On Monday, July 15, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the Emery County Dispatch received a distress signal from a Garmin GPS device regarding a group of hikers who found themselves trapped in the Zero Gravity Slot Canyon, with one male being stuck in between the canyon walls. This created a situation that all canyoneers and Search and Rescue (SAR) members fear.
An important note regarding the Emery County SRO officers is that they are qualified volunteers, who first submit an application, take a drug test and then must be approved by the County Commission. These men and women work full-time and spend time with their families in addition to their duties as SAR members.
The SAR team, many of whom had turned in for the night, rushed to respond to what they learned would be a high-angle rope rescue. This type of rescue is performed when slopes stand at 50 degrees or higher, with rescuers completely reliant on the ropes and their teammates as they engage the situation.
Emery County Sheriff Tyson Huntington explained in a Facebook post regarding the incident,” The rope team had to build the rope system necessary to effect this type of rescue. SAR members had to get rigged up and drop below the victim to help him be loosened from the canyon walls.”
While the rescuers dove below the victim, the team up top had the strenuous and challenging task of managing the rope system, a crucial role in the rescue.
In addition to the SAR team at the scene, the Utah Department of Public Safety Deployed a rescue helicopter manned with a pilot and a two-man task force to aid in the rescue efforts.
In the end, all three members of the hiking party were rescued and brought to safety. All three managed to avoid any serious injury in part due to the efforts of SAR.
Sheriff Huntington expressed his gratitude and appreciation for SRO stating,” I cannot overstate the importance of our Search and Rescue Team. All of our members are just regular people with huge hearts and a desire to serve others at the cost of themselves … They have no desire for praise or accolades. In the past, talk of compensation came up and the team collectively scoffed at the idea so loud that the National Weather Service noticed an anomaly in the wind patterns over Castle Country.”
*Photo Courtesy of The Emery County Sheriff’s Office