Hiker's GoPro Footage Captures Harrowing Moments As Deadly Flash Floods Swept Through Zion National

A camera mounted to a hiker's head captured the moments when torrential rainfall began in Utah's Zion National Park, triggering flash flooding that killed seven people, six of them from Southern California. Subscribe to CBS Los Angeles for more updates now: / cbsla
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[@clintgillespie8579]

Watching this footage is super confusing. Why is he running down hill during a potential flash flood? Why is he telling people to run down hill? Those hikers huddling against the wall seemed like they knew more than the dumb, panicky guy.

[@jean-louisdorget170]

Quite agree with you!

[@timg2973]

I think that area going down was better as it opened up. they were closer to that safe haven then going up. If i remember correctly those switch backs become one massive water fall.

[@metalboy27]

Yeah that guy had no clue. Looked like the trail up to Scout Lookout which has no chance of flooding. If it did, hundreds of people would die including anyone at the Zion Lodge.

[@turtleriverrafting]

CBS LA should be embarrassed by this story. First the two incidents (if you could call the Angels Landing footage an incident) have nothing to do with each other. Using the tragedy in Keyhole as part of this story is incredibly disrespectful to the seven that died. This guy is clueless. Racing down a slippery paved path to get to low ground during a possible flash flood is idiotic at best. There was nothing harrowing going on. The upper part of the Angels Landing trail won't flash and all you have to do is find a spot out of the flow and stay put. Take this DOWN!

[@onkaluna]

Rick, X2. Take this down, CBS LA. A rank fabrication that completely disrespects reality while exploiting the Keyhole victims for sensation. Utterly disgusting.

[@J19Pritch]

You read my mind. They weren't in some narrow gorge facing imminent death. They created a panic where one wasn't necessary.

[@jameswest8280]

You'd think Angelenos would be used to flash floods and landslides.

[@willstuart4504]

Are you kidding me?!? They actually "Cut n' Pasted" multiple stories, interchanging Photos of the real victims .... with Video of this incompetent walnut running down a slippery mountain?!? That's even low for this joke of a news station. Brutally Disrespectful.

[@efone3553]

@@willstuart4504 "Incompetent Walnut". Ha Ha you hit the nail on the head bro!

[@03stmlax]

I feel like the dude who filmed this doesn't know how floods work.

[@caymusfreemark7855]

Good Lord! The site of this video is the path to Angel's Landing and THOSE people on the path were NOT in danger of being swept away. The site where the hikers were caught by the flash flood was up in the narrows of the canyon in the Virgin River several miles away. THESE folks in THIS video were NOT in the Virgin River but rather on a CONCRETE path far above the river with PLENTY of places to avoid a flash flood. The hikers who were killed had no place to avoid the flood in the narrows where the water flow went from fifty cubic feet per second to several thousand cubic feet per second. Completely misleading.

[@darrentrapp6990]

I've been there, on that trail, in heavy rains when the river down below was close to flood. It was probably one of the coolest hikes I've done! Waterfalls everywhere! You could tell the trail was designed for heavy rain.

[@redstallion415]

That "INSTINCT" you had is called pannic lol. In front of the whole world, on KZbin, forever. Im 32 myself, and if this generations "instinct" is to run downhill to avoid a flood... were all doomed.

[@oBseSsIoNPC]

I thought the whole footage was weird, looking through the comments makes a lot of sense now. Thanks to the people that actually know what they are talking about. Gotta hate shitty news reporting.

[@paulwiggins183]

This guy oughta' be in movies. He is pretending to be in danger. Being separated from his Prius.

[@friedrichjunzt]

Your mom must be really proud of you. 🙄🤡

[@FleischerFamilyFun]

This guy running down the path doesn't have a clue. Neither does the news team. The Utah locals would watch this and laugh. He is in more danger running down a wet hill.

[@WhitePikminPro]

yeah well he was the survivor and the one's who didn't run weren't. More dangerous or not, he took a risk because he knew the alternative was riskier.

