Glacier Bay |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2023. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
|
July 8, 1987 Location: Tatshenshini-Alsek River A party of eight boaters were running the river in two rafts. The rafts collided and dumped three boaters into river. Two were recovered three miles downstream the third could not be located. The remaining boaters searched for three days for the missing individual. This was the first time he had been camping. He had only light clothes, no food, and no camping gear. The group decided, after three days of searching, to hike out from the area of Gateway Knob to report the incident. The missing boater, L.S., was found eight days after the incident by rangers on river patrol with wardens from Kluane National Park, Canada. L.S. was transported to Silver Creek by raft and later evacuated to Haines Junction by helicopter. He did not require hospitalization.
Location: 1 mile north of Ancon Buoy At approximately 12:45pm personnel at Glacier Bay National Park received a call of a boat in distress, taking on water. The NPS boat Serac responded at approximately 1:05pm. An attempt was made to pump 60 gallons of fuel from the distress boat onto the Serac and to tow the boat to shallow water. The boat 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 estimated value to be $60,000.
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]
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 Bay who was on his first season as an NPS employee. R.H.E., 28, a boat captain for Glacier Bay Lodge and the son of B.E., the superintendent of Redwood National Park. K.S., 23, of Idaho Springs, Colorado, a Glacier 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]
M.I., the owner of Gulf Air Taxi in Yakutat, Alaska, was killed on July 29th when the plane he was flying crashed into the Barbazon Mountain Range near Akwe Lake after leaving the park for Yakutat. M.I. had been a bush pilot for over 30 years and a concessioner in both Glacier Bay and Wrangell-St. Elias since 1984, and had routinely been hired by those parks to fly rangers on patrols. The accident is under investigation by Alaska state troopers. [Randy King, CR, GLBA, 7/31]
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 ship sustained 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. The captain requested immediate assistance, and vessels throughout the area - including four NPS boats - responded to the mayday call. Park boats transferred all 134 passengers and four of the crew members from the Clipper to the Westerdam, another cruise ship then in the bay. The Westerdam then proceeded on to Sitka with the Clipper's passengers. Another 22 crew members were taken to Bartlett Cove. The remaining 16, including the captain, remained on board to stabilize the vessel and move it to shallow waters in case there was a need to beach it. The Coast Guard responded to the mayday with two helicopters from Sitka and the cutter Woodrush. The helicopters 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 the pumps to minimize flooding. The Clipper was moved into Shag Cove off Geikie Inlet so that any fuel or oil spills could be better contained, but only a small amount of fuel - no more than 100 gallons - appears to have leaked from the ship. About 1500 feet of boom was deployed, and the landing craft Gumption was dispatched from June with an additional 1.5 miles of containment boom in case it was needed. The tugboats Chevelle Rouge and Tagish were dispatched late in the day in order to help pump out the Clipper's fuel tanks (it was carrying 23,000 gallons of fuel at the time of the accident) and tow the ship to port for temporary repairs. Salvage divers from Ketchikan were flown into Gustavus that night and transported by rangers to the Clipper. They began an assessment of the damage to the hull and assisted with temporary repairs. Many of the ruptures were plugged, and temporary repairs were begun which would enable the ship to make it to port. At last report, repair efforts were still underway. No obvious resource damage has occurred, but assessments were continuing. [John Quinley, PAO, ARO, 8/20; Bill Gabbert, GLBA, 8/20]
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 bay sometime this morning. The Coast Guard inspected repairs on the 22nd and required that additional work on damaged internal structural components be completed before the ship was moved. They are also requiring that the following be on the ship when it moves - four water pumps, 500 feet of absorbent boom, two electricians, a welder, two or three Coast Guard personnel, and two ship construction experts, one of whom was the foreman in charge of the ship's construction. A salvage barge with another 5,000 feet of absorbent boom will follow the ship. Contingency plans have been written to prepare for the possibility of the incident escalating or becoming more complex, especially while the ship is being moved out of the bay. These plans address the potential for adverse effects on the natural resources as well as how to prevent, monitor and mitigate them. [Bill Gabbert, GLBA, 8/23]
On October 5th, rangers on boat patrol near Garforth Island in Glacier Bay during a commercial halibut fishery opening came upon the fishing vessel Mermaid 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 or other subsistence activities within the park, the seal and a rifle were confiscated and G.B. was cited for illegal taking of wildlife under 36 CFR 2.2 (a)(1). The case provoked a strong reaction within the native community that was played out in the media. G.B. contested the charge, and a series of motions to dismiss were filed on his behalf by the defense counsel. The Native American Rights Fund represented the Huna Traditional Council and the Alaska Native Sisterhood in an application to participate as amici curiae in the case. The park was represented by attorneys from the Office of the Solicitor and the Department of Justice. The primary arguments raised in the motions centered on the coastal native exemption for marine mammal hunting provided by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and on First Amendment issues, supported by the Native American Religious Freedom Act, through which seal hunting was portrayed as an important component of the religious practices of the local Tlingit. Problems with the applicability and scope section of the regulations found in 36 CFR 1.2(b) surfaced at the trial in September. The defense asserted that the NPS does not have jurisdiction on the marine waters of the park - an area of proprietary jurisdiction - absent proof of ownership of the submerged lands. Because of the potential implications of the ownership issue (Alaska has asserted ownership of all navigable waters within state boundaries, including the marine waters of Glacier Bay), the judge directed the defense to include attorneys representing the state in the brief preparation. The approximately 600,000 acres of submerged lands included within the park's boundaries were reserved to the federal government for the purposes of the park prior to Alaska statehood, and solicitors' opinions have supported the Service's claim of ownership. The government's attorneys felt it inappropriate to argue the ownership issue in a misdemeanor criminal case, however, as the results would be binding on the federal government if against and not binding in the state if in favor. The attorneys argued that the issue of ownership is more appropriately addressed through civil process. A motion to dismiss the case was filed by the government based on the applicability and scope problems with the regs and its unwillingness to argue the ownership issue with the defense and state in a misdemeanor criminal case. Alaskan rangers campaigned vigorously against the motion to dismiss, but did not prevail. None of the legal issues raised in the case were addressed or resolved regarding native hunting of marine mammals in the park. Alaskan rangers are concerned that the decision to dismiss has potentially negated Glacier Bay's ability to enforce any regulations on the marine waters of the park. Absent ownership of the submerged lands, it follows that the same applies to all park areas under proprietary jurisdiction within the system. Prior to dismissal, the Office of the Solicitor and the Department of Justice committed to pursuing quiet title claim in civil court for the park's submerged lands. These offices, and the Department, have also committed to assisting with the revision of 1.2(b) of the regulations so that Parts 1-5 and 7 will be applicable on waters within proprietary jurisdiction park areas regardless of ownership. Draft regulations are now being formulated. [Randy King, GLBA, 12/9]
The "Westerly", a 72-foot fishing vessel out of Petersburg, Alaska, sank in the park on February 15th. The vessel, which was laden with Tanner crab pots, ran into 50-knot winds and seas of six to ten feet while passing northeast of Strawberry Island and began to experience severe stability problems, possibly caused by the failure of a bulkhead. High seas quickly caused 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. A nearby fishing vessel, the "Northwyn", was able to rescue all crew members within minutes, however, and no injuries were reported. All crew members had donned immersion suits before entering the ocean, where water temperatures were in the low 40s. The "Westerly', which carried an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel in its tanks, sank in about 40 fathoms of water east of Strawberry Island without a trace. Although no evidence of fuel leakage has yet been spotted, park and Coast Guard officials will continue to monitor the scene closely and will be working with the owner to attempt to locate and salvage the vessel. [Chuck Young, DR, Bay District, GLBA, 2/16]
