2 canyoneers rescued from Heaps Canyon
Published: Wednesday, Oct. 10 2012 8:13 p.m. MDT
ZION NATIONAL PARK — Vigilant park rangers may have saved the lives of two inexperienced canyoneers who got stuck attempting to traverse Heaps Canyon over the weekend.
The pair, a 41-year-old man and 26-year-old woman, had picked up a wilderness permit and entered Heaps Canyon on Saturday morning. Park rangers warned them their late start might necessitate staying overnight in the canyon.
The two were never reported missing or overdue, but rangers noticed their vehicle at a trail head Monday morning.
Aly Baltrus, spokeswoman for Zion National Park, said the successful rescue can be credited to the information the visitors had provided on their permit application and the observations of the rangers who took note of their absence.
“Had rangers not noticed the canyoneers’ vehicle at the trail head, it is unclear when or if the two would have been reported overdue,” Baltrus said.
The canyoneers were spotted by helicopter late Monday. They were a little more than halfway through and said they were unable to finish the route. The chopper returned Tuesday morning and was able to land on a canyon bench above the group.
A six-person rescue team helped lower a ranger 125 feet down from the bench into the canyon, then hauled the pair and the park ranger back up. Neither of the canyoneers required medical assistance.
Heaps Canyon is a challenging route in in the increasingly popular sport of canyoneering, park officials said. The canyon is 11 miles long and includes a 300-foot free hanging rappel, swimming through cold water and slick rock potholes.
The two stranded canyoneers lacked the experience necessary to successfully complete the route, the release stated.
— McKenzie Romero
dNally
I’m not a legal expert, but it seems that starting to charge people for rescues leads down a slippery slope for everyone involved. If they are charging for a ‘service’, then it implies there is some sort of value that both parties are giving or receiving in exchange. If the SAR team is late, or slow, or damages, or accidently kills the victim, then it seems a lawsuit would be inevitable, since not only does the SAR group have funds, but by setting a price they are implying that a reasonable and professional service is implied or guaranteed. Right now I think there are good samaritan type laws on the books in many places, which make it so that volunteers cannot be sued when they are acting on their best in good faith to help someone. This type of legal protection to the SAR group and the individuals might be thrown out in the case when a bill is sent to the rescued party.
dNally
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “charlybldr” wrote:
Well, if your not an expert or a trusted source, perhaps you could leave my question to be answered by someone who is in the know.
I think my question deserves some serious debate. Should SAR’s in Utah start billing? When to bill? Can you bill stupidity? Arrogance? I don’t remember checking a box stating that a rescue in Zions will cost me upwards of $$$???? when I get my permits.
tj_wetherell
Very well presented indeed!
COSAR is a great concept (I have mine) but I didn’t even know about it until I had been in Colorado for 2 years!
Maybe SPOT and InReach could include credit card readers in their next product update
-tom(w)
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “charlybldr” wrote:
> Whether or not people should be charged for SAR services is a very hot topic. Although never funded to the degree they would like SAR teams are typically reluctant to charge for their services for a number of reasons.
TomJones
This issue has been studied, and the answer is “YES”, people do not call SAR or delay calling SAR due to the fear of the bill, when they should.
Remember, you are dealing with people who think Heaps is a great little canyon for an afternoon stroll.
It is unfortunate that the politics of Utah do not allow for transference of the costs to the STATE of Utah, rather than inflicting it onto the counties.
Tom
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “marlowequart” wrote:
The fund idea sounds good. I guess its probably impossible to know, but I wonder what is the number of people in a deadly situation needing rescue that had the tools to call for help and did not do so because of cost?? It would seem to me that if someone is in a deadly situation, and they are considering not calling because of cost, either they arent thinking clear because of stress, or they can make it out on their own. I guess what im saying is that the argument that people wont call because of costs gets thrown out a lot, but im wondering if there are facts, or incidences to back that up. >
TomJones
Awesome post Charly, thanks.
Tom
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “charlybldr” wrote:
Ok. How about this?
Whether or not people should be charged for SAR services is a very hot topic. Although never funded to the degree they would like SAR teams are typically reluctant to charge for their services for a number of reasons. >
marlowequart
The fund idea sounds good. I guess its probably impossible to know, but I wonder what is the number of people in a deadly situation needing rescue that had the tools to call for help and did not do so because of cost?? It would seem to me that if someone is in a deadly situation, and they are considering not calling because of cost, either they arent thinking clear because of stress, or they can make it out on their own. I guess what im saying is that the argument that people wont call because of costs gets thrown out a lot, but im wondering if there are facts, or incidences to back that up.
aj.outdoors
Completely agree Charly. My observations with several rescue groups I’ve been involved with match your statements; and I definitely agree with your statement about a change starting from us and those doing any types of training; as well as the need for a different rescue structure/funding method for SAR teams (and a shift in entitlement mentality.)