[@daviddick1982]

Steve is correct. Running down into the canyon is actually what causes people to die. In canyon survival class they teach you to climb up and if possible out of a canyon. The people that died were caught at the bottom of the canyon, not up on the trail where these people were located.

[@sbinsdca]

They lived. The others didn't. Use your head

[@bryannance9441]

@@sbinsdca lol they didn't die in this area. It is laughable. The area they were in was not a risk

[@jhondiick4202]

He survived so u idiots can laugh at nothing😂💪👋👋

[@stewartj3407]

Hurry everybody the mountainside is gonna flood!! Let’s get to lower ground in the creek bottom...Surprising this guy actually got other people to believe they were in danger and follow him

[@bryancsimmons]

These incidents were in completely different sections of the park. Misleading news cast.

[@platinumtaterbug]

My gosh this is so stupid. This guy and the canyoneering group are completely unrelated. Anyone in a slot canyon could be in trouble on a day like this. This guy was in no danger as it will not flash flood there, but even if it did, you can see in the video there’s plenty of high ground. He could have just stepped off the trail. Perfect example of news media sensationalizing nothing.

[@jaytok7]

when the youtube comment section is smarter than mainstream news outlet

[@drinny26]

I actually think staying put and holding onto a tree away from the waterfalls would have been a better idea than running down a hill in the rain.

[@timg2973]

I think that area going down was better as it opened up. they were closer to that safe haven then going up. If i remember correctly those switch backs become one massive water fall.

[@DonnaBrooks]

@@timg2973 Get up above the trail, away from waterfalls. I'd straddle a tree or do something to get off my feet so I wouldn't slip.

[@ThemeParkHD]

Such a sad tragedy. Just to clarify, this video shows the storm that hit Zion; not the canyon where the hikers sadly passed away. This video looks like they were on the Angel's landing trail, not in Keyhole; where the 7 were swept away.

[@davidjohnson7484]

Yeah, they totally made it sound as if this guy escaped the same thing that killed the group of people. Fact is, the guy they interviewed was never in any danger whatsoever.

[@scottfulton267]

Yeah, I was watching this video footage and these folks did not look like they were in any danger.

[@a97304]

What? You expect a news crew to hike in to the scene? The hike alone would be beyond their physical ability. Solution, interview random guy. pffft!

[@rdroos]

Ridiculous comparison between this hiker and those who died in the slot canyon. We hike up this trail in the rain just so that we can see the amazing waterfalls. No danger of flash flooding in that area. The panicked hiker who took the GoPro probably didn't know that and not faulting him, but whoever put this story together could have done a little more homework to know that the keyhole slot canyon was much a much different situation than what this hiker was facing. Apples and oranges.

[@brucej.willson4764]

Mainstream media doesn't report on facts only nonsense and emotions.

[@GaryLArnell]

As other commenters have pointed out, the newscaster commentary is misleading. These hikers were not at risk for the same kind of exposure as the 7 hikers who died in Keyhole Canyon though the newscaster makes it sound like they were in the same place. Keyhole is an enclosed, narrow slot canyon with several places that offer no escape from a torrent of rushing water and debris from above and behind. To the contrary, the hikers in this video were on a trail on a hillside, the last leg of the hike down from Refrigerator Canyon, below Angel's Landing, by the looks of it - with a paved, well-maintained walk-way they could run down. They are not in a "gorge". There is definite danger from falling\sliding water, rocks and debris from the hill above, and they were right to get down as speedily as possible, but it really doesn't compare to what the 7 hikers who lost their lives faced. And it's "zi-un", not "zi-ON".

[@RichardsWorld]

Donald Trump would call this FAKE NEWS. LOL

[@QUACOSTREET]

Thanks for the clarification. i wondered about that.

[@w9jim]

This is stupid. That area would never flood.

[@chrismccord4475]

Wait wait wait, this dude thought that Angels Landing was going to flood?!? Is this a joke?! I just did that hike 4 days ago and he’d been safe even if Noah’s flood hit!

