Monday, August 26, 2013

Females in Barracks found alive and well

Press Release:  
Kane County Sheriff’s Office
Sgt. Alan Alldredge
Date: 8/26/13
Time: 4:45 PM

2 missing Females located in Kane County

At approximately 2:40 pm on 8/26/13, the two females missing in the East Fork of The Virgin River were located by the DPS helicopter.  Both individuals were in good health.  They had endured several rain storms and were about out of food.  They were picked up and flown to the Kanab City Airport.

Both females are from Salt Lake City area.  Their names are Christian Delahunty, and Suzy Wheeler-Mang.

2 missing females in East Fork #1

Press Release:  
Kane County Sheriff’s Office
Sgt. Alan Alldredge
Date: 8/26/13
Time: 11:45 AM

2 Females missing in East Fork of Virgin River

On Sunday Evening, 8/25/13, Kane County Dispatch received notification about 2 overdue female hikers.  The two began their hike on Thursday from a point South of Mount Carmel Junction ans west of Highway 89 in the East Fork of the Virgin River.  Their intention was to hike down the East Fork to an area near a popular hiking spot called Fat Mans Misery, and hike out to their vehicle which is parked at Checkerboard Mesa in Zion National Park.  They had planned to be out Sunday morning.  The two individuals are from the Salt Lake City area.  One is 51 years old, and the other is 40.

As of 7:30 am today, Monday, search and rescue efforts have been initiated.  The Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter out of Cedar City flew to Kanab this morning and picked up a Kane County Search and Rescue member and flew the entire route designated on maps that were being used by the females.  This initial search did not result in any visual sighting of the women.  The helicopter is now returning to the area to expand it’s search.  Ground teams are being deployed to the few available access points into the canyon.

Updates will be posted as they become available.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Birch Hollow Fatality 8-19-13

Press Release:  
Kane County Sheriff’s Office
Sgt. Alan Alldredge
Date: 8/19/13
Time: 8:45 pm


Birch Hollow Fatality

At approximately 9:30 A.M. on August 19, 2013, Kane County Dispatch received a call about a 19 year old female that had fallen about 120 feet on a rappel in Birch Hollow.  A Kane County Deputy and a Utah State Park Ranger from the Coral Pink Sand Dunes responded to the area.  After meeting with other members of the rappelling group, the park ranger hiked into where the female had fallen.  When he arrived, he was able to verify that the individual had passed away from her injuries.

The Female, Shelby Collette Christensen of West Jordon Utah, was hiking and rappelling with four other individuals.  Three others in the party had completed the rappel and were waiting at the bottom of the ledge.  It appears that as Shelby began her descent, she got her hand trapped between the rope and rock ledge and let go.  She then fell the 120 feet to the bottom.

Kane County Search and Rescue was dispatched to the scene to aid in the recovery.  The Utah Department of Public Safety Helicopter stationed in Cedar City Utah was also used to lift the body from the canyon.

Birch Hollow is a popular rappelling destination with several rappels and several miles of hiking.  The canyon is located about six mile north of Highway 9 just East of Zion National park and is accessed by the Northfork road.  This is the third rappelling related accident in Birch Hollow this summer.  The first two happened only one day apart at a different rappel in the canyon.  Both resulted in injuries and required assistance of a joint technical rescue team from Kane County Search and Rescue, Zion National Park, and the BLM to raise the individuals to an area where they could be removed from the canyon by a helicopter.