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David Knopp
Trad climber
CA
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Jul 11, 2013 - 10:53am PT
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Thursday, July 11, 2013
INCIDENTS
North Cascades National Park (WA)
Injured Climber And Partner Rescued From Mount Goode
A mountaineering party of two experienced an accident on Mount Goode on July 6th. After summiting the 9,200-foot peak via the Northeast Buttress route, the climbers were descending the Southwest Couloir, a standard descent. At 8,400 feet one climber fell when the rappel anchor in use failed. He suffered an open elbow and arm fracture, among other injuries, and was initially unconscious.
The man’s partner activated a satellite beacon at 9:30 p.m. and then bivouacked in the couloir with his injured partner for the night. Early on July 7th, a rescue of both climbers was carried out by NPS rangers utilizing a contract helicopter from HiLine Helicopters and assisted by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office’s SnoHawk 10. The injured climber is being treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
[Submitted by Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]
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David Knopp
Trad climber
CA
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Jul 24, 2013 - 11:20am PT
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7/24/13
Olympic National Park (WA)
Climber Killed In Fall On Mount Olympus
Early on the morning of Saturday, July 20th, park dispatch received a report that a climber had been seriously injured in a fall on Mount Olympus. A short time later, the park received word that other climbers, including a paramedic, had reached the man and determined that he’d died of his injuries.
The 28-year-old man was on the east face of the summit peak on Mount Olympus when the accident occurred. The fall was witnessed by members of another climbing group that was on the mountain at the time.
Rangers were flown via helicopter to Snow Dome on Mount Olympus and climbed through melting and challenging snow conditions to reach and recover the climber’s body. It was airlifted out to Port Angeles that evening.
[Submitted by Barb Maynes, Public Affairs Specialist]
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10b4me
Ice climber
Wishes-He-Was-In-Arizona
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Jul 25, 2013 - 12:12pm PT
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Zion National Park (UT)
Concession Employee Dies Of Injuries Sustained In Fall
The park received a report of an accident with severe injuries at a watercourse known as “Employee Falls” behind the Zion Lodge employee housing area on the evening of Saturday, July 20th.
Scott Schena, 22, a Xanterra employee from Florida, had been socializing with several other employees at the base of the falls all afternoon. He joined a group of four who arrived to practice rappelling skills and climbed above the falls. While on the bench of the falls, he walked near the edge to wave to the group below, lost his footing on the sloped edge, and fell approximately 50 feet onto the rocks below.
Schena suffered significant traumatic injuries in the fall. Ranger/medics provided ALS medical care while evacuating Schena from the canyon. During the evacuation, he became unresponsive and stopped breathing. Schena was resuscitated by the rangers and Lifeflight personnel and transported by air to Dixie Regional Medical Center, where he passed away. The incident remains under investigation.
[Submitted by Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 23, 2013 - 06:03pm PT
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Finally, someone keeps a cool head! BTW, that area looks amazing on Google Earth! http://goo.gl/maps/2w4Ku
North Cascades National Park (WA)
Overdue Backpacker Found By Searchers
On the morning of September 13th, the park received a report that a 60-year-old man was two days overdue from a nine day backpacking trip in the Berdeen Lake area. An aerial search was launched and he was found by day’s end near Lower Berdeen Lake.
Rangers determined he’d sustained no life threatening injuries, but that it would take too long for him to hike up to the nearest landing zone given his exhausted condition, the rough terrain and impending darkness. They therefore instead supplied him with food and a radio and advised that they would return the next morning. Rangers long-lined the hiker’s gear to a nearby landing zone the next morning and then helped him to the helicopter.
The Berdeen cross-country zone is a seldom visited, trail-less portion of the park with extremely steep and challenging terrain.
The hiker said that he knew he was unable to complete his trip and return to his vehicle by day five, but that he continued on his hike to get out of the wooded area and into the open so that searchers could more easily locate him.
[Submitted by Kinsey Shilling, Chief of Visitor and Resource Protection]
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Sep 23, 2013 - 06:34pm PT
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The hiker said that he knew he was unable to complete his trip and return to his vehicle by day five,
And the problem with completing the trip on day six is...?
