying in a snowsquall. It is likely that the aircraft went down _ either on nearby land orin the water _ shortly after the pilot's last radio transmission, since areturn call from another aircraft a few minutes later went unanswered. Search aircraft from numerous agencies and volunteers logged over 75 flighthours between Sunday and Wednesday, covering all coastal areas from Juneau toHaines. Repeated aerial searches by both helicopters and fixed wing aircraftwere conducted in high probability areas near the point last seen. CoastGuard rescue boats and a NOAA mapping ship participated in water andshoreline searches, some employing sidescan sonar. Up to 16 people,including S.C. and D.M. family members and park staff, searchedshorelines and forested ridges in the primary search area each day this week.Mountainous and difficult terrain, heavy forest cover and undergrowth, anddeep snow in some areas likely affected searchers' ability to locate themissing aircraft. Although a limited ground effort will continue tomorrow,most search activities have been suspended pending additional information. Area pilots, vessel operators and recreationalists are well aware of themissing aircraft and will continue to look. The primary search area islocated at the northern extreme of the Juneau road system and is a populardestination for area residents. [Randy King, CR, GLBA, 5/6]
Friday, May 14, 1999
99-156 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Follow-up: Search for Plane, Park Employee
The search for NPS seasonal employee Scott Croll, 34, and pilot DavidMcKenzie, 51, reported overdue from a flight from Haines to Juneau in a smallplane on May 2nd, was officially suspended by the Coast Guard and Alaskastate troopers on May 6th following several days of intensive air, water andground search efforts. Some search efforts continued into the weekend,however, as family members, friends and local SAR volunteers (22 on Saturday)searched high probability coastal areas near the aircraft's last reportedlocation. No evidence of either the aircraft or Croll or McKenzie was found. It's likely that the airplane went down within minutes of encountering a snowsquall, but it's not known whether it went down on land or in the water. Airtemperatures averaging 37 degrees and equivalent water temperaturessignificantly reduced exposure survivability probabilities calculated by theCoast Guard, which was a factor in the decision to suspend the search pendingadditional information. CISD counseling services have been provided to parkemployees and family members. Scott's parents, S.C. and E.C., arrivedin Glacier Bay on Wednesday along with other family members. A memorialservice for Scott was held at the park yesterday evening; another gatheringwith Scott's friends is planned in Haines. The C. family asks thatdonations be made to the Student Conservation Association. For additionalinformation regarding the Scott Croll Memorial Fund, please contact MarilynMcCoy at SCA at either 603-543-1700 or membership@sca-inc.org. [Randy King,CR, GLBA, 5/12]
Tuesday, June 15, 1999
99-268 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Vessel Grounding
The 156-foot tour vessel Wilderness Adventurer struck and grounded on a rockin a narrow finger of Dundas Bay on the afternoon of June 12th. The vesselwas carrying 56 passengers and 24 crew members, all of whom were safelyevacuated and transported to the community of Gustavus by a second tourvessel. The Wilderness Adventurer was on an eight-day cruise that includedone day in the bay, which is located approximately 80 air miles west ofJuneau. An ICS team was assembled and park staff, vessels and aircraft weredispatched to the scene to aid the Coast Guard and to take the lead inprotecting the critical habitat of the area. The location of the vessel hasmade communications difficult and the coordination of resources challenging. A unified command was established, linking the NPS, Coast Guard, and AlaskaDepartment of Environmental Conservation. Acting district ranger RickPerkins was the original IC. The Alaska all-risk management team wasdispatched to the park to oversee the incident, and was to assumeresponsibility on the evening of June 13th. [Vickie McMillan, Acting PIO,GLBA, 6/14]
Wednesday, June 16, 1999
99-268 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Follow-up: Vessel Grounding
The 156-foot tour vessel Wilderness Adventurer remains aground at Dundas Bay. Little or no additional fuel has leaked from the vessel. A salvageassessment resulted in the conclusion that the removal of fuel may disruptthe balance of the vessel, so it will be refloated before any fuel isremoved. The vessel's stability remains the major concern of the responseteam. The latest hull damage assessment shows a significant crack near thebow thrusters and a smaller crack in the keel. A marine architect has beenassessing the vessel and working with incident staff on plans for refloatingit. The cracks will have to first be sealed. Two tugs will assist with thesalvage and lightering operations. The vessel St. Rufina is serving as theincident command center; the high-speed response vessel Icy Strait is also onscene and engaged in recovery of any further discharge of oil that may occur. Park resource management staff are monitoring and assessing resources in thearea. [Jane Tranel, IO, IMT, 6/15]
Thursday, June 17, 1999
99-268 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Follow-up: Vessel Grounding
The Wilderness Adventurer was refloated in Dundas Bay yesterday afternoon.Tugs were able to pull the vessel off the rock at high tide. Crews were onboard the vessel yesterday evening to make a thorough assessment of thevessel's stability. Coast Guard personnel will determine when the vessel isready for towing by barge. Once safely towed to port, the vessel willundergo repairs. Both Hoonah and Seattle have been discussed as ports wherethe ship may be towed. [Jane Tranel, IO, IMT, 6/16]
Friday, September 10, 1999
99-454 - Glacier Bay NP (AK) - Falling Fatality
A 51-year-old woman died following a fall overboard from a concession boat inReid Inlet on the afternoon of September 6th. The woman was visiting thepark with her family and was traveling on the concession-run day tour boatthat travels the length of the bay daily. She was standing outside thepassenger railing at the stern of the vessel when she fell about 20 feet tothe water below, striking a utility ladder on the way down. Duringresuscitation efforts, she was transported to a nearby cruise ship that hadmore advanced medical facilities and was pronounced dead while there. Rangers are conducting a joint investigation with state troopers and CoastGuard representatives. [Chuck Young, Acting CR, GLBA, 9/6]
Tuesday, November 16, 1999
99-670 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Search; Probable Sinking
An interagency search of park waters for a missing 52-foot sailboat was suspended late last week. The boat, operated by D.P., 52, departed from Mt. View, California, in September. D.P., who was making a solo trip to southeast Alaska, was last heard from on October 25th when he stopped to refuel his sailboat in Hoonah. A friend of D.P.'s reported him overdue on November 5th, and an extensive air search was begun. On November 6th, a private vessel found a custom-built teak refrigerator floating in the park. The description of the refrigerator and its contents confirmed that it was from D.P.'s sailboat. Search efforts continued through the weekend; some floating debris was found, but no additional clues on the whereabouts of the vessel. A storm on Halloween night may have been a contributing factor in the vessel's disappearance. A commercial fisherman operating in park waters that day reported that winds exceeded 100 mph and that seas were running between 12 and 18 feet. NPS, Coast Guard and CAP searchers logged more than 80 search hours before suspending efforts to find D.P. [Rick Perkins, Acting DR, GLBA, 11/13]
Wednesday, May 24, 2000
00-218 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Cruise Ship Fire
A fire started in crew quarters on the Holland America cruise ship S.S. Nieuw Amsterdam as it traveled through Tarr Inlet in the upper reaches of Glacier Bay at 9:11 a.m. on the morning of May 23rd. The 704-foot ship was carrying approximately 1200 passengers and 566 crew members. A 'mayday' distress call was broadcast and all passengers were evacuated to lifeboat stations as the crew fought the fire. Other large vessels in Glacier Bay, including a tour boat and another cruise ship, responded to the 'mayday', but no additional assistance was required. Park staff organized under ICS and dispatched the park's aircraft and ranger/pilot to the scene. Park rangers onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam provided a radio communications link and assisted passengers during the onboard evacuation. The fire was contained and declared out by 11:15 a.m. Reports indicate severe damage to three crew cabins and moderate damage to 17 more crew cabins and passageways on the D deck, the first deck below the water line. One passenger suffered from chest pains, and was medivaced by helicopter to Juneau. No other injuries were reported. All of the ship's operational systems outside of the burned area remained functional and the vessel was permitted to travel approximately 50 miles to lower Glacier Bay and anchor. A team of USCG and state of Alaska fire investigators and a park ranger boarded the vessel to make a determination as to whether the vessel could depart Glacier Bay for Seward. The vessel was released to continue on to Seward under its own power at 10 p.m. [Jim Capra, IC, GLBA, 5/23]
Monday, November 5, 2001
01-586 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Search and Rescue
On the afternoon of October 31st, ranger Wendy Bredow answered a marine radio hail from the ship "Stellar Sea" and took a report of two crew members lost in the vicinity of Bartlett Cove. D.S., 40, and A.M., 18, had gone jogging for exercise on a park trail, then had diverted onto a game trail. They subsequently lost track of the game trail and tried to head out to the shoreline, but became disoriented and headed in the opposite direction. D.S. made marine radio contact with the "Stellar Sea" and reported that they were lost and gave a general description of their surroundings just moments before the radio battery died. D.S. was minimally dressed for cold rainy weather and A.M. was wearing only shorts and a sweatshirt. They had coffee, water and an energy bar with them. Maintenance employee Forrest Weldon and two crewmembers from the "Stellar Sea" conducted an initial search with no success. They were subsequently joined by other crew members, but their efforts also proved fruitless. Due to temperatures near freezing and concerns over possible hypothermia, six members of the Gustavus emergency response team and five park employees began a joint night search on foot in an attempt to locate the pair. The search took place in the rain and amid bogs, muskegs, and dense vegetation. D.S. and A.M. were found at 4 a.m. They had taken shelter under a tree and covered themselves with moss and branches. They were cold, wet and tired, but suffered only blisters on their feet. [Wendy Bredow, IC, GLBA, 11/4]
Friday, January 17, 2003
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve (AK)
Mutual Aid Response to Fire in Town Power Plant
The park's structural fire brigade responded to a fire in thegenerator room of the electric power plant for the town of Gustavusaround 9:30 p.m. on January 15. When Gustavus Emergency Response (GER)firefighters arrived at the facility, which houses three dieselgenerators that supply electricity to the town, they found significantsmoke emanating from the building and a fire in the main generator. Theowners of the power plant had unsuccessfully tried to knock down thefire with chemical extinguishers. Fuel to the generators was shut offand GER personnel entered the building and extinguished the fire. Thepark brigade responded just after 10 p.m. and helped with mop-up andoverhaul of the fire scene. The generator was a complete loss, and therewas severe smoke damage to the interior of the building. Power wasrestored to Gustavus by 11 p.m. This was the first structural fireresponse with GER by the park since a course in basic structural firecertification was held in Gustavus for both brigades this fall. Trainingand drilling proved to be a contributing factor to the quick response,minimum loss of property and absence of injuries to respondingpersonnel.
