This was a rough week for Zion National Park, where three deaths were reported in one week: a lone hiker fell while hiking Angel’s Landing and two men drown while attempting to float the icy cold and fast flowing Virgin River on a man-made log raft without PFD’s.
An early Utah pioneer named Isaac Behunin wrote about Zion, “Man can come closer to God within the walls of this canyon than in any man-made temple.” While I am very sad for the tragic deaths of these three modern explorers, the manner in which they died causes me to think that perhaps they got to go as any of us who love Zion NP would want to – doing what we love.
May they rest in peace. And may the U.S. Park Service keep wild places just that – WILD.