Death in Zion National Park

by Randi Minetor

  “Name Released of Falling Fatality Victim in Zion National Park.” National Park Service news release, December 1, 2008. Accessed August 16, 2016. www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/name-released-of-falling-fatality-victim-in-zion-national-park.htm.

  Nancy Elder and Jeffrey D. Eggertz, Plaintiffs-appellants, v. United States of America, Defendant-appellee, 312 F.3d 1172 (10th Cir. 2002). Accessed on Justia.com, August 15, 2016. http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/312/1172/608818.

  Norlen, Clayton. “Victim of Hiking Fall Was U. Director of Sustainability.” Deseret News, December 1, 2008. Accessed August 16, 2016. http://beta.deseretnews.com/article/705267177/Victim-of-hiking-fall-was-U-director-of-sustainability.html?pg=all%20%20%20http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=4950914.

  “Penny D. Lewis.” Obituary, Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. Accessed August 16, 2016. www.hansenspear.com/obituary/penny-d-lewis.

  Perkins, Nancy. “Texas Hiker Found Dead in Zion Park.” Deseret News, May 17, 2001. Accessed August 16, 2016. http://beta.deseretnews.com/article/843189/Texas-hiker-found-dead-in-Zion-Park.html.

  “Scott Vincent Schena.” Obituary, Lowell Sun, January 29, 2014. Accessed August 18, 2016. www.legacy.com/obituaries/lowellsun/obituary.aspx?pid=169390312.

  “Service Saturday to Honor Victim of Zion Park Fall.” Salt Lake Tribune, August 7, 1959. Accessed August 14, 2016. www.newspapers.com/image/12355817/?terms=Kelly%2BHilton%2Bdeath%2BZion.

  “St. Louis Youth Killed in Fall on Utah Mountain.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 11, 1930. Accessed August 12, 2016. www.newspapers.com/image/138904881/?terms=%22Zion%2BNational%2BPark%22%2Bdeath.

  “The Summit Fund.” Utah State University Department of Geology. Accessed August 16, 2016. http://geology.usu.edu/htm/the-summit-fund.

  “Third Fatality in Less Than a Week in ZNP.” Canyon Collective discussion forum, April 28, 2010. Accessed August 14, 2016. http://canyoncollective.com/threads/third-fatality-in-less-than-a-week-in-znp.15437.

  Toomer, Jennifer. “Sandy Boy Perishes in Fall from Zion Cliff.” Deseret News, March 30, 1997. Accessed August 15, 2016. http://beta.deseretnews.com/article/551531/Sandy-boy-perishes-in-fall-from-Zion-cliff.html.

  United Press International. “Logan Boy, 11, Killed in Fall from Ledge at Zion.” Daily Herald (Provo, UT), June 22, 1962. Accessed August 14, 2016. www.newspapers.com/clip/5747818/the_daily_herald.

  ———. “Youth Killed in Canyon Plunge.” Green Bay Press-Gazette, August 6, 1959. Accessed August 14, 2016. www.newspapers.com/image/188848689/?terms=Kelly%2BHilton%2Bdeath%2BZion.

  ———. “Youth Killed in Cliff Fall at Zion Park.” Ogden Standard-Examiner, March 5, 1968. Accessed August 14, 2016. www.newspapers.com/clip/5738462/the_ogden_standardexaminer.

  “Utah Canyoneering History: Morning Report Excerpts–1993.” CanyoneeringUSA.com. Accessed August 14, 2016. www.canyoneeringusa.com/history/mr1993.htm.

  “Utah Canyoneering History: Morning Report Excerpts–1994.” CanyoneeringUSA.com. Accessed August 15, 2016. www.canyoneeringusa.com/history/mr1994.htm.

  “West Temple, III, 5.8.” SummitPost.org. Accessed August 14, 2016. www.summitpost.org/west-temple-iii-5-8/286540.

  “Youth Killed in Zion Park by Long Fall.” Ogden Standard-Examiner, July 11, 1930. Accessed August 12, 2016. www.newspapers.com/image/23746969/?terms=%22Zion%2BNational%2BPark%22%2Bdeath.

