Crews were heading out around 3 p.m. ET Wednesday to search for a missing hiker in the Buckskin Gulch, Allan Alldredge of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office in Utah told Audacy.
This week, 11 people have already been lifted out of the gulch due to severe weather. One hiker in the area was found dead, per an ABC News report confirmed by Alldredge.
According to the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management, Buckskin Gulch is “one of the longest continuous slot canyons in the world,” and it “passes through roughly 16 miles of unique formations and undulating sandstone walls in the northern stretch of the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness.”
Fox 13 News reported that “flooding has been a major concern heading into the spring,” in the Bucksin Gulch area, due to the “enormous snowpack the state has received this winter.”
Slot canyons such as the gulch can quickly fill with floodwaters, the outlet explained. This creates dangerous conditions for hikers.
A group of adult male hikers in their 40s and 50s in the area were reported missing Monday. The Kane County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a hiker’s spouse informing them that a party of three hikers who left Friday, were expected to come back Sunday and never returned.
Immediately, authorities began a search of the area and a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter was sent to the canyon.
“Camping debris was located which led to the location of one of the three hikers,” said Alldredge in a statement provided to ABC News and confirmed by him. “A SLC helicopter with hoist capabilities was then flown over the canyon to lower someone to extract the hiker and get them medical attention.”
Authorities said the hiker was taken to hospital for medical treatment. No further information was available as of Wednesday afternoon. Another one of the hikers reported missing was found dead, per the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.
“Authorities did not disclose how the man may have died,” said ABC News. Identities of the victims had not been released as of Wednesday afternoon.
During the search for the missing hikers, emergency responders also airlifted others out of the area.
“Two other parties have called for SAR resulting in 11 people being airlifted out of the canyon due to severe weather,” said Alldredge.
As the search continues for the other hiker Fox 13 said that flood watches continue. New watches were put into effect for parts of Southern Utah, including Buckskin Gulch, Wednesday morning to Thursday evening.
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