Overview
- Austin Dirks, 33, became stuck knee- to thigh-deep in quicksand on Dec. 7 while backpacking a Hayduke Trail section in Arches’ Courthouse Wash.
- With no cell service, he triggered a satellite messenger SOS that was relayed to Arches rangers and Grand County Search and Rescue.
- Responders used a drone to pinpoint his position as a ranger reached him first, then a full team deployed a ladder, traction boards and shovels to free his leg in about two hours.
- Temperatures hovered near 20°F in the shaded canyon; EMS warmed his numb leg with a heated blanket and packs, after which he walked out and was uninjured.
- Officials shared drone footage and safety guidance, noting quicksand’s mechanics and a similar 2014 rescue in the same drainage, as Dirks publicly thanked the teams and credited the technology.