KANE COUNTY, Utah, June 29, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) – A hiker from Alabama was found dead Wednesday after becoming disoriented in a Kane County slot canyon late Tuesday.
The deceased has been identified as 62-year-old Lane Friedman, Chief Deputy Alan Alldredge from Kane County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Garfield County dispatch received a call at approximately 7 p.m. about an overdue individual who had been hiking in Spooky Gulch, the news release said. Spooky Gulch is a popular slot canyon located east of Hole in the Rock Road in Kane County.
“A Garfield County deputy responded to the trailhead where he met with the missing individual’s wife,” the news release said. “She stated that she and her husband and two children had been hiking in the slot canyon on Tuesday when they came to a rocky spot in the canyon and decided not to continue. While returning to the trailhead they became disorientated and made some wrong turns.”
The two children also became ill from the heat and the family took shade under some trees. Friedman decided to try and hike to the top of a nearby hill to see if he could get his bearings and see which way to go.
“That was the last time Mrs. Friedman saw her husband,” the news release went on. “After some rest, she and the children began hiking out and eventually made it back to their vehicle at the Dry Fork Trailhead. She borrowed a phone from some other hikers and called for help.”
When the deputy arrived it was late in the evening and getting dark and unsafe to start a ground search. The Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter was requested to help with the search for the next morning.
The helicopter began searching at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday. The helicopter located Friedman at approximately 1 p.m. and it was confirmed he was deceased. His body was transported by the helicopter to Escalante. A medical investigator from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office responded to Escalante to continue the investigation.
Friedman will be transported to the Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.
Kane County Sheriff’s said they would like to remind everyone visiting the canyons to be prepared for dry, hot weather, and to make sure you have plenty of water, appropriate clothing and emergency supplies in case you get lost. Officials also encourage the use of GPS units and a GPS locator device.
