ST. GEORGE — A woman was reunited safely with her hiking party after she needed assistance from search and rescue on the trail Sunday afternoon.
A group of 11 women were hiking on the Padre Canyon Trail in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve near Snow Canyon State Park when one of them was unable to continue, Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Lacagnina told St. George News. She appeared to be dehydrated and her friends called for assistance shortly before 12:30 p.m.
Padre Canyon Trail is just over 3 miles long but can be extended up to approximately 7 miles when hiking other nearby trails as part of a larger loop, according to the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve’s website, which describes the trail as “strenuous.”
The Santa Clara-Ivins Fire Department and Washington County Sheriff deputies and Search and Rescue responded to the scene. Because she couldn’t walk under her own power, she was loaded into a stokes litter and carried. Rescuers took turns carrying her to ensure they didn’t become too fatigued, but Lacagnina said they didn’t encounter any serious obstacles.
She was later transported via an all-terrain vehicle to the parking lot, where she was reunited with her party. After rest and “lots of fluids,” the woman left with her group, Lacagnina said.
To hike safely, Lacagnina suggests checking the weather and dressing accordingly for the area and season. Additionally, hikers should prepare enough food and water to sustain themselves for at least a day before hitting the trail.
Trails in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve “vary from easy to extremely strenuous and involve significant challenges when adequate preparation is not made,” according to the reserve’s website. Hikers may face extreme temperatures, lack of shade and water, sudden rainstorms, flash floods, rocky inclines and deep sand, among other hazards.
Red Cliffs suggests acquiring information about areas hikers intend to visit from their stewarding agencies, maps and relevant literature to better understand the trail environments and what precautions should be taken. Additionally, visitors should inform friends or family where they are going, as “search and rescue operations cannot be fully implemented if teams don’t know where to begin looking for you if you are lost or injured,” and cell phone service can be inconsistent or nonexistent in some areas.
In addition to food and water, the reserve recommends that hikers pack topographic maps, GPS units and emergency supplies.
Photo Gallery
Rescuers carry a woman off Padre Canyon Trail after she was unable to continue on her own, Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff Search and Rescue, St. George News Rescuers carry a woman off Padre Canyon Trail after she was unable to continue on her own, Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff Search and Rescue, St. George News Rescuers carry a woman off Padre Canyon Trail after she was unable to continue on her own, Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff Search and Rescue, St. George News Rescuers carry a woman off Padre Canyon Trail after she was unable to continue on her own, Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff Search and Rescue, St. George News Rescuers carry a woman off Padre Canyon Trail after she was unable to continue on her own, Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff Search and Rescue, St. George News
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