[Submitted by Gus Martinez, Chief Rangr]
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve (AK)
Airplane Crash with Four Fatalities, Two Survivors
A multi-agency search has been suspended for survivors of a privatetwin-engine Cessna 401 aircraft that crashed into the waters of IcyStrait outside of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve on the nightof July 13th. Two of the six occupants of the aircraft, all of whomresided in Utah, survived by exiting the plane while it was stillfloating in the water and swimming to shore at Eagle Point, about 11miles northwest of Hoonah in the Tongass National Forest. Four of theplane's occupants have not been located. Prior to the accident, thepilot called in that the plane was running out of fuel short of itsintended destination at the Gustavus Airport. Several items from theaircraft, including part of the plane, were found floating offshore inthe area of Pinta Cove. NPS rangers assisted the Coast Guard, AlaskaState Troopers, the Gustavus Volunteer Fire/EMS Department, the ForestService, and local charter aircraft and boat operators with the searchin both field and incident management overhead functions.
[Submittedby Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve (AK)
Park Fire Brigade Responds To Cabin Fire
The park's fire brigade was called in on a mutual aid response to acabin fire in a heavily wooded area of Gustavus off Tong Road on themorning of Sunday, May 9th. When they arrived, they found that the cabinwas fully engulfed, with flames reaching about 80 feet into surroundingtrees and a nearby house trailer also on fire. Due to the absence ofGustavus VFD, district ranger Gus Martinez took over as incidentcommander and began overseeing operations, including protection ofexposures, the safety of responders, and overhaul of the building. Thecabin is generally unoccupied, but it's believed that someone wasresiding there illegally when the fire broke out. Nobody was injured.The cabin was a total loss. Alaska state troopers areinvestigating.
[Submitted by Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
Monday, October 18, 2004
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve (AK)
Vessel Grounding with Fuel Spill
On the afternoon of Thursday, October 7th, the M/V Blue Star,a 60-foot, metal-hulled catamaran out of Hoonah, Alaska, began taking onwater when its starboard pontoon ruptured while transiting Dixon Harboron the park's remote outer coast.
The captain/owner, W.S., of King Cove, decided to run thevessel aground on the Hankison Peninsula to save the vessel fromsinking. Both W.S. and his crew member were rescued by a CoastGuard helicopter out of Sitka. Neither was injured.
A six-foot gash in the hull was observed upon inspection of thedamaged pontoon. The vessel reportedly was carrying 1,000 gallons ofdiesel fuel, along with several barrels of gasoline and some lubeoil. Although the containers of gasoline and lube oil were removedto the beach, reports indicated that diesel fuel spillage into the waterwas occurring. A sheen was observed spreading into Dixon Harbor and ontothe shoreline.
At the time of the report, it was not known whether the fuel wasleaking from the vents or there was actual damage to the tanks, whichwere in the submerged portion of the vessel.
Park staff were working with the US Coast Guard, the AlaskaDepartment of Environmental Conservation, and the vessel owner to assessand prevent damage to park resources from the fuel, and to eventuallyremove the vessel from the park. Rough seas and poor weather arehampering access to the site, which is difficult to access even underthe best conditions.[Submitted by Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
Friday, December 16, 2005
Glacier Bay NP&P
Wolf Trapping Case Prosecuted
On June 2nd, a park biologist working in the preserve cameupon a decomposing wolf carcass on an ATV trail with a snare around itsneck. The snare was attached to a nearby tree and included an ID tag fora local trapper from Yakutat. Rangers were contacted and collected thesnare and part of the carcass for the investigation. As part of a jointinvestigation with the Alaska State Troopers (AST), the evidence andphotos were turned over to the state, which eventually charged thetrapper with failure to salvage a furbearer, a misdemeanor with amaximum fine of $10,000. After several delays and attempted pleaagreements, the trapping case went to trial in December in Juneau on areduced charge of trapping out of season. The defense contested thechain of custody, evidence, identification of the carcass as a wolf, andseveral other issues. With the testimony of the biologist, ranger andthe AST officer, all of these legal challenges were addressed. The judgefound the defendant guilty and fined him $100. This marks the firstsuccessful prosecution in Southeast Alaska of a trapping violation in anumber of years. There have recently been a number of cases of wolveskilled and not salvaged in and around the national preserve, andinformation from this case may lead to other prosecutions. The AlaskaState Troopers and the DA's office made it a point to acknowledge NPSpersonnel for their work on this type of case, which has been difficultto prosecute in the past. [Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
Friday, February 24, 2006
Glacier Bay NP&P
Assist with Structural Fire
On February 21st, park staff responded to a mutual aid fire call in the townof Gustavus. A single story residential structure was reported to be on fire bya passerby who called in on the local 911 line. The park's structural firebrigade and other park staff responded along with the local volunteer firedepartment. By the time responding units began arriving on scene, the structurewas fully engulfed and could not be saved. Neither the owner of the house norany other people were present when the fire started. The fire, which had begunburning into a stand of nearby trees, was limited to the structure. Two vehiclesand a boat on a trailer parked in an attached carport were also destroyed. Thecause of the fire, which is under the jurisdiction of the state fire marshal,has not been determined. Ten park staff served in various positions on the fire- as the operations section chief, as firefighters, and as support staffassisting with maintaining water supplies, logistics and dispatch. Park staffare integral to the community's emergency response resources and are routinelycalled in to respond to incidents of this type under an existing memorandum ofunderstanding. [Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