  “Zion National Park (UT): Concession Employee Dies of Injuries Sustained in Fall.” National Park Service Morning Report, July 25, 2013, as reposted on SuperTopo.com. Accessed August 18, 2016. www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=1587523&tn=80.

  Chapter 5

  “1992-555 Zion (UT) SAR; Fatality.” Left Fork (The Subway) and Right Fork Accident Reports, CanyoneeringUSA.com. Accessed August 17, 2016. www.canyoneeringusa.com/subway-accident-reports.

  Allred, Drew. “Update: Search Teams Locate Body of Zion BASE Jumper.” St. George News, February 9, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2016. www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2014/02/09/eda-update-search-teams-locate-body-of-zion-base-jumper/#.V7pQqGXMSq4.

  ———. “Update: Zion BASE Jumper Went Down Before Husband, Name Released.” St. George News, February 9, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2016. www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2014/02/09/eda-zion-base-jumper-went-went-down-before-her-husband/#.V7oArWXMSq5.

  Associated Press. “Climber Falls in Zion Park.” Idaho State Journal, October 11, 1965. Accessed August 16, 2016. www.newspapers.com/clip/5739126/idaho_state_journal.

  ———. “Man Dies Hanging Upside Down at Utah’s Zion National Park.” Great Falls Tribune, September 21, 2012. Accessed August 18, 2016. www.newspapers.com/image/127240507/?terms=%22Zion%2BNational%2BPark%22%2Bdeath.

  Barrett, Natalie. “News Short: BASE Jumper’s Chute Does Not Deploy; Fatality.” St. George News, February 8, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2016. www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2014/02/08/nab-news-short-base-jumpers-chute-does-not-deploy-fatality.

  “Canyoneer Dies from Fall in Zion’s Subway.” St. George News, September 6, 2013. Accessed August 19, 2016. www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/09/06/canyoneer-dies-fall-zions-subway.

  “Canyoneering Fatality in Not Imlay Canyon in Zion National Park.” National Park Service news release, October 3, 2015. Accessed August 19, 2016. www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/canyoneeringfatality_notimlay.htm.

  Carpenter, Hayden. “Climber Dies in Fall from Moonlight Buttress.” Rock and Ice, March 14, 2016. Accessed August 20, 2016. www.rockandice.com/climbing-accidents/climber-dies-in-fall-from-moonlight-buttress-zion.

  Carswell, Cally. “Deaths Renew Calls for National Parks to Rescind BASE Jumping Bans.” High Country News, July 20, 2015. Accessed August 21, 2016. www.hcn.org/issues/47.12/deaths-renew-calls-for-national-parks-to-rescind-base-jumping-bans.

  Chawkins, Steve. “Sean ‘Stanley’ Leary Dies at 38; Mountain Adventurer.” Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2016. http://articles.latimes.com/2014/mar/29/local/la-me-sean-leary-20140330.

  “Climber Dies in Fall at Zion National Park.” National Park Service news release, October 27, 2012. Accessed August 18, 2016. www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/climber-dies-in-fall-at-zion-national-park.htm.

  “Climbing Fatality Name Released.” National Park Service news release, October 21, 2014. Accessed August 19, 2016. www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/climbingfatalitynamed.htm.

  “Climbing Fatality on Touchstone Route in Zion National Park.” National Park Service press release, October 18, 2008. Accessed August 18, 2016. www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/climbing-fatality-on-touchstone-route-in-zion-national-park.htm.

  Connors, Richard. “Death in Zion (and Stuff about Abseil Knots).” uk.rec.climbing, as reposted on the Canyon Collective discussion forum. Accessed on August 17, 2016. http://canyoncollective.com/threads/zion-fatality.3117.

  Dowsett, Ben. “1 dead in Zion National Park Canyoneering Accident.” KSL.com, October 3, 2015. Accessed August 19, 2016. www.ksl.com/?sid=36799608&nid=148&s_cid=rss-extlink.

  “Falls 1000 Feet to Sudden Death in Zion Canyon.” Iron County Record, July 29, 1931. Accessed August 16, 2016. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=3784235&q=Don+Orcutt+death&eq=&page=1&rows=50&core=udn&fd=title_t%2Cpaper_t%2Cdate_tdt%2Ctype_t#t_3784235.

