The National Park Service has issued a warning for visitors to beware of quicksand at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area at the Utah-Arizona border, multiple news outlets report.
The warning spans the border and encompasses more than 1.25 million acres, including Lake Powell and surrounding high-desert terrain.
While quicksand may appear solid on the surface, it becomes unstable when disturbed and can suddenly collapse. It is rarely life-threatening, but escaping it can be exhausting.
Visitors can usually identify quicksand by looking for ground that is unusually smooth, wet, or that ripples when stepped near, and should avoid areas where water pools around their boots.
If caught in quicksand, the park service advises leaning back to spread body weight, and moving one leg at a time slowly to allow water to flow around the limb.
It is advised to call for help if the sediment is too deep or you are too fatigued to continue.
• Juliet La Sala can be reached at jlasala@washingtontimes.com.
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