Thursday, June 8, 2006
Glacier Bay NP&P
Search for Lost Hiker
On the evening of Saturday, May 27th, rangers conducted a successful searchfor a 60-year-old woman who had notified a friend by cell phone that she waslost in the park. The woman, a fit and strong hiker, had planned a day hikecross-country from the town of Gustavus to Cooper's Notch in the park. There areno maintained trails in this area, which enters a narrowing strip of open muskegbounded by thick spruce forest. While attempting to avoid a bear, the woman leftthe open country, which would eventually lead to Cooper's Notch, and insteadentered the dense forested area. She became disoriented, and finally realizedshe had totally lost her sense of direction. NPS search managers were able tospeak directly to her by telephone, and through subsequent telephoneconversations ascertained that she was rapidly losing her composure and becomingincreasingly apprehensive about her situation. As nightfall approached,accompanied by a steady rainfall that had been forecast for that night, rangersflew over the area in an attempt to locate the woman. Utilizing her visualobservations of the search aircraft as she relayed them through cell phoneconversations, the searchers were able to use the position of the plane to guideher out of the forest into a clearing where they obtained a visual on her. Amessage was dropped to her to advise her to stay put. In the meantime, a groundsearch team was guided to her location to walk her to safety. Resourcemanagement rangers with GIS and GPS expertise and high resolution aerialphotographs of the area were used to help direct the ground team to the woman'slocation and to help walk them out of the area which had by then become engulfedin nearly complete darkness and heavy rainfall. The woman was able to walk outin relatively good condition with no injuries. [Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Glacier Bay NP&P
Humpback Whale Rescued
On June 6th, the operator of an NPS pilot boat reported seeing a humpbackwhale swimming on the surface near Bartlett Cove in Glacier Bay. Entangled inits tail was a line with a buoy attached to a sport fishing crab pot. The whalewas able to swim slowly and covered a distance of several miles despite the factthat the line was still dragging a crab pot weighing approximately 80 pounds.Attempts to free the entangled whale by a trained Park Service disentanglementteam were unsuccessful. Special cutting tools and long-handled equipment wereused by staff to attempt to cut the line off the whale, which continued to movethrough the water at approximately three knots. Darkness forced team members toend their efforts, but not before attaching two highly visible marker buoys tothe lines trailing behind the whale. Air and sea searches for the animal turnedup nothing on the following day. On Thursday, June 8th, observers on a passingvessel reported seeing buoys matching the description of the marker buoys nearthe entrance to Geikie Inlet on the west side of Glacier Bay. Responding parkbiologists positively identified the buoys as being those that had been attachedto the whale. They were able to pull up all gear, including buoys, lines, andthe crab pot (containing three crabs) intact. It's believed that the whale wasable to free itself from the gear. Biologists will continue to monitor whalepopulations in the bay and attempt to identify and observe the condition of thisparticular whale. The three crabs were released, having circumnavigated nearlyhalf the waters of Glacier Bay on what must have been the wildest ride of theirlives. [Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Glacier Bay NP
Cruise Line Pleads Guilty In Death Of Whale
On Monday, January 29th, Princess Cruise Lines pled guiltyin U.S. District Court in Anchorage to a charge of knowingly failing tooperate its vessel, the Dawn Princess, at a slow, safe speed inthe summer of 2001 while near two humpback whales in the area of GlacierBay National Park. The bloated carcass of a pregnant whale was foundfour days after the Princess ship sailed through the park. It had diedof massive blunt trauma injuries to the right side of the head,including a fractured skull, eye socket and cervical vertebrae, allconsistent with a vessel collision. The whale was identified from flukemarkings as "Whale #68," which had been sighted many times in the pastand was known to have frequented the area for at least 25 years.Pursuant to a plea agreement, Princess was sentenced to pay a $200,000fine and to contribute $550,000 to the National Park Foundation as aform of community service. The funding will support marine mammalresearch in the park. In this first-of-its-kind prosecution, prosecutorsfrom the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Environmental Crimes Section ofthe Department of Justice, along with special agents and investigatorsfrom the National Park Service and National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration, engaged in a thorough and detailed investigation, oftenwith the assistance and cooperation of Princess. "As well as being amajestic and endangered species, the humpback whale is also a publicsymbol of Glacier Bay," said superintendent Tomie Lee. "Protection ofthese resources is of paramount importance to us. So when we began tohear witness reports of a cruise-ship colliding with a whale, thenlearned that this particular whale, whom researchers had firstidentified