“We appreciate all of the support from our cooperators and staff for all of their care and assistance.”ĭuring the Search and Rescue Operations, over 60 searchers from multiple agencies have contributed over 760 hours in their efforts to find the missing people. An investigation is still on-going at this time. Search and Rescue Operations were concluded. Linda Arthur was located in Pine Creek Canyon.Ħ:00 p.m. Improved weather conditions allowed rescuers to enter the technical sections of Keyhole Canyon and Pine Creek Canyon.ġ0:45 a.m. Mark MacKenzie was located in Pine Creek drainage. Robin Brum was located in Pine Creek drainage.ġ1:50 a.m. Due to weather conditions and high water levels, the technical sections of Keyhole Canyon and Pine Creek Canyon were not accessible.ġ1:15 a.m. Don Teichner was located in Pine Creek drainage. Muku Reynolds was located in Clear Creek.ĥ:15 p.m. A private canyoneering group went through Keyhole Canyon and reported the location of an individual who was later identified as Gary Favela.Ĥ:15 p.m. Steve Arthur was located in Clear Creek.Ģ:30 p.m. The search continued downstream into Clear Creek.ġ:30 p.m. Searchers were able to follow its course and glimpse into the canyon at several locations. ![]() Keyhole Canyon was still inaccessible to Search and Rescue crews due to weather and high water levels. Park rangers checked on the canyoneers again. Due to weather at the time and through the evening, it was determined that rescue operations could not be safely initiated.ĩ:00 p.m. Keyhole Canyon was already flash flooding. Rangers located the group’s vehicles, but did not see any sign of the group. Another canyoneering group who had been through Keyhole Canyon just before the flood reported to park rangers that they had passed a group of seven canyoneers and believed that they may have been caught in the flood. Virgin River at Virgin: 1,690 cfs at 9:15 pmĥ:30 p.m. River levels this high occur approximately once every three years. The flow of the North Fork of the Virgin River rose abruptly from 55 Cubic Feet per Second (CFS) to 2,630 CFS in 15 minutes. ![]() Rangers noted Keyhole Canyon and several other canyons began to flash flood. Zion Canyon received 0.63 inches of rain in less than one hour. The group of seven entered Keyhole Canyon.Ĥ:30 to 5:30 p.m. Canyons were closed to canyoneering.ģ:30 to 4:30 p.m. The warning was publicized through several media sources and posted in all of the park’s contact stations. ![]() The park area came under a flash flood warning from the National Weather Service. The group of seven picked up their canyoneering permit for Keyhole Canyon.Ģ:22 p.m. Timeline Monday, September 14, 2015ħ:40 a.m. The canyoneers along with their families and friends are in our thoughts,” said Zion Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh in a press release on September 17, 2015. We have witnessed an incredible community of the family members and friends of the canyoneers come together to support one another. “Our heartfelt sympathies go out to those affected by the flash flooding in Keyhole Canyon. A permit is required for traveling through Keyhole Canyon and individuals must complete several short rappels under 30 feet and swim through several pools of water. Keyhole Canyon is a short, narrow slot canyon located on the east side of Zion National Park. ![]() A search began Tuesday morning.Īs the search continued for the missing hikers, high water levels and continued rain showers posed further flash flooding concerns and have hampered searchers’ access to portions of the canyoneering route. Park rangers received a report of a group of seven people canyoneering in Keyhole Canyon that had not returned to their car Monday evening. Storms arrived between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m and dropped 0.63” in Zion National Park causing flash floods including in a small canyon called Keyhole Canyon. On the afternoon of Monday, Septemsouthwestern Utah received heavy rain.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |