I don't think they had a clue how much danger they were in. They seemed pretty casual. Super lucky they didn't get a full torrent coming down that canyon.
And nothing in the way of survival equipment summer clothes small backpacks out for a stroll guy in front never looked back much to see if everyone was still there guy at back sounded worried
@@WELLBRAN No backpacks at all I reckon. They looked like water camels to me. And the guy at the front had the hardest job of walking into unknown water...he could've stepped into a washed out hole at any time. The guy doing point does not worry about those behind him, he finds a safe passage and the others look after everything else. The guy at the back sounded a little panicked and unfit.
It could have turned into one literally at any moment -- all it would take is one flash flood coming out of one dry wash anywhere upstream. Scary thing about slot canyons is that they act like hydraulic dams -- flow choke points. Once that two-metre-wide rockbound channel fills, rising flow behind has nothing to do but pile up. And it will do that very, very fast. I've seen Antelope Canyon fill bottom to top and then overflow in about five, ten seconds. Oh, yes, and once that happens ... that 'safe point' they reached at the end? Deathtrap.
As a Southwesterner who has watched flash floods roaring down canyons where the water got very deep very fast, I implore folks watching this video to be very thorough in your planning before you consider going into slot canyons or canyons much wider than the canyon shown in this video. On one occasion I safely watched a flash flood roaring down a canyon that was much wider than the canyon shown in this video. The water got very deep & was flowing very fast. From where I was standing I could hear rumbling sounds coming from the canyon. The rumbling sounds must have been boulders rolling & hitting each other. During the height of the flood the boulders weren’t visible. The power of water to roll boulders & carve canyons has the power to quickly wipe out human lives.
I’m glad I’m reading this. I never understood what was so scary. So that water from the rain causes big boulders to move and smash people! Wow I never knew that always living on the east coast. And mostly in Florida.
About 15 years ago, my wife, young son, and I took a canyoneering tour with a guide outside of Zion. We started at the top and rappelled down through the slots. Some of the slots had still water so we floated through them. It was a beautiful day. My son and I had rappelled down our longest drop of the day, and my wife was part way down the rope when a wall of water came crashing down on us. Our guide was still on stop but slid down (didn't rappel) as fast as she could. By the time she got down the water was waist-high. We ran for higher ground (fortunately there was some), but within minutes the water was at our toes and we had to go higher yet. We were in total panic mode...I couldn't envision my son being swept away. We saw a plateau about another 20 feet up, but it was a dangerous climb and we had to pull each other up, but we made it. The raging rapids in the slot reached about 20 feet in about five minutes. We sat there for three hours waiting for the water to drop, our ropes still dangling from our last descent. The point is that we didn't see it coming. The rain was at a point higher up than we were; we only got a few drops, we never had any idea what was about to transpire. We were more than lucky. Pictures from that day still bring chills to me.
In 1999, a group of 45 tourists and 8 guides went canyoning in the Swiss mountains. It was raining a little where they were and the river was swelling a little, so they decided to continue. After a few minutes the group was hit by a wall of water, wood and rocks. 18 young tourists and 3 guides died that on this day. The mountains are as unforgiving as they are magnificent.
I live in southern Utah. Every 5 years of so, some one die's in one of those slot canyons from a flash flood. Once those canyons start to fill up some times you just cant get out in time. I volunteer for Search and Rescue. They won't even let us go up into a canyon like that if it is flooding like that. When some one dies in a flash flood like that, here in southern Utah, Almost always it is some one from another country or state who does not understand the environment. There was a whole boy scout troop that was lost in the narrows back in the 1970's. Most of the time you are fine, but just don't ever hike it if there is more than a 20% chance of rain. If you see water start to come down fast, get the hell out of there! It might turn out to be nothing, but then it might not. That being said, you cant always keep your kids in a bubble. You do have to take some risks. You are good parents. You don't over protect them, but when things were looking bad, You were smart enough to get the hell out of there fast! I am so glad that this did not turn out to be a tragedy!
What part of southern Utah are you from? I'm from southern Utah as well. I worked in Zion NP and Bryce canyon but I live in cedar city UT I know exactly what you are talking about!
when you see the canyon when its dry, you wonder how on Earth it gets its strangely sculpted walls. It isn't until you see the water cascading in that you realise exactly how its done... and you get a whole new appreciation for both the power of water, and the great intricacy and vibrancy of Mother Earth...
Well, my favorite in slot canyons are looking up 20 feet and seeing logs wedge between the slot walls. Hmm... how did that get there when there isn't a tree in sight? A flood that is 20 feet high through the slot. Always complete slot canyons before 11am to avoid the unexpected thunderstorms which occur almost exclusively in the afternoons.
We have hiked it dozens of time as well as others we always check the weather and watch the sky's. We were very fortunate it wasn't worse. The weather was wrong when we checked it.
@@utahmototrails did you just use Siri "is it going to rain"? Those type of "weather checks" are almost always wrong until it's basically consensus, I don't know how they score it but what you should be using is an actual model animation like ventusky or tropicaltidbits. I really don't know why but Siri is always telling me "no it doesn't look like it's going to rain" meanwhile a couple days later the storm that I've been expecting all week based on the models hits.
@@chir0pter No one that is experienced and relies on the best meteorological information for say, planning a trip into a place like this would ever just use "Siri" to do a weather check. I don't know but have to believe that the makers of this video had and used more sophisticated weather info than just asking Siri if it was going to rain--and maybe get several sources of weather info, from NOAA, and from two or three meteorologists-- when planning their trek. Having done a few in my life--not just canyons-- the last thing that would occur to me is to ask Siri or Alexa for weather information when lives might depend on it and just rely on that. What we all have to learn though, is that once and a while mother nature is very unpredictable and can fool the best of us--sometimes we do get all the best data available and still find ourselves wrong.
@@JanoyCresva The issue with sprinting is you can't see where you're stepping; the water's too murky. One false step, and you could trip, smack your head, fall over, and drown. The jogging was risky; sprinting is just dangerous and foolish. Also it is a lot harder to run in that amount of water than many realize. Instead of just moving air, now your feet have to move a much more dense substance out of the way: water. It drains a lot of energy, especially when you have to balance and not slip. And given how far the group had separated: it was unwise to waste all their energy on any attempt at sprinting. What happens if they don't have enough energy after sprinting to help family members who are in danger? Also they had to watch the boys they found; sprinting ahead and leaving those boys behind would have been dangerous. And not to mention if only one of them had sprinted ahead of the group and ended up getting injured, no one is around to help them. Speed is not everything.
They're oblivious to the actual high level of danger that they're in. Just a bit higher & they'll be swept off their feet. The kids saying how awesome it is etc. Injure your fuckin ankle etc & you're gonna die.
This one made me sick... I grew up in the desert southwest, I know what this could mean... Could have flooded so much worse and so quickly they'd never have stood a chance.
So slow And laugh like moments Do u see any seriousness U can tell these kids an dad are best buddies Must keep sense of adult I bet they do WHATEVER they wish
As soon as the kids came into the picture- *I think my soul temporarily left my body.* I hope the adults understand and appreciate just how insanely lucky they all are to have made it out alive.
That moment when your oldest son asked if his little brother was scared and he replied, "my heart is pounding". The big brother put his arm around his little brother and tried to comfort and calm him. It was really a beautiful thing to see, Thanks for sharing.
@Justin Hinds Yeah this canyon killed a couple of people last year in similar weather, tough guy. Slots are death traps in the rain and these people in the video were lucky. Also his comment was pretty funny and yours really isn't, no matter how much you lol.
@Justin Hinds I hate to tell you. But you don’t have a clue the danger these people are in. I get the feeling they do though. If I was there, I’d be scared shitless. And I know all about the dangerous world. It a situation like that a 8’ wall of water could be screaming at them around the next corner.
Don’t forget the debris that can be washed down the canyon as well as some good size boulders if the current is strong enough. Kind of a blender effect with debris and boulders.
This is why you NEVER go into slot canyons during the Monsoon season (late July to early September). I’ve lived in Southwestern Utah basically my whole entire life, and growing up here we know how dangerous a little rain can be. You guys got very, very, very lucky to get out alive. There are deaths here every single year during the Summer Monsoon.
Pure stupidity going in slot canyon here, in monsoon weather as someone pointed out. No ropes or grappling hook to use to climb to higher ground. No sense whatsoever in these people. Very lucky they didn't drown and die.
It does explain what happened in the description, in case people thought they decided to go for a walk in a slot canyon while it was raining. The day had started out fine enough and then changed to 20% rain whilst they were deep in the canyon. The amount of water you see is from very light rain.
Yeah, they really should have taken this more seriously based on what I'm seeing in this video. A little more bad luck in this and those kids could have been swept away to injury or death.
All this "always go upstream" or "always go downstream" talk is nonsense - The golden rule when facing flash flood danger is "always go in the direction that you KNOW has the closest high ground" - you should never be in a canyon with out a topographical map. If you are orienteering as you go, you will be able to move to known high ground quickly at the first sign of flash flood danger. There is no substitute for knowing what you are doing...
Well, there is a substitute. You can drown. As for climbing straight away, I didn't really see anywhere that you could get all the way out. You wouldn't want to climb to a ledge 30' up then watch as the waters kept rising to 40'...
@@garyb6219 You cannot wait a rain shower out in a slot canyon. You will die. Your only choice is to get to high ground, as soon as possible, if you're lucky and near the entrance you can walk out, but if not, you best pray that you can scale the sides to get to high ground.
It sounds like you’re not from the desert or Southwest. Hiking in canyons and slots is fun and very dangerous. Before hiking, always check the weather before going. It may not be raining around you, but, it could be raining someplace else,
One chilling detail is how the bottom is now treacherous mud, and can't see holes and cracks that were easily avoided when dry. It's why they are slipping and falling so much. Even with the water only ankle-deep. Slowing them down, risking turned ankles. And -- that "high ground" at the end -- not NEARLY safe if there's going to be a serious flash flood.
I also like the way the older brother directed the younger brother to do what the dad did when they came up on a tricky obstacle. Touches my heart every time I see moments like that...
Same! Breaks my heart. They were scared. He was worried about his brother. I honestly was so freaking scared for them. 2 little girls just got caught in this canyon. The 7 year olds body was found, her 3 year old sister is still missing. I’m so so sad for them. I can’t imagine these Dads and how scared they were. Good job keeping your cool for the kids guys. I was FREAKING out.
Had a similar situation happen in Mystery Canyon of Zion's back-country. No rain in the forecast and suddenly heard thunder. We were able to find a spot where we could scale a wall part way up to a ledge (not that I could ever do that without the adrenaline that was pumping through my body) We were out of cell range and ended up getting stranded overnight, spiders and scorpions everywhere and the sand was so cold to sleep on. It ticks me off seeing people criticize every action they see in this video- you NEVER know the situation unless you're in it. You can tell yourself all you want "this is what I would do if x happened" but there are always variables you couldn't possibly account for. Glad you were all safe!
Nicole Riebe finally someone who actually has some real life insight! These clueless self appointed experts just make themselves look like idiots. Do they not realise that even though the guy DID check the forecast, forecasts are not always accurate... Things can change at any time as you know.
you know the situation if you know how to read weather systems and also know that it doesn't have to rain directly on you in order, rather 40 miles away, to be caught in a flash flood.
newbeat2012: Yes. You can be too cautious. Why bother leaving your house when you could get hit by a car or have a stray dog bite you. There IS a certain amount of risk in this game we call life. None of us are getting out of here alive. Take reasonable precautions and live life.
Nicole Riebe Somewhere in Zion I was hiking a canyon stream when it started to rain. There had been so many signs warning of flash floods that I turned around immediately and scurried back to my sister waiting for me in a safe area. Within minutes, a crowd of hikers came running as fast as they could in the rising water. They all made it out safely but it was terrifying to watch the water tumbling down toward them. The Lord smiled upon us all that day.
I lost a friend in the flash flood of Hurricane Ridge just a few years ago when the water swept him and his car off a road. They found what was left of his mangled car a day later in Arizona. He was found laying under a tree, succumbed to injuries. RIP Ryan Mertlich. Think long and hard before going hiking in a canyon!
I'm in good shape and have considerable hiking experience. Several times I've just not felt good about going into a slot canyon. There's other hikes that the worst case scenario is not loosing your life. I appreciate this footage,though, as it puts a sense of urgency and reality into the warnings before these hikes. Respect your life.
For sure, he is not that for purpose. It happened to me as well and I had no idea it would happen to me. I had no idea that I had to walk like 2 km in a canyon slot to achieve Petra.
This is the first time I have seen rain falling in a canyon on video or even in real life. I just never thought about where all the water would end up. It should be common sense where the water would build up; however, I did not expect the water to flood up so quickly. Glad that they are okay. I learned something today.
If the rain had started up the canyon from them before hitting them, they could have had an 8 foot wall of water come at them really fast, and it would have been found footage.
That water is not only moving at about 15-20 mph it is also rolling in and under itself. It if were high enough for you to try to swim it would grab you and slam you onto the rocks on the sides, even on the bottom, over and over again. You would drown in seconds. Even if you survived you would be a mess. I saw one brought out once; both legs and arms broken with bones sticking through the skin, half the scalp gone, missing one foot and several fingers. But, he was alive!! We couldn't see how he made it but the chopper came and picked him up and I understand they managed to revive him. Too bad though, he had multiple spine fractures and was a quad from then on; sometimes surviving my not be the best thing... just my opinion.
Holly Rockwell-Celerier After reading as a kid describing horrible injuries due to battle damage (like WW1 and WW2), people barely surviving but being paralyzed and deformed for life, or the Japanese man accidentally exposed to radiation and spend over 50 days in agony because doctors refused to let him die....... I agree. Sometimes killing a human is not murder. It’s kindness. It’s why I am not a damn nurse or doctor. Blood and huts don’t bother me. I have hunted. But something about suffering makes me want to end it. A broken leg...no we have the means to fix that. But the injures you described? Yes. I may end that persons suffering is they beg me to. If they want to live, I probably could just get help. But if they beg for death, I probably would grant their wish as humanely as possible.
So many people say the leader was out for himself. He wasn't he was a LEADER. He commanded the pace, let urgency be know, but didn't show fear. He looked back. The kids were covered. It was his quick thinking, and no nonsense attitude that contributed to their safety
@@TamimLB They were fine. They were allowed to be themselves and encourage each other. They kept going, I don't see how they could have gone much faster
Living here in Arizona you learn that all kinds of things can happen, and it is especially dangerous during the monsoon season. One year a whole family was killed. They were swimming and cooling off in a pool in northern Arizona that was fed by a mountain stream. A thunderstorm happened 11 miles away and at an elevation 2000 feet higher. The water came crashing down at a high volume and very fast. The family had no idea what was coming. They had no idea they were in danger.
Dad Saying: Don't worry kids its not raining hard enough for the canyon to fill up with water. Dad's thinking: This canyon could so fill up with water.
My son and I were outside Moab a few years back hunting rocks, etc., and we had a little rainstorm come up. I had just shown him, a few days before in a small stream about four inches deep, what the power of water could do, and had warned him about being in a wash when rain starts. We were up on the side of the hill when the rain started, so no worries, but by the time we made it down, there was six inches of water rushing fast enough to sweep you off your feet in the wash. Water does not play, nor does it forgive stupid.
Do people actually read the descriptions on these clips? He was heading down stream to a widening in the slot, to meet his wife and daughter/s who were down that way. They had checked the day before and there was no forecast for rain, the 20% chance of rain was forecast AFTER they were out of cell phone/internet coverage.. Yes heading up stream would have meant less water, but as they hadn't been up that way going down stream mean't they knew that area as they had just come that way, and knew about the wide area in that direction.
+liam moore It would seem not, Liam. Some of the comments on here are the product of ignorance and stupidity, full of fear and 'what might have happened'. Its pathetic. I personally thought it was a great video, I learned a lot from it, and the text explains they obviously did their research of the weather before heading out. The detractors on here are proof that sometimes its best to stay quiet and let people think you might be a fool, rather than make a comment and let people know you are a fool.
Russell Moore that's why you always have a back up plan, know the area your in and even if there is a 20%chance of rain that is 20% to much for the safety of my children. Just my opinion.
To all these people criticizing this guy for his parenting skills. A slot canyon can fill up with no rain in the forecast and in the winter as well -if you want to experience a slot canyon the unpredictable risk is always there -as is getting in a car wreck on your block or getting the Flu from a doorknob at the quickymart. Being in nature sometimes requires accepting certain risks and often requires planning, risk assessment, quick decision making, evasive action and survival skills -and you will never get them all correct -making mistakes it's part of it -it's why it's called Nature -and not called your bedroom laced with cheetos and energy drinks with your electronic window to the dangerous outside world. You cannot predict or mitigate all of the danger if you want to experience life -especially nature. So instead of criticizing this guy (who either made a mistake in his assessment of the sky or maybe not at all) understand that they stayed calm and had an amazing life learning experience with his family -and further built an appreciation for Nature his Family and the bonds that tie them together -So quit with the comments, and go back to controlling everything in your world by simulating your sense of adventure by slaying a dangerous virtual dragon online using your multiple lives accrued, or playing a dangerous first person shooter video game with your stranger online friends, or watching a murderous drama on cable through the slits in your hands covering your face or whatever you scaredy cats do to avoid living in the real beautiful and often dangerous real world. great video -glad you had an amazing experience and learned some valuable lessons and appreciation in the process.
DBoonful I think this was EPIC parenting actually. Those boys got to experience an adrenaline filled learning experience with their dads. You can bet their dads were crapping in their pants as well. The kids were excited, slightly concerned but their dads composure made the boys focus on the task at hand. Put boot to ground and get out, now. In the end they now have a story to tell for decades to come and have gained valuable life experience all in one shot. You can't hide inside from life or else it will pass you buy. All the "Keyboard Karls" need to get out of the house and do the same.
I am from India. On a visit to Arizona, I went to see the Antelope Canyon and having seen videos of flash floods in slot canyons before the trip, I was worried right through even though we were assured that there are early warning systems in place to alert you in case of any flash floods. But my thoughts were always there as to what would happen if you were to get caught right inside one of those narrows with water gushing at you at 100 MPH. I guess you should make it compulsory to carry floats and safety belts on any such hike or trek through these narrow canyons.
Wow, what an adventure! I was hiking in a canyon in Zion and was thinking how ominous it would be in a flash flood. A week later, a group of experienced hikers died when they were caught in a flash flood--there was no way to climb out of the canyon. Nature is amazing, but can be dangerous. We had many adventures growing up and some close calls too. Glad you guys were o.k.!
A lot of judgmental comments. If you READ the description, if some of those being so judgmental CAN read, this wasn't supposed to happen. The forecast was good for a hike. No one was purposely put in danger. I think they handled this elemental surprise quite well, and they were moving fast to try and get out of it.
Ignorance is bliss... This video is a perfect example of the old saying "Ignorance is bliss" That man endangered this children and was too stupid to check the weather before hiking in a canyon..
Me personally, I don't think I could of held back yelling at my kids to shut up and take it serious. In hindsight it was all good. They made it out safe and had a fantastic memory together.
Dad was stupid to let his kids yell like that. Could have made people nearby run to them thinking they were in trouble, and there could have been more deaths instead of those 4.
Why panic the kids? You are the one in control not them..dont let kids scream!! Really it helps them to control their fears..I hope you people never have kids
@@streetrider11 Shut up and take this serious is a far cry from You're going to die. Things very easily could of been worse. For instance, say on the trip back there was a fork with another path and a couple family members just plod down the wrong one and aren't paying enough attention to hear your calls to come back. Yet your headstrong other family member is sick of the noise and keeps going the right way not turning around or stopping. Like I said though, it turned out ok and they have a good memory together. So 20/20 hindsight says letting the kids act like fools was fine.
I doubt the kids didn't take it serious. People talk when nervous or scared the alternative is to cry, scream or just give up in fear. They were booking it and keeping up with the front dad. I'm glad this ended with no one dead.
This is why you need to pay attention to weather forecasts, and start early so you're out of there before afternoon thunderstorms develop. I wonder if these people realize how lucky they were.
Even more important in this case was taking note of wide openings along the way and knowing which direction is your closest safe spot. This group did fine. When it gets waist deep, that's when you're in real trouble. When a wall of water comes down, you don't need me to tell you you've made a mistake in your planning or execution and you're going to pay for it. It really sucks when you get half-way through the Narrows and have to go back because of flash flood danger, but as you're driving out of the park and the Emergency Broadcast System interrupts the radio telling you that "Attention, attention, attention, this is not a test," severe flash flooding is washing out the Narrows and Park officials are sending in search and rescue to help anyone caught in the canyon, you feel a whole lot better about the failure to complete the trip, which is exactly what happened to our group of about 20 people who begrudging turned around when it started sprinkling at the half-way camp.
Fucking weather channels is wrong 80% of the time dude. From what I understand this day was suppose to be rain free then while they were in the cannon it changed to 20% out of no where.