On the afternoon of March 21st, a Grumman Goose amphibious aircraft operated by the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) crash-landed at an elevation of 9,000 feet northeast of Mt. Fairweather - a very remote and heavily glaciated area near the park's border with Canada. An ELT signal from the aircraft was picked up by the SAR satellite, marking its general location. The three occupants of the aircraft, who are believed to be employees of DPS, all survived the crash, although at least one suffered back injuries. A Coast Guard helicopter performed a high altitude rescue of the three utilizing a basket hoist. Information on the accident was still coming in at the time of the report and specifics - including the cause of the accident - are as yet unknown. The accident may be in British Columbia. Canadian officials have been notified. [Chuck Young, DR, Bay District, GLBA, 3/21]
Investigation continues into the March 21st crash of an Alaska Department of Public Safety aircraft which occurred northeast of Mt. Fairweather near the head of Margerie Glacier just outside the park in British Columbia. All three individuals in the plane, which was heading from Juneau to Yakutat, survived the crash with only minor injuries. Windshear may have been a factor in causing the crash, although final determination of cause is pending a state and FAA investigation. The aircraft sustained some damage during the landing, and plans are to use a helicopter to lift it off the site. It is unknown whether or not the plane, a 1930s era Grumman Goose, will be salvageable. [Chuck Young, DR, Bay District, GLBA, 3/23]
On March 27th, a commercial crew contracted by the state successfully removed the Grumman Goose amphibious aircraft from Margerie Glacier with a logging 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 positioned north of Russell Island in the West Arm of Glacier Bay. It was then taken to Juneau for major repairs. The plane, which had been on the glacier for about a week, had six feet of snow on one wing. The plane suffered structural damage to both wings and several struts. Although it's expected that the classic airplane will be repaired fully, it will be months before it will be certified to fly again. [Chuck Young, DR, Bay District, GLBA, 3/28]
A 54-year-old crew member of the 564-foot cruise ship SS Universe apparently lost his footing and fell from the ship's port side pilot door about 20 feet to 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, who were scheduled to arrive in 15 minutes in a transfer vessel from park headquarters at Bartlett Cove. The crew member, a citizen of Hong Kong, was seen flailing in the water for several minutes before the ship could slow and maneuver for rescue; by that time, he had disappeared and was not seen again. Three park vessels participated in an intensive sea search along with a Coast Guard cutter and helicopter, several private and commercial fishing boats, and two commercial tour boats. The search continued for 12 hours, and was finally called off at 5:30 p.m. The victim's shoes and an eyeglass case were the only items recovered. He was not wearing a life jacket, nor was he attached to a lifeline. A joint NPS, Coast Guard, and state investigation has been begun. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 6/11]
An off-duty Army Corps of Engineers employee was killed in a single car motor vehicle accident in Bartlett Cove on August 6th when the four-wheel- drive pickup truck he was driving overturned. R.P.P., 49, of Palmer, Alaska, died instantly when he was crushed by his vehicle after being partially ejected from the driver's seat. R.P.P., who was working as the government overseer of a hazardous waste remediation project outside the park, was returning from the park concession bar when the accident occurred. A passenger, W.L.S.P., of Chugiak, Alaska, suffered only minor injuries. W.L.S.P. was wearing a seatbelt; R.P.P. was not. Alcohol is strongly suspected as a contributing factor in this accident. This is believed to be the first fatality ever to occur on area roads due to a traffic accident. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 8/6]
An NPS contract helicopter crash-landed in the water in the upper west arm of Glacier Bay near Reid Inlet on the morning of August 30th. The Bell Jet Ranger 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 who witnessed the accident. D.M. was the only person on board at the time, and was making a test flight after encountering mechanical difficulties with the aircraft earlier in the evening. The cause of the accident is unknown. The helicopter was being used in conjunction with a mine cleanup and safing project conducted by the Park Service. The helicopter was salvaged by a support boat working with the project. The aircraft was severely damaged in the incident. D.M. suffered some from exposure and what appeared to be relatively minor injuries. He was medevaced to Juneau early on the morning of the 31st for further examination. The Park Service is investigating the accident with NTSB investigators. [Randy King, CR, GLBA, 8/31]
On the evening of August 14th, ranger Rick Perkins contacted concession employee J.R., 18, while the latter was fishing on the Bartlett River. J.R. could not produce a license and told Perkins that he'd left it at his residence. When he failed to meet Perkins the next day, Perkins checked 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 a backdated license sale to J.R.. A front desk employee of the Lodge, S.B., 22, admitted to altering the records when questioned by rangers, and J.R. admitted to asking S.B. to backdate the license sale. Both individuals plead guilty to all charges filed against them in federal district court. J.R. was fined a total of $1,350 and given a year's probation for the three charges of fishing without a license, interfering with agency functions, and solicitation with intent to cause another to engage in a crime. S.B. was fined a total of $2,000 and given 16 months probation for tampering with public records. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 9/2]
In May, 1993, rangers Rick Mossman and Mike Sharp investigated the poaching of a brown bear on a remote section of the park's outer coast. Clues found at the scene led them to suspects in Fairbanks, where rangers and Fish and Wildlife Service special agent Mark Webb subsequently 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 filed against L.Z. and a companion. L.Z. is a constitutionalist who believes that all state and federal laws and regulations are illegal except for those spelled out in the constitution. During the search of his house, loaded firearms and ammunition were found in almost every room; an illegally possessed, mounted walrus head was also found and confiscated. Following a lengthy review of the case with the U.S. attorney's office, a violation notice was issued to L.Z. in August, 1994, for violation of the Lacey Act through transportation of a bear which had been illegally taken in the park. L.Z. paid a $5,000 fine and forfeited the bear's hide and skull and the walrus head. L.Z.'s companion was fined $2,500. The companion has not paid his fine yet and has a court date within a month. [Rick Mossman, DR, Yakutat District, GLBA, 12/2]
On April 25th, one of three mountaineering parties climbing 10-495-foot Mt. Orville in the Fairweather Mountains reported finding the bodies of three climbers below the mountain at the head of North Crillon glacier. The accident, which was reported by radio-telephone, apparently occurred a day or two previously and had been caused by an avalanche or fall at the 4,900-foot level. Rangers and an Alaska state trooper flew to the scene that afternoon, but were unable to land. Two climbing rangers from Denali, a ranger from Glacier Bay and a state trooper finally reached the scene of the accident by helicopter and ski plane the following day. Initial investigation revealed that the three climbers were descending when they fell at least 2,000 feet to their deaths. A foot of new snow had fallen while the party was on the mountain, and avalanches were frequent while the recovery team was on the glacier. 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]
On June 15th, H.B. and D.W. were tending their fishing net on the Alsek River about a mile upstream from the ocean when the boat's prop got tangled in the net. The current subsequently swamped the boat, and both men swam toward shore, about 50 yards away. H.B. made it, but D.W. didn't. A search was begun by park rangers within 30 minutes and ultimately involved a number of private boats, two private airplanes, an Alaska state trooper aircraft 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 of late 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]
Two empty kayaks and some personal gear were found floating near Hunter Cove in the east arm of the bay on the morning of June 29th. Rangers conducted a preliminary search of the shoreline in the surrounding area by boat in an effort to find the owners and additional gear; when nothing was found, a formal search was begun. A contract helicopter was employed to conduct an aerial search of the area. The kayaks' owners, T.P., 37, of Germany, and C.G., 28, of France, were found on a beach in Wachusett Inlet, about seven miles from where the kayaks were found, late that afternoon. Both were okay. A high tide had apparently flushed their kayaks from the beach where they'd been camping. When they awoke, the kayaks were gone, but they had no means of calling for help. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 6/29]
During the week between July 13th and the 20th, four separate boat groundings took place in the park: * On July 13th, the 32-foot sailing vessel "Antares" grounded while at anchor near Gloomy Knob in the main section of the bay. The skipper apparently misjudged the 24-foot tide that day, and returned from a hike to find the boat on its side. Rangers helped him safely refloat it during the subsequent high tide. * The "Gloria S.", a 49-foot commercial fishing vessel, grounded at Cape Fairweather on the park's outer coast two days later. The 650 gallons of diesel fuel on board were successfully removed in a joint Coast Guard-NPS operation. The vessel was severely damaged and is considered a total loss. Efforts are underway to remove as much of it as possible; the remaining wooden structure will be burned. The operator is under investigation for operating the boat while intoxicated. * A 32-foot trawler, the "Patty A.", grounded on Point Carolus at the mouth of Glacier Bay on July 16th. Investigation revealed that the operator had fallen asleep and run the boat up onto shore. Alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor. Rangers assisted in completing a damage assessment and in refloating the boat. The operator was cited for negligent operation. * On July 20th, the 39-foot sailing vessel "Rio-Nimkish" ran aground at Blue Mouse cove immediately after the skipper pulled his anchor and ran over a shoal. The boat was refloated on the next high tide. The four groundings were unrelated. Poor weather was ruled out as a primary cause for any of the accidents. [Chuck Young, GLBA]