in 1975 and nicknamed 'Snow' because of her fluke markings,died of injuries consistent with a ship-strike, we began a dialogue withPrincess and the U.S. Attorney's Office, and proceeded diligently withour investigation, so we could be sure to get things right. While thesekinds of criminal convictions can result in a loss of federal contractsto service visitors in a national park, in this case we feel Princesshas stepped up and made significant, voluntary operational changes thatprotect whales and the marine environment. We are pleased that thisincident is behind us and that they will continue to offer cruises inGlacier Bay." The unlawful taking (killing) of humpback whales isprohibited by both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine MammalProtection Act. The "slow, safe speed" regulation, under which this casewas charged, was implemented in 2001 to support the "anti-taking"provisions of the two laws. Thus, a knowing failure to maintain a "slow,safe speed" when near humpback whales constitutes a violation of theEndangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act and carries theidentical penalties of the taking violation. Such conduct is a federalClass A misdemeanor violation of law, punishable (for a corporation) bya fine of up to $200,000, restitution in an amount to be determined bythe court, and up to five years probation (a person who violates thislaw is also subject to imprisonment for up to one year). [Nelson Cohen,United States Attorney for Alaska]
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Glacier Bay NP
Cruise Ships Runs Aground In Park
The Spirit of Glacier Bay, operated by Cruise West,went aground at just after 7 a.m. on Monday, July 7th, near GrandPacific Glacier in Tarr Inlet. There were no injuries to any of the 24passengers or 27 crew members. The ship lifted off the bottom on arising tide shortly after 4 p.m. that afternoon. Passengers were thenunloaded from the Spirit of Glacier Bay onto another ship forpassage out of the bay, and the Spirit was escorted about 60miles down the bay by the US Coast Guard to Bartlett Cove, where it wasmoored and an assessment performed. Initial indications from the CoastGuard are that the vessel's hull did not appear to be breached, but aninternal examination revealed damage to the shell plating and framing.Several interior doors also could not be shut. The Coast Guard respondedto the incident with two MH-60 helicopters, two small boats and the110-foot cutter Liberty. The NPS response included three smallboats with spill response gear. The concession day tour vesselFairweather II Express also responded and took passengers off thelarger ship. At the time of the grounding, the ship was moving at just ahalf knot per hour. After running aground, the ship was stable with aone degree port list and is currently three degrees down by the bow.Weather at the time of the incident was clear and mild. The ship was onthe third day of a four-day Glacier Bay cruise. Glacier Bay NP sees morethan 150 cruise ships in the bay each summer and had an annualvisitation of 438,000 in 2007. [John Quinley, Public Affairs Office]
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Glacier Bay NP&P
Park Staff Join In Major SAR For Missing Local Resident
On May 3rd, park personnel were asked to assist theGustavus Fire Department in responding to a vehicle submerged in thewater adjacent to the local municipal pier. Divers found no one in thevehicle, but information obtained from the community revealed that alocal minor associated with the car was missing. Park staff were askedto manage the emergency response, which included a large number ofcommunity volunteers who aided the search via vessels and aircraft.State troopers later arrived and assumed responsibility for managing theincident, which was supported by the Coast Guard, the Civil Air Patrol,Gustavus FD and the NPS. The incident evolved into a large land- andwater-based search that covered more than 14 miles of coastline and alarge area of ocean known as Icy Straight. More than 70 local volunteersjoined park personnel in the search. The body of the missing minor wasrecovered by divers on the afternoon of May 4th. The tragedy is beingfelt throughout the small, tight-knit community and the park, where thevictim had recently begun service as a volunteer. [Randy Larson, ChiefRanger]
Friday, August 14, 2009
Glacier Bay NP&P
Quick Action By NPS Employee Saves Sinking Boat's Passengers
On the afternoon of August 9th, visitor use assistantWayne Clark was on a personal fishing trip on a 26-foot fiberglassvessel with his wife and another couple. Just after noon, they decidedto return home for the day. They were approximately a mile from BartlettCove when the boat's operator noticed that the vessel was handlingsluggishly, noted that the engine was riding low, and saw that they weretaking on water over the stern. When he opened an inspection hatch onthe deck, he saw that the bilge was rapidly filling with water. Allhands attempted to bail out the vessel, but the bilge pump and theirefforts could not keep up with the incoming water. Clark then directedthe operator to attempt to beach the boat and insured that everyone onboard was wearing a lifejacket. They made attempts to hail nearbyvessels and call the Bartlett Cove Visitor Information Station, but noneof these attempts was successful. About 75 yards from shore, thevessel's engine failed, the stern completely filled with water, and thevessel capsized. As the vessel was turning over, Clark was able to pullhis wife and their female companion with him, thereby preventing themfrom being trapped under the boat. The male companion could not belocated because he was still under the forward canopy and superstructureof the boat. Clark began attempts to find him and made one dive underthe vessel to recover him. Upon returning to the surface, he found thatthe missing person had resurfaced next to them. They began to swim toshore, but were hampered by currents and the initial onset ofhypothermia. Luckily, a nearby boat was able to rescue all four peopleand bring them to Bartlett Cove, where the ranger staff treated them forexposure. The vessel is a total loss and was towed to the Bartlett Covelaunch ramp area, where it was recovered by the owner. Due to WayneClark's quick thinking and cool actions under great pressure, this eventhad a successful outcome. All passengers attribute their survival tohim. Clark is a retired Coast Guard rescue swimmer and one of theoriginal swimmers who started the program. He has worked as a deck handand boat operator for the park and teaches navigation, local weather,and tide chart reading for the annual DOIMOCC course in Glacier Bay.[Gus Martinez, Bay District Ranger]
