Flash Flood, Capitol Gorge, Capitol Reef National Park, September 15, 2022

We hiked into Capitol Gorge in Capitol Reef National Park, with the weather forecast showing a 15% chance of rain. Capitol Gorge is basically a slot canyon, with one way in and one way out. As soon as we reached our destination, just under a mile into the gorge, the sky opened up and we spent the rest of the day trying to escape a flashflood. Everyone eventually made it out okay, but it was an adventure!
This is the first KZbin video I've ever produced, so apologies in advance for a few things: the audio is universally poor, and the video resolution is not as sharp as I wanted. Moreover, when you're in danger, you tend to be too busy to stop and take video. We did our best, but when things were REALLY bad, the cameras were not rolling, because we were too busy trying to survive. Consequently, some of the potentially best footage never got recorded.
This is my best effort to document what actually happened. I have profound gratitude and respect for the Park Rangers, who showed up at exactly the right time. In addition, all of the just-plain-folks involved were wonderful to work with in these trying circumstances. The successful escape of everyone in the gorge that day -- everyone who could have been victims -- required all of us selflessly working as a team, and I hope that this video adequately portrays the vital roles that everyone played at crucial moments. Unfortunately, I have to present the events from my own perspective (the only perspective I have), so I fear that I take a little too prominent role in the video.

[@ShalliniSheeran]

Thank you for posting your video so we could see the outcome of the people who stayed at the parking lot. So glad nobody got hurt.

[@kimmerq911]

Wow! We hiked alot in washes out there when it was 10 to 15% chance if rain. I'll never be cavalier about that again!

[@ByGraceIGo]

I just watched another person's video was 27 minutes long and boy was it a nail biter! This man had his truck lodged up on higher ground and his family got taken away and helicopter and then one of those road graders pulled him out and I heard everybody made it out safely and no one lost their lives thank God!!❤️ Yes no coincidences God's hand watched over everyone!

[@EEThom]

I just watched that one too! Seeing that black car float by was wild. When they were driving out in that truck, I was so worried they were going to get stuck in the mud.

[@bonniebates683]

Thank you for sharing your story. It was nice listening to you. I couldn't sleep at the time and you have you have a very calm, warm voice. I wish you many more safe adventures.

[@darwinsmonkey5440]

Great presentation, brother. Thank you for sharing . Very glad you all made it out aafely. From Myrtle Creek Oregon.

[@ready4reiki]

That’s crazy! I’m from SL and go to Capital Reef often. I certainly feel that I have been lucky after watching this! You did good. What a great video. Thank you for sharing.

[@spratt1403]

What an experience! Super glad everyone safe! Thank you for the video of what nature can do

[@user-do6qb5jr7o]

This video is very informative and hopefully people take the small percentage of rain seriously and don’t take the risk! I live in Az and hike Escalante area a lot. Any chance of rain is not worth it because you don’t know what the weather is doing 10 miles away! Thank you for the video!!

[@MagicMoonShine]

So beautiful and frightening to see all that water coming off the cliffs. I really enjoyed this. Thank you for sharing.

[@randygerdes]

Spent 5 nights there, hiked in about a mile past your end point and left on Wed morning the 14th! Nice job staying safe, nice job on your first video! Always in awe of nature’s power.

[@Ashley_Schaeffer]

One of the main reasons I avoid canyon country during monsoon flash flood season...

[@robertcolpitts4534]

We went through there on September 12th on our way to Fruita, CO. It started raining in Fruita on the 13th and 14th with scattered showers on the 15th. I'm not surprised you got caught in a downpour. When the weather forecast says 15% chance of rain and it has been raining nearby, stay far away from canyons such as this. I was astonished by the folks from Chicago challenging you on your "experience" on flash floods. At least you were being tactful. You don't need to lie. You should simply tell them you "live in the desert nearby and you have seen this before. Now get out of here before you and your family drown!" I've lived and worked in the desert southwest for many, many years and if it looks like it might rain, I stayed out of canyons like that.