Acting on a report from the park concessioner, rangers contacted a deckhand who was suspected of taking over $1400 in cash and blank company checks from the tour boat he worked on. J.F., 27, of Kent, Washington, was about to board an airplane to leave the area on July 23rd when rangers held the plane's departure in order to question him. During the questioning, J.F. consented to a search of his belongings. The missing money and checks were found in the luggage, and J.F. confessed to having stolen them on the previous evening. He was arrested and booked into the correctional facility in Juneau. An investigation in conjunction with the state DA's office is currently underway. Felony theft charges may be filed against J.F.. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA]
Rangers received a report on May 18th of a bear poaching incident in progress at Excursion Inlet on the park's southeast boundary. A similar report had been received from the same area a week previously, but the suspect had left the scene with the bear before the report came in. Rangers responded immediately by plane and boat to this report. While the park plane maintained surveillance of the hunting party from the air, rangers from the patrol boat contacted the party on the beach as they were completing field dressing the recently shot adult male black bear. J.D.S., 47, of Juneau, Alaska, admitted to shooting the bear, but said he was unaware he was in a national park. A co-worker had told him about the abundant bears in the inlet area, but apparently neglected to advise him that the inlet was in a national park. That co-worker is now a suspect in the previous week's bear poaching incident. Smith was cited and will appear in federal magistrate's court on June 19th on charges of illegal taking of wildlife and possessing a pet in a closed area. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA]
On Monday, July 15th, five park employees and ten Tlingit natives from Hoonah visited several archeological sites located within Dundas Bay. While visiting a shoreside site near the mouth of the Dundas River, an unidentified, armed male came out of the nearby woods and approached and threatened a lone member of the group at gunpoint. The individual then disappeared back into the woods. Protection rangers on scene were able to safely evacuate the party from shore and depart from the bay. An investigation is underway in conjunction with Alaska state troopers. Until the safety of visitors is assured, the Dundas Bay area of the park will remain closed to all on-shore activities. [Randy King, CR, GLBA]
On Monday, July 15th, five park employees and ten Tlingit natives from Hoonah visited several archeological sites located within Dundas Bay. While in the area, an unidentified, armed male approached and threatened a member of the group at gunpoint, then disappeared into the woods. Five rangers from the Alaska special events team (Jim Hannah, team leader) arrived in the park on Wednesday, accompanied by an FBI adviser and J.D. Swed, IC of the field area's all-risk incident management team. They were joined by a state trooper. The team launched an investigation into the incident, and soon identified a suspect. Subsequent investigation raised concerns about the suspect's mental stability and about both officer and suspect safety in any potential encounter. The area where the assault occurred is heavily vegetated and only accessible by air or water. The land area in Dundas Bay has been closed to public use until further notice. Boats may continue to use the bay, but the public is cautioned not to go ashore. Notices to this effect have been posted in area communities. Media attention is now being focused on the incident. [Kevin Apgar, PIO, GLBA]
On Monday, July 15th, an armed man threatened a charter boat operator standing on the shore of Dundas Bay. The man is believed to still be at large, so the area - including land, waters and air space - remains closed until further notice as a precautionary measure. The area that has been temporarily closed is lightly used by recreational boaters, kayakers and sports fishermen. The commercial crabbers who have pots set within the bay are being accommodated when (and if) conditions permit. Rangers are patrolling the entrance to the bay and contacting boats in the vicinity to advise them of the closure. Members of the Alaska special events team and other NPS personnel are investigating the incident, and information is being gathered on his identity. The man is described as white, in his mid to late 20s, weighing about 170 pounds, and about 5'10" tall. No further information is currently available. [Kris Fister, IO, GLBA]
Rangers and a special emergency reaction team of four Alaska state troopers arrested P.G.D., 34, in Dundas Bay without incident around 5 p.m. on the afternoon of Saturday, July 27th. P.G.D. is suspected of being the gunman who threatened a charter boat operator on the shore of the bay near the mouth of the Dundas River on Monday, July 15th. P.G.D. was transported by helicopter and plane to Juneau, where he is being held on a felony warrant for assault in the third degree. The closures of marine waters and air space have been lifted, but the Seclusion River and shoreline closures will remain in effect until further notice. Rangers have secured the site of the arrest and investigators from the NPS, FBI and state will thoroughly search the area for evidence and make sure that it's safe before lifting the remaining closures. Approximately 30 to 35 people were involved in the investigation, planning and preparation stages of the incident, which was managed by the field area's all risk incident management team. [Kris Fister, IMT, GLBA]
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. had excavated 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 construct walls of a cabin within the hole. He told the members of the arresting party that he intended to construct a roof which would be level with the ground and cover it with moss and other ground vegetation. Items found at the scene included a .308 M1 rifle with a sniper's barrel and scope, a .22 caliber Thompson "Contender" with a scope, about 35,000 rounds of ammunition, 90 pounds of fishing gear, an inflatable raft, and other camping equipment - an overall total of almost 2,000 pounds of gear. [Kris Fister, PIO, IMT, GLBA]
Under a plea agreement, L.P. was sentenced to pay $3,000 into the park'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 supervised probation for 30 months and prohibited from fishing in park waters during that time. The magistrate added a $1,000 fine for any fish or wildlife violations which L.P. may commit during the probation period. This is the second plea arrangement arranged by park staff which entailed payment into the park's resource protection fund. [Mike Sharp, CI, GLBA]
In May, 1993, ranger Rick Mossman and criminal investigator Mike Sharp investigated the poaching of a brown bear on a remote section of the park's outer coast. Clues found at the scene led them to suspects in Fairbanks, where rangers and Fish and Wildlife Service special agent Mark Webb subsequently 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 filed against L.Z. and his son-in-law T.D. L.Z., a constitutionalist who believes that all state and federal laws and regulations are illegal except for those spelled out in the constitution, had given T.D. the bear- hunting trip as a wedding present. Both men were charged with misdemeanor Lacey Act violations for illegal transport of the bear and 36 CFR violations for illegal taking within the park. During a search of L.Z.'s house, loaded firearms and ammunition were found in almost every room; an illegally possessed, 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. marshals arrested T.D. during an anti-government rally and incarcerated him based on the arrest warrant from Alaska. T.D. then paid his outstanding $2,500 fine. The bear hide and skull were returned to the park for tanning and will be placed in the Yakutat visitor center for interpretive purposes. [Mike Sharp, CI/Pilot, GLBA]
On Monday, July 15, 1996, five park employees and ten Tlingit natives from Hoonah visited several archeological sites located within Dundas Bay. While in the area, an unidentified, armed male approached and threatened a member of the group at gunpoint, then disappeared into the woods. Rangers and a special emergency reaction team of four Alaska state troopers arrested P.G.d, 34, in Dundas Bay without incident two weeks later. The arrest 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 three mini-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 amount of marijuana. Investigation revealed that P.G.D. had been dropped off within the park around July 11th. He subsequently dug a deep pit and was in the process of constructing an underground log cabin to live in and store his possessions. He'd cut about 55 spruce trees near his camp to build the structure. P.G.D. was arraigned in state court on the assault charge; a federal grand jury subsequently indicted him on two counts of felony destruction of government property and seven misdemeanors. Plea agreements were sought to force P.G.D. to forfeit his equipment, which would be sold to pay his past child support payments to Michigan and for mental counseling prior to release. Both failed when P.G.D. refused to cooperate with a court- ordered psychological evaluation and demanded a jury trial. Trail was held in federal district court over four days from May 5th to May 8th. The jury returned one felony guilty verdict for cutting the trees, but reduced the second felony of digging the hole to digging and leveling a campsite. The jury 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 a national park. The court has ordered another psychological evaluation. Sentencing will occur within the next 30 to 45 days. A Forest Service methodology for assessing the resource damage associated with cutting trees in a wilderness area which was upheld in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals was employed in this case. An NPS landscape architect used a national publication, "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]
