Search and Rescue Blog

About This Blog

Every year, park rangers and search and rescue (SAR) personnel respond to approximately 250 emergency incidents in Zion National Park. In an effort to prevent these emergencies, the park will post certain incidents on this blog with the hope that everyone can learn from these experiences.

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Yelling for Help from the Top of Mystery Canyon

August 07, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

Rangers hiked in with a line gun and gear needed to get a rope to the top of the last rappel of Mystery Canyon and attempted to make contact.

 

Out of Water on the East Rim Trail

July 30, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

The group reported that they were out of water and afraid that they would not be able to make it back to the trailhead. The group was calling from Stave Spring (which was dry at the time).

 

July 25th Jumping in the Subway

July 25, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

The RP stated that the subject had jumped from a rock just below the last rappel in the Subway and had injured his ankle. A SAR team of 4 with a radio relay was assembled to hike to the subject to get a scene size up. The team was prepared to spend the night and had overnight equipment for the subject.

 

Sick in the Subway with Unexpected Overnight

July 23, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

A visitor called reporting that there was a group of 7 in the Left Fork of North Creek that had a group member who was very sick and they weren't going to be able to make it out. At about 11:00pm Zion dispatch received another report of the party needing help. At 6:00am on July 23rd  a Ranger went to the trailhead to confirm that the party's vehicles were still there.

 

Lost Climber on Johnson Mountain

July 22, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

The reporting party (RP) had not been climbing, but had received multiple texts messages from the subject saying he was in need of help. Rangers were able to meet with the RP and make contact with the subject via text message, but communication was difficult due to poor service in the area.

 

Lost on the Emerald Pools Trails

June 28, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

They had lost the trail near the middle Emerald Pool and were needing assistance finding the trail again. There were no injuries in the group, they had plenty of water, but only had cell phones as flashlights.

 

Dropped 911 Call from the Subway

June 18, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

On June 18, 2016 at 6:18 pm Zion Dispatch received a dropped 911 call regarding an ankle injury in the Left Fork (The Subway). The Reporting Party (RP) stated that there were 8 people in the group, one of which was a doctor, and they did not believe they would be able to hike out on their own.

 

June 4th Ankle Injury in the Subway

June 04, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

The subject had jumped from the last rappel in the Subway route into a shallow pool of water and injured his ankle. With help from a crutch they were able to move the subject down canyon a bit until, at about 1:45am, when the subject decided he could not continue.

 

Climbers Lost on Mount Kinesava

July 22, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

A group of three hikers who were lost on Mount Kinesava. They had run out of water and needed assistance finding the trail off the mountain.

 

Two Rescues off Angels Landing in One Day

July 11, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

In the morning an ER Doctor reported that she believed the subject had sustained a tib-fib fracture of the right leg. Later that afternoon there was a report of a female who was feeling like she was going to faint.

 

Canyoneer Sick in Pine Creek

July 11, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

A reporting party had come into contact with a group of four canyoneers while descending the Pine Creek drainage and one of them was requesting medical evacuation.

 

Leaking Dry Suit

May 21, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

On May 21, 2016 Zion dispatch received a report of an overdue party in Heaps Canyon. The reporting party (RP) stated that the group had started at 4:30 am at Lava Point and had not made it out yet.

 

Heart Attack-like Symptoms on the Observation Point Trail

May 13, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

On May 13, 2016 at about 11:45am Zion Dispatch received a report of an individual experiencing "heart attack" like symptoms on the Observation Point Trail.

 

Observation Point Canyon

April 29, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

The group had not confirmed that their friend was bringing an extra rope before the party lost cell phone coverage by descending further into the canyon.

 

Pine Creek Swimming Hole Injury

June 17, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

A 46 year old male, heavily intoxicated, had jumped from a cliff into a swimming hole, injured his knee and was unable to move.

 

Shorthaul out of the Subway

May 14, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

Zion Dispatch was notified of a male in the technical portion of the Subway Route had suffered a lower leg injury when navigating a water hazard.

 

Fatality on Moonlight Buttress

May 14, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

On the afternoon of March 9, 2016 two climbers on the Moonlight Buttress Route saw an individual fall from above them. The climbers stopped, descended the route and reported the incident to Dispatch.

 

Misstep While Trail Jogging

April 23, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

On Saturday, February 20th a female enjoying a trail jog took a slight misstep that ended in a trip to the regional medical center.

 

Distressed hiker near Gifford Canyon

April 21, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

On Wednesday November 18, 2015 Rangers received a report of a hiker in distress in the area of Gifford Canyon.

 

Knee injury near Big Spring

April 21, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

A 62 year old male hiking the Narrows slipped, fell and sustained a bilateral knee injury.

 

Group Stranded near Parunuweap Canyon

April 09, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

Two hikers departed at 630am on August 25th for a day hike somewhere on the East side of Zion National Park. Friends became concerned when the two did not show up for work the following day.

 

Two SAR's in the Emerald Pools Area

April 09, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

On Tuesday July 28,2015 there were two calls for the Search and Rescue team in the Emerald Pools Area. One for heat exhaustion and one for a canyon fall.

 

Seizure on Angels Landing

April 09, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

On July 26, 2015 a report came in of a female on Angels Landing who was having a seizure, was unconscious, but breathing and in need of medical assistance.

 

Injured Ankle in The Narrows

April 08, 2016 Posted by: Zion National Park

On July 21, 2015  Zion Dispatch received a report of a man with a broken ankle. He was slowly working his way out of the narrows, but requested assistance.

 

During a Rescue Operation in The Narrows, Rangers Receive a Second Report of an Injury in The Narrows.

July 10, 2015 Posted by: Zion National Park

On Wednesday, July 8 at 10:30 am, Zion Dispatch received a report of a 57-year-old male who fell in The Narrows and suffered a leg injury and was unable to move. During the first rescue, the SAR team received a report of a second injury in The Narrows. A 15-year-old girl had fallen and hit her head.

 

Injured Hiker Spends Unintended Night in The Narrows Waiting for Assistance.

July 07, 2015 Posted by: Zion National Park

A woman with a lower leg injury, unable to bear wight on the injury, was reported in The Narrows on July 5. Her location was about 6 miles from the trailhead at the Temple of Sinawava. A medic and an EMT were sent in to locate and spend the night with the patient while a float/carryout team was organized for the next morning.

 

Ankle Injury in The Narrows

July 02, 2015 Posted by: Zion National Park

On Wednesday July 1, 2015, Zion Dispatch received a radio call that a 44-year-old man had suffered an ankle injury. He could not bear weight on the injured ankle and needed assistance.

 

Several Calls for Assistance During Extreme Heat in June.

July 01, 2015 Posted by: Zion National Park

On June 27, 2015 there were several calls for assistance in Zion Canyon. There were three reports in The Narrows and two on the trail to Observation Point. Temperatures reached 108 degrees that day.

 

Dehydration Suspected as Cause for Injury on Angels Landing

June 17, 2015 Posted by: Zion National Park

On June 1, 2015 Park medics respond to a medical issue believed to be cause by dehydration.

 

Last updated: June 30, 2019

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