Bogley

[trackrunner]

Notice they are using Tanya's pic

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6294954

Multiple rescues prompts temporary closing of Zion Narrows
April 27th, 2009 @ 4:40pm
ZION NATIONAL PARK -- Due to a number of boating rescues the National Park Services has temporarily closed the Zion Narrows to whitewater boating.

Over the weekend of April 25th and 26th, Park rangers performed multiple boating rescues from the Zion Narrows and associated canyons.


Five boating parties planned one day trips through the Narrows on April 24th and 25th. Four of the groups spent unintentional nights in the Narrows. Two groups lost boats and required assistance to complete their trips.

One kayaker was washed under a log jam but was not trapped by the hazard and was able to safely reach the river bank. His boat was lost downstream. After spending two nights in the Narrows, he was rescued by a passing boating party.

Two kayakers attempted to climb out of the Narrows after losing a kayak. They were able to climb 800 feet above the river level before they were unable to climb up or down. They were eventually rescued with the use of a helicopter from Grand Canyon National Park.
Superintendent Jock Whitworth temporarily closed the Zion Narrows to boating while the cause or causes of the multiple incidents are investigated.

During the spring snowmelt runoff season, the flow of the North Fork of the Virgin River is high enough to allow for whitewater kayaking, but a backcountry permit is required.

Whitworth says an unusually high number of permits were issued for the weekend.

Park rangers are trying to determine why there was such a large number of requests and why so many boaters underestimated the difficulty of the route.

When the causes are determined and appropriate actions taken, the Narrows will reopen as long as flows remain high enough.

The National Park Service reminds boaters to plan for unintended overnight stays and emergencies.

Rescue in the Narrows, or in Zion National Park, is never guaranteed. Rescue in the Narrows, if possible at all, will be significantly delayed due to the inherent dangers and risk to rescuer's safety.

[Iceaxe]

Zion Narrows Temporarily Closed to Whitewater Boating April 27, 2007
For Immediate Release
Bonnie Schwartz 435 772-0172
Ron Terry 435 772-0160

Over the weekend of April 25th and 26th, 2009, Zion National Park rangers performed multiple boating rescues from the Zion Narrows and associated canyons. During the spring snowmelt runoff season, the flow of the North Fork of the Virgin River is high enough to allow for whitewater kayaking, but a backcountry permit is required. An unusually high number of permits were issued for the weekend. Due to the multiple rescues that occurred over the weekend, the Zion Narrows is temporarily closed to whitewater boating.

Five boating parties planned one day trips through the Narrows on April 24th and 25th. Four of the groups spent unintentional nights in the Narrows. Two groups lost boats and required assistance to complete their trips. One kayaker was washed under a log jam but was not trapped by the hazard and was able to safely reach the river bank. His boat was lost downstream. After spending two nights in the Narrows, he was rescued by a passing boating party. Two kayakers attempted to climb out of the Narrows after losing a kayak. They were able to climb 800 feet above the river level before they became cliffed out, unable to climb up or down. They were eventually rescued with the use of a helicopter from Grand Canyon National Park.

Superintendent Jock Whitworth has temporarily closed the Zion Narrows to boating while the cause or causes of the multiple incidents are evaluated. Park rangers are focusing on the reason for a dramatic increase in permit requests and why so many boaters underestimated the difficulty of the route. When the causes are determined and appropriate actions taken, the Narrows will reopen as long as flows remain high enough.

All boaters are encouraged to realistically evaluate the arduous Class V route, utilizing a variety of information sources to plan their trip. Boaters are also reminded to plan for unintended overnight stays and emergencies. Rescue in the Narrows, or in Zion National Park, is never guaranteed. Rescue in the Narrows, if possible at all, will be significantly delayed due to the inherent dangers and risk to rescuer’s safety. Remember, your safety is YOUR responsibility.

For additional information, please contact Ray O’Neil, Plateau District Ranger, at 435-772-7823.

[tanya]

Quote:

Notice they are using Tanya's pic

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6294954


Nice picture Shawn... you have a good eye! :lol8: I thought they are suppose to ask, not just take them. :haha:

I even even almost read on the bottom right where it says Photo by Tanya :lol8:

[accadacca]

tanya wrote: Quote:

Notice they are using Tanya's pic

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6294954


Nice picture Shawn... you have a good eye! :lol8: I thought they are suppose to ask, not just take them. :haha:

I even even almost read on the bottom right where it says Photo by Tanya :lol8:
I would send them an email and demand a link back to your site for using the photo. They didn't even credit you under the photo. Lame... :roll:

[tanya]

Good Idea :five:

I LIKE links!!!! :2thumbs:

[trackrunner]

tanya wrote: Quote:

Notice they are using Tanya's pic

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6294954


Nice picture Shawn... you have a good eye! :lol8: I thought they are suppose to ask, not just take them. :haha:

I even even almost read on the bottom right where it says Photo by Tanya :lol8:

If you click the photo you can enlarge the picture

[tanya]

Does that count as credit :mrgreen:

[tanya]

Thanks Shawn for showing me the photo and everyone for the suggestions!

Email I just got :2thumbs:

The link was added to the story.



Thank you,



Graydon Johns

KSL.com News Director

gjohns@ksl.com

801-575-5572

[accadacca]

tanya wrote: Thanks Shawn for showing me the photo and everyone for the suggestions!

Email I just got :2thumbs:

The link was added to the story.



Thank you,



Graydon Johns

KSL.com News Director

gjohns@ksl.com

801-575-5572
:five:

[Iceaxe]

Narrows in Zion National Park reopening

The Associated Press
Salt Lake Tribune

ZION NATIONAL PARK » The Narrows area at Zion National Park is reopening.

The Zion Narrows were closed after several groups had difficulties in the canyon, which is remote and can have high water.

Last weekend, four of five groups that tried to kayak through the Narrows had problems and had to spend the night. Two groups required rescue. The incidents prompted the National Park Service to temporarily close the area.

It was scheduled to reopen Friday but the park says the Narrows will be closed for the season if other groups encounter significant difficulties.

[Iceaxe]

Zion Narrows reopened to kayaking
Recreation » Conditions still demand expert skill

By Tom Wharton
The Salt Lake Tribune

Zion National Park Service officials said the North Fork of the Virgin River will reopen to kayaking today, four days after the area in the Narrows region of the park was closed following multiple rescues last weekend.

But Zion superintendent Jock Whitworth warned that if more groups encounter significant difficulty, the Narrows will be closed for the remainder of the spring kayaking season and the park will reconsider how the activity is managed.

He stressed that recreationists in Zion's backcountry are responsible for their own safety and that kayakers must be prepared and skilled to safely enjoy the Narrows.

"That is especially true this year," said Whitworth. "We had so many rescues and kayakers at risk and park rangers at risk trying to rescue them. It's a pretty high runoff year so that attracts people."

Zion Plateau District Ranger Ray O'Neil said rain forecast for this weekend could cause the river to rise, although clouds could slow the snowmelt.

Kayakers can check water flows for the area at www.cbrfc.noaa.gov, a resource for recreational boaters. The site, maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, offers observed flow conditions as well as the forecast. According to NOAA's Ed Clark, the high water that caused havoc for boaters last weekend was almost entirely due to snowmelt.

O'Neil said there is only a short period during the spring when the water in the Narrows is high enough to kayak; some years, flows are not high enough at all. He said river levels will likely drop in two weeks to the point where kayaking isn't possible.

"A guidebook published a year or two ago offered a detailed description and drilled interest up," said O'Neil. "It talks about how it is a Class III river with Class V consequences. And the consequences of having an issue up there can be very severe."

