ST. GEORGE — A man and woman called for help after hiking into the Island in the Sky area of Snow Canyon State Park. Washington County Search and Rescue would spend the next five hours aiding the couple.
The man, 24, and a woman, 22, climbed the canyoneering butte Friday afternoon and were left stranded, after sunset and during a heavy rainstorm.
Rescuers responded to the call for help at approximately 6:40 in the evening, Washington County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Darrell Cashin told St. George News.
“They knew after it got dark and it started raining they needed help, so they did the right thing by calling,” Cashin said.
Multiple teams went out to search for the two hikers and they were located around 8:30 p.m.
As the search and rescue team brought the hikers to the south end of the butte, they realized their planned exit route had been washed out by the rainfall.
“My guys didn’t know that the area that they normally come down on that south side had been washed out and there was a huge boulder in the middle of it,” Cashin said.
The search and rescue ropes team had to assist in rapelling the hikers to the bottom of the butte in the pouring rain. They arrived to safety at 11:30 p.m.
“It was pouring rain, it’s difficult to do a rescue in the rain,” Cashin noted.
Cashin reported that despite the lengthy rescue due to the weather, the two hikers were uninjured and thankful to be safe.
Cashin added that it is important for hikers to stay safe by checking the weather, knowing the routes they plan to take, letting others know the where they are going and being prepared for sudden changes in the weather.
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