  “Fatality in Heaps.” Discussion thread on Bogley.com, started July 12, 2015. Accessed August 19, 2016. www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?74568-Fatality-in-Heaps.

  “Fatality in Not Imlay Canyon.” Zion National Park Search and Rescue blog, April 21, 2016. Accessed August 19, 2016. www.nps.gov/zion/blogs/Fatality-in-Not-Imlay-Canyon.htm.

  “Fatality in Zion National Park’s Subway.” National Park service news release, September 19, 2012. Accessed August 18, 2016. www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/fatality-in-subway.htm.

  Foy, Paul. “Man dies hanging upside down in Utah’s Zion park.” Deseret News, September 20, 2012. Accessed August 18, 2016. http://www.dese
retnews.com/article/765605603/Man-dies-hanging-upside-down-at-Utahs-Zion-park.html

  GSH. “To Prophesy Wall: A Story of Life, Death, and Climbing.” Southwest Journal, January 28, 2014 (first published in Utah Adventure Journal, Summer 2013). Accessed August 18, 2016. https://thesouthwestjournal.com/2014/01/28/to-prophesy-wall-a-story-of-life-death-climbing.

  Hammill, Ryan. “Foul Play Ruled Out in Climber’s Death.” Orange County Register, June 8, 2007. Accessed August 17, 2016. www.ocregister.com/articles/biedermann-177355-park-adams.html.

  Hyland, Dallas. “Louis Johnson Was My Friend.” Independent (St. George, UT), October 4, 2015. Accessed August 19, 2016. http://suindependent.com/louis-johnson.

  Jim, Cami Cox. “Authorities Identify Man Killed by 100-Foot Fall in Zion National Park.” St. George News, July 14, 2015. Accessed August 19, 2016. www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2015/07/14/ccj-fatal-fall-zion.

  Jolley, Faith Heaton. “Worst Rockfalls, Landslides in Zion National Park.” KSL.com, October 24, 2015. Accessed August 17, 2016. www.ksl.com/?sid=37074368&nid=148.

  Jones, Tom. “Heaps Canyon, Zion National Park.” Accessed August 17. 2016. http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/zion/technical/preface/heaps/.

  “Man Who Fell in Zion ID’d.” Deseret News, June 7, 2007. Accessed August 17, 2016. http://beta.deseretnews.com/article/660227287/Man-who-fell-in-Zion-IDd.html.

  McFall, Michael. “Clayton Butler, Adventurer Whose Wife Died in Utah BASE Jump, Dies in Hawaii Fall.” Salt Lake Tribune, January 24, 2015. Accessed August 21, 2016. www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/outdoors/2072592-155/clayton-butler-adventurer-whose-wife.

  Meek, Doug. “Icewater Grave.” Doug Meek Photography, September 2012. Accessed August 18, 2016. www.dougmeek.com/keyword/Yoshio%20Hosobuchi.

  Mims, Bob, and Erin Alberty. “Citation Dropped against Husband of BASE Jumper in Fatal Fall.” Salt Lake Tribune, February 13, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2016. http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/news/57534645-78/butler-park-baltrus-base.html.csp.

  Mims, Bob, and Michael McFall. “Man, 74, Dies after Hanging by Foot Overnight in Zion NP Canyon.” Salt Lake Tribune, September 21, 2012. Accessed August 18, 2016. http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/news/54933651-78/canyon-hosobuchi-park-zion.html.csp.

  “Peak Scaler Dies in Zion Park Plunge.” Garfield County News, July 31, 1931. Accessed August 27, 2016. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=3190626&q=%22Peak+Scaler+Dies+in+Zion+Park+Plunge%22&eq=&page=1&rows=50&core=udn&fd=title_t%2Cpaper_t%2Cdate_tdt%2Ctype_t&sort=date_tdt+asc#t_3190626.

  Rizzo, Russ. “California Man Killed in Zion National Park Fall.” Salt Lake Tribune, June 6, 2007. Accessed August 18, 2016. http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/news/ci_6073540.

  Scott, Kimberly. “Man Falls to His Death in Zion National Park.” St. George News, July 12, 2015. Accessed August 19, 2016. www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2015/07/12/kss-man-falls-to-his-death-in-zion-national-park.