I was on tenterhooks the entire video! Glad everyone got out ok. Anyone in the Southwest familiar with slot canyons knows you have to take care. Any amount of rain, miles away can make trekking through one a chancy thing. I'm remembering what happened in Antelope Canyon in the late nineties, so really glad this turned out fine.
Same thing happened to me but it was sunny. It had rained fast and furious like 5 miles away and we had no clue and it was much more water than here. It half carried us out. fun times. Learned something new that day. Always check for rain at least 20 miles around.
Someone in one of my hiking groups was asking if it was worth it when there was a 50% chance of rain. No WAY!!!! Thank goodness you guys made it out safely.
50% = area that will experience rainfall, not 50% chance of rainfall. Example: mesa 50% rain, half of the city will experience rain half of the city will not.
I was concerned the kids feet would get stuck in the rocks as they slipped or turned an ankle. Imagine trying to carry an injured kid out. That's probably impossible with rushing water and debris.
The kids were screaming and fake tripping over into the water and playing the fool the entire way, slowing down the guy behind them - who surprisingly didn't once grab them by their little gay backpacks and throw them ahead of him some, or step on them to make them quieter. They had no idea of the danger. And the jackass at the front never once looked back!
Leggo My Ego Better that they didn't know. Till they startrd realizing, but kept going anyways, having fun, rather than them freezing up/screaming and crying in fear. That area is slippery as he'll so if the adults lifted them up they would have fallen trying to carry the boys. Better to keep moving.
+BaSH PROMPT (ಠ,ಠ) and i doubt you yourself know the dangers as anyone with climbing experience or anyone who goes walking would know that their "little gay backpacks" are camel sacs used for drinking water, the fact them kids have them shows that they are used to climbing and walking and therefore i believe they will appreciate the dangers and as said in the description, they new the area and that it was widening up so they were in little danger
I'm actually impressed with how your dad was. You could tell he was kinda scared but he barely showed it and didnt yell or anything as the little ones were having fun, so he didnt stress everyone out or panic them
+Dloweification That is what I took away from this as well. He was hurried but not panicked and that's no small accomplishment given the circumstances. It would be nice if the NPS could install a storm warning siren. One that was based on actual radar, not forecast.
I would have told the kids to stop screaming and move faster to be honest. I have no experience with flash floods in slot canyons and I would have been terrified. All business no fun, focus on getting out so we don't drown. Perhaps if I was more confident there wouldn't be a wall of water coming behind me I would let them have their fun.
I honestly don't know if I could keep myself as calm as this Dad was. I'm sure the Dad was terrified but he did an amazing job and got the kids out and to safety. Two thumbs up!
Love how the adults handled this situation. Boys in the middle, experienced up front, adult in the back. Those boys will forever have this as a memory and the tale will live on for generations of how they beat a flash flood and made it out alive!!! HEROES!! XOXO
Thank you for reminding me that some people in the world have to be negative and nasty no matter what. You probably think they should have been at home staring at some kind of screen... you know... where they will be "safe". Pffft. This video shows EXCELLENT parenting. You should learn from it. @@KM-bu8ec
Gotta give props to Pops in the back. He kept his cool but knew the danger they were in.Had to do that for the kids.They did great too.The guy in the front is just as good. The flash floods in these slot canyons have taken a lot of lives and I’m glad these people made it out safely. Good feeling story.👍☮️
@@lefyre1266 He probably would have gone faster had he not kept turning round to check the kids were ok.......... oh..... he didn't? Guess he needs to work on his cardiothen. That way he could have left them behind properly. 🤣
@@thelonemoomin The boys were loud enough to be heard by him, and he was going slowly because he didnt know how deep the water was or if there were any obstacles in the water, the boys and the other man saw him tripping many times and they avoided where he got stuck, it is like driving in the fog. The first car cannot see a thing so it drives slow but the cars behind it can just follow it without worrying about their visibility level.
***** I just have a feel for what makes a good story. Work with me. We can make this family vacation into the tragic internet sensation it could have been in the first place!
That’s what I’m saying. There’s other comments criticizing the pace and lack of urgency. But that’s exactly how accidents happen which would cause them to slow down even more. It’s always better to stay strong under pressure, once you panic that’s where the problems start
When I was a kid even younger than them, we swam in the raging Kings river & dove off the bridge in Yosemite Park into the river & free climbed up some of the scariest cliffs around Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This kind of activity was typical for us, we all made it out to tell the tales. Yes, these slot canyon trails can be dangerous if you get caught in a section with too steep of walls to climb up & above a flash flood. I think they knew how far they needed to go & how deep the water was at that moment & believed strongly they could beat the heavier flow, as they did.
They were in real danger. Life threatening danger. They needed to tell the boys to stop screwing around. I'm obviously totally glad they were ok. But there's a time to be serious (without panicking the kids). Also, I hope this ended up as a "teachable moment" for the kids. I don't blame the dad if he didn't know that could happen (although I'm from Boston, never been out that way in my life and even I know about the flash floods in the canyons) But I've been on vacation before and did "fun" things without knowing the potential dangers. But I hope the dad did a little research and learned more on the subject and then sat down with the boys and talked about what happened, what could have happened and what they did wrong. That way the boys will be educated on the subject for when they're teens and older.
The good things about this video: 1. They survived to show us the danger 2. the adults stayed calm and guided the kids to safety 3. it shows us that the water flows into the canyon from every direction The Bad thing: They shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Every canyon you can walk away from is a good one 😎
Actually seems like they took the proper precautions, checking the weather first. Only after they were out of cell service did the weather change. I am a 20yrs in search and rescue and I can tell you there is absolutely no way to completely avoid risk even sitting on your couch Monday morning quarterbacking someone else. The kids had a blast and Thank God it was just a small shower. Weatherpeople rarely report our weather accurately here. The same has happened to me and a surprise shower turned me back on a trip. Its hard to see clouds building in tight canyons.
What would happen if there was a real big rain? I'm thinking, they could just flow with the water, like, swim on top of it. But i would imagine, the water gaining quite a bit of momentum down there when getting deeper, so keeping your head above water becomes increasingly difficult as you get more tired also. Yeah, that was a good video, good reminder.
Joe T Going into that canyon is dangerous, period. When in the wilderness, one should prepare for the worse happening. The fact that the rains snuck up in minutes tells a great deal. They weren't prepared. They were simply lucky. Or blessed.
Funk that...go on a clear day. If they know Utah weather in canyon-like environments..they would know it can rain at anytime..unless its a blue cloudless day. These guys must have been tourists... I only lived here in Utah for 2 years and even I know weather comes like Jesus will(like a thief in the night).
Epic parenting. Those kids have a life story to tell now and learned some good life experiences. Good on the dads for not panicking and allowing the boys to focus on the task at hand; putting boot to ground. Slot canyons are unpredictable and if you want to experience their beauty and wonder, there is risk. Just like with life in general. You can either take some risk and experience it or die without. Glad to see these families out there exploring our amazing world.
Brian Streufert I do agree. Sh*t CAN happen and when it does, all that matters is how you handle it. Great, great stress management. The beef at the front, letting kids screaming like vikings between adults, calming laughings at the back.. Textbook, hats off.
+Brian Streufert -Well said. They will remember that for the Rest of Their LIVES ! What an adventure ! I am just glad everyone got out OK and that the Dad? just focussed on putting the right foot forward. Great exciting video it makes ! = )
At first I thought they didn't know they were in danger but then I realized they did know but didn't want to panic anyone that didn't know they were in danger. They really were as smart about it as they could have been. They were moving quickly as possible while still trying not to break a leg on ground they couldn't see. The only other option they had besides out running it was trying to climb up slippery wet rocks resting falling and injury and there is really no telling how high they would have needed to climb
that was not 50 miles away....it was raining hard where they were, which makes it doubly stupid. I've hiked in that canyon with my son on a day when there was no chance of rain. There are some spots where the canyon opens up. They should have gotten to one of those once it started raining and waited it out, long before the channel started really flooding. I've been in 2 real flash floods. One in Zion when I was 14 and on a short hike by myself, while my mom and aunt went on a drive. It had been drizzling all day, but apparently raining hard up high. A flash flood came shooting over the cliff at Emerald Falls (I think that was the name) with logs and rocks. Within 30 seconds the little pool at the base of the cliff I had been swimming in was a torrent and I had to run to get out of the way. I was stranded for hours on the wrong side of the canyon from the trail to get out. There was only one couple with a baby there and we prepared to spend the night, but I knew my mom would be freaking out when I did not return from the hike. Finally, hours later, the torrent subsided enough for us to use a log to get across. It was well after dark when we hiked out and the Park Service was organizing a search party. Fortunately, I made smart choices and learned my first lesson about flash floods (which was to immediately get to a safe spot and wait it out). The second was in a large canyon near Cameo (east of Grand Junction) where I was backpacking. There were many thunderstorms all around, and I had to find a spot to crouch down in the canyon to avoid lightning. While in that spot, I actually smelled the flash flood before I saw or heard it come around the bend in the canyon. The head of the flood was an almost dry mass logs and rocks and branches which actually stirred up dust ahead of it, which is what I smelled. Within a minute the place where I had been crouching was under a mix of mud and water and debris. Fortunately, the canyon was wide at that point and I was able to safely move up slope. I watched as successive floods passed through, each of a different size and mud color, representing the geology of different side canyons above the main canyon. It was fascinating (from a safe distance), as I am a hydrologist. Again, I hiked in during a day with storms, but stuck to the wide canyon. I waited until the next, clearer day, before hiking up one of the narrow side canyons. There are some things that common sense tells you not to do.
Very cool. To be honest I would've started panicking if I was in that situation but keeping calm is probably the best way to handle it. Better to tread carefully than to run through a narrow canyon and break your ankle
good job guys. when it's raining in the desert, you gotta watch for flash floods, they can come on FAST becauseour sould doesn't soak up a lit of the rain
I have no respect at all for those parents - I have a lot of experience in these canyons and in flash floods in them, and they should have found a place to climb immediately and wait it out. Even the kid pointed out a place early to climb up. This was not a time to be calm. It was a time to run.
garden variety paranoid conspiracy theorist false flag operation after yet again taking one too many bong hits in mommas basement for ever undescended titillating the tube again pesky fornicating flags stroking aberrant thoughts every where these days with idle peters robbing pauls of masturbation time ferscrisakes learn to share brown screen indeed what just hit the fan crapped out infants toying with each others diapers claiming to invent face book paints exceedingly superficial
I was so stressed out watching this. My heart was pounding. It's been over 20 some years but I still remember being as a kid on a family vacation hiking here and my dad saying "you don't want to be caught in here in a flash flood. It could be the last thing you ever do".