If you can be cited for not having a bear canister why can't you be cited
for being a lame-azz?
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 24, 2013 - 04:30pm PT
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I think what they meant was that by Day 5, he realized he wasn't going to make it out by Day 9.
Meanwhile, just a couple of good old boys, never meaning no harm...just a little bit more than the law will allow! :)
New River Gorge National River (WV)
Ranger Employs Taser On Belligerent Man
On the night of Friday, September 13th, a ranger patrolling the Thurmond area, where recent thefts and vandalism have occurred, came upon a man sitting by himself on a concrete wall near Thurmond Depot. Since there was no car around, the ranger contacted the man to find out what was going on; the man replied that he’d been in an argument with his girlfriend and said that he was cooling off.
A vehicle with three of the man’s friends inside pulled up as he was talking with the ranger. When they saw the ranger, the driver and one of the passengers switched places. When the ranger began investigating to determine why they’d switched places, the first man became belligerent and began to interfere.
The ranger called for backup and three rangers responded from different areas of the park. The ranger on scene, now out with all four men, ordered the belligerent man to sit back down so he could continue his investigation. The man began to approach the ranger, so the ranger drew his taser and ordered him to sit down once again.
Although the man sat down, he told the ranger that he had his taser out to avoid “being whipped.” Shortly, thereafter, he stood up, raised his hands, and began approaching the ranger again. He told the ranger he would have to tase him. The ranger repeatedly ordered him to stop, but the man ignored him and was accordingly tased. He remained on the ground until backup arrived and was then taken into custody for interfering with agency functions and refusing to obey a lawful order.
None of the three men in the vehicle had a valid driver’s license, so the vehicle was towed. The driver received a citation for driving without a license and all three were transported by rangers back to their residence. Alcohol use was documented. The first man was taken to a federal magistrate on Monday morning for his initial appearance.
[Submitted by Jeff West, Chief Ranger]
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Sep 24, 2013 - 05:11pm PT
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"Tase me, bro!"
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 26, 2014 - 03:59pm PT
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Sometimes the rules are there for a reason...
Zion National Park (UT)
Bicyclist Seriously Injured In Illegal Ride Through Tunnel
A group of eight bicyclists from Salt Lake City attempted to illegally bicycle through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel in Zion National Park late on the afternoon of Friday, February 22nd. While doing so, two of the bicyclists apparently hit the tunnel wall and crashed.
One, a 51-year-old man, suffered significant head trauma and was transported to the hospital by the park ambulance. The second cyclist ran into the tunnel wall, sideswiping it and tearing his shirt. He refused medical care.
It is illegal to bicycle through the tunnel. To ensure the safety of bicyclists and that of passing traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians must be transported through the unlit, narrow, mile-long tunnel in a motor vehicle.
The bicyclists were part of a larger group of 12 who had arranged for a shuttle to take them to the other side, which is proper protocol. Apparently eight people in the group (including two minors) decided to ride through instead.
“As soon as we rounded the corner, it was like pitch black, and that’s where it happened,” said one of the bicyclists near the back of the group. “He was just lying there. They were in a bad spot, and only two of the bikers had little flashers. I thought, ‘someone else is going to get killed.’” He turned around and went back to the tunnel entrance to stop traffic from entering too fast.
“That was my first thought cause I didn’t want anybody else to get hurt,” he added. “It was really stupid what we’d done… I think we all learned our lesson and we now have to pay the price.”
“I just can’t believe that we put ourselves in that kind of situation,” said another member of the group.
Park rangers issued violation notices to group members.
[Submitted by Cindy Purcell, Chief Ranger]
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 28, 2014 - 12:56pm PT
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Denali National Park & Preserve (AK)
Flooding Causes Park Road Closure, Evacuations
Torrential rains Wednesday night caused what are usually small streams to become raging torrents along and across the Denali Park Road.
At 4:30 a.m. on Thursday the park road was closed beyond Wonder Lake due to flooding in the Kantishna area at Eureka and Friday Creeks (which normally flow at very low levels across the park road) and at the north end of Wonder Lake. Around 8:45 a.m. park managers closed the road beyond the Eielson Visitor Center due to significant rockfall at the Eielson Bluffs, approximately one to two miles west of the visitor center.