  “Sean Leary Killed in BASE Accident.” Climbing, March 24, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2016. www.climbing.com/news/sean-leary-killed-in-base-accident.

  “Skull of Cliff Dweller Found on Throne.” Iron County Record, August 19, 1931. Accessed August 16, 2016. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=3784868&q=Don+Orcutt+death&eq=&page=1&rows=50&core=udn&fd=title_t%2Cpaper_t%2Cdate_tdt%2Ctype_t#t_3784868.

  St. Germain, Patrice. “Man Dies in Rappelling Accident: Apparent Rope Failure Causes Man to Fall in Zion Park.” Spectrum (St. George, UT), May 22, 2002, as posted on the Canyon Collective discussion forum. Accessed August 17, 2016. http://canyoncollective.com/threads/zion-fatality.3117.

  “Utah Official Dies of Injuries.” Spokesman-Review, October 13, 1992. Accessed August 17, 2016. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19921013&id=G0xXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PfADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5706,2144338&hl=en.

  Van Leuven, Chris, and Corey Buhay. “Remembering Eric Klimt.” Alpinist, March 21, 2016. Accessed August 20, 2016. www.alpinist.com/doc/web16a/newswire-remembering-eric-klimt.

  “What Happened in Heaps Canyon?” Discussion thread on Bogley.com, June 7, 2007. Accessed August 17, 2016. www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?26059-What-happened-in-Heaps-Canyon/page4.

  “Zion Climbing Fatality.” SuperTopo discussion board, October 17–22, 2008. Accessed August 18, 2016. www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=701629&tn=40.

  “Zion National Park BASE Jumper Recovered and Identified.” National Park Service news release, March 25, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2016. www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/basejumperrecovered.htm.

  “Zion National Park (UT) Falling Fatality in Behunin Canyon.” National Park Service Morning Report, posted to Yahoo Canyons Group, located on CanyonCollective.com, September 10, 2003. Accessed August 17, 2016. http://canyoncollective.com/threads/more-on-the-fatality.4750/#post-15222.

  “Zion National Park Visitation 2006–2016.” National Park Service. Accessed August 18, 2016. www.nps.gov/zion/learn/management/upload/ZION-VISITATION-2006-2016-6.pdf.

  “Zion Rock Climber Falls 150 Feet to Her Death.” Deseret News, January 23, 1999. Accessed August 17, 2016. http://beta.deseretnews.com/article/676181/Zion-rock-climber-falls-150-feet-to-her-death.html.

  Chapter 6

  “2 bikers who died ID’d as S.L., Dixie residents.” Deseret News, March 30, 2004. Accessed August 24, 2016. www.deseretnews.com/article/595052507/2-bikers-who-died-IDd-as-SL-Dixie-residents.html.

  “94-400–Zion (Utah)–MVA with Fatality.” Utah Canyoneering History: Morning Report Excerpts–1994, CanyoneeringUSA.com. Accessed August 24, 2016. www.canyoneeringusa.com/history/mr1994.htm.

  Associated Press. “Phoenix Cyclist Killed, 2 Hurt in Utah Park Tunnel.” Arizona Republic, May 27, 1974. Accessed August 24, 2016. www.newspapers.com/image/117988743.

  ———. “Two Motorcyclists Killed in Tunnel Crash.” KSL.com, March 29, 2004. Accessed August 24, 2016. www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=85631.

  “Death in Park Held Accident.” Deseret News, August 28, 1958. Accessed August 23, 2016. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19580828&id=n3svAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PUgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5014,5141538&hl=en.

  “Five Die in Traffic in State; 2 Burned.” Tucson Daily Citizen, May 27, 1974. Accessed August 23, 2016. www.newspapers.com/image/17960521/?terms=%22Zion%2BNational%2BPark%22%2Bdeath.

  Garate, Donald T. The Zion Tunnel: From Slickrock to Switchback. Springdale, UT: Zion Natural History Association, 1989, pp. 19–29.

