Glen Canyon National Recreation Area stretches from Lees Ferry in Arizona into southern Utah, providing unparalleled water-based & backcountry recreation opportunities for hundreds of miles. Of course, given its size, getting lost can be devastating.
Glen Canyon recently shared the story of an impressive rescue that took place in the area. A boat containing six passengers lost their inflatable giraffe named Mitch, with the creature floating aimlessly for hours down the river. Fortunately, at 9:00am on September 15, crews were able to save the helpless beast from Willow Gulch, reuniting the creature with its friends 1:00pm.
“We would like to thank the rescuing party for their bravery as well as Mitch’s rightful owners for not giving up the search.” – Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
While this is obviously a gag post, it does bring up important messages about Leave No Trace. Lost floaties and other toys or gear becomes waste if left out in nature, so make sure to clean up after yourself and retrieve any lost items if it’s safe to do so.
Seven Principles of Leave No Trace:
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors