The ninth annual NPS Eastern high angle rescue course was held at Big South Fork National Recreation Area from May 1st to May 5th. The park provided a near ideal training ground. The 28 students stayed at a nearby campground, located minutes from a 200-foot-high cliff used for training. The students ranged from seasonal rangers having just completed law enforcement training at Sylva to long-time permanent rangers to U.S. Park Police aviation unit officers/pilots/paramedics from Washington D.C.
All of the students and instructors wish to express their sincere thanks to Reed Detring, Paul Stoehr, and Frank Graham from Big South Fork for working hard to host this event. A very special thanks goes out to Delaware Water Gap, Shenandoah, Chickamauga and the U.S. Air Force for sending instructors and for funding the travel costs of instructors Kevin Moses, Kurt Parsons, Alan Williams, Bill Cardwell, and Ron Matthews. These instructors brought their experience and their leadership to this class and provided valuable traditional ranger skills.
