September 2, 1996 - Hiking Fatality at Dixie Pass
D.H., 31, of Lancashire (or Shrewsbury), England, was found at the bottom of a ravine a half mile from the where is tent was spotted in Rock Creek. He was killed when he fell about 300 feet while traversing a scree slope.
On September 2nd, P.H. of Lancashire, England, contacted the park, expressing concern that he had not heard from his son D.H., 31, since he'd sent a postcard from Glenallen on August 3rd. The postcard was of Wrangell- St.Elias, and the message indicated that his son had completed a solo backcountry trip in the Nabesna District. Park staff, visitor center registers, and voluntary backcountry trip itineraries were checked to determine if P.H. had planned another trek into the Wrangells, but with negative results. Investigator Tim Saskowsky was able to ascertain that P.H. was still in Alaska through information gathered from British police, airlines, INS, banks, and H.'s family, friends and employer. Color photographs were obtained and transmitted via Internet. A probable search area was arrived at through interviews, equipment lists, books, maps and P.H.'s last credit card transaction, posted on August 7th, for a bus ticket to the Dixie Pass section of the park. On September 6th, ranger Rich Richotte and Slovakian VIP ranger Vlado Vancura found P.H.'s tent in debris in Rock Creek near Dixie Pass. P.H.'s body was found at the bottom of a ravine a half mile from the tent during a helicopter search of the area. P.H. was killed when he fell about 300 feet while traversing a scree slope. He was due to return to England on August 22nd to resume his teaching career at a private boarding school in Shrewsbury, England.