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AMERICAN FORK — Roads through American Fork Canyon have reopened following a series of mudslides.
Between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., five slides covered the area where state Route 92 and state Route 144 connect. The area is also known as where American Fork Canyon road intersects with the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. The slides, which covered the roads with mud, rocks and debris, were triggered by strong thunderstorms.
Scott Thompson with the Utah Department of Transportation said the canyon received about 2 inches of rain Tuesday night, which was too much for the already-saturated hillsides. UDOT crews had been expecting slides in the canyon because they happen every year, but five slides in one night was unusual.
UDOT crews were able to clear enough mud off one lane to get stranded campers and bikers down the canyon, said UDOT spokesman Nile Easton.
Some motorists were reportedly stranded at Tibble Fork for several hours.
But to get the heavy portions of debris off the road, bulldozers and heavy equipment were used to scoop mud -- which was 7 feet deep and 200 feet wide in some spots -- off the road, he said.
The road was closed at the turnoff to Timpanogos Cave visitors center, Easton said.
Brenda Johnson and her family, from American Fork, were playing games when lighting started to strike near their campsite Tuesday night. Then the rain came, and about 2 inches of water filled their tents.
"Since we were all scattered, we were jumping in cars tying to be safe. We were putting kids in cars, driving them around trying to put them in the trailers," she said.
The Johnsons hung blankets and sleeping bags over the vehicles in order to dry them and salvage the rest of their camping trip.
Written by Pat Reavy with contributions from Shara Park.