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Glacier Bay NP&P
Two Hikers Injured By Ice And Debris From Calving Glacier
On the afternoon of May 26th, the park received an urgentrequest for assistance from the Coast Guard. Two hikers were reportedlyinjured in a remote section of the park. They'd been hiking with othersalong the face of Crillon Glacier at the head of Lituya Bay when theglacier calved and large amounts of ice and debris struck them, causingsevere injuries. The Coast Guard immediately launched a rescueoperation, dispatching helicopter from Air Station Sitka. The responsetime was two hours, though. Ranger Todd Bruno coordinated asimulataneous NPS response, sending district ranger Jacqueline Ashwelland seasonal ranger Erin Shandley from the Yakutat office via anairplane equipped with tundra tires that could land at the face of theglacier. Although they got to the scene before the Coast Guard, theywere unable to land. Instead, they assisted the Coast Guard helicopterby maintaining communications with Sector Juneau while its crew was onthe ground, treating the victims. One had suffered a head injury andpossible concussion; the other had an open arm fracture. The thirdperson in the group was not injured but was unable to operate the boatthat they'd used to reach Lituaya Bay. All three were flown to AirStation Sitka, where the two injured people were admitted to a localhospital. Crillon Glacier is not a tidewater glacier and does notactively calve; since there is constant movement of ice and debris fromthe face of any glacier, though, visitors are always reminded to avoidwalking or boating within a quarter mile of the glacier. Lituya Bay isapproximately 100 air miles from Juneau. It's seldom visited and canonly be reached by boat or plane. Marine VHF communications are spottyat best. [Gus Martinez, Bay District Ranger]
Friday, July 30, 2010
Glacier Bay NP&P
Park Biologist Wards Off Charging Bear With Spray
Park biologist Craig Murdoch was conducting a fisheriessurvey on the Bartlett River trail late on the morning of July 27th.While hiking along the shoreline of the river, he heard movement in thegrass across the river from him, a distance of about 150 feet. As heturned to see what was making the noise, he saw a full grown brown bearcharging towards him. Murdoch yelled at the bear and grabbed for hisbear spray, which was in his backpack. The bear continued its charge andgot within about 15 feet when Murdoch sprayed him. The bear veered away,continued running into the woods, and did not return for a second pass.The Bartlett River trail is temporarily closed until a full assessmentof the area can be conducted. This is the first documented behavior ofthis type by brown bears along this river, although they're in the areafishing for sockeye salmon. The park provides training for all staff whowork in the backcountry in the use and deployment of bear spray,including simulation of incidents of this type. [Gus Martinez, BayDistrict Ranger]
Monday, August 27, 2012
Glacier Bay NP&P
Tour Boat Evacuated After Hitting Rock In Bay
On the morning of August 19th, the tour boat BaranoffWind struck a rock while travelling in the upper west arm of GlacierBay National Park, causing the vessel to begin taking on water in itsengine compartment. There were 84 passengers on board at the time,including one NPS interpretive ranger and five crew members. The HollandAmerica cruise ship Volendam was nearby and provided immediateassistance by evacuating stranded passengers. Rangers were on sceneshortly after the incident occurred and provided EMS care. US CoastGuard Air Station Sitka responded with an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter andprovided a dewatering pump. Injuries were minor and only one patient andhis companion asked to be transported via NPS vessel rather thancontinue on the trip in the cruise ship. No pollution was released intothe water and the vessel was towed to Sitka for repairs. The NationalPark Service is working with the USCG on the accident investigation.[Gus Martinez, Bay District Ranger]
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Glacier Bay NP&P
Cruise Ship Crew Comes To Aid Of Disabled Tour Boat
The Holland America cruise ship Statendam providedassistance to over 100 tourists on a tour vessel experiencing mechanicalproblems in Glacier Bay on Friday, August 2nd.
The park received word that afternoon that the 79-footdaily sightseeing vessel Baranof Wind was experiencing mechanicaltroubles and had lost power in the remote upper reaches of Johns HopkinsInlet in Glacier Bay. The Statendam was nearby and quicklyresponded to a call to assist. Using two tenders, the ship collected all102 passengers and one interpretive ranger from the tour boat andbrought them to shore, arriving at 8 p.m. The Statendam thencontinued to Seward.
The Allen Marine vessel St. Juvenaly reached thetroubled tour boat later that evening and repairs were made. TheBaranof Wind returned to Bartlett Cove and was again providingtours the next day.
[Gus Martinez]
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Glacier Bay NP&P
Rangers Assist In Treatment Of Poisoning Victim
On the night of Tuesday, August 12th, rangers responded toa mutual aid request made by the Alaska State Troopers.
