If you want to see how slot canyons are cut in the desert check out this incredible footage shot by David Rankin on August 02nd in Page Arizona. Antelope canyon is notorious for its dangerous floods. My wife and I were involved in a minor flash flood incident in the Grand Canyon some years ago. Nothing like this but it gave me a firsthand understanding of the meaning of "flash" flood.

Insane Flash Flooding, Antelope Canyon and Page Arizona. August 2nd, 2013 - YouTube

- Peter

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I've narrowly missed quite a few. Once had to decamp and run for high ground when foolishly hiking Pariah Canyon this time of year. We were about halfway down, just out of the narrows portion of it thank god.
The most impressive flash I've witnessed start to finish was on the San Juan River in Utah. We just happened to have stopped to lunch at the confluence of Comb Wash and the San Juan. The wash enters on river right and we had pulled our boats over just downstream from the wash and were having lunch when the initial wash of foam, maybe a foot deep came down. We pulled the boats up higher and got to a safe height and sat in awe watching a flood that ultimately looked like that Antelope flood in the video. Start to finish took maybe an hour.
We've had several major floods here in our creek. Base flow is usually a couple hundred CF/S. In 1993 a freak warm storm on the rim flash-melted the heavy snowpack. The Verde crested at 59K CF/S and our creek hit 22K. Lots of damage valley wide. All our lower pasture fences were blown out as well as our irrigation intake. All those dry washes upstream flashing at the same time. Awesome.

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Just lost a couple of hikers down here last week in the Tanque Verde Falls area. Visitors to the area don't realize how fast, furious and deep the water can get in the smaller canyons.

My rule of thumb has always been if there isn't any 2 or 3 year growth of vegetation in it, stay out of it.

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That's a pretty good rule but not always practical I'm afraid. In the event I experienced in the Grand Canyon which was minor in the great scheme of things and occurred right in the middle of Indian Gardens camp ground, I watched an elderly Chinese tourist who was the last member of the party hiking up from the Colorado literally miss being swept away down the wash by a hairs breadth. It was that sudden and that close.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

No-one mentioned the idiot law they have in Az that prosecutes anyone who puts themselves in jepordy by going near a place like this in a flood situation, If a law-dawg happened along when these idjuts were video-ing this -they could have ended up being charged and JAILd for being there on the bank. Or same for someone not paying attention the the previous nites weather on the TV and driving up a canyon with rain clowds above.

Recent news articles indicate that prosecution of the "idiot law" as it's known, if far and few between. The road has to be officially closed or barricaded before the law kicks in and then the local prosecutor has to file the action. Apparently, only the Cave Creek office has gone after recovering the additional penalty.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/arizona/articles/20130724arizona-stupid-motorist-law-rarely-prosecuted-considered-effective-abrk.html

Jeremy Clarkson is aware of this problem and has discovered a hovercraft is a passable mode of transportation when the ground is dry.

And when the ground is flooded it is the only mode of transportation.

Thanks for posting.

Any where downstream of a dam should be treated with caution. Especially if there is a hydro power plant attached. I have seen a small creek turn from a trickle to a raging torrent in seconds on a day when there has been no rain in the catchment for weeks. I know of one over here that does it mid afternoon on most hot days & then is back to a trickle by midnight. There are often a few mad kyakers there wanting to try their luck.

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