[@robertsalinas3136]

Please stop using the picture of the 7 hikers in the link for this video. This video is not taken in the same area and the picture gives the impression it is the groups go pro footage.

[@uselessjoe]

+Robert Salinas agree, not the right way to build up the "views" total.

[@op-cg2vr]

+Robert Salinas yes I agree. Major news outfits need to stop click baiting us. You're reporters, not Kim Kardashian.

[@ThemeParkHD]

+Robert Salinas Agreed! Shame on CBS for using deaths as clickbait. This hike is no where near Keyhole.

[@larsanker-rasch8732]

"Today, the man that recorded that video" - yep. Totally referencing the death of the 6 people. Weird.

[@picksixtodahouse]

FAKE NEWS

[@03stmlax]

Why would you run *down* a mountain to escape floodwaters?

[@RMBlake007]

A panicky inexperienced fool would....

[@jean-louisdorget170]

Yes, I don't understand the reason why hikers run DOWN the path. You stay on the heights!

[@timg2973]

@@jean-louisdorget170 I think that area going down was better as it opened up. they were closer to that safe haven then going up. If i remember correctly those switch backs become one massive water fall.

[@mb3578]

Yea run to the bottom! Great idea.

[@jameswest8280]

All that accomplishes is slipping and falling 100s of feet. A lot more people die from falls than drowning.

[@ntoxic8edx]

Well he lived 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@evelynangel456]

Are we watching the same video?

[@ElectricSegwayX260girl]

I didn’t understand the running to the bottom at all! I would think that would be the most flooded. But IDK, as I’ve never been there, and he did in fact survive. I live in the northern east coast and one would definitely want to seek higher ground here.

[@thooke222]

@@ElectricSegwayX260girl high ground to avoid flooding... everywhere on Earth that I know of!

[@mattmcgovern230]

Seek LOWER ground during a flood????

[@claytpnpalmer1917]

The hikers killed were in a deep narrow canyon. But the hikers would have been fine if they had stayed put on that trail from Angels Landing. The water falls shed the water from the rain away from the other sandstone area's. There is plenty of places to get cover on that trail. They were just inexperienced day hikers caught in a rainstorm.

[@uselessjoe]

CBS Los Angeles, you should be fined for misleading info; or is Brian Williams the producer?

[@blondie7240]

This is the biggest BS video. This guy is on Angel's Landing, it's not a slot canyon. He was in no real danger, him running down was dangerous. Those who were killed were in slot canyons. This video should be taken down.

[@rain74925]

This is confusing. I'm no expert in any sense, and have only watched a few clips of flash flood, but why did he keep saying and actually doing what he's saying, "we need to GO DOWN, it's going to flood"? I'm confused. If there's a flash flood coming, why then run down to it? This is confusing.

[@MrDavidTHall]

Yeah it's because he's a moron.

[@rebeccahicks2392]

I'm no expert either, but agreed. It's common sense. Down low is NOT where you want to be in any sort of flood. Maybe he thought it was going to be like a waterfall and sweep him off.

[@Randomstlhero]

He was in a completely different section of the park than the group of seven. They should of just stayed put while the storm pass overhead. Maybe away from the center incase of rockfall.

[@RMBlake007]

@@rebeccahicks2392 He was so wrong, & putting himself into greater risk by running through the rushing water falls....they say never to drive through torrents of flooding water, but this fool runs through them....he was lucky he or his GF didn't get swept over the cliff while doing that. And yes, common sense says get to higher elevations not lower...

[@999a0s]

go look up "Keyhole Canyon Flash Flooding Conditions" to see what the 7 hikers were dealing with. it was a completely different area and situation. this guy racing DOWN the hill, towards the river, because it's raining...is Patrick Star Nailing a 2x4 to His Own Head level dumb.

[@bradykay9322]

On the side of a mountain worried about flood waters. Ummm. Find a dry spot stay out of the rapids

[@leggs0312]

Wouldn’t you want to go up?

[@31inarow]

I live in Kentucky and when the water in the river floods--we go UP the hill. Should have holed up and waited out the rain.

[@peterk8909]

31inarow That's because the fine folks in Kentucky have brains & common sense.

[@FreshlySnipes]

At that point you almost need to go up.

[@allee6096]

There's always a warning.. just look at the weather forecast, there's your warning... 30% chance of rain, you're good.. 40%, meh, plan to hike on another day..

[@dfjdskf9234j4fisd]

Don’t run on wet rock, such a bad idea.

[@doghouseriley8696]

Congratulations on surviving your panic, dude. You are a hero to fools.

[@snowleopard0412]

They sit in their urban media offices and spew out this BS ....anyone with ANY outdoor knowledge would have re - edited this content ...

[@NonRandomNonSense]

Probably the biggest danger they faced was slipping and falling while running on the paved trail. I agree with the others that this is clearly the lower part of Angel's Landing.

[@robertfreeman3831]

Its raining.lets run downstream.....a fool's tale....

[@callspreadzero854]

This was hot garbage.

[@boone4828]

Racing down a cliff, to avoid a flash flood...iii thought something was up. Tooo the comments section! Lol

[@joshfallentine4607]

Totally misleading newscast, Angels landing would never flash flood like that, maybe you should consult an expert before saying something like that

[@rain74925]

This is confusing, why run DOWN the trail when the water's coming down hard and a flash flood is happening? I must have missed something.

[@RealMan0fGenius]

This is the trail to Angels Landing. This is NOT AT ALL LIKE BEING IN A SLOT CANYON and THIS IS NOT KEYHOLE Canyon. BIG DIFFERANCE. Not sure why he was so scared. Start Storm chasing and learn how weather works like when do Thunderstorms start building etc. Next time get on the trail before Sun up not at 12:30 in the afternoon like the lost 7.

[@wigenite]

This is why trust in news is so low.

[@philippriestman8516]

Stay put! Let it pass, don’t engage danger spots…

[@johnwesley4713]

A flash flood from the west rim trail? Lol, no.

[@spencerbeard3904]

Not that hard to hike with clear skies. Check your forecasts. Stop hiking when it's going to rain. Respect nature.

[@oliverrevis4190]

This is grosely misrepresented.

[@CalinFR]

Where is the threatening water? I can't see it

[@GT-nh5zg]

How can there be flash floods at a point where the rain hits the highest ground.

[@ramdas363]

Californian media moment.

[@reviewithme9913]

The blind leading the blind!

[@davidlloyd8811]

This video is so ignorant in so many ways.

[@beautifulmicia]

This guy was on Angels landing. The hikers that died were in the narrows. I would have continued to climb or find a secure spot to wait it out. Following that guy would be the worst thing to do.

[@boriss5385]

+beautifulmicia they were not in the narrows. They were in Keyhole Canyon. A popular slot canyon in Eastern Zion.

[@beautifulmicia]

+Boris Shvidchenko Did not have time to look it up but knew it was not Angels Landing. Thanks for the correction. Zion is a fantastic national park.

[@boriss5385]

no problem

[@drone_boss]

Is this a joke?

[@bunnibun33]

2:02 the 6th one was my step mom

[@ramymah]

My condolences 💐

[@Patty-to3rp]

So sorry for your loss!!

[@DonnaBrooks]

The people who died were not "hikers"! They were no on a trail, like this guy, who is not in danger the way they were. They were CANYONEERING (look it up!) in a slot canyon, which is a death trap during a flash flood because there is no escaping a torrent of fast moving water concentrated into a narrow canyon which canyoneers have rappelled down into. This guy's dramamatic experience, which you guys play up like his life was in danger, is dangerous misinformation. He was in more danger racing down a wet, SLICK trail on which he could slip and fall that if he had just gotten a few feet above the trail, where there was no waterfall & waited for the water to do what water does,- flow downhill to lower ground, - which was exactly where he was headed! Desperate for "news" much?