Over 100 guests and employees at private lodges in Kantishna and more than a dozen park employees were marooned at the western end of the park road, but all were safe and accounted for. The Denali Backcountry Lodge, which is located at the end of the road near the airstrip, evacuated its guests and staff to higher ground near another lodge Thursday morning as water began encroaching into buildings.
Lodge guests and employees were subsequently evacuated without incident. They were ferried by the park’s two contract helicopters to buses staged at the Wonder Lake Ranger Station or by fixed-wing aircraft to airstrips near or at the east end of the park. Park employees in that area were also evacuated. Guests at other lodges did not have to evacuate and will be able to leave via the road today as temporary repairs have been made to the causeway section of road at the north end of Wonder Lake.
Four mountaineers who had traversed Mt. McKinley were airlifted from the south side of the McKinley River to the Eielson Visitor Center. They had been trying for days to cross the river, but had been unsuccessful due to the high water and were out of food. The river is notoriously difficult to cross, especially after heavy rain. A Denali Backcountry Lodge employee who had been stranded on what became an island in the housing area was able to get across the swollen Moose Creek with assistance from other employees and a rope.
Road crews will coordinate plans for repairing the damaged sections of the park road at Eureka and Friday Creeks with the Alaska Department of Transportation, which has the jurisdictional responsibility for that portion of the road. Road repairs may take several days.
Park concessioner-operated buses will operate on their regular schedule as far as Wonder Lake beginning today.
Click on the link below for a related Anchorage Daily News story with images of the flooding.
http://www.adn.com/2014/06/26/3535950/flooding-in-denali-national-park.html?sp=/99/188/
Yosemite National Park (CA)
Injured Climber Rescued From Sentinel Rock
On Tuesday, June 17th, dispatch received a 911 call from an injured rock climber at the base of the Chounard-Herbert climbing route on Sentinel Rock in Yosemite Valley. The climber, a 30-year-old man from Bend, Oregon, said that he’d taken a 35-foot fall on the first pitch of the route, that he’d suffered injuries to his lower extremities, and that he was unable to self-rescue.
A ground response team consisting of Yosemite Search and Rescue team members Everett Phillips, Matt Othmer, Ken Kreis, and Buck Yedor was dispatched to the scene. The park's contract helicopter was also ordered for a reconnaissance flight and potential short haul mission.
Following a reconnaissance flight, the helicopter lowered rangers Jack Hoeflich and David Pope and their extrication equipment via short haul to a ledge approximately 250 feet below the injured climber. Hoeflich climbed to the man and fixed ropes for Pope and additional ground responders.
The team, including Hoeflich, Pope and SAR personnel, packaged the injured man in a litter and lowered him with Pope back to the insertion ledge. The helicopter returned and short-hauled Pope and the man to the Ahwahnee Meadow in Yosemite Valley, where he was taken to Yosemite Valley Medical Clinic. The remaining team members descended to the valley via the climber’s approach.
The mission was complicated by the steepness of the north face of Sentinel Rock, gusty winds, high rockfall potential, and the relative position of the sun and cliff face, which caused the helicopter to be in direct sunlight while the short haulers were in the shadow of the cliff.
Ranger David Hahn was the incident commander for this rescue.
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David Knopp
Trad climber
CA
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Jul 17, 2014 - 08:12am PT
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Condolences.
june 17
Grand Teton National Park (WY)
One Climber Killed, Another Injured In Separate Incidents
A climbing accident on the 13,770-foot Grand Teton resulted in the death of one member of a guided climbing party on Monday, July 14th.
Mary Bilyeu, 43, of Edmond, Oklahoma, was ascending to the Upper Saddle of the Grand Teton (elevation 13,160 feet) with her climbing partner and a guide from Jackson Hole Mountain Guides when she fell while negotiating a short section above the Exum Gully around 8:30 a.m.
Rangers were notified of the accident at 8:40 a.m. and a rescue response was quickly begun. Two rangers on routine patrol on the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton (11,600 feet) climbed to the accident site to begin emergency medical care and prepare the injured climber for a helicopter evacuation.