P.D., who was arrested on July 27, 1996, for threatening federal employees with a gun, was subsequently indicted on the assault charges in state court and on two felony charges of destruction of government property and seven misdemeanors in federal court. P.D. arranged a plea agreement with the state, but failed to come to a similar agreement with the U.S. attorney's office. The state then reinstated the assault charge against P.D. for breach of a state plea agreement - the first time in Alaska history that a felony charge has been reinstated because of a failed plea agreement condition within a federal case. P.D. was found guilty on all but one federal felony charge and remained in custody pending sentencing. The latter took place in state court in mid-August, and P.D. was sentenced to three years in prison, with all but six months suspended. Two weeks later, he was sentenced in federal court for time already served on the charges, but also ordered to pay $37,500 in restitution for damage caused to government property (cutting down 55 spruce trees). When arrested, P.D. was in the process of constructing an underground log cabin made from the trees, which he'd cut from the surrounding area. During the search associated with the arrest, rangers found and seized about 3,000 pounds of camping/survival gear, two rifles, 24,000 rounds of ammunition, 24 snares, and a small amount of marijuana. P.D.'s personal property is still being held under seizure by the U.S. attorney pending appeal; the state of Alaska has 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.'s survival equipment is not returned to him while he still owes child support. It is significant that the judge fully accepted the NPS appraisal of resource damage for cutting the spruce trees. The defense had argued that the appraisal methodology was invalid for use on wilderness trees. [Mike Sharp, Pilot/Criminal Investigator, GLBA, 9/5]
Rangers on the patrol vessel "Talus" received a distress call from the fishing vessel "Oaxaca" in the Beardslee Islands while on a fisheries enforcement patrol on February 15th. Rangers Dennis Kaleta, Jim Capra and Chuck 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 hard aground. The vessel immediately keeled over onto its port side, allowing water to rush in over the gunwales and into the hull. With the water temperature in the low 40s and the vessel sinking quickly, the two individuals began donning immersion suits and put out a "mayday" call. Several other vessels in the area also responded to help with the rescue of the pair and to assist in stabilizing the sunken vessel. One fishing boat arrived 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, but were unsuccessful because the vessel refused to remain upright. It eventually sank in about 25 feet of water. The vessel, which carried approximately 230 gallons of diesel fuel in its tanks, began leaking fuel out its vents, but P.T. stopped the majority of the leaks by sealing off the vents. Rangers deployed 160 feet of absorbent boom around the sunken vessel to soak up any residual leakage. P.T. was treated for cuts and scrapes and mild hypothermia. The "Oaxaca" was refloated by a salvage vessel on February 16th and towed out of the park. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 2/18]
S.R., a 23-year-old employee who works for the park's lodge concessioner, was reported overdue from a multi-day kayaking trip in the bay on July 31st. He had told co-workers that he would be kayaking alone in the relatively safe and calm waters of the Beardslee Islands and Beartrack Cove from July 28th to the 30th. Rangers were notified when he failed to show up for work. Investigation and interviews revealed that S.R. had talked about a desire to climb into the Beartrack Mountains, a steep and rugged cross-country hike/climb which goes from sea level to nearly 4,000 feet in under three miles. S.R. had no technical climbing experience, had no technical gear, and had planned the climb as a day hike. An air search was launched on the afternoon of the 31st. His kayak was found on the beach at the foot of a drainage which led up to the ridge line. Ranger Margaret Goodro, patrolling by boat in the area, checked the kayak and immediately made voice contact with S.R., who had fallen 25 feet down a rocky slope three days earlier and been badly injured. S.R. had walked and crawled down the mountain to sea level over the three days and arrived at the beach just as Goodro came ashore. He had a badly lacerated hip, fractures to one foot, multiple lacerations on his face, arms and legs, and broken teeth. He was placed on a backboard, secured to a litter, floated on an inflatable raft out to a waiting float plane, flown to Juneau, then taken by ambulance to a hospital. 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 a partially collapsed lung; they estimated that he'd lost almost a quarter of his blood during the accident. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 8/2]
On July 5th, rangers responded to a 911 call reporting shots being fired at a home in the community of Gustavus, which is just outside the park. They determined that a homicide had occurred, detained two people, secured the area, and provided assistance to state troopers when they arrived from Juneau. This is the first homicide that has ever occurred in Gustavus. The investigation is continuing with the assistance of park rangers, who operate under a memorandum of understanding with state police. [Mike Sharp, Pilot/SA, GLBA, 8/10]
On September 23rd, ranger Rick Perkins investigated the taking of a moose along the park's boundary during the course of the state's sport moose season. His findings led to a full crime scene investigation with the assistance of special agent Mike Sharp. An interview with the hunter and a return visit to the kill site revealed that the hunter had taken the moose inside the park. The animal was being called out of the park at the time it was 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 200 feet to an access road. Perkins and Sharp backtracked the moose's hoof prints from where it dropped to the location where it was hit. Blood spatters found on a small bush led them to the actual location from which the rounds were fired. There were also rope drag marks on a tree on the boundary which had an NPS boundary sign attached. The moose was seized and a mandatory appearance citation was issued. [Mike Sharp, SA, GLBA, 10/1]
Following the recent completion of a hazardous materials certification course, staff discovered two containers of picric acid which were being stored in the park. The liquid chemical had been used by researchers to dye- mark seabirds several years ago. Picric acid becomes highly explosive when crystallized or if evaporation occurs over an extended period of time and can have explosive power exceeding that of TNT. The bottles, which contained about three pints of the chemical, carried an expiration date of June, 1995. Although the chemical was still liquid, it was assumed that it nonetheless posed a risk of explosion. A bomb technician from the Juneau police department was flown in to assist with its disposal. He took the bottles to an abandoned dump in the park and blew them up with blasting caps and det cord. All traces of the picric acid and containers were vaporized in the explosion. Other parks should be aware that this substance is used fairly commonly in research which involves marking birds and that it should be considered an extremely hazardous substance. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 10/13]
A private contractor hauling out surplus mobile homes from the Bartlett Cove headquarters area on October 12th broke a capped fuel line, allowing about 200 gallons of diesel fuel to leak into the soil and marine waters before the rupture was discovered. The contractor initially cooperated in taking action to remediate the spill, but soon backed out and has since refused to continue cleanup operations. A park ICS team has taken over management of the cleanup, with oversight from the state and the Coast Guard. The spill site is adjacent to an inter-tidal area, and rainy weather is forecast. A primary objective of the operation is to remove affected soils as soon as possible and dispose of or store soils where runoff won't create more problems. Ranger Rick Perkins is IC. [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 10/14]
The Holland-America Line (HAL) has pled guilty to two felony violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for the discharge of oily bilge water from its cruise ship SS Rotterdam into park waters. HAL also pled guilty to a 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 an area near Juneau, Alaska. An engineer on the ship informed the Coast Guard of the discharge and an investigation was begun. The settlement was made possible by a cooperative effort by the NPS, Coast Guard, U.S. Attorney's Office, and DOJ's Environmental Crimes Division. HAL agreed to pay a criminal fine of $1 million and also agreed to pay the National Park Foundation (NPF) $1 million in restitution, earmarking the money for marine ecosystem management and protection of national parks in Alaska. The NPS and NPF have agreed to place the funds in an endowment and use the interest to fund resource management and research projects in Alaska's national parks. A separate investigation is now being conducted by DOJ against those who actually discharged the oily bilge water. [Mike Sharp, Pilot/SA, GLBA, 3/30]