I like how the father never looked back at the children nor even try to hold their arms. Although his eyes look forward, his heart is looking back at them.This way he teaches them how to depend on themselves and be courage. Great DAD.
Your very lucky as you were running"blind". A twisted ankle, a broken ankle would have changed the whole narrative. Slip & fall forward and hit your head. Now you have to carry someone and potentially twist your ankle in the process. Glad everyone made it our safe.
Even if it is a positive thing to take this kind of risk, still one can't help but notice and take concern with the danger. It's important to appreciate the risk you choose to take on.
@Matthew Shubin And you're an idiot. We read about "silly folks" like you all the time, lol, fools who DON'T understand the risks, or do and don't prepare for them. Foolhardy folk who die all the time, whether by flash floods in desert arroyos, whitewater kayaking without proper safety gear, or even simple spring hikes in the Colorado Rockies, yep more idiots get themselves killed by NOT considering safety first. And if they just got themselves killed, that would be one thing, but when they get others who trusted them killed as well, well that is a tragedy. Taking risks is certainly a daily part of life, but just as most intelligent people buckle their safety belts whenever they get behind the wheel, you ameliorate that risk by BEING PREPARED, or as the old saw goes, hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
They lucked out that the rain was as light as it was, that they found their group so quickly, and that they remembered a wide spot with high ground. If it wasn't for needing to reunite with the "girls ", I'd have picked one of six climb able spots before there due to the extreme risk of a flood flashing through. Too many have died doing exactly what you were doing.
+Thomas Paine Ahh, at last a "common sense" comment! (heh, heh) Yes! Viewers should learn from this. It is understandable on an emotional level that reuniting with the girls took priority; were it not for that it would have been CRIMINALLY stupid not to climb to safety at the first opportunity, as one of the boys sensibly pointed out at 3:53. Anyone making light of this, looking on it as an adventure to be sought rather than as deadly peril and a narrow escape has NO CLUE what water can do in these slots when an intense but localized downpour passes over. It would have been a real shame if the girls had survived (having sought high ground rather than reuniting) but these had died because the water rose too quickly, as could have so easily happened. Ignorant commenters should read The Secret Knowledge of Water by Craig Childs and gain some respect for the extreme power of slot canyon hydrology.
When there is anything above a 0% chance of rain, no one should be going into any slot canyons. Even a 10% chance of rain is not what most people think. It doesn't mean that there is a 10% chance of rain - it is going to rain somewhere regardless. That 10% means rain for your particular area. Somewhere, it WILL rain around the said area. That can cause flash floods, too.
jmr1068204 This is correct. A 10% chance of rain does not mean 10% probability of rain. It means that 10% of the area forecasted WILL (or at least is expected to) get rain.
Adrallon Ded That knowledge is available everywhere. You fail to learn it, so that makes you the idiot. Go ask a weather man what it means. He'll tell you the exact same thing.
+Adrallon Ded A percent change of anything in weather is how much of a given region can expect whatever. It is not the odds of something happening. Go take an S-396 class through the Forest Service. One of the subjects in there is the weather.
I don't think they had a clue how much danger they were in. They seemed pretty casual. Super lucky they didn't get a full torrent coming down that canyon.
And nothing in the way of survival equipment summer clothes small backpacks out for a stroll guy in front never looked back much to see if everyone was still there guy at back sounded worried
@@WELLBRAN No backpacks at all I reckon. They looked like water camels to me. And the guy at the front had the hardest job of walking into unknown water...he could've stepped into a washed out hole at any time. The guy doing point does not worry about those behind him, he finds a safe passage and the others look after everything else.
The guy at the back sounded a little panicked and unfit.
@@spring983 yep they were lucky
It could have turned into one literally at any moment -- all it would take is one flash flood coming out of one dry wash anywhere upstream. Scary thing about slot canyons is that they act like hydraulic dams -- flow choke points. Once that two-metre-wide rockbound channel fills, rising flow behind has nothing to do but pile up. And it will do that very, very fast. I've seen Antelope Canyon fill bottom to top and then overflow in about five, ten seconds.
Oh, yes, and once that happens ... that 'safe point' they reached at the end? Deathtrap.
Only fools go where angels dare to tread.
Any slot canyon you need be prepared for much worse. And yes they were lucky.
This is definitely one of those "Don't tell mom!" moments!!
The new study suggests a more
Mom was with them.
Rhaella Targaryen 😂
Hahahaha!
Their mom it looked like was waiting for them when they got to the bottom. Must have been worried sick.
As a Southwesterner who has watched flash floods roaring down canyons where the water got very deep very fast, I implore folks watching this video to be very thorough in your planning before you consider going into slot canyons or canyons much wider than the canyon shown in this video. On one occasion I safely watched a flash flood roaring down a canyon that was much wider than the canyon shown in this video. The water got very deep & was flowing very fast. From where I was standing I could hear rumbling sounds coming from the canyon. The rumbling sounds must have been boulders rolling & hitting each other. During the height of the flood the boulders weren’t visible. The power of water to roll boulders & carve canyons has the power to quickly wipe out human lives.
I'm surprised they had so much time and it wasn't way deeper.
Yea, it's not the waves moving YOU, but what the waves are moving with you IN THE MIDDLE.
@@nancyfahey7518 Thanks th-cam.com/video/_VoFTLF3hpA/w-d-xo.html
I’m glad I’m reading this. I never understood what was so scary. So that water from the rain causes big boulders to move and smash people! Wow I never knew that always living on the east coast. And mostly in Florida.
@@michelleosborne8951 th-cam.com/video/eL7BIGnj4SA/w-d-xo.html
About 15 years ago, my wife, young son, and I took a canyoneering tour with a guide outside of Zion. We started at the top and rappelled down through the slots. Some of the slots had still water so we floated through them. It was a beautiful day. My son and I had rappelled down our longest drop of the day, and my wife was part way down the rope when a wall of water came crashing down on us. Our guide was still on stop but slid down (didn't rappel) as fast as she could. By the time she got down the water was waist-high. We ran for higher ground (fortunately there was some), but within minutes the water was at our toes and we had to go higher yet. We were in total panic mode...I couldn't envision my son being swept away. We saw a plateau about another 20 feet up, but it was a dangerous climb and we had to pull each other up, but we made it. The raging rapids in the slot reached about 20 feet in about five minutes. We sat there for three hours waiting for the water to drop, our ropes still dangling from our last descent.
The point is that we didn't see it coming. The rain was at a point higher up than we were; we only got a few drops, we never had any idea what was about to transpire. We were more than lucky. Pictures from that day still bring chills to me.
I'm so glad you made it out. Very scary
In 1999, a group of 45 tourists and 8 guides went canyoning in the Swiss mountains. It was raining a little where they were and the river was swelling a little, so they decided to continue. After a few minutes the group was hit by a wall of water, wood and rocks. 18 young tourists and 3 guides died that on this day. The mountains are as unforgiving as they are magnificent.
Doing a little bit of research before going on a new hike would be the smart thing to do.
I live in southern Utah. Every 5 years of so, some one die's in one of those slot canyons from a flash flood. Once those canyons start to fill up some times you just cant get out in time. I volunteer for Search and Rescue. They won't even let us go up into a canyon like that if it is flooding like that. When some one dies in a flash flood like that, here in southern Utah, Almost always it is some one from another country or state who does not understand the environment. There was a whole boy scout troop that was lost in the narrows back in the 1970's. Most of the time you are fine, but just don't ever hike it if there is more than a 20% chance of rain. If you see water start to come down fast, get the hell out of there! It might turn out to be nothing, but then it might not. That being said, you cant always keep your kids in a bubble. You do have to take some risks. You are good parents. You don't over protect them, but when things were looking bad, You were smart enough to get the hell out of there fast! I am so glad that this did not turn out to be a tragedy!
What part of southern Utah are you from? I'm from southern Utah as well. I worked in Zion NP and Bryce canyon but I live in cedar city UT I know exactly what you are talking about!
I heard that some of the bodies washed out of Antelope Canyon were never found...... but then, that's a HUGE slot canyon.
You should not hike in a slot canyon if there is any chance of rain
@Paul Kryder any time, dork 😄
I hiked at Zion Natl.Park. Tge River hike.same thing! Death trap.but i made it!!
At the bottom when it’s all safe the kids are thinking “ isn’t dad so cool bringing us here”
Dads thinking” fuck me I nearly killed us all “
And hopefully he told them how stupid that was and how many have died, doing the same stupid stunt.
THAT IS THE BEST COMMENT OF ALL TIME!!! We were all cracking up at that. Thank you. Pure poetry!
that must've been fucking scary lmao
@@distrachan2671 your welcome !!
best comment ever
when you see the canyon when its dry, you wonder how on Earth it gets its strangely sculpted walls. It isn't until you see the water cascading in that you realise exactly how its done... and you get a whole new appreciation for both the power of water, and the great intricacy and vibrancy of Mother Earth...
Well, my favorite in slot canyons are looking up 20 feet and seeing logs wedge between the slot walls. Hmm... how did that get there when there isn't a tree in sight? A flood that is 20 feet high through the slot. Always complete slot canyons before 11am to avoid the unexpected thunderstorms which occur almost exclusively in the afternoons.
Great comment until you mentioned the "intricacy and vibrancy of Mother Nature." Giving the inanimate a consciousness? Give me a break!
You know what you could also see?
Natural selection at its finest.
John Shilling “mother nature” is just a saying, of course it doesn’t have consciousness
Yada yada yada
Having hike this slot canyon multiple times in my life, I can say these people are very fortunate to be alive.
We have hiked it dozens of time as well as others we always check the weather and watch the sky's. We were very fortunate it wasn't worse. The weather was wrong when we checked it.
@@utahmototrails did you just use Siri "is it going to rain"? Those type of "weather checks" are almost always wrong until it's basically consensus, I don't know how they score it but what you should be using is an actual model animation like ventusky or tropicaltidbits. I really don't know why but Siri is always telling me "no it doesn't look like it's going to rain" meanwhile a couple days later the storm that I've been expecting all week based on the models hits.
@@chir0pter No one that is experienced and relies on the best meteorological information for say, planning a trip into a place like this would ever just use "Siri" to do a weather check. I don't know but have to believe that the makers of this video had and used more sophisticated weather info than just asking Siri if it was going to rain--and maybe get several sources of weather info, from NOAA, and from two or three meteorologists-- when planning their trek. Having done a few in my life--not just canyons-- the last thing that would occur to me is to ask Siri or Alexa for weather information when lives might depend on it and just rely on that.
What we all have to learn though, is that once and a while mother nature is very unpredictable and can fool the best of us--sometimes we do get all the best data available and still find ourselves wrong.