Bilyeu was unresponsive when park rangers arrived on scene and could not be revived. She was pronounced dead in consultation with the park’s medical director and rangers on scene. Other Jackson Hole Mountain Guides staff responded to the area and escorted Bilyeu’s climbing partner to the Corbet High Camp near the Lower Saddle, and later escorted her to Lupine Meadows trailhead on the valley floor.
The circumstances leading to this climbing accident are under investigation by Grand Teton National Park rangers and no further details are available at this time.
Rangers began to coordinate a body recovery on the Grand Teton when Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a second emergency call at approximately 11 a.m. from a hiking party near Paintbrush Divide.
Silas Peterson of Santa Fe, New Mexico fell while descending Paintbrush Divide into Paintbrush Canyon and sustained multiple injuries. Although Peterson was using an ice axe, he slid down a steep snow-covered slope, could not self-arrest, and fell an additional 150 feet through steep loose rock.
Peterson’s hiking partner called 911 to report the accident. Another party ascending from Paintbrush Canyon witnessed the event and also called 911. That party then hiked to Peterson to provide first aid until rescuers arrived.
A Teton Interagency contract helicopter readied to assist with the rescue operations on the Grand Teton was diverted to transport rescuers to Paintbrush Divide. Two rangers were short-hauled to the Divide from the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache, and they descended snow and rock to reach Peterson at 11:45 a.m. A rescue litter was also flown to the scene.
Peterson was provided emergency medical care and evacuated from Paintbrush Divide via short-haul with a ranger attending. Upon arriving at Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache, Peterson was treated by the park’s medical director before being transported at approximately 1:15 p.m. via an Air Idaho life-flight helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho for further medical care. Peterson and his partner were on the final day of a six day Teton Crest Trail backpacking trip.
Both rescue operations were affected by the forecast and subsequent arrival of severe thunderstorms that pummeled the Teton Range and Jackson Hole valley with lightning strikes and several waves of rain, hail and high winds.
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 19, 2014 - 02:37pm PT
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9-19-2014
Capitol Reef National Park (UT)
Three Pay For Resource Damage Caused In Catalog Shoot
In September, 2011, a photograph in a Patagonia clothing catalog appeared of two climbers making a “first ascent” of a climbing route in the park. Rangers identified the route and determined that new bolts had been installed and that trundling of rocks on the route had occurred. Both of these actions are prohibited under a 36 CFR 1.5 closure.
During the investigation, two additional climbing routes were identified as first ascents completed by the individuals identified in the Patagonia catalog and by a newly identified third party not associated with the Patagonia photograph.
All three individuals were held liable for damages in accordance with the Park System Resource Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 19jj), which provides that any person or instrumentality who injures, destroys or causes the loss of any park resource is liable for response costs and damages.
In May a sum of $4,000 was paid to Capitol Reef National Park after negotiations between the NPS Intermountain Office of the Solicitor and the defendants’ attorney.
[Submitted by Scott Brown, Chief Ranger]
Rocky Mountain National Park (CO)
Body Found Near Alberta Falls
A man’s body was discovered Wednesday morning along the shoreline next to Glacier Creek at the base of a rock outcropping, roughly 200 feet down from Alberta Falls. Rangers reached the body about 30 minutes later and confirmed that he was dead.
There were no witnesses and the incident is under investigation, but foul play is not suspected. The man’s body was flown to a landing zone near the Glacier Basin Campground and was transferred to the Larimer County Coroner's Office.
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 3, 2014 - 09:38pm PT
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Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Search In Progress For Missing Hikers
A search is underway in and around the Cedar Grove area for Rommel and Marisol Pompa, who failed to return from their backpacking trip as scheduled on Monday, October 29th. They planned to hike the Rae Lakes Loop, departing from Cedar Grove on the Woods Creek trail and returning via the Bubbs Creek trail.
In addition to teams on foot, searchers are using the park helicopter and horse patrols. There were 15 searchers hiking trails within the search area and interviewing other hikers yesterday.
