Tag Archives: Spry Canyon

Spry Flash Flood Survivors Recount Their Story

Posted on August 13, 2010 by

We posted a couple articles last week regarding a group of canyoneers who were dangerously caught in a flood in Spry Canyon on July 24. The Las Vegas Review-Journal caught up with these gentlemen (below) after they recovered to gather their account of the story. Lessons? 1. The “chance of rain” for any particular day is relatively unimportant. Rain is VERY point-specific in canyon country. A mountain can easily block the isolated black storm cloud that is right around the corner. 2. In a flooding situation, find high ground and make a plan to find higher ground if needed. These guys did a good job making contingency plans once they recovered their team. 3. ALWAYS carry a headlamp, even when you don’t anticipate being out late. Light is essential for finding your way when things go awry, or alerting help (as in this situation). 4. An early start is almost always a good idea. Most (but not all) Zion storms hit in the afternoon. By starting out early (5:00 – 7:00 a.m. is not unreasonable during storm season), you get the canyon to yourself, the air temperatures are much cooler for your hike in, and you have a much larger … Continue reading →

Posted in Accidents, Canyoneering, Safety, Zion National Park | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 Men Caught in Spry Flash Flood

Posted on July 27, 2010 by

Most years, June and the early portion of July is bone-dry in Zion as temperatures creep from the 80s, to the 90s, and up into the 100s. Right around mid-July, however, the thunderstorm engines on the West Coast rev up and we see big, black, cumulus rollers come through almost every afternoon. This is “monsoon season” in Zion, a far cry from the namesake torrents of SE Asia, but still a major force to reckon with, especially if you are in a canyon environment. Desert News and KCSG television recently reported the story of three Las Vegas men who were caught in a flash flood in Spry Canyon last Saturday, June 24th. Evidently, all three of the men were washed over a 40-ft. drop, and two of the three washed over and additional 60-ft. drop. Fortunately, one of the guys was able to signal for help, and though details of injuries are unclear, it sounds like everyone was transported alive to the hospital to Las Vegas. Over the years, we’ve met very few people who were actually caught in the water/debris flow of a flash flood and lived to tell about it. The above stories provide sketches of the events, … Continue reading →

Posted in Canyoneering, Weather & Climate, Zion National Park | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments