Its so weird how the leading edge of the flood looks soooo dry.

It's the River Sticks.

This is why you never camp in a dry wash...it may be sunny and blue skies overhead, but that doesn't mean sh*t to water!

Everyone: Massive flooding post 10: (grabs rake) This is what I've trained for....

Great footage. You should get a drone.

The comment under his high school yearbook picture said "Most likely to die in a flash flood in Utah." lol

when you're making hot choc but the powder won't mix with the milk

One of my favorite geological sayings: “There is no such thing as a former riverbed.”

I like how theres no music I can hear what nature sounds like, pretty awesome footage thank you.

I like to teach newbees about desert safety. This video is a great example.

damn that water needs to hydrate

The way the front of it rolls is so amazing to watch. So strange. Never seen anything like this before, thank you 👍

it doesn't even look like water coming towards you, it looks like a wizard casted a spell that creates trees and shit

After five years of watching this video off and on, it still ranks as one of the best close up looks at how dangerous these flows can be. If you even get a foot caught in that mess you are dead. You may not drown right away but you sure as hell are going get beaten to death by all the debris.

I love how you run beside it. Cause it really does look like it's moving slowly. But you were running and couldn't keep up. Which means none of us would ever out run it. Head for the hills after a rain in Utah. I love these videos.

It only takes about 3 inches of water to knock you off your feet, and even less if there's debris in it or it is a fast current. Do NOT fuck with water folks.

I can not believe it was tumbling that huge rock like that on flat ground, it goes to show you the power of mother nature...

I feel so anxious whenever I see those things getting close to the lens.

That's one of the most unnaturally natural thing I've seen in a while.

I have lived in Arizona my whole life, especially in very remote areas (that are now suburbs). One thing I know is it is very dangerous to play chicken with a flash flood debris flow. It is not wise at all to be in a dry wash when a flash flood is coming because once the water hits you, it just gets more and more intense behind it and if you don't get to higher ground in time, you will get swept away!

It's sort of mesmerizing. This is why you never camp in a wash. The weather can be completely clear, not a cloud in sight, you're looking up at the stars and next thing you know you're being washed away. The only warning you'll have is a low rumble in the distance that slowly gets louder. By the time you realize what it is you're swimming for your life.

That is freaking spooky - a rolling wall of almost dry debris. And I have to say, you guys are rolling dice with your lives, that will tear you to shreds if you trip and it catches you. Great video though!

Somewhere downstream, a rattlesnake is being turned to hamburger.

"those things are dangerous!" he says as he runs down the wash in front of the debris flow. XD (great footage as usual though!)

Let's pitch the tent on the nice soft sand down in the wash. There's no rain predicted for around here.

someone who can actually hold a camera while doing anything but standing !!!great footage amazing force moving that rock

That’s nuts! It’s moving so fast! I understand why the #1 cause of death in the desert is not dehydration; it’s drowning.

This is incredible footage. I never thought a flashflood could be this quick and all the debris its carrying. Looks dangerous!!!

It's scary how close he gets. One small trip and he could die

I don't think your microphones are picking up the low freq sound. I was with my step-grandfather near Moab, (I was 7, I don't remember where) when he screamed to get out of the wash. It sounded like a freight train coming. Gratefully, we both got out safely, thanks to my step-grandfather's experience down there. It would have been so easy to fall down or break a leg and I would have been stuck. Just a few years ago, I was in Zion when a flash flood killed a bunch of people in a slot canyon, I think it was Keyhole canyon. The SAR folks did a great job finding the bodies. It can happen. Be conservative, be safe. A few years before that, real havoc was wrought near Escalante. I got caught in desert quicksand hiking up a slot canyon a week after the flood. If I didn't have my Gitzo carbon fiber tripod extended over my shoulder, I probably wouldn't have gotten out. I can just imagine someone finding my hat, picking it up, and finding a head underneath. I am more careful now.

Reminds me of the flash floods back home in the Mojave desert 29 Palms Ca. Seen what happens when a bus gets hit by one of these. Luckily the passengers were rescued before anyone was injured or worse. The bus eventually ended up 5 miles downstream all torn up.

You would love a winter ice break up. I seen it happen on the athabasca in alberta a couple time and it's incredible. Ice flowing so fast it looks like liquid until you are close enough to really see.

I love the up close pictures of the debris flowing along. It looks like rolling mud. Great pictures make a great experience, thanks.

