(August 28, 2023) — A hiker was found dead in Bryce Canyon National Park early Saturday morning after she failed to return from a 2 p.m. hike Friday.
Jeanne Roblez Howell, 64, was reported missing around 7 p.m. Friday night after she didn’t return from an 8-mile hike around Fairyland Loop. A night-long search ensued in cooperation with the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and the Utah Department of Public Safety. Her unresponsive body was found about a mile east of the loop in Campbell Canyon at around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
A medical examiner pronounced her deceased on the scene.
The cause of death was not known, but the National Park Service indicated in a press release that the area had received heavy thunderstorms. Flash floods had been observed in the dry washes. So, it was possible she may have been swept away by water.
‘A Tragic Event’
In reaction to the event, KSL News reported Garfield County officials urging hikers to plan for the monsoon. Check the weather, and make others aware of your hiking plans during the monsoon season, they said.
Bryce Canyon park officials expressed appreciation for the help of the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office along with condolences to the family of the victim.
“This is a tragic event, and our deepest sympathy goes out to the victim’s friends and family,” said Allana Olbrich, acting Bryce Canyon superintendent. “I also want to express the park’s appreciation for the support we’ve received from the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and the Utah Department of Public Safety.”
Howell was a math teacher at Verde Valley School in Sedona, Arizona.
Benjamin Lee, head of school at Verde Valley School, told the Verde Valley Independent that the school “was in the grieving process with the community and her family.”
– The Byway
Feature image caption: Two hikers take the 8-mile Fairyland Loop trail in Bryce Canyon National Park. Date Unknown. Courtesy NPS.