Historic Flash Flood in Zion National Park ~PEOPLE TRAPPED~ (The Narrows)

[@rds990]

I am a long time veteran of that park. Whenever you see multiple places with water coming down the sides of the narrows walls....even slowly......get OUT.

[@GuyGirlGaming]

Great advice!

[@ramiromejia8893]

yes exactly

[@aliciaguerra-salazar5854]

Many times it does not rain there, it rains many miles further away, for the same reason you always have to ask the ranger and use the weather radar to see if there are precipitations

[@Brucev7]

When a drone would come in handy )

[@Selah57]

I also am a veteran of Zion backpacking and hiking the Park. It was always standard thinking that if there clouds in the sky even 50 miles away, expect flash floods! The expanse of Zion Park is a drainage system for the hundreds of square miles of mountains north. People take this canyon for granted as a “safe” playground. It is not. There are many life-threatening dangers there and flash floods are but one.

[@jeeperp3926]

Hey, it’s raining hard. Let’s go hike through a narrow water-carved canyon! Brilliant.

[@friedmannreeh2990]

Hello !!! The two guys on the other side was us...the blonde woman and the man with the red t-shirt. WE SURVIVED!!!! The troopers picked us up at about eleven that night...we stayed in a cave until then...freezing our butt off...! None of us was hurt...well...the arm of my woman was disabled...! Thanks for the video...! We are now back in Germany watching it...what an exciting experience!!!!!!

[@GuyGirlGaming]

What a crazy adventure for you two. A memory you will have forever! Now you have video proof here of your exploits as well!

[@vivacehome1]

GuyGirlGaming Hey bro what about your Dead Frontier Series? I wait like 12 months already

[@elkhunter8664]

Germans are too tough to die! All respect. I have been hiking the American southwest for over 40 years, and have met many German speakers. Usually when they are passing me on a tough uphill climb, say from the bottom of the grand canyon. Much respect, and glad you made it out OK.

[@Ritercrazy]

Friedmann Reeh I'm so glad!

[@shijing6260]

So glad to know you are OK!

[@ruadhan6707]

For the Virgin River, this was a rather mild flash flood. They have had walls of water over twelve feet high come out of the narrows. Because the water doesn't soak into the sandstone at all, in really bad floods, even a large river like the Colorado can come up ten or more feet very quickly as happened the last time I was in Moab. The storm has to be really epic and widespread, but when it is those small rivers and slot canyons are really ugly. Glad you got out. Even a flood that tame can knock you off your feet and drown you.

[@biancagoodnight1750]

It's when you get hit by logs & debris.

[@deno4453]

Don't ever underestimate the strength of water, it's powerful and full of dangerous debris.

[@nspinicelli]

I don't know how more people don't die here. I did the Narrows once, and thought man there's SO many people here half of which are children, and it's such a vulnerable place to be!

[@aliciaguerra-salazar5854]

Years ago I was there, my ex-husband my two children, my daughter-in-law and my niece, her husband and her son went there, I didn't want to go, but after an hour it started to rain very hard, I was very scared, My children told their father and my niece to run and my ex said: Nothing happens and my children told him, seriously, last year 8 people died. They say they have never run so fast in their entire life. 1. They should ask the rangers about the probability of rain 2. It may not rain there, but many times it rains miles from there and you can't see it, until it's all flooded. 3. Use weather radar to see rainfall in the area. 4. Prevention is the key.

[@heidijeanrose]

i like how you kept an eye out for the others around you and made sure they were ok. many people hike alone and these situations are so dangerous.

[@mortslam]

And that right there it's why you don't hike the narrows when it's raining.

[@seabrook1976]

You would think it’s common sense but yeah....

[@everready19373]

It could be raining 30 miles away and you would never know it. It's mostly up to the ranger to keep the tourists safe.

[@helemetry]

@@everready19373 But in this case there were raindrops coming down in frame of the camera, so they knew it was raining (see 0:48-0:51). Before we hiked buckskin gulch we checked that morning's weather radar & prediction for the next 2 days and spoke to the rangers.