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “charlybldr” wrote: > Whether or not people should be charged for SAR services is a very hot topic. Although never funded to the degree they would like SAR teams are typically reluctant to charge for their services for a number of reasons.
Louis Johnson
Very good and constructive read.
Could a pool for SAR be created through American Canyoneers?
On Sun, Oct 14, 2012 at 12:42 PM, charlybldr charlybldr@mindspring.com>wrote:
> **
Well, if your not an expert or a trusted source, perhaps you could leave > my question to be answered by someone who is in the know.
I think my question deserves some serious debate. Should SAR’s in Utah > start billing? When to bill? Can you bill stupidity? Arrogance? I don’t > remember checking a box stating that a rescue in Zions will cost me upwards > of $$$???? when I get my permits.
Found this interesting article on the subject.
http://www.backpacker.com/blogs/62
> Nick
Ok. How about this?
Whether or not people should be charged for SAR services is a very hot > topic. Although never funded to the degree they would like SAR teams are > typically reluctant to charge for their services for a number of reasons.
First of all, they pride themselves on providing an invaluable service for > anyone in need. It is hard to argue that this approach is not good. > Presumably, the service exists for people actually in need. And the service > providers do so unselfishly. Second, if victims are charged, quite an > expensive proposition even in the simplest rescues, they may be reluctant > to call for help in time of need. If this reluctance results in the victims > debilitation or death… then why have the SAR services in the first place?
The problem we see here in the U.S. is that inexperienced people tend to > feel entitled to rescue, and so just go for it. They don’t seem to care > that rescues are expensive and rescuers are put in harm’s way the minute > they grab their kits and go. So should inexperience people who put > themselves in harm’s way without consideration of expense or others safety > get the bill? Personally, I think they should. But deciding who is and who > is not deserving is a gray area and no one wants to the one to make that > call. The proliferation of PEB’s and similar services has only complicated > the issue.
In the Alps a climber can purchase rescue insurance. You go for it and get > in deep shit, you just call for a rescue. A humorous cartoon in Mountain > Magazine years ago showed a rescue helicopter approaching stranded climbers > waving a Visa card… But maybe this is the correct approach? The Ouray > Mountain Rescue truck sports MC/Visa/Amex logos with more than a little > irony.
For the most part here in the U.S., rescue is provided free of charge. > Costs are underwritten by our taxes and the occasional rescue fund from > which SAR teams can go for reimbursement of rescue expenses. Colorado has > the CORSAR card ( > http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DOLA-Main/CBON/1251592090523) that > creates a fund from which SAR teams can get reimbursed for rescue expenses. > If any of you spend time in the Colorado backcountry I strongly recommend > you purchase this card. $12 for five years of coverage isn’t just cheap, > it’s stupid cheap. And, the money goes to a good cause. I do not believe > Utah offers this. But they should. As yet even the American Alpine Club has > not successfully established a rescue insurance program. Perhaps this is a > project the American Canyoneers should consider taking on?
But the bottom line is personal responsibility. People venturing into the > backcountry need to clearly understand what they are getting into and must > be willing to take responsibility for their actions. And it is our > responsibility, as members of the canyoning community, to communicate the > importance of this position to our peers. It all starts here!
We must all, in our personal lives as well as in on-line forums such as > this, encourage taking personal responsibility for our actions. In two > separate but related incidents in Ouray this summer, the “victims” rescued > themselves. They took their responsibility seriously, cowboyed up and got > themselves out of their predicament. They could have called for rescue! > They had an operational cell phone and could easily have punched 911. But > they didn’t. In two other incidents serious injuries involved. In these > cases the call for rescue was appropriate.
Did these folks in Heaps deserve rescue? Probably. They got in way over > their heads and would surely have perished if left to their own devices. > Did they take personal responsibility seriously? It doesn’t appear so, or > they would not have jumped into Heaps with such a cavalier attitude. It is > this type of behavior the community needs to strongly discourage. If > charging them for their rescue discourages others from this type of > behavior. Maybe that’s a good thing?
>
charlybldr
> Well, if your not an expert or a trusted source, perhaps you could leave my question to be answered by someone who is in the know. > I think my question deserves some serious debate. Should SAR’s in Utah start billing? When to bill? Can you bill stupidity? Arrogance? I don’t remember checking a box stating that a rescue in Zions will cost me upwards of $$$???? when I get my permits.
Found this interesting article on the subject. > http://www.backpacker.com/blogs/62
> Nick >
Ok. How about this?
