Photo: Garfield County Sherriff’s Office // Facebook
Flash flooding in Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park trapped nearly a dozen hikers this week. According to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, 11 adults in four groups of hikers were left stranded around 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Luckily, none were swept away.
First responders from Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Bryce Canyon Park Rangers and Garfield County EMS were initially delayed by severe lightning, as ABC 4 reports. Once in the canyon, rescuers located groups on the Fairyland, Navajo Loop, Peekaboo and Queens Garden trails, then helped them exit once it was safe to do so. Two hikers showed signs of hypothermia and were hospitalized, while the remaining nine were released.
“Thank you to all the Search and Rescue, Garfield County Ambulance, Bryce Canyon National Park Service, Utah DPS Aerobureau, and Garfield County Sheriffs personnel who responded and assisted in rescuing people and making sure everyone got home safe,” wrote the Garfield County Sherriff’s Office on Facebook.
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in Southwestern Utah. The eponymous canyon is famous for its large collection of hoodoos – tall thin spires of rock formed by erosion.
“Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain,” wrote the National Weather Service in a warning. “Dry washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall,”.