It's incredible how fast it moves!! He gets right in front of it too.. Not me.. No way.. not even for a video.. Your life is worth more than that.. please be careful!! Although I do greatly appreciate your video!! This is actually very educational.. Once people realize how fast flash floods can move, I hope they will do their best to stay away from them and know how extremely dangerous they are!

lol appreciate him running to get a second shot from ahead of the front mud flood

Lessons to learn from flooding events in Sedimentology. The front of the flood contains the material that is *less* dense than the flow itself. This material moves in the front, but gets deposited on the sides. This material is coarse grained The other coarse grained material that is *more* dense than the flow moves within the flow, rather than in front of it

I cannot believe she was wearing flip flops, she dodged tragedy for sure. And to think he waited 6 hours for the flood to arrive, that's dedication right there. Thanks for the vid.

That was super awesome up front. You can see why people get caught up in it feeling not threatened with it moving that slow but people often get caught with their pants down all the time. Mother Nature is so awesome and unpredictable if you don’t recognize your surroundings it could be the end of you.

Thanks, really cool video! We almost camped in a Arroyo in AZ one night, went to higher ground... wouldn't youknow a huge rainstorm came that night and I would not be typing this now if we did.

Great footage, but stay safe though! I can see why they say never to camp in a wash!

Thanks for posting. I've read about flash floods, but I never knew what they were really like.

Woah!!! R5his is mental!! I've never seen anything like it 😮 I've never heard of anything like this happening here in the UK apart from rivers, lakes & loch's bursting their banks!

"Sticks and stones may break my bones..." Also, I love how expressive this dude's eyebrows are.

1:00 When I was working in Death Valley (over the winter) I never saw a flash flood, but I had heard about them. I always figured that I would have some time (not long, maybe just a few seconds) to wade through the water before it became to deep, but there is no way you could survive being hit with that mess. Scare as hell.

Thanks, David, for making these videos. Hope you all didn't get hurt. But glad you all took your time and energy. Without you, I'd never see a debris flow or an explanation of how it's created. Great viewing. Thanks again!

i've been learning about debris flow in geology class, but it's something else to see it move! thank you for sharing and be careful!

Way to go for running ahead and getting that shot! Quality at it's finest!

This is what i call................ live *STREAMING*

Man this is pretty satisfying. I don't know why but I like to think about all that dirt and debris later being cycled out and cleaned by the water.

Never seen this phenomenon before! Amazing to learn this is a regular occurrence! Thank you!! Cool! Be carefull with that!!

Almost lost my car in the southern part of Canyonlands National Park in July of 2003 from a flash flood that washed out the road. Luckily we were fine and were able to cook and eat out dinner under a waterfall that night. It was quite the day.

Amazing! How deep is the debris flow? I wonder if you could survive if you get caught into it?

That is one evil flood! And I was freaked out about that boulder flipping through the water like it was weightless. Amazing video. Keep up the good work!

This dude does the best flash flood videos I’ve seen, and I’ve seen lots of them here on KZfaq ... I love watching these, the power ...!!

All it take is to fall down, no place to run, AND YOUR HISTORY !

This type of shit fascinates me. Maybe I should move to Utah and become a Mormon... And watch floods.

Nature is no joke! Great footage. Thanks!😊👍

great video thanks for filming it a wonder of nature's strength

Water: Hold my branches

Man, if you were in a tight canyon you'd be screwed for sure. Thanks for the great shots! 👍 It almost looks alive!

You need to do a video tutorial showing how to run without your camera bobbing up and down. It's amazing how steady you kept your camera.

I honestly appreciate the perspective you gave us in this video, but man, but it rains harder than the forecast projects and you’re standing in that wash, it can overflow ahead of you and hook around you before you even know it. That’s a horrific way to die if you get caught by one.

Wow this is frightening. Imagine being caught up in it. Stay safe guys x

Thanks very much for sharing, unfortunately I can only one thumb up! It's amazing to watch how the nature regenerates, water coming from the sky, down to the earth, back again to the sky!

At 4:11 when he is running alongside the flood (a drone would be useful), you can see how the top of the flow has less resistance than the bottom of the flow by the branches rolling off the front.

The streams and rivers in the desert southwest of the USA, and I presume deserts elsewhere around the world are dry or nearly dry most of the time but when there's heavy rain we get these incredible flash floods. A few years ago a really bad flash flood killed 21 people in single day, probably only a few hours: 13 in the polygamous community of Hilldale Utah, 7 in Zion National Park, and another man driving his truck on the border with Arizona. Every few years a significant loss of life happens, usually in the slot canyons.

Just.....damn! That is spectacular...and dangerous. Thanks for sharing!!! When travelling in the desert, never walk on the lowest part of a valley!! When it all drys out with the desert heat someone's going to have plenty of kindling!

my grandfather always warned us about playing in 'dry' creek beds. he always said "where water once was, it shall return". one day he told everyone to get out of a creek bed. i heard about a 4 foot wall of water that consumed where kids were playing not more than 10 minutes later. there is water in that creek to this day. you were lucky you weren't washed away. not worth risking your life to get a shot sometime

Man... it looked like you were going to get surrounded, then you stepped back onto that higher ground. Cool video.

Its nice to see people who are passionate about our natural world.

1:16 In a 'real' movie, someone sprains their ankle in this situation.

Great job man! As someone who spends a LOT of time on rivers fly fishing I occasionally wonder what it would be like if a dam upstream suddenly released additional water or rainfall caused the river to rise suddenly while wading. I've experienced it about 4 times on the Umpqua in Oregon but I was in my driftboat each time and it was pretty gradual. Not sudden like this.

Is that woman running in her flip flops???

WOW the running shot with the front of the debris was STUNNING!!! It was like you were running with a wild animal. Beautiful!! 4:11

The Only reason i put like is because you hauled ass to give us a good shot. Good work brother

It is so amazing.. The power of it. But why are you risking your well-being.....

"Those things are dangerous" famous last words

Excellent...very informative. Now I understand what a ‘wash ‘ is. I’ve walked a bit through Death Valley and up in Utah and Wyoming . The sun helps camouflage this drained and pushed rubble by drying and bleaching it giving it an illusion that it belongs there....but it caught my eye. Great country and beautiful.

KZfaq:let’s recommend a group of people fascinate the flood! Me:HELLLLLL YEEEEEAH!!!!!

Nicely done :) I like to watch videos like this since it gives me a chance to know what to look out for if I was hiking in a location similar to this. As my dad puts it: Don't hike in a riverbed if its cloudy or if there is rain in the distance.

Being on a houseboat on Lake Powell when the aftermath of hurricane Andrew passed by was freaking insane.

It's crazy how powerful a flash flood can be

In 2007 we had a crazy flood where I live, the river went so far up it swept some houses off their foundations, I remember watching a house float down the river and get swept under like nothing.

Wow that debris is crazy!

Thanks for not getting killed. Awesome shots!

Dude, the footage is incredible! Have you ever considered getting a gimbal stabilizer for your cameras? They even make them for phones as well.

This is a powerful example of how dangerous downstream swimming holes can be when rain is happening upstream. Thanks for sharing this!

this is a great footage, man. not the first time I'm watching this video. but I just love it, so I keep coming back to get some more :) thanks for the great work. love your enthusiasm around this. it's great!

Just found your channel. This was one of the best explanations, and accompanying videos, of flash floods. You guys have some serious brass gonads to be sooooo close to these, and I mean dangerously close. Whew! 😲 I have to profoundly say thank you!

Your reaction and delivery at the 1:57 mark = nice

This is how things get fossilized. An animal gets swept downstream in a flood and encased in mud floes

The sort of film that gives mothers nightmares.

Is that footage (from about 3:05 on) from all three of you, or just what you shot? It has the look of "same time, different perspective". Also, the coolest part was running while keeping pace with the leading edge of the debris flow. I guess the take-home lesson from that is that while you might be able to run faster than the flood moves, the flood isn't going to need to stop and rest. Thanks for sharing!

No one's talking about how awesome that shot of the front was with you running beside it? Shame... that was a great shot man.

Great video! Thank you. Easy to see why there are so many warnings to watch out for flash floods. This is a fairly wide wash, I can only imagine what one is like in Zion NP and elsewhere in Southern Utah. I’ve visited many of the parks, thankfully never in these conditions.

Suddenly sticks. Where did they come from? Are there more sticks with every rain or are all gone now?

It literally looks, sounds and moves like Nago the demon boar from Princess Mononoke.

Dude, that was totally awesome, being from Chicago I would never get to see something like that. I know it was a bit of work running and maybe even a little dangerous. So Thanks..

Hey Bro thats one of the most impressive footage I've seen so far. Excellent work! Do you continue chasing flash floods as of today?

Wow. Makes my heart start racing. My doctor would be pissed if he knew I was watching your vids. I actual said," Dude, get outta there" at one point.