How a scenic enclave at the bottom of the Grand Canyon turned into the epicenter of deadly destruction | CNN

It’s a breathtaking refuge unlike any other: a remote enclave tucked at the bottom of Arizona’s Grand Canyon, nestled between towering cliffs. Suddenly, those majestic slopes turned into raging waterfalls.

It’s a breathtaking refuge unlike any other: a remote enclave tucked at the bottom of Arizona’s Grand Canyon, nestled between towering cliffs. Suddenly, those majestic slopes turned into raging waterfalls.

With little to no warning, hikers and campers near Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch lodging area started running for their lives Saturday as torrential rainfall funneled down the canyon and idyllic creeks morphed into violent torrents.

At least two people were killed and one person remains unaccounted for after flash flooding washed out footbridges and campgrounds on the canyon floor. Many more were imperiled by muddy water racing through the narrow ravines, sparking frantic rescue missions for dozens.

Even for outdoor enthusiasts, the magnitude of destruction wrought by nature’s fury seemed unfathomable.

Christopher Dry, who was hiking with his son on higher ground, recalled seeing a bolt of lightning and rain, followed by “zero visibility” just minutes later.

“The clouds actually (formed) below and rose up out of the canyon quickly,” Dry told CNN.

David Gregory was hiking with a small group when the flooding hit.

“We realized the creek near camp was black with debris and flowing rapidly,” Gregory said. He was among the evacuees who were rescued by helicopter.

Giusti posted photos of his adventure on his chiropractic office’s Facebook page.

Rosenkranz wrote about tackling his fear of heights.

“Will be hiking over 31 miles next four days with vertical change of over a mile. Carrying a 40 lb backpack. This should be an adventure!” Rosenkranz posted Friday.

“Most of you know don’t handle heights. So I should have lots of funny stories when I get back.”

By Tuesday morning, Giusti’s and Rosenkranz’s families confirmed their loved ones were killed. The third friend in the group, Timothy Smith, is missing, his family said, according to the AP.

“It is with a broken heart that I share the passing of my husband, Brent Rosenkranz, while on his final adventure, a hike at the Grand Canyon,” his wife, Elisha Rosenkranz, posted on Facebook. “Thank you for every adventure, every meal, every laugh, and every hug. Most of all, thank you for giving me the love of a lifetime.”

Authorities hope the person still missing, whom they did not identify by name, is still alive, they said. But search efforts have been stymied by bouts of heavy rain, making conditions unsafe for rescuers.

Fortunately, “our weather is looking much better” Tuesday, incident commander Dave Black said Monday evening. Specialized search teams from the US Border Patrol were expected to join the search effort Tuesday, he said.

A drone from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office will also be used to scan for devices emitting Bluetooth frequencies, officials said.

The water pipeline provides potable water and fire suppression for all facilities on the South Rim, Drapeaux said. That is an area with a large concentration of hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, lodging and visitor services.

The full extent of the damage will be assessed Tuesday. But “just from flyover, without having people on the ground, we anticipate miles of pipeline being destroyed,” Drapeaux said.

“We currently have approximately two weeks of water available in storage,” he said, noting that daily use quantities will depend on the number of visitors and staff on the ground.

In the meantime, water restrictions are in place, including the closure of overnight guest lodging, spigots at campgrounds turned off, and a restriction on all wood and charcoal fires, including campfires.

It’s not clear how much the catastrophe will impact visitors this Labor Day weekend.

CNN’s Diego Mendoza, Avni Trivedi, Amanda Musa, Maria Aguilar Prieto, Tyler Ory, Mounira Elsamra and Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.