Flash Flood à Zion [11/07/18]

[zaius]

[Important : alerte Flash Flood]

Hier 11 juillet de violents orages se sont abattus sur le secteur de Zion National Park en Utah provoquant un énorme flash flood (crue éclair) de la Virgin River et de nombreuses et importantes chutes de roches. Avant de pouvoir nettoyer la route et enlever les nombreux débris (encombrant également le tunnel à l’Est du parc), les équipes techniques doivent d’abord évaluer l’ampleur des dégâts. La route UT-9 est donc fermée entre l’entrée Est du parc et l’arrêt navette « Canyon Junction », et ce jusqu’à nouvel ordre. La scenic drive à l’intérieur du parc est quant à elle ouverte uniquement de l’entrée Sud du parc jusqu’à l’arrêt « The Grotto » (le lodge et le Visitor Center sont donc toujours accessibles). Notez bien qu’au Nord de « The Grotto » la route est fermée aux véhicules mais également aux piétons !

Pour les Sunseteurs se trouvant actuellement à Zion, si vous aviez prévu de quitter le parc par l’Est et la route UT-9 (afin de rejoindre Kanab, Page…), vous allez devoir faire court un détour par le Sud et la route UT-59 (depuis Hurricane à l’Ouest de Springdale) puis la 389 jusqu’à Fredonia avant de rejoindre enfin Kanab via le 89-A. Comptez environ 1 h 30 de route entre Hurricane et Kanab.
Carte : https://goo.gl/maps/Z7JkmyHcZR72

Pour rejoindre Bryce Canyon depuis Zion : Interstate 15 Nord (la prendre à Andersen Junction, # 27) jusqu’à Cedar City, puis route UT-14 via la Dixie National Forest, 89 Nord via Hatch et enfin route UT-12 jusqu’à Bryce Canyon. Comptez 2 h 30 de route.
Carte : https://goo.gl/maps/eLZzsMczxo62

Source : page Facebook du National Park Service

[Piour08]

La mousson est précoce cette année...

[Vnoa]

Hello,

Sur le compte FB de Zion NP, des images impressionnantes des dégâts sur les trails

Angels Landing, Kayenta, Upper Emerald Pools, West Rim Trail from the Grotto to Cabin Spring, restent fermés.

Flood Damage Update:
An intense storm on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 caused flooding, mudslides and rockfalls. Rainfall received on July 11 produced the largest flood since 2011, increasing the flow volume of the river by nearly 200x.

Several popular trails, including Angels Landing, Kayenta, Upper Emerald Pools, and West Rim from the Grotto to Cabin Spring, remain closed. Read more details below.

Riverside Walk -
Sand, debris and small rockfalls were the issue on Riverside Walk. In one area, the sand was three feet deep covering the trail. Trail crews worked all day Wednesday and Thursday morning on clearing the trail. In the meantime, the Zion Shuttle turned around at Big Bend and there was no access to The Narrows from the Temple of Sinawava. Now that Riverside Walk is clear, shuttles have resumed their full route.

Zion-Mount Carmel Hwy (SR-9) -
Mud and debris on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway was 3-4 feet deep in several areas, overwhelming the road drainage culverts and making the road impassable. Dozens of vehicles were initially stranded in the 1.1 mile tunnel and some stuck in the mud flow. Roads crews were able to plow a path to the vehicles to get them out late Wednesday night. Crews finished clearing the rest of the road and the culverts by late afternoon Friday.

West Rim Trail (access to Angels Landing from Zion Canyon) -
There is major damage on the West Rim Trail, in the area of Refrigerator Canyon. A section of retaining wall failed, causing an 18 foot gap in the trail that is over 5 feet deep. The West Rim between Cabin Spring (near campsite #1) and the Grotto is closed. This includes Zion’s popular Angels Landing Trail. There is no estimate for when the trail will be reopen. Visitors are encouraged to use Observation Point Trail or Hidden Canyon Trail as alternatives. The West Rim campsites are open and accessible from Lava Point.

Emerald Pools Area Trails -
Much of the Emerald Pools Trail complex is also closed due to major damage. Just past the alcove at the end of Lower Emerald Pools Trail, a 20 foot by 10 foot boulder that was supporting part of the trail fell, leaving a deep void in the trail. Two large retaining walls also failed. On the Kayenta Trail, numerous large boulders completely crushed approximately 50 feet of trail. The Kayenta Trail, Upper Emerald Pools Trail and a small section of Lower Emerald Pools Trail will remain closed until repairs can be made. There is no estimate for when the repairs will be complete. The Lower Emerald Pools waterfall is still visible from the Lower Emerald Pools Trail, but visitors can no longer walk behind it. Watchman Trail, Weeping Rock, and Riverside Walk are suggested alternatives.

Further engineering assessments will need to be done on the remaining damaged areas before any other estimated trail reopenings can be provided.

Shuttles are running normally, except shuttles will not be dropping off visitors at the Grotto Shuttle Stop. The Watchman, South, and Lava Point Campgrounds and the Zion Lodge are fully open.