[@akahina]

15% chance of rain in flash flood zones means a 15% chance of serious trouble. Have a nice day!

[@rob4485]

Great video, I was there 2 days prior to that and honestly that was my biggest fear. I'm glad you made it out ok.

[@stephenscott6570]

Great video. Been there and fortunately no flooding.

[@number4cat1]

Find a spot on the canyon wall with a gentle enough slope to walk 50' up above the level of the normally dry creek bed and wait it out. This isn't a completely vertically-walled slot canyon. DON'T try to hike out in the bed of the creek that's going to flood.

[@michaelzindel1419]

It was more amazing that the storm had lasted more than 15 minutes, considering you're in Utah.

[@Aikynbreusov]

Wow, so the trail became a river???? That's terrifying

[@jonyemm]

I haven't watched the video yet but I'm thinking it's more likely that the river became a trail.

[@ruthmusser4449]

Started watching hiking vids after living in Ut 6 yrs and so here I am. 15% is usually when we get rain in south Ut. Thanks for sharing.

[@jronkowski4346]

thanks, I love Capitol Reef NP.

[@dankimgiesler8484]

Experienced a flash flood in this area, west of Caineville on route 24 in 2018. 2 couples traveling on motorcycles. Went thru first stretch of water, second was too strong. Waited it out. When water receded, it left a greasy mess of slimy mud on road. Barely got across it without dropping bike.

[@jacqulynjohnson653]

Oh wait!! We went back and looked at our pictures. So on Sept 17, we went to that trail head and wasn’t able to hike it as it was closed. Well, we know why! Glad y’all were safe!!

[@elizabemagnaye1874]

The narrator knew its dangerous but seem enjoying the danger coming .

[@onerider808]

I’ve noticed these things can come on fast, with little warning. Just because it isn’t cloudy ir raining where you are does not mean it isn’t raging upstream...

[@Aikynbreusov]

That thunder was the roaring of Brigham Young.......

[@hebneh]

I've seen other videos of this flood so I knew this was not going to end well.

[@JSees]

Thunderstorms are intense but generally short in the west. Slot canyons are very dangerous during the summer monsoon season.

[@davidc3648]

You must live about where I do. I been to Capitol Reef and Torrey maybe 50 times. I used to come up from Los Angeles by motorcycle. I was down in Capitol Gorge two weeks ago. I want to go back and down Notom and hike in the back way to Capitol Gorge. But it looks like rain this weekend.

[@Waypastpoint]

Nice work going to see if the people needed help. @stillgoodpeople A doctor waited for my family in a snow storm to make sure we got off the Moor, when I was a small boy. 👌

[@chevy266nova]

WOW ! Is all I can say.

[@Coordinator61]

OMG what a disaster.

[@rgierut]

How long after the rain started did it turn dangerous?

[@neilx2669]

About 12 minutes

[@llewodcm20]

It only takes 10 minutes in a canyon

[@spockspock]

Sure, prayer stopped up the skies… but all your neighbors were a prayin’ fer moisture was what caused the debacle in the first place!

[@sixfigureskibum]

Right. The governor decreed a pray for rain day in Utah

[@Aikynbreusov]

A Mormon day out gone wrong with Mother Nature....

[@schwarzerregen957]

15% chance of rain yeah im not taking that chance

[@crystalspackman8491]

I remember camping in "0% chance of rain" before and you guessed it, it rained! Mother nature and all of its beauty should be enjoyed but you are never 100% safe. Something you just have to understand. Know the risks and prepare what to do if the worst should happen. But don't avoid it, man shouldn't be behind walls 24/7. That's what prisons are for.

[@Iris_and_or_George]

Really like your documentation and presentation thank you very much for the video. Super much respect for going back for the others! I wish more people would look out for other people, including total strangers. But I'm so sorry for the following, I need to get something off my chest. How can you perceive it clearing up after praying as a positive thing? That means He first sent the rains to cause the flash flood and just sat there knowing the outcome and watching it trap everyone until someone begs for help. If you see people about to drown and you have the ability to easily save them (Not to mention it's your fault to start with), would you wait until they begged and praised you? Would you respect anyone who acted that way? No way! It is a great way to describe a sociopathic narcissist. Again I apologise for any offence taken, I am truly glad it brings you happiness, I just don't understand how this can be perceived as love and kindness.