@@bingyoung3228 why are you telling me this? I literally said Siri is always wrong and I use other sources.
For the kids it was the best day ever. For the Dad's the scariest
They sure as hell didnt move like it. That light jogging made me sick. Id be sprinting towards my kids.
@@JanoyCresva The issue with sprinting is you can't see where you're stepping; the water's too murky. One false step, and you could trip, smack your head, fall over, and drown. The jogging was risky; sprinting is just dangerous and foolish.
Also it is a lot harder to run in that amount of water than many realize. Instead of just moving air, now your feet have to move a much more dense substance out of the way: water. It drains a lot of energy, especially when you have to balance and not slip.
And given how far the group had separated: it was unwise to waste all their energy on any attempt at sprinting. What happens if they don't have enough energy after sprinting to help family members who are in danger?
Also they had to watch the boys they found; sprinting ahead and leaving those boys behind would have been dangerous.
And not to mention if only one of them had sprinted ahead of the group and ended up getting injured, no one is around to help them.
Speed is not everything.
The kids don’t realize the danger... and apparently neither the Dad, going to a canyon with rain it’s insane!
7:07 says he’s panicking
They're oblivious to the actual high level of danger that they're in.
Just a bit higher & they'll be swept off their feet.
The kids saying how awesome it is etc. Injure your fuckin ankle etc & you're gonna die.
This one made me sick... I grew up in the desert southwest, I know what this could mean... Could have flooded so much worse and so quickly they'd never have stood a chance.
So slow
And laugh like moments
Do u see any seriousness
U can tell these kids an dad are best buddies
Must keep sense of adult
I bet they do WHATEVER they wish
Yes. I agree with you. So easy for anyone to slip and turn an ankle. Hikers have died in these slot canyons, bodies swept miles downstream.
Yes these people got severely lucky that day!!
Yeah, it happened in Utah to that large group of Californian’s. All of them died.
There are so many , with no respect . Even scout masters, have killed children in these canyons !
As soon as the kids came into the picture- *I think my soul temporarily left my body.* I hope the adults understand and appreciate just how insanely lucky they all are to have made it out alive.
Agreed. My stomach sank.
Yup - same here… This was insane!
Yup there goes any future custody battle.😀😀😀
Same.
Left your soul 🤦 WTF are you talking about! they knew where to go that's why they weren't freaking out. You people are lame!
You guys are incredibly lucky to be alive. I've seen a wash turn into a raging river in just a few minutes on a sunny day.
That moment when your oldest son asked if his little brother was scared and he replied, "my heart is pounding". The big brother put his arm around his little brother and tried to comfort and calm him. It was really a beautiful thing to see, Thanks for sharing.
Agreed. Thank you. :)
Daniel Retro Sharks belongs to oceans -.-
Den gracias a que no se produjo un aguacero y riada fuerte. Con el agua al cuello no habrían salido ilesos. El barro es peligroso.
That experience definitely brought you and your boys closer. You all had an angel on your shoulders for sure.
Crazy Running Cruasder - Alright, genius. A giant squid, then.
Next week’s adventure: Play on the train tracks while wearing headphones.
Thanks. I need the laugh!
😂😂😂😂😂👏🏻
😂😂😂
@Justin Hinds Yeah this canyon killed a couple of people last year in similar weather, tough guy. Slots are death traps in the rain and these people in the video were lucky. Also his comment was pretty funny and yours really isn't, no matter how much you lol.
@Justin Hinds I hate to tell you. But you don’t have a clue the danger these people are in. I get the feeling they do though. If I was there, I’d be scared shitless. And I know all about the dangerous world. It a situation like that a 8’ wall of water could be screaming at them around the next corner.
Don’t forget the debris that can be washed down the canyon as well as some good size boulders if the current is strong enough. Kind of a blender effect with debris and boulders.
This is why you NEVER go into slot canyons during the Monsoon season (late July to early September). I’ve lived in Southwestern Utah basically my whole entire life, and growing up here we know how dangerous a little rain can be. You guys got very, very, very lucky to get out alive. There are deaths here every single year during the Summer Monsoon.
Don’t think humankind would be in any danger without them.
@@itaomahony502 that’s a sad way to view life
Going for that Darwin Award 🥇
Pure stupidity going in slot canyon here, in monsoon weather as someone pointed out. No ropes or grappling hook to use to climb to higher ground. No sense whatsoever in these people. Very lucky they didn't drown and die.
@@donaldtidmore7954 "A grappling hook"? Lol highest IQ internet scold
It does explain what happened in the description, in case people thought they decided to go for a walk in a slot canyon while it was raining. The day had started out fine enough and then changed to 20% rain whilst they were deep in the canyon. The amount of water you see is from very light rain.
It's why you never go into the slot canyons even if it's dry, if there's any chance of rain, even pretty far away.
@@Thundersnowy good grief what a hostile environment
I've only hiked thru short canyons and only a handful of times, but this is so crazy true. Inexperienced Peeples don't even know.
It could be raining 30 miles away and you could still have a flash flood in there
Oh wow, smh
It’s all fun and games until someone can’t get out in time
More running less talking
HOLY christ
I be running
It tells you
Dad in koolzone
Not dadzone
Check back with these kids at home today
Dad dad lets
Dad lets kids DNA stamped
Yeah, they really should have taken this more seriously based on what I'm seeing in this video. A little more bad luck in this and those kids could have been swept away to injury or death.
All it takes is a sprained ankle......
running is the worst thing they could do. trip hit your head and get ko'd gl getting out then
@@pomegranatepip2482 Yeah, in this circumstances one casual light injury and it’s the end...
All this "always go upstream" or "always go downstream" talk is nonsense - The golden rule when facing flash flood danger is "always go in the direction that you KNOW has the closest high ground" - you should never be in a canyon with out a topographical map. If you are orienteering as you go, you will be able to move to known high ground quickly at the first sign of flash flood danger. There is no substitute for knowing what you are doing...
I would have immediately climbed to the highest and safest ground. Lucky a wall of water didn't hit.
Well, there is a substitute. You can drown.
As for climbing straight away, I didn't really see anywhere that you could get all the way out. You wouldn't want to climb to a ledge 30' up then watch as the waters kept rising to 40'...
Just wait it out. Find a little cave along the way and get out of the rain.
@@garyb6219 You cannot wait a rain shower out in a slot canyon. You will die. Your only choice is to get to high ground, as soon as possible, if you're lucky and near the entrance you can walk out, but if not, you best pray that you can scale the sides to get to high ground.
@@orangejuche I don't agree. You never see anyone drown in these videos. It's a myth or a hoax or something. Just stay and enjoy it.
sincere thx 4 posting this despite knowing you'd get judged and lectured by strangers.
It sounds like you’re not from the desert or Southwest. Hiking in canyons and slots is fun and very dangerous. Before hiking, always check the weather before going. It may not be raining around you, but, it could be raining someplace else,
I live in southern Utah, we know how dangerous these are. count your blessings, you are some of the luckiest people I’ve ever seen.
One chilling detail is how the bottom is now treacherous mud, and can't see holes and cracks that were easily avoided when dry. It's why they are slipping and falling so much. Even with the water only ankle-deep. Slowing them down, risking turned ankles. And -- that "high ground" at the end -- not NEARLY safe if there's going to be a serious flash flood.
Aside from a little mortal terror, this might be one of these kids best memory.
Eric Swenson adversity brings character, lol, they'll remember this in their future, and laugh.
right. my childhood was just dangerous enough to be both mildly traumatic and fun. at the same time.
i do remember running down a steep hill and not being able to stop lol
Eric Swenson tell me why i was thinking the same thing..lucky lil fellers lol
Eric Swenson Yeh sudden realisation dad bolted thinking only of his own safety.. you know he started of with 4 kids on the day out.. lol
I also like the way the older brother directed the younger brother to do what the dad did when they came up on a tricky obstacle. Touches my heart every time I see moments like that...
when he put his little arm around him, i started crying.
The older boy putting his arm around the younger boy asking “are you scared?” melted my heart... what cool kids!
Same! Breaks my heart. They were scared. He was worried about his brother. I honestly was so freaking scared for them. 2 little girls just got caught in this canyon. The 7 year olds body was found, her 3 year old sister is still missing. I’m so so sad for them. I can’t imagine these Dads and how scared they were. Good job keeping your cool for the kids guys. I was FREAKING out.
@@camillem823 LOL "they were scared". You know nothing of boys' psychology. The noisier they were the more excited and putting on a show they were.
@@camillem823 Ummm...dads stayed calm so the boys stayed calm. There really isn't much more to it. 🤦♀️
Oh sweet
@@camillem823 😢😢😢so sad
Had a similar situation happen in Mystery Canyon of Zion's back-country. No rain in the forecast and suddenly heard thunder. We were able to find a spot where we could scale a wall part way up to a ledge (not that I could ever do that without the adrenaline that was pumping through my body) We were out of cell range and ended up getting stranded overnight, spiders and scorpions everywhere and the sand was so cold to sleep on. It ticks me off seeing people criticize every action they see in this video- you NEVER know the situation unless you're in it. You can tell yourself all you want "this is what I would do if x happened" but there are always variables you couldn't possibly account for. Glad you were all safe!
Nicole Riebe finally someone who actually has some real life insight! These clueless self appointed experts just make themselves look like idiots. Do they not realise that even though the guy DID check the forecast, forecasts are not always accurate... Things can change at any time as you know.
you know the situation if you know how to read weather systems and also know that it doesn't have to rain directly on you in order, rather 40 miles away, to be caught in a flash flood.
newbeat2012: Yes. You can be too cautious. Why bother leaving your house when you could get hit by a car or have a stray dog bite you. There IS a certain amount of risk in this game we call life. None of us are getting out of here alive. Take reasonable precautions and live life.
newbeat2012: That's a mighty impressive word you used there big guy.
Nicole Riebe Somewhere in Zion I was hiking a canyon stream when it started to rain. There had been so many signs warning of flash floods that I turned around immediately and scurried back to my sister waiting for me in a safe area. Within minutes, a crowd of hikers came running as fast as they could in the rising water. They all made it out safely but it was terrifying to watch the water tumbling down toward them. The Lord smiled upon us all that day.
Well, you didn't have to saw off your arm with a dull multi-tool, so there's that.
Mr. Brightside.
joynthis L M A O ONLY FEW CAN GET THIS REFERENCE
Yep. I got it.
joynthis true
best comment
I lost a friend in the flash flood of Hurricane Ridge just a few years ago when the water swept him and his car off a road. They found what was left of his mangled car a day later in Arizona. He was found laying under a tree, succumbed to injuries.
RIP Ryan Mertlich.
Think long and hard before going hiking in a canyon!