Whether or not people should be charged for SAR services is a very hot topic. Although never funded to the degree they would like SAR teams are typically reluctant to charge for their services for a number of reasons.
First of all, they pride themselves on providing an invaluable service for anyone in need. It is hard to argue that this approach is not good. Presumably, the service exists for people actually in need. And the service providers do so unselfishly. Second, if victims are charged, quite an expensive proposition even in the simplest rescues, they may be reluctant to call for help in time of need. If this reluctance results in the victims debilitation or death… then why have the SAR services in the first place?
The problem we see here in the U.S. is that inexperienced people tend to feel entitled to rescue, and so just go for it. They don’t seem to care that rescues are expensive and rescuers are put in harm’s way the minute they grab their kits and go. So should inexperience people who put themselves in harm’s way without consideration of expense or others safety get the bill? Personally, I think they should. But deciding who is and who is not deserving is a gray area and no one wants to the one to make that call. The proliferation of PEB’s and similar services has only complicated the issue.
In the Alps a climber can purchase rescue insurance. You go for it and get in deep shit, you just call for a rescue. A humorous cartoon in Mountain Magazine years ago showed a rescue helicopter approaching stranded climbers waving a Visa card… But maybe this is the correct approach? The Ouray Mountain Rescue truck sports MC/Visa/Amex logos with more than a little irony.
For the most part here in the U.S., rescue is provided free of charge. Costs are underwritten by our taxes and the occasional rescue fund from which SAR teams can go for reimbursement of rescue expenses. Colorado has the CORSAR card (http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DOLA-Main/CBON/1251592090523) that creates a fund from which SAR teams can get reimbursed for rescue expenses. If any of you spend time in the Colorado backcountry I strongly recommend you purchase this card. $12 for five years of coverage isn’t just cheap, it’s stupid cheap. And, the money goes to a good cause. I do not believe Utah offers this. But they should. As yet even the American Alpine Club has not successfully established a rescue insurance program. Perhaps this is a project the American Canyoneers should consider taking on?
But the bottom line is personal responsibility. People venturing into the backcountry need to clearly understand what they are getting into and must be willing to take responsibility for their actions. And it is our responsibility, as members of the canyoning community, to communicate the importance of this position to our peers. It all starts here!
We must all, in our personal lives as well as in on-line forums such as this, encourage taking personal responsibility for our actions. In two separate but related incidents in Ouray this summer, the “victims” rescued themselves. They took their responsibility seriously, cowboyed up and got themselves out of their predicament. They could have called for rescue! They had an operational cell phone and could easily have punched 911. But they didn’t. In two other incidents serious injuries involved. In these cases the call for rescue was appropriate.
Did these folks in Heaps deserve rescue? Probably. They got in way over their heads and would surely have perished if left to their own devices. Did they take personal responsibility seriously? It doesn’t appear so, or they would not have jumped into Heaps with such a cavalier attitude. It is this type of behavior the community needs to strongly discourage. If charging them for their rescue discourages others from this type of behavior. Maybe that’s a good thing?
p
There was a recent newspaper article about it.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54909102-78/county-rescue-grand-search.html.csp
Apparently, you want to get rescued in Arches or Canyonlands as then it’s just a courtesy and free.
“Grand County doesn’t charge everyone. If the victim is dead or dies, no bill is sent to the next of kin. Grand County also won’t charge if the rangers at Arches or Canyonlands national parks ask for help finding or rescuing someone. White said he considers that to be assisting another agency, something that’s a courtesy in law enforcement.”
No discussion of Zion SAR though.
>________________________________ > From: Nick homegrown6@yahoo.com
To: Yahoo Canyons Group
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2012 8:44 PM >Subject: [from Canyons Group] Re: Heaps rescue
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, George Zelenz wrote: >
> I’m recently ( very ) on record as NOT BEING an expert or trusted source, >> but I’m pretty sure that all of the rescue stories I’ve read from Zion in >> the last few months have resulted in BILLING for rescues. >
> I’m not in Collections so you’ll have to ask Lurleen about prompt payments. >
> I’m pretty sure that last guy to croak in the Subway will leave ZNP >> hanging. Ba-dum dum. >
> GZ >> at large >
Well, if your not an expert or a trusted source, perhaps you could leave my question to be answered by someone who is in the know. >I think my question deserves some serious debate. Should SAR’s in Utah start billing? When to bill? Can you bill stupidity? Arrogance? I don’t remember checking a box stating that a rescue in Zions will cost me upwards of $$$???? when I get my permits.
Found this interesting article on the subject. >http://www.backpacker.com/blogs/62
>Nick
—
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— In Yahoo Canyons Group, George Zelenz wrote:
I’m recently ( very ) on record as NOT BEING an expert or trusted source, > but I’m pretty sure that all of the rescue stories I’ve read from Zion in > the last few months have resulted in BILLING for rescues.
