I think that I’ve read of half a dozen similar reports in the past week. Stay off the hiking trails until the bad juju passes!

“A man and woman fell to their deaths Friday morning while hiking a trail near the world famous Delicate Arch, at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah.

The victims, a 60-year-old woman and 65-year-old man, fell into the lower bowl near the renowned arch, Chief Ranger Scott Brown said. They were found dead at the scene by rescuers.

A 30-year-old man was airlifted to a hospital. His condition is not known…”

https://mol.im/a/7741533

The 30 year old was thought to be the son of the couple who died.

Two people killed and one injured after falling at Delicate Arch.
POSTED 4:47 PM, NOVEMBER 29, 2019, BY FOX 13 NEWS, UPDATED AT 07:23PM, NOVEMBER 29, 2019


ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, Utah — Two people were killed and another injured after falling at Delicate Arch Friday morning.

Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown said the fall happened around 7:30 a.m.


Rescue operation at Delicate Arch.

Rangers found the bodies of a man and woman and an injured man.

All three are from California. A 65-year-old man and his 60-year-old wife were killed Brown said. A 30-year-old man, believed to be the couple’s son, was taken by helicopter to Moab Regional Hospital.

Names won’t be released until next of kin has been notified.

The Grand County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

There was a mix of snow and rain along the trail to Delicate Arch at the time, but investigators don’t know if weather was a factor yet.

http://via.fox13now.com/ULtfk

We hiked that a couple years ago with our kids...my 2.5 year-old did most of it on his own (meaning he walked himself, holding my hand. I carried him about 1/4 of the way). It's a pretty easy hike, with a few spots that require caution and common sense. We didn't leave the kids unattended near cliffs or drop-offs.

We did it in the summer, however. It's mostly slickrock and there are some decent drops...I can see how it could be pretty dangerous if it was snow or ice covered. Like anything outdoors, you have to consider the conditions and make good decisions.

Trying to make these family deaths look like accidents is getting old.

What do you mean?

I have done the hike to the arch years ago in the summer, perhaps one of the most popular ones in Utah. Not a very long one, maybe 2 miles up at the most. Parts of it are a little steep. But towards the top, there is a sketchy part; the trail is very narrow, perhaps the width of a sidewalk, with one side the face of a rock wall, the other side a steep drop off of perhaps a couple of hundred feet or more. I'm guessing they bought it there. If covered in snow or ice, it would have been stupid to walk along that ledge.

I’m guessing he meant it is probably a result of trying to get “the perfect photo.”

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
I’m guessing he meant it is probably a result of trying to get “the perfect photo.”

My first thought was that he was suggesting it was a murder/suicide. Obviously, our minds take different tracks. One would hope your take was correct.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
I’m guessing he meant it is probably a result of trying to get “the perfect photo.”

My first thought was that he was suggesting it was a murder/suicide. Obviously, our minds take different tracks. One would hope your take was correct.

flashguy

Well, that was my thought too.

And yes, that hike is quite easy. That last part on the ledge is nothing to get worked up about. There's plenty of room. However, I would never do that hike with the ground snow covered. That would be reckless.

Sadly a young lady working in the park went off “Angels Landing” in Zion about a week ago also ...

MDS

Sad.

To many people, today see these nice pictures online and want to get the same thing. Some of these people have little or no real experience in the outdoors. They don't realize that a simple hike when the weather is nice will become a very hazardous hike when snow/ice comes.

Some think it's sunny outside when they start the hike, they will be back in just a few hours not need for any extra clothes or gear. They don't understand that at elevation weather can change quickly. That warm sunny weather can turn into cold snow/ice very quickly.

When we went to Angel's Landing, I was 6 months out of hip surgery. Both I and my better half climbed to the top. Once there, I said I would check the trail to the tip. Not very far into it I said "Oh, Hell NO"

Even though there were chains to grab if you slipped, I would not trust that my wife could make it, and seriously thought that I would be risking too much. Came back and told her it wasn't worth it.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Trying to make these family deaths look like accidents is getting old.

Again, I ask you what you mean by this.

I am highly suspicious of these events. I have spent most of my life in the backcountry. Accidents like this are very rare. Sure, they can happen. But there are lots of these so-called accidents that turn out to be anything but. The guy that killed his wife and son I believe it was in Utah. The Newlywed that pushed her husband over the edge in Montana. And many many more.
Two people going over the edge here seems highly unlikely to me as an accident

Is there more than one way to get to delicate arch? It could be my memory but I don't remember anything I would call a "hike".

It's been longer than I realize though.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Trying to make these family deaths look like accidents is getting old.

Don't post conspiracy theories in this forum. If you have some evidence to present, do so. Otherwise, do not post that overly-dramatic speculation in this forum.

Three people on a trail- the one in front slips and knocks down the other two, or, one falls and the other two try to rescue them and, in turn, they themselves fall. Come on. Enough with this conspiracy stuff. Occam's Razor

I go out in the back country of the Yoop regularly and the lack of preparedness of others amazes me.
Stupid clothing choices. No water. No food. No shelter. No navigation skills or gear. No flashlight. No idea of how rapidly weather can change here.
If you dont respect the Yoop (or any back country), it can kill you.

We were in Moab 3 weeks ago. I am 60 and in good shape. The hike to Delicate Arch is a 2 mile hike of varying terrain. It was about 75F that day, we were warm from the hike. Yes, the last few hundred yards are of the video shown above. If the last part of the hike had snow/ice on the trail, I think that would be very slippery. The drop off is quite steep, if someone was holding hands bad things could happen if one slipped.

You get off that narrow trail onto a large flat bowl area. Hiker/shutterbugs were everywhere.

I hiked to a good vantage spot in the bowl and waited for good light and people not in the scene.


This is not a trivial hike and ending area......

Then you have this idiot who is suing the rescuers... (link)

https://www.knau.org/post/inju...ral-sue-city-phoenix