Overview
- Austin Dirks, 33, became stuck knee to thigh deep in Courthouse Wash before sunrise on Dec. 7 during a multi‑day Hayduke Trail outing.
- Grand County Search and Rescue launched a drone that pinpointed his position and guided teams along a safe route into the canyon.
- Rangers and rescuers built a supported path with a ladder and vehicle traction boards, then dug around his leg until the sand‑water mix released it.
- With temperatures near 21 degrees and little sun in the slot, EMS used heated packs and a blanket to restore feeling before he hiked out and was driven to his car uninjured.
- Officials noted quicksand incidents are uncommon but recur in the area, citing a 2014 rescue in the same drainage, and they emphasized buoyancy, the risks of struggling, and carrying satellite messengers.