  Green, Mark. “Man Seriously Injured as 8 Attempt to Illegally Bicycle Ride through Tunnel at Zion National Park.” Fox 13 News, Salt Lake City, February 22, 2014. Accessed August 24, 2016. http://fox13now.com/2014/02/22/man-seriously-injured-as-8-attempt-to-illegally-cycle-through-tunnel-at-zion-national-park.

  “Laborer Struck by Rock Dies of Hurts.” Salt Lake Telegram, January 20, 1928. Accessed August 23, 2016. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=15517725&q=Mac+McClain&eq=&page=3&rows=25&core=udn&fd=title_t%2Cpaper_t%2Cdate_tdt%2Ctype_t&sort=date_tdt+asc&gallery=&date_tdt=%5B+1928-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z+TO+1931-12-31T00%3A00%3A00Z+%5D#t_15517725.

  “Mount Carmel Tunnel Opens Scenic Beauty to Motorist.” Arizona Republic, July 6, 1930. Accessed August 23, 2016. www.newspapers.com/image/116961169.

  “N.M. Woman, Infant Son Killed in Canyon Crash; Injuries Claim Bicyclist.” Deseret News, April 18, 1986. Accessed August 24, 2016. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19860418&id=K0xTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3YMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5217,851095&hl=en.

  “Road Worker Loses Life.” Iron County Record, January 20, 1928. Accessed August 28, 2016. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=3749071&q=McClain&eq=&page=1&rows=50&core=udn&fd=title_t%2Cpaper_t%2Cdate_tdt%2Ctype_t&sort=date_tdt+asc&gallery=&date_tdt=%5B+1928-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z+TO+1928-12-31T00%3A00%3A00Z+%5D#t_3749071.

  Roy Bieghler and Joanne Hoff v. Thomas S. Kleppe, Secretary of the Interior, United States of America, and the United States of Americ
a, 633 F.2d 531 (9th Cir. 1980). Accessed on CourtListener.com, August 24, 2016. www.courtlistener.com/opinion/383572/roy-bieghler-and-joanne-hoff-v-thomas-s-kleppe-secretary-of-the/?stat_Non-Precedential=on&sort=score+desc&stat_Relating-to+orders=on&court_cadc=on&stat_Precedential=on&stat_Errata=on&page=101.

  United Press International. “Tunnel Design Caused Motorcycle Crashes, Attorney Says in Suit.” Arizona Republic, April 15, 1982. Accessed August 24, 2016. www.newspapers.com/image/121496678.

  ———. “Utahn, Californian Die in Motorcycle Mishaps.” Ogden Standard-Examiner, June 7, 1972. Accessed August 23, 2016. www.newspapers.com/image/31537133.

  “Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway and Tunnel.” Zion National Park website. Accessed August 23, 2016. www.nps.gov/zion/learn/historyculture/zmchighway.htm.

  “Zion National Park (UT) Two Motorcyclists Killed in Tunnel.” Zion Morning Report, March 31, 2004, located on CanyonCollective.com. Accessed August 24, 2016. http://canyoncollective.com/threads/zion-morning-report.5197.

  Chapter 7

  Anastasia, George. “Suit Targets Man Acquitted in Wife’s Death.” Philly.com, September 18, 2003. Accessed August 25, 2016. http://articles.philly.com/2003-09-18/news/25457997_1_civil-action-civil-complaint-death.

  Associated Press. “Defense Expert Gives Harmful Testimony in Zion Death Trial.” Daily Herald, November 21, 2002. Accessed August 25, 2016. www.heraldextra.com/news/local/defense-expert-gives-harmful-testimony-in-zion-death-trial/article_3af9a2d2-b7a7-5a53-bdbb-629f17087157.html.

  ———. “Trial Begins for Hiker Accused of Pushing Wife to Death.” Kingman Daily Miner, November 7, 2002. Accessed August 25, 2016. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=932&dat=20021107&id=wscvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O1MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3706,4391642&hl=en.

  Braun, Joe. “Observation Point Trail.” Joe’s Guide to Zion National Park. Accessed August 28, 2016. www.citrusmilo.com/zionguide/obspoint.cfm.

  Dobner, Jennifer. “Sister Had Questions over Hiker’s Death in Fall.” Deseret News, November 19, 2002. Accessed August 24, 2016. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=20021119&id=nB5OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6787,2234565&hl=en.