Posted on 10/14/2024 4:07:56 PM PDT by nickcarraway
-Justin Bingham, 40, died when he accidentally fell near Heaps Canyon at Zion National Park.
-Bingham was canyoneering with three others on Oct. 5 when the tragic accident took place.
-The three other canyoneers were rescued the following morning, according to the National Park Service.
A man is dead after an accidental fall at Zion National Park, according to the National Park Service.
The man was identified as 40-year-old Justin Bingham, CEO of Utah tech software company Opiniion, which confirmed the news of his death.
According to the NPS, Bingham was canyoneering with three other people the evening of Oct. 5 when he fell between 150 and 200 feet near the exit of Heaps Canyon.
Bingham was declared dead before he could be airlifted to a hospital.
The remaining canyoneers were rescued by authorities the following morning, officials said.
The NPS and the Washington County Sheriff's Office continue to investigate the cause of Bingham's death.
"Justin was involved in a tragic accident while enjoying one of his greatest passions — exploring the outdoors," a statement from Opiniion read. "Justin was a visionary who believed in the power of genuine connections, both with our clients and within our team. His commitment to building meaningful relationships made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Justin’s spirit of adventure and dedication to living life fully will be deeply missed."
"Justin wasn’t just a leader here at Opiniion—he was a mentor, a dad, and a friend to many of us. He believed that the relationships we build are what make this work meaningful, and he truly lived that every day." Devin, President and COO of Opiniion.
Opiniion was Bingham’s third venture after he sold two other startups, according to his obituary.
Bingham leaves behind his wife of 19 years, Lindsay, and four children.
Along with his business ventures, Bingham was a "skilled and incredibly gifted outdoorsman," and he "was at home in places most human eyes will never see."
"His personality was quite literally larger than life, filling a room with light, energy and love," his obituary read. "Justin never met a stranger, and made life-long friends wherever he went."
Ping
People can have fun any way they want. I don’t care.
If people die having fun, that’s their business. I don’t care.
Married at 21, pretty unusual these days
What the heck is canyoneering?
This literally sounds like one of the myriad crime show plots I’ve watched. “Experienced outdoorsman and successful tech CEO dies mysteriously while on an adventure with some buds…” I’d love to get the backstory on this.
Utterly selfish for a father of six to do that for a hobby. He traded the happiness of six young children and his wife, traded their well-being and safety, for a momentary thrill.
Last text message: “I have found and unlocked Hillary’s “wiped” files. I am sending them you you tomorrow.”
Father of four
LDS I imagine.
You hike into a canyon and do several rappels on your way back. I did it with my then 12 YO son in Water Canyon ten years ago. It’s about 30 minutes south of Zion, near to Hildale, former home of Warren Jeffs. We hiked over two miles, and completed 5 rappels on the way back, ranging from 50-90 feet.
Canyoneering is like hiking on roids. Ropes, rappelling, swimming, jumping, defying Newton’s laws.
Both my wife and I were married at age 21. That was 47 years ago.
Modern women don’t have the discipline to stick with something and work things out. Too easy to take the kids, house, marital property, and make the Ex pay. Then go out and find a new loser in a bar somewhere.
He definitely at least used to be LDS. I looked at his LinkedIn, and it has a mission when he was 18.
👍
One wrong footfall in those canyons at Zion and you are in flight.
We really don’t know his motivations....although at his age and with his family. their survival should’ve been his paramount consideration as you wrote.
He could have been an adrenalin addict, could have been very high testosterone, could not
handle his responsibilities at home, wife could have been a schrew (b4ll buster). Even farther out there, maybe suicidal cause he was enbezzling funds from the company.
I know that I will never know. RIP, and I hope his family can survive the loss.
A lot of that going around lately........
Out on a limb here, but I’ll guess exploring canyons. And climbing canyon walls, probably without ropes.
**...young children and his wife, traded their well-being and safety, for a momentary thrill.**
Happens all too often. I recall about 10 years ago a late 20s-early 30s divorced woman that was an accomplished commercial pilot, who flew an aerobatic plane at airshows.
She was practicing her routine the day before an airshow in Missouri, when a wing snapped off. She left behind two elementary school age sons.
There are things I did before I met my dream girl, that were clearly dangerous. The thought of not living my life with her changed my thrill perspective. Then came a son, then another one. My responsibilities as primary provider required me to not take unnecessary risks: no more jumping motorcycles, no more doing stunts in planes (and they weren’t even certified for aerobatics), and no more testing the limits of my car’s speed and tire adhesion.
(Some things are realized as not just dangerous, but absolutely stupid to be doing. Example: the one rodeo bull ride. I was only 19, yet afterward realized Dad was right. “Bull riding has nothing to do with ranching, horsemanship, or being a cattleman. Bull riding is just gladiator stuff”.)
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