I’m not in Collections so you’ll have to ask Lurleen about prompt payments.
I’m pretty sure that last guy to croak in the Subway will leave ZNP > hanging. Ba-dum dum.
GZ > at large >
Well, if your not an expert or a trusted source, perhaps you could leave my question to be answered by someone who is in the know. I think my question deserves some serious debate. Should SAR’s in Utah start billing? When to bill? Can you bill stupidity? Arrogance? I don’t remember checking a box stating that a rescue in Zions will cost me upwards of $$$???? when I get my permits.
Found this interesting article on the subject. http://www.backpacker.com/blogs/62
Nick
bgregory_@hotmail.com
Agreed.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID
“aj.outdoors” ajmail2011@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I’m pretty sure that last guy to croak in the Subway will leave ZNP >> hanging. Ba-dum dum.
VERY VERY tasteless.
aj.outdoors
> I’m pretty sure that last guy to croak in the Subway will leave ZNP > hanging. Ba-dum dum.
VERY VERY tasteless.
George Zelenz
I’m recently ( very ) on record as NOT BEING an expert or trusted source, but I’m pretty sure that all of the rescue stories I’ve read from Zion in the last few months have resulted in BILLING for rescues.
I’m not in Collections so you’ll have to ask Lurleen about prompt payments.
I’m pretty sure that last guy to croak in the Subway will leave ZNP hanging. Ba-dum dum.
GZ at large
On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 8:18 PM, TomJones ratagonia@gmail.com> wrote:
> **
> I am not aware of ANY SAR activity in Zion that was billed to the rescuee. > Perhaps the baby in Keyhole… but billed is not collected.
Got a reference there George?
T
> — In Yahoo Canyons Group, George Zelenz wrote:
Nick,
I’m no expert, but from my brief tenure in this group, I am not aware of > a
single ZNP rescue that WAS NOT billed to the benefactors of such actions.
-George
On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 4:34 PM, nick smith wrote:
> **
Does Zions SAR bill for that? If not they should!
Nick
> Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist > in
> nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding
> danger is no safer in the long run than exposure. Helen Keller
>
>
TomJones
I am not aware of ANY SAR activity in Zion that was billed to the rescuee. Perhaps the baby in Keyhole… but billed is not collected.
Got a reference there George?
T
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, George Zelenz wrote:
Nick,
I’m no expert, but from my brief tenure in this group, I am not aware of a > single ZNP rescue that WAS NOT billed to the benefactors of such actions.
-George
On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 4:34 PM, nick smith wrote:
> **
Does Zions SAR bill for that? If not they should!
Nick
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in
nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding
danger is no safer in the long run than exposure. Helen Keller
> >
nat_smale
Wow, great Helen Keller quote, Nick.
Nat
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, nick smith wrote:
Does Zions SAR bill for that? Â If not they should!
Nick
 > Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure. Helen Keller
>
George Zelenz
Nick,
I’m no expert, but from my brief tenure in this group, I am not aware of a single ZNP rescue that WAS NOT billed to the benefactors of such actions.
-George
On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 4:34 PM, nick smith homegrown6@yahoo.com> wrote:
> **
> Does Zions SAR bill for that? If not they should!
Nick
> Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in > nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding > danger is no safer in the long run than exposure. Helen Keller
>
nick smith
Does Zions SAR bill for that? Â If not they should!
Nick
 Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure. Helen Keller
rging@q.com
Reported on KSL. Being the campassionate person I am I think the canyoneering community should throw a blanket party for these two.
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=22507431&nid=148&title=park-rangers-rescue-stranded-canyoneers-in-zions&s_cid=queue-4
—– Original Message —– From: TomJones ratagonia@gmail.com> To: Yahoo Canyons Group Sent: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:13:15 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [from Canyons Group] Re: Heaps rescue
Interesting version of the story.
Got a link for that?
Tom
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Rick” wrote:
>
> 2 canyoneers rescued from Heaps Canyon
>
> Published: Wednesday, Oct. 10 2012 8:13 p.m. MDT
>
>
> ZION NATIONAL PARK  Vigilant park rangers may have saved the lives of two inexperienced canyoneers who got stuck attempting to traverse Heaps Canyon over the weekend.
>
TomJones
Interesting version of the story.
Got a link for that?
Tom
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Rick” wrote:
2 canyoneers rescued from Heaps Canyon
Published: Wednesday, Oct. 10 2012 8:13 p.m. MDT
> ZION NATIONAL PARK — Vigilant park rangers may have saved the lives of two inexperienced canyoneers who got stuck attempting to traverse Heaps Canyon over the weekend. >