Utah man falls to his death from Angels Landing at Zion National Park
A Utah man has died after falling off Angels Landing at Zion National Park, according to authorities.
The body of Jason Hartwell, 43, of Draper, was found Friday morning at the base of the summit. A park rescue team began searching for him Thursday afternoon after visitors reported that a person had fallen off the landing, a National Park Service press release states.
"According to the preliminary investigation, Mr. Hartwell sustained injures consistent with a high elevation fall," officials said. "Normal park operations have resumed at Angels Landing."
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency on the investigation. They did not immediately return a request for comment on Saturday.
Angels Landing is a popular, but dangerous, destination for hikers. In November 2019, a body was discovered below the landing after it was reported that a teenage hiker from Maine had gone missing in the park. Authorities said at the time that the body was "consistent with the age and gender" of the missing teen.
Officials said they believe the teen fell.
The national park describes it as a "strenuous" 5.4-mile trail with steep dropoffs on both sides of the trail.
On the same day Hartwell's body was found, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a hiker in Oregon who fell more than 100 feet from a cliff near Hug Point State Park in Arch Cape.
The hiker was conscious and responsive when he was taken from the scene in a medevac helicopter to Portland for medical care, according to the Coast Guard.
"Effective coordination with our partner agencies ensured a safe and efficient transfer of the survivor," Lt. Derrick Rockey said. "Working together to get the hiker to higher medical care was the goal, and we got it done."