[@handynothandsome261]

*NOT “Zy-onn!”*

[@pissoff2u]

The dude was safe where he was at. Running down the mountain was more dangerous.

[@Joe-lc7ce]

Last year during a flash flood several boulders fell and annihilated the trail where he was at. That section of the trail is called refrigerator canyon. Would be a pretty bad place to be.

[@pissoff2u]

@@Joe-lc7ce The news story wasn't about falling boulders, but the risk off being in a flash flood and washed away or worse drown. My comment is made on the possibility of him or anyone else that was using the trail that day being in an danger of what I explained. If the man was yelling "look out for the boulders becoming loose due to the water erosion and falling down and possible killing you". Checkmate.

[@Joe-lc7ce]

Yeah

[@pissoff2u]

@@Joe-lc7ce acknowledged. po

[@Joe-lc7ce]

Yes

[@daidavies6210]

No Warning ???? .. The weather forecast for that day was terrible weather with isolated storms and heavy rain… No Warnings, are you kidding me,😂

[@grbradsk]

BS "there was no warning". If you track weather reports and keep your head up, you'll know it's a sketchy day and abandon some kinds of hikes. I remember hiking Lembert Dome in Yosemite which is a fairly easy hike, just one scramble-steep section at top but not terribly bad. Still, the weather could make it a killer. I remember seeing some thunder heads forming in updrafts towards the central valley and quickly getting out of there, but I still saw hikers going up even as the rain started hitting. I told them there was likely to be lightning, but they kept going. Nothing happened, but it was certainly not the time to be heading up to an exposed dome.

[@snowleopard0412]

This is so shoddy newscasting ....read various comments below

[@jlvandat69]

I really dislike "news stories" that create more questions than answers. What happened to journalism in America?

[@doctorshawzy6477]

yes..he already said it was quick, and wind got up...why repeat this..

[@branni6538]

Landslides, flooding........difficult place to find safety!

[@enniedrufu6845]

They where fine. They where not in a canyon, take it from somebody who was caught in a flash flood while canyoneering.

[@yugabro]

Camera man never dies

[@Denver-tq3vf]

Facts

[@kenaban9228]

Well, how can you outrun floods especially when the route was circling all the way down?

[@creggf4685]

Well, I spose the simple answer is you're about 400-500 foot above the river where this video shows. Yeah...quality reporting and posting misleading if they died in the narrows ...on or in the river.

[@jessjoeking]

Why not stay in place where the hikers had shelter? There was no waterfall or washed out trail where they were. I sure hope none of the victims died trying to follow the panicking fool. Essentially, if the died following this idiot, then Mr. Panic-pants is guilty of luring them to their death. What a disgusting show of ineptitude and cowardice.

[@AmariLynn8]

Interesting Lee enough there's Doppler radar everyone knew that there was a chance of that storm coming but they took that chance and wanted to be in that storm possibly.

[@alxblyth]

I don’t understand why they panicked and felt they had to make it back to safety. They were safe where they were, it was only a flash flood and would have passed in an hour or two. Find a cave or shelter from the hail and enjoy the moment. Geez. Condolences to the families who lost loved ones.

[@mogulmayhem]

If I'm running for my life I'm not stopping to pull my phone out. But leaving that other group behind is something they will never forget.

[@anthonysiracuse]

It floods in the valleys.........what is this guy even talking about

[@j.y.3604]

Watching this, I realize how little time they had to make a split second decision, but there are a lot of trees on the side of the wall and I don't understand why they just didn't climb up those trees and hang on but I wasn't in the situation I find this harrowing I'm not a hiker I'm afraid of heights and I think sometimes you just have to be prepared and these guys did the best they could it seems

[@123gmor]

He thinks there is going to be a flash flood so he desperately runs toward the bottom of the canyon? LOL!

