Multiple Search and Rescues End Busy Holiday Weekend at Zion

At 4:17 p.m., Tuesday, September 6, two hikers called 911 after being lost on a day hike on the east side on the park. Kane County forwarded the call and GPS location to Zion's dispatch and two Search and Rescue (SAR) team members responded. The party hiked out at 9:30 p.m.

A little after 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the park received a report of people yelling for help above Weeping Rock. A group of canyoneers in Echo Canyon had continued past the route closure to a 300 foot rappel without enough rope. With light fading, rangers decided to hold off until Wednesday to perform the rescue. Weeping Rock Trail was closed from 7:30 a.m. until 12:13 p.m. until the rescue was completed because of the fear of falling rock. Four SAR team members rappelled down to the group and helped them finish the descent safely.

At 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the park was called regarding an overdue party of two in the Left Fork of the Virgin River or "Subway." A SAR team of five was dispatched Wednesday morning. One of the two hikers was suffering from a medical condition that made continuing impossible. The Grand Canyon helicopter was called in to shorthaul the patient out of the canyon. She was transported by Hurricane City ambulance and emergency personnel to Dixie Regional Medical Center. Zion's wildland fire team also helped with the evacuation, which ended at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday.