This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A 73-year-old Missouri man who was reported missing Friday was found dead in Horseshoe Canyon Saturday morning.
Wayne County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kassidee Brown said the man, who was hiking alone, last made telephone contact with a friend on July 12. He had planned a long hiking trip with various stops including Horseshoe Canyon and was supposed to be out of the canyon on July 28. Family and friends told officials that he planned to "play it by ear," Brown said.
Search and rescue officials on Friday found the man's vehicle parked at the canyon's trailhead. With the help of a Department of Public Safety Helicopter, searchers found the man's body just before noon on Saturday.
Wayne County officials were unsure about the man's cause of death or how long he had been deceased. His body was sent to the Medical Examiner's office.
Officials did not release the man's name Saturday afternoon, pending notification of family.
Horseshoe Canyon, which is part of Canyonlands National Park, is famous for its rock art.
Blue John Canyon, a tributary of Horseshoe Canyon, gained international attention in 2003 as the place where Aron Ralston was forced to amputate his own right forearm with a multi-tool after it became trapped by a boulder. Ralston's plight was described in his autobiography, "Between a Rock and a Hard Place," and was depicted in the 2010 film "127 Hours."
Twitter: @KimballBennion