Just catching up on a Lake Powell board and ran across this:
On July 30, 2010 at 1320 hours, Page Public Safety Communications Center received several phone calls that
there was an ongoing flash flood at the mouth of the Upper Antelope Slot Canyon. The initial report was that
there were several persons washed down canyon and some persons were trapped on ledges. Page Fire
Department responded to the incident with one Command Officer, Medic 15 with an Advance Life Support
crew of 2, and Rescue 1 (6-wheel medically equipped ATV) with a high angle rescue crew of three and one
Resource Officer. Upon arrival at the parking lot, the medical crew was approached by an adult female and a 9
year old boy with numerous bruises and scrapes from having been washed downstream over slick rock. Both of
these persons were treated along with three adult males and released on scene. All were from Switzerland. The
female indicted that her group of 12 were at the mouth of the canyon when the water came and she and her son
were separated and washed downstream. They were separated for awhile but re-united at the parking lot.
PFD’s Rescue 1 responded to the Canyon mouth to assist several hikers who were reported stranded on the cliff
side. By the time the crew arrived all persons had gotten off safely. By 1428 hours, PFD had received word
that all persons were accounted for. Several agencies and a helicopter service from the local area were involved
in the operation.
I was in Lower Antelope during a rainstorm in 97 and was fortunate to get out before the flood came along. That was 2 weeks before a party of 13 were washed away in a flood there and only 1 survived.
BE CAREFUL around the slots during monsoon season.
Posted by Pam Colander on August 12, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Do they have some sort of alert system in place that warn via sirens or whatever when flood conditions are imminent? I've never been to the Slots.
No Pam. For Lower Antelope the warning system consists of one of the Native Americans that runs the place running up and down the top of the slot yelling "get out."
For Upper Antelope it's different. The folks running the concession load you up in pickups or jeeps and haul you back to the lower end of the canyon. They all have cell phones and radios so they should know what's coming.
Any and all warning systems are verbal so if you're going into the slots you should be your own warning system. If there are clouds and rain within 10 miles, don't go!
Posted by Jared Atencio on August 12, 2010 at 6:52 PM
As a reaction to the incident Bill spoke about in Lower in '97, in addition to the verbal warning system, they also have rope style safety ladders that drop down into the canyon from the top so you can climb out if needed. Not sure how practical they are in a flash flood?
Posted by Todd Caudle on August 12, 2010 at 9:14 PM
They were from Switzerland? There's your problem right there.
Posted by Chris Rice on August 12, 2010 at 9:31 PM
You could be in any slot canyon anywhere, have a thunderstorm 5-10 miles away and a flash flood could happen and you wouldnt even know it until it was up in your grill. That is why I prefer to visit these types of areas in the winter and early spring. Gotta be careful out there people.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on August 12, 2010 at 10:22 PM
The last couple of weeks have had NOAA and TWC post about a couple (that I know of) flash flood warnings for antelope canyon.
Those rope ladders don't do much good unless someone drops them down from up above. Given how fast some of this stuff happens, I am not sure if they are really much use.
I got caught in Little Wildhorse Canyon during a surprise thunderstorm a few years ago. I'm an experienced canyoneer and made sure to check the weather report for the immediate area and upstream before heading out. The report: 0% chance of rain. We were having lunch just past the third slot canyon when I happened to look up and see a black sky. We quickly packed up and ran back to the trailhead. About half way there it began to rain heavily, with fat lightning bolts issuing from the clouds. Not far from the trailhead we encountered a family of about 10 (including grandma and grandpa) who were heading IN to the canyon. We stopped to warn them of the flash flood danger and they dismissed it, saying that "everything would be fine." We made it back to the truck and left, stopping at the Goblin Valley SP ranger station to advise that some morons were hiking into the canyon despite the weather. Fortunately, it didn't flash but that remains one of the scariest experiences of my 20+ years in the outdoors.
Be safe out there, folks. Don't rely on others to save your bacon. Do your research and know what you're getting yourself into so that others don't have to risk their lives trying to save yours.
Posted by Chris Rice on August 13, 2010 at 2:13 AM
Hey Bret; LWH is so narrow, especially after that first big opening, where you bear right - imagine a jet of water sluicing through there.... wow it would be moving probably 20+ mph...
Don't forget, this is why these canyon are shaped the way they are!!!!
Posted by John Mumaw on August 13, 2010 at 2:37 PM
Be safe out there, folks. Don't rely on others to save your bacon. Do your research and know what you're getting yourself into so that others don't have to risk their lives trying to save yours.
Well said! Unfortunately, not so well adapted by so many.
Discussion
10 repliesOn July 30, 2010 at 1320 hours, Page Public Safety Communications Center received several phone calls that
there was an ongoing flash flood at the mouth of the Upper Antelope Slot Canyon. The initial report was that
there were several persons washed down canyon and some persons were trapped on ledges. Page Fire
Department responded to the incident with one Command Officer, Medic 15 with an Advance Life Support
crew of 2, and Rescue 1 (6-wheel medically equipped ATV) with a high angle rescue crew of three and one
Resource Officer. Upon arrival at the parking lot, the medical crew was approached by an adult female and a 9
year old boy with numerous bruises and scrapes from having been washed downstream over slick rock. Both of
these persons were treated along with three adult males and released on scene. All were from Switzerland. The
female indicted that her group of 12 were at the mouth of the canyon when the water came and she and her son
were separated and washed downstream. They were separated for awhile but re-united at the parking lot.
PFD’s Rescue 1 responded to the Canyon mouth to assist several hikers who were reported stranded on the cliff
side. By the time the crew arrived all persons had gotten off safely. By 1428 hours, PFD had received word
that all persons were accounted for. Several agencies and a helicopter service from the local area were involved
in the operation.
I was in Lower Antelope during a rainstorm in 97 and was fortunate to get out before the flood came along. That was 2 weeks before a party of 13 were washed away in a flood there and only 1 survived.
BE CAREFUL around the slots during monsoon season.
For Upper Antelope it's different. The folks running the concession load you up in pickups or jeeps and haul you back to the lower end of the canyon. They all have cell phones and radios so they should know what's coming.
Any and all warning systems are verbal so if you're going into the slots you should be your own warning system. If there are clouds and rain within 10 miles, don't go!
Be safe out there, folks. Don't rely on others to save your bacon. Do your research and know what you're getting yourself into so that others don't have to risk their lives trying to save yours.
Don't forget, this is why these canyon are shaped the way they are!!!!