Last weekend, two groups lost boats and required help to complete their trips. One kayaker was washed under a log jam but was not trapped by the hazard and was able to reach the river bank, though he lost his boat downstream. He spent two nights in the Narrows before being rescued by a passing boating party. Two kayakers attempted to climb out of the Narrows after losing a kayak but got stuck 800 feet above river level and were eventually rescued by a helicopter dispatched from the Grand Canyon.

[tanya]

trackrunner wrote: Notice they are using Tanya's pic

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6294954

Multiple rescues prompts temporary closing of Zion Narrows
April 27th, 2009 @ 4:40pm
ZION NATIONAL PARK -- Due to a number of boating rescues the National Park Services has temporarily closed the Zion Narrows to whitewater boating.

Over the weekend of April 25th and 26th, Park rangers performed multiple boating rescues from the Zion Narrows and associated canyons.


Five boating parties planned one day trips through the Narrows on April 24th and 25th. Four of the groups spent unintentional nights in the Narrows. Two groups lost boats and required assistance to complete their trips.

One kayaker was washed under a log jam but was not trapped by the hazard and was able to safely reach the river bank. His boat was lost downstream. After spending two nights in the Narrows, he was rescued by a passing boating party.

Two kayakers attempted to climb out of the Narrows after losing a kayak. They were able to climb 800 feet above the river level before they were unable to climb up or down. They were eventually rescued with the use of a helicopter from Grand Canyon National Park.
Superintendent Jock Whitworth temporarily closed the Zion Narrows to boating while the cause or causes of the multiple incidents are investigated.

During the spring snowmelt runoff season, the flow of the North Fork of the Virgin River is high enough to allow for whitewater kayaking, but a backcountry permit is required.

Whitworth says an unusually high number of permits were issued for the weekend.

Park rangers are trying to determine why there was such a large number of requests and why so many boaters underestimated the difficulty of the route.

When the causes are determined and appropriate actions taken, the Narrows will reopen as long as flows remain high enough.

The National Park Service reminds boaters to plan for unintended overnight stays and emergencies.

Rescue in the Narrows, or in Zion National Park, is never guaranteed. Rescue in the Narrows, if possible at all, will be significantly delayed due to the inherent dangers and risk to rescuer's safety.

I like that photo I took of you in Mystery better than this one, but I have never updated the photos on that canyon for the media to find. I need to do that!

[Bo_Beck]

Iceaxe wrote: Zion Narrows reopened to kayaking
Recreation » Conditions still demand expert skill

By Tom Wharton
The Salt Lake Tribune

Zion National Park Service officials said the North Fork of the Virgin River will reopen to kayaking today, four days after the area in the Narrows region of the park was closed following multiple rescues last weekend.

But Zion superintendent Jock Whitworth warned that if more groups encounter significant difficulty, the Narrows will be closed for the remainder of the spring kayaking season and the park will reconsider how the activity is managed.

I believe that it would make sense to require permit seekers to pass a checklist of minimum equipment prior to kayaking the Narrows just as the Grand Canyon does for the Colorado River. i.e.- throw bag, extra paddle, medical supplies and emergency bivouac gear. It is easy for anyone to get a permit whether they have experience paddling or not. The Narrows trip can be, and is a SERIOUS undertaking (as I found out last spring). I was fortunate enough to have made it out after my incident, but I now realize that the trip is committing and rescue may not be a surety?! If the water is flowing somewhere around 200 cfs, it is possible to make it downstream somewhat easily sans craft, but anything above this makes for extremely dangerous travel! Don't take this adventure lightly because so many now seem to be making the trip successfuly. Preparation is KEY! Experience at paddling is a MUST! Swiftwater rescue techniques are ESSENTIAL. Physical conditioning HELPS immensely!

[tanya]

Wow! Cool Photo! :popcorn:

[trackrunner]

Yes it looks like fun. I want to do it. But know you need the proper skills like Bo mentioned before considering.