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Catalina State Park Visitor Stranded For Two Days

Suleika Acosta, KOLD News 13 Reporter

Some people are still feeling the effects of the heavy rainfall on Mount Lemmon this weekend. Almost nine inches poured and a group of campers were caught in the aftermath.  

"Coming down here is just like coming home, I love the mountains."

Every year, Shawn Bender and his dog Aspen hit the road in their RV. For two weeks, the Colorado native makes Catalina State Park his home away from home. But early this week, Shawn got an unexpected house guest.

"Sunday night I was watching your news channel. They were saying rain was expected but the mountains were going to get heavy rain."

Monday morning, Shawn woke up to find four feet of water blocking the road leading out of the campground.

"It was unbelievable, I've never seen anything like that before."

Shawn and 200 other campers were left stranded. When it rains heavily on Mount Lemmon, the Canada Del Oro Wash floods and blocks the only road out of the campground, a regular occurrence since the 2003 Aspen Fire.

"Now with all the loss of vegetation, whenever there's appreciable rain up on Mount Lemmon, well it's going to go down the valley and a lot of it goes across our road in this dip crossing which is intended to carry water," says Park Manager Neil Donkersely.

The water brings along plenty of mud that makes for a messy clean up. Signs warn visitors about the flooding but Donkersely says some campers are still caught off guard.

"A lot of people figure it's the desert, how much water can there be, well, there can be a lot," says Donkersely.

The campers were able to get out Wednesday morning. Now, Shawn and other campers are making the best of an extended vacation.

"I might stay for the gem show now that I'm here," adds Shawn.