NEWS RELEASES
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through The Spectrum's website.
Zion National Park's Weeping Rock will be closed indefinitely, after a new study shows that similar rockfalls could happen at any time in the area. A rockfall in late August dumped 435,712 cubic feet of debris onto Weeping Rock trail and nearby trails at Zion National Park. The rockfall back on August 24, injured three visitors. St. George Spectrum writer, Lexi Peery, relays in her article, "Researchers conducting the survey found no definite cause for this particular incident but indicated that triggers of rockfalls include precipitation, snowmelt, seismic events and "thermal cycling." Since this rockfall happened on a warm day at the end of August, geologists say thermal cycling is most likely the reason behind the rockfall." Park officials have said that the trails affected by this rockfall will be closed to hikers indefinitely. Trails that are indefinitely closed include Weeping Rock trail, Hidden Canyon trail, Observation Point trail, Lower Emerald Pools trail.
To read more on Zion National Park, click here.