Late last month, Canadian river rafter B.O. pled guilty in federal magistrate's court to conducting business operations in a park and soliciting without a permit. During 1998, B.O. received a private river rafting permit from the park for a party of eleven. He subsequently posted flyers soliciting for the trip and charged each person a fare. The magistrate awarded the $500 penalty to the park's resource protection fund. B.O. has been restricted from participating in any Alsek/Tatsheshini River trips for five years. [Mike Sharp, Pilot/SA, GLBA, 3/30]
Long-time seasonal employee Scott Croll, 34, departed from Haines, Alaska, on the morning of Sunday, May 2nd, as the sole passenger in a small, private plane which was flying to Juneau, then on to the park. Croll was to report to work on Monday. The pilot, David McKenzie, reported turning back due to poor weather about an hour into the flight, but was not heard from again. A search for the plane began in mid-afternoon. The area the plane was passing over 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]
The search continues for NPS seasonal employee Scott Croll, 34, and pilot David McKenzie, 51, reported overdue from a flight from Haines to Juneau in a small plane on May 2nd. The Coast Guard and Alaska state troopers are managing the search under a unified command. Six aircraft and two Coast Guard rescue boats participated in the search on Sunday afternoon and evening; on Monday and Tuesday, the search was continued by numerous helicopters and airplanes, including the park's C-206. A Coast Guard rescue boat may have picked up a very weak ELT signal on Monday in the general vicinity of the aircraft's last reported location. Ground teams with ELT receivers were deployed in this area on Monday and Tuesday to search forested and mountainous terrain. NPS teams have been requested and were to assist in ground search efforts yesterday. A number of people have asked how they can reach S.C. and E.C., Scott's parents. [Randy King, CR, GLBA, 5/5]
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 small plane on May 2nd, is being suspended. The Coast Guard and Alaska state troopers decided to suspend the search following several days of intensive air, water and ground search efforts. The missing Piper Comanche aircraft was last seen and reported over Berners Bay in Lynn Canal, flying in a snow squall. It is likely that the aircraft went down _ either on nearby land or in the water _ shortly after the pilot's last radio transmission, since a return call from another aircraft a few minutes later went unanswered. Search aircraft from numerous agencies and volunteers logged over 75 flight hours between Sunday and Wednesday, covering all coastal areas from Juneau to Haines. Repeated aerial searches by both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft were conducted in high probability areas near the point last seen. Coast Guard rescue boats and a NOAA mapping ship participated in water and shoreline searches, some employing sidescan sonar. Up to 16 people, including S.C. and D.M. family members and park staff, searched shorelines and forested ridges in the primary search area each day this week. Mountainous and difficult terrain, heavy forest cover and undergrowth, and deep snow in some areas likely affected searchers' ability to locate the missing 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 the missing aircraft and will continue to look. The primary search area is located at the northern extreme of the Juneau road system and is a popular destination for area residents. [Randy King, CR, GLBA, 5/6]
The search for NPS seasonal employee Scott Croll, 34, and pilot David McKenzie, 51, reported overdue from a flight from Haines to Juneau in a small plane on May 2nd, was officially suspended by the Coast Guard and Alaska state troopers on May 6th following several days of intensive air, water and ground 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 reported location. 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 snow squall, but it's not known whether it went down on land or in the water. Air temperatures averaging 37 degrees and equivalent water temperatures significantly reduced exposure survivability probabilities calculated by the Coast Guard, which was a factor in the decision to suspend the search pending additional information. CISD counseling services have been provided to park employees and family members. Scott's parents, S.C. and E.C., arrived in Glacier Bay on Wednesday along with other family members. A memorial service for Scott was held at the park yesterday evening; another gathering with Scott's friends is planned in Haines. The C. family asks that donations be made to the Student Conservation Association. For additional information regarding the Scott Croll Memorial Fund, please contact Marilyn McCoy at SCA at either 603-543-1700 or membership@sca-inc.org. [Randy King, CR, GLBA, 5/12]
The 156-foot tour vessel Wilderness Adventurer struck and grounded on a rock in a narrow finger of Dundas Bay on the afternoon of June 12th. The vessel was carrying 56 passengers and 24 crew members, all of whom were safely evacuated and transported to the community of Gustavus by a second tour vessel. The Wilderness Adventurer was on an eight-day cruise that included one day in the bay, which is located approximately 80 air miles west of Juneau. An ICS team was assembled and park staff, vessels and aircraft were dispatched to the scene to aid the Coast Guard and to take the lead in protecting the critical habitat of the area. The location of the vessel has made communications difficult and the coordination of resources challenging. A unified command was established, linking the NPS, Coast Guard, and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Acting district ranger Rick Perkins was the original IC. The Alaska all-risk management team was dispatched to the park to oversee the incident, and was to assume responsibility on the evening of June 13th. [Vickie McMillan, Acting PIO, GLBA, 6/14]
The 156-foot tour vessel Wilderness Adventurer remains aground at Dundas Bay. Little or no additional fuel has leaked from the vessel. A salvage assessment resulted in the conclusion that the removal of fuel may disrupt the balance of the vessel, so it will be refloated before any fuel is removed. The vessel's stability remains the major concern of the response team. The latest hull damage assessment shows a significant crack near the bow thrusters and a smaller crack in the keel. A marine architect has been assessing the vessel and working with incident staff on plans for refloating it. The cracks will have to first be sealed. Two tugs will assist with the salvage and lightering operations. The vessel St. Rufina is serving as the incident command center; the high-speed response vessel Icy Strait is also on scene and engaged in recovery of any further discharge of oil that may occur. Park resource management staff are monitoring and assessing resources in the area. [Jane Tranel, IO, IMT, 6/15]
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 on board the vessel yesterday evening to make a thorough assessment of the vessel's stability. Coast Guard personnel will determine when the vessel is ready for towing by barge. Once safely towed to port, the vessel will undergo repairs. Both Hoonah and Seattle have been discussed as ports where the ship may be towed. [Jane Tranel, IO, IMT, 6/16]
A 51-year-old woman died following a fall overboard from a concession boat in Reid Inlet on the afternoon of September 6th. The woman was visiting the park with her family and was traveling on the concession-run day tour boat that travels the length of the bay daily. She was standing outside the passenger railing at the stern of the vessel when she fell about 20 feet to the water below, striking a utility ladder on the way down. During resuscitation efforts, she was transported to a nearby cruise ship that had more advanced medical facilities and was pronounced dead while there. Rangers are conducting a joint investigation with state troopers and Coast Guard representatives. [Chuck Young, Acting CR, GLBA, 9/6]
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]
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]
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]
The park's structural fire brigade responded to a fire in the
generator room of the electric power plant for the town of Gustavus
around 9:30 p.m. on January 15. When Gustavus Emergency Response (GER)
firefighters arrived at the facility, which houses three diesel
generators that supply electricity to the town, they found significant
smoke emanating from the building and a fire in the main generator. The
owners of the power plant had unsuccessfully tried to knock down the
fire with chemical extinguishers. Fuel to the generators was shut off
and GER personnel entered the building and extinguished the fire. The
park brigade responded just after 10 p.m. and helped with mop-up and
overhaul of the fire scene. The generator was a complete loss, and there
was severe smoke damage to the interior of the building. Power was
restored to Gustavus by 11 p.m. This was the first structural fire
response with GER by the park since a course in basic structural fire
certification was held in Gustavus for both brigades this fall. Training
and drilling proved to be a contributing factor to the quick response,
minimum loss of property and absence of injuries to responding
personnel.
A multi-agency search has been suspended for survivors of a private
twin-engine Cessna 401 aircraft that crashed into the waters of Icy
Strait outside of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve on the night
of July 13th. Two of the six occupants of the aircraft, all of whom
resided in Utah, survived by exiting the plane while it was still
floating in the water and swimming to shore at Eagle Point, about 11
miles northwest of Hoonah in the Tongass National Forest. Four of the
plane's occupants have not been located. Prior to the accident, the
pilot called in that the plane was running out of fuel short of its
intended destination at the Gustavus Airport. Several items from the
aircraft, including part of the plane, were found floating offshore in
the area of Pinta Cove. NPS rangers assisted the Coast Guard, Alaska
State Troopers, the Gustavus Volunteer Fire/EMS Department, the Forest
Service, and local charter aircraft and boat operators with the search
in both field and incident management overhead functions.
