Reports: Tents trapped Boy Scouts during deadly flash flood

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Deadly floodwaters that tore through a Boy Scout troop's New Mexico campsite in the middle of the night turned their tents into wet cages that clung to their bodies like saran wrap, newly released police reports and taped interviews show.

The group of eight California boys and their chaperones fought desperately to escape, some using their teeth to rip holes in the material.

"You could hear people yelling, but you couldn't understand what they were saying," Michael Evans, one of the adults, told police of the chaos of that June night.

The water swept four Scouts down a canyon. Alden Brock, 13, of Sacramento died.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a1d283f0ecf3420583866d221413f71e/reports-tents-trapped-boy-scouts-during-deadly-flash-flood

[lastlib]

1. I've been in that campsite.

Last edited Mon Sep 28, 2015, 10:27 PM - Edit history (1)

It was thirty+ years ago, so I only have a vague memory of the details. I could see it getting a lot of water in a storm, but it's hard to imagine it flooding so severely so quickly without a ginormous rain storm that should've awakened them soon enough to move to higher ground. The ranger himself should have been more alert to the danger, even if the other adults weren't--and they should have been alert, too. That country is not for the faint of heart or mind. It's rugged and unforgiving--if you go in under-prepared, you're in for a rough time. Bears and mountain lions--not humans--are the top of the food chain. Humans are the soft tacos of the bear world there; if you carry anything smellable out there (and a bear's sense of smell is four hundred times better than a man's), you're going to be having some unwelcome attention.

Ten years ago out there, in another part of the ranch, I was in a hailstorm at 10,500 feet altitude. We were pelted with peas-sized hail for nearly an hour, and the ground was totally white with hail. There was no protection at all, only a few scrub trees that were too small to give us shelter. It was like being constantly pelted with marbles for that whole time. and it hurt like he**! So weather can be very dangerous and unforgiving.

[Ned Flanders]

2. It really can happen that quickly

I've spent a fair amount of time in the California/Nevada deserts. I enjoy camping in really remote areas, involving 4x4 low kinds of "roads." I'm comfortable going solo out there, not concerned about snakes or bugs or serial killers or any of the other typical fears.

But unsettled weather does get me perched on the edge of my seat. The storms in this area can be small and isolated to a relatively small geographic area, but still dump a ton of water. And since there's little vegetation and so much hardrock, that rain can accumulate and run downhill pretty damn fast. I have personally been driving up a gully without any rain, just a big dark cloud over a nearby summit, and encountered several inches of water coming at me. Seen it when on foot, too, although while in the car was the scariest, because who knows how much water water was behind that little frontal wave. Plus the water can turn the gully into quicksand. But I digress.

When you're snug and warm in your waterproof goose down bag, listening to the rain, hmmm, some of us love being lulled to sleep that way. It's also easy to underestimate an 18" wide creek.

But, yes, an experienced canyoneer should've been aware of the danger. Who knows what other factors were involved? Did they have to risk a prolonged section of even more dangerous canyon before they could reach the next safe area? Were they already exhausted after a long day? IDK, but this does happen periodically.

[Recursion]

3. Was this Philmont? (nt)

[markbark]

6. Yes, this was in June

A supercell dumped huge amounts of rain in a very short time over the North Ponil canyon complex.
The gauge on the North Ponil Creek usually runs about 10 to 12 CFS (cubic feet per second)
That night, the gauge recorded flows of up to 1000 CFS (at which point the gauge washed away)

I was there in July and the devastation was simply jaw dropping. The staff cabin at Ponil was moved 20 feet and would have kept on going if not for the fact it ran into a tree.

The camp in question was near Indian Writings (which also sustained quite a bit of damage)
A BIG tip o' the hat to the Philmont staff. They located/rerouted/resupplied dozens of crews during this event -- A legacy of the training and professionalism that have been a Philmont tradition for over 75 years

The floods this year are second only to the 1965 Rayado floods for scope and severity.


--MAB

Philmont Treks- Camper in '77, '79 and '81. Advisor in 2007, '09, '11, '13 and '15

[Recursion]

7. Oh right, I remember that story

I did Philmont in '89, '90 (as bugler), and '92. Bugler was the best job ever.

[Jesus Malverde]

4. Curious do Boy Scouts not carry knives any more

When I was a scout we all carried knives especially when camping.

Terrible story regardless.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. It was at night

Unless they were telling you to keep your knife tied to your hand while you sleep, it wouldn't have been available.

[Recursion]

8. Did you not have to have a Totin' Chit? (nt)

[allan01]

9. :( never underestimate the power of water