Very sorry for your loss.
when its dads turn to watch the kids
V
"Ehhh, little rain never hurt anybody."
That's terrible and hilarious 😂
Lol, you stupid.
@@than217 *rain wrapped tornadoes are displeased to hear this*
Had they left a little later, they may have ended being in a MrBallen episode.
I thought the perfect comment didn’t exist lol
Missing 411!
Love that Navy Seal!
Haha. So true. 😌
Lol
I'm in good shape and have considerable hiking experience. Several times I've just not felt good about going into a slot canyon. There's other hikes that the worst case scenario is not loosing your life. I appreciate this footage,though, as it puts a sense of urgency and reality into the warnings before these hikes. Respect your life.
yes. It is well known that a flash floor in a slot canyon kills you. I will just have to admire slot canyons from pictures
Well said. The video bothered me quite a bit (an unnecessary risk of life) but your "respect" comment gave it a positive value. 👍
For sure, he is not that for purpose. It happened to me as well and I had no idea it would happen to me. I had no idea that I had to walk like 2 km in a canyon slot to achieve Petra.
A life jacket is wise
I've been through there when it was dry. There are big driftwood logs 30 feet up on little ledges, where flash floods have left them high and dry.
When that water gets high enough to sweeps you off your feet, those canyon walls turn into meat grinders. And your the meat!
no way man, its turns into a water slide....weeeeeeeee !!!!
Not to mention any potential falling rocks. A fist sized can be enough to kill a child or make him unconscious...
@@Gizziiusa ferb, I know what we’re going to do today!
They look pretty smooth to me
you're *
This was very dangerous because when they get back to the car, their feet and clothes will be wet and it will damage the upholstery.
They can dry out off their feet for the way home and can dry out their socks and shoes later.
Dh nlghtnd 1 there is so much wisdom in your comment lol
step 1 take clothes off step 2 put on the heat
if they're smart they brought a change of clothes
😂
This video made my anxiety go from 0 to 100% in just 5 seconds. That's a record! Can't wait to tell my new therapist about it.
Just watch a relaxing video of a worker free climbing a radio tower to change the light bulb at the top. Much slower pace. 😃
Baxter James Fucking hell butthurt much? Who hurt you bro, I’ve seen you chatting all over the comments
And he’s deleted his fucking comments brilliant
Lol
This is the first time I have seen rain falling in a canyon on video or even in real life. I just never thought about where all the water would end up. It should be common sense where the water would build up; however, I did not expect the water to flood up so quickly. Glad that they are okay. I learned something today.
It was so crazy. It was a very light sprinkle and this happened. If it had been a hard rain it could have been really bad.
If the rain had started up the canyon from them before hitting them, they could have had an 8 foot wall of water come at them really fast, and it would have been found footage.
@@utahmototrailshow scared were you?
That water is not only moving at about 15-20 mph it is also rolling in and under itself. It if were high enough for you to try to swim it would grab you and slam you onto the rocks on the sides, even on the bottom, over and over again. You would drown in seconds. Even if you survived you would be a mess. I saw one brought out once; both legs and arms broken with bones sticking through the skin, half the scalp gone, missing one foot and several fingers. But, he was alive!! We couldn't see how he made it but the chopper came and picked him up and I understand they managed to revive him. Too bad though, he had multiple spine fractures and was a quad from then on; sometimes surviving my not be the best thing... just my opinion.
Duh
Holly Rockwell-Celerier
After reading as a kid describing horrible injuries due to battle damage (like WW1 and WW2), people barely surviving but being paralyzed and deformed for life, or the Japanese man accidentally exposed to radiation and spend over 50 days in agony because doctors refused to let him die.......
I agree. Sometimes killing a human is not murder. It’s kindness.
It’s why I am not a damn nurse or doctor.
Blood and huts don’t bother me. I have hunted.
But something about suffering makes me want to end it.
A broken leg...no we have the means to fix that.
But the injures you described?
Yes. I may end that persons suffering is they beg me to. If they want to live, I probably could just get help.
But if they beg for death, I probably would grant their wish as humanely as possible.
So negitive lol
Okay. You convinced me. No Utah canyon visits.
@@Rep0007 right! 😂😅
thing is. he started of with 3 kids
Look at the direction the water is flowing
it's a shame he didn't lose the noisy one
Best comment on the page.
lmao
did they ate the fat kid??
So many people say the leader was out for himself. He wasn't he was a LEADER. He commanded the pace, let urgency be know, but didn't show fear. He looked back. The kids were covered. It was his quick thinking, and no nonsense attitude that contributed to their safety
And the kids clearly weren’t taught how to talk nor be quiet
@@TamimLB They were fine. They were allowed to be themselves and encourage each other. They kept going, I don't see how they could have gone much faster
I dont think hes smart enough
Whatever I don't agree being a father
@@robm5583the guy in front wasn't the dad. But I agree,. He didn't even turn back to help the kids once.
What a great memory all those kids will always have of this moment.
Living here in Arizona you learn that all kinds of things can happen, and it is especially dangerous during the monsoon season. One year a whole family was killed. They were swimming and cooling off in a pool in northern Arizona that was fed by a mountain stream. A thunderstorm happened 11 miles away and at an elevation 2000 feet higher. The water came crashing down at a high volume and very fast. The family had no idea what was coming. They had no idea they were in danger.
cool story im gona get tf off youtube now. ty for the nightmares.
This is why you should always bring a towel.
Towelie is disappointed.
i dunno that was a lot of water. i think theyd need at least three or four towels for a flood that size
Disposable rain poncho perhaps too.
Bob Clover towlie
Am I the only one who gets the reference....
Dad Saying: Don't worry kids its not raining hard enough for the canyon to fill up with water.
Dad's thinking: This canyon could so fill up with water.
My son and I were outside Moab a few years back hunting rocks, etc., and we had a little rainstorm come up. I had just shown him, a few days before in a small stream about four inches deep, what the power of water could do, and had warned him about being in a wash when rain starts. We were up on the side of the hill when the rain started, so no worries, but by the time we made it down, there was six inches of water rushing fast enough to sweep you off your feet in the wash. Water does not play, nor does it forgive stupid.
Do people actually read the descriptions on these clips? He was heading down stream to a widening in the slot, to meet his wife and daughter/s who were down that way. They had checked the day before and there was no forecast for rain, the 20% chance of rain was forecast AFTER they were out of cell phone/internet coverage.. Yes heading up stream would have meant less water, but as they hadn't been up that way going down stream mean't they knew that area as they had just come that way, and knew about the wide area in that direction.
+liam moore
It would seem not, Liam.
Some of the comments on here are the product of ignorance and stupidity, full of fear and 'what might have happened'. Its pathetic.
I personally thought it was a great video, I learned a lot from it, and the text explains they obviously did their research of the weather before heading out.
The detractors on here are proof that sometimes its best to stay quiet and let people think you might be a fool, rather than make a comment and let people know you are a fool.
+liam moore EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING
Russell Moore tbh who actually reads the entire description of a video, I typically don't, unless I have no clue what is going on in the video.
Russell Moore I was just about to ask of going up stream vs down...thanks for filling in though...better to know I guess than heading up stream blind
Russell Moore that's why you always have a back up plan, know the area your in and even if there is a 20%chance of rain that is 20% to much for the safety of my children. Just my opinion.
To all these people criticizing this guy for his parenting skills. A slot canyon can fill up with no rain in the forecast and in the winter as well -if you want to experience a slot canyon the unpredictable risk is always there -as is getting in a car wreck on your block or getting the Flu from a doorknob at the quickymart. Being in nature sometimes requires accepting certain risks and often requires planning, risk assessment, quick decision making, evasive action and survival skills -and you will never get them all correct -making mistakes it's part of it -it's why it's called Nature -and not called your bedroom laced with cheetos and energy drinks with your electronic window to the dangerous outside world. You cannot predict or mitigate all of the danger if you want to experience life -especially nature.
So instead of criticizing this guy (who either made a mistake in his assessment of the sky or maybe not at all) understand that they stayed calm and had an amazing life learning experience with his family -and further built an appreciation for Nature his Family and the bonds that tie them together -So quit with the comments, and go back to controlling everything in your world by simulating your sense of adventure by slaying a dangerous virtual dragon online using your multiple lives accrued, or playing a dangerous first person shooter video game with your stranger online friends, or watching a murderous drama on cable through the slits in your hands covering your face or whatever you scaredy cats do to avoid living in the real beautiful and often dangerous real world.
great video -glad you had an amazing experience and learned some valuable lessons and appreciation in the process.
Why doesn't this comment have millions of of likes !?
DBoonful Well said --sir
DBoonful Ele4ctronic window? I never thought of an electronic window in a house before.Do people really have this in their houses? Great post though
DBoonful I think this was EPIC parenting actually. Those boys got to experience an adrenaline filled learning experience with their dads. You can bet their dads were crapping in their pants as well. The kids were excited, slightly concerned but their dads composure made the boys focus on the task at hand. Put boot to ground and get out, now. In the end they now have a story to tell for decades to come and have gained valuable life experience all in one shot.
You can't hide inside from life or else it will pass you buy. All the "Keyboard Karls" need to get out of the house and do the same.
Brian Streufert I know, right? Drowning in a slot canyon is such a rush.
I hike this canyon enough to recognize the section you were in. That didn't make it less stressful to watch, let me tell you.
Another genius...
I am from India. On a visit to Arizona, I went to see the Antelope Canyon and having seen videos of flash floods in slot canyons before the trip, I was worried right through even though we were assured that there are early warning systems in place to alert you in case of any flash floods. But my thoughts were always there as to what would happen if you were to get caught right inside one of those narrows with water gushing at you at 100 MPH.
I guess you should make it compulsory to carry floats and safety belts on any such hike or trek through these narrow canyons.
Floats wouldn't help you because the debris would knock into you with great force
None of that would do any good, as you would be slammed against the rocks, tumbled over and over. The only escape is UP.
You are incredibly lucky! Those slot canyons can roll 50 feet deep in a matter of minutes!
They were lucky a wall of water didn't come racing through that canyon from behind them.
Wow, what an adventure! I was hiking in a canyon in Zion and was thinking how ominous it would be in a flash flood. A week later, a group of experienced hikers died when they were caught in a flash flood--there was no way to climb out of the canyon. Nature is amazing, but can be dangerous. We had many adventures growing up and some close calls too. Glad you guys were o.k.!
If we're talking about that same accident, my friend was one of those who died in that event.
A lot of judgmental comments. If you READ the description, if some of those being so judgmental CAN read, this wasn't supposed to happen. The forecast was good for a hike. No one was purposely put in danger. I think they handled this elemental surprise quite well, and they were moving fast to try and get out of it.
Thank you!
They’re having so much fun with no idea they might be in danger. Good job for staying calm grownups 👏🏽
Ignorance is bliss...
This video is a perfect example of the old saying "Ignorance is bliss"
That man endangered this children and was too stupid to check the weather before hiking in a canyon..
I don't think they are having fun. They sound pretty scared to me.
Me personally, I don't think I could of held back yelling at my kids to shut up and take it serious. In hindsight it was all good. They made it out safe and had a fantastic memory together.
Dad was stupid to let his kids yell like that. Could have made people nearby run to them thinking they were in trouble, and there could have been more deaths instead of those 4.
Why panic the kids? You are the one in control not them..dont let kids scream!! Really it helps them to control their fears..I hope you people never have kids
Yes, because telling the laughing children they're about to die is a good strategy.
@@streetrider11 Shut up and take this serious is a far cry from You're going to die. Things very easily could of been worse. For instance, say on the trip back there was a fork with another path and a couple family members just plod down the wrong one and aren't paying enough attention to hear your calls to come back. Yet your headstrong other family member is sick of the noise and keeps going the right way not turning around or stopping. Like I said though, it turned out ok and they have a good memory together. So 20/20 hindsight says letting the kids act like fools was fine.
I doubt the kids didn't take it serious. People talk when nervous or scared the alternative is to cry, scream or just give up in fear. They were booking it and keeping up with the front dad. I'm glad this ended with no one dead.
Sorry for that, I had a lot of beer the day before and decided to piss of the top of the canyon.
😂😂😂😂
you win the internet comments for the day air.
Classic Hubert.
Made me laugh.
Free beers if you come to Saudi Arabia ;-)
What an incredible adventure! Better than Hollywood! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you
This is why you need to pay attention to weather forecasts, and start early so you're out of there before afternoon thunderstorms develop. I wonder if these people realize how lucky they were.
They didn’t move like it...
The Did check the weather like they always do. Sometimes the forecast is wrong. Geez
@@PhoenixPhire22 it would have been stupid to run
Even more important in this case was taking note of wide openings along the way and knowing which direction is your closest safe spot. This group did fine. When it gets waist deep, that's when you're in real trouble. When a wall of water comes down, you don't need me to tell you you've made a mistake in your planning or execution and you're going to pay for it. It really sucks when you get half-way through the Narrows and have to go back because of flash flood danger, but as you're driving out of the park and the Emergency Broadcast System interrupts the radio telling you that "Attention, attention, attention, this is not a test," severe flash flooding is washing out the Narrows and Park officials are sending in search and rescue to help anyone caught in the canyon, you feel a whole lot better about the failure to complete the trip, which is exactly what happened to our group of about 20 people who begrudging turned around when it started sprinkling at the half-way camp.
Fucking weather channels is wrong 80% of the time dude. From what I understand this day was suppose to be rain free then while they were in the cannon it changed to 20% out of no where.
I was on tenterhooks the entire video! Glad everyone got out ok. Anyone in the Southwest familiar with slot canyons knows you have to take care. Any amount of rain, miles away can make trekking through one a chancy thing. I'm remembering what happened in Antelope Canyon in the late nineties, so really glad this turned out fine.
Same thing happened to me but it was sunny. It had rained fast and furious like 5 miles away and we had no clue and it was much more water than here. It half carried us out. fun times. Learned something new that day. Always check for rain at least 20 miles around.
Someone in one of my hiking groups was asking if it was worth it when there was a 50% chance of rain.
No WAY!!!!
Thank goodness you guys made it out safely.
Sounds about human.
50% = area that will experience rainfall, not 50% chance of rainfall.
Example: mesa 50% rain, half of the city will experience rain half of the city will not.
Goes from a laughing matter to deadly real quick
I panicked watching this. Looks like it never ends
I was concerned the kids feet would get stuck in the rocks as they slipped or turned an ankle. Imagine trying to carry an injured kid out. That's probably impossible with rushing water and debris.
Where is this please? it looks like the Grand Canyon?!
@@siry5164 It’s at the “Little Wild Horse Canyon” in Utah.
I'm not sure they appreciated at the time how incredibly dangerous that situation was.
The kids were screaming and fake tripping over into the water and playing the fool the entire way, slowing down the guy behind them - who surprisingly didn't once grab them by their little gay backpacks and throw them ahead of him some, or step on them to make them quieter. They had no idea of the danger. And the jackass at the front never once looked back!
If I had my kids in there I would be moving faster than that.
John Drach I leftm' ba hind. I was drankn'. Fkkrz can run.
Leggo My Ego Better that they didn't know. Till they startrd realizing, but kept going anyways, having fun, rather than them freezing up/screaming and crying in fear. That area is slippery as he'll so if the adults lifted them up they would have fallen trying to carry the boys.
Better to keep moving.
+BaSH PROMPT (ಠ,ಠ) and i doubt you yourself know the dangers as anyone with climbing experience or anyone who goes walking would know that their "little gay backpacks" are camel sacs used for drinking water, the fact them kids have them shows that they are used to climbing and walking and therefore i believe they will appreciate the dangers and as said in the description, they new the area and that it was widening up so they were in little danger
The big brother with his arm around the little brother....I have a picture of my older son helping my younger son across a river....it's heartwarming.
I'm actually impressed with how your dad was. You could tell he was kinda scared but he barely showed it and didnt yell or anything as the little ones were having fun, so he didnt stress everyone out or panic them
+Dloweification That is what I took away from this as well. He was hurried but not panicked and that's no small accomplishment given the circumstances. It would be nice if the NPS could install a storm warning siren. One that was based on actual radar, not forecast.
Dloweifica🤓
Yep, nicely done Dad.
I would have told the kids to stop screaming and move faster to be honest. I have no experience with flash floods in slot canyons and I would have been terrified. All business no fun, focus on getting out so we don't drown. Perhaps if I was more confident there wouldn't be a wall of water coming behind me I would let them have their fun.
I honestly don't know if I could keep myself as calm as this Dad was. I'm sure the Dad was terrified but he did an amazing job and got the kids out and to safety. Two thumbs up!
As bad as that looked... That was a very mild flash flood. Water can come in so much faster. I'm glad all are safe.
Those are two tough kids!
They were just walking in fast mud
***** hay you may be right buddy, get off my back about it.
Cool - ♉my bullish side coming out brother --- take care 🐃
Water not to be taken lightly.
Could have been worse.
Had a flood here in Arkansas few years ago. 30 ft. Wall water killed so many campers.
And that is how tourists die
cullrapists that’s a little uncalled for..
@@lawedbigbear No more than the comment cullrapists responded to.
@Skyler.G ok Boomer
@Skyler.G are you sure they're the sensitive one boomer?
Always that one idiot who crys
Love how the adults handled this situation. Boys in the middle, experienced up front, adult in the back. Those boys will forever have this as a memory and the tale will live on for generations of how they beat a flash flood and made it out alive!!! HEROES!! XOXO
Thank you! They always talk about it. The man videoing, their father passed away 3 years ago and they have many fun memories he made on this channel.
Not heroes, just lucky idiots...
My deepest sympathies for those two boys 💞
Thank you for reminding me that some people in the world have to be negative and nasty no matter what. You probably think they should have been at home staring at some kind of screen... you know... where they will be "safe". Pffft. This video shows EXCELLENT parenting. You should learn from it. @@KM-bu8ec
@@utahmototrails
Gotta give props to Pops in the back. He kept his cool but knew the danger they were in.Had to do that for the kids.They did great too.The guy in the front is just as good. The flash floods in these slot canyons have taken a lot of lives and I’m glad these people made it out safely. Good feeling story.👍☮️
Shep dgc.og.soldier a
The guy in front could've moved a little faster
@@lefyre1266 He probably would have gone faster had he not kept turning round to check the kids were ok.......... oh..... he didn't? Guess he needs to work on his cardiothen. That way he could have left them behind properly. 🤣
@@thelonemoomin every man for himself 🤭
@@thelonemoomin The boys were loud enough to be heard by him, and he was going slowly because he didnt know how deep the water was or if there were any obstacles in the water, the boys and the other man saw him tripping many times and they avoided where he got stuck, it is like driving in the fog. The first car cannot see a thing so it drives slow but the cars behind it can just follow it without worrying about their visibility level.
You should cut the end off and say the video was found on some drown hiker's bodies.
Haha, that'd be legendary
+Future Jeffersоn Who hurt you?
***** I just have a feel for what makes a good story. Work with me. We can make this family vacation into the tragic internet sensation it could have been in the first place!
+Evi1M4chine What are you talking about, idiot?
+Tavarish Byele Don't talk to people like that. What is wrong with you.
Round of applause for the father keeping his cool n getting them to safety
Thank you!
That’s what I’m saying. There’s other comments criticizing the pace and lack of urgency. But that’s exactly how accidents happen which would cause them to slow down even more. It’s always better to stay strong under pressure, once you panic that’s where the problems start
I think father does not deserve a round of applause for putting kids life in danger
Father almost got his kids killed.
@@duaneyoutbe stfu it was weatherman’s fault.
When I was a kid even younger than them, we swam in the raging Kings river & dove off the bridge in Yosemite Park into the river & free climbed up some of the scariest cliffs around Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This kind of activity was typical for us, we all made it out to tell the tales. Yes, these slot canyon trails can be dangerous if you get caught in a section with too steep of walls to climb up & above a flash flood. I think they knew how far they needed to go & how deep the water was at that moment & believed strongly they could beat the heavier flow, as they did.
first thing to do in that situation is lay down and make a fire
Stop drop, and roll.!
BadBubbles1205 cannot make fire under water
My girlfriend would go want to go shopping
And that's how people die
This is why I scroll through the comments. Laughed my ass off at this one. Thanks for the giggle
Thankfully captured
Just the type of video mom wants to see when you get home
Mom was there too
They were in real danger. Life threatening danger. They needed to tell the boys to stop screwing around. I'm obviously totally glad they were ok. But there's a time to be serious (without panicking the kids). Also, I hope this ended up as a "teachable moment" for the kids. I don't blame the dad if he didn't know that could happen (although I'm from Boston, never been out that way in my life and even I know about the flash floods in the canyons) But I've been on vacation before and did "fun" things without knowing the potential dangers. But I hope the dad did a little research and learned more on the subject and then sat down with the boys and talked about what happened, what could have happened and what they did wrong. That way the boys will be educated on the subject for when they're teens and older.
The good things about this video:
1. They survived to show us the danger
2. the adults stayed calm and guided the kids to safety
3. it shows us that the water flows into the canyon from every direction
The Bad thing:
They shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
Every canyon you can walk away from is a good one 😎
many have died going into this canyon without researching weather in similar conditions. I would be sprinting out of there, not a game. Super scary.
