Deceased UT - Bill Romaniello & Jeff Watson, deceased; Ed Smith rescued; many casualties in Buckskin Gulch; Mar 2023

[Breaking Trail]

This case was called in on Monday, March 13. Today is Wednesday.

Best to have MSM summarize:

KANE COUNTY, Utah — Search and rescue efforts are underway in Buckskin Gulch in Kane County for two missing hikers, who were reported being overdue Monday around noon.

According to Kane County Sheriff Tracy Glover, rescue crews have worked through the night and into Tuesday. Originally, there was a report of three missing hikers. However, rescue crews located one of the hikers, who was transported by helicopter to an area hospital.

Glover was unsure of the condition of the hiker.

Additionally, Glover also says rescue crews also came across other individuals, who were in need of assistance. He said most of the individuals were cold and were likely experiencing mild symptoms of hyperthermia.

Glover says flood waters have come down off the early spring runoff that has complicated the conditions in the bottom of the slot canyon.

“It’s made it difficult to get through there,” he said.

Glover said additional rain is expected in the area this evening and into Wednesday.

Two hikers missing in Buckskin Gulch in Kane County, search is ongoing

Search and rescue efforts are underway in Buckskin Gulch in Kane County for two missing hikers who were reported missing Monday afternoon.

kslnewsradio.com

 

[Breaking Trail]

BLM description:




Wikipedia entry on hazards:

 

[Breaking Trail]

Here's the AllTrails map. The most interesting detail to me is the trail profile (at bottom). I can't imagine on what planet this would be rated an easy trail, but there ya go.

 

[Breaking Trail]

Representative photo, attribution: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

 

[Springer]

This is an evolving story, with a lot of MSM coverage. This set of details seems to be pretty complete, and helicopter footage!

2 dead, 1 rescued in Kane County flood search; crews find 10 more stranded during effort

Search and rescue crews looking for 2 overdue hikers in Kane County have been on what's essentially shaped up to be a non-stop rescue mission ever since.

kjzz.com

Evidently, the helicopter picked up a total of 12 hikers stranded in the canyon, and 2 were still missing as of Tuesday evening.

 

[Grok]

It seems they have found the body of the remaining hiker of the three who were traveling together. Strangely, it was about 6 miles away, in Arizona.

2 hikers who died in Kane County flooding identified

Officials have identified two men who died and one who was rescued after flooding at Buckskin Gulch, in Kane County, earlier this week.

www.ksl.com

 

[Springer]

This all started to make more sense after I saw this article. It has some on-the-scene information from hikers and guides.

—most guides are not shuttling to the Wire Canyon trailhead (where the deceaseds' groups started), because it's too dangerous. There's only one way out, and it's many miles along.
—the fellas were doing a "thru hike" along Buckskin Gulch from Wire Canyon to Lees Ferry; a guide service shuttled them to the Wire Canyon trailhead.
—the hike is something like 50 miles; sometimes swimming is required; you can't climb out of the canyon for miles

Even before Utah slot canyon deaths, some guides refused to take hikers into Buckskin Gulch

Permits put pressure on hikers to go on backpacking treks through Southern Utah's slot canyons during dangerous conditions.

www.sltrib.com

 

[Naughty Pine]

Here's the AllTrails map. The most interesting detail to me is the trail profile (at bottom). I can't imagine on what planet this would be rated an easy trail, but there ya go.

View attachment 244

The Buckskin Gulch trail the 3 fellas were on goes all the way to Lees Ferry. It’s, like 50 miles. I think this one, plus the Wire Pass segment.

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/utah/buckskin-gulch-trail

 

[Owner]

Here are some details on the deceased men:

Kane County officials identify two hikers from Florida who died at Buckskin Gulch

The tragedy of two hikers found dead at Buckskin Gulch this past week is shocking communities in Florida.

www.abc4.com

 

[Rainforest]

This article does a more thorough job of explaining the SAR missions on this case, per the Sheriff of Kane County:

Kane County Sheriff’s Office describes three days of hell in Buckskin Gulch | Gephardt Daily

KANE COUNTY, Utah, Mar. 17, 2023 (Gephardt Daily) -- The Kane County Sheriff's Office has released an account of its three days leading searches and rescues in likely now notorious Buckskin Gulch. Two men died but eleven people were rescued from Monday through Wednesday in the aftermath of flash...

gephardtdaily.com

 

[Twiglets]

The same SAR team rescued another 4 in a slot canyon in the same area on Sunday (two days ago)

Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter crew rescues more stranded hikers

The Utah Department of Public Safety's helicopter crew had to perform another hoist rescue Sunday morning.

www.fox13now.com

 

[Tower]

It seems they have found the body of the remaining hiker of the three who were traveling together. Strangely, it was about 6 miles away, in Arizona.

2 hikers who died in Kane County flooding identified

Officials have identified two men who died and one who was rescued after flooding at Buckskin Gulch, in Kane County, earlier this week.

www.ksl.com

Sadly, it seems like the injured man tried to self-rescue and was swept away downstream. I’m sure we’ll never know. If he had stayed where his friend left him, I believe he would have been safely rescued, but it’s so hard just to stay put and wait. When the floodwaters subsided, he may have tried to get out and was overcome.

 

[Bucket Hat]

Sadly, it seems like the injured man tried to self-rescue and was swept away downstream. I’m sure we’ll never know. If he had stayed where his friend left him, I believe he would have been safely rescued, but it’s so hard just to stay put and wait. When the floodwaters subsided, he may have tried to get out and was overcome.

Something like that seems to be the scenario. The one who survived was the one who "went to get help". One got swept away from the campsite. And, just as you say, the one who was injured got swept downstream past the one who was getting help. I think you're saying the same thing. Horrible, but I guess once you get into one of those canyons, there are no exits for miles, and the walls are too steep to climb out.

Being the survivor in this event is going to be very traumatic long-term.

 

[Breaking Trail]

Here’s a full account of all the rescues they did the week of this disaster:

Utah DPS helicopters hoist 18 people from flash flood in Buckskin Gulch canyon

During a search for three missing hikers in Buckskin Gulch, crews from the Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau came across other hikers in distress, extracting a total of 18 individuals from the canyon the week of March 13.

verticalmag.com

 

[Bounce Box]

Here’s a full account of all the rescues they did the week of this disaster:

Utah DPS helicopters hoist 18 people from flash flood in Buckskin Gulch canyon

During a search for three missing hikers in Buckskin Gulch, crews from the Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau came across other hikers in distress, extracting a total of 18 individuals from the canyon the week of March 13.

verticalmag.com

Well.... there were so many they had to get stranded hikers to help injured hikers... Just wow.