Terrifying hazard hiding in plain sight at popular park finally gets attention
The National Park Service just dropped an urgent safety alert for anyone planning a trip to the stunning Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which stretches across Arizona and Utah. They’re telling everyone to watch out for hazardous quicksand areas, especially near the shoreline and in drainages.
This isn’t just a minor heads-up; it’s a serious caution for spring breakers and other visitors. The quicksand can look totally dry and firm on the surface, but it might give way suddenly. So, you’ve really got to be on the lookout for unstable, shifting, or unusually soft ground. If you’re heading into those areas, use extreme caution.
According to Fox News, Glen Canyon is massive, covering over 1.25 million acres from Lees Ferry in Arizona all the way to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah. It’s a super popular spot for water recreation, epic backcountry adventures, and of course, the iconic Horseshoe Bend along the Colorado River. It’s truly a gem, but it hides a sneaky danger.
It’s important to look out for these signs
The Park Service even shared some specific signs that can tip you off to potential quicksand. Keep an eye out for unexpected water seepage, any shifting, rippling, or vibrating soil. If a dry-looking surface feels soft or spongy underfoot, that’s a big red flag. Also, watch for depressions or saturated low spots, and fine sediment mixed with water. Basically, if the ground looks a bit weird, it probably is.
Quicksand has a density of about two grams per milliliter, but humans are only about one gram per milliliter. This density difference means you cannot completely sink in quicksand. You’d likely go down to about your waist, but that’s as far as it goes. Jim Britt, a conservation and forestry spokesperson, even confirmed that people caught in supersaturated sand stay buoyant, allowing them to float and wriggle free.
If you do find yourself in quicksand, the National Park Service has some excellent advice. First off, stay calm. Panicking will only make things worse. Avoid any sudden movements. Instead, lean back to spread out your body weight. This helps you float better. Then, slowly work your legs upward, wiggling your feet gently or rotating your legs slightly.
Once you start to free yourself, use slow, controlled movements to inch your way toward firmer ground. If you can, use a sturdy object for leverage, and definitely avoid trying to stand up until you’re safely out of the quicksand.
This isn’t just a theoretical threat. There have been real-world incidents. Back in 2019, a 34-year-old Arizona man had to be airlifted to safety from Zion National Park after getting caught in quicksand. He suffered from hypothermia, exposure, and other injuries, proving that even if you don’t fully sink, quicksand can still put you in a very dangerous situation.
(featured image: nowpeak, CC BY 2.0)
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