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Contact: Aly Baltrus, 435-772-0160
Springdale, Utah: Brian Artmann, age 24 and a resident of Henderson, NV, died over the weekend after taking a fall in Zion National Park. Artmann and three fellow canyoneers were attempting to complete Heaps Canyon at the time of the accident. Artmann fell nearly 100 feet at approximately 7:00 p.m., Saturday, July 11. Due to the remoteness of the area, his companions were unable to get fully out of the canyon and notify the park until almost 11:30 p.m.
Heaps Canyon is a strenuous, challenging, technical canyon with an approximate 3000 foot descent. It usually takes 12 to 20 hours to complete, consists of a number of rappels into cold water, and ends with a final 280 foot rappel to the Upper Emerald Pool area. From interviews with the other canyoneers, the group thought they were at the section of the canyon that requires some scrambling to the next set of anchors.. Artmann was unroped at the time of the accident.
A helicopter crew from Grand Canyon assisted with the rescue turned recovery Sunday morning. A Search and Rescue Team of sixteen rangers, technical rescuers, and helicopter crew members contributed to the recovery |
Last updated: July 14, 2015