The park's fire brigade was called in on a mutual aid response to a
cabin fire in a heavily wooded area of Gustavus off Tong Road on the
morning of Sunday, May 9th. When they arrived, they found that the cabin
was fully engulfed, with flames reaching about 80 feet into surrounding
trees and a nearby house trailer also on fire. Due to the absence of
Gustavus VFD, district ranger Gus Martinez took over as incident
commander and began overseeing operations, including protection of
exposures, the safety of responders, and overhaul of the building. The
cabin is generally unoccupied, but it's believed that someone was
residing there illegally when the fire broke out. Nobody was injured.
The cabin was a total loss. Alaska state troopers are
investigating.
On the afternoon of Thursday, October 7th, the M/V Blue Star, a 60-foot, metal-hulled catamaran out of Hoonah, Alaska, began taking on water when its starboard pontoon ruptured while transiting Dixon Harbor on the park's remote outer coast. The captain/owner, W.S., of King Cove, decided to run the vessel aground on the Hankison Peninsula to save the vessel from sinking. Both W.S. and his crew member were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter out of Sitka. Neither was injured. A six-foot gash in the hull was observed upon inspection of the damaged pontoon. The vessel reportedly was carrying 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, along with several barrels of gasoline and some lube oil. Although the containers of gasoline and lube oil were removed to the beach, reports indicated that diesel fuel spillage into the water was occurring. A sheen was observed spreading into Dixon Harbor and onto the shoreline. At the time of the report, it was not known whether the fuel was leaking from the vents or there was actual damage to the tanks, which were in the submerged portion of the vessel. Park staff were working with the US Coast Guard, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and the vessel owner to assess and prevent damage to park resources from the fuel, and to eventually remove the vessel from the park. Rough seas and poor weather are hampering access to the site, which is difficult to access even under the best conditions.[Submitted by Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
On June 2nd, a park biologist working in the preserve came upon a decomposing wolf carcass on an ATV trail with a snare around its neck. The snare was attached to a nearby tree and included an ID tag for a local trapper from Yakutat. Rangers were contacted and collected the snare and part of the carcass for the investigation. As part of a joint investigation with the Alaska State Troopers (AST), the evidence and photos were turned over to the state, which eventually charged the trapper with failure to salvage a furbearer, a misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $10,000. After several delays and attempted plea agreements, the trapping case went to trial in December in Juneau on a reduced charge of trapping out of season. The defense contested the chain of custody, evidence, identification of the carcass as a wolf, and several other issues. With the testimony of the biologist, ranger and the AST officer, all of these legal challenges were addressed. The judge found the defendant guilty and fined him $100. This marks the first successful prosecution in Southeast Alaska of a trapping violation in a number of years. There have recently been a number of cases of wolves killed and not salvaged in and around the national preserve, and information from this case may lead to other prosecutions. The Alaska State Troopers and the DA's office made it a point to acknowledge NPS personnel for their work on this type of case, which has been difficult to prosecute in the past. [Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
On February 21st, park staff responded to a mutual aid fire call in the town of Gustavus. A single story residential structure was reported to be on fire by a passerby who called in on the local 911 line. The park's structural fire brigade and other park staff responded along with the local volunteer fire department. By the time responding units began arriving on scene, the structure was fully engulfed and could not be saved. Neither the owner of the house nor any other people were present when the fire started. The fire, which had begun burning into a stand of nearby trees, was limited to the structure. Two vehicles and a boat on a trailer parked in an attached carport were also destroyed. The cause 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 staff assisting with maintaining water supplies, logistics and dispatch. Park staff are integral to the community's emergency response resources and are routinely called in to respond to incidents of this type under an existing memorandum of understanding. [Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of Saturday, May 27th, rangers conducted a successful search for a 60-year-old woman who had notified a friend by cell phone that she was lost in the park. The woman, a fit and strong hiker, had planned a day hike cross-country from the town of Gustavus to Cooper's Notch in the park. There are no maintained trails in this area, which enters a narrowing strip of open muskeg bounded by thick spruce forest. While attempting to avoid a bear, the woman left the open country, which would eventually lead to Cooper's Notch, and instead entered the dense forested area. She became disoriented, and finally realized she had totally lost her sense of direction. NPS search managers were able to speak directly to her by telephone, and through subsequent telephone conversations ascertained that she was rapidly losing her composure and becoming increasingly apprehensive about her situation. As nightfall approached, accompanied by a steady rainfall that had been forecast for that night, rangers flew over the area in an attempt to locate the woman. Utilizing her visual observations of the search aircraft as she relayed them through cell phone conversations, the searchers were able to use the position of the plane to guide her out of the forest into a clearing where they obtained a visual on her. A message was dropped to her to advise her to stay put. In the meantime, a ground search team was guided to her location to walk her to safety. Resource management rangers with GIS and GPS expertise and high resolution aerial photographs of the area were used to help direct the ground team to the woman's location and to help walk them out of the area which had by then become engulfed in nearly complete darkness and heavy rainfall. The woman was able to walk out in relatively good condition with no injuries. [Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
On June 6th, the operator of an NPS pilot boat reported seeing a humpback whale swimming on the surface near Bartlett Cove in Glacier Bay. Entangled in its tail was a line with a buoy attached to a sport fishing crab pot. The whale was able to swim slowly and covered a distance of several miles despite the fact that the line was still dragging a crab pot weighing approximately 80 pounds. Attempts to free the entangled whale by a trained Park Service disentanglement team were unsuccessful. Special cutting tools and long-handled equipment were used by staff to attempt to cut the line off the whale, which continued to move through the water at approximately three knots. Darkness forced team members to end their efforts, but not before attaching two highly visible marker buoys to the lines trailing behind the whale. Air and sea searches for the animal turned up nothing on the following day. On Thursday, June 8th, observers on a passing vessel reported seeing buoys matching the description of the marker buoys near the entrance to Geikie Inlet on the west side of Glacier Bay. Responding park biologists positively identified the buoys as being those that had been attached to the whale. They were able to pull up all gear, including buoys, lines, and the crab pot (containing three crabs) intact. It's believed that the whale was able to free itself from the gear. Biologists will continue to monitor whale populations in the bay and attempt to identify and observe the condition of this particular whale. The three crabs were released, having circumnavigated nearly half the waters of Glacier Bay on what must have been the wildest ride of their lives. [Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
On Monday, January 29th, Princess Cruise Lines pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Anchorage to a charge of knowingly failing to operate its vessel, the Dawn Princess, at a slow, safe speed in the summer of 2001 while near two humpback whales in the area of Glacier Bay National Park. The bloated carcass of a pregnant whale was found four days after the Princess ship sailed through the park. It had died of massive blunt trauma injuries to the right side of the head, including a fractured skull, eye socket and cervical vertebrae, all consistent with a vessel collision. The whale was identified from fluke markings as "Whale #68," which had been sighted many times in the past and was known to have frequented the area for at least 25 years. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Princess was sentenced to pay a $200,000 fine and to contribute $550,000 to the National Park Foundation as a form of community service. The funding will support marine mammal research in the park. In this first-of-its-kind prosecution, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice, along with special agents and investigators from the National Park Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, engaged in a thorough and detailed investigation, often with the assistance and cooperation of Princess. "As well as being a majestic and endangered species, the humpback whale is also a public symbol of Glacier Bay," said superintendent Tomie Lee. "Protection of these resources is of paramount importance to us. So when we began to hear witness reports of a cruise-ship colliding with a whale, then learned that this particular whale, whom researchers had first identified in 1975 and nicknamed 'Snow' because of her fluke markings, died of injuries consistent with a ship-strike, we began a dialogue with Princess and the U.S. Attorney's Office, and proceeded diligently with our investigation, so we could be sure to get things right. While these kinds of criminal convictions can result in a loss of federal contracts to service visitors in a national park, in this case we feel Princess has stepped up and made significant, voluntary operational changes that protect whales and the marine environment. We are pleased that this incident is behind us and that they will continue to offer cruises in Glacier Bay." The unlawful taking (killing) of humpback whales is prohibited by both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The "slow, safe speed" regulation, under which this case was 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 the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act and carries the identical penalties of the taking violation. Such conduct is a federal Class A misdemeanor violation of law, punishable (for a corporation) by a fine of up to $200,000, restitution in an amount to be determined by the court, and up to five years probation (a person who violates this law is also subject to imprisonment for up to one year). [Nelson Cohen, United States Attorney for Alaska]
