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Snow Canyon State Park
The Utah Department of Public Safety released footage of a dramatic hiker rescue after a father and son got lost and were forced to sleep on a steep cliffside overnight. And not only were they forced to survive overnight in Snow Canyon in the dead of Winter they somehow managed to subsist off the supplies that were left behind by another hiker that recently got lost in the same area.
The backpack and supplies that Julian Hernandez and his 12-year-old son found were left there by a 15-year-old hiker named Levi Dittmann who had gotten lost in the same area of Utah‘s Snow Canyon State Park back in January.
Speaking with ABC 4, Levi said “I kinda just had to leave it there, which was a bit frustrating because I think at the time it was 200 to 300 bucks worth of stuff.” And it’s a good thing for Julian Hernandez and his son that Levi left it because the bag was filled with “the best gear, first aid kit, snacks, and emergency supplies” as the backpack was apparently “a bit of a passion project for Levi.”
Following the rescue of Julian and his 12-year-old won, the Utah Department of Public Safety shared this video of a helicopter rescue crew pulling them out of Snow Canyon after getting lost and being stranded overnight:
Snow Canyon State Park is in Southern Utah near the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, and about a 40-minute drive from Zion National Park which is to this day the most beautiful place I’ve ever been in my life in the Fall.
The Utah Dep. of Public Safety shared a press release about the dramatic hiker rescue. In it they described the operation. Saying “the pair became lost while hiking and were trapped overnight. Search and rescue teams with Washington County Sheriff Search & Rescue worked through the night, and into the early morning hours, the helicopter crew located two stranded on a shallow ledge and hoisted them to safety.”
It goes on to say “in a twist of fate, the hikers found a backpack left behind by another hiker previously rescued from the same area. Inside were food, water, and emergency blankets that the two were able to utilize.”
The 15-year-old who got lost in Utah’s Snow Canyon State Park back in January shed some light on how hikers keep getting lost in this area and are in need of rescue. Levi cautioned that “looking at the map, it seems flat, which it’s not… So, anyone else, do not try this.”
Ultimately, that touches on advice that should be applied to any hike and not just this Utah hiker rescue. It is important to know what you are getting yourself into before any hike.
Always make sure that someone knows where you are going on the hike so if something goes sideways they can call for help. Bring supplies like water and first aid items. And exercise caution on the trails while always being aware of your surroundings.