Search and rescue crews at Zion National Park on Thursday recovered the seventh and final body from a group of canyoneers who entered a tight slot canyon on Monday for what they thought would be a relatively short, but enjoyable, journey through one of the park's serpentine wonderlands, only to be overcome by raging waters of a flash flood.
No details of the recovery were released by the park, simply that the seventh body was found. Names and hometowns of the seven were not immediately released, though six were from California and one from Nevada.
The Keyhole Canyon canyoneering route on the eastern side of the park, just north of Route 9 as it enters the park, though only about two hours in length, is said to feature some of the coldest water in the park that canyoneers need to swim through. Some sections of the slot canyon, which requires some short rappels of about 30 feet, are only about four or five feet wide, and they filled quickly as storms Monday afternoon dropped more than a half-inch of rain between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
The seven canyoneers -- all in their 40s and 50s -- had received a permit to enter the canyon shortly after 7:30 a.m. Monday, but were cautioned about the weather forecast.
Park authorities were notified Monday evening by another group of canyoneers, who got through the canyon before the flood, that there was one group behind them. Rangers found the missing group's vehicles at a pullout near the trail to the canyon, and went back at 9 p.m. to see if they had exited the canyon. With the vehicles still there, a search was initiated Tuesday morning. Throughout Tuesday and Wednesday six of the canyoneers' bodies were found in and downstream of the canyon.
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Comments
Knowing how dangerous the slot canyons can be in AZ and UT .. I can't believe a tour compNy would take that chance. I know I never would, cuz death by drowning is my worst nightmare. When we were at Zion a few years ago, I climbed Angels Landing with no fear, but could only wade in the Virgin River till I was knee deep. I watched others go around the corner holding their stuff above their heads ... Thinking all the time HELL NO.
Permit was issued~7:30am, FlashFloodWarning issued~9-10am-FlashFlood occured~LateAfternoon/EarlyEvening; Knowing how deadly FlashFloods can be in the canyon, ParkAuthorities can certainly obtain an immediate helicopter warning in the afternoon hours? (Not to 'reminisce', but perhaps Future plan of actions can be used to save Lives) "..This group was already in the canyon when a flash flood warning led park officials to announce they were closing their canyons. By that time, park officials say, there was no way to alert them to the violent floodwaters coming their way."
Flash Flood Warning was issued at approx 2:00 PM, not at 9-10 AM.
can't expect the park to go after them just because a flash flood warning was issued