Chenoa Nickerson, who went missing at Grand Canyon National Park on Aug. 22, 2024.Photo:nps.gov
nps.gov
The National Park Service (NPS) is asking for the public’s help in searching for an Arizona woman who was swept away while hiking at Grand Canyon National Park earlier this week.
On Thursday, Aug. 22, a flash flood hit the park shortly before 1:30 p.m., leading to “several hikers being stranded in the affected area,” NPS said ina release.
Chenoa Nickerson, 33, was “swept into” Havasu Creek without a life jacket, roughly a half mile above the Colorado River confluence.
While rescue efforts began for those stranded on Thursday, with an “initial flight taking off before 3 p.m. to assist individuals stranded both below and above Beaver Falls,” Nickerson remains missing as of Saturday, Aug. 24, as rescue efforts “continue,” NPS shared in anupdate.
The agency also posted aflyer featuring photos of Nickersonon Facebook on Friday, Aug. 23, to aid the search.
Chenoa Nickerson.nps.gov
NPS said that Nickerson — a Gilbert, Arizona, native — is 5’8” and 190 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black tank top, black shorts and a pair of blue hiking boots.
“Search efforts on Saturday, August 24, are focused in the areas of Beaver Falls, the confluence of Havasu Creek and the Colorado River, and the Colorado River,” the agency said in a release. “Searching methods include aerial search, ground search and rescue vessel searching along the Colorado River.”
“I’m really proud of them for not panicking,” Mimbs said of her companions. “We all got out safely.”
As of Friday, Mimbs told the outlet that certain areas are only reachable via helicopter due to the conditions, with five people — of then 200 people total — being flown out at a time. The Havasupai tribe has reportedly been providing stranded campers with food and water, according to KPNX.
“We’re praying for them,” Mimbs said of Nickerson and her loved ones.
PerUSA Today, NPS spokesperson Joelle Baird said the flash flood marked the first at Havasu Creek this year.
NPS asks that those with information on Nickerson’s whereabouts contact the NPS ISB Tip Line at (888) 653-0009.
source: people.com