A helicopter from Grand Canyon National Park had to fly to Zion National Park on Monday to rescue an injured canyoneer who was in a party that ignored the advice of rangers/NPS file
It's one thing to have to be rescued by National Park Service rangers when fate doesn't go your way, but to need a rescue after you mocked and ignored a ranger's advice, well, that's pretty brazen-faced.
But that's what happened Monday at Zion National Park, where rangers actually were called out on two search-and-rescue incidents in the Left Fork of North Creek, on a popular permitted route known as “The Subway”.
"One group disregarded and mocked a ranger’s advice when they picked up their permit. The ranger recommended they bring a rope and multiple harnesses for at least one of the rappels, but the leader of the group, who had been there before, said that they could cross the log and find an easier way down," a park release said Tuesday. "When the ranger reported that the log was washed out last year and recommended the gear, the group dismissed the information and left.
"Later, rangers received a report that a member of the group had a knee injury at the top of the last rappel," the release went on. "Since the log that made it easier to cross the creek was gone, members were making a 6-to-7 foot jump. One person had landed badly. A medic and two others responded and spent Monday night with the patient. A helicopter from the Grand Canyon was brought in for a short-haul operation Tuesday morning."
The other incident involved a group that park rangers said made poor decisions, wore the wrong footwear, and lost the route several times.
"After getting lost early in the day, they reached the Subway feature late Sunday night and spent an unexpected night in the canyon," the park reported. "In the morning, they got lost again, passing the exit route, and continuing downstream. At some point they decided to try to climb a cliff face to reach the road. When heat exhaustion set in, they activated their emergency locator and reported a heat related illness. SAR responders were able to locate the group. After administering fluids, rangers assisted the group back to the trailhead."
Zion Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh urged park visitors to appreciate the settings they find themselves in.
“Visitors need to take their safety seriously and act responsibly,” he said. “Park Rangers are here to advise and assist visitors planning challenging trips in the backcountry, but ultimately preparations and proper equipment is the visitor’s responsibility. Given the number of fires throughout the West and the assignment of aviation assets to them, it was fortunate that the Grand Canyon helicopter was able to respond quickly and that the first group had an emergency beacon, but that is not always the case. Please prepare carefully and plan ahead for unexpected events that might occur in this wonderful, but at times, unforgiving landscape.”
Comments
These people should be charged for the rescue
putting rescuers in danger
It's one thing to get lost and miss a trail. Has happened to many of us! But what about the scoffing know-it-alls? Will they be billed the cost of their foolishness?
the national park service should charge the first group for disregarding the advice of the ranger.
The NPS has no legislative authority to charge for rescue services. As a matter of fact at the moment, the authority to bill for the more mundane resonable and customary ambulance transportation service is on tenuous legal footing and those receipts are being deposited in the general treasury instead of being retained for use locally by those parks who operate an ambulance service.
But investigators do have the discretion to charge parties with various misdemeanors related to these incidents, subject to the US Attorney supporting the prosecution, which in some districts is not always a sure thing. And once again any fines and restitution are deposited in the general treasury and not retained by the park. The only exception is if resource damage occurs, an action may be brought under a specific law known as SERPA where costs to a specific park unit can be recovered after much paperwork and effort. But for a typical rescue of a fool however reckless, SERPA is not typically implicated.
NPS can and does issue tickets for "Creating a Dangerous Situation". A lot depends on the attitude shown by the perps during the rescue. In theory, ticketed persons can be billed for their rescue, though the NPS tends to not pursue non-payers with much if any vigor.
I sure hope the people in these groups are held responsible for the cost that it took to rescue them since they so blatantly disregarded the warnings they were given.
Re the above...
Being charged and convicted of disorderly conduct doesn't allow a person to be "billed" for a rescue, it allows a magistrate to *potentially* order restitution to the government and other affected parties as part of the sentence or probation. If it is to the government, the Park never sees the money. As I said above it is is sent to Treasury to pay for missiles, embassies, United Nations dues and renovations to Cabinet Secretaries' offices.
SS 2.34 Disorderly conduct.
(a) A person commits disorderly conduct when, with intent to cause public alarm, nuisance, jeopardy or violence, or knowingly or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person commits any of the following prohibited acts:
...
(4) Creates or maintains a hazardous or physically offensive condition.
These idiots should definitely be billed for their rescue and medical bills.