Zion National Park Flash Flood deaths, People that I knew

[Hugh R]

A few days ago, seven people were killed by flash floods in Keyhole Canyon at Zion National park. I just found out that two of them were people I knew. One was my son's former Boy Scout Troop Leader (my son got his Eagle, under his watch). The other was a Boy Scout Mom from the same Troop that used to live a few doors down from us. I'm not sure about the other five, other than one was a Ventura County Sheriff's Deputy, I believe.

Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.

[speeder]

That's terrible, Hugh. I heard about that in the news today and just thought, "poor unlucky people." May they rest in peace.

[Cooper911SC]

Nature is so very unpredictable. This hits close to home. I am an Eagle Scout. My wife and her family were involved in a serious flash flood in Zion ~ 30 years ago.

She was 3 years old with a 3 month old little sister. Campsite, car, and family swept away!! They somehow got stuck on a high sand bank and her Dad held onto a tree until they were rescued.

Many nice people helped them by providing shelter and clothes for a few days until their car (80's hatch back Cellica) could be retrieved and repaired.

You never know what might happen out there!

Our family just returned from a 14 day road/camping trip in the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Blackhills. Freezing night temps and several awesome thunderstorms.

Condolences and Good thoughts to all those families involved.

Cooper

[pcardude]

Damn man. I'm sorry dude

[Hugh R]

Thanks all, not close friends, but had been to both their houses for New Years parties, and such. Still a shock. I fear that a few others from the same tragedy were also from my community. I know that the guy, Mark, had a local camping/hiking community, and all of them were from the same general area.

[VaSteve]

I saw photos yesterday of the cars that got swept up in the flooding. They looked like they had been tumbled down a river they were so beat up.

[Jim Richards]

Sad news.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sorry Hugh, that sucks. You just never know when your time is up.

[scottmandue]

Sad to hear this, condolences to the family and friend...

Zion is stunningly beautiful, when visiting I have though of hiking up the canyons but fear of flash flood kept me away.

[patz]

First lesson from my scout leader in Joshua Tree Forest, be aware of the high ground and stay out of box canyons/gullies. Mother Nature can be a Beeyotch.

[DonDavis]

Certainly sad news. I have several friends that are avid at Canyoneering and dated one of them for awhile last year.
There's not much that can be done if caught in the wrong place. She was constantly talking about and looking at weather forecasts. Being able to spot potential trouble is crucial.

Godspeed.

Originally Posted by VaSteve

I saw photos yesterday of the cars that got swept up in the flooding. They looked like they had been tumbled down a river they were so beat up.

The vehicle pics I saw were from the Colorado City flooding and day or so later. That was incredible damage, for sure.

[herr_oberst]

Wow, that's a terrible tragedy.

[willtel]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Certainly sad news. I have several friends that are avid at Canyoneering and dated one of them for awhile last year.
There's not much that can be done if caught in the wrong place. She was constantly talking about and looking at weather forecasts. Being able to spot potential trouble is crucial.

This article claims they were warned about the weather and a ranger explicitly told them he wouldn't make the trip that day. Later they stopped issuing permits because the forecast came to be.

Utah hikers warned by forest ranger about flash flood danger hours before their deaths | Daily Mail Online

I remember when I visited Antelope Canyon the guides showed us a log that was jammed 20 feet off the canyon floor between the walls from the floods in 1997 that killed 11 people.

[DonDavis]

Confirmed. They were Canyoneering.
SoCal Hikers Killed in Zion National Park Flash Flood While Canyoneering | KTLA

As I mentioned, I have several friends that are very active in the sport its truly incredible. The places they explore are not seen by many people. Wetsuits, repelling gear and tons of patience are required.

May the ones that passed rest in peace.

[john70t]

Sorry to hear about the loss of those near you.
My condolences.

Engineering of hills/topography, vegetation, root absorption, saturation, and regional zoning planning might have prevented this, long ago.

Northern California coastal forests | Ecoregions | WWF
"Habitat Loss
Less than 4 percent of the original extent of virgin redwood forests remain, and only 2.5 percent of this is protected. Unfortunately, protected lower elevation groves can be threatened by severe flooding and sedimentation caused by logging in surrounding watersheds. Several large groves of old growth redwoods on the Eel, Klamath, and Van Duzen Rivers were lost due to severe floods in the 1950's exacerbated by extensive and ecologically-damaging logging in surrounding watersheds. Most of the coastal grasslands have been converted to agriculture or rangelands. All vegetation types have been reduced due to urbanization."

[DonDavis]

This was in Zion. Not sure that approach applies here.

[Cajundaddy]

I read about this and am an avid Zion visitor. All were experienced canyoneers and received their permit at 7:30 AM and a flash flood warning at 2pm. They went into keyhole at 4pm and the skies unloaded 1/2" in less than an hour into very tight canyons that flood completely in minutes. Under those conditions they had no chance. Those amazing slot canyons were cut by flash flooding over thousands of years and the process continues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYBtEBSu1n8

Sorry for your loss and condolences to their families Hugh. One was from my town but I did not know him, although we may have shared a few nearby trails over the years.

[aigel]

Cajun - just watching that video makes me claustrophobic. Sad to see a bunch of mid aged people fail in their decision making and pay the ultimate price. Condolences, Hugh.

G