Overview
- Austin Dirks, 33, became stuck knee-deep in quicksand on Dec. 7 during a solo backpacking trip near Courthouse Wash in Arches National Park.
- Grand County Search and Rescue used a drone to pinpoint his exact location after the SOS was transmitted from his GPS satellite device.
- Responders reached him in near-freezing conditions and used a ladder and vehicle traction boards to create stable access and dig him free.
- The extraction took roughly two hours, after which warming packs and a heated blanket helped restore feeling to his leg before he walked out.
- Officials emphasized that quicksand traps by compacting around legs and urged hikers to carry SOS-capable devices and plan routes carefully.