[@CoCojoy420]

Living near this area all my life, it's crazy this is common in all slots canyons, even ones off the dotted maps during the summer and monsoon seasons

[@mariawolterstorff145]

Andre McGoo You don’t have to be an experienced hiker to know not to hike in narrow canyons during/after a rainstorm. They literally warn everyone. It’s on signs everywhere.

[@Raptorman0909]

A year later and 21 people died in flash floods from the same storm on the same day in Utah -- 7 in Zion NP, 13 in the polygamous community of Hildale, and another man in his truck near Hurricane. The streams and rivers in the west are dry or nearly dry most of the year and people can be complacent in thinking it will always be dry, but when storms hit in the watershed upstream it can take 6 or more hours for that water to make it to where you are but when it does...

[@wannabetowasabe]

I've hiked up the Narrows and camped above them. I carried my pack over my head because the normal river flow in October was nearly up to my armpits. I noticed in this video that it was raining and the rain drops were large, but it wasn't raining real hard. However, water was running off the rim and cascading down rock faces, not a good sign at all. Obviously it was raining much harder upstream and perhaps the area at the end of the paved trail was just on the edge of a storm cell. There are many sections of the Narrows were there is no possibility of escape to higher ground. The terrain at the lower end of it, as shown in this video, is not an indication of the terrain in the Narrows. Hypothermia is a possibility, not just in the winter, but all the other seasons as well.

[@wannabetowasabe]

I should add that at the spot this video was taken is not in the narrows, the entrance to it is just upstream of the end of the paved trail so these people were not actually trapped in the Narrows. The Narrows is one of the most interesting places I've ever backpacked in. Thanks for this video, it is neat to see the area as the last time I was at Zion was in 1976 or 1977. I've been living in New Mexico, Nevada and now in the Sierra Nevada (itself just short of 40 years) since, so I've been exploring a lot of other terrain.

[@johere147]

Thank you for posting. I’m planning my first hiking trip to this area in the Spring. I’m learning about the dangers of hiking here and your video is very helpful. Life-saving.

[@MrFg1980]

Wow. I've been in there several times. I can understand the park service attempting to dissuade anyone from going up canyon when there is even the slightest chance of a flash flood. If you were up towards Orderville, that most certainly would have been fatal.

[@Selah57]

You are blessed to be alive. That particular canyon has claimed many, many lives of people who ignorantly hike it in the rain. People of all nationalities. The canyon does not discriminate. Next time you go to places unfamiliar spend some time talking to experienced locals and listen to them.

[@kensanity178]

I don't know how quickly it came up, but I was on a canyon side of the Klamath river, Christmas, 1964. That flood was moving huge boulders and lots of cobblestones. The power of that water was unforgettable. The noise and the ground shaking. Never forget it.

[@Selah57]

I also am a veteran of Zion backpacking and hiking the Park. It was always standard thinking that if there clouds in the sky even 50 miles away, expect flash floods! The expanse of Zion Park is a drainage system for the hundreds of square miles of mountains north. People take this canyon for granted as a “safe” playground. It is not. There are many life-threatening dangers there and flash floods are but one.

[@miked5728]

Great footage.. We were there in 2013. Anyone who's hiked into the Narrows, knows that there are places with NO climb-able banks, just sheer rock walls on both sides.. If you're there when a flash flood rolls thru, it's all over!!

[@kimmesser1568]

Wow! Looked up your video to see what flash flooding is like in Zion after reading about the people who just died in Keyhole Canyon there this week (Sept. 2015). Scary. Our family hiked the Narrows a couple of years ago and loved it. Glad you are ok!

[@GuyGirlGaming]

+Kim Messer I read about that recently as well. Flooding in canyons is a scary thing.

[@how2everything811]

I did the Narrows today. We were close to where the mountain walls get really close and it started raining hard. Around a couple miles into it. We got onto high rock and into a cave for a little but a flash flood didn’t occur. I guess we are lucky. No rain was in the forecast either, just came out of nowhere.

[@fluffybunnyyeah5106]

Wow, never would have thought this huge area could get so deep so fast. Amazing, scary. Thanks for the lesson!