The 32-year-old Rommel Pompa is described as 6 feet tall and weighing 160 pounds, with short, light brown hair and brown eyes. Marisol Pompa is 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 140 pounds, and has shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes.
Any hikers who may have seen or come in contact with either or both of them should call the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Incident Command Post at 559-565-3341 or 888-677-2746.
Click on the link below to see a flyer with a photo of the Pompas.
[Submitted by Jana McCabe]
More Information...
Zion National Park (UT)
Storm Causes Significant Flooding; Hiker Dies In Narrows
On September 27th, 1.9 inches of rain fell on Zion National Park, including 1.27 inches which fell over a three hour period beginning at 10:30 a.m. The North Fork of the Virgin River rose from a flow of 52 cubic feet per second (cfs) at 10 a.m. to a peak of over 4000 cfs at 1 p.m. The associated flooding forced the closure of the Zion Mount Carmel Highway (Route 9) as well as the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from late morning through late afternoon.
On the morning of the 27th, the National Weather Service forecast indicated a 90% chance of rain in Zion Canyon, with heavy rain possible. The flash flood potential rating was at the highest level of concern, and many slot canyons were expected to experience flash flooding.
Two men from California drove up Zion Canyon instead of using the required shuttle bus and began hiking upstream from the Temple of Sinawava Trailhead at 8 a.m. Rain started to fall on the pair while they were in the Zion Narrows, but they continued a short distance up the canyon. They eventually turned around due to concern with the weather, but were trapped by the rising river on separate river benches 200 feet apart about a quarter mile north of the end of the paved Riverside Walk.
Both men were on high ground and safe from the swollen river and waited for most of the day for the flood waters to drop. They were able to see each other but were unable to communicate due to the noise of the river. Late in the afternoon, the downstream hiker believed that he could not survive the night because of hypothermia and decided to risk swimming the river, which was still flowing at a rate of about 1000 cfs. He made it to safety and reported to rangers that his companion was safe and on high ground.
Due to the continued high flows, it was impossible for rangers to check on the condition of the stranded hiker. Early on the morning of September 28th, rangers learned that the reporting party had hiked back into the Narrows to the point where he had last seen his companion but was not able to locate him.
A large search team was mobilized and the team located the body of the missing hiker at 2 p.m. on the bank of the river near the Riverside Walk about a mile downstream from the point where he was last seen.
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 3, 2014 - 09:39pm PT
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Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Missing Hikers Found In Remote Area Of Kings Canyon
Searchers found missing hikers Rommel and Marisol Pompa in a remote area of Kings Canyon National Park late on Wednesday afternoon. Both were in good condition. Five rescuers assisted the couple on Wednesday evening and hiked out with them yesterday.
The Pompas’ wilderness permit indicated that they planned to hike the Rae Lakes Loop, departing from Cedar Grove on September 25th via the Woods Creek trail and returning September 29th on the Bubbs Creek trail.
Information from other hikers helped to focus the search area. The Charlotte Creek drainage, where searchers found them, is within the area of their intended route.
In addition to teams on foot, searchers used the park helicopter and horse patrols.
[Submitted by Jana Friesen McCabe]
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Rangers Deal With Multiple Same Day Incidents
Rangers and flight crews were kept busy on Wednesday, September 24th, as seven people were evacuated from the canyon via helicopter in seven separate incidents:
A 53-year-old woman on a private river trip with cardiac problems was evacuated from the National Canyon area.
A 69-year-old woman on a commercial river trip who’d suffered a femur fracture was short-hauled via helicopter from Havasu Creek to a landing zone near the Colorado River for evacuation to the South Rim.
A 33-year-old man from a private river trip was evacuated from the mouth of Havasu Creek after suffering a serious laceration in the groin area.
A 43-year-old female backpacker with an acute abdomen (appendicitis) was evacuated from Phantom Ranch.
A 29-year-old man with cardiac issues was extracted from the North Rim developed area.
A 52-year-old male backpacker with a leg injury was evacuated from the Nankoweap area.
A 51-year-old woman on a commercial river trip with a knee injury was evacuated from the Nankoweap area.
