You are here

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Loses Two Staff to Plane Crash

Share

Glen Canyon Chief Ranger Brent McGinn and Dangling Rope District Ranger Laurie Axelsen. NPS photo

Two rangers from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area have been killed in a plane crash, Park Service officials said.

NRA officials said that early Saturday morning Glen Canyon National Recreation Area dispatch center received word that a private plane, piloted by Dangling Rope District Law Enforcement Ranger Laurie Axelsen, was overdue and missing. One passenger, Glen Canyon’s Chief Law Enforcement Ranger, Brent McGinn, was also on board.

Approximately three hours later, searchers discovered the wreckage of the Cessna in the Dixie National Forest. A ground team confirmed that both individuals were deceased. They had been on a scouting trip for an upcoming elk hunt, NRA officials said.

In addition to county and local resources, National Park Service staff from Grand Canyon National Park is assisting Glen Canyon NRA with this incident. The cause of the crash is unknown at this time. The investigation was continuing.

Comments

Please send info - Laurie was in my and my wife's wedding. We lost touch over the years but would like to send condolences appropriately.

Laurie loved being a Ranger, and by all accounts that I was aware of was good at. It doesn't take much to search and see her name come up helping people and educating rather than just cuffing people.

We rock climbed in college in eastern Oregon, we dove in the Washington narrows, and she came out east to go skiing with us. In all things that we did, she was a great human being.

I remember as she did training that she was breaking into the ranks of men, she recounted a story of advance tactics training where the instructor called out "Nuts to butts" meaning close ranks so you don't get shot. The trainer tried to apologize but Laurie didn't care, she was doing what she loved, and she had the guts (and if you forgive me the balls) to do it well.

This is how I remember Laurie - Rest in peace my lost friend.

Michael
[email protected]


The actual AP story says "National Park Service law enforcement officers [have died]". The NPS has changed for much that the news does not even recognize them as rangers any more. Just cops.


Hey Anonymous,
Save the generalist-tree-hugger-Ranger friendly lament for some other time. Friends were lost. Let's remember them, and not worry about the BS.


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.