[@canyonroots]

The river rose about one foot.

[@christurnblom4825]

That is why you never you into that canyon with at least an AM radio if there is a chance of rain. There was a whole family that got trapped in there, camping some years back. I don't know how many people have died there but it is not uncommon.

[@GuyGirlGaming]

+Chris Turnblom I agree, flash floods in canyon lands are no joke.

[@Alan62651]

Walking across a river that is known to flash flood while it it raining is just being amazingly unaware of nature's power.

[@stephenlewis8143]

I've been in Halls Creek Narrows a couple of times, long walk to see the semi-short narrow section. I was there in the spring also, but it was dry & temps were moderate. You got out safely, that's what's important, & thank goodness.

[@goldenhuynh]

wow! so surreal! thank you for sharing this video. We just got back from hiking "The Narrows" from the top down. First day was okay, but 2nd day, just a little bit of rain toward the end, flash flood came very fast and very quickly! the water current was very strong and fast, Very dangerous! Many people were not prepared, especially the day hiker, be aware and be prepare people!

[@nathanmccreery914]

A once in a lifetime "Historic Flash Flood in Zion Canyon National Park". These happen almost every year, and if it's raining, or rain is in the forecast, especially up drainage, if you go into it you're nuts!

[@Patty-to3rp]

So true!

[@sheldonhatch8255]

@GuyGirlGaming GREAT footage. Thank you for sharing. Glad you're ok. And safe. You're alive. ALWAYS head out of these canyons when there is any sign of rain. Especially in Utah, bad news happens instantly out there in the wilderness. Did you hear of the most recent flooding?? Just barely happened, June 29th I believe. Look up the newest footage

[@mikehawk4348]

Iv lived there and work in the park. It’s really common for this to happen.

[@Alex.Jensen]

Be careful around washes during monsoon season ladies and gentleman. Cheers and enjoy the Southwest!

[@chucku.farley4796]

Great footage. I was setting up camp in September of 2015 the day after a similar flash flood in Zion when a helicopter kept dropping off big black bags in an adjacent field. I thought they were just doing drills until I saw the camp host looking up & crying. I soon found out that 5 ppl had drowned the prior day up Keyhole canyon during the flash flood. Glad you guys got out safely.

[@johnlibs2941]

Y

[@WildlifeObsessed]

Good to show just how dangerous these things can be and how fast.

[@tomlatenite8348]

We were at that same place, beautiful but obviously very dangerous. No rain when we were there. Glad you guys got to a safe spot. Someone said the year before we were there the next canyon over six people died.

[@beehead5661]

I hope the "authorities" never take away the opportunity to hike the narrows. There is risk yes, but there is risk walking your doggie

[@ooy4223]

Only a risk because you fucking people are pathetically stupid. You get what you deserve. Fuck dogs

[@beehead5661]

@@ooy4223 Interesting. Care to elaborate?

[@mykirbs2002]

Wow good video glad you all got to safety!

[@mikekennedy4572]

We have hiked the initial part of the Narrows with our little daughter, and we check the forecast, etc., but still it makes me a little nervous for her sake should a flash flood come. We love nature and Zion, and we always try to be careful and safe. I am glad everyone was ok the day this video was shot.

[@faithrada]

For anyone who has never experienced a "Flash" flood... It is really difficult to imagine the power and speed of them. Thanks for sharing. I will be ever vigilant now. : )

[@Laffy1345]

We have flooding like this during heavy rains. My neighbors son fell in one, we were both 10, never recovered his body. In 1971

[@ems7623]

The narrows are notorious for this.

[@liverneck2001]

i remember all the warnings when i traveled there....little scary....ok a lot scary....beautiful place

[@bradyjones7146]

I did the narrows last month. It was awesome :)

[@chofujohn1]

What people don't understand is that water, any water, is incompressible. That FACT is the major contribution to water's destructive force.

[@davidg813]

I camped there many years ago with my wife and this isn't the only problem with Zion it was summertime in the temperature down in that Canyon was 102 degrees with no Breeze we could not wait to get out of there

[@rayray4192]

Zion is a desert. It gets hot.

