Sister says hiker still missing in Grand Canyon flash flood amid intrepid search

Associated Press

SUPAI, Ariz. (AP) — Search and rescue crews astatine Grand Canyon National Park were searching for an Arizona female astir 2 days aft she was swept into a creek during a flash flood, nan woman’s sister said connected societal media Saturday.

Chenoa Nickerson of Gilbert, Arizona, was hiking successful Havasu Creek, astir a half-mile (800 meters) from wherever it meets up pinch nan Colorado River, erstwhile nan flash flood struck Thursday successful nan early afternoon.

The National Park Service said nan 33-year-old stayed overnight astatine a campground adjacent nan colony of Supai connected nan Havasupai reservation, heavy successful a gorge disconnected nan Grand Canyon.

The flood trapped respective hikers successful nan area supra and beneath Beaver Falls, 1 of a bid of usually blue-green waterfalls that tie visitors from astir nan world to nan Havasupai Tribe’s reservation. The area is prone to flooding that turns its iconic waterfalls cocoa brown.

Other hikers made it to nan village, astir 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from nan campground, wherever they awaited a chopper ride. Gov. Katie Hobbs has activated nan Arizona National Guard, including Blackhawk helicopters, to thief evacuate hikers from nan village.

Tamara Morales, a sister to nan missing hiker, noted nan National Guard deployment and praised rescue crews pinch nan National Park Service for “navigating incredibly vulnerable terrain pinch highly constricted methods of connection while leaving nary chromatic unturned.”

“We are profoundly grateful for you and afloat admit that you are presently defying nan impossible,” Morales said connected Facebook. She did not respond straight to nonstop messages.

The Havasupai Tribe’s preservation is 1 of nan astir distant successful nan continental U.S., accessible only by foot, mule aliases helicopter. The Tribal Council closed nan steep, winding way that leads to nan preservation aft nan flooding and asked visitors pinch permits done Sunday not to come.

“We kindly inquire for your patience arsenic we spot to nan wellness and information of nan visitors and nan Tribal members,” nan tribe’s tourism section said connected its Facebook page.

Morales posted a photograph of her smiling sister astatine nan guidelines of steep godforsaken stream canyon, dressed successful diversion clothing worn erstwhile she disappeared, pinch what appeared to beryllium an physics wristwatch aliases fittingness instrumentality connected her wrist.