OT - Morning Report interesting incidents in our Parks

Olympic National Park (WA) Hiker Fatally Injured In Encounter With Mountain Goat

Hiker Robert Boardman, 63, of Port Angeles died on Saturday afternoon after sustaining injuries in an encounter with a mountain goat. The incident remains under investigation. Park staff were on scene shortly after the initial report and provided emergency medical assistance. Boardman was transported by Coast Guard helicopter to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, where he was pronounced dead. Rangers responding to the incident were able to locate the goat, confirm its identity, and kill it. The goat will be transported to a veterinary pathologist for full analysis. The incident occurred on Klahhane Ridge, which is located near Hurricane Ridge, about 17 miles south of Port Angeles. [Submitted by Colin Smith, Chief Ranger] More Information...

Rocky Mountain National Park (CO) Climber Falls To His Death From Taylor Glacier

Rangers received a cell phone call just before noon on Saturday reporting that a climber had fallen on Taylor Glacier. They reached the climber's body late that afternoon and determined that the man had taken a tumbling fall of more than a thousand feet to his death. The climber, James Patrick, 54, was ascending with two companions and took their rope when he fell, leaving the others stranded near the top of Taylor Glacier just below the ridgeline between Taylor Peak and Powell Peak. They were able to anchor themselves in place until help arrived. Two rangers reached the ridgeline above the pair late on Saturday afternoon and belayed the two climbers up to their location. The cause of the accident is under investigation. This was the park's fifth falling fatality this year. [Submitted by Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer]

Mental Instability

A solo climber was evacuated from the 14,200-foot camp on July 7 after his erratic behavior and alarming statements revealed signs of mental illness and a likelihood of causing serious harm to himself or others. As it was deemed unsafe to transport a mentally unstable person within the small confined cabin of the park`s high altitude helicopter, Denali staff requested military assistance. An Army Chinook CH 47 helicopter from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade transported the individual , who was strapped and secured on backboard, directly back to their base at Ft. Wainwright. At that point, Alaska State Troopers took custody of the individual and transported him to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for evaluation.

Denali National Park - 2010 Accident Summary