Yea. This is no joke.
As a young girl, after seeing on the news how people were killed in a similar situation, I am wary of canyons and arroyos.
I couldn't get my mind around just how quickly these canyons can be fill up with water. This was truly eye opening. I am glad you guys are okay.
That was so scary!!! Glad you all made it okay. I'm sure everyone was panicking.
Actually seems like they took the proper precautions, checking the weather first. Only after they were out of cell service did the weather change. I am a 20yrs in search and rescue and I can tell you there is absolutely no way to completely avoid risk even sitting on your couch Monday morning quarterbacking someone else. The kids had a blast and Thank God it was just a small shower. Weatherpeople rarely report our weather accurately here. The same has happened to me and a surprise shower turned me back on a trip. Its hard to see clouds building in tight canyons.
What would happen if there was a real big rain? I'm thinking, they could just flow with the water, like, swim on top of it. But i would imagine, the water gaining quite a bit of momentum down there when getting deeper, so keeping your head above water becomes increasingly difficult as you get more tired also. Yeah, that was a good video, good reminder.
Joe T Going into that canyon is dangerous, period. When in the wilderness, one should prepare for the worse happening.
The fact that the rains snuck up in minutes tells a great deal.
They weren't prepared. They were simply lucky.
Or blessed.
Funk that...go on a clear day.
If they know Utah weather in canyon-like environments..they would know it can rain at anytime..unless its a blue cloudless day.
These guys must have been tourists...
I only lived here in Utah for 2 years and even I know weather comes like Jesus will(like a thief in the night).
Epic parenting. Those kids have a life story to tell now and learned some good life experiences. Good on the dads for not panicking and allowing the boys to focus on the task at hand; putting boot to ground. Slot canyons are unpredictable and if you want to experience their beauty and wonder, there is risk. Just like with life in general. You can either take some risk and experience it or die without. Glad to see these families out there exploring our amazing world.
Great comment.
Brian Streufert
I do agree.
Sh*t CAN happen and when it does, all that matters is how you handle it.
Great, great stress management. The beef at the front, letting kids screaming like vikings between adults, calming laughings at the back..
Textbook, hats off.
kornofulgur im so glad they made it out alrite,you just never know what mothernature will give to you,and yes,parenting awsome job!!!
+Brian Streufert -Well said. They will remember that for the Rest of Their LIVES !
What an adventure ! I am just glad everyone got out OK and that the Dad? just focussed on putting the right foot forward. Great exciting video it makes ! = )
word
At first I thought they didn't know they were in danger but then I realized they did know but didn't want to panic anyone that didn't know they were in danger. They really were as smart about it as they could have been. They were moving quickly as possible while still trying not to break a leg on ground they couldn't see. The only other option they had besides out running it was trying to climb up slippery wet rocks resting falling and injury and there is really no telling how high they would have needed to climb
That is something you will all remember your whole lives. That's crazy! Glad you made it out ok.
Thanks for posting! 👍
But it's a bright sunny sky. Meanwhile 50 miles away.
that was not 50 miles away....it was raining hard where they were, which makes it doubly stupid. I've hiked in that canyon with my son on a day when there was no chance of rain. There are some spots where the canyon opens up. They should have gotten to one of those once it started raining and waited it out, long before the channel started really flooding.
I've been in 2 real flash floods. One in Zion when I was 14 and on a short hike by myself, while my mom and aunt went on a drive. It had been drizzling all day, but apparently raining hard up high. A flash flood came shooting over the cliff at Emerald Falls (I think that was the name) with logs and rocks. Within 30 seconds the little pool at the base of the cliff I had been swimming in was a torrent and I had to run to get out of the way. I was stranded for hours on the wrong side of the canyon from the trail to get out. There was only one couple with a baby there and we prepared to spend the night, but I knew my mom would be freaking out when I did not return from the hike. Finally, hours later, the torrent subsided enough for us to use a log to get across. It was well after dark when we hiked out and the Park Service was organizing a search party. Fortunately, I made smart choices and learned my first lesson about flash floods (which was to immediately get to a safe spot and wait it out).
The second was in a large canyon near Cameo (east of Grand Junction) where I was backpacking. There were many thunderstorms all around, and I had to find a spot to crouch down in the canyon to avoid lightning. While in that spot, I actually smelled the flash flood before I saw or heard it come around the bend in the canyon. The head of the flood was an almost dry mass logs and rocks and branches which actually stirred up dust ahead of it, which is what I smelled. Within a minute the place where I had been crouching was under a mix of mud and water and debris. Fortunately, the canyon was wide at that point and I was able to safely move up slope. I watched as successive floods passed through, each of a different size and mud color, representing the geology of different side canyons above the main canyon. It was fascinating (from a safe distance), as I am a hydrologist. Again, I hiked in during a day with storms, but stuck to the wide canyon. I waited until the next, clearer day, before hiking up one of the narrow side canyons. There are some things that common sense tells you not to do.
Very cool. To be honest I would've started panicking if I was in that situation but keeping calm is probably the best way to handle it. Better to tread carefully than to run through a narrow canyon and break your ankle
„How far is it?“ - „I don‘t know“. 20cm more water could have sealed your fate. Or if someone lost a shoe.
good job guys. when it's raining in the desert, you gotta watch for flash floods, they can come on FAST becauseour sould doesn't soak up a lit of the rain
Much respect for the father who acted calm in such a dangerous situation
He was freaking clueless about the real danger.
I have no respect at all for those parents - I have a lot of experience in these canyons and in flash floods in them, and they should have found a place to climb immediately and wait it out. Even the kid pointed out a place early to climb up. This was not a time to be calm. It was a time to run.
Not calm! Stupid to put his children in a dangerous situation.
Obviously fake, filmed with a green screen and a bathtub full of chocolate milk.
Paddy O'Lantern can't wait for the sequel
🤣Best comment
🤣😂😀😄
SoHo
False flag flash flood!
garden variety paranoid
conspiracy theorist false
flag operation after yet
again taking one too
many bong hits in
mommas basement
for ever undescended
titillating the tube again
pesky fornicating flags
stroking aberrant
thoughts every
where these days
with idle peters
robbing pauls
of masturbation
time ferscrisakes
learn to share
brown screen
indeed what
just hit the fan
crapped out
infants toying
with each others
diapers claiming
to invent face
book paints
exceedingly
superficial
I was so stressed out watching this. My heart was pounding. It's been over 20 some years but I still remember being as a kid on a family vacation hiking here and my dad saying "you don't want to be caught in here in a flash flood. It could be the last thing you ever do".
So dangerous! Flash floods are no joke! Good they got out safely.
I like how the father never looked back at the children nor even try to hold their arms. Although his eyes look forward, his heart is looking back at them.This way he teaches them how to depend on themselves and be courage.
Great DAD.
either that or he doesnt give much of a shit about them
Your very lucky as you were running"blind". A twisted ankle, a broken ankle would have changed the whole narrative. Slip & fall forward and hit your head. Now you have to carry someone and potentially twist your ankle in the process.
Glad everyone made it our safe.
Yes, and? Twisting your ankle on lots of walks can be a very dangerous situation. It's the risk you face.
Gotta love the silly folks being all "safety first" and stuff haha
Even if it is a positive thing to take this kind of risk, still one can't help but notice and take concern with the danger. It's important to appreciate the risk you choose to take on.
and yep it is as easy as that. not a good place to be trusting to luck
@Matthew Shubin And you're an idiot. We read about "silly folks" like you all the time, lol, fools who DON'T understand the risks, or do and don't prepare for them. Foolhardy folk who die all the time, whether by flash floods in desert arroyos, whitewater kayaking without proper safety gear, or even simple spring hikes in the Colorado Rockies, yep more idiots get themselves killed by NOT considering safety first.
And if they just got themselves killed, that would be one thing, but when they get others who trusted them killed as well, well that is a tragedy.
Taking risks is certainly a daily part of life, but just as most intelligent people buckle their safety belts whenever they get behind the wheel, you ameliorate that risk by BEING PREPARED, or as the old saw goes, hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
When the older kid supports the younger kid n puts his arm round him 🥰. Brave lil
hikers and an adventure they will learn from and never forget.
Adults silently freaking out in their heads.
The kids are Like "this is awesome!"
that looks dangerous and fun at the same time
Schwarzer regen
Dori Umlauf
coasteys coasteys
damn my regen
Schwarzer regen Warum nicht weißer Regen🤷♂️
They lucked out that the rain was as light as it was, that they found their group so quickly, and that they remembered a wide spot with high ground. If it wasn't for needing to reunite with the "girls ", I'd have picked one of six climb able spots before there due to the extreme risk of a flood flashing through. Too many have died doing exactly what you were doing.
+Thomas Paine Ahh, at last a "common sense" comment! (heh, heh) Yes! Viewers should learn from this. It is understandable on an emotional level that reuniting with the girls took priority; were it not for that it would have been CRIMINALLY stupid not to climb to safety at the first opportunity, as one of the boys sensibly pointed out at 3:53. Anyone making light of this, looking on it as an adventure to be sought rather than as deadly peril and a narrow escape has NO CLUE what water can do in these slots when an intense but localized downpour passes over. It would have been a real shame if the girls had survived (having sought high ground rather than reuniting) but these had died because the water rose too quickly, as could have so easily happened. Ignorant commenters should read The Secret Knowledge of Water by Craig Childs and gain some respect for the extreme power of slot canyon hydrology.
When there is anything above a 0% chance of rain, no one should be going into any slot canyons. Even a 10% chance of rain is not what most people think. It doesn't mean that there is a 10% chance of rain - it is going to rain somewhere regardless. That 10% means rain for your particular area.
Somewhere, it WILL rain around the said area. That can cause flash floods, too.
jmr1068204 This is correct. A 10% chance of rain does not mean 10% probability of rain. It means that 10% of the area forecasted WILL (or at least is expected to) get rain.
jmr1068204 youre a real fucking idiot, that is not what that percentage means. Quit making shit up to act cool buddy.
Adrallon Ded That knowledge is available everywhere. You fail to learn it, so that makes you the idiot. Go ask a weather man what it means. He'll tell you the exact same thing.
+Adrallon Ded A percent change of anything in weather is how much of a given region can expect whatever. It is not the odds of something happening. Go take an S-396 class through the Forest Service. One of the subjects in there is the weather.
+jmr1068204 Nope.Just Google "The National Weather Service".I love when people make comments without making 2 clicks with your mouse to get the facts.
I love how everyone suddenly becomes the parent of the year