Couple missing in Grand Canyon found safe but tired

07:59 AM MST on Thursday, May 29, 2008


GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) -- A Utah couple lost in the Grand Canyon for at least five days did the right thing by staying together and finding shade during the day, a park spokeswoman said.

Alan Humphrey, 39, and his wife, Iris Faraklas, 35, were found by a rescue helicopter just after 5 p.m. Wednesday in a remote and rugged area of the park about 25 miles west of Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim, spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge said.

"They were tired, probably a little ragged, but they were in good health," Oltrogge said, adding that the Salt Lake City couple were to be interviewed Thursday about how they got lost.

The two refused medical treatment, Oltrogge said.

She said it appears the couple took a wrong turn on their weeklong vacation along a challenging 45-mile route called the Royal Arch. The trip began May 17 and was to end Friday.

Family reported the couple missing Sunday. It took rangers a day to find their car and begin the search Monday.

Four teams were on the ground and in the air searching Wednesday, including a technical search team from Zion National Park to search more dangerous terrain.

Oltrogge said the area where the couple were found requires canyoneering skills, as well as good route-finding skills. She said the couple had a lot of hiking experience, and that Humphrey had some mountaineering experience.

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