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Three canyoneers dead, four still missing in Keyhole Canyon, Zion National Park.

Sounds like the 7th and last member of the group was found yesterday.
All killed in the flash flood.

Very sad indeed. Comments on the Utah canyoneering chat boards is they took a course that morning and then were in Keyhole that afternoon when the flood hit. Just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Yes, sad.
Apparently, the park officially closed Keyhole Canyon shortly after this group started their decent. But it was sadly too late. Many news articles have been placing a lot of emphasis on the fact that most in the group were beginning canyoneers, but I think that had little to do with what happened.
Would a group with more experience have started earlier or opted not to enter the canyon given the desk ranger's warning of flash flood risk that day? Maybe, maybe not.
Like RedRoxx said, wrong place, wrong time.

NPS link:

http://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/keyh ... sept17.htm

Oh my, that photo of everyone smiling just before really hit home

Yes it does Joe, so tragic

This one hit too close to home...


I just read the Zion NP article and saw the photo.... and downloaded the photo then zoomed in for a closer look. In an instant I had this punch in the gut... And when I showed it to Tracey she felt the same.


Robin Brum (second from the right in the photo) was a member of our Global Volunteers team in Tanzania. She was a true joy to work with and truly a giving and loving heart.
(She is in the same video as Tracey (I posted on YouTube) of them teaching the kindergarten kids how to brush their teeth.)

She was planning to visit us and hike with us later this year... she will be missed.

It certainly was a very different Feeling doing Keyhole on Friday. They had just opened it and Pine back up....First Time in that Canyon and I can only imagine what it must have been like....That Canyon, though Short, is extremely Narrow and even if they had had a few Minutes Warning, there would have been no Escape....Going through there on Friday was different for Everyone. We all had 7 Unfortunate People on our Minds....Although there is more to the "Post Flood" Story, I will stop here....Definitely was on everyone's mind at the Rendezvous this Year.... My Condolences to all of the Families and Friends of those who were Lost....

My Condolences to all of the Families and Friends of those who were Lost....
I didn't have the pleasure of meeting any of these people but my heart goes out to all the families and loved ones. So tragic :sorrry: They will all be missed by many