[@lavapix]

6 years later, turn the camera to the right...

[@Kehk-in-a-MiG]

I'm not sure 6 years ago counts as "Historic" though.

[@opethvarium418]

Man that's crazy! Glad you guys made it out safely. Wish I could have been there with you guys for this.

[@jhondiick4202]

Man u act like a litle bitch stfu ‘ if they die is there own fold i dont give a fck

[@opethvarium418]

@@jhondiick4202 yeah... you're totally right..

[@jefffriedberg]

It never stops amazing me how when there is massive danger more than one asshle has to show how "fearless" they are by getting as close to it and lackadaisical about it as they can. This includes tsunamis, floods, bears, etc.

[@romeoslover817]

Jeff Friedberg some people thrive on adventure, risk, and...stupidity.

[@truckingwithtobee]

If you know anything about hiking the Narrows, you know that if there are any signs of clouds you do not hike the canyon! They are very lucky they didn’t get killed. Why in the hell would you stand there filming that. It can fill up so fast with water in that canyon. You’re very lucky.

[@johnm.evangelis693]

I just watched that ending part that water was sure rushing very fast. It's amazing the power water possesses their is nothing like it, good stuff triple G's.

[@chuckblackable]

Do not, ever, under any circumstances, ignore the warnings about these kinds of events unless you want to be dead. Think you can be cool and brave? You can be swept away, bashed by logs, drowned and torn apart by logs and debris and killed INSTANTLY! Yet still there will be people who will say, oh yeah--not me! The only response to that is okay, adios and goodbye forever! Also note: wild animals have enough good sense to heed the danger and get the hell out of the way!

[@Mindy-s-channel]

How long did it take before the water level went back down?

[@GuyGirlGaming]

I don't remember exactly. Usually flash floods come and go very fast.

[@JAF30]

Wow, I hiked a bit of that in 93, feels surreal to see it change in a flash like that.

[@iguanapete3809]

How long did it last?

[@jaysilverheals4445]

most of the fatalities are from being trapped since the water can flow for hours and they freeze to death trapped.

[@MegF142857]

Seen some video of people climbing through those slot canyons when forecast said might be rain & then it did. Videos where only reason people lived is because they were just lucky.

[@metrocust424]

Very brave to me because I have a fear of mountains all around me because they are starting to give away in lots of Places.they may have been there for thousands of years but nothing last.besides that you all have some great scenery shots, don't know why I'm scared of lots of water and love to see these vids.it's the impact it has to move things big boulders, buildings, that's what amazes me.still keep up your ventures and be careful guys I'll be waiting for more vids Mrs P ur" senior citizen Adventurer and watcher.

[@GuyGirlGaming]

Adventure on Mrs. P!

[@GeoffSilberman]

If you guys had been a little further into the Narrows there would have been no outrunning this.

[@stringhawk3639]

How about showing the emerald pools of zion

[@myopinion8610]

They warn you about flash floods during a rainstorm before you go in.

[@brucemoeller]

Visiting Zion has been on my bucket list for a while. Just saw it 10-25-19. The narrows were quite popular, and scenic. It would be cool to have seen the flash flood....but thanks to you....we did! Stay safe, and enjoy the view.

[@sbrecke1507]

Scary how much and how fast this happens

[@haro82]

Going there next week. Are they pretty good about letting you know the weather risks for the day?

[@mikehurley1016]

It rained something like 14" in an hour far upstream. No warning.

[@locouk]

How many days were they trapped on the other side of the stream?

[@GuyGirlGaming]

+Green Silver I dont know. But I do know that the German couple in the video commentated on this video so they survived alright!

[@k.g.8755]

Until 11pm that night.

[@thehurricane6767]

Holy crap. That was intense! Cool video

[@GuyGirlGaming]

Shawn Kirkbride Quite the experience for us!

[@dlrunner]

Hiking the Narrows when it is raining. That is the definition of stupidity. Nice going.

[@sashasavisha146]

People need to see rain clouds and slot canyons and say “No thanks.” Especially in Arizona and Utah certain times of the year. That water thinks nothing of moving a large heavy log right through like a motorized boat.