Gustavus Volunteer Fire Department's EMS squad hadresponded to a 911 call regarding a 57-year-old emotionally disturbedwoman who had ingested poisonous mushrooms and was refusing medicalattention. The Gustavus volunteers contacted the Alaska State Troopersoffice to request law enforcement assistance in order to place thepatient under protective custody.
Rangers responded and waited until the air ambulanceflight crew arrived. They then conducted an Operational Leadership GARassessment and executed a plan led by the flight nurse to restrain andsedate the woman in order to transport her to Juneau for furtherevaluation. The woman was flown to Juneau without further incident.
The park had received a 'be on the lookout' call from theAlaska Regional Communication Center, advising that a welfare check onher was needed. According to the center, she'd arrived in Gustavus onthe Alaska state ferry.
The woman's lifelong partner said that she did this aboutonce a year, and had once ended up under protective custody inMadagascar. Rangers were unaware that she had been staying at a privateresidence.
[Gus Martinez, Bay District Ranger]
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Glacier Bay NP&P
Rangers Respond To Three Same Day Incidents
On June 10th, rangers responded to areport of an engine fire on the Glacier Bay Lodge tour vessel BaranofWind. The 79-foot daily sightseeing vessel had suffered a fire inthe starboard engine room while transiting through the remote upperreaches of Glacier Bay.
Crew members on the Baranof Windwere able to extinguish the fire and called for assistance. The HollandAmerica cruise ship Noordam was nearby and responded to the call;using a tender, the ship collected all 40 passengers and loaded themsafely onto the Noordam and transferred them to the park dock.
At the same time, the Noordamrequested assistance for a medical evacuation from the ship for apassenger who was suffering from a medical emergency. Park staffassisted with the transfer and evacuation of the patient from the cruiseship and to a medevac helicopter.
Park staff then received notice from theCoast Guard that the 73-foot commercial fishing vessel Kupreanofwas taking on water off the outer coast of the park and rescued fourcrew members from a life raft. The vessel then sank into the Gulf ofAlaska.
[Albert Faria, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Cruise Ship Passenger Disappears After Falling Overboard
A 69-year-old passenger on the Holland America ship Westerdamwas determined to be missing on Friday, July 13th, when he failed toshow up for a shipboard medical appointment. A search revealed he wasn'ton the ship and had presumable fallen overboard.
The park was notified that evening and began an air and water searchof Bartlett Cove, where the incident occurred. The Coast Guard assisted.No sign of the man was found.
The Coast Guard will conduct an investigation. Source: KTVA News.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Hikers and Kayakers Rescued In Separate Incidents
On Saturday, July 14th, a Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawkhelicopter crew helped the park extricate two hikers after one of themsuffered a leg injury. The hikers were taken to awaiting emergencymedical services in Sitka.
The next day, the Coast Guard got an alert that a PLB had beenactivated in Glacier Bay and determined that it had been triggered aftera kayaker one of a group of four fell into the water. Thepark led the search effort, but asked the Coast Guard help them out.Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicoptercrew joined the search. The kayakers were found safe on shore, wavingtheir arms for help. They were taken about the cutter. All were in goodhealth.
The fact that the cutter was even in the region was fortunate. TheDouglas Munro is homeported in Kodiak, but is currently on athree-month patrol that will encompass the Bering Sea and the ArcticOcean as part of Operation Arctic Shield 2018, as well as the Gulf ofAlaska. Arctic Shield 2018, according to an earlier release from theCoast Guard, is meant to increase maritime awareness and understandingof the risks of the sea.
Source: Juneau Empire.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Non-Fatal Plane Crashes Occur In Park On Consecutive Days
On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 18th, the Coast Guard notifiedthe park of a plane down near Crillon Lake southeast of Lituya Bay onGlacier Bay's outer coast. Initial Coast Guard reports
indicated that a mid-air collision had occurred, but follow-up fromthe USCG helicopter that responded to the scene identified a singleplane down.
The 34 year-old pilot, who had exited the plane and swam to shore,was rescued successfully and taken to Sitka. The park was preparing torespond at the time, but stood down. The Coast Guard reported that theplane was "wheels up" and submerged to the wings in Crillon Lake. Asalvage operation is anticipated to recover the downed plane.
On Thursday afternoon, the park received a relayed radio call fromthe cruise ship Island Princess reporting an aircraft down infront of the Grand Pacific Glacier at the head of Glacier Bay's TarrInlet.
Rangers responded and contacted the uninjured pilot, Thorsten Kampeof Germany. Kampe reported landing due to an apparent enginemalfunction. The nose of the plane subsequently buried, breaking thepropeller as he taxied through soft sand. The pilot was taken toBartlett Cove on a park boat.
Temsco Helicopters plans to salvage the aircraft.
Sources: Glacier Bay NP&P news release of July 19th and July20th.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Search Suspended For Three People Missing In Helicopter Crash In Park
The Coast Guard has called off a two-day search for three peoplemissing from the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed in the park.J.P., 42, the president of Anchorage's D.C. and E., his 11-year-old sonA.P., and Palmer helicopter piloting company owner D.K., 53, arepresumed dead in the crash.
