Dozens Evacuated from Utah Ultramarathon Due to Heavy Rain
About 70 runners and volunteers were stranded overnight and assisted by rescuers.
Approximately 70 runners and volunteers participating in Utah's Moab 240 ultramarathon were evacuated on Sunday after being stranded overnight by a severe rainstorm. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office coordinated with race organizers to assist those unable to safely leave the rugged course.
The stranded participants were at an aid station near Bridger Jack Mesa in the Bear Ears National Monument. Destination Trail, the race organizer, stated in a social media post that buses were evacuating the final group of affected individuals. The company apologized to participants for the race ending prematurely due to the weather, emphasizing that safety was the top priority.
Race officials had delivered additional supplies, including heated tents, hot food, and water, to the aid station before the storm hit. The Moab 240 is a 241.8-mile ultramarathon that traverses desert, canyons, slick-rock formations, and mountain ranges, passing through areas near Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. The race began on Friday in Moab, Utah, with an expected finish on Tuesday.
The storm system impacting Utah is connected to the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel, which made landfall in Baja California, Mexico, on Saturday night. The storm has been bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding to several Western states. Remnants of Rachel, combined with ocean swells, have also contributed to significant flooding along the Southern California coast and caused heavy rain in Arizona and Nevada.