Deseret News | Utah hikers scrambled to escape flash floods

Reader comments
Utah hikers scrambled to escape flash floods

Jake | 7:09 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

Apache helicopter? Looks like a Blackhawk to me....

EricfromIndy | 7:57 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

I am so glad the deseret news is doing this article. A lot of people from Utah go down to Havasupai falls after hearing of their beauty from friends like we did while we were in Utah (And the falls are amazing). However, the area is very dangerous to visit during the "Monsoon season" of July and August as we found out the hard way three years ago! Apparently the word has not got out. This area is dangerous this time of year! Not to mention they charge a fee for camping there which is not posted at the trail head (we found out once we got to the village). We got down there with some Native American friends, heard of the large fee, then left that same day only to almost be swept away when the "Trail" became a raging river after a rain storm (think niagara falls on all sides of you- no kidding). We were fortunate enough to find a high rocky ledge which did not become a waterfall. Otherwise don't know if we would have survived, seriously. Again, dangerous area this time of year, thanks for the article. Next time, Hellicopter in and out in summer.

Gary F. | 8:36 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

When I first read the article and found that a apache helicopter lifted them out, I was amazed that a two seater aircraft managed to do all the work. Maybe a blackhawk, like one shown in the picture, would have worked better.

Comments continue below

Josh | 8:38 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

It is a Blackhawk.

Ing | 9:09 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

People often don't seem to realize the speed and power flash floods can have--and that it doesn't have to be raining where you are to be dangerous.

Sounds like these people were lucky that they had at least a little bit of warning, not to mention enough sense to camp on high ground. Most times in canyon areas and dry washes you'll hear the flood (or smell the muddy water) before you see it. If you hear something rushing in the canyon, just run for the highest spot you can find, and *then* look. By the time you actually see it, you could be too late.

Anyway, enough expounding. It's an interesting story... I'm glad to hear that everyone got out okay. Scary stuff.

Shane | 9:55 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

It would be pretty freaking awesome to ride out in an apache.

Anna Omas | 10:41 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

Two years ago July I did the Hike into and out of Havasu Falls/Supai with our LDS scout group. The night before we left we could see distant flashes of Lighting. We got an occasionable drop of rain but that was it. When we crossed over the creek at 5 am the water was brownish colored in the flash light but it was dark and we didnt think much of it at the time. About an hour out of Supai we could see puddles of water in the sandy creek bed. I was thinking flash flood. At the trail head/parking lot we ran into some people who did a night hike out. They said they heard the flash flood coming and had about 30 seconds to get to high ground. They were stuck for about 45 minutes until the waters subsided. I guess that was a garden variety flash flood. In this week's case the flood retention basin 50 miles upstream failed.

I want to go back and see the place again next year. It was worth the hike in and out. What an adventure for me and my son.

Kaggie | 10:44 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

The Apache part was probably partially my mistake. If anyone knows me when I get excited and start explaining some things, I tend to get a few words wrong even though I knew it was a Blackhawk (but only after being told in the campground). On Monday, there were a ton of different helicopters there besides Blackhawks.

Eric | 11:40 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

It's interesting that none of the articles I've read point out that it is going to take a very long time for the area to recover. The second picture in this gallery is an image of what was once Navajo Falls. That waterfall is completely gone. Both the campground and the trail leading to the campground sustained heavy damage. It was a bittersweet experience to see Havasupia on the last day in it's "pristine" condition. The village will be fine, but the waterfalls will never be the same.

Ashley | 12:12 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008

I'm glad you guys were safe and it's bittersweet to know I seriously considered going. I wouldn't have wanted the scary experience, but to have seen Havasupai before all the damage would have been the greatest! It doesn't surprise me that Josh wasn't really phased by the life-threatening experience!

I thought | 6:38 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008

I thought, from things I've read in the past, that the experts think flooding is good for the Grand Canyon?

Good for the grand canyon | 7:45 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008

Flooding is good for the Grand Canyon. Minor flooding is good for this village and their crops. Massive flooding is terrible for this village because they thrive on tourism.

Ridgerunner | 9:00 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008

What? An article that is not filled with people blaming this on the LDS church or GWB? How can this happen? Where are you guys?

Never the same | 10:27 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008

The river, the falls, the canyon. Each day they are never the same. There may be similarities, but each day something is different. Isn't it amazing how nature recovers in its own beautiful way (especially if the government and man doesn't get in the way).

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