The Spirit of Glacier Bay, operated by Cruise West, went aground at just after 7 a.m. on Monday, July 7th, near Grand Pacific Glacier in Tarr Inlet. There were no injuries to any of the 24 passengers or 27 crew members. The ship lifted off the bottom on a rising tide shortly after 4 p.m. that afternoon. Passengers were then unloaded from the Spirit of Glacier Bay onto another ship for passage out of the bay, and the Spirit was escorted about 60 miles down the bay by the US Coast Guard to Bartlett Cove, where it was moored and an assessment performed. Initial indications from the Coast Guard are that the vessel's hull did not appear to be breached, but an internal examination revealed damage to the shell plating and framing. Several interior doors also could not be shut. The Coast Guard responded to the incident with two MH-60 helicopters, two small boats and the 110-foot cutter Liberty. The NPS response included three small boats with spill response gear. The concession day tour vessel Fairweather II Express also responded and took passengers off the larger ship. At the time of the grounding, the ship was moving at just a half knot per hour. After running aground, the ship was stable with a one 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 on the third day of a four-day Glacier Bay cruise. Glacier Bay NP sees more than 150 cruise ships in the bay each summer and had an annual visitation of 438,000 in 2007. [John Quinley, Public Affairs Office]
On May 3rd, park personnel were asked to assist the Gustavus Fire Department in responding to a vehicle submerged in the water adjacent to the local municipal pier. Divers found no one in the vehicle, but information obtained from the community revealed that a local minor associated with the car was missing. Park staff were asked to manage the emergency response, which included a large number of community volunteers who aided the search via vessels and aircraft. State troopers later arrived and assumed responsibility for managing the incident, which was supported by the Coast Guard, the Civil Air Patrol, Gustavus FD and the NPS. The incident evolved into a large land- and water-based search that covered more than 14 miles of coastline and a large area of ocean known as Icy Straight. More than 70 local volunteers joined park personnel in the search. The body of the missing minor was recovered by divers on the afternoon of May 4th. The tragedy is being felt throughout the small, tight-knit community and the park, where the victim had recently begun service as a volunteer. [Randy Larson, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of August 9th, visitor use assistant Wayne Clark was on a personal fishing trip on a 26-foot fiberglass vessel with his wife and another couple. Just after noon, they decided to return home for the day. They were approximately a mile from Bartlett Cove when the boat's operator noticed that the vessel was handling sluggishly, noted that the engine was riding low, and saw that they were taking on water over the stern. When he opened an inspection hatch on the deck, he saw that the bilge was rapidly filling with water. All hands attempted to bail out the vessel, but the bilge pump and their efforts could not keep up with the incoming water. Clark then directed the operator to attempt to beach the boat and insured that everyone on board was wearing a lifejacket. They made attempts to hail nearby vessels and call the Bartlett Cove Visitor Information Station, but none of these attempts was successful. About 75 yards from shore, the vessel's engine failed, the stern completely filled with water, and the vessel capsized. As the vessel was turning over, Clark was able to pull his wife and their female companion with him, thereby preventing them from being trapped under the boat. The male companion could not be located because he was still under the forward canopy and superstructure of the boat. Clark began attempts to find him and made one dive under the vessel to recover him. Upon returning to the surface, he found that the missing person had resurfaced next to them. They began to swim to shore, but were hampered by currents and the initial onset of hypothermia. Luckily, a nearby boat was able to rescue all four people and bring them to Bartlett Cove, where the ranger staff treated them for exposure. The vessel is a total loss and was towed to the Bartlett Cove launch ramp area, where it was recovered by the owner. Due to Wayne Clark's quick thinking and cool actions under great pressure, this event had a successful outcome. All passengers attribute their survival to him. Clark is a retired Coast Guard rescue swimmer and one of the original swimmers who started the program. He has worked as a deck hand and 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]
On the afternoon of May 26th, the park received an urgent request for assistance from the Coast Guard. Two hikers were reportedly injured in a remote section of the park. They'd been hiking with others along the face of Crillon Glacier at the head of Lituya Bay when the glacier calved and large amounts of ice and debris struck them, causing severe injuries. The Coast Guard immediately launched a rescue operation, dispatching helicopter from Air Station Sitka. The response time was two hours, though. Ranger Todd Bruno coordinated a simulataneous NPS response, sending district ranger Jacqueline Ashwell and seasonal ranger Erin Shandley from the Yakutat office via an airplane equipped with tundra tires that could land at the face of the glacier. Although they got to the scene before the Coast Guard, they were unable to land. Instead, they assisted the Coast Guard helicopter by maintaining communications with Sector Juneau while its crew was on the ground, treating the victims. One had suffered a head injury and possible concussion; the other had an open arm fracture. The third person in the group was not injured but was unable to operate the boat that they'd used to reach Lituaya Bay. All three were flown to Air Station Sitka, where the two injured people were admitted to a local hospital. Crillon Glacier is not a tidewater glacier and does not actively calve; since there is constant movement of ice and debris from the face of any glacier, though, visitors are always reminded to avoid walking or boating within a quarter mile of the glacier. Lituya Bay is approximately 100 air miles from Juneau. It's seldom visited and can only be reached by boat or plane. Marine VHF communications are spotty at best. [Gus Martinez, Bay District Ranger]
Park biologist Craig Murdoch was conducting a fisheries survey on the Bartlett River trail late on the morning of July 27th. While hiking along the shoreline of the river, he heard movement in the grass across the river from him, a distance of about 150 feet. As he turned to see what was making the noise, he saw a full grown brown bear charging towards him. Murdoch yelled at the bear and grabbed for his bear spray, which was in his backpack. The bear continued its charge and got 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 assessment of the area can be conducted. This is the first documented behavior of this type by brown bears along this river, although they're in the area fishing for sockeye salmon. The park provides training for all staff who work in the backcountry in the use and deployment of bear spray, including simulation of incidents of this type. [Gus Martinez, Bay District Ranger]
On the morning of August 19th, the tour boat Baranoff Wind struck a rock while travelling in the upper west arm of Glacier Bay National Park, causing the vessel to begin taking on water in its engine compartment. There were 84 passengers on board at the time, including one NPS interpretive ranger and five crew members. The Holland America cruise ship Volendam was nearby and provided immediate assistance by evacuating stranded passengers. Rangers were on scene shortly after the incident occurred and provided EMS care. US Coast Guard Air Station Sitka responded with an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and provided a dewatering pump. Injuries were minor and only one patient and his companion asked to be transported via NPS vessel rather than continue on the trip in the cruise ship. No pollution was released into the water and the vessel was towed to Sitka for repairs. The National Park Service is working with the USCG on the accident investigation. [Gus Martinez, Bay District Ranger]
The Holland America cruise ship Statendam provided assistance to over 100 tourists on a tour vessel experiencing mechanical problems in Glacier Bay on Friday, August 2nd. The park received word that afternoon that the 79-foot daily sightseeing vessel Baranof Wind was experiencing mechanical troubles and had lost power in the remote upper reaches of Johns Hopkins Inlet in Glacier Bay. The Statendam was nearby and quickly responded to a call to assist. Using two tenders, the ship collected all 102 passengers and one interpretive ranger from the tour boat and brought them to shore, arriving at 8 p.m. The Statendam then continued to Seward. The Allen Marine vessel St. Juvenaly reached the troubled tour boat later that evening and repairs were made. The Baranof Wind returned to Bartlett Cove and was again providing tours the next day. [Gus Martinez]
On the night of Tuesday, August 12th, rangers responded to a mutual aid request made by the Alaska State Troopers. Gustavus Volunteer Fire Department's EMS squad had responded to a 911 call regarding a 57-year-old emotionally disturbed woman who had ingested poisonous mushrooms and was refusing medical attention. The Gustavus volunteers contacted the Alaska State Troopers office to request law enforcement assistance in order to place the patient under protective custody. Rangers responded and waited until the air ambulance flight crew arrived. They then conducted an Operational Leadership GAR assessment and executed a plan led by the flight nurse to restrain and sedate the woman in order to transport her to Juneau for further evaluation. The woman was flown to Juneau without further incident. The park had received a 'be on the lookout' call from the Alaska Regional Communication Center, advising that a welfare check on her was needed. According to the center, she'd arrived in Gustavus on the Alaska state ferry. The woman's lifelong partner said that she did this about once a year, and had once ended up under protective custody in Madagascar. Rangers were unaware that she had been staying at a private residence. [Gus Martinez, Bay District Ranger]
On June 10th, rangers responded to a report of an engine fire on the Glacier Bay Lodge tour vessel Baranof Wind. The 79-foot daily sightseeing vessel had suffered a fire in the starboard engine room while transiting through the remote upper reaches of Glacier Bay. Crew members on the Baranof Wind were able to extinguish the fire and called for assistance. The Holland America cruise ship Noordam was nearby and responded to the call; using a tender, the ship collected all 40 passengers and loaded them safely onto the Noordam and transferred them to the park dock. At the same time, the Noordam requested assistance for a medical evacuation from the ship for a passenger who was suffering from a medical emergency. Park staff assisted with the transfer and evacuation of the patient from the cruise ship and to a medevac helicopter. Park staff then received notice from the Coast Guard that the 73-foot commercial fishing vessel Kupreanof was taking on water off the outer coast of the park and rescued four crew members from a life raft. The vessel then sank into the Gulf of Alaska. [Albert Faria, Chief Ranger]
A 69-year-old passenger on the Holland America ship Westerdam was determined to be missing on Friday, July 13th, when he failed to show up for a shipboard medical appointment. A search revealed he wasn't on the ship and had presumable fallen overboard. The park was notified that evening and began an air and water search of 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.
