A man and his dog are missing after apparently taking a homemade wooden raft on the river that runs through the Grand Canyon, the National Park Service said Wednesday.
The man was identified by park officials in a news release as Thomas L. Robinson of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Robinson abandoned his vehicle at Lees Ferry, a fishing and boat launching point in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The site is often used as a launch for for whitewater rafting trips along the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon, according to park officials.
A photo of the raft that it is believed Robinson used to attempt to travel down the river with his small dog shows just a few long planks assembled together, along with a paddle and life vest.
A missing persons investigation is ongoing, the park service said. Anyone with information about Robinson or who may have seen him is asked to contact the Grand Canyon Dispatch Center.
Robinson is described as a 5'10" White man with brown hair and hazel eyes. The dog is a white 11-year-old Welsh Corgi, according to the NPS.
The Colorado River, stretching almost 1,500 miles from the Rocky Mountains to Mexico, is a significant waterway in the United States. As it flows through the Grand Canyon, the river continues to carve and expand the iconic landmark, a process documented by the National Park Service. Whitewater rafting is a popular activity along the river.
The water that travels from Glen Canyon down the Colorado River takes less than three days to reach Lake Mead, as reported by CBS affiliate KLAS-TV.