[@dougritchie6500]

Thus idiocy is caused by watching too many teen horror movies where they go into the house, then into the kitchen, then into the cellar, then into the closet.... Then they die

[@FireShine-ss4sb]

Did you notice how these canyon hikers are not carrying any oversupply of rope. If in a crisis you can snag something high up and hang on, at least you ride up and not get thrashed over rocks going with the flow. And then who was paying close attention to weather radio reports. Its too many smart climbers dying. Which means green people like me who never did any of it wouldnt stand a chance. So who would be hiking with a life jacket?

[@michaelgreen1365]

You want to survive ? STAY THE FUCK OUT OF THERE...

[@patrickmckeegan5345]

Why the F would you go DOWN. I have been in weather like that and I always headed for the high ground, taught my kids the same. Even in the desert miles from the rain event you can hear the water coming down the wash before you see it and have time to get to safety.

[@Mazxlol]

Wouldn't it make sense to just go up not down? Or just pick a good spot and wait? This doesn't make sense

[@justinaverette7407]

This is the dumbest news report I've ever seen. The guy is on a super popular trail. He's running downhill in the rain. There is no flash flood threat for him at all. Maybe lightning but not flash flood.

[@Posark]

he was desperately rushing to lower ground to capture some flash flood footage

[@Eric-bt7dt]

Fake news--this area is not a slot canyon, and this guy is making a fool of himself pretending that he was about to die on a paved hiking trail. Embarrassing.

[@thooke222]

If there's gonna be a flood, seek higher ground, not lower ground.

[@joycelago1315]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@franklopez2969]

He over reacted, the hiking victims were in a narrow canyon bottom! He is on a trail that gas plenty of spots to wait out the storm!

[@Trippintrev420]

i’ve gone on this hike before and it’s no joke, to RUN it is actually insane

[@AshleyTodd1]

I once experienced heavy rain on a mountainside too. Still feel lucky to be alive.

[@scottlint7016]

They would have been fine just staying put.

[@troyrager1352]

You don't go down in a flood that's where the water goes.. they were just fine on the side of that mountain 👍

[@HK_Musician]

It's gonna flood.. 😂 You're up a mountain mate

[@again5162]

He needs to read the childrens book Henny Penny- the sky is falling 😅

[@222jojo]

I thought GoPro's had decent stabe

[@doccpu7]

silly. winds may blow you off the edge. but just grab a tree and wait. No way its gonna flood. The others must have fallen off the edge or tried to cross a creek bed. Dumb.

[@rebeccahicks2392]

According to comments, the others were in a different place, in a slot canyon.

[@Patty-to3rp]

Yes, the others were in a COMPLETELY different area. He was coming down Angels Landing trail, others were in keyhole canyon. Ridiculous reporting.

[@boriss5385]

the hikers were in no danger. the trail that they were on had no major drainage's were the water could gather. the 7 canyoneers that went down Keyhole Canyon in eastern Zion were in a slot.

[@maik1982]

with floods you run up and not down to the danger, and wait till it is save

[@anthonysiracuse]

You are supposed to climb and stay out of the flooded and or flooding low lying areas ..... this guy was the epitome of a panicked person that isnt thinking clearly and not in their wise mindset....he was in his emotional mind and could have died or led the other people that panicked to death as well. Lesson learned

[@PoconoJoe]

none of these people should be there in the first place!

[@andrickboisvert524]

So the guy that took the picture is the only survivor? Also when did you said to yourself to run down the hill as you might know water water is raising in a flash flood I think that picture is wrong too but I wasnt there😒

[@Patty-to3rp]

You are right bout the picture being wrong. He wasn't near where the people died. Totally different trail. He was hiking down from Angels Landing; the people who tragically died were caught in a canyon in a flash flood. The news report was COMPLETELY wrong, surprise, surprise.

[@LearnCompositionOnline]

They like this and live for this

[@Dogsrulepeoplenot]

What a complete shock that this so called hiker is clueless

[@ClemyNX]

I am from the city and even I find it funny. These hipsters pretending to be specialists running around like hysterics because it’s just... raining. Come on!