26 "hikers" rescued from Sabino Canyon

[SkyIslandHiker]

On the heels of the previous weekend's massive rescue in Tanque Verde and Sabino Canyons, "hikers" once again ignore a Flash Flood Warning yesterday and have to be air lifted out in the dark:

http://www.kgun9.com/n...

I'm told that the parking lot to Sabino Canyon was closed off this morning.

[DarthStiller]

[air]

I believe some here would prefer the media just referred to them as "idiots".

Personally I think the media should just stick to the word people.

[Pivo]

I believe some here would prefer the media just referred to them as "idiots". After all, it's people who go outside when it might rain that give us smart hikers a bad name.

I believe after we distill down all of the comments, that was the original posters point.

[Pivo]

@SkyIslandHiker
We had to cancel our swim hike this morning, the PCSD closed Reddinton Rd. I get it, all the media attention, it's similar to fire restrictions.

[ljcygnet]

I have no idea what the circumstances were for their rescue, however ... if I was on the wrong side of a creek but was otherwise safe, I think I'd personally prefer to wait for the water to go down versus being airlifted out. It's expensive (even if I don't pay, somebody's going to, likely taxpayers), not without risk for the hikers or rescuers, and not really necessary.

Unless somebody's stuck in a tree or sitting on a rock in the middle of the creek, wouldn't it be better to just drop them some tents and some sleeping bags and some chow, and tell them to wait for morning? Maybe deposit a single SAR volunteer to babysit if it seems like somebody might panic and try to cross the creek before the water goes down sufficiently. Most flash floods only last a few hours, though, so waiting it out is certainly feasible.

And if the rescue was in the form of dangling from a rope from a helicopter rather than the chopper touching down and me having a proper seat inside? Nope. Nope nope nopity nope. I'd sit a week beside a creek before they got me into one of those baskets ...