The new Airbus helicopter crashed sometime Friday in a tidal zonenear Lituya Bay. Some pieces of wreckage, including parts of the engineand seats, washed up on the shore. J.P.'s older son A.P., 14, wasrescued from a beach about three miles from the bay and is being treatedat a hospital in Anchorage.
J.P. and his sons were bringing the Airbus H125 helicopter toAlaska after picking it up at an Airbus facility in Grand Prairie,Texas. They were expected to arrive in Yakutat on Friday night but nevermade it.
Source: Anchorage Daily News.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
National Park System Coronavirus Response Update
There was little news in the media on the parks' coronavirusresponses last week. Summaries and links to articles on three of themfollow:
Glacier Bay NP While national parks across the country areworking on their reopening plans, staff at Glacier Bay are working on aplan to survive the loss of roughly 70 percent of the park's annualbudget, a loss tied to cruise ships not leaving port for the park'swaters this summer. The financial hit is unique in the National ParkSystem, where parks typically receive the bulk of their annual operatingfunds through Congressional appropriations. Glacier Bay, though,receives just 30 percent of its roughly $4 million annual budget fromCongress. The rest comes from cruise ship fees. The park has banked muchof that revenue over the past few years and should be able to keep goingthrough next March. The park normally hires around 70 seasonals, butwill have to reduce that number to about 10 this year. The articledetails other impacts on Glacier Bay. Source: Kurt Repanshek, NationalParks Traveler.
Additional information on the pandemic response can be found at theselocations:
For articles on the reopening of the parks on a Systemwide basis, see "National Park System" below.
For CPANP actions related to coronavirus and the planned reopenings, see "Coalition Actions" below.
For information on the status of other parks in the system, go tothe Service's "Active Alerts In Parks" webpage and use the searchengine to find information on a particular site.
July 13, 2022
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Sunken vessel
On July 1, the M/V Cats N Dogs, a 66-foot private vessel, sank in MuirInlet. The passengers were rescued by a nearby vessel and the CoastGuard successfully evacuated them. The park closed Muir Inlet to vesseltraffic for several days of attempted salvage operations, but they wereunable to locate the vessel. There have been no visible fuel or oilremains, and the NPS will continue to monitor the area. The Coast Guardis continuing an investigation of the incident with support from theNPS. Source: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (7/8, 7/11)
August 10, 2022
Glacier Bay National Park
Bear obtains food
On July 30, a brown bear obtained food from campers at the ScidmoreCut area of the West Arm of Glacier Bay. No injuries or property damagewere reported. A 30-day closure to foot traffic in the area has beenimplemented. Source: Glacier Bay National Park
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Bear contracts avian influenza
In the fall, a black bar cub was observed at Bartlett Cove strugglingto walk and keep up with its two siblings and mother, eventually beingabandoned. Visitors filmed the cub and shared it with NPS staff. The cubwas deemed to be hours away from death due to cerebral edema, and it waseuthanized. After an autopsy, it was determined that the cub hadcontracted a highly-contagious strain of avian influenza called H5N1. Itis the first bear in the country to test positive for that strain. It islikely the bear was infected after scavenging a sick or dead bird, asthe influenza does not currently pass from bear to bear. Humans are atlow risk of being infected by this strain of influenza. Source: KRBD
June 7, 2023
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Cruise ship fire, medical emergency
On June 5, an engine fire occurred on a 178-foot cruise ship in GlacierBay. The crew extinguished the fire and called for Coast Guardassistance. Nobody was injured in the incident. Two Coast Guard shipsand a helicopter were deployed to support the rescue. 51 passengers and16 crew were transferred to a much larger cruise ship nearby by thelarger ship's lifeboat. 11 crew remained on board and a tugboat wasexpected to tow the vessel to Ketchikan. An oil boom was deployed on theship, possibly due to a fuel or oil leak, but the boat did not sustainserious structural damage and the Coast Guard helicopter reported "novisible sheen from fuel or oil near the drifting vessel."
In an unrelated incident, an individual was medically evacuated byhelicopter from the larger cruise ship the same day. Source: JuneauEmpire, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
November 1, 2023
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Whale trapped by line
On October 7 or 8, a three- to four-year-old humpback whale got snaggedon 450-feet of heavy line attached to a 300-pound crab pot near PleasantIsland in Icy Strait. On October 10, local residents informed the NPS ofa whale making unusual sounds and having trouble moving. Several NPSstaff who had been trained in disentanglement by the National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration's Alaska Large Whale EntanglementResponse network responded in an NPS boat to gather information andassess the situation. When contacted, the owner of the crab pot said ithad gone missing some time between October 7 and 8. Based on thesituation, the team secured authorization to begin a rescue from NOAA. Adisentanglement expert with the Alaska Whale Foundation flew in thefollowing day and joined a team to approach the whale. An FAA licenseddrone pilot was able to capture footage to show the manner in which thewhale was caught in the line. The team utilized a specially designedknife mounted on a long pole to make cuts in the line while remaining ata distance to the whale. After many hours, the whale was freed and swamrapidly away. Source: National Parks Traveler