[@ChollaJJ]

Very dangerous situation. Get on high ground is common since….stupid can seldom be fixed ! Driving out, not smart !

[@aprilwimberly4447]

It’s a “God Wink”. That’s what I call them anyways.

[@paulsmodels]

When you pray, why don't you try asking God for wisdom instead of trying to use him for some sort of rescue guy to save your butt when you have done something stupid like walking into a slot canyon like this? God is full of mercy, but He also wants you to use your brains.

[@aubreyjackson9770]

God will leave his flock of 99 sheep to rescue the one lamb that got lost and everyone knows sheep are stupid so I think God will honor all sincere prayers. You should think about getting to know him better and maybe that will prevent you from making stupid comments.

[@MissEwe]

😂😂😂😂😂 ​@@aubreyjackson9770

[@Aikynbreusov]

Everyone got pissed on by Brigham Young...... in Mormon country.....

[@jacqulynjohnson653]

Wow!! God is so good!! And your right, not just a coincidence that your wife prayed for the rains to cease and they did!! We were in Moab at that day. So what trail head was this? I know you mentioned Capital Gorge. We didn’t get to do any of our slot Canyon trails because of flash flood warnings….boo. But we get it, safety always first!

[@Patrick_Ross]

It’s sheer luck these people are alive today.

[@junkname9983]

How is it that everyone pray to God to ask for the rain to stop, but not ask for God to make themselves wiser so they don't make stupid mistakes and stop thinking they are more capable than they actually are? The huge amount of hubris in these people thinking the universe has to revolve around them, that they can just go about doing whatever they want. What kind of lessons have your people actually learned from all this??

[@joemadda]

Preach on Brother Beavis!

[@hkgat8632]

I never go "all in" because of a "weather forecast". 90% of the time the forecasters are wrong.

[@elizabemagnaye1874]

Too busy taking photos forgetting the danger.

[@bmolitor615]

One minute in, read some of the comments, and even tho the description and the modelling in the video looks super cool, it's clear from the comments that this is not for me. Good bye.

[@DirtyDirkDiggler]

You take all that time to stop the video and write a comment that probably took longer than the effort you put in to watch it. 🤦‍♂️ you should really get outside and explore more. Take more risks. Learn to live.

[@bmolitor615]

@@DirtyDirkDiggler QED

[@Patrick_Ross]

The main problem I see….and I stopped watching halfway through, was putting your trust in a higher power instead of in science.

[@paulsmodels]

Right. And how would trusting in science change the outcome of this mess they got themselves into??

[@justsmy5677]

@pkerber - Before entering the canyon they consulted the weather forecast, discussed the possibility of danger, then decided to continue. They did not just put their trust in a higher power. They used a bit of science and common sense. During the flood, they prayed. Nothing wrong with praying that the weather improves, that they make the right decisions trying to escape/get to higher ground, or that your loved ones/children will prosper if you die in the flood. I pray every day that I am blessed with good health and live long enough to see my children reach adulthood and I accomplish one of my jobs which is to teach and guide them while they are learning. Flash floods in slot canyons are not uncommon and can occur quickly. There is always a risk, even on a clear day, so you go with the best available information.

[@imagseer]

@@justsmy5677 They bet on a 1/6 chance that the weather would turn bad. 100% chance that water made and continues to erode the canyon though.

[@justsmy5677]

@@imagseer that’s some serious Monday Morning Quarterbacking.

[@philiphazelton6655]

you fools

[@joeronquillo3169]

YOU CALL THIS A F F 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@EEThom]

You need to go watch the other dude’s 27 minute long video. Cars got swept away with people in them. A rescue crew had to come by helicopter to save them. This was a gnarly flood.