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PROVO — Three teens are safe this morning after spending more than four hours in the cold, stranded on a cliff in Provo Canyon.
The teens, from Orem, set out for a day-hike Monday. They had cell phones and a head-lamp but no coats or food.
They left from the Bridal Veil Falls area and hiked up in elevation along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail until they found themselves in steep rocky terrain. By the time they turned back it was dark and they couldn't see where they were going.
Paul Johnson's son was one of the teens stuck in the canyon.
"They called a little before eight o'clock and said, ‘We're in trouble. We're in cliffs.' We said, ‘Stay put. Sit down. Don't move,'" Johnson said.
He hiked as close as he could to them but realized they were stuck on some cliffs and it wasn't safe to hike down alone.
"They were not dressed for this. They did not have coats. They walked through rivers and waterfalls and were freezing. Their feet were wet and cold," Johnson said.
He called for help. Search and rescue crews hiked to the boys and walked them down around 3 a.m. The boys were hungry and cold but are OK this morning.
The teens had every intention of completing a day-hike. They had planned on being out of the canyon by 7 p.m., but time got away from them.