In addition to the medevacs, there were several other incidents, including:
a flipped and stuck raft below Crystal Rapids that necessitated four rangers and two sling loads of equipment flown in to begin a two-day recovery operation;
a warrant/intoxication arrest in the South Rim developed area;
an intoxicated and possibly suicidal person approximately a mile and a half down the Bright Angel Trail; and
a hyponatremic 65-year-old woman treated and transported via NPS ambulance from the South Rim after attempting to hike rim to rim in a day.
Rangers Abby Confer and Peter Maggio served as the incident commanders for the majority of these incidents.
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 3, 2014 - 09:40pm PT
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So wait, what?
Bolting is now injuring or destroying a park resource
Depends on the park.
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David Knopp
Trad climber
CA
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Feb 19, 2015 - 07:33am PT
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Feb 19, 2015
Arches National Park (UT)
BASE Jumper Sentenced For Illegal Jump In Park
On May 2, 2014, several witnesses and an NPS employee saw a person BASE jump from the top of the Three Gossips formation in Arches National Park.
Park rangers responded and tracked footprints in the area until they found the BASE jumper, Andy Lewis, hiding among rocks. Lewis was arrested and charged with five violations.
On December 18, 2014, Lewis pled guilty to providing false information, illegal air delivery, and interfering with agency functions. He was fined $965 and was placed on non-supervisory probation for 18 months. Conditions of Lewis’ probation include no criminal activity, no entrance into any national park or monument, and no contact with National Park Service employees.
Lewis’s enhanced probation is the result of repeated illegal air delivery charges in more than one NPS unit. Lewis is not allowed entry into any NPS unit until November 2, 2015.
The case ranger was Liza Kent.
is this Sketchy Andy?
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 19, 2015 - 07:38am PT
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Yes it is. :(
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 3, 2015 - 01:19pm PT
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For those keeping score, the Bison are up 4-0 this year.
As Yellowstone National Park enters the busiest month of the year, visitors are reminded that they are responsible for their safety, which includes viewing wildlife from safe distances of at least 25 yards. In recent separate incidents, two people were injured after getting too close to bison. The first encounter occurred on June 23 when an off-duty concession employee came upon a bison while walking off trail after dark in the Lower Geyser Basin area. The second incident occurred July 1, when a visitor encountered a bison while hiking the Storm Point trail in the Yellowstone Lake area.
The first incident happened when a 19-year-old female from Georgia and three friends were returning to their car after swimming in the Firehole River late at night. The girl and a companion were walking in the dark when they came upon a bison lying down about 10 feet from them. The companion turned and ran from the bison, but before the girl could react, the bison charged her and tossed her in the air. Her friends helped her to their car and drove back to Canyon Village, where all four live and work. At Canyon, the girl went to bed, but awoke a short time later feeling ill. Around one in the morning, the party called the Yellowstone Interagency Communication Center asking for medical help. Rangers transported the victim by ground ambulance to a hospital outside the park and she was released with minor injuries later that day.
The second incident occurred when a 68-year-old female from Georgia was hiking on the Storm Point trail, approximately 300 yards from the trailhead, and encountered a bison near the trail. The woman continued on the trail and as she passed the bison, it charged and gored her. A witness ran up the trail to report the incident to an Interpretive ranger leading a hike in the area. Shortly before 4:30 p.m., the ranger reported the incident to the Yellowstone Interagency Communication Center. Due to serious injuries, the woman was transported to Lake Clinic by ground ambulance and then by helicopter ambulance to a hospital outside the park.
These are the third and fourth bison encounters in Yellowstone National Park this summer. The other two occurred when visitors to the Old Faithful area approached too close to bison. Both visitors in those incidents were flown by helicopter ambulance to a hospital due to their injuries.
Visitors should remember that while many of the bison and elk in the park may appear tame, they are wild animals and should never be approached. Bison can sprint three times faster than humans can run and are unpredictable and dangerous. Park regulations require visitors stay at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all large animals - bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes and at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves. If a visitor comes upon a bison or elk along a trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in developed areas, visitors must give the animal at least 25 yards by either safely going around the animal or turning around, altering their plans, and not approaching the animal.
For further information on park safety, please visit http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety.htm.
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