On Saturday, July 14th, a Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew helped the park extricate two hikers after one of them suffered a leg injury. The hikers were taken to awaiting emergency medical services in Sitka. The next day, the Coast Guard got an alert that a PLB had been activated in Glacier Bay and determined that it had been triggered after a kayaker — one of a group of four — fell into the water. The park led the search effort, but asked the Coast Guard help them out. Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew joined the search. The kayakers were found safe on shore, waving their arms for help. They were taken about the cutter. All were in good health. The fact that the cutter was even in the region was fortunate. The Douglas Munro is homeported in Kodiak, but is currently on a three-month patrol that will encompass the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean as part of Operation Arctic Shield 2018, as well as the Gulf of Alaska. Arctic Shield 2018, according to an earlier release from the Coast Guard, is meant to increase maritime awareness and understanding of the risks of the sea. Source: Juneau Empire.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 18th, the Coast Guard notified the park of a plane down near Crillon Lake southeast of Lituya Bay on Glacier Bay's outer coast. Initial Coast Guard reports indicated that a mid-air collision had occurred, but follow-up from the USCG helicopter that responded to the scene identified a single plane 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 to respond at the time, but stood down. The Coast Guard reported that the plane was "wheels up" and submerged to the wings in Crillon Lake. A salvage operation is anticipated to recover the downed plane. On Thursday afternoon, the park received a relayed radio call from the cruise ship Island Princess reporting an aircraft down in front of the Grand Pacific Glacier at the head of Glacier Bay's Tarr Inlet. Rangers responded and contacted the uninjured pilot, Thorsten Kampe of Germany. Kampe reported landing due to an apparent engine malfunction. The nose of the plane subsequently buried, breaking the propeller as he taxied through soft sand. The pilot was taken to Bartlett Cove on a park boat. Temsco Helicopters plans to salvage the aircraft. Sources: Glacier Bay NP&P news release of July 19th and July 20th.
The Coast Guard has called off a two-day search for three people missing 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 son A.P., and Palmer helicopter piloting company owner D.K., 53, are presumed dead in the crash. The new Airbus helicopter crashed sometime Friday in a tidal zone near Lituya Bay. Some pieces of wreckage, including parts of the engine and seats, washed up on the shore. J.P.'s older son A.P., 14, was rescued from a beach about three miles from the bay and is being treated at a hospital in Anchorage. J.P. and his sons were bringing the Airbus H125 helicopter to Alaska after picking it up at an Airbus facility in Grand Prairie, Texas. They were expected to arrive in Yakutat on Friday night but never made it. Source: Anchorage Daily News.
There was little news in the media on the parks' coronavirus responses last week. Summaries and links to articles on three of them follow: Glacier Bay NP — While national parks across the country are working on their reopening plans, staff at Glacier Bay are working on a plan to survive the loss of roughly 70 percent of the park's annual budget, a loss tied to cruise ships not leaving port for the park's waters this summer. The financial hit is unique in the National Park System, where parks typically receive the bulk of their annual operating funds through Congressional appropriations. Glacier Bay, though, receives just 30 percent of its roughly $4 million annual budget from Congress. The rest comes from cruise ship fees. The park has banked much of that revenue over the past few years and should be able to keep going through next March. The park normally hires around 70 seasonals, but will have to reduce that number to about 10 this year. The article details other impacts on Glacier Bay. Source: Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler. Additional information on the pandemic response can be found at these locations:
July 13, 2022 On July 1, the M/V Cats N Dogs, a 66-foot private vessel, sank in Muir Inlet. The passengers were rescued by a nearby vessel and the Coast Guard successfully evacuated them. The park closed Muir Inlet to vessel traffic for several days of attempted salvage operations, but they were unable to locate the vessel. There have been no visible fuel or oil remains, and the NPS will continue to monitor the area. The Coast Guard is continuing an investigation of the incident with support from the NPS. Source: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (7/8, 7/11)
On July 30, a brown bear obtained food from campers at the Scidmore Cut area of the West Arm of Glacier Bay. No injuries or property damage were reported. A 30-day closure to foot traffic in the area has been implemented. Source: Glacier Bay National Park
In the fall, a black bar cub was observed at Bartlett Cove struggling to walk and keep up with its two siblings and mother, eventually being abandoned. Visitors filmed the cub and shared it with NPS staff. The cub was deemed to be hours away from death due to cerebral edema, and it was euthanized. After an autopsy, it was determined that the cub had contracted a highly-contagious strain of avian influenza called H5N1. It is the first bear in the country to test positive for that strain. It is likely the bear was infected after scavenging a sick or dead bird, as the influenza does not currently pass from bear to bear. Humans are at low risk of being infected by this strain of influenza. Source: KRBD
On June 5, an engine fire occurred on a 178-foot cruise ship in Glacier Bay. The crew extinguished the fire and called for Coast Guard assistance. Nobody was injured in the incident. Two Coast Guard ships and a helicopter were deployed to support the rescue. 51 passengers and 16 crew were transferred to a much larger cruise ship nearby by the larger ship's lifeboat. 11 crew remained on board and a tugboat was expected to tow the vessel to Ketchikan. An oil boom was deployed on the ship, possibly due to a fuel or oil leak, but the boat did not sustain serious structural damage and the Coast Guard helicopter reported "no visible sheen from fuel or oil near the drifting vessel." In an unrelated incident, an individual was medically evacuated by helicopter from the larger cruise ship the same day. Source: Juneau Empire, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
On October 7 or 8, a three- to four-year-old humpback whale got snagged on 450-feet of heavy line attached to a 300-pound crab pot near Pleasant Island in Icy Strait. On October 10, local residents informed the NPS of a whale making unusual sounds and having trouble moving. Several NPS staff who had been trained in disentanglement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Alaska Large Whale Entanglement Response network responded in an NPS boat to gather information and assess the situation. When contacted, the owner of the crab pot said it had gone missing some time between October 7 and 8. Based on the situation, the team secured authorization to begin a rescue from NOAA. A disentanglement expert with the Alaska Whale Foundation flew in the following day and joined a team to approach the whale. An FAA licensed drone pilot was able to capture footage to show the manner in which the whale was caught in the line. The team utilized a specially designed knife mounted on a long pole to make cuts in the line while remaining at a distance to the whale. After many hours, the whale was freed and swam rapidly away. Source: National Parks Traveler | |