Flash flood

[oly]

I wounder if the people that owned the tent survived?
ksl.com - Flash floods wipe out road, overcome Jeeps
From central Utah and south I never camp in lower areas, that goes for Nevada and Arizona to. Sandstone and sandy soil has no place for water to go but down hill and it dont take alot of rain to cause a flash flood

[Rick]

Good post, Oly, and a timely reminder that flash floods can turn a fun week-end into a disaster.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6593300

[crashdive123]

Yep - it's important to know what is going on at the higher elevations around you. Good post.

[oly]

It can be clear skies where your at but raining at higher elevations and look out the washes are full in no time at all.
Keep to high ground no matter where your at.

[crashdive123]

It can be clear skies where your at but raining at higher elevations and look out the washes are full in no time at all.
Keep to high ground no matter where your at.

You are absolutely correct. It doesn't matter what it's doing where you are, but rather further up. I used to spend quite a bit of time here (http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/04/01/news/story2.html). The water line was about twenty or thirty feet above your head when you were at the bottom. If it was even cloudy in the mountains, you didn't dare go. The mountains of Kauaii had some pretty incredible annual rainfalls.

[oly]

One of the first things I do is look for hazardous areas when house hunting and camping.
I have warned greenhorns not to set up camp in areas that may be a flash flood hazard but hey know it all, and only got to see there gear float away once while sitting under the awning drinking beer with a big grin on my face
Another one is when it starts raining and the clay road is greasy people panic and try to get out, and sure enough they come and ask me if I would pull them out? I'll say no problem, I'll just wait for about an hour after it stops raining and the roads will be dry and pull you right out