[@clarkewi]

I camped in that campground many years ago.

[@cm6995]

The current was fast already, looked like it was raining too, I would have not have risked it.

[@LaHayeSaint]

There were too many people on the edge, dicing with certain death. This is reckless. Keep a safe distance. Do not stand right next to raging water. Your demise is assured. Also, what on earth were those people doing on the far bank, attempting to climb almost vertical cliffs with a raging torrent beneath. They are courting almost certain death. If they slip, they are gone forever.

[@evyiennetla9416]

Bro... I'm sure this was a great wake up call. Many aren't so fortunate. If there is even a 20% chance of rain you're not supposed to go in those slots!!!

[@rankinstudio]

This happens every year, multiple times a year. Hardly "Historic". Nice video.

[@GuyGirlGaming]

Thanks. It was an amazing experience. I called it historic because the tour bus driver said she hadn't seen one to that extent in her 8 years on the job and stopped her route to take pictures. All normal residents seemed very awestruck as well.

[@rankinstudio]

GuyGirlGaming A quick KZbin search reveals a lot of these kind of videos. There are some really intense ones. I would guess that to be around 1500 CFS. The Virgin hit 9900 CFS yesterday. Its pretty common.

[@Seminolerick]

WOW... Zion is on my “bucket list”... I will now NOT do the “narrows” , as I am nowhere near nimble as you lucky folks (I am 68). This vid re-enforces my belief that we have an appointed ‘time to go’... it wasn’t your time !

[@nesscrane]

seminole rick go during clear skies with NO chance of rain and you’re safe! They went hiking with clouds in the sky and is very dangerous.

[@NearlyNativeNursery]

Isn't mother earth amazing:) Gald you all got out fast enough. Thanks for the vid.

[@paddlefar9175]

+Mermbo “NumeroCinco” Nermberferv Any logical, non brainwashed person knows there is no such thing as God or "God's creation."

[@georgegunn6034]

You will know the truth in the end. And then it will be too late!

[@Laffy1345]

PaddleFar to each his own

[@moronibreitbart6055]

At 1:45ish...might still be dangerous. Really? You think?

[@WayneTheSeine]

Flash flood....is just that. It happens in a flash. In this instance it was apparently exasperated by debris dams somewhere up river and it's small tributaries. Once it breaks..... it's on.

[@Calling321]

Excellent footage! Looks like a real nice park. Those logs were crazy.

[@GuyGirlGaming]

Event of a lifetime for me.

[@SensatiousHiatus]

what time of year was this??

[@GuyGirlGaming]

Late August.

[@barrypreuett1325]

That's not even "inside" the narrows, that's out by the entrance. Can you imagine if you were up a mile or two inside the canyon, you'd be dead.

[@GuyGirlGaming]

It would have been bad

[@WootTootZoot]

First clue there will be a flash flood in Zion.."it's raining". Second clue there will be a flash flood, "it's raining as far as 15 miles away".

[@Patty-to3rp]

Haha that's so true

[@iguanapete3809]

That water should be reaching us in Southern California about now.

[@GuyGirlGaming]

That would be nice right now...

[@user-tb2jy9lu3d]

I would be checking the weather for the whole STATE right before going into this. Then walking along at each area of the slot canyon trying to think up a way of how I would climb up where possible and remembering each section in case I did need to do so, as I progressed along.

[@GuyGirlGaming]

Good advice!

[@WestsideBoy]

Eventually there IS NO CLIMB UP. Past the junction with Orderville Canyon you have no escape. So good luck if you've gone a mile in. Your only shot is to retreat back

[@user-tb2jy9lu3d]

@@WestsideBoy Not meaning climbing up and all the way out, more so just enough up the side like 10-15 feet to avoid most of the lower floods. Are there still places like that further back? I see places where there are little hills of dirt/rock on the sides that someone could just go up onto temporarily to wait for a little flash flood to pass if need be. Though certainly, it wouldn't be smart to be in there at all during any time of predicted rain.

