SNOW CANYON STATE PARK – Two hikers reported missing by family late Sunday in Snow Canyon State Park were found thanks to the efforts of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue.
The call came in to dispatch about 11:30 p.m. when family of the hikers called to report the men were missing after they failed to return home, Deputy Darrell Cashin, Search and Rescue liaison for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, said. The family became worried when the hiker’s truck was found still parked in Snow Canyon State Park near the dunes without the men inside.
The hikers, ages 18 and 20, arrived at the park in the early afternoon Sunday, and had not been heard from again, Cashin said. The family began looking for the hikers and found their truck with a park pass time-stamped at 2:30 p.m., and immediately called the Sheriff’s Office to report them missing.
While rescue crews were searching for the hikers, they heard the men yelling that they were stuck on top of Island in the Sky, a steep-walled sandstone butte located in the middle of Snow Canyon.
At that point, the high angle ropes team were called in to assist, and made their way up the butte to the stranded men. The men were dehydrated and cold, dressed in shorts and t-shirts, Cashin said.
The men told the rescuers they were without water during the 10 hours they were stranded, Cashin said. After providing them with water, the rescuers assisted the men back down to the floor of the park where they were met by family members who had reported them missing.
No injuries were reported and, after donning warmer clothing, the hikers left the park with family.
The hikers were returned to their families at 2:30 a.m. Monday, so the rescue took about 4 hours, Cashin said.
St. George News Reporter Mori Kessler contributed to this story.
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