A seasoned hiker's worst nightmare became reality Sunday morning when he found himself trapped knee-deep in quicksand during a solo trek through Arches National Park.

"Before this trip, I honestly thought quicksand was more of a folklore or a legend," Austin Dirks said.

The experienced desert hiker, who has logged thousands of miles on trails, was navigating the upper end of Courthouse Wash around an hour before sunrise when his left leg broke through what appeared to be solid ground.

"I was able to pull it out, and then I shifted all my weight to my right foot. And I sunk up to the knee," Dirks said. "It felt like I had stepped into concrete, and then it hardened around my leg. I couldn't even move it a millimeter."

Contrary to cartoon depictions, Dirks discovered that the reality of

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