[@WestsideBoy]

@@user-tb2jy9lu3d Sorry just seeing this now. No, if you're hiking the Narrows and you've gone past the junction with Orderville Canyon, there is literally nowhere to climb to higher ground. You MUST retreat to before that junction

[@lawrencekeesler7369]

Glad you didn't begin until you were definitely safe! Great video!

[@GuyGirlGaming]

+Lawrence Keesler It could have ended very badly.

[@SCP--ej2bk]

I would like to say that I have not finished the video but I went to that same campsite and camped around the same area around you

[@elyivy0204]

Was there any warning signs?

[@Patty-to3rp]

Rain, water coming off the rocks, weather forecast, and probably signs out at the entrance saying the probability of a flash flood

[@alanwhite5637]

It was raining.

[@julieball1167]

Would like to see a before, during and after the flood video

[@daisymaefrench4041]

Where does the water end up?

[@donnlongstreet5110]

Thanks for the footage; pretty clueless to be in there when it's raining...

[@GuyGirlGaming]

It wasnt smart but living is learning

[@TheYosemiteClimber]

The rangers warn you about the Flash Flood risk before you even get on the shuttle if there is a chance of storms in the region. I can't believe people would be crazy enough to go up there during the summer.

[@oldiesmusic76]

Because they are stupid.

[@mel0305a]

Went in there last summer with my father and younger brother. I was only 15, it was so cool! It was raining but no flash flood at all. Not stupid necessarily just living in the moment. It was not the smartest to do tho haha

[@jesser5127]

If I was going to hike in this area, I would check the weather forecast for the whole state and stop every 30 minutes to check the radar for my entire STATE. Also, every corner that I went around, I would constantly be eyeing a place to climb up onto immediately and pretend like I would need to get away from a flash flood.

[@jenxkjquartuiopoquryzxmnv4287]

Or I would just go in mid July when it mostly will not rain

[@elias38]

Do you remember what was the CFS that day? I'm wondering what people do when that happens at the end of the trail. There are barely any rocks...

[@melodypace8268]

Tuffen up buttercups. Here in Utah you have that shooting off a 500' cliff into the Colorado. Moab adrenalin.

[@witch.y]

The text at 1:24 is hard to read. What does it say?

[@denize1654]

That’s why if it’s raining in canyon land NEVER go into a river or slot canyon.

[@stevenherrold5955]

east of the great divide all the debris that washes out of all those creeks and rivers ends up on the mississippi river delta in the gulf of mexico its a nonstop nightmare fighting all the driftwood that comes down the river

[@lancehol]

Gee, guess they didn't bother to check the forecast upstream. One of the first rules of these areas.

[@joemc111]

Ok my question is, how long did the flood last?

[@GuyGirlGaming]

joemc111 It started to go down within hours. I know the people trapped across the river were there quite a while because rescue was too dangerous.

[@alltvkahitano2547]

Sigeg hisgot anang kanyon, wa koy nakitang kanyon dong. Bukid ug baha rah. Ahaka.

[@douglaslang2218]

These will creep on you in seconds

[@InterestingTed]

Crazy. Great footage man.

[@GuyGirlGaming]

Interesting Ted Totally rad experience

[@mikemiller9119]

Now it’s finally time we can go starting in the Virgin River!

[@norml.hugh-mann]

Something that happens several times a year isnt anymore "historic" than any other event is

[@airpeewee]

where does the water come from? i mean just all of a sudden like that

[@mr.teezee]

peewee lewis The ground is very dry so the water doesn’t get absorbed, so it builds up very quickly and can travel for miles down these wash ways. This is why it can happen on a sunny day (where you are) if it’s raining even miles away from you.

[@scottmaida5237]

Wild stuff... and glad you didn't get caught in it. I would love to learn more about your experience.

[@biancagoodnight1750]

If you hear what sounds like heavy wind.RUN ITS WATER ALWAYS KNOW WHERE HIGH GROUND IS.If it's raining 🌧 it's going to flood.

[@yggdrasil9039]

I wonder what happens to those big logs 20 feet long when they enter a slot canyon 3 feet wide with sharp bends. Must make one hell of a dam.

[@Patty-to3rp]

Power of the water pretty much just snaps them.